Evaluating the processed beans of different cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) accessions for quality parameters

The objective of this study was to evaluate the variability in quality parameters of different identified cocoa plus trees from Coimbatore district in Tamil Nadu. Thirty five (35) plus trees in two different farmers field were evaluated for their quality traits. The quality parameters like fat content (%), carbohydrate content (mg/g), protein content (mg/g), theobromine content (mg/g), caffeine content (mg/g), catechin content (mg/g) and caffeic acid content (mg/g). A rapid method like high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method is used for the determination of theobromine, caffeine, catechin and caffeic acid in cocoa beans. Among the 35 plus trees evaluated for bean quality, highest fat content was recorded in Tc (Vedapatti) 94, while highest carbohydrate content was recorded in Tc (Vedapatti) 64 and highest protein content was recorded in Tc (Vedapatti) 76. The highest theobromine was recorded in Tc (Vedapatti) 63, caffeine was recorded in Tc (Vedapatti) 91, while the amount of caffeic acid and catechin was the highest in Tc (Vedapatti) 76. This evaluation study showed wide variation for quality parameters. These variability may be used in further breeding program enhance the quality traits and improve flavours of the final product

TESTING AS A SERVICE (TAAS) – AN ENHANCED SECURITY FRAMEWORK FOR TAAS IN CLOUD ENVIRONMENT

Testing becomes an important process not only in terms of exposure but also in terms of performance, safety, usability. Test Environment that directly represents the production environment is too expensive in terms of hardware, software licenses and more people. Cloud computing supports an everything as a service (XaaS) Delivery model. Testing-as-a-service (TaaS) is a new model to provide testing capabilities to end users. Users save the cost of complicated maintenance and upgrade effort, and service providers can upgrade their services without impact on the end-users. Due to uneven volumes of concurrent request, it is important to address lack of security policy and evaluating the right tool for application of TaaS platform in a cloud environment

Source localization in shallow ocean using a vertical array of acoustic vector sensors

This paper introduces a new approach to 3D localisation of a narrowband acoustic source in a shallow ocean using acoustic vector sensors (AVS). Assuming a horizontally stratified and range-independent model of the ocean, it is shown that the azimuth of the source can be determined from the estimates of the horizontal components of the acoustic intensity vector obtained from the measurements of an AVS. The range and depth of the source could then be estimated through a 2D search to match the computed complex acoustic intensity vector expressed as a function of these parameters with its estimate obtained from the AVS measurements. However the search in range is computationally intensive as the range parameter is unbounded. We propose an alternative approach employing a vertical array of AVS, based on eigen-decomposition of the spatial correlation matrix of the data vector, leading to a closed form solution for the range parameter. The source depth is then estimated through a 1D search of this bounded parameter

Seed priming technology in spice crops: A review

Seed priming is one of the important method of seed treatment is the process of controlled hydration of seeds. At the time to a level that permits the pre-germinative metabolic activity, but that prevents actual emergence of the radicle is also known as pre germination seed treatment method. Seed priming is useful for increase the speed of seed germination and uniformity of germination particularly under adverse conditions like temperature, moisture and salinity. Seeds are soaked in different solutions like various inorganic salts, sugars and polyethylene glycol (PEG) a chemically inert, high molecular weight compounds, etc. After seed priming increase in hydrolytic enzyme activity especially a-amylase, strong increase of super oxide dismutase, catalase activities and expression of certain proteins related to water stress and heat shock. During germination the primed seeds contain higher scavenging of ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species). This reviews reported the primed spices seeds or rhizomes contain abiotic stress tolerant capacities, increase the antioxidant enzyme activities like peroxidase, catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), lipoxygenase (LOX) and phenyl alanine ammonia lyase (PAL), break the seed dormancy, increase the germination percentage and early growth. This studies gives an overview about the seed priming in spice crops with relevant case studies

Effect of timing and graded levels of nitrogen and potassium in SRI cultivation

A field experiment was carried out at Annamalai University Experimental farm, Annamalai nagar, during Kuruvai and Navarai in the year 2008-09. To study the timing and graded levels of nitrogen and potassium in rice crop under SRI (System of rice intensification) cultivation. The experiment was laid out on deep clay soil by adopting randomized block design with factorial technique (FRBD). The results of field experiment revealed that the maximum growth and yield attributes were recorded in the treatment which received P2O5 as fully basal dose and nitrogen as three split doses viz., 50% basal and 25% each at tillering and panicle initiation stages. Potassium was applied as 33.3% K2O each at 15, 30 and 45 DAT. This treatment significantly recorded higher grain yield of 6278.7 kg ha-1 in field experiment – I and 6577.9 kg ha-1 in field experiment – II; and the straw yield of 7010.3 and 7309.7 kg ha-1 in field experiment I and II respectively. The shoot and grain uptake of nutrients (N, P and K) were high during 15, 30 and 45 DAT and at harvest which received 33.3 % K2O each at 15, 30 and 45 DAT

