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The genus Heterobasidion Bref. belongs to the order Russulales and comprises several pathogenic species known for inducing root rot and heart rot in gymnospermic trees. In Pakistan, the fungal flora is still not well documented particularly the wood-decaying poroid fungi. This paper examines specimens of the Heterobasidion genus collected during a trip to the Hindu Kush Mountains in the Swat district of Pakistan. These samples were evaluated morpho-anatomically, and phylogenetically. Moreover, the ITS rDNA sequence data was analyzed using three different methods: maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian analyses. Our analyses revealed the existence of a novel species, Heterobasidion variiporum S. Hussain, M. Nisar & Y.W. Lim sp. nov., within the H. annosum complex, as well as two species belonging to the H. insulare complex, namely Heterobasidion tibeticum Y.C. Dai, Jia J. Chen & Korhonen, as a new record and Heterobasidion linzhiense Y.C. Dai & Korhonen as previously identified species from the country. The study provides detailed descriptions of the species, and present a comprehensive comparison with the known species in the genus. This research expands the list of wood-decaying fungi in Pakistan, providing some useful information for forest pathology and management.

In the bustling metropolis of tomorrow, where pollution levels are a constant concern, a team of innovative researchers embarked on a quest to revolutionize air quality monitoring. In pursuit of this objective, this study embarked on the synthesis of indium oxide materials via a straightforward solvothermal method purposely for NO2detection. Through meticulous analysis of their gas-sensing capabilities, a remarkable discovery came to light. Among the materials tested, In2O3(IO-2) exhibited exceptional sensitivity toward 100 ppm of NO2gas at an optimal working temperature of 150 °C and even at room temperature (RT). The response value reached an impressive 12.69, showcasing the material’s outstanding capability to detect NO2gas even at 100 ppb. Further investigation revealed a significant linear relationship (R2= 0.89454) and commendable reproducibility, highlighting IO-2’s potential as a reliable and stable sensing material. Moreover, machine learning techniques were utilized to predict the response characteristics of the sensing materials to various environmental conditions, concentrations of target gases, and operational parameters. This predictive capability can guide the design of more efficient and robust gas sensors, ultimately contributing to improved safety and environmental monitoring. As the demand for efficient, portable, and eco-friendly electronics continues to grow, these findings contribute to the development of sustainable and high-performance materials that can meet the needs of modern technology.

The use of coolants for cutting process in metal cutting operations is customary. Turning causes high cutting heat in nickel base super alloy Inconel 718. Nonetheless, it should be acknowledged that although flooding techniques are commonly used in the machining of super alloys, these flood cooling methods have extremely poor efficiencies. Another alternative to increase the cooling capabilities of fluids would be an internal-cooling approach that would enable to lower machining temperatures significantly. The heat dissipation ability in the tool is also greatly influenced by the micro-channel diameter of tool which further causes a significant effect on the coolant outlet velocity. A design of an internal-cooling single point cutting tool with micro channel structures for enhanced coolant heat transfer capability and reduced machining temperature is used for turning Inconel 718 under dry, flooded cooling and internal cooling to study the effects of cooling conditions on cutting force, cutting temperature and surface quality. A regression model is built using the Random Forest (RF) and Support Vector Regression (SVR) methods in machine learning framework. These models were then used to forecast input parameters, such as channel diameter and inlet pressure, which made it easier to obtain output data, such as pressure and maximum velocities at different notches. Eighty percent of the data in the dataset is used to train the model and with the remaining twenty percent set aside for evaluating the model's functionality. When comparing internal-cooling technology to traditional flood cooling, there are clear benefits including increased heat transfer efficiency, which leads to lower cutting temperatures, less cutting force, and better surface quality. More specifically, in the internal-cooling configuration, a direct relationship is shown between rising coolant inlet pressure and falling cutting force and temperature over time. Further highlighting the advantages of this cooling strategy is the relationship between increased intake pressure and decreased surface roughness.

AbstractThe MT-II is a small spherical tokamak that is currently under construction at the Pakistan Tokamak Plasma Research Institute. Wall conditioning of the MT-II vacuum vessel (VV) is an essential step to achieve a good quality vacuum for plasma experiments. This study presents an overview of the wall-conditioning techniques implemented on the MT-II VV, including baking and glow discharge cleaning (GDC). Prior to wall conditioning, the system is checked via a helium leak test machine and residual gas analyzer (RGA) to identify and remove leaks. The VV walls are baked at ~180 °C to get rapid desorption of water vapors and other impurities. After the baking process, the partial pressure of most of the carbon- and oxygen-containing impurities is reduced. In particular, the partial pressure of water vapors is reduced by 93%. Consequently, the total leak and outgassing rate is significantly reduced. To further improve the vacuum condition in the vessel, hydrogen GDC is carried out. The fill hydrogen pressure and anode voltage are optimized to get a stable glow discharge. The RGA scan shows that GDC reduces the partial pressure of H2O, O2, and CO2by 57%, 63%, and 51%, respectively. The results signify that baking and GDC are effective techniques for wall conditioning of the MT-II VV.

AbstractOrganizations have prioritized green innovation (GI) following the increasing stakeholder pressure (SP) on sustainable growth through megaproject social responsibility (MSR). A sustainable megaproject delivery involves three essential determinants. However, few studies have focused on the complicated relationships between these determinants and megaproject success (MPS). Hence, this study examines the relationships between SP, GI, and MPS by considering the key mediating role of MSR. Data were collected from 245 respondents in Pakistan’s construction industries. The study tests the hypotheses using partial least squares structural equation modeling that SP positively influences both MPS and GI, and that MSR partially mediates this relationship. The findings suggest that stakeholder pressure plays a crucial role in promoting MPS and GI through the adoption of socially responsible practices. These findings add to the body of knowledge on the direct and indirect effects of SP and MPS and SP and GI, which have been inconsistent in previous research. In practice, engineering managers can increase GI and MPS by focusing more on SP and MSR.

The article focuses on England's ambitious plan to colonize northern Russia in the early 17th century, including the reasons behind this colonial endeavor and the key figures and groups that supported it. It mentions plan, fueled by political unrest and economic interests, sought to establish an English colony in Muscovy, but it ultimately did not come to fruition due to changing circumstances in Russia.

Low yields of crops, especially rice, are caused by climate change and environmental stress concerns such as drought, temperature fluctuations, and salinity in arid and semi-arid locations around the globe. Rice is one of the essential crops for human consumption and one of the most commonly farmed cereals on the planet earth, but its growth is severely retarded by excessive salt, which influences rice development and production, leading to economic loss. Salt stress induces osmotic stress and ionic toxicity in rice by altering the environment, leading to water deprivation and accumulation of toxic ions, thereby triggering specific physiological and molecular responses in the rice plants. Many factors may affect rice production and cereal quality via its interaction with salinity. This review focuses on some influential factors (photosynthesis, osmosis, micro and macronutrients, microbial flora, rice growth, development, and genes) that may reduce rice production in saline soils. The review also describes the responsive mechanism of rice to salinity and the genetic susceptibility of rice. In light of the challenges posed by the growing global population and limited agricultural land, it is imperative to consider the influential factors discussed in this review, along with genetic susceptibility to improve rice production in terms of quantity and quality under saline soil conditions.

