Composite glasses possessing amorphous nature and high dielectric constants exhibit properties suitable for optoelectronic and electrochemical applications. Multi-component silica calcium phosphate glasses doped with 0.5 and 1 mol% of trivalent praseodymium (Pr³⁺) were synthesized by the sol-gel method. The Pr³⁺ doped and undoped glasses were compared at room temperature (300 K) for analyzing their electrical variations. Dielectric studies predicted an increase in the dielectric constant and conductivity in the doped sample when compared to the undoped glass. A high dielectric constant of 89.2 was observed in the optimally doped glass at 1 kHz. The value of the capacitance increases to the order of nanofarads as the concentration of Pr³⁺ increases, indicating enhanced storage in the material. The AC conductivity of the highly doped sample evidenced a high value of 2.9 x 10^-5 S/cm at 10 MHz. The Cole-Cole plot of the glasses demonstrated a single flattened semicircle due to the lack of grains. The equivalent circuitry constitutes a constant phase element (CPE) in series to a parallel circuit of a resistor and CPE. The behavior is indicative of the suitability of the glasses as cathodes. The increase of capacitance with doping in the low-frequency region suggests the use of glasses as energy storage dielectric materials in condensers.

Multi-component silica calcium phosphate glasses doped with modifiers of alkaline and transition metal oxides of Mg²⁺, Fe³⁺, and Bi³⁺ were synthesized by the sol-gel method. The glasses were analyzed for structural behavior by XRD analysis. While alkaline metal-doped glasses were purely amorphous, the transition metal oxides induced fractional crystallinity in the material, with bismuth evidencing a highly glass-ceramic attribute. The FT-IR analysis confirmed the presence of the silicate and phosphate linkages in the glass material by the vibration modes around 790 cm^-1 and 450 cm^-1. The peaks also would represent the bridging and non-bridging oxygens of the glass formers. The UV-visible absorption spectra of the alkaline metal-infused glasses demonstrated the absence of sharp absorption peaks, while the transition metals-doped glasses evidenced prominent UV absorption. Tauc’s plots of the absorption spectra were employed to predict the band gap energies. While the Fe³⁺ doped glass exhibited the lowest band gap energy of 2.6 eV approaching a semiconducting nature, the remaining glasses expressed an insulating behavior with a value around 4 eV. The high UV absorption and lower bandgap indicates the suitability of the iron-doped glass for photovoltaic devices. Green and red emissions from all the glasses were observed by the photoluminescence analysis. While the emission is indicative of the nature of the glass host, the intensity of luminescence was altered by the influence of modifiers. The multi-component silicate glasses underscore the efficiency of the modifiers which could be suitably tailored for influencing the laser activity.

Mercury contamination emanating from anthropogenic activities has been a global problem. Thus, the development of cheap and efficient techniques for sensing mercury in aqueous solutions is of significance for the protection of humans and other organisms. The sensing of mercury using silver nanoparticles fabricated using phytochemicals extracted from Synadeum roots (SYR) is reported. The synthesis of silver nanoparticles (SYR-AgNPs) was confirmed by a strong plasmon resonance in the UV-Vis spectrum at 420 nm due to oscillations of electrons in the silver nanoparticles. The fabricated silver nanoparticles were used in the sensing of mercury ions from aqueous solutions. The addition of mercury changed SYR-AgNPs color to colorless, and the change was proportional to mercury concentration. The prepared silver nanoparticles displayed a high selectivity for the detection of mercury against other divalent metal ions (Hg²⁺, Ba²⁺, Mg²⁺, Zn²⁺, Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺, Co²⁺ and Fe²⁺). Similarly, the sensing of mercury was insignificantly affected in the presence of the metallic ions. The application of silver nanoparticles in the sensing of mercury displayed a detection limit of 11.3 M. The method was successfully used to detect mercury in tap water samples. Therefore, the findings in the current study indicate that the prepared SYR-AgNPs can serve as a potential cheap and readily available method for sensing mercury ions in environmental samples.

Nanogel system loaded with nanosuspension is a promising approach for nose to brain delivery in order to reduce dose and dosing frequency an also helps to improve the bioavailability of the drug. The present study attempt was made to develop the Nanosuspension loaded Insitu nasal nanogel of the Nortryptiline HCl (NTH) to get an effective administration through intranasal route to reaches to the brain via olfactory and trigeminal nerves to improve the therapeutic efficiency. Nanoprecipitation-Ultrasonication method followed by high pressure homogenization was elected for preparation of nanosuspension which further incorporated into insitu gelling polymer solution. Optimized nanosuspension loaded nanogel was prepared by using gellan gum. Optimized formulation shows average particle size of 10-100 nm and good PDI value, increase in solubility and also shows high
entrapment efficiency 92.30 ± 2.23%. The formulation containing 0.5% gellan gum shows good gelation property and desired viscosity to adhere at
the nasal mucosa after ionic interactions. Invitro drug release was found to be more than drug solution over period of 60 min. Spreadability, and viscosity studies shows better results for getting good residence time. Hence, it was proved that insitu nanogel is one of the best possible approach for the targeting of drug towards brain in nanoform.

