Large survey dataset of rice production practices applied by farmers on their largest farm plot during 2018 in India.

This dataset provides detailed information on rice production practices being applied by farmers during 2018 rainy season in India. Data was collected through computer-assisted personal interview of farmers using the digital platform Open Data Kit (ODK). The dataset, n = 8355, covers eight Indian states, viz., Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Odisha, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. Sampling frames were constructed separately for each district within states and farmers were selected randomly. The survey was deployed in 49 districts with a maximum of 210 interviews per district. The digital survey form was available on mobile phones of trained enumerators and was designed to minimize data entry errors. Each survey captured approximately 225 variables around rice production practices of farmers' largest plot starting with land preparation, establishment method, crop variety and planting time through to crop yield. Detailed modules captured fertilizer application, irrigation, weed management, biotic and abiotic stresses. Additional information was gathered on household demographics and marketing. Geo-points were recorded for each surveyed plot with an accuracy of <10 m. This dataset is generated to bridge a data-gap in the national system and generates information about the adoption of technologies, as well as enabling prediction and other analytics. It can potentially be the basis for evidence-based agriculture programming by policy makers.

Tillage and crop establishment effects on weeds and productivity of a rice-wheat-mungbean rotation.

Weeds are one of the key threats in sustaining the productivity of the rice-wheat cropping system in the Indo-Gangetic Plains. The development of sound integrated weed management technologies requires knowledge of mechanisms that influence weed flora composition and weed seedbank dynamics. A long-term study was initiated in 2015 at Patna, Bihar, India to evaluate the effect of seven tillage and crop establishment methods on weed density, weed seedbank composition, and crop productivity in rice-wheat-mungbean rotation. All the treatments included zero-till mungbean after wheat. Tillage and crop establishment methods had differential effects on weed and weed seedbank composition. In rice, zero-till direct-seeded rice recorded 62% lower emergence of Cyperus iria, 82-90% of Echinochloa colona, and 81-83% of total weeds compared to tilled systems, but the system of rice and wheat intensification favoured E. colona. In wheat, the system of wheat intensification favoured the Phalaris minor and Solanum nigrum. Zero-till rice and wheat reduced the seedbank of Trianthema portulacastrum by 95%, and total weed seedbank by 62% compared to the system of rice and wheat intensification. Nearly, 72% of C. iria seeds, 62% of grasses, and 64% of broad-leaved weeds were in 0-15 cm soil layer. Zero-till direct-seeded rice produced a 13% lower rice grain yield than conventional puddled transplanted rice. Compared to the system of wheat intensification, zero-till wheat under triple zero-till systems produced an 11.5% higher grain yield. Managing weed seedbank is a long-term endeavour. The present study revealed that tillage and crop establishment methods influence weed density and diversity. Under zero-till rice-wheat system, rice yield decreases marginally, but the system productivity maintains due to improvement in succeeding wheat yield. This system is also helpful in reducing the weed flora density and soil weed seedbank. Regular monitoring and management of emerging pests such as armyworm (Mythimna separata) are, however, required. The study suggests that the adoption of triple zero-tillage can be a viable option for reducing the weed density and weed seedbank concurrently increasing the system productivity of the rice-wheat-mungbean cropping system in eastern Indo-Gangetic Plains.

Augmentation of photophysical features and Judd-Ofelt analysis of extensively green glowing terbium (III) complexes with nitrogen donor ancillary ligands.

