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The study characterized 34 Job's tears accessions from the northeastern Himalayan region using yield-related traits and simple sequence repeats (SSR) markers. Genotyping with 17 SSR markers revealed an average of 3.18 alleles per locus, varying from 2 to 4. Polymorphism information content values ranged from 0.27 to 0.52, averaging 0.41. Clustering and principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) based on SSR markers grouped the accessions into three major groups. The first three principal coordinates in the PCoA cumulatively explained 41.96% of the variability in the accessions, with the first and second principal coordinates explaining 22.51% and 10.39% of the molecular variability, respectively. The model-based genetic structure analysis detected the maximal ΔK (80.87) at K = 2, grouping the entire accessions into two subgroups. The analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) indicated higher genetic variation within individuals (52.86%) than among individuals (47.14%). The FST value (0.2), STRUCTURE analysis, and PCoA analysis indicated moderate population differentiation. Yield-trait-based analysis resulted in four clusters. Cluster I included six accessions with short height, cluster II comprised 12 accessions with high test weight, cluster III comprised six accessions with high yield, and cluster IV had nine accessions with early flowering, respectively. Principal component analysis (PCA) extracted three components explaining 67.4% of the total variation, with PC1 emphasizing yield and growth-related traits and PC2 highlighting days to flowering and panicle length. Most traits showed positive correlations with yield per plant, especially test weight (0.65, P ≤ 0.01). Path coefficient analysis revealed a strong positive direct effect of test weight and the number of internodes per plant on yield per plant. Cluster analysis and genotype-by-trait biplot analysis showed similar patterns among accessions. However, the Mantel test indicated no significant correlation between genetic and morphological distances (r2 = 0.010, P = 0.41). Additive main-effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) analysis and multi-trait stability index (MTSI) identified three promising accessions (IC600638, IC540181, and IC540256) suitable for selection in future breeding programs with 10% intensity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hot stamping of steel is an innovative process for producing components of higher strength with a significant weight reduction. Conventional hot stamping process is carried out at an elevated temperature in the range of 800 to 950 °C in atmospheric condition. So, a coating is a must to restrict high temperature oxidation and decarburization of the steel substrate. Majorly, Al-Si coating and Zn-based coatings are used for the purpose. However, Al-Si-based coatings are not able to provide sacrificial cathodic protection to steel substrate and the Zn-based coating suffer from the problem of microcracking. In the present study, the pre-Ni coated galvanized boron steels are investigated to understand high temperature phase transformation during austenitization step. Thermodynamic calculations along with Gleeble heat treatment experiments and coating characterizations with SEM, EDS, WDS and XRD shows initial melting of the coating. Subsequent Fe-enrichment in the coating has led to formation of BCC phase which is high melting as well as softer phase compared to Ni-Zn intermetallic. Moreover, the corrosion performance of the prior Ni coated galvanized steel has been evaluated. The presence of zinc in the coating shows sacrificial corrosion protection behavior and the Ni and Fe in the coating have further improved the corrosion rate owing to their barrier protection to the steel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study investigated the tensile properties of two low-carbon ferritic low-density steels at strain rates of 1 × 10−4 s−1, 1 × 10−3 s−1, and 1 × 10−2 s−1. These steels underwent cold and warm rolling as well as annealing. Various tensile properties were evaluated, including yield strength, ultimate tensile strength, strain hardening exponent, energy absorption up to 10 pct engineering strain, and strain rate sensitivity. The results showed that higher strain rates increased yield strength, ultimate tensile strength, and energy absorption in both steels. The strain hardening exponent was determined using the Hollomon and differential Crussard–Jaoul analysis. The electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) technique were employed to explain the strain hardening response in both steels. Both steels exhibited two distinct stages of deformation, describing their strain hardening behavior. The study observed a decrease in strain rate sensitivity with increasing true strain in both steels. Steel 1 displayed higher strain rate sensitivity than Steel 2, resulting in a delayed necking tendency and higher total elongation. Micrographs of fracture surfaces revealed the presence of quasi-cleavage facets and secondary cracks at strain rates of 1 × 10−3 s−1 and 1 × 10−2 s−1 in both steels. At a lower strain rate of 1 × 10−4 s−1, Steel 1 exhibited a dimple fracture due to its lower strength and higher total elongation, while Steel 2 displayed a quasi-cleavage fracture. The progression of voids in Steel 1 at a strain rate of 1 × 10−4 s−1 was characterized by establishing a relationship between actual thickness strain and the quantity of voids. This analysis provided insights into the steels void formation and growth mechanisms under specific conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of cold drawing on the evolution of microstructure and texture of near eutectoid steel wire is studied to understand the deformation micromechanism of the wire drawing process. The texture evolution during wire drawing is simulated using a viscoplastic self-consistent (VPSC) model and successfully validated by experimental results. The favorable pearlitic colonies having lamellas aligned along the wire axis are found to undergo thinning and form a fibrous structure. On the other hand, the lamellas oriented perpendicularly to the wire axis are found to undergo bending and kinking in the process of aligning themselves with the wire axis. A ⟨ 011 ⟩ crystallographic texture develops after the wire drawing from the ⟨ 111 ⟩ and ⟨ 110 ⟩ texture of the as-received steel. The VPSC simulation illustrates the relative significance of the {112} ⟨ 111 ⟩ slip in comparison to that of the traditionally used {110} ⟨ 111 ⟩ slip. The VPSC simulation also illustrates presence of about 5 – 6 active slip systems (AVACS) that make it possible to maintain strain compatibility in polycrystalline materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gas-sensing materials have seen significant development since the discovery of chemiresistive sensors, but the impact of electrode material and interdigitated electrode structure (IDEs) geometry on sensing performance has yet to be fully explored. To address, this study aims to investigate the effect of finger width (Wf) in IDEs on gas-sensing response. Tungsten oxide (WO3) is chosen as a sensing material to detect NO2 gas, synthesized using a simple hydrothermal method, and its material characteristics are corroborated using various analytical techniques. Next, three chemiresistive sensors with different Wf values of 50 µm (S1), 100 µm (S2), and 200 µm (S3) were fabricated. Gas-sensing properties show that S1 had a response 2.79 times higher than S2 and 3.28 times higher than S3. Accordingly, S1 is used to evaluate other sensing parameters. These parameters exhibit at least 1.61 times higher sensing response to NO2 than other gases, which