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India Meteorological Department (IMD), Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) in collaboration with Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR), State Agriculture Universities (SAUs) , Indian Institute of Technology (IITs) and other organizations is rendering weather forecast based District level Agrometeorological Advisory Service (AAS) for benefits of farmers in the country under the centrally sponsored scheme ‘Atmosphere & Climate Research-Modelling Observing Systems & Services (ACROSS) ’ of MOES. AAS, popularly known as Gramin Krishi Mausam Sewa (GKMS) provides advance weather information along, with crop specific agromet advisories to the farming community by using state of the art instruments and technology through efficient delivering mechanism of the information which ultimately enables farmers to take appropriate actions at farm level. The various components of GKMS viz. observing weather, its monitoring and forecast; crop specific advisory bulletin generation and dissemination; outreach and feedback have been/are being digitized to support integrating all the components of information generation and action suggested linked to these information. An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) based Agromet Decision Support System is developed for automation of the services provided under GKMS. This includes a dynamic framework to link the information of weather forecast, real time weather observation, crop-weather calendar etc. to translate weather forecast into actionable farm advisories for efficient farm level decision making in India. Apart from this, effort is being made to develop recent technology driven tools to estimate future yield of crops and prepare an irrigation schedule without a need of multiple parameters.

Floods are catastrophic natural disasters that cause a substantial toll on human lives, infrastructure, and the economy. Structural and non-structural measures are developed for planning flood mitigation strategies. Flood inundation mapping is valuable information for decision-makers and authorities to develop flood mitigation strategies and resource allocation. This study uses the HEC-RAS 2D model for flood inundation mapping in the Krishna River Basin. Digital elevation models (DEMs) of 12.5 and 30 m resolutions were used to model the inundation map. The study also investigated the effect of change in upstream boundary data on the inundated area. The simulated results with 12.5 m resolution DEM are found in good agreement with the validation data and conform to the inundated areas with the available reports. This study proves the 2D capabilities of HEC-RAS and helps the experts with better management practices.

A microfluidic platform to synthesize monodispersed and spherical hydrogel beads (microspheres) of poly(acrylamide-co-acrylic acid) (p(AM-co-AA)) is reported. An aqueous phase consisting of monomer, cross-linker, functional moiety and initiator, all dissolved in water, is dispersed as uniform drops of desired size into a carrier phase (dodecane) at an opposed T-junction. The chemical and physical properties of the microspheres are systematically studied. Effects of operating parameters like velocity and O/A (oil to aqueous phase flow ratio) ratio on the average size, polydispersity and shape of microspheres are investigated. Microspheres within a size range of 960 to 502 microns can be synthesized. A comparison of two different mixing techniques namely in-situ and ex-situ mixing is also presented. A two dimensional computational fluid dynamic (2 D CFD) model is also developed to quantify and validate drop formation phenomena at the T junction at extreme O/A ratios. Detailed numerical insights on the velocity and pressure field at the junction have been provided.

Accuracy in rainfall forecast plays an important role in farming operations. Here, a study has been done to verify the forecast and actual rainfall data of 11 blocks of Banka district at KVK, Banka. To verify the accuracy of rainfall forecast for the financial year 2020-21 several statistical tools has been used i.e., Forecast Accuracy (ACC) or Ratio Score or Hit Score, Hanssen and Kuipers Scores or True Skill Score (HK score), Probability of detection (POD), Heidke Skill Score (HSS), False alarm ratio, Critical Success index (CSI), Missing Rate (MR) and BIAS score. Forecast Accuracy (ACC) ranged from 0.81 to 0.87 and the highest accuracy of rainfall prediction was observed in Katoriya block and lowest accuracy observed in Amarpur, Dhoraiya and Rajoun block. Similarly, Critical Success Index (CSI) was recorded with the values range of 0.4 to 0.6 for respective blocks of Banka district. Heidke Skill Score (HSS) was accounted as 0.50 for Amarpur, Banka, Barahat, Bounsi, Belhar, Dhoraiya, Rajoun and Shambhuganj and for rest of the blocks it was 0.6. The higher accuracy (87.1 per cent) was recorded in Katoriya block followed by Fullidumar (86.3 per cent) and Chandan (85.4 per cent). The highest no. of rainy days was observed in Katoriya block (75 no.) followed by Chandan (74 no.). POD value ranges between 0.8-0.9, FAR value between 0.3-0.5, MR and BIAS value ranges between 0.8-0.9 and 1.3 -2.0 respectively.

