Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 81 in total

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  1. Fulltext Using artificial intelligence for exercise prescription in personalised health promotion: A critical evaluation of OpenAI's GPT-4 model
    Dergaa I, Saad HB, El Omri A, Glenn JM, Clark CCT, Washif JA, et al.
    Biol Sport, 2024 Mar;41(2):221-241.
    PMID: 38524814 DOI: 10.5114/biolsport.2024.133661
    The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) applications in healthcare provides new possibilities for personalized health management. AI-based fitness applications are becoming more common, facilitating the opportunity for individualised exercise prescription. However, the use of AI carries the risk of inadequate expert supervision, and the efficacy and validity of such applications have not been thoroughly investigated, particularly in the context of diverse health conditions. The aim of the study was to critically assess the efficacy of exercise prescriptions generated by OpenAI's Generative Pre-Trained Transformer 4 (GPT-4) model for five example patient profiles with diverse health conditions and fitness goals. Our focus was to assess the model's ability to generate exercise prescriptions based on a singular, initial interaction, akin to a typical user experience. The evaluation was conducted by leading experts in the field of exercise prescription. Five distinct scenarios were formulated, each representing a hypothetical individual with a specific health condition and fitness objective. Upon receiving details of each individual, the GPT-4 model was tasked with generating a 30-day exercise program. These AI-derived exercise programs were subsequently subjected to a thorough evaluation by experts in exercise prescription. The evaluation encompassed adherence to established principles of frequency, intensity, time, and exercise type; integration of perceived exertion levels; consideration for medication intake and the respective medical condition; and the extent of program individualization tailored to each hypothetical profile. The AI model could create general safety-conscious exercise programs for various scenarios. However, the AI-generated exercise prescriptions lacked precision in addressing individual health conditions and goals, often prioritizing excessive safety over the effectiveness of training. The AI-based approach aimed to ensure patient improvement through gradual increases in training load and intensity, but the model's potential to fine-tune its recommendations through ongoing interaction was not fully satisfying. AI technologies, in their current state, can serve as supplemental tools in exercise prescription, particularly in enhancing accessibility for individuals unable to access, often costly, professional advice. However, AI technologies are not yet recommended as a substitute for personalized, progressive, and health condition-specific prescriptions provided by healthcare and fitness professionals. Further research is needed to explore more interactive use of AI models and integration of real-time physiological feedback.
  2. Fulltext Nanofiltration PVP Membrane with Gradient Cross-Linking for Efficient Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Removal
    Ghanim AAJ, Waqas S, Zeeshan MH, Khan JA, Ghalib SA, Irfan M, et al.
    ACS Omega, 2024 Feb 06;9(5):5265-5272.
    PMID: 38343923 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c05712
    Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are persistent organic pollutants that may contaminate various water sources and pose serious dangers to human health and the environment. Due to their capacity for size-based separation, nanofiltration membranes have become efficient instruments for PAH removal. However, issues such as membrane fouling and ineffective rejection still exist. To improve PAH rejection while reducing fouling problems, this work created a new gradient cross-linking poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) nanofiltration membrane. The gradient cross-linking technique enhanced the rejection performance and antifouling characteristics of the membrane. The results demonstrated that the highest membrane flow was achieved at a 0.15% SDS-PVP membrane. There is a trade-off between membrane flux and salt rejection since salt rejection increases with SDS owing to the growth of big pores. The membrane flux was reduced for the 0.25% SDS-PVP membrane owing to poor SDS dispersion. The prepared membrane showed enhanced removal efficiencies for the removal of the PAH compounds. The PVP membrane has the potential to be used in several water treatment applications, improving water quality, and preserving the environment.
  3. Fulltext Green Synthesis of ZnO and Black TiO2 Materials and Their Application in Photodegradation of Organic Pollutants
    Nawaz R, Ullah H, Ghanim AAJ, Irfan M, Anjum M, Rahman S, et al.
    ACS Omega, 2023 Oct 03;8(39):36076-36087.