Abstract

Type II diabetes (mellitus), commonly known as diabetes, is a chronic and multifactorial disease that is increasingly prevalent worldwide. An aging population will double the number of individuals who need medical attention during the next decade, putting a greater strain on healthcare systems everywhere, especially in developing nations. The prevention and treatment of diabetes and its complications have become a major health concern in modern society. Once diabetes-related problems manifest, they tend to be permanent and challenging to treat effectively. Amidst this health crisis, nanotechnology has emerged as a promising avenue for addressing various issues associated with diabetes. Over the past few years, scientists have increasingly used nanotechnology to investigate diabetic complications, focusing on areas including prevention and treatment. When it comes to detecting and treating illness, nanotechnology (the exploration of nanoscale materials) has opened up new avenues of inquiry. With its applications spanning materials science, environment, biology, healthcare, and biochemistry, nanotechnology has garnered attention for exploring diabetic complications and interventions. In particular, it has paved the way for less intrusive and more effective diabetes management options. The development of nanocarriers, such as nanoparticles (NPs), liposomes, carbon nanotubes, nanoemulsions, and micelles, has revolutionized the transport of oral hypoglycemic drugs. These nanocarriers offer superior efficiency compared to traditional therapeutic approaches, enabling better control of elevated blood glucose levels. The integration of multiple ligands into nanostructures further enhances targeted drug delivery while safeguarding the encapsulated hypoglycemic drugs from degradation. The net result is a greater and sustained reduction in blood glucose levels, offering new hope for improved diabetes control with reduced short- and long-term consequences. Thus, nanotechnology holds the potential to transform diabetes management into a state-of-the-art and highly promising field, presenting novel and useful solutions to combat this global health challenge.

Nowadays, smoking or tobacco-related habits (chewing tobacco) is recognized as the most frequent environmental risk factor for periodontal disorders. Atorvastatin Calcium (ATV) is a well-known lipid-lowering drug, but recent studies have discussed its pleiotropic effects, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, etc. This anti-inflammatory effect can be studied as an adjunct for Scaling and Root planning (a non-surgical process to remove dental tartar and smooth root surfaces) for periodontics problems. The goal of the study is to formulate and evaluate ATV-niosomes, introduce them in a gel-based formulation by utilizing an appropriate gelling agent, and evaluate them for various parameters. The niosomal vesicles were prepared by the Thin-film hydration method. Gel was prepared using the dispersion method, and an in-vitro drug release study was conducted using a Franz-diffusion cell. According to the results evaluated, ATV niosomal gels loaded with different concentrations of Carbopol 934 were effectively produced utilizing ATV-niosomes that were formulated by the Thin-Film Hydration process using Cholesterol and Span 60. The ATV-niosomes showed the highest entrapment efficiency, up to 84%, and the zeta potential (-18 mV) and PDI (0.106) showed stable and homogenous behavior of the vesicles formed. The performance of the optimized gel containing 1% Carbopol 934 showed in-vitro release of up to 8 hours following Zero Order release. The gel also proved to have antimicrobial activity against S. aureus and P. aeruginosa. Therefore, we conclude that 1% Carbopol 934 gel comprising ATV-niosomes showed a prolonged effect compared to plain ATV and can effectively work to improve the periodontal condition as an adjunct to Scaling and Root planning.

Phenolic antioxidants of various groups are important nutrients in human diet providing positive health effects. Nevertheless, these effects are dose-dependent that requires the control of natural phenolics contents in their sources. Coffee and citrus juices containing significant amounts of hydroxycinnamic acids and flavanones, respectively, are among most widely consumed beverages all over the world. Electroactivity of phenolics allows application of voltammetric sensors for quantification purposes. Highly sensitive and selective voltammetric sensors for the simultaneous determination of hydroxycinnamic acids (caffeic, ferulic, and p-coumaric acids) and flavanones (hesperidin and naringin) has been developed for the first time using glassy carbon electrodes modified with layer-by-layer combination of polyaminobenzene sulfonic acid functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes and electropolymerized triphenylmethane dyes (phenol red or aluminon). Polymeric coverages have been obtained in potentiodynamic mode. Conditions of dye's electropolymerization have been optimized using voltammetric response of hydroxycinnamic acids or flavanone mixtures. A well-resolved peaks of caffeic, ferulic, and p-coumaric acids at the electrode with poly(phenol red)- based electrode as well as hesperidin and naringin at the polyaluaminon-modified electrode have been observed. The oxidation currents are significantly increased vs. bare glassy carbon and carbon nanotube-modified electrodes. Both sensors provide highly sensitive response to target analytes in differential pulse voltammetric mode. Selectivity in the presence of other natural phenolics has been achieved. Quantification of hydroxycinnamic acids in coffee and flavanones in orange and grapefruit juices has been successfully realized.

