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Understanding the thermal transport properties of superlattice structures is relevant to a number of possible practical applications. Now, the scattering of phonons in oxide superlattices is shown to undergo a crossover from an incoherent to a coherent regime, which in turn strongly alters their thermal behaviour. Elementary particles such as electrons 1 , 2 or photons 3 , 4 are frequent subjects of wave-nature-driven investigations, unlike collective excitations such as phonons. The demonstration of wave–particle crossover, in terms of macroscopic properties, is crucial to the understanding and application of the wave behaviour of matter. We present an unambiguous demonstration of the theoretically predicted crossover from diffuse (particle-like) to specular (wave-like) phonon scattering in epitaxial oxide superlattices, manifested by a minimum in lattice thermal conductivity as a function of interface density. We do so by synthesizing superlattices of electrically insulating perovskite oxides and systematically varying the interface density, with unit-cell precision, using two different epitaxial-growth techniques. These observations open up opportunities for studies on the wave nature of phonons, particularly phonon interference effects, using oxide superlattices as model systems, with extensive applications in thermoelectrics and thermal management.

Sugarcane root system comprises of superficial sett roots as well as deeply-penetrating shoot borne roots (SBR) with latter being the permanent root system. In sugarcane, the healthy SBR contributes to a better crop yield and it also helps to produce multiple ratoon crops after the harvest. There is a dearth of in-depth knowledge on SBR system architecture and its functional role in modern day commercial hybrids. A comprehensive phenotypic, anatomical and whole transcriptome profiling, conducted between the commercial sugarcane hybrids and a wild germplasm Erianthus , found a developmental delay in both initiation and establishment of the SBR in commercial hybrid compared to Erianthus . The SBR system in Erianthus proved to be an extensive drought-adaptive root system architecture that significantly contributes to drought tolerance. On the other hand, SBRs in the commercial hybrids showed an irreversible collapse and damage of the root cells under drought stress. The outcomes from the comparative analysis of the transcriptome data showed a significant upregulation of the genes that regulate important stress signalling pathways viz., sugar, calcium, hormone signalling and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis in the SBRs of Erianthus . It was found that through these key signalling pathways, Erianthus SBRs triggered the downstream signalling cascade to impart physiological responses like osmoprotection, modification of the cell walls, detoxification of reactive oxygen species, expression of drought responsive transcription factors, maintenance of cell stability and lateral root development. The current study forms a basis for further exploration of the Shoot Borne Root system as a valuable breeding target to develop drought tolerant sugarcane genotypes.

Recent studies in devices comprising metal antiferromagnets have demonstrated the feasibility of a novel spintronic concept in which spin-dependent phenomena are governed by an antiferromagnet instead of a ferromagnet. Here we report experimental observation of the anisotropic magnetoresistance in an antiferromagnetic semiconductor Sr 2 IrO 4 . Based on ab initio calculations, we associate the origin of the phenomenon with large anisotropies in the relativistic electronic structure. The antiferromagnet film is exchange coupled to a ferromagnet, which allows us to reorient the antiferromagnet spin-axis in applied magnetic fields via the exchange spring effect. We demonstrate that the semiconducting nature of our AFM electrode allows us to perform anisotropic magnetoresistance measurements in the current-perpendicular-to-plane geometry without introducing a tunnel barrier into the stack. Temperature-dependent measurements of the resistance and anisotropic magnetoresistance highlight the large, entangled tunabilities of the ordinary charge and spin-dependent transport in a spintronic device utilizing the antiferromagnet semiconductor. The change in the electrical properties of a ferromagnetic under the influence of a magnetic field depends strongly on field orientation. Marti et al. now show that this so-called anisotropic magnetoresistance is also evident in antiferromagnetic semiconductors, making them useful in spintronics.