Purpose: The global COVID-19 pandemic has rapidly overwhelmed our societies, shocked the global economy and disturbed normal business operations. While such impacts of COVID-19 are becoming clearer, the effects of the disease on business operations are more common. This study mainly focuses on identifying the factors that affect the smooth operation of businesses during a pandemic situation. Design/methodology/approach: Analytical hierarchy process (AHP) method was used to rate the result index. A total of 40 professionals and experts of different businesses were listed on stock exchanges, and asked to rank the key variables with relative indices and weighting methods. Findings: The results of the AHP successfully assigned weighting scores to all key important factors during the COVID-19 pandemic situation that businesses should focus on, with economic factors receiving the highest score of 60%. Likewise, the other factors that impact values for business operations are reported as social (22%), legal (12.2%), technological (5.16%) and political (0.57%). The results of this study also match with the current policies adopted by different government and nongovernment agencies like the guidelines of the World Health Organization and some most recent research results. Originality/value: In the hectic and growing environment under COVID-19 pandemic, more contributions are not enough, and it is helpful for the whole business industry and society by stipulating more views. This study aims to overview the global impacts and challenges of COVID-19 pandemic on business operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the key diplomatic role played by individuals of African descent in early modern Europe. Also cited are the roles played by people like bureaucrats, merchants, messengers and informal advisers in diplomacy by advising the monarch, and some African diplomats like Edward Stafford who was deployed to France to gather intelligence on Spanish activities during the 16th-century war between Spain and Great Britain.

Recent advances in robotics and artificial intelligence have highlighted the potential for the integration of computational intelligence in enhancing the functionality and adaptability of robotic systems, particularly in rehabilitation. Designing robotic exoskeletons for the lower limb rehabilitation of post-stroke patients requires frequent adjustments to accommodate individual differences in leg anatomy. This complex engineering challenge necessitates a deep understanding of human physiology, robotics, and optimization to develop adaptive robotic systems and also to swiftly quantify the required adjustments and implement them for each patient. The conventional approaches, which mostly rely on heuristics and manual tuning, often struggle to achieve optimal results. This paper presents a novel method that integrates a genetic algorithm (GA) with a deep learning approach to generate a gait trajectory of the ankle joint from a six-bar linkage mechanism of fixed dimensions. Later, using the same approach, the inverse kinematics solution for this mechanism is also devised whereby, the set of the link dimensions of the six-bar linkage mechanism is obtained for the given gait trajectory of an individual to achieve customization. We simulated the kinematic behavior of the six-bar linkage mechanism within defined mechanical constraints and utilized the generated data for training a feedforward neural network and long short-term memory models. The proposed model, when trained, can produce accurate lengths for the desired gait trajectories in the sagittal plane and vice-versa which further validates our proposed approach for inverse kinematics solution.

Cannabis sativa(C. sativa) is a widespread medicinal plant used for humans and cattles infectious diseases. The current study is carried out to assess phytochemical, antimicrobial, antioxidant, α-amylase inhibition and cytotoxic activity of the Cannabis sativaplant. An appropriate amount of phytochemicals like tannins, flavonoids, lycopene, and β-carotenes is found in C. sativaplant during the phytochemical screening. Among these phytochemicals of C. sativaplant, tannin shows outstanding activity. The plant extracts are assessed for antimicrobial activity against different seven bacterial strains. Notably, the stem part of C. sativais found to exhibit higher antimicrobial potential than root and leaf. Among the extracts, the antioxidant assays (evaluated through % inhibition of linoleic acid peroxidation assessment) of n-hexane extract of leaf part was highest (80.70%) compared to the others. The plant also contains a potent α-amylase inhibitory potential, the root extract shows maximum inhibition of α-amylase. The cytotoxic effect [evaluated through hemolytic activity as (%) lysis of RBCs against human erythrocytes] of the plant extracts is found insignificant ranging from 1.97 to 5.88. The plant C. sativakeeps a significant amount of bioactive phenolic combinations accompanied by high antimicrobial and antioxidant activities.

Purpose: Arsenic (As) contamination in groundwater and soil affects the quality of plant-based foods, while zinc (Zn) deficiency in agricultural soils leads to global zinc malnutrition. Addressing these issues is both crucial and urgent, especially for wheat production. This study compared Zn application methods for decreasing grain As and increasing grain Zn concentrations in two Zn-biofortified wheat cultivars, Akbar-2019 and Zincol-2016. Methods: The experiment involved growing the cultivars in pots and applying Zn through different methods: control, seed priming with distilled water and 6 mM ZnSO4solution, soil application at 0 and 8 mg Zn kg⁻¹, foliar sprays of distilled water and 0.05% Zn (w/v) at booting and heading, and all combinations of these application methods. Throughout the growth period, the pots were irrigated with As-contaminated water (1.0 mg As L⁻¹). Results: Zinc application significantly increased chlorophyll and carotenoid contents, and dry matter yields. Moreover, there was an increase in Zn and phosphorus (P) concentrations in grains, along with a rise in the estimated dietary intake (EDI) of Zn. This was associated with a simultaneous decrease in As concentrations in various plant parts, including grains, and a decrease in the EDI of As. The most significant increase in grain yield and grain Zn accumulation, coupled with the most notable decrease in grain As concentration, was observed with the combined application of Zn through seed priming, soil application, and foliar spray. Conclusion: Soil application and foliar spray of Zn mitigate As contamination in wheat grains under As-contaminated irrigation, while also ensuring agronomic Zn biofortification.

To overcome drastic increase in rare-earth permanent magnet cost, avoid the requirements of brushes, slip rings, and eliminate gear-box mechanism, a novel magnet-less dual electrical and dual mechanical port wound field-excited flux switching generator (DEDMP-WFEFSG) for direct-drive counter rotating wind turbine (D2CRWT) application is proposed in this article. The proposed DEDMP-WFEFSG encompasses a stator with dual non-overlapped armature and toroidal field excitation windings; thus, offers reduced overhang and makes the design compact. To ease the design process, lumped parametric magnetic circuit model (LPMCM) for one magnetic pole is formulated. To evaluate the LPMCM design, finite element analysis (FEA) study is undertaken in co-rotation and counter rotation with focus on power distribution between the inner and outer ports. From detailed analysis, it is evident that in comparison with the inner port, the outer port machine offers better average torque, power factor, and efficiency. Compared with co-rotation, counter rotation shows improved electromagnetic performance. Finally, to validate the LPMCM and FEA based simulation, a prototype is developed and tested with satisfactory results.

