ASPEN plus modelling of air-steam gasification of biomass with sorbent enabled CO2 capture

The work deals with the modelling and simulation of carbon dioxide capture in air-steam gasification of saw dust using ASPEN Plus process simulator. The proposed quasi-steady state model incorporates pyrolysis, tar cracking and char conversion using existing experimental data. Prediction accuracy of the developed model is validated by comparing with available experimental results. Effects of CaO addition in air-steam gasification are analysed through key operating parameters such as gasification temperature, equivalence ratio, steam to biomass ratio and gasification efficiency. Maximum H2 mole fraction of 31.17% is obtained at a temperature of 900 K, equivalence ratio of 0.25, and steam to biomass ratio and sorbent to biomass ratio of unity. The H2 and CO2 mole fractions are found to be increased and decreased by 28.10% and 42.6%, respectively, when compared with the corresponding non- sorbent case

Ethnobotanical studies of weed plants in rice field ecosystem

Tamilnadu is one of the leading states in rice production in India. Weeds are widely found and are tremendously grown everywhere on paddy fields. Ethnobotany have gained importance during recent years. Based on this, an ethnobotanical exploration has been carried to find out the medicinal values of weed plants growing in the paddy fields of Annamalai Nagar, Cuddalore district. The study reveals the importance of the weed plants associated with paddy fields, a total of 40 species of weeds belonging to 22 families has been recorded in meeting the multiple requirements of human beings

Thermodynamic structure of the Atmospheric Boundary Layer over the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean during pre-INDOEX and INDOEX-FFP campaigns

Spatial and temporal variability of the Marine Atmospheric Boundary Layer (MABL) height for the Indian Ocean Experiment (INDOEX) study period are examined using the data collected through Cross-chained LORAN (Long-Range Aid to Navigation) Atmospheric Sounding System (CLASS) launchings during the Northern Hemispheric winter monsoon period. This paper reports the results of the analyses of the data collected during the pre-INDOEX (1997) and the INDOEX-First Field Phase (FFP; 1998) in the latitude range 14°N to 20°S over the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. Mixed layer heights are derived from thermodynamic profiles and they indicated the variability of heights ranging from 400m to 1100m during daytime depending upon the location. Mixed layer heights over the Indian Ocean are slightly higher during the INDOEX-FFP than the pre-INDOEX due to anomalous conditions prevailing during the INDOEX-FFP. The trade wind inversion height varied from 2.3km to 4.5km during the pre-INDOEX and from 0.4km to 2.5km during the INDOEX-FFP. Elevated plumes of polluted air (lofted aerosol plumes) above the marine boundary layer are observed from thermodynamic profiles of the lower troposphere during the INDOEX-FFP. These elevated plumes are examined using 5-day back trajectory analysis and show that one group of air mass travelled a long way from Saudi Arabia and Iran/Iraq through India before reaching the location of measurement, while the other air mass originates from India and the Bay of Bengal

Electron Microscopy of Multi-walled Carbon Nanotubesfor Display Devices Application

The opportunity of creating and tailoring unprecedented and beautifully symmetric 3-D structures haspropelled the science of carbon nanotubes to become one of the highly promising areas in the field ofnanotechnology. The unique properties of carbon nanotubes have promoted research in the fabrication ofdevices composed of carbon nanotubes and in other applications. Characterisation tools are crucial in the studyof these emerging materials to evaluate their full potential in applications and to comprehend their basicproperties. The aim of this study was electron microscopy characterisation of the carbon nanotubes synthesisedto fabricate display devices. Both thermal chemical vapour deposition (CVD) and plasma enhanced chemicalvapour deposition routes were used to synthesise patterned and aligned carbon nanotubes. Several batchesof CNTs were produced by varying the process parameters such as growth temperature, gas ratio, durationof growth, catalyst condition, etc. Characterisation of these CNTs have been done using scanning electronmicroscope, transmission electron microscope, high resolution transmission electron microscope, and electronenergy loss spectrum. Structure, uniformity, chemistry, diameter, length, number of walls of the multi-wallednanotubes were characterised using various electron microscopes, which finally lead to the production of thedisplay devices using CNTs.Defence Science Journal, 2008, 58(5), pp.655-663, DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/dsj.58.168

SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION AND ANTIMICROBIAL STUDIES OF SOME LANTHANIDE (III) COMPLEXES WITH A TRIDENTATE ONO DONOR SCHIFF BASE LIGAND

Some new lanthanide(III) complexes- La(III), Ce(III), Pr(III) and Nd(III) have been synthesised from Schiff base ligand 4-{[(2-hydroxyphenyl)imino]methyl}-1,5-dimethyl-2-phenyl-1,2-dihydro-3H-pyrazol-3-one (L1) whose precursors are 4-antipyrine carboxaldehyde and 2-aminophenol. The metal to ligand ratio (1:2) and the general formula [Ln(L1)2(NO3)2]NO3 were established by elemental analysis, conductivity measurements, spectral techniques such as IR, UV-Visible, 1H NMR as well as magnetic susceptibility measurements. L1 behave as a neutral tridentate (ONO) ligand and Ln(III) ion display coordination number eight in all complexes. The Schiff base and complexes were screened for their in vitro antimicrobial activities against selected human pathogenic bacteria by agar disc diffusion method. Most of the synthesized complexes were found to be more potent bactericides than the corresponding free ligand

Signals of selection in the mitogenome provide insights into adaptation mechanisms in heterogeneous habitats in a widely distributed pelagic fish