This research compares the momentum, thermal energy, mass diffusion and entropy generation of two shear thinning nanofluids in an angled micro-channel with mixed convection, nonlinear thermal radiation, temperature jump boundary condition and variable thermal conductivity effects. The R K F 45 approach was used to solve the Buongiorno nonlinear governing model. The effect of different parameters on the flow, energy, concentration, and entropy generating fields have been graphically illustrated and explained. The hyperbolic tangent nanoliquid has a better velocity than the Williamson nanofluid. The Williamson nanofluid has higher thermal energy and concentration than the hyperbolic tangent nanoliquid in the microchannel. The Grashof number, both thermal and solutal, increases the fluid flow rate throughout the flow system. The energy of the nanoliquid is reduced by the temperature jump condition, while the energy field of the nanoliquid is enhanced by the improving thermal conductivity value. The nanoliquids concentration rises as the Schmitt number rises. The irreversibility rate of the channel system is maximized by the variable thermal conductivity parameter.

The performance of white-topping pavements depends mainly on the functionality of joints. The functionality of joints is measured in terms of its load transfer efficiency (LTE). Falling weight deflectometer (FWD) device is most commonly used to evaluate the performance of joints in the field. Joint stiffness is used as an input parameter in the finite element (FE) based software to compute the LTE. In the present study, an improvement to the existing analytical model is presented that can be used to compute the joint stiffness of white-topping pavements directly from the FWD deflection data. Further, ANN models have been developed and compared for the proposed and previously available analytical models in the literature. The joint stiffness calculated from the ANN model developed from the proposed analytical model is used as an input parameter in FE model and LTE is compared with the field studies. It is concluded that the proposed ANN model can predict the joint stiffness of white-topping pavement accurately and in addition to that, it will also reduce the computation time and cost.

The main objective of the present analysis is to characterize the transient buoyancy-motivated free convection turbulent flow and heat transfer characteristic features of an incompressible viscous fluid past a vertical cylinder with low-Reynolds-number (LRN) k–ε turbulence model in a two-dimensional coordinate system numerically. The Reynolds averaged Navier–Stokes equations (RANS) such as continuity, momentum, and energy are considered in terms of cylindrical coordinate system. The extra stress tensors obtained from the RANS model are closed using the eddy diffusive model. The local value of turbulent kinematic viscosity ( ν t ) is determined by utilizing the kinetic energy ( k ) and dissipation rate ( ϵ ) equations. The resulting system of partial differential equations (PDEs) with high nonlinearity, governing the turbulent boundary layer flow are solved using the implicit Crank–Nicolson technique. The discretized set of dimensionless tridiagonal algebraic equations are simplified by utilizing Thomas algorithm. Also, the simulated results are expressed in terms of graphs to analyse the average velocity, temperature, kinetic energy, dissipation rate, and also average momentum and heat transfer rates for the varying values of turbulent Prandtl ( Pr t ), Grashof ( G r t ) and Reynolds ( Re t ) numbers. It is noted that the average velocity, kinetic energy, dissipation rate of kinetic energy fields suppressed, and temperature field enhanced with increasing Re t . Also, the rising turbulent Prandtl parameter decreased the average velocity, temperature, turbulent kinetic energy, and dissipation rate profiles. Further, the increasing turbulent Grashof number decreased the kinetic energy and dissipation rate profiles. Further, the obtained results from the present turbulent investigation are compared with the existing results and observed an excellent agreement.

The present paper makes an effort to study the silent feature of transient free-convective turbulent heat and mass transfer along a vertical cylinder using the low Reynolds number k-ε model. Reynolds averaged fluid flow equations like continuity, momentum, energy, and concentration are considered along with additional transport equations such as turbulent kinetic energy and its dissipation rate through which the local value of turbulent kinematic viscosity is calculated in a two-dimensional cylindrical coordinate system. Produced turbulent nonlinear coupled dimensionless equations governing the boundary layer flow are solved by using the Crank–Nicolson scheme of finite difference method. Thomas’s algorithm is employed to simplify the discretized tridiagonal system of algebraic equations. The simulated findings such as average velocity, energy, species diffusion, kinetic energy, dissipation rate, and friction parameters of turbulent flow are discussed via tables and graphs. The parametric behavior of turbulent flow is studied in terms of the turbulent buoyancy ratio parameter, Prandtl, Grashof, Reynolds, and Schmidt numbers. It is noticed that the average velocity field diminished with increasing Reynolds and Schmidt parameters. Also, the temperature profile enhanced with Reynolds number and decays with the Prandtl parameter in the turbulent regime. Furthermore, due to the lack of literature on the numerical solution of turbulent flow, authors attempted to demonstrate the turbulent heat and mass transfer about a vertical cylinder through the LRN k-ε turbulence model using the Crank–Nicolson scheme with Boussinesq approximations. A comparison with former in the literature results is performed to show the accuracy and correctness of the current turbulent results, the agreement is excellent.

