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Completed in January 2022, the 2.1 km long 12.2 m diameter twin-bore Mumbai coastal road tunnel is country’s largest ever constructed using a tunnel boring machine. It is also India’s first undersea tunnel embracing all current international design and operational standards. This paper describes Mumbai’s unique hydrogeological conditions and its impact on the choice of tunnelling machine. It then discusses the logistics of transporting the huge machine through one of the worlds most congested cities; the decisions made in its assembly, lowering and re-launch; and how overall tunnelling challenges were overcome.

The sarcoglycanopathies are autosomal recessive limb-girdle muscular dystrophies (LGMDs) caused by the mutations in genes encoding the α, β, γ, and δ proteins which stabilizes the sarcolemma of muscle cells. The clinical phenotype is characterized by progressive proximal muscle weakness with childhood onset. Muscle biopsy findings are diagnostic in confirming dystrophic changes and deficiency of one or more sarcoglycan proteins. In this study, we summarized 1,046 LGMD patients for which a precise diagnosis was identified using targeted sequencing. The most frequent phenotypes identified in the patients are LGMDR1 (19.7%), LGMDR4 (19.0%), LGMDR2 (17.5%), and MMD1 (14.5%). Among the reported genes, each of CAPN3, SGCB, and DYSF variants was reported in more than 10% of our study cohort. The most common variant SGCB p.Thr182Pro was identified in 146 (12.5%) of the LGMD patients, and in 97.9% of these patients, the variant was found to be homozygous. To understand the genetic structure of the patients carrying SGCB p.Thr182Pro, we genotyped 68 LGMD patients using a whole genome microarray. Analysis of the array data identified a large ~1 Mb region of homozygosity (ROH) (chr4:51817441-528499552) suggestive of a shared genomic region overlapping the recurrent missense variant and shared across all 68 patients. Haplotype analysis identified 133 marker haplotypes that were present in ~85.3% of the probands as a double allele and absent in all random controls. We also identified 5 markers (rs1910739, rs6852236, rs13122418, rs13353646, and rs6554360) which were present in a significantly higher proportion in the patients compared to random control set ( n = 128 ) and the population database. Of note, admixture analysis was suggestive of greater proportion of West Eurasian/European ancestry as compared to random controls. Haplotype analysis and frequency in the population database indicate a probable event of founder effect. Further systematic study is needed to identify the communities and regions where the SGCB p.Thr182Pro variant is observed in higher proportions. After identifying these communities and//or region, a screening program is needed to identify carriers and provide them counselling.

The intermolecular hydrogen bond interactions in the dimethyl malonate with some branched alkanols (2-methyl-1-propanol, 2-propanol, and 2-butanol) binary mixture have been studied experimentally and theoretically. The ultrasonic velocities U, densities ρ of binary mixtures of dimethyl malonate with 2-methyl-1-propanol, 2-propanol, 2-butanol from 303.15 K to 318.15 K were measured. Excess molar volume (VE), deviation in adiabatic compressibility (Δβad) and excess intermolecular free length ( LEf) have been calculated from the measured experimental data. It is observed that the order of interactions in dimethyl malonate – branched alkanols mixtures is 2-methyl-1-propanol > 2-propanol > 2-butanol.

The current study was undertaken in Tumkur district of Karnataka. A total of 120 farmer beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana were selected by using the random sampling technique. About sixteen independent variables were selected based on judges' relevancy rating and were quantified using measurement devices. The data were collected using a pretested structured interview schedule and suitable statistical tools were used to analyze the data. The knowledge level of beneficiaries reported that, more than half of the farmers (53.33%) belongs to medium knowledge level, 25.00% belongs to high knowledge level and 21.67% belongs to low knowledge level. The variables like age, annual income, education, land holding, farming experience, extension contact, extension participation, scientific orientation, cosmopoliteness, achievement motivation, mass media exposure and crops cultivated had positive and significant association with knowledge level. Risk orientation, economic motivation and credit orientation had positive and significant at one per cent level. However, social participation was found to be non-significantly associated with the knowledge on Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana. A comprehensive knowledge on scheme and an insurance of crops against natural disasters can become immense value to farmers. The government has to take new initiatives to help farmers thereby providing life security and make them confidence in their profession. Extension personnel working at gross root level should provide timely and complete information on Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana by using suitable extension methods.

