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Monitoring vegetation phenology is essential for understanding the impacts of climate change on agricultural production. This study leverages Sentinel-2 data to develop an algorithm in Google Earth Engine (GEE) for calculating phenological metrics of rice crop cultivated over the hilly area, allowing for high-resolution, efficient, and large-scale analysis without the need for data download. The study focuses on key metrics, including the start of the season and end of the season, length of growing season derived from various vegetation indices. The results demonstrate that NDVI-based phenological metrics closely align with the observed values at the experimental site, Malan. Moreover, the relationship of NDVI based length of growing season with the rice crop yield was found stronger with a R² value of 0.68, depicting the capability of the satellitebased phenology metrics to estimate the rice crop yield in hilly region of Himachal Pradesh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bionutrients play a vital role in enhancing soil productivity and sustainable agricultural production. In vegetable crops, limited information is available on the relevance of bionutrients in solanaceous crops under protected conditions. Therefore, an experiment was planned to study the response of bionutrients under the modified naturally ventilated polyhouse in mid-hill conditions of Himachal Pradesh for two consecutive years. Various bell pepper varieties, viz., Mekong, Orobelle, Indra and DPCY1, were subjected to a set of bionutrient sources (beejamrit, ghanjeevamrit, jeevamrit and mulching). The results showed that there was a substantial increase in yield parameters in the treatment module, i.e., Mekong + beejamrit@ 200 ml/kg + ghanjeevamrit@5q/ha + jeevamrit @ 500 lt/ha at 21-day intervals + mulching @ 10 t/ha. This treatment exhibited a minimum number of days to 50% flowering (24.16), maximum number of marketable fruits per plant (28.40), fruit length (7.68 cm), fruit breadth (7.70 cm), pericarp thickness (9.15 mm), average fruit weight (109.53 g), plant height (84.06 cm) and marketable yield per plant (3.11 kg). However, Mekong + beejamrit @ 200 ml/kg + ghanjeevamrit @5q/ha + jeevamrit@ 500 lt/ha at 28-day intervals + mulching @ 10 t/hattreatment proved best for total soluble solids (4.58 °Brix), ascorbic acid (166.50 mg/100 g), capsaicin content (6.64%) and carotenoid content (2.43 mg/100 g). Horticultural and biochemical traits were appreciably enhanced after bionutrient application in bell pepper. Therefore, outcomes from the study point out that it is a feasible and economical approach for farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a current scenario, light weighted composites are the prime need of manufacturers in aerospace, automotive, marine and other applications due to their excellent properties compared to traditional materials. The current study includes the fabrication of Al Alloy 7068-based composites reinforced with Si3N4 nanoparticles by 0.5 to 2.0 wt. % by maintaining a difference of 0.5 wt. % through stir casting approach advanced with ultrasonic treatment. The effect of reinforcement on the tensile behaviour of casted samples was analyzed in terms of ultimate tensile strength, and ductility. The wear performance of casted samples was analysed in terms of volumetric weight loss and COF under the effect of applied pressure, sliding velocity and sliding distance. On the investigation of tensile strength, 1.5 wt. % nanocomposite is the optimum one beyond which agglomeration starts which affects the strength. Wear loss increased with applied stress, sliding velocity and sliding distance. COF also increased with sliding distance but decreased with applied stress. There is a significant increment in seizure pressure noticed with reinforcement addition. Adhesion is the dominant wear mechanism observed during sliding, whereas mixed (adhesion and abrasion) type of wear is noticed for 2 wt. % at higher applied pressure and distance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work comprises the development of Al6061/nano Al2O3 composites with 0 to 4 weight percent in steps of 0.5 wt. % of nano alumina particles by using ultrasonic assisted stir casting. Casted samples were subjected to heat treatment and hot forging. Further forged and heat-treated gear blanks of nano Al2O3 (0 to 3.0 weight %) reinforced nanocomposites were machined to make spur gears for the wear test. The results have shown that nano Al2O3 reinforcement in the Al6061 matrix with heat treatment and forging improves the hardness and compressive strength up to 3.5 wt. %, after that, it starts decreasing because of the agglomeration of nano alumina particles. SEM results reveal grain refinement of the pure alloy after reinforcement. Removal of porosity and