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[Display omitted] Seaweeds have been focused as potential and promising resources to develop novel pharmaceuticals. The present study was aimed to investigate the bioactive principles of Sargassum crassifolium (S. crassifolium) through organic solvents methanol and petroleum ether extractions individually. The present study also extended to determine the antibacterial potentiality of the bioactive principles from methanolic extract (ME) and petroleum ether extract (PEE) of S. crassifolium against a set of human pathogenic bacteria. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis of the ME and PEE were exhibiting unique bioactive constituents. The antibacterial effect of ME and PEE were showed the moderate spectrum of activity when compared to the standard streptomycin disc against the screened human pathogenic bacteria. The bacterial sensitivity to the ME was sequenced as Bacillus subtilis > Pseudomonas aeruginosa > Escherichia coli > Klebsiella pneumoniae > Staphylococcus aureus > Streptococcus pyogenes. Furthermore, the spectrum of activity of PEE was showing more or less similar pattern of action with almost equal potency. The spectrum of activity of PEE extract was in the order Bacillus subtilis > Pseudomonas aeruginosa > Escherichia coli > Staphylococcus aureus > Streptococcus pyogenes > Klebsiella pneumoniae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structural, electronic, and optical properties of LiCaF 3 fluoro perovskite were investigated under hydrostatic pressures ranging from 0 to 50 GPa using density functional theory calculations. The lattice constants and unit cell volume displayed monotonic decreases with increasing pressure, agreeing well with previous experimental studies. The material retained its insulating nature across the pressure range, with the direct band gap increasing markedly from 5.764 eV at ambient pressure to 6.983 eV at 50 GPa. This wide tunability of the electronic structure via applied pressure highlights the potential of LiCaF 3 for pressure-dependent optoelectronic applications. Its optical properties, including reflectivity, refractive index, optical conductivity, energy loss function, dielectric function and absorption coefficients all exhibited significant enhancement under pressure. These first-principles results reveal LiCaF 3 as a promising candidate material for high pressure optoelectronics; further experimental studies on its optical properties would be valuable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Mechanical behavior of the binder using stone dust, brick dust and fly ash Class F were evaluated. • Rutting factor, dynamic viscosity, short term aging and long-term aging study from PAV were investigated. • Best performance against rutting as compared to stone dust and brick dust were determined. • Dynamic viscosity was improved at 58 °C, 64 °C, 70 °C and 76 °C respectively. The principal objective involved in this research is to explore the mechanical behaviour of the binder using different mineral fillers such as stone dust (SD), brick dust (BD) and fly ash Class F (FA). Currently, a large quantity of roads is being constructed under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project. It is a major concern for quality of road to with stand heavy loads. For the investigation of the quality of roads, it is mandatory to evaluate the behaviour of mineral fillers addition in asphalt mastic. Fatigue cracking, thermal cracking and permanent deformation have been found a major common distress in the construction of road networks. In this study, the behaviour of mineral fillers such as stone dust, brick dust and fly ash Class F was investigated. In flexible pavements, these mineral fillers with different concentrations such as 0%, 3%, 5% and 7% were used. Rheological, Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were utilized to find out the effect of mineral fillers as doping agents in asphalt mastic. Mechanical testing was done on dynamic shear rheometer (DSR), rotational viscometer (RV), rolling thin film oven (RTFO) and pressure aging vessel (PAV). Rutting factor G*/Sin (б) from DSR, dynamic viscosity (ἠ) from RV, short term aging study from RTFO and long-term aging study from PAV were investigated. The micro structural investigations showed that cracks were reduced using mineral fillers which may be due to the even distributions of particles. Rheological studies of modified binders with fly ash Class F revealed best performance against rutting as compared to stone dust and brick dust. However, the addition of 7% fly ash Class F showed the improvement of 92.17% in rutting factor. In addition, the dynamic viscosity of all three mineral based mixtures were improved at 58 °C, 64 °C, 70 °C and 76 °C respectively. The current research reported the low cost, improved performance and good environmental impacts of mineral fillers in asphalt mastic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Theoretical bases of the essential laser-material interaction involved in laser-induced transfer (LIT) are overviewed. • Our main focus is the underlying physical mechanisms for various metal, semiconductor and liquid systems involved in LIT. • We highlighted the fundamental challenges to be addressed for solid and liquid donor systems. • The current approaches, unique insights, existing gaps as well as future research perspectives for LIT are evaluated. Laser-induced transfer (LIT) is a well-established direct printing approach for fabricating structures with a feature size of ≤10 μm and various dimensions. LIT enables the digital printing of a broad range of materials, making it versatile for constructing functional micro/nanodevices. Although extensively studied, the technique is still in its paradigm stage due to the lack of mechanistic understanding, limiting its wide applications. In-depth understanding regarding the underlying mechanisms or physics of laser-matter interactions is key to the rational control of fabrication processes for LIT