Weed flora of aerobic rice and their effect on growth, yield and nutrient uptake by rice Oryza sativa in the coastal region of Karaikal of Puducherry, India

A field experiment was conducted at farm lands of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru College of Agriculture and Research Institute, Karaikal to know the weed floristic composition and their effect on growth, yield and nutrient uptake by aerobic rice (Oryza sativa). The results revealed that totally 29 species of weeds from 22 genera belonging to 17 families were noticed. Among them, four were grasses, six were sedges, and nineteen were broad leaved weeds. Of this 29 species, four were perennials, and the rest were annuals. During initial stages (30 DAS), sedges dominated (38.3%) whereas at later stages (60 DAS) broad leaved weeds dominated the aerobic rice fields (42.5%). Grasses were found to be comparatively less dominant at both the stages. Echinochloa colona Link. (28.1%) followed by E. cruss-galli (L.) Beauv. (6.1%) among the grasses; Cyperus difformis L. (19.8%) followed by C. iria L (9.9%) among the sedges and Ludwigia abyssinica (28.0%) among the broad leaved weeds, were the predominant weed species in aerobic rice cultivation. Weeds, when left unchecked, competed with rice for all resources like nutrients, space, light and soil moisture. The unweeded control recorded the maximum nutrient depletion by weeds (76.6, 6.4 and 106.8 Kg of N, P andK ha-1 ). Due to severe competition, weeds suppressed the growth of rice which resulted in lower growth and yield attributes leading to lower grain (333 kg ha-1 ) and straw yields (1903 kg ha-1 )

Patching task-level robot controllers based on a local µ-calculus formula

We present a method for mending strategies for GR(1) specifications. Given the addition or removal of edges from the game graph describing a problem (essentially transition rules in a GR(1) specification), we apply a µ-calculus formula to a neighborhood of states to obtain a “local strategy” that navigates around the invalidated parts of an original synthesized strategy. Our method may thus avoid global resynthesis while recovering correctness with respect to the new specification. We illustrate the results both in simulation and on physical hardware for a planar robot surveillance task

Split and non-split hub number of graphs

A split hub set S in a graph G is a hub set such that the induced subgraph hV \ Si is disconnected. The split hub number of G, denoted by hs(G) is the minimum size of a split hub set in G. In this paper, the split hub number for several classes of graphs is computed and we investigate the relationship of hs(G) with other known parameters of G. Also the concept of non-split hub number is introduced and its exact values for some standard graphs are computed

Secure Routing Packet Transmission

The Secure Routing Packet Transmission is the one which can be used to send or transmit the message or packets which contain some sensitive data in the network. Network is a medium which can consists of routers and network devices. In network there may be a chance of modifying the files by the attacker, but in our approach we age removing the attackers in other words we are removing the untrusted nodes. By generating the frequency to each and every nodes and by using the NDP protocol we can remove untrusted nodes and the shortest path is choosed based on frequency of all the nodes from source to destination, each time the frequency will be randomly generated so that same route will not select. The route will be selected based on shortest path. After successful transmission of file from source to destination, the file will be safely stored in destination folder

AN OVERVIEW OF TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER AS A REGULATORY ASPECT

Technology Transfer is fundamental and crucial to the drug development process for new drug products. The great decision is based on that factor in which the concept or process is advanced from research and development-oriented scheme to aimed towards the commercialization of the drug. The transfer could also be said to achieve success if the receiving section and the transferee can efficiently use the technology for profit. The achievement relies upon an understanding of the process or the capability to predict exactly the future prospects of a process. The main intention of this review article is to study the Regulatory aspects of technology transfer. This review article is mainly focused on the Consequence of technology transfer, the purpose for technology transfer in industries, barriers concerned with technology transfer, classification regarding technology transfer, facets of technology transfer, and steps among technology transferThis review was carried out by systematic searches of data integrity in relevant ICH, WHO, and US guidelines, published articles, reviews and abstracts in Google scholar, Pubmed, Science direct, Embase, Web of science of articles up to 2020

Nesting Pattern Preferences of Stingless Bee, Trigona Iridipennis Smith (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in Jnanabharathi Campus, Karnataka, India

