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The nonlinear space-time fractional Cahn-Allen and space-time fractional Benjamin-Bona-Mahony equations have significant applications in the fusion and fission phenomena of solitons, electromagnetic interactions, quantum relativistic atom theory, signal processing, quantum relativistic properties, and phase isolation with an atom in several components bass system. The fractional wave transformation has been used to convert space-time fractional nonlinear equations to integer order equations through the extended Tanh-function method in the sense of Atangana beta derivatives. We have achieved numerous soliton solutions as polynomials of hyperbolic function including solitons solutions like kink type, single soliton, singular kink, spike, periodic, dark soliton, bell type, periodic, and so on by setting arbitrary values of the parameter by using the computational software namely Maple and Mathematica. The different shapes of the solutions are shown graphically in 3D, contour plots, and vector plots. In the beginning, a power series in tanh was used as an ansatz to get analytical solutions of the traveling wave type to some nonlinear evolution equations. Numerous non-rectangular domains are used to solve these nonlinear fractional partial differential equations. The exact solutions indicate that the proposed method is effective, simple, and capable of creating comprehensive soliton solutions for nonlinear models in engineering and mathematical physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Depression is a major morbidity and the most common mental disorder among the medical students in medical schools globally. Undergraduate students suffer stress more due to their academic curriculum than the students of other faculties. In low-resource settings like Bangladesh, there is a dearth in research on the mental health of undergraduate medical students. This pilot study was conducted to add to the existing limited evidence by reporting the prevalence of depression and describing sleeping pattern and suicidal tendencies among medical students. Relevantly, we have investigated the overall mental health status among the medical students in Bangladesh. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in two medical colleges of Dhaka between July 2013 and December 2013, among 221 Bangladeshi medical students from first to fifth year. By the convenience sampling technique, data were collected by a pretested, structured, self-administered questionnaire and analysis was done by SPSS version 18.0. Depression was assessed by the validated Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) tool among the respondents. Goldberg's General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) was used for assessing overall mental health status. Results: Depression was found in 38.9% of participants, with 3.6%, 14.5%, and 20.8% being severe, moderate, and mild depression, respectively. 17.6% of medical students had suicidal tendency or attempted suicide at least once after attending medical school. The sleeping hours were inadequate and altered after starting this stressful academic course. 33.5% of medical students had poor mental health status. There was a statistically significant association between poor mental health status in the age group less than 22 years old and initial academic study year (1st to 3rd of MBBS). Conclusion: The findings are suggestive of a higher prevalence of depression among early-year medical students and marginal predominance in males. Suicidal tendency is also higher. This calls for further investigation with situation analysis, qualitative explorations, and surveys to explore the burden of such disorders in Bangladesh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies on Mg substituted Zn-Cu ferrites with chemical formula of Zn0.6Cu0.4−xMgxFe2O4 were synthesized by solid-state reaction technique. The structural phase of all the samples is characterized by XRD, show single phased cubic spinel structure. Density of the samples increases with the increase of Mg quantity. Average grain diameter decreases with increasing Mg content. All samples show soft ferromagnetic behavior as confirmed from the M-H hysteresis loop obtained from the VSM analysis. Thesaturation magnetization decreases with increasing Mg quantity. Increasing and decreasing trend of coercivity with the increase of Mg quantityis observed, which led to the slightly hard magnetic phase. The high frequencies create more effective for the ferrite grains of advanced conductivity and minor dielectric constant for all the samples but the AC electrical resistivity and dielectric constant are initiate to be more operational at lower frequencies. The variation of resistivity, dielectric constant with the Mg concentration is completely related to the porosity and bulk density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identification of physiological markers related with salt tolerance during various vegetative and reproductive stages is crucial for evaluating wheat genotypes and improving their salt tolerance. Two salt-tolerant (Shatabdi and BAW 1135) and two salt-sensitive (BARI Gom 26 and BAW 1122) wheat genotypes of Bangladesh were grown in three salinity levels (control, 6 dS m, and 12 dS m) to observe the sensitivity of some physiological traits.. Salt-tolerant wheat genotypes maintained lower levels of leaf Na, higher levels of leaf K, and greater K/Na ratios in saline conditions than the sensitive one. Due to salt stress, flag leaf proline content was increased in salt-tolerant wheat genotypes whereas the proline level was decreased in the sensitive one compared to the control. Salt-sensitive genotypes showed a greater increment in SPAD (relative chlorophyll content) value at moderate salt stress but a greater reduction in SPAD values at high salt stress than tolerant ones. Salt-sensitive genotypes were affected more in their straw yield and finally grain yield plants under saline conditions than salt-tolerant genotypes. There was a highly significant negative correlation between grain yield and Na content and also a highly significant negative correlation between grain yield and K: Na content of the wheat genotypes under saline environments. We also observed stress susceptibility index (SSI) based on grain yield plant the order of tolerance was BAW 1135 > Shatabdi > BARI Gom 26 > BAW 1122 at moderate salinity level and BAW 1135 > Shatabdi > BAW 1122 > BARI Gom 26 at high salinity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scientific borehole Baden-Sooss penetrates a succession of Badenian (Langhian, Middle Miocene) sediments at the type locality of the Badenian, the old brickyard Baden-Sooss in the Vienna Basin. The sedimentary succession of the 102-m-cored interval consists of more than 95% bioturbated, medium-to-dark gray marly shales with carbonate contents between 11 and 25% and organic carbon contents between 0.35 and 0.65%. Biostratigraphic investigations on foraminifera (mainly lower part of Upper Lagenid Zone) and calcareous nannoplankton (standard zone NN5) indicate an early Badenian (Langhian) age. Cycles in carbonate content, organic carbon content, and magnetic susceptibility have been identified by power spectra analysis. Correlations between the three variables are extremely significant. Using cross-correlation, periods around 40 m correlate significantly with the 100 kyr−1 eccentricity cycle, the ∼20 m periods with the obliquity cycle, and the 15 to 11-m periods with both precession cycles. Wavelet transformation and decomposition of composite periodic functions were used to obtain the position of the cycle peaks in the profile. Cross-correlation with orbital cycles (La2004) dates the Baden-Sooss core between −14.379 ± 1 and −14.142 my ± 9 kyr. