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A critical stage of the plant's life cycle is germination and insufficient seedling emergence contributes to the lower productivity of finger millet. Priming improves seedling emergence, reduces stand establishment time, and improves seedling germination. There is a need to develop a new technology like Nanotechnology that can precisely detect and deliver the right amount of nutrients or other inputs to safe crops for the environment and maximising productivity. A field experiment was conducted during Kharif season to evaluate the response of effective farming practice for sole finger millet + greengram intercropping system under rainfed conditions to varied levels of bio-seed priming and foliar application of nanoparticles on crop growth and productivity. The results of the experiment revealed that finger millet (Eleusine coracana) intercropped with greengram (Vigna radiata) (2:1) had a significant level (

Here, we propose a novel photocatalyst of europium doped calcium titanate (Eu:CaTiO3) were synthesized by simple sol–gel method. The synthesized catalyst samples were further annealed at various temperatures (500, 700 and 900 °C) under air environment in order to get the high order crystalline nature. Role of annealing temperature is vital to improving the structural, optical and photocatalytic behavior of the samples. XRD, SEM and TEM results illustrate that Eu:CaTiO3 catalyst have nanocrystalline with orthorhombic structure and individual spherical shaped morphology (size of the nanoparticles of 35–50 nm). A considerable red shift in the absorption edge and significant decrease in the band gap energy was found while the annealing temperature is increased from 500 to 700 °C. Recombination of photo-generated electron–hole pair was further demonstrated by PL spectra investigation. The photo-degradation test was monitored methyl orange (MO) and rhodamine B (RhB) dye solutions under visible light irradiation. The 900 °C annealed sample showed superior photocatalytic performance such as high degradation efficiency (93%), huge first order kinetics (0.0932 min−1) and long term stability towards MO dye than RhB.

Astaxanthin (AXN) is known to have health benefits by epidemiological studies. Therefore, it is of interest to assess the effect of AXN (derived from indigenous unicellular green alga Haematococcus lacustris) to modulate cell cycle arrest, lysosomal acidification and eventually apoptosis using in vitro in A549 lung cancer cells. Natural extracts of astaxanthin were obtained by standardized methods as reported earlier and characterized by standard HPLC and MS. Treatment of A549 cells with AXN (purified fraction) showed significant reduction in cell viability (about 50%) as compared to crude extract at 50µM concentration. Thus, we show the anticancer effects and lysosomal acidification in A549 cells by Astaxanthin from Haematococcus lacustris for further consideration. Together, our results demonstrated the anticancer potential of AXN from Haematococcus lacustris, which is found to be mediated via its ability to induce cell cycle arrest, lysosomal acidification and apoptotic induction.

The first description on the capacitive behavior of Eu-doped CaTiO3 analyzed by adopting cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge/discharge studies (GCD), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) technique is submitted. The present work focused on the synthesis of perovskite type of CaTiO3 and Eu-doped CaTiO3 via simple wet chemical method. The prepared samples were characterized using various spectral and analytical techniques, viz., XRD, FT-IR, SEM, EDX, UV-DRS, and HR-TEM. The electrodes constructed using CaTiO3 and Eu-doped CaTiO3 were tested by CV, GCD, and EIS with an aid of a three-electrode system, composed of the electroactive material as working electrode, Ag/AgCl as reference electrode, and platinum wire as counter electrode in 1 M aqueous KOH as electrolyte. The pronounced specific capacitance (Csp) of 274 F g−1 was observed at 1 A g−1 current density. Furthermore, the synthesized materials showed capacitance retention of 93% even after 2000 charge/discharge cycles. Thus, CaTiO3 and Eu-doped CaTiO3 were found to be significant for energy storage applications.

