Multiferroic ceramics (1-x)BaTiO3-xNi0.7Zn0.3Fe2O4 exhibit strong correlations between structural distortion, vibrational dynamics, and magnetic behavior. X-ray diffraction, Raman, and FTIR analyses reveal a slight contraction of the BaTiO3 lattice and a blue shift in the Ti–O stretching mode, indicating increased bond energy due to spinel phase incorporation. Zn2+ substitution in the ferrite phase optimizes cation distribution, enhancing Fe3+–Fe3+ superexchange interactions and increasing saturation magnetization from 0.182 emu/g (x = 0) to 12.84 emu/g (x = 0.3) while reducing coercivity from 0.25 kOe to 0.082 kOe. Maximum polarization peaks at 57.08 µC/cm2 for x = 0.2, attributed to strong internal fields and efficient domain switching. These results demonstrate tunable ferroelectric and magnetic responses in BTO–NZFO composites, highlighting their potential for magnetoelectric sensors and multifunctional electronic devices.

This study presents a strategy to enhance the pyroelectric and electrocaloric responses at room temperature by tailoring the Landau free-energy landscape of a ternary morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) composition 0.55Pb(Ni1/3Nb2/3)O3–0.135PbZrO3–0.315PbTiO3 + xEu2O3 (x = 0, 0.01, and 0.02). Eu3+ substitution at the A-site reduces the effective ionic spacing, inducing octahedral tilting and stabilizing a lower-symmetry crystal structure, predominantly rhombohedral, in the vicinity of room temperature. The associated local lattice distortion and charge imbalance promote relaxor behaviour in the PNN–PZ–PT system. A pronounced enhancement in pyroelectric performance is observed for the x = 0.02 composition, with the pyroelectric coefficient reaching 33.34 × 10−4C/m2K and the corresponding pyroelectric figures of merit (FOMs) attaining values of F_i 1993 pm/V, F_v 0.01592 m2/C, F_d 23.57 μ(Pa)−0.5, F_e 107 Jm3/K, and F_e^* 26.48 pm3/N. Notably, electrocaloric measurements reveal the emergence of an orthorhombic phase near room temperature, resulting in an improved electrocaloric temperature change. Concurrently, Eu3+ doping suppresses the inverse piezoelectric coefficient ( d_33^* ) from 1036 pm/V for x = 0 to 460 pm/V for x = 0.02 sample indicating reduced electromechanical coupling, while the energy storage density exhibits an improvement near the ferroelectric–paraelectric phase transition. These findings demonstrate that Eu3+− modified PNN–PZ–PT ceramics offer a tunable multifunctional platform with potential applications in solid-state cooling, infrared detection, and thermal energy harvesting.

Piezoelectric energy harvesters (PEHs) have significant potential to provide a sustainable solution for low-grade energy harvesting and battery-less powering systems from physiological monitoring to internet-of-things applications. To access the performance of devices and the suitability of the material, figure-of-merit (FOM) are investigated. From an application perspective, lead-free ferroelectric materials with high figures of merit require enhancements in their ferroic functionalities. In this study, a balanced combination of properties is realized in BiFeO3-BaTiO3 (BF-BT) ceramics through microwave sintering (MS) and precise La3+ doping. This approach leverages the synergistic effects of optimizing grain size to enhance the electrostrictive coefficient and stabilizing the domain orientation via polar nanoregions (PNRs), resulting in outstanding electrical properties, including a high TC = 502 degrees C, d33 = 191 pC/N, and FOM = 5888 x 10-15 m2/N. These findings highlight the potential of MSengineered BF-BT ceramics to meet the demands of advanced PEHs, opening new possibilities for creating wireless sensors which are self-powered and capable of operating in high-temperature surroundings.

(K0.5Na0.5)NbO3 [KNN]-based ceramics are promising lead-free energy-storage dielectrics. However, the volatilization of alkali ions (K+, Na+) during sintering hampers their functionality by introducing porosity and disrupting densification, which compromises energy storage performance. This study addresses these limitations by enhancing functionality of KNN-based ceramics through multivalent co-doping of Bi3+ and Zr4+ at the A and B sites, respectively, and by varying sintering protocols. Sintering temperature profoundly affects the porosity, microstructure, dielectric properties, and energy storage performance of K0.4375Na0.4375Bi0.125Nb0.875Zr0.125O3 [KNBNZ] ceramics. The specimen sintered at 1160 degrees C achieves the highest bulk density (similar to 4.79 g/cm(3)) and superior ferroelectric properties, including a low remnant polarization (P-r) similar to 2.67 mu C/cm(2) & high maximum polarization (P-max) similar to 23.56 mu C/cm(2) leading to a significant polarization difference (Delta P=P-max-P-r) similar to 20.89 mu C/cm(2). Consequently, this sample demonstrates a high recoverable energy density (W-r) similar to 1.269 J/cm(3) with high efficiency (eta) similar to 75.5 %, and high breakdown strength (E-DBS) similar to 145 kV/cm. By optimizing the sintering temperature, this work confirms the strong potential of KNBNZ ceramics for advanced energy storage applications.

