An e-Commerce portal for online Medicine trading

E-commerce short for electronic commerce is trading in products or services using computer networks, such as the Internet. The proposed e marketing model here is an e-commerce portal for online medicine trading and searching providing customers the list of nearby medical shops where the particular medicine is available and also online purchasing facility for that medicine. This model is basically proposing a new idea in E-marketing to supply medicines online and the customer can search the medicinersquos availability in nearby medical shops. The purpose behind making such e-commerce portal is providing customers a 24*7 availability of medicines. The shopkeepers will register over the portal and will let their medicine to be sold online. This will play a very important role in providing rare medicines at remote places where there is unavailability of medicines and also there will be a detailed list of medicines available in the stock. After implementing the proposed model, B2B and B2C transactions and sales would be increasing in coming years and it has a major impact of USAbility on e-marketing strategy of electronic business

Biocontrol of larval mosquitoes by Acilius sulcatus (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Problems associated with resistant mosquitoes and the effects on non-target species by chemicals, evoke a reason to find alternative methods to control mosquitoes, like the use of natural predators. In this regard, aquatic coleopterans have been explored less compared to other insect predators. In the present study, an evaluation of the role of the larvae of <it>Acilius sulcatus </it>Linnaeus 1758 (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) as predator of mosquito immatures was made in the laboratory. Its efficacy under field condition was also determined to emphasize its potential as bio-control agent of mosquitoes.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In the laboratory, the predation potential of the larvae of <it>A. sulcatus </it>was assessed using the larvae of <it>Culex quinquefasciatus </it>Say 1823 (Diptera: Culicidae) as prey at varying predator and prey densities and available space. Under field conditions, the effectiveness of the larvae of <it>A. sulcatus </it>was evaluated through augmentative release in ten cemented tanks hosting immatures of different mosquito species at varying density. The dip density changes in the mosquito immatures were used as indicator for the effectiveness of <it>A. sulcatus </it>larvae.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A single larva of <it>A. sulcatus </it>consumed on an average 34 IV instar larvae of <it>Cx. quinquefasciatus </it>in a 24 h period. It was observed that feeding rate of <it>A. sulcatus </it>did not differ between the light-on (6 a.m. – 6 p.m.), and dark (6 p.m. – 6 a.m.) phases, but decreased with the volume of water i.e., space availability. The prey consumption of the larvae of <it>A. sulcatus </it>differed significantly (P < 0.05) with different prey, predator and volume combinations, revealed through univariate ANOVA. The field study revealed a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in larval density of different species of mosquitoes after 30 days from the introduction of <it>A. sulcatus </it>larvae, while with the withdrawal, a significant increase (p < 0.05) in larval density was noted indicating the efficacy of <it>A. sulcatus </it>in regulating mosquito immatures. In the control tanks, mean larval density did not differ (p > 0.05) throughout the study period.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>the larvae of the dytiscid beetle <it>A. sulcatus </it>proved to be an efficient predator of mosquito immatures and may be useful in biocontrol of medically important mosquitoes.</p

Physics Potential of the ICAL detector at the India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO)

The upcoming 50 kt magnetized iron calorimeter (ICAL) detector at the India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO) is designed to study the atmospheric neutrinos and antineutrinos separately over a wide range of energies and path lengths. The primary focus of this experiment is to explore the Earth matter effects by observing the energy and zenith angle dependence of the atmospheric neutrinos in the multi-GeV range. This study will be crucial to address some of the outstanding issues in neutrino oscillation physics, including the fundamental issue of neutrino mass hierarchy. In this document, we present the physics potential of the detector as obtained from realistic detector simulations. We describe the simulation framework, the neutrino interactions in the detector, and the expected response of the detector to particles traversing it. The ICAL detector can determine the energy and direction of the muons to a high precision, and in addition, its sensitivity to multi-GeV hadrons increases its physics reach substantially. Its charge identification capability, and hence its ability to distinguish neutrinos from antineutrinos, makes it an efficient detector for determining the neutrino mass hierarchy. In this report, we outline the analyses carried out for the determination of neutrino mass hierarchy and precision measurements of atmospheric neutrino mixing parameters at ICAL, and give the expected physics reach of the detector with 10 years of runtime. We also explore the potential of ICAL for probing new physics scenarios like CPT violation and the presence of magnetic monopoles.Comment: 139 pages, Physics White Paper of the ICAL (INO) Collaboration, Contents identical with the version published in Pramana - J. Physic