Nowadays, the need for energy conserving in industries is in big rise. To meet the demand, various technologies have been adopted to fit industrial standards. This paper relies on the modern standard 4.o conventions used in critical industrial applications at each point. In Internet of Things (IoT), the use of short packets is expected to meet the stringent latency requirement in ultra-reliable low-latency communications network. In view of the reaction of ping production, idleness and throughput and analyzing their upgraded exhibition in companies such as oil and gas, energy utility, media transmission and some more industries are carried out. A number of application layer protocols have been considered in order to accommodate a wide range of applications. HTTP, a well-known, fundamental client–server protocol and the protocol that is most compatible with current network infrastructure, is one of the leading candidate solutions in this paper. In this paper, the Trial outcomes are acquired through demo industrial setup and recognized through Message Queuing Telemetry Transport (MQTT) and resultant checked through Wire shark and LCD in real-time.

Crop diversification refers to the addition of new crops or enterprises with or without the addition a shift from one crop or enterprise in a production system. It needs to sustain the production system of the region by enhancing the soil health, reducing biotic and abiotic stresses and increasing employment generation. Rice-potato-mungbean cropping system was sustainable, compared with a rice-wheat cropping system, in terms of higher productivity, protein yield, and energy output (Vyas, 1996). Crop diversification considering crop and forage rotation strategies, involving alternative winter crops and summer crops/forages with supplemental irrigation; and also high value options: vegetables, dry land fruit trees, medicinal and aromatic plants, development of plant-based and livestock- based products is market oriented and environmentally healthy. (Sharma, 2010). By adopting an integrated genetic and natural resource management approach, crop diversification can able to provide an improvement in livelihoods on a sustainable basis in rainfed areas, particularly by introducing high-value fruit, vegetables and value-added plant products and with options of additional irrigation (Vyas, 1996). Besides developing technologies for promoting intensification, the country /state must give greater attention to the development of technologies that will facilitate agricultural diversification particularly towards intensive production of fruits, vegetables, flowers and other high value crops that are expected to increase the income growth and generate effective demand for food. Thus, accelerating the pace of crop yields (through technological change) and crop diversification (In favor of high-value commodities) are the options to provide sustainable sources of agricultural growth in future.

Study on variability in area, production, and productivity of coffee in India during last decade indicates that area and production of coffee is increasing whereas yield of coffee is decreasing trend during the period 1990–1991 to 2015–2016. There was increasing trend of Robusta coffee and decreasing trend of Arabica coffee yields in India with three distinct periods due to climate change. Micro-level study was conducted on variability in yield of Arabica and Robusta coffee vis-a-vis climate change, variability of parameters like rainfall (RF), maximum temperature (Tmax), minimum temperature (Tmin), and mean relative humidity (RH) was undertaken with data recorded at Regional Coffee Research Station, Chundale, Wayanad, Kerala State. The yield data for 35 years (1980 to 2014) revealed that the yield of Robusta coffee was higher than that of Arabica coffee in most of the years due to favorable climate requirements in Kerala. There was increasing trend of yield of Robusta coffee in Kerala and decreasing trend of Arabica coffee. Blossom showers had significance influence in increasing the yield of coffee rather than total annual rainfall in Robusta coffee. El Nino events have little effect on coffee production in India in general, and out of 11 El Nino years, only 3 years coffee productivity was adversely affected. However, with respect to Kerala, Arabica yield was adversely affected in strong El Nino years, which was again confirmed with NDVI anomaly too.

Herein propose a high performance dye sensitized solar cell based terbium (Tb) doped barium titanate (BaTiO3) thin films prepared by three different techniques such as chemical bath deposition method (CBD), screen printing (SP) and spray pyrolysis coating (SPC) techniques respectively. XRD, SEM and HRTEM results suggest that tetragonal phase of BaTiO3 with three different morphologies like spherical, nanosheets and nanofibers for CBD, SP and SPC assisted Tb:BTO thin films, respectively. Enhancing the visible light absorption, narrowing the band gap energy and prevent the recombination process of electron-hole pair of SPC assisted Tb:BTO thin films were also examined by UV and PL spectra analysis. Moreover, the SPC assisted Tb:BTO thin films show high surface area (102.5 m2/g) and specific porous nature (14.7 nm), studied by N2 adsorption-desorption analysis. Sandwich type DSSC was fabricated and studied the current-voltage characteristic of all the Tb:BTO thin film photoanode samples. The device utilizing in the SPC assisted Tb:BTO thin film photoanode produced the highest photo-conversion efficiency (η) of 15.15% than compared with CBD assisted Tb:BTO (6.57%) and SP assisted Tb:BTO (8.67%). This is due to highest porosity, surface area, lowest leak current and charge transfer resistance Rct of Tb:BTO photoanode. The improved mechanism of the proposed work is also discussed in detail.