Entropy engineering has emerged as an effective strategy for disrupting long-range ferroelectric order and enhancing energy storage characteristics in bulk ceramics. Here, we synthesize 0.9K(0.5)Na(0.5)NbO(3)-0.05Bi(Zn0.5Zr0.5)O-3-0.05Ba(Zn1/3Nb2/3)O-3 ceramics, with a configurational entropy Delta S-conf similar to 1.48, via solid state route. Microwave sintering enables rapid densification with refined grain size (similar to 0.21 mu m), leading to an enhanced breakdown strength (E-B) of similar to 130 kV/cm. Entropy-induced lattice distortion effectively transforms the long-range ferroelectric order into polar nano-regions, imparting pronounced relaxor characteristics. Benefitting from the synergistic effects of enhanced relaxor behaviour and a high breakdown strength, the microwave-sintered ceramic delivers a recoverable energy density (W-rec) similar to 1.05 J/cm(3) with an energy efficiency (eta) similar to 87.5% at similar to 130 kV/cm. Furthermore, microwave sintered sample exhibits notable frequency stability (20-100 Hz), thermal stability (30-150) and fatigue endurance (upto 10(5) cycles). A maximum current density (C-D) similar to 104.65 A/cm(2) and a power density (P-D) similar to 5.23 MW/cm(3) at 100 kV/cm is also achieved in microwave sintered ceramic. Overall, this study demonstrates that entropy engineering combined with microwave sintering offers a scalable route to high-performance, lead-free relaxor ferroelectric ceramics for pulsed-power capacitor applications.

Pyroelectric effect has been investigated in the NBT-BT/CCFO composites in the present work. The composition of ceramic composites has been varied as (1-x)0.94Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3-0.06BaTiO3: xCoCr0.4Fe1.6O4 (NBT-BT: xCCFO where x is varied from 0 to 80

This study investigates the effect of gallium (Ga) doping on the structural and electrical properties of 0.7BiFeO3-0.3BaTiO3 (BF-BT) ceramic samples prepared with solid state reaction method. The structural characterization using x-ray diffraction (XRD) reveals the emergence of a morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) with Ga doping, supported by the coexistence of rhombohedral and pseudo-cubic phases. This emergence of the rhombohedral phase contributes to an increase in grain size which further enhances the ferroelectric properties of the material. This increased grain size is further associated with the elevated bulk resistance, which is clearly confirmed by the observed increase in the activation energy for charge carriers. This elevated activation energy hinders the hopping mechanism, leading to reduction in leakage current with Ga doping. Electrical characterization through frequency-dependent measurements of impedance at different temperatures demonstrates a negative temperature coefficient of resistance (NTCR) behavior. The asymmetric peak broadening in frequency dependent electrical modulus measurement depicts the non-Debye relaxation. These findings highlight the potential of Ga doped BF-BT for applications that demand customized electrical properties with specific resistive attributes for electrical components with high temperature endurance limits.

Ternary compounds are proven to be a more fascinating, owing to their potential to span a broader composition region of morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) - enhanced piezoelectric, electrostrictive, dielectric and ferroelectric properties. To activate defects dipoles, we perform MnO2 doping in ternary MPB compound 0.55 Pb(Ni1/ 3Nb2/3)O3-0.135PbZrO3-0.315PbTiO3 [PNN-PZ-PT]. Temperature dependent dielectric spectroscopy reveals relaxor-ferroelectric nature of the synthesized ceramics. With the poling treatment, P-E loop of xMn-PNN-PZ-PT is softened, which emphasizes that the poling introduces higher order structural instability in MPB structure. The evolution of structural instability is as evidenced by the emergence of additional anomaly in thermal profile of dielectric constant due to electrical poling of xMn-PNN-PZ-PT and no systematic difference between polarizing behaviour of poled and unpoled specimen (Arrott plots). In association with defects dipoles, pyroelectric response based figure of merits (FOMs) of PNN-PZ-PT are improved. FOMs are characteristics of pyroelectric materials that insights about their suitability for specific application. Fi is suppressed with MnO2 doping and Fv,Fe and F * e increases with MnO2 doping. Our study reveals that tailored and precise acceptor doping is crucial for the simultaneous optimization of all pyroelectric FOMs.

