Association and path coefficient analysis among yield attributes and berry yield in black pepper (Piper nigrum L.)

Eighty two germplasm accessions of black pepper aggregated from pepper cultivating tracts of Karnataka, Kerala, Goa and Maharashtra were characterized for 17 quantitative traits as per the IPGRI descriptors during 2018-19 at the field gene bank of ICAR-Indian Institute of Spices Research, Experimental Farm, Kozhikode. Wide range and high coefficient of variation (CV) were recorded for dry berry weight, fresh berry weight and number of spikes vine-1 whereas, lower CV was observed for berry size. Fresh berry weight showed significant positive correlation with dry berry weight followed by number of spikes vine-1 whereas, number of immature berries spike-1 and berry size showed significant negative association with setting percentage. High positive direct effect of fresh berry weight on dry berry weight was observed during path analysis. Both fresh rachis weight and number of spike vine-1 had indirect positive effects on dry berry weight through fresh berry weight. Residual effect was meagre suggesting that the 17 quantitative traits explained 99% variability. Traits like number of spikes vine-1 and fresh berry weight are the important traits that need to be augmented during improvement of black pepper for yield

Impact of nontariff measures on the exports of the beverage sector in India

In the recent past, agricultural exports, especially plantation crops, which are the backbone of India, have been subjected to many nontariff measures. Since the liberalisation of trade has led to the integration of global commodity markets, developing countries are significantly affected by these trade barriers, which indirectly hurt millions of plantation community. Traditionally, India is well known for its exports of beverages and stringent maximum residual limits, traceability issues, and food safety standards are complex issues surmounting trade in the plantation sector around the world. Hence, the present research study attempts to find the shock of nontariff measures on the prices of both export and domestic beverages and the hammering in returns to the Indian beverage industry by the partial equilibrium method. This model directly measures the simulation effect of nontariff measures by imposing NTM on tea and coffee sector.  It is obvious that as the NTM percent increases from 10 percent to 25 percent on tea sector, the loss in export quantity was more from 22.24 million kg to 55.61 million kg and loss of revenue was from Rs. 2997 million to Rs. 7492 million for the corresponding NTMs. Likewise the loss in export quantity (62.85 million kg) and loss in revenue (Rs. 9412 million) were high in 25 per cent of NTM. The present study shows how to allow for market imperfections and trade facilitating effects of nontariff measures in the beverage sector.

Computed tomographic evaluation of bone tunnel enlargement following single bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with hamstring autograft

The purpose of this study is to evaluate tibial and femoral tunnel diameter following single bundle anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction and correlation between tunnel enlargement and clinical outcome. Twelve patients who underwent primary arthroscopic single bundle ACL reconstruction with hamstring graft were included in prospective case series. Preoperative clinical evaluation was performed using international knee documentation committee (IKDC) subjective score and grade, Tegner knee score and Lysholm knee score. Computed tomography (CT) evaluation of the femoral and tibial tunnels were done on post-operative day (POD) 1 and at a mean follow up of 9 months (range 7-12 months) and were compared with functional scores. Our study shows significant tibial and femoral tunnel enlargement on CT scan at 9 months (range 7-12 months) postoperatively. All the clinical evaluation scales showed improvement postoperatively. The mean average femoral tunnel diameter increased significantly (p<0.001) from 8.17±0.57 to 9.08±0.660 (10%) and tibial tunnel diameter increased significantly (p<0.001) from 8.08±0.669 to 9.07±0.601 (11%) postoperatively at a mean follow up of 9 months (range 7-12 months). No statistically significant difference between tunnel enlargement and clinical values were found. In our current prospective CT based study, we conclude use of extracortical fixation of femoral tunnel with stronger fixation of the tibial tunnel, tunnel orientation and anatomic fixation close to the joint line along with less aggressive rehabilitation protocol with use of extension knee brace may result in minimization of tunnel widening with quadrupled hamstring autograft

