Estimation of yield and grain qualities of marker assisted backcross derived lines of submergence rice against sheath blight disease

Sheath blight caused by Rhizoctonia solani is one of the most devastating diseases of rice (Oryza sativa) and causes enormous yield losses over the world after blast, the disease can cause yield loss upto 50 per cent in advanced stage and adversely affects quality of straw. Breeding for resistant varieties is the only viable option to combat the disease efficiently. In this study, our findings showed a significant increase in number of spikelet’s per panicle (3.45 %), test weight (0.62 %) and grain yield (0.72 %) compared to recurrent parent Swarna sub-1. The range of mean performance of 18 BC2F1 selected improved lines varied for per cent disease severity from 26.75 to 43.58 at 16 days after inoculation. Among the 18 improved lines, only four lines (Swarna sub-1-6, Swarna sub-1-32, Swarna sub-1-13 and Swarna sub-1-29) showed resistance score of 1-3. The remaining fourteen lines showed moderate resistance with a score of 3-5. Hence, the resistance line could be exploited in sheath blight resistance breeding programme and the same line can also be released as a variety against sheath blight of rice after testing over multilocation trails

Reflection of P and SV waves at the free surface of a monoclinic elastic half-space

The propagation of plane waves in an anisotropic elastic medium possessing monoclinic symmetry is discussed. The expressions for the phase velocity of qP and qSV waves propagating in the plane of elastic symmetry are obtained in terms of the direction cosines of the propagation vector. It is shown that, in general,qP waves are not longitudinal andqSV waves are not transverse. Pure longitudinal and pure transverse waves can propagate only in certain specific directions. Closed-form expressions for the reflection coefficients of qP and qSV waves incident at the free surface of a homogeneous monoclinic elastic half-space are obtained. These expressions are used for studying numerically the variation of the reflection coefficients with the angle of incidence. The present analysis corrects some fundamental errors appearing in recent papers on the subject

Wnt/Wingless dysregulation in small intestinal adenocarcinoma : Comparison with colorectal carcinoma

Die arretierte Aktivierung des wnt/wingless Signalweges durch eine Mutation ist eine der häufigsten Veränderungen bei intestinalen Karzinomen. Unabhängig von der wnt/wingless Komponente, die von der Mutation betroffen ist, kommt es zu einer Stabilisierung des transkriptionell aktiven wnt/wingless Mediators β-catenin. Die Stablisierung des β-catenin beim Karzinom des Dickdarms beruht in der Regel auf Mutationen des degradierenden APC, dies ist bei Karzinomen des Dünndarms, die ebenfalls eine Stabilisierung des β-catenin aufweisen, nicht der Fall. Ziel dieser Arbeit war zum einen, die Ursache der β-catenin Stabilisierung bei Tumoren ohne APC Mutationen zu identifizieren. Hierzu wurden 20 Adenokarzinome des Dünndarms und 20 früh manifestierte Kolonkarzinome, die ebenfalls häufig keine APC Mutation aufweisen, auf Mutationen im β-catenin Gen (CTNNB1) untersucht. Auf diese Weise fanden wir in beiden untersuchten Gruppen einen ungewöhnlichen Mutationstyp, der zu einem Verlust von Teilen der für die Degradierung des β-catenin essentiellen n-terminalen Domäne führte. Der Umfang der Deletionen war hierbei variabel und hatte einen Einfluß weniger auf die Intensität der β-catenin Stabilisierung als auf die Lokalisation des β-catenin im Zellkern und im Zytoplasma. Darüber hinaus fand sich, daß gleichartige Deletions-Mutanten des β-catenin in Dünn- und Dickdarmkarzinomen zu unterschiedlichen Akkumulations Typen führten. Dies weist auf eine divergente Regulierung des β-catenin in Dünn- und Dickdarmmukosa hin. Um die identifizierten, ungewöhnlichen Deletionsmutanten des β-catenin näher zu charakterisieren und einen Rückschluß auf die Auswirkungen von erweiterten Deletionen, die zusätzlich zu der Degradierungsdomäne noch c-terminal lokalisierte Domänen verloren haben, ziehen zu können, wurden entsprechende Mutanten mit Hilfe der „PCR-driven overlap extension“ Methode generiert und in die Zellkulturen SW480 (Kolonkarzinomzelllinie) und MDCK (Nierenepithel Zelllinie) transfiziert. Die Ergebnisse für die Deletionsmutanten wurden mit denen von Punktmutationen an Phosphorylierungsstellen der Degaradationsbox des β-catenin verglichen. Hierbei zeigte sich, daß das Akkumulationsverhalten von β-catenin im Zellkulturmodell den Befunden in den humanen Tumoren durchaus vergleichbar ist. In der Zelllinie SW480, die bereits eine APC Mutation besitzt, führte die Transfektion jedoch zur Apoptose. Dies ist ein Hinweis für einen negativen Seletionsdruck einer zu starken β-catenin Akkumulation und erklärt, warum tumorassoziierte Mutationen entweder im APC oder im β-catenin, niemals aber in beiden Molekülen gleichzeitig gefunden werden. In der MDCK Zelllinie hingegen, einer Zelllinie ohne β-catenin oder APC Mutation, zeigte sich eine onkogene Wirkung der Transfektion der Mutanten. Diese ließ sich einerseits in Form einer erhöhten Proliferation nachweisen, andererseits fanden sich phenotypische Zellveränderungen die unter dem Begriff des „metastasierungsfähigen Phänotyps“ summiert werden. Die onkogenen Veränderungen zeigten sich jedoch in gleicher Weise für Deletionsmutanten und Punktmutationen des β-catenin, so dass eine höhere onkogene Potenz von Deletionsmutanten nicht postuliert werden kann. Die Tumordaten und die molekularen Daten weisen jedoch darauf hin, daß funktionelle Unterschiede zwischen den Mutationstypen bestehen und dass eine Ursache für die Häufung der Deletionsmutanten des β-catenin existiert. Zukünftige Analysen der Deletionsmutanten könnten dabei helfen, eine neue, Domänen-abhängige Interaktion des β-catenin aufzudecken

