New fractal functions on the sphere

In this article, a family of continuous functions on the unit sphere S subset of R-3 is considered as a generalization of spherical harmonics. The family is fractalized using a linear and bounded operator of functions on the sphere. Particular values of the scale vector in the iterated function system (IFS) may yield classical functions system on the sphere. We have shown that for different values of the scale vector in the IFS, Bessel sequences, frames, and Riesz bases can be established for the space L-2 (S) of square integrable functions on the sphere

Cultivation and uses of stevia (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni): a review

Stevia [Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni; Family Asteraceae] is a natural sweetener plant that is grown commercially in many parts of Brazil, Paraguay, Central America, Thailand, Korea, China and India. The leaves of stevia are the source of sweet glycosides. It is mainly used as a sweetener and flavor enhancer in the food and beverage industry. The chemical compound obtained from stevia is considered to be the best alternative source of sugar especially for diabetes patients. Climatic factors and agronomical practices affect the quality and quantity of yield. The concentration of stevioside in the leaves is higher when the stevia plants are grown under long days and when these plants are harvested just prior to flowering. Time of harvesting depends on land type, type of stevia and growing season. The first harvest can be done four months after planting and subsequent harvest once after every 3 months. Such medicinal plants are becoming fairly popular for the treatment of different diseases all over the world. It could be suitable for diabetic and obese persons. It also showed antibacterial, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, anti-fertility, hypotensive, diuretic and cardiotonic properties. Stevia is a small perennial shrub that has been used for centuries as a bio-sweetener and for other medicinal purposes. In addition, alternative sweeteners offer another benefit in maintaining good dental health. S. rebaudiana sweeteners are used sparingly and there seems to be no threat to public health. Stevia has been introduced to the Kenyan market as one of the cash crops for agro-based industry. The changes in leaf yield and accumulation of stevioside in response to different environmental conditions and nutritional variations might provide some leads to develop strategies for increasing the productivity of the stevia. Quality of the stevia product depends on drying temperature; high temperatures negatively affect quality, diminishing medicinal and commercial value. Multiple global regulatory organizations have determined that consumption of high quality stevia products within recommended doses is safe for all.Keywords: Stevia, Cultivation, Medicinal uses, Diabetes, Natural sweetener, Flavor enhancer, Glycoside

Comments on Percrocuta carnifex (Carnivora, Percrocutidae) based on new fossil material from the Nagri Formation (Middle Siwaliks) of Hasnot, Pakistan

New dentary material of Percrocuta carnifex (Pilgrim, 1913) from the Nagri Formation ofHasnot, Pakistan, is described. Specimens of this species from the Siwalik continental deposits described by previous authors are discussed in detail. In addition to the taxonomic description of the new material, the occurrence and stratigraphic position of this species within the Siwalik Hills are re-evaluated. Except for the holotype, the specimens assigned to this species are very fragmentary. The newly discovered material, a right mandibular ramus containing teeth, is the best preserved specimen found to date. The comparative analysis, based on tooth morphology and dimensions of previously reported specimens and of the specimen studied here, suggests that this species is restricted to the Chinji and Nagri formations. Finally, the dental morphological features of the studied specimen and those of other species of Percrocuta are compared, and then the phylogenetic relationship between these species is discussed. The described specimen is thus important for the taxonomic, stratigraphic and phylogenetic knowledge of P. carnifex from the Siwaliks

Hormonal priming alleviates salt stress in hot Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)

Germination and seedling establishment are critical stages in the life cycle of plants especially under stress conditions. Different methodologies have been adopted by plant physiologists in different crops to alleviate salt stress. Seed priming has proven beneficial in this regard in many important agricultural crops. The effect of seed priming with salicylic acid (SA) and acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) in improving seed vigour and salt tolerance of hot pepper seedlings was evaluated. Concentrations over 1.0 mM of ASA or SA showed adverse effects on seed emergence. Seeds primed with SA (0.8 mM) and ASA (0.2 mM) were sown in medium at different salinity levels [0, 3, 6 and 9 dS m-1]. Both, SA and ASA treatments showed significantly better results over the control by improvement in time taken to 50% emergence, final emergence percentage, root and shoot length, seedling fresh and dry weight and seedling vigour. Overall, acetylsalicylic acid exhibited superiority over salicylic acid. Our results indicate that hormonal priming, especially with acetylsalicylic acid, can be a good treatment for hot pepper to enhance uniformity of emergence and seedling establishment under normal as well as saline conditions

