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The chitinase producing ability of Pseudomonas fluorescens strains viz., PF1, PB2 and FP7 was evaluated in a culture medium with and without a chitin source. The addition of 1% (v/v) chitin in culture medium significantly increased the bacterial population and chitinase activity. Among three strains tested, FP7 responded well to the addition of chitin by producing 31.2% increased chitinase in culture. Western blot analysis with chitinase antibody detected six and five chitinase isoforms in culture inoculated with FP7 and PF1, respectively.

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Aims: The traumatic experiences the elderly faced during the COVID-19 outbreak were tremendous, which led to the majority of the elderly developing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. The vagal nerve plays a major role in stress regulation. One effective method for controlling the activity of the autonomic nervous system is vagal nerve stimulation. Surgical implantable vagal nerve stimulators are expensive and their discomfort limits their use. Non-invasive vagal nerve stimulation is found to be effective. The purpose of the study was to find the effect of transcutaneous auricular vagal nerve stimulation on treating post-traumatic stress disorder among post-COVID-19 geriatric survivors.
Materials & Methods: The study was conducted with 24 geriatric participants, who were diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. Participants were randomly allocated into the taVNS group and the JPMRT group during a four-week period (one month); the taVNS group received transcutaneous auricular vagal nerve stimulation, and the JPMRT group received the Jacobson progressive muscle relaxation technique. Each week, four sessions were held, and each session lasted 30 minutes. Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) was used as an outcome measure.
Findings: When compared to the JPMRT group, the taVNS group demonstrated a significant difference in reducing post-traumatic stress. Post-test values of the taVNS group in IES-R had a significant difference (p<0.001).
Conclusion: Transcutaneous auricular vagal nerve stimulation is more effective than Jacobson’s progressive muscle relaxation technique in reducing post-traumatic stress disorder among elderly survivors of COVID-19.
 

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Aims: The abdominal muscles are significantly stretched during pregnancy, leading to an increase in inter-recti distance. Several physiological changes greatly impact women’s musculoskeletal systems. The abrupt drop in muscle strength caused by activity is known as fatigability. This study aimed to investigate the role of different plank positions in enhancing abdominal strength and stability for women recovering from lower-segment cesarean section.
Materials & Methods: This experimental study was conducted on postpartum women based on specific inclusion and exclusion criteria, utilizing the odd-even method and a convenient sampling technique. A total of 30 subjects were allocated into two groups, including the abdominal draw-in maneuver and different plank positions (n=15 per group). The functional evaluation of abdominal muscles in both groups was performed using a pressure biofeedback unit, and the strength of the abdominal muscles was measured with the single leg lift abdominal strength test weekly for six months.
Findings: Statistical analysis of the post-test values indicated the strength and functional activity of the abdominal muscles in postnatal women who underwent lower-segment cesarean section. The results showed that the different plank positions group demonstrated greater improvement than the abdominal draw-in maneuver group.
Conclusion: Incorporating varied plank exercises effectively restores core stability and supports a quicker return to daily activities.
 

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Management of rice residue is still a challenging issue and factors such as poor feed quality of rice residue, limited and timely unavailability of suitable residue handling machines, and narrow window period available prior to seeding of the next crop act as driving forces for residue burning by the farmers. In-situ management of rice crop residue can prevent ill effects of residue burning on the natural resources. In this study, three types of power-driven disc coulter i.e. serrated, plain, and toothed, with three different arrangements of residue holding device i.e. no holding wheel, single holding wheel, and twin holding wheels, with speed ratios (ratio of rotational speed of coulter and forward speed) of 5.2, 6.94, and 8.67, were evaluated in the soil bin of Soil Dynamic Research Laboratory of ICAR-Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Bhopal, India. Horizontal forces, vertical forces, torque, and residue cutting performance were measured with residue density ranging from 3000 to 5000 kg ha^-1. The experiments (243 including replications) were conducted according to Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The mean horizontal forces, vertical forces, torques, and cutting percentage increased significantly (P< 0.05) with the increase in the number of residue holding wheel. Increasing the residue load had no effect on the cutting percentage of the residue. The results showed that the residue cutting performance of the plain coulter with twin holding wheels was nearly 100% at any combination of the selected variables. Introduction of residue holding wheels to the coulters helped in sowing successive crop (like wheat, maize, etc.) in the combine harvested rice field with heavy residue.