Showing papers by "University of Calcutta published in 2006"

Microbial biomass and its activities in salt-affected coastal soils

Abstract: Seasonal fluctuations in salinity are typical in coastal soils due to the intrusion of seawater in the groundwater. We studied the effect of salinity on the microbial and biochemical parameters of the salt-affected soils of the coastal region of Bay of Bengal, Sundarbans, India. The average pH values and average organic C (OC) contents of soils from nine different sites cultivated with rice (Oryza sativa) ranged from 4.8 to 7.8 and from 5.2 to 14.1 g kg−1, respectively. The average electrical conductivity of the saturation extract (ECe) during the summer season was about five times higher than that during the monsoon season. Within the nine sites, three soils (S3, S4, and S5) were the most saline. The average microbial biomass C (MBC), average basal soil respiration (BSR), and average fluorescein diacetate hydrolyzing activity (FDHA) were lowest during the summer season, indicating a negative influence of soil salinity. About 59%, 50%, and 20% variation in MBC/OC, FDHA/OC, and BSR/MBC (metabolic quotient, qCO2), respectively, which are indicators of environmental stress, could be explained by the variation in ECe. The decrease in MBC and microbial activities with a rise in salinity is probably one of the reasons for the poor crop growth in salt-affected coastal soils.

A Rough-Set-Based Inference Engine for ECG Classification

Abstract: In this paper, a rule-based rough-set decision system for the development of a disease inference engine is described. For this purpose, an offline-data-acquisition system of paper electrocardiogram (ECG) records is developed using image-processing techniques. The ECG signals may be corrupted with six types of noise. Therefore, at first, the extracted signals are fed for noise removal. A QRS detector is also developed for the detection of R-R interval of ECG waves. After the detection of this R-R interval, the P and T waves are detected based on a syntactic approach. The isoelectric-level detection and base-line correction are also implemented for accurate computation of different attributes of P, QRS, and T waves. A knowledge base is developed from different medical books and feedbacks of reputed cardiologists regarding ECG interpretation and essential time-domain features of the ECG signal. Finally, a rule-based rough-set decision system is generated for the development of an inference engine for disease identification from these time-domain features

Exponentiated Weibull distribution

Abstract: In this paper we study the family of distributions termed as exponentiated Weibull distribution. The distribution has three parameters (one scale and two shape) and the Weibull distribution and the exponentiated exponential distribution, discussed by Gupta, et al. (1998), are particular cases of it. The survival function, failure rate and moments of the distributions have been derived using certain special formulas. The behavior of the failure rate has been studied and compared with those of the Weibull and Gamma distributions. The distribution has been fitted to a real life data set and the fit has been found to be very good.

Genetic stability of three economically important micropropagated banana (Musa spp.) cultivars of lower Indo-Gangetic plains, as assessed by RAPD and ISSR markers

Abstract: An efficient micropropagation protocol produced large number of plants of the three elite banana (Musa spp.) cultivars Robusta (AAA), Giant Governor (AAA) and Martaman (AAB) from shoot tip meristem. The genetic relationships and fidelity among the cultivars and micropropagated plants as assessed by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers, revealed three somaclonal variants from Robusta and three from Giant Governor. A total of 5330 RAPD and 2741 ISSR fragments were generated with 21 RAPD and 12 ISSR primers in micropropagated plants. The percentage of polymorphic loci by RAPD and ISSR were found to be 1.75, 5.08 in Robusta and 0.83, 5.0 in Giant Governor respectively. Among the two marker systems used, ISSR fingerprinting detected more polymorphism than RAPD in Robusta and Giant Governor with most of the primers showing similar fingerprinting profile, whereas Martaman revealed complete genetic stability.

