Effect of Crop Establishment Methods on Crop Yield, Weed Dynamics, Profitability and Nutrient Uptake Under Rice-Wheat Cropping System of Indo-Gangetic Plains of Eastern India

The rice–wheat cropping system covering 13.5 million ha in the Indo-Gangetic Plains in South-Asia is vital for food security. Water, energy and labour scarcity, increasing cost of production, diminishing farm profit and the changing climate are major challenges faced by the farmers under intensive tillage based conventional practices. In a field study, we evaluated productivity, weed dynamics, nutrient uptake and economical profitability of four wheat establishment methods during two years. The wheat establishment methods included zero-till wheat (ZTW), happy seeder planted wheat (HSW), bed planted wheat (BPW) and conventional till wheat (CTW). The treatments were completely randomized and replicated five times. Wheat grain yield under HSW was 3.4% and 4.1% higher than BPW, 8.3% and 11.0% higher than ZTW and 20.8% and 24.5% higher than CTW in 2012-13 and 2013-14, respectively. Nutrient (N, P and K) uptake in wheat grain was also higher in HSW than in the other treatments. Weed density and biomass was the lowest under HSW followed by BPT, and the highest in CTW. The weed pressure was reduced in the second growing season compared to the first. Net profit and benefit cost ratio was highest under HSW and the lowest under CTW. This record was migrated from the OpenDepot repository service in June, 2017 before shutting down

Role of Anti-MICA Antibodies in Graft Survival of Renal Transplant Recipients of India

Introduction. The MIC (MHC class I chain-related) genes are a group of nonclassical MHC genes, located in the MHC class 1 region of chromosome 6. The aim of the present study was to find the prevalence of MHC class 1 chain-related (MICA) alloantibodies in patients undergoing live-related donor renal transplantation and its role in short-term graft survival. The role of blood transfusion in the formation of these antibodies was also studied. Materials and Methods. Pretransplant samples of patients undergoing renal allograft transplantation were tested for anti-MICA antibodies. Association of various demographics, HLA-A + B + DRB1 mismatches, anti-HLA antibody screen, and anti-MICA antibodies was assessed using Pearson’s chi-square test. Results. Out of 646 serum samples, 94 (14.6%) were positive and 552 (85.4%) were negative for anti-MICA antibodies. Patients with anti-MICA antibody had a graft survival 89.3% as compared to 94.7% in patients without anti-MICA antibody (P0.05). Conclusion. Preformed MICA antibodies independently increase the risk of kidney rejection and therefore recommend that guidelines should be formed for mandatory testing of these antibodies prior to renal transplant

Role of Anti-MICA Antibodies in Graft Survival of Renal Transplant Recipients of India

Introduction. The MIC (MHC class I chain-related) genes are a group of nonclassical MHC genes, located in the MHC class 1 region of chromosome 6. The aim of the present study was to find the prevalence of MHC class 1 chain-related (MICA) alloantibodies in patients undergoing live-related donor renal transplantation and its role in short-term graft survival. The role of blood transfusion in the formation of these antibodies was also studied. Materials and Methods. Pretransplant samples of patients undergoing renal allograft transplantation were tested for anti-MICA antibodies. Association of various demographics, HLA-A + B + DRB1 mismatches, anti-HLA antibody screen, and anti-MICA antibodies was assessed using Pearson’s chi-square test. Results. Out of 646 serum samples, 94 (14.6%) were positive and 552 (85.4%) were negative for anti-MICA antibodies. Patients with anti-MICA antibody had a graft survival 89.3% as compared to 94.7% in patients without anti-MICA antibody (P0.05). Conclusion. Preformed MICA antibodies independently increase the risk of kidney rejection and therefore recommend that guidelines should be formed for mandatory testing of these antibodies prior to renal transplant