Use of microbial consortium along with biosurfactants in oil sludge treatment

Due to the excessive use of various oils, a large amount of oil sludge or waste water is produced annually which is causing various environmental and health issues. Bioremediation through the use of microbial consortium is an effective method. The use of consortium instead of single specie of bacteria has shown 89-94% improved results. However the microbes are still not able to work effectively due to bioavailability issues. This is mainly because of the low solubility of hydrophobic contaminants and microbes. This problem is overcome by use of biosurfactants which enhance the solubility and emulsification of hydrophobic substrates and microbes. These biosurfactants are produced by various organisms (mainly microbes) which are later isolated and used. Certain new and efficient insitu techniques are used for the application of microbial consortium which includes suspended growth, attached growth and hybrid growth. Waste water treated this way can be reused in the refinery procedures or can be dumped safely.

Biological pathway expression complementation contributes to biomass heterosis in Arabidopsis

The mechanisms underlying heterosis have long remained a matter of debate, despite its agricultural importance. How changes in transcriptional networks during plant development are relevant to the continuous manifestation of growth vigor in hybrids is intriguing and unexplored. Here, we present an integrated high-resolution analysis of the daily dynamic growth phenotypes and transcriptome atlases of young Arabidopsis seedlings (parental ecotypes [Col-0 and Per-1] and their F1 hybrid). Weighted gene coexpression network analysis uncovered divergent expression patterns between parents of the network hub genes, in which genes related to the cell cycle were more highly expressed in one parent (Col-0), whereas those involved in photosynthesis were more highly expressed in the other parent (Per-1). Notably, the hybrid exhibited spatiotemporal high-parent–dominant expression complementation of network hub genes in the two pathways during seedling growth. This suggests that the integrated capacities of cell division and photosynthesis contribute to hybrid growth vigor, which could be enhanced by temporal advances in the progression of leaf development in the hybrid relative to its parents. Altogether, this study provides evidence of expression complementation between fundamental biological pathways in hybrids and highlights the contribution of expression dominance in heterosis.

EFFECTS OF R&D SUBSIDIES IN A HYBRID MODEL OF ENDOGENOUS GROWTH AND SEMI-ENDOGENOUS GROWTH

We explore R&D subsidies in a hybrid growth model which may exhibit semi-endogenous growth or fully endogenous growth. We consider two types of subsidies on variety-expanding innovation and quality-improving innovation. R&D subsidies on quality-improving innovation only have effects in the fully endogenous-growth regime, in which more subsidies cause an earlier activation of quality-improving innovation and increase the transitional/steady-state growth rate. R&D subsidies on variety-expanding innovation have contrasting effects in the two regimes. In the semi-endogenous-growth regime, more subsidies on variety-expanding innovation increase transitional growth but have no effect on steady-state growth. In the fully endogenous-growth regime, more subsidies on variety-expanding innovation continue to increase short-run growth but delay the activation of quality-improving innovation and reduce long-run growth. Increasing subsidies on variety-expanding (quality-improving) innovation makes the semi-endogenous-growth (fully endogenous-growth) regime more likely to emerge. Finally, we calibrate the model and find that under reasonable parameter values, the fully endogenous-growth regime is more likely to emerge.

Strategic Effect of Collaboration Between ETICS

This paper analyzes the relationship between networking capabilities and the motives behind SMEs taking part in collaborative relationships with firms within the same sector. Specifically, we analyzed inter-firm collaborations for new product development and the decision(s) to outsource. The main contribution of this paper is focused on identifying the existence of the mediating effect that Hybrid growth strategy has, connected to these relations. It is argued that the Hybrid growth strategy mediates the relationship between networking capabilities and the different collaborative modes with firms within the same sector. The results, obtained through a binomial logit model, supported these arguments by using a database formed by 450 face-to-face surveys, from which 296 took part in an inter-firm collaboration between 2012-2014. The surveys were given to CEOs from SMEs that participated in collaborative activities with other firms in the Electronic, Technology, Information, and Communications sector (ETICS) in Mexico.

Interference of Brassicaceae and Poaceae on Canola Hybrids

ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to evaluate the initial competitive ability of canola hybrids against Brassicaceae and Poaceae species in terms of root and shoot resources. Two experiments were conducted in greenhouse, in a completely randomized design with four replications. The treatments consisted of interference conditions by root + shoot interference (root+shoot) and shoot interference (Light); and Brassicaceae and Poaceae weeds competing with hybrid of canola (Hyola 61 and Diamond) with different traits for competitiveness. The plant height, root length, dry matter of shoot and root, number of leaves and leaf area were evaluated. Data were compared using orthogonal contrasts. The turnip and volunteer canola reduced root development of the Hyola 61 in root + shoot interference, and among the Brassicaceas weeds, turnip caused greater losses. Brassicaceas weeds caused largest reductions in Diamond’s hybrid growth compared to Poaceae, mainly under light interference. Brassicaceas and Poaceae weeds cause similar damage to Hyola 61 hybrid, and the injury is higher for root +shoot interference. The black oat induce shoot growth in the Diamond hybrid under shoot interference, while among the Brassicaceae weed species, there were no differences.