Deciphering desiccation tolerance in wild eggplant species: insights from chlorophyll fluorescence dynamics.

BACKGROUND: Climate change exacerbates abiotic stresses, which are expected to intensify their impact on crop plants. Drought, the most prevalent abiotic stress, significantly affects agricultural production worldwide. Improving eggplant varieties to withstand abiotic stress is vital due to rising drought from climate change. Despite the diversity of wild eggplant species that thrive under harsh conditions, the understanding of their drought tolerance mechanisms remains limited. In the present study, we used chlorophyll fluorescence (ChlaF) imaging, which reveals a plant's photosynthetic health, to investigate desiccation tolerance in eggplant and its wild relatives. Conventional fluorescence measurements lack spatial heterogeneity, whereas ChlaF imaging offers comprehensive insights into plant responses to environmental stresses. Hence, employing noninvasive imaging techniques is essential for understanding this heterogeneity. RESULTS: Desiccation significantly reduced the leaf tissue moisture content (TMC) across species. ChlaF and TMC displayed greater photosystem II (PSII) efficiency after 54 h of desiccation in S. macrocarpum, S. torvum, and S. indicum, with S. macrocarpum demonstrating superior efficiency due to sustained fluorescence. PSII functions declined gradually in S. macrocarpum and S. torvum, unlike those in other species, which exhibited abrupt declines after 54 h of desiccation. However, after 54 h, PSII efficiency remained above 50% of its initial quantum yield in S. macrocarpum at 35% leaf RWC (relative water content), while S. torvum and S. indicum displayed 50% decreases at 31% and 33% RWC, respectively. Conversely, the susceptible species S. gilo and S. sisymbriifolium exhibited a 50% reduction in PSII function at an early stage of 50% RWC, whereas in S. melongena, this reduction occurred at 40% RWC. CONCLUSION: Overall, our study revealed notably greater leaf desiccation tolerance, especially in S. macrocarpum, S. torvum, and S. indicum, attributed to sustained PSII efficiency at low TMC levels, indicating that these species are promising sources of drought tolerance.

Taguchi S/N and TOPSIS Based Optimization of Fused Deposition Modelling and Vapor Finishing Process for Manufacturing of ABS Plastic Parts.

Despite several additive manufacturing techniques are commercially available in market, Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) is increasingly used by researchers and engineers for new product development. FDM is an established process with a plethora of advantages, but the visible surface roughness (SR), being an intrinsic limitation, is major barrier against utilization of fabricated parts for practical applications. In the present study, the chemical finishing method, using vapour of acetone mixed with heated air, is being used. The combined impact of orientation angle, finishing temperature and finishing time has been studied using Taguchi and ANOVA, whereas multi-criteria optimization is performed using the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS). The surface finish was highly responsive to increase in temperature while orientation angle of 0° yielded maximum strength; increase in finishing time led to weight gain of FDM parts. As the temperature increases, the percentage change in surface roughness increases as higher temperature assists the melt down process. On the other hand, anisotropic behaviour plays a major role during tensile testing. The Signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio plots, and ANOVA results indicated that surface finish is directly proportionate to finishing time because a longer exposure results in complete layer reflowing and settlement.

Hospital to community: a pilot rehabilitation project for elderly mentally retarded.

Four mentally handicapped patients, three of whom were aged 75 years plus, with a mean age of 67 years (in 1981) and a total institutional life of 160 years, have been successfully rehabilitated in a group home in an active community community environment since August 1981. The process of preparing them for independent living, the social services and community nursing support need, the qualitative change in their life style are described. The success is defined as a fuller community integrated living, free of institutional rigidity and freedom to do what they like with some support and using all the community services as used by other people.

A community-based mental handicap out-patient clinic: a 5-year retrospective study.

A 5-year retrospective study of mentally handicapped patients referred to the only community-based mental handicap out-patient clinic in a county with an approximate population of 360,000 is presented. The clinic has been functioning for about 10 years and has been consultant-based. Areas for study include: referral rate; source of referral; degree of handicap; superimposed mental illness, behaviour disorder and epilepsy; and the proportion of patients needing admission to the unit for further assessment/treatment. Some implications are discussed.

Genetic analysis of some seed quality characters in upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.).

A set of diallel crosses involving ten parents was evaluated over two locations to determine the genetic control of protein per cent, oil per cent, seed index, percentage of mature seeds and number of seeds per boll. The analysis of pooled data showed that percentage of mature seeds was controlled by additive (D) and non-additive (H1 and H2) genetic effects. Overdominance was noticed. For seed index the D component measuring additive, and the H2 component measuring dominance, variation were significant. Protein content and oil content were primarily under the control of non-additive (H1 and H2) genetic effects, while for number of seeds per boll the variability was accounted for by dominance (H1) effects only. The development of pure lines through appropriate methods is suggested.

Sinonasal and nasopharyngeal adenoidcystic carcinoma: report of four cases.

Four cases of sinonasal and nasopharyngeal adenoidcystic carcinoma that came to the RIMS Hospital, Imphal during the period of July, 2002 to March, 2003 are reported in this article. The age incidence ranged from 30 to 80 years and the mean age was 47.5 years; with male to female ratio of 1:1. The average duration from first sympton in the patient to the date of his medical consultation was 17.8 months. Nasal obstruction was the first symptom two cases; lump sensation in the throat and headache in the third and fourth cases respectively. Despite the evidence of rapid and extensive local spread there were definitely delays from the patients' end to consult a clinician. Whereas the tumour itself is not common, the usual sites, if it occurs, are palate and minor salivary glands and rarely mucous and seromucinous glands elsewhere.