Variable survival ability of rhizobacteria in cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) rhizosphere

A study was undertaken to compare the survival efficacy of two native, previously characterized bacterial biovars viz. Bacillus subtilis BCU5 and Pseudomonas fluorescens PCU17 with Bacillus subtilis strain MTCC1789 and Pseudomonas fluorescens strain MTCC4828, procured from Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh,India in cumin rhizosphere and bulk soil. All the four bacterial types were made rifampicin resistant and the mutants were applied as inoculants at the dosage of 6 log, 7 log and 8 log colony forming units (cfu) g-1 dry soil weight in pots containing cumin seedlings. The cfu of rhizosphere and bulk soil of pots was observed per week for four weeks. The results show that the initial population decline is a common feature of bioinoculants. In rhizosphere and bulk soil, the native bacterial biovars survived better than their procured counterparts. The population of P. fluorescens strain MTCC4828r in rhizosphere soil declined faster and reached below detection limit whereas the P. fluorescens biovar PCUr rhizosphere final population dropped to 3.1 log, 2.9 log and 2.13 log cfu g-1 soil dry weight with 8 log, 7 log and 6 log cfu g-1 soil dry weight inoculum treatment, respectively. In contrast to P. fluorescens strain MTCC4828r, the population of B. subtilis strain MTCC1789r stabilized after some decline and was comparable with B. subtilis biovar BCU5 population. Study concludes that the inoculant population decline in soil was the result of lower microbial load carrying capacity of soil than the provided inoculum densities. Also, the native bacteria survived better than procured ones in rhizosphere soil

Comparative growth analysis of cumin plants (Cuminum cyminum L.) treated with glycerol and talc based phosphate solubilizing bacterial consortia

Cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) is a versatile annual herb cultivated in the Middle East, India, China, and Tunisia. The seeds of this plant are primarily used in cooking as common food additives and traditional medicines to treat hypolipidemia, cancer and diabetes. However, cumin plants have poor germination and weak establishment rate, particularly under drought stress. The present study aimed to examine the growth promotion potential of cumin plants treated with talc and glycerol-based phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) consortia. Four efficient  PSB were isolated from the rhizosphere of Calotropis procera and Solanum lycopersicum and identified through 16S rRNA sequencing as Pseudomonas nitritireducens MF351819, Klebsiella pneumoniae MF351845, Erwinia sp. MF351846 and Pantoea dispersa MF351847. In a nursery experiment on cumin (Cuminum cyminum) plants, 15 treatments of single, dual, triple and quadruple combinations of four PSB isolates were formulated on glycerol and talcum powder-based bacteriological carriers. The 100-day pot experiment was initiated during the winter of 2016 (the last week of October) containing loamy sand soil of Sardarkrushinagar, Gujarat. The formulations were applied to pot soil containing seven-day-old cumin seedlings. With glycerol-based PSB inoculations, the P14 treatment containing a consortium of K. pneumoniae MF351845, Erwinia sp. MF351846, and P. dispersa MF351847 provided the highest per plant seed yield of 0.19 g. With talc-based PSB inoculations, the P11 treatment containing a consortium of K. pneumoniae MF351845, Erwinia sp. MF351846, and P. nitritireducens MF351919 produced the highest per-plant cumin seed yield of 0.42 g. Overall, talc-based PSB consortial treatments improved height, dry weight, 100 seed weight and yield of the cumin plant

Growth and ectomycorrhization of banj oak plants co-inoculated with Scleroderma bovista and mycorrhizosphere bacteria