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Not AvailableDifferent land use management practices e.g. native forest vegetation, pastures and the agricultural management practices (e.g. tillage, cropping system, crop residue mulching and fertilizer and manure application) influence the soil organic carbon pools, which has short term and long term implications on soil carbon dynamics. Field experiments were conducted in a sandy loam soil of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi research farm during the kharif season (July to October) of 2012 and 2013 with the objective to study the short-term (2 years) impact of irrigation, crop residue mulch and nitrogen management in maize on soil organic carbon pools and to identify the best management practice in terms of Carbon Management Index (CMI). Maize (cv. HQPM 1) was grown in a split-split plot design with two levels of irrigation (irrigated and rainfed) as main factor, two levels of mulch (No mulch and wheat residue at a rate of 10 Mg/ha as mulch) as sub factor and three levels of nitrogen (0, 75 and 150 kg N/ha) as sub sub factor. The results showed that total organic carbon (TOC) increased by 40.5% in irrigation treatment compared to the rainfed treatment for the 0–5 cm soil depth after 2nd year of cropping. Application of crop residue mulch significantly increased the TOC concentration by 14.9% at 0–5 cm soil depth compared to the no mulch treatment. Crop residue mulch also significantly increased carbon stratification ratio (SR) by 9.2% compared to no mulch treatment for the same depth. Nitrogen application at 150 kg/ha significantly increased TOC concentration at 0–5 cm soil depth by 22.2% and 7.8% over control and 75 kg/ha, respectively. Water stable aggregate associated carbon concentration in large macro-aggregates and micro-aggregates increased significantly by 16.7% and 11.8%, respectively due to crop residue mulching. Application of crop residue mulch resulted in significant increase in labile and non-labile pools of carbon at 0–5 cm soil depth compared to the no mulch treatment, and among the labile pools of carbon, the maximum increase was recorded in very labile (VL) pools. The Carbon Lability Index (CLI) decreased whereas Carbon Pool Index (CPI) and Carbon Management Index (CMI) increased due to irrigation and crop residue mulch application. Application of 75 kg N/ha resulted in significantly higher CMI than that of 150 kg N/ha at 0–5 and 5–15 cm soil depth. So maize may be grown under irrigated condition with wheat residue mulch at a rate of 10 Mg/ha and 75 kg N/ha to achieve higher total organic carbon pool and labile pools of carbon, better Carbon Management Index.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableField experiments were conducted in a sandy loam soil at the research farm of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi during the kharif season of 2012 and 2013 with the objective to study the effect of crop residue mulch, irrigation and nitrogen (N) on soil water dynamics, growth, yield, water and N use efficiency of maize. Maize (cv. HQPM 1) was grown in a split-split plot design with two levels of irrigation, two levels of mulch and three levels of N. The grain yield of maize increased significantly by 31 per cent under irrigated condition than that of rainfed condition in the year 2012. Application of crop residue mulch increased the grain yield of maize significantly by 11.5 and 28.4 per cent compared to no-mulch treatment in 2012 and 2013, respectively. Application of N significantly increased the grain yield of maize over the control. However, there was no significant difference between 75 kg and 150 kg N ha-1 with respect to grain and biomass yield of maize. The water use efficiency of maize increased significantly by 12.6 and 36 per cent in 2012 and 2013, respectively due to crop residue mulch. The apparent N recovery and agronomic N use efficiency increased significantly but physiological N use efficiency decreased under mulching. So, maize may be grown with 75 kg N ha-1 and wheat residue mulch @ 10 t ha-1 to achieve higher yield, water use efficiency and N use efficiency in Upper-Indo-Gangetic Plain region.