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The prevalence of tick infestation and their predilection sites on sheep, goat, horse and wild hare were studied at various places of Tamil Nadu, India. The prevalence of tick infestation in Madras red sheep, Tellicherry goat and horse was 77.11, 78.21 and 13.33%, respectively. Sheep were heavily infested with Haemaphysalis bispinosa followed by Hyalomma isaaci, Rhipicephalus haemaphysaloides and H. anatolicum. The ticks from goats were identified as H. bispinosa, R. haemaphysaloides, H. isaaci and R. sanguineus. Horses were infested with Otobus megnini and R. sanguineus. The ticks on wild hare (Lepus nigricollis) were identified as R. haemaphysaloides and H. bispinosa. Wild hare acts as a source of infestation to the sheep and goats since these animals shared the same field.

The consequences of heavy-ion strikes on a fin field-effect transistor-based low-noise amplifier (LNA) are analyzed in this paper. A popular LNA topology, cascoded LNA, is selected to study the single-event effect using numerical device simulation. A heavy-ion strike resulting in a current pulse (known as a single-event transient) disturbs the LNA output. These disturbances are analyzed in the time and frequency domains. The collected charge (Q C) is used as a metric in the time domain, and the spurious frequencies generated are investigated in the frequency domain. This study is performed using four different LNA operating frequencies, 10 GHz, 30 GHz, 60 GHz, and 77 GHz. It is found that for a given dose of radiation, the performance of the LNA operating at the lowest frequency, i.e. 10 GHz, suffers the most from the radiation strike.

Surviving stroke is a life changing experience. Rehabilitation therapies for post-stroke patients plays an important role to regain independence and improve their quality of life. However therapies are often costly and requires constant monitoring by a trained physician. In this paper we present a cost effective home based rehabilitation system for post-stroke patients using kinect sensor. Since upper limb movements are greatly impaired after stroke, a quantitative evaluation of the limb functions of the patients is analysed. Healthy subjects, without any form of impairments, were asked to perform predefined actions with their dominant limb. Limb motions of these subjects are captured using kinect sensor. Skeletal data obtained from kinect sensor are processed to compute various kinematic parameters and a database is then created with these computed parameters. These database can be used as reference to compare and asses the values computed from the data of stroke patients who are undergoing therapies for limb evaluation. Thus with these reference values, an automated cost effective, user-friendly instrumental evaluation of post-stroke patients can be made.

Maximal Frequent Patterns can be mined using breadth-first search or depth-first search. The pure BFS algorithms work well when all maximal frequent itemsets are short. The pure DFS algorithms work well when all maximal frequent itemsets are long. Both the pure BFS and pure DFS techniques will not be efficient, when the dataset contains some of long maximal frequent itemsets and some of short maximal frequent itemsets. Efficient pruning techniques are required to mine MFI from these kinds of datasets. An algorithm (MFIMiner) using Breadth-First search with efficient pruning mechanism that competently mines both long and short maximal frequent itemsets is proposed in this paper. The performance of the algorithm is evaluated and compared with GenMax and Mafia algorithms for T40I10D100K, T10I4D100K, and Retail dataset. The result shows that the proposed algorithm has significant improvement than existing algorithms for sparse datasets.

A total 1862 goats from 12 stall fed goat farms under slatted floor system were examined for the presence flea infestation in six districts of Tamil Nadu. Overall prevalence of flea infestation on goat was 30.79% of which, 72.73 and 27.27% were Ctenocephalides orientis and C. felis respectively. Out of these 12 farms, heavy flea infestation was noticed on goats which were reared on slatted floor with dung on floor, where as the goats that were reared on the clean shed (without dung on the floor) were free from flea infestation. In human beings first time flea bite exposure showed erythematous patches and partially healed erythematous patch with irregular crusts. Efficacy of flumethrin (pour-on) and deltamethrin (dipping) was carried out in 30 kids. Of these, deltamethrin controlled the flea within a day after application whereas, flumethrin controlled the flea after 2–3 days of application.

Phosphate (Pi), an essential macronutrient required for growth and development of plants, is often limiting in soils. Pi deficiency modulates the expression of Pi starvation-responsive (PSR) genes including transcription factors (TFs). Here, we elucidated the role of the MYB-related TF HYPERSENSITIVITY TO LOW PHOSPHATE-ELICITED PRIMARY ROOT SHORTENING1 HOMOLOG2 (HHO2, At1g68670) in regulating Pi acquisition and signaling in Arabidopsis thaliana HHO2 was specifically and significantly induced in different tissues in response to Pi deprivation. Transgenic seedlings expressing 35S::GFP::HHO2 confirmed the localization of HHO2 to the nucleus. Knockout mutants of HHO2 showed significant reduction in number and length of first- and higher-order lateral roots and Pi content of different tissues compared with the wild-type irrespective of the Pi regime. In contrast, HHO2-overexpressing lines exhibited augmented lateral root development, enhanced Pi uptake rate and higher Pi content in leaf compared with the wild-type. Expression levels of PSR genes involved in Pi sensing and signaling in mutants and overexpressors were differentially regulated as compared with the wild-type. Attenuation in the expression of HHO2 in the phr1 mutant suggested a likely influence of PHR1 in HHO2-mediated regulation of a subset of traits governing Pi homeostasis.

