Non-symmetrical and linear dyad-based mesogens were synthesised containing imine or ester bridging group. In the present work, due to the absence of branching in diamine-based mesogen, the structure ...has—rigidity inversely imine/ester bridging groups between two benzene rings imparts—flexible property to the mesogen and consequently rigid–flexible property has been balanced. The synthesised mesogens were characterized by different techniques including nuclear magnetic resonance and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Liquid crystalline polymers (LCPs) were synthesised using pyromellitic dianhydride and 4-(4-aminobenzylidene)aminoaniline or 4-aminophenyl-4-aminobenzoate. Subsequently, thermotropic liquid crystalline polymers (TLCPs) have also been evaluated to obtain optical microscopy textures at different temperatures which demonstrated interesting and notable changes. It is worth noting that marble-like textures were observed upto 200°C.
Globally, malnutrition among school age children is a major public health concern.
(1) To determine the prevalence of under nutrition (Thinness and Stunting) among children aged 6 to 14 years in a ...rural area of Coimbatore district. (2)To determine the socio-demographic factors influencing under nutrition (Thinness and Stunting) among these children.
A community based-cross sectional study was conducted from December 2015 to July 2016 in the field practice area of PSG Rural Health Training Center Vedapatti. Out of the 14 villages in this area, five villages (clusters) were selected by cluster sampling. Data was collected from 702 children aged 6 to 14 years in these five villages using a structured questionnaire. Z score was used to calculate nutritional status. Thinness is defined as the BMI for age (BAZ) <-2SD. Stunting is defined as the Height-for-age (HAZ) <-2SD.The association of Thinness with socio-demographic factors were studied by univariate analysis. The association of Stunting with socio-demographic factors were studied by univariate analysis and logistic regression analysis.
The prevalence of Thinness was 15.5% (95%CI: 12.82% to 18.18%) and that of stunting was 18.8% (95%CI: 15.91% to 21.69%). In univariate analysis there was no statistically significant association between thinness and socio-demographic factors. Stunting showed statistically significant association with educational status (illiteracy) of mothers and working mothers in logistic regression analysis.
The current study revealed that undernutrition as indicated by thinness and stunting was prevalent to some extent among these children. Stunting was significantly higher among those children whose mothers were illiterate and working. Health education and encouraging working mothers will help to solve this.
•Explicate surrogacy of acoustic indices for rapid assessment of avian diversity.•Compares pre and post flood avian diversity using acoustic indices.•Acoustic estimation of biodiversity act as a ...travellator to realize conservation goals.
Biodiversity assessment, in the aftermath of a natural disaster, remains a challenge. Sonic (acoustic) analysis is increasingly gaining acceptance as a means of rapid assessment of biodiversity. However, its utility in the immediate aftermath of natural disasters is unreported. We compare pre-flood, flood-period and post-flood acoustic indices of Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, Kerala, India, to illustrate their utility in assessing avian biodiversity. The temporal dynamics of acoustic indices capture the spectre of floods on avian diversity and its resurgence with time in the sanctuary.
Display omitted
•Plant leaves are considered as natural fractals.•Self-similar patterns in plant leaves are absent over the complete range of scales.•Traditional box-counting fractal analysis is area dependent and ...fails to capture the lacunarity.•The study makes plant scientists aware of the uncertainties in plant leaves' traditional box-counting fractal analysis.
