Studies on vibration of some rib-stiffened cantilever plates

The vibrational mode shapes and frequencies of rib-stiffened skew cantilever plates as determined by holographic interferometry are given. The effects of varying the sweep back angle, rib stiffness and aspect ratio are studied along with the influence of varying the boundary conditions at the root chord on the vibrational behavior of the plates. The study is applicable to investigating the vibrational behavior of stiffened plates often used in the design of guided rockets and missiles

CURBING ACTINOMYCETES AND THIDIAZURON ENHANCED MICROPROPAGATION IN THE RARE ALPINIA GALANGA - A MEDICINAL ZINGIBER

Objective: Elimination of endophytic actinomycetes before micropropagation using antibiotic pre-treatment in rhizome bud explants of Alpinia galanga. Then, the formulation of an operative protocol for Micropropagation of the same void of endophytic actinomycetes. Methods: A treatment of mercury chloride and carbendazim, alone and in combination was used as surface sterilants. A pre-treatment of rifampicin and fusidic acid was used against actinomycete endophyte disinfection of rhizome bud explants. Then, Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with various concentrations of cytokinins were used for micropropagation of disinfected explants. Results: A treatment of 0.1% (w/v) mercury chloride and 0.1% (w/v) carbendazim, one after the other for 5 minutes gave the best sterility of 83.3%. A pre-treatment of Rifampicin 100 mg/l and fusidic acid 100 mg/l for 2 hrs gave the best disinfection of 70% against actinomycete endophytes. A combination of thidiazuron (TDZ) 0.45 μM and 6-benzyladenine 13.32 μM in MS medium resulted in 9.4 shoots per explant. MS medium fortified with 10.74 μMof 1-naphthaleneacetic acid gave the best rooting of 20 roots/shoot. inter simple sequence repeat marker genetic similarity of regenerants with the mother plant was confirmed. Conclusion: This study shows the potency of Rifampicin and Fusidic acid to disinfect explants from actinomycete endophytes and is significant as the first report on curbing actinomycetes endophytes in plant tissue culture of A. galanga. This is also the first report conferring the dissimilar regeneration capabilities of TDZ in comparison to other cytokinins in Zingiberaceae

ETHNOBOTANICAL NOTE ON THE VETERINARY HEALTH-CARE MANAGEMENT BY MALAYALI TRIBES OF KALRAYAN HILLS

ABSTRACTObjective: Livestock is considered as the wealth of the tribal people, and the tribes are having rich knowledge on ethno-veterinary (EV) health-caremanagement. Keeping this in view, the study was carried out to document ethno-veterinary medicinal (EVM) knowledge of Malayali tribes, the nativepeople of Kalrayan Hills, Salem, Tamil Nadu, to improve their socio-economic status.Methods: Ethnobotanical survey was carried out in Kalrayan hills for EVM practices through regular field visits to the various hamlets of the studyarea from December 2009 to December 2014. EVM information was collected through personal interviews, field observations, and discussions amongthe traditional healers having familiarity and knowledge on Ethnoveterinary Medicine [EVM].Results: Utilization of 137 plant species as EVM, belonging to 120 genera under 54 families, has been recorded against 40 livestock ailments with126 types of preparations. Plant parts, such as leaf, root, flower, bark, resin, and rhizome, are used in the preparation. Among the plant parts, bark ispredominately used. Most of the preparations include parts of more than one plant as the ingredients, and many of such combined preparations areused for treating more than one ailment.Conclusion: In the present study, we observed the prevalence of different types of livestock ailments in the study area, and the tribal community ishaving much knowledge on EV health-care management which is an integral part of their day-to-day life.Keywords: Ethnobotany, Ethno-veterinary medicine, Livestock, Malayali tribes, Eastern Ghats, Kalrayan hills, Salem

In vitro propagation of Hoya wightii ssp. palniensis K.T. Mathew, a highly vulnerable and endemic species of Western Ghats of Tamil Nadu, India

