Pearl millet downy mildew in Gujarat

A field survey was undertaken to monitor downy mildew (Sclerospora graminicola) incidence on 21 pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) hybrids in 88 fields in Gujarat in the rainy season of 2001. Downy mildew incidence was recorded in 2 m2 subplots as the ratio of diseased to total plants at the soft-dough to hard-dough growth stage. Some seed lots were treated with metalaxyl. Disease incidence varied with location and was very variable (1-86% in Kheda). Of the 15 hybrid cultivars from private seed companies, seven were free from downy mildew (Amul, MRB 2210, Nandi 3, PAC 931, Proagro 7501, 9330 and Vikram 51) and eight had mean incidences from 9 to 55%. Of the six public-sector hybrids, only GHB 235 was free from disease, the remaining five had mean incidences from 2-68%. The cropping sequence pearl millet - cowpea - maize - pearl millet reduced downy mildew incidence more than other combinations (10% downy mildew incidence)

Extraction and characterization of essential oil of nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) fruit pericarp and utilization as a surface coating material to improve the shelf life of paneer

Paneer is a traditional dairy product of India and is similar to unripened soft cheese. It is used as a raw material for the preparation of a variety of culinary dishes and snacks. Paneer is marble white in appearance, with a firm, cohesive and spongy body and a sweetish-acidic-nutty flavor. But it is highly perishable with a limited shelf- life like other indigenous dairy products. Its shelf life was reported to be only six days under refrigeration, though its freshness is lost within three days. The spoilage of paneer occurs mainly due to the growth of microorganisms, which bring about various physico-chemical changes. In the present study, attempts were made to increase the shelf-life of paneer at refrigerated storage by the application ofnutmeg pericarp essential oil surface coating. The essential oil was prepared from fresh nutmeg fruit flesh by steam distillation method. The physico-chemical and bio functional properties of essential oil were determined. The specific gravity and refractive index of the essential oil were found to be 0.903 and 1.477 respectively. The acid value and total polyphenolic value of essential oil were 3.36 and 4.04 mg GAE/g respectively. The essential oil was also found to have good antimicrobial and antioxidant activity. The shelf life of samples coated with essential oil packaged in LDPE pouches had more shelf life than the control paneer, as the coated paneer kept well for 9 days while the control paneer spoiled after the 6th day of refrigerated storage. The paneer with essential oil coating obtained satisfactory sensory score

Host resistance stability to downy mildew in pearl millet and pathogenic variability in Sclerospora graminicola

Downy mildew, caused by Sclerospora graminicola, is a major pathogen of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) in Asia and Africa. So development of resistant cultivars has been a major goal of national and international breeding programs. Stability of resistance in pearl millet lines developed at ICRISAT was studied through a collaborative International Pearl Millet Downy Mildew Virulence Nursery (IPMDMVN). The reactions to downy mildew of 11 pearl millet lines at 17 locations in India, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Nigeria from 1995 to 1999 were recorded. Disease incidence varied significantly among lines, locations, and years. The tested pearl millet lines exhibited significant differential resistance. Resistance in lines IP 18292, IP 18293, 700651 and P 310-17 was most stable regardless of the location or season. Analysis of the variation in resistance also suggested that the resistance in IP 18292 and IP 18293 was variable and depended on the locations and years, while the resistance in 700651 and P 310-17 was highly stable across locations and over years. The latter two lines could prove to be the most valuable sources of downy mildew resistance. The results also revealed significant differences in S. graminicola populations at different locations, with the highest disease at Bagauda (Nigeria) and Durgapura (India) and lowest from Coimbatore and Aurangabad (India). Based on the reaction of the 11 pearl millet lines, the 17 S. graminicola populations were grouped into six putative pathotypes (undefined populations closer to races)

Are textbook lungs really normal? A cadaveric study on the anatomical and clinical importance of variations in the major lung fissures, and the incomplete right horizontal fissure.

