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\"The key objectives of the book are to explore the strengths of blockchain adaptation in manufacturing industries and logistics management, presenting different use cases of and future research trends\"-- Provided by publisher.

In this review article, synthesis, properties and applications of polyaniline-based nanocomposites (PANI-NCs) have been described. Different methods (viz chemical, electrochemical, photochemical and mechano-chemical) and size confinement tools used for preparation of PANI-NC are described with their advantageous and disadvantageous features. On the basis of synergized electrical, magnetic, optical, mechanical and thermoelectric properties, PANI-NCs are used in development of sensors, support catalysts, water purifications, energy and biomedicals. Further, applications of PANI-NC are elaborated with suitable examples centring on the role of nano-confinements and chemical modification along with existing challenges for commercial uses.

\"The text discusses concepts related to sustainable civil engineering practices in a single volume. It will be an ideal reference text for senior undergraduate students, graduate students and professionals in the fields of civil engineering, environmental engineering, mechanical engineering, and electrical engineering\"-- Provided by publisher.

Non-enzymatic electrochemical malathion sensing has been demonstrated over chitosan-grafted polyaniline (CHIT-g-PANI)-based electrode. Structural, morphological, and physical properties of electrode were investigated by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), thermal analysis (TGA), and other relevant ASTM methods. The obtained result suggests the formation of porous hybrid matrix with better free complexing group, electrical conductivity, and thermal stability due to rearrangement of molecular structure and crystallinity. Further, CHIT-g-PANI-based electrode was used for potentiometric sensing of malathion (MLT) in tomato juice by monitoring induced potential due to surface interaction between MLT and CHIT-g-PANI-based electrode. The observed sensing parameters are sensing range 62.5 to 2.0 µM, sensitivity 2.26 mV µM−1 cm−2, limit of detection 3.8 µM, response time 8.0 min, and recovery time 30 s. On the basis observed results a charge transferring, weak surface complexation-based sensing mechanism was proposed in fruits and vegetables in competitive and cost-effective manner.

Crustaceans express genes for at least three classes of putative chemosensory proteins. These are: Ionotropic Receptors (IRs), derived from the heterotetrameric ionotropic glutamate receptors (iGluRs); Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) channels, a diverse set of sensor-channels that include several families of chemoreceptor channels; and Gustatory Receptor Like receptors (GRLs), ionotropic receptors that are homologues of Gustatory Receptors (GRs) of insects and are expressed sparingly in most crustaceans so far studied. IRs are typically numerically the most dominant of these receptor proteins in crustaceans and include two classes: co-receptor IRs, which are necessary for making a functional receptor-channel; and tuning IRs, whose specific combination in the IR subunits in the heterotetramer confers chemical specificity. Previous work showed that the transcriptomes from two major chemosensory organs-the lateral flagellum of the antennule (LF) and the tips of the legs (dactyls)-of the Caribbean spiny lobster Panulirus argus express four co-receptor IRs and over 100 tuning IRs. In this paper, we examined and compared the transcriptomes from the LF and dactyls of P. argus and three other decapod crustaceans-the clawed lobster Homarus americanus, red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii, and the blue crab Callinectes sapidus. Each species has at least ca. 100 to 250 IRs, 1 to 4 GRLs, and ca. 15 TRP channels including those shown to be involved in chemoreception in other species. The IRs show different degrees of phylogenetic conservation: some are arthropod-conserved, others are pancrustacean-conserved, others appear to be crustacean-conserved, and some appear to be species-specific. Many IRs appear to be more highly expressed in the LF than dactyl. Our results show that decapod crustaceans express an abundance of genes for chemoreceptor proteins of different types, phylogenetic conservation, and expression patterns. An understanding of their functional roles awaits determining their expression patterns in individual chemosensory neurons and the central projections of those neurons.

In this work, we have engineered Aluminum (Al)-based plasmonic devices with MXene (Ti 3 C 2 T x ) nanosheet to achieve both high sensitivities as well Figure of Merit (FOM) simultaneously for the wavelength of 1550 nm in the optical communication band. Since, studying 2D nanomaterials can provide quality collaboration for Ti 3 C 2 T x , from their functionalization to application; Black Phosphorus, Graphene, fluorinated Graphene, and MoS 2 are undertaken for this purpose. The effect of such 2D nanomaterials has been studied on both sensitivity and FOM for Ti 3 C 2 T x -based engineered Al-plasmonic devices and a decent value of both sensitivity (119°/RIU) and FOM (340RIU −1 ) is achieved in the Kretschmann’s configuration. To demonstrate the bio-sensing application with the proposed plasmonic devices, the detection of protein solution concentration, based on the change in their refractive indices, is carried out. The proposed Ti 3 C 2 T x -based Al-plasmonic devices show promising applications in the optical communication band, employing fluorinated graphene and MoS 2 in the near-infrared region.