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jackfruit seeds have the potential to be a source of bioactive phytochemicals; however, they are difficult to store and quickly be spoiled. The physicochemical, antioxidant, and functional characteristics of jackfruit seed flour were examined in this study utilizing different drying methods, including hot air cabinet drying at 50–80 °C, freeze drying, and sun drying. Drying methods significantly affected moisture (11.10 ~ 13.62%), protein (14.22 ~ 19.07%), fat (0.28 ~ 0.96%), carbohydrate (77.64 ~ 83.02%), and starch (56.59 ~ 74.14%) contents and preserved significant amounts of different mineral components. Freeze-dried flour indexed fewer browning (16.67) over the cabinet (17.91 ~ 21.84) and sun-dried (23.93) flours. Results from the reducing power (1849.01 ~ 2966.44 mg TE/100 g) and DPPH radical scavenging activity (69.03 ~ 75.60%) indicated that freeze- and cabinet-dried (at 60 °C) flours retained a higher amount of bioactive compounds, such as total carotenoids (31.86 ~ 72.20 mg/100 g), ascorbic acid (42.41 ~ 65.05 mg/kg), total phenolics (704.30 ~ 1009.13 mg GAE/100 g), and flavonoids (26.12 ~ 40.58 mg CE/100 g), and exerted a greater antioxidant activity. Furthermore, the jackfruit seed flour displayed satisfactory flow and hydration properties and was evenly distributed with a round- to bell-shaped microstructure, which could be considered a replacement for traditional flour in bakery products and a supplement in fortified food products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid spread of the drug-resistance among microbes has made the treatment of infections a problematic task. Microbial biofilms are complex aggregations of microbial cells encapsulated in a polymeric matrix that further worsens the treatment of microbial infections. In this study, ZnONPs were synthesized via green route using the aqueous tuber extract of Drynaria quercifolia. Biophysical property of ZnONPs was characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy, XRD, FTIR, SEM with EDS, and HR-TEM analyses and was found to have a size of 10 nm. Synthesized ZnNOPs demonstrated good antimicrobial activity against bacterial (B. cereus, S. typhi, and E. coli) and fungal (A. flavus and C. albicans) strains. Subsequently, the ZnONPs also exhibited excellent antioxidant property DPPH (78.52%), ABTS assay (70.18%), and hydroxyl scavenging assay (77.34%) at 100 μg/ml concentration. The biofilm inhibitory activity against E. coli, B. cereus, and S. typhi was recorded. Additionally, we also evaluated the larvicidal activity of ZnONPs against Cx. quinquefasciatus and recorded LC50 value of 130.725 μg/ml. Histopathology studies revealed that the region of hind and mid intestine, epithelial cells, and cortex were affected severely upon the treatment with ZnONPs. Photocatalytic activity was tested on crystal violet for dye degradation. Nearly complete degradation of the tested dye occurred within 72 min. The study suggests that green-synthesized ZnONPs could be a preferred alternative for various biomedical applications and contribute to the eventual elimination of environmental pollutants in the near future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zinc stannate (ZnSnO3) ceramic nanoparticles were synthesized via a sol-gel polymeric technique utilizing polyacrylic acid as a template polymer. The effect of pH during the synthesis process was investigated by preparing the ZnSnO3 nanoparticles at pH 3 and 8. The structural, molecular, morphological, optical, and dielectric properties of the synthesized ZnSnO3 nanoparticles were thoroughly characterized using FTIR, XRD, SEM, and TEM, with optical and dielectric measurements. FTIR and XRD analyses confirmed the phase purity of the synthesized ZnSnO3 nanoparticles, which exhibited an orthorhombic perovskite crystal structure. As observed in the SEM and TEM images, the ZnSnO3 nanoparticles prepared at pH 8 displayed a more defined cubic crystalline morphology, with an average particle size of 128 nm. The optical properties of the ZnSnO3 nanoparticles showed a high absorption edge in the UV region for both pH conditions. The calculated bandgap energies were 3.67 eV for pH 3 and 3.57 eV for pH 8. The dielectric properties at pH 3 and 8 exhibited a low dielectric constant (ε′ = 4 and 5, respectively) and very low dielectric loss (tan δ = 0.1 and 0.06, respectively) at 1 MHz. These exceptional optical and dielectric properties make the prepared ZnSnO3 nanoparticles a promising material for various applications. Highlights: ZnSnO3 nanoparticles synthesized via polymeric sol-gel method. Nanoparticles show orthorhombic perovskite crystal structure. Morphology varied with pH; cubic grains at pH 8. High UV absorption; bandgap energies: 3.67 eV (pH 3), 3.57 eV (pH 8). Promising for electronic applications: good dielectric constant, low dielectric loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was carried out to estimate the extent of genetic variability and genetic parameters for yield and yield attributes along with principal components for 112 rice genotypes to determine selection criteria. Genetic variability parameters showed that the phenotypic coefficient of variation was higher than the respective genotypic coefficient of variation and heritability is high for most of the characters. High heritability with high genetic advance as per cent of mean and moderate heritability with high genetic advance as per cent mean observed for the traits indicates the heritability to be of additive nature and selection is effective for improvement of yield in the present breeding material. The principal component analysis revealed a total of five principal components during both seasons based on eigenvalues of more than 1 accounting for 74.76% and 72.80%, respectively. Coordinate 1 is comprised of 12 genotypes with the positive value of the first and second principal components common between seasons. Nine genotypes were plotted in coordinate 2 (negative values of PC1 and positive values of PC2) and were strongly associated with important yield attributing traits viz., 1000-grain weight, grain width and decorticated grain weight. The selection criterion TH + TGW + GW + YPP had high genetic advance and relative efficiency in both kharif, (sown at the beginning of the first rains during the advent of the south-west monsoon) 2022 and rabi, (sown at the end of the monsoon or the beginning of the winter) 2022–2023. The genotypes MTU 3626, Koshikari, CR 401 and SV 81C were identified based on index scores as better-ranked genotypes in both seasons. Therefore, by understanding the traits that are most important for rice yields and other desirable characteristics, one can develop more effective breeding strategies to identify the potential genotypes with desirable characteristics for crop improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's disease (AD), a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder, leads to progressive dementia, which impairs decision-making, problem-solving, and communication. While there is no cure, early detection can facilitate treatments to slow its progression. Deep learning (DL) significantly enhances AD detection by analyzing brain imaging data to identify early biomarkers, improving diagnostic accuracy and predicting disease progression more precisely than traditional methods. In this article, we propose an ensemble methodology for DL models to detect AD from brain MRIs. We trained an enhanced Xception architecture once to produce multiple snapshots, providing diverse insights into MRI features. A decision-level fusion strategy was employed, combining decision scores with a RF meta-learner using a blending algorithm. The efficacy of our ensemble technique is confirmed by the experimental findings, which categorize Alzheimer's into four groups with 99.14% accuracy. This methodology may help medical practitioners provide patients with Alzheimer's with individualized care. Subsequent efforts will concentrate on enhancing the model's efficacy via its generalization to a variety of datasets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, with breast and cervical cancers being the most common among women. Over 100,000 new cases of breast cancer and 510,000 new cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed annually. This study aimed to develop and evaluate an eco-friendly, low-cost method to synthesize silver nanoparticles using Hylocereus undatus (dragon fruit) peel extract for their anticancer activity. Results: Silver nanoparticles loaded with Hylocereus undatus fruit peel extract were successfully developed by a green synthesis technique and were optimized by UV–vis spectroscopy. The nanoparticles had an average size of 71.66 nm, a polydispersity index of 0.3754, and a zeta potential of − 38.52, with a spherical shape and 79.5% silver content. Their maximum absorbance was at 448 nm. Further, in vitro anticancer activity via MTT (3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay was evaluated and the synthesized nanoparticles displayed