Green synthesis has always been the preferred choice for nanoparticles because it uses biological extract from plant sources that are nonhazardous to the environment. Specifically, the physicochemical and optical properties of ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) make them economically feasible for various industrial applications. In the present study, ZnO NPs were synthesized by using Gomphrena serrataleaf extract (GS-ZnO NPs). Structural characterization of GS-ZnO NPs was performed by XRD and FTIR. The thermal nature of the GS-ZnO NPs was analyzed by DSC and TGA. The agar disc diffusion technique was used to assay the antimicrobial properties of nanoparticles against pathogenic bacterial strains. The efficiency of photocatalytic degradation was assessed by employing methylene blue (MB) as the test dye, with exposure to sunlight. The observed sizes of the metallic nanoparticles were in the range of 20–30 nm. XRD analyses revealed that the GS-ZnO NPs were hexagonal wurtzite structures. SEM analysis exhibited the spherical morphology of the GS-ZnO NPs. Thermal gravimetric analysis showed various phases of percent weight loss of GS-ZnO NPs within the temperature range of 50–460 °C. A photocatalytic efficiency of 90.5% was achieved after 180 min of sunlight irradiation. G. serrataleaf extract could be used as an efficient reductant and capping material in the synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles. These findings on the thermal and antimicrobial properties of GS-ZnO NPs may validate their efficacy in pharmaceutical applications. The photocatalytic dye degradation activity of the nanoparticles was explored to determine their significance in wastewater treatment.

In this paper, a novel dual port counter rotating dual rotor wound field flux switching generator (DPCRDR-WFFSG) is proposed for direct drive counter rotating wind power generation. Mechanism of gearless and brushless counter rotating operation of DPCRDR-WFFSG is discussed and simplified formulation is opted for possible combination of the rotor poles number (${N}_r$). In proposed DPCRDR-WFFSG, dual electrical ports are formed of non-overlapped armature winding having shared toroidal field excitation winding whereas inner and outer rotors act as inner and outer port. These inner and outer port are thoroughly investigated for electromagnetic performance to search out optimum rotor poles combination. The rotor poles combinations are examined under uniform and non-uniform poles and comparatively studied. Based on simplified formulation, various combinations of the rotor pole numbers are searched out and found that under uniform poles operation, ${N}_r = \ 10$ and ${N}_r = \ 14$ offers comparatively better electromagnetic performance whereas in case of non-uniform rotor poles ${N}_r = \ 10/14$ further improves electromagnetic performance. Furthermore, analysis evident that in comparison with the inner port, outer port shows dominant contribution in electromagnetic performance whereas, in comparison with uniform rotor poles, the new approach of adopting non-uniform rotor poles improve electromagnetic performance. It is worth noting that non-uniform rotor poles in inner ports improves efficiency and power factor whereas in outer port, average torque and output power are enhanced. Finally, validity of uniform and non-uniform rotor poles design approach for DPCRDR-WFFSG is verified with four prototype that validated finite element analysis.

The electric vehicles (EVs) charging stations (CSs) at public premises have higher installation and power consumption costs. The potential benefits of public CSs rely on their efficient utilization. However, the conventional charging methods obligate a long waiting time and thereby deteriorate their efficiency with low utilization. This paper suggests a novel fuzzy integer linear programming and a heuristic fuzzy inference approach (FIA) for CSs utilization. The model introduces the underlying fuzzy inference system and a detailed formulation for obtaining the optimal solution. The developed fuzzy inference incorporates the uncertain and independent available power, required state-of-charge, and dwell time from the power grid and EVs domains and correlates them into weighted control variables. The FIA automates the service provision for the EVs with the most urgent requirements by resolving the objective function utilizing the weighted control variables, thereby optimizing the waiting time and the CSs utilization. To evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed FIA, several case studies were conducted, corresponding to different parking capacities and installations of CSs. Moreover, the simulations were conducted on EVs with varying battery capacities, and their performance was evaluated based on several metrics, including average waiting time, utilization of CSs, fairness, and execution time. The simulation results have confirmed that the effectiveness of the proposed FIA scheduling method is considerably higher than that of the other methods discussed.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper financial technology (FinTech) revolutions are promptly remodelling the worldwide financial industry and facilitating financial inclusion initiatives with the aid of micro-finance institutions. Such hi-tech modifications are anticipated to sell the stableness of the financial system and lessen its predominant actors’ risk-taking behaviour. However, there needs to be more practical proof to guide the effect of financial inclusion based on financial technology on the risky behaviour of South Asia micro-finance institutes. Design/methodology/approach: Therefore, the authors industrialised a fresh index to calculate financial inclusion based on financial technology and empirically measure its position in decreasing the risk-taking approach of micro-finance institutes. The use of numerous robustness examinations endorsed the rationality of the authors’ outcomes. Findings: Z-scoring or standard scoring outcomes of FinInc support the extant studies displaying its incredible connection with economic stability, which interprets as a terrible courting with risky behaviour of micro-finance institutes. Consequently, the authors highlighted the significance of the universality and openness of financial technology solutions in minimising risk of micro-finance institutes. Moreover, the authors concluded that financial technology is greater related to small-size micro-finance institutes. Originality/value: This study currently focusing South Asia, which has not been explored before, and it is the first time to research financial inclusion with Fintech in this area.

The hydroxyapatite (HA) powder is successfully synthesized from calcined eggshell by the hydrothermal reaction method. The colloidal solution made of calcined eggshell powder, tricalcium phosphate powder, and demineralized water is kept in a closed ceramic vessel to perform hydrothermal reactions. For this purpose, different temperatures (700 - 1000 °C) for various time durations (1, 2, and 3 h) are applied to the solution. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) are employed to characterize the prepared powders. The synthesized powders are further assessed in terms of crystalline phase, microstructure, crystallite size, particle size, Ca/P ratio, and crystallinity. In all the reaction products, majorly the HA powders are obtained. The spherical HA grains are found to have a tendency to agglomerate at higher reaction temperatures and times. The applied temperature and heating duration are found to be the crucial parameters that control the properties of the synthesized HA. The HA with the largest crystallite size is obtained from 1000 oC of heating temperature applied for 3 h. However, the HA with high crystallinity is obtained from 800 oC temperature applied for 1 h of time. Non-stoichiometric HAs are obtained from all different reaction temperatures and time durations. Mostly Ca-rich (Ca/P > 1.67) HAs are formed in all powders except the one prepared at 900 ° C, where the formation of Ca-deficient (Ca/P < 1.67) HA is noticed. The near-stoichiometric HA can be produced from 900 oC of reaction temperature applied for 1 h. The study illustrates that HA can be synthesized successfully from chicken eggshell by hydrothermal reaction method in less time by applying high heating temperature.

