Benefits of Improved Groundnut Technologies to Resource-poor Farmers: A Participatory Approach

Considering that non-adoption of improved groundnut technologies by the small and resource-poor farmers is due to non-availability of quality seeds, poor knowledge, inappropriateness of technologies, etc., in the current study, improved groundnut technologies have been implemented through participatory mode so as to generate awareness about improved technologies among them. The participatory approach could make the farmers to learn, adopt and spread new technologies. The economic indicators have shown that a net return of Rs 7104 per ha was realized by adopting improved varieties and integrated crop management (ICM) package during kharif season, and it is higher than the returns realized by growing local variety (AK-12-24) with local practice (Rs 2010/ha). The cost of production has been found to be Rs 11.04/kg and 13.98/kg among the improved practice and farmers’ practice, respectively. A similar trend of higher net returns (Rs 13820/ha) and lower cost of production (Rs 8.86 per/kg) has been observed with improved practice during the rabi season, compared to the lower net returns (Rs 6309/ha) and higher cost of production (Rs 11.34 per/kg) with farmers’ practice. The informal seed supply system implemented through seed bank operation in a participatory mode has increased the improved groundnut seed availability at the village level. The seed multiplication programme could increase the spread of improved varieties from 32 ha to 69 ha in the adopted villages and from 15.9 ha to 85 ha in the neighbouring villages within a period of three years. It will help increase productivity levels of crops and income of farmers. The informal seed supply system implemented through seed bank operation has been found very successful in the faster technology spread. Hence, this model may be replicated in other areas to provide improved seeds to small and marginal farmers. It will also help in achieving self-sufficiency in improved varietal needs at the village level.Agricultural and Food Policy,

Covariant hamiltonian spin dynamics in curved space-time

The dynamics of spinning particles in curved space-time is discussed, emphasizing the hamiltonian formulation. Different choices of hamiltonians allow for the description of different gravitating systems. We give full results for the simplest case with minimal hamiltonian, constructing constants of motion including spin. The analysis is illustrated by the example of motion in Schwarzschild space-time. We also discuss a non-minimal extension of the hamiltonian giving rise to a gravitational equivalent of the Stern-Gerlach force. We show that this extension respects a large class of known constants of motion for the minimal case.Comment: 14 pages, accepted version for Phys Lett B, added a footnote and two reference

Mass exchange evaluation during optimization of osmotic dehydration for Oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus sajor-caju) in salt-sugar solution

The objective of this study was to investigate the osmotic dehydration of Oyster mushrooms in salt-sugar solution at different solution concentrations, immersion times, temperatures and solution to fruit ratio to analyze the water loss, solute gain and weight reduction. Salt-sugar uptake and water transfer were quantitatively investigated during osmotic dehydration of Oyster mushrooms using response surface methodology. Experiments were conducted in a thermostatically controlled agitating incubator. With respect to water loss, solute gain and weight reduction both linear and quadratic effects of four process variables were found to be significant. For each response, second order polynomial models were developed using multiple linear regression analysis. ANOVA was performed to check the adequacy and accuracy of the fitted models. The response surfaces and contour maps showing the interaction of process variables were constructed. Applying desirability function method, the optimum operating conditions were found to be: solution temperature – 42.3° C, immersion time – 44.21 min, salt-sugar concentration – 15 %: 52.57° B and solution to fruit ratio 4.99:1. At these optimum values, water loss, solute gain and weight reduction was 41, 2.15 and 38.6 (g/100 g initial mass) respectively

Synchronization Algorithms for Multi-cores and Multiprocessors

A distributed system is a group of processors that do not allocate memory. As an alternative, each processor has its own local memory, and the processors communicate with one another through communication lines such as local-area or wide-area networks. The processors in a distributed system vary in size and function. Such systems may include small handheld or real-time devices, personal computers, workstations, and large mainframe computer systems. Distributed systems, will have their own set of unique challenges, including synchronizing data and creating sense of conflicts. Effective synchronization algorithms performance depends on runtime factors that are rigid to predict. The designers have protocols to employ the synchronization operation and waiting mechanisms to wait for synchronization delays. In this paper an effort is made to investigate synchronization algorithm that vigorously select waiting mechanisms and protocols in response to runtime factors so as to attain enhanced performance. DOI: 10.17762/ijritcc2321-8169.150615

Brownian dynamics simulations of flexible polymers with spring–spring repulsions

We develop a method which incorporates spring–spring repulsions into Brownian dynamics simulations of flexible polymers. The distance of closest approach between two springs is computed, and a repulsive force is then applied based on this distance. Repulsive potentials of the exponential and power-law forms are considered. We demonstrate that our method is capable of accounting for excluded-volume effects in start-up of extensional flow. Equilibrium simulations indicate that spring-spring repulsions can be used to prevent the passage of two springs through each other, and thus maintain the topological integrity of polymer molecules. The method developed here is expected to be useful for simulating entanglement phenomena in both single and multichain systems. © 2001 American Institute of Physics.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/69579/2/JCPSA6-114-15-6937-1.pd

Učestalost supkliničkog endometritisa u krava koje se pregone te usporedba učinkovitosti različite antibiotske i biljne intrauterine terapije