INTRODUCTION: The lungs have three main fissures: the right oblique fissure (ROF), right horizontal fissure (RHF), and left oblique fissure (LOF). These can be complete, incomplete or absent; quantifying the degree of completeness of these fissures is novel. Standard textbooks often refer to the fissures as complete, but awareness of variation is essential in thoracic surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fissures in 81 pairs of cadaveric lungs were classified. Oblique fissures were measured from lung hila posteriorly to the lung hila anteriorly; and the RHF measured from the ROF to the anteromedial lung edge. The degree of completeness of fissures was expressed as a percentage of the total projected length were they to be complete. The frequency and location of accessory fissures was noted. RESULTS: LOF were complete in 66/81 (81.5%), incomplete in 13/81 (16.0%) and absent in 2/81 (2.47%); ROF were complete in 52/81 (64.2%), incomplete in 29/81 (35.8%) and never absent; RHF were more variable, complete in 18/81 (22.2%), incomplete in 54/81 (66.7%) and absent in 9/81 (11.1%). LOF and ROF were on average 97.1% and 91.6% complete, respectively, being deficient posteriorly at the lung hila. The RHF on average 69.4% complete, being deficient anteromedially. There were accessory fissures in 10 left and 19 right lungs. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides a projection of the anatomy thoracic surgeons may encounter at operation, in particular the variable RHF. This knowledge is essential for optimal outcomes in both benign and oncological procedures influenced by the fissures

Youth futures and a masculine development ethos in the regional story of Uttarakhand

Research on the Uttarakhand region, which became a new state in 2000, has focused largely on agrarian livelihoods, religious rituals, development demands, ecological politics and the role of women in regional social movements. This essay discusses another dimension of the regional imaginary—that of a masculine development ethos. Based on ethnographic research and print media sources, this essay focuses on stories, politics, mobilities and imaginations of young men in the years immediately after the achievement of statehood. Despite increased outmigration of youth in search of employment, many young men expressed the dream of maintaining livelihoods in the familiar towns and rural spaces of Uttarakhand, describing their home region as a source of power and agency. In rallies and in print media, young (mostly upper caste) men expressed their disillusionment with the government and the promises of statehood, arguing that their aspirations for development and employment were left unfulfilled. Gendered stories of the region, told in Hindi in rallies and print media, contained references to local places, people and historical events and were produced through local connections and know-how, fostering a regional youth politics. The article argues that Uttarakhand as a region is shaped by the politics of local actors as well as embodied forms of aspiration, affiliation and mobility.IS

Construction of Crystalline 2D Covalent Organic Frameworks with Remarkable Chemical (Acid/Base) Stability via a Combined Reversible and Irreversible Route

Two new chemically stable [acid and base] 2D crystalline covalent organic frameworks (COFs) <b>(TpPa-1</b> and <b>TpPa-2</b>) were synthesized using combined reversible and irreversible organic reactions. Syntheses of these COFs were done by the Schiff base reactions of 1,3,5-triformylphloroglucinol (<b>Tp</b>) with <i>p</i>-phenylenediamine (<b>Pa-1</b>) and 2,5-dimethyl-<i>p</i>-phenylenediamine (<b>Pa-2</b>), respectively, in 1:1 mesitylene/dioxane. The expected enol–imine (OH) form underwent irreversible proton tautomerism, and only the keto–enamine form was observed. Because of the irreversible nature of the total reaction and the absence of an imine bond in the system, <b>TpPa-1</b> and <b>TpPa-2</b> showed strong resistance toward acid (9 N HCl) and boiling water. Moreover, <b>TpPa-2</b> showed exceptional stability in base (9 N NaOH) as well

Construction of Crystalline 2D Covalent Organic Frameworks with Remarkable Chemical (Acid/Base) Stability via a Combined Reversible and Irreversible Route

Two new chemically stable [acid and base] 2D crystalline covalent organic frameworks (COFs) <b>(TpPa-1</b> and <b>TpPa-2</b>) were synthesized using combined reversible and irreversible organic reactions. Syntheses of these COFs were done by the Schiff base reactions of 1,3,5-triformylphloroglucinol (<b>Tp</b>) with <i>p</i>-phenylenediamine (<b>Pa-1</b>) and 2,5-dimethyl-<i>p</i>-phenylenediamine (<b>Pa-2</b>), respectively, in 1:1 mesitylene/dioxane. The expected enol–imine (OH) form underwent irreversible proton tautomerism, and only the keto–enamine form was observed. Because of the irreversible nature of the total reaction and the absence of an imine bond in the system, <b>TpPa-1</b> and <b>TpPa-2</b> showed strong resistance toward acid (9 N HCl) and boiling water. Moreover, <b>TpPa-2</b> showed exceptional stability in base (9 N NaOH) as well