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This work describe the synthesis of a series of Europium ion (Eu2+) activated calcium chlorophosphate Ca2−XPO4Cl:xEu2+, x = 0.01, 0.015, 0.02, 0.05 and 0.10) phosphors annealed at various temperature. This phosphor is synthesized by wet chemical synthesis. This synthesis method is more efficient than conventional solid state synthesis. The formation of crystalline structure of Ca2PO4Cl of the synthesized phosphor is confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis. The photoluminescence characterization is carried out and optimal Eu2+ concentration is determined as 2 mol.%. The excitation spectra of Ca2PO4Cl:Eu2+ phosphor shows prominent excitation band around 380 nm. Upon excitation at 385 nm, the phosphor emits light in the range 400 nm to 520 nm peaking at 452 nm. The Commission Internationale de I'Eclairage (CIE) chromaticity coordinates of the phosphor are calculated to be Cx = 0.154 and Cy = 0.022. The PL emission of the prepared phosphor is more intense than commercial BaMgAl10O17:Eu2+ BAM phosphor. This phosphor may be a candidate for the application in solid state lighting as blue emitting component. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The morphological variation and genetic diversity in 15 root and shoot characters was studied in 27 castor accessions sown in an elevated temporary root study structure. Variation in characters accounted to 3.05 to 50.29%. Characters were subjected to Shannon Weaver diversity index (H') to know the genetic diversity. Eleven traits recorded high H' indicating suitability in breeding programmes. Their regression coefficients indicated positive change for six traits in dependent variable seed yield. Phenotypic correlation studies revealed that seed yield was significantly correlated to root dry weight, root diameter, plant height, node number, effective spike length and 100 seed weight. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that PC1, 2 and 3 accounted for 44.52, 15.93 and 10.54% variation. High loadings in the first three PCs were recorded for nine traits viz., root dry weight, shoot dry weight, root length, total root length, root diameter at crown region, SCMR, effective spike length, node number to primary spike. Hence, present studies gains importance in understanding the root related traits and their role in quantifying the genotypes in terms of divergence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

India is a country with varied agroclimatic conditions which enable the cultivation of different crops. India stands amongst the top producers of fruits, and mango is produced in abundance in India. Lack of suitable marketing avenues and channels decreases the margin for the growers. This study was undertaken to know the existing marketing channels and the problems associated with these marketing channels in the Mahabubnagar district of Andhra Pradesh. The study revealed four marketing channels used by farmers, of which the pre-harvest contractor was the most prevalent, because it involved low risk. The intermediaries in various channels faced many problems, of which, high transportation charges, high commission agent charges and syndicating of the wholesalers are the major ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An investigation was carried out to study the influence of plant spacing at four levels, viz. 45x15 cm², 45x20 cm², 60x15 cm² and 60x20 cm² and fertilizer doses at three levels, i.e. 90: 45: 45 NPK kg ha-1, 120: 60: 45 NPK kg ha-1 and 150: 75: 45 NPK kg ha-1 on sweet corn during kharif 2008. Significance of fertilizer dose was observed for number of seed rows cob-1 and number of seeds cob-1, while plant spacing was significant for shelling percentage. Interaction between plant spacing and fertilizer dose was found to be significant for various parameters, viz. cob girth and length, number of seeds cob-1, shelling percentage, 100 seed weight and seed yield plant-1. Combinations, viz. 45x20 cm² and 120: 60: 45 NPK kg ha-1, 60x15 cm² and 150: 75: 45 NPK kg ha-1, 60x20 cm² and 120: 60: 45 NPK kg ha-1, 60x20 cm² and 150: 75: 45 NPK kg ha-1, performed better for yield components like cob girth and length, number of seeds cob-1 and 100 seed weight thus, higher seed yield plant-1. Similar performance of 45x20 cm²/120: 60:45 NPK kg ha-1 with other superior combinations indicated the field value of lower plant spacing and moderate fertilizer dose in realizing higher seed yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Achromobacter sp. AO22 (formerly Alcaligenes sp. AO22), a bacterial strain isolated from a lead-contaminated industrial site in Australia, was previously found to be resistant to moderate to high levels of mercury, copper and other heavy metals. However, the nature and location of the genetic basis for mercuric ion resistance in this strain, had not been previously identified. Findings Achromobacter sp. AO22 contains a functional mer operon with all four essential genes (merRTPA) and shows >99% DNA sequence identity to that of Tn501. The mer operon was present on a transposon, designated TnAO22, captured by introducing a broad-host-range IncP plasmid into Achromobacter sp. AO22 and subsequently transferring it to E. coli recipients. The transposition frequency of TnAO22 was 10-2 to 10-3 per target plasmid transferred. Analysis of TnAO22 sequence revealed it belonged to the Tn21 subgroup of the Tn3 superfamily of transposons, with the transposition module having >99% identity with Tn5051 of a Pseudomonas putida strain isolated from a water sample in New York. Conclusion TnAO22 is thus a new variant of Tn5051 of the Tn3 superfamily and the transposon and its associated mercury resistance system are among the few such systems reported in a soil bacterium. Achromobacter sp. AO22 can thus be exploited for applications such as in situ mercury bioremediation of contaminated sites, or the mobile unit and mer operon could be mobilized to other bacteria for similar purposes.

