Protection of apricot Biodiesel from Thermal Degradation by using natural antioxidants of Fagopyrum tataricum (L.) Gaertn

The present study aims to improve the oxidation stability of wild apricot kernel oil biodiesel (WAKOB) by using natural antioxidants of Tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum (L.) Gaertn). Biodiesel was synthesized at different catalyst (NaOH) concentrations, reaction temperatures, reaction time intervals and methanol-to-oil molar ratios. Thermal oxidative stability measurements were carried out according to EN14112 using a Rancimet instrument. Our results showed a high yield of biodiesel (97±1.092) at 65oC in the presence of 1% NaOH (%w/w oil) and methanol/oil molar ratio of 9:1 and for the time duration of 60 min. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) confirmed the conversion percentage of kernel oil into biodiesel, which was further evidenced by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and refractometer analyses. Methanolic fraction of Tartary buckwheat leaves (MTBWLF) was standardized to contain the highest amount of phenolics (209 mg gallic acid/100 g). In this study, the mixture of synthetic antioxidant butylated hydroxyl toluene (BHT) (0.25%) and methanolic extract of Tartary buckwheat leaves (0.5%) ensured high oxidation stability of biodiesel samples, leading to stabilizing factor of 4.86

Activated carbon-alginate beads impregnated with surfactant as sustainable adsorbent for efficient removal of methylene blue

A cost-effective and sustainable Calligonum polygonoides biomass based activated carbon (AC) was synthesized. The prepared AC was utilized in the fabrication of carbon-alginate beads for the adsorption of methylene blue (MB) textile dye from aqueous solution. The surface morphology, surface functional groups, elemental analysis and thermal behavior of the prepared beads were investigated using different analytical techniques. Batch adsorption experiments were performed to investigate the adsorption capacity of the beads. Effect of different parameters such as initial pH of MB solution, dose of adsorbent, contact time, initial concentration of MB and temperature were evaluated. The kinetic studies identified pseudo-second order model. Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models were applied and fitted to the experimental equilibrium data. The beads showed a maximum adsorption capacity of 769 mg/g in basic pH at 30 °C while using 400 mg·L-1 of MB solution. The adsorption process was found to be endothermic and spontaneous as confirmed by the thermodynamic data. The fabricated beads were subjected to recycling which exhibited same adsorption efficiency after six regeneration cycles. The results showed that the AC-alginate beads impregnated with SDS have high adsorption capability and would be used for the efficient removal of cationic dyes from wastewater

Anti-neuropathic pain activity of a cationic palladium (II) dithiocarbamate by suppressing the inflammatory mediators in paclitaxel-induced neuropathic pain model

Neuropathic pain is a chronic pain state that negatively impacts the quality of life. Currently, available therapies for the treatment of neuropathic pain often lack efficacy and tolerability. Therefore, the search for novel drugs is crucial to obtain treatments that effectively suppress neuropathic pain.The present study was undertaken to investigate the antinociceptive properties of (1,4-bis-(diphenylphosphino) butane) palladium (II) chloride monohydrate (Compound 1) in a paclitaxel (PTX)-induced neuropathic pain model.Initially, behavioral tests such as mechanical and cold allodynia as well as thermal and tail immersion hyperalgesia were performed to investigate the antinociceptive potential of Compound 1 (5 and 10 mg/kg, b.w). RT-PCR was performed to determine the effect of Compound 1 on the mRNA expression level of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6. In addition, antioxidant protein, nitric oxide (NO), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were also determined.The results demonstrated that once-daily dosing of Compound 1 significantly suppressed the PTX-induced behavioral pain responses dose-dependently. The mRNA gene expressions of iNOS, COX-2, and inflammatory cytokines were markedly reduced by Compound 1. Furthermore, it enhanced the level of antioxidant enzymes and lowered the level of MDA and NO production.These findings suggest that the antinociceptive potential of Compound 1 in the PTX-induced neuropathic pain model is via suppression of oxidative stress and inflammation. Thus, Compound 1 might be a potential candidate for the therapeutic management of PTX induced neuropathic pain

THE ROLE OF MICRO-CREDENTIALS IN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF SKILLS IN EMPLOYEES: A QUALITATIVE STUDY FROM AN EMERGING ECONOMY