Knowledge on risk factors of uterine prolapse among reproductive age group women of Bajrabarahi Municipality of Lalitpur, Nepal

Background: Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a most common gynecological health problem contributing to maternal morbidity and mortality among women of reproductive age in developing countries. In Nepal prevalence of uterus prolapse among reproductive age women is around 17-27%. Still large numbers of rural Nepalese women are deprived of access to early diagnosis and quality treatment services related uterus prolapse. The present study was conducted with the aims to assess knowledge on risk factors on uterine prolapse among the reproductive age group of women who have at least one child below five years of age and residing at Bajrabarahi municipality of Lalitpur district.Methods: This is a cross sectional descriptive study. Total 185 individuals were randomly selected from the list of safe motherhood register book of Bajrabarahi municipality for the interview. Semi-structured questionnaire was used as tools to collect data from study participants. Data collected was entered in Epi-data and data analysis was done using SPSS 16.0 version. Bivariate analysis was done using Chi-Square test to find the association between the selected variables of the study.Results: The study results shows that out of total 46.5% of respondents have adequate knowledge and 53.5% of respondents have inadequate knowledge regarding risk factors of uterus prolapse. The study results explicitly reflects the knowledge on risk factors of uterus prolapse is significantly associated with the age of respondent (p=0.021), age at marriage of respondents (p=0.011), education status of respondents (p=0.001) and age at first child birth of respondent (p=0.001).Conclusions: Though majority of respondents have heard about uterus prolapse, very few participants have in-depth or adequate knowledge about risk factors of uterus prolapse. Still extensive efforts of government and non-government organizations are essential to improve maternal health status of rural Nepalese women

The study of thyroid profile in abnormal uterine bleeding at tertiary care center, Rajasthan, India

