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The metal processing industry faces significant environmental and energy consumption challenges, which are increasingly important in global sustainability initiatives. Traditional metal-cutting methods, which involve substantial quantities of cutting fluids and generate considerable waste and emissions, are now considered unsustainable. The sustainability assessment and environmental impacts of cooling-lubricating assisted machining of Ti-6Al-4V alloys have not been studied holistically. This research aims to develop a new empirical model for the comprehensive understanding of the energy consumption and carbon emissions associated with clean-cutting processes. To achieve this, a series of milling tests were conducted using different clean-cutting techniques, including green wet cutting (pouring), Minimum Quantity Lubrication (MQL), Cryogenic CO2 cooling and hybrid CO2 mixed with minimum quantity lubrication (CO2-MQL). The CO2-MQL technique stood out among the tested methods, showing a remarkable improvement in energy efficiency and carbon emissions reduction. Specifically, this method demonstrated up to 30% better energy efficiency than traditional methods. Additionally, it significantly reduced carbon emissions, supporting the premise that integrating CO2 with minimal quantity lubrication could offer a dual benefit of enhanced cooling and lubrication while minimizing environmental impact. The success of the CO2-MQL technique highlights the potential for scalable improvements in energy and emissions reductions across the metal processing industry, suggesting a viable pathway toward greener manufacturing practices. This study provides fundamental knowledge about the environmental impact of machining processes used in metal processes industry and reduce waste related pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are two distinct soft computing models for representing ambiguity and uncertainty: fuzzy and soft sets. A novel mathematical technique for handling uncertainties is the soft set. This set offers a parameterized viewpoint for soft computing and uncertainty modeling. Soft sets have been shown to have potential uses in a number of disciplines, including probability theory, operations research, game theory, measurement theory, and the smoothness of functions. Topological numbers possess significant importance in graph theory. On topological numbers in fuzzy graph theory, there is also a wealth of literature. However, there has not been much research done on fuzzy soft topological numbers up until now. Fuzzy soft graphs are very versatile instruments available for decision-making. Therefore, in fuzzy soft graph theory, it would be very beneficial to introduce and apply topological numbers. Multi-criteria decision-making approaches give decision-makers the required instruments, but their underlying theories and assumptions may differ. Therefore, choosing the best way to make decisions is just as crucial as actually making the decision. The technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) is the most widely used multi-criteria decision-making method. TOPSIS can solve the real-world problems. TOPSIS is a technique for ranking, based on the weights and impacts of the given elements. However, prior to this study, no work has been done on the application of fuzzy soft topological numbers in decision-making systems. The novelty of this research manuscript is to calculate three fuzzy soft topological numbers before and after the deletion of the vertex for a generalized graph and in a fuzzy soft framework and make a comparison in the results obtained before and after deleting the vertex. Subsequently, we demonstrated an application of international automobile importation into the United States by several nations using various graphical networks, employing a parameterized fuzzy soft graph point of view and three different modes of transportation. It is established that if a vertex is removed from a network, the profit made will decrease significantly. Additionally, the optimal network of nations for all purposes is evaluated. By using the TOPSIS approach, the ranking of networks is also generated from a set of alternatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanomaterials have proven effective and valuable in agriculture, and metallic nanoparticles have been found to have significant biological activities. On the other hand, plant-derived smoke solution is known as a growth regulator. However, there is no literature accessible on the nanoparticles synthesis from plant-derived smoke solutions and its effect on plant growth. This study aimed to synthesize silver nanoparticles from plant smoke-derived (AgNps) and evaluate their stimulatory effect on seed germination and seedling growth of maize under wastewater (industrial effluents) stress. The concentrated aqueous solution of smoke was prepared from Cymbopogon jwarancusa in a closed chamber, followed by its loading into AgNPs by combining silver nitrate (AgNO3) and concentrated plant-derived smoke solution in a closed chamber. The developed plant smoke-loaded AgNPs were characterized for identification using maximum absorption attribute using UV–visible spectroscopy and elemental composition (EDX). The results indicated mixture exhibited a λmax of 433 nm depicting the successful formation of AgNPs. The majority of the synthesized AgNPs exhibited round-to-sphere and square-to-rectangular geometry with an average size of 31 nm. The EDX analysis demonstrated the predominant presence of Ag and Cl ions and some other trace elements; while, XRD results showed a strong peak at 38.2° indicating the nanocrystalline nature of the AgNPs. The vibrational analysis results revealed successful enclosing of smoke probably in the core of AgNPs characterized by the disappearance of smoke signature bands in AgNPs spectra. The characterized nanoparticles (5, 10, and 15 mg L−1) were then used to investigate their effect on seed germination and seedling growth of maize under wastewater treatment as compared with smoke solution (1:500), AgNO3, and control. The results showed that low-concentration of AgNPs (5 mg L−1) significantly increased the germination percentage (80%), length of shoots and roots (18 cm, 16 cm), and fresh and dry weights of root and shoot (0.6,0.45 and 0.3 g, 0.6 g) under wastewater stress (25%) as compared to smoke solution (1:500) (50%), AgNO3 (60%) and control (40%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on the synthesis and characterization of La9.33Si6O26:Tb3+ phosphor produced through the sol–gel method. The structural analysis conducted using x-ray diffraction confirmed a hexagonal apatite crystal structure with the P63/m space group. The functional groups were analyzed using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Scanning electron microscopy images displayed uniform spherical particles. Photoluminescence (PL) studies revealed strong excitation and emission properties, with distinct peaks corresponding to the spin-allowed and spin-forbidden transitions of Tb3+ ion. The PL excitation spectra, measured at an emission wavelength (λem) of 543 nm, exhibited a significant peak at 230 nm attributed to the 4f–5d spin-allowed transition of Tb3+ ions, splitting into a band at 274 nm due to spin-forbidden 4f–4f transitions. The emission spectra, excited (λexc) at 274 nm, displayed multiple peaks in the blue region at 420 nm, 438 nm, 452 nm, and 470 nm, corresponding to the 5D3 → 7F5, 5D3 → 7F4, 5D3 → 7F3, and 5D3 → 7F2 transitions, respectively. Additionally, peaks in the 480- to 650-nm segment indicated different transitions, showing the efficiency of the host lattice. The prominent emission peaks at 490 nm (5D4 → 7F6), 543 nm (5D4 → 7F5), 585 nm (5D4 → 7F4), and 622 nm (5D4 → 7F3) are due to the transition of Tb3+ ion. The peak at 543 nm, corresponding to the 5D4 → 7F5 transition, is particularly intense, resulting in a bright green luminescence visible to the naked eye under UV excitation. Vacuum PL measurements confirmed the green emission characteristics of the synthesized La9.33Si6O26:xTb3+ phosphors, indicating stable and intense green luminescence. These properties make them ideal for applications that need these characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of cryptography is to provide algorithms that safeguard sensitive information sent via unprotected networks. These methods encrypt the information, making it unintelligible even if adversaries manage to get it. The substitution box (S-box) structure is the most significant and nonlinear component of the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) algorithm. In the algorithm, the S-box supplies the confusion or mixing process. A highly non-linearity-valued S-box