Sustainable Operations in Reverse Supply Chain of Shipbuilding Business - Benefits of Green Practices

Sustainable operations have become extremely important for survival of present day shipbuilding business wherein triple bottom-line criteria – profit, planet and people, needs to be satisfied. This paper discusses about recapturing value at the end-of-life of a ship and reintroducing it to the value chain through reverse supply chain channel, thereby reducing environmental impact and also benefitting humans and ecology.  It also describes about the advantages of recycling ship vis-à-vis scrapping it in terms of environmental and human impact

Mechanical and Water Absorption Properties of Hybrid Sisal/Glass Fibre Reinforced Epoxy Composite

Our environment is being pullulated due to the great use of synthetic fibre as reinforcement for polymer composites. Natural fibres may be better choice for replacement of synthetic fibre for polymer composite to reduced environment burden. Hybrid sisal/glass fibre reinforced epoxy composites are prepared by hand lay-up technique using different weight fractions (10, 20, 30 and 40 %) with 10 mm length of fibres. Mechanical and water absorption properties of prepared composites are investigated. This study shows that the addition of glass fibre into sisal fibre reinforced composite has increased its mechanical properties. Statistical analysis is also carried out using T-test and ANOVA and found significant variation among composites

Mapping QTLs Controlling Flowering Time, Plant Height, Panicle length and Grain Mass in Pearl Millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.]

Pearl millet is an important cereal of arid- and semi-arid regions, and can endure dry conditions but experiences drought stress during post-flowering growth. Exploiting the bold seeded semi-dwarf early flowering genotypes in pearl millet is a key breeding strategy to enhance yield and for adequate food in resource-poor zones. Genetic variation for agronomic traits of pearl millet inbreds can be used to dissect complex traits through QTL mapping. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping for 50% flowering time, plant height, panicle length, and grain mass (self and open pollinated seeds) was performed in recombinant inbred line (RIL) population, ICMB 841-P3 ? 863B-P2. Correlations between traits were also performed and significantly negative association between plant height and TGM was observed. High heritabilities (>0.6) were recorded for all traits. A total of 50 QTLs that affected above traits were detected. Six putative QTLs for 50% flowering time were identified on five chromosomes. One QTL on LG3 were common between flowering time and plant height. Three major QTLs for panicle length, one each on LG1, LG2 and LG6B were detected.The major QTL for TGM_self on LG 6B had a partial R2 of 23.8% and 0.8 additive effects.The total phenotypic variance for 50% FT, TGM_self, and panicle length was 23.2% (LOD- 56.28), 22.3% (LOD- 5.96) and 59.4% (LOD- 52), respectively.A total of 21 digenic interactions were demonstrated for 50%FT (R2=18%-40%) and PL (R2publishersversionPeer reviewe

Higher yields and profits from new crop rotations permitting integration of mediculture with agriculture in the Indo-Gangetic plains

The results of a survey conducted in 100 villages of 7 districts located in Uttar Pradesh in the central Indo-Gangetic plains on the land cropping pattern and profits to the farmers per unit land and area are presented. It is shown that sugarcane is cultivated in about 19.5% of the land. Rice remains the principal kharif crop in the area, occupying about 76% of land. Conventional rice-wheat/Brassica/legume, rice-potato and rice-mint rotations benefitted farmers to the extent of roughly Rs 30,000 ha−1 year−1. Introduction of new rotations based upon newly available short duration Kosi variety of mint is permitting practice of rice-wheat/Brassica/legume-mint and rice-potato-mint rotations, bringing a profit of approximately Rs 61,000 ha−1 year−1 to the farmers of the area. Future prospects of integration of short duration medicinal and aromatic crops (mediculture) between food grain crops (agriculture) like the above, for the development of agriculture, industry and employment are discussed

Productivity, profitability and resource use efficiency of potato (Solanum tuberosum) based cropping systems in eastern Himalayan region

A field experiment was conducted during three consecutive years of 2011 to 2013 at Central Potato Research Station, Shillong to evaluate the economic feasibility of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) based cropping system under rainfed condition of eastern Himalayan region. There were seven cropping systems replicated thrice under randomized block design. The potato was the main crop during summer season while succeeding seven crops (potato, maize, cabbage, cauliflower, carrot, rajmash and radish) were taken during autumn season. Results revealed that potato based various cropping sequence differ significantly for most of the desirable parameters which decided the economic viability to adopt the system approach for efficient utilization of natural resources. Among the cropping systems, potato-cabbage recorded significantly the highest potato tuber equivalent yield (51.6 tonnes/ha), production efficiency (210.5 kg/ha/day), economic efficiency (Rupees 1414.6 /ha/day), maximum net monetary return (Rupees 366.8 x 103/ha), benefit cost ratio (3.5) and energy productivity (1.35 kg/MJ). Hence, potato-cabbage was concluded as the most stable and profitable cropping system for the ecosystem of eastern Himalayan region

