Search Results (11)

Implementing genomic selection in smallholder dairy systems is challenging due to limited genetic connectedness and diverse management practices. This study aimed to optimize genomic evaluation models for crossbred cattle in South India. Data included 305-day first lactation milk yield (FLMY) records from 17,650 cows (1984–2021), with partial pedigree and genotypes for 1004 bulls and 1568 cows. Non-genetic factors such as geography, season and period of calving, and age at first calving were significant sources of variation. The average milk yield was 2875 ± 123.54 kg. Genetic evaluation models used a female-only reference. Heritability estimates using different approaches were 0.32 ± 0.03 (REML), 0.40 ± 0.03 (ssGREML), and 0.25 ± 0.08 (GREML). Bayesian estimates (Bayes A, B, C, Cπ, and ssBR) ranged from 0.20 ± 0.02 to 0.43 ± 0.04. Genomic-only models showed reduced variance due to the Bulmer effect, as genomic data belonged to recent generations. Breeding value prediction accuracies were 0.60 (PBLUP), 0.45 (GBLUP), and 0.65 (ssGBLUP). Using the LR method, the estimates of bias, dispersion, and ratio of accuracies for ssGBLUP were −39.83, 1.09, and 0.69; for ssBR, they were 71.83, 0.83, and 0.76. ssGBLUP resulted in more accurate and less biased GEBVs than ssBR. We recommend ssGBLUP for genomic evaluation of crossbred cattle for milk production under smallholder systems. Full article

The management of unutilized fly ash poses challenges due to concerns about storage and its potential groundwater contamination. Within the road industry, where the bulk utilization of fly ash is feasible, its unsuitability for use in the base and sub-base layers of pavements due to its low strength and a high proportion of fine particles has been a limitation. The incorporation of stone dust alongside fly ash, treated with lime or cement, yields superior strength and stiffness. Apart from strength, the stabilized mix’s durability, capillary rise, and water absorption properties are crucial for determining its suitability for pavement applications. Observations from this study reveal that fiber-reinforced cement-stabilized fly ash–stone aggregate specimens treated with 4% and 6% cement, with and without fibers, met the limiting mass loss of 20%, as specified in IRC SP: 89. The mass loss decreases with an increase in cement and fiber content. However, the capillary rise in the mixes increases with a higher percentage of fly ash and fiber content but decreases with increased cement content. Cement addition results in a reduction in water absorption; however, the addition of fibers results in an increase in water absorption. A linear correlation has been established between mass loss and UCS and IDT, which can be used to evaluate the suitability of materials for the structural layer without conducting a wet–dry durability test, which typically takes one month. This study proposes that cement-stabilized fly ash and stone aggregate mixtures with 4% and 6% cement can be used as the subbase and base of pavement based on wet–dry mass loss criteria and water absorption criteria. Observations from this study reveal that fiber-reinforced cement-stabilized fly ash–stone aggregate specimens treated with 4% and 6% cement, with and without fibers, met the limiting mass loss of 20%, as specified in IRC SP: 89. The mass loss decreases with an increase in cement and fiber content. However, the capillary rise in the mixes increases with a higher percentage of fly ash and fiber content but decreases with increased cement content. Cement addition results in reduction in water absorption. However, the addition of fibers results in increase in water absorption. A linear correlation is established between mass loss and UCS and IDT, which can be used to evaluate the suitability of materials for the structural layer without conducting wet–dry durability tests, which take one month. This study proposes that cement-stabilized fly ash and stone aggregate mixtures with 4% and 6% cement can be used as the subbase and base of pavement based on wet–dry mass loss criteria and water absorption criteria. Full article

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared in May 2021 that SARS-CoV-2 is transmitted not only by close contact with infectious respiratory fluids from infected people or contaminated materials but also indirectly through air. Airborne transmission has serious implications for the control measures we can deploy, given the emergence of more transmissible variants. This emphasizes the need to deploy a mechanism to reduce the viral load in the air, especially in closed and crowded places such as hospitals, public transport buses, etc. In this study, we explored ultraviolet C (UVC) radiation for its ability to inactivate the SARS-CoV-2 particles present in aerosols and designed an air disinfection system to eliminate infectious viruses. We studied the virus inactivation kinetics to identify the UVC dosage required to achieve maximum virus inactivation. Based on the experimental data, UVC-based devices were designed for the sanitization of air through HVAC systems in closed spaces. Further, a risk assessment model to estimate the risk reduction was applied which showed that the use of UVC radiation could result in the reduction of the risk of infection in occupied spaces by up to 90%. Full article

