Synthesis of Al and Ag nanoparticles through ultra-sonic dissociation of thermal evaporation deposited thin films for promising clinical applications as polymer nanocomposite

Nanoparticles (NPs) having well-defined shape, size and clean surface serve as ideal model system to investigate surface/interfacial reactions. Ag and Al NPs are receiving great interest due to their wide applications in bio-medical field, aerospace and space technology as combustible additives in propellants and hydrogen generation. Hence, in this study, we have synthesized Ag and Al NPs using an innovative approach of ultra-sonic dissociation of thin films. Phase and particle size distributions of the Ag and Al NPs have been determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Thin film dissociation/dissolution mechanism, hence conversion into NPs has been characterized by SEM- scanning electron microscope. EDXA & ICPMS have been performed for chemical analysis of NPs. Optical properties have been characterized by UV-Vis and PL spectroscopy. These NPs have also been investigated for their anti-bacterial activity against Escherichia coli bacteria. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time when NPs has been synthesized by ultra-sonic dissociation of thin films. As an application, these NPs were used further for synthesis of nanocomposite polymer membranes, which show excellent activity against bio film formation

Constraints in dry chilli cultivation practices and mechanization of harvesting in Southern India

Dry chilli production in India condition faces many challenges apart from adverse weather conditions, labor-intensive production practices and higher overall production costs are limiting profitable dry chilli cultivation. Therefore, a study was carried to know the key constraints in current chilli production practices in eight major production districts of three states. A systematic research and development approach is essential to know the range of constraints and farmers preferences over technological options for field operations. The harvesting operation alone demands 43% of labour 360.5 man-days/ha. So, red chilli harvesting mechanization is a definite immediate requirement to reduce labour input. Farmers (47%) prefer small size self-propelled chilli harvester over tractor operated equipment. In the production catchments, farmer also inferred to change the cultivation practices to mechanize chilli production operations, but 18% of farmers hesitant to adopt one-timeharvesting chilli varieties due to suspicion about the yield potentials

Bioefficacy of different Insecticides against aphid (Myzus persicae) in cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.)

A field trail was conducted in randomized block design at KVK Bhilwara, MPUAT, Udaipur to evaluate efficacy of carbosulfan 25% EC at 250, 312.5 and 375 g a.i. ha-1 along with thiamethoxam 25% WG at 25 g a.i. ha-1, imidacloprid 17.8 SL at 25 g a.i. ha-1 and acetamiprid 20% SP at 10 g a.i. ha-1 against aphid (Myzus persicae) in cumin during Rabi, 2013-14 and 2014-15. The result revealed that two sprays of carbosulfan 25% EC at 375 g a.i. ha-1 was found effective against aphid. It caused maximum mean reduction in thrips population after second spray at 10 days after application, which was 87.52% and 88.45% during 2013-14 and 2014-15, respectively. It was followed by carbosulfan 25% EC at 312.5 g a.i. ha-1. The maximum yields were recorded in case of carbosulfan 25% EC at 375 g a.i. ha-1, which were 622.3 and 456.7 kg ha-1 during 2013-14 and 2014-15, respectively and incremental yield of 358.6 kg ha-1 over untreated control

The link between Terra Preta de Índio and the use of charcoal to improve soil quality.

Amazonian Dark Earth ? Terra Preta de Índio. Characterization The Amazonian Dark Earth (ADE) or Terra Preta de Índio shows normally a plaggic, terric or hortic horizons. These horizons are identified by the dark matrix colors of the top layers, and presence of ceramics and charcoal pieces. The more widely accepted theory about the origin of these epipedons is that they were improved by Amerindian populations in Pre Colombian Indian settlements. The tophorizons on ADE sites show some differences on soil chemical, physical and hydraulic properties compared to the adjacent soils in the region. The tophorizon shows typically high amounts of P, calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) relative to the surrounding soils. The high amounts of soil organic matter (SOM) and black carbon strongly influence the color, the structure and the hydraulic properties. The texture is lighter and the workability of the ADE is easier, and the drainage is, habitually, very good. Because of their easy workability and longer lasting in relation to surrounding soils, the local population intensively uses those sites. ADE sites seem to be a very resilient soil type to keep their good soil physical qualities as when submitted to an intensive soil management. In this paper we discuss some investigations concerning a better characterization and expansion of the knowledge of ADE sites. Moreover the approach to reproduce those soils using as key component charcoal residues are also reviewed and discussed. Terra Preta reproduction Many experiment, monitoring and modeling of the dynamic of the water, nutrients and soil organic matter in soil with addition of charcoal are on ongoing research in Manaus. The first experiment at field conditions, investigating the effect of a combination of mineral fertilizers and charcoal as a mean of reducing nutrient leaching tested anual crops in a randomized complete block design with 15 treatments with five replication including organic amendment combinations with and without fertilization (compost, chicken manure, litter and charcoal). Plots fertilized with NPK and lime + charcoal application showed better plant growth as plots fertilized alone. Our first experiment with Banana showed some better mineral nutrition for N in the plants growing on plots were charcoal were applied

