Browse Items (11808 total)
Sort by:
-
Synergizing Insights for Precise Rice Leaf Disease Diagnosis Via Multi-Modal Fusion
Rice holds a significant position in India, especially in the southern part of the country, where people tend to eat some rice at least once a day. Farmers are facing a huge loss due to diseases in leaf, which is the main problem of agriculture. By using techniques like machine learning, main problems detection can be done. This review, discusses common plant diseases that affect the leaf. Some include Leaf Spots, Rusts, Fusarium Wilt, Early Blight, Powdery Mildew and Downey Mildew. Our research found that machine learning techniques on rice plants make finding diseases on leaves easier. Finally, we concluded that the most accurate method is the Enhanced VGG16, with an accuracy of 99.60% because it is really good at spotting diseases on rice leaves because it's great at recognizing the small details and patterns in leaf pictures. This helps it to tell the diseases apart more accurately and make fewer mistakes in identifying them. 2024 IEEE. -
Synergizing Humanity and Technology: A Human-Machine Collaboration for Business Sustainability in Industry 5.0
In the context of Industry 5.0, this paper emphasizes the crucial role of human-machine collaboration for sustainable business practices. It explores the need for a people-centric approach, recognizing the significance of the human workforce alongside advanced technologies. The study investigates three influential theoriesActor-Network Theory (ANT), Activity Theory, and Socio-Technical Systems Theory (STS)proposing a novel Socio-Technical Interaction Network (STIN) model that synthesizes their strengths. The STIN model views systems as intricate networks of diverse actors, both human and non-human, acknowledging their agency and interactions within socio-technical environments. By incorporating elements from each theory, it prioritizes contextual analysis, considering socio-cultural and environmental influences on human-technology interactions. The STIN model aims to provide a holistic lens for interdisciplinary research and guide the design of technology-infused systems aligned with human needs and societal contexts. In conclusion, human-machine collaboration is deemed not just a technological necessity but a strategic imperative for organizations striving for long-term sustainability in Industry 5.0, fostering adaptability, innovation, and sustainable practices. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2024. -
Synergistic g-c3n4/v2o5/pani composite for electrochemical energy storage
This work illustrates the synthesis of a ternary hybrid composite (g-C3N4/V2O5/PANI) from graphitic carbon nitride, vanadium pentoxide, and Polyaniline via hydrothermal method followed by in-situ polymerization. Morphological analysis confirms the integration of vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) and polyaniline (PANI) within the interlayer spaces of graphitic materials. The resultant hybrid composite structure facilitates rapid diffusion and ion movement at the electrode-electrolyte interface. Additionally, incorporating V2O5 within a polymer matrix alongside graphitic material generates diverse electrical profiles, enhancing electrochemical performance. The electrochemical characteristics of g-C3N4/V2O5/PANI composites were examined by Cyclic voltammetry (CV), Galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCD), and Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The GCD analysis shows that the g-C3N4/V2O5/PANI composite exhibits a specific capacitance of 880 Fg?1 at a current density of 1 Ag?1, retaining 78 % of its initial capacitance after executing 2000 cycles at 3 Ag?1. Furthermore, a symmetric supercapacitor was constructed using g-C3N4/V2O5/PANI composite material as the electrode, showing a capacitance of 246 Fg?1 when measured at an input current density of 1 Ag?1. This study demonstrates g-C3N4/V2O5/PANI is a potential electrode material for supercapacitor application. 2024 -
Synergistic fabrication, characterization, and prospective optoelectronic applications of DES grafted activated charcoal dispersed PVA films