    PMID: 37810725 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c04229
    ZnO and black TiO2 have been selected as the most efficient materials for organic pollution abatement due to their increased efficiency when compared to other materials. However, the concept of green chemistry makes it desirable to design green synthesis approaches for their production. In this study, black TiO2 was synthesized using an environmentally safe synthetic technique with glycerol as a reductant. ZnO was prepared by using ionic-liquid-based microwave-assisted extracts of Polygonum minus. To investigate the materials' potential to photodegrade organic pollutants, methylene blue (MB) and phenol were chosen as model organic pollutants. Both materials were found to exhibit spherical morphologies and a mesoporous structure and were efficient absorbers of visible light. ZnO exhibited electron-hole pair recombination lower than that of black TiO2. Black TiO2 was discovered to be an anatase phase, whereas ZnO was found to have a hexagonal wurtzite structure. In contrast to black TiO2, which had a surface area of 239.99 m2/g and a particle size of 28 nm, ZnO had a surface area of 353.11 m2/g and a particle size of 32 nm. With a degradation time of 60 min, ZnO was able to eliminate 97.50% of the 40 mg/L MB. Black TiO2, on the other hand, could reduce 90.0% of the same amount of MB in 60 min. When tested for phenol degradation, ZnO and black TiO2 activities were reduced by nearly 15 and 25%, respectively. A detailed examination of both ZnO and black TiO2 materials revealed that ZnO has more potential and versatility for the degradation of organic pollutants under visible light irradiation.
  4. Does healthy city construction facilitate green growth in China? Evidence from 279 cities
    Zhao W, Irfan M
    Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2023 Oct;30(46):102772-102789.
    PMID: 37672158 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-29554-x
    In the face of the challenge of balancing urban economic development and environmental protection, the concept of a healthy city has emerged as a promising model for sustainable urban development. This study empirically investigates the impact of healthy city construction on green growth by utilizing a difference-in-difference model estimation on a panel dataset of 279 Chinese prefecture-level cities from 2007 to 2019. The findings reveal that healthy city construction significantly contributes to green growth, particularly in pilot cities, and this effect is observed across cities of different sizes and economic bases. Additionally, we identify two channels through which healthy city construction promotes green growth: enhancing innovation capacity and enriching human resources. These findings have implications not only for Chinese cities navigating the path towards green growth but also for other developing nations striving for economic transformation and environmentally sustainable development.
  5. Fulltext Response Surface Methodology for the Synthesis and Characterization of Bio-Oil Extracted from Biomass Waste and Upgradation Using the Rice Husk Ash Catalyst
    Irfan M, Ghalib SA, Waqas S, Khan JA, Rahman S, Faraj Mursal SN, et al.
    ACS Omega, 2023 May 23;8(20):17869-17879.
    PMID: 37251131 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c00868
    Rice husk ash (RHA), a low-cost biomaterial, was utilized to form bio-oil from pyrolysis in a batch-stirred reactor, followed by its upgradation using the RHA catalyst. In the present study, the effect of temperature (ranging from 400 to 480 °C) on bio-oil production produced from RHA was studied to obtain the maximum bio-oil yield. Response surface methodology (RSM) was applied to investigate the effect of operational parameters (temperature, heating rate, and particle size) on the bio-oil yield. The results showed that a maximum bio-oil output of 20.33% was obtained at 480 °C temperature, 80 °C/min heating rate, and 200 μm particle size. Temperature and heating rate positively impact the bio-oil yield, while particle size has little effect. The overall R2 value of 0.9614 for the proposed model proved in good agreement with the experimental data. The physical properties of raw bio-oil were determined, and 1030 kg/m3 density, 12 MJ/kg calorific value, 1.40 cSt viscosity, 3 pH, and 72 mg KOH/g acid value were obtained, respectively. To enhance the characteristics of the bio-oil, upgradation was performed using the RHA catalyst through the esterification process. The upgraded bio-oil stemmed from a density of 0.98 g/cm3, an acid value of 58 mg of KOH/g, a calorific value of 16 MJ/kg, and a viscosity 10.5 cSt, respectively. The physical properties, GC-MS and FTIR, showed an improvement in the bio-oil characterization. The findings of this study indicate that RHA can be used as an alternative source for bio-oil production to create a more sustainable and cleaner environment.
  6. Performance evaluation of phosphonium based deep eutectic solvents coated cerium oxide nanoparticles for CO2 capture
    Ahmad T, Iqbal J, Bustam MA, Babar M, Tahir MB, Sagir M, et al.
    Environ Res, 2023 Apr 01;222:115314.
