[en] Arc ion deposition of pure Ti, codeposited Ti-Zr and layer deposited Ti-Zr has been done on flat glass substrate. Anodic titanium oxide layer has been grown at arc ion deposited titanium in 0.1 M dm/sup-3/ H/sub 3/PO/sub 4/ at 298 K. Crystallization of amorphous anodic films grown at constant current density on arc ion deposited titanium in 0.1M dm/sup -3/ H/sub 3/PO/sub 4/, has been examined directly by voltage-time response of anodic oxide layer. The electrical properties of nanoscale titanium oxide dielectric layers were also studied using Electrochemical Impedance spectroscopy in 0.1 M dm/sup -3/ H/sub 3/PO/sub 4/ at 298 K. Capacitance is derived after the EIS data fitting and it decreases with increasing formation voltage due to increase in the thickness of oxide film. Stability of anodized titanium oxide has been improved from pure titanium to co and layer deposited Ti-Zr alloys due to incorporation of zirconium which has insulating behavior. Heat treatments at temperatures up to 300 degree C applied in the capacitor-production process lead to an increase of the capacitance. The thermal stability of the anodic titania is due to rearrangements of defects and vacancies. (author)

No abstract available

[en] The study was conducted for the investigation of amount of radioactivity in the barren and cultivated soil of Bio saline Research Station in Pakka Anna, established by Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology in 1990, 34 km. away from the city of Faisalabd, in the Punjab Province of Pakistan. The studies were done on an area of about 100 hectares of two types of virgin and fertilized saline soils. The technique of gamma ray spectrometry was applied using High Purity Germanium gamma ray detector and a P C based MCA. Activity concentration levels due to ⁴⁰ K, ¹³⁷Cs, ²²⁶ Ra and ²³² Th were measured in 250 saline soil samples collected at a spacing of about 4 hectares at the depth level of 0-25 cm. with a step of 5 cm. depth. Activity concentration ranges of the concerned radionuclides for both of the soils were as follows: ⁴⁰ K, for virgin and cultivated saline soil was 500-610.2 and Bq/kg 560.2-635.6 respectively; ¹³⁷ Cs, 3.57-3.63 and 1.98-5.15 Bq/kg ²³⁸ U, 26.3-31.6 and 30.6-38.7 Bq/kg, and ²³² Th, 50.6-55.3 and 50.6-64.0 Bq/kg respectively. The absorbed dose rate in air lies in the region 63-73 nGyh^-1 and 68-83 nGyh^-1 for virgin and fertilized soils respectively. This indicates that this region lies in the area of higher radiation background, while comparing with the worlds' average. The slightly higher value of dose in the fertilized farm may be due to the use of fertilizers for cultivation. Before the radiometric measurements, chemical analysis for concentration of Na, Ca and Mg was also carried out along with the measurement of electrical conductivity and p H of the soil samples

[en] Three Basmati rice genotypes viz., 00515, 99417 and Super Basmati were examined for varietal differences in radio sensitivity to gamma radiations. Dry healthy seeds were exposed to variable doses of gamma radiations i.e., 150- 400 Gy with 50 Gy intervals. Highly significant differences among the genotypes (p<0.01) for all traits were observed. The differences among radiation treatments were highly significant (p<0.01) for shoot and root length, shoot and root fresh weight, water uptake, chlorophyll contents (a, b), plant height and panicle fertility while non significant differences were observed for germination percentage only. The genotype X dose interactions were non significant for germination percentage, shoot length, root length, shoot fresh weight and plant height indicating stability of performance for characters across different radiation levels. In contrast, chlorophyll (a, b), root fresh weight, water uptake and panicle fertility exhibited significant differences for interactions. Mutagenic treatments shifted mean values towards negative direction for almost all traits but not in a definite pattern. However, water uptake of seeds increased with increasing gamma radiation doses. In general, genotypes displayed variable response towards gamma radiations. (author)

[en] Wheat seeds (cv. lngalab) were treated with 0-100 Kr gamma radiation. The damage done to seeds was measured in terms of electrical conductivity (E.C.)of the leachate of imbibing seeds, the amounts and rates of leakage of inorganic and organic electrolytes in the leachates and the germination performance and growth of seedlings. Results demonstrate that gamma-irradiation increased the E.C. of imbibing seeds compared with the un-irradiated control. Amounts of Na+, K+ and orthophosphate ions (Pi) increased in leachates of treated seeds in dose-dependent manner compared with the control. Similar patterns were observed when soluble sugars and total aminoacid contents effluxed during initial hours of imbibition were measured.Leakage of these electrolytes had little effect on the number of seeds germinated, though the rates of germination were decreased in seeds treated with higher doses of radiation. Dose of gamma- radiation at 1 Kr was stimulatory to root and shoot development compared with that of control whilst 0.5 Kr and radiation doses of 5-100 Kr were inhibitory for growth. Chlorophyll contents (a, b, total) in young leaves also increased but only in seeds treated with l Kr compared with that of control. The present data reveals variations in the permeability of various ions through the modified membrane system of irradiated seeds during early hours of germination and later during the active phase of seedling growth