This study investigates the synthesis, analysis, and utility of films comprising deep eutectic solvent (DES) grafted activated charcoal (AC) within a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) matrix for optoelectronic device applications. The fabrication process involves the dispersion of DES functionalization AC into the PVA solution, followed by casting onto substrates with controlled drying. Comprehensive characterization encompassing X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UVvis spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and impedance spectroscopy which discerns the films microstructure, morphology, conductance, band-gap, and optical traits. The DES grafted AC infusion with variable concentration has significantly influenced optical absorbance and reduced the band gap indicating efficient charge mobility. Furthermore, the impedance analysis has revealed the electrical conduction of the film to be 1.8 10?6 ??1 m?1. In summary, the dispersion of DES modified AC in the PVA matrix have converted the insulating PVA to a semiconducting polymeric film with reduced band-gap and increased absorption, which present a propitious avenue for wide array of optoelectronic devices, such as thin film transistors, photovoltaics, LEDs, photodetectors, and many such applications. 2024 The Authors. Polymers for Advanced Technologies published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. -
Synergistic effects of graphene oxide grafted chitosan & decorated MnO2 nanorods composite materials application in efficient removal of toxic industrial dyes
In this study, we designed a heterogeneous graphene oxide (GO) grafted on chitosan decorated with MnO2 nanorods (?-MnO2NRs/GO-Chit) composite materials and its ability to remove the cationic and anionic toxic dyes from wastewaters were analysed. The synthesised materials presented an effective stabilization of active MnO2 nanorods (NRs) on the GO-Chit surface. The synthesised materials were detailed characterised by several spectroscopic and microscopic techniques such as, FT-IR, P-XRD, SEM, TEM, Raman, TGA, XPS, BET, CO2-TPD and UVVisible analysis. In addition, ?-MnO2NRs/GO-Chit material is successfully applied in removal of industrial ionic dyes such as amido black 10B (AB) and methylene blue (MB), respectively. The dye adsorption experiments confirmed that the GO-Chit/?-MnO2 NRs material exhibited remarkably high adsorption capacity in efficient removal of cationic dye methylene blue (MB) and anionic dye amido black 10B (AB). The maximum MB dye removal (97%) process completed in 24 min at C0 = 30 mgL?1, but in the case of AB the maximum dye removal (80%) process was reached in 700 min. Over GO-Chit/?-MnO2 NRs hybrid material, a maximum theoretical monolayer adsorption (qmax values is 328.9 mg g?1) of MB was calculated from the Langmuir isotherm equation. In case MB, a faster adsorption and 2.18 times maximum adsorption capacity was achieved than that of AB10 dye. The enhanced adsorption over ?-MnO2NRs/GO-Chit is due to the increased surface functionalities (i.e., oxygen-containing groups), high basicity and strong electrostatic forces between MnO2 nanorods and GO-Chit. Furthermore, ?-MnO2NRs/GO-Chit hybrid material displayed good stability after 10 successive adsorption tests. 2022 Elsevier Ltd -
Synergistic effects of CuO/TiO2-chitosan-farnesol nanocomposites: Synthesis, characterization, antimicrobial, and anticancer activities on melanoma cells SK-MEL-3
The current investigation focuses on synthesizing copper oxide (CuO)-titanium oxide (TiO2)-chitosan-farnesol nanocomposites with potential antibacterial, antifungal, and anticancer properties against Melanoma cells (melanoma cells [SK-MEL-3]). The nanocomposites were synthesized using the standard acetic acid method and subsequently characterized using an X-ray diffractometer, scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The results from the antibacterial tests against Streptococcus pneumoniae and Stapylococcus aureus demonstrated significant antibacterial efficacy. Additionally, the antifungal studies using Candida albicans through the agar diffusion method displayed a considerable antifungal effect. For evaluating the anticancer activity, various assays such as MTT assay, acridine orange/ethidium bromide dual staining assay, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation assay, and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) analysis were conducted on SK-MEL-3 cells. The nanocomposites exhibited the ability to induce ROS generation, decrease MMP levels, and trigger apoptosis in SK-MEL-3 cells. Collectively, the findings demonstrated a distinct pattern for the synthesized bimetallic nanocomposites. Furthermore, these nanocomposites also displayed significant (p < 0.05) antibacterial, antifungal, and anticancer effects when tested on the SK-MEL-3 cell line. 2023 Wiley-VCH GmbH. -
Synergistic effect of metals and cross linkers on surface modification of iron aluminum oxyhydroxide-PVA polymer films for enhanced catalytic activity in transesterification reaction
