We investigated a scenario where the presence of a broad absorption line (BAL) feature in quasars (QSOs) is contingent upon the line of sight being situated within an outflow cone emanating from the source. We examined the mechanism of dust-driven winds based on the failed radiatively accelerated dusty outflow (FRADO) model proposed by Czerny & Hryniewicz, letting it be responsible for the formation of massive outflow. We calculated the probability of observing the BAL effect from the geometry of outflow which is a function of global parameters of black hole mass (M•), Eddington ratio (αEdd), and metallicity (Z). We then compared the results with prevalence of BAL QSOs in a sample of observational data from SDSS. The consistency of our model with the data supports the interpretation of the BAL phenomenon as a result of source orientation, rather than a transitory stage in AGN evolution.

Magnetic characteristics of nanocrystalline CoNi alloy materials embedded in silica matrix (KIT-6) have been investigated. CoNi alloys with different loading (4–12 wt%) were synthesized via a novel chemical reduction route. The materials are characterized by UV–VIS, IR, powder x-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and studied for their adsorption–desorption and magnetic properties. CoNi alloys crystallize in pure fcc phase with lattice parameters (a) and crystallite sizes in the range of 3.53(±2)–3.54(±2) Å and 13.6(±1)–16.3(±1) nm, respectively. TEM microscopy studies reveal nanocrystalline nature of the materials. Enhancement of magnetic moment with the increase in loading wt% for CoNi alloys embedded in silica matrix is observed. The values of coercivity tend to decrease after dispersion in silica matrix and thereafter increase with increasing loading wt% of various CoNi loaded samples. The observed magnetic properties have been explained on the basis of size, surface effects, and dipolar interactions.

Large areas of rainfed lowlands of Asia annually experienced flash flooding during the rice-growing season, which is an important abiotic stress that adversely affect grain yield of rice (Oryza sativa L.) crop. Submergence stress is a common environmental challenge for agriculture sustainability in these areas because lack of high-yielding, flood-tolerant cultivars. In this study, IR64-Sub1 and IR64 were compared for their tolerance to submergence at active tillering (AT), panicle initiation (PI) and heading (H) stages with nitrogen and phosphorus application time. We evaluated the role of cultivars, stage of submergence and N and P application on phenology, leaf senescence (LS), photosynthetic (Pn) rate, yield attributes and yield. Under non-submerged conditions, no difference was observed in phenology, Pn rate and yield of both cultivars. Submergence substantially reduced biomass, Pn rate, yields attributes and yield across cultivars with more drastic reduction in IR64. Submergence at H stage proves to be most detrimental. Nitrogen application after desubmergence with basal P improved the Pn rate resulting in significantly higher yield and yield components. Nitrogen application before submergence resulted in increased LS and ethylene accumulation in shoots leading to drastic reduction in growth, Pn rate and yield. Crop establishment and productivity could therefore be enhanced in areas where untimely flooding is anticipated by avoiding N application before submergence and applying N after desubmergence with basal P (phosphorus).

This study reports clinico-epidemiological features and viral agents causing acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) in the eastern Indian region through hospital-based case enrolment during April 2011 to July 2012. Blood and CSF samples of 526 AES cases were investigated by serology and/or PCR. Viral aetiology was identified in 91 (17·2%) cases. Herpes simplex virus (HSV; types I or II) was most common (16·1%), followed by measles (2·6%), Japanese encephalitis virus (1·5%), dengue virus (0·57%), varicella zoster virus (0·38%) and enteroviruses (0·19%). Rash, paresis and cranial nerve palsies were significantly higher (P < 0·05) with viral AES. Case-fatality rates were 10·9% and 6·2% in AES cases with and without viral aetiology, respectively. Simultaneous infection of HSV I and measles was observed in seven cases. This report provides the first evidence on viral aetiology of AES viruses from eastern India showing dominance of HSV that will be useful in informing the public health system.

Maize is the preferred energy cereal used in poultry feed formulations because ofits high energy, low fibre and the presence of pigments and essential fattyacids. Consequently because it is a primary source of energy, due to its higherlevel of inclusion in poultry diets (60-70%), it contributes approximately 30%of the protein requirement of poultry. However, maize, like other cereals, isdeficient in certain essential amino acids, such as lysine and tryptophan.Therefore, to meet the requirements of these essential amino acids, farmers andfeed producers usually supplement poultry rations with synthetic amino acids.Quality protein maize (QPM), with almost double the lysine and tryptophanlevels, is no different from that of normal maize (NM) in terms of the quantityof energy and protein it contains. Consequently, inclusion of QPM in poultryformulations will enable the feed manufacturer to produce feeds requiringminimal or no additional supplementation of crystalline amino acids particularlylysine and tryptophan. This review examines the available research on thenutritional value of QPM in poultry for its commercial exploitation as a feedmaterial.

