Informatics Publishing Limited

R. K. Jain , V. K. Garg

Abstract

A field study was conducted to compare the influence of a Eucalyptus hybrid, Prosopisjuliflora and Terminalia arjuna plantations of about one decade old on the physico-chemical properties while revegetating sodic wasteland at Biomass Research Centre in Banthra (of National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow) India. The relative effectiveness of these species in enrichment/improvement of the sodic soil was in the order of P. juliflora > T. arjuna > E. hybrid. Results of experiments have also indicated that the pattern of tree ischolar_mains growth synchronised with the depth of improvement and helped in an accumulation and retranslocation of soil nutrients for developing soil vegetation system on such sites.

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S. C. Verma , R. K. Jain , M. V. Rao. P. N. Misra , Andra S. Murty

Abstract

The canopy of different trees have greatly influenced the soil composition of alkali soil due to humus deposition. A great heterogeneity has been observed in the chemical contents of forest soil depending upon the litter types produced by heterogel0us forest composition. The paper deals with the degree of reclamation of usar soil in Banthra forest under different canopy. It was observed that the mixed canopy of Acacia nilotica, Syzygium sissoo has reduced the pH (0-30 cm soil depth) to normal and increased the organic matter of soil followed by other mixed canopies and single species canopy.

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Vipin K. Chawla , Ranjana Yadav , C. N. Pandey , R. K. Jain , A. K. Dixit

Abstract

Lignin-phenol-formaldehyde (LPF) resins were produced by substituting phenol with rice straw lignin in various percentages. Wood adhesive is certainly the most widely explored avenue of lignin utilization. Phenol was replaced by various percentages of lignin to keep the phenolic to formalin weight ratio constant to 1:1.8. 10%, 20% and 30% replacement of phenol by lignin were adopted in making lignin phenol formaldehyde resin (LPF Resin). The plywood panels of 4 mm thick, 30 × 30cm were made and the panels were subjected to test as per IS: 848:2006, specification for synthetic resin adhesives for plywood (Phenolic and Amino plastics). The results indicated that rice straw lignin was a feasible replacement for up to 30% of the phenol in PF resins.

Keywords

Rice Straw Lignin, Adhesive, Plywood

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S. M. Casshyap ¹, R. K. Jain ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Geology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, IN

Abstract

The Barakar sandstone of Chirimiri (Kurasia) coalfield includes complete or truncated sedimentary cycles, some of which commence with pebbly gritty coarse sandstone and, fining upwards through coarse cross bedded sandstone, end up with carbonaceous siltstone or coal seam. Among the primary depositional structures, ripple drift, trough and tabular cross bedded sets and cosets are common. These structures have been described from the genetic and hydrodynamic viewpoints. Erosional structures occurring in the sandstone include channels, scour-and-fill, potholes and flute casts.

A paleocurrent analysis based on 88 cross bedding azimuths reveals the preponderance of two depositional current systems - the main current system which flowed from southeast, and a tributary system flowing from east-northeast. An increase in cross bedding variability at higher sampling levels reflects the meandering behaviour of depositing currents.

A sedimentary analysis of the sandstone sequence suggests that the Barakar sedimentation in this coalfield was controlled, perhaps right from the beginning, by periodic tectonic uplifts of the granitoid landmass located to the east and southeast. It is suggested each tectonic uplift resulted in the deposition of a fining-upwards fluvial cycle.

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Arun Joshi ¹, Rajni Tewari ¹, Deepa Agnihotri ¹, S. S. K. Pillai ¹, R. K. Jain ²

Affiliations
1 Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53, University Road, Lucknow 226 007, IN
2 D.A.V. (P.G.) College, Dehradun 248 001, IN

Abstract

No Abstract.

