Metabolites change in Jatropha plants due to seed treatment with rhizobacteria and Rhizoctonia bataticola

An experiment on the metabolite [salicylic acid (SA), jasmonicacid (JA), hydrocyanic acid (HCN) and chitinase activity] changes owing to seed treatment with pathogen, plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs) - (P. maltophilia, P. fluorescens and Bacillus subtilis) alone and in combination was conducted at Chaudhary Charan Singh, Haryana Agricultural University, Regional Research Station, Bawal. Jatropha curcas plants raised from root rot pathogen (Rhizoctonia bataticola) treated seeds showed an initial increase in SA and hydrocyanic acid HCN content and an opposite trend was observed for JA level and chitinase activity. Though, PGPRs inoculation resulted in higher increase in SA level, JA level and chitinaseactivity in both the cases alone as well as in integration with pathogen, however, maximum increase in JA content was explicited in plants raised after seed treatment with P. fluorescens, the most effective rhizobacteria amongst PGPRs studied. Highest increase in HCN content (45 μg g-1) over control (24 μg g-1) was noticed for P. fluorescens followed by co-seed inoculation with P. fluorescens + pathogen (43 μg g-1) at 10 DPI. The co-seed inoculation elicited 68 units at 10 DPI whereas the pathogen challenged plants showed lower chitinase activity with 42 units. All the metabolites declinedslightly or sharply with age of the plant irrespective of inoculations

Zero-COVID policy and stock market sectoral performance in China

With the outbreak of COVID-19, the Chinese government implemented the “zero-COVID” policy as a measure to curb the spread of the virus. The different measures of the policy include widespread testing, contact tracing, and strict quarantine and isolation protocols. In view of recent changes in COVID-19 trends and other economic indicators, the Chinese government withdrew significant provisions of the zero-COVID policy in China. The present study investigates the sectoral performance of the Chinese stock market after the withdrawal of the zero-COVID policy. The study considers eighteen sectoral indices of the Shenzhen Stock Exchange of China as a sample and applies the event study methodology to study the impact of the policy withdrawal on the stock prices performance. The results of the study indicate that sectors such as hotel, consumer staples, the financial sector, real estate, media, and culture have reported significant positive movement after the withdrawal of the zero-COVID policy, while other sectors such as consumer discretionary, energy, healthcare, information technology, manufacturing, mining, technology, telecom, transportation, utilities, wholesale, and retail have shown insignificant reactions. These results also indicate that when the COVID-19 outbreak happened in China, different sectors of the economy reacted negatively except the retail and wholesale sectors, while with the withdrawal of the zero-COVID policy by the Chinese government, the reaction of investors is optimistic as different sectors are reporting either positive reactions in the stock price movement or no reaction

A study of electrocardiogram changes in patients with acute stroke

Background: Electrocardiogram (ECG) changes are observed in patients with acute stroke and may create confusion with ECG changes found in cardiac disorders. The aim of the study was to study the ECG changes in patients with acute stroke who are not suffering from cardiac disorders which are known to show ECG changes.Methods: It was a prospective hospital observational based study conducted for a period of 1 year (20th July 2014 to 20thJuly 2015) including patients with acute stroke. Total 122 patients were enrolled and ECG changes were observed.Results: Various ECG changes are observed (Table 1) in present study including rhythm disturbances (like sinus tachycardia, sinus bradycardia, AF, VPc, RBBB, LBBB, etc.)  in 69 patients (56.6%) , bradycardia in 25 patients (19.5%), tachycardia 34 patients (28.1%), prolonged PR interval in 10 patients (9.2%), LAD in 32 patients (26.2%), RAD in 7 patients (5.7%), prolonged QRS interval in 31 patients (25.4%), LVH in 19 patients (15.6%), prolonged QTc interval in 53 patients (43.4%), p wave abnormalities in 30 patients (24.6%), pathological q wave in 11 patients (9.6%), ST segment elevation in 14 patients (11.4%), ST segment depression in 20 patients (16.4%), T wave inversion in 44 patients (36.1%) and presence of U wave in 9 patients (7.1%).Conclusions: QTc prolongation followed by T-wave inversion followed by ST segment changes were the most frequent ECG changes observed in patients with acute stroke. Various types of arrhythmias like sinus tachycardia, sinus bradycardia, AF, VPCs, BBB, Heart blocks, etc. were also among the common ECG findings. Furthermore ECG findings like PR interval prolongation, QRS interval prolongation and P-wave abnormalities (hardly any study is there in literature about these ECG findings) were additional findings in this study.

