Indigenous Development of a Track Etch Detector

Solid state nuclear track detectors (SSNTDs) have been recognised by IAEA as a standard method for estimation of radon, thoron and their daughter products in the environment. The detectors that are commonly used in environmental monitoring are generally made from cellulose nitrate (LR-115) and polycarbonates (CR-39). In view of the non-availability of these detectors in India, need was felt to develop them indigenously. Accordingly, an attempt has been made to develop cellulose nitrate films for their use in SSNTD. Cellulose nitrate with a particular nitrogen content was used for preparing these films by a cast method. This films were annealed, evaluated and then compared with imported films. The background track density and alpha track density after exposure to 150 nCi of /sup 241/Am source at 2.5 cm distance were found to be comparable with those of imported films

MACHINE LEARNING OF TWITTER FEEDS AND WOMEN SAFETY IN INDIAN CITIES

Aim: The paper focuses on the role of Twitter feeds in finding safety aspects of women and girls in Indian cities using machine learning algorithms. Results: The data set obtained through Twitter about women and girls' safety status in Indian cities is analyzed using machine learning tools. Conclusion: Machine learning algorithms help organize and analyze Twitter data, including millions of daily tweets and messages. The same can be extended to other social media platforms. HIGHLIGHTS: A simple machine learning algorithm will help analyze tweet feeds concerning girls' safety

UV SPECTROPHOTOMETRIC METHOD DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION FOR THE QUANTITATIVE ESTIMATION OF SOLIFENACIN SUCCINATE IN TABLETS

Objective: To develop a simple and cheap UV spectrophotometric method for the quantitative estimation of Solifenacin succinate (5mg) in tablets and validate as per ICH guidelines. Methods: The optimized method uses a solvent 100% triethylammonium phosphate buffer (pH 2.5) for the estimation of assay of Solifenacin succinate in tablets at a detection wavelength of 215 nm. Results: The developed method resulted in Solifenacin succinate exhibiting linearity in the range 5-15μg/ml. The precision is exemplified by relative standard deviation of 1.27%. Percentage Mean recovery was found to be in the range of 98â€102, during accuracy studies. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantitiation (LOQ) were found to be 1.106mg/ml and 3.35mg/ml respectively. Conclusion: A simple and a cheap UV spectrophotometric method was developed and validated for the quantitative estimation of Solifenacin succinate in tablets as per ICH guidelines and hence it can be used for the routine analysis in various pharmaceutical industries

UV SPECTROPHOTOMETRIC METHOD DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION FOR THE QUANTITATIVE ESTIMATION OF ACAMPROSATE CALCIUM IN TABLETS

Objective: To develop a rapid UV spectrophotometric method for the quantitative estimation of Acamprosate calcium (333mg) in tablets and validate as per ICH guidelines. Methods: The optimized method uses a diluent 100% Triethylammonium phosphate buffer (pH 4.0) for the estimation of assay of Acamprosate calcium at a detection wavelength of 208 nm. Results: The developed method resulted in Acamprosate calcium exhibiting linearity in the range 30-90μg/ml. The precision is exemplified by relative standard deviation of 1.5%. Percentage Mean recovery was found to be in the range of 98â€102, during accuracy studies. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantitiation (LOQ) were found to be 99ng/ml, and 300ng/ml respectively. Conclusion: A rapid UV spectrophotometric method was developed and validated for the quantitative estimation of Acamprosate calcium in tablets as per ICH guidelines and hence it can be used for the routine analysis in various pharmaceutical industries

