Improvement of Mechanical, Thermal and Optical Properties of Barium Mixed Cobalt Tartrate Hydrate Crystals Grown by Gel Method

In this present work, CTH and BCTH crystals have been prepared by gel technique by using single diffusion method at room temperature. The as grown crystals were characterized by using XRD, FT-IR, UV, TG / DTA and Micro hardness studies. X-ray powder diffraction results analyzed by using suitable software suggest that a CTH and BCTH crystals belong to cubic crystal system. The unit cell volume is observed to increase with increase in the concentration of barium in cobalt tartrate due to the lattice distortion. The band gap and optical properties have analyzed by UV-Visible spectrum. The functional groups and compound formation of the crystals have been studied by FT-IR spectrum. The mechanical properties of the grown crystals were tested by using Vicker’s microhardness studies. The work hardening coefficient (n) was determined to be 3.7 for CTH, 5.3 for BCTH (1 : 1) and 6.4 for BCTH (2 : 1) and the stiffness constants for different loads were calculated and reported. Thermal analysis suggests that pure cobalt tartrate starts decomposing at 73.2 C whereas the barium mixed cobalt tartrate brings about better thermal stability which increases with an increase in barium concentration

Context-aware Approach for Determining the Threshold Price in Name-Your-Own-Price Channels

Key feature of a context-aware application is the ability to adapt based on the change of context. Two approaches that are widely used in this regard are the context-action pair mapping where developers match an action to execute for a particular context change and the adaptive learning where a context-aware application refines its action over time based on the preceding action’s outcome. Both these approaches have limitation which makes them unsuitable in situations where a context-aware application has to deal with unknown context changes. In this paper we propose a framework where adaptation is carried out via concurrent multi-action evaluation of a dynamically created action space. This dynamic creation of the action space eliminates the need for relying on the developers to create context-action pairs and the concurrent multi-action evaluation reduces the adaptation time as opposed to the iterative approach used by adaptive learning techniques. Using our reference implementation of the framework we show how it could be used to dynamically determine the threshold price in an e-commerce system which uses the name-your-own-price (NYOP) strategy

GREEN PHYTO-SYNTHESIS OF GOLD NANOPARTICLES USING ACHYRANTHES ASPERA LINN SEED-EPICOTYLS LAYER EXTRACTS AND ITS ANTICANCER ACTIVITY

In the recent past decades, green phyto-process for the synthesis of metal incorporated nanoparticles has been evolving into an imperative branch of nanotechnology. We have reported a rapid, expedient and extracellular method for the synthesis of gold nanoparticles by reducing gold chloride with the help of aqueous seed-epicotyls layer extracts of Achyranthes aspera Linn (Amarantheceae).  This approach is simple, economic, stable for a long time, reproducible at room temperature and is synthesized in an eco-friendly mode to obtain a self-assembly of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs).  The resulting gold nanoparticles were characterized using UV-Visible absorption spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and FT-IR spectroscopic techniques. The anticancer activity of the gold nanoparticles was studied against HeLa (Cervical) cancer cell lines. We herein report for the first time, Achyranthes aspera Seed-Epicotyls assisted synthesis of biogenic gold nanoparticles; the nanoparticles are conspicuously smaller and better faceted compared with those synthesized by A. aspera leaf extracts previously reported. Synthesized gold nanoparticles showed potent anticancer activity at 50μg/ml concentration against cervical cancer cell lines.Keywords: Gold nanoparticles, anticancer activity, Achyranthes Aspera Linn.  Aqueous leaves Extract, SEM, XRD, HeLa cancer cell line

Improvement of Mechanical, Thermal and Optical Properties of Barium Mixed Cobalt Tartrate Hydrate Crystals Grown by Gel Method

In this present work, CTH and BCTH crystals have been prepared by gel technique by using single diffusion method at room temperature. The as grown crystals were characterized by using XRD, FT-IR, UV, TG / DTA and Micro hardness studies. X-ray powder diffraction results analyzed by using suitable software suggest that a CTH and BCTH crystals belong to cubic crystal system. The unit cell volume is observed to increase with increase in the concentration of barium in cobalt tartrate due to the lattice distortion. The band gap and optical properties have analyzed by UV-Visible spectrum. The functional groups and compound formation of the crystals have been studied by FT-IR spectrum. The mechanical properties of the grown crystals were tested by using Vicker’s microhardness studies. The work hardening coefficient (n) was determined to be 3.7 for CTH, 5.3 for BCTH (1 : 1) and 6.4 for BCTH (2 : 1) and the stiffness constants for different loads were calculated and reported. Thermal analysis suggests that pure cobalt tartrate starts decomposing at 73.2 C whereas the barium mixed cobalt tartrate brings about better thermal stability which increases with an increase in barium concentration

