Characterization of Echinochloa spp. in Arkansas

Echinochloa species are the most problematic grass weeds in rice and soybean production throughout the southern United States. The species under this genus has high intra- and interspecific variability, with many ecotypes, observed within a species. This study was conducted to: i) characterize the morphology and phenology of Echinochloa accessions from Arkansas in a common garden; ii) verify the species identity of these accessions based on their morphological traits, and iii) evaluate the dormancy characteristics of Echinochloa accessions. Junglerice (E. colona) was identified as the most common species, comprising about 78% of the accessions collected, with barnyardgrass (E. crus-galli) and rough barnyardgrass (E. muricata) representing about 9% and 12% of the population, respectively. Thus, junglerice is the most problematic Echinochloa species affecting farmers in Arkansas. The height of junglerice ranged from 65-94 cm; barnyardgrass, 87-126 cm; and rough barnyardgrass, 79-118 cm. Rough barnyardgrass was the largest species with the longest (19.8-42 cm) and widest (1.2-2.1 cm) leaves, followed by barnyardgrass. Junglerice and barnyardgrass were the earliest to flower, at about 39-59 days after planting (DAP), followed by rough barnyardgrass (46-63 DAP). Junglerice produced the largest amount of seed (9,098-217,217 per plant) with an average of 539 seeds per panicle. Barnyardgrass produced 7,186-71,494 seed/plant with an average of 345 seeds per panicle. The dominance of junglerice over the other species could be due to its high seed production and high seed germination capacity. The growth habit of junglerice could be either prostrate, decumbent or open whereas that of barnyardgrass and rough barnyardgrass could be decumbent to open. Junglerice and barnyardgrass had similar panicle characteristics with an almost similar color range that could lead to misidentification. Junglerice had the highest germination capacity (41-99%), followed by barnyardgrass at 11-79%. Rough barnyardgrass exhibited deep dormancy, with germination capacity between 2 and 73%. Further investigations are needed to characterize the germination requirements of rough barnyardgrass and its relative abundance in North America. The differential tolerance of these species to various herbicides are being investigated in follow-up research. This information is useful in making weed management decisions and is informative in understanding speciation and adaptation of weedy Echinochloa species

Pakistan at the verge of potential epidemics by multi-drug resistant pathogenic bacteria

Antibiotic resistant pathogens are booming in community and healthcare institutions worldwide. Increasing resistance to modern antimicrobials not only limits the treatment options, but also leads to severity of infections and increases the costs of hospitalization. Recent estimates predict that economic losses incurred due to infections of multidrug resistant (MDR) pathogens are incalculable, but mortality and morbidity rates are increasingly becoming more significant rendering MDR pathogens soon to be the leading cause of deaths worldwide [1]. The most devastating situation is the complete disaster of the entire health care system, where antimicrobial drugs will not only stop working against simple infections, but all types of surgeries and transplantation will also face a complete failure because of the attacks of resistant pathogens on vulnerable organs.Pakistan is a developing country with compromised healthcare infrastructure and economic conditions. Lack of access to basic healthcare facilities and unhygienic life style add up to worsen the conditions. There exists deep deficit in understanding and compliance of biosafety issues in community, academic and healthcare institutions in Pakistan. The rampant use of medicine is on the rise. Medicines are sold in grocery stores and by bus hawkers [2].  Lack of education and poor financial conditions incite people to buy such substandard drugs and ultimately misuse them.The malpractice of medicine has challenged the very efficacy of these magic drugs i.e; the antibiotics. Antibiotic abuse is directly linked to the emerging resistance in bacteria.  Resistance is booming in bacteria even to the last line antibiotics carbapenems. The sub-continental carbapenem resistant superbug, NDM-1, is rapidly disseminating in clinical [3], and non-clinical environments in Pakistan [4].NDM-1 stands for New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase enzyme. Which belongs to class B, one of the four beta-lactamase enzymes molecular classes that hydrolyse the most important and most widely used group of antimicrobials in clinical practice i.e; the beta-lactam antibiotics. NDM-1 has zinc ions in its active site, unlike other molecular classes of beta-lactamases (A, C, D), that have serine residue at their active site.NDM-1 was first identified in a Swedish tourist to India when he was hospitalized in New Delhi and diagnosed with an untreatable infection, which later was named NDM-1. NDM-1 was identified in 2008 [5], and was reported as predominant carbapenemase in Pakistan, India and Bangladesh [3]. NDM-1 harbouring bacteria have been found resistant to all available antibiotics which are in clinical use. NDM-1 gene being residing on plasmid can readily be shared between bacteria even not closely related. ARG (antibiotic resistance genes) when reside on mobile genetic elements (plasmids, transposons, integrons) can easily disseminate between bacterial population [6]. Even these genes can be taken up by normal flora and can donate them to pathogenic bacteria at times. Since HGT (horizontal gene transfer) and clonal expansion of antibiotic resistant bacteria is facilitated by sub-standard medical practices in Pakistan [7], there is an extremely threatening environment of potential epidemics of drug resistant bacteria.In Pakistan, which is among the lowest spending countries on healthcare in the world, such epidemics will lead to a complete disaster. And since infectious diseases respect no borders this could circumvent other countries too. There is an urgent need of the day to make legislations on proper use of antibiotics so that people should not be deprived of the blessings of these wonder drugs. If prompt actions were not taken these superbugs will bring a complete disaster to the health care system

