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Climate change is a worldwide concern with a peril to the long-term viability of agriculture. Elevated temperature (eTemp.) and elevated CO2 (eCO2) are the two facets of climate change with a substantial effect on crop production and protection. The life table analysis of Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in chickpea was conducted using a unique facility, CO2 and Temperature Gradient Chambers (CTGC). Two CO2 levels (aCO2 – 400 and eCO2- 550 ppm) and six temperatures (20, 27, 28, 30, 33 & 35 ± 0.5 °C) were adopted for the experimentation. Leaves of the chickpea crop raised at eCO2 had higher carbon, lower leaf nitrogen, and a higher ratio of carbon to nitrogen (C: N) over aCO2. Higher rm, intrinsic rate of increase (0.22), Ro, net reproductive rate (123.80) and λ, finite rate of increase (1.25) were with eTemp + eCO2 condition and started decreasing beyond the point of inflection that varied with the parameters. Reduction in generation time ‘T’ with increase in temperature at both levels of CO2 and varied between 50 and 20 days at 20–35 °C. Empirical models developed using the data of life table parameters with eTemp and eCO2. Ensembled temperature data of 32 GCMS of 4 Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) viz., RCP 2.6, 4.5, 6.0 and 8.5 of Coupled Model Inter comparison Project 5 (CMIP5) models was used for predicting the pest scenarios. The increase in projected maximum temperature (Tmax) is 0.71–4.66 °C and minimum temperature (Tmin) is 0.82–5.26 °C which are apparent in 3 future Time slice periods (TSPs) viz., 2030's, 2050's and 2080's over base line (BL) period across 4 RCPs at 18 chickpea growing locations of India. The prediction of S. exigua during the future TSPs reveals that insect pest would be with higher ‘rm’ and ‘λ’, varied ‘Ro’ and reduced ‘T’ at 18 locations of India implying increased pest prevalence in the future.

Current research focused on local bio-waste paper egg trays for the extraction of nano cellulose via common chemical method followed by mechano-ball milling process. The characteristic features of extracted cellulose were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), x-ray diffraction (X-RD), elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and micro calorimeter. The optimized alkali-acid (NaOH(10%)-H2SO4(65%)) is the best percentage for the extraction of cellulose in a nano-form with almost no impurities as clearly described through SEM (~500 nm), FTIR further strengthens the O-H, C-H, C = O, C-O(acyl) and C-O (alkoxy) bond peaks at 3660–2900, 3472, 1656, 1315, and 1026 cm−1, and XRD analysis showed the % crystallinity 88.2 and average grain size 4 nm. Furthermore, TGA and micro calorimeter analysis exhibited significant thermal performance (~19 wt.% @700°C) and flame retardancy (pHRR 132 kJ/g). EDX and elemental analysis further supported the extracted cellulose. Overall, this investigation provides an economic and easy way of producing nano-cellulose that can replace the commercial nano-cellulose as reinforcement for natural fiber composites.

The novel aligned polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) green core–shell nanofibers were reinforced to carbon fiber/epoxy prepregs and were manufactured through the vacuum bagging technique. Aligned nanofibers were achieved by suspending a grounded needle between the nozzle and the collector of electrospinning. The self-healing properties were tested through a periodic three-point bending test at an interval of 24 h at room temperature. The healing behavior was further confirmed through field-emission scanning electron microscopy coupled with dispersion X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and an electrical conductivity test. The self-healing prepregs (1038.42 MPa) regained 66% of their original strength (1577.85 MPa) after the initial damage. EDX analysis confirmed the elements of the resin (VE (C, O)) and hardener (MEKP (C, O), CN (C, O, Co)) from the ruptured healing carriers. The damaged carbon prepregs healed by showing electrical conductivity of around 83%. The mechanical properties of self-healing composites were tested by tensile, flexural, and Izod impact tests and showed an increment in both flexural (7–12%) and impact strength (5–7%) with the addition of nanofibers. Overall, the research findings provided a design of eco-friendly carriers for carbon fiber-reinforced composites to obtain decent self-healing properties without deteriorating the mechanical strength.

