Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar University

The Poisson distribution is a fundamental concept in probability theory and statistics. It is widely used to model the occurrence of rare events across diverse fields, including physics, biology, finance, and medicine. It offers a way to calculate the likelihood of a certain number of events occurring within a specified time period, assuming the events happen independently of one another. The Poisson distribution is commonly used to predict the outcome of random, independent events. In heavy ion-induced nuclear reactions where compound nuclei are formed under conditions of high spin and moderate excitation energy, the investigation of one or multiple neutron emissions is of particular interest. When heavy-ion reactions occur, a random number of neutrons may be released as the target becomes excited by partial or complete absorption of projectile energy, leading to the formation of a highly excited composite system. These neutrons are statistically evaporated to de-excite the compound nucleus (CN). The Poisson distribution function can thus be applied to describe the decay probability of an excited nucleus, particularly for predicting the emission of a specific number of neutrons. In this process, the excess of excitation energy over the binding energy of the released neutrons acts as the continuous variable, and the number of released neutrons serves as the discrete variable. This framework helps us quantify the likelihood of observing a given number of neutrons emitted from an excited nucleus formed in a typical nuclear reaction. In this work, the measured cross-section data for multiple neutron evaporation channels in systems such as [Formula: see text]Ho, [Formula: see text]Tm, [Formula: see text]Te, [Formula: see text]Nd, [Formula: see text]Tm, [Formula: see text]Yb and [Formula: see text]Lu reactions have been analyzed using the Poisson distribution. This approach allows all open channels to be treated simultaneously, offering a simplified yet physically meaningful alternative to more elaborate statistical models.

Nutrition literacy is the degree to which a person can obtain, process, and grasp basic dietetic information and services to make healthy food choices. This study explores a nutrition literacy initiative based on Paulo Freire's critical consciousness approach, integrated into an agricultural intervention aimed at improving nutrition outcomes in tribal communities in Odisha, through dialogic pedagogy. The action research is conducted across 1,575 households in 47 villages within Mathpada and Doraguda Panchayats, located in Boipariguda Block, Koraput district, Odisha, Eastern India. The program trained 108 adult participants, designated Community Hunger Fighters (CHFs), in two intensive residential modules totalling five days over two months. Using facilitated dialogue, the CHFs critically examined the causes of low dietary diversity within their communities, identifying interconnected social, economic, and cultural obstacles to adequate food intake amidst poverty. They collaboratively engaged in planning agricultural activities sensitive to nutritional needs. Researchers documented transformative behaviours among the CHFs using qualitative methods (observations, interviews, focus groups) and specific indicators. The dialogic approach successfully stimulated community-wide discourse on food security. CHFs distilled key messages from their discussions and disseminated them creatively to fellow villagers. This process of critical analysis enabled participants to recognise gender inequalities, pinpoint constraints in local food production, adopt lifestyle changes to improve dietary intake, and express demand for agricultural technical training. Outcomes included 38 CHFs establishing nutri-gardens and many assuming leadership roles on broader community issues beyond food security. This experience demonstrates that employing dialogue as a core educational strategy within agricultural nutrition programs can effectively catalyse critical reflection on the socio-cultural and economic barriers hindering both food production and consumption. This reflection, in turn, can empower communities and drive transformative actions towards improved food security and nutrition.

This study employs the Water Quality Index (WQI) approach to assess the health of lotic and lentic water bodies within the Mathura block, Mathura (U.P.). A range of physico-chemical parameters, including pH, Electrical Conductivity, Dissolved Oxygen, Free Carbon Dioxide, Nitrates, Chlorides, Sodium, Potassium, Total Dissolved Solids, Total Hardness, and Total Alkalinity, were analysed in water samples collected from multiple sites representing both hydrological systems. In addition, microbiological parameters such as Total Coliform and Feacal Coliform were evaluated, which revealed considerable microbial contamination, indicating potential public health risks. WQI values computed from the collected data categorized the water quality into classes ranging from good to unsuitable for use. The results revealed that both lotic and lentic systems exhibited elevated levels of nutrient enrichment and organic pollutants, primarily attributed to anthropogenic inputs. Overall, the findings emphasise the need for ecosystem-specific water quality management strategies and demonstrate the effectiveness of WQI as a comprehensive tool for evaluating and comparing aquatic ecosystem health across diverse hydrological environments.

Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.) represent one of the leading vegetable crops grown around the globe. Among the insects with destructive impacts on tomato production, onion thrips (Thrips tabaci Lindeman) are among the most significant. While thrips damage tomatoes directly by feeding on plant tissues, they also damage tomato plants indirectly by introducing viruses into plants infected with the thrips, which can create considerable economic losses in tomato production. Currently, most pest management techniques used to control pest populations utilize chemical insecticides, which typically lead to pest resistance to pesticides, environmental degradation, and harm to beneficial organisms. Because of the growing concern about the use of pesticides for pest and disease management, biological control method to manage pest populations using their natural enemies has become very appealing as an environmentally friendly alternative method of pest control. One type of natural enemy for thrips are wasps in the genus Ceranisus (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), which have received much attention because of their ability to effectively control thrips larvae through parasitization. Ceranisus menes (Walker) is a solitary larval endoparasitoid that parasitizes a number of different species of thrips, including T. tabaci. The female wasp lays her eggs within the early larval instars of thrips and then the wasp larvae develop in the thrips and eventually kill them. Research has demonstrated that C. menes can effectively decrease thrips populations in agricultural ecosystems, especially when used in conjunction with Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies. C. menes has been characterized as having a relatively fast life cycle and a high capacity for reproduction. Reproduction occurs primarily through the laying of approximately 80 eggs, and larvae of the first instar are the preferred hosts for C. menes . Field studies have also shown that T. tabaci is naturally parasitized by Ceranisus species in agricultural fields, suggesting that C. menes may assist in controlling the proliferation of thrips in certain IPM systems. This current review examines the potential of C. menes for the biological control of T. tabaci in tomato production systems by providing a synthesis of the currently available literature on the biology, ecology, host's relationship to Ceranisus menes and other information regarding the effectiveness of Ceranisus menes within IPM systems. Furthermore, the future directions for research into improved biological control strategies for sustainable crop production are discussed.

A cost-effective method was employed to synthesize silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). This review explores the latest advancements in the biosynthesis of AgNPs using various plant extracts and delves into essential characterization techniques such as UV-Vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and zeta potential are utilized to determine how the size, shape, morphology, crystallinity, and surface charge of nanoparticles play a crucial role in affecting their biological performance.. Green-synthesized nanoparticles exhibit impressive antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, and catalytic properties, underscoring their importance in addressing global challenges, such as water safety, pollution, and food preservation. Their versatility and alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) highlight their potential applications in medical devices, germ control, and combating antibiotic resistance. Additionally, green-synthesized AgNPs can serve as efficient catalysts for energy storage, environmental remediation, and chemical synthesis.

Salinity stress is a serious constraint in agriculture that adversely affects crop productivity and poses a major threat to global food security. The adoption of appropriate agronomic strategies is essential to mitigate the detrimental effects of salinity stress. In this context, the present study investigated the potential role of Manganese in enhancing the growth and development of brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) under increasing NaCl concentrations. Experiments were performed in two summer seasons in an experimental farm to test the impact of four NaCl levels, 0 mM (control), 10, 25, 50 and 100 mM, and three Manganese levels, including 0 µM (control) 10, 20, and 50 µM and their interaction on growth and yield of brinjal (Solanum melongena L.). The results showed that increasing NaCl levels up 0 to 100 Mm reduced plant growth characteristics, as well as chemical characteristics, especially total chlorophyll, carotenoids and oxidative enzymes culminating in a marked decline in total yield per plant; however, the measured parameters exhibited a significant increase due to the Manganese application of 10 µM and 20 µM besides photosynthetic pigments of leaves enhanced by using Manganese concentration alleviated the adverse impact of NaCl on brinjal plants until 100 mM saline water, reflecting an increase in brinjal yield. However, brinjal showed a progressive decline in the 50 µM concentration of Manganese. The findings underscore the potential of Manganese application in alleviating salinity stress, improving growth performance, and promoting sustainable brinjal production, thereby offering practical and viable solutions for agriculture in salinity-affected regions.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) continues to be a common health condition and one of the most prevalent and lethal cancers worldwide. CRC is the third most leading cancer by incidence and second most common cause of cancer mortality. Emerging evidence showing that inherited genetic variants in genes coding for DNA repair enzymes have potential role in increasing the risk of CRC. Among these, polymorphisms in the XRCC1 has been widely investigated, although the results have been varied in different populations. The current meta-analysis is aimed to explain the relation between three XRCC1 polymorphisms and the CRC risk. Meta-analysis included a combined analysis of 52 case-controls studies including 23 Arg194Trp studies, 8 Arg280His studies, and 42 Arg399Gln studies. The results of the present study revealed a statistically significant correlation between the Arg399Gln polymorphism and the increased risk of CRC (OR = 1.10, 95% CI = 1.01-1.20, p = 0.038, random effects model). However, subgroup analysis based on ethnicity revealed no statistical significance between CRC risk and XRCC1 polymorphisms in Asian and Caucasian populations. In addition, no publication bias was found in the current meta-analysis. Overall, the data suggest that XRCC1 Arg399Gln might be associated with increased CRC susceptibility, while Arg194Trp and Arg280His are not significantly associated.