Reaching the unreached: de-mystifying the role of ICT in the process of doctoral research

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has become a necessary element of academic practice in higher education today. Under normal circumstances, PhD students from all disciplines have to use ICT in some form throughout the process of their research, including the preparation, fieldwork, analysis and writing phases of their studies. Nevertheless, there has been little research to date that explores PhD students’ first-hand experiences of using various ICT to support their research practices. This paper brings together the findings and the key points from a review of significant parts of the existing literature associated with the role played by ICT in the processes PhD students use in doctoral research. The review is based on 27 papers appearing in international peer-reviewed journals published from 2005 to 2014. The study seeks to address the under-researched area in the current literature of how ICT plays a role in the processes of doctoral research. While there are many contributions taking the ‘institutional’ or ‘teaching’ perspectives, papers focusing on ‘student’ perspective, or the viewpoint of engaging ICT in daily study routine, are relatively fewer. As far as research methodology is concerned, this review found that many of the papers that were examined were mostly based on perception data such as surveys or interviews, while actual practice data were rarely present. With their ready access to technologies, PhD students are well positioned to take advantage of a range of technologies in order to carry out their research efficiently (in terms of means to an end) and effectively (in terms of reaching goals within a task). This review reveals that in the literature, this important area is under-represented

Acyclic 1,2-dimagnesioethanes/-ethene derived from magnesium(i) compounds: multipurpose reagents for organometallic synthesis

Reactions of three magnesium(i) dimers, [{( Ar Nacnac)Mg-} 2 ] ( Ar Nacnac = [(ArNCMe) 2 CH] − ; Ar = xylyl (Xyl), mesityl (Mes) or 2,6-diethylphenyl (Dep)), with either 1,1-diphenylethylene (DPE), α-methylstyrene (MS), trans-stilbene (TS) or diphenylacetylene (DPA) led to the 1,2-addition of the Mg-Mg bond across the substrate, giving rise to the 1,2-dimagnesioethanes, [{( Xyl Nacnac)Mg} 2 (μ-DPE)], [{( Dep Nacnac)Mg} 2 (μ-MS)], [{( Ar Nacnac)Mg} 2 (μ-TS)] (Ar = Mes or Dep); and a 1,2-dimagnesioethene, [{( Mes Nacnac)Mg} 2 (μ-DPA)]. The reactions involving the 1,1-substituted alkenes are shown to be readily redox reversible, in that the reaction products are in equilibrium with a significant proportion of the starting materials at room temperature. Variable temperature NMR spectroscopy and a van't Hoff analysis point to low kinetic barriers to these weakly exergonic reactions. [{( Mes Nacnac)Mg} 2 (μ-DPE)] and [{( Mes Nacnac)Mg} 2 (μ-DPA)] behave as 1,2-di-Grignard reagents in their reactions with very bulky amido-zinc bromides, yielding the first examples of a 1,2-dizincioethane, [(L*Zn) 2 (μ-DPE)] (L* =-N(Ar*)(SiPr i3 ); Ar* = C 6 H 2 Me{C(H)Ph 2 } 2 -4,2,6), and a 1,2-dizincioethene, [( TBo LZn) 2 (μ-DPA)] ( TBo L =-N(SiMe 3 ){B(DipNCH) 2 }, Dip = 2,6-diisopropylphenyl), respectively. Divergent reactivity is shown for [{( Mes Nacnac)Mg} 2 (μ-DPE)], which behaves as a two-electron reducing agent when treated with amido-cadmium and amido-magnesium halide precursors, yielding the cadmium(i) and magnesium(i) dimers, [ PhBo LCdCd PhBo L] ( PhBo L =-N(SiPh 3 ){B(DipNCH) 2 }) and [L † MgMgL † ] (L † =-N(Ar † )(SiMe 3 ); Ar † = C 6 H 2 Pr i {C(H)Ph 2 } 2 -4,2,6), respectively. A further class of reactivity for [{( Mes Nacnac)Mg} 2 (μ-DPE)] derives from its reaction with the bulky amido-germanium chloride, L*GeCl, which gives a magnesio-germane, presumably via intramolecular C-H activation of a highly reactive magnesiogermylene intermediate, [:Ge(L*){Mg( Mes Nacnac)}]. [{( Mes Nacnac)Mg} 2 (μ-DPE)] can be considered as acting as a two-electron reducing, magnesium transfer reagent in this reaction

