International Journal of Agriculture Environment and Biotechnology, Jun 20, 2021
Self-help groups have emerged as a vital tool for economic development in India. In hill states l... more Self-help groups have emerged as a vital tool for economic development in India. In hill states like Himachal Pradesh importance of self-help group increases manifold due to higher number of fragmented small and marginal landholdings. Self-help groups must sustain as an economic venture for the overall development of rural areas. It is very important to study individual member traits to understand the sustainability of self-help groups. The present study was conducted in the state of Himachal Pradesh to assess socio-personal, socioeconomic , and communication variables of self-help group members and to make a comparison with non-member farmers. Findings of the study reveal that most of the SHG members were of the middle age category, with dominating membership by women farmers. Most of the SHG members adopted vegetable farming along with other agriculture activities with medium vegetable growing experience. SHG members attended significantly higher training programmes than non-member farmers. Most of the farmers have marginal landholding but SHG members put a significantly higher portion of landholding in vegetable cultivation when compared to non-member farmers. Significantly higher vegetable production was reported for SHG member vegetable farms, and the reason for this was higher media exposure and significantly higher extension contacts of SHG members than non-members. HIGHLIGHTS m Vegetable farming self-help groups have gained momentum during one decade and are important rural economy drivers. m Sustainability of vegetable farming self-help groups requires an extensive socio-personal, socioeconomic, and communication profile study of SHG members. m Younger and middle-aged farmers are more inclined towards the formation of self-help groups. m Organizing small and marginal vegetable growers in hills helps to strengthen the rural economy. Women farmers constitute a major portion of self-help group activities.
In this work, we present a new method for the determination and speciation of selenium in water w... more In this work, we present a new method for the determination and speciation of selenium in water with ion chromatography (IC) using a conductometric detector. Chromatographic parameters such as mobile phase concentration, and columns type were optimized. The established method is checked for interference with possible anions. AS 11 showed better speciation as well as separation of peaks for selenium in presence of other common ions. The method detection limit was found to be 0.046 μg L −1 and 0.015 μg L −1 for Se (IV) and Se (VI), respectively, with AS11 column coupled with conductivity detector. The reported method is demonstrated for selenium detection in 10–5000 μg L −1 range. The developed method is a substitute to expensive ICP-MS for selenium analysis and speciation within WHO permissible limit. It is also applied to determine the selenium in real water samples. The current work paves a simpler approach for selenium detection and speciation for their field mapping.
Fluoride is an electronegative element that is small in size and belongs to the halogenated group... more Fluoride is an electronegative element that is small in size and belongs to the halogenated group of periodic table. Due to these characteristics, it is most reactive and available in nature mostly in compound form. Over the years, the demand of groundwater for drinking and irrigation is increasing steadily due to the exponential growth of population, but its quality is continuously deteriorating. Elevated concentration of fluoride makes water unfit for portable purposes. Fluoride, a major pollutant across the arid and semiarid zones of the world in groundwater resources but country like Spain add it in drinking water to reduce the problems of tooth cavities specifically in children. Excess availability of fluoride in groundwater is due to geogenic resources mainly granite, biotite and anthropogenic activities such as agricultural runoff, industrial discharge etc. however the contribution of anthropogenic sources is not much. Factors responsible for the release of fluoride are chemi...
Abstract. The vicious conflicts erupted between the followers of Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh, the head... more Abstract. The vicious conflicts erupted between the followers of Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh, the head of Dera Sacha Sauda, and fundamentalist Sikhs reveals that the violence not only deepen social cleavages but also enhances the cleavages in Sikh dominated society in Eastern Punjab. The paper’s argument is that the social cleavages in the political society of Punjab give birth to religious sects (Deras) which in turn feed on them in a vicious circle. Dera as an idea and institution is itself cleavages based which gives impetus to political articulation of a given subdued culture to come forth as a challenge to the mainstream socio-cultural and religious discourse. The Deras formed distinct religious symbols, cultural traits, daily code of conduct, rituals and prayers for their followers which dreaming them an egalitarian utopian society or social space. However, by doing so the Deras are enhancing the cleavages in the society instead the elimination of the cleavages. The Dera Sacha Saud...
Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research, 2021
COVID-19 cases (second wave) are on a surge around the globe and also in India having 1.3 billion... more COVID-19 cases (second wave) are on a surge around the globe and also in India having 1.3 billion population. The reason identified is the spread of double mutant strain B.1.1.7 along with earlier strains. The new strain affects the younger population in the age group of 18-45 years as compared to earlier strain which affected elderly i.e., more than 58-60 years of age and people with co-morbidities. Corona virus has caused great damage to health and at the same time economic resources [1]. The doctors have warned that the patients testing positive for B.1.1.7 strain will observe throat pain, weakness, mild cough, muscle aches and body fever than those who are infected by the earlier strain. In India people above the age of 45 have already been vaccinated and for younger people the vaccination drive is open from 1 st May 2021.
