Effect of Triticale Dried Distillers Grains with Solubles on Ruminal Bacterial Populations as Revealed by Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction

Wu, R.B.,Munns, K.,Li, J.Q.,John, S.J.,Wierenga, K.,Sharma, R.,Mcallister, T.A. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2011 Animal Bioscience Vol.24 No.11

Real time PCR was used in this study to determine the effect of triticale dried distillers grains with solubles (TDDGS) as a replacement for grain or barley silage in finishing diets on the presence of six classical ruminal bacterial species (Succinivibrio dextrinosolvens, Selenomonas ruminantium, Streptococcus bovis, Megasphaera elsdenii, Prevotella ruminicola and Fibrobacter succinogenes) within the rumen contents of feedlot cattle. This study was divided into a step-wise adaptation experiment (112 days) that examined the effects of adaptation to diets containing increasing levels of TDDGS up to 30% (n = 4), a short-term experiment comparing animals (n = 16) fed control, 20%, 25% or 30% TDDGS diets over 28 days, and a rapid transition experiment (56 days) where animals (n = 4) were rapidly switched from a diet containing 30% TDDGS to a barley-based diet with no TDDGS. It was found that feeding TDDGS as replacement for barley grain (control vs. 20% TDDGS) decreased 16S rRNA copy numbers of starch-fermenting S. ruminantium and S. bovis (p<0.001 and p = 0.04, respectively), but did not alter 16S rRNA copy numbers of the other rumen bacteria. Furthermore, feeding TDDGS as a replacement barley silage (20% vs. 25% and 30% TDDGS) increased 16S rRNA copy numbers of S. ruminantium, M. elsdenii and F. succinogenes (p<0.001; p = 0.03 and p<0.001, respectively), but decreased (p<0.001) the 16S rRNA copy number of P. ruminicola. Upon removal of 30% TDDGS and return to the control diet, 16S rRNA copy numbers of S. ruminantium, M. elsdenii and F. succinogenes decreased (p = 0.01; p = 0.03 and p = 0.01, respectively), but S. dextrinosolvens and S. bovis increased (p = 0.04 and p = 0.009, respectively). The results suggest that replacement of TDDGS for grain reduces 16S rRNA copy numbers of starch-fermenting bacteria, whereas substitution for barley silage increases 16S rRNA copy numbers of bacteria involved in fibre digestion and the metabolism of lactic acid. This outcome supports the contention that the fibre in TDDGS is highly fermentable.

Effect of illumination on hydrogenated amorphous silicon thin films doped with chalcogens

Sharma, S.K.,Kumar, K.N.P.,Kang, K.J.,Mehra, R.M. North-Holland 2009 Journal of non-crystalline solids Vol.355 No.31

Hydrogenated amorphous silicon thin films doped with chalcogens (Se or S) were prepared by the decomposition of silane (SiH<SUB>4</SUB>) and H<SUB>2</SUB>Se/H<SUB>2</SUB>S gas mixtures in an RF plasma glow discharge on 7059 corning glass at a substrate temperature 230<SUP>o</SUP>C. The illumination measurements were performed on these samples as a function of doping concentration, temperature and optical density. The activation energy varied with doping concentration and is higher in Se-doped than S-doped a-Si:H thin films due to a low defect density. From intensity versus photoconductivity data, it is observed that the addition of Se and S changes the recombination mechanism from monomolecular at low doping concentration films to bimolecular at higher doping levels. The photosensitivity (σ<SUB>ph</SUB>/σ<SUB>d</SUB>) of a-Si,Se:H thin films decreases as the gas ratio H<SUB>2</SUB>Se/SiH<SUB>4</SUB> increased from 10<SUP>-4</SUP> to 10<SUP>-1</SUP>, while the photosensitivity of a-Si,S:H thin films increases as the gas ratio H<SUB>2</SUB>S/SiH<SUB>4</SUB> increased from 6.8x10<SUP>-7</SUP> to 1.0x10<SUP>-4</SUP>.

