Combining ability analysis in linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) for improvement of seed yield and its component traits

Twenty eight hybrids developed from eight genotypes of linseed through diallel mating design (excluding reciprocal) along with one checks viz., Shekhar were evaluated in randomized block design with three replications for eleven distinct morphological traits during rabi season of 2012-13, to estimate the general combining ability (GCA) of the parents and specific combining ability (SCA) of hybrids considered for the development of high yielding varieties. The analysis of variance for combining ability revealed significant mean sum of squares due to GCA and SCA for all the traits under study. Genotype EC-1392 (0.50) and TL-11 (0.45) has been found good general combiner with highest magnitude of GCA effects for seed yield per plant. In addition to above, EC-1392 and TL-11 also showed good GCA effects for plant height, secondary branches per plant, capsules per plant and biological yield per plant. Hybrids A.95.B x Shekhar (2.43), TL-11 x EC-1392 (1.71) and NDL-2004-05 x GS-234 (1.53) showed higher positive significant SCA effects for seed yield per plant. These hybrids also exhibited positive significant SCA effects for plant height, secondary brances per plant, capsules per plant, indicating potential for exploiting hybrid vigour in breeding programme

Inter-Caste Marriage and Caste Prejudice: A Study of Perumal Murugan’s Novel ‘Pyre’

The 21st century is an era of science and advancement. Due to this advancement, there is an evident threat of climate change, global warming, health issues and biological warfare. In this scenario, our lives are changing rapidly. But one thing that has not changed yet is the caste-system. People are still embedded in caste. The notion of purity and practice of endogamy have contributed in the establishment of the caste system. Endogamy is a founding element of the caste system. It is because of this that caste has become an unaltered force of Indian society. The consequences of inter-caste marriage are often horrible. Couples are rarely accepted by the family and society. Excommunication, torture, honor killing and murder are the consequences of inter-caste marriage. Inter- caste marriage is a great contribution in the eradication of the caste system. Inter-caste marriages not only cast the caste but also bring social harmony and feeling of interdependence among people belonging to different caste. But unfortunately, inter-caste marriages are unaccepted and considered offensive. The present novel ‘Pyre’ illustrates the ethos that leads a community to give their judgment against inter-caste marriage

History of Inundation in Northern Bihar

India is a land of various natural and cultural diversities where natural calamities like floods, storms, earth quack, land slides are very natural occurrences. The problem of Inundation (floods) that has caused thousands of human lives occurs when a gently flowing river suddenly gets overflowed of their edges during Monsoon. The demonic flow of the huge stream has devastated the entire Northern Bihar which has always been its victim over the years. This paper is a micro yet analytical scrutiny of the problem of Inundation in the Northern Bihar in particular touching it with historical perspective

Reflection on Uprooting Penury in the Creative Programs of Mahatma Gandhi

The fact that Poverty is a bane that checks the growth of any to any developing nation as well as and hinder her progress is now well established. It is rightly stated that India is a rich country whose inhabitants are poor. In fact the age-old problem of Poverty has stricken more than half of India’s population.  Mahatma Gandhi who is also known as the father of nation has tackled this malady with his Sarvodaya program which was focused chiefly on the rural development. This paper tends to throw light on the reflections of Mahatma Gandhi on Poverty elimination through his Sarvodaya program and other related thoughts on cottage industries.ÂÂ

Forest Fire Prediction Using Machine Learning Techniques

Forest fires pose a significant threat to ecosystems, biodiversity, and human livelihoods worldwide. Early detection and accurate prediction of forest fires are essential for timely intervention and mitigation efforts. In recent years, machine learning techniques have emerged as powerful tools for forest fire prediction, leveraging diverse data sources and advanced algorithms to improve predictive accuracy. This study explores the application of machine learning techniques in forest fire prediction, utilizing features such as weather conditions, topography, vegetation density, and historical fire data. Various machine learning models, including decision trees, random forests, support vector machines, and neural networks, are employed to develop predictive models capable of forecasting forest fire occurrence and severity. The study evaluates the performance of these models using metrics such as accuracy, precision, recall, and F1-score, and compares their effectiveness in different environmental settings. Additionally, the research investigates the integration of remote sensing data and real-time sensor networks for enhancing the spatial and temporal resolution of forest fire prediction models. Through comprehensive experimentation and validation, this study aims to contribute to the development of robust and reliable systems for forest fire prediction, ultimately aiding in the preservation of natural ecosystems and the protection of human lives and property

Incisional Hernia

Incisional hernia is one of the most common postoperative complications after abdominal surgery. Several studies have shown that incisional hernias have different etiologies which are related to the patient, the surgical technique, the suture material and experience of the surgeon. Most patients present with abdominal swelling with some level of discomfort, and in emergency the presentation is usually as bowel obstruction or strangulation which requires urgent exploration. The recurrence rate is almost the same for open as well as for laparoscopic approach. The hernia can be repaired either only by closing the defect with nonabsorbable suture or by applying mesh. The recurrence is very minimal with mesh application as compared to repair done only by suture. The mesh can be placed as onlay, inlay and in sublay positions. The intraperitoneal onlay mesh placement (IPOM) is the widely used laparoscopic method for the incisional hernia repair. The incisional hernia with larger defect usually more than 15 cm requires component separation to reconstruct the abdominal wall by releasing the external oblique or transverse abdominal muscle. The outcome of incisional hernia repair is dependent on the associated comorbid conditions like chronic cough, constipation, stricture of the urethra, benign prostate hyperplasia, ascites and obesity

Narcissistic consumers in retail settings

This study aims to investigate how narcissistic consumers perceive and respond to variations in price and store image in retail settings

Pedagogical affect, student interest, and learning performance

Using a sample of more than 1000 students, this study reveals that students’ perceived learning depends directly on their interest, pedagogical affect, and their learning performance and indirectly on the student–instructor interaction, the instructor's responsiveness, course organization, the instructor's likeability/concern, and the student's learning performance. Likeability/concern indirectly affects student interest by influencing learning performance. The results yield recommendations for schools, department heads, and university administrators.This research was funded by a research grant from NOVA EGIDE to Luís Filipe Lages. The authors acknowledge the two anonymous JBR reviewers for their feedback on a previous version of the article