ICRISAT scientists, working with Indian programme counterparts, developed the world's first cytoplasmic-nuclear male sterility (CMS)-based commercial hybrid in a food legume, the pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.]. The CMS, in combination with natural outcrossing of the crop, was used to develop viable hybrid breeding technology. Hybrid ICPH 2671 recorded 47% superiority for grain yield over the control variety 'Maruti' in multilocation on-station testing for 4 years. In the on-farm trials conducted in five Indian states, mean yield of this hybrid (1396 kg/ ha) was 46.5% greater than that of the popular cv. 'Maruti' (953 kg/ha). Hybrid ICPH 2671 also exhibited high levels of resistance to Fusarium wilt and sterility mosaic diseases. The outstanding performance of this hybrid has led to its release for cultivation in India by both a private seed company (as 'Pushkal') and a public sector university (as 'RV ICPH 2671'). Recent developments in hybrid breeding technology and high yield advantages realized in farmers' fields have given hope for a breakthrough in pigeonpea productivity.

Objectives:To compare propofol and thiopental as anesthetic agents for electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) with respect to seizure duration, stimulus charge, and clinical effects.Materials and Methods:Randomized, blinded study of 28 patients of depression treated with bilateral ECT. In group P (n = 14), sedation was achieved with propofol 1.5 mg/kg, whereas in group T (n = 14), it was achieved with thiopentone 3 mg/ kg IV. Succinylcholine 0.4 mg/kg intravenous was given in all patients as for neuromuscular blockade.Results:The mean seizure duration of the patients in the thiopental group was 83 ± 34.43 seconds vs. 94.45 ± 21.37 seconds in the propofol group (P < 0.01). The energy delivered per treatment was 10.88 ± 4.78 J in the thiopental group vs. 12.20 ± 4.53 J in the propofol group (P < 0.05). Number of ECTs required were significantly higher in propofol group (9.71 ± 2.87) as compared to thiopental group (5.86 ± 0.36) P < 0.0001. No significant difference in duration of hospitalization was seen in both groups. The mean score on Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) was 29.14 in the thiopental group vs. 29.57 in the propofol group (P > 0.05). The mean score on Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was 7.14 in the thiopental group vs. 3.29 in the propofol group (P < 0.05).Conclusions:Propofol significantly increases number of ECT required to treat although the patients received higher electrical charge and had longer seizure duration. BDI scores suggest this resulted in better outcome. Results, however, might be confounded by the differences in pharmacological treatment in the groups.

The role of heterosis in enhancing productivity in food crops is well known. Legume breeders have not been able, however, to take advantage of this genetic phenomenon for a long time, due to biological restrictions, such as the requirement of high seeding rate and the inability to produce large quantities of F 1 hybrid seed. Recently, in pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.), a breakthrough has been realized with the development and marketing of the world's first legume hybrid, ICPH 2671. The key for this achievement was breeding and using a stable cytoplasmic nuclear male sterility (CMS) system obtained from the cross between C. cajanifolius, a wild relative of pigeonpea, and the cultivated type. The inherent partial natural out-crossing of pigeonpea was knitted with this CMS system to facilitate economically-viable large-scale hybrid seed production. These developments provided opportunities to overcome the historic stagnant low yield (0.6-0.8 t ha-1) through heterosis breeding. Among hundreds of hybrid combinations tested, a cross between ICPA 2043 and ICPL 87119 (=ICPR 2671), designated as ICPH 2671, was the most promising, with >40% yield superiority (reaching yields above 3 t ha-1) over the prevalent cultivar 'Maruti', in multi-location, multi-year, on-station trials, as well as on-farm evaluations. The outstanding performance of ICPH 2671 led to its release in 2010 as the first medium duration commercial pigeonpea hybrid in India. Subsequently, two additional pigeonpea hybrids, ICPH 3762 and ICPH 2740 were also released

Purpose -This paper aims to address the various issues of board-level (off-chip) interconnects testing. A new algorithm based on the boundary scan architecture is developed to test off-chip interconnect faults. The proposed algorithm can easily diagnose which two interconnects are shorted. Design/methodology/approach -The problems in board-level interconnects testing are not simple. A new algorithm is developed to rectify some of the problems in existing algorithms. The proposed algorithm to test board-level interconnect faults is implemented using Verilog on Modelsim software. The output response of each shorting between different wires of different nodes is different, which is the basis of fault detection by the proposed algorithm. The test vectors are generated by the test pattern generator and these test vectors are different for different nodes. This work implements built in self test using boundary scan technique. Findings -The dominant-1 (wired-OR, denoted as WOR), dominant-0 (wired-AND, denoted as WAND) and stuck-at faults are tested using the proposed algorithm. The proposed algorithm is also compared with the several algorithms in the literature, i.e. modified counting, walking one's algorithm and others. This paper's results are found to be better than the existing algorithms.Research limitations/implications -The limitation of the proposed algorithm is that, at any time, the faults on any seven nodes can be tested to avoid aliasing. So, the groups are formed out of total nodes, in a multiple of seven to carry out the testing of faults. Practical implications -The proposed algorithm is free from the problems of syndromes and utilizes a smaller number of test vectors. Originality/value -Various existing algorithms namely modified counting, walking one's algorithm and others are discussed. A new algorithm is developed which can easily detect board-level dominant-1 (WOR), dominant-0 (WAND) and stuck-at faults. The proposed algorithm is completely free from aliasing and confounding syndromes.

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This article presents the design and development of a new type of wideband shared aperture dual band dual microstrip polarization patch antenna (MPA) operating at L&S band. In this configuration, square ring shaped radiating element at L band and square shaped patch printed on different dielectric substrate layers housed within the square ring at S‐band has been used. The probe fed feeding mechanism is employed to get wide bandwidth performance at both bands. The measured 10‐dB return loss bandwidth is 28.3% at L band and 29.4% at S‐band. The simulated and measured antenna parameters of this antenna are in excellent agreement. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 55:917–922, 2013; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI: 10.1002/mop.27414