Six green glowing terbium (III) complexes were fabricated via grinding method utilizing a prime organic ligand (L) and nitrogen donor ancillary ligands. Characterization of synthesized complexes was accomplished through various spectroscopic techniques. The significant thermal stability was determined by thermogravimetric analysis while the energy bandgap and Urbach energy were investigated through diffused reflectance spectra of these complexes. The peak observed at 548 nm in emission spectra is responsible for the virescent color of these complexes. Color purity, decay time, quantum yield, and emission intensities of ternary complexes were significantly improved as compared to binary ones due to the synergistic effect of ancillary ligands. Judd-Ofelt parameters were determined by the NIR absorption spectrum, which claims the asymmetric environment around the terbium (III) ion. CCT values advocate the applicability of these complexes in green light-emitting materials as a cool light source. The biological assignments reveal the significance of these complexes as potent antioxidants and antimicrobial agents. The energy transfer process highlights the enhancement of luminescence in these complexes via the synergic effect of ligands. Our investigation portrays that these complexes can be employed in laser technology, display devices, semiconductors, biological fields, and optoelectronic devices.

Applicability of Reddish-Orange Light Emitting Samarium (III) Complexes for Biomedical and Multifunctional Optoelectronic Devices.

Six crimson samarium (III) complexes based on ß-ketone carboxylic acid and ancillary ligands were synthesized by adopting the grinding technique. All synthesized complexes were investigated via elemental analysis, infrared, UV-Vis, NMR, TG/DTG and photoluminescence studies. Optical properties of these photostimulated samarium (III) complexes exhibit reddish-orange luminescence due to 4G5/2 → 6H7/2 electronic transition at 606 nm of samarium (III) ions. Further, energy bandgap, color purity, CIE color coordinates, CCT and quantum yield of all complexes were determined accurately. Replacement of water molecules by ancillary ligands enriched these complexes (S2-S6) with decay time, quantum yield, luminescence, energy bandgap and biological properties than parent complex (S1). Interestingly, these efficient properties of complexes may find their applications in optoelectronics and lighting systems. In addition to these, the antioxidant and antimicrobial assays were also investigated to explore the applications in biological assays.

Time management governs climate resilience and productivity in the coupled rice-wheat cropping systems of eastern India.

India will need to produce 30% more wheat by 2050, and these gains must principally come from intensification in eastern India where low productivity is common. Through a dense network of on-farm surveys for the rice-wheat system in this region, we show that contemporary wheat sowing dates have a central influence on achieved and attainable yields, superseding all other crop management, soil and varietal factors. We estimate that untapped wheat production potential will increase by 69% with achievable adjustments to wheat sowing dates without incurring undesirable trade-offs with rice productivity, irrigation requirements or profitability. Our findings also indicate that transformative gains in wheat yields are only possible in eastern India if rice and wheat are managed as a coupled system. Steps taken to 'keep time' through better management of the annual cropping calendar will pay dividends for food security, profitability and climate resilience now and as a foundation for adaptation to progressive climate change.

Land gradient and configuration effects on yield, irrigation amount and irrigation water productivity in rice-wheat and maize-wheat cropping systems in Eastern India.

Laser land levelling is expanding rapidly in the rice-wheat (RW) and maize-wheat (MW) systems of the Indo-Gangetic Plains of India and Pakistan. Current practice is to level to zero (0%) gradient, whereas a small gradient (e.g. 0.1%) is typically used in developed countries. Therefore, experiments were conducted in farmers' plots (~15 m x 40 m) in the Eastern Gangetic Plains to evaluate laser levelling with a 0.1% gradient in comparison with 0% and farmer levelling practice (FL). The study was conducted over two years in RW and MW systems. In the MW system, raised beds in plots lasered with 0% and 0.1% gradients were also evaluated. Laser levelling with 0% gradient significantly reduced irrigation amount and/or increased irrigation water productivity (WPi) in all crops/systems grown on the flat compared to FL except for wheat in the MW system. While there was a consistent trend for higher yield with a 0% gradient compared with FL, the differences were not significant in any crop/system. For the RW system, the results suggest no to marginal benefits in irrigation amount and WPi from levelling with a 0.1% gradient in comparison with 0% gradient. In that system, by far the bigger gains were from changing from FL to laser levelling with 0% gradient. This resulted in substantial reductions in irrigation amount, which greatly increased WPi in both crops (by ~40%), while yield was not affected. Rice grown with FL was not profitable, but lasering with 0% gradient significantly increased gross margin for rice, wheat and the total RW system. As for the RW system, levelling to 0% with a flat configuration significantly increased WPi of both crops in the MW system compared to FL, but by a lesser proportion. Raised beds significantly increased yield of maize by 8% (0.5 t ha-1), reduced irrigation amount by 20% (40 mm) and increased WPi by 34% (1.0 kg m-3) in comparison with the laser levelled flat plots. Gross margin of the MW system on beds was 17-20% higher than FL, and gross margin with beds on a 0.1% gradient was significantly higher than either gradient on the flat. The results suggest that the gains from levelling with a 0.1% gradient compared to 0% are marginal; however, this may change if the goal of consolidation of small farmer plots into larger fields becomes a reality provided there is a proportionate increase in irrigation flow rates, and ability to drain.