AbstractThe key objective of this research paper is to estimate the impact of financial literacy, investor’s personality and overconfidence bias on investment decisions by using risk tolerance as a mediator variable. Inclusive finance makes numerous financial products and services accessible and affordable to the micro-finance community, remarkably those absent from the conventional financial system. Financial literacy is a leading factor affecting an individual’s ability to access financial services. This study employed Structural Equation Modelling to investigate whether financial literacy and other personality traits affect investment decisions. The Regression results showed that financial literacy, investors’ personality, and overconfidence bias are significantly relevant to risk tolerance and investment decisions (β = 0.128***, S.D = 0.047, t = 2.746; p < 1%; β0.378***, S.D = 0.051, t = 7.414, p < 1%; β0.269***, S.D = 0.052, t = 5.155, p < 1%; β0.195***, S.D = 0.054, t = 3.619, p < 1%; β0.371***, S.D = 0.055, t = 6.706, p < 1%; β0.195***, S.D = 0.061, t = 3.190, p < 1%). As mediation results showed, risk tolerance plays a significant role in financial literacy, investors’ personality, overconfidence bias, and investment decisions (β = 0.024**, S.D = 0.011, t = 2.15, p < 5%; β = 0.024**, S.D = 0.011, t = 2.17, p < 5%; β = 0.047**, S.D = 0.018, t = 2.55, p < 5%). The implications of this study also provide valued recommendations for regulatory institutions to improve financial inclusion in the emerging market context.

Disability from injuries and diseases is a global problem affecting a large population; however, due to a lack of therapists and labor-intensive procedures, only a few benefits from rehabilitation. Robots can assist therapists in treating many patients simultaneously, but the existing solutions need improvements in their mechanism, actuation, and control. This article presents a four-link parallel end-effector robot for wrist joint rehabilitation. The proposed robot employs biomimetic muscle actuators (BMA) that provide intrinsic compliance to the robotic system. A fuzzy-based model is developed to identify the nonlinear nature of BMAs. The stiffness-observer learns subject-specific stiffness, which is used to modify the robot reference trajectories. An adaptive controller uses the fuzzy model and stiffness-observer and simultaneously controls the four BMAs to provide three degrees of rotational freedom to the robot end-effector. The feasibility of the robot mechanism and the controller was evaluated through proof of concept experiments conducted with three unimpaired human subjects. It was found that the controller was able to guide the robot–human system on the commanded trajectories in the presence of parallel actuation of compliant and nonlinear BMAs. Furthermore, the controller was also able to modify the commanded trajectories in the higher stiffness regions of the wrist workspace.

The hydroxyapatite (HA) powder has been successfully prepared by using calcined Indian clam seashells through the hydrothermal technique. Initially, the clam seashell is calcined at 900 ℃ to achieve calcium oxide (CaO). The obtained seashell-based calcium oxide is mixed properly with pre-determined tri-calcium phosphate in demineralized water. Further, the colloidal solution is heat-treated at a temperature of 1000 ℃ for various time durations (1 h, 1:30 h, 1:45 h, 2 h, 2:30 h, and 3 h) to perform the hydrothermal reactions. Quantification of HA and different phases present in the synthesized powders is carried out with the help of the Rietveld refinement method. The phases, crystallite size, and crystallinity of synthesized powder are evaluated by the X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique. The microstructure of the powder is analyzed through Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM). The Ca/P ratio and particle size of the prepared powder are estimated by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and the image analysis technique, respectively. The results indicate that the heating duration of the hydrothermal reaction is a crucial parameter in modifying the various properties, specifically the phase quantity of prepared HA. All six synthesized powders show the presence of the HA phase, along with a few secondary phases in those. Spherical and cylindrical nano-crystals of HA are observed to form. With an increase in time duration, coarsening of crystallite is observed. The average particle size and crystallinity of HA are also noticed to be increased with increased time duration.

This research assesses how smart mobility projects in Finland contribute to sustainability aims. Aims of the projects are reviewed applying a sustainability framework with ten subcategories based on literature. A truth table is generated to assess how the different aspects of sustainability are addressed. The observed differences between projects in addressing sustainability are analyzed in terms of funding sources and between projects conducted in urban and rural areas. The results based on qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) show that environmental, social, and economical dimensions are generally addressed in a balanced manner in smart mobility projects, although some of the subcategories are addressed only in a few projects.

In this article two double-sided Field Excited Linear Flux Switching Machines (FELFSM) are analyzed. Both machines share the same robust and compact stator structure with a modular mover design having different winding configurations namely concentrated and toroidal. The proposed machines have a low-cost owing to the lack of rare earth materials, a high fault-tolerant capability due to the modular construction of the mover, and flux controllability due to field current variation. The initial designs are optimized through a genetic algorithm using JMAG software ver. 20.1. to maximize the thrust force and minimize thrust force ripples ratio. After optimization, the average thrust force in Machine I and Machine II is increased by 31.96% and 32.31%, respectively. Additionally, a mathematical model is developed to compute electromagnetic thrust force and fault-tolerant capability. The electromagnetic performance of both machines are compared through 2D FEA. Both analytical and FEA-based designs are verified through experimental validation on the developed prototype. Finally, a coupled electromagnetic-thermal study is carried out, with the temperature of the prototype being visualized experimentally using a Fluke VT04 IR thermometer.

High hardness, low friction coefficient and chemical resistance are only a few of the exceptional mechanical qualities of diamond. Diamonds can be artificially created to have different levels of conductivity, or they can be single, micro or nanocrystalline and highly electrically insulating. It also has high biocompatibility and is famous for being mechanically robust. Due to its high hardness, lack of ductility and difficulty in welding, diamond is a challenging material to construct devices with. Diamonds have experienced a rise in attention as a biological material in recent decades due to new synthesis and fabrication techniques that have eliminated some of these disadvantages. In general, entropic measurements are used for investigating the chemical or biological properties of molecular structures. This study calculates several important K-Banhatti entropies, redefined Zagreb entropies and atom-bond sum connectivity entropy for diamond crystals. We also present a numeric and graphical explanations of obtain indices.

Methanol oxidation stands out as a pivotal solution in addressing the global energy crisis and environmental pollution, owing to its practical applicability, high current density, and the ready availability of methanol as a fuel source. To effectively catalyze methanol oxidation, an electrocatalyst is imperious to overcome the activation energy barrier. Herein, a three‐dimensionally arranged NiSe2nanosheet‐based electrocatalyst is synthesized through a facile solvothermal followed by an annealing method. The catalyst's porous structure enhances catalytic efficiency by providing a substantial electrochemical surface area (ECSA) equivalent to 0.121 mF cm−2. Notably, the electrocatalyst exhibits a remarkable response of 21.58 mA cm−2at an overpotential of 1.70 V vs RHE, accompanied by the lowest Tafel slope recorded at 39.14 mV dec−1. The electronic circuit, represented by Rs(Qf(RfW(QdlRct)), aligns well with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy data, elucidating the reaction path and intrinsic properties. Furthermore, the catalytic performance is elucidated concerning ECSA and weight, revealing current densities of 5.60 mA cm−2and 71.34 mA mg−1, respectively. Impressively, the catalyst demonstrates exceptional resistance to poisoning and sustained stability over a continuous 3600‐s operation. This comprehensive study underscores the promising potential of the NiSe2nanosheet‐based electrocatalyst for efficient methanol oxidation, providing valuable insights for advancing clean energy technologies. The three‐dimensionally arranged NiSe2nanosheets are prepared via solvothermal followed by annealing method and applied for electrochemical methanol oxidation reaction and delivered good response.

