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Rice (Oryza sativa), the prince among cereals is the premier food crop not only in India but world too (Chhabra, 2002). Long term fertilizer experiments revealed that neither chemical fertilizer nor organics alone can achieve sustainability in crop production. Modulin is a proprietary product of T. Stanes and Company Ltd. a foliar bio-stimulant for plants, with organic mineral activators, and presented in a soluble, easily absorbable and available form, is obtained through a fermentation process, from marine calcites. It is a suitable nutrient management system that is economic and eco-friendly for sustained productivity. The present field experiment was carried out at the Therkumangudi, Cuddalore district, to study the influence of Modulin as a foliar treatment on growth, yield and gene expression of calmodulin in rice along with lower NPK levels. The treatments comprised of T1 -Control (100% recommended dose of NPK (RDF) without Modulin); T2- 75% RDF + foliar applications of Modulin @ 1kg ha-1 at vegetative stage, panicle initiation and 5% heads/spikes formation stages, T3 - 75% RDF + foliar applications of Modulin @ 2 kg ha-1 at vegetative stage, panicle initiation and 5% heads/ spikes formation stages, T4- 100% RDF + foliar applications of Modulin @ 1kg ha-1 at vegetative stage, panicle initiation and 5% heads/ spikes formation stages and T5- 100% RDF + foliar applications of Modulin @ 2 kg ha-1 at vegetative stage, panicle initiation and, 5% heads/spikes formation stages. The study revealed that the 100 per cent RDF + foliar applications of Modulin @ 2 kg ha- 1 at vegetative stage, panicle initiation and 5% heads/ spikes formation stages (T5) significantly registered the highest values in growth and yield attributes. This treatment (T5) recorded highest BCR of Rs.3.25 followed by other treatments. In addition, Modulin increased the genetic expression of calmodulin genes, which regulates the plant growth and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work deals with the generation of H2 through water splitting using titania (TiO2) nanotubes (NTs) prepared via rapid breakdown anodization. The anatase TiO2 NTs sensitized with Pt, Pd and Ni nanoparticles (NPs) to investigate the efficiency of water splitting of these nanocomposites. The Pt, Pd and Ni NPs were loaded over TiO2 NTs through chemical reduction of the respective precursors. The morphology of the TiO2 NTs was observed to be produced as bundles. The metal NPs sensitized TiO2 NTs as spherical deposits. The H2 generation is larger with the addition of metal NPs and moreover lower quantity deposits produced better results. Pt NPs addition was better among the group in terms of H2 generation over the other metals of the same group. The Pt/TiO2 NTs with 5% metal sensitization generated H2 with a specific release rate of 241.8 μmol g−1 min−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A fuel cell based amperometric room temperature hydrogen sensor with Nafion as proton conducting electrolyte, Pd as sensing electrode, Pt as both counter and reference electrodes has been developed. Sensing electrode was prepared by electrodeposition of Pd on carbon gas diffusion electrode using room temperature ionic liquid electrolyte. Pt spray coated on gas diffusion electrode forms the counter electrode in the sensor. Pd electrodeposition was carried out at an applied potential of -1.0 V vs Pd wire and resulted in the formation of Pd clusters. The microstructure of electrodeposited Pd was investigated using field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The crystal structure of the Pd nanoparticles was indexed to face centered cubic by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and selected area electron diffraction (SAED). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) confirmed metallic form of the deposited Pd nanoparticles. The scratch test endorsed the fact that Pd nanoparticles adhered firmly to the surface of the gas diffusion electrode and it is found to be stable up to the load of 2 N. Range of response of the sensor to H2 was in the concentration range 1% to 5% and found to be linear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nontraumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in a dialysis patient is an uncommon occurrence and is often associated with high mortality. We report for the first time in India, a case of spontaneous nontraumatic, nonaneurysmal SAH without any cerebrovascular malformation in a maintenance hemodialysis patient, following a session of hemodialysis. The dialysis prescription needs to be modified in these patients, in order to prevent worsening of cerebral edema and progression of hemorrhage. Where available, continuous forms of renal replacement therapies, with regional anticoagulation seem to be the best option for such patients, till neurologic stabilization is achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the recent years, incidence of the leafhopper, Amrasca devastans (Distant) in cotton has been prevalent from vegetative to reproductive phase of crop growth. The loss in seed cotton yield due to leaf hopper is accounted to 390 kg ha-1 and 330 kg ha-1. In India 45 per cent of the pesticides are applied to cotton. Hence, development of a resistant / tolerant cultivar is the need of the hour to to reduce three ' R ' viz., Resistance, Resurgence and Residues in biota. Screening of twenty six cotton accessions against the leafhopper, A. devastans (Distant) was carried out by following ICCC grades. The susceptiblity of cotton entries varied significantly. Based on the resistance