Effect of plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria inoculation on plant growth, productivity and economics of Basmati rice

A field experiment was conducted in a wet season (Kharif) to study the effects of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria(PGPR) inoculation on agronomic traits and productivity of Basmati rice (cv. ‘Pusa Basmati 1401’) in a randomized block with twelve treatments. We evaluated one bacterial (Providencia sp. PW5) and one cyanobacterial strain (Anabaena sp. CR3), and also a Multani mitti (Fuller’s earth)-based blue-green algal biofertilizer (a composite culture of Anabaena, Nostoc, Tolypothrix and Aulosira sp.). Plant growth, yield attributes, yield and net return of rice were significantly improved due to the rhizobacterial inoculation. The highest responses were recorded from combined inocula of bacteria and cyanobacteria together with compost.Keywords: Bacterial inoculants; BGA; cyanobacterial inoculants, PGPR; yield attributes

An evaluation of knowledge, attitude and practice of pharmacovigilance among interns in a tertiary care teaching hospital of North Maharashtra

Background: Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) are considered as one of the leading cause throughout the world resulting in significant increase in mortality and morbidity, therefore its monitoring is very essential in today's practice of medicine. Spontaneous reporting of ADRs have played a major role in the detection of unsuspected, serious and unusual ADRs previously undetected during the phases of clinical trials. Under-reporting of ADRs is considered as one of the major hurdle for the success of pharmacovigilance. Aims and objectives were to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of pharmacovigilance among interns in a tertiary care teaching hospital.Methods: A cross sectional, observational, questionnaire based study was carried out using a predesigned Knowledge Attitude Practice (KAP) questionnaire. Study was conducted after the permission of Institutional Ethical Committee (IEC). The study included 100 interns who had completed at least ten months of their internship. The KAP questionnaire was assessed and analyzed and data was presented as percentages.Results: On an average only 31.17% interns answered correctly related with knowledge about pharmacovigilance. 88.63% interns agreed that ADRs reporting is necessary. According to 85.22% interns, pharmacovigilance must be taught in details to healthcare professionals. Only 34.09% had ever seen the ADR reporting form. Only 17.04% interns had knowledge about how to report ADR?Conclusions: Our study revealed that there was lack of awareness related with knowledge, attitude and practice of pharmacovigilance among the interns. There is need of implementation of pharmacovigilance awareness programs for undergraduates

Influence of organic nutrient sources and moisture management on productivity, biofortification and soil health in pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) + clusterbean (Cyamopsis tetragonaloba) intercropping system of semi-arid India

A field experimentation was carried out at New Delhi, India for three years (2010-12) under rainfed semi-arid conditions to assess the effect of three organic nutrient sources and two moisture management practices on productivity, biofortification and soil health under pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br. emend Stuntz] + clusterbean [Cyamopsis tetragonaloba (L.) Taub] intercropping system (PCIS). In current study, the pearl millet grain yield under sole pearl millet was at par with PCIS while its stover yield reduced by 5%. Under PCIS, inclusion of clusterbean led to significant reduction in clusterbean yield compared to its sole stand, however, PCIS system productivity was more over their sole crop stands, indicating that additive series of PCIS may bring more net economic gains over their sole stands in semi-arid ecology of India. The coarse cereal-legume interactions under PCIS have also led to improved protein content in pearl millet (11.2%) over its sole stand (10.7%). Zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe) deficiency is a common feature in semi-arid India and the crops grown as well. Study revealed that Zn and Fe content in pearl millet were increased by 6.5 and 1.6%, respectively, by the inclusion of clusterbean in PCIS. Plant growth, yield attributes and yield of pearl millet and clusterbean crops showed an improvement under flat sowing + organic mulching (FS+OM) over ridge and furrow sowing (RFS) but the differences were non-significant. Among organic nutrient sources, leaf compost (LC) @ 10 t/ha and FYM @ 10 t/ha produced significantly more system productivity in terms of pearl millet-equivalent-yield (PEY) than 100% RDF and control. Protein content both in pearl millet and clusterbean, and Zn and Fe biofortification in pearl millet grains was higher under FYM treated plots closely followed by LC, and leaf + cowdung mixture compost. Application of organics especially FYM @ 10 t/ha also resulted in improved soil health in terms of bulk density, soil organic carbon and NPK status after three years experimentation

Analysis of farmers' communication network and factors of knowledge regarding agro meteorological parameters

