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i-FinFET, an evolutionary FinFET design, offers better short channel performance. In this work, the scaling characteristics of the iFinFET and FinFET are studied using 3D TCAD simulations based on their I ON /I OFF ratio. It is found that the better performance in iFinFET is achieved only below certain gate length. The gate length below which the iFinFET shows better performance is called optimal gate length, and the optimal gate length is a function of various geometrical and doping parameters. In this study, we have derived an empirical relation for the optimal gate length in terms of gate oxide thickness, fin width, and fin height.

Semiconductor industry has explored various novel device structures to extend CMOS scaling. Circular geometry devices have been recently proposed to improve immunity to short channel effects without compromising planarity. In this work, one such circular geometry device called RingFET is considered and its performance enhancement through Lightly Doped Drain (LDD) implantation is sought using 3D TCAD simulations. RingFET has a circular gate geometry, which has better short channel immunity compared to conventional MOSFET structure mainly because of the elimination of side interface regions, that gives rise to trap induced leakages. This reduces the OFF current consequently, making RingFET better in the short channel regime. RingFET structure has a planar geometry but differs only lithographically with respect to MOSFET. This makes RingFET an interesting device to explore. The impact of LDD and its variants are studied with respect to DC and AC analysis using 3D TCAD simulations. The parameters under consideration are ON current, OFF current, I on /I off ratio, sub-threshold swing (SS), transconductance (g m ) and unity gain frequency (fT).

In the field of communication, the need for cryptography is growing faster, so it is very difficult to achieve the objectives of cryptography such as confidentiality, data integrity, non-repudiation. To ensure data security, key scheduling and key management are the factors which the algorithm depends. In this paper, the enciphering and deciphering process of the SERPENT algorithm is done using the graphical programming tool. It is an algorithm which uses substitution permutation network procedure which contains round function including key scheduling, s-box and linear mixing stages. It is fast and easy to actualize and it requires little memory.

Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing is one of the enhanced communication techniques which makes the emerging fourth generation (4G) and fifth generation (5G) communication possible. Because of multipath propagation & noise the performance of OFDM system is affected by channel leakage. OFDM channel is analyzed to estimate the channel leakage, MSE — Mean Square Error and SNR — Signal to Noise Ratio using DWT — Discrete Wavelet Transforms Techniques. And the major problem found in an OFDM system is high PAPR — Peak to Average Power Ratio of the OFDM signal. Generally the OFDM transmitter system consists of an HPA — High Power Amplifier which is used to obtain sufficient power to the transmitted signals. However this HPA has limited range, the OFDM signals with high PAPR value gets distorted by the non-linearity of HPA which adds more interference to the system. This work proposes DWT for analyzing the channel estimation and PTS — Partial Time Sequence to reduce PAPR in a 16 QAM OFDM system.

The impact of technology scaling vividly increases the susceptibility of semiconductor devices to radiation. Single Event Transient (SET) in a device is a process in which the generation of charge takes place when a single particle passes through a sensitive node in the device. This paper deals with the performance analysis of three different tunneling structures such as the conventional planar Tunnel FET, Planar Tunnel FET with pocket and L shaped Tunnel FET (proposed to improve the ON current of conventional Tunnel FET) are scrutinized in terms of on current. Along with that the conventional planar Tunnel FET, Planar Tunnel FET with pocket and L shaped Tunnel FET are studied for their single event transient performance. 2D-TCAD simulations are used for this purpose.

Gibbs energies of formation of the intermetallic compounds, USn3, U3Sn7, USn2, and USn were determined by using high temperature molten salt galvanic cells: U(s)//UCl3 in LiCl–KCl (eutectic)//U–Sn alloy, where pure uranium was used as one of the electrodes and a two phase alloy of uranium and tin as the other. The two phase alloys used in cells I, II, III and IV as the electrodes were 〈USn3〉 + {Sn}, 〈U3Sn7 + USn3〉,〈USn2 + U3Sn7〉 and 〈USn + USn2〉, respectively. The Gibbs energies of formation ( Δ f G 0 ) of USn3, U3Sn7, USn2 and USn with respect to α-U and liquid Sn, in the temperature range 682–905 K, were determined to be given by Δ f G 0 ( USn 3 ) ( kJ mol - 1 ) = - 172.8 + 0.061 T ( K ) , Δ f G 0 ( U 3 Sn 7 ) ( kJ mol - 1 ) = - 527.8 + 0.200 T ( K ) , Δ f G 0 ( USn 2 ) ( kJ mol - 1 ) = - 174.9 + 0.073 T ( K ) , Δ f G 0 ( USn ) ( kJ mol - 1 ) = - 176.9 + 0.064 T ( K ) The Gibbs energy of formation for U3Sn7, USn2 and USn have been obtained for the first time.

