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Green Power: The Role of Plant-Based Biochar in Advanced Energy Storage
This comprehensive review aims to provide an overview of recent progress in utilizing plant-based biochar for supercapacitors. It specifically focuses on biochar derived from plant biomass such as agricultural residues, weeds and aquatic plants, examining their potential in energy storage applications. It explores various synthesis methods like pyrolysis and hydrothermal carbonization and evaluates their impact on biochar's structure and electrochemical properties. Additionally, it examines the electrochemical performance of biochar-based supercapacitors, focusing on parameters such as capacitance, cycling stability, and rate capability. Strategies to enhance biochar's electrochemical performance, such as surface modification and composite fabrication, are also discussed. Furthermore, it addresses existing challenges and prospects in harnessing plant-based biochar for supercapacitor applications, highlighting its potential as a sustainable and efficient electrode material for next-generation energy storage devices. 2024 Wiley-VCH GmbH. -
A comprehensive review of microplastic pollution in freshwater and marine environments
Water popularly termed the The Elixir of Life is now polluted beyond control in several regions. Microplastics, the tiny contaminants have found their way into all walks of life. They have also been found to be present in human blood, multiple organs, and even breast milk. There is an abundance of microplastics in the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the water we drink. Curbing them has to start with a ban of all forms of primary microplastics, and single use plastics with preference being given to biodegradable alternatives. India in particular banned single use plastics in 2022, which put an end to several commonly used plastic items being replaced with biodegradables. Paint is one of the largest contributors to microplastics, followed by textile industry, cosmetic, pharmaceutical industry, packaging industry are all top contributors to microplastics. The wastewater treatment plants aren't designed to filter microplastics from the source and this results in microplastics polluting all water resources. Though several novel techniques for microplastic segregation exist such as sieving, filtration, density separation, visual sorting, alkali digestion exist, they aren't fully employed as the initial process of microplastic segregation from waste is still in question. 2024 The Author(s) -
New frontiers in polyphenol analysis: A review of electrochemical sensors and commercial devices enhancing food and beverage analysis
Food safety concerns arise from outbreaks of foodborne illnesses and contamination within the food supply. Polyphenols, naturally occurring compounds in plants, are characterized by multiple phenolic (hydroxyl) groups and are prevalent in fruits, vegetables, tea, coffee, and wine. While beneficial in moderation, excessive polyphenol intake is harmful, and they classified as secondary pollutants in environment. Therefore, accurate quantification of polyphenols is essential for ensuring product safety, quality, and nutritional value, which is the focus of this review. Electrochemical sensors offer a sensitive, selective, and cost-effective method for detecting polyphenols in food and beverages. The review examines advanced voltammetric techniques for identifying polyphenols in various food samples, including beverages and dietary products. Additionally, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) sensors are highlighted as valuable tools for assessing the antioxidant potential of foods, aiding in nutritional analysis and quality control. This review, for the first time, catalogs around ten commercially available devices and twenty assay kits for detecting antioxidant polyphenols, highlighting their significance in advancing food safety, bolstering consumer confidence, and supporting ongoing nutritional research. Additionally, made efforts to bridge a crucial gap between conventional research and industry needs by expanding the existing body of knowledge and providing fresh insights into polyphenol analysis. 2025 Elsevier Inc. -
Biomass Carbon Dots: Illuminating New Era in Antimicrobial Defense and Cancer Combat
The twenty-first century has witnessed remarkable advancements across diverse facets of human life, including significant progress in the medical field, economic growth, scientific breakthroughs, and technological advancements. Despite these strides that improved living standards, the persistent threat posed by pathogenic infections caused by bacteria, fungi, viruses, etc., remains a critical concern. The enduring emergence of new variations of these infections continues to impact lives profoundly. Cancer is another looming spectre that continues to challenge human health security. Consequently, extensive research endeavours aim to develop swift, efficient, and innocuous methods for curing and preventing these infections. This paper explores a burgeoning field in physics, focusing on recent advancements in nanomaterials, particularly in developing carbon dots (CDs). Characterized by their size, which is less than 10nm, CDs have proven exceptionally beneficial in diagnosing and treating life-threatening health issues while preserving the viability of healthy cells. Their versatility is evident in various biomedical applications, serving as bioimaging probes, intracellular drug delivery agents, and agents for bactericidal and fungicidal, as well as in cancer treatment and diagnosis. The key attributes contributing to their efficacy include ease of functionalization, biocompatibility, fluorescence, low cytotoxicity, and catalytic properties. As an innovative nanomaterial, CDs showcase tremendous potential in advancing medical diagnostics and therapeutics, offering a glimpse into a future where these tiny entities play a pivotal role in ensuring human well-being. This review focuses on the antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and anticancerous activities of the CDs derived from various precursors derived by biomass. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2024. -
A critical review focussing on the synthesis and applications of monoclinic yttrium oxide nanophosphor
Research on monoclinic Y2O3 has been limited, not because of a lack of potential applications, but rather due to challenges associated with synthesizing phase-pure material. The limited understanding of the material and its properties has hindered researchers from further exploring this compound. Some studies suggest that the B-type polymorph of Y2O3 exhibits superior performance compared to its cubic counterpart. Additionally, there are reports indicating the existence of simple synthesis techniques that could potentially overcome the material's significant disadvantage highlighted by many researchers, namely, complex synthesis routes. To date, no comprehensive reports have summarized the key findings related to B-type Y2O3. In this effort, we aim to provide an exhaustive overview of research conducted on this polymorph. This includes an examination of diverse synthesis techniques employed by researchers, theoretical studies conducted on the material, an exploration of its luminescence properties, and an overview of various applications studied thus far. 2024 Elsevier Ltd -
Emerging Nanoparticle-Based Diagnostics and Therapeutics for Cancer: Innovations and Challenges
