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Soil reinforcement is one of the techniques used to enhance the engineer characteristics of the soil. Various techniques can be employed to stabilise problematic soils, such as soft clay. These include the utilisation of portland cement, lime, fly ash, ground freezing, jet grouting, prefabricated vertical drains, and thermal approaches. Similarly, stone columns are one of the most popular methods for enhancing soil and have been adopted across the world to enhance bearing capacity and minimise total and differential settlements of structures built on soft clay. Additionally stone columns serving as vertical drains, thus accelerate consolidation process. But with higher demand of construction material and depletion of natural resources, there is a need of using waste products as a substitute to existing construction materials. In this paper, manufacturing waste like steel slag is used as a sustainable material for column infill and can be affordable and also address the current environmental concern which by removing solid waste… A series of numerical investigation was carried out to study the various behavioural characteristics of virgin soft clay bed, clay bed installed with ordinary steel slag column and also with encased steel slag column. A comparison was made among all for studying the various parameters such as settlement, excess pore water pressure, stress concentration ratio & lateral deformation of columns.

Plants are continuously challenged by different pathogenic microbes that reduce the quality and quantity of produce and therefore pose a serious threat to food security. Among them bacterial pathogens are known to cause disease outbreaks with devastating economic losses in temperate, tropical and subtropical regions throughout the world. Bacteria are structurally simple prokaryotic microorganisms and are diverse from a metabolic standpoint. Bacterial infection process mainly involves successful attachment or penetration by using extracellular enzymes, type secretion systems, toxins, growth regulators and by exploiting different molecules that modulate plant defence resulting in successful colonization. Theses bacterial pathogens are extremely difficult to control as they develop resistance to antibiotics. Therefore, attempts are made to search for innovative methods of disease management by the targeting bacterial virulence and manipulating the genes in host plants by exploiting genome editing methods. Here, we review the recent developments in bacterial disease management including the bioactive antimicrobial compounds, bacteriophage therapy, quorum-quenching mediated control, nanoparticles and CRISPR/Cas based genome editing techniques for bacterial disease management. Future research should focus on implementation of smart delivery systems and consumer acceptance of these innovative methods for sustainable disease management.

This article reviews the varied sources of oligosaccharides available in nature as silent health promoting, integral ingredients of plants as well as animal products like honey and milk. The article focuses on exotic and unfamiliar oligosaccharides like Galactooligosaccharides, Lactulose derived Galactooligosaccharides, Xylooligosaccharides, Arabinooligosaccharides and algae derived Marine oligosaccharides along with the most acknowledged prebiotic fructooligosaccharides. The oligosaccharides are named as on the grounds of the monomeric units forming oligomers with functional properties. The chemical structures, natural sources, microbial enzyme mediated synthesis and physiological effects are discussed. An elaborate account of the different types of oligosaccharides with special reference to fructooligosaccharides are presented. Finally, the profound health benefits of oligosaccharides are rigourously discussed limelighting its positive physiological sequel.

Background Wood apple ( Feronia limonia (L.) Swingle) is an underutilized fruit with unique consumption-linked properties of fruits at different maturity stages. This study aimed to examine the biochemical and nutritional composition and metabolite dynamics of wood apple fruits at three major stages of development to better comprehend their food and nutraceutical values at unripe mature (S1), intermediate ripe (S2), and fully ripe (S3) stages. Results Moisture content, total soluble solids (TSS), pectin, and carbohydrates increased from S1 to S3, while titratable acidity and ascorbic acid decreased. Phenolic content and antioxidant activity increased from the unripe mature to the fully ripe stage, while total flavonoid content did not differ remarkably. Regardless of fruit maturity stage, caffeic acid was the most abundant phenolic compound, followed by gallic acid and ellagic acid. Mineral analysis showed an increase in P and K with ripening, while Ca, Fe, and Cu decreased. Metabolite profiling identified 75 compounds that showed increasing diversity with fruit maturity, particularly in sugars, amino acids, phenolics, and lipids. Unique sugars and phenolics were stage-specific, indicating biochemical transitions contributing to flavour and nutritional value. Principal component analysis (PCA) effectively discriminated the three fruit maturity stages and identified the key biochemical attributes associated with each stage. Correlation analysis revealed strong relationships between fruit weight, pulp characteristics, moisture, TSS, and antioxidant traits. Conclusions The findings of the present study provide comprehensive insights into ripening dynamics and improve the existing understanding concerning the optimal stages of harvesting for specific nutraceutical-rich value-added uses of wood apple fruits.