Iron-incorporated aluminum oxyhydroxide polyvinyl alcohol films (Fe-Al-PVA) were synthesized using the solgel method. The influence of cross-linking agents on the aluminum oxyhydroxide films was investigated by incorporating glutaraldehyde into the synthesized films. Various characterization techniques were employed to understand the physico-chemical properties that affect the catalytic and adsorptive behavior of the self-supported films. The liquid phase transesterification of terpenes was used to test the catalytic activity of the films for the synthesis of industrially important terpene esters. The products were analyzed using GC, GCMS, and NMR techniques, and optimization studies were carried out under different experimental conditions. The reaction scope was expanded to a wider range of organic compounds, and a possible reaction mechanism was proposed. This study demonstrates the design and modification of efficient bimetallic polymer film catalyst for organic transformations. 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC. -
Synergistic Effect of Chemical and Physical Treatments on Azolla pinnata for Cadmium Ions Removal from Synthetic Wastewater Systems
Azolla pinnata, an aquatic fern has been utilized as an effective biofiltering and ad-sorbent agent to complement many convention-al treatment methods for the removal of environmental pollutants. This study is designed to develop an effective regime to treat metal pollutants of industrial and urban waste discharge using a novel strategy involving Azolla pinnata. In the present study, cell surface modification by physical treatments that include heating (muffle furnace), and mechanical waves (ultrasonication) and chemical treatments as sulphuric acid and ethanol were employed to enhance the adsorption of metal pollutants. Factors such as biosorbent dose, contact time, initial metal ion concentration, temperature, and solution pH were optimised in batch mode. The point of zero charge of the adsorbent was determined to be at 5.85 pH. The results of surface morphology, elemental analysis, crystallinity, recorded through SEM, FTIR and XRD confirmed the ad-sorptive properties in both modified and unmod-ified biomass. The intensity peaks linked to O-H, C-H, C-N, N-H and C=O stretching bands was intense in the treated A. pinnata groups indicat-ing the induction of the active groups. Out of the two chemical pre-treatments, the batch ad-sorption experiment with ethanol found to che-late Cd+2 metal ions to a higher extent (94.36%) in contrast to the results obtained from H2SO4 treated biomass. Whereas, the physical treat-ments exhibited the strong adsorption (83.28 and 96.920.55%) for ultrasonicated and muf-fle furnace pre-treated biomass respectively for the dosage of 0.25g. The adsorption efficiency of physically modified sorbent revealed the cent percent removal of Cd+2 ions from the aqueous phase with the dosage of 1.0g in 15min of con-tact time which is due to the incorporation of new binding sites. Moreover, these results proved that the highest rate of cadmium adsorption onto A. pinnata is in result of the modifications caused onto surface structure, porosity and the addition of functional groups on the surface of the treated biomass. 2024, Curr. Trends Biotechnol. Pharm. All rights reserved. -
Synergistic effect of bio-nanocarbon embedded polymer nanocomposite and its applications
For applications involving sustainable materials, bio-nanocarbon was examined as a material to improve the properties of fiber-reinforced nanobiocomposite. A thorough investigation has been conducted using nano biocarbon as a filler and reinforcing material. However, the composite's inferior mechanical, physical, and thermal properties are a result of a poor fiber-matrix interface. As a result, in this study, biocarbon nanoparticles were created and used as functional components to enhance the properties of polymeric composite materials. To emphasize the scientific and technological issues that need to be resolved in order to create artificial composites with bio-inspired structures, recent studies of bio-inspired nano-carbon composites are discussed in this study. These include the production techniques for resolving the nanocarbon dispersion problem and creating bio-inspired structures, as well as the microstructure and composite characteristics characterization. In order to reveal natural design principles and serve as a resource for future research, bio-inspired composites and their applications are thoroughly examined and explained. 2023 Bentham Science Publishers. -
Synergistic Co-grafting of multiwalled carbon nanotubes using SO3H and choline chloride-urea in fabricating uniform thin films with enhanced visible light transparency and reduced sheet resistance
