Browse Items (16488 total)
Sort by:
-
Microplastics in food: Occurrence, toxicity, green analytical detection methods and future challenges
The pervasive presence of microplastics (MPs) in the environment has raised significant concerns about their infiltration into the human food chain. In current review, the occurrence and distribution of MPs in various food matrices such as seafood, drinking water, fruits, vegetables, and beverages are discussed along with their potential routes of MPs entry into the human food chain. The toxicity of MPs on human health and different organs are discussed in brief. Current technological advancement and green analytical methods for the detection of MPs in food samples are compared, discussing their advantages and limitations. Green analytical methods, including stereomicroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and enzymatic digestion, are evaluated for their efficacy and environmental impact. The Analytical Eco-Scale is used to assess the greenness of these methods. Challenges associated with MPs detection in food, such as complex food matrices, pretreatment methods, and variability in MPs concentrations, are addressed. 2024 The Author(s) -
Micropollutants characteristics, fate, and sustainable removal technologies for landfill leachate: A technical perspective
Waste disposal in landfills has gained momentum in the last few decades as it is one among the easy and cost-effective method for waste management for the accelerating global population. Heterogenous nature of the waste ending up in landfills makes it difficult to predict the fate of these pollutants making it difficult for its biomonitoring and specific treatment. Among the major issues associated with landfill treatment, liquid percolation from this heterogenous waste substrate collectively referred as leachate poses the greater risk to environment through soil and ground water pollution. The diversity of micropollutants presents in landfill leachates ranging from microbial pathogens, pesticides, microplastics, pharmaceuticals and other harmful chemicals calls for crucial attention towards improving methods used for their treatment and removal. This review summarizes the key components of landfill leachates with specific emphasize on micropollutant content of leachate. Further the features of most recent and advanced technologies that were successfully explored for micropollutant removal from landfill leachates are presented in this review. 2023 Elsevier Ltd -
Microscale screen printing of large-area arrays of microparticles for the fabrication of photonic structures and for optical sorting
There are a limited number of methods applicable to the large-scale fabrication of arrays of discrete microparticles; however, such methods can be applied to the fabrication of structures applicable to photonics, barcoding, and optoelectronics. This manuscript describes a universal method, "microparticle screen printing" (?SP), for the rational patterning of micron-scale particles onto a variety of 2D substrates with diverse mechanical and chemical properties. Specifically, an array of microparticles of different sizes and compositions were patterned onto an array of materials of varying chemistry and stiffness using ?SP yielding a diversity of homo/heterogeneous microparticle-based structures. Further, this manuscript reports how the Young's moduli of the substrate can be used to calculate contact area and thus interaction energies (quantified using Hamaker constants) between the particle/substrate during ?SP. Generally, ?SP is most effective for substrates with low Young's moduli and large Hamaker constants (A132) with the target particles, as confirmed by the performance (quantified using yield and accuracy metrics) of ?SP for the different empirically investigated particle/substrate combinations. These understandings allow for the design of optimal surface/particle pairing for ?SP and were applied to the fabrication of a diversity of heterogeneous structures, including those with periodic vacancies in HCP (hexagonally closed packed) 2D photonic crystal useful to structural optics, optical particle screening useful to chemical assays, and the fabrication of structural barcodes useful for labeling and anticounterfeiting. 2018 The Royal Society of Chemistry. -
Microscopic, pharmacognostic and phytochemical screening of Epiphyllum oxypetalum (dc) haw leaves /
Journal of Pharmacognosy And Phytochemistry, Vol.7, Issue 6, pp.972-980, ISSN No: 2349-8234. -
Microstructural evolution and damping response in ARB-processed ZK60 alloy
This study investigates the effect of microstructural evolution on the damping behaviour of ZK60 magnesium alloy processed via Accumulative Roll Bonding (ARB). ARB was employed at 300C for up to four cycles, significantly refining the grain structure and altering dislocation and precipitation behaviour. Comprehensive microstructural analysis revealed the formation of fine equiaxed grains (?6.7 m), dissolution of coarse precipitates, and increased dislocation density. TEM and Selected Area Diffraction (SAD) patterns confirmed dynamic recrystallisation and uniform grain orientation, while XRD patterns exhibited peak broadening and intensity changes, indicating crystallite refinement and texture evolution. Damping results showed substantial improvements in the ARB-processed alloy, particularly at low-to-mid frequencies, with up to 21% higher damping capacity than the base alloy. This enhancement is attributed to increased grain boundary sliding, dislocation interactions, and refined precipitatematrix interfaces. Both alloys exhibited similar damping responses at higher frequencies, suggesting saturation of energy dissipation mechanisms. 2025 Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum. -
Microstructural evolution and wear characteristics of equal channel angular pressing processed semi-solid-cast hypoeutectic aluminum alloys
