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Stabilization of Soil of Hilly Region Using Fly Ash with Various Additives
No full textIn Civil Engineering construction activities, the soil is stabilized using stabilizers such as stone dust, rice husk ash, fly ash, lime, cockle shell, sisal fiber, coir fiber, cement, etc. In this study, the Well-Graded Silty Sand (SW-SM) soil is stabilized with Fly Ash (FA), Fly Ash with Cement (FAC) combinations, and Fly Ash with Coir Fiber (FACF) combinations. A series of laboratory tests, namely Sieve analysis, Atterberg Limits test, Pycnometer test, Standard Proctor tests, and soaked California Bearing Ratio (CBRs), was conducted on natural soil. The various percentages of Fly Ash (5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%), Cement (2%, 4%, 6%, and 8%), and Coir Fiber (0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, and 2%) by dry weight of soil were used. The CBR test investigated the effectiveness of these additives on soil. The maximum value of CBRs was 25.683% for Soil+10% Fly Ash, 85.376% for Soil+20% Fly Ash+8% Cement, and 18.067% for Soil+5% Fly Ash+0.5% Coir Fiber. The variation of CBRs of soil while treated with FAC combinations reveals that CBRs increase continuously with increments in the percentage of FAC content. The study shows the effective utilization of waste products to stabilize soil
Effect of Heat stress (Elevated Temperature) in Rice: A Critical Review
No full textIn the 20th century, global warming led to a 0.5 0C increase in air temperature; projections for the 21st century estimate a rise of 1.5–4.5 0C and higher temperatures are expected to become more common in the future. A rise in temperature above 33 °C has resulted in decreased rice production in various regions of the world. Heat stress affect the rice growth and development at different stages of crop growth. Heat Stress (HS) has a considerable negative effect on the potential for seed germination, leading to reduced seed viability and ineffective germination. During the tillering phase, high temperatures can lead to a reduction in both tiller number and biomass. Study reported that the optimum temperature for tillering is 25 °C during the day and 20°C at night. Tillers increased with increasing temperature in the range of 15 °C to 33 °C. Study found that temperatures above 33 °C damaged tillering. High temperatures can lead to reduced fertility in rice spikelets. This reduction is primarily due to impaired pollen sterility, issues with anther dehiscence, and failed stigma germination. High temperatures lead to spikelet infertility by decreasing pollen viability, restricting anther dehiscence, and preventing the germination of pollen tubes. In rice, the reproductive phase—which starts with panicle initiation and lasts until physiological grain maturity—is the most vulnerable stage to abiotic stresses. During anthesis, high temperatures significantly impede the dehiscence of anthers leads to spikelet sterility. High temperatures also adversely affect seed set and weight gaining, particularly shortly before or during anthesis. High temperatures interfere with the processes of pollen germination and tube growth by altering the balance of ions (such as Ca2þ), affecting carbohydrate metabolism. Elevated temperatures hinder spikelet differentiation, exacerbating spikelet degeneration and decreasing their overall number
Experimental Investigation on the Use of Bagasse Ash as a Partial Cement and Fine Aggregate Replacement in Concrete
No full textDue to the use of natural sand and Portland cement, the production of concrete becomes costly and detrimental to the environment. The byproduct of the agro-industrial industry, sugarcane bagasse ash (BA), has been identified as a viable substitute due to its abundance and pozzolanic nature. This research investigates the pozzolanic effect of bagasse ash as a partial replacement of both cement (0–30%) and fine aggregate (0–100%) on the compressive strength of concrete. The experimental program developed five mixtures comprising a control and four with the varying dual replacement levels. Change of compressive strength was recorded during a 7 and 28-day cycle, and the specimens were in the shape of regular cylinders. The results indicated a general decrease in strength with increasing BA replacement. The highest strength among BA mixes was achieved by the mix with 30% cement and 10% sand replacement, yet it represented a 35.2% reduction from the control. The strength reduction is attributed to the dilution of cementitious materials and insufficient pozzolanic activity from the BA. The optimal dual replacement level identified was 30% for cement and 10% for fine aggregate. Despite the compressive strength reductions, utilizing BA aligns with broader environmental benefits, reducing waste, conserving natural resources, and lowering carbon emissions, motivating its application in non-structural contexts
Effect of Alkaline Earth Metal Doping on Photocatalytic Behaviour of Lanthanum Manganite Perovskite Nanoparticles for Degradation of Organic Pollutants
No full textLanthanum manganite doped with calcium,barium and strontium having perovskite structures (LCMO, LBMO and LSMO) have been prepared through sol-gel technique and characterized by XRD, FTIR, ICP-AES, SEM, EDX and UV-VIS spectroscopy. The XRD data showed the formation of single crystalline phases. SEM images showed that the micro sized structure with average diameter of 1-5 µm. The ICP-AES and EDX data confirmed the formation of required stoichiometric La1-xMxMnO3 Oxide. Metal doping resulted in reduction of band gap energy (Eg) of the Lanthanum Manganite whose catalytic performance towards photodegradation of Methylene Blue (MB) dye was evaluated using visible light of constant dose for several hours at pH value 4. The results showed highest photocatalytic efficiency 68.52 % in case of LCMO in 100 min illumination time. For LBMO and LSMO the values were 47.92 and 54.87% respectively. But the pseudo first order rate constant ‘k’followed the reverse order with highest value in case of LBMO. The linear increase in rate of photodegradation was found to be a function of irradiation time. These findings showed convincingly that La0.7M0.3MnO3[M= Ca, Ba, Sr], possessed great promise for visible light driven photodegadation of MB dye. The reproducibility of the sample for degradation was also studied
