According to economists, rapid economic growth depends on the active energy system of any country. Through financial development, the latest trend of globalization applies pressure on energy ...consumption, which eventually validates growth in the economy. Therefore, the role of financial development and renewable energy consumption on economic growth is still being questioned. This paper contributes to this issue by raising concerns about the possible asymmetric links among financial development, renewable energy, and economic growth along with capital and labor. Applying a nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag model, our paper demonstrates that neglecting the involvement of nonlinearities leads to confusing conclusions. Results show that variables of interest have asymmetric impacts in short- and long-runs. Our analysis shows that short- and long-run impacts of renewable energy consumption and financial development on growth vary significantly. Notably, this study finds that renewable energy consumption has a positive and significant impact on economic growth in the short- and long-runs, and financial development has a strong, asymmetric, and positive effect on economic growth in the short and negative effects in long-run. The findings also have important implications for policymakers as well as investors in Pakistan’s energy sector.
Environmental challenges are as wide as the universe so that its different dimensions can be the subject of diverse studies. In this research, using 17 data from Asia-Pacific during the period 2000 ...to 2017, an attempt has been made to investigate the economic factors responsible for the ecological footprint in the fishing sector. The main contribution of the present study is to investigate the effects of nine economic freedom indicators along with other control variables on environmental pressure on the status of fishery resources. Based on the results, the Kuznets curve hypothesis was confirmed in the fishing grounds footprint, so that the growth of GDP per capita shows a positive and significant effect, while its squared form coefficient is negative. Other control variables including natural resource rents, urbanization, and energy intensity, do not show significant effects on the fishing footprint. The different components of economic freedom show different effects, while their cumulative effects in the form of the total economic freedom index have a positive effect on the footprint of fishing and lead to increased extraction from fishing resources. The results show that the Government Integrity, Tax Burden, Business Freedom, Monetary Freedom indices increase the fishing footprint, while the indices of trade freedom and investment freedom, by revealing the negative effects on the fishing footprint, have beneficial environmental effects in reducing the pressure on the aquatic resources of countries. The results of the present study reveal the need to examine how the various dimensions of economic freedom affect to provide the proper management of fishery resources.
Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria are a diverse group of microorganisms that enhance the growth of plants under various conditions. In this study, 55 isolates of endogenous rhizobacteria were ...collected from the rhizosphere of Avicennia marina, Suaeda vermiculata, Salsola soda, Anabasis setifera, Salicornia europaea, Arthrocnemum macrostachyum, Limonium axillare, Tetraena qatarensis, Aeluropus lagopoides, and Prosopis juliflora. The isolates were evaluated in-vitro for their antagonist potential against Fusarium oxysporum and Botrytis cinerea using the dual culture technique, where the maximum growth inhibition reached 49% and 57%, respectively. In-vivo evaluation was accomplished to determine the growth-promoting potential of the rhizobacteria under greenhouse conditions where the strain ANABR3 (Bacillus subtilis) showed the strongest growth-promoting effects. Further in-vivo testing regarding the effectiveness of rhizobacteria in the presence of the phytopathogen was also completed using the Hoagland medium. LEMR3 and SALIR5 (both identified as two strains of B. subtilis) supported the tomato seedlings to overcome the disease and significantly (p ≤ 0.05) increased above and belowground biomass compared to the control. Additionally, several characterizing tests were carried out on the selected strains, these strains were found to possess numerous features that promote plant growth directly and indirectly such as the production of IAA, HCN, hydrolytic enzymes, ACC deaminase, NH
and some rhizobacteria were capable of phosphate solubilization. In conclusion, this study showed that local rhizobacterial isolates collected from arid lands possess valuable traits, making them promising bio-control agents and bio-fertilizers for agricultural purposes.
