Effect of supplementary pollination in grapes (Vitis vinifera)

In the variety Bharat Early, the weight of bunch and number of berries per bunch were markedly increased by supplementary pollinations with Pearl of Csaba and Pusa Seedless pollen as compared to control. However, berry weight was not altered. Shot berries were significantly reduced by all pollen including the self as compared to control. Least number of shot berries were obtained by using Pearl of Csaba and Pusa Seedless pollen.In the variety Pusa Seedless which is allied to Thompson Seedless the bunch weight was increased by Bharat Early, Beauty Seedless and Pearl of Csaba pollen. No significant increase in the number of berries per bunch resulted, but berry size was increased by these pollen

Hazard Classification Testing of Primers used in Small Arms Ammunition.

Primer is a small initiating device used for ignition of propellant charge and subsequent ejection of projectile from a weapon. Hilherto, primers were classified under safely class. Recent accidents however, have raised doubts about their diversification. Field trials were therefore carried out to ascertain their correct behaviour under different conditions. It was observed that the nature of filling composition, its charge mass and the type of package had profound influence on the hazard classification which could change its classification from safety class to mass explosion hazard

Assessment on performance and variability in different sweet orange (Citrus sinensis Obseck) cultivars under Punjab conditions

Based on morphological characterization, the performance of eighteen sweet orange, (Citrus sinensis Obseck) cultivars were evaluated. On the basis of two year data, the maximum mean fruit weight (316.25 gm) was recorded in Moro, while the maximum mean fruit diameter and mean fruit length was recorded in Mosambi and Olinda Valencia (87.32 mm and 81.33 mm, respectively). Albedo thickness was recorded maximum in Ruby Nucellar (3.42 mm). Highest total soluble solids was recorded in cultivar Moro (11.450 brix), while the titratable acidity was recorded maximum in Valencia Calizonida (1.21 %). Fruit axis diameter and Fruit rind thickness were recorded maximum in Rhode Red Valencia and Vernia (15.12 mm and 8.11 mm, respectively). In the variability studies, the maximum genotypic coefficient of variance (GCV) and phenotypic coefficient of variance (PCV) was recorded maximum for titratable acidity (27.88 and 27.94, respectively) followed by albedo thickness (23.77 and 23.78, respectively) and fruit weight (21.52 and 21.67, respectively). Genetic advance per cent of mean was recorded for titratable acidity (57.31%) followed by albedo thickness (48.96 %) and fruit weight (44.03 %) suggesting that further selection will be effective for improvement in these traits

Role of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy in Healing of Diabetic Foot Ulcers

Introduction: Foot disorders such as ulceration, infection and gangrene are the most common, complex and costly sequelae of diabetes mellitus.[1-3] Even for the most superficial wounds, treatment is often difficult with poor healing responses and high rates of complications. The purpose of this study is to compare the rate of ulcer healing with the negative pressure dressing technique to conventional moist dressings in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on 30 patients, which were divided into two groups. One group received negative pressure dressing while other group received conventional saline moistened gauze dressing. Results were compared for rate of wound healing. Results: There was a statistically significant difference in the rate of appearance of granulation tissue between the two groups; with granulation tissue appearing earlier in the study group. The study group promised a better outcome (80% complete responders) as compared to the control group (60% complete responders). Conclusions: Negative pressure wound therapy has a definitive role in healing of diabetic foot ulcers

