Analyzing the Efficacy of Organic and Inorganic Sources of Nitrogen and Phosphorus on Growth of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera Dunal.)

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera Dunal.) is an important medicinal plant whose roots are prescribed as medicine for several disorders of females, bronchitis, dropsy, stomach problems, lung inflammation, tuberculosis, arthritis, skin diseases and male impotency. The present experiment was designed to work out a suitable dose of organic manures and fertilizers for ashwagandha. Treatments consisted of nitrogenous (N) and phosphatic (P) fertilizers at 20 kg ha-1 and 40 kg ha-1 each, and two levels of farm yard manure (FYM) and vermicompost and combinations thereof, along with control. The treatments were replicated thrice in Randomized Block Design. Results revealed that application of 40 kg ha-1 of N and P each as urea and SSP + 2.5 t ha-1 vermicompost registered significant values for plant height, number of branches per plant, leaf area, yield attributing traits, root (8.60 q ha-1) and seed yield (85.6 kg ha-1) as well as soil physical properties like organic carbon, hydraulic conductivity and water retention at 33 and 1500kpa besides the highest B:C ratio (2.57)

Genetic approaches for assessment of phosphorus use efficiency in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Production of phosphorus efficient genotypes can reduce environmental pollution. Identification of P-efficient groundnut genotypes is a need of the hour to sustain in P-deficient soils. The pot experiment showed significant differences between genotypes (G) and treatments (T) for all the traits and G × T interaction for majority of traits. The G × T × Y interaction effects were also significant for all the traits except leaf P% (LP%), leaf acid phosphatase (LAP) and root dry weight (RDW). In lysimeter experiment, the effect of G, T and G × T were significant for leaf dry weight (LDW), stem dry weight (SDW), total transpiration (TT) and transpiration efficiency (TE). For traits, LDW, SDW, TT, TE, ICGV 00351 and ICGS 76; for SDW, TT, ICGV 02266 are best performers under both P-sufficient and deficient conditions. Based on P-efficiency indices and surrogate traits of P-uptake, ICGV’s 02266, 05155, 00308, 06040 and 06146 were considered as efficient P-responding genotypes. From GGE biplot, ICGV 06146 under P-deficient and TAG 24 under both P-sufficient and deficient conditions are portrayed as best performer. ICGV 06146 was identified as stable pod yielder and a promising genotype for P-deficient soils. The genotypes identified in this study can be used as a parent in developing mapping population to decipher the genetics and to devleop groundnut breeding lines suitable to P-deficient soils

Pandemic Influenza (H1N1) 2009 Is Associated with Severe Disease in India

Background: Pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009 has posed a serious public health challenge world-wide. In absence of reliable information on severity of the disease, the nations are unable to decide on the appropriate response against this disease. Methods: Based on the results of laboratory investigations, attendance in outpatient department, hospital admissions and mortality from the cases of influenza like illness from 1 August to 31 October 2009 in Pune urban agglomeration, risk of hospitalization and case fatality ratio were assessed to determine the severity of pandemic H1N1 and seasonal influenza-A infections. Results: Prevalence of pandemic H1N1 as well as seasonal-A cases were high in Pune urban agglomeration during the study period. The cases positive for pandemic H1N1 virus had significantly higher risk of hospitalization than those positive for seasonal influenza-A viruses (OR: 1.7). Of 93 influenza related deaths, 57 and 8 deaths from Pune (urban) and 27 and 1 death from Pune (rural) were from pandemic H1N1 positive and seasonal-A positive cases respectively. The case fatality ratio 0.86 % for pandemic H1N1 was significantly higher than that of seasonal-A (0.13%) and it was in category 3 of the pandemic severity index of CDC, USA. The data on the cumulative fatality of rural and urban Pune revealed that with time the epidemic is spreading to rural areas

Measurement of Semileptonic Branching Fractions of B Mesons to Narrow D** States

Using the data accumulated in 2002-2004 with the DO detector in proton-antiproton collisions at the Fermilab Tevatron collider with centre-of-mass energy 1.96 TeV, the branching fractions of the decays B -> \bar{D}_1^0(2420) \mu^+ \nu_\mu X and B -> \bar{D}_2^{*0}(2460) \mu^+ \nu_\mu X and their ratio have been measured: BR(\bar{b}->B) \cdot BR(B-> \bar{D}_1^0 \mu^+ \nu_\mu X) \cdot BR(\bar{D}_1^0 -> D*- pi+) = (0.087+-0.007(stat)+-0.014(syst))%; BR(\bar{b}->B)\cdot BR(B->D_2^{*0} \mu^+ \nu_\mu X) \cdot BR(\bar{D}_2^{*0} -> D*- \pi^+) = (0.035+-0.007(stat)+-0.008(syst))%; and (BR(B -> \bar{D}_2^{*0} \mu^+ \nu_\mu X)BR(D2*0->D*- pi+)) / (BR(B -> \bar{D}_1^{0} \mu^+ \nu_\mu X)\cdot BR(\bar{D}_1^{0}->D*- \pi^+)) = 0.39+-0.09(stat)+-0.12(syst), where the charge conjugated states are always implied.Comment: submitted to Phys. Rev. Let

Search for a new scalar resonance decaying to a pair of Z bosons in proton-proton collisions at √s=13 TeV

