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The primary concern of writing this article is to study the rheological properties of the micropolar non‐Newtonian nanofluid flowing through the porous medium along with magnetic field effects. In it, the outer boundary of the sheet is heated by applying an external heat source. The insertion of aluminum oxide nanoparticles in water turned it into a nanofluid. Together with the viscous dissipation phenomena, adding a magnetic field has another effect known as a Joule heating impact that is considered in the energy equation. To investigate the impact of viscosity and thermal conductivity on flow patterns, we considered the Koo‐Kleinstreuer‐Li model. A generalized Proudman‐Johnson equation is obtained by using similarity transformation on Navier‐Stokes equations. The well‐known classical shooting method is used to get the numerical solution to the said problem. Graphical results are portrayed for variant rheological parameters lke power law index, Reynolds number, volume fraction, Prandtl number, expansion ratio, and Hartmann number on the velocity and temperature of nanofluids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review covers the significance of green banana resistant starch (RS), a substantial polysaccharide. The food industry has taken an interest in green banana flour due to its 30% availability of resistant starch and its approximately 70% starch content on a dry basis, making its use suitable for food formulations where starch serves as the base. A variety of processing techniques, such as heat‐moisture, autoclaving, microwaving, high hydrostatic pressure, extrusion, ultrasound, acid hydrolysis, and enzymatic debranching treatments, have made significant advancements in the preparation of resistant starch. These advancements aim to change the structure, techno‐functionality, and subsequently the physiological functions of the resistant starch. Green bananas make up the highest RS as compared to other foods and cereals. Many food processing industries and cuisines now have a positive awareness due to the functional characteristics of green bananas, such as their pasting, thermal, gelatinization, foaming, and textural characteristics. It is also found useful for controlling the rates of cancer, obesity, and diabetic disorders. Moreover, the use of GBRS as prebiotics and probiotics might be significantly proved good for gut health. This study aimed at the awareness of the composition, extraction and application of the green banana resistant starch in the future food products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The acidic soils of western Newfoundland require liming for successful production of most crops. Locally sourced paper mill waste wood ash (WA) and paper sludge (SL) have potential as cheaper alternatives to limestone (LIME). Two greenhouse experiments evaluated WA and SL as liming and soil conditioning amendments for annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) production. At 55 days after seeding, soil pH in WA (6.2 and 6.3) and wood ash and paper sludge (WASL) (6.0 and 6.3) were not different from that in LIME (6.0 and 6.5) for Experiments 1 and 2, respectively. However, pH in SL was 0.4 and 0.3 points lower than in LIME. Compared to LIME, WA, SL, and WASL produced 31%–52% and 57%–74% greater biomass yield in Experiments 1 and 2, respectively. N uptake was greater in WA (60 and 129 kg N ha−1) and WASL (51 and 97 kg N ha−1) compared to LIME (40 and 85 kg N ha−1), in Experiments 1 and 2, respectively. SL did not differ from LIME in Experiment 1, but reduced N uptake by 57% in Experiment 2. The results show significant potential of WA as an alternative amendment for liming and yield improvement of annual ryegrass grown in NL podzolic soils. However, SL has limited potential due to the risk of increasing N immobilization and residual soil mineral N when growing conditions are limiting. Combining SL with WA or biochar seemed to alleviate these risks. Overall, the adoption of these amendments for field production systems warrants serious consideration, following supplemental field studies to determine optimal application rates and timing. Core Ideas: The podzolic soils of Newfoundland have low pH and fertility, hence require liming.Locally sourced wastes, such as paper mill wood ash (WA) and sludge (SL), could be used as liming and nutrient sources.WA was equivalent to limestone (LIME) in improving and sustaining optimal soil pH.WA produced 52% and 74% greater annual ryegrass yield than conventional LIME application in podzolic soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rasmalai is a very popular, delicious, and nutritious indigenous sweet dish in Indo‐Pakistani civilization. It has a very short shelf life, i.e., up to 3 days. The study was designed to assess the effect of preservatives (potassium sorbate and calcium propionate) on the shelf stability of Rasmalai. Moreover, proximate composition and sensory evaluation of prepared Rasmalai were also carried out in the present study. In general, potassium sorbate and calcium propionate significantly increased the shelf life of Rasmalai. But treatment (R5) containing a combination of both potassium sorbate and calcium propionate (500 ppm each) improved its shelf life by up to 12 days by keeping good sensorial characteristics. The maximum total plate counts as well as yeast and molds were observed in control Rasmalai (without any preservatives) whereas minimum counts were found in R5 treatment containing a combination of both potassium sorbate and calcium propionate (500 ppm each). In conclusion, all the preservatives used in the present study were effective in enhancing the shelf life of Rasmalai but R5 treatment containing a combination of both potassium sorbate and calcium propionate (500 ppm each) was the most effective in enhancing shelf life without deleterious effect on sensorial characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research question/issue: We examine whether and how board diversity, measured by demographics (i.e., board gender, cultural diversity, tenure, social capital, expertise, and age) and structural diversity (i.e., board independence, size, board seat accumulation‐chair, board compensation, and board meeting frequency), influence corporate eco‐innovation. Research findings/insights: Utilizing a global sample of publicly listed companies for the period 2004–2019, we find that a one‐standard deviation increase in demographic and structural diversity translates into 4.66% and 7.11% higher corporate eco‐innovation, respectively. Furthermore, we discover that demographic and structural diversity promotes eco‐innovation by offsetting the negative effects of political risk. In an additional analysis, we find evidence that, in the absence of greater external monitoring (institutional investors and analyst following), organizations benefit more from the monitoring role of board diversity. Theoretical/academic implications: By adopting the concept of "bundling the governance mechanisms," our study adds to the ongoing discourse about the function of board diversity in addressing corporate climate footprints by offering original evidence that board diversity heterogeneity—demographic and structural diversity—matters for corporate eco‐innovation. Practitioner/policy implications: Given the increasing pressure on companies to manage their environmental impacts and carbon footprints, our paper has significant ramifications for those involved in promoting eco‐innovative business practices, such as