Single-molecule imaging to characterise the transport mechanism of the Nuclear Pore Complex

In the eukaryotic cell, a large macromolecular channel, known as the Nuclear Pore Complex (NPC), mediates all molecular transport between the nucleus and cytoplasm. In recent years, single-molecule fluorescence (SMF) imaging has emerged as a powerful tool to study the molecular mechanism of transport through the NPC. More recently, techniques such as Single-Molecule Localisation Microscopy (SMLM) have enabled the spatial and temporal distribution of cargos, transport receptors and even structural components of the NPC to be determined with nanometre accuracy. In this protocol, we describe a method to study the position and/or motion of individual molecules transiting through the NPC with high spatial and temporal precision

Nucleocytoplasmic transport: a thermodynamic mechanism

The nuclear pore supports molecular communication between cytoplasm and nucleus in eukaryotic cells. Selective transport of proteins is mediated by soluble receptors, whose regulation by the small GTPase Ran leads to cargo accumulation in, or depletion from the nucleus, i.e., nuclear import or nuclear export. We consider the operation of this transport system by a combined analytical and experimental approach. Provocative predictions of a simple model were tested using cell-free nuclei reconstituted in Xenopus egg extract, a system well suited to quantitative studies. We found that accumulation capacity is limited, so that introduction of one import cargo leads to egress of another. Clearly, the pore per se does not determine transport directionality. Moreover, different cargo reach a similar ratio of nuclear to cytoplasmic concentration in steady-state. The model shows that this ratio should in fact be independent of the receptor-cargo affinity, though kinetics may be strongly influenced. Numerical conservation of the system components highlights a conflict between the observations and the popular concept of transport cycles. We suggest that chemical partitioning provides a framework to understand the capacity to generate concentration gradients by equilibration of the receptor-cargo intermediary.Comment: in press at HFSP Journal, vol 3 16 text pages, 1 table, 4 figures, plus Supplementary Material include

Filled Ethylene-propylene Diene Terpolymer Elastomer as ThermalInsulator for Case-bonded Solid Rocket Motors

Ethylene-propylene diene terpolymer (EPDM)-based insulation system is being globallyused for case-bonded solid rocket motors. A study was undertaken using EPDM as base polymer,blended with hypalon and liquid EPDM and filled with fibrous and non-fibrous fillers. Theseformulations were evaluated as rocket motor insulation system. The basic objective of the studywas to develop an insulation system based on EPDM for case-bonded applications. A series ofrocket motor insulator compositions based on EPDM, filled with particulate and fibrous fillerslike precipitated silica, fumed silica, aramid, and carbon fibres have been studied for mechanical,rheological, thermal, and interface properties. Compositions based on particulate fillers wereoptimised for the filler content. Comparatively, fumed silica was found to be superior as fillerin terms of mechanical and interface properties. Addition of fibrous filler (5 parts) improved thepeel strength, and reduced the thermal conductivity and erosion rate. All the compositions wereevaluated for sulphur and peroxide curing. Superior mechanical properties were achieved forsulphur-cured products, whereas peroxide-cured products exhibited an excellent ageing resistance.Rocket motors were insulated with optimised composition and propellant cast, and the motorswere evaluated by conducting static test in end-burning mode.Defence Science Journal, 2008, 58(1), pp.94-102, DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/dsj.58.162

Chandrapur Super Thermal Power Station- Environment Management Perspectives

Chandrapur Super Thermal Power Station is a unit of Maharashtra State Power Generation Co. Ltd. (MSPGCL) owned by Govt. of Maharashtra. Its installed capacity is 2920MW (2 x 210MW + 5 x 500MW) power generation. The fuel utilized for power generation is coal. Electrostatic Precipitators (ESP) are provided to all these units. Also provided Four ETP’s for treatment of trade effluent & STP for treatment of domestic effluents. The treated effluents are reutilized for ash slurry disposal. The treated effluents of ETP’s and STP are completely recycled. In this communication, authors have explored the various steps taken by CSTPS for significant reduction of water/air/land foot prints to mitigate the diverse situations and for the protection of environment with electricity generation by taking into account of both ecological and socioeconomic aspects. It is pertinent to mention here that CSTPS is following the latest norms stipulated by MoEF&CC/CPCB/MPCB, wherein all the real time online Continuous Emission (CEMS)/Effluent (CEQMS)/Ambient Air Quality (CAAQMS) systems are connected to online portal developed by regulatory/statutory bodies

