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On well pollinated seven years old kiwifruit vines var. Allison, different hand thinning severities of fruitlets were executed under the Sub-tropical mid hill conditions. Among the different hand thinning treatments, thinning to retain two fruits and four fruits per fruiting shoot with regular winter pruning exhibited significantly higher fruit size of length (7.21 ± 0.02 cm, 7.13 ± 0.11 cm), breadth (5.35 ± 0.06 cm, 5.24 ± 0.09 cm) and average fruit weight (83.69 ± 1.44 g, 82.37 ± 0.53 cm). The fruit number per vine and total yield declined with an increase in the severity of thinning, whereas the control treatment (no thinning and pruning) exhibited the highest fruit number per vine (457.65 ± 1.09) and total yield (31.94 ± 1.47 kg). Though the maximum production was observed in control yet the yield of grade ‘A’ fruit was the least (8.88 ± 0.91 kg) resulting in the lowest net profit (Rs. 1240 per vine). Manual thinning by retaining six fruits per fruiting shoot yielded optimum thinning and the highest production of ‘A’ grade fruits (23.48 ± 2.62 kg) with the highest net profit (Rs. 2290 per vine) over other treatments. The experiment also vividly revealed that TSS, sugars, ascorbic acid content as well as pigments viz. likes total chlorophyll and carotenoids of fruits increased as the intensity of thinning was augmented.

Large cardamom (Amomum subulatum Roxb.) is one of the important cash crops of Sikkim and Darjeeling areas of West Bengal. In this study, a fixed plot survey on insect pests of large cardamom was conducted and found that stem borer (Glyphipterix spp., Lepidoptera: Glyphiperidae), shoot fly (Merochlotops dimorphus Cherian, Diptera: Chlororpidae), leaf eating caterpillar (Artona chorista Jordon, Lepidoptera: Zygaenidae) and tea mosquito bug (Helopeltis theivora Waterhouse, Hemiptera: Miridae) are the major pests of the crop. Eco-friendly organic treatments like neem-based oil, petroleum-derived horticultural oil, spinosad and different formulations of entomopathogens were tested against these major insects. Among all, application of spinosad 45 SC @ 0.3 ml L-1 was found effective followed by neem-based oil (Azadirachtin 0.15% EC) 1500 ppm @ 3 ml L-1 at three different time intervals (first application in February-March, second application in June-July and third application in October-November) against all insects. Moreover, entomopathogenic bio-control agents (Bacillus thuringiensis @ 2 ml L-1, Metarhizium anisopliae@ 5 ml L-1 and Beauveria bassiana @ 5 ml L-1) were on par with neem-based oil for the management of stem borer. Considering the economic importance of the crop and absence of valid technology for management of insect pests in large cardamom through organic options, application of either of them could be helpful in organic management of insect pests in Sikkim.

To increase the strawberry production especially during offseason with the application of plant bio-regulators, the present study was conducted under subtropical mid-hill conditions of Arunachal Pradesh, India during spring-summer months of 2015-16. Effect of springtime foliar application of different plant bio-regulators viz., NAA, GA3, and BA on plant growth, yield and quality attributes of strawberry cv. Chandler with the advantage of increasing strawberry production during the off-season was accessed during the current study. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with ten treatment combinations (NAA, GA3, and BA at 50, 100, and 150 ppm each) replicated thrice considering water spray as control. The plant bio-regulators were sprayed at 25 days after transplanting and at the bud initiation stage. Results of the experiment revealed that the plants treated with GA3 150 ppm significantly influenced the plant height and number of leaves per plant at 30, 45, 60 and 75 days after transplanting. The minimum number of days taken to open the first flower (62.11 days) and the maximum number of runners per plant (9.17) were also recorded in the plants treated with GA3 150 ppm. While, GA3 50 ppm treated plants yielded fruits with maximum berry length (3.69 cm), berry width (2.74 cm), average berry weight (13.99 g), number of berries per plant (21.11) and yield per plant (209.11 g). Concerning the quality parameters of fruits, plants treated with NAA 100 ppm exhibited maximum TSS (9.00° B), total sugar (7.23 %), and ascorbic acid content (77.82 mg/100 g) whereas, GA3 100 ppm treatment significantly increased the contents of anthocyanin (122.18 mg/100 g), total phenols (69.42 mg/100 g) and β-carotene (3.96 µg/100 g).