    PMID: 36738770 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115314
    The critical challenge being faced by our current modern society on a global scale is to reduce the surging effects of climate change and global warming, being caused by anthropogenic emissions of CO2 in the environment. Present study reports the surface driven adsorption potential of deep eutectic solvents (DESs) surface functionalized cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeNPs) for low pressure CO2 separation. The phosphonium based DESs were prepared using tetra butyl phosphoniumbromide as hydrogen bond acceptor (HBA) and 6 acids as hydrogen bond donors (HBDs). The as-developed DESs were characterized and employed for the surface functionalization of CeNPs with their subsequent utilization in adsorption-based CO2 adsorption. The synthesis of as-prepared DESs was confirmed through FTIR measurements and absence of precipitates, revealed through visual observations. It was found that DES6 surface functionalized CeNPs demonstrated 27% higher adsorption performance for CO2 capturing. On the contrary, DES3 coated CeNPs exhibited the least adsorption progress for CO2 separation. The higher adsorption performance associated with DES6 coated CeNPs was due to enhanced surface affinity with CO2 molecules that must have facilitated the mass transport characteristics and resulted an enhancement in CO2 adsorption performance. Carboxylic groups could have generated an electric field inside the pores to attract more polarizable adsorbates including CO2, are responsible for the relatively high values of CO2 adsorption. The quadruple movement of the CO2 molecules with the electron-deficient and pluralizable nature led to the enhancement of the interactive forces between the CO2 molecules and the CeNPs decorated with the carboxylic group hydrogen bond donor rich DES. The current findings may disclose the new research horizons and theoretical guidance for reduction in the environmental effects associated with uncontrolled CO2 emission via employing DES surface coated potential CeNPs.
  7. Fulltext First record of the genus Passiena (Araneae, Lycosidae) from China, with the first description of the male of P.spinicrus Thorell, 1890 from Malaysia
    Tan B, Irfan M, Zhang ZS, Wang LY
    Zookeys, 2023;1182:1-9.
    PMID: 37868119 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1182.109532
    The genus Passiena is recorded for the first time from China with Passienaduanisp. nov. (♂♀) from Guangxi described here. In addition, the male of P.spinicrus Thorell, 1890 is described for the first time based on a specimen from Malaysia and colour photographs of freshly collected material are also presented. Detailed morphological descriptions, photographs, genital illustrations, and a distribution map for the two species are provided.
  8. Digital threads in turbulent times: unraveling technostress and cleaner production in the food industry
    Irfan M, Sulehri NA, Manickiam N
    Front Robot AI, 2023;10:1293904.
    PMID: 38273894 DOI: 10.3389/frobt.2023.1293904
    Introduction: In the current landscape marked by swift digital transformations and global disruptions, comprehending the intersection of digitalization and sustainable business practices is imperative. This study focuses on the food industries of China and Pakistan, aiming to explore the influence of digitalization on cleaner production. Methods: Employing a cross-sectional design, data were gathered through online surveys involving a diverse group of employees. Special attention was given to the emergent phenomenon of technostress and its subsequent implications for individuals in the workplace. Results: The findings of the study demonstrate a significant impact of digitalization on both resource mobilization and interaction quality within the surveyed food industries. Notably, technostress emerged as a mediating factor, shedding light on the psychological challenges associated with digital transitions. The study further reveals the moderating role of the COVID-19 pandemic, altering the dynamics among the variables under investigation. Discussion: From a theoretical perspective, this research contributes to the cleaner production literature by bridging it with the human-centric nuances of technological adaptation. On a practical level, the study emphasizes the importance of aligning digital strategies with resource mobilization to achieve sustainable outcomes. For the food industry and potentially beyond, the research offers a roadmap for integrating digital tools into operations, ensuring efficiency, and promoting cleaner production.
  9. Prevalence and prediction of pressure ulcers in admitted stroke patients in a tertiary care hospital
    Farid J, Amin R, Sheikh MA, Irfan M, AlRuwaili R, Alruwaili M, et al.
    J Tissue Viability, 2022 Nov;31(4):768-775.