Fractal-based measures have widespread applications in the characterization of complex biological structures. Box-counting is one of the most widely used methods of fractal analysis. However, the utility of traditional box-counting fractal analysis in complexity studies is limited. We discuss the shortfalls of traditional fractal dimension (D) approaches in leaf complexity studies. Mature and healthy flat leaves of 61 plant species were collected from Trivandrum, Kerala, India. Digital images of these leaves were analyzed using the ImageJ software. No significant variations in D were seen in the results that could differentiate the leaf forms. We present the limitations and biases affecting accurate D analysis. Fractal properties of plant leaves are restricted over a limited scale, causing the failure of the linear regression-based D estimates. Arbitrary grid placement and miscounting the boxes of a specific size to cover the leaves are also subject to quantization errors. Since traditional fractal analysis depends on the bulk and boundary of the leaves, some D errors result from the potential bias of this area dependency. The traditional box-counting analysis also fails to capture the lacunarity observed in leaf images. Hence an accurate estimation of D is challenging using conventional methods. Considering the broad utility of fractal methods, plant researchers must be sensitized about the uncertainties in traditional box-counting approaches in complexity studies.
The evolutionary success of a species is linked to its ability to communicate. Auditory, optic and olfactory systems are biological communication channels. Compared to the latter two, auditory ...systems are less impeded by physical obstructions. Successful species have effectively articulated this to their advantage. Decoding the acoustic dynamics of a landscape can ingeniously be crafted as a rapid tool to assess biological diversity. Here, we present results of the acoustic analysis carried out in three contrasting soundscapes in Kerala, India. Representative sound samples were recorded at Ernakulam, Kerala, India using Marantz PMD 661 III sonic recorder from 6.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. (IST) from an urban park Hill Palace Museum (L1), a sacred grove Iringole Kavu (L2), and a legally protected area Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary (L3). Acoustic characteristics of these sites expressed as Acoustic Complexity Index (ACI), Acoustic Diversity Index (ADI), Acoustic Evenness Index (AEI), Bioacoustic Index (BI) and Normalized Difference Soundscape Index (NDSI) were related to corresponding avian diversity. The objective finding reveals the distinctiveness of sonic characteristics and the status of diversity in each soundscape. Rapid assessment of biodiversity using acoustic indices is a prospective option that can be adopted as a means to generate biodiversity indicators of Sustainable Develeopment Goals (SDGs).
This paper deals with comparison of responses of PI and Fuzzy Logic controlled DC-to-DC converter Fed DC motor (FLCDDCDCM) systems. The DC input is converted into high frequency AC using full bridge ...inverter. The output is stepped up using a transformer and then it is rectified using voltage doubler rectifier. The open loop system with T filter at the output is simulated. The closed loop PI & FLC based DDCDCM systems are designed, modeled and simulated using Matlab/Simulink. The time domain parameters of FL controlled system are compared with those of PI controlled system. The results indicated that FL controlled DDCDCM system has better response than PI controlled DDCDCM system.
The sea surface salinity (SSS) of the Lakshadweep Sea (LS) shows large seasonal variability due to horizontal advection of low (high) salinity waters from south (north) during winter (summer) ...monsoon. The measurements made in the LS during the Arabian Sea Monsoon Experiment (ARMEX), have shown a dramatic drop of 3.4 PSU in the SSS during the winter following an active (2003) monsoon that is double that of the drop of 1.7 PSU observed during the winter following a weak (2002) monsoon. The resultant near‐surface thermal inversions also have shown large differences in the life cycle and depth of occurrence between these two winters.
This study deals with the photopolymerization of a macromonomer in the presence of reactive diluents using Photo Differential Scanning Calorimetry or Photo DSC. The kinetic profiles of these systems ...showed that the rate of photopolymerization rapidly increases at very early stages of the reaction. The rate of reaction was further found to increase with the addition of crosslinking agents. The addition of trifunctional crosslinking agent to the macromonomeric formulation resulted in a higher polymerization rate and conversion than that of a difunctional crosslinking agent. From the heat flow profiles, the kinetic parameters such as induction time, time to attain peak maximum, rate of maximum polymerization, and final conversion were noted for all the formulations. The initiation of photopolymerization was found to depend on the functionality while the in situ viscosity controlled the time scale for reaction diffusion which resulted in varying levels of conversions. Other parameters such as effect of temperature and concentration of photoinitiator on photocuring kinetics are also discussed.
PDF
