Role Of Electron-Electron Scattering On Spin Transport In Single Layer Graphene

In this work, the effect of electron-electron scattering on spin transport in single layer graphene is studied using semi-classical Monte Carlo simulation. The D'yakonov-P'erel mechanism is considered for spin relaxation. It is found that electron-electron scattering causes spin relaxation length to decrease by 35% at 300 K. The reason for this decrease in spin relaxation length is that the ensemble spin is modified upon an e-e collision and also e-e scattering rate is greater than phonon scattering rate at room temperature, which causes change in spin relaxation profile due to electron-electron scattering. (C) 2014 Author(s). All article content, except where otherwise noted, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.Microelectronics Research Cente

Genetic diversity within sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Monech) accessions as revealed by RAPD markers

Genetic diversity was evaluated among twenty seven sweet sorghum germpalsm genotypes using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) polymorphic markers. RAPD markers were efficient and detected 93.4 per cent polymorphism among the accessions. All the genotypes were grouped into three clusters of which all the females came under one single cluster with exception of ICSB 293. Similarly all the males were evenly distributed except one genotype, SSV 74 which formed a distinct cluster itself. Hence, RAPD markers proved to very useful in estimating the genetic diversity among sweet sorghum accessions

Production of tocotrienols in seeds of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) enhances oxidative stability and offers nutraceutical potential

Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is an economically important multi-purpose crop cultivated globally for fibre, seed oil and protein. Cottonseed oil also is naturally rich in vitamin E components (collectively known as tocochromanols), with a- and c-tocopherols comprising nearly all of the vitamin E components. By contrast, cottonseeds have little or no tocotrienols, tocochromanols with a wide range of health benefits. Here, we generated transgenic cotton lines expressing the barley (Hordeum vulgare) homogentisate geranylgeranyl transferase coding sequence under the control of the Brassica napus seed-specific promoter, napin. Transgenic cottonseeds had ~twofold to threefold increases in the accumulation of total vitamin E (tocopherols + tocotrienols), with more than 60% c-tocotrienol. Matrix assisted laser desorption ionization-mass spectrometry imaging showed that c-tocotrienol was localized throughout the transgenic embryos. In contrast, the native tocopherols were distributed unequally in both transgenic and non-transgenic embryos. a- Tocopherol was restricted mostly to cotyledon tissues and c-tocopherol was more enriched in the embryonic axis tissues. Production of tocotrienols in cotton embryos had no negative impact on plant performance or yield of other important seed constituents including fibre, oil and protein. Advanced generations of two transgenic events were field grown, and extracts of transgenic seeds showed increased antioxidant activity relative to extracts from non-transgenic seeds. Furthermore, refined cottonseed oil from the two transgenic events showed 30% improvement in oxidative stability relative to the non-transgenic cottonseed oil. Taken together, these materials may provide new opportunities for cottonseed co-products with enhanced vitamin E profile for improved shelf life and nutrition

Sweet sorghum - a potential alternate raw material for bio-ethanol and bio-energy

Sweet sorghum Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench is a special purpose sorghum with a sugar-rich stalk, almost like sugarcane. Besides having rapid growth, high sugar accumulation, and biomass production potential, sweet sorghum has wider adaptability (Reddy and Sanjana 2003). Given that water availability is poised to become a major constraint to agricultural production in coming years (Ryan and Spencer 2001), cultivation of sugarcane becomes difficult. Sweet sorghum would be a logical crop option in lieu of sugarcane in such situations. Sweet sorghum can be grown with less irrigation and rainfall and purchased inputs compared to sugarcane. The sugar content in the juice extracted from sweet sorghum varies from 1623% Brix. It has a great potential for jaggery, syrup and most importantly fuel alcohol production (Ratnavathi et al. 2004a). The stillage after extraction of juice from sweet sorghum can be used for co-generation of power

Influence of biostimulants on growth and productivity of foxtail millet (Setaria italica L.) genotypes