A search for a new scalar resonance decaying to a pair of Z bosons is performed in the mass range from 130 GeV to 3 TeV, and for various width scenarios. The analysis is based on proton-proton collisions recorded by the CMS experiment at the LHC in 2016, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb−1at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. The Z boson pair decays are reconstructed using the 4ℓ, 2ℓ2q, and 2ℓ2ν final states, where ℓ = e or μ. Both gluon fusion and electroweak production of the scalar resonance are considered, with a free parameter describing their relative cross sections. A dedicated categorization of events, based on the kinematic properties of associated jets, and matrix element techniques are employed for an optimal signal and background separation. A description of the interference between signal and background amplitudes for a resonance of an arbitrary width is included. No significant excess of events with respect to the standard model expectation is observed and limits are set on the product of the cross section for a new scalar boson and the branching fraction for its decay to ZZ for a large range of masses and widths.[Figure not available: see fulltext.]

Crucial role of cytosolic tryparedoxin peroxidase in Leishmania donovani survival, drug response and virulence

Leishmania donovani, the causative agent of visceral leishmaniasis, uses a cascade of enzymes that include cytosolic tryparedoxin peroxidase (cTXNPx) for detoxification of peroxides, an event pivotal for survival of digenic parasites living in two disparate biological environments. In this study, we observed an increase in promastigote cTXNPx levels after exposure to H2O2 and this group did not show any cell death; however, exposure to a combination of H2O2 and nitric oxide resulted in significant reduction of cTXNPx levels accompanied by high cell death. The protective relationship between higher levels of cTXNPx and survival was further substantiated by the improved ability of L. donovani promastigotes overexpressing cTXNPx to withstand exposure to H2O2 and nitric oxide combination as compared with vector transfectants. In addition, cTXNPx transfectants demonstrated increased virulence, causing higher parasite burden in macrophages as compared with vector transfectants. Interestingly, the cTXNPx transfectants as promastigotes or amastigotes were resistant to clearance by the anti-leishmanial drug antimony, suggesting a cTXNPx link to drug response. Mechanistically, cTXNPx overexpression was protective against changes in Ca2+ homeostasis but not against mitochondrial hyperpolarization brought about by exposure to H2O2 and nitric oxide. Therefore, this study provides a link between cTXNPx expression to survival, virulence and drug response in L. donovani

Development of in vitro transcribed RNA as positive control for laboratory diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 in India

The WHO has recommended reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for the confirmation of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) diagnosis. Real-time RT-PCR assays with automated extraction systems are required to process large numbers of specimens. Corman et al[1] have reported three real-time RT-PCR assays [based on the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) gene, envelope (E) gene and nucleocapsid (N) gene] for detecting beta coronaviruses, including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)[1], and additionally, Chu et al[2] have reported two real-time RT-PCR assays based on ORF 1b and N gene that are highly conserved among Sarbeco viruses

Cost-analysis of real time RT-PCR test performed for COVID-19 diagnosis at India’s national reference laboratory during the early stages of pandemic mitigation

Real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) is one of the most accurate and extensively used laboratory procedures for diagnosing COVID-19. This molecular test has high diagnostic accuracy (sensitivity and specificity) and is considered as the gold standard for COVID-19 diagnosis. During COVID-19 surge in India, rRT-PCR service was encouraged and supported by the government of India through existing healthcare setup at various levels of healthcare facilities. The primary purpose of this research was to determine the per-unit cost of providing COVID-19 rRT-PCR services at the national reference laboratory at ICMR-National Institute of Virology in Pune during the early phase of COVID-19 pandemic mitigation, from the provider’s perspective. The monthly cost for rRT-PCR testing as well as an estimated annual average unit cost for testing that takes account of peaks and troughs in pandemic were investigated. The time frame used to estimate unit cost was one year (July 2020-June 2021). For data collection on all resources spent during the early phase of pandemic, a conventional activity-based bottom-up costing technique was used. Capital costs were discounted and annualized over the estimated life of the item. Apportioning statistics were selected for cost heads like human resources, capital, and equipment based on time allocation, sharing of services, and utilization data. The data was also used to understand the breakdown of costs across inputs and over time and different levels of testing activity. During the initial phase of pandemic mitigation, the per unit cost of providing the COVID-19 rRT-PCR test was estimated to be ₹566 ($7.5) in the month of July 2020, where the total 56318 COVID-19 rRT-PCR tests was performed. The major proportion (87%) of funds was utilized for procuring laboratory consumables, followed by HR (10%), and it was least for stationary & allied items (0.02%). Unit cost was found to be the most sensitive to price variations in lab consumables (21.7%), followed by the number of samples tested (3.9%), salaries paid to HR (2.6%), price of equipment (0.23%), and building rental price (0.14%) in a univariate sensitivity analysis. The unit cost varies over the period of the pandemic in proportion with the prices of consumables and inversely proportional with number of tests performed. Our study would help the Government to understand the value for money they invested for laboratory diagnosis of COVID-19, budget allocation, integration and decentralization of laboratory services so as to help for achieving universal health coverage

Age distribution of the OPD cases in Pune (Urban).

<p>Age distribution of the OPD cases in Pune (Urban).</p

Calculation of hospitalization ratio from 4 August to 3 September 2009.

<p>Calculation of hospitalization ratio from 4 August to 3 September 2009.</p