Studies on triple junction electric field in ferroelectric cathodes

To investigate the effect of grid thickness and dielectric constant on the ferroelectric cathode triple junction electric field distribution in a two-dimensional structure, simulation has been carried out using finite element method (FEM) code ANSYS. Triple junction electric field plays a major role in the emission of electrons from a ferroelectric cathode and it approaches towards its limiting value even if the dielectric constant of the ferroelectric material is increased considerably. It is important to increase the triple junction electric field without increasing the applied field to reduce the mechanical stresses in the ferroelectric material. A dielectric layer (εr<100) has been introduced between the ferroelectric material and the grid to increase the triple junction electric field. FEM simulation results showed that the triple junction electric field is more than 48 times the applied field in this case. This structure not only enhances the triple junction electric field but it also changes the E|| and E┴ ratio (β) favorably. Effects of dielectric constant and the thickness of the dielectric layer on triple junction electric field have been studied

Inorganic phosphorus fractions and phosphorus availability in long term fertilizer cum manurial trials under coconut cultivation

Phosphorus is one of the major nutrients required for coconut production. The information about the fate of native and applied phosphorus in soil is essential for better management of the nutrient. The changes on inorganic P fractions and P availability in soil after 43 years of coconut cultivation were studied from a long term fertilizer cum manurial experiment at CPCRI, Kasaragod. There were 6 treatments viz. tillage with organic and inorganic fertilizer, tillage with inorganic fertilizer, inorganic fertilizers with basin forking, tillage alone, herbicide application without tillage and fertilizer and the control. Soil samples were taken at two depths (0-30 and 30-60 cm) from coconut basin for analysis. Phosphorus was fractionated into Easily Soluble P (ES-P), Aluminium P (AI-P), Iron P (Fe-P), Calcium P (Ca-P) and Reductant Soluble P (RS-P) through sequential extraction. The dominant phosphorus fraction in the coconut basin at 0-30 cm depth was Ca-P and the trend is as follows: Ca-P> Fe-P> RS-P>Al-P>ES-P. However, at 30-60 cm depth, Fe-P became the dominant fraction and the trend is Fe-P>Ca-P>RS-P>Al-P>ES-P. Long-term phosphorus fertilization would facilitate the accumulation of soil Ca-P, and thus improve soil P availability. In the interspaces, Fe-P was the dominating fraction in both the depths followed by Ca-P and RS-P. The difference in P fractions in fertilized and non-fertilized plots clearly showed that the fertilized plots have high content of all the inorganic phosphorus fractions in both the depths. Application of mineral P along with forking in basin showed a high concentration of all the inorganic P fractions compared to other fertilizer applied treatments

Prospects of coconut cultivation in Tamil Nadu – A SWOT Analysis

Coconut is an important horticultural crop of the state of Tamil Nadu spreading across an area of 4.44 lakh hectares. Coconut is a victim of the catastrophes of climate change events like high temperature, excessive or deficit rainfall and increased atmospheric CO2 concentration. Coconut plantations in the state are hit by several pests and diseases, some of which are lethal, fatal and are debilitating in nature. An analysis of Strength, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) for the prospects of coconut cultivation in the state revealed that edaphic and climatic factors, less labour requirement compared to other field crops of the state and access to technologies remain the great strength, while tropical cyclones hitting coastal districts of the state, failure of monsoon, wide fluctuations in copra price, lack of producer-centric market intelligence are the striking weakness for coconut cultivation. Improved varieties and hybrids with desired traits, establishment of processing industries, international cargo terminals to tap export market and crop insurance scheme in the event of climatic aberrations, remain the major opportunities while declining soil fertility, debilitating pests and dreadful diseases and poor scientific management owing to the fragmented land holdings are the major threats of coconut cultivation in the state of Tamil Nadu

ANALYSIS OF EFFECT OF AMLA RASA (SOUR FOOD) IN DIFFERENT CONCENTRATIONS ON MAMSA DHATU (MUSCLE TISSUE)

It is said that one should consume Shad-Rasayuktha Ahara for better nourishment. The nutritive value of the 6 Rasas (taste) has been explained in the classics of Ayurveda along with their harmful effects when used in excess. When Amla Rasa is taken in excess it produces Dantaharsha (Morbid sensation of teeth), Trishna (thirst) etc.Objectives - The present study is designed by administering Amla Rasa Pradhana Drvya given in different concentration 10% and 15% and effect on the Mamsa Dhatu is assessed by certain blood parameters.Material and Methods -Wistar strain albino rats of either sex, weighing of 200-300 g. Obtained from S.D.M Centre for Research in Ayurveda, Udupi, Karnataka. 5Groups were taken and Group 1 is Control, Group-2 is 15% Chincha, Group-3 is 15% Vrukshamla, Group-4 is 10% Chincha, Group-5 is 10% Vrukshamla which receives drug and laboratory food for 28days, next day blood was collected by supra-orbital puncture with the help of micro capillary tubes under mild ether anesthesia.Results - There was increase in the Total Protein, Serum Albumin and serum creatinine levels and decrease in Serum globulin, Serum Urea level and Body weight.Conclusion – the study suggests that there is catabolic action of the Amla Rasa on the Mamsa Dhatu and anabolic act action on serum protein especially at the level of liver, so there will be a loss of muscle tissue which suggests Mamsa Vidhahyati action

