Popularization of improved maize (Zea mays L.) production technology through frontline demonstrations in semi arid zone IVA of Rajasthan

Front line demonstrations (FLD,s) on maize (Zea mays L.) were laid down at 661 farmers’ fields to demonstrate production potential and economic benefits of improved production technologies comprising high yielding varieties namely PM-3, PM-5, PEHM-2, Bio- 9681 and Mahyco 3765 in Rajsamand district of Semi Arid Zone IVa of Rajasthan state during kharif seasons from 2006 to 2012 in rainfed farming situation. The improved production technologies recorded an additional yield ranging from 2.50 to 15.78 qha-1 with a mean of 7.94 qha-1. The per cent increase yield under improved production technologies ranged from 33.17 to 68.16 (PM-3), 14.09 to 59.82 (PM-5), 46.61 to 66.97 (PEHM-2), 55.83 to 92.82 (Bio 9681) and 80.12 (Mahyco 3765) in respective years. The average extension gap, technology gap and technology index were 9.10 qha-1, 5.94 qha-1 and 20.08 per cent, respectively in different varieties of maize. The improved production technologies gave higher benefit cost ratio ranging from 1.28 to 3.00 with a mean of 2.45 compared to local checks (1.10) being grown by farmers under locality. The productivity of maize per unit area could be increased by adopting feasible scientific and sustainable management practices with a suitable variety. Considering the above facts, frontline demonstrations were carried out in a systematic and scientific manner on farmer’s field to show the worth of a new variety and convincing farming community about potentialities of improved production management technologies of maize for further adoption by the farming community

Structural, Magnetic and Magneto-caloric studies of Ni50Mn30Sn20Shape Memory Alloy

We have synthesized a nominal composition of Ni50Mn30Sn20 alloy using arc melting technique. Rietveld refinement confirms the austenite L21 structure in Fm-3m space group. Electrical resistivity has been found to clearly exhibiting two different phenomena viz. a magnetic transition from paramagnetic to ferromagnetic and a structural transition from austenite to martensitic phase. Thermo-magnetization measurements M(T) confirms ferromagnetic transition temperature TC at 222 K and martensitic transition starting at 127 K(MS). Magnetization measurement M(H) at 10 K confirms the ferromagnetic state. Frequency dependence of ac susceptibility \c{hi}' at low temperature suggests spin glass behavior in the system. The isothermal magnetic entropy change values have been found to be 1.14 J/Kg.K, 2.69 J/Kg.K and 3.9 J/Kg.K, with refrigeration capacities of 19.6 J/kg, 37.8 J/kg and 54.6 J/kg for the field change of 1, 2 and 3 Tesla respectively at 227 K.Comment: 16 pages text + Figs. Ni50Mn30Sn20 alloy: reasonable refrigeration capacity tunable to Room

Electrical and Magnetic behaviour of PrFeAsO0.8F0.2 superconductor

The superconducting and ground state samples of PrFeAsO0.8F0.2 and PrFeAsO have been synthesised via easy and versatile single step solid state reaction route. X-ray & Reitveld refine parameters of the synthesised samples are in good agreement to the earlier reported value of the structure. The ground state of the pristine compound (PrFeAsO) exhibited a metallic like step in resistivity below 150K followed by another step at 12K. The former is associated with the spin density wave (SDW) like ordering of Fe spins and later to the anomalous magnetic ordering for Pr moments. Both the resistivity anomalies are absent in case of superconducting PrFeAsO0.8F0.2 sample. Detailed high field (up to 12Tesla) electrical and magnetization measurements are carried out for superconducting PrFeAsO0.8F0.2 sample. The PrFeAsO0.8F0.2 exhibited superconducting onset (Tconset) at around 47K with Tc({\rho} =0) at 38K. Though the Tconset remains nearly invariant, the Tc({\rho} =0) is decreased with applied field, and the same is around 23K under applied field of 12Tesla. The upper critical field (Hc2) is estimated from the Ginzburg Landau equation (GL) fitting, which is found to be ~ 182Tesla. Critical current density (Jc) being calculated from high field isothermal magnetization (MH) loops with the help of Beans critical state model, is found to be of the order of 103 A/cm2. Summarily, the superconductivity characterization of single step synthesised PrFeAsO0.8F0.2 superconductor is presented.Comment: 15 Pages Text + Fig

Hikami-Larkin-Nagaoka (HLN) Fitting of Magneto Transport of Bi2Se3 Single Crystal in Different Magnetic Field Ranges