Crystal violet (CV) is one of the water pollutants that can cause potential harm to living beings and the environment. Different methods are applied for the removal of CV from wastewater, however, a ...cheap and environmentally friendly way is preferred. In this study, Hormophysa triquetra (HT) and its silver-modified form (AgHT) were used for the removal of CV from synthetic and real wastewater. Both physical and chemical characterizations of HT and AgHT were carried out using scanning electron microscopy – energy dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM-EDX), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), zeta potential (ζ-potential), and Brunauer-Emmet-Teller (BET) analysis. Different parameters such as pH, temperature, and concentration were studied for the adsorption process. The optimum pH of the adsorption process was 6 with a maximum adsorption capacity of 181.8 mg/g for HT and 312.5 mg/g for AgHT at 45◦C. The best-fitted adsorption isotherm model was the Langmuir model based on the correlation coefficient (R2) however; the chi-square (χ2) analysis indicated the Freundlich model to be the best-fit model. Moreover, the thermodynamics studies indicated a spontaneous and endothermic reaction with HT and the reverse with AgHT. The main functional groups contributing to the adsorption of CV on the adsorbents involve carboxyl, hydroxyl, carbonyl groups, and aromatic rings. The adsorbent removed more than 98 % of CV from real wastewater with AgHT being more efficient than HT. Desorption studies indicated that desorption agents such as NaOH and HCl reduced the electrostatic interactions between the adsorbate and the adsorbent, thereby regenerating the adsorbent. This study proves the use of naturally abundant and available macroalgae as an eco-friendly and successful green technology for the removal of CV from real wastewater.
With the growing availability of internet and opinion rich resources such as social networks and personal blogs, the task of mining public opinion and exploring facts has become more popular than ...ever before during the last decade. The latest trend has deeply transformed the way the governments interact with their citizens and offer them various services through continuous public engagement. The proposed framework SCANCPECLENS is an initiative to support performance assessment framework for e-government in Pakistan. The research takes into account the opinion of masses on one of the most crucial and widely discussed development projects, China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), considered as a game changer due to its promise of bringing economic prosperity to the region. The proposed framework suggests to use machine learning algorithms to automatically discover the public sentiment from microblogs on the matter nationally as well as internationally. We also present an automated way to create sentiment lexicon of positive, negative and neutral words on the subject. To the best of our knowledge, this theme has not been explored for opinion mining before and helps one in effectively assessing public satisfaction over government's policies in the CPEC region. The research is an initiative to discover new avenues of future research and direction for the government, policy making institutions and other stake holders and demonstrates the power of text mining as an effective tool to extract business value from vast amount of social media data.
This work describes a low-cost wet chemical synthesis technique to produce TiN–ZnS nanocomposites suitable for high energy density supercapacitors. Ti, Zn, N, and S elements in the synthesized ...materials were verified using comprehensive morphological, structural, and surface chemical investigations. Due to improved electric conductivity and electroactivity, this TiN–ZnS nanocomposite electrode exhibited excellent capacitance and charge transport kinetics, outperforming individual TiN and ZnS electrodes in electrochemical performance. The TiN–ZnS || MnO2 electrode configuration in an asymmetric supercapacitor system exhibited a high energy density of 74.13 Wh kg−1 and an exceptional power density of 7648 W kg−1 at a current density of 9 A g−1. The TiN–ZnS electrode also showed a remarkable retention rate of 96.8% even after 10 000 cycles. This work highlights the potential of the TiN–ZnS composite as a high-performance electrode for supercapacitors.
Ab initio Density Functional Theory calculations, using the full-potential linearized augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) method with the generalized gradient approximation and Hubbard-U term were used to ...investigate the structural properties, whereas Tm-mBj used for electronic, optical thermodynamic properties of Al-based fluoroperovskite compounds AlMF
3
(M = Ca and Cd). With a careful investigation of the contribution from various bands, using total and partial density of state curves, electronic band structure analysis, identified AlCaF
3
and AlCdF
3
as direct band gap materials. Calculations of optical spectra spanning from 0 to 40 eV were done, including real and imaginary parts of the dielectric function, optical reflectivity, absorption coefficient, optical conductivity, refractive index, and extinction coefficients. In the present work, thermodynamic properties are also investigated by using Gibbs package integrated in quasi harmonic. Because of their unique optical properties, the materials are suggested to have potential applications in optoelectronic devices
.
