Excitation energy transfer from dye molecules to doped graphene

Recently, we have reported theoretical studies (J. Chem. Phys. 129, 054703, 2008 and J. Chem. Phys. 130, 086101, 2009) on the rate of energy transfer from an electronically excited molecule to graphene. It was found that graphene is a very efficient quencher of the electronically excited states and that the rate $\propto$ $(distance)^{-4}$. The process was found to be effective up to $30\;nm$ which is well beyond the traditional FRET limit. In this report, we study the transfer of an amount of energy $\hbar \Omega$ from a dye molecule to doped graphene. We find a crossover of the distance dependence of the rate from $(distance)^{-4}$ to exponential as the Fermi level is increasingly shifted into the conduction band, with the crossover occurring at a shift of the Fermi level by an amount $\hbar \Omega/2$.Comment: This paper was submitted to J. Chem. Phys. on 20/05/201

Aahara as Aushadha - Reviving the concept of Aushadha Siddha Yavagu

The current trend in Ayurveda practice is more medicinal approach than wholesome one. The importance of Aahara (dietary aspect) has been compromised to a great extent owing to the convenience of patient as well as the ignorance of the physician. To bring back the wholesome practice into vogue, there is a need for developing techniques to keep-up with the fast paced modern life yet conserve the classical foundations. Through this study we try to introduce the concept of ‘Instant Aushadha Siddha Yavagu‘, and how it can be made. The sample was prepared by adopting classical methods of Yavagu preparation, along with simultaneous use of certain modern techniques of drying in hot air oven. The prepared product served the main intention of reducing the efforts at the receiving end; without compromising on the quality of product. Thus it can be concluded that further researches can be carried out in this direction to bring out such products for benefits of the society. As this field is relatively unexplored there is a wide scope for exploration

Neural connectivity in syntactic movement processing

Linguistic theory suggests non-canonical sentences subvert the dominant agent-verb-theme order in English via displacement of sentence constituents to argument (NP-movement) or non-argument positions (wh-movement). Both processes have been associated with the left inferior frontal gyrus and posterior superior temporal gyrus, but differences in neural activity and connectivity between movement types have not been investigated. In the current study, functional magnetic resonance imaging data were acquired from 21 adult participants during an auditory sentence-picture verification task using passive and active sentences contrasted to isolate NP-movement, and object- and subject-cleft sentences contrasted to isolate wh-movement. Then, functional magnetic resonance imaging data from regions common to both movement types were entered into a dynamic causal modeling analysis to examine effective connectivity for wh-movement and NP-movement. Results showed greater left inferior frontal gyrus activation for Wh > NP-movement, but no activation for NP > Wh-movement. Both types of movement elicited activity in the opercular part of the left inferior frontal gyrus, left posterior superior temporal gyrus, and left medial superior frontal gyrus. The dynamic causal modeling analyses indicated that neither movement type significantly modulated the connection from the left inferior frontal gyrus to the left posterior superior temporal gyrus, nor vice-versa, suggesting no connectivity differences between wh- and NP-movement. These findings support the idea that increased complexity of wh-structures, compared to sentences with NP-movement, requires greater engagement of cognitive resources via increased neural activity in the left inferior frontal gyrus, but both movement types engage similar neural networks.This work was supported by the NIH-NIDCD, Clinical Research Center Grant, P50DC012283 (PI: CT), and the Graduate Research Grant and School of Communication Graduate Ignition Grant from Northwestern University (awarded to EE). (P50DC012283 - NIH-NIDCD, Clinical Research Center Grant; Graduate Research Grant and School of Communication Graduate Ignition Grant from Northwestern University)Published versio

A Framework for Efficient Routing in MANET using Index Routing Tables-based Algorithms

Conventional network routing protocols rely on predefined numerical network unique node ID or group identifier for packet delivery, independent of semantic applications. This compels incorporation of resource/service discovery approaches in the design itself, at higher layers of network, causing additional overhead. This overhead, though tolerable in high speed wired networks, significantly restricts the performance in the infrastructure-less wireless ad hoc networks expending their limited battery resources, which are already consumed due to assigning unique identifiers to the naturally anonymous and high mobile nodes. This study proposes a single routing approach which facilitates descriptive and semantically-rich identification of network’s resources/services. This fusion of the discovery processes of the resources and the path based on their similarity in a single phase significantly reduces traffic load and latency of communication considering the generality too. Further, a framework capable of exploiting application-specific semantics of messages, adaptable to diverse traffic patterns is proposed. Analytical results amply illustrate the scalability and efficacy of the proposed method

Resonance energy transfer from a fluorescent dye molecule to plasmon and electron-hole excitations of a metal nanoparticle

We study the distance dependence of the rate of electronic excitation energy transfer from a dye molecule to a metal nanoparticle. Using the spherical jellium model, we evaluate the rates corresponding to the excitation of l = 1, 2, and 3 modes of the nanoparticle. Our calculation takes into account both the electron-hole pair and the plasmon excitations of the nanoparticle. The rate follows conventional R^-6 dependence at large distances while small deviations from this behavior are observed at shorter distances. Within the framework of the jellium model, it is not possible to attribute the experimentally observed d^-4 dependence of the rate to energy transfer to plasmons or e-h pair excitations.Comment: 4 figure

“Building from bottom” a success story

Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) is a local government committed to provide basic infrastructure facilities including entertainment facilities to the people of the city. RMC is very well known for managing the city by using private sector participation as well as introduction of innovative mechanisms in management to serve people efficiently. City has prepared different plans for improving services and to nullify the gap between services and demands. The sole responsibility of Solid Waste Management (SWM) in the city lies with the Soild Wate Management department of Rajkot Muncipal Corporation (RMC)

Determinants of Fisherwomens’ Economic Status in Fisheries

India’s vast coastline provides food, stability, and income-producing opportunities for many of India’s economically disadvantaged sections of the population. Fisheries in India account for 2.5 per cent of the gross domestic product and generate powerful income and employment opportunities for many of the country’s rural poor. Women, who constitute approximately half of India’s population, play a vital role in the operation of the fisheries and their continuing growth as a component of the agriculture sector of the economy. The contributions of the fisherwomen penetrate every aspect of postharvest handling, preservation, processing, and marketing of seafood products, and provide an integral link between producers and consumers. The study was conducted on a sample of 50 fisherwomen drawn from the 2 coastal districts of Tamilnadu namely, Kancheepuram and Chennai. The findings revealed that, most of the fisherwomen had a high level of livelihood index (Score of < 50), and also had a high level of aspiration (Score <13). The step wise regression analysis revealed that the variables influencing the livelihood index of fisherwomen, in order of importance, were annual level of savings and annual level of debt. The annual level of expenditure and annual level of savings had a positive and significant influence on the level of aspiration of fisherwomen

Awareness of farmers about social forestry programme - an analysis

A study was conducted to assess the awareness level of farmers on various components of Social forestry Programme, implemented by the Social Forestry Department in Ke rala State, India. It could be inferred/rom the study that the awareness level on /arm/oreslry lVas very high. On the other hand the awareness level on coastal area plantations and fodder plantations was relatively lesser. Variables such as education, material possession, media participation, contact with extension agency and economic motivation had a positive relationship with the awarelIess level of marginal farmers whereas variables like age, occupation, social participation and risk orientation had a negative influence on awareness. It was also observed that exceptfor education and risk orientation, all the other variables had a positive relationship with the awareness level of small farmers