Reduced graphene oxide contains a minimum of six oxygen atoms for higher dipolar strength: A DFT study

The present work focused on the reduced graphene oxide contains a minimum of six oxygen atoms for the higher dipolar strength. The ionization potential and electron affinity decreased only for the six oxygen atoms based graphene. The six oxygen atoms based graphene have the highest dipole moment. The reduced graphene has 0.25 eV bandgap, which is very suitable for electron transfer. The six oxygen atoms based graphene leads to the least gauge including atomic orbital (GIAO) rotational tensor; however, it has the highest isotropic polarizability difference, diamagnetic susceptibility tensor difference, paramagnetic susceptibility tensor difference, and total susceptibility. The C-C bond length has increased only for the six oxygen atoms based graphene

Benefits of retailer-supplier partnership initiatives under time-varying demand:a comparative analytical study

This paper aims to help supply chain managers to determine the value of retailer-supplier partnership initiatives beyond information sharing (IS) according to their specific business environment under time-varying demand conditions. For this purpose, we use integer linear programming models to quantify the benefits that can be accrued by a retailer, a supplier and system as a whole from shift in inventory ownership and shift in decision-making power with that of IS. The results of a detailed numerical study pertaining to static time horizon reveal that the shift in inventory ownership provides system-wide cost benefits in specific settings. Particularly, when it induces the retailer to order larger quantities and the supplier also prefers such orders due to significantly high setup and shipment costs. We observe that the relative benefits of shift in decision-making power are always higher than the shift in inventory ownership under all the conditions. The value of the shift in decision-making power is greater than IS particularly when the variability of underlying demand is low and time-dependent variation in production cost is high. However, when the shipment cost is negligible and order issuing efficiency of the supplier is low, the cost benefits of shift in decision-making power beyond IS are not significant

Diversity analysis of Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas[L.] Lam) genotypes using morphological, biochemical and molecular markers

276-285Sweet potato [Ipomeabatatas(L.) Lam.]is a nutritious food crop primarily grown by small and marginal farmers. Successful breeding and germplasm conservation programs demands characterization of its germplasm. Here, we tried to determine genetic diversity among 21 sweet potato genotypes using morphological, biochemical and molecular markers. Ten morphological traits were studied and subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA). Mean square due to germplasm were highly significant as well as wide mean range performance was observed for tuber number per plant, individual tuber weight, tuber fresh yield per plant, tuber dry yield per plant, tuber yield per plot and tuber length. UPGMA (Unweighted Pair Group Method Arithmetic Average) cluster analysis based on morphological traits separated the germplasm into three groups. The genotypes Gautam, Shree Arun, RS-92 and CO-3-4 appeared promising with regard to yield characters. Total phenol was maximum in in V-12 genotype (1.39 mg), while minimum was recorded in Samrat genotype (0.95 mg). The highest total antioxidant was observed in the genotype Samrat (0.30 mg), while minimum was recorded in the genotype Navsari Local (0.16 mg). Molecular diversity analysis was carried out using 25 RAPD (Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA) primers, out of which 13 primers produced 117 reproducible amplicons (106 polymorphic, 7 monomorphic and 4 unique amplicons). UPGMA dendogram based on RAPD data separated the genotypes into two major clusters having the similarity coefficient ranged from 0.56 to 0.76. The results can be used for sweet potato crop improvement through molecular breeding and marker assisted selection of for desired traits in future

Morphological, Biochemical, and Molecular Characterization of Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas [L.] Lam) Germplasms

The sweet potato is considered as an excellent source of β-carotene and anthocyanins and has a considerable value in the functional food market. In this report, 21 sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas [L.] Lam) germplasms were evaluated for genetic diversity using morphological and biochemical and molecular markers. Ten morphological traits were studied, and the mean squares due to germplasm were highly significant for storage root number per plant, individual root weight, storage root (fresh) per plant, storage root (dry) per plant, storage root yield, and storage root length. UPGMA cluster analysis based on morphological traits separated the germplasm into three groups. The similarity coefficient ranged from 0.00 to 0.50 with an average of 0.176. Biochemical analysis, viz. total phenol and antioxidant, was performed to find out superior genotype at biochemical level under given conditions. Maximum total phenol was observed in the genotype “V-12” (1.39 mg), whereas maximum total antioxidant was observed in “Samrat” (0.30 mg). RAPD analysis was carried out, and out of 15 RAPD primers, 10 primers produced 96 reproducible and polymorphic bands. UPGMA cluster analysis based on RAPD data also separated the genotypes into three clusters. The results of the present study can be used for sweet potato crop improvement through molecular breeding and marker-assisted selection for desired traits in future

