Role of bismuth oxide as a reinforcer on gamma shielding ability of unsaturated polyester based polymer composites

Unsaturated Polyester resin is reinforced with Bi2O3 up to 60 filler weight. The effect of bismuth oxide on gamma shielding ability of the composites is studied in terms of attenuation parameters using Ba-133, Cs-137, and Co-60 gamma ray sources. The results reveal that, the shielding property of the composite material increases with increase in the filler concentration and decreases with energy. The HVL, TVL, and relaxation length of the composites are found to decrease with increase in the filler concentration. It is found that, the shielding ability of 60 filled polymer composite is comparable to that of barite at low energy. The above polymer composite performs well at all energies and can act as an excellent gamma radiation shield for low energies and also proved to be light weight when compared to the conventional shielding materials. Thus, the gamma shielding ability of the UP resin is enhanced due to the addition of Bi2O3. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 44657. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc

Effect of laparoscopic ovarian drilling on serum anti-Mullerian hormone in clomiphene citrate resistant polycystic ovarian syndrome patients

Background: PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) is the most common cause of anovulatory infertility, the purpose of our study was to see the effect of laparoscopic ovarian drilling on the ovarian reserve (with AMH as an indicator of ovarian reserve) and its safety as 2nd line of treatment in patients resistant to clomiphene citrate.Methods: This was a prospective interventional study conducted on 40 clomiphene citrate resistant PCOS women attending the infertility OPD. This study was conducted over a period of 1 year May 2019 to May 2020. Laparoscopic ovarian drilling (LOD) was done and these subjects were studied preoperatively and postoperatively on day 7 and day 30 for change in AMH (anti-Mullerian hormone) levels.Results: There is a significant change in the AMH level post LOD day 7 and 30 but not so severe that it will lead to premature ovarian failure. The amount of drop in AMH (day 30) increases till 20 ng/ml beyond which it shows a decrease.Conclusions: If LOD is done in a proper manner in women with sufficient ovarian reserve (high AMH), it will not adversely affect the ovarian reserve (the fall is not enough to cause premature ovarian insufficiency).

A comparative study of antenatal and fetal complications in pregnant women with and without history of polycystic ovary syndrome

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome in the present generation is a very common reproductive disorder and the prevalence is on the rise. Aim of the current study was to compare the maternal outcome in normal and women with PCOS.Methods: This study was a case-control study conducted in Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, SMS Medical College and attached group of hospitals, Jaipur from May 2019 to August 2020. Pregnant women with history of PCOS were taken as cases and with no such history were controls.Results: 9.49% women developed gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in cases as compared to 1.61% women in control group. The difference in the incidence of GDM in the two groups was statistically significant. When hypertensive disorders of pregnancy were considered, a statistically significant difference was observed as 11.2% cases and 2.42% controls showed HDP. Mean birth weight of neonate in cases was 2.43±0.31 kg and in control group was 2.71±0.29 kg. Mean APGAR score at 1 minute in cases was 6.21±1.23 and in controls was 7.21±0.24. APGAR score at 5 minutes in PCOS group was 7.89±1.40 and in control group was 8.12±0.21. 12 neonates from the cases group were admitted in NICU. The difference was statistically significant when comparedConclusions: With a detailed comparative analysis of this case-control study, it can be concluded that many antenatal and fetal complications are per se increased in women with a history of PCOS

Democratic Middle Ground in Nepal: A Perspective from the North American Nepali Diaspora

The call of our time is to safeguard the accomplishments of the 1990 Peoples Movement, to restore sovereignty to the people, and to work towards the middle ground to resolve the nation\u27s core problems. History teaches us that recognizing, adopting and adhering to the middle path takes much vision and courage. The natural instinct is to stick to one\u27s own interpretation of the world (usually based on narrow self-interest) and to shun ideas and individuals that require a moderation of one\u27s views. However, success in politics and statecraft, more so than in any other area of human affairs, is hinged to the middle ground in a way that ultimately requires friend and foe to migrate sufficiently towards each other so that the peoples\u27 business can move forward and flourish. We urge all political forces in Nepal to recognize that great achievements in the affairs of nations come about when leaders practice the art of compromise. There is no dishonor for Nepal\u27s monarch and political leaders if they follow the path of the likes of Gandhi, Nehru and Mandela.\u2

A new polyester based polymer composite for shielding soft gamma rays

Finely ground particulate Tungsten Oxide filled Isophthalate Polyester based polymer composites have been fabricated for different concentrations of WO3 using a simple and well established Open mould cast technique. The gamma shielding ability of the composites was studied using a gamma ray spectrometer for 80 & 127 keV gamma rays. The shielding parameters such as linear & mass attenuation coefficients, HVL and relaxation lengths were evaluated. The linear attenuation coefficient is found to increase with increase in the density of the composites. The mass attenuation coefficient ranges from 0.162 - 2.34cm2/gm and 0.15-0.89cm2/gm for 80 & 127keV gamma rays respectively. The shielding ability of the composites increases with increase in the filler wt and decreases with increase in energy. Thus, the novel lead free, polymer composites perform well as radiation shields and their shielding ability is comparable to lead in performance. © 2017 Author(s)