Balanced nutrition increases yield of pearl millet under drought

Improving the climate resilience of crops is particularly important in the semi-arid tropics (SAT) where variability and uncertainty of precipitation is expected to increase under climate change with detrimental impacts on the vulnerability of livelihoods of small farm holders. This study analyses a long-term strategic experiment datasets from fifteen experiments (1981–1995) managed under different fertility level sat International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru and on-farm balanced nutrition management trials (2010–2012) in Karnataka, India to evaluate the pearl millet performance in contrasting seasons with improved agronomic management. Long-term climate variability and yield trends were analyzed using ICRISAT’s weather datasets. On-farm data analysis revealed that majority of farmers’ field soils were deficient in organic carbon, available phosphorous, sulphur, zinc and boron at all the locations studied. Pearl millet grain yield and above ground dry matter was improved significantly with balanced nutrient application (NPK + S + Zn + B) in farmers’ field which were critically deficient in the soil nutrients. Even in comparatively drier years, application of balanced nutrient significantly increased grain yield and aboveground dry matter which provides resilience against drought through enhanced water productivity. Long-term experiments conducted in ICRISAT showed that nitro-gen application increased grain yield and above ground dry matter in pearl millet however seasonal variability had a greater effect on yield than cultivars and applied N. Pearl millet yield was positively associated with August maximum temperature and negatively with seasonal precipitation. September precipitation >125 mm which coincided with grain filling stage reduced grain yield. Benefit: cost analysis showed that balanced nutrient application of pearl millet is an economically sustainable option across the seasons. Pearl millet can be an important component of climate resilient agriculture in low production environments when managed with improved agronomic practices

Non-invasive Ischaemia Testing in Patients With Prior Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery: Technical Challenges, Limitations, and Future Directions

Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery effectively relieves symptoms and improves outcomes. However, patients undergoing CABG surgery typically have advanced coronary atherosclerotic disease and remain at high risk for symptom recurrence and adverse events. Functional non-invasive testing for ischaemia is commonly used as a gatekeeper for invasive coronary and graft angiography, and for guiding subsequent revascularisation decisions. However, performing and interpreting non-invasive ischaemia testing in patients post CABG is challenging, irrespective of the imaging modality used. Multiple factors including advanced multi-vessel native vessel disease, variability in coronary hemodynamics post-surgery, differences in graft lengths and vasomotor properties, and complex myocardial scar morphology are only some of the pathophysiological mechanisms that complicate ischaemia evaluation in this patient population. Systematic assessment of the impact of these challenges in relation to each imaging modality may help optimize diagnostic test selection by incorporating clinical information and individual patient characteristics. At the same time, recent technological advances in cardiac imaging including improvements in image quality, wider availability of quantitative techniques for measuring myocardial blood flow and the introduction of artificial intelligence-based approaches for image analysis offer the opportunity to re-evaluate the value of ischaemia testing, providing new insights into the pathophysiological processes that determine outcomes in this patient population

Molecular MR Imaging of Liver Fibrosis: A Feasibility Study Using Rat and Mouse Models

Background & Aims: Liver biopsy, the current clinical gold standard for fibrosis assessment, is invasive and has sampling errors, and is not optimal for screening, monitoring, or clinical decision-making. Fibrosis is characterized by excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins including type I collagen. We hypothesize that molecular magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with a probe targeted to type I collagen could provide a direct and non-invasive method of fibrosis assessment. Methods: Liver fibrosis was induced in rats with diethylnitrosamine and in mice with carbon tetrachloride. Animals were imaged prior to and immediately following i.v. administration of either collagen-targeted probe EP-3533 or non-targeted control Gd-DTPA. Magnetic resonance (MR) signal washout characteristics were evaluated from T1 maps and T1-weighted images. Liver tissue was subjected to pathologic scoring of fibrosis and analyzed for gadolinium and hydroxyproline. Results: EP-3533-enhanced MR showed greater signal intensity on delayed imaging (normalized signal enhancement mice: control = 0.39 ± 0.04, fibrotic = 0.55 ± 0.03, p <0.01) and slower signal washout in the fibrotic liver compared to controls (liver t1/2 = 51.3 ± 3.6 vs. 42.0 ± 2.5 min, p <0.05 and 54.5 ± 1.9 vs. 44.1 ± 2.9 min, p <0.01 for fibrotic vs. controls in rat and mouse models, respectively). Gd-DTPA-enhanced MR could not distinguish fibrotic from control animals. EP-3533 gadolinium concentration in the liver showed strong positive correlations with hydroxyproline levels (r = 0.74 (rats), r = 0.77 (mice)) and with Ishak scoring (r = 0.84 (rats), r = 0.79 (mice)). Conclusions: Molecular MRI of liver fibrosis with a collagen-specific probe identifies fibrotic tissue in two rodent models of disease