A pragmatic approach for analysis of long-term climate trends for apple growing regions of Himachal Pradesh, India

The study assessed the long-term climate as well as the area and production trends for four representative decades (1985-2020) in three apple growing districts of Himachal Pradesh, India with the objective of understanding the impact of climate change on apple crop. A long term database was prepared for minimum temperature (Tmin), maximum temperature (Tmax) and rainfall, besides area and production for four decades for three districts of Himachal Pradesh, India. Trend analysis indicated that the temperature in apple growing regions of generally showed an increasing trend, whereas, decreasing trend was observed in the precipitation. The minimum temperature in apple growing regions of Kullu, Shimla and Kinnaur districts has shown an increase of 0.82º C, 1.09 º C and 0.03 ºC, respectively and the precipitation (rainfall) in the Kullu, Shimla and Kinnaur districts has shown a decrease by 5.3 mm, 3.3 mm and 0.9 mm, respectively. Increased warming in the mountain regions is elevating temperatures resulting in the reduction of chilling hours,  pre-requisite for apple fruiting. However, in the higher elevation of Shimla, Kullu and Kinnaur districts, in spite of the increase in temperature, the areas are still suitable for apple farming. The study indicated that the area and production of all three districts of study are increasing because growers are slowly shifting to low chilling varieties (Varieties having chilling hours requirement less than 1000 hours).  Also, the present ecosystem at lower elevations will not support high chilling requirement varieties and apple growers will have to shift to either low chilling varieties or alternate crops

Incidence and distribution of coleopteran insect pests on rainfed maize (Zea mays L.) in upper himalayas of Jammu and Kashmir, India

Experimental trail was conducted in free choice conditions at intermediate zone of Jammu and Kashmir, India during kharif season 2007. Various beetle populations viz. white grub (Holotrichia consaguinea), Blister beetle (Mylabris pustulata), flower eating beetle (Protatia alboquattata Vig.), wire worms (Melanotus communis Gyllenhal) and flea beetle (Phyllotera sp.) were observed at the experimental site. Among these pests H. consaguinea populations were found to be the dominating one. Correlation studies depicted that, both H. consaguinea adults and grubs were positively correlated with maximum and minimum temperatures. M. pustulata and P. alboquattata were negatively correlated with maximum and minimum temperatures, other beetles were positively correlated. H. consaguinea grubs, M. communis adults, were negatively correlated with relative humidity. M. pustulata and Phyllotreta sp. were positively correlated with relative humidity. As infestation of these insects is concerned wire worm, white grub larvae, white grub adult and blister beetle, fed on germinating seedlings, roots, leaves and silk, respectively however, both P. alboquattata and grain feeding flea beetle were found to feed on cob grains. Thus these beetles led to varying degree of damage and their distribution on maize plant.ÂÂ

Green's Matrix for a Second Order Self-Adjoint Matrix Differential Operator

A systematic construction of the Green's matrix for a second order, self-adjoint matrix differential operator from the linearly independent solutions of the corresponding homogeneous differential equation set is carried out. We follow the general approach of extracting the Green's matrix from the Green's matrix of the corresponding first order system. This construction is required in the cases where the differential equation set cannot be turned to an algebraic equation set via transform techniques.Comment: 19 page

Glucosamine HCl-based solid dispersions to enhance the biopharmaceutical properties of acyclovir

The objective of the work presented here was to assess the feasibility of using glucosamine HCl as a solid-dispersion (SD) carrier to enhance the biopharmaceutical properties of a BCS class III/IV drug, acyclovir (ACV). The solid-dispersions of acyclovir and glucosamine HCl were prepared by an ethanol-based solvent evaporation method. The prepared formulations characterized by photomicroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transforms infrared spectrophotometry (FTIR), powder x-ray diffractometry (PXRD) and drug content analysis. The functional characterization of ACV-SD was performed by aqueous solubility evaluation, dissolution studies, fasted versus fed state dissolution comparison, ex vivo permeability, and stability studies. Photomicroscopy and SEM analysis showed different surface morphologies for pure ACV, glucosamine HCl and ACV-SD. The physical-chemical characterization studies supported the formation of ACV-SD. A 12-fold enhancement in the aqueous solubility of ACV was observed in the prepared solid dispersions, compared to pure ACV. Results from in vitro dissolution demonstrated a significant increase in the rate and extent of ACV dissolution from the prepared ACV-SD formulations, compared to pure ACV. The rate and extent of ACV permeability across everted rat intestinal membrane were also found to be significantly increased in the ACV-SD formulations. Under fed conditions, the rate and extent of the in vitro dissolution of ACV from the formulation was appreciably greater compared to fasted conditions. Overall, the results from the study suggest the feasibility of utilizing glucosamine HCl as a solid dispersion carrier/excipient for enhancement of biopharmaceutical properties of acyclovir, and similar drugs with low solubility/permeability characteristics

Hypoglycemic and Hypolipidemic Effect of Sida rhombifolia ssp. retusa in Diabetic Induced Animals

