Effect of potash and sulphur on yield and quality parameters under different planting methods in onion

A field experiment was carried out to examine the effect of potash and sulphur on yield and quality parameters under different planting methods in onion (Allium cepa L.) during Rabi 2014 and 2015. The experiment consists of 8 treatment combinations viz. 2 planting methods (bed and flat), 4 treatments of fertilizer viz. S1-N100 P50 K0 S0 (control), S2 - N100 P50 K50 S0, S3 - N100 P50 K0S40, S4 - N100 P50 K50 S40. The experiment was laid in factorial randomized block design and replicated thrice. Uniform dose of farm Yard manure (50 t ha-1) was applied to all the treatments. Data on plant height (cm), leaves /plant (No.), neck thickness (mm), fresh bulb weight (g), fresh bulb yield (q ha-1), total soluble solids (T.S.S), sprouting (%),rotting (%) and physiological weight loss (%) at 30 and 90 days after of harvest were recorded . It has been observed that planting methods and fertilizer treatments showed significant difference at 5% level of significance for plant height (cm), neck thickness (mm), fresh bulb weight (g), fresh bulb yield (q ha-1),total soluble solids (T.S.S), sprouting(%), rotting(%) and physiological weight loss (%) at 30 days after harvest. However their interaction was significant for Neck thickness (mm), fresh bulb yield (q ha-1) and rotting (%).It was found that application of potash and sulphur with recommended dose of Nitrogen and phosphorus gave better results in relation to yield as well as quality characters. The results revealed that application of potash and sulphur with recommended dose of nitrogen and phosphorus (S4 - N100 P50 K50 S40 ) gave better results in relation to yield (339.6 q ha-1) as well as quality characters like sprouting (2.38 %) and rooting (12.18 %) and physiological weight loss at 30 and 90 days of harvest(10.22 and 20.50 % respectively)

Comparative study of cord blood lipid profile in relation to gestational age, birth weight, and sex

Objectives: The objective of the study was to compare the cord blood lipid levels in healthy newborns according to gestational age (GA), weight, and sex. Methods: This study included 1000 healthy term and preterm neonates after obtaining parental consent at birth. The GA was confirmed using New Ballard Score. Fenton’s growth charts were utilized to classify study subjects as appropriate for GA, small for GA, and large for GA at birth. Lipid profile was measured by enzymatic colorimetric method. Serum low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) was calculated by Friedewald’s formula. Results: Preterm neonates with GA of 28–36 weeks had higher mean total cholesterol, LDL, very LDL, and triglycerides levels than term neonates in contrast to their mean high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels which was significantly lower as compared to that of term neonates. A statistically significant decline in all lipid fractions was observed with an increase in birth weight from <1.5 kg to ≥2.5 kg. Females had higher lipid fractions in comparison to male neonates; however, only the difference in HDL levels was statistically significant (p<0.001). Conclusion: Low birth weight neonates exhibit higher lipid levels at birth giving scope for future research and regular follow-up of these high-risk neonates

AUTOMATIC VEHICLE COLLISION PREVENTION AND WARNING USING INFRARED / ULTRASONIC

Our Project proposes a two or more vehicle collision warning. Emerging infrared / ultrasonic technologies for vehicle detection are promising to dramatically reduce the number of road accidents by providing early warnings. One major technical challenge addressed in this our project is to achieve low-latency in delivering emergency warnings in various road situations. Basedon a careful analysis of application requirements, we design an effective hardware, service differentiation mechanisms and methods for emergency warning. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed hardware achieves to delivering emergency warnings and efficient usage in different road situations. It is designed for low -power consumption allowing batteries to essentially last forever. The distance measurement process by using Ultrasonic / Infrared sensors. Our project will provide three different messages that are safe, careful and warning on LCD display with audio message

Micro-satellite based diversity estimation of Local hill fowl (Uttara fowl): A unique poultry strain of Uttarakhand

Nainital and Pithoragarh districts of Uttarakhand in Himalayan region have 2 types of poultry populations. Uttara fowl is reared under backyard system. But no information is available in the literature of Uttara fowl. The aim of the study was to analyze the genetic diversity in Local hill fowl of Uttarakhand (Uttara Fowl) using panel of micro-satellite markers recommended by FAO. The 50 blood samples were collected from randomly selected Uttara fowl. A total of 25 micro-satellite loci were used for this study. All the analyzed 25 loci were polymorphic and a total of 158 alleles were observed in the present study of Uttara Fowl. The observed and expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.292 (LEI-155) to 0.729 (LEI-90) and from 0.414 (MCW–250) to 0.838 (MCW-228) in Uttara fowl, respectively. Wright’s fixation index (Fis) values among loci ranged from –0.085 (for LEI-90) to 0.747(MCW-84). The mean Fis for 25 microsatellite loci was estimated 0.168. Deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was observed in Uttara fowl in the commercial cross. The overall population heterozygote deficiency was 0.168. The existence of sufficient genetic diversity within Local hill fowls, estimated through molecular markers analysis would further aid in a conservation scheme, enabling the planning of new strategies for the improvement of in situ conservation schemes

Phenolic Biotransformations during Conversion of Ferulic Acid to Vanillin by Lactic Acid Bacteria