In vitro propagation of Hoya wightii ssp. palniensis (Asclepiadaceae), a highly vulnerable and endemic plant species of Western Ghats, Tamil Nadu, India was carried out. Shoot tip explants were cultured on MS medium fortified with cytokinins (KN, BA, 2-iP and TDZ) in various concentrations and in combination with auxins (IBA, IAA and NAA). High frequency of shoot bud proliferation and multiplication was observed on KN (4.65 ìM) + IBA (1.47 ìM). Multiple shoot induction efficiency was increased on ascorbic acid (100 mg/l) supplemented medium along with KN (4.65 ìM) +IBA (1.47 ìM). Rhizogenesis was observed on MS medium supplemented with IBA (0.98 ìM), plantlets produced through micropropagation were hardened with the survival success of 56%. The efficient plantlet regeneration protocol developed would aid ex situ conservation of this vulnerable species

Regeneration of plantlets from nodal and shoot tip explants of Anoectochilus elatus Lindley, an endangered terrestrial orchid

Anoectochilus elatus Lindley is an endangered terrestrial orchid. A procedure for the regeneration of complete plantlets of A. elatus Lindley through node and shoot tip explants resulted directly in shoots when cultured on a full strength Murashige and Skoog (1962) medium supplemented with cytokinins at different concentrations. An average number of shoots per explant is 3 in shoot tip and 4 in node, respectively. The best shoot proliferation was observed in 3.0 mg/l 1-phenyl-3-(1,2,3-thiadiazol-5-yl)-urea (TDZ) and the mean shoot length in 3.5 mg/l 6-furfurylaminopurine (KIN) (node) and 0.01 mg/l (shoot tip). Hundred percent rooting was achieved with the regenerated shoots in the same medium with the addition of 0.3 g/l activated charcoal (AC). Plantlets with well developed leaves and roots were transplanted to pots filled with a mixture of coconut coir, activated charcoal, commercial fertilizers (3:1:1) and acclimatized before been transferred to the greenhouse.Keywords: : Anoectochilus elatus, activated charcoal, regeneration, rootingAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 11(29), pp. 7549-7553, 10 April, 201

Direct grafting of tetraaniline via perfluorophenylazide photochemistry to create antifouling, low bio-adhesion surfaces.

Conjugated polyaniline has shown anticorrosive, hydrophilic, antibacterial, pH-responsive, and pseudocapacitive properties making it of interest in many fields. However, in situ grafting of polyaniline without harsh chemical treatments is challenging. In this study, we report a simple, fast, and non-destructive surface modification method for grafting tetraaniline (TANI), the smallest conjugated repeat unit of polyaniline, onto several materials via perfluorophenylazide photochemistry. The new materials are characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectroscopy. TANI is shown to be covalently bonded to important carbon materials including graphite, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and reduced graphene oxide (rGO), as confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Furthermore, large area modifications on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) films through dip-coating or spray-coating demonstrate the potential applicability in biomedical applications where high transparency, patternability, and low bio-adhesion are needed. Another important application is preventing biofouling in membranes for water purification. Here we report the first oligoaniline grafted water filtration membranes by modifying commercially available polyethersulfone (PES) ultrafiltration (UF) membranes. The modified membranes are hydrophilic as demonstrated by captive bubble experiments and exhibit extraordinarily low bovine serum albumin (BSA) and Escherichia coli adhesions. Superior membrane performance in terms of flux, BSA rejection and flux recovery after biofouling are demonstrated using a cross-flow system and dead-end cells, showing excellent fouling resistance produced by the in situ modification

In vitro propagation of Ceropegia thwaitesii Hook- an endemic species of Western Ghats of Tamil Nadu, India

