Soil Loss Estimation through USLE and MMF Methods in the Lateritic Tracts of Eastern Plateau Fringe of Rajmahal Traps, India

Laterites of Birbhum district are indentified as the ‘low-level laterites’ of ‘Rarh Plain’ of West Bengal and these are very much prone to severe soil erosion (mainly surface and sub-surface water erosion) in the monsoon season (June - September). Laterites and lateritic soils (locally named ‘Kankara’) of Caniozoic upland (adjoining areas of Rampurhat I block, Birbhum and Shikaripara block, Dumka- the study area), are the direct result of monsoonal wet-dry type of morpho-climatic processes and further laterisation of fluvial deposited materials (formation of surface duricrust) which was coming from Rajmahal Hills of eastern Chotanagpur Plateau (Jharkhand) in late Pleistocene. Such type of vermiform laterites is shaped and dissected by numerous gullies and ravines, giving birth of badland topography (locally named ‘Khoai’) of both degradation and aggradation processes. Before the soil conservation practices it is helpful if the assessment of soil erosion can be transformed into a statement of how fast soil is being eroded. The estimation of rate of annual soil loss is required in that case, because we must have to predict soil loss through effective models under a wide range of conditions. In this study the entire assessment is focused on the application Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) and Morgan, Morgan and Finney (MMF) methods in the soil loss estimation of sample slope segments, and relative comparison and suitability of both methods in the precise estimation of predicting soil loss.Keywords: Laterite, Gully, Rainsplash, Overland flow, USLE and MM

Strongly correlated systems: magnetic measurements of magnesium diboride and group IV magnetic semiconductor alloys

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Force Microscopy (NMRFM) is a unique quantum microscopy technique, which combines the three-dimensional imaging capabilities of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with the high sensitivity and resolution of atomic force microscopy (AFM). It has potential applications in many different fields. This novel scanning probe instrument holds potential for atomic-scale resolution. MgB2 is a classic example of two-band superconductor. However, the behavior of these two bands below the superconducting transition temperature is not well understood yet. Also, the anisotropic relaxation times of single crystal MgB2 have not been measured because it is not yet possible to grow large enough MgB2 single crystals for conventional NMR. Using our homemade NMRFM probe, we have set out to measure the relaxation times of micron size MgB2 single crystals to anix swer several questions relating to the anisotropy, multiband behavior, and coherence effects in this unusual superconductor. The goal of a second project is to study the effects of doping on the critical current of MgB2 superconducting wires. Ti-sheathed MgB2 wires doped with nanosize crystalline-SiC up to a concentration of 15 wt% SiC have been fabricated, and the effects of the SiC doping on the critical current density (Jc) and other superconducting properties studied. In contrast with the previously reported results, our measurements show that SiC doping decreases Jc over almost the whole field range from 0 to 7.3 tesla at all temperatures. Furthermore, it is found that the degradation of Jc becomes stronger at higher SiC doping levels. Our results indicate that these negative effects on Jc could be attributed to the absence of significant effective pinning centers (mainly Mg2Si) due to the high chemical stability of the crystalline-SiC particles. The principle goal of a third project, the study of magnetic semiconductors, is to investigate magnetic properties of Mn-implanted GeC thin films. 20 keV energy Mn ions were implanted in two samples: 1) bulk Ge (100) and 2) a 250 nm thick epitaxial GeC film, grown on a Si (100) wafer by UHV chemical vapor deposition using a mixture of germane (GeH4) and methylgermane (CH3GeH3) gases. A SQUID magnetometer study shows granular ferromagnetism in both samples. While the Curie temperature for both samples is about 180 K, the in-plane saturated magnetic moment per unit area for the first sample is about 2.2×10−5 emu/cm2 and that for the second sample is about 3.0 × 10−5 emu/cm2 . The external field necessary to saturate the magnetic moment is also larger for the second sample. These results show clear enhancement of magnetic properties of the Mn-implanted GeC thin film over the identically implanted Ge layer due to the presence of a small amount of non-magnetic element carbon.Physic

Role of Extracellular Hemoglobin in Thrombosis and Vascular Occlusion in Patients with Sickle Cell Anemia

Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is a common hemolytic disorder caused by a gene mutation in the β-globin subunit of hemoglobin (Hb) and affects millions of people. The intravascular hemolysis releases excessive amount of extracellular hemoglobin (ECHb) into plasma that causes many cellular dysfunctions in patients with SCA. ECHb scavenges NO which promotes crisis events such as vasoconstriction, thrombosis and hypercoagulation. ECHb and its degradation product, heme, are known to cause oxidative damage to the vessel wall and stimulate the expression of adhesive protein ligands on vascular endothelium. Our study shows that ECHb binds potently to VWF—largest multimeric glycoprotein in circulation—through the A2-domain, and significantly inhibits its cleavage by the metalloprotease ADAMTS13. Furthermore, a subpopulation of VWF multimers bound to ECHb exists in significant amount, accounting for about 14% of total plasma VWF, in SCD patients. The Hb-bound VWF multimers are resistant to ADAMTS13, and are hyperactive in aggregating platelets. Thus, the data suggest that Hb-bound VWF multimers are ultralarge and hyperactive because they are resistant to the protease. The Hb-bound VWF multimers are elevated parallely with the level of ECHb in patients' plasma, and is associated with the pathogenesis of thrombosis and vascular occlusion in SCA

Newspapers Having ‘National’ Character Likely to Bring Out the Environmental News in Enhanced Numbers: A Serious Study

Media has a massive role in communicating information in various kinds. Particularly, the print media is serving society powerfully with their development in various fields including technological aspects. Within the sharp competition, each media wants to hold their audience with continuous innovative items. The environment is such a contemporary subject which has a fair demand. The space is so valuable. In this study, the status of the English and the Bengali dailies in connection with environmental journalism, especially the most available ‘categories' in local newspapers have been scrutinised. All the local newspapers played an influential role to publish environmental news regular basis. But the local newspapers do not have the adequate infrastructure to carry ‘National News' and ‘International News' even ‘Local News' on the environment. Newspapers having the national character encourages carrying more and more numbers of ‘National News' and ‘International News' as well as ‘Local News' on environmental. Keywords: Newspaper, Environment, infrastructure, national character

Isolation and characterization of an extracellular lipase from the conidia of Neurospora cvassa

A triacylglycerol lipase (EC 3.1.1.3) from the conidia of Neurospora crassa was purified and characterized. The enzyme was purified by Sephadex G-100 column chromatography. Homogeneity was checked by PAGE, and isoelectric focusing gave a single band corresponding to a pI of 6.4. The enzyme had an apparent Mr 54000≥1000 as determined by gel filtration. SDS-PAGE gave a single band of Mr 27000, suggesting the presence of two identical subunits. This lipase preferred triglycerides with C16- and C18-fatty acyl chains. It cleaved only the primary groups of triglycerides. The lipase also exhibited a marked preference for substrates containing endogenously occurring fatty acids and so may prove useful in detailed studies on the physiological relevance of fatty acyl specificity of lipases. The enzyme was not affected by detergents, or thiol-binding agents. Modification of free amino groups caused 90% inhibition, suggesting a role of these groups in the maintenance of lipase activity

Stereoselective debromination of aryl-substituted vic-dibromide with indium metal

Debromination of both meso and dl (erythro and threo) aryl-substituted vic-dibromides with indium metal in MeOH leads to trans-alkenes exclusively