Farming families in states like Himachal Pradesh face enormous hardship in sustaining livelihood ... more Farming families in states like Himachal Pradesh face enormous hardship in sustaining livelihood from fragmented small and marginal landholdings. Vegetable farming-based self-help groups have emerged as a significant transformation tool for the rural economy in hills. Now it is possible to address farm problems in a group rather than struggling for individual farms. Vegetable farming-based self-help groups have paved a new path in rural economic development. Self-help group is a small economic venture at the village level. It can be defined as sustainable if it can work for its basic goal of development by meeting out all day to day expenditures without any external aid while creating profit, social upliftment of members and without deterioration to the environment that ultimately brings prosperity in a rural area. Knowing the sustainability of self-help groups helps in planning and executing rural development policies. Various researchers developed various tools to assess the sustainability of self-help groups but these tools do not fit well for all geographical areas with diverse rural communities. Present study was conducted in Himachal Pradesh to assess the sustainability of vegetable farming-based self-help groups. The study reveals that women farmers constitute a major portion of SHG framework, the average size of SHG in Himachal Pradesh was 14, and the majority of the groups had bank linkages. The majority of self-help group members were contributing above ` 100 per/month and generally held group meetings once a month. 80.00 percent of the-help groups were found with above 90 percent attendance in monthly meeting and family problem was a major reason for non-repayment of loan. Self help group capabilities need to be strengthened by more training,
An electrochemical reduced order model (ROM) has been developed in this study to simulate the per... more An electrochemical reduced order model (ROM) has been developed in this study to simulate the performance of syngas-fueled anode-supported SOFCs with coupled bulk chemical reactions and multi-species gas diffusion in the electrodes. Experimental V-I curves with syngas fuel were used to validate the model to ensure its high fidelity. The model was used to investigate the effects of fuel composition and temperature on the electrochemical performance of the cell, chemical reaction rate and concentration distributions of gaseous species across the anode. The results show that H 2 electro-oxidation dominates the overall cell performance, and that CO contributes to the performance indirectly via water gas shift (WGS) reaction, especially at low CO:H 2 ratio and low current densities. Increasing the temperature enhances the performance of syngas-fueled SOFCs by increasing the rates of total electrochemical oxidation and the WGS reaction. The present work provides fundamental knowledge and framework for future performance simulations of large-scale and more complex syngas-fueled SOFC systems.
Journal of Electrochemical Energy Conversion and Storage, 2019
Sodium-ion batteries have low energy density, low capacity, and inferior cycling performance when... more Sodium-ion batteries have low energy density, low capacity, and inferior cycling performance when compared with Li-ion batteries. However, lithium depletion poses a serious problem for the production and cost of Li-ion batteries. In the present work, NaNi1/3Mn1/3Co1/3O2 was synthesized as the cathode material for Na-ion batteries using the sol–gel method. The conventional cathode material used in Na-ion batteries had been replaced with the synthesized cathode material, and the data had been collected by performing charging/discharging experiments. The support vector regression synchronized cross-validation simplex algorithm cluster was then used for predictive modeling and optimization of the fabrication process of the positive electrode material of sodium-ion batteries. The stable normal distribution without any skewness validated the robustness of the model for better accuracy and stability of the Na-ion batteries. The optimized value of capacity is 176 mAh/g for 99 cycles, which ...
Materials for Renewable and Sustainable Energy, 2018
The higher methanol utilization efficiency in direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) is one of the key ... more The higher methanol utilization efficiency in direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) is one of the key factors that determine the performance of DMFC. Herein, we have synthesized bimetallic PtCo nano-particles (with optimized Pt:Co ratio) decorated reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nano-composite as anode catalyst. The electrochemical response of optimized PtCo (1:9)/ rGO catalyst revealed efficient oxidation of 5 M methanol in half-cell configuration with ~ 60% Faradaic efficiency. A current density of 463.5 mA/cm 2 and a power density of 136.8 mW/cm 2 were achieved using PtCo (1:9)/rGO anode catalyst in a complete DMFC setup at 100 °C with 5 M methanol supply which is ~ three times greater as compared to commercial Pt/C (48.03 mW/cm 2). The low activation energy of 9.88 kJ/mol indicates the faster methanol oxidation reduction (MOR) kinetics of PtCo (1:9)/rGO anode catalyst. Furthermore, the higher methanol utilization and open-circuit voltage in complete DMFC using PtCo (1:9)/rGO as compared to commercial Pt/C indicate the reduced methanol crossover. The excellent catalytic behavior of PtCo (1:9)/rGO towards MOR and high methanol utilization warrant its potential application as anode catalyst in DMFC.
