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The Indian bean is a well-known legume and green vegetable crop in India. An attempt was made to analyze the diversity pattern in selected recombinant inbred lines (RILs) of determinate type of Indian bean using principal component analysis (PCA) and D2 statistics. Data from eleven yield component traits were used to carry-out the analysis. Clustering of lines was performed using modified (sequential) tocher method, and results were also compared with original tocher method. PCA analysis showed that first three principal components collectively accounted for 68.92% of total variation among the genotypes and had eigenvalues >1. The lines were grouped into five clusters using modified tocher method for cluster analysis, which has been shown to be superior to tocher method. Cluster-I and cluster-IV showed the highest inter-cluster distance (124.92) and crossing between genotypes from these two clusters was suggested to get desirable segregants. The study also suggested that PCA and D2 analysis can be used alternatively to assess the genetic diversity pattern among 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]

We report a novel environmental-benign synthesis of promising bioactive chromene derivatives via one-pot threecomponent reaction of dimedone substituted aromatic aldehydes and malononitriles using ethanol as green solvent at room temperature (25-30˚C). The other attractive green aspects of the methodology include column chromatography/ recrystallization free product isolation, formation of water as green waste, high atom economy, less energy consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacillus thuringiensis, commonly known as Bt, a most promising alternative to synthetic insecticides, has been used as an effective bio-pesticide in agriculture since long time. Two insecticidal protein, Cyt (Cytolysins) and Cry (Crystal a-endotoxin) are the toxic substances responsible for the death of an insect. The durability of this novel insect control technology is questioned as many cases of insect population developing resistance to Bt cry proteins were observed and various mechanisms for resistance to Bt cry proteins were reported. Management of resistance in insect to Bt includes refugia, gene pyramiding and novel toxins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some experimental findings on the dynamics of vapor bubbles in ultrasonic fields are reviewed. In particular, attention is drawn to a phenomenon which might be described as ultrasonically stimulated boiling. There is also a summary of certain pertinent facts about the threshold of cavitation in liquids with low foreign gas content, such as liquid nitrogen or liquid helium. It is emphasized that threshold pressure amplitudes can be less than the static pressure. It is proposed that an explanation of these observations could lie in a net positive heat transfer into a pulsating bubble. The minimum amplitude required to cause such a ''rectified'' heat transfer is calculated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A field trial on testing of biocontrol based integrated pest management (IPM) module on cotton crop was conducted during three Kharif seasons 1999-2001. Results revealed that both the IPM modules (T1 and T2) proved more effective and economical against cotton pests than the insecticides modules in North Gujarat. These modules have also promoted the activity of natural enemies in cotton ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water extract of respirable particulate matter (RPM) was analyzed by Ion chromatography technique to investigate the presence of nitrite (NO2) as secondary aerosol in ambient environment. The nitrite particulates undergo photo hydroxyl radical reaction in environment produce nitrous acid, which reacts with metal and absorbs on RPM as water-soluble metal salt. The mean concentration of nitrite was 20.86 microg m(-3) in ambient environment. Regression analysis showed that the relationship for respirable particulate matter and nitrite (RPM-NO2, R2 = 0.742) was positively significant. We are reporting the presence of nitrite as an aerosol in ambient environment.

Exposure to benzene and toluene from the combustion of solid biomass fuels is one of the important causes of morbidity and mortality in developing countries. In this study, we assessed the exposure of cooks to benzene and toluene from biomass fuel combustion in 55 rural homes. The GC-MS was used for quantification while a personnel sampler was used for environmental monitoring. The benzene exposure differed significantly (p < 0.0001) across different types of indoor kitchen fuel combinations. The geometrical mean (GM) of benzene exposure for cooks during cooking hours in an indoor kitchen using mixed fuel was 75.3 microg/m3 (with partition) and 63.206 microg/m3 (without partition), while the exposure was 11.7 microg/m3 for open type. The benzene exposure was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in an indoor kitchen with respect to open type using mixed fuels. Concentration of benzene (114.1 microg/m3) for cooks in an indoor kitchen with partition using dung fuel was significantly higher in comparison to non-cooks (5.1 microg/m3) for open type. Benzene exposure was not significantly different for kitchen with ventilation (31.2 microg/m3) and without ventilation (45.0 microg/m3) using wood fuel. However, this value was significantly (p < 0.05) lower than in indoor kitchens with or without partition. An almost similar trend was observed for toluene but the difference was statistically non-significant. This study may be helpful in developing a regional exposure database and in the facilitation of health risk assessment due to volatile organic pollutants in our day-to-day environment.

