Occurrence and incidence of foot rot disease on fenugreek caused by Fusarium moniliforme in Rohilkhand region of Uttar Pradesh, India

Pathological studies were carried out in Rohilkhand region during the crop season 2013-14 to assess the pathogenic disease incidence of foot rot of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum Linn.) caused by Fusarium moniliforme. A total of 75 fields were surveyed during the crop period at monthly interval during germination, vegetative, flowering and fruiting stages in five different localities of Rohilkhand region. The foot-rot disease of fenugreek was found in all fields (Bareilly, Baheri, Pilibhit, Budaun and Meerganj) selected for the study. Monthly occurrence of disease incidence of foot rot ranged from 44-58%. Maximum disease incidence was recorded in the month of Oct. (58%) followed by September (57%) and November (56%). January exhibited the lowest incidence (45%) of pathogenic disease. However, foot rot symptoms developed at early stage of plant growth and persisted up to the end of the crop

Hydrogen absorption properties of amorphous (Ni0.6Nb0.4−yTay)100−xZrx membranes

Ni based amorphous materials have great potential as hydrogen purification membranes. In the present work the melt spun (Ni0.6Nb0.4−yTay)100−xZrx with y=0, 0.1 and x=20, 30 was studied. The result of X-ray diffraction spectra of the ribbons showed an amorphous nature of the alloys. Heating these ribbons below T < 400 °C, even in a hydrogen atmosphere (1−10 bar), the amorphous structure was retained. The crystallization process was characterized by differential thermal analysis and the activation energy of such process was obtained. The hydrogen absorption properties of the samples in their amorphous state were studied by the volumetric method, and the results showed that the addition of Ta did not significantly influence the absorption properties, a clear change of the hydrogen solubility was observed with the variation of the Zr content. The values of the hydrogenation enthalpy changed from ~37 kJ/mol for x=30 to ~9 kJ/mol for x=20. The analysis of the volumetric data provides the indications about the hydrogen occupation sites during hydrogenation, suggesting that at the beginning of the absorption process the deepest energy levels are occupied, while only shallower energy levels are available at higher hydrogen content, with the available interstitial sites forming a continuum of energy levels

Should Sputum Smear Examination Be Carried Out at the End of the Intensive Phase and End of Treatment in Sputum Smear Negative Pulmonary TB Patients?

The Indian guidelines on following up sputum smear-negative Pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) patients differ from the current World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines in that the former recommends two follow up sputum examinations (once at the end of intensive phase and the other at the end of treatment) while the latter recommends only one follow up sputum smear microscopy examination, which is done at the end of the intensive phase. This study was conducted to examine if there was any added value in performing an additional sputum smear examination at the end of treatment within the context of a national TB program

Protein/energy ratio and HUFA content in the diet of Pangasianodon hypophthalmus (Sauvage, 1878) fingerlings: Effect on growth and flesh quality

A 60 day feeding trial was conducted to study the effect of varying levels of protein/energy (P/E) ratio and highly unsaturated fatty acid (HUFA) supplemented diet on growth and flesh quality parameters of Pangasianodon hypophthalmus fingerlings. One hundred and eighty fingerlings of uniform weight (4.32±0.08g) were randomly distributed into five treatment groups with three replications. The five different treatment groups were: Control - T0H0 (basal feed+117 mg/kcal, P/E ratio); T1H0 (basal feed +100 mg/kcal, P/E ratio); T2H0 (basal feed +133 mg/kcal, P/E ratio); T3H1 (basal feed +100 mg/kcal, P/E ratio+1% HUFA) and T4H1 (basal feed + 133 mg/kcal, P/E ratio+1% HUFA). Significantly higher (P<0.05) weight gain (WG) %, specific growth rate (SGR), and feed conversion efficiency (FCE) were observed in the T4H1 and T2H0 groups. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) were lowest in the T4H1 group. T3H1 and T4H1 groups manifested significantly higher (P<0.05) value for flesh quality indices such as springiness, adhesiveness, gumminess, and chewiness. Lowest hardness value was found in T4H1 group. Significantly higher (P<0.05) EPA and DHA deposition in fish muscle was observed in T4H1 group. Protease activity was higher in T4H1 group followed by T2H0 group and lowest in T1H0 group. Amylase activity was lower in T2H0 and T4H1 groups. Overall results revealed that P/E ratio of 133 mg/kcal with additional supplementation of 1% HUFA in the diet enhances growth and improves flesh quality of P. hypophthalmus fingerling

Phytochemical and Anti-Inflammatory Evaluation of Herbal Gel Prepared from Bark Extract of Mesua Ferrea Linn

