Intensive tillage and on-field residue burning have gained significant traction in South Asia's rice-wheat system (RWS), often with little attention for their economic, soil health, and environmental impacts. This study seeks to identify the resource smart agri-food systems while promoting conservational tillage and residue management practices with pressurized (drip/mini-sprinkler) irrigation systems. A two-years field experiment was executed in RWS to assess the crop establishment [(puddled transplanted rice (PTR) and direct-seeded rice (DSR); conventional tillage wheat (CTW) and zero tillage wheat (ZTW)], conservation tillage (reduced/zero) and residue management (with and without mulching) practices with surface, drip, and mini-sprinkler (MSIS) irrigation techniques. The results indicated that the greater availability of soil moisture in PTR led to notable improvements in both morphological (DMA: 10.8%) and physiological traits (RWC: 5%; Pn: 7.9%, gS: 3.8% and E: 7.4%), ultimately resulting in enhanced yield components [(filled grains per panicle (17%) and 1000-grain weight (8%)] and an overall yield increase of 11% compared to DSR. Furthermore, the yield penalty of 10% associated with DSR was compensated by a 14% enhancement in crop performance in ZTW. The favorable alterations in soil moisture conditions and the more effective utilization of available resources in the pressurized irrigation residue mulched ZTW system (DRIP/MSIS-ZTW+RM) facilitated superior crop growth and enhanced yield metrics, achieving a 17% increase in wheat yields and a 53% improvement in irrigation water use efficiency relative to CTW. Residue mulching increased wheat yield by 7%, with gains of 6.3% in SIS, 7.1% in MSIS, and 7.7% in DRIP-irrigated ZTW. The AquaCrop model performance was deemed adequate to validate and simulate rice and wheat yield and water footprint (WF) for various treatments applied to both the crops. Notably, the DRIP-DSR treatment recorded a 14.2% lower blue WF in comparison to PTR, and a 42.7% reduction when compared to SIS-DSR. For wheat, the DRIP-ZTW treatment demonstrated a 29.4% decrease in blue WF compared to CTW, with residue mulch leading to an additional 32.8% reduction. On average, retaining surface residue as mulch (+RM) resulted in a 10.5% lower blue WF than without mulch (–RM). Transitioning from conventional RWS to a drip-irrigated DSR-ZTW system, complemented by rice residue mulching (DRIP-DSR/ZTW+RM), offers a resource-efficient sustainable alternative for ecological sustainability and food security in the western Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP) and similar regions.

Ag-ZnO nanocomposites were synthesised through a cost effective, sustainable co-precipitation process, providing a scalable route towards developing improved electrode materials. Structure, morphology and surface analysis were characterized using XRD, FESEM, HRTEM, FTIR, XPS, and BET. Electrochemical tests such as cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge–discharge, and potentiostate electrochemical impedance spectroscopy including Nyquist plot, demonstrate a significant improvement in charge storage within Ag-ZnO than that of pure ZnO. Ag-ZnO electrode displayed 900 F g −1 specific capacitance at 10 mV s −1 with an energy density of 22.4 Wh kg −1 due to improved conductivity and lower charge transfer resistance. These results declare Ag-ZnO to be an efficient, high performance tunable electrode material for future electrochemical energy storage devices.

In the present work, a simple and effective hydrothermal method has been used to synthesize a nanocomposite of nickel oxide and molybdenum disulphide. Structural and optical characterizations of the as-synthesised MoS2/NiO nanocomposite nanoparticles were carried out using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and UV-visible spectroscopy techniques. The major peaks of MoS2 and NiO were detected in XRD, confirming the formation of a composite. The reduced band gap of 2.84 eV of MoS2/NiO nanocomposite, as compared to pure NiO with a 3.1 eV bandgap, indicates a blue shift. The surface morphology of MoS2/NiO nanocomposite was measured using field-emission scanning electron microscopy, showing a sheet-like structure with fine particles overlaid on them. Cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were used to determine the processes of charge transfer between electrodes, diffusion of molecules and ions within the electrolyte solution, and ion adsorption on the surface of the the electrode. The as-prepared composite shows an enhanced specific capacitance of 246 F g-1 at20 mV sec-1, a scan rate of which was more than both base materials in pristine form. EIS results thus obtained may give a new direction for supercapacitor applications with the as-synthesized sample.

