The present study was conducted to elucidate (1) the influence of kisspeptin (KP) on the in vitro development of preantral follicles (PFs) and (2) evolution of KP receptor gene (KISS1R) expression during ovarian follicular development in sheep. Kisspeptin was supplemented (0–100 µg/ml) in the culture medium of PFs for 6 days. The cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs) from cultured PFs were subsequently matured to metaphase II (MII) for an additional 24 h. The proportions of PFs exhibiting growth, antrum formation, average increase in diameter, and maturation of oocytes to MII stage were the indicators of follicular development in vitro. The expression of the kisspeptin receptor gene at each development stages of in vivo developed (preantral, early antral, antral, large antral and COCs from Graafian follicles) and in vitro cultured PFs supplemented with KP was assessed using a real-time polymerase chain reaction. The best development in all the parameters under study was elicited with 10 µg/ml of KP. Supplementation of KP (10 µg/ml) in a medium containing other growth factors (insulin-like growth factor-I) and hormones (growth hormone, thyroxine, follicle-stimulating hormone) resulted in better PF development. The KISS1R gene was expressed in follicular cells and oocytes at all the development stages of both in vivo developed and in vitro cultured follicles. Higher KISS1R gene expression was supported by culture medium containing KP along with other hormones and growth factors. Accordingly, it is suggested that one of the mechanisms through which KP and other growth factors and hormones influence the ovarian follicular development in mammals is through the upregulation of expression of the KP receptor gene.

We examine the long-term stability (on decade-like timescales) of optical ‘high polarisation’ (HP) state with ${p_{opt}}$ ${> 3\%}$, which commonly occurs in flat-spectrum (i.e., beamed) radio quasars (FSRQs) and is a prominent marker of blazar state. Using this clue, roughly a quarter of the FSRQ population has been reported to undergo HP $\leftrightarrow$ non-HP state transition on year-like timescales. This work examines the extent to which HP (i.e., blazar) state can endure in a FSRQ, despite these ‘frequent’ state transitions. This is the first attempt to verify, using purely opto-polarimetric data for a much enlarged sample of blazars, the recent curious finding that blazar state in individual quasars persists for at least a few decades, despite its changing/swinging observed fairly commonly on year-like timescales. The present analysis is based on a well-defined sample of 83 radio quasars, extracted from the opto-polarimetric survey RoboPol (2013–2017), for which old opto-polarimetric data taken prior to 1990 could be found in the literature. By a source-wise comparison of these two datasets of the same observable ($p_{opt}$), we find that $\sim$90% of the 63 quasars found in blazar state in our RoboPol sample, were also observed to be in that state about three decades before. On the other hand, within the RoboPol survey itself, we find that roughly a quarter of the blazars in our sample migrated to the other polarisation state on year-like timescales, by crossing the customary $p_{opt}$ = 3% threshold. Evidently, these relatively frequent transitions (in either direction) do not curtail the propensity of a radio quasar to retain its blazar (i.e., HP) state for at least a few decades. The observed transitions/swings of polarisation state are probably manifestation of transient processes, like ejections of synchrotron plasma blobs (VLBI radio knots) from the active nucleus.

The observed convective flows on the photosphere (e.g., supergranulation, granulation) play a key role in the Babcock-Leighton (BL) process to generate large scale polar fields from sunspots fields. In most surface flux transport (SFT) and BL dynamo models, the dispersal and migration of surface fields is modeled as an effective turbulent diffusion. We present the first kinematic 3D FT/BL model to explicitly incorporate realistic convective flows based on solar observations. The results obtained are generally in good agreement with the observed surface flux evolution and with non-convective models that have a turbulent diffusivity on the order of 3 × 1012 cm2 s−1 (300 km2 s−1). However, we find that the use of a turbulent diffusivity underestimates the dynamo efficiency, producing weaker mean fields and shorter cycle.

We report on the experimental observation of Smith–Purcell (SP) radiation generation by charged particle beam from laser–matter interactions. High-power laser pulses were focused onto a thin metal foil target to generate proton beams with energies up to 1.7 MeV via the target normal sheath acceleration (TNSA) process. The particle beam from the TNSA process was sent close to a periodic structure to generate SP radiation. Sub-μJ terahertz pulses were recorded using a pyroelectric detector. Simultaneous measurement of the ion spectra allowed us to estimate the power of the emitted radiation and compare it with the experimental results. The distance between the grating and the particle beam was varied and its effect on the emitted radiation was studied.

