125,716 research outputs found
A review of 18O labelling studies to probe the mechanism of aromatase (CYP191A)
No full textOur previous studies, using precursors for two classes of estrogens, estrone and estriol, have highlighted the following facets of aromatase. The overall reaction, converting androgens into estrogens, occurs in three steps, each requiring NADPH and O
2. In Step 1, a 19-hydroxy intermediate is produced, which in Step 2, is converted into a 19-oxo derivative via a gem -diol intermediate with the stereospecific loss of H
Re. In Step 3, a scission of the C-10-C-19 bond occurs releasing C-19 as formic acid (HCOOH) and incorporating an atom of oxygen from O
2, The other oxygen atom of formic acid is derived from the hydroxyl group introduced in Step 1. These experiments were performed using the classical placental microsomal system. Our findings were confirmed and extended by (the late) Caspi's group. However, incorporation of oxygen in Step 3, has been challenged in a subsequent study using a soluble reconstituted system. The latter authors have implied the superiority of their system over the microsomal preparation. However, several assumptions under pinning their own work were derived from the use of placental microsomes. Furthermore, the authors have not considered that when a previous work is challenged it needs to be repeated under the conditions described in the original publication.
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Parapanteles sireeshaae Ahmad et Akhtar, sp. nov.
No full textParapanteles sireeshaae Ahmad et Akhtar, sp. nov. (Figs 1–6) Description. FEMALE Holotype. Body length, 2.0 mm. Fore wing: maximum length 2.2 mm, maximum width 1.0 mm. Head. Brownish black in colour, densely covered with hairs; temple, lateral frons, vertex, occiput and face with minute punctures associated with pilosity making surface rough and with dull luster; head in frontal view approximately 1.20 x as wide as medially long, vertex 2.50 x as wide as medially long; frons 1.60 x wide at midheight than long, little raised medially, shallowly punctate; compound eye with hairs, maximum height 2.00x as long as maximum width, inner margins weakly converging towards clypeus; intertentorial distance 2.80 x as long as distance from tentorial pit to compound eye; ocelli forming an obtuse triangle, ocell-ocular distance 1.50 x as long as lateral ocelli distance; width of clypeus 3.70 x as long as height; antennae with 18 segments, 0.95 x as long as body; scrobe prominent; scape 1.10 x as long as wide, pedicel 1.20 x as long as wide, flagellomeres with two ranks of longitudinal placodes, flagellomeres I and II subequal in length, flagellomere I 1.50 x as long as apical flagellomere, flagellomere I and II 2.50 x as long as wide. Palpi pale yellow-brown throughout. Mesosoma (Figs 1–3). Mesoscutum punctate, smooth and shiny along dorsal margin of scutellar sulcus, in dorsal view about 0.90 x as wide as maximum width of head at frontal view; scutellum sparsely punctate with rather long hairs along lateral margin; propodeum with distinct and complete areola, about 1.50 x as long wide; anterior diagonal carinae merged with anterior rugulose sculpturing, transverse carinae percurrent and branched laterally into costulae, surface of propodeum finely rugose on dorsal face, mostly smooth posteriorly; mesopleuron finely punctate and covered with short hairs in anterior third, smooth and shiny elsewhere, postero-lateral area depressed; metanotum laterally finely punctate and densely pilose in posterior third, smooth and shiny elsewhere. Legs. Prothoracic and mesothoracic legs entirely light brown except infuscate extreme bases of coxa, hind coxa rather large, more than 0.50 x as long as metasoma, its finely punctate surface with short hairs making the surface rough with dull luster, apical spurs of hind tibiae shorter than hind basitarsi. Wings. Tegulae pale yellowish, translucent. Fore wing veins light brown; stigma usually paler proximally or over much of surface, 2.60 x as long as wide. Fore wing with r and 3 RSa not meeting at distinct angle, R 1 subequal to length of stigma, 1.90 x as long as distance from its distal end to end of 3 RS fold along wing edge, length of 1 M 2.30 x as long as m-cu, 0.30 x as long as M+CU and 6.00x as