Total Density Research Articles

Biomass and Carbon Stock of Trees in a Tropical Moist Deciduous Forest of Kamrup Metropolitan District, Assam, India

The present investigation deals with the estimation of biomass and Carbon stock potential of tree species in a tropical moist deciduous forest of Kamrup Metropolitan district of Assam, India. For vegetation sampling of trees, the stratified random method was employed and biomass and Carbon stock of trees were estimated by using an allometric equation. Altogether 39 tree species representing 34 genera and 20 families were reported. A high total density and total basal cover (TBC) were reported during the investigation (1008 stem ha⁻¹ and 71.74 m² ha⁻¹ respectively). Total biomass (TB), total Carbon stock (TCS), and CO₂ equivalent were estimated to be 985.56 Mg ha⁻¹, 492.78 Mg C ha⁻¹, and 1808.50 Mg C ha⁻¹ respectively. Among the trees, Cassia fistula exhibited the highest amount of TB, TCS, and CO₂ equivalent (131.33 Mg ha⁻¹, 65.66 Mg C ha⁻¹, and 240.99 Mg C ha⁻¹ respectively). TCS displayed a positive correlation with density, TBC, and diameter of tree species. The study provides valuable information on biomass and Carbon sequestration potential of trees in the tropical moist deciduous forest, which could be of help to forest policymakers to ensure sustainable management of Carbon stock and hence promotes mitigation of global climate change.

Geoengineering Evaluation of Dammam Formation Rocks-Bahr Al-Najaf Depression-Middle of Iraq

The Dammam Formation, 250-meter-thick geological formation in the Bahr Al-Najaf Depression that is part of the Salman Platform, comprises re-crystallized limestone mixed with nummulite near the base. It was deposited in a shallow marine environment and extends from Al-Qaim to Samawa along the Euphrates River. The formation is part of the secondary Salman Zone of the main outstanding Stable Shelf. The engineering evaluation of the Dammam Formation in Bahr Al-Najaf depression was determined by ten samples which were chosen to represent the study area. The study includes both field and laboratory components. On the field side, data on the study region and samples were obtained. Physical, engineering, chemical, and mineralogy tests were carried out in laboratories. The total density ranges from 1.848 to 2.664 gm/cm3, the porosity value ranges from 5–20 %, while the water absorption of limestone rocks values 1-7.7 %. Engineering tests were performed, including uniaxial compressive strength, which ranges between 59 and 177 Mpa. The rocks of the Dammam Formation are suitable for the manufacture of Portland cement according to global standards, as supported by chemical analysis.

Dust around Massive Stars Is Agnostic to Galactic Environment: New Insights from PHAT/BEAST

Resolving the environments of massive stars is crucial for understanding their formation mechanisms and their impact on galaxy evolution. An important open question is whether massive stars found in diffuse regions outside spiral arms formed in situ or migrated there after forming in denser environments. To address this question, we use multiresolution measurements of extinction in the Andromeda galaxy (M31) to probe the interstellar medium surrounding massive stars across galactic environments. We construct a catalog of 42,107 main-sequence massive star candidates (M ≥ 8 M ⊙) using resolved stellar photometry from the Panchromatic Hubble Andromeda Treasury (PHAT) program, plus stellar and dust model fits from the Bayesian Extinction and Stellar Tool (BEAST). We quantify galactic environments by computing surrounding stellar densities of massive stars using kernel density estimation. We then compare high-resolution line-of-sight extinction estimates from the BEAST with 25 pc resolution dust maps from PHAT, measuring the total column density distribution of extinction. Our key finding is that, although the average total column density of dust increases with the density of massive stars, the average line-of-sight extinction toward massive stars remains constant across all environments. This suggests that massive stars have a uniform amount of dust in their immediate environment, regardless of their location in the galaxy. One possible explanation for these findings is that small molecular clouds are still capable of forming massive stars, even if they are not resolvable at 25 pc. These results indicate that massive stars are forming in the sparse regions of M31, as opposed to migrating there.