Oxidized interferons have been shown to aggregate and cause immunogenicity. In this study, the st... more Oxidized interferons have been shown to aggregate and cause immunogenicity. In this study, the structural mechanisms underlying oxidation-induced interferon alpha-2a (IFNA2a) aggregation and loss of function were examined. IFNA2a was oxidized using 0.037% vol/vol hydrogen peroxide. Oxidized protein was probed using biophysical methods that include denaturant melts, particle counting, proteolysis-coupled mass spectrometry, and 2D NMR. Oxidized IFNA2a did not show major changes in its secondary structure, but showed minor changes in tertiary structure when compared to the unoxidized protein. In addition, a significant loss of conformational stability was observed upon oxidation. Correspondingly, increased protein aggregation was observed resulting in the formation of sub-visible particles. Oxidized protein showed decreased biological function in terms of its anti-viral potency and cytopathic inhibition efficacy. Proteolysis-coupled mass spectrometry identified five methionine residues...
Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Lipids and Lipid Metabolism, 1986
Gangliosides were extracted and purified from ovine testis and ejaculated spermatozoa which conta... more Gangliosides were extracted and purified from ovine testis and ejaculated spermatozoa which contained, respectively, 57 and 9 nmol lipid-bound sialic acid per gram wet weight. Fourteen gangliosides were resolved by thin-layer chromatography of testicular gangliosides, of which eleven were purified in sufficient quantity to enable a complete compositional analysis of the carbohydrate residues to be performed. None of the gangliosides contained fucose, but several contained A'-glycolylneuraminic acid as a component of the sialic acid species. Relative migration on thin-layer chromatograms relative to known standards, compositional analysis, and selective degradation by specific enzymes were used as the basis for identification. Testis contained members of the ganglio series (GM
Binding immunoglobulin protein (BiP) is a molecular chaperone important for the folding of numero... more Binding immunoglobulin protein (BiP) is a molecular chaperone important for the folding of numerous proteins, which include millions of immunoglobulins in human body. It also plays a key role in the unfolded protein response (UPR) in the endoplasmic reticulum. Free radical generation is a common phenomenon that occurs in cells under healthy as well as under stress conditions such as ageing, inflammation, alcohol consumption, and smoking. These free radicals attack the cell membranes and generate highly reactive lipid peroxidation products such as 4-oxononenal (4-ONE). BiP is a key protein that is modified by 4-ONE. In this study, we probed how such chemical modification affects the biophysical properties of BiP. Upon modification, BiP shows significant tertiary structural changes with no changes in its secondary structure. The protein loses its thermodynamic stability, particularly, that of the nucleotide binding domain (NBD) where ATP binds. In terms of function, the modified BiP completely loses its ATPase activity with decreased ATP binding affinity. However, modified BiP retains its immunoglobulin binding function and its chaperone activity of suppressing non-specific protein aggregation. These results indicate that 4-ONE modification can significantly affect the structure-function of key proteins such as BiP involved in cellular pathways, and provide a molecular basis for how chemical modifications can result in the failure of quality control mechanisms inside the cell.
We examined how polysorbate 20 (PS20; Tween 20) and polysorbate 80 (PS80; Tween 80) affect the hi... more We examined how polysorbate 20 (PS20; Tween 20) and polysorbate 80 (PS80; Tween 80) affect the higher order structure of a monoclonal antibody (mAb) and its Fab and Fc fragments, using near-UV circular dichroism and 2D NMR. Both polysorbates bind to the mAb with sub-millimolar affinity. Binding causes significant changes in the tertiary structure of mAb with no changes in its secondary structure. 2D (13)C-(1)H methyl NMR indicates that with increasing concentration of polysorbates, the Fab region showed a decrease in crosspeak volumes. In addition to volume changes, PS20 caused significant changes in the chemical shifts compared to no changes in the case of PS80. No such changes in crosspeak volumes or chemical shifts were observed in the case of Fc region, indicating that polysorbates predominantly affect the Fab region compared to the Fc region. This differential effect of polysorbates on the Fab and Fc regions was because of the lesser thermodynamic stability of the Fab compared ...
Despite sharing a high degree of sequence similarity, the tandem calponin-homology (CH) domain of... more Despite sharing a high degree of sequence similarity, the tandem calponin-homology (CH) domain of utrophin binds to actin 30 times stronger than that of dystrophin. We have previously shown that this difference in actin binding affinity could not be ascribed to the differences in inter-CH-domain linkers [Bandi, S., et al. (2015) Biochemistry 54, 5480-5488]. Here, we examined the role of the N-terminal flanking region. The utrophin tandem CH domain contains a 27-residue flanking region before its CH1 domain. We examined its effect by comparing the structure and function of full-length utrophin tandem CH domain Utr(1-261) and its truncated Utr(28-261) construct. Both full-length and truncated constructs are monomers in solution, with no significant differences in their secondary or tertiary structures. Truncated construct Utr(28-261) binds to actin 30 times weaker than that of the full-length Utr(1-261), similar to that of the dystrophin tandem CH domain with a much shorter flanking r...