Investigations on the redox behaviour of manganese in manganese(II)–saccharin and manganese(II)–saccharin–1,10-phenanthroline complexes

AbstractThe redox behaviour of manganese system in Mn–Sac and Mn–Sac–Phen complexes were studied using cyclic voltammetry technique at glassy carbon electrode (GCE) in 0.1M KCl electrolyte. The CV of Mn–Sac solution is more or less similar to that of uncoordinated Mn (in MnCl2) accept slight difference in peak position and peak current. The presence of secondary ligand phenanthroline (in Mn–Sac–Phen complex) changes the CV of Mn system largely compared to those of uncoordinated Mn and Mn–Sac. The redox system is irreversible in Mn–Sac and quasi-reversible in Mn–Sac–Phen complex. The effect of concentration and pH on the redox behaviour of Mn system have been studied for both the complexes

Switching memory perspective

The perspective in which memories were spontaneously recalled, field (original perspective) or observer (see oneself in the memory), was examined for both recent and remote memories. Recent memories were dominated by field perspective whilst remote memories were dominated by observer perspective. Further, field memories contained reliably more episodic detail than observer memories. After a 1-week interval, the same memories were recalled again but with a switched memory perspective. Switching from an observer to a field perspective did not reliably increase the amount of episodic details in a memory. Switching from field to observer perspective did, however, reliably reduce the number of episodic details. These findings suggest that memories may be represented in long-term memory with a fixed perspective, either field or observer, which can be temporarily altered sometimes changing the nature of a memory, i.e. how much detail remains accessible

The supply-side consequences of U.S. fiscal policy in the 1980s

Fiscal policy changes in the 1980s had several possible implications for the long-run performance of the U.S. economy. The authors review the impact of tax reductions on saving, investment, and work effort, the implications of increased federal deficits for national saving and private investment, and the effect of shifts in the composition of government spending on public capital formation and on research and development. Using results from the empirical literature, the authors attempt to quantify the effects of these fiscal changes on the nation's economic potential.Fiscal policy ; Economic conditions - United States

Effects of debinding and sintering atmosphere on properties and corrosion resistance of powder injection molded 316 L - stainless steel

316L stainless steel is a common biomedical material. Currently, biomedical parts are produced through powder injection molding (PIM). Carbon control is the most critical in PIM. Improper debinding can significantly change the properties of the final product. In this work, thermal debinding and sintering were performed in two different furnaces (i.e. laboratory and commercially available furnaces) to study the mechanical properties and corrosion resistance. Debounded samples were sintered in different atmospheres. The samples sintered in inert gas showed enhanced mechanical properties compared with wrought 316L stainless steel and higher corrosion rate than those sintered in the vacuum furnace. The densification and tensile strength of the hydrogen sintered samples increased up to 3% and 51%, respectively, compared with those of the vacuum-sintered samples. However, the samples sintered in inert gas also exhibited reduced ductility and corrosion resistance. This finding is attributed to the presence of residual carbon in debonded samples during debinding

Fictional first memories

YesIn a large-scale survey, 6,641 respondents provided descriptions of their first memory and their age when they encoded that memory, and they completed various memory judgments and ratings. In good agreement with many other studies, where mean age at encoding of earliest memories is usually found to fall somewhere in the first half of the 3rd year of life, the mean age at encoding here was 3.2 years. The established view is that the distribution around mean age at encoding is truncated, with very few or no memories dating to the preverbal period, that is, below about 2 years of age. However, we found that 2,487 first memories (nearly 40% of the entire sample) dated to an age at encoding of 2 years and younger, with 893 dating to 1 year and younger. We discuss how such improbable, fictional first memories could have arisen and contrast them with more probable first memories, those with an age at encoding of 3 years and older