Relative Efficacy of On-Farm Weeds as Soil-Amendement for Managing Dry Root Rot of Clusterbean in an Arid Environment

The effectiveness of certain on-farm weeds as soil amendments was ascertained against Macrophomina phaseolina, a soil-borne pathogen causing dry root rot of crops grown under rainfed conditions in arid regions. Population changes in M. phaseolina were determined in soils amended separately with residues (1%, w:w) of Aerva persica, Celosia argentea, Corchorus depressus, Euphorbia hirta, Heliotropium subulatum and Polycarpaea corymbosa, for a period of 90 days. Significant reductions by 90.4–100% in the population of M. phaseolina were achieved with all the weed residues except P. corymbosa. Celosia and Euphorbia residues completely eradicated viable propagules of M. phaseolina. A strong increase (44–61%) in the population of antagonistic actinomycetes was also found in soil amended with Corchorus and Euphorbia. In field tests, soil amended (50 g m2) with Euphorbia, Aerva and Celosia residues significantly reduced dry root rot incidence on clusterbean and also reduced M. phaseolina propagules in the soil. However, dry root rot incidence in Polycarpaea-amended soil (5.8–24.6%) was not significantly different from that in non-amended soil (4.3–25.3%) in both years of the experiment. P. corymbosa also increased the number of propagules of M. phaseolina in the soil. The results demonstrate that dry root rot of rainfed-cultivated annual crops in arid land can be managed with certain weeds as a soil amendment

Brassica amendments and summer irrigation for the control of Macrophomina phaseolina and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cumini in hot arid region

The combined effect of Brassica amendments (mustard oil–cake or mustard residue at 2.5 tons ha-1) and summer irrigation was tested for survival of Macrophomina phaseolina and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cumini and on the severity of dry root rot on clusterbean in the rainy season and on wilt of cumin in the subsequent winter season in the same field. Seed coating with a Bacillus sp., an antagonist bacterium against M. phaseolina, was also integrated with pod residues to improve control of dry root rot. The soil temperature of amended soil after one summer irrigation in June ranged from 38–44°C at 15-cm depth. These temperatures were 0.5–5°C higher than those recorded in unamended soil for the same period and 6–16°C higher when amendments were incorporated in July. A single summer irrigation led to a significant reduction in viable propagules of M. phaseolina, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cumini, plant mortality due to dry root rot in clusterbean and incidence of wilt on cumin from Brassica amendments, as compared with the application of amendments in July. A seed coating with Bacillus sp. alone was also effective, but integration with residues did not improve control of dry root rot. In general, amended soil held more soil moisture than unamended soil. These findings have a potential value for irrigated pockets in the hot arid zone of India as well as for many countries with the appropriate climatic conditions

Cumin wilt management – a review

Cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) is one of the oldest seed spice and an important production constraint is wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cumini Prasad and Patel (Foc) and crop losses could be up to 60%. Maximum population of Foc was estimated at 0-5 cm soil depth in the presence of crop, but the population density tended to decline progressively with distance from the surface. Resting structures of the Foc, the chlamydospores, survive in the soil for more than 10 years. The inoculum density in the soil increases with each year of cumin cultivation and is directly proportional to disease incidence in the field. In this review, an effort has been made to compile research findings generated during past four decades on symptomatology, ecology and management strategies. In the absence of resistant sources against Foc, to reduce population of pathogen below the economic threshold level, integration of cultural, chemical and biological control measures is the only effective way to manage this diesease. &nbsp

Implementation of Precast Technology in India–Opportunities and Challenges

Rapid economic growth and limited availability of affordable land have restricted the horizontal mode of construction leading to vertical construction in most of the Indian cities. Urban India is mostly marked by tall buildings that are being built. Due to the economic slowdown and some governmental interventions, these building projects are seeing significant time and cost overrun, ultimately impacting the end-user. As these market pressures rise more and more, real estate developers are considering to adopt emerging technologies to compensate for these construction issues. Indian construction industry is undergoing a paradigm shift from traditional methods of construction to modern methods of construction. Precast technology is one such move which is expected to enhance the productivity of the construction process, thereby, optimizing the requirement of resources on the site, reducing waste generation and resulting in a faster delivery of the projects. While internationally precast technology is considered as a mature technology, in India, it is not widely utilized, despite the advantages. Commonly cited constraints are high costs in comparison to traditional construction, economies of scale, logistics, skill level required, end user friendliness, etc. Primarily, this study focusses on identifying the challenges faced by the precast technology under various categories. This study also presents a cost analysis model for precast technology versus traditional construction to address some of the challenges. Presented cost model is applied to two projects wherein precast technology and conventional technology are utilized to construct the project and an inference is drawn comparing the time and cost aspects of precast technology. Amicable solutions are proposed for adoption of precast construction from an Indian perspective

An incidental finding of primary carcinoma of the fallopian tube: a case report

Primary fallopian tube carcinoma (PFTC) is a rare malignancy of female genital tract that histologically and clinically resemble epithelial ovarian cancer. Diagnosis of PFTC is difficult, especially at earlier stages. Most of the time it is an incidental finding. Careful surgical and pathological staging is important. It has worse prognosis than ovarian cancer as it is not routinely suspected, hence treatment is delayed.We, hereby, report a rare case of PFTC diagnosed incidentally while doing bilateral salpingoopherectomy for removal of ovarian cyst