A precisely specified compositional landscape of two distinct ferroelectric systems – morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) – possesses ultrahigh piezoelectricity, where generically a flat energy profile is favoured under thermodynamic consideration. A more exotic and technologically appealing phase is unlocked when ternary-based morphotropic phase boundary compositions are formulated via revisiting the thermal and compositional stability. Local structure heterogeneity is another generic route towards optimization of the piezoelectric performance via rare earth doping, as rare-earth doping introduces the local structural distortions. To enhance piezoelectric response, we adopt rare earth Sm3+ doping into ternary based morphotropic phase boundary 0.55Pb(Ni1/3Nb2/3)O3–0.135PbZrO3–0.315PbTiO3 samples. The effect of Sm3+doping on the structure, microstructure, dielectric, ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties of 0.55Pb(Ni1/3Nb2/3)O3–0.135PbZrO3–0.315PbTiO3 were investigated. Dielectric spectroscopy and order parameter analysis collectively reveal that the free energy landscape of morphotropic phase boundary is further softened via local structural heterogeneity, enabled via rare earth doping. As a result of free energy flattening, dielectric and piezoelectric responses of Sm3+ doped system are significantly enhanced. Piezoelectric coefficient increases from 545pC/N (x = 0%) to 810pC/N (x = 1%) with Sm3+ doping. Observed results suggest that the piezoelectric and ferroic performances of morphotropic phase boundary based 0.55Pb(Ni1/3Nb2/3)O3–0.135PbZrO3–0.315PbTiO3 can further be improved by hetero-structural tuning via optimized rare earth doping.

For efficient waste ambient energy harvesting, high piezoelectric charge coefficient (d33) and pyroelectric coefficients (π) with low dielectric constant (ε) are anticipated. A high degree of correlation among d33, π and ε parameters restrict energy harvesting efficiency. Morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) based compounds demonstrate technologically appealing characteristics – enhanced dielectric, piezoelectric and pyroelectric properties, provide opportunity to realize optimized figure of merits (FOMs). PbTiO3, a promising piezoelectric and ferroelectric material, is compositionally tuned with Pb(Mg0.33Nb0.67)O3 to realize MPB driven exotic characteristics. Here, we synthesized a series of MPB based solid solutions (1-x) Pb(Mg0.33Nb0.67)O3-(x)PbTiO3 (x= 0.28, 0.29, 0.30 and 0.31) [PMN-PT] using the solid-state route. Enhanced piezoelectric properties were observed for the composition x = 0.29, including piezoelectric charge coefficient (d33) of 320 pC/N, piezoelectric voltage coefficient (g33) 0.0084 Vm/N, and transducer coefficient (d33 × g33) 2784 × 10-15 m2/N. Furthermore, the x = 0.29 composition demonstrated high potential for thermoelectric energy conversion, as revealed by Olsen cycle analysis. Present study emphasizes on Olsen cycle based thermoelectric performance of a material further assessed qualitatively using the Arrott plot approach.

The state-of-the-art synthesis and characterization techniques in material science empirically provide additional space towards the realization of exotic phases for excellent physical characteristics. Here, we synthesize (1-x) (Na0.5Bi0.5)(0.75)Sr0.25TiO3-xBaTiO(3), x = 0.04-0.07 ceramics. Dual anomaly in the dielectric constant additionally corresponds to the coexistence of polar-nano-regions with multiple crystal symmetry in an ergodic relaxor. Application of grain boundary engineering leads to significant increment in the dielectric strength and relaxor characteristics. Microwave assisted ceramics possess fine grain size and yields high energy storage density similar to 0.76 J/cm(3) and efficiency similar to 70 %. Scaling of the area of hysteresis loop reveals the complex field dependent mechanism. Our study emphasize that the morphological engineering can be employed to ascertain the optimized energy storage properties of ferroelectric ceramics.

