Effect of Sintering Temperature on Structural and PiezoelectricProperties of PNN-PZT Ceramics

Sintering temperatures affect the structural and piezoelectric properties of PbNi1/3Nb2/3-PbZrO3-PbTiO3 system considerably; therefore the effect has been studied on mechano-chemicallyprocessed powder. This process involves activating mixed oxides of PbO, NiO, Nb2O5, ZrO2 andTiO2, and in the present study, calcination steps at an intermediate temperatures were skippedwhich are usually required in conventional solid state reaction methods and chemical routes.Single-phase formation was confirmed from XRD patterns which shows rhombohedral structureat higher sintering temperature. Investigations of the microstructure indicate almost linear increasein grain size from 0.98 m to 2.56  m when the sintering temperature was varied from 1050 oC to1150 °C. A high value of planar coupling factor (kp) = 67 per cent and piezoelectric charge coefficient(d 33 ~ 750 pm/V; (as determined from strain versus electric field curve at low field) were obtainedfor the ceramic specimens sintered at 1100 °C. The maximum strain was observed ~ 0.21 per centat 40 kV/cm applied field for the sample sintered at 1100 °C for 4 h

Genome-Wide Association Study for Type 2 Diabetes in Indians Identifies a New Susceptibility Locus at 2q21

Indians undergoing socioeconomic and lifestyle transitions will be maximally affected by epidemic of type 2 diabetes (T2D). We conducted a two-stage genome-wide association study of T2D in 12,535 Indians, a less explored but high-risk group. We identified a new type 2 diabetes–associated locus at 2q21, with the lead signal being rs6723108 (odds ratio 1.31; P = 3.32 3 1029 ). Imputation analysis refined the signal to rs998451 (odds ratio 1.56; P = 6.3 3 10212) within TMEM163 that encodes a probable vesicular transporter in nerve terminals. TMEM163 variants also showed association with decreased fasting plasma insulin and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance, indicating a plausible effect through impaired insulin secretion. The 2q21 region also harbors RAB3GAP1 and ACMSD; those are involved in neurologic disorders. Forty-nine of 56 previously reported signals showed consistency in direction with similar effect sizes in Indians and previous studies, and 25 of them were also associated (P , 0.05). Known loci and the newly identified 2q21 locus altogether explained 7.65% variance in the risk of T2D in Indians. Our study suggests that common susceptibility variants for T2D are largely the same across populations, but also reveals a population-specific locus and provides further insights into genetic architecture and etiology of T2D

Magnetic-time model at off-season germination

Effect of static magnetic field on germination of mung beans is described. Seeds of mung beans, were exposed in batches to static magnetic fields of 87 to 226 mT intensity for 100 min. Magnetic time constant – 60.743 Th (Tesla hour) was determined experimentally. High value of magnetic time constant signifies lower effect of magnetic field on germination rate as this germination was carried out at off-season (13°C). Using decay function, germination magnetic constant was calculated. There was a linear increase in germination magnetic constant with increasing intensity of magnetic field. Calculated values of mean germination time, mean germination rate, germination rate coefficient, germination magnetic constant, transition time, water uptake, indicate that the impact of applied static magnetic field improves the germination of mung beans seeds even in off-season

Magnetic-time model at off-season germination

Effect of static magnetic field on germination of mung beans is described. Seeds of mung beans, were exposed in batches to static magnetic fields of 87 to 226 mT intensity for 100 min. Magnetic time constant – 60.743 Th (Tesla hour) was determined experimentally. High value of magnetic time constant signifies lower effect of magnetic field on germination rate as this germination was carried out at off-season (13°C). Using decay function, germination magnetic constant was calculated. There was a linear increase in germination magnetic constant with increasing intensity of magnetic field. Calculated values of mean germination time, mean germination rate, germination rate coefficient, germination magnetic constant, transition time, water uptake, indicate that the impact of applied static magnetic field improves the germination of mung beans seeds even in off-season