Influence of alkali treatment on the fine structure and morphology of bamboo fibers

Abstract: Bamboo fibers in the form of strips and dust were treated with NaOH solution of varying concentration (10, 15, and 20%). These treated and untreated samples were then subjected to FTIR and morphological studies. Again XRD study was carried out on those treated and untreated bamboo samples in both strip and dust form. It was found that during alkali treatment a lattice transformation from cellulose-I to cellulose-II took place. It is observed from IR index value that the conversion is maximum in between 15 and 20% of alkali treatment. Swelling in NaOH introduces considerable changes in crystallinity, orientation angle, etc. Degree of crystallinity and crystallinity index for bamboo strips increases with increasing treatment concentration of alkali and falls off after 15% alkali concentration. This is also supported by d-spacing value. Orientation factor fx was calculated from the FWHM and it was found that fx value has been increased from 0.9879 to 0.9915 for 15% alkali treated and again lowered to 0.8522 for 50% alkali treated samples. Same observation of X-ray study was obtained for dust samples but at an earlier concentration. Morphological study of bamboo dust with scanning electron microscope indicates fibrillation at higher alkali concentration. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102: 5050–5056, 2006

Syntheses, structures, and magnetic properties of mononuclear CuII and tetranuclear CuII3MII (M = Cu, Co, or Mn) compounds derived from N,N'-ethylenebis(3-ethoxysalicylaldimine): cocrystallization due to potential encapsulation of water.

Abstract: Syntheses, structures, and magnetic properties of one mononuclear inclusion compound [CuIIL1⊂(H2O)] (1) and three tetrametal systems of the composition [{CuIIL1}2{CuIIL1MII(H2O)3}](ClO4)2(M = Cu (2), M = Co (3), M = Mn (4)) derived from the hexadentate Schiff base compartmental ligand N,N‘-ethylenebis(3-ethoxysalicylaldimine) (H2L1) have been described. Compounds 1 and 2 crystallize in orthorhombic Pbcn and monoclinic P21/c systems, respectively, and the space group of the isomorphous compounds 3 and 4 is monoclinic C2/c. The water molecule in 1 is encapsulated in the vacant O4 compartment because of the hydrogen bonding interactions with the ether and phenolate oxygens, resulting in the formation of an inclusion product. The structures of 2−4 consist of the [CuIIL1MII(H2O)3]2+ cation and two mononuclear [CuIIL1] moieties. In the dinuclear [CuIIL1MII(H2O)3]2+ cation, the metal centers are doubly bridged by the two phenolate oxygens. The second metal center, MII (Cu in 2, Co in 3, and Mn in 4), in the [CuI...

Transgenic rice expressing Allium sativum leaf lectin with enhanced resistance against sap-sucking insect pests.

Abstract: Mannose binding Allium sativum leaf agglutinin (ASAL) has been shown to be antifeedant and insecticidal against sap-sucking insects. In the present investigation, ASAL coding sequence was expressed under the control of CaMV35S promoter in a chimeric gene cassette containing plant selection marker, hpt and gusA reporter gene of pCAMBIA1301 binary vector in an elite indica rice cv. IR64. Many fertile transgenic plants were generated using scutellar calli as initial explants through Agrobacterium-mediated transformation technology. GUS activity was observed in selected calli and in mature plants. Transformation frequency was calculated to be ~12.1%±0.351 (mean ± SE). Southern blot analyses revealed the integration of ASAL gene into rice genome with a predominant single copy insertion. Transgene localization was detected on chromosomes of transformed plants using PRINS and C-PRINS techniques. Northern and western blot analyses determined the expression of transgene in transformed lines. ELISA analyses estimated ASAL expression up to 0.72 and 0.67% of total soluble protein in T0 and T1 plants, respectively. Survival and fecundity of brown planthopper and green leafhopper were reduced to 36% (P<0.01), 32% (P<0.05) and 40.5, 29.5% (P<0.001), respectively, when tested on selected plants in comparison to control plants. Specific binding of expressed ASAL to receptor proteins of insect gut was analysed. Analysis of T1 progenies confirmed the inheritance of the transgenes. Thus, ASAL promises to be a potential component in insect resistance rice breeding programme.

