Innovations in irrigation financing

"Financing for water projects, especially for irrigation, has been moving towards collapse in recent years due to declining donor and government funding. Some Indian states have undertaken innovative institutional reforms by setting up financially autonomous corporations to mobilise required funds from the domestic bond market. This analysis of the performance of one such corporation, Karnataka's Krishna Bhagya Jal Nigam Limited, indicates that although adequate funds were mobilised, and physical works are on schedule, the new institution did not attempt to enhance overall irrigation performance and to move towards financial sustainability of the irrigation project. This paper describes the background of this institution, its achievements, inadequacies and potential of the innovative efforts made in irrigation financing reforms." Authors' AbstractIrrigation India ,Irrigation projects India ,Finance ,Government spending policy ,

Knowledge, attitude, and practices among clinically exposed medical students and interns towards COVID-19 vaccine in a tertiary care hospital, Kanyakumari district: a cross-sectional survey

Background: Several COVID-19 vaccines have been approved against coronavirus disease and its distribution to different countries. The study is mainly done to determine the knowledge, attitude, and practice among clinically exposed medical students and interns toward COVID-19 vaccine.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from June 2022 to August 2022 in a tertiary care hospital. Using questionnaires, the knowledge, attitude, and practice among medical students and interns were assessed, and they were then analysed and categorised accordingly. Then the students were given awareness regarding COVID-19 vaccine.Results: The questionnaires were distributed among students and interns, and responses were collected. A total number of participants (n=300), out of which the majority of responders were second-year students 89 (29.6%). Overall, 39.75% had high-grade knowledge, 43.5% had a positive attitude and 37.5% had good practice regarding the COVID-19 vaccine. The results show that 81.2% of interns had high-grade knowledge, 76.6% possess a positive attitude and 71.9% of good practice and preventive measures towards COVID-19 vaccine.Conclusions: Our study concludes that there were certain gaps in knowledge, attitude, and practice among second and third-year medical students when compared with final-year medical students and interns

Assessment of Fodder Production Potential of Lucerne (\u3cem\u3eMedicago sativa\u3c/em\u3e L.) Genotypes for Sustainable Live Stock Production

Lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) is a temperate perennial legume capable of producing high quality forage throughout the year. The plant also contains sufficient concentrations of vitamins and most minerals for all classes of livestock. Livestock production can be substantially increased by using lucerne. It is a persistent, productive as well as heat and drought resistant crop which provides better and wet seasons. It tolerates short spell of drought but not water logging and high humidity in the rainy season. Cultivated lucerne is an out crossing auto- tetraploid plant developed by combining different M. sativa and M. falcate germplasm sources in order to maximize heterosis and to secure multiple pest resistance (Gherardi et al., 1998)

Evaluation of indigenous Azospirillum isolates for growth promotion in black pep- per (Piper nigrum L) rooted cuttings

The aim of the present work was to evaluate the inoculation effects of indigenous Azospirillumspp. selectively isolated from various black pepper growing locations of Kerala and Karnatakain enhancing the growth and nutrient uptake of black pepper cuttings. Azospirillum isolatesBPaz4 and BPaz9 recorded 67% more plant height in rooted cuttings than untreated cuttings.The nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium uptake and total dry weight was significantlysuperior in treated plants. Increase in the uptake of iron, manganese, zinc and copper wasfound in BPaz9 treatment. Colonization of rhizosphere soil and nonrhizosphere by theseisolates was found to be high. The N2-fixation capacity of the isolates BPaz4 and BPaz9showed 8.68 and 8.52 mg g-1 malate. Thus the application of these inoculants viz. BPaz4 andBPaz9 is suggested for the ecofriendly production of rooted cuttings of black pepper. &nbsp

Paenibacillus glucanolyticus, a promising potassium solubilizing bacterium isolated from black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) rhizosphere