The updated edition of this book presents an introduction to the multidisciplinary field of automation and robotics for industrial applications. The book initially covers the important concepts of hydraulics and pneumatics and how they are used for automation in an industrial setting. It then moves to a discussion of circuits and using them in hydraulic, pneumatic, and fluidic design. The latter part of the book deals with electric and electronic controls in automation and final chapters are devoted to robotics, robotic programming, and applications of robotics in industry. New chapters on UAVs (Ch. 19) and AI in Industrial Automation (Ch. 20) are featured. The companion files include numerous video tutorial projects.

Previous studies have indicated that variants of the high sensitive C-reactive protein (CRP), Interleukin (IL)-6 and leptin receptor (LEPR) genes are associated with the presence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) but not in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in Asian Indians. The study was conducted to investigate the association of CRP rs1130864 (1444C/T), IL-6 rs1800795 (-174G/C) and LEPR rs1137101 (Q223R) genes with OSA and NAFLD in Asian Indians residing in North India. 240 overweight/ obese subjects [body mass index (BMI>23kg/m2)], 124 with OSA and with NAFLD (group 1), 47 with OSA without NAFLD (group 2), 44 without OSA and with NAFLD (group 3) and 25 without OSA and without NAFLD (group 4) were recruited in this study. The severity of NAFLD was based on abdomen liver ultrasound and of OSA on overnight polysomnography. Clinical details, anthropometry profile, body composition, biochemical parameters and inflammatory markers were measured. Polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism of CRP, IL-6 and LEPR gene was performed. The associations of these polymorphisms with clinical, anthropometric and biochemical profiles were investigated. The genotypes were confirmed by DNA sequencing analysis. The C, T and R alleles of IL-6, CRP and LEPR genes was more frequent in OSA and NAFLD subjects and significantly correlated with higher protein levels. The prevalence of variant genotypes C/T of CRP, G/C of IL-6 and Q/R of LEPR genes was significantly higher in OSA subjects as compared to non OSA subjects. Further, C/C genotype of IL-6 (G/C), T/T of CRP (C/T) and RR genotype of LEPR (Q/R) was associated with significantly higher BMI, fat mass (kg), % body fat, waist circumference, serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, alkaline phosphate, aspartate transaminase and fasting insulin levels in OSA and NAFLD subjects. Using a multivariate analysis, the combined effect of three polymorphisms of CRP, IL-6 and LEPR gene variants on OSA and NAFLD risk was evaluated. Odds ratio for OSA and NAFLD with the combination of the three gene polymorphisms increased to 2.84 (95% CI: 1.08-6.54; p = 0.04) even when adjusted for sex, age and BMI. Polymorphisms of pro-inflammatory cytokine genes were associated with increased risk of OSA and NAFLD in Asian Indians.

Recurrent mutations in core splicing factors have been reported in several clonal disorders, including cancers. Mutations in SF3B1, a component of the U2 splicing complex, are the most common. SF3B1 mutations are associated with aberrant pre-mRNA splicing using cryptic 3′ splice sites (3′SSs), but the mechanism of their selection is not clear. To understand how cryptic 3′SSs are selected, we performed comprehensive analysis of transcriptome-wide changes to splicing and gene expression associated with SF3B1 mutations in patient samples as well as an experimental model of inducible expression. Hundreds of cryptic 3′SS were detectable across the genome in cells expressing mutant SF3B1. These 3′SS are typically sequestered within RNA secondary structures and poorly accessible compared with their corresponding canonical 3′SS. We hypothesized that these cryptic 3′SS are inaccessible during normal splicing catalysis and that this constraint is overcome in spliceosomes containing mutant SF3B1. This model of secondary structure-dependent selection of cryptic 3′SS was found across multiple clonal processes associated with SF3B1 mutations (myelodysplastic syndrome and chronic lymphocytic leukemia). We validated our model predictions in mini-gene splicing assays. Additionally, we found deregulated expression of proteins with relevant functions in splicing factor-related diseases both in association with aberrant splicing and without corresponding splicing changes. Our results show that SF3B1 mutations are associated with a distinct splicing program shared across multiple clonal processes and define a biochemical mechanism for altered 3′SS choice.

