Nonlinear optical processes at soft x-ray wavelengths have remained largely unexplored due to the lack of available light sources with the requisite intensity and coherence. Here we report the ...observation of soft x-ray second harmonic generation near the carbon K edge (∼284 eV) in graphite thin films generated by high intensity, coherent soft x-ray pulses at the FERMI free electron laser. Our experimental results and accompanying first-principles theoretical analysis highlight the effect of resonant enhancement above the carbon K edge and show the technique to be interfacially sensitive in a centrosymmetric sample with second harmonic intensity arising primarily from the first atomic layer at the open surface. This technique and the associated theoretical framework demonstrate the ability to selectively probe interfaces, including those that are buried, with elemental specificity, providing a new tool for a range of scientific problems.
Edaphic factors such as salinity, sodicity, and drought adversely affect crop productivity, either alone or in combination. Despite soil sodicity being reported as an increasing problem worldwide, ...limited efforts have been made to address this issue. In the present study, we aimed to generate rice with tolerance to sodicity in conjunction with tolerance to salinity and drought. Using a fusion gene from E. coli coding for trehalose-6-phosphate synthase/phosphatase (TPSP) under the control of an ABA-inducible promoter, we generated marker-free, high-yielding transgenic rice (in the IR64 background) that can tolerate high pH (~9.9), high EC (~10.0 dS m-1), and severe drought (30-35% soil moisture content). The transgenic plants retained higher relative water content (RWC), chlorophyll content, K+/Na+ ratio, stomatal conductance, and photosynthetic efficiency compared to the wild-type under these stresses. Positive correlations between trehalose overproduction and high-yield parameters were observed under drought, saline, and sodic conditions. Metabolic profiling using GC-MS indicated that overproduction of trehalose in leaves differently modulated other metabolic switches, leading to significant changes in the levels of sugars, amino acids, and organic acids in transgenic plants under control and stress conditions. Our findings reveal a novel potential technological solution to tackle multiple stresses under changing climatic conditions.
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•CGNs supported MoS2 provides more active sites to enhance electron transfer.•Composite shows better rate performance and good cycling stability.•Specific capacitance of 282 F/g is ...achieved at 1 A/g for CGNs@ MoS2.•High cycling stability shows 78% retention around 5000 cycles at 10 A/g.
Curved graphene-nanoribbons@MoS2 hybrid electrode is designed with a hierarchical structure and employed as an electrode for high-performance supercapacitors. Molybdenum disulphide (MoS2) was prepared via hydrothermal method. The XRD result of MoS2 showed hexagonal phase.Hummer’s method and reduction process lead to the unzipping of MWCNTs to curved graphene nanoribbons (CGNs). The CGNs were confirmed by the 2θ value, which was located at 26.05° and it was shifted to 23.2°. As prepared CGNs@MoS2 electrode shows better performance and delivered a high specific capacitance of 282F/g @1 A/g also it delivered 78% of specific capacitance over 5000 cycles at a current density of 10 A/g.
Horse gram (Macrotyloma uniflorum (Lam.) Verdc., Fabaceae) is an important legume crop cultivated widely in the arid and semiarid regions. During a survey carried out in the Mysore district ...(Karnataka, India, October 2021), horse gram plants showed the symptoms of southern blight disease. Disease incidence ranged from 20-27% in the approximate 52 hectares of horse gram fields evaluated. The symptoms initiated as tan lesions and the developing mycelial threads colonized the infected root-stem interface, causing girdling; lesions on leaves enlarged and developed into distinct spots. Infected parts (leaves & stem) (n=30) were collected in poly bags and incubated in a moist chamber overnight, followed by surface sterilization of small segments of stem, leaf with 2% NaOCl, rinsed with sterile water (SW), and placed onto the potato dextrose agar (PDA, HiMedia Lab, Mumbai) supplemented with chloramphenicol (40 mg/L). The plates were incubated at room temperature (28 ± 2°C) for 5-7 days. The fungal colonies developed from the diseased segments were sub-cultured through hyphal tipping to fresh PDA plates and pure cultures were obtained. Fungal colonies with dense, aerial whitish-cottony mycelia with uniformly globoid sclerotia (0.52.9 mm) were observed after 1012 days of incubation. Sclerotia were white in the beginning and turned to brown later. The average number of sclerotia produced per plate ranged from 112 to 320 (n = 20). To determine the identity of the isolated fungal pathogen, ITS-rDNA was amplified and sequenced using ITS1/ITS4 (White et al. 1990) primers. The amplified PCR product was purified and sequenced directly. The ITS sequences (OM037658 & OM037659) shared 100% (630/643bp) sequence similarity to Athelia rolfsii (KY640622.1, AB075298). The phylogenetic tree (Neighbour-Joining method) constructed based on ITS-rDNA region confirmed that the sequences shared a common clade with reference sequence of A. rolfsii. Thus the identity was confirmed based on micromorphology and phylogenetic analysis. Pathogenicity tests were conducted on a total of 20 plants (5-6 weeks old) in greenhouse conditions (at 28 ± 2°C and 70% relative humidity) by inoculating with sclerotia from 15 days old cultures on stem and leaves and 14 plants were found infected after 5 days of post-inoculation, while uninoculated control plants remained healthy. Similarly, detached leaf assay (Mahadevakumar et al., 2018) was performed under in vitro conditions at 28 ± 2°C in a moist chamber and 28 out of 30 leaves showed the leaf spot symptoms after 3-5 days of inoculation. Uninoculated control leaves remained healthy. The identity of the fungus was confirmed by morphology and molecular analysis after re-isolation. The occurrence as a pathogen on horse gram has not been previously reported elsewhere. This is the first report of southern blight disease caused by A. rolfsii on horse gram from India. Early diagnosis of this leaf spot disease will help the farmers to adopt suitable management practices to avoid loss in production.