significantly boosts defenses against a range of threats. Unfortunately, the achievable encryption throughput is constrained by the computationally costly nature of creating S-boxes. This emphasizes the necessity of creating new S-box generators with the best strength and minimum computing requirements to provide optimal security. We presented an efficient approach that uses the composition of Frobenius automorphism and Mobius transformation of G F (2 8) . In this way, we got two highly nonlinear permutations that can produce millions of S-boxes with very strong cryptographic strength. The dynamic behavior of the proposed generator is analyzed by clarifying the requirements for generating distinct S-boxes and ensuring that the produced S-boxes have a uniform probability distribution. Our generator can produce S-boxes with robust cryptographic features, according to a thorough security study. Our novel generation method for building S-boxes efficiently combines the benefits of both algebraic modeling and chaotic mapping, providing a solid basis for building robust S-boxes. Our approach can guarantee that the produced S-boxes have strong variety and outstanding comprehensive performance by using the ergodicity of the chaotic system. Additionally, the experimental findings presented in this study validate that the dynamic S-boxes generated by our technique not only satisfy the criteria for creating encryption methods but also provide enhanced security for picture encryption. Furthermore, our approach generates S-boxes with good efficiency. Our technique has a wide range of possible applications in cryptography, including the creation of dynamic S-boxes for encryption algorithms and high-performance S-boxes for image security. In light of current security risks and computing demands, our theoretical and computational evaluations indicate that our S-box generator is a good contender for real-world applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The idea of linear Diophantine fuzzy sets (LDFs) is a novel tool for analysis, soft computing, and optimization. Recently, the concept of a linear Diophantine fuzzy graph has been proposed in 2022. The aim of this research is to extend topological numbers to LDFSs. A real value assigned to a particular graph is known as a topological graph theoretic parameter. We extend the bound of the crisp graph toward the linear Diophantine fuzzy graph (LDFG), including the edge and vertex deletion operations via LDFG theoretic parameters. We also investigate the interesting bound of the LDFGs via LDFG theoretic parameters. Finally, for decision-making problems, we developed an algorithm by exploiting the relationship between LDFG theoretic parameters and LDFSs. Based on the established approach, we discussed a numerical example of an application of a medical diagnosis using the linear Diophantine fuzzy Sombor graph parameter and the first, fifth, and sixth versions of the linear Diophantine fuzzy Sombor graph parameters. A way to the extension of fuzzy topological numbers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mixed metric dimension of a graph is an important parameter in characterizing its structural complexity, specifically in nanoscale networks where precision is paramount. In this article, we calculate the mixed metric dimension of hexagonal nano-network, a modal with significant applications in nanotechnology and material science. Through rigorous analysis, we set up that the mixed metric dimension of the hexagonal nano-network is exactly three, highlighting its minimal but enough resolving set that uniquely identifies all vertices. Furthermore, we check out the exchange property within this context, demonstrating the robust adaptability of the hexagonal network's resolving sets. Our findings display that the alternate assets aren't the handiest preserved but stronger in these nano-networks, allowing for flexible adjustments in resolving sets without compromising the network's integrity. This examination offers critical insights into the fundamental properties of hexagonal nano-networks, offering a theoretical foundation for future research in nanomaterial design and optimization. The results underscore the potential of leveraging mixed metric dimensions and exchange properties to achieve efficient and scalable solutions in nano-network applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work investigates the soil stabilization impact of adding silica fume and phosphogypsum on the hydro-mechanical behavior of clayey sand. Laboratory tests were performed on natural soil samples containing 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% of silica fume and 3%, 6%, 9%, and 12% of phosphogypsum by weight of dry soil. The tests included particle size distribution, compaction characteristics, liquid limit, plastic limit, direct shear test, and hydraulic conductivity. The addition of phosphogypsum from 3 to 6% by weight of dry soil improved the engineering properties of the soil, resulting in an increase in the maximum dry density from 15.73 to 16.22 kN/m3. The highest shear strength of 17.91 kPa was obtained with an addition of 6% of phosphogypsum waste by the weight of dry soil. Similarly, a 10% substitution of silica fume in natural soil resulted in the highest shear strength of 20.37 kPa, providing improved resistance against liquefaction. The results show that the addition of phosphogypsum and silica fume stabilizers can be successfully used to treat clayey sand for various construction activities. The research outcomes will help engineers and construction professionals in implementing cost-effective and sustainable solutions for soil stabilization of clayey sand in practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous domains, including all branches of science and technology, database theory, data mining, neural networks, expert systems, cluster analysis, control theory, and image capture, have employed graph theory, which can be used to represent interactions among multiple individuals. An extension of fuzzy sets, specifically intuitionistic fuzzy sets, is the concept of single-valued neutrosophic sets. We extend to graphs the notion of single-valued neutrosophic sets, which is an instance of neutrosophic sets. Neutrosophic fuzzy graphs are generalizations of fuzzy graphs, intuitionistic fuzzy graphs, and interval-valued fuzzy graphs. When in the case of fuzzy or intuitionistic fuzzy graphs relation between atoms in problems is indeterminate, then the neutrosophic fuzzy graph serves as a potent tool for dealing with partial, ambiguous, and inconsistent information in the actual world. In single-valued neutrosophic fuzzy graphs, each vertex is allocated a triplet in which the first element represents membership value, second and third elements as indeterminacy and non-membership value, respectively. In this work, we generalize the conclusions relating crisp graphs and fuzzy graphs by applying graph theory to single-valued neutrosophic sets and exploring a novel type of graph structure known as single-valued neutrosophic graphs. Sombor numbers are an effective and efficient tool in describing the topology of the graph in a numerical value. The main aim of this article is to define the first six Sombor numbers for single-valued neutrosophic fuzzy graphs. Then, degree of vertices of different graph families is determined in single-valued neutrosophic fuzzy framework and calculate the six Sombor numbers for these fundamental graph families for single-valued neutrosophic fuzzy graphs. In the end, an application to show the trade flows between different countries via sea route is presented to prove that single-valued neutrosophic fuzzy graphs are more generalized and efficient. First, we calculated the six Sombor numbers for crisp graph and then in SVNS fuzzy framework. Illustrated cases are then provided to show the applicability, viability, efficacy, and benefits of the suggested ways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Double perovskites based on rubidium have demonstrated potential for obtaining high solar cell power conversion efficiencies. Their distinct crystal structure and electrical characteristics influence these materials' potential as effective light absorbers. In this present manuscript, a detailed scrutiny of the physical aspects of halide perovskites Rb2TlAsI6 and Rb2TlGaI6 is presented using density functional theory framework implanted in Wien2K code using. Modified Becke Johnson potential is employed to treat the exchange–correlation effects. A computed tolerance factor, octahedral tilting, and formation energy ensure the structural and thermodynamic stability of given structures. Three independent elastic constants and mechanical properties were computed using the Thomas Charpin