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Aeroponic is well established technology for more efficient and high quality seed potato production. An experiment was carried out at Central Potato Research Institute, Regional Station, Gwalior (MP) to find out the suitable method of planting and irrigation for further multiplication of aeroponic minitubers under net house conditions with six treatment combinations. Aeroponic minitubers of two popular potato variety of the region viz Kufri Lauvkar and Kufri Surya were planted with two types of seed beds viz flat bed and ridge and furrow with 30 cm v 10 cm spacing in which sprinkler and furrow irrigation method was applied. Among planting beds, significantly higher emergence% was recorded in ridge and furrow planting (87.22) over flatbed planting method (83.89). Weight of tubers was significantly higher in sprinkler irrigation (105.7 q/ha), ridge and furrow planting (107.8 q/ha) and variety Kufri Lauvkar (114.1q/ha) over furrow irrigation (98.3 q/ha), flat bed planting (96.2 q/ha) and variety Kufri Surya (89.8 q/ha) respectively. Significantly higher seed size (40-80g) tubers were recorded in sprinkler irrigation method (3% by number and 12.6% by weight) and variety Kufri Lauvkar (3.6% by number and 17.6% by weight) over furrow irrigation and Kufri Surya. Therefore, for higher production, minituber multiplication should be done in ridge and furrow method of planting with sprinkler irrigation under North-Central conditions of India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tropical dry forests (TDF) support the livelihoods of millions of people worldwide, but in contrast with the humid tropical forests, knowledge of their structure and biology is limited. This study aims to fill that gap using observations from the South Indian Deccan Plateau. Based on large, tree-mapped field plots, within or near a densely populated metropolitan area, we present details of 130 woody plant species, including a large number of climbers. The modelling approach includes a new function for developing species–area relations (SAR's). In addition to the greater flexibility of the function, when compared with traditional power and asymptotic functions, the Monod function not only provides greater flexibility, but also allows reasonable estimates of SAR's if the overall regional species richness is known. This is an important advantage when compared to the standard methods. Another new finding concerns the species abundance distribution (SAD) which explains processes of community assembly and species turnover. The SAD follows the Weibull model which is a significant improvement compared with the traditional use of the Lognormal model because the Weibull parameters seem to be related to species richness. We also present a new cell-based (in addition to the individual neighbourhood-based) approach for analysing structure. The cell-based analysis combines small-grain measures of density and crowding, richness and size variation and can be used to assess the degree of similarity or dissimilarity among forest stands, or between a current and some ideal target structure. The methods of analysis and the proposed framework for pro-active conservation presented in this study may be helpful in regions of the world where complex multi-species forests require advanced methods for sustaining their resilience and functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Kramers problem for a dimer in a bistable piecewise linear potential is studied in the presence of correlated noise processes. The effect of such a correlation is to redistribute the thermal power between the dynamical degrees of freedom, and this leads to significant deviations in the dynamics of the system from the case of independent noise processes. The distribution of first passage times from one minima to the basin of attraction of the other minima is found to have exponentially decaying tails with the parameter dependent on the amount of correlation and the coupling between the particles. The strong coupling limit of the problem is analyzed using adiabatic elimination, where it is found that the initial probability density relaxes towards a stationary value on the same time scale as the mean escape time when the noise intensity of the system is low. For higher noise fluctuations, the relaxation towards the stationary state is slower in comparison to escape times. In the extreme limit of perfect anticorrelation, the random dynamical system behaves as a deterministic system in a steady state in which the center of mass starting from the unstable maxima moves down the hill and gets trapped in the potential minima. The implications for polymer dynamics in a potential are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the effect of multiplicative noise in dynamical flows arising from the coupling of stochastic processes with intrinsic noise. Situations wherein such systems arise naturally are in chemical or biological oscillators that are coupled to each other in a drive-response configuration. Above a coupling threshold we find that there is a strong correlation between the drive and the response: This is a stochastic analog of the phenomenon of generalised synchronization. Since the dynamical fluctuations are large when there is intrinsic noise, it is necessary to employ measures that are sensitive to correlations between the variables of drive and the response, the permutation entropy, or the mutual information in order to detect the transition to generalized synchrony in such systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inductor current is an important feedback parameter in synchronous buck converters (SBCs). It is used for overcurrent protection, current sharing among interleaved modules, and current-mode feedback regulation, among others. While implementing a digital controller, inductor current is sensed and fed into the controller through a high sampling frequency analog to digital converter (ADC). As the switching frequency of the converter becomes higher, the need for an even higher sampling frequency ADC also goes up, which is a distinct disadvantage in terms of the overall cost. This paper discusses a simple current estimation technique that avoids use of any expensive current sensor and high sampling frequency ADCs. The paper shows that in a buck converter, inductor current can be estimated by tracking the width of the switch node voltage. Implementation and limitations of the proposed current estimation scheme are discussed in detail. The proposed method is validated using a 3.3 V–15 A SBC prototype and results show the estimation technique is accurate within 5% with a converter switching frequency of 800 kHz. In order to prove the effectiveness of the technique in feedback regulation, the current estimation technique is used to implement average current mode and hysteretic current mode control on a SBC. To prove the effectiveness of the proposed current estimation scheme, it is used in closed-loop control of the SBC to verify the dynamic responses, such as start-up transient, step change in load, and reference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of the atomic mass of the ablating target on the formation and expansion of the interaction region in laterally colliding plasmas has been studied. Fast imaging and optical emission spectroscopy have been utilized as diagnostic tools to investigate the characteristic features of the seed plasma as well as interaction zone formed by different target materials (i.e., carbon, aluminium, and nickel). The present results reveal that dynamical, spectral, and geometrical features of the induced interaction zone depend on the mass of the ablated species and spatial separation between the interacting plumes. It has been observed that a