Biodegradation of phenol with immobilized Pseuodomonas putida activated carbon packed bio-filter tower

Comparative study on adsorption and simultaneous adsorption and biodegradation (SAB) of phenol using Pseuodomonas putida (MTCC 1194) in a biofilter tower packed with fresh granular activated carbon (GAC) or biological activated carbon (BAC) showed 37% higher breakthrough point in case of SAB. Maximum phenol degradation rate in case of SAB was 120 mg/L.h obtained at flow rate of 7.42 ml/min. Bioregeneration of bed material up to 63% was achieved in 12 h. The phenol degradation by P. putida (MTCC 1194) was immobilized on activated carbon. Higher surface area of activated carbon is suited as supporting materials for microorganism and shows a high adsorptive capacity for phenol. For biodegradation of phenol by P. putida at shake flask level Haldane's growth model fitted the best. Compared to GAC, 21% higher removal of phenol was observed in case of SAB in batch mode.Key words: Biologically activated carbon, bioregeneration, phenol, Pseudomonas putida

Critical properties of the double exchange ferromagnet Nd0.4Pb0.4MnO3

Results of a study of dc-magnetization M(T, H), performed on a Nd0.6Pb0.4MnO3 single crystal in the temperature range around T_C (Curie temperature) which embraces the critical region | epsilon | = |T -T_C |/T_C <= 0.05 are reported. The magnetic data analyzed in the critical region using the Kouvel-Fisher method give the values for the T_C =156.47 +/- 0.06 K and the critical exponents, beta = 0.374 +/- 0.006 (from the temperature dependence of magnetization), and gamma = 1.329 +/- 0.003 (from the temperature dependence of initial susceptibility). The critical isotherm M(T_C, H) gives delta = 4.547 +/- 0.1. Thus the scaling law gamma+beta=delta beta is fulfilled. The critical exponents obey the single scaling-equation of state M(H, epsilon) = epsilon^b f_+/- (H/epsilon^(beta + gamma)) where, f_+ for T > T_C and f_- for T< T_C. The exponent values are very close to those expected for the universality class of 3D Heisenberg ferromagnets with short-range interactions.Comment: 19 pages, including 6 figure

Spin pumping damping and magnetic proximity effect in Pd and Pt spin-sink layers

We investigated the spin pumping damping contributed by paramagnetic layers (Pd, Pt) in both direct and indirect contact with ferromagnetic Ni$_{81}$Fe$_{19}$ films. We find a nearly linear dependence of the interface-related Gilbert damping enhancement $\Delta\alpha$ on the heavy-metal spin-sink layer thicknesses t$_\textrm{N}$ in direct-contact Ni$_{81}$Fe$_{19}$/(Pd, Pt) junctions, whereas an exponential dependence is observed when Ni$_{81}$Fe$_{19}$ and (Pd, Pt) are separated by \unit[3]{nm} Cu. We attribute the quasi-linear thickness dependence to the presence of induced moments in Pt, Pd near the interface with Ni$_{81}$Fe$_{19}$, quantified using X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) measurements. Our results show that the scattering of pure spin current is configuration-dependent in these systems and cannot be described by a single characteristic length

Novel HLA Class I Alleles Associated with Indian Leprosy Patients

Convincing results on HLA Class II associations have been reported, however data on HLA class I association are limited and inconsistent from studies in Leprosy. We present here the HLA A, B, and C allele distribution by molecular high resolution PCR-SSOP technique in 32 leprosy patients compared with the 67 controls, from the same ethnic background. The significant results from the present study were a significant increase in frequency of HLA A*0206, A*1102, B*4016, B*5110, Cw*0407, and Cw*0703 was observed when compared to controls. A striking decrease in the frequency of HLA A*0101, Cw*04011, and Cw*0602 leprosy patients was observed when compared to the controls. Further haplotype A*1102-B*4006-Cw*1502 was significantly increased among the lepromatous leprosy patients when compared to the controls. It seems that HLA class I alleles play vital roles in disease association/pathogenesis with leprosy among Indians

Length-weight relationship of selected commercially important marine fishes from east coast of India

The paper deals with length-weight relationship (LWR) of selected commercially important marine fishes from the east-coast of India. Samples were collected fortnightly from experimental fishing using trawl operated at depth up to 70 M off Vishakhapatnam coast on the east-coast of India during 2015-17. Measurements of total length (TL) (nearest to 0.1 cm) and body weight (nearest to 0.1 g) of individual fish were taken. The LWR showed good fit with r2 values ranging from 0.975 for Lepturacanthus savala Cuvier, 1829 to 0.999 for Upeneus vittatus Forsskål, 1775. The ‘b’ values ranged from 2.618 for Photopectoralis bindus Valenciennes, 1835 to 3.186 for L. savala Cuvier, 1829

Effect of 475 °C embrittlement on the mechanical properties of duplex stainless steel

The binary iron–chromium alloy embrittles in the temperature range of 280–500 °C limiting its applications to temperatures below 280 °C. The embrittlement is caused by the decomposition of the alloy to chromium-rich phase, α′ and iron-rich phase, α. This phenomenon is termed 475 °C embrittlement as the rate of embrittlement is highest at 475 °C. Primarily the investigations on 475 °C embrittlement were confined to binary iron–chromium alloys and ferritic stainless steels. Duplex stainless steel grades contain varying proportions of ferrite and austenite in the microstructure and the ferritic phase is highly alloyed. Moreover, this grade of steel has several variants depending on the alloy composition and processing route. This modifies the precipitation behaviour and the resulting change in mechanical properties in duplex stainless steels when embrittled at 475 °C as compared to binary iron chromium systems. The precipitation behaviour of duplex stainless steel at 475 °C and the effect on tensile, fracture and fatigue behaviour are reviewed in this article

Polyfluorene as a model system for space-charge-limited conduction

Ethyl-hexyl substituted polyfluorene (PF) with its high level of molecular disorder can be described very well by one-carrier space-charge-limited conduction for a discrete set of trap levels with energy $\sim$ 0.5 eV above the valence band edge. Sweeping the bias above the trap-filling limit in the as-is polymer generates a new set of exponential traps, which is clearly seen in the density of states calculations. The trapped charges in the new set of traps have very long lifetimes and can be detrapped by photoexcitation. Thermal cycling the PF film to a crystalline phase prevents creation of additional traps at higher voltages.Comment: 13 pages, 4 figures. Physical Review B (accepted, 2007