This work investigated the microstructural evolution of Al-7Si-Mg alloy cast semi-solid using a cooling slope as well as conventional casting followed by equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) in a 120 die. Feed materials were prepared for ECAP by cooling slope casting and by conventional casting. The microstructure of the processed alloys extruded was observed by optical microscope and by transmission electron microscope, and their hardness and wear resistance were evaluated. After ECAP processing, the primary ?-Al phase tended to be elongated while the Si particles became fragmented and more nearly globular in shape and uniform in size than in the as-cast sample. The microstructure of the cooling slope-cast ECAPed samples was more homogenous than that of the conventionally cast ECAPed sample. The ?-Al phase sub-grains were refined to sub-micrometer sizes for samples cast by both methods after ECAP. The hardness of the cooling slope-cast ECAPed sample was also higher than that of the conventionally cast ECAPed sample. The wear resistance of the alloy improved after cooling slope casting and ECAP processing. 2014 The Authors. -
Microstructure and Mechanical Behaviour of Al6061-ZrB2 In-situ Metal Matrix Composites
Aluminium matrix composites processed through in-situ molten reaction has emerged as an alternative for eliminating defects existing in ex-situ reinforced metal matrix composites. Development of composites through in-situ method using inorganic salts via liquid metallurgy route is the most widely accepted technique. In the present work, Al6061-ZrB2 in-situ composites have been developed through in-situ reaction of Al-10%Zr and Al-3%B master alloys in Al6061 alloy. Study of microstructure and mechanical properties of in-situ reinforced ZrB2 in Al6061 alloy have been carried out. Composite exhibited grain refinement and improved the mechanical properties of Al6061 alloy. Ductility of composite is reduced with increase in content of ZrB2. Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd. -
Microwave assisted structural engineering on efficient eco-friendly natural dye alizarin for dye sensitized solar cells application
The novel eco-friendly natural dyes, (9E, 10E), ? 9, 10-bis(2-(4-nitrobenzylidene) hydrazono) ? 9,10 dihydroanthracene-1,2-diol (NHA) have been synthesised using the one-pot microwave-assisted solvent evaporation method, and physicochemical characterizations were carried out using 1H NMR, 13C NMR, GC-MS, and FT-IR data. The photophysical properties of NHA dye were determined using experimental and theoretical techniques. The Stoke's shift shows a large bathochromic shift in polar solvents, which is due to the ??? * transition. The ground-state optimization of NHA dye was carried out using density functional theory (DFT) with the B3LYP/631 G level basis set. The HOMO-LUMO and energy band gap values computed from density functional theory and absorption threshold wavelengths are good agreement with each other. Further, the effect of TiO2 nanoparticles on NHA dye has been studied using spectroscopic and electrochemical techniques. It was observed that, NHA dye showed fluorescence quenching in the presence of TiO2 NPs, which is due to the photo induced electron transfer process. The apparent association constant of the interaction between NHA dye and TiO2 nanoparticles is also calculated using the Benesi-Hildebrand model. The Rehm-Weller relation infers that thermodynamically favourable electron transfer takes place between dyes and TiO2 NPs. Further, the solar cell was constructed using NHA dye as a sensitizer, and the photovoltaic conversion efficiency was found to be 1.16%. 2023 Elsevier GmbH -
Microwave-assisted extraction of phytochemicals
Microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) has emerged as a promising technique for the extraction of phytochemicals and has received substantial scientific attention in recent years. MAE involves the utilization of microwaves to heat the sample, which facilitates the release of bioactive compounds from the plant matrix. MAE offers several advantages over traditional extraction methods, including faster extraction times, higher extraction yields, and reduced solvent consumption. To improve the efficiency of the extraction process, research has concentrated on optimizing various parameters, including the extraction temperature, extraction time, and solvent type. Additional studies have investigated the effect of MAE on the chemistry and bioactivity of the extracted phytochemicals. Several classes of phytochemicals, including phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and alkaloids, have been successfully extracted using MAE. These compounds possess various biological activities, such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anticancer properties. Essential oils from aromatic plants have also been extracted using MAE, which is widely employed in the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries. Despite its many advantages, the major challenge in the application of MAE is the potential degradation of the extracted compounds due to the high-temperature and high-pressure conditions during extraction. Additionally, the cost of microwave equipment and the need for specialized expertise may stunt its widespread adoption. In diverse omics disciplines, MAE shows promise, notably for the development of analytical platforms for research in genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and related subdisciplines. Nonetheless, more investigation is required to optimize the extraction conditions and guarantee that the chemical makeup and biological activity of the isolated phytochemicals are preserved. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2023, Corrected Publication 2023. All rights reserved. -
Mid-career dilemmas of female academics: An Indian perspective
