Survival of Azospirillum brasilense in liquid formulation amended with different chemical additives

Liquid bioinoculant formulation has become the preferred technology to solve the problems associated with shorter shelf life, high contamination, poor quality, low field performance and processing solid carrier in carrier based bioinoculant formulation.  In this experiment, we evaluated different concentrations of six different chemical amendments viz, polyvinyl pyrollidone (PVP), glycerol, gum arabica, trehalose, polyethylene glycol (PEG) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) for their ability to support growth and promote survival of Azospirillum brasilense in N2 free malic acid broth during the storage. Some concentrations of various additives to N2 free malic acid broth promoted higher Azospirillum population compared to Azospirillum cells in N2-free malic acid broth alone. Liquid Azospirillum bioinoculant formulated with trehalose (10mM) promoted long term survival of Azospirillum followed by glycerol (10 mM) gum arabica (0.3%) and PVP (2%) and they supported 108 cells/ml up to 11 months of storage under ambient temperature (28°C to 32°C), whereas PEG (1%), PVA (0.5%) and control (lignite carrier) recorded the same population upto 8 months, 6 months and 5 months respectively. The results of the present study clearly indicated that the liquid formulation of Azospirillum could be used more effectively than the carrier based formulation

Field programmable Gate Array based Real Time Object Tracking using Partial Least Square Analysis

In this paper, we proposed an object tracking algorithm in real time implementation of moving object tracking system using Field programmable gate array (FPGA). Object tracking is considered as a binary classification problem and one of the approaches to this problem is that to extract appropriate features from the appearance of the object based on partial least square (PLS) analysis method, which is a low dimension reduction technique in the subspace. In this method, the adaptive appearance model integrated with PLS analysis is used for continuous update of the appearance change of the target over time. For robust and efficient tracking, particle filtering is used in between every two consecutive frames of the video. This has implemented using Cadence and Virtuoso software integrated environment with MATLAB. The experimental results are performed on challenging video sequences to show the performance of the proposed tracking algorithm using FPGA in real time

Development and validation of integrated pest management modules against spotted pod borer Maruca vitrata Fabricius on garden bean Lablab purpureus var. typicus (L.)

To reduce the detrimental effect of insecticides, an effective Integrated Pest Management (IPM) module is necessary for the eco-friendly management of Maruca vitrata in garden bean ecosystem. Two field trials were carried out to evaluate the efficacy of different insecticides and botanicals against M. vitrata on Lablab purpureus var. typicus. Two seasons field evaluation of insecticides revealed that chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC  was the most effective treatment to control the pest recorded 0.11 and 0.36 larva/plant in two seasons, respectively after two rounds of spray followed by flubendiamide 20 WG (0.46 and 0.92 larva/ plant) and emamectin benzoate 5 SG (0.50 and 0.95 larva/plant). Among botanicals tested, commercial neem formulation and 5% Ageratina adenophora recorded the least larval count of 1.64 & 1.05 larva/plant and 2.24 & 1.45 larva/plant in two seasons, respectively. IPM modules were developed with three effective insecticides (chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC, flubendiamide 20 WG and emamectin benzoate 5 SG), two effective botanicals (commercial neem formulation 1500 ppm and 5% A. adenophora) along with the pheromone trap for validation. All the IPM modules were equally effective in managing M. vitrata population on L. purpureus and recorded a significantly (at 5 %) lower larval population than the farmer’s practice. The residues of chlorantraniliprole, flubendiamide and emamectin benzoate reached below the detectable level at the time of harvest. The population reduction of predatory coccinellids and spiders was also lower in IPM modules than in farmer’s practice. An increased benefit cost (1.95 to 1.99) ratio was observed in IPM modules. 

Computerized Tomography of the Acute Left Upper Quadrant Pain

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical utility of computerized tomography (CT) of the abdomen in the emergent setting of left upper quadrant pain. One hundred patients (average age: 45, range: 19–93 years, female: 57 %, male: 43 %) who presented to the emergency department (ED) and underwent CT scanning of abdomen with the given indication of left upper quadrant pain were included in this study. The results from CT examinations were compared to final diagnoses determined by either ED physician or clinician on a follow-up visit. Sensitivity of CT was 69 % (95 %CI: 52–83 %) for 39 patients who eventually were diagnosed with an acute abdominal abnormality. Twenty-seven patients had an acute abnormal finding on abdominal CT that represented the cause of the patient’s pain (positive predictive value of 100 %, 95 %CI: 87–100 %). Of the remaining 73 patients with negative CT report, 12 were diagnosed clinically (either in the ED or on follow-up visit to specialist) with a pathology that was undetectable on the CT imaging (negative predictive value of 83 %, 95 %CI: 73–91 %). None of the remaining 61 patients with negative CT were found to have pathology by clinical evaluation (specificity of 100 %, 95 %CI: 94–100 %). CT is a useful examination for patients with acute left upper quadrant pain in the emergency department setting with moderate sensitivity and excellent specificity