Due to extensive root system, connected rhizome bamboos are considered suitable for improving soil properties within a short period, though most of the claims are anecdotal and need to be supported with quantified data. The study evaluates seven bamboo species viz., Bambusa balcooa, Bambusa bambos, Bambusa vulgaris, Bambusa nutans, Dendrocalamus hamiltonii, Dendrocalamus stocksii and Dendrocalamus strictus for their rooting pattern and impact on soil health properties. Coarse and fine root intensity was maximum in B. vulgaris . Coarse root biomass ranged from 0.6 kg m −3 in B. nutans to 2.0 kg m −3 in B. vulgaris and B. bambos . Fine root biomass ranged from 1.1 kg m −3 in B. nutans to 4.5 kg m −3 in D. hamiltonii . Contribution of fine roots in terms of intensity and biomass was much higher than coarse roots. Fine root biomass showed declining trend with increase in soil depth in all the species. During sixth year, the litter fall ranged from 8.1 Mg ha −1 in D. stocksii to 12.4 Mg ha −1 in D. hamiltonii . Among soil physical properties significant improvement were recorded in hydraulic conductivity, water stable aggregates and mean weight diameter. Soil pH, organic carbon and available phosphorus under different species did not reveal any significant changes, while significant reduction was observed in total nitrogen and potassium. Significant positive correlation was observed between WSA and iron content. Soil microbial population and enzyme activities were higher in control plot. Considering root distribution, biomass, soil hydraulic conductivity and water stable aggregates, B. bambos , B. vulgaris and D. hamiltonii are recommended for rehabilitation of degraded lands prone to soil erosion.

Purpose: To compare observation versus subthreshold green laser (STL) in acute central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) in terms of anatomical and functional outcomes. Methods: Prospective randomized interventional study. 30 eyes with the first episode of acute CSC underwent complete ophthalmologic examination, measurement of best-corrected Snellen visual acuity (BCVA), contrast sensitivity (CS), fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA), spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), and multifocal electroretinography (mfERG) at baseline. Patients were randomized equally to group A (observation) or group B (STL using 532 nm wavelength applied to the leakage point). Outcome measures included BCVA, CS, central foveal thickness (CFT), and mean macular thickness (MMT) on SD-OCT and P1 amplitude and implicit time (IT) on mfERG. Patients were followed up for 6 months. Results: Mean BCVA was comparable between the two groups on follow up; however, mean CS was significantly higher in group B at 6 months (P = 0.032). CFT was significantly lower in group B at 1 month (P = 0.001) and 3 months (P = 0.049); however, this difference was not maintained at 6 months (P = 0.265). P1 amplitude and IT in all 5 rings were comparable between the two groups at baseline. On follow up, P1 amplitude of ring 1 became significantly higher in group B at 3 months (P = 0.036) and 6 months (P = 0.022). Conclusion: Immediate treatment of acute CSC with STL, as compared to conservative management, leads to more rapid resolution on SD-OCT and superior functional outcomes as evidenced by CS and mfERG.

Efforts to enrich the varietal wealth in litchi with desired cultivars have been attempted. At ICAR-NRCL hybridization efforts have been emphasized for the past decades. The observed characteristic features and constraints encountered during the period were identified and systematic observations were taken. Studies show that the low genetic variability, small window of flowering period and stigma receptivity, small flower size, panicle injury, high flower and fruit drop, low seed germination and survivability are the prime hurdle that needs to be addressed. On average, the flowering period reported is 10–14 days which is even shorter during periods of increasing weather temperature. Across cultivars, the effective pollination period is very narrow and coincidence of stigma receptivity among cultivars was observed making it very challenging to attempt a maximum number of crosses within a short period. It was also observed that large numbers of small-sized and delicate flowers are produced in a panicle which injure the panicles during thinning and emasculation. Less than 3% of pollinated flowers were observed to attain fruit set which also registered low fruit retention during subsequent fruit development. The attack of seed borer at both the early and mature stages of fruit growth was noted which rendered the seeds non-viable. Parent incompatibility and very low success rate of hybrid seedling establishment were also observed especially in crosses involving small seeded parents like ‘Bedana’. Here we present findings from a decade of experimentation on hybridization in litchi and document hurdles that come in the way of developing hybrids in litchi. Such information will be crucial for devising strategies for an effective litchi breeding programme.