Effect of composite treatment of ectomycorrhizal fungus (EMF), Scleroderma bovista, along with mycorrhizosphere bacterial inoculants was studied for nine months on Quercus leucotrichophora plants grown in nursery glasshouse. Seven treatments comprising of one uninoculated control; two bacterial controls, Bacillus subtilis MB14 and Pseudomonas fluorescens MB 9, respectively; EMF control, S. bovista; two combinations of two bacterial treatments with EMF and one triple treatment of two bacteria with EMF, were used in the study. The ninth month of sampling showed that triple treatment of two strains of bacteria with EMF maximally enhanced root length (38.86 cm), dry weight (6.746 g), short roots (351.6), lateral roots (24.8) and EMF colonization (34.8%) of banj oak plant, which was fairly higher than uninoculated and bacterial controls. Bacteria treated plants showed no plant growth enhancement, whereas EMF treatment fairly enhanced plant growth. The co-inoculation practice can help oak plant in achieving the mycorrhization rate even with lower EMF doses. These findings will be beneficial for achieving the effective banj oak replantation in the Himalayan region

Association of serum uric acid-creatinine ratio with microalbuminuria and glycemic status (HbA1c) as an early indicator of diabetic nephropathy

Background: The serum uric acid is a good predictor of renal injury in both diabetes patients and non-diabetes. Creatinine is the marker to detect the renal function. Aim of our study was to assess the correlation of the serum uric acid to creatinine ratio with the Microalbuminuria and glycemic status (HbA1c) in diabetes mellitus patients.Methods: It is analytical observational study conducted in urban tertiary care hospital attached to medical college between July to august 2019 after obtaining the ethics clearance. Participants aged between 18 to 60 years with type 2 diabetes mellitus and healthy controls were included in present study. The patients with diabetic nephropathy with grade 3 and above and non-diabetes patients with history of ischemic heart disease, advanced hypertension, Chronic or acute kidney disease, liver disease, known case of hyperuricemia/gout, alcoholics, acute febrile illness, urinary tract infection, cancer were excluded from present study.Results: Total of 131 individuals were included in present study that fulfilled inclusion criteria. The mean age of the participants was 56.70±11.9 with 64 females and male 67 (male: female ratio of 1). Among 131 participants, 60 were with T2DM and 71 were normal control. Our study showed a significant strength of association between the UACr with the urine MAU (r=0.760, p<0.001), where-as the SAU was associated with MAU excretion in urine (0.52, p<0.001). The UACr was also significantly associated with the HbA1c (r=0.25, p=0.01).Conclusions: Urine microalbuminuria and HbA1c were significantly correlated with the ratio of uric acid to creatinine in the serum. The serum uric acid creatinine ratio (UACr) is a good predictor for predicting renal damage in patients with diabetes mellitus at an early stage of illness

Phosphate solubilizing activity of Pseudomonas fluorescens PSM1 isolated from wheat rhizosphere

A study was designed to screen and analyze the efficient phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSBs) from wheat rhizosphere. Five biovars of Pseudomonas fluorescens (PSM1, PSM2, PSM3, PSM4 and PSM5) were isolated from wheat rhizosphere and Bacillus megaterium MTCC 8755 procured from microbial type culture collection (MTCC) Chandigarh, India. The P. fluorescens biovar PSM1 was observed to be most efficient phosphate solubilizer. Inoculation of P. fluorescens PSM1 and B. megaterium MTCC 8755, alone and in combination, caused the highest phosphate solubilization at pH 5. At this pH, maximum phosphate solubilization was observed with B. megaterium MTCC 8755 inoculation (8.2 mg mL-1) on sixth day of incubation with P. fluorescens PSM1 (8 mg mL-1) on seventh day of incubation and with dual bacterial treatment (10.5 mg mL-1) on the fourth day of incubation. A correlation coefficient of linear regression equation of phosphate solubilization with pH indicated that pH value of the medium was directly correlated with tricalcium phosphate solubilization. The study will help in choosing soil pH specific PSB inoculant for optimizing plant growth

