Efficacy of plant oils against grain discolouration of rice under in vitro condition

Grain discolouration is an important constraint in reducing productivity of rice. Curvularia lunata and Exserohilum rostratum are two important pathogens responsible for it. An in vitro study was undertaken to test the efficacy of different plant oils against these pathogens. It revealed from the experiment using poison food technique that all the plant oils recorded a significant inhibition over control. Among the different concentration (1, 2 and 3%) of plant oils such as Eucalyptus, Neem Pungam, Coconut and Mahua oil were tested. The result revealed that eucalyptus oil (3%) recorded the complete mycelial inhibition of C. lunata (100 %) and E. rostratum (78%) followed by pungam oil (58.8 % of C. lunata), (52% of E. rostratum) and least mycelial growth were recorded by coconut oil (3%). Our findings suggest that the plant oils may be valuable as potential antifungal properties against grain discolouration of rice.

Effect of Hydrogen Gas Pressure on Calcium–Aluminum-rich Inclusion Formation in the Protosolar Disk: a Laboratory Simulation of Open-system Melt Crystallization

Calcium–aluminum-rich inclusions (CAIs) are the oldest materials that formed in the protosolar disk. Igneous CAIs experienced melting and subsequent crystallization in the disk during which the evaporation of relatively volatile elements such as Mg and Si occurred. Evaporation from the melt would have played a significant role in the variation of chemical, mineralogical, and petrologic characteristics of the igneous CAIs. In this study, we investigated crystallization of CAI analog melt under disk-like low-pressure hydrogen (P H2) conditions of 0.1, 1, and 10 Pa to constrain the pressure condition of the early solar system in which type B CAIs were formed. At P H2 = 10 Pa, the samples were mantled by melilite crystals, as observed for type B1 CAIs. However, the samples heated at P H2 = 0.1 Pa exhibited random distribution of melilite, as in type B2 CAIs. At the intermediate P H2 of 1 Pa, type-B1-like structure formed when the cooling rate was 5°C hr−1, whereas the formation of type-B2-like structure required a cooling rate faster than 20°C hr−1. The compositional characteristics of melilite in type B1 and B2 CAIs could also be reproduced by experiments. The results of the present study suggest that P H2 required for type-B1-like textural and chemical characteristics is greater than 1 Pa. The hydrogen pressure estimated in this study would impose an important constraint on the physical condition of the protosolar disk where type B CAIs were formed.

Temptation shapes dishonesty and can alter working memory

This study shows that participants tend to remember an ambiguous, directional cue as biased towards stimuli associated with a high reward that can be attained dishonestly. Participants saw eight digits presented in a circular arrangement. On some trials, they were asked to report the digit (“Target Digit”) indicated by a jittery cue that was slightly biased in the direction of another digit (“Second Cued Digit”), which was either higher or lower than the Target Digit. Participants were paid based on the reported digit (higher digits meant higher pay) and not based on the accuracy of their report. In this setting, they could make self-serving mistakes by dishonestly reporting the Second Cued Digit when it was higher than the Target Digit. Replicating prior work, participants frequently made such self-serving mistakes. On other trials, after the digits disappeared, participants were asked to reproduce the direction of the jittery cue, without receiving any pay. Results showed that that participants’ reports of the cue were more biased toward high-rewarding digits than low-rewarding digits. This research provides preliminary evidence of a link between attention, dishonesty, and memory, offering an important constraint for theories in behavioral ethics.

Choose Your Enemies Well: Mapping, Managing, and Leveraging Rivalry

There is an important constraint that can be used to regulate mobility in competitive labor markets—the existence of a deeply felt rivalry between employers. Rivalry denotes a stable antagonistic relationship between companies, as exemplified by Apple and IBM in the 1980s. Analyzing data from the Palio di Siena (an ancient horse race in Siena, Italy), this article shows that direct moves between rivals are rare, accounting for less than 2% of all career moves in this context between 1743 and 2011. Rivalry constrains not only direct but also indirect moves to the ally of a rival or the rival of an ally. This article presents a framework describing how managers can harness rivalry: mapping rivalry, managing rivalry to capitalize on its positive aspects, and leveraging rivalry to adjust the level of competitive intensity.

Documenting the Constraints and Its Allied Factors in Agar (Aquilaria malaccensis Roxb.) Tree Cultivation at Farm Level: A Case Study in Bangladesh

The study was conducted to investigate the socio-economic characteristics of the agar farmers, the extent of constraints in agar wood cultivation; and the factors allied with constraints in agar tree farming. Despite the enormous potential of agar (Aquilaria malaccensis Roxb.) production in Bangladesh, it has yet to gain traction due to socioeconomic, technical, and marketing challenges. The cultivation of agar trees is largely centered in the Sylhet region, where a large number of agar farmers engage. This research was carried out in Maulvibazar district's Barlekha upazila (sub-district) to better understand and assess the restrictions and factors that affect agar tree cultivation. A survey was conducted with 120 households during September 2018 to March 2019. Descriptive statistics, rank order, coefficient of correlation, and multiple linear regression were used to examine the data. Out of 12 constraints, the most significant barrier was a lack of funds to engage in agar farming (2.81), which was followed by a lack of technical guidance (2.71). The lack of labor was the least important constraint faced by the farmers (1.43). It was revealed that education, household size, farm size, number of trees per farmer, annual income, experience in agar farming, agar wood cultivation under trees and knowledge of agar cultivation of the farmers were shown to be realized to agar plantation constraints. However, education, farm size, annual revenue, and agar growing experience were identified as major drivers of the degree of agar farming constraints. The study identified various policymakers' potential to address the influencing variables (education, farm size, annual revenue, and agar farming experience) in establishing agar farming. Furthermore, finance facilities, adequate agar farming instruction, and forest department introspection could all help to reduce agar farming obstacles.

