Rice-based integrated farming system improves the soil quality, bacterial community structure and system productivity under sub-humid tropical condition.

Rice-based integrated farming system improves the productivity and profitability by recycling resources efficiently. In the sub-humid tropics, rice production without sufficient nutrient replenishment often leads to soil health and fertility degradation. There has been very limited research on soil health and fertility after adopting a multi-enterprising rice-based integrated farming system (IFS), notably in the rice-fish-livestock and agroforestry system, when compared to a conventional farming system (CS). Therefore, the present study analyzed the dynamics of soil properties, soil bacterial community structure and their possible interaction mechanisms, as well as their effect on regulating soil quality and production in IFS, IFSw (water stagnant area of IFS) and CS. The results indicated that soil nutrient dynamics, bacterial diversity indices (Shannon index, Simpson index, Chao 1, ACE and Fisher index) and system productivity were higher in IFSw and IFS compared to CS. Moreover, relative operational taxonomic units of dominant bacterial genera (Chloroflexi, Acidobacteria, Verrucomicrobia, Planctomycetes, Cyanobacteria, Crenarchaeota and Gemmatimonadetes) were also higher in IFSw and IFS compared to CS. Mean soil quality index (SQI) was highest in IFSw (0.780 ± 0.201) followed by IFS (0.770 ± 0.080) and CS (0.595 ± 0.244). Moreover, rice equivalent yields (REY) and rice yields were well correlated with the higher levels of soil biological indices (SQIBiol) in IFS. Overall, our results revealed that rice-based IFS improved the soil health and fertility and ensuing crop productivity through positive interaction with soil bacterial communities and nutrient stoichiometry leading to agroecosystem sustainability.

Inter-relationship between intercepted radiation and rice yield influenced by transplanting time, method, and variety.

Photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) is one of the most important environmental factors that determine the productivity and grain quality of the crops. Continuous rainy days or cloudy weather throughout crop growth especially at critical stages often resulted in great loss of grain quality and yield in rice. Low light stress has rigorously constrained the rice production in various rice-growing regions, especially in Southeast Asia. Method and time of planting are the major management factors contributing to the higher yield potential of rice by influencing light harvesting and use efficiency. Present study was executed consecutively for 5 years (kharif seasons of 2012-2016) to determine whether planting time improves the radiation absorption and use efficiency in different duration rice cultivars. We evaluated the difference in plant growth and development leading to yield formation under different planting time which related to radiation incidence and interception. The results of the study revealed that PAR interception depends on morphological characters of cultivars and also with agronomic management such as transplanting time and method. Long duration cultivar intercepted more PAR but interception decreased due to late planting (3rd week of July), whereas short duration cultivars (Naveen) when planted earlier (1st week of June) could not effectively utilize intercepted PAR constraining the biomass accumulation and yield formation. Effect of planting density and crop architecture on PAR absorption was apparent among establishment methods as light interception at crop canopy was highest in the system of rice intensification and lowest in that of wet direct seeding. In general, Pooja as a long duration cultivar intercepted more PAR per day but when compared on same date of planting, the comparative absorption of radiation was 30.6% higher in Naveen. The lower yields in the wet season are attributed mostly to reduction in grain number per panicle or per unit land area, which is a consequence of high spikelet sterility. Grain yield of rice planted in July third week was reduced by 3.8, 12.3, and 6.9% over June first and third week and July first week, respectively, mainly due to spikelet sterility (26%) and lower grains per panicle (18%). Our results indicated that agronomic management like optimum time of sowing, cultivar duration, and establishment methods should be followed for yield improvement in tropical lowlands where light intensity is limiting due to prevailing weather situations.

Management of postburn perioral contracture using a customized static commissural splint and intralesional injections of triamcinolone.

A perioral facial burn is usually accompanied by a reduction in size of the oral orifice because of the contraction of the healing wound. Perioral contracture leads to microstomia, restricting nutrition, speech, and jaw movements and impairing the esthetic appearance of the face. It is imperative to introduce splints as early as possible to prevent the postburn sequelae. A delay in splinting allows postburn contractures. Overcoming these contractures to regain the size of the stoma requires restructuring of the hypertrophic scar using mechanical force and the biomodification of the tissues. This article describes the treatment of microstomia and the hypertrophic scarring of the perioral tissue using a novel static commissural splint with customizable components in conjunction with intralesional injections of triamcinolone. Within 6 months, the splint together with the steroid injections had helped increase the vertical opening of the mouth by 15 mm and the intercommissural distance by 16 mm.

