Search

Modeling light–matter interactions in hybrid plasmonic materials is vital to their widening relevance from optoelectronics to photocatalysis. Here, we explore photoluminescence (PL) from ZnO nanorods (ZNRs) embedded with gold nanoparticles (Au NPs). A progressive increase in Au NP concentration introduces significant structural disorder and defects in ZNRs, which paradoxically quenches defect related visible PL while intensifying the near band edge (NBE) emission. Under UV excitation, the simulated semi-classical model realizes PL from ZnO with sub-bandgap defect states, eliciting visible emissions that are absorbed by Au NPs to generate a non-equilibrium hot carrier distribution. The photo-stimulated hot carriers, transferred to ZnO, substantially modify its steady-state luminescence, reducing NBE emission lifetime and altering the abundance of ionized defect states, finally reducing visible emission. The simulations show that the change in the interfacial band bending at the Au–ZnO interface under optical illumination facilitates charge transfer between the components. This work provides a general foundation to observe and model the hot carrier dynamics and strong light–matter interactions in hybrid plasmonic systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We model the enhancement of near band edge emission from ZnO nanorods using plasmonic metal nanoparticles and compare it with emission enhancement from ZnO with semiconducting quantum dots. Selected CdSe quantum dots with absorption energies close to those of Ag and Au nanoparticles are chosen to construct model systems with ZnO to comprehend the role of ZnO's intrinsic defects and plasmonic excitation in realizing the spectrally selective luminescence enhancement. Excitation wavelength dependent photoluminescence spectra along with theoretical models quantifying the related transitions and plasmonic absorption reveal that a complex mechanism of charge transfer between the ZnO nanorods and metal nanoparticles or quantum dots is essential along with an optimal energy band alignment for realizing emission enhancement. The theoretical model presented also provides a direct method of quantifying the relative transition rate constants associated with various electronic transitions in ZnO and their change upon the incorporation of plasmonic nanoparticles. The results indicate that, while the presence of deep level defect states may facilitate the essential charge transfer process between ZnO and the plasmonic nanoparticles, their presence alone does not guarantee UV emission enhancement and strong plasmonic coupling between the two systems. The results offer clues to designing novel multicomponent systems with coupled plasmonic and charge transfer effects for applications in charge localization, energy harvesting, and luminescence enhancement, especially in electrically triggered nanophotonic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pre-sowing seed hardening and foliar spray with plant growth regulators is an easy, low cost and low risk technique and also an alternative approach recently used to mitigate the effect of abiotic stresses in agricultural production. Methods: The mung bean var. GAM-5 was treated with seed hardening treatments and also for foliar spray using CaCl2 2% and 1%, CCC 500 mg/L, CCC 1000 mg/L, NAA 25 mg/L, NAA 50 mg/L. during summer season of 2015-16 and 2016-17. The trial was laid out in RBD with three replications and sixteen treatment combinations. Result: The results indicated a significant improvement in morpho-physiological growth parameters, dry matter production and thereby yield potential increased due to the application of plant growth regulators and agrochemical under field conditions. Among the different treatments, seed hardening with 2% CaCl2 + 1% foliar spraying at 30 DAS (T11) treatment significantly improved most of morphophysiological parameters and thereby yield in green gram followed by the seed hardening treatments of Cycocel 1000 mg/L + foliar spraying at 30 DAS (T13) and seed hardening with NAA 50 mg/L + foliar spraying at 30 DAS (T15). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Green gram is a drought resistant crop requires low inputs. The productivity of mung bean is very low. Initial germination, growth and vigour are some major reasons of low productivity. The present investigation was carried out to study the effect of seed hardening on morpho-physiological and seedling quality characters in green gram. Methods: The green gram var. GAM-5 was imposed with seed hardening treatments viz., 2% CaCl2, 500 ppm Cycocel, 1000 ppm Cycocel, 25 ppm NAA, 50 ppm NAA, water soaked control and absolute control. The treated seeds along with control were evaluated for their seedling quality characters under laboratory conditions. Result: The study reported that seeds hardened with CaCl2 @ 2% recorded higher germination per cent, root, shoot and seedling length, fresh weight, turgor weight, dry weight and seed vigour index I and II. Seed hardened with 50 ppm NAA reported higher root dry weight and root to shoot ratio on dry weight basis while Cycocel 1000 ppm treatment recorded higher root to shoot ratio on length basis. The treatments CaCl2 2% followed by Cycocel 1000 ppm were found to be superior as compared to other treatments and control on the basis of lab studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pre-sowing