Adventitious shoot regeneration in Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) (Pedaliaceae) via deembryonated cotyledonary explants

ABSTRACT Adventitious shoot regeneration in sesame, via de-embryonated cotyledonary explants, was attempted using six diverse genotypes; two were land races (Kankapura Local -KNL and Tamil Nadu Local-TNL), three were released varieties (DS-1, DSS-9 and WII) and a breeding line (RT-273). Three media compositions (½ MS basal media supplemented with 20 μM TDZ + 2.5 μM IAA and with or without 25 μM BAP and full MS basal media supplemented with only 25 μM BAP) were used of which highest shoot regeneration (100%) with 8.15 and 7.37 shoot numbers per cotyledon was achieved in RT-273 in both the combinations (½ MS with 20 µM TDZ+ 2.5 µM IAA+ 25 µM BAP or without BAP) followed by DS-1(100% and 95.55% with 6.15 and 3.89), KNL (88.88% and 7.55) and TNL (88.88% and 5.73) respectively in ½ MS with 20 µM TDZ+ 2.5 µM IAA+ 25 µM BAP. MS with 25 µM BAP alone failed to induce shoot regeneration

Detection of the spotted wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii, in continental sub-Saharan Africa

The spotted wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii Matsumura, is an insect pest of soft-skinned fruit, native to Eastern Asia. Since 2008, a world-wide dispersal of D. suzukii is seen, characterized by the establishment of the pest in many Asian, American and European countries. While the potential for invasion of continental Africa by D. suzukii has been predicted, its presence has only been shown for Morocco in Northern Africa. Knowledge about a possible establishment in other parts of the continent is needed as a basis for pest management. In 2019, we carried out a first survey in three counties in Kenya to monitor for the presence of D. suzukii using traps baited with a blend of apple cider vinegar and red wine. A total of 389 D. suzukii flies were captured in a fruit farm at Nakuru county, with more female flies being trapped than males. We confirmed the morphological identification of D. suzukii using DNA barcoding. In 2020, we performed a follow-up survey at 14 locations in six counties to delimit the distribution of D. suzukii in the main berry growing zones in Kenya. The survey indicated that so far D. suzukii is restricted to Nakuru county where it was initially detected. This is the first study to provide empirical evidence of D. suzukii in continental sub-Saharan Africa, confirming that the pest is expanding its geographic range intercontinentally. Given the high dispersal potential of D. suzukii, a concerted effort to develop management strategies is a necessity for containment of the pest

Endoscopic procedures for removal of foreign bodies of the aerodigestive tract: The Bugando Medical Centre experience

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Foreign bodies in the aerodigestive tract continue to be a common problem that contributes significantly to high morbidity and mortality worldwide. This study was conducted to describe our own experience with endoscopic procedures for removal of foreign bodies in the aerodigestive tract, in our local setting and compare with what is described in literature.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This was a prospective descriptive study which was conducted at Bugando Medical Centre between January 2008 and December 2009. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS computer software version 15.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 98 patients were studied. Males outnumbered females by a ratio of 1.1:1. Patients aged 2 years and below were the majority (75.9%). The commonest type of foreign bodies in airways was groundnuts (72.7%) and in esophagus was coins (72.7%). The trachea (52.2%) was the most common site of foreign body's lodgment in the airways, whereas cricopharyngeal sphincter (68.5%) was the commonest site in the esophagus. Rigid endoscopy with forceps removal under general anesthesia was the main treatment modality performed in 87.8% of patients. The foreign bodies were successfully removed without complications in 90.8% of cases. Complication rate was 7.1% and bronchopneumonia was the most common complication accounting for 42.8% of cases. The mean duration of hospital stay was 3.4 days and mortality rate was 4.1%.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Aerodigestive tract foreign bodies continue to be a significant cause of childhood morbidity and mortality in our setting. Rigid endoscopic procedures under general anesthesia are the main treatment modalities performed. Prevention is highly recommended whereby parents should be educated to keep a close eye on their children and keep objects which can be foreign bodies away from children's reach.</p

Molecular and Morphological Characterization of Introgression Lines with Resistance to Bacterial Leaf Blight and Blast in Rice

The present study evaluates marker assisted forward breeding (MAFB)-derived disease resistant introgression lines (ILs) which do not have the targeted resistance genes for bacterial blight (xa5 + xa13 + Xa21) and blast (Pi2 + Pi9 + Pi54). The ILs were derived in the background of two elite rice cultivars, Krishna Hamsa [Recurrent Parent 1 (RP1)] and WGL 14 (RP2), involving multi-parent inter-crossing. Molecular characterization with gene specific markers for seven reported resistance genes each for bacterial blight (Xa33, Xa38, xa23, Xa4, xa8, Xa27 and Xa41) and blast (Pi1, Pi20, Pi38, Pib, Pitp, Pizt and Pi40) revealed the presence of xa8 and Xa38, in addition to the targeted xa5, xa13 and Xa21 for bacterial blight resistance and Pi1, Pi38, Pi40, Pi20, Pib and Pipt, in addition to the targeted Pi9 and Pi54, for blast resistance in various combinations. A maximum of nine resistance genes xa5 + Xa21 + Pi54 + xa8 + Pipt + Pi38 + Pi1 + Pi20 + Pib was observed in RP1-IL 19030 followed by eight genes xa5 + xa13 + Xa21 + xa8 + Pi9 + Pipt + Pi1 + Pi20 in two RP2-ILs, 19344 and 19347. ANOVA revealed the presence of significant variability for all the yield traits except “days to 50% flowering” (DFF). Box plots depicted the seasonal differences in the phenotypic expression of the yield traits. There was significant positive association of grain yield with days to flowering, tiller number and panicle number. Thousand grain weight is also significantly and positively correlated with grain yield. On the contrary, grain yield showed a significantly negative association with plant height. Multi-parent selective inter-crossing in the present study not only led to the development of high yielding disease resistant ILs but also enhanced recovery of the recurrent parent via selection for essential morphological features. More than 90.0% genetic similarity in the ILs based on SNPbased background selection demonstrated the success of multi-parent selective intercrossing in the development of disease resistant NILs

