Delay-induced nutrient recycling in plankton system: Application to Sundarban mangrove wetland

The paper discusses the nutrient–plankton system with effect of time delay in nutrient recycling and toxin determined function response (TDFR). The designed model system explores the delay-induced system dynamics. We present the local stability analysis of interior equilibrium points in absence as well as in presence of time delay. Further, the direction of Hopf bifurcation is obtained. We perform the numerical computation and observe that time delay in nutrient recycling can generate the periodic solution in a stable nutrient–plankton system. Some other essential parameters, such as input concentration of nutrients and natural removal rate of nutrients, also regulate the dynamical system. The system shows Hopf and double-Hopf bifurcation in the presence of time delay. Our study shows that the delay in the nutrient recycling causes instability transition phenomenon. The delay-induced nutrient recycling and different input concentrations of nutrients can regulate the estuarine system. Finally, the stability switching is observed for delayed system

Elastography evaluation of normal thyroid gland and its comparison with diffuse non nodular enlarged thyroid gland using strain ultrasound elastography

Background: The thyroid gland is located in the anterior part of neck, spanning between C5 and T1 vertebra and is located anterior to the thyroid and cricoids cartilage of larynx and first three tracheal rings. Ultrasonography has been widely used for diagnosis of thyroid disease it is highly regarded for its ease of use, real-time capability, portability and low cost.Methods: The current observational study was conducted in Department of Radiology, Dr. BRAM Hospital, Pt. JNM Medical College, Raipur, India. Consecutive sampling method was used for the study. All the cases coming to radiology department during the study period were taken as study subjects.Results: Of the normal subjects, author found 107 normal thyroid subjects and 53 patients were categorized into cases with diffuse non-nodular thyroid swelling groups. Of the diffuse thyroid swelling group about 85% of the study population is between 20-50 years of age group, 13.2% were 50 years of age. Females to male ratio for diffuse thyroid disease is 3.4:1.Conclusions: Ultrasound elastography (USE) is a newly developed non-invasive method to evaluate and compare the elasticity of the thyroid gland and other organs like liver, prostate, parotid, breast pathologies. Its use is based on the principle that pathological changes in a tissue also changes its elasticity

Personal Social Capital and Socio-occupational Function of Persons with Schizophrenia: A Comparative Study

Background: Personal social capital is an individual’s networks and connections between individuals that can provide support which is characterized by reciprocity, trustworthiness and resources. Individual who are excluded from accessing social capital have a higher risk of schizophrenia and may have informal social control. Social functioning of individuals with schizophrenia gets disturbed therefore improving the functioning levels is considered to be an important goal in treating schizophrenia. Aim: To assess and compare personal social capital and socio-occupational functioning of patients with schizophrenia and normal controls. Materials and Methods: The sample consisted of 60 individuals (30 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia and 30 normal population) selected from outpatient department (OPD) of the Central Institute of Psychiatry, Ranchi by using purposive sampling method. Positive and negative syndrome scale (for study group) and General health questionnaire (for normal population) applied for screening. Participants who fulfilled inclusion criteria were informed about study and consent was obtained. Socio-demographic and clinical datasheet, Personal Social Capital Scale and socio-occupational functioning scale was administered. Results: Present study shows significant difference in personal social capital and socio-occupational functioning of persons with schizophrenia and normal controls. Conclusion: The patients with schizophrenia hold lower personal social capital and socio-occupational functioning than normal population. Personal social capital and socio-occupational functioning showed significant positive correlation therefore improvement in socio-occupational functioning can help to enhance personal social capital. Keywords: Schizophrenia, personal social capital, socio-occupational functionin

Principal Component Analysis Approach for Yield Attributing Traits in Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) Genotypes

The research work was investigated among 55 okra accessions in RCBD with three replications and was evaluated for seventeen phenotypic characteristics of okra principal component analysis at the Agriculture Research Farm, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara (Punjab). According to principal component analysis (PCA), six of the seventeen (PC1 to PC6) PCs had eigenvalues above 1.0 and a cumulative variance of around 75.52.  PC 1 alone accounted for the highest variance of 25.38 by PC1, followed by PC 2 with 15.98%. The outcomes of this investigation might be used as a foundation for defining and implementing subsequent okra breeding initiatives. Days to the 1st flowering, days to the 50% flowering and days to the first fruit harvest appear above the average variance contribution of each PC in the screen plot. Biplot analysis of PC1 and PC2 in contribution dim.1 revealed 25% and dim.2 revealed 16%

Loss of seed viability in onion (Allium cepa L.) in relation to degradation of lipids during storage

Onion seeds have one of the lowest longevity among the cultivated crops as it loses viability within a year. The unmarketable seeds have no reported food value or feed value. Onion seeds contain considerable oil content which has potential industrial utility. The present study reports the changes in the quality of seed oil extracted from seeds stored for one year (2019-2020), after which the seeds were unmarketable due to low germination. The physico-chemical properties of seed oil were studied in four onion (Allium cepa L.) varieties (Bhima Safed, Bhima Super, Bhima Dark Red and Bhima Shakti) by standard analytical test. The per cent oil content varied from 12.94% - 16.02% and storage resulted in 0.64% loss in seed oil content. The mean seed germination in freshly harvested seeds was 80.50%, which declined to 52.33% after one year of ambient storage. The electrical conductivity, which measures the membrane integrity increased by 108.60% in one-year-old seeds. The physico-chemical properties of the seed oil deteriorated with the age of the seed. In comparison to the control, the acid values and peroxide values of the seed oil increased by 51.11% and 12.90% respectively, while saponification value decreased by 36.18%. Among the varieties, Bhima Dark Red had the highest degradation in the seed storability and vigour, which also had the highest deterioration in the lipid quality. The present study reports for the first time the degradation of seed lipids during ageing in onion which might be contributing to the poor storability of onion seeds.

