Ultrafast photoinduced enhancement of nonlinear optical response in 15-atom gold clusters on indium tin oxide conducting film

We show that the third order optical nonlinearity of 15-atom gold clusters is significantly enhanced when in contact with indium tin oxide (ITO) conducting film. Open and close aperture z-scan experiments together with non-degenerate pump-probe differential transmission experiments were done using 80 fs laser pulses centered at 395 nm and 790 nm on gold clusters encased inside cyclodextrin cavities. We show that two photon absorption coefficient is enhanced by an order of magnitude as compared to that when the clusters are on pristine glass plate. The enhancement for the nonlinear optical refraction coefficient is ~3 times. The photo-induced excited state absorption using pump-probe experiments at pump wavelength of 395 nm and probe at 790 nm also show an enhancement by an order of magnitude. These results attributed to the excited state energy transfer in the coupled gold cluster-ITO system are different from the enhancement seen so far in charge donor-acceptor complexes and nanoparticle-conjugate polymer composites.Comment: To appear in Optics Express (2013); http://dx.doi.org/10.1364/OE.21.00848

Genetic analysis for various yield components and gluten content in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Genetic analysis was carried out in 55 genotypes (10 parents and 45 F1s) through diallel mating design excluding reciprocals in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Analysis of variance showed wide range of variability among the breeding material for all the traits under study. The highest value of phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) and genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) were recorded for grain yield (PCV= 9.07 and GCV= 8.08). Highest heritability with genetic advance was recorded for grain yield (h2=10.60 and GA=14.84), therefore selection will be effective based on grain yield for further study. Grains per spike (gr = 0.77 and pr = 0.67) and spikelets per spike (gr= 0.63 and pr = 0.52) were found significantly correlated (at <1 % level of significance) with grain yield whereas gluten content showed nonsignificant but positive correlation with grain yield at both genotypic as well as phenotypic level. Similarly, path coefficient analysis estimates for gluten content (g= 0.08 and p= 0.03) and grains per spike (g=0.36 and p=0.23) showed high positive direct effects on grain yield therefore these traits may be used as an index for selection to high yield in bread wheat genotypes

DEVELOPMENT OF A PERFORMANCE MONITORING SYSTEM TO OPTIMIZE PV BASED SOLAR ELECTRICITY GENERATION

Demand for electricity in Malaysia has seen a substantial hike in light of the nation’s rapid economic development in pursuit of achieving Vision 2020. The current method of generating electricity is through the use of conventional energy sources such as fossil fuels. However, consistent usage of fossil fuels has resulted in detrimental effects towards the environment besides the dampening amount of natural resources available globally. An alternative energy source that is capable of sustaining the demand is needed to ensure a sustainable future. Since its implementation through the Sustainable Energy Development Authority (SEDA), the Feed-in-Tariff (FiT) mechanism has established a total installed Photovoltaic (PV) capacity of 192 MW from 655 projects that are currently operational from the overall of 2628 approved projects in Malaysia

Intra annual Variability of the Arabian Sea high salinity water mass in the South Eastern Arabian Sea during 2016 17

Intra-annual variability of the Arabian Sea high salinity water mass (ASHSW) in the South Eastern Arabian Sea (SEAS) and Gulf of Mannar (GoM) are addressed in this paper by utilisng the monthly missions carried out onboard INS Sagardhwani during 2016-17. Our observations revealed that the ASHSW was evident along the SEAS irrespective of seasons, whereas in the GoM the presence of ASHSW was observed during winter. The processes such as downwelling/up-welling, coastal currents, intrusion of low saline waters, stratification are clearly affects the spreading of the ASHSW. The characteristics such as core salinity value, depth and thickness of ASHSW exhibited remarkable spatio-temporal variability. Lateral mixing with the low saline waters in the region during winter reduces its core salinity. The intrusion of low saline waters was clearly seen upto 15 ON but the intrusion of low saline waters is not flowing through the GoM. The interface between the ASHSW and the prevailing low saline waters showed strong horizontal gradients of salinity. The presence of the ASHSW makes difference in the SLD and the below layer gradient which is sufficient to complicate or influence sound transmission. The spatio temporal variability of the ASHSW and its acoustic relevance are documented in this paper

Estimates of genetic components and regression analysis for grain yield and various morphological traits in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

