Nucleobases are nitrogenous bases composed of monomers that are a major constituent of RNA and DNA, which are an essential part of any cellular life on the Earth. The search for nucleobases in the interstellar medium remains a major challenge, however, the recent detection of nucleobases in meteorite samples and laboratory synthesis in simulated analogue experiments have confirmed their abiotic origin and a possible route for their delivery to the Earth. Nevertheless, cellular life is based on the interacting network of complex structures, and there is substantial lack of information on the possible routes by which such ordered structures may be formed in the prebiotic environment. In the current study, we present the evidence for the synthesis of complex structures due to shock processing of nucleobases. The nucleobases were subjected to the reflected shock temperature of 3500–7000 K (estimated) and pressure of about 15–34 bar for over ~2 ms timescale. Under such extreme thermodynamic conditions, the nucleobases sample experiences superheating and subsequent cooling. Electron microscopic studies of shock processed residue show that nucleobases result in spontaneous formation of complex structures when subjected to extreme conditions of shock. These results suggest that impact shock processes might have contributed to the self-assembly of biologically relevant structures and the origin of life.

A cross-sectional study on six dairy farms was conducted to ascertain the occurrence of carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli in calves. Two-hundred and seventy-nine isolates of E. coli were recovered from 90 faecal samples from apparently healthy (45) and diarrhoeal (45) calves. The isolates were screened for phenotypic susceptibility to carbapenems and production of metallo β-lactamase, as well as five carbapenemase resistance genes by PCR, and overexpression of efflux pumps. Eighty-one isolates (29.03%) were resistant to at least one of three carbapenem antibiotics [meropenem (23.30%), imipenem (2.15%) and ertapenem (1.43%)], and one isolate was positive for the blaVIM gene which was located on an Incl1 plasmid of a novel sequence type (ST 297) by multilocus sequence typing. The majority (83.95%) of isolates had an active efflux pump. Calves housed on concrete floors were approximately seven times more likely to acquire meropenem-resistant isolates than those housed on earthen floors (95% CI 1.27–41.54). In India, carbapenem drugs are not used in food animal treatment, hence carbapenem-resistant strains in calves possibly originate from the natural environment or human contact and is of public health importance. To our knowledge, this is the first report of blaVIM carbapenemases gene in calves from India.

We provide the first in situ measurements of antenna element beam shapes of the Murchison Widefield Array. Most current processing pipelines use an assumed beam shape, which can cause absolute and relative flux density errors and polarisation ‘leakage’. Understanding the primary beam is then of paramount importance, especially for sensitive experiments such as a measurement of the 21-cm line from the epoch of reionisation, where the calibration requirements are so extreme that tile to tile beam variations may affect our ability to make a detection. Measuring the primary beam shape from visibilities is challenging, as multiple instrumental, atmospheric, and astrophysical factors contribute to uncertainties in the data. Building on the methods of Neben et al. [Radio Sci., 50, 614], we tap directly into the receiving elements of the telescope before any digitisation or correlation of the signal. Using ORBCOMM satellite passes we are able to produce all-sky maps for four separate tiles in the XX polarisation. We find good agreement with the beam model of Sokolowski et al. [2017, PASA, 34, e062], and clearly observe the effects of a missing dipole from a tile in one of our beam maps. We end by motivating and outlining additional on-site experiments.

The deep subsurface of other planetary bodies is of special interest for robotic and human exploration. The subsurface provides access to planetary interior processes, thus yielding insights into planetary formation and evolution. On Mars, the subsurface might harbour the most habitable conditions. In the context of human exploration, the subsurface can provide refugia for habitation from extreme surface conditions. We describe the fifth Mine Analogue Research (MINAR 5) programme at 1 km depth in the Boulby Mine, UK in collaboration with Spaceward Bound NASA and the Kalam Centre, India, to test instruments and methods for the robotic and human exploration of deep environments on the Moon and Mars. The geological context in Permian evaporites provides an analogue to evaporitic materials on other planetary bodies such as Mars. A wide range of sample acquisition instruments (NASA drills, Small Planetary Impulse Tool (SPLIT) robotic hammer, universal sampling bags), analytical instruments (Raman spectroscopy, Close-Up Imager, Minion DNA sequencing technology, methane stable isotope analysis, biomolecule and metabolic life detection instruments) and environmental monitoring equipment (passive air particle sampler, particle detectors and environmental monitoring equipment) was deployed in an integrated campaign. Investigations included studying the geochemical signatures of chloride and sulphate evaporitic minerals, testing methods for life detection and planetary protection around human-tended operations, and investigations on the radiation environment of the deep subsurface. The MINAR analogue activity occurs in an active mine, showing how the development of space exploration technology can be used to contribute to addressing immediate Earth-based challenges. During the campaign, in collaboration with European Space Agency (ESA), MINAR was used for astronaut familiarization with future exploration tools and techniques. The campaign was used to develop primary and secondary school and primary to secondary transition curriculum materials on-site during the campaign which was focused on a classroom extra vehicular activity simulation.

