Evaluation of physical properties of Errandi-acrylic union fabrics

Errandi silk has a potential of emerging as “A silk of the new millennium”. The experimental finding provides information on physical properties as well as subjective evaluations of Errandi silk -Acrylic union fabrics with twill and herringbone weave. The count and diameter of errandi silk fibre were higher than acrylic fibre and in case of woven fabrics, herringbone weave were found to have maximum value in cloth covers, weight and thickness.  A comparative subjective evaluation was done based on fabric quality by the panel of 100 respondents. 100 per cent respondent opined that all the woven samples have good appearance, soft in hand and smooth in texture. It was observed that cent percent of respondents found errandi-acrylic blended union fabrics with twill and herringbone weaves were high in lustre. The costs of blended yarns and the cost of union fabrics of different proportion were got reduced in comparison to that of 100 per cent errandi-silk yarn (Rs.3000.00/kg) and controlled errandi silk fabrics (Rs.985.00/mt.). Based on the aesthetic properties such as handle, appearance, texture and lustre and considering the cost of twill and herringbone errandi-acrylic fabrics were suitable for production of fashionable wear. Thus¸ the newly designed Errandi silk with Acrylic union fabrics are unique, a new venture for the textile industry and Ericulturists

GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF SNAKESKIN GOURAMI, TRICHOGASTER PECTORALIS (REGAN, 1910) THROUGH WEANING STRATEGIES

For successful venture in ornamental fish seed production proper nourishment at different life stages holds the key. Growth and survival of fry of snakeskin gourami, Trichogaster pectoralis by using mixed zooplankton and formulated feed was evaluated during this study. Fry of snakeskin gourami, Trichogaster pectoralis was weaned from mixed zooplankton to formulated feed. Snakeskin gourami, Trichogaster pectoralis fry (1.6 ± 0.06cm initial length and 0.39 ± 0.003g initial body weight) were fed with mixed zooplankton (T1) and formulated feed (T2), and combination of both live food and formulated feed in case of weaning treatments i.e. weaning at day 6 (T3), the reduction in quantity of mixed zooplankton were performed at day 2, 4 and 6. Similarly for weaning treatment T4 (weaning at day 12), these changes were made at day 6, 9 and 12 and for weaning treatment T5 (weaning at day 24) at day 12, 18 and 24. The fish weaned at day 24 (T5) had the highest average length gain and differed significantly (p < 0.05) from fry fed mixed zooplankton (T1). In case of average weight gain, specific growth rate and survival fry weaned at day 24 were highest and differed significantly (p < 0.05) from fry fed mixed zooplankton (T1), formulated feed (T2) and combination of both live food and formulated feed (T3 and T4). This study showed that replacement of mixed zooplankton by formulated feed at day 24 i.e. late weaning appears feasible. The fry weaned at day 24 (T5) showed significant increase in growth and survival from initial stocking i.e. 3.65 ± 0.13cm length, 0.85 ± 0.01g weight and 97.50 ± 2.50% survival respectively

Estimating the Characteristics of the Forward Voltage Gain Scattering Parameter of Indoor Power Line Channel Using Only Input Port Measurement

Estimation of the characteristics of power line channel is a pre-requisite for successful implementation of any power line communication system. This paper presents a method to estimate the forward voltage gain scattering parameters (S21) of an indoor power line using only the input port reflection coefficient (S11). The measured input parameter with one/two load placed at the output suffices to estimate the S21 as far as frequency selectivity is concerned. The positions of notches can be estimated within a limit of error with positive and at times high correlation between the experimental and evaluated S21 parameters. The method is validated for a number of practical networks, and also for random channels with different types of loads and cables found in the papers. The procedure can be incorporated in estimating the channel for mitigating the related problems

Yield Gap Analysis of Rapeseed (Brassica campestris var. Toria) in Kokrajhar District of Assam, India

The present study was carried out at five different villages of Kokrajhar district of Assam where cluster front line demonstration (CFLD) of High Yielding Variety (HYV) of rape seed (TS 46) was conducted by Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Kokrajhar.  A total of 652 nos. of front line demonstration (FLD)s were evaluated to find out the yield gaps between HYV toria variety TS 46 and variety grown by farmers. Yield data of both demonstration and farmers practice were recorded and their yield gap, technology gap, extension gap and technology index were analyzed. The yield of rape seed variety TS 46 was registered 22.38 to 50.00 per cent higher over farmer’s variety. On an average technology gap, extension gap and technology index were recorded as 2.28qha-1, 2.08 qha-1 and 20.73 per cent respectively

Antimicrobial Resistance in Gram Positive and Gram Negative Bacteria Progress and Challenges

