A set of 710 accessions of global durum wheat panel was obtained from the International Centre for Agricultural Research in Dryland Areas (ICARDA) and evaluated for variability in 32 agro-morphological traits at the ICAR-Indian Institute of Wheat and Barley Research, Karnal, India, during 2021–22 and 2022–23. The accessions were grouped based on the type of breeding material and geographical origin, and the Shannon–Wiener diversity index (H′) was calculated for each trait as well as each group. The H′ values ranged from 0.02 (grain crease) to 1.27 (wax of ear) with an overall mean of 0.63, when considering the entire set as a single group. Landraces exhibited higher variability (H′ = 0.64) as compared to released cultivars and evolutionary pre-breeding population lines (H′ = 0.55). Furthermore, accessions originating from West Asia exhibited the highest variability (H′ = 0.63). Traits such as coleoptile colour, plant growth habit, auricle colour and pubescence, flag leaf attitude, ear shape, presence or absence of awns, awns colour and attitude, glumes shape and pubescence, beak length, peduncle attitude, grain phenol colour, grain germ width and brush hair length were found suitable for distinguishing the present durum accessions due to their higher frequency distribution and Shannon–Wiener diversity index values. A core set of 13 accessions was developed using the programme Power Core. These accessions represent the overall variability of the entire set and can therefore serve as a potential source of new genes/alleles for the genetic enhancement of durum wheat. This durum panel may also serve as a valuable reference collection for global researchers in the characterization of durum wheat accessions.

The study was conducted on indigenous Tharparkar cow (Bos indicus) to evaluate FSH stimulation on follicular attributes, oocyte recovery and morpho-molecular developmental competence parameters concerning oocyte quality. A total of 20 OPU sessions were performed, which included 10 sessions in each FSH stimulated at the dose of 130 µg divided into four sub-doses and non-stimulated. Findings on the size of follicles having ≥6 mm showed a significantly higher, however an opposite trend was observed in the case of smaller sized follicle (<6 mm) between stimulated and non-stimulated respectively. The stimulated cows had a significantly higher number as well as the percentage of oocytes of Grade A, having a diameter ≥120 µm and BCB+VE as compared to the non-stimulated cows. The relative mRNA expression profile of GDF9, BMP15, PCNA and BCL-2 genes was higher and BAX was lower in the FSH-stimulated cow. These results indicated that FSH stimulation before OPU in Bos indicus cows has a significant impact on follicle size, oocyte yield, recovery, and their quality with respect to COC’s, diameter and BCB+VE oocytes. Further, a significant increase in the relative mRNA expression levels of GDF9, BMP15 and PCNA genes in the FSH-stimulated group suggests that FSH plays a key role in modulating the expression of these important candidate genes and thus influencing oocyte quality. The higher mRNA expression of BCL-2 genes and concomitantly lower expression of BAX gene in FSH Stimulated cows indicates the protective role of these genes and preventing programmed cell death and thus promoting cell survival, quality and embryo development.

Ever increasing global population necessitates the need to increase availability of affordable foods with high nutritional quality. Chickpea being the second most important grain legume cultivated worldwide has the great potential to alleviate problems of protein malnutrition and hidden hunger. The objective of the present investigation was to characterize a diverse set of 402 germplasm comprising of more than 100 commercial cultivars widely cultivated and utilized by breeders for grain protein in two contrasting environments to explore the magnitude of natural genotypic diversity present in the cultivated chickpea and the scope for enhancing it and its quality through breeding. The cultivars containing more than 25 to 30.44% grain protein have been found in the study and large scale production of such protein rich cultivars is expected to increase availability as well as consumption of high quality chickpea necessary to overcome all forms of malnutrition. Trait specific germplasm containing grain protein up to 33.56% are also identified for their further utilization as potential donors in the chickpea improvement programme. The amino acid profiling of selected high and low protein containing genotypes showed considerably greater average amino acid score for all the essential amino acids than the WHO recommended requirement values and is comparable to those of the ‘complete protein’ sources of food suggesting that chickpea deserves to be considered as a ‘complete protein’ source.

