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Coronary subclavian steal syndrome (CSSS) is a rare and unrecognized complication of coronary bypass grafting surgery when a left internal mammary artery (LIMA) graft is utilized for left anterior descending (LAD) artery revascularization without knowing left subclavian artery status. We describe a case of a 67-year-old male, with a known history of triple vessel coronary artery disease (CAD) managed with CABGx3 in March 2003. The patient presented after 16 years with complaints of recurrent angina for the past 15 years which aggravates on exertion, especially of left hand. Recurrent hospitalizations and repeated Coronary angiograms (CAG) as well as CT Coronary angiography failed to diagnose the cause of angina. Subclavian angiography and subsequent methodical clinical examination during the present admission revealed left subclavian origin stenosis which was successfully revascularized by deployment of a stent resulting in convincing relief in the patient’s angina.

In recent decades, the environment has been seriously polluted by the hazardous exhaust components of diesel engines. The international community, which is dedicated to preserving the harmony between nature and humanity, has taken this seriously and imposed strict regulations on Diesel engine manufacturers regarding the quantity of exhaust components from Diesel engines that may apply to the standards of EURO-VI. The SCR technology attempted to reduce the problem somewhat, but the associated problems of solid particle formation on the pipe walls, ammonia slip, and incomplete NOx reduction led to the development of new technology - solid selective catalytic reduction. The use of solid ammonium salt for ammonia generation has shown better results in NOx reduction and reduction of solid particle formation compared to SCR. However, it was not possible to fully resolve the ammonia slip issue. A uniform flow rate of ammonia through the SCR catalyst can reduce NOx efficiently. In this paper, the role of mixer design in achieving a uniform flow rate of ammonia is investigated in detail. The results show that an optimized mixer design leads to efficient reduction of NOx and thus reduces ammonia slip to a great extent. When the mixer is placed near the ammonia injection point, the most homogeneous ammonia distribution is achieved for flow through the SCR catalyst.

The rising rate of pollution in urban areas has become a worldwide concern in recent years. Diesel engines are considered one of the largest contributors to environmental pollution caused by exhaust emissions, and they are responsible for several health problems as well. Diesel engines contain carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, unburned hydrocarbons, and oxides of nitrogen. The reduction of Nitric oxides (NOx) emission from diesel engine exhaust is currently being researched by automotive manufacturers. After much research, selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technology was discovered to be effective in reducing nitrogen oxide emission from diesel engine exhaust. This paper is an attempt to explore the problems associated with the use of selective catalytic reduction (SCR) and compares selective catalytic reduction (SCR) with the latest technology named solid selective catalytic reduction (SSCR) for efficient reduction of NOx emission from the exhaust of diesel engines. The issue of contamination, malfunctioning, and freezing of diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) at low temperatures are the major problems associated with the application of SCR. It is observed that by controlling the quantity of ammonia slip, SSCR can give better performance in the reduction of NOx emission from the exhaust of diesel engines.

Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT v4.5) Cropping System Model (CSM) was used to study the impact of climate change and variability on productivity of different kharif (rice, maize, jowar and bajra) and rabi crops (wheat and barley) at Varanasi. Keeping in view the observed trends in climate variability, productivity of different kharif and rabi crops were simulated under plausible synthetic climatic scenarios of changes in temperature, solar radiation and carbon dioxide. Productivity of kharif crops viz. rice, maize, jowar and bajra and rabi crops viz. wheat, and barley decreased with an increase in temperature or a decrease in solar radiation above normal. However, productivity of different kharif and rabi crops increased under expected enhanced CO2 concentrations. Highest productivity decreased in barley crop (40.7%) of rabi season and minimum in rice crop (5%) of kharif season with an increase of 3.0 0C in temperature from normal. Whereas, maximum productivity decreased in barley crop (5.0%) of rabi season and minimum in jowar crop (1.8%) of kharif season with a decrease of 2.5 per cent in solar radiation from normal. Highest productivity increase in barley crop (58.2%) of rabi season and lowest in jowar crop (4.2%) of kharif season were simulated under expected enhanced CO2 concentration of 660 ppm. The maximum decrease in productivity of barley crop (45%) in rabi season and minimum in rice crop (7%) in kharif season were simulated when a decrease in temperature by 3 0C and solar radiation by 2.5 per cent from normal. Highest counter-balance on productivity of rice crop (13%) in kharif season and lowest in barja crop (-23%) of kharif season were simulated when an increase in temperature by 3 0C from normal under expected enhanced CO2 concentration of 660 ppm.