Background: Hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism leads to menstrual irregularities. Females with thyroid gland abnormality have chances of reproductive abnormalities ranging from abnormal sexual development, menstrual irregularities, infertility and premature menopause. The objectives were to study the association between thyroid dysfunction and AUB in the reproductive age group (18-45 years), To study the thyroid abnormalities in different types of AUB in the reproductive age group, to establish if screening for thyroid abnormalities is justified using T3, T4 and TSH.Methods: This cross-sectional study conducted among 250 women with ‘abnormal uterine bleeding’ (AUB). Inclusion criteria for participants were females in the age group of 18-45 years, females presenting with abnormal uterine bleeding, with thyroid dysfunction, females who do not have signs of demonstrable pelvic pathologyincluding PID.Results: Majority of the patients belonged to the age group of 24 - 32 years i.e.56.8%, 9.2% cases were nullipara, 44.0% cases have menorrhagia, 32.2% have oliogomennorrhea, 19.6% have amenorrhea. Around 3.6% had Thyromegaly, 12.4% have weight gain in hypothyroidism, 28.4% have fatigue in hyperthyroidism, 6.8% cases have higher T4 level, 18.0% cases have higher TSH level.Conclusions: The risk of progression to overt hypothyroidism (about 5% per year) in patients with subclinical disease and the cost-benefit ratio also emphasises the need for selective screening. Early detection of subclinical disease by selective screening facilitates appropriate therapy early in the course of the disease

Physico-mechanical flammability and leachability characteristics of fly ash/slag based foamed geo polymer concrete blocks

390-402In-situ foamed geo polymers have been produced from fly ash/slag blend, surfactant, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and sodium silico fluoride in an alkaline medium and evaluated their physico-mechanical, micro structural and fire characteristics as a function of foaming agent. Isothermal calorimetric response has been indicated that the rate of geo polymerization for the foam slurry was ~25% more than its un-foam slurry. An increase of H2O2 from 0.5 to 3 wt% has reduced the compressive strength of foamed geo polymers from 7.2 to 2.45 MPa. As observed in field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), the pores have been spherical ranging in sizes between 42 µm and 585 µm with varying H2O2 dosages. The relationship between the compressive strength and porosity has been in agreement with the exponential model. The thermal conductivity of foamed geo polymers has ~36% less than the commercial cellular concrete at a density of 1000 Kg/m3. Flammability test has shown that the samples belong to D class as per ISO 11925-2 and also exhibiting no support to the fire growth when tested as per BS 476-6. During immersion in water, the alkali leaching (pH 11-12.2) and also the fractional release of Na (22 ppm) and Si (18 ppm) under TCLP test have been observed. Based on the results, the foamed geo polymer blocks have been produced with satisfactory properties as per the requirements of commercial specification of cellular concrete blocks

Dosimetric study of hypo fractionated adjuvant post mastectomy radiotherapy with and without bolus and assessment of acute toxicity of treatment: a single institution study

Background: Moderate hypo fractionated PMRT is convenient for patients and is particularly beneficial in busy radiotherapy department like in developing nations. Furthermore, PMRT can be given with or without bolus as per institution protocol. The purpose of this study was to do dosimetric comparison of with and without bolus plans in patient undergoing hypo fractionated PMRT and to assess acute toxicity of treatment.Methods: Our study is single institution prospective study done at DMCH cancer center Ludhiana, Punjab, India. Study period was from March 2020 to October 2020 and we included post mastectomy patients irradiated by hypo fractionated regime. After CT simulation and contouring, rapid arc radiotherapy plans were evaluated and DVH analysis was done for PTV and OARs. Acute toxicity was assessed during treatment and 1 month post radiotherapy treatment. Ethical approval was not taken due to COVID 19 pandemic emergency, but also hypofractionated PMRT is standard of care. Statistical analysis was done on SPSS, Version 20.0Results: A total of 30 patients were analyzed which received mean PTV dose of 42.3Gy in 16 fractions (8 fractions with and 8 without bolus).We were able to achieve adequate PTV coverage in plan sum which included both bolus and non-bolus plan. However, use of bolus resulted in statistically significant increase in low dose volume mainly V4Gy of ipsilateral lung in left sided breast cancer cases. Despite use of bolus no patient had above grade I skin toxicity.Conclusions: Moderate hypo fractionated PMRT with and without bolus is well tolerated with minimal acute side effects. It is important to note that use of bolus results in higher V4Gy volume of ipsilateral lung more precisely in left side breast cancer cases