Rapid industrialization and globalization lead to water pollution. Annually, thousands of tons of dye effluents from various textile industries are discharged into the water stream. Therefore, cost-effective and environmentally friendly techniques are needed to remove dye effluent from industrial water. In this regard, a photocatalytic process of dye degradation is needed to cure for water pollution from dyes. Recently, photocatalysts like TiO2, ZnO, SnO2, g-C3N4, MoS2, ZnS, CeO2, ZrO2, etc. are arising as advanced materials to degrade dye effluents from wastewater. Researchers have developed the concept of nanocomposite, doping, core shell, etc. to improve the photocatalytic performance of metal oxide and sulfide. This review focuses on the classification of dyes, the impact of dyes on aquatic life as well as human beings, and their removal methods from industrial wastewater. Furthermore, type of photocatalyst and factor affecting photocatalytic degradation of dye are discussed in detail.

This work underlines the modification and effect of iron doping on different characteristics of NiO nanoparticles. The facile hydrothermal method was followed to form pristine and iron doped (4% and 8%) NiO sample. The X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV-Vis spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy techniques were employed for the identification of phase, morphology, microstructural details and optical property of the as synthesized Fe doped NiO samples. XRD measurements of the as synthesized Fe doped NiO samples revealed the polycrystalline nature with the crystallite size varying from 11 nm-20 nm showing hexagonal structure. Surface morphology investigation carried out by using SEM showed the varied morphology of as synthesized samples. UV-vis investigation revealed a red shift with increasing iron doping content, which corresponds to a decrease in optical bandgap values from 3.4 eV for pure NiO to 2.2 eV for 8% Fe doped NiO sample thus giving a wide tuneable absorption bandgap. The study of cyclovoltammetry and PEIS demonstrates the novelty of this work showing exceptionally high electrochemical performance in a three-electrode system with highest specific capacitance of 977 F g-1 at scan rate of 20 mV sec-1 for 8% doped sample.Vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) measurement shows good ferromagnetic behaviour with high coercivity for iron doped NiO sample making it a useful MRI agent. The results demonstrate as synthesised iron doped NiO nanoparticles as viable material for supercapacitor applications.

This report presents the synthesis of nickel oxide nanoparticles by hydrothermal route in the presence of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) with Cetyl Trimethyl Ammonium Bromide (CTAB) used as capping agent. Nickel oxide (NiO) being a p- type semiconductor,has wide bandgap and is eco-friendly, low cost and stable material that can serve as promising material for a counter electrode in the DSSC (Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells). The use of capping agent is to control the size of nanoparticles and also prohibit the agglomeration of the synthesized material. The as synthesized nickel oxide nanoparticles (NPs) were analysed using X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique, Field Emission Scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and UV visible spectroscopy. The face-centred cubic (fcc) structure of NiO is revealed by XRD pattern. Surface morphological features associated with nickel oxide were studied by using FESEM. UV–vis spectroscopy is done to evaluate the band gap of as-synthesized material which is found to be around 2.81 eV.

Aims: The net return of pigeonpea cultivated is lower due to failure to implement recommended intercropping and modern technology in the farming community in eastern Uttar Pradesh. To compensate for this anomaly, ICAR-IIVR-KVK, Deoria performed On-Farm-Trials (OFTs) for the evaluation of pigeonpea + maize intercropping in farmers' fields in various adopted villages in the Deoria District of Eastern Uttar Pradesh. Place and Duration of Study: The two year assessment and refinement study was carried out by the Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Malhana, Deoria, working under the ICAR-Indian Institute of Vegetable Research, Varanasi, UP, during 2015–16 to 2016-17. Methodology: In the present study of sole pigeonpea crop and intercropping of pigeonpea + maize was evaluated through on-farm trials (OFTs) among selected farmers’ field during Kharif season 2015-16 to 2016-17 in the eastern region of Uttar Pradesh, India,. Technology options for assessment of sole pigeonpea crop (T1) and pigeonpea + maize (T2) with improved packages and practices developed by IIPR, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, were tested at five selected farmer’s field. Results: Maximum average gross return (Rs 103460 ha-1), net return (Rs 71730 ha-1) and benefit cost ratio (3.2:1) were recorded under intercropping of pigeonpea + maize, which was 41.50 percent, 43.40 and 5.96 percent more than the sown of sole crop of pigeonpea (T1) for gross return, net return and benefit cost ratio respectively, during the period of the on-farm trial. Conclusion: The higher value of the equivalent yield, the more feasible technology for the farming community of Eastern Uttar Pradesh, India.

