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Membrane Technology for Water Purification
Anu K. Biju, Ashna Viswambharan, ... Sabu Thomas 2026 Elsevier Inc. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.. -
Raman Spectroscopy Applied to Polymer Composites and Nanocomposites
Raman Spectroscopy Applied to Polymer Composites and Nanocomposites summarizes, in a comprehensive manner, recent research accomplishments in this important area. The book offers an in-depth study of the current state-of-the-art, covering the fundamentals and recent experimental developments. Almost all the characterization techniques coupled in situ with Raman spectroscopy are discussed in detail. The book also covers various aspects of polymer applications, as well as related topics in polymer composites and nanocomposites. Filled polymers, reinforced plastics, thermoplastics, thermosets, elastomers, and rubbers are also discussed. The book is designed to address all aspects of Raman spectroscopy with respect to polymers and measurements, along with experimental conditions. It contains numerous case study examples to illustrate how Raman spectroscopy coupled in situ with more classical techniques can be useful to enhance material performance. 2026 Elsevier Ltd. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies. -
A High-Capacity Reversible Data Hiding on Grayscale Images Using Threshold-Based Clustering
In the digital age, safeguarding confidential information from unauthorized access is critical. Data transmission occurs in various formats, including text, images, and videos, and while advancements have enhanced the efficiency and convenience of these processes, vulnerabilities in communication channels remain a concern. The proposed scheme secures communication by hiding secret data within a carrier image, visually making it undetectable to potential attackers. Steganography is challenging when transmitting huge quantities of secret data because there is a negotiation between data capacity and imperceptibility. The mastered framework uses grayscale images as a medium for the conveyance of high-capacity secret data. First, the threshold value is computed from the histogram and the statistical mode value. The threshold calculated in the initial step will be a crucial data embedding parameter in the proposed scheme. Then the carrier image is interpolated to increase its size to double. The expanded image is then segmented into 2X2 blocks, the block undergoes a segmentation function to decide whether the block value is above the threshold or below the threshold. Finally, the secret data is embedded into the pixel block based on the threshold value of the block. The secret data and the input image are extracted separately on the receiving end. Standard metrics, Peak Signal to Noise Ratio (PSNR), and Structure Similarity Index Metric (SSIM) are used to evaluate the efficiency of the proposed scheme. The values above 42 and 36 obtained for PSNR for low payload and high payload show the effectiveness of the mastered scheme. Statistical measures, such as mean, standard deviation, and entropy, are used to validate the efficiency of the scheme in ensuring data integrity and security during transmission. 2025 IEEE. -
A novel image compression method using wavelet coefficients and Huffman coding
Compressing medical images to reduce their size while maintaining their clinical and diagnostic information is crucial. Because medical images can be large and demand a lot of storage and transmission capacity, effective compression methods aid medical institutions in better storing and transmitting medical images, reducing costs, speeding up data transfer, and simplifying managing image databases. However, it is essential to note that image compression in medical imaging can also introduce drawbacks, such as loss of information and poor output image quality. Therefore, a suitable compression algorithm and parameter must be chosen to balance file size and visual fidelity. This paper suggests an effective image compression method employing the Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT), followed by a reduction operation and Huffman coding to produce a mere lossless encoding to transmit the images over a channel. The extracted DWT coefficients are mapped to the nearest integral value. All four sub-bands of DWT are joined, and then a window of 3 3 is selected for reduction operation by choosing the origin as the pivot element. The Huffman coding algorithm is used to compress the processed image. The pivot origin element is used in the reversible reduction while uncompressing the image. When sending compressed data across an unreliable route, the window size and pivot element selection keep the compressed data secure. Standard measures such as bits per pixel (BPP) and compression ratio (CR) are used to assess the suggested approach. The efficiency of the suggested course of action is supported by the research's findings, which use a peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) of 54.66 dB. 2023 The Authors -
Laccase-immobilized biochar as a unique host matrix for electrochemical detection of gallic acid: a sustainable engineering approach
