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A new study explores the distinct roles of spontaneous polarization and piezoelectric polarization in piezo-phototronic coupling. This investigation focuses on differences in photocatalytic and piezo-photocatalytic performance using sodium bismuth titanate, a key ferroelectric material. The research aims to identify which type of polarization has a greater influence on piezo-phototronic effects. A theoretical assessment complements the experimental findings, providing additional insights. This study explores the enhanced piezo-phototronic performance of electrospun nanofibers compared to sol-gel particles under different illumination conditions (11 W UV, 250 W UV, and natural sunlight). Electrospun nanofibers exhibited a rate constant (k) improvement of 2.5 to 3.75 times, whereas sol-gel particles showed only 1.3 to 1.4 times higher performance when ultrasonication was added to photocatalysis. Analysis using first-principle methods revealed that nanofibers had an elastic modulus (C33) about 2.15 times lower than sol-gel particles, indicating greater flexibility. The elongation of the lattice along the z axis in the case of nanofibers reduced the covalency in the Bi–O and Ti–O bonds. These structural differences reduced spontaneous polarization and piezoelectric stress coefficients (e31 and e33). Despite having lower piezoelectric stress coefficients, higher flexibility in nanofibers led to a higher piezoelectric strain coefficient, 2.66 and 1.97 times greater than sol-gel particles, respectively. This improved the piezo-phototronic coupling for nanofibers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, an ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) method was employed to investigate the effect of electronic excitation on the micro-structural evolution of 3C-SiC, TiC, and ZrC. The AIMD results demonstrated that electron excitation induces a crystalline-to-amorphous phase transition in all carbide compounds. The determined threshold electronic excitation concentration for 3C-SiC, TiC, and ZrC at 300 K is 4.06%, 5.28%, and 4.26%, respectively. The mean square displacement of C atoms is larger than those of Si, Zr, and Ti atoms, which results from the smaller atomic mass of the C atom. These results indicate that the structural amorphization of 3C-SiC, TiC, and ZrC is primarily attributed to the displacement of C atoms. It is noted that amorphization induced by electronic excitation represents a solid–solid transition rather than a solid–liquid transition. It is further verified that the ⟨ Si − C ⟩ bond is a covalent characteristic, whereas the ⟨ Ti − C ⟩ or ⟨ Zr − C ⟩ bond is a mixture of ionic, metallic, and covalent characteristics, which may lead to different radiation tolerances of carbide compounds. The present results suggest that electronic excitation may contribute to the structural amorphization of carbides under low- or medium-energy electron and ion irradiation, and advance the fundamental comprehension of the radiation resistances of carbide compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phenomenon of Berezinskii–Kosterlitz–Thouless (BKT) phase fluctuations and the superconducting fluctuations is investigated in a 40 nm thick granular aluminum film using magneto-transport measurements. The transport measurements suggest the possibility of strong electron–phonon (el–ph) interactions in contrast to a Bardeen–Cooper–Schrieffer superconductor. It shows a BKT transition of 2.304 K and a superconducting mean-field transition at 2.32 K. The presence of the resistive tail even before the BKT transition reflects the abundance of thermally activated free vortices. By analyzing the excess conductivity, Gaussian–Ginzburg–Landau superconducting fluctuations are observed above the superconducting transition, which causes rounding of the transition region even before the superconducting transition. The temperature dependence of the fluctuation conductivity in zero magnetic field exhibits distinct signatures of the two-dimensional direct Aslamazov–Larkin theory, with a significant contribution from the Maki–Thompson (MT) model. Furthermore, the anomalous behavior of the fluctuation conductivity at higher temperatures and perpendicular magnetic fields (up to 700 mT) is explained in terms of the total-energy cutoff (=0.72) in the low-wavelength region of the superconducting fluctuations and a pair-breaking parameter (∼0.031). Further studies on the pair-breaking parameter indicate the presence of the el–ph scattering, which diminishes the MT contribution. Our study carries important bearings on how the BKT phase fluctuations and superconducting amplitude fluctuations control the conductivity of granular superconductor near and above the transition region as non-equilibrium properties of weakly disordered granular superconductors. This research is of significance, offering insights into the fundamental properties of granular superconductivity and aiding in the comprehension of nano-structured thin film devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The degradation of β-Ga2O3-based devices' performance may occur when they are bombarded by charged particles in aerospace, astronomy, and nuclear-related applications. It is significant to explore the influence of irradiation on the microstructure of β-Ga2O3 and to reveal the internal relationship between the damage mechanisms and physical characteristics. Thus, we explored the low-energy recoil events of β-Ga2O3 based on the first-principles calculations in the present study. The threshold displacement energies (Eds) significantly depended on the recoil directions and the primary knock-on atoms. Eds of Ga atoms are generally larger than those of O atoms, indicating that the displacements of O atoms dominate under electron irradiation. In the neutral state, the formation energy of VO(I) is lower than that of VO(II) and VO(III), while in the +2 charge state, the case is a reversal. The formation energy of Oint(II) defect is high, and thus its equilibrium concentration is low, indicating that the Oint(II) defect is unlikely to be relevant for the thermal-mechanical properties of β-Ga2O3. The charged VO and Oint defects deteriorate the ability to resist external compression more profoundly, while defective β-Ga2O3 with lower Young's modulus is expected to possess higher elastic compliance than pristine β-Ga2O3. The lattice thermal conductivity of β-Ga2O3 decreases with increasing temperature and the charged point defects generally result in the decreasing lattice thermal conductivity more profoundly than neutral point defects. The presented results provide underlying mechanisms for defect generation in β-Ga2O3 and advance the fundamental understanding of the radiation resistances of semiconductor materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through a multiple-case study of seven German providers, we explore the architecture of commercial offerings of consumer experiences, such as wine-tastings, craft