Evaluation of Factors that Contribute to Injury to Quizalofop-Resistant Rice from Quizalofop Applied Postemergence

Quizalofop-resistant rice technology allows for over-the-top applications of quizalofop, an acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase-inhibiting herbicide. However, quizalofop caused significant injury to quizalofop-resistant rice in some Arkansas fields during the first year of commercialization. Experiments evaluated the effect of early-season soil moisture and nitrogen availability; pre-exposure to low rates of glyphosate and imazethapyr; planting date; and environmental conditions including, soil moisture content, air temperature, and light intensity on quizalofop-resistant rice tolerance to quizalofop applications. All experiments assessed sequential quizalofop applications made to 2-leaf followed by 5-leaf stage of rice. Sequential quizalofop applications alone and with surface irrigation or nitrogen application at the 2-leaf rice stage after the initial herbicide application caused minimal injury to quizalofop-resistant cultivars, wit

THE NATURAL POTENTIAL OF TRANSITION METALS TO ACTIVATE THE INITIAL STEPS OF FISCHER-TROPSCH CATALYSIS: A DFT STUDY

With recent advances in modeling and simulations methods along with state-of-the- art supercomputers, theoretical studies are becoming a cheaper choice for scientific predictions and provide complementary support to the experiments. Intense research in catalysis has been done in the past two decades experimentally as well as theoretically. This works employs first-principle studies to predict the most promising catalysts for Fischer-Tropsch (FT) reaction based on size and composition. The transition metals Fe, Co, Ni, Ru, Pd, and Pt, have been explored in pure and alloyed nanocluster forms for the effectiveness of catalytic properties. The first and most crucial step of the FT reaction is carbon-mono-oxide adsorption on the surface of the catalyst, followed by its dissociation to form long-chain hydrocarbons. The studies done in this work explores the natural potential of the metals towards the CO adsorption and dissociation and provide a reference for further studies to find the best catalyst for the FT reaction. In this work density, functional theory calculations were carried out using Generalized Gradient Approximation with RPBE functional on two sizes of pure and bimetallic nanoclusters viz. ~0.5 nm and ~1.2 nm consisting of 13 and 55 atoms respectively. Core-shell icosahedron geometry of nanoclusters in the form of A1B12 (0.5 nm) and A13B42 (1.2 nm) is used. Bimetallic nanoclusters are formed using a combination of the above-mentioned metals. 13-atom clusters pure and binary clusters of Ru, Pd, and Pt, are explored with DND and DNP basis sets while 55-atom nanoclusters studies are done using plane-wave basis sets. Based on the CO adsorption and dissociation energies, an initial predictor, percentage difference was proposed to identify potentials catalyst systems. In 13-atom pure systems Ru was found to have the highest value of the % difference. In 55-atom clusters of Ru, Ni, Pd, and Co, Ru was found to have a maximum value of the percentage difference, hence greater catalytic performance. In bimetallic systems, only systems showing better excess energy were considered for further studies. Surface energy was seen to be the dominant factor in the binding of metal atoms in a core-shell arrangement. In bimetallic 55-atom nanoclusters, Fe13Ru42 was found to be the best catalyst among all the binary combinations explored. Ni and Pt are better than Ru, Co, and Fe (in decreasing order of preference) in the core of cluster when shell metal is Pd. Fe13Co42 nanocluster was found to have greater value of percentage difference than bare Co nanocluster of same size. Ru, Co, and Fe (in decreasing order of preference) preferred to be in the core of the cluster where host(shell) element is Ni than the pure Ni cluster. Fe13Pt42 was found to be better than any other element in the core of cluster, when shell was composed of Pt. The initial predictor proposed in this work predicted the order of preference of potentials catalyst (top 6 candidates) as follows: Fe13Ru42 \u3e Ru55 \u3e \u3e Ru13Ni42 \u3e Pd55 \u3e Co13Ni55 \u3e Fe13Ni42

Comparison of Stability Indices for Critical Line at Different Loading Conditions

