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Purpose – The importance of sustainable development has become increasingly significant in today’s fast-paced world. The 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) aim to solve a range of environmental, economic and social challenges, which requires global collaboration among governments and private organisations. In light of this, social entrepreneurship has garnered significant attention as it combines the social purpose of non-profits with the market-driven approach of for-profits to address SDG goals. Yet the cognitive processes underpinning the career decisions of social entrepreneurs remain underexplored. This study aims to develop and validate a scale to measure social entrepreneurial career decisions based on the appraisal of perceived challenges. Design/methodology/approach – The study followed the steps of tool development and was carried out in three phases: item analysis, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Findings – The final 20-item scale focuses on the appraisal components in pre-entry social entrepreneurial career decision-making and has four factors, which are relevance, coping potential, knowledge and resources and normative significance. Research limitations/implications – The study contributes to the literature on entrepreneurial cognition, specifically focusing on social entrepreneurship. The scale could guide model testing and quantitative research in social entrepreneurial cognition. The four-dimensional structure identified in the study may also have implications for researchers interested in the antecedents and effects of social entrepreneurial decision-making. Practical implications – Accurate measurement of cognitive appraisal is necessary to understand the perceived challenges and thought processes of potential social entrepreneurs. The scale could be used to examine the cognitive appraisal patterns among students. Social entrepreneurship educators and policymakers can use the scale to design and assess educational programs. Originality/value – Distinct from existing studies, this scale offers a multidimensional approach that captures the stages of career decision-making, providing a robust tool to enhance our understanding of the decision-making dynamics in social entrepreneurship.

Abstract The inter-ionic relationships of groundwater present in a region as well as various chemical and physical factors all have an impact on the geochemistry of groundwater in an aquifer. To assess the factors influencing the geochemical composition of groundwater in the eco-sensitive area of Western Ghats, Kerala, India, various weathering, and ionic indices were analyzed. Results show groundwater ranges from soft to extremely hard and acidic to alkaline, with high Mn and Fe levels. WQI analysis found 7% of samples unfit for drinking due to Fe/Mn contamination in the southeast part of the study area. Main water types are CaHCO3 (46%) and CaMgCl. Geochemical modeling indicates silicate and carbonate weathering, cation exchange, and reverse ion processes influence the aquifer. Groundwater is often supersaturated with iron minerals, saturated with carbonate minerals, and undersaturated with sulfate and chloride minerals. Cluster analysis (CA) revealed that NO3 − and K+ are derived from anthropogenic sources. Principal component analysis (PCA) resulted in three factors. Factor 1 is for geogenic processes, while Factors 2 and 3 imply the anthropogenic and weathering of iron-rich minerals. Hierarchical cluster analysis defines anthropogenic input, silicate and carbonate weathering, and different patterns of mineralization in the groundwater. The study underscores the need for comprehensive management to protect groundwater quality, considering the complex interplay of natural processes and human factors.

Enoxaparin, a form of low-molecular-weight heparin, can cause a rare, underreported, and often reversible form of hepatocellular injury. This report describes a case of enoxaparin-induced hepatotoxicity in a 61-year-old male diagnosed with pulmonary embolism. Elevations of liver enzymes were noted within 1 week of starting the drug, followed by a dramatic improvement upon its discontinuation, with subsequent normalization in the following days.

Socio-emotional learning (SEL) is essential for the holistic development of a child. It is a process through which individuals acquire and effectively apply their knowledge and skills to understand and manage their own emotions, show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions. Schools function as important bodies in facilitating SEL. The present study explores the school counsellors' experiences in delivering SEL in Indian schools amidst COVID-19 pandemic. The data collected using semi-structured interviews with ten school counsellors from different cities in India indicated varied conceptual understanding of SEL among counsellors coupled with challenges due to the pandemic, and lack of resources and training on SEL delivery. The results shed light on the inevitable need for SEL and the lack of adequate focus on SEL facilitation and delivery in schools. The study additionally emphasises the need for structural and policy changes to foster positive climate and SEL within the Indian education system. The findings are pertinent for policymakers, school administrators, teachers and counsellors to deliver quality socio-emotional learning programs in schools. Hence the study calls for the need for professional training and support to school counsellor and school mental health professionals.