Advanced materials with light weight but having high strength and ductility are required to decre... more Advanced materials with light weight but having high strength and ductility are required to decrease the weight of automobiles. Hereby, advanced high-strength steels like dual-phase steels and multiphase steels are vital as they possess good strength in conjunction with good formability. Several methods have been used for the processing of multiphase steels but very limited research has been reported on their processing through controlled cooling and by using a lean composition. The present research reports on methods of production of dual-phase/ multiphase microstructures in a steel of lean chemical composition (0.11C, 1.8Mn, and 0.325Si), making the steel multifunctional. Annealing parameters were determined using Thermo-Calc and JMat-Pro software. Software predictions were validated through experiments in a muffle furnace, followed by actual annealing experiments in an annealing simulator. Multiphase microstructures were obtained from the initial ferrite-pearlite structure by inter-critical annealing involving controlled cooling in the annealing simulator. Dual-phase structures were produced by inter-critical annealing, followed by rapid cooling to room temperature, whereas multiphase microstructures were produced by holding in the bainitic and martensitic ranges, respectively. The steel exhibited good combinations of strength–ductility, with tensile strength and ductility in the range of 550–705 MPa and 11–33%, respectively.
Punjab has the highest proportion of Dalits (29 percent, Census of India 2001) in India and this ... more Punjab has the highest proportion of Dalits (29 percent, Census of India 2001) in India and this whopping numerical presence has further increased with the inclusion of Mochi and Rai Sikh/Mahatam 1 castes into Scheduled Castes category in the state. Despite having the highest proportion of Dalit percentage in the country, Dalits in Punjab, however, are extensively deprived of agricultural land. Among them less than 5 percent (Census of India) are cultivators. They shared only 4.82 percent of the number of operational holdings and 2.34 percent of the total area under cultivation (1991 Census). Consequently, their landlessness rendered a large number of them into agricultural labourers and made.them subservient to the landowners. However, a significant change has taken place over the last few decades. Dalits in Punjab have improved their economic position through hard work, job diversification and emigration abroad. They have entered into a number of professions, which were traditionally considered to be the mainstay of the business and artisan castes. This has led to a sharp decline in the number of Dalit landless agricultural workers in Punjab whose strength has come down from 24 percent in 1991 to 16 percent in 2001. However, the dissociation of Dalits from the menial and agricultural work in Punjab and their relatively better economic conditions have probably failed to get them entry into the local structure of power, almost totally' monopolized by the so-called dominant/ upper castes. This is what forced them to look for alternative ways of social mobility and empowerment. The story of Dalit identity, emancipation, empowerment and mobility is quite different in Punjab from that of the rest of India. There happened to be two main models of social mobility available to the socially excluded sections of the Indian society.
Dystrophin and utrophin are two muscle proteins involved in Duchenne/Becker muscular dystrophy. B... more Dystrophin and utrophin are two muscle proteins involved in Duchenne/Becker muscular dystrophy. Both proteins use tandem calponin-homology (CH) domains to bind to F-actin. We probed the role of N-terminal CH1 and C-terminal CH2 domains in the structure and function of dystrophin tandem CH domain, and compared with our earlier results on utrophin to understand the unifying principles of how these tandem domains work. Actin co-sedimentation assays indicate that the isolated CH2 domain of dystrophin weakly binds to F-actin compared to the full-length tandem CH domain. In contrast, isolated CH1 domain binds to F-actin with a similar efficiency as that of the full-length tandem CH domain. Thus, the obvious question is why dystrophin tandem CH domain requires CH2, when its actin binding is determined primarily by CH1. To answer, we probed the structural stabilities of CH domains. Isolated CH1 domain is very unstable and is prone to serious aggregation. Isolated CH2 domain is very stable, ...
Tandem calponin-homology (CH) domains are the most common actin-binding domains in proteins. Howe... more Tandem calponin-homology (CH) domains are the most common actin-binding domains in proteins. However, structural principles underlying their function are poorly understood. These tandem domains exist in multiple conformations with varying degrees of inter-CH-domain interactions. Dystrophin and utrophin tandem CH domains share high sequence similarity (∼82%), yet differ in their structural stability and actin-binding affinity. We examined whether the conformational differences between the two tandem CH domains can explain differences in their stability and actin binding. Dystrophin tandem CH domain is more stable by ∼4 kcal/mol than that of utrophin. Individual CH domains of dystrophin and utrophin have identical structures but differ in their relative orientation around the interdomain linker. We swapped the linkers between dystrophin and utrophin tandem CH domains. Dystrophin tandem CH domain with utrophin linker (DUL) has similar stability as that of utrophin tandem CH domain. Utrophin tandem CH domain with dystrophin linker (UDL) has similar stability as that of dystrophin tandem CH domain. Dystrophin tandem CH domain binds to F-actin ∼30 times weaker than that of utrophin. After linker swapping, DUL has twice the binding affinity as that of dystrophin tandem CH domain. Similarly, UDL has half the binding affinity as that of utrophin tandem CH domain. However, changes in binding free energies due to linker swapping are much lower by an order of magnitude compared to the corresponding changes in unfolding free energies. These results indicate that the linker region determines primarily the structural stability of tandem CH domains rather than their actin-binding affinity.