From Medley to Magnificence: Developing Problem Solving Skills in Biochemistry

Background: Medical students need problem-solving skills because these are crucial in diagnosing cases in the future. This study aimed to improve medical students’ problemsolving abilities through analysis, reasoning, and application. Methods: A four-month prospective cross-sectional study was conducted at MNR Medical College and Hospital (March to June 2021). Six case scenarios were developed and created in PowerPoint. Each scenario was broken down into the following sections: title, history, clinical findings, investigations, and treatment. The slides were arranged randomly to produce a medley which was then shown to the students. They were tasked with sorting the slides and diagnosing each case. Student responses were gathered using a Google Forms questionnaire. Results: The number of participants who completed the activity within the stipulated time was 132. The majority of students (85%) scored over 80% in the activity. The activity was interesting (63.6%), promoted active learning (65.2%), helped students correlate the different aspects of the case scenario and make a diagnosis (69.7%), helped build problembased skills, and activated prior knowledge (71.2%), improved clinical orientation to the curriculum (65.2%), exposed students to aspects of the diseases not dealt with in the classroom (40.9%), students felt such an activity should be required of future students (68.2%). Conclusion: This novel learning method of integrating case scenarios using a digital platform provided multiple opportunities for testing and developing skills necessary for clinical practice. The fact that the activity was well received by students strengthens the argument to create additional activities of this type that may be applied to any topic

Performance Investigation of Nylon-Kevlar Ringslot Parachute

Kevlar material is being used in parachute systems require high strength-to-weight ratios or becoming resistance to sustain high temperatures. However, Nylon-Kevlar parachutes are popular these days and are first preference of the parachute designers specially for recovery system of reentry vehicles. Tests of using Kevlar suspension lines, radials, vent and skirt re-enforcements, risers demonstrated that the Kevlar material can be used successfully in Ringslot parachute. The opening shock experienced by the parachute does not differ from all-Nylon parachutes. The parachute is much lighter and capable of withstanding higher load and therefore can be used for extraction or deceleration in recovery system of reentry vehicles. The design and performance of a hybrid Ringslot was investigated experimentally in sled test. The experimental method and performance data are described in this paper.Defence Science Journal, Vol. 64, No. 4, July 2014, pp. 406-410, DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/dsj.64.4950

Periorbital necrotizing fasciitis in a case of lid and conjunctival amyloidosis

Necrotizing fasciitis is a severe, progressive, rapidly spreading infection of the subcutaneous soft tissue and underlying fascia. Periorbital necrotizing fasciitis is rare owing to the excellent blood supply of the area. Ocular amyloidosis is relatively uncommon- that of the eyelid is typically associated with systemic associations whereas amyloidosis of the conjunctiva is often localised with no other associations. Authors report a case of a 40-year-old female with a 4-year history of eyelid and conjunctival amyloidosis who presented with necrotic ulcers and eschars in the upper and lower lid with purulent discharge, conjunctival mass and a dry looking cornea in the left eye. She was a known case of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) on treatment in the last 2 years. The presentation, investigations and management are described.

Ethnobotanical knowledge and socioeconomic potential of honey wine in the Horn of Africa

299-303The traditional honey wine is a ceremonial drink made locally in Ethiopia and Eritrea. The drink is known as Tej in Amharic (a widely spoken language in Ethiopia) and Mess in Tigrigna (a widely spoken language in Eritrea). It is consumed mostly during social and religious ceremonies, albeit sold in honey wine bars. It is easy to prepare with varied tastes by local people from its main components; honey, chopped stems of Rhamnus prinoides or roots of R. staddo and water. Honey and the shrubs used for the preparation of the wine are recognized for their medicinal importance worldwide. Particularly, after the isolation of geshoidin, a bitter glycoside from R. prinoides, that is currently being investigated for its role in providing novel-pharmacological leads for Alzheimer’s treatment. On the other hand, R. staddo has been investigated for potential antimalarial candidate. These with other beneficial metabolites from the shrubs call for a wider investigation into the medicinal benefits of the honey wine. Furthermore, considering its declining consumption, limited efforts to preserve the indigenous knowledge of preparing the drink and lack of adequate promotion, further research is needed to lead into the sustainability of drink for generations and its global usage