Impact of physio-biochemical responses on amelioration of short-term storage and management of post-harvest seed quality of greengram (Vigna radiata)

The present study was carried out during winter (rabi) and rainy (kharif) seasons of 2021 and 2022 at Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, Assam to address the significance of maintaining post-harvest seed quality and its management throughout the nation, and to promote the knowledge and create awareness among the farming communities and pulse growers at the national level in terms of the area with high rainfall and high relative humidity. The greengram [Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek] variety (SGC-16) seeds were stored in 4 different types of packaging materials, viz. jute bag, polylined jute bags; HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) interwoven bags; and 700-gauze polythene bags and treated with treatment combination of emamectin benzoate (40 mg/kg) (chemical based); 5 ml/kg neem oil (plant based); 3 g/kg black pepper (recommended practise for the state); and 3 g/kg silica gel (desiccants). With an increase in storage time, a gradual decline in seed quality parameters such as viability, germination, seedling length, seedling dry weight, Seed vigour index-I, Seed vigour index-II, germination index value, field emergence, and chlorophyll content was observed. Variations for biochemical indicators of seed quality were also recorded. The seed germination above Indian Minimum Seed Certification Standard (IMSCS) level was maintained by all treatments up to 120 days of storage. However, emamectin benzoate (40 mg/kg) along with 3 g/kg of silica gel in HDPE interwoven bags found to be best in keeping seed quality standards with lowest lipid peroxidation activity (0.36 g/gm) and highest in seeds stored in jute bag (0.68 g/gm)

On searches for gravitational waves from mini creation event by laser interferometric detectors

As an alternative view to the standard big bang cosmology the quasi-steady state cosmology(QSSC) argues that the universe was not created in a single great explosion; it neither had a beginning nor will it ever come to an end. The creation of new matter in the universe is a regular feature occurring through finite explosive events. Each creation event is called a mini-bang or, a mini creation event(MCE). Gravitational waves are expected to be generated due to any anisotropy present in this process of creation. Mini creation event ejecting matter in two oppositely directed jets is thus a source of gravitational waves which can in principle be detected by laser interferometric detectors. In the present work we consider the gravitational waveforms propagated by linear jets and then estimate the response of laser interferometric detectors like LIGO and LISA

A systematic review and statistical analysis of factors influencing the cost-effectiveness of transcatheter aortic valve implantation for symptomatic severe aortic stenosis

OBJECTIVE: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is a disruptive technology recommended for patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis (sSAS). Despite being available for over 15 years in Europe, with an extensive volume of clinical and economic evaluations across all surgical risk groups, there is little evidence on the identification of the key drivers of TAVI's cost-effectiveness. This study sought to identify these factors and quantify their role. METHODS: A systematic literature review was conducted to identify published economic evaluations of TAVI. This was supplemented by health technology assessment reports. The primary outcome was the likelihood of TAVI being found cost-effective. Secondary outcomes of TAVI being dominant, and the incremental health benefits of TAVI were also explored. RESULTS: Forty-two studies, reporting 65 unique analyses, were identified. TAVI was found to be cost-effective and dominant in 74% and 20% of analyses, respectively. The latest generation balloon-expandable TAVI device (SAPIEN 3) was more likely to be found cost-effective, as was TAVI use in low-risk populations and when performed via transfemoral access route. There was heterogeneity in the approach taken to economic modelling, which may also influence estimates of cost-effectiveness. Analyses that found TAVI to be dominant always compared it to surgery and usually considered the latest generation balloon-expandable TAVI device. Largest health benefits were observed for the inoperable risk group. CONCLUSION: For patients with sSAS, TAVI is typically a cost-effective treatment option. There are important differences by device generation, risk group and access route. It is crucial to consider these differences when appraising the health economic evidence-base for TAVI

Effect of Freezing Rate on Quality of Cryopreserved Goat Spermatozoa Using a Programmable Freezer

Abstract: A total of 45 ejaculates from nine Beetal bucks collected by artificial vagina, washed and extended i

Role of Artificial Intelligence in Radiogenomics for Cancers in the Era of Precision Medicine

Radiogenomics, a combination of “Radiomics” and “Genomics,” using Artificial Intelligence (AI) has recently emerged as the state-of-the-art science in precision medicine, especially in oncology care. Radiogenomics syndicates large-scale quantifiable data extracted from radiological medical images enveloped with personalized genomic phenotypes. It fabricates a prediction model through various AI methods to stratify the risk of patients, monitor therapeutic approaches, and assess clinical outcomes. It has recently shown tremendous achievements in prognosis, treatment planning, survival prediction, heterogeneity analysis, reoccurrence, and progression-free survival for human cancer study. Although AI has shown immense performance in oncology care in various clinical aspects, it has several challenges and limitations. The proposed review provides an overview of radiogenomics with the viewpoints on the role of AI in terms of its promises for computa-tional as well as oncological aspects and offers achievements and opportunities in the era of precision medicine. The review also presents various recommendations to diminish these obstacles

Utilisation of an operative difficulty grading scale for laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Background A reliable system for grading operative difficulty of laparoscopic cholecystectomy would standardise description of findings and reporting of outcomes. The aim of this study was to validate a difficulty grading system (Nassar scale), testing its applicability and consistency in two large prospective datasets. Methods Patient and disease-related variables and 30-day outcomes were identified in two prospective cholecystectomy databases: the multi-centre prospective cohort of 8820 patients from the recent CholeS Study and the single-surgeon series containing 4089 patients. Operative data and patient outcomes were correlated with Nassar operative difficultly scale, using Kendall’s tau for dichotomous variables, or Jonckheere–Terpstra tests for continuous variables. A ROC curve analysis was performed, to quantify the predictive accuracy of the scale for each outcome, with continuous outcomes dichotomised, prior to analysis. Results A higher operative difficulty grade was consistently associated with worse outcomes for the patients in both the reference and CholeS cohorts. The median length of stay increased from 0 to 4 days, and the 30-day complication rate from 7.6 to 24.4% as the difficulty grade increased from 1 to 4/5 (both p < 0.001). In the CholeS cohort, a higher difficulty grade was found to be most strongly associated with conversion to open and 30-day mortality (AUROC = 0.903, 0.822, respectively). On multivariable analysis, the Nassar operative difficultly scale was found to be a significant independent predictor of operative duration, conversion to open surgery, 30-day complications and 30-day reintervention (all p < 0.001). Conclusion We have shown that an operative difficulty scale can standardise the description of operative findings by multiple grades of surgeons to facilitate audit, training assessment and research. It provides a tool for reporting operative findings, disease severity and technical difficulty and can be utilised in future research to reliably compare outcomes according to case mix and intra-operative difficulty