Gamma Ray Irradiation for Crop Protection Against Salt Stress

Legumes have tremendous dietary value for human nutrition. However, the productivity of food legumes is always compromised owing to their insufficient ability to tolerate abiotic stresses such as drought or water logging, marginal soil, low/high temperatures and salt stress. Stress induces changes at the morphological, physiological, biochemical and molecular level which are consequently manifested in terms of reduced seed yield and quality. Salt stress is one of the most important constraints to crop production particularly in the arid and semi-arid regions of the world. Low dose of ionising radiation like gamma ray is reported to induce growth and several other physiological attributes in non-legume and legume crops. Relationship between seed gamma irradiation and salinity stress response could be related to favourable maintenance of gas exchange attributes (Pn, gs and E), 14C partitioning, activity of antioxidative enzymes (SOD, CAT and POX), membrane stability index (MSI) K+ to Na+ ratio, proline and glycine betaine content. One or more mechanisms may contribute simultaneously towards salt tolerance response of crop plants. The present review critically analyses the effect of gamma ray irradiation on growth and development of legumes under salt stress and evaluates the contribution of various physiological and biochemical mechanisms towards radiation mediated alleviation of salt stress response

Acid Rain and Seed Germination: A Predictive Model Using ML-based CART Algorithm

The impact of acid rain on the germination of seeds is a significant concern in agricultural and environmental studies. Acid rain, characterized by elevated acidity levels due to pollutants like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, can adversely affect the germination process of various plant species. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of simulated acid rain (SAR) on the germination of Brinjal (Solanum melongena Linn.) and Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata ssp. cylindrica L. Walpers) crops. The experiments were conducted using eight plastic trays of approximately 25 cm. x 30 cm dimensions. Four trays were used for experiments with brinjal seeds (Set I), while the other four were used for cowpea seeds (Set II). One tray from each set was used as positive control and treated with normal pH 5.6, while the other three trays from each batch were treated with SAR solutions of pH 4.5, 3.5, and 2.5. Brinjal seed germination percentage and seed vigor were inferior to Cowpea seeds. The seeds treated with SAR (pH 4.5, 3.5, and 2.5) showed hindered seed germination. Furthermore, a more significant inhibitory effect was observed at lower pH values. The mean germination percentage of seeds was highest for standard SAR (pH 5.6) in the case of Brinjal seeds, while it was recorded lowest for Cowpea seeds. The results indicate that plants do not respond uniformly to SAR. To investigate the behavior of the simulated acid rain data, a Machine Learning-based Decision Tree Algorithm was employed to identify and optimize conditions. Cowpea was predicted to get 95% seed germination, whereas brinjal would only be 64% in acid rain of pH value 5.05 for 36 hours. In conclusion, utilizing a Machine Learning-based CART algorithm has provided valuable insights into predicting the germination behavior of seeds under the influence of acid rain

Epidemiology and risk factors of healthcare associated infections from intensive care unit of a tertiary care hospital

Background: Nosocomial infections (NIs) result in increased morbidity, mortality and length of hospital stay. The Incidence of NIs, their risk factors and the antibiogram patterns vary across and within countries. We assessed the rates, infection sites, pathogens and risk factors of health-care-associated infections in ICU of a tertiary care hospital.Methods: In this retrospective study, all the patients admitted in Intensive Care Unit over a period of 6 months during August 2015 to January 2016 were included in the current study. Routine surveillance of various health-care-associated infections such as catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI), central-line-associated blood stream infections (CLABSI), and ventilator-associated pneumonias (VAP) was done by the Department of Microbiology through an Infection Surveillance Proforma. Patients’ records including Infection Surveillance Proforma served as study tools. Odd’s ratio was calculated to ascertain the strength of association of each risk factor.Results: Incidence rates of health-care-associated infections were 9.06/1000 urinary catheter days, 13.35/1000 central venous pressure line days and 5.42/1000 ventilator days. Most common organisms isolated from urine were Pseudomonas aeruginosa (34.48%), Enterococcus species (13.79%), Klebsiella pneumonia (13.79%) and Candida species (13.79%). Similarly three topmost organisms isolated from blood were Klebsiella pneumoniae (32.26%), Acinetobacter species (29.03%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (16.13%). Acinetobacter spp. (40.0%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (33.33%) and Klebsiella pneumonia (13.33%) were most commonly responsible for tracheal infections. Presence of diabetes and COPD as well as length of ICU stay ≥8 days was significantly associated with health-care-associated infections.Conclusions: Diabetes, COPD and ICU stay for ≥8 days were found to be significantly associated with device-associated infections in our ICU. Data thus generated can be used to plan and modulate the potential intervention measures while managing device-associated infections