Evaluation of gamma shielding parameters of bismuth oxide filled polymer composites

604-608The present work deals with the study of shielding ability of UP-Bi2O3 polymer composites for gamma rays of energy 0.662 MeV using a gamma ray spectrometer. The various shielding parameters such as linear and mass attenuation coefficients, half value and tenth value layer thickness, and mean free path have been evaluated for the composites. The attenuation coefficients of the composites have also been evaluated theoretically using the computer code XCOM and WinXCOM. The results show that, the shielding performance increases with increase in the filler concentration. The highest filled composite exhibits excellent shielding ability and is comparable to that of the conventional shielding materials. The theoretical and experimental values are in good agreement

Preparation and characterisation of Isophthalic-Bi2O3 polymer composite gamma radiation shields

Bi2O3 filled Isophthalic resin based polymer composites of different weight (0, 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 & 60) were fabricated by open mould cast technique. Gamma attenuation study was carried out using NaI (Tl) gamma ray spectrometer for Cs-137. The shielding parameters such as attenuation coefficient, HVL & λ were investigated. The distribution of the filler within the matrix was studied using Scanning Electron Microscopy. X ray diffractometer and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy were employed to study the structural changes if any. The thermal stability and mechanical strength of the composites were investigated using TGA & UTM respectively. Dielectric properties and AC conductivity were also studied using LCR meter. The composites are found to be thermally stable upto 200°C. There were no such structural changes observed and all the composites show very low conductivity. The mechanical strength of the composites was found to increase upon adding the bismuth oxide with a slight decrease when the concentration of the filler exceeds 40wt. Attenuation results reveal that, the shielding efficiency increases with the increase of the filler wt and are comparable to those of the conventional shielding materials. Hence, Bi2O3 filled composites can be used for gamma shielding applications

Screening of Maize Genotypes against Southern Leaf Blight (Bipolaris maydis) during Summer Season in Nepal

Abstract A study was conducted from 29 March 2014 to 27 July 2014 at the Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science, Paklihawa, Rupandehi with the objective of screening 13 maize genotypes against southern leaf blight caused by Bipolaris maydis. Field experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Disease scoring was done as percentage of leaf area infected on individual plant at 5 days intervals starting from 63 days after sowing, for 3 times, and disease severity and mean AUDPC were calculated and yield was recorded. Among the tested genotypes, disease severity varies significantly. Disease symptoms appeared first in Yellow Popcorn, 64.00 days after sowing (DAS) with the highest severity and at last in RML-32/RML-17 (79.00 DAS) with the least score in field. The 13 genotypes differed significantly in mean AUDPC values. RML-32/RML-17 (AUDPC value 5.90) appeared most resistant, followed by RML-4/RML-17 (AUDPC value 11.50), while Yellow Popcorn (AUDPC value 71.99) was most susceptible among the tested genotypes. Highest maize yield (3.43 metric ton ha ) on Yellow Popcorn. Maximum SPAD value above cob was recorded in RML-4/RML-17 (45.62) followed by S03TLYQ-AB-01 (44.88) while minimum in Yellow popcorn (30.60). So, Yellow popcorn has the highest (3.16) and RML-32/RML-17 (0.08) lowest total AUDPC above cob. Similarly maximum SPAD value below cob was recorded in RML-4/RML-17 (44.37), while minimum in Yellow popcorn (28.82). So, Yellow popcorn has the highest (8.75) and RML-32/RML-17 (0.41) has lowest total AUDPC below cob. The genotypes RML-4/RML-17 and RML-32/RML-17 appeared resistant to SLB with maximum yield. These genotypes could be used as the sources of resistance in breeding program and could be developed to resistant varieties grown under tropical and subtropical climatic conditions during summer season. The genotype Yellow popcorn being highly susceptible to SLB with a maximum mean AUDPC and minimum yield, can be used as susceptible check for breeding purpose and different varietal screening

The water-deficit stress- and red-rot-related genes in sugarcane

Sugarcane is an important international commodity as a valuable agricultural crop especially in developing countries. Sequencing was carried out to generate >35,000 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) from healthy as well as red-rot-infected tissue of Indian subtropical variety of sugarcane. Subsequent clustering with existing sugarcane ESTs in public databases identified 4,087 clusters, including 85 clusters that preferentially express upon Colletotrichum falcatum (red-rot) infection, which were previously unreported. Real-time reverse transcription–PCR profiling of selected EST clusters identified several sugarcane clusters that show differential expression in response to biotic and abiotic stress conditions. Twenty-five stress-related clusters showed >2-fold relative expression during water-deficit stress in sugarcane. Similarly, EST clusters could be identified, which exhibit association with red-rot disease when assessed in red-rot-susceptible and red-rot-resistant varieties of sugarcane. Such EST clusters are good candidates for in-depth analysis to elucidate stress-responsive pathways in sugarcane and facilitate genetic manipulation to tailor this crop for tolerance to various stresses