Historically, many studies have shown discrimination, bias, and barriers for women entering leadership roles in Indian institutions of higher education. The objective of the present .study is to understand the mid-career dilemma of Indian women leaders based on their personal experiences. The study follows a phenomenological approach. The phenomenological approach as a qualitative research methodology provides for analysing the subjective experiences of individuals and their interpretations of these experiences. Data for the study were collected using a structured questionnaire. The study aggregates the views of women leaders and understands the challenges they face in pursuing their careers and maintaining their leadership roles. The study explored the transitions experienced by women through the ages, and hence, a qualitative paradigm with thematic analysis provided a better scope for understanding the experiences of women leaders. 2022, IGI Global. All rights reserved. -
Mid-infrared variability of ?-ray emitting blazars
Using data from the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, we studied the mid-infrared (mid-IR) 3.4 ?m (W1-band) and 4.6 ?m (W2-band) flux variability of ? -ray emitting blazars. Our sample consists of 460 flat spectrum radio quasars (FSRQs) and 575 BL Lacertae (BL Lac) objects. On intraday time-scales, the median amplitude of variability (? m) for FSRQs is 0.04+0.03?0.02 and 0.05+0.03?0.02 mag in W1 and W2 bands. For BL Lacs, we found median ? m in W1(W2) bands of 0.04+0.01?0.02 (0.04+0.02?0.02) mag. On long time-scales, for FSRQs we found a median ? m of 0.44+0.28?0.27 and 0.45+0.27?0.27 mag in W1 and W2 bands, while for BL Lacs, the median values are 0.21+0.18?0.12 and 0.22+0.18?.011 mag in W1 and W2 bands. From statistical tests, we found FSRQs to show larger ? m than BL Lacs on both intraday and long time-scales. Among blazars, low synchrotron peaked sources showed larger ? m compared to intermediate synchrotron peaked and high synchrotron peaked sources. The larger ? m seen in FSRQs relative to BL Lacs on both intraday and long time-scales could be due to them having the most powerful relativistic jets and/or their mid-IR band coinciding with the peak of the electron energy distribution. BL Lacs have low power jets and the observational window too traces the emission from low-energy electrons, thereby leading to low ? m. In both FSRQs and BL Lacs predominantly a bluer when brighter behaviour was observed. No correlation is found between ? m and black hole mass. 2020 The Author(s) Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Astronomical Society -
Midwifery, Witchcraft, And Forensic Blindness: A Gendered Bioanalytical Inquiry Into Historical Practices
In Europe, going on witch hunts was a prevalent activity between the fourteenth and seventeenth centuries. Tens of thousands of people were tortured, executed, and burned in Germany, Italy, and eventually expanded to France and England; women made up three-quarters of the victims. The discovery of "the persecution of midwives as witches," which expanded throughout the Middle Ages and has drawn harsh criticism from historians of the 20th century, is one of the most startling disclosures. This paper examines the intersection between midwifery and witchcraft in Early Modern times, focusing on the risks that female midwives had to deal with in the field of work. Women who practiced the crucial profession of midwifery had their experiences impacted by the historical backdrop of extensive witch hunts and prosecutions. The paper seeks to offer a thorough understanding of the difficulties faced by midwives in balancing their vital role in birthing with the widespread suspicions of witchcraft by looking at the socioeconomic, cultural, and legal aspects. The paper also relies on the recent published work of Dr. Philippa Carter (2023). 2025, Green Publication. All rights reserved. -
Migrant labour and mobile sensibilities
[No abstract available] -
Migrant minds, shifting selves: Navigating relationships and identity in internal migration
Human migration brings about changes in personal, social, cultural, political, and economic facets of life. This study examined the pre-migratory and post-migratory contexts of emerging adults in India to explore their connection to the existing relationships at migration origin, and upcoming interactions at migration destination. A qualitative method was used to capture the subjective experiences of emerging adults from middle SES, who migrated for education or employment reasons from rural, semi-urban, or urban areas. The migration experiences of these 1829 year-old emerging adults were analyzed through the lens of the social-cognitive model of transference. Semi-structured interviews of 17 internal migrants were conducted to learn about their experience residing away from home. Data analysis revealed schemas concerning significant others interfering with their new relationships at migration destination. Narratives of attachment, support, and conflict shaped their new relationship and self-perception at the migration destination. 2026 Elsevier Ltd. -
Migrants and homelessness: Life on the streets in urban India
There has been division and segregation of urban spaces and homeless migrants highlighting urbanization's contradiction. Despite being unseen, they make up a sizable portion of urban population. Being homeless in the city is a case of minimum citizenship, devoid of the right to the city, and is subject to ongoing violence. The expanding claim for the citizen's right to various public areas like pathways, pavements, and parks challenges their very existence on the streets and sidewalks (where they live). How do they perceive the hatred and disinterest of the wealthier classes? What uneasiness does the politics being played out in the name of locals against migrants create? The study will also examine the country's approach to the homeless, including their access to housing and sources of income. The Indian government has taken some steps to address homelessness among migrant workers, including providing financial assistance and setting up temporary shelters. Still, more needs to be done to address the root causes of this issue and ensure that migrant workers have access to safe and affordable housing, healthcare, and employment opportunities. This chapter plans to investigate issues, including how frequently migrants who are homeless experience violence and humiliation. It would analyze the macromicro paradox of the dynamics of migration. As the invisibleness and neglect of migrants frequently coincide with a widespread belief that migration must be reduced, this has obvious policy implications and implications for the inclusive growth model. In addition to that, this chapter has analyzed the country's policies on the homeless and their livelihood. The data was collected from secondary sources, and extensive study was conducted on various literature available from multiple databases. 