Modeling Molecular Interactions with Hyper-Networks and Super-Hyper-networks
No full textGraph theory examines the structure of networks by treating entities as vertices and the connections between them as edges. A Hyper-Graph enhances this framework by permitting a single Hyper-edge to link multiple vertices at once. Building on that idea, a Super-Hyper-Graph introduces layers of recursively nested powersets, which create hierarchical and self-referential relationships among its Hyper-edges. These extended models—often called Hyper-Networks and Super-Hyper-networks—capture complex, higher-order associations that ordinary graphs cannot. Such constructions find important applications in the life sciences. For example, a Molecular Interaction Network represents biochemical systems by assigning each molecule to a node and using edges to denote pairwise interactions or chemical reactions, thereby facilitating the analysis of intricate molecular pathways.
In this paper, we extend the concept of Molecular Interaction Networks by proposing two new frameworks: the Molecular Interaction Hyper-network and the Molecular Interaction Super-Hyper-network, both grounded in the structures of Hyper-Networks and Super-Hyper-networks. These frameworks offer new insights into multi-scale biochemical systems, with potential applications in drug target identification and pathway analysis. We hope that future research will further explore the mathematical, biological, and computational aspects of the Molecular Interaction Hyper-network and the Molecular Interaction Super-Hyper-network
Biodiversity of Aquatic Insects in Kalsa River (Chanfi) of Nainital District, Uttarakhand, India
No full textAquatic insects are the most species-rich group that inhabit freshwaters. They are connected to water by at least one life stage, usually that of the larvae, and some spend their entire life in freshwater habitats. The majority of aquatic insects’ larvae develop in water; while adults emerge and spend their lives primarily in terrestrial environments where they mate, disperse and in some cases feed. Aquatic insects are important components of stream food webs and are greatly impacted by anthropogenic disturbances, including urbanization. A study was conducted in Kalsa River, Nainital District to understand the diversity of insects in the area by using sweep-net method and analysis by respected equation and indexes. The study recorded 259 numbers of individuals which divided into 4 orders, namely Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera, Coleoptera, Diptera, and Orthoptera. Trichoptera, Odonata and Hemiptera was dominant order, were as Diptera is least dominant among all the reported orders. The Shannon-Wiener diversity index was highest in site, at (H’=1.79). Evenness was highest at (E=0.38), and the Margalef’s Richness Index was (d=1.50). Overall, this study offers a novel method for predicting aquatic insect distribution with high geographic resolution, which aids in the protection of river diversity in the face of anthropogenic and climatic change also this study aimed to identify aquatic insects’ species in and provide baseline information for future research
Formulation and Evaluation of Hydroethanolic and Chloroform Extracts of Zanthoxyllum oxyphyllum for Analgesic and Wound Healing Activities
No full textZanthoxylum oxyphyllum under the family Rutaceae, commonly known as Mezenga in Assam grow in tropical and temperate regions. Hydroethanolic and chloroform extracts of leaves of the plant were screened for analgesic activity and wound healing property by hot plate test and excision, incision wound model. The acute toxicity study revealed that both the plant extracts were non-toxic and safe for oral dosing. Both the extracts were non-sensitizing to rabbit skin and caused very little or no irritation in intact and damaged skin rabbits treated with single and multiple doses. Irritation scores did not differ significantly between the control and treatment groups, according to the acute dermal toxicity study. It was observed that the hydroethanolic extract of the selected plant possess significant analgesic effect against thermal stimuli and inhibits pain induced by chemically stimuli. It was also showed that hydroethanolic extract was found to be most active and was responsible for the significant and dose-dependent wound healing property comparable with the standard extract
Evaluating the Socio-Economic Impact of Wildlife Hunting on the Livelihood of the Ethnic Garo Tribe in Madhupur, Bangladesh