A field experiment was executed during 2013-16 at ICAR Research Farm, Gori, ICAR (Research Complex) for NEH Region, Arunachal Pradesh Centre, Basar to find out the optimum planting time for yield and quality attributes of Grand Naine banana. The experiment was laid out in RBD having five treatments with four replications. The study divulged that the planting dates had a significant influence on growth, yield and fruit quality of banana. Fruits harvested from mid-may planting recorded the highest in yield based parameters viz. number of hands per bunch (13.17), number of fingers per bunch (162.63) and bunch weight (24.67 kg) respectively. However, fruits from mid-june planting exhibited the highest finger weight (148.67 g) which was statistically at par with mid-may planting (147.54 g). It was noted that plants of mid-june planting produced the maximum number of functional leaves at the shooting stage (15.38) which was found at par with mid-may planting (15.13).The fruit quality attributes like sugars, ascorbic acid, acidity were also influenced by planting times whereas it had no significant effect on TSS content of the fruits. Fruits from mid-may plant recorded the highest TSS (21.03°Brix), minimum acidity (0.23%) and highest ascorbic acid content (14.99 mg per 100 g) followed by mid-june planting with TSS, acidity and ascorbic acid content of (20.56°Brix), (0.24%) and (14.47 mg per 100 g) respectively. Starch content was found maximum in fruits from mid-august planting (2.08%) whereas, minimum starch content was recorded in fruits from mid-june planting (0.71%) inferring that mid-may is the optimum time for planting for Grand Naine variety of banana under subtropical mid-hill conditions of Arunachal Pradesh justifying future actions in the expansion of planting.

The present study was aimed at standardizing fertilizer and lime requirement for tissue banana (Grand Naine) cultivation in acidic soil of mid hill of Arunachal Pradesh The experiment was conducted at ICAR RC farm Gori, ICAR RC for NEH Region, AP centre, Basar. The effect of twelve different treatments of combination of fertilizers and Lime was studied on growth parameters of banana plant, post harvest fruit quality parameters and on the soil chemical and physical parameter their availability & uptake of major nutrients were also studied. The results revealed. Plant growth parameters like pseudo stem circumference (36.96 cm) and Plant height (92.85 cm) was highest in the treatment receiving L1F2. Similarly, treatment L2F2 recorded highest number of leaves (5.96), suckers (1.41) and leaf area (3586 cm2). Treatment L2F1 recorded lowest stem circumference (22.3 cm), number of leaves (3.52) and leaf area (1420 cm2). Similarly, treatment having L3F1 recorded lowest number of suckers (0.41). The plants treated with (50% lime + 100% RDF) performed best in terms of both yield and quality attributes. The effects of lime application significantly improve pH of soil that resulted in the improved the availability of phosphorous. Application of 125% fertilizer was not found to significantly enhance the yield of Banana. The lime application significantly improve the soil nutrient concentration Viz Available N, P K, Ca pH and reduced Al concentration that resulted into enhance banana production compare to the control.

This study was aimed to determine the effects of organic and inorganic manures and lime application on growth and yield of maize and their impacts on soil physico-chemical characteristics. Vermicompost, and biofertilizers were applied as organic nutrient source while urea, diammonium phosphate (DAP) and Murate of potash (MOP) were used at different concentrations as inorganic nutrients source viz., T1: Unfertilized control; T2: Vermicompost (7 tha-1) T3 Lime applaction 3 tha-1year-1 T4 50% RDF with lime application T5 50% RDF T6 100% RDF T7 Biofertilizers. Results showed that growth and yield of maize were substantially improved by fertilizer application alongside organic manures whereas soil total organic C and availble N, P, K contents increased when inorganic fertilizers were applied alone or in combined with organic manures. However, soil pH and soil bulk density decreased due to application of vermicompost. The highest plant height, were obtained in application 100% RDF at Vegetative stage while at the time of harvesting highest plant height was obtained in 50% RDF with lime application The highest yield was obtained in 100% RDF followed by the application of 50% RDF with lime application. Conclusively, integration of inorganic fertilizers with organic manures can be used with optimum rates to improve crop productivity on sustainable basis.

An experiment was undertaken in the farmers jhum field in the West Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh, India. The following treatments viz.T1-Traditional practice (Farmers Practices) T2-Jhum with FYM Application, T3-Jhum with Vermicompost & T4- Jhum with cover crop (Paddy and soybean, 1:1) were imposed in fresh jhum and in second year of jhum the dose of Farm Yard Manure 5 ton/ha, Vermicompost 3 ton/ha application of manure and 1:1 paddy and Soybean as a cover crop was done. The yield and soil attributes and cost involved were compared. Different components of jhum crop yield over and above the farmers practices were taken as additional yield due to our treatments of respective year of jhuming in the 2nd year of jhum There was considerable reduction in the yield was recorded in traditional practices, where as the applications of organic manure and cover crop had sustain the yield in all the treatment but the benefit cost ratio was highest T4 since the remunerative price of soybean was more. Moreover the soybean is a legume crop which can fix atmospheric N in a substantial amount and maintain the soil nutrient status and this crop is also act as a cover crop which reduce the soil loss from steep sloppy land of jhum.

