Sex pheromones play a crucial role in species recognition and reproductive isolation. Despite being largely species-specific in drosophilids, the mechanisms underlying pheromone detection, production, and their influence on mating behavior remain poorly understood. Here, we compare the chemical profiles of Drosophila bipectinata and D. melanogaster, the mating behaviors in both species, as well as the tuning properties of Or67d receptors, which are expressed by neurons in antennal trichoid sensilla at1. Through single sensillum recordings, we demonstrate that the D. bipectinata Or67d-ortholog exhibits similar sensitivity to cis-vaccenyl acetate (cVA) as compared to D. melanogaster but in addition also responds uniquely to (Z)-11-eicosen-1-yl-acetate (Z11-20:Ac), a compound exclusively produced by D. bipectinata males. Through courtship behavior assays we found that, surprisingly, perfuming the flies with Z11-20:Ac did not reveal any aphrodisiacal or anti-aphrodisiacal effects in mating assays. The behavioral relevance of at1 neuron channels in D. bipectinata compared to D. melanogaster seems to be restricted to its formerly shown function as an aggregation pheromone. Moreover, the non-specific compound cVA affected copulation negatively in D. bipectinata and could potentially act as a premating isolation barrier. As both ligands of Or67d seem to govern different behaviors in D. bipectinata, additional neurons detecting at least one of those compounds might be involved. These results underscore the complexity of chemical signaling in species recognition and raise intriguing questions about the evolutionary implications of pheromone detection pathways in Drosophila species.

A starchy food waste containing mainly cooked wasted rice (WR) was exploited for bioethanol production using
novel yeast strains was investigated. Different pretreatment schemes of the waste at solids loading 10%–30% TS
WR (w/v) i.e. enzymatic, thermochemical and combined thermochemical/enzymatic pretreatment, were evaluated
aiming to the maximum liberation of fermentable carbohydrates and their subsequent bioconversion to
ethanol. Fermentation tests of the whole pretreated slurries were initially performed with the yeasts strains that
were identified as Kluyveromyces marxianus isolate V3-19, Pichia kudriavzevii strain YF1702 and K. marxianus
strain TTG-428, and their fermentation efficiencies (FE) were comparatively assessed. It was shown that the
combined pretreatment led to the maximum saccharification, whereas FEs were higher for K. marxianus, V3-19,
exceeding 90% of the theoretical maximum. In the case of the highest organic loading of WR, though, up to 25%
of soluble carbohydrates remained unexploitable after 72 h of fermentation, indicating that kinetic restrictions
occurred in the process. Further experiments with the hydrolysates that were recovered after combined pretreatment,
revealed that the removal of solids enhances the consumption of sugars and leads to complete uptake
for the loading 20% TS WR (w/v).

Appropriate tillage (T) and potassium (K) fertilizer from a suitable source can play a vital role in optimization of wheat (Triticum aestivum) production. Therefore, we evaluated the effect of potassium levels (of 30, 60, 90, and 120 kg K2O ha-1), sources [sulphate of potash (SOP 50% K2O) and muriate of potash (MOP 60% K2O)], and various tillage implement (moldboard plough, chisel plough and rotavator) on growth and yield of wheat in a field experiment during winter 2012-13. Three factorial randomized complete block design (RCBD) with split-split plot arrangement having three replications was adopted where tillage implement was assigned to main plot, sources to sub plot and K levels to sub-sub plot. Plots tilled through rotavator or moldboard and treated with 60 kg K2O ha-1 as SOP produced significantly higher spikes per m2, kernels per spike, thousand grains weight, kernel and biological yield compared to plots tilled through chisel plough and control or plots fertilized with other K levels. Crop growth rate (CGR) was at par for different tillage implements and K sources. We can conclude that rotavator and mould board plough with application of 60 kg K2O ha-1 from SOP source have improved yield and yield components of wheat, and optimized wheat production.

This study investigates the intricate mechanisms that govern irradiation damage in high-entropy ceramic materials. Specifically, we synthesized (Hf_0.2Zr_0.2Ta_0.2Nb_0.2Ti_0.2)C high-entropy carbide ceramics (HECC) with a single-phase rock-salt structure using spark plasma sintering. These ceramics were then subjected to irradiation with 1.08 MeV C ions, resulting in a dose of 7.2 dpa (dpa: displacements per atom) at both room temperature (RT) and 500 °C. To understand the resulting damage structure, we analyzed bulk irradiated HECC samples using Grazing Incidence X-ray Diffraction (GIXRD) and Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) at both irradiation temperatures. GIXRD analysis revealed an average tensile strain out-of-plane of 0.16% for RT irradiation and 0.14% for irradiation at 500 °C. In addition, TEM analysis identified a buried damaged band, approximately 970 nm thick, under both irradiation temperatures. By employing the bright field TEM imaging technique under kinematic two-beam conditions, dislocation loops of both a/3 〈111〉{111} and a/2 〈110〉{110} types within the damaged band were observed. Furthermore, our analysis indicated an increase in the average size of the total dislocation loops within the band from 1.2 nm to 1.4 nm as the density decreased. Importantly, no amorphization, precipitates, or voids were detected in the damaged band under both irradiation temperatures. Density functional theory (DFT) simulations indicated that carbon predominantly resides in 〈110〉 split interstitial sites causing lattice expansion, while vacancies, particularly Nb, induced compression along the c-axis. Carbon atoms tend to bond when collectively present in the <110> split interstitial sites, contributing to the formation of interstitial loops.