sharp, intense, and more directional interaction zone is formed by the interaction of heavier plume species in comparison to that observed for a lighter atomic mass target. Further, the difference in the plasma parameters in seed and interaction regions are explained from the analysis of emission from both the regions for aluminium plasma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rhino-orbital–cerebral mucor mycosis (ROCM) is a relatively rare opportunistic infection caused by the Mucorales species. While ROCM suggests involvement of the paranasal sinuses, orbit and brain ROM (rhino-orbital-Mucormycosis) stands for the fungal invasion in sinuses and orbit sans cerebral involvement. In India with the outbreak of the second COVID wave and the delta variant of the virus, there has been a steep increase in this opportunistic fulminant fungal infection, named COVID-associated Mucor mycosis (CAM). The most critical question in orbital management is when to go ahead with an exenteration. Our study aims to design a pertinent minimal invasive surgical protocol for surgeons to manage such cases based on our surgical experience and mitigate the need for exenteration and save the eyes wherever possible. Methods: The study is a retrospective analysis of patients of ROM with and without brain involvement, who underwent minimal surgical management between March 2021 to March 2022 along with their follow-up. Results: There were 184 eyes of 148 patients diagnosed with CAM. The mean age was 51.7 years with a male predominance of 103 (70%). All patients developed ROM following the COVID-19 infection and the duration between diagnosis of COVID-19 and ROM was 36 ± 23 days. 18 cases (12%) were bilateral. 76 eyes (41%) had no vision at the presentation. Imaging revealed paranasal sinus involvement (100%), orbital apex involvement (61%), cavernous sinus involvement (53%), and central nervous system (CNS) involvement (47%). All the patients (100%) were treated with systemic Liposomal amphotericin-B and sinus debridement. Endoscopic debridement of the orbital disease was performed in 45 (30.4%) cases, 15(8.1%) eyes underwent exenteration and were later rehabilitated with a customized ocular prosthesis, 103 (56%) eyes underwent transcutaneous retrobulbar amphotericin-B. At a mean follow-up of 13.1 months; the complete resolution was seen in 25 (17%) cases, the residual stable lesion was seen in 77(52%) of the cases and new lesions were developed in 13(9%) of the cases. Mortality was seen in 33 (22%) patients and all of them had CNS involvement. Conclusions: Systemic and protocol-based management can save the life and salvage the eyes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clogging of sub entry nozzle is a recurrent problem during continuous casting of low carbon aluminum deoxidized steel. Newly modernized SMS shop, producing mainly low carbon aluminum deoxidized steel through BOF-Twin LF-CC route was facing a major issue of nozzle clogging leading to abrupt abortion of sequence casting. The incidences of SEN clogging were very high leading to loss of shop productivity. Within a span of one month around 28 cases of casting abortion were reported due SEN clogging. Casting was getting stopped in 3–4 heat sequence even after calcium treatment practice was adopted in each heat. The process of steelmaking was studied in detail to find out the root cause of nozzle clogging. It was found that dendritic clusters of alumina originating as a result of deoxidation of steel and reoxidation of aluminum during secondary refining was probably causing SEN clogging. It was also found that optimization of Ca treatment practice was required for successful continuous casting of an aluminum-killed steel. The paper elaborates the technical issues faced related to clogging of SEN in a newly installed high speed single strand slab caster during continuous casting of low carbon steel deoxidized with aluminum. The paper covers the essential steps required to identify the root cause of nozzle clogging and various process interventions essential to eliminate the SEN clogging issues and streamline the production of low carbon aluminum-killed steel in higher sequence lengths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In [3], we derived three results in additive combinatorics for function fields. The proofs of these results depended on a recent bound for the large sieve with sparse sets of moduli for function fields by the first and third-named authors in [1]. Unfortunately, they discovered an error in this paper and demonstrated in [2] that this result cannot hold in full generality. In the present paper, we formulate a plausible conjecture under which the said three results in [3] remain true and the method of proof goes through using the same arguments. However, these results are now only conditional and still await a full proof. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Background: Routinely collected electronic health data obtained for administrative and clinical purposes are increasingly used to study atopic dermatitis (AD). Methods for identifying AD patients in routinely collected electronic health data differ, and it is unknown how this might affect study results. Objectives: To evaluate how patients with AD have been identified in studies using routinely collected electronic health data, to determine whether these methods were validated and to estimate how the method for identifying patients with AD affected variability in prevalence estimates. Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, Embase and Web of Science for studies using routinely collected electronic health data that reported on AD as a primary outcome. Studies of localized AD and other types of dermatitis were excluded. The protocol for this review was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42016037968). Results: In total, 59 studies met eligibility criteria. Medical diagnosis codes for inclusion and exclusion, number of occasions of a code, type of provider associated with a code and prescription data were used to identify patients with AD. Only two studies described validation of their methods and no study reported on disease severity. Prevalence estimates ranged from 0·18% to 38·33% (median 4·91%) and up to threefold variation in prevalence was introduced by differences in the method for identifying patients with AD. Conclusions: This systematic review highlights the need for clear reporting of methods for identifying patients with AD in routinely collected electronic health data to allow for meaningful interpretation and comparison of results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid waste dumping is a serious problem in the urban areas and it is more serious if the area is situated in forest and ecologically sensitive areas such as Pachmarhi. The main objective of this study was to identify the potential areas suitable for solid waste dumping sites for Pachmarhi town and its surroundings. The main data used for this study were Liss-III Images with a spatial resolution of 23.5 m; digital elevation model (DEM) with 30m spatial resolution, and ground control point (GCP) collected by ground point survey (GPS) and topographical map of the study area. Multi criteria analysis methods along with the remote sensing techniques and geographic information system (GIS) were used to derive the results. Arc map was used to finalise the areas levelled as high, moderate, less suitable, and unsuitable regions of the study area. The results indicate that most of the area comes under unsuitable and only 4.04 % is suitable. The selected areas fall on north to east of the town where slope gradient is low, surface water bodies absent and forest degraded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Review: 29 