Harmonics and Phasor Estimation for a Distorted Power System Signal

The controlling, operating and monitoring of electric devices has been possible because of the knowledge of power system parameters. The relay functionality in power systems is influenced by the two vital power system parameters which are frequency and harmonics. Hence in power systems, phasor estimation is of utmost importance. These computations not only facilitate realtime state estimation, but also improve protection schemes. However, in the presence of power frequency deviation, the phasor undergoes rotation in the complex plane. Interconnection of power grids and distributed generation systems becomes difficult because of this phenomenon. Hence, in this report different algorithms are studied and implemented for the estimation of phasor. The parameters estimated are limited to voltage amplitude and phase, change of frequency and rate of change of frequency. In this thesis, Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) technique and Recursive Least Square (RLS) algorithms are used to estimate the amplitude and phase for different harmonics present in a distorted power system signal. Simple DFT algorithm is used to estimate the phasor variation, change of frequency and rate of change of frequency when deviated from the nominal frequency

Entrepreneurial Behaviour of the Agriculture Students-A review

The present study aimed to investigate the factors that influence the entrepreneurial behavior of college students. The study identified various personal and situational factors that may affect entrepreneurial behavior. The results showed that personality traits, such as openness, extraversion, and conscientiousness, had a significant positive impact on entrepreneurial behavior. Specific motivational traits, such as entrepreneurial self-efficacy, internal locus of control, and risk-taking propensity, were also significant predictors of entrepreneurial behavior. Situational factors, such as entrepreneurship education, were found to have a significant positive impact on entrepreneurial behavior, with entrepreneurial self-efficacy playing a key mediating role in this relationship. Attitudes towards entrepreneurship were found to be a significant driver of entrepreneurial intention, with perceived desirability and feasibility, as well as perceived individual and collective efficacy, also significant predictors of entrepreneurial intention. Sustainable entrepreneurial intention was found to be influenced by attitude towards the behavior variable, with subjective norms playing an indirect role in mediating this effect. Overall, the study suggests that personal traits, such as personality and motivational factors, as well as situational factors, such as education and attitudes towards entrepreneurship, are significant predictors of entrepreneurial behavior. These findings have important implications for educators and policymakers who seek to promote entrepreneurial behavior among college students. Future research should continue to explore the complex relationships between personal and situational factors and entrepreneurial behavior to further enhance our understanding of this important phenomenon. &nbsp

Physiological introspection of leaf photochemical activity and antioxidant metabolism in selected indigenous finger millet genotypes in relation to drought stress

Drought stress often impairs growth and yield of finger millets worldwide. The present study investigated the drought stress responses in four indigenous finger millets (Gangabali, Dengsameli, Kada and Badu) of Koraput compared to one improved variety (Bhairabi) under simulated drought condition at the early growth stage. The physiological and biochemical responses of indigenous finger millets were assessed through chlorophyll fluorescence technique, photosynthetic pigments, antioxidants, proline, protein and lipid peroxidation. The results showed that drought treatment significantly declined the photosystem (PS) II activity by declining the maximal fluorescence, maximum photochemical efficiency of PSII, yield of PSII photochemistry, electron transport rate and photochemical quenching with concomitant increase in minimum fluorescence and non-photosynthetic quenching compared to the respective control plants. Further, the present finding indicates that finger millet leaves responded to PEG-induced drought stress by significantly enhancing antioxidant enzyme activity. The proline accumulation was increased with increasing concentration of drought, which suggests that plants’ ability to resist the effect of drought. Based on the phenotypic response under drought stress, indigenous finger millet genotypes such as Gangabali and Badu showed superior drought tolerance capacity than the improved genotype (Bhairabi) during seedling stages. Overall, the results suggest that these indigenous finger millet genotypes may be beneficial for rainfed areas affected by drought stresses and can be used for future breeding programs

Glucose 6‐phosphate dehydrogenase variants increase NADPH pools for yeast isoprenoid production

Isoprenoid biosynthesis has a significant requirement for the co‐factor NADPH. Thus, increasing NADPH levels for enhancing isoprenoid yields in synthetic biology is critical. Previous efforts have focused on diverting flux into the pentose phosphate pathway or overproducing enzymes that generate NADPH. In this study, we instead focused on increasing the efficiency of enzymes that generate NADPH. We first established a robust genetic screen that allowed us to screen improved variants. The pentose phosphate pathway enzyme, glucose 6‐phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), was chosen for further improvement. Different gene fusions of G6PD with the downstream enzyme in the pentose phosphate pathway, 6‐phosphogluconolactonase (6PGL), were created. The linker‐less G6PD‐6PGL fusion displayed the highest activity, and although it had slightly lower activity than the WT enzyme, the affinity for G6P was higher and showed higher yields of the diterpenoid sclareol in vivo. A second gene fusion approach was to fuse G6PD to truncated HMG‐CoA reductase, the rate‐limiting step and also the major NADPH consumer in the pathway. Both domains were functional, and the fusion also yielded higher sclareol levels. We simultaneously carried out a rational mutagenesis approach with G6PD, which led to the identification of two mutants of G6PD, N403D and S238QI239F, that showed 15–25% higher activity in vitro. The diterpene sclareol yields were also increased in the strains overexpressing these mutants relative to WT G6PD, and these will be very beneficial in synthetic biology applications

Long-term Impact of Zero Tillage and Residue Retention on Soil Nutrients and Microbial Biomass in a Maize-Mustard Cropping System

The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare different cropping systems and tillage practices, specifically focusing on the maize (Zea mays L.)-mustard (Brassica juncea L.) cropping system. The field experiment on maize (Zea mays L.)-mustard (Brassica juncea L.) cropping system commenced in monsoon 2010 at ICAR-IARI, New Delhi. Eight treatments were evaluated in a randomized block design, comprising four double cropping ZT (zero till) and two triple cropping ZT systems with or without crops residue retention along with two conventional till systems (control) [T1: ZTMZ-ZTM; T2: ZTMZ+BM-ZTM; T3: ZTMZ(+R)-ZTM(+R); T4: ZTMZ(+R)+BM-ZTM(+R); T5: ZTMZ-ZTM-ZTSMB; T6: ZTMZ(+R)-ZTM(+R)-ZTSMB(+R); T7: CTMZ-ZTM; T8: CTMZ-CTM] with three replications. Result showed that highest mineralizable nitrogen (388 kg ha-1) was found in T6 treatment (in 0-5 cm soil layer) whereas T8 treatment recorded the lowest mineralisable N (297 kg ha-1). ZTMZ(+R)-ZTM(+R)-ZTSMB(+R) treatment obtained a significant increase (81.3%) in Olsen extractable P over CTMZ-CTM treatment. MBP was observed to be maximum in T6 treatment (10.1 mg kg-1) whereas lowest values were recorded in T8 treatment (2.67 mg kg-1) in the upper layer. Therefore, under CA, utilization of microorganisms to increase the availability of P in soil is an attractive proposition for developing a more sustainable agriculture. This is relevant to the high-input production systems of the developed world, and also to developing countries where access to mineral fertilizers is restricted, which will give better results and outputs in future by giving easily available inputs without harming the environment and conserving soil fertility for future generations