Understanding communication networks bear significant importance for undertaking interventions regarding local information needs. It becomes more important if the issues of sensitivity like climate change and its effect on agriculture has to be dealt. The agricultural sector needs accurate, reliable and timely weather and climate information for daily tactical decisions and long-term planning for crop management. They can potentially alter selection and management of crops based on new information obtained within a few weeks or days of planting. The information systems integrating agricultural educators, researchers, extensionists and farmers need to be introduced for agriculture sector for which sufficient data base regarding the gap between the possessed knowledge and the available knowledge and the information source utilization pattern need to be generated. The present study to find out the factors of the knowledge of farmers regarding climate and weather in relation to crop management and the analysis of farmers' communication network was undertaken in Adilabad district (highly vulnerable to climate change effects) of Telangana state of India. A knowledge test specifically designed was administered to 120 respondents and was found that majority of the respondents had moderate level of knowledge. The socio-economic and psycho-personal variables like education, occupation, family type, land holding, social participation, economic motivation, innovativeness, scientific orientation and risk orientation showed positive and significant relationship with knowledge level and in regression analysis education, scientific orientation were positive and had significant contribution to the knowledge level of respondents. Television, radio, agriculture officer and progressive farmers were categorized into strong group of information sources usefulness. In order to support farm level decisions and minimize the loses in adverse climatic and weather conditions farmers' understanding about interaction of climate and agro-ecosystem need to be bridged through inclusion of farmers' communication networ

Influence of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria inoculation on nutrient availability, soil microbial properties and defence enzymes in rice (Oryza sativa) crop

Soil organic carbon, available N, P, K, Zn, Fe and Cu in soil at crop harvest stage significantly increased due to the integrated inoculation of PGPR and Multani mitti based BGA with application of compost and chemical N fertilizer (80 and 120 kg/ha) over N control. Status of SOC and available N, P, K, Fe, Zn and Cu in soil at crop maturity stage was highest at 2/3N+BI+CI+C@ 5.0 tonnes/ha. Soil chlorophyll, dehydrogenase and ARA activity were significantly higher at 2/3N+BI+CI+C@ 5.0 tonnes/ha compared to other treatments. Plant enzymatic activity of POD and PPO at 60 DAT also was significantly higher in 2/3N+BI+CI+Compost@ 5.0 tonnes/ha. Application of 2/ 3N with inoculation of bacterial and cyanobacterial PGPR along with 5.0 tonnes/ha compost not only improved nutrient availability in soil but also enhanced soil microbial, plant enzymatic activity and crop yield

Health-related quality of life and utilities in gastric premalignant conditions and malignant lesions: a multicentre study in a high prevalence country

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: A recent review of economic studies relating to gastric cancer revealed that authors use different tests to estimate utilities in patients with and without gastric cancer. Our aim was to determine the utilities of gastric premalignant conditions and adenocarcinoma with a single standardized health measure instrument. METHODS: Cross-sectional nationwide study of patients undergoing upper endoscopy (n=1,434) using the EQ-5D-5L quality of life (QoL) questionnaire. RESULTS: According to EQ-5D-5L, utilities in individuals without gastric lesions were 0.78 (95% confidence interval: 0.76-0.80), with gastric premalignant conditions 0.79 (0.77-0.81), previously treated for gastric cancer 0.77 (0.73-0.81) and with present cancer 0.68 (0.55-0.81). Self-reported QoL according to the visual analogue scale (VAS) for the same groups were 0.67 (0.66-0.69), 0.67 (0.66-0.69), 0.62 (0.59-0.65) and 0.62 (0.54-0.70) respectively. Utilities were consistently lower in women versus men (no lesions 0.71 vs. 0.78; premalignant conditions 0.70 vs. 0.82; treated for cancer 0.72 vs. 0.78 and present cancer 0.66 vs. 0.70). CONCLUSION: The health-related QoL utilities of patients with premalignant conditions are similar to those without gastric diseases whereas patients with present cancer show decreased utilities. Moreover, women had consistently lower utilities than men. These results confirm that the use of a single standardized instrument such as the EQ-5D-5L for all stages of the gastric carcinogenesis cascade is feasible and that it captures differences between conditions and gender dissimilarities, being relevant information for authors pretending to conduct further cost-utility analysis

Exploring the success factors of hybrid micro-enterprises

This research explores hybrid micro-entrepreneurs’ founding motivations and the transformation of those motivations into visions of success, by applying multiple criteria decision analysis (MCDA). We find that entrepreneurs of hybrid micro-enterprises are driven mostly by noneconomic goals and that those influence their vision of success. The success framework consists of seven indicators (training, professional development, marketing, management, external factors, infrastructures, and organizational aspects). Human capital is perceived as the most important for success – translating the professional motivations for founding. Reversely, external factors, which are usually considered crucial to attain legitimacy, are perceived the least important factors. Given the findings, are hybrid micro-entrepreneurs ready to succeed?info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Extracellular Transglutaminase 2 Is Catalytically Inactive, but Is Transiently Activated upon Tissue Injury

Transglutaminase 2 (TG2) is a multifunctional mammalian protein with transamidase and signaling properties. Using selective TG2 inhibitors and tagged nucleophilic amine substrates, we show that the majority of extracellular TG2 is inactive under normal physiological conditions in cell culture and in vivo. However, abundant TG2 activity was detected around the wound in a standard cultured fibroblast scratch assay. To demonstrate wounding-induced activation of TG2 in vivo, the toll-like receptor 3 ligand, polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly(I:C)), was injected in mice to trigger small intestinal injury. Although no TG2 activity was detected in vehicle-treated mice, acute poly(I:C) injury resulted in rapid TG2 activation in the small intestinal mucosa. Our findings provide a new basis for understanding the role of TG2 in physiology and disease