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The grapes are being exported in increasing quantities from Maharashtra to European countries and a lot of pesticide inputs are being used by the growers. A total number of 578 grape samples collected from Nasik district during December, 2013 to April, 2014 and analyzed for 167 numbers of multi-class pesticide (Organophosphate, Triazine, Pyrimidine, Triazole, Imidazole, Benzimidazole, Nicotinoid, Substituted thiourea, Strobiluron, Dinitroaniline, Morpholine) residue levels using Liquid Chromatography-Mass spectrometry/Mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and Gas Chromatography-Mass spectrometry/Mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) by using validated methods. Only four samples were free from pesticide residues and rest were contaminated with 1-13 numbers of pesticides residue. During the study different classes of total 41 number of agro-chemicals had been detected and 116 number of samples were failed with residues of 4-Bromo-2-Chlorophenol, Abamectin,Carbendazim, Chlormequat Chloride , Chloropyriphos,Dinocap,Forchlorfenuron, Hexaconazole, Flusilazole, Profenophos, Spinosad, Thiacloprid, Triazophos, Fipronil and Acephate by exceeding their European Union MRLs.

The spotted pod borer, Maruca vitrata (Fab.) causes significant damage by attacking pods in cowpea. The aim of this study was to evaluate the field efficacy of new generation insecticides against spotted pod borer. Field experiments were conducted at Regional Research Station, Nasik (Maharashtra) on cowpea during Kharif ,2009 and 2010. Among the new generations tested, flubendiamide 20 WG @ 1.0 g/l (4.79%) was observed significantly higher, in reducing the damage caused by the spotted pod borer in cowpea, on number basis followed by indoxacarb 14.5SC @ 0.5 ml/l (7.99%) and spinosad 45 SC @ 0.3 ml/l (8.70%). The highest marketable yield (91.49 q/ha) was recorded in flubendiamide 20 WG @ 1.0 g/l followed by spinosad 45 SC @ 0.3 ml/l (91.39 q/ha). However, the maximum cost benefit ratio (1:3.2) was recorded in thiodicarb 75 WP @ 1 g/l followed by indoxacarb 14.5 SC @ 0.5 ml/l (1:2.3), spinosad 45 SC @ 0.3 ml/l (1:1.9), emamectin benzoate 5 SG @ 0.5 g/l (1:1.3), flubendiamide 20 WG @ 1.0 g/l (1:1.1). On the basis of efficacy, flubendiamide 20 WG @ 1.0 g/l was observed to be very effective against Maruca vitratain cowpea followed by indoxacarb 14.5 SC @ 0.5 ml/l and spinosad 45 SC @ 0.3 ml/l.

This study reports qualitative profiling of the phenolic compounds in an indigenously developed purple radish genotype VRRAD-151 using ultra performance liquid chromatography with quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry. The root and leaf samples were harvested at the horticultural maturity stage of the genotype. Roots were divided into the periderm, and xylem, and the leaf samples were divided into petiole, and lamina, and these were separately extracted with methanol before the LC-MS analysis. A total of 66 compounds, including 23 flavonols, 1 dihydroflavonols, 4 flavonones, 4 flavones, 28 anthocyanins, 2 isoflavonoids, 3 phenolic acids, and 1 hydroxybenzaldehyde were putatively identified based on high resolution accurate mass analysis with the data processing through UNIFI®, which is a comprehensive compound identification software solution. An in-house developed database comprising the secondary metabolites of polyphenols was used for the screening purpose, and each phenolic compound was identified based on the detection of the precursor ion, and at least one characteristic fragment ion, each with less than 5 ppm of mass error. Anthocyanins were the most abundant type of phenolics exhibiting 59% in leaf petiole, 80% in root periderm, and 90% in root xylem. The relative concentration of anthocyanins was lower (11%) in the leaf lamina. Cyanidins were the most predominant anthocyanins accounting for 54, 100, 90 and 65%, in leaf lamina, leaf petiole, root periderm and root xylem, respectively. Eight anthocyanins and 25 flavonols (except kaempferol-3-O-p-coumaryl-shophoroside-7-O-glucoside) are tentatively new identifications and reported for the first time in radish. Flavonols were found to be the predominant group of phenolic compounds in the leaf lamina, and interestingly, the gradient of antioxidant activity followed the (relative) concentration gradient of flavonols in the samples. The relative antioxidant activity of various fractions when compared with each other, followed the trend: leaf lamina > root periderm > leaf petiole ≈ root xylem. Based on the results it can be reflected that this genotype can be utilized as a functional food for management of various human and animal diseases. Since the detected anthocyanins were mostly present in acylated forms, this genotype can function as a potential source of stable natural colorants. Keywords: Radish (Raphanus sativus L., Brassicaceae), Metabolic profiling, Phenolics, Anthocyanins, Flavonols, Antioxidant assays, High resolution LC-MS

Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis L.) is continually being improved to increase sustainability of production, enhance nutritional quality, and reduce waste. Development of resistances against abiotic (high temperature and rainfall) and biotic stresses (diseases and insects) is necessary for this purpose. Breeding plays a vital role in addressing these issues through development of superior varieties/hybrids. Globally, more than 20,000 accessions of C-genome taxa of B. oleracea are maintained in over 100 gene banks; European countries host the world’s largest and most diverse collections. The favorable genes and quantitative trait loci (QTL) for various traits of economic importance are scattered across cultivated types, breeding lines, and wild populations (i.e., primary, secondary, tertiary, and other gene pools) of B. oleracea, with efforts being made to integrate two- or multitiered breeding approaches for broadening the genetic base and introgressing genes and QTL of resistance, ...

The concentration fluctuations in long wavelength limit and thermodynamic properties, i.e. free energy of mixing, heat of mixing, entropy of mixing and activity of the components involved in the Zn-Sn binary liquid alloy at a specified temperature, have been investigated using a familiar formalism in which the combined effect of size ratio, entropic and enthalpic effect is considered. These properties of Zn-Sn liquid alloys at 750 K have been computed by estimating the best fit value of order energy parameter (W) and size ratio () in the entire range of concentration in order to match their experimental and theoretical values. This value of W has been used to determine the values of W at different temperatures with the help of temperature derivative of W which are then used for the optimization procedure in order to calculate the corresponding values of excess free energy of mixing, partial excess free energy of mixing and activity of the components involved in the alloy at different temperatures....

Enhanced hole mobility is observed in thin films of poly(2-methoxy-5-(3′,7′-dimethyloctyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene) (MDMO PPV) dispersed with Lead Sulfide nanoparticles. Changes in the polymer film morphology upon the dispersion of nanoparticles and its influence on the enhancement of carrier mobility is investigated using Photoluminescence (PL) and Raman spectroscopic studies. PL and Raman studies show that at low concentrations of nanoparticles there is an enhancement in polymer interchain interaction. At higher concentrations, the interhain interaction decreases. Raman studies show that the observed enhancement of polymer interchain interaction at low nanoparticle concentration is due to the tighter packing of polymer chains. Thus, at low nanoparticle concentration, the observed increase in mobility is assigned to both the enhancement in interchain interaction and tunneling of carriers through nanoparticles. At higher nanoparticle concentrations the observed enhancement of mobility can be totally attributed to the tunneling of carriers through nanoparticles.

A laboratory experiment has been performed to study the ions that are produced due to collisions of 450 eV N2+ ions with a hydrocarbons-covered surface of polycrystalline tungsten at room temperature. Using a TOF mass spectrometry technique, the product ions formed in these collisions have been detected, identified and analyzed. Different ion–surface reaction processes, namely, neutralization, reflection, surface induced dissociation, surface induced chemical reactions and desorption are observed and discussed. Apart from the presence of desorbed aliphatic hydrocarbon and other ions, the mass spectra obtained from the considered collisions show the formation and sputtering of tungsten nitride (WN). A layer of WN on tungsten surface is known to decrease the sputtering of bulk tungsten in fusion devices more effectively than when the tungsten is bombarded with other seeding gases (He, Ar). It is further noted that there is a negligible diffusion of N in the bulk tungsten at room temperature.