applications. Therefore, we organize this article presenting a review of LIT, with an emphasis on fundamental mechanisms of laser-induced forward and backward transfer. After a brief description of the primitive steps during the printing process, we place our main focus on the underlying physics of LIT including its principle and transfer dynamics, for example, different mechanisms of the transfer of micro/nano-dots from a solid or liquid donor film. Moreover, the latest advances in a broad range of LIT-based applications, such as three-dimensional laser printing, surface plasmon lattice resonance, sensing, and metasurfaces, are discussed. Finally, essential aspects and challenges of existing LIT techniques are outlined and future research perspectives based on electron-dynamics-control during LIT are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present research was carried out to assess raw milk's quality as collected from the commercial markets of the Mardan district (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa). The locality from which milk samples were collected included; Bijligar (BG), Manga (M), Chamthara (CM), Main Bazar Mardan (MB), Mahidherai (MD), and Sharif Abad (SB), located in district Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). A total of 36 milk samples were collected at the rate of 6 samples per location. The outcome of the data exhibited that the percentage of protein content was highest (3.34%) in MB and SA (3.30%), while lower percentages were recorded in sample M (3.03%) and CM 93.06%). Maximum pH were shown in M and BG to be 7.55 and 7.33, respectively. For fats content, the highest percentage of fats was witnessed in MB as 4.04%, and minimum fats content was noted in Sample M as 3.57%. Water content was highest in Sample SA and BG at 15.85% and 15.64%, respectively. Qualitative analysis of adulterants like detergents, Formalin, starch, and Hydrogen peroxide was also carried out for all the collected samples. Adulteration results were positive for all the milk samples, with the highest being in samples MB (30%), while all the remaining samples had adulteration at 20% each. Both MB and CM samples were adulterated with urea, while the remaining 4 were adulterated with neutralizers. Thus, it may be summarized from the whole analysis that the milk available in commercial markets of district Mardan was adulterated with different adulterants and is not recommended for consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gravelly soil-structure interface was observed to exhibit a significant coupling effect among the orthogonal shear directions due to the three-dimensional shear application in different experimental investigations, which governs major three-dimensional features of the interface. In this paper, initially, a three-dimensional modeling framework is established based on the analyses of interface behavior under different shear coupling conditions. A series of concepts and assumptions are derived in this framework, banking on which a three-dimensional model scheme is proposed by reasonably modeling the shear coupling effect. Afterward, a three-dimensional elasto-plastic damage interface model is developed based on the proposed model scheme and modified formulations of a previous two-dimensional EPDI model. Only a single new parameter is introduced in the three-dimensional shear stress-strain relationship modeling scheme to quantify the three-dimensional shear response of the interface besides already known parameters of the EPDI model. The model can simulate the monotonic and cyclic response of interface along two and three-dimensional shear paths in a unified manner. The performance of the model is validated based on test data from the literature. The model can capture different essential features of the gravelly soil-structure interface behavior under three-dimensional conditions, e.g., coupling effect, volumetric change behavior and aeolotropy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A large quantity of reclaimed asphalt pavement is producing every year. • RAP in the asphalt mixes is not used directly. • It is important to use agents that restore the original properties of aged asphalt. • Two types of natural renewable oils as a modifier on the properties of neat asphalt and asphalt mixes containing RAP were used. • Asphalt mixes with sunflower and soybean oil-modified asphalt are characterized by improved low-temperature cracks, resistance to moisture susceptibility, and permanent deformation. Over the years, there has been a significant production of Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) from asphalt pavement maintenance and rehabilitation processes. This material is typically thrown away and has negative impacts on the environment. However, it can be reused for pavement construction, but it is crucial to use agents that restore its original properties. This study evaluates the impact of two natural renewable oils, sunflower, and soybean, on the properties of neat asphalt and asphalt mixtures that contain RAP. The optimal amount used was 5%. The results show that sunflower and soybean oils are effective in rejuvenating aged asphalt in RAP mixtures by softening the aged binder. As a result, the modified asphalt mixtures exhibit improved resistance to low-temperature cracks, moisture susceptibility, and permanent deformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optimization of the pre-ionization phase is a necessary step before switching to the main tokamak operation. Langmuir probe and optical emission spectroscopy are among the prime plasma diagnostic techniques to realize practically the changes that occurred in floating potential, electron temperature, electron number density, and impurity concentration. Triple Langmuir probe (TLP) collects the time-resolved plasma parameters to visualize the real-time evolution of the ECR heated pre-ionized hydrogen plasma zones. The temporal profiles of the floating potential, electron temperature, and number density show significant dependence