Molten salt electrorefining is a high-temperature electrochemical process for treating the spent metallic fuel from fast reactors and is aimed at the separation of U and Pu from fission products. Potential and current distribution analysis was carried out by experimental studies as well as modelling using COMSOL Multiphysics for various electrode configurations. A 2D/2D axisymmetric geometry model was used to evaluate the potential and current distributions. The effect of the following parameters was evaluated: (1) configuration having two pairs of electrodes in parallel/staggered arrangement; (2) centre-to-centre distance between the electrodes; (3) solid cathode with and without insulation at the bottom; (4) Cd cathode and (5) cathode surface area. The resistance of the electrorefiner was calculated using COMSOL model for various electrode configurations and compared with that obtained experimentally. There was very good agreement between the experimental values and the simulation results. The c...

The CaCl 2 deficient ternary eutectic melt LiCl–KCl–CaCl 2 (50.5: 44.2: 5.3 mol %) was electrochemically characterised by cyclic voltammetry and polarization techniques in the context of its probable use as the electrolyte in the electrochemical reduction of solid UO 2 to uranium metal. Tungsten (cathodic polarization) and graphite (anodic polarization) working electrodes were used in these studies carried out in the temperature range 623 K–923 K. The cathodic limit of the melt was observed to be set by the deposition of Ca 2+ ions followed by Li + ions on the tungsten electrode and the anodic limit by oxidation of chloride ions on the graphite electrode (chlorine evolution). The difference between the onset potential of deposition of Ca 2+ and Li + was found to be 0.241 V at a scan rate of 20 mV/s at 623 K and the difference decreased with increase in temperature and vanished at 923 K. Polarization measurements with stainless steel (SS) cathode and graphite anode at 673 K showed the possibility of low–energy reactions occurring on the UO 2 electrode in the melt. UO 2 pellets were cathodically polarized at 3.9 V for 25 h to test the feasibility of electro-reduction to uranium in the melt. The surface of the pellets was found reduced to U metal.

Titanates of samarium, gadolinium, and dysprosium are considered potential candidate materials for use in the control rods of future nuclear reactors. Sm2TiO5, Gd2TiO5, and Dy2TiO5 were prepared by solid-state route and characterized by XRD technique. Enthalpy increment measurements were carried out on these compounds in the temperature range 750–1660 K by inverse drop method by using a high-temperature differential calorimeter. From the fitted equations for the measured enthalpy increment data, other thermodynamic functions, namely, heat capacity, entropy, and Gibbs energy functions, were computed in the temperature range 298–1800 K. The results are presented and compared with the data available in the literature.

The present work deals with the experimental and modeling studies of hydrodynamics in a continuous countercurrent liquid–solid system. The hydrodynamic variables considered are the pressure drop, phase holdup and flooding velocities. It is observed that the pressure drop and solid holdup in the system increase with increase in phase velocities and decrease with increase in particle diameter and density. The one-dimensional two-fluid model comprising of continuity and momentum equations for each phase with the most suitable drag law closure is used to predict the axial pressure drop profile and the effect of operating variables and particle characteristics on solid holdup. The model predicts satisfactorily the experimental data of the present study and those reported in the literature over a wide range of fluid and particle characteristics. The model also captures the trends of the hydrodynamic variables with the independent parameters.

Experiments on dispersion of floating solids into continuous liquid medium were carried out with low density microspheres with particle density of 680 kg/m 3 and size 100, 230 and 325 μm in different liquids having density varying from 778 to 1830 kg/m 3 and kinematic viscosity varying from 0.3 to 19 cP. A four-bladed radial impeller and axial paddle impellers with upward and downward flow directions were employed. The critical impeller speed ( N crit ) required for uniform dispersion of particles throughout the continuous medium was experimentally determined for various conditions. Experimental results indicate that the radial impeller with impeller location near the surface required minimum impeller speed for uniform dispersion. Strong effect of the density difference between the particles and the liquid and submergence of the impeller was noted. Based on the experimental results, a correlation in terms of relevant dimensionless groups was proposed for calculating N crit for the three impellers. The overall correlation indicates that the critical impeller speed is not significantly affected by liquid viscosity and particle diameter but that it is strongly influenced by the impeller diameter and the density difference. These results are in agreement with trends reported in the literature.