policymakers, regulators, and practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examine the effect of a chief executive officer (CEO)'s expertise power on bank diversification. Using US bank data from 1990 to 2020, we find that a CEO's expertise power is positively associated with bank diversification. Market competition and board composition (size and independence) positively affect this relationship. We also find that CEO delta and vega are the underlying mechanisms through which expertise power leads to greater diversification. We address endogeneity concerns using the two‐stage least squares, Heckman estimation and the difference‐in‐differences approaches and check result robustness in several ways. We provide a new explanation for bank diversification that is useful for policymakers in developing a bank strategy concerning CEO behaviour in diversification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A topological index is a numerical parameter that represents the molecular structure of a compound based on its graph‐theoretical properties. It provides a means to describe the structure‐activity relationship, as well as the physicochemical properties of the compound. Topological indices are used in various scientific fields, including chemistry, biology, and computer science, to study and predict the behavior of molecules. In this study, we concentrate on the calculation of M‐polynomials and entropy for the allotropic form of carbon, diamond. Algebraic operations are applied to these polynomials to obtain degree‐dependent topological invariants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fruit bars are prepared by combining different ingredients which are wholesome and nutrient rich. The current study was designed to develop roselle–fig (different proportions) fruit bars and further investigate their physicochemical characteristics and antioxidant potential. Moreover, the prepared fruit bars were scrutinized for microbial and sensory characteristics to assess the appropriateness of ingredients during storage (up to 90 days). It was observed that there was gradual increase in moisture content with the passage of time, while ash, fat, fiber, and protein contents did not change significantly during storage. The pH and total soluble solid contents of these fruit bars during storage were 3.54–4.07 and 1.71–1.86 Brix, respectively. According to the mean values for sensory evaluation, T2 was preferred over other treatments. The bars received an acceptable sensory evaluation, demonstrating that they were suitable for 90 days of storage. Phytochemical quantities significantly increased in subsequent treatments, but decreased during storage in all the treatments. Similar trend was observed regarding total antioxidant and DPPH radical scavenging activities. The mineral contents increased significantly among the treatments. The microbial analysis of fruit bars exposed that the fruit were microbiologically safe. Hence, on the basis of the results obtained in this study, it may be concluded that the developed roselle–fig fruit bar would be acceptable and nutritious regarding physicochemical characteristics, microbiological quality, and antioxidant potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synergistic effect of bimetallic co‐incorporated metal oxides have gained enormous attention due to their unique optoelectronic properties. Herein, we present the green synthesis of ZnO, Cu‐incorporated ZnO, Mn‐incorporated ZnO, and Cu‐Mn co‐incorporated nanoparticles (ZnO NPs, CuZnO NPs, MnZnO NPs, MnCuZnO NPs) for antimicrobial and photocatalytic reduction applications using corn silk extract and industrial metal wastes. The as‐synthesized NPs were characterized by using UV‐visible absorption spectroscopy (UV‐Vis), photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, Fourier‐transformed infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), powdered x‐ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). CuZnO, MnZnO, and MnCuZnO NPs efficiently inhibited bacterial culture growth. The photocatalytic reduction activity of as‐synthesized NPs against the different concentrations of 4‐nitrophenol (4‐NP) in water was also investigated. CuZnO and MnCuZnO nanoparticles were to be efficient photocatalysts for reducing 4‐NP into 4‐aminophenol (4‐AP). Research Highlights: Green synthesis of nanomaterials by agricultural and industrial wastesCu and Mn co‐incorporated ZnO NPs have shown good photocatalysis and antimicrobial activitiesGreen approach for waste conversion to value‐added products [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a result of recurring natural disasters caused by climate change, firms are under enormous pressure to reconsider their environmental footprints. However, whether or not investors reward firms' climate change actions remains a topic of considerable debate. Using a sample of S&P 500 companies over the period 2005–2020, we hypothesise and find a significant negative relationship between climate change actions and the cost of debt, indicating that investors indeed reward corporate climate efforts in the form of lower cost funds. This relationship exists in both environmentally sensitive and non‐sensitive industries and remains negative and statistically significant even after controlling for the impact of the ongoing pandemic (COVID‐19). The findings are robust to the use of alternative measures for our variables, alternative estimation methods and after controlling for endogeneity issues. We interpret our findings within the decision‐usefulness and stakeholder‐agency theories that suggest that non‐financial information on firms' environmental performance is becoming increasingly important when borrowers' creditworthiness is assessed. Our study offers important regulatory and academic policy implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current investigation was carried out to evaluate the impact of gamma irradiation and guava leaf extract (GLE) on chicken meat patties. The effects of treatments on chicken meat patties were determined by physicochemical, stability (oxidative and microbial), and antioxidant status during different packaging (aerobic and vacuum) at storage intervals (0, 5, and 10 days). The changes in physicochemical parameters of chicken patties were observed on various treatments, storage intervals, and different packaging. The TBARS and POV were found to increase significantly (p <.05) on 2 kGy and with the passage of storage time. The results of microbial load in samples were found to decrease on gamma irradiation with and without GLE. The antioxidant profile in chicken patties was with respect to control. Slight changes were seen in sensory parameters on different treatments at storage intervals. It is concluded that gamma irradiation eliminated the microbes and different concentrations of GLE improve the stability and antioxidant profile of chicken patties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In localization, some specific nodes (beacon set) are selected to locate all nodes of a network, and if an arbitrary node stops working and still selected nodes remain in the beacon set, then the chosen nodes are called fault‐tolerant beacon set. Due to the variety of metric dimension applications in different areas of sciences, many generalizations were proposed, fault‐tolerant metric dimension is one of them. A resolving (beacon) set Bf$$ {B}_f $$ is fault tolerant, if Bf\ν$$ {B}_f\backslash \nu $$ for each ν∈Bf$$ \nu \in {B}_f $$ is also a resolving set; it is also known as a fault‐tolerant