Effect of fly ash application on soil microbial response and heavy metal accumulation in soil and rice plant.

Fly ash (FA), a byproduct of coal combustion in thermal power plants, has been considered as a problematic solid waste and its safe disposal is a cause of concern. Several studies proposed that FA can be used as a soil additive; however its effect on microbial response, soil enzymatic activities and heavy metal accumulation in soil and grain of rice (cv. Naveen) to fly ash (FA) application was studied in a pot experiment during dry season 2011 in an Inceptisol. Fly ash was applied at a rate of zero per cent (FS), five per cent (FA5), ten per cent (FA10), twenty per cent (FA20), 40 per cent (FA40) and 100 per cent (FA100) on soil volume basis with nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) (40:20:20mg N:P:Kkg(-1) soil) with six replications. Heavy metals contents in soil and plant parts were analysed after harvest of crop. On the other hand, microbial population and soil enzymatic activities were analysed at panicle initiation stage (PI, 65 days after transplanting) of rice. There was no significant change in the concentration of zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), cadmium (Cd) and chromium (Cr) with application of fly ash up to FA10. However, at FA100 there was significant increase of all metals concentration in soil than other treatments. Microorganisms differed in their response to the rate of FA application. Population of both fungi and actinomycetes decreased with the application of fly ash, while aerobic heterotrophic bacterial population did not change significantly up to FA40. On the other hand, total microbial activity measured in terms of Fluorescein diacetate (FDA) assay, and denitrifiers showed an increased trend up to FA40. However, activities of both alkaline and acid phosphatase were decreased with the application of FA. Application of FA at lower levels (ten to twenty per cent on soil volume basis) in soil enhanced micronutrients content, microbial activities and crop yield.

Long-term effect of rice-based farming systems on soil health.

Integrated rice-fish culture, an age-old farming system, is a technology which could produce rice and fish sustainably at a time by optimizing scarce resource use through complementary use of land and water. An understanding of microbial processes is important for the management of farming systems as soil microbes are the living part of soil organic matter and play critical roles in soil C and N cycling and ecosystem functioning of farming system. Rice-based integrated farming system model for small and marginal farmers was established in 2001 at Central Rice Research Institute, Cuttack, Odisha. The different enterprises of farming system were rice-fish, fish-fingerlings, fruits, vegetables, rice-fish refuge, and agroforestry. This study was conducted with the objective to assess the soil physicochemical properties, microbial population, carbon and nitrogen fractions, soil enzymatic activity, and productivity of different enterprises. The effect of enterprises induced significant changes in the chemical composition and organic matter which in turn influenced the activities of enzymes (urease, acid, and alkaline phosphatase) involved in the C, N, and P cycles. The different enterprises of long-term rice-based farming system caused significant variations in nutrient content of soil, which was higher in rice-fish refuge followed by rice-fish enterprise. Highest microbial populations and enzymatic properties were recorded in rice-fish refuge system because of waterlogging and reduced condition prolonged in this system leading to less decomposition of organic matter. The maximum alkaline phosphatase, urease, and FDA were observed in rice-fish enterprise. However, highest acid phosphatase and dehydrogenase activity were obtained in vegetable enterprise and fish-fingerlings enterprise, respectively.

Impairment of soil health due to fly ash-fugitive dust deposition from coal-fired thermal power plants.

