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The current generation is witnessing a huge interest in optical waveguides due to their salient features: they are of low cost, immune to electromagnetic interference, easy to multiplex, have a compact size, etc. These features of optical fibers make them a useful tool for various sensing applications including in medicine, automotives, biotechnology, food quality control, aerospace, physical and chemical monitoring. Among all the reported applications, optical waveguides have been widely exploited to measure the physical and chemical variations in the surrounding environment. Optical fiber-based temperature sensors have played a crucial role in this decade to detect high fever and tackle COVID-19-like pandemics. Recognizing the major developments in the field of optical fibers, this article provides recent progress in temperature sensors utilizing several sensing configurations including conventional fiber, photonic crystal fiber, and Bragg grating fibers. Additionally, this article also highlights the advantages, limitations, and future possibilities in this area.

Heterozygosity is the major constraint in perennial fruit crop like mango for regular bearing breeding. Majority of the popular mango varieties have irregular bearing habit. Many external and internal factors affect the bearing habit of perennial fruit crops. Among internal factors, the level of carbohydrate reserves and phytohormones plays a major role on bearing habit of fruit crops like apple, citrus, mango, litchi etc., Therefore, present research work aimed to study the carbohydrate metabolism pathways in regular and irregular mango genotypes of varying origin. A total of 30 primers were designed using in silico mining of four key genes coding for citrate synthase, alcohol dehydrogenase, sucrose phosphate synthase and trehalose phosphate synthase. These genes play important role in sugar and starch metabolism in mango. Of these specific primers, 14 showed polymorphism among the genotypes studied. Gene diversity (GD), average number of alleles per locus (An), polymorphism information content (PIC) and major allele frequency (Maf) observed were 0.45, 2.14, 0.35, 0.59, respectively. Simple sequence repeats markers grouped 63.15% studied mango genotypes of regular bearers together. Further, these markers could be utilized in a greater number of genotypes for regularity.

Most of the popular scion varieties of mango possess alternate/irregular bearing. There are many external and internal factors assigned, among them carbohydrate reserves, and nutrient content plays important roles in the floral induction process in many crop species. In addition to that rootstock can alter the carbohydrate reserve and nutrient acquisition of scion varieties in fruit crops. The present investigation was carried out to understand the effect of rootstocks on the physiochemical traits of leaf, and bud and nutrient content in regular and alternate bearing varieties of mango. The rootstock "Kurukkan" promoted starch content in leaves of both alternate bearing varieties 'Dashehari' (5.62 mg/g) and regular 'Amrapali' (5.49 mg/g) and encouraged higher protein content (6.71 mg/g) and C/N ratio (37.94) in buds of alternate bearing 'Dashehari'. While Olour rootstock upregulated the reducing sugar in leaves of 'Amrapali' (43.56 mg/g) and promoted K (1.34%) and B (78.58 ppm) content in reproductive buds of 'Dashehari'. Stomatal density in 'Dashehari' scion variety was found higher on Olour rootstock (700.40/mm 2), while the rootstock fails to modify stomatal density in the scion variety regular bearer 'Amrapali'. Further, a total of 30 carbohydrate metabolism-specific primers were designed and validated in 15 scion/rootstock combinations. A total of 33 alleles were amplified among carbohydrate metabolism-specific markers, which varied from 2 to 3 alleles with a mean of 2.53 per locus. Maximum and minimum PIC value was found for NMSPS10, and NMTPS9 primers (0.58). Cluster analysis revealed that scion grafted on Kurukkan rootstock clustered together except 'Pusa Arunima' on Olour rootstock. Our analysis revealed that Fe is the key component that is commonly expressed in both leaf and bud. Although Stomatal density (SD) and Intercellular CO2 Concentration (Ci) are more specific to leaf and Fe, B, and total sugar (TS) are abundant in buds. Based on the results it can be inferred that the physiochemical and nutrient responses of mango scion varieties are manipulated by the rootstock, hence, the scion-rootstock combination can be an important consideration in mango for selecting suitable rootstock for alternate/irregular bearer varieties.

