170 research outputs found
Benefits of Improved Groundnut Technologies to Resource-poor Farmers: A Participatory Approach
No full textConsidering that non-adoption of improved groundnut technologies by the small and resource-poor farmers is due to non-availability of quality seeds, poor knowledge, inappropriateness of technologies, etc., in the current study, improved groundnut technologies have been implemented through participatory mode so as to generate awareness about improved technologies among them. The participatory approach could make the farmers to learn, adopt and spread new technologies. The economic indicators have shown that a net return of Rs 7104 per ha was realized by adopting improved varieties and integrated crop management (ICM) package during kharif season, and it is higher than the returns realized by growing local variety (AK-12-24) with local practice (Rs 2010/ha). The cost of production has been found to be Rs 11.04/kg and 13.98/kg among the improved practice and farmers’ practice, respectively. A similar trend of higher net returns (Rs 13820/ha) and lower cost of production (Rs 8.86 per/kg) has been observed with improved practice during the rabi season, compared to the lower net returns (Rs 6309/ha) and higher cost of production (Rs 11.34 per/kg) with farmers’ practice. The informal seed supply system implemented through seed bank operation in a participatory mode has increased the improved groundnut seed availability at the village level. The seed multiplication programme could increase the spread of improved varieties from 32 ha to 69 ha in the adopted villages and from 15.9 ha to 85 ha in the neighbouring villages within a period of three years. It will help increase productivity levels of crops and income of farmers. The informal seed supply system implemented through seed bank operation has been found very successful in the faster technology spread. Hence, this model may be replicated in other areas to provide improved seeds to small and marginal farmers. It will also help in achieving self-sufficiency in improved varietal needs at the village level.Agricultural and Food Policy,
Application of Neural Network and Simulation Modeling to Evaluate Russian Banks’ Performance
No full textThis paper presents an application of neural network and simulation modeling to analyze and predict the performance of 883 Russian Banks over the period 2000-2010. Correlation analysis was performed to obtain key financial indicators which reflect the leverage, liquidity, profitability and size of Banks. Neural network was trained over the entire dataset, and then simulation modeling was performed generating values which are distributed with Largest Extreme Value and Loglogistic distributions with estimated parameters providing robust results. Next, a combination of neural network and simulation modeling techniques was validated with the help of back-testing. Finally, we received nine bank clusters that describe the structural performance within the Russian Banking sector
Characterization of calcineurin-dependent response element binding protein and its involvement in copper-metallothionein gene expression in Neurospora
No full textIn continuation of our recent observations indicating the presence of a lone Calcineurin-dependent Response Element (CDRE) in the −3730 bp upstream region of copper-induced metallothionein (CuMT) gene of Neurospora [K.S. Kumar, S. Dayananda, C. Subramanyam, Copper alone, but not oxidative stress, induces copper-metallothionein gene in Neurospora crassa, FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 242 (2005) 45–50], we isolated and characterized the CDRE-binding protein. The cloned upstream region of CuMT gene was used as the template to specifically amplify CDRE element, which was immobilized on CNBr-activated Sepharose 4B for use as the affinity matrix to purify the CDRE binding protein from nuclear extracts obtained from Neurospora cultures grown in presence of copper. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of the affinity purified protein revealed the presence of a single 17 kDa protein, which was identified and characterized by MALDI-TOF. Peptide mass finger printing of tryptic digests and analysis of the 17 kDa protein matched with the regulatory β-subunit of calcineurin (Ca2+-calmodulin dependent protein phosphatase). Parallel identification of nuclear localization signals in this protein by in silico analysis suggests a putative role for calcineurin in the regulation of CuMT gene expression
Dead Body Management in Times of Covid‐19 and its Potential Impact on the Availability of Cadavers for Medical Education in India
No full textSimplified down sampling factor based modified SVPWM technique for cascaded inverter fed induction motor drive
No full textThis paper presents a rivew, investigation and performance analysis of novel down samples factor based modified space vector PWM is called clamping SVPWM technique for cascaded Multilevel Invereter fed to Induction motor drive. In this paper the reference sine wave generated as in case of conventional off set injected SVPWM technique is modified by down sampling factor the reference wave by order of 10. The performance analyses of this modulation strategies are analyzed by apply for five level, seven level, nine level and eleven level inverter. The performance analysis of cascaded inverter interms of line voltage, stator current, speed, torque and total harmonic distortion. The results are depicting that PD PWM is more effective among the four proposed PWM technique. It is observed that the CSV Pulse width modulation ensures excellent, close to optimized pulse distribution results compared to SPWM technique and also 11-level inverter beter performance in case of low THD and better foundemental output voltages comapared to 5, 7, 9-level inverter. The proposed technique has been simulated using MATLAB/SIMULINK software. This proposed technique can be applied to N-level multilevel Inverter als
Lysozyme: A model protein for amyloid research
No full textEver since lysozyme was discovered by Fleming in 1922, this protein has emerged as a model for investigations on protein structure and function. Over the years, several high-resolution structures have yielded a wealth of structural data on this protein. Extensive studies on folding of lysozyme have shown how different regions of this protein dynamically interact with one another. Data is also available from numerous biotechnological studies wherein lysozyme has been employed as a model protein for recovering active recombinant protein from inclusion bodies using small molecules like L-arginine. A variety of conditions have been developed in vitro to induce fibrillation in hen lysozyme. They include (a) acidic pH at elevated temperature, (b) concentrated solutions of ethanol, (c) moderate concentrations of guanidinium hydrochloride at moderate temperature, and (d) alkaline pH at room temperature. This review aims to bring together similarities and differences in aggregation mechanisms, morphology of aggregates, and related issues that arise using the different conditions mentioned above to improve our understanding. The alkaline pH condition (pH 12.2), discovered and studied extensively in our lab, shall receive special attention. More than a decade ago, it was revealed that mutations in human lysozyme can cause accumulation of large quantities of amyloid in liver, kidney, and other regions of gastrointestinal tract. Understanding the mechanism of lysozyme aggregation will probably have therapeutic implications for the treatment of systemic nonneuropathic amyloidosis. Numerous studies have begun to focus attention on inhibition of lysozyme aggregation using antibody or small molecules. The enzymatic activity of lysozyme presents a convenient handle to quantify the native population of lysozyme in a sample where aggregation has been inhibited. The rich information available on lysozyme coupled with the multiple conditions that have been successful in inducing/inhibiting its aggregation in vitro makes lysozyme an ideal model protein to investigate amyloidogenesis
Online Learning Modules in Anatomical Sciences: Effective Sources for Continued Learning for Medical Undergraduates During the Unprecedent COVID-19 Pandemic
No full textIntroduction. During the COVID-19 pandemic-induced lockdown, the selection of simple and authentic online material among plethora of web content is difficult for both students and teachers. This forces students and teachers to explore various avenues of learning.
