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Background: Hypotension refers to an abnormally low blood pressure (BP) below 80/60. The role of nursing in treating the patients with hypotension is having a lot of importance. Objectives: To assess the Effectiveness of Nursing Strategies on Cardiac parameters among patients with hypotension admitted in Dhanvantri Critical Care Centre, Erode. Design: Quasi-experimental design, where Pre and Post test Non equivalent Group design, Setting: Dhanvantri Critical Care Centre, Erode. Methods: Out of 30 patients, 20 patients were selected as experimental group and 10 patients were selected as control group by using purposive sampling technique. Level of cardiac function was measured by cardiac parameters observational scale before and after the procedure. Results: Scores in cardiac function shows, posttest 80% of patients had moderate level of cardiac function in control group whereas on experimental group 95% of patients had normal level of cardiac function. The patient’s level of cardiac parameters improved from the mean value of 12.7±1.59 to 12.5±2.18 in control group and 11.8± 2.07 to 19.2±2.66 in experimental group respectively. Paired ‘t’ test score was 3.462 and 27.49 in control and experimental group. Unpaired ‘t’ test score was 5.44 which is significantly effective. Conclusion: The findings of the study reveal that Fluid therapy and passive leg raising is more effective and it improves the level of cardiac function in patients with hypotension.

The blackgram aphid, Aphis craccivora Koch, is an important pest of Robinia pseudoacacia Frisia. The life table parameters of A. craccivora were determined under laboratory conduction. The results revealed that in blackgram, the net reproductive rate (17.23 individuals per female), mean generation time (11.73 days) and doubling time (2.868/days) were higher at 300 C and lower at 350C viz., 11.10, 9.68 and 2.787 respectively. The intrinsic rate of increase (0.249 day) and finite rate of increase (1.282 day) were at the maximum in 300C and at the minimum in 350C viz., 0.242 and 1.273 days respectively in blackgram.

The results revealed that inland ecosystem (Srivilliputtur) during summer and winter 2017, cowpea + sorghum intercrop system recorded low numbers aphid, thrips, pod bug and spotted pod borer viz., (7.52 and 10.57/10 cm twigs, 0.96 and 2.06/10 flowers, 0.96 and 2.05/plant and 0.72 and 1.24 larvae/plant respectively) followed by cowpea + pigeonpea (8.65 and 11.64, 1.30 and 2.19, 1.04 and 2.17 and 0.99 and 2.09 larvae/plant respectively) compared to pure crop of cowpea (12.11 and 6.54/10cm twigs, 2.02 and 4.13/10 flowers, 2.08 and 3.25/plant and 1.71 and 2.99 larvae/plant respectively). In inland ecosystem during winter 2017, the mean number of leaf hopper low in intercropped with cowpea + pigeonpea (0.87/3 leaves) during summer 2017 and intercropped with cowpea+ sorghum was low (1.25/ 3 leaves).where as in coastal ecosystem (Kamudhi) during summer and winter 2017, Leaf hopper, aphid, thrips, pod bug and spotted pod borer viz., (0.57 and 1.24/3leaves, 7.06 and 8.56/10 cm twig, 0.88 and 1.76/10 flower, 0.75 and 2.09/plant and 0.8 and 1.95 larvae/plant respectively) were low with cowpea + sorghum followed by cowpea + pigeonpea (0.85 and 1.37/3leaves, 8.72 and 9.40/10 cm twig, 1.12 and 2.14/10 flowers, 0.86 and 2.19/plant and 0.78 and 1.95 larvae/plant respectively) which was significantly minimum than pure crop of cowpea (1.21 and 2.54/ 3 leafhopper, 11.39 and 14.58/10 cm twigs, 1.81 and 3.67/10 flowers, 1.86 and 3.26/plant and 0.26 and 0.30 larvae/plant respectively).

