Nanofluid heat transfer under mixed convection flow in a tube for solar thermal energy applications

The solar flat plate collector operating under different convective modes has low efficiency for energy conversion. The energy absorbed by the working fluid in the collector system and its heat transfer characteristics vary with solar insolation and mass flow rate. The performance of the system is improved by reducing the losses from the collector. Various passive methods have been devised to aid energy absorption by the working fluid. Also, working fluids are modified using nanoparticles to improve the thermal properties of the fluid. In the present work, simulation and experimental studies are undertaken for pipe flow at constant heat flux boundary condition in the mixed convection mode. The working fluid at low Reynolds number in the mixed laminar flow range is undertaken with water in thermosyphon mode for different inclination angles of the tube. Local and average coefficients are determined experimentally and compared with theoretical values for water-based Al₂O₃ nanofluids. The results show an enhancement in heat transfer in the experimental range with Rayleigh number at higher inclinations of the collector tube for water and nanofluids.     

Thermoplastic Blends from Albumin and Zein: Plastic Formation and Mechanical Properties Including Modeling

The use of proteins in blending with traditional polymers in the formation of thermoplastics can produce plastics with properties that are superior to traditional petroleum-based plastics. We investigated the physical and thermal properties of albumin and zein thermoplastic blends plasticized with glycerol and mixed with varying amounts of low-density polyethylene (LDPE). Several mechanical models were utilized to determine how tensile properties will be altered when varying amounts of protein/LDPE were added into the thermoplastic blend. When analyzed for thermal properties, we found that as the amount of LDPE in the thermoplastic blend increased, the resulting plastic possessed thermal properties that were more similar to pure LDPE plastics. In terms of mechanical properties, comparison between the experimental data and model predictions points to a synergistic effect between albumin and LDPE that leads to higher modulus, while a potential lack of compatibility between zein and LDPE leads to a plastic with lower modulus. Based on our results, the use of albumin and zein proteins when blended with LDPE in the production of thermoplastics has potential use in the areas of medical and food packaging applications.     

Compost: Its role,mechanism and impact on reducing soil-borne plant diseases

Soil-borne plant pathogens are responsible for causing many crop plant diseases, resulting in significant economic losses. Compost application to agricultural fields is an excellent natural approach, which can be taken to fight against plant pathogens. The application of organic waste products is also an environmentally friendly alternative to chemical use, which unfortunately is the most common approach in agriculture today. This review analyses pioneering and recent compost research, and also the mechanisms and mode of action of compost microbial communities for reducing the activity of plant pathogens in agricultural crops. In addition, an approach for improving the quality of composts through the microbial communities already present in the compost is presented. Future agricultural practices will almost definitely require integrated research strategies to help combat plant diseases.     

Bond behaviour of bamboo splints in cement-stabilised rammed earth blocks

This paper represents an effort to study the bond characteristics of plain and noded bamboo splints embedded in cement-stabilised rammed earth (CSRE) blocks. A series of CSRE pullout test specimens and two species of bamboo, namely Melocanna Baccifera and Bambusa Balcooa having an average tensile strength of 384 and 310 MPa, respectively, were fabricated using 4–10% Portland cement. These bamboo species are commonly available and widely used for construction in the north-eastern part of India. Besides considering the effects of soil strength, cement content, splint size and type on bond force and slip, the effect of embedded area was also briefly considered as part of the test programme. The test result showed that pullout bond resistance is correlated to rammed earth compressive strength, splint size and type, and embedded area.     

Bacteriophage Therapy for Critical and High-Priority Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria and Phage Cocktail-Antibiotic Formulation Perspective

Food and Environmental Virology - Phage therapy is revolving to address the issues mainly dealing with antibiotic resistance in the pathogenic bacteria. Among the drug-resistant microbial...     

Lytic bacteriophages specific to Flavobacterium columnare rescue catfish, Clarias batrachus (Linn.) from columnaris disease

This investigation was aimed to find out appropriate strategy against antibiotic resistant bacterial fish pathogen, F. columnare. This pathogen was found persistently associated with fishes causing columnaris disease and ensuing mass mortality in hatchery and culture system of Sub - Himalayan region. Nine lytic F. columnare phages (FCP1 - FCP9) specific to its fifteen isolates were isolated from the water and bottom sediments of various geo-climatic regions of North India. The F. columnare phage FCP1 (made of hexagonal head and non contractile long tail belonging to family Podovariedae, a member of DNA virus) exhibited broader host range to lyse 9 out of 15 isolates of F. columnare. Therapeutic ability of FCP1 phage was assessed in C. batrachus inoculated intramuscularly (im) with virulent bacterial isolate FC8 and post inoculated (PI) with FCP1 phage (@ 10(8) : 10(6):: cfu : pfu) through intramuscular (im), immersion (bath) and oral (phage impregnated feed) treatment. Significant (p < 0.001) reduction (less than 10(-3) cfu ml(-1)) in host bacterium in the sera, gill, liver and kidney of challenged fishes was noted after 6 hr of phage treatment. Quantum of phage played a significant role in bringing down bacterial population as in the sera of dose 1 (@ 4.55 x 10(6) pfu ml(-1)) and dose 2 (@ 9.15 x 10(6) pfu ml(-1)) treated fishes mean log10 cfu value reduced by 3 logs (58.39%) and 5 logs (73.77%) at 96 hr, respectively. Phage treatment led to disappearance of gross symptoms, negative bacteriological test, detectable phage and 100% survival in experimentally infected C. batrachus. Result of this study provides evidence of profound lytic impact of FCP1 phage and represents its interesting therapeutic importance against antibiotic resistant F. columnare.     

Dissipation of cypermethrin,chlorpyriphos, and profenofos in tomato fruits and soil following application of pre-mix formulations

In this study, changes in heavy metal accumulation in U. rigida J. Agardh taxon and seawater have been investigated with respect to different stations and seasons. For this purpose, the severity of heavy metal pollution in the Dardanelles has been presented through the determination of Cu, Pb, Zn, and Cd concentrations in U. rigida macroalgae and seawater taken seasonally from the stations located on six different regions on the strait. While the metal concentrations in alga specimens were found to be high in spring and winter in all stations; the metal concentrations in the seawater, particularly the Pb concentration, were found to be high in all seasons.     

A review on applicability of naturally available adsorbents for the removal of hazardous dyes from aqueous waste

The effluent water of many industries, such as textiles, leather, paper, printing, cosmetics, etc., contains large amount of hazardous dyes. There is huge number of treatment processes as well as adsorbent which are available for the processing of this effluent water-containing dye content. The applicability of naturally available low cast and eco-friendly adsorbents, for the removal of hazardous dyes from aqueous waste by adsorption treatment, has been reviewed. In this review paper, we have provided a compiled list of low-cost, easily available, safe to handle, and easy-to-dispose-off adsorbents. These adsorbents have been classified into five different categories on the basis of their state of availability: (1) waste materials from agriculture and industry, (2) fruit waste, (3) plant waste, (4) natural inorganic materials, and (5) bioadsorbents. Some of the treated adsorbents have shown good adsorption capacities for methylene blue, congo red, crystal violet, rhodamine B, basic red, etc., but this adsorption process is highly pH dependent, and the pH of the medium plays an important role in the treatment process. Thus, in this review paper, we have made some efforts to discuss the role of pH in the treatment of wastewater.