Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are found in abundance in the nervous system. They perform significant functions for example boosting synaptogenesis, neurogenesis, inducing antinociception, ...stimulating gene expression and neuronal activity, preventing apoptosis and neuroinflammation. G-protein-coupled receptor 40 (GPR40), also called free fatty acid receptor 1 (FFA1), is ubiquitously expressed in various regions of the human brain including the olfactory bulb, midbrain, medulla oblongata, hippocampus, hypothalamus, cerebral cortex, cerebellum and in the spinal cord. GPR40, when binding with polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) has shown promising therapeutic potential. This review presents current knowledge regarding the pharmacological properties of GPR40 and addresses its functions in brain, with a focus on neurodevelopment & neurogenesis. Furthermore, the demonstration of GPR40 involvement in several neuropathological conditions such as apoptosis, inflammatory pain, Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Although the results are encouraging, further research is needed to clarify their role in the treatment of inflammatory pain, Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.
This article is part of the Special Issue entitled ‘Lipid Sensing G Protein-Coupled Receptors in the CNS’.
•The role of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in the brain.•The physiological role of GPR40 in brain focus on neurodevelopment & neurogenesis.•The role of GPR40 in neuropathological conditions.
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GEOZS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
Management of coal fly ash as a particulate byproduct of coal burning has become an issue to be solved right away due to environmental concerns related to soil, water, and air pollution. Many ...attempts have been made by researchers for the conversion of coal fly ash into useful products while searching feasible avenues for its sustainable utilization. Wastewater remediation using coal fly ash is one such attempt solving both waste management and water quality issues. The characteristics like morphology, surface area, porosity, and chemical composition (silica, alumina, iron oxide, titania, etc.) make coal fly ash amenable material for potential application in wastewater treatment. Few reports have summarized the coal fly ash utilization in wastewater treatment but solely discussed the adsorption. Besides adsorption, the current paper aims to highlight the possibilities of using coal fly ash in wastewater treatment by different technologies that extend the utilization scope in the domains of filtration, Fenton process, photocatalysis, and coagulation. The promising use of coal fly ash as an adsorbent, membrane filter, Fenton catalyst, photocatalyst, and as an integral part of these structures is reviewed. Finally, the current trends and future prospects on utilization modes of coal fly ash in wastewater treatment are stated.
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•This article aims to summarize the use of coal fly ash in wastewater treatment.•Adsorption of heavy metal ions and dyes by coal fly ash saves the environment.•Fly ash-based coagulants and membrane filters are effective in wastewater treatment.•Coal fly ash can be adapted in photocatalysis as catalytic support or as a catalyst.•Fly ash-based Fenton catalysts are efficient, cost-effective & environment-friendly.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
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•One pot synthetic method was developed for the uniform dispersion of Mo2N over TiO2.•Using Catalpa Fruit extract as a green bio-reductant to prepare Pd/Mo2N-TiO2 catalyst.•Catalpa ...Fruit extract as reductant is favor for the Pd dispersion on Mo2N-TiO2.•0.8 wt%Pd/Mo2N-TiO2 shows good selective hydrogenation activity of nitrophenols.•Good activity due to more Pd0 derived from the synergistic effect of Pd and Mo2N.
