Leaf blight of Azadirachta indica and its management in vitro

Leaf blight, a moderate to severe foliar disease of Azadirachta indica was caused by Colletotrichum dematium and Fusarium solani. Previously F. solani was reported on A. indica but the presence of C. dematium is a new document. F. solani was highly virulent against seedlings of A. indica compared to C. dematium in seeds subjected to top of the paper method. In vitro management of these pathogens using Poison Food Technique suggested that of the seven fungicides tested at 50, 100 and 150 ppm concentrations, 100% growth inhibition was recorded in all the three concentrations of ContafPlus and Tilt against C. dematium whereas in F. solani all the three concentrations of Bavistin inhibited the growth of mycelial colony in the range of 88.54 - 86.32%. However, in both C. dematium and F. solani 50 ppm Blitox showed least inhibition

Phytochemical, physicochemical, TLC, minerals analysis and in-vitro antioxidant activity of ethanolic extract of leaves of Heldigardia populifolia

The aim of present study was to investigate the preliminary phytochemical, physicochemical, TLC, minerals analysis and In-vitro antioxidant activity of leaves of ethanolic extract of Heldigardia populifolia. The preliminary phytochemical screening of ethanolic extract showed the presence of triterpenoids, flavonoids, glycosides, sterols, steroids, phenols, carbohydrates and saponins. The composition of minerals found in the leaf powder was within the permissible limits. TLC analysis of ethanol extract showed the five spots which indicate the presence of five phytoconstituents. The extractive value of ethanol was high than acetone. Ash values were within the limits. The in-vitro antioxidant activity of ethanolic extract increased with increasing the concentration. The ethanolic extract in all the concentration showed the significant antioxidant activity

Lightweight Aluminum/Nano composites for Automotive Drive Train Applications

During Phase I, we successfully processed air atomized aluminum powders via Dynamic Magnetic Compaction (DMC) pressing and subsequent sintering to produce parts with properties similar to wrought aluminum. We have also showed for the first time that aluminum powders can be processed without lubes via press and sintering to 100 % density. This will preclude a delube cycle in sintering and promote environmentally friendly P/M processing. Processing aluminum powders via press and sintering with minimum shrinkage will enable net shape fabrication. Aluminum powders processed via a conventional powder metallurgy process produce too large a shrinkage. Because of this, sinter parts have to be machined into specific net shape. This results in increased scrap and cost. Fully sintered aluminum alloy under this Phase I project has shown good particle-to-particle bonding and mechanical properties. We have also shown the feasibility of preparing nano composite powders and processing via pressing and sintering. This was accomplished by dispersing nano silicon carbide (SiC) powders into aluminum matrix comprising micron-sized powders (<100 microns) using a proprietary process. These composite powders of Al with nano SiC were processed using DMC press and sinter process to sinter density of 85-90%. The process optimization along with sintering needs to be carried out to produce full density composites

Genetic studies in children with intellectual disability and autistic spectrum of disorders

Autism is one of the five disorders that falls under the umbrella of Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD) or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), a category of neurological disorders characterized by "severe and pervasive impairment in several areas of development." ASD is characterized by varying degrees of impairment in communication skills, social interaction and restricted, repetitive stereotyped patterns of behavior. The five disorders under PDD are autistic disorder, Asperger\u2032s disorder, childhood disintegrative disorder, Rett\u2032s disorder and PDD-not otherwise specified. ASD can often be reliably detected by the age of 3 years and, in some cases, as early as 18 months. The appearance of any warning signs of ASD is reason to have the child evaluated by a professional specializing in these disorders

Advanced Motors

Project Summary Transportation energy usage is predicted to increase substantially by 2020. Hybrid vehicles and fuel cell powered vehicles are destined to become more prominent as fuel prices rise with the demand. Hybrid and fuel cell vehicle platforms are both dependent on high performance electric motors. Electric motors for transportation duty will require sizeable low-speed torque to accelerate the vehicle. As motor speed increases, the torque requirement decreases which results in a nearly constant power motor output. Interior permanent magnet synchronous motors (IPMSM) are well suited for this duty. , , These rotor geometries are configured in straight lines and semi circular arc shapes. These designs are of limited configurations because of the lack of availability of permanent magnets of any other shapes at present. We propose to fabricate rotors via a novel processing approach where we start with magnet powders and compact them into a net shape rotor in a single step. Using this approach, widely different rotor designs can be implemented for efficiency. The current limitation on magnet shape and thickness will be eliminated. This is accomplished by co-filling magnet and soft iron powders at specified locations in intricate shapes using specially designed dies and automatic powder filling station. The process fundamentals for accomplishing occurred under a previous Applied Technology Program titled, ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂMotors and Generators for the 21st CenturyÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ. New efficient motor designs that are not currently possible (or cost prohibitive) can be accomplished by this approach. Such an approach to motor fabrication opens up a new dimension in motor design. Feasibility Results We were able to optimize a IPMSM rotor to take advantage of the powder co-filling and DMC compaction processing methods. The minimum low speed torque requirement of 5 N-m can be met through an optimized design with magnet material having a Br capability of 0.2 T. This level of magnetic performance can be met with a variety of bonded magnet compositions. The torque ripple was found to drop significantly by using thinner magnet segments. The powder co-filling and subsequent compaction processing allow for thinner magnet structures to be formed. Torque ripple can be further reduced by using skewing and pole shaping techniques. The techniques can be incorporated into the rotor during the powder co-filling process