Salvia hispanica L. (Lamiaceae) commonly called 'chia' is an important food crop that has gained significance in recent times globally due to its nutritive value. During a field survey (Mysore ...district, Karnataka, October, 2021), chia fields were found associated with a characteristic foot rot disease. Further, the presence of mycelial structures along with sclerotial bodies was recorded near the stem-soil interface on the infected plants. The disease incidence ranged 15-21% in an area of approximately 15 hectares of chia fields. The symptoms initially appeared as tan lesions near the stem soil interface and the lesions were colonized by the fast growing mycelium. As the disease progressed, the plants toppled due to death of the stem-root interface region. Infected plants from KM Halli (12º20'90"N; 76º37'68"E) and DMG Halli (12º28'50"N; 76º51'66"E) (n=30) were sampled and associated fungal pathogen isolated on potato dextrose agar (PDA; HiMedia Lab, Mumbai). Fungal mycelia developing from the infected tissues were inoculated on to fresh PDA plates to obtained pure cultures for further identification. Fungal colonies with dense, aerial whitish-cottony mycelia with uniformly globoid sclerotia (0.52.9 mm) were observed after 1012 days of incubation at room temperature. Sclerotia were white at first and turned brown with age. The average number of sclerotia produced per plate ranged from 150 to >280 (n = 10). To further to confirm the identity of the isolates, three representative isolates (SrSh1, SrSh5 and SrSh10) was subjected to molecular identification based on ITS-rDNA sequences. Briefly, genomic DNA was isolated from 12 day old cultures using the CTAB method and ITS-rDNA was amplified using ITS1-ITS4 primers (White et al., 1990). An expected amplicon of >650 bp was obtained and later sequenced from both the directions. The consensus sequences were analysed through nBLAST search which revealed that 100% (643/643 bp) sequence similarity with reference sequences of Athelia rolfsii (S. rolfsii) from GenBank database (KY640622 and AB075298). A phylogenetic tree obtained by the neighbor-joining method using MEGAX shared a common clade with the reference sequences retrieved and computed, thus confirming the identification based on sequence analysis and molecular phylogeny. The representative sequence of A. rolfsii isolates SrSh1, SrSh4 and SrSh7 isolates deposited in GenBank with Accession no OM021878-OM021880. Based on etiology, morphological, cultural and molecular data the pathogen was identified as Athelia rolfsii (Curzi) Tu & Kimbrough (Syn: Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc.) (Mordue, 1974; Mahadevakumar et al., 2016, 2018). Pathogenicity tests were conducted by inoculating the sclerotial bodies near stem soil interface of chia plants grown under green house (at 28 ± 2°C and 70% relative humidity). Briefly, a total of 60 healthy plants were inoculated with sclerotia and covered with polythene bags for 2 days and removed later. Plants (n=20) inoculated without any sclerotia were treated as controls. The development of characteristic foot rot disease was observed after 6-8 days post inoculation. A total of 38 plants showed the foot rot symptoms while control plants remained healthy. The identity of the fungus was confirmed by morphology and molecular sequence analysis after re-isolation. Chia is an important food crop and in recent times has been regarded as super food. Although S. rolfsii is known to be associated with many crops, this is the first report in chia. Therefore, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of foot rot disease caused by Sclerotium rolfsii on chia in India. Early diagnosis of this disease will help the farmers to adopt suitable management practices to avoid loss.