The present study was conducted to estimate the gentic components and regression analysis for grain yield and various morphological traits in bread wheat involving 10 parents and their 45 F1s (half diallel) during 2012- 13 and 2013-14. Significant additive (D) and dominance (H1) variance for the traits indicated that expression of these traits is control by both additive and dominance gene action. Average degree of dominance (H1/D)1/2 were more than unity for the traits (peduncle length, flag leaf area, productive tillers, biological yield, grain yield, harvest index) indicating the preponderance of over dominance gene action. The estimates of h2 were positive and significant for days to ear emergence, peduncle length, productive tillers, biological yield and grain yield indicated dominance of genetic components in F1s. Positive and significant values of F were estimated for days to ear emergence, days to 50% flowering, spike length, flag leaf area and grain yield in F1s indicating the preponderance of dominance and positive genes in the parents involved. The theoretical value (0.25) of (H2/4H1) for all the traits indicated asymmetrical distribution of positive and negative genes. The proportion of dominant and recessive alleles indicated presence of dominant alleles in the parents. The traits showing more than 30% narrow sanse heritability could be rewarding for further improvement in grain yield in bread wheat. Regression analysis indicated that the traits (days to ear emergence, days to 50% flowering, peduncle length, flag leaf area, productive tillers, harvest index, biological yield and grain yield) control by over dominance type of gene action. The parent RAJ 4246 contained maximum dominant genes for days to ear emergence and days to 50% flowering; HD 2733 for spike length and flag leaf area and HD 2824 for productive tillers, biological yield and grain yield used as donors in multiple traits breeding programme to develop high yielding wheat genotypes

A Qualitative Analysis of Indoor Air Quality Pollutants inside a Private Car Cabin Using Response Surface Methodology

Indoor air quality (IAQ) plays a significant role in our daily life. IAQ is not only important in interior buildings but is also essential to the low volume space of automobile compartments. This study investigates the three critical IAQ pollutants of CO2, PM2.5, and PM10 in an air-conditioned private car cabin. Three qualitative input factors of human load, route, and air conditioning (ON and OFF) were considered to evaluate the effect of in-cabin car pollutants. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was applied to determine the effect of the input parameters that affect IAQ in the car cabin. A mathematical modelling of response factors (pollutants) was determined using response surface methodology (RSM) in connection with the Taguchi orthogonal test design. It was found that indoor car cabin CO2, PM2.5, and PM10 concentrations were 3.32, 1.35, and 1.33 times higher than the on-road concentrations, respectively. The air-conditioning input factor has more effects for in-cabin pollutants compared with the other two input factors of human load and route. The R2 values obtained were greater than 95% for all the response factors. According to the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) standard limit, the air supply flow rate of 7.64 l/s per human (maximum 4 human load) was not enough to keep CO2 concentrations below 1000 ppm in the currently tested car cabin

Review on Present State-of-the-Art of Secure and Privacy Preserving Data Mining Techniques

As people of every walk of life are using Internet for various purposes there is growing evidence of proliferation of sensitive information. Security and privacy of data became an important concern. For this reason privacy preserving data mining (PPDM) has been an active research area. PPDM is a process discovering knowledge from voluminous data while protecting sensitive information. In this paper we explore the present state-of-the-art of secure and privacy preserving data mining algorithms or techniques which will help in real world usage of enterprise applications. The techniques discussed include randomized method, k-Anonymity, l-Diversity, t-Closeness, m-Privacy and other PPDM approaches. This paper also focuses on SQL injection attacks and prevention measures. The paper provides research insights into the areas of secure and privacy preserving data mining techniques or algorithms besides presenting gaps in the research that can be used to plan future research

Identification of heterotic cross combinations for various agromorphological and some quality traits in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

A study was conducted to identify the best heterotic cross for various agromorphological and some quality traits involving 10 parents and their 45 F1s excluding reciprocals during 2012-13 and 2013-14. The higher magnitude of heterosis for all the agromorphological and quality traits was not expressed in a single cross combination. It varied from cross to cross due to diverse genetic background of their parents. The highest heterobeltiosis (35.68%, 11.11%, 11.44%), average heterosis (38.97%, 9.13%, 10.26%) and standard heterosis (31.09%, 7.84%, 10.41%) for grain yield, spikelets per spike and grains per spike respectively, was showed by HD 3095 x RAJ 4246 and this cross also showed highly significant (at <1% level of significant) heterosis for biological yield, flag leaf area, spike length and productive tillers. Whereas PBW 435 x RAJ 4246 were common for gluten content (8.52% and 7.72%), grain yield (33.11% and 33.64%), productive tillers (16.15% and 13.53%) and biological yield (36.27% and 21.98%) which showed superior average heterosis and heterobeltiosis respectively, therefore, these crosses may be exploit-ed in a national hybrid wheat breeding programme may offer genetic improvement in breeding for higher grain yield, agromorphological and quality traits in bread wheat. The presence of high heterosis for yield contributing compo-nents is not only for developing hybrids through exploitation of heterosis but also helps to produce transgressive segregants for developing of superior homozygous lines