Although there has been considerable interest in wage discrimination in India, available studies have largely dealt with formal rather than informal markets that are of little relevance for the poorest people. Focusing on India's informal labor markets leads to three findings of interest. First, gender wage discrimination is larger in informal than in formal labor markets, resulting in losses that are larger than receipts from one of the country's most important safety-net programs. Second, economic growth will not make gender discrimination in wage labor markets disappear. Finally, contrary to what is found for gender, the hypothesis of no significant wage discrimination based on caste cannot be rejected.

This brief summarizes the women's inheritance rights and intergenerational transmission of resources in India for the period 1986-1994. The author use inheritance patterns over three generations of individuals to assess the impact of changes in the Hindu succession act that grant daughters equal coparcenary birth rights in joint family property that were denied to daughters in the past. The author show that the amendment significantly increased daughter's likelihood to inherit land, but that even after the amendment, substantial bias persists. Our results also indicate a robust increase in educational attainment of daughters, suggesting an alternative channel of wealth transfer.

pellets(52%TD).Therateofdeoxidationincreasedwithincreaseintheelectrolysistemperaturefrom923Kto1023K,butdecreasedonfurtherincreaseto1173K,duetosinteringofUparticlesonthesurfaceofthepellet.ThethicknessofUmetallayerincreased with increase in the applied voltage from 3.1 to 3.3 V whereas no reduction of the oxide occurred at 2.8 V. The behaviorof the graphite anode, in relation to the electro-reduction of the UO

This paper uses a large national household panel from 1999/2000 and 2007/08 to analyze the short-term effects of India's Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme on wages, labor supply, agricultural labor use, and productivity. The scheme prompted a 10-point wage increase and higher labor supply to nonagricultural casual work and agricultural self-employment. Program-induced drops in hired labor demand were more than outweighed by more intensive use of family labor, machinery, fertilizer, and diversification to crops with higher risk-return profiles, especially by small farmers. Although the aggregate productivity effects were modest, total employment generated by the program (but not employment in irrigation-related activities) significantly increased productivity, suggesting alleviation of liquidity constraints and implicit insurance provision rather than quality of works undertaken as a main channel for program-induced productivity effects.

Dysprosium uranate (Dy6UO12) was prepared by citrate gel combustion and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD). A single phase with a rhombohedral structure was observed (R3¯). The room temperature values of the lattice parameters “a” and “c” were found to be 9.9747 and 9.4370 A, respectively. Heat capacity and enthalpy increment measurements were carried out by using a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and inverse drop calorimetry in the temperature range 298–800 K and 600–1700 K respectively. The thermal expansion characteristics were measured by using High Temperature XRD (HTXRD) in the temperature range 298–1973 K. The heat capacity data of Dy6UO12 is being reported for the first time and its value at 298 K is 462 J K−1 mol−1. The coefficient of lattice thermal expansion in the temperature range 298–1973 K along “a” and “c” axes are 13.28 × 10−6 and 9.35 × 10−6 K−1 respectively. These data are being reported for the first time as well.

Electro-reduction of solid UO 2 to U has been studied with molten CaCl 2 or LiCl as the electrolyte medium. Electro-reduction of thick (>3 mm), powder compacted and sintered pellets of UO 2 showed incomplete reduction resulting in a mixture of uranium metal and UO 2 . The extent of reduction of UO 2 to U was determined by employing a novel method called ‘metal estimation by hydrogen sensor (MEHS)’, in which the hydrogen evolved during the reaction of U metal in the reduced product with con. HBr was measured using an in-house developed polymer electrolyte based amperometric hydrogen sensor. The results of our investigations on incompletely reduced UO 2 pellets in both CaCl 2 and LiCl melts showed that the extent of reduction of different regions of the oxide pellet was different. It varied from 88.3% on the surface of the pellet as against 3.7% towards the centre bulk during electro-reduction in CaCl 2 (at 1173 K). The metallisation was found restricted to the surface of the pellets reduced in LiCl melt (at 923 K). Electro-reduction of small chunks of UO 2 pellet in CaCl 2 melt resulted in products with lower extent of reduction. Based on the measurements, a probable mechanism on the propagation of reduction through the solid UO 2 matrix during the electrochemical reduction process has been proposed.