Multiplier Based On Add And Shift Method By Passing Zero

In this paper, a low-power structure for shift-and-add multipliers is proposed. The architec-ture considerably lowers the switching activity of conventional multipliers. The modification to the multiplier which multiplies A by B include the removal of the shifting register, direct feeding of A to the adder, bypassing the adder whenever possible, using a ring counter instead of a binary counter and removal of the partial product shift. The architecture makes use of a low-power ring counter proposed in this work . The proposed multiplier can be used for low-power applications where the speed is not a primary design parameter

Functional outcome after autologous blood injection for tennis elbow

Background: Tennis elbow is one of most common conditions found in athletes involved in upper limb sports. It has been reported that local injection of autologous blood in tennis elbow offers significant benefit by providing the necessary cellular and humoral mediators to induce a healing cascade. The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of autologous blood injection in the treatment of tennis elbow.Methods: 30 consecutive patients involved in upper limb sports and suffering from tennis elbow for more than 3 months duration not responsive to oral medication or other non-invasive treatment were given local injection of 2 ml autologous blood. Patients were assessed using the visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain and Nirschl scores before giving injection and at 1, 4, 8 and 12 weeks also at 6 and 9 months, repeat injection was given at 8 weeks if pain persisted.Results: After Autologous blood injection (ABI) at 4 weeks there is significant (P <0.001) decrease in VAS pain score and Nirschl score. Though VAS pain score and Nirschl stage continued to improve after 8 weeks, but statistically not significant.Conclusions: Autologous blood injection significantly improved clinical function and pain scores in patients with chronic tennis elbow who had previously undergone unsuccessful non-invasive treatment.

Studies on genetic variability and relationship of bael (Aegle marmelos (L) Correa) using morphological and molecular markers

Bael (Aegle marmelos (L) Correa) is an important underutilized fruit crop of India. A total of 25 bael trees were selected from 356 bael trees of Sakharayapattana in Chikkamagalur district, Karnataka, India based on the fruit morphological traits (fruit weight, pulp weight, skull thickness, seed weight per fruit, No. of seeds per fruit, No. of locules per fruit, No. of seeds per locule, pulp wt. : seed wt.). These 25 trees were evaluated for phenotypic and genotypic variations using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSR) markers. RAPD and ISSR markers showed significant polymorphism among the trees. Jaccard’s genetic similarity value of RAPD and ISSR was found in the range of 0.00–0.95 and 0.06–0.56, respectively suggesting a moderate level of genetic diversity. The present study revealed that molecular markers can be successfully utilized for determining genetic diversity and relationship of bael trees for further varietal improvement

An Experimental Investigation on Effect of B4C/CeO2 Reinforcements on Mechanical, Fracture Surface and Wear Characteristics in Al7075 Hybrid Metal Matrix Composites

Stircasting method is commonly used to efficiently produce high-grade Metal Matrix Composites (MMCs). In the current study, we produced hybrid materials by altering the weight percentages of B4C, which were 2%, 4%, 6%, and 8%, while maintaining a constant weight percentage of 5% for Cenosphere. Following that, we performed examinations of microstructure, hardness, and tensile properties on both the as-cast materials and the hybrid composites. The microstructural analysis unveiled a consistent dispersion of reinforced particles throughout the base matrix, which was observed in both the as-cast and hybrid composite samples. Highest hardness of 86.55 VHN is achieved for the 8% B4C + 5% cenosphere reinforced MMCs. The maximum tensile strength of 180.58 MPa is obtained for 6% B4C + 5% cenosphere reinforced MMCs. Minimum wear loss is observed in the 6% B4C + 5% cenosphere reinforced MMCs. The ductility of the hybrid composite is decreased as the amount of reinforcement was increased. The tensile fractured sample shows the voids, micro-cracks and particles pullouts. It indicates the strong adhesion between the reinforcements and the matrix material, with bonding influenced by the reinforcement geometry and grain size. The wornout surfaces of the as-cast show the deep grooves, delamination and ploughs on the wear directions. However, hybrid MMCs micro-graphs indicate the deep grooves, particles pullouts and voids in the wear directions. It is due to the high hard reinforcement’s presence in the matrix and resists wear of MMCs

