Mizoram University

This work presents a detailed study of the electronic structure, phonon dispersion, Z2 invariant calculation, and Fermi surface of the newly discovered kagome superconductor CsV3Sb5, using density functional theory. The phonon dispersion in the pristine state reveals two negative modes at the M and L points of the Brillouin zone, indicating lattice instability. CsV3Sb5 transitions into a structurally stable 2 × 2 × 1 charge density wave (CDW) phase, confirmed by positive phonon modes. The electronic band structure shows several Dirac points near the Fermi level, with a narrow gap opening due to spin–orbit coupling (SOC), although the effect of SOC on other bands is minimal. In the pristine phase, this material exhibits a quasi-2D cylindrical Fermi surface, which undergoes reconstruction in the CDW phase. We calculated quantum oscillation frequencies using Onsager’s relation, finding good agreement with experimental results in the CDW phase. To explore the topological properties of CsV3Sb5, we computed the Z2 invariant in both pristine and CDW phases, resulting in a value of (ν0; ν1ν2ν3) = (1; 000), suggesting the strong topological nature of this material. Our detailed analysis of phonon dispersion, electronic bands, Fermi surface mapping, and Z2 invariant provides insights into the topological properties, CDW order, and unconventional superconductivity in AV3Sb5 (A = K, Rb, and Cs).

Background Dengue is the most important arboviral disease, and Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus are the major vectors. It is one of the most recent emerging diseases in Mizoram state with a fast-growing burden over the years. The present study aimed to explore the epidemiological patterns of dengue in Mizoram, and to identify vector mosquito species. Methods In the present study, two years secondary data of dengue disease in Mizoram was studied. Dengue vector mosquitoes and dengue virus serotypes circulating in vector mosquitoes in Aizawl City were identified by sequence analysis of COX1 and C-prM genes respectively. Results In Mizoram State, the annual case prevalence of dengue was found to be 300.45 per 100,000 persons. Seasonality of the disease was also noted, with the peak season occurring from July to December. There is a significant positive relationship between age and the disease prevalence (p < 0.05, r = 0.909). DENV was detected in 10 pools of Ae. aegypti with a minimum infection rate (MIR) of 18.05, and 8 pools of Ae. albopictus with a minimum infection rate of 16.03. The viral isolates were found to correspond to serotypes 2 (DENV2) and 3 (DENV3). A total of 6 pools of Aedes aegypti and 4 pools of Aedes albopictus tested positive with DENV2 serotype, while 4 pools of Aedes aegypti and 3 pools of Aedes albopictus tested positive with DENV3 serotype. DENV2 serotype was more common, and multiple serotypes (DENV2 and DENV3) were also detected in two pools from one locality. Conclusions There is an increasing trend in dengue infection in Mizoram, and seasonality of the disease was observed with the peak season during July to December. The higher incidence rate among the adults indicated that outdoor activities may be related to the high risk of the infection. However, lack of immunity among the older people may also be a possible reason of higher disease incidence rather than the activity pattern. Early identification and frequent monitoring of infected vector mosquitoes will yield an early warning indicator for forecasting dengue epidemics in the future.

Ethanol is recognised as a fuel in India due to its potential to help the nation’s ecology and energy security. In order to reap the rewards of ethanol, an Ethanol Blending Programme (EBP) has been initiated. Currently, India intends to begin using gasoline with 20% ethanol by 2025 and to complete the switch by 2030. India has, however, continually fallen short of the blending goal. Moreover, this goal is still unattainable due to a lack of ethanol supply. So, improvement of this scenario requires a precise ethanol demand projection for appropriate policy formulation. Besides, identifying an accurate forecasting model is also necessary to produce accurate demand projection consistently. This study attempts to identify the most suitable model among Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA), Grey model and Long-short term memory (LSTM) and reveals that LSTM model produces forecast more accurately with more consistency. Thus, this model is used for projecting the ethanol demand till 2030. The forecasted demand for ethanol to achieve a 20% mix will be 10474.81 million litres through 2030. Therefore, India is likely to face continuous ethanol shortages in order to fulfil future blending requirements, if the demand supply imbalance is not mitigated.

Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) patients with hepatorenal syndrome (HRS-AKI) have limited response to vasoconstrictors and worse outcomes, requiring biomarkers for early detection. In a prospective cohort of ACLF patients (n = 240), urine NGAL was performed in patients with the clinical diagnosis of HRS-AKI, while in a subset of patients (n = 30), a complete panel of 17 urinary biomarkers was assessed for identifying terlipressin non-response (T-NR). ACLF patients with HRS-AKI, aged 45.84 ± 10.6 years, 91.2% males, 74.2% with alcohol etiology, mean urine NGAL of 1541.66 ± 1684.69 ng/ml, AARC score 10.19 ± 1.86, 155 (64.5%) had T-NR at day 4. T-NR was maximal for AARC grade 3 and was associated with a higher need of dialysis (50.3% vs 5.9%; OR 16.21, 6.23–42.19) and 28-day mortality (49.0% vs. 17.9%; HR 3.42, 1.96–5.95). AARC grade 3 (OR 38.21, 2.93–497.74), (HR 5.10, 1.19–21.84) and urine NGAL (OR 11.53, 5.66–23.49; AUROC 0.97, NGAL > 900 ng/ml) (HR 1.23, 1.02–1.49) were independent predictors of T-NR and 28-day mortality, respectively. It was interesting to observe a significant elevation in renal injury and a decrease in the repair markers in T-NR (p < 0.05). Almost 60% of patients with ACLF and HRS-AKI experience non-response to terlipressin which predicts higher mortality and need for dialysis. High NGAL above 900 ng/ml predicts T-NR with 100% specificity for T-NR. ACLF patients with HRS, with AARC grade 3 and high NGAL have a high likelihood of T-NR and should be considered for alternative therapeutic modalities.

The shifting agriculture (popularly known as ‘Jhum’) in north-eastern Himalayas is plagued by substantial reduction in paddy yield and soil quality. The region’s paddy yield and soil condition may be improved by the use of right integrated nutrient management (INM) technology on the jhum lands. We used 7 treatments replicated thrice in a randomized block design (RBD) to evaluate the soil health and yield of direct-seeded upland paddy (Oryza sativa L.) in this study. The results showed that the combination of inorganic fertilization, organic manure, and bio-fertilizers (T5) significantly (P < 0.05) increased paddy height, number of tillers hill−1, number of grains panicle−1 and test seed weight. Simultaneously, these combined treatments significantly increased soil organic carbon and available Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K) contents. All the soil chemical properties except the soil pH significantly (p < 0.05; n = 7) affected various growth and yield parameters of paddy. The INM of organic manure and bio-fertilizers (T7) significantly enhanced the soil’s biological properties. Thus, INM technology is recommended to enhance paddy yield while sustaining the soil health in upland paddy cultivation.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) play a vital role in the innate immune system. They serve as the primary barrier against a range of infections. AMPs exhibit synergistic effects when used in conjunction with traditional antibiotics, thus offering the possibility of combination therapeutic approaches. Insects possess a remarkable level of resistance against infections caused by bacteria. Insect AMPs are positively charged and consist of fewer than 100 amino acids. The antibacterial activity of these insect peptides is achieved by disrupting the microbial membrane, thus preventing the development of drug resistance in microorganisms. The antibacterial properties of AMPs are now characterized by many membrane mechanisms, including the barrelstave-, toroidal pore-, carpet-, and disordered toroidal pore-model. The antibacterial activity of AMPs is influenced by factors such as the amount of positive charge, hydrophobic nature, and secondary structure of the peptide. The inadequate and excessive use of antibiotics has led to the emergence of antibiotic resistance, which is now recognized as a major worldwide public health concern by the World Health Organization. The goal of discovering alternative pharmaceuticals has proven to be an actual obstacle. Insects are the most extensive category of creatures within the animal world. Their humoral immune response involves the synthesis of AMPs that are then released into the insect’s hemolymph following a microbial infection. This chapter has mainly explored the immune responses of insects, with a specific focus on the features of AMPs, their mode of action, and their uses, particularly in the biomedical area.

