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Objective To assess the psychological impact of suspension/postponement of various fertility treatments on infertile women during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.Methods This was a cross-sectional study conducted as an online survey among infertile women consulting either through teleconsultation or physical consultation at a fertility clinic of a tertiary care referral unit. A validated questionnaire was given as a WhatsApp link to the women who were consulting for the resumption of services. Questions asked were based on their socio-demographic parameters, fertility treatment at the time of suspension, anxiety (self-reported) and stress (perceived stress scale-4, PSS-4) due to delay in treatment, psychosocial effect of pandemic, and wishes regarding the resumption of fertility services.Results Of 430 patients who received the questionnaire, 250 completed the survey (response rate: 58%). The mean age of participants was 29.26±4.18 years and the majority (70.4%) had lower socioeconomic status. The average PSS-4 score was 7.8±0.71, and the prevalence of self-reported anxiety was 72%. Those who suffered migration during the pandemic had significantly higher PSS-4 scores, and increasing age was associated with increased self-reported anxiety due to the suspension of fertility services. The top three priorities reported were infertility and treatment delay (48.4%), job loss (19.2%), and the risk of contracting COVID-19 infection (16%). The degree of spousal support was significantly correlated with lower PSS-4 scores (r=-0.30, P

This article presents the dry sliding wear response of steel composites reinforced with TiB2 particles prepared by hot consolidation. Taguchi’s L27 orthogonal array design is adopted to investigate the effect of four operating parameters, i.e., normal load, sliding speed, sliding distance, and reinforcement content on the wear rate of the resultant composite. Reinforcement content is observed to be the most significant factor that affects the wear mechanism followed by sliding velocity and normal load. Specific wear rate revealed a decreasing trend with an increase in sliding speed and load. Wear mechanisms were discussed by analyzing the worn surfaces using a scanning electron microscope. The presence of hard TiB2 particles resulted in enhancement of resistance to plastic deformation of the steel matrix by preventing plastic plowing and cutting.

A marker-assisted backcrossing program initiated to transfer leaf rust resistance gene

The mega wheat variety HD2967 was improved for leaf and stripe rust resistance by marker-assisted backcross breeding. After its release in 2011, HD2967 became susceptible to stripe rust and moderately susceptible to leaf rust. The leaf rust resistance gene LrTrk was transferred into HD2967 from the durum wheat genotype Trinakria. Then, HD2967 was crossed with Trinakria to produce F1 plant foreground selection for LrTrk and background selection for the recurrent parent genotype was carried out in BC1F1, BC2F1 and BC2F2 generations. Foreground selection was carried out with the linked marker Xgwm234, while polymorphic SSR markers between parents were used for background selection. Background selection resulted in the rapid recovery of the recurrent parent genome. A morphological evaluation of 6 near isogenic lines (NILs)—2 resistant to leaf and stripe rust, and 4 resistant to leaf rust only—showed no significant differences in yields among NILs and the recurrent parent HD2967. All of the 6 NILs showed the presence of 2NS/2AS translocation, carrying the linked genes Lr37/Sr38/Yr17 present in HD2967 and the targeted leaf rust resistance gene LrTrk. Two NILs also showed additional resistance to stripe rust. Therefore, these NILs with rust resistance and an at par yielding ability of H2967 can replace the susceptible cultivar HD2967 to reduce yield losses due to disease.

A novel leaf rust resistance gene, LrM, introgressed from Aegilops markgrafii and mapped on chromosome 2AS using SSR- and SNP-based PCR markers will aid in broadening the genetic base of rust resistance in wheat. A new leaf rust resistance gene tentatively named LrM was introgressed from the diploid non-progenitor species Ae. markgrafii (2n = 2x = 14, genome CC) into common wheat using the nulli-5B mechanism. The introgression line ER9-700 showed a high degree of resistance against a wide spectrum of Puccinia triticina pathotypes. Genetic analysis was performed using the F1, F2, F2:3 and BC1F1 generations derived from the cross ER9-700/Agra Local. The results showed a single dominant gene for leaf rust resistance. The resistance gene LrM was mapped on chromosome arm 2AS using SSR- and SNP-based PCR markers. Preliminary mapping with SSR markers in the F2:3 population from the cross ER9-700/Agra Local identified two SSR markers flanking the LrM. SNPs were identified in the genomic region flanked by SSR markers, and SNP-based PCR markers were developed to construct the final map. Three SNP-based PCR markers co-segregated and mapped closest to the resistance gene at a distance of 2 cM. The gene LrM was distinguished from all the other genes designated and mapped on chromosome arm 2AS by molecular markers and rust reaction. All five markers used in the mapping amplified identical alleles in the donor Ae. markgrafii accession and introgression line ER9-700. The chromosomal location and rust reaction suggest that LrM is a novel leaf rust resistance gene that may be useful in broadening the genetic base of leaf rust resistance in wheat.

A new bread wheat variety HI 1633 (Pusa Vani) has been released and notified by the Central Sub-Committee on Crop Standards, Notification and Release of Varieties for Agricultural Crops, Government of India for commercial cultivation under irrigated and late sown conditions of Peninsular Zone of India. HI 1633 has average yield of 41.7 q ha-1 and showed superiority over checks. The potential yield of HI 1633 is 65.8 q ha-1 and found resistant to black and brown rusts. HI 1633 found to have excellent chapati quality (7.63), biscuit quality (7.08), high grain hardness (>80.0), test weight (80.3 kg hl-1) and sedimentation value (45.0 ml). It has high protein content (12.4 %) and presence of 5+10 subunit of Glu-D1 reflecting higher gluten strength. It has good amount of micronutrients viz., iron (41.6 ppm) and zinc (41.1 ppm) content making it rich in nutritional qualities. This variety has been recommended for irrigated late sown conditions and would contribute to increasing wheat production and alleviate the socio-economic status of farmers of Peninsular zone in India.

