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The present study aimed to understand the debris flow characteristics in view of frequent extreme rainfall events, expansion of road networks, tourist influx, and population pressure in the NW & Central Himalaya. Notably, majority of the human settlements, roads, bridges, buildings, and even protection measures in the NW & Central Himalaya do not take into consideration such debris flow impact scenario despite a history of debris flow disasters. The Voellmy-Salm rheology dependent dynamic runout simulation method was used to determine the debris flow pressure and velocity regime in 9 debris flow locations belonging to different litho-tectonic conditions. Results revealed that the debris flow pressure and velocity in these 9 studied debris flows might reach up to 3000 kPa and 20 m/s, respectively. The debris flow pressure and velocity of these orders have the potential to damage the protection measures and infrastructures, which have also been observed in other hilly terrains. The sensitivity analysis was carried out at a range of input parameters by considering 729 possible simulations and debris flow pressure and velocity are found to follow relatively better corelation until ~ 250 kPa flow pressure and ~ 15 m/s velocity thresholds. The influence of slope topography on the debris flow characteristics is also observed in the form of amplification of flow pressure and velocity at concave portions. The rapid development of road network in the NW & Central Himalayan region and its subjectivity to potential debris flow risk is also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many novel materials with unique properties have been recognized in the two-dimensional (2D) materials family. The scientific community is investigating the suitability of these materials for possible applications. Using the density functional theory, the present work investigated the electronic, dielectric, and optical properties of four binary transition metal dichlorides (CdCl2, FeCl2, PdCl2, and ZnCl2) for their possible device applications. The electronic properties show that these are wide-bandgap materials. The optical and dielectric properties were studied in the incident photon energy range of 0–40 eV for the in-plane (parallel) and out-of-plane (perpendicular) light polarization directions. The optical analyses reveal that these are excellent absorbers of the incident light in the ultraviolet region of electromagnetic (EM) radiation, consistent with a high extinction coefficient for the corresponding incident photon energy. Moreover, these materials exhibit optical and dielectric anisotropy. It is observed that the PdCl2 is a biaxial optical birefringent material, whereas others are uniaxial. These are also good candidates for constructing reflection, transmission, and absorption edge/band filters in the different regions of the EM spectrum. Among these, the ZnCl2 exhibits excellent antireflective properties. Therefore, the present study shows the potential applications of these materials in electronic and optoelectronic devices. This study also provides a way to characterize them for further experimental analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this communication, the design of broad band optical reflector and selective polarization filter using a one-dimensional photonic crystal (1D-PC) containing superconductor and semiconductor layer has been proposed and investigated theoretically. The proposed design consists of alternate layers of yttrium barium copper oxide YBa2Cu3O7 (YBCO) and silicon (Si), respectively. The refractive indices of YBCO and Si layers are modulated as the function of temperature and wavelength both. This characteristic brings this study closer to actual physical implementation. To obtain the reflectance and transmittance properties of the proposed structure and to analyze the propagation characteristics of electromagnetic waves, the transfer matrix method (TMM) has been employed. The analysis of the reflectance spectra shows that near the critical temperature of YBCO layers no broad band reflection (from 0 to 85°) is observed. On the other hand, when the temperature is lowered below the critical temperature, ODR arises. The proposed YBCO/Si structure gives a broad band reflection band (from 1394 to 1621 nm (bandwidth 227 nm)) for both TE and TM modes of polarizations at 85 K. Also, at higher incident angles, the proposed structure acts as a selective polarization-based filter without introducing any defect in the geometry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-view learning consistently outperforms traditional single-view learning by leveraging multiple perspectives of data. However, the effectiveness of multi-view learning heavily relies on how the data are partitioned into feature sets. In many cases, different datasets may require different partitioning methods to capture their unique characteristics, making a single partitioning method insufficient. Finding an optimal feature set partitioning (FSP) for each dataset may be a time-consuming process, and the optimal FSP may still not be sufficient for all types of datasets. Therefore, the paper presents a novel approach called ensemble multi-view feature set partitioning (EMvFSP) to improve the performance of multi-view learning, a technique that uses multiple data sources to make predictions. The proposed EMvFSP method combines the different views produced by multiple partitioning methods to achieve better classification performance than any single partitioning method alone. The experiments were conducted on 15 structured datasets with varying ratios of samples, features, and labels, and the results showed that the proposed EMvFSP method effectively improved classification performance. The paper also includes statistical analyses using Friedman ranking and Holms procedure to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. This approach provides a robust solution for multi-view learning that can adapt to different types of datasets and partitioning methods, making it suitable for a wide range of applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fossil fuels have a vital role in global energy resources. The burning of fossil fuels produces pollutants and harms the environment. These environmental problems can be solved by searching for a substitute for fossil fuels. Hydrogen production by water electrolysis has emerged as a promising substitute. It is a green, clean, and renewable energy source. Low-cost water is abundant on the Earth. The metal and its composite material have been used to develop water electrolysis. Among these composite catalytic materials, WS2/WO3 composite catalyst is well-known for its excellent physical and chemical behavior in water electrolysis to produce hydrogen. Engineered catalysts can further enhance the catalytic performance. Therefore, we investigate and analyze the catalytic performance of copper (Cu), palladium (Pd), and r-GO co-doped WS2/WO3 composite material for water electrolysis to produce green, clean, and renewable hydrogen energy by hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The hydrothermal synthesis method is used to prepare the WS2/WO3 composite material co-doped with Cu, Pd, and r-GO. The co-doping is favorable for fast charge transfer by providing many active catalytic sites for HER and enhancing the HER catalytic performance. Therefore, the co-doped tungsten disulfide/oxide could be a potential composite material for efficient water electrolysis for clean and renewable hydrogen production by electrochemical water electrolysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the slope instability and failure patterns of four major landslides of the Giri Valley, Northwest Himalaya. The study area i.e., Giri valley has not been studied much despite a history of frequent landslides in the region. In order to fulfill this gap and evaluate the potential failure pattern, methodology involved a comprehensive analysis of Rock Mass Rating (RMR), Kinematic Analysis (KA), Slope Mass Rating (SMR), Geotechnical characterization (GA), and Limit Equilibrium Method (LEM). Results