Preparation of alumina and aluminium-cerium oxide microspheres was carried out by internal gelation process. The gelation behaviour of an acid deficient aluminium nitrate solution (NO3 −/AI3+ = 2.5) with hexamethylenetetramine and urea was investigated to develop a gelation field diagram. However, cerous nitrate solution formed two phase mixture, thus its gelation field diagram could not be prepared. Further, using limited composition range, smooth, crack free Al2O3 and (Al Ce) mixed oxide microspheres were prepared. The size distribution analysis of these spheres implied that the size of spheres could be controlled by changing the molarity of aluminium. XRD pattern of opaque hard spheres confirmed the presence of θ-alumina phase while that of (Al Ce) mixed oxide spheres depicted that cerium oxide containing alumina could also be obtained. FTIR spectra of the spheres illustrated the stretching mode of tetrahedral and octahedral Al-O coordination and bending mode of cerium in (Al Ce) mixed oxide spheres. S...

The standard Gibbs energy of formation of Pr2TeO6 $$ (\Updelta_{\text{f}} G^{^\circ } \left( {{ \Pr }_{ 2} {\text{TeO}}_{ 6} ,\;{\text{s}}} \right)) $$ was derived from its vapour pressure in the temperature range of 1,400–1,480 K. The vapour pressure of TeO2 (g) was measured by employing a thermogravimetry-based transpiration method. The temperature dependence of the vapour pressure of TeO2 over the mixture Pr2TeO6 (s) + Pr2O3 (s) generated by the incongruent vapourization reaction, Pr2TeO6 (s) = Pr2O3 (s) + TeO2 (g) + ½ O2 (g) could be represented as: $$ { \log }\left\{ {{{p\left( {{\text{TeO}}_{ 2} ,\;{\text{g}}} \right)} \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{p\left( {{\text{TeO}}_{ 2} ,\;{\text{g}}} \right)} {{\text{Pa}} \pm 0.0 4}}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} {{\text{Pa}} \pm 0.0 4}}} \right\} = 19. 12- 27132\; \left({\rm{{{\text{K}}}}/T} \right) $$ . The $$ \Updelta_{\text{f}} G^{^\circ } \;\left( {{ \Pr }_{ 2} {\text{TeO}}_{ 6} } \right) $$ could be represented by the relation $$ \left\{ {{{\Updelta_{\text{f}} G^{^\circ } \left( {{ \Pr }_{ 2} {\text{TeO}}_{ 6} ,\;{\text{s}}} \right)} \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{\Updelta_{\text{f}} G^{^\circ } \left( {{ \Pr }_{ 2} {\text{TeO}}_{ 6} ,\;{\text{s}}} \right)} {\left( {{\text{kJ}}\,{\text{mol}}^{ - 1} } \right)}}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} {\left( {{\text{kJ}}\,{\text{mol}}^{ - 1} } \right)}} \pm 5.0} \right\} = - 2 4 1 5. 1+ 0. 5 7 9 3\;\left(T/{\text{K}}\right) .$$ Enthalpy increments of Pr2TeO6 were measured by drop calorimetry in the temperature range of 573–1,273 K and heat capacity, entropy and Gibbs energy functions were derived. The $$ \Updelta_{\text{f}} H_{{298\;{\text{K}}}}^{^\circ } \;\left( {{ \Pr }_{ 2} {\text{TeO}}_{ 6} } \right) $$ was found to be $$ {{ - 2, 40 7. 8 \pm 2.0} \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{ - 2, 40 7. 8 \pm 2.0} {\left( {{\text{kJ}}\,{\text{mol}}^{ - 1} } \right)}}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} {\left( {{\text{kJ}}\,{\text{mol}}^{ - 1} } \right)}} $$ .

Estimation of the high temperature heat capacity (C p) data from experimental high temperature thermal expansion (α v) data and vice versa from the known values of the ratio (αv/C p) at low temperatures were carried out by assuming linear relationship of the ratio α v /C p with temperature (at T > θ D). The assumption was examined using the known α v and C p values of single phase fluorite systems such as UO2, ThO2 and PuO2. It was also examined using the known α v and C p of the mixed oxides (U1−y Lay) O2±x (y = 0.2, 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8). The estimated values of α v and C p are in good agreement with the experimental values within ±3%. Using the assumption the high temperature heat capacity data of (U1−y Ce y ) O2 (y = 0.2, 0.8) and (U1−y Gd y ) O2±x (y = 0.2, 0.5) were computed from the experimental high temperature α v data.

In the recent past, nonlinear optical materials are getting attention in the field fibre optic communication and optical signal processing. In the present study, the title compound was successfully synthesized by conventional chemical reaction and then the single crystal was grown by slow evaporation solution growth technique. l-Arginine acetate (LAA) is semi organic non linear optical single crystal and crystallizes in noncentrosymmetric space group. The grown good quality single crystals have been analyzed by different characterization analyses such as powder X-ray diffraction, high resolution X-ray diffraction (HRXRD), Raman spectroscopy, photoluminescence, SEM, micro-hardness, thermal and birefringence analyses.