Biogenerated silica nanoparticles synthesized from sticky, red, and brown rice husk ashes by a chemical method

Sankar, S.,Sharma, S.K.,Kaur, N.,Lee, B.,Kim, D.Y.,Lee, S.,Jung, H. Ceramurgica ; Elsevier Science Ltd 2016 CERAMICS INTERNATIONAL Vol.42 No.4

An inexpensive chemical method was used to synthesize biogenic mesoporous silica (m-SiO<SUB>2</SUB>) from rice husk ash (RHA). A comparative study was carried out to produce silica nanoparticles (S-SiO<SUB>2</SUB>, R-SiO<SUB>2</SUB>, and B-SiO<SUB>2</SUB>) from three type of rice husk ashes (sticky, red, and brown). The microstructure of m-SiO<SUB>2</SUB> was dependent on the geographical provenance and the types of RHA. An analysis of the SEM and TEM micrographs reveals that the S-SiO<SUB>2</SUB> nanoparticles had a clustered spherical shape, while R-SiO<SUB>2</SUB> and B-SiO<SUB>2</SUB> nanoparticles were found to be purely spherical. The average crystallite size of S-SiO<SUB>2,</SUB> R-SiO<SUB>2</SUB> and B-SiO<SUB>2</SUB> nanoparticles evaluated from the TEM measurements were observed to be 50, 20 and 10nm, respectively. The XRD pattern of silica nanopowders had an absence of sharp peaks that confirmed the amorphous nature of the material. The Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra of silica nanoparticles showed the symmetric Si-O and O-Si-O stretching bond vibrations at 462, 1088, and 1098cm<SUP>-1</SUP>. The surface area of S-SiO<SUB>2,</SUB> R-SiO<SUB>2</SUB> and B-SiO<SUB>2</SUB> nanopowders was measured to be 7.5513, 201.45, and 247.18m<SUP>2</SUP>g<SUP>-1</SUP>, respectively. The surface area of uniformly-distributed spherical nanoparticles of B-SiO<SUB>2</SUB> was observed the highest, which can be applied for the application of energy storage and drug delivery systems.

Tourism in Maldives

S,C,Bagri,S,K,Gupta,Reena Sharma 세계문화관광학회 2009 Conference Proceedings Vol.10 No.0

The paper includes the growth of tourism since years in Maldives. The paper examines tourist development in Maldives. This will include the tourism indicators and impacts of tourism economically, socially and culturally. Although social/cultural impacts from coastal tourism development have been widely recognized in a great number of cases, it is relatively, difficult to develop technical criteria, for evaluating these impacts in quantitative terms. According to the Ministry of Tourism website, the emergence of tourism in 1972 transformed the economy of the Maldives, moving rapidly from the dependence on the fisheries sector to the tourism sector. Just in three and a half decades, the industry has become the main source of income and livelihood of the people of the Maldives. Tourism is also the country's biggest foreign currency earner and the single largest contributor to the GDP. Today, there are 89 resorts in the Maldives with a bed capacity of over 17,000, providing world class facilities for tourists whose annual arrival figure exceeds 600,000.

Investigation on the local electronic/atomic structure properties using XANES/EXAFS and photocatalyst application of Zr_1-xCu_xO₂ (0 @? x @? 0.2)

Sharma, A.,Varshney, M.,Chae, K.H.,Shin, H.J.,Won, S.O. Elsevier 2016 Current Applied Physics Vol.16 No.10

<P>We investigated local electronic/atomic structure properties by using X-ray absorption spectroscopy and demonstrated the photocatalyst application of Zr1-xCuxO2 (0 <= x <= 0.2) samples. X ray diffraction (XRD) results revealed the amorphous nature of the samples; however, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) depicted the formation of < 2 nm sized particles in all of the samples. Local electronic structure was investigated by X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) at O K-edge, Zr K-edge and Cu K-edge. The O K-edge XANES suggested strong hybridization of s-p-d orbitals upon Cu doping. The Cu K-edge XANES confirmed +1 valence state of Cu (Cu+1) in all of the Cu doped ZrO2 samples. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) analysis at the Zr K-edge nullifies the formation of trivial phases and confirms the local monoclinic structure in all of the samples. Photocatalyst properties of the samples were investigated by monitoring the net degradation in the methyl orange dye aqueous solution under the UV light irradiation. The Cu doped ZrO2 samples exhibited superior photo-catalyst properties over the undoped ZrO2. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.</P>

Pathogenicity Determinants of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Their Association to Its Aggressiveness on Brassica juncea

Rupeet Gill,Prabhjodh S,Sandhu,Sanjula Sharma,Pankaj Sharma 한국식물병리학회 2021 Plant Pathology Journal Vol.37 No.4