Oceans are vast, dynamic, and complex ecosystems characterized by fluctuations in environmental parameters like sea surface temperature (SST), salinity, oxygen availability, and productivity. Environmental variability acts as the driver of organismal evolution and speciation as organisms strive to cope with the challenges. We investigated the evolutionary consequences of heterogeneous environmental conditions on the mitogenome of a widely distributed small pelagic fish of Indian ocean, Indian oil sardine, Sardinella longiceps. Sardines were collected from different eco-regions of the Indian Ocean and selection patterns analyzed in coding and non-coding regions. Signals of diversifying selection were observed in key functional regions involved in OXPHOS indicating OXPHOS gene regulation as the critical factor to meet enhanced energetic demands. A characteristic control region with 38–40 bp tandem repeat units under strong selective pressure as evidenced by sequence conservation and low free energy values was also observed. These changes were prevalent in fishes from the South Eastern Arabian Sea (SEAS) followed by the Northern Arabian Sea (NAS) and rare in Bay of Bengal (BoB) populations. Fishes belonging to SEAS exhibited accelerated substitution rate mainly due to the selective pressures to survive in a highly variable oceanic environment characterized by seasonal hypoxia, variable SST, and food availability

Evaluation of polyhalite on growth, yield attributes and yield of blackgram (Vigna mungo L.)

Potassium is involved in a diverse range of processes within plants that are needed for their growth, yield and better quality. The polyhalite as a hydrated evaporate mineral that can be used directly as a source of potassic fertilizer. However, research on polyhalite's appropriateness and effectiveness, the present investigation aimed to evaluate the effect of polyhalite on growth, yield attributes, and yield of blackgram variety ADT 5 at Chinnakandiankuppam village, Vriddhachalam, Cuddalore district, Tamil Nadu, during 2021. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design consisting of ten treatments viz., T1 (absolute control), T2 (-K), T3 (12.5 kg K2O ha-1 as muriate of potash (MOP)), T4 (25 kg K2O ha-1as MOP), T5 (37.5 kg K2O ha-1 as MOP), T6 (50 kg K2O ha-1 as MOP), T7 (12.5 kg K2O ha-1 as polyhalite),  T8 (25 kg K2O ha-1 as polyhalite), T9 (37.5 kg K2O ha-1 as polyhalite), T10 (50 kg K2O ha-1 as polyhalite). The experiment revealed that the application of 37.5 kg K2O ha-1 as polyhalite (T9) significantly (5%) enhanced the growth attributes (plant height (38.7 cm), number of branches plant-1 (12.97), leaf area index (2.13), number of nodules plant-1 (18.76) and dry matter production (1972 hg ha-1), yield attributes (pod length (8.21 cm), number of pods plant-1 (20.05), number of seeds pod-1 (7.14) and test weight (3.53 g)) and grain yield (1439 kg ha-1), haulm yield (1876 kg ha-1) of blackgram. Thus the study would be helpful to farmers for yield maximization of blackgram through polyhalite as potassic fertilizer.    

Toxic Metals Enrichment in the Surficial Sediments of a Eutrophic Tropical Estuary (Cochin Backwaters, Southwest Coast of India)

Concentrations and distributions of trace metals (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in surficial sediments of the Cochin backwaters were studied during both monsoon and pre-monsoon periods. Spatial variations were in accordance with textural charaterstics and organic matter content. A principal component analysis distinguished three zones with different metal accumulation capacity: (i) highest levels in north estuary, (ii) moderate levels in central zone, and (iii) lowest levels in southern part. Trace metal enrichments are mainly due to anthropogenic contribution of industrial, domestic, and agricultural effluents, whose effect is enhanced by settling of metals due to organic flocculation and inorganic precipitation associated with salinity changes. Enrichments factors using Fe as a normalizer showed that metal contamination was the product of anthropogenic activities. An assessment of degree of pollution-categorized sediments as moderately polluted with Cu and Pb, moderately-to-heavily polluted with Zn, and heavily-to-extremely polluted with Cd. Concentrations at many sites largely exceed NOAA ERL (e.g., Cu, Cr, and Pb) or ERM (e.g., Cd, Ni, and Zn). This means that adverse effects for benthic organisms are possible or even highly probable

Good Health at Low Cost 25 years on: lessons for the future of health systems strengthening.

In 1985, the Rockefeller Foundation published Good health at low cost to discuss why some countries or regions achieve better health and social outcomes than do others at a similar level of income and to show the role of political will and socially progressive policies. 25 years on, the Good Health at Low Cost project revisited these places but looked anew at Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Kyrgyzstan, Thailand, and the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, which have all either achieved substantial improvements in health or access to services or implemented innovative health policies relative to their neighbours. A series of comparative case studies (2009-11) looked at how and why each region accomplished these changes. Attributes of success included good governance and political commitment, effective bureaucracies that preserve institutional memory and can learn from experience, and the ability to innovate and adapt to resource limitations. Furthermore, the capacity to respond to population needs and build resilience into health systems in the face of political unrest, economic crises, and natural disasters was important. Transport infrastructure, female empowerment, and education also played a part. Health systems are complex and no simple recipe exists for success. Yet in the countries and regions studied, progress has been assisted by institutional stability, with continuity of reforms despite political and economic turmoil, learning lessons from experience, seizing windows of opportunity, and ensuring sensitivity to context. These experiences show that improvements in health can still be achieved in countries with relatively few resources, though strategic investment is necessary to address new challenges such as complex chronic diseases and growing population expectations