Erianthus arundinaceus [Retzius] Jeswiet, a wild relative of sugarcane has a high biomass production potential and a reservoir of many genes for superior agronomic traits and tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. A comparative physiological, anatomical and root transcriptome analysis were carried out to identify the salt-responsive genes and metabolic pathways associated with salt-tolerant E. arundinaceus genotype IND99-907 and salinity-sensitive sugarcane genotype Co 97010. IND99-907 recorded growth of young leaves, higher proline content, higher relative water content, intact root anatomical structures and lower Na + /K + , Ca 2+ /K + and Mg 2+ /K + ratio as compared to the sugarcane genotype Co 97010. We have generated four de novo transcriptome assemblies between stressed and control root samples of IND99-907 and Co 97010. A total of 649 and 501 differentially expressed genes (FDR<0.01) were identified from the stressed and control libraries of IND99-907 and Co 97010 respectively. Genes and pathways related to early stress-responsive signal transduction, hormone signalling, cytoskeleton organization, cellular membrane stabilization, plasma membrane-bound calcium and proton transport, sodium extrusion, secondary metabolite biosynthesis, cellular transporters related to plasma membrane-bound trafficking, nucleobase transporter, clathrin-mediated endocytosis were highly enriched in IND99-907. Whereas in Co 97010, genes related to late stress-responsive signal transduction, electron transport system, senescence, protein degradation and programmed cell death, transport-related genes associated with cellular respiration and mitochondrial respiratory chain, vesicular trafficking, nitrate transporter and fewer secondary metabolite biosynthetic genes were highly enriched. A total of 27 pathways, 24 biological processes, three molecular functions and one cellular component were significantly enriched (FDR≤ 0.05) in IND99-907 as compared to 20 pathways, two biological processes without any significant molecular function and cellular components in Co 97010, indicates the unique and distinct expression pattern of genes and metabolic pathways in both genotypes. The genomic resources developed from this study is useful for sugarcane crop improvement through development of genic SSR markers and genetic engineering approaches.

Electrochromes are materials that have the ability to reversibly change from one colour state to another with the application of an electric field. Electrochromic colouration efficiency is typically large in organic materials that are not very stable chemically. Here we show that inorganic Bi 0.9 Ca 0.1 FeO 3−0.05 thin films exhibit a prominent electrochromic effect arising from an intrinsic mechanism due to the melting of oxygen-vacancy ordering and the associated redistribution of carriers. We use a combination of optical characterization techniques in conjunction with high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and first-principles theory. The absorption change and colouration efficiency at the band edge (blue-cyan region) are 4.8×10 6  m −1 and 190 cm 2  C −1 , respectively, which are the highest reported values for inorganic electrochromes, even exceeding values of some organic materials. Electrochromic materials reversibly change their colour upon application of an electric field. Seidel et al . measure the optical properties of doped bismuth ferrite and report the largest electrochromic response for an inorganic material, which they attribute to the melting of oxygen-vacancy ordering.

We report the observation of a linear magnetoresistance in single crystals and epitaxial thin films of the pyrochlore iridate Bi2Ir2O7. The linear magnetoresistance is positive and isotropic at low temperatures, without any sign of saturation up to 35 T. As temperature increases, the linear field dependence gradually evolves to a quadratic field dependence. The temperature and field dependence of magnetoresistance of Bi2Ir2O7 bears strikingly resemblance to the scale invariant magnetoresistance observed in the strange metal phase in high Tc cuprates. However, the residual resistivity of Bi2Ir2O7 is more than two orders of magnitude higher than the curpates. Our results suggest that the correlation between linear magnetoresistance and quantum fluctuations may exist beyond high temperature superconductors.