White rot or stem rot caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is one of the most destructive fungal diseases that have become a serious threat to the successful cultivation of oilseed Brassicas. The study was designed with an aim to investigate the association between the pathogenic aggressiveness and pathogenicity determinants of this pathogen specifically in Brassica for the first time. For this, a total of 58 isolates of S. sclerotiorum from differ- ent geographical regions were collected and purified. These isolates were inoculated on a Brassica juncea cv. RL-1359 and they exhibited high level of variation in their disease progression. The isolates were grouped and then 24 isolates were selected for the biochemical analysis of pathogenicity determinants. The isolates varied significantly with respect to their total organic acids, oxalic acid production and pectin methyl esterase and polygalacturonase activity. The oxalic acid production corresponded to the disease progression of the isolates; the isolates with higher oxalic acid production were the more aggressive ones and vice-versa. This is, in our knowledge, the first study to establish a correlation between oxalic acid production and pathogenic aggressiveness of S. sclerotiorum on B. juncea. However, the pectinases’ enzyme activity did not follow the trend as of disease progression. These suggest an indispensable role of oxalic acid in pathogenicity of the fungus and the potential to be used as biochemical marker for preliminary assessment of pathogenic aggressiveness of various isolates before incorporating them in a breed- ing program.

Three dimensional hollow sulphide nanocomposites for supercapacitor electrodes

Siwatch Poonam,Sharma Kriti,Manyani Nirmal,Kaur Ravneet,Tripathi S.K. 한국물리학회 2023 Current Applied Physics Vol.53 No.-

The transition metal sulphides have gained sufficient attraction due to their high theoretical capacitance, low electronegativity, good thermal and electrical conductivity and good redox behaviour. In the present work, nanocomposites of nickel cobalt sulphide (NiCoS), zinc cobalt sulphide (ZnCoS), copper cobalt sulphide (CuCoS) and nickel-zinc-copper cobalt sulphide (NiZnCuCoS) have been prepared, by hydrothermal synthesis method, for their use as the supercapacitor electrode material. The X-ray diffraction analysis, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy images and UV–Visible studies suggest the formation of quantum dots (as the crystallite size is in the range of 3.5 nm–6.0 nm) in all the nanocomposites. The aim of this study is to observe the change in the electrochemical properties of the transition metal sulphides by multi-metal doping. The electrochemical measurements reveal that among all the prepared nanocomposites, highest specific capacitance (150 F g-1 at 5 mV s-1) has been exhibited by CuCoS nanocomposites (nanowires like structure) whereas highest potential window (1.7 V) and hence highest energy density (16.5 W h kg-1 at 0.1 A g-1) has been exhibited by NiZnCuCoS nanocomposites. Presently, the main goal of supercapacitors is to provide high energy density. It is observed that multi-metal sulphides (NiZnCuCoS), when used as the supercapacitor electrode, provide better electrochemical performance which may be owing to the specific nanosheets like structures as well as good synergism between Ni, Zn, Cu and Co transition metals. Hence it is observed that by multi-metal doping, the supercapacitive behaviour of transition metal sulphides has improved.

Effect of Varying Levels of Dietary Minerals on Growth and Nutrient Utilization in Lambs

Sharma, L.C.,Yadav, P.S.,Mandal, A.B.,Sunaria, K.R. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2004 Animal Bioscience Vol.17 No.1

