Biometric properties of onion seedlings relevant to the development of onion seedling transplanter

A study was conducted to investigate biometric properties of seedlings of three common varieties of onion viz. Pusa Red, Set-126 and Pusa Ridhi (50, 60, 70 days old). The parameters determined were weight of seedling without and with de-topping, bulb diameter, stem diameter, height, moisture content, compressive strength and coefficient of static friction. The weight of seedlings without de-topping ranged from 0.53 to 3.05 g while with de-topping ranged from 0.47 to 1.68 g for all the three cultivars. The bulb and stem diameter for all varieties ranged from 3.13 to 5.76 g for bulb and 2.44 to 4.33 g for stem whereas height varied from 14.48 cm to 34.65 cm, among all Pusa red was taller than Set-126 and Pusa Ridhi. The moisture content at different age and for all cultivars ranged from 84.89 to 91.63 % (wb). The average coefficient of static friction for mild steel (MS), aluminum and galvanized iron (GI) varied from 0.63 to 0.79. The compressive strength of bulb and stem of seedlings were 9.76 to 19.54 N for bulb and 4.08 to 8.17 N for stem respectively for 50 to 70 days seedlings. This information was not available but is critical in designing and selection of different components of onion seedling transplanter

Complete genome sequence of an isolate of leek yellow stripe virus from garlic in India

Not AvailableThe complete genome sequence of leek yellow stripe virus (LYSV) isolate AC-50 from garlic in India was determined and the predicted amino acid (aa) sequence was analyzed. The LYSV RNA genome is 10,131 nucleotides (nt) long excluding the poly(A) tail (KP168261) and has a large open reading frame (ORF) encoding a putative polyprotein of 3152 aa with conserved motifs typical of members of the genus Potyvirus in the family Potyviridae. The pretty interesting Potyviridae ORF (PIPO) coding region was identified in the P3 coding region. LYSV isolate AC-50 shares maximum nt and aa sequence identity of 79.9% and 87.2% with a LYSV isolate from Australia (HQ258895) at the full genome and polyprotein level, respectively, and clusters with clade II isolates from China, Mexico, Australia, Brazil and Spain. The P1 coding region of isolate AC-50 was highly variable with an identity range of 48.9- 70.9% with other LYSV isolates and a deletion of 204 nt compared to Japanese and Australian isolates. The ratio of nonsynonymous (dN) and synonymous (dS) polymorphic sites suggested that purifying selection dominates in the evolution of LYSV and the mean dN/dS ratio was highest for P1, confirming that this coding region is under less evolutionary constraints

Extracellular Vesicles from Human Papilloma Virus-Infected Cervical Cancer Cells Enhance HIV-1 Replication in Differentiated U1 Cell Line

In the current study, we hypothesized that extracellular vesicles (EVs) secreted from human papilloma virus (HPV)-infected cervical cancer cells exacerbate human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 replication in differentiated U1 cell line through an oxidative stress pathway. To test the hypothesis, we treated an HIV-1-infected macrophage cell line (U1) with HPV-infected Caski cell culture supernatant (CCS). We observed a significant increase in HIV-1 replication, which was associated with an increase in the expression of cytochrome P450 (CYPs 1A1 and 2A6) in the CCS-treated U1 cells. Furthermore, we isolated EVs from CCS (CCS-EVs), which showed the presence of CYPs (1A1, 2A6), superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), and HPV oncoproteins HPV16 E6. CCS-EVs when exposed to the U1 cells also significantly increased HIV-1 replication. Treatment of antioxidant, CYP1A1 and CYP2A6 inhibitors, and chemodietary agents with antioxidant properties significantly reduced the CCS and CCS-EVs mediated HIV-1 replication in U1 cells. Altogether, we demonstrate that cervical cancer cells exacerbate HIV-1 replication in differentiated U1 cell line via transferring CYPs and HPV oncoproteins through EVs. We also show that the viral replication occurs via CYP and oxidative stress pathways, and the viral replication is also reduced by chemodietary agents. This study provides important information regarding biological interactions between HPV and HIV-1 via EVs leading to enhanced HIV-1 replication

Antibiotic Sensitivity in Post Cesarean Surgical Site Infection at a Tertiary Care Centre in Eastern Nepal

Introduction: Post cesarean surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the common complications diagnosed in 2.5%-16% of the cases and is associated with significant increase in maternal morbidity, hospital stay, costs, and psychological stress to the new parents. This study was designed to study the incidence of SSI and the antimicrobial resistance pattern in our hospital. Methods: This was a prospective observational study conducted from July 2015 to December 2015, in which all patients who were admitted with post cesarean SSI or developed SSI during their stay were included.  Wound specimens were collected and susceptibility testing was carried out using disc diffusion technique. Results: The incidence of post cesarean SSI was 6.07% (47/774). Out of the 47 patients who had SSI, 35 (74.75%) had positive swab culture. The most important organism isolated was Staphylococcus aureus (82.85%) out of which 17 (58.62%) were MRSA strain. The resistance of Staphylococcus to penicillin was 84.6% whereas amikacin was found to be highly sensitive (>96%). Among the MRSA strain, resistance to ciprofloxacin, which is the currently used drug for prophylaxis, was 94%. Resistance to penicillins, cephalosporins, and clavulanate was also high. Resistance to vancomycin was also high (53%). Amikacin and chloramphenicol were found to be highly sensitive  (94% and 90% respectively) in the MRSA group. Conclusion: MRSA is the leading cause of post cesarean SSI and is a matter of great concern. Amikacin and chloramphenicol were found to be highly sensitive in this group but unlike other studies, resistance of vancomycin was showing an increasing trend

Ti-6Al-4V microstructural orientation at different length scales as a function of scanning strategies in Electron Beam Melting in additive manufacturing