STUDY AND ANALYSIS OF MICROSTRUCTURE AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF WELD DURING UNDERWATER WET SMAW

SMAW experiments were conducted under the water and in the air with PVA-alumina coated electrode. Influences of surrounding water on the weld geometry, weld microstructure and mechanical properties were studied. Results shown that formation of fine granular pearlite and ferrite in the wet weld. High amount of acicular ferrite (AF) in HAZ of wet weld and this amount is decreased by increasing the heat input, more ferrite content in the air weld. Two types of metal transfer mode has been observed, i.e. globular transfer mode and combined surface tension and repelled globular transfer mode. Second one is the reason for poor weld bead appearances in wet weld. Mechanical properties like toughness and hardness has been studied. Results shows improved mechanical properties at reduced cooling rate by increasing the heat flux

Root morphology and root characters of different cocoa (Theobroma cacao L) types at 100 and 50 percent field capacity under water deficit condition

The main aim of this study was to screen the root morphology and root characters of different cocoa types at 100 and 50 percent field capacity under water deficit condition at seedling stage. A survey was conducted at Idukki region of Kerala, India and twenty seven plus trees were identified. These twenty seven plus trees were screened for water stress tolerance under glasshouse condition by gravimetric method. With respect to the performance of plus trees, root length under 50% field capacity got increased to 21.15 cm as against 20.51 cm in 100 per cent field capacity. Fresh root weight and dry root weight substantially got increased under water stress. The average root girth of 27 plus trees got increased in stressed condition from 3.70 cm to 3.88 cm. The root volume also followed the same trend (47.28 as against 45.96). The percent of nitrogen is 1.37 in 50 per cent field capacity as against 1.63 in 100 per cent field capacity. The percentage of phosphorous decreased to 0.16 under 50 per cent field capacity as against 0.37 in 100 per cent field capacity. Similarly the percentage of potassium also showed a decreasing trend (1.27 % under 100 % field capacity to 1.06 % under 50 % field capacity). In the present investigation, under water stress condition the root length, number of roots, fresh weight of root and dry weight of root tends to increase compared to the 100 per cent field capacity, indicating the morphological adaptations of roots to survive under water stress condition. Furthermore, under water stress condition, root nutrients tend to get depleted

Exploratory Boosted Feature Selection and Neural Network Framework for Depression Classification

Depression is a burdensome psychiatric disease common in low and middle income countries causing disability, morbidity and mortality in late life. In this study, we demonstrate a novel approach for detection of depression using clinical data obtained from the on-going Mysore Studies of Natal effects on Ageing and Health (MYNAH), in South India where the members have undergone a comprehensive assessment for cognitive function, mental health and cardiometabolic disorders. The proposed model is developed using machine learning approach for classification of depression using Meta-Cognitive Neural Network (McNN) classifier with Projection-based learning (PBL) to address the self-regulating principles like how, what and when to learn. XGBoost is used for feature selection on the available data of assessments with improved confidence. To improve the efficiency of McNN-PBL classifier the best parameters are found using Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm. The results indicate that the McNNPBL classifier selects appropriate records to learn and remove repetitive records which improve the generalization performance. The study helps the clinician to identify the best parameters to analyze the patient

SilkSatDb: a microsatellite database of the silkworm, Bombyx mori

The SilkSatDb (silkmoth microsatellite database) (http://www.cdfd.org.in/silksatdb) is a relational database of microsatellites extracted from the available expressed sequence tags and whole genome shotgun sequences of the silkmoth, Bombyx mori. The database has been rendered with a simple and robust web-based search facility, developed using PHP. The SilkSatDb also stores information on primers developed and validated in the laboratory. Users can retrieve information on the microsatellite and the protocols used, along with informative figures and polymorphism status of those microsatellites. In addition, the interface is coupled with Autoprimer, a primer-designing program, using which users can design primers for the loci of interest