This work, simple wet chemical route has been adapted to prepare calcium titanate (CaTiO3) catalyst nanopowders. The nature of crystalline structural, morphological, optical and textural properties of the products was monitored through XRD, SEM, TEM, Raman, UV, PL and BET analysis. Orthorhombic crystalline phase with clear spherical are found in the XRD and TEM results. There is no trace in the impurity of the products, which denotes that product purity nature. The optical band gap energies (3.03–2.82 eV) and rapid generation electron-hole with presence of light was identified through UV and PL results. Mesoporous nature (34.2 nm) with huge surface area (97.5 m2/g) was identified through BET analysis. The photocatalytic results exposed that the 900 °C annealed CaTiO3 catalyst shows fabulous degradation efficiency (88%), high apparent constant (0.0578 min−1) and long term stability towards MO dye under visible light illumination. The improved photocatalytic activity of CaTiO3 is due to the narrowing the band gap energy and prevent the recombination process of electron-hole pairs. The improved mechanism of the proposed photocatalyst was also discussed in detail.

The Meretrixcasta is an edible clam for human beings and it is widely distributed around the aquatic ecosystem. The clam has relatively thick shells that can attain a length of three inches. The knowledge of the biology, culture and biochemical composition of any edible organism is extremely important. Though the size, shape and colour of clam are different their nutritive value is very good. A maximum average length of 27.15mm was observed in the M.casta studied during 2011 and a maximum average length of 26.51mm was observed during 2012. The average lengths of M.casta in all the three different estuaries studied were as follows: 27.15 > 25.82 > 25.04 mm in 2011 and 26.51 > 25.88 > 25.17mm in 2012. A maximum average weight of 7.824 and 7.155g was observed during 2011 and in 2012; a maximum weight of 7.528g and minimum of 6.941g was recorded uniformly in all the three different estuaries. However, in 2011and 2012 a maximum and minimum of average length of 26.86, 25.10 mm, and average weight of 7.67 and 7.05g respectively were noticed in both Vellar and Uppanar estuaries of M.casta. the present investigation, it is clearly observed that M.casta can grow a weight of 0.13g/day and length of 0.122mm/day among the three different estuaries studied in the Cuddalore district which is located in Bay of Bengal.

The present studies were concentration of ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, dissolved oxygen, temperature, salinity and pH. For seven physicochemical parameters were determined in marine water samples along with marine ornamental fish water sources from CAS in marine biology laboratory conditions at Parangipettai. Water sample have been studied at a marine water sources. The study concentrations of parameters like ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, dissolved oxygen, temperature, salinity, and pH. And physicochemical parameters have been calculated. The data showed the difference of the investigated parameters in samples as follows; Concentration of water quality parameters like ammonia was maximum level above 1.158 μmol¯1, nitrite was ranging from 0.811 to 0.922 μmol¯1, nitrate was range maximum level above 4.84 μmol¯1, dissolved oxygen content was maximum level above 2.4 mg¯1, temperature was ranging from 32.3 to 100 °C, salinity values ranging from 0 to 36ppt and pH was ranging from 6.5 to 8.0. During the study period of from July 2013 to June 2014 we investigated concentration of seven physicochemical parameters value Marine water samples with cultured fish species in presence of water from CAS in Marine Biology laboratory Annamalai University at Parangipettai.