Thermal power stations apart from being source of energy supply are causing soil pollution leading to its degradation in fertility and contamination. Fine particle and trace element emissions from energy production in coal-fired thermal power plants are associated with significant adverse effects on human, animal, and soil health. Contamination of soil with cadmium, nickel, copper, lead, arsenic, chromium, and zinc can be a primary route of human exposure to these potentially toxic elements. The environmental evaluation of surrounding soil of thermal power plants in Odisha may serve a model study to get the insight into hazards they are causing. The study investigates the impact of fly ash-fugitive dust (FAFD) deposition from coal-fired thermal power plant emissions on soil properties including trace element concentration, pH, and soil enzymatic activities. Higher FAFD deposition was found in the close proximity of power plants, which led to high pH and greater accumulation of heavy metals. Among the three power plants, in the vicinity of NALCO, higher concentrations of soil organic carbon and nitrogen was observed whereas, higher phosphorus content was recorded in the proximity of NTPC. Multivariate statistical analysis of different variables and their association indicated that FAFD deposition and soil properties were influenced by the source of emissions and distance from source of emission. Pollution in soil profiles and high risk areas were detected and visualized using surface maps based on Kriging interpolation. The concentrations of chromium and arsenic were higher in the soil where FAFD deposition was more. Observance of relatively high concentration of heavy metals like cadmium, lead, nickel, and arsenic and a low concentration of enzymatic activity in proximity to the emission source indicated a possible link with anthropogenic emissions.

Soil respiration, labile carbon pools, and enzyme activities as affected by tillage practices in a tropical rice-maize-cowpea cropping system.

In order to identify the viable option of tillage practices in rice-maize-cowpea cropping system that could cut down soil carbon dioxide (CO2) emission, sustain grain yield, and maintain better soil quality in tropical low land rice ecology soil respiration in terms of CO2 emission, labile carbon (C) pools, water-stable aggregate C fractions, and enzymatic activities were investigated in a sandy clay loam soil. Soil respiration is the major pathway of gaseous C efflux from terrestrial systems and acts as an important index of ecosystem functioning. The CO2-C emissions were quantified in between plants and rows throughout the year in rice-maize-cowpea cropping sequence both under conventional tillage (CT) and minimum tillage (MT) practices along with soil moisture and temperature. The CO2-C emissions, as a whole, were 24 % higher in between plants than in rows, and were in the range of 23.4-78.1, 37.1-128.1, and 28.6-101.2 mg m(-2) h(-1) under CT and 10.7-60.3, 17.3-99.1, and 17.2-79.1 mg m(-2) h(-1) under MT in rice, maize, and cowpea, respectively. The CO2-C emission was found highest under maize (44 %) followed by rice (33 %) and cowpea (23 %) irrespective of CT and MT practices. In CT system, the CO2-C emission increased significantly by 37.1 % with respect to MT on cumulative annual basis including fallow. The CO2-C emission per unit yield was at par in rice and cowpea signifying the beneficial effect of MT in maintaining soil quality and reduction of CO2 emission. The microbial biomass C (MBC), readily mineralizable C (RMC), water-soluble C (WSC), and permanganate-oxidizable C (PMOC) were 19.4, 20.4, 39.5, and 15.1 % higher under MT than CT. The C contents in soil aggregate fraction were significantly higher in MT than CT. Soil enzymatic activities like, dehydrogenase, fluorescein diacetate, and ß-glucosidase were significantly higher by 13.8, 15.4, and 27.4 % under MT compared to CT. The soil labile C pools, enzymatic activities, and heterotrophic microbial populations were in the order of maize > cowpea > rice, irrespective of the tillage treatments. Environmental sustainability point of view, minimum tillage practices in rice-maize-cowpea cropping system in tropical low land soil could be adopted to minimize CO2-C emission, sustain yield, and maintain soil health.

Fly ash addition affects microbial biomass and carbon mineralization in agricultural soils.

The microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and carbon mineralization of fly ash (FA) amended soil at (0 %, 1.25 %, 2.5 %, 5 %, 10 % and 20 % FA; v/v) was investigated under laboratory conditions for 120 days at 60 % soil water-holding capacity and 25 ± 1°C temperature. The results demonstrated that soil respiration and microbial activities were not suppressed up to 2.5 % FA amendment and these activities decreased significantly at 10 % and 20 % FA treatment with respect to control. Application of 10 % and 20 % FA treated soils showed a decreasing trend of soil MBC with time; and the decrease was significant throughout the period of incubation. The study concluded that application of FA up to 2.5 % can thus be safely used without affecting the soil biological activity and thereby improve nutrient cycling in agricultural soils.