method. Ductile nature of Rb2TlAsI6 and brittle nature for Rb2TlGaI6 is revealed from computed mechanical attributes. The Debye temperature for Rb2TlGaI6 (171.32 K) is noted higher than Rb2TlAsI6 (144.53 K). Electronic properties revealed a direct bandgap (1.09 eV) for Rb2TlAsI6 and an indirect bandgap (1.2 eV) for Rb2TlGaI6. Optical properties indicate high polarization and absorption of incident light, which is suitable for photovoltaic applications in the visible spectrum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Albian–Aptian Goru Formation represents a fluvio-deltaic reservoir in both the Central and Southern Indus Basin, Pakistan. Using high-resolution core data, this study provides comprehensive insights into the depositional environment and its role in influencing reservoir heterogeneities in the studied formation. The sedimentological investigations demonstrate five lithofacies, namely, (i) massive sandstone (Sm), (ii) horizontal to low-angle planar laminated sandstone (Sl), (iii) planar cross-laminated sandstone (Sc), (iv) heterolithic beds (Hw and Hr), and (v) massive mudstone (Mm). Facies associations reflect shallow marine depositional settings varying from deltaic in the NE to strand plain in the SW. The framework grains of the established lithofacies exhibit quartzo-feldspathic petrofabrics, which have been sourced from stable craton-continental block settings. The petrophysical data in the core depth zone show high shale content in Well-A and lower parts of Well-B. In Well-A, the crossover between the density and neutron logs is not observed, which suggests unsaturated sands, while Well-B exhibits a permeable zone as indicated by neutron-density crossover, low gamma ray values, and relatively high porosity. The petrographic analysis and scanning electron microscopy indicate high effective porosities contributed by both primary (intergranular and intercrystalline) and secondary porosity (owing to fracturing and dissolution). The upper part of Well-B shows high porosity values up to 28% due to highly fractured quartz. Porosity values are low in the lower parts of the Well-A and Well-B due to intensive calcite cementation, chlorite recrystallization, proto matrix as well as pseudo matrix. This suggests that both Well-A and Well-B have a common source but the reservoir properties can be attributed to the depositional and post-depositional variations in the petrofabric of the studied lithological units. The Cretaceous Goru Formation in Southern Indus Basin, the Pariwar formations in Jaisalmar Basin, and Bhuj Formation in Kutch Basin share same geological history and sedimentary processes. Thus, these studies can be utilized in the exploration of Cretaceous reservoirs in these basins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate prediction of cutting force is essential not only for estimating power and torque but also for precise chatter prediction, where even the derivative of the cutting force function is crucial. The traditional cutting force model does not consider the runout, and the enhanced models that consider it are often difficult to be established due to the need of physical runout measurements. This study proposes a newly developed split-wise model to predict the cutting forces in Al2024. This model includes the calculation of the cutting force considering individual teeth which leads to the determination of 6 force coefficients of different values per tooth. The experiments were conducted on milling Al2024 for two set of experiments ( V fz = 375–675 m/min, a e = 4–12 mm, a p = 0.5–1 mm, D =16 mm) and ( V fz = 220–440 m/min, a e = 0.5–1 mm, a p = 0.5–1 mm, D =2 mm). For the first set, the comparative error determined from the split-wise and classic models is 5.6% and 7.8%, respectively. For the second set, the error is 11% and 15.7%, respectively. Therefore, the split-wise cutting force model is capable of adapting the runout and consequently improving the prediction of the cutting force with both large and small tools operations. Additionally, the split-wise may find applications in advanced manufacturing technologies allowing industries to enhanced productivity and quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The yield of pearl millet, a resilient cereal crop crucial for African food security, is severely impacted by the root parasitic weed Striga hermonthica, which requires host-released hormones, called strigolactones (SLs), for seed germination. Herein, we identify four SLs present in the Striga-susceptible line SOSAT-C88-P10 (P10) but absent in the resistant 29Aw (Aw). We generate chromosome-scale genome assemblies, including four gapless chromosomes for each line. The Striga-resistant Aw lacks a 0.7 Mb genome segment containing two putative CARLACTONOIC ACID METHYLTRANSFERASE1 (CLAMT1) genes, which may contribute to SL biosynthesis. Functional assays show that P10CLAMT1b produces the SL-biosynthesis intermediate methyl carlactonoate (MeCLA) and that MeCLA is the precursor of P10-specific SLs. Screening a diverse pearl millet panel confirms the pivotal role of the CLAMT1 section for SL diversity and Striga susceptibility. Our results reveal a reason for Striga susceptibility in pearl millet and pave the way for generating resistant lines through marker-assisted breeding or direct genetic modification. Production of pearl millet is impacted by the root parasitic weed Striga hermonthica. Here, the authors assemble the genomes of resistant and susceptible lines of pearl millet and identify a critical gene CARLACTONOIC ACID METHYLTRANSFERASE1b (CLAMT1b) in determining Striga resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study demonstrates laser bending which is a flexible and (external) tool-free method for bending and shaping of metallic components. The numerical and experimental analysis of the bending behaviors of Ti-6Al-4V titanium alloy sheets has been done under the constant line energy concept. Numerical simulations using Abaqus examine the transient temperature fields, thermal stress, strain, and deformation characteristics. To validate the numerical calculations and observe the effects of process parameters such as laser powers and scanning speeds on the bending capability, the experimental analysis has been conducted and compared with the numerical simulations. In addition, the influence of laser irradiation on the surface morphology of the laser-scanned specimens has been observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The findings show that higher line energy causes significant enhancement in bending deformation. The maximum numerical and experimental bending angles of 0.91° and 0.88° have been observed at the line energy of 15 J/mm, respectively. The average percentage deviation of 5.24% has been observed between the numerical and experimental results at the line energy of 15 J/mm. Moreover, melting, thermal oxidation, and crack propagations have been observed during the SEM analysis at high laser power. The numerical simulation and experimental outcomes are helpful for the selection of optimum process conditions in the laser bending method of Ti-6Al-4V sheets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The resistance distances between any pair of vertices in a graph are equal to the resistance distances between any pair of vertices on an electrical network, constructed to correspond to with each edge being replaced by a unit resistor. In this paper, we will discuss the resistance distances between two vertices of subdivided cyclic silicate network. A unit resistor is used to replace each edge. In this paper, the resistance distances between any arbitrary pairs of vertices of a subdivided cyclic silicate network are calculated using techniques from electrical network theory such as the parallel and series principles, the star-triangle transformation, the principle of elimination and substitution, and the delta-star transformation. The study of resistance distances in segmented cyclic silicate networks has far-reaching implications in materials science and computational chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have synthesized library of biphenyl-4-carboxamide derivatives via one-pot strategy. The synthesized molecules were pharmacologically tested for their anticancer, antimicrobial activities and inhibition potential against acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) and urease enzymes. Molecular docking studies were performed against AChE, BChE and urease to further investigate the inhibition mechanism of the synthesized compounds. Compound 4h (at conc. 100 μg/mL) was found to be most active against human liver cancer cell lines (Hep2) (cell viability = 29.33%). Compound 4c demonstrated potent inhibitory activity against AChE (% inhibition 84.36) at 0.5 mM concentration