The marine fish are extraordinarily nourishing food and are affluently accessible fish meat source. Fresh examined sample of grouper fish was collected from Mudasal odai fish landing center. The protein, carbohydrate, lipid, ash and moisture contents of Epinephelus coioides were found to be 19.07 mg, 4.03, 2.61, 77.38 mg and 1.21 mg/g respectively. The potassium and phosphorus are the predominant elements other nine components are present in considerable quantities in the total of 11 minerals. Palmitic acid, Oleic acid and Stearic acid were observed to be the major elements of total presented 15 fatty acids. In this current study we have concluded the grouper fish having rich source of protein and good fatty acids and it will facilitate to enhance the nutrition level on poor folks

Assessment of a coke drum for seismic stability is generally a well-documented load case, with ample examples and historical design experience. However, the long-term effects of non-uniform temperature distributions have in many cases led to a phenomenon in coke drums commonly referred to as the “banana effect”. The banana effect leads to out-of-plumb, and local weakening of the shell due to bulging, and creates a more vulnerable structure where the contributions of tilting angle and effective seismic loads vary with each stage of the coking cycle. This paper outlines one practical approach to this challenging problem, along with the derivations and analytical techniques necessary to support the resulting conclusions. The framework developed was able to compare the influences of tilting and seismic accelerations independently, even when acting simultaneously. Using this technique, the analysis was able to efficiently predict a relationship between an expected seismic load and the critical drum tilt angle, with only minor adjustments needed to account for non-linear vertical distribution of the shear force.

Seafood is an excellent provider of protein with high biological values. Fish, shellfish and other aquatic organisms are appropriate for food and have world-wide importance. They‟re wonderful sources of high quality proteins, superior to those in red meat and poultry foods. The human dietary amendments that characterize the “nutrition transition” include every quantitative and qualitative change in the human diets. The present study Meretrix casta meat is used for the preparation of excellent recipes like cake, soup and mint stuffed tomato with yellow clam using M. casta meat, that have the potential to be become a regular food item in the house hold diet with consumer acceptance. The differences in food habits over the length and breadth of the nation are most that available food resources are not being used properly due to the lack of information regarding their importance. The panel of judges vouched safe for taste and delicacy of the dishes in the present study. The panel detected that the dishes were a lot of as good as those created out of the much sought after seafood in taste, smell and flavor

The nutritional effects of marine food have increased far and wide due to the beneficial effects of consuming marine food, fats and oils. In general, the proximate composition is well known as a proportion composition of basic elements such as protein, lipids, carbohydrate, minerals and water. The puffer fish Lagocephalus lunaris and Lagocephalus inermis were collected at Mudasal odai fish landing centre and the skin and visceral organs like gonads and intestines were removed the edible portion only took for the analysis. Species of the fish sample was oven-dried in an electric oven at between 70 – 80 °C until the samples had constant weight. The protein, carbohydrate, fat, ash and moisture content of green -rough-back puffer fish and smooth-backed blow fish were investigated. L. lunaris and L. inermis were has 9.22 %, 8.92 %, 1.96 %, 1.87 %, 11.25 %, 11.98 %, 80.32 %, 86.05 %, 0.96 %, 1.27 % respectively. Totally seven saturated fatty acids; ten Mono unsaturated fatty acids and two poly unsaturated fatty acids were found as the major components on the investigated puffer fish. Polyunsaturated fatty acid like n-3 has 31.17 %, 31.19 and n-6 7.26 %, 7.29 % of PUSFA found as the dominant composition on puffer fish. This study revealed that these species are having high saturated fatty acid and protein content and able to compete with more commercially utilize species in terms of nutritional value, and they can definitely also compete when it comes to taste. It can act as a good source of nutritional and economic value when it is carefully handled and properly cooked.

In this paper, the author introduces a new subclasses of analytic functions with respect to (j, k)-symmetric points and investigate various inclusion properties for these classes.Integral representation for functions in these classes and some interesting applications.

