Farming Systems Diversification in North Konkan Region of Maharashtra — An Economic Analysis

The location-specific existing farming systems have been studied for their profitability and extent of diversification in the North Konkan region of Maharashtra. The study is based on the primary data collected from 360 farmers, as well as secondary data on agro-climatic parameters. The study area has been delineated into different clusters/sub- regions using hierarchical agglomerative method. The farming in the North Konkan region has been found highly varied in nature. The enterprises being followed and farm situations are of different nature across different clusters. The farm economy has also depicted a wide variation as per-farm income has been found to range from ` 1135 to ` 218015 across different farming systems. The most profitable farming systems in study area are: (i) Paddy + Irrigated plantation + Betelvines (B:C ratio, 2.02), (ii) Paddy + Pulses + Dairying + Poultry (B: C ratio, 1.74), (iii) Paddy + Vegetables + Dairying ( B:C ratio,1.62), (iv) Paddy + Irrigated plantations + Rainfed plantation + Dairying (B: C ratio,1.57), (v) Irrigated plantations + Dairying (B:C ratio,1.56), and (vi) Paddy + Irrigated plantations + Flowers (B:C ratio,1.42). The diversification has shown a positive co-relation with profitability which underlines the importance of combination of enterprises.Farming systems, Agricultural diversification, North Konkan region, Farm economy, SPSS, Crop diversification index, Agricultural and Food Policy, Q12, Q15,

Epitaxial growth of topological insulator Bi2Se3 film on Si(111) with atomically sharp interface

Atomically sharp epitaxial growth of Bi2Se3 films is achieved on Si (111) substrate with MBE (Molecular Beam Epitaxy). Two-step growth process is found to be a key to achieve interfacial-layer-free epitaxial Bi2Se3 films on Si substrates. With a single-step high temperature growth, second phase clusters are formed at an early stage. On the other hand, with low temperature growth, the film tends to be disordered even in the absence of a second phase. With a low temperature initial growth followed by a high temperature growth, second-phase-free atomically sharp interface is obtained between Bi2Se3 and Si substrate, as verified by RHEED (Reflection High Energy Electron Diffraction), TEM (Transmission Electron Microscopy) and XRD (X-Ray Diffraction). The lattice constant of Bi2Se3 is observed to relax to its bulk value during the first quintuple layer according to RHEED analysis, implying the absence of strain from the substrate. TEM shows a fully epitaxial structure of Bi2Se3 film down to the first quintuple layer without any second phase or an amorphous layer.Comment: 20 pages, 7 figure

Economic viability of production of kokum (Garcinia indica Choicy) in Maharashtra, India

Financial feasibility analysis of capital investment in kokum (Garcinia indica) in South Konkan(Sindhudurg and Ratnagiri districts in Maharashtra) revealed profitability of the enterprise.The initial investment for establishing orchards raised from seedlings and grafts were Rs.38,877 ha-1 and Rs. 69,196 ha-1, respectively. The total cost of production and gross returnswere Rs. 26,417 ha-1 and Rs. 42,820 ha-1 and Rs. 44,931 ha-1 and Rs. 45,572 ha-1, respectively fororchards raised from seedlings and grafts, with a benefit : cost ratio of 1.11 and 1.70,respectively. The net present value for both the types of orchards were positive with a payback period of 7-8 years. &nbsp

EDDY CURRENT THERMOGRAPHY FOR RAIL INSPECTION

Abstract With the tendency of the railway transportation into heavy haul, more frequent usage of rail tracks and increased axle load, the problem of surface damage and fatigue is dominant on rails. Rolling contact fatigue (RCF), which leads to crack formation in rail track heads, is becoming a growing concern in the transportation industry. It occurs on or very close to the rail head surface, and is a significant cause of rail failure. The detection of cracks in RAILS is a critical requirement in the Railway industry. Cracks, if undetected will lead to rail fractures and consequently may lead to catastrophic accidents. Thus with the development and operation of high speed trains, condition based maintenance and monitoring becomes an important approach for the improvement of reliability and safety of rail transportation. Eddy Current Thermography (ECT) is an emerging NDT method especially for conductive material like rails which combines the advantages of eddy current testing and IR Thermography. Due to electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity and high permeability of rails, ECT is very suitable for its damage detections. This technology describes an inspection methodology which utilizes scanning induction Thermography in which coil is excited by a high frequency alternating current and induced eddy current are generated in sample placed near the coil. The thermographic camera is arranged to capture data indicative of a thermal response resulting from the flow of electrical current through the copper coil which scans the rail track. A computer system is configured to process the data from the thermographic camera to generate an indication of a presence of a discontinuity in the rails

Economic viability of production of kokum (Garcinia indica Choicy) in Maharashtra, India

Financial feasibility analysis of capital investment in kokum (Garcinia indica) in South Konkan(Sindhudurg and Ratnagiri districts in Maharashtra) revealed profitability of the enterprise.The initial investment for establishing orchards raised from seedlings and grafts were Rs.38,877 ha-1 and Rs. 69,196 ha-1, respectively. The total cost of production and gross returnswere Rs. 26,417 ha-1 and Rs. 42,820 ha-1 and Rs. 44,931 ha-1 and Rs. 45,572 ha-1, respectively fororchards raised from seedlings and grafts, with a benefit : cost ratio of 1.11 and 1.70,respectively. The net present value for both the types of orchards were positive with a payback period of 7-8 years. &nbsp