An impact of agronomic practices of sustainable rice-wheat crop intensification on food security, economic adaptability, and environmental mitigation across eastern Indo-Gangetic Plains.

In the eastern Indo-Gangetic Plains (EIGP), conventional rice-wheat system has led to a decline in productivity, input-use efficiency, and profitability. To address these, a four-year field study was conducted to evaluate the performance of tillage and crop establishment (TCE) methods in rice-wheat-greengram rotation. The treatments included: 1) random puddled transplanted rice (RPTR) - conventional-till broadcast wheat (BCW) - zero-till greengram (ZTG); 2) line PTR (LPTR) - conventional-till drill sown wheat (CTW) - ZTG; 3) machine transplanted rice in puddled soil (CTMTR) - zero tillage wheat (ZTW) - ZTG; 4) machine transplanted rice in zero-till wet soil (ZTMTR) - ZTW - ZTG; 5) system of rice intensification (SRI) - system of wheat intensification (SWI) - ZTG; 6) direct-seeded rice (DSR) - ZTW - ZTG; and 7) zero-till DSR - ZTW - ZTG. During the initial two years, conventional rice system (PTR) recorded a 16.2 % higher rice grain yield than DSR system. Whereas in the fourth year, the rice yields under DSR and PTR were comparable. As compared to SRI/SWI, the average wheat yield in ZT system was significantly high, whereas in rice, SRI/SWI system was comparable with CT system. ZTW after non-puddled rice was at par to CTW after PTR. The ZT wheat produced 4.6 % more yield than CT system. DSR production system consumed 6.8 % less water compared to transplanted system. On the system basis, 10.8 % higher net returns were recorded with CA-based system compared to conventional system. The system energy productivity under CA-based production system was 14-36 % higher than PTR-based systems. CA-based system also led to 8-10 % lower global warming potential (GWP) than conventional methods. The current study indicated that as compared to conventional system, a significant gain in productivity, profitability and energy-use efficiency, and reduction in the environmental mitigation are possible with emerging alternative TCE methods. Long-term expansion and further refinement of these technologies in local areas need to be explored for the second green revolution.

Influence of tillage based crop establishment and residue management practices on soil quality indices and yield sustainability in rice-wheat cropping system of Eastern Indo-Gangetic Plains.

Rice-wheat cropping system (RWCS) is the most important system occupying around 26 M ha spread over the Indo Gangetic Plains in South Asia and China. Many long-term trials were led to assess the agronomic productivity and economic profitability of various combinations of conservation agricultural (CA) practices (zero tillage, residue management and crop establishment) in RWCS of Eastern Indo-Gangetic Plains (EIGP) of India. The purpose of this study was to investigate the best management practices involving different tillage-based crop establishment and residue retention techniques and their contribution to agricultural system sustainability through improvement in soil health by developing soil quality index (SQI). We have used SQI as an instrument based on physical [macro aggregate stability (MAS), available water capacity (AWC) and soil penetration resistance (SPR)], chemical [soil organic carbon (OC), available N, available P and available K] and biological [microbial biomass carbon (MBC), fluorescein diacetate (FDA) and dehydrogenase activity (DHA)] properties of soil, because these are very useful indicators of soil's functions for agronomic productivity and soil fertility. Soil properties like MAS, OC, MBC, FDA and DHA were higher by 47, 18, 56, 48 and 53%, respectively, under ZTDSR-ZTW (T7: Zero-till direct seeded rice - Zero-till wheat) than RPTR-CTW (T1: Random puddled transplanted rice - Conventional till broadcasted wheat), at 0-10 cm. CA based treatment T7 also recorded lower SPR (126 N cm-1). SQI for different treatments were calculated by performing principal component analysis based on the total data set method. The higher system rice equivalent yield of 12.41 t ha-1 was observed at SQI value of 0.90 at 0-10 cm and 0.86 at 10-20 cm in T7. It can be concluded that crop residue retention on the surface with zero tillage is beneficial for the sustainability and productivity of the RWCS in EIGP of India.

