Zinc Oxide Nanostructure Deposition into Sub-5 nm Vertical Mesopores in Silica Hard Templates by Atomic Layer Deposition.

Nanostructures synthesised by hard-templating assisted methods are advantageous as they retain the size and morphology of the host templates which are vital characteristics for their intended applications. A number of techniques have been employed to deposit materials inside porous templates, such as electrodeposition, vapour deposition, lithography, melt and solution filling, but most of these efforts have been applied with pore sizes higher in the mesoporous regime or even larger. Here, we explore atomic layer deposition (ALD) as a method for nanostructure deposition into mesoporous hard templates consisting of mesoporous silica films with sub-5 nm pore diameters.

Assessment of radiological indices and physiochemical characterization of sediments in Chashma Lake, Pakistan.

Twenty surface sediment samples were gathered from Chasma Lake, deciding the radionuclides Cs, Ra, Ra, Th, and K and their associated hazard indices. The deliberate radionuclide activities of present research have been contrasted with earlier research, and acquired outcomes in the present study are found below the results in the world. The radiation hazard indices following the presence of natural radionuclides in sediment samples were estimated, and the results assigned the values of all the determined radiological indices found inside the worldwide suggested limits.

Mesoporous silica films as hard templates for electrodeposition of nanostructured gold.

Metallic nanostructures have widespread applications in fields including materials science, electronics and catalysis. Mesoporous silica films synthesised by evaporation induced self-assembly and electrochemically assisted self-assembly with pores below 10 nm were used as hard templates for the electrodeposition of Au nanostructures. Electrodeposition conditions were optimised based on pore orientation and size.

AC-assisted deposition of aggregate free silica films with vertical pore structure.

Silica thin films with vertical nanopores are useful to control access to electrode surfaces and may act as templates for growth of nanomaterials. The most effective method to produce these films, electrochemically assisted surfactant assembly, also produces aggregates of silica particles. This paper shows that growth with an AC signal superimposed onto the potential avoids the aggregates and only very small numbers of single particles are found.

Radiological risk assessment in sediment of Namal Lake, Mianwali, Pakistan.

This study is concentrated on the radiological risk assessment of sixteen surface sediment samples recovered from Namal Lake, District Mianwali, Punjab, Pakistan. The activity of Cs,  K, Ra, Ra, and Th was carried out with the help of a high purity germanium detector (HPGe) in the sediment, varied in the ranges of > 0.02-3.

Optimal Scheduling of Campus Microgrid Considering the Electric Vehicle Integration in Smart Grid.

High energy consumption, rising environmental concerns and depleting fossil fuels demand an increase in clean energy production. The enhanced resiliency, efficiency and reliability offered by microgrids with distributed energy resources (DERs) have shown to be a promising alternative to the conventional grid system. Large-sized commercial customers like institutional complexes have put significant efforts to promote sustainability by establishing renewable energy systems at university campuses.

Thermal stress and high stocking densities in poultry farms: Potential effects and mitigation strategies.

Environmental changes pose significant threats to agricultural activities particularly animal production. These changes have induced major concerns which will negatively affect the poultry health and productivity under the current climate changes. Moreover, they also alter the immunological status of the exposed birds and make them susceptible to different diseases.

An updated review on behavior of domestic quail with reference to the negative effect of heat stress.

Japanese quail originated from the wildlife environment and was first domesticated in Japan in 1595. Japanese quail has widely distributed in various parts of the world. This bird is characterized by its rapid growth rate, high rate of egg production, much lower space requirements, small size, good reproductive potential, short life cycle, resistance to diseases, early sexual maturity (from 39 to 50days), better laying ability and shorter time of hatching compared with the different species of poultry.

Signal amplification by electro-oligomerisation for improved isoproturon detection.

A novel concept is introduced for signal amplification in electrochemical sensing: the electro-oligomerisation stripping voltammetry, which has been applied here to the improved detection of the isoproturon herbicide in spring waters as a proof-of-principle. It involves a potentiostatic accumulation step onto a glassy carbon electrode (at +1.5 V vs Ag/AgCl reference electrode for 300 s) leading to the formation of an oligomeric film, which is then detected by cathodic stripping square wave voltammetry (SWV).