Aim of study: To determine the amount of diversity in pea breeding materials with the objective to classify a set of potential parents carrying novel/economic variations that could be used in future breed pea varieties. Area of study: ICAR–Indian Institute of Vegetable Research, Varanasi. Material and methods: A total of 45 pea accessions were analysed for phenotypic and molecular diversity using 17 agro-morphological traits and 52 SSR markers. Main results: All traits under investigation showed considerable genetic variation. The genotypes exhibited 6.7, 2.7 and 12-fold variation for traits viz., pods/plant, 10-pod weight and yield/plant, respectively. Among 52 SSR markers, 22 were found to be polymorphic. A total of 90 allelic variants were detected, with an average of 2.7 alleles/locus. PIC and D-values for markers AA135 (0.79 and 0.81) and PSMPSAD51 (0.7 and 0.74) were the highest, while AB40 (0.19 and 0.2) had the lowest. Two principal components PC1 and PC2 explained 46.96 and 23.96% of total variation, respectively. The clustering based on agro-morphological traits differentiated 45 individuals into three mega clusters, while SSR markers-based clustering classified these accessions into four groups. Research highlights: Based on their uniqueness, we identified a set of genotypes (VRPD-2, VRPD-3, PC-531, ‘Kashi Nandini’, ‘Kashi Udai’, ‘Kashi Mukti’, ‘Arkel’, VRPE-101, ‘Azad Pea-3’, EC865944, VRPM-901 and VRP-500) harbouring genes for various economic traits. The findings presented here will be extremely useful to breeders who are working on improvement of peas through selective introgression breeding.

The notion of prime ideals is introduced in transitive BE-algebras. Prime ideals are characterized with the help of principal ideals. Prime ideal theorem is stated and derived for BE-algebras. The concept of minimal prime ideals is introduced in transitive BE-algebras. A decomposition theorem of proper ideals into minimal prime ideals is derived.

In the era of climate change, the overall productivity of pea (Pisum sativum L.) is being threatened by several abiotic stresses including heat stress (HS). HS causes severe yield losses by adversely affecting several traits in peas. A reduction in pod yield has been reported from 11.1% to 17.5% when mean daily temperature increase from 1.4 to 2.2°C. High-temperature stress (30.5-33°C) especially during reproductive phase is known to drastically reduce both seed yield and germination. HS during germination and early vegetative stage resulted in poor emergence and stunted plant growth along with detrimental effects on physiological functions of the pea plant. To combat HS and continue its life cycle, plants use various defense strategies including heat escape, avoidance or tolerance mechanisms. Ironically, the threshold temperatures for pea plant and its responses are inconsistent and not yet clearly identified. Trait discovery through traditional breeding such as semi leaflessness (afila), upright growing habit, lodging tolerance, lower canopy temperature and small seeded nature has highlighted their utility for greater adaptation under HS in pea. Screening of crop gene pool and landraces for HS tolerance in a targeted environment is a simple approach to identify HS tolerant genotypes. Thus, precise phenotyping using modern phenomics tools could lead to increased breeding efficiency. The NGS (next generation sequencing) data can be associated to find the candidate genes responsible for the HS tolerance in pea. In addition, genomic selection, genome wide association studies (GWAS) and marker assisted selection (MAS) can be used for the development of HS tolerant pea genotypes. Additionally, development of transgenics could be an alternative strategy for the development of HS tolerant pea genotypes. This review comprehensively covers the various aspects of HS tolerance mechanisms in the pea plant, screening protocols, omic advances, and future challenges for the development of HS tolerant genotypes.

Abstract This study aimed to produce a new potential flame retardant thermoset resin from epoxidised corn oil through a one-pot method using liquid inorganic catalysed with hydrogen peroxide. Using a gas chromatography–mass selective detector, attenuated total reflectance-fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, proton nuclear magnetic resonance imaging, optical microscopy, and scanning emission microscopy, we synthesised a bio-based resin based on newly designed parameters. The flame retardant capacity was fully established using thermogravimetric analysis and a micro calorimeter. The produced epoxidised corn oil had a relative percentage conversion of oxirane of approximately 91.70%, wherein the amount of double bonds converted into epoxides was calculated. A significant reduction from 17 to 40% in peak heat rate release (pHRR) and 26–30% in total heat release was observed, confirming its flame retardant property. Thus, the potential of epoxidised corn oil was demonstrated.