might be attributed to the higher adsorption energy of NO2 on the WO3 surface. Furthermore, S1 provided a minimum detection limit of 450 ppb, quick response time and recovery time, and good repeatable response. These sensing properties ensure that the sensor has great potential for monitoring NO2 gas in various applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a novel method for measuring flow rates in microchannels based on electrolytic bubble generation and electrochemical resistance measurement. The method exploits the generation of gas bubbles by electrolysis of ionic fluid at the surface of electrodes positioned within the microchannel. The flow rate is quantified by measuring the electrical resistance of the electrolyte using electrodes in inter-digitated form. By analysing the bubble frequency and size, the variation in the resistance is investigated and as a result the flow rate can be determined with high accuracy and precision. The proposed method is suitable for a wide range of flow rates, and can be easily integrated into microfluidic systems. We demonstrate the feasibility and performance of the method through experiments using 0.1M NaCl over a range of flow rates in a microchannel with different geometries. Flow measurements are made in range 0–200 μl/min with a measurement sensitivity of 3.17 Ω /(μL/min) and RSD < 15%. 3 σ resolution of the sensor is 12.5 μL/min. The rise in fluid temperature is observed to be less than 5 °C at all times. The proposed method has potential applications for on-chip detection in chemical synthesis, drug development and biomedical devices and is easy to implement and scalable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The leaf area index (LAI) provides valuable input for modeling climate and ecosystem processes. However, ground-based observations are necessitated across various phenophases from dense tropical forests for a better understanding in terms of their contribution to carbon fixation. In this study, Digital Hemispherical Photography (DHP) was used for LAI observation from Similipal Biosphere Reserve, and to predict high-resolution LAI using Random Forest Machine Learning approach. Observations were taken from ninety-three Elementary sampling units (ESUs) corresponding to the beginning and end of leaf fall seasons across moist deciduous, dry deciduous, and semi-evergreen forests. LAI demonstrated high values for dry deciduous, followed by semi-evergreen and moist deciduous forests for the start of the leaf fall season, whereas moist deciduous forests demonstrated high values during the end of the leaf fall season. Satellite-based spectral reflectance bands of Sentinel-2 and vegetation indices (VIs) were used as predictor variables, wherein the band-7, band-8, band-12, enhanced vegetation index (EVI), and Red-edge based EVI were evaluated as the most dominant responsive variables for LAI estimation. Random Forest (RF) model provided good accuracy (R2 = 0.64, RMSE = 0.62) with observed DHP-based LAI. However, a comparison of RF model-based predicted LAI with global LAI products (MOD15A2H and VNP15A2H) provided a moderate correlation. Such studies demonstrate the potential of site or region-specific case studies to evaluate coarser-resolution global LAI products for possible improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the realm of microfluidics, a critical issue prevails: The commercially available flow sensors are situated external to the microfluidic chip, resulting in an inherent deficiency of precise operational insights. Applications such as biochemistry, drug development, single cell analyses, gradient generators, biomedical devices and proactive healthcare demand dependable data for broader utilization. In the present work, we introduce a microfluidic flow sensor designed to gauge electrolyte flow rates on-chip inside a microchannel by measuring electrochemical resistance of electrolytic bubbles within a circuit comprising electrolytic fluid and inter-digitated electrodes. This sensor design features a Si wafer substrate with micropatterned Ti/Pt electrodes bonded to a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microchannel using oxygen plasma. The sensor has been characterized for electrolytic fluid (0.1 M NaCl), 600 μ m wide microchannel, 0–500 μ l/min range of flow, 3V dc power input, and 25 ∘ C room temperature conditions. Sensor response has been compared for electrolyte concentrations (0.1 M to 0.4 M NaCl), channel width (400–1200 μ m), and input power (1–5 V) corresponding to a given flow rate. The sensor 3 σ resolution calculated from calibration curve is observed to be 5 μ l/min for lower flow rates (0–100 μ l/min) and 100 μ l/min for higher flow rates (100–500 μ l/min). The limit of detection (LoD) of the sensor is 1 μ l/min. An algorithm based on the trapezoidal rule enabling flow rate prediction within 5 s has been implemented. The proposed flow sensor works over a broad range of flow rates, although with different sensitivity, presenting a novel method employing the electrolysis bubble size and volume for flow rate detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrial and business environments may benefit profoundly from the heat transfers provided by magnetohydrodynamic nanofluid flow via cone, wedge, and plate. Conical geometries are frequently employed in the creation of fluid system nozzles and diffusers. Conical nozzles promote fluid flow whereas conical diffusers diminish it. These parts are employed in a variety of applications, including jet engines and HVAC systems. In industrial systems, wedges are employed in relief valves that release pressure to regulate the discharge of pressurised fluids or gases. Motivated by this, this study aims to simulate the flow and heat transfer attributes of a magnetised Casson hybrid nanofluid (GO-MoS2/sodium alginate) subject to quadratic thermal radiation and nonlinear convection through cone-, wedge-, and plate-shaped geometries. The Darcy-Forchheimer and Cattaneo-Christov models were utilised to investigate the flow across porous media and heat transfer attributes, respectively. The solution to the governing equations is attained using bvp4c solver, and the effects of parameters like thermal relaxation parameter, Casson factor, Grashof number, magnetic parameter, Eckert number, and wall temperature on flow velocity and temperature are illustrated through graphs and tables, as are their consequences on physical quantities. The study reports that fluid velocity decreases with an increase in magnetic parameter, wall temperature, and thermal relaxation parameter, and fluid temperature decreases with an increase in magnetic parameter, Grashof number, and Eckert number. Further, the wall temperature and thermal relaxation parameters increase the heat transfer rate and reduce the skin friction coefficient. Moreover, a comparison with earlier published work is also done to verify the accuracy of the applied method and is reported to be consistent with previous studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is a serious concern that threatens global food security in several ways and exerts pressure on the already stressed agriculture system. The future prediction of a decline in the yield of major food grains like rice, wheat, and maize due to adverse impacts of increased warming and other climatic variabilities paves the way to shift the existing agriculture practices to more resource-efficient agriculture. This has entailed the government promoting climate-smart agriculture with its triple objectives, i.e. adaptation, mitigation, and food security. The current study developed a composite weighted indicator-based index to compute climate smartness score (CSS) at the farm level in India and tested its effectiveness in measuring