Scientometric profile of solar energy research in India

An analysis of the Indian literature output scanned in Web of Science during 1999–2011 on solar energy research indicates that the growth of the literature. The area of solar fuels and Material sciences multidisciplinary has received maximum attention. Publication output of literature by different countries collaboration follows the trend in basic sciences with USA and South Korea being the major producers with India. The contribution of Indian Institutions and Global Citation Scores, h-index, g-index and gh-index has been analysed

A Gendered Analysis of Fisherfolk’s Livelihood Adaptation and Coping Responses in the Face of a Seasonal Fishing Ban in Tamil Nadu & Puducherry, India

This study investigates how people respond to economic stresses incurred as a result of natural resource regulations. Previous research has demonstrated that in some cases, men and women adapt differently to livelihood stresses. We argue that looking only at an individual’s sex is insufficient for understanding why they adapt the way they do. Instead, using the framework of intersectionality, we examine individuals’ adaptation strategies and coping responses influenced not only by their sex but also their power and class. Using the case of a closed fishing season in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, India we employ interviews, seasonal activities calendars, and surveys to identify key variables that influence an individual’s likelihood of employing reactive strategies that may threaten their longer term livelihood sustainability. We show that if we categorize individuals only by sex, then women are more likely to resort to reactive coping than men. However, this sex divide in reactive coping is driven by particular subsets of people who also lack power and/or capital. Furthermore, we find that power and class lead to different outcomes for men and women, with networked power most helpful to women above a certain financial threshold. This study highlights the necessity of examining gender and livelihood adaptations beyond the male versus female dichotomy: considering intersecting and locally relevant measures of power, class, and sex are pivotal in understanding why people adapt and cope the way they do. This understanding of adaptation options may also have implications for resource management decisions that do not force individuals to choose between long-term livelihood resilience and response to immediate stresses

Thermostable &#945-amylase production by Bacillus firmus CAS 7 using potato peel as a substrate

Thermostable alkaline α-amylase producing bacterium Bacillus firmus CAS 7 strain isolated from marine sediment of Parangipettai coast grew maximally in both shake flasks. Potato peel was found to be a superior substrate for the production of α-amylase at 35°C, pH 7.5 and 1.0% of substrate concentrations. Under optimal conditions, B. firmus produced 676 U/ml of -amylase which was optimally active at 50°C and pH 9.0.Key words: α-Amylase, potato peel substrate, Bacillus firmus CAS 7, thermostable, marine

A fisher-friendly mobile application for Nagapattinam

The fishing communities of Nagapattinam, in Tamil Nadu, India, are now using a mobile app which is helping them solve issues related to seafaring safety, low incomes and timeliness in reaching fish shoals. The Fisher Friend Mobile Application has been introduced to the community using a participatory approach, helping ensure the usefulness and accuracy of the technology

Internet of Things and Machine Learning Applications for Smart Precision Agriculture

Agriculture forms the major part of our Indian economy. In the current world, agriculture and irrigation are the essential and foremost sectors. It is a mandatory need to apply information and communication technology in our agricultural industries to aid agriculturalists and farmers to improve vice all stages of crop cultivation and post-harvest. It helps to enhance the country’s G.D.P. Agriculture needs to be assisted by modern automation to produce the maximum yield. The recent development in technology has a significant impact on agriculture. The evolutions of Machine Learning (ML) and the Internet of Things (IoT) have supported researchers to implement this automation in agriculture to support farmers. ML allows farmers to improve yield make use of effective land utilisation, the fruitfulness of the soil, level of water, mineral insufficiencies control pest, trim development and horticulture. Application of remote sensors like temperature, humidity, soil moisture, water level sensors and pH value will provide an idea to on active farming, which will show accuracy as well as practical agriculture to deal with challenges in the field. This advancement could empower agricultural management systems to handle farm data in an orchestrated manner and increase the agribusiness by formulating effective strategies. This paper highlights contribute to an overview of the modern technologies deployed to agriculture and suggests an outline of the current and potential applications, and discusses the challenges and possible solutions and implementations. Besides, it elucidates the problems, specific potential solutions, and future directions for the agriculture sector using Machine Learning and the Internet of things

Robust estimation of bacterial cell count from optical density

Optical density (OD) is widely used to estimate the density of cells in liquid culture, but cannot be compared between instruments without a standardized calibration protocol and is challenging to relate to actual cell count. We address this with an interlaboratory study comparing three simple, low-cost, and highly accessible OD calibration protocols across 244 laboratories, applied to eight strains of constitutive GFP-expressing E. coli. Based on our results, we recommend calibrating OD to estimated cell count using serial dilution of silica microspheres, which produces highly precise calibration (95.5% of residuals <1.2-fold), is easily assessed for quality control, also assesses instrument effective linear range, and can be combined with fluorescence calibration to obtain units of Molecules of Equivalent Fluorescein (MEFL) per cell, allowing direct comparison and data fusion with flow cytometry measurements: in our study, fluorescence per cell measurements showed only a 1.07-fold mean difference between plate reader and flow cytometry data