Malignant growth is expected to surpass other significant causes of death as one of the top reasons for dismalness and mortality worldwide. According to a World Health Organization (WHO) study, this illness causes approximately between 9 and 10 million instances of deaths annually. Chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery are the three main methods of treating cancer. These methods seek to completely eradicate all cancer cells while having the fewest possible unintended impacts on healthy cell types. Owing to the lack of target selectivity, the majority of medications have substantial side effects. On the other hand, nanomaterials have transformed the identification, diagnosis, and management of cancer. Nanostructures with biomimetic properties have been grown as of late, fully intent on observing and treating the sickness. These nanostructures are expected to be consumed by growth in areas with profound disease. Furthermore, because of their extraordinary physicochemical properties, which incorporate nanoscale aspects, a more prominent surface region, explicit geometrical features, and the ability to embody different substances within or on their outside surfaces, nanostructures are remarkable nano-vehicles for conveying restorative specialists to their designated regions. This review discusses recent developments in nanostructured materials such as graphene, dendrimers, cell-penetrating peptide nanoparticles, nanoliposomes, lipid nanoparticles, magnetic nanoparticles, and nano-omics in the diagnosis and management of cancer. 2025 by the authors. -
"Community Resilience to Climate Change: Integrating Sociological Perspectives"
This review article aims to present the possible ways in which communities can be resilient to climate change as seen from sociological viewpoints. Thus, it provides a systematic review of the current literature to underscore the centrality of social capital, community networks, and cultural practices in strengthening adaptive capacities in various contexts. Bangladesh coastal people and New York City are two cases in which social capital enhances the process of preparedness, response, and recovery during disasters. Cultural knowledge and traditional coping mechanisms also enhance community resilience by learning to live with the environment and innovate in the face of climate change. Implications for policy focus on the need to incorporate sociological findings into climate change adaptation, calling for the promotion of community-based adaptation and governance structures. Issues related to the scalability of resilience interventions and socio-economic inequalities are presented and future directions for research to enhance the methodological approaches and support vulnerable populations are proposed. Thus, this review aligns with the goals of community empowering and adaptive governance to highlight sociological perspectives in creating resilience to climate change impacts. 2025 Betasciencepress Publishing. All rights reserved. -
Microplastics distribution and potential health implications of food and food products
Microplastics, miniscule plastic fragments ubiquitous in the environment, pose a growing threat as they infiltrate our food chain. This review delves into the contamination of various food categories, including seafood, agricultural products, and even processed foods through packaging and processing methods. Developing reliable analytical techniques to accurately detect microplastics levels within complex food matrices is crucial to gauge the true extent of this contamination. Although the entire range of potential health effects associated with microplastic intake is not yet known, there is reason to be concerned about the risks. These include the potential for microplastics to physically hurt the gastrointestinal tract, exposure to chemicals that seep from the polymers themselves, and the potential for microplastics to act as carriers for other dangerous compounds. This analysis identifies important knowledge gaps about the long-term health effects of microplastics exposure. It highlights the urgent need for more investigation to fully assess the possible dangers connected to microplastics in the food chain. Furthermore, it is imperative that efficient mitigation measures be put in place as soon as possible to protect food safety from microplastics contamination. More cooperation is required to create more stringent laws governing the use of plastic, investigate substitute materials for manufacturing and packaging, and create effective filtering systems for the processing of food and water. Through devoted research to close knowledge gaps and the implementation of strong mitigation strategies, can make proactive efforts to safeguard public health and maintain the integrity of our food supply chain for future generations. 2024 Elsevier Inc. -
Addressing psychosocial problems associated with the COVID-19 lockdown
The lockdown imposed by the governments of various countries to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is associated with various psychosocial problems. The complications within the family and time management issues that can occur during this time period are explored. The stigma and anxiety associated with the coronavirus disease are also addressed. It is noted that the problems faced by vulnerable communities including individuals with substance use disorder (SUD) tend to be ignored. These crucial areas that psychologists and mental health professionals should consider before providing intervention are discussed. 2020 Elsevier B.V. -
Platelets to surrogate lung inflammation in COVID-19 patients
The neoteric severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been jeopardizing the world with the symptoms of seasonal flu. The virus contagion predicted to have been originated from Wuhan, China has by far trapped 4,198,418 cases from 212 countries in the world with two international conveyances with 284,102 deaths as of 11 May 2020 (10:18 GMT). Researchers around the globe have indulged in deciphering viral mode in the body for devising a cure. Affirmations from autopsies and preliminary findings on SARS-CoV-2 hypothesized on viral pathogenesis within the host, for instance, source of inflammation in lungs and pneumonia. This hypothesis assigns the platelets as agents of infection after viral entry. Presently, curbing infection to stall the spread of SARS-CoV-2 is the prima facie intervention employed, worldwide. However, public health authorities must monitor the state of affairs scrupulously, as the deeper our understanding of this novel virus and its associated outbreak, the better we can deal with it. Knowing this idea might be far-fetched, yet this postulate would serve as the groundwork for the present situation. 2020 Elsevier Ltd -
Limelight in Dark Times: Jyoti Kumari's 'Cyclothon'
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Suicide among children during Covid-19 pandemic: An alarming social issue
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Hike in student suicides Consequence of online classes?
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Work from home in the pandemic era: Loss of mental equilibrium?
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Can bot be my mental health therapist? A pandemic panorama
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Work from home during covid-19-disequilibrium of mental health and well-being among employees
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Migrant labour and mobile sensibilities
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Battle fatigue of Covid 19 warriors Heal the healers
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BTS: Belonging and Becoming
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