In vitro clonal propagation of Mucuna pruriens var. utilis and its evaluation of genetic stability through RAPD markers

The Mucuna pruriens var. utilis is an important legume cover crop. Almost all the parts of the plant are reported to contain L-3,4-dihydroxy phenylalanine (L-Dopa). Here we report a rapid and reliable methodfor high fidelity micro-propagation. Auxiliary bud explants from 14-day-old seedlings were cultured on Murashige and Skoog’s (MS) medium supplemented with different concentrations of cytokinins. During the first culture on 3.5 M 6-benzylamino purine (BAP) maximum of 6.70 ± 1.15 shoots with an average shoot-length of 1.07 ± 0.21 cm were produced. The number of shoots increased up to 16.33 ± 0.58 recording average length of 1.16 ± 0.29 cm, when the intact shoots were subjected to re-culturing on the same hormonal medium. The shoots exhibited adequate elongation of 4.00 cm on 2.89 M gibberellic acid (GA3). The elongated shoots produced a maximum of 16.67 ± 2.89 roots on half-strength MS liquid medium supplemented with 16.20 ìM -naphthalene acetic acid (NAA). The plantlets were acclimatized by transferring them first to peat moss: compost (1:1) mixture followed by sand: soil (1:1) mixture, recording 95% survival. The genetic fidelity of the regenerated shoots was confirmed using randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis employing 15 operon primers. This system provides high fidelity micro-propagation system for efficient and rapid micro-propagation of this important greenmanure cover crop with medicinal properties

Synthesis of New Benzocoumaryl Oxadiazolyls as Strong Blue-Green Fluorescent Brighteners

The benzocoumarin-3-ethylcarboxylate 2 on treatment with hydrazine hydrate at room temperature afforded benzocoumarin-3-carbohydrazide 3. The compound 3 served as key intermediate in the synthesis of the title compounds. Thus, benzocoumarin-1,3,4-oxadiazolyls 6a–e were obtained in two ways, i.e. one by direct cyclization of benzocoumarin-3- carbohydrazide 3 with substituted benzoic acids in POCl3 and the other by cyclization of Schiff bases of compounds 5a–e in the presence of bromine/ acetic acid. The structures of the novel benzocoumaryl oxadiazolyls 6a–e were confirmed by spectral analysis. The benzocoumarin-1,3,4-oxadiazolyls 6a–e exhibited strong blue and green fluorescent properties. The Stoke’s shifts range from 43 to 165 nm. The absorption and fluorescence maxima of the benzocoumaryl oxadiazolyls showed good bathochromic shifts.Keywords: Benzocoumarin-3-ethylcarboxylate, benzocoumaryl oxadiazolyls, fluorescent brightener

N-(5-Bromo­pyridin-2-yl)acetamide

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C7H7BrN2O, contains two mol­ecules, in one of which the methyl H atoms are disorderd over two orientations in a 0.57 (3):0.43 (3) ratio. The dihedral angles between the pyridine rings and the acetamide groups are 7.27 (11) and 8.46 (11)°. In the crystal, mol­ecules are linked by N—H⋯O and C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds generating bifurcated R 2 1(5) ring motifs, which in turn lead to [110] chains

Permeation, antifouling and desalination performance of TiO2 nanotube incorporated PSf/CS blend membranes

Polysulfone (PSf) and chitosan (CS) blend membranes were prepared by incorporating titanium dioxide nanotubes (TiO2NT) in different compositions. The proper blending of PSf and CS in the PSf/CS/TiO2 membranes was confirmed by ATR-IR spectroscopy. The influence of nanotubes on morphology of membranes was investigated by Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM). The effect of nanotubes on hydrophilicity of the membranes was studied by water swelling and contact angle measurements. The distribution of TiO2NT on the membrane surface was determined by Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) analysis. The permeation property of PSf/CS/TiO2NT membranes was carried out by measuring the time dependent pure water flux (PWF). Bovine serum albumin (BSA) protein rejection studies were performed to know the antifouling properties. The rheological percolation threshold of PSf/CS/TiO2NT solutions was measured by viscosity studies. The nanotubes incorporated PSf/CS membranes showed enhanced permeation and antifouling properties compared to PSf/CS and nascent PSf ultrafiltration membranes. Membranes prepared well above rheological percolation threshold showed drastic reduction in pore size and acted as nanofiltration (NF) membranes

