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

Head-on infall of two compact objects: Third post-Newtonian Energy Flux

Head-on infall of two compact objects with arbitrary mass ratio is investigated using the multipolar post-Minkowskian approximation method. At the third post-Newtonian order the energy flux, in addition to the instantaneous contributions, also includes hereditary contributions consisting of the gravitational-wave tails, tails-of-tails and the tail-squared terms. The results are given both for infall from infinity and also for infall from a finite distance. These analytical expressions should be useful for the comparison with the high accuracy numerical relativity results within the limit in which post-Newtonian approximations are valid.Comment: 25 pages, 2 figures, This version includes the changes appearing in the Erratum published in Phys. Rev.

Medicinal uses and pharmacological properties of Moringa oleifera

Moringa oleifera Lam [Moringaceae] is a highly valued plant, distributed in many countries of the tropics and subtropics. It has an impressive range of medicinal uses with high nutritional value. Different parts of this plant contain a profile of important minerals, and are a good source of protein, vitamins, β -carotene, aminoacids and various phenolics. In addition to its compelling water purifying powers and high nutritional value, M. oleifera is very important for its medicinal value. Various parts of this plant such as the leaves, roots, seed, bark, fruit, flowers and immature pods act as cardiac and circulatory stimulants, possess anitumor, antipyretic, antiepileptic, antiinflammatory, antiulcer, antispasmodic, diuretic, antihypertensive, cholesterol lowering, antioxidant, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, antibacterial and antifungal activities, and are being employed for the treatment of different ailments in the indigenous system of medicine. This review focuses on the detailed phytochemical composition, medicinal uses, along with pharmacological properties of different parts of this multipurpose tree.Keywords: Moringa oleifera; β –carotene; anitumo

Numerical Investigations of Two-phase Flows through Enhanced Microchannels

Microfluidic devices are quite important for process industries, as these devices can intensify heat and mass transfer in two-phase reaction systems. Two-phase reaction systems, such as gas-liquid and liquid-liquid reactions with certain limitations have already been carried out in microfluidic systems by a few authors. However, these concepts are still under development and a detailed understanding of the hydrodynamics involve is required. Hydrodynamics studies are inherently crucial to provide precise reaction conditions and identify asymptotic performance limits. In the present work, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation was carried out to investigate the hydrodynamics involved in the T-junction enhanced microchannel. The slug formation, slug size, slug shape, and pressure drop in the enhanced microchannel were predicted using the volume of fluid (VOF) for water-cyclohexane system. The effects of obstruction spacing on pressure drop, slug lengths, and mixing within the slug were also examined. This study revealed that mixing enhances tremendously within the slug and at the interface in the enhanced microchannel, but with slightly greater pressure drop. However, an increase in obstruction spacing affects the slug formation, unit slug length, and pressure drop

Evaluation of knowledge, attitude and practices of postgraduate medical students towards clinical research in a tertiary care teaching hospital

Background: Clinical research is a component of medical and health research that facilitates valuable knowledge regarding diagnosis, prevention as well as treatment of a disease. Nowadays, the practise of medicine is evidence-based and combining medical education with clinical research provides a channel for translating scientifically advanced knowledge into better public health. The aim of the study was to assess knowledge (K), attitude (A), and practices (P) about clinical research among post graduate medical students.Methods: After obtaining institutional ethics committee approval, a cross-sectional and questionnaire-based study was conducted. A pre-structured and validated KAP questionnaire comprising of 25 questions (knowledge-15, attitude-5 and practices-5) was shared online through google forms with post graduate students. The responses to the questions were later marked correct or incorrect. The data was collected and compiled using Microsoft excel and expressed in percentage (%). Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 25.0.Results: 102 students responded to the questionnaire completely. Out of which males (55.9%) pre-dominated and majority of the PG students belonged to I year accounting for 40.2%. About 61.76% PG students were aware about a clinical research unit in the college. Majority of the students acknowledged the necessity of conducting clinical research and exhibited good knowledge about key concepts of clinical trials.  Even responses to questions pertaining to attitude towards clinical research were also majorly positive. On the contrary, more than 90% students had neither attended any workshop on ICH-GCP guidelines nor registered their academic study under clinical trial registry of India. However, 73.5% of them expressed their willingness to participate in a clinical trial in future.Conclusions: Although, assessment of knowledge and attitudes about clinical research among post graduate students showed positive results but discrepancies were observed in its practise. As such, this necessitates incorporation of clinical research activities into existing medical education system

A Comprehensive Characterization of Simple Sequence Repeats in the Sequenced Trichoderma Genomes Provides Valuable Resources for Marker Development

Members of genus Trichoderma are known worldwide for mycoparasitism. To gain a better insight into the organization and evolution of their genomes, we used an in-silico approach to compare the occurrence, relative abundance and density of SSRs in T.atroviride, T. harzianum, T. reesei, and T. virens. Our analysis revealed that in all the four genome sequences studied, the occurrence, relative abundance, and density of microsatellites varied and was not influenced by genome sizes. The relative abundance and density of SSRs positively correlated with the G+C content of their genomes. The maximum frequency of SSRs was observed in the smallest genome of T. reesei whereas it was least in second smallest genome of T. atroviride. Among different classes of repeats, the tri-nucleotide repeats were abundant in all the genomes and accounts for ~38%, whereas hexa-nuceotide repeats were the least (~10.2%). Further evaluation of the conservation of motifs in the transcript sequences shows a 49.5% conservation among all the motifs. In order to study polymorphism in Trichoderma isolates, 12 polymorphic SSR markers were developed. Of the 12 markers, 6 markers are from T. atroviride and remaining 6 belong to T. harzianum. SSR markers were found to be more polymorphic from T. atroviride with an average polymorphism information content value of 0.745 in comparison with T. harzianum (0.615). Twelve polymorphic markers obtained in this study clearly demonstrate the utility of newly developed SSR markers in establishing genetic relationships among different isolates of Trichoderma