Room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) are receiving increased attention for possible applications in nuclear fuel cycle. RTILs are being investigated as possible substitutes to molecular diluents in solvent extraction, and as an alternative to high temperature molten salts in non-aqueous reprocessing applications. It is well recognized that ionic liquids often display unique extraction behavior. Unusual extraction of various metal ions has been reported in literature when RTILs are used as solvent medium. These aspects make the subject of RTILs fascinating and challenging. This review provides the current status of room temperature ionic liquid research related to the extraction of actinides and fission products (cesium and strontium) from nitric acid medium, with special emphasis on the studies carried out in our laboratory.

The electrochemical behaviour of lanthanum was studied at inert tungsten electrode and reactive aluminium electrode in LiCl–KCl eutectic melt in the temperature range 698–798 K using transient electrochemical techniques. Reduction of La(III) to La(0) at the tungsten electrode takes place in a single step. The reduction shows quasi-reversible behaviour for polarization rates, 25 ≤ ν ≤ 150 mV s −1 and is predominantly controlled by charge transfer of La(III) ions for scan rates higher than 75 mV s −1 . The heterogenous rate constant of the process was estimated from impedance spectroscopy and from the semi-integrals of the cyclic voltammograms. The redox potential of the La(III)/La couple at the Al electrode was observed to be more positive than that at the inert electrode. This potential shift is due to the lowering of the activity of La in the metal phase caused by the formation of the intermetallic compound Al 11 La 3 . Thermodynamic properties such as Gibbs energy of formation of Al 11 La 3 , excess Gibbs energy and the activity coefficient of La in Al were calculated from the open circuit potential measurement.

A typical high-active waste (HAW) arising from reprocessing of (U0.3Pu0.7)C fuel irradiated to the burn-up of 155 GWd/Te in a fast breeder test reactor (FBTR) was characterized. Partitioning of trivalent actinides from HAW was demonstrated using a solvent, 0.2 M n-octyl(phenyl)-N,N-diisobutylcarbamoylmethylphosphine oxide (CMPO) – 1.2 M tri-n-butylphosphate (TBP) in n-dodecane (n-DD), in a mixer settler. The results established quantitative separation of trivalents (Am(III) + Ln(III)) from HAW and recovery (> 99%) using a citric acid-nitric acid formulation. The mutual separation of lanthanides and actinides from the stripped product was studied by using bis(2-ethylhexyl)diglycolamic acid (HDEHDGA), synthesized in our laboratory.

Phosphate (Pi) is a common limiter of plant growth due to its low availability in most soils. Plants have evolved elaborate mechanisms for sensing Pi deficiency and for initiating adaptive responses to low Pi conditions. Pi signaling pathways are modulated by both local and long-distance, or systemic, sensing mechanisms. Local sensing of low Pi initiates major root developmental changes aimed at enhancing Pi acquisition, whereas systemic sensing governs pathways that modulate expression of numerous genes encoding factors involved in Pi transport and distribution. The gaseous phytohormone ethylene has been shown to play an integral role in regulating local, root developmental responses to Pi deficiency. Comparatively, a role for ethylene in systemic Pi signaling has been more circumstantial. However, recent studies have revealed that ethylene acts to modulate a number of systemically controlled Pi starvation responses. Herein we highlight the findings from these studies and offer a model for how ethylene biosynthesis and responsiveness are integrated into both local and systemic Pi signaling pathways.

Electrochemical redox behaviour of Ce (III) ion in LiF–CaF 2 eutectic was studied at 1093 K using tungsten (inert) and nickel (reactive) as working electrodes and platinum as quasi-reference electrode by various electrochemical transient techniques viz. cyclic voltammetry (CV), square-wave voltammetry (SQWV) and chronopotentiometry (CP). It was deduced that reduction of Ce (III) to Ce metal occurs by a single step, three-electron transfer. Diffusion coefficient ( D Ce(III) ) of Ce (III) ion was determined from CV, semi-integral analysis and CP and the values obtained were 2.2 × 10 −5 , 5.4 × 10 −5 and 3.0 × 10 −5 cm 2 s −1 , respectively. Electrochemical studies in the presence of Ni electrode showed the formation of the inter-metallic compounds CeNi 5 and Ce 2 Ni 7 , which were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction and SEM-EDAX analysis.

