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The excitation functions of $^{66}$Ga, $^{67}$Ga, $^{65}$Zn and $^{64}$Cu radioisotopes produced via alpha-induced reaction on $^{nat}$Cu were measured using a stacked-foil activation method. The gamma-ray activity produced by the above-mentioned radionuclides was measured using the HPGe detector. The covariance analysis was performed to quantify the measured cross-section uncertainties as well as the correlation between different alpha energy cross sections. A covariance matrix and cross-sections for the $^{nat}$Cu($\alpha$,x)$^{66}$Ga, $^{nat}$Cu($\alpha$,x)$^{67}$Ga, $^{nat}$Cu($\alpha$,x)$^{65}$Zn and $^{nat}$Cu($\alpha$,x)$^{64}$Cu nuclear reactions in the projectile energy range of 15–37 MeV are reported in the present work. The measured reaction cross sections are compared with the existing experimental data and theoretically simulated results from the TALYS code.

Background: Drought and moisture stress is the most limiting factor affecting growth and productivity of crop plants. The genotypes may differ in their ability to withstand drought or moisture stress. Therefore, the research was carried out to identify suitable genotypes in moisture stress environments. Methods: The forty eight genotypes of fenugreek were planted in randomized block design with three replications under two environmental conditions namely, (i) normal irrigation (E1) and (ii) staggered irrigation (E2) during rabi 2016-2017. Eight stress tolerance indices viz., stress tolerance (TOL), stress susceptibility index (SSI), stress tolerance index (STI), mean production (MP), geometric mean production (GMP), yield index (YI), stress susceptibility percentage index (SSPI) and modified stress tolerance index (MSTI) were calculated based on seed yield under moisture stress (Ys) and non-stress condition (Yp). The correlation coefficient and mean rank of stress indices were calculated to identify the moisture stress tolerant genotypes. Result: The seed yield under non-stress condition (Yp) had significant positive association with TOL, SSI, STI, MP, GMP, SSPI and K1STI. The seed yield under stress condition (Ys) had significant positive association with STI, MP, GMP, YI and K2STI, while significant negative association with TOL, SSI and SSPI. The results showed that MP, GMP and STI indices were more effective in identifying high yielding genotypes in both stress and non-stress conditions while TOL, SSI, YI and SSPI under moisture stress condition. Based upon the mean seed yield and stress tolerance indices, the genotypes UM-124, UM-60, UM-55, UM-28 and UM-4 were found tolerant to staggered irrigation conditions. Hence, these genotypes may be used further in breeding programmes for moisture stress tolerance.

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Studies of neutron emission from a dense plasma focus suggest that a significant fraction of neutron emission in some shots is caused by fast deuterons that have a prominent azimuthal component of motion. Recent examples are observations of long-lasting neutron emission in the side-on direction in PF-1000 and of neutron flux asymmetry (end/side) less than unity in Gemini. Such azimuthal motion of deuterons indicates the presence of an azimuthal electric field that accelerates them and a poloidal magnetic field that keeps them within the zone of acceleration. This in turn must be accompanied by poloidal magnetic flux emission (PMFE) from the plasma focus. Recently, a diagnostic technique for detection of PMFE has been proposed and demonstrated. This paper presents results of its successful replication and the first ever exploratory survey of PMFE emission using the UNU-ICTP plasma focus at the Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.