To ascertain weathering, provenance, and paleoclimate of the last ca. 29 ka in mainland Gujarat, western India, a sedimentary profile of ~7.5 m was measured, described, and sampled at Pratappura and a multiproxy analysis was conducted. To determine weathering, silty-sand and sandy-silt facies were analyzed, and log Na2O/K2O versus log SiO2/Al2O3 was plotted, which shows clustering in the quartz arenite and sub-litharenite categories, indicating low to moderate weathering. The chemical index of alteration (CIA) is 55–74, and was plotted versus the index of chemical variability (ICV) of 1.50, with samples clustered mainly between subalkali basalt and picrite, indicating the dominance of a mafic component. While depleted chondrite normalized light rare earth element (REE) (La/Yb <1) levels suggest the prevalence of a mafic source in the catchment, identical chondrite normalized REE patterns indicate that sediments were well homogenized. Using multiple proxies, the measured profile was subdivided into five paleoclimatic zones. Zone-I (29–18 ka) exhibits decreasing moisture, Corg, χlf, Al2O3, TiO2, and Fe2O3 trends, while higher values of CO3−2 and δ13C indicate a change from a warm-humid to semiarid climate. Zone-II (18–11 ka) shows signs of the beginning of aridity ca. 18 ka during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). Several proxies in zone-III show wetter climatic conditions from the early Holocene (ca. 11–4 ka) due to the onset of the SW monsoon, with the trend continuing in zone-IV (4–2 ka). In zone-V, the climate appears to have been similar to the modern conditions in the area from 2 ka–present.

Prediction of stall before it occurs, or detection of stall is crucial for smooth and lasting operation of fans and compressors. In order to predict the stall, it is necessary to distinguish the operational and stall regions based on certain parameters. Also, it is important to observe the variation of those parameters as the fan transitions towards stall. Experiments were performed on a contra-rotating fan setup under clean inflow conditions, and unsteady pressure data were recorded using seven high-response sensors circumferentially arranged on the casing, near the first rotor leading edge. Windowed Fourier analysis was performed on the pressure data, to identify different regions, as the fan transits from the operational to stall region. Four statistical parameters were identified to characterise the pressure data and reduce the number of data points. K-means clustering was used on these four parameters to algorithmically mark different regions of operation. Results obtained from both the analyses are in agreement with each other, and three distinct regions have been identified. Between the no-activity and stall regions, there is a transition region that spans for a short duration of time characterised by intermittent variation of abstract parameters and excitations of Fourier frequencies. The results were validated with five datasets obtained from similar experiments at different times. All five experiments showed similar trends. Neural Network models were trained on the clustered data to predict the operating region of the machine. These models can be used to develop control systems that can prevent the stalling of the machine.

The aim of the study was to compare the efficacy of daily v. weekly oral vitamin D3 therapy in radiological healing of nutritional rickets. Children 6 months to 12 years (n 132) diagnosed with nutritional rickets were randomised into three groups (n 44): group A – 2000 IU daily vitamin D3 for 12 weeks, B – 60 000 IU weekly for 3 weeks, C – 60 000 IU weekly for 6 weeks. Serum calcium, phosphorus, 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), parathyroid hormone and X-ray score were estimated at baseline and 12 weeks (endline). The proportion of children who achieved complete radiological healing at endline was compared between three groups by χ2 and delta change in laboratory parameters by ANOVA (parametric data) or Kruskal Wallis test (non-parametric data), respectively. Baseline 25(OH)D ≤ 20 ng/ml was seen in 119 (90·2 %), hyperparathyroidism in 90 (68·8 %) and hypocalcaemia in 96 (72·7 %). A total of 120/132 children completed the study. Complete radiological healing seen in 30 (75 %) in group A, 23 (60·5 %) in group B and 26 (61·9 %) in group C; P = 0·15, with comparable endline X-ray scores; P = 0·31. The median (interquartile range (IQR)) delta X-ray score (baseline–endline) was 7 (4,9), 5 (2·25, 6) and 6 (4,7) in groups A, B and C, respectively; P = 0·019. Median (IQR) 25(OH)D endline levels in groups A, B and C were 50·0 (26·5, 66·5), 42·1 (28·4, 54·4) and 53·5 (33·7, 71·2) ng/ml, respectively; P = 0·045. Radiological scores were comparable at endline among daily and weekly vitamin D groups with greater change from baseline in daily supplemented group.

