Effect of clock gating in conditional pulse enhancement flip-flop for low power applications

Flip-Flops (FFs) play a fundamental role in digital designs. A clock system consumes above 25% of total system power. The use of pulse-triggered flip-flops (P-FFs) in digital design provides better performance than conventional flip-flop designs. This paper presents the design of a new power-efficient implicit pulse-triggered flip-flop suitable for low power applications. This flip-flop architecture is embedded with two key features. Firstly, the enhancement in width and height of triggering pulses during specific conditions gives a solution for the longest discharging path problem in existing P-FFs. Secondly, the clock gating concept reduces unwanted switching activities at sleep/idle mode of operation and thereby reducing dynamic power consumption. The post-layout simulation results in cadence software based on CMOS 90-nm technology shows that the proposed design features less power dissipation and better power delay performance (PDP) when compared with conventional P-FFs. Its maximum power saving against conventional designs is up to 30.65%

Studies on Insect Fauna of Lucerne \u3cem\u3e Medicago sativa \u3c/em\u3e and Their Impact on Seed and Forage Yield in Lucerne \u3cem\u3e Medicago sativa \u3c/em\u3e

Lucerne or Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L) is the world’s most important forage legume and a key component of many crop rotation systems (Osborn et. al., 1997). Alfalfa is considered an insectary due to the large number of insects it attracts. Some pests, such as alfalfa weevil, aphids, armyworms, and the potato leafhopper, can reduce alfalfa yields dramatically, particularly with the second cutting when weather is warmest. Chemical controls are sometimes used to prevent this. As a perennial crop, lucerne has a lifespan approaching 5 years, but in some areas of the world fields may remain productive for considerably longer. Such a long stand life affords ample time for the establishment and development of a diverse community structure by an abundance of organisms. In spite of system perturbations caused by frequent harvests and occasional pesticide applications, a lucerne field provides a temporal stability which is uncommon among field crops. As a result of this stability, lucerne supports an immense diversity of flora and fauna which, at times, exceeds that of riparian ecosystems. While most of lucerne’s inhabitants have little or no impact on it as a crop, a few are capable of causing extensive damage. Arthropods, plant pathogens, weeds, vertebrates, and plant parasitic nematodes can all cause significant yield and/or quality reductions and frequently contribute to shortening the productive life of the stand. On the other hand large number of beneficial fauna like predators and parasites helps in reducing the aphis population. Pollinators also have a vital role in pollinating the lucerne crop. Cross- pollination in lucerne contributes to 89% seed yield (Somerville, 2002). In the present study, important insect pests of lucerne, their seasonal incidence, their economic threshold level were studied. Role of pollinator fauna and their impact on the seed yield was studied

Production and characterization of used cooking oil as an alternative fuel: optimization by response surface methodology

The application of biodiesel in internal combustion engines are increasing at a faster rate, due to the fact that biodiesel posses more oxygen content (Approximately 12 %), which helps in the complete combustion of the fuel. On the other hand the production cost of the biodiesel is high compared to mineral diesel fuel. This may be due to the availability of raw oil and its high initial cost. To minimize the high initial cost of the biodiesel used cooking oil is one of the best solutions. In this paper an attempt was made to analyze the fatty acid compositions and other characteristics of used cooking oil. Optimization techniques like response surface methodology (RSM) was successfully used for better yield estimation with the help of advanced software Design Expert. The optimum values of the variables were: oil to methanol ratio (1:8.37), catalyst concentration (0.74 Wt%), reaction temperature (47.950 °C) and reaction time (54.58 min) at 250 rpm. The predicted response value at these optimum values was 96.15 %. To confirm these optimum values, experimentations were conducted based on the optimum values and achieve the yield of 96 %. This shows that the yield of used cooking oil methyl ester is very near to the optimum value with an error of 0.15 % which may be accepted. This showed that the model correctly explains the influence of the process variables on the production of FAME from used cooking oil (UCOME). And from the gas chromatography results there is equal distribution of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. 14 % oxygen can be acclaimed in UCOME by elemental analysis. Unsaturated level of fatty acids are observed