A study was conducted to understand the stability of seed cotton yield of 105 Bt cotton hybrids (BGI and BGII) using Additive Main effects and Multiplicative Interactions (AMMI) analysis across three diverse locations in India during rainy season 2018. This study holds importance as the hybrids were resistant to Helicoverpa bollworms due to Bt events (MON531 and MON15985) in them which were expected to nullify variation arising out of differential bollworm pressure in different location, unlike in non Bt hybrids where this variation also played role in the stability of the hybrids. The main effect differences among hybrids (41.23 %), environments (39.56 %) and the interaction effects (19.21%) were highly significant of the total variance of seed cotton yield indicating a large difference between the testing location causing different hybrids to perform differently across the testing environments. The first two principal components axes (IPCA I and IPCA II) were highly significant and contributed 52.12 % and 47.88% of total interaction respectively. The distance from the origin and the placement of locations in different quadrants of biplot reflected that the locations were substantially discriminatory as Aurangabad and Dharwad, which were high yielding and Raichur was low yielding. Results showed that hybrids IAHH-8096 BGII, IAHH-8103 BGI, IAHH-8061 BGII and IAHH-8007 BGII were having lowest interaction and stable across the location, whereas hybrids IAHH-8080 BGI, IAHH-8084 BGI, IAHH-8004 BGII and IAHH-8105 BGI were having more interaction and unstable genotypes. Large frequency of hybrids (57) were stable with IPCA scores nearing zero and low ASV values which is attributed resistance to bollworm due to Bt events.

Recombination breeding is limited in finger millet due to tiny florets and irregular anthesis. Induced mutagenesis using gamma irradiation was attempted to improve grain yield and related traits in three elite cultivars (GPU28, GPU 67 and MR 6). Mean performance and estimates of BLUP and BLUE of 61 mutants showed variability among the mutants for grain yield in comparison to parental genotypes. Grain yield being a complex trait and influenced by high G × E interaction recorded low heritability estimate sand therefore BLUP provided more reliable estimates for grain yield. Stability analysis was conducted using GGE biplot techniques and also by plotting the trait means with their respective coefficient of variation values(CVs). From mean performance and stability analysis, the mutants GPU28-2212, GPU28-2086, GPU28-2082 derived from GPU 28 variety, GPU67-3358, GPU67-3359, GPU67-2094 from GPU67 variety and MR6-3393 from MR6 variety were superior for grain yield and related traits. Combined association analysis revealed tillers per plant as highly correlated trait with grain yield indicating key trait for grain yield improvement in finger millet. Mutants with improved finger traits and blast resistance are also discussed.

Background: Bruchine is one of the notorious pests that renders both the quantity and quality of pulses stored produce especially blackgram. Hence the present study was carried out to ascertain the essential selection indices among the bruchine resistance traits involved. Methods: A laboratory experiment was conducted to estimate the variability parameters for traits related to bruchine infestation in various crosses of blackgram viz., MDU1 × TU68, VBN6 × TU68 and VBN8 × TU68 at National Pulses Research Centre, Vamban. Observations were recorded for eight bruchine resistance traits on each single plants from three crosses. Result: The results indicated that all traits viz., total number of adult emergence, developmental time, mean developmental period, index of susceptibility, seed damage (%) and seed weight loss (%) recorded high PCV and GCV in all crosses except developmental time which had moderate to low variation. All traits also recorded high heritability and genetic advance as per cent of mean in all crosses except developmental time. Developmental time had moderate to high heritability and genetic advance over the crosses. Considering skewness and kurtosis, the cross MDU 1 × TU 68 had a wide variation for total number of adult emergence and seed damage. Hence the cross MDU 1 × TU 68 could be selected for the selection of bruchid resistant individuals. The association studies revealed that traits viz., developmental time, total number of adult emergence, index of susceptibility and seed damage were reliable selection indices for the seed weight loss.

Background: Blackgram [Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper] is a rich source of protein. It is one of the major crops essentially involved in daily human diets. However, storage pest bruchine [Callosobruchus maculatus (F.)] is a major production constraint for legumes. A research was formulated to assess the bruchine resistance in 20 blackgram genotypes along with the biochemical analysis to find out the active biochemical components responsible for the resistance activity.Methods: The experiment was carried out during August- October, 2019 at Entomology Laboratory, National Pulses Research Center, Vamban, India. The experimental material comprised of 20 blackgram genotypes which were screened for bruchine resistance. Further, confirmatory trial was conducted with selected resistant entries and highly susceptible entries during October- December, 2019. Both experiments were carried out in completely randomized design and replicated three times. GC-MS analysis on the resistant and susceptible entries were performed to ascertain the active biochemical components conferring resistance.Result: Among the genotypes, TU 68 had comparatively late developmental time (days), less number of adult emergence, higher mean developmental period (days), less susceptibility index, less seed damage (%) and less seed weight loss (%). Genotype TU 68 was found to be resistant in the confirmatory trial also. Less number of adult emergence and higher mean developmental period indicated the delayed developmental period which is a mechanism of bruchine resistance. GC-MS analysis on resistant (TU 68) and susceptible (MDU 1) genotypes indicated the presence of active biochemical compounds with insectifuge activity in TU 68. Hence, TU 68 could be utilized in the hybridization programmeas donor for bruchine resistance.

