Search

Acetic acid bacteria synthesized microbial cellulose were isolated from various citrus fruits, enabled by increased cellulose production to develop a biodegradable polymer as a food wrapper. The objective of the research cynosures on the isolation, enrichment, identification, and optimization of bacteria that produce cellulose, characterization, and cytotoxic study of the obtained cellulose. Two highly effective cellulose producers, Acetobacter lovaniensis (A1) and Acetobacter fabarum (A2), were isolated based on their morphology, biochemical analysis, and 16s rRNA sequencing. Studies were conducted to optimize pH, temperature, inoculum size, nitrogen, and carbon sources. Strain A1 produced 0.715 g/100 ml, whereas A2 produced 0.856 g/100 ml of cellulose under optimum growth conditions. The characteristics of microbial cellulose were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). A cytotoxicity study for the obtained cellulose has been conducted with mouse embryo fibroblast cells (3T3-L1) and showed 97% viability of cells with the lowest concentration of 12.5 µg/ml. These isolates could be employed in fermentation technology to produce cellulose polymer-based sustainable biodegradable food wrappers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The availability of quality fodder is becoming a major concern in India. To address this, a field experiment was conducted on bajranapier hybrid grass CO (BN) 5 (Interspecific hybrid between Cumbu (Pennisetum glaucum) and Napier (P. Purpureum Schumach) during 2018-19 in strip plot design with 3 replications. Treatment comprises of main plot viz., Irrigation methods sub plot viz., Crop establishment methods. The results showed that in water use studies, higher WUE (23.74 t/ha/mm) was recorded with sbsurface drip irrigation. Similarly, higher water productivity (WP) (0.024 t/m3) and economic WP (474.78 ₹/ha/mm) were also with the same. In crop establishment methods, horizontal planting of setts with settling treatment recorded higher WUE (21.47 t/ha/mm), WP (0.021 t/m³) and economic WP (429.43 ₹/ha/mm). Significantly higher (0.05 %) green (335.0 t/ha/year) and dry fodder yields (71 t/ha/year) were registered with subsurface drip irrigation (M3). In crop establishment, horizontal planting of setts with settling treatment (S2) registered higher green (331.5 t/ha/year) and dry (71.4 t/ha/year) fodder yields. On postharvest soil available nutrients, higher N (172.3 kg/ha), P (22.2 kg/ha) and K (591.5 kg/ha) were observed with surface irrigation. Vertical planting of setts without settling treatment recorded higher N (172.1 kg/ha), P (23.3 kg/ha) and K (604.8 kg/ha). By adopting this subsurface drip irrigation with horizontal planting of setts with sett treatment, the bajranapier hybrid grass cultivation can be optimized for the betterment of cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this study is to derive a class of random impulsive fractional stochastic differential equations with finite delay that are of Caputo-type. Through certain constraints, the existence of the mild solution of the aforementioned system are acquired by Kransnoselskii's fixed point theorem. Furthermore, through Ito isometry and Gronwall's inequality, the Hyers-Ulam stability of the reckoned system is evaluated using Lipschitz condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ever increasing demand for food and fodder due to growing population and livestock necessitates the urgency to improve productivity of the fodder crops. In this context, the concept of vegetative propagation technologies serves as an important tool for higher productivity. Conventionally, crops such as sugarcane, cassava, bajra napier hybrid grass and napier grass were cultivated by stem cuttings. This depends heavily on the quality of planting material and their availability. It is a huge barrier for the cultivation of fodder grass as the quality of planting material influences the sprouting, establishment, growth, tillering and fodder yield of grasses and also the higher requirement of planting material increases the overall cost of cultivation. Therefore, a more robust approach needs to be developed to address these limitations. Normally propagation by vegetative means assumes importance when desirable biotypes need to be multiplied in a short span of time. Also a suitable method of planting and number of buds reduce the cost of cultivation as well as transportation. Similarly one and two budded setts are ideal for optimum germination compared to larger seed pieces. Horizontal planting of stem cuttings is the most practical approach which increased sprouting and yield. Based on this ideology this paper reviews the various aspects of influence of planting methods and number of buds by vegetative propagated setts on sprouting, growth and productivity of fodder grasses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Racial and ethnic minority status, structural racism, low educational attainment, and poverty are consistently associated with cancer disparities and with higher rates of incarceration. The objective of this scoping review is to conduct a qualitative synthesis of the literature on cancer prevalence, incidence, mortality, and disparities in these outcomes for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated patients, as this literature is fragmented and heterogenous. Methods: This scoping review included Bureau of Justice Statistics reports and searched PubMed in May 2021 for all English language studies published between 1990 and 30 April 2021, that reported on cancer prevalence, incidence, or mortality for incarcerated or formerly incarcerated individuals in the United States. Results: Twenty studies were selected. Data