The present research work was conducted to investigate the incidence of subclinical endometritis (SE) in repeat breeder dairy cattle, and to study the comparative efficacy of different antimicrobial and polyherbal intrauterine therapies. Repeat breeding crossbred cows (>90 days in milking) with clear cervico-vaginal mucous discharge in spontaneous estrus were examined for uterine cytology by the cytobrush technique. The cows with ≥ 4% polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) in uterine cytology were considered to be affected with SE. These cows were randomly and equally divided (n=12/group) into 5 groups and treated with the intrauterine medicine Vodine-IU (T1), Metricare-IU (T2), Utriguard-IU (T3), Uraksha (polyherbal preparation) (T4), or left untreated (control/C). In the subsequent estrus, uterine cytology was repeated and the cows were inseminated. The cows that failed to conceive but showed estrus were re-inseminated. The pregnancy status was checked. The incidence of SE was observed to be 36.80% (60/163). The PMNs percentage significantly declined in all the treatment group cows in response to treatment. The highest conception rate was observed in the T4 group (Uraksha treated) cows. It was concluded that the uterine cytobrush technique can be used efficiently for diagnosis of SE in dairy cattle, and polyherbal intrauterine drugs may be a good alternative in intrauterine antimicrobial therapy.Rad je proveden kako bi se istražila učestalost supkliničkog endometritisa (SE) u mliječnih krava koje se pregone. Također, usporedila se učinkovitost različitih antimikrobnih i poliherbalnih intrauterinih terapijskih postupaka. U krava koje se pregone (više od 90 dana u mužnji), s čistim cerviko-vaginalnim iscjetkom iz rodnice u spontanom estrusu, tehnikom citočetkice učinjena je citološka pretraga maternice. Za krave kod kojih je utvrđeno 4% polimorfonuklearnih stanica (PMN) smatralo se da imaju supklinički endometritis. Životinje su nasumično podijeljene u pet skupina s jednakim brojem jedinki (n=12 po skupini) i liječene intrauterino sljedećim lijekovima: Vodine (skupina T1), Metricare (skupina T2), Utriguard (skupina T3), Uraksha (poliherbalni pripravak; skupina T4), dok je peta skupina bila kontrolna skupina (C). U sljedećem estrusu ponovljena je citološka analiza maternice i krave su osjemenjene. Krave nisu ostale gravidne te su u sljedećem estrusu ponovno osjemenjene. Provjeren je status gravidnosti. Incidencija SE-a bila je 36,80 % (60/163). Postotak PMN-a znatno se smanjio u svih krava u tretiranim skupinama kao odgovor na liječenje. Najveća stopa koncepcije zabilježena je u krava u skupini T4 (liječene Urakshom). Zaključeno je da tehnika citočetkica može učinkovito poslužiti u dijagnostici SE-a u mliječnih goveda te da poliherbalni intrauterini lijekovi mogu biti dobra alternativa antimikrobnoj intrauterinoj terapiji

Spinning bodies in curved space-time

We study the motion of neutral and charged spinning bodies in curved space-time in the test-particle limit. We construct equations of motion using a closed covariant Poisson-Dirac bracket formulation which allows for different choices of the hamiltonian. We derive conditions for the existence of constants of motion and apply the formalism to the case of spherically symmetric space-times. We show that the periastron of a spinning body in a stable orbit in a Schwarzschild or Reissner-Nordstr{\o}m background not only precesses, but also varies radially. By analysing the stability conditions for circular motion we find the innermost stable circular orbit (ISCO) as a function of spin. It turns out that there is an absolute lower limit on the ISCOs for increasing prograde spin. Finally we establish that the equations of motion can also be derived from the Einstein equations using an appropriate energy-momentum tensor for spinning particles.Comment: 26 pages, 5 figures; v2: version accepted for publication; small changes in text and references adde

Optimization of osmotic dehydration process for Oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus sajor-caju) in sodium chloride solution using RSM

Sodium chloride (NaCl) and water transfer were quantitatively investigated during osmotic dehydration of Oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus sajor-caju) using response surface methodology with the NaCl concentration (10– 20%, w/v), solution temperature (30–60° C) immersio n time (15–240 min) and solution to fruit ratio (4:1 to 8:1) were taken as independent process variables. Experiments were conducted in a thermostatically controlled agitating incubator. For each response, second order polynomial models were developed using multiple linear regression analysis. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to check the adequacy and accuracy of the fitted models. The response surfaces and contour maps showing the interaction of process variables were constructed. Applying desirability function method, the optimum operating conditions were found to be: solution temperature – 45o C, immersion time – 53.54 min, salt concentration – 14.09% and solution to fruit ratio 6.08:1. Corresponding to these optimum values water loss, solute gain and weight reduction were 38.13, 2.1 and 36.02 (g/100 g initial mass) respectively

A Hybrid Differential Evolution Approach for Simultaneous SchedulingProblems in a Flexible Manufacturing Environment

Scheduling of machines and transportation devices like Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) in a Flexible Manufacturing System(FMS) is a typical N-P hard problem. Even though several algorithms were employed to solve this combinatorial optimization problem, most of the work concentrated on solving the problems of machines and material handling independently. In this paper the authors have attempted to schedule both the machines and AGVs simultaneously, with makespan minimization as objective, for which Differential Evolution (DE) is applied. Operations based coding is employed to represent the solution vector, which is further modified to suit the DE application. The authors have proposed two new strategies of DE in this paper which better suits the problem. We have developed a separate heuristic for assigning the vehicles and this is integrated with the traditional DE approach. The hybridized approach is tested on a number of benchmark problems whose results outperformed those available in the literature