Simulating the Effect of the Climate Change, Genotypes and Management on the Productivity of Forage Cowpea in Semi-Arid Regions of India

Climate variability and change due to increase in green house gases concentration and the resultant increase in temperature has led to notable changes in different sectors including water and agriculture which would impact food security (Rai et al., 2014) in many regions of the developing world, which are largely dependent on rainfed and labor intensive agricultural production (Ziervogel and Calder, 2003). Eco-physiological models are widely used especially the potential impacts of climate change (Gitay et al., 2001; White et al., 2011). The cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) is an annual herbaceous legume cultivated for its edible seeds or for fodder. It is an obvious choice for intercropping with forage cereals like sorghum, maize and pearl millet in all growing region of India. The fresh fodder has 15-20 % CP content and being legume it fixes nitrogen in the soil which makes more suitable for rainfed marginal lands. In this context, CROPGRO- model calibrated and validated for forage cowpea and this was employed for assessing the impact of climate change as well as analyzing the climatic risk of forage cow pea production

Impaired neurodevelopmental pathways in autism spectrum disorder: a review of signaling mechanisms and crosstalk.

BackgroundThe development of an autistic brain is a highly complex process as evident from the involvement of various genetic and non-genetic factors in the etiology of the autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Despite being a multifactorial neurodevelopmental disorder, autistic patients display a few key characteristics, such as the impaired social interactions and elevated repetitive behaviors, suggesting the perturbation of specific neuronal circuits resulted from abnormal signaling pathways during brain development in ASD. A comprehensive review for autistic signaling mechanisms and interactions may provide a better understanding of ASD etiology and treatment.Main bodyRecent studies on genetic models and ASD patients with several different mutated genes revealed the dysregulation of several key signaling pathways, such as WNT, BMP, SHH, and retinoic acid (RA) signaling. Although no direct evidence of dysfunctional FGF or TGF-β signaling in ASD has been reported so far, a few examples of indirect evidence can be found. This review article summarizes how various genetic and non-genetic factors which have been reported contributing to ASD interact with WNT, BMP/TGF-β, SHH, FGF, and RA signaling pathways. The autism-associated gene ubiquitin-protein ligase E3A (UBE3A) has been reported to influence WNT, BMP, and RA signaling pathways, suggesting crosstalk between various signaling pathways during autistic brain development. Finally, the article comments on what further studies could be performed to gain deeper insights into the understanding of perturbed signaling pathways in the etiology of ASD.ConclusionThe understanding of mechanisms behind various signaling pathways in the etiology of ASD may help to facilitate the identification of potential therapeutic targets and design of new treatment methods

Nature of Importance of Various Parameters for Ideal Biofuel Crops: Special Reference to Rapeseed Mustard

To increase the performance of diesel engine and environment, the utilization of biofuel as a major source of renewable energy is justified. It is well understood that agri-based biofuel is always also the choice in case of utilization as biofuel because of requirement of processing and threat to food security. Therefore, scope of improvement increases as it is yet to efficiently exploit as major full in the world. There are numerous factors that influence the efficiency of a fuel and its combustion. The physiochemical properties, namely viscosity, surface tension, flash point, latent heat of vaporization, oxidation, etc., allow the fuel to work efficiently during combustion. Thus, interests in biofuels have been increased, and various experimental studies have been developed for diesel engines consisting of methanol and methyl ester of rapeseed oil. In a relevant study, to achieve ideal biofuel, various biotechnological advances at the frontiers of plant science to dissect the underlying traits for identification of fatty acid profile useful for oil production and quality are essential, thereby ensuring food security. The plant-based fuel and its efficient utilization depend upon its oil quality and quantity, which thereby can be evaluated and enhanced by various conventional and nonconventional approaches of engineering and plant sciences

Thanatophoric dysplasia, an enigmatic dilemma: a case report

Thanatophoric dysplasia is a rare, fatal form of skeletal dysplasia that affects fetus in utero. It is characterized by marked underdevelopment of fetal skeleton and short limbs. This disorder can be diagnosed antenatally and the couple should be counselled for termination of pregnancy. 20 years old female came in her second trimester carrying an ultrasound report which showed features of thanatophoric dwarfism. She was advised to terminate her pregnancy but she decided to continue with her pregnancy. She was induced after 40 weeks and she delivered a stillborn baby with dwarf like features, a condition identified as thanatophoric dwarfism. Early diagnosis can be done by ultrasound as early as 13 weeks of gestation and since babies born with thanatophoric dysplasia have a very poor prognosis, couples should be counselled regarding early termination of pregnancy. 3D ultrasound scan and molecular analysis can also help identify this disorder

