Search

Plants are often exposed to multiple stresses, including heavy metals (HM) and drought, which limit the plant growth and productivity. Though biochar or plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) have been widely used for alleviating HM or drought stress in plants, the study of the effects of combined treatment with biochar and PGPR under simultaneous HM and drought stress is limited. This study investigated individual and combined effects of groundnut shell biochar (GS-BC) and PGPR Bacillus pseudomycoides strain ARN7 on Zea mays growth, physiology, and HM accumulation, along with their impact on soil enzymes under HM (Ni and Zn), drought, or HM+drought stress. It was observed that even under HM+drought stress, Z. mays growth, total chlorophyll, proteins, phenolics, and relative water contents were increased in response to combined GS-BC and ARN7 treatment. Furthermore, the combined treatment positively influenced plant superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase, and catalase activities, while reducing electrolyte leakage and phenolics, malondialdehyde, and proline under HM, drought, or HM+drought stress. Interestingly, the combined GS-BC and ARN7 treatment decreased HM accumulation and the bioaccumulation factor in Z. mays, highlighting that the combined treatment is suitable for improving HM phytostabilization. Additionally, GS-BC increased soil enzymatic activities and ARN7 colonization irrespective of HM and drought stress. As far as we know, this study is the first to illustrate that combined biochar and PGPR treatment could lessen the adverse effects of both HM and drought, suggesting that such treatment can be used in water-deficient HM-contaminated areas to improve plant growth and reduce HM accumulation in plants.

Banana is an excellent companion crop cultivated with coconut, areca nut, coffee, or cacao. The yield performance of bananas however differs due to cultivar response to light, water, and nutrient availability in the intercropping system. The current study aims to understand the performance of different banana varieties under the areca nut shaded system by trait variation in growth, phenology, fresh bunch mass (yield), and soil nutrient balance patterns. Five banana varieties were screened in a field experiment in a high-density areca garden for vegetative traits, phenology, yield components, and nutrient budgets. Variety Amti recorded wider leaves and greater leaf area and also recorded higher bunch yield in plant and first ratoon crop than other varieties. The Velchi variety recorded the highest leaf emergence rate during winter and recorded the highest percentage of plants with a bunch in both the plant and first ratoon crops. The study revealed nutrient mining of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium in the areca–banana system. The effective balance of the available soil phosphorus was found to be highly negative for Grand Nain (−50.3 kg·ha−1·year−1) and negative (−23.6 kg·ha−1·year−1) for Amti. The results reveal the role of choice variety, indicator traits, and nutrient management strategies in enhancing banana productivity in agroforestry systems.

Background and Objectives: Although blood donation by apheresis is very safe, it is essential to identify the adverse reactions that happen and address the factors related to it so as to improve the donation experience both to the donors and the center accepting donations. This study was designed to assess the frequency of adverse reaction in donors undergoing apheresis for platelet donation and delineate the factors associated with the occurrence of such adverse donor reactions, if any. Methodology: This was an analytical retrospective study on the available data of all the donors who donated single-donor apheretic platelets in our blood center from January 2014 to October 2018. Results: The overall donor reaction rate was 8.3%, with the majority (4.7%) being a local reaction in the form of a hematoma. The other 3.6% were systemic reactions, among which 2.1% were citrate reactions and 1.5% vasovagal reactions (VVRs). The variables associated with a VVR were body weight

Abstract Integrated farming systems (IFS) entail a holistic approach to farming aimed at meeting the multiple demands (impart farm resilience, farmer livelihoods, food security, ecosystem services, and making farms adaptive and resilient, etc.). IFS are characterized by temporal and spatial mixing of crops, livestock, fishery, and allied activities in a single farm. It is hypothesized that these complex farms are more productive at a system level, are less vulnerable to volatility, and produce less negative externalities than simplified farms. Thereby, they cater the needs of small and marginal farmers, who are the backbone of agriculture in India. Our review of literature shows that IFS have the potential to improve farm profitability (265%) and employment (143%) compared to single enterprise farms. The literature showed that IFS enhance nutrient recycling through composting, mulching, and residue incorporation and, as a consequence, have the capacity to reduce the external purchase of inputs. The nutrient recycling in turn helps to increase the soil quality indicators such as soil nutrient availability and also improves soil microbial activity. The IFS play a major role in biodiversity conservation through adoption of diversified cropping system and through integration of indigenous livestock breeds. IFS also played important role in improving soil organic carbon from 0.75 to 0.82%. Due to increased carbon sequestration, biomass production by trees, reduced consumption of fertilizers, and pesticides the greenhouse gas emission could be reduced significantly. This results in a linked system making it sustainable and climate‐resilient. The main challenge associated with adoption of IFS is it requires skill, knowledge, resources, labor, and capital which are not always available with small and marginal farmers. There is a need for integrating productivity, profitability, and environmental sustainability variables in a single evaluation framework to effectively generate information toward enhancing adaptability of IFS.

