We report a simple and convenient method for the preparation of Ag/TiO2thin films supported on indium tin oxide, which was achieved by sonochemical deposition of Ag+on aerosol-assisted chemical vapour deposited TiO2thin films. Posttreatment was performed on the film by immersion in HCl. The as-prepared composite film was characterised by X-ray diffraction, ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and field emission scanning electron microscopy. The photoelectrochemical measurements andJ-Vcharacterisation showed approximately fivefold increase in photocurrent density generation and approximately sevenfold enhancement in dye sensitiser solar cell (DSSC) conversion efficiency, which was achieved after modification of the TiO2film with HCl posttreatment and Ag particle deposition. The improved photocurrent density of 933.30 μA/cm2, as well as DSSC power conversion efficiency of 3.63% with high stability, is an indication that the as-synthesised thin film is a potential candidate for solar energy conversion applications.

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Sulfur doped titanium dioxide anatase nano-photocatalyst with different copper loadings (5, 10, 15, and 20 w/w %) was synthesized by hydrothermal method. The fabricated nanocatalysts were found to have high surface area, high aspect ratio, good surface morphology and high metals dispersion. The synthesized nanocatalysts were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), Brunauer Emmett teller method (BET). The results revealed that photocatalyst possesses anatase phase having particle size in the range of 9 to 12nm. The band gap of the photocatalyst was determined using transformed diffuse reflectance spectroscopy according to the Kubelka-Munk theory, showed prominent band gap decrease with increase in the Cu loadings. The photocatalytic activity of S-TiO 2 and copper loaded S-TiO 2 nanocatalyst were determined for degradation of phenol into hydrocarbons (methane, ethene, and propene) and photo reduction of CO 2 into ethanol. The activity results revealed that degradation of phenol and photoreduction of CO 2 increased with increasing copper loadings, due to creation of electronically modified active sites and change in the electron accepting properties of TiO 2 with Cu addition and creation of electron hole pair.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship of fear avoidance belief or kinesiophobia with balance and mobility in knee osteoarthritis patients. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional correlational study was conducted in Fauji Foundation Hospital, Benazir Bhutto Hospital and Holy Family Hospital, Rawalpindi/Islamabad from January 2019 to June 2019. A total of 64 knee osteoarthritis patients (both male and female) between the ages of 40- 60 years were included in this study. They were selected using the Kallgren Lawrence Classification system (Grade I, II and III) and American College of Rheumatology criteria. Fear avoidance belief questionnaire was used to identify fear avoidance belief/kinesiophobia, Step-up test and Functional Reach test were used to measure balance and timed up and go test was used to measure mobility. Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS version 21. Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was applied to find out the normal distribution.  The relationship between fear avoidance belief and balance and mobility was examined using Spearman’s test of correlation. Results: Results showed a weak negative correlation between fear avoidance belief and functional reach test (r= -0.259, P= 0.039), and a weak positive correlation between fear avoidance belief and timed up and go test (r= 0.26, P= 0.841). Conclusion: Balance and mobility are negatively affected by fear avoidance beliefs in knee osteoarthritic patients. Thus, fear avoidance belief is an important psychological construct to be considered in the assessment and treatment of knee osteoarthritic patients to prevent balance impairments and fall risk.

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