To bridge the data gap of carbon reservoirs in the Arunachal Himalaya, estimation of carbon stock is of utmost importance. Despite being a major carbon reservoir, the high-altitude forests are lacking in such data mainly due to inaccessibility and rough terrain. The present study aimed to model the total soil carbon along the altitudinal gradient in the Eastern Himalayan region to understand the variation in soil carbon and other important soil variables in the ecosystem. The model offers predicting the readily available soil physico-chemical properties to predict total soil carbon in undisturbed forest ecosystems of Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary, Arunachal Pradesh, India. Soil samples were collected using stratified random sampling and analysed following standard methodologies. The XLSTAT application was used for partial least squares regression modelling. The results indicated an average annual total soil carbon content of 4.79±0.36% in tropical, 4.32±0.42% in subtropical and 3.88±0.35% in temperate zone. Notably, there was a significant decrease in microbial biomass carbon and soil inorganic carbon with increasing altitude. Highly accurate partial least squares regression prediction models were developed, with R² values ranging from 0.87 to 0.96, root mean squares error values from 0.29% to 0.59% and mean squared error values from 0.08% to 0.35%. These models will serve as valuable tools for assessing soil carbon stocks across different elevations, particularly in inaccessible areas. The study highlights the effectiveness of partial least squares regression models in predicting total soil carbon along altitudinal gradients and underscores the need to better understand ecosystem responses to environmental change. This information can be utilized by policymakers to gain insights into the important implications for REDD + + reporting, policy making and other relevant applications.

The present study explores the prevalence and socio-economic demographic factors affecting childhood illnesses. Diarrhoea, fever and ARI among under-five children in the North -East states of India using NFHS-5 data Kids file. Results showed that diarrhoea, ARI, and fever among the northeastern states were highest in Meghalaya.For diarrhoea Sikkim has the highest prevalence for children within 6 months while Meghalaya has the highest prevalence in the age groups 6- 12 months and 1- 2 years old children and Arunachal Pradesh has the highest rate in the age group 2- 5 years old children. Meghalaya stands out with the highest prevalence of fever and ARI in all age groups. Compared to Sikkim, the state of Meghalaya had more diarrhoea, ARI and fever, and it was statistically highly significant. However, Tripura and Assam had significantly higher odds of having fever and ARI than Sikkim. There is an association between diarrhoea, fever, and ARI and factors such as the age of the child and caregiver, the wealth status of the household, the quality of sanitation facilities, methods of stool disposal, and the caregiver's educational level.

Lighting is one of the very important applications of phosphor. The lighting sector consumed about 15–22% of the total electricity production in the world. In the present paper, reddish orange color–emitting Sm³⁺ ion-doped CdMoO4 phosphors have been prepared by the hydrothermal method at a temperature of 120 °C for the lighting application. It investigates the effect of reaction aging time on morphology, size, and luminescence properties. The crystallinity, grain size, and luminescence efficiency were strongly influenced by the aging time. The phosphors showed sharp bands due to strong energy transfers from the host CdMoO4 to the dopant Sm³⁺ ion. With the increase of aging time, the emission intensity is increasing due to the increase of crystallinity, and also being more intense of the emitted color. It is believed that the prepared phosphors will have potential applications in lighting devices.

This study assesses the artificial intelligence (AI) literacy and perceptions among Master of Library Science (MLS) students in India. It aims to identify the most relevant AI knowledge areas for library science, examine students' attitudes toward AI's potential impact on library services, and explores the importance of AI literacy for professional practice. A quantitative survey administered to 118 final-year MLS students via WhatsApp groups and personal networks collected data on AI literacy levels, perceptions, and attitudes. The findings reveal that natural language processing (NLP) is considered the most transfor-mative AI technology, with significant interest in other areas like recommender systems and data mining. Students express optimism about AI's potential to enhance library services but raise concerns about ethical implications and job displacement. The study highlights the need for increased AI literacy training and integration into LIS programs, emphasizing its importance for future career competitiveness. The results provide valuable insights into how AI literacy can be fostered among MLS students to align with evolving library services and user needs.

