Berry (India)

The biodiverse northern Western Ghats, historically characterized by tropical evergreen forests, have undergone a pronounced shift toward deciduous vegetation following long-term anthropogenic disturbance, such as logging, plantations, and fire. This vegetation transition has led to declining biodiversity, altered ecosystem processes, and reduced hydrological stability. In the context of rising temperatures, prolonged dry periods, and increasingly variable moisture regimes, climate-smart restoration approaches are urgently needed to reestablish the native evergreen forest structure through strategic, trait-informed species selection.To inform species choice for restoration programs, we established a replicated juvenile pot experiment comprising 16 species spanning a slow–fast growth spectrum. We measured functional traits associated with drought and heat resilience, including diurnal water-use patterns (stomatal conductance), embolism resistance, dehydration tolerance, and thermal tolerance.Our preliminary analysis reveals trait covariation describing distinct hydraulic strategies among coexisting species. Clear differences emerge in diurnal water use patterns and dehydration tolerance among the studied species. Such differences in hydraulic strategies might improve ecosystem performance compared to monocultures under climate change. We are further investigating whether species with comparatively higher dehydration tolerance, and putative embolism and heat resistance can better withstand climatic stressors and exhibit improved growth performance, or trade-offs exist. Field monitoring of planted saplings will be essential to validate these preliminary insights and guide climate-resilient restoration in the northern Western Ghats.

ABSTRACT A striking feature of rural markets in underdeveloped agrarian economies is interlinked transactions, where two or more interdependent exchanges are simultaneously agreed upon across different markets. In contemporary India, even as the capitalist relations of production are dominant, there are still regions where interlinkages play a major role in defining the class relations, which in turn influence their agricultural development. This paper analyses the nature of interlinked transactions in Eastern and Bundelkhand regions of Uttar Pradesh, India's most populous and agriculture‐dependent state. Using a Marxist framework, I argue that such linkages are essentially exploitative, hindering the progressive development of agriculture in these regions. The dominant parties in the interlinked transactions continue to use them as important sources of labour mobilisation and surplus extraction. It further studies the possible influence of the interlinkages associated with tenancy and credit transactions in lowering crop productivity and profitability and finally their impact on the livelihood strategies adopted by the agricultural households.

ABSTRACT MXenes exhibit exceptional capacitive performance due to their layered structure, high electrical conductivity, and large surface area. Their surface functional groups further facilitate rapid, reversible redox reactions, thereby enhancing pseudocapacitive behavior. In this study, a composite electrode material composed of MXene and Bismuth Titanate in a 95:5 ratio (MB5) was synthesized and evaluated under three aqueous electrolytic conditions: 1 M potassium hydroxide (KOH), 1 M Na 2 SO 4 , and a mixed 1 M KOH + 1 M Na 2 SO 4 solution. Electrochemical characterization using cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge–discharge (GCD), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) revealed a hybrid charge storage mechanism involving both electric double‐layer capacitance and pseudocapacitance. Among the tested electrolytes, 1 M KOH exhibited the most favorable performance, with quasi‐rectangular CV profiles, high specific capacitance values, and low charge‐transfer resistance, indicating rapid ion transport and excellent reversibility. The mixed electrolyte showed synergistic behavior, improving ion diffusion and interfacial stability, while Na 2 SO 4 offered moderate performance with stable but lower capacitance. These results underscore the role of electrolyte composition in tuning electrochemical response and highlight the MB5 composite as a promising candidate for high‐power‐density supercapacitor applications, particularly in alkaline environments.

Aero-terrestrial algae are ecologically and economically valuable bioresources contributing to carbon sequestration, sustenance of soil health, and fertility. Compared to aquatic algae, the literature on subaerial algae is minimal, including studies of distinctive habitats such as forest soils, agricultural fields, deserts, polar regions, specific subaerial zones, artificial structures, and tropical soils. The primary goal here was to identify the gaps and scope of research on such algae. Accordingly, the literature was analyzed per sub-themes, such as the "nature of current research data on terrestrial algae," "methodological approaches," "diversity," "environmental relationships," "ecological roles," and "economic significance." The review showed there is a high diversity of algae in soils, especially members belonging to the Cyanophyta (Cyanobacteria) and Chlorophyta. Algal distributions in terrestrial environments depend on the microhabitat conditions, and many species of soil algae are sensitive to specific soil conditions. The ecological significance of soil algae includes primary production, the release of biochemical stimulants and plant growth promoters into soils, nitrogen fixation, solubilization of minerals, and the enhancement and maintenance of soil fertility. Since aero-terrestrial habitats are generally stressed environments, algae of such environments can be rich in rare metabolites and natural products. For example, epilithic soil algae use wet adhesive molecules to fix them firmly on the substratum. Exploring the ecological roles and economic utility of soil and other subaerial algae could be helpful for the development of algae-based industries and for achieving sustainable soil management.