High-throughput dynamic imaging of cells and organelles is essential for understanding complex cellular responses. We report Mantis, a high-throughput 4D microscope that integrates two complementary, gentle, live-cell imaging technologies: remote-refocus label-free microscopy and oblique light-sheet fluorescence microscopy. Additionally, we report shrimPy (Smart High-throughput Robust Imaging and Measurement in Python), an open-source software for high-throughput imaging, deconvolution, and single-cell phenotyping of 4D data. Using Mantis and shrimPy, we achieved high-content correlative imaging of molecular dynamics and the physical architecture of 20 cell lines every 15 min over 7.5 h. This platform also facilitated detailed measurements of the impacts of viral infection on the architecture of host cells and host proteins. The Mantis platform can enable high-throughput profiling of intracellular dynamics, long-term imaging and analysis of cellular responses to perturbations, and live-cell optical screens to dissect gene regulatory networks., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of National Academy of Sciences.)

Purpose: To explore the feasibility of imaging amino-acid transport and PSMA molecular pathways in the detection of metastatic breast invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) and if there is superior detection compared to standard-of-care imaging [computed tomography (CT)/bone scan, or 18 F-FDG positron-emission-tomography (PET)-CT]., Methods: 20 women with de-novo or suspected metastatic ILC underwent two PET-CT scans with 18 F-fluciclovine and 68 Ga-PSMA-11 on separate days. Uptake per patient and in 3 regions per patient - ipsilateral axillary lymph node (LN), extra-axillary LN (ipsilateral supraclavicular or internal mammary), or distant sites of disease - was compared to standard-of-care imaging (CT/bone scan in 13 patients and 18 F-FDG PET-CT in 7 patients). Results were correlated to a composite standard of truth. Confirmed detection rate (cDR) was compared using McNemar's test. Mean SUVmax of 18 F-fluciclovine and 68 Ga-PSMA-11 in the most avid lesion for each true positive metastatic region and intact primary lesion were compared by t-test., Results: The cDR for standard-of-care imaging was 5/20 patients in 5/60 regions. 68 Ga-PSMA-11 PET-CT detected metastasis in 7/20 patients in 7/60 regions. 18 F-fluciclovine PET-CT detected metastasis in 9/20 patients in 12/60 regions. The cDR for 18 F-fluciclovine PET-CT was significantly higher versus standard-of-care imaging on the patient and combined region levels, while there were no significant differences between 68 Ga-PSMA-11 and standard-of care imaging. 18 F-fluciclovine cDR was also significantly higher than 68 Ga-PSMA-11 on the combined region level. Mean SUVmax for true positive metastatic and primary lesions with 18 F-fluciclovine (n = 18) was significantly greater than for 68 Ga-PSMA-11 (n = 11) [5.5 ± 1.8 versus 3.5 ± 2.7 respectively, p = 0.021]., Conclusion: In this exploratory trial, 18 F-fluciclovine PET-CT has a significantly higher cDR for ILC metastases compared to standard-of-care imaging and to 68 Ga-PSMA-11. Mean SUVmax for true positive malignancy was significantly higher with 18 F-fluciclovine than for 68 Ga-PSMA-11. Exploratory data from this trial suggests that molecular imaging of amino acid metabolism in patients with ILC deserves further study., Clinical Trial Registration: Early phase (I-II) clinical trial (NCT04750473) funded by the National Institutes of Health (R21CA256280)., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)