Effect of milling speed on the quality and storage stability of maize flour

This work was undertaken to evaluate the effect of milling speed on the quality and shelf life of maize flour. Maize flour was prepared using low speed mini flour mill at 75 and 115 rpm and the results were compared with the flour prepared by commercial flour mill on the basis of recovery of flour, rise in temperature of flour, time taken, particle size distribution and changes in different quality parameters during storage. It was observed from the analysis that the recovery of flour was highest (95.26%) at 75 rpm speed although the time taken was more i.e. 27.27 minutes, but the rise in temperature during milling was very less (12.240C) as compared to commercial mill the temperature rose up to 31.120C. It was noted that the maize flour prepared at low speed was light yellow in color as compared to higher rpm which was dark yellow. The maize flour prepared at 75 rpm can be stored in low density polyethylene LDPE packaging material of (200 gauge) for two months without change in quality parameters. It was observed that the moisture content, protein content, fat content, alcoholic acidity and carbohydrates was significantly affected by storage time, packaging material and milling speed at P<0.05. Therefore, at low speed the storage stability as well as nutritional properties of the flour can be enhanced. The improved shelf life of flour can result in better marketability

Taxonomic revision of the Genus Pieris Schrank (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) from India

The genus Pieris Schrank popularly called as garden whites are economically important species of family Pireridae, comprise 35 species world over and in India is represented by nine species. In the present manuscript, six species of genus Pieris Schrank i.e., i.e. P. brassicae (Linnaeus), P. canidia (Linnaeus),  P. deota (de Niceville),  P. extensa  Poujade, P. melete Menetries and P. rapae (Linnaeus) have been treated taxonomically from India. Besides studying morphological characters, their male and female genitalia have been described in details and illustrated for the first time. The diagnosis of the genus and key to species has been updated using genitalic attributes. In the study of genitalia, it has been observed that in the male genitalia of the genus Pieris the uncus is undivided and aedeagus is short and thick, whereas in the female genitalia the signum is bifid and appendix bursae are well developed. In the present work, the male genitalia of scheduled species P. deota has been studied and illustrated for the first time. The male and female genitalia of dry season forms and wet season forms of species P. melete, and the subspecies and polymorphic forms of species P. canidia have been studied and compared. It has been observed that in all forms there were no genitalic variations within the species

Conservation Agriculture and Scale of Appropriate Agricultural Mechanization in Smallholder Systems

This manual has focused on the need to amplify and accelerate adoption of conservation agriculture (CA) practices that enable productivity increases on a sustainable basis. The development of the training manual on ‘Conservation Agriculture and Scale Appropriate Agricultural Mechanization in Smallholder Systems’ is an outcome of the series of advanced training programs on Conservation Agriculture over past one decade. The objectives of this training manual are; (1) To foster capacity building of researchers, extension workers, farmers and machinery manufacturers to promote CA in Asia and Africa; and (2) To raise the awareness of policy planners and decision makers to develop a strategic plan for the development of CA and agricultural mechanization in the developing world. There are several initiatives in South Asia and Africa to promote CA practices as environment-friendly and alternative to conventional agriculture. However, little has been done to document the CA practices or even lessons learnt from these initiatives. Farmers today still lack access to information on CA practices. This is a comprehensive manual that explains in a step by step easy to follow manner on how to implement CA by smallholders in Asia and Africa. It explains what CA is, and why it is important, how to use CA principles in the field and highlights the issues and challenges that researchers, farmers, machinery manufacturers and service providers may encounter when they adopt and adapt CA practices. This manual aims to be a valuable reference and is intended for use by researchers, agricultural extension officers/workers, farmers, machinery manufacturers and service providers to promote CA in Asia and Africa for increasing productivity and reducing poverty. It is written in clear, easy-to-understand language, and is illustrated with numerous figures and tables. It is not intended to cover the subject of conservation agriculture comprehensively but to provide an overview of the principles and practices. Indeed, as the training draws from many distinct disciplines, it is unlikely that any one person will have the necessary technical skills to cover the complete course content. Manual also focuses on two crucial aspects: the provision of farm mechanization services as a viable business opportunity for entrepreneurs, and the essential criteria of raising productivity in an environmentally sensitive and responsible way. This manual is also designed to serve as source of information for custom hire service providers – whether already in the business or intending to start their own hire service business – with skills and competencies in both the technical and the management aspects of the small-scale mechanization business. CA to reach smallholder farmers needed the publication of simplified technical manual. This manual contains useful technical information on CA practices that offer practical answers to questions normally asked by farmers of what, why, how