workshops, or wellness activities, which have both digital and physical components. Physical-digital experiences offer participants an opportunity to encounter many different sensations of an experience, as not all (e.g. taste, smell, touch) can be converted to digital form and not all are possible to experience physically (e.g. visual depictions of distant lands). Our empirical study shows that experience providers combine both physical and digital offering architectures by augmenting, substituting, porting, and excluding physical and digital components, a process that changes the value these experiences create for consumers and provides new means by which providers capture value from these offerings. We develop a theoretical model that explains value creation and value capture through the design and provision of physical-digital experiential consumer offerings that leverage physical-digital hybridity at multiple levels to enhance existing or generate new value pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crystal structure, bandgap, and the changes in the charge conduction mechanisms in ceramics are interrelated, and the underlying physics unifies all these different phenomena. The experimental and theoretical evaluation of the electronic properties of the solid solution of (1 − x)BaTiO3–(x)LaFeO3 (x = 0, 0.015, 0.031, 0.062) is attempted in this work. Bandgap was observed to be tunable with La/Fe doping from 3.2 eV (x = 0) to 2.6 eV (x = 0.06), while the lattice disorder was found to increase. A theoretical assessment confirms a considerable shift of valence band maxima and conduction band minima with an introduction of additional defect states within the bandgap. Electron localization was also confirmed theoretically with doping. Such changes in the electronic properties were experimentally confirmed from dielectric/AC - conductivity/impedance spectroscopy studies. From different transportation models, hopping is a preferred mechanism in the less distorted BaTiO3. However, a large polaron tunneling process can be justified for the doped samples at lower temperatures. Only at higher temperatures, a small polaron tunneling can be justified for the doped samples. The transportation is affected by the grain boundaries as much as the grains themselves. A complete analysis using Nyquist plots reveals the competing contributions of these regions to the transportation mechanism and is correlated to the disorder/distortions in the lattice in terms of the formation of oxygen vacancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Density functional approximations to the exchange–correlation energy can often identify strongly correlated systems and estimate their energetics through energy-minimizing symmetry-breaking. In particular, the binding energy curve of the strongly correlated chromium dimer is described qualitatively by the local spin density approximation (LSDA) and almost quantitatively by the Perdew–Burke–Ernzerhof generalized gradient approximation (PBE-GGA), where the symmetry breaking is antiferromagnetic for both. Here, we show that a full Perdew–Zunger self-interaction-correction (SIC) to LSDA seems to go too far by creating an unphysical symmetry-broken state, with effectively zero magnetic moment but non-zero spin density on each atom, which lies ∼4 eV below the antiferromagnetic solution. A similar symmetry-breaking, observed in the atom, better corresponds to the 3d↑↑4s↑3d↓↓4s↓ configuration than to the standard 3d↑↑↑↑↑4s↑. For this new solution, the total energy of the dimer at its observed bond length is higher than that of the separated atoms. These results can be regarded as qualitative evidence that the SIC needs to be scaled down in many-electron regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper considers real-time parameter variations of dish Stirling solar thermal system (DSTS) and combined solar parabolic trough-thermal power system (HTP)-based hybrid power system pertaining to frequency containment. A maiden attempt has been made by considering a detailed modelling of variable speed DSTS system for load frequency control (LFC), which shares the total load along with a battery energy storage system (BESS) and HTP in the proposed hybrid power system. Frequency oscillations resulting from the variations in load demand and/or power output variation of DSTS due to intermittent solar insolation in the hybrid power system needs to be contained employing an appropriate technique. To this end, a novel tilt integral-sliding mode controller (TISMC) optimized by improved African vulture optimization algorithm (IAVOA) has been introduced. Improvement in the existing AVOA has been made by introducing a joint opposite selection (JOS) operator, which shows better performance in exploitation and exploration phases of minimizing frequency error. The performance of the proposed controllers is compared with proportional (P), proportional-integral (PI), proportional-integral-derivative (PID) and proportional-integral-Sliding mode controller (PISMC) for LFC. Finally, performance of the proposed technique is validated in real-time system using OPAL-RT OP4510. From the MATLAB simulation and OPAL-RT results, it has been observed that the IAVOA-based TISMC is the best controller for controlling frequency deviations of the proposed hybrid power system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The polyphagous phytopathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum causing Stem rot disease is a major biotic stress in Brassica, and affects the yield and quality in various crops of agricultural significance. It affects the crop at pre-maturity which causes a reduction in the seed yield and deteriorates the oil quality in rapeseeds and Indian mustard globally. The hemibiotrophic nature and long persistence in the soil as sclerotia have made this pathogen difficult to manage through conventional agronomical practices. Hence, for alternative strategies, it is important to understand the basic aspects of the pathogen and the pathogenesis processes in the host. The current developments in technologies for omics studies including whole-genomes, transcriptomes, proteomes, and metabolomes have deciphered various genes, transcription factors, effectors and their target molecules involved in interaction, disease establishment and pathogen progress in the host tissues. The current review encompasses the studies that were conducted to decipher the Brassica-S. sclerotiorum pathosystem and the molecular factors identified through multi-omics studies for their application in building resistance to Sclerotinia stem rot disease in the susceptible cultivars of oilseed Brassica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kadamb (Neolamarckia cadamba) is an underutilized fruit which has many nutritional and medicinal properties. The literature availability on utilization of kadamb as food is scarce. The present work was carried out to find the effect of vacuum impregnation during osmotic dehydration on the