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Background: Broad bean (Vicia faba L.) is an important protein rich underutilized vegetable crop cultivated for its tender green pods and dry seeds. The present study was carried out to assess the genetic divergence among the broad bean genotypes collected for developing high-yielding cultivars. Methods: The experimental material consisted of 20 broad bean genotypes, raised in randomized block design with three replications at Horticultural Research Station, Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, India during Kharif 2023. Data concerning 12 quantitative traits and 7 qualitative traits underwent examination using Mahalanobis D² statistic, principal component analysis and stepwise multiple regression analysis. Result: The cluster analysis categorized the genotypes into nine clusters, with the highest number of genotypes in Cluster II (4) and the lowest in Clusters VII, VIII and IX (1 each). Cluster IV displayed the highest intra-cluster distance (D²=3358.2), signifying substantial variation among the genotypes within this cluster. The largest inter-cluster distance (D²=316.9) was observed between Clusters I and VII, indicating significant divergence from other clusters, suggesting that genotypes within these clusters could be valuable as diverse parents for hybridization and selection. The PCA combined with stepwise multiple regression analysis highlighted the primary variations and traits influencing pod yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The management of plant architecture is important for the promotion of year-round production of quality flowers under controlled environment. Besides temperature, the manipulation of light and its intensity are very essential in greenhouses. Light has a significant impact on how plants grow and develop. The energy from light is used by plants for photosynthesis as well as signalling in several assimilation processes. Natural light levels frequently restrict crop output during specific times under intensive horticulture production systems. Numerous blooming species get artificial lighting to promote photosynthesis, induce an inductive photoperiod, or both. Light intensity, spectrum, and photoperiodic adaptability are urgently needed to boost plant growth and product quality. Plant physiology and biochemistry are affected by changes in light intensity, duration, and quality, which has an impact on their morphology and functionality. The use of LEDs in floriculture enables increased light use efficiency in greenhouse production among the use of various artificial light sources in the horticultural industry. It is understood that monochromatic wavelengths or their mixtures can be used with LED technology to enhance plant development. The replacement of High-Pressure Sodium Lamps (HPS) by a LED lighting system is currently under investigation in greenhouses. Integrating the current growing system with advanced techniques paves full attention. To attain a sustainable and economical production system, a different spectrum of light has to be tested, integrated, and optimized within the horticultural production system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nerium oleander an evergreen shrub is a reputed ornamental with plentiful and long lasting flowering behaviour. But the flowers open only in the early morning hoursmaking farmers harvest the unopened flower buds between mid-night and early morning with help of head lights making them prone to reptile and other poisonous insect bites. Considering the bottlenecks in the flower bud opening, the experiment is framed to understand the influence of different light and fogging system on growth, flower yield of Nerium. The experiment was conducted in farmers field at Salem district of Tamil Nadu, India with different lighting system (red, blue, white and yellow light) and water spray (fogging system) on local Nerium variety (pink coloured flowers) replicated thrice. The results of the experiments revealed that the taller Nerium plants (230.00 cm) was observed in the treatment water spray (fog) 15 min. for every one hour which was on par (242.00 cm) with the treatment blue light (450-495 nm) for overnight + water spray (Fog) 15 min. for every one hour. The flower yield was higher (129.0 g/plant) in the treatment water spray (fog) 15 min. for every one hour. All the lighting and fogging treatment does not influence the shelf life of Nerium flowers. The higher percentage of unopened flower buds after harvest (91.6) was recorded in the treatment water spray (fog) 15 min. for every one hour. Thus, for harvesting the flower buds during the evening time, the time interval for operating the fogging system must be reoriented and anthocyanin content of flowers may be measured. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Social skills deficits are hallmark symptoms of chronic mental illness. The absence of a culturally sensitive instrument to measure social skills in the Indian population demands the need to develop and standardize such instruments. Aim: The aim of this study was to develop and validate a context-specific, culturally relevant, and performance-based assessment scale for social performance. Materials and Methods: An expert committee of mental health professionals reviewed existing literature, identified standardized scales, examined items for cultural relevance, and identified possible issues for measurement. The items were categorized into 5 domains with a 7-point scale. The instrument was initially piloted on 10 participants, then among 101 consecutive clients with chronic mental illness between 18 and 60 years of age who provided written informed consent. They were assessed by two therapists to evaluate inter-rater reliability and test–retest reliability. They were also assessed on the Social Interaction and Communication Skills Checklist (SICSC) to evaluate convergent validity and on the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) to assess divergent validity. Standard statistical tests were used to study its characteristics. Results: The scale had good inter-rater reliability (0.941; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.914, 0.960) and test–retest reliability (0.928; 95% CI: 0.810, 0.965). The correlation between total score of Vellore Assessment of Social Performance (VASP) and SICSC (Pearson's correlation coefficient = 0.696; P = 0.001) suggested moderate convergent validity. The correlation