To remove the inherent flaws in the existing crop insurance schemes Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna was launched in India since 2016. This scheme has ensured farmers to pay lesser premium to insure their crops. Even though scheme is farmer friendly, many farmers have not accepted and adopted the scheme. Hence, there is a need to study on the factors affecting the attitude levels of the farmers on the new crop insurance scheme. Therefore, the study was undertaken in Tumkur district of Karnataka. A total of 120 farmer beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana were selected for the study by using the proportionate random sampling technique. Sixteen independent variables were selected based on judges' relevancy rating and were quantified using measurement devices. The data were collected using a pretested structured interview schedule and suitable statistical tools were used to analyze the data. Majority of the respondents (48.33%) had a favourable attitude towards the scheme. The variables, namely, age, education, land holding, annual income, farming experience, extension contact, extension participation, social participation, scientific orientation, risk orientation, economic motivation, credit orientation and crops cultivated had positive and significant association at five per cent level. Cosmopoliteness and achievement motivation had positive and significant association at one per cent level. The study revealed that the attitude of farmers has played a pivotal role for complete acceptance of developmental programme of the government such as Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana.

To counteract the vulnerability results from climate change, it is critical to understand farmers’ viewpoints. In Karnataka, farmers’ perspectives, implications, adaptive measures, and barriers were investigated during 2021 by collecting the data from farmers using multistage random sample technique. Farmers witnessed significant changes in temperature, rainfall distribution, emergence of new plant pests and infirmity over time as a result of the introduction of new cultivars/crops, and the occurrence of drought/flood, according to the data. Crop harvests were inconsistent, depleted common property resources, and costs had risen as a result. Cultivation of stress-tolerant cultivars, drilling bore wells, novel plant protection molecules, changing sowing/harvesting dates, and water-saving techniques were among the adaptation strategies. Climate adaptation challenges in the region included highcost farm inputs for climate-smart agriculture, labour scarcity, lack of shared water resources, and knowledge gaps. For the best results, adaptation strategies should be implemented “collectively” rather than “individually”. Weather based Crop insurance must be marketed with assured indemnity.

Densities (ρ) and speeds of sound (u) data for the binary mixtures of benzyl alcohol (BA) with methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), diethyl ketone (DEK), methyl propyl ketone (MPK), and methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) have been investigated at four temperatures (T = 303.15, 308.15, 313.15 and 318.15 K) and pressure (P = 0.1 MPa) over the entire composition range. These data have been utilized to derive excess molar volume ( V m E ), excess isentropic compression ( K S E ) and excess speed of sound ( u E ) for all the systems. The experimentally determined values have been correlated by Redlich-Kister polynomial equation. Further, these results have been analysed by different theoretical treatment such as Prigogine–Flory–Patterson (PFP) theory, intermolecular free length theory and collision frequency theory. The different types of interaction between the component molecules could be addressed by the changes in positive and negative values of excess properties. The applications of present study can be used to build comprehensive theoretical models for designing various technological processes in chemical and biochemical industries.