Neodymium Isotope Constraints on the Origin of TTGs and High-K Granitoids in the Bundelkhand Craton, Central India : Implications for Archaean Crustal Evolution

The Bundelkhand craton in central India consists mainly of abundant high-K granitoids formed at the Archaean-Proterozoic boundary and several enclosed rafts of TTGs (tonalite-trondhjemite-granodiorites) up to 3.5 Ga. Therefore, the Bundelkhand craton is a key locality for studies on Archaean crustal growth and the emergence of multisource granitoid batholiths that stabilised a supercontinent at 2.5 Ga. Based on their geochemical characteristics, the high-K granitoids are divided into low silica-high Mg (sanukitoids and hybrids) and high silica-low Mg (anatectic) groups. We aim to provide new insights into the role of juvenile versus crustal sources in the evolution of the TTG, sanukitoid, hybrid, and anatectic granitoids of the Bundelkhand craton by comparing their key geochemical signatures with new Nd isotope evidence on crustal contributions and residence times. The ages and geochemical signatures as well as epsilon Nd(t) values and Nd model ages of TTGs point towards partial melting of a juvenile or short-lived mafic crust at different depths. Paleoarchaean TTGs show short crustal residence times and contributions from the newly formed crust, whereas Neoarchaean TTGs have long crustal residence times and contributions from the Paleoarchaean crust. This may reflect the transition from melting in a primitive oceanic plateau (3.4-3.2 Ga) in plume settings, resulting in a Paleoarchaean protocontinent, to 2.7 Ga subduction and island arc accretion along the protocontinent. The 2.5 Ga high-K granitoids formed at convergent subduction settings by partial melting of the mantle wedge and preexisting crust. Sanukitoids and hybrid granitoids originated in the mantle, the latter showing stronger crustal contributions, whereas abundant anatectic granitoids were products of pure crustal melting. Our Nd data and geochemical signatures support a change from early mafic sources to strong crust-mantle interactions towards the A-P boundary, probably reflecting the onset of supercontinent cycles.Peer reviewe

Sustainable Production of Guava Based Hortipasture System with Different In-Situ Soil and Moisture Conservation in Semi-Arid Region of India

In India, about 60 % of net sown area is rainfed, contributing 40 % of the total food production; it supports 40% of human and 60% of livestock population. Under such situation, incorporation of fruit trees along with animal husbandry in common farming system is advisable to improve income and nutritional security of the farmers. Horti- pasture system is the most ideal strategy to provide food, nutrition and income security to the people living in rainfed areas. System is socially accepted, ecologically feasible and economically viable for this region (Singh, 1996; Sharma, 2004; Kumar and Chaubey, 2008). Guava (Psidium guajava L.), is one of the most common and nutritious and hardy fruits of India, can thrive on all types of soil from alluvial to lateritic with pH value as low as 4.5 and on limestone with a value up to 8.2. It occupies about 1, 15,000-1, 62000 ha area in the country (Shikhamany, 2004). Two new cultivars viz., Lalit (CISH-G-3) and Shweta (CISH-G-4) were taken in this experiment. Stylosanthes hamata (Caribbean stylo) is an important range legume for semiarid region (Chandra et al., 2006). Similarly Cenchrus ciliaris (Buffel grass) is most suitable species for arid and semiarid region with rainfall range from 125-1250 mm (Trivedi, 2010). Establishment of hortipasture system is quite difficult task in rainfed region because of moisture stress. Providing regular irrigation is neither practically possible nor economical in rainfed region. Harvesting of rainwater and in-situ moisture conservation is only viable alternative to artificial irrigation. Shaping the surface in the immediate vicinity of the trees so that runoff collects at the root zone can enhance availability of moisture for long duration (Samra, 2010). Keeping these facts in view an experiment was conducted to sustain the productivity of guava based hortipastoral system with different in-situ soil and moisture conservation measures under rainfed situations

