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Conservation agriculture (CA) practices like zero-till and residue retention along with nitrogen management is vital for improving degraded soil health and optimizing the yield potential of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) crop. Present study was carried out during winter (rabi) seasons of 2021–22 and 2022–23 at ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi for optimizing wheat productivity in a conservation agriculture-based cotton (Gossypium herbaceum L.)-wheat system. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications consisting of combination of 3 different crop establishment methods, viz. permanent broad bed (PBB), permanent narrow bed (PNB) and zero-till flatbed (ZTFB) with residue (R) and without residue along with 2 doses of nitrogen (75N, 100N) and conventional tillage (CT). The CA-based practices showed overall superior response in terms of growth, yield and nutrients uptake of wheat than CT. Among them, the PBBR100N resulted in significantly higher plant height, leaf area index, dry-matter accumulation, crop growth rate, and relative growth rate compared to PNB, PBB, ZTFB and CT. This treatment led to significantly higher grain (16.2–19.4%) and straw (9.6–11.6%) yields than CT. The net returns and benefit cost ratio (23.4% and 27.9%) were also higher than that in CT. Again, in this treatment, N uptake by wheat crop was higher by 85%, P uptake by 53.1%, and K uptake by 40.1%, and available soil N, P and K by 16.1, 25.3 and 43.7%, respectively than CT. Therefore, the study suggests that the adoption of CA-based practices with broad bed in Indo-Gangetic Plains will not only enhance the productivity of wheat but also result in improved soil health by restoring soil fertility.

Gorlin-Goltz syndrome (GGS) is an infrequent multisystemic disease with an autosomal dominant trait, which depicted presence of numerous basal cell carcinoma in conjunction with multiorgan abnormalities. This syndrome may be diagnosed early by a dentist by routine radiographic exams in the first decade of life, since the keratocystic odontogenic tumour are usually one of the first manifestations of the syndrome. This article includes a case report of the GGS with regard to its history, incidence, etiology, features, investigations, diagnostic criteria, keratocystic odontogenic tumour and treatment modalities.

Abstract The combination of low-temperature scanning tunnelling microscopy with a mass-selective electro-spray ion-beam deposition established the investigation of large biomolecules at nanometer and sub-nanometer scale. Due to complex architecture and conformational freedom, however, the chemical identification of building blocks of these biopolymers often relies on the presence of markers, extensive simulations, or is not possible at all. Here, we present a molecular probe-sensitisation approach addressing the identification of a specific amino acid within different peptides. A selective intermolecular interaction between the sensitiser attached at the tip-apex and the target amino acid on the surface induces an enhanced tunnelling conductance of one specific spectral feature, which can be mapped in spectroscopic imaging. Density functional theory calculations suggest a mechanism that relies on conformational changes of the sensitiser that are accompanied by local charge redistributions in the tunnelling junction, which, in turn, lower the tunnelling barrier at that specific part of the peptide.

Weed control poses substantial difficulties for winter season onion (Allium cepa L.) cultivation in the north-western Indo-Gangetic Plains, primarily due to the constrained efficacy of the existing herbicides. To address this issue, a 2-year field study was conducted to assess the efficacy of pre- and post-emergence herbicides (pendimethalin, ethoxysulfuron, imazethapyr, and quizalofop-p-ethyl) individually and in combination with crop residue mulch for weed control in winter onion. The results revealed that using herbicides or mulches in isolation did not provide satisfactory weed control. However, the integration of natural mulch with pendimethalin followed by quizalofop-p-ethyl application proved to be the most effective weed control strategy, resulting in the least reduction in bulb yield (10.3%) compared to other treatments. On the contrary, combinations of pendimethalin with ethoxysulfuron or imazethapyr showed adverse effects on the onion crop and inflicted the highest yield losses among all treatments (78.6 and 83.4%, respectively). However, the combination of pendimethalin with quizalofop-p-ethyl coupled with crop mulch resulted in season-long weed control and over 80% bulb yield (36.58 t/ha) gains compared to the weed-free condition. These findings emphasize the efficacy of combining herbicides and mulches as an integrated weed management strategy for onions. By adopting such integrated approaches, farmers could improve weed control while maintaining bulb yield and quality, reducing the risks associated with herbicide resistance, and promoting sustainable onion production in the north-western Indo-Gangetic Plains.

