Simplified Production of Large Prototypes using Visible Slicing

Rapid Prototyping (RP) is a totally automatic generative manufacturing technique based on a “divide-and-conquer” strategy called ‘slicing’. Simple slicing used on 2.5-axis kinematics of the existing RP machines is responsible for the staircase error. Although thinner slices will have less error, the slice thickness has practical limits. Visible Slicing overcomes these limitations. A few visible slices exactly represent the object. Each visible slice can be realized using a 3- axis kinematics machine from two opposite directions. Visible slicing is implemented on Segmented Object Manufacturing (SOM) machine under development. SOM can produce soft large prototypes faster and cheaper with accuracy comparable to that of CNC machining.Mechanical Engineerin

Antimicrobial Activity of Aegle marmelos Against Pathogenic Organism Compared with Control Drug

The aqueous and ethanolic extracts from the leaves of Aegle marmelos traditionally used in Indian system of Medicines were screened against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis by using disc diffusion test technique. Bacillus subtilis exhibit about 22mm inhibition zone were considered resistant. The zone of inhibition of the extract was compared with the standard antibiotics such as Penicillin. The study suggests that the plant is promising development of phytomedicine for antimicrobial properties

The Satellite Luminosity Function of M101 into the Ultra-Faint Dwarf Galaxy Regime

We have obtained deep Hubble Space Telescope (HST) imaging of four faint and ultra-faint dwarf galaxy candidates in the vicinity of M101 - Dw21, Dw22, Dw23 and Dw35, originally discovered by Bennet et al. (2017). Previous distance estimates using the surface brightness fluctuation technique have suggested that these four dwarf candidates are the only remaining viable M101 satellites identified in ground based imaging out to the virial radius of M101 (D~250 kpc). Advanced Camera for Surveys imaging of all four dwarf candidates shows no associated resolved stellar populations, indicating that they are thus background galaxies. We confirm this by generating simulated HST color magnitude diagrams of similar brightness dwarfs at the distance of M101. Our targets would have displayed clear, resolved red giant branches with dozens of stars if they had been associated with M101. With this information, we construct a satellite luminosity function for M101, which is 90% complete to M_V=-7.7 mag and 50% complete to M_V=-7.4 mag, that extends into the ultra-faint dwarf galaxy regime. The M101 system is remarkably poor in satellites in comparison to the Milky Way and M31, with only eight satellites down to an absolute magnitude of M_V=-7.7 mag, compared to the 14 and 26 seen in the Milky Way and M31, respectively. Further observations of Milky Way analogs are needed to understand the halo-to-halo scatter in their faint satellite systems, and connect them with expectations from cosmological simulations.Comment: 9 Pages, 3 Figures, 1 Table, Accepted by ApJ

Investigation on promising progenies of Dragon fruit (Hylocereus spp.)

Dragon fruit (Hylocereus spp.) is an exotic vine cactus, rich in vitamin C and antioxidants, commonly known as ‘pitaya’ is a weather resilient crop. In order to develop superior varieties, a large number of progenies obtained from open pollinated seedling of cvs. Hiryur red, Vietnam pink and Vietnam red were raised and evaluated. To broaden the genetic base with desired traits, seeds of Hirehalli red and Hirehalli white were irradiated with gamma rays (500, 600 and 700 Gy), EMS (2.25, 2.5 and 2.75%) and sodium azide (0.04, 0.05 and 0.06%) and evaluated for horticultural traits. Three elite progenies such as CHESH-D1, CHESH-D2, and CHESH-D3 were obtained from open pollinated seedlings of cvs. Hiryur red, Vietnam red and Vietnam pink, respectively, and one EMS (2.5%) treated mutant i.e. CHESH-DE were selected based on their morphological and yield traits. The selection CHESH-D1 performed superior with highest fruit weight (507.71 g) and yield (39.50 kg/ pole) compared to CHESH-D2 and CHESH-D3. The biochemical characters namely, TSS (15.35 oB), total sugars (5.95 g), reducing sugars (4.91 g) and betalains (21.2 mg BCE) were recorded highest in CHESH-D2, and one EMS (2.5%) treated mutant from cv. Hirehalli red showed better adaptability and dwarfness. These elite progenies are at final stage of performance assessment to be released as variety in India