: This paper comprises of the investigations on the electronic spectra in vapour phase of the experimental molecule 2,5-diamino-4,6-dihydroxy pyrimidine has been recorded in the region 2000 – 3600 Å. The two electronic band system due to n–π* and π-π* transitions have been observed corresponding to 2100 Å and 3000 Å systems of pyrimidine respectively. The ultraviolet assignments have been discussed in terms of ground and excited state fundamental mode and their combinations

Helicobacter pylori (H pylori), a ubiquitous Gram-negative bacteria, was initially discovered as the causative organism of peptic ulcer disease/gastritis. Various studies have pointed towards an increased prevalence of H. pylori infection in ITP and platelet recovery following H pylori eradication therapy. In our study conducted at a tertiary-level hospital in north India, 50 consecutive patients over 16 years with chronic ITP were enrolled and compared with 50 healthy adults. The prevalence of H pylori infection detected by IgG anti-H pylori antibodies was 38% (n=19). In comparison, in the control group, it was 46% (n=23), a non-signicant association between chronic ITPand H pylori infection. It was also noted that the male sex carried a signicant risk for H pylori infection. Low socio-economic status was an important risk factor for H pylori infection. In conclusion, when matched, the seroprevalence of H pylori infection in adult ITP patients is not dissimilar from that of the general population of North India

Introduction: Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (DEC) are responsible for about 30–40% of acute diarrhoea episodes in developing countries. Up to 10% of isolates of E. coli from stool specimens have been reported to be non-lactose fermenting (NLF E. coli). There is scarcity of literature available regarding the pathogenicity of NLF E. coli causing infectious diarrhoea. Aim: We aimed to elucidate the importance of NLF E. coli in causing diarrhoea in both adults as well as children by detecting various DEC pathotypes among NLF E. coli in stool samples from gastroenteritis cases. Material and Methods: A total of 376 non-lactose fermenting (NLF) E. coli isolates isolated from 3110 stool samples of diarrhoea/ gastroenteritis patients were included in the study. Upto 3 non-lactose fermenting colonies which did not confirm as V.cholerae, Aeromonas spp., Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., but were identified as E.coli on MALDI-TOF were selected from each MacConkey agar plate and streaked onto fresh, sterilized nutrient agar and biochemical reactions were put up. Multiplex PCR was put up for EAEC, EPEC, ETEC, EHEC pathotypes and PCR for ipaH gene was put up for EIEC. Antibiotic sensitivity testing was performed with the disc diffusion method. Results: Using multiplex PCR and ipaH PCR, a total of 63 pathotypes of DEC were obtained, EAEC being the most predominant (n= 31) followed by EIEC (n=22), EPEC (n=8) and ETEC (n=2). To further differentiate EIEC from Shigella, additional biochemicals were performed which include acetate utilization, mucate and salicin fermentation, and esculin hydrolysis. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) showed that maximum resistance was seen against ciprofloxacin (82.5%) followed by ampicillin (77.8%) and cotrimoxazole (68.2%) and minimum resistance was seen against ertapenem (4.8%). Conclusion: In our study two pathotypes (EAEC, EIEC) were predominant among NLF E. coli and these were important etiological agents not only in children but also in adults. Our study also sheds light on epidemiology of EIEC which is one of the most neglected DEC pathotype as hardly any microbiological laboratory process NLF E. coli for EIEC.