Conducting Polyindoles (PIn-I and PIn-II) samples were synthesized via chemical oxidative polymerization in aqueous solution at a range of concentrations (0.3–0.9 M) of anhydrous FeCl3 and Ammonium persulfate (APS) at 25 ± 1 °C. Techniques such as FTIR spectrograph confirm various bond absorptions which give the identity of PIns, the morphology has been examined by SEM and XRD, while the thermal analysis of the prepared sample was studied by employing TGA-DSC. UV–Vis spectroscopy has been used to analyze complex optical parameters like band gap, refractive index, dielectric constant, and optical conductivity. The produced PIns exhibit absorption around 340–410 nm and results in the optical band gap in the range of 2.906 to 2.929 eV for the PIn-I series (with FeCl3) and 2.673 to 2.734 eV for the series of PIn-II (with APS). The samples synthesized employing 0.3 M FeCl3 and 0.9 M APS were found to have the lowest optical band gap energies of 2.906 eV and 2.673 eV, respectively. The experimental studies reveal that the optical conductivity, particle size, and crystallinity of PIn can be optimized with the different types of oxidants and their varying concentrations. The results conclude that the oxidizing agents having high reduction potential offer better electron transport and thus lower band gap and high optical conductivity. Due to the above-mentioned optical band gaps and high environmental stability, PIns have potential applications in optical devices.

A field experiment was conducted during rainy (kharif) seasons of 2020–21 and 2021–22 at the research farm of ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi to assess the effects of nitrogen and residual sulphur (S) on maize crop in the 11th year of a long-term conservation agriculture (CA)-based maize (Zea mays L.)-Indian mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czern.] cropping system. The CA-based practice CA3 [ZT maize (ZTMz) + mustard residue (MsR) + brown manuring (BM) – ZT mustard (ZTMs) + maize residue (MzR)] resulted in greater maize plant height and dry weight than other CA and CT systems except CA4 [ZTMz + mungbean residue (MbR) – ZTMs + MzR – ZTMb + MsR], which had comparable plant height and dry weight. The CA3 increased maize dry weight by 9% and 11.7% over CT in 2020–21 and 2021–22, respectively. On the contrary, CA4 exhibited highest root length, root mass, and root volume densities in both years, and CA3 was comparable. It gave significantly higher grain yield than other treatments except CA3 and CA2 (ZTMz + MsR- ZTMs + MzR), which were comparable. The 100% and 75% recommended dose of N gave comparable grain yield under all CA-based treatments, indicating a saving of 25% N (~37.5 kg N/ha), mainly under CA practices. This highlights N economization over times in CA system. The 100% and 50% S applied to mustard could not show any significant residual effect on maize grain, stover and biological yields. Interactions between CA practices and N treatments for grain yield was significant but between CA and residual S, treatments were statistically similar. Thus, this study underscores the importance of CA framework for enhancing yield and income through better N and S management/savings in maize-mustard system.