Objective : The present study was designed to explore the combination therapy of lycopene with aliskiren in doxorubicin induced cardiomyopathy. Methods : Cardiomyopathy was induced in Wistar rats by i.p. administration of Doxorubicin (DOX) (15 mg/kg, single dose). Haemodynamic parameters (Systolic, diastolic blood pressure, Heart rate), heart weight, heart weight/body weight ratio, serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), oxidative stress (TBARS) and antioxidant enzymes (Glutathione, SOD and catalase) as well as transmission electron microscopein heart tissue were carried out. Results : There was significant increase in blood pressure, serum, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), oxidative stress (TBARS) and significant decrease in heart weight, heart weight/body weight ratio and antioxidant enzymes in cardiomyopathic rats. Combined therapy of lycopene (2 and 4mg/kg) with aliskiren (100 mg/kg) treatment showed pronounced beneficial effect on above parameters. Furthermore lycopene with aliskiren significantly improves the antioxidant defense by increasing reduced glutathione, SOD, catalase, heart size and heart weight/body weight ratio. It is clearly observed from Transmission electron microscopic slides of DOX treated rats, there was swelling of mitochondria with disruption of cristae, rupture of nuclear membrane, condensation and margination of nuclear chromatins which were well protected by lycopene along with aliskiren treatment. Conclusion : Therefore, combination therapy of lycopene with aliskiren offers better treatment for DOX-induced cardiomyopathy than ALK alone.

Melioidosis is an uncommon tropical infectious disease caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei. Neurological complications of melioidosis are extremely uncommon in infants. A 10-month-old girl is described who presented with disseminated melioidosis with subcutaneous nodules, arthritis, hepatomegaly and a lung cavity, and developed a left medial rectus palsy. Cranial MRI demonstrated mid-brain, pontine and basal ganglia micro-abscesses. Therapy with meropenem and cotrimoxazole led to resolution of the medial nerve palsy. At 5-month follow-up, the child had no residual neurological deficits.

In the present work few novel 2-(4-methylbenzenesulphonamido)pentanedioic acid amide derivatives and the basic compound 2-(4-methylphenylsulfonamido)pentanedioic acid have been synthesized, characterized and screened for their possible antineoplastic activity both in vitro and in vivo. The in vitro activity was performed against five human cell lines like human breast cancer (MCF-7), leukemia (K-562), ovarian cancer (OVACAR-3), human colon adenocarcinoma (HT-29) and Human kidney carcinoma (A-498). The in vivo activity was performed in female swiss albino mice against Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma (EAC). Among the synthesized compounds, ureide, p-bromoanilide, p-nitoanilide, o-bromoanilide and p-methylanilide derivatives of 2-(4-methyl benzene sulphonyl)-pentanedioic acid amides showed encouraging activity in both the in vitro and in vivo compared to other compounds. It was noticed that final derivative compounds show a better activity than the parent compound and it may be due to the substituents present in those compounds.

Electrochemical reduction behaviour of TiO 2 powder samples, sintered at 1423 K and 1673 K and weighing ∼ 1.5 g and ∼ 10 g, was studied by constant voltage electrolysis at 3.1 V at 1173 K. Both the samples were found to undergo reduction, but the low-temperature sintered and low-mass samples showed better overall reduction than the high-temperature sintered and high-mass samples. The reduction of the bulk parts of the samples became difficult as the sample size was increased from 1.5 g to 10 g. The size and location of the TiO 2 particles in the powder electrode played an important role in the reduction of the oxide to the metal.

The electrochemistry of Th 4+ ions was studied in LiCl-KCl eutectic in the temperature range 698–803 K and compared with literature data. Various transient electrochemical techniques like cyclic voltammetry, chronopotentiometry, square-wave voltammetry were used to determine diffusion co-efficient of Th 4+ and apparent standard electrode potential for Th 4+ /Th electrode process. The electrode kinetics of Th 4+ /Th couple was also investigated by convolution voltammetry and impedance spectroscopy. Based on the above studies, the reversibility of Th 4+ /Th couple was addressed. The feasibility of electrochemical separation of uranium and thorium in LiCl-KCl eutectic is also discussed in this paper. It was seen that the separation of U from Th matrix was difficult in molten LiCl-KCl using a solid rod cathode and suitable reactive electrodes need to be used for efficient separation.

