Herbo-Mineral formulation in Rasa Raktavaha Srothas w.s.r. to Twacha Vikaras - A Review

Ayurveda is the ancient science of medicine with number of unique drugs and formulations in its armory. The formulation / drugs which are prepared and practiced classically whose efficacy and potency were well established. And these formulations / drugs belonging to plant, animal and mineral origin. The formulation which are prepared out of these origins are used in the management of various Twacha Vikaras. Skin is the largest covering of the body. According to Ayurveda, Twacha is originated from Matruja Bhavas and formed like the butter forming on the boiling milk

Simultaneous electrochemical determination of acetaminophen and metoclopramide at electrochemically pre-treated disposable graphite pencil electrode

A sensitive and economic voltammetric method was developed for the simultaneous determination of acetaminophen (AMP) and metoclopramide (MCP) using pre-treated graphite pencil electrode (PTGPE). Compared to a graphite pencil electrode, the pre-treated electrode showed an apparent shift of the oxidation potentials in the positive direction and a notable enhancement in the current responses for both AMP and MCP. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) was used to study the voltammetric behavior of the drugs, while differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) was used to determine AMP and MCP simulta-neously. The dependence of the current on scan rate, pH and concentration was investi-gated to boost the experimental conditions for simultaneous determination. The calibra-tion curves were obtained over the range of 0.1×10-7 to 1.1×10-7 M, the concentration of each of both the drugs was varied by keeping the other constant, and achieved lower detection limit of 3.25 nM for AMP and 1.16 nM for MCP. The developed method was found to be selective, and rapid for the simultaneous determination of AMP and MCP. The proposed method was applied simultaneously in real samples and pharmaceutical samples, with satisfactory results

PARTICIPATORY COTTON BREEDING AND CULTIVAR EVALUATION FOR ORGANIC SMALLHOLDERS IN INDIA

Stakeholders of the organic movement are highly concerned about this development in the cotton sector in India. Organic farming can only present a viable alternative to conventional production if farmers have access to suitable cultivars. A national workshop on 'Disappearing non-GM cotton – ways forward to maintain diversity, increase availability, and ensure quality of non-GM cotton seed' initiated by bioRe, the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL Switzerland) and the University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS) Dharwad presents the first agreement (Dharwad Declaration) towards safeguarding the heritage of Indian Desi cotton, maintaining genetic diversity, avoiding GM contamination as well as supporting the organic farmers with suitable cultivars. The activities on participatory cotton breeding for organic and low input farming is the first step of implementation towards the goals set in the Dharwad Declaration in June 2011. The Cotton Cultivar Evaluation Project started in 2011 with systematic evaluation of available non GM cultivars and is focusing on the fast identification of suitable cultivars and the reestablishment of a cotton seed supply chain under control of the farmers to safeguard the organic cotton production. This is urgently needed, as GM free cotton seeds completely vanished from the market. The Green Cotton Project is a long term project aiming for developing new cotton cultivars, that are specifically suited for organic farming. Here the focus is on networking, capacity building, training farmers in cross breeding and single plant selection. In collaboration with the University of Agricultural Science Dharwad and Chetna organic it starts with new crosses that are selected under local conditions and has a special focus on the original desi cotton species. The aim is the establishment of decentralized participatory cotton breeding programs that will allow the improvement of organic cotton in the future

Extent of Bollworm and Sucking Pest Damage on Modern and Traditional Cotton Species and Potential for Breeding in Organic Cotton

Resistance against cotton bollworm is one of the main arguments for the use of genetically modified (GM) Bt cotton around the globe. The use of GM is prohibited in organic systems and thus the remunerative value of organic cotton cultivation depends on effective bollworm control. In this study, we investigated the extent of bollworm and sucking pest damage in 68 different hybrid and varietal lines of Gossypium hirsutum and varietal lines of G. arboreum at two different locations with contrasting soil fertility and water dynamics. The damage potential of bollworms was assessed from open capsules at two time points. Sucking pests were assessed at three time points using a scoring method. G. arboreum varietal lines and G. hirsutum hybrids were on average significantly more tolerant than G. hirsutum varietal lines to bollworm under fertile and irrigated situations. For sucking pests, the G. arboreum varietal lines were clearly more tolerant than G. hirsutum hybrids and varietal lines. Since, recently, pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella) became resistant against Bt cotton and pressure of sucking pests severely increased, screening of genetic resources and systems-based cotton breeding for bollworm and sucking pest tolerance will improve sustainability of organic and conventional cotton production

Participatory cotton breeding for organic and low input farming in India

Organic cotton production currently takes place in 22 countries resulting in 241’697 metric tons of fibre and 1.1% of the global cotton production (Truscott et al. 2010). Up to 80% of world’s organic cotton is produced in India. However, this market is threatened due to the displacement of traditional cotton species and cultivars by genetically modified (GM) hybrids selected for high input farming. Organic cotton farmers are facing increased difficulties in finding suitable cultivars in India (Nemes, 2010). Moreover, there is a big risk of physical and genetic contamination of organic cotton with GM cotton and the loss of locally adapted genetic resources. Therefore fast action is needed to re-establish a GM-free seed chain and breeding programs for cultivars suited for organic and low input farming conditions