Characterisation and Liberation of Graphite Schist

This paper deals with the characterisation and liberation studies of graphite schist from Shivaganga, Tamilnadu. The graphite flakes are interbanded with quartz and calcite. Secondary calcite veins often traverses graphite flakes and quartz grains. Based on grain counting, frequency curves , comminution followed by flotation tests , the liberation size of graphite is estimated between 150to 90 microns. Therougher concentrate achieved at d&, passing of 145 micron size product contain 35 % FC with 99% recovery.The SFM study reveals the presence of minute inclusions of calcite and quartz within graphite flakes

Early postoperative outcomes of dunking pancreatojejunostomy

Background: There is no gold standard method for pancreatico-enteric reconstruction.  In our department, dunking pancreatojejunostomy (DPJ) and Duct to mucosa PJ technique are done as per surgeon’s choice.  In this study, authors evaluate the early postoperative outcomes following DPJ based on ISGPS (2007).Methods: A Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from January 2008 to December 2015. Detailed information on these patients was maintained on a prospectively held computerized database. Routine drain amylase estimations are being done on POD 3and 5 for all patients undergoing pancreatic resections and on all subsequent days if output is suggestive of pancreatic fistula. Details of patients who have undergone pancreatic resection with duct to mucosa type of pancreato-intestinal anastomosis during the same period (64 patients) were also collected prospectively and analysed. DPJ and Duct to mucosa groups were not comparable with respect to age, duct size, pancreatic gland texture and co-morbidities. Hence direct comparison between the two groups has not been carried out.Results: A total of 75 of 139 pancreatic resections with pancreatointestinal anastomosis who had dunking PJ and fulfilled the study criteria were analysed; none were excluded for analysing early outcomes. 19 out of 75 (25.5%) developed grade ‘A’ POPF, five out of 75 (6.6%) developed Grade ‘B’ POPF and three out of 75 (3.3%) developed Grade ‘C’ POPF. 20 out of 75 (26.6%) had grade ‘A’ DGE, five out of 75 (6.6%) had grade ‘B’ DGE. PPH occurred in four out of 75 (5.3%), two out of four were early PPH, one was managed by coiling and other by re-laparotomy, two were late PPH both managed by coiling of the pseudo aneurysms. There was no 30-day mortality.Conclusions: Dunking (Invagiantion) pancreatojejunostomy has accepatable early outcomes with clinically significant/relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula rates of Grade B (6.6%) and Grade C (4%), delayed gastric emptying (33.2%) and post pancreatic hemorrhage (5.3%) rates. The outcomes are comparable with Duct-to-mucosa PJ mentioned in literature

Fabrication, Mechanical and Wear Properties of Aluminum (Al6061)-Silicon Carbide-Graphite Hybrid Metal Matrix Composites

In recent times, the use of aluminum alloy-based Hybrid Metal Matrix Composites (HMMCs) is being increased in aerospace and automotive applications. HMMCs compensate for the low desirable properties of each filler used. However, the mechanical properties of HMMCs are not well understood. In particular, microstructural investigations and wear optimization studies of HMMCs are not clear. Therefore, further studies are required. The present study is aimed at fabricating and mechanical and wear characterizing and microstructure investigating of Silicon Carbide (SiC) and Graphite (Gr) added in Aluminum (Al) alloy Al6061 HMMCs. The addition of SiC particles was in the range from 0 to 9 weight percentage (wt.%) in steps of 3, along with the addition of 1 wt.% Gr in powder form. The presence of alloying elements in the Al6061 alloy was identified using the Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analysis (EDX). The dispersion of SiC and Gr particles in the alloy was investigated using metallurgical microscope and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The gain in strength can be attributed to the growth in dislocation density. The nature of fracture was quasi-cleavage. The microstructure examination reveals the uniform dispersion of the reinforcement. Density, hardness, and Ultimate Tensile Strength values observed to be increased with increased contents of SiC reinforcement. Besides, wear studies were performed in dry sliding conditions. Optimization studies were performed to investigate the effect of parameters that affecting the wear. The sliding wear resistance was noticed to be improved concerning higher amounts of reinforcement leading to a decrease in delamination and adhesive wear. The predicted values for the wear rate have also been compared with the experimental results and good correlation is obtained