Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles by Aspergillus niger, Fusarium oxysporum and Alternaria solani

Recently, biosynthesis of nanoparticles has attracted scientist’s attention because of the use of environmentally friendly nanoparticles that do not produce toxic wastes in their process of synthesis. In this study we investigated the biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles using three fungi: Aspergillus niger, Fusarium oxysporum and Alternaria solani. These silver nanoparticles were characterized by means of UV-vis spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope (SEM). Results indicate the synthesis of silver nanoparticles in the reaction mixture. The synthesis of nanoparticles would be suitable for developing a microbial nanotechnology biosynthesis process for mass scale production.Keywords: Silver nanoparticles, biosynthesis, fungi, Aspergillus

Nonconventionalmesocaval prosthetic shunt interposition in refractory case with portal hypertension in a 10-kg female infant

Surgical treatment of portal hypertension in infants is challenging because of the high risk of shunt thrombosis. A 10-kg female infant underwent six failed procedures before being successfully treated by interposition of a 10-mm-diameter prosthetic graft between two 3-mm-diameter splanchnic veins and the inferior vena cava. Follow-up at 10 years demonstrates shunt patency and normal development without rebleeding. An aggressive surgical strategy is justified as long as even nonconventional techniques are available to prevent life-threatening complications of portal hypertension. Prosthetic grafts can be used when no autologous vein graft is available. Decellularized allografts with reduced immunogenicity may also be effective alternative materials.Keywords: mesocaval anastomosis, PHT, prosthetic shun

Assessing the Anti-Corruption Disclosure Practices in the UK FTSE 100 Extractive Firms

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

TARGETED DUAL FUNCTIONAL NANOPARTICLES FOR THE TREATMENT OF CANCER AND LIVER FIBROSIS

For decades, a large number of therapeutics have been discovered and developed with high potential for curing various diseases, many of which have been clinically used for years. However, some treatments are greatly limited due to their side effects, which arise from their inability to differentiate between normal and diseased cells. The aim of this dissertation work is to develop nanomaterial-based dual function drug delivery systems to improve overall therapeutic outcomes for the treatment of cancer and liver fibrosis. The first part of this work focused on the development of FTS-based solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) for cancer-targeted delivery of paclitaxel (PTX). Novel SLNs were successfully developed which are capable of solubilizing PTX while simultaneously avoiding unwanted side effects of the clinically used PTX formulation (Taxol). The data from this study demonstrated that the PTX-SLNs system has a significantly improved profile in terms of controlled release kinetics and stability compared to Taxol. Additionally, PTX-SLNs have shown enhanced anticancer activity in vivo. The second part focused on improved delivery of the herbal agent thymoquinone (TQ) to hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) for the treatment of liver fibrosis. Firstly, a study was conducted on the biological effects of TQ on HSCs, which represent the major liver cell type involved in the massive production of extra cellular matrix (ECM) in liver fibrosis. The results revealed that TQ exerts hepatoprotective and anti-fibrotic effects via direct inhibition of the fibrogenic activities of HSCs, which suggests that TQ holds great potential as a new drug candidate for treatment of liver fibrosis. Secondly, an examination was conducted on the potential of a novel dual functional micellar system PEG5k-Fmoc-FTS2 to deliver TQ into activated HSCs in vitro. TQ-micelles have shown high tolerability in activated HSCs with more efficient anti-fibrotic activity compared to free TQ. Collectively, this work suggests that an FTS-based SLNs system represents a promising nanocarrier for cancer-targeted delivery which could enhance the therapeutic efficiency of anticancer agents. In addition, TQ holds a great a potential as new therapy for the treatment of liver fibrosis, and formulating TQ into the PEG5k-Fmoc-FTS2 micelles system could further enhance overall anti-fibrotic activity

Energy retrofitting using advanced building envelope materials for sustainable housing: A review