Indian agriculture, air pollution, and public health in the age of COVID.

Emerging evidence supports the intuitive link between chronic health conditions associated with air pollution and the vulnerability of individuals and communities to COVID-19. Poor air quality already imposes a highly significant public health burden in Northwest India, with pollution levels spiking to hazardous levels in November and early December when rice crop residues are burned. The urgency of curtailing the COVID-19 pandemic and mitigating a potential resurgence later in the year provides even more justification for accelerating efforts to dramatically reduce open agricultural burning in India.

Ba5Zn4Gd8O21:Tb3+-structural characterization and the Judd-Ofelt parameterization from emission spectra.

Ba5Zn4Gd8O21:Tb3+ nanorods; synthesized via solution combustion route; were found to crystallize in the tetragonal (I4/m, 87) crystal system. The UV excitation at 290 nm of all Ba5Zn4Gd8O21:Tb3+ samples yielded the characteristics emission corresponding to 5D4 â†’ 7F6,5,4,3 transitions in Tb3+ activator (used for Judd-Ofelt analysis). A detailed investigation of photoluminescence decay curves and emission spectra of Ba5Zn4Gd8O21:Tb3+ nanorods provided the radiative lifetime (1.0889 ms) and total radiative transition rates from 5D4 state in Tb3+ ion. The electric-dipole radiative transition probabilities (extracted from total radiative rates i.e. electric-dipole + magnetic-dipole) were used to calculate the Judd-Ofelt intensity parameters (Ω2 = 4.76 × 10-20, Ω4 = 2.11 × 10-20 and Ω6 = 2.00 × 10-20 cm2). The very high quantum efficiency of 5D4 state (81%) suggests their potential use in lighting and display devices. Finally, a large magnitude of peak stimulated emission cross section of 5D4 â†’ 7F5 (16.5838 × 10-20 cm2) transition also claims their promising candidature as a good laser material.

Myelopreservation with the CDK4/6 inhibitor trilaciclib in patients with small-cell lung cancer receiving first-line chemotherapy: a phase Ib/randomized phase II trial.

BACKGROUND: Chemotherapy-induced damage of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPC) causes multi-lineage myelosuppression. Trilaciclib is an intravenous CDK4/6 inhibitor in development to proactively preserve HSPC and immune system function during chemotherapy (myelopreservation). Preclinically, trilaciclib transiently maintains HSPC in G1 arrest and protects them from chemotherapy damage, leading to faster hematopoietic recovery and enhanced antitumor immunity. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a phase Ib (open-label, dose-finding) and phase II (randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled) study of the safety, efficacy and PK of trilaciclib in combination with etoposide/carboplatin (E/P) therapy for treatment-naive extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer patients. Patients received trilaciclib or placebo before E/P on days 1-3 of each cycle. Select end points were prespecified to assess the effect of trilaciclib on myelosuppression and antitumor efficacy. RESULTS: A total of 122 patients were enrolled, with 19 patients in part 1 and 75 patients in part 2 receiving study drug. Improvements were seen with trilaciclib in neutrophil, RBC (red blood cell) and lymphocyte measures. Safety on trilaciclib+E/P was improved with fewer ≥G3 adverse events (AEs) in trilaciclib (50%) versus placebo (83.8%), primarily due to less hematological toxicity. No trilaciclib-related ≥G3 AEs occurred. Antitumor efficacy assessment for trilaciclib versus placebo, respectively, showed: ORR (66.7% versus 56.8%, P = 0.3831); median PFS [6.2 versus 5.0 m; hazard ratio (HR) 0.71; P = 0.1695]; and OS (10.9 versus 10.6 m; HR 0.87; P = 0.6107). CONCLUSION: Trilaciclib demonstrated an improvement in the patient's tolerability of chemotherapy as shown by myelopreservation across multiple hematopoietic lineages resulting in fewer supportive care interventions and dose reductions, improved safety profile, and no detriment to antitumor efficacy. These data demonstrate strong proof-of-concept for trilaciclib's myelopreservation benefits. CLINICAL TRAIL NUMBER: NCT02499770.

