Surface and interface study of pulsed-laser-deposited off-stoichiometric NiMnSb thin films on Si(100) substrate

We report a detailed study of surface and interface properties of pulsed-laser deposited NiMnSb films on Si (100) substrate as a function of film thickness. As the thickness of films is reduced below 35 nm formation of a porous layer is observed. Porosity in this layer increases with decrease in NiMnSb film thickness. These morphological changes of the ultra thin films are reflected in the interesting transport and magnetic properties of these films. On the other hand, there are no influences of compositional in-homogeneity and surface/interface roughness on the magnetic and transport properties of the films.Comment: 13 pages, 7 figures, Submitted to Phys. Rev.

Modulation-doped beta-(Al0.2Ga0.8)2O3/Ga2O3 Field-Effect Transistor

Modulation-doped heterostructures are a key enabler for realizing high mobility and better scaling properties for high performance transistors. We report the realization of modulation-doped two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) at beta(Al0.2Ga0.8)2O3/ Ga2O3 heterojunction using silicon delta doping. The formation of a 2DEG was confirmed using capacitance voltage measurements. A modulation-doped 2DEG channel was used to realize a modulation-doped field-effect transistor. The demonstration of modulation doping in the beta-(Al0.2Ga0.8)2O3/ Ga2O3 material system could enable heterojunction devices for high performance electronics

Implementation of Precast Technology in India–Opportunities and Challenges

Rapid economic growth and limited availability of affordable land have restricted the horizontal mode of construction leading to vertical construction in most of the Indian cities. Urban India is mostly marked by tall buildings that are being built. Due to the economic slowdown and some governmental interventions, these building projects are seeing significant time and cost overrun, ultimately impacting the end-user. As these market pressures rise more and more, real estate developers are considering to adopt emerging technologies to compensate for these construction issues. Indian construction industry is undergoing a paradigm shift from traditional methods of construction to modern methods of construction. Precast technology is one such move which is expected to enhance the productivity of the construction process, thereby, optimizing the requirement of resources on the site, reducing waste generation and resulting in a faster delivery of the projects. While internationally precast technology is considered as a mature technology, in India, it is not widely utilized, despite the advantages. Commonly cited constraints are high costs in comparison to traditional construction, economies of scale, logistics, skill level required, end user friendliness, etc. Primarily, this study focusses on identifying the challenges faced by the precast technology under various categories. This study also presents a cost analysis model for precast technology versus traditional construction to address some of the challenges. Presented cost model is applied to two projects wherein precast technology and conventional technology are utilized to construct the project and an inference is drawn comparing the time and cost aspects of precast technology. Amicable solutions are proposed for adoption of precast construction from an Indian perspective

Cumin wilt management – a review

Cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) is one of the oldest seed spice and an important production constraint is wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cumini Prasad and Patel (Foc) and crop losses could be up to 60%. Maximum population of Foc was estimated at 0-5 cm soil depth in the presence of crop, but the population density tended to decline progressively with distance from the surface. Resting structures of the Foc, the chlamydospores, survive in the soil for more than 10 years. The inoculum density in the soil increases with each year of cumin cultivation and is directly proportional to disease incidence in the field. In this review, an effort has been made to compile research findings generated during past four decades on symptomatology, ecology and management strategies. In the absence of resistant sources against Foc, to reduce population of pathogen below the economic threshold level, integration of cultural, chemical and biological control measures is the only effective way to manage this diesease. &nbsp

Pleosporales

One hundred and five generic types of Pleosporales are described and illustrated. A brief introduction and detailed history with short notes on morphology, molecular phylogeny as well as a general conclusion of each genus are provided. For those genera where the type or a representative specimen is unavailable, a brief note is given. Altogether 174 genera of Pleosporales are treated. Phaeotrichaceae as well as Kriegeriella, Zeuctomorpha and Muroia are excluded from Pleosporales. Based on the multigene phylogenetic analysis, the suborder Massarineae is emended to accommodate five families, viz. Lentitheciaceae, Massarinaceae, Montagnulaceae, Morosphaeriaceae and Trematosphaeriaceae

Relative Efficacy of On-Farm Weeds as Soil-Amendement for Managing Dry Root Rot of Clusterbean in an Arid Environment