Tracing the Vedic Saraswati River in the Great Rann of Kachchh

© The Author(s), 2017. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. The definitive version was published in Scientific Reports 7 (2017): 5476, doi:10.1038/s41598-017-05745-8.The lost Saraswati River mentioned in the ancient Indian tradition is postulated to have flown independently of the Indus River into the Arabian Sea, perhaps along courses of now defunct rivers such as Ghaggar, Hakra and Nara. The persistence of such a river during the Harappan Bronze Age and the Iron Age Vedic period is strongly debated. We drilled in the Great Rann of Kachchh (Kutch), an infilled gulf of the Arabian Sea, which must have received input from the Saraswati, if active. Nd and Sr isotopic measurements suggest that a distinct source may have been present before 10 ka. Later in Holocene, under a drying climate, sediments from the Thar Desert probably choked the signature of an independent Saraswati-like river. Alternatively, without excluding a Saraswati-like secondary source, the Indus and the Thar were the dominant sources throughout the post-glacial history of the GRK. Indus-derived sediment accelerated the infilling of GRK after ~6 ka when the Indus delta started to grow. Until its complete infilling few centuries ago, freshwater input from the Indus, and perhaps from the Ghaggar-Hakra-Nara, probably sustained a productive marine environment as well as navigability toward old coastal Harappan and historic towns in the region.The drilling effort and subsequent study of the cores was funded by Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India sponsored research project to DMM (Project No. SR/S4/ES-21/Kachchh Window/P1) under the science of Shallow Subsurface Programme (SSS). N. Khonde gratefully acknowledges Indo-US Post-doctoral Fellowship sponsored by SERB-IUSSTF for research work at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Unusual reverse face-to-face stacking in propylene linked pyrazole system: perspective of organic materials

Flexible dimers 1, 2, and 3 of ‘‘pyrazole’’ derivatives linked with propylene spacer are synthesized and conformational stability in solid, solution, and gaseous states is studied through single crystal X-ray diffraction, 2D NOESY ,and DFT, respectively. The folded conformation of compound 2 is stable in all three states and X-ray diffraction evince that molecule is intramolecularly stacked in reverse face-to-face manner. TEM image of compound 2 exhibits rigid hollow nanospikes with high tendency to form agglomerates

Emergence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) COVID-19 and approach of AYUSH systems of medicine towards its prevention and management

SARS-CoV-2/novel coronavirus is a fresh virus strain that was first detected in the city of Wuhan located at Hubei province of China in December, 2019. Within a couple of months the virus has spread rapidly to different geographical regions through human transmission leading to serious disease burden worldwide. Although research is under progress to develop effective vaccine and drugs for the disease, a unified approach between conventional and traditional medicine system may prove to be beneficial in early prevention and management of the disease. Joint efforts are being put up at global scientific community level to enhance the research on advancement of meticulous diagnostics, antiviral measures and finally leading to development of an effective vaccine against the novel coronavirus. Some basic and safe measures from AYUSH systems of medicine have also been advocated for prophylaxis and treatment of COVID-19 which can be used independently or with integrated approach. The rationale of this review paper is to provide the details regarding disease spectrum, modes of transmission, social & economic consequences, and role of AYUSH systems of medicine in prevention and management of COVID-19. Based on the signs and symptoms of COVID-19, list of herbs and drugs of AYUSH systems of medicine were also searched and are being reported here

Perspectives of traditional health care system of Sikkim, North-East India – Anethno-pharmacological survey and analysis

The Indo-Himalayan mountain state of Sikkim has abundant reserves of bio-diversity of ancient ancestry. Many folklore healers renowned in Sikkim for their valuable traditional knowledge, especially for the use of combination drug therapy to treat bone fracture. In the cross-cultural ethnopharmacological survey, a predesigned questionnaire was used for interviews at the residence of respective folklore healers. Their patient handling and preparations of formulations have documented in written and audio-visual format. The standard statistical indices selected relevant for the present study. The record of traditional knowledge on 193 different formulations used for 49 various human ailments has enumerated during this survey. A total of 121 plants belonging to 65 families were found to be used as a component for 193 formulations. Graphical representation of the frequency of citation, especially survey and reference data shown significant correlation indicating common and specific use of plants in the treatment of different diseases. The scientific research on medicinal plants used by traditional practitioners and the application of ethnobotanical products in the folklore healthcare system significantly help in the sustainable development of traditional healthcare practices of the region. For the research fraternity, the quantitative analysis of survey data is gaining wider acceptability due to relative importance