Parametrized tests of post-Newtonian theory using Advanced LIGO and Einstein Telescope

General relativity has very specific predictions for the gravitational waveforms from inspiralling compact binaries obtained using the post-Newtonian (PN) approximation. We investigate the extent to which the measurement of the PN coefficients, possible with the second generation gravitationalwave detectors such as the Advanced Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) and the third generation gravitational-wave detectors such as the Einstein Telescope (ET), could be used to test post-Newtonian theory and to put bounds on a subclass of parametrized-post-Einstein theories which differ from general relativity in a parametrized sense. We demonstrate this possibility by employing the best inspiralling waveform model for nonspinning compact binaries which is 3.5PN accurate in phase and 3PN in amplitude. Within the class of theories considered, Advanced LIGO can test the theory at 1.5PN and thus the leading tail term. Future observations of stellar mass black hole binaries by ET can test the consistency between the various PN coefficients in the gravitational-wave phasing over the mass range of 11-44 Msun. The choice of the lower frequency cut off is important for testing post-Newtonian theory using the ET. The bias in the test arising from the assumption of nonspinning binaries is indicated.Comment: 18 pages, 11 figures, Matches with the published versio

Encapsulation of gamma-Fe2O3 decorated reduced graphene oxide in polyaniline core-shell tubes as an exceptional tracker for electromagnetic environmental pollution

The ultimate goal of the development of a new material gamma-Fe2O3 decorated reduced graphene oxide (rGO)-polyaniline (PANI) core-shell tubes has been done for absorbing electromagnetic interference (EMI) pollution. Herein, we report on the synthesis and characterization of PANI tubes consisting of rGO decorated with iron oxide nanoparticles (RF). The intercalated RF was synthesized by thermal decomposition of ferric acetyl acetonate in a reducing atmosphere. Furthermore, RF was encapsulated through oxidative polymerization of aniline in the presence of beta-naphthalene sulphonic acid which results in RF-PANI core-shell morphology. Scanning electron microscopy results confirm the formation of tubular core-shell morphology having 5-15 mu m length and 1-5 mu m diameter. The presence of rGO-gamma-Fe2O3 in PANI core enhances the interfacial polarization and the effective anisotropy energy of the composite which contributes to more scattering and leads to high shielding effectiveness (SET similar to 51 dB) at a critical thickness of 2.5 mm. Additionally, the effective complex permeability and permittivity parameters of the composites have been evaluated from the experimental scattering parameters (S-11 & S-21) using theoretical calculations given in Nicholson-Ross and Weir algorithms

Platelet aggregation, mean platelet volume and plasma fibrinogen as risk factors for acute myocardial infarction

Background: The Aim of this study was to assess the role of platelet aggregation, mean platelet volume (MPV) and plasma fibrinogen levels in the pathogenesis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI).Methods: A prospective case control study was conducted on 30 cases of AMI and 30 normal healthy age and sex matched controls. The cases and controls were investigated for platelet aggregation studies (done in platelet rich plasma (PRP) using light transmission chrono-log optical aggregometer), MPV (measured by automated cell counter) and plasma fibrinogen levels (estimated by Clauss method).Results: The mean platelet aggregation (%) in cases AMI was 57.61±11.91 which was significantly higher compared with 35.00±10.40 for healthy controls (p<0.001). Using Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis, most patients of AMI had a platelet aggregability of ≥49% on optical aggregometry (sensitivity = 83.3 % and specificity = 93.7%). The MPV (fL) in cases of AMI was 8.04±0.39 which was significantly larger when compared with 7.67±0.43 for controls (p= 0.001). The mean plasma fibrinogen concentration in cases of AMI was 383.1±48.3mg/dl which was significantly higher when compared with 271.33±57.7mg/dl for healthy controls (p<0.001).Conclusions: Platelet hyperaggregability, elevated MPV and plasma fibrinogen levels are found in patients with AMI and contribute significantly to risk of developing coronary thrombosis. These variables should be considered as additional screening tools to identify individuals at increased risk of developing AMI

Rice allelopathy in weed management : an integrated approach

The intensive use of pesticides with low biodegradability and high persistence in soil, surface and ground waters, represents a considerable environmental risk, especially under high weed pressure conditions. Furthermore, the number of herbicide-resistant weeds is increasing. Against this background, the investigation of alternative weed control strategies has taken on considerable importance. Among these, allelopathy as a negative effect of one plant on another due to the direct or indirect (including microorganisms) release of chemicals in the environment can be a useful tool for the integrated management of weeds in agroecosystems. In particular, the paddies have been considered in this work by reviewing the data both on rice allelopathy and rice weed agronomic control methods developed to improve the crop yield