Astrometry and Photometry with Coronagraphs

We propose a solution to the problem of astrometric and photometric calibration of coronagraphic images with a simple optical device which, in theory, is easy to use. Our design uses the Fraunhofer approximation of Fourier optics. Placing a periodic grid of wires (we use a square grid) with known width and spacing in a pupil plane in front of the occulting coronagraphic focal plane mask produces fiducial images of the obscured star at known locations relative to the star. We also derive the intensity of these fiducial images in the coronagraphic image. These calibrator images can be used for precise relative astrometry, to establish companionship of other objects in the field of view through measurement of common proper motion or common parallax, to determine orbits, and to observe disk structure around the star quantitatively. The calibrator spots also have known brightness, selectable by the coronagraph designer, permitting accurate relative photometry in the coronagraphic image. This technique, which enables precision exoplanetary science, is relevant to future coronagraphic instruments, and is particularly useful for `extreme' adaptive optics and space-based coronagraphy.Comment: To appear in ApJ August 2006, 27 preprint style pages 4 figure

ASPERGILLUS FLAVUS MEDIATED SILVER NANOPARTICLES SYNTHESIS AND EVALUATION OF ITS ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY AGAINST DIFFERENT HUMAN PATHOGENS

Objective: Here, we report the extracellular synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using the cell-free extract of fungal isolate Aspergillus flavus and evaluation its inhibitory activity against bacterial pathogens. Methods: Synthesized AgNPs was characterized via high throughput instrumentation such as UV–Visible spectrophotometer (UV-Vis) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX). Results: Formation of yellowish brown colour clearly indicates the synthesis of AgNPs which produces a SPR peak at 420 nm. Active protein metabolites present in the cell-free extract plays a crucial role in reduction and stabilization of AgNPs. It was clearly observed that synthesized AgNPs were faced-centered cubic crystalline in nature with the mean size of 22±11 nm. Further, synthesized AgNPs capped with protein moieties exhibits excellent inhibitory activity against tested bacterial pathogens. Conclusion: In this study, we have isolated the fungal strain A. flavus from the infected larvae of D. eucharis from the soil. The active metabolites of isolated A. flavus have been successfully used as an eco-friendly reducing agent to generate AgNPs and synthesized particles can be potentially developed as a drug candidature for antimicrobial therapy

Impact of riparian land use on stream insects of Kudremukh National Park, Karnataka state, India

The impact of riparian land use on the stream insect communities was studied at Kudremukh National Park located within Western Ghats, a tropical biodiversity hotspot in India. The diversity and community composition of stream insects varied across streams with different riparian land use types. The rarefied family and generic richness was highest in streams with natural semi evergreen forests as riparian vegetation. However, when the streams had human habitations and areca nut plantations as riparian land use type, the rarefied richness was higher than that of streams with natural evergreen forests and grasslands. The streams with scrub lands and iron ore mining as the riparian land use had the lowest rarefied richness. Within a landscape, the streams with the natural riparian vegetation had similar community composition. However, streams with natural grasslands as the riparian vegetation, had low diversity and the community composition was similar to those of paddy fields. We discuss how stream insect assemblages differ due to varied riparian land use patterns, reflecting fundamental alterations in the functioning of stream ecosystems. This understanding is vital to conserve, manage and restore tropical riverine ecosystems

RECOMMENDATION SYSTEM FOR BLOOD AND ORGAN DONATION FOR THE HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

Big data analytics is nowadays a growing field where real time applications developed. Among the various applications, recommender system application playing vital role in recommending the services and products to the end users. In this paper we developed online blood bank and organ donation information system for hospitals in case of emergencies. As this plays a major role in saving lives, it is necessary to maintain the database for all the related information about the blood banks and the organ donation. Making this process simpler by creating MySQL database and using geo-location information and haversine algorithm for distance calculation and TOPSIS algorithm (Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution) for ranking the blood banks. The RVD algorithm (Regular Voluntary Donor) is used to select donors based on satisfy the condition. The availability of organs is displayed as pop up message with the time and its details are displayed

