ABSTRACT Recently, botanical fieldwork and herbarium research revealed eight new records of plant species from Saudi Arabia. Most records are newly documented for the Arabian Peninsula, while a few previously doubtful records have now been confirmed based on verified specimens. In addition, further distributional records were created for the NEOM region in northwest Saudi Arabia, mainly in areas that were botanically poorly known or remained unexplored. These findings highlight the continuing importance of systematic field surveys and herbarium research for improving the baseline inventory of Saudi Arabia's flora and for supporting future biodiversity assessment, conservation planning, and environmental management in rapidly developing landscapes.

ABSTRACT This study explores the mass and heat transfer in a radiative second-grade liquid consisting of a tetra-hybrid nanofluid on a shrinking/stretching cylinder, including diffusion-thermo and thermal diffusion. The correlations of the Yamada–Ota and Hamilton–Crosser models are utilized to determine the thermal conductivity of a tetra-hybrid nanofluid. Furthermore, stagnation point flow and activation energy are considered. The set of ordinary differential equations is formulated using similarity transformations and solved numerically by the finite difference method. The radiative second-grade viscoelastic flow over a shrinking cylinder with a tetra-hybrid nanofluid is considered. Darcy’s Forchheimer model in the energy equation is novel and explores new perspectives on thermal management in energy systems and heat exchanger design. A higher Forchheimer number and magnetic parameter slow the flow, while increasing the second-grade viscoelastic parameter lowers the nanofluid velocity by up to 14%. Conversely, the temperature increases as the Forchheimer number, Dufour number, Soret number and heat sink parameter increase. This results in a 9%–12% increase in the Nusselt number. The upper branch solutions are significant rather than the lower branch solutions in the velocity fields. Such improved upper-branch velocity simulations are used in oil recovery and polymer processing.

ABSTRACT Flux-assisted stir casting of AA6061–B₄C is limited by incomplete wetting, oxide films, and porosity. This study optimizes the K₂TiF₆-assisted process, defining a minimal effective flux window (0.5–1.0 wt%) while holding melt (≈750 °C), stirring (≈600 rpm, 10 min), and mold temperature (≈250 °C) constant and varying B₄C (4–12 wt%) in a single, industry-style rig. SEM/EDS/XRD indicate near-uniform dispersion to 10 wt% and mild clustering at 12 wt%. Measurable performance gains. Measured as group means ± SD (n = 3), microhardness (HV₀.₅) increased from 68 → 113 (+62%), and UTS rose from 142 → 215 MPa (+51.4%); porosity rose modestly (~1.5→3.5%). Rule-of-mixtures predictions reproduce the 4–12 wt% trend, supporting a mechanism in which low-dose K₂TiF₆ disrupts oxide films, enhances wetting, and improves load transfer. By quantifying a low-flux regime that limits Ti contamination and salt waste while delivering predictable structure–property outcomes, the work provides process-level guidance for scalable production of lightweight aluminum composites for weight-critical structural applications.

ABSTRACT Here, the electroosmotically aided peristaltic pumping of a blood-based nanofluid flowing under the impact of heat source/sink and viscous dissipation through an asymmetric channel is investigated. The Jeffrey fluid model is adopted for predicting non-Newtonian characteristics of blood. The analysis is conducted under the lubrication theory approximation and the Debye–Hückel linearization principle for electric potential. The mathematical model linearized under the linearization approaches is solved to obtain the analytical solution for the flow characteristics using Mathematica, which is also utilized to generate graphical representations of the results. Results reveal that assisting electroosmotic forces enhance velocity, and reduce pressure gradients, while viscoelastic effects increase resistance to flow. Entropy generation and Bejan number distributions are also analyzed to assess thermodynamic irreversibility and efficiency. This study contributes to the design and optimization of microfluidic transport systems in biomedical, chemical, and engineering applications under electrokinetic and peristaltic influences.

This work explores magneto-convection and entropy generation for a two-dimensional, steady, laminar convective flow of micropolar hybrid nanofluid within a T-shaped enclosure featuring a wavy upper surface. An external magnetic field of constant magnitude, B0, is applied in the positive x-direction. To facilitate numerical analysis, a MATLAB code was created to implement the computational scheme within the ξ–η plane and derive solutions using iterative algorithms. The findings reveal that an upsurge in the Rayleigh number enhances buoyancy-driven convection and thermal efficiency but raises entropy generation due to sharper gradients, while a higher Hartmann number suppresses convection through magnetic damping, thereby reducing entropy production, particularly at high “Ra” values. Furthermore, higher surface undulations (d) lead to a reduction in convective heat transfer while simultaneously increasing entropy generation, an effect that becomes more pronounced as the waviness parameter (λ) rises.

