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Simple Summary: Slugs and snails are widely distributed in natural humid habitats, and they are a worldwide problem in agriculture. The grey garden slug, a common terrestrial species, is considered the most severe pest of vegetables and field crops. Currently, the most common slug control methods rely on chemical pesticides, which can be damaging to the environment and human health. Nematodes are important natural enemies of slugs, and one species has been used as a commercial product for three decades. This study investigated and analyzed the differential gene expression profiles between nematode-infected slugs and uninfected slugs and identified the genes associated with immunity in the grey garden slug. The results provide a starting point for understanding the molecular mechanism of immune genes and physiological pathways, facilitating the identification of biological targets for slug management strategies in the field. The grey garden slug (Deroceras reticulatum), a common terrestrial slug native to Europe with a global distribution including North America, is commonly considered the most severe slug pest in agriculture. The nematode Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita, which has been used in the U.K. and Europe as a commercial biocontrol agent since 1994, has also recently been collected in Oregon and California and has long been considered a candidate biocontrol agent for slug management in the U.S. In this study, we report differential gene expressions in nematode-infected slugs using RNA-seq to identify slug immune-related genes against nematodes. Comparison of gene expression levels between the whole bodies of a nematode-infected slug (N-S) and an uninfected control slug (C-S) revealed that there were a total of 39,380 regulated unigenes, of which 3084 (3%) were upregulated and 6761 (6%) were downregulated at greater than 2-fold change (FC > 2) in the nematode-infected slug. To further investigate the biological functions of differentially expressed genes (DEGs), gene ontology (GO) and functional enrichment analysis were performed to map the DEGs to terms in the GO, eukaryotic ortholog groups of proteins (KOG) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genome Pathway (KEGG) databases. Among these DEGs, approximately 228 genes associated with immunity or immune-related pathways were upregulated 2-fold or more in the N-S compared to C-S. These genes include toll, Imd, JNK, scavenger receptors (SCRs), C-type lectins (CTLs), immunoglobulin-like domains, and JAK/STAT63 signaling pathways. From the RNA-seq results, we selected 18 genes and confirmed their expression levels by qRT-PCR. Our findings provide insights into the immune response of slugs during nematode infection. These studies provide fundamental information that will be valuable for the development of new methods of pest slug control using pathogenic nematodes in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we engineered a sub-70 nm nanocomposite of ZnO/Zn2TiO4 using a low-temperature solution-phase method with titanium isopropoxide and zinc acetate as precursors, and isopropyl alcohol and water as solvents. The investigation focused on nanocomposite growth by varying precursor and surfactant concentrations and their efficiency within different pH ranges. All three ZnO/Zn2TiO4 nanocomposites exhibited hexagonal wurtzite ZnO and Zn2TiO4 structures. The crystallite size in these nanocomposites ranged from 39.50 nm to 62.67 nm for ZnO and 21.24 nm to 26.15 nm for Zn2TiO4. Morphological observations using FESEM revealed the formation of dispersed cotton packet-like nanocomposites with sizes ranging from 18 to 350 nm. FTIR analysis showed peaks indicative of Ti–O and Zn–O bond formation, and EDX spectrum confirmed the presence of Ti, O, and Zn. UV spectrums and photocatalytic investigations confirmed the successful formation of ZnO/Zn2TiO4 nanocomposites with notable photocatalytic degradation efficiency for methylene blue dye under various conditions. These findings suggest the potential applicability of the synthesized nanocomposites for environmental pollutant degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of the sustainability concept has gained increasing attention from scholars and practitioners. In this context, the aim of this study was to examine the determinants of intention to continue to use the new Metro in Qatar, which is considered a sustainable mode of travel. Therefore, in this paper, a special attention was paid to certain variables, such as environmental concern, perceived quality, and perceived benefits. A quantitative method approach was employed, in which data were collected based on self-administered questionnaires. A total of 1334 Qatar residents responded to the survey questionnaire, and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used for hypothesis testing. The results confirmed the direct effects of perceived behavioral control, social influence, and attitudes on the intention of residents to continue to use the Metro network in their travel. Moreover, perceived behavioral control was found to play a mediating role, enhancing the indirect relationship between perceived benefits and intention to continue to use the Metro network. More importantly, environmental concerns significantly and positively affected the attitudes and perceived behavioral control of travelers; furthermore, these variables presented a mediated influence—through service quality—on the intention to continue to use the Metro network. This study enriched the sustainability behavior literature by examining the influences of crucial factors. Thus, this study is considered of great value for policy-makers who hope to maximize the awareness level of environmental sustainability among the population, in order to encourage them to embrace changes in their lifestyle towards becoming more environmentally responsible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Modern era, the Researchers are keenly interested in different areas of green financing projects such as green economics, green trade, green sustainable development activities, green climatic and environment quests, green investment and financial ventures, and green public policy-related topics, respectively. Owing to the lower cost of production for sustainable development, a healthy climate, and a neat environment is needed, this study is structured to build the significant relationship between various green sustainable development projects, the financial effectiveness and performance of PSX and NYSX, respectively. For this purpose, the time series data for 2000–2020 are collected from IFS, WBI, SBP, the Federal Reserve system, S&DP, and the UNDP financial reports. The empirical analysis reveals the insignificant effects of green investment, financial projects, public policies, and social green projects on the financial performance of PSX, whereas the empirical modeling also attests that all the green factors significantly affect the performance of NYSX except the green economic and trading projects and renewable energy green projects, which are insignificant predictors with respect to FIP-NYSX. Moreover, the index for human development insignificantly affects the prediction of FIP-NYSX. The mixed empirical results guide policymakers, the board of PSX and NYSX, and the management of green financing companies to reconsider their policies and objectives with respect to successful green operations and the financial performance of PSX and NYSX. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, successful synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs), CuO NPs, and ZnO/CuO nanocomposite through an eco-friendly method using Corriandrum sativum leaf extract as a capping agent is reported. Using XRD, FTIR, UV-Vis, and SEM techniques, the synthesized materials were characterized for structural analysis, functional groups identification, spectroscopic measurements, and morphological analysis. The percentage composition and purity of the samples were determined by using Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX), which showed the synthesis of materials. Morphological analysis was done by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) which reflected that the CuO NPs, ZnO NPs and ZnO/CuO nanocomposite were spherical, and the average size calculated by using Image J software was around 25 nm, 55 nm, and 11 nm, respectively. FTIR and UV-Vis analyses were used for synthetic confirmation through characteristic peaks of materials. The synthesized (ZnO, CuO, and CuO/ZnO) nanomaterials were evaluated for photocatalytic activity using methylene blue (MB) dye. Among all three photocatalysts, the composite showed maximum photodegradation compared to the other two materials. The present work could lead to a pathway for the decontamination of harmful dyes of wastewater released from different industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The beet armyworm Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) is a polyphagous pest of numerous cultivated crops including potatoes, beans, asparagus, cotton, etc., causing considerable economic losses in crop production worldwide. Currently, the use of chemical insecticides is the most commonly used method to control