Snake plants, one of the air purifiers can significantly improve indoor air quality in the kitchen, non-ventilation, and ventilation area and improve indoor air pollutants such as HCHO and TVOC with a consistent temperature, while indoor air pollutants such as PM 2.5 and PM 10 have less effectiveness in reduction by snake plants. Ventilation also contributes to the reduction of indoor air pollutants. From the study, students’ mood and productivity are at a high level, whereas high in stress level during placing snake plants. There is a strong positive relationship between humidity and mold growth, which is one of the major issues in a hostel, and a study found that snake plants may influence in reducing mold growth by regulating humidity levels. This study can play an important role in enhancing indoor air pollutants in the hostel, making it environmentally friendly, cost-effective, and easily accessible for students living in the hostel.

A study was conducted on reptilian fauna in the Dampa Tiger Reserve (DTR) buffer zone in Mizoram, India to understand the recovery pattern of reptiles in the fallow land created due to jhum cultivation. 32 species of reptiles from 10 families were recorded. 21 species of snakes belonging to six genera and five families contributed 46% of total recorded reptilian fauna and 11 species of lizards belonging to five families contributed 54% of reptilian fauna. Species of the family Elapidae among the snakes, Geckonidae, and Agamidae among the lizards were found to be rehabilitated earlier to other species in jhum-affected areas. The family Colubridae predominates by contributing 57.5% of the total ophidians and the family Agamidae (arboreal and surface-dwelling groups of lizards) predominates by contributing 45.5% of the total saurian (lizards) and identified as a bioindicator for rehabilitation of jhum fallow land. The study found that the human-modified habitats and fallow lands created due to shifting or jhum cultivation have several harmful implications. Still, they can also support some of the most endemic species in the agroecosystems. Such lands can be ideal for the long-term conservation of reptilian species through a sustainable approach.

Transmission system is a perfect mixture of power from the all connected generators. It is hard to evaluate the share of each generator contribution among that mixture. There is no humble resolution of this delinquent because obviously it is not promising to recognize the electrons initiating from each generator. Tracing the power flow is an important matter, and it has become more vital now especially after the deregulation. This paper presents an alternate method for transmission line loss apportionment and power produces from individual producers to connected loads in the system with the help of a dominion determination matrix algorithm.

The study aims to assess the concentrations of heavy metals in road dust from different land uses in Aizawl, Mizoram, by implementing a methodology that includes descriptive statistics (mean, median, and standard deviation), one-way ANOVA, and Pearson correlation coefficient. Enrichment and contamination factors were also determined to identify the sources and level of pollution in the study area. The health risks for children and adults were assessed based on established guidelines. From the study, the concentrations of heavy metals ranged as follows: Cr (18.19 to 36.28 mg/kg), Pb (20.64 to 27.12 mg/kg), Cd (-1 to 0.06 mg/kg), Ni (32.32 to 47.91 mg/kg), Cu (-0.51 to 32.49 mg/kg), and Zn (30.80 to 119.84 mg/kg). The highest Ni concentration was found in the agricultural area (47.91 mg/kg), possibly due to jhum cultivation practices. When compared with the background values, the levels of Cr and Cu were lower, while Pb, Ni, and Zn exceeded the background values by 94.66%, 41.47%, and 228.54%, respectively, indicating contamination due to anthropogenic activities. A one-way ANOVA analysis showed a significant difference in the concentration of heavy metal across various land use areas. Except for Pb, the ecological risk assessment indicated a low level of risk. Cr and Pb showed a risk associated with non-carcinogenic effects on humans, especially in children, while the other elements were within safe levels. Proper management and safety measures were still needed to improve the environmental impact and the health of the individuals living in the area.