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Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is a fulminant infectious disease that mostly affects cattle and causes considerable economic loss throughout the globe. This study was conducted to develop a new multi-epitope-based vaccine against LSD that can elicit immunological responses using an in silico reverse vaccinology approach. Initially, three antigenic proteins, protein E5, E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase LAP and 62 kDa protein, were manipulated to recognize potential T-cell and B-cell epitopes. To identify superior epitopes, a variety of bioinformatic techniques including antigenicity testing, transmembrane topology screening, allergenicity assessment, conservancy analysis, and toxicity evaluation were used. Finally, three new subunit vaccines (construct V1, V2 and V3) were developed employing the most effective epitopes, suitable adjuvants, pan HLA DR-binding epitope (PADRE) and linkers. Then, based on the antigenicity, solubility, and validation score of the 3D structures, construct V2 was chosen as one of the best candidate vaccines. The results of the molecular dynamic simulation and disulphide engineering indicated that the vaccine (construct V2) was stable. Additionally, the immunological simulation findings supported the vaccine candidate's ability to trigger humoral and cellular immune responses. Further validation of the proposed vaccine candidate may necessitate additional in vitro and in vivo investigations.

Here, we have employed the density functional theory on TlBO3 (B = Cr, Mn) to study the structural, mechanical, electronic, optical, and thermal properties for the first time. Spin polarization causes a metallic-to-semiconducting transition.

In this paper, a first-principles study of the newly known MAX phase borides Zr2AB2 (A = In, Tl) has been carried out. The stiffness constants, elastic moduli, mechanical anisotropy, thermal and optical properties are investigated for the first time. The structural lattice parameters are found to be consistent with previous study. The dynamical and mechanical stability of the titled compounds have been checked. Fundamental insights into the stiffness constants, elastic moduli, hardness parameters, brittleness and anisotropy indices are presented. The variation of these mechanical properties is explained based on the Mulliken population analysis and charge density mapping (CDM). The metallic nature and anisotropy in conductivity has been confirmed from the electronic band structure. The analysis of DOS revealed the dominant contribution from Zr-d orbitals to the conductivity. The higher values of ΘD and Tm, and lower value of Kmin for Zr2AB2 (A = In, Tl) compared to those of Zr2AC (A = In, Tl) suggest enhanced thermal properties of the compounds under study for practical applications. Besides, the specific heat capacities (Cv, Cp), thermal expansion coefficient, and different thermodynamic potential functions have been calculated. The technologically important optical constants have been studied with an intention to reveal their possible relevance for application purposes. The reflectivity spectra revealed the applicability of Zr2AB2 (A = In, Tl) as cover materials to diminish the solar heating. The studied physical properties of Zr2AB2 (A = In, Tl) are compared with those of other relevant 212 and 211 MAX phase nanolaminates.

The present study aimed at the molecular detection of Salmonella species from feces of goats and the characterization of the isolated Salmonella by biochemical and antimicrobial sensitivity techniques. A total of 220 goat feces samples were collected, of which 27 (12.27%) were positive for Salmonella by conventional culture methods and 20 (9.09%) by biochemical and PCR techniques. The prevalence was higher in goats under one year of age (20%), compared to older animals aged one to two years (7.8%) and more than two years of age (4.7%), respectively. Moreover, the prevalence of diarrheic goats was significantly higher (38.46%) than healthy animals (2.76%). DNA was extracted from Salmonella strains and amplified by PCR using the specific primers of Salmonella invasion gene (invA gene). The antibiotic sensitivity test indicated that Ciprofloxacin (100 percent sensitivity), Gentamycin (100 percent sensitivity), and Neomycin (100 percent sensitivity) were the most effective antibiotics for the majority of Salmonella isolates. On the other hand, Salmonella isolates were found to have substantially high resistance to Erythromycin (100%), Amoxicillin (100%), Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole (81.48%), Streptomycin (62.96%), and Tetracycline (55.56 percent). Since the rate of Salmonella carriers was relatively high, eating goat meat could increase the risk of foodborne salmonellosis.

