Evidence of isolate-specificity in non-hypersensitive resistance in spring wheat (Triticum aestivum) to wheat leaf rust

Isolate-specific aspect of non-hypersensitive resistance in wheat to wheat leaf rust was studied at seedling stage in the green house. Isolate-specific response of non-hypersensitive resistance was assessed from latency period (LP) and infection frequency (IF) of two single-pustule isolates of Puccinia triticina in 26 spring wheat cultivars/lines. Small but significant cultivar x isolate interactions were observed for LP and IF in seedlings of host genotypes. Isolate specific effect for LP at seedling stage was consistent and reproduced in a repeated experiment; however, the interaction for IF was inconsistent and was not reproducible. The inconsistency in cultivar x isolate interaction may be due to some non-genetic origin. The result suggested that a gene-for-gene relationship could exist between non-hypersensitive resistance genes in the host and genes in pathogen

Study of anti-diabetic, beta-carotene-bleaching inhibiting and iron chelating properties of Carissa opaca root extracts

Degenerative diseases diabetes and oxidative stress constitute a major health concern worldwide. Medicinal plants are expected to provide effective and affordable remedies. The present research explored antidiabetic and antioxidant potential of extracts of Carissa opaca roots. Methanolic extract (ME) was prepared through maceration. Its fractions were obtained, sequentially, in hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and n-butanol. An aqueous decoction (AD) of the finely ground roots was obtained by boiling in distilled water. The leftover biomass with methanol was boiled in water to obtain biomass aqueous decoction (BAD). The extracts and fractions showed considerable porcine pancreatic α-amylase inhibitory activity with IC50 in the range of 5.38-7.12 mg/mL while acarbose had 0.31 mg/mL. The iron chelating activity in terms of EC50 was 0.2939, 0.3429, 0.1876, and 0.1099 mg/mL for AD, BAD, ME, and EDTA, respectively. The EC50 of beta-carotene bleaching activity for AD, BAD, ME, and standard BHA were 4.10, 4.71, 3.48, and 2.79 mg/mL, respectively. The total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) of AD and BAD were also considerable. In general, ethyl acetate fraction proved to be the most potent. Thus, the C. opaca roots had excellent antioxidant activity while having moderate α-amylase inhibitory potential

Problems of Employed Women at Faisalabad–Pakistan

ABSTRACT Sex status is one of the basic causes of such differences in roles to be performed by males and females separately. Pakistani society is also following this universal pattern of differentiated sex-roles and status. The underlying concept of this is the superiority of men as compared to women. This study focused on problems faced by employed women within the current socio-economic conditions in the urban area of Faisalabad District. The selected sample of employed women consists on 70 doctors, 50 bankers and 30 teachers. For the present study a well-designed interviewing schedule was developed after consideration of the basic variables included the research. The collected data was analyzed and the result regarding their income, problems (family, official), satisfaction were tabulated and interpreted on the basis of facts and figures. It is suggested that media can play a vital role to resolve the problems of employed women

EFFECT OF SUPPLEMENTAL IRRIGATION ON WHEAT WATER PRODUCTIVITY UNDER RAINFED ECOLOGY OF POTHOHAR, PAKISTAN

For rainfed ecology, water is the most limiting natural resource and its effective utilization is indispensable in order to optimize crop water productivity. A field study on wheat crop was carried out to asses the impact of different irrigation depths through sprinkler irrigation system at three phonological stages viz. tilleing, anthesis and grain filling. Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) was used in the trail and had three repeats.  The area under study received 195 mm seasonal rainfall. Supplemental irrigation depths at three phonological stages, using small quantities of water through sprinkler irrigation system, significantly promoted the crop growth. The irrigation depth 25 mm gave the maximum output for biological yield (6504 ), grain yield (2030 ), thousand grain weight (28), plant height (87 ) and spike length (10 ). The highest water productivity of 0.97 kg/m3 was achieved with 25 mm supplemental irrigation depth when applied at tillering and anthesis stages

Distribution and population status of Himalayan musk deer (Moschus chrysogaster

Abstract.-A study was conducted in November-December 2006 to determine the current distribution, population status and habitat utilization of Himalayan Musk Deer (Moschus chrysogaster) in the Machiara National Park, Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Line transect method was applied for estimating its population size using both the direct observation of the animal as well as indirect evidences from its signs. A total of 31 Musk deer were sighted from 19 sites, comprising six in sub-alpine scrub forest and 25 in Himalayan moist temperate forest. Total population of Musk deer was estimated at 64 individuals in the park which showed an increase over the previous population of 35 animals estimated in 2004. The increase in Musk deer population could be attributed to the initiatives taken under Protected Areas Management Project. This project has involved local communities residing at the periphery of the park for the protection and management to conserve the biodiversity resources of the park, which had positive impact on the population of Musk deer. Study indicated that Musk deer undergo seasonal migration to lower elevations in the Himalayan moist temperate coniferous forest during the heavy snowfall in the park. Hence, sub-alpine scrub forest and Himalayan moist temperate forest, the two habitats used by Musk deer which need total protection

Study of anti-diabetic, beta-carotene-bleaching inhibiting and iron chelating properties of Carissa opaca root extracts