<p>To investigate the role of micro-credentials in professional development of skills in employees working in academia and industry. In-depth qualitative interviews with teachers, instructors, directors, industrial experts and government representatives were taken from across the city. The authors conducted 12 interviews and it was found out that micro-credentials play a pivotal role in developing skillful workforce. Due to the changing trends in post-COVID world, learning skills and keeping up to-date with new technology has become very important. Higher education commission (HEC) of Pakistan has taken several initiatives, however still a lot of work has to be done to acknowledge and cope with the upcoming challenges. It is also observed that employers prefer practical skills over theoretical knowledge because they want employees to be prepared to take up the tasks and fulfill them in the most effective manner. The major point of discussion in this paper is that micro-credentials are needed to prepare skillful workforce in the emerging economy of a developing country. Instead of making fixes for conventional education, micro-credentials are providing basic skills by blurring the line in higher education between public and private sectors. Micro-credentials can contribute towards division and coherence of skills and knowledge required in industry. The broader spectrum sees an employ as not only a part of the organization, also a person who has stake in and who can contribute towards society.</p&gt

New 3D and 2D supramolecular heteroleptic palladium(II) dithiocarbamates as potent anticancer agents

<p>Three new heteroleptic palladium(II) dithiocarbamates with better <i>in vitro</i> anticancer activity than cisplatin were synthesized and characterized by different analytical techniques, elemental analysis, FTIR, NMR, and single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The Pd center is chelated by dithiocarbamate ligand {4-benzylpiperazine-1-carbodithioate (<b>1</b>) and (<b>3</b>) or (4-(2-methoxyphenyl)piperazine-1-carbodithioate (<b>2</b>)}, triorganophosphine {<i>tris</i>-(4-flourophenyl)-phosphine (<b>1</b>) and (<b>2</b>) or <i>tris</i>-(4-chlorophenyl)phosphine (<b>3</b>)}, and a chloro-group, resulting in a square planar geometry. The packing diagram reveals a 3D network (<b>1</b> and <b>2</b>) and a 2D network (<b>3</b>) composed of various 1D chains in which the molecules are linked via hydrogen bonds (<b>1–3</b>) and halide⋯π (<b>1</b>, <b>3</b>) interactions. The anticancer activities of complexes against <i>HeLa</i> cell line varies in the sequence <b>2</b> (23.438 μM) > <b>1</b> (38.293 μM) > <b>3</b> (47.554 μM) > <i>cis</i>platin (78.075 μM). The cytotoxicity of these complexes is due to their strong induction of oxidative stress and DNA-damage ability leading to apoptosis.</p

Monofunctional platinum(ii) dithiocarbamate complexes:synthesis, characterization and anticancer activity

Three heteroleptic platinum(ii) dithiocarbamates with good anticancer potency have been synthesized and characterized. The anticancer activity against five cell lines may be due to their strong complex-DNA adduct formation ability.</p

Heteroleptic Pd(II) dithiocarbamates: synthesis, characterization, packing and <i>in vitro</i> anticancer activity against HeLa cell line

<div><p>Two new heteroleptic Pd(II) dithiocarbamates (<b>1</b> and <b>2</b>) have been synthesized by reaction of equimolar quantities of palladium(II) chloride, sodium 4-(3-methoxyphenyl)piperazine-1-carbodithioate, and appropriate substituted triphenylphosphines. The synthesized complexes have been characterized by their physical, spectral (IR, ¹H, ¹³C, and ³¹P NMR), and X-ray crystallographic data. Complexes <b>1</b> and <b>2</b> showed square-planar geometry both in solution and solid states. The crystal packing of both complexes revealed similar 3-D-supramolecular networks comprised of 1-D chains. However, the nature and strength of various non-covalent interactions of these networks were slightly different. The DNA interaction studies of the complexes have been carried out by UV–visible spectroscopy to evaluate their anticancer potential. The study suggested intercalative interaction with 2.402 × 10⁴ and 2.713 × 10³ M⁻¹ binding constants, respectively. The complexes have also been evaluated for their anticancer activity against HeLa cell line. Both complexes showed higher activity with IC₅₀ values much lower (22.176 and 26.166 μM for <b>1</b> and <b>2</b>, respectively) than the standard cisplatin (78.075 μM). Furthermore, the complexes induced stronger DNA fragmentation as investigated by DNA ladder assay for apoptosis. Our findings suggested that the anticancer action of these compounds stems from their interaction with DNA leading to DNA damage and apoptosis. The excellent activity of <b>1</b> and <b>2</b> deserves to be a focus for further research and <i>in vivo</i> studies.</p></div