the climate resilience of the farmers in Sehore, Satna, and Rajgarh districts of Madhya Pradesh, India, who adopted climate-smart practices in a pilot project. Thirty-four indicators grouped in five dimensions were selected from relevant peer-reviewed articles and various technical documents through an intensive literature review. These indicators were validated through online and offline expert consultation with ninety-two experts and farmers, and weights were assigned using AHP-express. The study inferred that the final scores and weightage across dimensions and the indicators did not differ significantly, implying that each dimension and indicator is important. A strong positive linear relationship between the climate smartness score and the crop yield further suggested that the wider adoption of these interventions would reduce the climate risk in agriculture for farming communities. This framework would help monitor the effectiveness of various climate-smart agriculture programmes and improve the implementation and upscaling of such programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biochar is a pyrolyzed product of organic matter having enormous potential for nutrient loading and enhancing nutrient use efficiency. In the present study, two enriched biochar (EB)-based fertilizers were prepared, having a fertilizer grade of 6–6-4 N-P2O5-K2O by intercalation of NPK fertilizers mixture solution as EB-1 and additional humic acid and seaweed extract with EB-1 as a formulation of EB-2. The batch experiments were conducted to compare nutrients (NH4+, NO3−, P, and K+) release patterns of developed fertilizers with conventional fertilizers. Enriched biochar fertilizers (EB) demonstrated a much slower release pattern of NH4+, P, and K+, but NO3− release was similar to conventional fertilizers. The total release of N from EB fertilizers was like conventional fertilizer; however, significantly less P and K were released during the period of 36 h. The field response study in direct-seeded rice revealed that the application of EB fertilizers 11.7–29.5, 32.9–64.0, and 31.4–38.0% higher apparent use efficiency of N, P, and K, respectively than conventional fertilizer at 100% application rate. This implies the possible utilization of EB fertilizers in sustainable rice production with reduced losses and enhanced nutrient use efficiency (NUE). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iron-chalcogenide superconductors display rich phenomena caused by orbital-dependent band shifts and electronic correlations. Additionally, they are potential candidates for topological superconductivity due to the band inversion between the Fe d bands and the chalcogen pz band. Here we present a detailed study of the electronic structure of the nematic superconductors FeSe1−xTex (0 < x < 0.4) using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy to understand the role of orbital-dependent band shifts, electronic correlations and the chalcogen band. We assess the changes in the effective masses using a three-band low energy model, and the band renormalization via comparison with DFT band structure calculations. The effective masses decrease for all three-hole bands inside the nematic phase, followed by a strong increase for the band with dxy orbital character. Interestingly, this nearly-flat dxy band becomes more correlated as it shifts towards the Fermi level with increasing Te concentrations and as the second superconducting dome emerges. Our findings suggests that the dxy hole band, which is very sensitive to the chalcogen height, could be involved in promoting an additional pairing channel and increasing the density of states to stabilize the second superconducting dome in FeSe1−xTex. This simultaneous shift of the dxy hole band and enhanced superconductivity is in contrast with FeSe1−xSx. The iron chalcogenide material FeSe1-xTex constitutes an important family of unconventional superconductors but its nematic phase was less explored due to a lack of single crystals. In this study, the authors provide a systematic study of the electronic structure for nematic FeSe1-xTex and observe that as the Te content increases a gradual shift and renormalization of the dxy orbital occurs, concomitant with the enhancement of superconductivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three steels of carbon content between 0.2 and 0.4 wt pct were directly quenched to room temperature after austenitization at 1223 K (950 °C). Attempts were made to quantify the amount of retained austenite in the full quenched condition using X-ray diffraction analysis. The direct estimation of the amount of austenite remaining untransformed after full quenching using X-ray diffraction analysis is difficult since high-intensity peaks of austenite and martensite overlap and merge together and austenite transforms to martensite during sample preparation owing to its low stability. The results indicate that the amount of retained austenite in fully quenched sample of low-carbon steel is underestimated using routine XRD. However, when the full quenched samples were subjected to a tempering treatment at 673 K (400 °C) for 300 seconds, the (111) peak of austenite and (110) peak of martensite were observed distinctly and the amount of retained austenite was estimated to be close to the value calculated using Koistinen and Marburger equation and measured by EBSD analysis of this sample. This was attributed to the carbon enrichment of austenite due to carbon depletion from martensite which results in peak separation. In addition, stability of austenite increases and it does not undergo deformation-induced martensite transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

C3 (Oryza sativa L.) and C4 (Zea mays L.) plants differ both in their carbon fixing mechanism, and thus, their responses toward stresses also differ. Owing to the mutually competitive nature of uptake between phosphate (iP) and arsenate (AsV) in plants, and given that the level of sucrose is also influenced by iP, interplay of their uptake mechanisms eventually results in reducing the AsV uptakes. The present study intends to comparatively assess the reduction in AsIII and AsV uptake and its toxicity between Oryza sativa L. and Zea mays L. when cultivated with sucrose-containing sugarcane wastes (SWs; bagasse, molasses, and pressmud) conducted under a simulated outdoor pot experiment. Overall improvement in growth, physiological performance, stress, and antioxidant response was exhibited in both the plants with SWs application. The SWs application also improved soil physiochemical parameters viz, pH, EC, OC, OM, and micronutrients. Application of SW also reduced the iAs accumulation in grains of both rice (50–87%) and maize (70–96%), along with enhancement in Fe (142%, and 122%, respectively), and Zn (132% and 131%, respectively). Most of the 17 grain's amino acids (AAs) increased in maize against iAs stress, whereas Ser decreased in both, and Ile and Gly additionally in rice. Essential AAs viz. Phe, Thr, and Met are influenced negatively by iAs, whereas nonessential AAs viz. Cys, Ser, Pro, Gly in both the plant grains are positively influenced by iP and negatively by OC. Thus, the application of SWs containing residual sucrose > 9.5 µM g−1, through a fertilizer formulation or by direct soil amendments in iAs-contaminated soil can be an agronomic practice to reduce the iP fertilization and limit the iAs contamination in the food-chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To understand the texture inheritance characteristics of ferrite phase, samples of the same eutectoid concentration with different degrees of cold drawing were heated to the austenitization temperature of 900 °C, subsequently cooled rapidly to the isothermal temperature of 660 °C for 2.5 h, followed by water quenching to room temperature. The transformation texture of the α → γ → α route using each of the γ/α crystallographic relationships, namely, Bain, Kurdjumov–Sachs and Nishiyama–Wassermann was predicted by MATLAB. It is important to mention that the bending and kinking characteristics are eliminated along with the drop in texture index of ferrite from ~ 3 to ~ 1 after the austenitization treatment which shows significant weakening of texture. Transformation texture predictions enabled to predict the high-temperature austenite texture which otherwise would have been impossible to know by routine experimental techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tetrahydrocannabinols (THCs) antagonize the CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors, whose signaling to the endocannabinoid system is essential for controlling cell survival and proliferation as well as psychoactive effects. Most tumor cells express a much higher level of CB1 and CB2; THCs have been investigated as potential cancer therapeutic due to their cannabimimetic properties. To date, THCs have been prescribed as palliative medicine to cancer patients but not as an anticancer modality. Growing evidence of preclinical research demonstrates that THCs reduce tumor progression by stimulating apoptosis and autophagy and inhibiting two significant hallmarks of cancer pathogenesis: metastasis and angiogenesis. However, the degree of their anticancer effects depends on the origin of the tumor site, the expression of cannabinoid receptors on tumor cells, and the dosages and types of THC. This review summarizes the current state of knowledge on the molecular processes that THCs target for their anticancer effects. It also emphasizes the substantial knowledge gaps that should be of concern in future studies. We also discuss the therapeutic effects of THCs and the problems that will need to be addressed in the future. Clarifying unanswered queries is a prerequisite to translating the THCs into an effective anticancer regime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A low-carbon low-alloy steel suitable for Q&P processing was designed by considering the influence of alloying elements on various aspects of transformation and microstructure like the optimum quenching temperature (QTopt) that maximizes the amount of retained austenite at room temperature, the critical cooling rate for martensite transformation, thermal and mechanical stability of retained austenite and cementite precipitation from austenite. A number of semi-empirical equations and the thermodynamic software ThermoCalc were used for the purpose. The designed steel was prepared and pre-processed in the laboratory by melting, casting and hot forging. The samples from the as forged material were then subjected to quenching, austempering and quenching and partitioning treatments in a dilatometer and salt-bath furnace to understand the preliminary phase transformation behavior, microstructural evolution and mechanical properties. An alternative method, utilizing the experimental dilatation data obtained during quenching and conventional austempering processes, was used to quantify the multiphase Q&P microstructures which provided a reasonably accurate estimate of the actual amount of retained austenite at room temperature. The microstructure obtained after Q&P processing resulted in a better combination of strength and elongation than the martensitic and bainitic microstructures which was attributed to a more effective exploitation of the TRIP effect. The TRIP behavior has been found to depend not only on the amount of retained austenite and its carbon content but also on the morphology of austenite and the characteristics of the surrounding phases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a progressive chronic neurodegenerative retinal disease leading to vision loss, irreversible blindness, and visual impairment in older adults worldwide. Complement component 3 (C3) protein has been identified as the most predominant biomarker towards early diagnosis of AMD; therefore, there is an utmost requirement for non-invasive detection of C3 protein in the tear fluids of AMD patients. Considering this, we report an insightful electrochemical sensor capable of detecting clinically relevant concentrations ranging from 10 fg/mL to 1 μg/mL using electrospun indium-doped zinc oxide (InZnO) nanofibers as the transducing layer. The InZnO nanofibers have facilitated high anti-C3 antibody loading of 3.42 × 10−9 mol/cm2 and enhanced the overall charge transport mechanism at the sensor interface. The biofunctionalization process of the biosensor was investigated thoroughly using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) as well as different electrochemical techniques. The target C3 proteins were captured on the fabricated biosensor surface and determined through changes in charge transfer resistance (RCT) while executing electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and peak current (Ip) in the case of cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), respectively. The InZnO nanofiber-based nano-biosensor demonstrated a very low limit of detections (LODs) of 5.214 fg/mL and 0.241 fg/mL with an excellent sensitivity of 4.6709 (ΔR/R) (g/mL)−1 cm−2 and 54.4939 (ΔIp/Ip)% (g/mL)−1 cm−2 for EIS and DPV techniques, respectively. By virtue of high antibody loading, ultrasensitive and ultra-selective capability, the indium-doped ZnO nanofibers show huge potential to be used as a high-performance diagnostic platform for AMD diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Sugarcane is a long-duration crop that produces a large amount of biomass and requires specific supervision and many management practices. Global warming is a reality that adversely affects the metabolic and physiological activities of crops, and the sugarcane crop is not an exception; it is also affected from climate change and various other sustainability issues. To address these issues, researchers have recommended many climate-smart technologies (CSTs) for enhancing sugarcane yield and ensuring its long-term viability. CSTs interventions such as fine-tuning of various crop production methods/techniques, planting methods, nutrient management techniques, insect-pest, and infection control alternatives including methods like cultural methods and physical methods, using of bio-agents, bio-pesticides, botanicals, light/pheromone, or combo traps, and so on can be a wise decision. Furthermore, maintaining its suitability under drought and flood conditions, eco-friendly biomass waste cycling, and their safe use enhance soil health and cane yield sustainably. This article comprehensively highlights climate-smart technologies, which are the best solutions to reduce carbon, water, fertilizer, and pesticide footprints in sugarcane production to enhance overall growth and yield and quality canes with improved livelihoods of the cane farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ashes produced during on-farm burning of crop residues are mixed in soil before sowing next crop and studies suggest that they can enhance adsorption of pesticides in soil. Enhanced adsorption of pesticides in soil can reduce their availability for degradation and pest/weed control. Therefore, present study evaluated effect of sugarcane trash ash (STA) on degradation of atrazine (used to control annual grasses and many broad-leaved weeds) and fipronil (used for control of early shoot borer and termites) in three sugarcane growing soils and bioavailability of atrazine. Three sugarcane-growing soils (silty clay loam, sandy clay loam and loam) were used to study effect of 0.1 and 0.2% STA on atrazine and fipronil degradation in laboratory incubated soils. Field