Nanotechnology in sustainable agriculture: Present concerns and future aspects

Nanotechnology is a promising field of interdisciplinary research. It opens up a wide array of opportunities in various fields like medicine,  pharmaceuticals, electronics and agriculture. The potential uses and benefits of nanotechnology are enormous. The current global population is nearly 7 */billion with 50% living in Asia. A large proportion of those living in developing countries face daily food shortages as a result of  environmental impacts or political instability, while in the developed worldthere is surplus of food. For developing countries, the drive is to develop drought and pest resistant crops, which also maximize yield. The potential of nanotechnology to revolutionise the health care, textile, materials, information and communication technology, and energy sectors has been well publicized. The application of nanotechnology to agriculture and food industries is also getting attention nowadays. Investments in agriculture and food nanotechnologies carry increasing weight because their potential benefits range from improved food quality and safety to reduced agricultural inputs and improved processing and nutrition. While most investment is made primarily in developed countries, research  advancements provide glimpses of potential applications in agricultural, food, and water safety that could have significant impacts on rural populations in developing countries. This review is concentrated on modern strategies used for the management of water, pesticides, limitationsin the use of chemical pesticides and potential of nano-materials in sustainable agriculture management as modern approaches of nanotechnology.Key words: Agriculture, nanotechnology, nanofertilizer, nanoencapsulation, nanoherbicides

Efficacy of a musical tooth brushing drill in maintenance of oral hygiene among children at a correctional institute in Bengaluru city

Introduction: Tooth brushing plays a vital role in effective plaque control, which depends on the method and the ease with which it is adopted. It is known that one of the major factors that lead to the occurrence of dental caries is the action of microorganisms. These micro-organisms harbor themselves onto tooth structure in form of bio-film, thus leading to the formation of dental plaque. Material and Methods: A total of 130 children in the correctional home were screened and divided into control and intervention groups with 30 subjects each. The children will be assessed for baseline plaque scores using the using Turesky–Gilmore– Glickman modification of the Quigley–Hein plaque index. The plaque was assessed on the labial, buccal, and lingual surfaces of all the teeth after using a disclosing agent. The scores are given: 0: No plaque; 1: Separate flecks of plaque at the cervical margin of the tooth; 2: A thin continuous band of plaque (up to 1 mm) at the cervical margin; 3: A band of plaque wider than 1 mm but covering less than one-third of the crown of the tooth; 4: Plaque covering at least onethird but less than two-thirds of the crown; 5: Plaque covering two-thirds or more of the crown. The participants were subjected to a music and action routine for tooth brushing. Repetitive exercise for two weeks was done to condition the participants. Plaque scores were assessed using a two-tone disclosing agent at baseline, at the end of a two-week training drill, and four-week follow-up where the participants were asked to brush by themselves without any supervision. Results: The difference in the mean dental plaque scores from baseline to the 30th day was found to be statistically significant among the intervention group. (p= <0.001). On intragroup comparison, the differences in the reduction of these plaque scores over time from baseline to the 15th day were statistically significant (p=<0.001). The intergroup comparison was statistically significant at baseline (p=0.044). There was a significant difference on the 15th day (p=0.041) and on the 30th day (p=0.040). Conclusion: The present study proves that there was a significant reduction in plaque scores (p=<0.001) for a month with the use of a tooth brushing drill for two weeks under supervision. This shows behavior modification and healthy habit formation among the children. This also shows that children can be motivated and trained using music and simple drills

Assessment of ethanol yield associated characters in sweet sorghum

Sweet sorghum is a crop close to sugarcane in respect to its sucrose accumulation, and the juicy composition of the stem offers an excellent alternative feedstock apart from others such as sugar beets. In the present inves¬tigation nine sweet sorghum cultivars were grown in the field, IARI, New Delhi; all the ethanol yield associated morphological characters were recorded, sorghum cultivars samples were analyzed at harvesting. The association analysis had clearly brought out that among the inherent genotypic characteristics stem girth, number of inter¬nodes per plant, juice content of sorghum were very important for increase in juice yield. Among the other associ¬ated characters, green cane yield and consequently percent juice recovery with higher total soluble sugar content were important parameters for ethanol yield in sorghum. It is therefore, suggested that these inherent genotypic characteristics could be exploited in identifying suitable cultivars for the purpose of ethanol production