The present research work involves formulation of herbal gel containing stem bark extracts of Mesua ferrea Linn and its evaluation for in vitro anti-inflammatory activity. The gel formulations were prepared using ethanolic extracts along with different polymer. The physiochemical parameters of formulations like; pH, viscosity and spreadability etc. also evaluated. Phytochemical analysis revealed presence of phenols, flavonoids and alkaloids, etc. The ethanolic extracts showed appreciable anti-inflammatory activity compared to the standard drug. Study confirmed that potential anti-inflammatory formulation can be developed from bark extract of Mesua ferrea Linn.&nbsp;&nbsp; Keywords: Mesua ferrea Linn., Anti-inflammatory, Herbal Gel, Phytochemical, Albumin denaturation

Substituted Methyl Benzimidazole Carbamate (CDRI Compound 81-470) in the Mass Treatment of Poultry Round Worms

Methyl 5 [4- (2-pyridinyl) -1- piperazinylcarbonyl] -1-H- benzimidazol -2- yl carbamate: (CDRI Comp. 81/470) has consistently exhibited broadspectrum anthelmintic efficacy both against adult and larval stages of various helminth parasites of experimental and domestic animals by oral or parenteral route. The compound incorporated in transdermal tape has also yielded anthelmintic action. In order to increase solubility and to make mass administration easier, two formulations e.g. soluble and dispersible, were prepared and found effective in control testing against various helminth parasites of rodents. Both the preparations were put to trial at 3 dose schedules to ascertain their utility for mass treatment of poultry carrying Ascaridia galli infection. Though the three dose schedule (20mg/kgx1, 10mg/kgx2, 5mg/kgx3 days) were found to have parallel efficacy, 5mg/kgx3 days dose requiring lesser compound than single administration was suggested useful in mass therapy. Thus, either of the preparations could be safely used for the control of poultry round-worms. However, the dispersible formulation having longer shelf-life and convenience of packaging and transportation may be preferred over the soluble preparation

Flow-cytometric monitoring of disease-associated expression of 9-O-acetylated sialoglycoproteins in combination with known CD antigens, as an index for MRD in children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia: a two-year longitudinal follow-up study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Over expression of 9-<it>O-</it>acetylated sialoglycoproteins (Neu5,9Ac₂-GPs, abbreviated as <it>O</it>AcSGP) has been demonstrated as a disease-associated antigen on the lymphoblasts of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). Achatinin-H, a lectin, has selective affinity towards terminal 9-<it>O-</it>acetylated sialic acids-α2-6-<it>N</it>acetylated galactosamine. Exploring this affinity, enhanced expression of <it>O</it>AcSGP was observed, at the onset of disease, followed by its decrease with chemotherapy and reappearance with relapse. In spite of treatment, patients retain the diseased cells referred to as minimal residual disease (MRD) responsible for relapse. Our aim was to select a suitable template by using the differential expression of <it>O</it>AcSGP along with other known CD antigens to monitor MRD in peripheral blood (PB) and bone marrow (BM) of Indian patients with B- or T-ALL during treatment and correlate it with the disease status.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A two-year longitudinal follow-up study was done with 109 patients from the onset of the disease till the end of chemotherapy, treated under MCP841protocol. Paired samples of PB (n = 1667) and BM (n = 999) were monitored by flow cytometry. Three templates selected for this investigation were <it>O</it>AcSGP⁺CD10⁺CD19⁺or <it>O</it>AcSGP⁺CD34⁺CD19⁺for B-ALL and <it>O</it>AcSGP⁺CD7⁺CD3⁺for T-ALL.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Using each template the level of MRD detection reached 0.01% for a patient in clinical remission (CR). 81.65% of the patients were in CR during these two years while the remaining relapsed. Failure in early clearance of lymphoblasts, as indicated by higher MRD, implied an elevated risk of relapse. Soaring MRD during the chemotherapeutic regimen predicted clinical relapse, at least a month before medical manifestation. Irrespective of B- or T-lineage ALL, the MRD in PB and BM correlated well.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>A range of MRD values can be predicted for the patients in CR, irrespective of their lineage, being 0.03 ± 0.01% (PB) and 0.05 ± 0.015% (BM). These patients may not be stated as normal with respect to the presence of MRD. Hence, MRD study beyond two-years follow-up is necessary to investigate further reduction in MRD, thereby ensuring their disease-free survival. Therefore, we suggest use of these templates for MRD detection, during and post-chemotherapy for proper patient management strategies, thereby helping in personalizing the treatment.</p

A multifrequency study of the large radio galaxies 3C46 and 3C452

We present low-frequency observations starting from ~150 MHz with the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT), and high-frequency observations with the Very Large Array (VLA) of two large radio galaxies 3C46 and 3C452. These observations were made with the objectives of estimating their spectral ages and examining any evidence of diffuse extended emission at low radio frequencies due to an earlier cycle of activity. While no evidence of extended emission due to an earlier cycle of activity has been found, the spectral ages have been estimated to be ~15 and 27 Myr for the oldest relativistic plasma seen in the regions close to the cores for 3C46 and 3C452 respectively. The spectra in the vicinity of the hotspots are consistent with a straight spectrum with injection spectral indices of ~1.0 and 0.78 respectively, somewhat steeper than theoretical expectations.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS, 10 pages, 8 figures and 4 table