Soil organic carbon (SOC) is a dynamic soil property that represents the key component of the forest ecosystems. The main objective of the present study is to evaluate SOC using the remote sensing images as well as field methods at Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve Forest area. The soil samples were collected randomly from the region at several field locations, to estimate the surface soil carbon concentrations in the laboratory. The study derived results for bare soil index, NDVI, SOC and relationship of SOC with NDVI using regression analysis, while comparing reference SOC (field measured SOC) and predicted SOC (estimated from satellite image). The remote sensing images were used to predict the precise carbon content associated with organic matter in the soil using NDVI and related equations, to prepare digital soil organic carbon map. The relationship between the NDVI and both reference/predicted SOC is established using the equation to derive the digital SOC for the study area using remote sensing data. The statistical relationship between reference SOC, pH concentrations, and NDVI values were presented against the predicted SOC to provide the variation between each variable.

This study was executed to determine phytochemical content i.e. total carotenoids, phenolics and flavonoids, and antioxidant ability expressed in the form of FRAP, CUPRAC and ABTS activity among different coloured tropical carrots (orange, red, yellow, rainbow and black carrot) developed at ICAR-IIVR, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India. Overall, within different colour group, the extent of variation for various phytochemical content and antioxidant potentiality is narrow i.e. ranged from 1.04- to 3.21-fold; but at the same time, the genotypic variability across genotypes is too wide which varied 20.90- to 57.92-fold for phytochemical and antioxidants is an indication of broad genetic base of carrot germplasm. Among all the carrots, black carrot had an exceptionally high content of total phenolics and flavonoids, and thereby led to the highest antioxidant ability in the terms of FRAP, CUPRAC and ABTS activity expressing about 76–83% relative potentiality followed by rainbow carrot, and least in orange, red and yellow carrot (black carrot > rainbow carrot > red carrot ≈ orange carrot ≈ yellow carrot). The content of phenolics and flavonoids were highly correlated with antioxidant activity (0.955** to 0.992**). However, the most cultivated and consumed carrots, orange and red one, possessed higher amount of carotenoids. The content of carotenoids negatively correlated with total phenolics, flavonoids and antioxidants activity (− 0.612** to − 0.627**). Broad genetic base and selection based on total phenolics content could be pivotal in the future breeding to harness the genetic wealth of carrot efficiently.

We report a formalism that connects thermodynamics and transport properties such as viscosity and diffusion coefficient which has been used to calculate the concentration dependence of free energy of mixing, concentration-concentration fluctuations in the long wavelength limit and concentration dependence of diffusion and viscosity in Cu-Sb and Cu-Sn binary liquid alloys at 1190K and 1400K respectively with aid of size effect and no size effect. Our calculations show that a reasonable degree of chemical order exists in both alloys system. It can be concluded that size mismatch has more effects on the transport properties of Cu-Sb hetero-coordinated system with greater size ratio than Cu-Sn hetero-coordinated system.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/bibechana.v12i0.11781BIBECHANA 12 (2015) 96-103

Genotypic × environment (G × E) interactions in 35 indigenous line of elephant foot yam (Amorphophallus paeoniifolius Dennst Nicolson) were evaluated for two consecutive years of 2007 and 2008 under four environments in randomized block design (RBD) for yield, plant height, weight of corm, size of corm, dry matter and starch content. Mean squares deviation due to environment and environment linear variations were highly significant for all the traits. Linear component of genotype × environment interaction assumed importance for weight of corm, size of corm and yield. Thus, the prediction of the genotypes in the environments appeared to be feasible for all the characters under study. G × E interaction was found to be significant for dry matter and starch content indicating that these quality contributing traits were highly influenced by the change in environment leading to extension of analysis for estimating stability parameters. All traits significantly observed for environment + (genotype × environment) interaction confirming the influence of environment and suggesting the existence of considerable variation among genotypes as well as environments. On the basis of all three stability parameters (xi, bi and S2di), the genotype NDA-9 possesses high mean, nearer to unit regression and non-significant low deviation from regression. With respect to yield on the basis of all three adaptability parameters, it is evident that the genotype NDA-9 is stable as it possesses high mean, nearer to unit regression and non-significant low deviation from regression. Whereas the highest yielding genotype NDA-35 showed above average sensitivity and low deviation from regression, this genotype could be considered as a suitable for favorable environmental condition. Key words: Stability analysis, genotypic × environment interaction, adaptability, yield, quality traits, elephant foot yam.