Record of soft scale (Coccus hesperidium Linn.) and its parasite (Coccophagus ceroplastae (Howard) on cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum Maton)

A soft scale (Coccus hesperidium) is reported to occur on cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) for the first time from Saklespur, Karnataka, India. The pest was parasitised by a hymenopteran, Coccophagus ceroplastae in the field. &nbsp

Influence of abiotic factors on population build up of cardamom whitefly Kanakarajiella cardamomi (David and Subramaniam) on cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum Maton)

The seasonal occurrence and influence of abiotic factors on population build up of cardamom whitefly Kanakarajiella cardamomi on cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) was assessed during 1989-1990 at Lower Pulneys in Tamil Nadu (India). K. cardamomi persisted throughout the year with a maximum egg population of 9.09 per leaf during October 1989 and a minimum of 0.33 per leaf during June and August 1990; maximum nymphal population was 8.66 per leaf during October 1989 and minimum was OA9 per leaf during August 1990. Maximum temperature and relative humidity exhibited a significant negative association with population build up of eggs and nymphs; however, none of the abiotic factors had signifiant partial correlation coefficient with egg. and nymphal population. From the multiple regression equation constructed with R' value, it was attributed that the abiotic components had only 24 and 43% influence on the population build up of K. cardamomi eggs and nymphs, respectively. &nbsp

Is the cardamom whitefly Kanakarajiella cardamomi (David and Subralllaniam) a vector of Nilgiri Necrosis Virus disease of cardamom Elettaria cardamomum Maton?

The vector and mode of transmission of the Nilgiri Necrosis Virus (NNV) disease affecting cardamom. Elettaria cardamomum Matoh is 'unknown so far. More than 70 whitefly borne viral diseases have been reported on cultivated plants and weeds from ttopical and subtropical regions (Cohen 1990). Muniappa (1980) in his critical review listed 65 viral diseases transmitted by whiteflies. The present studies were carried out to determine whether the cardamom whitefly, Kanakarajiella cardamomi (David and Subramaniam), an important pest on cardamom, acts as a vector of the NNV disease. &nbsp

Enabling the Discovery of Recurring Anomalies in Aerospace System Problem Reports using High-Dimensional Clustering Techniques

This paper describes the results of a significant research and development effort conducted at NASA Ames Research Center to develop new text mining techniques to discover anomalies in free-text reports regarding system health and safety of two aerospace systems. We discuss two problems of significant importance in the aviation industry. The first problem is that of automatic anomaly discovery about an aerospace system through the analysis of tens of thousands of free-text problem reports that are written about the system. The second problem that we address is that of automatic discovery of recurring anomalies, i.e., anomalies that may be described m different ways by different authors, at varying times and under varying conditions, but that are truly about the same part of the system. The intent of recurring anomaly identification is to determine project or system weakness or high-risk issues. The discovery of recurring anomalies is a key goal in building safe, reliable, and cost-effective aerospace systems. We address the anomaly discovery problem on thousands of free-text reports using two strategies: (1) as an unsupervised learning problem where an algorithm takes free-text reports as input and automatically groups them into different bins, where each bin corresponds to a different unknown anomaly category; and (2) as a supervised learning problem where the algorithm classifies the free-text reports into one of a number of known anomaly categories. We then discuss the application of these methods to the problem of discovering recurring anomalies. In fact the special nature of recurring anomalies (very small cluster sizes) requires incorporating new methods and measures to enhance the original approach for anomaly detection. ?& pant 0

Molekularni dokaz toksinskih tipova bakterije Clostridium perfringens, enteropatogenih sojeva Escherichia coli te rotavirusa i koronavirusa u uzorcima proljeva kod neonatalne jaradi

