In this letter, a theoretical method for the analysis of diffusive flux/current to limited scale selfaffine random fractals is presented and compared with experimentally measured electrochemical current for such roughness. The theory explains the several experimental findings of the temporal scale invariance as well as deviation from this of current transients in terms of three dominant fractal parameters for the limited-length scales of roughness. This theoretical method is based on limited scale power-law characterization of the interfacial roughness spectrum and the solution

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a b s t r a c tA novel synthetic approach has been designed to prepare CeO 2 /reduced graphene oxide (rGO) xerogel composite. The CeO 2 /rGO xerogel composite electrode displays much enhanced performance for the catalytic reduction of H 2 O 2 than the single component CeO 2 . The CeO 2 /rGO modified glassy carbon electrode displayed a wide linear range (60.7 nM-3.0 M), and low level of detection limit (30.40 nM) for H 2 O 2 and much higher sensitivity than that of CeO 2 nanoparticles modified electrode. The sensor fabricated by the xerogel composite was fast, stable, and reliable to the detection of hydrogen peroxide.

Vitamin A deficiency caused by insufficient intake of β-carotene has emerged as one of the most important problems afflicting people worldwide. Traditional yellow maize is predominated by lutein and zeaxanthin; but contains low β-carotene par below the daily requirement for humans. A natural variant of crtRB1 allele increases β-carotene in kernel by blocking its conversion to zeaxanthin. In the present study, genetic diversity analyses were carried out among 24 diverse maize inbreds possessing rare allele of crtRB1. The mean β-carotene among the inbreds was 9.3 μg/g, with 14 inbreds having 9.1-18.8 μg/g. Among the inbreds of exotic origin, HP704-23, HP704-22, HP467-15, HP465-41 and HP467-20 were promising with high β-carotene. In case of inbreds developed in India, VQL-2-PV, VQL1-PV, V345-PV, V335-PV, HKI161-PV, MGU-PV-2, HKI1105-PV, HKI323-PV and MGU-PV-3 were identified to possess high kernel β-carotene. These inbreds with rare allele of crtRB1 are unique germplasm and therefore holds immense promise in the biofortification programme worldwide. Molecular profiling of these inbreds using 65 SSRs distributed throughout the genome generated 268 alleles with a mean of 4.12 alleles per locus. The polymorphism information content varied from 0.21 to 0.82 with a mean of 0.58. The study detected 12 each of unique and rare alleles. Genetic dissimilarity ranged from 0.40 to 0.94 with an average of 0.79. Cluster analyses grouped 24 genotypes into four major clusters, and principal coordinate analysis depicted the diverse nature of the genotypes consistent with their pedigree. The study identified potential hybrid combinations for higher β-carotene that can be directly utilized in the biofortification programme.

Sweet corn has recently experienced sharp rise in demand worldwide. Recessive sugary1 (su1) and shrunken2 (sh2) that enhances kernel sweetness have been abundantly used in sweet corn breeding. Analyses of genetic diversity among sweet corn inbreds assume great significance for their effective utilization in hybrid breeding. A set of 48 diverse sweet corn genotypes encompassing su1su1, sh2sh2 and su1su1/sh2sh2 types were analyzed using 56 microsatellite markers. A total of 213 alleles with mean of 3.8 alleles per locus were generated. Two unique-and 12 rare-alleles were identified. The average PIC and genetic dissimilarity was 0.50 and 0.73, respectively. Cluster analysis grouped the inbreds into three major clusters, with each of the su1su1-, sh2sh2-and su1su1/sh2sh2-types were broadly clustered together. Principal coordinate analyses also depicted the diverse origin of the genotypes. The study identified inbreds for synthesis of pools and pedigree populations to develop novel inbreds. The study led to the identification of prospective heterotic combinations in various genetic backgrounds (sh2sh2 9 sh2sh2, su1su1 9 su1-su1, su1su1/sh2sh2 9 su1su1/sh2sh2, sh2sh2 9 su1su1/ sh2sh2 and su1su1 9 su1su1/sh2sh2).

The NIN-LIKE PROTEIN (NLP) family of transcription factors were identified as nitrate-responsive ciselement (NRE)-binding proteins, which function as transcriptional activators in the nitrate-regulated expression of downstream genes. this study was aimed at genome-wide analysis of NLP gene family in rice and the expression profiling of NLPs in response to nitrogen (N) supply and deficiency in rice genotypes with contrasting N use efficiency (NUE). Based on in silico analysis, 6 NLP genes (including alternative splice forms 11 NLPs) were identified from rice. Expression of NLPs was promoted by nitrate supply as well as N deficiency (NLP1, NLP3, NLP4 and NLP5). Four rice genotypes APO (high NUE under sufficient N), IR83929-B-B-291-3-1-1 (IR-3-1-1), Nerica-L-42 (NL-42) (High NUE at low N), and Pusa Basmati 1 (PB1, low NUE) to correlate traits governing NUE and expression of NLPs. Analysis of rate of nitrate uptake and expression of N assimilatory and uptake genes established that IR-3-1-1 has high uptake and assimilation efficiency, translating into high NUE, whereas PB1 is efficient in uptake only when N availability is high. Along with the transcriptional upregulation of NLPs, genotype IR-3-1-1, displayed highest expression of OsNRT1.1B gene, the closest rice homologue of nitrate transceptor AtNRT1.1 and plays major role in nitrate uptake, translocation and signaling in rice. The results showed that high NUE rice genotypes has both high Nitrogen uptake efficiency (NUpE) and Nitrogen utilization efficiency (NUtE), resulting from the effective and coordinated signal transduction network involving the rice homologue of nitrate transceptor OsNRT1.1B, the probable primary nitrate response (PNR) regulator OsNLP1 and the master response regulator OsNLP3, a homologue of AtNLP6/7. Nitrogen (N) is an essential nutrient and major component of proteins, chlorophyll, nucleotides and plant hormones, and therefore has immense role in determining plant growth and economic yield 1,2. In order to meet the food demand of ever-growing human population, enormous amounts of N fertilizers are applied inorder to tap the maximum crop yield potential worldwide 3. The global demand for N fertilizers in 2014 was 1.13 M tonnes and is projected to grow at approximately 1.4% per year, reaching 1.22 M tonnes by 2020 4. On the other hand, around 50% of the applied N fertilizer is lost to the environment depending on the cropping conditions and plant species. The loss of fertilizer N results in contamination of soil water and water bodies and production of nitrogenous greenhouse gases like nitrous oxide (N 2 O) which has high global warming potential 5. Nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of rice is particularly low (around 40%), though genetic variation for the trait has been reported 6. Consequently, there is an impending requirement to improve the NUE of rice to maintain the steadiness of high crop yields visa vis low N fertilizer inputs 7. Transgenic manipulation is one of the potent way to achieve the current demand for high NUE, which necessitates...

Nanocrystalline copper oxide was found to be an effective heterogeneous catalyst for the N-arylation of heterocycles with activated chloro-and fluoroarenes using potassium carbonate as base. N-Arylated products were isolated in good to excellent yields. The catalyst can be used for five cycles with almost consistent activity.