Geospatial variability of soil and climate on performance of rubber (Hevea brasiliensis Muell. Arg.) in traditional region of India

Natural rubber is grown in traditional region of India in varied soil and climate conditions. Earlier efforts to relate soil-site condition on performance of rubber were based on observation of few locations. Geospatial analysis of soil and climate variation helps to delineate constraint areas for site specific management. Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu and Kasaragod district of Kerala having contrasting soil and climate condition in traditional region of rubber cultivation were selected to study the effect of soil and climate on rubber performance. Soil OC, available P and K in Kanyakumari was in medium range whereas in Kasaragod soil OC was in high range, available P and K in low range. In Kanyakumari district major rubber growing area was under low elevation (0-100 m) and slope below 5-10 per cent compared to low to medium(100-200 m) elevation and slope above 5-10 per cent in Kasaragod. Annual rainfall distributed uniformly in Kanyakumari compared to unimodal rainfall distribution observed in Kasaragod. As a result Moisture Adequacy Index (MAI) in Kanyakumari during December to March was good to poor whereas in Kasaragod it was poor to very poor. Length of growing period was more in Kanyakumari compared to Kasaragod as a result performance of rubber with respect to growth and yield was better in Kanyakumari than Kasaragod. Factor analysis showed that soil health (OC) and cation (Ca and Mg) factors showed significant role in performance of rubber in Kanyakumari, whereas in Kasaragod only topographic factors i.e., elevation showed significant role in rubber performance

Analysis of Profitability of Commercial Dog Breeding Ventures in Thrissur and Ernakulam Districts of Kerala

Kerala's commercial dog breeding enterprise is a promising one with the potential to reduceyouth unemployment and provide a livelihood. However, the state lacks authentic information on factors affecting profitability of commercial dog breeding business. The present study was conducted to identify the association between factors that affect profitability of commercial dog breeding in Kerala. The study was conducted using an ex-post facto research design on 60 commercial dog breeding units selected randomly from Thrissur and Ernakulam districts of Kerala.Data collection was done using a pretested-structured interview schedule. Study revealed that years of experience, number of dogs reared, number of puppies born, cost of veterinary care, level of adoption and labour cost were correlated with profitability of commercial dog breeding enterprise

HISTOPATHOLOGICAL AND IMMUNO-HISTOCHEMICAL EVALUATION OF MALE AND FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEMS OF PORCINE CIRCOVIRUS-2 INFECTED PIGS

Porcine Circovirus-2 (PCV-2) is an emerging swine infection responsible for significant financial losses in the global swine industry. It has a significant negative impact on reproductive performance causing abortion, stillbirth, and other anomalies. As there is limited knowledge related to the histopathology of male and female reproductive systems in PCV-2 infected pigs, the current study was designed. Swine carcasses presented for post-mortem examination with a history of respiratory distress, anorexia, diarrhoea, wasting, and paleness of the skin collected from mid of 2021 to mid of 2022 from different parts of Kerala, India, were utilised in this study. The samples were initially screened with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and were subjected to gross and histopathological studies. Out of 65 collected samples, 10 were positive for PCV-2 by PCR. The positive sample carcasses were emaciated, had poor body condition with visible bony prominences, decreased back fat thickness, rough, long hair coat, and sunken eyes. Mild oedema and congestion were seen in the testes, epididymis, and vas deferens of the male reproductive system and on accessory reproductive glands such as the bulbourethral gland, prostate gland, and seminal vesicle. In the female reproductive system, the ovary, oviduct, and uterus had mild congestion and oedema in most cases. Histopathology of the male reproductive system revealed mild degenerative changes, haemorrhage, and congestion in all cases. The vasa deferentia showed a loss of cilia in the pseudostratified columnar epithelium. The female reproductive organs had congestion, degenerative changes, and infiltration of mononuclear cells. For further confirmation, localisation of PCV-2 antigen was done in reproductive organs with immunohistochemistry (IHC). History, gross, histopathological findings, and PCR in combination with IHC highlight the pathologic effects of PCV-2 on reproductive organs in infected pigs