First-principles-based DFT calculations have been carried out to analyze the structural, mechanical, elastic anisotropic, Vickers hardness, electronic, optical, and thermodynamic properties of TlBO

Background and Objectives: The epidemiological features of Neoascaris vitulorum infection in buffaloes are important to know their transmission and risk factors assessment as well treatment regimens. This study was conducted with the objectives of determining the prevalence of Neoascaris vitulorum infection in buffaloes in Sylhet district of Bangladesh and to evaluate the efficacy of anthelmintics against the parasite. Materials and Method: A total of 211 fecal samples were collected from buffaloes and examined for the detection of parasitic eggs during the period from July 2017 to June 2018. For the determination of therapeutic efficacy, animals were randomly divided into 6 groups (T0, Ti, T1, T2, T3, T4) where each group consisting of 3 buffaloes. The group T0 (negative control-non infected) and Ti (positive control-infected) were treated only with phosphate buffer saline (PBS). The other four infected groups were treated as T1 with albendazole, T2 with piperazine citrate, T3 with ivermectin and T4 with combination of tetramisole HCL and oxyclosanide. Before trials day 0 and after treatment of 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th days fecal samples examined using McMaster technique. Results: The overall prevalence was estimated 17.06% (36/211). The prevalence was higher among buffalo calves of below six months (39.28%) followed by 6 months to 1 year, 1 to 2 years and above 2 years as 25%, 22.5% and 7.20% respectively. The infection rate was high in females (20.0%) than males (13.18%). The parasite was more prevalent in rainy (21.42%) than summer (16.67%) and winter (14.29%) seasons. The EPG results revealed piperazine citrate was the most effective (100%) against Neoascaris vitulorum. The percent efficacies of other anthelmintic used in this study were albendazole, ivermectin and combination of tetramisole HCL and oxyclozanide as 95.49%, 86.20% and 95.58% respectively. Conclusion: The prevalence of Neoascaris vitulorum infection in buffalo at Sylhet district of Bangladesh was relatively high. The results revealed that piperazine citrate, tetramisole HCL and oxyclozanide combination are highly effective for the reduction of egg per gram (EPG) of Neoascaris vitulorum infection in buffalo. On the other hand ivermectin and albendazole were also around ninety percent effective respectively.

The physical properties including thermodynamic and optical properties, electronic charge density, Fermi surface, Mulliken bond overlap population and Vickers hardness of newly synthesized MAX phase Hf2AlC and predicted Hf2AlN phase have been explored using density functional theory for the first time. We revisit lattice and elastic constants, band structure and density of states to weigh the reliability of our calculations. The mechanical and dynamical stabilities of these compounds have been ensured. The brittle nature of Hf2AlX (X = C and N) compounds is also confirmed by the Pugh (G/B > 0.57) and Poisson ratio (

Sn-substituted Mg–Zn ferrites (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.10) have been synthesized using conventional ceramic technique and the mechanical, optical and high-temperature magnetic properties were studied. The formal...

BACKGROUND: Buffalo is one of the most important animals for the source of milk and meat, and it is also used for draught purposes in Bangladesh. Gastrointestinal parasites in the buffalo calves lead to reduced growth and hinder the development of buffalo industry in Bangladesh. OBJECTIVES: The study was conducted to identify the gastrointestinal parasitic load in the buffalo calves at Sylhet district, Bangladesh. METHODS: Fecal samples were collected from one hundred seventy (170) buffalo calves from different areas of Sylhet district and samples were examined using sedimentation, and floatation techniques. A morphological examination of parasitic eggs was performed to identify the parasitic species. RESULTS: Among the 170 calves examined in the present study, 62 (36.47%) were found positive with different parasites. Two species of gastro-intestinal parasites were identified, among them 26.47% positive with Neoascarisvitulorum, 5.88% with Strongyloides sp .and 4.12% with Strongyle type. The prevalence of gastro-intestinal (GI) parasites in males (44.12%) was lower than in female (55.88%) calves. A relatively higher worm load was observed in summer (58.82%) than rainy (41.18%) season. The prevalence of Gastrointestinal parasitic infections was significantly higher (p ≤0.05) in calves aged 6 months of age (44.12%) than calves of 6-12 months of age (32.35%) followed by 13-18 months of age (23.53%). EPG (egg per gr of feces) ranged from 50-1950. CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed that the prevalence of GI parasites in buffalo calves in Sylhet is relatively higher regardless of age, sex, and seasons. Data generated through this study will help to adopt necessary measures to control the GI parasitic infections in buffalo calves in developing countries like Bangladesh.