Plant natural products or secondary metabolites have gained significant attention globally because of discoveries of semi-synthetic drugs novel bioactive compounds. Currently, a large part of global population relies on natural products to cure ailments and even chronic diseases and to enhance their immune system. Interestingly, the commonly used drugs for the treatment of some common human diseases like cancer, ulcer, tuberculosis, asthma, etc., have been reported to be of plant origin and recognized to elicit beneficial effects in virulent factors of diseases in vivo and in vitro. The herbal drugs are economical and considered as safe upto certain extent from major side effects. But, still there is need of rapid collection, characterization, taxonomy, certification, and storage for broad, efficient and effective use in drug design or discovery. In this review, we summarized the plants derived secondary metabolites used in treating common human diseases and emphasised the protein-ligand interactions between virulent factors of diseases namely Insulin, p53, Proteasome-associated ATPase, Enterotoxin, Choleragen, IgE with secondary metabolites Aloin, Sesamin, Alliin, Flavanon, Salannin Octyl-β-d-Glucopyranoside of plants respectively, through molecular docking. This study will play a valuable and effective role in drug designing and screening plant-derived metabolites for drug designing.

Present article highlights Libraries and their importance in our education system. The New Education Policy 2020 advocates school, college and higher education equally. This article mainly focuses on the key highlights of NEP 2020 including Library features. National Educational Policy 2020 (NEP) intended to focus on Library as essential service in the context of the Schools / Colleges / University systems in India. The services provided by the Libraries presents a set of advantages to play most significant role in study, research, education and skill development.

In this present study, Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) embedded with ArcGIS interface has been used to simulate the surface runoff from the un-gauged sub-catchments in the upper catchment of Subarnarekha basin. Model calibration and validation were performed with the help of Sequential Uncertainty Fitting (SUFI-2) in-built in the SWAT-CUP package (SWAT Calibration Uncertainty Programs). The model was calibrated for a period from 1996 to 2008 with 3 years warm up period (1996-1998) and validated for a period of 5 years from 2009 to 2013. The model evaluation was performed by Nash - Sutcliffe coefficient (NSE), Coefficient of determination (R2) and Percentage Bias (PBIAS). The degree of uncertainty was evaluated by P and R factors. Basing upon the R2, NSE and PBIAS values respectively, of the order of 0.90, 0.90 and -12%, during calibration and 0.85, 0.83 and -15% during validation, substantiate performance of the model. All uncertainties of model parameters have been well taken by the P and R factors respectively, of the order of 0.95 and 0.77 during calibration and 0.82 and 0.87 during validation. The runoff generation from 19 sub-catchments of Adityapur catchment varies from 29.2-44.1% of the annual rainfall and average surface runoff simulated for the entire catchment is 545 mm. As the surface runoff generated in most of the sub-catchments amounts to above 30% of rainfall, it is recommended for adequate number of structural interventions at appropriate locations in the catchment to store the rainfall excess for providing irrigation, recharging groundwater and restricting the sediment and nutrient loss.

What exactly does an embryologist do? is one of the most common question asked by patients and the possible answer could be that embryologist is the child’s first watchperson. The ability to grow embryos in laboratory environment was a huge scientific achievement. Scientists and Embryologists are involved in reproductive research and fertility treatment. The embryologist has a huge role to play in IVF/ICSI process and the contribution of embryologist is no less than infertility consultant. They might not be doctors, but they are highly trained medical professionals, holding a master’s degree or Ph.D. due to specialized nature of work. They are responsible for management and maintenance of laboratory used in creating embryos as well as monitoring those embryos. The important activities that embryologist does are maintaining the embryology lab (temperature, humidity, CO2 cylinder, diffusion gas and pH), oocyte screening during ovum pickup (OPU), incubation and checking of fertilization, embryo transfer, vitrification and embryo biopsy for pre-implantation genetic screening (PGS) or pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD).

