In vitro micropropagation of Musa sapientum L. (Cavendish Dwarf)

A complete protocol for micropropagation of Musa sapientum using shoot meristems was developed. Multiple shoots were induced in vitro from shoot meristems. Murashige and Skoog’s medium supplemented with BAP and NAA (3.0 + 0.2 mg/l, respectively) was found to be most suitablecombination. Further multiplication of shoots required habituation of cultures up to 3 passages of 21 days each on the same medium after establishment of culture and initiation of shoot buds. Thereafter 3-fold multiplication rate was achieved during every subculture. For rooting the shoots were excised and transferred to same medium. Rooted plantlets were then transferred to primary and secondary hardening and grown in the green house. These hardened plants have been successfully established insoil

Behaviour of Cold-Formed Steel Semi Rigid Connections

Ductility and inelastic performance are important considerations in aseismic design of buildings. The dissipation of energy due to inelastic deformation is predominantly required in the connections like beam column joints. It is necessary to design these joints as semi rigid for its economic and structural benefits. Semi-rigid connections have highly nonlinear behaviour that makes the analysis and design of frames difficult and complicated. Steel structures are highly regarded for their seismic performance. It is required to understand and study the inelastic behavior of steel connections which would help in an economical and simpler design. This paper involves the modeling of deformational behaviour of a cold formed steel connection in a finite element software simulating the real time behavior. The ultimate moment and rotation is studied for different semi rigid connections after validation of the model

Patterns of healthcare utilisation in children and young people: a retrospective cohort study using routinely collected healthcare data in Northwest London

Objectives With a growing role for health services in managing population health, there is a need for early identification of populations with high need. Segmentation approaches partition the population based on demographics, long-term conditions (LTCs) or healthcare utilisation but have mostly been applied to adults. Our study uses segmentation methods to distinguish patterns of healthcare utilisation in children and young people (CYP) and to explore predictors of segment membership. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Routinely collected primary and secondary healthcare data in Northwest London from the Discover database. Participants 378,309 CYP aged 0-15 years registered to a general practice in Northwest London with one full year of follow-up. Primary and secondary outcome measures Assignment of each participant to a segment defined by seven healthcare variables representing primary and secondary care attendances, and description of utilisation patterns by segment. Predictors of segment membership described by age, sex, ethnicity, deprivation and LTCs. Results Participants were grouped into six segments based on healthcare utilisation. Three segments predominantly used primary care; two moderate utilisation segments differed in use of emergency or elective care, and a high utilisation segment, representing 16,632 (4.4%) children accounted for the highest mean presentations across all service types. The two smallest segments, representing 13.3% of the population, accounted for 62.5% of total costs. Younger age, residence in areas of higher deprivation, and presence of one or more LTCs were associated with membership of higher utilisation segments, but 75.0% of those in the highest utilisation segment had no LTC. Conclusions This article identifies six segments of healthcare utilisation in CYP and predictors of segment membership. Demographics and LTCs may not explain utilisation patterns as strongly as in adults which may limit the use of routine data in predicting utilisation and suggests children have less well-defined trajectories of service use than adults

Multi-objective optimization of CNC turning parameters using genetic algorithm and performance evaluation of nanocomposite coated carbide inserts

Inconel 600 is a super alloy known for its properties like low thermal conductivity and work hard-ening. The work hardening property of this alloy makes it harder and harder during successive passes of the tool during machining. Therefore, machining of this type of material demands inno-vation in tool material, selection of proper combination of parameters and their levels for economical machining. Coated carbide tool inserts are most widely used for machining Inconel alloys. These inserts are coated with special materials by PVD or CVD technique to reduce flank wear, improve surface finish of machined components and increase the material removal rate (MRR). In this work carbide insert coated with nanocomposite coatings like AlTiN and TiAlSiN commercially known as Hyperlox and HSN2 were used and their performance during machining of Inconel 600 was studied. As improper selection of process parameter influences on the quality of products and productivity, it is important to identify the optimum combination of input process parameters. Most of the time the influence of the input process parameters on the output parameters like MRR, surface roughness and flank wear is studied independently. Information obtained through single objective optimization may not be sufficient because industries desire to optimize all the output parameters, simultaneously. Multi-objective optimization is the only solution to satisfy the requirements of industries and genetic algorithm based multi-objective optimization is adopted in this work in order to get the optimum combination of input process parameters to obtain maximum material removal rate, minimum surface roughness and minimum flank wear simultaneously