IC50 values at 23.51 µg/ml and 23.66 µg/ml against Hela and MDA MB 231 cell lines, respectively. Cytocompatibility studies showed high cell viability (≥ 95%) in L929 mouse fibroblast cells, indicating low toxicity. In silico analyses, including network pharmacology and molecular docking, identified kaempferol and quercetin as key anticancer compounds, with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) (PDB ID: IM17) being the most significant protein target. Docking studies performed by using the Glide module of Schrodinger's software displayed that kaempferol and quercetin had higher binding affinities for EGFR as compared to the standard drug erlotinib, with MET 769 being a crucial binding site. Conclusion: Thus, the outcomes suggest that synthesized silver nanoparticles loaded with Hylocereus undatus fruit peel extract could be a potential and promising drug carrier aiding in cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cloud computing offers cost-effective IT solutions but is susceptible to security threats, particularly the Economic Denial of Sustainability (EDoS) attack. EDoS exploits cloud elasticity and the pay-per-use billing model, forcing users to incur unnecessary costs. This research introduces the Integrated Model Prediction and Feature Selection (I-MPaFS) framework to address EDoS attacks. I-MPaFS framework enhances an existing dataset to improve performance, using the generated data to build a Random Forest model for EDoS detection. Our investigation employs the UNSW-NB15, CSE-CIC-IDS18 and NSL-KDD datasets, demonstrating the proposed method's superiority over existing techniques. The model achieved recall scores of 99.45% on the UNSW-NB15 dataset, 98.19% on the CSE-CIC-IDS18 dataset, and 99.82% on the NSL-KDD dataset, highlighting its reliability and efficacy in safeguarding cloud users from financial exploitation. This study contributes to the field by evaluating current EDoS detection methods, introducing the I-MPaFS framework, validating its performance with benchmark datasets, and comparing its effectiveness against state-of-the-art techniques. The findings affirm the significant potential of I-MPaFS in enhancing cloud security and protecting users from EDoS attacks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Millimetre-waves (mmWaves), a critical part of 5G, have not been extensively studied in the sub-Saharan tropical environment. This study was conducted to model the outdoor propagation path loss of mmWaves in four Nigerian cities at 28, 38, 60, and 73 GHz for 5G mobile systems: Abuja, Lagos, Ibadan, and Port Harcourt. The study utilised simulation data from a Composite Raytracing-Image-Method propagation model in MATLAB 2023a with OpenStreetMap 3D building maps to formulate the Close-In free-space Reference Distance (CI), Floating Intercept (FI), and Alpha–Beta-Gamma (ABG) large-scale path loss models. This model considered the specific atmospheric conditions, terrain, building materials and structures, and geographical layouts of each site. The study found that the path loss exponent ranged from 2.712 to 3.819 in line-of-sight scenarios, with shadow fading standard deviation (σCI) ranging from 11.778 to 37.199. In non-line-of-sight scenarios, the path loss exponent ranged from 3.375 to 5.033, with σCI ranging from 12.441 to 44.181 across the four frequencies studied. The ABG model consistently provided the most accurate predictions compared to CI and FI, particularly the mean absolute error and root mean square error values. However, performance varied across cities, frequencies, and scenarios, with Port Harcourt exhibiting the highest path loss values across all frequencies and scenarios, followed by Lagos. Furthermore, the omnidirectional large-scale path loss increases marginally as the frequency increases, except at 60 GHz, which had a higher path loss per distance than 73 GHz. Finally, the findings showed that the propagation characteristics of mmWaves for 5G networks in sub-Saharan tropical environments, such as Nigeria, exhibit significant variability based on factors such as atmospheric conditions, terrain, building materials, and geographical layouts. The formulated path loss models can be used to predict the coverage area and signal quality of millimetre-wave communication systems at these frequencies and locations. Article Highlights: Millimetre-waves path loss in Nigerian cities varies significantly with frequency, environmental and structural factors. Path loss increases with frequency, but 60 GHz suffers more loss over distance than 73 GHz due to oxygen absorption. The ABG path loss model outperforms others, providing more accurate predictions for sub-Saharan tropical environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global potential of therapeutic plants in treating microbial illnesses is evident. This study focuses on the Plumbago zeylanica (P.zeylanica)plant and aims to isolate and investigate a bioactive compound with antifungal, antioxidant, and cancer-fighting properties. The compound identified as 2,4-Ditert butyl phenol (2,4-DTBP) was successfully extracted from P. zeylanica using Ethyl acetate and confirmed through GC–MS analysis. The antioxidant effects of 2,4-DTBP are well-known as it effectively suppresses oxidation, preventing material degradation and disintegration. Its ability to neutralize free radicals and reduce reactive oxygen species production makes it valuable in stabilizing various compounds. Notably, it enhances the durability and endurance of plastics, rubber, and polymers. The isolation and purification of 2,4-DTBP were accomplished using HPLC, and its structure was characterized as C14H22O through 1H NMR analysis. The fungicidal activity of 2,4-DTBP against Botrytis cinerea was proven through agar plate assay, and its cytotoxic activity was evaluated using MCF-7 cells (a breast carcinoma cell line) with an identified IC50 value of 5 μg/ml. This study provides insight into the medicinal properties of 2,4-DTPB and its effectiveness against cancer cells. Overall, further investigation and exploration of 2,4-DTBP's potential in cancer research would contribute to its potential application as a novel therapeutic agent in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: The risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) occurrence following antiviral therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) remains unclear. The current study aims to compare: (1) the HCC occurrence rate following sustained virological response (SVR) versus non-response (NR); (2) the HCC occurrence rate following direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy versus interferon (IFN)-based therapy, and (3) the HCC occurrence rate in SVR patients with or without cirrhosis. Methods: A search was performed for articles published between January 2017 and July 2022. Studies were included if they assessed HCC occurrence rate in CHC patients following anti-HCV therapy. Random effects meta-analysis was used to synthesize the results from individual studies. Results: A total of 23 studies including 29,395 patients (IFN-based = 6, DAA = 17; prospective = 10, retrospective = 13) were included in the review. HCC occurrence was significantly lower in CHC with SVR (1.54 per 100 person-years (py, 95% CI 1.52, 1.57) than those in non-responders (7.80 py, 95% CI 7.61, 7.99). Stratified by HCV treatment regimens, HCC occurrence following SVR was 1.17 per 100 py (95% CI 1.11, 1.22) and 1.60 per 100 py (95% CI 1.58, 1.63) in IFN- and DAA treatment-based studies. HCC occurrence was 0.85 per 100 py (95% CI 0.85, 0.86) in the non-cirrhosis population and rose to 2.47 per 100 py (95% CI 2.42, 2.52) in the cirrhosis population. Further meta-regression analysis showed that treatment types were not associated with a higher HCC occurrence rate, while cirrhosis status was an important factor of HCC occurrence rate. Conclusion: HCC occurrence was significantly lower in the SVR population than in the NR population. HCC risk following SVR occurred three times more frequently in patients with cirrhosis than patients without cirrhosis. However, we found no significant difference in HCC occurrence risk following SVR between DAA and IFN therapies. Clinical trial number: CRD42023473033. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the main abiotic stresses that affect plant development and lower agricultural productivity globally is salt in the soil. Organic amendments, such as compost and biochar can mitigate the opposing effects of soil salinity (SS) stress. The purpose of this experiment was to look at how tomato growth and yield on salty soil were affected by mineral fertilization and manure-biochar compost (MBC). Furthermore, the study looked at how biochar (organic amendments) work to help tomato plants that are stressed by salt and also a mechanism by which biochar addresses the salt stress on tomato plants. Tomato yield and vegetative growth were negatively impacted by untreated saline soil, indicating that tomatoes are salt-sensitive. MBC with mineral fertilization increased vegetative growth, biomass yield, fruit yield, chlorophyll, and nutrient contents, Na/K ratio of salt-stressed tomato plants signifies the ameliorating effects on tomato plant growth and yield, under salt stress. Furthermore, the application of MBC with mineral fertilizer decreased H2O2, but increased leaf relative water content (RWC), leaf proline, total soluble sugar, and ascorbic acid content and improved leaf membrane damage, in comparison with untreated plants, in response to salt stress. Among the composting substances, T7 [poultry manure-biochar composting (PBC) (1:2) @ 3 t/ha + soil-based test fertilizer (SBTF)] dose exhibited better-improving effects on salt stress and had maintained an order of T7 > T9 > T8 > T6 in total biomass and fruit yield of tomato. These results suggested that MBC might mitigate the antagonistic effects of salt stress on plant growth and yield of tomatoes by improving osmotic adjustment, antioxidant capacity, nutrient accumulation, protecting photosynthetic pigments, and reducing ROS production and leaf damage in tomato plant leaves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review provides an in-depth examination of recent progress in the development of chemosensors, with a particular emphasis on colorimetric and fluorescent probes. It systematically explores various sensing mechanisms, including metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT), ligand-to-metal charge transfer (LMCT), photoinduced electron transfer (PET), intramolecular charge transfer (ICT), and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), and elucidates the mechanism of action for cation and anion chemosensors. Special attention is given to phenothiazine-based fluorescence probes, highlighting their exceptional sensitivity and rapid detection abilities for a broad spectrum of analytes, including cations, anions, and small molecules. Phenothiazine chemosensors have emerged as versatile tools widely employed in a multitude of applications, spanning environmental and biomedical fields. Furthermore, it addresses existing challenges and offers insights into future research directions, aiming to facilitate the continued advancement of phenothiazine-based fluorescent probes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Paleo-Mesoproterozoic North Singhbhum Mobile Belt (NSMB) is a fold-thrust belt typically found in a collisional setting and is well known for hosting gold mineralisation. A study carried out in the northern part of NSMB depicts varieties of acid volcanic rocks along with mica schist, ferruginous cherty quartzite, black shale, and sheared granite, which are all ubiquitously traversed by quartz veins/reefs. In the study area, gold mineralisation is mostly restricted to brecciated quartz reef occurring ENE–WSW along S1 foliation, which also depicts syn to late kinematic brittle–ductile shearing. The petrographic studies of mineralised cherty variant of quartzite in quartz reef depict the presence of two generations of the quartz vein. The older one is smoky/bluish, altered, recrystallised and consists of disseminated and stringers of pyrite, chalcopyrite, etc., whereas the younger veins are milky white and lack mineralisation. The presence of pyrite–pyrrhotite and chalcopyrite–pyrrhotite associations and conversion of pyrite to pyrrhotite along fracture depicts prograde metamorphism. Trace elemental mineral chemistry depicts significant Au enrichment in pyrite. A positive correlation between Co and Ni concentrations in pyrite indicates hydrothermal origin. Au–As ratio explains the enrichment of gold in pyrite, where gold occurs as a solid solution in pyrite, which is generally referred to as invisible gold. The presence of gold grains/nuggets at the microscopic level and in pan concentrate as well as considerable analytical value in bulk rock coupled with occurrence in sulphide structure, points towards the bimodal nature of gold mineralisation. Mode of occurrence, nature of mineralisation, and surficial, structural and mineralogical characteristics suggest gold mineralisation of the study area is of orogenic type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study focuses on the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using Calotropis gigantea leaf ethanol extract, exploring their potential pharmacological applications involving biological activity. The investigation involves comprehensive characterization techniques, including UV-visible inspection, FT-IR, SEM, TEM, XRD, and EDX. Various secondary metabolites, such as tannins, alkaloids, flavonoids, and polyphenols, were identified in the synthesized AgNPs. UV-Vis spectroscopy at 430 nm revealed surface plasmon resonance, corroborating with FT-IR bands at 2066 and 1607 cm− 1, associated with aldehyde carbon-hydrogen stretching and aromatic carbon-carbon vibration. The AgNPs exhibited a spherical-to-cubic shape, with SEM indicating particle sizes ranging from 10 to 25 nm. TEM analysis further detailed the synthesized AgNPs' spherical shape, with an average diameter of 20 to 50 nm. The XRD analysis confirmed the crystalline nature of the AgNPs, with Bragg Reflection peaks consistent with JCPDS card no. 01-080-1439. The synthesized AgNPs demonstrated antioxidant properties through DPPH, ABTS, and superoxide anion scavenging activities. DPPH radical scavenging activity ranged from 21.54 to 92.31%, surpassing ascorbic acid. ABTS radical scavenging by green nanoparticles exhibited significant efficacy (19.25–89.41%), with IC50 values of 137 µg/mL (C. gigantea) and 52.34 µg/mL (quercetin). In superoxide anion scavenging, green nanoparticles demonstrated efficacy (17.65–87.41%) with IC50 values of 142 µg/mL (C. gigantea) and 53.43 µg/mL (quercetin). OH radical scavenging ranged from 16.24 to 82.55%, surpassing ascorbic acid, with IC50 values of 52.12 µg/mL (quercetin). Additionally, C. gigantea + AgNPs exhibited significant antibacterial properties, outperforming amoxicillin. Notably, against Escherichia coli, the zone of inhibition at 50 µg/ml was 10.73 ± 0.43, increasing to 18.74 ± 0.73 at 250 µg/ml. Staphylococcus aureus displayed inhibition values of 13.16 ± 0.43 and 21.72 ± 0.73 at 50 µg/ml and 250 µg/ml, respectively, while Pseudomonas aeruginosa exhibited values of 12.72 ± 0.75 and 19.54 ± 0.54 at 50 µg/ml and 250 µg/ml. This study underscores the diverse applications and notable antioxidant and antibacterial efficacy of C. gigantea + AgNPs, showcasing their potential in pharmacological applications involving biological activity. The comprehensive characterization techniques employed provide a thorough understanding of the synthesized nanoparticles, paving the way for further research and development in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sunflower is important for food, feed and ornamentals, faces rising demand for quality oil. Identifying resilient high-yielding genotypes is essential. Multi-environmental trials and integrated approaches to evaluate genotype by environment interactions (GEI) enhance accuracy and comprehensiveness of breeding programs. This study assess the representativeness and discriminative power of tested environments; classify mega-environments for genotype recommendations and evaluate how GGE and BLUP methods identify stable and superior sunflower genotypes. The experiment used a randomized complete block design with three replications across six locations for two seasons. The pooled analysis of variance for GEI on seed yield showed significant variability (p < 0.05) with mean values from 1171 to 2564 kg ha−1, indicating inconsistent genotypes performance across environments. The study identified E11, E2, and E6 as key discriminating and representative environments and grouped test locations into four mega-environments. Genotypes G6, G1, and G4 are the most desirable