quality of kadamb fruit (Neolamarckia cadamba) candy (KC). The vacuum impregnation at 100 mbar for 15 min, brix value of hypertonic solution at 60°, 65°, 70°, and 75°, and time of osmotic dehydration 24, 36, 48, and 72 h were taken as variables in the process. Mass transfer parameters like water loss, solute gain, and weight reduction for all samples were calculated. The treatment with 75° Brix, 48 h, 100 mbar vacuum for 15 min got best results with more water loss (67.48% ± 1.11%), solute gain (19.63% ± 0.32%), and less weight reduction (40.51% ± 0.39%), respectively. No microbial load was found in the developed candy. Infrared (IR) spectrum, texture profile analysis, and field emission scanning electron microscopy tests revealed the availability of compounds, textural and microstructure of KC, respectively. The candy prepared from 75° Brix, 48 h, 100 mbar vacuum for 15 min has the highest organoleptic scores. The prepared candy cubes were packed into low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) pouches and stored under ambient conditions, and the quality changes during storage were studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the world of disruptive technology, Al–Cu joints are quite in demand for electric vehicle batteries and other ion battery applications. Fusion welding is the less preferred method due to its many disadvantages; friction stir welding has the potential to become a sustainable process for producing a sound dissimilar Al–Cu joint. A study of multiple hybridization to the Friction Stir Welding (FSW)was made by utilizing two different energy sources of ultrasonic energy and electric current. The improvement is the property by different combination of the hybridization studied for utilizing the multiple hybridization technique to the FSW process for improving the weld efficacy and defects free weld even in case of dissimilar joints. Mechanical properties obtained by varying the process parameters have been studied and compared. Three process parameters have been selected including ultrasonic energy (10 KHz), electric current (75–125 Amps), rpm (400–600 rpm) and transverse tool rate (30–50 mm/min). A remarkable improvement in the mechanical property has been monitored by adding electric current to the UAFSW. Similar optimistic results in the improvement of the property have been found by adding Ultrasonic energy to RHFSW. The comparative study in the mechanical property had been presented to explain the improvement in the weld efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Friction Stir Welding (FSW) has become a trusted method for joining softer alloys like Aluminum and copper. However, for achieving improved joint efficiency and dissimilar joints, secondary heat sources are being used to make the materials softer to enhance the mixing through stirring. In this present work, a comparative study of multiple hybridization techniques to Friction Stir Welding was performed by utilizing two different energy sources viz. resistive heating through electric current and ultrasonic energy (UE). Different combinations of the hybridization studied for utilizing the multiple hybridization technique to the FSW process for improving the weld efficacy and defects-free weld even in case of dissimilar joints. A comparative study of the mechanical properties obtained by varying the process parameters have been performed. Three process parameters have been selected including UE (10 kHz), electric current (75–125 Amps), tool rotational speed (400–600 rpm), and tool transverse rate (30–50 mm/min). A significant improvement in the mechanical behavior has been monitored by adding electric current to the UAFSW by an in-house developed fixture. Similar optimistic results in the improvement of the property have been found by adding UE to EAFSW. A comparative study in the mechanical property has been presented to explain the improvement in the property. Microstructure study was also performed to analyze the behavior of Al–Cu joint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Maintaining optimal hearing health and preventing ear infections is crucial across all life stages, spanning from before birth and infancy to middle age and beyond. The primary aim of the research was to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of the telemedicine-enabled otoscope (TEO) in diagnosing ear diseases with that of the conventional otoscope. Materials and Methods: The databases PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase were thoroughly searched to find original studies on TEO at the community as well as hospital levels along with meta-analysis for comparison with standard diagnostic methods using traditional otoscopes. Results: The telemedicine-equipped otoscope displays a sensitivity of 82% (confidence interval 0.78-0.95) and a specificity of 95% (confidence interval 0.93-0.96). When employed by physicians, the combined sensitivity and specificity become 84% (confidence interval 0.79-0.88) and 91% (confidence interval 0.87-0.94), respectively. Community Health Workers (CHWs) using telemedicine-enabled otoscopes exhibit a collective sensitivity of 80% (confidence interval 0.72-0.87) and a collective specificity of 97% (confidence interval 0.95-0.98). Snapping multiple photographs and removal of cerumen where necessary in increasing the quality of the photographs for diagnosis. Conclusions: The TEO holds the promise of substantially enhancing the accessibility of audiology services, encompassing evaluation, public outreach, and fundamental care. Its implementation has the potential to fortify primary health care environments, contributing to the prevention of ear diseases and assisting in mitigating the shortage of skilled ear care professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potentially toxic metals in water threaten humans, animals, and the environment. The potential of Indian willow (Salix tetrasperma) leaves to biosorb copper and lead from water was examined. Utilising scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectrum analysis, the properties of Salix tetrasperma biomass (STB) was investigated. The maximum removal percentage (92.8% for copper and 89.9% for lead) was achieved at pH 5.0, a biosorbent dosage of 3.0 g/L at 25°C, and a 10 mg/L initial concentration of copper and lead. The determination of the point zero charge (pHzpc = 5.0) indicated the prevalence of a negative charge on the surface of the biosorbents. The kinetic equation utilised in the pseudo-second-order model effectively. Langmuir isotherm better described experimented data than the Freundlich model. The Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherm provided a good fit for the study's equilibrium data. STB recorded an adsorption capacity, Qmax, of 43.99 mg/g for copper (II) and 39.66 mg/g for lead (II) ions at an optimum pH of 5. Thermodynamically, the biosorption of both ions on STB was spontaneous, endothermic, and feasible. The selected modified STB was found to be suitable for