Physiological Mechanisms of Tolerance to Drought and Heat in Major Pulses for Improving Yield under Stress Environments

Reduction in biomass and pollen fertility are the two major constraints resulting in poor grain yield in major pulses grown under rainfed agrosystem. Generally, pulses are encountered into both heat and drought stresses during terminal reproductive stages. Though pulses have many adaptive features to counter the adverse effects of various abiotic stresses but yield is substantially reduced when the magnitude of these stresses is very high. The factors have been identified to enhance grain yield under stress environments which include promotion of biomass in the above ground part enabling crops to reserve a maximum amount of photosynthesis and water in the plant system itself before the onset of drought and heat stresses during reproductive stages. Various physiological mechanisms and fertility enhancement components including genetic diversity in key traits have been discussed here to improve yield of pulses under stressed conditions

Use of ERS-1 scatterometer and Topex altimeter data in a nonlinear reduced gravity model of the northwestern Indian Ocean

1-6This paper describes the use of ERS-1 scatterometer winds and sea level from Topex altimeter in the simulations of oceanic circulation during the monsoon season by a nonlinear reduced gravity model of the northwestern Indian Ocean. Results have been presented for June and July 1993. In the first case, monthly means of ERS -1 scatterometer winds have been used for model forcing while in the second case the analysed winds provided by Florida State University (FSU) have been used. For both the cases, sea level provided by Topex altimeter has been used to initialise the model. The model generated sea level variability has been compared with altimeter sea level variability for the months of June and July. The model results with scatterometer wind forcing are in better agreement with altimeter data of the same month and produce additional eddy near Socotra island which is not observed in the case of FSU wind forcing. Thus satellite data have significant use in the simulation oceanic <span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:" times="" new="" roman";mso-fareast-font-family:hiddenhorzocr;="" color:black;mso-ansi-language:en-in;mso-fareast-language:en-in;mso-bidi-language:="" hi"="" lang="EN-IN">circulation.</span

Effect of 940 nm diode laser irradiation and dentin bonding agent on permeability of furcation area in primary molars

Purpose: Multiple accessory canals make furcation area of primary molars the most common port of entry of bacterial endotoxins to periradicular area. Reduction in permeability can improve prognosis of these teeth. Therefore, this study was designed to compare the effect of 940 nm diode laser and dentin bonding agent on the dye penetration of furcation area in primary molars. Material and Methods: Thirty teeth were divided into three groups, that is, Group 1 (control group), Group 2 (dentin bonding agent applied over floor of pulp chamber), and Group 3 (diode laser irradiated over floor of pulp chamber). The samples were prepared and seven from each group were tested by dye penetration and three were sent for scanning electron microscopy. Rise in temperature in the perifurcal area was also recorded at the time of laser irradiation. Dunn's pair-wise comparison analysis was used for the analysis for the difference in dye penetration among the group. Results: The maximum rise in temperature recorded postirradiation was 6.90C. Dye penetration was significantly reduced in Group 2 Dentin bonding group (DBG) as compared to control group (P = 0.0025). Reduction in permeability was observed in Group 3 Laser group (LG) but this was not statistically significant (P = 0.197). Scanning electron microscope revealed open dentinal tubules in Group 1. There were no open dentinal tubules in Group 2, while Group 3 had sealed dentinal tubules with glass-like surface over the region. Conclusion: Dentin bonding agent led to substantial decrease in dye penetration of furcation area of primary molars. This method should be evaluated clinically to improve successful pulpectomy procedures of primary molars

Salivary and urinary ion estimation after silver diamine fluoride application

Aim or Purpose: The purpose of the study was to determine the salivary and urinary levels of fluoride and silver ions in children after silver diamine fluoride (SDF) application on dental carious lesions. Materials and Methods: After obtaining approval from Institute's ethics Committee (IECPG-637/25.11.2020), 60 children (4-6 years with ≥3 caries lesions) were recruited. Three ml of unstimulated whole saliva was collected at three time points; before, one and 24 hours after SDF application. Similarly, 3ml urine samples were collected before and 24 hours after SDF application. Fluoride(F)and silver (Ag) concentrations were determined by a fluoride ion-selective electrode (ISE) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS) respectively. Wilcoxon Signed Rank test was used for data analysis. Level of significance was set at p-values < 0.05. Results: At baseline, 1-hour and 24-hours, salivary F concentrations (median, range, ppm) were 0.06 (0.01-0.41), 0.97(0.05-2.12), and 0.11(0.02-0.76) respectively, while baseline and 24-hour urinary F concentrations (ppm) were 0.33(0.02-0.79) and 0.43 (0.04-1.24) respectively. Salivary Ag concentrations (ppb) were 3.11 (0.97-9.34) at baseline, 4684 (3864.0-11920.99) at 1 hour, and 43.96 (17.32-171.09) at 24 hours after SDF application. Urinary Ag concentrations (ppb) were 1.97 (0-10.59) and 3.62(0-14.26) before and 24 hours after SDF application respectively. There were statistically elevated fluoride and silver ion concentrations at 24 hours after SDF application as compared to baseline. Conclusions: Salivary concentration of fluoride and silver ions elevated significantly at 1- and 24-hours following SDF application. The systemic absorption of fluoride and silver ions were minimal, their urinary concentrations were elevated at 1 hour and remained above the baseline even after 24 hours