Morphological characterization of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) germplasm under rainfed environment

In this study, 11 potato cultivars were assessed based on their genetic variability of different morphological parameters, including emergence percentage (%), date of flowering, plant height (cm), number of leaves per plant, average leaf area, number of flowers per plant, number of stems per plant, and number of fruits per plant. All of these characters showed a high level of variation among all the varieties. Locally developed advanced line SH-19 showed maximum emergence percentage (92.33%). Among other characters, Asterix, Smeengi and SH-19 produced considerable amount of flowers per plant (37.39). Romeo touched the line, indicating three stems per plant and was grouped into a separate group ‘A’. Cultivars Smeengi and Aziza, Leonardo and Avalanche carried 2.67 and 1 stem per plant respectively. Moreover, the 11 cultivars were ranked and grouped into 5 groups (A to E). For number of fruits/plant, means were not very much different from one another. The pyramid of variety Asterix was the highest, indicating that this genotype is efficient in bearing fruits. Variation was observed for tuber yield among all the cultivars and was not significantly high between replications of all varieties. Overall, there was highly significant variation for this character among all the potato cultivars. All the 11 varieties were grouped into seven homogeneous groups (A to G) in which the means are not significantly different from one another. Almost every variety was in a different group. Average yield for all the varieties ranged from 22 to 7 kg. Pyramid height for Desiree was highest, indicating that maximum yield (22 kg) was produced by this variety.Keywords: Germplasm, potato, Solanum tuberosum L. Rawalakot, Azad KashmirAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(21), pp. 3214-322

Effectiveness of an antimicrobial treatment scheme in a confined glanders outbreak

BACKGROUND: Glanders is a contagious and fatal zoonotic disease of solipeds caused by the Gram-negative bacterium Burkholderia (B.) mallei. Although regulations call for culling of diseased animals, certain situations e.g. wild life conservation, highly valuable breeding stock, could benefit from effective treatment schemes and post-exposure prophylaxis. RESULTS: Twenty three culture positive glanderous horses were successfully treated during a confined outbreak by applying a treatment protocol of 12 weeks duration based on the parenteral administration of enrofloxacin and trimethoprim plus sulfadiazine, followed by the oral administration of doxycycline. Induction of immunosupression in six randomly chosen horses after completion of treatment did not lead to recrudescence of disease. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that long term treatment of glanderous horses with a combination of various antibiotics seems to eliminate the agent from the organism. However, more studies are needed to test the effectiveness of this treatment regime on B. mallei strains from different endemic regions. Due to its cost and duration, this treatment can only be an option in certain situations and should not replace the current “testing and culling” policy, in conjunction with adequate compensation to prevent spreading of disease

Multi-objective optimization of process parameters during micro-milling of nickel-based alloy Inconel 718 using Taguchi-grey relation integrated approach

This research investigates the machinability of Inconel 718 under conventional machining speeds using three different tool coatings in comparison with uncoated tool during milling operation. Cutting speed, feed rate and depth of cut were selected as variable machining parameters to analyze output responses including surface roughness, burr formation and tool wear. It was found that uncoated and AlTiN coated tools resulted in lower tool wear than nACo and TiSiN coated tools. On the other hand, TiSiN coated tools resulted in highest surface roughness and burr formation. Among the three machining parameters, feed was identified as the most influential parameter affecting burr formation. Grey relational analysis identified the most optimal experimental run with a speed of 14 m/min, feed of 1 mu m/tooth, and depth of cut of 70 mu m using an AlTiN coated tool. ANOVA of the regression model identified the tool coating parameter as most effective, with a contribution ratio of 41.64%, whereas cutting speed and depth of cut were found to have contribution ratios of 18.82% and 8.10%, respectively. Experimental run at response surface optimized conditions resulted in reduced surface roughness and tool wear by 18% and 20%, respectively.Web of Science1523art. no. 829

ANTIMICROBIAL SCREENING OF SELECTED FLORA OF PAKISTAN

Abstract -ethanolic extracts of Ferula assafoetida resin, Grewia asiatica leaves, Ipomoea hederacea seeds, Lepidium sativum seeds, Nigella sativa seeds and Terminalia chebula fruits were tested in vitro for their antibacterial and antifungal activities. The antibacterial study performed against eight bacterial species viz., Escherichia coli, Citrobacter, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, Micrococcus luteus, Proteus mirabilis and Bacillus subtilis indicated that the investigated plants have potent activity against all the tested microorganisms. The antifungal activity of these extracts was performed against nine fungal strains, viz., Aspergillus parasiticus, Aspergillus niger, Yersinia aldovae, Candida albicans, Aspergillus effusus, Fusarium solani, Macrophomina phaseolina, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Trichophyton rubrum. The extracts showed moderate as well as significant activity against the different fungal strains

Effects of drying methods on the characteristics of rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum L.) seed fat: an optimisation approach

The pre-treatment of oilseeds prior to extraction process may affect oil yield and quality. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of two drying methods on rambutan seed fat (RSF) yield and their oxidative stability, physicochemical properties, and crystal morphology. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used in the optimisation and investigation of the effects of three process conditions: seed weight (g), extraction time (min), and solvent volume (ml) on RSF yield. Under optimal conditions, a maximum RSF yield of 44.14% was obtained. The differences between RSF pre-treated with oven-drying and RSF with freeze-drying methods in slip melting point (38.3◦C to 39.7◦C), free fatty acid (3.13 to 3.50 mg KOH/g fat), peroxide value (1.04 to 1.67 meq of O2/kg of fat), p-anisidine value (1.10 to 1.56), and total oxidation value (4.21 to 5.67) were significant (p < 0.05). Both fats showed needle-like shaped crystals. Our results provide usefu linformation in the pre-treatment of RSF, which has potential to be used as blending component with palm oil for cocoa butter equivalent formulation in chocolate and confectionery industries