The present study aims to unveil the interplay of magneto-striction to optimize magneto-electric coupling in a layered composite of ferroelectric and ferrite materials. The laminate composites of CoFe2O4 (CFO), Ni0.8Zn0.2Fe2O4 (NZFO), Ni0.75Zn0.20Co0.05Fe2O4 (CNZFO), and BiFeO3 (BFO), in combination with Ba0.85Ca0.15Zr0.1Ti0.9O3 (BCZT), were prepared using silver conductive epoxy. This study involves a comprehensive exploration of the influence of different ferrite materials, with BCZT as the ferroelectric component, on the magneto-electric (ME) coupling in laminate-type composites. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns of sintered BCZT, CFO, NZFO, BFO, and CNZFO compounds depict desired phase without any impurity. The impedance spectroscopy has been employed to reveal the generic ME characteristics. The magneto-electric coupling coefficient (MECC) of the bilayer composite samples shows a significant variation with ferrite. This study highlights the potential for robust magneto-strictive properties of CFO by revealing its superior ME coupling (112.5 mV/cm-Oe at 105 Gauss).

A multiplex-nested PCR (M-nested PCR) targeting mpt64 (Rv1980c) + IS6110 was designed to detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) DNA within urine (n = 35), endometrial biopsies (n = 22) and menstrual blood (n = 3) of male/female UGTB patients, and results were compared with M-PCR using the same targets. Detection limit of the purified Mtb DNA was found to be 1 fg by M-nested PCR, which was 10(6)-fold lower than M-PCR. Moreover, sensitivities of 100% and 81 center dot 8% were obtained in confirmed (n = 5) and clinically suspected UGTB (n = 55) cases, respectively, by M-nested PCR, with a specificity of 97 center dot 1% (n = 70). Sensitivities attained by M-nested PCR were significantly higher (p < 0 center dot 05) than M-PCR in both clinically suspected and total UGTB (n = 60) cases. To confirm the true PCR-negative results, an internal amplification control, that is, human beta-globin gene (hbb) was incorporated in the M-nested PCR/M-PCR assays, wherein all the clinical specimens (positive/negative for mpt64/IS6110) were found to be positive for hbb. Some UGTB specimens (n = 35) were also subjected to GeneXpert (R) MTB/RIF assay that revealed a significantly lower (p < 0 center dot 001) sensitivity (17 center dot 1 vs 88 center dot 6%) than M-nested PCR, although high specificity (100%) was attained with GeneXpert. After validating the results in a higher number of UGTB specimens, our M-nested PCR may be translated into an attractive diagnostic kit.

Carpooling also commonly known as car-sharing, ride-sharing and lift sharing, is the sharing of car journeys so that more than one person can travel in a car. With the enormous increase in number of vehicles on road, people around the country especially in metro cities have started facing problem now due to increase in traffic which added an hour or so to their daily travelling time. Carpooling is seen as a more environmentally friendly and sustainable way to travel as sharing journeys reduces carbon emissions, traffic congestion on the roads, and the need for parking spaces. This method is very useful as it has great value and great use in normal life. Car sharing aims at solving this problem by targeting the empty seats in the private cars. In this paper, we propose a web based advanced carpooling application in which we can connect those people who are travelling to the same destination via same place. This application contains two mediums namely provider and seeker. Providers are the ones who initiate the travel request and fix the destination and seekers are the ones who accepts to travel with the provider. Rating will be provided to the provider, if the provider has less or worst rating in the history then seeker can avoid travel with them. Cancellation of the trip is also available for both provider and seeker.

The paper confers the use of phytochemicals in resisting of several diseases caused by different microbes/pathogen. In the current scenario, there is a high demand for proven plant therapies, herbal drugs, and other natural products, as well as their therapeutic application, which are often found to be more effective than synthetic pharmaceuticals in chronic diseases. In many cases, plant extracts, herbal formulations, and phytochemicals perfectly supplement the typical therapy and at the same time do not cause side effects for example skin irritation, gastrointestinal problems. It is an urgent demand to find out complete therapeutic potential and adverse effects, of these phytochemical compounds because of the continued rise of drug‐resistant bacterial infections.

According to the state of food security and nutrition, Hunger has increased in many countries in which the economy has slowed down, mostly in middle-income countries. If nothing changes, the immense challenge of achieving the Zero Hunger Target by 2030. The causes of food scarcity might include factors such as unavailability of food due to less production of particular crops/vegetables (due to attack of pests/microbes), it becomes harder to fulfill the basic needs of life especially for poor. Therefore, we need to primarily focus on understanding the interaction between plants and microbes at the molecular level and underlying mechanisms of plant disease and which will help out to solve the global needs of food and resources. Plants have a natural defense mechanism/immune system to react to infections which subdivides into two parts. The first part identifies and reacts to molecules common to different classes of microbes, including non-pathogen. The function of the second part is to react to pathogens virulence factors, either directly or by affecting the host targets. We can also see the intricacies or reciprocation between plants and pathogen attackers. A vast and deep comprehension of plant defense mechanisms will defiantly solve the issue, like food scarcity.