Conventional tillage practices coupled with irrational use of fertilizer in the rice-wheat cropping system (RWCS) often leads to poor productivity, low nutrient use efficiency, and cause environmental pollution. Conservation tillage with surface residue retention in combination with intelligent nutrient management might improve productivity and use efficiency of water as well as nutrients in zero-till direct-seeded rice (ZTDSR). Keeping this in mind, during the kharif season of 2018 and 2019, a trial was carried out at the ICAR-IARI in New Delhi to investigate the varying nutrient management approaches following a precise manner in DSR. The treatments consisted of soil-test-based NPK (STB-NPK) and Nutrient Expert® (+LCCN) based NPK (NE-NPK) applications, Fertilizer applied at the recommended dose (RDF) [120-60-40 kg/ha NPK], the state recommended NPK (110-50-40 kg/ha) and omission plot technique of NPK [i.e., STB (N0PK, NP0K & NPK0); SR (N0PK, NP0K & NPK0) and NE-(N0PK, NP0K & NPK0)]. The results indicated that STB NPK application led to a 12% higher grain yield over RDF. However, NE-NPK resulted in a 7% and 35% increase in N (AEN) agronomic efficiency and P (AEP) over the STB-NPK application respectively. In contrast, AEk was 24% higher in STB-NPK over NE-NPK treatment. The comparison of two years’ results that the first year performed better than the succeeding year in these respect (productivity and AE) except in the case of AEk. The N2O emission in NE-NPK treatment was also significantly reduced (49%) over the control (no N). STB-NPK treatment also improved profitability by 22% over RDF. Precision nutrient management (PNM) increased the crop yield, income, and use efficiency of nutrients and water and reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of DSR in Southeast Asia.

We investigated the effect of practically realizable doses of silicate on arsenic (As) uptake by differential-As-accumulating rice cultivars grown on geogenically As-polluted soil. The possible health risk from the dietary ingestion of As through rice was also assessed. In addition, a solution culture experiment was conducted to examine the role of root-secreted weak acids in differential As acquisition by rice cultivars. When grown without silicate, Badshabhog accumulated a much smaller amount of As in grain (0.11 mg kg−1) when compared to the other three varieties. Satabdi, IR-36, and Khitish accumulated As in grain beyond the permissible limit (0.2 mg kg−1) for human consumption. The application of silicate effectively reduced the As content in the grain, husk, and straw of all of the cultivars. The grain As content fell to 17.2 and 27.6% with the addition of sodium metasilicate at the rates of 250 and 500 mg kg−1, respectively. In the case of Khitish, the grain As content was brought down within permissible limits by the applied silicate (500 mg kg−1). The integrated use of low-As-accumulating cultivars and silicate has great potential to reduce the public health risks associated with As. A positive correlation between root-secreted total weak acid and grain As content could explain the different rice cultivars’ differential As acquisition capacity.

Continuing soil degradation remains a serious threat to future food security. Soil aggregation can help protect soil organic matter from biodegradation; it affects soil physical (aeration), chemical (water infiltration), and biological (microbial) activities. The integrated plant nutrition system (IPNS) and organic farming (OF) options have been contemplated as a sustainable strategy to sustain soil aggregate stability under adverse climatic conditions and a possible tool to restore degraded soil systems. Results suggested that the application of plant nutrients based on IPNS and soil test crop response (STCR) including mineral fertilizers and organic manure (farmyard manure: FYM) improved soil aggregate stability and mean weight diameter (MWD) under rice–wheat cropping systems. A long-term (19 year) cropping system (rice–wheat) experiment was examined to identify best nutrient management practices. Seven nutrient supply options were applied: organic, mineral fertilizer in combination with IPNS, IPNS + B/IPNS + C to improve soil aggregate stability and MWD after completing 19 cropping cycles of rice–wheat cropping systems. Results showed that significantly higher (+31%) macroaggregates were dominant in the surface soil layer than in the subsurface soil. The significantly highest macroaggregates were observed under OF (60.12 g 100 g−1 dry soil) management practices followed by IPNS options. The MWD was significantly increased (+17%) between surface and subsurface soil. Maximum MWD was reported with OF (0.93 mm) management practices followed by the IPNS + C (0.78 mm), IPNS + B (0.77 mm), IPNS (0.70 mm), STCR (0.69 mm), NPK (0.67 mm), and unfertilized control (0.66 mm) plots. Overall, results suggest that the adoption of IPNS options, such as organic farming (OF), RDF, STCR, and inclusion of pulses (berseem and cowpea), significantly improved all soil aggregation fractions in the soil system and also offered an additional benefit in terms of soil sustainability.

