Mar Thoma College

Despite evident carbon-nitrogen pollution in tropical estuaries, the chronology and origin of accelerated carbon-nitrogen pollution are still largely unexplored. Here, we report that the Cochin Estuary, India, showed more than five decades of carbon and nitrogen accumulation at Site 6. The estuary serves as a major carbon reservoir, sequestering approximately 38.4 Gg C yr-1 and as an important nitrogen sink. The delta 13C signatures indicated a mix of marine and terrestrial carbon sources, whereas the delta 15N signatures revealed significant pollution from anthropogenic nitrogen, with enrichment (5.9 to 9.6 parts per thousand) observed in the surface sediment layer (0-2 cm) and extending several centimeters deeper into the core. It was also evident that nitrogen pollution, through the inputs from the adjacent fertilizer industry, existed since 1972. Physicochemical variables such as pH, oxidation-reduction potential, and dry bulk density showed negative associations with carbon, whereas water content and dry bulk density were positively associated with nitrogen. The findings highlight the dual role of estuaries as sites of pollutant accumulation and significant carbon reservoirs, emphasizing both their importance in regulating carbon and nitrogen cycles and their vulnerability to long-term contaminant buildup, thereby underscoring the need for their protection and careful management within global carbon and nitrogen strategies.

The two-dimensional nanomaterial Graphene Oxide (GO) emerged as a cornerstone in materials science whose unique hydrophilic functional groups and tuneable physicochemical properties empower advanced applications in the fields of biomedicine, sensors, energy storage, catalysis etc. However, the Conventional Hummers Method for GO synthesis produces massive volumes of hazardous mineral acids waste, thereby presenting severe ecological hazards, complex wastewater management challenges and heightened operational safety risks related to exothermic reactions. Herein, we report a sustainable and green modification to the Hummers Method by suggesting an acid-sparse method for the preparation of GO, along with an effective oxidization of Graphite that has a reduced acid consumption. The modified protocol uses tailored synthetic parameters and a rate-controlled addition of the oxidant KMNO 4 to facilitate the Synthesis of well-exfoliated GO with reduced use of acids and enhanced operational safety. A comprehensive characterization was done in order to confirm the efficient exfoliation, the successful oxidation

Renewable energy sources are being employed more frequently to address energy needs as environmental pollution concerns rise. Photovoltaic (PV) systems are vital in the area of renewable energy sources. We will be able to use a simulation tool to assess the performance and behavior of the PV systems after we obtain experimental data from the systems. Here, the simulation process is carried out by developing a programme in the MATLAB environment based on the experimental data obtained from the fabricated Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs) and allowing users to view the experimental results and characteristic curves on a user-friendly platform like the Graphical User Interface (GUI). The proposed DSSC device achieved an efficiency of 7.38

A series of Cu(II) complexes [CuLCl], [CuLBr], [CuLNO3], and [CuLOAc], which have different counter anions, has been synthesised using a tridentate Schiff base, namely 2-(thienylideneamino)benzoic acid (L), to study the effects of the anions on fluorescence and α-amylase inhibitory activity. The spectral data indicate that the ligand moiety was coordinated to the Cu(II) ion through carboxylate (O), azomethine (N), and thiophene (S) atoms. The EPR spectral data suggest a significant covalent character for the Cu-L bond. The fluorescence properties of Cu(II) complexes vary depending on the anions present. As a part of the biological evaluation, antibacterial and α-amylase inhibitory activities of the Schiff base ligand and the Cu(II) complexes have been investigated. The complexes [CuLCl] and [CuLNO3] exhibited notable antibacterial potential with good minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values. From the in vitro α-amylase inhibitory activities, the [CuLNO3] and [CuLOAc] showed IC50 0.22 ± 0.019 mg/mL and 0.18 ± 0.015 mg/mL, respectively, which are comparable with the standard drug acarbose with an IC50 of 0.11 ± 0.017 mg/mL. Furthermore, investigations involving the binding interactions of Cu(II) complexes with various enzymes’ active sites, including human pancreatic α-amylase (PDB ID: 4W93), maltase-glucoamylase (PDB ID: 3TOP), and lysosomal acid-α-glucosidase (PDB ID: 5NN8) involved in human glucose hydrolysis have been conducted using molecular docking. CDOCKER interaction energy values of the complexes were quite promising compared to acarbose.