this pest, however, the overuse of them results in insecticide resistance, environmental pollution and toxicity to other non-target organisms. Our results indicated that S. exigua field populations had developed resistance to almost half of the eleven commonly used insecticides with different modes of action. Thus, it is extremely urgent to seek an efficient strategy for insecticide resistance management. We found that the combined application of the specific entomopathogen of S. exigua (Spodoptera exigua multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus, SeMNPV) reduced insecticide resistance or even recovered the susceptibility to insecticides and enhanced the toxicity obviously in both laboratory experiments and field trials. These findings are valuable to provide a promising efficient way for improving insecticide resistance management strategy and an environmentally friendly approach for pest management with the combined application of nucleopolyhedroviruses and insecticides. Spodoptera exigua is a polyphagous pest of diverse crops and causes considerable economic losses. The overuse of chemical insecticides for controlling this pest results in insecticide resistance, environmental pollution and toxicity to other non-target organisms. Therefore, a sustainable and efficient way for pest management is urgently required. In this study, laboratory bioassays of eleven commonly used insecticides, the specific entomopathogen of S. exigua (Spodoptera exigua multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus, SeMNPV), and SeMNPV-insecticide combinations against the S. exigua laboratory population and two field populations were tested. Our results indicated that the two field populations had developed resistance to almost half of the tested insecticides, while SeMNPV had good virulence in all populations. Interestingly, the combined use of SeMNPV enhanced the toxicity of the tested insecticides against all populations to a different extent and considerably reduced the insecticide resistance of S. exigua field populations or even recovered the susceptibility to above insecticides. Furthermore, the field trial showed that the combined application of SeMNPV contributed to promoting the control efficacy of emamectin benzonate and chlorfenapyr. These results provide a promising efficient way for pest resistance management and an environmentally friendly approach for controlling S. exigua with the combined application of nucleopolyhedroviruses and insecticides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study investigates the water quality parameters of drinking water resources in District Neelam (DNLM), Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK), Northwestern Pakistan. The studied area has been recently reported with many waterborne diseases, which probed this analytical study. The samples were aseptically collected from springs, taps, and surface water bodies. The water quality parameters, such as physical, microbiological, anions, and heavy metals, were tested. Results showed that the electrical conductance (EC) and total dissolved solids (TDS), were 974.60 µS/cm and 912.10 mg/L, respectively, exacerbating the quality of drinking water in DNLM. For microbial water testing, we used 3M-Petrifilms as a detection source, which could separate coliform bacteria from E. coli by creating unique surface chromophores. Out of sixty collected samples, 76% had bacterial contamination. Nitrite, nitrate, and phosphate (9.8, 15.0, and 15.1 mg/L), were also surpassing the safe limits of the World Health Organization (WHO) standards for water quality measurement. The heavy metals, i.e., As, Cr, Cu, and Pb were also tested in current analysis. Pb and Cr (0.04 mg/L and 0.06 mg/L) exceeded from safe drinking water guidelines of the WHO and more than 50% of the collected samples had Pb as a major water pollutant in DNLM. Poor waste management, open sludge discharge, lack of municipality measures, and mineral leaching into the freshwaters of DNLM due to mining and metal extraction processes were the main sources of water pollution in the region. The inorganic pollutants were responsible for the sudden rise of different malignancies and other fatal diseases (vital organ failures and reproductive disorders) in the region, which has not been reported in the past. The current investigation yielded useful baseline data of the drinking water reserves of NW Pakistan that could help to develop techniques for the mitigation of water pollutants present in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis of nanoparticles (NPs) using the green route is environmentally harmonious and cost-effective compared to conventional chemical and physical methods. In this study, the green synthesis of silver NPs was carried out using an extract of Debregeasia salicifolia. The synthesized Ag NPs were characterized by means of different techniques i.e., UV-Vis spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, SEM, and XRD. The XRD pattern exhibited distinctive Bragg's peaks at (200), (111), (311), and (220). The XRD analysis confirmed the face-centered cubic geometry of the synthesized NPs and revealed that the nature of these NPs is crystalline. The synthesized NPs were verified for their antibacterial activities against Gram-negative Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) bacteria. It showed that antibacterial activity of synthesized silver (NPs) was increased with increasing concentrations of both calcined and non-calcined NPs. The antioxidant activities of Ag NPs were also determined against ABTS at different concentrations for both calcined and non-calcined Ag NPs. Non-calcined Ag NPs have greater antioxidant activity than calcined Ag NPs. This report has a significant medicinal application, and it might open up new horizons in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith), is a voracious insect pest native to the Western Hemisphere, particularly in South America. The polyphagous fall armyworm feeds on more than 350 plants in such families, including Poaceae, Asteraceae, and Fabaceae. Transgenic plants that express Bacillus thuringiensis proteins (Bt plants) and synthetic insecticides are the main tactics to control Spodoptera frugiperda, although widespread usage of synthetic chemicals has resulted in the emergence of resistance. We assessed cross-resistance, resistance mechanism, and fitness costs based on the life history traits of Spodoptera frugiperda. Results indicated that after 24 generations of selection, the resistance to indoxacarb was increased by 472.67-fold as compared to the Ind-UNSEL. Significantly longer developmental time of larvae extended pupal duration, shorter adult longevity, and lower fecundity were observed in Ind-SEL as compared with the Ind-UNSEL population. Butoxide synergist increased susceptibility to indoxacarb, indicating that P450 enzymes may be involved in indoxacarb resistance. Therefore, it is crucial that we comprehend how insecticides work and how resistance develops in order to develop techniques for managing resistance. These data are valuable to understand the indoxacarb resistance mechanism and provides vital information for scientific-based guidance of pest management decisions. The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith), is a voracious insect pest that is difficult to control due to resistance to insecticides and Bt proteins. We assessed cross-resistance, resistance mechanism, and fitness costs based on the life history traits of S. frugiperda. We established an S. frugiperda strain selected for resistance to indoxacarb (Ind-SEL) from a field-collected population and an unselected strain, Ind-UNSEL. Results indicated that after 24 generations of selection, the resistance to indoxacarb was increased by 472.67-fold as compared to the Ind-UNSEL. There was high cross-resistance to deltamethrin (31.23-fold) with very low or negligible cross-resistance to chlorantraniliprole, emamectin benzoate, and/or methoxyfenozide in the Ind-SEL population. Butoxide synergist increased susceptibility to indoxacarb, indicating that P450 enzymes may be involved in indoxacarb resistance. Significantly longer developmental time of larvae extended pupal duration, shorter adult longevity, and lower fecundity were observed in Ind-SEL as compared with the Ind-UNSEL population. The Net reproductive rate (R0) was the only growth parameter that differs between crosses of Ind-SEL♂ × Ind-UNSEL♀ (176 ± 46) and Ind-SEL♀ × Ind-UNSEL♂ (328 ± 57). On the other hand, all population growth parameters differ between Ind-SEL and Ind-UNSEL strains. Our work contributes to the growing body of research that demonstrates the importance of strain genetics in fitness cost experiments and helps resistance management programs make decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two closely related thrips species, Frankliniella occidentalis and Frankliniella intonsa, are important pests on agricultural and horticultural crops. They have several similarities, including occurrence patterns, host range, and aggregation pheromone compounds. However, there are very few reports about the chemosensory genes and olfactory mechanisms in these two species. To expand our knowledge of the thrips chemosensory system, we conducted antennal transcriptome analysis of two