Recent studies have demonstrated a dramatic escalation in global water consumption, with an approximate 600% increase over the past century. Due to the expansion of the textile industry, there is an increase in the release of synthetic organic dye effluents, which are contributing to the deterioration of water quality, posing significant threats to both human health and aquatic ecosystems. Notably, the textile sector alone utilises approximately 100,000 metric tons of dyes annually, with approximately 15% of these chromophonic compounds being inappropriately discharged into aquatic environments.

Methodology, result, and conclusion: Here, the facile route is applied to synthesise zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) using 80 and 100 ml of aqueous leaf extract of Psidium guajava and Syzygium cumini. The crystalline nature of the synthesised ZnO NPs—80P, 80S, 100P, and 100S—was analysed by XRD; however, Fourier transform spectroscopy and analysis were used to confirm the functional group purity. To examine the photocatalytic activity, 0.1 g/L of synthesised ZnO NPs—80P, 80 S, 100P, and 100B—was immersed in 100 ml of 10 ppm brilliant cresyl green, Malachite green, Eyosin Y, and congored dye solution, stirred for 20 minutes, and kept in the dark to establish an adsorption–desorption equilibrium, followed by exposure to natural sunlight. Moreover, the ZnO NPs 80S and 100S displayed good photocatalytic activity in 140 min of sunlight exposure compared to ZnO NPs 80P and 100P. This study aims to green-synthesise ZnO nanoclusters using two distinct phytochemical reducers and compare their efficiency in solar-assisted photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes in textile wastewater.

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have emerged as a groundbreaking photovoltaic technology, achieving power conversion efficiencies exceeding 25% with the integration of organic small-molecule hole transport materials (HTMs). Despite this significant advancement, large-scale commercialization remains hindered by the high cost of HTMs and the inherent instability of perovskite materials. Among the most widely used HTMs, Spiro-OMeTAD exhibits excellent optoelectronic properties; however, its complex synthesis and costly purification pose major barriers to widespread adoption. Overcoming these challenges requires the development of alternative, cost-effective HTMs with comparable or enhanced performance to improve both the efficiency and stability of PSCs.

This study explores the optoelectronic properties of carbazole-based derivatives as potential HTMs for PSC applications. Thin films were fabricated via the sol-gel spin coating technique on glass substrates, using chlorobenzene as the solvent. The molecular structure of the investigated compound was confirmed through FTIR analysis, while UV-visible absorption and photoluminescence spectroscopy were employed to assess its optical properties. The resulting films exhibited high transparency in the visible spectrum and strong UV absorption, highlighting their suitability for photovoltaic integration. The estimated optical bandgap of the studied compound was approximately 2.8 eV. Furthermore, a strong green emission in the visible region further underscores its potential for optoelectronic applications.

Crystal activation is one of the effective methods that allows influencing functional properties by the nature of dopant ions and their concentration. The region of low dopant concentrations, which is not well represented in the literature, is of particular methodological, scientific, and applied interest.

This work aims to establish the distribution of Со²⁺ ions in the growth sectors of large-sized (~80×80×50 mm) α-Ni²⁺SO₄·6H₂O crystals, used as solar-blind UV filters, grown from an aqueous solution with 0.36 (α-NSH:0.36Co), 0.68 (α-NSH:0.68Co), and 1.0 wt. % Со (α-NSH:1.0Co).

The unit cell volume (V, ų) of macroparts (~0.25×0.25×0.20 mm; Bruker D8 QUEST PHOTON-III) of α-NSH:Со (sp. gr. P4₁2₁2, Z = 4) decreases in the series V₍₁₀₂₎>V₍₀₀₁₎>V₍₁₀₁₎ (a-NSH:0.36Со), V₍₁₀₂₎>V₍₁₀₁₎>V₍₀₀₁₎ (a-NSH:0.68Со), V₍₁₀₁₎>V₍₁₀₂₎>V₍₀₀₁₎ (a-NSH:1.0Со), as well as V₍₀₀₁₎>V₍₁₀₂₎≈V₍₁₀₁₎ (a-NSH:1.0Со) for microparts (~0.02×0.02×0.02 mm; “Belok/XSA” beamline, Kurchatov Synchrotron Radiation Source). This change in V, ų is caused by a different distribution of Co²⁺ across growth sectors, and for a-NSH:1.0Co, also by different conditions of X-ray experiments. The Co²⁺ content decreases in the series р₍₀₀₁₎>р₍₁₀₁₎>р₍₁₀₂₎ (a-NSH:0.36Со; a-NSH:0.68Со), р₍₁₀₁₎>р₍₁₀₂₎>р₍₀₀₁₎ (a-NSH:1.0Со) (р, site occupancy). Comparison of these series shows the substitution of Co²⁺ for Ni²⁺ ions, a symbate correlation between V, ų and p, p and the D–H and D···A distances, but an antibate correlation between p and the H···A distance for a-NSH:1.0Co.