Single crystals of l -histidine nitrate (LHN), a recently investigated nonlinear optical material, were grown by conventional solution technique. Crystal structure and vibrational modes of the grown crystals were confirmed by powder X-ray diffractometry and FT-Raman spectrometry, respectively. Crystalline perfection of the grown crystals was evaluated by employing an in-house developed high-resolution X-ray diffractometer (HRXRD) and it was found that the grown crystals were free from structural grain boundaries and the perfection was reasonably good. However, HRXRD could reveal the fact that the crystals contain predominantly the interstitial point defects. The birefringence was measured over a range of wavelength between 5480 and 5630 A and it was found that its value is nearly constant and 10 times higher than that of KDP. The optical band gap was found to be ∼3.73 eV. The photoluminescence excitation and emission spectra for single crystals were recorded. The SHG efficiencies of LHN samples of different particle sizes were measured by the Kurtz and Perry technique and they removed the ambiguity in the values reported differently in the literature. Dielectric properties were studied as a function of temperature over a wide range of frequency. The optical and dielectric studies along with the crystalline perfection reveal that the LHN crystal could be a good candidate for nonlinear optical devices.

Alkaline earth chloroapatites, M10(PO4)6Cl2 (M = Ba, Sr, Ca) were prepared by solid state reaction route and characterized by XRD. The lattice constants of Ba10(PO4)6Cl2, Sr10(PO4)6Cl2, Ca10(PO4)6Cl2 were determined to be a = 10.27(1) A, c = 7.66(1) A; a = 9.87(2) A, c = 7.18(1) A and a = 9.52(1) A, c = 6.85(1) A respectively. The enthalpy increments were measured by inverse drop calorimetric method in the temperature range 523–1423 K using a high temperature calorimeter. Thermodynamic functions such as heat capacity, entropy and Gibbs energy functions in the temperature range 298–1500 K, were computed from the measured enthalpy increments.

The anodic dissolution of U and Zr metal was studied in LiCl–KCl–UCl 3 and LiCl–KCl–ZrCl 4 , respectively, at 773 K by cyclic voltammetry and compared with their respective dissolution behaviour in blank LiCl–KCl eutectic. The anodic dissolution of U–Zr alloy in LiCl–KCl–UCl 3 was also studied at 773 K to compare with the dissolution of U and Zr. The transfer coefficients evaluated by Tafel analysis and the method of Allen–Hickling for U and Zr dissolution were found to be in fair agreement with each other. U dissolution in LiCl–KCl–UCl 3 and Zr dissolution LiCl–KCl–ZrCl 4 were also studied by chronoamperometry and the diffusion coefficient value of U 3+ was calculated to be in the range of 2.9 × 10 −5 to 3.3 × 10 −5 cm 2 s −1 which is in agreement with those reported in literature. Convolution voltammetric analysis of Zr 4+ /Zr 2+ redox couple in LiCl–KCl–ZrCl 4 was carried out for the first time to have a comprehensive understanding of the electrode kinetics.

Uranium–cerium mixed oxides (U 1− y Ce y )O 2 ( y = 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8) were prepared by combustion synthesis using citric acid as the fuel. Sintering of the solid solutions was carried out at 1873 K under reduced atmosphere. From the room temperature XRD patterns of the sintered samples it was found that the solid solutions form single phase fluorite structure. The room temperature lattice parameters of (U 1− y Ce y )O 2 ( y = 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8) are 0.5458, 0.5446, 0.5434 and 0.5422 nm respectively. Thermal expansion of (U 1− y Ce y )O 2 ( y = 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8) in the temperature range 298–1973 K was measured by high temperature X-ray diffraction (HTXRD). The coefficients of thermal expansion increase with increase in CeO 2 content in the sample and the measured data in the temperature range 298–1973 K, for (U 1− y Ce y )O 2 ( y = 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8) are 18.23, 19.91, 21.59, 23.29 × 10 −6 K −1 , respectively.

Ba10−x Cs x (PO4)6Cl2, (x = 0, 0.5) chloroapatite ceramics were prepared by sonochemical method of synthesis. The measured room temperature lattice parameters of Ba10 (PO4)6Cl2 and Ba9.5Cs0.5 (PO4)6Cl2−δ are practically the same; that is, a = 10.26 (8), c = 7.65 (7) and a = 10.27 (7), c = 7.65 (5), respectively. Heat capacity measurements were carried out on these materials by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) in the temperature range 298–800 K. The heat capacity values of Ba9.5Cs0.5(PO4)6Cl2−δ are found to be slightly higher at all temperatures than those of Ba10(PO4)6Cl2. From the heat capacity data, other thermodynamic functions such as enthalpy and entropy increments were computed. The heat capacity values of Ba10(PO4)6Cl2 and Ba9.5Cs0.5(PO4)6Cl2−δ at 298 K are 0.3912 and 0.4310 J K−1 g−1, respectively. Thermal expansion property of the doped and undoped barium chloroapatites was measured by using a home built dilatometer which uses LVDT as displacement sensor. The bulk thermal expansion of Ba10(PO4)Cl2 and Ba9.5Cs0.5(PO4)Cl2−δ is observed to be about 0.9% in the temperature range of 298–973 K.

