Test results of JPL LiSOCl sub 2 cells

In the development of high rate Li-SO-Cl2 cells for various applications, the goal is to achieve 300 watt-hours per kilogram at the C/2 (5 amp) rate in a D cell configuration. The JPL role is to develop the understanding of the performance, life, and safety limiting characteristics in the cell and to transfer the technology to a manufacturer to produce a safe, high quality product in a reproducible manner. The approach taken to achieve the goals is divided into four subject areas: cathode processes and characteristics; chemical reactions and safety; cell design and assembly; and performance and abuse testing. The progress made in each of these areas is discussed

Salinity tolerance in pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.) and its wild relatives

In pigeonpea genetic variation for salinity tolerance appeared to be confined to a narrow range of salinity levels (6 to 7 ds/m). In wild relatives of pigeonpea (Atylosia, Rynchosia and Dunbaria sp.), there is a wider range of variation (4 to 12 ds/m) in salinity tolerance. A. albicans and Atylosia platycarpa were the two most tolerant wild types that could grow up to 12 ds/m. Salinity tolerance seems to be associated with exclusion of sodium and chloride from the shoot system, high potassium/sodium selectivity and high retention of sodium and chloride in the root system. These physiological traits, which are believed to be responsible for the higher level of tolerance to salinity in A. albicans, were uniformly expressed in the F1 hybrids (reciprocal crosses of A. albicans (tolerant) X pigeonpea genotype ICP 3783 (sensitive) suggesting that salinity tolerance is a dominant genetic factor. There was a positive growth response in pigeonpea genotypes with increasing calcium levels in the medium during salinity. The differences between tolerant and sensitive genotypes were maintained irrespective of the external calcium and sodium levels within a given salinity level (6 or 8 ds/m). The symbiotic ability of pigeonpea under saline conditions varied depending on the rhizobial strains, with IC 3087 and IC 3506 being more efficient than IC 3024, IC 3484 and IC 3195

Biological nitrification inhibition (BNI) - is there potential for genetic interventions in the Triticeae

The natural ability of plants to release chemical substances from their roots that have a suppressing effect on nitrifier activity and soil nitrification, is termed ‘biological nitrification inhibition’ (BNI). Though nitrification is one of the critical processes in the nitrogen cycle, unrestricted and rapid nitrification in agricultural systems can result in major losses of nitrogen from the plant-soil system. This nitrogen loss is due to the leaching of nitrate out of the rooting zone and emission of gaseous oxides of nitrogen to the atmosphere, where it causes serious pollution problems. Using a newly developed assay system that quantifies the inhibitory activity of plant roots (i.e. BNI capacity), it has been shown that BNI capacity is widespread among crops and pastures. A tropical pasture grass, Brachiaria humidicola has been used as a model system to characterize BNI function, where it was shown that BNIs can provide sufficient inhibitory activity to suppress soil nitrification and nitrous oxide emissions. Given the wide-range of genetic diversity found among the Triticeae, and the current availability of genetic tools for moving traits/genes across members, there is great potential for introducing/improving the BNI capacity of economically important members of the Triticeae (i.e. wheat, barley and rye). This review outlines the current status of knowledge regarding the potential for genetic improvement in the BNI capacity of the Triticeae. Such approaches are critical to the development of the next-generation of crops and production systems where nitrification is biologically suppressed/regulated to reduce nitrogen leakage and protect the environment from nitrogen pollution

Can biological nitrification inhibition (BNI) genes from perennial Leymus racemosus (Triticeae) combat nitrification in wheat farming?

Using a recombinant luminescent Nitrosomonas europaea assay to quantify biological nitrification inhibition (BNI), we found that a wild relative of wheat (Leymus racemosus (Lam.) Tzvelev) had a high BNI capacity and releases about 20 times more BNI compounds (about 30 ATU g−1 root dry weight 24 h−1) than Triticum aestivum L. (cultivated wheat). The root exudate from cultivated wheat has no inhibitory effect on nitrification when applied to soil; however, the root exudate from L. racemous suppressed formation and kept more than 90% of the soil’s inorganic-N in the -form for 60 days. The high-BNI capacity of L. racemosus is mostly associated with chromosome Lr#n. Two other chromosomes Lr#J, and Lr#I also have an influence on BNI production. Tolerance of L. racemosus to is controlled by chromosome 7Lr#1-1. Sustained release of BNI compounds occurred only in the presence of in the root environment. Given the level of BNI production expressed in DALr#n and assuming normal plant growth, we estimated that nearly 87,500,000 ATU of BNI activity ha−1 day−1 could be released in a field of vigorously growing wheat; this amounts to the equivalent of the inhibitory effect from the application of 52.5 g of the synthetic nitrification inhibitor nitrapyrin (one AT unit of BNI activity is equivalent to 0.6 μg of nitrapyrin). At this rate of BNI production it would take only 19 days for a BNI-enabled wheat crop to produce the inhibitory power of a standard commercial application of nitrapyrin, 1 kg ha−1. The synthetic nitrification inhibitor, dicyandiamide, blocked specifically the AMO (ammonia monooxygenase) pathway, while the BNI from L. racemosus blocked the HAO (hydroxylamine oxidoreductase) pathway in Nitrosomonas. Here we report the first finding of high production of BNI in a wild relative of any cereal and its successful introduction and expression in cultivated wheat. These results demonstrate the potential for empowering the new generation of wheat cultivars with high-BNI capacity to control nitrification in wheat-production systems