    PMID: 35941057 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtv.2022.07.010
    Pressure ulcer (PU) is a localized injury to the skin or underlying tissues usually over a bony prominence, which results due to pressure or pressure in combination with shear. It is an expensive health care problem that have deterring impact on the length of hospitalization and cause extra nursing care time. Moreover, PUs negatively impacts patients' health related quality of life. High PUs prevalence figures were found in specialized hospital units such as intensive care unit (ICU), orthopedics, surgery, and also in stroke patients in medical units. The major purpose of this study is to assess the frequency of pressure ulcers in stroke patients at Ayub teaching hospital. The methodology used for carrying out the research was cross-sectional study conducted during months of September, October, and November 2020. Questionnaire was used to collect the data and well-informed written consent was taken from the patients. A total of 120 stroke patients were initially included with the intention to study the frequency of PUs among them. Different age groups were taken but majority (48.3%) belonged to the age group 31-60 years. Maximum patients were hypertensive (65%), while few of them were diabetic (35%). From the results of proposed work, it is found that out of 120 stroke patients, 75.8% presented with ischemic stroke while 24.2% presented with hemorrhagic stroke. 8.3% that is 10 out of 120 stroke patients developed pressure ulcers of grade 1 (1.7%), grade 2 (1.7%), grade 3 (2.5%), and grade 4 (2.5%) mostly in the sacral region (6.7%) and also on ankle (0.8%), and shoulder (0.8%) respectively. Patients in the study group had unsatisfactory hygiene (6.7%) were malnourished (11.7%) and were not using preventive mattresses (79.2%). Those at the risk of developing pressure ulcers were not being repositioned (6.7%) and did not had awareness (10%). Prevention and treatment used in ward is 100%. Conclusively, the frequency of pressure ulcers in stroke patients was determined to be 8.3% and the most frequent localization was sacrum. The PU care in this hospital is appropriate but still could be improved further by improving risk assessment, prevention specially use of air mattress and patient education regarding PUs. The main objective of the study is to identify the frequency of PUs in stroke patients and to highlight various factors that would avoid PUs development.
  10. Fulltext Molecular Diversity of Microbes Associated with Fermented Bamboo Shoots
    Kumar V, Naik B, Sharma S, Kumar A, Khan JM, Irfan M
    Trop Life Sci Res, 2022 Sep;33(3):151-164.
    PMID: 36545057 DOI: 10.21315/tlsr2022.33.3.9
    Fermented bamboo shoots are rich in high protein, carbohydrates, fibre and minerals while low in fat content. In the North-East region of India and other Asian countries, they are mostly used in various food preparations. The present study was undertaken to explore the diversity of bacteria associated with Bamboo shoots and to evaluate their antibacterial profile. Based on the results the fermented bamboo shoots showed viable counts ranging from 6.55 ± 0.91 log CFU/g to 7.86 ± 1.21 log CFU/g. The 16s rRNA sequence analysis showed that these isolates belonged to the genus Bacillus (Bacillus safensis, B. tequilensis, B. siamensis, B. nakamurai, B. subtilis) and Enterobacter. These isolates have not been reported previously from fermented bamboo shoots except B. subtilis. Surprisingly, no Lactobacillus species or molds were found in any of the samples tested. Potent antibacterial activity was recorded against Klebsiella, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella and B. cereus.
  11. Fulltext A Novel Design and Development of a Strip-Fed Circularly Polarized Rectangular Dielectric Resonator Antenna for 5G NR Sub-6 GHz Band Applications
    Illahi U, Iqbal J, Irfan M, Ismail Sulaiman M, Khan MA, Rauf A, et al.
    Sensors (Basel), 2022 Jul 25;22(15).
    PMID: 35898037 DOI: 10.3390/s22155531
    In this article, a rectangular dielectric resonator antenna (RDRA) with circularly polarized (CP) response is presented for 5G NR (New Radio) Sub-6 GHz band applications. A uniquely shaped conformal metal feeding strip is proposed to excite the RDRA in higher-order mode for high gain utilization. By using the proposed feeding mechanism, the degenerate mode pair of the first higher-order, i.e., TEδ13x at 4.13 GHz and TE1δ3y, at 4.52 GHz is excited to achieve a circularly polarized response. A circular polarization over a bandwidth of ~10%, in conjunction with a wide impedance matching over a bandwidth of ~17%, were attained by the antenna. The CP antenna proposed offers a useful gain of ~6.2 dBic. The achieved CP bandwidth of the RDRA is good enough to cover the targeted 5G NR bands around 4.4−4.8 GHz, such as n79. The proposed antenna configuration is modelled and optimized using computer simulation technology (CST). A prototype was built to confirm (validate) the performance estimated through simulation. A good agreement was observed between simulated and measured results.
  12. Fulltext Maternal Vitamin D Supplementation for the Prevention of Respiratory Tract Infections in Offspring: A Meta-Analysis
    Sulaiman Z, Noor NM, Ismail SB, Mohd Lukman ASF, Irfan M, Hussain NHN
    Korean J Fam Med, 2022 May;43(3):174-182.
