Risk of publication in worthless journals

oai:nepjol:article/22217Implementing research and publishing results is a crucial for a professional development, scientific communication and collaboration of any academicians, scholars, and researchers in science around the world. The timely dissemination of knowledge and scientific information in the global scientific community helps the development of science and worldwide recognition. The researchers working on scientific community cannot appreciate the value of evidence generated without publishing their work in right and quality journals. Therefore, authors should be careful about predatory or fake journals/publishers for communicating their scientific works. The objective of this study is to raise awareness on predatory or fake publishers/journals and of their dishonest publishing practices. In general, the predatory journal publishes without peer review and true editorial board, often publish mediocre or even worthless papers on charging high publication cost, citing fake and non-existing impact factors and mostly focused on private business motives. On the other hand, publishing in a high impact quality journals undoubtedly enhances the future career prospects, communication ability of authors and deliver concise research messages in the scientific field. Researcher of various disciplines and academic experience should aware with the lists of predatory journals/publishers which are available on Beall’s list in internet before publishing any research articles. Therefore, publishing in predatory/fake journals not only spoil or degrade academic reputations but also waste the time, resources and research message too

In-vitro antioxidant and in-vivo anti-inflammatory activities of aerial parts of Cassia species

AbstractCassia species are native to Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa and are commonly used as food and in a broad variety of medicinal applications. Cassia species are widely used in India, but there are few reports in the literature of studies on its chemical compositions and biological properties. In this study, the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of two plants of Cassia species namely Cassia siamea (Lam.) and Cassia javanica (Linn.) were evaluated and the total phenolic compounds and flavonoid contents were determined.The antioxidant activity of the extracts was measured using scavenging of 2,2′-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl hydrate (DPPH), bleaching of β-carotene and % inhibition of H2O2. The anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated using carrageenan induced paw edema method on Wistar albino rats. The etahnolic extracts of aerial parts of C. siamea and C. javanica were evaluated for in vivo anti-inflammatory activity against the animal model of female Wistar albino rats. Ethanol extracts showed significant and dose-dependent anti-inflammatory effects. The contents of flavonoids and total phenolic compounds could be correlated with the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities observed for C. siamea and C. javanica. Our findings suggest that aerial parts of C. siamea and C. javanica contain potential antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds, which could be tested as drug candidates against oxidative and inflammation-related pathological processes in medicinal chemistry studies

Impact of adoption of heat-stress tolerant maize hybrid on yield and profitability: Evidence from Terai region of Nepal

Abiotic stresses (drought, heat) are one of the major impediments to enhancing the maize productivity of marginal farmers in the facet of climate change. The present study attempts to investigate the impact of heat-tolerant maize hybrid on yield and income in the Terai region of Nepal. This study uses cross-sectional farm household-level data collected in August 2021 from a randomly selected sample of 404 rural households. We used a doubly robust inverse probability weighted regression adjustment method to obtain reliable impact estimates. Adoption of heat-tolerant hybrid increases yields by 16% and income by 44% in the spring season (a stress condition). Overall, yield increases by 12%, net income by 31%, saving of 40% in seed costs, and per capita food expenditure increases by 8.50%. Hence a conducive environment must be created for scaling up heat-tolerant maize varieties to increase productivity, minimize risk, and transform of the maize sector

A bibliography of parasites and diseases of marine and freshwater fishes of India

With the increasing demand for fish as human food, aquaculture both in freshwater and salt water is rapidly developing over the world. In the developing countries, fishes are being raised as food. In many countries fish farming is a very important economic activity. The most recent branch, mariculture, has shown advances in raising fishes in brackish, estuarine and bay waters, in which marine, anadromous and catadromous fishes have successfully been grown and maintained

Highly stable proton conducting nanocomposite polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) prepared by pore modifications: An extremely low methanol permeable PEM

A method for preparing sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPK)–zeolite–zirconium hydrogen phosphate (ZrP) nanocomposite PEM by in situ infiltration and precipitation has been reported. First time we are reporting the infiltration of zeolites in the pores/cavities created by water-soluble surfactant in the polymer electrolyte, for accommodating proton conductor (ZrP). Infiltration of zeolite and surface modification with ZrP of SPK membrane improves the thermal, mechanical strength, oxidative and dimensional stabilities along with water retention capacity, which are the essential requirement for PEMs. These nanocomposite membranes showed slightly lower proton conductivity (2.91–3.35 × 10 −2 S cm −1), in comparison to Nafion117 (N117) membrane at 30 °C. But at 70 °C, their selectivity parameter was increased by three times in comparison to N117, due to their equal conductivity and extremely low methanol permeability. This indicates suitability of these PEMs for fuel cell applications at moderate temperature

Organic-inorganic hybrid alkaline membranes by epoxide ring opening for direct methanol fuel cell applications

Recently, alkaline or anion-exchange membranes (AEMs) have attracted remarkable interest for direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) application, operated at intermediate temperature (100–200 °C). In this manuscript, we report synthesis of organic–inorganic hybrid anion-exchange silica precursor (AESP) with ammonium functionality by ring opening of glycidoxypropyltrimethylammonium chloride under mild heating condition. A simple and ecofriendly procedure based on sol–gel method was used for the preparation of hydroxide conductive organic–inorganic AESP–poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) cross-linked AEM in aqueous media. Developed AEMs were extensively characterized for their physicochemical and electrochemical properties under DMFC operating conditions. These membranes were designed to possess all the required properties of highly ion conductive membrane, namely reasonable swelling, dimensional and oxidative strength, flexibility, low methanol permeability along with reasonable hydroxyl ion conductivity (7.57 × 10 −2 S cm −1) due to quaternary ammonium group functionality. Reported AEM-100 showed 7.57 × 10 −2 S cm −1 membrane conductivity much higher than reported values (0.30–3.40 × 10 −2 S cm −1) for other AEMs in the literature. Moreover, from the selectivity parameter among all developed membranes, AEM-100 (100 wt% to PVA of AESP in the membrane matrix), exhibited best result for alkaline DMFC applications

Ionic transport phenomenon across sol–gel derived organic–inorganic composite mono-valent cation selective membranes

Organic–inorganic composite mono-valent cation selective membranes (MCSMs) were prepared by sol–gel under acidic conditions, in which sulfonic acid groups were introduced at the inorganic segment. Studies on physicochemical and electrochemical properties revealed their excellent mechanical, thermal, and oxidative stabilities, high conductivity, ion-exchange capacity, permselectivity for mono-valent cations, ionic diffusion and water transport number. These properties suggested the suitability of MCSMs, especially Si-65%, for electro-separation of Na + from Ca 2+, Mg 2+, and Fe 3+. The effect of electrolyte solution on the characteristics of the current–voltage ( i – v ) curve in MCSM was studied based on the concentration polarization. Electro-transport of different ions in terms of plateau length and concentration profiles for different ions in the solution phase, diffusion boundary layer and membrane phase were presented. Information obtained from i – v curve analysis were validated by electrodialysis (ED) experiments for individual or mixed electrolyte solutions. Electro-transport efficiency and separation factor of different ions for MCSM and Nafion117 (N117) membranes were compared, which suggested suitability of MCSMs for separating cations