on cancer prevalence and incidence were scarce but suggested that incarcerated and formerly incarcerated patients have a similar overall risk of cancer diagnosis as the general population, but elevated risk of certain cancers such as cervical, lung, colorectal, and hepatocellular carcinoma for which effective prevention and screening interventions exist. Cancer mortality data in state and local jails as well as prisons were robust and suggests that both incarcerated and formerly incarcerated patients have higher cancer mortality than the general population. Conclusions: Incarcerated and formerly incarcerated patients likely have a higher risk of dying from cancer than the general population, but important gaps in our knowledge about the extent and drivers of disparities for this population remain. Additional research is needed to guide interventions to reduce cancer disparities for patients experiencing incarceration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This review aims to outline current practices and guidelines of corneal donation and eye banking, describes the implications of COVID-19 and emerging diseases on the corneal donor pool, and discusses future trends to improve and increase the efficiency of the processes involved in corneal donation and eye banking. Summary: Corneal screening, preservation, corneal storage, and prevention of systemic disease transmission from donor to recipient have been crucial in shaping the policies of the FDA and eye banks across the world. Eye banks globally have developed varying guidelines and criteria for evaluating the viability of donor corneas. Variables such as the age of the donor, medical history, and potential disease transmission are important screening parameters. While known infectious diseases may be transmissible through the cornea, emerging infectious diseases that are not well studied may be more transmissible than other infections. In particular, coronavirus has impacted corneal transplantation as SARS-CoV-2 expression has been detected in corneal tissue and conjunctiva. In recent years, partial-thickness corneal transplantations have been introduced. Lamellar grafts and other corneal layers are now utilized for transplantation of the specific areas that are damaged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic farming is an internationally regulated, legally enforced and standardized alternative agricultural paradigm that relies on ecological processes, biodiversity and cycles adapted to local conditions with the aim of sustaining the health of soils, ecosystems and people. Organic farming utilizes various naturally obtaining substances such as manures, bio-fertilizers. Widely recognized among them are manures and bio-fertilizers. Conventionally they are applied as a solid and carrier based, but modern approach of applying in liquid form is gaining reputation. Application in liquid form facilitates better release of nutrients, enhancement of soil microbial activity, improvement of soil aggregation, soil properties and soil health. Some of the famous liquid manures are jeevamruth, panchagavya, beejamruth, vermiwash, humic acid and sea weed extract. Based on these evidences this paper explores the effectiveness, importance and limitations of most commonly used organic liquid manures. This paper also explains about the usage of liquid bio-fertilizers and their advantages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this paper is to investigate the existence of mild solutions and optimal controls for a class of fractional neutral stochastic differential equations (NSDEs) driven by fractional Brownian motion and Poisson jumps in Hilbert spaces. First, we establish a new set of sufficient conditions for the existence of mild solutions of the aforementioned fractional systems by using the successive approximation approach. The results are formulated and proved by using the fractional calculus, solution operator, and stochastic analysis techniques. The existence of optimal control pairs of system governed by fractional NSDEs driven by fractional Brownian motion and Poisson jumps is also been presented. An example is provided to illustrate the theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study involves the fabrication of a dosage form for acne treatment. A semi-solid dosage form of microsponge loaded topical gel with benzoyl peroxide and poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) was developed. Formulation was prepared using PLGA, span, and polyvinyl alcohol. Optimization of the formulation was done by design of experiments response surface methodology using a central composite method. The microsponge was prepared by a quasi-emulsion solvent diffusion method. Central composite experimental design was used for optimization of the formulation with respect to entrapment efficiency and in vitro drug release. A benzoyl peroxide-loaded PLGA microsponge formulation was prepared and characterized with respect to drug content, drug release, and morphology. Drug release was found to be 52.42% for PLGA-loaded microsponges. The optimized microsponges containing PLGA were converted into a topical gel using benzoyl peroxide as a drug. Carbopol was used as a gelling agent for the optimized microsponge formulation containing PLGA. The gel showed pseudoplastic behavior with a high value of spreading capacity. It was translucent without the presence of foreign particles. Evaluation parameters for microsponges loaded topic gel, such as determination of pH (5.82), spreadability (5.9), viscosity 50 rpm (1253 cp), drug content (98.07%), and in vitro drug release (50.42), were performed for the designed topical semi-solid dosage form. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]