    PMID: 35610964 DOI: 10.4082/kjfm.21.0029
    BACKGROUND: Vitamin D may enhance immune system function and provide a protective effect against infections. Feto-maternal circulation plays an important role in supplying the developing fetus with nutrients and antibodies for its development and health during pregnancy and for its early years of life after birth. This meta-analysis aimed to determine the effectiveness of maternal vitamin D supplementation in preventing respiratory tract infections (RTIs) in children.

    METHODS: We searched the Central and MEDLINE databases and went through all the reference lists in the related articles. We also searched for ongoing trials at http://www.who.int/ictrp/en/ and www.clinicaltrials.gov. Randomized controlled trials comparing vitamin D supplementation with a placebo or no treatment in pregnant women published in the English language up to March 2019 were included. Two reviewers extracted data independently using a predefined protocol and assessed the risk of bias using the Cochrane risk of bias tool, with differences agreed upon by consensus. The predefined primary outcome was the number of offspring who had RTIs. The secondary outcome was the presence of measurable serum immunoglobulin E levels.

    RESULTS: Three trials involving 3,224 participants (mother-child pairs) met the inclusion criteria and were included in this review. The present analysis reported that maternal supplementation with vitamin D had no effect on RTIs among children (n=1,486 offspring; risk ratio, 0.95; 95% confidence interval, 0.82-1.11; random effects; I2 statistics, 0%).

    CONCLUSION: Maternal vitamin D supplementation had no effect on RTIs in children. Therefore, consideration of other prevention methods in this regard is recommended.

  13. Fulltext Asymmetric impact of temperature on COVID-19 spread in India: Evidence from quantile-on-quantile regression approach
    Irfan M, Razzaq A, Suksatan W, Sharif A, Madurai Elavarasan R, Yang C, et al.
    J Therm Biol, 2022 Feb;104:103101.
    PMID: 35180949 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2021.103101
    The emergence of new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has become a significant public health issue worldwide. Some researchers have identified a positive link between temperature and COVID-19 cases. However, no detailed research has highlighted the impact of temperature on COVID-19 spread in India. This study aims to fill this research gap by investigating the impact of temperature on COVID-19 spread in the five most affected Indian states. Quantile-on-Quantile regression (QQR) approach is employed to examine in what manner the quantiles of temperature influence the quantiles of COVID-19 cases. Empirical results confirm an asymmetric and heterogenous impact of temperature on COVID-19 spread across lower and higher quantiles of both variables. The results indicate a significant positive impact of temperature on COVID-19 spread in the three Indian states (Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka), predominantly in both low and high quantiles. Whereas, the other two states (Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh) exhibit a mixed trend, as the lower quantiles in both states have a negative effect. However, this negative effect becomes weak at middle and higher quantiles. These research findings offer valuable policy recommendations.
  14. Fulltext The Psychological Impact of Coronavirus on University Students and its Socio-Economic Determinants in Malaysia
    Irfan M, Shahudin F, Hooper VJ, Akram W, Abdul Ghani RB
    Inquiry, 2021 11 23;58:469580211056217.
    PMID: 34802264 DOI: 10.1177/00469580211056217
    The objective of this article is to examine the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) upon university students' anxiety level and to find the factors associated with the anxiety level in Malaysia. We collected data from 958 students from 16 different universities using an originally designed questionnaire. The Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale 7-item (GAD-7) was used to estimate the anxiety. Then we applied the ordered logit model to calculate the odds ratios (OR) and factors associated with the anxiety level. We find that 12.3% of students were normal, whereas 30.5% were experiencing mild anxiety, 31.1% moderate anxiety, and 26.1% severe anxiety. Surprisingly, only 37.2% of students were aware of mental health support that was provided by their universities. However, age above 20 years (OR = 1.30), ethnicity Chinese (OR = 1.72), having any other disease (OR = 2.0), decreased family income (OR = 1.71), more time spent on watching COVID-19-related news (OR = 1.52), and infected relative or friends (OR = 1.62) were risk factors for anxiety among students. We conclude that the government of Malaysia should monitor the mental health of the universities' students more closely and universities should open online mental health support clinics to avoid the adverse impacts of anxiety.
  15. Fabrication and performance evaluation of polymeric membrane using blood compatible hydroxyapatite for artificial kidney application
    Zaman SU, Saif-Ur-Rehman, Zaman MKU, Rafiq S, Arshad A, Khurram MS, et al.