Taking the climate risk out of transplanted and direct seeded rice: Insights from dynamic simulation in Eastern India.

Rice productivity in Eastern Indo-Gangetic plains (EIGP) is extremely low, in part due to the prevailing practice of cultivating long-duration transplanted rice under rainfed conditions which leads to water stress and significant yield losses in many seasons. Rice establishment alternatives such as direct seeded rice (DSR) require less water at planting but also are accompanied by climate risks that constrain adoption. For both conventional transplanted and DSR systems, successfully addressing climate-based production risks may provide a strong basis for sustainable rice intensification in EIGP. In this ex ante study of rice yield and yield variability, the APSIM cropping system model was used to evaluate the efficacy of risk-reducing management practices in both transplanted and DSR systems. Simulations were conducted with 44 years (1970-2013) of historical weather data from central Bihar, India. Results confirm that the prevailing farmer practice of transplanting long-duration cultivars under rainfed conditions (fTR) often results in delayed transplanting and the use of older seedlings, leading to low (median 1.6 t ha-1) and variable (Standard deviation (SD) 2.1 t ha-1) rice yields. To improve the fTR system, simulations suggest that adoption of medium-duration hybrid rice (3.2 t ha-1), provision of supplemental post-establishment irrigation (3.2 t ha-1), or transplanting appropriately aged seedlings (3.4 t ha -1) can double yields as single interventions while, in the case of supplemental irrigation, significantly reducing inter-annual production variability. Additional gains are achievable when interventions are layered: supplemental irrigation paired with medium-duration hybrids increased median rice yields to 4.6 t ha-1 with much lower variability (SD 1.0 t ha-1). In these improved systems where irrigation is used to transplant the crop, simulations revealed the importance of timely planting: high and stable yields are achievable for long-duration cultivars when transplanting is completed by 2 August with this window of opportunity extending to 16 August for medium-duration hybrids. In rainfed DSR systems, the potential pay-offs from single interventions were even higher with medium-duration hybrids resulting in a median yield of 4.5 t ha-1 against 1.8 t ha-1 with long-duration cultivars. For irrigated DSR systems, an optimum sowing window of early to mid-June was identified which resulted in higher and more stable yields with lower water requirements. Simulation results suggest several risk-reducing intensification pathways that can be selectively matched to farmer risk preferences and investment capabilities within the target region in EIGP.

Purification and characterization of a broad spectrum bacteriocin produced by a selected Lactococcus lactis strain 63 isolated from Indian dairy products.

Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis strain 63 was isolated from Indian dairy products, produced a bacteriocin with broad spectrum inhibition against several of food pathogens like Listeria monocytogenes and Bacillus cereus as well as Gram negative bacteria viz., E. coli, Yersinia, Citrobacter, Proteus, Enterobacter, Klebsiella and Serratia strains. Bacteriocin production was higher in GM-17 and MRS as compared to TYGE broth and enriched skim milk broth and reached the maximum level during the early stationary phase. The bacteriocin was purified by performing ammonium sulfate precipitation. The bacteriocin was able to survive 90 °C/10 min but not 100 °C/10 min. Complete inactivation of bacteriocin was observed after autoclaving. The bacteriocin maintained its activity over a wide range of pH (3-9). The antimicrobial compound produced by the isolate 63, was sensitive to papain, pepsin, trypsin and amylase but was resistant to detergents like SDS and urea. Tween 20, Tween-80 as well as Triton X-100 enhanced its activity. Since the treatment with proteolytic enzymes resulted in loss of activity, this shows that the proteinaceous nature of the antimicrobial substance. Tentative molecular weight of the bacteriocin was found to be between 3.5 and 5 kDa by Tricine SDS-PAGE. Finally, we confirmed the presence of gene for nisin, and the sequence thus obtained, was identical to the sequences previously described for nisin Z. Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis 63 or its bacteriocin, which has a wide inhibitory spectrum, has the potential for use as a starter or protective culture in the manufacture of fermented products.

Microencapsulation of reuterin to enhance long-term efficacy against food-borne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes.

The aim of this study was to microencapsulate the reuterin produced by Lactobacillus reuteri BPL-36 strain for its long-term efficacy against food-borne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes. Lactobacillus reuteri BPL-36 strain previously isolated from a human infant fecal sample in lab was selected for the present study based on its ability to produce reuterin. The organism displayed a broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. Reuterin concentration of 89.63 mM was obtained in the MRS-glycerol medium after 16 h incubation at 37 °C. The reuterin concentration required to inhibit the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli O157: H7, Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus, and Listeria monocytogenes was found to be 1.0, 2.0, 2.0, 4.0, and 10.0 AU/mL, respectively. Microencapsulation of reuterin to enhance long-term efficacy against food-borne pathogens was done. Results in this study indicated that the release characteristics of reuterin from the encapsulated particles were pH dependent. The release characteristics were unaffected by the storage of encapsulated reuterin at 4 °C for 2 weeks. The anti-listerial efficacy of the encapsulated reuterin was tested against L. monocytogenes in the BHI medium adjusted to pH 5.0 with a reuterin content equivalent to 16 mM, similar to un-encapsulated (free) reuterin. Encapsulated reuterin demonstrated enhanced efficacy against L. monocytogenes for longer duration of time when compared with un-encapsulated (free) reuterin. The present work demonstrated a novel antimicrobial delivery system that ensured much better capability of inhibiting the growth of L. monocytogenes throughout 24 h incubation at 37 °C.

Evaluation of long-term conservation agriculture and crop intensification in rice-wheat rotation of Indo-Gangetic Plains of South Asia: Carbon dynamics and productivity.

In the context of deteriorating soil health, stagnation of yield in rice-wheat cropping system (RWCS) across Indo- Gangetic plains (IGP) and environmental pollution, a long term field experiment was conducted during 2009-2016 taking four crop scenarios with conservation agriculture (CA), crop intensification and diversified cropping as intervening technology aiming to evaluate the sustainability of the systems. Scenario 1 (S1) represented conventional farmers' practice of growing rice and wheat with summer fallow. In scenario 2 (S2) and scenario 3 (S3), legume crop was taken along with rice and wheat with partial CA and full CA, respectively. Conventional RWCS was replaced with rice-potato + maize- cowpea cropping system with partial CA in scenario 4 (S4). The S3 scenario registered highest total organic carbon (TOC) stock of 47.71 Mg C ha-1 and resulted in significant increase of 14.57% over S1 (Farmer's practice) in 0-30 cm soil depth after 7 years of field trial. The S4 scenario having intensified cropping systems recorded lowest TOC of 39.33 Mg C ha-1 and resulted in significant depletion of 17.56% in C stock with respect to S3 in 0-30 cm soil depth. The TOC enrichment was higher in S2, S3 and S4 scenario in the surface soil (0-10 cm) compared to S1. At lower depth (20-30 cm), the TOC enrichment was significantly higher in S2 (12.82 Mg C ha-1) and S3 (13.10 Mg C ha-1 soil) over S1 scenario. The S2 and S3 scenario recorded highest increased allocation of TOC (3.55 and 6.13 Mg C ha-1) to passive pool over S1. The S2 (15.72 t ha-1), S3 (16.08 t ha-1) and S4 (16.39 t ha-1) scenarios recorded significantly higher system rice equivalent yield over S1 (10.30 t ha-1). Among the scenarios, S3 scenario had greater amount of total soil organic carbon, passive pool of carbon and higher system rice equivalent yield, thus, is considered the best cropping management practice to maintain soil health and food security in the middle IGP.

