Effect of planting density and training on plant health and seed quality of bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) under protected conditions

A study was conducted at the Department of Seed Science and Technology, Dr. Y. S. Parmar University of Horti-culture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan (H.P.), India during Kharif 2012 to evaluate the effects of the different planting densities and training systems on plant health (powdery mildew severity) and seed quality of bell pepper cv. Solan Bharpur under pro-tected conditions (polyhouse). Experiment was laid out in naturally ventilated polyhouse using three different planting densi-ties (S1 - 45×15 cm, S2 - 45×30 cm and S3 - 45×45 cm) and four training levels (T1 - single shoot, T2 - two shoots, T3 - three shoots and T4 - four shoots)with three replicates. The combination S2T2 (plants spaced at 45x30 cm and trained to two shoots) was found superior over all other treatments in terms of seed yields i.e. per plant and per hectare (18.00 g and 959.87 kg, respectively) and was at par with important quality characters. The treatment combination S3T1 (plant spaced at 45×45 cm and trained to single shoot) resulted in least powdery mildew severity (21.21 %) and performed best for seed qual-ity characters viz. 1000 seed weight, germination percentage, seedling length, seedling dry weight, seedling vigour index-I & II (6.32 g, 95.75%, 10.86 cm, 3.26 mg, 1039.77 and 312.34, respectively) but it gave lower seed yield and thus it is uneconomic. Therefore, planting density 45×30 cm in combination with two shoot training system can be recom-mended for commercial seed production of bell pepper under protected conditions

Effect of seed treatment, soil application and foliar spray of some insecticides on seed quality of bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)

Studies were carried out to evaluate the efficacy of some insecticides as seed treatment, soil application and foliar sprays on seed quality characters of bell pepper (Capsicum annuumL.) cultivar Solan Bharpur during Kha-rif season 2013. The treatments comprised of seed application of imidacloprid (Gaucho 600FS) and thiamethox-am (Cruiser 70WS), soil application of neem cake@ 2 q/acre and carbofuran @ 6 kg/acre and foliar sprays of im-idacloprid (Confidor 200 SL), thiamethoxam (Actara 25 WS), indoxacarb14.5 SC @ 0.5ml/l, NSKE (neem seed ker-nel extract) @ 5%, Neem Raj 500ppm @ 2.5ml/l and control. The observations regarding quality parameters record-ed were germination percentage, seedling length, seeding dry weight, seed vigour index-I, seed vigour index-II and electrical conductivity. The results revealed that treatment combination viz., seed treatment and foliar spray with thiamethoxam (S2F2) recorded significantly higher germination percentage (96.33%), seed vigour index-I (934.10), seed vigour index-II (245.02) and minimum electrical conductivity (216.67dSm-1) at 0.05 level of significance. Therefore, seed treatment and foliar spray of thiamethoxam may be recommended for quality seed production of bell pepper

Burn out and depression in paramedical workers of tertiary care hospital during COVID-19 pandemic

Background: Medical/paramedical professionals are prone to various behavioral disorders due to work pressure. The aim of the study was to evaluate burnout and depression in paramedical workers of a tertiary care hospital during COVID-19.Methods: Paramedical health care workers were assessed using online questionnaire containing self-administered questionnaire in this cross-sectional study between March 2021 and May 2021. Burnout self-test, depression, and anxiety were measured.Results: In this study, only 2.6% had at very severe risk of burnout and 7.8% were at severe risk of burnout while 3.9% had no signs of burnout. Approximately 80% of the patients had no depression. While there were 19.5% had mild to severe depression. Only eight out of 77 subjects had clinically significant symptoms of anxiety. Two subjects were having comorbid illness.Conclusions: A considerable percentage of HCWs experience burnout, depression, and anxiety

GLUCOSE HOMEOSTATIC AND PANCREAS PROTECTIVE POTENTIAL OF TECOMELLA UNDULATA ROOT EXTRACT IN STREPTOZOTOCIN INDUCED DIABETIC RATS .