The correlation study of secondary aerosol (nitrate and sulfate) with RPM in ambient air at different traffic junctions of Vadodara city is reported. RPM was analyzed using Ion Chromatography technique and measured the level of nitrate and sulfate in ambient air. The correlation studies of these particulates with RPM have been established. The average concentration of sulfate and nitrate in ambient air was found 35.74 microg/m3 and 24.22 microg/m3, which ranged of 5.33-84.69 and 1.93-77.86 microg/m3 respectively. The correlation of RPM and SO4 (r = 0.813, P<0.01), RPM-NO3 (r = 0.5549, P<0.01) and SO4-NO3 (r = 0.6133, P<0.01) were found significant. The presence of sulfate and nitrate in RPM is 8.25% and 5.60% . The pH of water extract of RPM averaged 6.81, which ranged 6.17-7.28. Regression analysis result showed that the relationship between RPM-SO4 was significantly (R2=0.66215) correlated. This indicate that probably the secondary aerosols such as nitrate and sulfate in excess may cause irritation and increasing lung disease.

A gas chromatography-mass spectroscopic method in electron ionization (EI) mode with MS/MS ion preparation using helium at flow rate 1 ml min(-1) as carrier gas on DB-5 capillary column (30 m x 0.25 mm i.d. film thickness 0.25 microm) has been developed for the determination of benzene in indoor air. The detection limit for benzene was 0.002 microg ml(-1) with S/N: 4 (S: 66, N: 14). The benzene concentration for cooks during cooking time in indoor kitchen using dung fuel was 114.1 microg m(-3) while it was 6.6 microg m(-3) for open type kitchen. The benzene concentration was significantly higher (p < 0.01) in indoor kitchen with respect to open type kitchen using dung fuels. The wood fuel produces 36.5 microg m(-3) of benzene in indoor kitchen. The concentration of benzene in indoor kitchen using wood fuel was significantly (p < 0.01) lower in comparison to dung fuel. This method may be helpful for environmental analytical chemist dealing with GC-MS in confirmation and quantification of benzene in environmental samples with health risk exposure assessment.

Background: Nitric oxide (NO) is present in medullary structures and can modulate respiratory rhythm. The authors determined if spontaneous ventilation at rest and in response to increased carbon dioxide is altered by selective neuronal NO synthase (NOS; 7-nitro-indazole, 7-NI) or nonselective (neuronal plus endothelial) NOS (NG-L-arginine methyl ester [L-NAME] and NG-monomethyl L-arginine [L-NMMA]) inhibitors in rats anesthetized with isoflurane., Methods: Fifty-four rats received either L-NAME or L-NMMA (1, 10, and 30 mg/kg) or 7-NI (20, 80, and 400 mg/kg) and were compared with time controls (isoflurane = 1.4%), with isoflurane concentrations (1.6%, 1.8%, and 2%) increased consistent with the increased anesthetic depth caused by NOS inhibitors, or with L-arginine (300 mg/kg). Tidal volume (VT), respiratory frequency (f), minute ventilation (VE), and ventilatory responses to increasing carbon dioxide were determined., Results: L-NAME and L-NMMA decreased resting VT and VE, whereas 7-NI had no effect. Increasing concentrations of isoflurane decreased resting f, VT, and VE. L-NAME and L-NMMA decreased VT and VE, whereas 7-NI had no effect at 8%, 9%, and 10% end-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2). Increasing concentrations of isoflurane decreased f, VT, and VE at 8%, 9%, and 10% ETCO2. The slope of VE versus ETCO2 was decreased by isoflurane but was unaffected by L-NAME, L-NMMA, or 7-NI. L-arginine alone had no effect on ventilation., Conclusions: Nonselective NOS inhibitors decreased VT and VE at rest and at increased carbon dioxide levels but did not alter the slope of the carbon dioxide response. Selective neuronal NOS inhibition had no effect, suggesting that endothelial NOS may be the isoform responsible for altering ventilation. Finally, the cause of the decreased ventilation is not a result of the enhanced anesthetic depth caused by NOS inhibitors.