Review of Solar Energy Measurement System

The aim of this proposed work is to measure solar cell parameters through multiple sensor data acquisition. In this project, a solar panel is used that keeps monitoring the sunlight. Here different parameters of the solar panel like light intensity, voltage, current and the temperature are monitored and are sent to a remote PC using a RF 2.4 GHz serial link. Microcontroller used here is from PIC16F8 family

FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF PROBIOTIC AND PREBIOTIC LOADED PELLETS BY EXTRUSION AND SPHERONIZATION FOR IMPROVED STORAGE VIABILITY

Objective: The present study aims to prepare stains-loaded enteric-coated pellets by extrusion and spheronization technique for acidic environment protection and improve the viability of the strains during storage. Methods: Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus plantarum strains are proven to have various therapeutic and prophylactic uses in human beings, but low stability during storage and transit to site of action has limited their action. Pellets were prepared by incorporating probiotic strains D1-D9 (L. casei) and E1-E9 (L. plantarum) by further enteric-coating the pellets, which were evaluated for particle size, loss on drying, friability, micromeritic properties, viability, disintegration, survivability in acidic and bile juices, and stability studies for 90 d respectively. Results: The method employed for preparing the pellets showed good % yields with a particle rage of 1400-850 µm. LoD values were in the range of 3.07±0.30% to 2.13±0.11%; all the prepared pellets showed good flow properties and friability in an acceptable range. SEM images revealed that enteric-coated pellets had smooth and uniformly surfaces. The viability results ranged from 8.78±0.31 to 8.53±0.15 log CFU/g and 8.47±0.15 to 8.85±0.22 log CFU/g for both L. casei and L. plantarum enteric coated pellets, respectively. The Disintegration time for the pellets was<15 min in all the formulations. The enteric-coated probiotic pellets provided adequate protection against the acidic environment. Studies of survivability in simulated gastrointestinal conditions demonstrated that formulations D7 and E7 showed higher viability among the formulations at the end of 3 h. The stability studies showed that the formulations with a higher concentration of Inulin and pectin combination proved better viability of L. casei and L. plantarum strains in the formulation during 90 d of stability study. Conclusion: This study suggested that using extrusion and spheronization techniques can be employed to prepare pellets with prebiotics (Inulin and Pectin) which can be utilized to formulate probiotic dosage forms with improved viability in physiological conditions and real-time storage condition

RECENT TRENDS IN MANAGEMENT OF KERATOCONJUNCTIVITIS SICCA (DRY EYE DISEASE)

At the air-water interface, the tear film lipid layer (TFLL), a combination of lipids and proteins plays an important role in surface tension of the tear and is necessary for the physiological hydration of the ocular surface and maintenance of ocular homeostasis. Alteration in lacrimal fluid rheology, differences in lipid constitution or down regulation of particular tear proteins are found in maximum types of ocular surface disease including dry eye disease (DED). Dry eye is a disorder of the tear film due to tear deficiency or excessive tear evaporation, which causes damage to the interpalpebral ocular surface and is associated with symptoms of discomfort. It results in changes on the ocular surface epithelia causing reduced tear quantity and surface sensitivity which leads to inflammation reactions. Managing this inflammation is very helpful in dry eye disease patients. In this article we revise the current understanding of tear film properties, ocular surface and review the effectiveness of topically applied tear supplements, thermo sensitive atelocollagen punctal plug, subtrasal ultrasonic transducers, novel liposome based gelling tear formation and insulin based ophthalmic delivery systems which help in restoring the healthy tear film

The force within: Recommendations via gravitational attraction between items

Recommendation systems rely on various definitions of similarities. These definitions while having numerous design factors in different domains help identify and recommend relevant content. For example, similarity between users, or items, are measured based on, but not limited to, explicit feedback such as ratings, thumbs up; or/and implicit feedback such as clicks, views etc; or/and based on composition of item such as tags, metadata etc. In this paper, we explore a similarity model while very intuitive to find similar items using a very common natural law of attraction between bodies, that is gravitational law. We show how the two attributes, relative mass and distance between the bodies, of gravitation law can be interpreted for an effective personalized recommendations; in both spatial and non-spatial domains. Finally, we illustrate the use of distance and mass in a non-spatial domain and we exhibit the accuracy in recommendations against popular baselines

Microstructural Characteristics of Accumulative Roll Bonded Ni-Al Based Metal Intermetallic Laminate Composite

The present investigation is an attempt to develop metal-intermetallic laminate composites based on Ni-Al system. In this study, Ni and Al foils (460 and 90 μm respectively) have been used for the development of Ni-Al laminate using accumulative roll bonding technique at 773 K. The laminate composites were then subjected to controlled annealing at 773 K, 823 K and 873 K for 1, 2 and 4 h to affect reaction at the Ni/Al interface leading to intermetallic compound formation. The accumulative roll bonded laminates showed good bonding of layers. Annealing treatment at 773 K led to slow formation of reaction product but maintained the interface integrity. Annealing at 873 K led to de-lamination of individual layers prior to the completion of reaction. A qualitative compositional analysis at the interfaces reflected the formation of Al-Ni copmpounds, and also a gradual compositional gradient across the interface. This process seems to be of promise so far as the continuous production of large scale metal-intermetallic laminate composites are concerned. A further study is underway to circumvent the delamination problems and property evaluation

Evaluation and identification of resistance to powdery mildew in Indian wheat varieties under artificially created epiphytotic