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableImprovement in soil structure is a prerequisite for maintaining soil physical health/quality and for sustaining agricultural productivity at higher level. Field experiments were conducted during the kharif season of 2012 and 2013 on maize crop in a sandy loam soil to study the impact of different management practices viz., irrigation, crop residue mulch and nitrogen (N) fertilization on soil physical quality indices like least limiting water range (LLWR), S index, mean weight diameter (MWD), water stable aggregates (%WSA) and whole soil stability index (WSSI), and their impact on crop growth and yield. Maize (cv HQPM 1) was grown in a split-split plot design with two levels of irrigation (irrigated and rainfed), two levels of mulch (no mulch and wheat residue mulch @ 10 t ha-1) and three levels of N (0, 75 and 150 kg N ha-1). Soil physical quality parameters such as S index, LLWR, MWD, %WSA and WSSI increased due to irrigation, crop residue mulching and N application. Application of irrigation, mulch and N @ 150 kg ha-1 significantly increased the S index by 3.5, 9.9 and 4.3 per cent, respectively compared to the respective control treatments (rainfed, no mulch and no N treatments). Crop residue mulching significantly increased LLWR by 48.3, 11.4 and 31.6 per cent over no-mulch treatment at 0-15 cm soil depth at 67 days after sowing (DAS), 95 DAS and harvest, respectively. Application of irrigation registered significantly higher MWD by 21.4 per cent after maize harvest over the rainfed treatment, whereas, mulching increased MWD by 6.7 per cent after maize harvest than no-mulch treatment. After maize harvest, mulching registered significantly higher WSA by 7.8 per cent over the no-mulch treatment. The root growth, grain and biomass yield of maize was significantly correlated with the saturated hydraulic conductivity of soil at 0-15 cm soil depth. Therefore, growing maize crop with need based irrigation at critical growth stages, N application @ 150 kg ha-1 and crop residue mulching @ 10 t ha-1 resulted in better soil physical quality and maize yield in sandy loam soil of Delhi region.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableA field experiment was conducted at Indian Council of Agricultural Research-National Rice Research Institute, Cuttack, Odisha, India in the dry seasons of 2015 and 2016 to assess the water vapor flux (FH2O) and its relationship with other climatic variables. The FH2O and climatic variables were measured by an eddy covariance system and a micrometeorological observatory. Daily mean FH2O during the dry seasons of 2015 and 2016 were 0.009–0.092 g m−2 s−1 and 0.014–0.101 g m−2 s−1, respectively. Seasonal average FH2O was 14.6% higher in 2016 than that in 2015. Diurnal variation for FH2O showed a bell-shaped curve with its peak at 13:30–14:00 Indian Standard Time (IST) in both the years. Carbon dioxide flux was found higher with rise in FH2O. This relationship was stronger at higher vapor pressure deficit (VPD) (20 ≤ VPD ≤ 40 and VPD > 40 hPa). The FH2O showed significant positive correlation with latent heat flux, net radiation flux, photosynthatically active radiation, air, water and soil temperatures, shortwave down and upwell radiations, maximum and minimum temperatures, evaporation, and relative humidity in both the years. Principal component analysis showed that FH2O was very close to latent heat flux in both the years (Pearson correlation coefficient close to 1). The two-dimensional observation map of the principal component F1 and F2 showed the observations taken during the vegetative stage and panicle initiation stage, and flowering stage and maturity stage were closer to each other. It can be concluded that the most important climatic variables controlling the FH2O were latent heat of vaporization, net radiation, air temperature, soil temperatures, and water temperature.Not Availabl