Maturity determination of red and white pulp dragon fruit

There is a huge potential for dragon fruits grown in India but insufficient information may hamper its production and postharvest handling. The aim of this study was to investigate the right harvest time and maturity indices for red and white pulp dragon fruit. Growth and developmental studies were undertaken using destructive (total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity and TSS: acid ratio) and non-destructive methods (fruit weight, specific gravity, peel colour and heat units). Fruits were collected at seven intervals (7, 14, 21, 26, 31, 36 and 41 days after flowering) to assess the right maturity. All these methods were used to standardize the optimum maturity and right time for the harvest of red and white pulp dragon fruit. Harvesting dragon fruits between 31-36 days after flowering (DAF) was found ideal for optimum maturity and quality. Both red and white pulp fruits harvested at 31 DAF showed better quality in terms of physic-chemical and sensory attributes

Nanotechnology – an emerging technology for use in agricultural and food research

Abstract Nanotechnology, the science of building atomic, molecular or macro-molecular sized materials, devices, structures or systems is finding applications in different fields. The technology is presently utilized by the chemical, health care, biotech, and manufacturing industries. In the pharmaceuticals, drugs with nano-sized particles are highly efficient with minimal side effects. Micro-scale mechanical and electro mechanical devices are determined to be highly sensitive, durable, and less expensive. Nanotechnology has potential applications in agricultural and food engineering such as exploring biological life processes, monitoring plant and animal health, analyzing and determining product qualities, developing novel materials from agricultural products, and reducing environmental pollutions. This short article reviews the present applications of nanotechnology in other industries and explores its potential applications in agricultural and food industries

Temperature induced biochemical changes and antioxidant activity in mature avocado (persea americana Mill.) fruit during storage

The present study was carried out to determine the effect of different storage temperatures (5oC, 9oC, 12oC and room temperature (26-32oC) on biochemical and antioxidant properties of two avocado accessions (CHES-HA-I/I and CHES-HA-VII/I). The result showed that titratable acidity, total soluble solids, and protein content decreased, while, fat content increased with the advancement of storage. The higher antioxidant activity was recorded in fruits stored at 9oC in both the accessions. At 5oC, fruits exhibited signs of chilling injury and lower antioxidant activity. Significantly higher phenolic content was found in fruits stored at room temperature. It was observed that both antioxidants and total phenolic content of avocado fruits increased irrespective of storage temperatures. It is, therefore, concluded that unlike other tropical fruits, as the ripening progressed, avocado fruits exhibited major change in biochemical and antioxidant activity

Targeting and Diffusion of Groundnut improved cultivars in Tamil Nadu state of India

India is a major grower and producer of oilseeds as well as a major importer of vegetable oils, ranks fourth among the countries in oilseed economy, next to USA, China and Brazil spending USD 10 billion in 2012-13. Nearly 14 million farmers are involved in oilseed production, mostly in arid and semi-arid regions of the country, whose capacity to adopt modern technology are constrained by poor resource base. This is coupled with aberration in monsoon and market economy presents a formidable challenge to make oilseed production sustainable in the long run. In order to curtail the growing vegetable oil import bills and increase the production and productivity of oilseeds, the Technology Mission on Oilseeds (TMO) was initiated in 1986 with the following objectives; (i) self-reliance in edible oils (ii) reduce imports almost to zero (iii) raise oilseeds production to 18 million tonnes (mt) by 1989-90 and 26 mt of oilseeds and produce 8 mt of vegetable oil by 2000 AD. However, the TMO had unable to create a sustained growth in area under groundnut and the trend was reversed. Before the initiation of TMO (TE 1986-87), the area, production and productivity of groundnut was 7.08 million ha (m ha), 5.81 mt and 795 kg per ha of which, almost 85 per cent as rainfed crop. Implementation of TMO created marked improvement in the first decade and shifted the area, production and productivity to 7.80 ha, 7.84 mt and 993 kg per acre in TE 1995-96 which recorded an increase of 11, 35 and 21 per cent, respectively. Though the irrigated cropped area has increased to 19 per cent, the country production decreased to 6.33 mt from lesser area (5.33 m ha) by shifting its productivity to 1.3 t/ha in 2011-12..

An axiomatic approach to the non-linear theory of generalized functions and consistency of Laplace transforms

We offer an axiomatic definition of a differential algebra of generalized functions over an algebraically closed non-Archimedean field. This algebra is of Colombeau type in the sense that it contains a copy of the space of Schwartz distributions. We study the uniqueness of the objects we define and the consistency of our axioms. Next, we identify an inconsistency in the conventional Laplace transform theory. As an application we offer a free of contradictions alternative in the framework of our algebra of generalized functions. The article is aimed at mathematicians, physicists and engineers who are interested in the non-linear theory of generalized functions, but who are not necessarily familiar with the original Colombeau theory. We assume, however, some basic familiarity with the Schwartz theory of distributions.Comment: 23 page