University of Turbat

Polyindole@silver oxide (PIN@Ag2O or PIN@SO) composites were synthesized via a simple, green-assisted chemical oxidative route and evaluated as photocatalysts for the rapid degradation of malachite green (MG) dye under natural sunlight and ambient light. The synthesized materials were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM-EDX), and UV-Vis spectroscopy, confirming the formation of semi-crystalline, porous composites with reduced optical band gaps compared to pristine polyindole. The photocatalytic performance of the PIN@SO composites was investigated in aqueous media in the presence of potassium persulfate (1.6 mM) at neutral and acidic pH. Under natural sunlight, complete degradation of 0.4 mM MG was achieved within approximately 10 min at neutral pH and 7 min under acidic conditions (pH 1) using 0.7 mg of the PIN@SO-3 catalyst. Kinetic analysis revealed that the overall degradation of MG follows a 2.5-order reaction, comprising 0.5 order with respect to MG, second order with respect to persulfate, and zero order with respect to the catalyst, under optimized conditions. The temperature dependence of the reaction was evaluated using Arrhenius and Eyring analyses, revealing an endothermic activation process. Degradation intermediates were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and a plausible degradation pathway was proposed based on the observed intermediates and relevant literature, indicating extensive MG breakdown without confirmed complete mineralization. The composites exhibited good stability over five successive reuse cycles with only a minor decrease in activity. Furthermore, the optimized system was successfully applied to a real textile wastewater sample under sunlight, demonstrating substantial dye degradation and practical applicability. While the catalyst synthesis follows an environmentally benign approach, the requirement for acidic conditions and persulfate addition represents a trade-off that should be considered when assessing overall process sustainability.

Introduction: The study examined the impact of sustainability claim types and platform types on perceived brand credibility and consumer purchase intentions in the UK manufacturing sector. Methods: We conducted an experiment in which three different ads were shown to 3 groups of 100 participants each, comprising no claim, vague claim, and verified claim. The data were collected in two phases: first, in the qualitative phase, focus groups were conducted with 6 participants. Following the experiment, in the quantitative phase, the survey was administered to participants using a structured 5-point Likert-scale questionnaire. Quantitative data were analysed using MANCOVA, one-way ANOVA, and independent-samples t-tests, and qualitative data were analysed using a thematic analysis approach. Results: The study found that Perceived Brand Credibility (PBC) and Purchase Intention (PI) were significantly related with Consumer Scepticism (CS) and Perceived Green Authenticity (PGA), with both factors showing strong relationship. Platform Type did not have a substantial relationship with perceived brand credibility and purchase intention. Additionally, the claim type was found to be associated with PBC and PI significantly. Verified claims positively related with both PBC and PI, whereas vague claims had a insignificant relationship. Conclusion: The findings imply the need for verifiable, transparent, sustainable communication to improve consumer engagement and trust. Manufacturers are required to adopt verifiable sustainability disclosures on social media and brand-owned websites.

Nanozymes are enzyme-mimicking nanomaterials activities, that have emerged as promising tools in food safety, due to their excellent catalytic properties and unique physicochemical characteristics. Although significant progress has been made in catalytic properties have enable extensive application in colorimetric biosensors. This review summarizes recent advances in nanozyme-based colorimetric biosensors, and their oxidase, peroxidase-like nanozymes and provided a comprehensive discussion on the construction, sensing mechanism, and application of nanozymes-based biosensors developing for the detection of food contaminants. The biosensors include colorimetric, fluorescence, electrochemical, multi-modal, and other types are used for detecting food contaminates, such as toxic pollutants, pathogens, pesticides remain a critical challenge for ensuring global food safety. We aim to establish a foundational framework and offer a future innovation on integrated nanozymes technologies to serving as a valuable resource to enhance the food safety.

This study aims to analyse the effectiveness of community empowerment through entrepreneurship training and guidance in improving the entrepreneurial competence and economic self-sufficiency of individuals living in Karawang Regency. The research methodology uses a mixed-method approach characterised by a sequential explanatory design. Quantitative data were collected through a pretest-posttest design with entrepreneurship training participants across various CLCs, while qualitative data were collected through interviews, observations, and documentation. Quantitative analysis was conducted using paired t-tests, N-Gain assessments, and effect size calculations (Cohen’s d), while the qualitative study followed Miles and Huberman’s interactive model. The analysis showed a statistically significant increase across all dimensions of entrepreneurial ability, including managerial, conceptual, interpersonal, decision-making, and time management competencies. The participants’ average scores increased from the low category in the pretest to the exceptional category in the posttest. The N-Gain value is high (≥0.86), and the effect size indicates a substantial impact (Cohen's d > 0.80), suggesting the model’s significant effectiveness. Qualitative findings reinforce the importance of participatory engagement and continuous guidance in promoting greater business autonomy, improved decision-making capacity, and the sustainability of entrepreneurial efforts. Collectively, these findings prove that the combination of systematic training and entrepreneurial mentoring is an effective and sustainable paradigm for community empowerment.

The titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2NPs) were synthesized and functionalized with bovine serum albumin (BSA) to yield TiO2@BSA nanocomposites for targeted drug delivery. The chemotherapeutic drug vinorelbine (VRL), used for non-small cell lung and breast cancer, was loaded into the nanocomposites by a cost-efficient sol-gel method. The UV-vis spectrum exhibited an absorption peak at 361 nm, confirming the formation of TiO2 NPs. In the FTIR spectrum, the grafting of BSA was indicated by specific band shifts. XRD and FESEM revealed well-dispersed spherical particles with an average crystallite size of ⁓20 nm, and EDX confirmed elemental composition. The zeta potential of −29 mV indicated colloidal stability with a drug loading efficiency of 62%. In vitro release studies demonstrated pH-responsive behavior, with 98% cumulative release at an acidic pH (5.5) compared to 20% at physiological pH (7.4), indicating the suitability of this formulation for tumor-targeted delivery. Higuchi and Korsmeyer-Peppas models were used for the kinetics study, indicating that the mechanism was controlled by diffusion and swelling. Cytotoxicity evaluation via MTT assay showed enhanced uptake and anticancer activity of VRL-loaded TiO2@BSANPs against MCF-7 cells compared with free VRL. These results suggest TiO2@BSA nanocarriers as efficient, stable, and selective platforms for cancer therapy.