Excessive dependence on chemical fertilizers and ignorance to organic and microbial inputs under intensive cropping systems are the basic components of contemporary agriculture, which evolves several ...sustainability issues, such as degraded soil health and sub-optimal crop productivity. This scenario urges for integrated nutrient management approaches, such as microbes-mediated integrated plant nutrition for curtailing the high doses as chemical fertilizers. Rationally, experiment has been conducted in pigeonpea at ICAR-IARI, New Delhi, with the aim of identifying the appropriate nutrient management technique involving microbial and organic nutrient sources for improved rhizo-modulation, crop productivity, and soil bio-fertility. The randomized block-designed experiment consisted nine treatments
viz
. Control, Recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF), RDF+ Microbial inoculants (MI), Vermicompost (VC), Farm Yard Manure (FYM), Leaf Compost (LC), VC + MI, FYM + MI, and LC + MI.
Rhizobium
spp.,
Pseudomonas
spp.,
Bacillus
spp., and
Frateuria aurantia
were used as seed-inoculating microbes. The results indicated the significant response of integration following the trend VC + MI > FYM + MI > LC + MI > RDF + MI for various plant shoot-root growth attributes and soil microbial and enzymatic properties. FYM + MI significantly improved the water-stable aggregates (22%), mean weight diameter (1.13 mm), and geometric mean diameter (0.93 mm), soil organic carbon (SOC), SOC stock, and SOC sequestration. The chemical properties
viz
. available N, P, and K were significantly improved with VC + MI. The study summarizes that FYM + MI could result in better soil physico-chemical and biological properties and shoot-root development; however; VC + MI could improve available nutrients in the soil and may enhance the growth of pigeonpea more effectively. The outcomes of the study are postulated as a viable and alternative solution for excessive chemical fertilizer-based nutrient management and would also promote the microbial consortia and organic manures-based agro-industries. This would add to the goal of sustainable agricultural development by producing quality crop produce, maintaining agro-biodiversity and making the soils fertile and healthy that would be a “gift to the society.”
ABSTRACT
1ES 1959+650, a high-energy peaked BL Lac object (HBL) with redshift z = 0.047, is known to exhibit flux and spectral variability in different energy bands. In this work, we primarily ...considered the simultaneous Fermi-LAT and Swift-XRT data of 1ES 1959+650 to study the flux and spectral variability in the energy ranges (0.1–300 GeV) and (0.6–10 keV), respectively. Using the Fermi-LAT light curve, a stretch of quiescent state and three high flux states of the source were identified. The flux and the spectral variability were studied using flare profiles and flux-index loops. In the γ-ray energies, 1ES 1959+650 clearly showed the evolution ‘softer-when-brighter’ whereas in the X-rays it showed the trend ‘harder-when-brighter’. 1ES 1959+650 also showed quick changes in spectral shape in the γ-ray band when the γ-ray flux was changing during the flares. The spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of the source were constructed using simultaneous data from Fermi-LAT, Swift-XRT, Swift-UVOT during its evolution. The TeV data from TACTIC imaging telescope were also used to construct the SED in the quiescent state. The spectral modelling of the SEDs revealed that due to the spectral variability of 1ES 1959+650, the standard leptonic one zone model cannot be used to explain the emission from this source. Instead a two zone leptonic model is needed to explain the observed SEDs from this blazar.
Morbid obesity is a barrier to kidney transplantation due to inferior outcomes, including higher rates of new‐onset diabetes after transplantation (NODAT), delayed graft function (DGF), and graft ...failure. Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) increases transplant eligibility by reducing BMI in kidney transplant candidates, but the effect of surgical weight loss on posttransplantation outcomes is unknown. Reviewing single‐center medical records, we identified all patients who underwent LSG before kidney transplantation from 2011‐2016 (n = 20). Post‐LSG kidney recipients were compared with similar‐BMI recipients who did not undergo LSG, using 2:1 direct matching for patient factors. McNemar's test and signed‐rank test were used to compare groups. Among post‐LSG patients, mean BMI ± standard deviation (SD) was 41.5 ± 4.4 kg/m2 at initial encounter, which decreased to 32.3 ± 2.9 kg/m2 prior to transplantation (P < .01). No complications, readmissions, or mortality occurred following LSG. After transplantation, one patient (5%) experienced DGF, and no patients experienced NODAT. Allograft and patient survival at 1‐year posttransplantation was 100%. Compared with non‐LSG patients, post‐LSG recipients had lower rates of DGF (5% vs 20%) and renal dysfunction–related readmissions (10% vs 27.5%) (P < .05 each). Perioperative complications, allograft survival, and patient survival were similar between groups. These data suggest that morbidly obese patients with end‐stage renal disease who undergo LSG to improve transplant candidacy, achieve excellent posttransplantation outcomes.