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Not AvailableSugarcane dry trash, available to the tune of 7 million tonne, is a part of sugarcane tops and is a major byproduct of the sugarcane industry which is left in the field after cane harvest. The dry fodder can be utilized as dry fodder source after chaffing in to small pieces in the place of paddy or any other straw. The dry fodder can be mixed with other seasonal green fodder and concentrate in the total mixed ration. Depending upon level of milk production, not more than 3 to 5 kg dry trash can be mixed with varying amounts of green fodder and concentrate in the form of total mixed ration for feeding cattle.Not Availabl

Petersen's Hernia after Mini (One Anastomosis) Gastric Bypass

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Perinatal outcomes in a South Asian setting with high rates of low birth weight

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>It is unclear whether the high rates of low birth weight in South Asia are due to poor fetal growth or short pregnancy duration. Also, it is not known whether the traditional focus on preventing low birth weight has been successful. We addressed these and related issues by studying births in Kaniyambadi, South India, with births from Nova Scotia, Canada serving as a reference.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Population-based data for 1986 to 2005 were obtained from the birth database of the Community Health and Development program in Kaniyambadi and from the Nova Scotia Atlee Perinatal Database. Menstrual dates were used to obtain comparable information on gestational age. Small-for-gestational age (SGA) live births were identified using both a recent Canadian and an older Indian fetal growth standard.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The low birth weight and preterm birth rates were 17.0% versus 5.5% and 12.3% versus 6.9% in Kaniyambadi and Nova Scotia, respectively. SGA rates were 46.9% in Kaniyambadi and 7.5% in Nova Scotia when the Canadian fetal growth standard was used to define SGA and 6.7% in Kaniyambadi and < 1% in Nova Scotia when the Indian standard was used. In Kaniyambadi, low birth weight, preterm birth and perinatal mortality rates did not decrease between 1990 and 2005. SGA rates in Kaniyambadi declined significantly when SGA was based on the Indian standard but not when it was based on the Canadian standard. Maternal mortality rates fell by 85% (95% confidence interval 57% to 95%) in Kaniyambadi between 1986–90 and 2001–05. Perinatal mortality rates were 11.7 and 2.6 per 1,000 total births and cesarean delivery rates were 6.0% and 20.9% among live births ≥ 2,500 g in Kaniyambadi and Nova Scotia, respectively.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>High rates of fetal growth restriction and relatively high rates of preterm birth are responsible for the high rates of low birth weight in South Asia. Increased emphasis is required on health services that address the morbidity and mortality in all birth weight categories.</p

Supernumerary, ectopic tooth in the maxillary antrum presenting with recurrent haemoptysis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Ectopic eruption of teeth in non-dental sites is a rare phenomenon and can present in a variety of ways such as chronic or recurrent sinusitis, sepsis, nasolacrimal duct obstruction, headaches, ostiomeatal complex disease and facial numbness. However, presentation of such patients with recurrent haemoptysis has not been described in the literature so far. We have described a case of an ectopic, supernumerary molar tooth in the maxillary antrum in a patient who initially presented with haemoptysis.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A 45-year-old male presented with a 2-month history of episodic haemoptysis. A pedunculated growth from the inferior nasal turbinate was seen with fibre-optic visualization. Although the patient was empirically started on antibiotic and anti-allergic therapy, there was no improvement after a few weeks and the patient had recurrent episodes of haemoptysis. Fibre-optic visualization was repeated showing bilateral osteomeatal erythema. Computed tomography scan of the paranasal sinuses demonstrated complete opacification of the left maxillary antrum along with a focal area of density comparable to bone. An ectopic, supernumerary molar tooth was found in the left maxillary antrum on endoscopic examination and subsequently removed. In addition, copious purulent discharge was seen. Post-operatively, the patient was treated with a 10-day course of oral amoxicillin-clavulanate. On follow-up, he reported resolution of symptoms.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Recurrent haemoptysis has not been described as a presentation for a supernumerary, ectopic tooth in literature before. We recommend that in patients with sinusitis-type of opacification of maxillary antrum and whose condition is refractory to conventional medical treatment, consideration should be given to the investigation of possible underlying anomalies as the cause of such symptoms. Presence of foreign bodies and ectopic teeth in paranasal sinuses can be reliably excluded with the use of appropriate radiological imaging and endoscopic examination.</p

The inner centromere is a biomolecular condensate scaffolded by the chromosomal passenger complex.