Electrochemical behavior of graphite in LiCl and LiCl melts containing up to 1 wt% Li2O was studied by using cyclic voltammetry and electrolysis, in the context of its probable use as anode in the electrochemical reduction of solid UO2 in the molten salt at 650◦C. The lithium deposition and chlorine evolution potentials of LiCl melt were determined by CV of tantalum (cathodic polarization) and graphite (anodic polarization) working electrodes as −2.19 V and +1.21 V vs Ni/NiO reference electrode respectively. In LiCl-Li2O melts, carbon dioxide was formed on the graphite WE from > +0.75 V onwards and its current and potential range of formation increased with increase in the Li2O content of the melt. Cathodic polarization of a UO2 disc WE in LiCl-1 wt% Li2O melt showed that the reduction of UO2 to U occurs at −2.18 V and the lithium metal deposition on it at −2.36 V. Electro-reduction experiments carried out with a dense UO2 pellet cathode and graphite anode in both LiCl and LiCl-Li2O melts proved that the surface of the pellet was reduced to U metal at ≥ −2.2 V. The reduction became increasingly difficult with increase in the Li2O content of the melt. © The Author(s) 2015. Published by ECS. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License (CC BY, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted reuse of the work in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. [DOI: 10.1149/2.0521506jes] All rights reserved.

Prevalence of Vibrio spp. with special reference to Vibrio parahaemolyticus (Vp) infection was assessed in Penaeus vannamei farms in Kancheepuram and Thiruvallur districts of Tamil Nadu during the period August 2014 to February 2015. Isolation and identification of bacteria from haemolymph, stomach and hepatopancreas of P. vannamei was done from all the farms for the prevalence of Vp infection. Based on the morphological, physiological and biochemical characterisation, 74 isolates were identified as Vp (35.14%), V. harveyi (21.62%), V. anguillarum (16.22%), V. campbellii (10.81%), V. mimicus (8.11%), V. alginolyticus (5.41%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (2.7%). The PCR results showed that there were 26 (35.14%) isolates positive for Vp specific toxR and tlh genes and negative for human pathogenic tdh and trh genes. All isolates were also negative for acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND) specific AP1, AP2, AP3 ( pirAvp ) and AP4 ( pirAvp and pirBvp ) genes. The study revealed that there was no AHPND causing Vp strain in farmed P. vannamei from two important coastal districts of Tamil Nadu, India.

This protocol was developed for transformation of Heterosigma akashiwo byAgrobacterium tumefaciens.H. akashiwodoes not grow on solid medium, so transformants are grown "in bulk" and should not be considered clonal. We have had limited success with this protocol and mayrequire further optimization.

Thirteen human beings were infested with ticks at Sandynallah and Gudalur of the Nilgiris district and Mottur Suruvakkam of Kancheepuram district of Tamil Nadu from January 2016 to December 2016. The collected ticks were identified as Rhipicephalus haemaphysaloides, Otobius megnini and Hyalomma isaaci. The tick infestation was observed more on the persons working with animals (sheep and goats) than those working in tea estate. The person infested with R. haemaphysaloides revealed erythematous papule (2 mm size) and inflammatory lesion up to 16 days whereas, the people infested with H. isaaci showed continuous itching and irritation for > 6 months and wound formation (0.5 cm) at the biting site. The people infested with O. megnini showed irritation, vomiting sensation and fever.

In the present work few novel 2-(4-methylbenzenesulphonamido)pentanedioic acid bis amide derivatives and the basic compound 2-(4-methylphenylsulfonamido)pentanedioic acid have been synthesized, characterized and screened for their possible antineoplastic activity both in vitro and in vivo. The in vitro activity was performed against five human cell lines like human breast cancer (MCF-7), leukemia (K-562), ovarian cancer (OVACAR-3), human colon adenocarcinoma (HT-29) and Human kidney carcinoma (A-498). The in vivo activity was performed in female swiss albino mice against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC). Among the synthesized compounds, ureide, anilide, p-nitoanilide and o-bromoanilide derivatives of 2-(4-methyl benzene sulphonyl)-pentanedioic acid bis amides showed encouraging activity in both the in vitro and in vivo compared to other compounds.

As part of the studies on the development of alternate extractants for fast reactor fuel reprocessing, a mixer-settler facility for performing counter-current solvent extraction runs with radioactive materials has been set up and commissioned in our laboratory for flow sheet development experiments. Mixer-settler runs were carried out with 1.1 M TiAP/Heavy Normal Paraffin (HNP) as the solvent using the above facility to test the equipment as well as the behaviour of the solvent for continuous solvent extraction processes. Stage profile data generated for the extraction and stripping of nitric acid with TiAP based solvent have been reported. Studies carried out on the continuous counter-current extraction and stripping of U(VI) for 1.1 M TiAP/HNP-U(VI)-HNO3 system under high solvent loading conditions are also reported in this paper. Overall and stage-wise mass balance data for the above runs are also discussed.

