Changing Patterns of Ground Water Level in Fatehabad District of Haryana, India

Ground water is the world largest freshwater resource used in agriculture for irrigation. Ground water level in paddy cultivating region in Haryana is depleting very fast, threatening the future of agriculture productivity in one of the largest farming state in India. The aim of this study was to assess the trends in ground water level in the Fatehabad district of Haryana, India. Rapid increase in area under rice-cultivation, electric sets for pumping deep water and decrease in cultivation of less water requirement crops like pearl millet are the possible reasons behind rapid decline of ground water. In the present paper different factors like ground water level, area under rice cultivation, fertilizers consumption pattern and electric set were studied for the period between 2005 to 2013 in the Fatehabad district. The area under rice cultivation has increased from 31.67 to 40.36% with increased number of electric sets from 18542 to 31163 in 2005-06 to 2012-13, respectively. Area under pearl millet cultivation has also declined to 22.6 % in 2012-13 as compared to 2005-06. The district showed the second largest decline of 17.19 meters after district Mohindergarh since June 1999 to June, 2014 in Haryana. Sustainable use of water and cultivation of crops having less water requirements and drip/sprinkler irrigation are recommended to check the decline of ground water in the district. Keywords: Ground Water Depletion, Rice Cultivation, Electric Set, Fatehabad, Haryan

Ion association and solvation characteristics of Li+, Na+ and K+ ions in binary mixtures of 2-Aminoethanol + N,N-Dimethylacetamide probed by conductometry study at 298.15 K and 308.15 K

245-253Molar conductances (Λ) of LiClO4, NaClO4, KSCN, Bu4NSCN, Bu4NClO4 and Bu4NBPh4 in binary solvent mixtures of 2-aminoethanol (AE) and N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMA) containing 25, 50, 60, 80 and 100 mol% DMA have been measured at 298.15 K and 308.15 K in the concentration range of (30-500) × 10-3 mol kg-1. The conductance data of the electrolytes in the binary mixtures of AE+DMA are analyzed using Shedlovsky’s equation to evaluate limiting molar conductances (Λo), association constants (KA), Walden products (Λoηo), hydrodynamic radii (RH) and the standard free energies of association (ΔGA0). The individual limiting ionic molar conductances are obtained using the reference electrolyte tetrabutylammonium perchlorate (Bu4NClO4) and tetrabutylammonium tetraphenylborate (Bu4NBPh4). A modified form of Stokes’ law helped to determine the solvated ionic radii (ri) in solutions and are assessed in the facet of ion-ion, ion-solvent interactions and show structural changes in the binary mixtures. The results has revealed that the solvated radii (ri) values of Li+, Na+ and K+ ionsshow preferential solvation of these ions by DMA in AE+DMA binary mixtures and these interactions get weaker with the increase in temperature. Also, the preferential solvation and ion-solvent interactions of these ions in binary mixtures are proved by the analysis of Walden products (Λoηo) and the standard free energies of association (ΔGA0) with the effect of temperature

Antioxidant phytoconstituents from Onosma bracteata Wall. (Boraginaceae) ameliorate the CCl4 induced hepatic damage: in vivo study in male wistar rats

Onosma bracteata Wall. (Boraginaceae) is a highly valuable medicinal herb that is used for the treatment of fever, bronchitis, asthma, rheumatism, stomach irritation, and other inflammatory disorders. The present study aims to explore the hepatoprotective potential of ethanolic extract (Obeth) from O. bracteata aerial parts against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) which causes hepatic damage in the male Wistar rats. Obeth showed effective radical quenching activity with an EC50 of 115.14 and 199.33 µg/mL in superoxide radical scavenging and lipid peroxidation analyses respectively along with plasmid DNA protective potential in plasmid nicking assay. The Obeth modulated mutagenicity of 2 Aminofluorine (2AF) in the pre-incubation mode of investigation (EC50 10.48 µg/0.1 mL/plate) in TA100 strain of Salmonella typhimurium. In in vivo studies, pretreatment of Obeth (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg) had the potential to normalize the biochemical markers aggravated by CCl4 (1mL/kg b.wt.) including liver antioxidative enzymes. Histopathological analysis also revealed the restoration of CCl4-induced liver histopathological alterations. Immunohistochemical studies showed that the treatment of Obeth downregulated the expression levels of p53 and cyclin D in hepatocytes. and downregulation in the Western blotting analysis revealed the downregulation of p-NF-kB, COX-2, and p53. HPLC data analysis showed the supremacy of major compounds namely, catechin, kaempferol, epicatechin, and Onosmin A in Obeth. The present investigation establishes the hepatoprotective and chemopreventive potential of O. bracteata against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity via antioxidant defense system and modulation of the expression of proteins associated with the process of carcinogenesis in hepatic cells

SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION AND ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF CUO NANOPARTICLES

Objective: The present study was done to see the effect of biologically synthesized CuO-NPs (Copperoxide nanoparticles) on the growth of bacterial strains. Methods: Physico-chemical characterization of CuO-NPs was done by UV-Vis-spectrophotometer, XRD, FE-SEM, and EDS. The disc plate diffusion assay was used to evaluate the anti-bacterial effect of CuNPs. Results: This study has shown a promising anti-bacterial activity of biosynthesized CuO-NPs at different concentrations ranging from 10 to 100 µg/ml against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. Conclusion: Nanoparticles (NPs) are small size particles between range 1 to 100 nm which expand their physical and chemical properties due to high surface area. The present study reveals that there may be possible utilization of biosynthesized CuO NPs for the treatment of bacterial infectious disease in near future

RS-based regional crop identification and mapping: A case study of Barwala sub-branch of Western Yamuna Canal in Haryana (India)

Information on spatial land use is the main input in strategic and tactical plan-making by all agricultural participants in countries like India with agriculture at the mainstay of the economy. In addition, accurately evaluation of the management of crops in a spatio-temporal context, information on cropping systems is also required, but such information on a regional scale are scarcely available. The spectrum of multiannual patterns of land use on cultivable land, however, remains unknown. The paper thus focuses on the mapping of the cropping systems that are actually practiced in Hisar District of Haryana (India). The objective of this research was to use satellite data and Remote Sensing (RS) techniques to identify the cropping pattern of Barwala sub-branch of Sirsa branch of the Western Yamuna Canal in Haryana. To identify classes of interest, handheld GPS was used to collect ground-truth information. Mask of mixed classes was developed to reclassify an image under the mask. Moreover, appropriate classification of images and application of logical combinations helped in generating cropping pattern maps and statistics. Results revealed that major crops identified in the study area were cotton, rice and pearl-millet in Kharif season, which accounts for about 70% of total cultivated area. In the case of Rabi season, wheat and mustard were observed as the major crops covering approximately 57% of total area. RS technology is currently capable of providing cropping pattern with 90% accuracy. The results of the current study could be useful in the land use and efficient water management in the canal command areas in the water-scarce southern Haryana, India. Some crops like guar, pearl-millet, horticultural crops, etc. were also identified during this period but the major crops that were identified during Kharif season were Rice and Cotton

Morphotaxometry and Ultratopography of Lytocestus haryanii n.sp. (Caryophyllidea: Lytocestidae) from the intestine of freshwater catfish Clarias batrachus Linnaeus 1758 (Siluriformes: Clariidae) of river Yamuna, Yamuna Nagar, Haryana, India

The present investigation deals with the first report of newer species of caryophyllid cestodes, Lytocestus haryanii n.sp. (Caryophyllidea: Lytocestidae) in the freshwater catfish, Clarias batrachus Linnaeus 1758 (Siluriformes: Clariidae) of river Yamuna from Yamuna Nagar, Haryana, India from July 2018 to June 2020. These helminthes are the most common cestodes (endoparasites) among the fishes of fresh water, brackish water, and marine habitat worldwide.  The recovered newer worms were processed through the standardized protocol for the microscopic observations and morphometry, ultratopographic study through scanning electron microscopy, and anatomical analysis by histology using microtomy techniques followed by the double staining. The findings of the present worms were substantiated and compared with the earlier reported species of the same genera from different hosts shared the common group using advanced numerical taxonomy for the taxometric validation. The present proposed newer worms shared all the common characteristics which helped in the generic diagnosis and are closely related to the species collected from the same host species inhabiting different freshwater bodies. The worms comprised several striking contrasts in the combination of distinguishing characters of taxonomic significance in special reference to shape, size, orientation, distribution, and the dimension of the body (single proglottid), scolex, neck, testes, ovary, cirrus pouch, vitellaria, eggs, and excretory pore. Based on the striking morphological, taxometric, ultratopgraphic, and histological differences summarized here can, therefore, be used to propose the worm as a new species.

