Carbon and nitrogen mineralization in Vertisol as mediated by type and placement method of residue

Selection of appropriate residue application method is essential for better use of biomass for soil and environmental health improvement. A laboratory incubation experiment was conducted for 75 days to investigate C and N mineralization of residues of soybean (Glycine max L.), chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), maize (Zea mays L.), and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) placed on the soil surface and incorporated into the soil. The residue of soybean and chickpea had a greater decomposition rate than that of maize and wheat, despite of their placements. Higher rate of decomposition of the residue of soybean and chickpea was recorded when it was kept on the soil surface while soil incorporation of residue of wheat and maize resulted in faster decomposition. Therefore, these findings could be used as guidelines for management of crop residue application in farmland to improve soil and environmental quality.     

Performance of Cow Dung Reinforced Biodegradable Poly(Lactic Acid) Biocomposites for Structural Applications

In this work, performance of cow dung (CD) reinforced poly(lactic acid) (PLA) biocomposites was investigated for the potential use in load bearing application. CD of average 4 mm size was blended with PLA at different CD ratios (0–50 wt%) and their effects on the biocomposite properties were studied. The results showed an improvement in the flexural properties, while the tensile and impact strength dropped by 20 and 28% with the addition of 50% CD. The decline in the tensile and impact strength was due to micro-cracking and voids formation at higher CD content. Also, the incorporation of CD slightly decreased the thermal stability of the biocomposite. However, dynamic mechanical properties of the biocomposites generally improved. SEM analysis of tensile and impact fractured surfaces indicated that the CD had a reasonable adhesion with matrix. Moreover, the SEM micrographs of soil burial studies showed an accelerated degradation of higher CD wt% biocomposites.     

一种改进的多学习教与学优化算法

针对传统教与学算法在解决复杂多峰函数优化问题时,具有局部最优且搜索开发能力较差的缺点,提出了一种改进的多学习教与学优化算法,新算法为学员的每一维加入不同的教学因子,设计了基于学员均值比较的教师选择策略和向教师及学员学习的多学习策略。基于多个单峰和多峰函数的仿真结果表明,新算法跟传统的、改进的教与学算法相比,在稳定性、寻优精度和收敛速度方面更具优势。     

Prediction of flange wrinkling in deep drawing process using bifurcation criterion

Surface distortions in the form of wrinkles are often observed in sheet metals during stamping and other forming operations. Because of the trend in recent years towards thinner, higher-strength sheet metals, wrinkling is increasingly becoming a more common and troublesome mode of failure in sheet metal forming. The prediction and prevention of wrinkling during a sheet forming process are important issues for the design of part geometry and processing parameters. This paper treats the phenomenon of flange wrinkling as a bifurcated solution of the equations governing the deep drawing problem when the flat position of the flange becomes unstable. Hill’s bifurcation criterion is used to predict the onset of flange wrinkling in circular and square cup drawing. In particular, the maximum cup height that can be drawn without the onset of flange wrinkling is predicted for the given set of process parameters. A parametric study of the maximum cup height is also carried out with respect to various geometric, material and process parameters. Finite element formulation, based on the updated Lagrangian approach, is employed for the analysis. The incremental logarithmic strain measure, which allows the use of a large incremental deformation, is used. The stresses are updated in a material frame. The material is assumed to be elastic–plastic, strain hardening, yielding according to an anisotropic yield criterion of Barlat et al. (2005) [23] (named as Yld2004-18p). Isotropic power law hardening is assumed. Inertia forces are neglected due to small accelerations. Modified Newton–Raphson iterative technique is used to solve the nonlinear incremental equations.     

Reduction of selenite to red elemental selenium by moderately halotolerant Bacillus megaterium strains isolated from Bhitarkanika mangrove soil and characterization of reduced product

Two Gram (+) bacterial strains, BSB6 and BSB12, showing resistance and potential for Se(IV) reduction among 26 moderately halotolerant isolates from the Bhitarkanika mangrove soil were characterized by biochemical and 16S rDNA sequence analyses. Both of them were strictly aerobic and able to grow in a wide range of pH (4-11), temperature (4-40 °C) and salt concentration (4-12%) having an optimum growth at 37 °C, pH ∼7.5 and 7% salt (NaCl). The biochemical characteristics and 16S rDNA sequence analysis of BSB6 and BSB12 showed the closest phylogenetic similarity with the species Bacillus megaterium. Both the strains effectively reduced Se(IV) and complete reduction of selenite (up to 0.25 mM) was achieved within 40 h. SEM with energy dispersive X-ray and TEM analyses revealed the formation of nano size spherical selenium particles in and around the bacterial cells which were also supported by the confocal micrograph study. The UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectra and XRD of selenium precipitates revealed that the selenium particles are in the nanometric range and crystalline in nature. These bacterial strains may be exploited further for bioremediation process of Se(IV) at relatively high salt concentrations and green synthesis of selenium nanoparticles.     

Emission of isoprene from common Indian plant species and its implications for regional air quality

Isoprene is most dominant volatile organic compounds (VOC) emitted by many plants. In this study 40 common Indian plant species were examined for isoprene emission using dynamic flow through enclosure chamber technique. Isoprene emission rates of plants species were found to vary from undetectable to 69.5 microg g(-1) h(-1) (Madhuca latifolia). Besides, an attempt has been made to evaluate suitability of 80 common Indian plant species for planting programmes. Out of 80 species, 29 species were moderate to high emitters (10 to < or =25 microg g(-1) h(-1)), 12 species were low emitter emitters (1 to < or =10 microg g(-1) h(-1)) and remaining 39 species were found to be negligible or non emitters (<1 microg g(-1) h(-1)) of isoprene. About 50% plant species selected for planting programmes in India were found to be moderate to high emitters of isoprene.     

Plant availability of cadmium in presence of organic acids: an interactive aspect

The present communication reports the effect of various carboxylic and amino acids on the uptake and translocation of root-absorbed Cd by maize (Zea mays). Statistically significant increases in Cd accumulation in various plant tissues with increasing supplementation of organic acids suggested the existence of Cd-organic acid interaction in soil-rhizosphere environment of the plant. The potentiality of phytochelators (organic acids) to form plant available organically bound Cd is discussed.     

Antioxidative responses in relation to growth of mustard (Brassica juncea cv. Pusa Jaikisan) plants exposed to hexavalent chromium

Effect of hexavalent chromium (Cr6+) was seen on Brassica juncea cv. Pusa Jaikisan grown for 15 days in hydroponic culture supplemented with 0.2, 2 and 20 microM Cr. The inhibitory response of Cr6+ on growth of B. juncea was concentration and time dependent. The stimulation of plant growth, observed in response to exposure to 0.2 microM Cr6+, during initial 5 days was reversed on prolonged treatment and at higher Cr6+ concentrations (2 and 20 microM Cr6+). Despite reduction in growth, chlorophyll content increased substantially on 15 days exposure to 20 microM Cr6+. Significant increases in lipid peroxidation and tissue concentration of H2O2 occurred in plants exposed to 2 and 20 microM Cr6+. Effect of Cr6+ on antioxidative enzymes in roots and leaves was differential. SOD and CAT activities at lower levels of Cr6+ supply remained higher all through the treatment. While APX was very susceptible to excess Cr6+, GR and GST increased at elevated levels of Cr6+. The results suggested Cr6+ induced depression in plant growth of B. juncea to be a function of increased cellular accumulation of Cr despite increase in the activities of some of the antioxidative enzymes.