Mode of Occurrence and Distribution of Bauxite Deposits in Andhra Pradesh and Feasibility of Aluminum Industry

AbstractBauxite forms four groups of capping in high hills of the Eastern Ghats which are form SW to NE the Gurtedu group, Chintapalli group, Paderu group and Araku (or Anantagiri) group in a belt 130km long and 20km wide. It occurs both on Khondalite and charnockite. The capping on the khondalite are more in number than on the latter. The in situ formation of bauxite by alteration on khondalite is indicated by the relict foliation of khondalite in bauxite, parallel to the foliation of the underlying khondalite, the pseudomorophs of the bauxite mineral gibbsite after garnet, silliminate and feldspar and the boulders with core of fresh rock and cover of bauxite. Boehmite differs from diaspore in that it has a lower specific gravity and occurs in the form of minute crystals (rhombic or bladed) which can only be seen with a microscope. Both minerals, if separated from impurities are usually colourless. Gibbsite (or hydragillite) is the only alumuna mineral found in trihydrated bauxites both in the crystalline and non-crystalline forms. It is colourless like the monohydrated minerals but has a lower specific gravity (2.35).Aluminium manufacture consists of two phases, i.e., manufacture of alumina from bauxite (Al2O3) and the alumina is to be refined and fabricated. The location of the smelters is being controlled by the location of the ore deposits and the power sites. The ore moves to power if they are wide apart as this industry is very power intensive and the cost of transportation determine the exact site. From the alumina by electrolysis process aluminium is manufactured by the application of cryolite, India is being used to import entirely from S.W.Greenland. At present synthetic Cryolite is being used as a substitute which is prepared from fluorspar. Alumina is a light metal and can stand long haulage. Hence the source of power has become the most dominant factor for the location of aluminium plants which subsequently fabricate the aluminium

Next-generation development and application of codon model in evolution

To date, numerous nucleotide, amino acid, and codon substitution models have been developed to estimate the evolutionary history of any sequence/organism in a more comprehensive way. Out of these three, the codon substitution model is the most powerful. These models have been utilized extensively to detect selective pressure on a protein, codon usage bias, ancestral reconstruction and phylogenetic reconstruction. However, due to more computational demanding, in comparison to nucleotide and amino acid substitution models, only a few studies have employed the codon substitution model to understand the heterogeneity of the evolutionary process in a genome-scale analysis. Hence, there is always a question of how to develop more robust but less computationally demanding codon substitution models to get more accurate results. In this review article, the authors attempted to understand the basis of the development of different types of codon-substitution models and how this information can be utilized to develop more robust but less computationally demanding codon substitution models. The codon substitution model enables to detect selection regime under which any gene or gene region is evolving, codon usage bias in any organism or tissue-specific region and phylogenetic relationship between different lineages more accurately than nucleotide and amino acid substitution models. Thus, in the near future, these codon models can be utilized in the field of conservation, breeding and medicine

Identification of Sub-Surface Formations in Different Geological Environs Using ERI (Multi Electrodes) at Kadalangudi and Kottuchurry, Cavery Plain Area

AbstractAmong all geophysical methods, resistivity methods are most widely used in ground water, mineral and oil exploration. The resistivity methods involve passage of current through two iron stakes into the ground and measuring potential by means of two other electrodes. What we measure in these methods is the resistivity of the ground, which we call as ‘apparent resistivity’. Practically a known amount of current (I) is sent into the ground using two metal stakes, called current electrodes, and the potential is measured using other two probes, called potential electrodes. The concept of apparent resistivity arises from the fact that the measured current between the two current (+I, -I) electrodes and voltage between the other two potential (P1 and P2) electrodes which are arranged in different configurations were introduced by various workers over the years in resistivity prospecting. the multi electrodes play a very significant role in the resistivity/IP prospecting, for detecting sub-surface formations and for studying sub-surface geological stratal architecture. In this type of surveys, a number of electrodes are planted on the ground surface maintaining an equal inter-electrode separation. The number of electrodes may be 12,24,48,72 or 96….depending upon type of the measuring system. For the present survey, IRIS make system called SYSCAL Pro-96 has been used for the field and lab studies. Most of the conventional electrode arrays viz., two-electrode, three-electrode, Wenner; Dipole-Dipole etc have been applied in different geological environs