Funding: Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, grant № FSFZ-2024-0003.

The moderation effect is one of many useful research strategies to modelparasitological data. Researchers typically compute an interaction term and focus on whether this variable is statistically significant. However, the marginal effect plots allow for capturing the situations where the effects of changing the explanatory variable are significantly different from zero only at specific values of the moderator. For illustration, the empirical data from 535 individuals of pacific so-iuy mullet, Planiliza haematocheila, sampled from localities in the Sea of Azov during 1998–2014, were used (doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpara.2020.06.008). The parasite abundance of Ligophorus llewellyni was as dependent variable, the temperature and the month wereexplanatory covariates, and the body length of the fish was amoderator. We applied a generalized linear model with negative binomial distribution: abundance ~ temperature * body length + month * body length. The interaction effects were statistically significant (p<0.01). The marginal effect plot showed that the temperature affects the abundance of values of body length in the range 34-71.5 cm, and this effect becomes stronger with increasing body length. According to the data, approximately 74% of the observations have values of body length higher than 34 cm. For interaction models, the marginal effect plots provides valuable insights into changes in the interaction across different ranges of the moderator.

S.S. is funded by the Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the SK (bilateral scholarship, letter of award No. 2025/10152:5-A9161), and V.S. is supported by the International Visegrad Fund, No. 52510298.

Hydrazone complexes are gaining more attention in the design of drugs. This had led to lots of studies on metal-base drugs. Mn(II), Fe(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) complexes of dihydrazone derivative were synthesized by conventional reflux method in ethanolic medium and characterized by physicochemical and spectral techniques. The molar conductance values of the complexes in DMF were in the range of 14.5 - 25.2 Ohm–1cm2mol–1, signifying their non-electrolytic nature. Magnetic susceptibility measurement confirmed the paramagnetic behaviour of the complexes, except Zn(II) complex that was proved to be diamagnetic. Electronic spectra showed pie bonding to pie-antibonding and non-bonding to pie-antibonding electronic transitions at 280 – 287 nm (absorbance range of 4.54 – 7.41) and 400 – 414 nm (absorbance of 3.06 – 6.32) respectively attributed to C=N moiety . Infrared spectrum of the ligand showed C=N absorption band at 1603 cm-1 which was shifted to 1592 – 1618 cm-1 in the spectra of the complexes due to coordination through nitrogen atom of azomethine groups. Microanalysis agreed with the proposed formulae of the compounds (1:2 metal to ligand ratio). The mass spectrum of the ligand displayed the molecular ion peak at m/z 381 in a positive mode due to [M + H]+ ion. The TGA/DTGA curve of the ligand revealed two sequential stages of weight loss. In-vitro biological evaluation indicated that, all the complexes exhibited enhanced antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities compared to the free ligand. These findings highlighted the potentials of the compounds as promising antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory candidates.

In this study, a pyridinium modified based biopolymeric adsorbent has been prepared and its adsorption capacity towards methylene blue was investigated. The polymer extracted from flax seed was modified via furfural, resulting in an insoluble adsorbent containing furfuryl and pyridinium moieties. The characterization was performed via spectroscopic methods (¹³C solids NMR, FT-IR, Raman), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and ζ-potential (DLS). The presence of furfuryl and pyridinium moieties was evidenced via ¹³C NMR. The material presents a negative surface charge above pH 4.5. To enhance the adsorption capacity, the material was pretreated in various salt solutions and compared to only water soaked adsorbent. The application of sulfate and phosphate resulted in a small increase of dye uptake (ca. 36 % removal), compared to the chloride ion (ca. 50-60 % removal) or perchlorate and thiocyanate (94-97 % removal). The pretreatment of adsorbent material with various sodium salts showed that the adsorption capacity towards model dye was tripled, compared to non-pretreated adsorbent. Further, adsorption capacity increased based on using perchlorate and thiocyanate salts. The regeneration experiments showed that the salt application (compared to no salt pretreatment) can further increase the % removal of the model dye (methylene blue) from solution for the first three cycles and remains high up to 6 cycles.

Offshore jacket-type platforms utilize tubular X-joints, among other configurations, for their high strength-to-weight ratio and bending resistance. However, weld geometry at the brace–chord intersection induces localized stress intensities, quantified as Stress Concentration Factors (SCFs), which strongly affect fatigue performance. Accurate SCF prediction under out-of-plane bending (OPB) is especially critical in joints retrofitted with fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites. While existing models address several geometric and material parameters, the influence of brace inclination (θ) has often been overlooked.