Sorghum and millets are the important sources of staple diet in the semi-arid tropics especially in Asia and Africa. Millets were almost forgotten crops until last decade. Recently there is a big comeback for millets considering its nutritional superiority and in-built climate resilience. Breeding of sorghum and pearl millet has led to quantum jump in productivity especially due the availability of hybrids in these millets. Breeding of finger millets and other small millets has not received much attention and moreover recombination breeding has not been exploited fully mainly because of the autogamous nature of the reproduction, small sized florets and difficulty in hybridization. This chapter focuses on the genetic resources available and utilization of the available genetic resources for genetic improvement. The inbuilt potential of millets to overcome the vagaries of climate especially moisture and heat stress and its mechanisms is discussed. The improvement of yield potential, climate resilient traits together with nutritional superiority can make millets as future climate smart crops.

The legume pod borer, Maruca vitrata (Geyer) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), is an important pest of pulses globally. The laboratory study investigated its development, survivorship and food intake on different pulses, namely pigeon pea (CO RG 6), black gram (CO BG 6), green gram (CO GG 7), cowpea (CO 7) and lablab (Rohini) in an environment of 27.9±2.2 °C and 76.6 ± 9.1%RH. The highest food consumption was recorded in lablab flowers (433.02 mg) while the maximum larval weight gain was in pigeon pea flowers (71.85 mg). The maximum assimilation rate (375.33 mg) was in flowers of lablab. The relative growth rate was maximum in flowers of black gram (2.27) and whereas efficiency of conversion of digested food was 36.60 % and efficiency of conversion of ingested food was highest on green gram flowers (72.96 %). An attempt on mass-culturing was made on its natural hosts and as per the studies, the culture could be maintained only up to first generation on all hosts except lablab. The results of the first-generation study revealed that, in lablab, the maximum number of Maruca larvae (38.2) successfully completed with the maximum pupation rate (71.1 %) and adult emergence (81.5 %). It was found that lablab was able to support four to six generations under laboratory conditions and the sex ratio (male:female) of 1:2 had the maximum number of eggs laid (86) on lablab. The results of significant differences among the hosts indicated that lablab was highly suitable host for rearing of M. vitrata.

In order to meet the growing demands from the population explosion, the future agriculture system needs to be more productive and resource efficient than the current production systems. The green revolution has revolutionized the food production in the last five decades but largely driven by intensive resource use, in particular nitrogen and water. This has led to massive environmental problems, in particular nitrogen pollution and very low nitrogen efficiency in the present production systems. This needs to be corrected, and nitrogen use efficiency needs to be improved substantially in future production systems to sustain and improve food grain production without damaging environment further. Nitrogen use efficiency in the current production systems is lower than 30%, which is largely due to uncontrolled soil nitrifier activity results in excessive and rapid nitrate production in farmlands. To improve nitrogen use efficiency, it is imperative that soil nitrifier activity needs to be substantially curtailed, and crop nitrogen nutrition needs to move more toward ammonium form. Biological nitrification inhibition (BNI) is a plant function where nitrification inhibitors are produced from root systems to suppress soil nitrifier activity and facilitate nitrogen nutrition in ammonium form and reduce formation of nitrate, which is largely responsible for nitrogen losses from farmlands. This phenomenon of BNI is fairly spread across pastures and major cultivated food crops. Sorghum is one of the crops with substantial BNI function by releasing BNIs into the rhizosphere, which inhibit the one or both the enzymatic pathways of ammonia to nitrate. Two types of organic compounds, hydrophobic and hydrophilic compound, have been isolated from the root exudate of sorghum. Sorgoleone is the major hydrophobic component which was shown to check >80% nitrification. This chapter discussed the concept of BNI and role of various inhibitors (BNIs) released by various plants/crops, particularly their mode of actions, mechanism, and scope for genetic manipulation for development of improved cultivars with improved BNI function in sorghum.

