Molecular fossils within bitumens and kerogens from the ~ 1 Ga Lakhanda Lagerstätte (Siberia, Russia) and their significance for understanding early eukaryote evolution

The emergence and diversification of eukaryotes during the Proterozoic is one of the most fundamental evolutionary developments in Earth’s history. The ca. 1-billion-year-old Lakhanda Lagerstätte (Siberia, Russia) contains a wealth of eukaryotic body fossils and offers an important glimpse into their ecosystem. Seeking to complement the paleontological record of this remarkable lagerstätte, we here explored information encoded within sedimentary organic matter (total organic carbon = 0.01–1.27 wt.%). Major emphasis was placed on sedimentary hydrocarbons preserved within bitumens and kerogens, including molecular fossils (or organic biomarkers) that are specific to bacteria and eukaryotes (i.e. hopanes and regular steranes, respectively). Programmed pyrolysis and molecular organic geochemistry suggest that the organic matter in the analyzed samples is about peak oil window maturity and thus sufficiently well preserved for detailed molecular fossil studies that include hopanes and steranes. Together with petrographic evidence as well as compositional similarities of the bitumens and corresponding kerogens, the consistency of different independent maturity parameters establishes that sedimentary hydrocarbons are indigenous and syngenetic to the host rock. The possible presence of trace amounts of hopanes and absence of steranes in samples that are sufficiently well preserved to retain both types of compounds evidences an environment dominated by anaerobic bacteria with no or very little inputs by eukaryotes. In concert with the paleontological record of the Lakhanda Lagerstätte, our study adds to the view that eukaryotes were present but not significant in Mesoproterozoic ecosystems.

Advances in Diffraction Studies of Light-Induced Transient Species in Molecular Crystals and Selected Complementary Techniques

The review provides a summary of the current methods of tracing photoexcitation processes and structural dynamics in the solid state, putting major emphasis on the X-ray diffraction techniques (time-resolved Laue diffraction on synchrotron sources and time-resolved serial femtosecond crystallography on X-ray free-electron lasers). The recent developments and nowadays experimental possibilities in the field are discussed along with the data processing and analysis approaches, and illustrated with some striking literature examples of the respective successful studies. Selected complementary methods, such as ultrafast electron diffraction or time-resolved X-ray absorption spectroscopy, are briefly presented.

Self-Sensing Cementitious Composites: Review and Perspective

Self-sensing concrete (SSC) has been vastly studied for its possibility to provide a cost-effective solution for structural health monitoring of concrete structures, rendering it very attractive in real-life applications. In this review paper, comprehensive information about the components of self-sensing concrete, dispersion methods and mix design, as well as the recent progress in the field of self-sensing concrete, has been provided. The information and recent research findings about self-sensing materials for smart composites, their properties, measurement of self-sensing signal and the behavior of self-sensing concrete under different loading conditions are included. Factors influencing the electrical resistance of self-sensitive concrete such as dry-wet cycle, ice formation and freeze thaw cycle and current frequency, etc., which were not covered by previous review papers on self-sensing concrete, are discussed in detail. Finally, major emphasis is placed on the application of self-sensing technology in existing and new structures.

Impact of COVID-19 on Agriculture and Allied Sectors

Impact of Corona virus outbreak on mankind is serious. Apart from health issues and social life stand still, global economy has been affected drastically. Many sectors have been hit by this pandemic and agriculture and allied sectors are no exception. Issues such as shortage of labour, restricted access to markets have been tremendously affected this sector. Many of its frailties were exposed during the course but the resilient cultivation sector surfaced with some promising results after a good monsoon and aggressive response demonstrated by the government to support the sector. Government excluded several farming activities such as farm operations, agribusiness, dairy, poultry and fishery from lockdown limitations after the lockdown extended in May, 2020. Pandemic also presented a great opportunity to think over and evaluate the hidden potential of respective sectors. Solemn efforts are required for innovation and technical up gradation of agricultural operations to alleviate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. As India struggles to uplift the distressed economy, government announced economic stimulus package worth INR 20, 00,000 crore under Atma Nirbhar Bharat Campaign. Long term impacts of this campaign are estimated to develop agriculture and allied sectors with major emphasis on quality products and increased exports of agriculture commodities.