Aims: The production of cost of wheat is higher in farmers practice than the zero tillage sown of wheat due to non-adoption of recommended resource conservation technology, high-yielding varieties and advanced technologies by the farming community in the eastern plains of Uttar Pradesh. To replace this anomalous, we conducted 204 front-line demonstrations (FLDs) at farmers' fields in various adopted villages by Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Deoria. Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out by the Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Malhana, Deoria, under the Indian Institute of Vegetable Research, Varanasi, UP. A total of 90, 12 and 50 FLDs were conducted under raised bed sowing with three varieties of pigeon pea ( Narendra Arhar 1, Pusa Bahar and Narendra Arhar 2) from 2014-15 to 2018-19 respectively. Methodology: Prior findings were examined to identify any gaps and to enlist everyone's assistance in disseminating such a technology of global relevance. In the eight years from 2011–12 to 2018–19, a total of 204 FLDs were carried out at the 230 farmer’s fields in the 32 villages where wheat was sown by zero tillage Result: Rice-wheat cropping systems are the most often used agricultural method in Uttar Pradesh, India's hot, sub-humid (wet) eco-region. It provides farmers and agricultural labourers with a source of subsistence and revenue and is a crucial aspect of the region's infrastructure for food safety. In order to attain sustainable yield, it is always thought necessary to employ other alternatives of conserving essential inputs by adopting resources conservative techniques (RCT), such as zero tillage and broad bed furrow (BBF). According to the economic analysis of the data presented in the current study, zero tillage wheat farming is the most cost-effective and appealing alternative for the agricultural community of eastern Uttar Pradesh. When compared to the broadcasting method, the zero tillage technique yielded a higher return and a lower cost of cultivation per acre. Finally, the use of this strategy raises farmers' net returns, improves their social standing, living conditions, livelihood, and ultimately reduces poverty in the farming community. Conclusions: The new approach lowers production costs while producing equivalent wheat yields to other methods, which leads to higher net returns. Farmers in the area have begun to appreciate the technology's reduced tillage costs. Rice-wheat is the prevalent farming system practiced by the majority of farmers in the region. In the future, the prospect of extending the method to sow wheat after other crops should be investigated.

Purpose: The ubiquitous presence and rampant spread of antibiotic resistant strains of Shigella spp is a major public health concern. Therefore, monitoring the trends of antimicrobial resistance in them is essential. Methods: A total of 15440 stool samples were inoculated on MacConkey agar, lysine deoxycholate agar and Selenite F enrichment broth from 2001 to 2015.Out of 491 shigellae isolated, 250 isolates were recovered from our culture collection. Antimicrobial susceptibility was performed by Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method, E-test and phenotypic resistance screening for ESBL and AmpC production was performed. For the detection of beta-lactamase genes, PCR for blaSHV, blaOXA, blaCTX-M-15, CMY-2 and mphA PCR in isolates with decreased susceptibility to azithromycin(DSA) was performed. Results: S. flexneri (n = 173) was most common, followed by S.dysenteriae (n = 24), S.sonnei (n = 23), S.boydii (n = 10) and Non agglutinating Shigella (NAG, n = 20). A see-saw pattern in the prevalence of S. flexneri and S. dysenteriae and rising prevalence of S. sonnei and NAG was seen. Majority (77%) of the isolates had MICs >4 mg/L for ciprofloxacin and >50% had high MIC90 (12 mg/L) for ceftriaxone and cefepime (8 mg/L). Nearly 20% of S.flexneri were resistant to third generation cephalosporin by disc diffusion and 33.7% had MIC >= 1 mu g/mL. Among the ceftriaxone resistant isolates (n = 29) the blaTEM beta-lactamase resistance gene was seen in all, blaCTX-M-15 in 37%, blaCMY-2 in 45.6% and blaOXA in 52%. The first report of DSA at our institute was in 2001 (n = 1, 2.5%) which increased to 35.1% (n = 40) in 2011-15. The isolates with DSA included S. flexneri (n = 40), S. boydii (n = 4) and S. sonnei (n = 1) and plasmid mediated resistance to azithromycin by mphA gene was detected in 19 out of 40 isolates of S. flexneri. Conclusion: Global emergence of resistance Shigella is a matter of concern and calls for systematic monitoring and periodic updates of countrywide and local antibiogram.