[en] The greatest humanitarian challenge faced even today after one year of Kashmir Hazara earthquake is that of providing shelter. Currently on the globe one in seven people live in a slum or refugee camp. The earthquake of October 2005 resulted in a great loss of life and property. This research work is mainly focused on developing a design of small size, low cost and earthquake resistant house. Ferrocement panels are recommended as the main structural elements with lightweight truss roofing system. Earthquake resistance is ensured by analyzing the structure on ETABS for a seismic activity of zone 4. The behavior of structure is found satisfactory under the earthquake loading. An estimate of cost is also presented which shows that it is an economical solution. (author)

[en] Optical materials are the limiting factor for the design and fabrication of optical coatings in various wave length regions. High power laser system such as Nd-YAG laser at 1064 nm requires high damage threshold optical coating. In the present study thin film coatings systems have been designed and fabricated using these materials. Optical properties of these materials along with their damage threshold are also reported. (author)

[en] Summary: Electro deposition of pure and doped lead dioxide on titanium substrate are described from acid bath at room temperature, voltage 3.0 - 4.0 V and current density 0.007 - 0.013 A/cm/sup 2/. Prepared electrodes were tested for anodic oxidation of chromium(III) sulphate in sulphuric acid. UV-visible spectroscopy was used for the analysis of the oxidation product. Current efficiency and percentage conversion of Cr(III) to Cr(Vi) at pure and different doped lead dioxide electrodes were determined. Results for pure and doped-lead dioxide electrodes were compared. Bi-PbO/sub 2/ electrode was found to have maximum electrocatalytic activity for chromium(III) oxidation. (author)

[en] Considerable efforts have been made during the past few years to overcome the problem of salinity through the development of salt tolerant lines of important crop species using screening, breeding and molecular biology techniques. In view of considerable importance of spring wheat as a major staple food crop of many countries, plant scientists have directed there attention to identify and develop salt tolerant genotypes that can be of direct use on salt-affected soils. Although considerable progress in understanding individual phenomenon and genes involved in plant response to salinity stress has been made over the past few years, underlying physiological mechanisms producing salt tolerant plants is still unclear. It has been suggested that salt tolerance of plants could be improved by defining genes or characters. Twenty years ago, it was suggested that genes located on the D genome of bread wheat confer salinity tolerance to hexaploid wheat by reducing Na/sup +/ accumulation in the leaf tissue and increasing discrimination in favour of K/sup +/. However, recently, low Na/sup +/ accumulation and high K/sup +/Na/sup +/ discrimination, of similar magnitude to bread wheat, in several selections of durum wheat has been observed, supporting the notion that salt tolerance is controlled by multiple genes, which are distributed throughout the entire set of chromosomes. In addition, various physiological selection criteria such as compatible osmolytes (glycinebetaine, proline, trehalose, mannitol etc.), antioxidants, carbon discrimination, high K/sup +//Na/sup +/ ratio etc. have been discussed. Although tolerance to salinity is known to have a multigenic inheritance, mediated by a large number of genes, knowledge of heritability and the genetic mode of salinity tolerance is still lacking because few studies have yet been conducted in these areas. Indeed, genetic information is lagging behind the physiological information. Modern methods such as recombinant DNA technology are available to develop salt tolerance in crop plants and to understand the physiological mechanisms. Thus, better integrated information about the processes operating at the cellular and molecular levels in plants is still needed. The present review highlights the relationships between different physiological/biochemical variables being recommended as selection criteria, and recent-advances in elucidating the mechanism of salinity tolerance in wheat have been discussed. (author)

[en] Before sowing, the seeds of two wheat cultivars, S-24 and MH-97, were treated with three levels [(0 (water), 10 and 20 mu M)] of triacontanol (TRIA) for 12 h. TRIA-treated seeds were grown in full strength nutrient solution for 24 days in a greenhouse, after which time, they were supplied with two salt treatments (0 and 150 mM NaCl ). After 21 days of salt application, changes in the malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H/sub 2/O/sub 2/ and total soluble proteins contents as well as activities of some key antioxidant enzymes (CAT, POD and SOD) were measured. Salinity stress of 150 mM NaCl significantly decreased the activity of SOD, while increased that of CAT, and enhanced the levels of MDA and H/sub 2/O/sub 2/contents in both cultivars under salt stress conditions. The outcome of salt stress was non-significant on soluble proteins and activity of POD. The effect of pre-sowing application of TRIA was non-significant on all measured attributes except that it significantly increased the activity of POD under non-saline conditions. The cultivar difference with respect to the different attributes measured in the present investigation was non-significant. (author)