Eleven cultivars were evaluated for fresh yield (10 environments), curing per cent, cucumin and dry yield (five environments) across India, four each in North and South India and two in North East India, ranging from 43 to 893 m above mean sea level. Combined analyses showed significant differences among cultivars, environments, and cultivar by environment interactions for yield, curing per cent and curcumin contents. A large proportion (70.8%) of variation on fresh yield was attributed to environments; however, for curing per cent, curcumin content and dry yield, genotype effect accounted for 31.2%, 17.7% and 15.7% of variation, respectively. Mega Turmeric was the most stable for fresh yield with above average yield per plant across all environments. Rajendra Sonia was performing well at specific locations as the fresh yield was high and was highly responsive to favorable environments. Results on curcumin and curing per cent showed that, IISR Kedaram performed consistently across five environments with regression values almost equal to one and non-significant deviation from regression was adjudged to be the most stable cultivar for curcumin production. High curcumin cultivar Narendra Tumeric-1 was least responsive at environments with regression values less than one and significant deviation from regression. Mega Turmeric, IISR Prathiba and IISR Kedaram showed high stability for dry yield across environments. Three varieties, Mega Turmeric, IISR Kedaram and IISR Prathiba could serve as a good genetic source for stability in breeding programs for high dry yield and curcumin content.

Carrot is rich sources of natural antioxidants. In the present experiments few novel genotype were evaluated for their antioxidant content. Antioxidant activity was measured using four in vitro assays viz. ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), cupric reducing antioxidant power (CUPRAC), 2, 2-diphenyl-1picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity assays (TEAC). Additionally five colour attributes were evaluated. Among carrot genotypes, significant difference (p

With a view to develop nutritious ridge gourd variety, a field as well as a laboratory study was conducted to quantify and enumerate the genetic control for antioxidant properties and mineral content in fruits. The hybrids were found to be superior over their parents for various nutritional traits such as ascorbic acid, total carotenoids and total phenolics content; in vitro antioxidant activity in the form of DPPH-RSA, ABTS-RSA and CUPRAC; and P, K, Ca, Na, S, Fe, Zn and Mn content in the fruits. All the nutritional parameters exhibited higher values of dominance variance over the additive genetic variance, more than unity value of average degree of dominance and low narrow-sense heritability (

First principle study of the electronic band structure of Ba2DySbO6 synthesied by the solid state reaction technique have been performed within the framework of density function theory using WIEN2K. It has been shown in the absence of electron-electron interaction (U=0), BaDySO6 behaves like a half-metal. Even in the presence of DFT+U, electron-electron interaction via the Hubbard term (from U = 0, 2.72e -7.02eV), it still shows half metals.

Brassica vegetables are important source of dietary nutrition. However, information on the genetic combining ability of mineral elements such as iron, zinc, copper, manganese, potassium and calcium or their types of genetic effects (i.e. additive or non-additive) is scarce but important as it influences the selection of parents and breeding approaches to be adopted for improvement of nutritional quality of cabbage. Therefore, an attempt was made to estimate combining ability in a line × tester (5 × 11) mating design for minerals. Significant mean square for line × tester interaction was observed for all minerals under study indicating the prevalence of non-additive variance; while less than unity value of σ gca 2 /σ sca 2 ratio for iron, zinc, manganese, potassium and calcium accumulation indicate predominance of non-additive gene action. The parents 83-2, Pride of Asia, Pusa Mukta, Red Cabbage and MR-1 were found good general combiners for four mineral elements. The general combining ability effects of the parents for various minerals revealed that none of the parents excelled for all the minerals suggesting the need for multiple crossing approaches. The cross 83-1 × AC-1019 (Poor × Poor general combiner) exhibits desirable significant specific combining ability effects for all six minerals might be due to presence of high magnitude of non-additive especially complementary epistatic effects which can be utilize for commercial exploitation of heterosis. This study shows clearly that specific combining ability is more important than general combining ability for predicting hybrid combinations for high mineral content in cabbage head.