study for effect of STA on atrazine degradation was performed in silty clay loam soil. Effect of STA on atrazine bioavailability was assayed using its effect on mustard seed germination. Pesticides and their metabolites were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)/ gas–liquid chromatography (GLC)/ liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy (LC–MS/MS). Under laboratory condition 0.2% STA doubled atrazine half-life (t1/2) in sandy clay loam, increased t1/2 by 40% in silty clay loam, while no significant effect was observed in loam soil. The STA did not affect fipronil degradation in all three soils. Metabolites, hydroxyatrazine and deethylatrazine (atrazine) and sulfide, sulfone, amide and desulfinyl (fipronil) were detected in soil samples; but their spectrum and quantities varied with the soil type. The t1/2 of atrazine under field condition was 3.61, 2.73 and 2.86 days in control, 0.1% and 0.2% STA-mixed silty clay loam, respectively. The STA reduced atrazine availability suggesting that higher amount of herbicide will be needs for the desired effect in STA-mixed soils. This study has relevance in assessing fate and bioavailability of atrazine and fipronil in sugarcane soils where trash is burnt year after year and mixed in soils. The STA mixing might have cumulative effect due to regular burning of trash. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, seven diverse biomasses of Indian origin were characterized and pyrolyzed at 450 °C to produce biochars. The biochars were thoroughly characterized using a variety of techniques to assure their potential energy and environmental and agricultural applications. Biochars derived from crop wastes with low lignin content, viz., rice husk biochar (RHB), rice straw biochar (RSB), maize stover biochar (MSB), and sugarcane biochar (SCB), possessed high ash content, high pH, and low fixed carbon making them suitable for soil amelioration. RSB, RHB, and MSB recorded high cation exchange capacity, making their potential utilization as liming material and removal of heavy metal contaminants. Elemental O/C ratios for all biochars, except maize stover biochar, were in the range of 0.27–0.32, which showed better stability and half-life period. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was carried out to evaluate the thermal stability of biochars up to 900 °C, and the overall mass loss varied in the range of 16–27 wt%. Biochars from eucalyptus (EB), lantana (LB), and pine needle (PNB) were found to have high higher heating values (HHVs) (23–28 MJ/kg), higher fixed carbon, and lower ash content. Correlations were constructed between HHV of biochars and their volatile matter, ash, and fixed carbon content with high but negative correlation with ash content. Rice straw, rice husk, maize stover, and sugarcane trash were poor substrates, as the resultant biochars contained ≤ 60 wt% fixed carbon, high ash, and a relatively low HHV. It is shown that RHB, RSB, MSB, and SCB can be potential materials for soil amendment and plant nutrient, while PNB, LB, and EB are suitable for renewable solid fuel purpose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pyrethrins are widely accepted as natural insecticides and offers several advantages of synthetic compounds, i.e., rapidity of action, bioactivity against a wide range of insects, comparatively lesser costs and the like. A significant source of pyrethrin is Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium; cultivated in restricted areas, as a result; natural pyrethrins are not produced in a large amount that would meet the ongoing global market demand. However, increasing its content and harnessing the desired molecule did not attract much attention. To enhance the production of pyrethrins in Tagetes erecta, the Chrysanthemyl diphosphate synthase (CDS) gene was overexpressed under the promoter CaMV35S. Hypocotyls were used as explant for transformation, and direct regeneration was achieved on MS medium with 1.5 mg L−1 BAP and 5.0 mg L−1 GA3. Putative transgenics were screened on 10 mgL−1 hygromycin. After successful regeneration, screening and rooting process, the transgenic plants were raised inside the glass house and PCR amplification of CDS and HYG-II was used to confirm the transformation. Biochemical analysis using HPLC demonstrated the expression levels of the pyrethrin, which was approx. twenty-six fold higher than the non-transformed Tagetes plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many psychrophilic microorganisms synthesize ice-binding proteins (IBPs) to survive the cold. The functions of IBPs are evaluated by the effect of the proteins on the nonequilibrium water freezing-point depression, which is called “thermal hysteresis (TH)”, and the inhibitory effect of the proteins on the growth of larger ice crystals, which is called “ice recrystallization inhibition (IRI)”. To obtain mechanical insight into the two activities, we developed a modified method of ice affinity purification and extracted two new IBP isoforms from Psychromyces glacialis, an Arctic glacier fungus. One isoform was found to be an approximately 25 kDa protein (PsgIBP_S), while the other is a 28 kDa larger protein (PsgIBP_L) that forms an intermolecular dimer. Their TH activities were less than 1 °C at millimolar concentrations, implying that both isoforms are moderately active but not hyperactive IBP species. It further appeared that both isoforms exhibit high IRI activity even at submicromolar concentrations. Furthermore, the isoforms can bind to the whole surface of a hemispherical single ice crystal, although such ice-binding was generally observed for hyperactive IBP species. These results suggest that the binding ability of IBPs to whole ice crystal surfaces is deficient for hyperactivity but is crucial for significant IRI activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have investigated the effects of lead (Pb) additions (x) up to 40 wt% (x = 0–0.4) on the structure, electrical properties, and magnetic properties of FeSe0.5Te0.5 superconductor. The samples were prepared by the solid-state reaction method and were characterized by various techniques. The parent compound (x = 0) showed the onset temperature T c onset of 15 K, and zero-resistance temperature, T c offset of 12 K. The addition of Pb enhances the metallic characteristics of FeSe0.5Te0.5, but both T c onset and T c offset are decreased to the lower temperature with the broadened transition width. The T c onset is nearly the same (10.3 K) at higher additions, such as x = 0.3 and 0.4, but zero resistivity is not observed up to 7 K. Microstructural analysis and transport studies suggest that for x > 0.05, Pb additions weakened the coupling between grains and suppressed the superconducting percolation, leading to a broad transition. More importantly, the inclusion of a relatively small amount of Pb (x = 0.05) increased the critical current density, Jc, in the entire magnetic field, which might be attributed to better phase uniformity as well as good grain connectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have investigated the effects of lead (Pb) additions (x) up to 40 wt% (x = 0–0.4) on the structure, electrical properties, and magnetic properties of FeSe0.5Te0.5 superconductor. The samples were prepared by the solid-state reaction method and were characterized by various techniques. The parent compound (x = 0) showed the onset temperature T c onset of 15 K, and zero-resistance temperature, T c offset of 12 K. The addition of Pb enhances the metallic characteristics of FeSe0.5Te0.5, but both T c onset and T c offset are decreased to the lower temperature with the broadened transition width. The T c onset is nearly the same (10.3 K) at higher additions, such as x = 0.3 and 0.4, but zero