In the present study, the anti-diabetic effect of aqueous extract of Sida rhombifolia ssp. retusa (Malvaceae) leaves was studied in normal and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced (60 mg/kg, single intraperitoneal injection) diabetic rats. Hypoglycemic activity in normal rats was tested after administration of 200 mg/kg of extract.Aqueous extract showed a 15% reduction in plasma glucose level after 1.5 h of extract administration. When tested in STZ-induced diabetic rats the reduction in plasma glucose was 17%. In oral glucose tolerance test in normal rats and STZ-induced rats the decrease in AUC was 15 and 7% respectively. Glibenclamide was used as reference drug and showed significant hypoglycemic effects in normal rats but had marginal activity in STZ-induced diabetic rats. In hypolipidemic study a dose of 200 mg/kg of aqueous extract has shown reduction in triglycerides (TG) (16%), cholesterol (4%), and glucose level (10%). Fenofibrate was used as standard drug for hypolipidemic study.The results obtained from the experiment provided scientific evidence in favor of the traditional use of Sida rhombifolia ssp. retusa leaves for the treatment of diabetes mellitus.Keywords: Diabetes, Sida rhombifolia ssp. Retusa, hypoglycemic activity and hypolipidemic activity

Study of cervical pap smears in a tertiary care hospital of south Gujarat, India

Background: In India cervical cancer is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Cancer of cervix is preventable, and can be diagnosed at the pre-malignant/pre-invasive stage with adequate and repetitive cytological screening by Papanicolaou (Pap) smears.  Methods: The prospective study includes total 1425 patients who were presented with various gynecological problems. Samples were taken and prepared smear were stained with PAP stain. Reporting was carried out by two independent cytopathologist as per Bethesda system.Results: Total 1425 patients were screened; there were 1034 (72.56%) abnormal Pap smears, with 354 (24.84%) normal cases and 37 (2.59%) unsatisfactory or inadequate samples. Total 27 (1.89%) cases showed epithelial cell abnormalities. ASCUS was the most commonly found (40.74%) epithelial cell abnormality out of 27 cases.Conclusions: Incidence of invasive cervical malignancy can be prevented if Pap screening program is effectively implemented in target population

Toxicity of conventonal insecticides to fourth instar larvae of tobaccocaterpillar, Spodoptera litura (Fab.) in different generations

Studies on development of resistance in tobacco caterpillar against some insecticides were carried out in the laboratory, Division of Entomology, Udheywalla, Jammu. The differential susceptibility level of parental and susceptible strains of tobacco caterpillar to conventional insecticides revealed that the level of susceptibility in 4th instar larvae of this insect has decreased considerably in parental strain as compared to recommended concentrations of insecticides. The highest resistance factor of 9.33 was observed with monocrotophos whereas malathion encountered lowest resistance factor of 1.50. Comparison of the LC50 values obtained in succeeding generations with the 1st generation in 4th instar larvae of S. litura revealed that the resistance developed in an increasing order in all the six generations. The resistance ratio in the 6th generation as compared to the 1st generation was 3.97- fold in endosulfan, 3.11 in malathion and 3.45 in carbaryl

A review on biomass-derived materials and their applications as corrosion inhibitors, catalysts, food and drug delivery agents

Owing to the overconsumption of petroleum-based resources and growing demand for fossil-based fuels and chemicals, it has become imperative to adopt alternative resources that are renewable. With the availability of biomass, it is believed that this technology has the capability to valorize waste into wealth. Recently, efficient utilization of plant biomass, a chief renewable resource, has gained tremendous attention in research as it offers distinct social, economic, and sustainable benefits. The present review focuses on the various biomass from waste resources. Subsequently, the applications of these polymeric biomass composites are reviewed in catalysis, drug delivery, and food applications. Finally, corrosion studies along with DFT calculations and theoretical aspects have also been reviewed. Naturally occurring carbohydrate polymers found in lignocellulosic biomass are biopolymers have been used for various physical and chemical applications; as catalyst, coatings, drug delivery, corrosion inhibitors etc. This review reports these material applications of carbohydrate polymers. In this review, we focus on new and emerging applications of polymers from lignocellulosic biomass

An examination of the relationship of governance structure and performance: Evidence from banking companies in Bangladesh

Corporate governance has become increasingly important in developed and developing countries just after a series of corporate scandals and failures in a number of countries. Corporate governance structure is often viewed as a means of corporate success despite prior studies reveal mixed, somewhere conflicting and ambiguous, and somewhere no relationship between governance structure and performance. This study empirically investigates the relationship between corporate governance mechanisms and financial performance of listed banking companies in Bangladesh by using two multiple regression models. The study reveals that a good number of companies do not comply with the regulatory requirements indicating remarkable shortfall in corporate governance practice. The companies are run by the professional managers having no duality and no ownership interest for which they are compensated by high remuneration to curb agency conflict. Apart from some inconsistent relationship between some corporate variables, the corporate governance mechanisms do not appear to have significant relationship with financial performances. The findings reveal an insignificant negative impact or somewhere no impact of independent directors and non-independent non-executive directors on the level of performance that strongly support the concept that the managers are essentially worthy of trust and earn returns for the owners as claimed by stewardship theory. The study provides support for the view that while much emphasis on corporate governance mechanisms is necessary to safeguard the interest of stakeholders; corporate governance on its own, as a set of codes or standards for corporate conformance, cannot make a company successful. Companies need to balance corporate governance mechanisms with performance by adopting strategic decision and risk management with the efficient utilization of the organization’s resources