This study reports on developing and validating the School Alienation in Online Schooling Scale (SAOSS). School alienation in online schooling is conceptualized as opposed to school belonging and the main reason for minimal participation, reduced educational benefits, and school dropout in school aged-children, especially during the online learning forced due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. This study includes three phases. The first study included item generation and analysis. After the initial analysis, 13 items from the tool were retained. In the second study, exploratory factor analysis was conducted. Two factors emerged from principal component analysis (PCA). In the third study, we investigated the confirmatory factor analysis of SAOSS with a sample of urban students in Iran (grades 7-9, n = 317). The SAOSS has important implications for researchers, school counselors and psychologists, policymakers, and stakeholders. Implication for theory, practice and future research is discussed.

Sexual health education among adolescents with intellectual disabilities is an area of concern among parents and educators. Special educators play a vital role in teaching sexual health and safety to their students with disabilities. The present study explores special educators' concerns in teaching sexual health among adolescents with intellectual disabilities. The participants included 35 special educators working with adolescents with intellectual disabilities in India. Summative content analysis of the data collected using a semi-structured interview schedule highlights the neglect of the issues related to sexual health among adolescents with disabilities. Special educators reported the challenges in providing sexual health education. Teachers lacked skills in imparting sexual health education. Developmentally and culturally appropriate sexual health education can help adolescents with a disability learn healthy life skills. The paper emphasizes the need for professional support and training among special educators on sexual health education.

Previous studies have shown that collaboration between school counsellors and other stakeholders such as teachers and administrators leads to improved outcomes for students and a better school climate. The current qualitative study explored the experiences and perceptions of novice school counsellors in India regarding collaboration with teachers and administrators. The sample included 11 novice school counsellors working in five different cities who were recruited using purposive sampling. The thematic analysis of the data collected via semistructured interviews revealed six main themes: 'Counsellors' perceptions about collaboration', 'Collaboration with teachers', 'Collaboration with administrators', 'Challenges faced during collaboration', 'Strategies helpful in collaboration' and 'Impact of training'. Implications discussed include the need for school counsellors to advocate for their role, the need for training programs to prepare stakeholders for collaboration, and the need for policies to integrate the role of a school counsellor into schools.

Anglerfishes are widely distributed from shallow to deep-water habitats occupying different ecological niches. To explain this adaptability, we performed a morpho-functional study on common benthic anglerfishes inhabiting the Indian deep-sea waters. Sensory capabilities of species were examined using the morphology and morphometry of sagitta otoliths (related to detection sound and hearing) and eye size (related to visual communication). We also performed an analysis of the degree of functional niche overlap using fish body traits to understand the coexistence of species. Otoliths showed a morphological pattern similar to that of other anglerfishes: an archaesulcoid sulcus acusticus and variability in the irregularity of the dorsal margin. This last feature affected the allometric relationships between the otolith morphometry and fish length, as well as the otolith relative sizes of each species. The findings suggested that bigger otoliths are associated with the increase of depth distribution of species up to 1000 m, from which it decreases. Our hypothesis is that anglerfishes with irregular otolith shapes could be linked to more nocturnal feeding behaviour because they were characterized by greater eye sizes. The results also indicated interspecific significant differences in functional traits providing a low niche overlap. Therefore, our study supports the hypothesis of an environmental and ecological specialization of benthic anglerfishes.

This paper presents analytical and numerical investigations of a 3D cylindrical metamaterial shell possessing a cylindrically anisotropic permeability that is excited by a finite-sized electric line source. A comprehensive field analysis of the system reveals that the compact metamaterial shell exhibits resonances akin to those observed in isotropic 2D cylindrical metamaterial structures, which may be used to enhance the radiated power of a nearby antenna. An analytical resonance condition that relates the dimensions of the cylindrical shell to its anisotropic effective-medium parameters is shown to be accurate in predicting the resonances of 2D and 3D metamaterial shells obtained using full-wave simulations. The effects of anisotropy and finite shell/antenna height on the system's near-fields, radiation patterns, and power-ratio enhancements are explored. It is shown through both theory and simulations that the condition for resonance is largely independent of shell/antenna height but that the quality factor reduces dramatically as these heights approach electrically small values. Also, a dispersion and loss analysis assuming Lorentz model is carried out, which indicates that practical metamaterial losses do not significantly degrade the power enhancement.

