Ameliorative effects of salt resistance on physiological parameters in the halophyte Salicornia bigelovii torr. with plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria

Salicornia bigelovii is a promising resource to cultivate under extreme climatic conditions of arid-desert regions. However, the production of Salicornia depends on the appropriate supplementation of nitrogen rich synthetic fertilizers. Application of specific halotolerant nitrogen-fixing bacteria associated with S. bigelovii could be an important practice for crop production in salt-affected regions. Seedlings of S. bigelovii were inoculated and developed with plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (Klebsiella pnseumoniae) at different salinities (0 and 0.25 M NaCl) grown under in vitro conditions. The inoculation increased growth and physiological activity at a high salinity. The major benefits of inoculation were observed on total seedlings biomass (320 and 175 g at 0 and 0.25 M NaCl, respectively) and adjacent branches of stem biomass (150 and 85 g at 0 and 0.25 M NaCl, respectively). The inoculation with Klebsiella pneumoniae also significantly improved seedlings salinity tolerance compared to the noninoculated controls. In non-salinity conditions, the inoculated seedlings enhanced the CO2 fixation and O2 evolution. The non-inoculated controls were more sensitive to salinity than inoculated seedlings exposed to salinity, as indicated by several measured parameters. Moreover, inoculated seedlings had significantly increase on proline, phenolics content, but not significant in starch compared to noninoculated controls. In conclusion, K. pneumoniae inoculation mitigates the salinity effects and promotes the Salicornia growth.Keywords: Salicornia bigelovii, Klebsiella pneumoniae, halophyte, ecotype, stress salinity. African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(34), pp. 5278-528

Multi-objective optimization for optimum tolerance synthesis with process and machine selection using a genetic algorithm

This paper presents a new approach to the tolerance synthesis of the component parts of assemblies by simultaneously optimizing three manufacturing parameters: manufacturing cost, including tolerance cost and quality loss cost; machining time; and machine overhead/idle time cost. A methodology has been developed using the Genetic Algorithm (GA) technique to solve this multi-objective optimization problem. The effectiveness of the proposed methodology has been demonstrated by solving a wheel mounting assembly problem consisting of five components, two subassemblies, two critical dimensions, two functional tolerances, and eight operations. Significant cost saving can be achieved by employing this methodology

A standard set of person-centred outcomes for diabetes mellitus: results of an international and unified approach

AIMS To select a core list of standard outcomes for diabetes to be routinely applied internationally, including patient-reported outcomes. METHODS We conducted a structured systematic review of outcome measures, focusing on adults with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes. This process was followed by a consensus-driven modified Delphi panel, including a multidisciplinary group of academics, health professionals and people with diabetes. External feedback to validate the set of outcome measures was sought from people with diabetes and health professionals. RESULTS The panel identified an essential set of clinical outcomes related to diabetes control, acute events, chronic complications, health service utilisation, and survival that can be measured using routine administrative data and/or clinical records. Three instruments were recommended for annual measurement of patient-reported outcome measures: the WHO Well-Being Index for psychological well-being; the depression module of the Patient Health Questionnaire for depression; and the Problem Areas in Diabetes scale for diabetes distress. A range of factors related to demographic, diagnostic profile, lifestyle, social support and treatment of diabetes were also identified for case-mix adjustment. CONCLUSIONS We recommend the standard set identified in this study for use in routine practice to monitor, benchmark and improve diabetes care. The inclusion of patient-reported outcomes enables people living with diabetes to report directly on their condition in a structured way

A dimensioning and tolerancing methodology for concurrent engineering applications II: comprehensive solution strategy

Dimensioning and tolerancing (D&T) is a multidisciplinary problem which requires the fulfillment of a large number of dimensional requirements. However, almost all of the currently available D&T tools are only intended for use by the designer. In addition, they typically provide solutions for the requirements one at time. This paper presents a methodology for determining the dimensional specifications of the component parts and sub-assemblies of a product by satisfying all of its requirements. The comprehensive solution strategy presented here includes: a strategy for separating D&T problems into groups, the determination of an optimum solution order for coupled functional equations, a generic tolerance allocation strategy, and strategies for solving different types of D&T problems. A number of commonly used cost minimization strategies, such as the use of standard parts, preferred sizes, preferred fits, and preferred tolerances, have also been incorporated into the proposed methodology. The methodology is interactive and intended for use in a concurrent engineering environment by members of a product development team

Assessment of Wet and Dry Spells Over North Western Zone of Tamil Nadu Using WASP

Rainfall is the most dependent weather factor that decides the success or failure of a crop in a location. The behaviour of rainfall plays a major role in the selection of crop, cropping system and cropping pattern. It is also essential for planning of water resource management structures. Hence it is essential to study the anomaly in rainfall over a long period of time to identify the deviation in rainfall pattern over the region. Weighted Anomaly of Standardized Precipitation Index (WASP) is an index that can help in identifying the occurrence of dry or wet spells over different time scales (tri, hexa, nona and dodeca-monthly). The analysis was carried out for Salem district of Tamil Nadu over a period of 30 years (1991-2020) which has an average rainfall of 990 mm per year with bimodal distribution. The analysis shows an increase in near normal events, decrease in wet as well as dry events with 3 m, 6 m, 9 m and 12 m WASP. The 3 m-WASP indicates the north east monsoon have more variability in rainfall since more number of wet as well as dry events have occurred during this season. With 6 m WASP During, in all the 3 decades, the consecutive wet as well as dry events have been occurred during the winter and NE monsoon seasons. This shows the risk in crop cultivation during NEM season because of higher instability in rainfall. Considering the longer time scale of 9 m and 12 m WASP indicates the occurrence of prolonged extreme dry or extreme wet events to be very minimal. The negative effects of these events can be handled easily by adopting proper drainage, water harvesting and storage structure within the farms. These structures can also help in recharging the ground water table in addition to supplementing water needs for the crops

Evaluation of cytotoxic activity of Syringodium isoetifolium against human breast cancer cell line - an in silico and in vitro study

Seagrass is a natural, renewable, and much unexplored marine resource, which are capable, and reliable sources in the field of pharmaceuticals and drug discovery. The seagrass, Syringodium isoetifolium is our target plant for the study, which was collected from the Ramanathapuram district, Tamil Nadu. The current study is focused to evaluate the cytotoxic, cell cycle arrest, and apoptotic induction activities of the hydroalcoholic extract of S. isoetifolium against the human breast cancer (MCF-7) cell line. The cytotoxic evaluation revealed that the extract inhibited MCF-7 proliferation with IC50 value of 230.32 μg/ml. Evaluation of MCF-7 cell cycles demonstrated that the extract arrested the cell cycle in the S phase and continued to the G2/M phase at half of the IC50 value. The extract induced apoptotic of MCF-7 cells about 30.61% which was nearly the same with aripiprazole as a positive control (52.35%). Nootkatone significantly binds to the target proteins – HSP 90 and HER2 kinase with the least binding energy was predicted as the most active anticancer compounds by a molecular docking study. In light of the findings, it can be said that the hydroalcoholic extract of S. isoetifolium has the potential to be a therapeutic agent for breast malignancies by acting as an anticancer component. It can be used as an anticancer agent on its own and/or as a scaffold for analog synthesis to develop novel anticancer agents with improved therapeutic efficacy