    Artif Organs, 2021 Nov;45(11):1377-1390.
    PMID: 34152645 DOI: 10.1111/aor.14020
    In the current study, a phase inversion scheme was employed to fabricate hydroxyapatite (HA)/polysulfone (PSF)-based asymmetric membranes using a film applicator with water as a solvent and nonsolvent exchanging medium. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopic studies were conducted to confirm the bonding chemistry and purity of filler. The inherent thick nature of PSF generated sponge-like shape while the instantaneous demixing process produced finger-like pore networks in HA/PSF-based asymmetric membranes as exhibited by scanning electron microscope (SEM) micrographs. The FTIR spectra confirmed noncovalent weak attractions toward the polymer surface. The leaching ratio was evaluated to observe the dispersion behavior of HA filler in membrane composition. Hydrophilicity, pore profile, pure water permeation (PWP) flux, and molecular weight cutoff (MWCO) values of all formulated membranes were also calculated. Antifouling results revealed that HA modified PSF membranes exhibited 43% less adhesion of bovine serum albumin (BSA) together with >86% recovery of flux. Membrane composition showed 74% total resistance, out of which 60% was reversible resistance. Biocompatibility evaluation revealed that the modified membranes exhibited prothrombin time (PT), and thrombin time (TT) comparable with typical blood plasma, whereas proliferation of living cells over membrane surface proved its nontoxic behavior toward biomedical application. The urea and creatinine showed effective adsorption aptitude toward HA loaded PSF membranes.
  16. Fulltext Synthesis and Characterization of Carbon and Carbon-Nitrogen Doped Black TiO2 Nanomaterials and Their Application in Sonophotocatalytic Remediation of Treated Agro-Industrial Wastewater
    Rahman S, Nawaz R, Khan JA, Ullah H, Irfan M, Glowacz A, et al.
    Materials (Basel), 2021 Oct 18;14(20).
    PMID: 34683764 DOI: 10.3390/ma14206175
    The conventional open ponding system employed for palm oil mill agro-effluent (POME) treatment fails to lower the levels of organic pollutants to the mandatory standard discharge limits. In this work, carbon doped black TiO2 (CB-TiO2) and carbon-nitrogen co-doped black TiO2 (CNB-TiO2) were synthesized via glycerol assisted sol-gel techniques and employed for the remediation of treated palm oil mill effluent (TPOME). Both the samples were anatase phase, with a crystallite size of 11.09-22.18 nm, lower bandgap of 2.06-2.63 eV, superior visible light absorption ability, and a high surface area of 239.99-347.26 m2/g. The performance of CNB-TiO2 was higher (51.48%) compared to only (45.72%) CB-TiO2. Thus, the CNB-TiO2 is employed in sonophotocatalytic reactions. Sonophotocatalytic process based on CNB-TiO2, assisted by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and operated at an ultrasonication (US) frequency of 30 kHz and 40 W power under visible light irradiation proved to be the most efficient for chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal. More than 90% of COD was removed within 60 min of sonophotocatalytic reaction, producing the effluent with the COD concentration well below the stipulated permissible limit of 50 mg/L. The electrical energy required per order of magnitude was estimated to be only 177.59 kWh/m3, indicating extreme viability of the proposed process for the remediation of TPOME.
  17. Investigating the myth of smokeless industry: environmental sustainability in the ASEAN countries and the role of service sector and renewable energy
    Ahmad F, Draz MU, Chandio AA, Su L, Ahmad M, Irfan M
    Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2021 Oct;28(39):55344-55361.
    PMID: 34137008 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-14641-8
    Since the development of the service sector and renewable energy reduce fossil-based energy consumption which mitigates CO2 emissions and this nexus provides a better understanding of the environmental sustainability. Considering the substantially increasing contribution of service sector and tremendous potential for renewable energy in ASEAN5 countries, leaning forward from ASEAN's energy and growth nexus, this study examines the impact of service sector contribution and renewable energy on the environmental quality of ASEAN5 using annual data from 1990 to 2018. The results of the fully modified ordinary least squared, dynamic ordinary least squared, and canonical co-integrating regressions depicted that the service sectors of Thailand, the Philippines, and Singapore augment CO2 emissions; however, the service sectors of Malaysia and Indonesia could reduce CO2 emissions. The increasing share of renewable energy can enhance environmental quality, but its magnitude varies in ASEAN5 economies; non-renewable energy, population, and economic development deteriorate the environment. Our results confirm the existence of environmental Kuznets curve in all the ASEAN5; the Gregory-Hansen test confirmed that results are robust. Finally, the Granger causality designated that economic development and non-renewable energy have a significant causal relationship with CO2 emission of ASEAN5 countries. These findings suggest that the ASEAN5 economies need to optimize their economic structure for promoting sustainable development in the long run.Graphical abstract.