adsorbing copper (II) and lead (II) metal ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Soybean is a rich source of bioactive components with good nutritional support and is easily available. In the treatment of cancer, green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) from plant-based samples has gained attentions due to its potency and feasibility. In the present study, using soybean extracts (GM), silver nanoparticles are synthesized and analyzed for their anticancer potency. Methods: The synthesized GM-AgNPs were characterized via UV-Vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and energydispersive X-ray (EDX) techniques for further analysis. Antibacterial activity was evaluated using the disc method and anti-hemolysis activity using the in vitro method, followed by anticancer property evaluation by cytotoxicity, cell migration, apoptosis, and cell cycle. Results and discussion: Our results showed that the synthesized GM-AgNPs were spiral-shaped with a size range of 5-50 nm. The antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae showed the maximum zone of inhibition at 250 μg/mL in comparison with gentamicin. On exploring the antihemolysis efficiency, at 200 μg/mL, GM-AgNPs showed no hemolysis in comparison to the extract which showed 40% hemolysis. On analysis of GMAgNPs against the breast cancer cell line, the nanoparticles displayed the IC50 value of 74.04 μg/mL. Furthermore, at the IC50 concentration, cancer cell migration was reduced. The mechanism of action of GM-AgNPs confirmed the initiation of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in the sub-G0/G1 (growth phase) phase by 48.19%. In gene expression and protein expression analyses, Bax and Bcl2 were altered to those of normal physiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dinanath grass (Pennisetum pedicellatum Trin.) is an extensively grown forage grass known for its significant drought resilience. In order to comprehensively grasp the adaptive mechanism of Dinanath grass in response to water deficient conditions, transcriptomic and metabolomics were applied in the leaves of Dinanath grass exposed to two distinct drought intensities (48-hour and 96-hour). Transcriptomic analysis of Dinanath grass leaves revealed that a total of 218 and 704 genes were differentially expressed under 48- and 96-hour drought conditions, respectively. The genes that were expressed differently (DEGs) and the metabolites that accumulated in response to 48-hour drought stress mainly showed enrichment in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, particularly phenolics and flavonoids. Conversely, under 96-hour drought conditions, the enriched pathways predominantly involved lipid metabolism, specifically sterol lipids. In particular, phenylpropanoid pathway and brassinosteroid signaling played a crucial role in drought response to 48- and 96-hour water deficit conditions, respectively. This variation in drought response indicates that the adaptation mechanism in Dinanath grass is highly dependent on the intensity of drought stress. In addition, different genes associated with phenylpropanoid and fatty acid biosynthesis, as well as signal transduction pathways namely phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, putrescine hydroxycinnamoyl transferase, abscisic acid 8'-hydroxylase 2, syntaxin-61, lipoxygenase 5, calcium-dependent protein kinase and phospholipase D alpha one, positively regulated with drought tolerance. Combined transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses highlights the outstanding involvement of regulatory pathways related to secondary cell wall thickening and lignin biosynthesis in imparting drought tolerance to Dinanath grass leaves. These findings collectively contribute to an enhanced understanding of candidate genes and key metabolites relevant to drought response in Dinanath grass. Furthermore, they establish a groundwork for the creation of a transcriptome database aimed at developing abiotic stress-tolerant grasses and major crop varieties through both transgenic and genome editing approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Camellia sinensis, renowned as the second most widely consumed nonalcoholic beverage worldwide, bears substantial economic importance, prompting cultivators to breed various clones for enhanced flavor and quality. This study analyzed the variation in leaf phenotype, phytochemicals (total tannins and proanthocyanidins content) and antioxidant potential of 36 widely cultivated tea clones from India's sub-Himalayan region using multivariate analysis. Results indicated that TV23 had the largest leaf and SS27 and RR had the smallest. TS520 was the richest in tannin, proanthocyanidins, and antioxidants, while S3A1 and Heeleakah were the least. Principal components analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis unveiled four morphological clusters (representative clones - TV1, TV23, TV30, 124.48.8) and four phytochemical clusters (representative clones - TS520, TV9, TV27, P126). GC-MS analysis revealed that TV1 and TV30 had high caffeine content (82.0%), while TS520 exhibited abundant antioxidant compounds, including sycllo-inositol (23.84%) and epigallocatechin (4.23%). TS520's exceptional antioxidant properties, confirmed by DPPH, ABTS, and total antioxidant capacity assays, may result from its cultivation through seed propagation. Correlation analysis showed antioxidant potential had moderate negative associations with leaf size, strong negative with inter-secondary vein number, and positive with petiole length. This study is pivotal for assessing tea clone diversity, with broader applications in tea improvement and breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phosphorus (P), an essential macronutrient for various plant processes, is generally a limiting soil component for crop growth and yields. Organic and inorganic types of P are copious in soils, but their phyto-availability is limited as it is present largely in insoluble forms. Although phosphate fertilizers are applied in P-deficit soils, their undue use negatively impacts soil quality and the environment. Moreover, many P fertilizers are lost because of adsorption and fixation mechanisms, further reducing fertilizer efficiencies. The application of phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms (PSMs) is an environmentally friendly, low-budget, and biologically efficient method for sustainable agriculture without causing environmental hazards. These beneficial microorganisms are widely distributed in the rhizosphere and can hydrolyze inorganic and organic insoluble P substances to soluble P forms which are directly assimilated by plants. The present review summarizes and discusses our existing understanding related to various forms and sources of P in soils, the importance and P utilization by plants and microbes,, the diversification of PSMs along with mixed consortia of diverse PSMs including endophytic PSMs, the mechanism of P solubilization, and lastly