Zoonotic and antimicrobial-resistant Escherichia coli (hereafter, E. coli) is a global public health threat which can lead to detrimental effects on human health. Here, we aim to investigate the antimicrobial resistance and the presence of mcr-1 gene in E. coli isolated from chicken feces. Ninety-four E. coli isolates were obtained from samples collected from different locations in Bangladesh, and the isolates were identified using conventional microbiological tests. Phenotypic disk diffusion tests using 20 antimicrobial agents were performed according to CLSI-EUCAST guidelines, and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined for a subset of samples. E. coli isolates showed high resistance to colistin (88.30%), ciprofloxacin (77.66%), trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (76.60%), tigecycline (75.53%), and enrofloxacin (71.28%). Additionally, the pathotype eaeA gene was confirmed in ten randomly selected E. coli isolates using primer-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The presence of mcr-1 gene was confirmed using PCR and sequencing analysis in six out of ten E. coli isolates. Furthermore, sequencing and phylogenetic analyses revealed a similarity between the catalytic domain of Neisseria meningitidis lipooligosaccharide phosphoethanolamine transferase A (LptA) and MCR proteins, indicating that the six tested isolates were colistin resistant. Finally, the findings of the present study showed that E. coli isolated from chicken harbored mcr-1 gene, and multidrug and colistin resistance. These findings accentuate the need to implement strict measures to limit the imprudent use of antibiotics, particularly colistin, in agriculture and poultry farms.

Since its emergence, Canine Parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2) has been considered as a deadly pathogen in dogs with high mortality in puppies for its clinical gastroenteritis and severe haemorrhagic diarrhoea. Although several studies on CPV-2 were conducted in Bangladesh, molecular investigation is poorly understood. The aim of the study was molecular detection and phylogenetic analysis of CPV in diarrhoeic pet dogs. During Jan-July 2019, anal swabs were collected from 96 unvaccinated pet dogs with suspected CPV infection from Sylhet region of Bangladesh. The CPV infection was initially screened through rapid Immunochromatographic (IC) strip test, and then CPV-2 (VP2 gene) were detected by conventional PCR assay. Then the nucleotide sequence of amplified VP2 gene was compared with other CPV strains from GeneBank. Of the total samples, 17.7% (17/96) found positive in IC strip test, and 15.62% (15/96) were found positive in PCR assay by using primer pair P2 that detect original CPV-2 type. The IC test showed 100% sensitivity and 97.5% specificity with PCR. In sequence analysis, our isolates showed the highest 90.40% homology with the isolates of China and the USA. Our strains had also an evolutionary relationship with the other strains of CPV from China and India. This study demonstrates the presence of CPV-2 in Bangladesh and futher sequence analysis of more VP2 gene will help in details insight of the molecular and genetic evolution of CPV in Bangladesh.

Density functional theory (DFT) based first-principles calculations using GGA+U method have been performed for the first time to investigate elastic, electronic, optical, thermodynamic properties including charge density, Fermi surface, Mulliken population analysis, and theoretical Vickers hardness of the newly synthesized LiCuBiO4 (LCBO) compound. The calculated structural parameters are in good agreement with available experimental results, which assessed the reliability of our calculations. The analysis of elastic constants indicates mechanical stability of the LCBO. The values of Poisson's and Pugh's ratios confirm the ductile nature of the LCBO. The mechanically anisotropy is found by the different anisotropy factors. The overlapping of valence and conduction bands near the Fermi level (EF) and the several bands crossing the EF reveal the metallic behaviour of the LCBO. The electronic charge density mapping and Mulliken population analysis exhibits a combination of covalent, ionic, and metallic bonding of the LCBO. The calculated Fermi surface comprised of two-dimensional topology due to the low-dispersion of O-2p and Cu-3d states, which implies the possible multi-band nature of LCBO. The analysis of thermodynamic and various optical properties suggest that LCBO can be a potential candidate for optoelectronic devices in the visible and ultraviolet energy regions and as a thermal barrier coating (TBC) material. Keywords: DFT calculations, Mechanical properties, Electronic properties, Optical properties, Thermodynamic properties

In this article, we report the elastic, electronic, optical and thermoelectric properties of recently synthesized K2Cu2GeS4 chalcogenide. The structural parameters are found to be in good agreement with experimental results. The calculated single crystal elastic constants (Cij) show that K2Cu2GeS4 is mechanically stable. The investigated electronic band structures reveal semiconducting characteristics and are consistent with experiment. Important optical constants such as dielectric constants, refractive index, absorption coefficient, photoconductivity, reflectivity and loss function are calculated and discussed in detail. Optical conductivity is found to be in good qualitative agreement with the results of band structure calculations. The Seebeck coefficients for TB-mBJ potential within the studied temperature range vary from ∼450 to ∼200 μV/K. The anisotropic electrical conductivity and electronic thermal conductivity are observed in the layered structured K2Cu2GeS4. The power factor and electronic thermal conductivity at 800 K along xx-axis using TB-mBJ potential are found to be ∼6 μWcm−1K−2 and 0.578 Wm−1K−1, respectively and the corresponding thermoelectric figure of merit is 0.81. The obtained results predict that K2Cu2GeS4 is a promising material in thermoelectric device applications.