Performance evaluation and multi-response hybrid optimization of grinding assisted rotary disk ECDM during cutting of Al-6063 SiCp MMC

The Metal Matrix Composites (MMCs) are being used in many applications, including aerospace, shipbuilding, anddefence industries owing to their high strength to weight ratio. However, the machining of these materials is stillchallenging, necessitating advanced machining techniques. The current investigation aimed to analyze the performance ofthe grinding-assisted rotary disc-electrochemical discharge machining (GA-RD-ECDM) process during cutting Al-6063SiCp MMC. Detailed experimentation was performed to study the energy interaction behavior and effect of input processvariables viz. applied voltage, pulse on time, electrolyte concentration, and disc rotation speed on performance measures.The responses selected were taper, overcut (WOC), and Materials Removal Rate (MRR). The experimentation work wasperformed by adopting response surface methodology. Regression models were developed and statistically analyzed throughanalysis of variance (ANOVA). Eventually, the GA-RD-ECDM process was optimized using the VIKOR methodology ofmulti-criteria decision-making by considering accuracy and productivity simultaneously to obtain minimum taper and WOCand maximum MRR. The results of ANOVA revealed that input variables were statistically significant. Applied voltagemost significantly affects the performance of the GA-RD-ECDM process performance. The optimal values of input processvariables obtained by VIKOR method were applied voltage = 100 V, pulse-on time = 3 ms, Electrolyte concentration = 18%wt/vol. and disc rotation speed = 30 rpm. The present work can provide a productive solution for cutting of difficult-to-cutmaterials. Thus, in future, the GA-RD-ECDM process can be investigated for other advanced materials (i.e., glass, polymercomposites and ceramics) for fabrication of microchannels for microfluidic applications

4-(Morpholin-4-yl)-3-(trifluoro­meth­yl)­benzonitrile

In the title benzonitrile compound, C12H11F3N2O, an intra­molecular C—H⋯F hydrogen bond generates an S(7) ring motif. The trifluoro­methyl group is disordered over two orientations with a refined occupancy ratio of 0.549 (16):0.451 (16). The morpholine ring adopts a chair conformation. The benzene ring and mean plane of the morpholine ring make a dihedral angle of 58.04 (10)° with each other. In the crystal, mol­ecules are connected by inter­molecular C—H⋯F and C—H⋯O inter­actions to form R 2 2(8) ring motifs. These inter­actions also link the mol­ecules into chains parallel to the [10] direction

A Comparison of Financial Performance of Islamic and Conventional Banks in Bahrain

The development of service sector is crucial in contributing to the GDP of any nation. The banking system plays a key role in the development of a country. The commercial banking system dominates the financial sector by dealing with the majority of financial transactions of a country. The existence of Islamic and conventional banks has contributed for the development of the economy. Commercial banks in Bahrain consist of interest-based conventional banks and interest-free Islamic banks (based on Islamic shariah). The performance of conventional and non-conventional banks is satisfactory in Bahrain. The present study focuses on the comparative analysis of financial performance of Islamic and conventional banks in terms of cost and income in Bahrain. The study uses financial tools like profitability, liquidity and solvency, commitment to economy and community, efficiency and productivity of both streams of banks.