seed priming and foliar spraying with Plant Growth Regulators is an easy, low cost and low risk technique and also an alternative approach recently used to mitigate the effect of abiotic stresses in agricultural production. Methods: Seeds of Mung bean var. GAM-5 were primed and also foliar spraying at 30 DAS with CaCl2 2% and 1%, Cycocel 500, 1000 ppm, NAA 25, 50 ppm during summer season of 2015-16 and 2016-17. Result: The results indicated a significant improvement in morpho-physiological traits, growth parameters, biochemical constituents and thereby yield due to the application of PGRs. Seed priming with 2% CaCl2 followed by 1% foliar spraying at 30 DAS (T11) significantly improved most of morpho-physiological parameters viz., plant height, number of branches per plant, days to 50% flowering, maturity, leaf area, chlorophyll content, seed protein content, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, test weight, pod length, yield per plant, yield per hectare, harvest index in green gram followed by the seed priming with Cycocel 1000 ppm followed by foliar spraying at 30 DAS (T13) and seed priming with NAA 50 ppm followed by foliar spraying at 30 DAS (T15). The treatment T11 was more efficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mung bean is important pulse crop having low productivity. Considering the constraints, it is worthwhile to study the influence of different seed hardening and foliar spraying treatments on the production potential of mung bean. Metohds: Mung bean var. GAM-5 was imposed with seed hardening treatments and also for foliar spray using CaCl2 2% & 1%, CCC 500 mg/L, CCC 1000 mg/L, NAA 25 mg/L, NAA 50 mg/L during summer season of 2015-16 and 2016-17. These treatments were evaluated for their dry matter partitioning at field conditions. Result: The leaf dry matter decreased in all the treatments after 60 DAS at the time of pod development upto harvest. There was a very less rate of increase in the stem and root dry matter from pod development stage till the harvest leading to an increase in pod weight. The translocation process must have been more prominent in the treatment CaCl2 2% seed hardening + 1% spraying at 30 DAS (T11) than rest of the treatments and was less in untreated control treatment indicating that photosynthesis and translocation efficiency increases by seed hardening and foliar spraying treatments with agrochemical and growth regulators for increasing the pod yield. Therefore, the treatment T11 was more efficient in dry matter production and its partitioning in leaves, stem, root and pods by allocating maximum dry matter to the pods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The field experiment was conducted during July to October, 2018 at Castor- Mustard Research Station, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar, Gujarat, India to access genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance for seed yield and its attributing traits in 45 genotypes of sesame. Analysis of variance revealed significant difference among genotypes for all the eleven characters which indicated presence of sufficient variability among the genotypes under study, hence there is an ample scope of selection for superior and desired genotypes to plant breeder for further crop improvement. The values of phenotypic coefficient of variation were slightly higher than that of genotypic coefficient of variation for all the traits studied. The high values of genotypic coefficient of variation and phenotypic coefficient of variation were recorded for seed yield plant-1, leaf area plant-1 and number of effective branches plant-1 indicated the presence of wide genetic variation for these characters. High heritability was recorded for 1000 seed weight, followed by leaf area plant-1, oil content, days to flowering, capsule length plant-1, number of capsules plant-1, days to maturity, seed yield plant-1 and number of effective branches plant-1 indicated that heritability may be due to higher contribution of genotypic component in these traits. High heritability combined with high genetic advance as percentage of mean was recorded for leaf area plant-1, seed yield plant-1, number of effective branches plant-1, number of capsules plant-1, 1000 seed weight and days to flowering indicating that these characters are controlled by additive gene effect and phenotypic selection of these characters would be effective for genetic improvement of seed yield in sesame. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A rod of grain oriented Terfenol-D has been subjected to cyclic uniaxial stress of [+ or -]100 MPa about a mean preload of [approximately]120 MPa applied along the grain growth axis. The magnetostrictive strain and d-coefficient measured under uniaxial preload and quasi static magnetic fields are shown to increase after the initial [10.sup.6] cycles of stress. The characterisation of the magnetomechanical behaviour from resonance analyses indicates a slight hardening of the material after -6 x [10.sup.7] cycles and that to regain optimum magnetomechanical coupling, the bias preload and DC bias fields require adjustment in keeping with the effects of the stress cycling. These initial results indicate that magnetostrictive devices constructed from Terfenol-D offer a significant advantage compared with ceramic (PZT) actuators when applied in load bearing situations.

