A multi-parametric screening platform for photosynthetic trait characterization of microalgae and cyanobacteria under inorganic carbon limitation.

Microalgae and cyanobacteria are considered as important model organisms to investigate the biology of photosynthesis; moreover, they are valuable sources of biomolecules for several biotechnological applications. Understanding the species-specific traits of photosynthetic electron transport is extremely important, because it contributes to the regulation of ATP/NADPH ratio, which has direct/indirect links to carbon fixation and other metabolic pathways and thus overall growth and biomass production. In the present work, a cuvette-based setup is developed, in which a combination of measurements of dissolved oxygen, pH, chlorophyll fluorescence and NADPH kinetics can be performed without disturbing the physiological status of the sample. The suitability of the system is demonstrated using a model cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC6803, as well as biofuel-candidate microalgae species, such as Chlorella sorokiniana, Dunaliella salina and Nannochloropsis limnetica undergoing inorganic carbon (Ci) limitation. Inorganic carbon limitation, induced by photosynthetic Ci uptake under continuous illumination, caused a decrease in the effective quantum yield of PSII (Y(II)) and loss of oxygen-evolving capacity in all species investigated here; these effects were largely recovered by the addition of NaHCO3. Detailed analysis of the dark-light and light-dark transitions of NADPH production/uptake and changes in chlorophyll fluorescence kinetics revealed species- and condition-specific responses. These responses indicate that the impact of decreased Calvin-Benson cycle activity on photosynthetic electron transport pathways involving several sections of the electron transport chain (such as electron transfer via the QA-QB-plastoquinone pool, the redox state of the plastoquinone pool) can be analyzed with high sensitivity in a comparative manner. Therefore, the integrated system presented here can be applied for screening for specific traits in several significant species at different stages of inorganic carbon limitation, a condition that strongly impacts primary productivity

Role of Biological Elements of Goat for Curative / Preventive Measures against Tuberculosis

This paper focus on the results of attempts to search the probable system and causes and their modes of action for treatment of tuberculosis by the goats’ biological elements like blood, urine, excreta, sweat etc. For this object we carried out a simple experiment by performing Mantoux test on goat. The concept behind this is that if there is presence of any antitubercular antibodies in poor's blood and then the test will show positive result due to agglutination reaction; as Acharya stated the use of goat's blood for curative treatment of tuberculosis. These means that Ayurvedic classics assume that there should be something present in goat blood which acts as antituberculosis agents. As tuberculosis is mainly cured by two methods: either by using antimycobacterial drug or by enhancing the individual’s immunity. This goat’s blood as we assume it act as antitubercular agent then it should work as antimycobacterium, the other possibility is that the goals antibodies are not sensitive for tubercular antigen so that it has congenital immunity against tuberculosis. In this condition we can't isolate the antibodies from goat's blood for the curative purpose of tuberculosis. This paper will show the result of experiment and validity of concept that either goat's blood has curative property against tuberculosis or not

Experimental Analysis using Established Parameters for Cryogenic Treatment on High Speed Steel Tool

The experimental analysis on cutting tool material is done with referring the established parameters for Cryogenic Treatment. The pilot experimentation is carried out using the Conventional heat treated tool bits as supplied condition and Cryogenic treated tools. The three grades of high speed steel are identified for the investigation purpose and for pilot experimentation H.S.S. T42 grade is selected. The tool material procured is strictly as per the grade specifications for the investigation of effect of cryogenic treatment on tool life. The established parameters for cryogenic treatment are identified referring to previous published research and machining parameters as per the industry specifications. The pilot experimentation using Untreated and treated tools are subjected to turning operation on CNC turning center for a definite work material and machining parameters such as cutting speed, feed and depth of cut are identified. Single point cutting Tool geometry is maintained as per the tool signature and length of the tool is maintained as per the limitations of the machine. The Surface Roughness of the machined work piece is measured using the Taylor Hob-son Surface Roughness tester and the Tool wear is measured using the Tool Makers microscope. The results are tabulated. An experimental effort to understand the effect of Untreated and Cryogenic treated tool on the tool life is the outcome of this paper. The outcome of this paper forms the basis of experimentation using the Orthogonal array for all the selected grades of the material