index the entries were grouped under five categories as, Highly resistant- KC 2, SVPR 2; Resistant-TKH 1128: Intermediate- MCU 5, MCU 10, NISD 2, TKH 1143,TKH 1175: Susceptible- TKH 1789, TKH 1173, TKH 1174, TKH 1178, TKH 1179, TKH 1185, TKH 1186, TKH 1209, TKH 1225, TKH 1233 and Highly susceptible- ICMF 20, LRA 5166, TKH 1133, TKH 1172, TKH 1176, TKH 1182, TKH 1197, TKH 1198. Studies on the mechanism of resistance revealed that leafhoppers discriminated cotton entries for orientation and settling and feeding. Highly susceptible entiries were preferred for settling and feeding. Varieties less preferred for settling were less preferred for oviposition too. Since antixenosis and antibiosis were considered for mechanism of resistance various plant parameters viz., Plant height, internodal length, petiole length, leaf area, thickness of leaf, trichome density on the ventral surface of the leaves, hair length, hair density on mid-vein, distance between bases of hairs in mid vein, chlorophyll content, moisture content and protein content were estimated and correlated with leafhopper ovipostion and damage caused. Plant height, internodal length, trichome density on the ventral surface of the leaves, hair length, hair density on mid-vein had negative association with leafhopper damage and oviposition by leafhopper; leaf area, leaf thickness and protein content had no significant association. Susceptible entries had less chlorophyll and more moisture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Classical theory of Markov process deals with sequence analysis. Markov process provides a special type of dependence. Few analytic properties of the transition probabilities are analyzed for Markov process and Hidden Markov Model as well. The Gaines algorithm for Hidden Markov Model is found to improve the probability value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the direct cost incurred by diabetic subjects who were in different income groups in urban and rural India, as well as to examine the changing trends of costs in the urban setting from 1998 to 2005. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 556 diabetic subjects from various urban and rural regions of seven Indian states were enrolled. A brief uniform coded questionnaire (24 items) on direct cost was used. RESULTS: Annual family income was higher in urban subjects (rupees [Rs] 100,000 or $2,273) than in the rural subjects (Rs 36,000 or $818) (P < 0.001). Total median expenditure on health care was Rs 10,000 ($227) in urban and Rs 6,260 ($142) in rural (P < 0.001) subjects. Treatment costs increased with duration of diabetes, presence of complications, hospitalization, surgery, insulin therapy, and urban setting. Lower-income groups spent a higher proportion of their income on diabetes care (urban poor 34% and rural poor 27%). After accounting for inflation, a secular increase of 113% was observed in the total expenses between 1998 and 2005 in the urban population. The highest increase in percentage of household income devoted to diabetes care was in the lowest economic group (34% of income in 1998 vs. 24.5% in 2005) (P < 0.01). There was a significant improvement in urban subjects in medical reimbursement from 2% (1998) to 21.3% (2005). CONCLUSIONS: Urban and rural diabetic subjects spend a large percentage of income on diabetes management. The economic burden on urban families in developing countries is rising, and the total direct cost has doubled from 1998 to 2005. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The implications of the dietary habit of Helicoverpa armigera on the virulence and infectivity of its nuclear polyhedrosis virus were examined in the laboratory by conducting three bioassays involving six different food regimes. Irrespective of the combination of food rations a significantly lower percentage mortality and higher time taken to kill the larvae were observed in cotton-fed and dosed larval groups over the others. Correlation and regression analysis was also found to be significant between biochemical factors and percentage mortality. A negative correlation between percentage mortality and biochemical factors like foliar pH, phenols, tannins and protein binding capacity and positive correlations between percentage mortality and gut passage time were observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stromal tumours occurring in areas other than the GastroIntestinal Tract (GIT) are known as Extra GastroIntestinal Stromal Tumours (EGISTs). They usually arise in the mesentery, omentum or retroperitoneum, while EGISTs which occur in the abdominal wall are very rare. Both gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs) and EGISTs are histologically and immunophenotypically similar. We are reporting a case of EGIST, which occurred in the anterior abdominal wall in a twenty five-year-old female patient. The tumour was present in the right loin and imaging studies suggested that it was a desmoid tumour. It was surgically excised by doing an abdominal wall mesh repair. The histological examinations revealed a tumour with spindle cell morphology, with <2 mitoses per 50 High Power Field (HPF) and no necrosis, with tumour free margins. Immunohistochemistry was strongly positive for CD117 and Smooth Muscle Actin (SMA), while it was negative for β-catenin and S100. The patient is well post operatively and is on close follow up. EGISTs should be considered in the differential diagnosis of mesenchymal tumours which occur in the abdominal wall, inspite of their rarity, as the high risk patients may need Imatinib chemotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]