We have studied the physical properties of M2InC (M = Zr, Hf and Ta) MAX phases ternary carbides using density functional theory (DFT) methodology. The structural, elastic and electronic properties are revisited (and found to be in good agreement with recently reported results). The charge density distribution, Fermi surface features, Vickers hardness, dynamical stability, thermodynamics and optical properties have been investigated for the first time. The calculated single crystal elastic constants and phonon dispersion curves endorse the mechanical and dynamical stability of all the compounds under study. The calculated single crystal elastic constants Cij and polycrystalline elastic constants are found to increase with increasing atomic number of M species (M = Zr, Hf and Ta). The values of Pugh ratio and Poisson ratio revealed the brittleness of the compounds under study associated with strong directional covalent bond with a mixture of ionic contribution. Overlapping of conduction band and valence band at Fermi level notify the metallic nature of M2InC (M = Zr, Hf and Ta) MAX phases. Low values of Vicker hardness indicate the softness of the materials and easy machinability.. The thermodynamic properties, such as the free energy, enthalpy, entropy, specific heat capacity and Debye temperature are evaluated using the phonon dispersion curves and a good correspondence is found with the M atomic species. Electronically important optical properties, e.g., dielectric functions, refractive index, photoconductivity, absorption coefficient, loss function and reflectivity are calculated and discussed in detail in this study., page 24

Yb-substituted Ni0.5Zn0.5YbxFe2−xO4 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.20 in the step of 0.04) ferrites have been synthesized using sol–gel auto combustion method. The structural characterization of the compositions has been performed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), quantum design physical properties measurement system (PPMS) that ensured the formation of single phase cubic spinel structure. Crystallite and average grain size are calculated and found to decrease with increasing Yb3+ contents. Saturation magnetization (Ms) and Bohr magnetic moment (µB) decrease while the coercivity increases with the increase in Yb3+ contents and successfully explained by the Neel’s collinear two sub-lattice model and critical size effect, respectively. Critical particle size has been estimated at 6.4 nm from the DXRD vs. Ms, Hc plot, the transition point between single domain regime (below the critical size) and multi-domain regime (beyond the critical size). Curie temperature (Tc) reduces due to the weakening of A–O–B super exchange interaction and redistribution of cations, confirmed by the M–T graph. The compositions retain ferromagnetic ordered structured below Tc and above Tc, it becomes paramagnetic, making them plausible candidates for high temperature magnetic device applications. The relative quality factor (RQF) peak is obtained at a very high frequency (≥ 108 MHz), indicating the compositions could also be applicable for high frequency magnetic device applications.