Vanillin is widely used as food additive and as a masking agent in various pharmaceutical formulations. Ferulic acid is an important precursor of vanillin that is available in abundance in cell walls of cereals like wheat, corn, and rice. Phenolic biotransformations can occur during growth of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), and their production can be made feasible using specialized LAB strains that have been reported to produce ferulic acid esterases. The present study aimed at screening a panel of LAB isolates for their ability to release phenolics from agrowaste materials like rice bran and their biotransformation to industrially important compounds such as ferulic acid, 4-ethyl phenol, vanillic acid, vanillin, and vanillyl alcohol. Bacterial isolates were evaluated using ferulic acid esterase, ferulic acid decarboxylase, and vanillin dehydrogenase assays. This work highlights the importance of lactic acid bacteria in phenolic biotransformations for the development of food grade flavours and additives

Phenolic Biotransformations during Conversion of Ferulic Acid to Vanillin by Lactic Acid Bacteria

Vanillin is widely used as food additive and as a masking agent in various pharmaceutical formulations. Ferulic acid is an important precursor of vanillin that is available in abundance in cell walls of cereals like wheat, corn, and rice. Phenolic biotransformations can occur during growth of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), and their production can be made feasible using specialized LAB strains that have been reported to produce ferulic acid esterases. The present study aimed at screening a panel of LAB isolates for their ability to release phenolics from agrowaste materials like rice bran and their biotransformation to industrially important compounds such as ferulic acid, 4-ethyl phenol, vanillic acid, vanillin, and vanillyl alcohol. Bacterial isolates were evaluated using ferulic acid esterase, ferulic acid decarboxylase, and vanillin dehydrogenase assays. This work highlights the importance of lactic acid bacteria in phenolic biotransformations for the development of food grade flavours and additives

Variation in melon (Cucumis melo) landraces adapted to the humid tropics of southern India

We present here the first comprehensive genetic characterization of melon landraces from the humid tropics of southern India. The genetic diversity among 50 melon landraces collected from 3 agro-ecological regions of southern India (6 agro-ecological sub-regions) was assessed by variation at 17 SSR loci, morphological traits of plant habit and fruit, 2 yield-associated traits, pest and disease resistance, biochemical composition (ascorbic acid, carotenoids, titrable acidity) and mineral content (P, K, Fe, Zn). Differences among accessions were observed in plant and fruit traits. Melon germplasm with high titrable acidity, higher than average amounts of mineral content and resistance to Cucumber mosaic virus, Zucchini yellow mosaic virus, powdery mildew (races 1, 2, 3, 5), Fusarium wilt (races 1, 2), Aphis gossypii and leafminer was recorded in the collection. A high level of genetic variability in melon germplasm was suggested by the SSR analysis. Comparative analysis using SSRs of the genetic variability between Indian melons from north, south, and east regions and reference accessions of melon from Spain, France, Japan, Korea, Iraq, Zambia showed regional differentiation between Indian melon accessions and that Indian germplasm was weakly related to the melon accessions from other parts of the world, suggesting that an important portion of the genetic variability found within this melon collection has not been used yet for the development of new cultivars. Additional collections of acidulus melon germplasm should be made in southern India and adequate management of this important genetic resource is clearly a necessity.Balvir Kaur was supported by a Fellowship from Punjab Agricultural University. N.P.S. Dhillon was supported by a fellowship for sabbatical stays from the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion (MCINN). The work was funded by grant AGL2006-12780-C02-01/AGR (MCINN). We are thankful to Fuensanta Garcia for technical support. The authors thank Professor G.J. Jellis for helpful comments.Fergany, M.; Kaur, B.; Monforte Gilabert, AJ.; Pitrat, M.; Rys, C.; Lecoq, H.; Dhillon, NPS.... (2011). Variation in melon (Cucumis melo) landraces adapted to the humid tropics of southern India. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution. 58(2):225-243. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-010-9564-6S225243582Akashi Y, Fukuda N, Wako T, Masuda M, Kato K (2002) Genetic variation and phylogenetic relationships in East and South Asian melons, Cucumis melo L., based on the analysis of five isozymes. Euphytica 125:385–396Bajaj LK, Kaur G (1981) Spectrophotometric determination of l-ascorbic acid in vegetables and fruits. Analyst 106:117–120Burger Y, Sáar U, Distelfeld A, Katzir N (2003) Development of sweet melon (Cucumis melo) genotypes combining high sucrose and organic acid content. 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An In Silico Investigation to Explore Anti-Cancer Potential of Foeniculum vulgare Mill. Phytoconstituents for the Management of Human Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers in the world. Traditionally, medicinal plants have been used to cure various types of diseases and disorders. Based on a literature survey, the current study was undertaken to explore the anticancer potential of Foeniculum vulgare Mill. phytoconstituents against breast cancer target protein (PDB ID: 6CHZ) by the molecular docking technique. Molecular docking was done using Autodock/vina software. Toxicity was predicted by the Protox II server and drug likeness was predicted by Molinspiration. 100 ns MD simulation of the best protein-ligand complexes were done using the Amber 18 tool. The present molecular docking investigation has revealed that among the 40 selected phytoconstituents of F. vulgare, α-pinene and D-limonene showed best binding energy (−6 and −5.9 kcal/mol respectively) with the breast cancer target. α-Pinene and D-limonene followed all the parameters of toxicity, and 100 ns MD simulations of α-pinene and D-limonene complexes with 6CHZ were found to be stable. α-Pinene and D-limonene can be used as new therapeutic agents to cure breast cancer