Maize is an important industrial crop where yield and quality enhancement both assume greater importance. Clean production technologies like conservation agriculture and integrated nutrient ...management hold the key to enhance productivity and quality besides improving soil health and environment. Hence, maize productivity and quality were assessed under a maize-wheat cropping system (MWCS) using four crop-establishment and tillage management practices FBCT-FBCT (Flat bed-conventional tillage both in maize and wheat); RBCT-RBZT (Raised bed-CT in maize and raised bed-zero tillage in wheat); FBZT-FBZT (FBZT both in maize and wheat); PRBZT-PRBZT (Permanent raised bed-ZT both in maize and wheat, and five P-fertilization practices P
(100% soil applied-P); P
+ 2FSP (50% soil applied-P + 2 foliar-sprays of P through 2% DAP both in maize and wheat); P
+ PSB + AM-fungi; P
+ PSB + AMF + 2FSP; and P
(100% NK with no-P) in split-plot design replicated-thrice. Double zero-tilled PRBZT-PRBZT system significantly enhanced the maize grain, starch, protein and oil yield by 13.1-19% over conventional FBCT-FBCT. P
+ PSB + AMF + 2FSP, integrating soil applied-P, microbial-inoculants and foliar-P, had significantly higher grain, starch, protein and oil yield by 12.5-17.2% over P
besides saving 34.7% fertilizer-P both in maize and on cropping-system basis. P
+ PSB + AMF + 2FSP again had significantly higher starch, lysine and tryptophan content by 4.6-10.4% over P
due to sustained and synchronized P-bioavailability. Higher amylose content (24.1%) was observed in grains under P
+ PSB + AMF + 2FSP, a beneficial trait due to its lower glycemic-index highly required for diabetic patients, where current COVID-19 pandemic further necessitated the use of such dietary ingredients. Double zero-tilled PRBZT-PRBZT reported greater MUFA (oleic acid, 37.1%), MUFA: PUFA ratio and P/S index with 6.9% higher P/S index in corn-oil (an oil quality parameter highly required for heart-health) over RBCT-RBCT. MUFA, MUFA: PUFA ratio and P/S index were also higher under P
+ PSB + AMF + 2FSP; avowing the obvious role of foliar-P and microbial-inoculants in influencing maize fatty acid composition. Overall, double zero-tilled PRBZT-PRBZT with crop residue retention at 6 t/ha per year along with P
+ PSB + AMF + 2FSP while saving 34.7% fertilizer-P in MWCS, may prove beneficial in enhancing maize productivity and quality so as to reinforce the food and nutritional security besides boosting food, corn-oil and starch industry in south-Asia and collateral arid agro-ecologies across the globe.
KEY MESSAGE : A set of NILs carrying major blast resistance genes in a Basmati rice variety has been developed. Also, the efficacy of pyramids over monogenic NILs against rice blast pathogen ...Magnaporthe oryzae has been demonstrated. Productivity and quality of Basmati rice is severely affected by rice blast disease. Major genes and QTLs conferring resistance to blast have been reported only in non-Basmati rice germplasm. Here, we report incorporation of seven blast resistance genes from the donor lines DHMASQ164-2a (Pi54, Pi1, Pita), IRBLz5-CA (Pi2), IRBLb-B (Pib), IRBL5-M (Pi5) and IRBL9-W (Pi9) into the genetic background of an elite Basmati rice variety Pusa Basmati 1 (PB1). A total of 36 near-isogenic lines (NILs) comprising of 14 monogenic, 16 two-gene pyramids and six three-gene pyramids were developed through marker-assisted backcross breeding (MABB). Foreground, recombinant and background selection was used to identify the plants with target gene(s), minimize the linkage drag and increase the recurrent parent genome (RPG) recovery (93.5–98.6 %), respectively, in the NILs. Comparative analysis performed using 50,051 SNPs and 500 SSR markers revealed that the SNPs provided better insight into the RPG recovery. Most of the monogenic NILs showed comparable performance in yield and quality, concomitantly, Pusa1637-18-7-6-20 (Pi9), was significantly superior in yield and stable across four different environments as compared to recurrent parent (RP) PB1. Further, among the pyramids, Pusa1930-12-6 (Pi2+Pi5) showed significantly higher yield and Pusa1633-7-8-53-6-8 (Pi54+Pi1+Pita) was superior in cooking quality as compared to RP PB1. The NILs carrying gene Pi9 were found to be the most effective against the concoction of virulent races predominant in the hotspot locations for blast disease. Conversely, when analyzed under artificial inoculation, three-gene pyramids expressed enhanced resistance as compared to the two-gene and monogenic NILs.