The addition of a suitable co-catalyst is an encouraging way to enhance the catalytic performance of Pd based catalyst with low content. Herein, we describe an easy synthesis of Mo2N-TiO2 with well-dispersed Mo2N nanoparticles through one pot evaporation-induced self-assembly and nitridation treatment method. Moreover, a green bio-reductive approach with Catalpa Fruit (CF) extract was adopted to fabricate Pd/Mo2N-TiO2 catalysts for promoting selective hydrogenation of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) to 4-aminophenol (4-AP) as model reaction. Among these Pd/Mo2N-TiO2 catalysts, 0.8 wt%Pd/Mo2N-TiO2 exhibits significantly high catalytic activity for selective hydrogenation of various nitrophenols and cinnmaldehyde. Importantly, the catalytic activity of the catalyst prepared by the reduction method of the CF extract is higher than that prepared by the reduction method of NaBH4. A serials of characterization, including XRD, N2 adsorption–desorption, TEM, XPS, CO chemisorption and CO-FTIR etc., was carried out to investigate the influence of the prepared method on the surface Pd species and activity. The high performance can be attributed to the specific nanostructure characteristics of the catalyst and the good synergistic effect between Pd and Mo2N, improving the dispersion of Pd nanoparticles atoms and the exposure of more active Pd atoms (surface Pd0 species) on 0.8 wt%Pd/Mo2N-TiO2 due to the CF extract as reductant.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Fentanyl is a powerful opioid anesthetic and analgesic, the use of which has caused an increasing public health threat in the United States and elsewhere. Fentanyl was initially approved and used for ...the treatment of moderate to severe pain, especially cancer pain. However, recent years have seen a growing concern that fentanyl and its analogs are widely synthesized in laboratories and adulterated with illicit supplies of heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and counterfeit pills, contributing to the exponential growth in the number of drug-related overdose deaths. This review summarizes the recent epidemic and evolution of illicit fentanyl use, its pharmacological mechanisms and side effects, and the potential clinical management and prevention of fentanyl-related overdoses. Because social, economic, and health problems that are related to the use of fentanyl and its analogs are growing, there is an urgent need to implement large-scale safe and effective harm reduction strategies to prevent fentanyl-related overdoses.
Systematic administration of painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs is routinely employed to minimize pain and bodily disorders. Controlled drug delivery has the potential to improve the outcomes of ...disorders by providing sustained exposure to efficacious drug concentrations. Herein, we report the fabrication of multi-responsive hydrogels using reactive and functional polymers such as chitosan and polyvinyl pyrrolidone by varying the concentration of a cleavable crosslinker, tetraethyl orthosilicate. The swelling indices of the hydrogels were evaluated in distilled water, solutions with different pH values and different electrolytes. FTIR, WAXRD and TGA were conducted to investigate the structures, crystallinities and thermal stabilities of the prepared multi-responsive hydrogels, respectively. The ultimate tensile strength and elongations at break of the fabricated hydrogels were investigated to assess their mechanical stability. Optical microscopy, biodegradation, antimicrobial and cytotoxicity analyses were further carried out to verify the magnified crosslinked and porous structures, biodegradabilities, biocompatibilities and toxic behaviour of the as-prepared hydrogels, respectively. Drug release analysis was conducted to evaluate their release behaviour in PBS, SGF, SIF and electrolyte solutions. The overall results indicate the successful development of novel, non-toxic and sustained drug deliverable hydrogels, which can be considered as a paramount success towards the fabrication of controlled drug delivery systems.
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IJS, KILJ, NUK, UL, UM, UPUK
This study aims to examine the impact of boardroom gender diversity, Malaysian Code on Corporate Governance (MCCG, 2012), and firms’ specific characteristics such as age, size, and profitability, on ...corporate sustainability disclosures (CSD) in Malaysia. The study applied Ordinary Least Square (OLS) to a stratified random sample composed of 878 public listed companies. These companies were selected in 11 sectors of the Malaysian economy for three years i.e. 2011 to 2013. The selection of time period has a rationale that Malaysia is mostly focused on improving both the corporate sustainability and representation of women directors on the board during this time. The results indicate that women directors have an imperative role in improving CSD as evident by their significant positive association with workplace and social, environmental, and economic dimensions of corporate sustainability. In addition, the comparison of findings in pre and post contexts of MCCG 2012, it is noted that the association between boardroom gender diversity and CSD has pronounced after enactment of the code. The findings are important, particularly in connection with a fast-growing and emerging economy like Malaysia. The findings have important insights for various stakeholders i.e. government, regulatory bodies, practitioners, academia, industry, and researchers.