Taguchi-fuzzy based mapping of EDM-machinability of aluminium foam

Konvencionalna obrada aluminijskih pjena težak je zadatak s obzirom na činjenicu da su njihove ćelije i rubovi ćelija oštećeni i/ili urušeni tijekom procesa obrade i time pogoršana njihova izvorna svojstva. Taj se problem može prevladati u određenoj mjeri obradom ovog materijala procesom elektro-erozijske obrade (EDM). U ovom članku identificiraju se različiti kontrolni parametri mjerodavni za učinkovitu obradu aluminijske pjene. Tehnika utemeljena na Taguchi-fuzzy logici koristi se za oblikovanje parametara radnih značajki, kako bi se utvrdili optimalni parametri obrade za omjer maksimalnog skidanja materijala (MRR) i omjer minimalnog trošenje alata (TWR) u elektro-erozijskoj obradi. Taguchi-fuzzy utemeljeno mapiranje omjera maksimalnog skidanja materijala i omjera minimalnog trošenja alata s produktivnošću otkrilo je da u cilju postizanja veće produktivnosti pri obradi aluminijskih pjena, dva parametra, "pulse current" i "pulse-on time", moraju biti postavljeni visoko u kombinaciji s nisko postavljenim radnim ciklusom.Conventional machining of aluminium foams is a difficult task because of the fact that their cells and cell edges are damaged and/or collapsed during the machining processes and thereby their original properties deteriorated. This problem can be overcome to a certain extent by machining this material by Electro Discharge Machining (EDM) process. The present paper deals with identifying the various control parameters responsible for effective machining of aluminium foam. Taguchi-Fuzzy Logic based technique is used for parameter design of performance characteristics to determine optimal machining parameters for maximum Material Removal Rate (MRR) and minimum Tool Wear Rate (TWR) in EDM. Taguchi-fuzzy based mapping of MRR and TWR with productivity revealed that in order to achieve higher productivity while machining aluminium foam, the two parameters, pulse current and pulse-On time are required to be set high in combination with the low setting of duty cycle

Diversity, abundance and pollination efficiency of insect pollinators of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Miller) and effect of abiotic factors on insect pollinator activity

Biodiversity of insect pollinators on fennel cv. HF-143 (Foeniculum vulgare Miller), was studied in Hisar, Haryana, India. Twenty-five insect species belonging to fifteen families of five orders were recorded from fennel flowers, in which, seven belong to order Lepidoptera, nine to Hymenoptera, five to Diptera, three to Coleoptera and one to Odonata. Among the insect pollinators, Apis florea F., A. cerana indica F., A. mellifera L. and A. dorsata F. were the most frequent visitors. Among different bee species, the maximum mean population observed in case of A. florea (9.23 bees/m2/5 min) followed by A. mellifera (3.62 bees/m2/5 min) and A. dorsata (3.21 bees/m2/5 min), whereas, the least abundance was observed in case of A. cerana indica, i.e., 1.82 bees/m2/5 min. The pollination index of A. dorsata was highest (19715210) followed by A. florea (13888381), A. mellifera (13845052) and A. cerana (5586381). Hence, it was observed that A. dorsata was the most efficient pollinator followed by A. florea, A. mellifera and A. cerana on fennel cv. HF-143 flowers under agro ecological conditions of Hisar (Haryana). Hence, insect pollinators were essential to get good returns in this seed crop. The activity of different bee species on fennel varied with different abiotic factors and had significantly positive correlation with bright sun shine hours (BSS) and temperature (TEMP) in different hours of the day during foraging but had negative correlation with relative humidity (RH). It was observed that the effect of wind velocity on foraging of different bee species was not significant. Thus, the impact of abiotic environmental factors may decide the foraging activity of different insect pollinators

