Manonmaniam Sundaranar University

Ce⁴⁺ rare earth ions mixed metal oxides with chemical composition CexCu0.5Mn0.5-xO2 (x = 0.0, 0.01, 0.03,0.05) synthesized by co-precipitation technique. The as-synthesized nanoparticles were further calcined for 500 °C. The calcined binary and ternary nano oxides were characterized by powder XRD, SEM, EDX, FTIR, PL, CV, Antimicrobial and photocatalytic studies. X-ray diffraction confirmed the crystalline nature of the synthesized nano oxides with the crystalline size varying from 10 to 16 nm. The particle size is observed to increase with Ce⁴⁺ concentration. Morphology was analysed using SEM micrograph and the present elemental particles were found from EDX analysis. The confirmation of formed metal oxide bonds was done by FTIR. The PL spectra reveal strong emission peaks around 460 nm, 540 nm and 820 nm. The peaks show that all the samples include defect associated peak in the visible region. Antimicrobial activity was investigated against two gram-negative (klebsiella pneumoniae, pseudomonas aeruginosa) and two gram- positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae) and hence the zone of inhibition (30 μ L) was obtained. The electro chemical behaviour and hence the specific capacitance is determined from CV studies. The large value of specific capacitance shows that the synthesized nano oxides act as a promising material for electrodes. The photocatalytic degradation of synthesized Ce0.05Cu0.5Mn0.45O2 nanocomposite material shows greater % of degradation efficiency (97.78%) at 100 mg/L concentration of ARS dye.

Crystal growth has been a prominent research focussed for several years due to its significance in both environmental and technological advancements. In this study, the spectral and nonlinear optical (NLO) characteristics of glycine-doped sodium potassium tartrate (GSPT) crystals are reported for the first time. Sodium potassium tartrate (SPT), also known as Rochelle salt (NaKC4H4O6·4H2O), is recognized as one of the most essential ferroelectric materials. In this study, glycine was incorporated as a dopant to enhance and modify the crystal’s inherent properties. Single crystals of GSPT were synthesized using the aqueous solution growth technique. The structural attributes of the developed crystals were analyzed using the X-ray diffraction (XRD) method. Furthermore, linear optical properties such as absorbance, reflectance, optical transmittance, extinction coefficient, and refractive index were evaluated through UV–visible spectroscopy and the optical band gap of the sample was found to be 5.6 eV. Additionally, the grown crystals were subjected to advanced investigations, including XRD, FTIR, EDS, and SHG analyses. The relative SHG efficiency of GSPT crystal is observed to be 1.17 times higher than that of KDP crystal and the obtained results from various studies were comprehensively discussed.

The pursuit of environmentally sustainable, lead‐free ceramics with outstanding energy storage capabilities is crucial for the advancement of next‐generation high‐power capacitors. However, achieving this objective comes with significant hurdles. In this investigation, we have developed a highly effective method for inducing the relaxor ferroelectric phase (RFE) within super paraelectric (SPE) materials, specifically in Bi³⁺‐substituted NBT‐BT‐CLT ceramics. This innovation has resulted in an exceptional energy storage density of approximately 5.83 J cm⁻³ under an electric field of 320 kV/cm, coupled with an impressive efficiency rating of around 79%. The outstanding performance in energy storage can be largely attributed to the intentional manipulation of ultrasmall polar nanoregions, as confirmed through HRTEM analysis. This engineering approach not only reduces grain size but also significantly enhances polarization and raises the thresholds for the breakdown of electric fields. The SPE‐RFE strategy demonstrated in this study holds broad applicability in optimizing dielectric properties and other essential functionalities, thereby facilitating the conceptualization of advanced energy storage devices.

New semi-organic bis(hydrogenmaleate)-Cu(II) tetrahydrate single crystal was grown by the slow evaporation method, and its structure belong to the triclinic system with centrosymmetric space group P-1. The structure of crystal was determined using X-ray diffraction analysis. BMCT has the highest O⋯H interaction (55.4%), which stabilize the crystal structure. The linear optical characteristics, including bandgap energy, refractive index, and extinction coefficient, were utilized to assess the optical activity of BMCT. The emission behaviour of grown crystal has been examined using fluorescence spectral analysis. Thermal analysis clarified BMCT’s thermal stability. The intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) and hyperconjucative contacts were interpreted using NBO analysis. Using Z-scan analysis, the self-defocusing effect was investigated in BMCT.