Electrochemical behavior of neodymium (III) ion was studied in LiCl-KCl eutectic melt in the temperature range 723-798 K on inert tungsten electrode using various transient electrochemical techniques such as cyclic voltammetry, convolution voltammetry, chronopotentiometry and square wave voltammetry. The reduction of Nd(III) ion to Nd metal on tungsten electrode takes place in two steps- Nd(III)/Nd(II) and Nd(II)/Nd(0). The diffusion coefficient of Nd(III) and Nd (II) ions were determined. Reduction of Nd(III) to Nd(II) showed reversible electrode behavior and that for Nd(II) to Nd metal followed the quasi-reversible behavior. Heterogeneous rate constant for the reduction, Nd(II)/Nd(0) was estimated from the convoluted voltammograms. The apparent standard electrode potentials, E N d ( I I I ) / N d ( I I ) * , E N d ( I I ) / N d ( 0 ) * and E N d ( I I I ) / N d ( 0 ) * were estimated from the cyclic voltammograms. The electrode behavior of Nd(III) ion on solid aluminium electrode and liquid cadmium electrode was studied by cyclic voltammetry. Under-potential reduction of Nd(III) ion takes place on Al and Cd cathodes in a single step with three electron transfer. The apparent standard electrode potentials, E N d ( I I I ) / N d ( A l ) * and E N d ( I I I ) / N d ( C d ) * were estimated for different temperatures in the range 698-773 K. The formation of intermetallics, Al 11 Nd 3 and Cd 11 Nd were studied from open circuit potential measurement on Al and Cd film electrode respectively. The Gibbs energy of formation for these intermetallics was evaluated. The activity of neodymium in Al/Cd, the excess Gibbs energy and the activity coefficient of neodymium in Al/Cd were estimated from the open circuit potential measurement. SEM-EDX analysis and the XRD pattern of the electro-deposit revealed the formation of Al 11 Nd 3 and Cd 11 Nd on Al and Cd cathodes respectively.

The liver is an integral organ in the body and plays a vital role for the metabolism of endogenous and exogenous agents. Drug-induced liver toxicity is one of most common cause of liver injury. It accounts for approximately one-half of the cases of acute liver failure and mimics all forms of acute and chronic liver disease. Hepatotoxicity is associated with the first line antituberculosis drugs such as isoniazid and rifampicin. Therefore, there is need of pharmacological interventions for the treatment of hepatotoxicity. The present study was designed to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of the Centella asiatica extract on anti-TB drugs-induced hepatotoxicity. Hepatotoxicity was induced by administration of anti-TB drugs (isoniazid and rifampicin). Hepatotoxicity was assessed by significant elevation in oxidative stress, mitochondrial complex alterations and elevated levels of liver marker enzymes. Treatment with Centella asiatica (20, 40 mg/kg p.o.) attenuated the anti-TB drugs induced oxidative stress, mitochondrial complex alterations and elevated levels of liver marker enzymes (viz. SGOT, SGPT, ALP). Histopathological studies also show the promising effect. Therefore, the present study shows the hepatotoprotective effect of Centella asiatica. Therefore, Centella asiatica could be a new pharmacological intervention in the treatment of hepatotoxicity.

Counter-current solvent extraction runs have been carried out to develop a suitable flow sheet for fast reactor fuel reprocessing with 1.1M Tri-iso-amyl Phosphate (TiAP)/Heavy Normal Paraffin (HNP) as the solvent by using an ejector mixer-settler facility. A spent solvent of 1.1M TiAP/HNP used for earlier runs has been employed in the present study after the regeneration. Separation of U(VI) and Pu(IV) from Am(III) and lanthanides such as La(III), Pr(III), Nd(III), Sm(III), and Eu(III) as fission product representatives with the above solvent has been investigated with an optimized flow sheet. Stage profile data generated for the extraction and strip runs for the above separation have been reported. Overall and stage-wise mass balance data for the above runs are also discussed.

Although many studies have explored the impacts of political quotas for females, often with ambiguous results, the underlying mechanisms and long-term effects have received little attention. This paper uses nation-wide data from India spanning a 15-year period to explore how reservations affect leader qualifications, service delivery, political participation, local accountability, and individuals’ willingness to contribute to public goods. Although leader quality declines and impacts on service quality are often negative, gender quotas are shown to increase the level and quality of women's political participation, the ability to hold leaders to account, and the willingness to contribute to public goods. Key effects persist beyond the reserved period and impacts on females often materialize only with a lag.

Electrochemical behavior of platinum in LiCl and LiCl-(1-3) wt% Li 2 O melts at 650 °C was studied by cyclic voltammetry in the context of its use as anode in the direct electrochemical reduction of solid uranium oxide to uranium metal. By CV measurements with graphite and platinum (anodic polarization) and tungsten (cathodic polarization) working electrodes, the decomposition potential of LiCl and electrochemical potential of the reaction Pt + 2LiCl → PtCl 2 + 2Li were determined as 3.46 V and 3.14 V respectively. Three anodic reactions viz. (i) formation of Li 2 PtO 3 , (ii) oxygen evolution and (iii) platinum dissolution were found to occur on the platinum electrode in Li 2 O containing LiCl melts. The Li 2 PtO 3 formation was found to be a fast reaction with diffusion coefficient of O 2− ions in the melt as 4.53 × 10 −7 cm 2 /s. Oxygen evolution showed very high current densities when compared to that of the surface area limiting Li 2 PtO 3 formation. The platinum electrode surface was corroded by formation of Li 2 PtO 3 when the electrode was polarized for a longer period of time in the melt. The results of the study indicated that LiCl-2 wt.% Li 2 O melt could be the optimum electrolyte composition in the electro-reduction of uranium oxide with platinum anode.

