Isolation, identification of Phytophthora nicotianae var. parasitica and screening of tomato parental lines for buckeye rot resistance

Buckeye rot disease of tomato which is one of the most devastating diseases of tomato crop is caused by soil born fungus Phytophthora nicotianae var. parasitica. In present study, the pathogen was isolated, morphologically identified and its pathogenicity was proved on susceptible commercial variety Solan Lalima and resistant line EC-251649 of tomato. Isolation of pathogen from the infected tomato fruit was achieved on Corn Meal Agar (CMA) out of two different media viz., Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) and CMA. Fungal inoculum was prepared on Corn Meal broth. Inoculation with 10 ml of inoculum was found optimum in plant parts namely, stem, leaves and fruits. Parental lines were inoculated to test their disease reaction to buckeye rot. Symptoms of infection appeared on leaves and fruits only. Solan Lalima was found to be highly susceptible to with disease severity of 92 % and 100 % disease incidence, while EC-251649 was found moderately resistant on the basis of 16 % disease severity and 10 % disease incidence to the disease. After confirmation of resistance and susceptibility, the parental lines were surveyed for polymorphism using 42 primers and 32 were recorded to be polymorphic revealing that the differences are present at DNA level also. This is the very first study which evaluated parental lines for buckeye rot disease reaction on morphological as well as molecular basis. These lines will be further used for quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis/gene tagging for buckeye rot and marker assisted selection to provide improved varieties to the farmers

Comparative genomics exploration tools

Comparative Genomics focuses on elucidating the genetic differences between different species or different strains of the same species by the comparative analysis of DNA sequences to identify functional elements and regulatory regions. This thesis describes the design and development of two software tools to support comparative genomics research. These tools were specifically developed to support the analysis and assembly of sequence data produced from innovative new DNA sequencing technology from 454 Life Sciences using the PicoTiterPlate(TM) device. This technology will dramatically affect comparative genomics research. Currently available software tools were developed to handle traditional shotgun sequences averaging 500-1000 base pairs in length. These tools are inadequate to handle the unique characteristics of sequence reads generated by 454 Life Sciences. The goal of this research is to adapt currently available tools and develop new tools to be used for sequence reads generated by any sequencing technology, even those having different characteristics from the traditional shotgun sequences

An analysis of financial performance of State Road Transport Corporation in Gujarat

As, GSRTC offers passenger transport services, the efficiency lies in providing qualitative services in terms of safety and punctuality. The prime resource of GSRTC is its buses, so the proper upkeep and effective utilization of vehicles and efficiency in operations will increase revenue and control the cost of operations. Unfortunately, more than 52 per cent (as on 31st March 2008) of the fleet owned by GSRTC are over aged and due for replacement. However, scarcity of funds restricted the replacement of these vehicles. Aged fleet needs more resources (man and material) to operate, slow down operations due to frequent break-downs and reduced trips than planned. Consequently, number of passengers and employee and vehicle utilization goes down and as such, increased cost of operations and decreased profit together contributes to financial weakness of GSRTC. The GSRTC will have to compete with the private sector even though the former may continue to play a dominant role in terms of social obligations. The research is focused on financial analysis Gujarat State Road Transport. The research has its own findings and ended with fruitful suggestions

Profile and compliance of recipients of injection depot medroxy progesterone acetate as a contraceptive method in the government tertiary care hospital in Mandya, South Karnataka, India

Background: The advanced contraceptive devices available nowadays have minimal side effects and utmost efficacy. The use of safe and effective contraception is the need of the hour in India. Inj. Depot medroxy progesterone (DMPA) has been found to provide effective, long acting and reversible contraception in lactating mother and post-abortal patients. Objective of this study was to describe the profile of women utilizing inj. DMPA as a contraceptive, to determine its compliance and to assess the factors affecting discontinuation of inj. DMPA (Anthara) at the government tertiary care institute in Mandya.Methods: The present study was a record-based study of 18 months (January 2018 to June 2019). The records of 266 women who utilized inj. DMPA as contraception in our institution was analysed.Results: It was observed that out of 266 women 48.5% were from age group of 21-25 years and 64.3% were primipara. Most of the women who initiated inj. DMPA (Anthara) were in the lactational period (56.0%). Most common side effect was irregular bleeding (54.8%). Discontinuation rate was 55.6% after first injection and 16.9% after second injection and gradually reduced with subsequent injections. The most common reason for discontinuation was irregular spotting per vagina (53.9%).Conclusions: Inj. DMPA is a safe, effective, long acting contraceptive taken once in three months. Many women in early reproductive age and lactational period are using inj. DMPA (Anthara) for contraception because of its convenience of dosing and is easily made available at government health care centres free of cost and has no effect on lactation. Discontinuation rate can be reduced by proper counselling

Stagnation Point Flow of Non-Newtonian Fluid and Heat Transfer over a Stretching/Shrinking Sheet in a Porous Medium

