Screening of certain Ayurvedic plants extracts against E. turcicum

The use of chemicals against pathogens is environmentally dangerous, so use of natural inhibitors for disease management is needed. In this work we screen botanical extracts from ayurvedic plants for their antifungal properties against economically important plant fungal pathogen. As a test fungal pathogen, we select E. turcicum, a potent fungal pathogen responsible for Northern leaf corn blight of Maize. This fungal pathogen was challenged by the leaf extract prepared from certain Ayurvedic plants and these observations have shown a promising future in biocontrol of fungus by using such environmentally friendly
antifungal agents

MEMS micro-contact printing engines

This thesis investigates micro-contact printing (µCP) engines using micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS). Such engines are self-contained and do not require further optical alignment and precision manipulation equipment. Hence they provide a low-cost and accessible method of multilevel surface patterning with sub-micron resolution. Applications include the field of biotechnology where the placement of biological ligands at well controlled locations on substrates is often required for biological assays, cell studies and manipulation, or for the fabrication of biosensors. A miniaturised silicon µCP engine is designed and fabricated using a wafer-scale MEMS fabrication process and single level and bi-level µCP are successfully demonstrated. The performance of the engine is fully characterised and two actuation modes, mechanical and electrostatic, are investigated. In addition, a novel method of integrating the stamp material into the MEMS process flow by spray coating is reported. A second µCP engine formed by wafer-scale replica moulding of a polymer is developed to further drive down cost and complexity. This system carries six complementary patterns and allows six-level µCP with a layer-to-layer accuracy of 10 µm over a 5 mm x 5 mm area without the use of external aligning equipment. This is the first such report of aligned multilevel µCP. Lastly, the integration of the replica moulded engine with a hydraulic drive for controlled actuation is investigated. This approach is promising and proof of concept has been provided for single-level patterning

Evaluation Metrics for e-Government System and Services

Many e-Government services till date have been created based on the existing services and own understandings, rather than based on citizen's need and interests. Very little data is available about local government officials and citizen's want and need. The proposed study will analyze the use of IT and e-Governance practices, develop & document the conceptual model of e-Govt, define components, component attributes, and the component relationships for each model. The model will be based on the citizen's viewpoint which is expected to be quite different from a model based on a government agency's viewpoint

Planning assistance for the 30/20 GHz program, volume 3

The three basic experiment categories and consolidated experiments proposed by members of the Carrier Working Group are defined by category and by carrier. The three experiment categories are: (1) Possible Service (PS); (2) Possible Service and Technology (PSAT); and (3) Possible Technology (PT). Under Task 9 Western Union provided review, recommendations and critique of the NASA generated Statement of Work (SOW) defining the technical requirements governing design, launch and operation of the 30/20 GHz experimental systems

Planning assistance for the 30/20 GHz program, volume 1

Functional requirements for the 30/20 GHz communication system, planning assistance for the 30/20 GHz program, and a review of specified conceptual designs and recommendations are provided

Water-mediated variability in the structure of relaxed-state haemoglobin

The crystal structure of high-salt horse methaemoglobin has been determined at environmental relative humidities (r.h.) of 88, 79, 75 and 66%. The molecule is in the R state in the native and the r.h. 88% crystals. At r.h. 79%, the water content of the crystal is reduced and the molecule appears to move towards the R2 state. The crystals undergo a water-mediated transformation involving a doubling of one of the unit-cell parameters and an increase in water content when the environmental humidity is further reduced to r.h. 75%. The water content is now similar to that in the native crystals and the molecules are in the R state. The crystal structure at r.h. 66% is similar, but not identical, to that at r.h. 75%, but the solvent content is substantially reduced and the molecules have a quaternary structure that is in between those corresponding to the R and R2 states. Thus, variation in hydration leads to variation in the quaternary structure. Furthermore, partial dehydration appears to shift the structure from the R state to the R2 state. This observation is in agreement with the earlier conclusion that the changes in protein structure that accompany partial dehydration are similar to those that occur during protein action

Applications of health information exchange information to public health practice

Increased information availability, timeliness, and comprehensiveness through health information exchange (HIE) can support public health practice. The potential benefits to disease monitoring, disaster response, and other public health activities served as an important justification for the US’ investments in HIE. After several years of HIE implementation and funding, we sought to determine if any of the anticipated benefits of exchange participation were accruing to state and local public health practitioners participating in five different exchanges. Using qualitative interviews and template analyses, we identified public health efforts and activities that were improved by participation in HIE. HIE supported public health activities consistent with expectations in the literature. However, no single department realized all the potential benefits of HIE identified. These findings suggest ways to improve HIE usage in public health

Genetic Analysis of Some Morphological Traits in Egyptian Clover (\u3cem\u3eTrifolium alexandrinum\u3c/em\u3e L.)

Trifolium alexandrinum, commonly known as Berseem or Egyptian clover (2n=2x=16) is an important winter forage legume in India, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt and Mediterranean region. It is characterized by three ecotypes viz; Mescavi, Fahli and Saidi. Amongst these, Mescavi type is most popular. In India it is cultivated in about 2 million hectare area. The major impediment in genetic improvement of berseem is the lack of appreciable genetic variability (Verma and Mishra, 1995; Roy et al., 2004; Malaviya et al., 2005). Although limited, variability for desirable traits at intraspecific (T. alexandrinum var Fahli and var Saidi) has been reported, considerable variability exists at interspecific level. Affinity of T. alexandrinum was tested with different wild Trifolium species (Malaviya et al., 2005) and was successfully hybridized with T. apertum for transfer of desirable traits such as late maturity and root rot resistance (Malaviya et al., 2004). In the segregating population of the cross, novel morphological traits such as black seed coat colour were also observed (Malaviya et al., 2012). T. alexandrinum var Fahli is single cut type and has several desirable characteristics like self compatibility (even not requiring tripping), good plant height, better seed yield, apical branching, etc. For incorporation of desirable genes in the improved genepool of beseem, the study of inheritance pattern of traits under consideration is a prerequisite. Therefore, present study was undertaken to study the inheritance pattern of pentafoliate leaf, dark green colour of leaf, black seed coat colour and regeneration capacity

Emission pricing and CO2 compensation in the EU. The optimal compensation to the power-intensive and trade-exposed industries for increased electricity prices

Unilateral CO2 emission reduction can lead to carbon leakage, such as relocation of power-intensive and trade-exposed industries. In the EU emission trading system, these industries are also subjected to higher cost of electricity due to emission pricing in this sector. As a result, the industries in the EU receive free emission allowances to mitigate carbon leakage as well as CO2 compensation due to higher electricity cost. This paper examines the welfare effects of supplementing free allowances with a CO2 compensation on the power-intensive and trade-exposed goods. The analytical results suggest that introducing CO2 compensation has a regional and global welfare improving effect under certain plausible conditions. Numerical simulations in the context of the EU ETS support the analytical findings if the emission reduction target is stringent enough