Revisiting the Optoelectronic Properties of Graphene: A DFT Approach

Understanding the atomic behaviour of pure graphene is crucial in manipulating its properties for achieving optoelectronics with high absorption indexes and efficiencies. However, previous research employing the DFT approach emphasised its zero-band gap nature, not its unique optical properties. Therefore, this study employed ab initio calculations to revisit the electronic, magnetic, and optical properties of pristine graphene using the WIEN2K code. The results reveal that the PBE-GGA valence and conduction bands cross at -0.7 eV. Our calculations demonstrated that the absorption coefficient of graphene has the strongest light penetration in the parallel direction. Furthermore, our results not only present the best possible propagation of light in pure graphene but also reveal that the linear relationship between the formation of the free electron carriers and the energy absorption is responsible for the high optical conductivity observed in pure graphene, as indicated by the peaks. Lastly, the metallic properties of graphene are reflected by the variation in spin up and down that appears, as evidenced by the total and partial densities of states, and the large refractive index attributed to its high electron mobility confirms its metallic nature.

A First-Principles Study of Mechanical and Electronic Properties of Cr0.5-xAl0.5TMxN Hard Coatings (TM = Ti, V, Y, Zr, Hf, and Ta).

The structural, mechanical, and electronic properties of cubic Cr0.5-xAl0.5TMxN, doped with TM (transition metal) elements (TM = Ti, V, Y, Zr, Hf, and Ta) at low concentrations (x = 0.03 and 0.06), was investigated by first-principles calculations. The results of the structural properties calculations reveal that the addition of Ti, Y, Hf, Zr, and Ta expand the volume, while V has the opposite effect. All doped compounds are thermodynamically stable, and Cr0.5-xAl0.5TMxN with TM = Ti is energetically more favorable than other doped compounds. At the same doping concentration, Cr0.5-xAl0.5VxN possesses the highest stiffness, hardness, and resistance to external forces due to its greatest mechanical properties, and Cr0.5-xAl0.5TaxN possesses the highest elastic anisotropy and the lowest Young's modulus. Substituting Cr atoms with TM atoms in a stepwise manner results in a decrease in the bulk modulus, shear modulus, Young's modulus, and theoretical hardness of Cr0.5-xAl0.5TMxN, while increasing its toughness. Based on the calculation results of the total and partial density of states of Cr0.5Al0.5N and Cr0.47Al0.5TM0.03N, all compounds exhibit metallic behavior as indicated by the finite density of states at the Fermi level. The contribution of Ti-3d, V-3d, and Ta-3d orbitals at Fermi level is significantly higher than that of other TM atoms, resulting in a more pronounced metallic character for Cr0.47Al0.5Ti0.03N, Cr0.47Al0.5V0.03N, and Cr0.47Al0.5Ta0.03N.

Toward all-dislocation-ceramics for high ionic conductivity produced by dry pressing at relatively low temperatures with and without ultrasound

Numerical simulations of the evolution of mobile and immobile dislocations in ceramics under applied pressure in dry pressing at a relatively low temperature are performed in order to study the possibility of production of all-dislocation-ceramics of solid electrolytes, which are expected to have extremely high ionic conductivity without dendrite formation because the diameter of a dislocation pipe is considerably larger than the distance between neighboring dislocations. The present numerical simulations are only for the densification process by plastic deformation of grains under high pressure under the assumption that the compaction of particles by their rearrangement is completed beforehand. By the plastic deformation, new dislocations are generated inside the grains. The required total dislocation density of about 1017 m−2 seems to be achievable under some conditions of dry pressing according to the present numerical simulations. Very short ultrasound irradiation at the beginning of the dry pressing sometimes considerably increases the dislocation density, while for other cases, it even considerably decreases the dislocation density due to enhanced annihilation of mobile dislocations by ultrasound.

Decadal soil total carbon loss in northern hinterland of Tibetan Plateau

As the largest and highest plateau in the world, ecosystems on the Tibetan Plateau (TP) imply fundamental ecological significance to the globe. Among the variety, alpine grassland ecosystem on the TP forms a critical part of the global ecosystem and its soil carbon accounts over nine tenths of ecosystem carbon. Revealing soil carbon dynamics and the underlying driving forces is vital for clarifying ecosystem carbon sequestration capacity on the TP. By selecting northern TP, the core region of the TP, this study investigates spatiotemporal dynamics of soil total carbon and the driving forces based on two phases of soil sampling data from the 2010s and the 2020s. The research findings show that soil total carbon density (STCD) in total-surface (0–30 cm) in the 2010s (8.85 ± 3.08 kg C m−2) significantly decreased to the 2020s (7.15 ± 2.90 kg C m−2), with a decreasing rate (ΔSTCD) of −0.17 ± 0.39 kg C m−2 yr−1. Moreover, in both periods, STCD exhibited a gradual increase with soil depth deepening, while ΔSTCD loss was more apparent in top-surface and mid-surface than in sub-surface. Spatially, ΔSTCD loss in alpine desert grassland was −0.41 ± 0.48 kg C m−2 yr−1, which is significantly higher than that in alpine grassland (−0.11 ± 0.31 kg C m−2 yr−1) or alpine meadow (−0.04 ± 0.28 kg C m−2 yr−1). The STCD in 2010s explained >30 % of variances in ΔSTCD among the set of covariates. Moreover, rising temperature aggravates ΔSTCD loss in alpine desert grassland, while enhanced precipitation alleviates ΔSTCD loss in alpine meadow. This study sheds light on the influences of climate and background carbon on soil total carbon loss, which can be benchmark for predicting carbon dynamics under future climate change scenarios.