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights are reserved. -
Migration in India: Questions of social exclusion /
International Research Journal Of Social Sciences, Vol.4, Issue 4, pp.87-91, ISSN No: 2319-3565. -
Migration to bangalore : A study of return migration of IT professionals
Bengaluru, Karnataka, is widely known as India s Silicon Valley and an important centre for Information Technology (IT). It is also one of the fastest growing cities in India. Migration to the city has contributed to its growth and this study has focussed on the phenomenon of return migration with specific reference to the return migration of IT professionals to Bengaluru. The main newlineobjectives of the study were to explore some of the factors underlying return migration in general and return migration to Bengaluru in particular, to examine the reasons underlying the decision to migrate, to examine the process of return migration, to describe transnationalism in the context of this return migration and to observe the experience of being back home This study used mixed methods and adopted concurrent triangulation to analyse and interpret the data in the study of the research problem. The framework adopted by Lee was also used to understand the factors that influence the decision to migrate within a broader theoretical framework to study return migration. The researcher explored the factors that influenced the decision to return which were an outcome of the push factors operating from the place of origin and the pull factors operating in the place of destination, India and Bengaluru in this case, both sets of which relate to the socio-cultural, economic and political realms. The newlineresearcher examined the factors that operated as push factors in the host country as well as those that operated as pull factors upon professionals working in the IT sector in the context of return migration to Bengaluru.According to the study, the pull factors being exercised from the city of newlineBengaluru were more relevant in terms of the forces underlying the decision to move. Bengaluru s reputation as a technopole or a high tech cluster has contributed largely to the way in which the migrants have been drawn to the city. -
Migration, threats to identity and diminishing human dignity /
RESEARCH REVIEW International Journal of Multidisciplinary, Vol.5, Issue 2, pp.49-52, ISSN No. 2455-3085. -
Mike Davisthe Storyteller (1946-2022)
This short note is a recapturing of what Mike Davis stood for and how we all can pay homage to such a great figure who cannot be merely disciplined into any academic specializations. His wonderful marriage of theory and practice is a case in point emphasized throughout this note. 2023 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. -
Millets Industry Dynamics: Leveraging Sales Projection and Customer Segmentation
Millets delves into the dynamics of the millets industry, with a particular focus on sales projection and customer segmentation as strategic levers for growth. The research commences with an in-depth analysis of the millets market, encompassing production patterns, consumption trends, and emerging market opportunities. It explores the diverse range of millets varieties, their nutritional profiles, and the factors driving consumer preference. By understanding the market landscape, the study identifies key trends and challenges shaping the industry. A core component of this research is the development of a robust sales projection model. Employing advanced statistical and data-driven techniques, the model forecasts future sales based on historical data, market trends, and relevant economic indicators. The model incorporates factors such as consumer demographics, purchasing behavior, and competitive landscape to provide accurate and actionable insights. Customer segmentation is another critical aspect of the study. By applying clustering and profiling methodologies, the research identifies distinct customer segments based on factors such as age, income, dietary preferences, and purchasing habits. This segmentation enables a deeper understanding of customer needs and preferences, facilitating targeted marketing strategies and product development. The integration of sales projection and customer segmentation empowers businesses to make informed decisions, optimize resource allocation, and enhance overall market performance. By aligning product offerings and marketing efforts with customer segments, companies can achieve higher customer satisfaction, increased market share, and improved profitability. This research contributes to the growing body of knowledge on the millets industry by providing valuable insights into market dynamics, sales forecasting, and customer segmentation. The findings offer practical guidance for industry stakeholders, including farmers, processors, retailers, and policymakers, in navigating the evolving millets landscape. By leveraging the potential of sales projection and customer segmentation, the millets industry can unlock new opportunities and achieve sustainable growth. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2024.