Mountainous regions of the globe experience landslides due to heavy rainfall and unplanned construction on slopes. Geojute is adopted globally as a landslide rehabilitation measure, but its impact on ...natural vegetation development is poorly understood. The present study was conducted to examine the impact of geojute application on vegetation restoration, ecology and carbon stock in a recently occurred landslide, during 2012. The results revealed that the geojute application improved the richness, diversity, density and basal area of plant species at the landslide site. Likewise, biomass production, carbon stock and carbon sequestration of plant species was observed significantly higher in geojute treatments compared to control (without geojute treatment). Moreover, significant improvement in soil moisture was recorded beneath the geojute treatments. Further, results showed that the geojute is highly effective in controlling soil erosion at the landslide site. The findings of this study revealed ecological and environmental benefits of geojute application in term of improvement in vegetation recovery processes, species diversity and carbon sequestration at the landslide site. The scientific outcome of this study can be helpful for planning the rehabilitation measures in landslide affected regions of the globe.
In this Letter, the ALICE Collaboration presents the first measurements of the charged-particle multiplicity density, dNch/dη, and total charged-particle multiplicity, Nchtot, in Xe–Xe collisions at ...a centre-of-mass energy per nucleon–nucleon pair of sNN=5.44TeV. The measurements are performed as a function of collision centrality over a wide pseudorapidity range of −3.5<η<5. The values of dNch/dη at mid-rapidity and Nchtot for central collisions, normalised to the number of nucleons participating in the collision (Npart) as a function of sNN follow the trends established in previous heavy-ion measurements. The same quantities are also found to increase as a function of Npart, and up to the 5% most central collisions the trends are the same as the ones observed in Pb–Pb at a similar energy. For more central collisions, the Xe–Xe scaled multiplicities exceed those in Pb–Pb for a similar Npart. The results are compared to phenomenological models and theoretical calculations based on different mechanisms for particle production in nuclear collisions. All considered models describe the data reasonably well within 15%.
Titanium alloys have exceptional mechanical properties together with high strength to weight ratio and have widespread applications in the aerospace sector. Generally, these alloys have drawback with ...machinability. Wire-Electro Discharge Machining (WEDM) is in use to make complex shapes. Titanium alloy efficient machining includes choosing appropriate process parameters to optimize the performance characteristics. The present experimental investigation deals with process optimization of Wire Electro Discharge Machining (WEDM) process on Titanium grade 5 material using brass wire of 0.25 mm. Servo Voltage, Peak current, Pulse-on-time and Pulse-off-time, are considered as input parameters. Experiments are carried out utilizing Taguchi's L27 orthogonal array. Every process parameter is analyzed at 3 levels by using Grey Relational Analysis (GRA). The finest process parameters that optimize the Wire Wear Ratio (WWR) and Surface Roughness (SR) are identified. ANOVA is accomplished to estimate the significance of all input parameters on output performance characteristics. Confirmation tests are conducted. Experimental results are in acceptable concurrence with the confirmation test values.
In this paper, an attempt was made to study the physico-chemical properties of ground water of the Kozhikode district, Kerala, India, by applying multivariate statistical methods on samples collected ...from various parts of the study area. Combining principal component analysis and multiple linear regression (MLR), we developed a regression model for predicting total dissolved solids (TDS) in terms of calcium, magnesium, nitrate, sodium, chloride, potassium, bicarbonate and sulfate. This study revealed that statistically, calcium is the most significant component of TDS in the study area. The relevance of the regression model with respect to experimental data was further evaluated by applying structural equation modeling (SEM).
Objectives To test susceptibilities of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) isolates to ethambutol by the Löwenstein–Jensen (LJ) proportion method and resazurin microtitre assay (REMA) and to evaluate ...REMA for the determination of ethambutol MICs for MTB and Mycobacterium avium isolates. Methods A total of 50 MTB and 20 M. avium isolates were tested to determine the MICs of ethambutol by REMA and agar dilution method. MTB isolates were also tested by the LJ proportion method. Results REMA provided ethambutol susceptibility results for all the isolates within 8–9 days. For MTB isolates, REMA showed 96.7% sensitivity, 100.0% specificity and 98.0% accuracy when LJ proportion results were taken as ‘gold standard’. For both MTB and M. avium isolates, the MICs determined by REMA were lower than those determined in agar medium, indicating that MIC values determined by REMA are closer to the actual MICs for the isolates. Conclusions REMA can be used as a rapid and inexpensive method for mycobacterial drug susceptibility testing against ethambutol. In comparison with the agar method, the MICs determined by REMA can more accurately be correlated with achievable plasma concentrations of antimycobacterial agents.
