Volume 26 Issue 4 2026

The purpose of this study is to investigate the feasibility of using waste rubber tires (WRT) in conjunction with rice straw (RH) and sugarcane bagasse (SCB) for microwaveassisted co-pyrolysis in order to recover char and oil. While co-pyrolyzing SCB: WRT and RH: WRT blends, the impacts of temperature profiles, and average heating rates are carefully investigated in the study. In addition to comparing and contrasting products, it delves into the ways in which char, oil, and gas yields change when subjected to varying feedstock blends and catalysts. Both the KOH and NaOH catalysts improved the oil and char yields at a SCB: WRT ratio of 2.5:17.5. With a 1:1 RH: WRT ratio, the char yield was raised by more than 34% with KOH and NaOH, while the gas output was increased by 42.66% with CaO. While NaOH kept a larger percentage of oxygenated chemicals, KOH was better at deoxygenating and aromatising liquid goods to improve their quality, contrarily, gasification was promoted by CaO. The SCB: WRT combination increased oil yield by 37.72%, which is somewhat less than the RH: WRT combination's 37.05%, thus, the analysis concludes that SCB: WRT is the optimal mix for increasing total product production. In addition, KOH facilitated the production of hydrocarbon-rich oil with lower oxygen concentration and a char structure that was more fragrant. According to XRD examination, the char matrix contained highly crystalline potassium and sodium salts as a result of a reaction between silica in rice husk ash and alkali catalysts (KOH and NaOH). The results show that catalyst selection is the most important factor in controlling the distribution of renewable energy products produced by microwave-assisted copyrolysis, which is a strong and highly adjustable method for processing complex waste streams.

The present study investigates the compressive strength characteristics of concrete in which cement is partially replaced with cenosphere and silica fume. The primary objective is to evaluate the combined effect of these supplementary materials on strength performance and to identify an optimum replacement level for sustainable concrete production. Cenosphere, a lightweight by-product obtained from thermal power plants, and silica fume, a highly reactive pozzolanic material, were used in varying proportions to replace cement. The incorporation of cenosphere leads to a reduction in compressive strength as its percentage increases, primarily due to its hollow structure, lower density, and weaker bonding properties compared to cement. However, when used in combination, silica fume compensates for the strength reduction caused by cenosphere to a certain extent. At optimum replacement levels, the concrete exhibits satisfactory compressive strength along with reduced density, making it suitable for lightweight structural applications. The improved particle packing and refinement of pore structure also contribute to enhanced performance. The study concludes that a balanced proportion of cenosphere (5%) and silica fume (10%) can produce eco-friendly concrete with acceptable strength properties. The results highlight the potential of utilizing industrial waste materials effectively, reducing cement consumption, and promoting sustainable construction practices without significantly compromising mechanical performance.

The paper focuses on the theory of queues (mass service), which deals with the operation of systems in which flows of requests occur repeatedly, which need to be performed as a sequence of operations (served); these requests are usually random in terms of their origin and moment of occurrence. An analytical method of the system under study is presented and explained using a practical example, using tools of probability theory, which allows obtaining relatively accurate results when determining the characteristics of a given system. The aim of using queues theory is to optimize service channels so that large queues of customers are not formed, waiting times are shortened and all service channels are used, while operating costs are naturally optimized. In conclusion, some possibilities of practical applications in the field of military logistics, or in the field of charging electric vehicles, in the case of their mass expansion, are presented.

Akazawa Reserve Forest in kiso town is a precious forest for research of science and well protected all the time. Hinoki is the dominant tree species whose age about 300 years used to construct the palace in past mainly. In 1988 a plot of 4 hectares was established and the survey had been done periodically in the following 20 years. In this research, we used the collected data of the growth of tree individuals and the stand. Recently in Japan the long rotation management process of conifer plantation is being popular. The collected past and present dataset through this process plays a very important role for the future prediction of forest resource. With the gray theory of mathematics, this research developed a program of calculating tree growth by using the data of the stand surveyed in 1988, 1998, 2003 and 2008. By this program a prediction has been made for the growth of the tree stand in year 2018, 2028 and 2038 respectively. In the understory, the average forecast error of Chamaecyparis obtusa was 23.8% in 1998, 18.6% in 2003 and 11.9% in 2008. For Thujopsis dolabrata, it was 15.8% 13.6% and 9.7% respectively in the three years. And broad-leaved trees’ error was 17.6%, 12.9% and 10.7% in 1998, 2003 and 2008. In middle layer, Chamaecyparis obtusa’s errors were 22.8%, 16.8% and 8.9% respectively, while they were 16.5%, 18.5% and 11.3% for Thujopsis dolabrata, and 14.9%, 11.9%, 8.7% for broad-leaved trees. In the dominant layer, they were 22.4%, 13.6%, 6.8% for Chamaecyparis obtusa, 9.8%, 13.5%, 17.9% for Thujopsis dolabrata, and 15.6%, 12.8%, 8.9% for broad-leaved trees in the specified years respectively.

