Properties of electrodeposited functional Ni–Fe/AlN nanocomposite coatings

AbstractNi–Fe/AlN nanocomposite coatings were electrodeposited from sulphamate based electrolyte in N,N-dimethylformamide solvent. The conditions of maximum particulate incorporation into the matrix were optimized. The coatings were characterized by Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy dispersive analysis of X-ray (EDAX), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), and Vicker’s microhardness tester. The reinforcement of matrix with nano-AlN rendered superior microhardness (up to 560 HV) to the nanocomposites over monolithic Ni and Ni–Fe alloy deposits. Incorporation of aluminium nitride (AlN) particles in the Ni–Fe alloy matrix under optimum condition was recorded up to 23.2wt%. Magnetic measurements revealed soft ferromagnetic behaviour of the deposit with marked tendency towards superparamagnetism

Comparison of Enriched Silvipasture and \u3cem\u3eCenchrus ciliaris\u3c/em\u3e Pasture with Natural Pasture in Ravenous Soils for Goat Production under Rainfed Conditions

Goat is a future animal and plays a crucial role in providing livelihood and supplementary income to resource poor farmers and landless labourers of rural India. Goat rearing also ensures self-employment and act as a cushion in present climate change phenomena like drought and famine. Goats are found more in ecologically fragile arid and semiarid areas. Hence, it is imperative to address goat production under present scenario of climate change and food scarcity. The diverse challenges and constraints as growing population, increasing food, feed and fodder needs, natural resources degradation, climate change demands a reorientation of our strategies for goat production and development of feed and fodder resources in the country by utilizing waste lands/ poor lands, because in our country goats are mainly depend on natural feed resources available on waste and degraded lands. The poor production potential of these lands and poor values of qualitative parameters of available vegetation on such lands hamper expression of production potential of Indian goats, side by side economic progress of goat keepers. Therefore, an attempt was made to develop feed resources under three models i.e., Silvipasture, sown pasture and natural vegetation stand (natural pasture) in Yamuna ravines of Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh

Motion of an air bubble under the action of thermocapillary and buoyancy forces

A novel way to handle surface tension gradient driven flows is developed in the volume-of-fluid (VoF) framework. Using an open source Navier-Stokes solver, {\it Basilisk}, and the present formulation, we investigate thermocapillary migration of drops/bubbles in a surrounding medium. Several validation exercises have been performed, which demonstrate that the present solver is a robust one to investigate interfacial flows with variable surface tension. It is well known that it is a challenging task to numerically model the tangential and normal surface forces arising due to interfacial tension. We have shown that the present method does not require the artificial smearing of surface tension about the interface, and thus predicts the theoretical value of the terminal velocity of bubble/drop migrating due to an imposed temperature gradient very well. It is also demonstrated that the present solver provides accurate results for problems exhibiting the gravity and thermocapillary forces simultaneously, and useful for systems with high viscosity and density ratios.Comment: 30 pages, 16 figures, submitted to Computers and Fluid

Milk Production and Nutrient Efficiency of Lactation Goats on Diet Containing Linseed Cake, Mustard Cake and Guar Korma with Urea in Concentrates

Protein supplements, those conventionally used in goat feeding includes oil meals of ground nut, soybean meal, linseed and til etc., which are very costly and their availability is limited for ruminant feeding as these are most used in pig and poultry rations. However, mustard (Brassica juncea) oil meal is available in plenty at cheaper prices but their utilization in goat feeding is limited due to its bitterness (Pailan and Singhal, 2007), which arises upon degradation of glucosinolate contents of mustard (Tripathi and Mishra, 2007). Ruminant animals have unique capability of bioconversion of nonprotein nitrogen substances into microbial protein, which can also substitute organic protein supplement. Guar korma is another high protein feed resource available at cheaper prices, which can also be used in animal feeding in limited quantities. The use of mustard cake in replacement of linseed cake upto 75% in concentrates of lactating Jamunapari goats have been demonstrated earlier. However, information of guar korma use in goat feeding is in scanty. The level and quality of dietary protein and fat have influence on milk production and quality (Tripathi, 2014) Therefore, present experiment aimed to utilized mustard oil meal, urea and guar korma in replacement of conventional linseed oil cake as protein supplement in concentrate mixture of lactating goats feeding and assess the nutrient utilization efficiency for milk production

ASH LAYERS FROM SOUTH ANDAMAN SEA: PROBABLY SOURCED FROM TOBA CALDERA

Deep Sea sediment core PC-1 from the South Andaman Sea (7 ̊19.85' N; 94 ̊ 39.26' E; in East Andaman Basin) below the water depth of 3144 m contain discrete ash layers at various depths. According to morphological study, these ash layers contain glass shards of different varieties i.e. Type-I, Type-II, Type-III, Type-IV and Type-V and it is comparable to glass shards of Toba volcanic reported from other parts of the world. This observation is also supported on the basis of relative biostratigraphic datum observed in the core PC-1. The Layer-A (56 cm thick) at 210 cm bsf is just above the biostratigraphic datum of ca. 0.12 Ma, correspond to Youngest Toba Tuff (YTT), followed by Layer-C belongs to Middle Toba Tuff (MTT) and Layer-D inferred as Oldest Toba Tuff (OTT). This interpretation is further supported by the geochemical data obtained from the EDX analysis, which suggest high silica and alkali contents of rhyolitic composition. Hence, geochemical composition, morphology and biostratigraphic data of these discrete tephra layers show identical characteristics to the products of Toba eruptions, including YTT, MTT and OTT

