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Entwined Selves: Identity, Individuality, and Mental Health in Identical Twin Relationships
The relationship between identical twins is highly complex; the delicate dynamics between the twins put forwards lot of challenges in front of both the individuals. Previous researches done on dynamics of identical twin relationships have pointed out the differences between identical twins and siblings. The current study delves into the intricate dynamics of identical twin relationships and the impact on their mental health, with a focus on their perception of their identity. Utlizing Braun and Clark's thematic analysis method, the present study studies the lived experiences of identical twins and how they perceive their relationship. In-depth interview was conducted on six sets of identical twins. Thematic analysis was conducted on the results to understand the ways in which identical twins addresses their challenges. The research explores aspects such as emotional support, communication, and shared identity as crucial elements in understanding the dynamics of identical twin relationships. The implication of the research shows the need for mental health interventions that utilize the distinctive advantages of twin relationships as it reveals these complex dynamics. The results are discussed in light of proper theoretical background. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2026. -
Burnout Among Academicians: a Review of Antecedent and Protective Factors of Burnout in University Teaching Faculties
The producers and intermediaries of knowledge are teachers. In addition to their teaching duties, faculty have another responsibility to generate new knowledge through scientific research. Teaching faculties in such a multi-tasking environment may feel equally stressed in their job as those in other highly demanding roles. Such unaddressed work-related stresses would at times increase burnout among faculty members. Hence, it is a pressing need to understand the causes of burnout among teaching staff. This systematic review aims to provide evidence-based recommendations to all stakeholders in education by summarising the academic publications on the determinants of academic burnout. In addition, the study also aimed to identify protective factors against burnout among university teaching faculties. To achieve this goal, a literature search was conducted using the PRISMA-P 2015 methodology, encompassing studies of empirical research published between January 2010 and October 2025. The search yielded 2,731 records, of which 24 studies were selected after undergoing several rounds of screening to meet the study criteria. Based on the results, excessive workloads, pressure to publish, lack of support, low pay, and negative cognitive styles were identified as key risk factors for academic burnout. Protective variables such as strong individual qualities, perceived supervisor support, psychological capital, and self-efficacy were frequently identified as effective in reducing burnout. This concludes that there are complex interrelationships between institutional stressors and personal susceptibility that contribute to academic burnout among university faculty members. The findings provide valuable information for policymakers, teachers, and researchers who are struggling to reconcile the requirement to publish with the duty to teach in modern institutions of higher learning. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2026. -
Sociocentric and Cosmocentric Coping: Cultural Logics of Parenting During Crisis in Low-Resource Indian Families
Coping with crisis is a culturally situated process shaped by models of self, morality, and notions of good life rather than by individual stress regulation alone. Drawing on cultural psychology frameworks, this study examines how parents of young children in low-resource settings coped with adversity situated within the context of COVID-19 pandemic. Using a constructivist qualitative design, in-depth interviews were conducted with 16 parents of children under six years of age belonging from economically marginalized communities living in urban Delhi, India. Data were analyzed through Reflexive Thematic Analysis, guided by Kirmayers (2007) model of Cultural Configurations of the Self. These narratives illustrate how coping emerged as a moral, relational, and faith-based practice under conditions of adversity and uncertainty. Sociocentric coping reflects a relational orientation in which well-being is understood as collective, caregiving is regarded as morally central, and emotional regulation is oriented toward preserving family harmony. Cosmocentric coping reflects an orientation toward higher-order forces through which uncertainty is accepted, distress is externalized, and endurance cultivated. The study challenges individualistic models of coping and highlights how care, endurance, and meaning-making are collectively organized in contexts of structural vulnerability. The paper extends theoretical understanding of coping with crisis and calls for a contextually grounded model of parental coping. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2026. -
Exploring the potential application of Cr2AlC MAX phase as an emerging electrocatalyst for overall water splitting