and urease (% inhibition 31.42) enzymes at 0.25 mM concentration while 4b showed good activity against BChE (% inhibition 52.19) at 0.5 mM concentration. Synthesized molecules showed potent antibacterial and antifungal activities. To rationalize the observed pharmacological activities, we performed docking studies against AChE, BChE and enzymes. Compounds 4f, 4b and 4h showed high binding affinity with AChE, BChE and urease, respectively, with lowest bonding energies values (− 12.4, − 11.5 and − 8.9), respectively, so molecular docking study showed that all the synthesized compounds have good binding capability targeted to AChE, BChE and urease enzymes. Pharmaceutical activities and molecular docking studies suggest that synthesized compounds may play a great role as pharmaceutical agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A relatively recent approach in molecular graph theory for analyzing chemical networks and structures is called a modified polynomial. It emphasizes the characteristics of molecules through the use of a polynomial-based procedure and presents numerical descriptors in algebraic form. The Quantitative Structure-Property Relationship study makes use of Modified Polynomials (M-Polynomials) as a mathematical tool. M-Polynomials used to create connections between a material's various properties and its structural characteristics. In this study, we calculated several modified polynomials and gave a polynomial description of the magnesium iodide structure. Particularly, we computed first, second and modified Zagreb indices based M-polynomials. Randić index, and inverse Randić indices based M-polynomials are also computed in this work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant-derived smoke is known as a potent agent to promote plant growth at different developmental stages. The application of plant-derived smoke elicits germination and post-germination stages of plant species. On the other hand, abiotic stresses, such as salinity, heavy metals, and flooding, are known to weaken plant growth and development. Abiotic stresses have negative effects on growth attributes of crops, such as maize, rice, wheat, and soybean. The positive/alleviating effect of plant-derived smoke solution was observed at morphological, physiological, and molecular levels of plant under abiotic stresses. Presently, the role of plant-derived smoke in alleviation of various stresses including salt, heavy metal, temperature, and flooding stress has been comprehended and the mechanism of alleviation via regulation of cellular activities at molecular level has been discussed. The amelioration of negative effects of abiotic stresses by plant-derived smoke involves the regulation of stress-related genes that provokes the antioxidant system of plants, activating cell wall proteins and metabolic pathways that might block the uptake of salt/heavy metal ions through plant roots. This review might provide an in-depth role of plant-derived smoke to exploit new avenues enabling plants to cope with abiotic stresses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water security and food security in the Indus basin are highly interlinked and subject to severe stresses. Irrigation water demands presently already exceed what the basin can sustainably provide, but per-capita food availability remains limited. Rapid population growth and climate change are projected to further intensify pressure on the interdependencies between water and food security. The agricultural system of the Indus basin must therefore change and adapt to be able to achieve the associated Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The development of robust policies to guide such changes requires a thorough understanding of the synergies and trade-offs that different strategies for agricultural development may have for water and food security. In this study, we defined three contrasting trajectories for agricultural system change based on a review of scientific literature on regional agricultural developments and a stakeholder consultation workshop. We assessed the consequences of these trajectories for water and food security with a spatially explicit modeling framework for two scenarios of climatic and socio-economic change over the period 1980–2080. Our results demonstrate that agricultural system changes can ensure per capita food production in the basin remains sufficient under population growth. However, such changes require additional irrigation water resources and may strongly aggravate water stress. Conversely, a shift to sustainable water management can reduce water stress but has the consequence that basin-level food self-sufficiency may not be feasible in future. This suggests that biophysical limits likely exist that prevent agricultural system changes to ensure both sufficient food production and improve water security in the Indus basin under strong population growth. Our study concludes that agricultural system changes are an important adaptation mechanism toward achieving water and food SDGs, but must be developed alongside other strategies that can mitigate its adverse trade-offs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The limited availability of complex coronary intervention facilities and qualified operators, due to the high cost associated with chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous intervention (PCI) equipment and a shortage of necessary skills, has led to a scarcity of capable medical centers in Pakistan. This study seeks to examine the outcomes and potential complications associated with CTO PCI procedures conducted at the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratories of a prominent national institute in Pakistan, which handles a large volume of cases. Results: Three hundred and six patients were included in the study in the study period of six months. The mean age was 59.49 (± 9.16) years: 256 (83.66%) were male and 50 (16.34%) were female. CTO was successfully re-vascularized in 237 (77.5%) with a complication rate of 13.7%. Two hundred and ninety-eight (97.39%) patients underwent an antegrade approach, while RCA was the most common target vessel (47.71%). Diabetes was the only significant associated risk factor with CTO PCI failure (30.43% vs. 30.43%, P-value = 0.015). Conclusion: We achieved an excellent procedural success rate with a low complication rate. CTO procedural failure is associated with a higher complication rate, and diabetes is among the risk factors that lead to higher procedural failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable manufacturing has become a global and societal goal. Although its execution is much slower, the manufacturing sector is also slowing down the unsustainable practices. One of the difficulties in the implementation of sustainability is to re-engineer its evaluation for specific fields. This study brings sustainable manufacturing underpinned an overall performance index (OPI) by integrating machinability metrics, sustainability metrics, and their comprehensive sustainability evaluation. It involves quantitative and qualitative factors such as the operator's health, shop floor environment, air quality, chip removal, and surface quality of the product in this assessment process. In this attempt, the application of the framework is presented for the assessment of sustainability through a case study with different green and hybrid lubri-cooling technologies in machining processes. These technologies have the potential to contribute to cleaner production by reducing the consumption of cutting fluid, cutting tools, energy, and carbon emissions. Considering these state-of-the-art cooling technologies, this research aims to explore their advantages and promote their application in engineering fields, thereby opening new possibilities for sustainable manufacturing practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tectonic deformation by the Himalayan orogeny resulted in the development of sedimentary basins with multiple petroleum plays, especially in the Eocene rocks. Previous studies on the Eocene rocks broadly discusses the depositional environment, diagenesis, and outcrop features. However, the present work includes both outcrop and wireline log data to elucidate microfacies, diagenetic control, and sequence stratigraphic patterns used for reservoir characterization of the Sakesar Limestone, both at surface and sub-surface level. Field features include light to medium grey, massive, nodular, fossiliferous, fractured limestone which is mainly classified into wackestone to packstone microfacies. Several diagenetic features such as cementation, neomorphism, compaction, and calcite-filled fractures are observed and they have reduced the pore network. However, secondary dissolution in the