Pharmacognostic evaluation of Bilva [Aegle marmelos (L.) Correa] root bark

670-676Aegle marmelos L., family Rutaceae, is a sacred plant mentioned in various Hindu scriptures. It has both medicinal as well as cultural importance. In the present investigation, macroscopy, microscopy, and powder microscopy studies, physicochemical analysis, detection of heavy metals, analysis of aflatoxins, screening of microbiological parameters and High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) fingerprint profile of methanolic extract were performed. Analysis of 04 aflatoxins (A1, B1, A2, and B2) was performed and found that no aflatoxins were present, authenticated by comparing the Rf value and colour of the standards spot with sample on TLC plate. Qualitative microbiological analysis of pathogenic bacteria, i.e., Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella sp., Pseudomonasaeruginosa and Escherichia coli were done and found that no bacterial pathogens are present in the Aegle marmelos root bark extract. HPTLC chromatographic fingerprint of Aegle marmelos root bark was done by using mobile phase toluene: ethyl acetate: formic acid (7.5: 2.5: 0.4). TLC plate was derivatized by using derivatizing reagent 5% Methanolic - sulphuric acid reagent and plate was heated at 105°C till the bands are clearly visible. Major spots Rf values and colour were noted at 254 nm, 366 nm, after derivatization 366 nm and UV light. Therefore, established parameters may be used as a reference tool for proper recognition and confirmation of right plant material and monitoring of batch to batch consistency of finished herbal products using Aegle marmelos as an ingredient. This study may also helpful in the preparation of Aegle marmelos root bark monograph

Enhanced Production of Protective Antigen, a Potent Diagnostic Protein of Bacillus anthracis, the Causative Agent of Anthrax

Protective antigen (PA) produced by Bacillus anthracis is a highly immunogenic protein. Therefore, it has significant importance in serodiagnosis as well as a vaccine candidate for anthrax. In the present study, codons for PA gene were optimised and synthesised for its expression in Escherichia coli. Various expression conditions were optimised for scaled up production of rPA. The final yield of affinity chromatography purified protein was 40.8 mg/l during batch fermentation. For further purification, affinity purified protein was diafiltered and subjected to anion exchange chromatography. SDS-PAGE and Western blot was used to characterise the purified rPA protein. The diagnostic potential of purified rPA was evaluated in Western blot using standards reference serum AVR 801 and cutaneous anthrax clinical sera. The results of the present study established the optimum production of rPA in E. coli after codon optimisation for its subsequent use in diagnosis of anthrax infection

A Rapid Flow through Membrane Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay for Bacillus anthracis using Surface Array Protein as a Biomarker

Anthrax, caused by Bacillus anthracis is an important disease of biowarfare and public health importance. It is imperative to develop a simple system which can detect and differentiate B. anthracis from other closely related species. The surface array protein (Sap), which is secreted during the early growth phase of bacteria can be an important biomarker for detection of B. anthracis. In the present study, we have developed a rapid flow through membrane ELISA for detection of B. anthracis. Polyclonal antibodies were used to develop a sandwich plate ELISA, which could detect 3.9 ng/ml of recombinant Sap. B. anthracis bacteria grown in culture broth could be detected after 5 h of growth. Finally, a rapid flow through membrane ELISA was developed which can be accomplished just within 2 minutes, instead of 3-4 h as required in sandwich plate ELISA. The results established that the developed flow through membrane ELISA may be used for detection of B. anthracis. The proposed method is rapid, safe and user friendly for detection of B. anthracis culture

Production and Purification of Protective Antigen of Bacillus anthracis and Development of a Sandwich ELISA for its Detection

Anthrax, a zoonotic disease caused by Bacillus anthracis is important for biowarfare as well as public health point of view. The virulence factors of B. anthracis are encoded by the two plasmids, pXO1 and pXO2. Protective antigen (PA), an 83 kDa protein encoded by pXO1 along with lethal factor (LF, 90 kDa) or edema factor (EF, 89 kDa), makes the anthrax toxin responsible for causing the disease. Current detection and diagnostic systems for anthrax are mostly based on PA, a potential biomarker of B. anthracis. The objective of the present study was to produce and purify the PA for development of a sandwich ELISA for its detection. In this study, pYS5 plasmid containing the full PA gene was transformed into an 8 proteases deficient Bacillus anthracis host BH480. The PA was produced under shake flask conditions and purified using the gel filtration chromatography. The reactivity of PA with rabbit and mouse anti-PA antibodies was confirmed by Western blotting. The antibodies were purified and used for the development of a sandwich ELISA for detection of PA. The detection sensitivity of ELISA was found to be 3.9 ng/ mL PA