The present study demonstrates the fabrication of heterogeneous ternary composite photocatalysts consisting of TiO₂, kaolinite, and cement (TKCe),which is essential to overcome the practical barriers that are inherent to currently available photocatalysts. TKCe is prepared via a cost-effective method, which involves mechanical compression and thermal activation as major fabrication steps. The clay-cement ratio primarily determines TKCe mechanical strength and photocatalytic efficiency, where TKCe with the optimum clay-cement ratio, which is 1:1, results in a uniform matrix with fewer surface defects. The composites that have a clay-cement ratio below or above the optimum ratio account for comparatively low mechanical strength and photocatalytic activity due to inhomogeneous surfaces with more defects, including particle agglomeration and cracks. The TKCe mechanical strength comes mainly from clay-TiO₂ interactions and TiO₂-cement interactions. TiO₂-cement interactions result in CaTiO₃ formation, which significantly increases matrix interactions; however, the maximum composite performance is observed at the optimum titanate level; anything above or below this level deteriorates composite performance. Over 90% degradation rates are characteristic of all TKCe, which follow pseudo-first-order kinetics in methylene blue decontamination. The highest rate constant is observed with TKCe 1-1, which is 1.57 h⁻¹ and is the highest among all the binary composite photocatalysts that were fabricated previously. The TKCe 1-1 accounts for the highest mechanical strength, which is 6.97 MPa, while the lowest is observed with TKCe 3-1, indicating that the clay-cement ratio has a direct relation to composite strength. TKCe is a potential photocatalyst that can be obtained in variable sizes and shapes, complying with real industrial wastewater treatment requirements.

This report intends to enhance the reviews on leadership literature by conducting a bibliometric study on 198 publications focused on transformational leadership research. These papers were published in the Scopus database between 1997 and 2023. Employing quantitative bibliometric analysis, the study aims to identify both current and prospective research trajectories pertaining to transformational leadership issues. To the best of our current understanding, there exists no scholarly investigation that examines the bibliographic data pertaining to transformational leadership domains. Therefore, this work represents a distinctive and original contribution to the existing body of literature. This study additionally offers a comprehensive examination of the patterns and paths inside a visual and schematic framework for the investigation of this subject matter. This may facilitate researchers in comprehending the prevailing patterns and prospective avenues for research, so empowering future authors to carry out their investigations with greater efficacy. There exists a number of underexplored themes or subjects pertaining to transformational leadership matters, such as knowledge sharing, leadership styles, digital transformation, innovative work behavior, competitive advantage and digital transformation. This discovery offers useful insights into the heterogeneous nature of this area across multiple disciplines.

This paper provides a comprehensive review of equity trading simulators, focusing on their performance in assuring pre-trade compliance and portfolio investment management. A systematic search was conducted that covered the period of January 2000 to May 2023 and used keywords related to equity trade simulators, portfolio management, pre-trade compliance, online trading, and artificial intelligence. Studies demonstrating the use of simulators and online platforms specific to portfolio investment management, written in English, and matching the specified query were included. Abstracts, commentaries, editorials, and studies unrelated to finance and investments were excluded. The data extraction process included data related to challenges in modern portfolio trading, online stock trading strategies, the utilization of deep learning, the features of equity trade simulators, and examples of equity trade simulators. A total of 32 studies were included in the systematic review and were approved for qualitative analysis. The challenges identified for portfolio trading included the subjective nature of the inputs, variations in the return distributions, the complexity of blending different investments, considerations of liquidity, trading illiquid securities, optimal portfolio execution, clustering and classification, the handling of special trading days, the real-time pricing of derivatives, and transaction cost models (TCMs). Portfolio optimization techniques have evolved to maximize portfolio returns and minimize risk through optimal asset allocation. Equity trade simulators have become vital tools for portfolio managers, enabling them to assess investment strategies, ensure pre-trade compliance, and mitigate risks. Through simulations, portfolio managers can test investment scenarios, identify potential hazards, and improve their decision-making process.

