Characterization of silver-kaolinite (AgK): an adsorbent for long-lived 129I species

Bentonite is a preferred buffer and backfill material for deep geological disposal of high-level nuclear waste (HLW). Bentonite does not retain anions by virtue of its negatively charged basal surface. Imparting anion retention ability to bentonite is important to enable the expansive clay to retain long-lived I-129 (iodine-129; half-life = 16 million years) species that may escape from the HLW geological repository. Silver-kaolinite (AgK) material is prepared as an additive to improve the iodide retention capacity of bentonite. The AgK is prepared by heating kaolinite-silver nitrate mix at 400 degrees C to study the kaolinite influence on the transition metal ion when reacting at its dehydroxylation temperature. Thermo gravimetric-Evolved Gas Detection analysis, X-ray diffraction analysis, X-ray photo electron spectroscopy and electron probe micro analysis indicated that silver occurs as AgO/Ag2O surface coating on thermally reacting kaolinite with silver nitrate at 400 degrees C

Stage-dependent changes in localization of a germ cell-specific lamin during mammalian spermatogenesis

We had earlier identified a 110/120-kDa protein specific to nuclear matrix of rat pachytene spermatocytes (Behal, A., Prakash, K., and Rao, M.R.S. (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 262, 10898-10902). This protein is now shown to be a disulfide-linked homodimer of a 60-kDa polypeptide. Indirect immunofluorescence and Western blot analyses using anti-120-kDa polyclonal antibodies have shown that this protein is a component of the pore-complex lamina structure of spermatogonia. As germ cells enter meiotic prophase and the lamina structure disassembles, this polypeptide is redistributed in the nucleus and can be isolated as a component of synaptonemal complexes. Following meiotic division, this 60-kDa protein is relocalized in the lamina, then representing the sole major component of the lamina structure of round spermatids. The identity of the 60-kDa protein in the pore-complex lamina fraction and synaptonemal complexes was further confirmed by two-dimensional analysis of iodinated tryptic peptides. Such an analysis has also shown that the germ cell-specific 60-kDa protein is related but not identical to somatic lamin B

Iodide retention by modified kaolinite in the context of safe disposal of high level nuclear waste

Bentonite clay is identified as potential buffer in deep geological repositories (DGR) that store high level radioactive wastes (HLW) as the expansive clay satisfies the expected mechanical and physicochemical functions of the buffer material. In the deep geological disposal of HLW, iodine-129 is one of the significant nuclides, attributable to its long half-life (half life=1.7×107  years). However, the negative charge on the basal surface of bentonite particles precludes retention of iodide anions. To render the bentonite effective in retaining hazardous iodide species in DGR, improvement of the anion retention capacity of bentonite becomes imperative. The iodide retention capacity of bentonite is improved by admixing 10 and 20% Ag-kaolinite (Ag-K) with bentonite (B) on a dry mass basis. The present study produced Ag-kaolinite by heating silver nitrate-kaolinite mixes at 400°C. Marginal release of iodide retained by Ag-kaolinite occurred under extreme acidic (pH=2.5) and alkaline (pH=12.5) conditions. The swell pressure and iodide retention results of the B-Ag-K specimens bring out that mixing Ag-K with bentonite does not chemically modify the expansive clay; the mixing is physical in nature and Ag-K presence only contributes to iodide retention of the admixture

High-Yielding Multicut Coriander Variety, Arka Isha

Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) is one of the important leafy vegetables having a pleasant aroma. Very little research work has been done on improvement of leafy coriander and only a few local varieties, low-yielding and with low aroma, are available in the market. Research work at Indian Institute of Horticultural Research has resulted in development of a leafy coriander variety, Arka Isha, with a high yield potential and good aroma. It is a multicut variety where the plants are bushy, leaves are broad and leaf lobes are short, and the variety is late flowering. Yield is 3.74t ha-1 by pulling at 40 days after sowing, and 11.98t ha-1 by cutting. Leaves have 167.05mg 100g-1 of Vitamin C, with good aroma and keeping-quality

Antinociceptive and anti-Inflammatory effects of the standardized oil of Indian Callistemon lanceolatus leaves in experimental animals

The effect of Callistemon lanceolatus (Syn. C. citrinus curtis; Family: Myrtaceae) leaf oil was studied for the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activity in experimental animals. C. lanceolatus, 25 – 100 mg/kg administered orally for 3 days exhibited graded dose response equivalent to 21.95% - 89.90% protection in the tail flick latent test in rat. The C. lanceolatus oil (50 and 100 mg/kg, given orally for 3 days) was effective in hot plate reaction time (64.05% and 112.97%,

Serum Cortisol Level as a Predictor of In-Hospital Mortality in Patients Undergoing Primary Percutaneous Intervention for ST Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction

Introduction: Various laboratory markers have been proposed to assess prognosis in myocardial infarction. Serum cortisol is one such laboratory marker. There are only few studies done in the recent past which prove that cortisol is a prognostic marker in STEMI.Methods: We studied a total of 168 patients who presented with STEMI and underwent primary percutaneous intervention (PPCI) within 12 hours of symptom onset between April 2016 and November 2016.Results: The average age of study population was 61 ± 0.12 years. Males were predominant (n = 132, 78.57%). 155 patients survived, whereas 13 patients died in the hospital. Mean syntax score was 16.65 ±5. 33 among patients who died, whereas it was 13.11 ± 5.62 among survivors (P = 0.03). Mean cortisol was significantly higher among the patients who died (46.13 ± 14.61 mcg/dl) than the survivors (31.16 ± 13.16 mcg/dl) (P = 0.003). The ROC AUC for in-hospital mortality was 0.77 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.645–0.897). An optimal cut-point identified from the ROC curve was a random serum cortisol concentration of 33.66 mcg/dl, with corresponding sensitivity and specificity of 69.2 % and 64 %, respectively. At a cut-point of 29.55 mcg/dl, sensitivity and specificity were 84.6 and 50 %, respectively.Conclusion: This study showed that serum cortisol level is a strong predictor of mortality in patients undergoing PPCI for STEMI. Levels more than 33.66 mcg/dl can predict mortality with a sensitivity of almost 70 percent and specificity of 64 percent