This study develops an artificial neural network (ANN) model that incorporates θ alongside five additional parameters, which are the brace-to-chord diameter ratio (β), chord diameter-to-thickness ratio (γ), brace-to-chord thickness ratio (τ), number of FRP layers (N), and FRP-to-steel stiffness ratio (ξ), to predict SCFs in FRP-reinforced tubular X-joints. Finite element analysis (FEA) of 127 parametric joint configurations was performed in ANSYS Workbench 2024 R1, with SCFs extracted following International Institute of Welding (IIW) guidelines. Results revealed that increases in β, γ, and τ raised SCFs by up to 84.14%, 61.15%, and 58.44%, respectively, whereas steeper brace angles, additional FRP layers, and higher ξ reduced SCFs by up to 38.29%.

The ANN, designed with a 6–8–4–1 architecture and trained in MATLAB, achieved an R² of 0.996. External validation confirmed predictive accuracy within ±10% of FEA values. This study delivers a reliable, angle-inclusive SCF prediction model, supporting more efficient fatigue assessment and retrofitting strategies for offshore tubular joints.

This study explores the application of artificial neural networks (ANNs) to predict the concentration of total reducible sugars (TRS) in hydrolysates derived from pretreated mixed agro-waste, with implications for environmental engineering, biotechnology, and sustainable biorefinery processes. Experimental data were generated using bench-scale hydrolysis experiments conducted at the Bioresource Engineering Research Group la-boratory and the Centre for Proteomic and Genomic Research (Cape Town, South Af-rica). Nepenthes mirabilis (N. mirabilis) pitcher fluids, sampled from Pan’s Carnivores Plant Nursery (Cape Town, South Africa), served as enzymatic agents for agro-waste pretreatment. The ANN analysis was conducted using MATLAB’s Neural Network Toolbox, employing a feed-forward topology with a 1-5-2-2 network structure. Input parameters included particle size and enzyme fraction, while outputs corresponded to TRS concentrations at 24 and 72 hours. Validation identified three epochs as optimal for model training, albeit with a mean squared error of 0.54. Experimental runs coded 2, 3, and 4 demonstrated minimal prediction errors (<5%), though runs 3 and 4 exhibited high phenolic concentrations, which are undesired in TRS hydrolysates destined for fer-mentation. In contrast, Run 12 (>106 µm particle size/>3 kDa enzyme fraction) showed promising predictability (R² = 0.93) with low phenolic content, highlighting its suitabil-ity for future biorefinery applications. Statistical validation of the ANN predictions against experimental TRS data confirmed the model’s robustness. This research pro-vides a foundation for optimizing agro-waste pretreatment processes using N. mirabilis pitcher fluids and advances studies through ANN-based modeling. The dataset offers a platform for researchers to explore alternative enzymatic agents or integrate advanced optimization software for scalable bioresource valorization.

Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) is one of the most widely adopted additive manufacturing techniques due to its affordability, flexibility, and capability to produce complex geometries using biodegradable polymers such as polylactic acid (PLA). With the rising demand for reliable, high-performance 3D-printed components in engineering and biomedical sectors, optimising key process parameters to achieve enhanced mechanical strength and surface quality has become increasingly critical. This study examines the effects of selected printing parameters on the compressive strength and surface roughness of FDM-fabricated PLA specimens. A systematic experimental approach was implemented using an L9 Taguchi orthogonal array, enabling efficient planning and analysis of the influence of each parameter. Results indicated that raster orientation had the most significant impact on compressive strength, achieving a maximum of 67 MPa with a ±45° orientation, 210 °C nozzle temperature, 0.1 mm layer thickness, and 60 mm/s printing speed. In terms of surface quality, layer thickness emerged as the dominant factor, with the smoothest finish (Ra = 4.84 µm) achieved at 0.1 mm, 200 °C, 30 mm/s, and ±45° orientation. These findings provide practical insights into parameter optimisation strategies, supporting the production of PLA components with improved structural performance and refined surface characteristics. Such optimisation is vital to expand the applications of FDM-printed PLA in advanced functional, engineering, and biomedical contexts.

The need for ecological materials became an important strategy to reduce the carbon footprint and the heating loss of the building envelope, and this has become a necessity according to the huge problem that agonizes the world actually. The need to use insulating materials in envelopes prompts the authors to consider developing a new composite material. Cork is considering a friendly Mediterranean insulation for more applications in building thanks to its excellent thermo physical properties. The aim of this study is to develop new ecological composite bricks from light concrete resembling the same form used in construction. Several steps have been conducted for this work; firstly, the characterization of thermal conductivity and thermal resistance, and secondly, the characterization of the compressive strength of bricks has been done according to the variation of the additive compared to the ones of the light concrete bricks. The results show an improvement of the thermal properties of the bricks and a stabilization of the compressive strength of the bricks for the maximum volume fraction of the insulating materials, ensuring good thermomechanical properties of the new bricks produced based on cork according to the standards NF EN 1996-1-1 for using brick in walls. A simulation study at the scale of walls was conducted by the software COMSOL Multiphysics in order to show the impact of the new bricks on the energy efficiency of the building envelope.