Enhanced thermoelectric performance in spark plasma textured bulk n-type BiTe2.7Se0.3 and p-type Bi0.5Sb 1.5Te3

Bulk p and n-type bismuth tellurides were prepared using spark plasma texturization method. The texture development along the uniaxial load in the 001 direction is confirmed from both x-ray diffraction analysis and electron backscattering diffraction measurements. Interestingly, those textured samples outperform the samples prepared by conventional spark plasma sintering (SPS) leading to a reduced thermal conductivity in the ab-plane. The textured samples of n-type BiTe2.7Se0.3 and p-type Bi0.5Sb 1.5Te3 showed a 42% and 33% enhancement in figure of merit at room temperature, respectively, as compared to their SPS counterparts, opening the route for applications. © 2013 AIP Publishing LLC

Edible films from Polysaccharides

Edible films and coatings have received considerable attention in recent years because of their advantages including use as edible packaging materials over synthetic films. This could contribute to the reduction of environmental pollution. By functioning as barriers, such edible films and coatings can feasibly reduce the complexity and thus improve the recyclability of packaging materials, compared to the more traditional non-environmental friendly packaging materials, and may be able to substitute such synthetic polymer films. New materials have been developed and characterized by scientists, many from abundant natural sources that have traditionally been regarded as waste materials. The objective of this review is to provide a comprehensive introduction to edible coatings and films by providing descriptions of suitable materials, reviewing their properties and describing methods of their applications and potential uses. Keywords: Edible film, coatings, characteristics, environmental friendl

Nutritional status of fisherwomen

Most fisher women were taking rice as it was their staple food. The mean consumption of rice was 330 gm/day. The consumption of pulses was 18•25 gm/day. The consumption of green leafy vegetables was found to be less and was observed to be 12 gm/day. The consumption of other. vegetable was also less. Consumption of fish was found to be more as it was easily available for them. Cereal consumption was found to be high in Andhra Pradesh followed by Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamilnadu

Knowledge, Aptitude and Practice (KAP) of nutrition, health and hygiene: fisher women

Nutrition education, education on ealth and hygiene and awareness on environmental sanitation and cleanliness were carried on in the surveyed places during the survey period. The response to the awareness created was between 35 - 50% in al the aspects of the nutrition education given. Changes in their life style cannot be brought at a stretch. Hence there is a need to create awareness on a continuous basis to so that they can practice the knowledge gained in day to day activitie

THIRTY FIVE YEARS OF OPERATIONAL RESEARCH PROJECT FOR DRYLAND AGRICULTURE : ACHIEVEMENTS AND IMPACTS (1976 to 2012)

Not AvailableAgriculture is the backbone of Indian economy and rainfed agro-ecosystem occupies an important place in Indian agriculture, covering 68 per cent of the cultivated area (96 m.ha) supporting 40 per cent human, 60 per cent livestock population and producing 44 per cent of the food requirements thus playing a pivotal role in India’s food security. Five out of ten Agro-Climatic Zones in Karnataka were classified as dry zones covering 63 per cent of the total geographical area and 71 per cent of the net sown area, with substantial contribution to agricultural production from dry lands. About 57 per cent of food grain production in Karnataka comes from rainfed areas while, 97 per cent of total pulses and 80 per cent oilseeds were produced in dry land areas. Research on dryland agriculture in the red soil regions of Karnataka was started in 1970 with the establishment of All India Coordinated Research Project for Dryland Agriculture (AICRPDA) at Gandhi Krishi Vignana Kendra (GKVK), Bangalore,Not Availabl

Clinical & nutritional status of women and preschool children

Clinical examination is an important practical method for assessing the nutritional status of a community. Clinical assessment of a community gives valuable information especially in regions where malnutrition is wide spread hence a clinical examination was conducted among the fisher women and preschoole·rs in the study area. The method for clin ical examination was based on examination for changes, believed to be related to inadequate nutrition that can be seen or felt in superficial epithelia tissues, especially the skin, eyes, hair and buccal mucosa, or in organs near the surface of the body, such as parotid and thyroid gland

ANTIMICROBIAL, WOUND HEALING AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITIES OF ANTHOCEPHALUS CADAMBA

Anthocephalus cadamba (Roxb.) Miq. Syn A. chinensis (Lamk) A. Rich (Rubiaceae) is ethnomedicinally widely used in the form of paste by tribe in western Ghats for treating skin diseases. In this context, antimicrobial potential of A. cadamba against a wide range of microorganisms was studied. To validate the ethnotherapeutic claims of the plant in skin diseases, wound healing activity was studied, besides antioxidant activity to understand the mechanism of wound healing. The alchoholic and aqueous extract of this plant showed significant antibacterial and antifungal activity against almost all the organisms: Micrococcus luteus, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and four fungi Candida albicans, Trichophyton rubrum—dermatophyte fungi, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus nidulans—systemic fungi, with especially good activity against the dermatophyte (Trichophyton rubrum) and some infectious bacteria (Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis and Staphylococcus aureus) with an MIC of 2.5 µg/disc. The results show that A. cadamba extract has potent wound healing capacity as shown from the wound contraction and increased tensile strength. The results also indicated that A. cadamba extract possesses potent antioxidant activity by inhibiting lipid peroxidation and increase in the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase activity