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is a compostable and eco-friendly polymer ideal for environmentally conscious applications. Enhancements with crosslinkers and fiber reinforcement improve its properties, making PLA suitable for innovative packaging, biomedical, and sustainable materials. This study aims to enhance PLA’s performance by incorporating cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) from screw pine leaves using chemico-mechanical method. The nanocomposites were fabricated by blending 1wt% and 2wt% CNFs into PLA using the solution casting approach. FTIR analysis of the PLA nanocomposites show a peak at 1254 cm⁻¹, confirming C–O stretching vibrations of CNFs in the polymer matrix, while a stronger broad peak at 3418 cm⁻¹ indicates enhanced hydrogen bonding and improved compatibility. Thermal analysis shows that adding 2 wt% CNFs to PLA increases the decomposition temperature by 6oC, indicating enhanced thermal stability. SEM confirms even CNF distribution in the PLA matrix, suggesting effective dispersibility and strong interfacial interactions. Additionally, increasing the CNF content significantly improved the antibacterial activity of the PLA nanocomposite films against E. coli and S. aureus. These findings suggest that PLA nanocomposites are promising for sustainable applications, particularly in packaging and healthcare, where biodegradability and antibacterial properties are essential.

Overextraction of groundwater, as well as rapidly changing land use patterns, climatic change, and anthropogenic activities, in the densely populated Melur of Tamil Nadu state in India, has led to aquifer degradation. This study maps the groundwater potential (GWPZ) by evaluating 678 km² of this region in the Analytical Hierarchy Processes (AHP) and by using remote sensing and GIS tools as part of SDG 6 for the sustainable management of drinking, irrigation, and industrial uses for future generations. Data information layers, such as aquifer (a), topography (t), lineaments (l), land-use/land-cover (LuLc), soil (s), rainfall (r), and drainage (d) characteristics, separated the study area between poor and excellent groundwater potential zones with 361 km² or 53% of the study area remaining as low GWP and the prospective excellent groundwater potential zone covering only 9 km² (1.3% of total area). The integrated approach of the GWPZ and Water Quality Index (WQI) can effectively identify different zones based on their suitability for extraction and consumption for better understanding. This study also evaluates the performance of three machine learning models, such as Random Forest (RF), Gradient Boosting, and Support Vector Machine (SVM), based on a classification method using the same layers that govern the groundwater potential. The results indicate that both the RF model and Gradient Boosting achieved 100% accuracy, while SVM had a lower accuracy of 50%. Performance metrics such as precision, recall, and F1-score were analyzed to assess classification effectiveness. The findings highlight the importance of model selection, dataset size, and feature importance in achieving optimal classification performance. Results of this study highlight that the aquifer system of Melur has a low groundwater reserve, and it requires adequate water resource management strategies such as artificial recharge, pumping restriction, and implementation of groundwater tariffs for sustainability.

There is a growing need to develop an alternative environmentally friendly approach for synthesizing metal nanoparticles (NPs) due to increasing concerns about the energy crisis and challenges of conventional chemical and physical methods. A biogenic co-precipitation method was employed to synthesize tin oxide (SnO2) NPs using Albizia saman leaf extract. The synthesized SnO2 NPs were characterized using various analytical techniques. The presence of a tetragonal anatase phase and a crystalline size of 25 nm were confirmed by X-ray diffraction. Fourier transform infrared (FT/IR) spectroscopy identified functional groups potentially involved in the reduction and stabilization of SnO2 NPs. The optical properties, examined by UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-DRS), revealed a bandgap of 2.74 eV. The rod-like morphology of SnO2 NPs was identified using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), while energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) verified the elemental composition. Notably, the SnO2 NPs exhibited significant photocatalytic activity, achieving over 90% degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) dye under visible light irradiation. Additionally, the SnO2 NPs demonstrated intense antibacterial activity by effectively inhibiting the growth of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis). These findings suggest that SnO2 NPs synthesized via a green approach hold promise as efficient photocatalysts for dye degradation and potential antimicrobial agents against pathogenic bacteria.

