Scaling of NonOhmic Conduction in Strongly Correlated Systems

A new scaling formalism is used to analyze nonlinear I-V data in the vicinity of metal-insulator transitions (MIT) in five manganite systems. An exponent, called the nonlinearity exponent, and an onset field for nonlinearity, both characteristic of the system under study, are obtained from the analysis. The onset field is found to have an anomalously low value corroborating the theoretically predicted electronically soft phases. The scaling functions above and below the MIT of a polycrystalline sample are found to be the same but with different exponents which are attributed to the distribution of the MIT temperatures. The applicability of the scaling in manganites underlines the universal response of the disordered systems to electric field

The Schrodinger equation with Hulthen potential plus ring-shaped potential

We present the solutions of the Schr$\ddot{o}$dinger equation with the Hulth$\acute{e}$n potential plus ring-shape potential for $\ell\neq 0$ states within the framework of an exponential approximation of the centrifugal potential.Solutions to the corresponding angular and radial equations are obtained in terms of special functions using the conventional Nikiforov-Uvarov method. The normalization constant for the Hulth$\acute{e}$n potential is also computed.Comment: Typed with LateX,12 Pages, Typos correcte

A report on National Seminar on Genetics of Pennisetums and AICPMIP Workshop

In view of the golden Jubilee Celebration of the Indian Society of Genetics and Plant Breeding this year, the AICPMIP Workshop was combined with the second National Seminar on the Genetics of Pennisetums. The National Seminar was held on 2-3 May, and the AICPMIP Workshop on 4-5 May. Both events were very well organized at the Directorate of Rice Research, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, We present below the highlights of various sessions

Registration of ICMR 356 Parental Line of Pearl Millet

The pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) restorer line ICMR356 (PI591337), released in 1993, was developed from the cross B282 × J104. It is an elite inbred restorer line with grain yield ranging from 1477 to 3373 kg/ha, which is 51% higher than H77/833-2 but 34% lower than D23. It has a plant height of 109 to 172 cm and a flowering requirement of 49 to 54 days from time of planting. ICMR356 produces 3-7 basal tillers/plant and grains are medium-sized (1000-seed weight of 8.5 g). ICMR356 is more resistant to downy mildew (Sclerospora graminicola) than P7-04 in India and has similar resistance to P7-04 in western Africa

Gajah. Securing the Future for Elephants in India.

It is estimated that six in every ten wild Asian elephants live in India. This report by the Ministry of Environment and Forests in India outlines plans to safeguard the species and associated habitats in the face of rapid economic expansion and development pressures

Thermal stress impaired expression of insulin-like growth factor binding proteins in pigs

This study aimed to investigate the correlation of IGFs, IGFBPs, and IGFBPRs of grower pigs with change in temperature humidity index (THI). THI was calculated to know the months of the year when pigs feel discomfort and samples of feed offered were analyzed to know the nutritional availability/deficit. The calculated average THI was above thermal comfort zone for seven months in a year. It was observed that crude protein (CP) and metabolizable energy (ME) availability to pigs were deficient. Gilts of two months age and similar body weight were randomly divided into two groups (n=6); viz. Con-fed animals (feed offered by the farmer) and For-fed animals (formulated feed supplement + Con-fed). The composition of formulated feed supplement was dried leaf of Moringa oleifera, soybean meal, rice mill waste, and mineral mixture. The plasma cortisol level increased in the experimental animals with accelerated THI as evidenced by the strong positive correlation of THI with HSP70 and HSP90. The level of leptin and ghrelin did not have significant relation with the expression level of HSPs in the present study, however, in the control animals, a low level of leptin was observed. The correlation between the growth factors and HSPs was not significant. During the season, where the THI was above the thermal comfort zone, the IGFBPR and IGFBP concentrations were non-significantly increased along with the increased THI

Registration of ICMP 423 Parental Line of Pearl Millet

The pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) parental line ICM423 (PI572306), released in 1988, is a downy mildew (Sclerospora graminicola) resistant restorer line of a single-cross hybrid cultivar, ICMH423. ICMP423 was derived from the first cycle of the ICRISAT Early Composite which was constituted by random mating of 194 geographically diverse lines, mostly of India origin, that flowered in <45 days from sowing at Patancheru during the 1973 rainy season. Selfed plants were advanced by bulking and a number of cycles of selection for phenotypic similarity and resistance to downy mildew were conducted. Some 1570 progenies with resistance to downy mildew were allowed to random mate. Seeds from the random mating were bulked to form ICMP143. ICMP143 is an elite restorer line with mean grain yield of 1750 kg/ha, medium height (147 cm) and a flowering time of 49 to 57 days from sowing. It produces 3-7 tillers/plant and has a 1000-grain weight of 7.5 g. In 11 disease nurseries in India and western Africa, it had higher levels of resistance to downy mildew than the resistant standard P7-4 (mean and ranges of 4% and 0 to 23% in ICMP423 and 7% and 0 to 49% in P7-4)

Breeding for disease resistance and yield in pearl millet

We describe a program at ICRISAT, India, for breeding pearl millet for disease-resistance and high grain yield. Large-scale, reliable techniques for screening in the field for downy mildew, ergot and smut have been developed and are routinely being used. Since downy mildew is economically important, all breeding material passes through the downy mildew-screening nursery and resistant varieties and hybrids have been bred. Synthetic varieties have been produced which are also resistant to smut and are agronomically good. Variability from African germplasm material, particularly for disease resistance, head volume, and seed size, has been exploited in crosses with Indian material. African parent-age occurs in nearly all of the advanced breeding products of the ICRISAT program. Recurrent selection has been used to produce open-pollinated varieties, one of which (WC-C75) is the first to be released in India where it already occupies a considerable hectarage. Conventional pedigree breeding has been used to produce synthetic parents, pollinators and seed parents. Several new seed parents have been released, and this broadens the genetic base of the hybrid crop which previously relied heavily on a single malesterile line

Registration of ICMP 451 Parental Line of Pearl Millet

ICMP 451 (Reg. no. PL-23, P1 572307) is the restorer parent of pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] single-cross grain hybrid cultivar ICMH 451. It was developed by the Cereals Program of the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru, Andhra Pradesh, India, and released in May 1986 by the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India. ICMP 451 traces to Cycle 2 of ICRISAT Late Composite. This composite was constituted by random-mating 46 diverse lines of African origin that flowered in >55 d from seeding during the 1973 rainy season at ICRISAT Center in India