Abstract Eco-friendly bio-composite of polypropylene (PP)/coir-sisal blended yarn was prepared using commingling technique, in which both the fibers are wound onto a metal plate and then compression molded. Various chemical treatments have been done in order to improve the interfacial adhesion between the matrix and reinforcement, thereby to increase the properties of the composite. Thermal stability study was done using thermogravimetric analysis. The resulting thermogram reveals that chemical treatments increase the thermal stability of the commingled composite to a considerable extent. A significant increase is observed in the tensile properties of the treated composite especially maleic anhydride modified PP (MAPP) treated composite as compared to the untreated one. The tensile strength and tensile modulus of MAPP treated composite was found to be 29.24 MPa and 1330 MPa, respectively, which was found to be 7.5% and 6.4% greater than that of untreated composite. The experimentally observed tensile properties of the composites were compared with the existing models of reinforced composites. The surface morphology and fiber surface treatments were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.

BACKGROUND: Complications of the vascular access-site (VAS) are not uncommon. With the evolution of hemostatic techniques used in the access site closure, in the last two decades, the rate of VAS related complications has significantly reduced from 6% to 2%. However, they still remain to be an important cause of morbidity following catheterization procedures. The most common complications encountered with closure of VAS are hematoma formation, arterio-venous fistula, dissection, pseudo -aneurysm and limb ischemia. According to two meta-analyses, the incidences of these complications were very low. The incidence of collagen plug from an Angioseal(™) device causing acute leg ischemia is low and upon occurrence, the use of an Angioscore(™) balloon in successful revascularization has never been reported. CASE PRESENTATION: A 62-year-old male with known severe peripheral artery disease, diabetes mellitus, hypertension and hypercholesterolemia had a successful angioplasty of a 100% chronically occluded right superficial femoral artery (SFA) via the left common femoral artery. An Angioseal (™) closure device was used to achieve hemostasis. The patient was discharged home after an uneventful post procedural course. Two days later, he presented to the ER with a cold and numb left lower extremity. On exam, the left lower extremity had no palpable pulse from below right femoral artery, confirmed by Doppler. The extremity was cold to touch with decreased sensory perception. Patient was found to have critical left lower extremity ischemia. He was emergently taken for a selective left lower extremity angiogram using the right common femoral artery for access. Fragments of the closure device and a collagen plug causing a total occlusion of the left common femoral artery were found. After a pre-dilatation with a 4.0x 40 balloon under prolonged inflations, a lesion reduction from 100 % to 30% with a TIMI 0 to TIMI 3 flow was achieved using an Angioscore (™) 5.0x 40 balloon inflated at 10 atmospheres. Subsequently, using laser 2.0 atherectomy of the left common femoral artery was performed. Flow in the dorsalis pedis artery was confirmed with Doppler. DISCUSSION: The Angio-Seal(™) device has a polylactide and polyglycolide polymer anchor, a collagen plug and a suture contained within a carrier system. Hemostasis is achieved by compressing the arterial puncture site between the anchor and the collagen plug. With newer studies, it appears that the occurrence of critical limb ischemia from collagen plug is under recognized. We therefore, with this case report urge the physicians to be aware of this serious though rare complication of closure devise and also highlight the successful use of Angioscore (™) balloon in the emergent treatment of non-athermatous vascular occlusion causing critical limb ischemia.

In interferometers where a wave is divided into two beams that propagate along separate branches before being recombined, the closed circuit formed by the two branches must be threaded by wave dislocation lines. For a large class of interferometers, it is shown that the (signed) dislocation number, defined in a suitable asymptotic sense, jumps by +1 as the phase difference between the beams increases by 2 π . The argument is based on the single-valuedness of the wave function in the branches and leaking between them. In some cases, the jumps occur when the phase difference is an odd multiple of π . The same result holds for the Aharonov–Bohm wave function, where the waves passing above and below a flux line experience different phase shifts; in this case, where the wave is not concentrated onto branches, the threading dislocations coincide with the flux line.

Men are spending more time than ever with their children at home, but do they feel comfortable taking them along to drop-ins and toddler groups? Do they feel welcome if they want to help out at nursery? Cathryn Hewitt looks at some ways of involving men more