Biopesticides are promising alternatives to chemical pesticides, and they have opened up new panorama in insect pest management to aid in the promotion of safe, eco-friendly pest management. They are relatively host specific and do not interfere with other biotic systems. Research concerning the development of biopesticides has focused mainly on identification of virulent isolates of bioagents for effective management of the target pests. However, information pertaining to their effects on natural enemies, non-target pests, and environment is scanty. In the present study, oil formulation of fungal pathogen, Beauveria bassiana (Bb 112) was tested against adults of Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant (Coleoptera:Coccinellidae), under laboratory condition. Oil formulation of B. bassiana (Bb 112) has been found to be safer to C. montrouzieri adults with maximum adult survival of 92.62 per cent at the highest dose (10 8 spores ml -1 ) and 100 per cent survival at lower dose tested (10 4 spores ml -1 ) respectively.

In the present study F 2 generation was evaluated for yield and yield contributing traits to understand genetic variability and association among yield contributing traits in dolichos bean. High phenotypic and genotypic coefficient of variability (PCV and GCV) was observed for first flowering initiation and total seed weight per plant in both the crosses. The differences between PCV and GCV values were narrow for all the traits studied, which indicates the low level of environmental influence in the expression of these traits. High heritability and GAM was noticed for all the traits studied in both the crosses indicating that influence of additive gene effects in expression of these characters. Skewness and kurtosis indicate that seed weight per plant (SW/P) was governed by complementary gene interaction with fewer numbers of dominant genes. Hence, SW/P could be increased either by increasing 100SW or seeds per pod among the crosses studied.

SUMMARYSorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] grown in India is of two adaptive types: rainy and post-rainy. The post-rainy sorghum is predominantly consumed by humans. While releasing new cultivars through multi-location testing, major emphasis is given to the superiority of new cultivars over existing cultivars, with very little emphasis on the genotype × environment interaction (GEI). To understand the complexity of GEI in post-rainy sorghum testing location trials, the multi-location evaluation data of two post-rainy seasons (2009/10 and 2010/11) under the All India Coordinated Sorghum Improvement Project were analysed. In both years, location explained the highest proportion of total sum of squares followed by the GEI effect and main effect of genotype. Additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI), stability values (ASV) and genotype + genotype × environment interaction (GGE) instability values recorded high correlation resulting in identification of the best performing cultivars. However, the rank correlations were lower, though still significant. A mixture of crossover and non-crossover GEI was a common occurrence in both years. ‘Which-won-where’ analysis suggested the existence of four possible mega-environments (ME) among post-rainy testing locations, with a few non-informative locations within ME. Mega-environments are characterized by soil type, rainfall pattern and moisture conservation practices. The present study indicated the possibility of reducing the number of test locations by eliminating non-representative highly correlated locations and suggested the need to breed for location-specific genotypes rather than genotypes with wider adaptability.

Blast of finger millet, Pyricularia grisea, is an economically important disease causing significant loss of production worldwide. Use of resistant cultivar is the most economical way for management of the disease. Identification of stable sources of resistance is of utmost importance to develop varieties against the highly variable pathogen. In this study one hundred-fifteen finger millet genotypes including 108 germplasm of African and Asian origin and a few improved cultivars were evaluated for finger and neck blast resistance across three locations representing major finger millet areas in India during 2016, 2017 and 2018. Evaluation was conducted under natural field conditions, supplemented with artificial inoculation of earhead with blast pathogen at pre-anthesis stage. Disease severity was assessed using a 1–9 disease rating scale. Twenty-nine of the 115 genotypes showed resistance either for finger or neck blast, while six showed combined resistance to both. Stability analysis of those 29 genotypes revealed that five (IE Nos., 2883, 2871, 6240, 2710 and GE3767) were stable for both finger and neck blast resistance. They also possess desirable agronomic characters like medium plant height (100–110 cm), medium maturity (106–115 days) and semi-compact (top of finger incurved) earhead shape. This paper reports stable sources of finger and neck blast resistance in finger millet, which will serve as important donor in a finger millet resistance breeding programme.

