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Western Himalayan region is a rich repository of common bean genetic resources evolved over generations of farmer selection. The bean variability encompasses various use categories such as dry, snap and shelled beans. The present study aimed to characterize 40 small-seeded red common bean genotypes collected from different districts of Kashmir valley as well as Poonch, Rajouri and Bhaderwah areas of Jammu which are world famous for their beans. Based on 5-year evaluation, there was substantial variability for various qualitative traits as well as quantitative traits. Among variability parameters, higher PCV and GCV values were recorded for plant height, seed yield per plant and number of pods per plant and low for days to maturity, seed length and pod length. High heritability was recorded for all the traits ranging from 78.72 to 94.87%. There was substantial variability in root traits scored in laboratory and greenhouse as well as canopy temperature depression and relative water content. Various genotypes were found resistant to bean common mosaic virus (WB-N-1, WB-N-11, WB-1318, WB-401, WB-451, WB-1634); anthracnose (WB-1634 WB-83, WB-258, WB-1282, WB-1304); angular leaf spot (WB-6, WB-1634, WB-258, WB-451, N-1 and N-10); Fusarium wilt (WB-341, WB-451, WB-N-1 and WB-1587) and Ascochyta blight (WB-6). Similarly WB-92 was highly resistant to shattering. The genotypes WB-341, WB-1634, WB-N-1 performed better under water stress, WB-N-1 and WB-1634 were resistant to multiple diseases and WB-1634 had better cooking quality. The genotypes identified can be used in bean improvement programmes and have also been submitted to NBPGR for long-term storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epigenetics involves changing the gene function without any change in the sequence of the genes. In the case of tuberculosis (TB) infections, the bacilli, Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb), uses epigenetics as a tool to protect itself from the host immune system. TB is a deadly disease‐causing maximum death per year due to a single infectious agent. In the case of TB, there is an urgent need for novel host‐directed therapies which can effectively target the survival and long‐term persistence of the bacteria without developing drug resistance in the bacterial strains while also reducing the duration and toxicity associated with the mainstream anti‐TB drugs. Recent studies have suggested that TB infection has a significant effect on the host epigenome thereby manipulating the host immune response in the favor of the pathogen. M.tb alters the activation status of key genes involved in the immune response against TB to promote its survival and subvert the antibacterial strategies of the host. These changes are reversible and can be exploited to design very efficient host‐directed therapies to fight against TB. This review has been written with the purpose of discussing the role of epigenetic changes in TB pathogenesis and the therapeutic approaches involving epigenetics, which can be utilized for targeting the pathogen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to investigate the bank specific determinants related to the performance of public and private sector banks in Pakistan. Using strongly balanced panel yearly data from 2010 to 2017, Pooled OLS, fixed effect, Random effect and Random Effect Mundlak Transformation (REMT) have been utilized to provide the empirical evidences in credit risk management in Pakistan. The identification of suitable explanatory variable that explains the banking profitability wisely is made possible by using the panel data techniques. In this study, impact of bank specific variables are: Return On Assets, Capital Ratio, Credit Risk, Credit deposit ratio, Liquidity Ratio, Interest expended to interest earned, bank size and ownership on the profitability of banks in Pakistan has been assessed using four different panel data techniques. Out of the four estimation strategies Random Effect with Mundlak (1978) transformation raises the overall variation of the baseline model to 63% that is explained by banking profitability. Ignoring the time-invariant characteristics in the model, credit deposit ratio and interest expanded to interest earned possess negative relationship with return on assets of banks. Size of the bank is positive and significant when with-in and between banks information is augmented in Radom effect method of estimation. However the size of banks may not affect the banking profitability by allowing correlation between unobservable heterogeneity using Random Effect with Mundlak (1978) transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to assess anxiety and stress in college student before and after midterm exam. The study will be conducted on N=200 students of Galgotias University, Greater Noida, U.P., India. Scale is taken as outcome measure and students are asked to fill a form (according to DASS and PSS) after taking consent before and after midterm examination. There collected data is then to be compared to know the effect of exams on stress and anxiety level of students. Background: The