A field experiment was carried out at AHRS, Bavikere, Karnataka during late kharif season of 2021to find out the “Influence of biostimulants on growth and productivity of foxtail millet (Setaria italica L.) genotypes’’. The field trial was laid out in split plot design with 12 treatment combinations. The study involves three genotypes in the main plot viz., SiA-3156 (G1), HMT-100-1 (G2) and DHFt-109-3 (G3). Foliar application of biostimulants in sub plots viz., 0.1 % humic acid (F1), 3 % panchagavya (F2), 0.1 % humic acid and 3 %panchagavya (F3) at 30 and 60 days after sowing (DAS) and recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) as control (F4). Genotypes and Foliar application of biostimulants exhibited significant variation in growth and yield components of foxtail millet. Among the different genotypes, HMT-100-1 recorded significantly higher plant height (142.00 cm), number of tillers per meter (81.87) and leaf area (18.40 dm2/plant) at harvest and also yield components like panicle length (16.60 cm), grain weight per panicle (4.02 g) and grain yield (1701.0 kg/ha) compared to DHFt-109-3 and SiA -3156. In biostimulants, Foliar application of 0.1 % humic acid and 3 % panchagavya recorded significantly higher plant height (142.32 cm), number of tillers per metre (83.75) and leaf area (18.51 dm2/plant) at harvest and also yield components like panicle length (16.99 cm), grain weight per panicle (4.33 g) and grain yield (1781.2 kg/ha). While, they were found to be at their lowest with application of RDF alone. Interaction between genotypes and biostimulants was also found to be significant in which combination of HMT-100-1 with foliar application of 0.1 % humic acid and 3 %panchagavya recorded significantly higher growth and yield compared to other treatment combinations

Impact of hybridization and induced mutagenesis on variability of traits and resistance to fusarium wilt in Chickpea (Cicer arietmum L.)

A high yielding and a late wilter variety Bheema was crossed to ICCV-10, also a high yielder but highly-resistant to wilt. The two parents are known to differ in respect of a single gene governing resistance to wilt. The F2 seeds of cross between Bheema and ICCV-10 were subjected to gamma irradiation. Simultaneously, F2 was also advanced to F3 generation. Besides, Bheema was also subjected to irradiation to look to the possibility of developing high yielding and disease resistant mutants. The F2M1 population proved to be highly potential in recovering higher frequency of high yielding and wilt resistant types than selfed (F3) and mutant (M2) populations

Characterization of drought tolerant accessions identified from the minicore of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Terminal drought is one of the major causes of yield losses in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) and there is scope for recovery of major part of this loss through genetic improvement. The progress in breeding for drought tolerance is slow due to the quantitative and temporal variability of available moisture across years and the low genotypic variance in yield under drought. Deep and prolific root system is a high priority trait that can improve drought tolerance in chickpea.Ten accessions which were identified as drought tolerant based on drought susceptible index (DSI) and drought tolerant efficiency per cent (DTE%) were evaluated during rabi 2006–07 along with stanadred check Annigeri-1 and drought tolerant checks ICC 4958 and ICC 10448 under irrigated and rainfed condition for seed yield and root traits. Wide range of genetic variability, moderate to high heritability and high genetic advance for yield and its component traits was observed in drought tolerant accessions evaluated under moisture stress and irrigated situations during 2006–07. Among the drought tolerant genotypes evaluated, ICC 13124 showed maximum yield levels under irrigated (1220 kg/ha) as well as rainfed condition (990 kg/ha). The per cent reduction in yield was minimum (18.9%) as compared to checks under moisture stress for this genotype. Observations on root length, root weight and root volume showed that ICC 13124 was equally good in respect of root traits which can be used in the breeding programme aimed at drought tolerance

Induction of caspase-3 activated DNase mediated apoptosis by hexane fraction of Tinospora cordifolia in EAT cells

Tinospora cordifolia (Guduchi) has been used for centuries for treating various ailments including cancer in Ayurvedic system of medicine. In this study, we report the mechanism of cell death exhibited by the hexane extract fraction of T. cordifolia (TcHf) against Ehrlich ascites tumor (EAT) in mice. Treatment of EAT bearing animals with TcHf resulted in growth inhibition and induction of apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. TcHf induced the formation of apoptotic bodies, nuclear condensation, typical DNA ladder, activation of caspase-3, decreased cell number and ascites volume. We examined TcHf for its effect on proliferation and cell cycle progression in EAT cells. The results showed that TcHf inhibited the proliferation of EAT cells by blocking cell cycle progression in the G1 phase. In Western blot analysis, apoptosis in the EAT cells was associated with the constitutive expression of caspase activated DNase (CAD) in both nucleus and cytoplasm after TcHf treatment. Further more the expression of pro-apoptotic gene, Bax, was increased and the expression of anti-apoptotic gene, Bcl-2, was decreased in a time dependent manner by TcHf treatment. All results indicate that the hexane fraction of T. cordifolia is capable of inducing apoptosis in EAT cells in vivo