Properties of Electrode Materials and Electrolytes in Supercapacitor Technology

This thorough review article offers a cutting-edge analysis of the essential characteristics and developments in electrode materials and electrolytes for supercapacitor technology. We start by going over the basics of supercapacitors and how important characterization methods like electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, galvanostatic charge-discharge, and cyclic voltammetry work. Specific capacitance, energy, and power densities, three essential characteristics that are crucial for assessing supercapacitor performance, are carefully covered in this work. We also analyze the many kinds of capacitors, including hybrid supercapacitors, electric double-layer capacitors, pseudocapacitors, and supercapacitors, and explain their working principles and material-specific characteristics. The study highlights the importance of metal oxides and hydroxides, carbon-based materials, conductive polymers, and novel and hybrid materials such as MXenes and metal-organic frameworks. The special qualities of each material class, such as large surface area, electrical conductivity, and particular redox properties, are highlighted in this section. These qualities are crucial for maximizing the performance of supercapacitors. The topic of electrode materials is discussed in detail, including their benefits and the difficulties and chances to improve energy storage, stability, and affordability. Parallel to this, the study thoroughly examines various electrolyte kinds, a sometimes overlooked yet essential part of supercapacitor technology. Discussed include ionic conductivity, operating voltage windows, safety profiles, and electrochemical stability of aqueous, organic, ionic liquid, gel, and solid-state electrolytes. This paper highlights the relationship between supercapacitor performance and electrolyte type, explaining how electrolyte selection affects total energy density, power density, and operational longevity. This review article covers supercapacitor technology in detail and with a wide scope and is an invaluable resource. It is a fundamental work for scholars and practitioners new to the area. It offers sophisticated insights that may encourage creativity and application-specific advancement in this quickly changing field. The study presents a comprehensive analysis of the present and future developments in supercapacitor materials and technology, establishing it as a vital resource in the continuous search for cutting-edge energy storage solutions.

Ensemble Ground State of a Many-Electron System with Fractional Electron Number and Spin: Piecewise-Linearity and Flat-Plane Condition Generalized.

Description of many-electron systems with a fractional electron number (Ntot) and fractional spin (Mtot) is of great importance in physical chemistry, solid-state physics, and materials science. In this Letter, we provide an exact description of the zero-temperature ensemble ground state of a general, finite, many-electron system and characterize the dependence of the energy and the spin-densities on both Ntot and Mtot, when the total spin is at its equilibrium value. We generalize the piecewise-linearity principle and the flat-plane condition and determine which pure states contribute to the ground-state ensemble. We find a new derivative discontinuity, which manifests for spin variation at a constant Ntot, as a jump in the Kohn-Sham potential. We identify a previously unknown degeneracy of the ground state, such that the total energy and density are unique, but the spin-densities are not. Our findings serve as a basis for development of advanced approximations in density functional theory and other many-electron methods.

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Bone and Muscle Quality in Prolactinoma: A Pilot Study