Experimental investigations and Gibbs energy modelling of KCl–LiCl–UCl3 system employing CALPHAD method are reported. Gibbs energy modelling of the subsystems KCl–UCl3 and LiCl–UCl3 was carried out primarily using phase diagram data from the literature. For the Gibbs energy modelling of the KCl–LiCl subsystem, new phase boundary data corresponding to four terminal compositions ( x LiCl = 0.03 , 0.05, 0.95 and 0.97) obtained through differential thermal analysis data along with thermochemical and phase diagram data from the literature were used. Thermal analysis was also carried out for KCl–LiCl eutectic mixture containing small amounts of UCl3 ( x UCl 3 = 9.03 × 10 − 3 and 1.79 × 10 − 2 ). The liquidus temperatures for these compositions were found to be 637 K and 674 K. Electromotive force data for dilute solutions of UCl3 in the KCl–LiCl eutectic melt, measured in the temperature range 708–833 K in the present work, were found to be in good agreement with the literature data. These data were also used as input for the Gibbs energy modelling of the KCl–LiCl–UCl3 system. In order to improve the quality of the resulting Gibbs energy functions of the quasibinaries and the quasiternary, enthalpies of mixing of the corresponding melts estimated using an empirical correlation based on surrounded-ion model were also used as input. Finally, the generated Gibbs energy functions were used to compute phase equilibria.

Direct electrochemical reduction of UO2 to U metal is being attempted in molten salts. In this context, a new technique for the estimation of uranium metal has been developed. In this technique, the concentration of H2 released during the reaction of a metal with HBr is measured online as a function of time using an in-house developed proton exchange membrane hydrogen sensor. The method was developed by reacting different known masses of Zn with HBr and measuring the quantity of liberated hydrogen. Subsequently the methodology was employed for the estimation of U. From the calibration plots of number of moles of hydrogen released versus number of moles of Zn or U taken, an unknown mass of Zn or U was estimated. Uranium metal was estimated by the method with accuracy comparable with the results from inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopic analysis. The technique was found to be simple, accurate and hands free for the estimation of uranium metal. The paper discusses the details of the sensor assembly, calibration, testing, methodology development and results of estimation of zinc and uranium metals using the sensor.

Phosphate (Pi) deficiency triggers local Pi sensing-mediated inhibition of primary root growth and development of root hairs in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). Generation of activation-tagged T-DNA insertion pools of Arabidopsis expressing the luciferase gene (LUC) under high-affinity Pi transporter (Pht1;4) promoter, is an efficient approach for inducing genetic variations that are amenable for visual screening of aberrations in Pi deficiency responses. Putative mutants showing altered LUC expression during Pi deficiency were identified and screened for impairment in local Pi deficiency-mediated inhibition of primary root growth. An isolated mutant was analyzed for growth response, effects of Pi deprivation on Pi content, primary root growth, root hair development, and relative expression levels of Pi starvation-responsive (PSR) genes, and those implicated in starch metabolism and Fe and Zn homeostasis. Pi deprived local phosphate sensing impaired (lpsi) mutant showed impaired primary root growth and attenuated root hair development. Although relative expression levels of PSR genes were comparable, there were significant increases in relative expression levels of IRT1, BAM3 and BAM5 in Pi deprived roots of lpsi compared to those of the wild-type. Better understanding of molecular responses of plants to Pi deficiency or excess will help to develop suitable remediation strategies for soils with excess Pi, which has become an environmental concern. Hence, lpsi mutant will serve as a valuable tool in identifying molecular mechanisms governing adaptation of plants to Pi deficiency.

Uranium–neodymium mixed oxides (U 1− y Nd y )O 2± x ( y =0.2–0.85) were prepared by citrate gel-combustion and characterized by XRD. Single phase fluorite structure was observed up to y =0.80. For solid solutions with y >0.80 additional lines pertaining to hexagonal neodymium oxide were observed. Lattice thermal expansion of these samples was investigated by using high temperature X-ray diffraction (HTXRD). The coefficients of thermal expansion for (U 1− y Nd y )O 2± x for y =0.2, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8 in the temperature range 298–1973 K were found to be 16.46, 16.64, 16.79, and 16.89×10 −6 K −1 , respectively. Heat capacity and enthalpy increment measurements were carried out by using DSC and drop calorimetry in the temperature range 298–800 K and 800–1800 K respectively. The C p , m values at 298 K for (U 1− y La y )O 2± x ( y =0.2, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8) are 63.4, 64.3, 61.8, and 58.9 J K −1 mol −1 respectively.

