Pearl millet and sorghum improvement in India:

millions fed, food security, Pearl millet, Sorghum,

Migration motives and integration of international human resources of health in the United Kingdom: systematic review and meta-synthesis of qualitative studies using framework analysis

Abstract Objective The aim of this review was to examine the migration motives, the barriers to and facilitators of integration of international dental graduates, compared with nurses and doctors in the United Kingdom. Methods Electronic databases Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed, Web of Knowledge and OECD publications were systematically searched for English language publications from January 2000 to January 2017. A total of 31 qualitative studies were selected and quality appraised and meta-synthesis of the qualitative data was carried out using framework synthesis. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were applied to present the findings. Results There were no studies on migration motives and one study on integration experiences of international dentists in the UK. The nursing literature had the highest volume and quality of evidence on nursing workforce, whilst there was limited literature on international doctors in the UK. Migration of health professionals to the UK is determined by personal and professional factors, together with source country-specific and UK drivers. Active recruitment, post graduate training and financial gain act as strong common macro, meso and micro drivers that perpetuate migration into the UK, but the extent to which each of these drivers influence nurses’ and doctors’ migration is different. Integration experiences for international nurses and doctors differed based on their source country experiences and the work environment they entered. Nurses reported a wider knowledge and skills gap, more multi-level discrimination and less career progression compared to the doctors. The migrants’ integration experiences depend on their cultural awareness, discrimination exposure, English language and communication skills, social and professional support networks, social integration and personal attributes. Conclusion Migration of international health professionals is motivated by macro, meso and micro drivers at the international, national, professional and personal levels. The UK has strong common macro pull factors which attract nurses, doctors and dentists and may impact on the effectiveness of policies to restrict their migration. The integration experiences of nurses and doctors differ and further research is required to understand the integration experiences of dentists, in order to retain these professionals by tailoring policies to each of these professions

Relativistic coupled-cluster calculations of 20^{20}Ne, 40^{40}Ar, 84^{84}Kr and 129^{129}Xe: correlation energies and dipole polarizabilities

We have carried out a detailed and systematic study of the correlation energies of inert gas atoms Ne, Ar, Kr and Xe using relativistic many-body perturbation theory and relativistic coupled-cluster theory. In the relativistic coupled-cluster calculations, we implement perturbative triples and include these in the correlation energy calculations. We then calculate the dipole polarizability of the ground states using perturbed coupled-cluster theory.Comment: 10 figures, 6 tables, submitted to PR

Stability, inheritance and mechanisms of resistance to helicoverpa armigera (hub.) In chickpea (cicer arietinum linn.)

The present investigation "Stability, Inheritance and Mcchanisrns of resistance to Helicovcrpa armigern (Hub.) in Chickpea (Ciccr arietinum Linn.)" was taken under laboratory, glasshousc and field conditions at ICRISAT, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, Patanchcru during 2000-2002..

Herbal Remedies for Combating Irradiation: a Green Antiirradiation Approach

Plants play important roles in human life not only as suppliers of oxygen but also as a fundamental resource to sustain the human race on this earthly plane. Plants also play a major role in our nutrition by converting energy from the sun during photosynthesis. In addition, plants have been used extensively in traditional medicine since time immemorial. Information in the biomedical literature has indicated that many natural herbs have been investigated for their efficacy against lethal irradiation. Pharmacological studies by various groups of investigators have shown that natural herbs possess significant radioprotective activity. In view of the immense medicinal importance of natural product based radioprotective agents, this review aims at compiling all currently available information on radioprotective agents from medicinal plants and herbs, especially the evaluation methods and mechanisms of action. In this review we particularly emphasize on ethnomedicinal uses, botany, phytochemistry, mechanisms of action and toxicology. We also describe modern techniques for evaluating herbal samples as radioprotective agents. The usage of herbal remedies for combating lethal irradiation is a green antiirradiation approach for the betterment of human beings without high cost, side effects and toxicity

Amine-Linked Single Molecule Circuits: Systematic Trends Across Molecular Families

A comprehensive review is presented of single molecule junction conductance measurements across families of molecules measured while breaking a gold point contact in a solution of molecules with amine end groups. A theoretical framework unifies the picture for the amine-gold link bonding and the tunnel coupling through the junction using Density Functional Theory based calculations. The reproducible electrical characteristics and utility for many molecules is shown to result from the selective binding between the gold electrodes and amine link groups through a donor-acceptor bond to undercoordinated gold atoms. While the bond energy is modest, the maximum force sustained by the junction is comparable to, but less than, that required to break gold point contacts. The calculated tunnel coupling provides conductance trends for all 41 molecule measurements presented here, as well as insight into the variability of conductance due to the conformational changes within molecules with torsional degrees of freedom. The calculated trends agree to within a factor of two of the measured values for conductance ranging from 10-7 G0 to 10-2 G0, where G0 is the quantum of conductance (2e2/h).Comment: Invited paper for forthcoming special issue of Journal of Physics: Condensed Matte

Matrix cadmium accumulation depolarizes mitochondria isolated from mouse brain

Cadmium (Cd2+) is an environmental contaminant commonly found in industrial settings with a biological half-life of 30 years. Although the accumulation and subsequent cytotoxicity of Cd2+ in nervous tissue is well documented, it is unclear exactly how Cd2+ kills cells. One potential mechanism involves inhibition of cellular energy production. In this study, we used fluorescence microscopy to monitor the effects of Cd2+ on mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) in individual mitochondria isolated from mouse brain. Mitochondria were attached to microscopy glass and loaded with rhodamine 123, a fluorescent indicator that collects in energized and respiring mitochondria, i.e., those with a robust ΔΨm. We found that Cd2+ at relatively low concentrations quickly and completely abolished ΔΨm. Cd2+ actions were concentration- dependent, and were relatively potent and efficacious when compared to calcium (Ca2+) and zinc (Zn2+). Moreover, the Ca2+ uniporter blocker ruthenium red protected against Cd2+-induced depolarization, suggesting that matrix entry of Cd2+ through this traditional Ca2+ pathway is necessary for its effect. These results demonstrate that Cd2+ substantially inhibits mitochondrial function and provide important insight regarding the mechanism of Cd2+-mediated neurotoxicity

Antixenosis Mechanism of Resistance to Helicoverpa armigera (Hub.) in Chickpea (Cicer arietinum Linn.)

The oviposition preference of H. armigera moths towards different genotypes of chickpea was studied under no choice, dual-choice and multi-choice conditions in the laboratory at ICRISAT. Desi type genotypes (ICC 12475, ICC 12476, ICC 12477, ICC 12478, ICC 12479, ICC 12490 and ICC 14876) were not preferred for oviposition compared to kabuli type genotypes (ICC 12491, ICC 12493, ICC 12494, ICC 12495, ICC 12968, ICC 4973 and ICC 4962). The lines showing high and stable resistance to H. armigera can be used in chickpea improvement programs. The resistance mechanisms involved in these genotypes can be exploited to develop varieties resistant to H. armigera in chickpea