Explore the vast range of titles available.

Information on the variability available in lignan and fatty acid content in the oilseed crop of Sesamum indicum has been limited. This article presents and discusses the composition, quantity, and variability available for the two traits in the sesame germplasm that are grown in diverse agro climatic regions of India. HPLC and GC analysis of sesame seeds harvested over a period of three crop seasons revealed a considerable amount of variability in lignan and fatty acids. The antioxidant lignans sesamol, sesamin and sesamolin were observed to be in the range of 0.16–3.24, 2.10–5.98 and 1.52–3.76 mg/g of seed, respectively. Similarly oleic and linoleic acids, respectively, have ranged from 34.71 to 45.61% and 38.49 to 49.60%. The black sesame seeds were found rich in sesamin, sesamolin, total lignan content and oleic acid and are thus identified nutritionally and pharmaceutically more important than white and brown seeds. Pearson statistics showed a strong correlation between the components within a particular trait and also some correlation was found between the traits. The study revealed promising cultivars for use in sesame breeding aimed at improving lignan and fatty acid contents, and can be thus directly used in human foods, nutrition, health and welfare.

Key message Seed weight QTL identified in different populations were synthesized into consensus QTL which were shown to harbor candidate genes by in silico mapping. Allelic variation inferred would be useful in breeding B. juncea lines with high seed weight. Seed weight is an important yield influencing trait in oilseed Brassicas and is a multigenic trait. Among the oilseed Brassicas, Brassica juncea harbors the maximum phenotypic variation wherein thousand seed weight varies from around 2.0 g to more than 7.0 g. In this study, we have undertaken quantitative trait locus/quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis of seed weight in B. juncea using four bi-parental doubled-haploid populations. These four populations were derived from six lines (three Indian and three east European lines) with parental phenotypic values for thousand seed weight ranging from 2.0 to 7.6 g in different environments. Multi-environment QTL analysis of the four populations identified a total of 65 QTL ranging from 10 to 25 in each population. Meta-analysis of these component QTL of the four populations identified six ‘consensus’ QTL ( C - QTL ) in A3, A7, A10 and B3 by merging 33 of the 65 component Tsw QTL from different bi-parental populations. Allelic diversity analysis of these six C - QTL showed that Indian lines, Pusajaikisan and Varuna, hold the most positive allele in all the six C - QTL . In silico mapping of candidate genes with the consensus QTL localized 11 genes known to influence seed weight in Arabidopsis thaliana and also showed conserved crucifer blocks harboring seed weight QTL between the A subgenomes of B. juncea and B. rapa . These findings pave the way for a better understanding of the genetics of seed weight in the oilseed crop B. juncea and reveal the scope available for improvement of seed weight through marker-assisted breeding.

Peste des petits ruminants is an important transboundary disease infecting small ruminants. Genome or gene sequence analysis enriches our knowledge about the evolution and transboundary nature of the causative agent of this disease, peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV). Although analysis using whole genome sequences of pathogens leads to more precise phylogenetic relationships, when compared to individual genes or partial sequences, there is still a need to identify specific genes/genomic regions that can provide evolutionary assessments consistent with those predicted with full-length genome sequences. Here the virulent Izatnagar/94 PPRV isolate was assembled and compared to all available complete genome sequences (currently in the NCBI database) to estimate nucleotide diversity and to deduce evolutionary relationships between genes/genomic regions and the full length genomes. Our aim was to identify the preferred candidate gene for use as a phylogenetic marker, as well as to predict divergence time and explore PPRV phylogeography. Among all the PPRV genes, the H gene was identified to be the most diverse with the highest evolutionary relationship with the full genome sequences. Hence it is considered as the most preferred candidate gene for phylogenetic study with 93% identity set as a nucleotide cutoff. A whole genome nucleotide sequence cutoff value of 94% permitted specific differentiation of PPRV lineages. All the isolates examined in the study were found to have a most recent common ancestor in the late 19th or in the early 20th century with high posterior probability values. The Bayesian skyline plot revealed a decrease in genetic diversity among lineage IV isolates since the start of the vaccination program and the network analysis localized the ancestry of PPRV to Africa.