In the present study, a total of 53 promising salt-tolerant genotypes were tested across 18 salt-affected diverse locations for three years. An attempt was made to identify ideal test locations and ...mega-environments using GGE biplot analysis. The CSSRI sodic environment was the most discriminating location in individual years as well as over the years and could be used to screen out unstable and salt-sensitive genotypes. Genotypes CSR36, CSR-2K-219, and CSR-2K-262 were found ideal across years. Overall, Genotypes CSR-2K-219, CSR-2K-262, and CSR-2K-242 were found superior and stable among all genotypes with higher mean yields. Different sets of genotypes emerged as winners in saline soils but not in sodic soils; however, Genotype CSR-2K-262 was the only genotype that was best under both saline and alkaline environments over the years. The lack of repeatable associations among locations and repeatable mega-environment groupings indicated the complexity of soil salinity. Hence, a multi-location and multi-year evaluation is indispensable for evaluating the test sites as well as identifying genotypes with consistently specific and wider adaptation to particular agro-climatic zones. The genotypes identified in the present study could be used for commercial cultivation across edaphically challenged areas for sustainable production.
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•Paper waste and rice straw was used as feedstock for the earthworm, Eisenia fetida.•Vermicomposting convert paper waste and rice straw into nutrient rich vermicompost.•Vermicompost ...is more fragmented and mineralized than raw materials.•Maximum earthworm growth rate was found in 90% cow dung +10% rice straw.
Present study was undertaken to investigate the vermicomposting of two different organic wastes (rice straw and paper waste) employing, Eisenia fetida. Nine feedstocks were prepared with different ratios of wastes using cow dung as bulking substrate. After pre-composting, worms were allowed to feed on different feedstocks for 105 days under laboratory conditions. The results showed that NPK content was higher in the vermicompost. Heavy metal content was also higher in the vermicomposts. Whereas total organic carbon and C:N ratio were lower after vermicomposting, by 17.38–58.04% and 19–102% respectively. SEM images revealed changes in the morphology of vermicompost. Earthworm growth and reproduction was significant in different feedstocks except one containing 50% rice straw depicting that this ratio is not suitable for the earthworms. Results further demonstrated that proportion of bulking substrate affect the earthworm growth and reproduction.
Exciton many-body interaction is the fundamental light–matter interaction that determines the optical response of the new class of colloidal perovskite nanocrystals of the general formula CsPbX3 X = ...Cl, Br, or I. However, the understanding of exciton many-body interactions manifested through the transient biexcitonic Stark effect at the early time scales and the Auger recombination process in this new class of materials still remains rather incomplete. In this Article, we studied the many-body exciton interactions under controlled conditions through ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy. A large biexcitonic redshift ∼30 meV to the effect of hot excitations on the excitonic resonance is observed at the early time scales. From the fluence-dependent studies, it is evident that the samples have only single and biexciton lifetimes, suggesting that the band edges are 2-fold degenerate. This explicit experimental evidence for the exciton many-body interactions in CsPbBr3 nanocrystals provides a powerful tool to explore the development of their prospective applications in light-emitting devices, lasers, and solar cells.
The search for ferromagnetism above room temperature in dilute magnetic semiconductors has been intense in recent years. We report the first observations of ferromagnetism above room temperature for ...dilute (<4 at.%) Mn-doped ZnO. The Mn is found to carry an average magnetic moment of 0.16 mu(B) per ion. Our ab initio calculations find a valance state of Mn(2+) and that the magnetic moments are ordered ferromagnetically, consistent with the experimental findings. We have obtained room-temperature ferromagnetic ordering in bulk pellets, in transparent films 2-3 microm thick, and in the powder form of the same material. The unique feature of our sample preparation was the low-temperature processing. When standard high-temperature (T > 700 degrees C) methods were used, samples were found to exhibit clustering and were not ferromagnetic at room temperature. This capability to fabricate ferromagnetic Mn-doped ZnO semiconductors promises new spintronic devices as well as magneto-optic components.
The low thermal properties of liquids have led to investigations into additives of small size (less than 100nm solid particles) to enhance their heat transfer properties and hydrodynamic flow. To ...summarise the experimental and numerical studies, this paper reviews these computational simulations and finds that most of them are in agreement with the results of experimental work. Many of the studies report enhancements in the heat transfer coefficient with an increase in the concentration of solid particles. Certain studies with a smaller particle size indicated an increase in the heat transfer enhancement when compared to values obtained with a larger size. Additionally, the effect of the shape of the flow area on the heat transfer enhancement has been explored by a number of studies. All of the studies showed a nominal increase in pressure drop. The significant applications in the engineering field explain why so many investigators have studied heat transfer with augmentation by a nanofluid in the heat exchanger. This article presents a review of the heat transfer applications of nanofluids to develop directions for future work. The high volume fraction of various nanofluids will be useful in car radiators to enhance the heat transfer numerically and experimentally. Correlation equations can expose relationships between the Nusselt number, the Reynolds number, the concentration and the diameter of the nanoparticles. On the other hand, more work is needed to compare the shapes (e.g., circular, elliptical and flat tube) that might enhance the heat transfer with a minimal pressure drop.
