Peach (Prunus persica L. Batsch) perfection: Boosting yields with mulching

The present study aimed to investigate the effects of various mulching strategies on the growth and yield of peach crops, as well as on soil hydrothermal regimes, weed infestation, and microbial properties. A field experiment was conducted, implementing various organic residue mulches including locally available grass and pine needle mulch, as well as inorganic mulches such as black and transparent mulch, control treatment comprising blanket recommendation. Results indicated that plots with black polythene mulch showed the highest fruit productivity, fruit yield, fruit length and diameter. Furthermore, black mulch and mulch mat treatments demonstrated complete weed control efficiency. Weed species Anagalis arvensis showed the highest maximum frequency, density, relative frequency, and relative density, while Biden pilosa had the highest abundance and relative abundance. The study also found that the impact of grass and pine mulch was of interest, as it helped regulate soil hydrothermal regimes and significantly enhanced total viable count, microbial activity, and microbial biomass carbon. In conclusion, these findings emphasize the potential of mulching techniques to improve peach crop yield and soil health

Squamous papilloma: A report of two cases with review of literature

Squamous papillomas are common lesions of the oral mucosa with predilection for mucosa of hard and soft palate. As an oral lesion, it raises concern because of its clinical appearance, which may mimic an epithelial malignancy such as verrucous carcinoma or condyloma acuminatum. Pathogenesis of this lesion though largely unknown can be attributed to human papillomavirus infection, however, slight controversy regarding its viral origin exists. In this compilation, two cases of oral squamous papilloma are presented along with a review of literature

Plate-assisted bone-segment transport in the femur with 2 internal lengthening nails: a technical note and a case report

A novel technique to resolve large bone defects, using 2 internal lengthening nails (ILNs), one antegrade and one retro-grade, aligned in a custom-made tube is presented. A 28-year-old, healthy, asymptomatic male presented with a slowly growing mass in the left femur.

Influence of Modified Atmospheric Packaging on Shelf-Life and Quality of Naturally Grown Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) Stored Under Different Conditions

Abstract A study was conducted to record the effect of modified atmospheric packaging (MAP), storage conditions (ambient, zero energy cool chamber and refrigerated) as well as storage period on shelf-life and quality of tomatoes produced through Subhash Palekar natural farming (SPNF) and chemical farming (CHEM) systems. Freshly harvested tomatoes (SPNF and CHEM) packed in LDPE pouches (25.40 μm and 10 pin holes/100 cm2 area) and without packaging were stored under ambient (27±2 °C and 70±2% RH), zero energy cool chamber (ZECC) (17±2 °C and 82 ±2 % RH) and low temperature conditions (10±2 ºC and 90 % RH) for shelf-life studies. The shelf-life comparison was done at every two days’ interval up to 24 days based on physiological loss in weight (PLW) and spoilage percentage. SPNF and CHEM tomatoes were compared on the basis of quality attributes (firmness, acidity, TSS, sugars, total phenols, antioxidant activity etc.), mineral content and sensory characteristics. Results revealed that tomato stored in refrigerated condition had significantly (p ˂0.05) lowest PLW and spoilage incidence and highest sensory acceptability up to 24 days and was at par with ZECC stored tomatoes. Quality evaluation indicated that tomatoes grown under SPNF system contained a higher amount of total solids, total sugars, reducing sugars, ascorbic acid, total phenols and ash. The results showed that tomatoes with MAP and stored under refrigerated storage condition retained maximum quality up to 24 days followed by tomatoes stored under ZECC (18 days) compared to 12 days at ambient conditions

AlN-SWCNT Metacomposites Having Tunable Negative Permittivity in Radio and Microwave Frequencies

Discovery of plasmon resonance and negative permittivity in carbon allotropes at much lower frequencies than those of metals has evoked interest to develop random metacomposites by suitable means of addition of these dispersoids in an overall dielectric matrix. Random metacomposites have always the advantage for their easy preparation techniques over those of their regular arrayed artificial counterpart. However, thermal management during the heat generation by electromagnetic attenuation in metamaterials is not yet studied well. The present communication discusses the dielectric permittivities and loss parameters of aluminum nitride-single-wall carbon nanotube (AlN-SWCNT) composites considering high thermal conductivities of both materials. The composites are dense and have been prepared by a standard powder technological method using hot pressing at 1850 degrees C under a nitrogen atmosphere. Increase in the negative permittivity value with SWCNT concentration (1, 3, and 6 vol %) in the composites had been observed at low frequencies. Characterization of the materials with Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectroscopy, and microstructure analysis by scanning and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed the survivability of the SWCNTs and the nature of the matrix-filler interface. Plasmonic resonance following Drude's law could be observed at much lower plasma frequencies than that of pure SWCNT and for very little SWCNT addition. Exhibition of the negative permittivity has been explained with relation to the microstructure of the composites observed from field emission scanning electron micrographs (FESEM), TEM images, and the equivalent circuit model. High energy conversion efficiency is expected in these composites due to the possession of dual functionalities like high thermal conductivity as well as high negative permittivity, which should ensure the application of these materials in wave filter, cloaking device, supercapacitors, and wireless communication