Effectiveness of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) on pain and behavioural responses among primigravid mothers during first stage of labour, at labour ward, Government Rajaji Hospital, Madurai

TITLE: Effectiveness of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) on pain and behavioural responses among primigravid mothers during first stage of labour, at labour ward, Government Rajaji Hospital. OBJECTIVES: 1. To assess the level of pain and behavioural responses. 2. To evaluate the effectiveness of TENS on pain and behavioural responses. 3. To associate the level of pain and behavioural responses among primigravid mothers and their socio demographic and obstetrical variable. 4. To correlate the level of pain and behavioural responses. HYPOTHESES: There is a statistically significant difference between pretest and post test level of pain and behavioural responses. There is a statistically significant difference between post test level of pain and behavioural responses. There is a statistically significant association between the level of pain and behavioural responses among primigravid mothers and their socio demographic and obstetrical variables. There is a statistically significant correlation between the level of pain and behavioural responses. METHODOLOGY: True experimental – pretest post test control group design used. 60 subjects selected by Simple random sampling. Intervention was given four times a day. RESULTS: Karl Pearson coefficient of correlation r =0.46 at p ≤0.001 level of significance. CONCLUSION: TENS is a simple, non-invasive, nonpharmacological, alternative method used in labour ward

ESTIMATION OF TOTAL FLAVONOID, PHENOLIC CONTENT, AND FREE RADICAL SCAVENGING POTENTIAL OF GLYCYRRHIZA GLABRA ROOT EXTRACT

 Objective: The present study attempts to estimate the total flavonoid and phenolic content and to evaluate the free radical scavenging activity of the roots of Glycyrrhiza glabra Leguminosae family.Methods: The various extracts, namely, petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, aqueous, and methanol of G. glabra root were evaluated by 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH), hydroxyl radicals, superoxide, 2,2'-azino-bis-3-ethyl benzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS), and non-radicals such as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and nitric oxide (NO) and assays. Total flavonoid and phenol contents were estimated as per the standard procedure.Results: The effect of the methanolic extract of G. glabra root was found to be more in scavenging the free radicals such as DPPH, hydroxyl, H2O2, superoxide, NO, and ABTS when compared to other extracts. The presence of flavonoids and phenol in the plant is responsible for the free radical scavenging effects.Conclusion: This in vitro assessment of the antioxidant properties of the various extracts of G. glabra roots validates and confirms its free-radical scavenging activity. Thus, the present data suggest that the G. glabra root extract can be used as a good source of natural antioxidants for health benefits

PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF Aerva lanata, Adathoda vasica, Pisonia alba, Sesbania grandiflora AND Indigofera aspalathoides

The objective of the present study was to investigate the presence of various phytochemicals from ethanol, ethyl acetate, methanol and chloroform extracts of Aerva lanata (whole plant), leaves of Adathoda vasica, Pisonia alba, Sesbania grandiflora and Indigofera aspalathoides. The phytochemical analysis showed the presence of tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, glycosides, saponins, resins, carbohydrates and proteins. The whole plant of A. lanata showed the presence of flavonoids, terpenoids, glycosides, carbohydrates and proteins. Flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, glycosides, resins, carbohydrates and proteins are found in the leaves of Adathoda vasica. Flavonoids, glycosides and resins were found in the leaves of Pisonia alba. No phytochemical constituents were found in the chloroform extract of Pisonia alba leaves. Ethanol and methanol leaf extracts from Sesbania grandiflora and methanol leaf extract from Indigofera aspalathoides indicated that they contained most of the phytochemical compounds. The different extracts of plants have clearly indicated the presence of all the major phytochemicals, hence these plants can be used for the extraction of bioactive compounds

Ornithine α-ketoglutarate modulates the levels of antioxidants and lipid peroxidation products in ammonium acetate treated rats

422-424The effects of ornithine α-ketoglutarate (OKG) on ammonium acetate induced hepatotoxicity were studied in experimental rats. The levels of urea, non-protein nitrogen and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances were significantly increased in ammonium acetate treated rats ; but these levels were significantly decreased in ammonium acetate-OKG treated rats. Similar patterns were observed in the levels of free fatty acids, triglycerides and phospholipids. Furthermore, non-enzymatic (reduced glutathione) and enzymatic (glutathione peroxidise, superoxide dismutase and catalase) antioxidants were significantly decreased in ammonium acetate treated rats. When compared with control and were significantly increased in ammonium acetate-OKG treated rats compared to ammonium acetate treatment alone