Crop diversification is essential in lowland rice cropping systems to achieve sustainability, improve soil health, and as a climate-resilient practice to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. A life cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted for the farms in the west-coast region of India to assess the environmental impact of the rice–rice and rice–cowpea cropping systems. The life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) was evaluated in a “cradle-to-gate” perspective. A higher energy consumption was found in the rice–rice system (32,673 vs. 18,197 MJ/ha), while the net energy output was higher in the rice–cowpea system (211,071 vs. 157,409 MJ/ha). Energy consumption was 44% lower in the rice–cowpea system, which was coupled with a higher energy efficiency (11.6 vs. 4.8), attributed to the lower energy consumption and the higher energy output. Further, the results indicated an energy saving potentialin the rice–cowpea system due to the higher use of renewable resources such as farmyard manure. Field emissions, fertilizer production, and fuel consumption were the major contributors to the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in both cropping systems. The total GHG emissions were 81% higher in the rice–rice system (13,894 ± 1329 kg CO2 eq./ha) than in the rice–cowpea system (7679 ± 719 kg CO2 eq./ha). The higher GHG emissions in the rice–rice system were largely due to the higher use of fertilizers, diesel fuel, and machinery. Hence, diversifying the winter rice with a cowpea crop and its large-scale adoption on the west coast of India would provide multiple benefits in decreasing the environmental impact and improving the energy efficiency to achieve sustainability and climate resilience in rice-based cropping systems.

Climate change is viewed as the main obstacle to agricultural development in developing countries. The high dependence on agriculture and allied sectors makes many countries vulnerable to the climate change phenomenon. There is a gap in macro and micro-level understanding of climate change. Thoughtful farmers’ perceptions and impacts of climate change on farming are fundamental for developing various mitigation and adaptation strategies. Therefore, the main aim of the present study was to understand the pattern of climate variability, farmers’ perceptions about climate change, and farmers’ adaptation strategies based on their socio-cultural background in the villages of Goa, on the west coast of India. The results reveal that about 62% of the sampled farmers have experienced climate change in terms of meteorological indicators such as increased average temperature, decreased total rainfall, delayed onset of monsoon, and an increase in the length of the summer season. The temperature trend analysis (0.009 °C/year) validated farmers’ perceptions, while the perception of rainfall differed (−1.49 mm/year). Farmers are convinced that climate change has affected their farming (declining crop and livestock productivity, water depletion, and other related farm operations). They strive to adapt to climate change through crop diversification, an integrated crop-livestock system, contingency crop planning, and the adaptation of new crops and varieties. This study could be helpful for policymakers to establish a climate-resilient agriculture system by ensuring timely availability of farm inputs, accurate weather forecasting, and encouraging insurance products for crop and livestock enterprises, which will help farmers cope with the changing climate to enhance their income and economic wellbeing. Further, adaption of integrated farming, agroforestry, and indigenous technical knowledge is imperative to combat the ill effects of climate change.

Acromioclavicular (AC) joint dislocation constitutes 40% of shoulder injuries, impacting patients across diverse activities. The Rockwood Staging System guides assessment, prompting exploration of the novel TightRope with double endobutton fixation technique to restore AC joint function. This study aims to evaluate the outcomes of the TightRope with double endobutton fixation technique in 20 cases of AC joint dislocation, emphasizing its potential advantages over conventional methods. A case series involving 20 AC joint dislocation cases underwent comprehensive evaluation, including follow-ups and radiological assessments. Surgical interventions were performed using the TightRope with double endobutton fixation technique. The average age was 44.5 years, with a notable prevalence of severe dislocations (Classes V and VI). Surgical interventions demonstrated efficiency, with a brief hospital stay. The innovative technique yielded excellent outcomes, with 90% achieving high Constant–Murley scores. TightRope with double endobutton fixation emerges as a promising, minimally invasive strategy for AC joint dislocation, exhibiting potential in minimizing post-operative complications and expediting recovery. The study advocates for individualized interventions and emphasizes the need for further exploration of long-term implications.