The sustainability of dominant rice-wheat rotation is under threat due to numerous water-, nutrients-, weeds- and environment-related problems, mainly, due to rice cultivation in north-western Indo-Gangetic Plains (NWIGP) of India. It needs crop- and soil- appropriate management techniques with a focus on conservation agriculture (CA) that can maintain soil health which in turn is essential for long-term sustainability of intensive cereal-based systems. Thus, rice-wheat rotation may be diversified with maize as feasible substitute for rice. But, there is a dearth of comprehensive investigation on the impact of short-term CA in maize-wheat rotation, on soil quality. Hence, an attempt has been made to assess the system productivity (SP) and soil quality in a four-year-old CA-based maize-wheat rotation. Contrasting tillage as the main plot [Conventional tillage (CT), No–tillage (NT)], crop residue mulch as subplot [residue mulch (M+), no residue (M0)], and nitrogen [50 (N1), 100 (N2), 150% (N3) of recommended nitrogen dose] as sub-sub plot was laid out in split-split plot design. Soils sampled from 0–0.05, 0.05– 0.15, and 0.15–0.30 m soil layers were examined to develop a unified soil quality index (SQI) through principal component analysis (PCA) and expert opinion. The available K, P, total organic carbon (TOC), EC, bulk density (BD), dehydrogenase activity (DHA), and soil microbial biomass C (SMBC) were identified as the crucial minimum data set for SQI using PCA. Results showed that, NT and M+ plots had 10.52 and 17.39% higher mean weight diameter (MWD) than CT and M0, respectively at 0–0.05 m soil depth. NT and M+ plots increased TOC by 5.26 and 8% than CT and M0 plots, respectively in 0–0.05 m soil layer. Available K and P were found to be significantly higher in M+ plots than that of M0. NTM+ treatments improved SMBC and DHA than CTM0 treatments. The highest and lowest SQI was registered with NTM + N3 and CTM0N1, respectively. SP was significantly and positively correlated with SQI. Diversification of rice-wheat system with maize-wheat rotation following CA practices appears to have a positive impact on soil health. Therefore, CA-based maize-wheat rotation may be recommended to improve soil quality and system productivity in NWIGP region.

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the impacts of a 12-year old conservation agriculture (CA)- based pigeon pea-wheat system on weeds, wheat crop, and resource use during winter (rabi) 2021–22. Results indicated that surface retention of residue irrespective of ZT permanent bed and N dose led to significant reduction in weed interference at 60 DAS. CA-based systems reduced weed density and dry weight considerably than CT. CA- based systems led to significantly higher wheat grain yield (by 11.6–14.9%) and net B:C (by 24.0 –28.0%) than CT, and PFBR100N and PBBR100N were slightly superior to others. PBBR100N and PBBR75N had lower irrigation water use and significantly higher irrigation water productivity than CT. Contrast analysis showed that wheat yield and water productivity were comparable between 75% N and 100% N in CA, indicating a saving of 25% N under CA.

Oral proliferative verrucous leukoplakia (OPVL) is a rare form of oral leukoplakia first reported in 1985. It is a longterm progressive condition, which develops initially as a white plaque of hyperkeratosis that eventually becomes a multifocal disease with confluent, exophytic, and proliferative features. It has no racial preference with female predilection, associated with various factors including human papillomavirus (HPV) association, genetic susceptibility, and long-standing low-grade traumatic factors. The malignancy transformation rate varies from 0.13 to 17.5% with frequent recurrences. Here, we have reported two cases of PVL seen over the tongue and palate. It is confirmed by clinical and histopathological features and treated with Vitamin A and its supplements and a long-term follow-up showed no recurrence, and hence, Vitamin A has proven as a potent treatment option of PVL by its antioxidant and epithelialization property.

Melanoma is a malignant neoplasm of the epidermal melanocytes. Awareness and early recognition of pigmented lesion inside oral cavity helps in initial diagnosis and further investigation and treatment. Oral malignant melanoma is a rare aggressive neoplasm commonly seen among middle age. The diagnosis of melanoma initiates from the pre-existing pigmented lesions. The poor prognosis of oral melanomas requires that pigmented lesions of undetermined origin be routinely biopsied. A case of malignant melanoma of hard palate with its clinical, radiological and histopathological presentation along with brief review is presented. Prognosis of these lesion is poor with survival rate of 5 years.

The combination of inorganic fertilizers (100% RDF) with foliar application of 100% concentration of cow urine as organic source of nutrients enhanced growth and yield parameters of wheat. Hence, cow urine application with variable RDF levels could be an effective combination as integrated nutrient management tool for enhancing yields of field crops.