An organic NLO single crystal, 4-acetylpyridine fumaric acid (4APFA), was synthesized at room temperature using the slow evaporation method, and single crystal XRD analysis confirmed that the grown crystal is triclinic with a centrosymmetric space group P$\overline{1 }$. Using the density functional theory (DFT) approach, experimental results were correlated with theoretical values. The presence of hydrogen bonding interactions that stabilize the molecular structure was understood through NBO analysis. HOMO–LUMO analysis predicts the higher stability and reactivity of the molecule. The major factor contributing to overall crystal packing arises from O–H interactions (39.4%) due to the presence of N–H…O hydrogen bonding interactions. FT-IR and FT-Raman spectroscopy were used to identify different functional groups present in 4-acetyl pyridine fumaric acid. UV-visible spectral analysis of 4APFA shows high optical transmittance throughout the visible region. The material’s blue-band emission was identified through fluorescence spectral analysis. TG/DTA investigation revealed that 4APFA is thermally stable up to 160 °C. The grown 4APFA crystal exhibits excellent atomic packing and good mechanical stability, making it suitable for device fabrication. The higher third-order susceptibility of 4.526 × 10–6 esu and a nonlinear refractive index value of 4.24 × 10–9 cm²/W indicate that the grown 4APFA crystal demonstrates superior NLO behavior, making it highly promising for the design and manufacturing of optical power-limiting devices.

Natural fiber-reinforced composites could be obtained by utilizing agricultural wastes, fallen leaves, or abandoned materials as reinforcements after their usage as a way to reduce environmental impacts such as to stop deforestation, i.e., cutting down of plants and trees for their fibers, and in waste management, which includes recyling of natural wastes and minimizing the use of nonbiodegradable synthetic composites by replacing it with their natural fiber counterparts. As an outcome, leaves from a Terminalia catappa (Tc) tree grown in the Kanyakumari district that falls off in large quantities throughout the winter are gathered and examined. The leaves are treated with NaOH and KMnO4. In this investigation, all three powdered samples (raw, alkali treated, and permanganate treated Tc leaf fibers) are sent to chemical analysis, powder X-ray diffraction (p-XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDAX), thermal analysis (TGA-DTA), and carbon hydrogen nitrogen sulfur (CHNS) analysis. The results of the research showed that the powdered Tc leaf samples had high levels of cellulose (≈ 50%), crystallinity index (≈ 50–65%), and crystallite size (≈ 3 nm). There are various vibrational bands associated with them. The rough surface of the raw and treated Tc powder samples and their particle size (≈ 50–100 μm), as revealed by the SEM images, might aid in good adherence with the matrix. According to EDAX and CHNS analyses, there is a high carbon content in all of the samples. The fibers have an activation energy (≈ 55–60 kJ/mol) and maximum temperature limit (≈ 500 °C) that are comparable to many other natural fibers. The density of Tc leaf fibers (≈ 0.2 g/cm³) is very low and so could be used in lightweight composite applications. The chemical treatments enhanced the qualities of Tc fibers to a certain extent. In various polymers, rubber, or concrete matrices where the inclusion of natural fiber reinforcement is desired, all three samples could function as potential reinforcements.

Glyphosate is one of the most widely used herbicides globally, yet its extensive application has raised significant ecological concerns. The objective of this study is to evaluate the ability of actinobacteria to degrade glyphosate under various environmental conditions. Four strains of actinobacteria were selected for their ability to thrive in a minimal medium containing 50 mg/L of glyphosate. The optimization of glyphosate biodegradation was assessed through a colorimetric method, which showed that the highest biodegradation rate occurred at a pH of 7.2, a temperature of 30 °C and an inoculum volume of 4%. The isolates were identified as follows: Streptomyces sp. strain SPA2 (accession number pp413753), Streptomyces rochei. strain IT (accession number pp413751), Streptomyces variabilis. strain Herb (accession number pp413750), and Streptomyces griseoincarnatus. strain SC (accession number PP413754). Analysis of total organic carbon reduction demonstrated that the strains SPA2, IT, Herb, and SC achieved reductions of 56.11%, 47.96%, 82.06%, and 67.12%, respectively. Furthermore, ATR-FTIR spectroscopy indicated alterations in the chemical structure of glyphosate post-biodegradation. These findings underscore the significant potential of the identified actinobacterial strains as viable agents for the bioremediation of glyphosate-contaminated agricultural soils.