A three-dimensional (3D) chromium carbide ceramic type, H-phase (211) categorized as Cr2AlC, MAX phase has garnered enormous attention in recent times due to its unique structure and bonding, surface area, thermal stability, and thermo-electrical conductivity, and hydrophilicity. A simple synthesis approach is proposed for obtaining layered Cr2AlC, MAX phase, with X-ray diffraction data and SEM morphology confirming the formation of the H-phase. The electrocatalyst Cr2AlC is being utilized for electrocatalytic water splitting application. The Cr2AlC is observed to exhibit an overpotential and Tafel slopes of 215 mV/88.3 mV dec? 1 for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and 376 mV/96.5 mV dec? 1 for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), respectively, demonstrating good stability for up to 7200s. This study establishes a straightforward method for producing emergent material, Cr2AlC MAX phase, and highlights its promising applications in water electrolysis, hydrogen evolution, and oxygen evolution reactions. Qatar University and Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2024. -
Advanced electrochemical performance of N-Ti3C2/MnO2 MXene as a promising electrode for energy storage
In this study, we demonstrate a simple and efficient two-step synthetic strategy to design a high-performance N-Ti3C2/MnO2 composite for energy storage application. Nitrogen doping alters the electronic structure of electrode materials and enhances pseudocapacitance. N-Ti3C2 serves as a supporting substrate for MnO2, boosting the active surface area by preventing Ti3C2 layer stacking. Benefitting from the collaborative contribution and synergistic interaction within this multicomponent system, N-Ti3C2/MnO2 results in exceptional specific capacitance of 2107.1 Fg?1 at 1 Ag?1. It also exhibits a low internal resistance and maintains a capacitive retention of 94% over 3000 cycles. The asymmetric capacitor also delivers an energy density of 117.1 Whkg?1 at a power density of 1290.1 Wkg?1. This work presents a straightforward method for modifying Ti3C2 through nitrogen doping and the insertion of MnO2 as an interlayer spacer to enhance electrochemical performance. Qatar University and Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2024. -
Scaling new heights: personal transformation through high altitude trekking in the Himalayas
In recent times, the human-nature continuum is being explored and studies have shown different kinds of terrains and nature evoke different emotional responses in individuals. Trekking in high-altitude mountains is one kind of nature and is special in terms of the height, the extent of naturalness and the experience of living in the wilderness that is involved. The current study focuses on understanding the experience of high-altitude trekking for novice Indian trekkers. The semi-structured interview data from eight participants who had gone on four different treks in the Himalayas was analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. The following themes- motivational factors, preparation, environmental shift, social relationships, psychological impact and physical impact- emerged with personal transformation being the essence of the experience. The themes bring forth the various psychological benefits of interacting with nature whilst facilitating social connection. The research emphasises the psychosocial benefits of the trekking experience and paves the way for a holistic approach towards health and well-being in theoretical and therapeutic approaches in the Indian scenario. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Outdoor Education Australia 2025. -
A hybrid multi-optimizer approach using CNN and GB for accurate prediction of citrus fruit diseases
Efficient prediction of citrus fruit diseases is essential for maintaining orchard health and productivity. Traditional diagnostic methods, often relying on manual inspection, are labor-intensive and prone to inaccuracies. Deep learning techniques, especially Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), offer an automated and accurate alternative. This study introduces a novel model integrating CNN with Gradient Boosting (GB) and optimized using the Nesterov-Accelerated Adaptive Moment Estimation (Nadam) optimizer to enhance prediction accuracy. The model employs a custom CNN architecture combined with GB, leveraging Nadam for faster convergence and improved performance. Trained on a dataset of 3,000 citrus fruit images sourced from Kaggle, the model follows a structured process of preprocessing, feature extraction, integration of GB with CNN, and optimal prediction. Comparative analysis using metrics such as accuracy, precision, F1 score, and recall demonstrates the model's effectiveness, achieving an accuracy of 98.03% and precision of 98.04%. This robust approach addresses limitations of traditional methods by enabling automated feature extraction and reliable disease prediction. The proposed CNN-GB-Nadam model significantly enhances efficiency and reliability, providing a valuable tool for protecting citrus fruit health and improving orchard management practices. The Author(s) 2025. -
Design and validation of minimal jerk lane changing manoeuvre for adaptive cruise control in electric vehicles