International Journal of Agriculture Environment and Biotechnology, Jun 20, 2021
Self-help groups have emerged as a vital tool for economic development in India. In hill states l... more Self-help groups have emerged as a vital tool for economic development in India. In hill states like Himachal Pradesh importance of self-help group increases manifold due to higher number of fragmented small and marginal landholdings. Self-help groups must sustain as an economic venture for the overall development of rural areas. It is very important to study individual member traits to understand the sustainability of self-help groups. The present study was conducted in the state of Himachal Pradesh to assess socio-personal, socioeconomic , and communication variables of self-help group members and to make a comparison with non-member farmers. Findings of the study reveal that most of the SHG members were of the middle age category, with dominating membership by women farmers. Most of the SHG members adopted vegetable farming along with other agriculture activities with medium vegetable growing experience. SHG members attended significantly higher training programmes than non-member farmers. Most of the farmers have marginal landholding but SHG members put a significantly higher portion of landholding in vegetable cultivation when compared to non-member farmers. Significantly higher vegetable production was reported for SHG member vegetable farms, and the reason for this was higher media exposure and significantly higher extension contacts of SHG members than non-members. HIGHLIGHTS m Vegetable farming self-help groups have gained momentum during one decade and are important rural economy drivers. m Sustainability of vegetable farming self-help groups requires an extensive socio-personal, socioeconomic, and communication profile study of SHG members. m Younger and middle-aged farmers are more inclined towards the formation of self-help groups. m Organizing small and marginal vegetable growers in hills helps to strengthen the rural economy. Women farmers constitute a major portion of self-help group activities.
In this work, we present a new method for the determination and speciation of selenium in water w... more In this work, we present a new method for the determination and speciation of selenium in water with ion chromatography (IC) using a conductometric detector. Chromatographic parameters such as mobile phase concentration, and columns type were optimized. The established method is checked for interference with possible anions. AS 11 showed better speciation as well as separation of peaks for selenium in presence of other common ions. The method detection limit was found to be 0.046 μg L −1 and 0.015 μg L −1 for Se (IV) and Se (VI), respectively, with AS11 column coupled with conductivity detector. The reported method is demonstrated for selenium detection in 10–5000 μg L −1 range. The developed method is a substitute to expensive ICP-MS for selenium analysis and speciation within WHO permissible limit. It is also applied to determine the selenium in real water samples. The current work paves a simpler approach for selenium detection and speciation for their field mapping.
Fluoride is an electronegative element that is small in size and belongs to the halogenated group... more Fluoride is an electronegative element that is small in size and belongs to the halogenated group of periodic table. Due to these characteristics, it is most reactive and available in nature mostly in compound form. Over the years, the demand of groundwater for drinking and irrigation is increasing steadily due to the exponential growth of population, but its quality is continuously deteriorating. Elevated concentration of fluoride makes water unfit for portable purposes. Fluoride, a major pollutant across the arid and semiarid zones of the world in groundwater resources but country like Spain add it in drinking water to reduce the problems of tooth cavities specifically in children. Excess availability of fluoride in groundwater is due to geogenic resources mainly granite, biotite and anthropogenic activities such as agricultural runoff, industrial discharge etc. however the contribution of anthropogenic sources is not much. Factors responsible for the release of fluoride are chemi...
Abstract. The vicious conflicts erupted between the followers of Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh, the head... more Abstract. The vicious conflicts erupted between the followers of Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh, the head of Dera Sacha Sauda, and fundamentalist Sikhs reveals that the violence not only deepen social cleavages but also enhances the cleavages in Sikh dominated society in Eastern Punjab. The paper’s argument is that the social cleavages in the political society of Punjab give birth to religious sects (Deras) which in turn feed on them in a vicious circle. Dera as an idea and institution is itself cleavages based which gives impetus to political articulation of a given subdued culture to come forth as a challenge to the mainstream socio-cultural and religious discourse. The Deras formed distinct religious symbols, cultural traits, daily code of conduct, rituals and prayers for their followers which dreaming them an egalitarian utopian society or social space. However, by doing so the Deras are enhancing the cleavages in the society instead the elimination of the cleavages. The Dera Sacha Saud...
Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research, 2021
COVID-19 cases (second wave) are on a surge around the globe and also in India having 1.3 billion... more COVID-19 cases (second wave) are on a surge around the globe and also in India having 1.3 billion population. The reason identified is the spread of double mutant strain B.1.1.7 along with earlier strains. The new strain affects the younger population in the age group of 18-45 years as compared to earlier strain which affected elderly i.e., more than 58-60 years of age and people with co-morbidities. Corona virus has caused great damage to health and at the same time economic resources [1]. The doctors have warned that the patients testing positive for B.1.1.7 strain will observe throat pain, weakness, mild cough, muscle aches and body fever than those who are infected by the earlier strain. In India people above the age of 45 have already been vaccinated and for younger people the vaccination drive is open from 1 st May 2021.