Deep-sea fishes are a valuable and underexplored resource with significant potential in the food and nutraceutical industries. This study investigates the proximate composition of eight deep-sea demersal fish species, focusing on protein, fat, ash, and moisture content to assess their suitability for food applications. The results revealed a promising protein profile ranging from 10.03 – 17.36 % across the species analyzed. Ash content ranged from 3.25 – 7.35 %, lipid content varied between 1.21 – 7.03 % and moisture content fell between 70.78 – 79.95 %. These findings demonstrate the diverse nutritional profiles of these deep-sea fishes, with significant implications for their potential use in food and nutraceutical formulations. The promising proximate composition data of these deep-sea fishes, along with their protein content, indicate their potential as a versatile source of high-quality ingredients for food and nutraceutical products. The ash content reflects the mineral composition, while lipid and moisture content provides insights into the fishes' overall nutritional value and culinary applications. Further exploration of their bioavailability, sensory characteristics, and processing methods is essential to unlock their full potential in these industries. Harnessing the nutritional advantages of these fishes offers an exciting opportunity to diversify and enhance the food and allied sectors while ensuring the sustainable use of deep-sea resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parilia alcocki is a deep-sea crab inhabiting the continental shelves and slopes of the eastern Arabian Sea and western Bay of Bengal at a depth of 128–457 m. No published information is available on its population characteristics and sexual dimorphism. The present study provides the first-ever insight into the population differentiation and sexual dimorphism in P. alcocki using Geometric Morphometric Analysis (GMA) of carapace and chela shapes. The Arabian Sea population possessed carapaces with a more pointed anterior and a rounded posterior margin as compared with the Bay of Bengal population. When chela shapes are compared, the Arabian Sea crabs possess an elongated, narrower arm, and shorter pollex. The observed shape variations could be attributed to heterogeneous habitat conditions in these regions which influence feeding and predation. Sexual dimorphism in carapace shapes was indiscernible. However, males exhibited wider intra-specific variations in carapace shape and show a larger average and maximum size for linear carapace measurements. Also, male crabs possess elongated and narrow arms and shorter pollex, whereas the females have a broader and shorter arm and longer pollex, indicative of classical sexual size dimorphism. Our study confirmed the suitability of GMA to understand the ecological and biological characteristics and trait-habitat linkages of P. alcocki. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soils store the largest amount of carbon (C) in the biosphere, and the C pool in soil is critical to the global C balance. Numerous microbial models have been developed over the last few decades to represent microbial processes that regulate the responses of soil organic carbon (SOC) to climate change. However, the representation of microbial processes varies, and how microbial processes are incorporated into SOC models has not been well explored. Here, we reviewed 71 microbial models to characterize the microbial processes incorporated into SOC models and analyzed variations in mechanistic complexity. We revealed that (a) four processes (microbial‐mediated decomposition, mineral interaction, microbial necromass recycling, and active and dormant microbial dynamics) are commonly incorporated in microbial models, (b) ∼48% of models simulate only one microbial process (i.e., microbial‐mediated decomposition) and 35% of models simulate two microbial processes: for example, microbial‐mediated decomposition and mineral interaction, (c) more than 80% microbial models use nonlinear equations, such as forward Michaelis‐Menten kinetics, to represent SOC decomposition, (d) the concept of persistence of SOC due to its intrinsic properties has been replaced by organo‐mineral interaction (∼39% of microbial models) that protects SOC from decomposition, and (e) various temperature and moisture modifiers and pH effects have been used to explain the environmental effect on microbial processes. In the future, to realistically incorporate microbial processes into Earth System Models, it is imperative to identify experimental evidence on rate limitation processes and firmly ground model structure on the field and laboratory data. Plain Language Summary: Soil stores the largest amount of carbon (C) in land ecosystems and, thus, has the potential to regulate climate change. To understand soil C processes under climate change, researchers have developed numerous microbial models that focus on the role of microorganisms in soil organic carbon (SOC) decomposition. In this study, we reviewed 71 microbial models on how microbial processes are represented for their regulation of SOC dynamics. These models commonly include four processes: microbially mediated decomposition, mineral interaction, microbial necromass recycling, and dormancy of microbial activity. More than three‐fourths of the models use nonlinear