Vehicle stability largely depends on the driving conditions and the driver. In Autonomous vehicles the stability of the vehicle is an important factor and is directly related to safety. When performing the steering manoeuvres during overtaking or during turns, the autonomous features should ensure that the vehicle remains stable. This work focuses on design and development of a steering manoeuvre that ensures smooth operation during overtaking and turns. The model will be implemented along with Adaptive Cruise Control and Anti-Lock Braking mechanism. The validation of the model is performed in IPG CarMaker software. The software is linked with Matlab/Simulink which enables to operate the model at the backend to perform the validation of the safety and stability features. Article Highlights Proposes a minimal jerk-based lane-changing maneuver for smoother Adaptive Cruise Control in EVs. Integrates real-time optimization for dynamic driving conditions using MATLAB/Simulink and IPG CarMaker. Combines minimal jerk control, Adaptive Cruise Control, and ABS to enhance safety and skid prevention. The Author(s) 2025. -
A hybrid ensemble framework with particle swarm optimization for network anomaly detection
The increasing complexity of cyber threats necessitates the development of a robust and adaptive Intrusion Detection System (IDS) capable of safeguarding network infrastructures. Traditional IDS approaches often struggle to detect sophisticated attacks due to their reliance on predefined patterns. We propose an adaptive particle swarm optimization (PSO)-optimized ensemble learning framework tailored to address these challenges in modern IDS applications. Our approach leverages the NSL-KDD and CICIDS datasets to ensure the IDS is trained and evaluated on data reflecting current network behaviours and threat landscapes. We evaluate multiple machine learning models, including Decision Trees (DT), Artificial Neural Networks (ANN), K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), Random Forests (RF), and an ensemble of these models for both binary and multi-class classification tasks. By incorporating adaptive mechanisms within the PSO algorithm, our framework dynamically adjusts hyperparameters during optimization, enhancing model robustness and convergence speed. The proposed framework is also benchmarked against state-of-the-art IDS approaches, including ASRL and PSOGSA. Empirical evaluations demonstrate that the ensemble model achieves superior detection accuracy and reduced false positive rates, thereby advancing the efficacy of intrusion detection methodologies. The Author(s) 2025. -
Explainable artificial intelligence enhanced quantum-inspired spider monkey optimization for a constrained portfolio optimization proble
Optimizing portfolios has consistently posed significant challenges while being an extensively researched subject in finance and accounting. This process requires selecting and distributing appropriate assets in alignment with a set of specified objectives. This nonlinear constraint issue is not effectively solvable using traditional methods. This paper investigates the use of spider monkey optimization, ageist spider monkey optimization, and a newly proposed enhanced spider monkey optimization technique for portfolio optimization problems. The explainability of the spider monkey optimization has been improved without compromising the optimization results. It has been observed that the proposed technique marginally enhances the results of spider monkey optimization and can improve trust and risk management in the portfolio optimization problem. Furthermore, a quantum-inspired version of the proposed method is also implemented, and the results are compared using three benchmarked datasets from Dow Jones, BSE, and NASDAQ. Experimental results obtained using these benchmark datasets demonstrate that the newly introduced technique within the quantum-inspired framework marginally outperforms all other methods in the classical and quantum-inspired domains. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2025. -
UV-C and gamma radiation mediated L-DOPA production from in-vitro cultures of Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC
This is the first report on UV-C and gamma rays mediated in-vitro elicitation of L-DOPA from Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC. cell suspension cultures. Gamma and ultraviolet rays are used on plants to induce mutations which results in activation of defence cascades and production of secondary metabolites due to this abiotic stress. The in-vitro callus developed from 0.5mg/L picloram was suspended into liquid medium and exposed to different time intervals (0, 15, 30, 45 and 60min) of UV-C radiations. On the other hand, the seeds were directly exposed to different doses (25, 50, 100, 150 and 200Gy) of gamma radiations and these irradiated seeds were grown in-vitro from which callus and cell cultures were established. From all these in-vitro cultures, the anti-Parkinsons drug L-DOPA was quantified using HPLC. 60 and 30-minute exposure of UV-C radiations resulted in highest biomass (193.27g/L FW) and L-DOPA production (5.13mg/g DW) respectively both showing a 1.5-fold increase than the control. In gamma radiation studies, 100Gy (Gy) dose showed the highest (83%) seed germination rate, 150Gy increased the in-vitro root and shoot length, while 100Gy increased the biomass of the cell cultures. Also, 150Gy dose showed a 6.1, 2.6 and 2.4-fold increase in L-DOPA production in the in-vitro roots, in-vitro shoots, and cell suspension culture respectively when compared to the control. UV light exposure of 30min and 150Gy doses of gamma radiation showed a significant increase in L-DOPA production. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Society for Plant Research 2024. -