Under intermediate deepwater (15–50 cm) conditions, sulphur-coated urea (SOU) drilled behind the plough at sowing was superior to other coated (neem, lac, coaltar) urea materials and broadcast incorporation of prilled urea in increasing the yield of direct-sown rice. In transplanted rice, the grain yield was highest with urea super granules (USG) placed 30 days after transplanting (DAT) followed by SOU broadcast incorporation at planting. N-use efficiency increased considerably with SCU drilled behind the plough or USG placed 20 days after sowing in shallow standing water in direct-sown rice and SCU broadcast incorporation or USG placed 30 DAT in transplanted rice.

In an intermediate deepwater (15–50 cm) situation, the number of tillers increased with increase of nitrogen fertilizer from 0 to 40 and 80 kg/ha and of seed rate from 100 to 200, 300 and 400 seeds/m2. The tiller mortality due to higher water depth was higher under no-N treatment and under higher seed rates. The number of panicles and grain yield increased significantly with increase in N. Similarly, an increase in the seed rate increased the number of panicles and decreased the number of grains per panicle and panicle weight. The grain yields of the different seed rates were similar. The interaction between N levels and seed rates was not significant.

Under conditions of semi-deep water (51–100 cm) rice varieties with greater plant height produced more dry matter and grain yield as N fertilizer was increased from 0 to 20 and 40 kg/ha. The varieties which performed better in a situation of slow rise in water level to a depth of 120 cm could not survive a quick rise in water level owing to their lesser plant height and elongation ability. The loss of dry matter (dead and dried leaves) was also greater in varieties susceptible to deep water than varieties tolerant of deep water.

With the increase in N fertilizer, there was increase in plant height, number of tillers, dry-matter production and grain yield. The loss of dry matter was less in crops given N fertilizer than in those not given N fertilizer. The varieties capable of producing higher grain yield in response to N fertilizer under semi-deep water did not improve their grain yield under intermediate deep water (15–50 cm). With increase in application of N fertilizer from 0 to 40 kg/ha the N concentration in grain increased. N concentration did not vary in straw under intermediate deep water, there was no definite trend in semi-deep water, and it was higher under conditions of semi-deep than intermediate deep water.

The flow field of an airfoil oscillated periodically over a reduced frequency range, 0 ≤ k ≤ 1.6, is studied experimentally at chord Reynolds numbers of Rc = 22000 and 44000. For most of the data, the NACA0012 airfoil is pitched sinusoidally about one quarter chord between angles of attack α of 5° and 25°. The cyclic variation of the near wake flow field is documented through flow visualization and phase-averaged vorticity measurements. In addition to the familiar dynamic stall vortex (DSV), an intense vortex of opposite sign is observed to originate from the trailing edge just when the DSV is shed. The two together take the shape of the cross-section of a large ‘mushroom’ while being convected away from the airfoil. The phase delay in the shedding of the DSV with increasing k, as observed by previous researchers, is documented for the full range of k. It is observed that the sum of the absolute values of all vorticity convected into the wake over a cycle is nearly constant and is independent of the reduced frequency and amplitude of oscillation but dependent on the mean α. The time varying component of the lift is estimated in a novel way from the shed vorticity flux. The analytical foundation of the method and the various approximations are discussed. The estimated lift hysteresis loops are found to be in reasonable agreement with available data from the literature as well as with limited force balance measurements. Comparison of the lift hysteresis loops with the corresponding vorticity fields clearly shows that major features of the lift variation are directly linked to the evolution of the large-scale vortical structures and the phase delay phenomenon.

This is a review of the work undertaken to establish the nutrient requirements of, and feeding practices suitable for, quail under tropical and subtropical conditions. Three types of diet are recommended during commercial rearing as follows: a starter up to two weeks of age, a grower from three to five weeks and a layer mash for birds of more than six weeks of age. For optimum growth of quail broilers, a diet containing 27% protein with 11.72 MJ metabolisable energy (ME)/kg is recommended up to two weeks of age and a diet containing 24% protein with the same energy for birds from three to five weeks. The diet for layer type starter quail should contain 24% protein with an energy concentration of 11.72 MJ ME/kg. Dietary protein contents of 20% for growers and 19% for both layers and breeders appear adequate. Experiments with particular reference to lysine, methionine, vitamin A, calcium, phosphorus, manganese and zinc were also conducted. Based on these trials and those of others, practical dietary concentrations of nutrients for various age groups and production purposes are proposed.

The energies and resonance widths of single doped quantum wells consisting of Al-GaAs/GaAs with rectangular and annealing induced diffusion modified shapes are calculated under an uniform electric field using the stabilization method. The electronic structure is calculated without an electric field in the finite temperature density functional theory with exchange-correlation potential treated in the local density approximation. Our scheme for solving the Schrödinger and Poisson equations is based on the Fourier series method. The electric field is added to the self-consistent potential and energies are obtained as a function of the combined width of the well and barriers. This yields us the stabilization graph from which the energies and resonance widths at different field strengths are extracted using the Fermi Golden rule.