The Study of stagnation Point flow and heat transfer Phenomena is considered in this paper. We used suitable similarity transformation to reduce governing partial differential equations into ordinary differential equations. These equation are non-linear differential equations which are solved numerically using Runge Kutta Fourth order method with efficient  shooting technique .The flow and temperature behaviour are analysed through graphs .The numerical values  of skin friction  coefficient and Local Nusselt are calculated, tabulated   and discussed. Keywords: Casson Fluid, Stagnation point flow, Heat transfer, Shrinking/streaching sheet, Skin Friction coefficient, Porous medium

Efficacy and safety of oral mifepristone on preinduction cervical ripening at term pregnancy prospective randomized control study

Background: Cervical ripening is important prerequisite for induction of labour, induction is indicated when it is advantageous to mother and fetus. Successful induction of labour decreases caesarean rate. Beyond term pregnancy there will be placental insufficiency, it leads to complications such as oligohydramnios thereby cord compression, birth asphyxia, increased incidence of operative delivery. Induction at term pregnancy has the potential to improve the neonatal outcomes. Aim was to study the efficacy and safety of oral mifepristone on cervical ripening prior to induction of labor at term pregnancy and to compare the feto maternal outcome with control group. Methods: Total 112 pregnant women at term pregnancy, where pregnancy can be continued for another 48 hours with bishop score 4 or less were selected. Sample was equally divided into study group (56 women) to receive 200mg mifepristone and control Group group (56 women) to receive placebo orally. Bishop score was assessed at 24hours and 48hours. In women who did not enter labor spontaneously other modes of induction was done. Results: There is significant improvement in bishop score at 24 hr and 48hr in study group p value 0.001, 80.35% women in study group and 50 % women in control group delivered vaginally. 33.9% women of study group and 10.7% women of control group delivered spontaneously. Requirement of PGE2 gel and oxytocin was significantly lesser in study group, there was no significant adverse effect seen on mother and newborn compared to control group. Conclusions: Cervical ripening with mifepristone prior to induction of labour at term improves bishop score and decreases rate of failed induction and cesarean section rate, with good neonatal outcome

An Empirical Analysis of Payment Card Usage in India

A paradigm shift in the modus operandi of commerce across the globe has been significantly influenced by the payment card industry with brisk strides in digital technology. The blooming payment card industry has escorted the prosperity in economic growth of most of the countries. Besides, there exists a divergent level in subsuming card payment by different countries due to distinct social, economic and cultural background. In India, excessive use cash payments are due to offbeat business models and varied distinction in literacy levels. This paper aims to analyse outstanding payment cards in India by examining the number of cards in operation and the value of transaction in the past decade. Data from RBI source is collected to analyse for a period of eight years (2011-2019). The research finds that credit card penetration has increased by threefold with average growth of 15% YoY and debit cards increased by more than threefold with average growth of 19% YoY during the period of analysis. Yet, asymmetry between debit cards holders and credit card holders exists in India indicating credit card is still niche product. This provides platform for the payment card industry to unleash the potential to tap market in India

Influence of Bi Concentration on Major Physical Parameters of Ge14BixSe76-xTe10 Based Chalcogenide Glasses

The investigation of some useful properties of chalcogenide glasses with respect to composition has been increased in recent years for characterization and improvement of the properties of chalcogenide glasses and the materials exhibiting particularly the switching phenomenon ever since reversible switching phenomenon in certain types of chalcogenide glasses was first reported. In the present article, the influence of varying the bismuth content on the physical parameters has been studied theoretically for Ge14 Bix Se76-x Te10 (x = 1.5, 4.5, 7.5, 10.5, 13.5, 16.5, 19.5, 22.5 at. %) based chalcogenide glasses. The variation in glass transition temperature has been studied using two approaches, namely the Tichy – Ticha approach and Lankhorst approaches. The smooth variation of almost all parameters, studied here, indicates the suitability of this combination for phase change optical recording and finds valuable applications in rewritable optical recording

The oral microbiome and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Significant evidence supports an association between periodontal pathogenic bacteria and preterm birth and preeclampsia. The virulence properties assigned to specific oral pathogenic bacteria, for example, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Filifactor alocis, Campylobacter rectus, and others, render them as potential collaborators in adverse outcomes of pregnancy. Several pathways have been suggested for this association: 1) hematogenous spread (bacteremia) of periodontal pathogens; 2) hematogenous spread of multiple mediators of inflammation that are generated by the host and/or fetal immune response to pathogenic bacteria; and 3) the possibility of oral microbial pathogen transmission, with subsequent colonization, in the vaginal microbiome resulting from sexual practices. As periodontal disease is, for the most part, preventable, the medical and dental public health communities can address intervention strategies to control oral inflammatory disease, lessen the systemic inflammatory burden, and ultimately reduce the potential for adverse pregnancy outcomes. This article reviews the oral, vaginal, and placental microbiomes, considers their potential impact on preterm labor, and the future research needed to confirm or refute this relationship