GROWTH RETARDANTS effects ON FLOWERING AND YIELD PARAMETERS OF SPANISH JASMINE (Jasminum grandiflorum L.)

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of growth retardants on flowering and yield parameters and shelf life of spanish jasmine. The experiment comprised of eleven treatments each replicated thrice was executed following the principles of randomized block design. The treatments included foliar spray of CCC @ 1000, 1500 and 2000 ppm, alar @ 1000, 2000 and 3000 ppm, ethrel @ 1000, 1500 and 2000 ppm, pruning and untreated control. In this study, the application of CCC 1500 ppm exerted favourable influence and enhanced the flower bud characters viz., flower bud length (2.98 cm), flower stalk length (2.36 cm) and total length of the flower (5.34 cm). The yield and yield attributes viz., hundred flower buds weight (9.90 g), flower buds yield plant-1 (4.23 kg), flower buds yield plot-1 (33.84 kg) and flower buds yield hectare-1 (14.1 t ha-1) were also found to be the maximum in the plants treated with CCC 1500 ppm. The plant growth retardants did not show any significant effect on shelf life of flowers

Free Vibrational Behavior of Bi-Directional Functionally Graded Composite Panel with and Without Porosities Using 3D Finite Element Approximations

Abstract: In the present study, the frequency characteristics of bi-directional functionally graded panels in rectangular planform with and without porosities are examined using 3D finite element approximations. In this work, the graded panel is consisted of metal and ceramic material, in which material properties vary smoothly in two directions. The material properties of this highly heterogeneous material are obtained using the Voigt model via extended power-law distribution of volume fractions. The present model is developed using a customized computer code and discretized using three dimensional solid 20-noded quadrilateral elements. The mesh refinement is carried out to conduct the convergence test and the validation test by comparing the obtained results with the previous reported results. At a later stage, a comprehensive parametric study is conducted through numerical illustrations which reveal that the geometrical and material parameters of bi-directional functionally graded panel affect its frequency characteristics, significantly

Free Vibrational Behavior of Bi-Directional Functionally Graded Composite Panel with and Without Porosities Using 3D Finite Element Approximations

Abstract: In the present study, the frequency characteristics of bi-directional functionally graded panels in rectangular planform with and without porosities are examined using 3D finite element approximations. In this work, the graded panel is consisted of metal and ceramic material, in which material properties vary smoothly in two directions. The material properties of this highly heterogeneous material are obtained using the Voigt model via extended power-law distribution of volume fractions. The present model is developed using a customized computer code and discretized using three dimensional solid 20-noded quadrilateral elements. The mesh refinement is carried out to conduct the convergence test and the validation test by comparing the obtained results with the previous reported results. At a later stage, a comprehensive parametric study is conducted through numerical illustrations which reveal that the geometrical and material parameters of bi-directional functionally graded panel affect its frequency characteristics, significantly

GANODERMA LUCIDUM-ORIENTAL MUSHROOM MEDIATED SYNTHESIS OF GOLD NANOPARTICLES CONJUGATED WITH DOXORUBICIN AND EVALUATION OF ITS ANTICANCER POTENTIAL ON HUMAN BREAST CANCER MCF-7/DOX CELLS

Objective: The present investigations are to mycosynthesis and characterization of gold nanoparticles conjugated with doxorubicin and evaluated anticancer activity.Methods: The characterization of the gold nanoparticles using ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy. FTIR investigations were carried out to find and read the functional group responsible designed at the bioconversion of gold ions and crystalline arrangement of gold nanoparticles was detected in the XRD study. The gold nanoparticles conjugated with doxorubicin were treated against MCF-7-dox resisted breast cancer cells and observed the in vitro cytotoxicity by MTT assay, SCGE (Comet), Apoptosis and Mito-potential assay. Further more we determinate the mRNA expression of ABCB1 gene and cDNA was synthesized from the mRNA for amplification of the ABCB1 gene corresponding to the specific primer.Results: Surface Plasmon resonance showed the development of gold nanoparticles in UV–Visible spectra at 537 nm. The synthesized gold nanoparticles were polydisperse spherical and it was determined by EDAX and stabilized in the solution to the spherical shapes further confirmed by High-resolution transmission electron microscope analysis designate in the reading of 2–100 nm. The anticancer assays were given significant results and the mRNA expression of ABCB1 gene and cDNA was amplified as directly proportional to the expression of ABCB1 gene.Conclusion: We propose that gold nanoparticles synthesized and conjugated with doxorubicin from G. lucidum might be a significant resource of drug delivery for anti-cancer preparation that may advantage breast cancer treatment

