North Bengal University

Heparin (Hep) is frequently used to prevent and treat clotting because it strongly inhibits the coagulation process. Excessive dosing can cause severe bleeding; hence, precise monitoring of Hep levels is crucial. In the present report, we have developed a phenanthroimidazolate-based naphthalene pendant ionic liquid (IL), trihexyltetradecylphosphonium 2-(naphthalen-1-yl)-1H-phenanthro[9,10-d]imidazolate BNPD, along with its nanomaterial, nBNPD. The neat BNPD is used as a fluorescent ink, demonstrating excellent performance as a secure writing medium. The nBNPD system served as a highly selective fluorescent nanomaterial for detecting Hep with detection limits in the nanomolar range. When Hep is introduced to a solution of water-suspended nBNPD, a noticeable change in fluorescence occurs, shifting from green to blue, which is visible to the naked eye under a 365 nm UV lamp. We have introduced a paper-strip test kit and a smartphone-based detection technique for onsite Hep detection. We have also evaluated the practical utility of the nBNPD probe in BSA and HSA solutions, demonstrating that the developed sensor enables fast, accurate, and sensitive detection of Hep with clear potential to improve targeted environmental applications and medical diagnostics.

We present a broadband spectral-timing analysis of the black hole X-ray binary GS 1354 - 64 using five NuSTAR observations obtained during its 2026 outburst, together with long-term soft X-ray monitoring from MAXI. The rms-normalized NuSTAR cospectra reveal persistent type-C low-frequency quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) in all observations, with centroid frequencies evolving from similar to 1.4 to similar to 6.1 Hz. The QPO quality factor varies non-monotonically and reaches its maximum value at an intermediate frequency, indicating that the coherence of the oscillation is governed more by the changing inner accretion-flow geometry than by the total flux alone. The 3-79 keV spectra are well described by the model constant*TBabs*(diskbb + cutoffpl + relxill), with the absorption column fixed at the Galactic value and the photon index and cutoff energy of the reflection component tied to the direct continuum. The source shows clear spectral softening, with the photon index increasing from Gamma similar to 1.74 to similar to 2.53, while the inner disc temperature rises from similar to 0.38 keV in the first two observations to similar to 0.84-1.16 keV in the later observations. The cutoff power-law component dominates the broadband 0.01-100 keV flux throughout the outburst, whereas the reflection flux remains comparatively stable. The cutoff energy increases from similar to 33-37 keV to values above 100 keV, indicating significant evolution of the high-energy continuum. We find a positive correlation between QPO frequency and photon index, while the QPO frequency does not follow the total flux monotonically. These results are consistent with a truncated-disc interpretation in which the optically thick disc may evolve inward during the outburst, enhancing coronal cooling and contributing to the observed increase in QPO frequency. Within the framework of Lense-Thirring precession, the QPO evolution can be interpreted as arising from changes in the geometry of the inner hot flow.

The rapid growth of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has significantly disrupted the traditional finance domain. The application of AI in finance is referred to as financial intelligence. However, the theoretical understanding of why and how firms adopt financial intelligence remains underdeveloped. To address these research gaps, this study examines the key factors influencing the intention to adopt financial intelligence systems in the finance domain and investigates perceived firm performance associated with their adoption. We have developed a theoretical framework based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and formulated research hypotheses. To test these hypotheses, we used a structured, pre-tested instrument and collected 463 valid responses from finance professionals regarding their perceptions of financial intelligence systems adoption. We analysed the data using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). Our findings indicate that effort expectancy, performance expectancy, attitude, perceived trust, organisational competency, and organisational innovativeness are significant predictors of the intention to adopt financial intelligence systems. In contrast, neither social influence nor perceived risk was found to be statistically significant. Notably, performance expectancy has a strong impact on the development of a positive attitude toward financial intelligence systems. We also discovered a partially significant mediating effect of attitude on the relationship between effort expectancy and performance expectancy concerning the intention to adopt financial intelligence systems. The adoption of financial intelligence systems has a positive impact on firm performance. These insights will help firms identify the key factors that influence the adoption of financial intelligence systems and develop effective strategies for their implementation. Additionally, they will encourage future research into governance mechanisms that facilitate the responsible integration of these systems. This study serves as a valuable guide to the effective adoption of financial intelligence systems and represents the first comprehensive research on this topic among Indian firms, utilising the adapted UTAUT model, an extension of the TAM.

Livelihood vulnerability arises not only from climatic stressors but also from entrenched socioeconomic inequalities and generational marginalization shaping household resilience. Moving beyond climate-centric models, this study examines livelihood vulnerability among an Indigenous community in India through a socioeconomic-institutional lens, operationalized via exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity. Applying a tridimensional framework with thirty-four indicators, the study assesses microscale socioeconomic vulnerability. Findings reveal strong spatial clustering, reflecting localized marginalization and unequal service access. Over one-third of households experience moderate exposure, and nearly one-third face high to extreme exposure, particularly in central, western, and southern areas marked by isolation and poor infrastructure. Nearly one-third of households fall into high and extreme sensitivity categories due to low education and limited services. Importantly, adaptive capacity is uneven; about four-fifths of households fall within moderate to high vulnerability levels. Key drivers include chronic illness, food insecurity, inadequate housing, limited vocational training, educational deprivation, poor service access, and caregiving burdens. Although community trust and public distribution systems offer partial support, adaptive capacity remains constrained by low asset ownership, weak digital access, and fragile institutional linkages. The study draws attention to the need for context-specific interventions that address structural barriers and spatial inequalities. It also highlights the importance of integrating socioeconomic and spatial dimensions into vulnerability assessments to promote more equitable development policies for the left-behind populations of the Global South.

Dendrocalamus strictus popularly known as ‘Male bamboo’ is a multipurpose bamboo which is extensively utilized in pharmaceutical, paper, agricultural and other industrial implements. In this study, in vitro regeneration of D. strictus through nodal culture has been attempted. Murashige and Skoog’s medium supplemented with 4 mg/l BAP was found to be most effective in shoot regeneration with 3.68 ± 0.37 shoots per explant. The effect of Kn was found to be moderate. These hormones also had considerable effect on the shoot length. The highest shoot length after 6 weeks (3.11 ± 0.41 cm) was noted with 5 mg/l BAP followed by 3.07 ± 0.28 cm with 5 mg/l Kn, while decrease in the shoot length was noted with other treatments. The effect of IBA and NAA individually or in combination at different concentrations on rooting was evaluated. The highest number of root (1.36 ± 0.04) was regenerated on full-strength MS medium supplemented with 3 mg/l NAA, while maximum length of 1.64 ± 0.03 cm of roots was recorded with combination of 1 mg/l IBA and 3 mg/l NAA. Tissue-cultured plants thus obtained were successfully transferred to the soil. The clonal fidelity among the in vitro-regenerated plantlets was assessed by RAPD and ISSR markers. The ten RAPD decamers produced 58 amplicons, while nine ISSR primers generated a total of 66 bands. All the bands generated were monomorphic. These results confirmed the clonal fidelity of the tissue culture-raised D. strictus plantlets and corroborated the fact that nodal culture is perhaps the safest mode for multiplication of true to type plants.