Direct-seeded rice (DSR) can be a resource-efficient alternative to puddled transplanted rice (PTR), but weeds and nematodes pose severe challenges. Conservation agriculture (CA)-based DSR may inhibit/influence weeds/nematodes, which can be further intensified by adopting better weed control. Hence, this experiment was undertaken. Five CA-based DSR practices involving zero tillage, residue retention, brown manuring, and superimposed with four weed control/herbicide options were compared with PTR in a split-plot design replicated three times. All DSRs encountered more weeds and plant parasitic nematodes (PPNs) than PTR. Root-knot nematodes (RKN) infested five among 14 weeds present in rice and was first time found in Dinebra retroflexa. A CA-based zero till (ZT)DSR+ mungbean residue – ZT wheat + rice residue – ZT mungbean+wheat residue system reduced weeds significantly. It reduced RKN galls in Echinochloa colona, Echinochloa crusgalli, and rice plants by 72, 58, and 56%, respectively. In soil too, RKN and other PPNs, namely, Tylenchorhynchus brevilineatus and Pratylenchus thornei were reduced by 39%, 32%, and 26%, respectively, which gave a 6.3–22.7% higher yield in this CA practice than other DSRs. Pyrazosulfuron-ethyl, cyhalofop-butyl, and bispyribac-Na applied sequentially reduced weeds and PPNs, increased rice yield by 176.1%, and were at below detectable levels in soil, rice grains, and straw, and were safe for rotational crops. The above ZT-based triple cropping with residue supplemented with herbicides through better weed and nematode control would be an alternative to PTR in the North-wester Indo-Gangetic Plains of India and in similar agroecologies of the tropics/sub-tropics. This study would help farmers and policymakers to design integrated weed and nematode management modules using tillage, crop residue, and herbicides/pesticides for higher DSR yield and income.

The terminology choriostoma describes a tumor-like lesion belonging to hamartomatous group of pathology, that is, normal tissue found in abnormal location. Osseous choriostomas in oral cavity are rare and mostly the cases have been reported in tongue but rarely arising from the interdental gingiva. There are various pathological entities arising from gingiva that give a thought of wider differential diagnosis starting from inflammatory to traumatic origin. Hamartomas in oral cavity are very rare which can definitely be attributed to the sparse literature which leads to misdiagnosis as well failure to understand its biology. In this report, we present a case of osseous choriostoma arising from interdental gingiva in a young female patient in the lower arch.

Weeds that occur in repeated flushes pose major challenges to direct-seeded rice (DSR). Zero till (ZT) DSR with crop residue influences weed interference considerably and can be substitutive to resource-intensive puddled transplanted rice (PTR). Field experiments were conducted at ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute during 2018–19 involving conservation agriculture (CA)-based DSRs and weed control/herbicides treatments to appraise weed interference and productivity under an eight-year old CA-based rice-wheat system (RWS). All DSRs encountered more weeds than PTR. A double ZT system without residue [~ZTDSR-ZT wheat (ZTW); C1] had highest density and dry weight of grassy weeds, but a triple ZT system without residue [~ZTDSR-ZTW-ZT mungbean (ZTMB); C4] had highest density and dry weight of broad-leaved and sedge weeds. However, a triple ZT system with three crops residue [~ZTDSR + mungbean residue-ZTW + rice residue-ZTMB + wheat residue; C5)] could reduce weed interference significantly and led to 9.3% and 21.8% higher rice yield than C1 and C4, respectively. The application of pyrazosulfuron-ethyl 0.025 kg/ha pre-emergence followed by (fb) cyhalofop-butyl 0.100 kg/ha at 20 days after sowing (DAS), fb bispyribac-Na 0.025 kg/ha at 25 DAS (W4) led to significant reduction in grassy, broad-leaved and sedge weeds densities by 92.5, 96.6 and 67.7%, respectively. The triple ZT system with rice, wheat and mungbean residues (C5) combined with application of pyrazosulfuron-ethyl fb cyhalofop-butyl fb bispyribac-Na (W4) gave almost similar rice yield with PTR (C6). This may be recommended for adoption in Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP) of India and in similar agro-ecologies of the tropics/sub-tropics.

