Computational Study of Chalcogenide-Based Perovskite Solar Cell Using SCAPS-1D Numerical Simulator.

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are regarded as extremely efficient and have significant potential for upcoming photovoltaic technologies due to their excellent optoelectronic properties. However, a few obstacles, which include the instability and high costs of production of lead-based PSCs, hinder their commercialization. In this study, the performance of a solar cell with a configuration of FTO/CdS/BaZrS/HTL/Ir was optimized by varying the thickness of the perovskite layer, the hole transport layer, the temperature, the electron transport layer (ETL)'s defect density, the absorber defect density, the energy band, and the work function for back contact.

Global Comparisons of Age, Gender and Socioeconomic Status Differences of Physical Fitness Health Risk in South African Primary School Children: Longitudinal Data from the NW-CHILD Study.

Global physical fitness (PF) levels have declined over the past 50 years, contributing to early health risks in children although it is still unclear how age, gender and socioeconomic status (SES) impact PF risk. This study aimed to identify unique health risks related to age, SES and gender that might influence muscular fitness (MF) and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) levels of primary school children in South Africa. Children ( = 349, boys = 165; girls = 184) of low ( = 201) and high SES ( = 148) underwent three time point measurements at 6, 9 and 12 years spanning seven primary school years.

A Numerical Simulation Study of the Impact of Kesterites Hole Transport Materials in Quantum Dot-Sensitized Solar Cells Using SCAPS-1D.

Energy generation and storage are critical challenges for developing economies due to rising populations and limited access to clean energy resources. Fossil fuels, commonly used for energy production, are costly and contribute to environmental pollution through greenhouse gas emissions. Quantum dot-sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs) offer a promising alternative due to their stability, low cost, and high-power conversion efficiency (PCE) compared to other third-generation solar cells.

Comparative property investigation of raw and treated coconut shell biomass for potential polymer composite application.

The use of environmentally friendly materials for industrial applications has increased tremendously in the past decades due to environmental concerns associated with using synthetic materials. The present comparative investigation studied the properties of raw and chemically-treated coconut shell biomass for possible polymeric composite applications. The coconut shell biomass was treated with alkali (NaOH), bleaching and combined NaOH-bleaching solutions and investigated the surface morphology, chemical transformations, and thermal stability.

Bias evaluation and minimization for estuarine total dissolved solids (TDS) patterns constructed using spatial interpolation techniques.

This study evaluated and minimized bias in estuarine total dissolved solids (TDS) patterns predicted using geostatistical approaches. The acquired TDS data was divided into three parts: 29 points (60 %) for predicting TDS patterns with spatial interpolation techniques, 12 points (25 %) for validation and bias correction, and 7 points (37 %) for testing the corrected bias. Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW), Ordinary Kriging (OK), Universal Kriging (UK) and Regression Kriging (RK) were applied to map TDS patterns.

Commercial Day-Old Chicks in Nigeria Are Potential Reservoirs of Colistin- and Tigecycline-Resistant Potentially Pathogenic .

Frequent use of colistin (COL) and tetracyclines in the Nigerian poultry sector potentially triggers bacterial resistance against COL and tigecycline (TIG), which are last-line antibiotics used to treat multidrug-resistant infections. This study aimed to isolate COL- and TIG-resistant . from commercial day-old chicks distributed to poultry farmers in Nsukka Southeastern Nigeria, assess the production of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) and carbapenemase by the isolates, and establish their pathogenic potentials.

Farmers' perceptions and awareness of cattle feedlots as a climate-smart approach to enteric methane emissions.

The perceptions of farmers regarding communal feedlots and their role in reducing enteric methane emissions have received limited attention in research. This study aims to examine farmers' perceptions, assess awareness, and identify barriers to adopting feedlots as a climate-smart practice to enteric methane emissions in rural communities in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. 161 structured, paper-based questionnaires were distributed among smallholder cattle farmers around three feedlot locations.

Sodium alginate/carboxymethylcellulose gel formulations containing plant extract for wound healing.

Using appropriate wound dressings is crucial when treating burn wounds to promote accelerated healing. Sodium alginate (SA)-based gels containing Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and Pluronic F127 were prepared. The formulations.

Community-based infant hearing screening: Outcomes of a rural pilot programme.

Background:  Community-based universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS) has not been fully realised in South Africa despite the availability of contextually relevant early hearing detection and intervention guidelines. Research has confirmed the feasibility of implementing UNHS programmes in urban contexts; however, limited information exists for rural contexts.