Global energy consumption by buildings represents 34% of final energy use and 37% of energy-related CO₂ emissions, emphasising the critical need for sustainable, energy-efficient housing solutions. Despite significant advancements, there is a substantial gap in effectively applying advanced materials within building envelopes to achieve optimal energy efficiency, particularly in hot climates. This study focuses on the residential sector's excessive energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, primarily caused by inadequate insulation and outdated construction practices. The objective is to systematically evaluate the effectiveness, performance, economic and environmental impacts, retrofitting techniques and challenges of using advanced building envelope materials, phase change materials, aerogels, vacuum insulation panels, and heat-reflective coatings for energy retrofitting in residential buildings. A comprehensive systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines using the Scopus database. Rigorous inclusion and exclusion criteria produced 76 high-quality studies. The analysis synthesises findings on material performance under various climatic conditions and application strategies and their impacts on energy efficiency, thermal comfort, durability, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability. Results show that advanced materials have immense potential. They can significantly improve thermal regulation, reduce energy usage for heating and cooling, and lower CO₂ emissions with benefits varying across climates and application strategies. Challenges include high initial costs, long-term performance uncertainties, implementation issues, and broader applicability. This research uniquely contributes by comprehensively synthesising recent advancements, analysing economic feasibility and environmental impacts, offering valuable insights for stakeholders. It also emphasises the need for future research to address limitations and promote sustainable, energy-efficient building solutions

Anti-corruption disclosure quality and earnings management in the United Kingdom: the role of audit quality

Purpose Building upon institutional pressures on firms to deal with corruption, this study aims to investigate the association between a firm's engagement with anti-corruption disclosure quality (ACD_Q) and earnings management (EM). Also, this study examines the moderating role of audit quality in the association between ACD_Q and EM. Design/methodology/approach The authors constructed an ACD_Q index based on the 2010 UK Bribery Act and taking into account a wide range of rules on corruption and bribery, including those of the OECD, World Bank, UNCTAD, UNGC, UNCAC and GRI. Generalized method of moments and panel regression were used to examine the association between ACD_Q and EM. Findings Using a sample of 2,695 firm‐year observations of the UK’s FTSE-350 from 2008 to 2018, this study finds ACD_Q is negatively associated with EM. In addition, this negative relationship is contingent on audit committee independence and audit committee expertise. This finding is supported by additional robustness and sensitivity analysis. Practical implications The empirical evidence reiterates the crucial need for more concerted efforts to ensure corporate engagement in anti-corruption practices with a view to reducing earnings manipulations. Originality/value This study contributes to the limited evidence that investigates how ACD Q influences EM in the UK after the introduction of the UK Bribery Act in 2010. Furthermore, by considering the period from 2008 to 2019, this study investigates the potential moderating role of UK corporate governance reforms in EM reduction. In particular, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study assesses for the first time the moderating effect of audit committee mechanisms on the ACD Q and EM nexus

Analysis of Newtonian heating and higher-order chemical reaction on a Maxwell nanofluid in a rotating frame with gyrotactic microorganisms and variable heat source/sink

The goal of this study is to investigate the rotating Maxwell nanoliquid flow incorporating gyrotactic microbes with Newtonian heating and irregular heat source sink. The motion of the flow is induced due to linearly unidirectional elongated surface. The uniqueness of the flow is enhanced by the inclusion of additional phenomenon of higher order chemical reaction incorporated with Darcy Forchheimer flow, Fourier and Fick law. Numerical solution of the formulated problem is developed via bvp4c function in MATLAB. The influence of the embroiled parameters on the flow distribution is demonstrated through various graphs and tables. It is noticed that fluid velocity declines on incrementing the rotation parameter. An upsurge in thermal field is portrayed on augmenting the Newtonian heating. Comparative analysis of the results of the proposed model with previous published research is included which confirms the validity of the current model

Knowledge & Misconceptions about ADHD among Female Primary School Teachers in Aseer, Saudi Arabia