Background: IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is one of the most common glomerular diseases worldwide. Approximately 25 percent of IgAN patients reach the kidney failure stage within twenty years of diagnosis. The histopathological examination of kidney biopsy is needed to confirm the diagnosis of IgAN. microRNA (miRNA) is a small RNA that plays an important role at the post-transcriptional level by downregulating mRNAs (messenger RNA). We tried to establish a miRNA-based biomarker for IgAN. Methods: We recruited 30 IgAN patients and 15 healthy controls as study participants after taking their informed written consent. A real-time PCR-based method was used for the absolute quantification of miRNAs. A logistic regression method and receiver operating characteristic analysis were performed to find the diagnostic and prognostic accuracy of miR-148b and let-7b for IgAN in histopathological MEST-C scores. Results: miR-148b and let-7b levels were higher in IgAN patients compared to the healthy controls. miR-148b was positively correlated with glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and negatively correlated with segmental glomerulosclerosis, tubular atrophy/interstitial fibrosis (T), and blood pressure (BP). The sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) for miR-148b against T were 0.87, 0.77, and 0.85, respectively. The threshold value of the miR-148b copy number was 8479 to differentiate the severe condition of IgAN. Conclusion: miR-148b can be used as a potential biomarker for IgAN. Full article

Energy storage systems (ESS) are among the fastest-growing electrical power system due to the changing worldwide geography for electrical distribution and use. Traditionally, methods that are implemented to monitor, detect and optimize battery modules have limitations such as difficulty in balancing charging speed and battery capacity usage. A battery-management system overcomes these traditional challenges and enhances the performance of managing battery modules. The integration of advancements and new technologies enables the provision of real-time monitoring with an inclination towards Industry 4.0. In the previous literature, it has been identified that limited studies have presented their reviews by combining the literature on different digital technologies for battery-management systems. With motivation from the above aspects, the study discussed here aims to provide a review of the significance of digital technologies like wireless sensor networks (WSN), the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, edge computing, blockchain, and digital twin and machine learning (ML) in the enhancement of battery-management systems. Finally, this article suggests significant recommendations such as edge computing with AI model-based devices, customized IoT-based devices, hybrid AI models and ML-based computing, digital twins for battery modeling, and blockchain for real-time data sharing. Full article

Agroforestry systems (AFS) and practices followed in India are highly diverse due to varied climatic conditions ranging from temperate to humid tropics. The estimated area under AFS in India is 13.75 million ha with the highest concentration being in the states of Uttar Pradesh (1.86 million ha), followed by Maharashtra (1.61 million ha), Rajasthan (1.55 million ha) and Andhra Pradesh (1.17 million ha). There are many forms of agroforestry practice in India ranging from intensified simple systems of monoculture, such as block plantations and boundary planting, to far more diverse and complex systems, such as home gardens. As a result, the biomass production and carbon sequestration potential of AFS are highly variable across different agro-climatic zones of India. Studies pertaining to the assessment of biomass and carbon storage in different agroforestry systems in the Indian sub-continent are scanty and most of these studies have reported region and system specific carbon stocks. However, while biomass and carbon stock data from different AFS at national scale has been scanty hitherto, such information is essential for national accounting, reporting of C sinks and sources, as well as for realizing the benefits of carbon credit to farmers engaged in tree-based production activities. Therefore, the objective of this study was to collate and synthesize the existing information on biomass carbon and SOC stocks associated with agroforestry practices across agro-climatic zones of India. The results revealed considerable variation in biomass and carbon stocks among AFS, as well as between different agro-climatic zones. Higher total biomass (>200 Mg ha⁻¹) was observed in the humid tropics of India which are prevalent in southern and northeastern regions, while lower total biomass (<50 Mg ha⁻¹) was reported from Indo-Gangetic, western and central India. Total biomass carbon varied in the range of 1.84 to 131 Mg ha⁻¹ in the agrihorticulture systems of western and central India and the coffee agroforests of southern peninsular India. Similarly, soil organic carbon (SOC) ranged between 12.26–170.43 Mg ha⁻¹, with the highest SOC in the coffee agroforests of southern India and the lowest in the agrisilviculture systems of western India. The AFS which recorded relatively higher SOC included plantation crop-based practices of southern, eastern and northeastern India, followed by the agrihorticulture and agrisilviculture systems of the northern Himalayas. The meta-analysis indicated that the growth and nature of different agroforestry tree species is the key factor affecting the carbon storage capacity of an agroforestry system. The baseline data obtained across various regions could be useful for devising policies on carbon trading or financing for agroforestry. Full article

In recent decades, due to rapid increases in water demand and greater usage of water for irrigation from surface canals, waterlogging problems have been created in the southwest zone of Punjab, coupled with a stagnation in saline zone formation due to salinity ingression. To understand these salinity issues, the present study has been conducted in three districts (Muktsar, Fazilka, and Faridkot) of Punjab to understand the root cause. To this end, groundwater samples were collected from 142 piezometers developed at 40 sites. Electrical conductivity (EC) observations were taken in the field, and collected samples were analyzed for isotopes in the laboratory. Results found that salinity in groundwater arises from the combination of evaporation enrichment and salt dissolution. The dissolved salts may be acquired due to salts from aquifer materials or salts from surface soils dissolving and leaching down with the recharging water. Besides, the zone of interaction is mapped using stable isotopic composition. The study suggests that zone of interaction between aquifers can be effectively used in groundwater augmentation, management, and contamination control at regional and/or global scales to curb water demand in the future. Full article

