Electronic transport properties of intermediately coupled superconductors: PdTe2 and Cu0.04PdTe2

We have investigated the electrical resistivity, Seebeck coefficient and thermal conductivity of PdTe2 and 4% Cu intercalated PdTe2 compounds. Electrical resistivity for the compounds shows Bloch-Gruneisen type linear temperature (T) dependence for 100 K < T < 480 K, and Fermi liquid behavior (~ T^2) below 50 K. Seebeck coefficient data exhibit strong competition between Normal (N) and Umklapp (U) scattering processes at low T. Though our results indicate the transfer of charge carriers to PdTe2 upon Cu intercalation, it is difficult to discern any change in the Fermi surface of the compound by Nordheim-Gorter plots. The estimated Fermi energies of the compounds are quite comparable to good metals Cu, Ag and Au. The low T, thermal conductivity (k) of the compounds is strongly dominated by the electronic contribution, and exhibits a rare linear T dependence below 10 K. However, high T, k(T) shows usual 1/T dependence, dominated by U scattering process. The electron phonon coupling parameters, estimated from the low T, specific heat data and first principle electronic structure calculations suggest that PdTe2 and Cu0.04PdTe2 are intermediately coupled superconductors.Comment: 18 pages, 6 figure

Potential effects of environmental change on mining wastes in a hyperarid climate

Three desert washes were sampled to evaluate the transport of contaminated sediments from abandoned mining sites to downwash environments. The area of concern is an extreme arid climate considered stable and not to pose pathways for contaminated sediments to impact downwash environments. Research of mine wastes in Nelson, Nevada has shown that residual geogenic and anthropogenic trace elements have been mobilized in surface sediments as a result of storm event. Cyanide and trace elements, especially mercury and lead, have transported to 6000 m downwash from source areas. Short term environmental impacts appear to be minimal because of present-day environmental conditions. However, climate shifts caused by the El Nino Southern Oscillations or even a dramatic climate shift might increase regional precipitation promoting a more rapid erosion of contaminated sediment. Currently, wash sediments do not contain levels of CN- or trace elements that pose threats to the environment; however, if erosion and transport of mining waste increased because of additional precipitation, then CN- and trace elements loading in storm water would increase, with their possibly delivery to Lake Mohave

Anaesthetic management in a patient with osteogenesis imperfecta and a fractured femur

No Abstract

Management of diseases and insect-pests of French bean in Northwestern Indian Himalayan region using integrated approaches

French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) production is adversely affected by many pathogens and insect-pests worldwide. In the present investigation, effect of different bio-fortified composts, organic amendments, botanicals and pesticides were evaluated against diseases and insect- pests of french bean. The results showed that seed treatment and drenching with Trichoderma harzianum strain 11, followed by soil application of fortified farmyard manure resulted in the lowest root rot incidence, highest germination, vigour and yield in french bean. In another set of experiment, soil incorporation of Parthenium hysterophorus, Urtica dioicaandLantana camarawere found to reduce root rot incidence with high germination and pod yield. Among the bioproducts and botanicals tested, foliar spray of cow dung extract (50%) reduced angular leaf spot, rust and bacterial blight severity by 51, 69 and 25 per cent, respectively. Among the fungicides, foliar application of azoxystrobin 23 SC (0.1%) and difenoconazole 25EC (0.025%), also reduced angular leaf spot and rust severity by 93 and 90 per cent, respectively. Among different insect pest management strategies under field conditions, cartap hydrochloride and batain seed extract registered low sucking bug (Chauliops choprai) population. Integrated approaches including bio-agents, botanicals along with chemicals for managing these diseases and insect-pests were found appropriate options. Out of six different IPM modules evaluated, seed treatment with carbendazim along with foliar spray of 0.1% azoxystrobin and cartap hydrochloride resulted in lowest root rot, rust, angular leaf spot, bacterial blight and Chaulopsis choprai bug population in French bean

Multivariate analysis of pearl millet data to delineate genetic variation

Loss of biodiversity not only disturbs the process of plant development aimed at genetic amelioration but also disrupts the fundamental services that ecosystems provided to humanity. Assessment of variability is a multidimensional problem. The multivariate statistics can help in a comparative assessment of genetic variability. A set of 66 lines of pearl millet was analyzed for cluster and principal component analysis (PCA). PCA identified six principal components which explained 77.7 per cent of total variability among the 66 genotypes. The PC1 characters –main ear weight, dry fodder weight, total ear weight, grain yield, growth rate and plant height, the major characters of plant biomass and the basis for grain yield contributed maximum 35.94 per cent variability among the lines. The remaining PCs accounted for progressively lesser and lesser amount of variability. The lowest contribution 5.27 per cent was recorded by PC 6, the characters grain starch, starch recovery and ear girth. Only grain starch contributed positively to all the six components. The genotypes 50 (77/371), 3 (IPC-115), 41 (204/2 MP), 12 (IPC-1462), 37 (TCH-37-1), 22 (TCH-10-1), 61 (1307), 14 (862-P2), 20 (TCH-3-2), 40 (204-2-3) were found to be better performers and diverse on the basis of principal factor scores with regard to grain yield and yield contributing characters. Hierarchical cluster analysis grouped 66 genotypes into six clusters, cluster 1 included maximum number of 21 genotypes and clusters 3 and 6 had the lowest number of 6 genotypes. The results on hierarchical cluster analysis almost mimicked the PCA. The grouping pattern of genotypes obtained by cluster analysis and PCA plots was almost similar. A wide range of diversity for most of the traits observed would enable to pick lines with suitable traits to be used in a breeding programme. Genetic diversity was not essentially associated with geographic diversity