thrips species, and identified seven odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) and eight chemosensory proteins (CSPs) in F. occidentalis, as well as six OBPs and six CSPs in F. intonsa. OBPs and CSPs showed high sequence identity between the two thrips species. The RT-qPCR results showed that the orthologous genes FoccOBP1/3/4/5/6, FintOBP1/3/4/6, FoccCSP1/2/3, and FintCSP1/2 were highly expressed in male adults. Molecular docking results suggested that orthologous pairs FoccOBP4/FintOBP4, FoccOBP6/FintOBP6, and FoccCSP2/FintCSP2 might be involved in transporting the major aggregation pheromone compound neryl (S)-2-methylbutanoate, while orthologous pairs FoccOBP6/FintOBP6, FoccCSP2/FintCSP2, and FoccCSP3/FintCSP3 might be involved in transporting the minor aggregation pheromone compound (R)-lavandulyl acetate. These results will provide a fundamental basis for understanding the molecular mechanisms of pheromone reception in the two thrips species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zinc sulfide (ZnS) thin films with variable structural, optical, electrical, and thermoelectric properties were obtained by changing the source-to-substrate (SSD) distance in the physical-vapor-thermal-coating (PVTC) system. The films crystallized into a zinc-blende cubic structure with (111) preferred orientation. The films had a wide 3.54 eV optical band gap. High-quality homogenous thin films were obtained at 60 mm SSD. The sheet resistance and resistivity of the films decreased from 1011 to 1010 Ω/Sq. and from 106 to 105 Ω-cm, when SSD was increased from 20 mm to 60 mm, respectively. The phase and band gap were also verified by first principles that were in agreement with the experimental results. Thermoelectric characteristics were studied by using the semi-classical Boltzmann transport theory. The high quality, wide band gap, and reduced electrical resistance make ZnS a suitable candidate for the window layer in solar cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Imidacloprid is one of the most widely used neonicotinoid insecticides to control sap-sucking insect pests, including Aphis gossypii. The intensive application of chemical insecticides to A. gossypii led to the development of resistance against several insecticides, including imidacloprid. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the association between imidacloprid resistance and the fitness of A. gossypii to limit the spread of the resistant population under field contexts. In this study, we used the age-stage, two-sex life table method to comprehensively investigate the fitness of imidacloprid resistant (ImR) and susceptible strains (SS) of melon aphids. Results showed that ImR aphids have prolonged developmental stages and decreased longevity, fecundity, and reproductive days. The key demographic parameters (r, λ, and R0) were significantly reduced in ImR strain compared to SS aphids. Additionally, the molecular mechanism for fitness costs was investigated by comparing the expression profile of juvenile hormone-binding protein (JHBP), juvenile hormone epoxide hydrolase (JHEH), juvenile hormone acid O-methyltransferase (JHAMT), Vitellogenin (Vg), ecdysone receptor (EcR), and ultraspiracle protein (USP) supposed to be associated with development and reproduction in insects. The results of RT-qPCR showed that EcR, JHBP, JHAMT, JHEH, and Vg genes were downregulated, while USP was statistically the same in ImR A. gossypii compared to the SS strain. Together, these results provide in-depth information about the occurrence and magnitude of fitness costs against imidacloprid resistance that could help manage the evolution and spread of A. gossypii resistance in field populations [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, energy consumption has become an essential aspect in the manufacturing industry, and low heat transfer is one of the obstacles that affect the quality of the final product. This situation can be managed by suspending nanoparticles into ordinary heat transferring fluid (the base fluid). This newly prepared colloidal suspension has better heat transport capabilities. Keeping such usage of nanofluids in mind, this research was performed to better understand the heat transport characteristics during flow analysis saturated in porous media subject to Al2O3-SiO2/water hybrid nanofluids. This flow problem was generated by a stretching/shrinking surface. The surface of the sheet was under the influence of mass suction and second-order partial slip. The boundary layer flow was formulated in a system of partial differential equations by utilizing basic conservation laws in conjunction with the Tiwari and Das nanofluid model. Then, the appropriate form of the similarity transformation was adapted to transform the model into a system of ordinary differential equations. The built-in function, i.e., the bvp4c function in the MATLAB software, solved the reduced form of the boundary layer model. The novelty of this study lay in the predicting of two different exact and numerical solutions for both the flow and temperature fields. The computed results showed that the medium porosity as well as the nanoparticle volume fraction widened the existence range of the dual solutions. In addition, the investigational output exposed the fact that the temperature fields were significantly enhanced by the higher nanoparticle volume fraction. Moreover, the outcomes of this study showed a superb correlation with existing works. The present results can be utilized in various branches of science and engineering such as the polymer industry and in the treatment of different diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A fluid's moving class improves its heat transmission capability, as well as its rigidity, owing to multivariate molecule suspension. In this way, nanofluids are superior to common fluids. In this study, we evaluated the features of ease and heat transfer. Furthermore, we investigated permeable media, heat source, variable heat conductivity, and warm irradiation results. A mathematical technique known as the Galerkin finite element (G-FEM) approach was used to solve the supervising conditions. Third-grade nanofluid (TGNF), which consists of two types of nanoparticles (NPs), single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT), and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) distributed in a base liquid of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) water, was used for this examination. The main conclusion of this study is that MWCNT-CMC nanofluid has a higher heat transfer velocity than SWCNT-CMC nanofluid. The entropy of the framework can be increased by adjusting the thermal conductivity. Additionally, we found that increasing the main volume section decreases the speed but increases the dispersion of atomic energy. In order to separately account for the development properties of inertial forces and shallow heat dispersion forces, Reynolds and Brinkman values can be used to accelerate the entropy rate of the heating framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The present study shed light on the effect of salinity on the plant growth and secondary metabolites of medicinally important milk thistle plant ecotypes. At the same time, we also studied the effect of external supplementation with ascorbic acid, thiourea, and moringa leaf extract on improving growth-related attributes and secondary metabolites under salinity stress. Various parameters were studied related to stress alleviation. Ascorbic acid, followed by moringa leaf extract, was the most effective in improving growth under salt stress conditions. The present study demonstrated that milk thistle could withstand moderate doses of salt stress, while externally supplemented media improved all the growth parameters by increasing the accumulation of secondary metabolites. Milk thistle (Silybum marianum (L.)) is a wild medicinal herbal plant that is widely used in folk medicine due to its high content of secondary metabolites (SMs) and silymarin; however, the data regarding the response of milk thistle to salinity are still scarce and scanty. The present study evaluated the effect of salinity on a geographically diverse population of milk thistle and on the role of medium supplementation (MS) with ascorbic acid, thiourea, and moringa leaf extract in improving the SMs and growth-related attributes under salinity stress (SS). For germination, a 120 mM level of salinity was applied in the soil during the seedling stage. After salinity development, predetermined levels of the following compounds were used for MS: thiourea (250 µM), moringa leaf extract (3%), and ascorbic acid (500 µM). The data regarding growth attributes showed that SS impaired plant growth and development and increased SM production, including alkaloids, anthocyanin, and saponins. Moreover, ascorbic acid, followed by moringa leaf extract, was the most effective in improving growth by virtue of increased SMs, especially under salt stress conditions. The present study demonstrated that milk thistle could withstand moderate doses of SS, while MS improved all the growth parameters by increasing the accumulation of SMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cross nanofluid possesses an extraordinary quality among the various