Plant extract effect on seed-borne pathogenic fungi from seeds of paddy grown in Southern India

A total of 40 seed samples of different cultivars of paddy, collected from southern part of India, were mycologicaly analyzed by agar plating method on Czapek's-Dox-Agar (CzA) medium and Standard Blotter Method (SBM), revealed the occurrence of 33 diverse fungal species belonging to 16 genera. The species of Drechslera oryzae (RP 82.5) was recorded with the incidence and relative preponderance (RP), followed by Curvularia lunata (RP 67.5) and Aspergillus niger (RP 65.0) respectively. The data on the diversity and incidence of fungal species would be a great importance in the region for predicting the extent of pre-and post-infections.In vitro antifungal activity assay of methanol extract of 12 plants belonging to different families were tested against eight pathogenic fungal species viz., Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus flavus, Curvularia lunata, Drechslera oryzae, D. halodes, Fusarium moniliforme, Pyricularia oryzae and Trichoconis padwickii by poisoned food technique. The results revealed that, methanol extract of Acacia nilotica, Caesalpinia coriaria, Decalepis hamiltonii, Emblica officinalis, Lawsonia inermis and Mimosops elengi showed significant antifungal activity at 3500 μg/ml concentration. Comparative evaluation of the extracts with the synthetic fungicides viz., bavistin, blitox, captan, dithane M-45 and thiram at the recommended dosage revealed that, antifungal activity of methanol extract of D. hamiltonii, L. inermis and M. elengi was almost equivalent. These plants can possibly be exploited in the management of seed-borne pathogenic fungi and prevention of biodeterioration of paddy in an eco-friendly way

Nitrogen pair-induced temperature insensitivity of the band gap of GaNSb alloys

The temperature dependence of the band gap of GaN x Sb1−x films with x ≤ 1.3% has been studied in the 1.1–3.3 m (0.35–1.1 eV) range using infrared absorption spectroscopy between 4.2 and 300 K. As with other dilute nitride semiconductors, the temperature dependence of the band gap is reduced by alloying with nitrogen when compared to the host binary compound. However, for GaNSb, the smallest variation of the band gap with temperature is observed for samples with the lowest N content for which the band gap is almost totally insensitive to temperature changes. This contrasts with the more widely studied GaN x As1−x alloys in which the band gap variation with temperature decreases with increasing N content. The temperature-dependent absorption spectra are simulated within the so-called band anticrossing model of the interaction between the extended conduction band states of the GaSb and the localized states associated with the N atoms. The N next-nearest neighbor pair states are found to be responsible for the temperature insensitivity of the band gap of the GaNSb alloys as a result of their proximity to the conduction band edge giving them a more pronounced role than in GaNAs alloys

Growth and properties of GaSbBi alloys

Molecular-beam epitaxy has been used to grow GaSb 1− x Bi x alloys with x up to 0.05. The Bi content, lattice expansion, and film thickness were determined by Rutherford backscattering and x-ray diffraction, which also indicate high crystallinity and that >98% of the Bi atoms are substitutional. The observed Bi-induced lattice dilation is consistent with density functional theory calculations. Optical absorption measurements and valence band anticrossing modeling indicate that the room temperature band gap varies from 720 meV for GaSb to 540 meV for GaSb 0.95Bi0.05, corresponding to a reduction of 36 meV/%Bi or 210 meV per 0.01 Å change in lattice constant

Estimating Small Area Income Deprivation: An Iterative Proportional Fitting Approach

Small area estimation and in particular the estimation of small area income deprivation has potential value in the development of new or alternative components of multiple deprivation indices. These new approaches enable the development of income distribution threshold based as opposed to benefit count based measures of income deprivation and so enable the alignment of regional and national measures such as the Households Below Average Income with small area measures. This paper briefly reviews a number of approaches to small area estimation before describing in some detail an iterative proportional fitting based spatial microsimulation approach. This approach is then applied to the estimation of small area HBAI rates at the small area level in Wales in 2003-5. The paper discusses the results of this approach, contrasts them with contemporary ‘official’ income deprivation measures for the same areas and describes a range of ways to assess the robustness of the results

High Bi content GaSbBi alloys

The epitaxial growth, structural, and optical properties of GaSb 1– x Bi x alloys have been investigated. The Bi incorporation into GaSb is varied in the range 0 < x ≤ 9.6% by varying the growth rate (0.31–1.33 μm h−1) at two growth temperatures (250 and 275 °C). The Bi content is inversely proportional to the growth rate, but with higher Bi contents achieved at 250 than at 275 °C. A maximum Bi content of x = 9.6% is achieved with the Bi greater than 99% substitutional. Extrapolating the linear variation of lattice parameter with Bi content in the GaSbBi films enabled a zinc blende GaBi lattice parameter to be estimated of 6.272 Å. The band gap at 300 K of the GaSbBi epitaxial layers decreases linearly with increasing Bi content down to 410 ± 40 meV (3 μm) for x = 9.6%, corresponding to a reduction of ∼35 meV/%Bi. Photoluminescence indicates a band gap of 490 ± 5 meV at 15 K for x = 9.6%

Embolic strokes of undetermined source: prevalence and patient features in the ESUS Global Registry