revealed that the all four landslide slopes exhibit pronounced fracturing and low Rock Quality Designation (RQD) in the rock masses, which is attributed to their spatial proximity to the Main Boundary Thrust (MBT) Fault in the region. The RMR values ranged from 28 to 38 and the SMR values ranged from 20 to 30, implying that the rock itself might not be too weak, but there could be other factors contributing to instability. The Kinematic Analysis revealed planar failure conditions in all the four landslides, indicating the possibility of landslides occurrence along well-defined planes of weakness in the rock mass. Further, The LEM based Factor of Safety (FOS) values ranged from 0.9 to 1.4, which can be attributed to a critical state, where even a small increase in driving forces or decrease in resisting forces could trigger a landslide. The low FOS values indicate a potential for instability, and mitigation measures may be necessary to ensure slope stability in the region. These measures could include slope reinforcement, drainage improvement, or restricting activities that could increase the driving forces on the slopes. These methods can be regionally replicable if the rock mass characteristics are similar across the region. However, site-specific data collection and analysis are crucial for accurate assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, a qualitative work is carried out based on research of uniform PRF signal for phase noise analysis and accuracy parameter for RF sensor design. Presence of large clutter level in target return needs in-depth analysis of phase noise impact in clutter cancellation and importance of PRF selection in RF sensor processed SNR or accuracy. Detailed investigation of phase noise parameter in pulsed RF secnsor is examined out for target identification and tracking purpose. Critical aspects of phase noise in multiple PRF mode has been analyzed and Matlab simulations are carried out to support theoretical aspects of noise effects at particular offset. Impact of phase noise in clutter cancellation for uniform PRF waveform and multiple uniform PRF waveforms is evaluated in terms of SNR, sensor accuracy and allied limitations. Thus, outcomes can be utilized to unique analysis of PRF selection and phase noise together for RF sensor accuracy. Present work findings and results have been validated using simulation environment. This research outcomes offer great importance in design of highly accurate RF sensor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reports the band gap engineering in calcium hydroxide-nitrate nanocomposite materials (CHNNCs). The CHNNCs are produced by the simple chemical precipitation technique from an aqueous Ca(NO3)2–NaOH system. The molarity of precipitator NaOH is deliberately varied from 0.5 M to 1.5 M by keeping the constant molarity (e.g., 1 M) of the precursor Ca(NO3)2.4H2O solution. After that, the produced CHNNCs are examined using XRD, FESEM, FTIR, and UV–Vis spectroscopic methods to investigate the structural, morphological, surface functional, and optical characteristics of the various synthesized CHNNCs. The XRD study suggests an increase in crystallite size from 53 to 99 nm. The increase in crystallite size with an increase in the molarity of precipitator NaOH (0.5–1.5 M) is discussed in terms of nucleation and growth due to the presence of sodium nitrate. The FESEM photomicrographs also exhibit the impact of sodium nitrate that acts as an oxidizing agent leading to the release of water through the hydroxylation process that results in the changes of the surface morphology of the various synthesized CHNNCs. The UV–Vis spectroscopy analysis unveils a significant red shift in the absorbance spectra, indicating a reduction in band gap from approximately 5.57 eV to around 5.53 eV with the augmentation in crystallite size. The regulated development and nucleation of the Ca(OH)2-nitrate nanocomposite shape opens up a wide range of potential applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present article proposes a novel method to reduce phase noise in a PLL based X-Band source consisting of oscillating and non-oscillating components for the use in Pulse Doppler radar. It also provides phase noise performance stabilization under random vibration. The method consists of improved electrical design and PCB layout, noise filtering technique and passive isolation scheme to suppress vibration-induced noise. Acceleration sensitivity is an important requirement for radars and sensors mounted in unmanned aerial vehicles, aircrafts, missiles and other dynamic platforms. These systems provide superior performance when subjected to severe environmental condition. However, mechanical vibration and acceleration can introduce physical deformation that thereby degrades the frequency source generated signal phase noise. It effects the complete radar system that depends on frequency source performance. The development and testing of a stable X-Band source at 10.64 GHz using indirect method has been carried out which proved that the phase noise is stable both in steady state and under random vibration of 7g magnitude. The study of critical design aspects of test fixture, test object mounting arrangement, investigation on vibration response and performance stabilization along with description of test setup and measurement procedure has been reported. An improvement of around 35-40 dB in phase noise is achieved at close-in offset frequencies. Few challenges and suggestions for the accurate measurement of random vibration testing for frequency sources have also been mentioned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present article presents critical aspects of RF system development process and its sequential phases along with associated challenges. It also discusses importance of active and passive components thermal behavior and their impact in overall system performance. The study on performance deviation of these components with temperature change has been reported. Potential issues for gain variation and frequency selectivity have been analysed and suitable solutions are explored accordingly. Implementation of temperature stabilization method in designed RF product has been carried out during prototype development. Practical achieved results are noted down during testing and measurement to monitor effectiveness of thermal stabilization mentioned in it. Finally, wideband flat gain response has been achieved by implementation of thermal stabilization for active and passive components to avoid any performance degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Very high uranium concentrations of ⁓3000 μgL−1 or more have been found in groundwater held in the granitic aquifers of four villages in eastern Karnataka, India. The highest uranium concentration was 8649 μgL−1 (calculated 218.7 BqL−1) and a maximum radon activity of 101.4 BqL−1. The ingestion doses of uranium for males and females of all age groups are very much higher compared to the corresponding dose calculated for World Health Organization and Atomic Energy Regulatory Board recommended concentrations of 30 and 60 μgL−1for drinking water. It is therefore recommended that alternative sources for drinking water need to be made to meet United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 3 and 6 to ensure good health from safe drinking water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examine the electronic, optical, and dielectric properties of Cu-, Ag-, and Au-doped and undoped cadmium hydroxide [Cd(OH)2)] using first-principles density functional theory. The electronic investigations show the semiconducting characteristics of Cd(OH)2 with a band gap of about 1.83 eV. These properties were investigated along two mutually perpendicular directions of light polarization and as a function of the incident light energy (photon energy). The frequency-dependent dielectric function is obtained from the electronic structure calculations. The optical quantities, such as absorption, transmission, refractive index, etc., are also calculated to investigate the optical behavior. The metal doping (Cu, Ag, and Au) significantly affects the