A comparison of two samples of TbxDy(1-x)Fe1.95 at high temperatures indicates that the sample with x = 0.27 has lower strains and d coefficients than the sample in which x is 0.3. The sample with x = 0.27 has better coupling efficiency. These data, obtained from magnetostrictive strain coupling and differential strain coefficients measurements, facilitate an understanding of the magnetic properties of highly magnetostrictive compounds.

The DC field and pressure dependencies of the magnetic induction (B) and magnetostrictive strain (Lambda) have been measured at room temperature in Terfenol-D (Tb0.3Dy0.7Fe1.95) and in the compound Tb0.3Dy0.7(Fe0.9Al0.1)1.95. From these data the static differential permeability (Mu) and strain coefficient (d(sub 33) = dLambda/dH) have been obtained. A comparison of their magnetostrictive responses indicate that the magnetocrystalline anisotropy is reduced by the addition of Al to Terfenol-D, in keeping with the observed increase in low field permeability. A slight lowering of d(sub 33) with Al content is attributed to a reduction in magnetoelastic coupling, also seen in a lower magnetomechanical coupling coefficient. The work done by either compound against the applied pressure for different isostatic fields has been calculated. From these curves the residual stress levels, T(sub 0), are substantially lower than those reported previously in Tb0.27Dy0.73Fe2, indicating that in the present compounds T(sub 0) is due mainly to inhomogeneities and defects, rather than anisotropy.

Magnetoelastic effects in the rare-earth iron-aluminum compounds Tb0.3Dy0.7(Fe1-xAlx)1.95 grown by a float-zone technique were investigated. The results showed that the samples featured excellent magnetoelastic performance comparable to that of the highly-magnetorestrictive ternary alloy Terfenol-D. In addition, the substitution of Al for Fe produced higher electrical resistivity and enhanced ductile properties.

Our world is, at a point in terms of the environment. The fashioned industrial approach, which heavily relies on centralized systems and resource-intensive computing is no longer sustainable. This document delves into a way to embrace Green Web 3.0, Decentralized AI and Edge Intelligence to drive the industry to-ward a more sustainable future. Green Web 3.0 challenges the energy nature of blockchain technology by utilizing eco-friendly protocols such as Proof of Stake which reduces energy consumption and lessens environmental impact. Similarly, Decentralized AI empowers distributed systems decreasing dependence, on data centers and promoting efficient resource utilization. Building on this foundation Edge Intelligence enables real-time decision making and data processing at the source reducing data transfer and optimizing energy efficiency. The combination of these technologies has the potential to revolutionize industries. Picture smart factories adjusting production in real-time supply chains supported by networks and renewable energy networks managed by intelligent edge devices.

The present study was conducted in 20 growing female Mehsana buffalo calves to study the effect of feeding cotton seed cake with the objective to increase growth and blood biochemical profile. Mehsana buffalo calves of 3-6 months of age were randomly divided in two groups on the basis of body weight and age. Group I was control (T1) fed Banasdan (concentrate mixture) whereas, group II (T2) was fed with cottonseed cake @ 700g, 850g and 960g for 1st, 2nd and 3rd month of treatment, respectively in addition to concentrate feed. Both the groups fed green fodder @ 3kg and dry fodder @ 1kg per day throughout the experiment. Body weights of individual calves were recorded at the commencement of the experiment and followed by monthly interval. Blood-biochemical constituents were recorded on day 1 and thereafter on day 90 of experiment period to analyze the changes in blood constituents in T1 and T2 groups. Average daily body weight gain of calves during the experimental period was higher (P<0.01) in T2 group as compared to T1 group. The serum glucose level was higher (P < 0.05) in T1 group than T2 on day 90. The values of serum cholesterol, protein, globulin, ALP, SGOT and SGPT concentration were also significantly (P < 0.01) higher in T2 group than T1 on day 90. However, the differences for serum albumin, A/G ratio, calcium and phosphorus on day 90 were found to be non-significant whereas metabolic hormone level T3 and T4 were significantly (P < 0.01) higher in T2 than T1 on day 90. The results are indicative of supplementation of cotton seed cake in addition to Banasdan accelerated the growth, blood biochemical parameters and hormonal levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]