Design and Implementation of C-Band Frequency Synthesizer Using LMX2592 IC

The paper presents the design scheme and implementation of a PLL-based-frequency synthesizer using LMX2592 IC. The frequency synthesizer have vital role in the development of up-converter and down-converter equipments. Therefore, on the RT-Duroid RO4350 substrate, a low phase noise and stable carrier generator is designed and implemented. Graphical User Interface (GUI) & LAN based programming is developed to easily change the synthesizer frequency. The control system analysis using root locus and bode plot is presented for system stability. The experimental results representing the performance parameters, like frequency range, frequency step size, output power, phase noise, carrier stability, harmonics, and spurious, etc., are also presented in the paper. The analysis of spurious and phase noise performance at near integer boundary conditions are done by changing loop bandwidth and phase margin.&nbsp

Male-sterility inducing cytoplasmic effects on combining ability in sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]

An investigation was carried out to assess the efficiency of A2 CMS system in comparison to the widely used A1 cytoplasm in sorghum for use in hybrid breeding programs at International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, Patancheru, Andhra Pradesh, India during 2002 and 2003 post rainy seasons. Significant cytoplasm effects on gca effects of A-lines and on mean performance and sca effects of hybrids were detected in only some of the nuclear genetic backgrounds and where detected, the magnitude of effects varied with the trait and was minimal to have any practical significance for any of the traits. The mean days to 50% flowering, plant height and grain yield of A2 cytoplasm-based hybrids were comparable with those of widely used A1 cytoplasm-based hybrids. The implications of these results are discussed in relation to opportunities for broadening cytoplasm as well as nuclear genetic base of sorghum hybrid parents

Genetic improvement of sorghum in the semi-arid tropics

Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] – a major cereal of the world after wheat, rice, maize and barley, is a staple food for millions of the poorest and most foodinsecure people in the Semi-Arid Tropics (SAT) of Africa and Asia. Being a C4 species with higher photosynthetic ability, and greater nitrogen and water-use effi ciency, sorghum is genetically suited to hot and dry agro-ecologies where it is diffi cult to grow other food crops. These are also the areas subjected to frequent droughts. In many of these agro-ecologies, sorghum is truly a dual-purpose crop; both grain and stover are highly valued products. In Africa, sorghum is predominantly grown for food purposes, while in USA, Australia, China, etc, it is grown for livestock feed and animal fodder purposes. Unlike in other parts of the world, sorghum is grown both in rainy and postrainy seasons in India. While the rainy season sorghum grain is used both for human consumption and livestock feed, postrainy season produce is used primarily for human consumption in India. Thus sorghum is the key for the sustenance of human and livestock populations in SAT areas of the world

Designing a sorghum genetic improvement program

For ages farmers have exercised selection through saving and carrying forward the grain from healthy plants as seed for sowing the next crop. Plant breeders further augmented/enhanced the crop productivity, thus mediating directed evolution. The art of plant breeding lies in the breeder’s skills in observing plants with unique economic, environmental, nutritional and aesthetic characteristics. In this article, we briefl y describe various factors that need to be considered in launching a crop improvement program with emphasis on sorghum

M 35-1 derived sorghum varieties for cultivation during the postrainy season

The variety M 35-1 dominates the postrainy season sorghum areas in India. Several varieties were developed at ICRISAT incorporating genes from M 35-1.Participatory plant breeding was carried out to select for farmer-preferred traits. The resultant 23 varieties were tested in comparison to M 35-1 in randomized complete block design for two consecutive years. Two varieties, SP 18008 and SP 18034, were promising and significantly outyielded the check M 35-1. SP 18008 and SP 18034 had a plant height of 2.7 m and 2.0 m, grain yield of 620 and 610 g m-2, flowering time 76 to 82 days and 100-grainweight of 3.9 to 4.0 g

Community Seed system: Production and supply of sweet sorghum seeds

Under the NAIP project activities, it was aimed to develop a community seed system (community seed program) for multiplication of farmer selected sweet sorghum cultivars seeds to enhance their availability and benefit the project farmers. As there are not many seed companies producing seed of sweet sorghum, a community seed program was developed to address sustainability issue of regular seed supply to farmer selected varieties after completion of the project. Hence, a community-based seed system model was developed and implemented in the project area