How to approach supervisors for research opportunities

In this article, we use our experiences to provide tips for contacting potential supervisors, what to expect from them and how to approach them for research opportunities. With appropriate planning, you will be surprised by the number of prestigious academics who would be willing for you to join their research group, and to get you involved in a research project

Irrigation application efficiency and uniformity of water distribution using multi-outlet pipe and resource conservation technologies

Irrigation experiments were conducted during November to April under wheat crop in the winter season of 2012-13 and 2013-14 in the farmer’s field at Galibkhedi village located in Karnal District, Haryana State, India. In the study, collapsible multi-outlet pipe (MOP) along with single outlets pipe (SOP) was tested in farmer’s field under wheat cultivation. Irrigation was carried out in five treatments including tillage (T) with SOP and MOP; zero-tillage (ZT) with SOP and MOP, and furrow irrigation with raised bed (FIRB). Iso-time profile of waterfront spreading and advance indicated that irrigation water distribution was uniform under the plot irrigated using MOP as compared to plot irrigated using SOP. In addition, water distribution was uniform under zero tilled plots as compared to tilled plot. Results implied that MOP has several advantages over SOP in terms of application efficiency (AE) and uniformity of water distribution. Average application efficiency for the first study year was found to be in the order of ZT-MOP (82.41%) > FIRB (76.79%) > ZT-SOP (75.25%) > T-MOP (74.85%) > T-SOP (69.79%). Average application efficiency for the second study year was found to be in the same order as first year with some deviation in values. In the second year values of mean application efficiencies were ZT-MOP (82.58%) > FIRB (77.13%) > ZT-SOP (73.04%) > T-MOP (69.65%) > T-SOP (66.13%). Overall, this study concludes that irrigation under wheat crop using collapsible multi-outlet pipe (MOP) with zero tillage practices is a suitable option for surface irrigation that accomplishes uniform distribution of water with higher application efficiency

Evaluation of Traditional Mango (Mangifera indica L.) Varieties of Southern Kerala

Investigations were carried out at the Department of Pomology and Floriculture, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, to characterize traditional mango varieties of southern Kerala, based on utility of fruits. Wide publicity was made about the proposed study and an extensive survey was conducted. Fifty traditional mango types could be located from Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha districts. On evaluation three utility groups were identified, viz., pickling, table and dual purpose types, based on the survey. Variability could be observed for floral, fruit and quality attributes. Flowering round the year was observed in Vellari Type-1, Thali, Kizhakkan Thali and Ambalathara Local. Karpoora Varikka with carotenoid content higher than most leading, superior varieties was identified. Varieties with high content of total sugars were Nedungolan, Vellari Type-2, Perakka manga, Inamanga, Neenda Karpooram, Velutha Muvandan, Karpoora Varikka and Ambalathara Local. Pickling type mangoes gave highest average ascorbic acid content (46.02mg/ 100g). Average titrable acidity (%) and crude fibre content were also the highest in pickling types (1.22% and 1.18%, respectively). In organoleptic evaluation, Perakka manga, Nedungolan, Karpooram manga, Vellari Type-2, Neenda Karpooram, Muthalamookan, Inamanga, Ambalathara Local, Kotookonam Varikka and Velutha Muvandan ranked on top in overall acceptability. These traditional varieties with desirable traits can be used for developing molecular markers to identify particular genes of interest and transfer them to desirable cultivars through genetic engineering

Prospective of study of gestational diabetes mellitus risk in relation to maternal recreation physical activity before and after pregnancy

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus is common complications of pregnancy. Physical activity is associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The present study aimed to know association between physical activity and gestational diabetes mellitus in the first 20 weeks of their pregnancy.Methods: In the current case-control study, 50 pregnant females with gestational diabetes mellitus as the case group and 50 pregnant females as control group were selected. To diagnose gestational diabetes mellitus using diagnostic criteria. Females with abnormal oral glucose challenge test (>140mg/dL) were asked to perform the three-hour 100 g oral glucose tolerance test. The details of physical activity were collected by pregnancy physical activity questionnaire. Anthropometric and other data were recorded for all of the participants.Results: Females with low total physical activity at early pregnancy were at a significantly higher risk of developing gestational diabetes mellitus compared to the ones with higher levels of physical activity. After adjusting for age, body mass index (BMI), gravidity and a family history of diabetes, females with low physical activity during 20 weeks of pregnancy were at a significantly higher risk of developing gestational diabetes mellitus. Females with the low intensity of sedentary, light and moderate physical activity are at a higher risk of developing gestational diabetes mellitus compared to females with a higher intensity of sedentary, light and moderate physical activity.Conclusions: Females should be encouraged to do regular daily physical activity during pregnancy, if there is no specific contraindication to it.