SPECTROSCOPIC DETERMINATION OF TOTAL PHENOL AND FLAVONOID CONTENTS OF CITRUS LIMON PEEL FROM NORTH EASTERN REGION OF INDIA

Citrus fruit plants are valuable sources of phenolic and other biologically active compounds.  Phenolic compounds have been reported to have multiple biological effects. In this paper quantitative determination of phenols and flavonoids of citrus limon peel extracts was carried out using spectrophotometric method. The plant material was collected from Assam, north-eastern region of India. Total phenolic content was determined by Folin-Ciocalteau method and aluminium chloride method was used for flavonoid determination. Methanol and ethanol extracts of ripe and unripe peel of the plant contain high amount of phenol contents compared to acetone and ethyl acetate extracts. Methanol extract contains maximum and the ethyl acetate shows minimum amount of flavonoid contents. However, all the extracts show significant results. Key Words: Citrus limon, Phenol, Flavonoid, Catechol and Quercetin.Â

Identification of Metals Found in the Leaves of Tabernaemontana alternifolia

Abstract: Tabernaemontana alternifolia, an Ayurvedic medicinal plant is found in the western ghats of Maharashtra. The leaves, roots, bark-stem are used in Ayurvedic system of medicines. Leaves are used in the form of churna/extract or in combination with the other plant materials in their formulations. It is administered orally. Metal analysis of the leaves of Tabernaemontana alternifolia shows a high percentage of metals like magnesium, calcium, iron, copper and manganese. The present results will prove to be useful in understanding the role of metal ions in the biogenesis of the secondary metabolites of the medicinally important plant

Expression of core antigen of HCV genotype 3a and its evaluation as screening agent for HCV infection in Pakistan

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Pakistan is facing a threat from hepatitis C infection which is increasing at an alarming rate throughout the country. More specific and sensitive screening assays are needed to timely and correctly diagnose this infection.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>After RNA extraction from specimen (HCV-3a), cDNA was synthesized that was used to amplify full length core gene of HCV 3a. After verification through PCR, DNA sequencing and BLAST, a properly oriented positive recombinant plasmid for core gene was digested with proper restriction enzymes to release the target gene which was then inserted downstream of GST encoding DNA in the same open reading frame at proper restriction sites in multiple cloning site of pGEX4t2 expression vector. Recombinant expression vector for each gene was transformed in <it>E. coli </it>BL21 (DE3) and induced with IPTG for recombinant fusion protein production that was then purified through affinity chromatography. Western blot and Enzyme Linked Immunosorbant Assay (ELISA) were used to detect immuno-reactivity of the recombinant protein.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The HCV core antigen produced in prokaryotic expression system was reactive and used to develop a screening assay. After validating the positivity (100%) and negativity (100%) of in-house anti-HCV screening assay through a standardized panel of 200 HCV positive and 200 HCV negative sera, a group of 120 serum specimens of suspected HCV infection were subjected to comparative analysis of our method with commercially available assay. The comparison confirmed that our method is more specific than the commercially available assays for HCV strains circulating in this specific geographical region of the world and could thus be used for HCV screening in Pakistan.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In this study, we devised a screening assay after successful PCR amplification, isolation, sequencing, expression and purification of core antigen of HCV genotype 3a. Our developed screening assay is more sensitive, specific and reproducible than the commercially available screening assays in Pakistan.</p

Post-intervention Status in Patients With Refractory Myasthenia Gravis Treated With Eculizumab During REGAIN and Its Open-Label Extension

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether eculizumab helps patients with anti-acetylcholine receptor-positive (AChR+) refractory generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) achieve the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA) post-intervention status of minimal manifestations (MM), we assessed patients' status throughout REGAIN (Safety and Efficacy of Eculizumab in AChR+ Refractory Generalized Myasthenia Gravis) and its open-label extension. METHODS: Patients who completed the REGAIN randomized controlled trial and continued into the open-label extension were included in this tertiary endpoint analysis. Patients were assessed for the MGFA post-intervention status of improved, unchanged, worse, MM, and pharmacologic remission at defined time points during REGAIN and through week 130 of the open-label study. RESULTS: A total of 117 patients completed REGAIN and continued into the open-label study (eculizumab/eculizumab: 56; placebo/eculizumab: 61). At week 26 of REGAIN, more eculizumab-treated patients than placebo-treated patients achieved a status of improved (60.7% vs 41.7%) or MM (25.0% vs 13.3%; common OR: 2.3; 95% CI: 1.1-4.5). After 130 weeks of eculizumab treatment, 88.0% of patients achieved improved status and 57.3% of patients achieved MM status. The safety profile of eculizumab was consistent with its known profile and no new safety signals were detected. CONCLUSION: Eculizumab led to rapid and sustained achievement of MM in patients with AChR+ refractory gMG. These findings support the use of eculizumab in this previously difficult-to-treat patient population. CLINICALTRIALSGOV IDENTIFIER: REGAIN, NCT01997229; REGAIN open-label extension, NCT02301624. CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE: This study provides Class II evidence that, after 26 weeks of eculizumab treatment, 25.0% of adults with AChR+ refractory gMG achieved MM, compared with 13.3% who received placebo

Minimal Symptom Expression' in Patients With Acetylcholine Receptor Antibody-Positive Refractory Generalized Myasthenia Gravis Treated With Eculizumab

The efficacy and tolerability of eculizumab were assessed in REGAIN, a 26-week, phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody-positive (AChR+) refractory generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG), and its open-label extension