equations to describe the decomposition of SOC. The concept of SOC stability has shifted from chemical‐based properties of SOC to interactions between SOC and minerals. Our review also revealed that microbial models vary greatly in representing environmental effects, such as temperature, soil moisture, and soil pH, on microbial processes. Finally, we recommend the use of data in guiding the future development of microbial models. Key Points: More than 70 microbial models have recently been developed to simulate soil carbon dynamicsDiversity in model structures and parameters indicates uncertainty in translating current knowledge of microbial processes into modelsData‐driven model development and parameterization are highly recommended to improve the prediction of microbial models [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we first report a novel sodium-enriched Ni–Fe mixed-oxide catalyst incorporated into a Ni–P electrode for photo and electrocatalytic water splitting. A one-pot special sol–gel method was adopted for the synthesis of sodium-enriched Ni–Fe mixed-oxide catalysts, and the parameters were optimized based on the electrode and characterized by suitable analytical techniques. The reported catalyst system has high solar water splitting activity with a high quantum efficiency of 53.89%. The functional electrode exhibited a very low overpotential of 198.3 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm−2 during oxygen evolution reactions. Even though the oxygen evolution reaction is sluggish as it demands a high overpotential, the developed electrode system exhibited excellent OER characteristics by acting as a reversible electrode. Moreover, the LSV plots of electrodes before and after 1000 cycle CV revealed that the electrode possesses a high long-term electrochemical stability during the reversible OER. A high double-layer capacitance and a low charge transfer resistance value of the catalytic electrode are due to the high distribution of electroactive sites such as Na+, Ni2+, and Fe3+ on the surface and the combined effect of various functional components in the catalytic system. NaNiO2 and Fe2O3 were preserved in the Z-scheme photo-catalyst, and it also enhanced the electron flow and conductivity which favours simultaneous oxidation and reduction. The developed electrode system exhibited excellent water splitting characteristics due to faster electron transfer reactions in sodium-incorporated catalysts. Furthermore, the coexistence of Ni2+ and Fe3+ would increase the electrical conductivity due to the synergic effect between Ni2+ and Fe3+. The photo- and electrocatalytic activity and stability of the catalytic electrode system is competent with the recently reported and comparable catalyst. The present work proposes an electrode system capable of large-scale water splitting with excellent activity and stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Datasets mainly consist of ambiguous objects, redundant and uncertain attribute values which increase complexity, time and cost in Knowledge Discovery in Databases (KDD) process. Rough set-based attribute reduction techniques deals with ambiguity but fails to handle uncertainty available in a real-valued dataset. Combining rough set with intuitionistic fuzzy set provides a great opportunity to the researchers working on attribute reduction of real-valued datasets as it provides better results when compared to the traditional fuzzy rough set theory. In this paper, we present a new intuitionistic fuzzy rough set model for attribute reduction to avoid misclassification and perturbation by handling hesitancy, ambiguity and uncertainty present in a dataset. We define an intuitionistic fuzzy tolerance relation between two objects along with lower and upper approximations based on that relation. Next, the concept of Degree of dependency is utilized to present attribute reduction by using model due to its better performing nature over other methods. The algorithm of the proposed technique is applied on benchmark datasets to perform a comparative study with recent approaches. We obtain the best result for the reduced Breast Cancer dataset by our proposed approach, with an accuracy of 98.96% along with 0.90 standard deviation by using SMO classifier. Finally, our proposed method is used to present a methodology to improve the prediction of umami peptides. Here, we record the best results with sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, AUC, and MCC of 96.8%, 93.6%, 97.7%, 0.988, and 0.899, respectively. From the experiments, it can be concluded that our method outperforms the existing methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study reveals the first documented distribution record of Desmodema polystictum (Ogilby, 1898) from the Andaman coast, eastern Indian Ocean. The species is rare in nature and the knowledge regarding the taxonomy, ecology and distribution is still limited. Only few records have been come from the Indian Ocean. The study is based on a single specimen (34 cm total length) collected from the northeastern region of Andaman Islands, India. The present record of D. polystictum from Andaman waters provides greater latitude and depth distribution than previously acknowledged from the Indian Exclusive Economic zone. Along with the comparative morphometric and meristic data from previous reports, description