Potential of Archimedes Screw Turbine in Rural India Electrification: a Review

With the growing population of India, the demand for energy consumption is increasing. For the overall development of a region, especially remote areas, electricity is of prime importance. Production of electricity in large scale can further lead to various effects like environmental pollution, climate change and it is also costly. Thus the need for a socio-economic energy conversion to electricity is of prime importance for a sustainable development. India has a huge potential in the Hydro to generate 2,50,000 MW. An Archimedes Screw Turbine that was earlier used as a pump can give a very good solution in harnessing water potential. It rotates as water flows through it, rotating the generator\u27s prime mover connected to it. Archimedes Screw turbines operate at a low head of 0.8m to 10 m and relatively lower flow rate than the other turbines and more cost effective and are highly efficient. The AST is quite a new form of electricity generation practice which has been implemented in different countries along with India. Thus the electrification scenario in rural areas can be improved specially where there is a continuous flow of a river or canal by the installation of the low-cost socio-economic AST

Evaluation of petroleum based horticulture oil for the management of the tea red spider mite, Oligonychus coffeae Neitner (Acarina: Tetranychidae)

The Servo agro spray oil (petroleum based horticulture oil) was evaluated in the laboratory against tea red spider mite, Oligonychus coffeae to determine its effect on adult mortality, viability of eggs, oviposition deterrence and repellent properties. The same was also evaluated in the field to determine its effect on mite population. Direct spray method was used in the laboratory at concentrations of 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5%. Mortality of O. coffeae was both concentration and time dependent. Deposition of eggs by adult mites on treated leaf surfaces decreased significantly and the viability of eggs was also significantly reduced. In addition, different concentrations of the Servo agro spray also exhibited repellent properties against adult mites. In the field Servo agro spray oil significantly reduced the mite population and its bio-efficacy was comparable to that of the synthetic pesticide (propargite 57 EC). No phytotoxic effect was observed when tea bushes were sprayed with different doses of Servo agro spray. Tea samples were taint free. Quality (appearance of liquor, flavour, taint and taste) of made tea was not adversely affected by treatments with Servo agro spray oil. Therefore Servo agro spray oil may be a potential agent to be used in the sustainable management of tea red spider mite

SPATIAL VARIATION OF BENO-A-PYRENE, NICKEL AND LEAD CONFINED IN PM10 AS WELL MODELLING AND HEALTH RISK ASSESSMENT

Exposure to fine particulate matter from ambient air is a leading environmental contributor to disease burden across the world. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are the common environmental pollutants. PAHs are persistent organic pollutants and strive carcinogenic and mutagenic effects. Aerosol samples in the particulate phase were collected simultaneously for the first time in Numaligarh at an industrial and a traffic dominated site for two year to investigate the gas–particle partitioning of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) and heavy metal. The samples were collected using a high volume sampler on PTFE filter papers. Benzo-a-pyrene was analyzed using gas chromatograph-mass spectrometry. The ground level concentration (GLC) of pollutants from stationary sources is computed    using   dispersion model AERMOD, which are mathematical relations between the source strength and concentration   and involves parameters related transport and diffusion. Increases in GLC (Ground Level Concentration) are very minimal. Maximum Predicted Summer Season 24 hour Average increase in GLC is 2.05 μgm-3 and that of winter is 1.58 μgm-3. Although PAH represented a high proportion of risk as carcinogenic whose Cancer Risk (CR) values were calculated (0.03 CR value), and they were very less than the permissible limit (CR 0.25). However, the risk of exposure to mixtures is difficult to estimate, and risk assessment by whole mixture potency evaluations has been done in this study. 

India ASEAN bilateral relations- Emerging trends, Challenges and Opportunities

India’s bilateral relation with ASEAN has been growing ever since they entered into partnership. Based on the secondary data, the present study tries to put forward a comprehensive analysis of the emerging India-ASEAN trade and investment relations in the last few years. The paper further analyses the key challenges to this trade relation with special reference to the challenge posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. We have also discussed how India and ASEAN have mutually engaged with each other to fight back the pandemic to their best capacities. We also highlight the emerging opportunities for India and ASEAN. Ideas and perspectives are thus, explored in the present study in order to search for a collective solution to strengthen the economic ties between India and ASEAN in the face of the changing world order due to the Covid-19 pandemic

AMBIENT AIR QUALITY NEAR KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK, ASSAM

The work investigates the concentration of the pollutants PM 10, PM 2.5, SOx, and NOx from various sources like automobiles, oil refinery etc in and around the Kaziranga National park.  3 sampling sites were selected including 1 industrial(InT), 1 residential(TS) within the refinery 1 roadside(BP) within the kaziranga national park area.  At each site all 4 pollutants were monitored twice a week and eight times in a month using PM 2.5/10 sampler for particulates and High volume Sampler with gaseous attachment for SO2 and NO2 during the year June 2013 to May 2014. The values of all these pollutants (particulates and gaseous) are observed to be very much below according to National Ambient Air Quality Standards. However the area is mostly covered with forest reserve

Modeling Fungal Melanin Buildup: Biomimetic Polymerization of 1,8-Dihydroxynaphthalene Mapped by Mass Spectrometry

Due to the emerging biomedical relevance and technological potential of fungal melanins, and prompted by the virtual lack of information about their structural arrangement, an optimized synthetic protocol has been devised for a potential structural model of Ascomyces allomelanin through enzyme-catalyzed oxidative polymerization of 1,8-dihydroxynaphthalene (1,8-DHN). Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) measurements of freshly synthesized DHN-polymer recorded in the negative ion mode allowed detection of oligomers up to m/z 4000, separated by 158 Da, corresponding to the in-chain DHN-unit. The dominant peaks were assigned to singly-charged distribution, up to 23 repeating units, whereas a doubly charged polymer distribution was also detectable. Chemical derivatization, ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC)-ESI MS, and MS/MS data confirmed that oxidative polymerization of 1,8-DHN proceeds through C−C coupling of the naphthalene rings. The new insights reported here into synthetic 1,8-DHN oligomers/polymers as a mimic of fungal melanins may guide novel interesting advances and applications in the field of biomimetic functional material

Evaluation of the anti-nociceptive potential of ethanolic extract of leaves of Bryophyllum pinnatum in experimental animals

Background: The plant Bryophyllum pinnatum is traditionally used for the treatment of pain and inflammation. The present study was carried out to evaluate the antinociceptive effect of the ethanolic extract of the leaves of B. pinnatum (EEBP) using a hot plate method and acetic acid induced writhing test in mice.Methods: In the hot plate analgesiometer method, the time between the placement on the hot plate and the occurrence of licking of the paws, shaking or jumping off from the plate was recorded as response latency. Total numbers of stretching episodes for 30 mins immediately after acetic acid injection in all the groups were recorded in acetic acid induced writhing method. Pentazocine (10 mg/kg intraperitoneal) and aspirin (500 mg/kg) were used as the standard drugs in the hot plate and acetic acid induced writhing method, respectively. Extract was used in 200, 300 and 400 mg/kg doses.Results: At all the three doses the EEBP showed significant (p<0.01) anti-nociceptive activity in experimental models of Eddy’s hot plate analgesiometer and acetic acid induced writhing method in mice.Conclusion: The observed pharmacological activities provide the scientific basis to support traditional claims, as well as exploring some new and promising leads in the management of pain