Changes in biochemical constituents and defense related enzymes in response to red spider mite incidence in tea

In recent years, red spider mite (RSM), Oligonychus coffeae (Nietner) menace challenged the crop productivity in tea. Though the reports on bush physiology are available, a compressive data on changes in biochemical constituents including enzymes is lacking. Crop shoots were collected from the field grown tea plants (UPASI-3 & UPASI-10) and segregated into healthy, moderately infested (~4 mites leaf–1) and severely infested (>4 mites leaf–1). The crop shoots were used for determining the biochemical constituents and quality. Stress-related enzymes such as catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase and ascorbate peroxidase were also analysed. Irrespective of the RSM damage, UPASI-3 significantly recorded higher amount of polyphenols, catechins, amino acids, reducing sugars and carotenoids. UPASI-10 possessed higher amount of total chlorophylls than that of UPASI-3. Irrespective of the clones, polyphenols, catechins, and pigments linearly decreased with severity of RSM infestation while reducing sugars and hydrogen peroxide linearly increased. Irrespective of the RSM damage, crop shoots of UPASI-10 contained significantly lower amount of quality parameters and stress-related enzymes, except polyphenol oxidase. Though quality related enzymes enhanced due to RSM attack initially and declined when the RSM infestation was severe. All the stress related enzymes progressively increased with the increasing degree of RSM damage. Interactions between activities of enzymes and clones with respect to RSM damage were elucidated

Quality related substrates and enzyme in tea as influenced by weather parameters

Recent threat on global warming and change in climate are not only the topic related with agricultural and biomass productivity; but on the basis of quality consciousness consumers demand, agriculturalists are indebted to offer due importance to the quality of the agricultural commodities. Quality attributes depends mainly upon the biochemical constituents. How far climatic changes influence the quality attributes of tea are unknown. In the pilot scale study, polyphenols, catechins and their oxidative enzyme are considered and variations in their ratios with respect to prevailing climatic conditions of the Anamallais are attempted. Crop shoots were collected at monthly intervals and subjected to determination of polyphenols, catechins and polyphenol oxidase assay. Weather data collected at UPASI meteorological observatory were used for correlation and factor analysis. Irrespective of the clones, "Cambod" cultivars registered higher quantum of polyphenols followed by "Assam" cultivar. Clones studied within the taxonomic group also significantly varied among them, irrespective of the sampling time. As the catechins are polyphenol derivates, the same trend was observed with total catechin content. Among the clones, SA-6 registered least amount of polyphenols and catechins when compared to other clones. Ratio of catechin to polyphenol exhibited different trend; "Cambod" cultivars registered higher values in catechin, polyphenol ratio followed by "China" and "Assam" cultivars. Polyphenol oxidase activity was significantly varied among the jats and the clones within the taxa. Microclimatic variables played an important role in accumulation of predominant quality constituents, polyphenols or catechins and the enzyme, poly phenol oxidase. Sunshine hours positively related with the above said biochemicals while rainfall has negative influence on the biochemical constituents. Maximum temperature had positive and significant correlation with quality constituents whereas, minimum temperature registered negative impact on their production. Relative humidity recorded at 8.00 am and 2.30 pm exerted negative influence on polyphenols, catechins and PPO activity. Multiple regression models derived based on the climatic variables are presented and discussed in detail

Hospitality Education and Industry Linkages: A Systematic Literature Network Analysis

The purpose of the study was to identify key themes, research gaps, and influential authors, as well as to examine the evolution of research and the quality and rigor of existing literature on hospitality education and its industry linkage. For this, a systematic literature network analysis, comprising a systematic literature review using the PRISMA framework, bibliometric analysis using R programming, network analysis, and thematic analysis was performed. The findings revealed that the most important clusters of research in this area are related to curriculum development, work-integrated learning, and industry partnerships. The review explored the importance of industry-academic collaboration, challenges, curriculum development, and employability as four main themes in the area of industrial linkage in hospitality education. As indicated by researchers, the review suggests the effectiveness of different approaches to industry-academia collaboration in hospitality education, the impact of industrial linkage on the quality of hospitality education in several regions, the role of technologies in enhancing the collaboration between academia and industry in hospitality education, and the development of a sustainable curriculum that incorporates environmental, social, and economic sustainability in hospitality education as future research areas

A Heuristic Based Multi-Objective Approach for Network Reconfiguration of Distribution Systems

This paper presents an algorithm for network reconfiguration based on the heuristic rules and fuzzy multi-objective approach with an improved Fast Decoupled load flow algorithm. Multiple objectives are considered to minimize the real power loss, deviation in bus voltages, branch current violation and for load balancing among feeders, while subjected to a radial network structure in which all loads kept energized. These four objectives are modeled with fuzzy sets to evaluate their imprecise nature. Heuristic rules are also incorporated in the algorithm for drastically minimizing the number of tie-switch operations. An improved Fast Decoupled load flow algorithm with Single Matrix Model (FDC-SMM) has been proposed for distribution networks. The proposed algorithm is very effective in dealing with reconfiguration problems of single and multi-feeder networks Keywords: Multi-objective approach, Reconfiguration, Fuzzy set theory, Fast decoupled load flo

Analysis and Process for Uninteresting Time Compensators with Smith Predictor and Virtual Sensor

Dead time is often present in control systems as computational or informational delay but in most cases it is very small and is neglected. Dead time is widely found in the process industries when transporting materials or energy. Generally stable processes are represented by first-order-plus-dead-time or second order- plus-dead-time models for analysis. In this paper analysis of secure processes with dead time is done. Here PI controller and Smith Predictor & virtual sensor are used as dead time compensators but virtual sensor eliminates the technology-related dead-time and makes the control of dead-time processes possible without high development costs and at the end of paper we will be compare the effectiveness of both

Distraction Osteogenesis In The Management Of Temporomandibular Joint Ankylosis; Series of cases.