Star anise, a tree species normally regarded as one of the valuable spice is normally observed in the high altitude region of Arunachal Pradesh. This spice has been an integral part in the social and traditional life of the native tribal of the region since yore. Star anise is utilized in different ways viz. for savouring local cuisines, flavouring tea, used as a medicine to cure various ailments etc. With the demand in pharmaceutical industries the spice thus contributes to the livelihood security of the locals. Further, Possessing good amount of nutritional values makes this spice a valuable crop for nutritional security. However, they remain largely underutilized and people are unaware of the nutritional factor though inadvertently utilized. Simultaneously, lack of consciousness and awareness coupled with habitat destruction may lead to the genetic erosion and threatened the species resource, which ultimately need to be conserved and further studies are required for its nutrient and phyto-pharmacological properties. Though it has much importance in commercial purposes, research and knowledge on this species is meagre and its utilization for human consumption has not yet been fully exploited.

Biochar application to soil has been projected as an approach to improve soil quality, which can also influence soil microbial activities. In this experiment, we have utilized four dissimilar feedstocks derived biochar amendments. The highest microbial biomass carbon was found in Lantana camara (LC) biochar followed by pine needle (PN), maize stalk (MS) and lowest in black gram (BG) biochar. The dehydrogenase activity in different biochar treatment increased significantly along with control with increase in incubation days except pine biochar where dehydrogenase decreased. Biochar application in soil increased acid phosphatase compared to control. The highest alkaline phosphatase was found in MS and it was 20.56, 31.27, 42.52, 57.62 and 69.56 at 1, 7, 30, 60 and 90 days of incubation, respectively. The highest urease was found in LC followed by BG, MS and lowest in PN among the biochar at both the biochar application rate. The biochar application augmented the protease enzyme activity in soil, which might be due to augmenting the accessibility of inorganic nitrogen. The highest fluorescein diacetate was found in LC and it was 10.12, 17.62, 24.62, 32.86 and 37.56 at 1, 7, 30, 60 and 90 days of incubation, respectively. The increased biological indicator was more at 2.5 t/ha biochar application rate than 5.0 t/ha i.e. lower concentration of biochar enhanced more than higher concentration. This laboratory study demonstrated that biochar application can profit incubated acid soils by improving microbial biomass carbon up-lift while increasing potential soil enzyme activity.

The search to develop an ideal suture material encourages us to explore novel suture biomaterials with superior characteristics to the current commercially available products. Surgical sutures play a crucial role in the development of post-operative wound infection by acting as a substrate for biofilm formation which leads to dehisced wounds. In this context, the present invention meets this need by fabricating banana (Musa balbisiana) fibre into an advanced antimicrobials releasing suture biomaterial (BSc) for the prevention of post-operative wound infection. Suture material developed from banana pseudo stem fiber was impregnated with chloramphenicol, clotrimazole and growth factors with the aid of a hydro-gel system. The fabricated suture material was found to be biocompatible towards human erythrocytes and L929 mouse fibroblast cells. BSc exhibited promising physico-chemical characteristics which were comparable to the commercially available Bombyx mori silk fibroin (BMSF) suture. BSc displayed a biphasic release pattern with sustained release of chloramphenicol for up to 140 h. Apart from being environment friendly and having a facile fabrication method, this advanced suture biomaterial showed broad spectrum in vitro antimicrobial activity against bacterial and fungal pathogens. BSc successfully impeded biofilm formation on its surface, as is evident from the confocal microscopy analysis. This contributes to superior wound healing efficacy in terms of reduced microbial burden and a subsequent decrease in the inflammatory cytokine levels. Histopathological observations further supported the pronounced healing efficacy of BSc sutured wounds. The findings of this study establish the banana pseudo stem fiber as a novel advanced suture biomaterial to prevent post-operative wound infections.

The "lipid hypothesis" determined that saturated fatty acid (SFA) raises low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, thereby increasing the risk for metabolic syndrome (MetS). The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of subchronic withdrawal from a high-carbohydrate, high-saturated fat (HCHF) diet during MetS with reference to changes in deleterious SFA (C12:0, lauric acid; C14:0, myristic acid; C16:0, palmitic acid; C18:0, stearic acid) distribution in liver, white adipose tissue (WAT), and feces.MetS induced by prolonged feeding of an HCHF diet in Wistar albino rat is used as a model of human MetS. The MetS-induced rats were withdrawn from the HCHF diet and changed to a basal diet for final 4 wk of the total experimental duration of 16 wk. SFA distribution in target tissues and hepatic low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLr) expression were analyzed.Analyses of changes in SFA concentration of target tissues indicate that C16:0 and C18:0 reduced in WAT and liver after withdrawal of the HCHF diet. There was a significant (P 0.001) decrease in fecal C12:0 with HCHF feeding, which significantly (P 0.01) increased after withdrawal of this diet. Also, an improvement in expression of hepatic LDLr was observed after withdrawal of HCHF diet.The prolonged consumption of an HCHF diet leads to increased SFA accumulation in liver and WAT, decreased SFA excretion, and reduced hepatic LDLr expression during MetS, which is prominently reversed after subchronic withdrawal of the HCHF diet. This can contribute to better understanding of the metabolic fate of dietary SFA during MetS and may apply to the potential reversal of complications by the simple approach of nutritional modification.