As a vegetable crop, sponge gourd is widely consumed worldwide due to its health promoting and nutraceutical value. This study describes genetics of an aromatic genotype VRSG-7-17 and deciphers the genetic control and volatile compound composition of sponge gourd. To study the inheritance of this trait, a cross was made between aromatic light-green-fruited VRSG-7-17 and non-aromatic dark-green-fruited VRSG-194 genotypes. The F1s were found to be non-aromatic and have a green fruit colour. Chi-square (χ2) analysis of backcross and F2 population segregating for aroma suggested that the inheritance of aroma in VRSG-7-17 is governed by a single recessive gene in a simple Mendelian fashion. The SPME–GC/MS analysis of the volatile compounds suggested that the compounds responsible for Basmati rice-like aroma were mainly hexanal, 1-octen-3-ol, 3-octanone and limonene. The aroma persists in the cooked VRSG-7-17 fruits, that did not lose fragrance traits at high temperatures. The inheritance of fruit colour was found to be controlled by a single gene with incomplete dominance. The segregation analysis showed that the aroma and fruit colour were not linked, and they segregated independently. The findings will lead to understanding the inheritance of the aromatic compounds in the sponge gourd and may be utilised in the breeding programmes for developing improved aromatic varieties.

Vasculitis poses a great diagnostic, investigative and therapeutic challenge to the treating physician. The classification of vasculitides itself still eludes universal acceptance. Comprehensive management comprises establishing the diagnosis of true vasculitis after ruling out vasculitis mimics, finding the etiology if feasible, assessing the caliber of the vessels involved, deciphering the pathological process of vessel damage, investigating for the existence and extent of systemic involvement and finally planning the therapy in the background of co-morbidities. Successful management also entails regular monitoring to foresee complications arising from the disease process itself as well as complications of immunosuppressive treatment. Although steroids remain first line drug, biologics are emerging as popular agents in the treatment of immune-mediated vasculitis. Triphasic treatment is the best plan of action comprising induction, maintenance of remission and treatment of relapses.

This study reports the development of a garden pea genotype 'VRPM-901-5' producing five flowers per peduncle at multiple flowering nodes, by using single plant selection approach from a cross 'VL-8 × PC-531'. In addition, five other stable genetic stocks, namely VRPM-501, VRPM-502, VRPM-503, VRPM-901-3 and VRPSeL-1 producing three flowers per peduncle at multiple flowering nodes were also developed. All these unique genotypes were of either mid- or late- maturity groups. Furthermore, these multi-flowering genotypes were identified during later generations (F4 onward), which might be because of fixation of certain QTLs or recessive gene combinations. Surprisingly, a common parent PC-531, imparting multi-flowering trait in ten cross combinations was identified. Thus, the genotype PC-531 seems to harbor some recessive gene(s) or QTLs that in certain combination(s) express the multi-flowering trait. The interaction between genotype and environment showed that temperature (11-20°C) plays a key role in expression of the multi-flowering trait besides genetic background. Furthermore, the possible relationship between various multi-flowering regulatory genes such as FN, FNA, NEPTUNE, SN, DNE, HR and environmental factors was also explored, and a comprehensive model explaining the multi-flowering trait in garden pea is proposed.

Horticultural crops are an important part of agriculture for food as well as nutritional security. However, several pests and diseases along with adverse abiotic environmental factors pose a severe threat to these crops by affecting their quality and productivity. This warrants the effective and accelerated breeding programs by utilizing innovative biotechnological tools that can tackle aforementioned issues. The recent technique of genome editing by Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats/CRISPR associated 9 (CRISPR/Cas9) has greatly advanced the breeding for crop improvement due to its simplicity and high efficiency over other nucleases such as Zinc Finger Nucleases and Transcription Activator Like Effector Nucleases. CRISPR/Cas9 tool contains a non-specific Cas9 nuclease and a single guide RNA that directs Cas9 to the specific genomic location creating double-strand breaks and subsequent repair process creates insertion or deletion mutations. This is currently the widely adopted tool for reverse genetics, and crop improvement in large number of agricultural crops. The use of CRISPR/Cas9 in horticultural crops is limited to few crops due to lack of availability of regeneration protocols and sufficient sequence information in many horticultural crops. In this review, the present status of applicability of CRISPR/Cas9 in horticultural crops was discussed along with the challenges and future potential for possible improvement of these crops for their yield, quality, and resistance to biotic and abiotic stress.

