Uniform blue emitting carbon nanodots synthesized from fig fruit using reverse diffusion purification.

In this investigation, blue-emitting carbon nanodots (B.CNDs) with exceptional color purity were successfully synthesized from fresh fig fruit using a one-step pyrolysis method. These B.

COVID-19 Vaccines: A Radiological Review of the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.

The World Health Organization has declared "with great hope" an end to COVID-19 as a public health emergency. The vaccination drive that started in December 2020 played a crucial role in controlling the pandemic. However, the pace at which COVID-19 vaccines were developed and deployed for general population use led to vaccine hesitancy, largely owing to concerns regarding the safety and efficacy of the vaccines.

Graphene@Curcumin-Copper Paintable Coatings for the Prevention of Nosocomial Microbial Infection.

The rise of antimicrobial resistance has brought into focus the urgent need for the next generation of antimicrobial coating. Specifically, the coating of suitable antimicrobial nanomaterials on contact surfaces seems to be an effective method for the disinfection/contact killing of microorganisms. In this study, the antimicrobial coatings of graphene@curcumin-copper (GN@CR-Cu) were prepared using a chemical synthesis methodology.

National Infant Screening for Hearing Program in India: Necessity, Significance and Justification.

Hearing impairment is one of the most prevalent disorder in children and adults worldwide, which not only interferes with the acquisition, development and maintenance of speech and language skills but also adversely deprive the auditory nervous system for future learning. It can have long term harmful effect on educational, social, emotional and cognitive skills in young children; restrict the vocational options and employment opportunities in adults; and can cause isolation, loneliness and depression in older adults, if remain undetected and intervened at the earliest. However, early identification and intervention is known to greatly reverse the ill effects and improve the quality of life of children and adults with hearing impairment.

Implementation of National Infant Screening for Hearing Program in India: Challenges, Opportunities and Suggested Framework.

Hearing impairment is most frequent sensory deficit present in infants at birth and unaddressed hearing impairment causes severe damages to both infants and their families. In India 77,756 live children are born per day which accounts for about 25 million children annually among them approximately 1.5 lacs (@ 6 per1000) children born with hearing impairment.

Metabolites enhance innate resistance to human Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.

To determine the mechanisms that mediate resistance to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) infection in household contacts (HHCs) of patients with tuberculosis (TB), we followed 452 latent TB infection-negative (LTBI-) HHCs for 2 years. Those who remained LTBI- throughout the study were identified as nonconverters.

Wasserstein GAN based Chest X-Ray Dataset Augmentation for Deep Learning Models: COVID-19 Detection Use-Case.

The novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) is still continuing to be a concern for the entire globe. Since early detection of COVID-19 is of particular importance, there have been multiple research efforts to supplement the current standard RT-PCR tests. Several deep learning models, with varying effectiveness, using Chest X-Ray images for such diagnosis have also been proposed.

Nanocarrier-based co-delivery approaches of chemotherapeutics with natural P-glycoprotein inhibitors in the improvement of multidrug resistance cancer therapy.

Chemotherapy is the mainstay in cancer treatment; however, its application is clinically limited to patients with multidrug resistance (MDR). MDR reverses the role of chemotherapy through significant attribution to pharmacokinetic characteristics, where ATP-binding cassette transporter proteins, P-glycoprotein (P-gp), pump out the intracellularly transported chemotherapeutics from the cancer cells. Therefore, overexpression of such receptors on MDR cancer cell surfaces tends to decrease the efficacy of a large number of existing chemotherapeutics.

Initial comparative analysis of pulmonary involvement on HRCT between vaccinated and non-vaccinated subjects of COVID-19.

Objectives: To compare the high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT)-derived severity score in COVID-19 patients between those who had earlier received the vaccine against the SARS-CoV-2 and those who did not.

Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional analysis of HRCT of the chest was done in correlation with the vaccination status of clinically diagnosed COVID-19 patients. The variable under evaluation was the CT severity score, whereby differential analysis of the variability on this parameter between incompletely (single dose) vaccinated, completely (both doses) vaccinated, and non-vaccinated individuals was the outcome.

Single-step green route synthesis of Au/Ag bimetallic nanoparticles using clove buds extract: Enhancement in antioxidant bio-efficacy and catalytic activity.

In present work, we demonstrate a single step environmentally benign approach to synthesize Au/Ag bimetallic nanoparticles (BMNPs) using aqueous extract of Clove buds for the first time. Clove bud's (CB) extract has proficiency to act as a reducing and stabilizing agent for the formation of Au/Ag BMNPs. In presence of extract, Au and Ag are reduced competitively within same solution and produce Au/Ag alloy NPs.

Antimicrobial Mechanisms and Effectiveness of Graphene and Graphene-Functionalized Biomaterials. A Scope Review.

Bacterial infections represent nowadays the major reason of biomaterials implant failure, however, most of the available implantable materials do not hold antimicrobial properties, thus requiring antibiotic therapy once the infection occurs. The fast raising of antibiotic-resistant pathogens is making this approach as not more effective, leading to the only solution of device removal and causing devastating consequences for patients. Accordingly, there is a large research about alternative strategies based on the employment of materials holding intrinsic antibacterial properties in order to prevent infections.

Efficient Energy Harvesting in SnO-Based Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Utilizing Nano-Amassed Mesoporous Zinc Oxide Hollow Microspheres as Synergy Boosters.

Finding the material characteristics satisfying most of the photovoltaic conditions is difficult. In contrast, utilization of foreign materials that can contribute to light harvesting and charge transfers in the devices is now desirable/thought-provoking. Herein, a binary hybrid photoanode utilizing nano-amassed micron-sized mesoporous zinc oxide hollow spheres (meso-ZnO HS) in conjunction with SnO nanoparticles (NPs), i.

Ultrasensitive NO Detection in Simulated Exhaled Air: Enhanced Sensing via Alumina Modification of In-Situ Grown WO Nanoblocks.

Seedless growth of vertically aligned nanostructures, which can induce smoother transport and minimize Ohmic contact between substrate and semiconductor, can be fabricated by in situ growth utilizing modified hydrothermal methods. Such devices can be useful in designing non-invasive ultrasensitive hand-held sensors for diagnostic identification of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in exhaled air, offering pain-free and easier detection of long-term diseases such as asthma. In the present work, WO nanoblocks, with a high surface area and porosity, have been grown directly over transparent conducting oxide to minimize Ohmic resistance, facilitating smoother electron transfer and enhanced current response.

Feasibility of Hepatology-Directed Microwave Ablation in Management of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in North America: A Pilot Project.

In North America, the role of Hepatologists in treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma is limited. We conducted a pilot project wherein a Hepatologist participated directly in microwave ablation of HCC at an academic center in the United States (n = 14). The pilot project shows promising outcomes, with complete remission rate of 93%.

Effect of surface overlayer in enhancing the photoelectrochemical water oxidation of in situ grown one-dimensional spinel zinc ferrite nanorods directly onto the substrate.

Overlayer passivation minimizes surface defects and arrests the back transfer of electrons for an enhanced charge extraction. Surface passivation of ZnFe2O4 using alumina yields enhanced charge carrier density from 8.43 × 1020 cm-3 to 18.

-Symmetric Triphenylamine-Linked Bisthiazole-Based Metal-Free Donor-Acceptor Organic Dye for Efficient ZnO Nanoparticles-Based Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells: Synthesis, Theoretical Studies, and Photovoltaic Properties.

Herein, we have designed a metal-free donor-acceptor dye by incorporating an electron deficient bisthiazole moiety as a linker in between the electron donor triphenylamine and cyanoacetic acid acceptor. The bisthiazole-based organic dye was synthesized using the Pd-catalyzed Suzuki cross-coupling and Knoevenagel condensation reactions. On the basis of the optical, electrochemical, and computational studies, dye showed a better electronic interaction between the donor and acceptor moieties.