Fluidic thrust vectoring (FTV) control is a cutting-edge method used to manipulate the motion of an unmanned air vehicle when traditional control surfaces like elevators are not available. The primary purpose of employing FTV is to make the aircraft less detectable. This study focuses on investigating the co-flow type of FTV concept, where a high-velocity secondary jet is introduced into the boundary layer of the primary jet, resulting in deflection of the primary jet and enabling the generation of a pitch moment. Numerical simulations were conducted to analyze different ratios of secondary and primary jet velocities, providing valuable insights that informed the design of a functional FTV test rig. The test rig, designed with a pitch-constraint dynamic setup, utilized electric ducted fans to generate primary and secondary flows. At 19 m/s primary velocity, the experimental testing shows a maximum vertical force of 0.4 N, producing a deflection of 30°, which is deemed adequate for thrust vectoring. This research builds upon the authors' previous work on characterizing a static co-flow FTV rig. The comparison between the computational fluid dynamics analyses and the experimental results demonstrates agreement in the behavior of the vectored jet. This validation further strengthens the findings presented in this paper.

The high demand for cement, the challenges associated with the disposal of agricultural waste, and—most significantly—the emission of CO2 associated with cement production and use, which has a negative impact on the environment, have created opportunities for research in the construction sector. The urgent issue for researchers to explore into substitute materials that may sustainably replace cement in the construction sector has also been prompted by the necessity to manage world's natural resources. This paper investigates the properties of hollow blocks produced by replacing cement with Nano-silica produced from rice husk waste at 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, and 5%, in order to evaluate the effect on the strength of the hollow block. The nanosilicate-crete hollow blocks has four (4) mixes: [1:4, 1:6, 1:8, and 1:10] at different curing days (1, 3, 7, 14, 28, and 56 days by spray of water). The result from the findings showed that the optimum nanosilica replacement for compressive strength of nanosilicate-crete block used in this study is 3%NS replacement by weight of cement for all mix ratios. Also, the compressive strengths values after 7 days curing are in conformity with specifications from codes. Based on the results obtained, it was recommended that for the production of nanosilicate-crete hollow block with a high compressive strength, nanosilica produced from rice husk ash should replace ordinary Portland cement by 3% of weight of cement.

The environmental pollution caused by plastic waste has become a key-issue in recent years, given the significant threat posed on terrestrial ecosystems. One of the most discussed topics concerning plastic waste is their impact on marine environments, particularly, the effects caused by microplastics (MP) and its bioaccumulation in aquatic species. Despite rivers being the primary pathway for MP transport from terrestrial sources to marine environments, research on the transport mechanisms in river systems is scarce. To design efficient retention and collection systems, it is essential to understand and quantify MP transport in rivers. This work explores the use of a bubble curtain device to retain MP particles. The objectives are centered on the analysis of flow hydrodynamics in the presence of a bubble plume and the study of the parameters that influence the efficiency of the device. In the interest of studying the influence of bubble injection in the microplastics dynamics, a numerical study is performed using Ansys® Fluent 2019 R3. To accurately and more closely represent the problem’s physics, three central concepts are used: multiphase, turbulence and discrete phase modelling. By using these three concepts, the free-surface is closely tracked using the Volume of Fluid (VOF) method, the mean flow field is solved with a Reynolds-averaged approach (RAS) and the unsteady particle tracking of the microplastics are properly estimated with Discrete Phase Model (DPM). The injection of particles is considered to not have any interaction with the continous phase, following a one-way coupling philosophy that is valid when the particle concentration is low. Preliminary results show that injecting air at the bottom of the water channel creates a clear upward current resultant from the inlet velocity and buoyancy effects. MP particles are driven to the surface by the ascending current, and by getting attached to the rising bubbles. Once at the surface, the microplastics can be more easily removed. Ongoing research is focused on the efficiency of the retention system and in its dependence on the air injection velocity, flow velocity, water depth, and other governing parameters. Future research will look into newer and improved injection systems with a focus on exploring these studies experimentally.