long as 1 RS, 1 cu a 1.10 x as long as 1 cu b. Hind wing with vannal lobe convex to weakly flattened subapically, 3.30 x as long as wide, evenly fringed with hairs of moderate length. M+CU 1.1 x of 1 M. Metasoma (Figs 4–6). Tergite I slightly longer than widest part, length 1.20 x as long as maximum width, slightly bulging posteriorly with surface punctate-reticulate becoming longitudinally striate posteriorly with a luminescent area medio-posteriorly along the margin. Tergite II sub-rectangular, longitudinally striate, about 3.00x as wide as long, rest of tergites somewhat smooth and shiny; hypopygium evenly sclerotized; ovipositor and sheaths hardly protruding beyond apex of gaster; ovipositor slightly curved ventrally with basal ridge just before apex; ovipositor sheaths covered with short fine hairs. Male. Unknown. Host. Hyposidra successaria (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) Remarks. Parapanteles sireeshaae sp. nov. closely resembles P. masoni Austin et Dangerfield but differs in having the following features: coxae finely punctate with short hairs (vs. smootherd shiny in P. m a s o n i), anterior diagonal carina of propodeum not meeting anterior margin of propodeum (vs. meeting), fore leg except coxae, pale yellowish (vs. brown). In the key given by Valerio et al. (2009), this new species will key in at the couplet no 2 leading to P. masoni. This is to be modified as follows: 2 Areola normally closed at anterior edge, ovipositor and ovipositor sheaths elongate and relatively thin in lateral view; fore telotarsus, ovipositor, ovipositor sheaths and body color variable; from the New World.................. 3 - Areola open at anterior edge, ovipositor and ovipositor sheaths short and relatively thick in lateral view; fore telotarsus, ovipositor, ovipositor sheaths and body color fixed; from the Australia or Oriental........................ 18 18 (2) Coxae smootherd shiny without short hairs, anterior diagonal carina of propodeum meeting anterior margin of propodeum, fore leg except coxae brown .............................................................. P. masoni Austin et Dangerfield - Coxae finely punctate with short hairs, anterior diagonal carina of propodeum not meeting anterior margin of propodeum (Fig. 3), fore leg except coxae, pale yellowish .................... P. sireeshaae Ahmead et Akhtar, sp. nov. Consequently the couplet 18 added at the end will distinguish the species in the key. The type of Parapanteles shivranginii Sathe et Ingawale 1989 (species reported from Oriental region) could not be accessed either at Department of Zoology, Shivaji University, Kolhapur, or at the Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata. Its original description is inadequet especially with regard to the comparison of different body parts and description of metasoma. Type material. Holotype (female): INDIA, Andhra Pradesh, Bapatla, 1.VIII. 2008, reared from Hyposidra successaria on Tinospora cordifolia in betel vine garden, coll. K. Sireesha, deposited in National Pusa Collection (NPC), Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India. Paratypes: 6 females, same data as holotype; deposited in NPC, except one female in the Department of Zoology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India. Etymology. The species is named after the collector Dr. K. Sireesha, Scientist, Herbal Garden Scheme, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad.Published as part of Akhtar, Mir Samim & Ahmad, Zubair, 2010, Description of two new species of Microgastrini (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) from India, pp. 57-62 in Zootaxa 2608 on pages 58-60, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.19776
Warm Mix and Hot Mix Asphalt Image Sample
No full textThe sample image dataset comprises of high resolution image specimens of PG-76 grade based warm mix and hot mix asphalt subjected to different level of moisture sensitivity test. Moisture sensitivity stages are categorised as; dry, 1 freeze-thaw (FT) and 3 freeze-thaw (FT) cycles. The brownish area in in the image represents adhesion failure whereas the white area represents the broken aggregates. The fillers used in the asphalt mix preparation were ordinary Portland cement (OPC) and pavement modifier (PMD).