Not much attention is paid to vascular complications in neurofibromatosis-1 (NF-1) though they are well known to occur. A case of vascular NF-1 with bilateral partial radial artery stenosis resulting in digital gangrene involving fingers of both hands is being reported here. Various vascular abnormalities in NF-1 as complications resulting from them and their management is briefly highlighted.

The adverse impact of antibiotics on the gut microbiota has attracted extensive interest, particularly due to the development of microbiome research techniques in recent years. However, a direct comparison of the dynamic effects of various types of antibiotics using the same animal model has not been available. In the present study, we selected six antibiotics from four categories with the broadest clinical usage, namely, β-lactams (Ceftriaxone Sodium, Cefoperazone/Sulbactam and meropenem), quinolones (ofloxacin), glycopeptides (vancomycin), and macrolides (azithromycin), to treat BALB/c mice. Stool samples were collected during and after the administration of antibiotics, and microbial diversity was analyzed through Illumina sequencing and bioinformatics analyses using QIIME. Both α and β diversity analyses showed that ceftriaxone sodium, cefoperazone/sulbactam, meropenem and vancomycin changed the gut microbiota dramatically by the second day of antibiotic administration whereas the influence of ofloxacin was trivial. Azithromycin clearly changed the gut microbiota but much less than vancomycin and the β-lactams. In general, the community changes induced by the three β-lactam antibiotics showed consistency in inhibiting Papillibacter, Prevotella and Alistipes while inducing massive growth of Clostridium. The low diversity and high Clostridium level might be an important cause of Clostridium difficile infection after usage of β-lactams. Vancomycin was unique in that it inhibited Firmicutes, mainly the genus Clostridium. On the other hand, it induced the growth of Escherichia and effect lasted for months afterward. Azithromycin and meropenem induced the growth of Enterococcus. These findings will be useful for understanding the potential adverse effects of antibiotics on the gut microbiome and ensuring their better usage.