Eighteen years (1991-2008) of weather data and yield data of rice and wheat for 9 districts of Eastern Uttar Pradesh was used to develop yield prediction equations. Models were validated with 2 years (2009 and 2010) data. Results indicated that models explained 51 to 79 percent variations for rice yield and 65 to 92 percent variations for wheat yield in different districts. The percent Mean Bias Error (MBE) was between -1.05 (Mau) to 6.17 (Mirzapur) for rice and from -6.56 (Mau) to 0.01 (Varanasi) for wheat crop. The percent Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) was between 6.87 (Jaunpur) to 11.60 (Sant Ravidas Nagar) for rice and from 5.52 (Mirzapur) to 11.11 (Mau) for wheat crop. This revealed that the models can be used to some extent for predicting the yield in different districts of Eastern Uttar Pradesh.

In the post independence period, the most important challenge in India has been to produce enough food for the growing population. Hence, high-yielding varieties are being used with infusion of irrigation water, fertilizers, or pesticides. This combination of high-yielding production technology has helped the country develop a food surplus as well as contributing to concerns of soil health, environmental pollution, pesticide toxicity, and sustainability of agricultural production. Scientists and policy planners are, therefore, reassessing agricultural practices which relied more on biological inputs rather than heavy usage of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Organic farming can provide quality food without adversely affecting the soil’s health and the environment; however, a concern is whether large-scale organic farming will produce enough food for India’s large population. Certified organic products including all varieties of food products including basmati rice, pulses, honey, tea, spices, coffee, oilseeds, fruits, cereals, herbal medicines, and their value-added products are produced in India. Non edible organic products include cotton, garments, cosmetics, functional food products, body care products, and similar products. The production of these organic crops and products is reviewed with regard to sustainable agriculture in northern India.

The present investigation was carried out to study the soil microbial dynamics and enzyme activities as influenced by organic nutrients management in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] under Typic Haplustepts soil of Rajasthan. The experiment comprised 12 treatment combinations of organic source of nutrients, i. e. control (T1), 100% RDF (T2), 100% FYM (T3), 100% vermicompost (T4), 100% compost (T5), 100% green-leaf manure (T6), 50% FYM + 50% vermicompost (T7), 50% FYM + 50% compost (T8), 50% FYM + 50% green-leaf manure (T9), 50% vermicompost + 50% compost (T10), 50% vermicompost + 50% green leaf manure (T11) and 50% compost + 50% green-leaf manure (T12). The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with four replications. The soil microbial population (bacterial, fungal, actinomycetes) at 30 DAS, 60 DAS, dehydrogenase activity and alkaline phosphatase activity of soil significantly influenced due to organic nutrient fertilization, viz. 100% vermicompost treatment (T4) in pooled analysis. However, the application of 100% vermicompost (T4) on bacterial population, fungal population, actinomycetes population of soil at 30 DAS and 60 DAS was found statistically at par with the application of 50% FYM + 50% vermicompost (T7), 50% FYM + 50% compost (T8), 50% vermicompost + 50% compost (T10) and 50% vermicompost + 50% green-leaf manure (T11) in pooled analysis.