properties of Cd(OH)2 in the infrared and low-energy visible regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. For photon energies greater than 4.0 eV, the effect of these doping elements on the optical and dielectric properties is negligible. These materials exhibit negative dielectric permittivity, which is one of the fundamental features of a photonic crystal. The low-energy absorption spectrum of the doped material shows a shift towards the longer wavelengths compared to the undoped Cd(OH)2. This shift is maximum (minimum) for Cu (Au)-doped Cd(OH)2, whereas Ag-doped Cd(OH)2 has an intermediate shift compared to Cu- and Au-doped Cd(OH)2. This relative shift may be attributed to their atomic radii. These are good candidates for the absorption of UV radiation. The calculated static refractive index of Ag-doped Cd(OH)2 is comparable to SiO2. These electronic and optical investigations reveal that the considered materials are excellent candidates for optoelectronic device applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In today's fast-paced world, recommendation systems have become indispensable tools, aiding users in making personalized decisions amidst an overwhelming array of choices. These systems leverage user data and preferences to generate tailor-made recommendations based on individual tastes and behaviors. This research paper introduces the development and implementation of Pranik Movies, an ultimate recommendation system for personalized movie suggestions. The system incorporates collaborative and content-based filtering techniques, utilizing machine learning algorithms to analyze user behaviors, ratings, and viewing histories. A comprehensive overview of the research framework is provided, encompassing system architecture, data pre-processing, feature engineering techniques, and model selection and design. Text processing methods such as stemming, bag-of-words (BoW), and TF-IDF (Term Frequency-Inverse Document Frequency) are employed for processing and analyzing textual movie data. The accuracy of recommendations is enhanced through the assessment of film similarities, utilizing algorithms like cosine similarity and Euclidean distance. The paper concludes by outlining future directions for advanced machine learning techniques, social media integration, expanded content support, and the refinement of the evaluation framework. Pranik Movies signifies a significant advancement in recommendation systems, enabling personalized and precise movie recommendations within a vast and diverse cinematic landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The NW Himalaya has been subjected to frequent disastrous landslides of different types owing to frequent extreme rainfall events and rock mass shearing caused by structural and/or lithological contrast. Though majority of the landslides in the NW Himalaya are of complex type comprising debris and loose rock mass that may result into debris flow and/or rockfall, their potential behavior is rarely explored. The present study aims to evaluate the recurrence of one such complex landslide (0.23 Mm2) of Yamuna Valley, NW Himalaya that is subjected to rock mass shearing and the region accommodating this landslide receives frequent extreme rainfall events. A huge slope failure in this landslide occurred on 12 September, 2017 damaging a ~ 400 m stretches of the National Highway (NH) road. The landslide location has strategic significance, since up to 0.3–0.4 million pilgrims travel annually on the road passing through the landslide slope. To evaluate the potential behavior of landslide and to understand the factors causing this landslide (pre-failure analysis), slope stability analysis and rockfall simulation were performed. Pre-failure analyses indicated that the maximum shear strain of 0.14–0.18 and total displacement of 2–8 m likely developed parallel to the slope. The possibility of rainfall triggering is explored in view of increasing rainfall, soil moisture, and surface runoff conditions. Tectonic influences are also evaluated using joints and fracture patterns in rock mass. Post-failure analysis showed that though the maximum shear strain and the total displacement had reduced to 0.07–0.15 and 2–5 m, respectively after the failure, the slope is still unstable. Rockfall simulation revealed the potential for rockfalls having energy and velocities in the range of 900–4000 kJ and 18–75 m/s, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new series of imidazothiazole derivatives bearing thiazolidinone moiety (4a-g and 5a-d) were designed, synthesized and evaluated for potential epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) kinase inhibition, anticancer and anti-inflammatory activity, cardiomyopathy toxicity and hepatotoxicity. Compound 4c inhibited EGFR kinase at a concentration of 18.35 ± 1.25 µM, whereas standard drug erlotinib showed IC50 value of 06.12 ± 0.92 µM. The molecular docking, dynamics simulation and MM-GBSA binding energy calculations revealed strong interaction of compound 4c with binding site of EGFR. The synthesized compounds were evaluated for their anticancer activity by MTT assay against three human cancer cell lines A549 (Lung), MCF-7 (Breast), HCT116 (Colon), one normal human embryonic kidney cell line HEK293 and also for their EGFR kinase inhibitory activity. Few compounds of the series (4a, 4b, 4c) showed promising growth inhibition against all the tested cancer cell lines and against EGFR kinase. Among these, compound 4c was found to be most active and displayed IC50 value of 10.74 ± 0.40, 18.73 ± 0.88 against cancer cell lines A549 and MCF7 respectively whereas it showed an IC50 value of 96.38 ± 1.79 against HEK293 cell line indicating lesser cytotoxicity for healthy cell. Compounds 4a, 4b and 4c were also examined for their apoptosis inducing potential through AO/EB dual staining assay and it was observed that their antiproliferative activity against A549 cells is mediated via induction of apoptosis. Cardiomyopathy studies showed normal cardiomyocytes with no marked sign of pyknotic nucleus of compounds 4b and 4c. Hepatotoxicity studies of compounds 4b and 4c also showed normal architecture of hepatocytes. Compounds 4a-g and 5a-d were also evaluated for their in-vitro anti-inflammatory activity by protein albumin denaturation assay. Among the tested compounds 4a-d and 5a-b showed promising activity and were selected for in-vivo inflammatory activity against carrageenan rat paw edema test. Among these compounds, 4b was found to be most active in the series showing 84.94% inhibition, whereas the standard drug diclofenac sodium showed 84.57% inhibition. Compound 4b also showed low ulcerogenic potential and lipid peroxidation. Thus, compounds 4c and 4b could be a promising lead compounds for developing anticancer and anti-inflammatory agents with low toxicity and selectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we report the microstructural changes and variation in the properties of α-Ni(OH)2 nanostructure thin films synthesized via dip coating. The cleaned glass substrate was immersed alternatively in the aqueous solution of nickel nitrate hexahydrate (Ni(NO3)2·6H2O) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH). The molarity of the precursor NaOH was varied. The no. of dip and molarity of Ni(NO3)2·6H2O were kept constant at 20 and 0.2 M, respectively. The synthesized nanostructured thin films were characterized by using FESEM, XRD, FTIR and UV–Vis spectroscopy techniques. From FESEM images, interestingly the microstructure was changed from hollow-sphere nanostructure to small nanoparticles with increase in NaOH molarity. The change in NaOH molarity produced a pH change in the reactant solution. Accordingly, with increase in pH the crystallite size of synthesized Ni(OH)2 decreased and the bandgap of nanostructure thin films was increased. The change and detailed analysis of formation of nanostructure of thin film was explained in respect of nucleation and growth of the nanocrystallites that was affected by the degree of supersaturation of the reactant solution on the glass substrate. Lastly, the importance of these results in terms of bandgap engineering of