GROWTH AND CHARACTERIZATION OF A SEMIORGANIC NLO MATERIAL: L-HISTIDINE BARIUM CHLORIDE DIHYDRATE

L-Histidine Barium Chloride dihydrate (LHBC), a semi organic nonlinear optical material was grown from aqueous solution by slow solvent evaporation method at room temperature.  The LHBC crystals were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction analysis.  The presence of functional groups was identified through Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy.  Thermogravimetric and Differential Thermal Analysis confirm that the crystal is stable up to 269oC.  The mechanical properties of the grown crystals have been studied using Vickers microhardness test.  The second harmonic generation behavior of LHBC crystal was tested by Kurtz-Perry powder technique

Bioefficacy of insecticides used against diamondbackmoth and their potential impact on natural enemies in cauliflower

Field experiments were conducted at two different geographical regions viz., tropical region (Naraseepuram village, Coimbatore) and temperate region (Kookal village, Kotagiri, The Nilgiris) in summer and winter season’s to assess the bioefficacy of insecticides used against Diamondbackmoth (DBM), Plutella xylostella and their potential impact on natural enemies in cauliflower. The results revealed that the diamide insecticides like cyantraniliprole 10.26 OD @ 60 g a.i ha-1, chlorantraniliprole 18.50 SC @ 10 g a.i ha-1 and flubendiamide 20 WG @ 18.24 g a.i ha-1 registered more than 95 percent population reduction over untreated control followed by emamectin benzoate 5 SG @ 10 g a.i ha-1 and thiodicarb 75 WP @ 750 g a.i ha-1. Quinalphos 25 EC @ 500 g a.i ha-1and chlorpyriphos 20 EC @ 400 g a.i ha-1 were observed as least effective among the treated insecticides. The diamide insecticides recorded considerably less toxic effect on the natural enemies, especially spiders and coccinellids. Population reduction of natural enemies was noticed immediately after insecticide spray but it gradually increased and was recorded on par with the control population. Hence, cyantraniliprole 10.26 OD @ 60 g a.i ha-1, chlorantraniliprole 18.50 SC @ 10 g a.i ha-1 and flubendiamide 20 WG @ 18.24 g a.i ha-1 can be used as potential component in the integrated pest management against DBM in cole crops.

Meissner response of a bulk superconductor with an embedded sheet of reduced penetration depth

We calculate the change in susceptibility resulting from a thin sheet with reduced penetration depth embedded perpendicular to the surface of an isotropic superconductor, in a geometry applicable to scanning Superconducting QUantum Interference Device (SQUID) microscopy, by numerically solving Maxwell's and London's equations using the finite element method. The predicted stripes in susceptibility agree well in shape with the observations of Kalisky et al. of enhanced susceptibility above twin planes in the underdoped pnictide superconductor Ba(Fe1-xCox)2As2 (Ba-122). By comparing the predicted stripe amplitudes with experiment and using the London relation between penetration depth and superfluid density, we estimate the enhanced Cooper pair density on the twin planes, and the barrier force for a vortex to cross a twin plane. Fits to the observed temperature dependence of the stripe amplitude suggest that the twin planes have a higher critical temperature than the bulk, although stripes are not observed above the bulk critical temperature.Comment: 16 pages, 9 figure

Learning and Study Strategies: Academic Achievement and Gender Differences

To do well in school and for enhanced academic success, effective Learning and Study strategies are important. The objectives of this research work were to determine gender differences, if any, in Learning and Study strategies in high school students and to find the relationship between these strategies and Academic achievement. To do this, Learning and Study Strategies Inventory (LASSI) - Weinstein & Palmer, (2002) was administered to a group of 684, 8th std., school students, of which 363 were boys and 321 were girls. These students were selected from private schools of Bangalore; all the 4 zones – north, south, east, and west - were represented. All the students chosen were studying the state syllabus. The results of the research indicate gender differences in the following strategies – processing of information, motivation and selection of main ideas. No gender differences emerged for Academic achievement. Further, academic achievement was found to be significantly related to levels of anxiety, attitude, concentration ability, selection of main ideas, effective time management and test taking strategies

Wetting Characteristics of Oleate Monolayers Adsorbed at Calcium Mineral Surfaces:a Molecuar Dynamics Study

In this paper we present our Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations results on the wettability characteristics of the surfaces of three calcium minerals namely, fluorite, calcite and fluorapatite with an adsorbed oleate monolayer in the presence of water. The contact angle of water on these oleate-adsorbed mineral surfaces are computed and compared with experimental values available in the literature. The modeled adsorbed oleate monolayers on calcite (104), fluorite 11 1 1 ) and fluoroapatite (100) are packed so as to achieve the most favorable configuration, that is, 100%, 67% and 75% packing respectively

