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For designing of the breeding programme, analysis of genetic variability and character correlation is crucial in crop improvement. The aim of this experiment was to estimate genetic variability parameters and trait association for 13 quantitative traits which were measured in F2 segregating populations of six crosses containing nine parents. All the F2 populations showed significant GCV and PCV values for productive tillers per plant, grains per panicle, grain yield per plant and straw yield per plant, indicating that these traits may be improved through selection. Plant height, productive tillers per plant, grains per panicle, grain yield per plant and straw yield per plant showed high heritability coupled with high genetic advance, indicating that these traits were controlled by additive gene action and have a good chance of improvement through pure line selection. Grain yield per plant exhibited a strong positive correlation with plant height, panicle length, grains per panicle, straw yield per plant, productive tillers per plant and harvest index in all the six F2 segregating populations. The F2 population of the cross GR 17 × NVSR 2740 demonstrated that more GCV and PCV, high heritability with high genetic advance for the majority of the traits which can be improved by selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the effect of longitudinal roughness on the performance of hydromagnetic squeeze film in circular step bearing. To characterize the random roughness of the bearing surfaces the stochastic model of Christensen and Tonder has been employed. The stochastically averaged Reynolds’ type equation is solved using suitable boundary conditions to obtain the pressure distribution and then the load bearing capacity is computed. The results are presented in graphical form. The graphical results presented here establish that the hydromagnetic lubrication offers significant help to the longitudinal roughness pattern to enhance the performance of the bearing system. Of course, conductivities of the plates, standard deviation, and the supply pressure contribute towards reducing the negative effect induced by variance (+ve) and skewness (+ve). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Let G = (V (G),E(G)) be a graph and let f : V (G) → {0, 1} be a mapping from the set of vertices to {0,1} and for each edge uv ∈ E assign the label ∣f(u) − f(v)ğ. If the number of vertices labeled with 0 and the number of vertices labeled with 1 differ by at most 1 and the number of edges labled with 0 and the number of edges labeled with 1 differ by at most 1, then f is called a cordial labeling. We discuss cordial labeling of graphs obtained from duplication of certain graph elements in web and armed helm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A commercial vinyl ester resin supplied by Hetron Chemical Pty. was reinforced with varying percentages by weight of sawdust. The sawdust particles were sieved into 3 different sizes, which were <300 µm, 300--425 µm, and 425--1180 µm, respectively, with a view to increase its fracture toughness for civil and structural applications. The sawdust used varied from 0% w/t to 15% w/t in step of 5% w/t. For higher w/t% of sawdust, the mixture would be too sticky to be mixed and cast. The cast composites were cured in ambient conditions and then postcured in microwave irradiation. They were then tested for fracture toughness using short bar tests. The values of fracture toughness of the composites increased with increasing particulate size, and this is due to the size distribution of the filler. It was found that the optimum amount of sawdust (425--1180 µm) was 15% w/t, with which the increase in fracture toughness was 126% as compared to neat resin and the reduction in cost was 15%. Furthermore, the optimum amount of sawdust (300--425 µm) was also 15% w/t, with which the increase in fracture toughness was 28.3% as compared to neat resin and the reduction in cost was again 15%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The mechanical properties of sawdust reinforced vinyl ester resin composites post-cured in microwaves have been measured and evaluated in earlier studies. This basic but critical and important data have caused interests in the relevant industry in Australia. This study is therefore carried out to measure and evaluate the thermal properties of the composites with a view to benefit the civil and construction industry as the materials are used in the industry. The original contributions of this paper are that samples post-cured in microwaves, irrespective of the percentage by weight and particle size of sawdust, have higher glass transition temperatures than their counterparts post-cured in an oven; these imply that the stiffness of the samples post-cured in microwaves are higher than their peers. From previous study, it was discovered that the fracture toughness increased with increasing particulate loading. These properties are vital in civil engineering applications because civil structures need composites with high rigidity and fracture toughness. It is hoped that the discussions and results in this work would not only contribute towards the development of sawdust reinforced vinyl ester composites with better material properties, but also useful for the investigations of thermal and mechanical properties in other composites. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Leucas aspera commonly known as ‘Thumbai’ is distributed throughout India from the Himalayas down to Ceylon. The plant is used traditionally as an antipyretic and insecticide. Medicinally, it has been proven to possess various pharmacological activities like antifungal, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antinociceptive and cytotoxic activity. Further, studies reveal the presence of various phytochemical constituents mainly triterpenoids, oleanolic acid, ursolic acid and β-sitosterol, nicotine, sterols, glucoside, diterpenes, phenolic compounds (4-(24-hydroxy-1-oxo-5-n-propyltetracosanyl)-phenol). These studies reveal that L. aspera is a source of medicinally active compounds and have various pharmacological effects; hence, this drug encourage finding its new therapeutic uses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present research was undertaken to examine the combining ability of 10 parents and 21 hybrids that resulted from crossing of seven lines and three testers in line × tester mating design, for yield and quality governing traits in tomato. The study indicated that no single parent was the finest combiner of all the attributes. The estimated variance resulting from GCA was significant for fruit yield per plant and fruit girth, suggesting that the additive gene action was responsible for these characteristics. The SCA variance was observed significant for plant height, fruits per plant, TSS and ascorbic acid, manifesting that inheritance of these characters was governed by dominant and epistatic gene action. Combining ability studies indicated that fruit weight and seeds per fruit exhibited significant GCA and SCA variance, while their relative magnitude bear witness to non-additive gene effect. The estimates of gca effects demonstrated that, the line NTL-14-08 is good general combiner for fruit yield per plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fifty two genotypes of Indian bean were examined for the genetic variability parameters and trait correlation for 11 yield contributing traits in F5 progenies. Analysis revealed that these genotypes had a considerable level of diversity. The magnitude of GCV and PCV was high for seed yield per plant, which indicated the potential for selection based genetic enhancement. The GCV and PCV values were moderate for pod weight, pods width and pod length. High heritability along with high genetic advance as per cent mean was recorded for pod width, pod length, pod weight and seed yield per plant. The seed yield per plant had a significant positive correlation with pod weight, plant height, pod length, pod width and seeds per pod. The overall genotypic path analysis revealed that racemes per plant exhibited the highest positive direct effects on seed yield per plant followed by direct effects of pod length, pods per raceme, pod width and pod weight. Therefore, simple selection is advised for pod length, pod width and pod weight to boost the yield of the Indian bean. Based on mean values, the progenies W-19-26, W-19-22 and W-19-25 of GNIB-21 × GP-167 among all crosses had shown significantly higher seed yield over the check varieties GNIB-21 and GNIB-22 and hence identified as elite genotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experiment was carried out to determine the genetic variability parameters and character associations for eleven quantitative traits in Indian bean genotypes. It revealed a significant amount of variability present among these genotypes. Seed yield per plant had high Genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) and Phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) values, showing the potential for improvement by selection. Racemes per plant, pods per raceme, pods per plant, and pod weight had moderate GCV and PCV values. There was high heritability combined with a high genetic advance for pod weight and seed yield per plant. Plant height, pods per plant, and pod weight were significantly and positively associated with seed yield per plant. Pods per plant had the most positive direct effect on seed yield per plant, followed by racemes per plant, plant height, pod weight, pod length, and seeds per pod. Therefore, selection for such traits is advised to bring about improvement in Indian beans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: A study on surveillance of bovine brucellosis in dairy herds of peri-urban areas under intensive system of production was carried out by milk-ELISA. Various risk factors were identified having significant association with occurrence of bovine brucellosis in dairy herds of peri-urban areas. Materials and Methods: Five randomly selected peri-uban areas of six cities of Gujarat were included in the present study. Five randomly selected dairy herds under intensive system of production from each selected peri-urban area were included for further investigation. In total, 199 bulk and 582 individual milk samples were screened by milk-ELISA. Forty three different risk factors were identified and grouped into four major categories as general characteristics of farms, introduction of infection to farms, management systems of farms and exposure of disease. Further, their distribution and association with prevalence of bovine brucellosis was studied. Results: The overall herd and animal prevalence inperi-urban areas was 33.70 and 11.90%, respectively. Out of 11 risk factors on general characteristics of dairy farms, only five (herd size, type of animals, type of breed, age of owner and knowledge gained by owners) showed significant (p<0.05) association with occurrence of bovine brucellosis. None of risk factors on introduction of infection to farms (n=6) and management systems of farms (n=11) was found significantly associated with occurrence of brucellosis. Among risk factors on exposure of disease (n=15), history of abortion, retention of placenta, still birth and metritis/endometritis showed significant (p<0.05) association with prevalence of bovine brucellosis. Conclusion: It was concluded that prevalence of bovine brucellosis in dairy herds under intensive system of production in peri-urban areas of Gujarat was comparatively higher than reported overall prevalence of brucellosis. Risk factors like larger herd in close confinement without adequate sheds, type of animal, type of breed and knowledge/awareness of dairyman, unrestricted animal market, replacement without prior testing, reproductive disorders with absence of their testing are the important risk factors under the intensive production system of peri-urban areas of Gujarat, India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]