Application of Zinc, Iron and Boron Enhances Productivity and Grain Biofortification of Mungbean

Deficiencies of essential vitamins,iron(Fe),and zinc(Zn)affect over one-half of the world’s population.A significant progress has been made to control micronutrient deficiencies through supplementation,but new approaches are needed,especially to reach the rural poor.Agronomic biofortification of pulses with Zn,Fe,and boron(B)offers a pragmatic solution to combat hidden hunger instead of food fortification and supplementation.Moreover,it also has positive effects on crop production as well.Therefore,we conducted three separate field experiments for two consecutive years to evaluate the impact of soil and foliar application of the aforementioned nutrients on the yield and seed biofortification of mungbean.Soil application of Zn at 0,4.125,8.25,Fe at 0,2.5,5.0 and B at 0,0.55,1.1 kg ha−1 was done in the first,second and third experiment,respectively.Foliar application in these experiments was done at 0.3%Zn,0.2%Fe and 0.1%B respectively one week after flowering initiation.Data revealed that soil-applied Zn,Fe and B at 8.25,5.0 and 1.1 kg ha−1,respectively,enhanced the grain yield of mungbean;however,this increase in yield was statistically similar to that recorded with Zn,Fe and B at 4.125,2.5 and 0.55 kg ha−1,respectively.Foliar application of these nutrients at flower initiation significantly enhanced the Zn contents by 28%and 31%,Fe contents by 80%and 78%,while B contents by 98%and 116%over control during 2019 and 2020,respectively.It was concluded from the results that soil application of Zn,Fe,and B enhanced the yield performance of mungbean;while significant improvements in seed Zn,Fe,and B contents were recorded with foliar application of these nutrients.

Improving Quantitative and Qualitative Characteristics of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) through Nitrogen Application under Semiarid Conditions

Nitrogen(N),the building block of plant proteins and enzymes,is an essential macronutrient for plant functions.A field experiment was conducted to investigate the impact of different N application rates(28,57,85,114,142,171,and 200 kg ha^(−1))on the performance of spring wheat(cv.Ujala-2016)during the 2017–2018 and 2018–2019 growing seasons.A control without N application was kept for comparison.Two years mean data showed optimum seed yield(5,461.3 kg ha^(−1))for N-application at 142 kg ha^(−1) whereas application of lower and higher rates of N did not result in significant and economically higher seed yield.A higher seed yield was obtained in the 2017–2018(5,595 kg ha^(−1))than in the 2018–2019(5,328 kg ha^(−1))growing seasons under an N application of 142 kg ha^(−1).It was attributed to the greater number of growing degree days in the first(1,942.35°C days)than in the second year(1,813.75°C).Higher rates of N(171 and 200 kg ha^(−1))than 142 kg ha^(−1) produced more number of tillers(i.e.,948,300 and 666,650 ha^(−1),respectively).However,this increase did not contribute in achieving higher yields.Application of 142,171,and 200 kg ha^(−1) resulted in 14.15%,15.0%and 15.35%grain protein concentrations in comparison to 13.15%with the application of 114 kg ha^(−1).It is concluded that the application of N at 142 kg ha^(−1) could be beneficial for attaining higher grain yields and protein concentrations of wheat cultivar Ujala-2016.

Response of Contrasting Rice Genotypes to Zinc Sources under Saline Condition

Abiotic stresses are among the major limiting factors for plant growth and crop productivity.Among these,salinity is one of the major risk factors for plant growth and development in arid to semi-arid regions.Cultivation of salt tolerant crop genotypes is one of the imperative approaches to meet the food demand for increasing population.The current experiment was carried out to access the performance of different rice genotypes under salinity stress and Zinc(Zn)sources.Four rice genotypes were grown in a pot experiment and were exposed to salinity stress(7 dS m^(−1)),and Zn(15 mg kg^(-1)soil)was applied from two sources,ZnSO4 and Zn-EDTA.A control of both salinity and Zn was kept for comparison.Results showed that based on the biomass accumulation and K^(+)/Na^(+)ratio,KSK-133 and BAS-198 emerged as salt tolerant and salt sensitive,respectively.Similarly,based on the Zn concentration,BAS-2000 was reported as Zn-in-efficient while IR-6 was a Zn-efficient genotype.Our results also revealed that plant growth,relative water content(RWC),physiological attributes including chlorophyll contents,ionic concentrations in straw and grains of all rice genotypes were decreased under salinity stress.However,salt tolerant and Zn-in-efficient rice genotypes showed significantly higher shoot K^(+)and Zn concentrations under saline conditions.Zinc application significantly alleviates the harmful effects of salinity by improving morpho-physiological attributes and enhancing antioxidant enzyme activities,and the uptake of K and Zn.The beneficial effect of Zn was more pronounced in salt-tolerant and Zn in-efficient rice genotypes as compared with salt-sensitive and Zn-efficient genotypes.In sum,our results confirmed that Zn application increased overall plant’s performance under saline conditions,particularly in Zn in-efficient and tolerant genotypes as compared with salt-sensitive and Zn efficient rice genotypes.