The burden of diabetes mellitus during pregnancy in low- and middle-income countries : a systematic review

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

MSH3 polymorphisms and protein levels affect CAG repeat instability in huntington's disease mice

Expansions of trinucleotide CAG/CTG repeats in somatic tissues are thought to contribute to ongoing disease progression through an affected individual's life with Huntington's disease or myotonic dystrophy. Broad ranges of repeat instability arise between individuals with expanded repeats, suggesting the existence of modifiers of repeat instability. Mice with expanded CAG/CTG repeats show variable levels of instability depending upon mouse strain. However, to date the genetic modifiers underlying these differences have not been identified. We show that in liver and striatum the R6/1 Huntington's disease (HD) (CAG)~100 transgene, when present in a congenic C57BL/6J (B6) background, incurred expansion-biased repeat mutations, whereas the repeat was stable in a congenic BALB/cByJ (CBy) background. Reciprocal congenic mice revealed the Msh3 gene as the determinant for the differences in repeat instability. Expansion bias was observed in congenic mice homozygous for the B6 Msh3 gene on a CBy background, while the CAG tract was stabilized in congenics homozygous for the CBy Msh3 gene on a B6 background. The CAG stabilization was as dramatic as genetic deficiency of Msh2. The B6 and CBy Msh3 genes had identical promoters but differed in coding regions and showed strikingly different protein levels. B6 MSH3 variant protein is highly expressed and associated with CAG expansions, while the CBy MSH3 variant protein is expressed at barely detectable levels, associating with CAG stability. The DHFR protein, which is divergently transcribed from a promoter shared by the Msh3 gene, did not show varied levels between mouse strains. Thus, naturally occurring MSH3 protein polymorphisms are modifiers of CAG repeat instability, likely through variable MSH3 protein stability. Since evidence supports that somatic CAG instability is a modifier and predictor of disease, our data are consistent with the hypothesis that variable levels of CAG instability associated with polymorphisms of DNA repair genes may have prognostic implications for various repeat-associated diseases

Transposing tirtha: Understanding religious reforms and locative piety in early modern Hinduism

The paper deals with a historical and hitherto obscure case of de-commercialisation of sacred geography of India. Sahajanand Swami, an eighteenth century religious leader from Gujarat who became popular as Bhagwan Swaminarayan took an initiative to eliminate corruption in Dwarka, one of the most sacred destination in Hindu imagination. He also attempted to transpose the piety of Dwarka and recreate a parallel religious experience at Vadtal, an important site in Swaminarayan Hinduism. This process of making sacred sites more egalitarian is classified here as a 'religious reform'. The paper assesses this bivalent pursuit as an institutional reform within religion as well as a religious process in the context of piety, authority and orthodoxy. Through the example of Sahajanand Swami, it is argued to calibrate the colonial paradigm of reform that was largely contextual to social issues and western thought and failed to appreciate the religious reforms of that era. By constructing a nuanced typology of 'religious reform' distinct from 'social reforms', the paper eventually calls for a reassessment of religious figures who have significantly contributed in reforming the Hindu tradition in the medieval and modern era

L’intelligence comme dispositif de pouvoir

O objetivo do presente estudo, é compreender a inscrição individual e social de discursos usados por alunas, em diferentes posições de classe social, para explicar os seus sucessos académicos. Foram entrevistadas 19 alunas portuguesas do 11º ano de escolaridade provenientes das classes trabalhadora e alta, com elevado rendimento académico. A Análise Foucaudiana do Discurso aponta para a importância da posição de classe na construção dos sujeitos relativamente à sua conceção de inteligência e ao sucesso escolar. A inteligência funciona assim como um dispositivo de poder que regula as relações entre sujeitos de diferentes classes sociais.The objective of the present study is to understand the individual and social inscription of discourses used by students from different social class positions to explain their academic achievement. Nineteen portuguese students, from the 11th grade, with high academic performance and from the working class and upper class, in northern Portugal, were interviewed. Foucauldian Discourse Analysis points to the importance of class position in the construction of the subjects with respect to their concept of intelligence and academic success. Intelligence works as a power device that regulates the relations among subjects of different social classes.L’objectif de cette étude est de comprendre l’inscription individuelle et sociale des discours utilisés par les apprenantes dans différentes positions de classe sociale, pour expliquer leurs succès académiques. Dix-neuf apprenantes portugaises de la 11ème année de scolarité dotées d’un bon rendement scolaire issues des classes ouvrières et moyennes supérieures ont été interviewées. L’Analyse Foucaldienne du Discours souligne l’importance de la position de classe dans la construction des sujets concernant leur conception de l’intelligence et de la réussite scolaire. L’intelligence fonctionne aussi bien en tant que dispositif de pouvoir qui régit les relations entre les individus de différentes classes sociales.(undefined