The legume pigeon pea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] is an important rainfed crop in many areas of the world. Production can be reduced when high nitrogen is present and symbiotic activity is low. A field experiment was conducted to determine the effects of nitrogen rate on nodulation, nodule carbon, and nitrogen fixation in 40 pigeon pea genotypes. Nitrogen was applied as urea at 40 (N40) and 120 kg·ha−1 of N (N120). Shoot biomass, root nodulation, amounts of nitrogen and carbon fixed, nitrate reductase activity in roots and nodules, and nitrite content in roots and nodules were determined. Genotype, N rate, and the interaction affected results. The genotypes Pusa-2001 and Sel-90306-11-4 had the most nodule mass at N40. Nitrogen rate did not affect nodule nitrogen-fixing effectiveness. Genotype Pusa-2001 had higher biomass at N120. Genotype Sel-90306-11-4 had high phosphoenol pyruvate carboxylase activity even at N120; which likely reduces host carbon dependence for nodule nitrogen function and improves ca...

We have studied the thermodynamic properties and microscopic structures of HgNa liquid alloy at 673 K on the basis of regular associated solution model. The concentrations of ApB type complex in a regular associated solution of Hg and Na have been determined. We have then used the concentration of complex to calculate the free energy of mixing, enthalpy of mixing, entropy of mixing, activity, concentration fluctuations in long wavelength limit S CC (0) and the Warren–Cowley short-range parameter α 1 . The analysis suggests that heterocoordination leading to the formation of complex Hg 4 Na is likely to exist in the liquid and is of a strongly interacting nature. The theoretical analysis reveals that the pairwise interaction energies between the species depend considerably on temperature and the alloy is more ordered towards Hg-rich region.

Strawberry ( Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) is rich source of dietary antioxidants, minerals and nutrients. Dietary antioxidants have been known as beneficial for enhancing the fitness, preventing certain diseases and even mitigating the effects of ageing. The objectives of the present study were to determine variability and inheritance of antioxidants, to identify antioxidant rich and productive genotypes, and to suggest suitable breeding approaches. The genotypes, namely Ofra, Chandler, Festival and Camarosa showed higher concentrations of dietary antioxidants and therefore could be useful in future breeding. Results indicate that the effect of the genotypes on antioxidant contents is stronger than that of the environment. The high heritability (>80%) and low genetic advance as percentage of mean ( 80%) and high genetic advance as percentage of mean (>40%). Positive direct effect on fruit yield was highest for phenol content (0.609) which is also fairly close to its correlation coefficient (0.765) indicating that a direct selection based on phenol content would be most effective and that the phenol content could be used as a reliable biochemical marker to identify the productive genotypes having higher amounts of dietary antioxidants. The information could also be used for developing antioxidant rich cultivars, i.e. ‘Breeding Strawberry for High Antioxidants’.

The thermodynamic and microscopic structure of Cd – Na liquid alloy at 673 K has been studied by using regular associated solution model. This model has been utilized to determine the concentration of the complexes Cd 2 Na in Cd – Na alloys in molten state at 673 K. The concentration of the complexes is then used to find free energy of mixing, heat of mixing, entropy of mixing, activity, concentration fluctuations in long wavelength limit S cc (0) and the Warren Cowley short-range parameter α 1 . The analysis suggests that this alloy is of a weakly interacting nature. The theoretical analysis reveals that the pairwise interaction energies between the species depend considerably on temperature and the alloy is more ordered in Cd -rich region. The alloy behaves like a segregating system in Na -rich region. The observed asymmetry in the properties of mixing of Cd – Na alloy in molten state is successfully explained by assuming Cd 2 Na complex on the basis of regular associated solution model.

Instrumental characterizations of the clay were performed by different techniques such as XRF, XRD and FTIR. XRF shows the chemical compositions of the clay where Al-oxide and silica oxide are present in major quantity whereas XRD confirms the presence of these minerals in clay. FTIR studies show the presence of quartz, alumina, haematite and different mineral matters.

Green tea manufacture was standardized with respect to the inactivation of polyphenol oxidase (PPO), rolling, and drying for quality manufacture. Inactivation of PPO by parching, steaming, microwave heating, and oven heating was monitored in tea shoots. The inactivated shoots were rolled under regimens of high and low pressures and dried by microwave heating, oven heating, or sun-drying; total phenols and catechins were estimated. Parched and sun-dried teas contained the lowest levels of total phenols and catechins, and their infusions were dull in color with a slightly burnt odor. Microwave-inactivated and-dried teas showed the highest levels of total phenols and catechins, and their infusions were bright in color and sweet in taste with a subtle pleasant odor. In steam-inactivated and oven/microwave-dried teas, total phenol and catechin contents were intermediate between parched and sun-dried teas and microwave-inactivated and microwave-dried teas, and their infusions were bright with a umami taste.