Taguchi-fuzzy based mapping of EDM-machinability of aluminium foam

Konvencionalna obrada aluminijskih pjena težak je zadatak s obzirom na činjenicu da su njihove ćelije i rubovi ćelija oštećeni i/ili urušeni tijekom procesa obrade i time pogoršana njihova izvorna svojstva. Taj se problem može prevladati u određenoj mjeri obradom ovog materijala procesom elektro-erozijske obrade (EDM). U ovom članku identificiraju se različiti kontrolni parametri mjerodavni za učinkovitu obradu aluminijske pjene. Tehnika utemeljena na Taguchi-fuzzy logici koristi se za oblikovanje parametara radnih značajki, kako bi se utvrdili optimalni parametri obrade za omjer maksimalnog skidanja materijala (MRR) i omjer minimalnog trošenje alata (TWR) u elektro-erozijskoj obradi. Taguchi-fuzzy utemeljeno mapiranje omjera maksimalnog skidanja materijala i omjera minimalnog trošenja alata s produktivnošću otkrilo je da u cilju postizanja veće produktivnosti pri obradi aluminijskih pjena, dva parametra, "pulse current" i "pulse-on time", moraju biti postavljeni visoko u kombinaciji s nisko postavljenim radnim ciklusom.Conventional machining of aluminium foams is a difficult task because of the fact that their cells and cell edges are damaged and/or collapsed during the machining processes and thereby their original properties deteriorated. This problem can be overcome to a certain extent by machining this material by Electro Discharge Machining (EDM) process. The present paper deals with identifying the various control parameters responsible for effective machining of aluminium foam. Taguchi-Fuzzy Logic based technique is used for parameter design of performance characteristics to determine optimal machining parameters for maximum Material Removal Rate (MRR) and minimum Tool Wear Rate (TWR) in EDM. Taguchi-fuzzy based mapping of MRR and TWR with productivity revealed that in order to achieve higher productivity while machining aluminium foam, the two parameters, pulse current and pulse-On time are required to be set high in combination with the low setting of duty cycle

Cellular interaction of folic acid conjugated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles and its use as contrast agent for targeted magnetic imaging of tumor cells

The purpose of the study was to develop tumor specific, water dispersible superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) and evaluate their efficacy as a contrast agent in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We have developed SPIONs capped with citric acid/2-bromo-2-methylpropionic acid which are compact, water dispersible, biocompatible having narrow range of size dispersity (8–10 nm), and relatively high T2 relaxivity (R2 = 222L · mmol−1 · sec−l). The targeting efficacy of unconjugated and folic acid-conjugated SPIONs (FA-SPIONS) was evaluated in a folic acid receptor overexpressing and negative tumor cell lines. Folic acid receptor-positive cells incubated with FA-SPIONs showed much higher intracellular iron content without any cytotoxicity. Ultrastructurally, SPIONs were seen as clustered inside the various stages of endocytic pathways without damaging cellular organelles and possible mechanism for their entry is via receptor mediated endocytosis. In vitro MRI studies on tumor cells showed better T2-weighted images in FA-SPIONs. These findings indicate that FA-SPIONs possess high colloidal stability with excellent sensitivity of imaging and can be a useful MRI contrast agent for the detection of cancer

Genetic diversity and population structure analyses in barley (Hordeum vulgare) against corn-leaf aphid, Rhopalosiphum maidis (Fitch)

