This study investigates the binding affinities of compounds selected from the ZINC database to acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) enzymes using molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations and MMGBSA calculations. The results indicate that the selected compounds exhibit strong binding to AChE, outperforming standard inhibitors such as galantamine and donepezil. Key amino acid residues contributing to the stabilization of the enzyme-inhibitor complexes were identified. The analysis highlights the critical role of van der Waals and electrostatic interactions in maintaining binding stability. The obtained results suggest that the selected compounds from the ZINC database represent promising candidates for the development of novel acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and may encourage further experimental and pharmacological investigations.
The genus Gagea exhibits high morphological diversity and complex taxonomy. In this study, we analyzed the phylogenetic relationships and morphological differentiation within Gagea using ITS sequences from 32 species across 9 sections. Bayesian analysis revealed 3 main clades, partially congruent with morphological traits. Our results highlight both the value of molecular data for species delimitation and the need for taxonomic revision due to cases of morphological convergence and incongruence. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of evolutionary patterns in Gagea.
Titanium dioxide (TiO2) and its composites are widely investigated for environmental remediation due to their favorable physicochemical properties. In this study, Si/TiO2 nanocomposites were synthesized by incorporating a very low amount (0.1 wt%) of silicon nanoparticles prepared via a free-space reactor (FSR) into a TiO2 matrix using a sol-gel method. Three types of silicon nanoparticles with distinct intrinsic properties, denoted as Si(1), Si(2), and Si(3), were employed to systematically evaluate the influence of silicon structure on photocatalytic performance under identical synthesis conditions. The photocatalytic activity of the nanocomposites and pristine TiO2 was assessed using two reference pollutant molecules widely reported in the literature, methyl orange as a model dye and imidacloprid as a representative persistent organic contaminant, under UV, UV + visible, and visible-light irradiation using low-energy light sources. Among the investigated samples, Si(1)/TiO2 exhibited the highest photocatalytic efficiency, achieving degradation rates of 94 % for methyl orange (UV irradiation, 240 min) and 60 % for imidacloprid (UV irradiation, 360 min), outperforming pristine TiO2 (76 % and 53 %, respectively). The enhanced performance is attributed to improved interfacial charge transfer, optimized textural properties, and extended light absorption induced by silicon incorporation. The research demonstrates that Si/TiO2 nanocomposites with ultra-low silicon content and reduced energy input represent promising, energy-efficient photocatalysts for sustainable water treatment and environmental remediation applications.
Soil degradation remains a major threat to farming, especially in tropical regions where organic matter is low and soils are compacted. This study examined the ability of three leguminous bean species—pea (Pisum sativum), sebarga (Lablab purpureus), and indigo (Indigofera tinctoria)—to restore key soil properties over two growing cycles. A field experiment compared these three treatments against bare fallow. The results showed that all three beans improved soil health, but in different ways. Indigo gave the highest increase in soil organic carbon and microbial activity, sebarga was best at breaking up compacted subsoil, and pea released nitrogen most quickly for the following crop. We conclude that using these beans, especially in combination, offers a practical, low-cost method to regenerate degraded soils.
Developing countries do not have access to safe, affordable, and scalable financial infrastructure in a way that small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) can ever access. The latest solution to the issue is cloud-based payment gateways (CBPGs) since they not only make digital transfer less expensive, allow more people to gain access to money and improve the economy. The research involves a conceptual analysis to examine the way CBPG is fitting in the local fintech communities, digital banking, and mobile wallets. The case studies are founded on the building markets which are becoming more digitalized in the shortest time possible and are emerging as a result of small and medium-sized enterprises. These findings demonstrate that CBPGs significantly reduce the costs of conducting business by small and medium-sized businesses, make the financial flows more transparent, and even expand opportunities of cross-border trade. The ability to combine it with mobile money services and data-driven credit scores allows businesses, which were previously unable to receive loans to do so. Policymaking activities, such as regulatory sandboxes and subsidised internet connectivity and pro-fintech legislation, become highly sought after to take up. It contributes to the importance of alignment of the new technologies with the educational and governmental plans to achieve the greatest social and economic impacts.