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Darshana J. Prajapati ¹, R. B. Bhatt ², R. K. Jain ³

Affiliations
1 Department of Mathematics, IN
2 Department of Civil Engineering, IN
3 A.D. Patel Institute of Technology, New Vallabh-Vidyanagar, Gujarat, IN

Abstract

Faculties are key persons for the growth of the institute and development of every student. Faculty have direct impact 011 teaching learning process and indirect impact on developing learning attitude among the students. They develop professional managers, industrialists and leaders from them. It is not possible to be done by an individual faculty but needs contribution by the whole team of faculty members. Therefore faculty enhancement is most important aspect for the development of engineering institutions in the era of global competitiveness. Faculty also needs to do self-evaluation to improve his own skills. Faculty promotion is also an important aspect from the management point of view. In this paper, a model is developed for the evaluation of a faculty member based on factor analysis approach. A framework of 25 criteria contributing faculty evaluation is developed based on expert's method approach. The Simple Additive Weighting (SA W) method is used for deciding relative importance of various parameters. Local and Global weights are decided by average method. Criteria ranking is done based on global weights of the same, which emphasizes importance of parameters. Classroom teaching and knowledge of the subject are two most important ones out of all criteria. For each criterion, scoring system is designed on the basis of qualitative and quantitative values of each. Then final model is prepared for the same and tested for one faculty of engineering institute and found effective. The proposed model can be used for evaluation of faculties of professional engineering colleges.

Keywords

Engineering College Faculty Evaluation, Simple Additive Weighting Method (SAW), Model Development, Scoring System.

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Pardeep Kumar ¹, D. Tripathi ², L. P. Awasthi ², R. K. Jain ³

Affiliations
1 Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Siddharth Nagar (U.P.), IN
2 Department of Plant Pathology, N.D. University of Agriculture and Technology, Kumarganj, Faizabad (U.P.), IN
3 Advance Center of Virology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, IN

Abstract

Chilli plants showing severe mosaic mottling on foliage and bud necrosis symptoms, were collected from different locations around Faizabad and the causal virus was purified. The purified virus samples reacted only with polyclonal antiserum raised against coat protein (cp) of Tobacco streak virus (TSV) isolate from India (TSV- SF) in direct antigen coated enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The identity of the causal virus associated with chilli bud necrosis was further confirmed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and sequence analysis. The CP gene was amplified and sequenced. The CP gene was 717 nucleotides long and could encode a protein of 238 amino acids. Comparative amino acid sequence analysis revealed that the virus infected chilli shared maximum identity both at nucleotide (98-99%) and amino acids (98%) levels with the corresponding region of TSV isolates.

Keywords

Chilli, Virus, Isolation, Characterization.

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R. K. Jain ¹, V. K. Jain ¹

Affiliations
1 Mechanical Engineering Department, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur-208016, IN

Abstract

Abrasive flow machining (AFM) process can be applied to an impressive range of machining operations, providing uniform, repeatable and predictable results, higher productivity and automatic operation. AFM experiments on mild steel workpieces using SiC abrasive mixed with polyborosiloxane carrier indicate that the required surface finish on the workpiece can be achieved by controlling AFM process parameters. Central composite rotatable design has been used to study the effects of four important process parameters on process performance. An increase in extrusion pressure increases both the depth of indentation as well as medium velocity. Increase in percentage concentration of abrasives increases active grains density. It is concluded that material removal and change in surface roughness (ΔRa) are higher at higher extrusion pressure and higher abrasive concentration. Material removal and change in surface finish also increase with increase in reduction ratio and number of cycles.

Keywords

Abrasive Flow Machining, Surface Roughness, AFM Set-Up.