Adding value to eggs, being a very old concept in foods, is practiced for supplementing nutritive values along with provision for ease of handling too. Some of the value-added egg products include tea/century eggs (for extended shelf life of egg products); low cholesterol eggs (preferred by health conscious customers); and ‘super’ eggs produced through use of either herbal supplements, inclusion of drugs, manipulation of dietary protein and energy content, poly unsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), or additional vitamins and minerals in the poultry diet. These are considered helpful in reducing the risk of heart diseases and in some cancerous conditions.

However, the focus of this review is to concentrate on the production of salted eggs and the process of brining. Sales of salted eggs have been quite encouraging for on its own merits. People in many parts of the globe, prepare and market salted eggs as part of their preservative/extra value but very little scientific information has been available regarding the standardised brining technology and storage quality of salted chicken eggs. Apart from this, no information has been available on the hatching performance of salted eggs, subsequent growth performance of progeny, broiler chick quality and their immune-competence against disease. In view of the requirement for information, it was deemed imperative to consolidate the relevant information to determine future research needs.

Pedigree analysis was used to study the genetic background of 66 Indian early maturing potato selections, the pedigree of which was traced back to 35 ancestors. Six of the 35 contributed 0·42 of the genetic base, which shows the narrow genetic base of Indian early maturing genotypes. Genotypes 2814 (a)1 (f=0·145) and 3069 (d)4 (f=0·145) were the ancestors which appeared most frequently. Based on the coefficient of relationship, the 66 selections were grouped into seven groups with one common ancestor in almost all the selections within a group. The genotypes Kufri Ashoka, Kufri Pukhraj, AGB-69-1, Kufri Jyoti, Kufri Alankar, Kufri Lauvkar and Kufri Kuber were identified as very important parents/ancestors, carrying specific gene complexes valuable in new selections. Crosses between selections from different diversity groups can result in the selection of useful clones while increasing or maintaining genetic diversity, which is desirable to ensure sustainable breeding progress in the future.

Tata is a household name in India. Starting well over a century ago, the Tatas began their foray into industry, and the brand represents more than a diversifed conglomerate. The Tatas are well-respected, having endeared themselves in every walk of Indian life. Their businesses are all-pervasive, from building automobiles and generating electric power to making steel and building supercomputers. Their charitable trusts and endowments are as extensive as their businesses. They have founded and funded outstanding educational institutions and human welfare organizations, and they have supported research on alleviating human suffering. The incumbent of the Tata Group is Ratan Naval Tata, a Cornell University graduate in architecture. In the 20 years since he took over the mantle, he has set the Tata industries on a steep growth trajectory, increasing the revenue of the Tata industries 12-fold, making automobiles—the famed Nano—available at very affordable prices in India, and introducing effcient steelmaking. The business empire he heads, the Tata Group, has over 90 companies with footholds in 80 countries. In the midst of his busy globe-trotting schedule, we managed to steal an hour of his time at the Tatas' “Bombay House” headquarters for him to tell us how he sees the global energy challenges and the opportunities they create.

We conducted surveys in the Trans-Himalayan Tso Lhamo plateau in Sikkim, India, to ascertain the status and distribution of some of India’s last surviving populations of wild ungulates (numbers in brackets are estimates for Sikkim): Tibetan argali Ovis ammon hodgsoni (c. 177 individuals), Tibetan gazelle Procapra picticaudata (c. 77), and kiang Equus kiang polyodon (c. 18). Topography appears to have an important influence on ungulate distribution, and populations of these species are aggregated in a small region along the northern boundary of the plateau. Persistence of the wild ungulates in this area can be attributed to the non-hunting tradition of local residents and to the seasonal absence of livestock (yak Bos grunniens and domestic sheep Ovis aries) and grazing. Nonetheless, wild ungulates remain vulnerable because of their small populations and anthropogenic pressure on their habitats. We recommend that conservation be prioritized in important wildlife habitats through partnerships with local communities.