The effectiveness of certain on-farm weeds as soil amendments was ascertained against Macrophomina phaseolina, a soil-borne pathogen causing dry root rot of crops grown under rainfed conditions in arid regions. Population changes in M. phaseolina were determined in soils amended separately with residues (1%, w:w) of Aerva persica, Celosia argentea, Corchorus depressus, Euphorbia hirta, Heliotropium subulatum and Polycarpaea corymbosa, for a period of 90 days. Significant reductions by 90.4–100% in the population of M. phaseolina were achieved with all the weed residues except P. corymbosa. Celosia and Euphorbia residues completely eradicated viable propagules of M. phaseolina. A strong increase (44–61%) in the population of antagonistic actinomycetes was also found in soil amended with Corchorus and Euphorbia. In field tests, soil amended (50 g m2) with Euphorbia, Aerva and Celosia residues significantly reduced dry root rot incidence on clusterbean and also reduced M. phaseolina propagules in the soil. However, dry root rot incidence in Polycarpaea-amended soil (5.8–24.6%) was not significantly different from that in non-amended soil (4.3–25.3%) in both years of the experiment. P. corymbosa also increased the number of propagules of M. phaseolina in the soil. The results demonstrate that dry root rot of rainfed-cultivated annual crops in arid land can be managed with certain weeds as a soil amendment

Brassica amendments and summer irrigation for the control of Macrophomina phaseolina and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cumini in hot arid region

The combined effect of Brassica amendments (mustard oil–cake or mustard residue at 2.5 tons ha-1) and summer irrigation was tested for survival of Macrophomina phaseolina and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cumini and on the severity of dry root rot on clusterbean in the rainy season and on wilt of cumin in the subsequent winter season in the same field. Seed coating with a Bacillus sp., an antagonist bacterium against M. phaseolina, was also integrated with pod residues to improve control of dry root rot. The soil temperature of amended soil after one summer irrigation in June ranged from 38–44°C at 15-cm depth. These temperatures were 0.5–5°C higher than those recorded in unamended soil for the same period and 6–16°C higher when amendments were incorporated in July. A single summer irrigation led to a significant reduction in viable propagules of M. phaseolina, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cumini, plant mortality due to dry root rot in clusterbean and incidence of wilt on cumin from Brassica amendments, as compared with the application of amendments in July. A seed coating with Bacillus sp. alone was also effective, but integration with residues did not improve control of dry root rot. In general, amended soil held more soil moisture than unamended soil. These findings have a potential value for irrigated pockets in the hot arid zone of India as well as for many countries with the appropriate climatic conditions

Cumin wilt management – a review

Cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) is one of the oldest seed spice and an important production constraint is wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cumini Prasad and Patel (Foc) and crop losses could be up to 60%. Maximum population of Foc was estimated at 0-5 cm soil depth in the presence of crop, but the population density tended to decline progressively with distance from the surface. Resting structures of the Foc, the chlamydospores, survive in the soil for more than 10 years. The inoculum density in the soil increases with each year of cumin cultivation and is directly proportional to disease incidence in the field. In this review, an effort has been made to compile research findings generated during past four decades on symptomatology, ecology and management strategies. In the absence of resistant sources against Foc, to reduce population of pathogen below the economic threshold level, integration of cultural, chemical and biological control measures is the only effective way to manage this diesease. &nbsp

An incidental finding of primary carcinoma of the fallopian tube: a case report

Primary fallopian tube carcinoma (PFTC) is a rare malignancy of female genital tract that histologically and clinically resemble epithelial ovarian cancer. Diagnosis of PFTC is difficult, especially at earlier stages. Most of the time it is an incidental finding. Careful surgical and pathological staging is important. It has worse prognosis than ovarian cancer as it is not routinely suspected, hence treatment is delayed.We, hereby, report a rare case of PFTC diagnosed incidentally while doing bilateral salpingoopherectomy for removal of ovarian cyst

Amenability of groups and GG-sets

This text surveys classical and recent results in the field of amenability of groups, from a combinatorial standpoint. It has served as the support of courses at the University of G\"ottingen and the \'Ecole Normale Sup\'erieure. The goals of the text are (1) to be as self-contained as possible, so as to serve as a good introduction for newcomers to the field; (2) to stress the use of combinatorial tools, in collaboration with functional analysis, probability etc., with discrete groups in focus; (3) to consider from the beginning the more general notion of amenable actions; (4) to describe recent classes of examples, and in particular groups acting on Cantor sets and topological full groups