Cochin University of Science and Technology

About: Cochin University of Science and Technology is a education organization based out in Kochi, Kerala, India. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Thin film & Natural rubber. The organization has 5382 authors who have published 7690 publications receiving 103827 citations. The organization is also known as: CUSAT & Cochin University.

Isolation and characterization of aerobic thermophilic bacteria from the Savusavu hot springs in Fiji

Abstract: The relative isolation and unique physical properties of the Savusavu Hot Springs in Fiji may yield unique thermophiles. This study was conducted to determine the presence of aerobic thermophilic bacteria in these hot springs. A total of 104 thermophilic bacterial isolates were characterized and using Thermus and Bacillus strains as controls, 58% of the isolates were identified as Anoxybacillus flavithermus, 19% as Geobacillus stearothermophilus/Bacillus licheniformis, 10% as Thermus sp. TG153 and 10% as Thermus sp. TG206. Four isolates were unique in their molecular patterns suggesting there may be novel bacteria in the Savusavu hot springs.

Renyi's entropy for residual lifetime distribution

Abstract: In the present paper, we introduce and study Renyi's information measure (entropy) for residual lifetime distributions. It is shown that the proposed measure uniquely determines the distribution. We present characterizations for some lifetime models. Further, we define two new classes of life distributions based on this measure. Various properties of these classes are also given.

Poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO)-based, sodium ion-conducting‚ solid polymer electrolyte films, dispersed with Al 2 O 3 filler, for applications in sodium ion cells

Abstract: The studies on solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) films with high ionic conductivity suitable for the realization of all solid-state Na-ion cells‚ form the focal theme of the work presented in this paper. The SPE films are obtained by the solution casting technique using the blend solution of poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO) with ethylene carbonate (EC) and propylene carbonate (PC) and complexed with sodium nitrate. Structural and thermal studies of SPE films are done by XRD, FTIR spectroscopy, and TGA techniques. Surface morphology of the films is studied using the FESEM. The ionic conductivity of SPE films is determined from the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy studies. For the SPE film with 16 wt% of NaNO3 used for reacting with the polymer blend of PEO with EC and PC, the ionic conductivity obtained is around 1.08 × 10−5 S cm−1. Addition of the Al2O3 as the filler material is found to enhance the ionic conductivity of the SPE films. The studies on the Al2O3 modified SPE film show an ionic conductivity of 1.86 × 10–4 S cm−1, which is one order higher than that of the SPE films without the filler content. For the SPE film dispersed with 8 wt% of Al2O3, the total ion transport number observed is around 0.9895, which is quite impressive from the perspective of the applications in electrochemical energy storage devices. From the cyclic voltammetry studies, a wide electrochemical stability window up to 4 V is observed, which further emphasizes the commendable electrochemical behavior of these SPE films.

Parenting and the psychological development of a representative sample of triplets conceived by assisted reproduction.

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to examine the quality of parenting and the psychological development of three-year-old children in IVF/ICSI families with triplets. METHODS: Comparisons were carried out between a representative sample of 10 families with triplets and matched groups of 15 families with twins and 30 families with singletons. The families were recruited from Follow-Up, a national organization in France that was established to study children conceived by assisted reproduction. Standardized measures of the mother’s psychological well-being (parenting stress, depression and quality of marriage) and standardized measures of the child’s psychological development (emotional/behavioural problems and general development) were completed by the mother. RESULTS: Mothers with a multiple birth were found to experience greater difficulties in parenting than mothers of singletons, with no differences between mothers of triplets and mothers of twins. Regarding the children, there were no differences in emotional or behavioural problems between triplets, twins and singletons. However, there were indications of mild delay among triplets and twins in some aspects of language development in comparison with the singleton children. CONCLUSIONS: The birth of triplets or twins does appear to cause difficulties for parents in the early years, however, the children themselves do not seem to experience markedly raised levels of psychological or developmental problems.