Multiple tumor samples were collected from 32 bovines (Bos taurus taurus x Bos taurus indicus), of both sexes, bearers of pedunculated cutaneous flat and/or mixed papillomatosis. The samples were fixed in 10% buffered neutral formalin solution and submitted to histothecnique by inclusion in paraffin for hystopatologic analysis and used in the preparation of an autogenous inactivated vaccine for treatment. The objective of the present work is to show the clinical pathological finding and the classic cytomorphologic alterations associated with the infection of bovine papillomavirus and to accompany the epithelial lesion regression after three doses of vaccine. This vaccine program applied was effective not presenting any new injury in the 16 animals vaccined after the experimental period.

Air pollution has become an extremely serious problem on human health especially in developing countries. Sixteen ornamental plant species commonly used for interior plantscapes were screened for their ability to remove three common indoor pollutants of formaldehyde, nitrogen oxides(NOx) and sulfur oxides (SOx). Also, some components of the selected plants such as, ascorbic acid, chlorophyll, pH, relative water content, leaf osmotic pressure as well as stomatal number, length and width on the lower and upper leaf surfaces were assessed to determine the relationship between these components and plant removal efficiency. Among the tested plants, Chlorophytum comosum Variegatum displayed superior removal efficiency for HCHO and SOx as 1830 µg day-1 and 2120 µg day-1 and Spathiphyllum wallisii for NOx as 3200 µg day-1. Also, it was found that stomatal density can be used as an indicator for the efficiency of indoor plants in the absorption of air pollutants; especially for HCHO, SOx or NOx.

The first part of this study was to study the microwave pyrolysis of polystyrene for resource and energy recovery and the second part was to study the effect of torrefaction and solvent pretreatment on biofuel obtained via microwave assisted pyrolysis of Spirulina. The synergy of catalyst (KOH) and polystyrene (PS) quantities on product yields and pyrolysis operating parameters were focused. The average heating rates were in the range of 30- 50oC/min. The maximum yield of pyrolysis oil was found to be 95 wt.%, which was obtained with a feed to catalyst ratio of 27.5 g: 7.5 g. The oil yield increased from 80-95 wt.% when the mass of the catalyst increased from 5-7.5 g and thereafter oil yield decreased with an increase in catalyst quantity. It can be concluded that initially the catalyst addition increased the temperature rise rates of polystyrene. The presence of catalyst not only affected the temperature evolution of polystyrene but also changed the pyrolytic product distribution and gas composition. The second part of research looks at the process of microwave-assisted pyrolysis (MAP) for the purpose of producing bio-oil from both fresh and torrefied Spirulina (algal biomass).Fresh algae with solvent soaking produced yield of bio-oil 56.11 wt% with conversion 86.48 % and pyrolysis index of 93.27, whereas torrefied algae with solvent pretreatment further enhanced yield of bio oil to 59.24 wt% and pyrolysis index of 96.00 with reducing time and temperature.The MW energy consumption reduced from 688 - 513 KJ and higher heating value (HHV) was observed (36.4 MJ/Kg) with torrefaction and solvent pretreatment. The bio oil properties were characterized with Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis.

Plastic remains one of the fastest-growing pollutants in the twenty-first century. Among various plastic pollutants, high-density polyethylene (HDPE) cause drastic effects on the environment. However, only about 12 to 19% of plastic ever produced has been successfully incinerated by degradation methods such as thermal degradation, chemical degradation, and biodegradation. The usual breakdown of HDPE by thermal and chemical degradation produces secondary pollutants that are carcinogenic. Notably, in biodegradation, Bacillus cereus can degrade plastic without producing secondary pollutants. This makes Bacillus cereus a promising avenue for developing sustainable waste management strategies. By harnessing the natural capabilities of these bacteria, researchers hope to create environmentally friendly solutions that minimize the harmful effects of plastic waste on ecosystems. The Bacillus cereus uses polyethylene as a carbon source and traces cell growth over 60 days under supervised conditions. Likewise, the post-degraded polyethylene was analyzed with Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Bacillus cereus effectively degrades HDPE. Hence Bacillus cereus potential biodegradation solution for efficient plastic waste management on this planet is promising. This approach not only highlights the potential of using microorganisms for environmental sustainability but also opens avenues for further research into enhancing biodegradation processes for various types of plastics.