fluidic models to explore the key characteristics of flowing fluid during very low and very high shear rates and its viscosity models depend upon shear rate. The current study establishes the numerical treatment regarding variable viscosity-based mixed convective inclined magnetized Cross nanofluid with varying thermal conductivities over the moving permeable surface. Along with variable thermal conductivities, we considered thermal radiation, thermophoresis, and the Brownian motion effect. An inclined magnetic field was launched for velocity scrutiny and the heat transfer fact was numerically seen by mixed convective conditions. Similarity variables were actioned on generated PDEs of the physical model and conversion was performed into ODEs. Numerical results showed that the frictional force and Nusselt quantity considerably influence the skinning heat transfer processes over the geometry of a moving permeable surface. Furthermore, less velocity was noticed for the greater suction parameter and the Brownian motion parameter corresponds to lower mass transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The infinite shear viscosity model of Carreau fluid characterizes the attitude of fluid flow at a very high/very low shear rate. This model has the capacity for interpretation of fluid at both extreme levels, and an inclined magnetic dipole in fluid mechanics has its valuable applications such as magnetic drug engineering, cold treatments to destroy tumors, drug targeting, bio preservation, cryosurgery, astrophysics, reaction kinetics, geophysics, machinery efficiency, sensors, material selection and cosmology. Novelty: This study investigates and interprets the infinite shear rate of Carreau nanofluid over the geometry of a cylindrical channel. The velocity is assumed to be investigated through imposing an inclined magnetic field onto cylindrical geometry. Activation energy is utilized because it helps with chemical reactions and mass transport. Furthermore, the effects of thermophoresis, the binary chemical process and the Brownian movement of nanoparticles are included in this attempt. Formulation: The mathematics of the assumed Carreau model is derived from Cauchy stress tensor, and partial differential equations (PDEs) are obtained. Similarity transformation variables converted these PDEs into a system of ordinary differential equations (ODEs). Passing this system under the bvp4c scheme, we reached at numerical results of this research attempt. Findings: Graphical debate and statistical analysis are launched on the basis of the obtained computed numerical results. The infinite shear rate aspect of Carreau nanofluid gives a lower velocity. The inclined magnetic dipole effect shows a lower velocity but high energy. A positive variation in activation energy amplifies the concentration field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In our research work, we have developed a model describing the characteristics of the bio-convection and moving microorganisms in the flows of a magnetized generalized Burgers' nanoliquid with Fourier's and Fick's laws in a stretchable sheet. Considerations have been made to Cattaneo–Christov mass and heat diffusion theory. According to the Cattaneo–Christov relation, the Buongiorno phenomenon for the motion of a nanoliquid in the generalized Burgers' fluid has also been applied. Similarity transformations have been used to convert the control system of the regulating partial differential equations (PDEs) into ordinary differential equations (ODEs). The COMSOL software has been applied to obtain mathematical results of non-linear equations via the Galerkin finite element method (G-FEM). Logical and graphical measurements for temperature, velocity, and microorganisms analysis have also been examined. Moreover, nanoparticle concentrations have been achieved by examining different approximations of obvious physical parameters. Computations of this model show that there is a direct relationship among the temperature field and thermal Biot number and parameter of the generalized Burgers' fluid. The temperature field is increased to grow the approximations of the thermal Biot number and parameter of generalized Burgers' fluid. It is reasonable to deduce that raising the chemical reaction parameter and concentricity relaxation parameter or decreasing the Prandtl number, concentricity Biot quantity, and active energy parameter can significantly increase the nanoparticles concentration dispersion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The analysis aims to examine the impact of eco-innovation and financial efficiency on CO2 emissions and renewable energy consumption in highly polluted Asian economies, including China, India, Russia, and Japan. For empirical analysis, we have applied the ARDL pooled mean group (ARDL-PMG) model. The long-run estimated coefficient of environmental innovations is positively significant in both renewable energy models and negatively significant in the CO2 emissions model. These results imply that environmental innovations help facilitate renewable energy consumption and reduce CO2 emissions. On the other side, the estimates of financial development are insignificant in both renewable energy and CO2 emissions models. However, the estimates of financial institution efficiency and financial markets are positively significant in both renewable energy and CO2 emissions models, implying that financial institutions and market efficiency increase renewable energy consumption and decrease CO2 emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) radiation significantly impacts living organisms. UV-C radiation can also be used as a pest management tool. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the effect of UV-C radiation on the physiology and gene expression level of Plutella xylostella, a destructive vegetable pest. Results showed that, after exposure to UV-C radiation for 3, 6, 12, and 24 h, the activity of SOD (superoxide dismutase) and CAT (catalase) of P. xylostella increased, while the activity of PPO (polyphenol oxidase), POD (peroxidase), AChE (acetylcholinesterase), CarE (carboxylesterase), and ACP (acid phosphatase) decreased with increased exposure time. Correlation coefficient analyses indicated that the activity of CAT correlated positively, while PPO and CarE correlated negatively, with exposure time. Gene regulation analysis via qRT-PCR confirmed a significant increase in regulation in CAT, CarE, and PPO-related genes. We also investigated the effect of UV-C exposure on the virulence of Cordyceps fumosorosea against P. xylostella. Here, results indicated that when the fungal treatment was applied to larvae before UV-C radiation, the virulence of C. fumosorosea was significantly reduced. However, this decline in virulence of C. fumosorosea due to UV-C exposure remained only for one generation, and no effect was observed on secondary infection. On the other hand, when larvae were exposed to UV-C radiation before fungal application, the mortality rate significantly increased as the exposure time to UV-C radiation increased. From the current study, it could be concluded that UV-C exposure suppressed the immunity to P. xylostella, which later enhanced the virulence of entomopathogenic fungi. Moreover, the study also suggested that UV irradiation is an effective pest management tool that could be incorporated into pest management strategies, which could help reduce pesticide application, be economically beneficial for the farmer, and be environmentally safe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photovoltaic (PV) systems have been used extensively worldwide over the past few years due to the mitigation of fossils fuels; it is the best source because of its eco-friendly nature. In PV systems, the main research area concerns its performance under partial shading (PS) and complex partial shading (CPS) conditions. PV sources perform perfectly under ideal conditions, but under practical conditions, their performance depends upon many factors, including shading conditions, temperature, irradiance, and the angle of inclination, which can bring a photovoltaic or solar system into a PS or CPS condition. In these conditions, many power peaks appear, and it is hard to find the global peak among many local peaks. The ability to track the maximum power peak and maintain it to avoid fluctuations depends on the maximum power point tracking (MPPT) technique used in a photovoltaic system. This article is based on the implementation of a hybrid algorithm, combining Harris hawk's optimization (HHO), a new technique which is based on natural inspiration, and a conventional perturb and observe (P&O) technique. The hybrid technique was tested under different weather conditions in MATLAB Simulink and showed less computational time, a fast convergence speed, and zero oscillations after reaching a power point's maximum limit. A performance comparison of the hybrid technique was made with bio-inspired particle swarm optimization (PSO), adaptive cuckoo search optimization (ACS), the dragonfly algorithm (DFO), and the water cycle algorithm (WCA). The hybrid technique achieves 99.8% efficiency on average and performs very well among the rest of the competing techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we report the