The criteria for designation of each sample is provided as an attachment file (Sample Designation).
The authors would like to acknowledge the Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education through the Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS grant number 203/PAWAM/6071277) and Professor Dr. Meor Othman Hamzah who was the PI of this grant
Photovoltaic applications of Si and Ge thin films deposited by PECVD
No full textThis thesis represents a systematic study of amorphous silicon microcrystalline silicon and germanium thin films, and a-Si:H thin film solar cells fabricated using an OPT plasma lab 100 RF PECVD system carried out with a view to studying novel lighttrapping structures for thin film solar cells and novel IR photovoltaic cells. The work includes the optimisation of amorphous based single layers by optical and electrical characterisation, their doping and the fabrication and optimisation of single junction solar cells. These developments were extended to include deposition of microcrystalline and germanium films with the aim of developing a range of multijunction and single junction research devices. The optical characterisation of intrinsic amorphous based layers shows that device-grade layer fabrications are achievable with more than 90% absorption in the 450 to 550 nm wavelength range which can be deposited at 4-5?A/s with good thickness uniformity. The bandgap of intrinsic amorphous layers can be tuned from 1.4 to 1.7 eV. Secondary Ion Mass Spectroscopy (SIMS) depth profile characterisation has verified that doping levels in p-type and n type are in the range of 1021 atoms/cm3 which can maintain high open circuit voltage of 0.83V in the single junction device. Systematic single layers well as in-device optimisations lead to the best single junction devices fabricated at a temperature of 250oC and at a pressure of 350 mT and of initially 8.22% efficiency. Initial quantum efficiency (QE) measurements show 75% photon absorption at 550 nm wavelength. A novel technique of wavelength and angle resolved scattering (WARS) measurements have been used to analyse the effects of textured TCOs on light-trapping in single junction device. Showing Asahi-U to be the best substrate with regards to light-trapping, although thicker films benefited more from TEC8 . Deposition of microcrystalline silicon and germanium have also been reported. More focus has been given to optical characterisation of germanium films whose absorption has reached more than 70% in 400 to 1600 nm wavelength range with successful n-type and p-type doping. Ohmic contacts with a low resistivity of 0.029-cm for p-type Ge with the usage of Ni have been achieved. The overall working capacity of the OPT PECVD tool has been analysed and it was concluded that chamber design modification are essential for the system to work in a multidisciplinary field to avoid serious chamber contamination and 10% efficient a:Si:H benchmarks
The Folio: F. C. C. Magazine
No full textThe Folio. pp. 1; Bhatty, M. S.-Alumni Association Activities. pp. 2-4; Velte, F. M.-An Address. pp. 5-10; Jain, M. P.-A Study in Eugene O'Neill. pp. 11-16; Dhamija, J. N.-Immortal Longings. pp. 17; Carter, W. D.-Essay-Russia, the League and World Peace. pp. 18-23; Parwaiz Ahmad-Poetry-Weariness. pp. 23-24; Akhtar, M. Buland-Essay-The Function of Poetry in Literature. pp. 24-26; Pandit, K.-Essay-Stray Thoughts. pp. 26-27; Zweig, Stefan-Essay-Marie Antoinette. pp. 28-30; Thirty Years Ago. pp. 31; Gargoyles. pp. 32-35; Mansukhani, P. G.-The Co-Ed's Corner. pp. 35-36; Akhtar, M. Buland-Sports. pp. 36-38; W. P. B.. pp. 38-40; Late News. pp. 40-41; [Hindi]. 15 p.; Punjabi Kiyari [Punjabi]. 10 p.; The Folio [Urdu]. 12 p
IEEE Microwave Theory and Technology Society IMaRC2021 at the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, India, 17-19 December 2021
No full textX-efficiency Analysis of Commercial Banks in Pakistan: A Preliminary Investigation