An electrochemical platform for the detection of organic persistent polyphenolic pollutant, gallic acid (GA), was fabricated using an enzyme-immobilization approach over acid-functionalized biochar (f-BC) modified carbon fiber electrode (CFP) electrode. The f-BC was synthesized from dried pineapple leaves and was characterised using X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform-Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) for analysing the physicochemical characteristics. The SEM image of Lac/f-BC/CFP confirmed the presence of a porous and granulated surface upon laccase immobilization, while the FTIR spectrum confirmed the presence of C 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 11111111 00000000 11111111 00000000 00000000 00000000 O stretch and N-H bend, indicating amide bond formation. The acid treatment of biochar introduced -OH and -COOH groups that further aided in the successful immobilization of laccase via covalent bonding. The fabricated electrode could demonstrate a linear response within the concentration range of 0.012-40 ?M and a low detection limit (LOD) of 9 nM with high selectivity. The fabricated electrode also showcased high practical utility as it could attain high recovery percentage during real sample analysis in tap, pond, sewage and industrial effluent samples. 2025 The Royal Society of Chemistry. -
The Impact of Economically Weaker Section Reservation in India: A Study on the Syro Malabar Community in Kerala, India
India is renowned for its multifaceted unity amid diversity, which proves the harmonious fusion of different communities. This harmony is rooted in the Indian Constitution by ensuring social justice to all citizens regardless of their individual differences and unique characteristics. It is crafted with empathy and foresight to benefit the most disadvantaged sections of society. It includes provisions for reservation programs under Articles 15 and 16 to combat discrimination and promote inclusiveness in the present Indian societal scenario. The 103rd amendment to the Indian constitution expanded the concept of backwardness to include more marginalized and disadvantaged sections of society. It reflects the United Nations sustainable development goals (SDG 10) in India to reduce inequalities. The amendment introduced a 10% reservation in government employment and education for the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) ensuring equitable development of all the sections of society. The study examines the impacts of the economically weaker sections (EWS) reservation in India by analyzing data collected from the Syro Malabar Community in Kerala, India. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2025. -
The Impact of Economically Weaker Section Reservation in India: A Study on the Syro Malabar Community in Kerala, India
India is renowned for its multifaceted unity amid diversity, which proves the harmonious fusion of different communities. This harmony is rooted in the Indian Constitution by ensuring social justice to all citizens regardless of their individual differences and unique characteristics. It is crafted with empathy and foresight to benefit the most disadvantaged sections of society. It includes provisions for reservation programs under Articles 15 and 16 to combat discrimination and promote inclusiveness in the present Indian societal scenario. The 103rd amendment to the Indian constitution expanded the concept of backwardness to include more marginalized and disadvantaged sections of society. It reflects the United Nations sustainable development goals (SDG 10) in India to reduce inequalities. The amendment introduced a 10% reservation in government employment and education for the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) ensuring equitable development of all the sections of society. The study examines the impacts of the economically weaker sections (EWS) reservation in India by analyzing data collected from the Syro Malabar Community in Kerala, India. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2025. -
Unraveling the Intangibles: Influence of AI and Employee Valuation on Corporate Sustainability
This study investigates the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and human capital on a firm's sustainability based on the selected thirty companies in the Indian Information Technology (IT) Sector. It also involves an insight into the usage of AI tools for the same. This study takes three independent variables, namelySalaries and wages (SW), Provident Fund (PF), and Gratuity and superannuation (GS), which are dependent on the Return On Capital Employed (ROCE). Furthermore, the study evaluates these variables through multiple regression analysis to establish the link between them and determine how human capital affects a firm's profitability. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2025. -
Unraveling the Intangibles: Influence of AI and Employee Valuation on Corporate Sustainability
This study investigates the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and human capital on a firm's sustainability based on the selected thirty companies in the Indian Information Technology (IT) Sector. It also involves an insight into the usage of AI tools for the same. This study takes three independent variables, namelySalaries and wages (SW), Provident Fund (PF), and Gratuity and superannuation (GS), which are dependent on the Return On Capital Employed (ROCE). Furthermore, the study evaluates these variables through multiple regression analysis to establish the link between them and determine how human capital affects a firm's profitability. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2025. -
Hydroponic cultivation of lettuce: evaluating yield and quality across different systems