Approaches in biotechnological applications of natural polymers

Natural polymers, such as gums and mucilage, are biocompatible, cheap, easily available and non-toxic materials of native origin. These polymers are increasingly preferred over synthetic materials for industrial applications due to their intrinsic properties, as well as they are considered alternative sources of raw materials since they present characteristics of sustainability, biodegradability and biosafety. As definition, gums and mucilages are polysaccharides or complex carbohydrates consisting of one or more monosaccharides or their derivatives linked in bewildering variety of linkages and structures. Natural gums are considered polysaccharides naturally occurring in varieties of plant seeds and exudates, tree or shrub exudates, seaweed extracts, fungi, bacteria, and animal sources. Water-soluble gums, also known as hydrocolloids, are considered exudates and are pathological products; therefore, they do not form a part of cell wall. On the other hand, mucilages are part of cell and physiological products. It is important to highlight that gums represent the largest amounts of polymer materials derived from plants. Gums have enormously large and broad applications in both food and non-food industries, being commonly used as thickening, binding, emulsifying, suspending, stabilizing agents and matrices for drug release in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. In the food industry, their gelling properties and the ability to mold edible films and coatings are extensively studied. The use of gums depends on the intrinsic properties that they provide, often at costs below those of synthetic polymers. For upgrading the value of gums, they are being processed into various forms, including the most recent nanomaterials, for various biotechnological applications. Thus, the main natural polymers including galactomannans, cellulose, chitin, agar, carrageenan, alginate, cashew gum, pectin and starch, in addition to the current researches about them are reviewed in this article.. }To the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientfíico e Tecnológico (CNPq) for fellowships (LCBBC and MGCC) and the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nvíel Superior (CAPES) (PBSA). This study was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the scope of the strategic funding of UID/BIO/04469/2013 unit, the Project RECI/BBB-EBI/0179/2012 (FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-027462) and COMPETE 2020 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006684) (JAT)

Calibration and simulation of ionization signal and electronics noise in the ICARUS liquid argon time projection chamber

The ICARUS liquid argon time projection chamber (LArTPC) neutrino detector has been taking physics data since 2022 as part of the Short-Baseline Neutrino (SBN) Program. This paper details the equalization of the response to charge in the ICARUS time projection chamber (TPC), as well as data-driven tuning of the simulation of ionization charge signals and electronics noise. The equalization procedure removes non-uniformities in the ICARUS TPC response to charge in space and time. This work leverages the copious number of cosmic ray muons available to ICARUS at the surface. The ionization signal shape simulation applies a novel procedure that tunes the simulation to match what is measured in data. The end result of the equalization procedure and simulation tuning allows for a comparison of charge measurements in ICARUS between Monte Carlo simulation and data, showing good performance with minimal residual bias between the two

Probing Strangeness Hadronization with Event-by-Event Production of Multistrange Hadrons

This Letter presents the first measurement of event-by-event fluctuations of the net number (difference between the particle and antiparticle multiplicities) of multistrange hadrons Ξ- and Ξ ̄+ and its correlation with the net-kaon number using the data collected by the ALICE Collaboration in pp, p-Pb, and Pb-Pb collisions at a center-of-mass energy per nucleon pair sNN=5.02 TeV. The statistical hadronization model with a correlation over three units of rapidity between hadrons having the same and opposite strangeness content successfully describes the results. On the other hand, string-fragmentation models that mainly correlate strange hadrons with opposite strange quark content over a small rapidity range fail to describe the data

Multimuons in cosmic-ray events as seen in ALICE at the LHC

ALICE is a large experiment at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. Located 52 meters underground, its detectors are suitable to measure muons produced by cosmic-ray interactions in the atmosphere. In this paper, the studies of the cosmic muons registered by ALICE during Run 2 (2015–2018) are described. The analysis is limited to multimuon events defined as events with more than four detected muons (Nμ > 4) and in the zenith angle range 0◦ 100) obtained with QGSJET-II-04 and SIBYLL 2.3d is compatible with the data, while EPOS-LHC produces a significantly lower rate (55% of the measured rate). For both QGSJET-II-04 and SIBYLL 2.3d, the rate is close to the data when the composition is assumed to be dominated by heavy elements, an outcome compatible with the average energy Eprim ∼ 1017 eV of these events. This result places significant constraints on more exotic production mechanisms