The patterning aspects of nests are receiving increased attention in nature, so we have studied it in human-dwelling environments involving repeated spatio-temporal mold of pattern. Different criteria such as nesting sites, orientations, nest characters, longevity and elevation of nests have been selected to check the level of preferences exhibited by an indigenous resident species of stingless bee, Trigona iridipennis Smith at the Jnanabharathi campus in the southern part of Bangalore (Karnataka). Nesting patterns gave a precise measurement of preference level exhibited by testing different paradigms. The deciduous, shrub type of vegetation helped for successful dominance in higher number of nests to thrive well, which in turn helped to look at the varying patterns of nests. Observations on different nests revealed: i. preference for the habitats made of walls, ii. north facing direction for nest opening, iii. different type of nests with oval-shaped opening and medium-sized exposure outside, iv. nests with more accumulation of mud, resin and wax deposits and v. bees preferring middle elevation range of 11-15 feet for nest-building purely depending on the safer strategies such as availability of flora, protection from predators for better and safe survival at the nesting sites

A PROSPECTIVE STUDY ON ROLE OF VITAMIN E SUPPLEMENTATION IN TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS

Aim and Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the role of Vitamin E supplementation in Type II diabetes mellitus (DM), to determines whether people with Type II DM treated with hypoglycemic agents alone, with or without Vitamin E, to determines the drug interaction in such treatment regimen, and to evaluates the Safety of the regimen.Methods: Type II DM patients with or without complications were included in this study along with serum glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) concentration between 7.5% and 9.5%. They are divided into test group (which received hypoglycemic agent along with Vitamin E 4000 IU) and control group. Body mass index (BMI) status, fasting blood sugar (FBS), and post-prandial blood sugar (PPBS) were noted once in a month, HbA1c percentage, total cholesterol level (TC), and serum Vitamin E level were estimated and noted for every 3 months at total 9 months of this study. Patients with other comorbid conditions were prominent in this study.Results: It is perceptible with the analysis of obtained data that FBS, PPBS, HbA1c percentage, TC level, and BMI status of the patients were declined gradually in test group (patients with Vitamin E supplementation along with their hypoglycemic agents). Thus, antioxidant therapy is highly propitious whereby delaying the onset of complications in patients with DM. This development would be highly helpful for diabetic patients

Autoimmune diseases in pregnancy: maternal and fetal outcomes

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of autoimmune connective tissue disorders on the outcomes of pregnancy and the influence of treatment on pregnancy.  Methods: Thirty-seven antenatal patients with autoimmune connective tissue diseases, comprising of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), primary antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS), Mixed Connective Tissue Diseases (MCTD), ankylosing spondylitis and Takayasu arteritis were analysed.Results: Multigravidas constituted 89.4% and were associated with bad obstetric history. Before diagnosis and treatment, serious maternal complications of eclampsia and thromboembolism were observed in patients with SLE and APS. The live birth rates were 9% and 2.4% respectively in patients with SLE and APS. With appropriate treatment- aspirin, heparin and immunosuppressant, the live birth rates were raised to 70% in SLE and 100% in APS patients. Investigation for autoimmune disease in recurrent pregnancy loss is important. A rare association between MCTD and congenital anomaly - Rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata was observed. Preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, fetal growth restriction and preterm labour were the common complications noted.  Conclusions: Active disease at onset of pregnancy, presence of Anti-ds DNA antibodies and secondary APS were strong predictors of poor pregnancy outcomes among patients with SLE. Vigilant monitoring during pregnancy is required for favourable outcomes

Effect of Cymbopogon Flexuosus (Lemongrass Oil) against Rotenone-Induced Parkinsonism in Rats