Development of decadal (1985–1995–2005) land use and land cover database for India

India has experienced significant Land-Use and Land-Cover Change (LULCC) over the past few decades. In this context, careful observation and mapping of LULCC using satellite data of high to medium spatial resolution is crucial for understanding the long-term usage patterns of natural resources and facilitating sustainable management to plan, monitor and evaluate development. The present study utilizes the satellite images to generate national level LULC maps at decadal intervals for 1985, 1995 and 2005 using onscreen visual interpretation techniques with minimum mapping unit of 2.5 hectares. These maps follow the classification scheme of the International Geosphere Biosphere Programme (IGBP) to ensure compatibility with other global/regional LULC datasets for comparison and integration. Our LULC maps with more than 90% overall accuracy highlight the changes prominent at regional level, i.e., loss of forest cover in central and northeast India, increase of cropland area in Western India, growth of peri-urban area, and relative increase in plantations. We also found spatial correlation between the cropping area and precipitation, which in turn confirms the monsoon dependent agriculture system in the country. On comparison with the existing global LULC products (GlobCover and MODIS), it can be concluded that our dataset has captured the maximum cumulative patch diversity frequency indicating the detailed representation that can be attributed to the on-screen visual interpretation technique. Comparisons with global LULC products (GlobCover and MODIS) show that our dataset captures maximum landscape diversity, which is partly attributable to the on-screen visual interpretation techniques. We advocate the utility of this database for national and regional studies on land dynamics and climate change research. The database would be updated to 2015 as a continuing effort of this study

Mapping grain iron and zinc content QTLs in an Iniadi-derived immortal population of pearl millet

Pearl millet is a climate-resilient nutritious crop requiring low inputs, and is capable of giving economic returns in marginal agro-ecologies. In this study, we report large effect iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) content QTLs using DArT arrays and SSRs to generate a genetic linkage map using 317 RIL population derived from (ICMS 8511-S1-17-2-1-1-B-P03 ? AIMP 92901-S1-183-2-2-B-08) cross. The base map (7 LGs) of 196 loci was 964.2 cM (Haldane). AIMP 92901-S1-183-2-2-B-08 is a high grain Fe and Zn line, an Iniadi parent tracing its origin to the Togolese Republic, West Africa. QTL analysis revealed a large number of QTLs for grain iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) content. The concentration of grain Fe in the RIL population ranged between 20 and 131 ppm, and Zn from 18-110 ppm. A total of 19 QTLs for Fe and Zn were detected, of which 11 were for Fe and 8 were for Zn. The portion of observed phenotypic variance explained by different QTLs for grain Fe and Zn concentrations varied between 9.0-31.9% (cumulative 74%) and 9.4-30.4% (cumulative 65%), respectively. Three large effect QTLs for both minerals were co-mapped in this population - one on Linkage group (LG) 1 and the remaining two on LG7. The favourable alleles for QTLs of both the mineral micronutrients were contributed by the male parent (AIMP 92901-deriv-08). Three putative epistasis interactions were observed for Fe while single digenic interaction was for Zn. The reported QTLs may be useful in marker-assisted selection programs for seed and restorer parent breeding and population improvement programs in pearl millet.authorsversionPeer reviewe

High-spin spectroscopy in 207^{207}At: Evidence of a 29/2+^{+} isomeric state

Yrast and near-yrast states above the known 25/2$^{+}$ isomer in $^{207}$At are established for the first time. The level scheme is extended up to 47/2$\hbar$ and 6.5 MeV with the addition of about 60 new $\gamma$-ray transitions. The half-life of the 25/2$^{+}$ isomer is revisited and a value of $T_{1/2}$ = 107.5(9) ns is deduced. Evidence of a hitherto unobserved 29/2$^{+}$ isomer in $^{207}$At is presented. A systematic study of $B(E3)$ values for the transitions de-exciting the 29/2$^{+}$ isomer in the neighboring odd-$A$ At isotopes suggests a half-life in the 2$-$4 $\mu$s range for this state in $^{207}$At. The experimental results are compared with large-scale shell-model calculations performed using the KHM3Y effective interaction in the $Z$ = 50$-$126, $N$ = 82$-$184 model space and an overall good agreement is noted between the theory and the experiment. A qualitative comparison of the excited states and the isomers with analogous states in neighboring nuclei provides further insight into the structure of $^{207}$At.Comment: 15 pages, 13 figure

Towards defining heterotic gene pools using SSR markers in pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.]

