310 research outputs found
Bifurcation of rotating liquid drops: Results from USML-1 experiments in space
Experiments on rotational bifurcation of liquid drops, in which the drops were levitated and spun using acoustic fields in a low-gravity environment, were conducted during the first United States Microgravity Laboratory (USML-1) Space Shuttle flight. The experiments have successfully resolved the discrepancies existing between the previous experimental results and the theoretical predictions. In the case of a spherical drop, for which theory exists, the results agree well with the predictions. In the case of flattened drops, the experiments have extablished a family of curves, with the spherical drop as the limiting case
Critical marine habitat restoration programme - initiative on mangrove restoration in Kerala, India
Mangroves are unique habitats which function
as nursery ground for several valuable species of
finfishes and shellfishes and they play a vital role in
supporting marine food chains, protecting coastal
areas and in improving water quality. Mangroves in
general have relatively high productivity and tend to
create highly organic soil and also export organic
matter to nearby marine environments. They are
effective in stabilizing soils in intertidal areas. Some
species of mangroves have been planted in the
coastal areas as bio-protection shields to guard
coastal households from wind and wave action. They
provide shelter to several avian fauna which feed on
its fruits and nest in the branches. Rare or
endangered species of birds have also been
documented in the mangroves
Melamine formaldehyde-metal organic gel interpenetrating polymer network derived intrinsic Fe-N-doped porous graphitic carbon electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction
Fe, N doped porous graphitic carbon electrocatalyst (Fe-MOG-MF-C), obtained by pyrolysis of an Interpenetrating Polymer Network (IPN) comprised of melamine formaldehyde (MF as hard segment) and Metal-Organic Gel (MOG as soft segment), exhibited significant Oxygen Reduction Reaction (ORR) activity in alkaline medium. BET surface area analysis of Fe-MOG-MF-C showed high surface area (821 m2 g-1), while TEM, Raman and XPS results confirmed Fe and N co-doping. Furthermore, a modulated porous morphology with a higher degree of surface area (950 m2 g-1) has been accomplished for the system (Fe-MOG-MFN-C) when aided by a sublimable porogen, such as naphthalene. XPS results further demonstrated that these systems exhibited a better degree of distribution of graphitic N and an onset potential value of 0.91 V vs. RHE in 0.1 M KOH solution following an efficient four-electron ORR pathway. The electrocatalytic activity of Fe-MOG-MFN-C is superior to that of Fe-MOG-MF-C by virtue of its higher graphitic N content and surface area. Thus, the study presents a new class of IPN derived MF-MOG nanocomposites with the potential to generate extended versions of in situ Fe-N doped porous graphitic carbon structures with superior ORR activity
In vitro effect of seed bio-priming techniques on seed germination and seedling vigour of few vegetable crops
Bio-priming can also be viewed as a new technique of seed treatment using biological agents to stimulate germination of seed and growth of the plant and further protecting the seed from soil-and seed-borne pathogens. The present investigation was carried out in vitro conditions on seed germination and seedling vigour of few vegetable crops viz. tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), brinjal (Solanum melongena L.), onion (Allium cepa L.) and chilli (Capsicum annuum L.), during 2015 and 2016. The treatments comprised viz. T1: Non primed seeds (Control), T2: Seed treatment with Carbendazim 2.5g/kg seed, T3: Hydro-priming for 6 hrs, T4: Hydro-priming for 12 hrs, T5: Hydro-priming for 18 hrs, T6: Biopriming with Trichoderma viride for 6 hrs, T7: Biopriming with T.viride for 12 hrs, T8: Biopriming with T.viride for 18 hrs, T9: Biopriming with Trichoderma harzianum for 6 hrs, T10: Biopriming with T. harzianum for 12 hrs, T11: Biopriming with T. harzianum for 18 hrs, T12: Biopriming with Pseudomonas fluorescens for 6 hrs, T13: Biopriming with P. fluorescens for 12 hrs and T14: Biopriming with P. fluorescens for 18 hrs. The results revealed that maxiumum germination percentage (92.92, 90.77,83.00 and 86.33), seedling length (32.38 cm, 29.35 cm, 31.75 and 31.60 cm), seedling fresh weight (2.07 g, 4.01 g, 3.05 g and 2.04 g), seedling dry weight (0.42 g, 0.86 g, 0.62 g and 0.42 g) and seedling vigour index (3008.11, 2664.00, 2635.00 and 2728.00) were recorded in T10 (bio priming with T. harzianum for 12 hrs) in tomato (S. lycopersicum L.), brinjal (S. melongena L.), onion (A. cepa L.) and chilli (C. annuum L.), respectively. Thus, it indicated that priming of seeds of these crops with T. harzianum/P. fluorescens/ T. viride for 12 hrs was very effective with respect to their vegetative growth along with the quality yield
Observations on selected characteristics of water and sediment at the open sea cage culture site of Asian seabass Lates calcarifer (Bloch) off Cochin, south-west coast of India