Effect of fly ash deposition on photosynthesis, growth and yield of rice.

An experiment was conducted to assess the effect of fly ash deposition without and with (0.25, 0.50, 1.0 and 1.5 g m(-2 )day(-1)) foliar dusting on the photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, transpiration, leaf temperature, albedo and productivity of rice. Dusting of 0.5 g m(-2 )day(-1) fly ash and above significantly reduced the photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, transpiration and albedo. Panicle initiation and flowering stages were more influenced by the fly ash deposition as compared to active tillering stage. At higher rates of fly ash deposition, all growth and yield parameters were significantly influenced due to increased heat load and reduced intercellular CO2 concentration. A significant reduction of 12.3, 15.7 and 20.2 % in grain yield was recorded over control when fly ash was dusted at 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 g m(-2 )day(-1), respectively.

Ilaprazole: Is this a superior proton pump inhibitor for duodenal ulcer?

BACKGROUND: Preclinical studies have found ilaprazole to be significantly effective in preventing the development of reflux oesophagitis and gastric secretion in a dose-dependent manner; the drug also has a broad dose range and safety feature. Till date only one clinical study on patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease has shown its potency in suppressing gastric acid secretion. OBJECTIVES: To review the published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the efficacy of ilaprazole in duodenal ulcer (DU) compared to other available proton pump inhibitors (PPI). METHODS: RCTs comparing ilaprazole with other PPIs in DU were searched in the PubMed and Cochrane Library database using the term 'ilaprazole and duodenal ulcer'. All clinical studies showing effectiveness of ilaprazole in patients with DU, either full texts or scientific abstracts and found to be potentially eligible for the systematic review, were included and evaluated. RESULTS: Four RCTs having follow-up data were included. A total of 1077 patients with DU were assessed. All the trials had included omeprazole as a comparator PPI. The majority of patients (80%) became asymptomatic after treatment in both the groups. None of the trials data predict ilaprazole to be superior to omeprazole in terms of efficacy in patients with DU. CONCLUSION: The trials conducted were limited in numbers and all the trial data indicated the efficacy of ilaprazole to be similar to that of omeprazole. None of the trials indicated superiority of ilaprazole over the existing PPIs.

Microbial biomass and carbon mineralization in agricultural soils as affected by pesticide addition.

A laboratory study was conducted with four pesticides, viz. a fungicide (carbendazim), two insecticides (chlorpyrifos and cartap hydrochloride) and an herbicide (pretilachlor) applied to a sandy clay loam soil at a field rate to determine their effect on microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and carbon mineralization (C(min)). The MBC content of soil increased with time up to 30 days in cartap hydrochloride as well as chlorpyrifos treated soil. Thereafter, it decreased and reached close to the initial level by 90th day. However, in carbendazim treated soil, the MBC showed a decreasing trend up to 45 days and subsequently increased up to 90 days. In pretilachlor treated soil, MBC increased through the first 15 days, and thereafter decreased to the initial level. Application of carbendazim, chlorpyrifos and cartap hydrochloride decreased C(min) for the first 30 days and then increased afterwards, while pretilachlor treated soil showed an increasing trend.

Modeling information diffusion in online social networks using a modified forest-fire model.

Information dissemination has changed rapidly in recent years with the emergence of social media which provides online platforms for people worldwide to share their thoughts, activities, emotions, and build social relationships. Hence, modeling information diffusion has become an important area of research in the field of network analysis. It involves the mathematical modeling of the movement of information and study the information spread pattern. In this paper, we attempt to model information propagation in online social networks using a nature-inspired approach based on a modified forest-fire model. A slight spark can start a wildfire in a forest, and the spread of this fire depends on vegetation, weather, and topography, which may act as fuel. On similar lines, we labeled users who haven't joined the network yet as E m p t y, existing users as T r e e, and information as F i r e. The spread of information across online social networks depends upon users-followers relationships, the significance of the topic, and other such features. We introduce a novel B u r n t state to the traditional forest-fire model to represent non-spreaders in the network. We validate our method on six real-world data-sets extracted from Twitter and conclude that the proposed model performs reasonably well in predicting information diffusion.