Pearl millet is a climate resilient crop and the most widely grown millet worldwide. In a maiden attempt to identify potential heterotic groups for grain yield in pearl millet, a total of 88 polymorphic SSR markers were used to genotype 343 hybrid parental lines of pearl millet. The SSR markers generated a total of 532 alleles with a mean value of 6.05 alleles per locus, mean gene diversity of 0.55, and an average PIC of 0.50. Out of 532 alleles, 443 (83.27%) alleles were contributed by B- lines with a mean of 5.03 alleles per locus. R- lines contributed 476 alleles (89.47%) with a mean of 5.41, while 441 (82.89%) alleles were shared commonly between B- and R- lines. The gene diversity and PIC were high among R- lines (0.55 and 0.50) than B- lines (0.49 and 0.44) revealed that R- lines were more diverse than B- lines. The unweighted neighbor-joining tree based on simple matching dissimilarity matrix obtained from SSR data clearly differentiated B- lines into 10 sub-clusters (B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6, B7, B8, B9 and B10), and Rlines into 11 sub-clusters (R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, R10 and R11). The parents, three checks and 99 hybrids generated by crossing between representative lines of each of the B- cluster with that of each of the R- cluster were evaluated in line ? tester design over three environments. Based on pooled mean performance, the cross combinations generated between clusters B1 and R3, B2 and R4, B3 and R5, B4 and undetermined cluster, B5 and 11R, B6 and R3, B8 and R4, B9 and R7 and B10 and R5 had shown higher grain yield per plant compared to their counterparts. Based on per se performance, high sca effects and standard heterosis over superior check, F1s generated from crosses between representatives of groups B3 and B10 with representative of group R5 resulted in best heterotic combinations for grain yield. These represent putative heterotic gene pools in pearl millet.publishersversionPeer reviewe

Does 3-Day Course of Oral Amoxycillin Benefit Children of Non-Severe Pneumonia with Wheeze: A Multicentric Randomised Controlled Trial

WHO-defined pneumonias, treated with antibiotics, are responsible for a significant proportion of childhood morbidity and mortality in the developing countries. Since substantial proportion pneumonias have a viral etiology, where children are more likely to present with wheeze, there is a concern that currently antibiotics are being over-prescribed for it. Hence the current trial was conducted with the objective to show the therapeutic equivalence of two treatments (placebo and amoxycillin) for children presenting with non-severe pneumonia with wheeze, who have persistent fast breathing after nebulisation with salbutamol, and have normal chest radiograph.This multi-centric, randomised placebo controlled double blind clinical trial intended to investigate equivalent efficacy of placebo and amoxicillin and was conducted in ambulatory care settings in eight government hospitals in India. Participants were children aged 2-59 months of age, who received either oral amoxycillin (31-54 mg/Kg/day, in three divided doses for three days) or placebo, and standard bronchodilator therapy. Primary outcome was clinical failure on or before day- 4.We randomized 836 cases in placebo and 835 in amoxycillin group. Clinical failures occurred in 201 (24.0%) on placebo and 166 (19.9%) on amoxycillin (risk difference 4.2% in favour of antibiotic, 95% CI: 0.2 to 8.1). Adherence for both placebo and amoxycillin was >96% and 98.9% subjects were followed up on day- 4. Clinical failure was associated with (i) placebo treatment (adjusted OR = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.01 to1.62), (ii) excess respiratory rate of >10 breaths per minute (adjusted OR = 1.51, 95% CI: 1.19, 1.92), (iii) vomiting at enrolment (adjusted OR = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.13, 1.96), (iv) history of use of broncho-dilators (adjusted OR = 1.71, 95% CI: 1.30, 2.24) and (v) non-adherence (adjusted OR = 8.06, 95% CI: 4.36, 14.92).Treating children with non-severe pneumonia and wheeze with a placebo is not equivalent to treatment with oral amoxycillin.ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00407394