refs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jute and allied fibres viz., mesta including kenaf, roselle, ramie, sunhemp, sisal and flax are important industrial crops and the sources of livelihood of about 4 million farm families and supports direct employment to about 3.7 lakh workers. They accounted for about 0.36%, 0.51% and 0.45 of the gross-, net cropped area and total arable land, respectively, in India during 2018-19. The contribution of jute crop to the global acreage and production during 2018 was 49.4% and 53.7%, respectively. Its contribution to global production was reduced to 50.5% during 2019. The present paper analyses the growth of jute and allied crops during 1950-51 to 2020-21; scenario of area, production and yield; breeding and seed production during 2010-11-2021-22. The Compound Annual Growth rate was 0.21%, 1.52% and 1.31%, respectively, for area, production and yield during 1950-51 to 2020-21. The area and production of jute and allied fibres have decreased substantially during the last 12 years despite the enhancement of yield ha-1 from 2197 kg ha-1 in 2010-11 to 2709 kg ha-1 in 2021-22. Of the total 310 varieties of fibre crops (including cotton) released and notified during 2011-23, 43 were of these crops. In jute, leading varieties in the seed chain contributing highest to the breeder seed indent, such as Navin, Suren (JRO 204) and JRO 128 were old released during 1978, 2007 and 2002, respectively, and very old varieties released up to 1995 had a considerably high share in breeder seed indent during 2021-22. During the period under study (2014-15 to 2021-22), there was no indent for breeder seed production of mesta except in 2016-17 and 2021-22 and against the indent of 0.5 q for two varieties, Satyen (JRKM 9-1, released in 2016) and Central Kenaf 2 (JBMP 2, released in 2016), 1.7 q breeder seed was produced during 2016-17. But, during 2021-22 only 22 kg breeder seed against the indent of 9 kg for three varieties HC7910 (Ujjal), released during 1977; HS 4288, released during 1967 and JRM 5 (Shrestha), released during 2010, was produced. In sunhemp, only five varieties, SUIN 037, SUIN 053, JRG 610 (Prankur), PAU 1691 and Chhindwara 1 (Jabalpur 1) were indented for breeder seed production from 2016-17 to 2021-22 released during 2013, 2009, 2015, 2008 and 1973, respectively. Therefore, old varieties for jute and sunhemp need to be replaced in the seed chain. However, no systematic seed production is being followed for other fibre crops like mesta, ramie, sisal and flax. Public sector organizations contributed only up to 30% of the seed requirement of jute in the country. Therefore, there is an urgent need to increase the share of the public sector in seed production to ensure 'seed security' as well as its affordability and timely availability. The possibility should also be explored for jute seed production in areas close to the proximity to the area of cultivation by incentivizing seed production. Systematic seed/planting materials production of other crops such as ramie, sisal and flax that have very low acreage but important fibre crops with specific niches of cultivation should also be initiated / strengthened to ensure availability of quality seed/planting materials to the farmers. Since these are industrial crops, therefore, there is an urgent need to develop linkages with private sector especially textile industry, Farmers' Producing Organizations and Non-Government Organizations for enhancing production of seed/planting materials and also expanding them in new niches by developing suitable models and incentivizing production of fibres from these crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper discusses the influence of layer thickness of limestone beds on blast fragmentation in different blasting benches of Aditya Limestone Mines of UltraTech Cements Limited. Blast fragmentation analysis was carried out using photographic method to determine the mean fragment sizes. Good correlations were obtained between average layer thicknesses and blast fragment size, power factor (t/kg) and charge factor (kg/m3). Mean fragment sizes less than 100 cm were obtained with the average layer thickness of limestone beds less than 80 cm. The powder factor more than 14 t/kg was achieved with layer thickness less than 200 cm. However, in geologically disturbed limestone strata, blast design patterns and joint parameters had significance in achieving desired fragment size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was based on primary data collected for 100 farmers from Gulbarga district of Karnataka during the agricultural year 2013-14. Tabular and discriminant function analysis was used in the present study. The analysis of data shows that the total cost of cultivation in pigeonpea seed production was around 23 per cent higher than grain production. The variable cost was comparatively higher in seed production (26936 per ha) over grain production (20698 per ha). The gross return was about 32 per cent higher in seed production than grain production and net return from seed production of pigeonpea was 44 per cent higher than grain production. The discriminant analysis indicated that gross return with 55.88 per cent followed by seed (18.52 per cent), human labour (8.35 per cent), manures and fertilizers (7.01per cent), bullock and machine labour (5.99 per cent), plant protection chemicals (4.26 per cent) contributed to discriminate between the seed and grain production of pigeonpea. The net return from pigeonpea seed production was encouraging, therefore the area under seed production may be increased for higher profitability and timely supply of quality seed to the farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Present paper deals the biomass estimation study of some important silvicultural tree species like Gupti, Bhirra, Tinsa, Khirni, Thailand Imli and Rakta Chandan for understanding of carbon sequestration process. Global carbon cycle plays a key role in regulation of earth's climate by controlling the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. CO2 contributes to the greenhouse effects and increased CO2 in the atmosphere has been responsible for more than half of the climate warming observed in recent decades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field trial was conducted under AICRP (Potato) at ICAR-CPRI, Regional station, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India during 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20 with advanced potato hybrids viz. HT/7-1105, HT/7-620 and HT/7-1329 along with controls Kufri Lima, Kufri Surya, Kufri Khyati and Kufri Lauvkar in RBD with 3 replications during second week of October every year. Emergence among hybrids and varieties was >85.0%. Plant vigor was higher in Kufri Lima (4.4) followed by HT/7-1329 and Kufri Surya (4.0). At 60 days, all the hybrids except HT/7-620 recorded significantly higher tuber dry matter over Kufri Khyati (15.0%). At 75 and 90 days, 2 hybrids and controls except Kufri Khyati recorded significantly higher dry matter over hybrid HT/7-620 (17.4% for 75 days and 18.1% for 90 days). Total tuber yield of Kufri Lima (23.5 t ha-1) followed by hybrid HT/7-1329 (23.4 t ha-1) at 60 days at same level of GDD (Growing degree days) of 1134, Kufri Lima (32.4 t ha-1) followed by Kufri Khyati (30.2 t ha-1) and hybrid HT/7-1329 (29.4 t ha-1) at 75 days at same level of GDD (Growing degree days) of 1291 and Kufri Lima (36.6 t ha-1) followed by hybrid HT/7-1329 (35.6 t ha-1) at 90 days at same level of GDD (Growing degree days) of 1426 recorded significantly higher or at par total tuber yield respectively than other controls/hybrids. Hybrid HT/7-1329 and Kufri Lima at 60, 75 and 90 days recorded highest economic return over other hybrids and varieties. Hence, Hybrid HT/7-1329 