Surgical therapy for early lesions of the tongue should have the potential to be both oncologically sound and easy to rehabilitate. Obviously, the amount of tongue left behind after surgery is proportional to the post-operative function. Hence accurate mapping of the diseased tongue is of paramount importance in order to limit or extend the resection margins. We have evaluated the use of ultrasound in carcinoma of the tongue, and also compared its relative accuracy with physical examination for determining the extent of growth, keeping the histopathological size as a gold standard. We found that ultrasound is more accurate in detecting T2 and T3 tumours than T1 lesions. Intraoral sonographic mappng may be the answer for such small lesions. In addition, ultrasonography is beneficial in showing spread to contiguous areas of the tongue. However, post-radiation fibrosis and frank residual disease were not differentiated accurately by ultrasound. Thus ultrasonography can be an effective investigative tool and together with physical examination it can increase diagnostic accuracy leading to precise surgery for carcinoma of the tongue.

Poultry production in India has made rapid progress in the last three decades. The estimated 27 billion eggs produced in 1991 represented a 12-fold increase compared with 1961. Broiler production, which was only four million in 1971, increased to around 250 million in 1991 – almost a 60-fold increase in 20 years. The retail value of poultry and poultry products was about 35 billion rupees in 1991 compared with around 8 and 0.65 billion rupees in 1980 and 1961, respectively. The increase in poultry production also created employment for about 100 000 farm workers. Efforts are directed at achieving self-reliance and self-sufficiency in all spheres of poultry production by 2000 A.D. The annual output of eggs is likely to increase to 40 billion and broiler production to 400million during this period. Not only will this increase the per capita availability of eggs and poultry meat and so help in the fight against malnutrition, it will also provide many additional job opportunities. To achieve these objectives more emphasis is being placed on applied research, the creation of infrastructure, and on facilities for producing adequate numbers of trained people. There is also greater effort aimed at stimulating transfer of technology and making more investment capital available from financial institutions. This in turn will contribute to improved rural production, greater diversification within the poultry sector, and the introduction of basic quality control at all stages of production and marketing. The scope for market intervention to help provide producers with reasonable prices is being assessed. The opening of Indian markets to non-resident Indians and others interested in poultry development and accelerating the pace of development by the creation of appropriate organizations such as the National Poultry Development Board and the National Bureau of Poultry Genetic Resources, are also envisaged.

Let Nn(ω) be the number of real roots of the random algebraic equation Σnv = 0 avξv (ω)xv = 0, where the ξv(ω)'s are independent, identically distributed random variables belonging to the domain of attraction of the normal law with mean zero and P{ξv(ω) ≠ 0} > 0; also the av 's are nonzero real numbers such that (kn/tn) = 0(log n) where kn = max0≤v≤n |av| and tn = min0≤v≤n |av|. It is shown that for any sequence of positive constants (εn, n ≥ 0) satisfying εn → 0 and ε2nlog n → ∞ there is a positive constant μ so that for all n0 sufficiently large.

Although spent hens are economically important, they are considered a by-product of the egg industry and efforts are therefore needed if better quality meat and higher returns are to be achieved. This review has compiled information on various aspects of spent hen processing and utilization. Meat and fat yields depend on age and weight of the birds with heavy hens producing better yields and better quality products than light weight birds. Except for muscle tissue removed almost intact by filleting machines, hand deboned meat is superior to mechanically deboned meat. Toughness of spent hen meat is no obstacle to the production of a variety of comminuted products. Such by-products as skin, gizzard, heart, ova yolk and fat can be utilized in emulsion-based chicken and other meat products. The use of phosphates to produce better quality spent hen meat products has been demonstrated. Improved deboning techniques and modern methods of meat processing are capable of enhancing the quality and value of meat from spent hens leading to greater demand and better financial returns.

The technological advances in the processing and preservation of quail eggs and meat, evaluation of their nutritive values and development of further processed products therefrom are reviewed. The review of egg and egg products covers the physical and chemical composition of eggs, the influence of age and season on egg quality, storage stability of shell eggs and further processed products including pickled and brined eggs. Aspects concerning optimal slaughter age of quails and their processing, yields of carcass and meat, abdominal fat, nutrient composition, preservation and further processed meat products like pickled, tandoori (roasted), fried and smoked quail are also highlighted in this paper.

During the past 15 years poultry production, which for many centuries has been a backyard venture in the countries of southern Asia, has shown faster growth than other sectors of the livestock industry. As an example, India – which has emerged as a leading country in terms of the development of its poultry industry – has reached almost total self-sufficiency in its poultry sector inputs. Over these 15 years, annual egg production in India has trebled to 15 225 million while broiler production has increased 24-fold to 95 million. By the year 2000, annual egg production is expected to reach 30 000 million and broiler production, 400 million, a scale of output that will require a national laying flock of 135 million, 450 million broiler chicks and 7.5 million tonnes of poultry feed. In addition to stimulating the expansion of poultry production, many countries in the region have embarked upon ambitious programmes aimed at improving small-scale poultry keeping as a means of helping to bring socio-economic benefits to rural communities. In much of southern Asia there are major obstacles to the rapid development of poultry production which include the high cost of feed, the lack of suitable health care facilities and frequently the absence of efficient marketing structures. In spite of such constraints, poultry production in the region will continue to grow in response to an increasing demand for eggs and poultry meat.