Objective: The study was aimed to evaluate glucose homeostatic and pancreas protective potential of Tecomella undulata root extract in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats.Methods: The ethanolic root extract was prepared by following standard soxhlation methods. The experimental design was divided in to control and treated groups for 28 days of comparative experimental schedule. The body and organ weights, serum biochemistry, histo-pathology, hematology and toxicity profiles were assayed by following standard methods and protocols.Results: The treatment of ethanolic extract of root of T. undulata was significantly (p ≤ 0.001) reduced glucose levels at 7day, 14day, 21day and 28 days in comparison to standard drug of metformin. Correspondingly, lipid profile i.e. total cholesterol, HDL, VLDL, LDL and triglyceride were also altered significantly. Whereas, body and organs weight and hematological parameters were not shown significant changes. Subsequently, toxicity profile i.e. hepatic and renal parameters were remained under normal ranges. Corresponding, the treatment of ethanolic root extract caused normalcy of histoarchitecture of pancreas in comparison to standard drugs.Conclusion: The results of study illustrated that Tecomella undulata root extract possessing particular kind of phytocompounds which caused glucose homeostatic and pancreas protective potential in diabetic rats

Effect of planting geometry and training on growth and seed yield of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

The study was conducted to evaluate the effect of planting geometry and training on growth and seed yield of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) using cultivar Solan Lalima during Kharif 2013 at Experimental Farm of Department of Seed Science and Technology, Dr. Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan (H.P.). The treatments comprised of four training levels i.e. Y1 (single stem), Y2 (double stem), Y3 (unpruned with horizontal string) and Y4 (unpruned bush stakes (control)) and eight plant densities viz. S1 (60×15 cm), S2 (60+30×15 cm), S3 (60×30 cm), S4 (60+30×30 cm), S5 (90×15 cm), S6 (90+30×15 cm), S7 (90×30 cm) and S8 (90+30×30 cm). Analysis of variance showed that the treatment combination Y1S7 (single stem and plant spaced at 90×30 cm) resulted in maximum ripe fruit length and width (5.86 cm and 5.06 cm, respectively), maximum number of seeds/fruit (110.67), minimum days to ripe fruit harvest (71.00) and maximum harvest duration (59.84 days) but gave the low seed yield. The combination Y2S5 (double stem and 90×15 cm) resulted highest seed yield i.e. 519.71 kg per hectare. Therefore, planting density S5 (90x15 cm) in combination with training system Y2 (double stem) may be recommended for commercial seed production of tomato

Enzymatic Synthesis of Isopropyl Acetate by Immobilized Bacillus cereus Lipase in Organic Medium

Selective production of fragrance fatty acid ester from isopropanol and acetic acid has been achieved using silica-immobilized lipase of Bacillus cereus MTCC 8372. A purified thermoalkalophilic extracellular lipase was immobilized by adsorption onto the silica. The effects of various parameters like molar ratio of substrates (isopropanol and acetic acid; 25 to 100 mM), concentration of biocatalyst (25–125 mg/mL), reaction time, reaction temperature, organic solvents, molecular sieves, and initial water activity were studied for optimal ester synthesis. Under optimized conditions, 66.0 mM of isopropyl acetate was produced when isopropanol and acetic acid were used at 100 mM: 75 mM in 9 h at 55°C in n-heptane under continuous shaking (160 rpm) using bound lipase (25 mg). Addition of molecular sieves (3 Å × 1.5 mm) resulted in a marked increase in ester synthesis (73.0 mM). Ester synthesis was enhanced by water activity associated with pre-equilibrated saturated salt solution of LiCl. The immobilized lipase retained more than 50% of its activity after the 6th cycle of reuse

Frequency of peripheral neuropathy in pre diabetics in sub Himalayan region: a cross sectional observational study

Background: Peripheral neuropathy in pre diabetics has been studied in various studies till now. Many are in support and many against. No data was available in any study using all three criteria i.e. impaired fasting glucose, impaired glucose tolerance and HbA1C. Aim was to study the frequency of peripheral neuropathy in pre diabetics in a tertiary health care centre in sub Himalayan region.Methods: A 50 patients of prediabetes were enrolled for this study; preformed proforma was used to collect the information, data on examination and investigations. Then these patients were subjected to nerve conduction studies.Results: Out of total 50 pre diabetic patients 9(18%) were diagnosed having peripheral neuropathy. Maximum number of pre diabetic patients were (26) in the age group 46-55 years with mean age of 44.49 years ±7.01 (S.D.). 28 (56%) were males with a female to male ratio of 1:1.27. 20% patients had complaint of polyuria, 12% presented with polydipsia, 14% of total pre diabetic patients had paresthesia on history. 6% patients had impaired vibration and position sense on clinical examination. Out of total 9 patients having evidence of Peripheral Neuropathy 6 (66.66%) were meeting all three criteria for Prediabetes while 8 (88.88%) had IFG, 7 patients had IGT. 42% of the patients were fulfilling the criteria of metabolic syndrome. 28 had raised TGs and out of them 5 (17.8%) had peripheral neuropathy. Out of 24 obese patients, 4 (16.6%) had peripheral neuropathy. Out of 9 patients with peripheral neuropathy 66.66% patients were considered to be suffering with peripheral neuropathy on the basis of sensory symptoms and 33.33% were considered on the basis of impaired vibration and position sense on examination, one patient diagnosed on the basis of nerve conduction studies. 38% were in high risk group of developing T2DM in future as per Indian diabetes risk score. Mean compound motor action potential (CMAP) and nerve conduction velocity (NCV) were less in patients with peripheral neuropathy in comparison to patients without peripheral neuropathy.Conclusions: Peripheral neuropathy can occur in prediabetes though it is difficult to confirm it. Most common is small fiber neuropathy which can be diagnosed on the basis of history and examination. But by diagnosing it early in the course of prediabetes, morbidity and mortality secondary to neuropathy can be prevented