of present specimen as well as distributional information are also provided and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study provides the otolith morphology and morphometric relationships with fish size of four deep-sea fishes (Parascombrops pellucidus Alcock, 1889, Alepocephalus blanfordii Alcock, 1892, Lamprogrammus niger Alcock, 1891, Pterygotrigla hemisticta (Temminck & Schlegel, 1843)) collected from western Bay of Bengal during March 2020. Among these, the equations were derived for the first time for three species (P. pellucidus, A. blanfordii, L. niger). Sampling was done as a part of deep-sea exploratory survey of FORV Sagar Sampada along the deeper shelf regions of the Bay of Bengal at a depth range of 200 - 1000 m using high-speed demersal trawl (HSDT-CV). The numerical relations established using regression between fish size (TL) and various otolith morphometric measurements (otolith length (OL), otolith height (OH), otolith weight (OWe), otolith area (OA) and otolith perimeter (OP)) can be used to predict the prey size in food and feeding studies for studying the food web dynamics of less-studied deep-sea fishes. LWR of the otolith of selected species showed a negative allometric growth (t-test, p < 0.5). The higher r² value (> 0.70) obtained for the relationship between fish size (TL) and various otolith morphometric measurements indicates the robustness of the model. The representative images of otoliths of these fishes will be helpful to the taxonomists for the species confirmation and reconstruction of past species assemblages in the palaeontological studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Near reef abundance and coast–offshore distribution of tuna larvae around Minicoy Island were studied based on three cruises carried out on board FORV Sagar Sampada during 2014–15. The samples were collected by oblique tows using bongo twin nets (300 micron) for three seasons (Fall inter-monsoon (FIM), Spring inter-monsoon (SIM) and Summer monsoon (SM)) in six on–offshore stations ranging from 1 to 20 km off-shore of the Minicoy. Results indicated that the tuna larvae aggregate in the near reef waters and total tuna larvae abundance (all the species combined) shows a decreasing trend towards off-shore. Tuna larvae are found to be more abundant during SM and FIM. Comparison of the species-wise variation in tuna larvae for one season (SM) indicated that the larvae of Euthunnus affinis (32.5%) dominated among the tuna species, followed by Auxis spp. (31.6%), Thunnus spp. (3.9%) and Katsuwonus pelamis (2.7%). A pattern of highest larvae abundance in the near reef areas was observed except for Thunnus larvae. GAM indicated that mean seawater temperature and mean seawater salinity are the major environmental factors that significantly influence the larvae abundance, particularly for Thunnus followed by Katsuwonus pelamis, E. affinis and Auxis spp. The study confirms that the environmental parameters show high variation between stations and among transects as a result of the complex oceanographic characteristics around the islands. Further studies with better understanding of the larvae dynamics and their association with the environmental parameters including physical processes are essential to elucidate these relationships more clearly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of the deep-water flathead, Bembradium magnoculum Kishimoto, Kawai, Tashiro et Aungtonya, 2019, from the north-eastern Indian Ocean is reported for the first time. The species was previously known only from a single specimen collected off Phuket, Thailand, eastern Andaman Sea. One specimen measuring 101 mm SL was collected by the Fishery Oceanographic Research Vessel (FORV) Sagar Sampada with a demersal trawl (HSDT crustacean version) on the insular shelf north of Car Nicobar Island, Nicobar Islands, at 362 m depth. The specimen is described, and the new distributional record from the north-eastern Indian Ocean is confirmed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Length weight relationships are presented for five deep‐sea anglerfishes collected from Andaman and Nicobar waters during April 2016 using a 38 m high speed demersal trawl II (HSDT II, crustacean version, codend mesh size 40 mm). The b values ranged from 1.80 to 2.76 and the coefficient of variation (r2) ranged from 0.82 to 0.97. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adolescence is a crucial period where one tends to identify who they are as an individual. However, as a teenager is struggling to find his/her place in this world, it is also a time where they are prone to engaging in risk behaviors, which tend to have an extreme psychological impact. The objective was to explore the experiences of an adolescent who engages in risk behaviors and to understand their level of personal fables. The study was a qualitative design with content analysis with semi-structured interviews of ten male adolescents aged 16-18 years. The major findings of the study indicated that adolescent's pattern of thinking revolves around the fact that they are invincible and invulnerable. Furthermore, adolescents are aware of the risks they are putting themselves through and how in the process they are hurting others. The implications of the study are to conduct more life skill programs in schools; greater awareness has to be