Effect of glycerine and water emulsion of diesel-biodiesel blends on engine performance and emissions with EGR

The globally rising temperatures and its impact on our ecosystem and earth’s natural processes have raised an environmental concern worldwide. The pollution caused due to the burning of fossil fuels has resulted in climate change, thus, compelling the researchers to look for eco-friendly fuels. Biodiesel derived from biomass have emerged recently as a possible fuel due to their role in decreasing CO emissions. However, the excessive production of biodiesel has raised a disposal concern for its by-product glycerine and higher NOx emissions produced through its use has initiated the need to look for other alternative fuels. In the present study, a systematic comparison was performed with multiple blends of diesel-biodiesel and their glycerine emulsions to compare it with water emulsion and investigate the performance and emissions of the related fuels along with the EGR system. All fuel blends and their emulsions were tested on a light-duty and heavy-duty engine. Hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) was formulated using suitable surfactants to attain the desired stability for various emulsion fuels. Emulsion stability, mean particle droplet size, fuel properties, engine performance, and emissions were observed. It was concluded that brake-specific fuel consumption (BSFC) and brake-thermal efficiency (BTE) increased with the increase in biodiesel and water-glycerine concentration. For emissions, the rise in CO and HC were noted but reductions in exhaust gas temperature, smoke and NOx were observed with emulsion fuels without EGR. Also, there was a significant decrease in smoke (approximately 80%) with increased concentration of glycerine at 3000 rpm, at high load. With the use of EGR, an increase in BSFC and decrease in BTE was observed. Additionally, EGR was seen to increase smoke, CO and HC emissions but lowers NOx and exhaust gas temperatures. The reduction of NOx in B100 was 20.41% and 16.39% when compared to water emulsion and glycerine emulsion at 10% concentration without EGR, and this reduction continued to 44.07% and 43.25% at maximum EGR % at 3000 rpm and high load respectively

Economic evaluation of the Happy Seeder for rice-wheat systems in Punjab, India

Burning of rice stubbles is widely practised in Punjab, India, due to a lack of suitable machinery to direct drill wheat into combine-harvested rice residues. Although burning is a rapid and cheap option, and allows quick turn around between crops, it has serious effects on human and animal health due to air pollution, reduced soil fertility due to loss of nutrients and organic matter, and green house gas (GHG) emissions. The recently developed Happy Seeder (HS) overcomes the technical problems associated with direct drilling into rice residues. The primary aim of the present study was to conduct a preliminary evaluation of the direct financial benefits and costs to farmers of use of the HS in comparison with the current practices of straw burning followed by direct drilling or conventional tillage prior to sowing. The results of the evaluation suggest that the HS technology is more profitable than conventional cultivation or direct drilling after burning, and that it is viable for farmers from a financial perspective. The net present value (NPV) of the benefits is highly sensitive to yield; a 5% increase in yield with the HS doubles the increase in NPV of the HS over conventional tillage. The NPV is also quite sensitive to changes in herbicide use, and less sensitive to changes in irrigation water saving and discount rate. Furthermore, there are significant economic, community and environmental benefits through adoption of the technology. For widespread adoption of the technology, a range of potential mechanical, technical, social, institutional and policy constraints need to be considered and addressed in conjunction with a detailed economic assessment of the HS technology

Economic evaluation of the Happy Seeder for rice-wheat systems in Punjab, India

Burning of rice stubbles is widely practised in Punjab, India, due to a lack of suitable machinery to direct drill wheat into combine-harvested rice residues. Although burning is a rapid and cheap option, and allows quick turn around between crops, it has serious effects on human and animal health due to air pollution, reduced soil fertility due to loss of nutrients and organic matter, and green house gas (GHG) emissions. The recently developed Happy Seeder (HS) overcomes the technical problems associated with direct drilling into rice residues. The primary aim of the present study was to conduct a preliminary evaluation of the direct financial benefits and costs to farmers of use of the HS in comparison with the current practices of straw burning followed by direct drilling or conventional tillage prior to sowing. The results of the evaluation suggest that the HS technology is more profitable than conventional cultivation or direct drilling after burning, and that it is viable for farmers from a financial perspective. The net present value (NPV) of the benefits is highly sensitive to yield; a 5% increase in yield with the HS doubles the increase in NPV of the HS over conventional tillage. The NPV is also quite sensitive to changes in herbicide use, and less sensitive to changes in irrigation water saving and discount rate. Furthermore, there are significant economic, community and environmental benefits through adoption of the technology. For widespread adoption of the technology, a range of potential mechanical, technical, social, institutional and policy constraints need to be considered and addressed in conjunction with a detailed economic assessment of the HS technology.Crop Production/Industries, Farm Management,