constraints being faced in terms of production and adoption of PSMs on large scale have also been discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study marks one of the pioneering efforts to compile comprehensive information on Ramsar sites globally. It delves into the significance of wetlands and the designation of Ramsar sites across various countries, incorporating a concise exploration of the utilization of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for wetland monitoring and assessment. Additionally, the study conducts a comparative evaluation of Ramsar sites, analyzing their percentage area and overall coverage worldwide. Incorporating a Scientometric analysis utilizing the Scopus database, the study features a co‐occurrence map, thematic map, thematic evolution trend, and country collaboration map. Emphasizing the interconnection between wetlands and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG6 (Clean Water & Sanitation), SDG12 (Responsible Consumption & Production), SDG13 (Climate‐Action), SDG14 (Life Below Water) and SDG15 (Life on Land), the study delves into associated targets and indicators. Targets such as 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5, 6a, 6b of SDG‐6, 12.1, 12.2, 12.4 of SDG‐12, and 13.2, 13.3 of SDG‐13 align with wetland management and conservation. Moreover, it affirms the role of wetlands in supporting targets 14.1, 14.2, 14.3, 14.4, 14.5, 14.6, 14a‐c of SDG‐14, and 15.1, 15.5, 15.6, 15.7, 15.8, and 15.8 of SDG‐15. Policies, regulations and management plans of different countries relevant for supporting and establishing relationship with SDGs are discussed in details. The study offers a detailed exploration of these targets, elucidating indicator types associated with each SDG target. By doing so, it provides valuable insights for future researchers and policymakers, underlining the indispensable contribution of wetlands to the direct and indirect fulfillment of SDGs 6,12,13,14,15 and 17. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electromagnetic shielding is a critical function in various technologies, which is ideally achieved using a metal that reflects all incident radiation below its plasma frequency. Using high-resolution finite difference frequency domain simulations at microwave/RF frequencies, we show that the same efficacy can be achieved using a disordered collection of metal nanoparticles embedded in a flexible material. The mechanism underlying the reflection in the composite material is wave localization, disallowing the propagation of radiation up to the plasma frequency of the metal that constitutes the particles. We realize such a biopolymer composite using DNA–CTMA (deoxyribonucleic acid–cetyltrimethylammonium complex) as a support structure for Ag nanoparticles. This biopolymer composite exhibits an extremely high shielding effectiveness, close to that of a metal slab, because of Anderson localization of the electromagnetic waves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, intrusion detection and prevention method has comprehended the notice to decrease the effect of intruders. Denial of service (DoS) is an attack that formulates malicious traffic is distributed into an exacting network device. These attackers absorb with a valid network device, the valid device will be compromised to insert malicious traffic. To solve these problems, the Bayesian decision model with a fuzzy logic system based on intrusion detection and prevention (BDFL) is introduced. This mechanism separates the DoS packets based on the type of validation, such as packet and flow validation. The BDFL mechanism uses a fuzzy logic system (FLS) for validating the data packets. Also, the key features of the algorithm are excerpted from data packets and categorized into normal, doubtful, and malicious. Furthermore, the Bayesian decision (BD) decide two queues as malicious and normal. The BDFL mechanism is experimental in a network simulator environment, and the operations are measures regarding DoS attacker detection ratio, delay, traffic load, and throughput. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and background: The musculoskeletal pain (MSK) develops at an early age and pains in adolescence dispose to subsequent pain episodes in adulthood. High physical fitness levels in childhood and adolescence are linked to favorable health outcomes. This study has evaluated the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain among school students. Additionally, it examines the existing physical fitness of those children and explores potential associations between musculoskeletal pain and physical fitness. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in the Guwahati urban area, a capital city of North East India, in different schools. The mean and standard deviation of age was 9.49 ± 2.53. Prevalence of MSK pain was determined by the Faces Pain Scale–Revised and pediatric Gait Arm Leg Spine (pGALS) assessment, whereas physical fitness was assessed by Fitnessgram test battery. Statistical analysis: Paired "t" test and logistic regression analysis were used. The level of significance was set at 0.05 for all tests performed, and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used in all cases. Results: The percentage of musculoskeletal pain is 38.28% where female school students have 40.33% and the male students have 36.52%. The odd ratio of 0.934 (CI = 0.916–0.972) was found between pain occurrence and aerobic capacity. The odd ratio of 0.72 (CI = 0.704–0.761) was found between the chances of pain onset and abdominal strength and endurance. The odd ratio of 0.859 (CI = 0.831–0.899) was found between pain occurrence and trunk extensor muscle strength and endurance. Conclusion: The prevalence of the musculoskeletal pain in school students is found to be 38.28%. The incidence of musculoskeletal pain and the physical fitness of a child has a significant relationship, with children who have poor physical fitness being more likely to develop musculoskeletal pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: HPV status in a subset of HNSCC is linked with distinct treatment outcomes. Present investigation aims to elucidate the distinct clinicopathological features of HPV-positive and HPV-negative HNSCC and investigate their association with the HNSCC patient survival. Materials and methods: The total RNA of exosomes from HPV-positive (93VU147T) and HPV-negative (OCT-1) HNSCC cells was isolated, and the transcripts were estimated using Illumina HiSeq X. The expression of altered transcripts and their clinical relevance were further analyzed using publicly available cancer transcriptome data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Results: Transcriptomic analyses identified 3785 differentially exported transcripts (DETs) in HPV-positive exosomes compared to HPV-negative exosomes. DETs that regulate the protein machinery, cellular redox potential, and various neurological disorder-related pathways were over-represented in HPV-positive