This article presents a preliminary study of the longitudinal self-compression of ultra-intense Gaussian laser pulse in a magnetized plasma, when relativistic nonlinearity is active. This study has been carried out in 1D geometry under a nonlinear Schrodinger equation and higher-order paraxial (nonparaxial) approximation. The nonlinear differential equations for self-compression and self-focusing have been derived and solved by the analytical and numerical methods. The dielectric function and the eikonal have been expanded up to the fourth power of r (radial distance). The effect of initial parameters, namely incident laser intensity, magnetic field, and initial pulse duration on the compression of a relativistic Gaussian laser pulse have been explored. The results are compared with paraxial-ray approximation. It is found that the compression of pulse and pulse intensity of the compressed pulse is significantly enhanced in the nonparaxial region. It is observed that the compression of the high-intensity laser pulse depends on the intensity of laser beam (a0), magnetic field (ωc), and initial pulse width (τ0). The preliminary results show that the pulse is more compressed by increasing the values of a0, ωc, and τ0.

This paper assesses the reasons for non-use of contraceptive methods, and the possible complexity of reported data on women in India. The study used recent data from two successive rounds of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) (2005–06: N=37,296; 2015–16: N=247,024), which surveyed currently married women aged 15–49 years. The reporting on non-use of contraceptives and the changing pattern of the reasons for non-use were analysed, classified into fertility and other cited reasons. The self-reported reasons for non-use of contraception were verified with other related information captured in the survey. Bivariate and logistic regression analyses were conducted. Sexual abstinence (not having sex: 10%; infrequent sex: 3%) and infecundity (menopausal/hysterectomy: 12%; subfecund/infecund: 10%) were the most commonly reported reasons for non-use of contraceptive methods in 2015–16, followed by refusal to use (10%). The proportion of non-users who wanted to have a child soon (25% to 21%), were pregnant (16% to 13%), in postpartum amenorrhoea (68% to 40%) and who had method-related reasons (10% to 6%) declined over time (from 2005–06 to 2015–16, respectively). A higher proportion of less-educated women reported abstinence (6%) and menopause/hysterectomy (19%) than educated women. Abstinence was more commonly reported in states with low prevalence of modern contraceptive use. The findings suggest that the increasing trend of abstinence and infecundity among non-users of contraception may be a concern for future research and reproductive health programmes, as it questions both the quality of data and sexual health of married couples.

Caesarean section delivery rates in India have doubled from 9% in 2005–06 to 17% in 2015–16, increasing the clinical and economic burden on the health care system. This study applied multilevel models to assess the role of household- and community-level factors in Caesarean section (CS) deliveries among low-risk women in India using data from Round 4 of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4) conducted in 2015–16. The sample size was 59,318 low-risk women who had their last birth in an institution during the 5 years preceding the survey. These women were nested in 57,279 households, which were nested in 22,183 communities, which were further nested in 640 districts in India. Around 21% of the low-risk women and 24% of all women who had delivered in an institution had undergone CS. The CS rates among low-risk women were extremely high in private institutions (40%) and in southern India (43%). The explanatory variables age, education of women, household wealth and number of antenatal visits were significantly positively associated, while women’s parity was negatively associated, with CS delivery among low-risk women. The multilevel analysis suggested that the likelihood of a low-risk woman opting for CS was influenced by a similar decision of another woman from the same household (37%) and/or community (18%). Furthermore, women with low-risk pregnancies from higher educated communities were less likely (OR 0.92) to undergo CS. There is therefore a need for a community-level awareness programme on the risks and benefits of low-risk CS and vaginal delivery, particularly in the southern region of India.

Social enterprises (SEs) primarily aim to create social value, that is, togenerate benefits or reduce costs for society, while maintaining financialsustainability. Owing to their unique operating conditions and organizationalcharacteristics, SEs face more severe resource challenges than their commercialcounterparts. These challenges are exacerbated for SEs operating in emergingeconomies with complex social contexts. Overcoming these resource constraintsand social challenges is vital for SEs to achieve their mission. Using aninductive multiple case-study approach, we identify a unique bricolage solutionfor achieving the dual objectives of SEs. Our findings suggest that identifyinglocally embedded village level entrepreneurs is a bricolageactivity that social entrepreneurs leverage in the resource constrainedenvironment of emerging economies, especially for the social enterprises thatare active in the villages but were founded by social entrepreneurs who are notfrom these villages. This article therefore contributes to both socialentrepreneurship literature as well as entrepreneurial bricolage literature andhas important implications for future research and practice.