Seasonal Incidence of Population Dynamics of Gram Pod Borer (Helicoverpa armigera Hubner) in Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is an important pulse crop in India, providing a vital source of protein in daily diets. However, its cultivation faces serious challenges due to insect pests, with the gram pod borer (Helicoverpa armigera Hubner) being the most damaging, often causing significant economic losses. This study focused on understanding the patterns of gram pod borer infestation in chickpea catrops during the Rabi seasons of 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 and examined how weather conditions influenced pest populations. The research was carried out at the Student Instructional Farm of Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur, following a systematic experimental setup using a Randomized Completely Block Design (RCBD). Pest observations were recorded at seven days interval, starting 20 days after sowing. Findings showed that infestations typically began in November and lasted until March, with the highest pest populations occurring in February both years. Analysis revealed that higher temperatures tended to reduce pest numbers, while increased wind speed and humidity favored their spread. Rainfall had a minor influence. These results highlight the strong connection between weather conditions and pest activity, underscoring the importance of climate-based pest management strategies to protect chickpea crops effectively

Auxin mediated synthesis of gold nanoparticles: a novel approach to enhance shoot and root growth in pearl millet

IntroductionPearl millet, a staple in arid areas, usually suffers from inadequate root development due to environmental stressors. Specifically, using nanotechnology, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) provide a revolutionary way to improve plant development.MethodsAuxins, specifically Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), were used as stabilizing and reducing agents in the synthesis of AuNPs. UV-Vis, FTIR, SEM, zeta potential, and DLS studies were used to characterize the nanoparticles. Their effect on pearl millet seedlings was evaluated by in vitro tests.ResultsThe control seedlings had shoot and root lengths of 2 cm and 3.5 cm, respectively. With IAA-AuNPs, shoot and root lengths increased to 5.25 cm and 6.75 cm, while with IBA-AuNPs, they increased to 4.75 cm and 7.75 cm. No phytotoxic effects were discovered.DiscussionPearl millet development was markedly enhanced by IAA- and IBA-stabilized AuNPs, indicating their potential as safe and efficient growth enhancers in situations impacted by stress

Cancer chemotherapy and beyond: Current status, drug candidates, associated risks and progress in targeted therapeutics

Cancer is an abnormal state of cells where they undergo uncontrolled proliferation and produce aggressive malignancies that cause millions of deaths every year. With the new understanding of the molecular mechanism(s) of disease progression, our knowledge about the disease is snowballing, leading to the evolution of many new therapeutic regimes and their successive trials. In the past few decades, various combinations of therapies have been proposed and are presently employed in the treatment of diverse cancers. Targeted drug therapy, immunotherapy, and personalized medicines are now largely being employed, which were not common a few years back. The field of cancer discoveries and therapeutics are evolving fast as cancer type-specific biomarkers are progressively being identified and several types of cancers are nowadays undergoing systematic therapies, extending patients’ disease-free survival thereafter. Although growing evidence shows that a systematic and targeted approach could be the future of cancer medicine, chemotherapy remains a largely opted therapeutic option despite its known side effects on the patient’s physical and psychological health. Chemotherapeutic agents/pharmaceuticals served a great purpose over the past few decades and have remained the frontline choice for advanced-stage malignancies where surgery and/or radiation therapy cannot be prescribed due to specific reasons. The present report succinctly reviews the existing and contemporary advancements in chemotherapy and assesses the status of the enrolled drugs/pharmaceuticals; it also comprehensively discusses the emerging role of specific/targeted therapeutic strategies that are presently being employed to achieve better clinical success/survival rate in cancer patients.All the authors are highly grateful and acknowledge to the authority of the respective departments and institutions for their support in carrying out this research. The authors also express their sincere gratitude to the unknown referee for critically reviewing the manuscript and suggesting useful changes. This research was funded by "Agencia Canaria de Investigación, Innovación y Sociedad de la Información (ACIISI) del Gobierno de Canarias” (No. ProID2020010134), and o´Caja Canarias (Project No. 2019SP43).Peer reviewe

RETROSPECTIVE STUDY OF DIFFERENT APPROACHES TO MANAGEMENT OF CHOLEDOCHOLITHIASIS AMONG PATIENTS ADMITTED IN TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

A common entity in Western societies, gallstones are found in approximately 15% of adults. CBD stones have been noted in 10–15% of patients with cholelithiasis, and this incidence increases with age. Such patients present with biliary colic, bile duct obstruction, bilirubinuria (or tea-colored urine), pruritus, acholic stools, jaundice. Various diagnostic modalities used were ultrasonography, CT scan, MRCP. The treatment options available were ERCP and surgical biliary drainage. Here we have studied various modes of presentation of CBD calculi, identied various treatment options available for the disease and determine its outcomes, determined the effectiveness of our surgical treatment by studying recurrence or various complications and identied the treatment modality associated with the least hospital stay</jats:p