Serious infections caused by bacteria that have become resistant to commonly used antibiotics have become a major global healthcare problem in the 21st century. Antibiotic resistance, initially a problem of the hospital setting associated with an increased number of hospitals acquired infections usually in critically ill and immuno-suppressed patients, has now extended into the community causing severe infections difficult to diagnose and treat. In hospitals, most common resistant bacteria include methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, vancomycin-resistant enterococci and gram-negative rods including Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Vancomycin intermediate and resistant S. aureus, represent a new treatment challenge. In the community, penicillin and macrolide-resistant pneumococci developed several decades ago and are now present all over the world. More recently, community-acquired methicillin-resistant S. aureus has become a problem in several countries causing skin infections but also severe diseases. The molecular mechanisms by which bacteria have become resistant to antibiotics are diverse and complex. Bacteria have developed resistance to all different classes of antibiotics discovered to date. The most frequent type of resistance is acquired and transmitted horizontally via the conjugation of a plasmid. In recent times new mechanisms of resistance have resulted in the simultaneous development of resistance to several antibiotic classes creating very dangerous multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial strains, some also known as 18 18superbugs 19 19. In many cases the use of 350 antibiotics is unnecessary or questionable. The indiscriminate and inappropriate use of antibiotics in outpatient clinics, hospitalized patients and in the food industry is the single largest factor leading to antibiotic resistance. In recent years, the number of new antibiotics licensed for human use in different parts of the world has been lower than in the recent past. In addition, there has been less innovation in the field of antimicrobial discovery research and development. The pharmaceutical industry, large academic institutions or the government are not investing the necessary resources to produce the next generation of newer safe and effective antimicrobial drugs. In many cases, large pharmaceutical companies have terminated their antiinfective research programs altogether due to economic reasons. The potential negative consequences of all these events are relevant because they put society at risk for the spread of potentially serious MDR bacterial infections

Response of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) cultivars to integrated nutrient management on productivity, profitability and nutrient uptake in NEH Region

A field experiment was conducted at Nagaland during 2009 and 2010 to study the response of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) cultivars to integrated nutrient management on productivity, profitability and nutrient uptake in NEH Region on a sandy loam soil. Among the cultivars, FeSEG 10 recorded significantly higher growth, yield attributes and pod yield as compared to JL 24 and FeSEG 8. Nutrients uptake (N, P and K) and nutrients use efficiency was significantly higher under ICGS 76 followed by FeSEG 10 and FeSEG 8. The highest net returns, B: C ratio and crop profitability were recorded with FeSEG 10 followed by ICGS 76. The results showed significant increase in all yield attributes, yield, nutrient uptake and economics due to the application of 75% N through inorganic fertilizers + 25% N through FYM followed by 100% N through inorganic fertilizers

Evidence of a new shell closed nucleus governing slow quasi-fission

Mass distributions of fission fragments arising from the slow quasi-fission process have been derived by comparing the measured distributions with the theoretical distributions based on compound nuclear fission model for several reactions. The mass-distributions corresponding to quasi-fission events for all the systems show the following common features: (1) they are double peaked with fixed peak-centroids and nearly same width at different incident energies, (2) the yield of quasi-fission events decreases with the increasing projectile energy, and (3) peak corresponding to lighter fragment is observed at A $\sim$ 96 for all the systems, whereas the peak of heavier fragment increases linearly with the mass of the di-nuclear system. All the above observations are quite similar to the ones observed in well known asymmetric fission of actinides, thus providing clear evidences of shell effect in slow quasi-fission where the lighter fragment is possibly nuclei around $^{96}$Zr, a new doubly magic nucleus. This finding has great implications in the study of nuclear reactions, structure and particularly in super-heavy element synthesis where quasi-fission is synonymous

A multiscale experimental analysis of mechanical properties and deformation behavior of sintered copper–silicon carbide composites enhanced by high‑pressure torsion

Experiments were conducted to investigate, within the framework of a multiscale approach, the mechanical enhancement, deformation and damage behavior of copper–silicon carbide composites (Cu–SiC) fabricated by spark plasma sintering (SPS) and the combination of SPS with high-pressure torsion (HPT). The mechanical properties of the metal–matrix composites were determined at three different length scales corresponding to the macroscopic, micro- and nanoscale. Small punch testing was employed to evaluate the strength of composites at the macroscopic scale. Detailed analysis of microstructure evolution related to SPS and HPT, sample deformation and failure of fractured specimens was conducted using scanning and transmission electron microscopy. A microstructural study revealed changes in the damage behavior for samples processed by HPT and an explanation for this behavior was provided by mechanical testing performed at the micro- and nanoscale. The strength of copper samples and the metal–ceramic interface was determined by microtensile testing and the hardness of each composite component, corresponding to the metal matrix, metal–ceramic interface, and ceramic reinforcement, was measured using nano-indentation. The results confirm the advantageous effect of large plastic deformation on the mechanical properties of Cu–SiC composites and demonstrate the impact on these separate components on the deformation and damage type