  18. Further revision of the mesh-web spider genus Taira Lehtinen, 1967 (Amaurobiidae), with the description of six new species
    Zhao JX, Wang LY, Irfan M, Zhang ZS
    Zootaxa, 2021 Aug 13;5020(3):457-488.
    PMID: 34810991 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5020.3.3
    The cribellate, Asian endemic, spider genus, Taira is further studied, and six new species are recognized and described from China and Eastern Malaysia (Borneo): Taira borneoensis sp. nov. (♀), Taira gyaisiensis sp. nov. (♀), Taira nyagqukaensis sp. nov. (♀), Taira wanzhouensis sp. nov. (♂♀), Taira xuanenensis sp. nov. (♂) and Taira yangi sp. nov. (♂♀). Males of Taira latilabiata Zhang, Zhu Song, 2008 and Taira obtusa Zhang, Zhu Song, 2008 are also described for the first time. Drawings of the copulatory organs of the six new species, and comparative photos of the habitus and copulatory organs of all described species are provided, except for the male palp of the type species, T. flavidorsalis (Yaginuma, 1964). New records of known species and distribution maps are presented.
  19. Fulltext A Critical Review on Pulsed Electric Field: A Novel Technology for the Extraction of Phytoconstituents
    Ranjha MMAN, Kanwal R, Shafique B, Arshad RN, Irfan S, Kieliszek M, et al.
    Molecules, 2021 Aug 12;26(16).
    PMID: 34443475 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26164893
    Different parts of a plant (seeds, fruits, flower, leaves, stem, and roots) contain numerous biologically active compounds called "phytoconstituents" that consist of phenolics, minerals, amino acids, and vitamins. The conventional techniques applied to extract these phytoconstituents have several drawbacks including poor performance, low yields, more solvent use, long processing time, and thermally degrading by-products. In contrast, modern and advanced extraction nonthermal technologies such as pulsed electric field (PEF) assist in easier and efficient identification, characterization, and analysis of bioactive ingredients. Other advantages of PEF include cost-efficacy, less time, and solvent consumption with improved yields. This review covers the applications of PEF to obtain bioactive components, essential oils, proteins, pectin, and other important materials from various parts of the plant. Numerous studies compiled in the current evaluation concluded PEF as the best solution to extract phytoconstituents used in the food and pharmaceutical industries. PEF-assisted extraction leads to a higher yield, utilizes less solvents and energy, and it saves a lot of time compared to traditional extraction methods. PEF extraction design should be safe and efficient enough to prevent the degradation of phytoconstituents and oils.
  20. Fulltext Synthesis, Surface Nitriding and Characterization of Ti-Nb Modified 316L Stainless Steel Alloy Using Powder Metallurgy
    Ali S, Irfan M, Muhammad Niazi U, Rani AMA, Shah I, Legutko S, et al.
    Materials (Basel), 2021 Jun 13;14(12).
    PMID: 34199244 DOI: 10.3390/ma14123270
    The powder metallurgy (PM) technique has been widely used for producing different alloy compositions by the addition of suitable reinforcements. PM is also capable of producing desireable mechanical and physical properties of the material by varying process parameters. This research investigates the addition of titanium and niobium in a 316L stainless steel matrix for potential use in the biomedical field. The increase of sintering dwell time resulted in simultaneous sintering and surface nitriding of compositions, using nitrogen as the sintering atmosphere. The developed alloy compositions were characterized using OM, FESEM, XRD and XPS techniques for quantification of the surface nitride layer and the nitrogen absorbed during sintering. The corrosion resistance and cytotoxicity assessments of the developed compositions were carried out in artificial saliva solution and human oral fibroblast cell culture, respectively. The results indicated that the nitride layer produced during sintering increased the corrosion resistance of the alloy and the developed compositions are non-cytotoxic. This newly developed alloy composition and processing technique is expected to provide a low-cost solution to implant manufacturing.
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