This study presents to determine the optimum values of the design parameters in High-Performance Concrete (HPC). Three design parameters considered for this study, such as Binder/aggregate, Superplasticizers. An orthogonal array was formed with the help of design parameters; optimization was done using the Taguchi method. The mechanical properties were studied in different specimens with different fiber ratios. When the HPC has very high in compressive strength, at the same time, brittleness of the concrete also high. There is a need to improve the ductile of the high-performance concrete. Due to fiber added to the mix, it enhances the strength of the concrete. Fibers are used in concrete to control the concreting, better toughness. Fiber pullout and fiber debonding are two toughening mechanisms provided by the fibers in concrete. Microstructure Study was conducted by using SEM images; it gives the interaction between the materials in concrete. The experimental and microstructure models were compared in this study for M80 concrete.

Cancer is the second common cause of mortality in developed countries. Oral mucositis is an inflammation caused by the necrosis of the layer of the oral mucosa. It is one of the most common oral complications associated with cancer treatment. Cryotherapy is a treatment based on the application of low temperatures on a body part. The aim of this treatment is to reduce inflammation, cellular metabolism, pain and spasm and increase vasoconstriction and cellular survival. Specific swallowing exercises have been shown to reduce the effects of radiation induced dysphagia and improve the prognosis for oral intake. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of health promotion package on selected physiological symptoms among head and neck cancer patients in selected hospital Kanyakumari District Tamil Nadu. The design used in this study is Quasi experimental with pre test post test control group design. The study is conducted in International Cancer Centre Neyyoor. The tools used were WHO Mucositis grading scale, National Cancer Institute Xerestomia Grading Scale, Numerical pain rating scale and MAAN Assessment of swallowing Ability scale to assess the physiological symptoms. The investigator given cryotherapy and swallowing exercises for the period of four weeks. Result of the study revealed that health promotion package is effective in reducing physiological symptoms among head and neck cancer patients., {"references":["Brunner & Suddarth. Text Book of Medical Surgical Nursing. 11th Edn. London: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins a Wolters Company; 2008: pp. 381.","The 10 Deadliest Cancers and Why There's No Cure - Live Science: Sep 10, 2010.","Audrey, S. Rousseau, A. & B. Cécile, Head and Neck: Squamous cell carcinoma: an overview. Atlas Genet Cytogenet Oncol Haematol. 2012; 2(2): pp. 145–155.","Graham S. Dentition, diet, tobacco and alcohol in the epidemiology of oral cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1977; 59: pp. 1611–18.","Dayal P.K., Mani N.J. & Bhargava K. Prevalence of oral cancer and precancerous lesions in 'pan'/'supari' chewers. Indian J Public Health. 1978; 22: pp. 234–45.","Mehta F.S. & Hamner J.E. Tobacco Habits in India in: Tobacco-Related Oral Mucosal Lesions and Conditions in India. New Delhi, India: Jaypee Brothers; 1993: pp. 89–99.","Chiappelli F. The molecular immunology of mucositis: Implications for evidence-based research in alternative and complementary palliative treatments. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2005; 2(2): pp. 489–94.","Epstein, JB. & Schubert, MM. Oral mucositis in myelo suppressive cancer therapy. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod. 1999; 88(23): pp. 273–6.","Gibson, RJ. Bowen, JM. & Keef, DM. Technological advances in mucositis research: new insights and new issues. Cancer Treat Rev. 2008; 34(13): pp. 476–82.","Rubenstein, EB. Peterson, DE. Schubert, M. Keefe, D. McGuire, D. & Epstein, J. Clinical practice guidelines for the prevention and treatment of cancer therapy-induced oral and gastrointestinal mucositis, Cancer. 2004; 100(13): pp. 2026–46.","Vera-Llonch M, Oster G, Ford CM, Lu J & Sonis S. Oral mucositis and outcomes of allogenic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation in patients with hematologic malignancies. Support Care Cancer. 2007; 15: pp. 491–6","Vera-Llonch M, Oster G, Hagiwara M & Sonis S. Oral mucositis in patients undergoing radiation treatment for head and neck carcinoma. Cancer. 2006; 106: pp. 329–36.","Satheesh Kumar et al. Radiation Induced oral mucositis. Indian J Palliat Care. 2009 Jul-Dec; 15(2): pp. 95–102. Doi:10.4103/0973-1075.58452 PMCID: PMC2902123","Dodd MJ, Miaskowski C, Greenspan D, MacPhail L, Shih AS, Shiba G, et al. Radiation-induced mucositis: A randomized clinical trial of micronized sucralfate versus salt and soda mouthwashes. Cancer Invest. 2003; 21: pp. 21–33.","Nottage M, McLachlan SA, Brittain MA, Oza A, Hedley D, Feld R, et al. Sucralfate mouthwash for prevention and treatment of 5-fluorouracil-induced mucositis: A randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Support Care Cancer. 2003; 11: pp. 41–7."]}

