Role of reductant for generation of solar energy in photogalvanic cell

The Photo voltages and photocurrents in photo galvanic cell containing a dye Rose Bengal and Oxalic Acid as reducing agent have been determined. The photo-outputs with Oxalic Acid are higher than Rose Bengal and Mannitol system. The efficiency of the Rose Bengal –Oxalic Acid photo galvanic cell has been estimated to be 0.981%. The photo potentials and photocurrent garneted, conversion efficiency, power of the cell and cell performance of the photo galvanic cells were determined. The effects of different parameters on electrical output of the cell were observed. A mechanism has also been proposed for the generation of the photocurrent in photo galvanic cell. Keywords: Photo galvanic cell; Photopotential; Rose Bengal; Oxalic acid,; Mannitol; Power point DOI: 10.3126/bibechana.v7i0.4036 BIBECHANA 7 (2011) 6-1

Role of reductant for generation of solar energy in photogalvanic cell

The Photo voltages and photocurrents in photo galvanic cell containing a dye Rose Bengal and Oxalic Acid as reducing agent have been determined. The photo-outputs with Oxalic Acid are higher than Rose Bengal and Mannitol system. The efficiency of the Rose Bengal –Oxalic Acid photo galvanic cell has been estimated to be 0.981%. The photo potentials and photocurrent garneted, conversion efficiency, power of the cell and cell performance of the photo galvanic cells were determined. The effects of different parameters on electrical output of the cell were observed. A mechanism has also been proposed for the generation of the photocurrent in photo galvanic cell. Keywords: Photo galvanic cell; Photopotential; Rose Bengal; Oxalic acid,; Mannitol; Power point DOI: 10.3126/bibechana.v7i0.4036 BIBECHANA 7 (2011) 6-1

Prospect and potential of Burkholderia sp. against Phytophthora capsici Leonian: a causative agent for foot rot disease of black pepper

Foot rot disease is a very destructive disease in black pepper in Malaysia. It is caused by Phytophthora capsici Leonian, which is a soilborne pathogenic protist (phylum, Oomycota) that infects aerial and subterranean structures of many host plants. This pathogen is a polycyclic, such that multiple cycles of infection and inoculum production occur in a single growing season. It is more prevalent in the tropics because of the favourable environmental conditions. The utilization of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) as a biological control agent has been successfully implemented in controlling many plant pathogens. Many studies on the exploration of beneficial organisms have been carried out such as Pseudomonas fluorescens, which is one of the best examples used for the control of Fusarium wilt in tomato. Similarly, P. fluorescens is found to be an effective biocontrol agent against the foot rot disease in black pepper. Nowadays there is tremendous novel increase in the species of Burkholderia with either mutualistic or antagonistic interactions in the environment. Burkholderia sp. is an indigenous PGPR capable of producing a large number of commercially important hydrolytic enzymes and bioactive substances that promote plant growth and health; are eco-friendly, biodegradable and specific in their actions; and have a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity in keeping down the population of phytopathogens, thus playing a great role in promoting sustainable agriculture today. Hence, in this book chapter, the potential applications of Burkholderia sp. to control foot rot disease of black pepper in Malaysia, their control mechanisms, plant growth promotion, commercial potentials and the future prospects as indigenous PGPR were discussed in relation to sustainable agriculture

Stress modulation as a means to improve yeasts for lignocellulose bioconversion

The second-generation (2G) fermentation environment for lignocellulose conversion presents unique challenges to the fermentative organism that do not necessarily exist in other industrial fermentations. While extreme osmotic, heat, and nutrient starvation stresses are observed in sugar- and starch-based fermentation environments, additional pre-treatment-derived inhibitor stress, potentially exacerbated by stresses such as pH and product tolerance, exist in the 2G environment. Furthermore, in a consolidated bioprocessing (CBP) context, the organism is also challenged to secrete enzymes that may themselves lead to unfolded protein response and other stresses. This review will discuss responses of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae to 2G-specific stresses and stress modulation strategies that can be followed to improve yeasts for this application. We also explore published –omics data and discuss relevant rational engineering, reverse engineering, and adaptation strategies, with the view of identifying genes or alleles that will make positive contributions to the overall robustness of 2G industrial strains

Population-level risks of alcohol consumption by amount, geography, age, sex, and year: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2020