The inner centromere is a region on every mitotic chromosome that enables specific biochemical reactions that underlie properties, such as the maintenance of cohesion, the regulation of kinetochores and the assembly of specialized chromatin, that can resist microtubule pulling forces. The chromosomal passenger complex (CPC) is abundantly localized to the inner centromeres and it is unclear whether it is involved in non-kinase activities that contribute to the generation of these unique chromatin properties. We find that the borealin subunit of the CPC drives phase separation of the CPC in vitro at concentrations that are below those found on the inner centromere. We also provide strong evidence that the CPC exists in a phase-separated state at the inner centromere. CPC phase separation is required for its inner-centromere localization and function during mitosis. We suggest that the CPC combines phase separation, kinase and histone code-reading activities to enable the formation of a chromatin body with unique biochemical activities at the inner centromere

Yoga-Based Cardiac Rehabilitation After Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Randomized Trial

Background: Given the shortage of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs in India and poor uptake worldwide, there is an urgent need to find alternative models of CR that are inexpensive and may offer choice to subgroups with poor uptake (e.g., women and elderly). Objectives: This study sought to evaluate the effects of yoga-based CR (Yoga-CaRe) on major cardiovascular events and self-rated health in a multicenter randomized controlled trial. Methods: The trial was conducted in 24 medical centers across India. This study recruited 3,959 patients with acute myocardial infarction with a median and minimum follow-up of 22 and 6 months. Patients were individually randomized to receive either a Yoga-CaRe program (n = 1,970) or enhanced standard care involving educational advice (n = 1,989). The co-primary outcomes were: 1) first occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) (composite of all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, stroke, or emergency cardiovascular hospitalization); and 2) self-rated health on the European Quality of Life–5 Dimensions–5 Level visual analogue scale at 12 weeks. Results: MACE occurred in 131 (6.7%) patients in the Yoga-CaRe group and 146 (7.4%) patients in the enhanced standard care group (hazard ratio with Yoga-CaRe: 0.90; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.71 to 1.15; p = 0.41). Self-rated health was 77 in Yoga-CaRe and 75.7 in the enhanced standard care group (baseline-adjusted mean difference in favor of Yoga-CaRe: 1.5; 95% CI: 0.5 to 2.5; p = 0.002). The Yoga-CaRe group had greater return to pre-infarct activities, but there was no difference in tobacco cessation or medication adherence between the treatment groups (secondary outcomes). Conclusions: Yoga-CaRe improved self-rated health and return to pre-infarct activities after acute myocardial infarction, but the trial lacked statistical power to show a difference in MACE. Yoga-CaRe may be an option when conventional CR is unavailable or unacceptable to individuals. (A study on effectiveness of YOGA based cardiac rehabilitation programme in India and United Kingdom; CTRI/2012/02/002408)

Metamaterial superlenses operating at visible wavelength for imaging applications

© 2018 The Authors. Published by Nature. This is an open access article available under a Creative Commons licence. The published version can be accessed at the following link on the publisher’s website: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-33572-yIn this paper, a novel design for a metamaterial lens (superlens) based on a Photonic Crystal (PC) operating at visible wavelengths is reported. The proposed superlens consist of a gallium phosphide (GaP) dielectric slab waveguide with a hexagonal array of silver rods embedded within the GaP dielectric. In-house 2DFDTD numerical method is used to design and optimize the proposed superlens. Several superlenses are designed and integrated within a same dielectric platform, promoting the proof-of-concept (POC) of possible construction of an array of superlenses (or sub-lenses to create an M-Lens) for light field imaging applications. It is shown that the concavity of the superlens and positioning of each sub-lens within the array strongly affects the performances of the image in terms of resolution. Defects and various geometrical shapes are introduced to construct and optimize the proposed superlenses and increase the quality of the image resolution. It is shown that the orientation of the active region (ellipse) along x and y axis has tremendous influence on the quality of image resolution. In order to investigate the performance characteristics of the superlenses, transmitted power is calculated using 2D FDTD for image projections at various distances (in x and y plane). It is also shown, how the proposed superlens structures could be fabricated using standard micro fabrication techniques such as electron beam lithography, inductively coupled Reactive ion etching, and glancing angle evaporation methods. To the best of our knowledge, these are the first reported POC of superlenses, integrated in a monolithic platform suitable for high imaging resolution that can be used for light field imaging applications at visible wavelength. The proposed superlenses (integrated in a single platform M-Lens) will have tremendous impact on imaging applications