In silico targeting enterotoxin from Staphylococcus aureus with selected flavonoids: Hope for the discovery of natural anti-mastitis agents

Staphylococcus aureus is a facultative anaerobe and catalase-positive bacterium responsible for various skin infections and life-threatening problems, including bacteremia and pneumonia. This bacterium produces a bunch of superantigens in the blood called enterotoxin. This toxin is responsible for food poisoning and toxic shock syndrome. Moreover, Bovine mastitis is also associated with S. aureus. Further, S. aureus related to drug resistance makes the infection more dreadful. Now a day, various natural compounds such as phytochemicals are gaining importance as they are effective against many diseases, including S. aureus infections. The present study used molecular docking of three ligands, i.e., Kaempferol, Apigenin, and Quercetin, with enterotoxin A from S. aureus. The docking study revealed that the binding energy of ligands with receptors was -6.6 to -6.9 Kcal/mol. Kaempferol had the highest binding affinity of -6.9 Kcal/mol, suggesting it has a potential against S. aureus. Therefore, in the current research, we have tried to identify occurring compounds that might be used to develop an effective anti-S.aureus agent. The findings are encouraging and will aid researchers in creating new mastitis-fighting medications based on natural phytochemicals

In silico targeting of osmoporin protein of Salmonella to identify anti-Salmonellosis phyto-compounds

Salmonella enterica serotype typhi is a gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium, and has flagella with the human body as its only reservoir. Typhoid fever was found to cause 21.7 million illnesses and 216,000 fatalities worldwide in 2000, and the International Vaccine Institute estimated 11.9 million cases and 129,000 deaths in low- and middle-income countries in 2010. More than 10 million patients were infected with S. typhi each year and the mortality rate is associated with more than 0.1 million patients. Moreover, it is also associated with drug resistance globally which makes the disease more dreadful. Other than antibiotics, various flavonoids showed medicinal effects against many diseases including S. typhi infection. Flavonoids are a type of plant bioactive metabolite that have potential medicinal efficacy. The goal of this study was to see if certain flavonoids (ellagic acid, eriodictyol, and naringenin) could interact with the outer membrane of osmoporin (PDB ID: 3uu2) receptor in Salmonella and helps in inhibiting its growth. To look for probable ligand-receptor binding relationships, we used Pyrxmolecular docking software. The molecular docking results were analyzed using the Biovia discovery studio visualizer. The current study discovered that selected plant-based compounds interacted with an outer membrane of the osmoporin receptor, resulting in minimization of energy in the range of-6.6 to -7.8 Kcal/mol

Molecular Docking studies of Apigenin, Kaempferol, and Quercetin as potential target against spike receptor protein of SARS COV

COVID-19 has been categorized as a pandemic in early 2020 and is known to cause by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS–CoV2). Numerous investigators and people in the scientific community are trying to find a superlative way to avert and cure the ailment by using phytochemicals. Abundant studies have revealed that flavonoids can be very operative in averting virus-mediated infection. The purpose of this study was to accomplish molecular docking studies among plant-derived flavonoids (Apigenin, Kaempferol, and Quercetin) and spike receptor (PDB ID: 2AJF) protein of coronavirus. Pyrx virtual screening tool and biovia discovery studio visualizer were utilized in the current molecular docking investigations. Outcomes of docking studies exposed that selected phytochemicals have interacted with targeted spike receptor protein with binding energies in the range of -6.3 to -7.3 kcal. In conclusion among the various selected ligands, quercetin may be a better inhibitor for the deactivation of SARS-Coronavirus

Prominent Classes of Antibiotics and their Mechanism of Resistance against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a prominent pathogenic, antibiotic-resistant microorganism that contains a variety of virulent characteristics having the capacity to develop tolerance to several major classes of antibiotics. The ongoing creation of clones enhances this potential, transforming S. aureus into an “Anti-Infective.” MRSA has started to rise as a Hospital-Acquired MRSA, but due to evolution, new strains of MRSA have been discovered throughout the past several years. The new strains of MRSA as Community-Acquired MRSA, and Livestock-Associated MRSA are infecting the patients despite preexisting medical conditions, being as susceptible to any treatment. The continuous expansion of MRSA is still ongoing. The main goal of this article is to improve reading comprehension of MRSA by studying the prominent classes of antibiotics and their mechanism of resistance which are now susceptible or getting susceptible to the MRSA