Graphic abstract:

Aberrations in glycan and lectin expression and function represent one of the earliest hallmarks of cancer. Among galectins, a conserved family of β-galactoside-binding lectins, the role of Galectin-9 in immune–tumor interactions is well-established, although its effect on cancer cell behavior remains unclear. In this study, we assayed for, and observed, an association between Galectin-9 expression and invasiveness of breast cancer cells in vitroand in vivo. Genetic perturbation and pharmacological inhibition using novel cognate inhibitors confirmed a positive correlation between Galectin-9 levels and the adhesion of invasive cancer cells to─and their invasion through─constituted organomimetic extracellular matrix microenvironments. Signaling experiments and unbiased quantitative proteomics revealed Galectin-9 induction of Focal Adhesion Kinase activity and S100A4 expression, respectively. FAK inhibition decreased S100A4 mRNA levels. Our results provide crucial insights into how elevated Galectin-9 expression potentiates the invasiveness of breast cancer cells during early steps of invasion.

Structures face different types of imperfections and defects during the fabrication process, installation and working environment. In this paper, the imperfection effects in the coupled vibration behaviour of axially functionally graded carbon nanotube (CNT)-strengthened beam structures with different boundary conditions are analysed considering porosity as well as geometric and mass imperfections in the structure. Porosity is modelled using different types of formulations for simple-cell, open-cell and closed-cell porous structures. The porosity is assumed to be either uniform or by varying through the thickness of the hollow beam using different functions. Mass imperfection effect is added to the system by considering a concentrated mass in the system affecting the mass homogeneity of the structure. Geometry imperfection is also considered by having an initial deformation in the structure which could be caused by an improper fabrication process. Coupled axial and transverse equations of motion are obtained using Hamilton’s principle and the von Kármán geometrical nonlinearity. Governing equations are solved for different types of boundary conditions using a semi-analytical modal decomposition technique. It is shown that strengthening the base matrix with CNT fibres can improve the vibration behaviour of imperfect structures and the influence of CNT volume fraction and distribution through the length of the beam is discussed. The results provided in this paper may be used as a benchmark to validate future experimental results to prevent imperfection, delamination and stress singularities in the structures.

Purpose: This study aims to achieve three objectives: to explore the perception of consumers about supersized foods (in both pre- and post-consumption scenarios), to identify why consumers prefer supersized options over other available options and to determine the types of situations that push consumers to make such decisions. Design/methodology/approach: This qualitative study uses the triangulation of projective methods, coupled with semi-structured interviews with 120 participants. The data was collected from major cities of Pakistan, using a convenient sample of 25 semi-structured interviews, 35 narratives and 60 sentence completions and constructions analyzed by performing thematic analysis. Findings: The findings indicate that the antecedents of the purchase of supersized food include price/quantity trade-off, hunger, liking and the social setting of consumption. Such purchase decisions also lead to consequences such as saving after purchase, health concerns, food waste, guilt and satisfaction. The findings also reveal the factors that play a dual role of an antecedent and a consequence: sharing, social status, quantity and leisure time. Practical implications: The knowledge of factors that make consumers select supersized foods can help marketers design deals that can control overconsumption and food waste. Instead of only focusing on the motivations behind the purchase of supersized foods, the authors also discuss the aspects of food purchase and consumption. Originality/value: This study advances the literature on purchase decision, consumption and post-consumption of supersized foods, providing insights for food retailers, regulators and policymakers. ¿Cuándo y por qué los consumidores eligen alimentos de gran tamaño? Propósito: Este estudio busca alcanzar tres objetivos: 1) explorar la percepción de los consumidores sobre los alimentos de gran tamaño (tanto en escenarios previos como posteriores al consumo), 2) identificar por qué los consumidores prefieren las opciones de gran tamaño sobre otras opciones disponibles, y 3) determinar qué tipo de situaciones empujan a los consumidores a tomar tales decisiones. Diseño: Este estudio cualitativo emplea la triangulación de métodos proyectivos, junto con entrevistas semiestructuradas con 120 participantes. Los datos se recopilaron en las principales ciudades de Pakistán, utilizando una muestra conveniente de 25 entrevistas semiestructuradas, 35 narraciones y 60 terminaciones y construcciones de frases analizadas mediante la realización de un análisis temático. Conclusiones: Los resultados indican que los antecedentes de la compra de alimentos de gran tamaño incluyen la relación precio/cantidad, el hambre, el gusto y el entorno social del consumo. Estas decisiones de compra también conllevan consecuencias como el ahorro después de la compra, la preocupación por la salud, el desperdicio de alimentos, el sentimiento de culpa y la satisfacción. Los resultados también revelan los factores que desempeñan un doble papel de antecedente y consecuencia: compartir, estatus social, cantidad y tiempo de ocio. Implicaciones prácticas: El conocimiento de los factores que hacen que los consumidores seleccionen alimentos de gran tamaño puede ayudar a los responsables de marketing a diseñar ofertas que puedan controlar el consumo excesivo y el desperdicio de alimentos. En lugar de centrarse únicamente en las motivaciones que subyacen a la compra de alimentos de mayor tamaño, los autores también analizan los aspectos de la compra y el consumo de alimentos. Originalidad: Este estudio supone un avance en la literatura sobre la decisión de compra, el consumo y el posconsumo de los alimentos de gran tamaño, proporcionando información a los minoristas de alimentos, a los reguladores y a los responsables políticos. Gran tamaño, Alimentos de gran tamaño, Consumo de alimentos, Estudio cualitativo, Técnicas proyectivas Investigación 消费者何时以及为何选择超大号食品？ 目的: 本研究旨在实现三个目标。1）探索消费者对超大号食品的认知看法（在消费前和消费后的场景下）, 2）确定消费者为什么喜欢超大号食品而不是其他现有选择, 以及3）确定促使消费者做出这种决定的情况类型。 设计/方法/途径: 这项定性研究采用了投射方法中的的三角测量, 以及对120名参与者的半结构化访谈。这些数据是从巴基斯坦的主要城市收集的, 研究者使用了一个方便性样本, 其中包括25个半结构式访谈, 35个叙述, 以及60个句子的完成和结构。这些数据通过主题分析来进行解析。 研究结果: 研究结果表明, 购买超大号食品的前因包括价格/数量的权衡、饥饿感、喜好和消费的社会环境。这样的购买决定也导致了购买后的节省、健康问题、食物浪费、内疚和满足感等后果。研究结果还揭示了几个即是前因又是结果的双角色因素：分享、社会地位、数量和休闲时间。 实际意义: 了解促使消费者选择超大号食品的因素可以帮助营销人员设计能够控制过度消费和食品浪费的交易。作者不仅仅关注了购买超大号食品背后的动机, 还讨论了食品购买和消费的各个方面。 原创性/价值: 这项研究推进了关于超大食品的购买决策、消费和消费后的文献, 为食品零售商、监管者和政策制定者提供了见解。 关键词 超大, 超大食品, 食品消费, 定性研究, 投射技术 文章类型： 研究型论文

Nanofluids have gained popularity due to their better thermophysical properties and usefulness in daily life such as electronic design, solar energy, heat exchanger tubes, and cooling systems, among others. We have looked at the influence of thermal radiation, Cattaneo-Christov heat flux, and slippage on three-dimensional flow of MHD nanofluid along a surface which is stretched/shrinks in both directions in this study. The transformed ordinary differential equations are solved analytically, using homotopy analysis technique. A graphical analysis for the flows for numerous physical features has been presented. It has been observed that the fluids axial and transverse velocities are decreased by the magnetic field parameter, the suction/injection parameter, as well as by the slip parameter for stretching, whereas for shrinking, they are increased. The radiation parameter, heat transfer Biot number, and thermal relaxation parameter increases the nanofluids temperature. Bar charts were also used to evaluate how the physical parameters affect the skin friction coefficient and Nusselt number.

