Maskless etching of silicon using patterned microdischarges

Microdischarges in flexible copper-polyimide structures with hole diameters of 200 µm have been used as stencil masks to pattern bare silicon in CF4/Ar chemistry. The discharges were operated at 20 Torr using the substrate as the cathode, achieving etch rates greater than 7 µm/min. Optical emission spectroscopy provides evidence of excited fluorine atoms. The etch profiles show a peculiar shape attributed to plasma expansion into the etched void. Forming discharges in multiple hole and line shapes permits direct pattern transfer in silicon and could be an alternative to ultrasonic milling and laser drilling

The effect of cis- and trans-clomiphene citrate on sialic acid in the uterus, cervix and vagina of rats during delayed implantation

The comparative effects of cis- and trans-clomiphene and oestradiol-17β on the sialic acid concentration in the uterus, cervix and vagina were studied in rats during experimentally induced delayed implantation. The cis- or trans-isomer of clomiphene caused a progressive dose-dependent increase in sialic acid in the uterus and cervix whereas vaginal sialic acid decreased with increase in the dose of the respective compounds. Cis- and trans-clomiphene and oestradiol-17β all caused a sharp increase in the sialic acid content of the uterus, cervix and vagina 6 hr after the administration of the respective compounds. There was a decrease in sialic acid in all the three tissues at subsequent time intervals in cis-clomiphene or oestradiol-treated rats. The oestrogenic effects of trans-clomiphene lasted even up to 48 hr in all three reproductive tract tissues, indicating that trans-clomiphene is more oestrogenic than the cis-isomer. Differences in the response of the uterus, cervix and vagina to administration of the compounds are discussed in relation to their embryological origin

Changes in uterine sialic acid and glycogen during early pregnancy in the rat

Changes in uterine sialic acid and glycogen were studied in rats during days 1-6 of pregnancy. There was a sharp decline in uterine glycogen following mating, and thereafter increased gradually to reach a peak level on day 4 (4 PM). Coinciding with the entry of blastocysts into the uterus [between day 4 (10 PM) and day 5 (10 AM)] uterine glycogen decreased to a low level which was maintained up to 4 PM on day 6 of pregnancy. Uterine sialic acid was maximal on day 0 (proestrus, 10 PM) and was maintained at this level up to day 1 of pregnancy. Thereafter, uterine sialic acid concentration declined gradually to the lowest level by day 4 (9 AM). There was a sharp increase in uterine sialic acid between 4 and 10 PM On day 4, and was followed by a marked decline between day 4 (10 PM) and day 5 (9 AM); it increased again on the evening of day 5 and attained significantly higher levels by day 6 (4 PM). The fluctuations in uterine sialic acid and glycogen during early pregnancy appear to be a sequel to the fluctuating levels of estrogens during proestrus, estrus, and early pregnancy. A possible role for sialic acid in attachment of blastocysts to the uterus is postulated

Comparison of leaf volatile aroma constituents and phenolic acid profiles of the seedling originated polyembryonic mango (Mangifera indica L.) genotypes

In mango, leaf and fruit volatile aroma profiles are variety specific which can be used as fingerprint of a variety. Such biochemical markers can also discriminate the nucellar and zygotic seedlings in polyembryonic mango varieties. In order to validate the applicability of volatile as well as phenolic acid profiles as biomarkers, the open pollinated seedlings of three polyembryonic varieties of mango were compared with their mother trees. Leaf volatile and phenol acid profiling were done using Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GCMS) and Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (LCMS) methods respectively. The sesquiterpene hydrocarbons were the most abundant in all the genotypes studied. Monoterpenoids were the major compounds in cultivars Vellaikolumban and Olour, while the sesquiterpenoids were the major compounds in cv. Turpentine. While terpinolene was the major monoterpenoid compound in Vellaikolumban and limonene in cv. Olour, the sesquiterpene á-gurjunene was the major compound in cv. Turpentine. Volatile profiling showed clear differences between the varieties but was similar within a variety. Among the 15 phenolic acids quantified in the leaves, P-coumaric acid, gallic acid, and ferulic acids were predominant whereas, vanillic acid, syringic acid, gentisic acid, benzoic acid, and sinapic acids were low in quantity. Phenolic acid profile did not show significant diversity among the varieties and therefore cannot be used for identification of varieties. The volatile profiling can be used for the identification and differentiation of polyembryonic mango genotypes

Varate Giduga (Acc. No. 21067; IC No. 418238) : A unique mango (Mangifera indica L.) variety

Varate Giduga is one of the unique variety from Sirsi region of Karnataka. The tree is Semi-circular shaped with dense foliage, leaves about 25cm long; dark green in colour with wavy margin. It is a very consistent and heavy producer. The fruit of this tree matures by mid-April and fruit has a distinctive yellow skin color on fruit exposed to the sun. The fruit shape is round, fruit weight ranged from 350-400 g, fruit length was 9.8 cm, fruit diameter was 9.2 cm, fruit thickness was 8.0cm and bisexual flowers were 16.53%. Biochemical constituents such as the total phenols (317.50 mg/100 g), flavonoids (5.79 mg/100g), carotenoids (1.46 mg/100 g) and acidity (0.19%) were recorded which suggests that these characters are unique as compared to other varieties. The fruit skin is rough and glossy in appearance and the fruit has little or no fiber. It is very delicious in taste with high pulp percentage (74.0%) and high TSS (23.4º B). The flesh color is orange. The fruits have deep orange firm pulp and very sweet with pleasant flavor. Besides,several other traits have drawn special attention to this mango variety as it has large sized fruits (Fig-1), late variety with very good taste, fruit can be cut into two halves by retaining the stone in one half, regular bearer and fruit fly resistant genotype because of its thick peel and high phenolic content in pulp (317.50 mg/100 g)

