Pongamia is forest-based tree containing non-edible oil and has a large production potential of biodiesel which can grow on any type of soil, needs minimum input and management, have low moisture ...demand, productive life is more than 40 years and seeds have 28–34% oil content. Biodiesel yield of 99% is obtained from Pongamia oil by transesterification under the molar ratio of 6:1 of alcohol to oil with Sodium hydroxide as a catalyst of 0.5vol% and operating temperature of 60°C with time for production process being 1h. The study shows that brake specific fuel consumption and brake thermal efficiency of B20 biodiesel from Pongamia is quite comparable to diesel. The hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide gas emissions are quite low in case of Pongamia biodiesel as compared to diesel. This paper describes the various aspects of Pongamia as potential fuel in India.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
Research and development for novel substances possessing anti-infective activity have attracted considerable attention due to the escalating resistance towards conventional antibiotics. Therefore, ...the discovery and development of effective antimicrobial drugs with novel mechanism of action have become an insistent task for infectious diseases research programs. Triazole scaffold has been consistently rewarded as a promising versatile lead molecule with a pivotal position in modern medicinal chemistry. The literature reveals that this heterocyclic moiety has drawn attention of the chemists, pharmacologists, microbiologists and other researchers owing to its indomitable biological potential as anti-infective agents. The present communication is a cogent attempt to review the chemistry and antimicrobial activities of triazole derivatives reported in recent scientific literature. The biological profiles of these new triazole derivatives represent a fruitful matrix for further development as promising and superior anti-infective medicinal agents.
Fruit rot of chillies (Capsicum annuum L.), caused by Colletotrichum capsici under tropical and subtropical conditions, results in qualitative and quantitative yield losses. Based on variation in ...cultural and morphological traits of C. capsici populations, 37 isolates were categorized into five groups designated, respectively, as Cc‐I, Cc‐II, Cc‐III, Cc‐IV and Cc‐V. In culture, most of the isolates produced cottony, fluffy or suppressed colonies. However, no significant differences were noticed in shape and size of conidia. The reaction of the 37 isolates on an indigenously developed differential set of Capsicum cultivars indicated the existence of different virulences in Himachal Pradesh (HP) chilli populations. Fifteen pathotypes of the pathogen were characterized from various chilli‐growing regions of HP. Pathotype CCP‐1 was most virulent and attacked all the differential cultivars. The genetic relationship between five morphological groups recognized within C. capsici was investigated using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis. Molecular polymorphism generated by RAPD confirmed the variation in virulences of C. capsici and different isolates were grouped into five clusters. However, four isolates (Cc‐5, Cc‐33, Cc‐29 and Cc‐37) exhibited identical RAPD haplotypes. The pathological and RAPD grouping of isolates suggested no correlation among the test isolates.
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BFBNIB, DOBA, FZAB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Reactive defense mechanisms, such as intrusion detection systems, have made significant efforts to secure a system or network for the last several decades. However, the nature of reactive security ...mechanisms has limitations because potential attackers cannot be prevented in advance. We are facing a reality with the proliferation of persistent, advanced, intelligent attacks while defenders are often way behind attackers in taking appropriate actions to thwart potential attackers. The concept of moving target defense (MTD) has emerged as a proactive defense mechanism aiming to prevent attacks. In this work, we conducted a comprehensive, in-depth survey to discuss the following aspects of MTD: key roles, design principles, classifications, common attacks, key methodologies, important algorithms, metrics, evaluation methods, and application domains. We discuss the pros and cons of all aspects of MTD surveyed in this work. Lastly, we highlight insights and lessons learned from this study and suggest future work directions. The aim of this paper is to provide the overall trends of MTD research in terms of critical aspects of defense systems for researchers who seek to develop proactive, adaptive MTD mechanisms.