An attempt has been made in assessing variability of macronutrient content in sludge as affected by sources and seasons at Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi. For this purpose, sludge samples were collected from eight different sewage treatment plants (STPs) located in and around Delhi (CP: Coronation Pillar, DG: Delhi Gate Nalla, KSP: Keshopur, NIL: Narella, NLT: Nilothi, OKH: Okhla, PPK: Pappankallan and RTL: Rithala) in 2018-19. Results indicated that sludge samples collected from different sources were acidic in nature and varied from 6.34 to 6.65 with mean of 6.44, and electrical conductivity of sludge ranged from 2.95 to 5.74 dS/m with mean of 4.17 dS/m. Sludge generated at different (STPs) of Delhi were rich in total carbon (TC) (10.5-35.1%) and macronutrients, viz. nitrogen (N) (1.21-2.64%) and phosphorus (P) (0.95-1.84%); but the potassium (K) content (0.16-0.32%) was much lower. The corresponding mean values of TC, N, P and K in sludge samples across the sources and seasons were 20.4, 1.98, 1.35 and 0.24%, respectively. Seasonal occurrence pattern of macronutrient, i.e. N, P, and K were higher in sludge collected during summer followed by winter and rainy season. Sludge can be a potential source of plant nutrients, particularly in the face of rise in the price of NPK fertilizers.

West Bengal is the largest rice (Oryza sativa L) producing state of India. In spite of leading the world in rice production, India lags behind in terms of rice productivity. In view of limited information, a pot experiment was conducted at ICAR-IARI, New Delhi during kharif, 2018-19 to evaluate the response of important rice cultivars to applied silicate. The experiment was conducted with four rice cultivars (one indigenous aromatic and rest three HYVs) and three doses of sodium metasilicate (0, 250 and 500 mg/kg) using an alluvial Inceptisol collected from West Bengal. Results indicated that the grain and straw yield was increased up to 40.7 and 18.1%, respectively, due to application of silicate. Rice cultivars, on the basis of grain yield, can be arranged in the order: Khitish (20.8 g/ pot)> Satabdi (17.6 g/pot) > IR-36 (15.4 g/pot) >Badshabhog (3.72 g/pot). The highest and the lowest straw yield was recorded with Badshabhog (70.1 g/pot) and IR-36 (14.6 g/pot), respectively. Rice cultivars showed differential responses in terms of yield to applied silicate. It can be concluded that application of sodium metasilicate can be one of the effective options for enhancing rice yield in the alluvial Inceptisol of West Bengal.

In view of limited information, an attempt has been made to work out the distribution pattern of arsenic (As) between root and shoot of high and low grain-As accumulating rice cultivars (HAC and LAC, respectively). For this purpose, a solution culture experiment was conducted at ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi during kharif 2018-19 with two doses of As (@ 0 and 100 µg/L) and four rice cultivars comprising one HAC (IR-36) and three LACs (Khitish, Satabdi and Badshabhog). Results indicated that the biomass yields were not affected either by As or by cultivars. The highest root As content was recorded with Khitish (4.64 mg/kg), whereas, IR-36 showed the lowest value (2.00 mg/kg) but shoot As content did not vary with cultivars. Cultivars followed almost similar trends for As uptake. The highest translocation coefficient of As from root to shoot ranged from 0.52 (IR-36) to 0.31 (Khitish). It is clear from the study that LACs are more efficient in storing As in root, even though they uptake higher amount of As at the initial phase of growth, whereas, As is mobilized from root to above ground parts more efficiently in case of HACs. Thus, partitioning of As between root and shoot appears to be an important characteristic of rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars responsible for differential accumulation of As.