No full textBiodiversity is essential for maintaining ecosystem balance, providing food, medicine, and economic benefits, and supporting climate regulation. However, the destruction of flora and fauna harms the natural ecosystem, which impacts the country both economically and culturally. This study aims to find out the impacts of wildlife hunting on the livelihoods of the Garo Tribe, drawing on socio-economic and ecological perspectives. A total of 150 Garo people voluntarily participated in a well-structured questionnaire from different villages surrounding the Madhupur National Forest (MNF), where the majority (51.33%) lived on a low income. Therefore, they indirectly depend on forests for food and fuel. This study found 79 species of 19 orders under 55 families of Amphibians (6.33%), Reptiles (12.66%), Aves (63.29%), and Mammals (17.72%) which covered 8.58% of the total wildlife populations in Bangladesh. Historically, wildlife hunting has served as a fundamental means of food security and cultural expression for the Garo; however, unsustainable hunting practices have led to a decline in wildlife populations. As a result, 17 species of under 15 families of Mammals, Aves, and Reptiles were found to be regionally extinct in MNF. Threats to the biodiversity of the MNF highlight the importance of local conservation efforts. Understanding the consequences, the Garo people are now focusing on alternative livelihood strategies that mitigate the environmental impact. Strengthening partnerships between governments, NGOs, and indigenous communities can co-develop conservation policies that tackle wildlife hunting\u27s root causes while promoting socio-economic resilience and cultural preservation
Adaptation and Yield Performance of Improved Linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) Varieties under Rainfed Conditions in Golohajo, Gursum District, Fafan Zone, Somali Region, Ethiopia
No full textLinseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) is a valuable oilseed crop widely grown across temperate and subtropical regions for its nutritional, industrial, and economic importance. Despite its potential, linseed remains underutilized and under-researched in Ethiopia’s Somali Region, where agro-ecological conditions and rainfed farming systems prevail. To address this gap, a field experiment was conducted during the 2023 main cropping season in the Fafan Zone to assess the adaptability and yield performance of five improved linseed varieties Kuma, Furtu, Walin, Yaadamo, and Bekoju-14, under rainfed conditions. The study employed a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Key agronomic parameters, including days to flowering and maturity, plant height, number of capsules per plant, 1000-seed weight, and grain yield, were recorded and analyzed using Gen-Stat software (version 18.2).
The results indicated statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) among the varieties for all traits measured, except for plant height. Among the tested varieties, Kuma exhibited the highest performance, recording a grain yield of 2135 kg/ha, the highest number of capsules per plant (54), and the heaviest 1000-seed weight (12.0 g). In contrast, Yaadamo consistently showed the lowest values across most parameters, indicating poor adaptation to the local conditions. The superior performance of Kuma suggests its suitability for cultivation in the rainfed areas of the Fafan Zone. Based on these findings, Kuma is recommended for wider dissemination and production in the region to enhance oilseed crop productivity and diversify local agricultural systems. However, further on-farm and participatory variety selection trials are advised to validate its performance across different microenvironments and to encourage farmer adoption
A Scoping Review on Mathematical Modelling Techniques Used in Non-communicable Disease (NCD) Research
No full textAims: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) now account for almost three-quarters of global mortality and impose an escalating burden on health systems. Their initiation and progression arise from interdependent mechanisms that arise from various angles. Mathematical and computational modelling affords an integrative framework for unifying evidence across these levels, therefore we aimed to synthesize how deterministic, stochastic, Markov, agent-based and related approaches, have been applied to NCD research, and to identify current strengths, gaps and future priorities.
Study Design: Scoping review conducted in accordance with PRISMA-ScR guidelines.
Place and Duration of Study: Electronic searches of PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and Google Scholar were performed remotely for articles published between 2004 and 2024.
Methodology: Titles and abstracts were screened against predefined inclusion criteria; full texts were assessed independently by two reviewers, with disagreements resolved by consensus. Eligible studies were charted and synthesised narratively with attention to modelling class, disease domain, data sources and analytic purpose.
Results: Deterministic ordinary- and partial-differential-equation systems dominated mechanistic work, illuminating cellular and organ-level processes in myocardial infarction, tumour growth and glycaemic regulation. Stochastic and agent-based models captured intrinsic noise and population heterogeneity, clarifying clonal evolution in cancer, β-cell attrition in diabetes and ventilation defects in chronic lung disease. Markov and microsimulation frameworks traced long-term disease trajectories and underpinned most health-economic evaluations, typically wrapped in Monte Carlo procedures for probabilistic sensitivity analysis. Machine-learning algorithms and regression techniques unlocked high-dimensional clinical and omics data, supplying parameter estimates, risk scores and fast emulators that augment mechanistic cores. Across methods we observed two persistent gaps: (i) fragmented, non-interoperable datasets that hinder cross-disease learning, and (ii) limited incorporation of equity metrics when projecting intervention benefits.
Conclusion: Integrated modelling provides a powerful route to deeper biological insight, more accurate burden projections and rigorous appraisal of interventions across NCDs. Nevertheless, there is an urgent need for harmonised, open-access longitudinal data pipelines, hybrid multiscale architectures that blend mechanistic transparency with machine-learning speed, statistically principled calibration, and equity-centred reporting so that next-generation models inform policies that are not only effective but also fair