Pachytene analysis in Oryza. IV. Chromosome morphology of O. australiensis, Domin., O. glaberrima, Steud. and O. stapfii, Rosch.

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Ameliorative Effect of Ginger on Blood Glucose Levels and Cardiac TCA Cycle Enzymes Activity in STZ Induced Diabetic Rat

This study aimed to investigate the effects of ginger administration on altered blood glucose levels, cytosolic and mitochondrial enzymes (TCA cycle enzymes) activity in streptozotocin-induced diabetes rats. The study divided Wistar strain rats into five groups: normal control, ginger treated, diabetic control, diabetic plus ginger treated, and diabetic plus glibenclamide treated groups. The diabetic group had significantly elevated blood glucose levels, which were significantly lowered by ginger administration. The cytosolic enzyme G6PDH activity was significantly (P<0.001) decreased along with a significant increase in the LDH activity in diabetic rats heart tissue. The activities of SDH, MDH, GDH in the heart tissue of diabetic rats were significantly decreased, but the daily oral treatment of ginger to diabetic rats for thirty days reversed the above changes in a significant (P<0.001) manner. The study demonstrated that an ethanolic extract of ginger could lower blood glucose levels, improve enzyme activities and body weight in diabetic rats. This suggests that ginger extracts could be used as a cardio-protective supplement to reverse diabetic-induced complications

Effects of low and high temperature plasma nitriding on electrochemical corrosion of steel

This study concerns plasma nitriding of tool steel at different temperatures and its effects on corrosion resistance. Inside the nitriding reactor steel samples were placed on the sample holder after metallographic polishing and then the vacuum chamber was evacuated to a pressure of 0.5 Pa. At a lower temperature of 450 C and the higher temperature of 550 C nitriding was performed for a fixed duration of 10 h. All the nitrided and the bare steel samples studied under X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopic analysis/energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Iron nitride (FexN, x = 2–3, 4) peaks were revealed in the nitrided steels after XRD analyses. EDS revealed the increased amount of nitrogen in the nitrided sample treated at 550 C. For the assessment of corrosion resistance of these steel samples potentiodynamic polarization tests were performed in 3.5% NaCl. On comparison, it was found that the steel nitrided at higher temperature is more effective in enhancing the corrosion resistance

Some studies on mathematical modeling and dynamic stress analysis of a variable compression ratio diesel engine crankshaft

The objective of the present work is to investigate the induced stress and deformation of a crank shaft. For this purpose, Variable Compression Ratio (VCR) engine is tested at 16.5 compression ratio. Peak pressures were recorded at various crank angles. A Matlab code is generated for dynamic analysis. For structural analysis and factor of safety, a three dimensional model crank shaft was developed using solid works. Finite element analysis of AISI E4340 Forged steel and Aluminum alloy 7076-T6 materials are carried by using analysis software ANSYS. The obtained results are equivalent Von-Mises stress, total deformation and factor of safety at different crank angles for the two materials are analyzed. It is concluded that Aluminum alloy exhibits better results than forged steel

Chemical ordering in As-Se glasses: X-ray absorption edge and XPES studies

X-ray absorption edge and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic studies of As-Se glasses seem to support a chemical ordering model

Identification of the high-temperature superconducting phase in the Y-Ba-Cu-O system as the perovskite YBa<SUB>2</SUB>Cu<SUB>3</SUB>O<SUB>7&#177;&#948;</SUB>

The oxide responsible for high-temperature superconductivity (onset ~100 K, zero resistance above liquid N2 temperature) is found to be YBa2Cu3O7&#177;&#948;

Elevated Temperature Plasma Nitriding of CrMoV Tool Steel for the Enhancement of Hardness and Wear Resistance

Elevated temperature plasma nitriding of Cr-Mo-V based tool steel was performed by varying the treatment time to enhance hardness and wear resistance. Steel samples after metallographic polishing were placed on the conducting substrate holder in the nitriding reactor and evacuated to 0.5 Pa pressure. The sample holder was then negatively biased at 250 V to accelerate the ions toward the surface of the samples. A gas mixture of N2 and H2 was then passed into the vacuum chamber to generate the plasma. After plasma generation nitriding was performed at variable temperatures 500oC and 550oC for 6 and 10 hrs. Then X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscope/Electron Dispersive Spectroscopic (SEM/EDS) studies were followed to understand the structural modifications. XRD analysis predicted the presence of iron nitrides whereas SEM/EDS had shown the presence of N availability from the surface to the core of the steels. Following the structural characterization hardness and wear resistance were measured by using Vicker’s microhardness tester and ball-on-plate method respectively. It was found that the hardness, case depth, and wear resistance of the steel were significantly enhanced mainly due to nitrogen solid solnution and nitride formation. Thus, it has been proved that a longer time or higher temperature of nitriding may be beneficial for such improvement

Public sector restructuring and regional development: the impact of compulsory competitive tendering in the UK

This paper contributes to the analysis of contemporary public sector restructuring in the UK through an evaluation of the impact of the introduction of compulsory competitive tendering (CCT) for the provision of local public services. Public services play an important stabilizing role in regional economic development but the introduction of CCT has undermined that role. Public service workers have suVered deteriorating levels of pay and conditions of service, and the capacity of local authorities to act to support local economic development has been reduced. Thus the introduction of CCT has undermined the contribution of local public services to the maintenance of interregional economic stability and to regional development

In-orbit Performance of UVIT on ASTROSAT

We present the in-orbit performance and the first results from the ultra-violet Imaging telescope (UVIT) on ASTROSAT. UVIT consists of two identical 38cm coaligned telescopes, one for the FUV channel (130-180nm) and the other for the NUV (200-300nm) and VIS (320-550nm) channels, with a field of view of 28 $arcmin$. The FUV and the NUV detectors are operated in the high gain photon counting mode whereas the VIS detector is operated in the low gain integration mode. The FUV and NUV channels have filters and gratings, whereas the VIS channel has filters. The ASTROSAT was launched on 28th September 2015. The performance verification of UVIT was carried out after the opening of the UVIT doors on 30th November 2015, till the end of March 2016 within the allotted time of 50 days for calibration. All the on-board systems were found to be working satisfactorily. During the PV phase, the UVIT observed several calibration sources to characterise the instrument and a few objects to demonstrate the capability of the UVIT. The resolution of the UVIT was found to be about 1.4 - 1.7 $arcsec$ in the FUV and NUV. The sensitivity in various filters were calibrated using standard stars (white dwarfs), to estimate the zero-point magnitudes as well as the flux conversion factor. The gratings were also calibrated to estimate their resolution as well as effective area. The sensitivity of the filters were found to be reduced up to 15\% with respect to the ground calibrations. The sensitivity variation is monitored on a monthly basis. UVIT is all set to roll out science results with its imaging capability with good resolution and large field of view, capability to sample the UV spectral region using different filters and capability to perform variability studies in the UV.Comment: 10 pages, To appear in SPIE conference proceedings, SPIE conference paper, 201

Exploited and potential resources of tunas of Lakshadweep

Oceanic species of tunas such as skipjack (Katsuwonus pelamis) and yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) constitute the major tuna resources taken from the Lakshadweep waters. They are being exploited from these islands by pole and line fishery. The paper detailed about the potential of tuna resources of Lakshadweep including the Strategies for future development