resistivity is not observed up to 7 K. Microstructural analysis and transport studies suggest that for x > 0.05, Pb additions weakened the coupling between grains and suppressed the superconducting percolation, leading to a broad transition. More importantly, the inclusion of a relatively small amount of Pb (x = 0.05) increased the critical current density, Jc, in the entire magnetic field, which might be attributed to better phase uniformity as well as good grain connectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the manufacturing industries, heat treatment is extremely important process to achieve desirable thermo-mechanical properties of engineering materials by controlling the specific austenitizing temperature range. These desirable properties were evaluated with several conventional techniques. However, these techniques are more time-consuming, costly, and destructive in nature. To overcome the above serious inspection issues, magnetic nondestructive techniques such as Barkhausen noise (BN) and hysteresis loop (HL) were adopted for surface characterization of different heat-treated AISI 1040 steel at various austenitizing temperatures, i.e., 800, 850, and 900°C. Surface properties were evaluated in terms of microstructure, grain size, and microhardness. BN and HL responses of the heat-treated samples were reported in terms of root mean square (RMS), coercivity, HL, and BN envelope. The experimental results indicated that the drastic variation in the microstructure and microhardness of primary surface and subsurface was observed under quenching at austenitizing temperature 900°C due to rapid cooling of lath martensite, which restricts the formation of perlite. According to nondestructive evaluation, higher BN-RMS and lower coercivity were obtained in annealed samples. A linear correlation between magnetic response variables (BN-RMS and coercivity) and material properties (microhardness and grain size) was obtained at different magnetizing frequencies. Small HL and BN envelopes were found in the quenched sample because of restricted magnetic domains alignment with magnetic field under a fine lath martensite structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stricter environmental norms and fossil fuel pollution call for cleaner fuels such as biodiesel. However, depending on the biomass source, biodiesel combustion may emit pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NOx). This can be solved by adding a blender such as triacetin, a common food additive. Here we review triacetin as a fuel additive with focus on improving fuel properties and engine performances, and combustion. We present triacetin production by acetic acid–glycerol esterification and acetic anhydride–glycerol acetylation reactions in batch and continuous reactors. We discuss reaction kinetic models. We found that the use of triacetin induces environmental and economic benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It was observed that the laser welding at low speed or medium speed did not deteriorate the fatigue property significantly, with a drop of about 9–12% in fatigue limit, compared to the parent material. Further, at a high stress amplitude, all samples survived almost similar numbers of fatigue cycles because of similar type of cyclic hardening–softening effect. However, at low stress amplitude, the cyclic softening of martensite was dependent on the magnitude of residual stress. For the joints fabricated at higher welding speed of 0.1 m/s, a decline of 28% in fatigue limit was observed in comparison with that of the parent material. Additionally, faster crack propagation was visible for high speed laser welded sample at both high and low stress amplitudes. It was proposed that the presence of detrimental {001} cleavage plane and high residual stress might have restricted the cyclic softening phenomena for any stress amplitude. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work discusses very good resistance to hydrogen embrittlement as well as wear resistance of NiP coated API (American Petroleum Institute) X70 steel as compared to the bare steel and electrolytic crystalline Ni coated steel. The NiP coatings with three compositions (hypo, hyper and near-eutectic compositions), prepared by an electroless technique, were predominantly amorphous. The relative wear behavior of the coatings was studied using ball-on disc tests in air. The hydrogen embrittlement susceptibility (HES) was assessed using slow strain rate tensile (SSRT) tests after cathodic hydrogen charging of the coated as well as bare steel. The superior wear resistance of the NiP coated steels showed abrasive wear, whereas the Ni-coated steel showed adhesive wear. Hyper and hypo-eutectic NiP coated steels showed a comparatively lower H-induced embrittlement than the uncoated and Ni-electroplated steels and these could be attributed to the excellent hydrogen barrier property of the NiP coatings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work underscores the effect of local microstructural configuration on the dislocation movement and micro-mechanical behaviour in fine/ultra-fine-grained (< 2 μm), cold-rolled, and annealed 301L austenitic stainless steel by site-specific nanoindentation experiments. Indentation loading, holding, and unloading behaviour have been studied separately for five different microstructural categories. Hardness and modulus vary proportionally from one indentation to another. It has been observed that a large density of high-angle boundaries most competently restricts the dislocation motion (strain hardening) resulting in high hardness. However, the back stress generated by the dislocation pile-up aids recovery during holding/unloading. Contrarily, the coarse grain reveals lower hardness attributed to easy dislocation transmission and a lesser elastic recovery during holding/unloading owing to an insufficient back stress in the absence of a favourable dislocation pile-up. The observation is against the general expectation considering the grain size dependence of the formation of pile-ups in ductile materials subjected to large-scale deformation. Interestingly, low-angle boundaries interact more with the dislocations and form such a defect structure that the strain locally reaches the critical value for the formation of deformation-induced martensite following Kurdjumov–Sachs orientation relationship with the parent austenite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relation between microstructure and mechanical properties of carbide-free bainitic steel 0.2% C – 1.53% Mn – 1.1% Si – 1% Cr – 0.3% Mo – 0.5% N under thermomechanical treatment is studied under isothermal conditions and under continuous air cooling. Impact tests of Charpy specimens, metallographic and x-ray diffraction analyses of the steel deformed by different variants are conducted. The size of the initial austenite grains and the Vickers hardness of the steel are determined. The hot plastic deformation is shown to affect positively the impact toughness of the steel treated for bainite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we are reporting for the first time, the piezosensing characterisations of the SiC thin film on silicon, synthesized from boron containing Liquid Polycarbosilane (PCS) as a precursor deposited by Modified Chemical Vapour Deposition (MoCVD) technique followed by the structural characterisation of the film. Comparison was done on the result of the both undoped and doped SiC thin film to highlight the effect of boron doping on the piezo property of the SiC. Interestingly, it was observed that piezoelectric coefficient (d33) of the boron doped SiC thin film was substantially higher (21.33 pm/V) than the undoped SiC thin film (16.21 pm/V). The enhancement in d33 was analysed considering