New materials and innovative modification methods are indispensable to advance the energy field. The present work reports the fabrication of transparent conducting electrodes using Multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) that have been modified with sulfonic acid (SO3H) and a combination of Choline Chloride-Urea/Sulfonic acid (DES/SO3H). A comprehensive investigation was conducted to ascertain the impact of employing DES and SO3H in achieving consistent and long-lasting dispersions of multiwalled carbon nanotubes in different solvents and the most favourable condition was achieved when employing n-heptanol. The films were fabricated on glass substrate by using the spray pyrolysis technique. The stability of the system following the modification was unequivocally confirmed by SEM analysis, while the electronic structure was assessed qualitatively by EDX analysis. Optical profilometry analysis revealed that the film thickness fell within the range of 350385 nm. The co-grafted film demonstrated an optical transparency of approximately 84.96%, modestly exceeding that of the singly grafted film, which was determined to be 70.14% in the visible region. The sheet resistance of DES/S-MWCNT and S-MWCNTs was calculated to be approximately 3.33k?/Sq and 5.02k?/Sq, respectively. The calculated charge transfer resistance (RCT) for the co-grafted and singly grafted MWCNT systems was 0.185? and 0.190?, respectively. These values align closely with the corresponding sheet resistance values obtained. The electrochemical investigations also showed an increased specific capacity for DES/S-MWCNT, approximately 896.2C/g, whereas the calculated value for the S-MWCNT system was 826.8C/g. 2024 Elsevier B.V. -
Synergistic advancements in energy storage: g-C3N4/NiFe2O4/PANI composite with augmented electrochemical capabilities
This study examines the electrochemical behaviour of a hybrid composite material of graphitic carbon nitride/Nickel ferrite/Polyaniline (g-C3N4/NiFe2O4/PANI) synthesized by hydrothermal method, coupled with in-situ polymerisation. The ensuing g-C3N4/NiFe2O4/PANI composite demonstrates superior characteristics for energy storage applications. Through a comprehensive analysis, we elucidate the combined effects of the distinct components, revealing improved electrochemical properties. The composite exhibits improved galvanostatic charge/discharge exhibiting a specific capacitance of 770 Fg?1 at 1 Ag?1 current density. This research underscores the perspective of the g-C3N4/NiFe2O4/PANI composite as a promising candidate for advanced energy storage systems. 2024 Elsevier Ltd -
Synergetic effects of cross-linking and incorporation of Fe-Al bimetallic combination on the properties of polyvinyl alcohol novel films
Polyvinyl alcohol films incorporated with Fe-Al bimetallic combination novel films were synthesized by sol-gel method in the presence of glutaraldehyde (GA). The results of FTIR spectra confirmed the cross-linking between PVA and GA, resulted in the formation of rigid molecular chains. The comparison of thermograms of pure PVA and Fe-Al PVA films cured with GA indicated the enhanced thermal stability of the cured films. The electrical properties of the pure PVA films and bimetallic PVA films cured with GA were studied in the frequency range 100 Hz to 100 kHz. The current study explains the effect of GA and incorporation of Fe-Al bimetallic combination towards the structural modification and dielectric properties like dielectric constant, dielectric loss, ac conductivity, polarization, and permittivity of the cured PVA films. The variation of the storage modulus of cured PVA films as a function of temperature has also been studied. 2023, Qatar University and Springer Nature Switzerland AG. -
Synergetic Effect of Metal Nanoparticle Embedded Graphene Membrane : A Novel Approach for Antimicrobial Filtration
Water, the elixir of life, holds a profound significance that extends far beyond its essential utility. It's not just a resource; it pulsates as the life force of our existence, intricately woven into the very fabric of our daily lives. Water is the silent force that shapes our world, from nurturing our health and sustaining social structures to fueling economic development and fostering the environment. However, the adequacy of potable water quality confronts adverse impacts stemming from inadequate wastewater treatment, escalating domestic and industrial waste, and the microbial contamination of surface water sources. Furthermore, climate change emerges as a pivotal factor intensifying the depletion of water levels in natural resources due to diminished rainfall. Reports project that, by 2025, two-thirds of global population might contend with water scarcity. Given the persistence of current scenario, there exists a notable potential for significant conflicts among nations stemming from water scarcity. However, such a predicament can be mitigated through proactive measures, including the preservation of natural resources and the implementation of advanced technologies to recover fresh water from contaminated sources. Advanced technologies for the purification of contaminated water encompass sedimentation, precipitation, filtration, and ion exchange, which can