Present status, potential and future needs for mechanization of agricultural operations in Jammu and Kashmir state of India

A study indicates that there is increase in area, production and productivity of major food crops in Jammu & Kashmir State of India over the years but the rate of increase has been slow.  Jammu region of the State has maximum cropping intensity (176.8%) followed by Kashmir (123%) and Ladakh (106%).  The average land holding in the State is very low  (0.66 ha) in comparison to National Average (1.68 ha).  The unit farm power availability on gross cropped area basis is   0.78 kW contributed 51.2% by animated (human and animal power) sources and 48.8% from rest of the sources.  The present agricultural production is insufficient to mitigate the requirement of growing population due to the limited scope of increase in cultivable area and low level of mechanization.  The bottleneck in mechanization are due to non availability of improved equipment, small and scattered land holding, low investing capacity of the farmers and lack of awareness among farmers.  Despite these, there is a great need and effort to increase the productivity and reduce the drudgery through mechanization inputs.Keywords: Mechanization status, mechanization potential agricultural operations, farm powe

Characteristics of Lactic Acid Bacteria Strains Isolated From Tibetan Plateau and Their Effects on Silage Quality of Italian Ryegrass (\u3cem\u3eLolium Multiflorum\u3c/em\u3e Lam.) At Low Temperature

Temperature is an important factor affecting ensilage. In cold regions, low temperature could be an adverse environmental factor during ensiling. However, little research has focused on improving silage quality at low temperatures. This study aimed to examine two lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains (LCG9 and TG1) isolated from the Tibetan Plateau, and evaluate their effects on the silage quality of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) at three temperatures (10° C, 15° C and 25° C). The isolated strains and one commercial inoculant (G, Lactobacillus plantarum MTD-1) were evaluated by morphological, physiological and biochemical tests. Strains G, LCG9, TG1 and their combination of LCG9+TG1 were added to Italian ryegrass for ensiling 90 days at various temperatures. All the isolates could grow normally at 5-20°C, pH 3.5-7.0 and NaCl (3.0%, 6.5%). Strains LCG9 and TG1 were identified as Pediococcus pentosaceus and Lactobacillus plantarum by sequencing 16S rDNA, respectively. Compared to the corresponding controls, all the inoculants improved the silage quality of Italian ryegrass at different temperatures, indicated by significantly (P3- N) contents and undesirable microorganism counts. At 10°C and 15°C, strains TG1 and G performed better than other inoculants, indicated by significantly (P3-N contents. Strains TG1 and G are recommended as starter culture for Italian ryegrass silage at low temperatures

Phage Therapy an Effective Remedy Against Drug-Resistant Bugs and Hard to Treat Bacterial Infections-A Review

The injudicious use of antibiotics not only in medicine but also to promote the growth of farm animals has led to the development of antibiotic resistance against many bacterial diseases. One of the remedy against such drug resistant bacterial infections is the application of phage (Bacteriophage) therapy. Phage therapy involves using phages or their products as bioagents for the treatment or prophylaxis of bacterial infections. There are two types of phages based on their type of life cycle: the lytic and the lysogenic phages. Only the lytic phages are used in phage therapy, because of the disadvantages of lysogenic pahges (Superinfection immunity, lysogenic conversion, specialized transduction). Apart from live phages the phage byproducts like phage lysins can also be used specifically against certain bacterial infections. The reports indicate that appropriate administration of living phages can be used to treat lethal infectious diseases caused by bacteria, like Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Acinetobacter baumannii, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella spp. and Staphylococcus aureus etc. In the coming time the phage therapy will compensate for unavoidable complications of antimicrobial therapy, particularly the appearance of multidrug resistance bacteria (super bugs)

Structural Transformation and Economic Growth – A Comparative Study of J&K State & Other Northern States

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Patient Assessment Using Step-Up-And-Over Test

The goal of surgery for patients undergoing anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) and subsequent rehabilitation is the restoration of normal knee function (van Grinsven et al., 2010). Having procedures that accurately assess and quantify recovery are crucial to ensure that physicians if patients are regaining knee function. However, there is no standardized, objective assessment of a patient’s improvement as they progress through the stages of rehabilitation. Currently, maximal effort testing is used to evaluate knee function to determine a patient’s readiness to return to unrestricted physical activity but, these tests place a high demand on the knee joint, which is contraindicated in early rehabilitation (Cascio et al., 2004) and may confound the patient’s results due to fear of re-injury. The step-up-and-over (SUAO) test is an objective, submaximal effort test that quantifies performance (van Grinsven et al., 2010) and, therefore, can be used to evaluate knee function throughout rehabilitation to gauge the patient’s progression. Results showed that the ACL-QoL was not related to the variables measured using the SUAO test and that the SUAO test was able to track an individual’s progression through rehabilitation. Results also showed that fear of re-injury did not affect the performance on each testing day but pain did. Together, these results indicate that the SUAO test is a clinically viable option to track an individual’s progression through rehabilitation without having feared of re-injury affect the results and that pain may affect performance of the SUAO test

