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The present work intends to assess the suitability of groundwater for agricultural use based on 110 samples collected from 52 community development blocks in the Gangetic West Bengal, India. The dominant hydrochemical facies of the studied samples is Ca2+–Mg2+–HCO3− (57.27%) followed by Mg2+–Ca2+–HCO3−–Cl− (19.09%). The undesirable electrical conductivity (EC) and total dissolved solids (TDS) for about 25% of the samples have introduced a high salinity problem for crops. Moreover, the irrigation hazards measured in terms of sodium adsorption ratio, % Na, soluble sodium percentage, residual sodium carbonate, potential salinity, and permeability index indicate that more than 80% of the groundwater samples are suitable for agriculture. However, the magnesium adsorption ratio exhibits that about 39% of water samples are unsuitable for agriculture. A one-way ANOVA finds a statistically significant difference in irrigation hazards between samples located on the western and eastern banks of the Bhagirathi–Hooghly River. In general, the evolution of groundwater hydrochemistry and associated irrigation hazards is principally governed by rock dominance and silicate weathering as natural forcing. However, anthropogenic interventions in the form of sand mining from the river bed of the Ajay–Mayurakshi promote the high magnitude of silicate weathering and thereby inducing major hotspots of the irrigation hazards located on the western bank of the Bhagirathi–Hooghly River. Moreover, the high loadings of EC, TDS, and Cl− registered in the first principal component indicate deterioration of groundwater quality largely due to the change of land use and land cover while the significant loadings of NO3− in the second principal component indicate groundwater pollution due to agricultural practice.

The present study exhibits a critical outlook on the poverty and livelihood vulnerability of the fisherman community in the context of persistent water pollution of the Churni River. The logistic regression model has identified eight factors influencing the poverty of the study area while the entropy weight method identifies the livelihood vulnerability of the fishermen. The livelihood vulnerability index of the upper stretch of the river is higher (0.65–0.67) compared to that of the lower stretch (0.46–0.57). The typical spatiality in poverty and livelihood vulnerability is triggered by the fragility of fishing livelihoods in the wake of lower concentrations of dissolved oxygen (DO), and higher BOD, COD, ammonia, nitrate and phosphate mainly due to industrial water pollution. For example, average DO ranges from 1.65 mg/l (upper stretch) to 2.50 mg/l (lower stretch) while the average BOD ranges from 5.44 mg/l (lower stretch) to 9.42 mg/l (upper stretch). This pollution induces acute ecological stress concerning declining fish diversity (from 41 to 16 fish species at the upper stretch and 41 to 23 fish species at the lower stretch during 1980–2018) as well as productivity of the existing fish species. Therefore, paralysed fishing economy and high dependency of the fishermen on the Churni River have forced them to revolve into the vicious cycle of poverty and enduring fragile livelihoods. Thus, the fishermen adopt few coping strategies like access to the nearby wetland for fishing, diversity in earning strategy and environmental movements against pollution to reduce the intensity of vulnerability. The present study would help the regional planners to frame the participatory plans for the sustainability of the riverine ecology and economy.

This article describe the three dimensional geometrical incompetency of the term “4π radiotherapy”; frequently used in radiation oncology to establish the superiority (or rather complexity) of particular kind of external beam delivery technique. It was claimed by several researchers, to obtain 4π c solid angle at target centre created by the tele-therapy delivery machine in three dimensional Euclidian space. However with the present design of linear accelerator (or any other tele-therapy machine) it is not possible to achieve more than 2π c with the allowed boundary condition of 0 ≤ Gnatry position≤π c and − π c 2 ≤Couch Position≤ + π c 2 . This article describes why it is not possible to achieve a 4π c solid angle at any point in three dimensional Euclidian spaces. This article also recommends not to use the terminology “4π radiotherapy” for describing any external beam technique or its complexity as this term is geometrically wrong.

In this article, the development of mid-UV laser diodes based on the AlGaN materials system is reviewed. The targeted wavelength for these lasers covers the range from 200 to 350 nm. After introducing UV laser diodes and explaining their applications, the challenges in growth, design, and fabrication are discussed. In addition, recent results from optically and electrically injected UV laser diodes are presented. Finally, we will discuss possible pathways to improve performance and give an outlook on the expected development of UV laser diodes in the near future. Graphical abstract