A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of dates of transplanting under different methods of cultivation on productivity of winter rice (Oryza sativa L.) and their effect on rice-niger (Guizotia abyssinica) relay system at Regional Agricultural Research Station, Shillongani Nagaon, Assam during kharif-rabi seasons in the year 2014-15 and 2015-16. Rice transplanted on 20 June recorded significantly higher yield attributes and grain yield of rice (59.19 q/ha) as compared to the later dates of transplanting, and it was followed by 5 July- transplanted rice. Transplanting on 20 June resulted in higher values in respect of yield attributes, yield of relayed niger, rice equivalent yield (REY) of rice- niger relay system (75.68 q/ha), NPK uptake by rice and niger as well as soil fungal and bacterial population after harvest of rice and niger. System of Rice Intensification (SRI) recorded significantly higher value of yield attributes and grain yield of rice (60.34q/ha) as compared to conventional method. In case of relayed niger, yield attributes, seed yield and REY were found higher under SRI method of rice cultivation. Under SRI method, higher uptake of NPK by rice and niger and higher soil fungal and bacterial populations after harvest of rice and niger were observed as compared to conventional method. However, conventional method of rice cultivation recorded significantly higher values of soil available N, P2O5 and K2O content at the end of two year-crop cycle over that of SRI.

The present study aimed to develop a novel biocompatible suture biomaterial from Eri silk waste to avoid surgical site infections. To achieve this, silk waste fibers were reeled through a five-loop technique into a suture and embedded with an antimicrobial agents-growth factor cocktail in a hydrogel base comprising of Aloe-Vera and gum acacia (PRWSc). Characterization techniques like scanning electron microscopy (SEM), attenuated total reflection Fourier infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA), and tensile properties analysis revealed the surface morphology, functionalization analysis, thermal and mechanical stability of PRWSc. Drug release study confirms the sustained release of the drugs from the suture. PRWSc was found to be biocompatible towards mammalian cells. In vitro antimicrobial study revealed that the PRWSc could inhibit the growth of Gram +ve, Gram −ve bacteria and opportunistic fungus. Further, confocal microscopy analysis confirmed the successful inhibition of biofilm on PRWSc surface. Clinical examination of the wound sutured with PRWSc revealed the successful wound healing which was confirmed by reduced microbial burden (CFU load) and inflammatory markers at the surgical site. This result was further confirmed by histopathology data where all skin adnexal structures were observed. This advanced suture material (PRWSc) can reduce the unwanted side effects of antibiotic overdose and can avoid serious problems related to postoperative complications.

Local knowledge or Indigenous Technical/Traditional knowledge (ITK) is the knowledge belonging to a specific community or local group and that the people in a given community have developed over time, and still continue to develop. Agriculture and allied activities continue to be an important occupation and form the main base of the economy in Sikkim. There are various pests and diseases in crop plants which cause severe loss in yield resulting in reduced production. Farm folk of Sikkim follow number of traditional pest management practices for managing pests and diseases of various crops. A study was conducted during June 2013 to 2015 on traditional pest and disease control measures adopted by the farmers in Sikkim. Different itks like use of wood ash, kerosene, table salt, lime, cow urine, cow dung, some unique indigenous plants and indigenous techniques like insertion of bamboo pegs were used by the farmers for the management of various insect pests and diseases occurring in Sikkim. Besides, people also use some indigenous pest and disease resistant varieties of large cardamom, maize, buckwheat and tomato. This report is an attempt to document some of the indigenous practices followed by traditional farmers for the management of pests and diseases of major crops grown in Sikkim. The practices collected in this study will be of great help to the people of Sikkim as the state has been declared recently as organic farming state.