and variety Kufri Lima found to be most suitable for cultivation under early planting of hot prone areas of West-Central India for getting highest remunerative prices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nuclear radiation shielding materials are having a great importance in reactor shielding, nuclear laboratories, radiation sources storage, as well as in space radiation shielding. The experimental methods are time consuming, facility dependent, as well as costly affair in order to manufacture the shielding materials. The alternative approach is to use nuclear transport codes such as GEANT, MCNP, PHITS, FLUKA for nuclear radiation shielding application. The present work is planned to study the prediction capabilities of transport code for calculation of shielding parameters using two different radiation transport codes and comparison with experimental results. The simulation measurements were carried out by Monte Carlo analysis, 241Am–Be neutron source & neutron dosimeter, and High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) were modeled using MCNP 6 and PHITS 3.22 codes. Subsequently, experimental neutron dose rates were measured after different thickness of HDPE samples using live 241Am–Be neutron source and NRF31 dosimeter. The study shows a good agreement between the experimental and simulated results which suggest that the simulation method can be used for the optimization of new shielding composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Expressed sequence tags (ESTs) are important resource for gene discovery, gene expression and its regulation, molecular marker development, and comparative genomics. We procured 10000 ESTs and analyzed 267 EST-SSRs markers through computational approach. The average density was one SSR/10.45 kb or 6.4% frequency, wherein trinucleotide repeats (66.74%) were the most abundant followed by di- (26.10%), tetra- (4.67%), penta- (1.5%), and hexanucleotide (1.2%) repeats. Functional annotations were done and after-effect newly developed 63 EST-SSRs were used for cross transferability, genetic diversity, and bulk segregation analysis (BSA). Out of 63 EST-SSRs, 42 markers were identified owing to their expansion genetics across 20 different plants which amplified 519 alleles at 180 loci with an average of 2.88 alleles/locus and the polymorphic information content (PIC) ranged from 0.51 to 0.93 with an average of 0.83. The cross transferability ranged from 25% for wheat to 97.22% for Schlerostachya, with an average of 55.86%, and genetic relationships were established based on diversification among them. Moreover, 10 EST-SSRs were recognized as important markers between bulks of pooled DNA of sugarcane cultivars through BSA. This study highlights the employability of the markers in transferability, genetic diversity in grass species, and distinguished sugarcane bulks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waste plastic oil derived from kaoline catalyzed pyrolysis of waste polypropylene is blended with diesel fuel, tested as an alternative fuel in a diesel engine, and its performance characteristics are analyzed and compared with diesel fuel operation. It is observed that the engine could operate with maximum 50% waste plastic oil blended diesel. An engine showed better performance up to 30% blend, but beyond 50% blend it gave a vibration. The results showed a stable performance with brake thermal efficiency similar to that of diesel and its value is higher up to 80% of full load. All emissions are considerably higher than that of the diesel baseline especially at high load and blend. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: Oral carcinogenesis is a multistage process with epithelial dysplasia as a premalignant condition. There is a significant inter-observer variation in diagnosing and grading the oral epithelial dysplasia. As human papillomavirus (HPV) is believed to have à strong relationship with oral carcinogenesis, using P16 as a biomarker may help in identifying the cells which may be undergoing the malignant transformation. However, due to the low specificity of P16, dual staining test P16INK4/Ki67 might be a better promising marker for identifying the transformed cells. This study was designed to evaluate the dual expression of P16 and Ki67 as a promising biomarker for dysplasia and their correlation with clinicopathological factors.Materials and Methods: Immunohistochemical analysis for p16 and ki67 was performed on 30 premalignant oral lesions and 36 oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) by dual staining using the CINtec PLUS kit.Results: CINtec positivity was observed only in leukoplakia with dysplasia (46.7%) and squamous cell carcinoma (25%). None of the cases of leukoplakia without dysplasia or oral submucosal fibrosis stained positive for CINtec plus staining. In leukoplakia with dysplasia, there was no significant association with any of the clinicopathological parameters studied. In OSCC cases, alcohol intake showed statistically significant association with CINtec positivity.Conclusion: P16INK4/Ki67 assessment by dual staining is a promising biomarker for identifying dysplasia in cases with diagnostic dilemmas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study transition of the temporal behaviours of p53 and MDM2 in a stress p53-MDM2-NO regulatory network induced by a bioactive molecule NO (Nitric Oxide). We further study synchronization among a group of identical stress systems arranged in a 3D array with nearest neighbour diffusive coupling. The role of NO and the effect of noise are investigated. In the single system study, we found three distinct types of temporal behaviour of p53, namely oscillation death, damped oscillation and sustained oscillation, depending on the amount of stress induced by NO, indicating how p53 responds to incoming stress. The correlation among coupled systems increases as the value of the coupling constant (∊) is increased (Υ increases) and becomes constant after a certain value of ∊. The permutation entropy spectra H(∊) for p53 and MDM2 as a function of ∊ are found to be different due to direct and indirect interaction of NO with respective proteins. We find Υ versus ∊ for p53 and MDM2 to be similar in a deterministic approach but different in a stochastic approach, and the separation between Υ of the respective proteins as a function of ∊ decreases as system size increases. The role of NO is found to be two-fold: stress induced by NO is prominent at small and large values of ∊ but synchrony induced by it dominates in the moderate range of ∊. Excess stress induces apoptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermogravimetric analysis of karanja (Pongamia glabra) and neem seeds (Azadirachta Indica) at 20°C/min, 25°C/min in the air, and 25°C/min in N2atmosphere was studied and kinetic parameter (activation energy) was determined by using thermogravimetric curves. The results showed that karanja and neem seeds can be characterized as high calorific value and high volatile matter content biomass materials. Kinetic analysis of karanja and neem seeds was also given meticulous attention. Karanja and neem seeds have the potential either to be converted into bio-fuels, useful chemicals feedstock, or used as fuel for energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the domain ordering kinetics in d = 2 ferromagnets which corresponds to populated neuron activities with both long-ranged interactions, V(r) ∼ r− n and short-ranged interactions. We present the results from comprehensive Monte Carlo (MC) simulations for the nonconserved Ising model with n ≥ 2, interaction range considering near and far neighbors. Our model results could represent the long-ranged neuron kinetics (n ≤ 4) in consistent with the same dynamical behaviour of short-ranged case (n ≥ 4) at far below and near criticality. We found that emergence of fast and slow kinetics of long and short ranged case could imitate the formation of connections among near and distant neurons. The calculated characteristic length scale in long-ranged interaction is found to be n independent (L(t) ∼ t1/( n −2)), whereas short-ranged interaction follows L(t) ∼ t1/2 law and approximately preserve universality in domain kinetics. Further, we did the comparative study of phase ordering near the critical temperature which follows different behaviours of domain ordering near and far critical temperature but follows universal scaling law. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Network medicine provides network theoretical tools, methods and properties to study underlying laws governing human interactome to identify disease states and disease complexity leading to drug discovery. Within this framework, we investigated the topological properties of ovarian cancer network (OCN) and the roles of hubs to understand OCN organization to address disease states and complexity. The OCN constructed from the experimentally verified genes exhibits fractal nature in the topological properties with deeply rooted functional communities indicating self-organizing behavior. The network properties at all levels of organization obey one parameter scaling law which lacks centrality lethality rule. We showed that |$\langle k\rangle $| can be taken as a scaling parameter, where, power law exponent can be estimated from the ratio of network diameters. The betweenness centrality |$C_B$| shows two distinct behaviors one shown by high degree hubs and the other by segregated low degree nodes. The |$C_B$| power law exponent is found to connect the exponents of distributions of high and low degree nodes. OCN showed the absence of rich-club formation which leads to the missing of a number of attractors in the network causing formation of weakly tied diverse functional modules to keep optimal network efficiency. In OCN, provincial and connector hubs, which includes identified key regulators, take major responsibility to keep the OCN integrity and organization. Further, most of the key regulators are found to be over expressed and positively correlated with immune infiltrates. Finally, few potential drugs are identified related to the key regulators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dysregulation or inhibition of apoptosis favors cancer and many other diseases. Understanding of the network interaction of the genes involved in apoptotic pathway, therefore, is essential, to look for targets of therapeutic intervention. Here we used the network theory methods, using experimentally validated 25 apoptosis regulatory proteins and identified important genes for apoptosis regulation, which demonstrated a hierarchical scale-free fractal protein-protein interaction network. TP53, BRCA1, UBIQ and CASP3 were recognized as a four key regulators. BRCA1 and UBIQ were also individually found to control highly clustered modules and play an important role in the stability of the overall network. The connection among the BRCA1, UBIQ and TP53 proteins was found to be important for regulation, which controlled their own respective communities and the overall network topology. The feedback loop regulation motif was identified among NPM1, BRCA1 and TP53, and these crucial motif topologies were also reflected in high frequency. The propagation of the perturbed signal from hubs was found to be active up to some distance, after which propagation started decreasing and TP53 was the most efficient signal propagator. From the functional enrichment analysis, most of the apoptosis regulatory genes associated with cardiovascular diseases and highly expressed in brain tissues were identified. Apart fromTP53, BRCA1 was observed to regulate apoptosis by influencing motif, propagation of signals and module regulation, reflecting their biological significance. In future, biochemical investigation of the observed hub-interacting partners could provide further understanding about their role in the pathophysiology of cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Soil and tuber-borne diseases are serious threat for potato cultivation worldwide which causes severe economical losses in terms of yield, quantity and quality. Generally, these diseases managed by chemical pesticide, are a major concern for human health and environment. Therefore, finding an eco-friendly alternative management strategies are necessary. The native bacterial isolates collected from different crops rhizosphere soil were evaluated against Rhizoctonia solani, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Sclerotium rolfsii and Fusarium spp and were also tested for their growth enhancement attributes on potato crop and phosphate solubilising efficiency. Results: Based on the morphological and phenotypic characters, most of the isolates were identified as Pseudomonas spp (18 isolates). A total of twenty-two bacterial isolates were screened for bio-control activity in dual culture assay. Isolate Pf14 showed the highest mycelial inhibitory potential (ranged from 62.2 to 59.3%) against R. solani, S. sclerotiorum, S. rolfsii and Fusarium spp. In sealed plate assay, Pf14 produced antifungal volatile compounds that significantly inhibited mycelial growth (ranged from > 80 to > 50%). Maximum reduction in fungal biomass (ranged from > 80%) was observed in King's broth in shake liquid culture in all the pathogens. Cell-free culture filtrate of the selected isolate inhibited mycelial growth ranged from 68.9 to 42.6% of the tested pathogens with 48-h old culture filtrate. Additionally, the isolates exhibited higher phosphorus solubilizing efficiency on PVK media. Under field conditions, talc based formulation of Pf14 showed enhanced agronomical characters and inhibits black scurf severity up to 67.59%. This treatment also recorded a highest tuber yield (21.90 t/ha) with increase of 15.38% in comparison to untreated control. Conclusion: Overall, antagonistic bacterium Pf14 can be recommended as bio fertilizers for eco-friendly management of major potato fungal diseases as well as increasing marketable yield and used as an alternative to the pesticides and chemical fertilizers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dementia—a syndrome affecting human cognition—is a major public health concern given to its rising prevalence worldwide. Though multiple research studies have analyzed disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and Frontotemporal dementia using a systems biology approach, a similar approach to dementia syndrome as a whole is required. In this study, we try to find the high-impact core regulating processes and factors involved in dementia's protein–protein interaction network. We also explore various aspects related to its stability and signal propagation. Using gene interaction databases such as STRING and GeneMANIA, a principal dementia network (PDN) consisting of 881 genes and 59,085 interactions was achieved. It was assortative in nature with hierarchical, scale-free topology enriched in various gene ontology (GO) categories and KEGG pathways, such as negative and positive regulation of apoptotic processes, macroautophagy, aging, response to drug, protein binding, etc. Using a clustering algorithm (Louvain method of modularity maximization) iteratively, we found a number of communities at different levels of hierarchy in PDN consisting of 95 "motif-localized hubs", out of which, 7 were present at deepest level and hence were key regulators (KRs) of PDN (HSP90AA1, HSP90AB1, EGFR, FYN, JUN, CELF2 and CTNNA3). In order to explore aspects of network's resilience, a knockout (of motif-localized hubs) experiment was carried out. It