engineering of sub 30 nm nanoparticles of copper oxide (CuO) and Zinc oxide (ZnO) and their nanocomposite, using a green method, to degrade an organic dye (methyl orange) that is responsible for water pollution. The plant extract of Eucalyptus globulus was used as a capping and stabilizing agent, as it is non-toxic, easy to use, and affordable. The percent purity and composition of the samples were found using Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), which confirmed the formation of 75% CuO nanoparticles, 77.81% ZnO nanoparticles, and 77.34% ZnO/CuO nanocomposite in respective samples. Morphological analysis was achieved using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). FTIR investigations revealed that the vibrations of CuO and ZnO nanoparticles and CuO/ZnO nanocomposite were observed at 568 cm−1, 617.9 cm−1, and 475 cm−1, respectively. The bandgap of the synthesized CuO and ZnO nanoparticles, and ZnO/CuO nanocomposite was analyzed using Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy (DRS), and found to be 3.36 eV, 1.83 eV, and 1.48 eV, respectively. Best photocatalytic activity confirmed that favorable conditions for the maximum degradation of methyl orange are at pH 12 and 0.02 g of the photocatalyst is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inorganic selenium is absorbed and utilized inefficiently, and the range between toxicity and demand is narrow, so the application is strictly limited. Selenium nanoparticles have higher bioactivity and biosafety properties, including increased antioxidant and anticancer properties. Thus, producing and applying eco-friendly, non-toxic selenium nanoparticles in feed additives is crucial. Bacillus paralicheniformis Y4 was investigated for its potential ability to produce selenium nanoparticles and the activity of carboxymethyl cellulases. The selenium nanoparticles were characterized using zeta potential analyses, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Additionally, evaluations of the anti-α-glucosidase activity and the antioxidant activity of the selenium nanoparticles and the ethyl acetate extracts of Y4 were conducted. B. paralicheniformis Y4 exhibited high selenite tolerance of 400 mM and the selenium nanoparticles had an average particle size of 80 nm with a zeta potential value of −35.8 mV at a pH of 7.0, suggesting that the particles are relatively stable against aggregation. After 72 h of incubation with 5 mM selenite, B. paralicheniformis Y4 was able to reduce it by 76.4%, yielding red spherical bio-derived selenium nanoparticles and increasing the carboxymethyl cellulase activity by 1.49 times to 8.96 U/mL. For the first time, this study reports that the carboxymethyl cellulase activity of Bacillus paralicheniforis was greatly enhanced by selenite. The results also indicated that B. paralicheniformis Y4 could be capable of ecologically removing selenite from contaminated sites and has great potential for producing selenium nanoparticles as feed additives to enhance the added value of agricultural products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photovoltaic (PV) solar energy is a very promising renewable energy technology, as solar PV systems are less efficient because of climate conditions, temperature, and irradiance change. So, to resolve this problem, two PV topologies are used, i.e., centralized and distributed PV systems. The centralized technique is quicker than the distributed technique in terms of convergence speed and a faster power tracking approach. In the event of uniform irradiance, the centralized system also has the benefit of supplying superior energy, but in PS scenarios, a huge amount of energy is lost. However, the distributed approach requires current and voltage measurements at each panel, resulting in a massive data set. Nevertheless, in the event of shading circumstances, the distributed technique is highly effective because a modular level power electronics (MLPE) converter is used. While in a centralized PV system, there is only a single DC-DC converter for the whole PV system. In this research work, a DFO-based DC-DC converter is designed for modular level, with an ability to perform a rapid shutdown of the module under fire hazard conditions, troubleshooting, and monitoring of a module in a very efficient way. The robustness of the proposed MPPT DFO algorithm is tested with different techniques such as Cuckoo Search (CS), Fruit Fly Optimization (FFO), Particle swarm optimization (PSO), Incremental conductance (InC), and Perturb and observe(P&O) techniques. The proposed technique shows better results in terms of MPPT efficiency, dynamic responsiveness, and harmonics. Furthermore, the result of MLPE and the centralized system is verified by using the Helioscope with different inverter companies like SMA, Tigo, Enphase, Solar edge, and Huawei. The results prove that MLPE is a better option in the case of shading region for attaining the maximum power point. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insect herbivores have a variety of life cycles and feeding habits, making them extremely diverse. With their host plants, they form close relationships and suppress their defense mechanisms. Molecular elicitors are the key bio-elements in the detection and recognition of attacking enemies in tissue consumption. Insect oral secretion, frass, and fluid of egg deposition contain biologically active molecules called herbivore-associated elicitors (HAEs) that are recognized by pattern-recognition receptors (PRRs). Many plants distinguish insect feeding from wounding by HAEs present in their oral secretions (OS) and induce local and/or systemic responses against arthropod feeding. PRRs perceive HAEs in the oral secretion of caterpillars in a species-specific manner to elicit exclusive defense responses. HAEs-PRRs interactions induce plant resistance by reprogramming plant metabolism and transcriptional machinery. Quantitative, timely, and coordinated plant response initiate early signaling events, including Ca2+, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs). However, in insect herbivory, little is known about the molecular basis of signal transduction and regulation of plant resistance. We discuss here how early signaling cascades converge into the accumulation of phytohormones that regulate downstream special metabolites against herbivores. In this review, we propose a hypothetical model of PPRs-HAEs-mediated-induced responses in plants and discuss how PRRs-HAEs interactions elicit short- and long-term induced defenses in plants. The understanding of PRRs-HAEs interactions will help to explore the fundamental molecular mechanisms of host manipulation and may generate prospects to develop novel pest-resistance strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quinoa's germplasm evaluation is the first step towards determining its suitability under new environmental conditions. The aim of this study was to introduce suitable germplasm to the lowland areas of the Faisalabad Plain that could then be used to introduce quinoa more effectively to that region. A set of 117 quinoa genotypes belonging to the USDA quinoa collection was evaluated for 11 phenotypic quantitative traits (grain yield (Y), its biological and numerical components plus phenological variables) in a RCBD during two consecutive growing seasons at the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan under mid-autumn sowings. Genotypic performance changed across the years, however most phenotypic traits showed high heritability, from 0.75 for Harvest Index (HI) to 0.97 for aerial biomass (B) and Y. Ordination and cluster analyses differentiated four groups dominated by genotypes from: Peru and the Bolivian Highlands (G1); the Bolivian Highlands (G2); the Ballón collection (regarded as a cross between Bolivian and Sea Level (Chilean) genotypes) plus Bolivian Highlands (G3); and Ballón plus Sea Level (G4), this latter group being the most differentiated one. This genetic structure shared similarities with previous groups identified using SSR markers and G×E data from an international quinoa test. G4 genotypes showed the highest Y associated with higher B and seed numbers (SN), while HI made a significant contribution to yield determination in G2 and seed weight (SW) in G3. G1 and G2 showed the lowest Y associated with a lower B and SN. Moreover, SW showed a strongly negative association with SN in G2. Accordingly, G4 followed by G3 are better suited to the lowland areas of Faisalabad plain and the physiological traits underlying yield determination among genotypic groups should be considered in future breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a correction notice for an article titled "An Inclination in Thermal Energy Using Nanoparticles with Casson Liquid Past an Expanding Porous Surface." The authors have identified several phrases in the original publication that were not appropriate and have made corrections to the introduction, mathematical formulation, outcomes and discussion, and conclusions sections. The authors assure that the scientific conclusions of the article are unaffected. The correction was approved by the Academic Editor and the original publication has been updated. [Extracted from the article]