Since the demonstration of p-type gallium nitride (GaN) through doping with substitutional magnesium (Mg) atoms 1 , 2 , rapid and comprehensive developments, such as blue light-emitting diodes, have considerably shaped our modern lives and contributed to a more carbon-neutral society 3 – 5 . However, the details of the interplay between GaN and Mg have remained largely unknown 6 – 11 . Here we observe that Mg-intercalated GaN superlattices can form spontaneously by annealing a metallic Mg film on GaN at atmospheric pressure. To our knowledge, this marks the first instance of a two-dimensional metal intercalated into a bulk semiconductor, with each Mg monolayer being intricately inserted between several monolayers of hexagonal GaN. Characterized as an interstitial intercalation, this process induces substantial uniaxial compressive strain perpendicular to the interstitial layers. Consequently, the GaN layers in the Mg-intercalated GaN superlattices exhibit an exceptional elastic strain exceeding −10% (equivalent to a stress of more than 20 GPa), among the highest recorded for thin-film materials 12 . The strain alters the electronic band structure and greatly enhances hole transport along the compression direction. Furthermore, the Mg sheets induce a unique periodic transition in GaN polarity, generating polarization-field-induced net charges. These characteristics offer fresh insights into semiconductor doping and conductivity enhancement, as well as into elastic strain engineering of nanomaterials and metal–semiconductor superlattices 13 . The spontaneous formation of magnesium-intercalated gallium nitride superlattices by the interstitial intercalation of two-dimensional magnesium results in considerable compressive strain perpendicular to the layers, leading to enhanced hole transport.

This article aims to identify, through a literature review, the best intensity-modulated technique (IMRT)/volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) for the breast/chest wall (Br/CW) as a function of the treatment planning system (TPS) and present the institutional dosimetric data for the same. A PubMed search was conducted following intensity-modulated irradiation techniques (IMRT) presented in the study: field-in-field (FiF), tangential IMRT (t-IMRT), multi-field IMRT, tangential VMAT (t-VMAT), half-arc VMAT (HA-VMAT), and large arc VMAT (LA-VMAT). The literature with at least one arm VMAT is included in this study. A total of 370 articles were identified between 2010 and 2022, out of which 19 articles were found to be unique. These articles were classified in terms of the TPS used: Eclipse (9), Monaco (6), RayStation (2), Pinnacle (1), and one unidentified TPS. Based on the literature review, dosimetric attributes, and second cancer risk analysis (SCRA), t-IMRT was found to be the most preferable technique in Eclipse, Pinnacle, and RayStation TPS. However, for Monaco TPS, t-VMAT (approximately 30° tangential arc) offers better dose coverage with lower organ-at-risk (OAR) doses. In terms of OAR doses and SCRA, LA-VMAT (≥210°) and HA-VMAT (180°) are avoidable techniques in any TPS, and FiF should be preferred over these two techniques. In our present institution, which uses the Eclipse TPS, data for 300 patients treated with t-IMRT were collected. The data included beam angle, monitor unit [MU], target coverage (D95% and V105% [cc]), and analysis of the maximum (%), and mean dose (%) of the OAR. t-IMRT utilizes two medial and three lateral tangential beams placed at a spread of approximately 10° and 20°, respectively. The results showed a D95% of 96.3 ± 1.2% and a V105% of 4.9 ± 7.0 cc. The mean doses to the heart and ipsilateral lung were 10.1 ± 20.9% and 11.4 ± 10.2%, respectively. The mean MU was 1282.7 ± 453.4. Based on the findings, the most preferred intensity-modulated technique for Eclipse, Pinnacle, and RayStation is t-IMRT, while for Monaco, it is t-VMAT. The data from the Eclipse planning system demonstrate a satisfactory dosimetric outcome for t-IMRT. However, the use of VMAT techniques employing an arc angle between 180° and 210° or higher is strongly discouraged.

An extended version of task group report (TG)-119 dosimetric tests was introduced and tested on the TrueBeam linear accelerator setup. Treatment plan results and quality assurance (QA) results of RapidArc (RA) and intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) were compared to understand the limitation and efficacy of the RA and IMRT system of the linear accelerator. Test structure sets were drawn on OCTAVIUS four-dimensional (4D) phantom computed tomography scan data for this study. We generated treatment plans based on the specified goal in the Eclipse™ treatment planning system using RA and IMRT in the study phantom. We used the same planning objectives for RA and IMRT techniques. Planar dose verification was performed using electronic portal imaging device and OCTAVIUS 4D phantom. The treatment log file was further analyzed using Pylinac (V2.4.0 (Open Source Code library available on Github, runs under Python programming language)) to compare the dosimetric outcome of RA and IMRT. Dose to the planning target volume (PTV) 1-5 and organ at risk (OAR) were analyzed in this study for the efficiency comparison of RA and IMRT. The primary objective was accomplished by adhering to the dose constraints associated with PTV 2 and the OAR. RA and IMRT also met the secondary objective. The tertiary goal of dose delivery to PTV 4 was met with RA but not IMRT. This study can be utilized to compare different institutions' planning and patient-specific QA (PSQA) procedures. The findings of this study were in line with the published works of the literature. A multi-institutional planning and delivery accuracy audit can be built using this structure and set of planning objectives having similar PSQA phantom. The TG-119 report incorporated test challenges that were combined in a single study set and a single plan. This reduces the complexity of performing the original TG-119 tests, whereas keeping the challenges as introduced in the TG-119 report. This study's planning and dosimetric results could be further utilized for dosimetry audit with any institute having a linear accelerator and OCTAVIUS 4D phantom for PSQA.