Ni improves toughness in martensitic steels. However, the effect of Si on grain refining and toughness of martensitic steel for high-strength applications including armor grades has not been much studied, which can be also a cheaper alternative replacing Ni and without any micro-alloying addition. With this motivation, an initial laboratory study of a quenched and tempered high-Si steel (0.31C-1.25Si-1.19Mn-0.1Mo-0.29Ni) and low-Si steel (0.32C-0.49Si-0.61Mn-0.46Cr-0.1Mo-0.29Ni) showed that their full thickness Charpy impact energy at − 40 °C was 32 ± 3 and 15 ± 2 J, respectively, while their microstructures had maximum lath length 15 and 30 μm, respectively. Based on this, an industrial steel (0.30C-1.27Mn-1.23 Si-0.22 Mo-0.43Ni) was made through electric arc furnace—vacuum arc degassing—continuous casting route with low H2, O2 and N2 contents and hot rolled to 5.2-mm-thick coil, which finally processed to quenched and tempered plate. The air-cooled hot-rolled intermediate plate of 25 mm thickness revealed bainitic microstructure, while the slowly cooled hot-rolled coil sample showed banded microstructure consisting of proeutoctoid ferrite and pearlite. On the other hand, the ferrite bainitic microstructure was revealed when the steel was cooled at 1 °C/s through dilatometry using Gleeble 3500C. The bainitic microstructure at low cooling rate indicated high hardenability of this grade. The Ac3 transformation temperature determined by dilatometry was 850 °C. Based on this, oil quenching was carried out after heating at 895 °C for 7, 12 and 17 min, while low-temperature tempering was done at 250 °C for 60 min. The micrographs in these three heating conditions revealed fully martensitic microstructure consisting of fine laths. The hardness of plates varied in the range of 495-506 HBW after tempering at 250 °C for 1 h, while yield strength, tensile strength, percentage elongation and percentage of reduction in area varied in the range of 1500-1540, 1780-1820 MPa, 7.37-8.61 and 24.64-27.40, respectively. The Charpy impact energy of sub-size ½ thickness specimen varied closely in the range 11.5-13.8 J at − 40 °C and their corresponding fracture surfaces showed dimpled ductile rupture morphology that typically belonged to the upper shelf region of Charpy transition curve. The measured hardness, strength, elongation and Charpy energy are in accordance with the requirement of final product. Bright-field TEM image of the tempered steel showed the presence of fine laths and uniformly distributed needle-shaped fine carbides resembling e-Fe2.4C.

Objective : To compare the rate of sperm survival and motility through semen freezing and thawing during infertility treatment. Methodology: In this bidirectional observational study, we enrolled 31 patients who underwent semen analysis for infertility treatment at the Institute of Reproduction and Child Cares & IRCC IVF Centre, Panchkula, Haryana, from June 2020 to December 2020. Out of these patients, 21 (67.74 %) were considered for semen freezing and thawing. For the rest of the ten patients (32.25 %), sperm count and motility were not good, and we excluded them from this study. Semen freezing based upon sperm count and motility were done. We did semen thawing after two weeks of semen freezing and recorded the sperm survival and motility. Results: Post thaw sperm survival rate and motility was 37.66% compare to pre-cryopreservation (61.82%). The observed rate of sperm motility declining was 24.16 % after cryopreservation/freezing. Conclusion: The present study results concluded that sperm's cryopreservation results in a decrease in sperm motility. There is a need of finding more accurate and reliable methods to freeze and thaw semen.