Objective: Hyperprolactinemia has negative impacts on metabolism and musculoskeletal health. In this study, individuals with active prolactinoma were evaluated for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and musculoskeletal health, which are underemphasized in the literature.Methods: Twelve active prolactinoma patients and twelve healthy controls matched by age, gender, and BMI were included. Magnetic resonance imaging-proton density fat fraction (MRI-PDFF) was used to evaluate hepatic steatosis and magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) to evaluate liver stiffness measurement (LSM). Abdominal muscle mass, and vertebral MRI-PDFF was also evaluated with MRI. Body compositions were evaluated by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). The skeletal muscle quality (SMQ) was classified as normal, low and weak by using “handgrip strength/appendicular skeletal muscle mass (HGS/ASM)” ratio based on the cut-off values previously stated in the literature.Results: Prolactin, HbA1c and CRP levels were higher in prolactinoma patients (p<0.001, p=0.033 and p=0.035, respectively). The median MRI-PDFF and MRE-LSM were 3.0% (2.01-15.20) and 2.22 kPa (2.0-2.5) in the prolactinoma group and 2.5% (1.65-10.00) and 2.19 kPa (1.92-2.54) in the control group, respectively and similiar between groups. In prolactinoma patients, liver MRI-PDFF showed a positive and strong correlation with the duration of disease and traditional risk factors for NAFLD. Total, vertebral and pelvic bone mineral density was similar between groups, while vertebral MRI-PDFF tended to be higher in prolactinoma patients (p=0.075). Muscle mass and strength parameters were similar between groups, but HGS/ASM tended to be higher in prolactinoma patients (p=0.057). Muscle mass was low in 33.3% of prolactinoma patients and 66.6 of controls. According to SMQ, all prolactinoma patients had normal SMQ, whereas 66.6% of the controls had normal SMQ.Conclusion: Prolactinoma patients demonstrated similar liver MRI-PDFF and MRE-LSM to controls despite their impaired metabolic profile and lower gonadal hormone levels. Hyperprolactinemia may improve muscle quality in prolactinoma patients despite hypogonadism.

First-principles calculation of lattice distortion, electronic structure, and bonding properties of GeTe-based and PbSe-based high-entropy chalcogenides

The massive amount of wasted heat energy from industry has pushed the development of thermoelectric (TE) materials that directly convert heat into electricity to a new level of concern. Recently, multicomponent alloys such as GeTe-based and PbSe-based high-entropy (HE) chalcogenides have attracted a great deal of attention due to their potential application as TE materials. The nature of the interatomic bonding, lattice distortion (LD), and the electronic structure in this class of materials is not fully understood. Herein, we report a comprehensive computational investigation of nine GeTe-based HE alloys with eight metallic elements (Ag, Pb, Sb, Bi, Cu, Cd, Mn, and Sn) with large supercells of 1080 atoms each; seven PbSe-based HE solid solutions: Pb0.99−ySb0.012SnySe1−2xTexSx (x = 0.1, 0.2, 0.25, 0.3, 0.35, 0.4, 0.45, with y = 0) with supercells of 1000 atoms each; and five Pb0.99−ySb0.012SnySe1−2xTexSx (y = 0.05, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, 0.25 with x = 0.25) solid solutions with supercells of 1000 atoms each. All these HE models are theoretically investigated for the first time. The electronic structure, interatomic bonding, charge transfer, and lattice distortion (LD) are investigated by first-principles calculations based on density functional theory. Multicomponent HE alloys can cause a significant LD, which affects their mechanical, thermal, and TE properties. The calculations for the GeTe-based HE chalcogenides showed that they are semiconductors with a narrow bandgap, except for m8, which has a semi-metallic characteristic, and this makes them good candidates for TE applications. For most of these models, the Fermi level shifts upward and locates deeply in the conduction bands, resulting in the enhancement of the electrical conductivity (σ). The bonding properties showed that most bonds in m5 are more dispersed, indicating highest LD and lower lattice thermal conductivity. For PbSe-based HE solid solutions, the LD calculations showed that the models Pb0.99Sb0.012Se0.5Te0.25S0.25 and Pb0.89Sb0.012Sn0.1Se0.5Te0.25S0.25 have the higher LD, and thus a lower lattice thermal conductivity. Such investigations are in high demand since it enables us to design new HE chalcogenides for TE applications. We use the novel concept of total bond order density as a single quantum mechanical metric to characterize the internal cohesion of these HE alloys and correlate with calculated properties, especially the mechanical properties. This work provides a solid database for HE chalcogenides and a road map for many potential applications. Moreover, the computational procedure we developed can be used to design new HE chalcogenides for specific TE applications.

Tea intake and total body bone mineral density of all ages: a Mendelian randomization analysis.