The cryoprotective effect of iodixanol in buffalo semen cryopreservation.

This is the first report to examine the effect of iodixanol (OptiPrepTM) on cryosurvival of buffalo spermatozoa. A total of thirty ejaculates (five ejaculates from each bull) from six buffalo bulls were used for this experiment. Each ejaculate was divided into four aliquots and diluted in freezing extender supplemented with different concentrations of OptiPrepTM (0, 1.25, 2.5 and 5%) and then cryopreserved. The semen quality variables were evaluated before and after freezing of the semen. There were no effects of OptiPrepTM (P>0.05) on sperm kinetics, motility, abnormality and membrane integrity of fresh extended spermatozoa. However, after freeze-thaw, sperm motility, plasma membrane integrity and distance travelled in cervical mucus of 2.5% OptiPrepTM treated samples showed significantly higher (P<0.05) compared to other treated and control samples. No significant differences (P>0.05) were seen in sperm abnormality and acrosomal integrity of treated and control frozen-thawed samples. The total antioxidant capacity of 2.5 and 5% OptiPrepTM treated frozen-thawed sperm were found to be higher (P<0.05) as compared to other groups; whereas the MDA level in OptiPrepTM treated sperm was significantly lower than the control (P<0.05). In incubation test, 2.5% OptiPrepTM proved to be better in preservation of sperm motility as compared to other treated and control samples. In conclusion, the present study has shown that iodixanol has the ability protect spermatozoa against oxidative stress and resulting overall improvement in the post-thaw semen quality.

Cysteamine supplementation revealed detrimental effect on cryosurvival of buffalo sperm based on computer-assisted semen analysis and oxidative parameters.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of addition of cysteamine to the semen extender on post-thaw semen quality. A total of 30 ejaculates were collected from six bulls. Each ejaculate was divided into five equal parts and diluted to final concentration of 80 million sperms/mL using Optixcell®(IMV, France) semen extender supplemented with different concentrations of cysteamine (0, 0.75, 1.25, 2.5 and 5mM) and cryopreserved. In the frozen-thawed samples, the VAP, VSL, VCL ALH and sperm motility of control samples was greater (P<0.05) than cysteamine treated samples. The sperm abnormality and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration were found highest in 5mM cysteamine treated samples. The cysteamine treated samples travelled significantly less distance in cervical mucus as compared to control. Further, cysteamine decreased acrosomal integrity of sperm. In incubation test, control samples showed better sperm motility as compared to treatment groups. Further, cysteamine supplementation decreased the total antioxidants and increased the MDA concentration of sperm. From the study, we hypothesized that cysteamine cannot stimulate synthesis of glutathione (GSH) intracellularly in sperm to combat free radicals because during the maturation, sperm lost its cytoplasm which is necessary for biochemical reaction in which cysteamine reacts with cystine to form a mixed disulfide which taken up by cells and split into cysteine in the cytoplasm. Synthesis of GSH depends on the availability of cysteine. In conclusion, the results of our study strongly emphasize that cysteamine would not be a suitable additive in extender for freezing buffalo bull semen.

Workplace Violence: An Extensive Issue for Nurses in Pakistan-: A Qualitative Investigation.

