Elemental concentrations namely P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Sc, Ti, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Rb, Br and Sr were determined using Particle Induced X-ray Emission method in leaves and flowers of medicinal plants namely ...flowers of
Hibiscus rosa
-
sinensis
, leaves and flowers of
Annona reticulata
, leaves of holy basil and leaves of
Psidium guajava
. No toxic elements were detected in these samples. The method was validated by analyzing the reference materials namely IAEA RM V-10 and NIST SRM 1632a. The main objective of this study is to provide a good source of elemental concentration data for Ayurvedic medicine dosage.
This paper proposed a new methodology to determine the optimal trajectory of the path for multi-robot in a clutter environment using hybridization of improved particle swarm optimization (IPSO) with ...an improved gravitational search algorithm (IGSA). The proposed approach embedded the social essence of IPSO with motion mechanism of IGSA. The proposed hybridization IPSO–IGSA maintain the efficient balance between exploration and exploitation because of adopting co-evolutionary techniques to update the IGSA acceleration and particle positions with IPSO velocity simultaneously. The objective of the algorithm is to minimize the maximum path length that corresponds to minimize the arrival time of all robots to their respective destination in the environment. The robot on the team make independent decisions, coordinate, and cooperate with each other to determine the next positions from their current position in the world map using proposed hybrid IPSO–IGSA. Finally the analytical and experimental results of the multi-robot path planning were compared to those obtained by IPSO–IGSA, IPSO, IGSA in a similar environment. The Simulation and the Khepera environment result show outperforms of IPSO–IGSA as compared with IPSO and IGSA with respect to optimize the path length from predefine initial position to designation position ,energy optimization in the terms of number of turn and arrival time.
•Extraction of Sc(III) has been highly effective with D2EHPA than Cyanex 272.•Slope analysis method suggests cation exchange mechanism of Sc(III) with either of extractants.•Sc(III) enrichment was 12 ...fold in SX with both D2EHPA and Cyanex 272.•FTIR of the organic phase before and after Sc(III) extraction ensuring about complexation.•Selective separation of Sc(III) from Sc-Mg-Scrap leach solution was resulted.
Comparative study for solvent extraction of Sc(III) using two phosphoric acidic reagents such as di-(2-ethyhexyl) phosphoric acid and 2,4,4,tri-methyl,pentyl-phosphinic acid was investigated. Slope analysis method suggests a cation exchange reaction of Sc(III) with both extractants at a molar ratio of extractant: Sc(III) = 2.5:1 at equilibrium pH < 1.5. The plot of log D vs. log Extractant yield the slope (n) value as low as n = 1.2–1.3 and as high as n = 7 at low and high extrcatant concentration level, respectively. Extraction isotherm study predicted the need of 2 stages at A: O = 1:4 and A: O = 1:3 using 0.1 M D2EHPA and 0.1 M Cyanex 272, respectively. Stripping of Sc(III) was carried out at varied NaOH concentration to ascertain the optimum stripping condition for effective enrichment of metal. The predicted stripping condition (2)-stages with A: O = 1:3 and 1:4 for D2EHPA and Cyanex 272, respectively) obtained from Mc-Cabe Thiele plot was further validated by 6-cycles CCS study. An actual leach solution of Mg-Sc alloy bearing 1.0 g/L of Sc(III), 2.5 g/L of Mg and 0.2 M HCl was subjected for selective separation of Sc at the optimum condition. The counter current simulation (CCS) study for both extraction and stripping of actual solution resulted quantitative separation of Sc with ∼12 fold enrichment. The organic phase before and after loading of Sc(III) along with the diluents was characterized by FTIR to ascertain the phase transportation of Sc(III).
We report results of fast neutron response in plastic scintillator (PS) bars from deuterium-deuterium (D-D) and deuterium-tritium (D-T) reactions using Purnima Neutron Generator Facility, BARC, ...Mumbai. These measurements are useful in context of Indian Scintillator Matrix for Reactor Anti-Neutrino (ISMRAN) detection, an array of 10×10 PS bars, used to measure reactor anti-neutrinos through inverse beta decay (IBD) signal. ISMRAN detector, an above-ground experiment close to the reactor core (∼13m), deals with an active fast neutron background inside the reactor hall. A good understanding of fast neutron response in PS bars is an essential pre-requisite for suppression and discrimination of fast neutron background from IBD events. A monoenergetic neutron beam from the fusion reaction of D-D at 2.45 MeV and D-T at 14.1 MeV are used to characterize the energy response in these bars. The neutron energy response function has been simulated using the GEANT4 package and are compared with the measured data. A reasonable agreement of deposited energies by fast neutrons in PS bars between data and simulation are obtained for these reactions. The ratio of energy deposition in adjacent bars is used to discriminate between prompt IBD, fast neutron and neutron capture cascade gamma events.
