Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences (SHUATS), formerly Allahabad Agricultural Institute, is a government aided agricultural university in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India. It operates as an autonomous Christian minority institution under the 'Sam Higginbottom Educational and Charitable Society, Allahabad'.It was established in 1910 by Dr. Sam Higginbottom as "Allahabad Agricultural Institute" to improve the economic status of the rural population. In 1942, it became the first institute in India to offer a degree in Agricultural Engineering.In December 2016, the Uttar Pradesh State cabinet announced their decision to elevate the institution from the status of Deemed University to full-fledged University by passing the SHUATS Act operational from 29 December 2016, thus renaming it to SHUATS.As a tribute to its founder, the institution submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Human Resource Development in 2009 to rename Allahabad Agricultural Institute as Sam Higginbottom Institute of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences. The institute was conferred deemed university status on 15 March 2000 and was certified as a Christian Minority Educational Institution in December 2005. Earlier the MHRD placed SHUATS among the elite category 'A' deemed universities on the basis of the expert committee recommendation.The academic infrastructure of the university is organized into six Faculties — Agriculture; Engineering and Technology; Science; Theology; Management, Humanities and Social Sciences; and Health Sciences — which consist of 15 constituent schools, over 60 academic departments and four advanced research centres with emphasis on scientific, agricultural, technological education and research. The university is an alma mater to many notable scientists, geneticist, agricultural engineers and often regarded as the progenitor of Green Revolution in India.While having completed its own hospital, Hayes Memorial Mission Hospital, the university is in the process of starting a medical college as per Medical Council of India (MCI) norms.
The popularity of cow ghee over buffalo ghee due to its health benefits makes it one of the most adulterated food commodities. So, this study aimed to distinguish pure cow ghee from adulterated ghee samples containing palm oil (PO) and buffalo body fat (BBF). Physico-chemical tests along with fatty acid profiling, detection of the presence of β-sitosterol, and colorimetric tests were used to authenticate its purity. Physico-chemical constants, except Reichert-Meissl and iodine value, were ineffective in distinguishing pure cow ghee from adulterated ghee up to 5 and 10
Alkali Activated Concrete (AAC) is a relatively novel type of binder concrete that has garnered significant attention in recent decades because to its environmental benefits and characteristics. The fabrication of alkali-activated concrete involves the utilization of industrial by-products, such as ground granulated blast furnace slag and fly ash, alongside activators. This study investigates the effects of fly ash, ground-granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS), and lime on the workability, compressive strength, durability, and microstructure of AAC. This study involved the complete substitution of cement with varying quantities of fly ash, GGBS, and lime (with a constant 10
Microbial exopolysaccharides (EPSs) serve multiple industrial and environmental purposes operating as complex biopolymers produced by bacteria and fungus, as well as by yeast and microalgae. The structural diversity of microbial EPS enables the biofilm formation, the stress resistance and the nutrient storage, comprising homopolysaccharides and heteropolysaccharides. Soil structure receives substantial improvement through EPS because the polymers help aggregate particles, retaining more water and trapping heavy metals, that results in enhanced soil fertility useful in sustainable agricultural practices. Moreover, through the presence of EPS-producing bacteria, plants can establish beneficial connections with microorganisms that improve their tolerance to environmental factors, including salt exposure, drought conditions and extreme temperature changes. Such polymers find applications in the bioremediation and pharmaceutical fields because they present significant pharmacological properties, such as antibacterial, anti-inflammatory activities and antioxidant behaviour. Their biodegradable nature and eco-friendly properties make it eligible as a sustainable choice to replace synthetic polymers. This paper broaches the multiple ways how EPS improves plant wellness and enhances soil quality. Potential solutions emerge from microbial EPS research to address global challenges in agricultural sectors, biotechnological fields, and environmental management domains.
Despite advances in modern therapy, gastro-duodenal ulcers, due to their recurrence and relapse, remains one of the most common health issues in the world, posing considerable therapeutic challenges. This issue is further exacerbated by the adverse effects associated with conventional therapy, particularly proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). Although PPIs are widely prescribed drugs for the management of gastric ulcers owing to their proven efficacy and therapeutic benefits, their prolonged use has been linked to a variety of health risks. This review aimed to present a comprehensive information on natural compounds with H⁺,K⁺-ATPase inhibitory activity, supported by database evidence from in vitro, in vivo and in silico studies. A comprehensive and systematic literature search, conducted by PRISMA guidelines, identified 36 potential natural substances derived from plants, marines (sponges, corals etc.), and microorganisms that exhibited inhibitory effects on H⁺,K⁺-ATPase. In conclusion, findings from the current review indicate that natural products may offer considerable potential as proton pump inhibitors for treating gastro-duodenal ulcers. However, further extensive research and clinical assessments are necessary to facilitate the development of safe, effective and sustainable natural compounds for future clinical management of gastric ulcer.
Insecticide resistance in the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, is increasing and forms a serious barrier to sustainable agriculture through the reduction of pest control efficacy and alteration of the insect's biology. The toxicity of seven commonly used synthetic insecticides to six field populations of the pest was evaluated using a controlled diet incorporation bioassay. Most insecticides resulted in only low to moderate resistance (RR = 6.56-8.75), but very high levels of resistance to thiodicarb, especially in the PuL population (RR = 97.88), were confirmed by resistant ratio analysis to be the least toxic agent (RR = 88.71). In contrast, spinetoram was the most effective insecticide, eliciting the highest mortality (95.13%) and the lowest fecundity (2.93 eggs/female/day); the chronic toxicity of the insecticide also caused a significant delay in most crucial developmental stages, such as egg hatching, larval growth, and pupation, which were only marginally affected by thiodicarb. In addition, all the effective treatments, except thiodicarb, significantly reduced all the major parameters of population growth, such as rm, Tc, Ro, and the female proportion. The findings call for continuous monitoring of resistance and justify the rotation of such potent insecticides as spinetoram in the resistance management of S. frugiperda.