The present experiment was conducted at the Vegetable Research Farm, Department of Horticulture, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, BHU, Varanasi during the Rabi season of 2016–17 to evaluate the efficacy of fungicides against Cercospora leaf spot and powdery mildew diseases of chilli cv. Punjab Guchhedar. A variant with no application of fungicides was used as a control. All fungicidal treatments reduced the disease severity as compared to the untreated control with a corresponding increase in yield. Application of Tebuconazole 430 SC (500 ml/ha) significantly reduced the diseases and ultimately recorded the highest yield (139.00 q/ha) followed by Tebuconazole 430 SC (440 ml/ha) with yield 137.39 q/ha. The overall results revealed that Tebuconazole 430 SC at both the concentrations (500 and 440 ml/ha) effectively reduced the disease severity and increased the yield as compared to untreated control.

The results on fragmentation of a 3.7A GeV28Si projectile in interactions with different target nuclei in nuclear emulsion are presented. Limiting fragmentation behavior of the projectile fragments is achieved at this energy. It is shown that the factorization principle for fragmentation cross-sections holds for light fragments (Z ≤ 4) only. A bond percolation prescription is able to reproduce the experimental observations for fragments with charge 4 ≤Z ≤ 10. A rise in the production of helium fragments is also predicted by bond percolation.

The ability of the white-rot fungus Trametes hirsutus to degrade an insecticide, lindane, in liquid culture was investigated and compared with that of Phanerochaete chrysosporium. Trametes hirsutus degraded lindane faster than P. chrysosporium but the mechanism of degradation appears to be the same in both. Two metabolites identified in both fungi were tetrachlorocyclohexane and tetrachlorocyclohexanol. The presence of lindane alone inside the mycelium ruled out the involvement of any intracellular enzyme(s) during the initial step of lindane degradation. Lindane at a concentration of 0·27 μmol l−1 exhibited no adverse effect on fungal growth.

Low-cycle fatigue (LCF) behaviour of the alloy Ti-27Al-15Nb, in (α 2+B2) heat-treated condition was studied in total axial strain control mode at different total strain amplitudes (Δɛ 1/2) from ±0·65 to ±1·0% and room temperature. While there was little hardening of the material at the lowest strain amplitude (Δɛ t/2: ±0·65%), pronounced hardening was observed at the higher strain amplitudes (Δɛ t/2⩾0·83%). The cyclic stress, at high strain amplitudes, continuously increased from the beginning till fracture of the specimens. The LCF resistance of the material was found to be low and this was due to its poor ductility at room temperature. Dual slope was observed in the Coffin-Manson plot, with less slope of the upper segment than that of the lower one, as observed in several alloys. The fracture behaviour pointed to brittleness and faceted features were observed.

Our understanding of amino acid biosynthesis in plants has grown by leaps and bounds in the last decade. It appears that most of the amino acid biosynthesis takes place in the chloroplast. Recent demonstration of glutamine synthetase and DAHP synthase in the vascular tisuue has added a new dimension in the complexity of the nitrogen cycle in plants. Isolation of various genes and transformation of plants with the modified forms of the genes are providing tools for understanding the regulation of various pathways. Plant transformation approaches are also going to provide the food of the future with an improved amino acid composition.

21-Methyldammar-22-en-3β,18,27-triol 1 has been isolated from the aerial parts of Ruellia tuberosa. Its structure has been elucidated by spectral and chemical studies.

Around 10 to 15 liters of vinasse are produced for every liter of bio-ethanol from sugar cane. This substantial volume of vinasse produced and associated polluting characteristics (mainly high potassium content and high BOD) raise major environmental concerns in most cane growing countries. Paturau (1989) reported vinasse BOD at around 25,000 to 50,000 ppm with 7.5 g/ml of organic matter content, 29% mineral matter, 21% gums, 17% wax, phenolic bodies, lignin, 11% reducing sugars. With these characteristics, uncontrolled dumping of vinasse on soil or in water bodies has been severely and rightly criticized. Despite the concern over the potential polluting effects of uncontrolled discharge of vinasse on soil, there are evidence of the beneficial effects on soil fertility when application of vinasse are properly managed. However, many questions remain to be answered. Understanding fluxes of water, plant nutrients and organic compounds associated with soil application of vinasse is critical to evaluate and mitigate its impact on soil and water quality.