bioclastic wackestone facies and fracturing have enhanced the pore network and its connectivity. Wireline logs also show sonic porosity of 5.3%, and 3.16% effective porosity is sufficient for carbonate reservoirs. The bulk porosity may reach up to 14%. Sequence stratigraphic study show that coarsening upward and massive carbonate beds characterized by packstone faices are interpreted as highstand systems tract in the Sakesar Limestone, which suggests the prograding depositional pattern. The outcome of this work demonstrates that potential reservoir intervals in the Sakesar Limestone are mainly fractures and solution enhanced pore spaces in the wackestone microfacies which can be targeted for enhancement for the exploration and production in these carbonate rocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In current piece of writing, we bring in the new notion of induced bipolar neutrosophic (BN) AOs by utilizing Einstein operations as the foundation for aggregation operators (AOs), as well as to endow having a real-world problem-related application. The neutrosophic set can rapidly and more efficiently bring out the partial, inconsistent, and ambiguous information. The fundamental definitions and procedures linked to the basic bipolar neutrosophic (BN) set as well as the neutrosophic set (NS), are presented first. Our primary concern is the induced Einstein AOs, like, induced bipolar neutrosophic Einstein weighted average (I-BNEWA), induced bipolar neutrosophic Einstein weighted geometric (I-BNEWG), as well as their different types and required properties. The main advantage of employing the offered methods is that they give decision-makers a more thorough analysis of the problem. These strategies whenever compare to on hand methods, present complete, progressively precise, and accurate result. Finally, utilizing a numerical representation of an example for selection of robot, for a problem involving multi-criteria community decision making, we propose a novel solution. The suitability ratings are then ranked to select the most suitable robot. This demonstrates the practicality as well as usefulness of these novel approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat is a staple food crop that provides a significant portion of the world's daily caloric intake, serving as a vital source of carbohydrates and dietary fiber for billions of people. Seed shape studies of wheat typically involve the use of digital image analysis software to quantify various seed shape parameters such as length, width, area, aspect ratio, roundness, and symmetry. This study presents a comprehensive investigation into the water-absorbing capacity of seeds from 120 distinct wheat lines, leveraging digital image analysis techniques facilitated by SmartGrain software. Water absorption is a pivotal process in the early stages of seed germination, directly influencing plant growth and crop yield. SmartGrain, a powerful image analysis tool, was employed to extract precise quantitative data from digital images of wheat seeds, enabling the assessment of various seed traits in relation to their water-absorbing capacity. The analysis revealed significant transformations in seed characteristics as they absorbed water, including changes in size, weight, shape, and more. Through statistical analysis and correlation assessments, we identified robust relationships between these seed traits, both before and after water treatment. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Agglomerative Hierarchical Clustering (AHC) were employed to categorize genotypes with similar trait patterns, providing insights valuable for crop breeding and genetic research. Multiple linear regression analysis further elucidated the influence of specific seed traits, such as weight, width, and distance, on water-absorbing capacity. Our study contributes to a deeper understanding of seed development, imbibition, and the crucial role of water absorption in wheat. These insights have practical implications in agriculture, offering opportunities to optimize breeding programs for improved water absorption in wheat genotypes. The integration of SmartGrain software with advanced statistical methods enhances the reliability and significance of our findings, paving the way for more efficient and resilient wheat crop production. Significant changes in wheat seed shape parameters were observed after imbibition, with notable increases in area, perimeter, length, width, and weight. The length-to-width ratio (LWR) and circularity displayed opposite trends, with higher values before imbibition and lower values after imbibition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposes a method for estimating river plume length from water levels and river discharge rates. A numerical model for coastal ocean dynamics was refined by comparing thermohaline fields calculated using the model with those measured off the mouth of the Sakawa River in Sagami Bay, Japan. The model successfully captured the reduction in salinity within the surface 1.0-m layer caused by riverine water transport. The simulated surface salinity maps revealed that the dynamic motions of the river plumes were primarily driven by one of the two diurnal occurrences of tidal current intensification. Regression analyses of the simulated results demonstrated that the river plume lengths were closely correlated with the water levels and river discharge rates, and that they could be accurately estimated from preceding river discharge rates under weak wind condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study investigated the impact of adding a Zn-CNT additive during friction stir alloying (FSA) of AZ61 magnesium alloy and SPHC mild steel. The additive, comprising zinc powder, carbon nanotubes, and polyethylene glycol, was introduced into the joint gap before welding at varying weight percentages (1, 3, 5 wt%). The rotational speed of the tool remained constant at 1500 rpm, while the welding speed was adjusted (15, 30, and 50 mm/min). Results revealed that the inclusion of 1 wt% Zn-CNT additives significantly enhanced the tensile strength (260 MPa) and microhardness (495 HV) of the welded joint compared to joints without additives. This suggests that the Zn-CNT additive positively influenced the mechanical properties of the joints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accelerated growth of 3D printing technologies has revolutionized the potential of ceramic materials, offering unprecedented control over microstructures, saving labor cost, material, and process time. Stereolithography-based 3D printing has grown to fabricate advanced ceramics materials with the flexibility of mass production. 3D printing generally offers unprecedented versatility, fast-printing tangible design, custom freedom, and excellent laying accuracy. More specifically, ceramic materials offer unique mechanical properties to make them superior for various applications. A description of how digital light processing (DLP) 3D printing can play a pivotal role in fabricating oxide ceramics in terms of complex shape, material used, ceramic resin, debinding and sintering control, and theoretical background for accuracy and high resolution is presented along with their distinctive features. Within 2021–2026, the DLP printing market is expected to reach a GR of 5.9%. The current findings shed light on the potential of DLP printing open windows in ceramic materials, which is are very promising, a step forward to achieving sophisticated structures with great versatility and efficiency. This review article is devoted to ceramics and their oxides (Al2O3, ZrO2, and kaolin), non-oxides (Si3N3 and SiC), and Al2O3-reinforced ZrO2 composites, whose morphologies are elaborated in depth. Some key factors are prioritized, such as the ceramic resin, photoinitiator, monomers, and suspension, which may facilitate the scalability of the desired printing. A summary table concludes with the operating conditions, materials, and fundamental aspects of physiochemical and thermomechanical features in large-scale manufacturing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The applications of Nomex honeycomb composite (NHC) structures in aerospace, automotive and defence sectors have been significantly increasing due to their high compressive strength, hexagonal thin-walled structure, ultra-light weight and excellent thermal resistance. Specific applications include composite sandwich structures in helicopter propellers, satellite cabins, aeroplane floors, engine cowls, wings and nacelles. Accuracy of the machined surface of NHC structures is required for adhesive bonding with face-sheets. Conventional machining processes generate machining defects in terms of tearing, damaged cell walls, burr formation, delamination