Corrections to Scaling Neutrino Mixing: Non-zero θ13,δCP\theta_{13}, \delta_{CP} and Baryon Asymmetry

We study a very specific type of neutrino mass and mixing structure based on the idea of Strong Scaling Ansatz (SSA) where the ratios of neutrino mass matrix elements belonging to two different columns are equal. There are three such possibilities, all of which are disfavored by the latest neutrino oscillation data. We focus on the specific scenario which predicts vanishing reactor mixing angle $\theta_{13}$ and inverted hierarchy with vanishing lightest neutrino mass. Motivated by several recent attempts to explain non-zero $\theta_{13}$ by incorporating corrections to a leading order neutrino mass or mixing matrix giving $\theta_{13}=0$, here we study the origin of non-zero $\theta_{13}$ as well as leptonic Dirac CP phase $\delta_{CP}$ by incorporating two different corrections to scaling neutrino mass and mixing: one where type II seesaw acts as a correction to scaling neutrino mass matrix and the other with charged lepton correction to scaling neutrino mixing. Although scaling neutrino mass matrix originating from type I seesaw predicts inverted hierarchy, the total neutrino mass matrix after type II seesaw correction can give rise to either normal or inverted hierarchy. However, charged lepton corrections do not disturb the inverted hierarchy prediction of scaling neutrino mass matrix. We further discriminate between neutrino hierarchies, different choices of lightest neutrino mass and Dirac CP phase by calculating baryon asymmetry and comparing with the observations made by the Planck experiment.Comment: 30 pages, 7 figures, to appear in Nucl. Phys.

Climate Resilient Agriculture Experiences from NICRA Implementation in North Bank Plains Zone of Assam

Not AvailableClimate change impacts on agriculture are being witnessed all over the world, but countries like India are more vulnerable in view of the huge population dependent on agriculture, excessive pressure on natural resources and poor coping mechanisms. The warming trend in India over the past 100 years has indicated an increase of 0.60°C. The projected impacts are likely to further aggravate field fluctuations of many crops thus impacting food security. There are already evidences of negative impacts on yield of wheat and paddy in parts of India due to increased temperature, water stress and reduction in number of rainy days. Increased abnormalities in amount and distribution of rainfall has also been observed in North Bank Plains Zone (NBPZ) of Assam along with increase in numbers of wet spell driven flash floods and seasonal droughts in recent years. Planned adaption is essential to increase the resilience of agricultural production to climate change. Several improved agricultural practices evolved over time for diverse agroecological regions in India have potential to enhance climate change adaptation, if deployed prudently. Management practices that increase agricultural production under adverse climatic conditions also tend to support climate change adaptation because they increase resilience and reduce yield variability under variable climate and extreme events. Keeping this in view, National Innovations on Climate Resilient Agriculture was implemented under All India Coordinated Research Project for Dryland Agriculture, Biswanath Chariali centre on 2011in two selected villages of North Lakhimpur, Chamua and Ganakdoloni. The main aim of the project is to enhance resilience of Indian agriculture to climate change and climate variability through strategic research and technology demonstration. In this bulletin the authors have penned down the experiences gained from implementation of NICRA in NBPZ of Assam. It is hoped that the bulletin will be able to serve the purposes towards achieving its objectives and act as a benchmark study for the entire area. It is expected that the information contained in this bulletin will be exploited by the scientist of different disciplines and extension officials for making rational recommendation. The authors will remain ever grateful to Project Coordinator, (AICRPDA), CRIDA, Hyderabad and Director of Research (Agri), AAU for their guidance, encouragement and sincere support. The authors extend thankfulness to the fellow Scientists, Research Associates and other technical staff for their cooperation and help. The authors express their thankfulness to Sharada Offset, Biswanath Chariali for printing the report.Not Availabl

Adaptation Strategies for Climate Variability in the High Rainfall Zone of India, Assam

