Jai Narain Vyas University (JNVU, formerly known as University of Jodhpur) is an educational institution in Jodhpur city in the Indian state of Rajasthan. Established in 1962, the university took over the four colleges of Jodhpur run by the state government. In 2005 the university became the first in its state to receive an "A" grade ranking by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council. The university maintained this grade for five years until a shortage of resources saw its accreditation lowered to a "B".The institution is the only residential university in the state, catering mainly to the needs of students of western Rajasthan (Marwar). Its research and development activities focus on the heritage, society, and challenges of the Thar Desert region, in which it is located. As the westernmost university of the country, research is conducted in border areas with neighbouring Pakistan.
This paper discovered the excellent and ideal-preservations of Cubiculum ornatus boring traces in Bone-bed of Fatehgarh Formation of the Barmer Basin, western Rajasthan, India. These boring traces are ellipsoidal, straight to slightly curved or arcuate ovoid-shaped hollow chambers with steep margins; occurred as concave reliefs on the surfaces of reddish-brown medium- to finegrained sandstone containing high bone-fragments of the Bariyara Section. This section is exposed near Bariyara village in the Jaisalmer district. More than 200 specimens of Cubiculum ornatus are found here in lengths ranging from 15 to 24 mm, and their width ranges from 04 to 06 mm. These Cubiculum ornatus boring traces are most likely the reproduction or pupation chambers of carrion insects like dermestid, silphid, and histerid beetles; termites; and tineid moths, which possess a robust mouth-part. Based on prior sedimentological investigation, microvertebrate faunal records, trace-fossils from the same Bariyara Section and presently recorded Cubiculum ornatus boring traces (generally shows subaerial conditions of continental settings), this study suggests a near-coastal to shoreface environments of marginal-marine depositional settings for the Cubiculum ornatus yielding strata of the Fatehgarh Formation. This is first report of Cubiculum ornatus trace-fossils in India.
The global surge in plastic production and inadequate waste management have resulted in widespread environmental contamination with microplastics (MPs). Derived either as primary particles from consumer products or as secondary fragments from the degradation of larger plastics, MPs are now omnipresent in terrestrial, aquatic, and atmospheric ecosystems. Their small size, durability, and surface reactivity enable biofilm formation, heavy metal adsorption, and easy entry into food chains, ultimately posing significant risks to human health. This review outlines the sources, types, human exposure, including dietary intake, inhalation, and dermal contact, and their toxicological impacts on multiple organ systems. MPs can cross biological barriers, including the gastrointestinal epithelium, blood-brain barrier, and placenta, leading to distribution and bioaccumulation. Mechanistically, they induce oxidative stress, inflammation, immune dysregulation, and disruption of the gut microbiota. In the digestive system, MPs impair intestinal integrity, inhibit digestive enzymes, and promote hepatic inflammation. Inhalation alters pulmonary surfactant function, triggers cytokine release, and is implicated in asthma, fibrosis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. MPs also function as endocrine-disrupting chemicals, interfering with hypothalamic–pituitary axes and reproductive hormones, thereby affecting fertility and development. Neurological consequences include oxidative stress-mediated neurotoxicity, neuroinflammation, and potential links to neurodegenerative disorders. Additionally, chronic exposure to MPs and associated additives may promote carcinogenesis by inducing DNA damage, persistent inflammation, and immune evasion. Collectively, these findings highlight MPs as emerging environmental toxins with wide-ranging adverse effects on human health. Further mechanistic studies and regulatory interventions are essential to mitigate exposure and address this growing global health threat.