AN EMPIRICAL STUDY ON LEARNING ORGANIZATION PRACTICES IN TAMIL NADU NEWSPRINT AND PAPERS LIMITED (TNPL), KARUR DISTRICT

ABSTRACT This paper reviews the conceptual framework of learning organization, and identifies the concept and practices of learning organization in TNPL. In line with current industrial contexts, this paper tentatively explains the concept of learning organization

Endoplasmic reticulum stress is involved in cardiac damage and vascular endothelial dysfunction in hypertensive mice

International audienceOBJECTIVE: Cardiac damage and vascular dysfunction are major causes of morbidity and mortality in hypertension. In the present study, we explored the beneficial therapeutic effect of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress inhibition on cardiac damage and vascular dysfunction in hypertension. METHODS AND RESULTS: Mice were infused with angiotensin II (400 ng/kg per minute) with or without ER stress inhibitors (taurine-conjugated ursodeoxycholic acid and 4-phenylbutyric acid) for 2 weeks. Mice infused with angiotensin II displayed an increase in blood pressure, cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis associated with enhanced collagen I content, transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) activity, and ER stress markers, which were blunted after ER stress inhibition. Hypertension induced ER stress in aorta and mesenteric resistance arteries (MRA), enhanced TGF-beta1 activity in aorta but not in MRA, and reduced endothelial NO synthase phosphorylation and endothelium-dependent relaxation (EDR) in aorta and MRA. The inhibition of ER stress significantly reduced TGF-beta1 activity, enhanced endothelial NO synthase phosphorylation, and improved EDR. The inhibition of TGF-beta1 pathway improved EDR in aorta but not in MRA, whereas the reduction in reactive oxygen species levels ameliorated EDR in MRA only. Infusion of tunicamycin in control mice induced ER stress in aorta and MRA, and reduced EDR by a TGF-beta1-dependent mechanism in aorta and reactive oxygen species-dependent mechanism in MRA. CONCLUSIONS: ER stress inhibition reduces cardiac damage and improves vascular function in hypertension. Therefore, ER stress could be a potential target for cardiovascular diseases.</p

Automatic Color Sorting Machine Using TCS230 Color Sensor And PIC Microcontroller

Sorting of products is a very difficult industrial process. Continuous manual sorting creates consistency issues. This paper describes a working prototype designed for automatic sorting of objects based on the color. TCS230 sensor was used to detect the color of the product and the PIC16F628A microcontroller was used to control the overall process. The identification of the color is based on the frequency analysis of the output of TCS230 sensor. Two conveyor belts were used, each controlled by separate DC motors. The first belt is for placing the product to be analyzed by the color sensor, and the second belt is for moving the container, having separated compartments, in order to separate the products. The experimental results promise that the prototype will fulfill the needs for higher production and precise quality in the field of automation

Increasing binding of a transcription factor immediately downstream of the cap site of a cytomegalovirus gene represses expression.

A closely related family of ubiquitous DNA binding proteins, called MDBP, binds with high affinity to two 14 base pair (bp) sites within the human cytomegalovirus immediate early gene 1 (CMV IE1) enhancer and with low affinity to one site beginning 5 bp downstream of the CMV IE1 transcription start point (+5 site). Unlike several cap position downstream MDBP sites in mammalian genes, these MDBP sites do not require cytosine methylation for optimal binding. Mutation of one of the enhancer MDBP sites to prevent MDBP recognition modestly increased the function of a neighboring CREB binding site in a transient transfection assay in the context of one promoter construct. A much larger effect on reporter gene expression (a 10-fold reduction) was seen when the low affinity MDBP recognition sequence at position +5 was converted to a high affinity site in a plasmid containing the CMV IE1 promoter upstream of the reporter gene. Evidence that the increased binding of MDBP at the mutant site is largely responsible for the observed results was provided by transfection experiments with this high affinity MDBP +5 site re-mutated to a non-binding site and by in vitro transcription assay