Radiation stability of some room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) that find useful electrochemical applications in nuclear fuel cycle has been evaluated. The ionic liquids such as protonated betaine bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (HbetNTf 2 ), aliquat 336 (tri-n-octlymethylammonium chloride), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (bmimCl), 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (hmimCl), N-butyl-N-methylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (BMPyNTf 2 ) and N-methyl-N-propylpiperidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (MPPiNTf 2 ) have been irradiated to various absorbed dose levels, up to 700 kGy. The effect of gamma radiation on these ionic liquids has been evaluated by determining the variations in the physical properties such as color, density, viscosity, refractive index and electrochemical window. The changes in density, viscosity and refractive index of these ionic liquids upon irradiation were insignificant; however, the color and electrochemical window varied significantly with increase of absorbed dose.

Heat capacity measurements were carried out on (U1−yLay)O2±x (y = 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8) using differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) in the temperature range 298–800 K. Enthalpy increment measurements were carried out on the above solid solutions using high temperature drop calorimetry in the temperature range 800–1800 K. Chemical states of U and La in the solid solutions of mixed oxides were determined using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Oxygen to metal ratios of (U1−yLay)O2±x were estimated from the ratios of different chemical states of U present in the sample. Anomalous increase in the heat capacity is observed for (U1−yLay)O2±x (y = 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8) with onset temperatures in the range of 1000–1200 K. The anomalous increase in the heat capacity is attributed to certain thermal excitation process, namely, Frenkel pair defect of oxygen. The heat capacity value of (U1−yLay)O2±x (y = 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8) at 298 K are 65.3, 64.1, 57.7, 51.9 J K−1 mol−1, respectively. From the XPS investigations, it was observed that the O/M ratios at the surface are higher than that in the bulk. In uranium rich mixed oxide samples, the surface O/M ratios are greater than 2 whereas that in La rich mixed oxides, they are less than 2, though the bulk O/M in all the samples are less than 2.

Coccidiosis, caused by protozoa of the genus Eimeria, is one of the major parasitic diseases characterized by subclinical contagious enteritis in domestic and wild animals. A total of 125 tissue samples (Abomasum, small intestine and large intestine) of sheep and goat were collected from slaughter houses in Chennai, Kanchipuram and Tiruvallur districts and samples from necropsied small ruminants at Department of Veterinary Pathology, Madras Veterinary College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. The overall prevalence of coccidiosis in single infection in collected samples was 28.57% (10/35). Grossly, the ileum and jejunum infected with coccidia showed oedema, congestion of serosa and mucosa. In few cases, the ileum showed a single white round raised spot. On histopathological examination, infected tissues showed different developmental stages like early, young and mature first generation schizonts with stage of blastophore formation, early stage of compartmentalization, advanced stage of compartmentalization, early and mature second generation schizonts with stage of merozoite formation, macromeronts, micromeronts, mature meronts, microgametocytes, macrogametocytes, microgamonts, macrogamonts and mature oocysts in the intestinal mucosa mainly in the epithelial crypts.

Afield experiment was carried out at the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu to assess the effect of irrigation methods on growth and yield of maize in comparison to drip irrigation and surface irrigation systems during 2016–17. The treatment comprised two irrigation methods with seven fertilization methods viz humic acid 3 kg/ha, fulvic acid 3 kg/ha, vermiwash 5 per cent, Jeevamiritham 5 per cent and their combinations and inorganic fertilizers were the fertilization treatments. The drip irrigation showed superiority in growth characters and yield of the crop. Among fertilization methods inorganic fertilizers registered significant influence on the crop yield ie 7298 and 7384 kggrainyield/ha thatwas comparable with humic acid 3kg/ha+ fulvic acid 3kg/ha treatment ie 6250 and 6184 kg/ha during first and second year respectively. In case of amaranth higher fresh green yield was due to the inorganic fertilizer application treatment followed by Jeevamiritham.

Molten salt electrorefining based pyrochemical reprocessing is ideally suited for treating the spent metallic fuels. Development of all aspects of the pyroprocess flow sheet is in progress at IGCAR to enable the commercialisation of the process. Following the initial laboratory scale studies, engineering scale studies have been taken up on the molten salt electrorefining process and the consolidation process for recovering the actinides from cathode deposit. Studies are also being carried out on the direct electrochemical reduction of actinide oxides, methods for the fabrication of waste forms and materials and coatings.