Background: Recent evidence supports that most non-lacunar cryptogenic strokes are embolic. Accordingly, these strokes have been designated as embolic strokes of undetermined source (ESUS). Aims: We undertook an international survey to characterize the frequency and clinical features of ESUS patients across global regions. Methods: Consecutive patients hospitalized for ischemic stroke were retrospectively surveyed from 19 stroke research centers in 19 different countries to collect patients meeting criteria for ESUS. Results: Of 2144 patients with recent ischemic stroke, 351 (16%, 95% CI 15% to 18%) met ESUS criteria, similar across global regions (range 16% to 21%), and an additional 308 (14%) patients had incomplete evaluation required for ESUS diagnosis. The mean age of ESUS patients (62 years; SD = 15) was significantly lower than the 1793 non-ESUS ischemic stroke patients (68 years, p ≤ 0.001). Excluding patients with atrial fibrillation (n = 590, mean age = 75 years), the mean age of the remaining 1203 non-ESUS ischemic stroke patients was 64 years (p = 0.02 vs. ESUS patients). Among ESUS patients, hypertension, diabetes, and prior stroke were present in 64%, 25%, and 17%, respectively. Median NIHSS score was 4 (interquartile range 2–8). At discharge, 90% of ESUS patients received antiplatelet therapy and 7% received anticoagulation. Conclusions: This cross-sectional global sample of patients with recent ischemic stroke shows that one-sixth met criteria for ESUS, with additional ESUS patients likely among those with incomplete diagnostic investigation. ESUS patients were relatively young with mild strokes. Antiplatelet therapy was the standard antithrombotic therapy for secondary stroke prevention in all global regions

System for Performing Single Query Searches of Heterogeneous and Dispersed Databases

The present invention is a distributed computer system of heterogeneous databases joined in an information grid and configured with an Application Programming Interface hardware which includes a search engine component for performing user-structured queries on multiple heterogeneous databases in real time. This invention reduces overhead associated with the impedance mismatch that commonly occurs in heterogeneous database queries

Major congenital malformations of foetus: a bane in pregnancy

Background: The aim of the study was to find out the numbers of women presenting with pregnancy complicating with major congenital anomalies of the fetus.Methods: This study was conducted over a period of fifteen months in the year 2018-2019. The types of congenital anomalies were that of the central nervous system, cardiac, renal, gastrointestinal, skeleto-muscular, hydrops foetalis, chromosomal, single umbilical artery and other multiple anomalies. Other variables regarding the age group of the mother, gravida, parity and gestational age at which the pregnancy was terminated was also noted.Results: A total of 212 pregnancies were diagnosed with major congenital anomalies of fetus and opted for termination. Malformations of the central nervous system (CNS) of fetus, formed the largest group of 56.6%, and fetal gastrointestinal malformations and fetal renal anomalies occupied the second major groups forming 11.8% and 11.3% respectively. The age group of women ranged between 23 years to 38 years. The largest group of pregnant women with fetal malformations were aged between 23-27 years. Primigravida with zero parity women were 60.4% of the total group of women with major fetal anomalies.Conclusions: Maximum number of congenital anomalies were seen in primigravida and para one mothers. Genetic counseling should be offered for women at clinics, before planning further pregnancy. Facilities should be made available for poor people from remote areas for early detection of congenital anomalies

A Study on Co – odd (even) Sum Degree Edge Domination Number in Graphs

يقال إن المجموعة المهيمنة على الحافة   من الرسم البياني  هي مجموعة مهيمنة على حافة المجموع الفردي (الزوجي) (osded (esded) - set) من G إذا كان مجموع درجة جميع الحواف في X هو رقم فردي (زوجي). المجموع الفردي (الزوجي) لدرجة الحافة لرقم الهيمنة  هو الحد الأدنى من الكاردينالية المأخوذة على جميع المجموعات المهيمنة على حافة المجموع الفردي (الزوجي) من G ويتم تعريفه على أنه صفر إذا لم يكن هناك مثل هذا المجموع المهيمن على حافة المجموع الفردي (الزوجي) في G. في هذا البحث ، تم توسيع مفهوم هيمنة درجة المجموع الفردي (الزوجي) على المجموعة المهيمنة المشتركة E-T للرسم البياني G ، حيث T هي مجموعة مهيمنة على الحافة من G. .  تم تعريف المعلمات المقابلة لCo-الفردي (الزوجي) مجموع درجة الحافة المهيمنة على مجموعة ، و Co - الفردي (الزوجي) مجموع درجة الهيمنة على الحافة و Co- الفردي ( الزوجي) مجموع درجة قيمة هيمنة الحافة. علاوة على ذلك ، تم العثور على القيم الدقيقة للمعلمات المذكورة أعلاه لبعض الفئات القياسية من الرسوم البيانية.  يتم الحصول على حدود رقم هيمنة حافة المجموع  Co- الفردي (الزوجي) من حيث مصطلحات الرسم البياني الأساسية. تم تميز المجموعات المهيمنة على حافة المجموع Co - الفردي (الزوجي).  كما تتم دراسة العلاقات مع معلمات هيمنة الحافة الأخرى. An edge dominating set    of a graph  is said to be an odd (even) sum degree edge dominating set (osded (esded) - set) of G if the sum of the degree of all edges in X is an odd (even) number. The odd (even) sum degree edge domination number  is the minimum cardinality taken over all odd (even) sum degree edge dominating sets of G and is defined as zero if no such odd (even) sum degree edge dominating set exists in G. In this paper, the odd (even) sum degree domination concept is extended on the co-dominating set E-T of a graph G, where T is an edge dominating set of G.  The corresponding parameters co-odd (even) sum degree edge dominating set, co-odd (even) sum degree edge domination number and co-odd (even) sum degree edge domination value is defined.  Further, the exact values of the above said parameters are found for some standard classes of graphs.  The bounds of the co-odd (even) sum degree edge domination number are obtained in terms of basic graph terminologies.  The co-odd (even) sum degree edge dominating sets are characterized.  The relationships with other edge domination parameters are also studied