Construction of Hindi Speech Stimuli for Eliciting Auditory Brainstem Responses.

Speech-evoked auditory brainstem responses (spABRs) provide considerable information of clinical relevance to describe auditory processing of complex stimuli at the sub cortical level. The substantial research data have suggested faithful representation of temporal and spectral characteristics of speech sounds. However, the spABR are known to be affected by acoustic properties of speech, language experiences and training.

Understanding the role of silica nanospheres with their light scattering and energy barrier properties in enhancing the photovoltaic performance of ZnO based solar cells.

The present study discusses the design and development of a dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC) using a hybrid composite of ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO NP) and silica nanospheres (SiO NS). A ≈22% enhancement in the overall power conversion efficiency (PCE, η) was observed for the device fabricated with a binary hybrid composite of 1 wt% SiO NS and ZnO NP compared to the pristine ZnO NP device. A systematic investigation revealed the dual function of the silica nanospheres in enhancing the device efficacy compared to the bare ZnO NP based device.

Enhancement of Anti-Dermatitis Potential of Clobetasol Propionate by DHA [Docosahexaenoic Acid] Rich Algal Oil Nanoemulsion Gel.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential of nanoemulsion formulation for topical delivery of Clobetasol propionate (CP) using algal oil (containing omega-3 fatty acids) as the oil phase. CP has anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and antiproliferative activities. However, its clinical use is restricted to some extent due to its poor permeability across the skin.

Rational design of hierarchical ZnO superstructures for efficient charge transfer: mechanistic and photovoltaic studies of hollow, mesoporous, cage-like nanostructures with compacted 1D building blocks.

Mesoporous and hollow zinc oxide (ZnO) hierarchical superstructures assembled with compact 1D building blocks that provide an efficient and faster transport pathway for photo-generated charge carriers have been synthesized using a biomass derived polysaccharide "alginic acid". To understand the interactions between the organic bio-template and inorganic growth units of ZnO in aqueous medium, the effects of additives such as the alginate ion (ALGI) and ammonium hydroxide (NH4OH), along with the controlled reaction conditions, are investigated using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) and powder X-ray diffraction. Dynamic and steady-state photoluminescence measurements are carried out to understand the charge transfer processes in the compact 1D superstructures.

Metal free earth abundant elemental red phosphorus: a new class of visible light photocatalyst and photoelectrode materials.

Developing a high-performance photocatalyst and a photoelectrode with enhanced visible light harvesting properties is essential for practical visible light photocatalytic applications. Noble metal-free, highly visible light-active, elemental red phosphorus (RP) was prepared by a facile mechanical ball milling method, which is a reproducible, low cost and controllable synthesis process. The synthesis used inexpensive and abundant raw materials because most RP hybrids are based on expensive noble-metals.

Ethyl Cellulose and Cetrimonium Bromide Assisted Synthesis of Mesoporous, Hexagon Shaped ZnO Nanodisks with Exposed ±{0001} Polar Facets for Enhanced Photovoltaic Performance in Quantum Dot Sensitized Solar Cells.

Hexagon shaped mesoporous zinc oxide nanodisks (ZnO NDs) with exposed ±{0001} polar facets have been synthesized by using ethyl cellulose (EC) and cetrimonium bromide (CTAB) as the capping and structure directing agents. We have characterized ZnO NDs using analytical techniques, such as powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), diffuse reflectance UV-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy, photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area analysis and proposed a plausible mechanism for the formation of ZnO NDs. EC molecules form a colloidal solution in a 1-butanol:water (3:1) solvent system having a negative zeta potential (ζ ≈ -32 mV) value which can inhibit CTAB assisted c-axis growth of ZnO crystal and encourage the formation of ZnO NDs.