The increasing demand for lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) in India, driven by changing dietary habits, health consciousness, and declining arable land, necessitates protected cultivation systems for a sustainable production of high-value vegetables. Limited research has been conducted on optimizing lettuce cultivation systems under protected conditions in India. This study evaluated the performance of three growing systems, soil-based, aggregate hydroponics, and a vertical A-frame nutrient film technique, under controlled greenhouse conditions. Three lettuce cultivars were assessed for growth, yield, and nutritional parameters. The nutrient film technique system achieved the highest leaf fresh weight (96.73 g) and marketable yield. Lettuce grown in the nutrient film technique also exhibited superior nutritional quality, with increased ascorbic acid (7.03 mg 100 g?1) and carotenoid (4.48 g g?1) content. Additionally, the vertical nutrient film technique system optimized space utilization, supporting 26 plants per square meter and significantly increasing the number of marketable leaves compared to soil-based and aggregate hydroponics. These results highlight the potential of vertical nutrient film technique cultivation to enhance lettuce productivity, nutritional quality, and resource efficiency, presenting a promising solution for sustainable urban agriculture and protected cultivation in India. 2025 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. -
Enhancing Early Seedling Stage Salinity Tolerance in Rice Through Brassinosteroid Priming
Rice (Oryza sativa), astaple food for the major global population, faces substantial productivity challenges due to salinity stress, an increasingly prevalent issue exacerbated by climate change. Salinity impacts rice at critical growth stages especially at seedling stage, root development, shoot elongation and ultimately seedling establishment. This study evaluated the effect of brassinosteroid (BR) priming as astrategy to improve seedling stage salinity tolerance in rice seedlings across 15genotypes subjected to moderate (140?mM NaCl), and severe (200?mM NaCl) salinity stress in comparison with control. BR-primed seeds demonstrated enhanced germination rates, seedling vigor index, shoot length and root length under salinity conditions compared to non-treated seeds. BR priming led to a35% improvement in SVI under control conditions and up to 30% under severe salinity, suggesting that BRs may facilitate osmotic regulation and ion homeostasis, key for maintaining growth under stress. Furthermore, BR priming significantly increased root development, essential for water uptake and nutrient acquisition in saline environments. Our results showed the prospect of BR priming as an effective approach to enhance rice resilience to salinity stress, providing afoundation for further field-based research on BR-mediated stress tolerance mechanisms. This study underscores the relevance of BR priming in improving rice productivity in saline-prone areas, contributing to food security in the face of increasing soil salinization. The author(s), exclusively licensed to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, a part of Springer Nature 2025. -
Identification and standardization of counsellor competencies for master level counsellor education programs in india
Counselling psychology programs in India have been criticized for being poor replicas of newlineconcepts that have originated in western cultures . The lack of Indian models has been quoted as a drawback indicating that trainees are not necessarily competent to provide effective counselling services. The present study aimed at identifying and standardizing competencies for post graduate counsellor training in India based on local needs.The study employed a mixed methods design with four phases. In the first phase, a list of key occupational tasks were drawn up through a systematic review of literature and interviews with three expert practitioners. The second phase was the development of a counsellor competency list which outlined the various competencies required to fulfil the key occupational tasks determined in the previous stage. Seventy one competencies were identified and the list was then given for newlineexpert validation. In the third phase, the competency list was given to 75 practicing newlinecounsellors across India who rated the competencies on a 5-point likert scale, based on its importance for post graduate counsellor trainees. In the final stage the prioritized competencies were analyzed using a concept development approach to identify core competencies required for master level counselling psychology trainees. The resulting core competencies were three foundational competency domains which included ethical practice, personal and professional development and cultural sensitivity. There were also three newlinefunctional competency domains which included the counselling process, the supervision newlineprocess and the promotion of counselling in India. Specific competencies under each domain were also listed along with behavioral indicators for the same. Thus the core competencies that counsellor trainees must develop to provide an effective service were identified and this has implications for training and practice. -
IMPACT OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ON E-BANKING AND FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT
Artificial intelligence has a significant impact on financial technologies. Machine learning is an important field of artificial intelligence. Machine learning is a subset of artificial intelligence. According to client knowledge gathered by machine learning, data structures may be more easily comprehended and changed. Machine learning, although still being employed in the IT business, has its own set of benefits. They are used by computer program to explain or solve a typical issue because they are a set of well-written instructions. Data inputs for factual research may be prepared by computers using master learning algorithms that can deliver results within a certain range. Computers are used to model test data, and frameworks are used to make automated decisions based on input data. Banks and financial institutions may benefit from the use of machine learning. This article discusses applications of machine learning in banking and finance sector. The Electrochemical Society -