Commercial-grade dense Ti-6Al-4V alloy substrate was mechanically roughened, cleaned, and treated with a globular protein [bovine serum albumin (BSA)] for 4 h. Biomimetic calcium phosphate (Ca-P) coating was applied onto the above-treated substrate by immersion into simulated body fluid (SBF) at 25 °C for a period of 4 days, with periodic replacement by freshly prepared SBF at 48-h intervals. After 4 days, branched micron-sized fibers of hydroxyapatite (HAp), resembling the structure of bone, were obtained, connecting the clusters of HAp crystal plates in the coating (thickness ∼200 μm) on the substrate surface. Structural and compositional characterization of the coating was carried out using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) with energy-dispersive x-ray analysis unit (EDX) facility, x-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) data. In vitro cytotoxicity (ISO 10993-5, 1999), cell adhesion assays, and phase contrast microscopy were performed using NIH 3T3 fibroblast cell lines to ascertain the bioactivity of the coated substrates, with and without protein treatment. Based on our study, we propose a correlation between a specific physical structure of the HAp coating and its biological properties.

Foxtail millet (Setaria italica (L.) Beauv.) is one of the ten small millets and is cultivated in 23 countries. The foxtail millet is valued as a crop of short duration, which is good as food, feed and fodder. In general, grain yield levels of foxtail millet are low in comparison with other staple cereals. The greater use of diverse germplasm in breeding is suggested as a means to improve the productivity of this crop. The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics genebank is presently holding 1474 cultivated germplasm accessions from 23 countries. To utilize this diversity in research, a core collection (10% of the entire collection) was established using the taxonomic and qualitative traits data. The germplasm accessions were stratified into three taxonomic races (Indica, Maxima and Moharia). Principal coordinate analysis was performed on 12 qualitative traits for each of the biological races, separately that resulted in the formation of 29 clusters. From each cluster, 10% of the accessions were selected to constitute a core collection of 155 accessions. The composition and diversity of the core collection was validated by the χ2-tests of the frequencies of origin, races, subraces and data on qualitative traits. The analysis of the quantitative traits for mean, range, variance, Shannon–Weaver diversity index and phenotypic associations indicated that the diversity from the entire collection was optimally represented in the core collection. The core subset will be evaluated in replicated trials to make a more precise assessment of diversity and further efforts to identify the sources of agronomic and grain nutritional traits for utilization in breeding programmes.

Titanium has proven to be the heat exchanger material of choice for sea-water-cooled power plants owing to its outstanding resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion in a wide range of aggressive media. However, the inertness of the titanium surface makes it highly susceptible to biofilm formation and subsequent biofouling. This can hinder the heat transfer properties and flow of water. Fouling control strategies in condensers include a combination of mechanical, chemical and thermal treatments. However, reports from various industrial situations suggest that mechanical treatment may not have long-term effects. This study aimed to find out whether mechanical cleaning eventually enhances biofilm formation and increases the adherence of biofilm. In our studies epifluorescence micrographs of biofilms on control and mechanically treated titanium surfaces clearly showed accelerated biofilm formation as well as increased adherence on the mechanically cleaned surface. Total counts of viable bacteria acquired by culturing technique, and biofilm thickness measurements made using microscopic techniques, confirmed this observation. Surface profilometry showed increased roughness of the titanium surface, facilitating adherence of biofilm. The number of microbial species was higher on mechanically cleaned and re-exposed surfaces than on fresh titanium. Thus we concluded that mechanical cleaning can increase biofilm formation and adherence of biofilm, thereby increasing the potential of biofouling in the long term.

The structural complexity of the right ventricle has made quantitative evaluation difficult. Conventional cross-sectional echocardiographic methods are limited by geometric assumptions and the position of the planes used for imaging. Previous reports have demonstrated accurate three-dimensional echocardiographic quantitation of the right ventricle in-vitro and in experimental animals. We adapted a previously described method for three-dimensional reconstruction of the left ventricle to compute right ventricular volume and ejection fraction in a clinical setting.

We examined 29 patients aged from 2 to 42 years with pulmonary hypertension, by three-dimensional echocardiography and resonance imaging. Correlation and agreement were calculated for volumes and ejection fractions. Three-dimensional echocardiographic reconstruction, when compared to resonance imaging, yielded r values of 0.95 and 0.93, and mean differences (bias) of 31% ± 19% and 33% ± 18%, for systolic and diastolic volumes respectively. Interobserver variability was low (12.9% and 8.0%). Ejection fraction as calculated by three-dimensional echocardiography showed close agreement with resonance images (bias=l% ±7%). Three dimensional echocardiography is now a method of measuring right ventricular ejection fraction in the clinical setting which produces results comparable to those of resonance imaging. Volume measurements correlated well for systole and diastole, but consistently underestimated values produced from resonance images.