Background: A prospective study to assess the prevalence of rotator cuff (RC) tears in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus. Aims and Objectives: The purpose of this study is to assess the prevalence of RC tear in Type 2 diabetes mellitus patients presenting with shoulder pain to the outpatient clinic. Materials and Methods: A total of 100 diabetic patients with shoulder pain and restriction of movements formed the study group and were prospectively studied using magnetic resonance imaging and were evaluated with regard to the presence of RC tear. The factors that were analyzed included HBA1C levels, duration of diabetes, and type of diabetic medication. All these factors were evaluated with regard to their correlation with RC tear. Results: In our study, we found that the prevalence of RC tear was 37% and there seemed to be a significant correlation between HBA1C levels (P=0.007) as well as prolonged duration of diabetes (P=0.006) with RC tear. It has been established in our study that the occurrence of RC tear is lesser in oral hypoglycemic agents group as compared to insulin group in treating diabetic patients. Conclusion: One independent risk factor for RC tear is diabetes. The prevalence of RC tear is higher in the diabetic population with increased HBA1c levels and prolonged duration of diabetes mellitus. Metformin usage in diabetes mellitus has been associated with reduced incidence of RC tear due to diminished impregnation of advanced glycation end products with in the RC tendon.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and Intelligent Computer-Assisted Language Assessment (ICALA) are transforming the educational landscape by radically changing how lessons are taught and students are evaluated. As the masterminds behind the curriculum, it is critical to consider the emotional and mental health of teachers who applied ICALA as part of their language instruction. To this end, this study's primary objective was to examine the connections between ICALA, teacher immunity, reflective teaching, job satisfaction, and l2-teacher grit. To achieve this goal, 221 English as a foreign language (EFL) university teachers from Afghanistan participated in the current research. The research outcomes identified and quantified the influences of teacher immunity and reflective teaching on job satisfaction and L2 teacher grit by data screening utilizing confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation modeling (SEM). According to the results, TI and RT are vital in implementing AI into language assessment by maintaining an uninterrupted JS and L2TG. The study's ramifications are further elaborated upon.

The Morris Water Maze (MWM) is the most commonly used assay for evaluating learning and memory in laboratory mice. Despite its widespread use, contemporary reviews have highlighted substantial methodological variation in experimental protocols and that the associated testing procedures are acutely (each trial) and chronically (testing across days) stressful; stress impairs attention, memory consolidation and the retrieval of learned information. Moreover, the interpretation of behavior within the MWM is often difficult because of wall hugging, non-spatial swim strategies, floating, and jumping off the escape platform. Together, these issues may compromise the reproducibility, generalizability, and predictability of experimental results, as well as animal welfare. To address these issues, and as an initial proof-of-principle, we first narrowed the spatial dimensions of the MWM by using a T-insert, which constrained and reduced the overall length of time/distance that the animal must swim in order to navigate to the escape platform, thus reducing stress and off-task behavior. Given the robust performance observed across spatial acquisition (learning and memory) as well as during reversal learning (executive function), we further reduced (by 43%) the overall distance and time that the animal must swim in order to find the escape platform in a bespoke standalone Water T-Maze (WTM). We show, across five experiments, procedural refinements to our protocol and demonstrate robust, reliable and reproducible indicators of learning, memory and executive functioning in a task that is also significantly more efficient (3 days of testing within the WTM vs. 11 days of testing within the MWM). Taken together, our WTM apparatus and protocol are a significant improvement over other water-based apparatuses and protocols for evaluating learning, memory, and executive functioning in laboratory mice.

Summary: The main aim of this work is to enhance the wear performance of the direct metal laser sintered (DMLS) alloy 718 by solution treatment aging (STA) method at room temperature (RT) (28°C) and 400°C in dry sliding conditions. The effect of microstructure, phase analysis, and microhardness on the wear behavior and the influence of STA on the specimen at elevated temperatures were studied. The microstructure revealed the presence of melt pool boundary (MPB) in untreated DMLS alloy while recrystallized grains were observed in the STA-treated alloy. The wear results elucidated that STA-treated alloy exhibited better wear resistance than as-built alloy due to high hardness at both conditions. Severe wear loss occurred at high temperatures caused by the delamination of the brittle oxide glazing layer, while oxidation and adhesive wear were the predominant wear mechanisms. Results also portrayed that the test temperature and STA treatment equally influenced the wear behavior of alloy 718.

The process of biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles is a simple, cost effective and eco-friendly approach. Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles using some commonly available edible mushroom extracts and their antimicrobial activity was demonstrated in the current study. The formation of silver nanoparticles was confirmed by UV, FTIR and SEM and antibacterial activity was tested using disc diffusion method. From the results it is confirmed the successful formation of silver nanoparticles using mushroom extracts; they performed their role as a reducing and capping agent and also exhibited a potent antibacterial activity against S. aureus (gram positive bacteria). Thus the biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles using edible mushroom extract will deserve to be a good candidate as an antibacterial agent.