Inadequate nutrient supply and insulin resistance contribute to the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. MetS can be induced by prolonged feeding of a high-carbohydrate, high-fat (HCHF) diet. The present study was designed using Wistar albino rats as an experimental model to investigate the effect of subchronic withdrawal of an HCHF diet during MetS on distribution of copper (Cu), iron (Fe), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn) and chromium (Cr) in different biological media.The experimental animals were fed an HCHF diet for up to 16 weeks for induction of MetS. After inducing MetS, some animals were shifted to a basal diet for the next 4 weeks. Distribution of trace elements (TE) in serum, liver and faeces at the different time intervals and their relationship with dietary TE were analyzed.On withdrawal of the HCHF diet, concentrations of Zn, Mg, Mn (serum, p0.05; liver, p0.001) and Cr were increased, and Cu and Fe were decreased in serum and liver at week 16. Furthermore, levels of Cu and Fe were reduced significantly (p0.05) in faeces on feeding the HCHF diet and increased on withdrawal of the diet, which also reflects the metabolic fate of TE during MetS.Consumption of an HCHF diet over a long time period leads to alteration of the TE profile in serum, liver and feces during MetS, which is reversed upon dietary intervention. This can be correlated with their concentrations in HCHF and basal diets, and hence can contribute to proper dietary control of this global issue.

The problem of a two-dimensional free convective mass transfer flow of an incompressible, viscous, and electrically conducting fluid past a continuously moving semi-infinite vertical porous plate with large suction in the presence of a magnetic field applied normal to the plate is studied. The non-linear partial differential equations governing the flow have been transformed by a set of similarity transformations into a system of non-linear ordinary differential equations. The resulting system of the similarity equations are solved analytically adopting the perturbation technique. The expressions for the velocity field, temperature field, concentration field, induced magnetic field, drag coefficient, and the coefficient of the rate of heat and mass transfer at the plate are obtained. The results are discussed in details through graphs and tables to observe the effect of various physical parameters involved in the problem. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heat Trans Asian Res; Published online in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/htj). DOI 10.1002/htj.21097

This study evaluated the antioxidant effect of crude sericin extract (CSE) from Antheraea assamenisis (Aa) in high cholesterol fed rats. Investigation was conducted by administering graded oral dose of 0.25 and 0.5 gm/kg body weight (b.w.)/day of CSE for a period of 28 days. Experiments were conducted in 30 rats and were divided into five groups: normal control (NC), high cholesterol fed (HCF), HCF + 0.065 gm/kg b.w./day fenofibrate (FF), HCF + sericin 0.25 gm/kg b.w./day (LSD) and HCF + sericin 0.5 gm/kg b.w./day (HSD). In brain, heart, liver, serum and kidney homogenates nitric oxide (NO), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), protein carbonyl content (PCC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), reduced glutathione (GSH) was measured. LSD treatment prevented the alterations in GSH and PCC levels in hypercholesterolemic (HyC) brain tissue homogenates of rats. CSE lowers the serum total cholesterol level in HyC rats by promoting fecal cholesterol (FC) excretion. CSE increases FC level by promoting inhibition of cholesterol absorption in intestine. The endogenous antioxidant reduced significantly and the oxidative stress (OS) marker TBARS level increases significantly in the peripheral tissue of HCF rats. However, the administration of LSD and HSD exhibited a good antioxidant activity by reducing the TBARS level and increasing the endogenous antioxidant in peripheral tissue. In addition, a histological examination revealed loss of normal liver and kidney architecture in cholesterol fed rats which were retained in sericin treated groups. The findings of this study suggested that CSE improves hypercholesterolemia in rats fed a HyC diet. Clinical relevance of this effect of CSE seems worthy of further studies.

Folklore studies have revealed that Musa balbisiana Colla (MB) (Family: Musaceae) has high medicinal properties. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate antihyperglycemic, and antioxidant activity of MB extracts in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats. In vitro antioxidant and antidiabetic activity of MB extracts i.e. root extract ( RE), shoot extract (SE) and inflorescence extract (IE) were determined by using various methods viz 1,-1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and a method to assess their possible effect on glucose diffusion across gastrointestinal tract and identify bioactive compound of potent extract. In vivo antilipidemic and antidiabetic activity was evaluated by administrating oral dose of RE for 15 days on STZ- induced diabetic rat. RE showed highest antioxidant activity by scavenging DPPH radical (IC50 32.96µg/ml) and inhibit 30% glucose movement in vitro. The methanol extract of root showed the presence of calyx [4] arene category of the compound. Furthermore, RE treated rat revealed a reduction in fasting blood glucose (62.5%), serum total cholesterol (36.2%), triglyceride (54.5%) and low-density lipoprotein (50.94%) after 15 days as compared to STZ treated animal. There was an initiation of regenerative structures of the affected organs after 15 days of RE treatment. Histopathological observations clearly differentiate the structural changes in pancreas, liver and kidney of STZ and RE treated group. The presence of calyx [4] arene class of compound may be responsible for its antioxidant and antidiabetic properties by absorbing glucose in vivo.