changed the network's topology from a hierarchal scale-free topology to scale-free, where independent clusters exhibited greater control. Additionally, network experiments on interaction of druggable genome and motif-localized hubs were carried out where UBC, EGFR, APP, CTNNB1, NTRK1, FN1, HSP90AA1, MDM2, VCP, CTNNA1 and GRB2 were identified as hubs in the resultant network (RN). We finally concluded that stability and resilience of PDN highly relies on motif-localized hubs (especially those present at deeper levels), making them important therapeutic intervention candidates. HSP90AA1, involved in heat shock response (and its master regulator, i.e., HSF1), and EGFR are most important genes in pathology of dementia apart from KRs, given their presence as KRs as well as hubs in RN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the nature and magnitude of genetic diversity and interrelationship among sweet potato genotypes for traits of economic importance is vital to effective crop improvement. Genetic variability, character association, path coefficient, and genetic diversity analysis for 17 qualitative and quantitative traits in 20 diverse sweet potato genotypes was undertaken. A wide range of genetic variation occurred for tuber yield per plant, carotene content, starch content, fresh weight of tubers per plant, and numbers of branch per plant. Fresh weight of tuber per plant had a positive phenotypic correlation with number of tubers per plant followed by days to maturity and vine internode length. Total carotene content had a positive significant association with vine length, number of leaves per plant, and number of branches per plant. Days to maturity had a positive phenotypic correlation with vine length, vine internode length, and number of leaves per plant. At the genotypic level the highest, positive, direct effect on fresh weight of tubers per plant was due to dry matter content and days to maturity followed by moisture content via numbers of tubers per plant and total sugar content. Cluster analysis divided genotypes into two main groups, indicating a genetic relationship among accessions. The genetic variability and traits relationship could provide new avenues to breed improved sweet potato. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We are reporting two rare cases of multiple penetrating brain injuries by an indigenously made traditional fishing gear used in an Indian village. Although penetrating injury from varied objects (viz., arrow, smear gun, knife, rod, bullets, etc.) have been reported earlier in the literature, but low-velocity penetrating brain injury by multiple objects is the first to our knowledge. In this report, we discuss the surgical management and outcome with relevant review of literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was aimed to investigate the dose-dependent effects of Salvia haematodes Wall roots ( SHW) extract on male reproductive function and copulatory behaviour in rats. Sexually mature males were assigned to four groups: control and treated (5, 50 and 300 mg kg−1 day−1 for 30 days). At the end of treatment regimes, the reproductive activity viz. body/organ weights, testicular spermatogenesis, daily sperm production rate ( DSP) and epididymal sperm counts, and sexual behaviour including mounting latency ( ML), mounting frequency ( MF), intromission latency ( IL), intromission frequency ( IF), ejaculation latency ( EL), post-ejaculatory interval ( PEI) and penile reflexes ( PE) were assessed. Results showed significant increase in body weight (at 300 mg kg−1), testis/epididymis weights (at 50 and 300 mg kg−1), testicular spermatids, DSP, tubular diameter and epididymal sperm counts (at 50 and 300 mg kg−1doses) in treated compared with control rats. It also produced dose-dependant changes in sexual behaviour. The 5 mg kg−1 dose of extract increased MF and PE, whereas 50 and 300 kg−1 doses caused significant increase in MF, IF, PE, EL (but less than sildenafil citrate treatment), hit rate and seminal plug weight. It is concluded that SHW extract enhances anabolic activity, testicular function and sexual behavioural performance in a dose-dependant manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The slosh height and the possibility of water spill from rectangular Spent Fuel Storage Bays (SFSB) and Tray Loading Bays (TLB) of Nuclear power plant (NPP) are studied during 0.2 g, Safe Shutdown Earthquake (SSE) level of earthquake. The slosh height obtained through Computational Fluid dynamics (CFD) is compared the values given by TID-7024 (Housner 1963) and American concrete institute (ACI) seismic codes. An equivalent amplitude method is used to compute the slosh height through CFD. Numerically computed slosh height for first mode of vibration is found to be in agreement the codal values. The combined effect in longitudinal and lateral directions are studied separately, and found that the slosh height is increased by 24.3% and 38.9% along length and width directions respectively. There is no liquid spillage under SSE level of earthquake data in SFSB and TLB at convective level and at free surface acceleration data. Since seismic design codes do not have guidelines for combined excitations and effect of higher modes for irregular geometries, this CFD procedure can be opted for any geometries to study effect of higher modes and combined three directional excitations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reinforced concrete (RC) beams of span 3 m were tested under incremental cyclic load at different loading rates and simultaneously during the fracture process in the RC beams acoustic emissions (AE) were recorded. An attempt has been made to study the Kaiser effect as a measure of damage in RC beams. It was observed that RC beams made with high strength concrete under incremental cyclic loading showed an obvious Kaiser effect before the failure load. The results may be useful to study the damage in concrete structures and provide a reference for the application of Kaiser effect in engineering practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ni50Mn37AlxSb13-x (x=0, 1, 3 and 5) alloys were prepared by tri-arc melting technique. The replacement of Sb by Al increases the martensitic transformation temperature (TM) as well as ferromagnetic to paramagnetic transformation temperature (=start_CONVERSION_=TCA=start_CONVERSION_=) within the austenite phase. The increase in TM is found to due to the enhancement of hybridization between 3d states of Ni and Mn atoms. We also observed a large exchange bias field (HEB) of 470Oe for x=0 and it decreases with the Al concentration for field cooled (FC) magnetic hysteresis loop. A large magnetic entropy change (ΔSM) of 10J/kg-K is found for x=1 alloy under a field change (ΔH) of 50kOe and it decreased for further higher concentration of Al doping. The possible reasons for observed behaviors are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sarcoidosis is a multi-organ disorder where immunology, genetic and environmental factors play a key role in causing Sarcoidosis, but its molecular mechanism remains unclear. Identification of its genetics profiling that regulates the Sarcoidosis network will be one of the main challenges to understand its aetiology. We have identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) by analyzing the gene expression profiling of Sarcoidosis and compared it with healthy control. Gene set enrichment analysis showed that these DEGs were mainly enriched in the inflammatory response, immune system, and pathways in cancer. Sarcoidosis protein interaction network was constructed by a total of 877 DEGs (up-down) and calculated its network topological properties, which follow hierarchical scale-free fractal nature up to six levels of the organization. We identified a large number of leading hubs that contain six key regulators (KRs) including ICOS, CTLA4, FLT3LG, CD33, GPR29 and ITGA4 are deeply rooted in the network from top to bottom, considering a backbone of the network. We identified the transcriptional factors (TFs) which are closely interacted with KRs. These genes and their TFs regulating the Sarcoidosis network are expected to be the main target for the therapeutic approaches and potential biomarkers. However, experimental validations of KRs needed to confirm their efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, agroforestry was mapped in nine districts from Western Himalayan Region. The agroforestry area in these nine selected districts was estimated to be 332127.55 ha (12.4%). Salix alba, an important agroforestry species, accounted for about 12% of total agroforestry area in three districts of Kashmir valley. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, to analyze the genomic ROH fragments, haplotypes, inbreeding coefficient and effective population size (Ne), SNP50K data of 72 Vrindavani crossbred cattle strain were obtained. After a quality check, 24,449 biallelic SNPs were retained, which were in HWE, MAF > 0.01 and genotyping rate >95%. A total of 385 ROH were found, and chromosome 25 was mostly covered with 50.86%, while chromosome one was least with 12.42%. We classified ROH into <10Mb, 10-15Mb, 15-20Mb, >20Mb categories and observed a 3% inbreeding coefficient for the population in >20Mb category. Inbreeding from an excess of homozygosity was found to be 6% in the population. Ne was also estimated through Ne Estimator and SNeP and in the recent generation, it was found to be 40 for a census size of 464 cattle. The Ne/Nc ratio was found to be 0.086 and a decreasing trend of Ne was observed for over five generations. 45.95% of the autosomal genome was covered with haplotypic structure with highest total block length in chromosome one and lowest in 28. From all the observations made in this study, it can be concluded that Vrindavani is an admixed cattle strain but have an unstable population structure in the current period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have now replaced microsatellite markers in several species for various genetic investigations like parentage assignment, genetic breed composition, assessment for individuality and, most popularly, as a useful tool in genomic selection. However, such a resource, which can offer to assist breed identification in a cost-effective manner is still not explored in cattle breeding programs. In our study, we have tried to describe methods for reducing the number of SNPs to develop a breed-specific panel. We have used SNP data from Dryad open public access repository. Starting from a global dataset of 178 animals belonging to 10 different breeds, we selected five panels each comprising of similar number of SNPs using different methods i.e., Delta, Pairwise Wright's FST, informativeness for assignment, frequent item feature selection (FIFS) and minor allele frequency–linkage disequilibrium (MAF-LD) based method. MAF-LD based method has been recently developed by us for construction of breed-specific SNP panels. The STRUCTURE software analysis of MAF-LD based method showed appropriate clustering in comparison to other panels. Later, the panel of 591 breed-specific SNPs was called to their respective breeds using Venny 2.1.0 and UGent web tools software. Breed-specific SNPs were later annotated by using various Bioinformatics softwares. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study a minimal model of the stress-driven p53 regulatory network that includes competition between active and mutant forms of the tumor-suppressor gene p53. Depending on the nature and level of the external stress signal, four distinct dynamical states of p53 are observed. These states can be distinguished by different dynamical properties which associate to active, apoptotic, pre-malignant and cancer states. Transitions between any two states, active, apoptotic, and cancer, are found to be unidirectional and irreversible if the stress signal is either oscillatory or constant. When the signal decays exponentially, the apoptotic state vanishes, and for low stress the pre-malignant state is bounded by two critical points, allowing the system to transition reversibly from the active to the pre-malignant state. For significantly large stress, the range of the pre-malignant state expands, and the system moves to irreversible cancerous state, which is a stable attractor. This suggests that identification of the pre-malignant state may be important both for therapeutic intervention as well as for drug delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analysed frost heave lands in the cold arid Leh-Ladakh region of the Himalaya, India through semi-detail field survey and remote sensing. Most of these sites are highland grasslands occurring along the alluvial plains of rivers in the Leh and Nubra valleys. The study identified the occurrence of some unique frost heave patterns whose morphometry varied from simple, isolated to complex ones with elongated, coalesced and superimposed bedforms. These lands can be further subdivided into vegetated and degraded types. The degraded forms exhibited several cracks, dry, collapsed and slump structures. Invasion of Cirsium arvense over native grass species, soil salinity and feeding pressure by livestock have been identified as major land degradation factors. C. arvense has replaced the native vegetation on frost heaves and has allowed Carex species to grow, which is known to degrade and deplete the pasture ecology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this communication, a theoretical thermal model has been developed by using basic energy balance equation for outdoor swimming pool in terms of design and climatic parameters. An analytical expression for swimming pool water temperature has been obtained to optimize the design parameters to get an optimum temperature of swimming pool by using solar energy. For general analysis, an integration of photo-voltaic thermal (PVT)-compound parabolic concentrator (CPC) collectors with swimming pool water has been proposed along with special cases, namely, (i) evacuated tube collectors, (ii) conventional flat plate collectors (FPCs), (iii) CPC-FPCs, and (iv) PVT flat plate collectors. Numerical computations have been carried out for cold climatic condition of Srinagar, India. The effect of sensitive parameters on thermal and electrical performance of swimming pool has also been carried out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Business of fabricating solar thermal devices can play an important role in the economic growth of the country. These technologies can create more employment opportunities in rural as well as urban areas and supplement conventional energy sources in addition to reducing carbon emission. For starting a new business, economic feasibility needs to be assessed in terms of break-even analysis and economic attributes. Banks provide loans only on the basis of economic attributes of the project. Therefore, an attempt has been made to determine the various economic indicators for a unit of three novel solar thermal devices namely, animal feed solar cooker, non-tracking solar cooker and solar dryer for guiding new entrepreneurs. The different economic parameters such as break- even point, net present value, pay back period, benefit-cost ratio, annuity and internal rate of return were determined and found highly profitable while judging the economic viability of the solar devices business. On the basis of break-even-analysis, fabrication and sale of only 37 units annually is sufficient to reach a state of no profit and no loss. The net average annual benefit accrued