Sensor Network Infrastructure for AMI in Smart Grid

AbstractUtility companies incur financial loss due to transmission losses as well as non technical losses like power theft and billing irregularities. Smart meters with the required functionalities along with an intelligent grid form an Automated Meter Reading (AMR) infrastructure which can improve the distribution efficiency. AMR infrastructure can be expanded by allowing for bi-directional communication between the grid components to form an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI). This helps for the smooth interaction between grid components to load and off-load the distributed energy sources while supporting an efficient Demand Side Management of power. Communication technologies play a vital role in the implementation of smart grid and Wireless Sensor Networks are gaining attraction in this field. Routing protocols with high reliability, low latency and that can co-exist with the established protocols are the need of the hour. Routing Protocol for Low Power Lossy Networks (RPL) fit into this space well. An attempt to build an automated infrastructure using RPL for collecting the metering information, which at a later stage can be easily upgraded to an AMI setup by simply adding the supporting end devices for a much more intelligent smart grid, is carried out in this pape

In vitro studies on effects of plant growth regulators on callus and suspension culture biomass yield from Gymnema sylvestre R.Br

Callus cultures were initiated from nodal segments and leaf explants of Gymnema sylvestre on Murashige and Skoog (1962) medium containing basic salts and 30 g/l sucrose supplemented with different concentrations (0.10, 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 5.0 mg/l) of 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D), -naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), kinetin (KN) and 6-benzyladenine (BA). Callus induction was observed in 0.5 mg/l of 2, 4-D supplemented medium for both explants. At the initial stage, some parts of explants enlarged and gave raise to pale yellowish calli after 2-3 weeks of incubation. The harvested cell biomass was subjected to extraction of active principles. In this study, cell biomass extracts were compared with extracts from leaves of naturally growing gymnema plants. HPLC analysis of these extracts showed that the main components of the active principles namely gymnemic acids and gymnemagenin were present in sufficiently large amounts in the cultured undifferentiated cell

In vitro production of growth regulators and phosphatase activity by phosphate solubilizing bacteria

Crops absorb phosphorous in the form of soluble orthophosphate ion. The solubility of phosphate is inhibited by the presence of iron and aluminium in acidic soils and calcium in neutral and alkaline soils. This leads to fixation of phosphorous, making it not available to crop plants. The phosphate solubilizing bacteria (phosphobacteria) secretes some kinds of organic acids which act on insoluble phosphates and convert the same into soluble form, thus providing phosphorous to plant. An experiment was conducted to enumerate the population density of phosphobacteria in the rhizosphere soils of brinjal, chilly, cotton, green grain, groundnut, maize, paddy, ragi, sorghum and turmeric using Ketznelson and Bose medium following dilution plate technique. Efforts have been made to isolate phosphobacteria from these soils and isolated strains were inoculated in specific media containing specific substrates to produce growth regulating substances such as IAA and GA3 and phosphatase enzyme. The result showed that the population levels of phosphobacteria were higher in the rhizosphere soil of groundnut plant. Further, all the strains of phosphobacteria were able to produce phytohormones and phosphatase enzyme under in vitro conditions.Keywords: In vitro, phosphobacteria, growth regulator

Efficacy of certain fungicides against Phomopsis theae under in vitro conditions

Four contact fungicides, Blitox (copper oxychloride), Kocide (copper hydroxide), Mancozeb (dithane M-45) and Bordeaux mixture and four systemic fungicides, Baycor (bitertanol), Calixin (tridemorph), Contaf (hexaconazole) and Bavistin (carbendazim) were evaluated against Phomopsis theae under in vitro condition. The results indicated that carbendazim was found to be the most effective in suppressing the growth followed by dithane M-45. Among the different concentrations tested, carbendazim at 4 ppm and dithane M-45 at 8 ppm were found to be optimum for the control of pathogen’s growth.Keywords: Phomopsis theae, fungicides, in vitro screening, phomopsis canke

Permanent His-bundle Pacing in Pediatrics and Congenital Heart Disease

Permanent His-bundle pacing has been gaining popularity in the adult population requiring cardiac resynchronization therapy. Initial procedural challenges are being overcome, and this method of pacing has been shown to improve left ventricular function and heart failure symptoms secondary to ventricular dyssynchrony. Though the etiologies of ventricular dyssynchrony may differ in children and those with congenital heart disease than in adults with structurally normal hearts, His-bundle pacing may also be a preferred option in these groups to restore more physiologic electric conduction and improve ventricular function. We present a review of the current literature and suggested directions involving deploying permanent His-bundle pacing in the pediatric and congenital heart disease population

Anterior Mediastinal Mass: A Rare Presentation of Tuberculosis

We report a case of a 14-year-boy who presented to us with a low-grade fever with evening rise for 9 months. Along with this, the patient also reported a reduction in his appetite and body weight. He had a mild dry cough but no respiratory symptoms otherwise. There was no other localization for fever on history. He received antitubercular therapy, based on abnormal chest radiograph. However, there was no relief in his symptoms. General physical examination revealed mild fever. Systemic examination was unremarkable. Blood investigations done for fever were noncontributory. Computed tomographic (CT) scan of the chest revealed a mediastinal mass compressing the trachea. The possibilities of lymphoma or germ cell tumour were considered. A biopsy from the mass under CT guidance was performed. The histopathology revealed multiple epithelioid cell granulomas with necrosis, and the diagnosis of tuberculosis was made. The clinical course of this patient and the relevant literature is presented in this paper

Genetic engineering of wood color in plants

The invention relates to genetically engineering the wood color of woody plants by incorporation of the lignin pathway gene O-methyltransferase into the genome of the plants.https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/patents/1068/thumbnail.jp