An Abridged Review of Buckling Analysis of Compression Members in Construction

The column buckling problem was first investigated by Leonhard Euler in 1757. Since then, numerous efforts have been made to enhance the buckling capacity of slender columns, because of their importance in structural, mechanical, aeronautical, biomedical, and several other engineering fields. Buckling analysis has become a critical aspect, especially in the safety engineering design since, at the time of failure, the actual stress at the point of failure is significantly lower than the material capability to withstand the imposed loads. With the recent advancement in materials and composites, the load-carrying capacity of columns has been remarkably increased, without any significant increase in their size, thus resulting in even more slender compressive members that can be susceptible to buckling collapse. Thus, nonuniformity in columns can be achieved in two ways— either by varying the material properties or by varying the cross section (i.e., shape and size). Both these methods are preferred because they actually inherited the advantage of the reduction in the dead load of the column. Hence, an attempt is made herein to present an abridged review on the buckling analysis of the columns with major emphasis on the buckling of nonuniform and functionally graded columns. Moreover, the paper provides a concise discussion on references that could be helpful for researchers and designers to understand and address the relevant buckling parameters.

The Covid-19 vs Globe : Turn Disaster Into Opportunity

In the megatrend of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), we need to react this pandemic with positive vibe, with making another world, which brimming with lots of creativity, respectability, imagination, development and not with stagnation. We attempt to figure out how human being transforms challenges into opportunities and get returns under financial recession. In this paper, we prescience the open doors for a superior world that this destructive emergency brings to us. We review the various destruction caused by this epidemic and major emphasis review on the opportunities which lie underneath the epidemic like: visible opportunities that have been implemented during the breakout and the concealed opportunities which will go ahead and become part of our business strategy. In the end, we made conclusions and recommendations for our stocks.

Metonymy in Indonesian Prefixal Word-Formation

Rajeg, Gede Primahadi Wijaya. (2013). Metonymy in Indonesian Prefixal Word-formation. Lingual: Journal of Language and Culture, 1(2), 64–81. --- Major emphasis with respect to the studies of metonymy is mainly on lexical metonymy. Recent studies by Janda (2010a; 2010b; 2011b) however have shown the role of metonymy in word-formation. This paper builds on Janda's studies and presents a case study with the aim to investigate metonymic relationship in Indonesian prefixal derivation. The database comprises 85 classification types consisting of a unique combination of metonymy, word class, and a prefix. The range of metonymy and word class patterns across prefixes is explored. It is shown that one metonymy and word class pattern can be encoded by more than one prefix. This study also demonstrates that on average prefixes are relatively not specific in terms of metonymy and word class patterns they signal. A number of metonymy patterns exhibit bi-directionality such as ACTION FOR AGENT (beli → pembeli) and AGENT FOR ACTION (supir → menyupir) but most patterns are uni-directional.

Decisions in Risk and Reliability: An Explanatory Perspective

The paper discusses issues that surround decisions in risk and reliability, with a major emphasis on quantitative methods. We start with a brief history of quantitative methods in risk and reliability from the 17th century onwards. Then, we look at the principal concepts and methods in decision theory. Finally, we give several examples of their application to a wide variety of risk and reliability problems: software testing, preventive maintenance, portfolio selection, adversarial testing, and the defend-attack problem. These illustrate how the general framework of game and decision theory plays a relevant part in risk and reliability.

Recent Development: Enantioselective Extraction in Chiral Separation

This paper discusses the recent development of enantioselective extraction methods. There are several methods in this field. The principles of all of enantioselective extraction methods are presented a focus on twophase extractions, in these methods used a chiral compound that named chiral selector, this compound distinguishes between two chiral isomers in complexation process, then one isomer more captured by chiral selector, and separation processes happen. The chiral selector should dissolve in on phase. In these methods, typical performance data are reported major emphasis on distribution ratio and enantioselectivity value or selectivity factor. In this paper, we introduce types of enantioselective extraction method, and discuss about them with several examples.