microstructurally tuned NHTFs development for prospective futuristic industrial application in energy storage and energy harvesting devices are highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ag nanoparticles (NPs)-incorporated Ca(OH)2 nanostructures were synthesized by the chemical precipitation method. X-ray diffraction, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM), Energy-Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and UV–Vis spectroscopy techniques were used to characterize the synthesized powder samples. The Ag NPs incorporation in Ca(OH)2 modifies the size and morphology of the Ca(OH)2 nanostructures and shifts the absorption edge of Ca(OH)2 toward visible light. These findings point out the possibility to customize the band gap and optical absorbance of Ag-incorporated Ca(OH)2 by adjusting the Ag concentration. Density-functional theory-based first-principle calculations are used to determine the optical properties of the pure Ca(OH)2 and Ag NPs-incorporated Ca(OH)2, their shapes, and their electronic characteristics to complement and rationalize the experimental data. The first-principle calculation results are consistent with recent experimental results of reduction in optical band gap energy with an increase in Ag NPs concentration. The theoretical insights provide a plausible justification for experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate and cost-effective quantification of the carbon cycle for agroecosystems at decision-relevant scales is critical to mitigating climate change and ensuring sustainable food production. However, conventional process-based or data-driven modeling approaches alone have large prediction uncertainties due to the complex biogeochemical processes to model and the lack of observations to constrain many key state and flux variables. Here we propose a Knowledge-Guided Machine Learning (KGML) framework that addresses the above challenges by integrating knowledge embedded in a process-based model, high-resolution remote sensing observations, and machine learning (ML) techniques. Using the U.S. Corn Belt as a testbed, we demonstrate that KGML can outperform conventional process-based and black-box ML models in quantifying carbon cycle dynamics. Our high-resolution approach quantitatively reveals 86% more spatial detail of soil organic carbon changes than conventional coarse-resolution approaches. Moreover, we outline a protocol for improving KGML via various paths, which can be generalized to develop hybrid models to better predict complex earth system dynamics. Existing models to estimate agroecosystem C cycle have large uncertainties. Here, the authors propose a knowledge-guided machine learning framework that improves C cycle quantification in agroecosystems by integrating process-based and machine learning models, and multi-source high-resolution data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent technological innovations have enabled the high-throughput quantification of gene expression and epigenetic regulation within individual cells, transforming our understanding of how complex tissues are constructed1–6. However, missing from these measurements is the ability to routinely and easily spatially localize these profiled cells. We developed a strategy, Slide-tags, in which single nuclei within an intact tissue section are tagged with spatial barcode oligonucleotides derived from DNA-barcoded beads with known positions. These tagged nuclei can then be used as an input into a wide variety of single-nucleus profiling assays. Application of Slide-tags to the mouse hippocampus positioned nuclei at less than 10 μm spatial resolution and delivered whole-transcriptome data that are indistinguishable in quality from ordinary single-nucleus RNA-sequencing data. To demonstrate that Slide-tags can be applied to a wide variety of human tissues, we performed the assay on brain, tonsil and melanoma. We revealed cell-type-specific spatially varying gene expression across cortical layers and spatially contextualized receptor–ligand interactions driving B cell maturation in lymphoid tissue. A major benefit of Slide-tags is that it is easily adaptable to almost any single-cell measurement technology. As a proof of principle, we performed multiomic measurements of open chromatin, RNA and T cell receptor (TCR) sequences in the same cells from metastatic melanoma, identifying transcription factor motifs driving cancer cell state transitions in spatially distinct microenvironments. Slide-tags offers a universal platform for importing the compendium of established single-cell measurements into the spatial genomics repertoire.Slide-tags enables multiomic sequencing of single cells and their localization within tissues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly emissive ternary Eu(III) complexes were synthesized with a tri-fluorinated β-diketone as principal ligand and heterocyclic aromatic compounds as ancillary ligands to assess their utility as an illuminating material for display devices and other optoelectronics. The general characterizations, regarding the coordinating facets of complexes were accomplished via various spectroscopic techniques. Thermal stability was investigated via TGA/DTA. Photophysical analysis was accomplished by PL studies, Band gap value, color parameters and J-O analysis. DFT calculations were performed adopting geometrically optimized structure of complexes. Superb thermal stability has been achieved in complexes, which decides their concrete candidature for display devices. The bright red luminescence of complexes is ascribed to 5D0 → 7F2 transition of Eu(III) ion. Colorimetric parameters unlocked the applicability of complexes as warm light source and J-O parameters adequately summarized the coordinating surrounding around the metal ion. Various radiative properties were also evaluated which suggested the prospective use of complexes in lasers and other optoelectronic devices. The band gap and Urbach band tail, procured from absorption spectra, revealed the semiconducting behavior of synthesized complexes. DFT studies rendered the energies of FMO and various other molecular parameters. It can be summarized from the photophysical and optical analysis of synthesized complexes that these complexes are virtuous luminescent materials and possess potentiality to be used in diverse domain of display devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aluminium antimonide (AlSb) films are an applicable material in opto-electronic and photovoltaic devices. In the present work, AlSb films were successfully coated on glass substrate via economical screen-printing and brush plating methods. Structural, optical, and electrical attributes of these films were characterized by XRD, HRSEM, EDAX, UV–Vis spectrophotometery and a two-probe technique. XRD analysis revealed that obtained AlSb films by both methods have (111) plane as favored orientation with cubic phase structure. EDAX analysis revealed the atomic proportion of Al with Sb was ~1 : 1, which is stoichiometric proportion. HRSEM analysis showed that the surface of AlSb films is layered with sphere-shaped and rough crystals. Numerous pores and large size crystals were observed in the brush plated film as compared with AlSb screen printed film. Via UV–Vis analysis AlSb was established as an indirect optical gap material; with optical band gap value of both type films was observed in close agreement to its theoretical value (1.62 eV). Electrical resistivity measurements via a two probe equipment, semiconducting nature for both types of films were found. Activation energy was also calculated by employing Arrhenius plot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we investigate exponential lag synchronization results for the Cohen–Grossberg neural networks with discrete and distributed delays on an arbitrary time domain by applying feedback control. We formulate the problem by using the time scales theory so that the results can be applied to any uniform or non-uniform time domains. Also, we provide a comparison of results that shows that obtained results are unified and generalize the existing results. Mainly, we use the