beacon set; the minimum cardinality of such a beacon set is known as the fault‐tolerant metric dimension of a graph G$$ G $$. In this paper, we find the fault‐tolerant beacon set of hexagonal Möbius ladder network H(α,β)$$ H\left(\alpha, \beta \right) $$ and proved that all the different variations of α$$ \alpha $$ and β$$ \beta $$ in H(α,β)$$ H\left(\alpha, \beta \right) $$ has constant fault‐tolerant metric dimension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated whether and how firms' toxic chemical releases (TCRs) affect idiosyncratic return volatility (IRV) using a prospect theory lens. Utilising a large sample of US public listed firms over the period 2001–2018, we find a significant and positive association between TCRs and IRV, suggesting that firms releasing more toxic chemicals have higher IRV. Additional analyses show that a positive association between TCR and IRV is more evident among firms with (i) high revenue, (ii) lower financial constraints and (iii) fewer environmental violations. A further test also suggests that a positive association between TCRs and IRV is contingent on political leadership ideology and market states. Our results remain consistent with weighted TCRs, IRV based on the Fama–French three‐factor model, fixed‐effect two‐stage least square estimator (FE‐2SLS), and other robustness checks. These findings shed light on the role of equity markets as a driver for capital‐intensive pollution abatement activities and enhanced compliance with environmental laws, standards and best practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motivated by the growing attention on climate change and the ethical role that board characteristics and ownership may play in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, this paper investigates the relationship between institutional ownership and GHG emissions. Using an extensive dataset from the UK and the USA, we show that institutional ownership is associated with less GHG emissions – a one standard deviation increase in the proportion of institutional ownership reduces carbon emissions by 1.02 metric tons. Our findings are robust when using alternative measures, econometric specifications and several approaches to address endogeneity. Further, we find no evidence for a stronger effect in the UK compared with the USA, as expected from our discussion of the governance contexts in the two countries. We also test the possible channel (i.e. exit and selection) through which institutional investors affect GHG emissions. In a set of additional analyses, we show that litigation risk and board gender diversity moderate the relationship between institutional ownership and GHG emissions. Finally, we also document a positive effect of the stewardship codes on the relationship between institutional ownership and GHG emissions. Our findings make significant theoretical and regulatory contributions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The processive cellulase (CelO) is an important modular enzyme of Clostridium thermocellum. To study the effect of the carbohydrate‐binding module (CBM3b) on the catalytic domain of CelO (GH5), four engineered derivatives of CelO were designed by truncation and terminal fusion of CBM3b. These are CBM at the N‐terminus, native form (CelO‐BC, 62 kDa); catalytic domain only (CelO‐C, 42 kDa); CBM at the C‐terminus (CelO‐CB, 54 kDa) and CBM attached at both termini (CelO‐BCB, 73 kDa). All constructs were cloned into pET22b (+) and expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) star. The expression levels of CelO‐C, CelO‐CB, CelO‐BC, and CelO‐BCB were 35%, 35%, 30%, and 20%, respectively. The enzyme activities of CelO‐C, CelO‐CB, CelO‐BC, and CelO‐BCB against 1% regenerated amorphous cellulose (RAC) were 860, 758, 985, and 1208 units per μmole of the enzyme, respectively. The enzymes were partially purified from the lysate of E. coli cells by heat treatment followed by anion exchange FPLC purification. Against RAC, CelO‐C, CelO‐CB, CelO‐BC, and CelO‐BCB showed KM values of 32, 33, 45, and 43 mg⋅mL–1 and Vmax values of 3571, 3846, 3571, and 4545 U⋅min–1, respectively. CBM3b at the N‐terminus of GH5 linked through a P/T‐rich linker was found to enhance the catalytic activity and thermostability of the enzyme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research Question/Issue: Motivated by the recent regulatory reforms, in the forms of the UK Corporate Governance Code (UK CGC) in 2011 and the enaction of section 414C of the Companies Act 2006, to increase female representation on corporate boards, this study investigates the effect of boardroom gender diversity (BGD) on investment inefficiency (IE). These reforms were aimed at enhancing corporate governance by allowing a pool of female directors into directorship positions and bringing fresher and independent perspective of female directors, thus strengthening board monitoring and its internal control systems. This study therefore seeks to understand whether and how female directors align managers' and shareholders' interests by improving investment efficiency. Findings: Using a sample of UK listed firms from 2005 to 2018, this study provides the first empirical evidence on the impact of BGD on IE. Consistent with our theoretical predictions, we find a negative and statistically significant association between BGD and IE. Furthermore, in a difference‐in‐differences analysis, we find a significant impact of UK CGC on the BGD‐IE relationship. We also identify three possible channels (board dynamics, stewardship effect, and information environment) through which BGD is likely to affect IE. Finally, we also document that the said relationship is more pronounced in firms with three or more female directors, which is consistent with critical mass theory, and that BGD mitigates concerns surrounding both the underinvestment and overinvestment decisions. Our main results are robust to endogeneity bias, alternative measures of BGD and IE, and controlling for potential bias with a two‐step investment estimation method. Policy Implications: Our findings have important implications for regulators, policy‐makers, and other corporate stakeholders. Most importantly, the recent policy initiatives on improving representation of female directors can strengthen board monitoring and could reduce inefficient investments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diversity and socioeconomic deprivation have been widely discussed as determinants of social cohesion. These two factors are considered to be a threat to social cohesion. The existing literature identifies the problem, however, the literature suggesting the solution is very limited. The most important determinant which can cure the problems of social cohesion is the better quality of institutions, however, there is hardly any literature on this aspect. The current study has investigated the impact of political institutional quality on social cohesion by employing the fixed‐effect model for estimation. The analysis is conducted for 135 countries, using five‐year average panel data. The results suggest that political institutional quality augments social cohesion, gender equality, and per capita income also augment social cohesion. Ethnic diversity, income inequality, and globalization are a threat to social cohesion. Moreover, the threat to social cohesion is greater when there are low political institutional quality and high ethnic diversity, and income inequality as compared to a situation where there are high political institutional quality and low ethnic