Despite clinical suspicion of an infection, brain abscess samples are often culture-negative in routine microbiological testing. Direct PCR of such samples enables the identification of microbes that may be fastidious, non-viable, or unculturable. Brain abscess samples (n = 217) from neurosurgical patients were subjected to broad range 16S rRNA gene PCR and sequencing for bacteria. All these samples and seven formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue (FFPE) samples were subjected to species-specific 18S rRNA PCR for neurotropic free-living amoeba that harbour pathogenic bacteria. The concordance between smear and/or culture and PCR was 69%. One-third of the samples were smear- and culture-negative for bacterial agents. However, 88% of these culture-negative samples showed the presence of bacterial 16S rRNA by PCR. Sanger sequencing of 27 selected samples showed anaerobic/fastidious gram negative bacteria (GNB, 38%), facultative Streptococci (35%), and aerobic GNB (27%). Targeted metagenomics sequencing of three samples showed multiple bacterial species, including anaerobic and non-culturable bacteria. One FFPE tissue revealed the presence of Acanthamoeba 18S rRNA. None of the frozen brain abscess samples tested was positive for 18S rRNA of Acanthamoeba or Balamuthia mandrillaris. The microbial 16/18S rRNA PCR and sequencing outperformed culture in detecting anaerobes, facultative Streptococci and FLA in brain abscess samples. Genetic analyses of 16S/18S sequences, either through Sanger or metagenomic sequencing, will be an essential diagnostic technology to be included for diagnosing culture-negative brain abscess samples. Characterizing the microbiome of culture-negative brain abscess samples by molecular methods could enable detection and/or treatment of the source of infection.

Background and Objective: Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a degenerative X-linked muscle disease. Death frequently results from complications in cardiopulmonary systems. Preclinical/early diagnosis of cardiac autonomic abnormalities may aid initiate cardioprotective therapy and enhance prognosis. Methods: A cross sectional, prospective study of 38 DMD boys compared with 37 age-matched healthy controls was conducted. Lead II electrocardiography and beat-to-beat blood pressure were recorded to assess heart rate variability (HRV), blood pressure variability (BPV), and baroreceptor sensitivity (BRS) in a standardized environment. Data were analysed and correlated with disease severity and genotype. Results: In the DMD group, the median age at assessment was 8 years [IQR 7–9 years], the median age at disease onset was 3 years [IQR, 2–6 years], and the mean duration of illness was 4 years [IQR, 2.5–5]. DNA sequencing showed deletions in 34/38 (89.5 %) and duplications in 4/38 (10.5%) patients. The median heart rate in DMD children was significantly higher [101.19 (Range, 94.71–108.49)] /min compared to controls [81 (Range, 76.2–92.76)] /min (p

Parkinson disease (PD) prevalence varies by ethnicity. In an earlier study, we replicated the reduced vulnerability to PD in an admixed population, using 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-susceptible C57BL/6 J, MPTP-resistant CD-1 and their F1 crossbreds. In the present study, we investigated if the differences have a developmental origin. Substantia nigra was evaluated at postnatal days 2 (P2), P6, P10, P14, P18, and P22. C57BL/6 J mice had smaller nigra and fewer dopaminergic neurons than the CD-1 and crossbreds at P2, which persisted through development. A significant increase in numbers and nigral volume was observed across strains until P14. A drastic decline thereafter was specific to C57BL/6 J. CD-1 and crossbreds retained their numbers from P14 to stabilize with supernumerary neurons at adulthood. The neuronal size increased gradually to attain adult morphology at P10 in the resistant strains, vis-a-vis at P22 in C57BL/6 J. Accordingly, in comparison to C57BL/6 J, the nigra of CD-1 and reciprocal crossbreds possessed cytomorphological features of resilience, since birth. The considerably lesser dopaminergic neuronal loss in the CD-1 and crossbreds was seen at P2 and P14 and thereafter was complemented by attenuated developmental cell death. The differences in programmed cell death were confirmed by reduced TUNEL labelling, AIF, and caspase-3 expression. GDNF expression aligned with the cell death pattern at P2 and P14 in both nigra and striatum. Earlier maturity of nigra and its neurons appears to be better features that reflect as MPTP resistance at adulthood. Thus, variable MPTP vulnerability in mice and also differential susceptibility to PD in humans may arise early during nigral development.