Oculocardiac reflex (OCR) sometimes occurs as a result of pressure on the eye or traction of the intraorbital surrounding structures during ophthalmic surgery. This can result in bradycardiac arrhythmia and cardiac arrest. A 45-year-old female was undergoing an elective squint correction surgery of one eye under local anaesthesia in a private hospital in December 2013. The patient was preoperatively examined, investigated and admitted to the hospital one day prior to operation. There was no previous history of any chronic illnesses. The patient collapsed during surgery and declared dead. Doctors attempting strabismus surgery under local anaesthesia should be familiar with this phenomenon.

Understanding of the potassium (K) nutrient cycle and its microbial transformation of unavailable forms of soil K to plant-available K is crucial in any agroecosystem for strategic nutrient management through inorganic fertilizer, crop residue (CR), and microbial applications. Therefore, the present investigation was undertaken to study the effect of crop residue and K management practices on crop productivity, K mobilization from native soil K-pool, and crop assimilation of K under a zero-till maize–wheat cropping system. The experiment consisted of four residue levels (0, 2, 4, and 6 Mg ha−1) and five K levels (0, 50%, 100%, 150% RDK [recommended dose of K] and 50% RDK + potassium solubilizing bacteria, KSB). Results showed that CR retention at 6.0 Mg ha−1 significantly improved grain yield (of maize by 10.17%; wheat by 9.87%), dry matter accumulation, K uptake and redistribution in native soil K pools (water soluble K (WSK), exchangeable K (EK) and non-exchangeable K (NEK)) at 30 and 60 days after sowing and at harvest as compared to no CR. Among the K management, 50% RDK+KSB reported significantly higher grain yield (of maize by 26.22%; wheat by 24.70%), dry matter accumulation, K uptake, and native K pools (WSK, EK, and NEK) at different growth stages compared to no K. Total K did not differ significantly due to residue and K management. The highest actual change of K reported with 6.0 Mg ha−1 CR (51 kg ha−1) and 50% RDK+KSB (59 kg ha−1) over control. Significant (p ≤ 0.01) positive correlation was found among grain yield, dry matter accumulation, K uptake, the actual change in K and different native K pools. It can be concluded that retention of 6 Mg ha−1 CR and supply of 50% K through inorganic fertilizer along with seed inoculation of KSB biofertilizers, improved crop growth, productivity by enhancing K assimilation as a consequence of the release of non-exchangeable K and through the application of CR and K treatments under a zero tillage maize–wheat system.

Background: Alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) is one of the most serious complications associated with chronic alcoholism. Sudden deaths are not uncommon in AWS. In severe stages of AWS, delirium tremens (DT) occurs, which is characterized with agitation, global confusion, disorientation, visual and auditory hallucinations in addition to autonomic hyperactivity. Case report: A 30-year old man, chronic and heavy alcohol drinker for 10 years, abstained from alcohol for 3 days. Consequently, he started having palpitations, sweating and tremors. A day later, he was found having hallucinations and delirium. The patient was immediately transferred to the hospital. On admission, he was stuporous and had difficulty in breathing. He developed generalized seizures later on. He was successfully intubated, but there was bleeding through it. The patient’s condition deteriorated very rapidly and he died within two hours. After death, his body was transferred to forensic department. In autopsy, gastrointestinal tract was found to be intact. Massive pulmonary hemorrhage was present on cut section. Liver was found to be with yellowish discoloration and early cirrhotic changes. In heart, left ventricular hypertrophy with narrowed lumen was present and coronary arteries were patent. Discussion: Alcoholism is associated with liver dysfunction and especially in final phases with cirrhosis. Hence and due to resultant coagulopathy, patients are vulnerable to internal bleedings. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy also occurs in chronic alcoholics. Therefore, we can speculate that our patient developed pulmonary hemorrhage as a result of combined effect of coagulopathy secondary to cirrhosis, alveolar damage (seizure and artificial ventilation) and congestive heart failure. Conclusion: For a patient with delirium, convulsions, respiratory distress and coagulopathy, diagnosis of DT should be kept in mind.