Pr³⁺-doped Tellurium–Bismuth–Borate (TEBIB) glasses were synthesized using the conventional melt-quenching method to investigate their structural, optical, and chromaticity characteristics. X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed the amorphous nature of all samples, and FTIR spectra revealed the presence of TeO₄, BO₃, and BiO₆ structural groups, demonstrating that Pr³⁺ ions were homogeneously incorporated into the glass network without inducing crystallization. The optical absorption spectra exhibited well-resolved 4f–4f transitions characteristic of Pr³⁺ ions. Judd–Ofelt (J–O) analysis of the parameter sequence Ω₂ > Ω₆ > Ω₄, indicating a highly asymmetric and covalent ligand environment favorable for strong electric-dipole transitions. Photoluminescence studies revealed several visible emissions, among which a dominant blue emission band at 480 nm was attributed to the ³P₀ → ³H₄ transition. The CIE 1931 chromaticity analysis yielded coordinates (x = 0.14, y = 0.09), confirming the prominence of blue emission with color purity exceeding 80
Ferrites, a class of materials known for their exceptional electrical, magnetic, and mechanical properties, have found diverse applications, ranging from high-density data storage to biomedical technologies. Among these, magnesium ferrites have been employed as catalysts and humidity sensors, while super paramagnetic ferrites are promising candidates for cancer treatment through hyperthermia therapy. In this context, we present a study on a series of Er3+ substituted Zn0.6Mg0.4ErxFe2−xO4 (x = 0.0, 0.05, 0.10, and 0.15) ferrites, with a focus on their structural, morphological, compositional and magnetic characteristics. The synthesis of these ferrites was carried out by using co-precipitation method, and their structural properties were analyzed through X-Ray Diffractometer (XRD) analysis. The results confirmed the presence of both cubic and tetragonal spinal structures, with variations in lattice constants and crystallite sizes attributed to Er3+ substitution. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis provided insights into the morphological information about the nanoparticles, revealing spherical grains with some degree of agglomeration. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis further corroborated the presence of essential metal-oxygen bonds in the samples at different wave numbers. The Vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) analysis demonstrated that maximum saturation magnetization of 48.44 emu/g is observed for x = 0.15 content of Er in synthesized ferrites. This research sheds light on the structural, morphological, compositional and magnetic properties of Er-doped Zn0.6Mg0.4ErxFe2−xO4 ferrites, underscoring the significance of fine-tuning composition to tailor specific properties. The findings contribute to the understanding of Zn0.6Mg0.4ErxFe2−xO4 nonmaterial and their applications in fields such as catalysis, sensors, memory storage, switching devices etc.
Dye-sensitizer based photo-galvanic cells' electrolyte suffers efficiency loss due to photo-induced dye-degradation mediated by radical intermediates based chain reaction mechanism. This study employs spectral analysis to investigate how various salts/radical scavengers (like Na2SO4) mitigate this dye-degradation. Pure dye solution has been found to show absorbance of 3.0 in visible region (lambda(max) similar to 510 nm). Other constituents (i.e., other than dye) of electrolyte has been found to decrease absorbance. The electrolytic solution (without scavenger/salts) shows lower absorbance at similar to 518 nm, with absorbance decreasing to zero and becoming negative beyond similar to 630 nm. In present research, Na2SO4 has been explored with anticipation of playing most effective role in quenching the radical intermediates leading to subsequent inhibition of dye-degradation. Increasing Na2SO4 salt in SPADNS dye-based electrolyte has been found to decrease photo-galvanic cell's electrical output, i.e., the power similar to 5119.4 mu W (half-change time, t(1/2), 6 min) obtained in absence of Na2SO4 salt dropped to similar to 3978.24 mu W (t(1/2), 4 min) and similar to 3362.24 mu W (t(1/2), 4 min) in presence of 0.1 gm Na2SO4 salt and 0.3 g Na2SO4 salt, respectively. This suggests that increasing scavenger amount is unfavorable for photo-galvanic power. Contrary to expectations, the Na2SO4 salt decreased cell's electrical output. In addition to quenching of radicals detrimental to dye species, the scavenger is also likely to destroy the photo-galvanically useful electro-active energy rich dye radical species, leading to lower efficiency. Therefore, using scavengers to ensure dye stability may not be suitable for photo-galvanic systems under studied experimental conditions.