Quantitative data were collected and analysed on 10 metric characters from F1s and F2s of sixteen green gram (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek) hybrids, developed from ten genetically diverse parents, to obtain information on variability, heritability, coheritability, and genotypic and phenotypic correlations. The increased genetic variability of F2 over F1 was observed for plant height, number of primary branches, pods/cluster, pods/plant, pod length and harvest index, suggesting the greater segregation and recombination of genes governing these characters. The high broad-sense heritability coupled with high genetic advance for plant height, days to 50% flowering and pod length in both F1s and F2s indicated the predominant role of additive gene action in their expression. The genotypic and phenotypic correlations between F1 and F2 were significant and positive for seven characters. The coheritability estimates between F1 and F2 had values of over 0.25 and were positive for six characters, but not for seed yield/plant, days to 50% flowering, clusters/plant or pods/plant. Within the F1 and F2 generations, seed yield/plant showed significant positive genotypic and phenotypic correlations with eight characters. The seed yield in green gram could be easily enhanced by practising selection on plant height, number of primary branches, pods/cluster, pod length and harvest index.

The assessment of Citrus tristeza virus incidence in mandarin of Sikkim, involving sampling techniques, was estimated by DAS-ELISA. Mandarin orchards had high CTV incidence (46.32%), however, differential prevalence with regard to age of plant and location was observed. The CTV prevalence was relatively high in older orchards (51.01%) than that of younger ones (40.80%). Under all the plant age groups, south district had the highest CTV incidence (52.50%) and east district had the lowest (37.71%). The spatial distribution of CTV in plants indicates high concentration in twig followed by leaf tissue, however, stem had relatively less concentration. High aphid infestation was observed in all mandarin growing groves with the maximum in south district and minimum in east district. Taxoptera citricida was the predominating aphid species followed by T. aurantii, however, Aphis spp population was significantly less. Aphid infestation and CTV prevalence were positively and significantly correlated.

Leaf streak caused by Pestalotiopsis royenae (Guba) Steyaert has been reported as a new disease of large cardamom ( Amomum subulatum ). It is characterized by rectangular spots running parallel to the veins. P. royenae was isolated onto potato dextrose agar from the infected portion of the plant. In the pathogenicity test, disease symptoms were not present on inoculated plant and on detached leaf in vitro after 20 days. During 2014–2016, a survey in various large cardamom plantations of Sikkim revealed the presence of tea mosquito bugs on the infected parts of A. subulatum . The spots did not show any growth. Different sized spots have been noticed on the infected leaf produced by different instars. At the initial stage, these symptoms appear on the young and tender leaves of large cardamom. Tea mosquito bugs were collected from the infested leaves and allowed to feed under controlled conditions, which produced similar type of leaf streak symptoms in large cardamom and also in other non-host crops like maize and turmeric. The results reveal that the cause of leaf streak is due to feeding injury of tea mosquito bugs and rule out P. royenae as a pathogen causing leaf streak disease symptoms. Pestalotiopsis sp. was also isolated as endophyte from large cardamom.

Objectives Chronic consumption of high-carbohydrate, high-fat (HCHF) diet induces metabolic syndrome (MetS) and markedly impairs the ultra-structure of organs. To our knowledge, no scientific study has yet to report the effect of withdrawal of an HCHF diet on MetS-associated ultra-structural abnormalities in affected organs and tissues. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of subchronic withdrawal of the HCHF diet, specifically with a pathophysiological approach. Methods Wister albino rats (N = 72) were divided into three groups: Groups A and B were fed a standard basal diet and an HCHF diet, respectively, for 16 wk. Group C was on an HCHF diet for the initial 12 wk and then returned to basal diet for 4 wk. Histopathological changes in the heart, lungs, liver, spleen, pancreas, small intestine, kidney, white adipose tissue (WAT), skeletal muscle, and hippocampus of the brain were monitored at 4, 8, 12, and 16 wk. Results Lipid droplets (LDs) in liver, fibrosis in the pancreas, abnormalities in the glomerulus of the kidney, and an increase in the size of adipocytes were observed in groups B and C at week 12. Withdrawal of the HCHF diet in group C showed the onset of regenerative features at the ultra-structural level. HCHF diet-fed rats in group B had higher body weights; raised lipid profiles, blood glucose levels, and insulin resistance than basal diet-fed rats in group A and HCHF to basal diet-fed rats in group C at week 16. Conclusion An HCHF diet induces ultra-structural abnormalities, which are significantly reversed by subchronic withdrawal of a MetS-inducing HCHF diet, indicating the onset of natural recovery at the ultra-structural level of affected organs.