Pyranocarbazole alkaloids isolated from natural sources various plant parts of the flower-bearing geneses plants Murraya, Clausena, Glycosmis, species belongs to family Rutaceae. These pyranocarbazole alkaloids showed potential anticancer activities on various cancer cell lines. In this review, we discussed the anticancer potential of pyranocarbazole alkaloids like Mahanine, Koenimbine, Koenidine, Murrayozoline, Girinimbine, Mahanimbine mainly on the basis of reported review literature. In particular, we discuss in vitro anticancer activities of these pyranocarbazole alkaloids and its derivatives on various cancer cell lines, plausible target, also in vivo activity if reported in literature discussed. These pyranocarbazole structure-based alkaloids showed very interesting anticancer profile. This review can be fruitful for further investigation of these pyranocarbazole alkaloids as anticancer drug development against various types of cancer with minimum side effects.

Test tube baby is always a fascinating field of human reproductive biological science playing an important role in treating infertility. Poor semen quality is the major cause of infertility in human beings. Preparation of semen samples for intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in-vitro fertilization (IVF) is a key point in the success of test-tube embryo production. The study compared two different methods of semen preparation viz. double density gradient (DDG) and single density gradient (SDG) in patients seeking IUI / IVF treatment with their consent and permission of the hospital. Semen ejaculate from patients (n=100) was divided equally into two equal volume parts. One half of each sample was treated with DDG and another half with the SDG method of semen preparation. Results showed that sperm concentration was significantly higher (P>0.05) in SDG compared to DDG treated samples which were 58.65±181 and 49.89±180 Million/ml, respectively. Sperm motility of type-a and type-b both were significantly higher (P>0.05) in SDG compared to DDG treated samples which were 91.85± 3.15 and 68.85 ± 26.15. It is concluded that the single density gradient method is better than the double density gradient for semen ejaculates preparation during the treatment of male infertility using the in-vitro fertilization technique.

The water requirement of the crop is an important phenomenon to estimate the crop yield and understanding the crop water necessity at different crop phenological stages as soil and plant water deficits cause yield reduction. The most crucial crop stages that dictate crop yield are at the vegetative and reproductive stages, reducing the crop yield by more than 35% and 50%, respectively. Our study is to determine the crop water stress using the Crop Environmental Resource Synthesis (CERES)-Sorghum model, which is a component of the Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT)—crop simulation model (CSM). Crop water stress is simulated spatially for Rainfed Kharif Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) in 10 districts of Maharashtra state, India, from 2000 to 2018 using DSSAT-CSM. Besides other factors as well that impact crop yield, rainfall also has an impact on crop growth, development, and managing water efficiency for the crops. Simulated crop water stress above a specific threshold value of ≥ 0.5 (50%) impacts crop growth and development process. Considering the drought year 2015 with sowing dates June (15, 22, 29) and July (6, 15); it shows that late sowing of kharif sorghum for 2015 minimal crop water stress can be seen. CERES-Sorghum model can efficiently determine the crop water stress at different crop phenological stages with different dates of sowing.

From the past few years, distribution systems paradigm is shifting more toward adaptive clustering for energy management, where the clusters are dynamically formed with respect to available generation and load demand balancing. The need of adaptive agents to study this adaptive decentralized clustering is of a much need. This paper makes an attempt to describe the behavior of level-one house agent which is integrated with in-house renewable generation. Its behavioral results for the same are published under two different scenarios: firstly, when catering to its own load without considering other agent’s load curve, and secondly, when considering the other agent’s load demand, thus satisfying the inherent properties of Multi-Agent Systems.

Water management is a strategic factor in old coal mine working areas due to disturbance in the aquifer caused by subsidence resulting in drying of wells and streams. Cavity formation due to underground mining leads to roof fall, heaving of clay floors and collapse of coal pillars in soft clay floors. Logging of water in old mine workings is a common phenomenon especially during rainy season. Mine water is extensively used in various mining activities, and hence, a study has been conducted in part of Jamadoba 6 and 7 Pits, Jharia coalfield, India, to assess the hydrological condition during and post-monsoon. Initially, a conceptual model has been prepared to identify the possible sources of water including its path entering into old mine workings. Electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) i.e. Wenner-Schlumberger configuration with quality factor 5 has been adopted as it is effectual and reliable in detecting subsurface cavities at shallow depth and the possible path of transmission of subsurface water into the mine void with season variation. The study helped in identification of abandoned incline, porous and permeable strata conditions. The correlation of the resistivity variations is observed to be in close approximation with working plans and available borehole lithology. This technique proved to be suitable for adopting such studies.