In the present study, out of 1156 neonatal goat kids, 238 showing clinical diarrhea were used for detection of toxinotypes of Clostridium perfringens, Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), Group A rotavirus (GARV) and Bovine coronavirus (BCV). Isolation and toxinotyping of isolates were done by multiplex Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using primers for cpa, cpb, cpb2, etx and iap genes. For EPEC, isolation and identification were done using bfpA gene and SYBR green based real time PCR (qPCR). GARV and BCV were detected, by one-step RT-PCR (osRT-PCR). The incidence of C. perfringens was 15.13% with 75% isolates toxinotype A, 25% type D and 61.11% of isolates carrying the β2-toxin gene. The incidence of EPEC was 68.07% based on qPCR, whereas 21.85% were positive for GARV and 15.97% for BCV by osRT-PCR. There was mixed infection of C. perfringens and EPEC in 11.76% and 3.78% for C. perfringens and GARV and 2.1% of C. perfringens and BCV. EPEC and GARV was 19.74% and EPEC plus BCV positivity was 11.34%. GARV and BCV was 5.88%, and 4.20% had mixed infection of EPEC, GARV and BCV. Of the total diarrheic kids sampled, 0.84% had mixed infection of C. perfringens, GARV, BCV and EPEC. On the basis of the above findings, it may be concluded that isolation, multiplex PCR and real time PCR facilitated the characterization of circulating C. perfringens toxinotypes and EPEC in goats reared under semi-arid conditions. The importance of enteritis caused by GARV and BCV and their role in mixed infection in goats requires extensive screening and pathogenicity studies to associate the symptoms with disease.U populaciji od 1156 neonatalnih jarića 238 je pokazivalo kliničke znakove proljeva. Od njih su uzeti uzorci izmeta za dokazivanje toksinskih tipova bakterije Clostridium perfringens, enteropatogenih sojeva bakterije E. coli (engl. enteropathogenic E. coli, EPEC), rotavirusa skupine A (engl. group A rotavirus, GARV) i goveđeg koronavirusa (engl. bovine coronavirus, BCV). Izdvajanje i toksinska tipizacija izolata provedeni su višestrukom lančanom reakcijom polimerazom (PCR) upotrebom početnica za gene cpa, cpb, cpb2, etx i iap. Izdvajanje i identifikacija EPEC-a provedeni su pretragom na gen bfpA i PCR-om u stvarnom vremenu, uz upotrebu SYBR zelenila (qPCR). Za dokaz rotavirusa skupine A i goveđeg koronavirusa upotrijebljena je RT-PCR (osRT-PCR). Incidencija bakterije C. perfringens iznosila je 15,13 %. Od toga je 75 % izolata pripadalo toksinskom tipu A, 25 % tipu D, dok je 61,11 % izolata imalo gen za toksin β2. Incidencija EPEC-a iznosila je 68,07 %, a 21,85 % pretraženih uzoraka bilo je pozitivno na GARV te 15,97 % na BCV. Mješovita infekcija bakterijom C. perfringens i EPEC-om utvrđena je u 11,76 % uzoraka, C. perfringens i GARV u 3,78 % te C. perfringens i BCV u 2,1 % pretraženih uzoraka. Mješovita infekcija EPEC-om i GARV-om utvrđena je u 19,74 %, a EPEC-om i BCV-om u 11,34 %. Mješovita infekcija rotavirusom i koronavirusom bila je ustanovljena u 5,88 %, a mješovita infekcija EPEC-om, GARV-om i BCV-om u 4,20 % uzoraka. Od ukupnog broja pretražene jaradi s proljevom u njih 0,84 % dokazana je mješovita infekcija bakterijom C. perfringens, rotavirusom skupine A, goveđim koronavirusom i EPEC-om. Na osnovi prikazanih rezultata može se zaključiti da izdvajanje, višestruki PCR te PCR u stvarnom vremenu omogućuju karakterizaciju i praćenje kolanja toksinskih tipova bakterija C. perfringens i EPEC-a u koza uzgajanih u sušnim uvjetima. Važnost enteritisa uzrokovanog rotavirusom skupine A i goveđim koronavirusom te njihova uloga kod mješovitih infekcija u koza zahtijevaju pojačan nadzor i istraživanje patogenosti radi povezivanja kliničkih znakova s ustanovljenom bolešću

Smear microscopy and culture conversion rates among smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients by HIV status in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Tanzania ranks 15th among the world's 22 countries with the largest tuberculosis burden and tuberculosis has continued to be among the major public health problems in the country. Limited data, especially in patients co infected with HIV, are available to predict the duration of time required for a smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis patient to achieve sputum conversion after starting effective treatment. In this study we assessed the sputum smear and culture conversion rates among HIV positive and HIV negative smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients in Dar es Salaam The study was a prospective cohort study which lasted for nine months, from April to December 2008 A total of 502 smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients were recruited. HIV test results were obtained for 498 patients, of which 33.7% were HIV positive. After two weeks of treatment the conversion rate by standard sputum microscopy was higher in HIV positive(72.8%) than HIV negative(63.3%) patients by univariate analysis(P = 0.046), but not in multivariate analysis. Also after two weeks of treatment the conversion rate by fluorescence microscopy was higher in HIV positive (72.8%) than in HIV negative(63.2%) patients by univariate analysis (P = 0.043) but not in the multivariate analysis. The conversion rates by both methods during the rest of the treatment period (8, 12, and 20 weeks) were not significantly different between HIV positive and HIV negative patients.With regards to culture, the conversion rate during the whole period of the treatment (2, 8, 12 and 20 weeks) were not significantly different between HIV positive and HIV negative patients.\ud Conversion rates of standard smear microscopy, fluorescence microscopy and culture did not differ between HIV positive and HIV negative pulmonary tuberculosis patients