Bayer (India)

Abstract Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.), a crop of significant nutritional and medicinal renown, is experiencing a surge in global demand, particularly in Asia. To meet this demand amidst the challenge of limited agricultural land, enhancing productivity through innovative breeding is essential. Hybrid breeding, which harnesses the power of heterosis, offers a proven strategy for boosting crop yields. However, the success of any heterosis breeding program, especially in a naturally cross-pollinated and genetically variable crop like bitter gourd, is fundamentally dependent on robust methods for assessing and strategically utilizing the available genetic diversity. This study compared the efficacy of traditional morphological trait-based clustering with a modern breeding value-based method (Heterotic grouping based on Specific and General Combining Ability - HSGCA) for predicting heterosis. Eleven diverse bitter gourd inbred lines were crossed in a half-diallel fashion to generate 55 F1 hybrids. The hybrids and parents were evaluated for key yield-related traits. K-means clustering based on morphological data resulted in five groups but proved unreliable for predicting heterosis, as high heterosis was often observed within clusters. In contrast, HSGCA-based clustering organized the lines into three coherent groups, where crosses between the two main groups (Group 1 and Group 2) consistently exhibited significantly higher mid-parent (20.89%) and better-parent (7.5%) heterosis compared to intra-group crosses. The HSGCA method provides a far more reliable framework for defining heterotic groups in bitter gourd, enabling more efficient and predictive hybrid breeding programs.

Abstract India’s transformation of its food system from a highly deficient one in the mid-1960s to one that is self-reliant and marginally surplus now is a success story that holds lessons for many smallholder economies in Africa and south and south-east Asia. India has emerged as the largest producer of milk, spices, cotton and pulses; the second largest producer of wheat, rice, fruits and vegetables; the third largest producer of eggs; and the fifth largest producer of poultry meat. It is also the largest exporter of rice, spices and bovine meat. All of this became possible with an infusion of new technologies, innovative institutional engineering, and the right incentives. However, as India looks towards 2030 and beyond, its food system faces many challenges ranging from increasing pressure on natural resources (soils, water, air, forests) to climate change to fragmenting land holdings, increasing urbanisation, and high rates of malnutrition amongst children. To meet these challenges successfully, India needs a proper mix of policies- from the subsidy-driven to the investment-driven, from price policy to income policy, promoting agricultural diversification towards more nutritious food. It also needs to incentivise its private sector to build efficient and inclusive value chains, giving due importance to environmental sustainability. More innovative technologies, from green-to-gene, increasing digitalisation, the Internet of Things, and artificial intelligence, would be needed to ‘produce more from less’ with a goal of feeding the most populous nation on this planet by 2030 in a sustainable manner.

More than two billion people suffer from micronutrient deficiencies (MiNDs) globally, with nearly half living in India. The current risk of ‘hidden hunger’ is severe in India due to serious deficiency risks across an array of essential micronutrients. A nationwide advisory board meeting attended by more than 20 Indian health care professionals (HCPs) was conducted to determine their clinical viewpoint on MiND. An in-depth search of PubMed studies emphasizing various aspects of MiND relevant to the Indian scenario was performed and presented to eminent HCPs from across India who then shared their opinions and perspectives based on their clinical experiences associated with MiND.

ABSTRACT Neurotransmitters (NTs) such as acetylcholine, biogenic amines (dopamine, noradrenaline, adrenaline, histamine), indoleamines [(melatonin (MEL) & serotonin (SER)] have been found not only in mammalians, but also in diverse living organisms-microorganisms to plants. These NTs have emerged as potential signaling molecules in the last decade of investigations in various plant systems. NTs have been found to play important roles in plant life including-organogenesis, flowering, ion permeability, photosynthesis, circadian rhythm, reproduction, fruit ripening, photomorphogenesis, adaptation to environmental changes. This review will provide an overview of recent advancements on the physiological and molecular mechanism of NTs in plants. Moreover, molecular crosstalk of SER and MEL with various biomolecules is also discussed. The study of these NTs may serve as new understanding of the mechanisms of signal transmission and cell sensing in plants subjected to various environmental stimulus.