“Modulating the front gate response of independently driven double gate (IDDG) FETs by the application of a control voltage on the second gate” is elaborately studied in this work using TCAD simulations and shown as a simple and powerful technique to tune the RF characteristics of the IDDG device. The input impedance, ft, and noise figure (NF) of the device can be modulated (tuned) by varying the control voltage applied to the gate2 of the IDDG device. Control gate bias values of 0Vt o+0� 4 V gives a wide tuning range for real part and imaginary part of the input impedance. NQS delay can be tuned in a better manner for low values of the control gate voltage (−0� 4Vt o 0 V). Signal gate voltages of 0.4 V to 0.5 V and control gate voltages of around −0� 1Vt o+0� 1V gives the optimum noise performance.

Some Bis indole substituted coumarin deriva tives prepared in 3 steps. The final compound III is react with different substituted indole compounds and aceto nitrile at room temperature for 30 minutes the compounds S 1 - S 6 is obtained. The present investigation deals with the synthesized compounds havi ng anti hyperlipidemic activity. Table 1 and 2 show the levels of Cholesterol, Triglycerides, HDL, LDL and VLDL of control and experiment rats respectively. Serum of hyperlipidemic rats showed significantly increased levels of Cholesterol, Triglycerides, L DL - C and low HDL – C, when compared with normal rats. In rats treated with various synthetic drugs and Atorvastatin there was significant decrease in the content cholesterol, TGs, LDL – C, and VLDL and increases HDL – C, when compared with cholesterol co ntrol rats.

Our objective is to investigate the smaller chain tripeptides and tetrapeptides with the efforts mainly directed towards the identification of compounds presenting a high bactericidal activity. In this connection, 5 peptides, Met-Arg-Tyr (MRY), Met-Val-Tyr (MVY), Met-Ile-Cys-Tyr (MICY), Phe-Trp-Lys-Tyr (FWKY) and Met-Trp-Lys-Tyr (MWKY) were synthesized by solid phase peptide synthesis. The column eluted pure synthesized compounds were tested for in-vitro antibacterial disc diffusion assay using 2 g positive S. aureus, B.subtilis and 1 g negative E.coli bacterial strains at different concentrations predicted by pH and inhibitory concentration findings. 2 of the tetrapeptides, Phe-Trp-Lys-Tyr (FWKY) and Met-Trp-Lys-Tyr (MWKY) were found to be highly efficient against all the gram positive and microbial strains tested. Maximum activity was observed at a concentration of 300 µg/ml (499.17 µM) for the tetrapeptide Phe-Trp-Lys-Tyr (FWKY) against B. subtilis and at a concentration of 450 µg/ml (748.75 µM) against E. coli with the corresponding zonal inhibition diameter readings (17 mm; 16 mm). The tetrapeptide Met-Trp-Lys-Tyr (MWKY) was found to have high potency against S. aureus at a concentration of 450 µg/ml (769.23 µM) with the corresponding zonal inhibition diameter as 13 mm. The experimental results are analysed statistically by t-test at 5% and 1% level of significance. Our tetrapeptides have shown antibacterial action against both gram positive and gram negative strains and are considered safer as par with commercial antibiotics available today. Further clinical studies will make sure to position our potent small chain tetrapeptides in the arsenal of new broad spectrum anti-gram positive and anti-gram negative agent.

The room temperature ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (C4mimCl), was prepared and studied for the feasibility of using C4mimCl for the dissolution of uranium oxide and subsequent recovery by electrodeposition. The dissolution behavior of uranium oxides, UO3 and UO2, in C4mimCl medium by chlorination reaction was studied as a function of uranium loading, at 353 K. The electrochemical behavior of U(VI) in the resultant solution was investigated by cyclic voltammetry at tungsten electrode. The cyclic voltammogram consisted of a prominent cathodic wave occurring at the potential of −1.0 V (Vs Pt) was due to the reduction of . Controlled potential electrolysis of the solution results in a deposition of UO2. The electrodeposition of UO2 from C4mimCl medium was studied as a function of uranium loading. The results indicated that the recovery of uranium was quantitative within eight hours, when the solution obtained after the dissolution of UO3 was subjected to electrolysis. However, the recover...

Polymers are widely used materials and are indispensable in handling radioactive materials in fumehoods, gloveboxes, etc. Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) technique is widely employed for the removal of radioactive contaminants from various matrices using supercritical carbon dioxide (Sc-CO2) modified with suitable ligands as an extraction medium. In the present study, recovery of plutonium from various polymeric matrices, such as neoprene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and surgical gloves has been demonstrated using Sc-CO2 modified with n-octylphenyl N,N-diisobutyl carbamoylmethylphosphine oxide (CMPO) in methanol. The matrix was initially subjected to neat Sc-CO2 extraction to prevent co-extraction of organic compounds during SFE of plutonium; in the initial extraction with Sc-CO2, organic compounds added as additives to the polymeric matrix were extracted. In the initial studies, SFE method was developed for the complete recovery of plutonium from simulated polymeric waste matrices. Subsequently...