Participatory non-GM cotton breeding to safeguard organic cotton production in India

Due to fast spread of genetically modified (GM) Bt-cotton, organic farmers in India were suddenly exposed to a severe shortage of non-GM seed threatening the organic cotton production. Therefore, organic cotton grower organisations got engaged in decentralized participatory cotton breeding to develop their own locally adapted cultivars and to reintroduce the traditional more robust Desi cotton species. By engaging and training advisors and farmers using participatory methods, they became researchers and breeders. The close collaboration with the textile industry ensures that the market demand is also met. Training of male and female farmers in cultivar selection and seed propagation made them independent from global seed companies. Participatory breeding is an important tool to get prepared for future challenges like climate change and at the same time strengthens the relationship along the value chain. The project can serve as a successful model for other organisations and crops

Effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor and angiotensin receptor blocker initiation on organ support-free days in patients hospitalized with COVID-19

IMPORTANCE Overactivation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) may contribute to poor clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19. Objective To determine whether angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) initiation improves outcomes in patients hospitalized for COVID-19. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS In an ongoing, adaptive platform randomized clinical trial, 721 critically ill and 58 non–critically ill hospitalized adults were randomized to receive an RAS inhibitor or control between March 16, 2021, and February 25, 2022, at 69 sites in 7 countries (final follow-up on June 1, 2022). INTERVENTIONS Patients were randomized to receive open-label initiation of an ACE inhibitor (n = 257), ARB (n = 248), ARB in combination with DMX-200 (a chemokine receptor-2 inhibitor; n = 10), or no RAS inhibitor (control; n = 264) for up to 10 days. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was organ support–free days, a composite of hospital survival and days alive without cardiovascular or respiratory organ support through 21 days. The primary analysis was a bayesian cumulative logistic model. Odds ratios (ORs) greater than 1 represent improved outcomes. RESULTS On February 25, 2022, enrollment was discontinued due to safety concerns. Among 679 critically ill patients with available primary outcome data, the median age was 56 years and 239 participants (35.2%) were women. Median (IQR) organ support–free days among critically ill patients was 10 (–1 to 16) in the ACE inhibitor group (n = 231), 8 (–1 to 17) in the ARB group (n = 217), and 12 (0 to 17) in the control group (n = 231) (median adjusted odds ratios of 0.77 [95% bayesian credible interval, 0.58-1.06] for improvement for ACE inhibitor and 0.76 [95% credible interval, 0.56-1.05] for ARB compared with control). The posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitors and ARBs worsened organ support–free days compared with control were 94.9% and 95.4%, respectively. Hospital survival occurred in 166 of 231 critically ill participants (71.9%) in the ACE inhibitor group, 152 of 217 (70.0%) in the ARB group, and 182 of 231 (78.8%) in the control group (posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitor and ARB worsened hospital survival compared with control were 95.3% and 98.1%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this trial, among critically ill adults with COVID-19, initiation of an ACE inhibitor or ARB did not improve, and likely worsened, clinical outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT0273570

Zagreb indices of block-edge transformation graphs and their complements

In this paper, we obtain expressions for first and second Zagreb indices and coindices of block-edge transformation graphs G^{ab}. Analogous expressions are obtained also for the complements of G^{ab}.</p

Multiplicative Zagreb indices and coindices of some derived graphs

In this note, we obtain the expressions for multiplicative Zagreb indices and coindices of derived graphs such as a line graph, subdivision graph, vertex-semitotal graph, edge-semitotal graph, total graph and paraline graph

Damage Identification in Hemp Fiber (Cannabis sativa) Reinforced Composite Plates Using MAC and COMAC Correlation Methods: Experimental Study

The use of hemp fiber has increased in recent decade due to the increasing demand for sustainable, recyclable, and biodegradable materials. Hemp fibers are obtained from the stem of a plant for the reinforcement of composites. In this work, experimental modal analysis was performed on a hemp fiber (Cannabis sativa) reinforced plate with a free-free condition. Preliminary results of modal parameter identification of multiple damage detection are presented. To consider multiple damage effects, an undamaged plate including six damaged scenarios are considered. For each scenario, natural frequencies with mode shape were identified with accuracy using accelerometer sensors and impact hammer. Measured the natural frequencies and mode shape for undamaged and damaged plates are compared with each other. To establish the correlation between undamaged and damaged plate, modal assurance criterion (MAC) are considered. In addition, coordinated multiple modal assurance criterion (COMAC) considered that were highly sensitive to the severity of damage scenarios with sufficient mode consideration. It is clearly observed that a COMAC plot results show more sensitive compared to MAC plot results. It reveals that even small level damage present in the specimen can be easily examined through coordinate modal assurance criterion