The impact of Bacillus subtilis NJ22, a Fe-resilient soil isolate as a potent plant Growth-Promoting agent to Spinacia oleracea L
A soil isolate Bacillus subtilis NJ22 showed remarkable Fe tolerance up to 500g/mL. Along with Nitrogen fixation and phosphate and potassium solubilisation, the isolate NJ22 also showed other plant growth promoting traits including IAA, Ammonia, Siderophore, HCN production capabilities. The isolate, NJ22 substantially improved the growth of Spinacia oleracea in Fe-stressed soil. Soluble Fe content increased in soil containing PGPR. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Society for Plant Research 2025. -
A study on resonant vibro-acoustography for tissue heating: a pathway towards breast cancer detection
Purpose: Develop a new active thermography method for breast cancer detection. Methods: The computational tissue was excited at its resonant frequency using the vibro-acoustography technique. A nonlinear acoustic wave equation was solved using the finite element method to analyze the propagation of the acoustic wave within the computational phantom. The computational approach included separate calculations for the temperature in the focal region, considering both acoustic absorption and vibration effects. The study was validated through experimental tests using an agar phantom. Results: Depending on the tissues attenuation coefficient, the applied ultrasonic signal generates localized heating in the target area. Malignant breast tissue typically exhibits a higher attenuation coefficient than healthy tissue. Consequently, ultrasonic signals lead to an elevated temperature in such tissue. When a focused ultrasound is applied to heterogeneous tissue for 90 seconds using a dual transducer, the temperature can increase by. In contrast, using the same input power level in healthy tissue causes a temperature increase of only. Enhanced temperature levels achieved through this acoustic method can improve thermal contrast in deeper tumors when thermography is employed. With the application of this acoustic force, it becomes possible to detect a tumor of 3 mm at a depth of 10 mm, whereas, in the absence of this source, such a tumor of this size can only be detected when it is located at a depth of 4 mm. Approximately 22% of the simulated temperature rise from vibrational effects can be attributed to ultrasound forces in resonant modes. The experimental results further validated the simulation results. Conclusion: The suggested resonant vibro-acoustography technique represents an effective approach to increasing thermal contrast between malignant and normal tissue. Significance: This approach can serve as an active thermography method for detecting breast cancer. Since the resonant frequency varies across different stages of the disease and the acoustic attenuation coefficient is higher in affected tissues than in normal ones, this technique can improve thermal contrast through vibration and acoustic absorption. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to The Brazilian Society of Biomedical Engineering 2026. -
Influence of fruit and vegetable waste substrates on the nutritional profile of black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae and prepupa
The black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens, larva is widely recognized for efficiently converting organic biowaste into high-quality biomass, making it a key player in organic waste management. However, the nutritional value of the black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) is dependent on the substrates they feed on. This study investigated the nutritional profiles of different stages of BSFL- 3rd instar to 5th, and prepupa, reared on two distinct organic wastes, namely fruit (FW) and vegetable waste (VW). Analysis of crude protein, carbohydrate, crude lipid, minerals, and fatty acid composition was conducted across various growth stages, such as 3rd instar to 5th instar, and prepupa. The prepupa stage reared on FW exhibited the highest crude protein content (54.16 0.64%), while VW 5th instarhad the highest crude lipid content (12.4 0.20%). BSFL reared on FW displayed a high fatty acid composition with higher saturated fatty acids (SFA), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), regardless of the substrate. Calcium and potassium were the most abundant minerals in BSFL, followed by magnesium, manganese and zinc, with substantial concentration variations between substrates. Amino acid profiling focused only on BSFL reared on FW, due to superior results in the chemical composition analysis, revealing that the prepupal stage contained the highest amount of essential and non-essential amino acids compared to the other stages. This study suggests that BSFL meal has the potential to serve as a novel and sustainable source of nutrient-rich animal feed ingredients in aquaculture and other animal husbandry practices. African Association of Insect Scientists 2025. -
Microbial degradation of textile dye reactive blue 250 (RB 250) by the novel Pseudomonas aeruginosa RGB11: a sustainable approach