Farming families in states like Himachal Pradesh face enormous hardship in sustaining livelihood ... more Farming families in states like Himachal Pradesh face enormous hardship in sustaining livelihood from fragmented small and marginal landholdings. Vegetable farming-based self-help groups have emerged as a significant transformation tool for the rural economy in hills. Now it is possible to address farm problems in a group rather than struggling for individual farms. Vegetable farming-based self-help groups have paved a new path in rural economic development. Self-help group is a small economic venture at the village level. It can be defined as sustainable if it can work for its basic goal of development by meeting out all day to day expenditures without any external aid while creating profit, social upliftment of members and without deterioration to the environment that ultimately brings prosperity in a rural area. Knowing the sustainability of self-help groups helps in planning and executing rural development policies. Various researchers developed various tools to assess the sustainability of self-help groups but these tools do not fit well for all geographical areas with diverse rural communities. Present study was conducted in Himachal Pradesh to assess the sustainability of vegetable farming-based self-help groups. The study reveals that women farmers constitute a major portion of SHG framework, the average size of SHG in Himachal Pradesh was 14, and the majority of the groups had bank linkages. The majority of self-help group members were contributing above ` 100 per/month and generally held group meetings once a month. 80.00 percent of the-help groups were found with above 90 percent attendance in monthly meeting and family problem was a major reason for non-repayment of loan. Self help group capabilities need to be strengthened by more training,
An electrochemical reduced order model (ROM) has been developed in this study to simulate the per... more An electrochemical reduced order model (ROM) has been developed in this study to simulate the performance of syngas-fueled anode-supported SOFCs with coupled bulk chemical reactions and multi-species gas diffusion in the electrodes. Experimental V-I curves with syngas fuel were used to validate the model to ensure its high fidelity. The model was used to investigate the effects of fuel composition and temperature on the electrochemical performance of the cell, chemical reaction rate and concentration distributions of gaseous species across the anode. The results show that H 2 electro-oxidation dominates the overall cell performance, and that CO contributes to the performance indirectly via water gas shift (WGS) reaction, especially at low CO:H 2 ratio and low current densities. Increasing the temperature enhances the performance of syngas-fueled SOFCs by increasing the rates of total electrochemical oxidation and the WGS reaction. The present work provides fundamental knowledge and framework for future performance simulations of large-scale and more complex syngas-fueled SOFC systems.
Journal of Electrochemical Energy Conversion and Storage, 2019
Sodium-ion batteries have low energy density, low capacity, and inferior cycling performance when... more Sodium-ion batteries have low energy density, low capacity, and inferior cycling performance when compared with Li-ion batteries. However, lithium depletion poses a serious problem for the production and cost of Li-ion batteries. In the present work, NaNi1/3Mn1/3Co1/3O2 was synthesized as the cathode material for Na-ion batteries using the sol–gel method. The conventional cathode material used in Na-ion batteries had been replaced with the synthesized cathode material, and the data had been collected by performing charging/discharging experiments. The support vector regression synchronized cross-validation simplex algorithm cluster was then used for predictive modeling and optimization of the fabrication process of the positive electrode material of sodium-ion batteries. The stable normal distribution without any skewness validated the robustness of the model for better accuracy and stability of the Na-ion batteries. The optimized value of capacity is 176 mAh/g for 99 cycles, which ...
Materials for Renewable and Sustainable Energy, 2018
The higher methanol utilization efficiency in direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) is one of the key ... more The higher methanol utilization efficiency in direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) is one of the key factors that determine the performance of DMFC. Herein, we have synthesized bimetallic PtCo nano-particles (with optimized Pt:Co ratio) decorated reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nano-composite as anode catalyst. The electrochemical response of optimized PtCo (1:9)/ rGO catalyst revealed efficient oxidation of 5 M methanol in half-cell configuration with ~ 60% Faradaic efficiency. A current density of 463.5 mA/cm 2 and a power density of 136.8 mW/cm 2 were achieved using PtCo (1:9)/rGO anode catalyst in a complete DMFC setup at 100 °C with 5 M methanol supply which is ~ three times greater as compared to commercial Pt/C (48.03 mW/cm 2). The low activation energy of 9.88 kJ/mol indicates the faster methanol oxidation reduction (MOR) kinetics of PtCo (1:9)/rGO anode catalyst. Furthermore, the higher methanol utilization and open-circuit voltage in complete DMFC using PtCo (1:9)/rGO as compared to commercial Pt/C indicate the reduced methanol crossover. The excellent catalytic behavior of PtCo (1:9)/rGO towards MOR and high methanol utilization warrant its potential application as anode catalyst in DMFC.
