Timescale for equilibration of N/Z gradients in dinuclear systems

Equilibration of N/Z in binary breakup of an excited and transiently deformed projectile-like fragment (PLF*), produced in peripheral collisions of 64Zn + 27Al, 64Zn, 209Bi at E/A = 45 MeV, is examined. The composition of emitted light fragments (3<=Z<=6) changes with the decay angle of the PLF*. The most neutron-rich fragments observed are associated with a small rotation angle. A clear target dependence is observed with the largest initial N/Z correlated with the heavy, neutron-rich target. Using the rotation angle as a clock, we deduce that N/Z equilibration persists for times as long as 3-4 zs (1zs = 1 x 10^-21 s = 300 fm/c). The rate of N/Z equilibration is found to depend on the initial neutron gradient within the PLF*.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure

Possible approaches to weed management in sorghum

Weeds are one the major production hazards in the cultivation of Sorghum (Sorghum vulgare pers.). Weeds compete efficiently for both nutrients and moisture which are the two main limiting factors in rainfed Sorgbum. The major weed flora of sarghum vary from place to place, but weeds like Cyperus, Cynodon aad some annual grasses and broad leaved weeds seem to be common..

Predicting and grading the degree of difficulty of cochlear implant surgery by evaluating temporal bone using high resolution computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging

Background: The current study was designed to assess the challenges that arise during cochlear implantation. Hence imaging based grading system, using a structured, 12-point scoring chart was developed with an aim to assess various anatomical factors of temporal bone helpful in contemplating complications involved in surgery and to assess various congenital and acquired abnormalities if detected during scan which can affect cochlear implant surgery.Methods: This was a descriptive study done on 60 patients with sensorineural hearing loss. They were evaluated preoperatively by using HRCT and MRI findings and subsequently underwent cochlear implantation. A 12-point scoring chart was developed based on imaging findings. Surgical times were noted in each case and each imaging point on the scoring chart was correlated with the surgical times.Results: Eleven out of 12 points in the scoring chart proved to be statistically significant in predicting the degree of difficulty of the surgical procedure. One point was not correlating with the surgical timings. Based on the grading system, in the present study, there were 37 patients (61.66%) classified as Grade 1, 16 patients (26.67%) classified as Grade 2 and 7 patients (11.67%) classified as Grade 3.Conclusions: These radiological image findings and its related grading system are relatively easy and quick to assess on readily available pre-operative temporal bone CT scan and MRI. They can form a pre-operative checklist that provides a formalized approach for the surgeons and, in particular surgical trainees, predict and, thus prepare for, potentially challenging cochlear implant cases

Some Biological Aspects of Intercropping Systems on Crop-Weed Balance

Many physical, biological and cultural management factors determine the crop-weed balance which in turn influences the crop and weed reproductive yields. Inter-cropping of pigeonpea (Cajanus cyan L. Millsp.) with sorghum (Sorghum vulgare Pers.) reduced weed growth to an extent of 50 to 75%. The competitive ability of intercropping was enhanced by high plant population pressure provided by the component species together. Within an intercrop system row arrangement patterns did not significantly influence the weed infestation. With the increase in the population pressure there was considerable decrease in weed dry matter weight. Weed growth in compact pigeonpea genotype (HY3A) was 37% higher than that observed in spreading type (ST1). Pearlmillct (Pennisetum typhoides S. and H.) and maize (Lea mays L.) showed high initial weed smother-ing ability followed by cowpea (Vigna sinensis Savi.) and groundnut (Archis hypogaea L.). Sorghum progressively increased its competitive ability with time. Hardy and tall weeds like Celosia argentea h., Acanthospermum hispidum DC, and Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop. were predominant in groundnut system. Pigeonpea and castor (Ricinus communis L.) were poor competitors with weeds, A quantitative description of the effects of some biological factors like crop species, crop variety, plant population, crop geometry, relative proportions of the crops in the mixture and cropping pattern on the crop-weed balance indicated that these factors should be taken into account while evolving integrated weed management systems

Weed management studies in pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L.) based intercropping