based on stability and seed yield. E11 and G6 are identified as ideal environment and genotype, respectively. GGE biplot and BLUP methods consistently identify stable and ideal sunflower genotypes. However, GGE stability indices differ somewhat in assessing genotypes stability possibly due to low number of genotypes, testing environment, and year in the dataset. The study confirmed that simultaneous consideration of GGE and BLUP models for GEI analysis helps to select more stable and adaptable sunflower genotypes across environments. It also clarifies GEI pattern, identifying mega-environments, and aiding genotype selection in sunflower production. However, validating these mega-environments and exploring the genetic basis of adaptability and stability remains essential.Article Highlights: Explored how genetics and environment interact to influence sunflower yield. Identified optimal environments for precise genotype recommendations. Assessed the efficiency of GGE and BLUP models for robust genotype selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Utilizing a high-dilution condition method, a new aza-oxo macrocycle, referred to as L, was synthesized as a chemosensor. The chemosensing capabilities of L were thoroughly investigated using fluorescence studies. The obtained results demonstrate that L effectively responds to the presence of zinc ions, leading to a significant increase in fluorescence intensity. Comparative studies were conducted to investigate the impact of various metal cations, including Cr(III), Mn(II), Fe(II), Fe(III), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(I), Cu(II), Zn(II), Cd(II), Gd(III), Na(I), K(I), Ba(II), Mg(II), Al(III), Pb(II), Sn(II), Hg(II), and Ag(I), on the fluorescence of L in an aqueous ethanol environment. During our investigations, a binding constant value of 7.81 × 105 M−1, with a 1:1 stoichiometry for Zn2+–L interactions, was established. Additionally, a low detection limit of 2.51 × 10−8 M and a rapid response time were observed. Furthermore, the chemical inputs of Zn2+ and Cu2+ ions meet the conditions of an INHIBIT molecular logic gate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tiny bloodsucker Aedes aegypti is the primary vector of some fatal diseases like dengue, zika and yellow fever which presents a significant concern for the healthcare sector of Bangladesh. To manage this insect vector, the feasibility of Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) in Bangladesh is being investigated for which quality radio-sterilized males are indispensable. Typically, the sterile males are chilled at low temperature to facilitate their transportation from rear-out-facility to the release site, concurrently to minimize the metabolism, stress and physical damage. In this study, the impact of chilling temperatures (4, 7 and 10 °C) and exposure periods (1, 4, 8 and 24 h) have been studied on the survival, chill-coma recovery rate (CCRR), induced sterility and flight ability of lab-reared local A. aegypti strain. Different chilling temperatures had insignificant effect on CCRR except the 24 h exposure duration. Log-rank test of Kaplan-Meier survival curve showed the significant effect of chilling temperature and duration on the survival. Notably, the chilling temperature of 7 °C exposed for 1 h was found to be optimum in terms of survival. Hence, the induced sterility and flight ability were studied only for this specific temperature and duration, revealing the insignificant effects between the sterile-chilled and sterile but non-chilled A. aegypti. This study underscores the recommendation to chill the mosquitoes at 7 °C for 1 h which will be helpful for the implementation of SIT in Bangladesh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the characteristics of the urban heat island (UHI) in Dhaka, the densely populated capital city of Bangladesh under the influence of the South Asian monsoon, and its interaction with heat waves. For this, meteorological data at Dhaka (urban) and Madaripur (rural) stations and reanalysis data for the period of 1995–2019 are used for analysis. Here, the UHI intensity is defined as the urban-rural difference in 2-m temperature, and a heat wave is defined as the phenomenon which persists for two or more consecutive days with the daily maximum 2-m temperature exceeding its 90th percentile. The UHI intensity in Dhaka is in an increasing trend over the past 25 years (0.21 °C per decade). The average UHI intensity in Dhaka is 0.48 °C. The UHI is strongest in winter (0.95 °C) and weakest in the monsoon season (0.23 °C). In all seasons, the UHI is strongest at 2100 LST. The average daily maximum UHI intensity in Dhaka is 2.15 °C. Through the multiple linear regression analysis, the relative importance of previous-day daily maximum UHI intensity (PER), wind speed, relative humidity (RH), and cloud fraction which affect the daily maximum UHI intensity is examined. In the pre-monsoon season, RH is the most important variable followed by PER. In the monsoon season, RH is the predominantly important variable. In the post-monsoon season and winter, PER is the most important variable followed by RH. The occurrence frequency of heat waves in Dhaka shows a statistically significant increasing trend in the monsoon season (5.8 days per decade). It is found that heat waves in Bangladesh are associated with mid-to-upper tropospheric anticyclonic-flow and high-pressure anomalies in the pre-monsoon season and low-to-mid tropospheric anticyclonic-flow and high-pressure anomalies in the monsoon season. Under heat waves, the UHI intensity is synergistically intensified in both daytime and nighttime (nighttime only) in the pre-monsoon (monsoon) season. The decreases in relative humidity and cloud fraction are favorable for the synergistic UHI-heat wave interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent advancements in the efficiency of lead-based halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs), exceeding 25%, have raised concerns about their toxicity and suitability for mass commercialization. As a result, tin-based PSCs have emerged as attractive alternatives. Among diverse types of tin-based PSCs, organic–inorganic metal halide materials, particularly FASnI3 stands out for high efficiency, remarkable stability, low-cost, and straightforward solution-based fabrication process. In this work, we modelled the performance of FASnI3 PSCs with four different hole transporting materials (Spiro-OMeTAD, Cu2O, CuI, and CuSCN) using SCAPS-1D program. Compared to the initial structure of Ag/Spiro-OMeTAD/FASnI3/TiO2/FTO, analysis on current–voltage and quantum efficiency characteristics identified Cu2O as an ideal hole transport material. Optimizing device output involved exploring the thickness of the FASnI3 layer, defect density states, light reflection/transmission at the back and front metal contacts, effects of metal work function, and operational temperature. Maximum performance and high stability have been achieved, where an open-circuit voltage of 1.16 V, and a high short-circuit current density of 31.70 mA/cm2 were obtained. Further study on charge carriers capture cross-section demonstrated a PCE of 32.47% and FF of 88.53% at a selected capture cross-section of electrons and holes of 1022 cm2. This work aims to guide researchers for building and manufacturing perovskite solar cells that are more stable with moderate thickness, more effective, and economically feasible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This was the first study to use local Southern Thai ingredients, namely, nipa palm syrup (NS) and nipa palm vinegar (NV), in the formulation of natural deep eutectic solvent (NADES) for the recovery of bioactive curcumin from turmeric. Five NADES formulations (A to E) were obtained by varying concentration of liquid media (NS, NV, and water) and characterized using FTIR. When compared to other formulations and 80% methanol, the NADES D with a NS to NV to water ratio of 1:5:5 (w/w/w) recovered the most curcumin content (p < 0.05). The extraction conditions of microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) with selected NADES were optimized using response surface methodology (RSM) to maximize curcumin recovery. NADES D achieved the highest curcumin content (43.04 mg/g) from turmeric at a solvent ratio of 1:10, microwave power of 1000 W, and extraction time of 51 s. The NADES D-based curcumin extract outperformed all antioxidant activities (DPPH∙ scavenging activity and FRAP). The NADES D–based extract is non-toxic to RAW264.7 cells at up to 62.50 µg/mL. As a result, NADES-based NS and NV are a viable green solvent for obtaining bioactive compounds, particularly curcumin from turmeric. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study has estimated the missing values of minimum temperature, maximum temperature and rainfall records of longer lengths, respectively, from 1994 to 1996 in Hatiya and 2000–2003 in Sandwip islands of the Bay of Bengal with harmonic regression analysis to realize the past climate. The work has provided past climate of records, which have justified with the mean absolute error, root mean squared error and skill score respectively 1.50, 2.00 and 0.84 for minimum temperature, 1.66, 2.10 and 0.48 for maximum temperature, and 8.60, 14.69 and –0.43 for rainfall for the stations with known records. The mean of the two estimations varies respectively for temperature and rainfall from –0.69 to 0.64°C and –0.36 to 4.79 mm, where one estimation is done with the proposed harmonic analysis and another estimation has been done with inverse-distance-weighting technique for the stations with missing records. The study is advantageous because it uses data from its own station on the island rather than data from neighbouring stations on the continent. It has avoided the probability of mixing up the continental climate with the climate of the island and vice versa. Hence, the estimations provided are spatially unbiased and meaningful past climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effectiveness of plant-based therapies depends on precise botanical identification. However, tribal communities and practitioners sometimes misclassify medicinal plants due to a lack of scientific understanding. Plants cannot always be identified simply by morphology; the DNA-based approach uses a small segment of genomic DNA to authenticate medicinal plant species. Many tribal communities in Bangladesh have utilized plants for healing purposes for centuries. Therefore, this research used DNA sequences to identify Bangladeshi ethnomedicinal plants. DNA was extracted from the fresh leaves of eight important medicinal plants using the AddPrep Genomic DNA Extraction Kit and stored at − 20 °C. Three important loci (matK, rbcL and psbA-trnH) were amplified using PCR, and the sequences of these regions were analyzed for identification. rbcL and matK showed amplification success rates of 100% and 75% respectively, while for psbA-trnH the level was 50%, which subsequently led to the production of a total of 18 novel sequences. To validate the taxonomic identity of the samples, a MEGABLAST sequence comparison was performed, with nine species-level (50%) and nine genus-level (50%) identifications confirmed. The neighbor-joining method was used to construct four phylogenetic trees. The sequences obtained from the plant (leaf) samples and downloaded sequences from NCBI were employed, with the topologies of the trees being identical. Our findings demonstrate that partial genome sequencing is a viable way of identifying medicinal plants and closely related species utilizing the three plastid loci rbcL, matK and psbA-trnH, which are efficient and feasible DNA markers for plant authenticity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To estimate variability in Brassica rapa, 60 locally collected genotypes, including two check cultivars (BSA and Toria A), were collected at diverse locations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. These 60 genotypes, along with two check cultivars, were evaluated for various traits of interest under field conditions in Haripur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The evaluated genotypes showed significant variations in the studied traits. The recorded data were analyzed for genetic relationships among various traits using the statistical package Statistica version 7. Cluster analysis was performed to divide the genotypes into five groups. The first five PCs with eigenvalues > 1 contributed 40.0%, 50.7%, 59.2%, 66.4%, and 73.0% of the variability during the study period. Based on the morphological characterization, genotypes with desirable traits can be used in future breeding programs. The genotypes used in the present study showed significant variation in various traits of interest. Utilizing these genotypes in breeding programs can broaden the genetic background of the available germplasm, and some can be directly used as cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structural, opto-electronic and magneto-elastic properties of tetra one type layered structured compounds EuCuFS/Se are investigated by means of density functional theory (DFT). Structural properties are in good agreement with the reported outcomes. Cohesive energy and enthalpy of formation is found to be 2.3729 Ry and -4.1382 Ry while -1.1648 Ry and -1.5640 Ry respectively for these compounds which confirm the stability for these compounds. Electronic properties of EuCuFS/Se shows that the understudy compounds are visible light active direct bandgap (2.456 and 2.120 eV) semiconductors. Electrical conductivity also reveals the semiconducting nature of these compounds having conductivity 0.19 and 0.28 S/cm respectively at room temperature. This study reveals that the substitution of S by Se causes reduction in bandgap due difference in their atomic radii. ε2(ω) spectrum for these compounds show highest absorption spectra at the energy range of 4 to 7.59 eV. The outcome demonstrates that EuCuFS/Se compounds are optically dynamic in the visible region and suitable for optoelectronic devices and are active aspirants for solar cell applications. The elastic properties demonstrate that these compounds are mechanically stable, ductile and anisotropic in nature. Understudy compounds are G-type anti-ferromagnetic, as shown by magnetic susceptibility and magnetic ground state energy and magnetism in these compounds arise due Eu atom with magnetic moment of 7.59 μB and 7.37 μB /Eu respectively. Magnetic probes cannot read anti-ferromagnetic moments because of their anti-ferromagnetic structure, and data is unaffected by disturbed magnetic fields. Therefore, these substances may be excellent candidates for magnetic cloaking devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biofilm formation is an effective survival strategy of plant-associated microorganisms in hostile environments, so the application of biofilm-forming and exopolysaccharide (EPS)-producing beneficial microbes to plants has received more attention in recent years. This study examined the ability of biofilm and EPS production of Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus thuringiensis strains under different NaCl concentrations (0, 50, 100, 200, and 400 mmol/L), pH values (5.5, 6.5, 7.5, and 8.5), and phosphate levels (0, 25, 50, and 100 mmol/L at 0 and 400 mmol/L NaCl). B. subtilis BS2 and B. thuringiensis BS6/BS7 strains significantly increased biofilm formation in a similar pattern to EPS production under salt stress. B. subtilis BS2/BS3 enhanced biofilm production at slightly acidic pH with a lower EPS production but the other strains formed considerably more amount of biofilm and EPS at alkaline pH. Interestingly, higher levels of phosphate substantially decreased biofilm and EPS production at 0 mmol/L NaCl but increased biofilm formation at 400 mmol/L salt concentration. Overall, contrary to phosphate, salt and pH differently influenced biofilm and EPS production by Bacillus strains. EPS production contributed to biofilm formation to some extent under all the conditions tested. Some Bacillus strains produced more abundant biofilm under salt and pH stress, indicating their potential to form in vivo biofilms in rhizosphere and on plants, particularly under unfavorable conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salinity is one of the primary abiotic stresses that restricts plant growth and hinders productivity worldwide. A comprehensive understanding of salt tolerance is crucial for the selection of reliable indices for breeding salt-tolerant wheat cultivars. The present study evaluated a diverse panel of 65 different wheat genotypes at the germination and seedling stage to characterize morpho-physiological and ionic traits under salt stress (150 mM NaCl). Salt stress caused 57.86, 63.33, 71.81, and 77.23% reductions in total dry weight (TDW), shoot dry weight (SDW), total fresh weight (TFW), and shoot fresh weight (SFW), respectively, in comparison to the control. Maximum inhibition of Na+ ion uptake was observed in tolerant genotypes, which was accompanied by a high Ca2+ uptake. The wheat genotypes showed a wide spectrum of genetic diversity for the determined characteristics in response to salt stress. Finally, four wheat genotypes were identified as salt-tolerant (IC47482, IC576886, IC335738, and EC339611) through a combination of biomass, yield, and multifactor analysis. Further, tolerant genotypes can maintain water content, chlorophyll, biomass, and ion homeostasis, resulting in higher dry matter production under salt stress. The identified salt-tolerant genotypes could be useful for developing new salt-tolerant wheat cultivars and further studies to underline the genetic mechanisms of salt tolerance in wheat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pea, member of the plant family Leguminosae, play a pivotal role in global food security as essential legumes. However, their production faces challenges stemming from the detrimental impacts of abiotic stressors, leading to a concerning decline in output. Salinity stress is one of the major factors that limiting the growth and productivity of pea. However, biochar amendment in soil has a potential role in alleviating the oxidative damage caused by salinity stress. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the potential role of biochar amendment in soil that may mitigate the adverse effect of salinity stress on pea. The treatments of this study were, (a) Pea varieties; (i) V1 = Meteor and V2 = Green Grass, Salinity Stress, (b) Control (0 mM) and (ii) Salinity (80 mM) (c) Biochar applications; (i) Control, (ii) 8 g/kg soil (56 g) and (iii) 16 g/kg soil (112 g). Salinity stress demonstrated a considerable reduction in morphological parameters as Shoot and root length decreased by (29% and 47%), fresh weight and dry weight of shoot and root by (85, 63%) and (49, 68%), as well as area of leaf reduced by (71%) among both varieties. Photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a, b, and carotenoid contents decreased under 80 mM salinity up to (41, 63, 55 and 76%) in both varieties as compared to control. Exposure of pea plants to salinity stress increased the oxidative damage by enhancing hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde content by (79 and 89%), while amendment of biochar reduced their activities as, (56% and 59%) in both varieties. The activities of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and peroxidase (POD) were increased by biochar applications under salinity stress as, (49, 59, and 86%) as well as non-enzymatic antioxidants as, anthocyanin and flavonoids improved by (112 and 67%). Organic osmolytes such as total soluble proteins, sugars, and glycine betaine were increased up to (57, 83, and 140%) by biochar amendment. Among uptake of mineral ions, shoot and root Na+ uptake was greater (144 and 73%) in saline-stressed plants as compared to control, while shoot and root Ca2+ and K+ were greater up to (175, 119%) and (77, 146%) in biochar-treated plants. Overall findings revealed that 16 g/kg soil (112 g) biochar was found to be effective in reducing salinity toxicity by causing reduction in reactive oxygen species and root and shoot Na+ ions uptake and improving growth, physiological and anti-oxidative activities in pea plants (Fig. 1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agriculture-based industries generate huge amounts of byproducts/wastes every year, which are not exploited or disposed efficiently posing an environmental problem with implications to human and animal health. Finding strategies to increase the recycling of agro-industrial byproducts/wastes (AIBWs) is a primary objective of the current study. A thorough examination of AIBWs in conjunction with experimental research is proposed to facilitate sorting for various agro-industrial applications and consequently increasing byproduct/waste utilization. Accordingly, two sustainable, locally available sources of AIBWs, namely, wheat bran (WB) and garlic straw and peels (GSP) were studied in detail including content and composition of proteins, phytohormones and nutritional elements, as well as the effect of AIBW extracts on plant and microbial growth. Hundreds of proteins were recovered from AIBW mainly from WBs, including chaperons, metabolite and protein modifying enzymes, and antimicrobial proteins. In-gel assays showed that WB and GSP possess high protease and nuclease activities. Conspicuously, phytohormone analysis of AIBWs revealed the presence of high levels of strigolactones, stimulants of seed germination of root parasitic weeds, as well as indole acetic acid (IAA) and abscisic acid (ABA). Garlic straw extract strongly inhibited germination of the weed Amaranthus palmeri but not of Abutilon theophrasti and all examined AIBWs significantly affected post-germination growth. Bacterial growth was strongly inhibited by garlic straw, but enhanced by WBs, which can be used at least partly as a bacterial growth medium. Thus, an in-depth examination of AIBW characteristics will enable appropriate sorting for diverse agro-industrial applications, which will increase their utilization and consequently their economic value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Negative marital relationships are associated, concurrently, with less warm parenting (i.e., spillover) and this may be exacerbated for mothers with postpartum depression, who typically experience more marital conflict than other mothers. When examining time-lagged effects, however, previous work has found that mothers may compensate following negative marital interactions by investing more positively in parenting. Based on an emotion regulation perspective that emphasizes the temporal nature of affective experiences and the concept of positive emotions "undoing" the effect of negative emotions, we hypothesized that mothers with higher levels of depression may show greater increases in positive affect with their children in an effort to regulate negative affect elicited by marital conflict. To examine this temporal process, we coded mothers' (N = 46) positive and negative affect during marital conflict discussions and subsequent play interactions with their seven-month-old infants and examined sequential change in affect between the interactions. Mothers' self-reported depressive symptoms (BDI-II scores) were examined in relation to sequential change. Although all mothers were more positive with infants than with partners, higher levels of depressive symptoms were related to greater increases in positive affect with infants following more negative interactions with partners. Findings suggest mothers with depression may try to regulate negative affect elicited within marital relationships by engaging in positive interactions with their infants. Maternal depression may contribute to greater investment in parent-child relationships relative to marital relationships. Highlights: Negative marital relationships have been consistently associated with less warm parenting. Previous work examining temporal associations, however, suggests that mothers may "compensate" following more negative marital interactions by investing more positively in parenting. To explore this temporal process, we coded mothers' positive and negative affect during marital interactions and subsequent play interactions with their infants and examined sequential change in affect between the interactions. Although all mothers were more positive with infants than with partners, higher levels of depressive symptoms were related to greater increases in positive affect with infants following more negative interactions with partners. Findings suggest mothers with depressive symptoms may compensate for elevated negative emotions by heightening positive emotions in their mother-infant relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aureobasidium pullulans NCYC 4012 was used to produce gluconic acid (GA) and fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) from sugarcane molasses (ScM). For the first time, three types of bioreactors operating at different conditions of oxygenation—a stirred tank reactor (STR) operating under atmospheric pressure varying stirring rate, a pressurized STR under increased air pressure up to 4 bar of air, and an airlift