HI 8805 has average yield of 30.4 q/ha over the zone and showed significant superiority over the checks; with a potential yield of 35.4 q/ha. It has shown excellent and wider adaptation and significantly superior performance across different irrigation regimes over the checks with an average yield of 30.7q/ha. It showed high levels of field resistance to black and brown rusts. It has high protein content (12.8%), yellow pigment content (4.9 PPM), test weight (83.7 kg/hl), sedimentation value (42 ml), iron content (40.4 ppm), zinc content (33.9 ppm) with an overall pasta acceptability (5.7).

HI 1628 has average yield of 50.4 q/ha over the zone and showed significant superiority over the checks; with a potential yield of 65.1 q/ha. It has shown excellent and wider adaptation and significantly superior performance across different irrigation regimes over the checks with an average yield of 45.5q/ha. It showed high levels of field resistance to yellow and brown rusts. It is a good quality bread wheat genotype with excellent chapati quality (7.56), bread quality (7.64), biscuit spread factor (8.27) and high sedimentation value (56.6 ml). It has high protein content (~11 %) and protein quality (Glu score of 8/10) for high molecular weight subunits and presence of 5+10 subunit of Glu-D1 reflecting higher gluten strength in this genotype.

In the present article, mechanical and wear behaviour of hot-pressed 304 stainless steel matrix composites containing 2 and 4 vol% TiB2 particles was investigated. A density of over 92% was achieved at optimum hot-pressing temperature and TiB2 particles’ content. Microhardness and yield strength of the composites were found to be improved remarkably as compared to their unreinforced counterpart. The enhancement of mechanical properties of the composites was discussed in light of their microstructural aspects and different possible strengthening mechanism models. Taylor strengthening was found to be dominant strengthening mechanism as compared to Orowan strengthening and load-bearing effect. Dry sliding wear behaviour was also investigated under load of 35 N at sliding speed 0.3 m/s. The wear resistance of the composites was found to be improved owing to uniform distribution of hard TiB2 particles. Based on our findings, it was concluded that processing parameters and amount of TiB2 have significant influence on mechanical and wear behaviour of steel matrix composites.

A nanocomposite, containing gadolinium-doped ceria (GDC, Ce0.85Gd0.15O1.925) and 10 mol% gadolinium-doped barium cerate (BGC, BaCe0.85Gd0.15O2.925), was developed as an electrolyte material for intermediate temperature-solid oxide fuel cell. The composite powder was synthesized through an auto-combustion process that yielded the desired phases right after combustion. The powder was characterized using X-ray diffraction, particle size analysis, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area analysis and transmission electron microscopy. The electrical properties of the composite electrolyte were characterized by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy under air as a function of temperature. The effect of second phase on total conductivity and activation energy of the composite material was compared with that of GDC of similar composition. For this, GDC (Ce0.85Gd0.15O1.925) powder was produced using a similar processing technique. The microstructural characterization of GDC and GDC–10BGC composite materials was studied through scanning electron microscopy. The electrochemical properties of planar cell, using GDC–10BGC as electrolyte and employing Ni–(GDC–10BGC) and La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3-δ-based anode and cathode materials, were investigated.

A novel processing technique was developed to produce an in-situ nano-composite powder based on $$\hbox {La}_{0.6}\hbox {Sr}_{0.4}\hbox {Co}_{0.2} \hbox {Fe}_{0.8}\hbox {O}_{3\text {-}{\updelta }}$$ (LSCF6428) and $$\hbox {Gd}_{0.1}\hbox {Ce}_{0.9}\hbox {O}_{1.95}$$ (GDC10) for application as cathode material in intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFC). The nano-composite powder was produced using glycine-nitrate solution combustion technique starting from nitrates of six metal ions. The synthesized powder was characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), particle size and BET surface area analyses. XRD analysis of as-produced nano-composite powder confirmed the formation of desired phases right after combustion synthesis. The structural parameters of different phases present in the powders were estimated through Rietveld refinement of XRD data. To compare the electrical properties of nano-composite cathode powder produced through the present method, nano-powders of GDC10 and LSCF6428 were individually produced through glycine nitrate process and subsequently mixed through solid-state technique and characterized for functional properties. Using this in-situ nano-composite material, lower polarization resistance was achieved as compared to the LSCF–GDC composite produced from mechanical mixtures of nano-powders of GDC10 and LSCF6428 when used as cathode in GDC10 electrolyte-based symmetrical cell. The effects of cathode layer thickness and electrode firing temperature on the cathodic polarization resistance were studied using in-situ nano-composite cathode powder.