Telescopic crane booms represent a critical class of mechanical systems where structural efficiency directly translates to operational capability, energy consumption, and safety. However, conventional design paradigms constrained by subtractive manufacturing methods have reached a plateau in performance optimization. This research presents a comprehensive investigation into the design, additive manufacturing, and multiaxial validation of a functionally graded telescopic boom mechanism that exploits the full design freedom afforded by selective laser melting (SLM). A three-stage telescopic system with 1200 mm extended length was developed using a multi-phase methodology: (1) multi-load case topology optimization with manufacturing constraints, (2) hybrid solid-lattice modelling incorporating gyroid and body-centered cubic (BCC) unit cells with graded density, (3) finite element analysis (FEA) validation with nonlinear buckling analysis, (4) selective laser melting fabrication from AlSi10Mg, and (5) exhaustive experimental characterization including quasi-static loading, cyclic fatigue testing, digital image correlation (DIC), and modal analysis. Results demonstrate a 52.3% mass reduction (from 3.95 kg baseline to 1.88 kg optimized) while achieving a 38.7% increase in global stiffness (tip deflection reduced from 13.4 mm to 8.2 mm at 500 N load). The critical buckling load increased by 156% compared to a mass-equivalent conventional design. Fatigue testing revealed no failure after 500,000 cycles at 80% of design load, representing a projected infinite life per ISO 10972-1 standards. Lattice-infilled regions exhibited a specific energy absorption capacity 4.3 times greater than solid counterparts under localized impact. This work conclusively demonstrates that AM-enabled design methodologies can achieve performance metrics previously unattainable in telescopic mechanisms, establishing a new benchmark for lightweight, high-performance mobile machinery.

The increasing density of urban populations and vehicular traffic in metropolitan areas presents both a challenge and an opportunity for sustainable energy generation. This paper presents the design, fabrication, and experimental validation of a novel hybrid piezoelectric-electromagnetic energy harvesting system specifically optimized for crowded urban zones such as metro stations, bus depots, and pedestrian walkways. The proposed system employs a rack-and-pinion mechanical regulation mechanism combined with a flywheel-based sustained-release mechanism to convert irregular, low-frequency traffic-induced mechanical stress into smooth rotational motion for electromagnetic generation, while piezoelectric transducers capture direct compression energy. A prototype measuring 500 mm × 500 mm × 80 mm was fabricated and tested under simulated traffic conditions. Experimental results demonstrate a peak instantaneous power output of 22.4 W per pedestrian footstep, with an electromechanical conversion efficiency of 83.2%. Under dense pedestrian traffic conditions (60 persons/min), the system generates 25.2 W of continuous average power, sufficient to operate WiFi routers, IoT sensor networks, and LED signage. Comparative analysis reveals that the hybrid design outperforms standalone piezoelectric (8.5 W) and electromagnetic (12.3 W) systems in both power density (11.2 W/m²) and durability (>1.5 million cycles). The findings establish the proposed system as a viable solution for self-powered smart city infrastructure in high-traffic urban environments.

Dr. B. R. Ambedkar gifted the Indian Constitution not merely as a dry legal document but as a living instrument for social revolution. At its heart stood three interconnected ideals: Equality, Liberty, and Fraternity. Yet, more than seventy-five years after the Constitution came into force, a troubling gap persists between these constitutional promises and the everyday social realities faced by millions of Indians. This chapter examines that gap by returning to Ambedkar’s own words in the Constituent Assembly debates, analysing two landmark Supreme Court judgments on disability rights, and drawing upon the author’s long-standing work in inclusive education and social service. The central argument is that fraternity, the most neglected pillar of Ambedkar’s triad, remains the primary obstacle to achieving meaningful equality and liberty in contemporary India. Legal provisions alone cannot bridge this gap; what is required is a deeper, socially embedded commitment to mutual respect and shared belonging. The chapter concludes with concrete recommendations for educators, policymakers, and citizens to move beyond legal formalism toward Ambedkar’s unfinished project of social democracy.