This poster presented results from a detailed analysis of observed and theoretical light-curves of classical Cepheid variables in the Galaxy and the Magellanic Clouds. The theoretical light-curves were based on non-linear convective hydrodynamical pulsation models; the observational data were taken from ongoing wide-field variability surveys. The variation which we found in theoretical and observed light-curve parameters as a function of period, wavelength and metallicity was used to constrain the input physics to the pulsation models, such as the mass–luminosity relations obeyed by Cepheid variables. We also accounted for the variation in the convective efficiency as entered into the stellar pulsation models and its impact on the theoretical amplitudes and Period-Luminosity relations for Cepheid variables.

This poster presented results from the Large Magellanic Cloud Near-Infrared Synoptic Survey (LMCNISS) for classical and Type II Cepheid variables that were identified in the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment (OGLE-III) catalogue. Multi-wavelength time-series data for classical Cepheid variables are used to study light-curve structures as a function of period and wavelength. We exploited a sample of ∼1400 classical and ∼80 Type II Cepheid variables to derive Period–Wesenheit relations that combine both optical and near-infrared data. The new Period–Luminosity and Wesenheit relations were used to estimate distances to several Local-Group galaxies (using classical Cepheids) and to Galactic globular clusters (using Type II Cepheids). By appealing to a statistical framework, we found that fundamental-mode classical Cepheid Period–Luminosity relations are non-linear around 10–18 days at optical and near-IR wavelengths. We also suggested that a non-linear relation provides a better constraint on the Cepheid Period–Luminosity relation in Type Ia Supernovæ host galaxies, though it has a negligible effect on the systematic uncertainties affecting the local measurement of the Hubble constant.

Classical Cepheids (hereafter Cepheids) are important standard candle as they obey the famous period-luminosity (PL) relation. Parallax measurements from Gaia offer a unique opportunity to derive or calibrate the PL relations for Galactic Cepheids, as traditionally their distances were measured via different methods. In this work, we attempted to derive the Gaia G-band PL relation based on the Gaia Data Release 1 (DR1) measurements. We adopted the inferred distances provided by Astraatmadja & Bailer-Jones (2016), calculated using two priors in a Bayesian analysis, and cross-matched to known Galactic Cepheids. The resulting G-band PL relation, however, exhibits a much larger scatter than expected. Hence the inferred distances based on the Gaia DR1 parallaxes are not suitable for calibrating the Galactic PL relation, and future Data Releases with improved parallax measurements are desirable.

Populations of the six equine breeds registered by the Indian National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources have drastically decreased due to indiscriminate breeding and their low utilization. In this study, 15 biometric indices along with typical breed characteristics were recorded for 50 animals of each breed except Bhutia breed (35) for their phenotypic characterization. On the basis of their heights at wither, Kathiawari and Marwari breeds were grouped under “horse”, while Zanskari, Manipuri, Bhutia and Spiti fell under “pony” breeds. Marwari was the tallest and significantly different from other breeds in most of the biometric indices. Spiti was the shortest breed among all the six horse and pony breeds. Sex-wise differences were also observed in some of the biometric indices in different breeds. In Marwari and Kathiawari breeds, both stallions and mares can rotate their ears at an angle of 180° making the ear tips meet in the centre, which is a typical characteristic of the two breeds. This report aims at providing reference data for identification and comparison of different breeds of equines in India with a view to raise awareness among animal geneticists and breeders for production of true to breed animals, conservation and better management of these precious genetic resources.

The current trends in stimulated Brillouin scattering and optical phase conjugation are overviewed. This report is formed by the selected papers presented in the “Fifth International Workshop on stimulated Brillouin scattering and phase conjugation 2010” in Japan. The nonlinear properties of phase conjugation based on stimulated Brillouin scattering and photo-refraction can compensate phase distortions in the high power laser systems, and they will also open up potentially novel laser technologies, e.g., phase stabilization, beam combination, pulse compression, ultrafast pulse shaping, and arbitrary waveform generation.