Assessment of utilization of child health services (under RCH program) and incorrect practices related to perinatal events in Jamnagar district, Gujarat, India

Background: India contributes to 25% of the over 6.9 million under-five deaths occurring worldwide every year with nearly half of them in neonatal period .This study is related indirectly with the causes of U5MR (e.g. Neonatal sepsis, prematurity-LBW) through focusing on service utilization related to perinatal events & incorrect practices of essential Newborn care (e.g. initiation of breast feeding and exclusive breastfeeding). Objectives: (1) Assess utilization of child health services related to perinatal events (2) Assess incorrect practices related to perinatal events (3) Assess effect of demographic variables on service utilization and association of these variables with practices.Methods: A cross-sectional study of 400 children (12 to 59 months) was done using multistage sampling technique in Jamnagar district. 120 children were selected from urban and 280 from rural areas as urban: rural ratio is 3:7 in India.Results: 93.55% children having umbilical infection. Birth weights were taken in majority of children (95.75%), 15.83% of those weighed were having low birth weight (LBW). Application on umbilical cord after birth was seen in 10.25% & prelacteal feed in about 1/3rd children. Breastfeeding immediately or within 4 hours after birth was seen in 3/4th, exclusive breastfeeding in 2/3rd children.Conclusions: Children having umbilical infection were treated indicating better utilization of curative services. Taking of birth weights in majority of children indicating good functioning of healthcare professionals but some of those weighed were having low birth weight (LBW) indicating underutilization of preventive-antenatal services indirectly affecting child health. Incorrect practices like application on umbilical cord after birth and prelacteal feed were seen in children. Recommended practices like breastfeeding immediately or within 4 hours after birth, exclusive breastfeeding were seen in children. Colostrum giving was more prevalent and low birth weight was less prevalent in rural areas compared to urban areas which indicated better health care utilization in rural areas.

Surface and interface study of pulsed-laser-deposited off-stoichiometric NiMnSb thin films on Si(100) substrate

We report a detailed study of surface and interface properties of pulsed-laser deposited NiMnSb films on Si (100) substrate as a function of film thickness. As the thickness of films is reduced below 35 nm formation of a porous layer is observed. Porosity in this layer increases with decrease in NiMnSb film thickness. These morphological changes of the ultra thin films are reflected in the interesting transport and magnetic properties of these films. On the other hand, there are no influences of compositional in-homogeneity and surface/interface roughness on the magnetic and transport properties of the films.Comment: 13 pages, 7 figures, Submitted to Phys. Rev.

SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION AND QUANTITATION OF REGIOISOMERIC IMPURITY IN NIMODIPINE BULK AND FORMULATION

Objective: The present research work was directed towards the synthesis characterization and quantitation of regioisomeric impurity of Nimodipine i.e. diethyl 1, 4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl pyridine dicarboxylate in bulk and tablet formulation, by UV,IR,NMR and GC-MS techniques and a RP-HPLC method was developed as per ICH Q2B guidelines for quantitation of 1, 4-Dihydro-2, 6-Dimethyl-4-(p-nitro phenyl) pyridine-3,5 dicarboxylate (NI) from bulk and formulation. Methods: The synthesis of NI was carried out by Hantzch pyridine synthesis, by using p-nitrobenzaldehyde, ethylacetoacetate, in presence of ammonia and methanol as a catalyst. The percentage yield was found to be 89.29%. Recrystallization and purification of NI was done. The preliminary evaluation was done on laboratory scale via melting point, elemental analysis and TLC. Results: The melting point of impurity was found to be 156-1580C. The TLC of impurity was carried by using Chloroform: Methanol (9:1) and the Rf was found to be 0.79. The confirmation of structure of NI was carried out by using sophisticated techniques i.e., FT-IR, NMR (13C and 1H), GC-MS etc. The RP-HPLC method was developed to quantify the NI in Nimodipine bulk and formulation as per ICH Q2B guidelines. The method validation was done as per ICH guidelines. Conclusion: The validated optimized method was found to be linear, précised, robust, rugged and accurate. Finally NI was quantified from bulk Nimodipine and its marketed tablet formulation. It was concluded that the amount of NI, present in tablet was found to be 0.1% and in the bulk 0.067% respectively. Thus it was revealed that the NI was found to be within the limit laid down ICH guidelines (Not more than 0.1 %)

A public health approach for deciding policy on infant feeding and mother–infant contact in the context of COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has raised concern about the possibility and effects of mother–infant transmission of SARS-CoV-2 through breastfeeding and close contact. The insufficient available evidence has resulted in differing recommendations by health professional associations and national health authorities. We present an approach for deciding public health policy on infant feeding and mother–infant contact in the context of COVID-19, or for future emerging viruses, that balances the risks that are associated with viral infection against child survival, lifelong health, and development, and also maternal health. Using the Lives Saved Tool, we used available data to show how different public health approaches might affect infant mortality. Based on existing evidence, including population and survival estimates, the number of infant deaths in low-income and middle-income countries due to COVID-19 (2020–21) might range between 1800 and 2800. By contrast, if mothers with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection are recommended to separate from their newborn babies and avoid or stop breastfeeding, additional deaths among infants would range between 188 000 and 273 000