China has become a major global power due to its rapid economic growth, which is being driven by resource-intensive industries but at a considerable environmental cost. This study investigates the intricate relationships that exist between China's mining regulations, resource utilization, and environmentally friendly policies, as well as the overall impacts of these relationships on economic growth. The research uses a rigorous regression analysis approach and data from the Ministry of National Resources and the China Statistical Yearbook from 1986 to 2022. Integrating a Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) enables an investigation of the relationships among debt levels, GDP, and natural financing. Wald test estimates also reveal exact Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) relationships. The results indicate that while China's economy has significantly benefited from mineral-intensive sectors, green measures are urgently needed to slow environmental deterioration. The focus should be redirected toward encouraging sustainable and ongoing development. These results highlight the critical role that green projects play in fostering economic growth. How China strikes a careful balance between its goals for ecological sustainability and economic growth is crucial for both China and the rest of the world in an era characterized by worries about climate change and resource shortages. The objective of this study is to analyze the complex relationship among China's mining regulations, resource utilization, and environmental policies. It will evaluate the effects of these factors on economic growth, with a particular focus on the necessity of adopting sustainable development practices in the face of environmental challenges and economic expansion. The study's goal is to examine the intricate relationships between China's resource use, environmental policies, and mining restrictions. It focuses on the importance of sustainable development methods in the face of environmental issues and economic growth. This research highlights the essential relationship between environmental stewardship and sustainable economic development, and policymakers, businesses, and environmental activists can all benefit from it.

The environmentally-friendly (1–x)Ba(Zr0.1Ti0.9)O3–xBa(Mg1/3Ta2/3)O3(x=0, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08) relaxor ferroelectric ceramics were prepared by the conventional solid-state method and sintered in air at 1400 °C for 2 h. SEM and XRD analyses were utilized to study the surface morphologies and the crystalline structures, respectively. The effects of Ba(Mg1/3Ta2/3)O3on the phase transformation, dielectric and ferroelectric properties of Ba(Zr0.1Ti0.9)O3ceramics were also investigated. It is found that the average grain size of (1–x)Ba(Zr0.1Ti0.9)O3–xBa(Mg1/3Ta2/3)O3(BZT–BMT) perovskite single-phase ceramics decreases as the content of Ba(Mg1/3Ta2/3)O3(BMT) increases. The relaxor ferroelectric behavior with diffuse phase transition and well-defined frequency dispersion of dielectric maximum temperature is found for the ceramic with increasing xvalues. 0.98BZT–0.02BMT ceramic shows very good dielectric properties with the relative permittivity and the dielectric loss, measured at 100 kHz as 6034 and 0.01399 respectively at room temperature. Both remnant polarization and coercive field decreased with increasing BMT content, indicating a transition from the ferroelectric phase to the paraelectric phase at room temperature.

Developed and solved in this article, for the first time, is a coupled continuum viscoelastic model for Timoshenko nonlocal strain gradient theory (NSGT)-based nanobeams; this is performed using a finite difference analysis (FDA). The viscosity of infinitesimal elements of the Timoshenko NSGT nanobeams is incorporated via the Kelvin–Voigt scheme (as a two-parameter rheological scheme) for both the transverse/longitudinal/rotational motions. The NSGT for the normal/shear stress fields is used for ultrasmall size influences on the continuum model. Rotary inertia is automatically present due to the Timoshenko-type rotation. The viscosity in the Timoshenko NSGT nanobeam is responsible for energy dissipation formulated via negative work. Hamilton’s balance scheme is utilised and resulted in the coupled continuum viscoelastic dynamic model for Timoshenko NSGT nanobeams, which is solved via a FDA for nonlinear mechanics. A nonlinear bending test is conducted via development of a finite element method model in the absence of the NSGT.

Context Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic metal for both plants and humans. Wheat grown on Cd-contaminated soils may accumulate toxic levels of Cd in grains. Aim This study aimed to compare soil zinc (Zn) application and seed Zn-priming for decreasing grain Cd concentration in standard and Zn-biofortified wheat cultivars grown on Cd-spiked soil. Methods Standard (Jauhar-2016) and Zn-biofortified (Zincol-2016) wheat cultivars were grown in pots filled with Cd-spiked soil (8mgCdkg−1 ). The tested Zn treatments were un-primed, hydro-primed, and Zn-primed seeds with and without soil Zn application at 8mgkg−1 . Key results Zinc treatments significantly mitigated the toxic effects of Cd on the growth and physiological parameters of both cultivars. As compared to control, all Zn treatments significantly increased Zn and decreased Cd concentration in grains of the cultivars. On average, the maximum increase in grain Zn concentration over control was approximately 36% with Zn-priming+soil Zn. The same treatment, as compared to control, decreased grain Cd concentration by 42% in Zincol-2016 and 35% in Jauhar-2016. Grain Cd concentration was within the permissible level (≤0.2mgkg−1 ) in Jauhar-2016 at all Zn treatments and in Zincol-2016 at Zn-priming+soil Zn. Conclusion Soil Zn application, seed Zn-priming, and their combination were effective in decreasing grain Cd accumulation in wheat grown on Cd-contaminated soil. Implication Zinc treatments, especially the combination of soil Zn application and seed Zn-priming, should be recommended for wheat grown on Cd-contaminated soil.

Coronavirus disease (CoVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) scrambles the world by infecting millions of peoples all over the globe. It has caused tremendous morbidity, mortality and greatly impacted the lives and economy worldwide as an outcome of mandatory quarantines or isolations. Despite the worsening trends of COVID-19, no drugs are validated to have significant efficacy in the clinical treatment of COVID-19 patients in large-scale studies. Physicians and researchers throughout the world are working to understand the pathophysiology to expose the conceivable handling regimens and to determine the effective vaccines and/or therapeutic agents. Some of them re-purposed drugs for clinical trials which were primarily known to be effective against the RNA viruses including MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-1. In the absence of a proven efficacy therapy, the current management use therapies based on antivirals, anti-inflammatory drugs, convalescent plasma, anti-parasitic agents in both oral and parenteral formulation, oxygen therapy, and heparin support. What is needed at this hour, however, is a definitive drug therapy or vaccine. Different countries are rushing to find this, and various trials are already underway. We aimed to summarize the potential therapeutic strategies as treatment options for COVID-19 that could be helpful to stop further spread of SARS-CoV-2 by affecting its structural components or modulation of immune response and discuss the leading drugs/vaccines, which are considered as potential agents for controlling this pandemic.