This paper presents the employment of a DPA attack on the NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) standardized AES (advance encryption standard) protocol for key retrieval and prevention. Towards key retrieval, we applied the DPA attack on AES to obtain a 128-bit secret key by measuring the power traces of the computations involved in the algorithm. In resistance to the DPA attack, we proposed a countermeasure, or a new modified masking scheme, comprising (i) Boolean and (ii) multiplicative masking, for linear and non-linear operations of AES, respectively. Furthermore, we improved the complexity involved in Boolean masking by introducing Rebecca's approximation. Moreover, we provide a novel solution to tackle the zero mask problem in multiplicative masking. To evaluate the power traces, we propose our custom correlation technique, which results in a decrease in the calculation time. The synthesis results for original implementation (without countermeasure) and inclusion of countermeasure are given on a Zynq 7020 FPGA (Artix-7 device). It takes 424 FPGA slices when implemented without considering the countermeasure, whereas 714 slices are required to implement AES with the inclusion of the proposed countermeasure. Consequently, the implementation results provide the acceptability of this work for area-constrained applications that require prevention against DPA attacks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An unmanned free-swimming submersible (UFSS) is designed to perform certain tasks in water without interposing humans. The vehicle's control is achieved by integrating mathematical (analog) and non-mathematical (embedded) controllers. The main goal of integrated controllers is to overcome the environmental disturbances and noise of the sensor data. These disturbances, as well as the noise data, are generated during steering, diving, and speed control. The amplitude of disturbances and noise varies with the depth and intensity of water waves. This article presents a robust hybrid linear quadratic regulator (HLQR) controller for UFSS. The presented controller targets the desired state of the UFSS in the presence of a disturbing environment. The hybrid approach is achieved by employing: (1) two linear quadratic regulators or controllers and (2) a mathematical structure of the Riccati equation. Consequently, the proposed HLQR controller is integrated into the UFSS system to evaluate the response in terms of settling time, rise time, overshoot, and steady-state error. Furthermore, the robustness of the HLQR is investigated by considering the feedback to step response and hydrodynamic disturbances. The implementation results reveal that the proposed controller outperforms state of the art controllers, such as proportional-integral-derivative and lead-compensator controllers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper deals with the advancement of non-Newtonian fluid containing some nanoparticles between two parallel plates. A novel fractional operator is used to model memory effects, and analytical solutions are obtained for temperature and velocity fields by the method of Laplace transform. Moreover, a parametric study is elaborated to show the impact of flow parameters and presented in graphical form. As a result, dual solutions are predicted for increasing values of fractional parameters for short and long times. Furthermore, by increasing nanoparticle concentration, the temperature can be raised along with decreasing velocity. A fractional approach can provide new insight for the analytical solutions which makes the interpretation of the results easier and enable the way of testing possible approximate solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Classification and regression are the major applications of machine learning algorithms which are widely used to solve problems in numerous domains of engineering and computer science. Different classifiers based on the optimization of the decision tree have been proposed, however, it is still evolving over time. This paper presents a novel and robust classifier based on a decision tree and tabu search algorithms, respectively. In the aim of improving performance, our proposed algorithm constructs multiple decision trees while employing a tabu search algorithm to consistently monitor the leaf and decision nodes in the corresponding decision trees. Additionally, the used tabu search algorithm is responsible to balance the entropy of the corresponding decision trees. For training the model, we used the clinical data of COVID-19 patients to predict whether a patient is suffering. The experimental results were obtained using our proposed classifier based on the built-in sci-kit learn library in Python. The extensive analysis for the performance comparison was presented using Big O and statistical analysis for conventional supervised machine learning algorithms. Moreover, the performance comparison to optimized state-of-the-art classifiers is also presented. The achieved accuracy of 98%, the required execution time of 55.6 ms and the area under receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) for proposed method of 0.95 reveals that the proposed classifier algorithm is convenient for large datasets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents elemental analysis of an economically important mineral (chalcopyrite) of local origin. Calibration-free laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (CF-LIBS) methodology based on the assumption of optically thin plasma and local thermodynamic equilibrium was employed for quantitative analysis. Plasma on the surface of the chalcopyrite target was generated by an Nd:YAG laser beam of wavelength 532 nm, pulse width 5 ns, and operated at repetition rate of 10 Hz. A LIBS2000+ detection system, comprised of five spectrometers, covering the spectral range from 200–720 nm, was used to record the signal of the optical emission from the chalcopyrite plasma. Recorded optical spectrum revealed the presence of Cu and Fe as the major elements while Ca and Na were recognized as the minor elements in the target sample. Quantitative analysis has shown that the relative concentrations of Cu, Fe, and Ca in the sample under study were 58.9%, 40.2%, and 0.9% by weight respectively. However, Na was not quantified due to the unavailability of suitable spectral lines, required for CF-LIBS analysis. Results obtained by CF-LIBS were validated by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis, which showed the presence of five compositional elements viz. Cu, Fe, Si, Se and Ag with weight percentages of 58.1%, 35.4%, 5.7%, 0.7%, and 0.1% respectively. These results endorse the effectiveness of the CF-LIBS technique for quantitative analysis of major elements, however, its usefulness in case of minor and trace elements needs further improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inconsistent irradiance, temperature, and unexpected behavior of the weather affect the output of photovoltaic (PV) systems, classified as partial or complex partial shading conditions. Under these circumstances, obtaining the maximum output power from PV systems becomes problematic. This paper proposes a population-based optimization model, the horse herd optimization algorithm (HOA), inspired by natural behavior, to solicit the maximum power under partial or complex partial shading conditions. It is an intelligent strategy inspired by the surprise pounce-chasing style of the horse herd model. The proposed technique outperforms the standard in different weather conditions, needs less computational time, and has a fast convergence speed and zero oscillations after reaching a power point's maximum limit. A performance comparison of the HOA is achieved with conventional techniques, such as "perturb and observe" (P&O), the bio-inspired adaptive cuckoo search optimization (ACS), particle swarm optimization (PSO), and the dragonfly algorithm (DA). The following comparison of the presented scheme with the other techniques shows its better performance with respect to fast tracking and efficiency, as well as stability under disparate weather conditions and the ability to obtain maximum power with negligible oscillation under partial and complex shading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ohashi River is a narrow water stream that connects two brackish lakes in Japan. Intermittent saline water intrusion often occurs in Lake Shinji from Lake Nakaumi through Ohashi River. In this study, two approaches were discussed to reproduce the hydrodynamic conditions of a morphologically complex river. In the first approach, the river sinuosity was straightened. The straightening of the river resulted in a higher flow velocity and water flux coefficient due to the reduction in the flow path and the resistance, and this approach was found to be appropriate for the reproduction of the flow velocity. However, the river shape was visually quite different from the actual river morphology. In the second approach, the prime focus was given to the shape and bathymetry to quantitively reproduce the flowrate of the saline water intrusion. This approach resulted in an underestimation of the flow velocity, which was compensated by increasing the cross-sectional area of the river. A slower flow velocity causes up to a 3-h time lag for the water mass to