The increasing food and water demands of East Africa's growing population are stressing the region's inconsistent water resources and rain-fed agriculture. More accurate seasonal agricultural drought forecasts for this region can inform better water and agropastoral management decisions, support optimal allocation of the region's water resources, and mitigate socioeconomic losses incurred by droughts and floods. Here we describe the development and implementation of a seasonal agricultural drought forecast system for East Africa (EA) that provides decision support for the Famine Early Warning Systems Network's (FEWS NET) science team. We evaluate this forecast system for a region of equatorial EA (2° S–8° N, 36–46° E) for the March-April-May (MAM) growing season. This domain encompasses one of the most food-insecure, climatically variable, and socioeconomically vulnerable regions in EA, and potentially the world; this region has experienced famine as recently as 2011. To produce an \"agricultural outlook\", our forecast system simulates soil moisture (SM) scenarios using the Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC) hydrologic model forced with climate scenarios describing the upcoming season. First, we forced the VIC model with high-quality atmospheric observations to produce baseline soil moisture (SM) estimates (here after referred as SM a posteriori estimates). These compared favorably (correlation = 0.75) with the water requirement satisfaction index (WRSI), an index that the FEWS NET uses to estimate crop yields. Next, we evaluated the SM forecasts generated by this system on 5 March and 5 April of each year between 1993 and 2012 by comparing them with the corresponding SM a posteriori estimates. We found that initializing SM forecasts with start-of-season (SOS) (5 March) SM conditions resulted in useful SM forecast skill (> 0.5 correlation) at 1-month and, in some cases, 3-month lead times. Similarly, when the forecast was initialized with midseason (i.e., 5 April) SM conditions, the skill of forecasting SM estimates until the end-of-season improved (correlation > 0.5 over several grid cells). We also found these SM forecasts to be more skillful than the ones generated using the Ensemble Streamflow Prediction (ESP) method, which derives its hydrologic forecast skill solely from the knowledge of the initial hydrologic conditions. Finally, we show that, in terms of forecasting spatial patterns of SM anomalies, the skill of this agricultural drought forecast system is generally greater (> 0.8 correlation) during drought years (when standardized anomaly of MAM precipitation is below 0). This indicates that this system might be particularity useful for identifying drought events in this region and can support decision-making for mitigation or humanitarian assistance.

Tectona grandis L.f. (teak), though considered a paragon among timber species, raises several questions on quality parameters when grown on farmlands. The growth characteristics and important wood quality parameters such as equilibrium moisture content, density, shrinkage, static bending strength and stiffness, compressive strength parallel and perpendicular to grain, hardness, nail and screw holding powers of 24–25-year-old teak from intensively managed block (Bim), partially managed line (Lpm) and unmanaged block (Bum) plantations grown under agroforestry practices (AFP) were studied. Overall growth rate of teak trees of Bim was greater than Lpm and Bum. Few wood quality parameters of Bum were comparatively better than Bim and Lpm. However, teak from three AFP exhibited lower wood quality parameters compared to average values of forest teak. Superiority of Bum is reflected mainly in density and bending strength compared to Bim and Lpm. Other properties like compressive strength, hardness and nail and screw holding powers were almost comparable among three AFP. Flexural strength, compression parallel to grain and hardness of Bim and Lpm were found to be comparable. Average wood properties of both managed plantations were lower than Bum. There was no significant effect observed in specific gravity of wood when age of trees increased from 12 to 24 years. Although, Bum exhibited better or comparable properties to Bim and Lpm, average growth was significantly lower than managed plantations. Selective harvesting of Bum at pole stage may support optimal resource utilization, reduce inter-tree competition and provide an option to further delay felling of unharvested residual trees. Delayed harvesting of teak may provide more optimal economic utilisation as strength parameters are predicted to improve with increased maturity. If a decision to enhance financial returns is warranted, commercial felling could be initiated for Bim among the three options, due to its higher growth rate and moderate wood properties which can translate into higher returns. The outcome of the present study may be useful to stakeholders for taking appropriate management decisions for optimal utilization of the farm grown teak bioresource.

Triclosan (TCS), a widely used antimicrobial biocide, has raised serious concern among the scientific community in recent years owing to its ubiquitous presence around the globe and toxicity to aquatic organisms. The current study investigated the alterations in bacterial diversity, nutrients, and sediment enzyme activity in TCS-exposed sediment. TCS concentrations of 3 mg/L (T1) and 6 mg/L (T2) were applied in a microcosm setup for 28 days to sediment collected from Versova Creek, Mumbai. Among sediment enzymes, dehydrogenase activity exhibited the greatest degree of variability in 3 mg/L exposed sediment. Nitrite, total nitrogen and urease exhibited higher concentrations in 6 mg/L TCS exposed sediment. The concentration of ammonia was observed to be decreasing in treatments exposed to 6 mg/L TCS. Total heterotrophic bacteria exhibited an increase in count in T1 and a decrease in T2. Metagenomics data showed a higher relative abundance of bacteria in T1 compared to T2 on the 28th day of sampling. Proteobacteria was found to be the most abundant phylum in all samples, and their relative abundance was reduced by 0.14% in T1 and 5.48% in T2. The results confirm the alterations in the composition of sediment bacterial communities and their enzymatic activities due to TCS exposure.

Triclosan (TCS) is a lipophilic, broad spectrum antimicrobial agent commonly used in personal care products with a projected continuous escalation in aquatic environments in the post COVID 19 era. There is rich documentation in the literature on the alteration of physiological responses in fish due to TCS exposure; however, studies on gut associated bacteria of fish are still scarce. This is the first attempt to determine changes in bacterial community structure due to exposure of TCS on Labeo rohita , a commercially essential freshwater species, using 16S V3-V4 region ribosomal RNA (rRNA) next-generation sequencing (NGS). Chronic exposure of TCS at environmentally realistic concentrations viz. 1/5th (T 1 : 0.129 mg/L) and 1/10th (T 2 : 0.065 mg/L) of LC 50 for 28 days resulted in the dose dependent bioconcentration of TCS in the fish gut. Prolonged exposure to TCS leads to disruption of gut bacteria evidenced by down regulation of the host immune system. Additionally, high-throughput sequencing analysis showed alternation in the abundance and diversity of microbial communities in the gut, signifying Proteobacteria and Verrucomicrobia as dominant phyla. Significant changes were also observed in the relative abundance of Chloroflexi and Gammatimonadetes phyla in TCS exposed groups. The study revealed that gut microbiome can be used as a biomarker in assessing the degree of TCS toxicity in commercially important fish species.