Enhanced giant magnetism is observed in our ab-initio study of the nano-sized ( 7 – 27 Å ) punched graphene nanodisks (PGNDs) i.e., zigzag-edged triangular PGNDs (ZET-PGNDs) by passivating each unsaturated external/internal carbon atom by 2 H atoms. This enhancement in the net magnetic moment can be achieved by optimizing the size and the type of punching. Various kinds of the electronic, spintronic and other types of devices may be developed from these punched graphene fragments.

Background: Coronavirus-19 pandemic is a worldwide public health problem knowing in China from December 25, 2019. Phospholipids are structural components of mammalian cytoskeleton and cell membranes. It suppressed viral attachment to the plasma membrane and subsequent replication in lung cells. Aim: The present study was carried out to explain the correlation between the plasma level phospholipids in patients with COVID-19 and cytokine storms to assess disease severity. Methods: Plasma samples from enrolled 34 patients with mild, moderate, and severe COVID-19 infection was collected. CBC, plasma levels of d-dimer, ferritin, CRP, cholesterol, HDL-C, LDL-C, phospholipids, sPLA2α2, and cytokine storms was estimated as well as lung CT imaging was detected. Results: CBC showed that the presence of leukopenia, lymphopenia, eosinopenia in patients with mild, moderate, and severe COVID-19 infection. Also, a significant increase in plasma d-dimer, CRP, ferritin, triacylglycerols, cytokine storms levels as well as sPLA2α2 activity when compared to normal persons. However, plasma levels of phospholipids and lipid profile were decreased significantly in patients with severe COVID-19 infection only, when compared to normal persons. In addition, lung CT scan showed that the presence of GGO, bronchial wall thickening, crazy paving sign as well as right, left, upper, and lower lung predominant in a patient with mild, moderate, and severe COVID-19 infection. Conclusion: The present study was showed that there is a correlation between plasma phospholipids depletion and elevation of cytokines storm. Also, plasma phospholipids levels can be used to estimate COVID-19 infection severity.

Aluminum metal and its alloys are most precious metals in industries, marine, and aircraft applications due to its interesting properties. However, aluminum metal undergoes corrosion in presence of aggressive chloride environments. Sol-gel based protective coating is mainly used to safeguard aluminum metal from corrosive chloride environments. In the present work, inorganic and polymeric composite corrosion inhibitors were synthesized for Al protection in aqueous 3.5% NaCl media (Zr and chitosan were hybridized using silanes). Surface morphology and chemical composition were duly characterized via FTIR and SEM-EDX, while corrosion resistivity was investigated by impedance (EIS) and polarization studies (PDS). Further, molecular modeling studies were performed to understand the corrosion inhibition mechanism and reveal those factors influences the corrosion efficiency of the chitosan-doped hybrid corrosion inhibitors. Chitosan-doped Hy/Zr nanocomposite sol-gel coating shown higher corrosion resistance of 96.1% than a hybrid (Hy) and Hy/Zr sol-gel coating. PDS showed that the chitosan-doped Hy/Zr sol-gel coating protects the Al metal by an anodic dissolution process. Computational chemistry and molecular dynamics study further evident the chitosan-doped Hy/Zr sol-gel coating enhanced the corrosion resistance of the Al substrates by lowering the molecular orbital gap energy and enhancing the adsorption of the corrosion inhibitors.

Carbonisation is a crucial process in soda production. The complex chemical reaction demands a precise control of the liquid level in the columns to ensure high quality of the soda ash produced. The plant nonlinear and oscillatory character suggests the development of a model-free PID fuzzy logic controller (FLC) that accounts for the requirements of the real time control in the specific industrial application and environment. The designed FLC uses of the rate of level as a second input computed by sliding average for smoothing the response to reference step changes and industrial disturbances. The FLC defuzzyfication and hence its implementation in the programmable logic controller (PLC) of the soda production plant as well as the economical control are facilitated by the design of the output singletons. The PI post-processing gives the FLC the advantages of a nonlinear PID. The FLC parameters are tuned to minimise a fitness function of the system error and the control variance using genetic algorithms and system simulations. For the sake of simulations a Takagi-Sugeno-Kang plant model is derived and validated from real time control data. The real time industrial PLC FLC control shows reduced system dynamic error and control variance compared to previous control.

The paper examined the relationship between women smallholder farmers’ initiatives and food security in communities of southern Cross River State, Nigeria. Specific objectives: The paper argued specifically that a relationship exists between women household agricultural production activities and food security in rural communities; an association exists between women household food processing activities and food security in rural communities; also, women agro-biodiversity initiatives relate with food security in rural communities. These objectives are tested in the study as research hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance with 598 degrees of freedom. It adopts the feminization theoretical framework which is rooted in the feminist economics which explains the geometrical involvement of women small holders in agricultural production. Methodology. The research methodology combined both the qualitative and quantitative approaches of survey research design. Women Small Holders Farmers Initiatives and Food Security Questionnaire, Focus Group Discussion (FGD) Guide and Key Informant Information (KII) Guide constitute the instruments of data collection. The study elicits data from 654 rural women using a multi-stage sampling procedure (simple random, stratified, cluster, purposive and systematic sampling). Data analysis: The analytical techniques include simple percentages and Chi-square(X2) to test the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. Findings: The findings indicate that rural women have consistently been involved in the area of agricultural productivity for food security which helps to strengthen and promote domestic food production. Their endeavours have promoted self-sufficiency in staple food commodities and have led to increase in production. Conclusion/recommendation. Women small holder farmers’ initiatives impact positively on food security in terms of food availability, accessibility and utilization. The paper submits that if rural communities in Nigeria must achieve food sovereignty, rural women who are involved in the Nigerian food production process must become the target group of agricultural policies. Agricultural policies targeted at creating favourable environment for rural women are vital to sustainable food sovereignty. It recommends that feminization of agriculture as a development strategy should also harmonize with other anti-poverty and anti-hunger plans and mainstream food security as the overarching goal.

Tourism infrastructure is correlated with socio economic wellbeing of inhabitants of Southern Cross River State of Nigeria. Tourism infrastructure components of transport (roads, airports, seaports, and railways), social (hospitality industry, convention centers, stadia, galleries) and environmental (national parks, marine parks, museum and other reserves) have significantly impacted on the socio- economic wellbeing of people. The endogenous development model constituted the theoretical framework; both quantitative and qualitative approaches of survey design were adopted. The study obtained data from four hundred participants while descriptive and Pearson Product Moment Correlation statistical tools were used to analyze the data. Findings showed that a significant relationship exists between tourism infrastructure and socio economic wellbeing. Government, NGOs and private individuals should utilize available resources to improve transport, social and environmental infrastructure for sustainable tourism benefits of socio economic wellbeing.