Synthesis and antimicrobial evaluation of substituted fluoroquinolones under conventional and microwave irradiation conditions

A series of new fluoroquinolones analogs (3a-i) were prepared under conventional and microwave irradiation technique. Ethyl 1-cyclopropyl-6,7-difluoro-8-methoxy-4-oxo-1,4-dihydroquinoline-3-carboxylate (1) on reaction with boric acid and acetic anhydride in the presence of catalytic amount of zinc chloride under reflux, resulted in an unstable borate complex. Which was instantaneously treated with morpholine, piperidine, thiomorpholine, 2,6-dimethylmorpholine, 4,5,6,7-tetrahydrothieno[3,2-c]pyridine hydrochloride, 5,6,7,7a-tetrahydrothieno[3,2-c]pyridin-2(4H)-one hydrochloride, 2,3-dichlorophenylpiperazine hydrochloride, 3-(piperidin-4-yl)benzo[d]isoxazole hydrochloride and 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-[1,2,4] triazolo[4,3-a]pyrazine, in the presence of triethylamine to yield compounds 3a-i. The same compounds on the other hand synthesized using a microwave irradiation technique in the presence of triethylamine and adsorbed neutral alumina. The structures of the synthesized compounds were established on the basis of spectral and analytical data. The antimicrobial activity of newly synthesized compounds were evaluated against different microorganisms and found the compounds exhibited significant activity

Erratum to Identification of Sub-Surface Formations in Different Geological Environs Using ERI (Multi Electrodes) at Kadalangudi and Kottuchurry, Cavery Plain Area Procedia Earth and Planetary Science 11 (2015) 100 – 110

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Response of Small Heat Shock Proteins in Diabetic Rat Retina

PURPOSE. Small heat shock proteins (sHsps) have a critical role under stress conditions to maintain cellular homeostasis by their involvement in protein-folding and cytoprotection. The hyperglycemia in diabetes may impose cellular stress on the retina. Therefore, we investigated the expression of sHsps, phosphoregulation of aB-crystallin (aBC), and their localization in the diabetic rat retina. METHODS. Diabetes was induced in rats and maintained on hyperglycemia for a period of 12 weeks. The expression of sHsps, HSFs, and phosphorylated sHsps was analyzed by quantitative (q) RT-PCR and immunoblotting. The solubility of sHsps was analyzed by detergent solubility assay. Cellular localization of sHsps and phosphorylated aBCs was examined by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS. Of 10 sHsps, five sHsps were detected in the rat retina. Among those, increased expression for aA-crystallin (aAC), aBC, and Hsp22, and decreased expression for Hsp20 were seen in the diabetic retina, whereas Hsp27 mRNA levels were increased, while protein levels were decreased. While the expression of HSFs was either unaltered or decreased, expression of hypoxia inducible factor-1a (HIF-1a) was increased in the diabetic retina. The phosphorylation of aBC at Ser45 and Ser19 was increased in the retina of diabetic rats. However, phosphorylation of aBC at Ser59 was decreased in the soluble fraction with a concomitant increase in the insoluble fraction. Moreover, diabetes activated the p38MAPK signaling cascade by increasing the p-p38 MAPK in the retina. Further, diabetes induced the aggregation of Hsp27, aAC, aBC, and pS59-aBC in the retina. A strong immunoreactivity of Hsp27, aAC, aBC, and phosphorylated aBC was localized in different retinal layers of diabetic rats. CONCLUSIONS. The results indicate an upregulation of aAC, aBC, and Hsp22, but their solubility was compromised in the diabetic retina. There was increased phosphorylation at Ser59, Ser45, and Ser19 of aBC under diabetic conditions. Localization of sHsps and their phosphorylated forms was dispersed to many layers of the retina in diabetes. These results suggest that sHsps may be protecting the retinal neurons in chronic diabetes