Magnesium oxide nanotubes were prepared by electrospinning technique. The nanocatalysts have been characterized by various sophisticated techniques, including XRD, SEM, and TEM. The activities of these NT catalysts are promoting pyrazolyl 1,4-dihydropyridine syntheses have been extensively investigated. Various advantages associated with these protocols simple workup procedure, short reaction times, high yields and reusability of the catalyst.

Biologically important pyrazolylpyridines were synthesized in excellent yield by the oxidation of pyrazolyl 1,4-dihydropyridines (pyrazolyl 1,4-DHPs) using tetrapropylammonium perruthenate/N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide (TPAP/NMO) under mild conditions at 0 °C.

Rice sheath rot has become a highly destructive rice disease with a high variability in yield loss levels varying from 20 to 85%. It is caused by many pathogenic agents varying depending on the area, grown varieties, prevailing environmental conditions, the farming system, other pests, etc. Therefore, sheath rot disease can be effectively managed through crop improvement strategies viz., discovery of resistance sources from varieties, germplasm, landraces, wild genetic resources and further deploying them in breeding programmes. In this study, the level of resistance to sheath rot in 43 rice germplasm accessions were screened and the results were grouped using Darwin 6.0 statistical package from dissimilarity analysis. The percent disease index (PDI) was calculated and varietal reactions were presented. Out of 43 lines screened against sheath rot, six entries viz., Gowri, NLR 3449, Navara, Soorakkuruvai, Keralakandasala, krishnahemavathi were categorised as moderately resistant. Most of the lines and varieties viz., JGL 348, Abhya, LFR293, MDU5, Kalinga, Annada, Kodaikannan, TP-100008, TP-10106, Kuruvaikalanjium, Kalyani, Maranella, Seeragasamba, Thondi, Kavara, TPS-4, TPS-5, TP 08053 were found as moderately susceptible. However, the germplasm lines Swarna, Kattanur, Dhalaheera and JGL 3855 have been reported to be resistant to sheath rot. Sixteen germplasm lines viz., Bharathi, Uma, CO 39, Neikuruvai, CO 50, Rajalakshmi, Karsamba, JGL 1798, CO 51, BPT 5204, Virendra, JGL 1798, CO 51, BPT 5204 and Aman were designated as susceptible and three germplasm lines viz., Athira, Malampunchan, Adukan were found as highly susceptible. None of the entry in the present study was recorded as immune. The present investigation revealed that the resistant and moderately resistant genotypes viz., Swarna, Kattanur, Dhalaheera, JGL 3855, Gowri, NLR3449, Navara, Soorakuruvai, Keralakandasala, and Krishnahemavathi can be utilised in resistant breeding programmes for the development of sheath rot resistant lines in rice.

Cement is the most important essential component to the building infrastructure development. Taking into consideration that the bond market will record an expanding rate of 15 - 20%, identified with the private structures improvement and to the start of extensive foundation extends the concrete creation is of extraordinary premium, both from the perspective of item's quality increment and crude material utilization. The main objective of this paper is to show how the process model can be inserted into advanced controllers to allow the successful control and optimization of the process, thereby upgrading the new technologies to the cement kiln, hot air from the Grate cooler is recycled to the Pre-heater, in order to reduce the fuel consumption in burner and high production rate of the cement can be achieved. The cement kiln consists of DRY and WET process. Initially, in pyro-processing the raw mix is fed into cement kiln and heated up to 1500℃ in the presence of limited supply of oxygen, the resultant clinker is now allowed to cooldown up to 100℃. Waste hot air from the Grate cooler is recycled to the Pre-heater, in order to reduce the fuel consumption in burner. Process mechanization is the place the modern territory offers the greatest and most fulfilling challenges as far as joining customary building abilities with mechanical development. The cement kiln is enhanced with the new technology using PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) and the output is monitored and controlled with the help of the HMI (Human Machine Interface). The whole system has been implemented and tested using Siemen’s PLC.