diversity, and income inequality. The results further suggest that the harmful effects of ethnic diversity, inequality, and globalization can be, not only overcome by institutional quality but can also be put to use to enhance social cohesion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examine the effect of asset redeployability on corporate misconduct and find a significant positive relationship. Utilizing a large sample of public US firms for the period of 2001 to 2015, we find that a one standard deviation (SD) increase in the proportion of redeployable assets leads to a 7.2% increase in corporate fines. We also find that the positive association between asset redeployability and corporate misconduct varies across types of misconduct and industrial heterogeneity. In our channel analysis, we find that managerial risk‐taking is a potential mechanism through which asset redeployability is associated with misconduct. Additional tests reveal that corporate misconduct associated with asset redeployability leads to lower firm value. Our results remained robust in a series of sensitivity tests and continue to hold after accounting for potential endogeneity concerns. Our paper contributes to the ongoing discourse on the costs and benefits of asset redeployability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L.) is the 10th most cultivated crop and is a vital food source for human consumption. Genetic diversity in durum wheat is still an unexplored subject, and gene banks are filled with accessions waiting to be screened. Here, four different groups of durum wheat, Turkish and foreign cultivars, and in situ and ex situ landraces were evaluated for population structure and genetic diversity. A collection of 129 durum wheat accessions were genotyped, with a total of 6,357 markers (SilicoDArT, SNP [single‐nucleotide polymorphism], and simple sequence repeats [SSRs]). The highest mean allele number per marker (1.562) was obtained with SNP markers in ex situ landraces; the lowest mean allele number per marker (0.788) was obtained with SSR markers in the foreign cultivars. The minimum percentage of polymorphic loci was 38.70% observed with SSR markers in foreign cultivars; the maximum was 76.20% in SilicoDArT markers in ex situ landraces. According to Neighbor‐Joining analyses, the studied collection was divided into groups of cultivars and landraces, with some level of admixtures. Structure and principal coordinate analysis obtained distinct clusters for ex situ landraces and foreign cultivars, supported by Neighbor‐Joining analysis. A significant level of intergroup and intragroup variation was observed, and Turkish ex situ landraces were found as the most diverse and distinct group in the collection. Turkish landraces may be a promising source of novel allelic diversity that can be used in durum wheat breeding worldwide. Core Ideas: Turkish durum wheat landraces may provide novel allelic diversity.Turkish durum wheat cultivars released in the late 20th century has close pedigree relations with foreign cultivars.Turkish modern wheat germplasm/gene pool have experienced a bottleneck for several reasons.Turkish cultivars divide into two distinct groups: foreign related and landrace related. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was aimed to evaluate the effects of wheat germ oil and wheat bran fiber as fat replacers on quality and stability of low‐fat beef patties. Total five treatments were prepared by employing wheat germ oil (WGO) and wheat bran fiber (WBF). WBF was used at fixed amount of 3% in all treatments except control in conjunction with varying WGO concentrations as follows: 1.5%, 3%, and 4.5%. Prepared raw and cooked beef patties were stored at 4°C, and further analyses were carried out up to 21 days of storage period with intermittent evaluation interval of 7 days. Higher values of TBARS, peroxide, and cholesterol were observed in raw and cooked beef patties in control, whereas minimum values were found in treatment of beef patties prepared with WGO 4.5% + WBF 3%. The physicochemical parameters were observed by pH and hunter color values. pH was higher in cooked patties as compared to beef patties and showed increases with increase in WGO concentration and storage intervals. The sensorial attributes were observed which included different parameters, such as appearance, texture, taste, odor, and overall acceptability. Higher score was given by the panelists to control for both raw and cooked beef patties; however, minimum score for all sensory properties was found in group treated with WGO 4.5% + WBF 3% within acceptable limit. In nutshell, raw and cooked beef patties treated with WGO 4.5% plus WBF 3% showed better quality, stability, and reduced cholesterol content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is emerging evidence exhibiting the strong association of gut microbiota with cardiovascular metabolic functions. Cardiac diseases may alter the richness, diversity, and composition of the gut microbiome. Vitamin C (Vit C) plays an important role in many metabolic activities in cardiovascular diseases. In this study, we induced cardiac remodeling by the forced swim stress model in rats, which resulted in dysbiosis. Adult male Wistar rats were designated into the following groups: (i) normal control (NC), (ii) forced swim induced stress (FSIS) control, (iii) FSIS + Vit C treatment, and (iv) Vit C control. Stool samples were collected for estimation for 90 days, and at the end of the study, the animals were killed and heart tissue was isolated for histochemical analysis. We observed a sharp fall in the operational taxonomic unit in the FSIS control animals as compared to NC animals. Treatment with Vit C exhibited a decrease in Bacteroidetes while raising the abundance of spirochetes. Plasma levels of creatine kinase myocardial band (CKMB) in the treatment group reduced to 175.7 ± 3.41 U/L, from 317.7 ± 34.48 U/L in the diabetic control group. Also, the C‐reactive protein level in the disease control group was 18 ± 0.93 mg/dl, which reduced to the normal level of 7.53 ± 0.20 mg/dl on treatment with Vit C administration. Our results suggest that FSIS induced cardiac complication is also associated with changes in gut microbial abundance. Higher doses of Vit C, which strengthens the immunity, have shown some positive outcomes on cardiac complications. The abundance of gut microbiota is also associated with the immune system, which in turn marks the impact of a disease. More the richness and diversity of the gut microbiome, healthier is the composition that can withstand the external threats of disease and other major challenges in the environment. Hence microbiome abundance plays an important role in the therapies or future prospects of disease. Histopathological studies support the serological and microbiome examination and warrant the cardioprotective influence of Vit C in the stress‐induced cardiac dysfunction model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent findings of diverse forms of carbon nanostructures have encouraged research on their applications in several areas. They are used as a structural material in electronic and optical devices, involving transistors, photodetectors, plastic, biological sensors, pharmaceutical and medicine, and drug delivery systems. Since the discovery of Y‐shaped carbon nanotubes (CNTs) junctions, they have drawn interest for future electron devices, for example, three‐terminal transistors, amplifiers, and switches. A topological index is a number that is used to study the physicochemical