ObjectiveTo assess the dietary total and complex carbohydrate (CHO) contents in type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) participants in India.SettingWe enrolled 796 participants in this cross-sectional, single-visit, multicentre, two-arm, single-country survey. Participants were enrolled from 10 specialty endocrinology/dialectology centres from five regions of India.ParticipantsA total of 796 participants (Asian) were enrolled in this study (385, T2DM and 409, non-T2DM). Key inclusion criteria—male or female ≥18 years, diagnosed with T2DM ≥12 months (T2DM), and not on any diet plan (non-T2DM).Study outcomePrimary outcome was to find out the percentage of total energy intake as simple and complex CHO from total CHO. Secondary outcomes were to find the differences in percentage of total energy intake as simple CHO, complex CHO, proteins and fats between T2DM and non-T2DM groups. The percentage of T2DM participants adhering to diet plan and showing glycaemic controls were also examined.ResultsThe mean (SD) of total calorie intake per day (Kcal) was 1547 (610, 95% CI 1486 to 1608) and 2132 (1892, 95% CI 1948 to 2316), respectively, for T2DM and non-T2DM groups. In the T2DM group (n=385), the mean (SD) percentage of total energy intake as total CHO, complex CHO and simple CHO was 64.1±8.3 (95% CI 63.3 to 64.9), 57.0±11.0 (95% CI 55.9 to 58.1) and 7.1±10.8 (95% CI 6.0 to 8.2), respectively. The mean (SD) percentage of complex CHO intake from total CHO was 89.5±15.3 (95% CI 88.0 to 91.1). The mean (SD) total protein/fat intake per day (g) was 57.1 (74.0)/37.2 (18.6) and 57.9 (27.2)/55.3 (98.2) in T2DM and non-T2DM groups, respectively.ConclusionsOur study shows that CHO constitutes 64.1% of total energy from diet in T2DM participants, higher than that recommended in India. However, our findings need to be confirmed in a larger epidemiological survey.Trial registration numberNCT01450592 & Clinical Trial Registry of India: CTRI/2012/02/002398.

On-Line Continuous Partial Discharge (PD) measurements of medium voltage substations are an excellent way to determine the overall health of the equipment. Partial discharge measurements can provide maintenance alerts to allow scheduling of equipment outages based on actual condition data as opposed to scheduling based on time intervals. PD measurements provide information about the insulation system that is impossible to extract with other methods. Remote monitoring adds additional value to continuous monitoring by relieving customers of the burden of data analysis, readily involving remote experts. This paper discusses the effectiveness of PD measurements using multiple sensors. Multiple sensors provide additional noise reduction and the ability to localize PD activity for measurements made in higher frequency bands. The importance of continuous PD monitoring vs. periodic walk in PD measurements for switchgear is also discussed. PD activity in switchgear can be unstable and dependent on ambient conditions. Negative periodic PD tests in switchgear can result in a false sense of security. Case studies from field experience are presented to support the discussions.

Abstract Influence of hydrofuramide and ethanolamines on efficient vulcanization (EV), semi‐EV, and conventional sulfur vulcanization accelerated by tetramethyl thiuram disulfide is reported. In the case of thiuram vulcanization, the amines increase the cure rate but reduce the crosslink density. The interaction of tetramethyl thiuram disulfide with amines has been studied. The amines interact with thiuram disulfide (TMTD) giving rise to the formation of gaseous products. Thermogravimetric analysis shows weight loss of about 50% in case of TMTD–ethanolamine system and 25% in case of TMTD–hydrofuramide system. Gas chromatographic studies of the gaseous products indicate that it consists mainly of H2S. The other constituents in the gaseous product are CO2 and a thiol. A possible reaction based on these observations to account for decrease in crosslink density in thiuram vulcanization caused by amines is reported.