Leaf blight of Syzygium cumini and its management in vitro

A Pestalotiopsis sp. identified as the major pathogen causing leaf blight disease of Syzygium cumini was isolated from naturally infected leaf samples of S. cumini collected from forest nurseries of the Mysore district, India. The fungus was pathogenic on 4-month-old seedlings, which exhibited leaf blight symptoms within 15 days of inoculation. The effects of five systemic and two contact fungicides were evaluated against the pathogen in vitro using the poison food technique. Among the seven fungicides studied in vitro only two systemic fungicides namely, Bavistin and Roko were proven to be effective against Pestalotiopsis sp. at concentrations of 50, 100 and 150 mg/L; these fungicides showed 100% growth inhibition and nil fungal growth. The effectiveness of systemic fungicides was higher than that of contact fungicides. Thus, the present study recommends the use of Bavistin and Roko at a minimal concentration of 50 mg/L for maximum inhibition of Pestalotiopsis sp

Case Report-TRISOMY 18 in a 50-year-old female

She was brought to our Institute at the age of 31, with speech delay and mental handicap. She was assessed by the multidisciplinary team in the institute to determine the cause of her problems. Clinical evaluation revealed dysmorphic facial features, microbrachycephaly, camptodactyly, clinodactyly, abnormal dermatoglyphics and severe mental handicap. Cardiovascular system examination was normal. Chromosomal analysis revealed a trisomy of Chromosome 18. The phenotype of trisomy 18 and the rarity of prolonged survival in this case are discussed

Advanced Motors

Project Summary Transportation energy usage is predicted to increase substantially by 2020. Hybrid vehicles and fuel cell powered vehicles are destined to become more prominent as fuel prices rise with the demand. Hybrid and fuel cell vehicle platforms are both dependent on high performance electric motors. Electric motors for transportation duty will require sizeable low-speed torque to accelerate the vehicle. As motor speed increases, the torque requirement decreases which results in a nearly constant power motor output. Interior permanent magnet synchronous motors (IPMSM) are well suited for this duty. , , These rotor geometries are configured in straight lines and semi circular arc shapes. These designs are of limited configurations because of the lack of availability of permanent magnets of any other shapes at present. We propose to fabricate rotors via a novel processing approach where we start with magnet powders and compact them into a net shape rotor in a single step. Using this approach, widely different rotor designs can be implemented for efficiency. The current limitation on magnet shape and thickness will be eliminated. This is accomplished by co-filling magnet and soft iron powders at specified locations in intricate shapes using specially designed dies and automatic powder filling station. The process fundamentals for accomplishing occurred under a previous Applied Technology Program titled, ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂMotors and Generators for the 21st CenturyÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ. New efficient motor designs that are not currently possible (or cost prohibitive) can be accomplished by this approach. Such an approach to motor fabrication opens up a new dimension in motor design. Feasibility Results We were able to optimize a IPMSM rotor to take advantage of the powder co-filling and DMC compaction processing methods. The minimum low speed torque requirement of 5 N-m can be met through an optimized design with magnet material having a Br capability of 0.2 T. This level of magnetic performance can be met with a variety of bonded magnet compositions. The torque ripple was found to drop significantly by using thinner magnet segments. The powder co-filling and subsequent compaction processing allow for thinner magnet structures to be formed. Torque ripple can be further reduced by using skewing and pole shaping techniques. The techniques can be incorporated into the rotor during the powder co-filling process

Lightweight Aluminum/Nano composites for Automotive Drive Train Applications

During Phase I, we successfully processed air atomized aluminum powders via Dynamic Magnetic Compaction (DMC) pressing and subsequent sintering to produce parts with properties similar to wrought aluminum. We have also showed for the first time that aluminum powders can be processed without lubes via press and sintering to 100 % density. This will preclude a delube cycle in sintering and promote environmentally friendly P/M processing. Processing aluminum powders via press and sintering with minimum shrinkage will enable net shape fabrication. Aluminum powders processed via a conventional powder metallurgy process produce too large a shrinkage. Because of this, sinter parts have to be machined into specific net shape. This results in increased scrap and cost. Fully sintered aluminum alloy under this Phase I project has shown good particle-to-particle bonding and mechanical properties. We have also shown the feasibility of preparing nano composite powders and processing via pressing and sintering. This was accomplished by dispersing nano silicon carbide (SiC) powders into aluminum matrix comprising micron-sized powders (<100 microns) using a proprietary process. These composite powders of Al with nano SiC were processed using DMC press and sinter process to sinter density of 85-90%. The process optimization along with sintering needs to be carried out to produce full density composites