An experiment was conducted during summer and kharif seasons of 2004 and 2005 at Agricultural Research Station, Bhavanisagar, to study different irrigation methods and regimes (IW/CPE ratio) on yield attributes, yield and water economy in hybrid sunflower (MSFH 17). Yield and yield attributes varied significantly during both summer and kharif seasons of 2004 and 2005. Irrigation at 0.80 and 0.60 IW/CPE ratios under alternate furrows and paired row system of irrigation (80/40 × 30 cm) proved better than other treatment combinations with regard to water use efficiency gross return, net return and B0 : C ratio.

Fragility estimates are developed to assess the seismic vulnerability of reinforced concrete (RC) frame buildings, which were designed primarily for gravity loads. Five buildings of various heights (one-, two-, three-, six-, and ten-stories) are used to represent generic RC frame buildings of one- to ten-stories tall. Using a Bayesian methodology, probabilistic demand models are developed to predict the seismic structural demand using the peak interstory drift response for an imposed earthquake. Seismic structural capacity values are selected corresponding to the performance levels or damage state as specified in FEMA 356 or as computed by nonlinear pushover analyses. For each building, fragility estimates are obtained by assessing the conditional probability that the drift demand reaches or exceeds the drift capacity for a given earthquake spectral acceleration. Confidence bounds are developed to represent the epistemic uncertainty inherent in the demand models used in the fragility estimates. Bivariate fragility estimates, formulated as a function of spectral acceleration and the fundamental building period, are developed from the fragility estimates of the individual buildings. The bivariate fragilities can be used to quantify the seismic vulnerability of gravity load designed RC frame buildings one- to ten-stories tall.

Soxhlet, Ultrasonic extract of Morinda citrifolia L. fruit and four extracts from high pressure extraction at 10 MPa using ethanol, ethyl acetate as solvent and dried by vacuum oven and spray dryer were analyzed for their antioxidant activity by peroxide value method and diphenylpicrylhydrazyl radical scavenging method. The five extracts along with the reference samples, butylated hydroxyl toluene and tannic acid were further analyzed to determine their total phenolic content by Folin-Ciocalteau method and total flavonoid content by Dowd method. The M. citrifolia extract by high pressure extraction with ethyl acetate as solvent and spray dried was found to exhibit highest antioxidant activity and total flavonoid content. High total phenolic content was determined in the high pressure extract using ethyl acetate as solvent and vacuum dried. It was interesting to note that ultrasonic extract exhibited significant antioxidant activity, total phenolic and flavonoid content. High pressure extracted M. citrifolia in ethanol was found to express lesser values comparatively. The significant difference in activity among the high pressure extracts was found to be due to the polarity of the solvents used for extraction as M. citrifolia fruit contains relatively larger quantity of non-polar antioxidant compounds. It was also found that the drying methods had significant impact on the antioxidant activity, total phenolic and flavonoid content of the extracts.

Vibrational spectral analysis of the hydrogen-bonded nonlinear optical (NLO) material p-bromo acetanilide (PBA) was carried out using NIR-FT-Raman and FT-IR spectroscopy. Ab initio molecular orbital computations were performed at HF/6-31G (d) level to derive equilibrium geometry, vibrational wavenumbers, intensities and first hyperpolarizability. The lowering of the imino stretching wavenumbers suggests the existence of strong intermolecular NH···O hydrogen bonding, which was substantiated by the natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis. The vibrational spectra confirm that the charge-transfer interaction between the NHCOCH3 group and—Br through phenyl ring is responsible for simultaneous strong IR and Raman activation of the ring mode 8a. Vibrational analysis indicates that the lowering of stretching wavenumbers of methyl group due to electronic effects simultaneously caused by induction and hyperconjugation is due to the presence of the oxygen atom. The presence of blue-shifting H-bonds of CH stretching wavenumbers, simultaneous activation of carbonyl stretching mode, the strong activity of low-wavenumber H-bond stretching vibrations and the role of intramolecular charge transfer in making the molecule NLO active have been analyzed on the basis of the vibrational spectral features. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Development of a novel in situ method for simultaneous growth of single crystals and thin films of a smart material spinel is achieved. Material to be grown as metal-incorporated single crystal and thin film was taken as a precursor and put into a bath containing acid as a reaction speed-up reagent (catalyst) as well as a solvent with a metal foil as cation scavenger. By this novel method, zinc aluminate crystals having hexagonal facets and thin films having single crystalline orientation were prepared from a single optimized bath. Properties of both crystals and thin films were studied using an x-ray diffractometer and EDAX. ZnAl2O4 is a well-known wide bandgap compound semiconductor (Eg = 3.8 eV), ceramic, opto-mechanical and anti-thermal coating in aerospace vehicles. Thus a space_ gmr technique was found to be a new low cost and advantageous method for in situ and simultaneous growth of single crystals and thin films of a smart material.