Melamine Polyimide Composite Fire Resistant Intumescent Coatings

Components of intumescent coatings acid source, carbon source and blowing agent like melamine linked together by a binder provide cumulative fire retardant properties. When temperature of the coating surface reaches a critical temperature under the heat of flame, the surface begins to melt and is converted into highly viscous liquid. Simultaneously, reactions are initiated that result in the release of inert gases with low thermal conductivity. These gases are trapped inside the viscous fluid forming insulating char. The special composite of melamine polyimide, a C source and melamine a blowing agent showed high performance heat resistance in the present study. Polyimides have excellent heat and chemical resistance, excellent adhesion to a number of substrates and superior mechanical properties, such as high flexural modulus and compressive strength. Polyimides are also known to possess outstanding dimensional stability under loads, which allows their use in high temperature environments. Effect of the monomer on chemical reactivity between the binder and the intumescent additives has been studied by thermo-gravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimeter and FTIR analysis. Thermal insulation studies by various intumescent composite coatings, applied on aluminium plates provided useful time temperature profiles.Defence Science Journal, 2013, 63(4), pp.442-446, DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/dsj.63.487

Evaluation of hematological parameters and platelet yield in voluntary blood donors by plateletpheresis: a one-year study at the blood centre in a teaching hospital

Background: The present study was planned to compare of pre and post donation hematological parameters in healthy donors by plateletpheresis. Also to assess the platelet yield following plateletpheresis procedure with its correlation to pre donation platelet count. Methods: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study carried out in the Blood Centre of a tertiary care hospital in Haryana, India between January to December 2022. Plateletpheresis was done on Trima Accel Automated Collection System with ACD‐A as an anticoagulant. The data was collected from the hospital for hematological parameters (Hb, hematocrit, Total WBC count, total platelet count) pre and post donation. Categorical data is presented as frequency, percentage, mean±SD range. Correlation was established between the pre donation platelet count and the platelet yield. Results: A total of 125 donors were included in the study with majority of the donors 69 (55.2%) in the age group 21-30 years. Mean age of the donors included in the study was 31.58±7.5 years. The levels of hemoglobin dropped from 14.16±0.95 to 13.92±1.002 gm/dl, hematocrit dropped from 41.19±1.33 to 40.91±2.89%, total WBC count reduced from 7.64±1.38 to 7.61±1.36 103/ l and platelet count dropped from 279.5±62.96 to 259.9±58.38 lac/ l. There was a significant drop in the levels of platelet post donation by 7.01% compared to pre donation levels. majority of the donors (44%) had a mean platelet yield 2.49±0.33 with a platelet count between 1.5-2.5x1011/l. The maximum platelet yield was 4.93±0.34 in 6% donors with pre-donation platelet count of >4.5 5x1011/l. A linear significant relationship was established between the platelet count and the platelet yield (r=0.99). Conclusions: There were significant changes in the pre donation and post donation hematological parameters among the donors. It was concluded that donors with a high pre-donation platelet count can be considered for better platelet yield. Background: The present study was planned to compare of pre and post donation hematological parameters in healthy donors by plateletpheresis. Also to assess the platelet yield following plateletpheresis procedure with its correlation to pre donation platelet count. Methods: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study carried out in the Blood Centre of a tertiary care hospital in Haryana, India between January to December 2022. Plateletpheresis was done on Trima Accel Automated Collection System with ACD‐A as an anticoagulant. The data was collected from the hospital for hematological parameters (Hb, hematocrit, Total WBC count, total platelet count) pre and post donation. Categorical data is presented as frequency, percentage, mean±SD range. Correlation was established between the pre donation platelet count and the platelet yield. Results: A total of 125 donors were included in the study with majority of the donors 69 (55.2%) in the age group 21-30 years. Mean age of the donors included in the study was 31.58±7.5 years. The levels of hemoglobin dropped from 14.16±0.95 to 13.92±1.002 gm/dl, hematocrit dropped from 41.19±1.33 to 40.91±2.89%, total WBC count reduced from 7.64±1.38 to 7.61±1.36 103/ l and platelet count dropped from 279.5±62.96 to 259.9±58.38 lac/ l. There was a significant drop in the levels of platelet post donation by 7.01% compared to pre donation levels. majority of the donors (44%) had a mean platelet yield 2.49±0.33 with a platelet count between 1.5-2.5x1011/l. The maximum platelet yield was 4.93±0.34 in 6% donors with pre-donation platelet count of >4.5 5x1011/l. A linear significant relationship was established between the platelet count and the platelet yield (r=0.99). Conclusions: There were significant changes in the pre donation and post donation hematological parameters among the donors. It was concluded that donors with a high pre-donation platelet count can be considered for better platelet yield.