RECOMMENDATION SYSTEM FOR BLOOD AND ORGAN DONATION FOR THE HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

Big data analytics is nowadays a growing field where real time applications developed. Among the various applications, recommender system application playing vital role in recommending the services and products to the end users. In this paper we developed online blood bank and organ donation information system for hospitals in case of emergencies. As this plays a major role in saving lives, it is necessary to maintain the database for all the related information about the blood banks and the organ donation. Making this process simpler by creating MySQL database and using geo-location information and haversine algorithm for distance calculation and TOPSIS algorithm (Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution) for ranking the blood banks. The RVD algorithm (Regular Voluntary Donor) is used to select donors based on satisfy the condition. The availability of organs is displayed as pop up message with the time and its details are displayed

Developing procedures for assessment of ecological status of Indian River basins in the context of environmental water requirements

River basins / Ecology / Indicators / Environmental flows / Environmental management / Habitats / Biota / Fish / Ecosystems / India / Krishna River Basin / Chauvery River Basin / Narmada River Basin / Periyar River Basin / Ganga River Basin

Role of Quality Management System in Enhancing the Performance in Manufacturing Industries

After globalization in the 1990s, the standardizationprocess in manufacturing industries has gainedmomentum. In this study, an attempt has been made to identify the role of Quality Management System (QMS) in enhancing performance in an Indian manufacturing industry, with M/S Ramdevs Motors, a pumps manufacturing industry, as the place of this study.Performance measures like, Increase in financial performance, productivity, etc. have been considered in this study. An opinion survey type questionnaire was used to collect data from the organization. The performance of the company before and after the implementation of QMS was collected, processed and analysed using statistical tools. The results of the studyreveal that the role of QMS has significance in enhancing the performance of the organization but has no significance in financial performance of the organization

A mixed method evaluation of a theory based intervention to reduce sedentary behaviour in contact centres- the stand up for health stepped wedge feasibility study

Copyright: \ua9 2023 Sivaramakrishnan et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. INTRODUCTION: Contact centres have higher levels of sedentary behaviour than other office-based workplaces. Stand Up for Health (SUH) is a theory-based intervention developed using the 6SQuID framework to reduce sedentary behaviour in contact centre workers. The aim of this study was to test acceptability and feasibility of implementing SUH in UK contact centres. METHODS: The study was conducted in 2020-2022 (pre COVID and during lockdown) and used a stepped-wedge cluster randomised trial design including a process evaluation. The intervention included working with contact centre managers to develop and implement a customised action plan aligning with SUH\u27s theory of change. Workplace sedentary time, measured using activPAL™ devices, was the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes included productivity, mental wellbeing, musculoskeletal health and physical activity. Empirical estimates of between-centre standard deviation and within-centre standard deviation of outcomes from pre-lockdown data were calculated to inform sample size calculations for future trials. The process evaluation adopted the RE-AIM framework to understand acceptability and feasibility of implementing the intervention. Interviews and focus groups were conducted with contact centre employees and managers, and activity preferences were collected using a questionnaire. RESULTS: A total of 11 contact centres participated: 155 employees from 6 centres in the pre-lockdown data collection, and 54 employees from 5 centres post-lockdown. Interviews and focus groups were conducted with 33 employees and managers, and 96 participants completed an intervention activity preference questionnaire. Overall, the intervention was perceived as acceptable and feasible to deliver. Most centres implemented several intervention activities aligned with SUH\u27s theory of change and over 50% of staff participated in at least one activity (pre-lockdown period). Perceived benefits including reduced sedentary behaviour, increased physical activity, and improved staff morale and mood were reported by contact centre employees and managers. CONCLUSIONS: SUH demonstrates potential as an appealing and acceptable intervention, impacting several wellbeing outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial has been registered on the ISRCTNdatabase: http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN11580369

The Diamagnetism of Liquid Mixtures

@IAC

Historical perspective of iron in ancient India

Iron is an important metal which has influenced the march of civilization over atleast 5000 years and it has been in the service of man from the dawn of time. The ancient scriptures and legends have extensive references about the use of iron. The archaeological evidences show that iron was being made all over India and there was no written records of the process of manufacturing iron. The technology has been handed over from one person to another within a limited group. Unfortunately this art phased out with the development of new technology during 19-20 century. The paper discusses the various sources of existence of iron, its utilization and importance right from pre-Rig Vedic period upto the first half of 20 century