Improved Design Guidelines for the Ultra Wideband Monopole-Dielectric Resonator Antenna

Abstract: This letter examines in detail multiple resonance phenomenon responsible for the ultra wideband response of the hybrid monopole-dielectric resonator antenna (DRA). The physical insight gained by this investigation has lead to improved guidelines for designing the antennas for any specified frequency band. These simple guidelines are then verified using both simulated and measured data

Four-Element Cylindrical Dielectric Resonator Antenna for Wideband Monopole-Like Radiation

Abstract: A new four-element cylindrical dielectric resonator (CDR) array is proposed as a wideband low profile monopole-like antenna. Unlike previous investigations, the present antenna is easy to design and excite as it employs the dominant HEM11delta mode in each CDR. Ansoft's HFSS based design data and experimental results are presented. As much as 29% matching bandwidth (S11<-10 dB) with monopole-like radiation pattern over the entire band has been achieved with 4 dBi peak gain from a prototype occupying a very compact space measuring 0.6lambda0 by 0.1 lambda0 approximately

Concentric Ring-Shaped Defected Ground Structures for Microstrip Applications

Abstract: A new defected ground structure (DGS) consisting of concentric circular rings in different configurations is experimentally studied to examine the stopband characteristics. Unlike previous DGS designs, a metallic shielding is introduced at the back of the DGS to suppress any leakage or radiation, and this would be advantageous for microwave circuit applications. A wide stopband is demonstrated with a set of prototypes designed for X-band. Its application to suppressing mutual coupling in microstrip patch arrays is demonstrated

A low-cost noncontact capacitance-type level transducer for a conducting liquid

Abstract: In this paper, an attempt has been made to design a low-cost noncontact capacitance-type level sensor for a conducting liquid. The sensor is in the form of a uniform circular cylinder made of insulating material like glass, ceramic, plastic, etc. The sensor is connected with the metallic- or nonmetallic-type liquid storage tank, in which the conducting liquid column is taken as one electrode, and a noninductively wound short-circuited outside coil is taken as the other electrode of a variable capacitor. The change in capacitance due to the change of liquid level is measured by a modified linear operational-amplifier-based De' Sauty bridge network with adjustable bridge sensitivity. The bridge output after amplification and rectification may be used to drive a direct current indicator calibrated in level. The studies have been made with high-density polyethylene and glass tube sensors separately in both metallic and nonmetallic storage tanks with tap water as the conducting liquid, and the experimental results of the static characteristics of the level sensors with percentage error from linearity are presented in the paper. These results are found to have good linearity and repeatability within acceptable limits

A new set of orthogonal functions and its application to the analysis of dynamic systems

Abstract: The present work proposes a complementary pair of orthogonal triangular function (TF) sets derived from the well-known block pulse function (BPF) set. The operational matrices for integration in TF domain have been computed and their relation with the BPF domain integral operational matrix is shown. It has been established with illustration that the TF domain technique is more accurate than the BPF domain technique as far as integration is concerned, and it provides with a piecewise linear solution. As a further study, the newly proposed sets have been applied to the analysis of dynamic systems to prove the fact that it introduces less mean integral squared error (MISE) than the staircase solution obtained from BPF domain analysis, without any extra computational burden. Finally, a detailed study of the representational error has been made to estimate the upper bound of the MISE for the TF approximation of a function f ( t ) of Lebesgue measure.

New Half-Hemispherical Dielectric Resonator Antenna for Broadband Monopole-Type Radiation

Abstract: A new half-hemispherical dielectric resonator antenna (h-HDRA) is proposed and a two-element h-HDRA configuration is employed to design a broadband monopole-type radiator. Two half sections of a hemispherical DRA are employed to enhance the impedance bandwidth by introducing an additional resonant mode. Since the new geometry of an h-HDRA is studied here for the first time, it is characterized using simulation and experimental studies. Two closely spaced resonant modes, which in a two-element h-HDRA generate monopole-type radiation are investigated. Results for both the single and two-element h-HDRAs are presented. As much as 35% impedance bandwidth (S11<-10dB) with more than 5 dBi peak gain, 99.08% efficiency and monopole-type radiation pattern has been demonstrated using a prototype occupying a compact volume measuring 0.48lambda0 by 0.2lambda0 approximately, lambda0 being the wave length corresponding to the center of the impedance bandwidth

Synthesis, reactivity, and X-ray crystal structure of some mixed-ligand oxovanadium(V) complexes: first report of binuclear oxovanadium(V) complexes containing 4,4'-bipyridine type bridge.

