Ophthalmic Complications of Dengue

A case series suggests that the spectrum of complications in dengue infection is widening

Identification to the species level of the plant pathogens Phytophthora and Pythium by using unique sequences of the ITS1 region of ribosomal DNA as capture probes for PCR ELISA

The ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 1 region was sequenced for 10 species of Phythium and eight species of Phytophthora. Alignment of the sequences revealed considerable sequence microheterogeneity, which was utilized to prepare a capture probe of unique sequence for each species. The capture probes were tested by PCR ELISA, combining the sensitivity and specificity of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The probes were entirely species specific, enabling the detection and identification of the amplified DNA of species from individual Cultures or front mixed samples of the DNAs of two different species. This approach to species identification, which provides a molecular technology to process large numbers of samples and still identify the fungi with a high level of confidence, may greatly reduce the resources and the time of highly trained specialists currently needed to identify these important species of plant pathogenic fungi. (C) 2002 Federation of European Microbiological Societies. Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved

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Not AvailableConservation agriculture (CA) is a key climate resilient and resource saving technology for higher productivity while reversing soil degradation in rainfed regions. In India, CA in the rice -wheat system of the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP) of south Asia has been extensively studied. However, relatively less attention was given to develop strategies to overcome the constraints in the adoption of CA in rainfed regions. Therefore, studies were initiated in rainfed regions under different cropping systems and soil types to standardize the best management practices and to address various constraints related to adoption of CA. Based on the results of experiments conducted in various agro ecosystems it has been found that the effect of CA on crop productivity and soil properties in different experiments are variable, depending on the management factors and duration of the study. Adoption of CA resulted in improvement in crop yield to the extent of 9-36.7% under different cropping systems, increase in net monetary returns by 1487% and rain water productivity by 4-25%. The water infiltration rate was increased by 53.2 -56.8 %, soil organic carbon content increased by 5-45.1% under different cropping systems at different soil depths. The available soil moisture content increased by 1.8-46.8% and the available soil nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium increased by 2.7-41.6,0.6-64.8 and 6.1-26.2%, respectively. The energy input under CA decreased by 0.9-57.6%, energy saving increased by 0.9- 34.88% and the energy use efficiency increased by 9.47-66.8%. The runoff and soil loss also decreased by 17.6-37.9% and 44.756.5%, respectively under CA as compared to conventional tillage (CT). Furthermore, we have observed that CA integrated with complementary practices like in situ moisture conservation (through permanent conservation furrow or permanent raised bed and furrow) in maize/horse gram-pigeonpea, maizepigeonpea system, weed and nutrient management practices in maize-pigeonpea, pearl millet-pigeonpea and cotton-pigeonpea improved the crop productivity and soil health in rainfed agro-ecosystems. Increase in crop residue retention either through manipulation of harvest height to 30-60 cm in cereals and live mulch with dhaincha in pigeonpea-castor system, improve soil health, resilience to climate change, productivity and profitability. These technologies have feasibility of adoption by the farmers.Not Availabl