exosomes. TCGA database revealed the clinical relevance of altered transcripts. Among commonly exported abundant transcripts, SGK1 and MAD1L1 showed high expression, which has been correlated with poor survival in HNSCC patients. In the top 20 DETs of HPV-negative exosomes, high expression of FADS3, SGK3, and TESK2 correlated with poor survival of the HNSCC patients in the TCGA database. Conclusion: Overall, our study demonstrates that HPV-positive and HPV-negative cells' exosomes carried differential transcripts cargo that may be related to pathways associated with neurological disorders. Additionally, the altered transcripts identified have clinical relevance, correlating with patient survival in HNSCC, thereby highlighting their potential as biomarkers and as therapeutic targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shoreline detection and estimation of changes is a well-established concept in the field of coastal zone management. Recent technological advancements in the form of machine learning (ML) have transformed shoreline detection methodologies. However, due to the constantly changing nature of coasts, identification of the boundary between land and ocean has become an intricate process. In this particular investigation, long-term changes in shoreline along the lower segment of the Indian Sundarbans Delta (ISD) are estimated by employing Landsat sensor's optical imageries spanning 28 years from 1995 to 2023. A fully automated approach involving support vector machine (SVM) classification algorithm with a 99.5% accuracy and zero-crossing edge detection algorithm for shoreline extraction from optical imagery has been proposed. The implementation stage of shoreline extraction utilizes Google Earth Engine's cloud platform. In contrast, subsequent analysis to calculate shoreline changes conforms to the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS v.5), an extension of ArcGIS Desktop's functionality. This research article examines the long-term shoreline changes in the Indian Sundarban Delta. The study uses three statistical measures: end point rate (EPR), linear regression rate (LRR), and net shoreline movement (NSM). EPR analysis shows significant erosion on Kanak Island and Bhangaduni Island up to 88.21 m. LRR statistics reveal negative trends on the eastern side. NSM analysis highlights maximum accretion in the northwestern part of the delta. This study offers valuable insights into dynamic coastal processes in the area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increased meteorological drought conditions are very prominent in the Ganga-Brahmaputra (GB) basin due to the impacts of climate change. In the context of meteorological drought in India, particularly within the GB basin, this study explores the effectiveness of the Microwave Integrated Drought Index (MIDI). The study analyses the use of microwave dataset combined with optical remote sensing data for meteorological drought assessment for 18 years (2003–2020). The MIDI was calculated for the month of October, using multiple datasets (Precipitation (Chips, Cmorph, Persiann CDR, Persiann CCS CDR), Temperature (MODIS Land Surface Temperature (LST)), and Soil Moisture (Climate Change Initiative Soil MoistureCCISMv.02.2)) and their ensemble. MODIS-based Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI), Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), and Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) were calculated from 1991 to 2020, to understand the previous conditions of drought as well as for correlation analysis. After the analysis of drought conditions based on MIDI, the major drought years observed in the Ganga-Brahmaputra basin were 2011–2012, 2014–2015, 2017–2018, and 2020. The MIDIs were then correlated with the SPI, SPEI, and EVI where the highest significant correlation was found between MIDI and SPEI (0.876), emphasizing the importance of incorporating diverse environmental factors for a comprehensive understanding of drought dynamics. The highest correlation was observed with Chirps precipitation-based MIDI (0.87 to 0.83) and the lowest with MIDI CDR and CCS CDR (0.29 and 0.37 respectively) specifically in the Brahmaputra basin. The various precipitation products reflected different characteristics in their behaviour for different topography that can be analyzed for better monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bangladesh, a sub-tropical monsoon climate with low-lying areas, is very susceptible to the impacts of climate change. However, there has been a shortage of studies about the periodicity and projected changes in extreme temperature in this area, which is a crucial part of adapting to climate change. A study employed a multimodal ensemble (MME) mean of 13 bias-corrected CMIP6 GCMs to fill this knowledge gap. The purpose of this study was to project changes in 8 extreme temperature indices (ETIs) across Bangladesh for the near future (2021–2060) and far future (2061–2100) under two different Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs): medium (SSP2-4.5) and high (SSP5-8.5) scenarios. The research analyzed the average spatiotemporal changes by considering the reference period from 1995 to 2014 for each indicator in future periods. The results indicate that Bangladesh is projected to see a rise in average annual temperature in the 21st century, aligning with the global average. Warm days (TX90p) and nights (TN90p) were projected to increase, while cold days (TX10p) and nights (TN10p) were expected to decrease across the country for both the near (2021–2060) and far future (2061–2100). The projected highest increase in TX90p and TN90p was 6.90 days/decade in the northeast, and the highest decrease in TX10p and TN10p was 6.22 days/decade in the southwest. The study revealed a higher rise in TN90p than TX90p, indicating a faster decline in cold extremes than a rise in hot extremes. The rising temperature would cause an increase in the spell duration index (WSDI) and growing degree day (GDD) by 5–6 and 6–7 days/decade, respectively. Therefore, immediate measures must be taken to mitigate the detrimental effects of extreme temperatures, leading to heat stress. To reduce the effects on agriculture, ecosystems, human health, and biodiversity, policymakers and stakeholders must understand these anticipated changes and adopt appropriate actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Valorization of sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) peels into wealth technology by using the non-thermal process considered to be noteworthy. The present investigation was performed to study the impact of plasma activated water (PAW) on physicochemical properties, polyphenols, antioxidant activities (DPPH, FRAP), and anti-nutrients (phytic acid, tannin) of sweet orange peel powder. The sweet orange peel was soaked in PAW treated at 10 kV for 30 min followed by 1 h and 2 h followed by hot air drying at 40 °C. The results obtained that PAW treated samples T1 (10 kV, 1 h