An accurate classification of brain tumour disease is an important function in diagnosing cancer disease. Several deep learning (DL) methods have been used to identify and categorize the tumour illness. Nevertheless, the better categorized result was not consistently obtained by the traditional DL procedures. Therefore, a superior answer to this problem is offered by the optimized DL approaches. Here, the brain tumour categorization (BTC) is done using the devised Hybrid Fruit Bee Optimization based Deep Convolution Neural Network (HFBO-based DCNN). Here, the noise in the image is removed through pre-processing using a Gaussian filter. Next, the feature extraction process is done using the SegNet and this helps to extract the relevant data from the input image. Then, the feature selection is done with the help of the HFBO algorithm. Additionally, the brain tumour classification is done by the Deep CNN, and the established HFBO algorithm is used to train the weight. The devised model is analysed using the testing accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity and produced the values of 0.926, 0.926, and 0.931, respectively.

This research investigates the relationship between entrepreneurial self-efficacy (ESE) and entrepreneurial intention (EINT). Based on social cognitive theory (SCT) and theory of planned behavior (TPB), a conceptual model is developed, and the moderating effects of tolerance for ambiguity and innovativeness as moderators in influencing EINT are explored. A survey instrument was used to collect data from 842 students from higher educational institutions in a developing country. After verifying the psychometric properties of the measures using the LISREL software for structural equation modeling, the hypothesized relationships were tested using PROCESS macros. The findings indicate (i) ESE is a significant predictor of risk-taking behavior, need for achievement, and EINT, (ii) risk-taking behavior and need for achievement are significantly and positively associated with EINT, (iii) tolerance for ambiguity moderates the relationship between ESE and EINT, and (iii) innovativeness moderates the relationship between need for achievement and EINT. The two-way interactions between ESE, tolerance for ambiguity, and innovativeness in strengthening EINT bring novelty to the model. To the best of our knowledge, the moderated-mediation model investigating the EINT of students from higher educational institutions in the context of a developing country is the first of its kind and makes a pivotal contribution to the entrepreneurship theory and practice.

A series of ruthenium metal (II) complexes incorporating a Schiff base ligand, PMDP, were synthesized and thoroughly characterized. FT-IR spectroscopic analysis revealed distinct coordination modes of PMDP in complex-1 and complex-2. Specifically, complex-1, engaging two azomethine nitrogen atoms, whereas it exhibited a tetradentate coordination mode in complex-2, involving two azomethine nitrogen atoms and two negatively charged oxygen atoms with PMDP. The antioxidant activity of the complexes was evaluated using the DPPH radical scavenging assay, demonstrating potent antioxidant potential. In vitro antibacterial efficacy of the compounds was tested against a panel of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains, revealing remarkable activity against Gram-positive strains. In addition to, the anticancer activity of the contrive complexes was evaluated against MCF-7 and HT-29 cancer cell lines using the MTT assay. All the complexes exhibiting superior biotic doings than free PMDP. Complex-1 demonstrated the highest cytotoxicity against MCF-7 cells, with 57.25% cell growth inhibition. The results indicate that contrive complexes may serve as promising candidates for the development of novel antioxidant, antibacterial, and anticancer agents.