Microwave assisted preparation of 1,3-dithiolanes under solvent free conditions

172-17

A novel synthesis of (±)-8-hydroxy-5-isopropylnonan-2-one

914-91

Moyamoya Disease Worldwide-Global Burden East and West

The Moyamoya disease [MMD] is a cereberovascular disorder characterized by progressive stenosis of intracranial internal carotid arteries and compensatory collateral formation at the base of the brain, mainly around the circle of Willis. When no particular associated risk factors can be identified, it is termed as Moyamoya disease. However, it may be associated with other neurological and extra- neurological disorders where it is termed as Moyamoya syndrome [MMS]. The condition is predominantly seen in East Asia and has bimodal age of distribution. The clinical manifestations are also age dependant with ischemia predominating in childhood and hemorrhagic manifestations being more common in adults. The pathogenesis is not entirely known, but genetic susceptibility is believed to be an important predisposing factor. The Suzuki staging system is most widely used for evaluation and staging of Moyamoya disease. The gold standard diagnostic modality is cerebral angiography but magnetic resonance imaging [MRA] has also been employed for diagnosis. Treatment is primarily surgical revascularization which is of 3 types: direct, indirect or combined revascularization. Although the role of revascularization surgery has been well established for ischemic MMD, the ideal surgical approach and the role of surgery in hemorrhagic MMD remains controversial

The global burden of cancer attributable to risk factors, 2010-19 : a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background Understanding the magnitude of cancer burden attributable to potentially modifiable risk factors is crucial for development of effective prevention and mitigation strategies. We analysed results from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 to inform cancer control planning efforts globally. Methods The GBD 2019 comparative risk assessment framework was used to estimate cancer burden attributable to behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risk factors. A total of 82 risk-outcome pairs were included on the basis of the World Cancer Research Fund criteria. Estimated cancer deaths and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) in 2019 and change in these measures between 2010 and 2019 are presented. Findings Globally, in 2019, the risk factors included in this analysis accounted for 4.45 million (95% uncertainty interval 4.01-4.94) deaths and 105 million (95.0-116) DALYs for both sexes combined, representing 44.4% (41.3-48.4) of all cancer deaths and 42.0% (39.1-45.6) of all DALYs. There were 2.88 million (2.60-3.18) risk-attributable cancer deaths in males (50.6% [47.8-54.1] of all male cancer deaths) and 1.58 million (1.36-1.84) risk-attributable cancer deaths in females (36.3% [32.5-41.3] of all female cancer deaths). The leading risk factors at the most detailed level globally for risk-attributable cancer deaths and DALYs in 2019 for both sexes combined were smoking, followed by alcohol use and high BMI. Risk-attributable cancer burden varied by world region and Socio-demographic Index (SDI), with smoking, unsafe sex, and alcohol use being the three leading risk factors for risk-attributable cancer DALYs in low SDI locations in 2019, whereas DALYs in high SDI locations mirrored the top three global risk factor rankings. From 2010 to 2019, global risk-attributable cancer deaths increased by 20.4% (12.6-28.4) and DALYs by 16.8% (8.8-25.0), with the greatest percentage increase in metabolic risks (34.7% [27.9-42.8] and 33.3% [25.8-42.0]). Interpretation The leading risk factors contributing to global cancer burden in 2019 were behavioural, whereas metabolic risk factors saw the largest increases between 2010 and 2019. Reducing exposure to these modifiable risk factors would decrease cancer mortality and DALY rates worldwide, and policies should be tailored appropriately to local cancer risk factor burden. Copyright (C) 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY 4.0 license.Peer reviewe

Penilaian Kinerja Keuangan Koperasi di Kabupaten Pelalawan

This paper describe development and financial performance of cooperative in District Pelalawan among 2007 - 2008. Studies on primary and secondary cooperative in 12 sub-districts. Method in this stady use performance measuring of productivity, efficiency, growth, liquidity, and solvability of cooperative. Productivity of cooperative in Pelalawan was highly but efficiency still low. Profit and income were highly, even liquidity of cooperative very high, and solvability was good

Juxtaposing BTE and ATE – on the role of the European insurance industry in funding civil litigation

One of the ways in which legal services are financed, and indeed shaped, is through private insurance arrangement. Two contrasting types of legal expenses insurance contracts (LEI) seem to dominate in Europe: before the event (BTE) and after the event (ATE) legal expenses insurance. Notwithstanding institutional differences between different legal systems, BTE and ATE insurance arrangements may be instrumental if government policy is geared towards strengthening a market-oriented system of financing access to justice for individuals and business. At the same time, emphasizing the role of a private industry as a keeper of the gates to justice raises issues of accountability and transparency, not readily reconcilable with demands of competition. Moreover, multiple actors (clients, lawyers, courts, insurers) are involved, causing behavioural dynamics which are not easily predicted or influenced. Against this background, this paper looks into BTE and ATE arrangements by analysing the particularities of BTE and ATE arrangements currently available in some European jurisdictions and by painting a picture of their respective markets and legal contexts. This allows for some reflection on the performance of BTE and ATE providers as both financiers and keepers. Two issues emerge from the analysis that are worthy of some further reflection. Firstly, there is the problematic long-term sustainability of some ATE products. Secondly, the challenges faced by policymakers that would like to nudge consumers into voluntarily taking out BTE LEI