Oxidized interferons have been shown to aggregate and cause immunogenicity. In this study, the st... more Oxidized interferons have been shown to aggregate and cause immunogenicity. In this study, the structural mechanisms underlying oxidation-induced interferon alpha-2a (IFNA2a) aggregation and loss of function were examined. IFNA2a was oxidized using 0.037% vol/vol hydrogen peroxide. Oxidized protein was probed using biophysical methods that include denaturant melts, particle counting, proteolysis-coupled mass spectrometry, and 2D NMR. Oxidized IFNA2a did not show major changes in its secondary structure, but showed minor changes in tertiary structure when compared to the unoxidized protein. In addition, a significant loss of conformational stability was observed upon oxidation. Correspondingly, increased protein aggregation was observed resulting in the formation of sub-visible particles. Oxidized protein showed decreased biological function in terms of its anti-viral potency and cytopathic inhibition efficacy. Proteolysis-coupled mass spectrometry identified five methionine residues...
Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Lipids and Lipid Metabolism, 1986
Gangliosides were extracted and purified from ovine testis and ejaculated spermatozoa which conta... more Gangliosides were extracted and purified from ovine testis and ejaculated spermatozoa which contained, respectively, 57 and 9 nmol lipid-bound sialic acid per gram wet weight. Fourteen gangliosides were resolved by thin-layer chromatography of testicular gangliosides, of which eleven were purified in sufficient quantity to enable a complete compositional analysis of the carbohydrate residues to be performed. None of the gangliosides contained fucose, but several contained A'-glycolylneuraminic acid as a component of the sialic acid species. Relative migration on thin-layer chromatograms relative to known standards, compositional analysis, and selective degradation by specific enzymes were used as the basis for identification. Testis contained members of the ganglio series (GM
Binding immunoglobulin protein (BiP) is a molecular chaperone important for the folding of numero... more Binding immunoglobulin protein (BiP) is a molecular chaperone important for the folding of numerous proteins, which include millions of immunoglobulins in human body. It also plays a key role in the unfolded protein response (UPR) in the endoplasmic reticulum. Free radical generation is a common phenomenon that occurs in cells under healthy as well as under stress conditions such as ageing, inflammation, alcohol consumption, and smoking. These free radicals attack the cell membranes and generate highly reactive lipid peroxidation products such as 4-oxononenal (4-ONE). BiP is a key protein that is modified by 4-ONE. In this study, we probed how such chemical modification affects the biophysical properties of BiP. Upon modification, BiP shows significant tertiary structural changes with no changes in its secondary structure. The protein loses its thermodynamic stability, particularly, that of the nucleotide binding domain (NBD) where ATP binds. In terms of function, the modified BiP completely loses its ATPase activity with decreased ATP binding affinity. However, modified BiP retains its immunoglobulin binding function and its chaperone activity of suppressing non-specific protein aggregation. These results indicate that 4-ONE modification can significantly affect the structure-function of key proteins such as BiP involved in cellular pathways, and provide a molecular basis for how chemical modifications can result in the failure of quality control mechanisms inside the cell.
We examined how polysorbate 20 (PS20; Tween 20) and polysorbate 80 (PS80; Tween 80) affect the hi... more We examined how polysorbate 20 (PS20; Tween 20) and polysorbate 80 (PS80; Tween 80) affect the higher order structure of a monoclonal antibody (mAb) and its Fab and Fc fragments, using near-UV circular dichroism and 2D NMR. Both polysorbates bind to the mAb with sub-millimolar affinity. Binding causes significant changes in the tertiary structure of mAb with no changes in its secondary structure. 2D (13)C-(1)H methyl NMR indicates that with increasing concentration of polysorbates, the Fab region showed a decrease in crosspeak volumes. In addition to volume changes, PS20 caused significant changes in the chemical shifts compared to no changes in the case of PS80. No such changes in crosspeak volumes or chemical shifts were observed in the case of Fc region, indicating that polysorbates predominantly affect the Fab region compared to the Fc region. This differential effect of polysorbates on the Fab and Fc regions was because of the lesser thermodynamic stability of the Fab compared ...
Despite sharing a high degree of sequence similarity, the tandem calponin-homology (CH) domain of... more Despite sharing a high degree of sequence similarity, the tandem calponin-homology (CH) domain of utrophin binds to actin 30 times stronger than that of dystrophin. We have previously shown that this difference in actin binding affinity could not be ascribed to the differences in inter-CH-domain linkers [Bandi, S., et al. (2015) Biochemistry 54, 5480-5488]. Here, we examined the role of the N-terminal flanking region. The utrophin tandem CH domain contains a 27-residue flanking region before its CH1 domain. We examined its effect by comparing the structure and function of full-length utrophin tandem CH domain Utr(1-261) and its truncated Utr(28-261) construct. Both full-length and truncated constructs are monomers in solution, with no significant differences in their secondary or tertiary structures. Truncated construct Utr(28-261) binds to actin 30 times weaker than that of the full-length Utr(1-261), similar to that of the dystrophin tandem CH domain with a much shorter flanking r...
