Life Sciences

This study aims to investigate the impact of leadership styles on organisational innovativeness in the Sri Lankan plantation sector, with organisational culture as the mediating variable. Using a self-administered questionnaire, data was collected from 235 estate managers based on the constructs identified in the literature. The findings provide partial support to the hypothesised relationships. Although studies between leadership styles, organisational culture and organisational innovativeness exist, they are mostly conducted in isolation.

Cassava (Manihot esculenta, crantz), is an important root crop in the tropics and substropics of Africa and Latin American. It is vegetatively propagated crop. Due to the following cycles of propagation, viruses are accumulated, which contributes to the decline of cassava yield and quality. Stem cuttings of four cassava accessions Six-mois, Rendre, yalipé and M61/033 were collected in experimental field and have brought to laboratory. Infected plants were thermotherapy treated by incubation of plants at 42°C/day and 38/night for 2 weeks.

The horse gram commonly known as kulith is a traditional unexploited tropical grain legume and well known for its hardiness, adaptability to poor soil and adverse climatic condition. The horse gram is a cheapest source of protein. Further it is also rich in minerals such as calcium. The present work is undertaken with a view to add value addition of horse gram by incorporating it in the extruded products using horse gram, maize and rice as an ingredient.

A survey of household energy consumption pattern was carried out in village Dandesar of tehsil Nowshera, district Rajouri (J&K, India). The major fuel types fulfilling the energy demand of local people in study area were wood, LPG, crop residue and dung cake. Fuel wood constituted the major share of consumption which was 100.74×106 kcal/month, while dung cake utilization was found to be least. The total fuel consumption in the study area was 111.49×106 kcal/month. The study concluded that income was an important factor in making fuel preferences at household level.

Status of other processed fruits and vegetables in respect of its export from India was studied for the period from the year 1989-90 to 2013-14 with respect to major export destinations. Status was examined by estimating mean, compound growth rate, instability and diversification. Ray method was used to estimate the instability and diversification status was examined with the help of Simpson Index of Diversification.CGR were estimated by employing best fit functional form to the export data.

To determine genetic diversity among 43 cultivars of Kumba group (Solanum aethiopicum L.), 17 simple sequence repeat (EST-SSR) markers were tested. Nine (9) EST-SSR markers used were polymorphic among the accessions studied. A total of 19 alleles were identified with an average of 2 alleles per marker. Furthermore, the accessions studied showed medium genetic diversity. Clustering analysis grouped the 43 accessions into 3 distinct clusters.

A potential amylase producing bacterial strain was isolated from mushroom compost and identified as Bacillus aerius GC6 using 16S rRNA gene technique and deposited in NCBI gene bank vide accession number |KJ775810.1|. The aim of this study was to enhance amylase production by optimizing various medium components and process parameters viz. substrate concentration, pH, temperature, inoculums size, Ca2+ and Mg2+ concentrations through the statistical approach under submerged fermentation from this isolate.

Introduction: Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) has received lot of attention because of it’s growing association with obesity and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease among women population. Central obesity, a physical finding plays a central role in the development of the Insulin Resistance (MetS). Central obesity appears to precede the other components of MetS, which increases with age. Women in this coastal belt of Andhra Pradesh prepare and consume delicious food items, mostly of rice and have tendency to become obese in forties.

The Douala-Edea Wildlife reserve is situated in the Littoral region, specifically in the Sanaga Maritime Department. The study aims to characterize the plant diversity of the reserve. This study was conducted in three phases, the rapid botanic survey, a botanical inventory of the reserve; and species identification in the herabarium. The methodology used combined the quadrants to achieve the botanical inventories, as well as surveys and field visits. The forest of the Douala-Edea reserve is rich and diverse, 435 species and 76 families were identified. This potential varies with facies.

Gestational diabetes mellitus refers to any degree of glucose intolerance with onset or first recognition during pregnancy .Gestational diabetes mellitus most of which progress to type 2 diabetes mellitus is increasing worldwide. It predisposes mother and offspring to increased risk of complication during pregnancy. In addition to the clinical reasons for attention to hyperglycemia during pregnancy, the future of the reproductive aged woman with GDM as well as the future of her offspring is two important public health issues that are receiving increasing recognition.