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The facile co-precipitation technique is used to synthesize Zn 1-x Mn x O (0≤x ≤ 0.2) nanoparticles. It has been investigated that Mn-doped ZnO significantly improves the electrochemical performance of sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) anode. The PXRD measurements confirm the wurtzite structure of bare and doped ZnO. The FESEM reveals that the synthesized samples have almost identical morphologies, and the doping concentration is confirmed by the EDX analysis. DRS analysis reveals that increasing the concentration of Mn leads to a decrease in band gap energy. The specific surface area and pore size of the Zn 0.8 Mn 0.2 O is 304.5 m2 g−1 and 10–15 nm, respectively. Among all the prepared samples, the Zn 0.8 Mn 0.2 O demonstrates the largest specific capacity (312.4 mAh g−1) with better cycling stability after 200 cycles, rapid charge/discharge capability (239.9 mAh g−1 at 5 A g−1) than those of pure ZnO which exhibit specific capacity of only 167.1 mAh g−1 at the completion of 200th cycle. [Display omitted] • Mn-doped ZnO was fabricated through a co-precipitation technique. • Electrochemical performance was investigated in SIBs. • Hexagonal wurtzite structure of Mn-doped ZnO facilities Na+ ion transportation. • Zn 0.8 Mn 0.2 O has the highest specific capacity (312.4 mAh g−1) after 200 cycles. • Zn 0.8 Mn 0.2 O presents an excellent rate performance of 239.9 mAh g−1 at 5 A g−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The River Indus is one of the most extended water bodies in Pakistan. It is a source of drinking water, hydroelectric power generation, irrigation, agriculture and aquaculture. The present examination wanted to survey the river's physicochemical parameters and biodiversity from June 2016 to May 2017. Total eight stations have been selected along the Indus River, and 08 water quality parameters, i.e., temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, power of hydrogen, transparency, alkalinity, hardness, and total dissolved solids, have been checked from all stations on the spot and bring water samples in a plastic bottle. Fish samples were also collected from all stations, preserved all the samples in 10% formalin, and further investigated in the Fresh Water Biology Laboratory at the University of Sindh Jamshoro. A total of 45 fish species have been identified throughout the study period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Optimization of Cu-doped ZnFe 2 O 4 through a sol–gel approach. • Lithium storage performance of Zn 1-x Cu x Fe 2 O 4 samples was investigated. • X = 0.2 provides capacity retention of 945.3 mAh g−1 at 100 mA g−1 after 100 cycles. • X = 0.2 presents an excellent rate performance of 788.0 mAh/g at 5 A g−1. The facile sol–gel method is used to synthesize Zn 1-x Cu x Fe 2 O 4 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.4) nanoparticles and tested as LIBs anode. The research demonstrated the successful substitution of Zn+2 with Cu+2 ions within the cubic spinel framework of ZnFe 2 O 4. The average crystalline size of the prepared samples confirmed by XRD ranged from 40.98 to 31.40 nm. FESEM and EDS analyses revealed particle morphologies and elemental distributions, with average particle sizes ranging from 30 to 40 nm. A higher Cu concentration correlates with a lower band gap energy, as indicated by DRS analysis. The incorporation of dopants into ZnFe 2 O 4 significantly improves its overall electrical conductivity, leading to enhanced electrochemical performance when utilized as an anode in LIBs. The Zn 1-x Cu x Fe 2 O 4 (x = 0.2), attains the highest specific surface area of 206.4 m2 g−1 and exhibits an average pore size of about 12 nm. The Zn 1-x Cu x Fe 2 O 4 (x = 0.2) electrode delivered maximum initial charge/discharge specific capacities of 1472.8/1274.5 mAh g−1, resulting in a coulombic efficiency of 86.5 %. In comparison to pure ZnFe 2 O 4 , which delivered a specific capacity of only 794.7 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles, the Zn 1-x Cu x Fe 2 O 4 (x = 0.2) electrode demonstrated remarkable cycling stability by maintaining a capacity of 910.1 mAh g−1 at a current density of 0.1 A g−1. Additionally, the electrode exhibited outstanding rate performance characteristics, maintaining a specific capacity of 788.0 mAh g−1 at a high current density of 5.0 A/g. The superior electrochemical results obtained for Zn 1-x Cu x Fe 2 O 4 (x = 0.2) demonstrate its potential as a high-performance electrode material for battery technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The T-Spherical fuzzy set (TSFS) is the most generalized form among the introduced fuzzy frameworks. It obtains maximum information from real-life phenomena due to its maximum range. Consequently, TSFS is a very useful structure for dealing with information uncertainties, especially when human opinion is involved. The correlation coefficient (CC) is a valuable tool, possessing symmetry, to determine the similarity degree between objects under uncertainties. This research