Potential of Biocontrol Agents in Plant Disease Control for Improving Food Safety

Plant disease control is mainly based on extraneous application of pesticides to improve agriculture productivity. However, only a part of applied pesticides is used for killing of pathogens and pests. Large part of applied pesticides remains either as residual pesticide or gets volatilized or leached resulting in ecological and environmental problems, and human health hazards. The increased consumer demands for safe food have invigorated research on development of safe and ecofriendly biopesticides. The use of microorganisms for biological control of pests is considered as a pragmatic approach which can drastically lessen the adverse outcomes of agrochemicals in soil. Rhizospheric microorganisms isolated from various crops produce different antagnostic compounds and inhibit the growth of various phytopathogens and insect pests. Moreover, in several plants, hormones like salicylic acid, jasmonic acid and ethylene contribute towards induction of both, systemic acquired as well as induced systemic resitance. In this article, antagonistic rhizosphere microorganisms have been explored for control of phytopathogens. Further, recent advances in field of biopesticides using rhizosphere microorganisms under field conditions is discussed for improvingcrop productivity in sustainable agricultur

Finitistic Spaces with Orbit Space a Product of Projective Spaces

Let G = Z2 act freely on a finitistic space X. If the mod 2 cohomology of X is isomorphic to the real projective space RP2n+1(resp. complex projective space CP2n+1) then the mod 2 cohomology of orbit spaces of these free actions are RP1 xCPn(resp. RP2xHPn) [11]. In this paper, we have discussed converse of this result. We have showed that if the mod 2 cohomology of the orbit space X/G is RP1xCPn(resp. RP2 x HPn). Similar, results for p > 2, a prime, is also discussed. It is proved that one of the possibilities of orbit spaces of free involutions on product of projective spaces RPn x RP2m+1(resp. CPn x CP2m+1) is RP1 x RPn x CPm(resp. RP2 x CPn x HPm) [12]. The converse of these statements are also discussed

Finitistic Spaces with the Orbit Space FP^n x S^m

Let G = S^d, d = 0, 1 or 3, act freely on a finitistic connected space X. This paper gives the cohomology classification of X if a mod 2 or rational cohomology of the orbit space X/G is isomorphic to the product of a projective space and sphere FP^n x S^m, where F = R, C or H, respectively. For a free involution on X, a lower bound of covering dimension of the coincidence set of a continuous map f: X -> R^k is also determined

Structural, Optical, Photoluminescence and Electroluminescence Properties of Small ZnO Nanocrystals for Optoelectronic Device Applications

In this study, zinc oxide (ZnO) has been prepared by chemical precipitation method using zinc acetate as precursor, poly vinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) as capping agent and deionised water as a solvent. X- ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), ultra violet visible (UV-Vis) absorption, photoluminescence (PL), and electroluminescence (EL) have been performed to characterize the structural, morphological and optical nature of the samples, respectively. X-Ray diffraction indicates that all of the as obtained samples have a pure phase (hexagonal wurtzite structure). Crystallite size has been calculated by Debye Scherrer formula and Lattice strain has been calculated by Williomson Hall equation. Cell volume, Lorentz factor, Lorentz polarization factor, lattice constants and crystal lattice distortion degree (R) and morphology index (MI) have also been studied. The average particle size has also been calculated by Brus equation by using UV-Visible absorption peak. An electroluminescence spectrum of ZnO nanocrystals has also been studied

A rare presentation of dengue fever: acute motor quadriparesis due to hypokalemia

Hypokalemia can lead to acute onset pure motor flaccid quadriparesis. Although there are many causes of hypokalemia but dengue is a one rare cause of them which can cause hypokalemia. Simply correction of potassium improve the weakness dramatically. We reported a case who presented to us with acute motor quadriparesis, finally diagnosed hypokalemia due to dengue

Demystifying relationship between Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and financial performance: An Indian business perspective

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a desirable approach considering it reduces risks, increases brand value, improves transparency, and has a possible impact on the financial health of the business. Initiated as an act of philanthropy, it has recently become mandatory as a part of the Companies Act, 2013 in India which mandates CSR spending. The study had an objective to validate that CSR disclosures lead to better financial performance of a company and vice-versa. The study analyzed the relationship between CSR disclosure and financial performance and vice versa using various approaches viz., exploratory to understand the trends and practices and statistical by adopting multiple regression modelling techniques. The results of the study reveal that the company’s financial performance (profitability) has a cause and effect relationship with the CSR disclosure and vice versa, which substantiated the theories predicting that CSR can affect the financial performance of the company