Morphological characterization and genetic barcoding of kuttiatoor mango accessions

A survey conducted during 2013-14 to collect and characterize the Kuttiattoor mango accessions from Kerala, revealed large unique variability in morphological, biochemical and DNA barcode data. All the accessions were polyembryonic with fruit maturity during February-March. The mature fruit length (cm), width (cm) and leaf length (cm) ranged from 5.10 – 9.60 (cm), 4.60 – 8.40 (cm) and 12.47- 30.40 (cm) respectively

Characterization and evaluation of putative mutant populations of polyembryonic mango genotype Nekkare for dwarfing rootstock traits

Availability of dwarfing rootstocks is an important pre-requisite for improving productivity of mango orchards in India as it facilitates high density planting as well as impart uniformity within an orchard. An attempt was made to induce variability in polyembryonic mango genotype Nekkare for dwarfness by treating kernels with different doses of gamma radiation ranging from 15 to 35 Gy. Irradiation created significant variation in plant height, stem girth, number of nodes, inter-nodal length, number of leaves, leaf blade length and leaf blade width. The highest reduction in seedling height along with highest variation was observed at 35 Gy where the seedling height ranged from 11.50 to 33 cm with a mean of 23.12 cm as compared to mean plant height of 44.55 cm in control ranging from 33.50 to 56 cm. Further, the effect of irradiation on stomatal parameters was also investigated and the highest stomatal length and width was recorded at 15 Gy (63.39 μm) and 20 Gy (63.12 μm) respectively while 30 Gy treatment produced maximum stomatal density (13.85 per μm2). Furthermore, theconcentration of ABA was found to be highest (429.1 ng/gm) in morphologically dwarf (putative mutant) progenies of Nekkare. The results suggest effectiveness of induced mutation for developing dwarfing rootstocks in mango to be used in high density planting

Synthesis of Blue Luminescent Si Nanoparticles Using Atmospheric-Pressure Microdischarges

Silicon nanoparticles are synthesized from a mixture of argon/silane in a continuous flow atmospheric-pressure microdischarge reactor. Particles nucleate and grow to a few nanometers (1−3 nm) in diameter before their growth is abruptly terminated in the short residence time microreactor. Narrow size distributions are obtained as inferred from size classification and imaging. As-grown Si nanoparticles collected in solution exhibit room-temperature photoluminescence that peaks at 420 nm with a quantum efficiency of 30%; the emission is stable for months in ambient air

Association between Obesity and Hypertension in South Indian Patients

Two hundred and forty four newly diagnosed hypertensives (cases) of age 40 years and above, attending the hypertensive clinic of the Government General Hospital during one year and three hundred and twelve normotensives (controls) belonging to the same age group and attending the outpatient department during the same period for other minor ailments formed the subjects for this case control study. There were 18 (7.4%) obese subjects among hypertensives and 6 (1.9%) among controls. Inspite of these low proportions, there was a strong association between obesity and hypertension with an overall odds ratio of 4 and there appeared to be a significant increasing trend in the proportion of cases of hypertension (37%, 63%, 75%) observed according to the different grades (underweight or normal. overweight, obese) of nutrition

MHD Simulations of the Plasma Flow in the Magnetic Nozzle

The magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flow of plasma through a magnetic nozzle is simulated by solving the governing equations for the plasma flow in the presence of an static magnetic field representing the applied nozzle. This work will numerically investigate the flow and behavior of the plasma as the inlet plasma conditions and magnetic nozzle field strength are varied. The MHD simulations are useful for addressing issues such as plasma detachment and to can be used to gain insight into the physical processes present in plasma flows found in thrusters that use magnetic nozzles. In the model, the MHD equations for a plasma, with separate temperatures calculated for the electrons and ions, are integrated over a finite cell volume with flux through each face computed for each of the conserved variables (mass, momentum, magnetic flux, energy) [1]. Stokes theorem is used to convert the area integrals over the faces of each cell into line integrals around the boundaries of each face. The state of the plasma is described using models of the ionization level, ratio of specific heats, thermal conductivity, and plasma resistivity. Anisotropies in current conduction due to Hall effect are included, and the system is closed using a real-gas equation of state to describe the relationship between the plasma density, temperature, and pressure.A separate magnetostatic solver is used to calculate the applied magnetic field, which is assumed constant for these calculations. The total magnetic field is obtained through superposition of the solution for the applied magnetic field and the self-consistently computed induced magnetic fields that arise as the flowing plasma reacts to the presence of the applied field. A solution for the applied magnetic field is represented in Fig. 1 (from Ref. [2]), exhibiting the classic converging-diverging field pattern. Previous research was able to demonstrate effects such as back-emf at a super-Alfvenic flow, which significantly alters the shape of the magnetic field in both the near- and far-field regions. However, in that work the downstream domain was constrained to a channel of constant cross-sectional area. In the present work we seek to address this issue by modeling the downstream region with a domain that permits free expansion of the plasma, permitting a better evaluation of the downstream effects the applied field has on the plasma. The inlet boundary conditions and applied magnetic field values will also be varied to determine the effect the initial plasma energy content and applied magnetic field energy density have on the near- and far-field plasma properties on the MHD code. This will determine the effect of inlet boundary conditions on the results downstream and address issues related to the restrictive numerical domain previously used