Structural modification in a series of polyvalent metal chloride - alkali chloride binary molten salt mixtures has been investigated using the pulsed neutron diffraction technique. Structure factors have been measured for NiCl2- KCl, NiCl2-LiCl and ZnCl2-LiCl samples spanning the entire composition range. The key finding was that the degree of structural modification is dependent on the relative size and polarising power of the two cation species. The mixtures of NiCl2, and ZnCl2, with LiCl largely appear to be admixtures of the two pure salt structures, whereas adding KCl to NiCl2 results in a better ordered, more regularly tetrahedral local structure around the metal cation and enhancement of the first sharp diffraction peak (FSDP). A simple model involving charge ordering of discrete tetrahedral units by alkali counter-ions is proposed as an explanation for the enhanced intermediate range order. In order to identify some of the partial structure factor contributions to the enhanced FSDP, the scattering was measured for three isotopically-enriched NiCl2+2KCl samples. A complementary isotopic substitution experiment was performed on three ZnCl2+2KCl samples. The results generally confirm the findings of the composition study, with a strong similarity between the two molten salt systems also being evident. In addition, RMC modelling supports the proposed model for intermediate range order in the mixtures. Structure factors were also measured for AlCl3-LiCl and AlCl3-NaCl samples covering the entire composition range. Several features consistent with strong charge ordering of discrete tetrahedral units by alkali counter-ions were identified. In addition, RMC modelling of the data for pure AICl3 strongly challenges the 'established' view of the structure and an alternative 'sparse network liquid' model is proposed which emphasises the similarity to ZnCl2.

The present work focuses on the role of topographic factors, sediment sources, and their connectivity in determining the flash flood hazard in mountain terrain. The study highlights the climatic and topographic configuration of the Dhauli Ganga Valley of the NW Himalaya that have contributed to the vulnerability of the area. We employed the digital elevation model, satellite data, and field observations to produce the stream profile, stream power index, land use land cover map, and connectivity index to better understand the interaction between topographic parameters and sediment transport dynamics in the high-altitude region. Furthermore, the 2D hydrodynamic model in HAC-RAS software was used to analyze the risk of flash flooding caused by a potential glacier lake outburst. The sedimentary landforms of the valley show evidence of high-magnitude paleo-flood, suggesting enormous potential for the valley to generate high-magnitude floods during extreme events and climate change. The analyses show that the channel slope and sediment availability vary from the headwater glaciated region to the trunk river. These factors, along with connectivity, determine the nature of the hazards associated with the flash flood. The upper reaches have considerable sediment availability, but due to low stream power, the sediments reside there for a considerable time. The middle section has high stream power because of the optimization of the slope and stream discharge, which plays a significant role in sediment entrainment. The trunk river in the lower reaches works like the local sink and, accordingly, leads to sedimentation during flood events. The study highlights the need for a quaternary geological approach in assessing long-term hazard potential and risk reduction in the Himalayan terrain. Research highlights Quaternary geological methods offer valuable insights into long-term flash flood hazards. The valley has a large quantity of sediments in the paraglacial zones. Sediment availability and transport dynamics dictate damage patterns in the higher Himalayas. The Dhauli Ganga Valley faces increased glacial hazards due to the growing number and size of glacial lakes. Sediment connectivity and stream power provide an account of sediment dynamics and hazards.

Floods are becoming more frequent in Himalaya, particularly in the NW Himalaya, and have been related to the increasing impact of changing climate. Uttarakhand in the NW Himalaya has witnessed 2 major flood events in the last decade that killed more than 6000 people. This study is an attempt to explore the impact of potential flood on a riverbank slope in Uttarakhand, NW Himalaya. The response of this riverbank slope during extreme rainfall is also explored in terms of stability and debris flow runout. Therefore, we evaluated the riverbank slope stability and the runout extent of its material to understand the slope response during extreme rainfall. Flood simulation was also performed to determine the potential flood impact on the riverbank slope. Results revealed that the slope material at the exposed fluvial sequence and slope toe might displace forward ~0.12–0.4 m. The potential debris flow from the slope may impact the retaining wall supporting the slope with a pressure up to 150 k Pa. The potential flood may strike the riverbank with a velocity and stream power of 10 ± 2 m/s and 0.2 ± 0.1 M N/m-s, respectively, which is about three times higher than the approximated resistance of the retaining wall.

The objective of the present study is to investigate the influence of surface modification on systemic stability of NPs. Vitamin E TPGS (1% w/v) was used for surface modification of berberine chloride nanoparticles. Naked and surface modified NPs were incubated in different SBFs (pH 6.8 and 7.4) with or without bile salts and human plasma. NPs were observed for particle agglomeration and morphology by particle size analyzer and TEM, respectively. The haemocompatibility studies were conducted on developed NPs to evaluate their safety profile. The surface modified NPs were stable compared to naked NPs in different SBFs due to the steric stabilization property of vitamin E TPGS. Particle agglomeration was not seen when NPs were incubated in SBF (pH 6.8) with bile salts. No agglomeration was observed in NPs after their incubation in plasma but particle size of the naked NPs increased due to adhesion of plasma proteins. The TEM images confirmed the particle size results. DSC and FT-IR studies confirmed the coexistence of TPGS in surface modified NPs. The permissible haemolysis, LDH release, and platelet aggregation revealed that NPs were compatible for systemic administration. Thus, the study illustrated that the surface modification is helpful in the maintenance of stability of NPs in systemic conditions.