Intercropping pigeon pea with various other crops reduced weed growth by 75%. The crop-weed balance in the intercrop system was influenced by many factors such as crop species and variety, plant population, crop geometry, soil types and herbicides. Among the various intercrops maize, cowpea [Vigna unguiculata] and pearl millet [Pennisetum americanum] showed an initial weed-smothering effect while groundnut was effective at later stages of crop growth. Weed growth in the compact type of pigeon pea (HY3A) was substantially higher than in the spreading type (ST1). Within the intercrop system, row arrangement did not influence weed infestation but the increase in population pressure resulted in considerable decreases in weed DM weights. Among the different herbicides evaluated in various systems, alachlor at 1 kg/ha in maize + pigeon pea caused initial toxicity to pigeon pea while prometryne, terbutryne and ametryne proved promising in sorghum + pigeon pea. From summar

Some Observations on the Root System of some Tropical Dicotyledonous Weeds

Studies were conducted to understand the rooting patterns of some major dicotyledonous weeds, which play an important part in the competition for nutrients, moisture, and space with the crops. Observations indicated that the weeds had wide range of variations in their rooting patterns like depth of tap root, frequency, distribution. and angular diversions of lateral roots at different zones of the tap root. On the basis of the distribution of the lateral roots, the dicotyledonous weeds were grouped under seven major categories. The distribution of lateral roots at different zones indicated their efficiency in competition with the associated crops. It is suggested that the efficacy of a weed control method on a panicular weed depends considerably on the pattern and distribution of its root system. The results are interpreted as supporting evidence to the belief that the study of root systems of weeds and the associated crops can be an important field of research in weed ecology and crop.weed association

Estimation and quantification of liver iron concentration by magnetic resonance imaging

Background: Liver iron overload is considered to be the histological hallmark of genetic hemochromatosis. The accurate estimation of iron overload is important to establish the diagnosis of hemochromatosis. The aim of the present study was to estimate T2* liver value, quantify liver iron concentration (in milligram of iron per gram dry weight) and find out the appropriate therapy for patients with iron overload according to severity index.Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was carried out in Department of Radio Diagnosis, at B.Y.L. Nair Hospital and medical college, Mumbai from June 2017 to August 2018. A total of 50 cases were enrolled for the present study.Results: Male predominance (66.0%) was seen. Mean duration of disease among the studied cases was 10.52±6.06 years, with minimum and maximum duration of disease of 1 and 26 years respectively. Eight percent had compliance to visit and treatment among the enrolled cases.Conclusions: MRI was concluded to be potentially useful non-invasive method for evaluating liver iron stones in a wide spectrum of haematological and liver diseases

Investigation on weed suppressing ability of smother cropping systems in relation to canopy development and light interception

A system was developed at ICRISAT in which cowpea and mung beans were grown between the rows of sorghum in order to suppress weeds and provide additional crop yield. In the present study, canopy development and the pattern of light interception in such a system were analyzed. The accumulation of weed biomass in sorghum/cowpea and sorghum/mung bean with 1 hand-weeding was less than that in sorghum alone with 2 hand-weedings. Maximum LAI and maximum percent light interception by crops was attained more quickly with intercropping than without. LAI and percent light interception were positively correlated. Percent light interception by crops and weed biomass accumulation were negatively correlated. The growth and resource use by different cropping systems was analyzed and the net productivity in the different systems was calculate

Weed-management studies in sorghum/pigeonpea and pearl millet/groundnut intercrop systems: some observations

In this paper, observations on sorghum (Sorghum bicolor)/pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) and pearl millet (Pennisetum typhoides)/groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) intercrop systems are highlighted, with particular reference to weed growth as affected by a few selected biophysical factors. With increase in density of a sorghum/pigeon pea system, there was a rapid decrease in weed dry weights. The inclusion of additional "smother" crops like cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) and mung bean (V. radiata) minimized weed infestation. These crops could replace 1 hand weeding without affecting the main crop yields. In the pearl millet/groundnut system, the row arrangement of 1 pearl millet with 3 groundnuts resulted in optimum weed supression and maximum intercrop advantag

Some aspects of heavy ion fusion-fission dynamics

Study of heavy ion induced fusion-fission reactions at near and below barrier energies has attracted a great deal of attention in recent years, due to the observations of anomalous features in the fragment angular distributions for many target-projectile systems. Additionally there are also measurements of the fragment spin distributions and time-scales of the fusion-fission reactions, which have provided important information on the dynamics of these processes. In the present paper, the emphasis would be to highlight some of the recent experimental findings and their implications on the dynamics of the fusion-fission reactions in heavy ion collisions at near and above barrier energies