Simple Summary Colistin is a widely used antibiotic against infections caused by extensively drug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria. It is critical to track and monitor the presence of mcr-like genes and colistin resistance to protect a last resort treatment against highly antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In the present study, the colistin resistance gene mcr-1 was investigated, and its in-silico functional analysis in Salmonella isolates was determined. Out of 100 chicken samples (liver and intestine), 82 Salmonella spp. were isolated and characterized. Antimicrobial sensitivity was determined using different antimicrobial agents. The isolates were characterized using PCR targeting genus-specific invA and mcr-1 genes followed by in-silico functional analysis. The majority of isolates (92.68%) was found highly resistant to colistin, which demonstrated the occurrence of the colistin resistance mcr-1 gene in Salmonella isolates of chicken origin in Bangladesh. The study also showed the in-silico functional analysis and phylogenetic relationship of the colistin resistance mcr-1 gene among Salmonella isolates. The findings of the present study highlight the increasing issue of transferable colistin resistance and call for immediate action and measures to review the imprudent use of colistin in poultry production systems in Bangladesh. Abstract Colistin (polymyxin E) is widely used in animal and human medicine and is increasingly used as one of the last-resort antibiotics against Gram-negative bacilli. Due to the increased use of colistin in treating infections caused by multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria, resistance to this antibiotic ought to be monitored. The study was undertaken to elucidate the molecular mechanisms, genetic relationships and phenotype correlations of colistin-resistant isolates. Here, we report the detection of the mcr-1 gene in chicken-associated Salmonella isolates in Bangladesh and its in-silico functional analysis. Out of 100 samples, 82 Salmonella spp. were isolated from chicken specimens (liver, intestine). Phenotypic disc diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assay using different antimicrobial agents were performed. Salmonella isolates were characterized using PCR methods targeting genus-specific invA and mcr-1 genes with validation for the functional analysis. The majority of the tested Salmonella isolates were found resistant to colistin (92.68%), ciprofloxacin (73.17%), tigecycline (62.20%) and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (60.98%). When screened using PCR, five out of ten Salmonella isolates were found to carry the mcr-1 gene. One isolate was confirmed for Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Enteritidis, and other four isolates were confirmed for Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium. Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis revealed a divergent evolutionary relationship between the catalytic domain of Neisseria meningitidis lipooligosaccharide phosphoethanolamine transferase A (LptA) and MCR proteins, rendering them resistant to colistin. Three-dimensional homology structural analysis of MCR-1 proteins and molecular docking interactions suggested that MCR-1 and LptA share a similar substrate binding cavity, which could be validated for the functional analysis. The comprehensive molecular and in-silico analyses of the colistin resistance mcr-1 gene of Salmonella spp. of chicken origin in the present study highlight the importance of continued monitoring and surveillance for antimicrobial resistance among pathogens in food chain animals.

Feline panleukopenia virus (FPV) is a highly contagious infectious pathogen of cats globally. However, there is no information on the molecular identification and characterization of FPV in Bangladesh. Here, 8.16% (8/98) and 18.37% (18/98) of diarrheic cats tested positive for FPV by an immunochromatography (IC) test and PCR, respectively. The IC test showed 44.44% sensitivity and 100% specificity in comparison with PCR. Our newly sequenced Bangladeshi FPV strain (MN826076) showed the highest (99.71%) sequence identity to strains from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Strain MN826076 contained two characteristic amino acid variations in VP2 identifying it as an FPV strain: valine at position 103 and aspartic acid at position 323. Phylogenetically, the VP2 of strain MN826076 was found to be closely related to 19 FPV strains, sharing the same clade.

The effects of M atomic species mixing on the structural, elastic, electronic, and thermodynamic properties of newly synthesized MAX phase (Zr1-xTix)2AlC (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) solid solutions have been studied for the first time by means of density functional theory (DFT) based first principles calculations. The lattice constants are in good accord with the experimental results and found to decrease with Ti contents. The elastic constants, Cij, and the other polycrystalline elastic moduli have been calculated. The elastic constants satisfy the mechanical stability conditions of these solid solutions. The constants, C11, C33 and C44, are found to increase with Ti contents up to x = 0.67, thereafter they decrease slightly. A reverse trend is roughly followed by C12 and C13. The elastic moduli are also found to increase up to x = 0.67, beyond which these moduli go down slightly. Pugh's ratio and Poisson's ratio both confirm the brittleness of (Zr1-xTix)2AlC. Different anisotropy factors revealed the mechanically anisotropic character of these solid solutions. A non-vanishing value of the electronic energy density of states (EDOS) at the Fermi level suggests that (Zr1-xTix)2AlC are metallic in nature. A mixture of covalent, ionic and metallic bonding has been found from the electronic structure with dominant covalent bonding due to hybridization of Zr-4d states and C-2p states. This is also supported by the charge density distribution. The variation of elastic stiffness and elastic parameters with x is seen to be correlated with the partial DOS (PDOS) and charge density distribution. The calculated Debye temperature and minimum thermal conductivity are found to increase with Ti contents, while melting temperature is the highest for x = 0.67. The solid solution with x = 0.67 shows improved mechanical and thermal properties compared to that of the two end members Zr2AlC and Ti2AlC.