The aim of the study is to examine the effects of entrepreneurs’ cognitive style on firm performance mediated through experiential learning. A conceptual model was developed showing the responsibility as a moderator between cognitive style and experiential learning, and risk taking as a moderator between experiential learning and firm performance. Using a survey instrument, data were collected from 378 entrepreneurs in the Southern part of India. Hayes’s PROCESS macros were used to test the hypothesised relationships. The results reveal that all dimensions of cognitive style: Knowing style, planning style and creating style, are significantly and positively related to firm performance. The results also suggest that experiential learning mediates the relationship between three dimensions of cognitive style and firm performance. Further, the findings indicate that entrepreneurs’ responsibility moderates the relationship between all three dimensions of cognitive style (knowing style, planning style and creating style) and experiential learning. The results also showed risk-taking as a moderator between experiential learning and firm performance. This study offers practical insights to both entrepreneurs and educators by highlighting the role of cognitive styles in achieving success. Further, educational institutions can conduct workshops and training programs to bring awareness about the antecedents to entrepreneurial success. The conceptual model developed, to the best of our knowledge, is first of its kind especially in the context of a developing country—India. This study emphasises the significance of three dimensions of cognitive style as precursors to firm performance, mediated through experiential learning. This study extends the current knowledge on the effect of cognitive styles on entrepreneurship intentions by exploring the responsibility and risk-taking as moderators.

Let G=(V(G),E(G)) be a simple graph of order n. A set $S\subseteq V(G)$ is said to be a restrained dominating set if each vertex in $V(G)-S$ is adjacent to a vertex in S and to a vertex in $V(G)-S$. The restrained domination polynomial of a graph G is defined by $D_{r}(G,x)=\sum \limits _{i=\gamma _{r}(G)}^{n}d_{r}(G,i)x^{i}$ where $d_{r}(G,i)$ is the number of restrained dominating sets of G of size i and $\gamma _{r}(G)$ is the restrained domination number of a graph G. In this paper we derive some recurrence relations for $D_{r}(G,x)$.

In the Kurumalai region, the integration of remote sensing and GIS technology proved to be a valuable approach for identifying potential groundwater zones, playing a crucial role in groundwater storage resource management. This study involved classifying soil, geology, geomorphology, drainage patterns, land use/land cover (LULC), slope, and lineament using remote sensing and GIS techniques to determine groundwater potential zones. The analytical hierarchy process (AHP) method was employed to enable a comprehensive multi-parameter analysis, leading to the successful classification of the study area into very low, low, medium, and high zones of groundwater potential. This valuable information can guide the selection of appropriate locations for agriculture open wells and tube wells, contributing to future development schemes and benefiting society through the efforts of the scientific community. Ultimately, this chapter offers significant insights into conserving, managing, and sustainably utilizing groundwater resources in the Kurumalai region.

Land use land cover changes have been one of the most significant perceptible change taking place around us. The quantification and assessment of changes in land use and land cover, while perceptible, have proven difficult due to the size, diversity, and spatial variability of the change that is occurring. Since human activities have a direct impact on the majority of land use and cover changes, conventional ecological theories are rarely applied. Evaluation and analysis of changes in land use and cover have shown that the remote sensing and geographic information system are crucial. This study looked at the changes in land use and land cover in the Kanyakumari District of Tamil Nadu between the years 2001 and 2021. For the years 2001 and 2021, Landsat 7 EMT+ data and Landsat 8 OLI data, respectively, were used. The derived data was processed using the ArcGIS 10.8 programme, and for the study’s purposes, it was further categorised into eight classes using the ERDAS IMAGING 2014 programme. The prepared land use and land cover map was compared with the prepared spectral indices, such as NDVI, NDWI, and NDBI, for the corresponding years 2001 and 2021.

Imidazolium L-tartrate doped with magnesium chloride (IMLT.MgCl2) crystals has been grown by slow evaporation approach. The synthesized IMLT.MgCl2 crystals are well crystalline monoclinic crystal system with space group P21. The powder X-ray diffraction pattern of the grown IMLT.MgCl2 crystals has been indexed. To prove the functional groups, FTIR spectra was utilized which verified the presence of O–H, N–H, C-H, C = O and other bonds. UV–Vis spectroscopy revealed the lower cutoff wavelength of 230 nm and the band gap of 5.07 eV. TG/DTA curves determined the thermal stability up to 205 °C and that its melting point is seen at 234 °C. Meyer’s index in microhardness tests verified the soft nature of the crystals. Laser-induced damage threshold value of IMLT.MgCl2 crystal is found to be 0.87 GW/cm². The compound with the given designation has a NLO efficiency of 0.55 times of KDP.