Optical Fiber Communication is the rapidly evolving form of communication for long haul applications. Due to its compact size, low losses and versatile application, it is significantly used in thousands of kilometers of distance. But the major limiting factor of using fiber technology is Dispersion. It causes pulse broadening due to multiple signals propagation in Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) network and leads to inter-symbol interference. To overcome the effects of dispersion, many dispersion compensation technologies has been adopted. Dispersion Compensation Fiber (DCF) is one of the compensation scheme used in fiber optics. In this paper, a WDM channel having 8 * 20 Giga bits per second link capacity has been analyzed using pre compensation, post compensation and symmetric compensation with different encoding schemes(NRZ and RZ). The results are investigated in terms of Quality factor (Q-factor) and Bit Error Rate (BER). The simulation is carried out in OptiSystem 7 simulator.

Impression creep behaviour of the powder metallurgy processed steel matrix composites was investigated under constant stress at different temperatures in the range of 873–973 K. By using the power-...

Since the inception of radiation synovectomy, a host of radioactive colloids and microparticles incorporating suitable therapeutic radionuclides have been proposed for the treatment of arthritis. The present article reports the synthesis and evaluation of barium titanate microparticles as an innovative and effective carrier platform for lanthanide radionuclides in the preparation of therapeutic agents for treatment of arthritis. The material was synthesized by mechanochemical route and characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, surface area, and particle size distribution analyses. Loading of lanthanide radionuclides (166 Ho, 153 Sm, 177 Lu, and 169 Er) on the microparticles was achieved in high yield (> 95%) resulting in the formulation of loaded particulates with excellent radiochemical purities (> 99%). Radiolanthanide-loaded microparticles exhibited excellent in vitro stability in human serum. In vitro diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid challenge study indicated fairly strong chemical association of lanthanides with barium titanate microparticles. Long-term biodistribution studies carried out after administration of 177 Lu-loaded microparticles into one of the knee joints of normal Wistar rats revealed near-complete retention of the formulation (> 96% of the administered radioactivity) within the joint cavity even 14 days post-administration. The excellent localization of the loaded microparticles was further confirmed by sequential whole-body radio-luminescence imaging studies carried out using 166 Ho-loaded microparticles.

Augmenting the sinter-ability of powder is helpful to address problems such as Li sublimation and rapid grain growth related to the sintering of lithium-bearing ceramics as tritium breeder materials. In the present work, the sintering behavior of pure phase Li2TiO3 powders with and without BeO doping synthesized by urea assisted solid-state method was probed employing dilatometry analysis in the O2 atmosphere. Results revealed surprisingly low sintering onset temperature (∼715 °C) of un-doped Li2TiO3. Increasing sintering temperature to about 970 °C resulted in an anomalous monoclinic-to-cubic phase transformation characterized by unusually low transformation temperature and irreversible nature. Such phase transformation of Li2TiO3 has been usually reported in temperature range 1150–1250 °C which is significantly higher than observed in the present work. Interestingly, after BeO doping, a further reduction in sintering temperature with improved densification and suppression of the phase transformation was observed.

Differential DNA methylation due to APR gene Lr48 for leaf rust resistance in wheat cv. CSP44 was examined at pre-adult plant (P-AP) susceptible stage and adult plant (AP) resistant stage. As many as 52,872 differentially methylated regions (DMRs) carrying 897 differentially methylated genes (DMGs) and many intergenic regions were identified. A proportion of individual DMGs involved in methylation included exons/introns, promoters and UTRs. DMGs were also compared with transcriptome data based on RNA-seq. Susceptibility (at P-AP) was found to be governed by activation (due to hypomethylation) of relatively more genes, whereas resistance (at AP) involved silencing of relatively large number of genes. Using GO terms, DMGs were assigned to a variety of functions belonging to biological processes including transcription regulation, protein synthesis, signal transduction, defense, photosynthesis, lipid and carbohydrate metabolism. The results of the present study improved our understanding of the epigenetic control of APR to leaf rust in wheat.

Leaf rust (Puccinia triticina) is a major biotic stress affecting wheat yields worldwide. Host-plant resistance is the best method for controlling leaf rust. Aegilops speltoides is a good source of resistance against wheat rusts. To date, five Lr genes, Lr28, Lr35, Lr36, Lr47, and Lr51, have been transferred from Ae. speltoides to bread wheat. In Selection2427, a bread wheat introgresed line with Ae. speltoides as the donor parent, a dominant gene for leaf rust resistance was mapped to the long arm of chromosome 3B (LrS2427). None of the Lr genes introgressed from Ae. speltoides have been mapped to chromosome 3B. Since none of the designated seedling leaf rust resistance genes have been located on chromosome 3B, LrS2427 seems to be a novel gene. Selection2427 showed a unique property typical of gametocidal genes, that when crossed to other bread wheat cultivars, the F1showed partial pollen sterility and poor seed setting, whilst Selection2427 showed reasonable male and female fertility. Accidental co-transfer of gametocidal genes with LrS2427 may have occurred in Selection2427. Though LrS2427 did not show any segregation distortion and assorted independently of putative gametocidal gene(s), its utilization will be difficult due to the selfish behavior of gametocidal genes.