There is increasing evidence indicating that tea intake affects bone mineral density levels; however, the causality between tea intake and bone mineral density is inconclusive. This study aimed to assess the causal relationship between tea intake and total body bone mineral density (TB-BMD) through two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. We conducted a two-sample MR approach to estimate the potential causal effects of tea intake on TB-BMD at all ages in a European population. The analyses were performed using summary statistics obtained for single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), identified from a genome-wide association meta-analysis of tea intake (N = up to 447,485 individuals) and from the GEnetic Factors for OSteoporosis (GEFOS) Consortium's genome-wide association meta-analysis (N = up to 56,284 individuals), with baseline data collected in 2018 and populations derived from the European ancestry. The association between each SNP and TB-BMD was weighted by its association with tea intake, and estimates were combined mainly using an inverse-variance weighted meta-analysis. In addition, we explored the potential causal effects between green tea intake, herbal tea intake, and TB-BMD. The MR analysis revealed that genetically determined tea intake exerts a causal impact on TB-BMD, with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.204 (95% CI: 1.062-1.366, p = 0.004), especially in the age group of 45-60 years (OR = 1.360, 95% CI: 1.088-1.700, p = 0.007). No horizontal pleiotropy and heterogeneity were observed. However, there was no causal effect of tea intake on TB-BMD in the age groups of 0-15, 15-30, 30-45, and over 60 years. In the subgroup analysis, when green tea intake was regarded as the exposure factor, no salient associations were found between green tea consumption and TB-BMD (IVW p = 0.368). Similarly, there was also no causal association between herbal tea intake and TB-BMD (IVW p = 0.264). The findings of this study support the evidence that tea consumption increases bone density and reduces the risk of osteoporosis in the age group of 45-60 years within the European population.

Microstructure and high-temperature tribological properties of Ti–6Al–4V alloy treated by laser shock peening

The high-temperature wear resistance plays an important role for Ti–6Al–4V alloy components working in extreme environments, especially vital for avoiding unexpected failure. However, the reasonable method of surface modification should meet the requirement of improving in wear resistance and less decreasing in mechanical properties simultaneously, which brings a great challenge. In the present research, the laser shock peening (LSP) technique was applied to optimize the superficial layer of Ti–6Al–4V alloy by different processing. The microstructure, elastic modulus, nano-hardness and high-temperature tribology properties of the LSP processed Ti–6Al–4V were investigated to reveal the improving effect. The results demonstrate the LSP processing transforms the dual-size grain structure to relative homogeneous grain structure and forms the gradient nano-structure in superficial layer. With the increasing of LSP processing numbers, the density of geometrically necessary dislocation (GND) decreases obviously, but the density of statistically stored dislocation (SSD) rises significantly, which promotes the increase of total dislocation density compared with the as-received (AR) alloy. Due to the crystal evolution, the Ti–6Al–4V alloy with three-times LSP processing has the lowest wear rate which is less than half of the as-received state. The observations on worn surface and adjacent cross-sectional microstructure reveal the severe scratching and many inner microcracks in the AR sample but the slight scraping and few inner microcracks in the three-times LSP processed sample. Considering the elevated nano-hardness and elastic modulus, the improved tribological properties should be mainly attributed to the optimized microstructure and dislocation state by LSP processing. The present research provides a more reasonable method to improve the high-temperature wear properties of Ti–6Al–4V alloy.

Association between triglyceride glucose index and total bone mineral density: a cross-sectional study from NHANES 2011–2018

The Homeostatic Model Assessment for Triglyceride Glucose Index (TyG) and its related indices, including triglyceride glucose-waist circumference (TyG-WC), triglyceride glucose-waist-to-height ratio (TyG-WHtR) and triglyceride glucose-body mass index (TyG-BMI), has emerged as a practical tool for assessing insulin resistance in metabolic disorders. However, limited studies have explored the connection between TyG, TyG-related indices and osteoporosis. This population-based study, utilizing data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011–2018, involved 5456 participants. Through weighted multivariate linear regression and smoothed curve fitting, a significant positive correlation was found between TyG, TyG-related indices and total bone mineral density (BMD) after adjusting for covariates [β = 0.0124, 95% CI (0.0006, 0.0242), P = 0.0390; β = 0.0004, 95% CI (0.0003, 0.0004), P < 0.0001; β = 0.0116, 95% CI (0.0076, 0.0156), P < 0.0001; β = 0.0001, 95% CI (0.0001, 0.0001), P < 0.0001]. In subgroup analysis, race stratification significantly affected the relationship between TyG and total BMD. Additionally, gender and race were both significant for TyG-related indices. Non-linear relationships and threshold effects with inflection points at 9.106, 193.9265, 4.065, and 667.5304 (TyG, TyG-BMI, TyG-WHtR, TyG-WC) were identified. Saturation phenomena were observed between TyG-BMI, TyG-WC and total BMD with saturation thresholds at 314.177 and 1022.0428. These findings contributed to understanding the association between TyG, TyG-related indices and total BMD, offering insights for osteoporosis prevention and treatment.