Induction of systemic resistance in banana (Musa spp.) against Banana bunchy top virus (BBTV) by combining chitin with root-colonizing Pseudomonas fluorescens strain CHA0

Pseudomonas fluorescens strains CHA0 and Pf1 were investigated for their biocontrol efficacy against Banana bunchy top virus (BBTV) in banana (Musa spp.) alone and in combination with chitin under glasshouse and field conditions. Bioformulation of P. fluorescens strain CHA0 with chitin was effective in reducing the banana bunchy top disease (BBTD) incidence in banana under glasshouse and field conditions. In addition to disease control, the bioformulation increased the economic yield significantly compared to the untreated control. Increased accumulation of oxidative enzymes, peroxidase (PO), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins, chitinase, beta-1,3-glucanase and phenolics were observed in CHA0 bioformulation amended with chitin-treated plants challenged with BBTV under glasshouse conditions. Indirect ELISA indicated the reduction in viral antigen concentration in P. fluorescens strain CHA0 with chitin-treated banana plants corresponding to reduced disease ratings. The present study revealed that induction of defence enzymes by P. fluorescens with chitin amendment reduced the BBTD incidence and increased bunch yield in banana

Operation and modelling of an updraft long-stick wood gasifier

Even though biomass gasification technology has come up in the past with impressive applications, the exact details of the gasification process are yet to be completely understood quantitatively. On the basis of the experience of gasifier users with regard to the efforts and energy needed for wood chip preparation in a typical gasifier, we have embarked on the development of a gasifier suitable to work with long-stick woody biomass as the feed material to avoid major fuel preparation problems in rural settings. With this concept, a 25m 3 /hr capacity updraft gasifier was designed and constructed. Since the interest here is in exploring and validating this concept, an updraft gasifier was designed. This gasifier attains a high-energy release rate per unit area due to high inlet air velocity and activated reaction in the combustion zone. The temperature ranged from 922º C in the combustion zone to 128º C in the drying zone. In all the zones, the heat balance equations show a good fit between the theoretical and experimental values. The gasifier was operated in a batch mode, both bottom-lit (conventional) and top-lit, and the air flow and gas outflow were measured. The temperature of the raw gas was measured. The gas and air flows can be converted to the air/fuel ratio (A/F), the most important aspect of gasifier operation. A/F shows operation in a combustion mode at start-up, a gasification mode for the middle part of the run and a charcoal gasification mode at the end of the run. For modelling, the gasifier was divided into a drying zone, a pyrolysis zone, a combustion zone and a reduction zone

Determinants of Income Diversification among Dairy Farm Households in Tamil Nadu

Dairy farming is the subsidiary occupation for millions of farmers in India. Due to risks and uncertainties in rainfed areas, crop production alone was not much remunerative. Diversifying dairy with the crop and allied activities would generate better income, nutritional security, and regular employment to the farming community and ensure risk reduction. This study investigates the extent and determinants of income diversification among dairy farm households in Tamil Nadu using the Simpson Index of Diversity (SID) and the Tobit regression model. Primary data were collected from dairy farm households during the year 2021-22. The results show that two-thirds of the total household income was shared by on-farm income and the remaining one-third by off-farm and non-farm activities to the total household income. Simpson Index of Diversity (0.38) indicated that the households were diversified with milch animals, but the degree of the diversification was low since high degree of diversification requires more labour and high cost. Further, education, family size, landholding size, herd size, proximity to agricultural or allied industry, access to credit, and membership in farmer producer organizations were the important determinants of income diversification. This study indicates that farm households should adopt a concentric approach that requires targeted research, information dissemination, infrastructure development, and agricultural technical institution establishments to boost income diversification and livelihood