Triticum militinae Zhuk. et Migusch. belongs to timopheevii [Triticum timopheevii (Zhuk.) Zhuk.] group of wheats with 2n = 4x = 28 chromosomes and genome formula AtAtGG. Triticum militinae Zhuk. et Migusch. is known to carry resistance to fungal diseases including rusts and powdery mildew. Genes from timopheevii wheat can be incorporated into cultivated wheat by either direct hybridization or through development of amphiploids. Three T. militinae derived introgression lines (ILs) Triticum Militinae Derivative (TMD) 6-4, TMD7-5 and TMD11-5 were selected for the current study based on cytological stability. All three ILs showed resistance against wide spectrum of Indian pathotypes of leaf rust. More than 1200 SSR markers were used for genotyping of ILs and parental lines. The ILs showed variable and multiple introgressions in different chromosomes of A, B and D genome of wheat. The introgression points were distributed mostly in the distal regions though significant introgressions were also observed in proximal regions of some chromosomes. The extent of introgression in ILs TMD6-4, TMD7-5 and TMD11-5 was 2.8, 8.3 and 8.6% respectively. The set of ‘informative markers’ in the Molecularly Tagged Chromosome Regions (MTCR) of T. militinae origin can also be used in future for tagging of genes associated with traits of economic importance apart from leaf rust resistance. The transferability of Triticum aestivum L. SSR markers to T. militinae was 96.4% for A genome, 95.8% for B genome and 84.3% for D genome. Transferability of wheat SSR markers to T. militinae can be used in preparing genetic maps in timopheevii group of wheats.

Ferritic stainless steel (SS) interconnect used for intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cell has issues associated with the growth of oxide scale on the surface and evaporation of chromium species to the cathode leading to increase in polarization resistance and hence, overall cell resistance. Protective coating is essentially applied over the SS surface to restrict the above phenomena. In the present investigation, strontium doped lanthanum manganese chromite (LSCM) of composition La0.75Sr0.25Cr0.5Mn0.5O3 has been explored as a possible protective coating material on ferritic SS interconnect surface. For this application, fine LSCM powder was synthesized by solution polymerization method. Terpineol based slurry of LSCM was formulated and used for coating on ferritic SS surface by screen printing. LSCM coated ferritic SS was exposed to moist oxygen at 800 °C for 300 h and area specific resistance (ASR) of the coating was found to be as low as 2.0 mΩ cm2 after exposure. Microstructure of LSCM coating and the chromium oxide film was investigated using SEM and EDS. The results indicate that LSCM can form an effective protective coating on ferritic stainless steel for SOFC interconnect application.

Differential DNA methylation due to Lr28 was examined in susceptible (S) wheat cv. HD2329 and its resistant (R) near isogenic line (NIL) (HD2329+Lr28) using two approaches: methylation sensitive amplified polymorphism (MSAP) and methylated DNA immunoprecipitation (MeDIP). S/R lines each had a large number of hypomethylated genes and relatively fewer hypermethylated genes at 96 hai (hours after inoculation) relative to 0 hbi (hours before inoculation), suggesting activation of many genes during the passage of time (96 hai), although identity of genes may differ in S and R lines. When R NIL was compared with S cultivar, there were many hypermethylated and fewer hypomethylated genes in R NIL relative to S cultivar, suggesting that many genes that are active in S cultivar are silenced in R NIL, both at 0 hbi and at 96 hai. Level of methylation was generally abundant in intergenic regions followed by that in promoters, transcription termination sites (TTSs) and exons/introns. Hypermethylation in promoter and gene body regions was not always associated with inhibition of gene expression and vice-versa, indicating that more than one regulatory mechanisms may control the expression of genes due to pathogen attack in presence and absence of Lr28. MSAP analysis also showed abundance of mCG methylation in S cultivar and that of mCCG methylation in R NIL (at 96 hai), suggesting differences in methylation context in NILs with and without Lr28. The results of the present study improved our understanding of the epigenetic control of leaf rust resistance in wheat.

Resistance genes for leaf and stem rusts in bread wheat line Selection212 are recessive in nature. Both leaf and stem rust resistance genes, named tentatively as LrSel212 and SrSel212, have been mapped to the short arm of chromosome 2B separated by genetic distance of 16.4 cM. Xwmc474 was the closest marker located between two genes, 5.6 cM proximal to LrSel212 and 10.8 cM distal to SrSel212. Leaf rust pathotype 77-5 is virulent to leaf rust resistance genes located on chromosome 2B viz., Lr13, Lr16, Lr23, Lr35 and Lr73, but avirulent to Selection212, suggesting that LrSel212 is distinct from these genes. Six stem rust resistance genes have been assigned to chromosome 2B viz., Sr19, Sr20, Sr23, Sr36, Sr39 and Sr40. Stem rust pathotype 40A used in genetic analysis was virulent to Sr19 and Sr20, but avirulent to Selection212; and the latter showed a significantly lower infection type in comparison to Sr39. Sr23 and Sr36 showed susceptibility to few other stem rust pathotypes to which Selection212 was resistant. While the response of Sr40 to Indian pathotypes of Pgt is not known, differences in the genetic distance and nature of inheritance between Selection212 and Sr40 indicate their distinct identity. However, test of allelism with Sr40 is required to confirm whether SrSel212 represents a different locus. Selection212 may be useful in broadening the genetic base of rust resistance in wheat.