effectively extract clean water from diverse impurities. Notably, membrane-based purification has gained prominence in recent years, owing to its cost- effectiveness and energy-saving attributes. Carbon-based nanomaterials, including carbon nanotubes,fullerenes and graphene have garnered considerable attention in recent research studies, particularly in the realm of membrane applications. Within this, membranes fabricated by carbon nanotubes (CNT) stand out, showcasing exceptional filtering properties attributed to their tubular carbon structure. However, the cost-effectiveness and ease of synthesis impediments pose significant challenges, acting as bottlenecks for their widespread application in water purification. Consequently, graphene-based membranes emerge as a promising alternative to CNT membranes, demonstrating selective separation of ions and molecules. Specifically, membranes derived from graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) exhibit superior filtering capabilities compared to ceramic and polymeric counterparts, owing to their layered structure featuring tunable nanochannels, hydrophilic or hydrophobic nature, and commendable mechanical resilience. Graphene oxide solution synthesis has been done using Hummer's method, followed by fabrication of high-quality membranes through vacuum filtration techniques. Current work emphasis on recognizing the pivotal influence of membrane thickness on both water flux and dye rejection, meticulous optimization of filtration properties by producing graphene oxide (GO) membranes at various concentrations. Furthermore, reduction of graphene oxide through the hydrothermal method, enabling a comprehensive comparative analysis of water flux and rejection between graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) membranes was carried out. In our investigation, the results unequivocally validate that the GO 500 sample exhibits optimized filtration properties. Furthermore, the reduced graphene oxide (rGO) variant surpasses graphene oxide (GO) in terms of filtration efficacy, demonstrating superior filtering properties. It is noteworthy to highlight that reduced graphene oxide (rGO) exhibits less antibacterial properties compared to graphene oxide (GO). The disinfection capability of the membrane is pivotal in ensuring the recovery of pure water. To bolster the antibacterial features of GO, we have undertaken an enhancement strategy by incorporating silver nanoparticles. Silver nanoparticle, showcases multifaceted properties including surface plasmon resonance and unique morphologies, which contribute significantly to the inactivation of bacteria. The conducted studies reveal that membranes incorporating graphene oxide with silver (GO-Ag) exhibit remarkable antibacterial properties against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Additionally, these membranes demonstrate appreciable filtration capabilities and exhibit effective antifouling properties, further emphasizing their potential for advanced applications in water purification systems. Fouling is a significant challenge in membrane technology, as the continuous passage of contaminants results in the formation of layers on membrane surface, thereby diminishing its filtration efficiency. Despite the antifouling properties exhibited by GO- Ag membranes, there exists further improvement in enhancing performance and extending the membrane's lifespan. To address this, we have undertaken a reduction of graphene oxide and incorporated silver nanoparticles, aiming to augment the antifouling properties and overall efficacy of membrane. The conclusive findings indicate that fine-tuned membrane exhibits remarkable antibacterial properties, superior filtration capabilities, and a minimal irreversible fouling ratio. These outcomes provide confirmation that the fabricated membranes stand as potential materials for water purification applications, showcasing a well-rounded set of properties essential for effective and sustainable water treatment. -
Synchronous learning and asynchronous learning during COVID-19 pandemic: a case study in India