A new technology for the growth of single crystals of a spinel oxide is proposed. This principally new approach consists in variation of crystalline morphology by varying a catalyst (HF acid) content in a single bath containing catalyst and the cation scavenger content (metal foil). ZnAl 2 O 4 crystals with hexagonal symmetry needle facets are obtained. The structure and composition of the crystals was analyzed using X-ray diffractometer (XRD), and energy dispersive analysis using X-rays (EDAX), respectively, and reported. This technique is more advantageous, low cost and simple method for spinel crystals than the traditional methods.

Fragility curves are constructed to assess the seismic vulnerability of a hypothetical two-story reinforced concrete frame building designed only for gravity loads. Fragility curves are also developed for the same building modestly retrofitted by means of column strengthening. A Bayesian methodology is used to construct probabilistic demand models to predict the maximum inter-story drifts, given the spectral acceleration at the fundamental period of the building. The data for the models are obtained using two-dimensional inelastic time history analyses of the building for a suite of synthetic ground motions, developed for the Memphis region. The models are developed using both equality data and lower bound data, and are developed to properly account for both aleatory and epistemic uncertainties. In the absence of probabilistic capacity models for gravity load designed structures, capacity limit states are considered based on FEMA 356 guidelines and deterministic nonlinear pushover analyses. The results quantify the vulnerability of low-rise reinforced concrete frame buildings and show the effectiveness of seismic retrofitting in reducing the probability of failure.

Extrinsic zinc oxide (heavily indium oxide doped), i.e., indium zinc oxide (In 2 Zn 2 O 5 ) (IZO) as novel transparent conducting oxide (TCO) thin films were grown by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) technique using Johnson Matthey “specpure” – grade 90% In 2 O 3 mixed 10% ZnO (as commercial indium tin oxide (ITO) composition) pellets. The effects of substrate temperatures and heavy indium oxide incorporation on IZO thin film growth, optical transmission, absorption, reflection and photoluminescence were studied. As well as the feasibility of developing a novel high quality transparent oxide thin films was also studied simultaneously. Also, as a novelty merit we want to emphasize as a interesting physical effect that the average optical transmittance T % (max) ⩾95% of IZO thin films is rivals that of the most TCO films for this conductivity level (of the order of 10 3 Ω −1 cm −1 ). This is the first time that we have applied these PLD prepared IZO thin films to iso and hetero semiconductor–insulator–semiconductor (SIS) type solar cells as TCO coatings. The optical parameter values were calculated, diagrammatically enumerated and tabulated. From optical studies, we have observed that the films were act as highly anti-reflective (AR) coatings. From PL study, we have confirmed the purity and high electrical conductivity of the deposited thin films. Supplementary studies on surface, electrical, structural and internal morphology of thin film growth correlated with optical transmission, absorption, reflection and photoluminescence gives added advantages to this work.

