InAs-AlSb quantum wells in tilted magnetic fields

InAs-AlSb quantum wells are investigated by transport experiments in magnetic fields tilted with respect to the sample normal. Using the coincidence method we find for magnetic fields up to 28 T that the spin splitting can be as large as 5 times the Landau splitting. We find a value of the g-factor of about 13. For small even-integer filling factors the corresponding minima in the Shubnikov-de Haas oscillations cannot be tuned into maxima for arbitrary tilt angles. This indicates the anti-crossing of neighboring Landau and spin levels. Furthermore we find for particular tilt angles a crossover from even-integer dominated Shubnikov-de Haas minima to odd-integer minima as a function of magnetic field

Functional microperimetry and SD-OCT confirm consecutive retinal atrophy from optic nerve pit

A congenital anomaly, optic nerve pit is often associated with serous retinal detachment involving macula. Long standing serous detachment leads to outer retinal atrophy and decrease in visual sensitivity. Recently, spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) has been reported to demonstrate a communication between the optic nerve sheath and the subretinal space. Vitreous cavity is proposed as an alternate source of fluid for accumulation in the subretinal space. We imaged a patient with optic nerve pit with Spectralis OCT and report the findings seen including the presence of an area of peripapapillary retinal atrophy, due to the spontaneous resolution of associated long-standing retinal detachment

Impact of paddy straw mulch on germination and growth of celery (Apium graveolens L.) seedlings and associated weeds in nursery

A study was undertaken during three consecutive rabi seasons of 2014–15 to 2016–17 at the Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana (Punjab) to determine the effect of paddy straw mulch load and retention time on the germination and growth of celery and associated weeds. The experiment was conducted in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with nine treatments viz., paddy straw mulch @ 4 and 6 t ha-1 with retention time of 15, 20, 25 days after sowing (DAS), full time retention (60 DAS), and control (without mulch). The results indicated that application of paddy straw mulch @ 4 or 6 t ha-1 significantly improved the germination of celery in nursery as compared to no mulch treatment but retention of paddy straw mulch beyond 20 days after sowing suppressed the celery seedlings adversely resulting in lowering seedling population as well as fresh and dry weight of celery seedlings. Application of paddy straw mulch @ 4 or 6 t ha-1 resulted in significantly lower density and dry weight of weeds as compared to control. Further, each successive increase in retention time of paddy straw mulch from 15 DAS to full time retention (60 DAS) through 20 and 25 DAS significantly reduced the weed population in celery nursery

Effects of Indocyanine green on cultured retinal ganglion cells in-vitro

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Indocyanine green (ICG) dye is commonly used to stain the inner limiting membrane during macular surgery. There are reports documenting the toxicity of ICG on retinal pigment epithelial cells, with conflicting results in retinal ganglion cells. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of ICG on retinal ganglion cells in vitro.</p> <p>Cultured rat retinal ganglion cells (RGC-5) were exposed to different concentrations of ICG (0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 1.25, & 5 mg/ml) and at various time intervals (1, 5, 15, 30, & 60 minutes). Changes in structural morphology were identified using phase contrast bright field microscopy. Cell viability was quantified using the neutral red assay and cell death was characterized using Annexin-V staining.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>Significant morphologic changes were observed at the 15 and 60 min intervals for all concentrations, where a reduction in cell size and loss of normal spindle shape was noted. A dose dependent decrease in cell viability was observed with increasing concentration of ICG as well as increasing exposure intervals. Compared to control, 48-74% reduction in neutral red uptake at all concentrations for exposures 5 min or greater (p < 0.001). Even at 1 min exposure, a dose dependent decline was observed in cell viability, with a 28-48% decline for doses above 1.25 mg/ml (p = 0.007). Staining with Annexin-V, demonstrated a similar dose and time dependent increase in number of cells exhibiting early apoptosis. A greater than two-fold increase in Annexin-V expression for all doses at exposures greater than 1 min was noted.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>ICG dye exhibits toxicity to retinal ganglion cells at clinically relevant doses following 1 min exposure.</p

Influence of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Fertilization on Fruiting and Yield Characteristics in Ratoon Crop of Banana (Musa spp. AAA) Cv. Grande Naine

In ratoon crop of banana cv. Grande Naine, date of shooting could be advanced by 35 days with application of 200g N in 5 splits + 60g P2O5&nbsp;(86 days), compared to 300g N in 5 splits + 60g P2O5&nbsp;(121 days). Subsequently, date of harvest also got advanced by 53 days, and fruits were harvested on 9th&nbsp;December in the same treatment. Higher dose of N fertilization delayed shooting and harvesting period, taking 121 days for shooting and 145 days from shooting to harvest in the treatment 300g N (5 split doses) + 90g P2O5. Various N and P treatments affected bunch weight and number of hands per bunch significantly. Although N and P combination-treatments had no significant effect on bunch weight or number of hands per bunch, application of 200g N in 5 splits and 60g P2O5&nbsp;per plant gave maximum bunch weight (18.11kg) and number of hands per bunch (10.61). Minimum bunch weight (15.37kg) and the least number of hands per bunch (7.08) were obtained with 150g N in 5 splits + 90g P2O5. Hand-weight (2.20kg), number of fingers per hand (19.75), and finger length (20.30cm) was highest with application of 200g N in 5 splits + 60g P2O5&nbsp;per plant. Least hand-weight (1.64kg), number of fingers per hand (15.77), and finger-length (17.92cm) was recorded with 150g N in 5 splits + 90g P2O5. Bunch weight, number of hands per bunch, hand-weight and number of fingers per hand too was affected significantly with sole application of nitrogen or phosphorus

Phylogenetic relationships among Oryza species revealed by AFLP markers

The genus Oryza to which cultivated rice belongs has 22 wild species. Seventy-seven accessions of 23 Oryza species, five related genera, and three outgroup taxa were fingerprinted using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP). A total of 1191 polymorphic markers were obtained using five AFLP primer combinations. AFLP data were analyzed to study species relationships using different clustering algorithms, and the resulting phenograms were tested for stability and robustness. The findings suggest a common ancestry to the genus Oryza. Moreover, the results demonstrate that: (1) evolution in Oryza has followed a polyphyletic path wherein multiple lineages underwent independent divergence after separation early in the evolution from a common ancestor/pool of related taxa; (2) newly assigned genomes, GG for O. meyeriana and HHJJ for O. ridleyi complexes, are among the most diverged in the genus; (3) CCDD tetraploids have a relatively ancient origin among the Officinalis complex; (4) O. malampuzhaensis, O. indandamanica, O. alta, and O. grandiglumis are diverged enough to deserve species status; (5) O. officinalis and O. eichingeri (CC) are putative progenitors of O. minuta/O. malampuzhaensis and tetraploid O. punctata, respectively, (6) O. brachyantha is most diverged species in the genus. AFLP is reliable molecular technique and provides one of the most informative approaches to ascertain genetic relationships in Oryza, which may also be true for other related species/organisms