The present study investigates the supplemental effects of chia seed oil (CSO) on the growth performance and modulation of intestinal microbiota in Labeo rohita fingerlings. Four diets were formulated with graded levels of CSO: 1.0%, 2.0%, and 3.0% represented as CSO (1), CSO (2), and, CSO (3) groups alongside a control group without CSO. L. rohita fingerlings ( n  = 180) (mean weight = 19.74 ± 0.33 g) were randomly distributed in triplicates for 60 days to these treatment groups. The results depicted significant improvements ( p  < 0.05) in weight gain (WG) %, specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and feed conversion efficiency (FCE) in the group supplemented with the lowest level of CSO. Gut microbial analysis evidenced the ability of CSO at 1.0% to augment the relative abundance of bacterial phyla such as Verrucomicrobiota, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidota, Fusobacteria and Firmicutes, as well as genera Luteolibacter and Cetobacterium , indicating higher alpha diversity compared to the control. Principle coordinate analysis (PCoA) demonstrated a distinct composition of microbial communities in CSO-supplemented groups relative to the control ( p  < 0.001). Correlation analysis further revealed a significant ( p  < 0.05) association of specific microbial taxa with growth performance parameters. The predictions of metabolic pathways suggested the involvement of carbohydrate and amino acid metabolic pathways in the CSO (1) group, indicating improved nutrient transport and metabolism. Overall, the findings highlight the beneficial effects of 1.0% CSO supplementation on growth performance and modulation of gut microbiota in L. rohita fingerlings.

The present study has been a pioneering effort examining the role of an annual flood as a potent stimulus inducing changes in channel geomorphology of the Mayurakshi River, India. Twenty cross sections have been considered for the measurement of various hydro-geomorphic attributes of the river in both the pre- and post-flood conditions in 2018. The study sensed an escalating trend for channel width, width/depth ratio, and wetted perimeter while the reverse was also detected for average depth, maximum depth, cross-sectional area, and hydraulic radius. For example, the width/depth ratio recorded an increase of ~ 11%, and the hydraulic radius depicted a decrease of ~ 8%. Furthermore, channel asymmetry, bed asymmetry and bed relief index experienced a decrease after the flood. The sudden hydraulic impulse during monsoon flood as manifested in velocity, discharge, specific stream power, Reynolds number, Froude number increases the erosivity of the fluid. Besides the hydraulic factors, bank material (massive sandbank susceptible to hydraulic action and mixed bank constituted by alternate bands of sand and silt, and vulnerable to failure by piping action) brings substantial changes in channel morphology. Moreover, anthropogenic interventions such as sand mining are found to play a significant role in channel behaviour. The role of the multiple factors driving the morphological changes of the cross sections has been unpacked using canonical component analysis.

The high degree of conservation of toll-like receptors (TLRs), and yet their subtle variations for better adaptation of species in the host–pathogen arms race make them worthy candidates for understanding evolution. We have attempted to track the trend of TLR evolution in the most diverse vertebrate group—teleosts, where Clarias batrachus was given emphasis, considering its traits for terrestrial adaptation. Eleven C. batrachus TLRs (TLR1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8 9, 13, 22, 25, 26) were identified in this study which clustered in proximity to its Siluriformes relative orthologues in the phylogenetic analysis of 228 TLRs from 25 teleosts. Ten TLRs (TLR1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8 9, 13, 21, 22) with at least 15 member orthologues for each alignment were processed for selection pressure and coevolutionary analysis. TLR1, 7, 8 and 9 were found to be under positive selection in the alignment-wide test. TLR1 also showed maximum episodic diversification in its clades while the teleost group Eupercaria showed the maximum divergence in their TLR repertoire. Episodic diversification was evident in C. batrachus TLR1 and 7 alignments. These results present a strong evidence of a divergent TLR repertoire in teleosts which may be contributing towards species-specific variation in TLR functions.