Enhanced ionic conductivity in nano-composite solid polymer electrolyte: (PEG)x LiBr: y(SiO2)

In this paper, we report an enhancement in ionic conductivity in a new nano-composite solid polymer electrolyte namely, (PEG)x LiBr: y(SiO2). The samples were prepared, characterized, and investigated by XRD, IR, NMR, and impedance spectroscopy. Conductivity as a function of salt concentration shows a double peak. Five weight percent addition of silica nanoparticles increases the ionic conductivity by two orders of magnitude. Conductivity exhibits an Arrhenius type dependence on temperature. IR study has shown that the existence of nanoparticles in the vicinity of terminal O―H group results in a shift in IR absorption frequency and increase in amplitude of vibration of the terminal O―H group. This might lead to an enhancement in conductivity due to increased segmental motion of the polymer. 7Li NMR spectroscopic studies also seem to support this. Thus addition of nanoparticle inert fillers still seems to be a promising technique to enhance the ionic conductivity in solid polymer electrolytes

Twitter-Based Sentiment Analysis and Topic Modeling of Social Media Posts using Natural Language Processing, to Understand People’s Perspectives Regarding COVID-19 Omicron Subvariants XBB.1.5 and BF.7

Concerns about an increase in cases during the COVID-19 pandemic have been heightened by the emergence of a new Omicron subvariant XBB.1.5 that joined the previously reported BF.7 as a source of public health concern. COVID-19 cases have been on the rise intermittently throughout the ongoing pandemic, likely because of the continuous introduction of SARS-CoV-2 subtypes. The present study analyzed the Indian citizen’s perceptions of the latest covid variants XBB.1.5 and BF.7 using the natural language processing technique, especially topic modeling and sentiment analysis. The tweets posted by Indian citizens regarding this issue were analyzed and used for this study. Government authorities, policymakers, and healthcare officials will be better able to implement the necessary policy effectively to tackle the XBB 1.5 and BF.7 crises if they are aware of the people’s sentiments and concerns about the crisis. A total of 8,54,312 tweets have been used for this study. Our sentiment analysis study has revealed that out of those 8,54,312 tweets, the highest number of tweets (n = 3,19,512 tweets (37.3%)) about COVID variants XBB.1.5 and BF.7 had neutral sentiments, 3,16,951 tweets (37.1%) showed positive sentiments and 2,17,849 tweets (25.4%) had negative sentiments. Fear of the future and concerns about the immunity of the vaccines are of prime concerns to tackle the ongoing pandemic

Studies on hydrocarbon degradation by the bacterial isolate Stenotrophomonas rhizophila (PM-1) from oil spilled regions of Western Ghats of Karnataka

The hydrocarbon utilizing capability of Stenotrophomonas rhizophila (PM-1), isolated from oil contaminated soil composts from Western Ghats region of Karnataka was analyzed. In the bioremediation experiment, ONGC heavy crude oil and poly aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) utilization by the bacterial isolate was studied. Preliminary studies by DCPIP method suggests, the isolate PM-1 having the potential PAHs and crude oil utilization ability. The degradation of 2 % heavy crude oil and other PAHs from the isolate PM-1 was assessed by Total Plate Count (TPC), Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) level at regular time intervals. Increased in population densities with simultaneous increase in BOD and COD ratio correlates with the UV spectrophotometry result by change in the λmax (from 249 nm to 278 nm), gas chromatographic analysis (25.00 %) and total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) (65.78 %). A substrate specificity test of the isolates on different hydrocarbons (PAHs) showed that the isolate PM-1 had good growth on decanol, hexadecane, toluene, dodecane, engine oil, benzene, phenol, ethyl benzene, pentadecane, tetradecane, octane, oleic acid and naphthalene. The breakdown of the molecular structure in heavy crude oil and in PAHs indicates, the loss of conjugation in parental hydrocarbons shows the degradation potency of the bacterial isolate (PM-1).Keywords: Stenotrophomonas rhizophila, Bioremediation, PAHs, Crude oil, Western Ghat

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Not AvailableVirus-resistant transgenic plants form an essential constituent of crop protection measures. Tomato is an important vegetable crop grown throughout the world for its nutritional benefits and tomatobased processed food consumption. However, the production levels of tomato are threatened by many viral infections. In the absence of resistant tomato genotypes (where available genetic sources or resistance are scarce), development of transgenic resistance to pathogenic viruses is indispensable. The last couple of decades have witnessed substantial progress in incorporating virus resistance trait in tomato. This chapter provides overview of the strategies and successful instances of transgenic virus resistance with special emphasis on prominent viruses infecting tomato. Various approaches to incorporate virus resistance in tomato from antisense RNA expression, through various RNA interference (RNAi) based strategies and foray in to genome editing techniques are discussed. The significant achievements made in developing transgenic resistance to combat Tomato leaf curl viruses, ground nut bud necrosis virus and Cucumber mosaic virus are presented. Also, the utility of employing recently emerging genome editing tool in incorporating resistance to tomato viruses is also discussed.Not Availabl

Role of silica nanoparticles in conductivity enhancement of nanocomposite solid polymer electrolytes: (PEGx NaBr): YSiO2

Nanocomposite solid polymer electrolytes (NCSPEs) with conducting species other than Li ions are being investigated for solid-state battery applications. Pristine solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) do not show ionic conductivity suitable for batteries. Addition of inert fillers to SPEs is known to enhance the ionic conductivity. In this paper, we present the role of silica nanoparticles in enhancing the ionic conductivity in NCSPEs with sodium as conducting species. Sodium bromide is complexed with the host polyethylene glycol polymer by solution cast method and silica nanoparticles (SiO2, average particle size 7 nm) are incorporated into the complex in small amounts. The composites are characterized by powder XRD and IR spectroscopy. Conductivity measurements are undertaken as a function of concentration of salt and also as a function of temperature using impedance spectroscopy. Addition of silica nanoparticles shows an enhancement in conductivity by 1-2 orders of magnitude. The results are discussed in terms of interaction of nanoparticles with the nonconducting anions. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Not AvailableMungbean yellow mosaic India virus (MYMIV) belonging to the family Geminiviridae and the genus Begomovirus is a severe pathogen of tropical legumes including soybean. The absence of genetically mapped loci conferring resistance together with the genetic diversity of begomoviruses infecting soybean warrants the utilization of RNA interference (RNAi) technology to develop virus resistance. However, viral suppressors of RNAi (VSRs) reduce the efectiveness of RNA silencing. Here, we report the efectiveness of Agrobacterium-mediated transient expression of shRNA, targeting a conserved region of AC2 ORF (a VSR) of MYMIV, in conferring virus resistance in soybean. Transient expression of shRNA showed progressive reduction of the viral titre estimated by the MYMIV-derived AC2 gene copy numbers from the initial inoculum by approximately 80-fold 20 days post-application. In addition, the newly emerging leaves exhibited symptom recovery. Thus, this study proves that AC2 of MYMIV is a potent target gene for obtaining RNAi-mediated virus resistance in soybean. Agroinfltration-based delivery of shRNA was an efcient means of gene silencing and could pave way for the development of transgenic virus-resistant soybean genotypeNot Availabl

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Not AvailableCoconut oil and its health benefits have been challenged once again by an US-based professor who has labelled it as ‘a pure poison’. The pertinent question we ask is whether her observations are based on scientific facts. We would like to dispel any negative connotation and arrest the spread of mis-information about the oil of Kalpavriksha. Here we discuss and present scientific facts that support the health benefits of coconut oil.Not Availabl