Identification of genetic mutations in Parkinson’s disease (PD) promulgates the genetic nature of disease susceptibility. Resilience-associated genes being unknown till date, the normal genetic makeup of an individual may be determinative too. Our earlier studies comparing the substantia nigra (SN) and striatum of C57BL/6J, CD-1 mice and their F1-crossbreds demonstrated neuroprotective role of admixing, against the neurotoxin MPTP. Further, the differences in levels of mitochondrial fission/fusion proteins in the SN of parent strains, imply effect on mitochondrial biogenesis. Our present investigations suggest that the baseline levels of apoptotic factors Bcl-2, Bax and AIF differ across the three strains and, are differentially altered in SN following MPTP-administration. The reduction in complex-I levels exclusively in MPTP-injected C57BL/6J, reiterate mitochondrial involvement in PD pathogenesis. The MPTP-induced increase in complex-IV, in the nigra of both parent strains may be compensatory in nature. Ultrastructural evaluation showed fairly preserved mitochondria in the dopaminergic neurons of CD-1 and F1-crossbreds. However, in CD-1, the endoplasmic reticulum demonstrated distinct luminal enlargement, bordering onto ballooning, suggesting proteinopathy as a possible initial trigger.The increase in α-synuclein in the pars reticulata of crossbreds suggests a supportive role for this output nucleus in compensating for the lost function of pars compacta. Alternatively, since α-synuclein over-expression occurs in different brain regions in PD, the α-synuclein increase here may suggest similar pathogenic outcome. Further understanding is required to resolve this biological contraption. Nevertheless, admixing reduces the risk to MPTP by favouring anti-apoptotic consequences. Similar neuroprotection may be envisaged in the admixed populace of Anglo-Indians.

Production of vegetables under protected cultivation is necessary to meet the continuous demand across the seasons. Due to the capital and labour-intensive nature of the polyhouse technology, majority of Indian farmers with small and marginal category (>85%) cannot afford it. On the other hand, 6.73 million hectare land area in India is affected by salinity, which hampers crop production hence the area under vegetable cultivation is shrinking as the majority of vegetables are sensitive to salinity stress. This study was undertaken to assess the effect of saline water drip irrigation on production of capsicum, green chilli and tomato crops in naturally ventilated polyhouse. The economic analysis revealed that the estimated cost of polyhouse construction (300 m2) with drip irrigation system was ?4,71,563 and the overall cost (cost C3) of vegetable production under polyhouse was estimated to be ?2,15,623. Among capsicum, green chilli and tomato crops grown in the polyhouse, overall net returns over cost C3 was highest from tomato followed by capsicum and green chilli. The economic indicators were very encouraging with positive net present value, higher benefit-cost ratio, higher internal rate of returns, and shorter payback period. The investigation also suggests the viability of saline water drip irrigation for commercial cultivation of vegetables in naturally ventilated polyhouse, which is not possible under the natural environment with saline water drip irrigation.

Pathogenic free-living amoebae (FLA), namely Acanthamoeba sp., Naegleria fowleri and Balamuthia mandrillaris are distributed worldwide. These neurotropic amoebae can cause fatal central nervous system (CNS) infections in humans. This review deals with the demographic characteristics, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment outcomes of patients with CNS infections caused by FLA documented in India. There have been 42, 25, and 4 case reports of Acanthamoeba granulomatous amoebic encephalitis (GAE), N. fowleri primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), and B. mandrillaris meningoencephalitis (BAE), respectively. Overall, 17% of Acanthamoeba GAE patients and one of the four BAE patients had some form of immunosuppression, and more than half of the N. fowleri PAM cases had history of exposure to freshwater. Acanthamoeba GAE, PAM, and BAE were most commonly seen in males. Fever, headache, vomiting, seizures, and altered sensorium appear to be common symptoms in these patients. Some patients showed multiple lesions with edema, exudates or hydrocephalus in their brain CT/MRI. The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of these patients showed elevated protein and WBC levels. Direct microscopy of CSF was positive for amoebic trophozoites in 69% of Acanthamoeba GAE and 96% of PAM patients. One-fourth of the Acanthamoeba GAE and all the BAE patients were diagnosed only by histopathology following autopsy/biopsy samples. Twenty-one Acanthamoeba GAE survivors were treated with cotrimoxazole, rifampicin, and ketoconazole/amphotericin B, and all eleven PAM survivors were treated with amphotericin B alongside other drugs. A thorough search for these organisms in CNS samples is necessary to develop optimum treatment strategies.