Neuroplasticity allows the human nervous system to adapt and relearn motor control following stroke. Rehabilitation therapy, which enhances neuroplasticity, can be made more effective if assisted by robotic tools. In this paper, a novel 4-SPS parallel robot has been developed to provide recovery of wrist movements post-stroke. The novel mechanism presented here was inspired by the forearm anatomy and can provide the rotational degrees of freedom required for all wrist movements. The robot design has been discussed in detail along with the necessary constructional, kinematic, and static analyses. The spatial workspace of the robot is estimated considering various dimensional and application-specific constraints besides checking for singular configurations. The wrist robot has been further evaluated using important performance indices such as condition number, actuator forces, and stiffness. The pneumatic artificial muscles exhibit varying stiffness, and therefore, workspace points are reached with different overall stiffness of the robot. It is essential to assess robot workspace points that can be reached with positive forces in actuators while maintaining a positive definite overall stiffness matrix. After the above analysis, design optimization has been carried out using an evolutionary algorithm whereby three critical criteria are optimized simultaneously for optimal wrist robot design.Graphical Abstract

The electrocatalyzed oxygen and hydrogen evolution reactions (OER/HER) are the key constituents of water splitting toward hydrogen production over electrolysis. The development of stable non-noble nanomaterials as bifunctional OER/HER electrocatalysts is the foremost bottleneck to commercial applications. Herein, the fabrication of Te-modulated FeNiOOH nanocubes (NCs) by a novel tailoring approach is reported, and the doping of Te superbly modulated the local electronic structures of Fe and Ni. The Te/FeNiOOH-NC catalyst displays better mass and electron transfer ability, exposure of plentiful OER/HER edge active centers on the surface, and a modulated electronic structure. Accordingly, the as-made Te/FeNiOOH-NC catalyst reveals robust OER activity (overpotential of 0.22 V@10 mA cm–2) and HER activity (overpotential of 0.167 V@10 mA cm–2) in alkaline media. Considerably, this bifunctional catalyst facilitates a high-performance alkaline water electrolyzer with a cell voltage of 1.65 V at 10 mA cm–2. This strategy opens up a new way for designing and advancing the tellurium dopant nanomaterials for various applications.

Heterogeneity in phenotypes of malignantly transformed cells and aberrant glycan expression on their surface are two prominent hallmarks of cancers that have hitherto not been linked to each other. In this paper, we identify differential levels of a specific glycan linkage: α2,6-linked sialic acids within breast cancer cells in vivoand in culture. Upon sorting out two populations with moderate, and relatively higher, cell surface α2,6-linked sialic acid levels from the triple-negative breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231, both populations (denoted as medium and high 2,6-Sial cells, respectively) stably retained their levels in early passages. Upon continuous culturing, medium 2,6-Sial cells recapitulated the heterogeneity of the unsorted line whereas high 2,6-Sial cells showed no such tendency. Compared with high 2,6-Sial cells, the medium 2,6-Sial counterparts showed greater adhesion to reconstituted extracellular matrices (ECMs) and invaded faster as single cells. The level of α2,6-linked sialic acids in the two sublines was found to be consistent with the expression of a specific glycosyl transferase, ST6GAL1. Stably knocking down ST6GAL1in the high 2,6-Sial cells enhanced their invasiveness. When cultured together, medium 2,6-Sial cells differentially migrated to the edge of growing tumoroid-like cocultures, whereas high 2,6-Sial cells formed the central bulk. Multiscale simulations in a Cellular Potts model-based computational environment calibrated to our experimental findings suggest that differential levels of cell–ECM adhesion, likely regulated by α2,6-linked sialic acids, facilitate niches of highly invasive cells to efficiently migrate centrifugally as the invasive front of a malignant breast tumor.

This paper aims to develop an adaptive control strategy for a fuzzy logic system for a robotic gait training orthosis whose design is bio-inspired from biomechanics of the human gait. Powerful yet light weight pneumatic muscle actuators (PMAs) fulfilled the ambulatory requirements of the robot while also providing the actuation required to create the sagittal plane rotations at the hip and knee. The PMA is controlled by a fuzzy logic controller based on Mamdani inference for obtaining the rotational degrees of freedom. To cope with the nonlinear behaviour of the PMA towards external disturbances, a second fuzzy-based controller was also developed. In order to compensate for time dependent characteristics of the PMA, an adaptive control mechanism was introduced. Experiments were conducted on healthy subjects for understanding and estimating the performance of the adaptive fuzzy logic controller and robotic design. The human-robot interaction was mainly passive-active, while the paths were predefined.

sion="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> CP Crop & Pasture Science Crop & Pasture Science 1836-0947 1836-5795 CSIRO Publishing 36 Gardiner Road Clayton VIC 3168 Australia CP22223 10.1071/CP22223 Foreword Mineral biofortification and metal/metalloid accumulation in food crops: recent research and trends (Part III) S. Hussain https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2497-127X Hussain Shahid A * Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan. * Correspondence to: Shahid Hussain Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan Email: shahid.hussain@bzu.edu.pk 11 July 2022 73 8 Special Issue 733 735 27 June 2022 Received: 27 June 2022 28 June 2022 Accepted: 28 June 2022 11 July 2022 Published: 11 July 2022 © 2022 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing 2022 The Authors This is the third and the last part of the special issue on Mineral Biofortification and Metal/Metalloid Accumulation in Food Crops . A brief description of the research articles included in this part of the special issue is provided.

Robot-assisted physical therapy of the upper limb is becoming popular among the rehabilitation community. The wrist is the second most complicated joint in the upper limb after shoulder in terms of degrees of freedom. Several robotic devices have been developed during the past three decades for wrist joint rehabilitation. Intensive physical therapy and repetitive self-practice, with objective measurement of performance, could be provided by using these wrist rehabilitation robots at a low cost. There has been an increasing trend in the development of wrist rehabilitation robots to provide safe and customized therapy according to the disability level of patients. The mechanical design and control paradigms are two active fields of research undergoing rapid developments in the field of robot-assisted wrist rehabilitation. The mechanical design of these robots could be divided into the categories of end-effector based robots and wearable robotic orthoses. The control for these wrist rehabilitation robots could also be divided into the conventional trajectory tracking control mode and the assist-as-needed control mode for providing customized robotic assistance. This article presents a review of the mechanical design and control aspects of wrist rehabilitation robots. Experimental evaluations of these robots with healthy and neurologically impaired are also discussed along with the future directions of research in the design and control domains of wrist rehabilitation robots.