The concept of Happiness in Ayurveda

The quest for happiness is something that has enthralled every human since time immemorial. Researchers belonging to different fields along with ancient spiritual scholars have strived to arrive at a pathway for happiness. But since happiness involves different dimensions of itself, the interpretations on happiness have also been varied and different. Ayurveda is a science that was designed to maintain the health of healthy people and to cure the maladies of the unhealthy people. Happiness is an important facet of health and hence is given an important place in Ayurveda. The Ancient Ayurvedic literature has explained the concept of happiness under various terminologies like Sukha, Harsha etc. In the present research work all the fundamental texts of Ayurveda were screened thoroughly in order to compile the information on concept of happiness in Ayurveda. This was used to draw various interpretations on the science of happiness. The present article is written in order to envisage this concept of happiness in Ayurveda. The article will try to throw light on the usefulness of happiness in health, role of happiness on Dosha, Dhatu Mala and other physiological processes. The article also aims to suggest ways to achieve happy life with the help of fundamental principles of Ayurveda

Performance of black pepper in coconut based high density multi-species cropping system under different nutrient managements

Coconut based high density multi-species cropping system (HDMSCS) is recommended to obtain maximum income and better utilization of resources. The crops grown under HDMSCS include fruits, vegetables, spices etc. Black pepper (Piper nigrum L.), an important spice crop, is generally a component  under coconut based cropping systems. In the present study, the performance of black pepper under coconut based HDMSCS involving banana, nutmeg, cinnamon, and other annuals viz., turmeric, ginger and elephant foot yam as intercrops, was evaluated, in terms of yield and quality of black pepper. The observations, recorded for four years (2009-10 to 2012-13) under three different nutrient management practices, indicated no significant difference in yield and quality parameters of black pepper. The pooled data of four years indicated a mean pepper yield of 2.4 kg vine-1, and quality parameters viz., per cent of oil, oleoresin, piperine and bulk density (g L-1) were 2.3, 9.8, 3.1 and 500.7, respectively. Under different nutrient management practices, the yield of both black pepper and coconut increased by 166 and 9 per cent, respectively, compared to the pre-treatment period (2005-07). The present study indicated that there was no reduction in yield of coconut when black pepper was grown in the basin and depending upon the availability of resources, farmers can follow the nutrient management practices

Antidiabetic Indian Plants: A Good Source of Potent Amylase Inhibitors

Diabetes is known as a multifactorial disease. The treatment of diabetes (Type II) is complicated due to the inherent patho-physiological factors related to this disease. One of the complications of diabetes is post-prandial hyperglycemia (PPHG). Glucosidase inhibitors, particularly α-amylase inhibitors are a class of compounds that helps in managing PPHG. Six ethno-botanically known plants having antidiabetic property namely, Azadirachta indica Adr. Juss.; Murraya koenigii (L.) Sprengel; Ocimum tenuflorum (L.) (syn: Sanctum); Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels (syn: Eugenia jambolana); Linum usitatissimum (L.) and Bougainvillea spectabilis were tested for their ability to inhibit glucosidase activity. The chloroform, methanol and aqueous extracts were prepared sequentially from either leaves or seeds of these plants. It was observed that the chloroform extract of O. tenuflorum; B. spectabilis; M. koenigii and S. cumini have significant α-amylase inhibitory property. Plants extracts were further tested against murine pancreatic, liver and small intestinal crude enzyme preparations for glucosidase inhibitory activity. The three extracts of O. tenuflorum and chloroform extract of M. koenigi showed good inhibition of murine pancreatic and intestinal glucosidases as compared with acarbose, a known glucosidase inhibitor

An exploration of the pedagogies employed to integrate knowledge in work-integrated learning

This article describes a three‐sector, national research project that investigated the integration aspect of work‐integrated learning (WIL). The context for this study is three sectors of New Zealand higher education: business and management, sport, and science and engineering, and a cohort of higher educational institutions that offer WIL/cooperative education in variety of ways. The aims of this study were to investigate the pedagogical approaches in WIL programs that are currently used by WIL practitioners in terms of learning, and the integration of academic‐workplace learning. The research constituted a series of collective case studies, and there were two main data sources — interviews with three stakeholder groups (namely employers, students, and co‐op practitioners), and analyses of relevant documentation (e.g., course/paper outlines, assignments on reflective practice, portfolio of learning, etc.). The research findings suggest that there is no consistent mechanism by which placement coordinators, off‐campus supervisors, or mentors seek to employ or develop pedagogies to foster learning and the integration of knowledge. Learning, it seems, occurs by means of legitimate peripheral participation with off‐campus learning occurring as a result of students working alongside professionals in their area via an apprenticeship model of learning. There is no evidence of explicit attempts to integrate on‐ and off‐campus learning, although all parties felt this would and should occur. However, integration is implicitly or indirectly fostered by a variety of means such as the use of reflective journals