Assessment of chilli varieties in Salem district for higher productivity

Chilli is an important spice which is grown throughout India. Chillies are integral and the most important ingredient in many different cuisines around the world as it adds pungency, taste, flavour and color to the dishes. Chilli is grown in Kolathur block of Salem district in an area of nearly 879 ha. The farmers are mainly growing the local varieties and private hybrids in kolathur block. During the farmers and scientist conference conducted at KVK, Sandhiyur (2013), the growers opted for new varieties (high yield, lengthy fruit, good pungency, and colour retention during storage). An onfarm trial was conducted in pannavadi village of kolathur block. In this study three varieties (Lalima, LCA 625 and Kovilpatti 2) were assessed for yield, pest disease tolerance and quality parameters. LCA 625 gave an average yield of 6.2-6.8 t / ha, fruit length of 9-11 cm, good pungency and good colour retention during storage compared to other two varieties. The colour of dry chilli during storage was orange compared to Lalima with bright attractive red colour. Hence in the market Lalima fetched more price than the other two varieties. Hence, it is suggested for the Researchers that LCA 625 may be refined for marketable colour

Exploring Fuzzy Set Concept in Priority Theory for Maintenance Strategy Selection Problem

This paper proposes and presents a different approach of choosing an appropriate maintenance strategy using Saaty’s priority theory and fuzzy sets. As per the priority theory, weights are assigned to the decision criteria via pair wise comparison of criteria. Basic three types of maintenance strategies specifically corrective maintenance, preventive maintenance and predictive maintenance and eight maintenance decision criteria namely low maintenance cost, improved reliability, improved safety, high product quality, minimum inventory, return on investment, acceptance by labor, enhanced competitiveness have been considered to evaluate the most favorable strategy. Instead of usual practice of considering single value for “intensity of importance” factor, more appropriate triangular fuzzy numbers are used to represent it. A different approach using fuzzy arithmetic (α-cuts) in priority theory for the above stated problem has been investigated in this paper

Scavenger receptor-mediated delivery of muramyl dipeptide activates antitumor efficacy of macrophages by enhanced secretion of tumor-suppressive cytokines

We showed that muramyl dipeptide (MDP) conjugated to maleylated bovine serum albumin (MBSA) was internalized by macrophages (Mphi) through scavenger receptor (SCR)-mediated endocytosis, which leads to 50-fold higher cytotoxic activity against non-Mphi tumor cells compared with that elicited by free MDP-treated Mphi. The enhanced cytotoxic effect of MBSA-MDP was found to be a result of higher secretion of interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), and nitric oxide (NO) because the addition of antibodies directed against IL-1, IL-6, or TNF-alpha in combination with Mphi cultures totally abrogated the tumoricidal activity of MBSA-MDP. It is interesting to note that MBSA-MDP triggers the secretion of IL-12, whereas IL-10, a Mphi suppressor cytokine, could be detected only on free MDP treatment. The cytotoxic activity of MBSA-MDP was inhibited by indomethacin, indicating a regulatory role for prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Efficient SCR-mediated intracellular delivery of MDP leading to elimination of cancer cells suggests the immunotherapeutic potential of this approach for treatment of neoplasia

Functionalization of Organic Semiconductor Crystals via the Diels-Alder Reaction

A surface adlayer is generated on organic single crystals (tetracene and rubrene) using the site specific Diels–Alder reaction and a series of vapor phase dienophiles. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) confirms adsorption on the surfaces of tetracene and rubrene and mass spectrometry demonstrates the reaction’s applicability to a range of dienophiles

Delimitation of lymphatic filariasis transmission risk areas: a geo-environmental approach

BACKGROUND: The Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (GPELF) depends upon Mass Drug Administration (MDA) to interrupt transmission. Therefore, delimitation of transmission risk areas is an important step, and hence we attempted to define a geo-environmental risk model (GERM) for determining the areas of potential transmission of lymphatic filariasis. METHODS: A range of geo-environmental variables has been selected, and customized on GIS platform to develop GERM for identifying the areas of filariasis transmission in terms of "risk" and "non-risk". The model was validated through a 'ground truth study' following standard procedure using GIS tools for sampling and Immuno-chromotographic Test (ICT) for screening the individuals. RESULTS: A map for filariasis transmission was created and stratified into different spatial entities, "risk' and "non-risk", depending on Filariasis Transmission Risk Index (FTRI). The model estimation corroborated well with the ground (observed) data. CONCLUSION: The geo-environmental risk model developed on GIS platform is useful for spatial delimitation purpose on a macro scale

Geopolitics in international business : challenges and insights

In the current geopolitical context, multinational corporations (MNCs) face a high level of uncertainty and volatility while trying to navigate a changing landscape. This AIB Insights special issue aims to provide the first steps towards articulating novel and actionable insights to guide MNCs as they interact with a rapidly shifting geopolitical environment. Our introductory editorial to the issue first briefly introduces the topic of geopolitics and international business in the current global environment. It then surveys the issue’s five articles. Given current international circumstances, many of the articles revolve around themes of war and peace, but the lessons derived are applicable to any manner of geopolitical risks

Antistaphylococcal activity of bacteriophage derived chimeric protein P128

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Bacterial drug resistance is one of the most significant challenges to human health today. In particular, effective antibacterial agents against methicillin-resistant <it>Staphylococcus aureus </it>(MRSA) are urgently needed. A causal relationship between nasal commensal <it>S. aureus </it>and infection has been reported. Accordingly, elimination of nasal <it>S. aureus </it>reduces the risk of infection. Enzymes that degrade bacterial cell walls show promise as antibacterial agents. Bacteriophage-encoded bacterial cell wall-degrading enzymes exhibit intrinsic bactericidal activity. P128 is a chimeric protein that combines the lethal activity of the phage tail-associated muralytic enzyme of Phage K and the staphylococcal cell wall targeting-domain (SH3b) of lysostaphin.</p> <p>Here we report results of in vitro studies evaluating the susceptibility of staphylococcal strains to this novel protein.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Using the broth microdilution method adapted for lysostaphin, we found that P128 is effective against <it>S. aureus </it>clinical strains including MRSA, methicillin-sensitive <it>S. aureus </it>(MSSA), and a mupirocin-resistant <it>S. aureus</it>. Minimum bactericidal concentrations and minimum inhibitory concentrations of P128 (1-64 μg/mL) were similar across the 32 <it>S. aureus </it>strains tested, demonstrating its bactericidal nature.</p> <p>In time-kill assays, P128 reduced colony-forming units by 99.99% within 1 h and inhibited growth up to 24 h.</p> <p>In an assay simulating topical application of P128 to skin or other biological surfaces, P128 hydrogel was efficacious when layered on cells seeded on solid media. P128 hydrogel was lethal to Staphylococci recovered from nares of healthy people and treated without any processing or culturing steps, indicating its in situ efficacy. This methodology used for in vitro assessment of P128 as an agent for eradicating nasal carriage is unique.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The novel chimeric protein P128 is a staphylococcal cell wall-degrading enzyme under development for clearance of <it>S. aureus </it>nasal colonization and MRSA infection. The protein is active against globally prevalent antibiotic-resistant clinical isolates and other clinically significant staphylococcal species including <it>S. epidermidis</it>. The P128 hydrogel formulation was bactericidal against Staphylococci including <it>S. aureus </it>recovered from the nares of 31 healthy people, demonstrating its in situ efficacy.</p