In this study, we present a novel dual-filler polymer-based solid electrolyte by incorporating cobalt oxide/aluminium oxide (Co3O4/Al2O3) nanoparticles into a blend of polyethylene oxide (PEO) and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC). The electrolytes were synthesized via solution casting. XRD confirmed the reduction in crystallinity upon nanofiller addition, enhancing ionic mobility. UV-Vis analysis revealed a marked decrease in both direct and indirect optical band gaps indicating improved charge carrier transport. Dielectric studies further demonstrated enhanced permittivity and polarization effects, while AC conductivity exhibited strong frequency-dependent enhancement. The novelty of this work lies in the synergistic use of Co3O4 and Al2O3 within a blend matrix, leading to simultaneous improvements in ionic mobility, optical tunability, and dielectric response. These advancements make the material a promising candidate for next-generation energy storage systems and optoelectronic devices, contributing to the development of sustainable and efficient technologies for society.

This study explores the electrochemical and dielectric properties of silver (Ag) doped zinc oxide nanowires (ZnO NWs) synthesized via a green solvothermal method using Trigonella foenum-graecum extract. X-ray diffraction confirmed the formation of highly crystalline ZnO NWs with an average crystallite size of 2.7 nm. FTIR and SEM analyses, along with EDS and XPS, verified the successful incorporation of Ag into the ZnO structure. The optical properties of the synthesized sample were examined using UV – Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy, which revealed a band gap of 2.78 eV. Electrochemical tests demonstrated enhanced capacitive performance, with a high specific capacitance of 0.966 F/g and improved charge – discharge stability. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy indicated reduced charge transfer resistance. Dielectric measurements showed frequency – and temperature-dependent behaviour, with peak dielectric values at 20 °C. The synthesized Ag doped ZnO NWs exhibited excellent structural, optical, and electrochemical characteristics, making them promising candidates for energy storage and optoelectronic applications.

Heat transfer in non-Newtonian nanofluids is vital for cooling, energy systems, and biomedical applications. This study examines the thermophysical behavior of Prandtl–Eyring nanofluids under magnetohydrodynamic effects within a Riga cylindrical tube, considering variable porosity and thermal radiation. Electromagnetic forcing via the Riga surface regulates flow, while entropy generation analysis evaluates system efficiency. The governing nonlinear equations are simplified using similarity transformations and numerically solved in Mathematica, with validation against existing literature. Results show that stronger magnetic fields reduce velocity by up to 42%, while thermal radiation increases heat transfer by 35%. Entropy generation rises by 60% with enhanced viscous dissipation, signaling higher energy losses. Activation energy reduces concentration gradients, lowering mass transfer by 28%. Porosity variation, surface convection, thermophoresis, and Brownian motion critically influence performance. These findings support the optimized thermal design of nanofluid-based systems in industrial and biomedical settings, where precise thermal regulation is crucial.

This research was focused to isolate and identify antagonistic bacteria from grapes against Penicillium verrucosum growth and Ochratoxin (OTA) yield, as well as to determine the substrate and conditions that promote P. verrucosum growth and OTA yield. For this purpose, 15 culture media and 5 levels of temperature, pH and water activity were selected at which fungus was checked for growth and OTA production. Maximum growth and toxin content was observed on MEA media at temperature 25°C, pH 5.5, 0.99 water activity. Optimization and correlation show a proper link between the circumstances that promote efficient growth and OTA output (r = 0.97). Lactobacillus brevis (strain 121A) significantly retard the growth and OTA production of P. verrucosum at 108 spores/mL concentration. This strain significantly reduced grapes spoilage and increased the shelf life. This approach not only promotes biological control of fungal diseases, but also overcomes certain food safety concerns.

There is a growing demand for eco-friendly corrosion inhibitors made from low-toxicity materials for mild steel. Eco-friendly inhibitors are formulated using safe raw materials combined with various environmentally sustainable components. Herein, we report the corrosion inhibitory effect of the betaine-fatty ionic liquid, [Bet][FA]IL, on mild steel in a highly alkaline solution (3.5 M NaCl). To evaluate its performance, a range of electrochemical techniques, including potentiodynamic polarization (PDP) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), along with weight loss measurements, were employed. Remarkably, an inhibition efficiency of 88.56% was achieved at 500 ppm, with corresponding corrosion current density values decreasing from 26.00 µA at 0 ppm to 7.460 µA at 500 ppm. Moreover, the synthesized IL capable of suppressing both anodic and cathodic as the corrosion processes was reduced when the concentration of the inhibitor used increase. Additionally, the Nuclei Magnetic Resonance analysis confirmed the chemical structure of the synthesized [Bet][FA]IL. This study demonstrates that the environmentally friendly [Bet][FA]IL shows great promise as an anticorrosion agent to protect mild steel from corrosion in highly alkaline conditions, suggesting it may serve as a safer alternative to traditional, harmful corrosion inhibitors. Additionally, this work highlights the innovative use of betaine-fatty ionic liquids in corrosion protection.