In many experiments, especially in agriculture and horticulture to some extent, the response from a plot in a block is affected by treatments on forward (backward) neighbour plots in the same block. Under such circumstances, one-sided circular neighbour-balanced design (one-sided CNBD) has wide applications. However, in concern with the universal optimality, there are very limited number of known series of one-sided CNBD’s. The purpose of this article is to present a new series of universally optimal one-sided CNBD with block size 5 where if a treatment appears repeatedly in a block, all of them are in a series of adjacent plots in the block.

A grading system of human embryo is very important for embryo selection & predicting blastocyst formation from day - 1, day 2, & day – 3, were sequentially explained. We were designed a methods for grading of embryos from day – 1 (zygote as a pronuclear evaluation, PN), day – 2 (cleavage stage) and day - 3 (evaluation of developmental stage according to cell size and fragmentation) embryo according to cell size and degree of fragmentation and early compaction. In the first grading system pronuclear study and poly-spermy, Second grading system is based on the blastomere / cell number and the observation of fragmentation pattern and selection for embryo transfer, embryos vitrification and pregnancy outcome. Assessment of embryo quality in order to select the embryos that have higher chance to give pregnancy, it is critical goal in IVF cycle or assisted reproductive technologies. ET current trend in human infertility treatment with IVF / ICSI embryo transfer (IVF / ICSI ET) is to increase the chance of higher pregnancy and reduce the multiple pregnancies after multiple embryo transfer according to patient age and endometrium thickness as well as own ART Laboratory protocol. Morphological evaluation & grading of human embryo as a reliable and no-invasive method that provides valuable information & prediction of IVF/ICSI embryos which has developmental potential to reach till early compaction or blastocyst. This research paper describes the current status of morphological embryo evaluation from zygote to eight cell blastomeres or early compaction on late day 3. We found higher embryo development potential and early compaction during in-vitro embryo culture conditions and higher implantation rate in Grade A embryos in comparison transferred of Grade B embryos. Overall embryo development in-vitro and conceiving rate was seen 48.06 % after embryo transfer of both grades A and Grade B embryos in 233 patients in different age group with different endometrium thickness and multiple embryos transfer in one uterus depend on patient previous history. 935Embryos was selected from 2702 developing embryos for embryo transfer (ET) was performed in 233 patients. After this study we found implantation rate (IR) was 48.06% based on embryo quality, morphology and grade.

The solidification of spheroidal graphite cast iron (SGI) plays an important role in production of sound quality castings. However, owing to the complex solidification behaviour of SGI, prepouring melt quality evaluation technique such as thermal analysis is used to predict quality of liquid metal by analysing the cooling curve pattern. In this study, an attempt has been made to investigate the role of speed of recalescence (SOR) in nucleation of graphite during solidification of SGI. Cooling curve analysis of liquid samples was carried out at different inoculation degrees. Recalescence and SOR data were obtained from thermal analysis, whereas nodule counts were obtained from microstructural examination of respective sample. It was observed that recalescence and nodule counts (nucleation sites) have a statistically significant inverse linear relationship; with the increase in recalescence, the nodule count was found to get reduced. However, the multiple values of nodule count at same recalescence degree were to be understood, which was clearly justified by SOR studies. After analysing the SOR vs nodule count relation, almost each SOR value corresponds to different nodule counts and the relation was statistically more significant. This infers that for an in-depth nodule count estimation, SOR analysis will be more helpful as compared to ∆Tr; hence, it is envisaged that speed of recalescence is true indicator of graphite nucleation as compared to recalescence in SGI.