Prospects of coconut cultivation in Tamil Nadu – A SWOT Analysis

Coconut is an important horticultural crop of the state of Tamil Nadu spreading across an area of 4.44 lakh hectares. Coconut is a victim of the catastrophes of climate change events like high temperature, excessive or deficit rainfall and increased atmospheric CO2 concentration. Coconut plantations in the state are hit by several pests and diseases, some of which are lethal, fatal and are debilitating in nature. An analysis of Strength, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) for the prospects of coconut cultivation in the state revealed that edaphic and climatic factors, less labour requirement compared to other field crops of the state and access to technologies remain the great strength, while tropical cyclones hitting coastal districts of the state, failure of monsoon, wide fluctuations in copra price, lack of producer-centric market intelligence are the striking weakness for coconut cultivation. Improved varieties and hybrids with desired traits, establishment of processing industries, international cargo terminals to tap export market and crop insurance scheme in the event of climatic aberrations, remain the major opportunities while declining soil fertility, debilitating pests and dreadful diseases and poor scientific management owing to the fragmented land holdings are the major threats of coconut cultivation in the state of Tamil Nadu

Application of PRA technique for field problem identification

This paper deals with the application of participatory rural appraisal technique for identification of agricultural field problems of Maroorpatti village . The economic importance of problems was also worked out

Racial and Ethnic Variation in Lipoprotein (a) Levels among Asian Indian and Chinese Patients

Background. Lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Non-Hispanic Whites (NHW). There are known racial/ethnic differences in Lp(a) levels, and the association of Lp(a) with CVD outcomes has not been examined in Asian Americans in the USA. Objective. We hypothesized that Lp(a) levels would differ in Asian Indians and Chinese Americans when compared to NHW and that the relationship between Lp(a) and CVD outcomes would be different in these Asian racial/ethnic subgroups when compared to NHW. Methods. We studied the outpatient electronic health records of 2022 NHW, 295 Asian Indians, and 151 Chinese adults age ≥18 y in Northern California in whom Lp(a) levels were assessed during routine clinical care from 2001 to 2008, excluding those who had received prescriptions for niacin (14.6%). Nonparametric methods were used to compare median Lp(a) levels. Significance was assessed at the P < .0001 level to account for multiple comparisons. CVD outcomes were defined as ischemic heart disease (IHD) (265 events), stroke (122), or peripheral vascular disease (PVD) (87). We used logistic regression to determine the relationship between Lp(a) and CVD outcomes. Results. Both Asian Indians (36 nmol/L) and NHW (29 nmol/L) had higher median Lp(a) levels than Chinese (22 nmol/L, P ≤ .0001 and P = .0032). When stratified by sex, the differences in median Lp(a) between these groups persisted in the 1761 men (AI v CH: P = .001, NHW v CH: P = .0018) but were not statistically significant in the 1130 women (AI v CH: P = .0402, NHW v CH: P = .0761). Asian Indians (OR = 2.0) and Chinese (OR = 4.8) exhibited a trend towards greater risk of IHD with high Lp(a) levels than NHW (OR = 1.4), but no relationship was statistically significant. Conclusion. Asian Indian and NHW men have higher Lp(a) values than Chinese men, with a trend toward, similar associations in women. High Lp(a) may be more strongly associated with IHD in Asian Indians and Chinese, although we did not have a sufficient number of outcomes to confirm this. Further studies should strive to elucidate the relationship between Lp(a) levels, CVD, and race/ethnicity among Asian subgroups in the USA

Effect of bio-seed priming and nano zinc oxide foliar application on quality and productivity of finger millet + greengram intercropping system

A critical stage of the plant's life cycle is germination and insufficient seedling emergence contributes to the lower productivity of finger millet. Priming improves seedling emergence, reduces stand establishment time, and improves seedling germination. There is a need to develop a new technology like Nanotechnology that can precisely detect and deliver the right amount of nutrients or other inputs to safe crops for the environment and maximising productivity. A field experiment was conducted during Kharif season to evaluate the response of effective farming practice for sole finger millet + greengram intercropping system under rainfed conditions to varied levels of bio-seed priming and foliar application of nanoparticles on crop growth and productivity. The results of the experiment revealed that finger millet (Eleusine coracana) intercropped with greengram (Vigna radiata) (2:1) had a significant level (&lt;0.05) increase in growth and yield parameter of finger millet compared to sole finger millet. Application of Prosopis juliflora leaf extract 1 per cent alone + Foliar ZnO nanoparticle @ 500 ppm showed a significant level (&lt;0.05) increase in growth and yield parameter like grain yield (3238.84 kg ha-1), finger millet equivalent yield (FMEY) (3483.84 kg ha-1) and straw yield (7393.83 kg ha-1) compared to Pogamia pinnata leaf extract 1% alone + Foliar ZnO nanoparticle @ 500 ppm. The present study mainly focussed on cropping system, bio seed priming, and foliar application of nano zinc oxide utilized during rainfed conditions to increase uniform germination, drought resistance and improve crop yield along with nutrient content in seeds

Enrichment of Genetic Linkage Maps and Mapping QTLs Specific to Seed Strength-Hardness/Softness-In Guava (Psidium guajava L.)