Advanced Two-Dimensional Heterojunction Photocatalysts of Stoichiometric and Non-Stoichiometric Bismuth Oxyhalides with Graphitic Carbon Nitride for Sustainable Energy and Environmental Applications

Semiconductor-based photocatalysis has been identified as an encouraging approach for solving the two main challenging problems, viz., remedying our polluted environment and the generation of sustainable chemical energy. Stoichiometric and non-stoichiometric bismuth oxyhalides (BiOX and BixOyXz where X = Cl, Br, and I) are a relatively new class of semiconductors that have attracted considerable interest for photocatalysis applications due to attributes, viz., high stability, suitable band structure, modifiable energy bandgap and two-dimensional layered structure capable of generating an internal electric field. Recently, the construction of heterojunction photocatalysts, especially 2D/2D systems, has convincingly drawn momentous attention practicably owing to the productive influence of having two dissimilar layered semiconductors in face-to-face contact with each other. This review has systematically summarized the recent progress on the 2D/2D heterojunction constructed between BiOX/BixOyXz with graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4). The band structure of individual components, various fabrication methods, different strategies developed for improving the photocatalytic performance and their applications in the degradation of various organic contaminants, hydrogen (H2) evolution, carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction, nitrogen (N2) fixation and the organic synthesis of clean chemicals are summarized. The perspectives and plausible opportunities for developing high performance BiOX/BixOyXz-g-C3N4 heterojunction photocatalysts are also discussed

A case report of Melioidosis in a Diabetic patient in a Union Territory

Melioidosis is an emerging disease in India. Cases have also been reported from South East Asia, Australia and Japan. Major risk factors for melioidosis are diabetes mellitus, pre-existing renal disease and thalassemia. Exposure to contaminated soil and water are also significant occupational hazards associated with the disease.  A patient with diabetes of six years duration on regular medication presented with fever, generalised myalgia and headache for a week. Blood and bone marrow culture yielded Burkholderia pseudomallei. A Computed tomography (CT) study of the thorax also revealed multiple scattered nodules in both lungs. The patient was treated with imipenem and doxycycline. His condition improved gradually and he was advised oral sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim and doxycycline for a period of three months and has been followed up regularly

Effect of dietary supplementation of cassia auriculata leaf powder on growth and immune responses of milkfish, Chanos chanos

A 30 days feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of Cassia auriculata leaf powder on growth and immunomological parameters of the juveniles of Milkfish, Chanos chanos and disease resistance against Vibrio anguillarum. The juvenile fishes with an average weight of 20±3 g were stocked in four treatments each with three replicates. Four practical diets were prepared with graded level of Cassia auriculata leaf powder (CAL) at the rate of 0%, 0.5%, 1% and 1.5% and fed to four treatments respectively named as CAL0, CAL0.5, CAL1 and CAL1.5. At the end of the experiment blood samples were collected for immunological parameters. After sampling, the remaining fishes were challenged with 0.1 mL of virulent V. anguillarum suspension at a concentration of 107 CFU mL-1 and mortality was observed for 7 days. Post challenge sampling was performed for the collection of blood samples. The growth parameters such as Weight gain%, SGR%, PER were positively affected by Cassia auriculata leaf powder incorporated diet. Higher weight gain %, SGR% and PER were noticed in CAL1.5 group followed by CAL1, CAL0.5 and CAL0. The respiratory burst, lysozyme and phagocytic activities were increased with increasing level of CAL in the diet which indicates better immune response of the fishes fed with CAL. The higher respiratory burst (0.522 ± 0.03), lysozyme (70.07 ± 1.57) and phagocytic (52.91 ± 1.76) activitieswere observed in CAL1.5, CAL1 and CAL1.5 groups respectively during pre-challenge and post challenge. There was significant difference in the survival rate of control (CAL0) and CAL incorporated diet fed groups (P<0.05). Maximum survival was witnessed in CAL1 followed by CAL1.5 and least survival was in CAL0 group. The results indicate that diets supplemented with 1% CAL potentially enhance the immune system and effectively protects the host against V. anguillarum infection and thereby improve the survivability of the fish against this dreadful pathogen