Wheat production is globally weighed down by several biotic factors of which rusts and powdery mildew are the most important. Powdery mildew, caused by Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici, is becoming a disease of major importance in the North Western Plains Zone and Northern Hills Zone of the country. In the present context ofclimate variability, diseases like powdery mildew can assume greater importance in wheat breeding programs. Importance of basic studies on powdery mildew is the need of hour. A set of 370 Indian bread wheat, durum, dicoccum and triticale varieties were screened using mixture of natural occurring pathotypes from four locations(viz., Karnal, Ludhiana, Dhaulakuan and Yamunanagar) under polyhouse conditions. Data were recorded on the severity of infection based on 0-9 scale. Out of 370, only 23 varieties (Amrut, DDK 1025, DWR 1006, DWR 195, GW 1139, HD 4672, HD 4530, HD 2278, HD 1981, DDK 1001, HI 8627, Jay, TL 2942, DT 46, K 8020, DDK 1029, K 9107, K 816, Lok 1, MACS 6145, DDK 1009, NP 111 and NP 200) had shown immune reaction (0) whereas 150, 83 and 114 varieties have shown resistance (1-3), moderately susceptible (4-6) and highly susceptible (>6) response respectively against powdery mildew. Data indicated that there is an urgent need to broaden the genetic base of wheat by identifying and introgressing new sources of powdery mildew resistance. With limited sources of PM resistance available, above identified genotypes can be further used and characterized for resistance breeding programs in India

Use of bottom ash as part replacement of sand for making concrete blocks

Coal-based thermal power plants all over the world facing serious problems of handling and disposal of the ash produced. The productive use of coal Bottom Ash (BA) is the best way to alleviate the problems associated with its disposal. This paper covers the studies on laboratory scale evaluation of vibro compaction concrete blocks using BA I, BA II & BA III collected from three different location of Coal Fed Thermal Power Station. In the present investigation laboratory investigation have been carried to utilize BA as part replacement of sand in concrete. This study cover manufacture of concrete blocks without flyash & with BA using for making solid block as per specification laid down in IS:2185 using vibro compaction machine. Three different sources of BA were used in concrete mix each @ 30%, 40% & 50% replacement by weight of sand were adopted in making concrete blocks. Comparative study of compressive strength of concrete at different age of curing, wet density, drying shrinkage is reported in this study. Wet density is found to be lower in blocks containing BA & dry shrinkage values are found well within the limits of specifications. Concrete Blocks having BA @ 30% by weight of sand are found suitable for use in the manufacture of concrete blocks

Analysis of genetic diversity among tropical and subtropical maize inbred lines using SSR markers

Genetic diversity of 24 tropical and subtropical elite maize lines was assessed at molecular level employ-ing 42 Simple Sequence Repeats. A total of 107 alleles with an average of 2.55 alleles per locus were detected. The Polymorphism Information Content (PIC) values of 42 SSR loci ranged from 0.08 (UMC1428) to 0.68 (UMC2189 and UMC2332) with the overall calculated PIC mean value of 0.44, whereas the Discrimination Rate (DR) value for SSR markers ranged from 0.09 (UMC2089) to 0.42 (UMC1311) with the average DR value of 0.26. Pair-wise genet-ic similarity (GS) values, calculated by Jaccard’s coefficients, ranged between 0.25 and 0.78 with a mean genetic similarity of 0.63, indicating the existence of adequate amount of genetic divergence among the genotypes selected for the study. The cluster dendrogram separated all the inbred lines into six main clusters with sub clusters based on genetic similarity. Factorial analysis also confirmed a nearly similar pattern for grouping these inbred lines as pre-sented by cluster dendrogram. In this study, SSR markers were found to be powerful tool for detection of genetic diversity in maize inbred lines. These findings could provide information for effective utilization of these materials for development of maize hybrids as well as for genetic improvement of inbred lines

QUALITY IMPROVEMENT OF POULTRY SLAUGHTER HOUSE BYPRODUCTS BASED PET FOOD WITH INCORPORATION OF FIBER-RICH VEGETABLE POWDER

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of fiber-rich vegetables on the quality characteristics of poultry slaughterhouse byproducts incorporated in pet food. Poultry byproducts incorporated in pet food were treated with different fiber-rich vegetables, viz. carrot and French beans powder separately at three suitable concentrations i.e. 5%, 10%, and 15% replacing freshly grated cruciferous vegetables and baked in a hot air oven at 1500 C for 20-25 minutes. Carrot powder @10% (CR) and French bean powder @10% (FB) were found optimum based on the palatability test. Finally, CR and FB were compared with control (BP) pet food for various physico-chemical properties and palatability tests. The pH values of BP and CR were significantly (p<0.05) higher than FB, whereas the baking yield values of CR were significantly (p<0.05) higher than BP and FB. Moisture, ash content, and water activity values of CR and FB were significantly (p<0.05) higher, and protein, as well as fat content, were significantly (p<0.05) lower than BP. There were no significant differences in springiness, cohesiveness, and resilience values between control and treatments. Hardness values of BP were significantly (p<0.05) higher whereas gumminess and chewiness values were significantly (p<0.05) lower than CR and FB. There was no significant difference in any textural parameter between CR and FB. Lightness and yellowness values of CR were significantly (p<0.05) higher whereas redness values of FB were significantly (p<0.05) lower than BP and other treatments. The scores of all palatability attributes of FB were significantly (p<0.05) lower than BP and CR, whereas no significant difference was observed between BP and CR. Therefore, Poultry byproducts incorporated with pet food with 10% carrot powder were selected as the best treatment