voids observed after forging operation. Wear resistance increasing with incorporation of Al2O3 nanoparticles in base alloy, reinforcement wt. %, precipitation hardening and hot forging also improves wear resistance and mechanical properties. These composites have widespread applications in gear, brake discs, crankshaft, clutch plates, pistons, and other components of automobiles and aircraft structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the traditional deep drawing process, a blank holder is required to press the blank over the die to prevent wrinkling and to control the material flow into the die cavity. But, this important tool responsible for fracture on the sheet and the optimisation of blank holder pressure is very critical. This present study introduces a new technique for the deep drawing process of cylindrical cups through a conical die without a blank holder. In this new technique, cylindrical cups are produced by pushing a circular blank using a flat-headed cylindrical punch through a conical die with a cylindrical throat in a single punch stroke. A 3-D parametric FE model was built using the commercial FE package ANSYS/APDL-19. A die with a half cone angle of 18° has shown the best drawability for the new technique. A flat-headed punch was used for forming of AA8011 & AA1200 with 1 to 2 mm initial thicknesses and diameters varies from 45 to 65 mm in experimental analysis. 100-ton hydraulic press used for deep drawing setup. Finite element model results showed good agreement with experimental results. Experimentally, a cylindrical cup with a LDR of 2.5 has been successfully achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human life has come to a standstill when the countrywide lockdown was imposed to curb the infection of the highly contagious COVID-19 pandemic. Mass transportation and industrial activities were prohibited, which has proven advantageous for the environmental quality. This study was conducted to investigate the impact of lockdown on the environmental parameters measured over agricultural ecosystems in the Himalayan foothills [Saharanpur Flux Site (SFS) and Palampur Flux Site (PFS)], India. The UV–Aerosol Index obtained from the Sentinel-5 Precursor satellite falls drastically after imposing lockdown particularly in both the agricultural regions. It reached up to −3.082 and −3.522 during the first lockdown in SFS and PFS, respectively. Furthermore, due to the lesser availability of aerosols into the atmosphere, the availability of direct radiant energy increased, thus led to warming the earth's surface. Improvement in direct radiant energy and normalized difference vegetation index positively increases the gross primary productivity in SFS and PFS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gears are known to be useful in rotating motion transfer or power transmission from small product to larger, used everywhere. It was initially metallic foundation but now the polymeric material gear of a day is quite useful for purposes of small power transmission. High-strength polymer currently synthesises therefore very accurately in applications, so plastic gears replace metal gears particularly in low-powered applications. The replacement of metal gears by plastic gears continues in automobiles appliances and machinery due to its low noise, low wear, self-lubrication, economically, low weight, simple design and manufacturing merits. This paper deals with the effectiveness of using hybrid epoxy composites while designing spur gears. The epoxy's ability to absorb water is much less than nylon. Here hybrid composites are created by mixing different SiO2 weight percentage and two layers of glass fibre simultaneously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanism of host plant resistance in tomato varieties was evaluated and compared against tomato fruit borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) attack in the Solan district known to be 'Tomato bowl of Himachal Pradesh'. Eight varieties utilized for the experiment included three self pollinating indeterminate varieties developed by selection (Solan Lalima, Solan Vajar, Palam Pink) and four hybrids (Naveen 2000+, Heem Sohna, Red Gold, Rakshita Yash Tomato). In order to locate the sources for resistance in tomato foliage various macro and micro- nutrients were extracted from these varieties and chemical composition of tomato fruits viz., content of total phenols, titrable acidity, reducing sugars and total sugars were also estimated to compare for varying levels of resistance to Helicoverpa armigera. The content of phenol and sugars in tomato fruits was found to be negatively correlated with fruit infestation with values of correlation coefficient (r = - 0.895) and (r = - 0.650), respectively, indicating that susceptible varieties were low in phenols as well as in sugars. Nitrogen (r = 0.660), potassium (r = 0.679), magnesium (r = 0.698), iron (r = 0.547) and manganese (r = 0.546) content were found to be optimistically correlated with per cent fruit infestation while, phosphorous (r = - 0.857) and zinc (r = - 0.801) content did not favor the fruit borer attack. This observed resistance can be exploited for developing crop cultivars, which readily produce the inducible response upon mild infestation, and can act as important components of integrated pest management compatible with other approaches like biological control, cultural control as well as chemical control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The optical spectra of the lanthanides doped into single crystal LaF3 have been interpreted in terms of transitions within 4f N configurations. Energy matrices combining free-ion terms with a crystal field for an approximate model which assumes C2v instead of the actual C2 site symmetry were diagonalized. Excellent correlations were obtained between experimental transition energies and the computed level structures. We also report the results of previously unpublished experimental spectroscopic investigations of Nd3+ and Sm3+:LaF3, as well as predicted energy levels for Pm3+:LaF3. The spectroscopic data for each ion were independently interpreted using an effective-operator model, then the model parameters were intercompared. Systematic trends have been identified, and a comprehensive energy level diagram is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The absorption spectrum of Dy3+:LaCl3 at 4 K has been photographed and measured from 20 000 to 38 000 cm-1. Based on this and previous data, an empirical energy level scheme consisting of 151 observed crystal levels from 0 to 34 130 cm-1 has been determined for the 4f9 ground configuration of trivalent dysprosium in LaCl3 crystals. An extended Hamiltonian with 20 adjustable parameters is used to fit by least squares the observed levels with a mean error of 6.9 cm-1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fish are an important source of highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA) such as eicosapentaenoic acid EPA (20:5 n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid DHA (22:6 n-3) and play a significant role in human nutrition. The fatty acyl delta6-desaturase (Δ6 desaturase) is a rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthetic pathway of highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA) that converts polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) such as linoleic (18:2n-6) and α-linolenic (18:3n-3) acids into HUFA. In this study, fatty acyl Δ6 desaturase was identified from pangasius (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) and further analyzed for sequenced-based characterization and 3D structural conformation. Sequenced-based analysis revealed some important secondary information such as physicochemical property. e.g., isoelectric point, extinction coefficient, aliphatic index, and grand average hydropathy, among others, and also post-translational modification sites were identified. An evolutionary-conserved stretch of amino acid residue and a functionally significant conserved structural ancestor, N-terminal cytochrome b5 and membrane FADS-like superfamily, were identified. Protein association analysis showed a high confidence score with acyl-CoA synthetase, elovl5, elovl2, and phospholipase A2. Herein, we report, for the first time, a 3D native structure of Δ6 desaturase protein by homology modeling approach; molecular docking analysis was performed with linoleic (18:2n-6) and α-linolenic (18:3n-3) acids, which are the two key substrates in the HUFA biosynthetic pathway. This work provides insight into the structural and functional characterization of Δ6 desaturase, which is involved in HUFA biosynthesis as a rate-limiting enzyme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Hybrid composites are the emerging materials which uses two or more reinforced particles or fibres simultaneously. As potential applications of the composites, wood reinforced thermoplastic composites are commercially attractive for high volume applications, but their properties can be enhanced by adding Nano SiO2 particles. Wood powder and nano SiO2 were mixed with high density polyethylene as matrix material. Wood powder with fixed 5 wt. % and Nano SiO2 with varying weight % (3, 5, 7 wt. %) are reinforced in HDPE to manufacture composite materials by compression moulding process. Mechanical properties including tensile strength, flexural strength and Izod impact strength were evaluated and it was revealed that tensile strength and flexural strength were obtained maximum at 5 wt. % of Nano SiO2 and impact strength was obtained maximum at 3 wt. % of Nano SiO2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global positioning system (GPS) based surface (0-15cm) and subsurface (15-30 cm) soil samples were collected randomly from cultivated and pasture lands of cold arid Spiti valley in Himachal Pradesh. These samples were analyzed for physico-chemical properties, available NPKS and exchangeable Ca and Mg. In surface soils mean available N contents (182 kg ha-1) were in low category whereas, P (37 kg ha-1) and K (127 kg ha-1) were found in medium category under different land uses. Sand did not show significant relation with any of the physico-chemical properties studied in all the three land uses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experiment was conducted on a silty clay loam soil of Palampur during 2009-2011, to study the effect of different tillage methods in maize (Zea mays L.) wheat {Triticum aestivum (L.) emend. Fiori & Paol.} cropping system. Results revealed that in maize crop, tillage methods in kharif season resulted in significantly highest emergence count (27.1 plant/m²) under manual seed drill. While, multi-crop planter recorded in significantly taller plants (55.4 cm) at 30 DAS; higher dry matter accumulation 81.0, 990.0 and 4184.4 g/m² at 30, 60 and 90 DAS, respectively and CGR (30.3 g/day/m²) at 30-60 DAS. Tillage methods in rabi season resulted in higher emergence count (17.6 plant/m²) under zero tillage. This treatment also recorded advanced emergence by 1.2 to 1.5 days. In wheat crop, tillage methods in kharif season resulted in significantly highest emergence count (307.6 plant/m²), taller plants (13.1 cm) at 30 DAS, dry matter accumulation (625.3 g/m²) at 120 DAS and CGR (14.4 g/day/m²) at 90-120 DAS under conventional tillage. While, tillage methods in rabi season resulted in significantly highest emergence count (369.5 plants/m²), tallest plants (17.7, 92.6 and 101.0 cm at 60, 120 and at harvest, respectively) with multi-crop planter. While, zero tillage recorded significantly higher CGR (15.8 g/day/m²) and RGR (0.027 g/g/day) during 120-harvest stage. Zero tillage produced statistically at par crop yield and rainwater-use efficiency of both crops with other tillage treatments. Hence, zero tillage can be as good as other intensive tillage system besides lower input cost and environmental security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the process of rapid prototyping by the method of selective laser sintering, transient temperature has a direct effect upon the sintering performance. In the present work, a model is developed to predict the three-dimensional transient temperature field. It uses the finite element method to model the variation of thermal properties and solid-liquid two-phase interface in sintering the mixture of Al2O3-coated ceramic powder and polystyrene powder. A high-speed charge-coupled device image temperature measurement system is used to obtain real data from laser sintering experiments for comparison. The test results validate the simulation data and imply that the modelling method is useful in predicting the transient sintering temperature when correct thermal properties and key factors of two-phase interface are main concerns. The performance characteristics of the sintering process are predicted by the modelling method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the measurement of particles size with backscattering method, the suitable range of particles size measurement have been presented by independent algorithm in Visual-infrared incident spectrum. We defined the range according to the retrieved results based on the analysis and comparison to many kinds of R-R distribution function. The simulation computation results showed that the particles size measurement range is from 0.05 μm to 18 μm with incident spectrum from 0.4 μm to 2 μm and different refractive index. The results retrieved were satisfied even if 1 % noise was added into the backscattering intensity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extensively bored log-grounds with ichnospecies Teredolites longissimus and body fossils of the causative teredinid molluscs are recorded from the Early Eocene subsurface beds of the Cambay Shale Formation at Vastan lignite Mine in western India. Three sizes of T. longissimus observed in Vastan mostly represent animals in different stages of maturity or successive infestation of substrate. Orientation of a majority of small borings suggests that teredinid larvae preferred to initiate boring across the wood grain and subsequently turned to become parallel to grain exhibiting adult boring behavior. Variations in morphology of recovered shells indicate involvement of at least two teredinid taxa in constructing T. longissimus from Vastan-one is identified as Bankia isp. based on pallets and the other remains unidentified and may possibly represent another bankiine, Nototeredo. Evidences of traumatic as well as attritional mortality are noticeable. The xylic substrates having affinity with woods of a modern tree genus Aglaia (Meliaceae) were apparently transported from their natural habitat of an inland moist tropical forest to the coastal region where they were colonized by the teredinid bivalves. The profusely infested wood logs were buried in a near shore lagoon or a tidal flat setting, which is corroborated by the known biota (vertebrate, invertebrate as well as plants) as well as sedimentary facies of the Cambay Shale Formation in Vastan section. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Frequency synthesisers are essential parts of various communication systems. The development of application versatile CMOS fractional-N synthesisers has been demanding. In the paper, a novel scheme for programmable fractional-N phase-locked loop based synthesisers is proposed. Two control words are used for achieving the programmability features. The relationships of step size and output frequency with reference frequency, input data and modulus division factors are described. A 2.4 GHz CMOS 12-bit ΣΔ fractional-N synthesiser has been implemented using 0.35 μm CMOS Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing (CSM) process. Using the two input data words, its programmable features have been demonstrated. It has a phase noise of -110 dBc/Hz at 1 MHz offset and a settling time of less than 37 μs. It consumed 11 mA current while operated from a 3 V supply. Synthesiser operation and measurement results are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new fossil osteoglossid fish, Taverneichthys bikanericus gen. et sp. nov. and an unnamed but probable new species of ? Lepisosteus (Lepisosteidae) are described from the subsurface beds of the Palana (lignite) Formation near Bikaner, western Rajasthan, India. T. bikanericus is founded on a skull, which is the first osteoglossid skull from the Indian subcontinent, whereas ? Lepisosteus sp. is represented by a part of its trunk covered with ganoid scales. The taxonomic assignment of the latter specimen to gars is based on the micro- and ultrastructure of its scales. Taverneichthys is included in the Osteoglossinae because it shares at least three of the seven diagnostic characters of the subfamily: (1) jaw articulation behind the vertical midline of orbit, (2) palatine and ectopterygoid fused to form palato-ectopterygoid, and (3) horizontal arm of preopercle short, ending anteriorly behind orbit (inferred). It is characterized by a considerably larger dermethmoid bone and the two nasals that are in contact with each other behind it separating this bone from the frontals. In this respect it is more evolved than Cretophareodus and Phareodus, and closer to Brychaetus, Musperia, Opsithrissops and modern osteoglossids. The fossils documented herein are the first vertebrate remains from the Palana Formation. They were recovered from a highly indurated greyish-black calcareous shale approximately 90 m below ground level from a dug-well section. The occurrence of fossil remains of osteoglossid and lepisosteid fish in the Palana Formation, both of which are among the major predators of a terrestrial aquatic community, and their association with the crocodilian remains, are indicative of the mature and diverse nature of the Palana vertebrate community. It postulates the recovery of a varied assemblage of vertebrates, especially fish and crocodilians and possibly also mammals. The association of osteoglossid and lepisosteid fish characterizes a dominantly freshwater deposit and is consistent with a Paleocene age for the Palana Formation. The known distribution of fossil and living osteoglossid and lepisosteid fish suggests a marked shift in their climatic adaptability in time and space. Their close association in the fossil record, especially in the Indian subcontinent, is well documented, but today they thrive in different climatic zones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrophoresis of seed proteins from Phaseolus and Vigna species was carried out on polyacrylamide gels with cationic and anionic systems. The species were grouped into seven clusters. On the basis of matrices of similarity index, keeping sixty as the minimum intra-cluster similarity coefficient, a three-dimensional model was constructed to represent the relationships amongst the clusters. Five Asiatic species including Phaseolus aureus, P. mungo, P. sublobatus, P. angularis and P. calcaratus formed a cluster which was separate from a cluster of American species. The Vigna species forming a third cluster showed greater affinity with the Asiatic Phaseolus species than with the American ones. P. aconitifolius, a form cultivated in India, and two American species, P. lunatus and P. lathyroides, were distinct between themselves and also from other species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]