Whereas morbid obesity portends poor outcomes after kidney transplantation, morbidly obese end‐stage renal disease patients may undergo sleeve gastrectomy to improve transplant candidacy and achieve excellent posttransplant outcomes.
Dysprosium doped Bismuth Antimony fluoroborate (BiSFB) glasses were synthesized using conventional melt-quenching method. The as prepared glasses were investigated for optical absorption ...photoluminescence (PL) excitation, PL emission and PL decay The amorphous nature of the titled glasses were confirmed by XRD measurement. Judd-Ofelt (J-O) parameters through optical absorption are utilized to evaluate various radiative parameters such as radiative transition probability (AR), radiative lifetime (τR), branching ratio (βR), peak wavelength (λP), effective line widths (Δ λp) and stimulated emission cross-section (σ) for the characteristic 4F9/2 → 6H15/2,4F9/2 → 6H13/2 and 4F9/2 → 6H11/2 transitions of Dy3+ions of prepared glasses. The direct and indirect band gap energies were calculated using Tauc's plot. The PL spectra under 387 nm excitation show bright yellow-blue emission at 575 nm. Experimental lifetime has been evaluated using a monoexponential decay fit of the 4F9/2 excited state and used to understand the non-radiative emission rates and quantum efficiency. Emission cross-section, CIE coordinates and CCT values along with quantum efficiency, and non-radiative rates reveal the grander nature of the Dy3+ions doped BiSFB glasses in photonic applications.
Display omitted
•The Judd –Ofelt (J-O) intensity parameters are evaluated from the oscillator strength by measuring area under the absorption spectra as prepared glasses.•Adjusting the relative strength of yellow light passing through the crystal field can alter the color tone of Dy3+ doped glasses, the white emission of the BiSFBDy1.0 glass is more prominent as CCT value of this glass is 5185 K which is very near to the reported sunlight (5500 K) and is a cool source of generation of white light.
In this work, we report on the detection of enhanced TeV γ- ray emission from the high synchrotron-peaked blazar Mrk 421 with the TACTIC telescope on the night of December 28, 2014 (MJD 57019). We ...use data from the TACTIC observations of Mrk 421 for one week during December 25–31, 2014 (MJD 57016–57022) in this study. The TACTIC observation on December 28, 2014 (MJD 57019) alone results in the detection of 86 ± 17 γ- ray like events from Mrk 421 with a statistical significance of 5.17σ in a livetime of ∼ 2.2 hours above an energy threshold of 0.85 TeV. The high statistics (higher than three Crab Units) of TeV photons enables us to study the very high energy (VHE) γ- ray emission from the source at shorter timescales. A minimum variability timescale of ∼ 0.72 days is obtained for the TeV γ- ray emission from Mrk 421 during the above flaring activity of the source. The intrinsic VHE spectrum is described by a power law with spectral index of 2.99 ± 0.38 in the energy range 0.85–8.5 TeV. The integral VHE γ- ray flux above 0.85 TeV is determined to be (3.68±0.64)×10−11 ph cm−2 s−1 from the TACTIC observations of Mrk 421 on the night of December 28, 2014 (MJD 57019). Near simultaneous measurements by the HAWC observatory give an integral flux of (2.90±0.40)×10−11 ph cm−2 s−1 above 2 TeV from Mrk 421 observations on December 29, 2014 (MJD 57020.33–57020.58). We have also analysed the contemporaneous data from Fermi-LAT to study the high energy (HE) γ–ray emission during the high activity state of the source. The HE γ–ray emission is observed to be increasing after the TeV flaring activity detected with the TACTIC. We also use other near simultaneous archival data available from the Swift-BAT in hard X-rays and from SPOL at Steward Observatory in optical V and R bands to characterize the multi-wavelength emission of Mrk 421 during the high activity state observed at TeV energies. The TeV γ- ray emission observed on December 28, 2014 (MJD 57019) is found to be more prominent than the emissions in lower energy bands during the same period. The TeV γ- ray observation of Mrk 421 in high activity state with the TACTIC telescope is also used to understand the physical mechanism for blazar emission under the frame work of the leptonic single zone synchrotron self Compton process.