pass through the Ohashi River, which in principle should affect the temporal variations of the water temperature and salinity. Fortunately, as the typical time scale for water temperature and salinity fluctuations in the Ohashi River is a few days, a 3-h time lag did not cause any problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The physical aspects of inclined MHD nanofluid toward a stretching sheet embedded in a porous medium were visualized, which has numerous applications in industry. Two types of nanoparticles, namely copper and aluminum oxide, were used, with water (limiting case of Casson liquid) as the base fluid. Similarity transformations were used to convert the partial differential equations into a set of ordinary differential equations. Closed solutions were found to examine the velocity and temperature profiles. It was observed that an increment in the magnitude of the Hartmann number, solid volume fraction, and velocity slip parameter brought a reduction in the velocity profile, and the opposite behavior was shown for the permeability parameter in C u –water and A l 2 O 3 –water nanofluids. The temperature field, local skin friction, and local Nusselt number were further examined. Moreover, the study of C u and A l 2 O 3 is useful to boost the efficiency of thermal conductivity and thermal energy in particles. Reduction was captured in the velocity gradient and temperature gradient against changes in the thermal radiation number. The opposite trend was tabulated into motion with respect to the volume fraction number for both cases ( C u –water and A l 2 O 3 –water). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanoparticles are frequently used to enhance the thermal performance of numerous materials. This study has many practical applications for activities that have to minimize losses of energy due to several impacts. This study investigates the inclusion of ternary hybrid nanoparticles in a partially ionized hyperbolic tangent liquid passed over a stretched melting surface. The fluid motion equation is presented by considering the rotation effect. The thermal energy expression is derived by the contribution of Joule heat and viscous dissipation. Flow equations were modeled by using the concept of boundary layer theory, which occurs in the form of a coupled system of partial differential equations (PDEs). To reduce the complexity, the derived PDEs (partial differential equations) were transformed into a set of ordinary differential equations (ODEs) by engaging in similarity transformations. Afterwards, the converted ODEs were handled via a finite element procedure. The utilization and effectiveness of the methodology are demonstrated by listing the mesh-free survey and comparative analysis. Several important graphs were prepared to show the contribution of emerging parameters on fluid velocity and temperature profile. The findings show that the finite element method is a powerful tool for handling the complex coupled ordinary differential equation system, arising in fluid mechanics and other related dissipation applications in applied science. Furthermore, enhancements in the Forchheimer parameter and the Weissenberg number are necessary to control the fluid velocity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With many advantages over well-established methods, laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) has emerged as a useful analytical technique for the compositional analysis of multi-elemental geological materials. In this study, LIBS was employed for qualitative and quantitative analysis of a rare mineral, astrophyllite, bearing precious elements of industrial and technological interest. The experiment was carried out using second harmonic generation of Nd:YAG laser of pulse width 5 ns and repetition rate of 10 Hz. Microplasma was produced by focusing laser beam on an astrophyllite target, and optical emissions from the generated plasma were recorded in the spectral range of 200–720 nm with the help of a LIBS2000+ detection system. On analyzing the optical spectra, existence of 15 elements in astrophyllite target were revealed. These elements include: Ti, W, Ag, Al, Ba, Ca, Cr, Cu, Fe, Li, Mg, Na, Ni, Si and H. For quantification, calibration-free method was used. Only ten elements, namely Ti, W, Fe, Cr, Cu, Ca, Mg, Ni, Si and Al, were quantified with relative weight concentrations of 55.39%, 18.79%, 18.30%, 4.05%, 2.66, 0.43%, 0.18%, 0.12%, 0.06% and 0.02%, respectively. To benchmark these results, XRF analysis was performed, which confirmed the presence of all the elements detected in the optical spectrum of the sample, except for Na, Li, and H. The concentrations of these ten elements as measured by XRF were in reasonable agreement, especially for the major elements. The presence of a significant amount of Ti and W in an astrophyllite sample, found in Pakistan, highlights the economic value of this mineral. This study may be of further interest in commissioning LIBS technology for exploration of minerals in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article models a system of partial differential equations (PDEs) for the thermal and solute characteristics under gradients (concentration and temperature) in the magnetohydrodynamic flow of Casson liquid in a Darcy porous medium. The modelled problems are highly non-linear with convective boundary conditions. These problems are solved numerically with a finite element approach under a tolerance of 10 − 8. A numerical algorithm (finite element approach) is provided and a numerical procedure is discussed. Convergence is also observed via 300 elements. Simulations are run to explore the dynamics of flow and the transport of heat and mass under parametric variation. To examine the impact of a temperature gradient on the transport of mass and the role of a concentration gradient on the transport of heat energy, simulations are recorded. Remarkable changes in temperature and concentration are noted when Dufour and Soret numbers are varied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How herbivorous insects adapt to host plants is a key question in ecological and evolutionary biology. The fall armyworm, (FAW) Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith), although polyphagous and a major pest on various crops, has been reported to have a rice and corn (maize) feeding strain in its native range in the Americas. The species is highly invasive and has recently established in China. We compared behavioral changes in larvae and adults of a corn population (Corn) when selected on rice (Rice) and the molecular basis of these adaptational changes in midgut and antennae based on a comparative transcriptome analysis. Larvae of S. frugiperda reared on rice plants continuously for 20 generations exhibited strong feeding preference for with higher larval performance and pupal weight on rice than on maize plants. Similarly, females from the rice selected population laid significantly more eggs on rice as compared to females from maize population. The most highly expressed DEGs were shown in the midgut of Rice vs. Corn. A total of 6430 DEGs were identified between the populations mostly in genes related to digestion and detoxification. These results suggest that potential adaptations for feeding on rice crops, may contribute to the current rapid spread of fall armyworm on rice crops in China and potentially elsewhere. Consistently, highly expressed DEGs were also shown in antennae; a total of 5125 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) s were identified related to the expansions of major chemosensory genes family in Rice compared to the Corn feeding population. These results not only provide valuable insight into the molecular mechanisms in host plants adaptation of S. frugiperda but may provide new gene targets for the management of this pest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The non-isothermal couple stress fluid inside a reverse roll coating geometry is considered. The slip condition is considered at the surfaces of the rolls. To develop the flow equations, the mathematical modelling is performed using conservation of momentum, mass, and energy. The LAT (lubrication approximation theory) is employed to simplify the equations. The closed form solution for velocity, temperature, and pressure gradient is obtained. While the pressure and flow rate are obtained numerically. The impact of involved parameters on important physical quantities such as temperature, pressure, and pressure gradient are elaborated through graphs and in tabular form. The pressure and pressure gradient decreases for variation of the couple stress parameter and velocity ratio parameter K. While the variation of the slip parameter increases the pressure and pressure gradient inside the flow geometry. Additionally, flow rate decreases for the variation of the slip parameter as fluid starts moving rapidly along the roller surface. The most important physical quantity which is responsible for maintaining the quality of the coating and thickness is flow rate. For variation of both the couple stress parameter and the slip parameter, the flow rate decreases compared to the Newtonian case, consequently the coating thickness decreases for the variation of the discussed