Untreated textile effluent discharge has increased due to rapid industrialization and human activity, posing a serious and growing threat to environmental well-being over the past few decades. This study isolates a novel bacterial strain, Pseudomonas aeruginosa RGB11, from sewage sludge capable of degrading the azo dye Reactive Blue 250 dye (RB 250) as identified via 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Decolorization of RB 250 was tested in Minimal Salt Media (MSM) throughout the studies. Under static conditions, pH 7, and 37C, the dye showed 88.91% decolorization after 24h, which increased to 96.27% at pH 9 and 93.15%at 45C. Adding 1% w/v sucrose and yeast extract as carbon and nitrogen sources increased the decolorization to 96.83% and 97.54%, respectively. A study on growth kinetics over 8h showed that as the Optical Density (OD) of bacteria increased at 600nm, the absorbance of the dye decreased at 604nm, indicating the bacterial role in the decolorization process. FT-IR analysis of the metabolite extracted after decolorization revealed the shift in the intensity of the characteristic peak of the RB 250 dye and the formation of new peaks, which can be attributed to the degradation of dye and generation of intermediates in the decolorized solution. The LCMS study further confirms degradation as the parental peak in the dye disappeared and smaller new peaks were observed, possibly due to breakage of characteristic bonds in dye like the azo bond. Haemolysis test on blood agar demonstrated gamma haemolysis confirming that the novel strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa RGB11 doesnt produce haemolysins and is a non-pathogenic strain. Thus, emphasizing the efficiency of Pseudomonas aeruginosa RGB11 as potential candidate for dye decolourizer for textile effluents. It has immense potential to serve as a contributor to environmental studies by providing a means of sustainable bioremediation for textile effluents. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Sociedade Brasileira de Microbiologia 2025. -
Impact of WO3:CeO2@MXene/gC3N4 nano disk on sunlight-driven photocatalytic removal of fluoroquinolone antibiotic and high-performance supercapacitor application
This research highlights the use of a WO3:CeO2@MXene/gC3N4 (MGWC) nanodisk as a versatile material. MGWC demonstrates efficient photocatalytic degradation of moxifloxacin (MOF) in water under sunlight and also shows great promise for high-performance supercapacitor applications. MGWC was synthesized using a modified hydrothermal method and thoroughly characterized using various techniques. The MGWC showed a band gap energy of 2.79eV determined through UVVis DRS analysis and an average crystallite size of 39.6nm calculated from XRD. A promising photocatalytic activity was observed for the degradation of MOF, outperforming other photocatalysts. Additionally, preliminary studies examined variations in catalyst concentration, pH, kinetics, electrolytes, scavengers, reusability, and TOC, contributing valuable insights. Under optimal conditions, the MOF achieved almost complete degradation, reaching about 99.7% within 180min using the MGWC photocatalyst. Additionally, MGWC exhibits promising potential in supercapacitor applications. EIS and CV studies have been used to examine MGWCs exceptional charge transfer properties. CV tests confirm the pseudo-capacitive nature of MGWC electrodes. GCD studies of MGWC exhibit a high specific capacitance of 551 F/g at 1 A/g with incomparable capacitance retention of 98.1% over 10,000 cycles. This research not only aids in reducing emerging environmental pollutants but also sets the stage for sustainable energy solutions. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Korean Carbon Society 2025. -
Design and Implementation of a Single Phase Resonant Converter with Natural Power Factor Correction for Onboard Electric Vehicle Charging Applications
The proposed converter introduces a dual inductor dual capacitor (LCLC) resonant configuration by integrating the series inductance as the transformers leakage inductance and adding a parallel capacitor to the magnetizing inductance, enhancing power density and efficiency. Dual inductor capacitor (LLC) resonant converters used for alternating current to direct current (AC/DC) conversion are highly suitable for electric vehicle (EV) chargers due to their superior efficiency, high power density, and soft switching capabilities. This work increases power density by minimizing the size of the series inductor typically required in LLC converters through integration with the transformers leakage inductance. To control the output DC voltage, switching frequency control is utilized. However, the power factor of AC/DC resonant converters is generally poor. To improve the power factor, the proposed converter uses a boost converter at the front end, operating in discontinuous conduction mode (DCM) to achieve a unity displacement power factor. By sharing the same switches for both the power factor correction (PFC) and resonant stages, the converter is made more compact and cost effective. Furthermore, a bridgeless rectification technique is implemented to minimize the count of switching devices. The proposed topology and control strategy have been verified through hardware results on a 1500W LCLC AC/DC resonant converter with a 48 V, 30Ah lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery pack. This topology achieves high efficiency with zero voltage switching (ZVS), improved power factor, reduced component count, and a compact, cost effective design by sharing switches between PFC and resonant stages. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers 2026. -
Experimental Study on Warm Mix Asphalt Binders with a Focus on Rheological Performance