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S. K. Holkar ¹, Bikash Mandal ², R. K. Jain ²

Affiliations
1 Division of Crop Protection, ICAR-Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Biological Control Centre, Pravaranagar 413 712, IN
2 Division of Plant Pathology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012, IN

Abstract

Marker-free (MF) constructs were developed using 825 bp and 426 bp N genes of watermelon bud necrosis orthotospovirus (WBNV). N genes were amplified and cloned in pDrive (825 bp) and/or pGEMT (426 bp) vectors and recombinants were confirmed. pCAMBIA 2300 was restricted with XhoI to release nptII gene and re-circularized; it is called MF-pCAMBIA 2300. GUS cassette with promoter and terminator from pBI 121 was cloned into the MCS region of MF-pCAMBIA 2300 with EcoRI and HindIII. Eluted PCR products of 825 and 426 bp were cloned in already developed MF-pCAMBIA 2300. These N gene constructs were then mobilized in Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain EHA 105. Agroinfiltration of A. tumefaciens harbouring MF-pCAMBIA 2300 N gene constructs was practised by syringe method in 20-day-old watermelon seedlings. PCR amplification showed 825 and 426 bp amplicons which confirmed their presence in agroinfiltrated seedlings. Further, three days of post agroinfiltration seedlings were challenge-inoculated with WBNV and kept under artificial light for 3–6 days. Agroinfiltrated and inoculated seedlings were tested by ELISA and resulted positive with OD ranging from 0.31 to 0.46 and 0.35 to 0.43 in full and partial N genes respectively. Six days post-inoculation, necrosis and complete drying of the leaves were observed. The systemic upper young leaves were subjected to DAC-ELISA and results revealed negative reaction with OD ranging from 0.11 to 0.19. The N gene constructs conferred resistance against WBNV in watermelon.

Keywords

Agroinfiltration, Bud Necrosis Disease, Orthotospovirus, Watermelon.

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N. K. Pachlaniya ¹, D. K. Mishra ¹, Jitendra Singh ¹, R. K. Jain ¹, A. K. Shukla ¹

Affiliations
1 Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Kasturbagram, Indore (M.P.), IN

Abstract

The experiments on farmers’ field were conducted at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Indore in nearby two villages during 2016-17 to 2017-18 to assess the impact of soil and foliar application of potassium nutrition on productivity of soybean. On farm trial comprised of three treatments viz., T₁- farmer’s practice (18:45:0), T₂- recommended doses of potassium on soil test basis and T₃- foliar application of potassium (1%) were taken on the ten farmers field each year. The experimental design was Randomized Block Design with the ten replications in which farmers were taken as the replication. The result indicated that soybean grain yield in the soil application of recommended dose of potassium (T₂), was significantly superior over foliar application of the potassium (1%) (T₃) and farmer practices (T₁). The increase in yield was 18.97 per cent in the treatment T₂ and 12.20 per cent in treatment T₃ over the farmers’ practices (T₁). The soil application of recommended dose of potassium recorded significantly higher average pod per plant and seed index followed by the foliar application of potassium as compared to farmer practice (33.90). Similar trend were also recorded in the gross return, net return and B:C ratio.

Keywords

Potassium, Soybean, Foliar Spray, Soil Application.

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Shruti S. Wadalkar ¹, R. K. Lad ², R. K. Jain ³

Affiliations
1 Department of Civil Engineering, DIT, SPPU, Pune – 411007, Maharashtra, IN
2 UCOER, Pune, SPPU, Pune – 411007, Maharashtra, IN
3 RSCOE, Pune, SPPU, Pune – 411007, Maharashtra, IN

Abstract

Objectives: In the present study, evaluation of Relative Importance Index (RII) of sixteen pavement performance indicators has been carried out. Methods/Statistical Analysis: For the study total sixteen indicators are considered which includes structural and functional indicators. Relative Importance Index is calculated by obtaining opinion of academician and professional experts from the field of transportation engineering. Questionnaire Survey methodology has been adopted for collection of experts opinion. Five linguistic terms are used for the same, which are, ‘Very important’, ‘Important’, ‘Average’, ‘Less important’ and ‘Not important’. Findings: It has been observed from the values of RII, that, in case of flexible pavement deflection and potholes get maximum index followed by longitudinal cracking and Rutting. In case of rigid pavement Longitudinal cracking get maximum value followed by Transverse cracking. Application/Improvements: The values obtained from the study can be used for pavement condition evaluation incorporation with experimental evaluation of pavement surface condition for rating of pavements.

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