Determinants of Consumer’s Willingness to Pay towards Organic Products: A Structural Equation Modelling Approach

Background: India’s food industries are hotly debated as there are numerous scandals involved in tainted food products, which deliberately lowers the public’s confidence. These incidents made the organic food market growth in developing countries, especially in India. Objective: This study examines the underlying factors that influence consumer’s willingness to pay for organic products. Methods: Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu in India was purposively selected for the study using a structural equation model (SEM) with 250 respondents. The study was conducted in twelve organic shops distributed across the district. The model is bifurcated into the willingness to pay construct and attitude construct, which helps understand the factors influencing the consumer’s willingness to pay towards organic products. Findings: The results from the attribute construct showed that health concerns, environmental concerns and subjective norms were found to positively affect the consumer’s attitude towards purchasing the organic product. In the case of willingness to pay construct, the factors like attitude, knowledge, awareness and income of the consumers positively influence willingness to pay towards the organic product. In contrast, the factor perceived expensiveness was contrary in nature. Novelty: This empirical study provides a good understanding of purchase intention towards organic products, which will aid the producers, middlemen, and stakeholders develop the product and expand the market

Synthesis and characterization of cellulosic fiber from red banana peduncle as reinforcement for potential applications

Natural fiber-reinforced polymer composites (NRPCs) are replacing many synthetic fibers because of their cheap availability and their hygienic, ecological, biodegradable, and sustainable properties. This work involved extraction of new cellulosic fibers from red banana peduncle (RBP) plant and investigated its chemical composition, physical, structural, thermal, and tensile properties. RBP fibers (RBPFs) have high specific strength and good binding properties due to their light weight andpresence of high cellulose (72.9 wt%), low lignin (10.01 wt%), and wax (0.32 wt%). X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) determined that RBPFs are rich in cellulose content with a crystallinity index (CI) of 72.3%. The density and diameter of the fibers were found to be about 0.896 g/cm3 and 15–250 μm, respectively. The fiber was thermally stable up to 230°C. Based on the results of this work, it seems that the properties of the fiber are a suitable candidate as a natural reinforcing material for the development of the biocomposite for potential applications

Neuroendocrine Response to Exogenous Ghrelin Administration, Combined With Alcohol, in Heavy-Drinking Individuals: Findings From a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Human Laboratory Study

Background: Accumulating evidence has established a role for the orexigenic hormone ghrelin in alcohol-seeking behaviors. Accordingly, the ghrelin system may represent a potential pharmacotherapeutic target for alcohol use disorder. Ghrelin modulates several neuroendocrine pathways, such as appetitive, metabolic, and stress-related hormones, which are particularly relevant in the context of alcohol use. The goal of the present study was to provide a comprehensive assessment of neuroendocrine response to exogenous ghrelin administration, combined with alcohol, in heavy-drinking individuals. Methods: This was a randomized, crossover, double-blind, placebo-controlled human laboratory study, which included 2 experimental alcohol administration paradigms: i.v. alcohol self-administration and i.v. alcohol clamp. Each paradigm consisted of 2 counterbalanced sessions of i.v. ghrelin or placebo administration. Repeated blood samples were collected during each session, and peripheral concentrations of the following hormones were measured: leptin, glucagon-like peptide-1, pancreatic polypeptide, gastric inhibitory peptide, insulin, insulin-like growth factor-1, cortisol, prolactin, and aldosterone. Results: Despite some statistical differences, findings were consistent across the 2 alcohol administration paradigms: i.v. ghrelin, compared to placebo, increased blood concentrations of glucagon-like peptide-1, pancreatic polypeptide, cortisol, and prolactin, both acutely and during the whole session. Lower levels of leptin and higher levels of aldosterone were also found during the ghrelin vs placebo session. Conclusion: These findings, gathered from a clinically relevant sample of heavy-drinking individuals with alcohol use disorder, provide a deeper insight into the complex interplay between ghrelin and appetitive, metabolic, and stress-related neuroendocrine pathways in the context of alcohol use