Mitigation of cromium contamination by copper-ZVI bimetallic particles

Soil and water pollution by chromium is a major environmental concern. While existence of chromium in + 3 state is considered benign, it's presence in the + 6 state poses an environmental concern. Hence reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) is considered as a satisfactory environmental solution to mitigate chromium contamination. The oxidation of a metal substrate can be enhanced by depositing small amount of nobler metal on its surface. The present study hence examines the efficiency of Cr (VI) reduction upon deposition of copper (oxidation potential: −0.34 V) on the surface of (zero valent iron) ZVI (oxidation potential: 0.04 V) particles. Batch experiments and pH and Eh measurements revealed that presence of copper loading on ZVI particles increases the efficiency of Cr(VI) reduction by 11 to 233 % in relation to the uncoated ZVI particles owing to enhanced electron activity and release of hydroxyl ions that converted Cr (VI) to mixed Fe-Cr oxide. The Cr (VI) reduction is accomplished in periods ranging from 60 to 240 min in the batch experiments and obeyed the pseudo first or second order kinetics

Post harvest loss and marketing of fruits - economic analysis of pink flesh guava in local and distant markets in India

Guava produced in Bengaluru in Karnataka is also transported to distant markets like Cochin in Kerala and Chennai in Tamil Nadu. An assessment of post harvest loss (PHL) was done in these markets. The main marketing channel followed was:Producer PHC Distant Market WS Retailer ConsumerMarketing practices followed in marketing of pink flesh guava and losses occurring at the wholesale (transit) and retailers’ level (storage) in the distant market - Kerala were studied from wholesalers and retailers. The PHL at the wholesalers’ level was observed to be 3.6 per cent mainly due to pressed and crushed fruits during transit. The retail level loss was 4.59 per cent which was mainly due to storage for more than two days resulting in decaying, rotting, yellowing etc. Average price received by the wholesaler was Rs.29.92/kg with a margin of Rs.6.21/kg (20.75%). The retailers received a price of Rs.46.54/kg with a margin of Rs.16.35/kg (35.13%). Marketing practices followed in marketing of pink flesh guava and losses occurring at the wholesale (transit) and retailers’ level (storage) in the distant market - Chennai (Tamil Nadu) were studied with wholesalers in Coimbeedu market and retailers in different parts of Chennai. The PHL at the wholesalers’ level was observed to be 4.62 per cent mainly due to pressed and crushed fruits during transit. The retail level loss was 6.09 per cent which was due to pressing of fruits during handling. The wholesaler received a margin of 22.91 percent in trading of guava fruits. The retailers received a margin of 45.72 per cent. The Karnataka farmers can take advantage of the higher prices prevalent in the distant markets and increase their income. Pathological investigation indicated that losses occurred at different stages of handling due to Styler end rot, Anthracnose, Canker, thrips attack etc., which needs to be addressed. The storage losses of pink flesh guava were estimated as 5.89 % after 4 days of storage at room temperature (24-32°C) that constituted mainly the physiological loss in weight (PLW). Spoilage started after 5 days of storage (10.5 %) and reached to 28.31 % by 6 days of storage. After 4 days of storage, guava fruits lose weight to the extent of 6 per cent and the spoilage starts after 5 days. Hence, care should be taken to dispose of the fruits within five days of harvest

Economic Analysis of Post-Harvest Loss and Marketing Efficiency in Guava (cv. Allahabad safeda) in Karnataka

Post-harvest losses (PHL) in guava (cv. Allahabad safeda) were estimated at the field and retail levels in Karnataka, and impact of this loss on marketing efficiency was studied. Results indicated that the total PHL was 13.29% consisting of field-level loss (9.17%) and retail level loss (4.12%). The producer's share was 51.52% and PHL, when included as an item of cost, reduced the share to 45.80%. PHL also reduced marketing efficiency index from 1.06 to 0.88, thereby indicating the importance of PHL and scope for minimizing it to improve the efficiency of the marketing system in guava

Contaminants removal by bentonite amended slow sand filter

Earlier studies have indicated that variability in size, surface texture and charge greatly influence the contaminant removal process in granular media. Based on surface characteristics of montmorillonite, it is anticipated that small addition of this clay would increase adhesion sites for bacterial growth and extracellular polymer production in slow sand filter and thereby enhance its contaminant removal ability. Experiments were performed by permeating groundwater conta-minated with pathogens (total coliform and E. Сoli) and inorganic contaminants through bentonite amended slow sand filter (BASSF). Surprisingly, the BASSF retained inorganic contaminants besides pathogens. Water-leach tests (pH of water leachate ranged from 2 to 9) with spent BASSF specimen indicated that the inorganic contaminants are irreversibly adsorbed to a large extent. It is considered that the combined effects of enhanced - organic matter mediated adhesion sites and increased hydraulic retention time enables the BASSF specimen to retain inorganic contaminants. It is envisaged that BASSF filters could find use in treating contaminated groundwater for potable needs at household and community level