The real part of the change in distribution function caused by the propagation of an acoustic wave through a semiconductor placed under a temperature gradient has been obtained from the linearised Boltzmann transport equation and the thermoelectric coefficients, which determine the drift velocity of the carriers, have been ascertained from the general equation for current density. The threshold temperature gradient for the onset of amplification of the acoustic wave has been obtained by equating the drift velocity to wave velocity. Numerical results for n-indium antimonide have been presented and compared with those obtained from the hydrodynamic approach and the scattering approach.

The experimental results of dependence of black fragment azimuth $(\ensuremath{\phi})$ and projected angle $(\ensuremath{\psi})$ distributions on polar angle $\ensuremath{\theta}$ in silicon-emulsion collisions at $4.5A\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\text{GeV}∕c$ (the Dubna momentum) are reported. There are two regions of enhancement around $\ensuremath{\phi}=\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}90\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$ for different $\ensuremath{\theta}$ ranges. These enhancements are due to directed $({v}_{1})$ and elliptic $({v}_{2})$ flows. The ${v}_{1}$ and ${v}_{2}$ dependence of values on $\ensuremath{\theta}$ shows that the directed flow is weak and the elliptic flow is strong in these collisions. A multisource ideal gas model is used to describe the experimental results of dependence. The Monte Carlo calculated results are approximately in agreement with the experimental data.

The potential of fly ash, a low cost and abundantly available material with good sorption properties, for removing phenols was investigated. Nitro-substituted phenols, i.e. o -nitrophenol, m -nitrophenol and p -nitrophenol, were selected for the studies. The effect of various factors such as adsorbent particle size, pH, phenol concentration and temperature on the sorption capacity was investigated. The removal of nitro-substituted phenols increased with decreasing adsorbent particle size, pH and increasing concentration and temperature. Langmuir adsorption isotherm constants were calculated and it was shown that the adsorption data for phenols onto fly ash fitted the Langmuir model well. The adsorption of the nitrophenols studied followed first-order rate kinetics. Thermodynamic studies were also undertaken and the values of the standard free energy (ΔG 0 ), enthalpy (ΔH 0 ) and entropy (ΔS 0 ) changes calculated.

This paper deals with enhancement of hydrogen storage capacity for AB5 type alloy MmNi4.6Fe0.4 from ∼1.5 to ∼2.04 wt %. It has been shown that through suitable processing involving ball milling with specific parameters ( 200 rpm , 20 min ), the alloy particles besides getting fractured to smaller particles also become strained. The maximum strain, increase in lattice constant and unit cell volume are achieved for ball milling parameters of ∼200 rpm and 20 min . It has been suggested that the increase in the unit cell volume results in increase of interstitial hole sizes. This induces higher number of interstitials in unit cell of the material MmNi4.6Fe0.4 to be occupied by hydrogen atoms resulting in increase of hydrogen storage capacity from its value of ∼1.5 wt % obtained in the as-synthesized material to ∼2.04 wt % for ball-milled materials which embody strained particles.

The isolation and spectral data of the new 14-methyl-tritriacont-14-en-15-ol (1) and 35-hydroxynonatriacontanal (2) from the aerial parts of Peristrophe bicalyculata are reported.

The isolation of two aliphatic esters and betulin from the aerial parts of Asteracantha longifolia is reported.