Electrochemical behaviour of powder compacted and sintered Nb 2 O 5 pellet electrodes (~4 mm thick, open porosity ~10%) in molten CaCl 2 medium at 1173 K was studied using cyclic voltammetry and polarisation measurements. Similar dense Nb 2 O 5 pellets were subsequently electrolysed by using them as cathodes against graphite counter electrode in the molten CaCl 2 electrolyte medium with an aim to gain insight into the electro-reduction mechanism. The chemical changes that are taking place in the cathode and also in the electrolyte melt at different stages of electrolysis were analysed. The electro-reduction experiments were carried out at an applied voltage of 3.1 V and terminated after 2, 9, 22, 26 and 35 h of electrolysis and the visibly distinct layers present in the partially reduced samples were analysed. The analysis showed presence of Ca x Nb y O z compounds, sub-oxides of Nb like NbO 2 , NbO, etc. and metallic Nb in the samples. A pellet, which was electrolysed for 44 h was found to be reduced completely to Nb metal. The CaO, Ca and CaCO 3 produced and released to the melt during the cathodic polarisation was found to be associated with the electrochemical changes that are taking place on the electrode and this was ascertained by determination of the ‘total solubilised basicity (TSB)’ and ‘total insolubilised basicity (TIB)’ of the melt as a function of time during electrolysis. Based on the results, a three-stage mechanism comprising (i) cathodic insertion of Ca 2+ into the oxide pellet, (ii) reduction of the oxide electrode via formation and decomposition of ternary intermediates and (iii) chemical reduction of the cathode with electro-generated calcium metal has been proposed for electro-reduction of dense Nb 2 O 5 pellets.

The XRN family of 5’→3’ exoribonucleases is critical for ensuring the fidelity of cellular RNA turnover in eukaryotes. Highly conserved across species, the family is typically represented by one cytoplasmic enzyme (XRN1/PACMAN or XRN4) and one or more nuclear enzymes (XRN2/RAT1 and XRN3). Cytoplasmic and/or nuclear XRNs have proven to be essential in all organisms tested, and deficiencies can have severe developmental phenotypes, demonstrating that XRNs are indispensable in fungi, plants and animals. XRNs degrade diverse RNA substrates during general RNA decay and function in specialized processes integral to RNA metabolism, such as nonsense-mediated decay (NMD), gene silencing, rRNA maturation, and transcription termination. Here, we review current knowledge of XRNs, highlighting recent work of high impact and future potential. One example is the breakthrough in our understanding of how XRN1 processively degrades 5’ monophosphorylated RNA, revealed by its crystal structure and mutational analysis. The expanding knowledge of XRN substrates and interacting partners is outlined and the functions of XRNs are interpreted at the organismal level using available mutant phenotypes. Finally, three case studies are discussed in more detail to underscore a few of the most exciting areas of research on XRN function: XRN4 involvement in small RNA-associated processes in plants, the roles of XRN1/PACMAN in Drosophila development, and the function of human XRN2 in nuclear transcriptional quality control. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: RNA Decay Mechanisms.

The DIFfusion of Actinides in EleCtrorefiner (DIFAC) computer code has been developed and is used to calculate the variation of the anode potential with time during constant current anodic dissolution of U, Zr, and U-Zr alloy in molten LiCl-KCl eutectic. A few algorithms are proposed within the framework of the DIFAC code for modeling the activation and concentration overpotentials during anodic dissolution. These algorithms are based on an iterative search procedure and would later be applied to modeling the electrorefining of a multicomponent metallic fuel system.

An experimental setup was developed to study the heat transfer and fluid flow characteristics in rectangular copper microchannels with hydraulic diameter 29.4 microm using TiO2-Water nanofluids. The experimental facility is validated using existing correlations and subsequently tested with 0.1% and 0.3% concentrations of TiO2 nanofluids. The thermal resistance of heat sink with nanofluids is compared with the base fluid. It is inferred that 0.3% TiO2-Water nanofluids have 18% lower thermal resistance as compared to base fluid having for the same operating conditions.

This protocol was developed for isolating high quality genomic DNA from Heterosigma akashiwo for the purpose of Next generation sequencing technologies. We successfully repeated this protocol to obtain genomic DNA.

This protocol isa modifiedversion of the Qiagen RNeasy assay for isolating total RNA from Heterosigma akashiwo.We used this protocol to obtain high quality RNA for downstream analysis such as quantitative PCR.