Agriculture in Indo-Gangetic plains (IGP) of India is facing challenges of food security, low factor productivity, lowest per capita landholding and natural resource sustainability in the changing ...

The study was carried out using the secondary data on income, expenditure, productive assets and indebtedness of agricultural households in Madhya Pradesh collected from the Situation Assessment Survey (SAS) conducted by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) in 70th round (2012-13). The household level data on various parameters was first extracted for Madhya Pradesh and brought into suitable form for carrying out analysis in SPSS. Tabular analysis was employed to analyze the potential economic benefits of livestock farming. The findings revealed that marginal and small farmers earned only 26-27 per cent of income of large farm households. Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes who constitutes nearly 43.5 per cent of total farm households in Madhya Pradesh earns only 33.8 and 33.4 per cent, respectively of the income of OBC farmers. Among the regions, farmers in the northern and central regions of the state earn the highest income while those in the southern and vindhya regions earn the lowest income. in spite of farmers’ high satisfaction in selling milk to cooperatives (72-75%), the share of cooperatives and government agencies was very less in procuring milk from farm households (3-5.5%) in the state.

OBJECTIVE: Sitagliptin and other dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP)‐4 inhibitors/gliptins are antidiabetic drugs known to improve lipid profile, and confer anti‐inflammatory and anti‐fibrotic effects, which are independent of their hypoglycemic effects. However, in our previous short-term (35 days) studies, we showed that sitagliptin accentuates the hepato-inflammatory effects of high dietary cholesterol (Cho) in male Sprague–Dawley rats. Since most type 2 diabetics also present with lipid abnormalities and use DPP-4 inhibitors for glucose management, the present study was conducted to assess the impact of sitagliptin during long-term (98 days) feeding of a high Cho diet. An additional component of the present investigation was the inclusion of other gliptins to determine if hepatic steatosis, necro‐inflammation, and fibrosis were specific to sitagliptin or are class effects. METHODS: Adult male Sprague–Dawley rats were fed control or high Cho (2.0%) diets, and gavaged daily (from day 30 through 98) with vehicle or DPP-4 inhibitors (sitagliptin or alogliptin or saxagliptin). On day 99 after a 4 h fast, rats were euthanized. Blood and liver samples were collected to measure lipids and cytokines, and for histopathological evaluation, determination of hepatic lesions (steatosis, necrosis, inflammation, and fibrosis) using specific staining and immunohistochemical methods. RESULTS: Compared to controls, the high Cho diet produced a robust increase in NASH like phenotype that included increased expression of hepatic (Tnfa, Il1b, and Mcp1) and circulatory (TNFα and IL-1β) markers of inflammation, steatosis, necrosis, fibrosis, and mononuclear cell infiltration. These mononuclear cells were identified as macrophages and T cells, and their recruitment in the liver was facilitated by marked increases in endothelium‐expressed cell adhesion molecules. Importantly, treatment with DPP‐4 inhibitors (3 tested) neither alleviated the pathologic responses induced by high Cho diet nor improved lipid profile. CONCLUSIONS: The potential lipid lowering effects of DPP-4 inhibitors were diminished by high Cho (a significant risk factor for inducing liver damage). The robust inflammatory responses induced by high Cho feeding in long-term experiment were not exacerbated by DPP-4 inhibitors and a consistent hepatic inflammatory environment persisted, implying a prospective physiological adaptation.