Study was undertaken to assess the impact of open sea cage culture of Asian seabass Lates calcarifer on selected parameters
of water as well as sediment at Munambam off Cochin, Kerala coast from November 2008 to March 2009. Periodic observations
were made on temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, salinity, nutrients (NO3, PO4, SiO3), nitrite, ammonia, BOD, total suspended
solids, chlorophyll a, gross and net primary productivity as well as bacterial load of the surface and near bottom water from
the cage site (N 10º 08' 162''; E 76º 08' 901'') and also from a reference site (N 10º 07' 189''; E 76º 09' 210'') during
pre- as well as post-stocking periods. Sediment samples were collected simultaneously from both the sites and analysed for
texture, pH, organic carbon and bacterial load. A significant reduction (p<0.05) in silicate and chlorophyll a was perceived in
surface water at the cage site, during the culture period as compared to pre-stocking period. No significant variations were
noticed in any of the other parameters studied. The sand, silt, clay and organic carbon content in sediment at cage site differed
significantly (p<0.05) from that of the reference site. There was no significant difference in the mean values of total heterotrophic
bacterial count as well as presumptive Vibrio count of the water and sediment, either between the cage site and reference site
or between the pre- and post-stocking samplings. No adverse effect as influenced by cage culture of fish was observed on any
of the environmental parameters studied during the period of investigation
1-(2-Bromo-5-methoxyphenyl)-8-chloro-6-(2-fluorophenyl)-4H-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-a][1,4]benzodiazepine
The title compound, Csb 23Hsb 15BrClFNsb 4O, is an analogue of sedatives such as midazolam and alprazolam. Its geometrical parameters are normal and comparable with those of related compounds. The only possible significant inter-molecular inter-action is a C-H⋅sO bond
Water quality indexing of coastal waters off Cochin
Water Quality Index (WQI) condenses the
information from numerous water quality
parameters into a simpler version which can be used
to appraise and compare water quality data from
number of sites as well as to look at trends of water
quality over a period of time from a single site.
WQI is means for simplifying the reporting
detailed water quality assessment and providing
meaningful summaries of overall water quality and
its trends. It also creates an output that is easy
understand for managers and non-technical public
Post-stroke inhibition of induced NADPH oxidase type 4 prevents oxidative stress and neurodegeneration
Ischemic stroke is the second leading cause of death worldwide. Only one moderately effective therapy exists, albeit with contraindications that exclude 90% of the patients. This medical need contrasts with a high failure rate of more than 1,000 pre-clinical drug candidates for stroke therapies. Thus, there is a need for translatable mechanisms of neuroprotection and more rigid thresholds of relevance in pre-clinical stroke models. One such candidate mechanism is oxidative stress. However, antioxidant approaches have failed in clinical trials, and the significant sources of oxidative stress in stroke are unknown. We here identify NADPH oxidase type 4 (NOX4) as a major source of oxidative stress and an effective therapeutic target in acute stroke. Upon ischemia, NOX4 was induced in human and mouse brain. Mice deficient in NOX4 (Nox4(-/-)) of either sex, but not those deficient for NOX1 or NOX2, were largely protected from oxidative stress, blood-brain-barrier leakage, and neuronal apoptosis, after both transient and permanent cerebral ischemia. This effect was independent of age, as elderly mice were equally protected. Restoration of oxidative stress reversed the stroke-protective phenotype in Nox4(-/-) mice. Application of the only validated low-molecular-weight pharmacological NADPH oxidase inhibitor, VAS2870, several hours after ischemia was as protective as deleting NOX4. The extent of neuroprotection was exceptional, resulting in significantly improved long-term neurological functions and reduced mortality. NOX4 therefore represents a major source of oxidative stress and novel class of drug target for stroke therapy
Oyster farm management advisory: spacing between farms
The edible oyster Crassostrea madrasensis
commonly known as the backwater oyster is farmed
in the estuarine regions of Kerala by setting up
wooden rack farms from which rens are suspended.
Proximity to the homesteads is one of the reasons
for this technology to become popular among women
self help groups. The farming season is from
November/December to June, but may extend to July
also depending on the onset of monsoon. At present,
the farm structures are near to the shore line in a
linear manner, providing space for navigation in the
inner part of the estuarine channels. Initially when
commercial farming started in Sattar Island in the
year 2002, there were only few farms, hence, spacing
of farms was not a problem
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