Susceptibility of Indian Leather for Fungal Attack

Fungi play an important role in the degradation of leather and service leather goods. In the present study 20 types of Indian tanned leathers have been tested for their resistance/susceptibility against mycobial attack. 9 common species i.e. Aspergillus niger, A. flavus, A. fumiqatus, A. nidulans, A. terreus, A. sulphureus, Penicillium cyaneum, Paecilomyces varioti and Mucor sp. were isolated from various types of leather samples. E. I. tanned (goats & cows) and pure vegetable upper leathers were found highly susceptible and supported very good fungal growth. Vegetable chrome, full chrome B, and blue chrome tanned (buffalo) were relatively resistant and chrome tanned split (cows) leather was found most resistant

Hydrodynamic Design of Integrated Bulbous Bowlsonar Dome for Naval Ships

Recently, the idea of bulbous bow has been extended from the commercial ships to the design of an integrated bow that houses a sonar dome for naval ships. In the present study, a design method for a particular set of requirements consisting of a narrow range of input parameters is presented. The method uses an approximate linear theory with sheltering effect for resistance estimation and pressure distribution, and correlation with statistical analysis from the existing literature and the tank-test results available in the public domain. Though the optimisation of design parameters has been done for the design speed, but the resistance performance over the entire speed range has been incorporated in the design. The bulb behaviourhas been discussed using the principle of minimisation of resistance and analysis of flow pattern over the bulb and near the sonar dome. It also explores the possible benefits arising out of new design from the production, acoustic, and hydrodynamic point of view. The results of this study are presented in the form of design parameters (for the bulbous bow) related tothe main hull parameters for a set of input data in a narrow range. Finally, the method has been used to design the bulbous bow for a surface combatant vessel

Decentralization in Jharkhand: Some Implications for Urban Service Delivery

The main objective of the paper is to assess the status of urban decentralization in the state of Jharkhand in India and to relate it to some major implications on service delivery. We find that while some of the functions are assigned to the local bodies on paper, none of them are transferred by official notification which is a standard practice in India. As a result the functions are performed in an arbitrary manner. The functions which are assigned, are not necessarily performed by all the local bodies. The assignment of taxes and user charges is also optional. Even the property tax, which is the major source of own revenue, is optional rather than obligatory according to the Act. The situation is further exacerbated by a shortage of manpower in the local bodies. Even in the presence of two parastatal agencies and some development authorities, the service levels have continued to suffer. These are not only below the all India urban average but are much below norms prescribed for Indian cities

Livestock Development From an Non Government Organization Perspective

ABSTRACT: Crop livestock mixed farming is traditional in India Livestock arc not only complimentary and supplementary to crops but are a means of risk coverage and strongly linked with culture. Livestock development is now a major emponciit in rural development programme in India particularly in rainfed underdeveloped areas. The paper describes the approach, perceptions and programmes of the BAIF, a non government organization (N100), involved in rural development since die last 25 years, The BA1F progranuues involve more than half a million fanners from five states. The involvement is mostly in rainfcck underdeveloped areas. Livestock development has served very useful purpose as point of entry in viral areas and for initiation of development activities. The paper discusses experiences in Rajasthan, one of the states Di which BAD? is involved since long. Participatory approach m livestock development necessitated modifications in training and extension programmes. The staff had also to be oriented For taking a systems approach and in gender sensitivity, since women involvement is critical for livestock production. The need to critically study traditional systems, farmer perceptions. indigenous knowledge and farmer wisdom are some of the other aspects discussed and emphasised in the paper The livestock development centres enabled undertaking total farming systems study of the area and in planning future development activities in a participatory manner. A few examples of studies on sonic of the aspects referred ahove are cited and discussed. Key Words Livestock Development, Non Ciovennueut Organization, !Inman Dimension, Rural Development Approac

Fast and quick degradation properties of doped and capped ZnO nanoparticles under UV-Visible light radiations