Genome-wide transcriptome analysis was undertaken in a leaf-rust resistant bread wheat line CSP44 (selected from Australian cv. Condor) carrying the adult plant resistance (APR) gene Lr48. Two pre-adult plant (P-AP) susceptible stages (S48 and S96) and two adult plant (AP) resistant stages (R48 and R96) were used for RNA-seq. At the susceptible P-AP stage (during S48 to S96), expression increased in 2062 genes, and declined in 130 genes; 1775 of 2062 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) also exhibited high expression during early incompatible stage R48. Comparison of S96 with R96 showed that the expression of 80 genes was enhanced and that of 208 genes declined at the AP stage. At the resistant AP stage (during R48 to R96), expression of mere 25 genes increased and that of 126 genes declined. Apparently, the resistance during late adult stage (R96) is caused by regulation of the expression of relatively fewer genes, although at pre-adult stage (S48 to S96), expression of large number of genes increased; expression of majority of these genes kept on increasing during adult stage at R48 also. These and other results of the present study suggest that APR may mimic some kind of systemic acquired resistance (SAR). The host-specific DEGs belonged to 10 different classes including genes involved in defence, transport, epigenetics, photosynthesis, genes encoding some transcription factors etc. The pathogen (Puccinia triticina) specific DEGs (including three genes encoding known biotrophic effectors) seem to help the pathogen in infection/growth through large-scale stage-specific enhanced expression of host’s genes. A putative candidate gene for Lr48 containing protein kinase domain (its ortholog in rice encoding OsWAK8) was also identified.

Nanocrystalline yttrium oxide has been synthesized by thermal plasma route using a dc plasma reactor. The phase composition of the product was analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The XRD patterns showed cubic and monoclinic phases in the synthesized product. The powder was characterized by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The TEM images confirmed the nanometer size of the particles in the range of 3–47 nm. Surface area analysis [Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET)] and particle size analysis by laser scattering have also been used to characterize the particle size of plasma-synthesized yttria nanoparticles. The TEM images, BET, and particle size by laser scattering also reveal that particles are agglomerated. The results showed that the particle size decreased with an increase in plasma power and the fraction of nanosized powder increased with power. The amount of metastable monoclinic phase was found to increase as the fraction of particles below 20 nm increased.

Development of leaf rust-resistant cultivars is a priority during wheat breeding, since leaf rust causes major losses in yield. Resistance against leaf rust due to Lr genes is partly controlled by epigenetic modifications including histone acetylation that is known to respond to biotic/abiotic stresses. In the present study, enrichment of H3K4ac and H3K9ac in promoters of six defense responsive genes (N-acetyltransferase, WRKY 40, WRKY 70, ASR1, Peroxidase 12 and Sarcosine oxidase) was compared with their expression in a pair of near-isogenic lines (NILs) for the gene Lr28 following inoculation with leaf rust pathotype ’77-5’; ChIP-qPCR was used for this purpose. The proximal and distal promoters of these genes contained a number of motifs that are known to respond to biotic stresses. The enrichment of two acetylation marks changed with passage of time; changes in expression of two of the six genes (N-acetyltransferase and peroxidase12), largely matched with changes in H3K4/H3K9 acetylation patterns of the two promoter regions. For example, enrichment of both the marks matched with higher expression of N-acetyltransferase gene in susceptible NIL and the deacetylation (H3K4ac) largely matched with reduced gene expression in resistant NIL. In peroxidase12, enrichment of H3K4ac and H3K9ac largely matched with higher expression in both the NILs. In the remaining four genes, changes in H3 acetylation did not always match with gene expression levels. This indicated complexity in the regulation of the expression of these remaining four genes, which may be controlled by other epigenetic/genetic regulatory mechanisms that need further analysis.

This study was undertaken to pyramid two effective leaf rust resistance genes (Lr19 and Lr24) derived from Thinopyrum (syn. Agropyron), in the susceptible, but agronomically superior wheat cultivar HD2733 using marker-assisted selection. In the year 2001, HD2733 was released for irrigated timely sown conditions of the north eastern plains zone (NEPZ) of India became susceptible to leaf rust, a major disease of the region. Background selection helped in developing near-isogenic lines (NILs) of HD2733 with Lr19 and Lr24 with 97.27 and 98.94%, respectively, of genomic similarity with the parent cultivar, after two backcrossing and one generation of selfing.NILs were intercrossed to combine the genes Lr19 and Lr24. The combination of these two genes in the cultivar HD2733 is expected to provide durable leaf rust resistance in farmers' fields.

Leaf rust disease causes severe yield losses in wheat throughout the world. During the present study, high-throughput RNA-Seq analysis was used to gain insights into the role of Lr28 gene in imparting seedling leaf rust resistance in wheat. Differential expression analysis was conducted using a pair of near-isogenic lines (NILs) (HD 2329 and HD 2329 + Lr28) at early (0 h before inoculation (hbi), 24 and 48 h after inoculation (hai)) and late stages (72, 96 and 168 hai) after inoculation with a virulent pathotype of pathogen Puccinia triticina. Expression of a large number of genes was found to be affected due to the presence/absence of Lr28. Gene ontology analysis of the differentially expressed transcripts suggested enrichment of transcripts involved in carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism, oxidative stress and hormone metabolism, in resistant and/or susceptible NILs. Genes encoding receptor like kinases (RLKs) (including ATP binding; serine threonine kinases) and other kinases were the most abundant class of genes, whose expression was affected. Genes involved in reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis and several genes encoding transcription factors (TFs) (most abundant being WRKY TFs) were also identified along with some ncRNAs and histone variants. Quantitative real-time PCR was also used for validation of 39 representative selected genes. In the long term, the present study should prove useful in developing leaf rust resistant wheat cultivars through molecular breeding.