Purpose: This research aims to study the students' perspectives on synchronous and asynchronous learning during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Both synchronous and asynchronous learning approaches used in online education have positive and negative outcomes. Hence, the aim is to study online education's positive and negative consequences, reflecting sync and async approaches. This research followed a mixed research approach. The key stakeholders of this research are the Indian educational institutions and students. Design/methodology/approach: This research collected data from the students undergoing synchronous and asynchronous learning amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic. The data were collected (N=655) from various students taking online classes during the pandemic. A questionnaire survey was distributed to the students through online platforms to collect the data. In this research, the authors have collected data using simple random sampling, and the same has been used for data analysis using SPSS version 26. The collected data were exposed to a factor analysis using a principal component analysis technique to reduce the vast dimensions. Findings: The study findings show that synchronous learning is sometimes stressful, placing more responsibility on students mainly because of the increased screen time. At the same time, asynchronous learning allows the students to self-explore and research the topics assigned to them. Students also felt that asynchronous activities create a burden because of many written assignments to be submitted within a short period. Overall, the COVID-19 pandemic has been challenging for the students and the teachers. However, teachers have helped students to learn through digital platforms. The majority of the respondents opined that technological disruptions and death in the family circle had been significant reasons for not concentrating during online classes. However, the combination of synchronous and asynchronous learning has led to a balanced education. Practical implications: Higher education has undergone multiple transformations in a short period (from March 2020, 2021 and beyond). Educational institutions underwent a rapid transition in remote teaching and learning in the initial stages. As time progressed, educational institutions did course navigation where they relooked into their course plans, syllabus and brought a structural change to match the pandemic requirements. Meanwhile, educational institutions slowly equipped themselves with infrastructure facilities to bring academic integrity. At present, educational institutions are ready to face the new normality without disrupting services to society. Social implications: Educational institutions create intellectual capital, which is important for the development of the economy. In the light of COVID-19, there are new methods and approaches newly introduced or old methods and approaches, which are reimplemented, and these approaches always work for the benefit of the student community. Originality/value: The authors collected data during the COVID-19 pandemic; it helped capture the students' experience about synchronous and asynchronous learning. Students and faculty members are newly exposed to synchronous and asynchronous learning, and hence, it is essential to determine the outcome that will help many stakeholders. 2022, Cassandra Jane Fernandez, Rachana Ramesh and Anand Shankar Raja Manivannan. -
Symmetric Supercapacitors based on Reduced Graphene Oxide/Multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes/Cobalt Oxide Ternary Composites
Ternary nanocomposites of reduced graphene oxide/multi-walled carbon nanotubes/cobalt oxide nanoparticles (rGO/MWCNT/Co3O4) were synthesized employing a facile hydrolysis method with subsequent heat treatment. The good electrical conductivity and remarkable carrier mobility of rGO and MWCNTs make them a suitable matrix for hybrid supercapacitors, and their composites with metal oxides exhibit enhanced electrochemical properties due to the advantages of the synergistic contribution and the integration of different dimensionalities. The binary counterparts of Co3O4 with GO or MWCNTs were also produced using the same technique to gain additional insight into the characteristics of the individual components. The structural and morphological properties of the composites were analyzed using various analytical techniques. The electrochemical behaviors of the prepared composites were investigated using cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic chargedischarge (GCD), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in 1 M H2SO4. A platinum electrode modified with the rGO/MWCNT/Co3O4 composite displayed a remarkable specific capacitance of 922 F g?1 at a current density of 1 A g?1 composite with a negligible capacitance drop after 2000 cycles. The symmetric supercapacitor fabricated using the rGO/MWCNT/Co3O4 composite showed an energy density of 32.2 Wh Kg?1 at 1 A g?1, and the corresponding power density was 2000 W Kg?1. The supercapacitor fabricated using the composite displayed 83% capacitance retention after 2000 cycles at 3 A g?1 composite. 2023 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. -
Symmetric supercapacitor based on Co3O4 nanoparticles with an improved specific capacitance and energy density
