Public healthcare system capacity during COVID-19: A computational case study of SARS-CoV-2.

Aim: Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) is spreading typically to the human population all over the world and the report suggests that scientists have been trying to map the pattern of the early transmission of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) since it has been reported as an epidemic. Our main aim is to show if the rise-in-cases proceeds in a gradual and staggered manner instead of soaring quickly then we can suppress the burden of the health system. In this new case study, we are attempting to show how to control the outbreak of the infectious disease COVID-19 via mathematical modeling.

A thermally insulating vermiculite nanosheet-epoxy nanocomposite paint as a fire-resistant wood coating.

Conventional fire-retardant composite coatings are typically made of organic-based materials that reduce flame spread rates. However, the associated chemical reactions and starting precursors produce toxic and hazardous gases, affecting the environment and contributing to climate change. Wood is one of the most common materials used in construction and households, and thin-film fire-retardant coatings are needed to protect it from fire.

Impact of geology and anthropogenic activities over the water quality with emphasis on fluoride in water scarce Lalitpur district of Bundelkhand region, India.

The Bundelkhand region of India is suffering from acute water scarcity, raising concern over the potability in the region. Therefore, to develop a baseline data set of groundwater quality, sampling was carried out from the 110 existing shallow hand pumps and tube wells covering the Lalitpur district. Groundwater samples were investigated for hydro-geochemical and isotopic signatures (δO and δH) to understand the driving factors leading to water quality and its contamination in the region.

The construction of a dual direct Z-scheme NiAl LDH/g-CN/AgPO nanocomposite for enhanced photocatalytic oxygen and hydrogen evolution.

Dual direct Z-scheme photocatalysts for overall water decomposition have demonstrated strong redox abilities and the efficient separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs. Overall water splitting utilizing NiAl-LDH-based binary and ternary nanocomposites has been extensively investigated. The synthesized binary and ternary nanocomposites were characterized XRD, FTIR, SEM, HRTEM, XPS, UV-DRS, and photoelectrochemical measurements.

Preparation of hybrid paper electrode based on hexagonal boron nitride integrated graphene nanocomposite for free-standing flexible supercapacitors.

Flexible energy storage devices have received great interest due to the increasing demand for wearable and flexible electronic devices with high-power energy sources. Herein, a novel hybrid flexible hexagonal boron nitride integrated graphene paper (BN/GrP) is fabricated from 2D hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) nanosheets integrated with graphene sheets dispersion a simple vacuum filtration method. FE-SEM indicated that layered graphene nanosheets tightly confined with h-BN nanosheets.

Solution processed transparent anatase TiO nanoparticles/MoO nanostructures heterojunction: high performance self-powered UV detector for low-power and low-light applications.

Ultraviolet (UV) photodetectors are considered as the major players in energy saving technology of the future. Efforts are needed to further develop such devices, which are capable of operating efficiently at low driving potential as well as with weak illumination. Herein, we report an all-oxide, highly transparent TiO/MoO bilayer film, with nanoparticulate anatase TiO as the platform, fabricated by a simple solution based method and demonstrate its use in UV photodetection.

The electronic structures and magnetic properties of mixed-valence Fe-based metal-organic VNU-15 frameworks: a theoretical study from linear response DFT+U calculations.

The crystal symmetries, electronic structures, and magnetic properties of metal-organic VNU-15 frameworks (VNU = Vietnam National University) were investigated using density functional calculations (DFT) with an on-site Coulomb repulsion approximation, , of 4.30 eV, determined the linear response method. Two different orientations of dimethylammonium (DMA) cations in VNU-15 were investigated.

Novel cross-linked poly(vinyl alcohol)-based electrolyte membranes for fuel cell applications.

Herein, a new series of polymer electrolyte membranes was prepared by chemically cross-linked poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and sulfonated poly(ether sulfone) (SPES). A typical polymerization reaction was conducted using three different monomers bisphenol A, phenolphthalein, and 4,4'-dichlorodiphenyl sulfone. The SPES polymer was obtained by the post-sulfonation technique using chlorosulfonic acid as a sulfonating agent.