soaking) and T2 (10 kV, 2 h soaking) enhanced total phenols (270.36 ± 8.60; 291.07 ± 5.39), total flavonoids (201.71 ± 5.14; 237.15 ± 5.50), and antioxidant activities (37.55 ± 0.09; 39.32 ± 0.27) significantly. All physicochemical properties of PAW treated samples differed significantly. The reduction in the anti-nutrients in PAW treated samples was achieved as compared to control samples C1 (1 h soaking in distilled water) and C2 (2 h soaking in distilled water). Diffractograms revealed that an increase in the relative crystallinity might be due to action of reactive nitrogen species (RNS) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated in PAW. The potential application of PAW treated sweet orange peel powder can be used in the formulation of nutraceutical and functional novel food products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing intrusion of weed species into alpine regions is an alarming threat to native floras because their strong and deep root systems cause a scarcity of nutrients to native alpine plant species. Considering the sensitive nature of alpine ecosystems, integrated weed management may be a means of preventing invasive species from going out of control. The present study investigated the allelopathic effect of Elsholtzia strobilifera on the germination and growth characteristics of Himalayan knotweed (Koenigia polystachya, syn. Polygonum polystachyum) under both field and laboratory conditions. The germination of seeds under laboratory conditions was studied by using different dilutions of hydrosol and aqueous extracts derived from E. strobilifera. In our field study, seedlings of K. polystachya were planted together with E. strobilifera in their natural habitat at a nursery. The study indicates that the seed germination and morphological parameters of seedlings were significantly inhibited by different dilutions of hydrosol and extract (reduction by 83–96% and 62–73%, respectively). In field conditions, significant inhibition in the morphological characteristics of K. polystachya was observed when grown in association with E. strobilifera. The results reveal that E. strobilifera has a significant allelopathic effect on K. polystachya. Based on the results of the present study, it can be concluded that growing plants of E. strobilifera around K. polystachya may be a novel approach to curbing the spread of the latter and suppressing the population of this species in ecologically sensitive alpine or other endangered areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this modern age of industrialization, waste from houses and factories has a major impact on the environment, and its management has become one of the most difficult tasks for the whole world. This study attempts to locate suitable sites for disposing of solid waste using geospatial techniques in Ranchi, Jharkhand. Moreover, as Ranchi is a part of the smart city project, it is important to find new sites for dumping to control the environmental issue that arises due to the increasing pressure of population growth and the rate of human migration. Site selection of solid waste dumping considers several parameters, such as land use, land cover, road, geomorphology, soil, slope, water bodies, forest, and built‐up. The present study has taken a multicriteria decision approach and used the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) to delineate the suitable landfill site for the medium‐sized city of Ranchi. The study adopts the overlay analysis operation for several factors and geospatial techniques to perform site suitability analysis. The result shows four classes of suitable dumping sites, where low or restricted area covers 1145.52 km2 (63.92%), moderately restricted covers 477.74 km2 (26.65%), whereas about 140 km2 (7.81%) of the area can be constructed but with restrictions, and 28.79 km2 (1.60%) of the area is highly recommended for dumping site construction. The site suitability map and the identified four new dumping sites are highly useful to the municipality corporation and decision‐makers to alleviate environmental pollution and human health problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change has a significant impact on the Ganga–Brahmaputra (GB) basin, the major food belt of India, which frequently experiences flooding and varied incidences of drought. The current study examines the changing trend of rainfall and temperature in the GB basin over a period of 30 years to identify areas at risk with an emphasis on the Paris Agreement's mandate to keep increasing temperatures below 2 °C. The maximum temperature anomaly in the middle Ganga plains recorded an increase of more than 1.5 °C year−1 in 1999, 2005, and 2009. Some extreme events were observed in the Brahmaputra basin during 1999, 2009, and 2010, where a prominent temperature increase of 1.5 °C year−1 was observed. The minimum temperature revealed an increasing trend for the G-B basin with an anomalous increase of 0.04 to 0.06 °C year−1. The rainfall variability across the Ganga basin shows a rising tendency over the lower Ganga region while the Brahmaputra basin showed a downward trend. To identify the statistical relation between the Global climatic oscillations and regional climate, Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and Niño 3.4 were used. The wet and dry period estimation shows a rise in flood conditions in the Ganga basin whereas, in the Brahmaputra basin, an increase in drought frequency was observed. The correlation based on Niño 3.4 and SPI3 presents a negative relation for the monsoon season in the G-B basin revealing a situation of drought occurrence (SPI3 below 0) with increased Nino 3.4 values (El Niño above + 0.4C). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reactions represent a clinically important class of immune responses that have wide-ranging implications in various health and disease conditions. The existing anti-inflammatory drugs to treat DTH have several shortcomings including severe side-effects. Thus, a new plant-derived anti-inflammatory drug with no or less toxicity would be effective in treating DTH. The Cleome genus has been routinely used to cure various ailments including inflammation. This study investigates the anti-inflammatory properties of the ethanolic leaf extract of Cleome spinosa (CSE) in a DTH model for the first time. Materials and Methods: DTH response was induced by 2, 4-di nitro-fluorobenzene in the mouse foot pad. Histological sectioning of the paw was carried out to find changes in the architecture of the tissue. Serum tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) was estimated through enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the bioactive compounds present in CSE were analysed through reversed phase-high-performance liquid chromatography. Results: With CSE treatment, the oedema in the resensitized paw alleviated faster with no loss of digits compared to the controls. Histological study of the resensitized paw showed less dermal and sub-dermal thickening