Numerical Simulation of the Phase Space of Jupiter-Europa System Including the Effect of Oblateness

We have numerically investigated the phase space of the Jupiter-Europa system in the framework of a Circular Restricted Three-Body Problem. In our model, Jupiter is taken as oblate primary. We have considered time-frequency analysis (TFA) based on wavelets and the Poincare Surface of Section (PSS) for the characterization of orbits in the Jupiter-Europa model. We have exploited both cases: a system with and without considering the effect of oblateness. Graphs (ridge-plots) explaining the phenomenon of resonance trapping, a difference between chaotic sticky orbit and the non-sticky orbit, and periodic and quasi-periodic orbit are presented. Our results of Poincare surfaces of the section of the Jupiter-Europa system (with and without the effect of oblateness) reveal the impact of oblateness of Jupiter as reducing parameter for regular and chaotic regions. Time-frequency analysis based on wavelets is comparatively fast and is suitable for the identification and characterization of the different type of trajectories in the nonlinear dynamical system

Surface and Flotation Characteristics of Spodumene:A Molecular Modeling Approach

Surface characteristics of spodumene [LiAl(SiO3)27 and aluminosilicates (feldspar [KA1Si3041 and muscovite IK2A14(A1257602a)(01-00 are modeled using molecular simulations. Surface energies are computed for various cleavage planes of these minerals and compared with those measured experi-mentally. Adsorption mechanisms of oleate collector on spodumene in the selective flotation of spodumene from these aluminosilicates are studied using molecular model-ing methods. Further, the wettability characteristics of spodumene are quantified by computing the contact angle of a drop of water on the adsorbed oleate layer. These simul-ated computed contact angles are compared with those measured experimentally

ADVERSE DRUG REACTIONS IN PEDIATRIC PATIENTS IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN KOLLAM

Objective: Adverse drug reactions have not been as thoroughly studied in children as they have in adults. Extrapolation of efficacy, dosing regimens, and ADRs from adult data are inappropriate owing to developmental changes in physiology and drug handling. There is a lack of local data regarding the potential risk of ADRs in pediatric patients. Objective of this study is to identify the adverse drug reaction (ADR) profile in pediatric patients. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 450 children attending the pediatric inpatient and outpatient department were selected, and the CDSCO reporting form for suspected ADR reporting forms was collected from those who had any adverse events by the consulting pediatrician. Later, this form was analyzed for the details for ADRs and assessed for causality, severity, and preventability using Naranjo’s algorithm, Hartwig and Siegel scale, and modified Schumock and Thornton scale of adverse drug reactions. Results: The cross-sectional study revealed a prevalence of 12.89%. Antibiotics caused more ADRs than any other group of drugs. Dermatological ADRs were the most common. Most ADRs were not preventable and were of moderate severity. The causality assessment showed that most ADRs were possible category. Conclusion: The ADRs are often unrecognized. We need more strict monitoring for early detection, treatment, and more importantly prevention of these events in the future. For that, more awareness programs, CMEs and teamwork are extremely important among the caregivers

Identification of heat-tolerant rice genotypes and their molecular characterisation using SSR markers

The effect of high-temperature stress has a critical impact in causing reduced crop yield. The focus of the current investigation is the identification of heat-tolerant rice varieties that can alleviate the effects of stress. Among the ten genotypes evaluated across various parameters such as leaf area, dry weight, photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance and spikelet fertility, N-22 showed superior characteristics for the grain filling parameters along with CR-Dhan 307. The variety CR-Dhan 307 with significantly higher mean pollen viability (80.23%), spikelet fertility (81.18%) and 1000 grain weight (25.45 gm) can be utilized as a heat-tolerant variety. Other genotypes Ptb-7 and CR-Dhan 202 seemed to have tolerance traits beneficial at the vegetative stage. The genotype Rajalakshmi can be characterised as heat susceptible as it had significantly lower values for all parameters. Polymorphic analysis was carried out to validate SSR markers associated with heat tolerance. The polymorphic information content (PIC) was found to be the highest for RM236 and RM6100. The SSR marker RM6100 has been validated in the current investigation to be associated with heat tolerance. As the PIC value is an indication of the ability of the marker in indicating genetic diversity, the PIC values of the 11 polymorphic markers is useful for identify heat-tolerant genotypes. The genetic diversity analysis was carried out using DendroUPGMA to establish the relationship between the genotypes. The genotypes Ptb-7 and CR-Dhan 204 were thus found to be closely related to the heat-tolerant check variety, N-22 indicating genetically related traits for tolerance to heat

A new theory of urban design and responsive environments : a comparative study of two approaches to urban design

Department: Architecture