Weeds are the major constraint to achieving higher wheat yield in Afghanistan. To evaluate weed interference and its impact on wheat, a field experiment was undertaken during winter season in 2014–15 at Afghanistan National Agricultural Science and Technology University (ANASTU), Kandahar. Seven weed control treatments comprising isoproturon 0.75 and 1.0 kg/ha at 35 days after sowing (DAS), sulfosulfuron 20 and 25 g/ha at 35 DAS, isoproturon + 2,4-D 0.75 + 0.5 kg/ha at 35 DAS (tank-mix), weed-free check and weedy check were laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Results showed that grassy weeds constituted 62.7% of the total weeds and were mostly dominant. All herbicides/weed control treatments influenced weed interference, wheat crop growth and yield significantly. Sulfosulfuron 25 g/ha at 35 DAS resulted in significant reduction in weed density by 95.2% (i.e. weed control efficiency) and dry weight by 95.1% (i.e. weed control index), respectively. This treatment led to significant improvements in wheat growth (Leaf area index, dry matter accumulation) and grain (4.6 t/ha) and biological yields (10.6 t/ha), and was superior to other herbicide treatments. It increased wheat grain and biological yields by 24.3% and 17.8%, respectively, compared to weedy check. Therefore, the application of sulfosulfuron 25 g/ha at 35 DAS may be recommended for better weed control and higher wheat yield in Kandahar, Afghanistan, and in similar agro-ecologies of the tropics and sub-tropics.

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.

Postmenopause is a phase of life which leads physical and emotional instability from multiple health related issues. Oral health in this stage of life is also compromised. Oral health has an impact on general wellbeing of the individual as oral cavity is commonly act as a mirror to general health. Menopause is phase in a woman’s life when menstrual cycles cease by reduced secretion of the ovarian hormones, such as estrogen and progesterone. This review article has emphasized on the diverse oral presentations of peri- and postmenopausal phase of women’s life. Practicing dental surgeons and general physician should be aware of the possible association of postmenopause and its various oral signs and symptoms in this midlife phase of women. It also focuses on its symptomatic management of various oral health issues. This article explains diverse oral conditions in detailed and their management. Stress causing anxiety and depression among this midlife phase of women can lead to alteration in immunity which can again lead to various oral conditions, like lichen planus, apthous ulcer that can cause burning sensation in oral mucosa and alter the food habit. By dealing with all this diverse condition, practicing oral physician can help to reduce and manage oral manifestation of postmenopausal phase of life.

Maintaining a patient's quality of life is main the aim while treating cancer patients. Patients getting treated for oral cancer encountered with numerous symptoms at the time of radiotherapy and most of these are side effect which can persist even after few months to year after the treatment gets over. Radiotherapy is a vital aspect of both curative and palliative cancer care. Understanding the basics complications of radiotherapy along with its primary management of oral symptoms can assist family physicians in providing complete primary care for their cancer patients. Palliative oral care helps to ease symptoms from the cancer treatment. Oral care negligence is still a major cause of worsening of posttreatment quality of life of an individual. The article mainly empathies on the oral health care need to be taken care by primary care physicians in the cancer patients during and after the radiotherapy. Consequences associated with radiotherapy in oral cavity and its systematic overview of preventing and managing acute and chronic condition. It enlightens the importance of dentist role on improving quality of life of these patients.

Pemphigus is comprised of a group of life-threatening autoimmune diseases that is characterized by circulating IgG antibodies targeting several types of keratinocyte antigens. After introduction of systemic steroids, survival has improved dramatically. However, mortality and morbidity were still very high due to side effects of steroids. Pulse therapy is defined as discontinuous/intermittent intravenous infusion of very high doses of corticosteroids along with certain immunosuppressive agents over a short period. This therapy was introduced to minimize the side effects of conventional corticosteroid therapy. The target is to achieve a faster response and stronger efficacy and to decrease the need for long-term use of systemic corticosteroids. As a result, this therapy has gained its popularity since three decades. The purpose of this article is to review the various available pulse therapy regimens with dosage, indications and contraindications and side effects.

Catalytic reduction of CO2 and biomass derivatives is of great current interest from a sustainable chemistry perspective. Here, the authors report a manganese pincer complex able to reduce under mild conditions carboxylic acids, carbonates and even carbon dioxide using pinacolborane as reducing agent.

Carbohydrates are common biological molecules, but display huge stereochemical complexity that often cannot be elucidated by mass spectrometry. Here the authors show that recognition tunnelling can distinguish individual stereoisomers, utilizing picomole quantities of analytes.