No full textThe emergence of a fast-paced dynamic environment in the business world in general, and in the financial services sector in particular, has highlighted the significance of competition and efficiency. The need for deregulation has become a touchstone of success in fostering both competition and efficiency especially in the economies, which are exposed to structural reforms. In addition to that, intense competition both among domestic and foreign banks, rapid speed of innovations and introduction of new financial instruments, changing consumer’s demands and desire for product augmentation have changed the way a bank conducts business and services its customers. Larger the degree of competition, it is perceived that the firms would become more efficient. However, when the structure of an industry is product of the government regulations, the degree of competition is impaired markedly implying that the efficiency suffers negatively. Banking industry acts as life-blood of modern trade and commerce acting as a bridge to provide a major source of financial intermediation. Thus, appraisal of its efficiency is vital in context of an efficient and competitive financial system. Study of x-efficiency is believed to be important in particular as Berger, et al. (1993) found that x-inefficiencies account for around 20 percent or more of banking costs. Similarly, recent drive among banks towards downsizing, rightsizing and rationalisation of banking costs also implicates for the assessment of x-efficiency analysis of banks. It becomes vital in Pakistani context as there appears to be no study in literature on efficiency or x-efficiency analysis of banks in Pakistan. “A great deal more work is needed on x-efficiency research in banking. Managerial efficiency, the concept of x-efficiency, appears to be a much more important strategic and policy consideration” [Molyneux, et al. (1960), p. 273]. Given
A Multi-Language Comparison of Influences on Author Verification using Character N-Grams
No full textWe create a new multi-language corpus for author verification based on Wikipedia talkpages, and evaluate the influence that differences in topic and time have on character n-gram author profiles. Topic alignment between two texts is found to increase author verification precision, and an authors writing style is found to change over time, but not more significantly after 3 years than after 1 year.Information ArchitectureWISElectrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Scienc
INVESTIGATING OPTIMUM NUMBER OF IRRIGATIONS FOR WHEAT UNDER RAISED BED TECHNOLOGY IN A SEMI-ARID CLIMATE
No full textWater conservation technologies like furrow irrigated raised bed planting are the need of day to improve water
productivity and to get more crop production from the available limited water supplies. The present study was
conducted at the experimental area of Water Management Research Centre, University of Agriculture,
Faisalabad, to perform irrigation scheduling and investigate optimum number of irrigations for wheat under flat
sowing and raised bed planting in a semi-arid climate of Faisalabad. Soil type of the area was sandy loam with
bulk density of 1.55 g/cm
3
. The experiment was designed in Randomized Complete Block Design with five
replicates and three treatments viz. T1: Flat sowing with irrigation at 50% MAD, T2
: Bed planting with irrigation
at 50% MAD, and T
3: Bed planting with irrigation on the same day as in T1
. Regular check of soil moisture
status was performed and irrigations were applied in first two treatments at about 50% depletion of available
water. The irrigations in T3, however, were applied on the same day as in T1, even if the soil moisture content
went far below 50% of available water, to check the impact of water stress on crop, if any, under raised bed
technology. In this way, four irrigations were applied to T1and T
3
on same dates, whereas five irrigations were
applied in T
2
throughout the season. The impacts of increasing number of irrigations in wheat bed planting
were evaluated statistically to check the changes in yield and irrigation water productivity. Grain yields under
two bed planting treatments were found significantly higher as compared to T1, but at par with each other,
while the water saving in comparison to flat sowing decreased from 47.43% in T3to 35.74% in T2
due to an
extra irrigation in T
2. Highest irrigation water productivity (1.32 kg/m
3
) was achieved in T3
, followed by 1.12
kg/m
3
in T2and 0.54 kg/m
3
in T1
. It was concluded that application of an extra irrigation in bed planting resulted
in non-significant increase in yield in comparison to bed planting with normal four irrigations, but in a highly
significant decrease in irrigation water productivity, indicating that there is no need to apply extra number of
irrigations in bed planted wheat in comparison to conventional method
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