Degenerative diseases diabetes and oxidative stress constitute a major health concern worldwide. Medicinal plants are expected to provide effective and affordable remedies. The present research explored antidiabetic and antioxidant potential of extracts of Carissa opaca roots. Methanolic extract (ME) was prepared through maceration. Its fractions were obtained, sequentially, in hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and n-butanol. An aqueous decoction (AD) of the finely ground roots was obtained by boiling in distilled water. The leftover biomass with methanol was boiled in water to obtain biomass aqueous decoction (BAD). The extracts and fractions showed considerable porcine pancreatic α-amylase inhibitory activity with IC50 in the range of 5.38-7.12 mg/mL while acarbose had 0.31 mg/mL. The iron chelating activity in terms of EC50 was 0.2939, 0.3429, 0.1876, and 0.1099 mg/mL for AD, BAD, ME, and EDTA, respectively. The EC50 of beta-carotene bleaching activity for AD, BAD, ME, and standard BHA were 4.10, 4.71, 3.48, and 2.79 mg/mL, respectively. The total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) of AD and BAD were also considerable. In general, ethyl acetate fraction proved to be the most potent. Thus, the C. opaca roots had excellent antioxidant activity while having moderate α-amylase inhibitory potential

Novel dual-band antenna with simultaneous linear and circular polarizations

A multi-function microstrip antenna for simultaneous operation at two different frequency bands (centered at 1.575 GHz and 2.4 GHz) is presented. In contrast to the traditional dual-band antennas, the presented antenna design is unique as it can achieve two different polarizations simultaneously. Such a configuration makes the proposed antenna suitable for receiving signals from entirely different systems using a single antenna. In order to achieve the dual-band operation, a stacked configuration of microstrip antennas has been used where the top patch is designed to operate at 2.4 GHz with linear (vertical) polarization while the bottom patch is designed to operate at 1.575 GHz with right hand circular polarization. Although the proposed antenna is a typical dual-band stacked configuration, it is the antenna feed that makes it a novel design. The antenna feed consists of a broadband branch-line coupler but its connection to the antenna is non-symmetric thereby forcing the two different patches to produce different polarizations. Antenna simulation results show that the dual-band antenna achieves greater than 5 dBi gain at both frequency bands whereas the axial ratio remains less than 3 dB at the GNSS band (1.575 GHz). The axial ratio at the ISM band (2.4 GHz) is shown to be greater than 35 dB demonstrating a linearly polarized operation. The antenna has a compact size and low cost, suitable for portable terminal antennas receiving signals at both GNSS and ISM frequency bands

Association of Pro12Ala polymorphism in peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma with proliferative diabetic retinopathy

Contains fulltext : 118015.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)PURPOSE: The association of non-synonymous substitution polymorphism rs1801282 (c.34C>G, p.Pro12Ala) in exon 4 of the peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma gene with diabetic retinopathy (DR) has been reported inconsistently. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to understand the population-specific role of the Pro12Ala polymorphism in DR susceptibility in Pakistani subjects. METHODS: A total of 180 subjects with DR, 193 subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with no diabetic retinopathy, and 200 healthy normoglycemic non-retinopathic Pakistani individuals were genotyped for the rs1801282 (c.34C>G) polymorphism using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. RESULTS: We found the individuals with T2DM carrying 12Ala were at a reduced risk of developing DR (odds ratio [OR]=0.53; 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.33-0.87). Upon stratified analysis regarding disease severity, we observed this protective effect was confined to proliferative DR (OR=0.4; 95% CI=0.2-0.8) with non-significant effects on the susceptibility of non-proliferative DR (OR=0.67; 95% CI=0.37-1.19). CONCLUSIONS: We report a protective role of the 12Ala polymorphism against proliferative DR in individuals with T2DM in Pakistan

Tackling Food Insecurity Using Remote Sensing and Machine Learning-Based Crop Yield Prediction

Precise estimation of crop yield is crucial for ensuring food security, managing the supply chain, optimally utilizing resources, promoting economic growth, enhancing climate resilience, controlling losses, and mitigating risks in the agricultural industry. Accurate yield prediction depends upon several interactive factors, including crop genotype, climate conditions, soil fertility, sowing & irrigation plan, and crop management practices. For this purpose, remote sensing data and machine learning (ML) algorithms are emerging as indispensable tools that can significantly increase farm productivity while using minimal resources and reducing environmental impact. In this context, the study presents a framework for wheat grain yield prediction using three regression techniques including Random Forest, Xtreme Gradient Boosting (XGB) regression, and Least Absolute Shrinkage & Selection Operator (LASSO) regression. Various aspects of the three models are investigated and results are compared to explore the optimal technique. Drone-based multispectral sensors are employed to acquire data from three wheat experimental fields with three different sowing dates (SD1, SD2, SD3), and the effect of the seeding plan on crop yield is examined. The prediction performance of models is assessed at different growth stages of the crop using several evaluation metrics. The results show that LASSO achieved the highest performance in April with the coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.93 and mean absolute error (MAE) of 21.72. The average annual predicted yield is 260.54 g/m2, 201.64 g/m2, and 47.29 g/m2 in the wheat field with SD1, SD2, and SD3 respectively. This study can help farmers and agronomists to make informed decisions about crop management activities such as planting & harvest plans, and resource handling