AIM AND OBJECTIVE: Parkinson‘s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects small regions in the brain that control movement, posture and balance. It is a complex disease that has many different symptoms, so that not everyone with the condition suffers from the same problems. There are up to 10 million people in the world (i.e., approximately 0.3% of the world population) and 1% of those above 60 years be affected with PD. The pathology of PD involves the depletion of dopamine, degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the nigro striatum, etc. Usually the inhibitory dopaminergic system and excitatory cholinergic system strike a balance in maintain the posture locomotion, motor reflexes, etc. In PD, the balance is affected due to the dopaminergic nerve degeneration and cholinergic nerves get upper hand leading to symptoms of PD. Majority of population still have limited access or no access to modern medicines and rely on traditional ways of treatment. India being a country with rich floral diversity houses around 45,000 plant species. Use of herbal drugs for treating ailments is followed in Ayurveda, Yoga, Siddha, Unani, Homeopathy and Naturopathy forms of alternative medicines. Herbal medicines are now in great demand among the population in developing countries because they are inexpensive, better cultural acceptability, better compatibility with human body and minimal side effects. Currently the PD is treated with the drugs those increase the dopaminergic activity like, precursors of dopamine (levodopa), drugs that inhibit dopamine metabolism (MAO inhibitors and COMT inhibitors), drugs that release dopamine (Amantadine), dopamine receptor agonist (Ergot derived: Bromocriptine, Non ergot: Pramipexole) and drugs those that suppress the cholinergic activity (Atropine and its substitutes). Our current medication have been shown to improve symptoms, by restoring more normal chemical balance in the brain between the dopaminergic and cholinergic nerves, thereby reducing the symptoms of PD. But, the altered pathological changes are not improved and also oxidative metabolism of some of the agents actually accelerates further damage, leading to irreversible and untreatable symptoms severely affecting the quality of life of the patient and to death. Alternative and traditional medicine is becoming an increasingly important therapeutic option in various morbidities including neurodegenerative disorders. In this line, WHO has recommended the evaluation of effectiveness of plants in condition where we lack a safer modern drug. Thus, a proper scientific evaluation and screening of plants by pharmacological and chemical investigations for the discovery of potential anti-parkinsonism agents is need of the hour with possible outcomes to prevent, delay, reduce and/or treat neurodegeneration. Based on this background, the present research work on the validation of medicinal plant Cymbopogon flexuosus was carried out. The quintessential aim is to find out the effect of Cymbopogon flexuosus (lemongrass oil) against rotenone-induced Parkinsonism in rats. Objectives of the present study include the extraction of lemon grass oil from the plant Cymbopogon flexuosus leaves, qualitative evaluation of phytoconstituents present, testing for its toxicity, optimizing the rotenone-induced model for Parkinsonism in rats and studying the effect of the extracted oil against rotenone-induced Parkinsonism in rats. CONCLUSION: Many phytochemicals have been reported to exert neuroprotective effects in various experimental modes of neurological disorders. Although demand for Phytotherapeutic agents is growing, there is need for their scientific validation before plant-derived substances gain wider acceptance and use. These type of investigations may provide a new source of beneficial neuropsychotropic drugs. They may also provide a phytochemical basis for some of the effects that these herbal preparation have on brain function and neuroprotection. Most of the currect knowledge about CNS-active plants of cultural and traditional importance arose from ethnobotanical and ethnopharmaceutical uses, as for other natural active ingredients. Moreover, for a sutitable neuroprotective agent, a very important property regards it ability to cross the blood-brain barrier(BBB) in order to reach the neurons in the neigrostriatum. Finally, though the presence of receptors or transporters for phytochemicals in brain tissues remains to be ascertained and compounds with multiple targets appear as a potential and promising class of therapeutics for the treatment of Parkinsonism

In vivo investigation of hyperpolarized [1,3-13C2]acetoacetate as a metabolic probe in normal brain and in glioma.

Dysregulation in NAD+/NADH levels is associated with increased cell division and elevated levels of reactive oxygen species in rapidly proliferating cancer cells. Conversion of the ketone body acetoacetate (AcAc) to β-hydroxybutyrate (β-HB) by the mitochondrial enzyme β-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (BDH) depends upon NADH availability. The β-HB-to-AcAc ratio is therefore expected to reflect mitochondrial redox. Previous studies reported the potential of hyperpolarized 13C-AcAc to monitor mitochondrial redox in cells, perfused organs and in vivo. However, the ability of hyperpolarized 13C-AcAc to cross the blood brain barrier (BBB) and its potential to monitor brain metabolism remained unknown. Our goal was to assess the value of hyperpolarized [1,3-13C2]AcAc in healthy and tumor-bearing mice in vivo. Following hyperpolarized [1,3-13C2]AcAc injection, production of [1,3-13C2]β-HB was detected in normal and tumor-bearing mice. Significantly higher levels of [1-13C]AcAc and lower [1-13C]β-HB-to-[1-13C]AcAc ratios were observed in tumor-bearing mice. These results were consistent with decreased BDH activity in tumors and associated with increased total cellular NAD+/NADH. Our study confirmed that AcAc crosses the BBB and can be used for monitoring metabolism in the brain. It highlights the potential of AcAc for future clinical translation and its potential utility for monitoring metabolic changes associated with glioma, and other neurological disorders