The genomic basis of ecological adaptation in a Drosophila agricultural pest

Drosophila suzukii is one of the few fruit flies capable of laying eggs and feed on fresh fruit. Its recent outbreak in western countries from Asia, and its peculiar ecological behaviour makes it an emerging model in pest management and evolutionary biology. To understand the molecular basis behind the switch from fermenting to fresh fruit reproductive habit, we mined D. suzukii genome(s) and performed thorough comparative studies of its repertoire of chemosensory genes against genomes of 21 other Drosophila. Although odorant and gustatory receptors in D. suzukii follows a typical birth-and-death model of evolution, there are local significant expansion and contractions in receptors associated with fruit detection and oviposition choice. Odorant receptors that are responsible for fresh fruit detection and oviposition site choice in D. melanogaster experience duplication in D. suzukii, and even show significant signals of adaptation. On the other hand genes involved in detecting fermentation in D. melanogaster are either pseudogenes or experienced neofucntionalisation. Notably, these genes are extremely different in the genomes of European and American populations, suggesting that ancient adaptive losses of function have been followed by separation of population in Asia. These results are being validated by targeted PCR in different populations, and are finding pleasing reciprocal confirmations with chemical ecological and neurobiological experiments. Our comparative analyses reveal key genomic adaptations responsible for the building of a new ecological behavior, and unveil key genes which may become target of field chemical control strategie

Evaluation of sleep pattern due to stress in undergraduate medical students and its impact on health and academic performance: A cross-sectional study from tertiary health center of Central India

AbstractBackgroundGood quality sleep is essential for good health and well-being. Medical students are at no exception to this and are prone to greater risk for sleep deprivation. The major reason being challenges to maintain a high level of academic achievement and constant thirst to acquire new learning skills and knowledge. However, in this process they are circumstanced to various levels of stress that might cause potential damage to their cognitive functioning and mental exhaustion to a certain extent.ObjectivesThus, our study objectives were to evaluate the sleep pattern in first- and second-year medical students. To understand how the stress levels and academic performance are related to sleep pattern and to explore the copying strategies of stress in our study participants.MethodologyThis cross-sectional study was conducted using a self-reported, web-based, questionnaire that included questions on sleep quality and deprivation through Pittsburgh sleep quality index. All the eligible students of first and second year who were part of a premiere teaching hospital during February and March 2021 were included. Data was analysed using IBM SPSS version 24.ResultsOut of 180 participants, 91(50.55%) had their initiation of sleeping time from 12-2 am and also, majority of students 112 (62.22%) had a sleep duration of six to eight hours. However, 119 (66.1%) students had self-reported change in sleeping pattern which was found to be significantly associated with relatively greater number of academic factors as compared to social factors. Most of the students scored between 50-60% score in their four assessments amongst which their first assessment was significantly associated with change in sleep pattern (P 0.040). Also, these individual assessment score was found to significantly affect their duration of sleep. The common coping strategies adopted by students under study were talking to family members/ friends, music/ book reading (hobby).ConclusionMajority of students in our study had reported change in sleeping pattern. Also, association between stress factors and change in sleeping pattern were observed with academic stress factors proving to be more significantly associated than social stress factors. The academic performance of students was also found to be associated with change in sleeping pattern and duration of sleep.</jats:sec

An exploration of attributes effecting the relationship between competencies and performance of CHWs in a rural block.

Introduction: Induction of Community Health Workers (CHWs) into various health programs is considered as an integral strategy to achieve universal health coverage. Thus, it is prudent to explore and understand the CHWs individual and the system level interactions and their further translation into performance and actionable domains. Objective: To quantify the relationship structure between envisioned competencies and CHW performance with factors operating at individual and the immediate system level as effect modifiers. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was done in primary rural health care settings of Madhya Pradesh state in Central India. CHWs were stratified as relatively low performing (RLP) and relatively high performing (RHP) based on their annual performance-based incentives for the year (April 2017- March 2018). CHWs were administered a self-reported questionnaire that included socio demographic details, knowledge, skills assessment and availability of logistics. Results: Among the 90 eligible CHWs, 31 RLP and 30 RHP CHWs were interviewed. The CHWs performance was found to be significantly associated with age, education, caste, presence of under 5 children, knowledge and competency scores. However, while adjusting for the confounders only age and educational status were found to be significant. Further cluster analysis revealed two clusters based on individual and system characteristics which was found to influence the CHWs performance. Conclusion: The relationship between the CHWs truest competencies and performance based incentivisation tends to have been influenced by age and education which could help in developing a more focused supportive supervision catering to their needs. Keywords: community health worker, performance, health system, competency.</jats:p