The bread wheat line WR95 showed seedling resistance to several Indian stem rust (Puccinia graminis Pers. f. sp. tritici) isolates. Genetic analysis of stem rust resistance in WR95 was undertaken in populations derived from crosses NI5439/WR95 and Agra Local/WR95. The F1, F2, and F3 generations derived from the cross NI5439/WR95 were tested against stem rust isolate 40A and genetic analysis showed a recessive gene for resistance. The results were confirmed in another F2 population derived from the cross Agra Local/WR95. Interestingly, genetic analysis in F2 population from the later cross i.e. Agra Local/WR95 identified a dominant gene against isolates 11 and 11A. The recessive gene against isolate 40A was mapped to the long arm of 5D chromosome. WR95 showed resistance to virulent isolates of Sr30 which is also located on 5DL chromosome. The dominant gene in WR95 that conferred the resistance to isolate 11 and 11A was mapped towards telomeric region of the long arm of 2B chromosome. The long arm of chromosome 2B also carries stem rust resistance genes Sr9, Sr16 and Sr28. WR95 showed resistance to virulent isolates to Sr9b (11, 11A, 21A-2 and 40A), Sr9e (15-1 and 40A) and Sr28 (11, 11A, 15-1, 21A-2 and 40A). The map position of dominant gene identified in WR95 is different from Sr9 and Sr28 while Sr16 is towards telomeric region and not mapped so far. Therefore, the dominant gene in WR95 may be either Sr16 or a new gene.

A widely grown but rust susceptible Indian wheat variety HD2932 was improved for multiple rust resistance by marker-assisted transfer of genes Lr19, Sr26 and Yr10. Foreground and background selection processes were practised to transfer targeted genes with the recovery of the genome of HD2932. The near-isogenic lines (NILs) of HD2932 carrying Lr19, Sr26 and Yr10 were individually produced from two backcrosses with recurrent parent HD2932. Marker-assisted background selection of NILs with 94.38–98.46% of the HD2932 genome facilitated rapid recovery of NILs carrying Lr19, Sr26 and Yr10. In the BC2F2 generation, NILs were intercrossed and two gene combinations of Lr19+Yr10, Sr26 + Yr10 and Lr19+Sr26 were produced. A total of 16 progeny of two gene combinations of homozygous NILs of HD2932 have been produced, which are under seed increase for facilitating the replacement of the susceptible HD2932 with three of the sixteen improved backcross lines with resistance to multiple rusts.

A prototype of oxide thermoelectric unileg device was fabricated. This device was based on only n-legs made of La doped calcium manganate. The powder was synthesized, characterised and consolidated in rectangular thermoelements. A 3×3 device was fabricated by fitting 9 rectangular bars in alumina housing and connected by silver strips. The device has been tested under large temperature difference (ΔT=480°C) using an indegenous system. An open circuit voltage of 468 mV was obtained for a nine leg ‘unileg’ device. The device exhibits a internal resistance of ∼1Ω. The maximum power output for this nine leg device reached upto 50 mW in these working condition.

Overactive bladder is a syndrome of urinary frequency and urgency, with or without urge incontinence, in the absence of local pathological factors. Since multiple causes are responsible for OAB, it requires proper diagnosis and comprehensive management. For decades, flavoxate is a globally used and accepted molecule by the urologists and the general physicians for the symptomatic treatment of OAB. In spite of its extensive use in OAB, a meta-analysis of the available publications for efficacy, safety and tolerability of flavoxate has not been conducted. This paper evaluates the strength of evidence of clinical effectiveness of safety and tolerability of flavoxate in the symptomatic treatment of OAB.Review articles, original studies and case reports on MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, Scirus, internal repository, etc. were searched using the keyword "flavoxate". For the primary outcome, the comparative data of flavoxate versus comparator was extracted for following parameters - overall efficacy and its side effect profile. Similarly as for secondary outcome, data were extracted for flavoxate per se for overall efficacy, frequency, urinary incontinence, mixed incontinence, nocturia, unpleasant urination, stranguria and its side effect profile and were analyzed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (CMA) software version 2.0.In the current meta-analysis, 43 relevant published studies were considered which clearly demonstrated that flavoxate had improved clinical efficacy than placebo, emepronium, propantheline, and phenazopyridine.Amongst all the interventions studied, flavoxate was effective and well-tolerated, with almost negligible side effects, making it worthy of consideration for the treatment of OAB.

Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) is a common complex clinical condition, with multiple etiologies, association and pathophysiologic correlations. This review includes the definition, etiology, and diagnosis of FSD. It calls for a bio psychosocial approach to FSD management, which incorporates, but is not limited to, only the psychological aspects of FSD.