Unveiling the secret pollinators: A deep dive into moringas' pollination ecology

A famous vegetable crop in India that is rich in nutrients and heavily dependent on bees for pollination is moringa. A survey was taken in the Karur and Perambalur districts of Tamil Nadu to document the diversity of pollinators and insect visitors of moringa. The observations were analyzed using diversity indices. According to the studies, 13 hymenopteran, 7 dipteran, and 7 lepidopteran insects visited moringa plants. Fruit set and quality are maximized in moringa when pollination is successful. Therefore, four treatments have been applied to the Asiatic hive bee, Apis cerana indica, to explore the pollination capability and the foraging ecology of other key bee pollinators of moringa. The results affirmed that the significant Apis pollinators spend more time on nectar collection than pollen gathering. The peak foraging activity of Apis pollinators happened in the morning hours during 0900 -1100h. A. cerana indica and A. dorsata commence their foraging activity much earlier in the morning than A. florea. The foraging activity gradually declined after 1400h. The abundance of A. cerana indica was very high in managed bee pollination plots compared to open pollination plots. The managed bee pollination plots (128.2 fruits/tree) recorded 19.14 percent more fruit sets and 11.40 % more fruit yield than open pollination plots (107.6 fruits/tree) by deploying four Asian bee colonies per acre of moringa crop

Phenotypic and genotypic insights into rice germplasm resistance against a biotype of the brown planthopper Nilaparvata lugens (stal)

This study explores the resistance of rice landraces, genotypes, and wild rice to the South Asian brown planthopper (BPH) population, a significant pest affecting rice crops. Phenotypic screening identified a few landraces, genotypes, and wild rice varieties with resistance to the South Asian biotype, including, PTB-33, Oryza officinalis, O. nivara, Adukkan, Vellai Kombi Samba and Onamuttan which exhibited damage scores ? 3 Moderate resistance was observed in IR 36, ARC 10550, T12, Manvilayan, Rathu Heenati, CR 2711, Mysore Malli, Swarnalata, Pokkali, Babawee, and ASD 7, while other varieties demonstrated varying levels of susceptibility. Molecular analysis using SSR markers revealed the presence of BPH resistance genes across these genotypes. Notably, Onamuttan and Vellai kombi samba exhibited a broad resistance gene profile, while Adukkan, Manvilayan possess two BPH-resistant genes. Conversely, ASD 7 and Rathu Heenati, despite possessing several resistance gene markers, displayed moderate resistance. This study underscores the potential of integrating resistant genotypes into breeding programs, employing SSR markers for precise gene mapping and marker-assisted selection. The combined phenotypic and genotypic data provide valuable insights for advancing rice breeding strategies for sustainable BPH management and improved pest resistance

Semiochemical techniques for the management of coconut insect pest

Semiochemicals are chemical substances utilized by insects use to modify their physiology and behaviour and are classified as pheromones (intraspecific effects) and allelochemicals (interspecific effects). It plays a crucial role in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) as a marker of insect presence and a behavioural modifier that prevents pest dissemination and multiplication. Insect populations can be managed using various attractant-based strategies such as monitoring, mass trapping and attracting insect pests. These management methods require understanding insect chemical ecology and identifying the cues involved. Semiochemicals for managing key insect pests of coconut have been extensively studied. However, practical utility and awareness among farmers are limited. Major coconut pests are managed with effective and efficient attractants, pheromones and host volatiles. Semiochemical applications are gaining importance as a primary management strategy and provide significant scope for sustainable and eco-friendly pest management. Despite the noteworthy strides in developing semiochemical-based pest management approaches for coconut, a critical gap exists for further innovations to evolve solutions applicable to a broader array of significant pests and establish sustainable and highly effective pest management strategies. In light of this, the use of semiochemical techniques for sustainable pest management in coconut plantations is extensively discussed in this review

Management of the maize weevil (Sitophilus oryzae L.) using turmeric (Curcuma longa) essential oil

Among the various insect pests infesting stored maize, the rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae L. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is one of the most destructive pests, capable of causing 100 % infestation and significant qualitative losses. Essential oils (EOs) from botanicals are considered eco-friendly as they show promise against several stored product pests including S. oryzae without leaving any non-toxic residues in the final product. This study aims to evaluate the potential insecticidal effects of essential oil of turmeric, Curcuma longa against S. oryzae under laboratory conditions. A maximum adult mortality of 90.0 % was recorded in fumigant toxicity tests at 65 μL/96 cm³ after 5 days of exposure. Under contact toxicity conditions, 99.13 % mortality was observed at 70 μL after 5 days. Fumigant and contact toxicity tests revealed an LC50 of 60.39 μL and 65.61 μL, respectively, against adults of S. oryzae. At the same concentration (70 μL),turmeric EO observed complete reduction of oviposition and adult emergence. These findings indicate that turmeric EO possesses strong insecticidal properties and could serve as an effective and environmentally safe alternative to synthetic fumigants for the management of S. oryzae in stored maize grains