•Thermal hydraulic performance of TiO2-SiO2 nanofluids with wire coil inserts.•Experiments are undertaken for 0.5–3.0% concentration and P/D of 0.83–4.17.•Maximum heat transfer enhancement up to ...254.4% for nanofluids with wire coil.•Thermal performance factor up to 2.06 for 2.5% concentration and P/D of 1.50.•TiO2-SiO2 nanofluids with wire coil is effectively for heat transfer applications.
The compound technique that combines nanofluids with wire coil inserts has proven itself in achieving double augmentation in heat transfer. This paper presents the thermal hydraulic performance of TiO2-SiO2 nanofluids with wire coil inserts. The experiments were conducted for Reynolds number from 2300 to 12,000 to determine the heat transfer performance and friction factor of TiO2-SiO2 nanofluids with wire coil inserts. The TiO2-SiO2 nanofluids were prepared by using the two-step method for volume concentrations of 0.5–3.0%. The wire coil inserts are designed at various ratios of pitch over diameter (P/D) in the range of 0.83–4.17. The heat transfer performance of nanofluids was enhanced for a maximum of 254.4%, while the friction factor was obtained in the range of 1.76–6.38 times higher than water/EG in a plain tube. The thermal performance factor (TPF), η for the nanofluids with wire coil inserts at all volume concentrations was observed greater than 1.0. The optimum performance of TiO2-SiO2 nanofluids with wire coil occurred at 2.5% volume concentration and 1.50 pitch ratio. At this condition, the TiO2-SiO2 nanofluids with wire coil inserts provide the highest TPF and represent the best condition for cooling system applications.
Summary
Background
Accurately diagnosing the subtype of epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is critical for management and genetic counselling. Modern laboratory techniques are largely inaccessible in ...developing countries, where the diagnosis remains clinical and often inaccurate.
Objectives
To develop a simple clinical diagnostic tool to aid in the diagnosis and subtyping of EB.
Methods
We developed a matrix indicating presence or absence of a set of distinctive clinical features (as rows) for the nine most prevalent EB subtypes (as columns). To test an individual patient, presence or absence of these features was compared with the findings expected in each of the nine subtypes to see which corresponded best. If two or more diagnoses scored equally, the diagnosis with the greatest number of specific features was selected. The matrix was tested using findings from 74 genetically characterized patients with EB aged > 6 months by an investigator blinded to molecular diagnosis. For concordance, matrix diagnoses were compared with molecular diagnoses.
Results
Overall, concordance between the matrix and molecular diagnoses for the four major types of EB was 91·9%, with a kappa coefficient of 0·88 95% confidence interval (CI) 0·81–0·95; P < 0·001. The matrix achieved a 75·7% agreement in classifying EB into its nine subtypes, with a kappa coefficient of 0·73 (95% CI 0·69–0·77; P < 0·001).
Conclusions
The matrix appears to be simple, valid and useful in predicting the type and subtype of EB. An electronic version will facilitate further testing.
What's already known about this topic?
Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) represents a highly diverse group of genodermatoses characterized by skin fragility.
Immunofluorescence antigen mapping is the first‐line diagnostic test in characterizing EB into its major types.
Genetic testing, the gold standard for confirming the diagnosis, is not readily available in resource‐poor settings.
What does this study add?
We developed a novel clinical diagnostic matrix to help classify EB into its major types and subtypes, in patients > 6 months of age.
The diagnostic matrix is useful in diagnosing EB when accurate laboratory testing is unavailable.
An electronic version is available to facilitate use of the diagnostic matrix in practice.
Respond to this article
Linked Comment: McGrath. Br J Dermatol 2017; 176:1442–1443
Plain language summary available online
The aim of this study was to identify stable rice genotypes tolerant to a salt stress environment and to identify ideal mega-environments using AMMI (additive main effects and multiplicative ...interaction) stability model analysis. A total of 13 rice genotypes and three salt tolerance checks were evaluated across 13 salt stress locations (alkaline and saline) for the two kharif seasons of 2014 and 2015. Genotype CSR 36 (CHK3) was found to be the most ideal of those tested. Genotypes CHK2 (CST 27) and IR 87952-1-1-1-2-3-B (G05) were found to be the most stable, with above average yields. The check CSR 36 (CHK3) genotype was the best performer in the majority of the environments studied, followed by CSR 27 (CHK2) and IR 87952-1-1-1-2-3-B (G05) which were the best genotypes in the mega-environment consisting of 21 environments evaluated across stress locations and year combinations. Overall, the most promising genotype (IR 87952-1-1-1-2-3-B) had high mean yield and stability and could be used for commercial cultivation or used as donor for breeding programs across salt-affected soils. The genotypes GN13 (IR 87938-1-1-2-1-3-B) and GN11 (IR 87938-1-2-2-1-3-B) showed 60–80% yield advantage at specific salt stress locations, showing that these genotypes could be used for specific environments of salt-affected soils in India.
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