properties of chemical structures. In this paper, we are providing topological properties of CNT Y‐junctions. The results obtained for different types of Y‐junction graphs appeared with comparisons. According to the best of our knowledge and literature, this is the first report about topological indices on this class of CNT junctions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern‐day corporations are under intense stakeholder pressure to incorporate environmentalism, particularly biodiversity initiatives, into their business strategy. Building on upper echelon and gender socialization theories, we investigate the effect of board gender diversity (BGD) on the biodiversity initiatives undertaken by firms for the restoration and rehabilitation of damaged ecosystems and/or to minimize their environmental impacts. Using data on 2406 US firms covered in the ASSET4 database for the period 2002–2018 (15,337 firm‐year observations), we document a significant positive association between BGD and both biodiversity restoration protection and impact reduction initiatives. Our findings are consistent for exploitative and nonexploitative industries, as well as for the pre‐ and post‐UN resolution on conservation of biodiversity periods. We further develop a causal relationship through the positive impact of BGD on management environment training and environmental partnerships—possible mechanisms by which BGD may impact biodiversity initiatives. The results suggest that BGD is vital for developing strategies concerning the restoration, protection and impact reduction of biodiversity and ecosystems. Our findings are of interest to legislators and regulators who are interested in assessing biodiversity initiatives, improving environmental policies and promoting gender diversity in company director boards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current research work was carried out to evaluate the effect of three different varieties (NARC-II, Williams 82, Ajmeri) of soybean along with single and coculture impact of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus casei on fermented soymilk. The periodically microbial and antioxidative activities of fermented soymilk were analyzed during the storage of 24 days. Moreover, the effect of fermentation on rheological and structural changes was examined along with isoflavone contents in fermented soymilk. Viability of cells and antioxidative activities were found to be significantly (P < 0.05) higher in fermented soymilk using mixed cultures. The rheological attributes demonstrated higher viscosity in coculture fermented soymilk. Scanning electron microscopic examination indicated that the growth characteristic of L. casei has a relatively more uniform texture and smaller pore size in comparison to L. acidophilus. Nevertheless, the combination of cultures exhibited precise pore formation with stronger cross-links of soybean protein throughout the structure. Assessment of isoflavones exhibited higher values, for daidzein (20.87 ppm) in comparison to genistein (6.57 ppm), in Ajmeri-based coculture soymilk. Conclusively, L. casei and L. acidophilous exhibited considerable antioxidant potential in the development of viscous, less porous, and rich in bioactive metabolites fermented soymilk, when used in combination and among varieties Ajmeri results it was the top of all. This suggests that the process evidence in this study could be recommended for high-quality soymilk production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the correlation between students' achieved grades in a preclinical fixed prosthodontics course and their performance in the same discipline's clinical courses. Materials and methods: This study was conducted in 2019 on 76 students who passed all preclinical and clinical fixed prosthodontics courses. Their final examination grades in preclinical and clinical prosthodontics courses were compiled and made anonymous. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS Version 23) was used to analyze the data. Descriptive statistics and correlation coefficient were used to assess the relation between preclinical and clinical grades. Results: A statistically significant positive correlation existed between the students' preclinical and combined clinical final examination grades (r = 0.45, p < 0.001). In relation to sex, females showed a significantly higher correlation (r = 0.56, p = 0.001) compared to males (r = 0.25, p = 0.1). In addition, students' clinical grade prediction from their preclinical performance was 20.5%. Conclusion: These findings emphasize the importance of preclinical courses and suggest that maximizing preclinical years' efforts can reflect positively on students' competence in their future clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a result of increasing consumer awareness and stakeholder demands about environmental management, firms face stricter challenges surrounding the impact of business operations on the environment. In this regards, environmental innovation is one of the important ways of acting in harmony with the environment. Thus, the purpose of this study is to examine the impact of organisational capital on environmental innovation measured as the process innovation and product innovation. Using environmental innovation data from ASSET4 for the US listed firms between 2002 and 2018, our empirical results reveal a significant positive association between organisational capital and both the process innovation and product innovation. Furthermore, the relationship is stronger in high‐profitability and sensitive industries subsamples. These results are robust to additional control variables and endogeneity tests. This study, while endorsing the resource‐based view (RBV), provides important implications for the top management teams that organisational capital could be an important channel through which managers can boost environmental innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the main motivation points in studies on inequalities is to obtain generalizations and to introduce new approaches. In this direction, the generalized fractional integral operators defined within the scope of fractional analysis are quite functional. In this paper, some new integral inequalities have been proved by using generalized fractional integral operators and some classical inequalities for integrable functions. In the proofs of the main findings, the definitions of the generalized fractional integral operator, certain classical relations, and some classical inequalities are used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this present paper, we introduce the idea and concept of n‐polynomial s‐type preinvex functions. We elaborate and investigate the algebraic properties of the newly introduced definition and discuss their connections and relations with convex functions. We find the new sort of Hermite–Hadamard inequality via a newly introduced definition. Furthermore, some refinements of Hermite–Hadamard inequality are given. Finally, we investigated some applications via this newly introduced definition. The results obtained in this paper can be viewed as significant improvement of previously known results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ongoing outbreak of novel Coronavirus originated from Wuhan, China, and vigorously spread throughout the globe causing serious concerns. This study aimed to appraise the community demographics, knowledge, attitudes, practices mental health, symptoms, and precautionary measures during the COVID‐19 pandemic in Pakistan. This