Barrier-assisted vapor phase CVD of large-area MoS monolayers with high spatial homogeneity.

Atomically thin molybdenum disulphide (MoS) is a direct band gap semiconductor with negatively charged trions and stable excitons in striking contrast to the wonder material graphene. While large-area growth of MoS can be readily achieved by gas-phase chemical vapor deposition (CVD), growth of continuous MoS atomic layers with good homogeneity is indeed one of the major challenges in vapor-phase CVD involving all-solid precursors. In this study, we demonstrate the growth of large-area continuous single crystal MoS monolayers on -plane sapphire by carefully positioning the substrate using a facile staircase-like barrier.

Bidirectional crosstalk between Hypoxia-Inducible Factor and glucocorticoid signalling in zebrafish larvae.

In the last decades in vitro studies highlighted the potential for crosstalk between Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-(HIF) and glucocorticoid-(GC) signalling pathways. However, how this interplay precisely occurs in vivo is still debated. Here, we use zebrafish larvae (Danio rerio) to elucidate how and to what degree hypoxic signalling affects the endogenous glucocorticoid pathway and vice versa, in vivo.

Poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(propylene glycol)-poly(ethylene glycol) and polyvinylidene fluoride blend doped with oxydianiline-based thiourea derivatives as a novel and modest gel electrolyte system for dye-sensitized solar cell applications.

Unique symmetrical thiourea derivatives with an oxydianiline core were synthesized using cost-effective and simple methods. A new gel electrolyte system was prepared using these thiourea additives along with a highly conductive PEG-PPG-PEG block copolymer, PVDF, and an iodide/triiodide redox couple. The PEG units present in the electrolyte are well-known for their intense segmental motion of ions, which can degrade the recombination rate and favour the charge transfer.

Bridging and synergistic effect of the pyrochlore like BiZrO structure with robust CdCuS solid solution for durable photocatalytic removal of the organic pollutants.

Herein, a strong redox ability photocatalyst of CdCuS solid solution composited with pyrochlore like BiZrO has been fabricated by the simple hydrothermal method. The robust CdCuS solid solution materials perform the supporting role to the BiZrO nano materials. The structural, optical, valence and vibrational states of the prepared heterostructure materials were analyzed using various characterization techniques.

A magnetic nanoscale metal-organic framework (MNMOF) as a viable fluorescence quencher material for ssDNA and for the detection of mercury ions a novel quenching-quenching mechanism.

A novel fluorescent biosensor has been designed and synthesized comprising a magnetic nanoscale metal-organic framework (MNMOF) functionalized with fluorescein amidite (FAM)-labeled ssDNA. It exhibits good sensitivity and selectivity for Hg(ii) cations over other co-existing metal ions. MNMOF was fabricated by a one-pot synthetic method and it was successfully characterized with various techniques such as UV-visible spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrometry, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).

Nickel oxide decorated MoS nanosheet-based non-enzymatic sensor for the selective detection of glucose.

Understanding blood glucose levels in our body can be a key part in identifying and diagnosing prediabetes. Herein, nickel oxide (NiO) decorated molybdenum disulfide (MoS) nanosheets have been synthesized a hydrothermal process to develop a non-enzymatic sensor for the detection of glucose. The surface morphology of the NiO/MoS nanocomposite was comprehensively investigated by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis.

Development of the fall prevention index on the movable scaffold for construction workers.

Background: Falls are caused by difficulties in maintaining stable posture or center of pressure (COP). Studies on construction-related falls and their prevention are limitedOBJECTIVE:To propose a fall prevention index (FPI) based on the working environment at height (with or without a handrail) and experience of workers on movable scaffolds.

Methods: Thirty participants were enrolled, and their COP distances were measured at the time of falling in the anterior-posterior (AP), mediolateral (ML), and diagonal directions.