and less collagen deposition that regained normal tissue architecture during the healing process with CSE treatment. CSE treatment did not show any adverse haematological and histopathological changes in the visceral organs of mice. The level of serum TNF-α was found to be significantly lower with CSE treatment. CSE was found to be rich in phenol, flavonoids, tocopherol, carotene and phytosteroids. Conclusion: The anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory role of CSE against hapten-induced deleterious DTH inflammation suggests its therapeutic potential in treating inflammatory diseases and combating infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Soybean is a rich source of bioactive components with good nutritional support and is easily available. In the treatment of cancer, green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) from plant-based samples has gained attentions due to its potency and feasibility. In the present study, using soybean extracts (GM), silver nanoparticles are synthesized and analyzed for their anticancer potency. Methods: The synthesized GM-AgNPs were characterized via UV-Vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) techniques for further analysis. Antibacterial activity was evaluated using the disc method and anti-hemolysis activity using the in vitro method, followed by anticancer property evaluation by cytotoxicity, cell migration, apoptosis, and cell cycle. Results and discussion: Our results showed that the synthesized GM-AgNPs were spiral-shaped with a size range of 5-50 nm. The antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae showed the maximum zone of inhibition at 250 ^ig/mL in comparison with gentamicin. On exploring the anti-hemolysis efficiency, at 200 pg/mL, GM-AgNPs showed no hemolysis in comparison to the extract which showed 40% hemolysis. On analysis of GM-AgNPs against the breast cancer cell line, the nanoparticles displayed the IC50 value of 74.04 pg/mL. Furthermore, at the IC50 concentration, cancer cell migration was reduced. The mechanism of action of GM-AgNPs confirmed the initiation of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in the sub-G0/G1 (growth phase) phase by 48.19%. In gene expression and protein expression analyses, Bax and Bcl-2 were altered to those of normal physiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water pollution is a major concern for a decaying river. Polluted water reduces ecosystem services and human use of rivers. Therefore, the present study aims to assess the irrigation suitability of the Jalangi River water. A total of 34 pre-selected water samples were gathered from the source to the sink of the Jalangi River with an interval of 10 km and one secondary station's data from February 2012 to January 2022 were used for this purpose. The Piper diagram exhibits that the Jalangi River water is Na+–HCO3− types, and the alkaline earth (Ca2+ + Mg2+) outperforms alkalises (Na+ + K+) and weak acids (HCO3− + CO32−) outperform strong acids (Cl− + SO42−). SAR values ranging from 0.35 to 0.64 show that water is suitable for irrigation and poses no sodicity risks. The %Na results show that 91.18% of water samples are good and acceptable for irrigation. RSC levels indicate a significant alkalinity hazard, with 94.12% of samples considered inappropriate for irrigation. PI findings show that 91.18% of water samples are suitable for irrigation. Apart from the spatial water samples, seasonal water samples exhibit a wide variations as per the nature of irrigation hazards. Gibbs plot demonstrates that the weathering of rocks determined the hydro-chemical evolution of Jalangi River water. This study identifies very little evaporation dominance for pre- and post-monsoon water. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) test illustrates that there are no spatial variations in water quality while seasonal variations are widely noted (p < 0.05). The results also revealed that river water for irrigation during monsoon is suitable compared to the pre-monsoon season. Anthropogenic interventions including riverbed agriculture, and the discharge of untreated sewage from urban areas are playing a crucial role in deteriorating the water quality of the river, which needs substantial attention from the various stakeholders in a participatory, and sustainable manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The classification of bird species is of significant importance in the field of ornithology, as it plays an important role in assessing and monitoring environmental dynamics, including habitat modifications, migratory behaviors, levels of pollution, and disease occurrences. Traditional methods of bird classification, such as visual identification, were time-intensive and required a high level of expertise. However, audio-based bird species classification is a promising approach that can be used to automate bird species identification. This study aims to establish an audio-based bird species classification system for 264 Eastern African bird species employing modified deep transfer learning. In particular, the pre-trained EfficientNet technique was utilized for the investigation. The study adapts the fine-tune model to learn the pertinent patterns from mel spectrogram images specific to this bird species classification task. The fine-tuned EfficientNet model combined with a type of Recurrent Neural Networks (RNNs) namely Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU) and Long short-term memory (LSTM). RNNs are employed to capture the temporal dependencies in audio signals, thereby enhancing bird species classification accuracy. The dataset utilized in this work contains nearly 17,000 bird sound recordings across a diverse range of species. The experiment was conducted with several combinations of EfficientNet and RNNs, and EfficientNet-B7 with GRU surpasses other experimental models with an accuracy of 84.03% and a macro-average precision score of 0.8342. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electronic structure of silicene supported by monolayer of different monochalcogenide MX (GaS, GaSe, GaTe and InSe) substrates has been investigated by first principle density functional theory. By calculating the formation energies and phonons, it has been seen that silicene supported by monolayer of MX remains stable. The systems retain their almost 2 D planner configurations with small buckling as that of the free standing silicene and also the Bader charge analysis shows that silicene hardly interacts with any of the MX substrates. The Dirac cone with a small gap (∼ 3 0 – 5 0   meV) has been observed in each of the cases. All the systems show quantum spin Hall effect and the quantum spin Hall conductivities have been estimated to be within the range ∼ 2 − 5 ℏ e S/cm, which are larger than that of the free standing silicene. Our calculations show that even if the systems have bulk band gaps but the edge states are conducting in nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]