study was a cross‐sectional and observational study. An online semi‐structured questionnaire was designed by freely available Google Forms. A Referral Sampling technique was used, a total of 439 responses were recorded and analyzed by using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. Regression analysis and multinomial logistic regression analysis were done to test the hypothesis. This study shows more than 63% of participants maintain social distancing at their workplaces, offices, markets, and so forth and 59% of participants stayed at their homes during the lockdown. Almost 75% of participants did not attend any gathering during COVID‐19. Most participants (75.4%) wear masks and gloves, and 85.6% of participants wash their hands with soap and using hand sanitizer regularly. This study shows that 40.8% and 36.2% of participants felt anxiety and fear due to Coronavirus. This study shows that knowledge among the population in Pakistan about COVID‐19 was low. Continued efforts are needed to address knowledge, attitudes, and practices to interrupt novel Coronavirus transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrical vehicle (EV) technology has gained popularity due to its higher efficiency, less maintenance, and lower dependence on fossil fuels. However, a longer charging time is a significant barrier to its complete adaptation. Solid state transformer (SST) based extreme fast charging schemes have emerged as an appealing idea with an ability to provide a refuelling capability analogous to that of gasoline vehicles. Therefore, this paper reviews the EV charger requirements, specifications, and design criteria for high power applications. At first, the key barriers of using a traditional low frequency transformer (LFT) are discussed, and potential solutions are suggested by replacing the conventional LFT with high frequency SST at extreme fast‐charging (XFC) stations. Then, various SST‐based converter topologies and their control for EV fast‐charging stations are described. The reviewed control strategies are compared while considering several factors such as harmonics, voltage drop under varying loading conditions, dc offset load unbalances, overloads, and protection against system disturbances. Furthermore, the realization of SST for EV charging is comprehensively discussed, which facilitates understanding the current challenges, based on which potential solutions are also suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of heterosis is a promising approach for greatly increasing yield in soybean (Glycine max L.). Nuclear male sterility is essential for hybrid seed production and the utilization of heterosis. Here we report the cloning of the gene underlying the soybean male‐sterile mutant ms‐1, which has been widely used for recurrent selection in soybean breeding programs. We initially delimited the ms1 locus to a 16.15 kb region on chromosome 13, based on SLAF_BSA sequencing followed by genotyping of an F2 population segregating for the locus. Compared with the same region in fertile plants, the mutant region lacks a sequence of approximately 38.7 kb containing five protein‐coding genes, including an ortholog of the kinesin‐like protein gene NACK2, named GmMs1. The GmMs1 knockout plants generated via CRISPR/Cas‐mediated gene editing displayed a complete male‐sterile phenotype. Metabolic profiling showed that fertile anthers accumulated starch and sucrose normally, whereas sterile anthers had higher anthocyanin levels and lower flavonoid levels and lower antioxidant enzyme activities. These results provide insights into the molecular mechanisms governing male sterility and demonstrate that GmMs1 could be used to create male‐sterile lines through targeted mutagenesis. These findings pave the way for designing seed production technology and an intelligent male‐sterile line system to utilize heterosis in soybean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Threat of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Pakistan: the need for measures to neutralize misleading narratives. COVID 19 pandemic & Pakistan; limitations and gaps. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is swiftly increasing from the past few weeks.1 This pandemic is getting worst day by day; as of January 12, 2021, cumulative confirmed cases have reached 88 million, and the death toll crossed 1.9 million.1,2 In Pakistan, an unprecedented resurgence of COVID-19 has been observed, and the current count has reached over half a million, with more than 10 thousand deaths so far.2 The devastating effect of COVID-19 on Pakistan's severely strained health service has already been highlighted in recent studies.3-6 Dreadfully, a variant of concern (VOC-202012/01), previously known as VUI-202012/01, was first identified in the United Kingdom (UK). [Extracted from the article]

Aims: To assess the seasonal variations in hematological disorders among patients diagnosed on the basis of bone marrow biopsy, who attended National Institute of Blood Diseases (NIBD) clinics during 2006 to 2015. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the 10‐year records of hematological disorders among patients' NIBD clinics from year 2006 to 2015. All cases of aplastic anemia (AA), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), and acute promyelocytic leukemia (APML) were categorized on the basis of the seasons in which they were diagnosed such as winter (December‐February), spring (March‐May), southwest monsoon periods (June‐September), and retreating monsoon period (October and November). Statistical analysis was performed by using SPSS and STATA. Inferential statistics were explored using the chi‐square test for heterogeneity to evaluate seasonal variations. P‐value <0.05 was taken as significant. Results: A total of 1982 cases were reviewed. Men were predominantly higher (n = 1190, 60%) as compared to women (n = 792, 40%). Frequency of ALL was found to be higher (513, 25.9%), followed by ITP (504, 25.4%), AML (490, 24.7%), AA (396, 20%), while APML was observed in only 79 (4%) patients. Seasonal variations in the diagnosis of hematological disorders were observed (P‐value <.001), except in APML diagnosis (P‐value =.445). Significant seasonal variations were also detected in both genders in stratified analysis. Conclusion: The finding of this study has reported an increase in the hematological disorder during 2006 to 2015. Particularly, majority of the cases were reported in southwest monsoon period, whereas least cases were reported in retreating period. Significant seasonal and yearly variations were detected in all diagnosis except the APML. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medicinal plants have been used for years as a source of food, spices, and, in traditional medicine, as a remedy to numerous diseases. Piper nigrum, belonging to the family Piperaceae is one of the most widely used spices all over the world. It has a distinct sharp flavor attributed to the presence of the phytochemical, piperine. Apart from its use as a spice, P. nigrum is frequently used for medicinal, preservation, and perfumery purposes. Black pepper contains 2–7.4% of piperine, varying in content is associated with the pepper plant. Piperine displays numerous pharmacological effects such as antiproliferative, antitumor, antiangiogenesis, antioxidant, antidiabetic, anti‐obesity, cardioprotective, antimicrobial, antiaging, and immunomodulatory effects in various in vitro and in vivo experimental trials. Furthermore, piperine has also been documented for its hepatoprotective, anti‐allergic, anti‐inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties. This review highlights and discusses the medicinal and health‐promoting effects of piperine, along with possible mechanisms of its action in health promotion and disease prevention. In addition, the present review summarizes the recent literature related to piperine as a therapeutic agent against several diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social entrepreneurship is a growing area of interest among practitioners. Social entrepreneurship meets and satisfies social needs and brings social change through innovative ideas. This study aims to investigate the impact of positivity and empathy of individuals on social entrepreneurial intention. This study considers the mediating role of social entrepreneurial self‐efficacy between the relationship of positivity, empathy, and social entrepreneurial intention. In addition, this study investigates perceived social support as a boundary condition between the relationship of social entrepreneurial self‐efficacy and social entrepreneurial intention. Findings show that positivity and empathy positively influence social entrepreneurial self‐efficacy, which subsequently positively influences social entrepreneurial intention. Furthermore, results show that high perceived social support strengthens the relationship between social entrepreneurial self‐efficacy and social entrepreneurial intention. Discussions and implications based on the study findings are reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyaniline (PANI) grafted conducting nanohybrids are successfully synthesized by emulsion graft polymerization. Maximum grafting of 644% is obtained on sepiolite at optimized concentrations and reaction conditions. The Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectra of sepiolite grafted polyaniline (MS‐g‐PANI) nanohybrid revealed the presence of stretching vibrations of C=C bonds of polyaniline at 1580 and 1490 cm−1 along with the characteristic peaks of sepiolite. Increased thermal stability of the nanohybrid is observed with the increase in polyaniline grafting. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) are used to study the structural changes caused by grafting. A progressive increase in electrical conductivity is observed with the increase in grafting yield. Maximum electrical conductivity of 0.427 Scm−1 is observed in the nanohybrid having 644% grafting. 24.2 dB (>99% attenuation) EMI shielding effectiveness has been exhibited by the developed nanohybrids in X‐band frequency range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant pathogens pose a significant threat to the food industry and food security accounting for 10–40% crop losses annually on a global scale. Economic losses from plant diseases are estimated at $300B for major food crops and are associated with reduced food availability and accessibility and also high food costs. Although strategies exist to reduce the impact of diseases in plants, many of these introduce harmful chemicals to our food chain. Therefore, it is important to understand and utilize plants' immune systems to control plant pathogens to enable more sustainable agriculture. Lipids are core components of cell membranes and as such are part of the first line of defense against pathogen attack. Recent developments in omics technologies have advanced our understanding of how plant membrane lipid biosynthesis, remodelling and/or signalling modulate plant responses to infection. Currently, there is limited information available in the scientific literature concerning lipid signalling targets and their biochemical and physiological consequences in response to plant pathogens. This review focusses on the functions of membrane lipid derivatives and their involvement in plant responses to pathogens as biotic stressors. We describe major plant defense systems including systemic‐acquired resistance, basal resistance, hypersensitivity and the gene‐for‐gene concept in this context. This review highlights the state‐of‐the‐art concerning how plant membrane lipids and their derivatives modulate immunity, disease resistance and plant response to infection. Major plant defence systems such as systemic‐acquired resistance, basal resistance, reactive oxygen species, hypersensitivity and the gene‐for‐gene concept are described in this context. Identification and detailed understanding of the molecular signalling occurring during pathogenesis can pave the way for better plant disease control which could be beneficial in enhancing food security and sustainable agr icultural production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a result of recent climate change impacts, environmental sustainability has received enormous attention from scholars and policy makers. Environmental innovation is one of the major ways of acting in harmony with the environment, but it also requires a significant amount of resources and strong corporate commitment. As boards of directors have great influence over the strategic direction of firms and are responsible for corporate environmentalism, we examine the likely relationship between board gender diversity (BGD) and environmental innovation measured as process innovation and product innovation. Based on a relatively large dataset (10,334 firm‐year observations) of U.S. listed firms, we find that BGD has a significant positive association with environmental innovation. Furthermore, we also find that this relationship is more pronounced in less profitable firms and in environmentally sensitive industries. Our results remain robust to endogeneity issues and alternative proxies. We interpret our results under upper echelon and gender socialization theories and suggest important implications for policy makers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The world-wide application of photovoltaic (PV) plants is a promising solution to the energy crisis. However, PV plants usually suffer from transient instability due to weakness in dynamical adaptability. This study, based on the transient stability mechanism, devises an adaptive control scheme to achieve transient stability enhancement for PV plants. The transient stability mechanism shows that the active droop factor is negatively associated with the transient stability whereas the reactive droop factor is positively associated. The transient stability enhancement is implemented by increasing the reactive droop factor and reducing the active droop factor to raise the power angle curve. The proposed control scheme adjusts the droop factors dynamically during the transient events by detecting the real-time electrical quantities. The control scheme advances in a designed activation module which is able to judge if there exist transient events. A series of simulation cases demonstrate the effectiveness of the control scheme in different transient events. Simulation results show that the control scheme adjusts droop factors adaptively and possesses better transient stability than the normal droop control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Root membrane lipids are important biomolecules determining plant's ability to adapt to different growing environmental or climatic conditions. Herein, we demonstrate the potential use of root membrane lipids as biomarkers to discriminate silage‐corn genotypes based on herbicide and insect/pest resistance genetic traits when cultivated on podzolic soils under short growing and moderately warm summer season in boreal climate. Lipids in root membranes of field grown silage‐corn