Corn-leaf aphid (CLA), Rhopalosiphum maidis (Fitch) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) is a serious economic pest of barley worldwide. Breeding for aphid resistance in plants is considered a cost-effective and environmentally safe approach for aphid control, compared to the use of chemical pesticides. One of the challenges in breeding for aphid resistance is the identification of resistant plant genotypes, which can be achieved through the use of molecular markers. In the present study, a set of aphid specific 10 simple-sequence repeats (SSR) markers were used to investigate genetic diversity and population structure analyses in 109 barley genotypes against R. maidis. Three statistical methods viz., multivariate hierarchical clustering based on Jaccard’s similarity coefficient, principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) and the Bayesian approach were utilized to classify the 109 barley genotypes. The analyses revealed four subpopulations i.e., SubPop1, SubPop2, SubPop3 and SubPop4 with 19, 46, 20 and 24 genotypes including admixtures, respectively and represented 17.43%, 42.2%, 18.34% and 22.01% genotypes of the total population size, respectively. The studied SSR markers produced 67 polymorphic bands, with an average of 6.7 and ranging from 3 to 12 bands. Heterozygosity (H) was found to be highest in SSR28 (0.64) and lowest in SSR27 (0.89). The observed genetic diversity index varied from 0.10 to 0.34 (with an average of 0.19). Major allele frequency varied from 74.08% to 94.80%. On an average, 87.52% of the 109 barley genotypes shared a common major allele at any locus. Based on the Aphid Infestation Index (AII), only 2 genotypes were found to be resistant against CLA. SubPop2 also had lowest mean aphid population (28.83), widest genetic similarity index (0.60-1.00) and highest genetic similarity coefficient (0.82), which highlighted its potential for inclusion in future CLA resistance breeding programs

Management of latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection:WHO guidelines for low tuberculosis burden countries

ABSTRACT Latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is characterised by the presence of immune responses to previously acquired Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection without clinical evidence of active tuberculosis (TB). Here we report evidence-based guidelines from the World Health Organization for a public health approach to the management of LTBI in high risk individuals in countries with high or middle upper income and TB incidence of <100 per 100000 per year. The guidelines strongly recommend systematic testing and treatment of LTBI in people living with HIV, adult and child contacts of pulmonary TB cases, patients initiating anti-tumour necrosis factor treatment, patients receiving dialysis, patients preparing for organ or haematological transplantation, and patients with silicosis. In prisoners, healthcare workers, immigrants from high TB burden countries, homeless persons and illicit drug users, systematic testing an

Quantifying primaquine effectiveness and improving adherence: a round table discussion of the APMEN Vivax Working Group.

The goal to eliminate malaria from the Asia-Pacific by 2030 will require the safe and widespread delivery of effective radical cure of malaria. In October 2017, the Asia Pacific Malaria Elimination Network Vivax Working Group met to discuss the impediments to primaquine (PQ) radical cure, how these can be overcome and the methodological difficulties in assessing clinical effectiveness of radical cure. The salient discussions of this meeting which involved 110 representatives from 18 partner countries and 21 institutional partner organizations are reported. Context specific strategies to improve adherence are needed to increase understanding and awareness of PQ within affected communities; these must include education and health promotion programs. Lessons learned from other disease programs highlight that a package of approaches has the greatest potential to change patient and prescriber habits, however optimizing the components of this approach and quantifying their effectiveness is challenging. In a trial setting, the reactivity of participants results in patients altering their behaviour and creates inherent bias. Although bias can be reduced by integrating data collection into the routine health care and surveillance systems, this comes at a cost of decreasing the detection of clinical outcomes. Measuring adherence and the factors that relate to it, also requires an in-depth understanding of the context and the underlying sociocultural logic that supports it. Reaching the elimination goal will require innovative approaches to improve radical cure for vivax malaria, as well as the methods to evaluate its effectiveness