The structural, elastic, and electronic properties of newly synthesized Zr2(Al0.58Bi0.42)C, Zr2(Al0.2Sn0.8)C, and Zr2(Al0.3Sb0.7)C MAX nanolaminates have been studied using first-principles density functional theory (DFT) calculations for the first time. Theoretical Vickers hardness has also been estimated for these compounds. All the calculated results have been compared with experimental data and also with that of recently discovered Zr2AlC phase, where available. Zr2(Al0.58Bi0.42)C and Zr2(Al0.2Sn0.8)C are the two first Bi and Sn containing MAX compounds. The optimized structural parameters are found to be in good agreement with the experimental results. The single crystal elastic constants Cij and the other polycrystalline elastic coefficients have been calculated and the mechanical stabilities of these compounds have been theoretically confirmed. The bulk modulus increases and the shear modulus decreases due to partial Bi/Sn/Sb substitution for Al in Zr2AlC. The calculated elastic moduli show that these Bi/Sn/Sb containing MAX phases are more anisotropic than Zr2AlC, and have a tendency towards increasing ductility. The Vickers hardness decreases in the Bi/Sn/Sb containing compounds. The charge density mapping reveals mixed chemical bonding characteristics of the nanolaminates under study. Further, the electronic band structures and electronic density of states (EDOS) are calculated and the effects of different elemental substitution on these properties are investigated. The electronic band structures show metallic characteristics with contribution predominantly from the Zr 4d orbitals. Partial presence of Bi/Sn/Sb atoms increases the EDOS at the Fermi level to some extent. Possible implications of the theoretical results for these recently discovered MAX nanolaminates are discussed in detail in this paper.

The effects of rotation rate, filament size, mirror shape, and crystal diameter on the shape of the silicon molten zones prepared using the infrared convergent-heating floating zone method were examined. The crystal rotation rate did not significantly affect the shape of the feed-melt or crystal-melt interfaces, gap between the crystal and feed, zone length, or lamp power required to form the molten zone. More efficient heating was achieved using lamps with smaller filaments and ellipsoidal mirrors with higher eccentricity. The convexity of both the feed and the crystal sides of the molten zone decreased with increasing crystal diameter. However, the required lamp power, gap, and zone length increased with increasing crystal diameter. The stability of the molten zone seemed to reduce with increasing crystal diameter. The minimum melt width divided by the crystal diameter was found to be a good parameter to describe the stability of the molten zone.

Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious and devastating viral disease among all cloven-footed animals. In Bangladesh, the disease is endemic, with outbreaks occurring throughout the year in the haor regions. Thus, the FMD outbreaks impact livelihoods in the haor area and are of great concern. Therefore, a cross-sectional study was undertaken to evaluate the prevalence, distribution, and risk factors for clinical FMD in some selected areas of haor in Sylhet division of Bangladesh. We examined 1,388 cattle, of which 343 were clinically affected with FMD (prevalence 24.71%, CI95% = 22.44 - 26.98) during the period from July 2017 through June 2018. Though production loss was observed, no mortality was recorded in the infected animals. The data article shows the spatial distribution of FMD prevalence. The temporal pattern indicates a higher number of FMD cases in June (47.01%, CI95% = 38.97 - 55.07). The gender was found associated (OR = 2.98; p < 0.001) with the potential risk of FMD occurrence through univariate analysis. Besides, indigenous breeds of cattle (OR = 2.83; p < 0.001) are found to be more susceptible to FMD compared to exotic and crossbreeds. The risk factors identified in this article will serve as a baseline for the development of risk based FMD control program in future.

All over the world, it is quite difficult to do the desalination of sea water. Alongside it is very tough to do cultivation and manage daily needs in a coastal area due to lack of distilled water. And the traditional desalination processes are very costly and time consuming at the same time. So, in this project a solar-desalination process is proposed that desalinate sea water with a very low cost and effort. Besides that human civilization is now pushed forward to a new era where every bulk automated structure is getting compact through the use of microcontroller. This incited us to design a microcontroller based solar-desalination system, which is powered by solar energy. The proposed model of sea water desalination for coastal area uses concentrated sunlight through Fresnel Lens as the main factor together with a solar panel. And the whole process of sea water collection to desalination of the water is controlled via an Arduino Uno.

