In Silico-Based Identification of Natural Inhibitors from Traditionally Used Medicinal Plants that can Inhibit Dengue Infection.

Dengue fever (DF) is an endemic disease that has become a public health concern around the globe. The NS3 protease-helicase enzyme is an important target for the development of antiviral drugs against DENV (dengue virus) due to its impact on viral replication. Inhibition of the activity of the NS3 protease-helicase enzyme complex significantly inhibits the infection associated with DENV.

Preparation, characterization, and adsorption kinetics of graphene oxide/chitosan/carboxymethyl cellulose composites for the removal of environmentally relevant toxic metals.

This study attempted to develop a low-cost and eco-friendly bio-based composite adsorbent that is highly efficient in capturing potential toxic metals. The bio-composite adsorbent was prepared using graphene oxide (GO), carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and chitosan (CS); and characterized using FTIR, SEM-EDX and WAXD techniques. Metal-ion concentration in an aqueous solution was measured by ICP-OES.

Catalytic SO Decomposition Activity and Stability of Pt Supported on Anatase TiO for Solar Thermochemical Water-Splitting Cycles.

Pt-loaded anatase TiO (Pt/TiO-A) was found to be a highly active and stable catalyst for SO decomposition at moderate temperatures (∼600 °C), which will prove to be the key for solar thermochemical water-splitting processes used to produce H. The catalytic activity of Pt/TiO-A was found to be markedly superior to that of a Pt catalyst supported on rutile TiO (Pt/TiO-R), which has been extensively studied at a higher reaction temperature range (≥800 °C); this superior activity was found despite the two being tested with similar surface areas and metal dispersions after the catalytic reactions. The higher activity of Pt on anatase is in accordance with the abundance of metallic Pt (Pt) found for this catalyst, which favors the dissociative adsorption of SO and the fast removal of the products (SO and O) from the surface.