Correlation among QPO frequencies and Quiescence-state Duration in Black Hole Candidate GRS 1915+105

We discover a definite correlation between the frequency of the quasi-periodic oscillations (QPO) in quiescence states and the duration of the quiescence state of the transient X-ray source GRS 1915+105. We find that while the QPO frequency can be explained with the oscillation of shocks in accretion flows, the switching of burst to quiescence states (and vice versa) and their duration can be explained by assuming an outflow from the post-shock region. The duration of the quiescence state is inversely related to the QPO-frequency. We derive this relation. We also find the correlation between the observed low ($\sim 0.001-0.01$Hz) and the intermediate (1-10Hz) QPO frequencies. Our analytical solutions are verified by analyzing several days of public-domain data from RXTE.Comment: Latex, 13 pages with 3 figures; Accepted for Publication in Astrophysical Journal Letter

Acceptance of technology by parent fraternity as a means of remote learning for children: An empirical study

The main purpose of this empirical study is to understand how acceptance of technology is prevailing among the parent fraternity that helps them to develop a positive attitude towards using technology as a tool to enhance their ward’s learning process. A survey among 6361 parents (Indian origin) of primary school students (Kindergarten and primary level) regarding their perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use regarding technology-assisted learning for their wards to understand how these factors influence their attitude towards technology for learning in the future was carried out through an online questionnaire.  The result showed that the more parents found the Usage of Technology towards the e-learning process of their wards, the higher they tend to adopt the technology by exhibiting a positive Attitude towards Technology while the perception of Ease of Use of Technology also significantly predicted the perception of Attitude towards Technology.  The favourable Attitude towards Technology is more visible among the parents of students who are of lower levels of study as compared to those who are at a slightly higher level of study.  It is found that the parents of the student from the rural area schools possessed positive Attitudes towards Technology as compared to their counterparts in the urban areas. The outcome of this study is of greater relevance to the schools especially in the lower level classes to help students to harness technology from a young age because the parent fraternity is already in favour of such initiative

Process intensification of anaerobically digested palm oil mill effluent (AAD-POME) treatment using combined chitosan coagulation, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and Fenton’s oxidation

The present study investigates the removal efficiency of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total suspended solids (TSS) of anaerobically digested palm oil mill effluent in batch studies through the following 4 strategies: coagulation by chitosan, addition of ferrous sulphate (FeSO4), chitosan with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and chitosan with Fenton oxidation. The parameters tested were chitosan dosage (500–12,500 mg/L), FeSO4 dosage (500–12,500 mg/L), mixing time (15–60 min), sedimentation time (1–4 h) and initial pH (2–9) and H2O2 (500–7500 mg/L). Coagulation only by using chitosan (2500 mg/L) achieved the maximum COD and TSS removal of 70.22 ± 0.23 and 85.59 ± 0.13 %, respectively. An increase in the TSS removal (98.7 ± 0.06 %) but with a reduction in the COD removal (62.61 ± 2.41 %) was observed when FeSO4 (2500 mg/L) was added along with chitosan (2500 mg/L). Alternatively, an improvement in the COD (82.82 ± 1.71 %) and TSS (89.92 ± 0.48 %) removal efficiencies was observed when chitosan was coupled with H2O2 (500 mg/L). Finally, chitosan (2500 mg/L) integrated with Fenton oxidation (FeSO4 of 2500 mg/L and H2O2 of 500 mg/L) resulted in 100 % TSS and 73.08 ± 4.11 % COD removals. Overall chitosan with H2O2 proved to be the most promising alternative for POME treatment compared to chitosan with Fenton oxidation

Overexpression Analysis of emv2 gene coding for Late Embryogenesis Abundant Protein from Vigna radiata (Wilczek)

Late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins are speculated to protect against water stress deficit in plants. An over expression system for mungbean late embryogenesis abundant protein, emv2 was constructed in a pET29a vector, designated pET-emv2 which is responsible for higher expression under the transcriptional/translational control of T7/lac promoter incorporated in the Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3).Induction protocol was optimized for pET recombinants harboring the target gene. Overexpressed EMV2 protein was purified to homogeneity and the protein profile monitored by SDS-PAGE

Role of benzoic and salicylic acids in the immunization of oil palm seedlings-challenged by Ganoderma boninense

Basal stem rot (BSR) infection of oil palm, caused by Ganoderma boninense, is one of the key constraining components in palm oil production causing considerable economic losses around the world. Although it was reported a century before, till date no effective controller has been identified, the alteration of lignin content in oil palm can control the BSR is one of the hypothesis. Since the degradation of lignin is the rate limiting step in the infection process of BSR disease. Two naturally occurring phenolic compounds such as benzoic acid and salicylic acid are known to play a key role in the plant defence as well as in the lignin synthesis. The goal of this research is to evaluate the effect of these two naturally occurring phenolic compounds against G. boninense. In this study, oil palm seedlings were immunized with various concentrations (1–15 mM) of benzoic acid and salicylic acid, prior to G. boninense inoculation. After challenging the oil palm seedlings with G. boninense, BSR progression along with the changes in defence enzymes (Phenylalanine ammonia lyase, Peroxidase, and Polyphenol oxidase), and the total lignin contents were examined and evaluated. The exogenous application of the phenolic compounds have not only suppressed the BSR infection but also promoted the plant growth significantly (P ≤ 0.01). The disease suppression was due to the increased production of defence enzymes particularly polyphenol oxidase which had increased lignin content in the seedlings. An absolute disease reduction was registered in seedlings treated 10 and 15 mM benzoic acid with a significant (P ≤ 0.01) increment in the production of lignin along with the defence enzymes. Whereas the salicylic acid exhibited an ambivalent behavior, at 1 mM salicylic acid induced the disease by 60% however as the concentration had increased to 5 mM suppression in the BSR was observed. The efficiency of phenolic compounds as an agent of disease reduction is found to be concentration dependent. The outcome of this study has found that benzoic acid at 15 mM concentration is a superior controller for the BSR disease suppression in oil palm. This study would pave the way towards a new management strategy to replace the chemical controls by naturally occurring phenolic compounds to control BSR effectively in oil palm ranches