Grape (Vitis vinefera L.) is a popular horticulture crop in Karnataka, India. A fungal pathogen caused panicle blight on panicles with immature fruit and severity increased subsequently in the grape ...growing regions of Devanahalli and Doddaballapur, Karnataka, between August and September 2019. The disease incidence varied from 15 to 18 percent in around 45 hectares of grape vineyards surveyed. The associated fungal pathogen was isolated on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) medium (HiMedia Laboratory, Mumbai, India) amended with Chloramphenicol. A total of 12 fungal isolates were obtained and identified based on morphology. Fungal cultures obtained from all the panicle blight affected samples were fluffy grayish to black with profuse, dense mycelium. Microscopic examinations revealed that the conidia ellipsoidal, two celled and hyaline when young, and developed dark brown pigments at maturity. Mature conidia measured 18.24±2.35 to 26.62±3.11 μm long and 10.32±1.08 to 12.57±1.82 μm width (n=30). The fungal pathogen was identified as a Lasiodiplodia sp. based on colony morphology and microscopic features. A total of three representative isolates L. theobromae (Vv12, Vv15, and Vv19) were selected for molecular identification based on ITS-rDNA, tub2 and EF-1α gene sequences and phylogenetic analysis. Genomic DNA was isolated from 12 day old cultures and ITS-rDNA, tub2 and EF-1α genes were amplified using ITS1/ITS4; Bt2a/Bt2b and EF1-728F/986R primer pairs, respectively (White et al., 1990; Glass and Donaldson, 1995, Carbone and Kohn, 1999). PCR amplicons were sequenced and the sequences were deposited in GenBank with the accession number ITS: MZ855866.1; MZ855867.1; MZ855868.1; tub2: MZ868708.1; MZ868709.1; MZ868710.1 and EF-1α: OM604750; OM604751; OM604752 respectively. The phylogeny was constructed based on combined ITS, EF-1α and the tub2 regions. Maximum Likelihood (ML) analysis was conducted and an ML tree was constructed with the substitution models (branch support was evaluated by 1,000 bootstrap replications). Combined phylogeny confirmed that the sequences shared a common clade with L. theobromae. Based on micro-morphological features and multi-locus sequence phylogeny, the associated fungal pathogen was identified as L. theobromae. There are no reports on the occurrence of L. theobromae causing panicle blight on grapes from India. Further, the pathogens association was confirmed through pathogenicity assay conducted on field harvested healthy bunches of grapes maintained under humid chamber. A total of 10 grape bunches were inoculated with a mycelial disc on the rachis of the panicle and incubated in a moist chamber for 5 days and control sets were inoculated with only agar plugs. The experiments were conducted in three replicates and repeated twice. A total of 21 panicle bunches developed typical rot symptoms 12-days post inoculation. The identity of the pathogen was confirmed based on micromorphology and cultural features after re-isolation (n=5), thus proving the Koch postulates and confirming the association of L. theobromae with panicle blight of grapes. Lasiodiplodia species are known to cause dieback, stem blight, leaf blights and spots on various crop plants. Mathur (1979) mentioned the occurrence of L. theobromae on grapes, however, no further details are available on the part associated, as well as morphological and molecular confirmation of L. theobromae. This is the first report of the L. theobromae causing panicle blight disease of grapes in India. Further, understanding the host range for L. theobromae and its variation will help to draw suitable disease management strategies.
Neuromarketing is the field of studying neural signals to comprehend consumer behavior, which can help improve marketing strategies. In the recent past, scholars have conducted research to enhance ...the conceptual understanding of neuromarketing by applying bibliometric analysis. However, most studies either had a myopic view or considered a few articles. As a result, existing literature fails to provide a nuanced understanding of neuromarketing. The present research addresses this lacuna using a bibliometric analysis of 383 research articles across different domains from the Scopus database. The research covers the most influential authors, articles, top journals, most prominent countries, and institutions in the neuromarketing field. Next, keyword co‐occurrence analysis reveals major themes such as decision‐making in consumers, marketing and consumer behavior, advertisement, non‐invasive techniques in advertisement effectiveness, ERP and brand extension, brand and fMRI. Finally, analyzing the six thematic areas gives valuable insights into the current research. The study also provides research areas for future researchers by identifying the gaps in the present thematic areas.