Yttrium (Y) substituted Mg Zn ferrites with the compositions of Mg0.5Zn0.5YxFe2 xO4 have been synthesized by conventional standard ceramic technique. The effect of Y3+ substitution on the structural, electrical, dielectric and magnetic properties of Mg Zn ferrites has been studied., 25 pages, 8 figure

212 MAX phase borides are new additions to the MAX phase family with enhanced thermo-mechanical properties. In this article, first-principles calculations have been carried out to explore the mechanical properties, Vickers hardness, elastic anisotropy, thermal properties, and optical properties of predicted thermodynamically stable MAX compounds Hf2AB2 (A = In, Sn). The structural properties are compared with the available data to assess the validity of calculations. The mechanical stability of Hf2AB2 (A = In, Sn) compounds is established with the help of the computed stiffness constants (Cij). The possible reason for enhanced mechanical properties and Vickers hardness of Hf2SnB2 is explained based on the analysis of bonding strength, followed by the electronic density of states. Higher mechanical strength and Vickers hardness of Hf2AB2 (A = In, Sn) compared to Hf2AC (A = In, Sn) are also indicated in the light of charge density mapping. The values of Pugh ratio, Poisson’s ratio and Cauchy pressure predict brittle character of the studied compounds. Besides, the anisotropic nature of the titled borides is investigated by 2D and 3D plots of elastic moduli along with some well established anisotropy indices. Thermal properties were investigated by calculating the Debye temperature, minimum thermal conductivity, Gruneisen parameter, and melting temperature. The thermal properties of Hf2AB2 (A = In, Sn) are also superior to Hf2AC (A = In, Sn). The optical constants such as real and imaginary parts of the dielectric function, refractive index, extinction coefficient, absorption coefficient, photoconductivity, reflectivity, and loss function are investigated.

We have carried out a first-principles investigation of mechanical, electronic, thermodynamic and optical properties of the recently predicted thermodynamically stable MAX phase boride Hf3PB4 for the first time. The calculated lattice constants of the optimized cell volume are consistent with those found earlier. Mechanical properties characterized by parameters such as C44, B (bulk modulus), G (shear modulus), Y (Young’s modulus), Hmacro (macro-hardness) and Hmicro (micro-hardness) of Hf3PB4 boride are compared with those of existing 211, 312 and 413 MAX phases. None of the MAX compounds synthesized so far has higher Hmacro and/or Hmicro than that of the predicted Hf3PB4 nanolaminate. Calculations of stiffness constants (Cij) indicate that Hf3PB4 is mechanically stable. The extraordinarily high values of elastic moduli and hardness parameters are explained with the use of density of states (DOS) and charge density mapping (CDM). The high stiffness of Hf3PB4 arises because of the additional B atoms which results in the strong B–B covalent bonds in the crystal. The band structure and DOS calculations are used to confirm the metallic properties with dominant contribution from the Hf-5d states around the Fermi level. The technologically important thermal parameters such Debye temperature, minimum thermal conductivity, Gruneisen parameter and melting temperature of Hf3PB4 are calculated. The important optical constants are calculated and analyzed in detail and their relevance to possible applications in the optoelectronic sectors is discussed. Our study reveals that Hf3PB4 has the potential to be the hardest known MAX phase based on the values of C44, Hmacro and Hmicro.

In the present work, the structural and hitherto unexplored thermal and mechanical properties of NaInS2-xSex (x = 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0) compounds have been studied using the density functional theory. Besides, the elastic anisotropy indices and hardnesses of NaInS2-xSex have been investigated as Se content is varied. The mechanical stability of all the compounds under study has been confirmed. The ratio of shear to bulk modulus (G/B) is low suggesting that the NaInS2-xSex (x = 0.5 and 1.5) compounds exhibit damage tolerant (ductility) properties while rest of the compositions are brittle in nature. The predicted hardness (H) values are also influenced with the Se content in the following order: H (NaInSSe) > H (NaInS2) > H (NaInSe2) > H (NaInS1.5Se0.5) > H (NaInS0.5Se1.5). All the anisotropic indices under study indicate that NaInS2-xSex compounds are anisotropic in nature. The Mulliken bond population analysis suggests that the degree of covalency of In-S/Se bonds decreases when S is substituted by Se. The origin of low Debye temperature ({\Theta}D) and low minimum thermal conductivity (Kmin) have been successfully explained by considering the mean atomic weight (M/n) and average bond strength of the compounds. Temperature dependence of heat capacities (Cv, Cp) and linear thermal expansion coefficient ({\alpha} ) are also estimated using the quasi-harmonic Debye model and discussed. The low values of Kmin, {\Theta}D and {\alpha} and damage tolerant behavior clearly indicate that the NaInS2-xSex (x = 0.5 and 1.5) compounds can be used as promising thermal barrier coating materials for high temperature applications., Comment: 23 pages, 11 figures, 7 Tables