Surfactant-assisted room-temperature synthesis of CdSe nanoclusters

Abstract CdSe nanoclusters of about 22 nm average size have been synthesized by a surfactant-assisted chemical method at room temperature. The asgrown nanoclusters were near stoichiometric and 70% of them were of hexagonal wurtzite crystalline phase. With undefined shapes, the crystalline nanoclusters remained arbitrarily oriented in a compact powder form. The morphology and structural behavior of the nanoclusters were studied by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Thermal stability of the nanoclusters was studied by thermogravimetric analysis. Presence of very small clusters (&lt;5 nm) in the sample revealed a blue shifted excitonic absorption peak along with the excitonic peak of bigger clusters

A new high yielding black kolukattai grass variety CO 2 (Cenchrus setigerus) suitable for Pasture lands

Cenchrus setigerus is commonly known as black kolukkattai grass and is a herbaceous perennial pasture land grass. TNCS 265 is a selection from Kangayam local developed at Department of Forage Crops, Centre for Plant Breeding and Genetics, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. TNCS 265 had registered high biomass yield in Station Trials (38.9 t/ha), Multi Location Trials (50.5 t/ha) and in On Farm Trials (46.8 t/ha) which is 12.75, 21.3 and 19.7 per cent yield increase over the check CO 1, respectively. The culture TNCS 265 was promoted to All India Coordinated Research Projects on Forage Crops & Utilization trials during the year 2016 to 2018 and it was evaluated at nine locations in the South zone. Among the cultures evaluated, TNCS 265 registered a mean green fodder yield of 69.0 t/ ha than the national check CAZRI-76 (54.87 t/ha) and the qualifying variety IGFRI-96-706 (57.98 t/ha) which showed an improvement of 25.76 and 19.01 per cent yield increase over the check, respectively. It ranked first in green fodder yield in all three years of evaluation, under AICRP trials in south zone. It has the crude protein content of 8.18 per cent. The fibre fractions such as Acid Detergent Fibre (%) and Neutral Detergent Fiber (%) were comparatively lesser (42.5 & 64.17 %) than the national check CAZRI-76 (45.43 & 70.4 %) indicating higher digestibility and intake of green fodder of proposed entry. It was also evident from its higher value of in vitro Dry Matter Digestibility (55.47 %) than the national check CAZRI-76 (51.93 %). Hence, considering the stable performance of TNCS 265 (Cenchrus setigerus), it was proposed and released as black kolukkattai grass CO 2 for pasture land cultivation in the south zone of India during 2019 and notified as per Gazette Notification No. S.O. 99(E). dt. 06.01.2020 for general cultivatio

Genetic variability and association studies for yield and its attributes in super-early pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (l.) Millsp.) Genotypes

Twenty-nine super-early pigeonpea genotypes along with an early duration check were evaluated for 12 quantitative traits to assess genetic variability, cause and effect for yield as well as yield contributing traits. High PCV and GCV was observed for the traits viz. plant height, number of branches per plant, pod bearing length, number of clusters per plant, number of number of pods per plant and single plant yield. High heritability associated with high genetic advance as per cent of mean (GAM) was observed for the traits like plant height, pod bearing length, number of clusters per plant and number of branches per plant indicating that these traits were controlled by additive gene action and selection for above traits is advisable. Correlation coefficient analysis revealed that the traits viz. number of number of pods per plant, pod length, number of seeds per pod and days to fifty per cent flowering can be the best selection indices for breeding programme as they show significant positive correlation in favour of single plant yield. Path coefficient analysis showcased the traits with direct and indirect effect on single plant yield as number of pods per plant, plant height, days to maturity, number of branches per plant and days to fifty per cent flowering