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•An additive-free acid texturing process is demonstrated for the DWS multi-crystalline silicon wafers in solar cell manufacturing industry.•These textured wafers have similar ...optoelectronic and electrical properties as that of industrial additive-based acid textured DWS wafers.•The reported additive-free textured cells have similar batch average efficiency to that of the additive-based acid textured cells in industrial production.•Further optimization of fabrication conditions, our proposed textured wafers will possibly increase the cell efficiency.•Proposed texturing scheme cut-down nearly 60% of chemical cost of additive-based acid texturing process presently used in industry.
Diamond-wire-sawing (DWS) technique allows slicing of silicon ingots to produce wafers at cheaper price due to its reduced kerf-loss and increased cutting rate. However, there is no cost-effective and industrially viable method available for texturing DWS wafers, especially for multicrystalline silicon (mc-Si) wafers. Currently additive-based acid texturing process is availed by PV manufacturing units for texturing DWS mc-Si wafers. An additive-free, low cost and energy-efficient acid texturing process is demonstrated for DWS mc-Si wafers in industrial production line. Nearly 10% absolute reduction in weighted average reflectance values (WAR) are noticed for the newly textured wafers from that of as-cut DWS mc-Si wafers and the WAR values are comparable to that of existing additive-based acid textured mc-Si wafers. An absolute reduction in emitter saturation current density by ~17 fA-cm-2 and improved implied open circuit voltage of ~5 mV (absolute) are reported for lifetime sample fabricated using newly textured wafers when compared to the additive-based acid textured lifetime samples. An impressive batch average efficiencies of 18.20% and 18.24% are achieved for the additive-free and existing additive-based acid textured mc-Si cells, respectively. Detailed analysis conclude that ~1.5% (relative) enhancement in short circuit current density can be achieved by further process optimization. Cost analysis indicates that 60% of the chemical cost involved the texturing process can be cut down by replacing the existing additive-based acid process with the new method using the same process equipment. Hence, the texturing process presented has great potential for producing large area high efficiency mc-Si cells favoring cost considerations without compromising performance.
► An entrained flow gasifier has been successfully tried with coconut coir dusts. ► The gasifier could attain temperatures in the range of 976–1100°C. ► The gas yield and tar content were influenced ...by introduction of steam and preheat. ► The LHV and peak CGE of 7.86MJ/Nm3 and 87.6% respectively were obtained.
Based on an entrained flow concept, a prototype atmospheric gasification system has been designed and developed in the laboratory for gasification of powdery biomass feedstock such as rice husks, coconut coir dust, saw dust etc. The reactor was developed by adopting L/D (height to diameter) ratio of 10, residence time of about 2s and a turn down ratio (TDR) of 1.5. The experimental investigation was carried out using coconut coir dust as biomass feedstock with a mean operating feed rate of 40kg/h The effects of equivalence ratio in the range of 0.21–0.3, steam feed at a fixed flow rate of 12kg/h, preheat on reactor temperature, product gas yield and tar content were investigated. The gasifier could able to attain high temperatures in the range of 976–1100°C with gas lower heating value (LHV) and peak cold gas efficiency (CGE) of 7.86MJ/Nm3 and 87.6% respectively.
Plesiomonas shigelloides was isolated from diseased silver carp in Kolkata Wetland, West Bengal, India. It was associated with mortality of Silver Carp, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, which is the most ...widely cultivable fish species in fresh water aquaculture. The P. shigelloides was identified based on the biochemical and molecular characterization and the pathogenicity was studied on H. molitrix. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of the present isolate (NCBI GenBank Accession Number- KX986915) revealed that, the isolate was 100% identical with P. shigelloides (NCBI GenBank Accession Number- MF100995). P. shigelloides killed 10–100% fish in experimental infection and the LD50 value was calculated as 1.3× 105CFU per fish with intraperitoneal injection. The challenged fish had subcutaneous haemorrhagic ulcers and reddening at injection sites, however there was no clinical sign observed in the gill. The histology of experimentally challenged H. molitrix showed the kidney alterations and exhibited shrinkage of epithelial cells in renal tubule and enlargement of glomerular cells.Liver showed focal accumulation of edematous fluid, necrosis and infiltration of heterophils indicative of bacterial infection. The pathology and pathogenesis studies of this pathogen in inland open waters like wetlands and lakes would help in management of the outbreak of disease in these aquatic ecosystems.