Gemmological Characteristics of Gemstone Varieties Found in the Pegmatite of Haramosh Area, Gilgit-Baltistan

Haramosh valley is located in eastern side of Gilgitcity (Fig. 1). Geographically it is located between74°44' 17.37 " E and 35° 51 '8.97 " N. The area is asub range of Karakoram in the south-central region ofthe Rakaposhi–Haramosh mountains. Haramosh valleyis famous for its gemstones which are well known inthe world. The first gem mine was discovered in 1951in the area of Haramosh valley in Gilgit. Theprominent four localities of gem-bearing pegmatitesoccur in the vicinity of the Haramosh peak, Shengusalong Indus river, Haramosh Bulachi village, and thesetting of Khaltoro pasture. Along with glaciers,Hindukush Karakorum and Himalayan ranges host avariety of precious stones (Agheem et al., 2014). Inrecent decade Haramosh valley received moreattention because of the occurrence of a variety ofgems in pegmatite veins. Gemstone varieties related topegmatites are also found in other parts of GilgitBaltistan, like Shigar, Shengus, and Stuk Nala (Kazmiet al., Laurs et al., 1998).Pegmatites are found widelyin Gilgit-Baltistan Pakistan within the mountain rangesof Karakoram (Laurs et al. 1998). These macroliticpegmatite’s are mainly associated with leucogranites inHaramosh Massif, which is famous for recent rapiduplift (Laurs et al., 1998; Zeitler 1985). Variouscrystals of topaz, tourmaline, beryl, and quartz arebeing mined from these macrolitic pegmatite’s (Laurset al., 1998). Famous tourmaline crystal (10cm) ofPakistan is found in Stuk Nala of Nanga ParbatHaramosh Massif (Laurs et al., 1998)

Hepatoprotective effect of desi and kabuli cultivars of Cicer arietinum L (chick peas) against carbon tetrachloride-induced toxicity in rats

Purpose: To determine the hepatoprotective potential of ethanol extracts of desi and kabuli cultivars of Cicer arietinum L. (chick peas). Methods: Hepatotoxicity was induced in rats using oral administration of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). The rats were then orally administered different doses of the ethanol extracts of desi and kabuli cultivars of Cicer arietinum L. for 21 days. Oxidative stress parameters and hepatoprotective profiles were determined in serum samples using standard procedures. The effect of the treatments on liver histology was also determined. Results: Administration of extracts of desi and kabuli cultivars of Cicer arietinum L. to CCl4 treated rats at a dose of 300 mg/kg resulted in a significant (p ≤ 0.05) decrease in oxidative stress parameters, whereas catalase activity significantly increased (p ≤ 0.05); on the other hand, ALT and AST levels were decreased significantly (p ≤ 0.05), when compared to the control group. Conclusion: High doses of Cicer arietinum L (desi and kabuli cultivars) seem to have hepatoprotective and antioxidant effects on CCl4-induced toxicity in rats. This finding underscores the therapeutic importance of Cicer arietinum L. as a plant with hepatoprotective properties. Keywords: Cicer arietinum, Phenolics, Hepatotoxicity, Chick peas, Catalas

Flexural behavior of reinforced concrete beams by using rice husk ash as partial replacement of fine aggregates in cement concrete

Rice Husk has been utilized as a mineral admixture, cement replacement option, and filler in cement concrete as it provides several advantages such as improved strength values and environmental benefits related to the disposal of waste materials and to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions resulting from production of cement worldwide. In this study, flexural behavior of reinforced concrete beams using rice husk ash as a partial replacement of fine aggregates is investigated. For this purpose, four types of concrete mixtures were produced using rice husk ash as a partial replacement of fine aggregates at replacement levels of 0%, 10%, 15% and 20%. The produced reinforced rice husk ash concrete prism specimens were cured in water and tested to determine the ultimate load and ultimate deflection at 28 days of curing. The test results depicted that, the maximum ultimate load carried by reinforced rice husk ash concrete beam is 39.4 KN with 10% rice husk ash at 28 days and minimum ultimate load is 19.02 KN with 20% rice husk ash used as a partial substitute of fine aggregates at 28 days. The minimum ultimate deflection of 0.97mm occurred with 10% rice husk ash as a partial replacement of fine aggregate at 28 days of curing. Hence, this study concludes that 10% RHA can be utilized as a partial replacement of fine aggregates to provide strength in concrete and to reduce the environmental burden of rice husk waste. The results of this study will also provide a way forward to address the recent issues in construction sector, such as depletion of raw materials and increasing cost of construction

growth of zno nanorods on fto glass substrate

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