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Cover crops are increasingly adopted to suppress weed growth and reduce reliance on chemical herbicides. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to evaluate the emergence and growth response of troublesome southeastern weeds to various cereal rye (Secale cereale L.) residue levels. Trays planted with Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri S. Watson), sicklepod (Senna obtusifolia L.), ivyleaf morningglory (Ipomoea hederacea), and large crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis L.) seeds mixed with soil were covered uniformly by four different levels of cereal rye biomass. The following field experiment was conducted at two locations in Alabama in a split-plot design, with the main plot factor being four seeding rates of cereal rye to obtain various cereal rye biomass. Subplot factors were preemergence herbicide flumioxazin and non-treated (NT) check. The greenhouse results demonstrated reduced seed emergence and lower weed biomass for Palmer amaranth, sicklepod, and large crabgrass in plots with higher cereal rye residue biomass compared to those with lower biomass. In both greenhouse and field conditions, the emergence of ivyleaf morningglory was not affected by the increasing biomass of cereal rye residue. Palmer amaranth seed emergence was the most sensitive to increasing biomass residue due to its small seed size. Cereal rye biomass and Palmer amaranth counts were strongly negatively correlated with a Pearson's coefficient (r) of 0.83 while weakly negatively correlated for ivyleaf morningglory with 0.49. In conclusion, increasing the biomass of cereal rye residue is effective in suppressing Palmer amaranth seed emergence but not ivyleaf morningglory. The flumioxazin treatment demonstrated 95%–90% control for Palmer amaranth and ivyleaf morningglory, while the NT check exhibited 50% control of Palmer amaranth and 30% control of ivyleaf morningglory by cereal rye biomass alone. In conclusion, a sufficient amount of cereal rye biomass can effectively suppress the emergence and growth of weeds, particularly Palmer amaranth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the synthesis and detailed structural characterization of a cadmium-based metal–organic framework (Cd-MOF) with the formula [Cd(L4-Py)(nipa)(H2O)]n, where L4-Py stands for N,N′-(thiobis(4,1-phenylene))diisonicotinamide and anionic nipa2− represents 5-nitroisophthalate. This Cd-MOF has been investigated for its potential application as a fluorescent probe, demonstrating highly selective recognition of nitroaromatic compounds (NACs). The Cd-MOF was synthesized using ligand L4-Py, co-ligand H2nipa, and cadmium iodide. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the Cd-MOF forms a one-dimensional (1D) polymeric structure and is finally adapted into a three-dimensional (3D) supramolecular network through various C–H---π interactions. The 3D framework features channels with cross-sectional dimensions of 17.31 × 20.31 Å2, aligned along the crystallographic b-axis, and accommodates coordinated water molecules. Remarkably, the Cd-MOF exhibits high fluorescence stability in aqueous solutions and is capable of selectively detecting 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) and 4-nitrotoluene (4-NT). The detection is characterized by high quenching constants and low detection limits, specifically 3.09 × 104 M−1 and 0.166 μM for 4-NP, and 3.09 × 104 M−1 and 0.184 μM for 4-NT. We argued that the fluorescence quenching of Cd-MOF in the presence of NACs is driven by competitive absorption and a synergistic interaction between the amidic functionalities and hinged 'S' atom in the ligand framework of Cd-MOF and NACs. This powerful synergy enables quick detection of NACs through triggered fluorescence quenching response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apparel industry is not only one of the oldest, largest, labor-intensive, and most global industries but also the typical “starter” industry for countries engaged in export-orientated industrialization. To achieve such dreams, the industry has looked over different inter-dependable factors while producing different products. In this study, an effort has been made to establish a correlation between standard allowed minutes (SAMs) and efficiency of sewing section using different variables, including production rate, number of workstations, and operation breakdown, having a differential impact on both the selected variables. All the empirical analyses were planned in a vertically integrated textile company called Almeda Textile Private Limited Company (PLC), Ethiopia, starting from the basic product category (such as V-neck shirt) up to complicated workwear including military clothing and federal police uniforms of Ethiopia. The Pearson correlation coefficient method was chosen to find the relationship between bivariate linearly scaled variables using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) software. The expected outcome will help in identifying the type of correlation and its significant level as well as its impact on the overall productivity of the sewing section which eventually leads to fulfilling the mission of attaining sustainable production capacity of the mentioned vertically integrated manufacturing company.

A comprehensive revised checklist pertaining to taxonomy and bionomics of Sarcophagidae of Assam is prepared. The current study revealed the presence of 23 species, including four endemic and 19 non-endemic from Assam, in comparison to elsewhere in the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]