Kuvempu University

About: Kuvempu University is a education organization based out in Shimoga, India. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Cyclic voltammetry & Carbon paste electrode. The organization has 1575 authors who have published 2210 publications receiving 39755 citations. The organization is also known as: KU.

Bioaccumulation potential of Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus for removal of heavy metals from paper mill effluent.

Abstract: In the present study Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus isolated from paper mill effluent showed tolerance and accumulation of toxic metals Ni, Zn, Cd, Pb, Cr and Cu from synthetic medium and paper mill effluent. Physico-chemical and heavy metals characterization of industrially treated paper mill effluent showed insignificant reduction in BOD, hardness, TDS and heavy metals as compared to permissible limits of BIS and WHO. A. niger and A. flavus were treated with synthetic medium containing 100-1000 mg l(-1) of six heavy metals. A. niger was able to tolerate and grow in 1000 mg l(-1) Pb, 500 mg l(-1) Cu, 250 mg l(-1) Zn and 100 mg l(-1) Cr, Ni respectively. No growth of A. niger was observed in 100 mg l-(-1) of Cd. A. flavus was capable to tolerate and grow in 1000 mg l(-1) Pb, Zn and Ni, 100mg l(-1) Cu. A. flavus growth was completely inhibited in 100 mg l(-1) of Cd and Cr. The Cd, Zn, Cu and Pb reduction were found significant (p Cu (45.34%) > Ni (25.20%), while only 41% Cr was accumulated by A. nigerfrom 100 mg l(-1) of Cr solution.

Structural, dielectric and electromagnetic shielding properties of Ni–Cu nanoferrite/PVP composites

Abstract: Nickel–copper (Ni–Cu) nanoferrites were synthesized using solution combustion method. The XRD pattern of the as prepared and calcinated samples at 600 °C revealed the presence of both cubic NiFe2O4 and tetragonal CuFe2O4 phases. Frequency and temperature dependence of dielectric constant (ɛ′), dielectric loss (tan δ) and a.c. conductivity (σac) studies have been undertaken on the Ni–Cu nanoferrites blended with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) in the range 100 Hz–5 MHz. Studies have shown increasing trend of ɛ′, tan δ and σac with the increase of temperature for Ni–Cu ferrite nanoparticles in the PVP matrix. Further, frequency and temperature dependence of electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding effectiveness (SE) is studied. The SE is found to increase with the temperature and decrease with an increase in the frequency. Ni–Cu nanoferrite/PVP composites were demonstrated a promising efficient material for the absorbing of electromagnetic waves because of a large amount of dipole polarizations in the polymer backbone and the interfaces of the ferrite nanoparticles and PVP matrix.

Quantitative proteomics for identifying biomarkers for Rabies

Abstract: Rabies is a fatal acute viral disease of the central nervous system, which is a serious public health problem in Asian and African countries. Based on the clinical presentation, rabies can be classified into encephalitic (furious) or paralytic (numb) rabies. Early diagnosis of this disease is particularly important as rabies is invariably fatal if adequate post exposure prophylaxis is not administered immediately following the bite. In this study, we carried out a quantitative proteomic analysis of the human brain tissue from cases of encephalitic and paralytic rabies along with normal human brain tissues using an 8-plex isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) strategy. We identified 402 proteins, of which a number of proteins were differentially expressed between encephalitic and paralytic rabies, including several novel proteins. The differentially expressed molecules included karyopherin alpha 4 (KPNA4), which was overexpressed only in paralytic rabies, calcium calmodulin dependent kinase 2 alpha (CAMK2A), which was upregulated in paralytic rabies group and glutamate ammonia ligase (GLUL), which was overexpressed in paralytic as well as encephalitic rabies. We validated two of the upregulated molecules, GLUL and CAMK2A, by dot blot assays and further validated CAMK2A by immunohistochemistry. These molecules need to be further investigated in body fluids such as cerebrospinal fluid in a larger cohort of rabies cases to determine their potential use as antemortem diagnostic biomarkers in rabies. This is the first study to systematically profile clinical subtypes of human rabies using an iTRAQ quantitative proteomics approach.

Influence of Sn and Mn on structural, optical and magnetic properties of spray pyrolysed CdS thin films

Abstract: Sn, Mn-doped CdS thin films were deposited using on glass substrates at 400°C in air atmosphere by chemical spray pyrolysis method. X-ray Diffraction (XRD) of the deposited film exhibits the cubic phase of CdS with a preferred orientation along the (1 1 1) plane. The average crystallite size (D) of pure CdS (18 nm), Sn:CdS (7 nm) and Mn:CdS (6 nm) thin films are calculated. The morphological variations due to the incorporation of Sn and Mn in CdS thin films observed by the Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images. Incorporation of Sn and Mn confirmed from Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX). Sn and Mn-doped CdS thin films show a significant blue shift in the absorption spectrum. From the optical studies, The optical bandgap values are 2.43 eV (CdS), 2.28 eV (Mn:CdS) and 2.03 eV (Sn:CdS) respectively. Advanced magnetic saturation and coercivity have been studied for the doped CdS thin films. Consequently, the obtained results will lead to better performance for the optoelectronic and spint...