MoS nanosheet mediated ZnO-g-CN nanocomposite as a peroxidase mimic: catalytic activity and application in the colorimetric determination of Hg(ii).

A novel colorimetric sensing platform using the peroxidase mimicking activity of ternary MoS-loaded ZnO-g-CN nanocomposites (ZnO-g-CN/MoS) has been developed for the determination of Hg(ii) ions over co-existing metal ions. The nanocomposite was prepared using an exfoliation process, and the product was further characterized using SEM, TEM, XRD and FTIR analysis. The ZnO-g-CN/MoS possesses excellent intrinsic catalytic activity to induce the oxidation of 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) in aqueous solution in the presence of HO to generate deep blue coloured cation radicals (TMB) which can be viewed with the naked eye and produce absorbance at a wavelength of 652 nm.

A copper(ii)-catalyzed annulative formylation of -alkynylanilines with DMF: a single-step strategy for 3-formyl indoles.

In this paper, a copper(ii)-catalyzed reaction of -alkynylanilines with dimethylformamide (DMF) in the presence of oxygen has been developed for synthesizing multisubstituted 3-formyl indole scaffolds. This one-pot reaction proceeds through a cascade 5--dig cyclization followed by formylation to construct 1,2-disubstituted 3-formyl indoles. The key aspects of this synthesis method are the broad substrate scope (with 38 examples), and well tolerating various functional groups.

Green synthesis of surface-passivated carbon dots from the prickly pear cactus as a fluorescent probe for the dual detection of arsenic(iii) and hypochlorite ions from drinking water.

Efforts were made to develop a simple new approach for the green synthesis of surface-passivated carbon dots from edible prickly pear cactus fruit as the carbon source by a one-pot hydrothermal route. Glutathione (GSH) was passivated on the surface of the CDs to form a sensor probe, which exhibited excellent optical properties and water solubility. The prepared sensor was successfully characterized by UV-visible spectrophotometry, fluorescence spectrophotometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

Rosmarinic acid attenuates hepatic steatosis by modulating ER stress and autophagy in oleic acid-induced HepG2 cells.

Non-alcoholic fatty acid disease (NAFLD) has become an emerging entity of liver disorders worldwide. Oxidative stress and deranged autophagy-induced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress has recently been recognized as one of the prime factors involved in the pathological mechanism underlying NAFLD and progressive non-alcoholic steato-hepatitis (NASH). Epidemiological and experimental data reveal the potency of dietary polyphenols in averting NAFLD.

Ultrathin layered MoS nanosheets with rich active sites for enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity.

Edge-rich active sites of ultrathin layered molybdenum disulphide (MoS) nanosheets were synthesized by a hydrothermal method. The effect of pH on the formation of MoS nanosheets and their photocatalytic response have been investigated. Structural and elemental analysis confirm the presence of S-Mo-S in the composition.

Relativistic torques induced by currents in magnetic materials: physics and experiments.

In this review article, an insight of the physics that explains the phenomenon of torques induced by currents in systems comprising ferromagnetic (FM)-non-magnetic (NM) materials has been provided with particular emphasis on experiments that concern the observation of such torques. An important requirement of systems that enables observation of such relativistic torques is that the material needs to possess large spin-orbit coupling (SOC). In addition, the FM/NM interface should be of high quality so that spin angular momentum can be transferred across the interface.

l-Alanine capping of ZnO nanorods: increased carrier concentration in ZnO/CuI heterojunction diode.

ZnO nanorods were capped with a simple amino acid, , l-alanine to increase the carrier concentration and improve the performance of ZnO/CuI heterojunction diodes. The effect of l-alanine capping on the morphology, structural, optical, electrochemical and electrical properties of ZnO nanorods had been studied in detail. The stable structure with two equally strong Zn-O coordinate bonds predicted by density functional theory was in agreement with the experimental results of FTIR spectroscopy.