Warm mix asphalt (WMA) mixtures have been increasingly used in road construction due to their energy saving and environmental protect benefits. However, unsuitable additives were often adopted due to their variability and it often led to poorer quality of asphalt pavements. In this study, nine asphalt samples from two categories of warm mix additives, including six organic and three chemical additives, were prepared. The rotational viscosity test, temperature sweep test, linear amplitude sweep test (LAS), and bending beam rheometer (BBR) test were employed to comprehensively evaluate the effect of warm mix additives on the viscosity-reduction effect, high-temperature performance, fatigue resistance, and low-temperature performance of WMA, respectively. The results showed that the viscosity- reduction effect of organic additives was more significant compared to chemical additives. Besides, organic additives were generally favorable to the high-temperature and fatigue resistance of asphalt binders, but their effects on the low-temperature performance of asphalt binders were highly variable. Chemical additives had a limited effect on the high-temperature and fatigue resistance of asphalt binders. Meanwhile, the chemical additives have a marginally positive and stable impact on the low-temperature performance of asphalt binders. The findings provided a comprehensive basis for the selection and application of warm mix additives. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Chinese Society of Pavement Engineering 2025. -
Enhancing the Strength of Geopolymer Composites Synthesized from Iron Ore Tailings and Fly Ash for Use as Subgrade Material in Pavement Construction
As the idea of sustainable pavement becomes more important, an increasing number of industrial waste products and recycled materials are being used in the pavement industry to conserve natural resources. This study evaluates the potential use of iron ore tailings (IOT) blended with fly ash (FA) and activated with NaOHNa?SiO? solutions as a liquid alkaline activator (L) to synthesise IOT-FA geopolymers, which can be used as a sustainable material for the pavement subgrade layer. The influence of FA replacement levels and alkaline activator ratios on the geotechnical and microstructural behaviour of IOT was examined through compaction, unconfined compressive strength (UCS), and California bearing ratio (CBR) tests, supported by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) analyses. The results show that 20% FA replacement gives the optimal mix, resulting in a 28-day UCS improvement of over four times that of untreated IOT due to enhanced geopolymerization. The liquid alkaline-activated mixes achieved CBR values of ? 8, meeting IRC requirements for subgrade applications. SEM analysis revealed dense gel formation and improved particle bonding, while XRD results indicate the development of geopolymeric reaction products. TCLP results indicate that metal leaching remained within permissible limits, establishing the environmental safety of the developed composite. The thickness of the pavement layer was designed using IITPAVE software based on CBR values and assessed against IRC:372018 criteria. The analysis indicated a reduction in layer thickness for various daily commercial vehicle counts ie, CVPD (450,1000), across all evaluated combinations. Overall, the study demonstrates that alkaline-activated IOTFA mixtures offer a technically viable and sustainable alternative for pavement subgrade construction. Chinese Society of Pavement Engineering 2026. -
Melatonin seed priming enhances early seedling tolerance to individual and combined abiotic stresses in rice (Oryza sativa L.)
Combined drought and salinity pose a critical constraint to rice (Oryza sativa L.) seedling establishment, often exerting a greater impact than individual stresses such as drought, salinity, or heavy metals. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of melatonin seed priming (50M) in mitigating the combined effects of drought-salinity stress along with individual drought, salinity, and chromium (Cr) stress during the seedling stage in the indica variety IR64, and validated the findings across three major Indian cultivars (MTU1001, KMP-225 and Jyothi). Melatonin priming significantly mitigated stress-induced root and shoot inhibition. Under combined drought and salinity stress, melatonin-primed shoots (4.17cm) were significantly higher and maintained lower oxidative stress markers, with reduced malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide, compared to hydro-primed controls, indicating improved membrane stability and antioxidant protection. Under individual drought, salinity, and chromium stress, melatonin-primed seedlings showed significantly enhanced root and shoot lengths compared to hydro-primed controls, supporting better early growth and resource allocation. Spectral profiling revealed higher chlorophyll content and normalized difference vegetation index values in melatonin-primed seedlings under salinity and chromium stress, indicating improved pigment stability and seedling vigor. Across all genotypes, melatonin conferred consistent benefits, indicating its potential as a low-cost and potentially scalable strategy. These findings highlight melatonin seed priming as a promising approach for improving rice resilience, with significant potential for enhancing crop establishment in stress-prone, resource-limited agroecosystems. Akadiai KiadZrt. 2026.