The objective of the present study was to examine the incidences of violence during nurses' careers and their impacts on their work life in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. The current article highlights workplace violence toward nurses as a serious issue in Pakistan, which is almost an unexplored area as data are scarce. Individual interviews were conducted, applying a qualitative approach for getting the in-depth knowledge about the subject. Grounded theory method was used for data analysis and NVIVO-10 was used for information processing. Majority of the nurses experienced violence in the previous 6 months of their career. Nurses also confirmed that verbal abuse was witnessed and although experienced frequently, they did not report it, as they believed that reporting was useless and no action would be taken. Most nurses reported that due to violence, they experience stress, low work performance, low job satisfaction, high absenteeism, and high turnover intentions. The results illustrated a clear trend of an increasing number of violence incidents toward nurses. The findings of the present study possibly will assist hospital administration to manage and reduce violence at workplace.

Antibacterial efficacy of Nisin, Pediocin 34 and Enterocin FH99 against Listeria monocytogenes and cross resistance of its bacteriocin resistant variants to common food preservatives.

Antilisterial efficiency of three bacteriocins, viz, Nisin, Pediocin 34 and Enterocin FH99 was tested individually and in combination against Listeria mononcytogenes ATCC 53135. A greater antibacterial effect was observed when the bacteriocins were combined in pairs, indicating that the use of more than one LAB bacteriocin in combination have a higher antibacterial action than when used individually. Variants of Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 53135 resistant to Nisin, Pediocin 34 and Enterocin FH99 were developed. Bacteriocin cross-resistance of wild type and their corresponding resistant variants were assessed and results showed that resistance to a bacteriocin may extend to other bacteriocins within the same class. Resistance to Pediocin 34 conferred cross resistance to Enterocin FH 99 but not to Nisin. Similarly resistance to Enterocin FH99 conferred cross resistance to Pediocin 34 but not to Nisin. Also, the sensitivity of Nisin, Pediocin 34 and Enterocin FH99 resistant variants of Listeria monocytogenes to low pH, salt, sodium nitrite, and potassium sorbate was assayed in broth and compared to the parental wild-type strain. The Nisin, Pediocin 34 and Enterocin FH99 resistant variants did not have intrinsic resistance to low pH, sodium chloride, potassium sorbate, or sodium nitrite. In no case were the bacteriocin resistant Listeria monocytogenes variants examined were more resistant to inhibitors than the parental strains.

Gassericin A: a circular bacteriocin produced by lactic acid bacteria Lactobacillus gasseri.

During the recent years extensive efforts have been made to find out bacteriocins from lactic acid bacteria (LAB) active against various food spoilage and pathogenic bacteria, and superior stabilities against heat treatments and pH variations. Bacteriocins isolated from LAB have been grouped into four classes. Circular bacteriocins which were earlier grouped among the four groups of bacteriocins, have recently been proposed to be classified into a different class, making it class V bacteriocins. Circular bacteriocins are special molecules, whose precursors must be post translationally modified to join the N to C termini with a head-to-tail peptide bond. Cyclization appears to make them less susceptible to proteolytic cleavage, high temperature and pH, and, therefore, provides enhanced stability as compared to linear bacteriocins. The advantages of circularization are also reflected by the fact that a significant number of macrocyclic natural products have found pharmaceutical applications. Circular bacteriocins were unknown two decades ago, and even to date, only a few circular bacteriocins from a diverse group of Gram positive organisms have been reported. The first example of a circular bacteriocin was enterocin AS-48, produced by Enterococcus faecalis AS-48. Gassereccin A, produced by Lactobacillus gasseri LA39, Reutericin 6 produced by Lactobacillus reuteri LA6 and Circularin A, produced by Clostridium beijerinickii ATCC 25,752, are further examples of this group of antimicrobial peptides. In the present scenario, Gassericin A can be an important tool in the food preservation owing to its properties of high pH and temperature tolerance and the fact that it is produced by LAB L. gasseri, whose many strains are proven probiotic.