Cytogenetic characterization and fluorescence in situ hybridization of (GATA)10 repeats on established primary cell cultures from Indian water snake (Natrix piscator) and Indian mugger (Crocodylus palustris) embryos.

Sex determination among reptiles has continued to draw the attention of geneticists and the mechanisms involved have been extensively studied and documented in the past 3 decades. The setting up of primary cell lines of reptilian tissues is an important tool in the present study which is a unique aspect not applied in earlier studies. Establishing the cell lines from various species of reptiles would help in our understanding of the mechanisms of evolution and differentiation of sex chromosomes. Therefore, in the present study, we have established for the first time primary cell cultures from Indian water snake (Natrix piscator) and Indian mugger (Crocodylus palustris) embryos. In the preliminary growth stage, 2 types of cells, fibroblast- and epithelial-like, were found to be attached and proliferating in vitro. These fibroblast-like cell cultures were later overtaken by epithelial cells. The cell lines were grown in minimal essential medium supplemented with fetal bovine serum and subcultured for a period of 8-10 months. The morphology of cell types was kept under constant observation microscopically. Interestingly, at a subsequent passage of the cells sporadically scattered neuronal-like and beating cells were observed. The suitable temperature for growth of these cell cultures was 28-30 degrees C. Chromosome analysis was performed from the actively proliferating cells, which revealed 5 pairs of macrochromosomes and 15 pairs of microchromosomes in Natrix piscator, and 15 pairs of only macrochromosomes in Crocodylus palustris. (GATA)(n) repeats are well known to be associated with sex chromosomes. Fluorescence in situ hybridization performed with (GATA)(10) repeats delineated the W chromosome in the cells of Natrix piscator which has so far not been reported. This cell culture method has presently only been applied to water snakes and crocodile embryos in the current study, but it will be employed in other reptilian species and could go a long way to being a sustainable source of primary cells. This would eventually serve as an important tool for molecular studies in reptiles and other species in the future.

Lacidipine encapsulated gastroretentive microspheres prepared by chemical denaturation for pylorospasm.

The purpose of this research work was to formulate and systematically evaluate in vitro performance of mucoadhesive microspheres of lacidipine for treatment of pylorospasm. Lacidipine microspheres containing chitosan were prepared by chemical denaturation using glutaraldehyde as a cross-linking agent. The microspheres were evaluated for physical characteristics such as particle size, particle shape and surface morphology by scanning electron microscopy, drug entrapment efficiency and in vitro mucoadhesion. Results of preliminary trials indicated that the polymer concentration, cross-linking agent and stirring speed had a noticeable effect on size and surface morphology. A central composite design was employed to study the effect of independent variables, polymer concentration (X(1)), volume of glutaraldehyde (X(2)), stirring speed (X(3)) and cross-linking time (X(4)) on dependent variables, drug entrapment efficiency and percentage mucoadhesion. The entrapment efficiency varied from 14-40.82% depending upon the polymer concentration, volume of cross-linker and stirring speed. All batches of microspheres exhibited good mucoadhesive property (73-83%) in the in vitro wash-off test. It was observed that polymer concentration and glutaraldehyde volume had a more significant effect on the dependent variables. Maximum entrapment (36.53%) and mucoadhesion (81.33%) was predicted at 3.5% chitosan, 3 ml glutaraldehyde, 3000 rpm stirring speed and 75 min cross-linking time under optimized process condition. The selected formulation showed controlled release for more than 6 h. The release followed Higuchi kinetics via a Fickian diffusion.

Primary atony of the lower uterine segment as a distinct cause of early postpartum haemorrhage: a case series and management recommendations.

Primary atony of the lower uterine segment appears to be a distinct cause of postpartum haemorrhage. We report a case series of women with postpartum haemorrhage where ultrasound and clinical findings revealed a well contracted fundus and upper uterine segment and a ballooned out lower uterine segment, a condition we have called primary atony of the lower uterine segment. We hope that this case series will lead to increased recognition of this condition, stimulate others to report their experience and lead to additional studies to better characterise this entity, and develop more effective therapies.