Modelling adoption of natural resources management technologies: the case of fallow systems

Option valuation of Philippine forest plantation leases

Consumption pattern, trade, and greenhouse gas leakage in India

An empirical study on effective pollution enforcement in Korea

Governance, economic policy, and the environmental Kuznets curve for natural tropical forests

Land tenure and conflict resolution: a game theoretic approach in the Narok district in Kenya

Politics of institutional reforms in the water and drainage sector of Pakistan

The very intense radiation environment of high luminosity future colliding beam experiments (LHC, etc.) makes radiation hardness the most important issue for Si detectors. The crucial question is whether the Si strip detectors can withstand the harsh radiation environment for sufficiently long time (full LHC lifetime) and hence the central issue concerning all LHC experiments is the breakdown performance of these detectors. In this paper the simulations have been performed to analyze electrical parameters for the most deleterious long-term effect of radiation: the change in effective charge carrier concentration and resulting increase in full depletion bias. Detailed calculations using Hamburg Model have allowed the parameterization of these effects, and helped to simulate the operation scenario of Si detectors over 10 years of LHC operation. The systematic studies of the electric field to get an insight into the device behavior provide, for the first time, a possible explanation for the improvement in breakdown performance with radiation. Simulation study is also carried on optimized guard ring structures to study the change in guard voltage distribution after 10 years of neutron radiation damage.

Dengue fever (DF) or dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) has not previously been reported in Coimbatore and Erode districts in Tamil Nadu in India. In 1998, 20 hospitalized cases of fever tested positive for dengue virus IgM and/or IgG antibodies. All of them had dengue-compatible illness, and at least four had DHF. Two of them died. Sixteen cases were below 10 years of age. The cases were scattered in 15 distantly located villages and 5 urban localities that had a high Aedes aegypti population. Although the incidence of dengue-like illness has not increased recently, almost 89% (95/107) of samples from healthy persons in the community tested positive for dengue IgG antibodies. The study showed that dengue has been endemic in the area, but was not suspected earlier. A strong laboratory-based surveillance system is essential to monitor and control DF/DHF.

Nearly all metals form a passivation film due to oxidation in air at ambient temperatures, that acts as a diffusion barrier to protect the materials from further corrosion. Aluminum demonstrates excellent passivation behavior due to the formation of a protective amorphous alumina film during exposure to air at ambient temperatures. However, H. Ebinger and J. Yates discovered that the passivation of aluminum can be significantly improved by artificial oxidation. Both electron-beam induced oxidation in water vapor and oxidation in ozone atmospheres3 showed higher impedance in electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements to anion diffusion than the thermally grown oxides. To understand the nature of this beneficial passivation, we probed the microstructure of these amorphous oxide films by transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

The oxide films were grown on a polycrystalline Al substrate. The Al substrate was cleaned with a sputter cleaner inside a UHV (ultra-high vacuum) system.

In high-density fluorinated plasma processes, the mechanisms that fundamentally limit the etching of silicon are poorly understood. In an effort to improve our understanding of limits to the performance of such systems, the etching of silicon wafers in an inductive coupled plasma reactor, using SF6, has been studied. A systematic empirical investigation has allowed us to define many of the experimental parameters that control the etching rate.

There is little temperature dependence of etching which suggests a diffusion limited process. Systematic variation of parameters controlling the rate of etching: total pressure in the reactor, flow rate, partial pressure of reactive species and the rf power supplied to the discharge enable us to accurately define the performance of the system. Experiments, which segregate the physical and chemical components of the etching process, support the conclusion that etching is dominated by electrically neutral species. These various results are interpreted in terms of accepted models for the reactive chemistry in plasmas containing SF6.

The MEMS industry is placing ever greater demands on etching processes, and there is a need to achieve the high degrees of anisotropy, and critical dimension control, at high etch-rates. The approach outlined allows us to develop effective strategies for evolving improved systems for the high rate plasma etching of silicon.

In the ongoing enhancement of MEMS applications, the STS Advanced Silicon Etch, (ASETM). process satisfies the demanding requirements of the industry. Typically, highly anisotropic. high aspect ratios profiles with fine CD (critical dimension) control are required. Selectivities to photoresist of 150:1 with Si etch rates of up to 10μm/min are demonstrated. Applications range from shallow etched optical devices to through wafer membrane etches. This paper details some of the fundamental trends of the ASETM process and goes on to discuss how the process has been enhanced to meet product specifications. Parameter ramping is a powerful technique used to achieve the often-conflicting requirements of high etch rate with good profile/CD control. The results are presented in this paper.