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Background: Peninsular India, being completely under the influence of monsoonal climate, suffers crop yield variability due to rainfall distribution-induced soil moisture constraints. Timely and appropriate assessment of this rainfall and soil moisture-induced crop yield variability serves as a key for exemplary relief assistance. Per cent available soil moisture (PASM) is one among several drought declaration indices followed by stakeholders in India for declaration of drought, needs re-evaluation as the existing criteria in unable to capture the yield loss due to ineffective classification of PASM categories. This study attempts to revise the agricultural drought classes by PASM based on relationships established between yield of major rainfed crops of the study region and PASM.Methods: Analysis of yield variability due to PASM was carried out based on long term observations in experiments conducted at five dry farming locations (Akola, Parbhani, Kovilpatti, Ananthapuramu and Bengaluru) of peninsular India. The average yield for each category of PASM was calculated and tabulated for regression analysis. The PASM versus yield in each group was correlated and regression equations were developed if significant positive correlations were established.Results: The range of available soil moisture to obtain at least 50 percent of optimum yield in cereals (maize: 26 and finger millet: 52.9 PASM), pulses (pigeon pea: 37.2 PASM), oilseeds (soybean: 26.8 to 30.5, groundnut: 53.8 to 61.7 PASM) and commercial crops (cotton: 26.3 PASM) was 26–61 percent.Conclusion: The revised PASM-based drought classes (0–50 severe; 51–75 mild and 76–100 no drought) would help in drought declaration and precise identification of drought-hit areas for meaningful relief assistance. However, there is further investigation is needed to include a soil component for further fine-tuning of the criteria.

Abstract 3D inkjet printing is a fast, reliable, and non‐contact bottom–up approach to printing small and large models and is one of the fastest additive manufacturing technologies available. These attributes position inkjet printing as a promising tool for the additive manufacturing of biomaterials, for example, tissue engineering scaffolds. However, due to the stringent technical rheological requirements of current inkjet technologies, there is a lack of photopolymer resins suitable for the inkjet printing of biomaterials. Hence, a novel ink engineered for 3D piezoelectric inkjet printing of biomaterials is designed and developed. The novel resin leverages a biodegradable amino acid phosphorodiamidate matrix copolymerized with a dialkyne ether to modulate the viscosity. Copolymerization with commercially available thiols facilitates the photochemical thiol‐yne curing reaction. The ink exhibits optimal viscosity, eliminating the need for solvents, as well as reliable jetting and sufficiently swift curing kinetics. Furthermore, the formulation is successfully demonstrated in an industrial inkjet printhead. Notably, the resulting materials have low cytotoxicity and, hence, have significant promise in advancing the applications of 3D inkjet printing of biological scaffolds.

Bicultural research is important for disaster education in Aotearoa NZ. Historically, deficit-based perspectives of Western Science underrepresent Maori knowledge. However, culturally grounded research partnerships have potential to revitalize engagement with Maori by braiding Indigenous Science and Western Science narratives to improve our collective understanding of the volcanic processes. We share insights from participant interviews on the co-creation of an educational virtual field trip (VFT) resource that weaves understandings from Matauranga Maori and Geology to teach about caldera volcanoes in Aotearoa NZ. This study highlights some key considerations for collaboration between Indigenous Maori and non-Maori partners. To conduct the research in a culturally appropriate way, a formal kawa (protocol) was established between the lead researcher and the Maori partners and culturally acceptable ethics in accordance with the Maori partners were implemented. The He Awa Whiria (braided river) methodology was followed through the multiple stages of engagement and the two-staged interview study design. Emergent codes from the interview indicate that "relations" and "values" are crucial for authentic partnerships and create "space for sharing" where challenges and emerging understandings can be repositioned. This study demonstrates that Maori academics, local Maori facilitators and researchers are crucial in the engagement process with local iwi (tribes) to define shared goals and understand expected project outcomes. We suggest that the development of bicultural educational resources must be grounded in an understanding of obligations to uphold the intergenerational intellectual property of the local iwi. This process requires significant resourcing of time, knowledge and energy and should be budgeted-in prior to the start of project-partnerships.

This theoretical article is devoted to the creation of Blended Learning Model [BLM] which aims at providing a learning environment for enriching entrepreneurial skills among women. Product Development process has been employed for developing BLM. Self-instructional strategies are also applied to design the learning situation in the BLM. Face to face and online mode of learning are effectively blended in the BLM which includes 70% learning through online and only 30% happens in face to face mode. There is a scientific course alignment that has been established in different aspects of the BLM such as the aims & objectives, commitments of learner, content and context, learning outcomes and human interactions, interactions with content, scenarios based learning for creating contextual learning environment, etc. Self-governed learning activities have been developed for the purpose of effective learning. Maximum teaching-learning activities were carried out through a computer-mediated online platform and some of them were provided through the face to face mode of learning. The development process of BLM has been described in detailed in present paper.

The growing recognition of virtual field trips (VFTs) to support classrooms has led to increasing use of these tools in science classrooms. In Aotearoa New Zealand, the Ministry of Education has underscored the need for educational experiences that are inclusive of Indigenous Maori worldviews. Here, we present the potential of the LEARNZ natural hazards "Our Supervolcano" VFT to support bicultural learning spaces. The resource was filmed in 2019 to promote learning about natural hazards specifically volcanoes around Lake Taupo in Aotearoa. Drawing understandings from Matauranga Maori and Western science, this resource can support a bicultural approach to classroom science learning. The VFT videos are powerful storytelling tools where students can identify potential career pathways around science and its link with culture in the context of the landscape. We describe the main features of the VFT designed for use concurrently with the filming. We additionally highlight its potential as an archived (historical) resource that maybe re-used at any time to support primary and secondary classrooms that want to emphasize cross-cultural aspects of science or learn about volcanic hazards using geology and cultural narratives.