VASCULAR STENOSIS DETECTION USING TEMPORAL-SPECTRAL DIFFERENCES IN CORRELATED ACOUSTIC MEASUREMENTS.

Central venous stenosis is often undiagnosed in patients with hemodialysis vascular access, partly due to imaging difficulties. Noninvasive, point-of-care detection could rely on detecting regions of turbulent blood flow caused by blood velocity changes. Here we present flexible microphone arrays for time-correlated measures of blood flow sounds and a new signal processing approach to calculate time correlation between spectral features. Continuous wavelet transform was used to produce an auditory spectral flux analytic signal, which was thresholded to identify systolic start and end phases. Microphone arrays were tested on pulsatile flow phantoms with blood flow rates of 850-1,200 mL/min and simulated stenosis from 10-85%. Measured results showed an inversion in the time onset of systolic spectral content for sites proximal and distal to stenosis for hemodynamically significant stenoses (+22 ms for stenosis<50% and -20 to -38 ms for stenosis>50%). Equivalent blood velocity increases were calculated as 142-155 cm/s in stenotic phantoms, which are within the physiologic range as measured by ultrasound.

A comparative study of prevalence and spatial distribution of major Anopheline vector fauna in a hyper- and a hypomalaria endemic district of Odisha, India with special reference to onset of first wet season.

The state's retrospective findings indicate the incidence of malaria deaths, which is more during the onset of first monsoon season. Based upon this fact, our objective was to study the distribution pattern of major Anopheles vectors in two endemic districts viz. Kalahandi and Cuttack of Odisha, India that differ significantly according to malariogenic stratification, under the impact of first monsoon shower. A comparative study of vector abundance, predominance, their habitats, resting site preference, impact of abiotic rhythm (light/dark period) on vector distribution, gonotrophic status as well as sporozoite rate was established in a high and a low endemic district of Odisha, when the degree of malaria transmission elevates to its peak level Anopheles culicifacies was found to be predominant in hyperendemic Kalahandi district while Anopheles subpictus was abundant in hypo-endemic Cuttack district. Both primary vector An. culicifacies and the secondary vector An. subpictus mostly prefer CS (Cattle shed) compared to HD (Human dwelling) in Kalahandi district where as there was slight shifting of resting habitat of An. culicifacies from CS to HD in Cuttack district. Anopheles culicifacies prefers to rest on wall besides objects in Kalahandi while no such site preference was observed in Cuttack district. On the other hand, distribution of An. subpictus was highly influenced by the daily rhythm of light/dark cycle (i.e. day and night) in Cuttack. The gonotrophic condition revealed the high tendency of the predominant vectors towards endophilic resting. The sporozoite rate was 0.66% in Kalahandi and nil in Cuttack district. The proper monitoring of vector prevalence and distribution, at least during the peak transmission period can avert a perpetuated upsurge in malaria.

Perennial malaria transmission and its association with rainfall at Kalahandi district of Odisha, Eastern India: A retrospective analysis.

India contributes substantially to global malaria incidents. Vector dynamics is the significant determinant of malaria risk. Hence, knowledge on the interaction between rainfall, malaria cases and malaria vector density can be very useful for controlling malaria transmission. Kalahandi was screened for malaria cases, Anopheline vector density and their temporal relationship with rainfall. Epidemiological data was obtained from National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme, Odisha, India. Three years vector population study was carried out. Rainfall data was obtained from a database maintained by the Govt. of Odisha and was analysed using Univariate ANOVA and Pearson correlation co-efficient tests using R-prog. Malaria was found to be prevalent throughout the year attaining peak between July to August and another peak in December, amidst which the clinical malaria cases being recorded implied highest incidents in the month of July. The results estimated the seasonality of the population of An. culicifacies, An. fluviatilis and An. annularis over the region and determined the influence of rainfall on the vector population dynamics. Simple linear regression analysis suggested that at one month lag monthly rainfall (P=0.0007) was a significant meteorological factor. Rainfall seemed to be one of the best malaria predictors because of its positive correlation with proliferation of malaria cases in conjunction with An. culicifacies density making malaria a serious health issue in Kalahandi.