The investigation of bioconvective hybrid nanofluid flow has garnered considerable interest owing to its extensive applications in biofuel production, biosensors, and biomedical engineering. The present work analyze the impact of non-spherical nanoparticle geometries on heat transfer and mass transport in the squeezing flow of magnetohydrodynamic couple stress hybrid nanofluid between parallel plates containing microorganisms. The governing nonlinear ordinary differential equations are solved numerically using the shooting method combined with the fourth-order Runge–Kutta scheme. The influence of key physical parameters is examined on velocity components, temperature, and microorganism density profiles. Furthermore, the skin friction coefficient, Nusselt number, and Sherwood number are computed for various dimensionless parameters. The obtained results demonstrate good agreement with previously published studies.

While the entire community of patients suffering from impaired hearing and speech greatly relies on sign language, inclusive communication with nonsigners is yet impeded due to a lack of effective translation services. This work proposes an avatar-based toolkit, Sign-Kit, for real-time Indian Sign Language (ISL) gesture recognition and visualization. The system integrates a module based on deep learning-based picture categorization using a curator-trained dataset of static hand gestures representing the set of ISL alphabets. The proposed system consists of two modules: a progressive web application interface and a light-weight convolutional neural network (CNN), which provides highly accurate complicated gesture detection and 3D avatar visualization for translation of gesture. A scalable backend system with Node.js and MongoDB ensures that data processing and user administration are efficiently handled. The front-end interface has been designed user-friendly for both learners and interpreters. Experimental results show that the Sign-Kit provides consistent accuracy in gesture detection, hence providing a practical and easy-to-use system that can assist in breaking down the deterrents in communication between signers and nonsigners.

The design and development of an automatic bed leveling and locking system for MSLA (Masked Stereo lithography) 3D printers addresses the limitations of conventional manual leveling methods. In typical MSLA printers, bed leveling is performed using screws and springs, a process that is time-consuming, skill-dependent, and prone to human error. Improper leveling can result in poor firstlayer adhesion, print failures, and resin wastage. An automated and reliable solution is therefore essential to improve efficiency and print quality. The proposed system incorporates a mechanical arrangement that enables automatic alignment and secure fixing of the build plate without manual adjustment. It integrates a spring-loaded locking mechanism, a ball-and-socket joint, and a micro linear actuator. The push-button spring mechanism ensures firm locking of the build plate once alignment is achieved. The ball-and-socket joint allows multi-directional movement, enabling the build plate to adjust itself according to the surface of the resin vat. The micro linear actuator provides controlled forward and backward motion, ensuring precise alignment even if the resin vat surface is slightly inclined. Once the correct position is attained, the locking mechanism secures the plate automatically, maintaining stability during the printing process. This system significantly reduces setup time, enhances leveling accuracy, and minimizes human intervention. Improved first-layer adhesion, higher print success rates, and reduced material wastage are key benefits. Experimental results demonstrate that the system is efficient, reliable, and suitable for practical applications, offering a simple and cost-effective improvement to MSLA 3D printing technology.

With the rise of additive manufacturing, the demand for 3D printing feedstock has increased exponentially and its sustainability is critical in the future. Many scholars are now concerned about how 3D printing filaments should be reproduced from recycled plastic. This study aimed to develop a filament extruder machine and investigate the potential of using recycled high-density polyethylene (HDPE), one of the most commonly used and recyclable thermoplastics, for 3D printing filament material. Desktop sized filament extruder machine was built, and a smooth and round-shaped 1.75±0.01 mm diameter recycled HDPE filament was produced. Its mechanical, thermal, chemical, and physical properties were characterized by conducting various tests and validation test was conducted by comparing its properties with its virgin counterpart. The ultimate tensile strength of the recycled HDPE filament was obtained 19.02±0.35 MPa, which is comparable to the ultimate tensile strength of virgin HDPE, making it a viable 3D printing feedstock for rapid prototyping. According to Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), the recycled HDPE filament offers significant thermal stability with an onset degradation temperature of 430◦C and a full degradation temperature of 520◦C. Its Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrum shows the same functional groups as virgin HDPE polymer. The recycled HDPE filament has also excellent water-rejecting capability. In general, the study revealed a promising result for the use of recycled HDPE plastic as a more sustainable and environmentally friendly source material for 3D printing filament. To increase the potential and market competitiveness of recycled filaments, further investigation is required to optimize the filament extrusion and 3D printing process parameters, improve the mechanical properties, and overall development methods for both the recycled HDPE filament and 3D printed products.