 Patients with temporomandibular joint ankylosis commonly present with mandibular hypoplasia as a result of trauma to the temporomandibular joint, middle ear infection or due to various syndromes. There is a wide acceptance of the conventional osteotomies for treating temporomandibular joint ankylosis, but there are certain limitations pertaining to them. In order to overcome these limitations several new approaches with modifications have been introduced. One among these is the method of gradual bone elongation known as distraction osteogenesis.  This process induces new bone formation along the vector of distraction force without requiring the use of a bone graft.   This study was conducted on four patients (2 females and 3 males within the age group of 16-30 years) in which 3 patients had bilateral temporomandibular joint ankylosis and one patient with unilateral temporomandibular joint ankylosis.. These patients underwent surgical correction of temporomandibular joint ankylosis and mandibular hypoplasia using distraction osteogenesis with extra-oral  distraction device under general anesthesia.In this study we have used extraoral device to achieve distraction more than 20 mm and to overcome the limitations of intra oral devices. This study concluded that distraction osteogenesis is the treatment of choice for the temporomandibular joint reconstruction and anterior linear advancement of the hypoplastic mandible in whom the mandibular advancement is highly difficult to be achieved by the conventional osteotomy procedures. The relapse rate over a period of 5 year is very minimal

Exploration of Waste Plastic Bottles Use in Construction

The vision of this study is geared towards the exploitation of waste plastic bottle use in construction. This review paper is centers on the recycling of waste plastic bottles as a construction material as an effort to help solve the housing deficit in most developing countries including Ghana and to save the depletion of natural resources construction materials. In Ghana, plastic wastes are discarded randomly after usage, hence scatter around in cities, choking drains, and end up threatening our ecosystem. These predominant effects from the plastic wastes have necessitated the need for countries precisely developing countries including Ghana to seek more sustainable methods to reduce the drastic amount of plastic wastes in the environment. In view of the above, this paper focused on the recycling of waste plastic bottles as a construction material as an effort to solve the housing deficit in most developing countries including Ghana and to save the depletion of natural resources construction materials (stones and sand) are very much critical. In the reviews, an effort has been made to utilize the waster plastic bottles in construction by filling the bottles with soil, sand, solid waste materials as brick or block bounded with mortar as a masonry wall or the filled bottles are used as a substitute for the production of the masonry unit production. In summary, it was concluded based on varying test result that: (1) Plastic waste bottles are cheaper to acquire than most conventional construction materials and as such concrete or brick containing any amount of plastic bottle is noted to reduce the total quantities of conventional materials required, thereby reducing the cost as well. (2) The use of plastic waste bottles in construction contributes to environmental friendliness and energy savings since buildings with walls constructed of plastic bottles maintains room temperatures and contribute to energy saving and the cost of providing an artificial thermal control system. Doi: 10.28991/cej-2020-03091616 Full Text: PD

ANTIOXIDANT EFFICACY AND CURCUMIN CONTENT OF TURMERIC (CURCUMA-LONGA L.) FLOWER

Objective: The objective of the work is to evaluate the curcumin content, antioxidant activity and total phenol content of Curcuma longa flower. Methods: Curcumin content were analyzed through HPLC-PDA analysis. The antioxidant activity of the flower was determined by free radical scavenging activity of DPPH, and the total phenol content was determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent through standard protocols. Results: The flowers had found about (3.87±0.5µg/g) of curcumin during HPLC-PDA analysis. The antioxidant activity (DPPH free radicals scavenging activity IC50) of the turmeric flower (3.2 µg/ml) was found near to the standard ascorbic acid (2.6 µg/ml). In addition to these, a significant amount of phenolics (210.45±1.32 mg GAE/100 g) was present in the turmeric flowers. Conclusion: The flowers of curcuma longa contains a significant amount of curcumin, antioxidant activity and phenol contents

Automatic generation control of a hydro - thermal and thermal - thermal systems in a deregulated environment

This paper deals with the applications of automatic generation control (AGC) of a hydro —thermal and thermal—thermal systems in a power system deregulated environment and makes an attempt to provide a new practical AGC model to fulfill the needs of a modern restructured hydro-thermal and thermal -thermal power system. Several Distribution Company, distribution Participation Matrix,and area participation factor have been tried out and dynamic responses for frequency, tie line flow and power generations are obtained to examine the performance of the system in deregulated environment considering integral controllers. Investigations have been also carried out to study the effect of generation rate constraint and the importance of APF in deregulated environment. Study also reveals that the conventional integral controllers are quite robust than PI and PID controllers and the optimum integral gains once set for nominal condition need not be changed for +25% variations in system parameters and +20% variations in operating load condition from their nominal values