Hepatitis E virus: A leading cause of waterborne viral hepatitis in Northwest Districts of Punjab, India

BACKGROUND: Acute viral hepatitis (AVH) caused by enterically transmitted hepatitis A virus (HAV) and hepatitis E virus (HEV) poses a major health problem in developing countries such as India. Despite improving sanitation, heath awareness, and socioeconomic conditions, these infections continue to occur both in sporadic as well as in epidemic forms in different parts of India AIMS The aim of this study is to determine the total as well as age-specific prevalence rates of HAV and HEV in the outbreaks of waterborne hepatitis in districts surrounding Amritsar region of Punjab. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted in the Virology Research and Diagnostic Laboratory, Government Medical College, Amritsar, during the study period of January 2015–March 2016. Samples from suspected outbreaks of AVH occurring in various districts around Amritsar were included as a part of the study. A total of 95 sera were tested for IgM antibody to HEV and HAV using IgM capture ELISA kit. RESULTS: Out of the total 95 samples received, 73 samples (76.84%) were positive for HAV/HEV. Out of the total positive cases, 65 (68.42%) had HEV infection, 2 (2.1%) had HAV, and 6 cases (6.31%) were coinfected with both HAV and HEV. The 21–30 years age group (25 cases) was identified as the most susceptible group for HEV infection. The coinfected subjects presented a wider range of age distribution (1–10 years: 1; 11–20 years: 3; 21–30 years: 1; 31–40 years: 1). Seasonal distribution of data revealed bimodal peaks for HEV infection. CONCLUSION: There should be some surveillance system to regularly monitor the portability of drinking water from time to time to avoid such preventable outbreaks in future

Coinfection of chikungunya and dengue viruses: A serological study from North Western region of Punjab, India

INTRODUCTION: Dengue and chikungunya (CHIK) infections appear to be increasing in all parts of India. Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are common vectors for dengue virus (DENV) and CHIK virus (CHIKV). In areas where both viruses cocirculate, they can be transmitted together. There are very few studies discussing the dengue-chik coinfection from Punjab region of India. The present study was undertaken to study the clinical features of dengue–CHIK coinfection and compare with monoinfection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: IgM antibody capture (MAC) ELISA for dengue IgM and CHIK IgM and ELISA for nonstructural protein 1 antigen was performed on serum samples obtained from suspected patients. RESULTS: Out of total 3160 samples from suspected patients for dengue infection, 2178 (68.92%) samples were positive for DENV while CHIK IgM antibodies were positive in 127 patients out of the total suspected 373 cases (34.04%). In addition to this, 283 samples were tested for both viruses, out of which 27 sera were positive (9.54%) for coinfection of dengue and CHIK. The comparison of signs and symptoms showed that the coinfected patients had fever in all cases while rash was seen in only 30% cases. Arthralgia (79%) and thrombocytopenia (77%) was seen in significant number of coinfected cases thus revealing overlapping nature of dengue–CHIK coinfection. Conclusions: Increase in the number of Dengue and Chikungunya infections and their cocirculation is an important public health concern which warrants the implementation of strict control measures

Clinical - epidemiological profile and diagnosis of Influenza A H1N1 cases by real time RTPCR at a tertiary care institute of India: the war is not over yet

Background: Influenza A virus is a common human pathogen that has caused serious respiratory illness and death over the past century. In April 2009, WHO declared pandemic influenza A H1N1 public health emergency of international concern. India is reeling under the worst H1N1 influenza outbreak with over 18,000 affected cases and over 1000 deaths by the year 2015. Methods: The present study was conducted to find the clinical and epidemiological profile of H1N1 influenza A cases and a real time RT-PCR was standardized and evaluated for the detection of H1N1 influenza A virus in suspected cases admitted in a tertiary care hospital of northern India. Results: Of the total 184 clinical samples tested, 48(26.0%) samples were found to be positive for influenza A H1N1 virus by real time RT-PCR. The highest percentage of cases was in the age group of 40-55 years followed by the 20-40 years. The main clinical symptoms were fever(95.8%), breathlessness(77.0%) , cough(68.7%) and sore throat (56.2%).The mortality rate of cases admitted with H1N1 infection was 52.0%. Conclusion: The mutational behavior of H1N1 has been a major future challenge in the part of pharmacotherapy. Rapid and sensitive diagnostic methods like real time RT-PCR increase the capability to detect, understand and assess new viruses for pandemic risk and to track their international spread