Advanced materials with light weight but having high strength and ductility are required to decre... more Advanced materials with light weight but having high strength and ductility are required to decrease the weight of automobiles. Hereby, advanced high-strength steels like dual-phase steels and multiphase steels are vital as they possess good strength in conjunction with good formability. Several methods have been used for the processing of multiphase steels but very limited research has been reported on their processing through controlled cooling and by using a lean composition. The present research reports on methods of production of dual-phase/ multiphase microstructures in a steel of lean chemical composition (0.11C, 1.8Mn, and 0.325Si), making the steel multifunctional. Annealing parameters were determined using Thermo-Calc and JMat-Pro software. Software predictions were validated through experiments in a muffle furnace, followed by actual annealing experiments in an annealing simulator. Multiphase microstructures were obtained from the initial ferrite-pearlite structure by inter-critical annealing involving controlled cooling in the annealing simulator. Dual-phase structures were produced by inter-critical annealing, followed by rapid cooling to room temperature, whereas multiphase microstructures were produced by holding in the bainitic and martensitic ranges, respectively. The steel exhibited good combinations of strength–ductility, with tensile strength and ductility in the range of 550–705 MPa and 11–33%, respectively.
Punjab has the highest proportion of Dalits (29 percent, Census of India 2001) in India and this ... more Punjab has the highest proportion of Dalits (29 percent, Census of India 2001) in India and this whopping numerical presence has further increased with the inclusion of Mochi and Rai Sikh/Mahatam 1 castes into Scheduled Castes category in the state. Despite having the highest proportion of Dalit percentage in the country, Dalits in Punjab, however, are extensively deprived of agricultural land. Among them less than 5 percent (Census of India) are cultivators. They shared only 4.82 percent of the number of operational holdings and 2.34 percent of the total area under cultivation (1991 Census). Consequently, their landlessness rendered a large number of them into agricultural labourers and made.them subservient to the landowners. However, a significant change has taken place over the last few decades. Dalits in Punjab have improved their economic position through hard work, job diversification and emigration abroad. They have entered into a number of professions, which were traditionally considered to be the mainstay of the business and artisan castes. This has led to a sharp decline in the number of Dalit landless agricultural workers in Punjab whose strength has come down from 24 percent in 1991 to 16 percent in 2001. However, the dissociation of Dalits from the menial and agricultural work in Punjab and their relatively better economic conditions have probably failed to get them entry into the local structure of power, almost totally' monopolized by the so-called dominant/ upper castes. This is what forced them to look for alternative ways of social mobility and empowerment. The story of Dalit identity, emancipation, empowerment and mobility is quite different in Punjab from that of the rest of India. There happened to be two main models of social mobility available to the socially excluded sections of the Indian society.
Dystrophin and utrophin are two muscle proteins involved in Duchenne/Becker muscular dystrophy. B... more Dystrophin and utrophin are two muscle proteins involved in Duchenne/Becker muscular dystrophy. Both proteins use tandem calponin-homology (CH) domains to bind to F-actin. We probed the role of N-terminal CH1 and C-terminal CH2 domains in the structure and function of dystrophin tandem CH domain, and compared with our earlier results on utrophin to understand the unifying principles of how these tandem domains work. Actin co-sedimentation assays indicate that the isolated CH2 domain of dystrophin weakly binds to F-actin compared to the full-length tandem CH domain. In contrast, isolated CH1 domain binds to F-actin with a similar efficiency as that of the full-length tandem CH domain. Thus, the obvious question is why dystrophin tandem CH domain requires CH2, when its actin binding is determined primarily by CH1. To answer, we probed the structural stabilities of CH domains. Isolated CH1 domain is very unstable and is prone to serious aggregation. Isolated CH2 domain is very stable, ...
Tandem calponin-homology (CH) domains are the most common actin-binding domains in proteins. Howe... more Tandem calponin-homology (CH) domains are the most common actin-binding domains in proteins. However, structural principles underlying their function are poorly understood. These tandem domains exist in multiple conformations with varying degrees of inter-CH-domain interactions. Dystrophin and utrophin tandem CH domains share high sequence similarity (∼82%), yet differ in their structural stability and actin-binding affinity. We examined whether the conformational differences between the two tandem CH domains can explain differences in their stability and actin binding. Dystrophin tandem CH domain is more stable by ∼4 kcal/mol than that of utrophin. Individual CH domains of dystrophin and utrophin have identical structures but differ in their relative orientation around the interdomain linker. We swapped the linkers between dystrophin and utrophin tandem CH domains. Dystrophin tandem CH domain with utrophin linker (DUL) has similar stability as that of utrophin tandem CH domain. Utrophin tandem CH domain with dystrophin linker (UDL) has similar stability as that of dystrophin tandem CH domain. Dystrophin tandem CH domain binds to F-actin ∼30 times weaker than that of utrophin. After linker swapping, DUL has twice the binding affinity as that of dystrophin tandem CH domain. Similarly, UDL has half the binding affinity as that of utrophin tandem CH domain. However, changes in binding free energies due to linker swapping are much lower by an order of magnitude compared to the corresponding changes in unfolding free energies. These results indicate that the linker region determines primarily the structural stability of tandem CH domains rather than their actin-binding affinity.
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Papers by Surinder Singh