the polarisation inside the thin film created by boron doping. The result shows a promising boron doped SiC thin film material for the application in high temperature piezo sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sepsis causes life-threatening complications with the highest burden of death and medical expenses in hospitals worldwide. Despite the progression of targeted therapies for sepsis, the challenge of early diagnosis of sepsis-related biomarkers remains. The analysis of the TNF-α and sTREM-1 in biological fluids provides essential information for effective treatments. In this work, we report developing an electrochemical immunosensor for the rapid detection of TNF-α and sTREM-1 proteins in human plasma samples. First, using the electrospinning process, cerium oxide nanofibers were synthesized. Subsequently, the antibodies corresponding to the targeted proteins are immobilized onto the surface-functionalized working electrodes using NHS/EDC chemistry. The proposed immunosensor's performance in a biological fluid was assessed using an analytical electrochemistry approach. The limit of detection for the electrochemical immunosensors was 0.51 and 0.41 pg/mL for TNF-α and sTREM-1, respectively, with high selectivity and sensitivity for the use as a point of care device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermo-mechanical treatments were performed to exploit the recrystallisation and deformation induced ferrite transformation (DIFT) during processing and study their effect on the microstructure and strength-ductility balance of a low-carbon, low alloy CMnSiAl TRIP-aided steel containing a small amount of Mo and Nb. A particular focus of the work was to study the influence of prior transformation of retained austenite to martensite (i.e., absence of the TRIP effect) on the strength-ductility balance of the steel by comparing the tensile properties of samples quenched in water and in liquid nitrogen. It was observed that the formation of high carbon martensite as a result of the prior transformation of retained austenite does not necessarily lead to brittle failure. The work also revealed that the TRIP effect per se may not play a major role and it is the deformation of a composite microstructure comprising hard and soft phases, which allows TRIP aided steels to offer a better combination of mechanical properties (strength, ductility and strain hardening) in comparison with conventional high strength steels (HSS) like high strength interstitial free (HS-IF) steel and high strength low alloy steel (HSLA) and other first generation advanced high strength steels (AHSS) like dual phase (DP) steels. The new insight into the TRIP effect may further be exploited in the design of alloy composition and subsequent thermo-mechanical treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research was focused on the level and distribution of 90Sr in various parts of the terrestrial environment of Spitsbergen. The mean activity concentrations were noted lower in peats and soils than in cryoconite. Analysis of vertical variation of 90Sr for soils and peats as well as isotopic ratios of 137Cs/90Sr and 239+240Pu/90Sr for cryoconite clearly showed substantial migration or depletion of the considered radionuclide. Due to the large dispersion of isotopic signatures, the 90Sr provenance was difficult to identify in the examined region. However, observed high mobility of the 90Sr might indicate the global fallout origin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A descriptive model is presented on the austenite grain size dependence of deformation and martensitic transformation upon tensile loading of a metastable 301L grade austenitic stainless steel. Cold rolling and subsequent short-duration annealing of the as-received coarse-grained material at 973 K to 1023 K (700 °C to 750 °C) resulted in a mixed microstructure consisting of fine and ultra-fine grains (UFG) that showed a more pronounced γ → ε-martensite and γ → twin formation (precursors of α′-martensitic transformation) and finally more α′-martensite in the tensile-tested specimen. Whereas their coarse-grained (CG) counterpart facilitates only the former reaction, which eventually leads to less severe martensitic transformation in CG than that in UFG. The evolution of texture under tensile deformation is simulated using visco-plastic self-consistent (VPSC) model and compared with the experimental data obtained from interrupted tensile tests. Besides a thermodynamic approach, microstructural characterization using optical and electron microscopy (scanning and transmission), electron backscattered diffraction, nanoindentation, and transmission Kikuchi diffraction studies were realized to establish a mechanistic explanation on the grain size dependence of austenite stability against deformation-induced martensitic transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microstructure and texture development in an austenitic stainless steel at high temperatures and low strain rate were studied through laboratory scale compression and rolling experiments. The uniaxial compression tests were performed under constant temperature with sample temperatures of 900 °C, 1000 °C and 1100 °C whereas, the rolling experiments were performed at the same initial sample temperatures but in a transient condition. The average strain rate was 1 s−1 and 1.23 s−1, during the compression and rolling experiments, respectively. After deformation the microstructure and texture developed in the samples were examined through the electron back scattered diffraction technique. For compression test, deformation at 900 °C produces mostly deformed grains whereas, at 1000 °C and 1100 °C only recrystallized grains were observed. In contrast, rolling produces partially recrystallized microstructures at all the three temperatures. Finite element (FE) modeling was used to calculate the variation of the state variables like temperature, strain and strain rate and the differences in microstructure for the two processes were analyzed in the light of FE simulation results. In texture, tube orientation like α fiber was developed by the compression at 900 °C whereas, at 1000 °C and 1100 °C random texture with cube as the significant texture component, was observed. Similarly in rolling, α, β and τ fibers with different intensities were developed at the center and random texture was observed near the surface of the samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study makes an attempt to understand the influence of welding speed on the formability of a welded microalloyed steel. An optimum heat input for laser welding was maintained in this study, under bead-on-plate and butt-welding conditions, with varying welding speed. Initially, the heat-affected zone (HAZ) had a moderate γ-fiber texture, which was later distorted with the increased speed of welding. There was an enhancement of rotated cube {001}〈110〉 and cube {001}〈010〉 orientations. The fusion zone (FZ) exhibited mainly random texture, without any presence of γ-fiber. However, faster speeds resulted in strengthening of intensities close to the rotated cube {001}〈110〉 and cube {001}〈010〉 orientations in the FZ. The increased welding speed resulted in enlargement of dimples of fracture surface for the HAZ, finally leading to a transition into a mixed mode of fracture. With increased welding speed, the FZ exhibited a drop in the equiaxiality of the austenite grains. The enhancement of the columnar nature of the austenite grains at the FZ could be correlated with the cube texture formation and deterioration in formability of the welded material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigates the orientation dependence of deformation-induced martensite (DIM) transformation in carbide-free