Hisardale male lambs (n=24, 4-5 month of age) were maintained on a conventional ration for a month, to equilibrate the body mineral status. Six lambs were sacrificed after one month of feeding; the samples of organs were analyzed to ascertain mineral status. The remaining 18 lambs were divided into 3 groups of 6 each on body weight basis. Three dietary treatments containing 100 ($T_1$), 110 ($T_2$) and 120% ($T_3$) of minerals (Ca, P, S, Zn and Mn) as specified by NRC (1985) were formulated and each treatment was alloted ad libitum to a group for 120 days. Blood and wool samples were collected at monthly intervals. At the end of the experiment a balance trial of 5 days duration was conducted to study the balance of mineral elements. The effective intake of minerals was Ca, 111 and 120, P, 110 and 122; S, 112 and 129; Zn, 112 and 126 and Mn, 109 and 123 percent in $T_2$ and $T_3$, respectively, in comparison to $T_1$ (100). The additional mineral supplementation had no significant effect on dry matter intake. The average daily weight gain was higher (p<0.01) in $T_2$ and $T_3$ than the control ($T_1$). The lambs under treatments $T_2$ (8.72) and $T_3$ (8.47 kg) consumed apparently lesser amount of dry matter per unit gain as compared to $T_1$ (10.81 kg). Significantly higher (p<0.05) dry matter and crude protein digestibility (%) were observed in $T_2$ and $T_3$ than in $T_1$. The mean balances for different elements were Ca, 1.14, 1.68 and 1.67 g; P, 1.70, 1.95 and 2.18 g; S, 0.54, 0.92 and 1.11 g; Zn, 22.56, 25.30 and 28.71 mg; Cu, 7.94, 5.71 and 5.53 mg; Fe, 33.19, 32.94 and 31.03 mg and Mn, 8.24, 14.40 and 16.07 mg/lamb/day. The retention of supplemental minerals increased (p<0.01) while that of Cu decreased (p<0.01) due to supplementation of minerals (Ca, P, S, Zn and Mn). Retention as per cent of intake increased statistically for S and Mn while that of Cu decreased. It can be concluded that supplementation of minerals (Ca, P, S, Zn and Mn) higher than the recommended level improved body weight gain and feed to gain ratio. The retention of minerals increased due to supplementation. Therefore, an additional supplementation of deficient minerals (Ca, P, S, Zn and Mn) by 10% was beneficial for Hisardale male lambs under tropical condition in India.

Thermodynamic and acoustic properties for binary and ternary mixtures of cyclic ethers with industrially important solvents at 308.15K

Kumar, S.,Lim, W.,Lee, Y.,Yadav, J.S.,Sharma, D.,Sharma, V.K.,Moon, I. Elsevier 2010 Journal of molecular liquids Vol.155 No.1

Speeds of sound data, u<SUB>ijk</SUB> of 1,3-dioxolane or 1,4-dioxane(i)+benzene or toluene (j)+formamide or N,N-dimethylformamide (k) ternary mixtures and their sub-binary mixtures, u<SUB>ij</SUB> of 1,3-dioxolane or 1,4-dioxane (i)+benzene or toluene or formamide or N,N-dimethylformamide (j); benzene or toluene (i)+formamide or N,N-dimethylformamide (j) have been measured using a quartz crystal interferometer as a function of composition at 308.15K. The experimental data have been utilized to evaluate excess isentropic compressibilities of binary, (κ<SUB>S</SUB><SUP>E</SUP>)<SUB>ij</SUB> and ternary, (κ<SUB>S</SUB><SUP>E</SUP>)<SUB>ijk</SUB> mixtures and the same have been fitted to Redlich-Kister equation to predict binary and ternary adjustable parameters along with standard deviations. (κ<SUB>S</SUB><SUP>E</SUP>)<SUB>ij</SUB> and (κ<SUB>S</SUB><SUP>E</SUP>)<SUB>ijk</SUB> data have also been analyzed in terms of Graph and Flory theories. It has been observed that predicted (κ<SUB>S</SUB><SUP>E</SUP>)<SUB>ij</SUB> and (κ<SUB>S</SUB><SUP>E</SUP>)<SUB>ijk</SUB> values by Graph theory compare well with their corresponding experimental values.

Non-covalent functionalization of graphene with poly(diallyl dimethylammonium) chloride: Effect of a non-ionic surfactant

Kaur, P.,Shin, M.S.,Sharma, N.,Kaur, N.,Joshi, A.,Chae, S.R.,Park, J.S.,Kang, M.S.,Sekhon, S.S. Pergamon Press ; Elsevier Science Ltd 2015 International journal of hydrogen energy Vol.40 No.3

Carbon based nanomaterials (carbon nanotubes, graphene etc) containing various hetero atoms are promising metal free catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction in fuel cells. We report the non-covalent functionalization of graphene with poly(diallyl dimethylammonium) chloride (PDDA), a polyelectrolyte containing nitrogen, using a very simple method. The addition of a non-ionic surfactant (Triton X-100) during functionalization has been observed to improve the interactions between graphene and PDDA. An up-shift in the position of G-peak in the Raman spectra, down-shift in the binding energy (B.E.) of N1s peak and an up-shift in the B.E. of C1s peak in XPS spectra have been observed due to an inter-molecular charge-transfer from carbon in graphene to nitrogen in PDDA, which get enhanced in the presence of Triton X-100. Graphene functionalized with PDDA also show good thermal stability. The addition of a non-ionic surfactant enhances the non-covalent functionalization of graphene with PDDA, which is desirable from applications point of view.