The electrochemical behavior of U(IV) in the room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL), N-methyl-N-propylpiperidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (MPPiNTf 2 ), was investigated to evaluate the feasibility of using the RTIL for non-aqueous reprocessing application. In this context, the rate of dissolution of uranium oxide (UO 2 ) in HNTf 2 was studied at 353 K. The dissolution of UO 2 in HNTf 2 was rapid; nearly 50% of UO 2 dissolved within 3 h and more than 95% dissolved in 25 h. The resultant solution was dried, diluted with MPPiNTf 2 and the electrochemical behavior of U(IV) in MPPiNTf 2 was studied at 373 K at platinum, glassy carbon and stainless steel electrodes. The cyclic voltammograms of U(IV) in MPPiNTf 2 at platinum and glassy carbon electrodes consisted of four cathodic waves occurring at a peak potentials of −0.7 V (Fc/Fc + ), −1.4 V, −2.2 V and −2.7 V. Controlled potential electrolysis of a solution of U(IV) in MPPiNTf 2 at −2.8 V (Fc/Fc + ) resulted in the deposition of metallic uranium, which was confirmed by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy.

A laboratory scale facility has been set up for fabrication of test fuel pins through sol-gel route for irradiation in FBTR, Kalpakkam. The facility is a train of glove boxes fitted with master slave manipulators for carrying out various operations involved in the fuel fabricat ion process. The paper describes the design features of the equipment and mechanisms for automation, developed for microsphere production and other processes. The design features include control system and vision systems for man- machine interface.

This paper discusses the case report on Mycoplasma infection in cat and its timely diagnosis by blood smear examination and haematology. It also discusses the treatment and response of the cat for the disease. Haemobartonellosis in cats is caused by Mycoplasma haemofelis , formerly known as Haemobartonella felis . An eight months old Persian cat was received in the Small Animal Clinics, Out Patient Ward, Medicine department, Madras Veterinary College with the history to suspect for feline Mycoplasmosis. Peripheral blood smear and whole blood sample was collected and subjected to blood smear examination and whole blood for routine haematological study. It revealed codocytosis, anisocytosis and hypochromasia. Few ghost cells also were seen. Nearly 80–85% of the RBCs revealed darkly stained small organism at the rim or periphery of the cells.

Locating dominating set is the subset of the vertex set which dominate and uniquely identify all vertices of the set . In this paper we formulated the apt method for finding the location domination number of sum of graphs based on the nature of the graphs and .

Drop calorimetric studies were carried out on cubic BaTiO 3 and Ba 0.9 Nd 0.1 TiO 3 . Enthalpy increments were measured by inverse drop calorimetric method in the temperature range 573–1523 K using a multidetector high temperature calorimeter. Thermodynamic functions such as heat capacity, entropy, Gibbs energy functions in the temperature range 298–1600 K were computed from the measured enthalpy increments.

Sol–gel based fuel fabrication processes have the potential to be the nuclear fuel fabrication processes in the future. Hence development of sol–gel technology for nuclear fuel fabrication is being the pursued in the Department of Atomic Energy in India. As a part of the efforts, a laboratory scale facility for fabrication of test fuel pins for irradiation in the Fast Breeder Reactor (FBTR), Kalpakkam has been set up at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam, India. These fuel pins will be vibropacked with sol–gel derived microspheres or stacked with pellets obtained by compaction of sol–gel derived microspheres. The facility is aimed at demonstration of the remote operation of the fuel pin fabrication process through the sol–gel route. A capsule containing three test pins from this facility will be irradiated in FBTR. The design features of the facility and the test fuel pins are described in this paper.

Uranium–lanthanum mixed oxides (U1−y Lay) O2±x (y = 0.1–0.9) of 13 different compositions were prepared by combustion synthesis using citric acid as the fuel. Sintering of the solid solutions was carried out at 1873 K. The solubility limit of La2O3 in UO2 at 1873 K was determined to be ∼82% from the room temperature XRD patterns of the sintered samples. However, the solubility limit of La2O3 in the mixed oxides prepared by solid-state route and sintered under identical conditions was found to be ∼70%. The coefficients of thermal expansion for (U1−y Lay) O2±x (y = 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8) in the temperature range 298–1973 K determined by high temperature X-ray diffraction (HTXRD) method are 17.7, 18.5, 19.2 and 20.0 × 10−6 K−1, respectively.

Lithium assisted electrochemical reduction of U3O8 in the room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL), N-methyl-N-propylpiperidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (MPPiNTf2), was studied to explore the feasibility of using RTILs for direct electrochemical reduction of uranium oxide at near ambient temperature. The electrochemical behavior of Li+ in MPPiNTf2 at stainless steel electrode was investigated by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The cyclic voltammogram of LiNTf2 in MPPiNTf2 at 373 K consisted of a surge in cathodic current occurring at a potential of −2.8 V (vs. Fc/Fc+) due to the reduction of Li(I) to metallic form. The nucleation phenomenon observed in the voltammogram was investigated by chronoamperometry. Electrodeposition of metallic lithium on U3O8 particles contained in a stainless steel (SS) basket was carried out to examine the feasibility of reducing U3O8 to metallic form. The results are discussed in this paper.