Effect of lactoferrin protein on red blood cells and macrophages: mechanism of parasite-host interaction

BACKGROUND: Lactoferrin is a natural multifunctional protein known to have antitumor, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory activity. Apart from its antimicrobial effects, lactoferrin is known to boost the immune response by enhancing antioxidants. Lactoferrin exists in various forms depending on its iron saturation. The present study was done to observe the effect of lactoferrin, isolated from bovine and buffalo colostrum, on red blood cells (RBCs) and macrophages (human monocytic cell line-derived macrophages THP1 cells). METHODS: Lactoferrin obtained from both species and in different iron saturation forms were used in the present study, and treatment of host cells were given with different forms of lactoferrin at different concentrations. These treated host cells were used for various studies, including morphometric analysis, viability by MTT assay, survivin gene expression, production of reactive oxygen species, phagocytic properties, invasion assay, and Toll-like receptor-4, Toll-like receptor-9, and MDR1 expression, to investigate the interaction between lactoferrin and host cells and the possible mechanism of action with regard to parasitic infections. RESULTS: The mechanism of interaction between host cells and lactoferrin have shown various aspects of gene expression and cellular activity depending on the degree of iron saturation of lactoferrin. A significant increase (P<0.05) in production of reactive oxygen species, phagocytic activity, and Toll-like receptor expression was observed in host cells incubated with iron-saturated lactoferrin when compared with an untreated control group. However, there was no significant (P>0.05) change in percentage viability in the different groups of host cells treated, and no downregulation of survivin gene expression was found at 48 hours post-incubation. Upregulation of the Toll-like receptor and downregulation of the P-gp gene confirmed the immunomodulatory potential of lactoferrin protein. CONCLUSION: The present study details the interaction between lactoferrin and parasite host cells, ie, RBCs and macrophages, using various cellular processes and expression studies. The study reveals the possible mechanism of action against various intracellular pathogens such as Toxoplasma, Plasmodium, Leishmania, Trypanosoma, and Mycobacterium. The presence of iron in lactoferrin plays an important role in enhancing the various activities taking place inside these cells. This work provides a lot of information about targeting lactoferrin against many parasitic infections which can rule out the exact pathways for inhibition of diseases caused by intracellular microbes mainly targeting RBCs and macrophages for their survival. Therefore, this initial study can serve as a baseline for further evaluation of the mechanism of action of lactoferrin against parasitic diseases, which is not fully understood to date

Soil fertility in flooded and non-flooded irrigated rice systems

The lowland rice system in Asia makes a major contribution to the global rice supply and is often cited as an example of a sustainable system in which two or three crops of rice are grown in sequence under submerged conditions. However, water shortages are becoming critical in some regions for lowland rice cultivation; and there is high potential in exploring rice cultivation under moisture regimes that save water and also increase productivity. The objective of this article therefore is to analyze the consequences of switching growing of rice from flooded to aerobic conditions on soil fertility and its management. Fertility advantages of submerged rice include amelioration of chemical fertility, preferential accumulation of organic matter and improved availability of major, secondary and selected micronutrients, which contribute to the long-term maintenance of soil fertility and sustainability of the lowland rice system. However, the fertility problems under aerobic rice are better addressed with the crop as a component of a cropping system because continuous growing of aerobic rice in sequence does not seem sustainable due to complex, site-specific chemical and biological constraints