Circular geodesics and accretion disks in Janis-Newman-Winicour and Gamma metric

We study here circular timelike geodesics in the Janis-Newman-Winicour and Gamma metric spacetimes which contain a strong curvature naked singularity and reduce to the Schwarzschild metric for a specific value of one of the parameters. We show that for both the metrics the range of allowed parameters can be divided into three regimes where structure of the circular geodesics is qualitatively different. It follows that the properties of the accretion disks around such naked singularities can be significantly different from those of disks around black holes. This adds to previous studies showing that if naked singularities exist in nature, their observational signature would be significantly different from that of the black hole.Comment: 13 pages, 16 figures, version accepted for publication by PR

Moduli Stabilization in Brane Gas Cosmology with Superpotentials

In the context of brane gas cosmology in superstring theory, we show why it is impossible to simultaneously stabilize the dilaton and the radion with a general gas of strings (including massless modes) and D-branes. Although this requires invoking a different mechanism to stabilize these moduli fields, we find that the brane gas can still play a crucial role in the early universe in assisting moduli stabilization. We show that a modest energy density of specific types of brane gas can solve the overshoot problem that typically afflicts potentials arising from gaugino condensation.Comment: minor changes to match the journal versio

Electrical and optical characterisation of low temperature grown InGaAs for photodiode applications

Dilute bismide and nitride alloys are promising semiconductors for bandgap engineering, opening additional design freedom for devices such as infrared photodiodes. Low growth temperatures are required to incorporate bismuth or nitrogen into III V semiconductors. However, the effects of low growth temperature on dark current and responsivity are not well understood. In this work, a set of InGaAs p i n wafers were grown at a constant temperature of 250, 300, 400 and 500 °C for all p, i and n layers. A second set of wafers was grown where the p and n layers were grown at 500 °C while the i-layers were grown at 250, 300 and 400 °C. Photodiodes were fabricated from all seven wafers. When constant growth temperature was employed (for all p, i and n layers), we observed that photodiodes grown at 500 °C show dark current density at 1 V that is 6 orders of magnitude lower while the responsivity at an illumination wavelength of 1520 nm is 4.5 times higher than those from photodiodes grown at 250 °C. Results from the second set of wafers suggest that performance degradation can be recovered by growing the p and n layers at high temperature. For instance, comparing photodiodes with i-layers grown at 250 °C, photodiodes showed dark current density at -1 V that is 5 orders of magnitude lower when the p and n layer were grown at 500 °C. Postgrowth annealing, at 595 °C for 15 minutes, on the two wafers grown at 250 and 300 °C showed recovery of diode responsivity but no significant improvement in the dark current. Our work suggests that growth of the cap layer at high temperature is necessary to maintain the responsivity and minimise the dark current degradation, offering a pathway to developing novel photodiode materials that necessitate low growth temperatures

Evaluation of Medical Officer Certificate Programme Course Competency Based Learning

Background: Medical Officer Certificate Programme (MOCP) is a 6 months training programme in Pediatrics/Medicine at medical colleges wherein doctors work like postgraduate students, learn various Out Patients and In Patient Department (OPD and IPD) procedures, attain hands on skills, perform day and night duties, attend postgraduate training programmes and specialty clinics. This is a course unique to Maharashtra. It has been designed to overcome shortage of Pediatricians and Physicians in the state. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of MOCP courses for medical officers by finding out if their clinical skills have improved and if they have achieved expected level of competence. Methods: Public Health Department deputed 28 medical officers of primary health centers. At the end of 6 months training course, they were evaluated during 2012-2013. Results: OPD increased by 24% and IPD by 54%. There was a decrease in the number of cases referred to tertiary centers by 24%, post-MOCP training. Infant immunization increased by 35% after training. Number of children with severe acute malnutrition/moderate acute malnutrition treated increased by 22%, treatment of neonatal emergencies, resuscitation, sepsis, jaundice increased by 36%. Number of adults with diarrhoea and snake bite treated increased by 40% and 63% respectively. Number of ECGs taken and myocardial infarctions managed also has shown rising trend. Conclusion: There was tremendous benefit to the patients after MOCP training. Skill of doctors was found to have enhanced. It is therefore recommended that such novel trainings should be imparted in other states of India too