and poor surface quality that result in reduction of strengths of the core structure and its bond with face sheet. Ultrasonic machining is a proven technique to overcome such machining defects and improve the surface quality of NHC structures. Novelty of this research includes the development of a three-dimensional (3D) finite element model to analyse cutting forces, chip formation and machining quality of NHC structures using disc cutter through both ultrasonic and conventional machining processes by providing feed to the workpiece instead of the cutting tool. The significant influence of machining parameters such as depth of cut, feed rate, ultrasonic amplitude and spindle speed on cutting forces was investigated numerically followed by experimental validation. Numerical model in support with experimental results show that cutting forces decrease by increasing ultrasonic amplitude and spindle speed (up to 54.74% and 62.71%, respectively), and increase with the increase of depth of cut and feed rate (up to 60% and 60.48%, respectively). It was also found that the ultrasonic machining reduces the magnitude of cutting forces as compared to conventional machining (up to 42.74%). Surface morphology analysis through scanning electron microscope also indicated improved machining quality achieved by ultrasonic machining at NHC structures' hexagonal cells, triple points and walls. A burr formation of 5% was observed during ultrasonic machining of NHC structures for F y ≤ 3 N , while it was found up to 10% if F y > 3 N , compared to at least 30% burr during conventional machining. To sum up, the employed methodology can be effectively applied for determining the effect of various machining parameters on cutting forces as well as surface quality, chip formation, structural integrity and dimensional accuracy of machined NHC structures during ultrasonic machining process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The consumption of fossil fuels has vastly increased in recent decades, despite rapidly depleting. The rate of tire degradation, on the other hand, is significantly lower than the rate of tire disposal per year. Tire pyrolysis oil (TPO) produced through the pyrolysis process can be used to substitute fossil fuels while also speeding up tire degradation. As a result, TPO blended with diesel can be a viable solution to the issues mentioned above. The primary focus of this research is to study the performance and emission characteristics of TPO blends from 10 to 100% without any modifications of diesel engines at varying speeds ranging from 1500 to 3500 rpm with 500 rpm increments. This study uses a four-stroke, single-cylinder, compression ignition (CI) engine to study the brake power, torque, specific fuel consumption, brake thermal efficiency, and emissions (NOx, CO2, HC, and CO). These diesel engine performance parameters are then compared between diesel fuel (DF) and various TPO blends of different concentrations. When the emissions are examined, it is observed that CO emissions are minimal at RPMs ranging from 1500 to 3000 with the maximum value of 0.035% vol but increase up to 0.055% vol as the rpm increases to the mark of 3500. DT20 (DF 80%, TPO 20%) has the lowest HC emissions of 18 ppm vol, with a progressive increase as the TPO percentage rises. CO2 emissions increase as the speed increases. Diesel fuel has the highest value for NOx of 675 ppm vol at 2000 rpm. Analyzing the performance characteristics of the CI engine for TPO blends, among other blends, DT10 (DF 90%, TPO 10%) offers the lowest specific fuel consumption of 245 g/kWh and the highest efficiency for moderate rpm. The DT10 has 1% and 7.2% higher brake power values at 3500 rpm when compared to DF and TPO, respectively. As a result, DT10 is recommended as a better alternative fuel in the diesel engine without any alteration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pursuit of enhanced cooling and lubrication methods for machining processes that are energy-efficient, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective is receiving significant attention from both academia and industry. The reduction of CO2 emissions is closely tied to electrical and embodied energy consumption. This study introduces a novel LN2 oil-on-water (LNOoW) cooling/lubrication (lubricooling) approach for the machining of Ti-6Al-4V alloy. Machinability aspects, energy-related aspects, environmental-related aspects, and economic aspects are measured and compared. More specifically, surface quality, electrical energy, cutting forces, and tool wear were measured in machinability aspects. Similarly, specific total energy and specific cumulative Energy Demand (S_CED), specific carbon emission, and production costs were measured to investigate the energy and environmental and economic aspects, respectively. The LNOoW provided the best machinability results compared with other approaches. Result found that LNOoW produced 37.5% better surface quality, removed 159.17% more material, and reduced 50.56% specific cutting energy and 53.63% specific costs as compared to traditional dry cutting conditions. The 39% increment in specific carbon emissions observed in the LN2 oil-on-water (LNOoW) approach in comparison to the dry-cutting method can be mitigated through the implementation of sustainable practices in the production of liquid nitrogen (LN2). The information provided in this study serves as a valuable resource for the development of environmentally friendly machining processes. The study also helps get the sustainable development goals (SDGs) of the United Nations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The double-lumen cannula (DLC) is the most critical component of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) because of its narrow cross-section, thereby developing the highest shear stress in the entire ECMO circuit. To measure blood damage in a DLC, the Eulerian approach is generally used without contemplating exposure time or history of blood exposure to shear stresses. Alternatively, Lagrangian approach has also been recently employed for a Newtonian blood flow through a DLC, thereby leaving a research gap on the impact of variable shear rate in case of non-Newtonian blood flow. In the present study, the hemodynamic performance of DLC is investigated using different non-Newtonian models by applying Lagrangian approach. Moreover, the motion of RBC was tracked inside the cannula to predict its behavior during the motion. The results showed that the return lumen had higher pressure, velocity, and shear stress values than other parts of the DLC. In addition, recirculation was observed due to the mixing of blood coming from different inlets and found increase with increasing flow rate of blood. Moreover, it was found that the blood damage increased with increasing flow rate. There was more blood damage in the Newtonian model than in the other non-Newtonian models at higher flow rates. However, the Carreau model showed more blood damage at lower flow rates than the other models. The Cross model showed DLC's higher efficacy in delivering oxygenated blood to the tricuspid outlet because it showed the least blood damage among all other models. It was also concluded that the efficacy of the DLC to deliver oxygenated blood to the tricuspid outlet decreases with increasing blood flow rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate changes and the rapid expanding human population have become critical concerns for global food security. One of the promising solutions is the employment of plant growth regulators (PGRs) for increasing crop yield and overcoming adverse growth conditions, such as desert climate. Recently, the apocarotenoid zaxinone and its two mimics (MiZax3 and MiZax5) have shown a promising growth-promoting activity in cereals and vegetable crops under greenhouse and field conditions. Herein, we further investigated the effect of MiZax3 and MiZax5, at different concentrations (5 and 10 µM in 2021; 2.5 and 5 µM in 2022), on the growth and yield of the two valuable vegetable crops, potato and strawberry, in the Kingdom of Saudi of Arabia. Application of both MiZax significantly increased plant agronomic traits, yield components and total yield, in five independent field trials from 2021 to 2022. Remarkably, the amount of applied MiZax was far less than humic acid, a widely applied commercial compound used here for comparison. Hence, our results indicate that MiZax are very promising PGRs that can be applied to promote the growth and yield of vegetable crops even under desert conditions and at relatively low concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electronic structure and optical and transport properties of double perovskite BaMgLaBiO6 have been investigated theoretically with