Undulating landscapes of Chhotanagpur plateau of the Indian state of Jharkhand suffer from soil erosion vulnerability of varying degrees. An investigation was undertaken in some sections of the Upper ...Subarnarekha River Basin falling within this state. An empirical equation known as Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) was utilized for estimating the soil loss. Analysis of remote sensing satellite data, digital elevation model (DEM) and geographical information system (GIS)–based geospatial approach together with USLE led to the soil erosion assessment. Erosion vulnerability assessment was performed by analyzing raster grids of topography acquired from Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) Global DEM data. LANDSAT TM and ETM+ satellite data of March 2001 and March 2011 were used for inferring the land use–land cover characteristics of the watershed for these years, respectively. USLE equation was computed within the GIS framework to derive annual soil erosion rates and also the areas with varying degrees of erosion vulnerability. Erosion vulnerability units thus identified covered five severity classes of erosion ranging from very low (0–5 ton ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) to very severe (> 40 ton ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹). Results indicated an overall increase of erosion in the year 2011 as compared to the erosion computed for the year 2001. Maximum soil erosion rate during the year 2001 was found up to 40 ton ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹, whereas this went up to 49.80 ton ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ for the year 2011. Factors for the increase in overall erosion could be variation in rainfall, decrease in vegetation or protective land covers and most important but not limited to the increase in built-up or impervious areas as well.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OBVAL, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
This study aimed to investigate differences in the gel matrix of aerobic granular sludge and normal aerobic flocculent sludge. From both types of sludge that fed with the same municipal sewage, the ...functional gel-forming exopolysaccharides, alginate-like exopolysaccharides, were isolated. These two exopolysaccharides were chemically fractionated, and investigated by FT-IR spectroscopy. The isolated polymers were made into a gel by calcium addition and the mechanical properties of these reconstituted gels were measured by a low load compression tester. The viscoelastic behavior of the gels was described by a generalized Maxwell model. The alginate-like exopolysaccharides derived from aerobic granules had significantly higher amount of poly(guluronic acid) blocks but lower amount of poly(guluronic acid-manuronic acid) blocks in the chemical structure, while the alginate-like exopolysaccharides derived from aerobic flocculent sludge had equal amount of poly(guluronic acid) blocks and poly(guluronic acid-manuronic acid) blocks. These differences result in a perfect gel-forming capability of alginate-like exopolysaccharides derived from aerobic granules and bestowed this exopolysaccharides gel a stronger mechanical property as compared to alginate-like exopolysaccharides derived from aerobic flocculent sludge. The different chemical and mechanical properties of these two exopolysaccharides contributed to the distinguished characteristics between aerobic granular sludge and aerobic flocculent sludge.
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► Alginate-like EPS exist in both aerobic flocculent and granular sludge. ► Ca-alginate-like EPS gels reflect the morphologies of flocs and granules. ► Chemical structures of alginate-like EPS from flocs and granules are different. ► Alginate-like EPS gel derived from aerobic granules is mechanically stronger.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
The internal phylogeny of Chelicerata and the attendant evolutionary scenario of arachnid terrestrialization have a long and contentious history. Previous studies of developmental gene expression ...data have suggested that respiratory systems of spiders, crustaceans, and insects are all serially homologous structures derived from the epipods (outer appendage rami) of the arthropod ancestor, corresponding to an ancestral gill. A separate body of evidence has suggested that the respiratory systems of arachnids are modified, inverted telopods (inner rami, or legs). Here I review these dissonant homology statements and compare the developmental genetic basis for respiratory system development in insects and arachnids. I show that the respiratory primordia of arachnids are not positionally homologous to those of insects. I further demonstrate that candidate genes critical to tracheal fate specification in Drosophila melanogaster are expressed very differently in arachnid exemplars. Taken together, these data suggest that mechanisms of respiratory system development are not derived from homologous structures or mechanisms in insects and arachnids, and that different terrestrial arthropod lineages have solved the challenge of aerial respiration using different developmental mechanisms.
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BFBNIB, NMLJ, NUK, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
The HMG Co-enzyme inhibitors and new lipid-modifying agents expand their new therapeutic target options in the field of medical profession. Statins have been described as the most effective class of ...drugs to reduce serum cholesterol levels. Since the discovery of the first statin nearly 30 years ago, these drugs have become the main therapeutic approach to lower cholesterol levels. The present scientific research demonstrates numerous non-lipid modifiable effects of statins termed as pleiotropic effects of statins, which could be beneficial for the treatment of various devastating disorders. The most important positive effects of statins are anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, neuroprotective, anti-diabetes, and antithrombotic, improving endothelial dysfunction and attenuating vascular remodeling besides many others which are discussed under the scope of this review. In particular, inhibition of Rho and its downstream target, Rho-associated coiled-coil-containing protein kinase (ROCK), and their agonistic action on peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) can be viewed as the principle mechanisms underlying the pleiotropic effects of statins. With gradually increasing knowledge of new therapeutic targets of statins, their use has also been advocated in chronic inflammatory disorders for example rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In the scope of review, we highlight statins and their pleiotropic effects with reference to their harmful and beneficial effects as a novel approach for their use in the treatment of devastating disorders.
Graphical abstract
Pleiotropic effect of statins
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Phytoseiid predatory mite,
Neoseiulus longispinosus
(Evans), is employed to control various pest species, such as phytophagous mites and arthropods. Depending on the host plant, the effectiveness of ...predators against the target pest may change. However, comparative studies on the life history and predation potential of
N. longispinosus
on different vegetable hosts have not yet been conducted. Therefore, in the present study, experiments were conducted to determine the indirect effect of several host plants on the biology, predation rate and demographic parameters of
N. longispinosus
against
Tetranychus urticae
. The results showed that female longevity was maximum on bean (25.40 days) and minimum on brinjal and tomato (14.22 days each). On bean, the female predatory mite consumed the highest prey (139.50 eggs) during its entire lifespan. The demographic parameters were analyzed and the results were better on bean and followed by cucumber, while they were comparatively poor on brinjal and tomato. These results highlight how crucial host plants are for the effectiveness of biological control. Nevertheless, further studies are required to investigate in detail the role of plant biophysical characters on the predation and demographics of the predator.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