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A field experiment comprising of 50 genotypes of forage sorghum was laid out in CRBD. Enough variability was observed among the genotypes under study as revealed by ANOVA. Genetic divergence analysis grouped the genotypes into six clusters based on quantitative and qualitative traits. Cluster I had the maximum number of genotypes, followed by clusters III and V with ten genotypes each; cluster IV had nine genotypes; cluster II had seven genotypes and cluster VI had only one genotype. The maximum intra cluster distance was observed in clusters I followed by cluster V and cluster III. Intra-cluster distance is measure of the amount of variability present within cluster. The highest inter-cluster distance was found between the clusters I and III followed by the clusters I and V which confirms that genotypes in these clusters are more diverse. Use of genetically diverse genotypes of clusters VI and III in hybridization program would help to evolve the genotypes with high fodder yield and good quality.

Piyush Gupta,1,* Karthik Nagesh,2,* Pankaj Garg,3,* Jayakar Thomas,4,* Pradeep Suryawanshi,5,* Giridhar Sethuraman,6,* Rashna Dass Hazarika,7,* Rahul J Verma,8,* C Suresh Kumar,9,* Shantha Kumari,10,* Sunil Taneja,11,* Vaishali Chavhan,12,* Priti Thakor,13,* Ankita Pandita13,* 1Department of Pediatrics, University College of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India; 2Department of Neonatology, Manipal Hospitals Group (MHEPL), Bangalore, Karnataka, India; 3Department of Neonatology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, India; 4Department of Dermatology, The Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India; 5Department of Neonatology, BVU Medical College, Pune, Maharashtra, India; 6Department of Neonatology, Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India; 7Department of Pediatrics & Neonatology, Nemcare Superspecialty Hospital, Guwahati, Assam, India; 8Department of Neonatology & General Pediatrics, Sir H.N Reliance Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India; 9Department of Pediatrics, Apollo Cradle, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad, Telangana, India; 10Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yashoda Hospitals, Hyderabad, Telangana, India; 11Sushrut Medical Centre Pvt Ltd, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India; 12Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sahyadri Superspecialty Hospitals, Pune, Maharashtra, India; 13Department of Medical Affairs, JNTL Consumer Health (India) Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai, Maharashtra, India*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Ankita Pandita, JNTL Consumer Health (India) Pvt. Ltd., 501 Arena Space, Behind Majas Bus Depot, off Jogeshwari Vikhroli Link Road, Jogeshwari (E), Mumbai, 400060, India, Tel +91 98735 98808, Fax +91-22 25643410, Email APandit7@ITS.JNJ.com; APandit7@kenvue.comPurpose: Neonatal skin care practices guided by personal experience and preferences might be substantially different across different hospital settings. The aim of this consensus recommendation is to provide clinical practice guidance to healthcare practitioners on evidence-based neonatal skin care practices from delivery-to-discharge, in hospital settings.Patients and Methods: A Scientific Advisory Board meeting on “Evidence-based Neonatal Skin Care Practices and Protocols” was held in December 2020 with an expert panel comprising neonatologists, pediatricians, obstetricians and gynecologists and pediatric dermatologist. Comprehensive literature search was performed up to 23 March 2021 using PubMed and Google Scholar to retrieve relevant evidence.Results: Recommendations were developed on critical aspects of skin care in healthy full-term neonates including cleansing at birth, skin-to-skin care, cord care, diaper area care, initial and routine bathing, cleansers and emollients use, and criteria to choose appropriate skin care products. Recommendations include inclusion of skin assessment in routine neonatal care, first bath timing after cardio-respiratory and thermal stabilization, 6– 24 hours after birth; bathing with water alone or adding a mild liquid cleanser could be considered appropriate as it does not impact the developing skin barrier; use of emollients is recommended for neonates with higher risk of development of eczema to maintain and enhance skin barrier function and integrity; and inclusion of skin care advice in neonatal discharge checklist. Importance of rigorous quality control, high-quality clinical trials for assessment of baby products, usage of products that are formulated appropriately for newborns, and full label transparency for baby products were highlighted. The panel identified gaps in literature and discussed the scope for future research.Conclusion: These recommendations may help to standardize evidence-based skin care for healthy full-term neonates in Indian hospital settings to improve the quality of care that neonates receive in hospital and facilitate improvement in overall neonatal health outcomes.Keywords: baby products, bathing, cleanser, emollient, hospital setting, neonatal skin care practices

Lens-specific beaded filament (BF) proteins CP49 and filensin interact with the C-terminus of the water channel protein Aquaporin 0 (AQP0). Previously we have reported that a C-terminally end-deleted AQP0-expressing transgenic mouse model AQP0ΔC/ΔC developed abnormal optical aberrations in the lens. This investigation was undertaken to find out whether the total loss of the BF structural proteins alter the optical properties of the lens and cause optical aberrations similar to those in AQP0ΔC/ΔC lenses; also, to map the changes in the optical quality as a function of age in the single or double BF protein knockouts as well as to assess whether there is any significant change in the water channel function of AQP0 in these knockouts. A double knockout mouse (2xKO) model for CP49 and filensin was developed by crossing CP49-KO and filensin-KO mice. Wild type, CP49-KO, filensin-KO, and 2xKO lenses at different ages, and AQP0ΔC/ΔC lenses at postnatal day-17 were imaged through the optical axis and compared for optical quality and focusing property. All three knockout models showed loss of transparency, and development of abnormal optical distortion aberration similar to that in AQP0ΔC/ΔC. Copper grid focusing by the lenses at 6, 9 and 12 months of age showed an increase in aberrations as age advanced. With progression in age, the grid images produced by the lenses of all KO models showed a transition from a positive barrel distortion aberration to a pincushion distortion aberration with the formation of three distinct aberration zones similar to those produced by AQP0ΔC/ΔC lenses. Water permeability of fiber cell membrane vesicles prepared from CP49-KO, filensin-KO and 2xKO models, measured using the osmotic shrinking method, remained similar to that of the wild type without any statistically significant alteration (P > 0.05). Western blotting and quantification revealed the expression of comparable quantities of AQP0 in all three BF protein KOs. Our study reveals that loss of single or both beaded filament proteins significantly affect lens refractive index gradient, transparency and focusing ability in an age-dependent manner and the interaction of BF proteins with AQP0 is critical for the proper functioning of the lens. The presence of BF proteins is necessary to prevent abnormal optical aberrations and maintain homeostasis in the aging lens.