This study investigates the impact response of thermoplastic composite materials. The material system under consideration is a carbon fiber reinforced low melt semi-crystalline resin TC1225 LMPAEK reinforced with T700 G (T700/LMPAEK). Several High Energy Dynamic Impact (HEDI) tests were performed wherein an aluminum projectile impacted T700/LMPAEK panels at different velocities. In the impact experiment studied herein, the projectile impacted the T700/LMPAEK panel at 73.8 m/s and rebounded. The ensuing damage to the T700/LMPAEK panel was characterized via ultrasonic C-scans, which enabled visualizing delamination extent and through-thickness matrix cracks as the boundaries between delaminations at individual interfaces. Since the projectile rebounded after impact in the current test, the fiber damage mode, while present, was not as significant as in the case of tests wherein the projectile perforated the panel. The impact event was modeled using a combined continuum damage mechanics and cohesive zone analysis approach with the commercially available hydrocode LS-DYNA®. The dynamic deformation and damage of the continuum, that is, the plies in the T700/LMPAEK laminate, were modeled using a Deformation Gradient Decomposition (DGD) material model, that is, MAT299 available within LS-DYNA. The interlaminar regions were treated as zero-thickness cohesive zones, wherein the dynamic delamination mechanics were modeled using a traction-separation formulation. Mixed-mode delamination growth was captured using the Benzegaggh-Kenane (B-K) traction-separation interpolation law. Strain-rate sensitivity of interlaminar fracture toughness was included using approximations based on published literature. The outcomes of the modeling effort demonstrate good correlations with test data regarding panel deflection, panel-projectile interactions, damage modes and damage extent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research paper presents a high-gain DC–DC converter with ultra-step-up voltage gain capability. The proposed converter is synthesized from a two-phase interleaved boost converter (IBC), and its voltage gain is doubled by adopting a voltage lift capacitor. To enhance its voltage gain capability, a floating capacitor-based gain extension cell is adopted subsequently. This cell yields a voltage gain that is cubed times the output voltage obtained from a classical boost converter (CBC). By cascading the two stages, the voltage gain of the proposed converter is enhanced to quartic times (4th power) that of the CBC. The proposed gain extension concept is validated by conducting practical experiments on a 16 V to 400 V, 150 W prototype version. Practically, the prototype converter delivers 150 W to the load and operates at a full-load efficiency of 92.7% when its switches are operated at safe duty ratio values. Under dynamic conditions, the proposed converter regulates the output voltage to 400 V quickly over a wide range of input voltage and load current variations; the overshoots and undershoots are also negligible. The maximum voltage gain of the proposed converter momentarily increases to 37 when the input voltage is drastically reduced to 10.8 V while the switches are still operated at safe duty ratio values. The voltage stress on the semiconductor devices is only a fraction of the output voltage due to the hybrid voltage gain extension technique. The input current is also ripple-free as the switches in the IBC structure are always operated at a duty ratio of 50%, and only the third switch is controlled to meet the required voltage gain. The salient features of the proposed converter are clearly highlighted by comparing it with several converters that possess quadratic, cubic, and quartic voltage gain functions. The common-ground connection between the source and the load in the proposed converter is an added preferable feature for PV applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a high-gain DC-DC converter for photovoltaic (PV) applications. The proposed high gain DC-DC converter employs two coupled inductors, a voltage-lift capacitor, and two diode-capacitor multiplier cells to achieve a voltage gain of 21.11. The novel hybrid gain extension mechanism was validated by testing a 300 W prototype converter. During experimentation, it yielded an output of 380 V from an 18 V DC input and switched at 50 kHz. Because the switches in the interleaved stage are operated at a duty ratio of 0.5, the input current is ripple-free, and the switch current rating is also reduced. Owing to the location, the voltage stress on the switches was only 10.5% of the output voltage. Due to the adopted gain extension mechanisms, the voltage stress on the diodes was also reduced. The output voltage of the proposed converter is regulated by implementing a closed-loop control. In practice, the converter exhibits a good dynamic response when the line voltage and load current are subjected to step changes. The availability of a common-ground point is an additional advantage. Furthermore, the significant features of the proposed converter were validated by comparing its key parameters with many state-of-the-art converters available in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fiber-reinforced polymers (FRPs) are increasingly being used as substitutes for traditional metallic materials across various industries due to their exceptional strength-to-weight ratio. However, their orthotropic properties make them prone to multiple forms of damage, posing significant challenges in their design and application. During the design process, FRPs are subjected to various loading conditions to study their microscopic damage behavior, typically assessed through scanning electron microscopy (SEM). While SEM provides detailed insights into fracture surfaces, the manual analysis of these images is labor-intensive, time-consuming, and subject to variability based on the observer's expertise. To address these limitations, this research proposes a deep learning-based approach for the autonomous microscopic damage assessment of FRPs. Several computationally efficient pre-trained deep learning models, such as DenseNet121, NasNet Mobile, EfficientNet, and MobileNet, were evaluated for their performance in identifying different damage modes autonomously, thus