parameter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change scenarios predict that an extended period of drought is a real threat to food security, emphasizing the need for new crops that tolerate these conditions. Quinoa is the best option because it has the potential to grow under water deficit conditions. There is considerable variation in drought tolerance in quinoa genotypes, and the selection of drought-tolerant quinoa germplasms is of great interest. The main goal of this work is to evaluate the crop yield and characterize the physiology of 20 quinoa genotypes grown under water deficit in a wirehouse. The experiment was a complete randomized design (CRD) factorial with three replications. Seedling growth, i.e., fresh weight (FW), dry weight (DW), root length (RL), shoot length (SL), relative growth rate of root length (RGR-RL), shoot length (RGR-SL), and physiological performance, i.e., chlorophyll content (a and b), carotenoid, leaf phenolic content, leaf proline content, membrane stability index (MSI), and leaf K+ accumulation were evaluated in a hydroponic culture under different water-deficit levels developed by PEG 6000 doses (w/v) of 0% (control), 0.3%, and 0.6%. Yield attributes were evaluated in a pot at three different soil moisture levels, as determined by soil gravimetric water holding capacity (WHC) of 100 (control), 50% WHC (50 % drought stress) and 25% WHC (75% stress). In both experiments, under the water stress condition, the growth (hydroponic study) and yield traits (pot study) were significantly reduced compared to control treatments. On the drought tolerance index (DTI) based on seed yield, genotype 16 followed by 10, 1, 4, 5, 7, and 12 could be considered drought-tolerant genotypes that produced maximum grain yield and improved physiological characteristics under severe water stress conditions in hydroponic culture. In both studies, genotypes 3, 8, 13, and 20 performed poorly and were considered drought-sensitive genotypes with the lowest DTI values under water-stressed conditions. All the studied agronomic traits (grain yield, root and shoot length, shoot fresh and dry weights) and physiological traits (leaf phenolic, proline content, carotenoid, K+ accumulation, membrane stability index, and relative water content) were firmly inter-correlated and strongly correlated with DTI. They can be regarded as screening criteria, employing a large set of quinoa genotypes in a breeding program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite cancer nanomedicine celebrates already thirty years since its introduction, together with the achievements and progress in cancer treatment area, it still undergoes serious disadvantages that must be addressed. Since the first observation that macromolecules tend to accumulate in tumor tissue due to fenestrated endothelial of vasculature, considered as the "royal gate" in drug delivery field, more than dozens of nanoformulations have been approved and introduced into the practice for cancer treatment. Lipid, polymeric, and hybrid nanocarriers are biocompatible nano-drug delivery systems (NDDs) having suitable physicochemical properties and modulate payload release in response to specific chemical or physical stimuli. Biopharmaceutical properties of NDDs and their efficacy in animal models and humans can significantly affect their impact and perspective in nanomedicine. One of the future directions could be focusing on personalized cancer treatment, considering the heterogeneity and complexity of each patient tumor tissue and the designing of multifunctional targeted NDDs combining synthetic nanomaterials and biological components, like cellular membranes, circulating proteins, RNAi/DNAi, which enforce the efficacy of NDDs and boost their therapeutic effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultrafiltration membranes offer a progressive and efficient means to filter out various process fluids. The prime factor influencing ultrafiltration to a great extent is the porosity of the membranes employed. Regarding membrane development, alumina membranes are extensively studied due to their uniform porosity and mechanical strength. The present research work is specifically aimed towards the investigation of nanoporous alumina membranes, as a function of sintering parameters, on ultrafiltration performance. Alumina membranes are fabricated by sintering at various temperatures ranging from 1200–1300 °C for different holding times between 5–15 h. The morphological analysis, conducted using Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), revealed a homogeneous distribution of pores throughout the surface and cross-section of the membranes developed. It was observed that an increase in the sintering temperature and time resulted in a gradual decrease in the average pore size. A sample with an optimal pore size of 73.65 nm achieved after sintering at 1250 °C for 15 h, was used for the evaluation of ultrafiltration performance. However, the best mechanical strength and highest stress-bearing ability were exhibited by the sample sintered at 1300 °C for 5 h, whereas the sample sintered at 1250 °C for 5 h displayed the highest strain in terms of compression. The selected alumina membrane sample demonstrated excellent performance in the ultrafiltration of sugarcane juice, compared to the other process liquids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent advances in the fabrication and classification of amorphous carbon (a-Carbon) thin films play an active part in the field of surface materials science. In this paper, a pulsed laser deposition (PLD) technique through controlling experimental parameters, including deposition time/temperature and laser energy/frequency, has been employed to examine the substrate effect of amorphous carbon thin film fabrication over SiO2 and glass substrates. In this paper, we have examined the structural and magnetoresistance (MR) properties of these thin films. The intensity ratio of the G-band and D-band (ID/IG) were 1.1 and 2.4, where the C(sp2) atomic ratio for the thin films samples that were prepared on glass and SiO2 substrates, were observed as 65% and 85%, respectively. The MR properties were examined under a magnetic field ranging from −9 T to 9 T within a 2-K to 40-K temperature range. A positive MR value of 15% was examined at a low temperature of 2 K for the thin films grown on SiO2 substrate at a growth temperature of 400 °C using a 300 mJ/pulse laser frequency. The structural changes may tune the magnetoresistance properties of these a-Carbon materials. These results were demonstrated to be highly promising for carbon-based spintronics and magnetic sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iron oxides are considered promising electrode materials owing to their capability of lithium storage, but their poor conductivity and large volume expansion lead to unsatisfactory cycling stability. In this paper, an inexpensive, highly effective, and facile approach to the synthesis of Fe3O4 nanoparticles/reduced graphene oxide composite (Fe3O4/RGO) is designed. The synthesized Fe3O4/RGO composite exhibits high reversible capability and excellent cyclic capacity as an anode material in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). A reversible capability of 701.8 mAh/g after 50 cycles at a current density of 200 mA·g−1 can be maintained. The synergetic effect of unique structure and high conductivity RGO promises a well soakage of electrolyte, high structure stability, leading to an excellent electrochemical performance. It is believed that the study will provide a feasible strategy to produce transition metal oxide/carbon composite electrodes with excellent electrochemical performance for LIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salinity is a leading threat to crop growth throughout the world. Salt stress induces altered physiological processes and several inhibitory effects on the growth of cereals, including wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). In this study, we determined the effects of salinity on five spring and five winter wheat genotypes seedlings. We evaluated the salt stress on root and shoot growth attributes, i.e., root length (RL), shoot length (SL), the relative growth rate of root length (RGR-RL), and shoot length (RGR-SL). The ionic content of the leaves was also measured. Physiological traits were also assessed, including stomatal conductance (gs), chlorophyll content index (CCI), and light-adapted leaf chlorophyll fluorescence, i.e., the quantum yield of photosystem II (Fv′/Fm′) and instantaneous chlorophyll fluorescence (Ft). Physiological and growth performance under salt stress (0, 100, and 200 mol/L) were explored at the seedling stage. The analysis showed that spring wheat accumulated low Na+ and high K+ in leaf blades compared with winter wheat. Among the genotypes, Sakha 8, S-24, W4909, and W4910 performed better and had improved physiological attributes (gs, Fv′/Fm′, and Ft) and seedling growth traits (RL, SL, RGR-SL, and RGR-RL), which were strongly linked with proper Na+ and K+ discrimination in leaves and the CCI in leaves. The identified genotypes could represent valuable resources for genetic improvement programs to provide a greater understanding of plant tolerance to salt stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]