unified matrix-measure theory and Halanay inequality to establish these results. In the last section, we provide two simulated examples for different time domains to show the effectiveness and generality of the obtained analytical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of novel pyridazine-acetohydrazide hybrids were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for their in vitro and in vivo antihyperglycemic activity. In this context, pyridazine-acetohydrazides (6a–6p) were synthesized by coupling substituted aldehyde with 2-(5-cyano-6-oxo-3,4-diphenylpyridazine-1-6H-yl) acetohydrazide, which was prepared via the reaction of pyridazine ester with hydrazine hydrate. The molecular docking study was carried out to examine the binding affinities and interaction of designed compounds against the DPP-4 enzyme. Compounds 6e, 6f, 6l, and 6n exhibited interaction with active residue. In silico ADMET properties, and toxicity studies corroborated that compounds were found to have good bioavailability and less toxic. The synthesized compounds were further estimated for in vitro DPP-4 activity. Compounds 6e and 6l were found as the most effective DPP-4 inhibitor in this series with IC50 values (6.48, 8.22 nM) when compared with sitagliptin (13.02 nM). According to the toxicity assay compound, 6l showed very less toxicity at a higher concentration so further selected for the in vivo antihyperglycemic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work has been performed with an intent of designing a robust, profound, and highly sensitive sensor for numerous explosive detections. The main objective of the present study is to design a simplified structure with fabrication feasibilities. The proposed structure of an explosive detector includes a hollow core surrounded with four sectored-type air holes in the cladding area and silica as background of the fiber which operates for 1–2 THz frequency band. Furthermore, the optical guiding property of the detector is examined, and numerical study has been performed. The modelling has been performed with the help of COMSOL Multiphysics 5.6a software based on finite element method, and Origin 2023 software is used for plotting and analyzing the characteristic curves. The suggested sensor structure has been analyzed for various explosives such as TNT, RDX, HMX, and PETN. Optical parameters such as effective refractive index, confinement loss, effective area, nonlinearity, propagation constant, and relative sensitivity have been evaluated. The proposed structure offers relative sensitivity of 84.02%, 69.42%, 71%, and 79.31% for TNT, RDX, HMX, and PETN samples, respectively. The proposed detector structure offers better sensing proficiency for explosive detection. The simplified design favors the fabrication possibilities and makes it economically effective. The proposed study will add up to the developments in the field of photonics and chemical detection and, moreover, will open new doors for better application for security and explosive sensing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid-state foaming has been extensively explored as an eco-friendly, highly tunable route to produce microcellular and nanocellular structures in a broad range of thermoplastic polymers, yet most of this work is done at the macro-scale, where the evolution of cellular morphology remains unaltered by material dimensions. In this study, via a combination of experiments and numerical modeling, we investigate nanostructure development in polyetherimide (PEI) thin films with thicknesses ranging between 25 and 500 µm. Solid-state foaming of saturated polymer films yielded distinct structures, exhibiting both open-cell and closed-cell hierarchical morphologies, with cell nucleation density remarkably spanning four orders of magnitude. All films demonstrated primary and secondary cell structures, except for the 25 µm film, where no structure developed. Foam surface area was characterized using surface porosimetry, and PEI thin films exhibited a broad range of porosities. Except for the 70 µm film, all films were porous, exhibiting surface areas as high as 57 m 2 /g for ultra-fine cell sizes of the order of ∼ 70 nm. Modeling pre-foaming gas concentration profiles across the film thickness revealed gas concentration to be the primary driver of nanostructure development, demonstrating the high degree of structural tunability offered by the solid-state process, which is imperative to create advanced materials with enhanced properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the projective lag quasi-synchronization by feedback control of a coupled dynamical system with delays and parameter mismatches on arbitrary time domains. Being formulated on time scales, our results are valid simultaneously for continuous- and discrete-time models as well as for any non-standard time domain. Furthermore, the controller design respects the structure of the equations so that we can characterize the stabilization by a limited controller action. Our proofs rely on the unified matrix-measure theory and the generalized Halanay inequality on time scales. We validate our theoretical results with several simulation examples on various time domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A multi-layer, deep-learning (DL) architecture consisting of stacked Convolutional Long Short Term Memory (sConvLSTM1D) layers is proposed to forecast the sunspot number (SSN) more effectively. The proposed model with optimized hyper-parameters performs efficiently on four kinds of sunspot data with different frequencies of time that are yearly, monthly, daily, and 13-month smoothed provided by the World Data Center-Sunspot Index and Long Term Solar Observation (WDC-SILSO), the Royal Observatory of Belgium (SILSO World Data Center). The model was contrasted with other traditional DL models on different performance metrics, namely root-mean-square error (RMSE), mean-absolute error (MAE), mean-absolute-percentage error (MAPE), and mean-absolute-scaled error (MASE). A non-parametric statistical test has also been carried out to confirm the model's effectiveness. The prediction of the highest yearly mean of total sunspot number (SSN) in Solar Cycle 25 (SC25) has also been performed. The proposed sConvLSTM1D model suggests that the solar cycle exhibits the characteristics of a weak cycle. However, it is anticipated to be stronger than the preceding Solar Cycle 24 (SC24). The year of peak sunspot number will be 2024, as per the prediction, with the peak value of yearly mean sunspot number as 140.84, which is 24.3% higher than the peak value of the yearly mean of total sunspot number, which was 113.3 in the Solar Cycle 24 in the year 2014. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work shed light on the structural, electronic, dielectric, and optical properties of MT2 (M = Ba, Hf, Si, Sr and T = F, O) two-dimensional (2D) monolayers using density functional theory. The investigated electronic properties indicate that these 2D monolayer materials exhibit insulating properties. The complex dielectric function is calculated to investigate the optical functions of these monolayer materials. The dielectric and optical calculations are performed for the electric field vectors' orientation parallel (E||x, i.e., in-plane direction) and perpendicular (E||z, i.e., out-of-plane direction) to the plane of these 2D monolayer materials in the energy range 0–60 eV. It is noticed that the dielectric and optical responses of BaF2, HfO2, and SrF2 are shifted toward the lower energy in the ultraviolet (UV) region compared to SiO2. It may be attributed to their larger ionic radii. Due to a similar chemical environment, the studied properties show similar behavior in BaF2 and SrF2. These 2D materials offer high absorption of incident light in a wide energy range of UV region, hence the higher extinction coefficient. The obtained reflection and transmission coefficients in the vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) wavelength region suggest the potential candidature of these materials for VUV optical coatings, such as reflection, bandpass, absorption edge filters, and avoiding solar heating. BaF2 and SrF2 can combine to make low–high refractive index pair material with high refractive index HfO2. The present results indicate that these 2D monolayer materials may be potential candidates for designing optical, photonic, and optoelectronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we investigate the existence of at least one solution and at least two nonnegative solutions of impulsive differential equations with the two-point integral boundary conditions. We employ the recent fixed point theorems for the sum of two operators on Banach spaces. The applicability of the results is illustrated through an example. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pharmaceuticals have become a major concern due to their nature of persistence and accumulation in the environment. Very few studies have been performed relating to its toxicity and ill effects on the aquatic/terrestrial flora and fauna. The typical wastewater and water treatment processes are not efficient enough to get these persistent pollutants treated, and there are hardly any guidelines followed. Most of them do not get fully metabolized and end up in rivers through human excreta and household discharge. Various methods have been adopted with the advancement in technology, sustainable methods are more in demand as they are usually cost-effective, and hardly any toxic by-products are produced. This paper aims to illustrate the concerns related to pharmaceutical contaminants in water, commonly found drugs in the various rivers and their existing guidelines, ill effects of highly detected pharmaceuticals on aquatic flora and fauna, and its removal and remediation techniques putting more emphasis on sustainable processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growing human population along the river valleys in hilly terrain particularly on the fluvial sediments poses increasing risk of terrace instability and subsequent failure. Such instability and failure result in frequent loss of settlement, agricultural lands, and often lives. Alaknanda River valley in Uttarakhand comprises many fluvial terrace slopes that accommodate human settlement and hence one such fluvial terrace slope was taken as a case study area. On Feb. 28, 2022, Saari (or Sari) village, situated on the fluvial sequence, witnessed a slope failure collapsing 3 houses but no casualties. The hillslope with a total disturbed area of ∼3889±5.0 m2 and failed material volume of ∼16858±4.3 m3 partially dammed a tributary of Alaknanda River, which passes through the toe of the failed slope. The present study is an attempt to understand the instability that led to such failure because there was no extreme rainfall or earthquake prior to this failure. Pre- and post-failure topography of slope was used to demarcate the detachment and deposition zones. Pre-failure topography was used to perform the Finite Element Method (FEM) based slope stability simulation. In order to evaluate the possible contribution of exposed rockmass in failure, kinematic analysis was also performed. Results revealed the development of displacement pattern, particularly due to anthropogenic loads that must have initiated this failure. Such studies are primary requisites for an effective disaster mitigation in the NW Himalaya where growing human population on fragile hillslopes are at risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Floods are becoming more frequent in Himalaya, particularly in the NW Himalaya, and have been related to the increasing impact of changing climate. Uttarakhand in the NW Himalaya has witnessed 2 major flood events in the last decade that killed more than 6000 people. This study is an attempt to explore the impact of potential flood on a riverbank slope in Uttarakhand, NW Himalaya. The response of this riverbank slope during extreme rainfall is also explored in terms of stability and debris flow runout. Therefore, we evaluated the riverbank slope stability and the runout extent of its material to understand the slope response during extreme rainfall. Flood simulation was also performed to determine the potential flood impact on the riverbank slope. Results revealed that the slope material at the exposed fluvial sequence and slope toe might displace forward ~0.12–0.4 m. The potential debris flow from the slope may impact the retaining wall supporting the slope with a pressure up to 150 k Pa. The potential flood may strike the riverbank with a velocity and stream power of 10 ± 2 m/s and 0.2 ± 0.1 M N/m-s, respectively, which is about three times higher than the approximated resistance of the retaining wall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we construct a 4-order generalized cyclotomic overZ2n, and obtained that the resulting codes are dual-containing cyclic codes and their augmented counterparts. Additionally, under some circumstances, this work helps to create two types of quantum synchronization capabilities that can achieve the upper limit. Furthermore, the quantum synchronizable codes have a strong capacity for error correction, both in terms of bit errors and phase errors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ugi-four component reaction (Ugi-4CR) is extremely attractive for diversity-oriented and step economical synthesis as evident from past applications. Here we report the synthesis of fused polycyclic β-carboline derivatives by sequential Pictet-Spengler's and Ugi-4CR multi-component reaction followed by cascade cyclization. The post cyclisation of Ugi product provides conformationally stable heterocyclic molecule that is expected to be suitable for interaction with different biological targets. The methodology provides a simple and facile access to heterocycles embedded in polycyclic framework which otherwise seems difficult to synthesize by conventional methods. Synthesis of fused Polycyclic β-Carboline Derivatives Using Ugi-4CR Followed by Cascade Cyclization [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium (2 wt.%)-doped cadmium oxide (CdO:Li) film was grown on a glass substrate via a sol-gel processed screen-printing set-up. Through X-ray diffraction, it was demonstrated that the CdO:Li film exhibits reflections from the (111), (200), (220), (311), and (222) CdO cubic phase planes. The SEM image showed irregularly shaped, interconnected, and agglomerated grains on the entire film. The optical diffuse reflection study revealed that the film has a direct transition of the band gap at 2.50 eV. The refractive index of the film varies with photon energy and gains maximum value (~2.3) at 1.5 eV. The electrical attributes of the film were inspected by Hall measurement. It was noticed that the film conveyed n-type conductivity with low resistivity of the order of 10–3 Ω·cm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of ambient environment on the temperature-dependent space charge-limited current conduction behavior of the n-ZnO/p-Si++ hetero-junction device has been reported. The nanocrystalline ZnO thin film has been deposited by simple thermal evaporation technique on the heavily doped p-type silicon substrate. The crystalline structural analysis of the deposited thin film has been carried out using x-ray diffraction (XRD) studies. The crystallite size, lattice parameter ‘c,’ stress, and strain estimated through XRD studies are found to have values of 22.50 nm, 5.25 Å, 2.14 × 10−3 Pa, and 1.60 × 10−3, respectively. The surface morphological analysis has been done through field emission scanning electron microscopy, which reveals the distribution of ZnO nanoparticles of size ~ 110 nm on the surface film. The mechanism of charge transport in the fabricated n-ZnO/p-Si++ hetero-junction device has been analyzed through current–voltage characteristics recorded at different operating temperatures in the range from 298 to 423 K in air and hydrogen ambient environments. A trap states-assisted space charge-limited current conduction mechanism has been observed for the fabricated hetero-junction device both in the air as well as in hydrogen environments. The reduction of rectification ratio from ~ 40.05 to 1.75 in air ambient and from 187.10 to 5.82 in hydrogen ambient