Potential and economics of ashwagandha (Withania somnifera (Linn.) Duna!) in overlapping cropping system under rainfed conditions of sub-tropical North India

Field experiments were conducted at Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow to find out production potential and economic returns of traditional monocropping systems vis-a-vis alternative cropping system. The cropping systems evaluated were: pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) fallow, maize (Zea mays) - fallow and okra (Ablmoschus esculentus) - fallow (traditional monocropping system) and medicinal plant, ashwagandha (Withania soml1iftra), at low (100 x 103 plants ha-1) and high (200 x 103 plants ha-1) population densities (LPD and BPD, respectively), as mono as well as overlap crop "'ith pearl millet, maize or okra (alternate cropping systems). All the overlapping cropping systems recorded higher productivity in tenns of pearl millet grain equivalent yield (PGEY) and economic returns over traditional cropping systerns. Pearl mlilet-ashwagandha (at HPD) overlapping cropping system; recorded 6.8 to 176.7% higher PGRY over remaining traditional as well as alternate cropping systems; the minimum being over maize-aswagandha and maximum over maize-fallow. The corresponding increase in net economic returns was 22.4-278.7%. Ashwagandha at HPD of 200 x 103 plant ha-1 under monocropping yielded 53.8% and 66.7-73.3% higher roots than it was grown at LOP under monocropping and overlapping cropping systems, respectively. Also, ashwagandha at either of the population densities under monocropping system proved more economical than traditional mono cropping systems. Better yield and economic returns make ashwagandha an ideal crop for moisture stress rainfed conditions. Overlapping cropping of ashwagandha is suggested as a way to improve the productivity and economic returns from resource constrained rainfed agriculture in sub-tropical North India. &nbsp

Intercropping of Indian basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) for enhancing resource utilization efficiency of aromatic grasses

Field trials on interctopping of Indian basil (Ocimum basilicum) with perennial aromatic grasses such as palmarosa (Cymbopogon martinii), lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus) and vetiver (Vetiveria zizanioides) were conducted at Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh). Indian basil was intercropped with aromatic grasses (spaced at 45 cm) during planting and establishment year of aromatic grasses. Intercropping with Indian basil did not affect the essential oil production of aromatic grasses; however oil yield of Indian basil were reduced by 60% and 24% with palmarosa and lemongrass, respectively, over monocropping. Intercropping however, improved the net economic returns of lemongrass, vetiver and palmarosa by 61 %, 140% and 65%, respectively, over their respective monocropping. Intercropping led to considerable improvement in land equivalent ratio 0.36-1.91), area time equivalent ratio (1.04-1.19), land use efficiency 020%-151 %) and money equivalent ratio 0.37-3.01). &nbsp

The 72-Hour WEBT Microvariability Observation of Blazar S5 0716+714 in 2009

Context. The international whole earth blazar telescope (WEBT) consortium planned and carried out three days of intensive micro-variability observations of S5 0716+714 from February 22, 2009 to February 25, 2009. This object was chosen due to its bright apparent magnitude range, its high declination, and its very large duty cycle for micro-variations. Aims. We report here on the long continuous optical micro-variability light curve of 0716+714 obtained during the multi-site observing campaign during which the Blazar showed almost constant variability over a 0.5 magnitude range. The resulting light curve is presented here for the first time. Observations from participating observatories were corrected for instrumental differences and combined to construct the overall smoothed light curve. Methods. Thirty-six observatories in sixteen countries participated in this continuous monitoring program and twenty of them submitted data for compilation into a continuous light curve. The light curve was analyzed using several techniques including Fourier transform, Wavelet and noise analysis techniques. Those results led us to model the light curve by attributing the variations to a series of synchrotron pulses. Results. We have interpreted the observed microvariations in this extended light curve in terms of a new model consisting of individual stochastic pulses due to cells in a turbulent jet which are energized by a passing shock and cool by means of synchrotron emission. We obtained an excellent fit to the 72-hour light curve with the synchrotron pulse model

Low phospholipid associated cholelithiasis: association with mutation in the MDR3/ABCB4 gene