Though nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) is commonly used for non-invasive neonatal respiratory support, the optimal method of weaning NCPAP is not established. In this prospective, ...two-center randomized control trial we hypothesize that gradually increasing spontaneous breathing time off NCPAP increases successful weaning from NCPAP in infants born <31 weeks gestational age.
Infants were randomized to one of the two NCPAP weaning protocols, a sprinting, that is, gradually increasing spontaneous breathing time off CPAP, protocol vs a non-sprinting (weaning pressure down) protocol.
Eighty-six infants were enrolled in one of the two study groups. Thirty-one infants (77%) in the sprinting group and 30 (75%) in the non-sprinting group were successfully weaned off NCPAP at the first attempt (P>0.05). It took 1.3 (1 to 1.75) (median (IQR)) attempts and 7 (7 to 7) days to wean NCPAP off in the sprinting group vs 1.3 (1 to 1.75) attempts and 7 (7 to 10) days in the non-sprinting group (P>0.05). Additionally, no differences in the secondary outcomes of bronchopulmonary dysplasia, severe retinopathy of prematurity (⩾stage 3), periventricular leukomalacia and length of stay were noted between the two groups.
Weaning NCPAP via sprinting or non-sprinting protocol is comparable, not only for successful weaning but also for the occurrence of common neonatal morbidities that impact the long-term outcome in premature infants (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02819050).
The recent discovery of ferromagnetism above room temperature in low-temperature-processed MnO(2)-ZnO has generated significant interest. Using suitably designed bulk and thin-film studies, we ...demonstrate that the ferromagnetism in this system originates in a metastable phase rather than by carrier-induced interaction between separated Mn atoms in ZnO. The ferromagnetism persists up to approximately 980 K, and further heating transforms the metastable phase and kills the ferromagnetism. By studying the interface diffusion and reaction between thin-film bilayers of Mn and Zn oxides, we show that a uniform solution of Mn in ZnO does not form under low-temperature processing. Instead, a metastable ferromagnetic phase develops by Zn diffusion into the Mn oxide. Direct low-temperature film growth of Zn-incorporated Mn oxide by pulsed laser deposition shows ferromagnetism at low Zn concentration for an optimum oxygen growth pressure. Our results strongly suggest that the observed ferromagnetic phase is oxygen-vacancy-stabilized Mn(2-x)Zn(x)O(3-delta.).
In this paper, we discuss an artificial intelligence based approach to constrain the redshift of blazars using combined
γ
–ray observations from the
Fermi
Large Area Telescope (LAT) and ground based ...atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes (ACTs) in GeV and
sub
TeV energy regimes respectively. The spectral measurements in GeV and TeV energy bands show a redshift dependent spectral break in the
γ
–ray spectra of blazars. We use this observational feature of blazars to constrain their redshift. The observed spectral information of blazars with known redshifts reported in the
Fermi
catalogs (3FGL and 1FHL) and TeV catalog are used to train an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) based algorithm. The training of the ANN methodology is optimized using
Levenberg - Marquardt
algorithm with
γ
–ray spectral indices and redshifts of 35 well observed blazars as input and output parameters respectively. After training, we use only observed spectral indices in GeV and sub TeV regimes for 10 blazars as inputs to predict their redshifts. The comparison of predicted redshifts by the ANN with the known redshift suggests that both the values are consistent within
∼
18
%
uncertainty. The method proposed in the present work would be helpful in future for constraining or predicting the redshifts of the blazars using only observational
γ
–ray spectral informations obtained from the
Fermi
-LAT and current generation IACTs as well as from the next generation Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) with improved source statistics.
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