Varietal evaluation of maize under organic input management provides protection against reduction in yield due to lack of suitable technology for growing potential varieties with organic inputs especially for plant nutrition supply. In this study 12 varieties of different types of maize comprising Hybrids, Sweet corn, Baby corn, Popcorn and Local were grown in southern west tribal part of Rajasthan, India for evaluation under organic system of plant nutrient management during kharif 2015-16. Sweet corn variety, Misty recorded significantly higher plant height at flowering during kharif 2015-16 (121.44 cm and 117.67 cm, respectively), maize hybrid variety T3 (PHM-3) recorded significantly higher dry matter accumulation at tasseling stage (83.33 g/plant & 81.00 g/plant, respectively) and sweet corn variety T4 (Sugar-75) recorded significantly higher leaf area index at silking stage (4.23 and 4.23, respectively) as compared to other varieties of different types of maize grown under organic system of plant nutrient management. During 2015 and 2016, variety T9 (VL-Amber of popcorn) recorded maximum maize equivalent yield (165.57 q/ha and 117.03 q/ha, respectively) and net return (₹ 218120/ha and ₹ 139741/ha, respectively).

A field experiment entitled, impact of organic nutrients on soil health and enzyme activity in soybean (Glycine max L.) on typic Heplustepts soils in Rajasthan was conducted at Instructional Farm, Rajasthan College of Agriculture, Udaipur during consecutive kharif season of the year 2016 and 2017. The experiment was evaluated in randomized block design (RBD) with three replications. Organic manures (FYM, compost, green leaf manure and vermicompost) were incorporated in treated plots before 15 days of sowing. Variety JS-9560 of soybean was sown as per recommended package of practices. Results showed that organic carbon, available N, P, K and micronutrients, viz. Fe, Zn, Cu and Mn in soil were found maximum at harvest stage of soybean with the application of 100% vermicompost treatment. Enzyme activity dehydrogenase and phosphate activity in soil were significantly influenced through organic nutrient fertilization of 100% vermicompost treatment. Maximum net return of ₹ 60785.07 with benefit cost ratio of 2.9 was obtained with the application of 100% RDF, followed by 100% vermicompost.

Various fleshy fungi are traditional food use which were collected from Vindhya forest region and other location for their morphological characterization. Present study deals with the diversity of fleshy fungi in Vindhya forest of northern India. Vindhya forest region is very common for diversity of fleshy fungal population. Extensive surveys were conducted from July 2012 to September 2012 and July 2013 to September 2013. The fleshy fungi were collected date wise as per as possible correct scientific name with citation of authors name and taxonomic position. Some other information also recorded such as collecting date and place, habit, single/ branching and growing substrates. The fleshy fungi were collected during this study included eight species of Pleurotus, two species of Volvariella, Lentinus, Lycoperdon and Agaricus and one species of Cococybe, Calocybe, Flammulina, Tricholoma, Auricularia, Hypomyces, Armillaria, Russula and Ganoderma.

A field experiment was conducted during 2005-06 and 2006-07 at Campus Research Farm, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi to identify a suitable high value cropping sequence with organic nitrogen sources under rice (Oryza sativa L.) based cropping system. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with three replications. Seven rice based cropping sequences, viz. rice-potato-onion; rice-green pea-onion; rice-potatocowpea (green pod); rice-green pea-cowpea; rice-rajmash (green pod)-onion; rice-rajmash-cowpea and rice-maize (green cob)-cowpea were assigned to main plots and three organic treatments (control; 100% RDN through organic manure along with biofertilizers and 100% RDN through organic manure alone) were allocated to sub plots. Among the cropping sequences, rice-potato-onion gave the highest rice grain equivalent yield (35.57 tonnes/ha), maximum net return (Rupees 268 656/ha), profitability (Rupees 738/ha/day) and labour employment generation (469 man days/ha/year). However rice yield and soil fertility status was not significantly affected by cropping sequences. Application of 100% recommended dose of through organic manure along with biofertilizers (Azotobacter and PSB) had the highest rice equivalent grain yield (35.31 tonnes/ha), production efficiency (96.74 kg/ha/day), net monetary return (Rupees 292 454/ha), profitability (Rupees 803/ha/day) and labour employment generation (419 man days/ha/year). Inclusion of pulses in sequence with proved superior due to its viable favorable effect on soil fertility. Thus organic nitrogen nutrition with biofertilizers had the highest rice equivalent grain yield, production efficiency, net monetary return and profitability.