In India wheat is grown mostly after rice in Rice-wheat system, which effects the establishment of wheat crop because field requirement of both crop is different so there is need of studying other better crop establishment methods for wheat. This experiment was carried out in research farm of Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh in split plot design with three replication, where three different crop establishment methods i.e. conventional method, raised bed and zero-till in main plot and in subplot five different weed control practices along with control (weedy check) allotted. From the observation it found that plant height of crop was significantly higher in zero-till plot than conventional and raised bed method. Among weed management practices rice residue as mulch @ 4 t ha-1 fb clodinofop propargyl + metsulfuron @ 100% of recommended dose ( 2-4 leaf stage of weed), Clodinofop propargyl @ 60g a.i. ha-1 + metsulfuron @ 4g a.i. ha-1 , Rice residue as mulch @ 4 t ha-1 fb rice extract (10gL-1) at 2-4 leaf stage of weed , two hand weeding at 20 and 40 DAS, Clodinofop propargyl @ 75% of recommended dose + rice extract (10gL-1) at 2-4 leaf stage of weed gave significantly higher plant height than weedy check plot. For higher yield, growth of crop must be enhanced so it’s better to go for zero-till sowing for wheat than conventional method.

Recent data centers provide dense inter-connectivity between each pair of servers through multiple paths. These data centers offer high aggregate bandwidth and robustness by using multiple paths simultaneously. Multipath TCP (MPTCP) protocol is developed for improving throughput, fairly sharing network link capacity and providing robustness during path failure by utilizing multiple paths over multi-homed data center networks. Running MPTCP protocol for latency-sensitive rack-local short flows with many-to-one communication pattern at the access layer of multi-homed data center networks creates MPTCP incast problem. In this paper, Balanced Multipath TCP (BMPTCP) protocol is proposed to mitigate MPTCP incast problem in multi-homed data center networks. BMPTCP is a window-based congestion control protocol that prevents constant growth of each worker’s subflow congestion window size. BMPTCP computes identical congestion window size for all concurrent subflows by considering bottleneck Top of Rack (ToR) switch buffer size and increasing count of concurrently transmitting workers. This helps BMPTCP to avoid timeout events due to full window loss at ToR switch. Based on current congestion situation at ToR switches, BMPTCP adjust transmission rates of each worker’s subflow so that total amount of data transmitted by all concurrent subflows does not overflow bottleneck ToR switch buffer. Simulation results show that BMPTCP effectively alleviates MPTCP incast. It improves goodput, reduces flow completion time as compared to existing MPTCP and EW-MPTCP protocols.

Facile hydrothermal method had been used for the multiple phase synthesis of nickel sulphide. Mixed phase of Ni3S4 and Ni3S2 were identify by the HRXRD and its crystallite size is 34 nm. Electro-catalytic properties of the synthesized sample was examined by Cyclic stability, cyclic voltammetry and Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in 1 M LiOH. During analysis of electro-catalytic properties pure mixed phase of nickel sulphide was used as a working electrode without mixing of binder and conducting material. All electrochemical impedance spectroscopy parameters had been evaluated using z-fit by Ec-lab software and cyclic stability of synthesized sample 72%. All above properties showed that synthesized sample can be used as electrode in supercapacitor, Li-ion batteries etc.

This paper describes a crystal growth system employing novel concepts in fabrication of a high temperature furnace, thermocouples and a novel crystal pulling mechanism. This has reduced the costs substantially, without compromising the quality of grown crystals. The core of the furnace, a wooden cylindrical dummy had been prepared with equi-spaced helical groves with widths equaling the diameter of the heating wire on its outer surface machined by a lathe machine. The Kanthal heating wire was wound in the groves. It was covered with a thick layer of natural clay available locally. After the clay had dried up, an electric current was passed through the heating wire and the wooden frame was burnt out. A thick layer of the clay was applied on the inner and the outer surfaces. The furnace can operate at temperatures up to about 1000 degrees C. The temperature was measured with a chromel-alumel thermocouple prepared by an ingenious spot-welding technique established in the laboratory. The seed holder was hanged above the melt kept in the crucible with help of a float kept in a water container, which has a small tap at the bottom. When the tap is opened the float goes down and the seed assembly goes up. In this manner a quality pulling system, without any motor has been developed and reported here. It has been possible to grow good quality crystals of potassium chloride with excellent diameter control.