A review on conventional and modern breeding approaches for developing climate resilient crop varieties: NA

The escalating threat of climate change is a major challenge to global food security. One of the ways to mitigate its impact is by developing crops that can withstand environmental stresses such as drought, heat, and salinity. Plant breeders have been employing conventional and modern approaches to achieve climate-resilient crops. Climate-resilient crops refer to both crop and crop varieties that exhibit improved tolerance towards biotic and abiotic stresses. These crops possess the capacity to maintain or even increase their yields when exposed to various stress conditions, such as drought, flood, heat, chilling, freezing and salinity. Conventional breeding entails selecting and crossing plants with desirable traits, while modern breeding deploys molecular techniques to identify and transfer specific genes associated with stress tolerance. However, the effectiveness of both methods is contingent on the crop species and the targeted stress. Advancements in gene editing, such as CRISPER-cas9  and genomics-assisted breeding, offer new opportunities to hasten the development of climate-resilient crops. These new technologies include Marker Assisted Selection, Genome-Wide Association Studies, Mutation breeding, Transcriptomics, Genomics, and more. The review concludes that these cutting-edge techniques have the potential to enhance the speed and precision of developing crops that can endure the challenges posed by climate change

Determinants of Exports in a Small and Vulnerable Economy: Fiji Islands—A Disaggregated Analysis

The previous studies of exports performance in Fiji were carried out at the aggregate level. We conduct a disaggregated analysis of exports of three major products, namely, sugar, tourism, and gold. This analysis is useful for developing sector-based export promotion policies. The long run as well as dynamic export demand functions are estimated at the aggregate and disaggregate levels. The results identify a number of factors such as trading partner income, relative prices, productivity shocks, natural disasters, political disturbances, and the exchange rate that affect the export demand for sugar, tourism, and gold, though not in the same way. For instance, tourism and sugar enjoy the highest income elasticity. Sugar export is adversely affected by natural calamities and political upheavals. The political upheavals also affect tourism adversely in Fiji. The exchange rate affects the export of sugar more than others. The idea that devaluation will promote exports in Fiji needs careful investigation because results show that this will happen with a high cost, i.e. 5% nominal devaluation will be required to increase real exports by 1%

Unconventional Breathing Currents Far beyond the Quantum Tunneling Distances in Large-Gapped Nanoplasmonic Systems

Localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) in plasmonic nanoparticles propels the field of plasmo-electronics, holding promise for transformative optoelectronic devices through efficient light-to-current conversion. Plasmonic excitations strongly influence the charge distribution within nanoparticles, giving rise to electromagnetic fields that can significantly impact the macroscopic charge flows within the nanoparticle housing material. In this study, we present evidence of ultralow, unconventional breathing currents resulting from dynamic irradiance interactions between widely separated nanoparticles, extending far beyond conventional electron (quantum) tunneling distances. We develop an electric analogue model and derive an empirical expression to elucidate the generation of these unconventional breathing currents in cascaded nanoplasmonic systems under irradiance modulation. This technique and theoretical model have significant potential for applications requiring a deeper understanding of current dynamics, particularly on large nanostructured surfaces relevant to photocatalysis, energy harvesting, sensing, imaging, and the development of future photonic devices

Rebooting life: engineering non-natural nucleic acids, proteins and metabolites in microorganisms

The surging demand of value-added products has steered the transition of laboratory microbes to microbial cell factories (MCFs) for facilitating production of large quantities of important native and non-native biomolecules. This shift has been possible through rewiring and optimizing different biosynthetic pathways in microbes by exercising frameworks of metabolic engineering and synthetic biology principles. Advances in genome and metabolic engineering have provided a fillip to create novel biomolecules and produce non-natural molecules with multitude of applications. To this end, numerous MCFs have been developed and employed for production of non-natural nucleic acids, proteins and different metabolites to meet various therapeutic, biotechnological and industrial applications. The present review describes recent advances in production of non-natural amino acids, nucleic acids, biofuel candidates and platform chemicals

Light fishing - conflicts and concerns in Maharashtra

Technological intervention in the Indian fishing industry are intended to increase marine fish production of the country. Crude light fishing methods practiced in Mandapam was reported for catching silverbellies (Sekharan 1955, Indian J. Fish., 1955; Anon., 1957, Indian J. Fish). Fishing experiments with light attraction for pelagic fishes using purseseines was conducted by Fishery Survey of India (Ninan and Sudarsan, 1988, Occasional papers of Fishery Survey of India No. 5) who reported that no aggregation was noticed in the areas where water turbidity was high and strong current (above 2 Knots) was present. Mohamed (2016) reviewed light fishing practices in India and suggested restrictions in power of lights used, area of operation, mesh size for exploitation etc (Marine Fisheries Policy Brief No. 4, 2016, ICAR- CMFRI)