The genetic variability and population structure of three Bhutanese traditional horse breeds were assessed through genotyping of 74 horses (Boeta 25, Sharta 14 and Yuta 35) for 29 microsatellite DNA loci. Altogether, 282 alleles were detected across 29 polymorphic loci. The allelic diversity (NE) (Boeta 4.94; Sharta 4.65; Yuta 5.30) and gene diversities (HE) (Boeta 0.78; Sharta 0.77; Yuta 0.79) were high. None of the breeds deviated significantly from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. There was no sign of significant population bottleneck for all the breeds. The inbreeding estimates (FIS) of the breeds were low (Boeta 0.023; Sharta 0.001; Yuta 0.021). Analysis of molecular variance showed 0.6% of the total genetic variation among breeds, 1.9% among individuals and 97.5% within individuals. The global FIT, FST, and FIS estimates for the population were 0.025, 0.006 and 0.019 respectively. The analysis of population structure failed to distinguish subpopulations in traditional horses and this was supported by a high genetic exchange among the breeds. Overall, the results of this study suggest a rich genetic diversity in the traditional horse despite a very low genetic differentiation among the breeds in Bhutan.

Jakar sheep population in Bhutan is declining at unprecedented rate (44.4% per annum), and current population is little over 1,700. This study attempts to understand the current status of Jakar sheep and investigate the causes and drivers behind the rapid decline in population. The utility of sheep and wool in particular for clothing by herders is also declining. Sheep farming is increasingly becoming less attractive in face of alternative income sources and opportunities such as sale of potatoes and cordyceps ("caterpillar fungus") in the pastoral communities. The average monetary returns from sheep to annual herd income constitute less than 0.26% in sites with large alternate income sources. Wool processing and product-making continues to employ traditional, labour-intensive and time-consuming tools. Further, wildlife depredation (77%), skin disease (54%) and farm labour shortages (10%) continue to challenge Jakar sheep farming. Therefore, immediate interventions targeted to address the issues through incentive schemes in niche production development, use of labour-saving devices and marketing to generate monetary benefits including compensation to animal loss are recommended. In addition, the initiation and strengthening of ex situ conservation programs for sustainable utilization of its genetic resources is highly recommended.

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes and graphite nanoplatelets were functionalized via acid treatment to overcome the problem of agglomeration. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showed the chemical modification of the nanocarbons while the general relationship between the chemical treatment and the defects population was analyzed by Raman spectroscopy. The information regarding the mass loss and impurities is obtained from the thermogravimetric analysis. X-ray diffraction showed the effect of acid treatment on the physical states of the nanocarbons including the crystalline texture. The comparative high interlayer distance in graphite suggested that graphite particles are exfoliated into sheets of graphene by this technique with smaller particle sizes. The thermogravimetric analysis confirmed the complete removal of impurities in the case of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and about 20 % of impurities as seen in oxidized graphite attributable to the presence of residual manganese that might have been introduced during the functionalization process. Moreover, the thermal stability was also observed well in the case of MWCNTs with lesser impurities left. Overall, two different nanocarbons with well-structured chemical modifications were obtained with a variation in the feasibility of functionalization.

The structural, thermal and surface-wetting properties of epoxy resin/multiwalled carbon nanotubes (EP/MWCNTs) composites were studied by preparing nanocomposites by the physical mixing assisted by ultrasonication. The materials were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The contact angles of water droplets formed on the sample surfaces were measured to study their surface-wetting properties. FTIR showed the successful cross-linking of the EP matrix and good interaction between MWCNT and epoxy matrix in the nanocomposites. XRD attested that the incorporation of MWCNT in the EP did not influence the nature of the physical and chemical structures of the matrix polymer. Based on TGA results, the composites with chemically modified nanotubes were found to possess slightly higher thermostability than the analogous materials fabricated with the neat MWCNTs. Further, the EP/pristine MWCNT composites exhibited hydrophobic behavior while the EP/chemically modified MWCNT composites were comparatively hydrophilic which is attributed to the introduction of carboxyl groups during the chemical treatment of the nanotubes with strong acid.