Effects of full-thickness wedge resection on ocular surface and in vivo confocal microscopy findings in floppy eyelid syndrome patients.

To evaluate the effect of full-thickness wedge resection (FTWR) on ocular surface and in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) findings in patients with floppy eyelid syndrome (FES). The study included two groups: a surgical treatment (ST) group (26 eyes) consisting of patients who underwent FTWR surgery, and a conservative treatment (CT) group (30 eyes). Pre-treatment and post-treatment ocular surface disease index (OSDI), tear break-up time (TBUT), corneal fluorescein staining (CFS), IVCM findings along with the body mass index (BMI), FES grade, the presence and the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) were recorded and compared between the groups. The groups were comparable in terms of BMI, FES grade, and OSAS data. After six months, TBUT in the ST group significantly increased to 12.92 ± 1.15, compared to 8.10 ± 1.60 in the CT group (p = 0.000). The CFS and OSDI scores were significantly lower in the ST group (0.15 ± 0.37, 18.0 ± 8.3, respectively) compared to the CT group (0.90 ± 0.61, 27.3 ± 9.3, respectively) (p = 0.000). IVCM analysis revealed a significant decrease in dendritic cell count (ST: 22.0 ± 12.4, CT: 39.5 ± 15.1, p = 0.000) and nerve tortuosity (ST: 1.38 ± 0.64, CT: 2.00 ± 0.59, p = 0.000), with a significant increase in total nerve density (ST: 4.27 ± 0.83, CT: 3.57 ± 0.90, p = 0.002) in the ST group compared to the CT group after six months. In our retrospective cohort, FTWR surgery was shown to be an effective and reliable surgical treatment for FES, improving both ocular surface and IVCM findings. Patients with moderate to severe stages of FES not responding to conservative treatment may benefit from eyelid tightening.

Tuning the thermoelectric and optoelectronic attributes of lead-free novel fluoroperovskites Cs2BB'F6 (B = Rb, In, Na and B'=Ir, As, Rh): A first-principles investigation

Cesium-based double perovskite materials have generated significant interest because of their fascinating prospects in various optoelectronic and thermoelectric uses. In this manuscript, the physical characteristics of Cs2BB'F6 (B = Rb, In, Na and B' = Ir, As, Rh) are investigated in detail. Volume optimization curves, negative formation energies, tolerance factor and octahedral tilting are used to evaluate the structural stability. Pugh's ratio, Cauchy pressure and Poisson's ratio endorses the ductile character of all studied perovskites. Debye temperature shows that Cs2NaRhF6 is a stiffer material in comparison to Cs2InAsF6 and Cs2RbIrF6. The electronic bandgap and total density of states of Cs2InAsF6, Cs2RbIrF6, and Cs2NaRhF6 reveal a direct band gap of 2.76 eV, 3.78 eV and 3.6 eV, respectively. Furthermore, Kramer-Kronig equations are used to examine the interaction of studied double perovskites with electromagnetic radiation. The optical parameters reveal the absorption in UV region, which show their potential for laser and UV-shields applications. In Addition, thermoelectric characteristics are calculated using the semi-classical Boltzmann theory, extending the investigation up to 800 K. The large ZT value of 0.92 is achieved for Cs2RbIrF6 at 800K, while Cs2InAsF6 and Cs2NaRhF6 exhibit 0.76 and 0.82 at 800K, respectively. Their high ZT values and electrical conductivity enhance their suitability for use in renewable energy devices.

Optimization of Perovskite/Colloidal Quantum Dot Monolithic Tandem Solar Cell to Enhance Device Performance via Solar Cell Capacitance Simulator 1D

Tandem solar cells (TSCs) based on metal halide perovskites offer a route to increase power conversion efficiency (PCE). However, there are limited options for narrow‐bandgap bottom subcells. Colloidal quantum dots‐based solar cells are found attractive for this role. Herein, a cost‐effective two‐terminal (2T) monolithic TSC structure consisting of wide‐bandgap all‐inorganic perovskite top subcell and narrow‐bandgap chalcogenide PbS quantum dots bottom subcell is proposed. For optimization of the PCE of the tandem structure, standalone and tandem analysis are done in terms of variation of absorber layer thickness, total defect density, interfacial defect density, back metal contact, current density voltage (J–V) curves, external quantum efficiency, current matching, and tandem photovoltaic parameters. Optimized TSCs designed with the 530 nm/450 nm‐thick absorber layers of top/bottom sub cells result in of 19.28 mA cm−2, of 1.89 V, and PCE of 27.32%. It is found that performance of the device is very sensitive to the total defect density of the bottom subcell. Therefore, high PCE can be obtained by controlling the total defect density of the bottom subcell. This work motivates the experimental realization of low‐cost, high‐efficiency TSCs for further research.

