Preparation of fossil bone for histological examination

Palaeo-histology is the branch of palaeontology concerned with the microscopic structure of fossil bone. Researchers entering the field for the first time become aware of a need for a concise description of a technique to prepare thin sections from fossil bone. This note aims to fill that need by describing the procedure used in a recent palaeohistological study (Chinsamy 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992). The technique described has been successfully applied to the bones of dinosaurs and mammal-like reptiles, as well as to archaeological samples ofhuman bone and also to defatted bone of recent taxa. There is no one 'correct' method of making sections of hard tissues like bones, but all existing techniques share a number of core processes in common (Enlow 1954; Enlow and Brown 1956; Honjo and Fischer 1965; Peabody 1961 ; Macfall and Wollin 1972; Buffrenil, Ricqles, Ray and Domning 1990). Although the method described here is specifically intended for use on bone, thin sections of fossilised wood have also been obtained using the same method

Harmonic Mean Labelling of Subdivision and Related Graphs

A graph G=(V,E) with p vertices and q edges is said to be a mean graph if it is possible to label the vertices with distinct elements f(x) from 0,1,2,…..q in such a way that when each edge is labelled with if is even and if is odd, then the resulting edge labels are distinct. is called a mean labelling of G. In this paper, we investigate the mean labelling of caterpillar, dragon, arbitrary super subdivision of a path and some graphs which are obtained from cycles and stars

Extent of Awareness of Distance Learners of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University

The present research was framed to assess the awareness level of distance learners of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University. Three certificate courses were selected based on maximum number of enrollment, viz, Gardening & landscaping, Mushroom production & Solid waste management and vermicomposting. Ex-post facto research design was employed. A total of 150 respondents were selected from the three courses by equal allocation method proportionate random sampling. A well-structured questionnaire was prepared and the information was collected by sending questionnaires through post. The 108 individuals who responded were taken as the sample for the study. The results of the research pointed out that nearly three- fourths of the respondents possessed medium level of awareness on selected technologies

Characterization of thermophysical properties of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC)

Sorghum (S. bicolor (L.) Moench) is a significant cereal crop globally, renowned for its nutritional value, drought resistance and versatile applications in food, feed and industrial products. In this study, thermal properties of sorghum were investigated using DSC and Line Heat Source method. Thermal analysis via DSC revealed distinct phase transitions, with the glass transition temperature observed at 70 °C and gelatinization phenomena occurring within the temperature range of 69.5 - 83.3 °C, exhibiting a characteristic endothermic peak at 77 °C. The specific heat capacity was quantified in the range 1.3298 - 1.4522 kJ/kg°C with increasing moisture content and enthalpy was computed as 10.2 kJ/kg. Examination of thermal conductivity as a function of moisture content demonstrated a systematic increase in conductivity values, yielding measurements of 0.094, 0.132, 0.156, 0.189, 0.221, 0.252 W/m°C corresponding to moisture contents of 10, 12, 14,16,18 and 20 % (wet basis) (w.b.) respectively. While thermal diffusivity values ranged from 1.52 x 10-4 to 9.61 x 10-5 m2/s. The implementation of DSC methodology facilitated precise characterization of phase transitions and thermal behaviour, generating critical data for various thermal processing operations. These findings constitute significant contributions to the theoretical framework necessary for enhancing process optimization and product quality in sorghum-based applications

Non-linear buckling analysis of delaminated hat-stringer panels using variational asymptotic method

This research proposes a computationally efficient methodology using a Constrained Variational Asymptotic Method (C-VAM) for non-linear buckling analysis on a hat-stringer panel with delamination defects. Starting with the geometrically non-linear kinematics, the VAM procedure reduces the three-dimensional (3-D) strain energy functional to an analogous 2-D plate model and evaluates the closed form warping solutions. Utilising the resulting warping solutions and recovery relations for the skin and the stringer, displacement continuity at the three-dimensional level is enforced between the stringer and the skin based on the pristine and delaminated interface regions. Consequently, the constrained matrices obtained from C-VAM is incorporated into an inhouse developed non-linear finite element framework. Using the developed formulation, a stiffened panel with delamination of 40 mm between the stringer and the skin is analysed under compression. The results have been validated locally and globally, employing experimental data and 3-D finite element analysis (FEA). Experiments are carried out on the co-cured panel by applying quasi-static loading with displacement-controlled conditions, and 3-D FEA is carried out in Abaqus. Load-response plots have been obtained to validate the results at the global level, and they are in excellent agreement with experiments and 3-D FEA. Subsequently, out-of-plane displacement contour plots are obtained; the number of half waves and wave intensity in 3-D FEA and C-VAM are comparable, although there are minor differences compared to the experimental findings. The proposed framework is shown to be computationally efficient by over 55% as compared to 3-D FEA for performing non-linear buckling analysis on the stiffened composite structure considered in the current work

Speech Enhancement by Noise Cancellation: A Review

It is observed that recognition rate of speech decreases, with the increase of noise in the background. Noise in the background as a tendency to decay the system’s robustness. This paper gives a brief survey on speech enhancements methods using various noise cancellation techniques for different SNR’s in a noisy environment

Genomics—based approaches may assist in the verification and accelerate responsible deployment of marine carbon dioxide removal

Rapid development and deployment of marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) approaches will be required to prevent the worst consequences of climate change and meet national treaty obligations under the Paris agreement. However, approaches to monitor the efficacy and environmental safety of mCDR are not being developed with the same intensity as the technology. Verification will be required to convince a sceptical public and regulatory community of the overall benefit of mCDR as well as provide the regulatory community a basis for risk assessments that will be required for at scale deployments. In this perspective, we posit that genomics-based approaches can be used to assess the efficacy of carbon sequestration and monitor for the possibility of unintended consequences. By adopting these approaches, it will be feasible to develop the evidence portfolio necessary to underpin assessments of the risks, benefits and trade-offs involved in responsible deployment of mCDR

Growth Dynamics of Australia's Polar Dinosaurs

Analysis of bone microstructure in ornithopod and theropod dinosaurs from Victoria, Australia, documents ontogenetic changes, providing insight into the dinosaurs' successful habitation of Cretaceous Antarctic environments. Woven-fibered bone tissue in the smallest specimens indicates rapid growth rates during early ontogeny. Later ontogeny is marked by parallel-fibered tissue, suggesting reduced growth rates approaching skeletal maturity. Bone microstructure similarities between the ornithopods and theropods, including the presence of LAGs in each group, suggest there is no osteohistologic evidence supporting the hypothesis that polar theropods hibernated seasonally. Results instead suggest high-latitude dinosaurs had growth trajectories similar to their lower-latitude relatives and thus, rapid early ontogenetic growth and the cyclical suspensions of growth inherent in the theropod and ornithopod lineages enabled them to successfully exploit polar regions