Teachers: the Epitome of Pedagogy

This study focuses on almost all factors, those if, found collectively in a teacher makes him a role model. The paper highlights the fact that an ideal teacher is one who is a friend, a performer, an artist, a speaker, an analyst, a trainer, a guide, an anchorperson and a judge. The paper concludes that the blend of personal and professional qualities and didactic knowledge of the subject are valued key points. This study also sets path for further and deeper discussion of images of a good teacher at all educational levels in general and at tertiary level in particular. Key words: Role model; Quality Education; Lucidity; Ideal Teacher; Evaluation; Instructional objectives

Scenario of Present and Future of Solid Waste Generation in India: A Case Study of Delhi Mega City

Solid waste generation is the by-product of the Urbanization, rapid industrialization, population growth and migration from the country side. It is commonly considered as an Urban Issue. It is highly related with Economic growth, degree of industrialization and consumption pattern and lavish lifestyle of urbanites.   On one hand more generation of Solid Waste indicate the economic development but on the other it increases environmental stresses. Solid Waste generation and management is a burning issue all over the world and the planners and policy formulators are finding it extremely difficult to handle this problem mainly because of haphazard and unchecked urbanization. Solid Waste contributes 3% of total Green House Gases Emission Globally, which are culprit for Global Warming and Climate Change. Huge amount of Solid Waste generation and their improper management worsen the air quality in the cities which ultimately affect the human health severely.The problem of Municipal Solid waste management is much more acute environmental problems in mega cities like Delhi where land available for landfill sites is scarce. Agricultural land of Delhi has been grabbed by the unauthorized private colonizers and builders by changing the land use overnight. Delhi is the adobe of 14 million people out of which approximately half of the population (52%) population lives in slums and 1400 unauthorized colonies. In 2012, 900 colonies have been authorized or regularized providing bare minimum civic amenities.  In the present study, an attempt has been made to provide a comprehensive review of the present infrastructure available, the future requirements to manage Municipal Solid waste and the Organizations and agencies involved in it. The main aim of this paper is to quantify the present generation of Solid Waste and project the generation in future by projecting population growth in Delhi Mega City. This study will be proved to be an eye opener for the city planners, managers, stakeholders and different Organizations and agencies which are actively engaged in the Management of this “Urban Menace”. Keywords: Solid Waste, Urbanization, Population, Green House Gases (GHGs

Evaluation of Growth of Motor Vehicles Fleet and Ambience Air Quality in India

Increasing Vehicular population and deteriorating quality of air is the by-product of rapid growth of population in India. Undoubtedly on one hand transport sector plays a significant role in the overall development of a nation's economy, but on the other this sector accounts for a substantial and growing proportion of air pollution also. The urban expansion, industrialization, lack of services, energy and transport demands are leading to a vicious cycle of pollution. According to the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the main sources of emission are energy (26%), transport (18%), industry (19%) and buildings (10%) are the main sources of emissions. The road traffic accounts for about 80% of the passenger traffic and 60% of the goods. For vehicular motors emits various pollutants, such as carbon monoxide, nitric-oxide, carbon dioxide and several organic compounds which are responsible for the deterioration of the environment. In developing countries like India especially, increasing demand for private vehicles is outpacing the supply of transport infrastructure – including both road networks and public transit networks. The result is growing congestion and air pollution. The transport sector in India consumes about 16.9% fossil fuel based energy sources. The aim of this paper is to focus on the state wise emissions of variety of pollutants and asses the quality of air, using region specific mass emission factors for each type of vehicles. Keywords- Transport, Quality of air, Industrialization, Development, Greenhouse gas (GHG

Local application of gentamicin-containing collagen implant in the prophylaxis and treatment of surgical site infection following vascular surgery