FeTi is one of well known state of the art hydrogen storage material. However its activation is rather difficult and research needs to be done to make the activation amenable. We have therefore undertaken a systematic study to find out the most appropriate elemental substitution which can turn the material readily activated. The basic idea behind them is to provide catalytic decomposition of hydrogen and reduce the activation temperature of FeTi. The Fe1-xZrxTi1+y (x=0.2, y=0.3) alloy has been successfully synthesised using R.F. induction furnace (12 KW) under argon atmosphere in a previously outgassed graphite crucible. The structural characterisation (XRD) revealed that the as synthesised sample is multiphasic in nature and it exhibit the phases FeTi, Fe2Ti, FeTi2 and Ti respectively. P-C. isotherms was experimentaly determined and showed the storage capacity ∼1.20 wt% at 200°C. The activation as well as desorption kinetics of FeTi is found to be significantly improved by addition of Zr corresponding to Fe0.8Zr0.2 Ti1.3. In search of new high hydrogen storage (>1.5wt%) capacities, alloys with general formula Mg-xwt% CFMmNi5 (x=20, 30, 40 and 50) have been successfully synthesised. The as-synthesised composite materials have been activated at 550 ° ± 10 °C under a hydrogen pressure of ~34 Kg cm-2 and their hydrogen storage capacities and desorption kinetics have been evaluated. The new composite hydrogen storage materials, in contrast to the native ingredient CFMmNi5 [cerium free Mischmetal pentanickellide] have been found to possess much higher storage capacity (e. g. ~5.6. wt% for Mg-30wt% CFMmNi5 as compared to ~1.4wt% for CFMmNi5 alone) and to exhibit favourable absorption-desorption kinetics, typified to be about ~140 cm3 min-1. The structural, micro-structural characteristics have been explored using XRD, TEM, SEM and EDAX techniques. The synthesis of the hydrogen-storage alloy Mg2Ni has been carried out through a single-step mechanical alloying and energy ball mill. The synthesised ball-milled Mg2Ni alloy has been found to exist in the form of fine (nano) particles with sizes to about 40A. The nanoparticle form has been found to lead to easy activation for hydrogenation by annealing at 300°C (about 10-4 torr vacuum) for 30 min. and hydrogen uptake has been found to commence from the first cycle itself.

This study examined the effectiveness of less-expensive sorbent clay in removing phenols from wastewater by sorption. Batch kinetic experiment showed that phenol and nitro-substituted phenols (o-, m- and p-) sorption on clay was rapid and equilibrium was achieved within 2 h. The kinetics of sorption was found to be of pseudo-second order reaction. The influences of various factors, such as particle size, pH, concentration and temperature on the sorption capacity have been studied. This study showed that clay could be used as an efficient sorbent material for the sorption of phenols from aqueous solution.

Copper has been determined in ore samples by FAAS after preceding precipitation with 2-amino-3-hydroxypyridine at pH 10. Standard deviations of ±0.11% were obtained for ∼14% Cu.

Phenomenological approach has been used to determine the threshold pump strain by assuming that at this strain the pump generates an electric field for which the drift velocity of the carriers equals the sound velocity. Numerical values obtained forn-InSb have been compared with similar studies which are based on Boltzmann transport approach.

Dry-matter accumulation, and concentration and uptake of nitrogen increased with increasing level of nitrogen at all the stages of crop growth. The differences in nitrogen concentration due to nitrogen levels were greatest at panicle initiation stage and started becoming narrower with the advancement in crop age. Split application of nitrogen with its heavier fractions at tillering and panicle initiation stages either through soil alone or soil+foliage (1/3+1/3+1/3) resulted in higher dry-matter accumulation, and higher nitrogen concentration and uptake than other methods. The crop, on an average, removed 61 kg N/ha. Plants accumulated nearly 15% of the total absorbed nitrogen, up to tillering, 50% up to panicle initiation and 85–90% up to heading. Proportionately lesser nitrogen uptake and dry-matter accumulation at post-heading stage is an indicative of a major constraint for production efficiency of rainfed-upland rice culture.

DTA techniques were employed to study the thermal and structural characteristics of hydrated aluminium oxides and aluminous clays of the Pipra pelitic rocks from district Sidhi, India. Detailed microscopic investigations, X-ray and chemical analyses reveal that these clays were derived by the localized weathering of arkosic metasediments. The chemical and normative behaviours have confirmed their formation by the isochemical metamorphism of arkose, aided by a little granitization and followed by minor retrogression. A tentative correlation between the thermal and structural changes of these oxides and clay minerals at various transition temperatures has nicely displayed the presence of kaolinite, diaspore and gibbsite. The exothermic curves of kaolinite confirm the recrystallization. The presence of kaolinite in the clay fractions indicates the detrital origin.

Ternary Ni-Co-W alloy semiconductor diodes were fabricated by the method of electrodeposition and their properties were studied. Determination of barrier height of ternary alloy semiconductor diode from T-V and C-V measurements showed that it was alloy composition dependent and lay between alloy component semiconductor barrier height values.