A field experiment was conducted during rabi season of 2005-06 and 2006-07 to study the effect of micronutrients and FYM on growth, yield and nutrient uptake by wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in Gangetic alluvial soil of Uttar Pradesh. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with three replications. Wheat crop recorded significantly higher value of growth, yield attributes (effective tillers/m2, spike length, grains/spike and 1 000 grain weight), yields, benefit: cost ratio and nutrient accumulation under integrated source of nutrients than inorganic fertilizer alone. Maximum grain yield (4.45 tonnes/ha) was recorded with Zn @ 5 kg/ha + FYM @ 10 tonnes/ha + RFD, which was about 36.01% more than the grain yield obtained from application of 2.5 kg Zn /ha + recommended fertilizer dose. There was significant improvement in yield attributes, yields and nutrient uptake due to foliar treatment of micronutrients (Fe and Mn).

Sheath rot is one of the most devastating diseases of rice because of its ability to reduce the yield significantly in all rice cultivating areas of the world (Bigirimana et al., 2015). Sheath rot disease is associated with various pathogens such as Sarocladium oryza, Fusarium fujikuroi complex and Pseudomonas fuscovaginae (Bigirimana et al., 2015). Hence, this disease has become more complex in nature and added more seriousness. From September to December 2018, plants were observed with typical sheath rot symptoms in research farm of ICAR-National Rice Research Institute and ten farmer's fields of Cuttack district, Odisha, Eastern India. About 25 to 37% of sheath rot disease severity was recorded in the infected field. Diseased plants were observed with symptoms such as brownish or reddish brown irregular lesions, which were later, got enlarged with grayish centers. Further, rotting of the topmost leaf sheaths that surround the young panicle was observed. At the severe stages, the young panicle was partially emerged from sheath or completely rotted within the sheath. The white to pinkish powdery growth observed inside the infected sheath leading to chaffy and discolored grains. The sheath rot symptomatic plants were collected from the infected fields. To isolate the causal pathogen, infected sheath tissues were surface sterilized in 1% sodium hypochlorite for 2 min, rinsed three times in sterile distilled water, and placed on potato dextrose agar medium (PDA) (HiMedia). Plates were incubated at 27 ± 1° C for 3 d. Further, fungal pathogen colonies were sub-cultured and purified to perform the pathogenicity test. On PDA, the colonies produced abundant white aerial mycelium with violet to pink pigmentation and hyphae were hyaline with septation. Abundant single celled, oval shaped microcondia (5.5-9 × 1.5-2 μm) were produced, whereas macrocondia were not produced and the fungal pathogen was tentatively identified as Fusarium sp. In order to characterize the pathogen at molecular level, ITS, alpha elongation factor gene (EF1-α), RNA polymerase II largest-subunit gene (RPB2), calmodulin gene (cld) were amplified using the primer pair of ITS1/ITS4, EF1/EF2, 5F/7CR and CLPRO1/CLPRO2 respectively and PCR amplicons were subjected to sequencing (White et al. 1990; O'Donnell et al. 1998; Chang et al. 2015). Furthermore, a species-specific primer Fp3-F/Fp4-R was used to identify the pathogen (Jurado et al., 2006). The resulting sequences were confirmed by BLAST analysis and the FUSARIUM-ID database (http://isolate.fusariumdb.org). BLASTn search showed 100% similarity between the query sequence and ITS, EF1-α, RPB2, Calmodulin gene sequences of F. proliferatum available in the Genbank. The following GenBank accession numbers were obtained; MT394055 for ITS; MT439867 for EF1-α; MT790774 for calmodulin; MT940224 for RPB2 and MT801050 for species-specific to F. proliferatum. To confirm the pathogenicity under glass house conditions, fungus grown on sterilized chaffy grains were placed in between boot leaf sheath and panicle and covered with moist cotton (Saravanakumar et al., 2009). After 15 days post inoculation (dpi), rotting symptoms were observed and these were similar to that of field symptoms. Pathogen was constantly re-isolated from symptomatic tissue, satisfying Koch's postulates. Disease symptoms were not observed on un-inoculated plants. Morphological characters, pathogenicity test and molecular characterization have identified the pathogen as F. proliferatum. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first confirmed report of F. proliferatum causing sheath rot disease on rice from Eastern India.