In vitro propagation of Ceropegia thwaitesii Hook (Asclepiadaceae), an endemic plant species of Western Ghats, Tamil Nadu (India), was carried out. Auxiliary bud explants were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium fortified with cytokinins (KIN), 6-benzyl adenine (BA), 2-isopentenyladenine (2-iP) and thidiazuron (TDZ) in various concentrations and in combination with auxins indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and naphthalene acetic acid (NAA). High frequency of shoot bud proliferation and multiplication was observed on KIN (13.94 μm) + IAA (28.54 μm). Rhizogenesis was observed on MS medium supplemented with IBA 2.46 μm and plantlets produced through micropropagation were hardened with the survival success of 73.33%. The efficient Micropropagation regeneration protocol developed would aid ex situ conservation of this endemic species.Key words: Ceropegia thwaitesii, in vitro propagation, Asclepiadaceae, plant growth regulators, micropropagation

An exploratory qualitative study of the prevention of road traffic collisions and neurotrauma in India: perspectives from key informants in an Indian industrial city (Visakhapatnam).

BACKGROUND: Despite current preventative strategies, road traffic collisions (RTCs) and resultant neurotrauma remain a major problem in India. This study seeks to explore local perspectives in the context within which RTCs take place and identify potential suggestions for improving the current status. METHODS: Ten semi-structured interviews were carried out with purposively selected key informants from the city of Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. Participants were from one of the following categories: commissioning stakeholders; service providers; community or local patient group/advocacy group representatives. Transcripts from these interviews were analysed qualitatively using the Framework Method. RESULTS: Participants felt RTCs are a serious problem in India and a leading cause of neurotrauma. Major risk factors identified related to user behaviour such as speeding and not using personal safety equipment, and the user state, namely drink driving and underage driving. Other reported risk factors included poor infrastructure, moving obstacles on the road such as other vehicles, pedestrians and animals, overloaded vehicles and substandard safety equipment. Participants discussed how RTCs affect not only the health of the casualty, but are also a burden to the healthcare system, families, and the national economy. Although there are ongoing preventative strategies being carried out by both the government and the community, challenges to successful prevention emerged from the interviews which included resource deficiencies, inconsistent implementation, lack of appropriate action, poor governance, lack of knowledge and the mindset of the community and entities involved in prevention. Recommendations were given on how prevention of RTCs and neurotrauma might be improved, addressing the areas of education and awareness, research, the pre-hospital and trauma systems, enforcement and legislation, and road engineering, in addition to building collaborations and changing mindsets. CONCLUSIONS: RTCs remain a major problem in India and a significant cause of neurotrauma. Addressing the identified gaps and shortfalls in current approaches and reinforcing collective responsibility towards road safety would be the way forward in improving prevention and reducing the burden

Assessment of Tsunami Preparedness in East Coast of India through Mega Mock Tsunami Drill conducted on 24 November 2017

Though tsunamis are infrequent, the death toll from tsunamis is huge compared with other natural disasters. The 26 December 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami resulted in disastrous loss of life and property. The major challenge with tsunamis is that they are infrequent, which requires great persistence in sustaining the process of capacity building and preparedness. Because of this infrequency, instruction through tsunami mock drills is the best way to train coastal communities to prepare for devastating actual events. The situational awareness and ability to respond quickly is best achieved through pre-event education and mock drills. The Tsunami mock drills evaluates the ability of warning centre and disaster offices to respond to a tsunami. The drills also educate the public on: where they would receive the official warnings, by which means, what those warnings indicate, how to understand them, and what they need to do in response. INCOIS in collaboration with MHA and NDMA has conducted mega mock tsunami mock drill on 24 November, 2017 to East coast of India. Disaster Management Organisations of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal participated in the drill. They took the drill to community level and executed evacuations at different villages. The average elapsed time achieved from time of receipt of warning to activating the public notification systems was 30 minutes. This is great achievement compared with previous mock drills as it has substantially improved, though the involvement of communities was at huge level. The Tsunami mock drill was very successful which enhanced the awareness and preparedness among the coastal people of East Coast of Indi