We report the detailed study of structural micro-structuraland high magnetic field magneto transport propertiesof Bi2Se3single crystal. Bi2Se3 single crystal is grown through conventional solid-state reaction route via the self-flux method. Rietveld analysis on Powder X-ray Diffraction showed that the studied Bi2Se3 crystal is crystallized in single-phase without any impurity. The surface morphology analyzed through Scanning Electron Microscopy study which shows that as-grown single crystal exhibit layered type structure and the quantitative weight of the atomic constituents (Bi and Se) are found to be closeto the stoichiometric amount in energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis. Low temperature (2.5K) magneto-resistance (MR) exhibited a v-type cusp around origin at lower magnetic field, which is the sign of weak anti-localization effect. Further, Bi2Se3 single crystal magneto conductivity data is fitted by well-known HLN equation in different magnetic field range of 2Tesla, 4Tesla and 6Tesla and the resultant found that the conduction mechanism of Bi2Se3 is dominated by WAL state.Comment: 4 Pages Text + Fig

The morphological and phenological performance of different cotton genotypes under different plant density

The field experiment conducted with different plant density and different Genotypes showed significant differences in their morphological characters and phenological characters. Among the genotypes, AKA-7 possessed higher plant height (116.4 cm), No. of sympodia (19.27 plant-1) and leaf area index (3.628) compared to other geno-types but leaf area (33.02 dm-2) and dry matter weight (103.21g/plant) were recorded higher with genotype Balwan. However, Normal plant density (100%) was registered higher plant height (102.6 cm), no of sympodia (17.33 plant-1), leaf area (27.02 dm2) and dry matter weight (58.13 g/plant) but higher leaf area index (3.430) was recorded with higher plant density (200%). Among the genotypes, AKH-081 was comparatively earlier in phenological characters i.e. first square (47.9 days), first flower (67.9 days), first boll burst (116.1 days), first picking (128.7 days) and final picking (178 days). However, Higher planting density (200%) was recorded earlier in first square (49.3 day), first flower (67.8 days), first boll burst (116.9 days), first picking (130.6 day) and final picking (179.7 days). On the basis of this experiment, genotype Balwan and normal planting density level (100%) recorded higher morphological development wherever phenological development recorded earlier with the each respective phenophase in the Gen-otype AKH-081 and highest planting density level (200%)

Lineage dynamics of murine pancreatic development at single-cell resolution.

Organogenesis requires the complex interactions of multiple cell lineages that coordinate their expansion, differentiation, and maturation over time. Here, we profile the cell types within the epithelial and mesenchymal compartments of the murine pancreas across developmental time using a combination of single-cell RNA sequencing, immunofluorescence, in situ hybridization, and genetic lineage tracing. We identify previously underappreciated cellular heterogeneity of the developing mesenchyme and reconstruct potential lineage relationships among the pancreatic mesothelium and mesenchymal cell types. Within the epithelium, we find a previously undescribed endocrine progenitor population, as well as an analogous population in both human fetal tissue and human embryonic stem cells differentiating toward a pancreatic beta cell fate. Further, we identify candidate transcriptional regulators along the differentiation trajectory of this population toward the alpha or beta cell lineages. This work establishes a roadmap of pancreatic development and demonstrates the broad utility of this approach for understanding lineage dynamics in developing organs

Bio-efficacy of phytoextracts and oil cakes on Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) causing stem rot disease of jute, Corchorus spp.

In the present study efforts were made to explore the efficacy of various plant extracts and oil cakes against Macrophomina phaseolina. The efficacy of eight different plant species, Zingiber officianale, Aloe indica, Lawsonia inermis, Chenopodium album, Allium cepa, Piper betel, Murraya koenigii, Parthenium hysterophorus aqueous extracts including oil cakes of mustard and neem were evaluated by using of poisoned food technique in vitro for their inhibitory effect on mycelial growth of M. phaseolina causing stem rot of jute (Corchorus olitorius and C. capsularis). The rhizome extract of Z. officinale produced maximum growth inhibition (74.59%) of the pathogen followed by leaf extracts of A. indica (63.57%), and leaf extract of L. inermis (60.17%) at the concentration of 10%. The maximum mycelial growth inhibition (52.40%) was recorded with neem cake (Azadirachta indica) at the concentrations of 20% followed by 42.61% and 29.60% with concentration of 15% and 10%, respectively. However, maximum mycelial growth inhibition (19.42%) was recorded with mustard cake (Brassica juncea) at the concentration of 20% followed by 16.64% and 12.20% at the concentration of 15% and 10% respectively. In general mycelial growth inhibition was dose dependent and it was maximum in case of neem cake than mustard cake. The present study revealed that, these plant extracts and oilcake extracts could be exploited for the possible control of deadly pathogen M. phaseolina. Accordingly, this is an important proactive measure in preventing the spread of the stem rot disease through a more ecofriendly approach