bainitic steel using experimental macrotexture analysis and crystal plasticity-based modelling. The results indicate that the P {110}〈122〉 component of retained austenite preferentially undergoes DIM transformation during uniaxial tensile deformation at room temperature. It is also found that the P component of retained austenite possesses the lowest Schmid factor value compared with other possible texture components. The lowest Schmid factor value of the P component results in the highest resolved shear stress value for its slipping. As a result, during plastic deformation when most of the initial components of the retained austenite reorient themselves to other relatively stable orientations, the P component remains almost unaffected. Accumulation of stress concentration thus increases along this component, which eventually leads to its deformation-induced transformation to martensite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study we have reported the design and development of a facile, sensitive, selective, and label-free electrochemical sensing platform for the detection of atrazine based on MWCNT-embedded ZnO nanofibers. Electrospun nanofibers were characterized using scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscope (XPS), UV-Visible spectroscope (UV-VIS), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscope (FTIR). Electrochemical properties of MWCNT-ZnO nanofiber-modified electrodes were assessed using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and cyclic voltammetry (CV). Binding event of atrazine to anti-atrazine antibody, which immobilized on nanofiber-modified electrode via EDC and NHS chemistry, was transduced with EIS. Due to high conductivity, surface area, and low bandgap of MWCNT-ZnO nanofibers, we have achieved the sensitivity and limit of detection (LoD) of sensor as 21.61 (KΩ μg−1 mL−1) cm−2 and 5.368 zM for a wide detection range of 10 zM–1 µM. The proposed immunosensing platform has good stability, selectivity, repeatability, and reproducibility, and are less prone to interference. Biosensors: pesticide detection based on zinc oxide multi-walled carbon nanotubes An electrochemical sensing platform has been developed for detecting the pesticide atrazine based on zinc oxide (ZnO) nanofibers (nanometer-scale fibers) embedded with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). Carbon nanotubes are tubes of carbon with nanometer-scale diameters and MWCNTs consist of nested single-wall carbon nanotubes. Atrazine is a widely used pesticide with a long half-life and consumption of atrazine-containing water can result in severe health problems. However, previous methods for detecting atrazine have been limited by factors related to cost, time, size, and sample preparation. A team headed by Professor Shiv Govind Singh at the Indian Institute of Technology, India, succeeded in developing an extremely sensitive biosensor for detecting trace amounts of atrazine based on MWCNT-ZnO hybrid nanofibers. The authors believe that their sensing platform offers good stability, selectivity, repeatability, and reproducibility, and is stable against interference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we investigated the relationship between soil properties and litter chemistry in three forest communities, i.e., Sal mixed forest (SMF), dry mixed forest (DMF), and teak plantation forest (TPF), in tropical deciduous forest ecosystem in North India. Fresh leaf litter and soil samples were collected at two soil depths (0–15 and 15–30 cm) from all these three forest communities. Litter bag experiment was also conducted to know differences in litter nutrients after its decomposition. The concentrations (mg kg−1) of different nutrients such as sodium (Na) 2.6, potassium (K) 38.5, calcium (Ca) 425, and carbon (C) 45.54% were highest in fresh litter collected from DMF. Total organic carbon (g kg−1) was significantly higher in SMF (19.23) in comparison to DMF (18.41) and TPF (13.61) at 0–15-cm soil depth. Na, K, Ca, available P, total P, available N, and total N were highest in DMF soil. We observed significantly positive correlation between all nutrients of litter and soil. Although soil bulk density (BD) and particle density (PD) showed their significant negative correlation with litter C, total porosity was positively correlated. Similarly, litter Na has its significant negative correlation with BD and positive correlation with PD. The litter chemistry played a significant role in changing soil pH and TOC. All litter nutrients, except total P, have their significant positive correlation with soil pH. Total P, C, and N of litter have their significant positive correlation with total soil organic carbon. This indicates that litter chemistry and soil properties have specific relation among them despite unique species composition in each forest community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change effects on Himalayas are expectedly more pronounced than any other mountainous ecoregion of the world with expected threat of meltdown by the year 2100 if effective checks are not imposed. The impacts of this climate warming in the geologically fragile Himalayas has started to show its effects on shifting precipitation patterns, increasing temperatures, glaciers meltdown, species richness patterns and overall unpredictable microclimatic conditions. For measuring such impacts of current climate warming in Himalayan ecosystems, need of ecological substitutes has been stressed on by different United Nation conventions. Lichens in contrast to vascular flora have long been proved to act as cost effective global indicators for measuring ecosystems responses to environmental climate. The variations in microclimatic attributes and their effects on photosynthetic efficiency and distribution were studied in geologically fragile ecosystem of Govind Pashu Vihar National Park in Garhwal Himalayas. Total 217 species of lichens comprising 80 genera and 35 families were found along different elevations. Among the different habitat groups, corticolous lichens showed their dominance (123 species) followed by saxicolous (65 species) and terricolous (29 species) lichens. Corticolous forms were dominated by crustose while saxicolous and terricolous were mostly fruticose growth forms. Mostly large number of species showed a narrow distribution with maximum species richness observed in mid elevation zones (1950–2200 m) followed by a gradual decline towards higher elevations. Phaeophyscia hispidula, Parmotrema reticulatum and Flavoparmelia caperata showed wider ecological amplitude. Out of these species, P. hispidula and F. caperata were further subjected to chlorophyll fluorescence measurements with a pulse amplified modulated fluorometer to access photosynthetic quenching efficiencies. Maximum electron transport rates (ETR; 96 ± 5.76 μmol e− m−2 s−1) were observed in Phaeophyscia hispidula (1550 m) while F. caperata showed nearly 21% lower ETR. Photochemical quenching (qP; 0.5 ± 0.01) was maximum at 1550 m elevation in F. caperata while P. hispidula showed maximum qP values at 2200 m elevation, showing it's higher tolerances towards extreme light stresses. F. caperata showed higher (0.102 ± 0.003) non photochemical quenching (NPQ) in comparison to P. hispidula (0.062 ± 0.001) at extreme elevations of 3508 m. P. hispidula overall showed more toxitolerant nature towards abiotic stresses as compared to F. caperata. Higher photosynthetically active radiation (PAR; 1600–2350 µmol m−2 s−1), thallus hydration levels and extreme variations in air temperature (5.75–31.65 °C), ambient humidity along elevations were imperative in controlling species richness, distribution and photosynthetic quenching of lichen flora in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]