A bacterium possessing high ability to solubilize potash was isolated from the rhizosphere of black pepper. On the basis of biochemical and 16S rDNA sequence analysis, the bacterium was identified as Paenibacillus glucanolyticus strain IISRBK2. The optimal medium composition and cultural conditions for the isolation of P. glucanolyticus were sucrose 5.0 g, Na2HPO4 2.0 g, MgSO4.7H2O 2.0 g, FeCl3 0.005 g, CaCO3 0.1 g and wood ash 1.0 g at pH 7.5 at 30oC. The strain was also evaluated for plant growth and potassium (K) uptake of black pepper in soil artificially treated with 0.5,1 and 1.5g K kg-1 soil in the form of wood ash. In this study, wood ash was used as a source of K which contained 53.1 g Kg-1 K of which 4.5% was in insoluble form. Inoculation with strain P. glucanolyticus was found to increase tissue dry mass (ranging from 37.0% to 68.3%) of black pepper in 1g K kg-1wood ash amended soil. In the soil treated with 0.5 -1.5 g K kg-1, K uptake in live bacterium inoculated black pepper plants increased by 125.0-184.0% compared to uninoculated control. &nbsp

Development of label-free gold nanoparticle based rapid colorimetric assay for clinical/point-of-care screening of cervical cancer

Cervical cancer is the fourth largest cancer, affecting women across the globe. Rapid screening is of vital importance for diagnosis and treatment of the disease, especially in developing countries with high risk populations. In this paper, we report a simple, novel and rapid approach for qualitative screening of cervical cancer. A label-free colorimetric technique ("C-ColAur") involving the in situ formation of gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) in the presence of clinical samples is demonstrated. The as-formed Au NPs, owing to the sample composition produced a characteristic color that can be used for the qualitative detection of malignancy. We demonstrated the proof of principle using clinical samples (cervical fluid) collected from both cancer affected and healthy individuals. The results of the detection technique, "C-ColAur"when compared with those of the existing conventional diagnostic procedures (i.e. Pap smear or biopsy), showed 96.42% sensitivity. With the detection time less than a minute and with no/minimal sample processing requirements, the proposed technique shows great potential for point-of-care as well as clinical screening of cervical cancer. © The Royal Society of Chemistry

Studies on the effects of Adansonia Digitata Lin's fruits on diabetes

The point of this study is to look into how Adansonia digitata Linn plants can help people with diabetes. The bioactive extract was chosen by using the Haemoglobin Glycosylation Inhibition Assay and α-Amylase Inhibition Assay in a lab setting.So, the ethanolic solution was the most effective at fighting diabetes. In vivo study was done on it because of this. The extract was determined to be safe up to a level of 5000 mg/kg in a trial on acute poisoning. Anti-diabetic action was tested using a model of diabetes mellitus caused by streptozotocin. The factors that were looked at were changes in body weight and blood sugar levels. It was determined that following significant necrotic alterations, a damaged β-cell population, and smaller cells, the cells in the diabetes control group developed atrophy and fibrosis. The group that got the test amount, on the other hand, had normal pancreatic cells, more and bigger islets, and no necrosis or fibrotic changes. These were about the same amounts as those found in people who took Glibenclamide, which is the common drug. The analysis of phytochemicals showed that flavonoids exist. These chemicals may be what give Adansonia digitata Linn's fruits their ability to help people with diabetes. The current study says that ethanolic extract greatly lowers the chance of getting diabetes in both lab-based and real-life setting

Screening of black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) germplasm for resistance to foot rot disease caused by Phytophthora capsici Leonian

Studies were conducted at Calicut (Kerala) to locate sources of resistance among 491accessions of cultivars, 691 hybrids, 124 wild accessions and 182 Karimunda and 60Kottanadan selections of black pepper (Piper nigrum) using stem inoculation technique againstfoot rot disease caused by Phytophthora capsici. One hybrid (Acc. 1375), two wild accessions(Accs. 3160 and 3260) and four Kottanadan selections (2466, 2471, 2515 and 2433) werepromising with disease index 1 and no external lesion after inoculation of the pathogenunder greenhouse conditions. &nbsp

Economic viability of large-scale production of the biocontrol agent Trichoderma harzianum Rifai

The economic viability of large scale production of the biocontrol agent Trichoderma harzianumeffective against the soil-borne disease Phytophthora foot rot (caused by  P. capsici)  of blackpepper (Piper nigrum) was studied.  The enterprise was highly profitable for the entrepreneurwith a benefit:cost ratio of 1.84. The investment returned a net present worth of Rs. 2,42,618@ 11% interest rate for 10 years period with an internal rate of return of 121%. &nbsp