Modern power systems are operating under much stressed load conditions and also facing the problem of limited capacity of power generating sources. Voltage instability is a quite frequent phenomenon under such situation rendering degradation of power system performance. In order to avoid system voltage collapse and blackouts, power system is to be analyzed in view of voltage stability for a wide range of system conditions. This paper discusses the use of line voltage stability indices termed as fast voltage stability index (FVSI) and line stability index (Lmn) in order to determine the critical line. The line with least stability margin is ranked highest indices value is identified as theoretical line. The performances of the indices are investigated for the IEEE 14 - bus test system at different loading using MATLAB simulations

Lornoxicam versus diclofenac sodium in acute renal colic: a prospective randomized trial

Background: Acute renal colic is excruciatingly painful event, opioid analgesics and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs remain the mainstay of treatment for acute renal colic. This study compares diclofenac and lornoxicam in their efficacy to relieve pain of renal origin.Methods: Prospective, randomized, double blind clinical study including eighty patients with renal pain admitted in emergency department of a tertiary care teaching hospital. Parameters were observed at baseline and after 15, 30, 60, 180 minutes and 5hrs of drug treatment. The efficacy of the drug was measured by observing: Pain score, onset & duration of action, rescue drug use, global patient and physician impression.Results: Both drugs are effective in relieving pain of renal origin (p<0.05) and maintaining it over time as well. When decrease in value of  pain score compared between two groups at various interval there was statistically significant (p<0.05) decrease in pain score only at 15 minutes in lornoxicam group showing this slightly more effective in early phase compared to diclofenac. In either group there is no statistically significant difference regarding onset of action, duration of action and side effect profile.Conclusions: Both the drugs are equally effective and safe in renal colicky pain with added advantage of lornoxicam being more effective in early period

Texasweed (Caperonia palustris (L.) St. Hil.) interference and management in drill-seeded rice

Field research was conducted from 2006 to 2009 to study Texasweed [Caperonia palustris (L.) St. Hil.] interference and management in Cocodrie rice. Texasweed interference at 10 plants/m2 caused 24 to 31% rice yield reduction. The maximum possible yield loss was estimated to be 81%. Rice yield reduction was primarily due to a reduction in culms/m2 and filled grains per panicle. For maximum yield, Texasweed must be removed by two weeks after emergence and managed until permanent flood establishment. Shade had no effect on Texasweed emergence but significantly reduced growth and reproduction. At 100 days after emergence, 50, 70, and 90% shade reduced dry matter per plant by 31, 47, and 90%, respectively. Texasweed height increased with increasing shade up to 70% and then decreased. After 28 DAI, Texasweed height in 70% shade increased 15 to 21% compared with 0% shade. Texasweed seemed to mitigate the adverse effect of shade on growth by increasing specific leaf area and leaf biomass. In a flood depth study, Texasweed plants were able to survive and produce seeds in flood depths up to 30 cm; however, growth and fruit production were reduced. A 76 and 41% reduction in total dry matter per plant was recorded for Texasweed flooded at two- to three-leaf and four- to five-leaf stage, respectively. Increasing flood depths resulted in an increase in plant height and greater biomass allocation to the stem. Texasweed plants produced adventitious roots and a thick spongy tissue, secondary aerenchyma, in the submerged roots and stem, which may play a role in its survival under flooded conditions. For Texasweed control, bensulfuron-methyl interacted synergistically with both penoxsulam and bispyribac-sodium. Bensulfuron-methyl, therefore, can be mixed with either penoxsulam or bispyribac-sodium to improve Texasweed control. V-10142 provided excellent PRE and EPOST activity on Texasweed. V-10142 at 224 g ai/ha by itself, applied to four- to five- leaf Texasweed, was not effective but improved Texasweed control when mixed with bispyribac-sodium at 29 g ai/ha or penoxsulam at 40 g ai/ha

Sickle cell disease status among school adolescents and their tribal community in South Gujarat