The CORONIS trial reported differences in short-term maternal morbidity when comparing five pairs of alternative surgical techniques for caesarean section. Here we report outcomes at 3 years follow-up.The CORONIS trial was a pragmatic international 2 × 2 × 2 × 2× 2 non-regular fractional, factorial, unmasked, randomised controlled trial done at 19 sites in Argentina, Chile, Ghana, India, Kenya, Pakistan, and Sudan. Pregnant women were eligible if they were to undergo their first or second caesarean section through a planned transverse abdominal incision. Women were randomly assigned by a secure web-based allocation system to one intervention from each of the three assigned pairs. All investigators, surgeons, and participants were unmasked to treatment allocation. In this follow-up study, we compared outcomes at 3 years following blunt versus sharp abdominal entry, exteriorisation of the uterus for repair versus intra-abdominal repair, single versus double layer closure of the uterus, closure versus non-closure of the peritoneum, and chromic catgut versus polyglactin-910 for uterine repair. Outcomes included pelvic pain; deep dyspareunia; hysterectomy and outcomes of subsequent pregnancies. Outcomes were assessed masked to the original trial allocation. This trial is registered with the Current Controlled Trials registry, number ISRCTN31089967.Between Sept 1, 2011, and Sept 30, 2014, 13,153 (84%) women were followed-up for a mean duration of 3·8 years (SD 0·86). For blunt versus sharp abdominal entry there was no evidence of a difference in risk of abdominal hernias (adjusted RR 0·66; 95% CI 0·39-1·11). We also recorded no evidence of a difference in risk of death or serious morbidity of the children born at the time of trial entry (0·99, 0·83-1·17). For exteriorisation of the uterus versus intra-abdominal repair there was no evidence of a difference in risk of infertility (0·91, 0·71-1·18) or of ectopic pregnancy (0·50, 0·15-1·66). For single versus double layer closure of the uterus there was no evidence of a difference in maternal death (0·78, 0·46-1·32) or a composite of pregnancy complications (1·20, 0·75-1·90). For closure versus non-closure of the peritoneum there was no evidence of a difference in any outcomes relating to symptoms associated with pelvic adhesions such as infertility (0·80, 0·61-1·06). For chromic catgut versus polyglactin-910 sutures there was no evidence of a difference in the main comparisons for adverse pregnancy outcomes in a subsequent pregnancy, such as uterine rupture (3·05, 0·32-29·29). Overall, severe adverse outcomes were uncommon in these settings.Although our study was not powered to detect modest differences in rare but serious events, there was no evidence to favour one technique over another. Other considerations will probably affect clinical practice, such as the time and cost saving of different approaches.UK Medical Research Council and the Department for International Development.

In an innovative collaboration between government, university and private industry, researchers at the University of Georgia and Gainesville State College are collaborating with Photo Science, Inc. to acquire, process and quality control check lidar and or-thoimages of forest areas in the Southern Appalachian Mountains of the United States. Funded by the U.S. Geological Survey, this project meets the objectives of the ARRA initiative by creating jobs, preserving jobs and training students for high skill positions in geospatial technology. Leaf-off lidar data were acquired at 1-m resolution of the Tennessee portion of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park (GRSM) and adjacent Foothills Parkway. This 1400-sq. km. area is of high priority for national/global interests due to biodiversity, rare and endangered species and protection of some of the last remaining virgin forest in the U.S. High spatial resolution (30 cm) leaf-off 4-band multispectral orthoimages also were acquired for both the Chattahoochee National Forest in north Georgia and the entire GRSM. The data are intended to augment the National Elevation Dataset and orthoimage database of The National Map with information that can be used by many researchers in applications of LiDAR point clouds, high resolution DEMs and or-thoimage mosaics. Graduate and undergraduate students were involved at every stage of the workflow in order to provide then with high level technical educational and professional experience in preparation for entering the geospatial workforce. This paper will present geospatial workflow strategies, multi-team coordination, distance-learning training and industry-academia partnership.

This journal suppl. entitled: Abstracts of the 26th Annual Meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology, Rome, Italy, 27-30 June 2010

To evaluate the effect of two doses of intraperitoneal bupivacaine administration for pain relief after operative gynecological laparoscopy. Prospective randomized study. The study group comprised 52 women undergoing gynecological laparoscopic surgery. A dose of either 0.125% bupivacaine 10 ml (50 mg) or 0.25% bupivacaine (100 mg) was instilled intraperitoneally at the end of the procedure. Pain scores were recorded in the postoperative period on a scale of 0–10 at 2, 4, 6 and 8 h intervals after the surgery. Any other side effect and the time and dose of analgesia required were noted. The results were compared in the two groups. One hundred milligrams of bupivacine provided pain relief for a longer duration (8 h), as compared to 50 mg of the drug (4–6 h). This difference was statistically significant. Analgesic requirement was also less in the 100 mg group. One hundred milligrams of intraperitoneal bupivacaine is much better than 50 mg in relieving pain after laparoscopic surgery.

The mode of inheritance of wheat leaf rust resistance gene Lr45 was studied at seedling stage under greenhouse conditions against leaf rust race 77-5 in two F2 populations derived from the crosses between Thatcher (Tc)+Lr45 and two susceptible cultivars Agra Local and NI5439. The genetic analysis in F2:3 progeny validated the F2 results which unambiguously showed segregation for a single dominant gene. Genetic analysis in F2 and BC1F1 generations against five other leaf rust races confirmed the single dominant gene inheritance of Lr45. Mapping was carried out with 92 microsatellite markers specific to chromosome 2A on the F2 population of the cross Agra Local × Tc+Lr45. Out of seven markers linked to the gene, four (gwm372, gwm275, gpw3167 and gwm122) were co-dominant and the other three (cfd168, cfd6 and gwm249) showed dominance, amplifying the allele only in the susceptible parent. The genetic map of 13.1 cM was constructed based on the results in 140 homozygous resistant and homozygous susceptible plants. cfd168 was the closest marker linked to Lr45, followed by gwm372. These markers were validated on the NI5439 × Tc+Lr45 F2 population, 12 different backcross lines carrying Lr45 and near-isogenic lines, mostly in Tc background isogenic for 46 different Lr genes belonging to both native and alien species. The marker gwm122 was found to be monomorphic. The closest co-dominant marker gwm372 showed reduced polymorphism. Two sequence-based primer pairs, G37294 and G372185, were designed and validated. Hence, the markers G37294 and G372185 closely linked to the gene can serve as robust co-dominant markers for utilization of Lr45 in wheat improvement.

