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This article 'Pusa 1121: a rice line with exceptionally high cooked kernel elongation and basmati quality' appeared in the International Rice Research Notes series, created by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) to expedite communication among scientists concerned with the development of improved technology for rice and rice-based systems. The series is a mechanism to help scientists keep each other informed of current rice research findings. The concise scientific notes are meant to encourage rice scientists to communicate with one another to obtain details on the research reported.

Training is essential not only to increase productivity, but also to keep workers of an organization motivated and inspired. In this study, the effectiveness of trainings conducted by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) during 2017-18 in which 901 Scientists, 506 Technical, 519 Administrative and 313 Skilled Support Staff (SSS) from 106 ICAR-Institutes across 26 States/UTs participated was assessed by HRM Unit, ICAR HQs, New Delhi during 2018-19. Study revealed that the pooled perceived training effectiveness index (PTEI) was 3.86, referring medium effectiveness of trainings. The mean PTEI score was the highest for SSS (3.94) followed by Administrative staff (3.90). Overall, most of the participants (58.83%) reported medium degree of effectiveness of the training programmes. Behavioural changes and changes in practices as a consequence of exposure to the trainings are evident from the findings. The study revealed that perceived effectiveness was significantly associated with age, gender and duration of training programmes. Some observed constraints by the trainees were inadequate infrastructure at Institutes, sometimes lesser relevancy of few topics and lack of practical exposure. The major suggestions were inclusion of more practical sessions, follow up programmes for trainee-trainer meet, and increasing the duration of the trainings in few cases. The trainings organised by ICAR should continue for all staff categories to bring about desirable changes in competencies.

Zollo et al. report that mutations in PRUNE1, a phosphoesterase superfamily molecule, underlie primary microcephaly and profound global developmental delay in four unrelated families from Oman, India, Iran and Italy. The study highlights a potential role for prune during microtubule polymerization, suggesting that prune syndrome may be a tubulinopathy., PRUNE is a member of the DHH (Asp-His-His) phosphoesterase protein superfamily of molecules important for cell motility, and implicated in cancer progression. Here we investigated multiple families from Oman, India, Iran and Italy with individuals affected by a new autosomal recessive neurodevelopmental and degenerative disorder in which the cardinal features include primary microcephaly and profound global developmental delay. Our genetic studies identified biallelic mutations of PRUNE1 as responsible. Our functional assays of disease-associated variant alleles revealed impaired microtubule polymerization, as well as cell migration and proliferation properties, of mutant PRUNE. Additionally, our studies also highlight a potential new role for PRUNE during microtubule polymerization, which is essential for the cytoskeletal rearrangements that occur during cellular division and proliferation. Together these studies define PRUNE as a molecule fundamental for normal human cortical development and define cellular and clinical consequences associated with PRUNE mutation.

This investigation was aimed at investigating effect of low water potential generated by PEG on growth, sugar content and stress related enzymes (catalase, GPOX) at seedling level. Additionally gene expression was also studied using SDS-PAGE. A total of twelve moth bean genotypes comprising of elite moth bean lines were evaluated for desiccation tolerance at germination and seedling stage. Germination was happened differentially at 8% PEG while 15% PEG induced wilting in 7d old seedlings. Longer roots and shoots, higher dry weight of root and shoots both in control and treated seedlings was observed with desiccation tolerance. Drought tolerant and sensitive varieties differed in their protein profiling with newer genes showing their expression in tolerant once. Two genes were found up regulated in all tolerant varieties during PEG induced stress. Higher basal activity of enzymes (GPOX and catalase) and total soluble sugar during water deficit in drought tolerant varieties was reported.

The Anthelmintic activity of petroleum ether, methanol and chloroform extract of rhizomes of Nymphaea rubra Linn were evaluated separately and the activities were compared with that of Albendazole. The petroleum ether, ethanol and chloroform extract exhibited dose dependent activity. The ethanolic extract showed remarkable Anthelmintic activity.

Acinetobacter species are emerging as an important nosocomial pathogen. Multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter spp. has limited the option for effective treatment. Although carbapenems are effective for the treatment of such infections, resistance to this drug has recently been reported. This study was undertaken to assess resistance to carbapenem in clinical isolates of Acinetobacter spp. from hospitalized patients by both disc-diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) methods. All clinical samples from suspected cases of nosocomial infections were processed, and 265 isolates were identified as Acinetobacter species. These isolates were tested for antibiotic resistance by the disc-diffusion method with 14 antimicrobials, including meropenem and imipenem. Thereafter, all Acinetobacter species were subjected to MIC for meropenem. More than 80% resistance to second- and third-generation cephalosporins, aminoglycosides, and quinolones was recorded. Thirty percent of the strains were resistant to cefoperazone/sulbactam. Resistance to meropenem was observed in 6.4% of Acinetobacter spp. while 8.3% of the isolates showed intermediate resistance detected by MIC. All carbapenem-resistant/intermediate strains were also resistant to other (>10) antibiotics tested by the disc-diffusion method. The rising trend of resistance to carbapenem poses an alarming threat to the treatment for such infections. Regular monitoring, judicious prescription, and early detection of resistance to carbapenem are necessary to check further dissemination of drug resistance in Acinetobacter spp.