•The study identified a fish pathogen, Plesiomonasshigelloidesassociated with 60% mortalities in Silver Carp.•The fish pathogenic bacteria have been identified based on biochemical test and molecular diagnostics.•The 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that the isolate was 100% identical with Plesiomonas shigelloides.•P. shigelloides killed 10-100% fish in experimental infection and 1.3× 105CFU per fish causes 50% mortality.
Abstract
In this paper, we present a study to use thick plastic
scintillators to reconstruct the cosmic muon tracks, that can be
used for the applications like Muon Tomography. At Bhabha Atomic
...Research Centre (BARC), India, a plastic scintillator array —
`ISMRAN (Indian Scintillator Matrix for Reactor Anti-Neutrinos),'
with a total weight of 1.0 ton has been configured for neutrino
physics study. Using the ISMRAN scintillators matrix, we present a
technique of the position calibration of thick plastic scintillators
using cosmic muons as a probe. The position resolution obtained from
the cosmic muons based calibration method is compared with the one
obtained from the traditional calibration method using the
radioactive source. Finally, the accuracy of reconstructed cosmic
muon tracks from the two position calibration techniques is compared
using the χ
2
/ndf distribution of the fitted cosmic muon
tracks.
Removal of Congo Red (CR) azo dye by adsorption process using Amberlite IRA-400 resin was evaluated in both batch and fixed bed system. From the batch adsorption results, maximum loading efficiency ...(99.99%) of CR dye was obtained at the conditions pH 4.5, temp. 303 K, contact time 180 min., Amberlite IRA-400 dose 0.5 g. The isotherm study ascertained on favorability of adsorption process as the value of separation factor (K
L
= 0.88) and Freundlich constant (1/n = 0.96 < 1.0) obtained from Langmuir and Freundlich equations are rational, though, overall adsorption process showed best fit with Langmuir (R
2
= 0.99) than Freundlich model (R
2
= 0.97). The kinetic data studied at three different CR dye concentration (50, 75, 100 mg) and results were fitted with both pseudo-first-order and second-order model equations. The values of R
2
obtained are of 0.95 and 0.99 for former and later one, respectively, ensuring on best fitting of pseudo-second-order kinetics and also suggesting about the chemisorptions type of adsorption. The bed depth service model was applied for competitive analysis of the CR dye adsorption in column variables indicating mass transfer from aqueous solution to Amberlite IRA-400 phase. Fourier transform infrared analysis of CR-loaded resin Amberlite IRA-400 showed a band shifted from 1057 to 1130 cm
−1
confirming CR adsorption with Amberlite IRA-400. Scanning electron microscope analysis of resin before and after adsorption was well evident from the phase patterns. Selective separation of CR dye from waste effluent of a textile industry bearing CR dye along with other trace heavy metal was achieved.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
BFBNIB, DOBA, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Abstract
Sustainability of maize production systems is threatened by poor economic returns and resource intensiveness. Therefore, an experiment was conducted at the ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research ...Institute, New Delhi during 2016–17 to 2017–18 to assess the effect of tillage and microbial inoculantsintegrated phosphorus (P) management on productivity, quality, economic outcome and energy dynamics of maize. Three tillage practices viz., CT–R (conventional tillage with no residue), ZT–R (zero tillage with no residue) and ZT + R (zero tillage with wheat crop residue at 2.5 Mg/ha) were assigned in main plots and five P management practices viz., P1 (control–NK as per recommendation, but no P), P2 (17.2 kg P/ha), P3 (17.2 kg P/ha + PSB), P4 (17.2 kg P/ha + compost inoculants) and P5 (34.4 kg P/ha) were allocated in subplots in three times replicated split-plot design. The maximum grain yield (5.96 Mg/ha), protein content (9.13%), protein yield (546 kg/ha) and gross energy returns (209 × 10
3
MJ/ha) were recorded under ZT + R while higher benefit: cost ratio (B: C ratio – the amount of economic gain per unit investment) (1.53) and energy efficiency (12.5) was noticed under ZT–R. Among the P management practices, the application of 34.4 kg P/ha recorded the highest grain yield (6.45 Mg/ha), protein content (9.34%), protein yield (603 kg/ha), B: C ratio (1.65) and energy efficiency (10.1). The results suggested that the application of P at the rate of 34.4 kg/ha under ZT + R is an economically robust approach for the quality maize production in semi-arid region.
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