between total score of VASP and GHQ-12 (Pearson's correlation coefficient = −0.046; P = 0.648) implied good divergent validity. Conclusion: VASP seems to be a promising scale to assess social performance in people with mental illness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Betalain is a natural pigment with antioxidant property which is used as a food colourant. Betalain was extracted from the fresh and dried samples of Bougainvillea spectabilis and Celosia cristata flowers by using different solvents (Aqueous, 50% methanol, 100% methanol, 50% ethanol, 100% ethanol and acetone). Total betalain (TB), betacyanin (BC) and betaxanthin (BX) content of the flowers were recorded by spectrometric methods. The results revealed that pigment yield was more in Bougainvillea flowers when compared to Celosia in aqueous extraction. On comparing the fresh and dried flowers, dried flowers yielded more betalain content in dried flowers. The extracts of the flowers were screened for antioxidant potentials like ABTS, DPPH, Chelating potential, FRAP and CUPRAC. From the study it was observed that the Bougainvillea and Celosia flowers possess antioxidant potential but the highest was found in the Bougainvillea flower. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mn2+ doped FeS2 thin films were deposited on ITO coated conducting glass substrate at 50 °C in an aqueous medium by simple electrochemical deposition technique. The structural and phase purity of the Mn2+ doped FeS2 thin films were investigated using XRD technique. The XRD analysis revelaed that the fabricated thin films were cubic structure along with the (200) plane preferential orientation. The diffraction peak slightly shifted towards lower 2θ values which confirmed that doping of Mn ions into FeS2 host matrixes. The calculated band gap energy of Mn2+ doped FeS2 thin films showed a red shift of absorption edge compared to undoped FeS2 thin film. EIS indicated that Mn2+ doped FeS2 thin films showed lower charge transfer resistance with better conductivity nature compared to undoped sample. Moreover, the photo electrochemical measurements carried out for the optimized Mn2+ doped FeS2 thin film which revealed the faster migration of photo-induced charge-carriers. Electro catalytic activity of Mn-doped FeS2 thin films were studied for the redox reaction of iodide/triiodide (I−/I3−) by using cyclic voltammetry measurement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iron pyrite (FeS2) thin films have been deposited onto indium doped tin oxide coated glass substrate using two sulphur anion sources such as thiourea [(NH2)2CS] and sodium thiosulfate [Na2S2O3] by electrochemical deposition method. The profilometer analysis shows that roughness of FeS2 thin films obtained low for (NH2)2CS than the Na2S2O3 as an anion sources. The X-ray diffraction analysis confirms that as-deposited FeS2 thin films shows cubic system with (200) plane preferential orientation for using (NH2)2CS. When Na2S2O3 is used it results in a cubic system (200) along with hexagonal (201) of FeS reflection peak signifying a mixed phase. The optical studies of the thin films deposited using (NH2)2CS shows the bandgap at 0.98 eV, while the bandgap for Na2S2O3 was 0.92 V. Atomic force microscopy images shows a crack free and densely packed morphology of FeS2 thin films obtained for both anion sources. The electrochemical impedance spectra study of FeS2 thin film exposed that less of charge transfer resistance and fine conductivity was obtained from the (NH2)2CS than Na2S2O3 as a sulfur source. The photocurrent study of as-deposited thin films shows that a significant by enhanced photocurrent response for (NH2)2CS compared to Na2S2O3 used thin films. The electrocatalytic activity of as deposited FeS2 thin films shows that better I−/I3− redox couple when investigated by the cyclic voltammetry. The as-deposited FeS2 thin films obtained from the (NH2)2CS as an anion source is capable of to substituting the for platinum electrode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Undoped and Co2+ doped FeS2 thin films (Co compositions are 1 to 5 mole%) were deposited on indium tin oxide glass substrate by a single step electrochemical deposition (ECD) method at low temperature (70 °C). Glancing angle X-ray diffraction (GAXRD) and Raman spectra showed that as-deposited undoped and Co2+ doped FeS2 thin films have a cubic pyrite structure without any trace of orthorhombic marcasite phase. Co2+ doping does not affect the cubic structure of FeS2 thin films with a strong (111) plane preferred orientation in all the doped thin films. The height profiling of 3 mole% of Co2+ doped FeS2 thin film by atomic force microscopy revealed a smooth surface with uniform distribution of particles and low roughness values. Co2+ (3, 4 and 5 mole%) doped thin films show a strong absorption peak in the higher wavelength region. Magnetic measurement reveals that Co2+ doping into the FeS2 lattice induces ferromagnetism. The Co2+ in FeS2 thin films acts as the acceptor and the original p-type conductivity is retained. Solar light irradiation with the intensity of 100 mW/cm2 on Co2+ (3 mole%) doped FeS2 thin film cell resulted in a power conversion efficiency of 5.42%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon sequestration in agricultural soils is crucial in mitigating the adverse effects of global climate change and enhancing soil fertility. Among various crops, tea plantations show significant promise in adopting carbon sequestration practices. Consequently, the Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu was purposefully selected for the study, involving 120 tea growers chosen using the snowball sampling method. A theoretical framework was developed to assess the factors influencing tea grower’s adoption of carbon sequestration practices. Partial least squares-structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was employed to analyse the gathered data. The results demonstrated that factors such as ‘knowledge’, ‘attitude’, ‘innovativeness’, ‘perceived benefits’ and ‘perceived need’ had a significant and positive influence on tea grower’s adoption of carbon sequestration practices. In contrast, ‘social influence’ had no significant effect, underscoring the importance of increasing awareness, providing financial incentives, establishing pricing structures, and implementing government policies related to soil carbon sequestration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]