Fifteen accessions of common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) and 21 of tartary buckwheat (F. tataricum) were studied for 15 quantitative and 21 qualitative traits to understand the nature and magnitude of genetic variability using multivariate approach. Significant variation for quantitative traits was recorded for seven traits in common buckwheat and for eleven traits in tartary buckwheat. In common buckwheat seed yield correlated positively with days to maturity while negatively associated with seed weight whereas in case of tartary type number of cymes/plant, seeds/cyme, days to flowering and days to maturity showed positive correlation with seed yield. First five and four principal components (PCs) respectively, in common and tartary type revealed majority of the variability in the accessions which further grouped the test accessions of both the species in to four clusters each. The accessions also showed considerable variation for qualitative traits.

An attempt has been made to study the unsteady MHD free convective flow past a vertical porous plate immersed in a porous medium with Hall current, thermal diffusion and heat source. Analytical solution has been found depending on the physical parameters including the Hartmann number M, the Prandtl number Pr, the Grashof number for heat transfer Gr, the Grashof number for mass transfer Gc , the Schmidt number Sc , the Hall parameter m, the Soret number S0, heat source S, frequency parameter Ω . The influence of these parameters on velocity, temperature, species concentration, and shearing stress at the plate are demonstrated graphically and the results obtained are discussed. It is found that the concentration at the plate-surface increases under Soret effect. Further, it is observed that the Soret effect causes the main-flow shear stress to rise and the crossflow shear stress to fall. It is also found that a decrease in the Soret effect leads to an increase in both the main flow and crossflow velocities. International Journal of Engineering, Science and Technology, Vol. 2, No. 6, 2010, pp. 59-74