Background The health risks associated with moderate alcohol consumption continue to be debated. Small amounts of alcohol might lower the risk of some health outcomes but increase the risk of others, suggesting that the overall risk depends, in part, on background disease rates, which vary by region, age, sex, and year. Methods For this analysis, we constructed burden-weighted dose–response relative risk curves across 22 health outcomes to estimate the theoretical minimum risk exposure level (TMREL) and non-drinker equivalence (NDE), the consumption level at which the health risk is equivalent to that of a non-drinker, using disease rates from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2020 for 21 regions, including 204 countries and territories, by 5-year age group, sex, and year for individuals aged 15–95 years and older from 1990 to 2020. Based on the NDE, we quantified the population consuming harmful amounts of alcohol. Findings The burden-weighted relative risk curves for alcohol use varied by region and age. Among individuals aged 15–39 years in 2020, the TMREL varied between 0 (95% uncertainty interval 0–0) and 0·603 (0·400–1·00) standard drinks per day, and the NDE varied between 0·002 (0–0) and 1·75 (0·698–4·30) standard drinks per day. Among individuals aged 40 years and older, the burden-weighted relative risk curve was J-shaped for all regions, with a 2020 TMREL that ranged from 0·114 (0–0·403) to 1·87 (0·500–3·30) standard drinks per day and an NDE that ranged between 0·193 (0–0·900) and 6·94 (3·40–8·30) standard drinks per day. Among individuals consuming harmful amounts of alcohol in 2020, 59·1% (54·3–65·4) were aged 15–39 years and 76·9% (73·0–81·3) were male. Interpretation There is strong evidence to support recommendations on alcohol consumption varying by age and location. Stronger interventions, particularly those tailored towards younger individuals, are needed to reduce the substantial global health loss attributable to alcohol. Funding Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

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Not AvailableAn field experiment was conducted during kharif 2014 and 2015, at Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute, Avikanagar (Rajasthan) to study the effect of nitrogen and phosphorus levels on growth attributes, herbage yield and quality of fodder cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.]. All growth attributes were significantly (plant height, branches/plant) higher with 30 kg N/ha applied to cowpea. Maximum green fodder, dry matter yield and crude protein content were recorded (178.11 and 36.12 q/ha and 18.07%) with the use of 30 kg N/ha. Besides, Crude protein content was increased greater extent upto 30 kg N/ ha, but the differences between 20 and 30 kg N levelswas found remained at par with each other for protein content in haulm of cowpea. The application of phosphorus upto 60 kg P2O5/ha resulted maximum raised in green fodder and dry matter yield (179.06 and 35.83 q/ha) as compared to other levels. Crude protein content in dry matter was responded well upto 60 kg P2O5 /ha and it was increased by (12.50%) higher over control. The higher net return in terms of gross income (Rs. 28896/ha), net return (Rs. 17044/ha) and benefit: cost ratios (1.69) were realized under 30 kgN/ha. Similarly, 60 kg P2O5 /ha in cowpea gave the additional gross return (Rs. 8100/ha) and net return (Rs. 1769/ha) as compare to without use of phosphorus. Significant interaction of nitrogen and phosphorus levels was noted on green fodder yieldNot Availabl

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Not AvailableGully erosion and the associated soil loss have caused major environmental disasters worldwide. Gully erosion causes numerous environmental and socio-economic consequences, and most of them are negative. Land degradation caused by ravines and gullies is a serious problem in many areas around the world. Ravine formation due to combined effect of climate, geological and human interference gets activated by other processes such as gully head cutting, scouring, selective erosion transport of sediment etc. Gully induced ravine are densely dissected areas which are severely degraded subjected to water erosion and soil disappeared or lost most of its fertility. The major factors causing gully erosion are high intensity rainfall, soft and deep alluvium soil, height difference between table land and stream, uncontrolled biotic interference etc which converts into ravine or badlands. Many technologies have proved to be effective in gully management including conservation structures like chute, gabions, vegetative barrier, checkdams etc. However, most of the techniques are adopted by the farmers as they directly not provide any rapid benefits.Not Availabl

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Not AvailablePlant beneficial rhizobacteria (PBR) is a group of naturally occurring rhizospheric microbes that enhance nutrient availability and induce biotic and abiotic stress tolerance through a wide array of mechanisms to enhance agricultural sustainability. Application of PBR has the potential to reduce worldwide requirement of agricultural chemicals and improve agro-ecological sustainability. The PBR exert their beneficial effects in three major ways; (1) fix atmospheric nitrogen and synthesize specific compounds to promote plant growth, (2) solubilize essential mineral nutrients in soils for plant uptake, and (3) produce antimicrobial substances and induce systemic resistance in host plants to protect them from biotic and abiotic stresses. Application of PBR as suitable inoculants appears to be a viable alternative technology to synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. Furthermore, PBR enhance nutrient and water use efficiency, influence dynamics of mineral recycling, and tolerance of plants to other environmental stresses by improving health of soils. This report provides comprehensive reviews and discusses beneficial effects of PBR on plant and soil health. Considering their multitude of functions to improve plant and soil health, we propose to call the plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPR) as PBR.Not Availabl