Exploring Indus crop processing: combining phytolith and macrobotanical analyses to consider the organisation of agriculture in northwest India c. 3200-1500 bc.

This paper presents a preliminary study combining macrobotanical and phytolith analyses to explore crop processing at archaeological sites in Haryana and Rajasthan, northwest India. Current understanding of the agricultural strategies in use by populations associated with South Asia's Indus Civilisation (3200-1900 bc) has been derived from a small number of systematic macrobotanical studies focusing on a small number of sites, with little use of multi-proxy analysis. In this study both phytolith and macrobotanical analyses are used to explore the organisation of crop processing at five small Indus settlements with a view to understanding the impact of urban development and decline on village agriculture. The differing preservation potential of the two proxies has allowed for greater insights into the different stages of processing represented at these sites: with macrobotanical remains allowing for more species-level specific analysis, though due to poor chaff presentation the early stages of processing were missed; however these early stages of processing were evident in the less highly resolved but better preserved phytolith remains. The combined analyses suggests that crop processing aims and organisation differed according to the season of cereal growth, contrary to current models of Indus Civilisation labour organisation that suggest change over time. The study shows that the agricultural strategies of these frequently overlooked smaller sites question the simplistic models that have traditionally been assumed for the time period, and that both multi-proxy analysis and rural settlements are deserving of further exploration.

Copper-iron-molybdenum mixed oxides as efficient oxygen evolution electrocatalysts.

Ternary Cu, Fe and Mo mixed oxides having a nominal compositional formula, CuxFe2-x(MoO4)3 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1.5), have been prepared by a co-precipitation method at pH ≈ 2 and characterized by FT-IR, XRD, XPS, TEM and anodic polarization techniques for use as electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in alkaline solutions. The crystallites of oxides with x ≤ 1 have the monoclinic crystal structure. The OER study shows that replacement of Fe in the Fe2(MoO4)3 matrix by 0.25-1.0 mol Cu increases the apparent electrocatalytic activity. However, 1.5 mol Cu-addition is detrimental to the OER activity. At E = 1.51 V (vs. RHE) in 1 M KOH, the catalytic activity of the oxide with x = 1 was approximately 50 times the activity of the base oxide (i.e. Fe2(MoO4)3). The Tafel slope of oxides with 0.25 ≤ x ≤ 1.5 ranged between 31 and 37 mV. The reaction order of OH(-) concentration was nearly unity for oxides with x = 0.25 and 1.5 and it was ∼2 for oxides with x = 0.5, 0.75, and 1.0. Suitable reaction mechanisms consistent with the electrode kinetic parameters have also been proposed.

Graphene-cobaltite-Pd hybrid materials for use as efficient bifunctional electrocatalysts in alkaline direct methanol fuel cells.

Hybrid materials comprising of Pd, MCo2O4 (where M = Mn, Co or Ni) and graphene have been prepared for use as efficient bifunctional electrocatalysts in alkaline direct methanol fuel cells. Structural and electrochemical characterizations were carried out using X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, chronoamperometry and cyclic, CO stripping, and linear sweep voltammetries. The study revealed that all the three hybrid materials are active for both methanol oxidation (MOR) and oxygen reduction (ORR) reactions in 1 M KOH. However, the Pd-MnCo2O4/GNS hybrid electrode exhibited the greatest MOR and ORR activities. This active hybrid electrode has also outstanding stability under both MOR and ORR conditions, while Pt- and other Pd-based catalysts undergo degradation under similar experimental conditions. The Pd-MnCo2O4/GNS hybrid catalyst exhibited superior ORR activity and stability compared to even Pt in alkaline solutions.

Morphology and histology of Lyonet's gland of the tropical tasar silkworm, Antheraea mylitta.

The morphology and histology of Lyonet's gland in the second to fifth instar larvae of Antheraea mylitta Drury (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) are described. Each of the paired silk glands of this silk worm were associated with a Lyonet's gland. The paired Lyonet's glands were located on the ventrolateral sides of the esophagus, close to the subesophageal ganglion. Whole mount and SEM observations revealed that each Lyonet's gland consisted of a rosette of glandular mass, and a short narrow tubular duct opening into the anterior part of the silk gland (ASG), close to the common excretory duct. In each instar, these glands were unequal in size. The glandular mass was innervated by fine nerves from the subesophageal ganglion, suggesting a neural control for the glandular activity. The glandular mass was made up of clustered long cells wrapped by a thin basal lamina, which was continuous over the non-secretory low columnar cells of the Lyonet's gland duct and ASG. The narrow bases of long cells of each glandular mass led into the lumen of the duct of the gland. Histochemical analysis of fully developed Lyonet's gland showed clustered lipid granules in the gland cells.