on the hydrogen fill pressure. The sequential imaging of the electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) heated plasma zones displays their growth and progression. At lower fill pressure, plasma imaging illustrates the two distinctive ECR heated plasma zones corresponding to the first and second harmonics. The studies provide insights into the physics of preferential plasma heating in space and time-varying magnetic fields producing ECRH zones. [Display omitted] • Plasma heating with microwaves at electron cyclotron resonance frequencies. • Time-resolved triple-probe measurements in ECRH-assisted pre-ionization. • Optical spectrum analysis of the hydrogen plasma for H α, H β and impurity lines. • Sequential imaging of the ECR heated pre-ionized plasma zones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Living biofilters were made from co-immobilized microalgae and bacteria. • Living biofilters had higher nutrient removal than the suspended controls. • Living biofilters were then tested as biofertilizer for three vegetable plantation. • Living biofilters can be used as biofertilizer with no negative impacts on soil. This study investigates nutrient recovery from synthetic municipal wastewater using co-immobilized cultures of Chlorella vulgaris TISTR 8580 (CV) and plant growth-promoting bacteria, Bacillus subtilis TISTR 1415 (BS) as living biofilters for a subsequent biofertilizer activity. The optimal condition for nutrient recovery was at the 1:1 ratio of CV/BS using mixed guar gum/carrageenan (GG/CG) binders. After 7-day wastewater treatment, the living biofilters removed 86.7 ± 0.5% of ammonium and 99.3 ± 0.3% of phosphates and were tested subsequently as biofertilizers for 20 days to grow selected plants. The highest optimal biomass and chlorophyll a content was 2 ± 0.3 g (CV/BS 3:1) and 12.4 ± 0.7 µg/g (CV/BS 1:1) from cucumber respectively, however, the close-to-neutral pH (8.0 ± 0.3) was observed from sunflower using CV/BS 1:1 living biofilters. Conclusively, the designed living biofilters exhibit the potential to recover nutrients from wastewater and be used as biofertilizers for circular agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• FTIR results showed the condensation reaction of SF with binders. • The SF addition in binders improved rutting parameter and high temperature resistance. • The MSCR results indicated an improved behavior of SF modified binders against shear strain. • The addition of SF decreased nonrecoverable creep compliance (J nr) and increased the recovery (R) of binders. The interest in utilization of renewable resources derived materials (RRDM) for the modification of asphalt binders has been increasing for the last few years. This study aims to investigate the effect of a novel material i.e. sunflower flour (SF) on rheological characteristics of asphalt binders for their possible future application in pavement and building construction. The literature on RRDM modified asphalt binders does not provide guidelines about SF compatibility with binders. In this study the SF was varied as 0, 1, 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10% by the weight of binders. The rolling thin film oven (RTFO) and pressure aging vessel (PAV) were used for aging of binders. The binders were assessed by rotational viscometer (RV), dynamic shear rheometer (DSR), bending beam rheometer (BBR) and storage stability testing. The SF addition to binders showed improvement in properties of binders like viscosity, softening point, viscosity-temperature susceptibility (VTS), flash and fire points, and complex shear modulus. Rheological properties of binders were observed optimum at 5% SF addition. The interaction of optimum SF dosage with asphalt binders was studied by employing optical microscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) tests. The Superpave, Glover-Rowe parameters, Cole-Cole and black space diagrams, master curve, the viscoelastic continuum damage (VECD) model and multiple stress creep recovery (MSCR) criteria were used to analyze the results. FTIR results showed the condensation reaction of SF with binders. The SF addition in binders improved rutting parameter and high temperature resistance. The MSCR results indicated an improved behavior of SF modified binders against shear strain. The addition of SF decreased non recoverable creep compliance (J nr) and increased the recovery (R) of binders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Nanostructured CdS was prepared by a facile one-pot solvothermal route. • The photocatalysts show superior photocatalytic activities in photo-degradation of MB dye. • Increasing the aspect ratio of the photocatalyst boosts the photocatalytic performance. • Possible mechanism of photoexcitation process and photo-degradation was proposed. • The photo-degradation of MB followed pseudo-first order kinetics. The development of a scalable and facile method for the synthesis of visible light driven photocatalytic materials to degrade toxic organic dyes is highly challenging and essential. In this regards, cadmium sulfide (CdS) nanorods and nanowires with controlled aspect ratio, grain size, surface area, and bandgap were synthesized by a simple solvothermal method, and their photocatalytic performances were exploited for the photo-degradation of methylene blue (MB) under simulated solar light. Extensive structural characterizations to identify the origin of the activities were performed. The photocatalytic activity measurements showed that the degradation of MB was 94.41%, 97.24%, 97.88%, and 99.82% for CdS prepared by following four different synthesis routes and increasing trend showed a correlation with the nanostructure morphology changing from nanorod and nanowires with increasing aspect ratio. It has been found that CdS nanowires show more pronounced photocatalytic activity due to the efficient separation of photo-generated electron-hole pairs induced by increased the aspect ratio and higher active surface area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]