Identification of scorpion species (arachnids: scorpions) collected from selected areas in the Jaffna Peninsula

Taxonomic record on scorpion (Arthropoda: Arachnids: Scorpions) is scarce in Sri Lanka. Several families of scorpions, namely Scorpionidae, Charitable and Buthidae were recorded in Yale national park, Kandy, Trincomalee and Mullaittivu in Sri Lanka, based on the collection of the Natural History Museum of the city of Geneva. It is reported that dangerous scorpions are not found in Sri Lanka and Malaysia. Recently identified scorpions of Family Buthidae in some parts of India. But to date no one has reported on scorpion species of Families Buthidae & Scorpionidae in the Jaffna peninsula. Field collection was carried out in selected areas including Vadamarachi, Atchuvelly, Thirunelveli, Kopay and Kondavil in the Nonhern Province from September 2010 to March 2011. Collected scorpions were identified with the help of descriptions and illustrations provided by Pocock (1900) and Bucherl (1971). Identification was performed with the aid of dissecting microscope (Kyowa, Photographs of life specimens were taken with a digital camera (Sony). Lined diagrams were drawn with the help of camera lucida stereo microscope (Olympus BX 51). Descriptive terms of Pocock were mostly followed. Two families, namely, Buthidae and Scorpionidae (Koch, 1837) were identified based on colouration, shape of the sternum, tarsal spur and pedal spur present on the leg. Further identification revealed the presence of two species, namely, Bu thus Dorian and Palamnaeus wrongdoing based on pectin teeth and keels on the caudal segment. The present preliminary survey should be continued in order to identify any other scorpion species in other parts of the Jaffna peninsula

Effects of Hot Isostatic Pressing on the Properties of Laser-Powder Bed Fusion Fabricated Water Atomized 25Cr7Ni Stainless Steel

25Cr7Ni stainless steel (super duplex stainless steels) exhibits a duplex microstructure of ferrite and austenite, resulting in an excellent combination of high strength and corrosion resistance. However, Laser-Powder Bed Fusion fabrication of a water-atomized 25Cr7Ni stainless steel of novel chemical composition resulted in a purely ferritic microstructure and over 5% porosity. The current study investigated the effects of two hot isostatic pressing parameters on the physical, mechanical, and corrosion properties as well as microstructures of water-atomized 25Cr7Ni stainless steel of novel composition fabricated by L-PBF for the first time in the literature. The corrosion behaviour was studied using linear sweep voltammetry in a 3.5% NaCl solution. The Hot Isostatic Pressing-treated sample achieved over 98% densification with a corresponding reduction in porosity to less than 0.1% and about 3 similar to 4% in annihilation of dislocation density. A duplex microstructure of ferrite 60% and austenite 40%was observed in the X-Ray Diffraction and etched metallography of the HIP-treated samples from a purely ferritic microstructure prior to the HIP treatment. With the evolution of austenite phase, the HIP-treated samples recorded a decrease in Ultimate Tensile Strength, yield strength, and hardness in comparison with as-printed samples. The variation in the morphology of the evolved austenite grains in the HIP-treated samples was observed to have a significant effect on the elongation. With a reduction in porosity and the evolution of the austenite phase, the HIP-treated samples showed a higher corrosion resistance in comparison with the as-printed samples

Comparative Profiling of Volatile Compounds in Popular South Indian Traditional and Modern Rice Varieties by Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry Analysis

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is one of the major cereal crops cultivated across the world, particularly in Southeast Asia with 95% of global production. The present study was aimed to evaluate the total phenolic content (TPC) and to profile all the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of eight popular traditional and two modern rice varieties cultivated in South India. Thirty-one VOCs were estimated by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The identified volatile compounds in the 10 rice varieties belong to the chemical classes of fatty acids, terpenes, alkanes, alkenes, alcohols, phenols, esters, amides, and others. Interestingly, most of the identified predominant components were not identical, which indicate the latent variation among the rice varieties. Significant variations exist for fatty acids (46.9–76.2%), total terpenes (12.6–30.7%), total phenols (0.9–10.0%), total aliphatic alcohols (0.8–5.9%), total alkanes (0.5–5.1%), and total alkenes (1.0–4.9%) among the rice varieties. Of all the fatty acid compounds, palmitic acid, elaidic acid, linoleic acid, and oleic acid predominantly varied in the range of 11.1–33.7, 6.1–31.1, 6.0–28.0, and 0.7–15.1%, respectively. The modern varieties recorded the highest palmitic acid contents (28.7–33.7%) than the traditional varieties (11.1–20.6%). However, all the traditional varieties had higher linoleic acid (10.0–28.0%) than the modern varieties (6.0–8.5%). Traditional varieties had key phenolic compounds, stearic acid, butyric acid, and glycidyl oleate, which are absent in the modern varieties. The traditional varieties Seeraga samba and Kichilli samba had the highest azulene and oleic acid, respectively. All these indicate the higher variability for nutrients and aroma in traditional varieties. These varieties can be used as potential parents to improve the largely cultivated high-yielding varieties for the evolving nutritionalmarket. The hierarchical cluster analysis showed three different clusters implying the distinctness of the traditional and modern varieties. This study provided a comprehensive volatile profile of traditional and modern rice as a staple food for energy as well as for aroma with nutrition

UAV formation with digital cameras (II)

This research paper would go about the basics of objection detection and the coding details implemented. Object detection would be done through stereo matching and depth to line extraction. The whole project was carried out on Ubuntu Robot Operating System (ROS) platform and experimented on Matrix Laboratory (MATLAB) as well. Details on the following process upon completion of this stage would also be explained. Moreover, it will touch on topics such a SLAM. Various SLAM platforms would also be tested out like ORB Slam and Open Slam to determine the better platform and work forth. The main bulk of the project went about, assisting a research study at the same time doing the necessary coding to implement the program and test it. Calibrations of the camera were also involved in reducing errors when information acquired.Bachelor of Engineerin

Morphological Responses of Geraldton Wax to Transient Soil-Water Deficit

Changes in leaf angle and flower diameter of Geraldton wax (Chamelaucium uncinatum) in response to declining shoot water potential (Psi(shoot)) were assessed as indicators of plant water status. Leaves and petals in Geraldton wax moved vertically as Psi(shoot) decreased. In cv. Purple Pride, the leaf angle of recently-matured, fully-expanded leaves and the diameter of fully developed flowers showed strong linear correlations with declining Psi(shoot) (r(2) = 0.90 and 0.94 respectively). The relationships were less strong when applied to almost fully expanded leaves (r(2) = 0.51) and young flowers (r(2) = 0.64). Older leaves showed no consistent correlation between leaf angle and Psi(shoot) (r(2) = 0.01). Similar results were observed in cvv. Alba and Lady Stephanie, but the change in orientation for a given change in Psi(shoot) was smaller in cv. Alba than those observed in cvv. Purple Pride and Lady Stephanie. Vertical orientation of leaves and flower petals in droughted plants could be used as indicators of level of water deficit