Increased population and increasing demands for food in the Indo-Gangetic plain are likely to exert pressure on fresh water due to rise in demand for drinking and irrigation water. The study focuses on Bhojpur district, Bihar located in the central Ganga basin, to assess the groundwater quality for drinking and irrigation purpose and discuss the issues and challenges. Groundwater is mostly utilized in the study area for drinking and irrigation purposes (major crops sown in the area are rice and wheat). There were around 45 groundwater samples collected across the study region in the pre-monsoon season (year 2019). The chemical analytical results show that Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ and HCO₃⁻ ions are present in abundance in groundwater and governing the groundwater chemistry. Further analysis shows that 66%, 69% and 84% of the samples exceeded the acceptable limit of arsenic (As), Fe and Mn respectively and other trace metals (Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd) are within the permissible limit of drinking water as prescribed by Bureau of Indian Standard for drinking water. Generally, high As concentration has been found in the aquifer (depth ranges from 20 to 40 m below ground surface) located in proximity of river Ganga. For assessing the irrigation water quality, sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) values, residual sodium carbonate (RSC), Na%, permeability index (PI) and calcium alteration index (CAI) were calculated and found that almost all the samples are found to be in good to excellent category for irrigation purposes. The groundwater facie has been classified into Ca-Mg-HCO₃ type. Full article

Clustering in wireless sensor networks plays a vital role in solving energy and scalability issues. Although multiple deployment structures and cluster shapes have been implemented, they sometimes fail to produce the expected outcomes owing to different geographical area shapes. This paper proposes a clustering algorithm with a complex deployment structure called radial-shaped clustering (RSC). The deployment structure is divided into multiple virtual concentric rings, and each ring is further divided into sectors called clusters. The node closest to the midpoint of each sector is selected as the cluster head. Each sector’s data are aggregated and forwarded to the sink node through angular inclination routing. We experimented and compared the proposed RSC performance against that of the existing fan-shaped clustering algorithm. Experimental results reveal that RSC outperforms the existing algorithm in scalability and network lifetime for large-scale sensor deployments. Full article

Tiger numbers have collapsed so dramatically that conservationists are adopting a strategy of securing populations in priority conservation landscapes. This includes improving management effectiveness in these sites. The Conservation Assured|Tiger Standards (CA|TS) are designed to help ensure effectiveness and provide a benchmark against which to measure progress. CA|TS is a distillation of best practice and a roadmap to management effectiveness, linking management to expert-driven standards covering all aspects of management, including those which are tiger-specific (monitoring, maintenance of prey, control of poaching). Sites are audited against a set of standards and if met, are accredited as CA|TS Approved. We describe CA|TS in the context of tiger conservation, describe the evolution and philosophy of the system and consider its application across the tiger range, before drawing on lessons learned from 5 years of development. Important benefits include the independence of CA|TS from existing governmental or NGO institutions, the emphasis on regional governance and the existence of active support groups. Conversely, the participatory approach has slowed implementation. CA|TS remains more attractive to well managed sites than to sites that are struggling, although building capacity in the latter is its key aim. The close connections between people working on tiger conservation make some aspects of independent assessment challenging. Finally, if CA|TS is to succeed in its long term aims, it needs to go hand in hand with secure and adequate funding to increase management capacity in many tiger conservation areas. Full article

The article describes the use of facile one-pot, high-yielding reactions to synthesize substituted 3,4-dimethyl-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxamides 3a–m and carbohydrazide analogues 5a–l as potential antifungal and antimicrobial agents. The structural identity and purity of the synthesized compounds were assigned based on appropriate spectroscopic techniques. Synthesized compounds were assessed in vitro for antifungal and antibacterial activity. The compounds 5h, 5i and 5j were found to be the most potent against Aspergillus fumigatus, with MIC values of 0.039 mg/mL. The compound 5f bearing a 2, 6-dichloro group on the phenyl ring was found to be the most active broad spectrum antibacterial agent with a MIC value of 0.039 mg/mL. The mode of action of the most promising antifungal compounds (one representative from each series; 3j and 5h) was established by their molecular docking with the active site of sterol 14α-demethylase. Molecular docking studies revealed a highly spontaneous binding ability of the tested compounds in the access channel away from catalytic heme iron of the enzyme, which suggested that the tested compounds inhibit this enzyme and would avoid heme iron-related deleterious side effects observed with many existing antifungal compounds. Full article