前缘倒角造型对叶片端区气热性能影响的研究

采用数值计算方法研究了前缘倒角造型动叶的端区气热性能,分析了3种前缘形式(无倒角、直线型倒角、抛物线型倒角)的叶片端区的二次流结构、气动损失和传热特性,对比了有、无前缘倒角时马蹄涡和通道涡对端区流动传热性能的影响机制。结果表明:前缘倒角造型显著减小了端壁前缘区域的切应力、通道下游偏转角和前缘倒角角区的马蹄涡尺寸和强度,但对通道涡的抑制作用较小;前缘倒角削弱了端区横向二次流动,使得通道下游总压损失减小;抛物线型前缘倒角的角区湍动能和马蹄涡尺寸略小于直线型前缘倒角造型的相应参数;3种前缘倒角造型叶片通道下游端壁的平均Nu沿流向均逐渐增大;相对于无前缘倒角造型叶片,带前缘倒角造型叶片的端壁前缘区域节距方向平均Nu最高下降了约40%。,但通道下游端壁节距方向平均Nu仅下降约8%;在通道下游,抛物线型前缘倒角叶片端壁节距方向平均Nu略低于直线型前缘倒角叶片。

Aggregate Suitability Assessment of Wargal Limestone for Pavement Construction in Pakistan

This paper presents the evaluation of the potential aggregate source for pavement construction in Pakistan. Recently the demand for construction materials has been increased significantly due to the establishment of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Projects. Therefore, it is essential to look for new resources of construction materials along with the CPEC routes in consideration of this increasing demand. In this context, a Physical and Mechanical characterization investigation is carried out on the Permian Wargal Limestone from Zaluch Nala, Salt Range to explore their potential to utilize as construction materials. The studied samples have tolerable values for all standard engineering parameters, proposed by various national and international agencies such as AASHTO, ASTM, BS, and NHA. Furthermore, as a performance indicator of aggregate overall quality, the evaluated mechanical qualities were integrated into a single characteristic, Toughness Index (TI). The TI values also suggested that the Permian Wargal limestone aggregates meet international quality standards for pavement construction. On the basis of geotechnical testing and Toughness Index (TI), the late Permian Wargal limestone, Zaluch Nala, Salt Range, is strongly recommended as a potential aggregate resource for mega projects such as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and other construction projects.

Engineering Geological and Geotechnical Investigations for Design of Oxygen Plant

The most important aspect of every civil engineering project is acquiring reliable information on the ground on which the project will be constructed. This research includes a site investigation, which is seen as a primary stage in gathering geological, geotechnical, and other essential engineering data for structures’ safe and cost-effective design. Five boreholes at well-spaced spots were drilled for subsurface investigation at a maximum depth of 15 m to 30 m. The standard penetration tests (SPT) were performed at different depths, soil samples were taken at various intervals, and lithological changes were observed. The friction angle was between 19.6ºand 33.03º, whereas the cohesion ranges between 0.25 kg/cm2 and 0.42 kg/cm2, indicating a strong resistance to shearing and a high capacity to sustain the load. Furthermore, the soil samples’ maximum dry density ranges from 1.63 g/cm3 to 1.80 g/cm3. In addition, water table depths were recorded from 6.0 m to 7.0 m. The net bearing capacity for isolated/pad foundation at a depth of 1.5 m to 2.5 m below the ground level has been calculated as 95.0 to 120.0 kPa and 120.0 to 180.0 kPa for raft foundation. The net allowable pressure settlement limits for isolated/pad and raft foundations are 25 mm (1-inch) and 50 mm (2-inches), respectively. The investigation has found no severe geological flaws on the proposed construction site, and therefore it is appropriate for the construction of an Air Separation Unit (ASU) Oxygen Plant.

Energy Efficient Direction-Based Topology Control Algorithm for WSN

A wireless sensor network consists of hundreds or thousands of small nodes which could either have a static or dynamic position. These nodes are deployed through normal or random distribution to report events of a particular area to the base station through sink nodes. Having limited onboard energy of sensor nodes, conservation of energy in wireless sensor network is necessary. For this purpose, a new algorithm is proposed titled Energy-Efficient-Direction-Based-Topology-Control-Algorithm (EEDBTC). In proposed algorithm, direction is the main concern whenever an event occurs the node will send data in the direction of base station so that less energy is consumed. The results of the same were compared with customary dense wireless sensor network, color based WSNs and it was observed that this algorithm is much better than previous topology control algorithms used.

欧盟反垄断中的同等效率竞争者分析

同等效率竞争者(as efficient competitor,AEC)原则及测试被欧盟反垄断机构用于对排他性滥用行为的效果进行量化分析,以界定此类滥用行为的市场封锁和反竞争效应。2022年判决的欧盟委员会诉Intel有条件折扣案、高通排他性支付案以及谷歌非法限制案中,欧盟委员会所提供的AEC测试结果都受到了法院的质疑并被全部或部分否定,这表明各方对于AEC分析原则及测试方面的理解和应用仍存在很大差异,AEC的未来应用充满挑战,AEC原则和测试相关的理论基础和应用边界还有待深入分析和研究。为此,本文借助学术文献以及欧盟反垄断法规和判例,从AEC原则及测试相关概念的来源和AEC测试的经济学原理出发,根据AEC在欧盟反垄断方面的具体规定,选取涉及AEC测试的排他性定价、掠夺性定价、选择性降价、有条件折扣以及利润挤压等具体判例进行对比和分析,以便完善对AEC分析的全面认识,弥补国内相关研究的缺失,并为未来国内反垄断工作在排他性滥用行为方面的量化分析和精准计算提供参考。

Microwaves spark emission spectroscopy for the analysis of cations:A simple form of atomic emission spectroscopy

A novel method for the cation analysis was investigated. The analysis is based on the sparking of the salts of metals in a microwave oven after placing in a graphite cell. The graphite cell absorbs microwaves and produces high temperature which converts the salt into light emitting species. The colour of light was found to dependent on the nature of cation, however, the intensity of the emitted light was found to be depending upon the form and shape of the graphite assembly in addition to the concentration of the salt. This communication presents explanation for all these observations and for the systematic and quantitative analysis using microwave spark emission technique.