Germplasm variability-assisted near infrared reflectance spectroscopy chemometrics to develop multi-trait robust prediction models in rice

Rice is a major staple food across the world in which wide variations in nutrient composition are reported. Rice improvement programs need germplasm accessions with extreme values for any nutritional trait. Near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) uses electromagnetic radiations in the NIR region to rapidly measure the biochemical composition of food and agricultural products. NIRS prediction models provide a rapid assessment tool but their applicability is limited by the sample diversity, used for developing them. NIRS spectral variability was used to select a diverse sample set of 180 accessions, and reference data were generated using association of analytical chemists and standard methods. Different spectral pre-processing (up to fourth-order derivatization), scatter corrections (SNV-DT, MSC), and regression methods (partial least square, modified partial least square, and principle component regression) were employed for each trait. Best-fit models for total protein, starch, amylose, dietary fiber, and oil content were selected based on high RSQ, RPD with low SEP(C) in external validation. All the prediction models had ratio of prediction to deviation (RPD) > 2 amongst which the best models were obtained for dietary fiber and protein with R2 = 0.945 and 0.917, SEP(C) = 0.069 and 0.329, and RPD = 3.62 and 3.46. A paired sample t-test at a 95% confidence interval was performed to ensure that the difference in predicted and laboratory values was non-significant

Buckling and Vibration of Functionally Graded Non-uniform Circular Plates Resting on Winkler Foundation

Abstract An investigation on the effect of uniform tensile in-plane force on the radially symmetric vibratory characteristics of functionally graded circular plates of linearly varying thickness along radial direction and resting on a Winkler foundation has been carried out on the basis of classical plate theory. The non-homogeneous mechanical properties of the plate are assumed to be graded through the thickness and described by a power function of the thickness coordinate. The governing differential equation for such a plate model has been obtained using Hamilton's principle. The differential transform method has been employed to obtain the frequency equations for simply supported and clamped boundary conditions. The effect of various parameters like volume fraction index, taper parameter, foundation parameter and the in-plane force parameter has been analysed on the first three natural frequencies of vibration. By allowing the frequency to approach zero, the critical buckling loads for both the plates have been computed. Three-dimensional mode shapes for specified plates have been plotted. Comparison with existing results has been made

Mathematical modeling and numerical investigation of density wave instability of supercritical natural circulation loop

In present paper, a mathematical model based on the one dimensional nonlinear mass, momentum and energy conservation equations has been developed to study the density wave instability (DWI) in horizontal heater and horizontal cooler supercritical water natural circulation loop (HHHC-SCWNCL). The one dimensional nonlinear mass, momentum and energy conservation equations are discretized by using finite difference method (FDM). The numerical model is validated with the benchmark results (NOLSTA model). Numerical simulations are performed to find the threshold stability zone (TSZ) and draw the stability map for natural circulation loop. Further, effect of change in diameter and riser height on the density wave instability of SCWNCL has been investigated

A Study on the Effect of Geometry and Operating Variables on Density Wave Oscillation in a Supercritical Natural Circulation Loop

Nowadays, a prime technology in generation IV nuclear reactors, the supercritical water reactor (SCWR), is the main object of focus. The current article aims to develop a thermal hydraulic numerical model for predicting density wave oscillation (DWO) in a supercritical water natural circulation loop (SCWNCL). A one-dimensional thermal hydraulic mathematical model was developed. The numerical model consists of nonlinear mass, momentum, and energy conservation equations, which were discretized by applying the implicit finite difference technique. The numerical model was validated with experimental results, and numerical simulations were carried out to find the marginal stability boundary (MSB) and draw the stability map for the loop. Further, the effects of geometry (i.e., diameter and hot leg length) and operating parameters (i.e., inlet system pressure and friction factor) on the density wave oscillation of the SCWNCL were analyzed

An in vitro study to compare the efficacy of 2 different rotary instruments for GP removal using 2 different sealers

Background: Failure of endodontic treatment may necessitate retreatment by removing gutta percha from root canals. The present study evaluated the efficiency of retreating gutta-percha obturated root canalas with protaper universal retreatment files, NRT GPR retreatment files while using the sealers, AH plus and Endofill for obturation. Materials and Methods: 80 maxillary premolars were decoronated to obtain a standardized root length of 15 mm. Canals were obturated using thermoplasticized gutta percha (GP) with either AH Plus or Endofill as sealer. Teeth were divided into 4 groups, with 20 teeth in each group, and gutta percha removal was done using  (PTUR Protaper universal retreatment), NRT GPR (Nickel titanium gutta percha remover), for studying their efficiency in terms of total operating time and GP remnants left in the canal. Results: The order of efficiency in terms of time and gutta percha (GP) removal was PTUR > NRT GPR. The difference in GP removal was not statistically significant but the time taken for removal was statistically significant. The use of AH Plus sealer showed more remnants than Endofill sealer and the file system followed the same order of efficiency, but the difference was not statistically significant

Mining nutri-dense accessions from rice landraces of Assam, India

The Indian subcontinent is the primary center of origin of rice where huge diversity is found in the Indian rice gene pool, including landraces. North Eastern States of India are home to thousands of rice landraces which are highly diverse and good sources of nutritional traits, but most of them remain nutritionally uncharacterized. Hence, nutritional profiling of 395 Assam landraces was done for total starch, amylose content (AC), total dietary fiber (TDF), total protein content (TPC), oil, phenol, and total phytic acid (TPA) using official AOAC and standard methods, where the mean content for the estimated traits were found to be 75.2 g/100g, 22.2 g/100g, 4.67 g/100g, 9.8 g/100g, 5.26%, 0.40 GAE g/100g, and 0.34 g/100g for respectively. The glycaemic index (GI) was estimated in 24 selected accessions, out of which 17 accessions were found to have low GI (<55). Among different traits, significant correlations were found that can facilitate the direct and indirect selection such as estimated glycemic index (EGI) and amylose content (−0.803). Multivariate analyses, including principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA), revealed the similarities/differences in the nutritional attributes. Four principal components (PC) i.e., PC1, PC2, PC3, and PC4 were identified through principal component analysis (PCA) which, contributed 81.6% of the variance, where maximum loadings were from protein, oil, starch, and phytic acid. Sixteen clusters were identified through hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA) from which the trait-specific and biochemically most distant accessions could be identified for use in cultivar development in breeding programs