Undoped and Manganese (Mn) doped zinc oxide (ZnO) (Zn1- xMnxO, x=0.005, 0.01, 0.015 and 0.02) nanoparticles (NPs) capped with (1.0%) Thioglycerol (TG) has been successfully synthesized by co-precipitation method. Optical and morphological studies have been done for photophysical and structural analysis of synthesized materials. The photocatalytic activity of undoped and Mn doped ZnO NPs were investigated by degradation of crystal violet (CV) dye under UV-Visible light radiations. It has been found that Mn (1.0%) doping concentration is optimal for photophysical and photocatalytic properties. When the pH of as synthesized optimum doped ZnO NPs varied from natural pH i.e. from 6.7 to 8.0 and 10.0, the degradation of CV dye increases from 92% to 95% and 98% in 180min respectively. Further on increasing the pH of optimum doped synthesized NPs to 12.0, almost 100% degradation has been achieved in 150min. Optimum doped photocatalyst synthesized at pH-12.0 has also effectively degraded the CV dye solution in acidic and basic medium thus showed its utility in various industries. However, it has been found that 100% of CV dye quickly degraded in 30min when only 1.0% of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was introduced along with optimized NPs synthesized at pH-12. Kinetic studies show that the degradation of CV dye follows pseudo first and second-order kinetic law. Further an industrial anionic polyazo Sirius red F3B (SRF3B) dye has been degraded to 100% with optimized NPs synthesized at pH-12.0 in 15min only. © 2015 Elsevier Ltd

Synthesis and characterization of Mn doped ZnCdS core shell nanostructures QDs using a chemical precipitation route

With advancement in time, researchers has drawn great attention in the synthesis and characterization of mono dispersed alloyed nanocomposites of II-VI compounds. Ternary semiconductor alloyed ZnCdS quantum dots (QD's) exhibit properties intermediate between those of ZnS and CdS. It shows high absorption coefficients, a composition tunable and size tunable band gap. Moreover, ZnCdS alloyed NC's display unique composition dependent properties distinct from those of their bulk counterparts. The most striking feature of the alloyed NC's nanocrystals is their unusual long time stability in emission wavelength. ZnCdS alloyed QD's at room temperature has been synthesized using chemical precipitation method. Undoped and Mn2+ doped ZnCdS QDs have been synthesized and studied. UV-visible absorption spectrum shows absorbance in the visible region and photoluminescence (PL) emission spectra of the doped ZnCdS QD's shows orange emission in comparison to weak blue emission from undoped QDs. The crystallite size is calculated from the XRD patterns. The experimental results indicate that this easy synthesis route would prove a versatile approach for the preparation of doped and undoped ZnCdS QD's. � 2016 Author(s)

Tropospheric distribution of sulphate aerosols mass and number concentration during INDOEX-IFP and its transport over the Indian Ocean: A GCM study

International audienceThe sulphate aerosols mass and number concentration during the Indian Ocean Experiment (INDOEX) Intensive Field Phase-1999 (INDOEX-IFP) has been simulated using an interactive chemistry GCM. The model considers an interactive scheme for feedback from chemistry to meteorology with internally resolving microphysical properties of aerosols. In particular, the interactive scheme has the ability to predict both particle mass and number concentration for the Aitken and accumulation modes as prognostic variables. On the basis of size distribution retrieved from the observations made along the cruise route during IFP-1999, the model successfully simulates the order of magnitude of aerosol number concentration. The results show the southward migration of minimum concentrations, which follows ITCZ (Inter Tropical Convergence Zone) migration. Sulphate surface concentration during INDOEX-IFP at Kaashidhoo (73.46° E, 4.96° N) gives an agreement within a factor of 2 to 3. The measured aerosol optical depth (AOD) from all aerosol species at KCO was 0.37 ± 0.11 while the model simulated sulphate AOD ranged from 0.05 to 0.11. As sulphate constitutes 29% of the observed AOD, the model predicted values of sulphate AOD are hence fairly close to the measured values. The model thus has capability to predict the vertically integrated column sulphate burden. Furthermore, the model results indicate that Indian contribution to the estimated sulphate burden over India is more than 60% with values upto 40% over the Arabian Sea. © 2012 Author(s)

Facile route to produce spherical and highly luminescent Tb3+doped Y2O3nanophosphors

Terbium doped yttrium oxide (Y2O3:Tb3+) nanophosphor has been synthesized via a facial yet modified co-precipitation method. To get maximum luminescence output from Y2O3:Tb3+nanophosphors, surfactants namely, Cetyl trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and Trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO) were added during synthesis. Further, it has been observed that combined addition of surfactant (CTAB�+�TOPO) at the time of synthesis has resulted in nearly spherical morphology of the nanophosphor. Furthermore, these optimized material are observed to have enhanced integrated photoluminescence (PL) intensity of ∼23% as compared to the one synthesized without the addition of any surfactant. The results are further supported by detailed structural and optical studies. Optimum use of surfactants during synthesis shows for the first time that both nano-sized distribution and high crystallinity can be achieved simultaneously which has resulted in bright green emission in Tb3+doped Y2O3nanophosphors. � 201