aims to develop a new CC for TSFS to overcome the drawbacks of existing methods. The proposed CCs are generalized, flexible, and can handle uncertain situations where information has more than one aspect. In addition, the proposed CCs provide decision-makers independence in establishing their opinion. Based on some remarks, the usefulness of the new CC is reviewed, and its generalizability is evaluated. Moreover, the developed new CC is applied to pattern recognition for investment decisions and medical diagnosis of real-life problems to observe their effectiveness and applicability. Finally, the validity of the presented CC is tested by comparing it with the results of the previously developed CC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indus Blind Dolphin is endangered species sighted in the Indus River from the Indus delta upstream to the Himalayan foothills prior to building barrages but the maximum number of this mammal is found in Guddu to Sukkur reach and lowest number at upstream of Guddu barrage and downstream of Sukkur barrage. Driving forces for water and dolphin reserve conservation are an agriculture-environmental trade-off, water use and alteration of rivers for irrigation and agriculture and inadequate consideration on the habitat of highly valuable species such as Platanista gangetica minor, water demand increase with urban development and industrial activities, water pollution from Industries and agriculture wastewater, fishery-dolphin conflict causes physical damage to dolphins by boat and unintended dolphins/fish catch by gillnet.This paper presents the assessment of threats to Indus dolphin population growth, water quality, and other risk activities in stretch Guddu to Sukkur barrages. The total 1419 Indus dolphin was counted during a survey of dolphin in 2019, while918 in2011 respectively between Guddu and Sukkur Barrages. As result, 501 Indus dolphin number has increased in a period of 8 years. The analyzed results reveal that all the tested parameters ie. pH; Cond, TDS; Cl, TH, Alk, SO4, and NO2 are within the permissible limits as per standards NEQS and WHO. Moreover, the Standard Deviation of all parameters shows low deviation at different locations. The correlation matrix of all parameters of collected samples. The pH has a very strong correlation with NO2, and SO4 has a strong relation with conductivity and total hardness, and alkalinity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted to examine the feeding habits of the kingsoldier bream, Argyrops spinifer (Sparidae) from the offshore waters of Pakistan. Total of 629 specimens was collected using bottom trawlers from the offshore waters (North Arabian Sea) of Pakistan on monthly basis. Samples were taken from the landing center to the laboratory to analyze the variability in the choice of foods. Examination of gut contents of A. spinifer revealed that this fish is carnivore feeding habit on variable food items representing six different groups dominated by Crustacea (46.3%), Cephalopoda (27.1%), Teleostei (15.3%), Digested food (6.3%), Gastropod (4.3%) and Echinoderm (0.8%). Seasonal variance in the stomach contents of A. spinifer suggested that crustaceans were the dominant food in the stomach in post-monsoon 2013 (63.8%). During pre-monsoon season 2014, this fish preferred cephalopods (42.0%) followed by crustaceans (39.5%). During monsoon 2014, nearly 50% of the food constituted the crustaceans while in post-monsoon 2014, the preferred food was cephalopods (47.6%). During pre-monsoon and monsoon 2015, the fish fed mainly on crustaceans (40.0 and 46.2%, respectively) followed by fish (25.0 and 34.6%, respectively) instead of cephalopods. This stud غ provided basic information on feed diets of A. spinifer, which would be helpful in its fisheries management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to reports, the last comprehensive fish records from the Indus River were published in 1977. Although few recent studies have been conducted, they are limited to some confined localities, and hence there was a gap of comprehensive fish diversity analysis of the Indus River in Sindh province section. Therefore, the present investigation was performed to describe the fish fauna of the Indus River from its northern to its southern extremities. In order to establish fish diversity and distribution, the study was accomplished from June 2016 to May 2017 covering 8 sampling locations across the river. A total of 44 fish species, belonging to 35 genera, included in 18 families, and 9 orders were recorded. Family Cyprinidae was the most specious with 13 species followed by Bagridae and Cichlidae with 4 species each, and Siluridae with3 species. Alpha Diversity Indices study showed that the ichthyofauna diversity of the River was not high in comparison with previous studies. Shannon's index for the whole Indus River locations was 0.95 and the evenness index was 0.77. Sustained populations of exotic fish species were shown to have established in the Indus River. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]