Thermoelectric properties of InSe and AlSe bilayer thin films

The indium selenide (InSe) and aluminum selenide (AlSe) bilayer thin films of different thickness ratio have been prepared using thermal evaporation at vacuum. Thermoelectric behaviour of each sample has been determined temperature regions of 300-310 K. The thermoelectric behaviour of prepared thin films has been found to improve when samples have been annealed in vacuum at 70 ºC and 100 ºC. Electrical studies have been carried out of each film before and after annealing

Nutrient Management for Higher Productivity of Swarna Sub1 Under Flash Floods Areas

Two field experiments were conducted at Regional Agricultural Research Station, Tarahara, Nepal during 2012 and 2013 to determine the effect of agronomic management on growth and yield of Swarna Sub1 under flash floods. The first experiment was laid out in a split plot design with three replications; and four different nutrient combinations at nursery as main plots and three age groups of rice seedlings as sub plots. The second experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design and replicated thrice; with three post flood nutrient doses at six and 12 days after de-submergence (dad). The experiments were complete submerged at 10 days after transplanting for 12 days. The survival percentage, at 21 dad, was significantly higher in plots planted with 35 (90.25%) and 40 (91.58%) days-old seedlings compared to 30 days-old seedlings (81.75%). Plots with 35 days-old seedlings produced 5.15 t ha-1 with advantage of 18.83% over 30 days-old seedlings. Plots with 100-50-50 kg N-P2O5-K2O/ha at nursery recorded the highest grain filling of 79.41% and grain yield of 5.068 t/ha with more benefit. Post flood application of 20-20 N-K20kg/ha at 6 dad resulted in higher plant survival and taller plants, leading to significantly higher grain yield of 5.183 t/ha and straw yield of 5.315 t/ha. Hence, 35-40 days old seedlings raised with 100-50-50 kg N-P2O5-K2O /ha in nursery and the additional application of20-20 kg N-K2O /ha at 6 dad improved plant survival and enhanced yield of Swarna Sub1 under flash flood conditions. The practice has prospects of saving crop loss with getting rice yield above national average yield leading to enhanced food security in the flood prone areas of Nepal

Integrated approach for the management of common bean rust (Uromyces appendiculatus) under field conditions

A field experiment was conducted to test the efficacy of different management practices and fungicide application timings for common bean rust management in Chitwan, Nepal. It was conducted in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with two factors: management practices (Azoxystrobin, Trichoderma viride, maize intercropping + Trichoderma viride, Neem + Garlic extracts, and inoculated and untreated controls) and fungicide application timings (8 days after inoculation and 3 days after inoculation), each with three replications. The minimum disease severity was found with azoxystrobin, which was at par with neem + garlic extract and maize intercropping + Trichoderma at 50 days after inoculation (DAI). The maximum number of rust pustules per cm2 was observed in the control plots (7.56), followed by Trichoderma (4.79) at 50 DAI. The maximum necrotic colonies (%) were observed with the control (36.88%), followed by Trichoderma (25.15%), while the effects of other treatments were at par at 40 DAI. Maize intercropping with Trichoderma resulted in a maximum plant height (201.56 cm), which was at par with azoxystrobin (197.81 cm). The plants treated with azoxystrobin showed maximum green pod yield at one picking (2411.35 g) which was at par with maize intercropping + Trichoderma and neem + garlic extracts. Rust was controlled more effectively when the fungicides were sprayed at 4 DAI than 8 DAI. The maximum disease control was observed with Azoxystrobin; however, as other treatments also had comparable effects, an integrated approach could be adopted for the sustainable management of common bean rust

Genetic landscape of common epilepsies: advancing towards precision in treatment

Epilepsy, a neurological disease characterized by recurrent seizures, is highly heterogeneous in nature. Based on the prevalence, epilepsy is classified into two types: common and rare epilepsies. Common epilepsies affecting nearly 95% people with epilepsy, comprise generalized epilepsy which encompass idiopathic generalized epilepsy like childhood absence epilepsy, juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, juvenile absence epilepsy and epilepsy with generalized tonic-clonic seizure on awakening and focal epilepsy like temporal lobe epilepsy and cryptogenic focal epilepsy. In 70% of the epilepsy cases, genetic factors are responsible either as single genetic variant in rare epilepsies or multiple genetic variants acting along with different environmental factors as in common epilepsies. Genetic testing and precision treatment have been developed for a few rare epilepsies and is lacking for common epilepsies due to their complex nature of inheritance. Precision medicine for common epilepsies require a panoramic approach that incorporates polygenic background and other non-genetic factors like microbiome, diet, age at disease onset, optimal time for treatment and other lifestyle factors which influence seizure threshold. This review aims to comprehensively present a state-of-art review of all the genes and their genetic variants that are associated with all common epilepsy subtypes. It also encompasses the basis of these genes in the epileptogenesis. Here, we discussed the current status of the common epilepsy genetics and address the clinical application so far on evidence-based markers in prognosis, diagnosis, and treatment management. In addition, we assessed the diagnostic predictability of a few genetic markers used for disease risk prediction in individuals. A combination of deeper endo-phenotyping including pharmaco-response data, electro-clinical imaging, and other clinical measurements along with genetics may be used to diagnose common epilepsies and this marks a step ahead in precision medicine in common epilepsies management