Psychological Characteristics as Determinant of Counterproductive Work Behavior

This research has explored the relationship between counterproductive work behavior and psychological characteristics of self-efficacy and self-impression. Workers working in the manufacturing industries at Gurgaon and Maneser, Haryana were specified as population for the study. A sample of 240 workers was taken for the study from the stipulated population and tested for the tendency of counterproductive work behavior and psychological dimensions of self-efficacy and self-impression. Tested subjects were classified on the basis of High and low degree of self-efficacy and self-impression. Formulated groups of subjects having high and low self-efficacy and self-impression were compared for their tendency of counterproductive work behavior. Comparison reveals that the subjects of the group having high self-efficacy were negatively but significantly related with their tendency of counterproductive work behavior, whereas, the subjects of group with low self-efficacy were positively and significantly related with their tendency of counterproductive work behavior. Further comparison discovers that the group of subjects with high self-impression was negatively and significantly related with their tendency of counterproductive work behavior and the group of subjects having low self-impression was positively and significantly related with their tendency of counterproductive work behavior. Keywords: Self-Efficacy and Self-Impression on Counterproductive Work Behavio

Lack of research aptitude in medical education

Students are attracted towards the medical profession to become a doctor and not to be a researcher. According to a recent study there are about 1,00,000 undergraduate medical students in India at a given point of time, out of them only 0.9% of the students have shown research aptitude. During their training period of graduation in medical sciences, they are so much burdened with the work load of exams, practicals, ward duties and tutorials. In such an over burdened situation very few of them can think about research. A study had shown that training in research methodology received early in medical school helps students to develop a positive attitude towards research. So changes in the undergraduate and postgraduate curriculum are required to promote research among medical students

Bioprocessing of Crop Residues using Fibrolytic Enzymes and Flavobacterium bolustinum for Enriching Animal Feed

Flavobacterium bolustinum and its extracellular cellulase were tested for animal feed pretreatment. The fibrolytic enzymes, cellulase and pectinase were applied to various crop residues such as wheat straw, rice straw, corn seeds and sorghum for enriching animal feed. Different parameters like temperature, incubation time and enzyme dose had been optimized for maximum reducing sugar and protein release. The highest amount of reducing sugar obtained was 29.83 mg g-1 dry substrate and soluble protein was 27.34 mg g-1 dry substrate on single cellulase enzyme treatment at 50°C for 6 h. An increase in amount of released reducing sugar (39.5 mg g-1 dry substrate) and protein (33.88 mg g-1 dry substrate) was observed when enzyme cocktail (cellulose and pectinase) was used. Solid state fermentation using F. bolustinum had also been performed for all crop residues. It released higher amount of reducing sugar (41.36 mg g-1) and protein (47.21 mg g-1) as compared to enzymatic treatment. Different substrates resulted in appreciable weight loss by enzymatic treatment (15-35%) as well as fermentation using F. bolustinum (40%). Liquefaction of lignocellulosic rich crop residues, for better utilization of feed has never been reported earlier

Genotype × environment interaction for morphological and quality traits of wheat varieties under different nitrogen regimes in the foothills of Shivalik range of Himalayas

Variation among twelve winter wheat varieties with respect to N efficiency (NE) were assessed in field trial planned as per factorial experimental design (two years × three nitrogen doses × twelve genotypes) in which treatments were randomized in three replications under three nitrogen levels (control, 150, 250 kg/ha) for two successive years at N. E. Borlaug Crop Research Center, Pantnagar. Stability analysis of nitrogen efficiency contributing traits was performed using mean performance, linear regression and the deviation from regression. No single genotype performed well enough for all the traits under study. QLD 33, HD 2967 and QLD 39 were stable for root length showing good performance for nitrogen uptake. HD 3112 was most stable variety for most of the characters whereas, QLD 33 was found to perform best under higher levels of nitrogen fertilisation, thus, not efficient enough. But, QLD 33 showed delayed maturity which could be linked with an increase in grain yield thus, it could be said that functional stay green phenotypes should increase the grain filling period and boost yield

Restriction on animal experimentation for medical education and research: pros and cons

Recently, a lot have been written and discussed about animal experiments and ethics. Still there is too much confusion among academicians and researchers about the future of use of animals in biomedical research and up to what extent their use in laboratory, research institutions, and medical colleges. This article highlighted and discussed about various aspects of this burning issue along with several pros and cons