A Cost-Effective NFC-Based Tap-and-Pay Payment System
Rapidly emerging contactless payment methods have totally transformed the economic landscape by ensuring a convenient and efficient means to standardize price structures. Presented in this work is a Tap-and-Pay Payment System which is based on Near Field Communication (NFC) that would substitute the traditional Point-of-Sale (POS) terminals. This device utilizes NFC technology to allow merchants to take payments with only a smartphone, eliminating costly hardware. We provide a comprehensive discussion on the system's architecture, its security properties, the implementation issues faced, and performance evaluations thereof, as well as an investigation into serving SMEs by enhancing the access of digital payments and propagating inclusive finance. Future enhancements include enriching functionalities such as multi-currency support and offline transaction capabilities. 2025 IEEE. -
Impact of Improved Corporate Governance and Regulations on Earnings Management PracticesAnalysis of 7 Industries from the Indian National Stock Exchange
This study investigates discretionary earnings management practices, tracing the changes over the years in selected top performing and highly liquid listed Indian firms. It empirically measures the impact of corporate governance, financial legislation and global reporting standards on the firms earnings management practices. The study analyses a sample of 712 firm-year data comprising 89 listed Indian companies across 7 different sectoral indices of the National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) over 8 years (20112018). The Modified Jones model was used to compute Discretionary Accruals to measure Earnings Management based on data obtained using Bloomberg terminals. Statistical results and plots generated in Stata offer evidence that instances of earnings management have significantly reduced after the enactment of the Companies Act 2013 and the adoption of Indian Accounting standards which are converged with the IFRS. Findings suggest that services firms are engaging in relatively higher levels of earnings management compared to manufacturing firms. This study reveals the positive impact of improved corporate governance, regulation, and enforcement by significantly reducing the levels of earnings management among listed firms in India. 2021 by the authors. -
High surface area Nanoflakes of P-gC3N4 photocatalyst loaded with Ag nanoparticle with intraplanar and interplanar charge separation for environmental remediation
The photocatalytic performance of gC3N4 is majorly restricted by insufficient collection of photogenerated charges on the surface during reaction due to highly dense stacking of lamellar structures with lateral size ranging in microns. This deficiency can be overcome by forming thin nanoflakes by systematically breaking the weak bonds that hold the gC3N4 framework without destroying the basic heptazine unit. With this aim, herein, a combination of three different strategies was implemented to design and develop, Ag-loaded and P-doped gC3N4 nanoflakes (Ag3-P1-NF-gC3N4). Using a systematic synthesis method, bulk gC3N4 was first converted into thin nanosheets, followed by fragmentation into nanoflakes, with a planar size up to 100 nm. P doping to replace the corner C atoms in the gC3N4 matrix (forming P[sbnd]N bonds) and intercalation of plasmonic Ag nanoparticles within the interlayers also assists in the bifurcation of the stacked layers and formation of nanoflake morphology. These strategies result in a significant increase in BET surface area to ?196 m2/g from 12 m2/g of bulk gC3N4. Improved inter-planar and intra-planar charge mobility was recorded as a result of the reduced sizes. Doping with P also causes higher absorption of the visible spectrum in gC3N4 while the formation of heterojunction with Ag nanoparticles induces efficient separation of photo-generated charges. All these promoting photo-physical properties lead to an outstanding photocatalytic activity towards degradation of aqueous pollutants with reaction rates ?20 times higher than bulk gC3N4. Complete mineralization of the pollutant and formation of non-toxic byproducts was also confirmed with suitable chromatography techniques. 2020 Elsevier B.V. -
Ag Ions Versus Ag Nanoparticle-Embedded Glass for Antimicrobial Activity Under Light
Incorporating silver nanoparticles (NPs) into a host material has been recognized to limit the release of Ag+ ions, yet their efficacy in neutralizing nearby microorganisms remains uncertain. This study aims to compare the toxicity of Ag+ ions versus the plasmonic effect of Ag NPs within a glass matrix, assessing their respective killing efficiency and mechanisms against microorganisms. To achieve this objective, a simple ion exchange technique was employed to embed glass with silver ions, nanoclusters (NCs), or NPs, which was confirmed by UVVis-NIR spectrometer, photoluminescence (PL), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The biocidal action of these Ag species on model Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria was investigated in the absence and presence of visible light. The findings revealed that in the absence of light, plasmonic Ag NPs were less toxic to E. coli compared to Ag+ ions due to the predominant release of Ag+ ions dictating the antibacterial effect. However, exposure to visible light triggered the plasmonic effect in Ag NPs to disintegrate 100% E. coli in 1h compared to Ag+ ions (68%) owing to the localized heating around the Ag NPs, facilitated by surface plasmon resonance relaxation. The cell morphology investigated by Bio-AFM assisted in unraveling the mechanism leading to bacterial cell damage. Overall, this study demonstrates the sustained disinfection capability of Ag NPs embedded in glass without significant leaching, emphasizing their potential in prolonged antimicrobial applications. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2024. -