•A pool of 310 endophytes was screened against three soil borne plant pathogens.•Three endophytes were tested in planta for its suppressive ability against Sclerotium rolfsii.•Fifteen endophytes ...having strong suppressive ability belonged to genera Bacillus, Lysinibacillus, and Stenotrophomonas.•Endophytic Bacillus sp. 2P2 reduced collar rot infection and its further progress in the plant.•The process involved modulation of the phenylpropanoid pathway and induction of PR proteins.
A diverse pool of 310 bacterial endophytes isolated from tomato plants growing in the Indo-Gangetic plains of India was evaluated for their antagonistic potential against three soil-borne fungal pathogens causing root rot (Rhizoctonia solani), collar rot (Sclerotium rolfsii) and, fungal wilt (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici). Preliminary screening indicated that most of the isolates could inhibit R. solani and F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici to the greater extent but failed to reduce mycelia growth of S. rolfsii by more than 50 percent. The only exceptions were 1PR7a, 2P2, and 2PR9b which were further characterized and evaluated against S. rolfsii. Molecular identification of 15 isolates based on 16s rRNA gene sequence similarity indicated the presence of three genera viz. Bacillus, Lysinibacillus, and Stenotrophomonas. In planta trial in tomato challenged with pathogen S. rolfsii in presence and absence of endophyte inoculation revealed that Bacillus sp. 2P2 showed the highest protection against S. rolfsii. These strains elicited induced systemic resistance of plant and significantly higher activity (p ≤ 0.05) of phenylalanine ammonia lyase, peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase, and ascorbate oxidase indicating the further strengthening of cell wall barrier through lipid peroxidation, cross linking of cell walls, lignifications, suberization and other cell wall strengthening processes. It was further confirmed by confocal scanning laser micrographs of upper collar region. It was evident that the inoculation of endophyte inhibited the colonization and movement of the pathogen. In addition, endophytes upregulated the expression of three pathogenesis-related genes PR1a, PR2a, and PR3, which are responsible for production of glucanases and chitinases contributing to pathogen inhibition. Further, oxidative stress alleviation was evident from decreased superoxide accumulation and enhanced dry matter content. Results of the present study indicated suppressive potential of endophyte Bacillus sp. 2P2 against S. rolfsii which could be useful in collar rot management in the nursery as well as after transplantation.
The present study was conducted to document the rearing practices of village
chicken production in the Northern midlands, agro-ecological zone comprising
Kannur and Kozhikode districts of Kerala ...state, India. Data was generated from
65 and 63 chicken farming families of Kozhikode and Kannur districts
respectively. The system of chicken rearing is extensive, with the provision of
shelter only during the night. The birds are being managed mostly by women
(89.06%). The decision on the sale of birds and eggs is made by women and the
proceeds of sales go directly to them. It was found that as many as 43.75% of
the chicken farmers in these areas have no other animal husbandry activities.
The average flock size is 5.62 birds. Natural incubation using locally available
materials as a nest box and sand as the nesting material is the common practice.
The average number of eggs set under the broody hen for hatching is 10.41.
Chicken coops are placed at an average distance of 5.45m from the house and
elevated 0.39 m from the ground. The average floor area of the coops is 0.757
m2 and the night shelter provided per bird is 830.39
cm2. The walls and floor of the coops are made of wood and the roof
with tiles or thatch in most of cases. Rice grain is commonly fed as
supplementary feed with mostly no specific timing in feeding. Farmers depend on
an array of herbs rather than chemotherapeutic agents and vaccines for the
treatment and control of diseases. Most of the surplus males (59.38%) are
discarded before one year of age, whereas females are less commonly culled
(21.87%). The average culling age of males and females was 11.05 and 36.64
months, respectively. It was discovered that as high as 52.15% of the eggs and
59.38% of the cockerels produced are consumed in the home. When sold they
attract at least a two-fold higher price compared to birds of industrial
origin.
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