AbstractBackgroundThe development of surgical site infection (SSI) following vascular surgery is an important issue for healthcare providers as it has serious implications for both patient morbidity and mortality.MethodsFive publications were identified using the PubMed online database and search terms ‘gentamicin-containing collagen implant’ plus ‘surgical site infection’, ‘wound infection’ and ‘vascular surgery’.ResultsThe reviewed publications demonstrated that prophylactic use of GCCI in conjunction with standard treatment reduces the SSI rate in patients operated on for femeropopliteal bypass grafting. The prophylactic use of GCCI may also have a role to play in patients at high-risk of infection (e.g. in those with co-morbidities such as obesity) and in high-risk procedures (e.g. surgical revision to correct anastomotic aneurysm or dehiscence). GCCI in conjunction with systemic antibiotics may also be effective in the treatment of wound infections of the groin following vascular reconstruction.ConclusionThis review demonstrates that GCCI have a role to play in preventing and treating SSI following vascular reconstruction when used in conjunction with standard treatment approaches. Additional randomised, controlled studies are required to further establish the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of GCCI in vascular surgery

INSTITUTIONAL OWNERSHIP AND CORPORATE VALUE: EVIDENCE FROM KARACHI STOCK EXCHANGE (KSE) 30-INDEX PAKISTAN

The study aims to explore the relationship between institutional ownership and firm performance. To obtain the targeted objectives, the required data, ranging from 2008 to 2013 were collected from annual reports and financial statements of concerned firms. Such type of data contains endogeneity problems. In order to deal with endogeneity problem, Durbin-Wu-Houseman test was applied. Among many advance econometric techniques, OLS and 2SLS were found appropriate to estimate the coefficient of interest. Institutional ownership being endogenous variable was found significantly and positively related with firm performance. Firm performance was found negatively related with debt ratio and fix expenditures. Finally it was found that institutional investors take more interest in firms having higher dividend payout ratio

Transport and Ambience Air Quality in Metro Cities of India

Increasing Vehicular population and deteriorating quality of air is the by-product of rapid growth of population and haphazard urbanization in India. The urban population in India has increased significantly from 62 million in 1951 to 285 million in 2001 and is estimated to grow to 540 million by the year 2021. In terms of percentage of total population, the urban population has gone up from 17% in 1951 to 29% in 2001 and is expected to increase up to around 37% by the year 2021. About 55 million vehicles were playing on Indian roads in 2001. The annual growth rate of motor vehicle population in India has been about 10% during the decade (1991-2001), It is seen that two wheelers are growing faster than cars. The basic problem is not the number of vehicles in the country but their concentration in a few selected cities, particularly in metropolitan cities. It is alarming to note that 32 percent of all vehicles are plying in metropolitan cities alone; these cities constitute about 11 percent of country’s total urban population. During the year 2000, more than 6.3 million vehicles were plying in mega cities, which constitute more than 13 percent of all motor vehicles in the country. Mumbai is carrying the highest vehicles compared with other mega cities. Cities like Bangalore, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Nagpur, Pune show a vehicle growth higher than the mega cities like Delhi, Kolkata etc., presently.  Undoubtedly on one hand transport sector plays a significant role in the overall development of a nation's economy, but on the other this sector accounts for a substantial and growing proportion of air pollution also. The urban expansion, industrialization, lack of services, energy and transport demands are leading to a vicious cycle of pollution. The main aim of this paper is to analyze air pollution caused by increasing number of vehicles and its effect on the environment at present and in future by projecting the number of vehicles and emission load. It also deals with the planning measures that should be adopted in India to solve the problem of increasing vehicular pollution. Keywords: Transportation, Environment, Pollutants, Emission, Developmen

Land Registration vis-a-vis Inheritance Disputes: The Case of Menz Gera Midir District, Amhara State, Ethiopia

In addition to securing property rights and agricultural development, land registration and certification has been perceived as an important means for reducing inheritance disputes. The objective of this study was to investigate the role of rural land registration and certification program in reducing inheritance disputes in Menz Gera Midir District in Amhara State. Data for this study were collected through questionnaire, case studies, interview of farmers and experts of the court and focus group discussions. About three hundred households were taken as sample population for the questionnaire. A total of three hundred eight households were participated in the focus group discussions. About thirty five individuals were interviewed. The data collected through questionnaire were analyzed quantitatively; whereas data collected through focus group discussions, case studies and interviews were compiled, summarized and interpreted qualitatively by cross checking with responses of questionnaires. The findings of this study confirm that in Menz Gera Midir District rural land registration and certification reduced inheritance disputes. Keywords: Rural land registration and certification, bequeath, inheritance, inheritance dispute