Six varieties, Kundan (K), Galvez-87 (G), Trap (T), Chris (C), Mango (M) and PBW-348 (P) along with fast ruster, Agra Local (AL), were screened for seedling reaction and adult pant response to leaf rust. Seedlings of all six varieties were susceptible while adult plants showed lower susceptability response than Agra Local. The F1s among the varieties, and also with Agra Local, showed the values lesser than the respective mid parental values for AUDPC suggesting a polygenic mode of inheritance. ANOVA for combining ability effects indicated variation due to the GCA and SCA effects, which indicated that both additive as well as non-additive type of genetic variances, govern AUDPC. The higher values for the GCA variance over the SCA variance indicated the predominance of an additive component over the dominance component for AUDPC. Significant values for GCA effects indicated that Kundan, Galvez-87 and Trap can be used as good general combiners for AUDPC. The crosses, KxAL, GxAL and TxAL showed significant sca effects for AUDPC, which indicated the predominance of non-additive gene effects in these crosses. Additive x additive and dominance x dominance components of the 5- parameter model were highly significant and contributed maximum extent compared to the additive and dominance components in the cross KxG, while dominance and dominance x dominance components contributed maximum in the remaining crosses. Under such a situation, improvement in the character may be expected through standard selection procedure, which may first exploit the additive gene effects and simultaneously care should be taken to see that the dominance effects are not dissipated, but rather they should be concentrated.

A comprehensive germplasm evaluation study of wheat accessions conserved in the Indian National Genebank was conducted to identify sources of rust and spot blotch resistance. Genebank accessions comprising three species of wheat-Triticum aestivum, T. durum and T. dicoccum were screened sequentially at multiple disease hotspots, during the 2011-14 crop seasons, carrying only resistant accessions to the next step of evaluation. Wheat accessions which were found to be resistant in the field were then assayed for seedling resistance and profiled using molecular markers. In the primary evaluation, 19,460 accessions were screened at Wellington (Tamil Nadu), a hotspot for wheat rusts. We identified 4925 accessions to be resistant and these were further evaluated at Gurdaspur (Punjab), a hotspot for stripe rust and at Cooch Behar (West Bengal), a hotspot for spot blotch. The second round evaluation identified 498 accessions potentially resistant to multiple rusts and 868 accessions potentially resistant to spot blotch. Evaluation of rust resistant accessions for seedling resistance against seven virulent pathotypes of three rusts under artificial epiphytotic conditions identified 137 accessions potentially resistant to multiple rusts. Molecular analysis to identify different combinations of genetic loci imparting resistance to leaf rust, stem rust, stripe rust and spot blotch using linked molecular markers, identified 45 wheat accessions containing known resistance genes against all three rusts as well as a QTL for spot blotch resistance. The resistant germplasm accessions, particularly against stripe rust, identified in this study can be excellent potential candidates to be employed for breeding resistance into the background of high yielding wheat cultivars through conventional or molecular breeding approaches, and are expected to contribute toward food security at national and global levels.

To contain the infection of newly evolved leaf rust virulence(s), diverse source of germplasm need to be explored for identification of novel genes. In order to exploit wild resources, CIMMYT has developed a series of synthetic hexaploid wheat (SHW) by combining the accessions of D genome donor Triticum tauschii and T. durum. In the present study, Synthetic 45, was evaluated for effectiveness of its resistance against diverse leaf rust pathotypes. Mode of inheritance of resistance to understand the nature of genetics and molecular mapping to locate its chromosomal position were studied. Characterization of leaf rust resistance in Synthetic 45 by multi-pathotype tests showed a high degree of seedling resistance to 20 diverse pathotypes of leaf rust pathogen and adult plant resistance against two most prevalent pathotypes, 77-5 and 104-2. Inheritance studies showed that resistance in Synthetic 45 was governed by a single recessive gene. Molecular mapping and linkage with microsatellite markers, Xwmc432 and Xcfd15 have indicated that the resistance gene is located on short arm of 1D chromosome with 6.1 cM distal to Xwmc432 and 10.6 cM to Xcfd15 with 4.6 cM distance among the two markers. The gene identified in Synthetic 45 has been tentatively designated as LrSyn45.

Breeding for resistance to the three rusts of wheat usually requires incorporation of genetically independent factors conferring resistance to each rust. Linked resistance genes in some alien translocation stocks permit concurrent transference of resistance for more than one rust. Alien derived resistances, however, are often reported to be associated with reduced yield and other undesirable characters. In our experience, backcross breeding when given a limited number of backcrosses (3–6) and with suitable selection procedures has resulted in lines giving yields higher or comparable to the recurrent wheat parent Kalyansona and resistance to one, two or all three rusts without any adverse effects. Some of the rust resistant derivatives also show resistance to Neovossia indica (Karnal bunt). The derivatives thus developed when used as parents in a breeding programme have produced several improved cultivars with high yields, superior grains and diversity for resistance to rust pathogens. One of the cultivars, named ‘Vaishali’ (DL784-3), has been officially released for cultivation in the country.