Plasticized Polystyrene by Addition of -Diene Based Molecules for Defect-Less CVD Graphene Transfer.

Chemical vapor deposition of graphene on transition metals is the most favored method to get large scale homogenous graphene films to date. However, this method involves a very critical step of transferring as grown graphene to desired substrates. A sacrificial polymer film is used to provide mechanical and structural support to graphene, as it is detached from underlying metal substrate, but, the residue and cracks of the polymer film after the transfer process affects the properties of the graphene.

Severity and relation of primary dysmenorrhea and body mass index in undergraduate students of Karachi: A cross sectional survey.

Objective: To determine the frequency of primary dysmenorrhea and its association with body mass index in female students.

Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted from January to March, 2018, in two districts of Karachi, and comprised female undergraduate students aged 15-25 years who had reached menarche at an appropriate age. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to assess dysmenorrhea while Seca scale was used for nutritional status.

Electrochemical Filter To Remove Oxygen Interference Locally, Rapidly, and Temporarily for Sensing Applications.

An electrochemical oxygen filter is described that removes efficiently dissolved oxygen from the surface of an electrochemical sensor. Simulations show that 99% of oxygen can be removed in less than 60 s if an electrochemical filter made of a porous electrode is positioned at less than 200 μm from the sensor surface. For an experimental demonstration, the metallic filter was made with either a stainless steel or a platinum grid separated from the sensor by a porous separator.

Designed growth of porous 2D NbO with Ag nano-particles for differential detection of UV-A and UV-C.

We demonstrate the differential detection of UV-A (ultra-violet 320-400 nm region) and UV-C (100-280 nm) using porous two-dimensional (2D) NbO and additional Ag nano-particle decoration. The 2D NbO, which has band-absorption edge near the UV-A zone, was synthesized by thermodynamic conversion of 2D material NbSe (NbO has lower Gibbs formation energy than NbSe). For the differential detection (to distinguish with UV-C absorption), we decorated the Ag nano-particles on the NbO surface.

Thickness-Dependence Electrical Characterization of the One-Dimensional van der Waals TaSe Crystal.

Needle-like single crystalline wires of TaSe were massively synthesized using the chemical vapor transport method. Since the wedged-shaped single TaSe molecular chains were stacked along the b-axis by weak van der Waals interactions, a few layers of TaSe flakes could be easily isolated using a typical mechanical exfoliation method. The exfoliated TaSe flakes had an anisotropic planar structure, and the number of layers could be controlled by a repeated peeling process until a monolayer of TaSe nanoribbon was obtained.

A new device concept for bacterial sensing by Raman spectroscopy and voltage-gated monolayer graphene.

Electron-phonon coupling in monolayer graphene results in a modification of its Raman spectra upon charge transfer processes induced by interaction with its chemical environment or the presence of strain or defects in its structure. Modification of Raman spectra is examined in order to develop ultra-sensitive biosensing techniques for the detection, identification, differentiation and classification of bacteria associated with infectious diseases. Specifically, the electrochemical properties of top gated monolayer graphene on SiO2/Si substrates, in the absence and presence of interaction with Gram-positive bacteria (Enterococcus faecalis, Bacillus subtilis) and Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium), are probed by Raman spectroscopy in an applied voltage range from 0 V to 3 V.

Invasive aspergillosis complicating treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors.

We describe three cases of pulmonary aspergillosis (PA) in three patients without traditional risk factors for invasive aspergillosis infection, such as prolonged neutropenia or high dose systemic corticosteroid therapy. All three patients developed PA while taking tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) and sustained greater clinical improvement once TKI were withdrawn. Our case series supports the theory TKI treatment can increase susceptibility to PA without causing neutropenia.

Design of softened polystyrene for crack- and contamination-free large-area graphene transfer.