Electrochemical behavior of trivalent lanthanides such as europium(III), samarium(III) and cerium(III) in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (bmimCl) was investigated by cyclic voltammetry and chronopotentiometry at platinum working electrode in the temperature range of 343–373 K. The cyclic voltammograms of these metal ions in bmimCl at Pt electrode consisted of quasi-reversible waves occurring at a cathodic peak potential of −0.769 V, −0.547 V and −0.558 V (vs. Pd, 373 K) were attributed to the reduction of Eu(III), Sm(III) and Ce(III) to their respective divalent states. A prewave observed in the cyclic voltammogram of Eu(III) represents the reduction of Eu(III) to Eu(II) adsorbed on Pt electrode. The diffusion coefficients of these trivalents in bmimCl were determined to be of the order of ∼10−8 cm2 s−1 by cyclic voltammetry and chronopotentiometry and the charge transfer rate constants (ks) were determined to be of the order of ∼10−5 cm s−1 by Nicholson method. The apparent standard potentials, E 0 * (vs. Cl2/Cl−), and some thermodynamic properties of reaction of LnCl3 from LnCl2 were determined and the results are reported in this paper.

The objective of the present investigation is to evaluate the antimicrobial potency of the terpenoid fractions isolated from Luffa cylindrica seeds against various pathogenic microbes. The seeds were powdered and extracted with methanol in soxhlet appratus based on phytochemical screening. Three terpenoid components were isolated by column chromatography and identified by thin layer chromatography and chemical analysis which were designated as , & respectively. Disc diffusion method was employed to determine the antimicrobial effectiveness of test compounds I, II and III against 6 microbial species viz., Staphylococcus (S.) aureus, Bacillus (B.) subtilis, Escherichia (E.) coli, Pseudomonas (P.) aeruginosa, Candida (C.) albicans and Aspergillus niger. The disc was saturated with of each compound, allowed to dry and introduced on the upper layer of seeded agar plate. The plates were incubated overnight at . Microbial growth was determined by measuring the zonal inhibition diameters. Compound I showed maximum potency against gram positive S. aureus (21 mm) in comparison with standard ciprofloxacin (38 mm), whereas the same compound was completely devoid of activity against both the fungi tested. Compound II was found to be highly sensitive against both the gram negative E. coli (20 mm) and P. aeruginosa (22 mm). Compound II was found to exhibit maximum potency against the fungi C. albicans (15 mm) and A. niger (20 mm). Compound III was found to be very effective against both the gram positive S. aureus (20 mm) and B. subtilis (15 mm) respectively.

Rare earth uranates Nd6UO12 ,G d 6UO12 and Eu6UO12 were prepared by combustion synthesis and characterized by XRD. Single-phase rhombohedral struc- ture was observed for all the above compounds. Heat capacity measurements were carried out on Nd6UO12 and Gd6UO12 with differential scanning calorimetry in the temperature range 298-800 K. Enthalpy, entropy and Gibbs energy functions were computed. Heat capacity values of Nd6UO12 and Gd6UO12 at 298 K are 436 and 400 J K -1 mol -1 , respectively. Thermal expansion char- acteristics were studied using high temperature X-ray dif- fraction (HTXRD) in the temperature range 298-873 K. The coefficients of thermal expansion measured for Eu6UO12 are 10.5 9 10 -6 and 7.3 9 10 -6 K -1 along a- and c-axis, respectively. Similarly, the coefficients of thermal expansion of Gd6UO12 along a-axis are 10.0 9 10 -6 K -1 and along c-axis is 9.7 9 10 -6 K -1 .

Phosphate (Pi) availability is a major constraint to plant growth. Consequently, plants have evolved complex adaptations to tolerate low Pi conditions. Numerous genes implicated in these adaptations have been identified, but their chromatin-level regulation has not been investigated. The nuclear actin-related protein ARP6 is conserved among all eukaryotes and is an essential component of the SWR1 chromatin remodeling complex, which regulates transcription via deposition of the H2A.Z histone variant into chromatin. Here, we demonstrate that ARP6 is required for proper H2A.Z deposition at a number of Pi starvation response (PSR) genes in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). The loss of H2A.Z at these target loci results in their derepression in arp6 mutants and correlates with the presence of multiple Pi-starvation-related phenotypes, including shortened primary roots and increases in the number and length of root hairs, as well as increased starch accumulation and phosphatase activity in shoots. Our data suggest a model for chromatin-level control of Pi starvation responses in which ARP6-dependent H2A.Z deposition modulates the transcription of a suite of PSR genes.