Ocular tuberculosis is an extra-pulmonary form of systemic Tuberculosis (TB). It is rarely found concomitant with active pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB). The aim of this prospective observational study was to evaluate the pattern of tubercular uveitis (TBU) in the patients with active PTB who attended in our Uvea clinic at NIOH from July 2018 to December 2020. Active PTB patients who had uveitis consistent with TBU and TBU patients who were confirmed as active lung lesion were included in the study. Chest X-ray, TST, IGRA (QuantiFERON-TB Gold Test), RT PCR of aqueous fluid for tubercular bacillus, Gene Xpert TB test of sputum were done to confirm the diagnosis of ocular and primary TB. If the induration is 15 mm of TST was considered patient in this study. Among 33 patients of active PTB, 4 had TBU (12.12%). Among 48 patients of TBU, 5 had active PTB (10.41%). 13 eyes of 9 patients were affected. Mean age at presentation was 41.8 years. There were anterior uveitis in 23.00% eyes, posterior uveitis in 69% eyes and panuveitis in 7.00% eyes. Choroidal granuloma was the most common presentation of posterior uveitis (46.00%). There were more than 4 times chance to develop choroidal granuloma in patients with active PTB than extrapulmonary TB (Χ²=4.53,0.05), TBU patients with choroidal granuloma should be evaluated meticulously for active PTB and active PTB patients should be evaluated routinely by ophthalmologist for the search of TBU.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a late-onset, neurodegenerative disease associated with the loss of motor neurons in the spinal cord, brain stem and primary motor cortex. Deficit in the motor function is one of the clinical features of this disease. However, the association between adverse morphological alterations in the spinal motor neurons and motor deficit in sporadic ALS (SALS) is still debated. The present study has sought to investigate the effects of serial intrathecal injections of ALS-CSF into rat pups, at post-natal (P) days 3, 9 and 14, on the motor neuronal (MN) morphology at the cervical and lumbar levels of the spinal cord at P16 and P22. The present study used Cresyl violet and Golgi-Cox staining methods to determine the progressive changes in the morphology of spinal MNs in both cervical and lumbar extensions. The study found a loss of motor neurons in the spinal cord (36% for P16 in cervical and 41.7% in P16 lumbar and 49.57% for P22 cervical and 44.63% for P22 lumbar) and reduced choline acetyl transferase (ChAT) expression after repeated infusion of ALS-CSF. Significant increase in the soma area was also found in ALS-CSF rats (around 21% in P22 cervical and 26.4% in P22 lumbar). Soma hypertrophy was associated with increased dendritic arborization of MNs at both cervical and lumbar levels of the spinal cord. The data also showed a direct correlation between ALS-CSF induced changes in the MN number in the spinal cord and motor behavioral deficits. The loss of MNs, reduced ChAT, changes in soma and dendritic morphology with declined rotarod performance, thus, confirming the pathological phenotypes as seen in ALS patients.

The present study aimed to measure the extent of adoption of recommended dairy farming practices by farmers of Pune and Nashik divisions of Maharashtra which were selected based on livestock population and milk production in the year 2018-19. From each division two districts were selected randomly and from each district two blocks were selected randomly. From each block one adopted and one non-adopted village under the Kamdhenu Dattak Gram Yojana scheme were selected From each village 15 dairy farmers were selected on random basis. Overall, 240 dairy farmers were selected, as the respondents for this study constituting 120 beneficiaries farmers and 120 non-beneficiaries of the Kamdhenu Dattak Gram Yojana. The quantitative and qualitative data were collected through interview schedule, discussion, observation and available secondary sources. Findings indicated that the most of beneficiaries (43.33%) were in medium level overall adoption and majority of non-beneficiaries (62.50%) had fallen in low level of overall adoption category on recommended dairy farming practices covering breeding, feeding, health, general management and waste management practices. The overall adoption index of recommended dairy farming practices of beneficiaries (75.31) was found to be more compared to non-beneficiaries (66.75) of the scheme found highly significant at 5 per cent level of probability using ‘Z’ test. Based on adoption index, maximum adoption of dairy farming practices was found in case of Breeding practices, whereas minimum adoption was found in case of Waste management practices in both beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries of the scheme. The results clearly indicated that the Kamdhenu Dattak Gram Yojana had created positive impact on the adoption level of the beneficiaries of scheme by adopting higher recommended dairy farming practices compared to the non-beneficiaries of the scheme.