In order to examine the potential survivability of life in the Martian deep subsurface, we have investigated the effects of temperature (45°C, 55°C and 65°C) and pressure (1, 400, 800 and 1200 atm) on the growth, carbon isotopic data and morphology of chemolithoautotrophic anaerobic methanogenic archaea, Methanothermobacter wolfeii. The growth and survivability of this methanogen were determined by measuring the methane concentration in headspace gas samples after the cells were returned to their conventional growth conditions. Interestingly, this methanogen survived at all the temperatures and pressures tested. M. wolfeii demonstrated the highest methane concentration following exposure to pressure of 800 atm and a temperature of 65°C. We found that the stable carbon isotopic fractionation of methane, δ13C(CH4), was slightly more enriched in 12C at 1 atm and 55°C than the carbon isotopic data obtained in other temperature and pressure conditions. A comparison of the images of the cells before and after the exposure to different temperatures and pressures did not show any obvious alteration in the morphology of M. wolfeii. The research reported here suggests that at least one methanogen, M. wolfeii, may be able to survive under hypothetical Martian subsurface conditions with respect to temperature and pressure.

GLP-1 (abnormal germline proliferation) is a Notch-like receptor protein that plays an essential role in pharyngeal development. In this study, an orthologue of Caenorhabditis elegans glp-1 was identified in Meloidogyne incognita. A computational analysis revealed that the orthologue contained almost all the domains present in the C. elegans gene: specifically, the LIN-12/Notch repeat, the ankyrin repeat, a transmembrane domain and different ligand-binding motifs were present in orthologue, but the epidermal growth factor-like motif was not observed. An expression analysis showed differential expression of glp-1 throughout the life cycle of M. incognita, with relatively higher expression in the egg stage. To evaluate the silencing efficacy of Mi-glp-1, transgenic Arabidopsis plants carrying double-stranded RNA constructs of glp-1 were generated, and infection of these plants with M. incognita resulted in a 47–50% reduction in the numbers of galls, females and egg masses. Females obtained from the transgenic RNAi lines exhibited 40–60% reductions in the transcript levels of the targeted glp-1 gene compared with females isolated from the control plants. Second-generation juveniles (J2s), which were descendants of the infected females from the transgenic lines, showed aberrant phenotypes. These J2s exhibited a significant decrease in the overall distance from the stylet to the metacorpus region, and this effect was accompanied by disruption around the metacorporeal bulb of the pharynx. The present study suggests a role for this gene in organ (pharynx) development during embryogenesis in M. incognita and its potential use as a target in the management of nematode infestations in plants.

Stimuli-responsive materials with controlled reversible wettability find diverse application as self-cleaning surfaces, tunable optical lenses and microfluidic devices. We report on an electrochemical approach for dynamic control over the wetting properties of additive-free Cu/CuxO core-shell dendritic structures. By varying the oxidation state of the oxide shell phase, the entire wettability range spanning superhydrophobicity (contact angle > 150°) to superhydrophilicity (contact angle < 10°) can be precisely adjusted in-situ. During the wetting transitions, the surface transforms from a low adhesive rolling state (lotus effect) to high adhesive pinning state (petal effect), and eventually to superhydrophilic state with a water-absorbing ability (fish scale wetting). The wetting alteration is reversible via air-drying at room temperature or mild heat drying at 100°C. The reversibly redox-driven wettability switching is demonstrated for controllable oil-water separation with efficiency higher than 98 percent.

The geomorphic evolution of the upper Indus River that traverses across the southwest (SW) edge of Tibet, and the Ladakh and Zanskar ranges, was examined along a ~350-km-long stretch of its reaches. Based on the longitudinal river profile, stream length gradient index, and river/strath terraces, this stretch of the river is divided into four segments. Valley fill river terraces are ubiquitous, and strath terraces occur in the lower reaches where the Indus River cuts through deformed Indus Molasse. Optically stimulated luminescence ages of river/strath terraces suggest that valley aggradation occurred in three pulses, at ~52, ~28, and ~16 ka, and that these broadly coincide with periods of stronger SW Indian summer monsoon. Reconstructed longitudinal river profiles using strath terraces provide an upper limit on the bedrock and provide incision rates ranging from 1.0±0.3 to 2.2±0.9 mm/a. These results suggested that rapid uplift of the western syntaxes aided by uplift along the local faults led to the formation of strath terraces and increased fluvial incision rates along this stretch of the river.