In this study, single crystal (sc) and nanocrystalline (nc) 3C-SiC samples were subjected to 30 keV He ion irradiation across various doses while maintaining a temperature of 800 °C. Employing techniques including Raman spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and nanoindentation, the alterations in microstructure and hardness resulting from He irradiation with various fluences were examined.

In sc-SiC, irradiation prompted the formation of He platelets, resulting in a hardness increase of 7 GPa. In contrast, nc-SiC, characterized by a higher stacking fault density, exhibited the formation of bubbles, primarily at grain boundaries (GBs), with fewer occurrences within the grain interior, leading to a hardness increase of 1 GPa. Notably, in both sc- and nc-SiC, hardness reached saturation and subsequently stabilized or declined with increasing He fluence.

Through molecular dynamics (MD) cascade simulations, we discerned that various planar defects do not uniformly contribute to enhancing radiation resistance. For example, intrinsic stacking faults (ISF) and twins in SiC played a substantial role in altering defect density and configurations, thereby facilitating point defect annihilation. Conversely, extrinsic stacking faults (ESF) and Σ3 GBs had a limited impact on defect production during a cascade.

Furthermore, calculations of cluster diffusivity revealed an accelerated movement of He-vacancy towards GBs compared to bulk material and other planar defects. Moreover, the scarcity of point defects and constrained mobility of He atoms towards stacking faults in nc-SiC elucidated the marked tendency of He to form platelets in sc-SiC.

Additionally, our findings established a correlation between the calculated indentation hardness and the geometry of He defects, consistent with experimental results from nanoindentation. These results significantly contribute to ongoing efforts to design SiC materials with heightened radiation tolerance.

Layered carbides and borides, blending ceramic and metallic characteristics, present compelling prospects for future nuclear reactor applications due to their complex nanolaminate crystal structure. To explore the behavior of Fe₂AlB₂ under different conditions, helium irradiation is conducted across saturation fluences and under different annealing and irradiation temperatures. Room temperature (RT) irradiation causes some changes: a-lattice expands 0.3 %, c-lattice contracts 0.07 %, and an embedded amorphous layer into the matrix is formed. 400 °C annealing keeps an amorphous structure, whereas 800 °C annealing fully recrystallizes with bubble growth. Increasing the irradiation temperature to 400 °C with the same fluence, smaller bubbles form without an amorphous layer, indicating defect recombination depends on helium attachment to vacancies. Under irradiation at 700 °C, faceted bubbles develop exclusively within Fe₂AlB₂, with no such bubbles in Al₂O₃. These faceted bubbles align themselves along (110) planes. Simultaneously, irradiation prompts tangled dislocations within the damaged layer, fostering the congregation of polygonal bubbles along grain boundaries (GBs) and creating denuded areas at GBs. Fe₂AlB₂ demonstrates remarkable oxidation resistance under high-temperature irradiation, maintaining surface stability without the cracks seen in ion-irradiated Ti₃SiC₂ and Ti₂AlC at RT.

Fe₂AlB₂ shows promise for use in reactors operating at temperatures above 500 °C due to its resilience to irradiation. Further investigation is warranted for its application in reactors operating in environments exceeding this threshold temperature.

Biofilms currently represent the most prevalent bacterial lifestyle, enabling them to resist environmental stress and antibacterial drugs. Natural antibacterial agents could be a safe solution for controlling bacterial biofilms in food industries without affecting human health and environmental safety. A methanolic extract of Azadirachta indica (neem) leaves was prepared and analyzed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry for the identification of its phytochemical constituents. Four food-borne bacterial pathogens (Bacillus cereus, Novosphingobium aromaticivorans, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Serratia marcescens) were tested for biofilm formation qualitatively and quantitatively. The antibacterial and antibiofilm properties of the extract were estimated using liquid cultures and a microtiter plate assay. The biofilm inhibition mechanisms were investigated using a light microscope and molecular docking technique. The methanolic extract contained 45 identified compounds, including fatty acids, ester, phenols, flavonoids, terpenes, steroids, and antioxidants with antimicrobial, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory properties. Substantial antibacterial activity in relation to the extract was recorded, especially at 100 μg/mL against K. pneumoniae and S. marcescens. The extract inhibited biofilm formation at 100 μg/mL by 83.83% (S. marcescens), 73.12% (K. pneumoniae), and 54.4% (N. aromaticivorans). The results indicate efficient biofilm formation by the Gram-negative bacteria S. marcescens, K. pneumoniae, and N. aromaticivorans, giving 0.74, 0.292, and 0.219 OD at 595 nm, respectively, while B. cereus was found to have a low biofilm formation potential, i.e., 0.14 OD at 595 nm. The light microscope technique shows the antibiofilm activities with the biofilm almost disappearing at 75 μg/mL and 100 μg/mL concentrations. This antibiofilm property was attributed to DNA gyrase inhibition as illustrated by the molecular docking approach.