Sugarcane is a climate sensitive crop; its spatial distribution on the globe is restricted as per the suitability of various climatic parameters.The climate change is now accelerated due to natural, as well as enormous human activities disturbing the composition of atmosphere.The predications of various climatic models for probable rise in temperature, rainfall, sea level show an alarming condition in forthcoming decades.As the sugarcane is very sensitive to climatic parameters therefore, a significant effect on its production and sugar yield is expected in future.Sugarcane is one of the precious crops of the world and its end products i.e. sugar and ethanol has a continuous growing demand.Hence, the studies on good production of sugarcane in changing climate has become front line area of research and is a major concern of sugarcane scientist.An advance agronomic practice seems to be the effective measures for obtaining high production of sugarcane with good quality juice.

This paper presents a comparative study of static, modal and buckling analyses of aluminium alloys and steel, Al6351, Al7075 and SM45C made automotive propeller shafts using finite element methods. The 3D-model of propeller shaft is created in CATIA and then analysis is done using ANSYS. Natural frequency is determined for six different mode shapes and the critical load at which the propeller shaft starts buckling is compared for dissimilar materials. The stress distribution and unsafe areas are shown for the modification in existing design of the propeller shaft. It is found that the aluminum propeller shaft has higher natural frequency than the steel propeller shaft. Therefore, the resonance stage reaches later in aluminum propeller shaft and enhances its life.

Background: Telomerase is a ribonucleoprotein that participates in telomere maintenance. Telomerase protein component (hTERT) has been significantly involved in cancer cell survivability and proliferation. c-MET is a heterodimeric receptor protein consisting of extracellular α-subunit along with a β-subunit comprised of the extracellular, transmembrane and intracellular domains. It is activated by its ligand HGF in both paracrine and autocrine manner that triggers downstream signaling pathways; like PI3K, Gab1, STAT, and β-catenin. c-MET is overexpressed in most of cancer cells. Methods: A549, H1299, and HCT116 cancer cells were used for investigation. RNA interference and expression vectors were used in the study. Gene expression was assayed by real-time PCR, western blotting, and immunofluorescence. Results: hTERT down-regulation by shRNA causes a reduction in c-MET expression while hTERT overexpression increases the c-MET level in the cell. The low luciferase activity of c-MET promoter under hTERT reduced cells reflects the transcriptional regulation of the receptor protein. The c-MET promoter has known p53 binding elements, and hTERT has the negative association with p53 expression in cancer cells. To understand this crosstalk, we overexpressed p53 in A549 and H1299 cells that reflected the decreased expression of c-MET while p53 knockdown caused increased c-MET expression. Further, c-MET and hTERT knockdown have shown slow growth, proliferation and migration potential in both A549 and H1299 cells. Conclusions: hTERT is differentially overexpressed in 90% of cancer cells. Its negative association with p53 helps in proliferation and survivability. Here, we have for the first time shown that c-MET is positively associated with hTERT expression in cancer cells. This hTERT dependant c-MET expression is mainly controlled by p53 that acts as a repressor in the c-MET promoter. Our findings suggest that the increased expression of hTERT in cancer cells downregulate p53 that triggers the c-MET expression in cells. The increased c-MET expression results in high proliferation, growth, and invasive potential in cancer cells. Although it is a preliminary finding, it suggests its role in cancer aggressiveness which makes this pathway significant in cancer therapeutics. Legal entity responsible for the study: Prof. Pramod Kumar Yadava Funding: Department of Science & Technology, Jawaharlal Nehru University, University Grants Commission. Disclosure: All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

In this paper we are presenting an introduction of low cost construction. Recently, polymer concrete has shown promise for future use as a major construction material. Based on laboratory studies, the strength of polymer concrete is three to four times that of ordinary concrete with very high corrosion resistance and durability. The cost for polymer concrete is about six cents per pound compared with 39 cents per pound of steel, and it is particularly suitable for areas with high corrosion problems, such as locations of offshore structures, sewage pipes, pavement in cold regions, railway ties, nuclear power plants, and numerous other possible applications. Nowadays the various waste products from big industries has been converted into useful building materials which can be used during post earthquake housing construction, solving the problem of disposal on the one hand and providing better construction material at low cost on the other hand. Similarly some agricultural wastes (as rice husk) have also been converted into building materials, which are very much useful during reconstruction phase as low cost building materials. In the present paper few low cost building material, which can be used during post earthquake housing construction has been highlighted.