The objective of this research was to evaluate free open-access anatomy e-learning resources in accordance with required standard learning outcomes for medical students.
Methods. During February 2021, an extensive search for online modules for learning anatomy across six Massive Open Online Courses, including edX, Coursera, Udemy, Khan Academy, Canvas and FutureLearn, along with Google and YouTube was conducted. Courses or modules on e-learning platforms, YouTube channels, standalone videos, anatomy atlases, 3D models were considered as learning resources and evaluated. Online materials were classified as structured learning resources if they had a defined syllabus, time duration and instructional design. Resources lacking these characteristics were considered as unstructured ones.
Results. Twenty structured learning courses were identified on the Udemy (6 courses), Coursera (3 courses), edX (2 courses), FutureLearn and Khan academy platforms. Learning resources available through Swayam Prabha were aligned with the defined syllabus and video lectures. The content hosted within Clinical Anatomy, Medvizz and Kenhub was eye-catching. Thirty-two YouTube channels offering standalone learning material were identified. Seven resource materials, other than YouTube channels, offered anatomy learning material in the form of charts and tables. Four websites noted to have 3D interactive learning content regarding gross anatomy.
Conclusions. During the pandemic-induced lockdown, the list presented in the study may act as guide in selection of the simplest and best materials for those teaching and learning anatomy in medical undergraduate courses. However, in most cases, there is no alignment with standard learning outcomes as defined by medical education regulatory authorities
Cryorolling and warm forming of AA6061 aluminum alloy sheets
No full textCryorolling is a severe plastic deformation (SPD) process used to obtain ultrafine-grained aluminum alloy sheets along with higher strength and hardness than in conventional cold rolling, but it results in poor formability. An alternative method to improve both strength and formability of cryorolled sheets by warm forming after cryorolling without any post-heat treatment is proposed in this work. The formability of cryorolled AA6061 Al alloy sheets in the warm working temperature range is characterized in terms of forming limit diagrams (FLDs) and limiting dome height (LDH). Strain distributions and thinning in biaxially stretched samples are studied. Hardness of the formed samples is correlated with ultimate tensile strength to estimate post-forming mechanical properties. The limit strains and LDH have been found to be higher than in the case of the conventional processing route (cold rolled, annealed and formed at room temperature), making this hybrid route capable of producing sheet metal parts of aluminum alloys with high strength and formability. In order to combine the advantages of enhanced formability and better post-forming strength than the conventional cold rolled and annealed sheets, warm forming at 250 degrees C has been found to be suitable for this alloy in the temperature range that has been studied
Effect of temperature and punch speed on forming limit strains of AA5182 alloy in warm forming and improvement in failure prediction in finite element analysis: A case study
No full textFormability of AA5182-O aluminum alloy sheets in the warm working temperature range has been studied. Forming limit strains of sheets of two different thicknesses have been determined experimentally in different modes of deformation (biaxial tension, plane strain and tension-compression) by varying temperature and punch speed. A correlation has been established for plane strain intercept of the forming limit diagram (FLD0) with temperature, punch speed and thickness from the experimental results. This correlation has been used to plot the forming limit diagrams for failure prediction in the finite element analysis of warm deep drawing of cylindrical cups. The effect of strain and strain rate on material flow behavior has been incorporated using a strain rate-sensitive power hardening law in which the strain hardening exponent and strain rate sensitivity index have been experimentally determined. The predictions from simulations have been validated by warm deep drawing experiments. Large improvement in accuracy of failure prediction has been observed using the FLDs plotted based on the developed correlation when compared to the existing method of calculating FLD0 using only strain hardening coefficient and thickness. The results clearly indicate the importance of incorporating temperature and punch speed in failure prediction of Al alloys using FLDs in the warm working temperature range
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