density functional theory implemented in WIEN2k code. The structure is optimized to achieve minimum energy at the ground state and optimized lattice parameters. The calculated formation energy shows the stability of the compound, which confirms the possibility of synthesis. A bandgap of 2.7 eV is calculated with the generalized gradient approximation, and further improvement, i.e., 3.8 eV, is achieved with the modified Becke–Johnson (mBJ) exchange potential. The electron density plots show both the covalent and ionic bonding between the atoms. The calculated total density of states shows good agreement with the band structure. The optical parameters are also calculated and good optical conductivity is achieved in the selected energy range. The figure of merit is achieved up to 0.71 with mBJ, which shows the suitability of the studied material for alternative energy devices. The overall response of the compound makes it a potential candidate for LEDs, lasers, power switching and thermoelectric applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SiC particle-based aluminum matrix (SiCp/Al 20%) is characterized by poor surface quality, high cutting forces, and accelerated tool wear during machining. Environmentally friendly cooling/lubrication (CO2 snow, MQL) can advance the machinability of such composites even at high material removal rates. In this experimental study, milling of SiCp/Al was performed by implementing MQL and CO2 at different cutting speeds and feed per tooth and compared the effect of these lubri-cooling against dry cutting. The experimental results showed the minimum cutting forces, surface roughness, and tool life under MQL followed by CO2 and dry cutting. The microscopic analysis depicted adhesion and abrasion as prevalent wear mechanisms. The EDS analysis (line, point, mapping) revealed relatively less adhesion of aluminum (Al) and silicon (Si) chemical elements under cryogenic compared to dry cutting on tool major cutting edge. Besides, the chip analysis under MQL machining showed discontinuous and serrated-type chips. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study estimates the timing of unconformity between marine–continental transitional sequence of the Kuldana Formation and continental sequence of the Murree Formation for the first time across the Hazara-Kashmir syntaxis, western Himalaya, Pakistan. The ages of the studied units are constrained using detrital zircon U–Pb geochronology. The maximum depositional ages constrained by weighted mean and youngest detrital zircon age are 37 ± 1.7 Ma and 22.5 ± 0.6 Ma for top of Kuldana and base of Murree formations, respectively. Based on this age, the duration of hiatus is estimated to be ~ 14.5 Ma. The comparison of this unconformity and sedimentation pattern along strike suggests that the initial collision occurred in the central segment causing its early uplift and erosion with development of the unconformity. The sedimentation in the central segment culminated at ~ 37 Ma and resumed at ~ 22.5 Ma. The wider gap in central segment becomes narrower at western and eastern margin suggesting discontinuous deposition due to gradually closure of western and eastern margin. This supports the diachronous collision of the Indian and Asian plates with initial contact at the central segment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among several kinds of metal matrix composite materials (MMCs), such as silicon-based reinforced aluminum matrix (SiCp/Al) composites have become the most valuable composite material due to their various applications in industries, sports equipment, electrons, and automotive. Due to the presence of hard ceramic reinforcements, the SiCp/Al composite is considered a difficult-to-cut material, which leads to significant hindrances in machining operations together with increased tool wear, cutting force, and degradation of machined surface quality. The present review is focused on the recent advancements in turning process of metal matrix composites. An attempt is made to comprehensively analyze and identify the influencing factors on the machinability of metal matrix composites (MMCs). The main purpose of this review is to cover the topics such as the recent trends in turning and hybrid turning processes of MMCs, tool wear and its mechanisms, tool selection, the effect of cutting parameters, surface integrity, SiCp/Al composite properties and reinforcement effect, chip formation mechanisms, and different modeling approaches used in particle-reinforced MMCs machining process. Finally, some research gaps and future directions are suggested that could lead to efficient machining of particle-reinforced MMCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To imitate the uncertainty and ambiguity in various decision-making problems, the T-spherical fuzzy set is more pragmatic and influential than the picture fuzzy set and q-rung orthopair fuzzy set. Because of the vagueness and fuzziness found in real-life problems, in which intuitionistic fuzzy sets may not give adequate results, the T-spherical fuzzy set is an efficient mathematical model to deal with them and can be handled effectively by using the notion of T-spherical fuzzy sets. In a different framework which is based on more opinions like yes, no, refusal, and abstaining, the T-spherical fuzzy set has been proven to be the most beneficial. In this article, we proposed the idea of T-spherical fuzzy Hamacher graphs (TSFHGs) based on Hamacher t-norm and t-conorm. We investigate the notion of the energy of TSFHGs, splitting TSFHGs, and shadow TSFHGs. Further, we introduce the Randić energy of TSFHG and studied its fundamental results. Moreover, we introduced the T-spherical fuzzy Hamacher digraphs (TSFHDGs) and discussed various results. We studied the applications of the proposed energies of TSFHGs in a decision-making problem by using an algorithm involving TSFHDGs and Hamacher aggregation operators. We also established a comparative study to see the significance of our proposed results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The engineering properties of soils are considerably affected by freeze and thaw cycles in colder regions. Repeated cycles of freeze and thaw reduce the strength of soil by damaging soil structure. Therefore, soil subjected to frost action shows settlement and reduction in compressive strength. In this research work, the variation in the compressive strength with the freeze-thaw cycle is evaluated and improved by using terrazyme. The present research work investigated its usage for ground improvement. Samples of silty clays were extracted from two sites in Pakistan, i.e., Murree and Shangla, due to their unique climate resulting from high elevation and cold temperature. After performing a series of tests, it was observed that after seven cycles of freeze and thaw, the strength of Murree and Shangla soils reduced by 82% and 61% respectively in an untreated condition. Optimization of terrazyme showed that the maximum amount of terrazyme for Murree and Shangla should be 0.015 ml and 0.017 ml respectively. An increase of 36% in unconfined compressive strength for Murree soil and 18% in Shangla soil was observed with the addition of bio-enzyme. A considerable reduction in the moisture content was observed, along with a significant increase in the compressive strength of the soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Response measurement of various functionality states of machines is an inevitable part of smooth production. An effectively efficient measurement and control system of the machinery helps the inspection engineers to detect failures. In the recent age, the concept of industry 5.0, which focuses on the interaction between humans and machines, has increased the importance of sensors in the industry. Various sensing devices may aid and support the machining process, making it more efficient. These sensing devices support machine tools and enhance productivity by reducing failures. The application of an online monitoring system that includes vibration measurement and tool wear measurement, and the electrical energy consumption is getting fame in industry and academia. This paper mainly presents a holistic review of various sensors and their application in the manufacturing processes. Advancements in the sensor for quality measurement, cutting force measurement, and tool wear measurement are discussed. Furthermore, the adoption of the Internet of Things (IoT) in machining processes and conversion of conventional manufacturing processes into modern digitalized systems are discussed. Recent trends of research to improve the sensor technology have been improved. This study provides fundamental guidelines for using and adopting the various types of sensors in machining processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Soil salinity drastically reduced wheat growth and production in Pakistan. It is a need of an hour to identify the best suitable salt tolerance or resistant wheat varieties which shows good growth under salinity affected areas. In presented study, two wheat varieties Johar (salt tolerant) and Sarsabaz (salt sensitive) were examined under NaCl stress conditions. Methods: Antioxidant enzyme activities were investigated in 10-days old wheat seedlings under 200 mM NaCl stress in hydroponic conditions. To investigate the various growth parameters, antioxidant enzyme activities such as superoxide dismutase (SOD: EC 1.15.1.1), catalase (CAT: EC 1.11.1.6) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX: EC 1.11.1.11) were monitored and studied. Besides this various growth parameters such as length of the roots, shoots, as well as Physiological parameters likes lipid peroxidation by malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and proline contents and antioxidant enzyme activities were estimated. The effect of salinity was also observed on gene transcription level and eventually expression level. Results: Shoot and root length were decreased in Sarsabaz variety while it showed opposite trend in johar at 200 mM salt concentration. The concentration of proline showed a noticeable rise in salt dependency. Higher concentrations of Proline in Johar were observed as compared to Sarsabaz. SOD showed the increase in activity for antioxidant enzymes. Significant increase of SOD levels were observed in shoot tissues as compared to root tissues. The results indicated that the shoots were more susceptible to salt stress. Activity of APX showed similar affects in both varieties. The production of CAT enzyme in the shoot and root tissues of both varieties showed substantial growth under increased salt stress. Furthermore, NaCl stress has increased the expression of certain genes coding for antioxidant enzymes such as catalase, superoxide dismutase, and peroxidase. Maximum expression of all the antioxidant enzyme coding genes were observed in Johar (tolerant) at 48 h exposure to salt. In contrast the expression of the all mentioned genes in Sarsabaz variety were found maximum at early hours (24 h) and gradually decreased at 48 h. Conclusion: The study showed that the selected salt tolerant wheat variety Johar is significantly resistant to 200 mM NaCl salt level as compared to Sarsabaz. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon fiber-reinforced plastics (CFRP) are widely used in the aerospace and automobile industries because of their ultralight weight, high strength, excellent corrosion resistance, and anti-fatigue properties. However, the machining of CFRP is still challenging due to its super hardness and sensitivity to heat. Cryogenic milling is a kind of sustainable manufacturing process which is considered to have great potential for processing CFRP. This work is devoted to analyzing the tool wear and surface quality under dry and cryogenic conditions based on liquid nitrogen (LN2) and also provides a reference for selecting parameters of CFRP processing in industries. A series of tests were conducted under various cutting speeds, feed per tooth, and LN2 jet temperatures. In order to reveal the changing laws of tool wear and surface quality, flank wear bandwidth (VB), surface roughness (Sa) and burr factor (Fb) were carried out. The experimental findings have shown that tool wear is suppressed at high cutting speed and feed rate. In addition, surface quality is significantly improved at an appropriate temperature, and burr damage was also effectively suppressed with the temperature dropping, while tool wear is severer at − 196 ℃ than in dry conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural sites are polluted with various metal ions worldwide. Ascorbic acid (AA) plays diverse roles in plant growth, development, and the regulation of cellular mechanisms against environmental stress. This study provides the relationship between morphological and biochemical parameters involved in the amelioration of Pb toxicity in three sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) genotypes (YT-53, CP-77–400, NSG-59) by using six concentrations of Pb(NO3)2 under in vitro conditions. Morphological and biochemical parameters of ascorbic acid pretreated and non-pretreated calli were compared at each Pb(NO3)2 concentration. Ascorbic acid–pretreated calli have better callus growth and regeneration potential than non-treated calli under increased Pb concentration. Biochemical parameters such as antioxidant enzyme activity (peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT)) increased under increased Pb concentration. Ascorbic acid pretreatment further enhanced the POD and SOD activity, while CAT activity and total soluble protein contents of pretreated calli did not change significantly. Ascorbic acid ameliorated the Pb toxicity morphologically but showed uneven behavior towards biochemical parameters. Different genotypic behaviors versus different treatments were also observed. In the future, information from this study can be used to develop the metal-resistant sugarcane genotype against metal stress under in vitro conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Main conclusion: 13C-isotope feeding experiments demonstrate that the apocarotenoid 9-cis-β-apo-10ʹ-carotenal is the precursor of several strigolactones in rice, providing a direct, in planta evidence for its role in strigolactone biosynthesis. Strigolactones (SLs) are plant hormone that regulates plant architecture and mediates rhizospheric communications. Previous in vitro studies using heterogously produced enzymes unraveled the conversion of all-trans-β-carotene via the intermediate 9-cis-β-apo-10ʹ-carotenal into the SL precursor carlactone. However, a direct evidence for the formation of SLs from 9-cis-β-apo-10ʹ-carotenal is still missing. To provide this evidence, we supplied rice seedlings with 13C-labeled 9-cis-β-apo-10ʹ-carotenal and analyzed their SLs by LC–MS. Our results show that 9-cis-β-apo-10ʹ-carotenal is the SL precursor in planta and reveal, for the first time, the application of labeled long-chain apocarotenoids as a promising approach to investigate apocarotenoid metabolism and the genesis of carotenoid-derived growth regulators and signaling molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spin–orbit coupling effect and the modified Becke-Johnson potential have been employed to calculate the ground-state response of quaternary Heusler CoFeTiZ (Z = Ge, Sb) alloys. For this purpose, we use the full-potential linearized augmented plane wave method along with the spin-polarized calculations implemented in WIEN2k simulation code. The optimization curves and the negative formation energies of both alloys confirm their stable structures. The mechanical stability is achieved through the calculation of the elastic parameters. A metallic nature is observed in the spin-up states. The spin-dn states show a semiconductor behavior with energy gap values of 0.842 and 0.949 eV for CoFeTiGe and 0.772 and 0.809 eV for CoFeTiSb with mBJ and mBJ + SOC, respectively. The contribution of Co and Fe atoms is dominant to the overall magnetic behavior of alloys. The optical response is evaluated through several optical parameters. The maximum absorption is observed in the visible region for both alloys. The calculated properties reveal the potential of studied alloys for spintronic and optoelectronic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perovskite solar cell technologies require better control carrier mobility in the device, as they move toward their theoretical power conversion efficiency. Perovskite, as an excellent light absorber, can harvest sunlight up to 800 nm moreover, act as excellent transporter of electrons as well as holes. Quite large ambipolar carrier diffusion lengths enable perovskites to be directly incorporated between a p-type and n-type buffer, make modest planar p-i-n or n-i-p structure with outstanding performances. Careful choices of materials and controlled formation of perovskite layer, supported charge injection into the carrier transport layers, suppressed charge recombination in the absorber and maintained good carrier extraction at the electrodes play a key role in perovskite solar cell. This review is a summary of various inorganic electron transport layer (ETL) and organic ETL systems of Perovskite solar cells. The electron transport mechanism and design of various ETL materials have been discussed to enhance the overall device performance. Technical issues that increase the stability and efficiency of the device with respect to materials have been generalized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]