Background: Attention deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) defined as physical movements which exceed the normal limit or the acceptable limit, and it shows in the form of a group of behavioral disorders arise as a result of many psychological and organic causes. Hyperactivity includes random, involuntary and unsuitable movements appear as a result of organic or psychological causes, and it is accompanied with an attention deficit. The Ministry of Health in the United States showed that males are more susceptible to this disorder than females four times. Despite the importance of the teacher's knowledge in the symptoms of the ADHD and the ways to deal with it; a small number of previous studies have examined this area. Past studies have shown that teachers did not have enough knowledge of ADHD and they often have fundamental misperceptions about the nature, causes and results of ADHD. Objective: to reveal the level of the teachers' knowledge & misconceptions about ADHD among primary school female teachers in Aseer, Saudi Arabia. Methods: This is a descriptive research using self-reported questionnaire method. It is quantitative in nature. It was done on randomly selected Saudi females teachers of primary schools in Aseer region. Results: Nearly twenty eight (27.6%) of the teachers responded correctly, while (36.5%) responded incorrectly, and (35.9%) responded “don’t know” to the first subscale which include 15 items assessing general knowledge about the nature, causes and outcome of ADHD. Fifty nine and three-tenth percent (59.3%) of the teachers responded correctly, while (17.7%) responded incorrectly, and (23%) responded “don’t know” to the second subscale of KADDS which include 9 items assessing symptoms/diagnosis of ADHD. Thirty three and two-tenth percent (33.2%) of the teachers responded correctly, while (24.5%) responded incorrectly, and (42.3%) responded “don’t know” to the third subscale of KADDS which include 12 items assessing the treatment of ADHD. Conclusion: Teachers have a major role in the identification and assessment of students with ADHD. This study was intended to examine teachers’ knowledge and misperceptions of ADHD. Teachers’ scores on KADDS were fairly good, pointing to relatively lack of knowledge about ADHD. Moreover, teachers’ level of knowledge of ADHD was positively related to their prior training and experience with ADHD. Results from this study concur with the findings of previous studies

Challenges And Solutions In Radiation Protection For X-Ray Procedures

Chapter 1 introduces the basic concepts and quantities used in radiation protection. Depending on the type of imaging procedure, the radiation dose given to the patient has the potential to cause harmful biological effects. Understanding these effects requires knowledge of radiation physics, the interaction of X-rays with human tissue, and the biological changes at the cellular and molecular levels. This chapter provides radiologists and other clinicians with the information needed to make informed decisions about how much radiation is acceptable for a given imaging task and the potential benefit to the patient. This information is also important for researchers developing and testing new imaging methods who must weigh the benefits of improved diagnostics or therapy with any potential risks to the patient. An understanding of radiation physics and biology is also essential for epidemiologic studies aiming to assess health risks from medical radiation at the population level. Radiation exposure from X-ray procedures has been identified as a public health problem. Increased utilization of X-ray examinations and the high radiation doses associated with computed tomography (CT) scans have raised concerns about the long-term effects of ionizing radiation on the population. In response to these concerns, the U.S. National Institutes of Health formed the Biomedical Imaging Program in 2004 to investigate and develop novel imaging methods that reduce the radiation dose to patients. This dissertation supports the objectives of the NIH program and presents original research addressing radiation protection for X-ray and CT procedures. The specific aims of this work are: (1) to investigate the radiation dose and potential biological effects from current and novel X-ray imaging procedures; (2) to develop and validate methods for estimating, monitoring, and reducing patient radiation dose; and (3) to investigate the effectiveness and implications of reducing radiation dose in terms of image quality and patient outcomes. These aims are addressed using specific research projects involving exposure assessment and epidemiology, physics and engineering, clinical image interpretation, and image-guided intervention

Anti-corruption disclosure and corporate governance mechanisms: insights from FTSE 100

Purpose: This study examines the impact of corporate governance (CG) on anti-corruption disclosure (A-CD), paying particular attention to FTSE 100. Notably, it examines how board and audit committees’ characteristics affect the quantity and quality of anti-corruption disclosure. Design/Methodology: Data from FTSE 100 firms, spanning the period from 2014 to 2020 were analysed using the regression of Poisson fixed effect and GEE analyses. Findings: The findings show that gender diversity, audit committee expertise and the independence of the audit committee are positively associated with both quantity and quality of anti-corruption disclosure. Notably, no statistically significant relationships were identified between anti-corruption disclosure and factors such as board size, role duality, or board meetings. Implications: Our findings provide valuable insights for decision-makers and regulatory bodies, shedding light on the elements that compel UK companies to enhance their anti-corruption disclosure and governance protocols to alleviate corruption and propel efforts towards ethical behaviour. Originality: This study makes a notable contribution to the sparse body of evidence by examining the influence of board and audit committee attributes on anti-corruption disclosure subsequent to the implementation of the UK Bribery Act in 2010. Specifically, to the best of the authors' knowledge, this study assesses for the first time the impact of board and audit committee mechanisms on both the quantity and quality of anti-corruption disclosure