The barriers and enablers to education among scheduled caste and scheduled tribe adolescent girls in northern Karnataka, South India: A qualitative study

This qualitative study explored the barriers and enablers to scheduled caste/scheduled tribe (SC/ST) adolescent girls entering into, and completing secondary education in northern Karnataka, South India. In-depth interviews were conducted with 22 adolescent girls, their respective parent/guardian (n = 22) and 11 teachers, recruited purposively from 11 villages within two districts in northern Karnataka. Multiple barriers were identified to disadvantaged caste adolescent girls’ entry into and retention in education in this setting, and these operated at the individual, family, community and school levels. In addition, some enablers to education were also described. The study highlights the importance of involving multiple stakeholders to overcome the barriers to education for SC/ST girls, and of working to change beliefs and expectations around gender norms as well as improving the quality of education in this setting

The Association of Total Meat Intake with Cardio-Metabolic Disease Risk Factors and Measures of Sub-Clinical Atherosclerosis in an Urbanising Community of Southern India: A Cross-Sectional Analysis for the APCAPS Cohort.

AIM: Meat is commonly consumed in India; however, in comparison to Western settings, it is eaten in relatively lower quantities and with minimal processing. The association between meat intake and cardio-metabolic diseases (CMDs) and their risk factors in India is currently uncertain. We examined whether meat intake is associated with risk factors for CMDs and the measures of subclinical atherosclerosis in urbanising villages in southern India. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 6012 adults (52.3% male) participating in the Andhra Pradesh Children and Parents' Study (APCAPS), which is a large prospective, intergenerational cohort study in Southern India that began with the long-term follow-up of the Hyderabad Nutrition Trial (1987-1990). We used cross-sectional data from the third wave of data collection conducted in 2010-2012, where total meat intake was assessed using 100-item, semi-quantitative validated food frequency questionnaires (FFQ). The FFQs were validated using multiple weighed 24 h dietary recalls. The main predictor, 'total meat intake', was calculated as the sum of chicken, red meat, and fish consumption. The risk factors for CMDs [systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), fasting glucose, total cholesterol, homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, and C-reactive protein] and measures of subclinical atherosclerosis [Carotid Intima-Media Thickness, Pulse Wave Velocity, and Augmentation Index] were assessed using standardised clinical procedures. Stratified by gender, the association of meat intake with the risk factors of CMDs and measures of subclinical atherosclerosis was examined using linear multilevel models with random intercept at the household level. RESULTS: The mean (SD) age of the male (n = 3128) and female participants (n = 2828) was 34.09 years (15.55) and 34.27 years (12.73), respectively. The median (IQR) intake of meat was 17.79 g/day (8.90, 30.26) in males and 8.90 g/day (4.15, 18.82) in females. In males, a 10 g increase in total meat intake/1000 Kcal/day was positively associated with DBP, BMI, WC, total cholesterol, LDL-C, and triglycerides, whereas in females, a 10 g increase in total meat intake/1000 Kcal/day was positively associated with SBP, DBP, fasting glucose, HOMA-IR, total cholesterol, LDL-C, and triglycerides. There was no relationship between meat consumption and measures of subclinical atherosclerosis. CONCLUSIONS: Meat intake had a linear positive association with CMD risk factors among the relatively younger Indian population who were consuming meat at lower levels compared to their European counterparts

Vision, challenges and opportunities for a Plant Cell Atlas

With growing populations and pressing environmental problems, future economies will be increasingly plant-based. Now is the time to reimagine plant science as a critical component of fundamental science, agriculture, environmental stewardship, energy, technology and healthcare. This effort requires a conceptual and technological framework to identify and map all cell types, and to comprehensively annotate the localization and organization of molecules at cellular and tissue levels. This framework, called the Plant Cell Atlas (PCA), will be critical for understanding and engineering plant development, physiology and environmental responses. A workshop was convened to discuss the purpose and utility of such an initiative, resulting in a roadmap that acknowledges the current knowledge gaps and technical challenges, and underscores how the PCA initiative can help to overcome them.</jats:p