The fundamental issues related to the formation of mechanical cracks and the chemical residue during the transfer process of large-area CVD graphene by polymeric carrier-films are addressed in this work. This paper presents a method to design a new polymer carrier-film (using polystyrene (PS) and 4,4'-diisopropylbiphenyl (DIPB)) that is free from mechanical cracks and polymer residue during the transfer of large-area graphene from a metal catalyst. This new polymer carrier film shows excellent mechanical flexibility and good solubility in tetrahydrofuran solvent without any residue and it is confirmed that the graphene transfer process is excellent without mechanical destruction even over a large area.

Mechanical exfoliation and electrical characterization of a one-dimensional NbSe atomic crystal.

A novel semiconductor 1D nanomaterial, NbSe, was synthesized on a bulk scale simple vapor transport reaction between niobium and selenium. Needle-like single crystal NbSe contains numerous single NbSe chains linked by van der Waals interactions, and we confirmed that a bundle of chains can be easily separated by mechanical cleavage. The exfoliated NbSe flakes exhibit a quasi-two-dimensional layered structure, and the number of layers can be controlled using the repeated-peeling method.

Exfoliation and Characterization of V₂Se₉ Atomic Crystals.

Mass production of one-dimensional, V₂Se₉ crystals, was successfully synthesized using the solid-state reaction of vanadium and selenium. Through the mechanical exfoliation method, the bulk V₂Se₉ crystal was easily separated to nanoribbon structure and we have confirmed that as-grown V₂Se₉ crystals consist of innumerable single V₂Se₉ chains linked by van der Waals interaction. The exfoliated V₂Se₉ flakes can be controlled thickness by the repeated-peeling method.

Triangular radial NbO nanorod growth on -plane sapphire for ultraviolet-radiation detection.

NbO nanostructures with excellent crystallinities were grown on -plane sapphire and employed for ultraviolet-(UV)-radiation detection. The triangular radial NbO grown on the -sapphire substrate had a 6-fold symmetry with domain matching epitaxy on the substrate. Owing to the radial growth, the nanorods naturally connected when the deposition time increased.

Phyto-management of chromium contaminated soils through sunflower under exogenously applied 5-aminolevulinic acid.

Soil contamination with heavy metals is threatening the food security around the globe. Chromium (Cr) contamination results in poor quality and reduction in yield of crops. The present research was performed to figure out the Cr toxicity in sunflower and the ameliorative role of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) as a plant growth regulator.

Mesoporous Silica Thin Films for Improved Electrochemical Detection of Paraquat.

An electrochemical method was developed for rapid and sensitive detection of the herbicide paraquat in aqueous samples using mesoporous silica thin film modified glassy carbon electrodes (GCE). Vertically aligned mesoporous silica thin films were deposited onto GCE by electrochemically assisted self-assembly (EASA). Cyclic voltammetry revealed effective response to the cationic analyte (while rejecting anions) thanks to the charge selectivity exhibited by the negatively charged mesoporous channels.

Localization of the zinc binding tubulin polymerization promoting protein in the mice and human eye.

Tubulin Polymerization Promoting Protein (TPPP/p25) modulates the dynamics and stability of the microtubule network by its bundling and acetylation enhancing activities that can be modulated by the binding of zinc to TPPP/p25. Its expression is essential for the differentiation of oligodendrocytes, the major constituents of the myelin sheath, and has been associated with neuronal inclusions. In this paper, evidence is provided for the expression and localization of TPPP/p25 in the zinc-rich retina and in the oligodendrocytes in the optic nerve.

Molecular Detection and Differentiation of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Complex and Non-tuberculous Mycobacterium in the Clinical Specimens by Real Time PCR.

Mycobacteria are subdivided into three groups: the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, the non-tuberculous mycobacteria called NTM or MOTT (Mycobacteria Other Than Tuberculosis) and Mycobacterium leprae. Over the past few decades, the incidence of infections caused by NTM has increased world wide. The differentiation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex from NTM is of primary importance for infection control and choice of antimicrobial therapy.