Rapid industrialization and urbanization generate significant waste, including fly ash, posing environmental challenges. Utilizing these materials is essential to mitigate impacts and promote ...sustainable development. This research paper focuses on the innovative application of geopolymeric fly ash (GEOFA) waste modified with titanium oxide (TiO2) (GEOFA-TiO2) as a promising adsorbent for the removal of phenol compounds from contaminated water. Analysis showed that the modification process resulted in the formation of functional groups such as -OH, which aided in the adsorption process. Adsorption studies were conducted to evaluate the influence of pH, temperature, and concentration on phenol removal. The maximum percentage removal of phenol was achieved at optimum conditions of pH 6 and a temperature of 25 °C, with an adsorption capacity of 166.7 mg/g. The adsorption process followed the Langmuir model, suggesting a monolayer adsorption mechanism and the thermodynamic studies revealed that the phenol adsorption onto GEOFA-TiO2 was an endothermic process with a promising affinity between phenol and the adsorbent. This study demonstrates the effective use of modified fly ash-based adsorbents to remove phenolic contaminants. By repurposing waste materials, this research addresses waste management challenges and promotes sustainable practices, reveling their potential for environmental remediation.
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•Geopolymeric fly ash waste modified with titanium oxide (GEOFA-TiO2) was prepared.•An innovative application as a promising adsorbent with an adsorption capacity of 166.7 mg/g.•The maximum percentage removal of phenol was achieved at pH 6, 25 °C.•Phenol removal in 25% of real wastewater resulted in 80% removal efficiency.•This innovative approach provides a sustainable solution for waste management.
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease associated with memory impairment and other central nervous system (CNS) symptoms. Two myrtenal–adamantane conjugates (MACs) showed excellent ...CNS potential against Alzheimer’s models. Adamantane is a common pharmacophore for drug design, and myrtenal (M) demonstrated neuroprotective effects in our previous studies. The aim of this study is to evaluate the MACs’ neuroprotective properties in dementia. Methods: Scopolamine (Scop) was applied intraperitoneally in Wistar rats for 11 days, simultaneously with MACs or M as a referent, respectively. Brain acetylcholine esterase (AChE) activity, noradrenaline and serotonin levels, and oxidative brain status determination followed behavioral tests on memory abilities. Molecular descriptors and docking analyses for AChE activity center affinity were performed. Results: M derivatives have favorable physicochemical parameters to enter the CNS. Both MACs restored memory damaged by Scop, showing significant AChE-inhibitory activity in the cortex, in contrast to M, supported by the modeling analysis. Moderate antioxidant properties were manifested by glutathione elevation and catalase activity modulation. MACs also altered noradrenaline and serotonin content in the hippocampus. Conclusion: For the first time, neuroprotective properties of two MACs in a rat dementia model were observed. They were stronger than the natural M effects, which makes the substances promising candidates for AD treatment.
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•Elemental content of P. longum catkin were analyzed by ICP-OES and ICP-MS.•PLAgNPs, PLCuONPs, and PLNiNPs were synthesized under different conditions.•P. longum catkin has shown ...toxic elements content below the permissible ranges.•PLNPs showed significant cytotoxicity against DU-145 prostate cancer cell line.•PLNPs exhibited potent antioxidant, antimicrobial, and catalytic activities.
Piper longum (long pepper) in dried form is used in several traditional medicines and as a spice. The present study highlights nutritional and toxic elements content, synthesis, and characterization of silver, copper oxide, and nickel nanoparticles using P. longum catkin extract. The study also determined anticancer, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and redox catalytic activities of the synthesized NPs. The P. longum extract mediated nanoparticles (PLNPs) synthesized at different pH and ratios were characterized by UV–Vis (ultra-violet-visible), FT-IR (Fourier-Transform infrared), and scanning electron and atomic force microscopic (SEM, AFM) techniques. Elemental content of P. longum catkin determined by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and ICP-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) indicated appreciable concentrations of nutritional elements, and well below permissible ranges of toxic elements. Well-defined and stable silver nanoparticles (PLAgNPs) were formed in 1:4 to 1:6 ratios, while copper oxide and nickel NPs (PLCuONPs and PLNiNPs) were found prominent in 1:6 ratio. In determining the effect of pH on synthesized PLNPs, sharp intense absorption peaks were obtained under slightly neutral to highly basic conditions (pH 6 to 13) for PLAgNPs, whereas for PLCuONPs and PLNiNPs, pH 7–8 was optimum. In biological activities, PLNPs exhibited significant anticancer efficacy against DU-145 (prostate cancer) cell line in the range from 92.7% (PLCuONPs) to 100% (PLAgNPs, PLNiNPs). Fuurthermore, the sythesized NPs exhibited significant antioxidant, antimicrobial, and redox catalytic properties. This study concluded the promising nutritional, biological and environmental remediation applications, and hence, further exploration of the synthesized NPs in biological and clinical applications is currently under investigation.
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