Anxiety is one of the most comorbid conditions with major depressive disorder (MDD). Depression-associated anxiety often stems from the dysfunctional hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and its altered regulation by the amygdala. Furthermore, MDD is associated with altered glutamatergic processing leading to anxiety and impaired regulation of the HPA axis. Recent studies have demonstrated that N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), a pleiotropic drug, exerts antidepressant-like effect by modulation of hippocampal functions, periterminal release of glutamate, and/or redox systems. However, the effects of NAC on depression-associated anxiety, HPA axis hyperactivity, and amygdalar dysfunctions are relatively unknown. Accordingly, we evaluated the effect of NAC on neonatal clomipramine (CLI)-induced adulthood anxiety and accompanying changes in plasma corticosterone levels, amygdalar volumes, neuronal/glial densities, levels of monoamines, and their metabolites in the amygdalar complex. We found that chronic treatment with NAC reverses CLI-induced anhedonia and enhanced anxiety. Interestingly, attenuation of CLI-associated anxiety in NAC-treated rats were accompanied by a reversal of adrenal and spleen hypertrophy, and normalization of enhanced plasma corticosterone levels, indicating improved HPA axis functioning. Furthermore, NAC treatment was sufficient to reverse volumetric hypertrophy of basolateral amygdala (BLA), and altered noradrenaline (NA) metabolism in the amygdalar complex. The effects of NAC in the reversal of CLI-induced impairments were similar to that of fluoxetine (FLX). We suggest that beneficial effects of NAC on antidepressive- and antianxiety-like behaviors are at least in part mediated via restoration of amygdalar and HPA axis functioning. Our results support the hypothesis that NAC might be evolved as a therapeutic strategy for reversal of amygdalar dysfunction in depression.

The low infiltration capacity of sodic soils and alkaline irrigation water are the main limiting factors in sustaining crop production under salt affected agro-ecosystems. The extreme rains aggravate the chances of crop failure further, due to water stagnation for prolonged period under sodic lands. Frequency of such extreme rainfall events is likely to increase in near future due to changing climatic scenario. ICAR-Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Karnal, designed, developed and installed the cavity type individual farmers' based recharge structure at four locations in low lying areas of adopted villages (under Farmer FIRST Project) of Kaithal district for evaluating their effectiveness in facilitating the localized drainage option and sustainable crop production. The study results indicated that the installed structures were quite effective in saving the submerged crops particularly during the periods of intense rain in addition to augmenting groundwater and improving its quality. The groundwater table rose to an extent of 2-3 m beneath the structure during monsoon month (July 2017) compared to summer month of April 2017. The improvement in groundwater quality was also observed in surrounding areas as a consequence of reduction in RSC by 2-3 meq/l compared to the values at the time of installation of the structure. A heavy rainfall (~150 mm) resulted in 35-40% crop damage in open-fields which was reduced down to 5-15% due to provision of recharge structure, significantly decreasing the additional cost towards re-transplanting and compensated the yield loss. Benefit-cost ratio of 1.93 and internal rate of return of 145% indicated economic feasibility of the investment on recharge structure. The results revealed that installation of recharge structure was quite advantageous in providing the localized drainage option in low lying and land locked areas where runoff gets accumulated and adversely affected the crop production.

Background and Objectives Quality of life QOL of the individuals suffering from Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy DMD was found to be reduced due to the chronicity and progressive nature of the illness and the intensity of disability. We intended to identify whether physical therapy and yoga intervention has an effect on the QOL in patients with DMD.Methods Patients diagnosed with DMD in the age group of five to ten years were randomly allocated to two groups. Group 1 was managed with two sessions of physical therapy whereas group 2 received one session of yoga and physical therapy. Quality of life status was measured using Pediatric quality of life PedsQL neuromuscular module. Intervention was continued for a period of one year as a home based program with assessments done during the first visit and at every three months till one year.Results Homogeneity was maintained between the groups with regard to the age p0.578 and duration of the disease p0.312. There was a significant time effect in group I for lsquoMy neuromuscular diseasersquo sub-score and the total score whereas group II demonstrated significant time effect for lsquoMy neuromuscular diseasersquo subscore alone p lt0.05. A reduction in scores was observed for communication family resources and total score in group II demonstrating a negative effect.Conclusion Two physiotherapy sessions in a day are beneficial in improving the quality of life status in patients with DMD. Yoga was also an acceptable way of treatment in children with DMD as the caretakers participated in the sessions along with them.nbsp