environment, and reduction of ideality factor from 2.848 to 2.513 and increase of junction potential from 0.384 to 0.403 eV with increasing the device operating temperature from 298 to 423 K further support the trap states-assisted current conduction in the fabricated hetero-junction device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The toxic and persistent nature of cadmium (Cd) in the environment has become a matter of concern with its drastic increase in the concentrations over past few decades. Among the various techniques, the microbial remediation has been accepted as an effective decontamination tool for environmental applications, which is sustainable over a period of time. The Cd decontamination potential of the microbes depends on various internal and external factors that play a crucial role in selection of the microbes for application in a particular environment. Thus, it is important to understand the role of these factors for optimal application of the microbes. This study provides an insight into the mechanisms involved between the microbes and the environmental Cd. The study also briefly reviews the mathematical models that have been used to predict the remediation potential of the microbes and the kinetics involved during the process. A critical analysis of the recent advancements in the techniques for use of bacteria, fungi, and algal cells to remove Cd has been also presented in the manuscript. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper concerns with the existence, uniqueness, Ulam's Hyer (UH) stability and total controllability results for the Hilfer fractional switched impulsive systems in finite-dimensional spaces. Mainly, this paper can be divided into three parts. In the first part, we examine the existence of a unique solution. In the second part, we establish the UH stability results, and in the third part, we study the total controllability results. The main outcomes are acquired by utilising the nonlinear analysis, fractional calculus, Mittag–Leffler function and Banach contraction principle. Finally, we have given two examples to validate the obtained analytical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We establish several qualitative properties of a neutral switched impulsive evolution system on an arbitrary time domain by using the theory of time scales. This is the first attempt for switched evolution systems with impulses in abstract spaces. First, we investigate the existence of a unique solution and Ulam's type stability results. After that, we establish the total controllability results, i.e., controllability not only with respect to the endpoint of the interval but also on the impulsive points. We transform the controllability problem into a solvability problem of an operator equation. We used the Banach fixed point theory and evolution operator theory to establish these results. To illustrate the effectiveness and implications of the developed results, we provide theoretical and simulated numerical examples for different time domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fabrication of n-TiO2/p-Si heterojunction devices for the fast solar-blind self-powered ultraviolet photodetectors has been reported. To produce these devices, n-type TiO2 thin films of thickness 50 nm and 200 nm have been deposited by radiofrequency magnetron sputtering technique on p-type silicon substrates. X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies reveal the growth of anatase phase of TiO2 and the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies confirm the deposition of rod-like nanostructures of TiO2 of length about 10 μm and diameter 1 μm. The current-voltage (I-V) characteristics of the prepared heterojunction devices demonstrate the non-ohmic diode like behavior. The obtained values of ideality factor from I-V characteristics for both the devices are greater than 2, which suggest a trap states assisted space charge limited current (SCLC) conduction of charge transport. The I-V characteristics recorded under the illumination of UV-A radiations (λ ≈ 365 nm), demonstrate the photo-diode like behavior of the fabricated devices. The transient photoresponse of the fabricated devices of thickness 50 nm and 200 nm of TiO2 films, recorded under zero bias conditions are as high as ~795% and 180% respectively. The response and recovery times less than unity suggest the fast photodetection ability of the fabricated devices for the next generation photodetectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In our investigation, pure and Yb-doped ZnO [Zn1-xYbxO (x = 0, 0.01, 0.03, 0.05)] gels were prepared via sol-gel process and then these gels were screen-printed on glass substrate. 'X-ray diffraction (XRD)' patterns of developed films confirm the polycrystalline and hexagonal wurtzite nature with favoured orientation towards [002] and [110] directions. No secondary (impurity) phase was observed. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) supports the perfectly hexagonal shape and fairly uniform and homogeneous structure morphology of pure and Yb-doped ZnO films. EDAX confirms the occurrence of Zn, Yb, O and non-appearance of any type of impurities in the prepared films. UV visible spectroscopy (300–800 nm) demonstrates that ZnO film shows reasonable transparency in the visible range having a maximum transmittance of 60% and band gap reduces from 3.29 to 3.22 eV by Yb- doping. Photoluminescence spectrum of the films confirms the red shifting in Yb-doped ZnO films. Two probe system is exploited for the analysis of electrical resistivity (DC) of developed films, and it was confirmed from that resistivity increases with rise in Yb-doping concentration. Highlights: Pure and Yb-doped ZnO [Zn1-xYbxO (x = 0, 0.01, 0.03, 0.05)] films were prepared via sol-gel based screen-printing. XRD validates the polycrystalline and hexagonal wurtzite nature. Transmittance spectra show maximum 60% transparency and pin down of band gap. Photoluminescence spectrum confirms the red shifting in films. Obtained films via sol-gel screen-printing are promising material for many optoelectronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a great concern regarding the safety of milk not only for human health but also for its economic consequences. The portable sensing devices, which can collect and analyze data within food supply chains at critical control points are lacking. Smart phones have now emerged as an integral part of each home, lab, farm and factory. It is having a provision of digital camera and computation; with widespread applicability including food analysis. The use of soda as a milk neutralizer is a usual practice but has a detrimental human health impact. This investigation explored an easy, economic, fast, repeatable, and field applicable Smartphone-based sensing technology, which was standardized and in-house validated for the quantitative determination of neutralizer in milk samples. The method had simple steps of spot-test response and digital image evaluation with the Red Green Blue process. The linearity of the method was shown by analytical curves ranging from 0.125% (1250 ppm) to 1% (10,000 ppm) that were characterized by R2 > 0.99. The limit of detection of 0.11% demonstrated the sensitivity of the method which was found better than the existing wet chemical spot test. Comparison with the existing spectroscopic method revealed no statistically significant difference between the observations using paired t-test at a confidence level of 95%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, we report the fabrication of n-ZnO/p-Si++ hetero-junction devices for the detection of hydrogen leakage in ambient air environment. For the fabrication of n-ZnO/p-Si++ hetero-junction devices, high quality ZnO thin films are grown by controlled thermal evaporation technique on the highly doped p-type silicon substrates at 400 oC. The two sets of films deposited at 400 o C are further annealed at 500 and 600 oC to examine the effect of annealing temperature on the structural, morphological, electrical and gas sensing properties of the deposited films. It is revealed from the x-ray diffraction studies that the