The present research focuses mainly on molecular mining and morphological evaluation of guava genome within a full-sib population and, thereby, mapping of quantitative trait loci related to fruit quality traits, viz., seed strength (hardness/softness) and average fruit weight. Linkage maps were enriched for both parental lines, 'Kamsari' and 'Purple Local' using a set of 60 RAPD markers following the pseudo-testcross strategy on a panel of 94 progeny. A total of 480 scorable markers were identified, of which 131 were specific to 'kamsari' and 28 to 'Purple Local', segregating as test cross markers, and, 321 showing intercross pattern common to both. 'Kamsari' spanned a total length of 1959.1cM with average marker interval distance of 3.93cM, while 'Purple Local' spanned a length of 1537.9cM with average marker interval distance of 3.29cM, by forming 11 linkage groups. Estimated genome length observed was 93.02% and 92.77% in 'Kamsari' and 'Purple Local', respectively. Composite Interval Mapping (CIM) was computed at significance of 0.05 and LOD threshold greater than 3.0, which led to detection of one major QTL for the trait of average fruit weight, and, four QTLs for the trait of seed strength (hardness/softness). Of these, two were major and two minor QTLs. Our study provides molecular mapping information on marker-assisted selection for improvement of guava in a breeding program

ASSOCIATION BETWEEN MICROALBUMINURIA AND OXIDATIVE STRESS IN DIABETIC NEPHROPATHY

Objectives: Diabetic Nephropathy (DN) is a leading cause of chronic kidney disease and end stage renal failure worldwide. This study aimed to evaluate the association between oxidants, antioxidants and microalbuminuria in Diabetic Nephropathy compared with Type II Diabetes Mellitus (DM). Methods: The study includes 60 Type II Diabetes Mellitus and 40 Diabetic Nephropathy Patients. Parameters performed HbA1c, urea, creatinine, total proteins, microalbuminuria, glutathione peroxidase and malondialdehyde(MDA). Results: The levels of HbA1c, urea, creatinine, microalbuminuria and malondialdehyde are significantly higher in DN compared with Type II DM. the levels of T.P and glutathione peroxidase are decreased in DN compared with Type II DM. Conclusion: Low levels of glutathione peroxidase and total proteins were observed in DN. HbA1c, urea, creatinine, microalbuminuria and malondialdehyde levels were elevated in DN compared with Type II DM.KEYWORDS: Diabetic Nephropathy; Glutathione peroxidase; Microalbuminuria; Malondialdehyde

ASSOCIATION BETWEEN MICROALBUMINURIA AND OXIDATIVE STRESS IN DIABETIC NEPHROPATHY

Objectives: Diabetic Nephropathy (DN) is a leading cause of chronic kidney disease and end stage renal failure worldwide. This study aimed to evaluate the association between oxidants, antioxidants and microalbuminuria in Diabetic Nephropathy compared with Type II Diabetes Mellitus (DM). Methods: The study includes 60 Type II Diabetes Mellitus and 40 Diabetic Nephropathy Patients. Parameters performed HbA1c, urea, creatinine, total proteins, microalbuminuria, glutathione peroxidase and malondialdehyde(MDA). Results: The levels of HbA1c, urea, creatinine, microalbuminuria and malondialdehyde are significantly higher in DN compared with Type II DM. the levels of T.P and glutathione peroxidase are decreased in DN compared with Type II DM. Conclusion: Low levels of glutathione peroxidase and total proteins were observed in DN. HbA1c, urea, creatinine, microalbuminuria and malondialdehyde levels were elevated in DN compared with Type II DM.KEYWORDS: Diabetic Nephropathy; Glutathione peroxidase; Microalbuminuria; Malondialdehyde

Compassionate use of convalescent plasma for the management of severe pneumonia in critically ill COVID-19 patients-a single center experience, Kerala, India

We assessed treatment effectiveness with convalescent plasma in critically ill COVID-19 pneumonia patients and their association with reduction in C reactive protein level as a sensitive inflammatory marker to the ongoing cytokine storm. Retrospective cohort study based on the detailed electronic medical chart review. The primary outcome was a clinical improvement on day 14, defined as the reduction in cytokine storm as demonstrated by a drop in acute phase reactant C reactive protein; de-escalation from the prior mode of oxygen delivery or not on mechanical ventilation in critically ill COVID-19 patients. C reactive protein was measured by using immunoturbidimetry. IgG antibody against spike protein S1 was measured by chemiluminescent immunoassay. Of 14 patients, all had severe COVID-19 pneumonia [category C], and 9 (64%) were mechanically ventilated soon after the admission into the medical intensive care unit. De-escalation of the oxygenation strategy mode was noted in 11 (79%) patients after convalescent plasma infusion. All patients showed a significant drop in C reactive protein when compared to pre-infusion and post-infusion day 5.  Early compassionate use of convalescent plasma with higher titters of IgG antibodies against S1may positively benefit the overall outcome in critically ill COVID-19 patients with severe pneumonia

Occurrence of Campylobacter spp. in organised layer farms and associated environmental samples of Central Kerala

Campylobacteriosis caused by Campylobacter spp. is the prime cause of bacterial gastroenteritis worldwide. Chicken and other poultry birds act as the major reservoir for Campylobacter and thereby play a crucial role in the transmission of this zoonotic disease to humans. The current investigation was undertaken to study the occurrence of Campylobacter in organised layer farms and their associated environmental samples. A total of 260 samples comprising of cloacal swabs, feed, litter, soil, water and handwash of personnel were collected from two organised layer farms of Thrissur and Ernakulam districts. Isolation and identification of the organism by conventional culture technique followed by molecular confirmation of Campylobacter isolates using multiplex polymerase chain reaction (mPCR) revealed an overall occurrence of 17.31 per cent in layer farms. Majority of the isolates obtained in the study were C. jejuni (75.6 per cent) followed by C. coli (24.4 per cent). In the current scenario, where the consumer demand for chicken meat and eggs is continuously increasing, the occurrence of Campylobacter in layer farms needs to be addressed seriously. Appropriate interventions and control measures at farm level and also across the poultry production chain is necessary to minimise the impact of the disease on human health and economy