Plum (Prunus domestica) is a seasonal nutraceutical fruit rich in many functional food nutrients such as vitamin C, antioxidants, total phenolic content, and minerals. Recently, researchers have focused on improvised technologies for the retention of bioactive compounds during the processing of perishable fruits; plum is one of these fruits. This study looked at how the percentage of moisture content and percentage of acidity were affected by conventional drying and osmotic dehydration. Total phenolic content (mg GA/100 g of plum), total anthocyanin content (mg/100 g), and vitamin C (mg/100 g) Conventional drying of fruit was carried out at 80.0 ℃ for 5 h. At various temperatures (45.0 ℃, 50.0 ℃, and 55.0 ℃) and hypertonic solution concentrations (65.0 B, 70.0 B, and 75.0 B), the whole fruit was osmotically dehydrated. It was observed that the osmotically treated fruit retains more nutrients than conventionally dried fruit. The total phenolic content of fruit significantly increased with the increase in process temperature. However, vitamin C and total anthocyanin content of the fruit decreased significantly with process temperature, and hypertonic solution concentration was observed. Hence, it was concluded that osmodehydration could be employed for nutrient retention in plum fruit over conventional drying. This process needs to be further refined, improvised, and optimised for plum processing.

Himalayan ‘Ecotone’ temperate conifer forest is the cradle of life for human survival and wildlife existence. Human intervention and climate change are rapidly degrading and declining this transitional zone. This study aimed to quantify the floristic structure, important value index (IVI), topographic and edaphic variables between 2019 and 2020 utilizing circular quadrant method (10m × 10m). The upper-storey layer consisted of 17 tree species from 12 families and 9 orders. Middle-storey shrubs comprise 23 species representing 14 families and 12 orders. A total of 43 species of herbs, grasses, and ferns were identified from the ground-storey layer, representing 25 families and 21 orders. Upper-storey vegetation structure was dominated by Pinus roxburghii (22.45%), while middle-storey vegetation structure was dominated by Dodonaea viscosa (7.69%). However, the ground layer vegetation was diverse in species composition and distribution. By using Ward’s agglomerative clustering technique, the floral vegetation structure was divided into three floral communities. Ailanthus altissima, Pinus wallichiana, and P. roxburghii had the highest IVI values in Piro–Aial (Group 2), Piwa–Quin (Group 3) and Aial–Qugal (Group 2). The IVI values for Aesculus indica, Celtis australis, and Quercus incana in Aial-Qugal (Group 2) were not determined. Nevertheless, eleven of these species had 0 IVI values in Piro–Aial (Group 2) and Piwa–Quin (Group 3). Based on the CCA ordination biplot, significant differences were observed in floral characteristics and distribution depending on temperature, rainfall, soil pH, altitude, and topographic features. Based on Ward’s agglomerative clustering, it was found that Himalayan ‘Ecotone’ temperate conifer forests exhibit a rich and diverse floristic structure.

During the early spring in the woodlands of eastern North America, Phlox drummondii emerges as a perennial plant adorned with a profusion of blooms in shades of blue, purple, pink, or white. Its evergreen nature adds to its charm. To manage the growth of plants or specific plant parts, plant growth regulators (PGRs) are synthesized and employed, serving as valuable tools for controlling and directing the development of various plant species. A diverse range of ornamental plants, such as Phlox drummondii, have been documented to receive exogenous applications of plant growth regulators (PGRs). Among these regulators, gibberellins (GA) play a vital role by delaying senescence in flowers and promoting the breaking of dormancy in seeds, bulbs, and corms of ornamental plants. The experiment aimed to assess the performance and determine the optimal growth medium for Phlox. Five distinct growth media were employed as treatments during the study, which took place in the Horticulture Department of Gomal University. Collected data underwent analysis through ANOVA and Tuckey HSD tests. The study’s findings revealed that the highest plant height (16 cm) was observed in the control treatment with PGR 1, closely followed by PGR 2 (11.5 cm). The treatment labeled as T5, composed of a mixture of 1/3 sand, 1/3 poultry manure, and 1/3 soil, demonstrated the most favorable results across multiple parameters such as bud initiation (BI), first flower emergence (FFE), flowers per plant (FPP), branches per plant (BPP), leaves per plant (LPP), number of roots (NR), field life of flowers (FLF), and flower diameter (FD). T4, T3, T2, and T1 treatments also exhibited similar positive outcomes, aligning with the promising performance of T5.