N. Abel 21, J. Adamczewski 12, D. Adamova 45, M.M. Aggarwal 10, N. Ahmad 2, Z. Ahmad 30, A. Akindinov 36, P. Akishin 16, E. Akishina 16, T. Akishina 16, M. Al-Turany 12, M. Alyushin 39, S. Amar-Youcef 17, V. Ammosov 43, M. Andelic 47, C. Andrei 6, A. Andronic 12, Yu. Anisimov 14, K. Antipin 17, H. Appelshauser 17, A. Arefiev 36, T. Armbruster 23, A. Artamonov 43, E. Atkin 39, M.D. Azmi 2, P.V.K.S. Baba 25, E. Badura 12, S. Baginyan 16, S. Bandyopadhyay 29, N. Baranova 37, G. Bashindzhagyan 37, Z. Basrak 55, V. Baublis 18, S. Belogurov 36, I. Berceanu 6, E. Berdermann 12, A. Berdnikov 50, Y. Berdnikov 50, R. Berendes 40, C. Bergmann 40, D. Bertini 12, C. Besliu 7, O. Bezshyyko 33, P. Bhaduri 30, A. Bhasin 25, A.K. Bhati 10, B. Bhattacharjee 19, A. Bhattacharya 29, Y. Bocharov 39, M. Bogolyubsky 43, L. Boldizsar 9, N. Bondar 18, M. Borysova 34, S. Bottger 21, P. Braun-Munzinger 12, U. Bruning 23, J. Brzychczyk 32, A. Bubak 26, R. Caplar 55, Xu Cai 54, M. Calin 7, G. Caragheorgheopol 6, I. Carevic 47, V. Catanescu 6, A. Chakraborti 29, S. Chatterji 12, Subhasis Chattopadhyay 30, Sukalyan Chattopadhyay 28, Sanatan Chattopadhyay 29, A. Chaus 34, Hongfang Chen 20, Jianping Cheng 3, V. Chepurnov 14, S. Chernenko 14, A. Chernogorov 36, M. Chubarov 49, M. Ciobanu 12, G. Claus 51, V. Covlea 7, D. Cozma 6, M. Csanad 8, N. D’Ascenzo 41, D. Das 28, I. Das 28, V. Davkov 15, K. Davkov 15, M. De22, R. De51, B. Debnath 19, E. Denes 9, Zhi Deng 3, O. Denisova 16, H. Deppe 12, I. Deppner 22, A. Dermenev 35, M. Deveaux 17, M. Dey 30, A. Dorokhov 51, C. Dritsa (IPHC Strasbourg), 12, A. Dubey 30, W. Dulinski 51, A.K. Dutt-Mazumdar 28, T. Dutta 12, D. Dutta 12, M.R. DuttaMajumdar 30, V. Dyatchenko 43, M. Dželalija 47, H. Engel 21, T. Esanu 7, J. Eschke 12, H. Essel 12, O. Fateev 14, R. Ferreira Marques 11, P. Fischer 23, H. Flemming 12, Z. Fodor 9, P. Fonte 11, I. Frohlich 17, H. Froning 23, V. Friese 12, E. Futo 9, I. Gasparic 55, J. Gajda 31, T. Galatyuk 12, V. Galkin 41, A. Galkin 41, G. Gangopadhyay 29, Wenxue Gao 23, C. Garabatos 12, P. Gasik 53, J. Gebelein 21, P. Ghosh 30, Yu. Gilitsky 43, V. Golovatyuk 14, S. Golovnya 43, V. Golovtsov 18, M. Golubeva 35, D. Golubkov 36, A. Golutvin 36, D. Gonzalez-Diaz 12, S. Gorbunov 21, S. Gorokhov 43, D. Gottschalk 21, Ju. Gousakov 15, E. Grosse 13, P. Gryboś 31, A. Grzeszczuk 26, F. Guber 35, A. Gumenuik 39, A. Gupta 25, M. Hartig 17, K. Heidel 13, N. Heine 40, A. Herghelegiu 6, N. Herrmann 22, J. Heuser 12, A. Himmi 51, C. Hohne 12, R. Holzmann 12, Byungsik Hong 46, J. Hutsch 13, A. Ierusalimov 14, S. Igolkin 49, I. Ilyushenko 39, Tae Im Kang 46, M. Irfan 2, Valery Ivanov 16, V. Ivanov 18, Victor Ivanov 16, A. Ivashkin 35, K. Jaaskelainen 51, V. Jakovlev 49, A. Jinaru 7, A. Jipa 7, M. Kachel 31, I. Kadenko 33, H. Kalita 19, B. Kampfer 13, V. Karasev 49, O. Karavichev 35, T. Karavicheva 35, D. Karmanov 37, E. Karpechev 35, E.M. Kashif 2, K. Kasinski 31, Manjit Kaur 10, A. Kazantsev 38, U. Kebschull 21, J. Kecskemeti 9, G. Kekelidze 15, M.M. Khan 2, S.A. Khan 48, A. Khanzadeev 18, Yu. Kharlov 43, F. Khasanov 36, M. Kis 55, Junghan Kim 44, M. Kirejczyk 53, I. Kisel 12, S. Kiselev 36, A. Kiseleva 12, T. Kiss 9, A. Kiss 8, Ch. Klein-Bosing 40, M. Klein-Bosing 40, V. Kleipa 12, A. Kluev 39, K. Koch 12, P. Koczon 12, B. Kolb 12, B. Komkov 18, D. Konstantinov 43, P. Korobchuk 43, M. Korolev 37, I. Korolko 36, N. Korotkova 37, R. Kotte 13, A. Kotynia 12, A. Kovalchuk 34, S. Kowalski 26, M. Koziel 51, M. Krauze 26, C. Kreidel 23, D. Kresan 12, E. Kryshen 18, L. Kudin 18, I. Kudryashov 36, A. Kugel 23, A. Kugler 45, A. Kurepin 35, S. Lochner 12, V. Ladygin 14, C. Lara 21, S. Lashaev 49, A. Laszlo 9, I. Lazanu 7, A. Lebedev (JINR-LIT Dubna) 12, S. Lebedev (JINR-LIT Dubna) 12, Hayoung Lee 44, F. Lemke 23, Cheng Li 20, Yuanjing Li 3, Yulan Li 3, Jin Li 3, V. Lindenstruth 21, S. Linev 12, E. Litvinenko 16, I. Lobanov 43, E. Lobanova 43, P. Loizeau 22, Nuclear Physics A 830 (2009) 942c–944c

A traditional method for removal of iron from ground water by using ash has been systematically investigated. Ashes from five different sources, viz., banana rind, banana pseudostem, banana leaf, rice husk and bamboo has been studied. The principle applied is enhanced precipitation of iron at high pH caused by ash. The study included laboratory analysis of some relevant chemical parameters of the ashes and the efficiency of the ashes in removing iron from prefabricated water with respect to quantity of ash and corresponding increase in pH of water. The ash of banana pseudostem has been found to be most suitable for removal of iron. A low-cost and easily made iron removal system for household use has been designed and tested in the laboratory. The ash of banana pseudostem has been found to remove iron to below 0.3 ppm without increasing the pH above the acceptable limit. The optimum values of the different parameters for removal of iron are 200–300 mg l−1 ash, 1.0 l h−1 flow rate and 1 h of contact time with ash for groundwater having [Fe] of about 2.20 ppm. The amount of ash can be increased for groundwater having higher [Fe] and can be decreased gradually during continuous use of the system. Acceptability of the method has been examined based on chemical analysis of the treated water. Increase in the essential minerals such as Ca, K has been observed in the water after treatment. The designed iron removing system is expected to be suitable for household use.