The aim of this study is to investigate the kinetics of copper removal from aqueous solutions using an electromembrane extraction (EME) system. To achieve this, a unique electrochemical cell design was adopted comprising two glass chambers, a supported liquid membrane (SLM), a graphite anode, and a stainless-steel cathode. The SLM consisted of a polypropylene flat membrane infused with 1-octanol as a solvent and bis(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate (DEHP) as a carrier. The impact of various factors on the kinetics constant rate was outlined, including the applied voltage, initial pH of the donor phase solution, and initial copper concentration. The results demonstrated a significant influence of the applied voltage on enhancing the rate of c

Orange peel was used as a plant-derived medium to prepare a ZnO–calcite mixed-phase nanostructured material, which was physicochemically characterized and evaluated for DPPH radical-scavenging, α-glucosidase inhibitory, and in vitro cytotoxic activities. XRD confirmed the coexistence of hexagonal wurtzite ZnO and crystalline calcite, with ZnO apparent crystallite sizes ranging from 9.2 to 28.3 nm (mean 16.4 ± 7.3 nm). FTIR identified Zn–O vibrations, carbonate-related bands, surface hydroxyl groups, and residual organic functionalities, while FESEM revealed irregular agglomerates composed of nanoscale grains. EDX showed Zn, O, C, and Ca as the principal elements, and the material exhibited a zeta potential of -14.86 ± 0.52 mV

A novel demountable shear connector for precast steel-concrete composite bridges is presented. The connector uses high-strength steel bolts, which are fastened to the top flange of the steel beam with the aid of a special locking nut configuration that prevents bolts from slipping within their holes. Moreover, the connector promotes accelerated construction and overcomes the typical construction tolerance issues of precast structures. Most importantly, the connector allows bridge disassembly. Therefore, it can address different bridge deterioration scenarios with minimum disturbance to traffic flow including the following: (1) precast deck panels can be rapidly uplifted and replaced; (2) connectors can be rapidly removed and replaced; and (

An encryption system needs unpredictability and randomness property to maintain information security during transmission and storage. Although chaotic maps have this property, they have limitations such as low Lyapunov exponents, low sensitivity and limited chaotic regions. The paper presents a new improved skewed tent map to address these problems. The improved skew tent map (ISTM) increases the sensitivity to initial conditions and control parameters. It has uniform distribution of output sequences. The programs for ISTM chaotic behavior were implemented in MATLAB R2023b. The novel ISTM produces a binary sequence, with high degree of complexity and good randomness properties. The performance of the ISTM generator shows effective s

Introduction: Methadone hydrochloride (MDN) is an effective pharmacological substitution treatment for opioids dependence, adopted in different countries as methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) programmes. However, MDN can exacerbate the addiction problem if it is abused and injected intravenously, and the frequent visits to the MMT centres can reduce patient compliance. The overall aim of this study is to develop a novel extended-release capsule of MDN using the sol-gel silica (SGS) technique that has the potential to counteract medication-tampering techniques and associated health risks and reduce the frequent visits to MMT centres. Methods: For MDN recrystallisation, a closed container method (CCM) and hot-stage method (HSM) were conduc

Nowadays, there is a trend to promote the use of natural materials in dentistry. One of these compounds that has lately grown significantly in relevance in clinical research is Pelargonium Graveolens .

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) stands as the most prevalent cardiac arrhythmia, with associated risks of stroke and systemic thromboembolism. While vitamin K antagonists, specifically warfarin, have historically been the mainstay for stroke prevention in AF, they come with inherent limitations.

Aim: This review seeks to offer a comprehensive analysis of the efficacy, safety, and clinical advantages of novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) compared to traditional warfarin in AF management.

Method: A meticulous examination of pivotal clinical trials, meta-analyses, and recent research publications was conducted.

A twisted-fin array as an innovative structure for intensifying the charging response of a phase-change material (PCM) within a shell-and-tube storage system is introduced in this work. A three-dimensional model describing the thermal management with charging phase change process in PCM was developed and numerically analyzed by the enthalpy-porosity method using commercial CFD software. Efficacy of the proposed structure of fins for performing better heat communication between the active heating surface and the adjacent layers of PCM was verified via comparing with conventional longitudinal fins within the same design limitations of fin material and volume usage. Optimization of the fin geometric parameters including the pitch, numb

An oxidative polymerization approach was used to create polyaniline (PANI) and Fe₂O₃ /PANI nanoparticle combination. Various characterization approaches were used to investigate the structural, morphological, and Fe₂O₃ /PANI nanoparticle structures. The findings support the synthesis of polycrystalline nanoparticle PANI and Fe₂O₃ /PANI spherical nanoparticle composites. Gram-positive bacteria are tested for antibacterial activity. Various quantities of Nanoparticles of PANI and Fe₂O₃ /PANI nanoparticle composites were used to test Staph-aureus and gram-negative bacteria, E-coli, and candida species. PANI has antibacterial properties against all microo