Evaluation of Seed Quality in Naturally Aged Seed Lots of Coriander

Three seed lots of fifteen genotypes of coriander were subjected to study the effect of natural ageing on different seed quality parameters. Results revealed that all the genotypes showed the germination percentage above the Minimum Seed Certification Standards (65%) in Lot-1 (freshly harvested seed) and Lot-2 (1 year old seed). Standard germination (%), seedling length (cm), seedling dry weight (mg), seedling vigor index-I & II and accelerated ageing test (%) revealed that quality of seeds declined with faster rate inLot-3 (2 years old seed). Among all the genotypes, maximum germination was retained by genotype DH-339 (75.5%) followed by Hisar Surbhi (74.5%) and maximum loss of germination was observed in genotype DH 352-1 (61.2%). Hence, the genotypes DH-339 and Hisar Surbhi were found superior in terms of viability, vigor and storability whereas genotype DH 352-1 was found poor under ambient conditions

PIF4 Coordinates Thermosensory Growth and Immunity in Arabidopsis

This is the final version. Available from Elsevier via the DOI in this record.This the final version. Available from Elsevier via the DOI in this record.Temperature is a key seasonal signal that shapes plant growth. Elevated ambient temperature accelerates growth and developmental transitions [1] while compromising plant defenses, leading to increased susceptibility [2, 3]. Suppression of immunity at elevated temperature is at the interface of trade-off between growth and defense [2, 4]. Climate change and the increase in average growth-season temperatures threaten biodiversity and food security [5, 6]. Despite its significance, the molecular mechanisms that link thermosensory growth and defense responses are not known. Here we show that PHYTOCHROME INTERACTING FACTOR 4 (PIF4)-mediated thermosensory growth and architecture adaptations are directly linked to suppression of immunity at elevated temperature. PIF4 positively regulates growth and development and negatively regulates immunity. We also show that natural variation of PIF4-mediated temperature response underlies variation in the balance between growth and defense among Arabidopsis natural strains. Importantly, we find that modulation of PIF4 function alters temperature sensitivity of defense. Perturbation of PIF4-mediated growth has resulted in temperature-resilient disease resistance. This study reveals a molecular link between thermosensory growth and immunity in plants. Elucidation of the molecular mechanisms that define environmental signal integration is key to the development of novel strategies for breeding temperature-resilient disease resistance in crops.Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research CouncilInstitute Strategic ProgrammeInstitute Strategic ProgrammeEuropean Commissio

Combining Ability Studies in Cowpea for Dual Purpose Types

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp.) is widely grown all over India more particularly in central and peninsular regions. Grains are consumed as food and the haulms are fed to livestock as a nutritious fodder. Cowpea is is equally important as nutritious fodder for livestock. The use of cowpea as a dual-purpose crop is attractive in mixed crop/livestock systems where land and feed are becoming increasingly scarce (Tarawali et al., 1997) especially in the dry season. Efforts at global level (IITA & ILRI) focused to develop medium-maturing (85-95 days), semi-erect, dual-purpose varieties with higher grain and fodder yields and with enhanced fodder quality

Depolymerization of bagasse by Ruminococcus albus in the production of eco-friendly fuel

Ethanol production by fermentation of lignocellulosic biomass-derived sugars involves a fairly ancient art and an ever-evolving science. Production of ethanol from lignocellulosic biomass is not avant-garde, and wood ethanol plants have been in existence since at least 1915. Most current ethanol production relies on starch- and sugarbased crops as the substrate; however, limitations of these materials and competing value for human and animal feeds is renewing interest in lignocellulose  conversion.Lignocellulosic biomass contains carbohydrate fractions that can be converted into ethanol. In order to convert these fractions, the cellulose and hemicelluloses must ultimately be converted or hydrolysed into monosaccharides; it is the hydrolysis that has historically proven to be problematic. Biologically mediated processes are promising for energy conversion, in particular for the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass into  fuels. The objective of the present study is to optimise cellulosic ethanol production from bagasse by using Ruminococcus albus isolated from rumen of herbivores animals. The processing and utilization of the  lignocellulosic substrate is complex, differing in many aspects from crop-based ethanol production. Since the scientific dogma states that the breakdown or depolymerisation of lignocellulose can be achieved only by chemical or by enzymatic approach; in the present study we isolated Ruminococcus albus from rumen animals which was depolymerise cellulose and hemicellulose as well as to tolerate stress conditions. Optimum temperature, pH and substrate concentration for depolymerization were 390C, 8.8 and 3.5% respectively for Ruminococcus albus. For the feed  stock of concentration 3.5%, ethanol yield of 19.8g/l was obtained