Ice Shapes on a Tail Rotor

Testing of a thermally-protected helicopter rotor in the Icing Research Tunnel (IRT) was completed. Data included inter-cycle and cold blade ice shapes. Accreted ice shapes were thoroughly documented, including tracing, scanning and photographing. This was the first time this scanning capability was used outside of NASA. This type of data has never been obtained for a rotorcraft before. This data will now be used to validate the latest generation of icing analysis tools

EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES ON MECHANICAL, FRICTION AND WEAR OF NON ASBESTOS ORGANIC BRAKE LININGS FOR LIGHT MOTOR VEHICLE

In this study, flyash based non asbestos organic brake lining composition of more than 14 ingredients was investigated to study the effect of ingredients on various behavior of friction properties. Two types of friction materials with different combinations were developed: i) fly ash range (10 %to 60%) and ii) without fly ash based friction materials were investigated to study the effect of ingredients on the friction characteristics and wear. The main focus on the average normal coefficient of friction, hot coefficient of friction (Fade and recovery), wear loss, mechanical, as the function of the relative amount of the ingredient. The results also showed that the friction coefficient of fly ash based friction material was better in the range of 0.35 to 0.48 when compared barites based brake linings in the range of 0.46 to 0.58. The materials such as potassium titanate(terraces), wollastonite, friction dust powder have strongly influence on friction coefficient. The wear résistance of the brake linings was strongly affected by the presence of rock wool calcium hydroxide and zircon silicate. The presence of glass fiber, twaron fiber, glass fiber has increased the strength of the friction material. All these samples were tested on chase type friction tester at automobile ancillary unit

Experimental Studies on Abrasive Water Jet Cutting of Nano SiC Particles Filled Hybrid Basalt-Glass Fibre-Reinforced Epoxy Composites

Abrasive water jet machining (AWJM) is extensively beneficial in machining materials that are hard to cut. This investigation deals with AWJM of Nano SiC filled Epoxy reinforced with basalt-glass fiber hybrid composite. The composite is prepared by compression moulding technique. Experimental trails are performed to evaluate the impact of every process parameter on the responses i.e., surface roughness (Ra) and Material Removal Rate (MRR). The experiments are conducted by changing the standoff distance (SD), traverse speed (TS) and water pressure. The performance of the conducted experiment is analysed using a Swarm intelligence algorithm. Surface roughness and MRR are maximized by using the combination of optimum process parameter levels of 9.72 mm/min speed, 5.78 mm stand-off distance and 553 MPa jet pressure. Scanning Electron Microscopic (SEM) images are employed in detecting the morphology of machined surface and confirmed the presence of voids and fibre pull-out

An Evidence based Research on Presence of Carcinogens and Increasing Spurts of Cancer Cases in Vaigai River Basin, India

Water is an inevitable part of living organisms. Water pollution is a serious environmental threat to people who consume, enter, and wash in contaminated water. The aim is to study the quantified levels of carcinogens in the environment, according to IARC Classification such as Arsenic, Benzene, Cadmium, Hexavalent Chromium, Cobalt, Nickel, Lead, Nitrite/Nitrate, and Phosphates and their correlation with increased spikes of cancer cases across districts that lie along Vaigai River Basin, Tamil Nadu, India. A Systematic literature review for cross-sectional studies that provided information about groundwater quality was carried out using six databases, "Researchgate, PubMed, Elsevier Science Direct, Wiley Online Library, Medline, and SpringerLink" from 2012 to 2022. The TNCRP report from 2021 was used as the basis for calculating the proportion of all cancer cases in the relevant district. Based on the Newcastle Ottawa Scale, a quality assessment was conducted. The results show the presence of high concentrations of carcinogens in the groundwater and sediments collected near the industries, commercial zones, and agricultural land. The significant association between exceeding the permissible limit of various heavy metal elements and compounds and the percentage of cancer cases at that particular site has been established in this study. Vaigai River is highly polluted such that the heavy metal concentration has already entered the human food chain. Oral findings commonly associated with chronic toxicity of carcinogenic heavy metals are listed which serves as an alarming signal to adapt to a healthy lifestyle and dietary modifications as required. &nbsp