A novel route to the growth of thin films of ZnAl2O4 in nano-scale order was developed and nano-thin films of ZnAl2O4 are grown. The variation of grain size with solution concentration is reported. The thin film was deposited by modified liquid-phase deposition (LPD) technique using a novel acid based chemical reaction for the first time to ternary system. This modified LPD is based on a novel reaction that favours the formation of nanostructures during the treatment of a precursor (here ZnO) and a metal foil (Al) in diluted HF acid. The acid serves both as a solvent and catalyst. Usually, in wet process synthesis of binary systems, the metal foil will act as F− ion scavenger. In this method, formation of a ternary compound as well as growth of thin film nanostructures of that compound was achieved by the same chemical reaction at room temperature. The role of acid concentration in the nanostructure formation is discussed. The relationship between HF concentration and grain size were also graphically enumerated. Structural, compositional and surface morphological properties of thin films were studied using Philips, Xpert-MPD: X-ray diffractometer and Philips, ESEM-TMP + EDAX, Nanoscope-III: AFM. The technique is a novel, simple and low cost route for the growth of nano-thin films of ternary oxide material.

ZnAl2O4 is a well-known wide band gap compound semiconductor (Eg=3.8eV), ceramic, opto-mechanical, anti-thermal coating in aero-space vehicles and UV optoelectronic devices. A novel method for the growth of single crystals of a ternary oxide material was developed as a fruit of a long term work. Material to be grown as metal incorporated single crystal was taken as precursor and put into a bath containing acid as reaction speed up reagent (catalyst) as well as solvent with a metal foil as cation scavenger. Using this method, ZnAl2O4 crystals having hexagonal facets are prepared from a single optimized bath. Structural and compositional properties of crystals were studied using Philips, Xpert - MPD: X-ray diffractometer and Philips, ESEM-TMP + EDAX. Thus technique was found to be a new low cost and advantageous method for growth of single crystals of ternary oxide a material. We hope that these data be helpful either as a scientific or technical basis in material processing. Dedicated to Prof. P. Ramasamy © 2006 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim

A novel highly transparent intrinsic zinc oxide (ZnO) thin films (without adding any dopants and annealing) were grown by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) technique using Johnson Matthey “specpure”- grade ZnO pellets. The effects of substrate temperatures on zinc oxide thin film growth, optical transmission, absorption, reflection and photoluminescence properties were studied. As well as the feasibility of developing high quality transparent oxide thin films was also studied simultaneously. The optical transmission window of such obtained films, i.e., T % (max) ⩾ 95% is broader than those of other transparent conducting oxides such as indium tin oxide (ITO) and absolute rivals that of the most transparent conducting oxides (TCOs). Also as a novelty merit, we want to emphasize as a interesting, significant and novel physical effect that the average optical transmittance of ZnO thin films rivals that of the most transmittive TCO films reported to date for this conductivity level (of the order of 10 3 Ω −1 cm −1 ). Also this is the first time that we have applied these PLD prepared ZnO thin films to iso and hetero semiconductor–insulator–semiconductor (SIS) type solar cells as transparent conducting oxide (TCO) coatings. From optical studies, we know that the films were act as highly anti-reflective coatings. From photoluminescence study, we confirmed the purity and high electrical conductivity of the deposited thin films of ZnO. The optical parameter values for the films were calculated, tabulated and graphically emphasized. Supplementary studies on surface, electrical, structural and internal morphological properties of zinc oxide thin film growth correlated with optical transmission, absorption, reflection and photoluminescence properties gives added advantages to this work. We hope that surely these data should be helpful either as a scientific or technical basis in the semiconductor processing and technology.

Recently, materials were developed with lower resistivities than previously achieved and with optical properties superior to those of the present generation of TCOs. This has now been recognized internationally and novel materials are being investigated. Improving the mobility of the charge carriers lead to superior performance of both optical and transport phenomena. Development of low cost, high quality anti-reflective coatings is also a currently engaged field in opto-electronics industries. Our efforts on this point of view using indium zinc oxide (IZO)—a peculiar advanced III–II–VI compound semiconductor were presented in this review. Unique properties of the material leads it for too many commercial device applications irrespective of the methods of preparation. We hope that surely these data will be helpful either as a scientific or technical basis in the material science in semiconductor processing.