Low phospholipid-associated cholelithiasis (LPAC) is characterized by the association of ABCB4 mutations and low biliary phospholipid concentration with symptomatic and recurring cholelithiasis. This syndrome is infrequent and corresponds to a peculiar small subgroup of patients with symptomatic gallstone disease. The patients with the LPAC syndrome present typically with the following main features: age less than 40 years at onset of symptoms, recurrence of biliary symptoms after cholecystectomy, intrahepatic hyperechoic foci or sludge or microlithiasis along the biliary tree. Defect in ABCB4 function causes the production of bile with low phospholipid content, increased lithogenicity and high detergent properties leading to bile duct luminal membrane injuries and resulting in cholestasis with increased serum gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) activity. Intrahepatic gallstones may be evidenced by ultrasonography (US), computing tomography (CT) abdominal scan or magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, intrahepatic hyperechogenic foci along the biliary tree may be evidenced by US, and hepatic bile composition (phospholipids) may be determined by duodenoscopy. In all cases where the ABCB4 genotyping confirms the diagnosis of LPAC syndrome in young adults, long-term curative or prophylactic therapy with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) should be initiated early to prevent the occurrence or recurrence of the syndrome and its complications. Cholecystectomy is indicated in the case of symptomatic gallstones. Biliary drainage or partial hepatectomy may be indicated in the case of symptomatic intrahepatic bile duct dilatations filled with gallstones. Patients with end-stage liver disease may be candidates for liver transplantation

The 72-h WEBT microvariability observation of blazar S5 0716 + 714 in 2009

Context. The international Whole Earth Blazar Telescope (WEBT) consortium planned and carried out three days of intensive micro-variability observations of S5 0716 + 714 from February 22, 2009 to February 25, 2009. This object was chosen due to its bright apparent magnitude range, its high declination, and its very large duty cycle for micro-variations. Aims. We report here on the long continuous optical micro-variability light curve of 0716+714 obtained during the multi-site observing campaign during which the Blazar showed almost constant variability over a 0.5 mag range. The resulting light curve is presented here for the first time. Observations from participating observatories were corrected for instrumental differences and combined to construct the overall smoothed light curve. Methods. Thirty-six observatories in sixteen countries participated in this continuous monitoring program and twenty of them submitted data for compilation into a continuous light curve. The light curve was analyzed using several techniques including Fourier transform, Wavelet and noise analysis techniques. Those results led us to model the light curve by attributing the variations to a series of synchrotron pulses. Results. We have interpreted the observed microvariations in this extended light curve in terms of a new model consisting of individual stochastic pulses due to cells in a turbulent jet which are energized by a passing shock and cool by means of synchrotron emission. We obtained an excellent fit to the 72-hour light curve with the synchrotron pulse model. © ESO, 2013

ESTs in Plants: Where Are We Heading?

Expressed sequence tags (ESTs) are the most important resources for transcriptome exploration. Next-generation sequencing technologies have been generating gigabytes of genetic codes representing genes, partial and whole genomes most of which are EST datasets. Niche of EST in plants for breeding, regulation of gene expression through miRNA studies, and their application for adapting to climatic changes are discussed. Some of the recent tools for analysis of EST exclusive to plants are listed out. Systems biology though in its infancy in plants has influenced EST mapping for unraveling gene regulatory circuits, which is illustrated with a few significant examples. This review throws a glance at the evolving role of ESTs in plants

XPS depth-profile of the suboxide distribution at the native oxide/Ta interface

A X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) depth-profile study of the naturally formed native oxide on polycrystalline Ta sample is probed by observing the core level spectra, valence band spectra and workfunction changes. The present paper addresses the issue of the presence of different Ta suboxides along the depth of the oxide layer. Core level spectra, valence band and workfunction measurements all manifest the transformation of insulating Ta2O5 to metallic Ta with a graded distribution of Ta sub-oxides. Effect of ion-beam irradiation and variation in the synthesis method in determining the profile is discussed. By using different ion-beam energies, it has been shown that the ion-beam induced effects are negligible in the study. Differences in the valence states reported in literature with the present study are attributed to the variations in the growth methods