The NICRA project is being implemented in two villages viz., Chamua (since 2010–2011) and Ganakdalani (since 2012–2013 till 2016–2017), which are situated in the west of Lakhimpur district of North Bank Plains Zone of Assam. Chamua village is situated in Kherajkhat Mauza (Taluka), which is 45 km away from North Lakhimpur, the headquarter of district Lakhimpur. On the other hand, Ganakdoloni is situated at Dhalpur Mauza, situated 60 km away from North Lakhimpur and 15 km away from the local township Narayanpur. During 2017–2018 four villages viz., Jakaipelua, Borbali, Borkhet, and Nogaya were adopted under the project. Analysis of long-term rainfall data confirmed the significant decreasing trend of annual as well as monsoonal rainfall in both the Brahmaputra and Barak basins of Assam, India. Variability of rainfall has been increasing in terms of the increased frequency of high-intensity rains and the reduced number of rainy days, leading to localized flash floods and the occurrence of multiple dry spells. Mean season-wise rainfall 2011–2021 indicates long dry periods during the winter season, leading to prolonged dry spells affecting crop growth. About 69% of total rainfall (average annual rainfall of Assam is 2000 mm) is received during the monsoon season, resulting in flash floods leading to crop damage. Out of 12 years of investigation, 10 years are deficit years, resulting in crop stress both during the monsoon and post-monsoon period. Preparation and implementation of real-time crop contingencies are important in responding to weather aberrations in different strategies like preparedness, real-time response, etc. Identification of various adaptation strategies, including climate-resilient crops and cultivars, rainwater harvesting and recycling, efficient energy management through farm mechanization, dissemination of weather information, and weather-based agro-advisories to farmers in a real-time basis, is important adaptation technologies for building climate-resilient agriculture. The study showed that adaption of climate-resilient crop and cropping system and use of harvested rainwater resulted in a 12 to 30% increase in yield observed by the cultivation of high-yielding rice varieties (HYVs) (Ranjit, Gitesh, Mahsuri, etc.) when sown in time (before 15th June) over late sowing conditions (after 20th June). In the case of early season drought, replacement of long duration traditional varieties with short duration HYV and life-saving irrigation using harvested rainwater increased yield by about 59% (short duration var. Dishang) over non-irrigated fields. In case of mid-season and terminal drought, application of an additional dose of 22 kg ha−1 MOP at maximum tillering to grain growth period an increase in yield of about 33% (Ranjit), 32% (Gitesh), 64% (Shraboni), and 57.5% (Mulagabharu) has been observed over farmers’ practice. In highly flood-affected areas under lowland situations replacement of submergence tolerant varieties (Jalashree and Jalkuwari) with traditional deepwater rice varieties resulted in reduced crop loss due to the genetic trait of the deepwater rice, which can withstand water logging for a long period. With an increase in the level of mechanization through the use of machinery available in the custom hiring center the human and animal hour requirement for paddy cultivation was reduced from 795 to 350 hrha−1 and 353 to 23 hrha−1, respectively. Alternate land use in terms of low-cost poly house, vermicompost production, and mushroom cultivation also resulted in nutritional security and generation of higher income for the farmer

Molekularna karakterizacija gena za mitohondrijsku 16S rRNA goveda, bivola i jaka.

A combination of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and nucleotide sequencing is the most preferred and efficient method for characterization of different species, in terms of detection power and applicability to large scale screening. The present study was carried out with the aim of developing the molecular fingerprint of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene of Cattle, Buffalo and Yak. Blood samples were collected randomly from ten different animals of each species for mitochondrial DNA extraction. The extracted DNA was used for the amplification of the 16S rRNA gene using universal primers. The size of the amplified products was 600bp. RFLP studies were carried out by digesting the amplicons using restriction enzymes viz. AluI, HinfI and HaeIII. The resulting RFLP pattern could easily identify and differentiate each of the species. Sequencing of the amplicons in all three species was carried out to confirm the variations at nucleotide level. Sequence analysis of the 16S rRNA gene using MEGA4 software and also PCRRFLP revealed that the 16S rRNA gene can be used as a good candidate for a molecular marker.Kombinacija lančane reakcije polimerazom (PCR) s polimorfizmom duljine restrikcijskih fragmenata (RFLP) i utvrđivanjem slijeda nukleotida (sekvenciranje) najpoželjniji je i učinkovit postupak za otkrivanje širokog raspona varijacija pri karakterizaciji različitih vrsta. Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je razviti molekularni otisak za gen koji određuje mitohondrijske 16S rRNA goveda, bivola i jaka. Za izdvajanje mitohondrijske DNA nasumično je prikupljeno po 10 uzoraka krvi različitih životinja unutar svake vrste. Izdvojena DNA iskorištena je za umnažanje 16S rRNA gena uz uporabu univerzalnih početnica. Veličina umnoženih proizvoda iznosila je 600 bp. RFLP analize provedene su digestijom amplikona pomoću restrikcijskih enzima viz. AluI, HinfI i HaeIII. Dobiveni RFLP uzorak mogao je lako prepoznati i razlikovati svaku od vrsta. Sekvenciranje amplikona u sve tri vrste provedeno je s ciljem da se potvrde varijacija na razini nukleotida. Analiza sekvencija pomoću računalnog programa MEGA4 i metoda PCR-RFLP pokazala je da se gen 16S rRNA može upotrijebiti kao dobar kandidat za molekularni biljeg