reactor under atmospheric pressure varying aeration rate—were employed for GA and FOS biosynthesis by A. pullulans. The highest oxygenation conditions favored GA production in the three bioreactors, whereas the synthesis of FOS was not favored by high oxygen availability. GA yields close to 1 g·g−1 (grams of GA produced per grams of glucose consumed) were achieved in bioreactors under atmospheric pressure, and the highest titer of GA of 75 g·L−1 was obtained in the airlift bioreactor. In this last, the highest concentration of total FOS of 65 g·L−1 and yield of FOS of 0.58 g·g−1 were obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poor parental mental health and stress have been associated with children's mental disorders, including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), through social, genetic, and neurobiological pathways. To determine the strength of the associations between parental mental health and child ADHD, we conducted a set of meta-analyses to examine the association of parent mental health indicators (e.g., parental depression, antidepressant usage, antisocial personality disorder, and stress and anxiety) with subsequent ADHD outcomes in children. Eligible ADHD outcomes included diagnosis or symptoms. Fifty-eight articles published from 1980 to 2019 were included. We calculated pooled effect sizes, accounting for each study's conditional variance, separately for test statistics based on ADHD as a dichotomous (e.g., diagnosis or clinical cutoffs) or continuous measurement (e.g., symptoms of ADHD subtypes of inattentiveness and hyperactivity/impulsivity). Parental stress and parental depression were significantly associated with increased risk for ADHD overall and both symptoms and diagnosis. Specifically, maternal stress and anxiety, maternal prenatal stress, maternal depression, maternal post-partum depression, and paternal depression were positively associated with ADHD. In addition, parental depression was associated with symptoms of ADHD inattentive and hyperactive/impulsive subtypes. Parental antisocial personality disorder was also positively associated with ADHD overall and specifically ADHD diagnosis. Prenatal antidepressant usage was associated with ADHD when measured dichotomously only. These findings raise the possibility that prevention strategies promoting parental mental health and addressing parental stress could have the potential for positive long-term impacts on child health, well-being, and behavioral outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uneven rainfall and high temperature cause drought in tropical and subtropical regions which is a major challenge to cultivating summer mung bean. Potassium (K), a major essential nutrient of plants can alleviate water stress (WS) tolerance in plants. A field trial was executed under a rainout shelter with additional K fertilization including recommended K fertilizer (RKF) for relieving the harmful impact of drought in response to water use efficiency (WUE), growth, yield attributes, nutrient content, and yield of mung bean at the Regional Agricultural Research Station, BARI, Ishwardi, Pabna in two successive summer season of 2018 and 2019. Drought-tolerant genotype BMX-08010-2 (G1) and drought-susceptible cultivar BARI Mung-1 (G2) were grown by applying seven K fertilizer levels (KL) using a split-plot design with three replications, where mung bean genotypes were allotted in the main plots, and KL were assigned randomly in the sub-plots. A considerable variation was observed in the measured variables. Depending on the different applied KL and seed yield of mung bean, the water use efficiency (WUE) varied from 4.73 to 8.14 kg ha−1 mm−1. The treatment applying 125% more K with RKF (KL7) under WS gave the maximum WUE (8.14 kg ha−1 mm−1) obtaining a seed yield of 1093.60 kg ha−1. The treatment receiving only RKF under WS (KL2) provided the minimum WUE (4.73 kg ha−1 mm−1) attaining a seed yield of 825.17 kg ha−1. Results showed that various characteristics including nutrients (N, P, K, and S) content in stover and seed, total dry matter (TDM) in different growth stages, leaf area index (LAI), crop growth rate (CGR), root volume (RV), root density (RD), plant height, pod plant−1, pod length, seeds pod−1, seed weight, and seed yield in all pickings increased with increasing K levels, particularly noted with KL7. The highest grain yield (32.52%) was also obtained from KL7 compared to lower K with RKF. Overall, yield varied from 1410.37 kg ha−1 using 281 mm water (KL1; well-watered condition with RKF) to 825.17 kg ha−1 using 175 mm water (KL2). The results exhibited that the application of additional K improves the performance of all traits under WS conditions. Therefore, mung beans cultivating under WS requires additional K to diminish the negative effect of drought, and adequate use of K contributes to accomplishing sustainable productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Annual fertilizer demand can be affected by population, economics, and food prices. Organic fertilizer lasts longer than mineral fertilizer. Plants prefer easily absorbed liquid nutrients. Uncooked rice berry water was utilized in this study according to the innovative biorefinery concept. The effects of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) in MS medium at five different concentrations (0, 0.5, 1, 2, and 3%) for 7 days without using an autoclave were measured; the results showed that MS medium with 2.3% NaOCl had the highest sterilization rate. The strawberry cultivar Praratchatan No. 80 seeds were then cultivated on a NaOCl-MS medium. The findings indicate MS medium enhanced productivity by 1%. The most shoots (8.56±0.34 shoots/explant) were produced by NaOCl, while MS media produced the most roots (5.55±0.78 roots/explant). The strawberry cultivar seeds were also cultivated on NaOCl-MS medium supplemented with uncooked rice berry wastewater at five different concentrations (0, 5, 10, 15, and 20%), as well as a combination of BA at 2 mg/L and NAA 0.1 mg/L. The results showed that MS medium supplements containing 10% uncooked rice berry wastewater + 2 mg/L BA + 0.1 mg/L NAA produced the most shoots (13.21±0.32 shoots/explant) and 2% NaOCl-MS medium + 10% uncooked rice berry wastewater produced the most roots (18.07±0.20 shoots/explant). This study found that MS medium supplemented with uncooked rice berry wastewater gave the best results regarding the growth in shoot and root production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Operational large-scale flood monitoring using publicly available satellite data is possible with the advent of Sentinel-1 microwave data, which enables near-real-time (at 6-day intervals) flood mapping day and night, even in cloudy monsoon seasons. Automated flood inundation area identification in near-real-time involves advanced geospatial data processing platforms, such as Google Earth Engine and robust methodology (Otsu's algorithm). Objectives: The current study employs Sentinel-1 microwave data for flood extent mapping using machine learning (ML) algorithms in Assam State, India. We generated a flood hazard and soil erosion susceptibility map by combining multi-source data on weather conditions and soil and terrain characteristics. Random Forest (RF), Classification and Regression Tool (CART), and Support Vector Machine (SVM) ML algorithms were applied to generate the flood hazard map. Furthermore, we employed the multicriteria evaluation (MCE) analytical hierarchical process (AHP) for soil erosion susceptibility mapping. Summary: The highest prediction accuracy was observed for the RF model (overall accuracy [OA] > 82%), followed by the SVM (OA > 82%) and CART (OA > 81%). Over 26% of the study area indicated high flood hazard-prone areas, and approximately 60% showed high and severe potential for soil erosion due to flooding. The automated flood mapping platform is an essential resource for emergency responders and decision-makers, as it helps to guide relief activities by identifying suitable regions and appropriate logistic route planning and improving the accuracy and timeliness of emergency response efforts. Periodic flood inundation maps will help in long-term planning and policymaking, flood management, soil and biodiversity conservation, land degradation, planning sustainable agriculture interventions, crop insurance, and climate resilience studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]