created on the impact and harmful effects of such behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Length–weight relationships (LWRs) are presented for 11 deep‐sea fishes caught in the western Bay of Bengal and Andaman waters during August 2010 using a 38 m high speed demersal trawl II (HSDT II, crustacean version, codend mesh size 40 mm) and a 45.6 m Expo model demersal trawl (codend mesh size 30 mm). The b values ranged from 2.34 to 3.3 and the coefficient of variation (r2) ranged from .82 to .98. LWR estimates of eight deep‐sea fishes are provided for the first time. The estimated LWR values were compared with the Bayesian LWR estimates available in FishBase, based on models developed to improve the accuracy and predictability of species‐specific growth parameters of data‐poor species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The occurrence of Diretmoides veriginae in the Indian water is reported for the first time. This fish has been reported earlier only from Northeastern Indian Ocean, Southern Taiwan, and South China Sea. Two specimens measuring 175 and 161 mm TL were collected onboard Fishery Oceanographic Research Vessel (FORV) Sagar Sampada using demersal trawl from two locations, Great Nicobar Waters (576 m depth) and Nicobar East Katchall Island (591 m depth). The meristic counts, body measurements and descriptions are presented and the specimens have been compared with the earlier reports and found out that the fish has a new distributional record for Indian waters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Communication styles among the couples may have a key association with marital satisfaction. Marital communication patterns vary across cultures. The present study aims to understand the relationship between marital satisfaction and communication skills among married couples. Further this study aims to find out the influence of demographics such as age, gender, years of marriage on marital satisfaction. The sample for the present study consisted of 50 couples, (50 wives and 50 husbands) from Kannur district, Kerala. Marital Satisfaction Scale and Interpersonal Communication Inventory were administered on the couples. With the supporting studies, results have shown that the interpersonal communications among couples can predict satisfaction of their marital life. The study findings highlight the influence of gender and other demographic factors on marital satisfaction. The results of the study have an important implication for couples, family counselors and educators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study presents for the first time the otolith morphology of nine species of deep-sea fishes. This study was based on sampling carried out on-board FORV Sagar Sampada (Cruise No 349) during March-April 2016, along the continental margin of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal using high speed demersal trawl. Unbroken (complete) otoliths from Polymixia fusca Kotthaus, 1970, Neoepinnula orientalis (Gilchrist & von Bonde 1924), Chlorophthalmus nigromarginatus (Kamohara, 1953), Cubiceps baxteri (McCulloch, 1923), Bembrops caudimacula (Steindachner, 1876), Neoscopelus microchir (Matsubara, 1943), Ostracoberyx dorygenis Fowler, 1934, Synagrops japonicus (Döderlein, 1883), and Bathyclupea hoskynii Alcock 1891) were used for this study. Length-weight relationships (LWR) and the regression between otolith size (width, weight, area and perimeter) and fish length (TL) of nine deep-sea Fishes were considered. Numerical relationships derived from the relationship between otolith size and the fish can be used as predictors to estimate the prey size as well as to understand trophic relations and food web dynamics of these hitherto unexamined deep-sea ichthyofauna. LWR showed negative allometric otolith growth in five species; four species showed positive allometric growth. Otolith size to fish size ( TL) relation is explained by a simple linear regression considering otolith width ( OW), otolith weight ( OWe), otolith area ( OA) and otolith perimeter ( OP). Stronger r2 values (>.76) indicate robustness, except for Cubiceps baxteri ( r2 = .65), and give better estimates for the TL of the fish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT We have investigated the effect of ion implantation on structural modification and the electrical conductivity of Bakelite-resistive plate chamber (RPC) detector material used in high energy physics experiments. Samples of Bakelite polymer were exposed to 100 keV and 150 keV oxygen ions in the fluence of 1012 to 1015 ions cm−2. Ion implantation induced microstructural changes have been studied using positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared techniques. Positron lifetime parameters viz., o-Ps lifetime and its intensity showed formation of radicals, secondary ions due to the creation of interior tracks by high-energy ions followed by chain scission at lower fluence of 100 keV implantation. The decreased free volume size at 150 keV ion implantation is an indication of crosslinking and filling up of interior tracks by the implanted ions. Variation of ac conductivity with frequency obeys Jonscher power law at 100 keV and the conduction mechanism is explained by barrier hopping model. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 44962. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]