Ag Ions Versus Ag Nanoparticle-Embedded Glass for Antimicrobial Activity Under Light
Incorporating silver nanoparticles (NPs) into a host material has been recognized to limit the release of Ag+ ions, yet their efficacy in neutralizing nearby microorganisms remains uncertain. This study aims to compare the toxicity of Ag+ ions versus the plasmonic effect of Ag NPs within a glass matrix, assessing their respective killing efficiency and mechanisms against microorganisms. To achieve this objective, a simple ion exchange technique was employed to embed glass with silver ions, nanoclusters (NCs), or NPs, which was confirmed by UVVis-NIR spectrometer, photoluminescence (PL), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The biocidal action of these Ag species on model Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria was investigated in the absence and presence of visible light. The findings revealed that in the absence of light, plasmonic Ag NPs were less toxic to E. coli compared to Ag+ ions due to the predominant release of Ag+ ions dictating the antibacterial effect. However, exposure to visible light triggered the plasmonic effect in Ag NPs to disintegrate 100% E. coli in 1h compared to Ag+ ions (68%) owing to the localized heating around the Ag NPs, facilitated by surface plasmon resonance relaxation. The cell morphology investigated by Bio-AFM assisted in unraveling the mechanism leading to bacterial cell damage. Overall, this study demonstrates the sustained disinfection capability of Ag NPs embedded in glass without significant leaching, emphasizing their potential in prolonged antimicrobial applications. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2024. -
Formaldehyde electrolysis in a membrane-free electrolyzer: low-energy hydrogen and formate co-production with Cu-based boride electrocatalysts
The formaldehyde oxidation reaction (FOR) offers a low-energy alternative to the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) for electrochemical hydrogen production, enabling simultaneous generation of value-added formate. Here, we report a boron-doped copper catalyst on copper foam (B/CuxO/CF) that efficiently catalyzes FOR with an ultralow onset potential of 0.06 V at 100 mA cm?2. Compared to its phosphorus- and sulfur-doped counterparts (P/CuxO/CF and S/CuxO/CF), B/CuxO/CF exhibits markedly superior activity with ?97% formate yield. Surface analysis confirms the critical role of coexisting Cu+/Cu2+ species in B/CuxO in facilitating the key FOR steps of adsorption and CH cleavage, while the presence of boron improves charge transfer and active site availability. The limited HER activity of B/CuxO/CF was effectively addressed by coupling it with a Ni-based phospho-boride catalyst on Ni foam (NiPB/NF) that delivers selective and high hydrogen evolution performance, even in formaldehyde-containing media. The asymmetric NiPB/NF?B/CuxO/CF configuration achieved 100 mA cm?2 at only 0.25 V and sustained long-term stability with continuous HCHO replenishment, maintaining 300 mA cm?2 for over 8 hours. Operated in a membrane-free flow cell, the system maintained ?90% formate yield with a H2 production faradaic efficiency of ?190%, nearly doubling the hydrogen output. This hybrid strategy not only lowers energy input by 1.64 V compared to water electrolysis but also demonstrates viability for decentralized hydrogen and chemical co-production with economic benefits. This journal is The Royal Society of Chemistry, 2026 -
Assessing performance of alkali-activated bricks incorporated with processed surgical masks
Since last few years the world is facing tremendous surge in the use of surgical masks due to the COVID19 pandemic. The uncontrolled disposal of surgical masks in the environment will pose serious threat to the living organisms due to plastic pollution. On the other hand, the construction industry is hugely dependent on natural resources, leading to increase in carbon footprint. Therefore, it necessary to investigate novel construction materials with sustainability perspective. In present study, alkali-activated bricks were synthesized with rice husk ash (RHA), ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS), sand, and sodium silicate (SS). To this, processed surgical masks (PSM) were added in varying doses of 0%, 1%, 2%, 3%, and 4% by volume of the mix. The results revealed that addition of PSM significantly improved the strength properties of the bricks with a maximum compressive strength of 6.85 MPa at inclusion of 4% PSM. At the same time, it has reduced the density of bricks with a minimum value of 1.54 g/cm3 at inclusion of 4% PSM. The incorporation of PSM has slightly increased the water absorption and porosity of the bricks, with a maximum increase of 4.76% and 7.75% for bricks with 4% PSM, when compared to bricks with 0% PSM, respectively. The accelerated ageing test showed that after three cycles of wetting and drying the bricks exhibited loss in compressive strength in the range of 55.2%58.6%. The microstructure results revealed the bridging effect of fibrous mask particles in improving the load transfer in polymer matrix, and thereby reducing the brittle tensile failure in bricks. The pushover analysis showed the benefit of PSM in improving the performance of the infill walls due to improvement in brick strength and reduction in its self-weight, and therefore, it can be considered as a potential material for use in construction of buildings in seismically vulnerable areas. 2023 The Author(s)