Understanding self ion damage in FCC Ni-Cr-Fe based alloy using X-ray diffraction techniques

Using X-ray diffraction line profile analysis (XRDLPA) approach the radiation response of FCC Ni-Cr-Fe based alloy 690 to 1.5 and 3 MeV Ni2+ ion damage was quantified in terms of its microstructural parameters. These microstructural parameters viz. average domain size, microstrain and dislocation density were found to vary anisotropically with fluence. The anisotropic behaviour is mainly attributable to presence of twins in pre-irradiated microstructure. After irradiation, surface roughness increases as a function of fluence attributable to change in surface and sub-surface morphology caused by displacement cascade, defects and sputtered atoms created by incident energetic ion. The radiation hardening in case of 1.5 MeV Ni2+ irradiated specimens too is a consequence of the increase in dislocation density formed by interaction of radiation induced defects with pre-existing dislocations. At highest fluence there is an initiation of saturation. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Coherently Embedded Ag Nanostructures in Si: 3D Imaging and their application to SERS

Surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) has been established as a powerful tool to detect very low-concentration bio-molecules. One of the challenging problems is to have reliable and robust SERS substrate. Here, we report on a simple method to grow coherently embedded (endotaxial) silver nanostructures in silicon substrates, analyze their three-dimensional shape by scanning transmission electron microscopy tomography and demonstrate their use as a highly reproducible and stable substrate for SERS measurements. Bi-layers consisting of Ag and GeOx thin films were grown on native oxide covered silicon substrate using a physical vapor deposition method. Followed by annealing at 800°C under ambient conditions, this resulted in the formation of endotaxial Ag nanostructures of specific shape depending upon the substrate orientation. These structures are utilized for detection of Crystal Violet molecules of 5 × 10−10 M concentrations. These are expected to be one of the highly robust, reusable and novel substrates for single molecule detection

Efficiency of physiological trait-based and empirical selection approaches for drought tolerance in groundnut

Drought is the major abiotic constraint affecting groundnut productivity and quality worldwide. Most breeding programmes in groundnut follow an empirical approach to drought resistance breeding, largely based on kernel yield and traits of local adaptation, resulting in slow progress. Recent advances in the use of easily measurable surrogates for complex physiological traits associated with drought tolerance encouraged breeders to integrate these in their selection schemes. However, there has been no direct comparison of the relative efficiency of a physiological trait-based selection approach (Tr) vis-à-vis an empirical approach (E) to ascertain the benefits of the former. The genetic material used in the present study originated from three common crosses and one institute-specific cross from four collaborating institutes in India (total seven crosses). Each institute contributed six genotypes and each followed both the Tr and E selection approaches in each cross. The field trial of all selections, consisting of 192 genotypes (96 each Tr and E selections), was grown in 2000/2001 in a 4 x 48 alpha design in 12 season x location environments in India. The selection efficiency of Tr relative to E, RE , was estimated using the genetic concept of response to selection. Based on all the 12 environments, the two selection methods performed more or less similarly (RE , = 1.045). When the 12 environments were grouped into rainy season and post-rainy season, the relative response to selection in Tr method was higher in the rainy than in the post-rainy season (RE = 1.220 vs 0.657) due to a higher genetic variance, lower G x E, and high h . When the 12 environments were classified into four clusters based on plant extractable soil-water availability, the selection method Tr was superior to E in three of the four clusters (RE = 1.495, 0.612, 1.308, and 1.144) due to an increase in genetic variance and h under Tr in clustered environments. Although the crosses exhibited significant differences for kernel yield, the two methods of selection did not interact significantly with crosses. Both methods contributed more or less equally to the 10 highest-yielding selections (six for E and four for Tr). The six E selections had a higher kernel yield, higher transpiration (T), and nearly equal transpiration efficiency (TE) and harvest index (HI) relative to four Tr selections. The yield advantage in E selections came largely from greater T, which would likely not be an advantage in water-deficient environments. From the results of these multi-environment studies, it is evident that Tr method did not show a consistent superiority over E method of drought resistance breeding in producing a higher kernel yield in groundnut. Nonetheless, the integration of physiological traits (or their surrogates) in the selection scheme would be advantageous in selecting genotypes which are more efficient water utilisers or partitioners of photosynthates into economic yield. New biotechnological tools are being explored to increase efficiency of physiological trait-based drought resistance breeding in groundnut