genotypes were previously quantified at crop maturity by ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography‐hydrophilic interaction chromatography‐heated electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. The lipid identified and quantified in silage‐corn roots were phospholipids, glycolipids and sphingolipids. Following hierarchical cluster analysis, three groups of membrane lipids were observed to be very effective in segregating the five silage‐corn genotypes. The first group consisted of hexosylceramide (HexCer), phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylinositol (PI). The second group consisted of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA16:0) and lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC16:0), while the third group consisted of 37 molecular species from observed lipids (phospholipids, glycolipids, sphingolipids). Partial least squares‐discriminant analysis (PLS‐DA) based on 37 membrane lipid species, as well as principal component analysis using the variables important in projection derived from the PLS‐DA segregated the five silage‐corn genotypes into three groups according to their pesticide/herbicide resistant traits. This study is second to none using root lipidomics in discriminating different silage‐corn genotypes based on their herbicide and insect/pest resistance genetic traits for cultivation in boreal climates. The segregated genotypes possess three different genetic traits for herbicide and insect/pest resistance including VT Double Pro (VT2P), VT Triple Pro Roundup Ready (VT3P/RR) and Roundup Ready‐2 corn (RR2). These findings demonstrate that root membrane lipids could serve as appropriate chemical biosignatures to identify silage‐corn genotypes based on herbicide and insect/pest resistance genetic traits suitable for cultivation in boreal climates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conductive pyrrole monomer was grafted on vinyl modified sepiolite by surface initiated emulsion graft polymerization. Effect of process variables such as monomer, initiator, and surfactant on degree of grafting (%) were investigated. Maximum 745% degree of grafting was obtained at optimized grafting conditions. Structural changes in sepiolite by grafting of polypyrrole chains was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction techniques. Surface morphology of the grafted nanohybrid was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Thermal studies were carried out to acquire information concerning thermal stability of the synthesized materials and it was found increasing with the increase in grafting (%) of polypyrrole in sepiolite grafted polypyrrole (MS‐g‐PPy). Complex impedance spectroscopic analysis was carried out to study the effects of grafting of PPy on the ac electrical properties of synthesized nanohybrid composite at ambient temperature in the frequency range of 0.5–107 Hz. The value of electrical conductivity was affected by degree of grafting (%) and maximum value of 0.85 × 10−4 S/cm was achieved. Both dielectric loss factor and permittivity increase with the decrease of frequency exhibiting strong interfacial polarization at low frequency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A thermal hydraulic study of convective heat transfer in 3 × 3 square array of heated vertical cylinders is carried out using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Two different CFD approaches were used, i.e., full structural details (FSD) and porous media modeling (PMM). The computational requirement in PMM declined significantly due the porous media approximation. The PMM only gives the overall flow and temperature field. In the FSD model all the geometry details are presented without any approximation. The PMM and FSD results are compared to experimental data. In general, the prediction of temperature profiles from both PMM and FSD agreed well with the experimental data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An unprecedented spin cluster‐based network architecture {[NiII2(pdaa)(OH)2(H2O)]n (H2pdaa=1,4‐phenylene diacetic acid)}, comprising 1D linear chains of NiII ions crosslinked via Ni4O4 cubanes, forms under hydrothermal conditions; this 3D coordination network exhibits magnetic ordering at 23.9 K as well as a second magnetic ordering process at 2.8 K likely associated with a structural phase transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research question/issue: Using a multitheoretic view of boards, this study examines the impact of boardroom gender diversity (BGD) on voluntary intellectual capital (IC) disclosure in initial public offering (IPO) prospectuses in China—the world's second‐biggest economy, which is moving from a planned economy to a market‐oriented one. Furthermore, this study also investigates the impact of family ownership on the relationship between BGD and IC disclosure in the Chinese environment, which is characterized by less‐developed corporate governance mechanisms. Research findings/insights: Based on a comprehensive content analysis of Chinese IPO prospectuses between 2009 and 2017 and measuring disclosure index at 78 dimensions under six broad categories of IC, the empirical results document (a) a significant positive relation between BGD and IC disclosure—in line with resource dependence theory, (b) a significant negative impact of female independent directors on IC disclosure—opposite to agency theory predictions, and that (c) the BGD–IC disclosure relationship is generally stronger for firms with two or more women on boards—in line with critical mass theory in China. Finally, this study also reveals that family ownership has adverse impacts on the BGD–IC disclosure relationship. These results are robust to a battery of sensitivity analyses. Practitioner/policy implications: This study provides positive capital market implications of BGD through enhanced IC disclosure in IPO prospectuses. In doing so, the study has important implications for regulators and top management teams in devising policies concerning female representation on boards and voluntary disclosure of IC to inform the market participants of the true value of the company. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prior literature on firm value creation for stakeholders has oversimplified and narrowed the concept of value down to "economic returns." Although economic returns are fundamental to a firm's core stakeholders (i.e., shareholders), other legitimate stakeholders want "value" beyond economic returns. We define stakeholder value as the financial and nonfinancial returns a firm can offer to its legitimate stakeholders, and empirically investigate whether board gender diversity (BGD) improves our multidimensional measure of value. Using Thomson Reuters' ASSET4 data for U.K.‐listed firms available from Eikon for the period 2007–2017, we report a significant positive relationship between BGD and stakeholder value creation. In particular, BGD increases social and environmental value creation in addition to economic returns. Furthermore, our results suggest that even though gender‐diverse boards are associated with stakeholder value creation in family firms, this is only conspicuous for environmental value creation. The findings suggest that although female directors cater to the interests of broader stakeholder groups, family ownership causes them to mainly focus on environmental stakeholders. The study provides important implications for regulators, stakeholders, and academic scholars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]