Background: Copper sulfate ingestion is a relatively popular method for committing suicide in Indian subcontinent. It causes a high mortality rate, and so a growing concern has been raised to identify the severe alarming signs suggestive of poor prognosis and to improve treatment approaches. Case report: A 22-year-old unmarried man working as a painter was found unconscious at his friend residence. The patient developed hypotension, hemorrhagic gastroenteritis with hematemesis and melena, renal and hepatic failure, severe metabolic acidosis and intravascular hemolysis during admission at hospital. His signs were refractory to treatment with fluid replacement therapy, vasoactive drugs, antiemetic drugs, ranitidine, furosemide, methylene blue and 2,3 dimercaptopropane-1-sulphonate. He died six hours post-admission. In post-mortem examinations, there were multiple sub-pleural and sub-epicardial hemorrhages and the gastrointestinal mucosa was congested, hemorrhagic, and greenish blue in color. The liver, on histological examination, showed sub-massive hepatic necrosis. On toxicological analyses, copper sulfate was detected in preserved viscera and results for other heavy metals were negative. Conclusion: Hypotension, cyanosis, uremia and jaundice can be considered as signs of poor prognosis in copper sulfate poisoning. Copper sulfate ingestion is life-threatening due to its deleterious effects on the upper GI, kidneys, liver and blood. Having no time to waste, aggressive treatments should be immediately instituted and signs of poor prognosis should be kept in mind.

Background: Phenol and its derivatives like dinitrophenol and pentachlorophenol (carbolic acid) are widely used as insecticides, but they are very toxic substances. Phenol is a general protoplasmic poison with corrosive local effects that denature proteins. Poisoning with phenol compounds may occur by ingestion, inhalation, and absorption through skin. In this report we presented the toxicity effects of Phenol and its derivatives like dinitrophenol and pentachlorophenol on humans. Case report: A 27-year-old married female was found unconscious at her residence in September 2013. She was expired after hospitalization in Lady Hardinge Medical College and its associated hospital on the same day after six hours. On examination, corrosion of skin, at angel of mouth and chin, and brown discoloration in mucosa of the esophagus were seen. Histological examination showed exfoliation of esophageal mucosa and coagulative necrosis of gastric mucosa. In toxicological analyses, carbolic acid was detected. Conclusion: Strict precautionary measures are advised when using this compound.

Chronic hemoglobinopathies like thalassemia are associated with many osteopathies like osteoporosis. Methods. This observational study was carried out to compare the bone mineral density (BMD) in transfusion dependent thalassemics with that of healthy controls. Thirty-two thalassemia patients, aged 2–18 years, and 32 age and sex matched controls were studied. The bone mineral concentration (BMC) and BMD were assessed at lumbar spine, distal radius, and neck of femur. Biochemical parameters like serum calcium and vitamin D levels were also assessed. Results. The BMC of neck of femur was significantly low in cases in comparison to controls. We also observed significantly lower BMD at the lumbar spine in cases in comparison to controls. A significantly positive correlation was observed between serum calcium levels and BMD at neck of femur. Conclusion. Hence, low serum calcium may be used as a predictor of low BMD especially in populations where incidence of hypovitaminosis D is very high.

The article presents a study on the estimation of stature from the skeletal remains or from the mutilated limbs in females. The study employs stadiometer and sliding calipers. Results reveal stature varied from 150.0 centimeter (cm) to 183.5 cm with standard deviation of 5.38 cm and standard error is 0.340.