crystallite size, and the density of the films increase from 22.55 to 24.95 nm, and from 5.65 to 5.68 g/cm3, respectively, on increasing the fabrication temperature from 400 to 600 oC. In contrast to this, the grain boundary specific surface area decreases from 8.79 × 107 to 7.88 × 107 m−1 on changing the fabrication temperature from 400 to 600 oC. The hydrogen gas sensing responses of the fabricated devices have also been recorded at different operating temperatures and different hydrogen concentrations (200 to 1000 ppm) in air ambient. It is found that the gas sensing responses of the fabricated devices increase with increase in operating temperature up to 100 oC and decease beyond this temperature. The gas sensing responses of the devices fabricated at 400, 500 and 600 oC are found to be 97.22, 64.23 and 40.77 % respectively at 1000 ppm of hydrogen. A decrease in gas sensing response with fabrication temperature is attributed to the increase in crystallite size (quantum size effect), density of film (i.e. lower penetration) and decrease in grain boundary specific surface area (i.e. active sites) with annealing temperature. The mechanism of the gas sensing in these devices has also been systematically analyzed under different models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conductive nanofillers, such as carbon nanotube, graphene nanoplatelets, and carbon black particles (with diameters in nanometers) have been shown to enhance the electrical conductivity of fiber reinforced polymer matrix composites in many existing studies. The motivation is primarily for lightning strike protection, electromagnetic interference shielding, de-icing, and the manufacturing of lightweight electronic components. In this paper, we evaluate the lightning strike damage tolerance of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) matrix composite laminates containing conductive nanofillers with varying weight fractions, including carbon black (CB), carbon nanotubes (CNT), and a mix of CB and CNT, through simulated lightning strike tests, followed by both non-destructive ultrasonic inspection and destructive sectioning to characterize the damage inflicted by the simulated lightning strike. Three-point flexural tests are performed to evaluate the residual strength retained by all CFRP specimens. Results show that lightning strike damage experienced varying levels of reduction for CFRP composite specimens containing conductive fillers in comparison to the baseline specimen without fillers. Notably, the delamination only penetrated to the interface between the 1st and 2nd layer for the specimen with 0.25 wt.% CNT in comparison to the baseline CFRP specimen for which the delamination penetrated to the interface between the 5th and 6th layer. Moreover, the retention of the flexural modulus increased from 26.5% to a maximum of 95.0% for the specimen with 0.25 wt.% hybrid CB and CNT. Yet, we show that using our chosen conductive fillers cannot fully eliminate lightning strike damage. Additionally, adding conductive fillers could compromise the flexural properties. We provide discussions on future recommendations on using conductive fillers for the lightning strike protection of CFRP composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supported nano-silica propyl methyl imidazolium chloride ([SNsipmim]Cl) catalysts were created by combining silyl propyl methyl-imidazolium chloride ionic liquid (sipmimIL) with produced silica nano-particles (Si NPS) in this study. FTIR and NMR study validated the chemical structure of the produced Ionic liquid, "Thermo Gravimetric Analysis (TGA), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), and Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD)" analysis proved the synthesis of the ([SNsipmim]Cl) catalyst. The three-component direct production of β-amino ketones via the "Mannich reaction" of ketones, aromatic aldehydes, and aromatic amines was achieved with this heterogeneous ([SNsipmim]Cl) catalyst. "FTIR, 1H NMR, and 13C NMR" were used in the direction of validate the synthesis and structure of β-amino ketones derivatives. The catalyst ([SNsipmim]Cl) was successfully reused up to five times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lakes and reservoirs, as most humans experience and use them, are dynamic bodies of water, with surface extents that increase and decrease with seasonal precipitation patterns, long-term changes in climate, and human management decisions. This paper presents a new global dataset that contains the location and surface area variations of 681,137 lakes and reservoirs larger than 0.1 square kilometers (and south of 50 degree N) from 1984 to 2015, to enable the study of the impact of human actions and climate change on freshwater availability. Within its scope for size and region covered, this dataset is far more comprehensive than existing datasets such as HydroLakes. While HydroLAKES only provides a static shape, the proposed dataset also has a timeseries of surface area and a shapefile containing monthly shapes for each lake. The paper presents the development and evaluation of this dataset and highlights the utility of novel machine learning techniques in addressing the inherent challenges in transforming satellite imagery to dynamic global surface water maps. Measurement(s) surface area of lakes and reservoirs Technology Type(s) unsupervised machine learning on satellite derived data [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this article is to understand significance of random vibration stress screening for high frequency source module. Analysis of random vibration test with their impact on complex frequency source module performance is explained. Importance of sensitive component, structural analysis and design compensation for frequency source module are explained for random vibration test. Analysis of practically observed performance degradation results of frequency source during vibration testing is done. Performance stabilization of frequency source achieved through prior analysis, usage of filtering mechanisms and removal of measurement errors using well-defined procedure is disclosed. Solutions leads to development of frequency module performance as per design during testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This descriptive cross-sectional observational study aimed to investigate the prevalence of various types of disc degeneration in the lumbar spine of asymptomatic young adults. The disc degeneration of lumbar spine could be due to age-related physiological changes than to pathological changes in asymptomatic people. Due to the ethnic and racial differences in lifestyle, it is proposed that the prevalence of disc degeneration in the normal population in different region of the world would differ. There are scarce data on the Indian population on the same. Methods: Fifty individuals between 15 and 30 years of age, with no history of low back pain undergoing MR imaging for spinal pathology other than the lumbar spine, were included in the study. Various abnormalities (herniation HN, annular fissure AF, nuclear degeneration ND) were recorded and their prevalence was calculated by disc counts (DC) and person count (PC). DC is the number of discs with degeneration and PC is the number of patients with disc degeneration. Results: 56% asymptomatic individuals were found to have either HN or AF or ND at one or more levels. The DC of disc degeneration was 20.8% and it was most commonly observed in L4–L5 intervertebral disc (38%) followed by L5–S1 disc (30%). Thirteen individuals had disc degeneration at single level, 12 at two levels and 3 individuals at all the five lumbar intervertebral disc levels. Conclusion: The current study showed a high prevalence of disc degeneration (either HN, AF or ND) in young asymptomatic individuals. Even if the MRI shows disc degeneration, patients can be asymptomatic and one needs to correlate the symptoms with the MRI. The limitations of the current study are small numbers of patients from a localized geographical area; hence, we recommend a larger multi-centric study as a follow-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]