Abstract: Reaction of the tridentate ONO Schiff-base ligand 2-hydroxybenzoylhydrazone of 2-hydroxybenzoylhydrazine (H2L) with VO(acac)2 in ethanol medium produces the oxoethoxovanadium(V) complex [VO(OEt)L] (A), which reacts with pyridine to form [VO(OEt)L.(py)] (1). Complex 1 is structurally characterized. It has a distorted octahedral O4N2 coordination environment around the V(V) acceptor center. Both complexes A and 1 in ethanol medium react with neutral monodentate Lewis bases 2-picoline, 3-picoline, 4- picoline, 4-amino pyridine, imidazole, and 4-methyl imidazole, all of which are stronger bases than pyridine, to produce dioxovanadium(V) complexes of general formula BH[VO2L]. Most of these dioxo complexes are structurally characterized, and the complex anion [VO2L]- is found to possess a distorted square pyramidal structure. When a solution/suspension of a BH[VO2L] complex in an alcohol (ROH) is treated with HCl in the same alcohol, it is converted into the corresponding monooxoalkoxo complex [VO(OR)L], where R comes from the alcohol used as the reaction medium. Both complexes A and 1 produce the 4,4'-bipyridine-bridged binuclear complex [VO(OEt)L]2(mu-4,4'-bipy) (2), which, to the best of our knowledge, represents the first report of a structurally characterized 4,4'-bipyridine-bridged oxovanadium(V) binuclear complex. Two similar binuclear oxovanadium(V) complexes 3 and 4 are also synthesized and characterized. All these binuclear complexes (2-4), on treatment with base B, produce the corresponding mononuclear dioxovanadium(V) complexes (5-10).

Spontaneous plant regeneration in transformed roots and calli from Tylophora indica: changes in morphological phenotype and tylophorine accumulation associated with transformation by Agrobacterium rhizogenes

Abstract: We examined the effects of genetic transformation by Agrobacterium rhizogenes on the production of tylophorine, a phenanthroindolizidine alkaloid, in the Indian medicinal plant, Tylophora indica. Transformed roots induced by the bacterium grew in axenic culture and produced shoots or embryogenic calli in the absence of hormone treatments. However, hormonal treatment was required to regenerate shoots in root explants of wild type control plants. Transformed plants showed morphological features typically seen in transgenic plants produced by A. rhizogenes, which include, short internodes, small and wrinkled leaves, more branches and numerous plagiotropic roots. Plants regenerated from transformed roots showed increased biomass accumulation (350-510% in the roots and 200-320% in the whole plants) and augmented tylophorine content (20-60%) in the shoots, resulting in a 160-280% increase in tylophorine production in different clones grown in vitro.

Effects of mercerization of bamboo strips on mechanical properties of unidirectional bamboo–novolac composites

Abstract: Bamboo strip reinforced novolac resin composites were fabricated using bamboo strips that were treated with varying concentrations of sodium hydroxide solution at a constant filler loading (25%). The mechanical properties of various composites (flexural modulus, toughness, tensile strength, and elastic modulus) were determined. The physical characteristics, such as the wetting ability of the alkali treated reinforcements, were increased because of alkali treatment. With increasing concentrations of alkali, a higher percent loss in weight occurred. The mechanical properties were increased with increasing mercerizing strength. Maximum improvement in properties was achieved with 16–20% of caustic treated reinforcements. An FTIR study indicated aryl alkyl ether formation with OH groups of cellulose and methylol groups of novolac resin. Beyond 20% there was degradation in all strength properties because of the failure in the mechanical properties of the reinforcements. A correlation was found to exist between the mechanical properties and the developed morphology. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 100:238–244, 2006

Modelling aging characteristics in citation networks

Abstract: Growing network models with preferential attachment dependent on both age and degree are proposed to simulate certain features of citation network noted in [Redner, arXiv: physics/0407137 (2004)]. In this directed network, a new node gets attached to an older node with the probability ∼ K ( k ) f ( t ) where the degree and age of the older node are k and t, respectively. Several functional forms of K ( k ) and f ( t ) have been considered. The desirable features of the citation network can be reproduced with K ( k ) ∼ k - β and f ( t ) ∼ exp ( α t ) with β = 2.0 and α = - 0.2 and with simple modifications in the growth scheme.