from this business fabricating 100 units annually is INR 189 800 ($ 2 673). In addition, this business can play a vital role in providing employment to four persons. It also has a great potential to reduce CO2 emission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Breast cancer advocacy movements, driven by advocate-led civil society organizations (CSOs), have proven to be a powerful force for the advancement of cancer control in high-income countries (HICs). However, although patient advocacy movements are growing in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) in response to an increasing cancer burden, the experiences and needs of advocate-led breast cancer CSOs in LMICs is understudied.Methods: The authors conducted a qualitative study using in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with 98 participants representing 23 LMICs in Eastern Europe, Central Asia, East and Southern Africa, and Latin America.Results: Despite geographic, cultural, and socioeconomic differences, the common themes that emerged from the data across the 3 regions are strikingly similar: trust, knowledge gaps, stigma, sharing experiences, and sustainability. The authors identified common facilitators (training/education, relationship building/networking, third-party facilitators, and communication) and barriers (mistrust, stigma, organizational fragility, difficulty translating HIC strategies) to establishing trust, collaboration, and advancing cancer advocacy efforts. To the authors' knowledge, the current study is the first to describe the role that coalitions and regional networks play in advancing breast cancer advocacy in LMICs across multiple regions.Conclusions: The findings of the current study corroborate the importance of investing in 3-way partnerships between CSOs, political leaders, and health experts. When provided with information that is evidence-based and resource appropriate, as well as opportunities to network, advocates are better equipped to achieve their goals. The authors propose that support for CSOs focuses on building trust through increasing opportunities for engagement, disseminating best practices and evidence-based information, and fostering the creation of platforms for partnerships and networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Previous attempts of Mental Health Systems Assessment in India were restricted in scope and scale. Information on all aspects of mental health systems (leadership/governance, legislation, financing, service delivery, workforce, access to essential medicines, information systems, intersectoral activities, and monitoring and evaluation) was scarcely available. The National Mental Health Survey-Mental Health Systems Assessment (NMHS-MHSA), a unique endeavor, assessed the performance of mental health systems and services through health systems assessment framework. The present paper discusses the design and methodology adopted under NMHS-MHSA along with emphasizing its implication for India and other LMICs. Methods: NMHS-MHSA was undertaken in 12 Indian states by contextually adapting WHO-AIMS instrument. Data was collated from several secondary sources including interviews of key stakeholders. Utilizing the data a set of 15-quantitative, 5-morbidity and 10-qualitative indicators were developed to summarize the functional status of mental health systems in the surveyed states. This information was authenticated through state level stakeholder's consultation and consensus building workshops following which a state mental health systems report card with indicators was developed. Conclusion: The process and robust method of data compilation enabled NMHS-MHSA to be a reliable and comprehensive method for assessing mental health systems at the state level. It's envisaged that the assessment provides requisite impetus for strengthening mental health program and mental health systems in India. Being less resource intensive, low -and middle- income countries can adopt NMHS-MHSA tool and methodology to assess their mental health systems with contextual modifications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report new U--Pb zircon age and whole-rock geochemical data from the Pangin mafic intrusive rocks of the Siang window, easternHimalayas. These mafic rocks are medium to coarse-grained gabbros, consisting mainly of plagioclase and clinopyroxene with accessory phases (hornblende Å Fe--Ti oxides) that retain granular and interlocking texture. Geochemically, they display enriched-mid oceanic ridge basalt (E-MORB) affinity characterized by moderate to slightly fractionated REE patterns marked by (La/Yb)N Æ 2.65¡3.99. Their geochemical characteristics suggest that the parental magmas of these rocks were formed by medium to higher degrees (»12--28%) of partial melting similar to that of the asthenospheric mantle in the garnet-spinel transition zone. Magmatic zircons from two gabbros yield U--Pb ages of 521.50 § 2.53 Ma and 568 § 2 Ma. This new age reveals two pulses of Late Neoproterozoic and Early Cambrian mafic magmatism that are inconsistent with the temporal distribution of Paleozoic magmatism in the Siang window of the Eastern Himalayas. However, based on the results of this study and the correlation of continental extensional mafic magmatism in the Northwest Himalaya, we suggest that investigated mafic intrusive rocks might have been generated in an extensional tectonic environment during the long-lasting Pan-African orogenic cycle of the late Neoproterozoic to early Cambrian which ended with the formation of the Gondwana supercontinent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) is one of the fastest growing malignancies. It is the most common subtype of Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in childhood. It has three major subtypes - endemic, sporadic, and immunodeficiency-associated types.Aims: This study aims to study the clinicomorphologic features of this disease entity and to find optimal imaging technique for such cases.Setting and Design: A retrospective observational study in a tertiary care center of academic and research potential.Subjects and Methods: We are presenting three unusual cases of sporadic type of BL who presented initially as localized right iliac fossa mass mimicking as acute appendicitis. Initially, localized presentation progressed to diffuse abdominal mass lesions causing intestinal obstruction.Results: These cases had emphasized the importance of accurate diagnosis by the ultrasonography (USG) or computed tomography (CT) scan for early diagnosis so as to manage such cases simply by early appropriate medical treatment.Conclusion: In this article, we will discuss the clinical and imaging features of BL with the role of USG, CT scan and positron emission tomography/CT in the abdominopelvic imaging of pediatric patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present review maternal, foetal, managemental and seasonal factors predisposing bovines to uterine torsion have been discussed in depth. Maternal factors include sub-ilial attachment of broad ligaments, species, breed, posture of dam while sitting down and standing up, enlargement of horn, cornua extending outside bursa supra-omentalis, presence of rumen on left side, large and pendulous abdomen, increasing age and parity, thin musculature of broad ligament, advanced pregnancy, higher level of progesterone and increased uterine flaccidity during parturition. Foetal factors include higher weight and excessive movement of male foetus to female one, reduced amount of amniotic fluid, foetal presentation, foetal anomalies. Managemental factors include type of housing and flooring, wallowing and unsteady walk. Seasonal incidences increase as the total number of calving increase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]