spiritual well-being of university student is an area of amplify reflection universal. The aim of this student is to check-up the expansion of stress and concern into a group of Galgotias university student. Solely as each young person, undergraduate students needfulness to cope. Method: We are taking 200 subjects for this study. My study is based on observational study. We are using DASS and PSS scale for measuring the stress and anxiety of the students. Inclusion criteria is stress and anxiety in college student during midterm exam and exclusion criteria is neurological and psychological disorders. Results: We are hoping for positive result. We would find that the students take exam stress and anxiety level increase. Discussion AND Conclusion: We would conclude positive result of our study. Our study will show that during and before exam students face stress and anxiety and after exam it will decrease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The cab drivers have to be in a particular posture for driving. They have to be in a prolonged sitting position till the time they are driving the car, this affects their back, neck, ankle &foot. it was found in the previous studies that these people develop work related musculoskeletal disorders & pain due to their wrong posture. This study focuses on assessment of musculoskeletal disorder in professional cab drivers. Methodology: It is a one-time observational study,30 cab drivers were involved in the study of the age group 18-55 years. They were screened for the inclusion & exclusion criteria,then they were asked to fill the questionnaire for assessment, analysis of the result will be done finally. Result: The result shows that the 70% of cab drivers were suffering from lower back pain Conclusion: In this study we found that most of the car drivers suffers from back pain. They were advised for the posture correction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study previously isolated Weissella cibaria CMG DEX3 capable of producing high molecular weight, water soluble dextran (Ahmed et al., 2012) is characterized for most efficient less expensive carbon, nitrogen sources, micro and macro nutrients by utilizing a multifactorial Placket-Burman statistical design for optimization of dextran production. A twelve run Plackett-Burman experimental model with slight modification was utilized to evaluate the impact of ten diverse nutrients on the production of dextran by the bacterial isolate Weissella cibaria CMG DEX3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we have analyzed rainfall data from 2000 to 2014 for Potohar region that is, Chakwal, Jhelum and Rawalpindi. Importance of this region cannot be denied as this region is rich in agriculture. Crop situation in the region depends completely on rainfall on suitable timings. Absence of or untimely rainfall lead to drought situation in Potohar. The region has faced severe to moderate drought condition in the history. Therefore, study of pattern of rainfall in the region is beneficial for agriculture sector in Pakistan. Seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average (SARIMA) model has been applied in order to study the rainfall pattern from 2000 to 2014. Furthermore, validation of the model is done on the data from 2015 to 2016. Afterwards, future prediction has also been done using parameters obtained from historical data. Forecasted values obtain from the suggested model of rainfall will help farmers and decision makers for sowing crop on appropriate time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study outlines the approach that was employed for cloning, expression, and characterization of the recombinant pullulanase enzyme from Bacillus cereus ATCC 14579 into Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) using pET‐25b (+) expression vector. The recombinant pullulanase enzyme was purified using ammonium sulfate precipitation and immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography (IMAC). The molecular mass of the purified pullulanase enzyme was measured using sodium dodecyl sulfate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS‐PAGE) as 95 kDa. The purified recombinant pullulanase enzyme demonstrated significant thermal stability, maintaining its structural integrity and functionality at temperatures as high as 90°C over a period of 4 h. The inclusion of divalent metal ions, specifically Ca2+ and Mg2+, had a positive effect on the activity of the pullulanase enzyme. Conversely, the presence of Co2+ and EDTA (Ethylene Diamine Tetra Acetic acid) resulted in suppression of the enzyme activity. The purified pullulanase enzyme demonstrated remarkable resistance when exposed to organic solvents. The enzyme activity was notably decreased in the presence of SDS (Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate) while β‐mercaptoethanol and tween‐60 did not substantially affect the enzyme activity and stability which suggest its potential applicability in the detergent sector. This discovery indicates a potential approach to improve the effectiveness of currently available detergents in the marketplace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]