Foreign body granuloma in the anterior abdominal wall mimicking an acute appendicular lump and induced by a translocated copper-T intrauterine contraceptive device: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Intrauterine contraceptive devices may at times perforate and migrate to adjacent organs. Such uterine perforation usually passes unnoticed with development of potentially serious complications.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A 25-year-old woman of North Indian origin presented with an acute tender lump in the right iliac fossa. The lump was initially thought to be an appendicular lump and treated conservatively. Resolution of the lump was incomplete. On exploratory laparotomy, a hard suspicious mass was found in the anterior abdominal wall of the right iliac fossa. Wide excision and bisection of the mass revealed a copper-T embedded inside. Examination of the uterus did not show any evidence of perforation. The next day, the patient gave a history of past copper-T Intrauterine contraceptive device insertion.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Copper-T insertion is one of the simplest contraceptive methods but its neglect with inadequate follow-up may lead to uterine perforation and extra-uterine migration. Regular self-examination for the "threads" supplemented with abdominal X-ray and/or ultrasound in the follow-up may detect copper-T migration early. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of intrauterine contraceptive device migration to the anterior abdominal wall of the right iliac fossa.</p

Disposition Kinetics and Optimal Dosage of Ciprofloxacin in Healthy Domestic Ruminant Species

The purpose of this experimental study was to determine the disposition kinetics and optimal dosages of ciprofloxacin in healthy domestic ruminant species including adult female buffalo, cow, sheep and goat. The drug was given as a single intramuscular dose of 5 mg/kg. The plasma concentrations of the drug were determined with HPLC and pharmacokinetic variables were determined. The biological half-life (t1/2 β was longer in cows (3.25 ± 0.46 h) followed by intermediate values in buffaloes (3.05 ± 0.20 h) and sheep (2.93 ± 0.45 h) and shorter in goats (2.62 ± 0.39 h). The volume of distribution (Vd) in buffaloes was 1.09 ± 0.06 l/kg, cows 1.24 ± 0.16 l/kg, sheep 2.89 ± 0.30 l/kg and goats 3.76 ± 0.92 l/kg. Total body clearance (ClB) expressed in l/h/kg was minimum in buffaloes 0.25 ± 0.02 followed by values in cows 0.31 ± 0.02 and sheep 0.75 ± 0.04 and maximum in goats 1.09 ± 0.11. An optimal dosage regimen for 12-h interval consisted of 5.17, 5.62, 6.54 and 6.10 mg/kg body weight as priming and 4.84, 5.37, 6.26 and 5.91 mg/kg body weight as maintenance intramuscular dose in buffalo, cow, sheep and goat, respectively. The manufacturers of ciprofloxacin have claimed 5 mg/kg dose to be repeated after 24 h. However, the investigated dosage regimen may be repeated after 12 h to maintain MIC at the end of the dosage interval. Therefore, it is imperative that an optimal dosage regimen be based on the disposition kinetics data determined in the species and environment in which a drug is to be employed clinically

Routine immunization coverage in Pakistan: a survey of children under 1 year of age in community-based vaccination areas.

Pakistan is one of two countries in which poliovirus remains endemic. Considering the high number of children born every year, reaching and vaccinating new birth cohorts by improving routine immunization coverage in children <1 year of age is crucial to halting virus transmission. In 2015, a community-based vaccination (CBV) strategy, using local community members to enhance vaccine acceptance and improve routine immunization service delivery, was introduced in areas of Pakistan that have never interrupted poliovirus transmission. In order to assess progress towards improving routine immunization, we performed house-to-house immunization surveys across ten CBV areas in 2017 and 2018. In each household, we determined age-appropriate routine antigen coverage for children <1 year of age based on vaccination card and caregiver recall. We surveyed 5,499 and 5,264 children in 2017 and 2018, respectively. Overall, coverage of inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) at 14 weeks of age was 32% in 2017 and 39% in 2018 based on vaccination card and recall. Across the surveyed areas, coverage ranged from 7% in Killa Abdullah to 61% in Peshawar in 2018. Oral poliovirus vaccination coverage decreased with successive vaccination visits, ranging from 66% for the birth dose to 42% for the 14-week dose in 2018. No area reached the target of 80% coverage for any routine antigen. Our findings highlight the need for concerted efforts to improve routine immunization coverage in these critical areas of wild poliovirus transmission

A novel method for life estimation of power transformers using fuzzy logic systems: An intelligent predictive maintenance approach

Power transformers are a fundamental component of the modern power distribution network. The fault-free operation of step-up and step-down transformers is of prime importance to the continuous supply of electrical energy to the consumers. To ensure such efficient operation, power distribution companies carry out routine maintenance of distribution transformers through preplanned schedules. The efficacy of such maintenance depends on a proper understanding of the transformer and its components and efficient prediction of faults in these components. There are several components whose condition can be studied to predict transformer failures and therefore the overall health of a transformer. These include transformer windings, insulations, transformer oil, core insulations, and ferromagnetic cores. This work develops a new, simplified fuzzy logic-based method to predict the health of a transformer by taking into account the state of several individual components. Case studies are used to demonstrate the efficacy of the developed method