[en] Effect of Cymbopogon citratus (lemon grass) extract at different growth and development stages for disease control in wheat cultivars were studied in lab and open field conditions. Experiments were conducted for three months to control seed borne diseases in wheat TD-I variety by using waste material of C. citratus (Iemongrass). Seeds surface treatment with alcoholic extracts of C. citratus stem 20-40% significantly reduce the diseases in 20-40% concentration at the time of sowing and germination. Seeds treatment with this extracts effect on plant growth and obtained healthy yield. Best results were obtained in between 20-30% concentration in term of germination, number of spikes, shoot and root length/ weight as compared to 10 % and control. The penetration of extract gave protection to wheat seeds by infection and reduction of soil born diseases. (author)

[en] Some of the advance lines/varieties developed at Rice Research Institute, Kala Shah Kaku, including approved fragrant (Basmati) rice variety i.e., Basmati-2000, were used to assess interactive efficacy of parboiling on these varieties/lines and practical expediency of using standardized parboiling technique for improving nutritional, milling and cooking qualities of these lines/varieties. For this purpose, white milled and parboiled rice samples of ten lines/varieties were analyzed for nutritional quality parameters such as ash, dry matter, crude fat, crude protein, crude fiber, vitamin B6; milling quality parameters such as total milling recovery, head rice recovery, ratio of broken grains and cooking quality parameters such as curling, bursting and cooked grain length. The study showed significant variation in efficacy of parboiling to different varieties/lines. The results clearly showed average increase in mineral contents in terms of ash% increase, dry matter, longer cooked grain length and considerable rise in vitamin B6 contents, higher total milling recovery and head rice recovery in almost all the samples. While crude fiber, crude protein and crude fat decreased non-significantly. Furthermore, quality reducing factors such as number of broken grains, bursting and curling percentage of cooked rice were also reduced significantly in parboiled samples. It may, therefore, be suggested that parboiling offers a better alternative to conserve and increase nutritional, milling and cooking quality values of rice varieties/lines. Less percentage of broken, burst and curled grains may result in augmented net income. (author)

[en] The objective of this study is to develop an integrated workstation for rapid decontamination of low and intermediate level liquid radioactive wastes. The workstation comprises of an electrochemical amalgamator that allows the reduction of different radionuclides cations in the waste and eventually from amalgamate. The de-amalgamation results in purification of mercury and leftover a radioactive waste behind as secondary waste. (author)

[en] Bifunctional dialdehydes 6,6-methylenebis(2'-hydroxynaphtha 1 dehyde) and 6,6-nethylenebis(naphthaldehyde) were prepared characterised by elemental micro analysis, IR and UV/Vis spectroscopy. The bifunctional aldehydes, were polymerized with 1,2-diaminpropane, Ethylenediamine 1,3-diaminopropane to form dark colored polymers. The polymers are only slightly soluble in dimethyl formamide and dimethyl sulphoxide. The solution properties of the polymers were examined by measuring relative, specific, inherent, interensic and absolute viscosities with the temperature range 283-353 K using different concentrations. (author)

[en] Heteroepitaxial growth of GaN buffer layers on 3C–SiC/(001) Si templates (4°-offcut towards [110]) by metalorganic vapour phase epitaxy has been investigated. High-temperature grown Al_0.5Ga_0.5N/AlN interlayers were employed to produce a single (202̅3) GaN surface orientation. Specular crack-free GaN layers showed undulations along [11̅0]${}_{3\mathrm{C}-<!--\; ???\; -->\mathrm{S}\mathrm{i}\mathrm{C}/\mathrm{S}\mathrm{i}}$ with a root mean square roughness of about 13.5 nm (50 × 50 μm²). The orientation relationship determined by x-ray diffraction (XRD) was found to be [1̅21̅0]_GaN ∥[11̅0]${}_{3\mathrm{C}-<!--\; ???\; -->\mathrm{S}\mathrm{i}\mathrm{C}/\mathrm{S}\mathrm{i}}$ and [3̅034]_GaN ∥[110]_{3C − SiC/Si}. Low-temperature photoluminescence (PL) and XRD measurements showed the presence of basal-plane stacking faults in the layers. PL measurements of (202̅3) multiple-quantum-well and light-emitting diode structures showed uniform luminescence at about 500 nm emission wavelength. A small peak shift of about 3 nm was observed in the electroluminescence when the current was increased from 5 to 50 mA (25–250 A cm⁻²). (paper)

[en] The microstructure of electron beam welded joint between Zircaloy-4 and 304 stainless steel has been investigated by scanning electron microscopy / electron probe microanalyser. The weld zone and heat affected zone have been examined. Different phases have been observed to form in three deferent regions. The results would be presented and discussed. (author)

[en] The activity concentrations of soil, water and fertilizer samples were determined by using high-resolution gamma spectrometry (HPGe detector: 40% relative efficiency) with a PC-based MCA system. The samples were collected from the area of a urea fertilizer factory, lagoon and Shitalakhya river in Narsingdi, Bangladesh. The activity concentrations of ²²⁶Ra ranged from 3.16 ± 0.32 to 10.28 ± 0.55 Bq.kg^-1, 1.22 ± 0.41 to 7.36 ± 0.42 Bq.L^-1 and 3.55 ± 0.33 to 90.65 ± 3.17 Bq.kg^-1 for soil, water and fertilizer samples, respectively. The ²³²Th activity concentrations ranged from 4.89 ± 0.45 to 15.82 ± 0.45 Bq.kg^-1, 1.21 ± 0.06 to 8.59 ± 0.37 Bq. L^-1 and 4.76 ± 0.25 to 26.38 ± 1.40 Bq.kg^-1 for soil, water and fertilizer samples, respectively. The ⁴⁰K activity concentrations ranged from 24.96 ± 0.23 to 60.49 ± 0.56 Bq.kg^-1, 7.48 ± 0.53 to 35.48 ± 0.24 Bq.L^-1 and 3.55 ± 0.05 to 3051.71 ± 19.53 Bq.kg^-1 for these samples, respectively. The radium equivalent activity, the hazard indices, the gamma activity concentration index, the indoor absorbed dose rate and the corresponding annual effective dose were estimated for the potential radiological hazard of the collected samples. The calculated values of the representative level index values (Iγr) for all samples of the study area are lower than unity except the MOP sample. The activity ratios were also measured. These values are compared with reported values for other countries of the world. The results of the comparison studies show that the radioactivity concentrations and other radioactive indices of the samples of the study area are below the internationally accepted maximum permissible values. Therefore, this region is safe from any radiation hazard and no significant radiological threat was observed to the population of the study area. (authors)

[en] In Bangladesh, use of beauty cream is very much popular and a common daily task for the people. The current study is focusing on the assessment of some toxic heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, chromium, and mercury contamination in some beauty creams commonly used by Bangladeshi people. The results indicate that the concentrations of lead, cadmium, and chromium exceed the maximum allowable concentrations, whereas mercury is found below the acceptable limit set by WHO/EU. However, according to Health Canada, the concentrations of cadmium and chromium for all the selected samples (except cadmium in sample coded A) was within the permissible limit. Health risks associated with these metal intakes via dermal exposure route are evaluated in terms of chronic daily intake (CDI) and hazard quotient (HQ). The carcinogenic risk (CR) estimated for chromium indicates that it is within the acceptable range. The cancer and non-cancer risk results indicate that although the chances of cancer risk and non-cancer risk resulting from the use of these cosmetic products were unlikely, buildup of these toxic heavy metals overtime on continuous usage could be detrimental for Bangladeshi people.