While newer designs and control approaches are being proposed for rehabilitation robots, vital information from the human musculoskeletal system should also be considered. Incorporating knowledge about joint biomechanics during the development of robot controllers can enhance the safety and performance of robot-aided treatments. In this article, the optimal path or trajectories of a parallel ankle rehabilitation robot were generated by minimizing joint reaction moments and the tension along ligaments and muscle-tendon units. The simulations showed that using optimized robot paths, user efforts could be reduced to 80%, thereby ensuring less strain on weaker or stiffer ligaments, etc. Additionally, to limit the moments applied by the robot in stiff or constrained directions, the intended robot path was modified to move the commanded position in the direction opposite to that of the position error. Such online modification of the robot path can lead to a reduction in forces applied by a robot to the subject. Simulation results and experimental findings with healthy subjects using an ankle rehabilitation robot prototype and subsequent statistical analysis further validated that path modification based on ankle joint biomechanics results in a reduction in undesired forces experienced by human users during treatment.

Background: Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) are present in almost all the tissues of the body and act as the backbone of the internal tissue homeostasis. Among their various characteristic features, immuno-modulatory and/ anti-inflammatory properties play an important role in therapeutics. Objective: The current topic focuses on the characterization and immuno-modulatory and/ antiinflammatory properties of MSCs. To present and discuss the current status of MSCs immunomodulatory properties. Methods: Available literature on MSCs properties and patents have been detailed, critically interpreted, and discussed based upon available literature. The main focus has been on their characteristic immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties though some of the basic characterization markers have also been detailed. The databases searched for the literature include PubMed, Med Line, PubMed Central, Science Direct and a few other scientific databases. Results: MSCs are present in a very limited concentration in the tissues, and as such their culture expansion becomes imperative. MSCs immuno-modulatory and anti-inflammatory roles are achieved through direct cell-cell contact and / by the release of certain factors. Such properties are controlled by micro-environment upon which currently very limited control can be exerted. Besides, further insights in the xeno-protein free culture media as against the fetal bovine serum is required. Conclusion: MSCs have been well-isolated, cultured and characterized from numerous tissues of the body. The majority of the studies have shown MSCs as immuno-compromised with immunomodulatory and / or anti-inflammatory properties except some of the latest studies that have failed to achieve the desired results and thus, demand further research. Further research is required in the area to translate the results into clinical application.

The application of robotic devices in providing physiotherapies to post-stroke patients and people suffering from incomplete spinal cord injuries is rapidly expanding. It is crucial to provide valid rehabilitation for people who are experiencing abnormality in their gait performance; therefore, design and development of newer robotic devices for the purpose of facilitating patients’ recovery is being actively researched. In order to advance the traditional gait treatment among patients, exoskeletons and orthoses were introduced over the last two decades. This article presents a thorough review of existing robotic gait rehabilitation devices. The latest advancements in the mechanical design, types of control and actuation are also covered. The study comprehends discussions on robotic rehabilitation devices developed both for the training on treadmill and over-ground training. The assist-as-needed strategy for the gait training is particularly emphasized while reviewing various control strategies applied to these robotic devices. This study further reviews experimental investigations and clinical assessments of different control strategies and mechanism designs of robotic gait rehabilitation devices using experimental and clinical trials.

Limited considerations have been given to transform the agile development activities in global software development (GSD). In GSD, agile development becomes more complex due to geographically distributed teams. This study reported the factors that are important to transform the agile in GSD, using systematic literature review. A total of 30 success factors (SFs) were identified from the 75 selected primary studies. We further analyse the investigated SFs based on organisations types and organisations size with the aims to analyse the significance of identified SFs with respect to organisation types and size. Moreover, the identified SFs were mapped into six categories of the robust framework and the mapping results shows the project management is the key category of the identified factors. We believe that this study can provide a framework for tackling problems associated with agile activities in a GSD, which is significant to the success and progression of GSD firms.

Internet of things (IoT) is playing a pivotal role in bringing comfort and ease in human lives by connecting billions of devices across the globe. Innovation and development in IoT have established new ways to analyze patient data in healthcare systems. Currently, IoT and cloud-based solutions are available to process and analyze patient data, but cloud computing causes large end-to-end delay and network usage problems while processing huge amounts of data. Efficiency and security are still a challenge in IoT-based healthcare systems. Fog computing is introduced to overcome the issues of cloud computing by providing computing and storage services at the edge of the network. In this article, first we present a fog based efficient architecture for IoT-based healthcare systems. Then we present the user authentication method through identity management to prevent security breaches. The fog based architecture for healthcare includes the idea of a virtual machine (VM) partitioning in fog node to smoothly run the body sensor network and medical IoT devices data. The Elliptic Curve Cryptography technique is used to generate the output token for the user authentication method.

This paper presents the development of theoretical model for the purpose to calculate and analyze halo and eddy current effects in the tungsten divertor of Tokamak (Fusion) reactor. In the first step, focal points for plasma energy, sideways forces (on the vessel), impurities, and halo–eddy current effects (in terms of poloidal and toroidal magnetic field orientations) were calculated. During the verge of point calculation, the research was extended to calculate the initial conducting point (halo current) for the tungsten divertor plate. Three cases were considered for investigating the plasma energy during upward and downward flows to the divertor plate. Poloidal and toroidal orientation of plasma energy were investigated and the theoretical model was developed. Initial conducting point with respect to (r,z) was calculated for halo current calculations and its derivatives. A mechanism for the development of the asymmetry and for estimating electromechanical loads was performed. For computational analysis, a Matlab program was developed to calculate and verify halo current and plasma energy calculation points. The main objective of the research is to develop a theoretical-computational model to evaluate plasma behavior and divertor system in any Tokamak reactor.

Owing to the rapid increase in anthropogenic emission of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere, which has resulted in a number of global climate challenges, a decrease in CO2emissions is urgently needed in the current scenario. This study focuses on the development and characterization of composites for carbon dioxide (CO2) separation. The composites consist of two task-specific ionic liquids (TSILs), namely, tetramethylgunidinium imidazole [TMGHIM] and tetramethylgunidinium phenol [TMGHPhO], impregnated in ZIF-8. The performance of CO2separation, including sorption capacity and selectivity, was evaluated for pristine ZIF-8 and composites of TMGHIM@ZIF-8 and TMGHPhO@ZIF-8. To demonstrate the thermal stability of the material, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was performed. Additionally, powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were utilized to showcase the crystal structures and morphology. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and BET were also utilized to confirm the successful incorporation of TSILs into ZIF-8. The composite synthesized with TMGHIM@ZIF-8 demonstrated superior CO2sorption performance as compared with TMGHPhO@ZIF-8. This is attributed to its strong attraction toward CO2, resulting in a higher CO2/CH4selectivity of 110 while pristine MOFs showed 12 that is 9 times higher than that of the pristine ZIF-8. These TSILs@ZIF-8 composites have significant potential in designing sorbent materials for efficient acid gas separation applications.