Introduction
Bacterial blight (BB) caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae is a major disease of rice, specially in the tropical regions of the world. Developing rice varieties with host resistance ...against the disease is the most effective and economical solution for managing the disease.
Methods
Pyramiding resistance genes (Xa4, xa5, xa13,and Xa21) in popular rice varieties using marker-assisted backcross breeding (MABB) has been demonstrated as a cost-effective and sustainable approach for establishing durable BB resistance. Here, we report our successful efforts in introgressing four resistance genes (Xa4, xa5, xa13, and Xa21) from IRBB60 to CARI Dhan 5, a popular salt-tolerant variety developed from a somaclonal variant of Pokkali rice, through functional MABB.
Results and discussion
Both BB and coastal salinity are among the major challenges for rice production in tropical island and coastal ecosystems. Plants with four, three, and two gene pyramids were generated, which displayed high levels of resistance to the BB pathogen at the BC3F2 stage. Under controlled salinity microplot environments, the line 131-2-175-1223 identified with the presence of three gene pyramid (Xa21+xa13+xa5) displayed notable resistance across locations and years as well as exhibited a salinity tolerance comparable to the recurrent parent, CARI Dhan 5. Among two BB gene combinations (Xa21+xa13), two lines, 17-1-69-334 and 46-3-95-659, demonstrated resistance across locations and years, as well as salt tolerance and grain production comparable to CARI Dhan 5. Besides salinity tolerance, five lines, 17-1-69-179, 46-3-95-655, 131-2-190-1197, 131-2-175-1209, and 131-2-175-1239, exhibited complete resistance to BB disease. Following multilocation testing, potential lines have been identified that can serve as a prospective candidate for producing varieties for the tropical Andaman and Nicobar Islands and other coastal locations, which are prone to BB and coastal salinity stresses.
The findings of the EU 'Materials Assessment Group' (MAG), within the 2012 EU Fusion Roadmap exercise, are discussed. MAG analysed the technological readiness of structural, plasma facing and high ...heat flux materials for a DEMO concept to be constructed in the early 2030s, proposing a coherent strategy for R&D up to a DEMO construction decision. Technical consequences for the materials required and the development, testing and modelling programmes, are analysed using: a systems engineering approach, considering reactor operational cycles, efficient maintenance and inspection requirements, and interaction with functional materials/coolants; and a project-based risk analysis, with R&D to mitigate risks from material shortcomings including development of specific risk mitigation materials. Lessons learned from Fission reactor material development have been included, especially in safety and licensing, fabrication/joining techniques and designing for in-vessel inspection. The technical basis of using the ITER licensing experience to refine the issues in nuclear testing of materials is discussed.
Abstract
With different countries facing multiple waves, with some SARS-CoV-2 variants more deadly and virulent, the COVID-19 pandemic is becoming more dangerous by the day and the world is facing an ...even more dreadful extended pandemic with exponential positive cases and increasing death rates. There is an urgent need for more efficient and faster methods of vaccine development against SARS-CoV-2. Compared to experimental protocols, the opportunities to innovate are very high in immunoinformatics/in silico approaches, especially with the recent adoption of structural bioinformatics in peptide vaccine design. In recent times, multi-epitope-based peptide vaccine candidates (MEBPVCs) have shown extraordinarily high humoral and cellular responses to immunization. Most of the publications claim that respective reported MEBPVC(s) assembled using a set of in silico predicted epitopes, to be the computationally validated potent vaccine candidate(s) ready for experimental validation. However, in this article, for a given set of predicted epitopes, it is shown that the published MEBPVC is one among the many possible variants and there is high likelihood of finding more potent MEBPVCs than the published candidates. To test the same, a methodology is developed where novel MEBP variants are derived by changing the epitope order of the published MEBPVC. Further, to overcome the limitations of current qualitative methods of assessment of MEBPVC, to enable quantitative comparison and ranking for the discovery of more potent MEBPVCs, novel predictors, Percent Epitope Accessibility (PEA), Receptor specific MEBP vaccine potency (RMVP), MEBP vaccine potency (MVP) are introduced. The MEBP variants indeed showed varied MVP scores indicating varied immunogenicity. Further, the MEBP variants with IDs, SPVC_446 and SPVC_537, had the highest MVP scores indicating these variants to be more potent MEBPVCs than the published MEBPVC and hence should be preferred candidates for immediate experimental testing and validation. The method enables quicker selection and high throughput experimental validation of vaccine candidates. This study also opens the opportunity to develop new software tools for designing more potent MEBPVCs in less time.
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