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•An empirical analysis of boardroom gender diversity and corporate sustainability disclosures.•Boardroom gender diversity increases corporate sustainability disclosures.•Boardroom gender diversity increases environmental, workplace, social, and economic sustainability.•Relationship of boardroom gender diversity with corporate sustainability in pre and post contexts of the MCCG 2012.•The association is more pronounced after enactment of the MCCG 2012.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Abstract Zinc the essential trace element, plays a significant role in the brain development and in the proper brain functions at every stage of life. Misbalance of zinc (Zn2+ ) ions in the central ...nervous system is involved in the pathogenesis of numerous neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Depression, and Epilepsy. In brain, Zn2+ has been identified as a ligand, capable of activating and inhibiting the receptors including the NMDA-type glutamate receptors (NMDARs), GABAA receptors, nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), glycine receptors (glyR) and serotonin receptors (5-HT3). Recently GPR39 has been identified as a zinc-specific receptor, widely expressed in brain tissues including the frontal cortex, amygdala, and hippocampus. GPR39, when binding with Zn2+ has shown promising therapeutic potentials. This review presents current knowledge regarding the role of GPR39 zinc sensing receptor in brain, with a focus on Alzheimer’s disease and Epilepsy. Although the results are encouraging, further research is needed to clarify zinc and GPR39 role in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and Epilepsy.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
Agriculture in the 21st century is facing multiple challenges, such as those related to soil fertility, climatic fluctuations, environmental degradation, urbanization, and the increase in food demand ...for the increasing world population. In the meanwhile, the scientific community is facing key challenges in increasing crop production from the existing land base. In this regard, traditional farming has witnessed enhanced per acre crop yields due to irregular and injudicious use of agrochemicals, including pesticides and synthetic fertilizers, but at a substantial environmental cost. Another major concern in modern agriculture is that crop pests are developing pesticide resistance. Therefore, the future of sustainable crop production requires the use of alternative strategies that can enhance crop yields in an environmentally sound manner. The application of rhizobacteria, specifically, plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), as an alternative to chemical pesticides has gained much attention from the scientific community. These rhizobacteria harbor a number of mechanisms through which they promote plant growth, control plant pests, and induce resistance to various abiotic stresses. This review presents a comprehensive overview of the mechanisms of rhizobacteria involved in plant growth promotion, biocontrol of pests, and bioremediation of contaminated soils. It also focuses on the effects of PGPR inoculation on plant growth survival under environmental stress. Furthermore, the pros and cons of rhizobacterial application along with future directions for the sustainable use of rhizobacteria in agriculture are discussed in depth.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
In this paper, we present an ensemble stacked generalization (ESG) approach for better prediction of electric vehicles (EVs) energy consumption. ESG is a weighted combination of multiple base ...regression models to one meta-regressor, which enhances the model prediction and decreases the model variance over a single regressor model. For the current study, we develop ESG by combining three individual base machine learning algorithms, i.e., Decision Tree (DT), Random Forest (RF), and K-Nearest Neighbor (KNN), to predict the EVs' energy consumption. Tackling the challenge of predicting EVs' energy consumption, the data were collected from Aichi Prefecture, Japan, combining the digital elevation map with long-term GPS tracking data. EVs energy consumption in terms of energy efficiency (kWh/km) was estimated using several important variables such as average trip speed (km/h), trip distance, nighttime lighting, air conditioner (A/C), heater usage ratio, and road gradient. Several statistical evaluation metrics were used to evaluate the performance of the proposed methods. The prediction results show that ESG is more robust in predicting EVs' energy consumption and outperformed other models by yielding more acceptable values for proposed evaluation metrics. The results further demonstrate that the accuracy of predictive models for EVs energy consumption can be reasonably accomplished by adopting stacking techniques. The finding of this study could provide essential guidance to decision-makers and practitioners for planned development and optimal placing of EV charging infrastructures in urban areas.
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BFBNIB, GIS, IJS, KISLJ, NUK, PNG, UL, UM, UPUK
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