Objectives: to create awareness, to screen samples of school adolescents and then to reach their community through them by doing surveillance for sickle cell disease. Design: Field based cross-sectional study. Settings: St Xavier`s high school and Vanraj high school of Umarpada taluka of Surat district. Subjects: School adolescents, their parents and friends. Method: After taking permission from school authority, blood samples of 948 school adolescents were taken for DTT test and then for electrophoresis. Blood samples of motivated parents and friends of those adolescents found positive for DTT was taken in subsequent visit and results were communicated to them. Results: Blood samples of 948 school adolescents, out of 1081 were tested for DTT test. It was positive in 242 samples, giving a prevalence of 25.5% for sickle cell disease. On subjecting the positive blood samples to electrophoresis, the proportion of sickle cell trait and sickle cell disease was found to be 92% and 8% respectively. Then electrophoresis was done in 64 parents and friends, 24 (37.5%) of them were found positive of which, 14 (58%) were having sickle cell trait and 10 (42%) having sickle cell disease. Conclusion: approaching community can be possible through school adolescents for conduction of surveillance of sickle cell anemi

Role of ICT to improve Healthcare System in Rajasthan, India

The use of ICT/IT and its recent advances of technology could play important role in improving health systems in developing countries like India. Most of the hospitals in urban area are equipped with advanced tools using digitized analysis and embedded technology for operations but the use of ICT based administrative tools to coordinate activities and communicate knowledge in the area of health is limited. Combining a case study approach with a general discussion of the issues, this paper attempts to assess the potential benefits of a diverse range of ICT innovations and some of the constraints they will need to overcome. In this paper four broad areas are considered for the application of ICT in health system i.e. improvements in traditional health information systems, computer� aided diagnosis and treatment monitoring, a range of applications generically labeled �telemedicine� and the use of ICT to inform general population on health and healthcare. The final section speculates on the possible medium� term impacts of ICT in terms of improving the performance of existing systems, allowing scope for radical innovations or even changing basic assumptions about the service provider and patient relationship. In this paper an attempt has been made by the authors to assess the penetration of Information and Communication Technologies in present health care system in the State of Rajasthan in India. The impact of these technologies in health care system of the state has been studied in terms of various facilities existing in various hospitals established at the block, district and divisional level. The authors have tried to make an extensive study of various infrastructural facilities in these hospitals along with the use of ICT tools to make the best use of these facilities. The study of the existing healthcare system has been carried from the government. published available literature as well as by seeking public opinion through questionnaire and personal interviews. The data so obtained from the literature and through the questionnaires have been analyzed. Based on the observations made through the data analysis and by making a thorough investigations of the similar infrastructural facilities in the neighbouring states, the authors have proposed an ICT supported healthcare model for implementation in the state of Rajasthan with an objective to carry out the benefits of the facilities existing in district level hospitals and the village level hospitals as well

COVID-19 and pregnancy outcomes: a retrospective study from a tertiary health care center of Uttarakhand, India

Background: Information regarding the effects of COVID-19 on pregnancy outcomes evolved rapidly in the recent years. This study aims to present the outcomes in COVID-19 positive pregnant women. Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted in a tertiary health care center of Uttarakhand, India from April 2021 to June 2021. The maternal and neonatal data for the included cases were extracted from hospital records and appropriately analysed. Results: The positivity rate of COVID-19 among obstetric population was 7.9% by universal screening protocol. 55.2% participants were in the age group of 25-30 years. Gestation age at presentation ranged from 6 weeks to 41 weeks. 47.3% participants had pre-existing comorbidities. 26.4% study subjects had pregnancy related comorbidities, the most common being gestational diabetes mellitus (14.7%), followed by pre-eclampsia (8.8%). Only 21.1% participants were symptomatic at presentation. Most common presenting symptom was fever (87.5%) followed by breathlessness (62.5%). 7.5% required invasive ventilation and 10.5% cases required intensive care unit (ICU) admission and 76.5% participants underwent caesarean section which was done for obstetric indications only. 3.9% participants died due to COVID-related complications. Nearly 35% neonates were preterm, 29.4% had low birth weight and 24.1% needed neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission. Nasopharyngeal swab for COVID reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) after 24 hours of birth was negative in all neonates. There were 10 (14.7%) stillbirths. Conclusions: COVID-19 in pregnancy was associated with higher risks of gestational diabetes mellitus, preeclampsia and higher rates of invasive ventilation, ICU admission, caesarean sections, maternal mortality specially in women with pre-existing comorbidities, stillbirths, preterm births and NICU admission