Introduction: The immunogenicity of crude amoebic antigen and its fractions preparedfrom Entamoeba histolytica (NIH:200) was evaluated in experimental animals. Material and Methods: Forty two guinea pigs of either sex free from Entamoebainfection and aged around 3 to 4 weeks were randomly divided into 5 groups. The treatedgroups consisted of 8, 10, 6, and 8 animals and 10 animals served as controls. Crude amoebicextract and its chromatographed fractions were used to immunize the treated animals. All theanimals were assessed for immunity status, challenged with Entamoeba trophozoites andsubsequently examined for lesions of the caecum and liver. Results: Of the 8 animals immunized with crude antigen, one had liver abscess and 5 hadcaecal lesions. None of the 10 animals immunized with fraction I (FI) had hepatic lesions and one had caecal lesions. Both caecal and hepatic lesions were observed in animals immunizedwith FII & FIII. Conclusion: Results show that vaccination with the F1 fraction of Entamoeba histolyticaprovided up to 90% protection against infection. The other fractions and the crude extractprovided less protection.

The aim of this study was to evaluate two methods for the diagnosis of Kala-azar. The sera of 160 individuals were evaluated by ELISA using soluble antigen and direct agglutination test (DAT) for Kala-azar. These were categorized as 100 cases of clinically and parasitologically confirmed Kala-azar and 60 controls. The controls included clinically suspected but parasitologically not confirmed Kala-azar patients (10), endemic normals (15), non-endemic normals (19), typhoid fever (10) and malaria (15). The positivity rate amongst the clinically and parasitologically confirmed Kala-azar patients by ELISA and DAT were 93% and 98% respectively. Out of 10 clinically suspected Kala-azar cases three showed positive reaction in ELISA and two in DAT. Of the endemic normals, one case was found positive by both the tests whereas ELISA was found positive in one additional case. DAT did not show any cross reactivity with malaria while ELISA was found positive in one case. Both endemic normals and typhoid fever cases showed no reaction by both tests. ELISA showed a sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of 93%, 90%, 93% and 90% respectively while for DAT these values were 98%, 95%, 98 and 95% respectively. The diagnostic accuracy for ELISA and DAT was found to be 91.9% and 96.9%, respectively. The present study shows that DAT is a simple, sensitive, specific and cost effective test with high PPV and NPV along with approximately 97% diagnostic accuracy and is comparable to ELISA. It may be applied for the routine diagnosis as well as seroepidemiological study of Kala-azar.

Struma ovarii is a rare tumor. Malignant change in this tumour is even rarer. While clinical presentation is protean, a preoperative diagnosis is equally difficult. Diagnosis is confirmed by histology. Treatment ofmalignant struma ovarii is by surgical resection of the tumor or total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. A total thyroidectomy allows radioactive iodine ablation and the use of thyroglobulin as marker to monitor recurrence. However due to rarity of the disease, standard treatment is still controversial. We present a case of malignant struma ovarii, followed up for five years after treatment, and a review of the literature on the disease. The patient was treated with surgery and radiation. She is still free of disease after 5 years.Key Words: Malignant Struma Ovarii, Ovarian Teratoma, Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma

We report the prevalence of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections and their antibiotic susceptibility pattern in our hospital located in eastern Uttar Pradesh. Out of total 549 strains of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from different clinical specimens 301 (54.85%) were found to be methicillin resistant. More than 80% of MRSA were found to be resistant to penicillin, cotrimoxazole, ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, erythromycin, tetracycline, 60.5% to amikacin and 47.5% to netilmicin. However, no strains were resistant to vancomycin. Many MRSA strains (32.0%) were multi-drug resistant. To reduce the prevalence of MRSA, the regular surveillance of hospital associated infection, monitoring of antibiotic sensitivity pattern and formulation of definite antibiotic policy may be helpful.

The genome of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is being sequenced by an international consortium of 10 countries (Korea, China, the United Kingdom, India, the Netherlands, France, Japan, Spain, Italy, and the United States) as part of the larger “International Solanaceae Genome Project (SOL): Systems Approach to Diversity and Adaptation” initiative. The tomato genome sequencing project uses an ordered bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) approach to generate a high-quality tomato euchromatic genome sequence for use as a reference genome for the Solanaceae and euasterids. Sequence is deposited at GenBank and at the SOL Genomics Network (SGN). Currently, there are around 1000 BACs finished or in progress, representing more than a third of the projected euchromatic portion of the genome. An annotation effort is also underway by the International Tomato Annotation Group. The expected number of genes in the euchromatin is ∼40,000, based on an estimate from a preliminary annotation of 11% of finished sequence. Here, we present this first snapshot of the emerging tomato genome and its annotation, a short comparison with potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) sequence data, and the tools available for the researchers to exploit this new resource are also presented. In the future, whole-genome shotgun techniques will be combined with the BAC-by-BAC approach to cover the entire tomato genome. The high-quality reference euchromatic tomato sequence is expected to be near completion by 2010.