Physiological Mechanisms Relevant to Genetic Improvement of Salinity Tolerance in Crop Plants

Crop species differ widely in their ability to grow and yield under saline condition,, However almost all crop plants belong to the glycophytic category except for a few crop species such as sugar beel, whch has halophytic ancestors by ecological definition , halohytes are tha native flora of saline habitats[1] from a crop improvement perspective the variability for salinity tolerance......................

Potential for Genetic Improvement in Salinity Tolerance in Legumes: Pigeon Pea

Leguminous crops are cultivated throughout the world because of their importance as a protein source in the diets of humans and livestock. Furthcr, many leguminous species are cultivated as pasture, fodder, or green manure plants. Legumes thereby form essential components of cropping systems, primarily because of their inputs of nitrogen fixed from the atmosphere but also for other benefits thcy offer, such as improving the soil physical and chemical environment and breaking disease cycles (I). Among various crop plants tested, however, legumes have generally been found to be more sensitive to soil salinity (2). With the emphasis given to increasing cereal production in recent decades, the cultivation of legume crops has generally been forced to more marginal lands, including those prone to salinity problems. Further, legumes grown on residual soil moisture in the season after thc rains, such as chickpea and lentil, are particularly pronc to salt damage: salts are progressively concentrated in the soil solution and precipitated toward the soil surface as the soil dries out. Thus, legumcs generally face a greater threat of salinity than cereals because of their greater salt sensitivity and an increasing likelihood of being exposed to saline environments. Thcreforc, improvement in the salinity tolerance of legumes is of immediate and increasing concern

Security Solution for the IOT Devices

As the internet is available widely with low cost to connect with the devices day by day. Almost all electronic devices are coming to the market with wi-fi capabilities and sensors built into them, even technology costs also coming down. All of these devices are forming Network by accessing the internet through their wi-fi capabilities. These are creating a perfect IOT storm like smart phones are becoming rocks and penetrating everywhere so the sky is the limit for them. As these all are in the hands of everybody, there is obviously security threats. In this paper, all the possible threats are addressing with possible solutions occurring in these IoT devices. Suggested the Homomorphic Encryption scheme for security in IoT devices

Scope and strategies for regulation of nitrification in agricultural systems - challenges and opportunities

Nitrification, a microbial process, is a key component and integral part of the nitrogen (N) cycle. Soil N is in a constant state of flux, moving and changing chemical forms. During nitrification, a relatively immobile N-form (NH4+) is converted into highly mobile nitrate-N (NO3-). The nitrate formed is susceptible to losses via leaching and conversion to gaseous forms via denitrification. Often less than 30% of the applied N fertilizer is recovered in intensive agricultural systems, largely due to losses associated with and following nitrification. Nitrogen-use efficiency (NUE) is defined as the biomass produced per unit of assimilated N and is a conservative function in most biological systems. A better alternative is to define NUE as the dry matter produced per unit N applied and strive for improvements in agronomic yields through N recovery. Suppressing nitrification along with its associated N losses is potentially a key part in any strategy to improve N recovery and agronomic NUE. In many mature N-limited ecosystems, nitrification is reduced to a relatively minor flux. In such systems there is a high degree of internal N cycling with minimal loss of N. In contrast, in most high-production agricultural systems nitrification is a major process in N cycling with the resulting N losses and inefficiencies. This review presents the current state of knowledge on nitrification and associated N losses, and discusses strategies for controlling nitrification in agricultural systems. Limitations of the currently available nitrification inhibitors are highlighted. The concept of biological nitrification inhibition (BNI) is proposed for controlling nitrification in agricultural systems utilizing traits found in natural ecosystems. It is emphasized that suppression of nitrification in agricultural systems is a critical step required for improving agronomic NUE and maintaining environmental quality