Additive manufacturing has been around for many years, yet the underlying physics of thermal gradients, local pressure environment, and other non-steady state manufacturing conditions are not fully understood. A Multi-University Research Initiative (MURI) is currently ongoing to measure liquid/solid and solid/solid interface stabilities in AM Ti-6Al-4V. Samples were produced with different beamscanning strategies in order to study the role of thermal gradients on the resulting microstructure. The motivation is to determine which beam-scanning strategy leads to desired grain size and texture. Orientation at different length scales (from mm to nm) can be quantified and compared with a combination of techniques including Precession Electron Diffraction (PED), Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD) and Neutron diffraction. This new information will help predict properties of additively manufactured parts

Effects of combined treatment of probiotics and metformin in management of type 2 diabetes:A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Lifestyle changes and dietary intervention, including the use of probiotics, can modulate dysbiosis of gut microbiome and contribute to the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to assess the efficacy of metformin plus probiotics versus metformin alone on outcomes in patients with T2DM. Methods: We searched MEDLINE and EMBASE from inception to February 2023 to identify all randomized controlled trials (RCTs), which compared the use of metformin plus probiotics versus metformin alone in adult patients with T2DM. Data were summarized as mean differences (MD) with 95 % confidence interval (CI) and pooled under the random effects model. Findings: Fourteen RCTs (17 comparisons, 1009 patients) were included in this systematic review. Pooled results show a significant decrease in fasting glucose (FG) (MD = −0.64, 95 % CI = −1.06, −0.22) and HbA1c (MD = −0.29, 95 % CI = −0.47, −0.10) levels in patients with T2DM treated with metformin plus probiotics versus metformin alone. The addition of probiotics to metformin resulted in lower odds of gastrointestinal adverse events (Odds ratio = 0.18, 95 % CI = 0.09, 0.3.8; I2 = 0 %). Conclusions: The addition of probiotics to metformin therapy is associated with improvement in T2DM outcomes. However, high-quality and adequately reported RCTs are needed in the future to confirm our findings.</p

Bilateral superficial cervical plexus block with conscious sedation for thyroid surgery

Total thyroidectomy can safely be performed by bilateral superficial cervical plexus blockade which is a regional anesthetic technique to anaesthetize superficial branches of the anterior primary rami of cervical 3-5 spinal nerves. Conscious sedation with this anesthetic technique enhance safe and faster recovery compared to general anesthesia (GA) with endotracheal intubation which is traditionally employed technique for thyroidectomy. This randomized active control trial was conducted in the department of Anaesthesia, Analgesia and Intensive care medicine, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University from January to December 2018 to compare perioperative outcome between bilateral superficial cervical plexus blockade and GA technique during total thyroidectomy. Total 60 patients of American Society of Anesthesiol- ogists Classification grade I and II who were selected for thyroidectomy were randomly divided into Group-A(n=30) and Group-B (n=30). Group A received with 0.5% bupivacaine and 1% lignocaine; and group B received general anesthesia during total thyroidectomy. Heart rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure mean arterial blood pressure , oxygen satura- tion (SPO2) were recorded and compared between the groups. Operative site bleeding, surgeon’s satisfaction &amp; post operative pain were measured with Boezaart Scoring system, Likert scale &amp; visual analogue scale repectively; and compared between two groups. During induction, systolic and diastolic blood pressure were high in group B and reduced in group A which were statistically significant. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure was significantly reduced in Group-A in comparison to Group-B after 5 minutes, 30 minutes, 45 minutes and at the end of operation. Bilateral superficial cervical plexus blockade reduced pain more effective- ly than GA group &amp; it was statistically significant. Mean value of bleeding score were also statis- tically significant in Group-A. Regarding surgeons’ satisfaction, there was no statistically signif- icant difference between the groups. Bilateral superficial cervical plexus block with conscious sedation provided better outcome in terms of perioperative hemodynamics, pain and surgical site bleeding compared to general anaesthesia. BSMMU J 2021; 14(4): 104-10

Systematic decay studies of even-even 132−138132-138^Nd, 144−158144-158^Gd, 176−196176-196^Hg and 192−198192-198^Pb isotopes

The alpha and cluster decay properties of the $132-138$^Nd, $144-158$^Gd, $176-196$^Hg and $192-198$^Pb even-even isotopes in the two mass regions A = 130-158 and A = 180-198 are analysed using the Coulomb and Proximity Potential Model. On examining the clusters at corresponding points in the cold valleys (points with same A_2) of the various isotopes of a particular nucleus we find that at certain mass numbers of the parent nuclei, the clusters emitted are getting shifted to the next lower atomic number. It is interesting to see that the change in clusters appears at those isotopes where a change in shape is occurring correspondingly. Such a change of clusters with shape change is studied for the first time in cluster decay. The alpha decay half lives of these nuclei are computed and these are compared with the available experimental alpha decay data. It is seen that the two are in good agreement. On making a comparison of the alpha half lives of the normal deformed and super deformed nuclei, it can be seen that the normal deformed $132$^Nd, $176-188$^Hg and $192$^Pb nuclei are found to be better alpha emitters than the super deformed (in excited state) $134,136$^Nd, $190-196$^Hg and $194$^Pb nuclei. The cluster decay studies reveal that as the atomic number of the parent nuclei increases the N \neq Z cluster emissions become equally or more probable than the N=Z emissions. On the whole the alpha and cluster emissions are more probable from the parents in the heavier mass region (A=180-198) than from the parents in the lighter mass region (A= 130-158). The effect of quadrupole ({\beta}_2) and hexadecapole ({\beta}_4) deformations of parent and fragments on half life times are also studied.Comment: 42 pages,19 figure