reducing the need for manual interpretation. SEM images of FRPs with five distinct failure modes were used to validate the proposed method. These failure modes include three fiber-based failures such as fiber breakage, fiber pullout, and mixed-mode failure, and two matrix-based failures such as matrix brittle failure and matrix ductile failure. The entire dataset is divided into train, validation, and test sets. Deep learning models were established by training on train and validation sets for five failure modes, while the test set was used as the unseen data to validate the models. The models were assessed using various evaluation metrics on an unseen test dataset. Results indicate that the EfficientNet model achieved the highest accuracy of 97.75% in classifying the failure modes. The findings demonstrate the effectiveness of employing deep learning techniques for microscopic damage assessment, offering a more efficient, consistent, and scalable solution compared to traditional manual analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optimizing composite materials is crucial for engineering advancements because it allows for the creation of materials tailored to specific functional requirements, thereby enhancing efficiency, safety, and sustainability. This study examines both the combined and individual effects of long flax fiber (LFF) bundles, short basalt fibers (BF), and rice husk powder (RHP) on the properties of polypropylene (PP) hybrid composites. LFF primarily provides mechanical strength, BF enhances mechanical, thermal, and flame‐retardant properties by filling gaps, and RHP reinforces and improves the overall composite. Contrary to previous studies that relied on random combinations, this research employs a systematic Box–Behnken design (BBD) for three variables: LFF plies, BF, and RHP by weight percentage. This approach facilitated the development of a new second‐order regression equation via response surface methodology (RSM), clarifying the contribution of each component, with R2 values exceeding 0.85, indicating high predictability. Optimization, conducted using a non‐dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA‐II), demonstrated that the optimal composites significantly outperformed the non‐optimized ones in mechanical strength, thermal stability, and flame retardancy. Compared to the average values before optimization, improvements post‐optimization included increases of 49.86% in tensile strength (TS), 38.82% in TS modulus, 73.93% in char yield (YC), and 29.81% in peak heat release rate (pHRR). Specifically, the fire performance index improved by 237.5% and the fire growth index by 101.33%, compared to pure PP, highlighting significant advancements in fire safety. This study shows that mathematical equations can predict composite properties, helping to select balanced compositions without sacrificing flammability. Highlights: Multi‐filler approach technique used for manufacturing of PP composites.LFF, BF & RHP optimize mechanics & flammability.Box–Behnken design predicts optimal composition for superior properties.NSGA‐II optimization improves tensile, thermal & flame retardant properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Renewable and sustainable technology is highly desirable in purification of water due to scarcity and pollution across the world. The photocatalytic process has been identified as a suitable method of water treatment resulting from heterogeneous photocatalysis and the ability of the photocatalyst to break down several organic and inorganic compounds using solar energy. Covers combine heterogeneous photocatalysis with TiO2, ZnO or MOF photocatalysts where the solid photocatalysts are activated using light to generate ROS that oxidise and degrade pollutants. Though, the processes usually have drawbacks including low light capture, high rate of electron-hole recombination, and restricted surface area for catalytic transformation. New developments in these systems are meant to improve the efficiency of these systems through alterations in the structure of the catalyst, doping with metals or non-metals, and integrating of nanomaterials to increase the surface area and light absorption. In addition, controlled synthesis of the visible light responsive catalysts enabled photocatalytic reactions under room light, thus enhancing energy conservation. In this way, these diverse systems can be optimised to lower energy use while attaining faster pollutant degradation rates making the whole process more economical and environmentally friendly. An optimised nanocatalyst, enhanced light use and pollutant elimination collectively indicate the way forward particularly for large scale photocatalytic water purification technologies, thus advancing the quality of water resources and eradicating reliance on conventional energy-intensive purification techniques. The present study aims to show how the future photocatalytic systems can revolutionise water purification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dermatophytosis has lately become widespread in India. The presence of dermatophytosis for six months or more is described as chronic dermatophytosis. Chronic dermatophytosis may significantly affect one's quality of life. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of chronic dermatophytosis on quality of life. Materials and Methods: A total of 220 cases of chronic dermatophytosis were included in the study for the Dermatology Life Quality Index questionnaire. Statistical analysis was done using univariate/multivariate and regression analysis to analyze the effect of chronic dermatophytosis on quality of life. p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Among the total 220 cases, 47.27% were males (mean age: 30.53 yrs.), and 52.72% were females (mean age: 36.24 yrs.). The mean DLQI score was 11.054. DLQI was significantly (p < 0.05) influenced by duration of illness and body surface area of the patient. Conclusion: Dermatophytosis is known to affect the quality of life of all patients, whereas chronic dermatophytosis causes a remarkably negative outcome on quality of life. Hence, reassurance and counseling of patients suffering from chronic disease is required along with timely and precise treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]