Effects of water-nitrogen coupling on water and salt environment and root distribution in Suaeda salsa.

Understanding the spatial distribution of crop roots is crucial for effectively managing crop water and fertilizer. We investigate the effects of water-nitrogen coupling on the water-salt environment and root distribution in the root zone of S. salsa. Three irrigation levels were established, calculated according to 0.35 (W1), 0.50 (W2), and 0.65 (W3) of local ET0. The three nitrogen levels were 150 (N1), 250 (N2), and 350 (N3) kg·hm-2 in a complete combination design. With the augmentation of irrigation water and nitrogen application, the total root weight density of the root system of Suaeda salsa increased from 17.18×10-3 g·cm-3 to 27.91×10-3 g·cm-3. The distribution of soil water suction significantly influences the root distribution of Suaeda salsa in saline soil, causing a transition from a narrow deep type to a wide shallow type. Under the W2 irrigation level, soil water suction ranges from 1485.60 to 1726.59 KPa, which can provide water for S. salsa.it becomes feasible to attain the necessary water and salt environment for the growth and development of S. salsa, resulting in the attainment of maximum biomass, ash content, and salt uptake. No significant differences in the biomass, ash content, and salt uptake of S. salsa was noted between N2 and N3 nitrogen application levels (p > 0.05).The optimal irrigation volume and nitrogen application level were 0.50 ET0 and 250 kg·hm-2, respectively. The results of this study provide a scientific basis for the large-scale planting of S. salsa in extreme arid areas to improve and utilize saline wastelands.

Targeting the Role of PRME in Regulating Bone Remodelling During Postmenopausal Osteoporosis.

Kariavattom Campus Postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMO) is an old age disorder associated with estrogen deficiency, which reduces bone mass and makes bones more prone to fracture. The present study was proposed to evaluate the invivo osteogenic efficiency of Pterospermum rubiginosum methanolic bark extract (PRME) in the PMO model. Molecular docking studies on transcription factor NFATC1 showed excellent interactions with phytochemical ligands with the lowest binding energies. Female Sprague Dawley (SD) rats (n=24) were divided into four groups, (n=6 each) sham control (Group I) and osteoporotic control (Group II) groups treated with saline, PRME (50 mg/kg/day) and alendronate (10 mg/kg/day) treated with Group III and Group IV (n=6) respectively. The serum tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b and cathepsin-K also exhibited a significant rise after PRME treatment 12.33±2.30 mU/ml and 427.68±46.97 pg/ml, respectively. DEXA results exhibited a remarkable increase in total bone mineral content and density values in PRME-treated animals (0.175±0.002 g/cm2) and (7.95±0.23 g) when compared to osteoporotic control (0.163±0.004 g/cm2) and (6.83±0.34 g). Long-term toxicity study revealed that PRME is non-toxic, up to 100 mg/kg bodyweight for 6 months. Our findings suggest PRME protects osteoporotic SD rats from PMO damage resulting from estrogen deficiency by regulating bone remodelling markers and upregulating BMD indices.

Ferrocenyl carborane conjugates with allyl functionalities: Synthesis and properties

A series of novel hybride ferrocene carborane derivatives containing allyl functionalities at the carborane carbon atoms were firstly synthesized in a good yield providing their potential applications in various fields of material science. Synthesized compounds were characterized using various spectroscopic techniques like IR, ESI-MS, 1H and 11B NMR data. Some compounds were investigated by cyclic voltammetry. The total charge density around each atom was calculated for 1-allyl-9-ferrocenylmethyl-m-carborane. Particular attention has been focused on the analysis of 1H NMR spectra of diallyl-substituted ferrocene carboranes which made it possible to discover the migration of the double bond in allyl substituent and the formation along with diallyl derivative of the corresponding allylpropenyl isomer compounds.