Metal oxides have garnered significant research interest as highly effective electrode materials for supercapacitors. In this study, we synthesized Co3O4, an electrode material for supercapacitors, utilizing an in-situ hydrothermal method with varying pH levels in the precursor solution. The obtained samples underwent through structural, optical, surface morphological, electrical, and electrochemical analyses, affirming their exceptional suitability for supercapacitor applications. The influence of pH fluctuations in the synthesis process, on the specific capacitance values were analyzed. The X-ray diffraction pattern and Raman spectrum confirmed the normal cubic spinel structure of Co3O4 nanoparticles. The X-ray photoelectron spectrum revealed the chemical bond states of Co3O4. The optical bandgap have been investigated from the Tauc plot. The surface area and morphology were determined through Brunauer Emmett and Teller method and field emission scanning electron microscope images. A high specific capacitance of 1195.05 Fg?1 at a current density of 1.5 Ag?1 was obtained in the three-electrode study for the sample synthesized at a pH of 10. A symmetric supercapacitor (SSC) device was fabricated to facilitate practical analysis. The symmetric supercapacitor device demonstrated a notably elevated specific capacitance of 870.6 Fg?1 at an operational current density of 5 Ag?1, concurrently achieving an enhanced energy density of 77.3 W h/kg and superior power density of 1997.7 W/kg. These performance metrics surpassed those of prior studies in the field. Furthermore, the SSC device exhibited an excellent cyclic stability of 88 % after undergoing 970 charge/discharge cycles. As a result, Co3O4 emerges as a promising and efficient electrode material for applications in supercapacitors. 2024 Elsevier Ltd -
Symbols as Photographic Texts in the Travel Narratives of Paulo Coelho
Brazilian writer Paulo Coelho de Souzas The Pilgrimage, The Alchemist, Zahir, Aleph and Hippie are known for using literary symbols to describe journeys where the protagonists travel to different destinations searching for something valuable. The author resorted to multiple religions, cultures, traditions, mythologies and folklore to derive inspiration to use those symbols and frame his philosophical thoughts. As the symbols used by Coelho can be deciphered in whatever way subject to personal interpretations, one way of understanding them can be from the perspectives of their already established meanings in religions, cultures, traditions, mythologies and folklore. Such a way of understanding limits the possible meanings that can be derived from those symbols. Moreover, another sign system is known for conveying limited meanings, usually called photographs. Though absolute material accuracy is seen as the hallmark of photography, the meaning of photographs also depends upon their interpretations, and photographic truth is considered a myth. Still, photographs possess documentary properties and convey limited meanings to a large extent. This thesis studied the idea of photography, defining the same by understanding the historical developments in photography over time. Knowing the definition and properties of photographs, it looked at how photographs convey limited meanings and exhibit 'iconic' properties in general. After isolating and studying the literary symbols used by Coelho in the five travel narratives mentioned above using the Peircean model of semiotic analysis, the thesis concludes that symbols act as photographic texts to a certain limit in the five novels, as they tend to move towards becoming 'iconic' from 'symbolic' if understood from the perspectives of their existing meanings in religions, cultures, traditions,mythologies and folklore. -
Symbiotic cyanobacteria in gymnosperms
Cyanobacteria are a widespread group of phototrophic bacteria that are morphologically diverse and present on almost every environment on earth. Many cyanobacteria are able to fix atmospheric nitrogen and thus are able to form symbiotic association with a wide range of eukaryotic hosts such as plants, fungi, sponges, and protists. Cyanobacteria are able to provide carbon to nonphotosynthetic hosts such as fungi, but their primary role is to supply fixed nitrogen to enable the host to flourish in nitrogen poor environments. In turn, cyanobionts get the benefits of protection from competition, predation, and environmental extremes. Of all the cyanobacterial symbiotic associations, this chapter focuses on understanding the symbiotic association between gymnosperm and cyanobacteria. Species belonging to phylum cycadophyta are associated with nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria (Nostoc species) through small specialized roots called coralloid roots. The cyanobionts are expected to have a heterotrophic mode of carbon nutrition, due to their location in coralloid roots (complete darkness). 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.