The article emphasizes the effects of blended learning program for enhancing entrepreneurial skills among women in Maharashtra with special reference to Pune district. The present study results in the creation of the entrepreneurial skill matrix that explores the necessary skills for creative entrepreneurs. Performing the entrepreneurial skill assessment is an extremely important and foremost a step of the instructional design. A significant difference was observed in posttest and pretest scores of women students, which seemingly shows that the experimental group has increased the level of entrepreneurial skills reasonably much more in posttest compared with pretest because of blended learning interventions.

Temperature is one of the key factor that affecting the electrical, physical, structural, and morphological properties as well as the crystallinity of the nanomaterials. The current study investigates the effect of annealing temperature on the structural and electrical properties of lanthanum oxide (La2O3) thick films. La2O3 thick films were prepared on a glass substrate using a conventional screen printing technique. In this work, T1 is an unannealed prepared film, whereas T2 and T3 are annealed in a muffle furnace for 3 hours at 350°C and 450°C, respectively. XRD technique was exploited to investigate the crystallization behavior of the films. It was found that the crystal structure of La2O3 thick films are pure hexagonal phase. The annealing temperatures were revealed to have influence on the crystallite sizes of the films. SEM and EDS was used to study the morphology and elemental analysis of the films respectively. The electrical properties of the films were explored by measuring resistivity, temperature coefficient of resistivity (TCR), and activation energy at lower and higher temperatures regions. The film annealed at 450°C has high resistivity, a high TCR, and small crystallite size. The thickness of the La2O3 thick films was also found to decrease as the annealing temperature increased.

This theoretical article is devoted to the creation of Blended Learning Model [BLM] which aims at providing a learning environment for enriching entrepreneurial skills among women. Product Development process has been employed for developing BLM. Self-instructional strategies are also applied to design the learning situation in the BLM. Face to face and online mode of learning are effectively blended in the BLM which includes 70% learning through online and only 30% happens in face to face mode. There is a scientific course alignment that has been established in different aspects of the BLM such as the aims & objectives, commitments of learner, content and context, learning outcomes and human interactions, interactions with content, scenarios based learning for creating contextual learning environment, etc. Self-governed learning activities have been developed for the purpose of effective learning. Maximum teaching-learning activities were carried out through a computer-mediated online platform and some of them were provided through the face to face mode of learning. The development process of BLM has been described in detailed in present paper.

Bone tissue engineering (BTE) has emerged as a promising approach for the regeneration and repair of bone defects caused by trauma, disease, or aging. This review provides an overview of recent advancements in BTE, with a focus on the development and application of biomaterial‐based scaffolds, including natural (e.g., collagen, chitosan), synthetic (e.g., polylactic acid [PLA], polycaprolactone [PCL]), and composite materials (e.g., hydroxyapatite‐based composites). It discusses their properties, benefits, and limitations. Additionally, this review examines innovative fabrication strategies such as 3D printing, electrospinning, and freeze‐drying, which enhance scaffold customization and performance. This review aims to provide insights into future directions of BTE research and its potential applications in regenerative medicine. Functionalization strategies, including surface modifications, coating, and the incorporation of growth factors and cells, are reviewed for their roles in improving scaffold bioactivity. In vivo and in vitro research have demonstrated the therapeutic promise of these scaffolds, while current clinical trials offer insights into their translational use. Challenges facing the translation of these technologies into clinical practice are also highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study portrays a novel post-processing treatment by using microwave radiations for enhancing mechanical properties of five commonly used engineering polymers, polyamide (PA), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polypropylene (PP), polycarbonate (PC), and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS). The analysis revealed that the crystal structures of the polymers improved after the treatment due to more favorable rearrangement of crystalline segments within the polymers. Furthermore, tensile properties and tribological performance of microwave-treated polymers were found to be significantly better when compared to those of untreated counterparts. The tensile strength, elongation, and wear performance of PA increased by 51%, 286%, and 45%, respectively, only after a treatment of 20 s. A similar response was also exhibited by other polymers as well. It was noted that optimum time for microwave treatment can vary depending on different crystalline nature of the polymers. The degree of randomness in the molecular chains of semicrystalline polymers is less; thus, it requires less treatment time. However, for amorphous polymers, as randomness increases, more time is needed. As such, post-processing microwave treatment of polymers has proven beneficial as a cost-effective, time-saving, and environment-friendly technique for enhancing material properties significantly. KEYWORDS polymers, post-processing microwave treatment, radiation processing, structural rearrangement, tensile properties, tribological performance, 1 | INTRODUCTION The use of polymers in the last few decades has increased greatly due to their good strength-to-stiffness ratio, lightweight, anticorrosive nature, resistance to chemical attacks, good thermal [...]

This research was undertaken with a view to assess the deficiencies in English language among Primary School Children and to develop Multimedia Scenario Based Learning Programme (MSBLP) for mastery of English language which required special attention and effective treatment. The experimental study with pre-test, post-test control group design was employed to carry out the experiment of MSBLP in a sample school and to determine its efficacy for enhancing English Language skills among Primary School Students. In India, the Central and State Government has made great efforts to Education for All (EFA) and initiated several programs to provide universal access to education, to reduce the drop-out rates and ensure achievement of minimum levels of learning. To our surprise the scenario had not much changed inside the classroom even implementing several programmes. However, it was still unclear how effective was the delivery of the course content in the classroom. An intensive training for teachers on a regular basis on a state-wide scale may not be feasible again and again. Hence, multimedia offers pragmatic solutions so that this research paper devoted to explore the issues of learning English and describes the creation of MSBLP as a solution in scientific manner.