Objectives:  The aim of the study was to describe the outcomes in terms of coverage rate, referral rate and follow-up rate of a 1-year UNHS pilot programme implemented at three primary health care (PHC) clinics in the Limpopo province.

Occurrence and risk assessment of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in surficial water and sediment from Buffalo River estuary, South Africa.

This study assessed PBDE congeners in surface water and sediment from the Buffalo River estuary, East London, South Africa. Samples were collected across three seasons in 2020 and analyzed using GC-MS and GC-μECD to respectively identify and quantify analytes. The concentration of ∑PBDEs in the surface water and sediment ranged from n.

-Loaded Sodium Alginate Single- and Double-Layer Membrane Composites for Wound Healing.

: Effective wound dressing is the key solution to combating the increased death rate and prolonged hospital stay common to patients with wounds. : Sodium alginate-based single- and double-layer membranes incorporated with root extract were designed using the solvent-casting method from a combination of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), Pluronic F127 (PF127), and gum acacia. : The successful preparation of the membranes and loading of the extract were confirmed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD).

Fabrication of heterostructure multilayer devices through the optimization of Bi-metal sulfides for high-performance quantum dot-sensitized solar cells.

In this work, a titanium dioxide and lead sulfide (TiO/PbS) nano-size heterostructure with tin sulfide was fabricated and coated a two-step direct deposition process. Its microstructure, morphology, elemental composition, optical absorption, and photochemical activity were investigated. Linear sweep voltammetry and cyclic voltammetry curves substantiated its catalytic activity, indicating quantum dot effects of a well-developed space charge domain on the surface of the hybrid structure.

Design and evaluation of a gas, temperature profiling and data acquisition system to monitor the performance of a batch fixed dome biogas digester.

Recovering energy from biomass and treating organic waste can be done effectively through a biogas digester system. However, monitoring the performance and control of the system to produce biogas is possible through the online process. Therefore, this study developed a novel low-cost gas and temperature profiling system (GTPS) and data acquisition system (DAS) used in biogas digester.

Factors affecting detection and estimation of SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentration of COVID-19 positive cases in wastewater influent: A systematic review.

Background: Wastewater Based Surveillance (WBS) has emerged as a novel monitoring tool for tracking and estimating the dissemination of the Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) within communities.

Objective: The goal of this review is to assess the factors that influence estimations of SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentration estimations in wastewater.

Methods: A literature search was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) criteria in the electronic databases Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Medline.

Geospatial Mapping and Meteorological Flood Risk Assessment: A Global Research Trend Analysis.

Flooding is a global threat causing significant economic and environmental damage, necessitating a policy response and collaborative strategy. This study assessed global research trends and advances in geospatial and meteorological flood risk assessment (G_MFRA), considering the ongoing debate on flood risk management and adaptation strategies. A total of 1872 original articles were downloaded in BibTex format using the Web of Science (WOS) and Scopus databases to retrieve G_MFRA studies published from 1985 to 2023.

Modelling and Numerical Evaluation of Photovoltaic Parameters of a Highly Efficient Perovskite Solar Cell Based on Methylammonium Tin Iodide.

Designing a high-performance solar cell structure requires the understanding of material innovation, device engineering, charge behavior, operation characteristics and efficient photoconversion of light to generate electricity. This study offers a detailed numerical evaluation of the device physics in a highly efficient methylammonium-based perovskite solar cell (PSC) of the configuration, FTO/WO/CH₃NH₃SnI₃/GO/Fe. Utilizing the SCAPS-1D device simulator, an impressive open-circuit voltage (V) of 1.

Effectiveness of magnetite nanoparticles for the removal of DNA of multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli from municipal wastewater.

Water is an important component of life and plays a vital role in human and animal lives, and because of these essential roles of water to life, access to quality water and in adequate quantity becomes imperative. Subsequently, water/wastewater systems have become established as reservoirs of antimicrobial resistance determinants in the environment. In this study, we carried out the synthesis and characterization of magnetite nanoparticles for use in the removal of genomic DNA of antibiotic resistant Escherichia coli isolate in aqueous system.

Platinum Group Metals Nanoparticles in Breast Cancer Therapy.

Despite various methods currently used in cancer therapy, breast cancer remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Current therapeutics face limitations such as multidrug resistance, drug toxicity and off-target effects, poor drug bioavailability and biocompatibility, and inefficient drug delivery. Nanotechnology has emerged as a promising approach to cancer diagnosis, imaging, and therapy.