9. Duty to act within constitution and powers

The Companies Act 2006 (CA 2006) requires directors: to act in accordance with the constitution (defined s 257) and to exercise powers for the purposes for which they are conferred. This chapter focuses on s 171. The discussion covers the constitutional division of power within a company, types of authority, statutory protection of third parties, and exercise of a power for an improper purpose. Much of the discussion is of the important agency rules which govern directors’ authority, considering in particular the extent to which third parties can rely on the apparent or ostensible authority of an individual director or directors. The circumstances in which third parties are put on inquiry are considered. The statutory protection afforded to third parties by CA 2006, s 40 is also examined. The proper purpose doctrine is an important constraint on abuse of power by directors and the application of the doctrine is addressed in detail.

20. The derivative claim and the rule in Foss v Harbottle

This chapter discusses further aspects of shareholder remedies, namely the common law multiple derivative claim; derivative claims under Companies Act 2006 (CA 2006), Part 11; the reflective loss principle; personal actions at common law; and specific statutory rights under the CA 2006. At common law, a shareholder aggrieved by a breach of duty by a director could bring a derivative claim on behalf of the company, as an exception to the rule in Foss v Harbottle. That common law claim now remains as a common law multiple derivative claim whereas the ‘ordinary’ derivative claim now is a statutory claim under CA 2006, Part 11. This chapter explores both types of derivative claim and assesses their value to shareholders. An important constraint on shareholder recovery is the principle governing reflective loss which has recently been restated by the Supreme Court. This chapter considers the current position in the light of that development.

Constraints faced by the Respondents in Cultivation of Betel Vine in Malappuram District of Kerala

Betel vine (Piper betel L. ) in India is grown as an important cash crop across the states, of, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu, Assam, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Tripura ,Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. A study was undertaken in Malappuram district of Kerala for analysis of constraints faced by the farmers in betel vine cultivation covering Tanur block taking six villages selected purposively where the crop is grown as a major crop. A total 120 betel vine growers were selected randomly from six villages. It is observed that nearly half of the respondents felt the constraints were severe (45%) in betel vine cultivation, followed by not severe (31.66%) and very severe (23.33%). Most of the respondents experienced labour shortage or high labour cost as the most problematic constraint, the study further indicated that the second most important constraint found was price fluctuation followed by water scarcity, transportation and insects and diseases.

Estimation of Evapotranspiration and Its Components across China Based on a Modified Priestley–Taylor Algorithm Using Monthly Multi-Layer Soil Moisture Data

Although soil moisture (SM) is an important constraint factor of evapotranspiration (ET), the majority of the satellite-driven ET models do not include SM observations, especially the SM at different depths, since its spatial and temporal distribution is difficult to obtain. Based on monthly three-layer SM data at a 0.25° spatial resolution determined from multi-sources, we updated the original Priestley Taylor–Jet Propulsion Laboratory (PT-JPL) algorithm to the Priestley Taylor–Soil Moisture Evapotranspiration (PT-SM ET) algorithm by incorporating SM control into soil evaporation (Es) and canopy transpiration (T). Both algorithms were evaluated using 17 eddy covariance towers across different biomes of China. The PT-SM ET model shows increased R2, NSE and reduced RMSE, Bias, with more improvements occurring in water-limited regions. SM incorporation into T enhanced ET estimates by increasing R2 and NSE by 4% and 18%, respectively, and RMSE and Bias were respectively reduced by 34% and 7 mm. Moreover, we applied the two ET algorithms to the whole of China and found larger increases in T and Es in the central, northeastern, and southern regions of China when using the PT-SM algorithm compared with the original algorithm. Additionally, the estimated mean annual ET increased from the northwest to the southeast. The SM constraint resulted in higher transpiration estimate and lower evaporation estimate. Es was greatest in the northwest arid region, interception was a large fraction in some rainforests, and T was dominant in most other regions. Further improvements in the estimation of ET components at high spatial and temporal resolution are likely to lead to a better understanding of the water movement through the soil–plant–atmosphere continuum.

Temptation Shapes Dishonesty and can Alter Working Memory

This study shows that participants tend to remember an ambiguous, directional cue as biased towards stimuli associated with a high reward that can be attained dishonestly. Participants saw eight digits presented in a circular arrangement. On some trials, they were asked to report the digit (“Target Digit”) indicated by a jittery cue that was slightly biased in the direction of another digit (“Second Cued Digit”), which was either higher or lower than the Target Digit. Participants were paid based on the reported digit (higher digits meant higher pay) and not based on the accuracy of their report. In this setting, they could make self-serving mistakes by dishonestly reporting the Second Cued Digit when it was higher than the Target Digit. Replicating prior work, participants frequently made such self-serving mistakes. On other trials, after the digits disappeared, participants were asked to reproduce the direction of the jittery cue, without receiving any pay. Results showed that that participants’ reports of the cue were more biased toward high-rewarding digits than low-rewarding digits. This research provides preliminary evidence of a link between attention, dishonesty, and memory, offering an important constraint for theories in behavioral ethics.