Chalcogenide glass planar MIR couplers for future chip based Bracewell interferometers

Photonic integrated circuits are established as the technique of choice for a number of astronomical processing functions due to their compactness, high level of integration, low losses, and stability. Temperature control, mechanical vibration and acoustic noise become controllable for such a device enabling much more complex processing than can realistically be considered with bulk optics. To date the benefits have mainly been at wavelengths around 1550 nm but in the important Mid-Infrared region, standard photonic chips absorb light strongly. Chalcogenide glasses are well known for their transparency to beyond 10000 nm, and the first results from coupler devices intended for use in an interferometric nuller for exoplanetary observation in the Mid-Infrared L band (3800-4200 nm) are presented here showing that suitable performance can be obtained both theoretically and experimentally for the first fabricated devices operating at 4000 nm.Comment: in Proc. SPIE 9907, Optical and Infrared Interferometry and Imaging V, 990730 (August 4, 2016

CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Mutation in XSP10 and SlSAMT Genes Impart Genetic Tolerance to Fusarium Wilt Disease of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

Fusarium wilt is a major devastating fungal disease of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (Fol) which reduces the yield and production. Xylem sap protein 10 (XSP10) and Salicylic acid methyl transferase (SlSAMT) are two putative negative regulatory genes associated with Fusarium wilt of tomato. Fusarium wilt tolerance in tomato can be developed by targeting these susceptible (S) genes. Due to its efficiency, high target specificity, and versatility, CRISPR/Cas9 has emerged as one of the most promising techniques for knocking out disease susceptibility genes in a variety of model and agricultural plants to increase tolerance/resistance to various plant diseases in recent years. Though alternative methods, like RNAi, have been attempted to knock down these two S genes in order to confer resistance in tomato against Fusarium wilt, there has been no report of employing the CRISPR/Cas9 system for this specific intent. In this study, we provide a comprehensive downstream analysis of the two S genes via CRISPR/Cas9-mediated editing of single (XSP10 and SlSAMT individually) and dual-gene (XSP10 and SlSAMT simultaneously). Prior to directly advancing on to the generation of stable lines, the editing efficacy of the sgRNA-Cas9 complex was first validated using single cell (protoplast) transformation. In the transient leaf disc assay, the dual-gene editing showed strong phenotypic tolerance to Fusarium wilt disease with INDEL mutations than single-gene editing. In stable genetic transformation of tomato at the GE1 generation, dual-gene CRISPR transformants of XSP10 and SlSAMT primarily exhibited INDEL mutations than single-gene-edited lines. The dual-gene CRISPR-edited lines (CRELs) of XSP10 and SlSAMT at GE1 generation conferred a strong phenotypic tolerance to Fusarium wilt disease compared to single-gene-edited lines. Taken together, the reverse genetic studies in transient and stable lines of tomato revealed that, XSP10 and SlSAMT function together as negative regulators in conferring genetic tolerance to Fusariumwilt disease

Cultural and leadership predictors of corporate social responsibility values of top management: A GLOBE study of 15 countries.

This paper examines cultural and leadership variables associated with corporate social responsibility values that managers apply to their decision-making. In this longitudinal study, we analyze data from 561 firms located in 15 countries on five continents to illustrate how the cultural dimensions of institutional collectivism and power distance predict social responsibility values on the part of top management team members. CEO visionary leadership and integrity were also uniquely predictive of such values. Journal of International Business Studies (2006) 37, 823–837. doi:10.1057/palgrave.jibs.8400230

Management Regimes, Soil Properties and Carbon Stock in Community Managed Forests

The study was carried out to understand the management strategies, soil nutrient properties and carbon sock of community managed forests practiced by Jamatia community of Tripura, Northeast India. It revealed that Jamatia people of Tripura are actively involved in conservation and management of the forests under their control. The concept of creating forest and follow an institutional setup for management of forest resources are being noted in this ethnic community. In community forests, maximum numbers of individuals of tree species were represented from the lower girth class while individuals from higher girthclass contributed larger biomass and carbon. Anogeissus acuminata was the most preferred species in the community forest as it is the source of timber and fuel wood and also contributing high biomass among other species. The total biomass and carbon stock in the community managed forest was found as 40.66 Tha-1 and 20.33 Tha-1 respectively. The soil of community forests are very fertile and found acidic in nature. The mean SOC is 1.38%, whereas available nitrogen and phosphorus content are 210.79 Kg ha-1 and 8.36 Kg ha-1 respectively. However, a positive and significant correlation of available phosphorus was observed with physical properties like soil temperature, pH and also with total nitrogen content. These forests have potential for future carbon sequestration and to mitigate climate change for longer run as it is managed sustainably by the community.Keywords: biodiversity, biomass, conservation, institution, Jamatia community, traditio

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Not AvailableIntroduction of new shrimp species Litopenaeus vannamei has brought a sea change in Indian shrimp production and processing industry. Andhra Pradesh is a leading state in cultured shrimp production and the present study investigates the changing trends in cultured shrimp production and its impact on seafood processing of the State. Results of the study showed that 83.6% of the cultured shrimp production in Andhra Pradesh was attributed to L. vannamei. With the increase in production, structural changes became pre-requisite for seafood processing firms and they have incorporated changes such as establishment of additional plants, increasing the capacity utilization of existing plants and installation of more efficient equipments. There was an increase of 37.12% in installed capacity and 53.1% increase in capacity utilization of shrimp processing plants due to increased shrimp production. Spillover effects were visible; employment opportunities and income of the employees increased. Strict implementation of scientific farming techniques and quality management are vital to sustain growth of the industryNot Availabl

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Not AvailableThe effect of delayed icing on the quality of Litopenaeus vannamei was assessed by chemical, microbiological and sensory evaluation. Shrimps were divided into three lots. One lot was immediately iced and the other two lots were subjected to delayed icing after keeping in ambient conditions (30 ± 2C) for 2 and 4 h, respectively. White shrimp had a moisture content of 77.21%, protein 18.80%, ash 1.47% and fat 1.30% on wet weight basis. Total volatile basic nitrogen, trimethylamine, thiobarbituric acid and K value showed increasing trend during chilled storage. It was observed that there is a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in the hardness of shrimp meat during storage. Sensory evaluation indicated that the shelf life of white shrimp iced immediately after catch and 2 h delayed iced was approximately 9 days, whereas 4 h delayed iced sample had shortened shelf life of 6 days.Not Availabl

Narrow linewidth Brillouin laser based on chalcogenide photonic chip

We present, to the best of our knowledge, the first demonstration of a narrow linewidth, waveguide-based Brillouin laser that is enabled by large Brillouin gain of a chalcogenide chip. The waveguides are equipped with vertical tapers for low-loss coupling. Due to optical feedback for the Stokes wave, the lasing threshold is reduced to 360 mW, which is five times lower than the calculated single-pass Brillouin threshold for the same waveguide. The slope efficiency of the laser is found to be 30%, and the linewidth of 100 kHz is measured using a self-heterodyne method.Funding from the Australian Research Council (ARC) through its Laureate Project FL120100029 is gratefully acknowledged. This research was also supported by the ARC Center of Excellence for Ultrahigh bandwidth Devices for Optical Systems (project no. CE110001018)