Immunosuppressant effect of Boswellia serrata extract on CFA induced arthritis in rats

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an immune-mediated arthropathy, so for the treatment disease modifying antirheumatoid drugs are required. In this study we are evaluating the immunomodulatory property of Boswellia serrata extract (BSE) as an alternative medicine.Methods: Complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA), 0.1ml was injected intradermally in the footpad of left hind paw in 36 Wistar rats to induce RA. Animals were divided into 6 groups. BSE in the doses of 45mg/kg, 90mg/kg and 180mg/kg was administered and cyclophosphamide as standard drug. Various parameters as body weight, paw thickness, ankle diameter, paw volume, arthritis index, TNF- α and histopathological changes were analyzed.Results: Marked reduction in paw thickness, ankle diameter, paw volume, arthritis index and an improved body weight was found in high dose BSE (180mg/kg) group but the effect was lesser than standard drug Cyclophosphamide.Conclusions: BSE has significant potential as an alternative medicine for treatment of autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis

Adjuvant drugs in management of osteoarthritis: spotlight on type II collagen

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common musculoskeletal disorder that affects large and small joints and is seen in all ages due to diverse aetiologies. Pain, joint stiffness and limitation of daily activities affects the quality of life of individuals with OA. Conventional analgesics like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs affect pain and inflammatory component but do not target the disease pathogenesis. Damage to the joint cartilage is central to the pathogenesis of OA. Better understanding of the pathogenesis has led to evolution of various adjuvant drugs in management of OA. Among them, undenatured type II collagen induces immune tolerance and thereby provide benefits by reducing the joint damage. Studies assessing efficacy and safety of undenatured type II collagen in OA have shown to reduce clinical symptoms like pain, joint stiffness and improvement in physical activities, and thus improving the quality of life. It is well tolerated and safe for use in OA. This article discusses the pathophysiology of OA with inflammation and beyond, and overviews the various drugs that are used as adjuvants in the management of OA with special focus on the use of type 2 collagen

Efficiency of Double Layered Microencapsulated Probiotic to Modulate ProInflammatory Molecular Markers for the Management of Alcoholic Liver Disease

Alcohol-related disorders are one of the challenging current health problems with medical, social, and economic consequences. Endotoxemia, oxidative stress, and release of a variety of inflammatory molecules are established mediators in alcoholic liver injury (ALD). Probiotics like L. plantarum though were reported to attenuate ALD, their in vivo health benefits are limited by their survival and sustenance in the adverse gut conditions. Therefore, to enhance their in vivo performance, chitosan coated alginate beads entrapping L. plantarum were prepared, characterized, and evaluated for their efficacy against ALD in rats. Following chronic alcohol exposure, rats developed endotoxemia, showed enhanced levels of liver enzyme markers, NF-κB levels, and increased cytokines such as TNF-α and IL12/p40 subunit, and reflected significant histological changes in the intestine and liver. However, cosupplementation with double layered microencapsulated probiotic significantly (P<0.05) reduced the levels of endotoxemia, serum transaminases, NF-κB, and cytokines complemented with restoration of normal histoarchitecture of the intestine and liver. It is being documented here for the first time that the probiotics have the potential to inhibit IL-12/p40 subunit which is a recently explored potential marker for developing novel therapeutic agents. This study reveals that microencapsulation of probiotics may offer a biopharmacological basis for effective management of ALD

Advancing Agriculture in Smart Cities: Renewable Energy and Artificial Intelligence-Powered IoT

This paper reviews advancements in vertical farming and smart agriculture technologies, focusing on the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) in urban agricultural practices. Vertical farming, propelled by AI and IoT, addresses land and water scarcity in urban settings, offering a sustainable solution by utilizing vertical spaces for cultivation. Smart AgroTech systems in urban farming exemplify the convergence of IoT and renewable energy resources, facilitating efficient farm operations. These systems automate irrigation based on real-time data, providing remote monitoring and control to farmers, thus reducing error margins in farming operations. Furthermore, AI-powered robots and drones are revolutionizing traditional farming landscapes by automating crucial tasks like weeding, spraying, and crop monitoring, conserving resources and augmenting overall productivity and quality of produce. The reviewed studies unveil a shift towards datadriven, automated, and sustainable farming practices crucial for food security in growing urban populations, laying a foundation for future explorations in this interdisciplinary domain