Knowledge on genetic diversity is necessary to determine the relationships among the genotypes, which allow the selection of individual accessions for crop breeding programmes. The present study aimed at assessing the extent and pattern of genetic diversity within a set of 251 sorghum genotypes using SSR markers. A total of 393 alleles were detected from the 251 genotypes, with the number of alleles ranging from 2 (Xcup11) to 24 (Sb5-206) and an average of 10.07 alleles per primer pair. Pairwise Wright's FSTstatistic and Nei's genetic distance estimates revealed that the race and geographical origin were responsible for the pattern of diversity and structure in the genetic materials. In addition, the analysis also revealed high genetic differentiation between the rainy and post-rainy sorghum groups. Narrow diversity was observed among the different working groups in the rainy (restorers and varieties) and post-rainy (varieties and advanced breeding lines) sorghum groups. Neighbour-joining and STRUCTURE analysis also classified 44 elite lines broadly into two distinct groups (rainy and post-rainy). However, limited diversity within the rainy and post-rainy sorghum groups warranted an urgent need for the utilization of diverse germplasm accessions for broadening the genetic base of the Indian breeding programme. The diverse germplasm accessions identified from the mini-core accessions for utilization in breeding programmes are discussed.

To physiologically categorize drought tolerance characteristics of post-rainy sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench], 21 sorghum genotypes were evaluated under well watered and water deficit stress conditions for 2 years. Water deficit stress showed mixed effect among the genotypes for days to flowering, while other traits were adversely affected. Over 35 % reduction in grain yield was recorded due to post-flowering drought. Retention of green leaf area (GLA) during grain filling stage was found to be associated with drought tolerance. Loss of GLA started earlier and faster among high susceptible lines compared to tolerant lines. Based on stability analysis and drought susceptibility indices IS 23514 and Phule Chitra were identified as stable drought tolerant lines. Identified lines can be used in post-rainy sorghum breeding and molecular studies in future. The study also suggests that easily scorable physiological traits such as retention of green leaf area can be combined with stability analysis and DSI to identify drought tolerant genotypes.

Construction is one of the area in which computer application software are highly required to perform different task at various stages of project construction. Computers have been used to enhance the effectiveness of construction management. Efficient utilization of computer application software is a key to enhancing the proper management of construction activities which will contribute to the successful implementation of construction project. Careful selection of computer application software is required by the construction companies for proper management of their resources. The difficulty about computerization especially with regard to the use of computer application software in resource management require the knowledge and expertise of those working in construction companies, and who are directly involved in the management of construction resources. The study was carried out to determine the obstacles confronting the proper utilization of computer application software in resource management. The result of the questionnaire survey used in this research work clearly indicated those constraints, which include, nonunderstanding about software potentials, lack of qualified personnel to use the software, unaware of most of the resource management software available in the market, communication gap between the vendors and users which contribute to nonunderstanding of the full scope of the software, greater-know-how required from staff, among numerous others. A total of 22 construction companies were selected for the study. An open ended questionnaire which consist of 22 questions with regard to the constraints affecting the proper utilization of computer application software in resource management was designed, validated, and distributed among Engineers, Project Managers, as well as executives who are directly involved in the activities of the construction site.