Preparation and evaluation of heavy metal rejection properties of polysulfone/chitosan, polysulfone/N-succinyl chitosan and polysulfone/N-propylphosphonyl chitosan blend ultrafiltration membranes

Heavy metal rejection properties of chitosan based polysulfone/chitosan (PSf/CS), polysulfonef/N-succinyl chitosan (PSf/NSCS) and polysulfone/N-propylphosphonyl chitosan (PSf/NPPCS) ultrfiltration (UF) membranes were evaluated. The rejection of membranes towards the copper, cadmium and nickel ions was studied during ultrafiltration (UF) by polymer enhanced ultrafiltration (PEUF) processes. The flux change during the UF process and the effect of pH on the rejection were determined. The membrane recycling property was studied during PEUF process by filtering chelated CuSO4 solution. A maximum of 78% of Cu, 73% of Ni and 68% of Cd rejection for M-5 membrane, 75% of Cu, 71% of Ni and 66% of Cd rejection for M-8 membrane and 76% of Cu, 69% of Ni and 66% of Cd rejection for M-2 membrane with reasonably good flux was observed. Further improvement in heavy metal ion rejection was achieved by PEUF process. Membrane M-5 showed a maximum of 98%, 95% and 92% rejection for Cu, Ni and Cd respectively with steady state flux of 117L/m2h. An increase in membrane recycling property after the metal ion rejection was mainly attributed to the hydrophilicity of CS, NSCS and NPPCS

Performance evaluation and multi-response hybrid optimization of grinding assisted rotary disk ECDM during cutting of Al-6063 SiCp MMC

445-458The Metal Matrix Composites (MMCs) are being used in many applications, including aerospace, shipbuilding, and defence industries owing to their high strength to weight ratio. However, the machining of these materials is still challenging, necessitating advanced machining techniques. The current investigation aimed to analyze the performance of the grinding-assisted rotary disc-electrochemical discharge machining (GA-RD-ECDM) process during cutting Al-6063 SiCp MMC. Detailed experimentation was performed to study the energy interaction behavior and effect of input process variables viz. applied voltage, pulse on time, electrolyte concentration, and disc rotation speed on performance measures. The responses selected were taper, overcut (WOC), and Materials Removal Rate (MRR). The experimentation work was performed by adopting response surface methodology. Regression models were developed and statistically analyzed through analysis of variance (ANOVA). Eventually, the GA-RD-ECDM process was optimized using the VIKOR methodology of multi-criteria decision-making by considering accuracy and productivity simultaneously to obtain minimum taper and WOC and maximum MRR. The results of ANOVA revealed that input variables were statistically significant. Applied voltage most significantly affects the performance of the GA-RD-ECDM process performance. The optimal values of input process variables obtained by VIKOR method were applied voltage = 100 V, pulse-on time = 3 ms, Electrolyte concentration = 18% wt/vol. and disc rotation speed = 30 rpm. The present work can provide a productive solution for cutting of difficult-to-cut materials. Thus, in future, the GA-RD-ECDM process can be investigated for other advanced materials (i.e., glass, polymer composites and ceramics) for fabrication of microchannels for microfluidic applications

Performance study of a natural polymer based media for abrasive flow machining

407-413Abrasive flow machining (AFM) is a non traditional finishing process used for finishing parts with predominantly irregular geometry. In AFM, material removal and surface finish takes place by flowing viscoelastic abrasive carrier across the surface to be machined. The media (carrier + abrasive) is the key element in the process because of its ability to precisely abrade the selected areas along its flow path. In this study, an attempt is made to develop a new carrier as an alternative to the existing commercially available media. The newly developed carrier is characterized through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Performance evaluation of the carrier is carried out by considering extrusion pressure, abrasive concentration, viscosity of media, and media flow rate as a process parameters and surface finish improvement and material removal as process responses. The ester based newly developed media is capable of withstanding a temperature to work up to 71°C without changing its characteristics. It is found that the developed carrier is flexible enough to be used in AFM process and performance study reveals that the new polymer based medium yields a good improvement in surface finish as well as material removal. Material removal does not get influenced significantly by the varying media flow rate, but surface finish increases with media flow rate above 796 Pa-s. An operational pressure of 20 bar and abrasive concentration of 50:50 (abrasives: carrier) is observed to be better parameter levels for the conditions attempted in the present study