Bispyribac-sodium, a herbicide that inhibits acetolactate synthase (ALS), is frequently used in rice fields in India to control weeds, including the most common noxious weed, barnyardgrass. However, rice growers have recently reported reduced control of barnyardgrass with bispyribac-sodium. Hence, a large-scale survey was carried out to assess bispyribac-sodium resistance in Chhattisgarh and Kerala, two rice-growing states. Open-field pot experiments were conducted for 2 yr to confirm resistance to bispyribac-sodium. Of the 37 biotypes tested, 30% (11) survived the recommended label rate of bispyribac-sodium (25 g ai ha−1). The effective rate of bispyribac-sodium required to achieve 50% control (ED50) of putative resistant biotypes ranged from 18 to 41 g ha−1, whereas it was about 10 g ha−1 for susceptible biotypes. This suggests that putative biotypes were two to four times more resistant to bispyribac-sodium. At 6 d after herbicide application, an in vitro enzyme assay demonstrated higher ALS enzyme activity in putative resistant biotypes (66% to 75%) compared with susceptible biotypes (48% to 52%). This indicates the presence of an insensitive ALS enzyme in those biotypes and a target site mutation as a possible mechanism for resistance. Whole-plant bioassays also suggested that the resistance problem is more widespread in Chhattisgarh than in Kerala. This study confirmed the first case of evolved resistance in barnyardgrass to bispyribac-sodium in rice fields of India.

In this study, we examined the cellular infectivity and ultrastructural changes due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in the various cells of bronchoalveolar fluid (BALF) from intubated patients of different age groups (≥60 years and <60 years) and with common comorbidities such as diabetes, liver and kidney diseases, and malignancies. BALF of 79 patients (38 cases >60 and 41 cases <60 years) were studied by light microscopy, immunofluorescence, scanning, and transmission electron microscopy to evaluate the ultrastructural changes in the ciliated epithelium, type II pneumocytes, macrophages, neutrophils, eosinophils, lymphocytes, and anucleated granulocytes. This study demonstrated relatively a greater infection and better preservation of subcellular structures in these cells from BALF of younger patients (<60 years compared with the older patients (≥60 years). The different cells of BALF from the patients without comorbidities showed higher viral load compared with the patients with comorbidities. Diabetic patients showed maximum ultrastructural damage in BALF cells in the comorbid group. This study highlights the comparative effect of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the different airway and inflammatory cells of BALF at the subcellular levels among older and younger patients and in patients with comorbid conditions.

Smallflower umbrella sedge is one of the most problematic weeds in direct-seeded rice in India. Bispyribac-sodium (acetolactate synthase [ALS]-inhibiting herbicide) is commonly used in rice, but growers have recently reported lack of smallflower umbrella sedge control with this herbicide. An extensive survey was carried out in two rice-growing states, Chhattisgarh and Kerala, where 53 putative bispyribac-sodium-resistant (BR) biotypes were collected. Studies were conducted to confirm resistance to bispyribac-sodium and to test the efficacy of the newly developed synthetic auxin herbicide florpyrauxifen-benzyl on putative BR biotypes. A whole-plant bioassay revealed that bispyribac-sodium is no longer effective. Of 53 putative BR biotypes, 17 biotypes survived the recommended label rate of 25 g ai ha−1. The effective bispyribac-sodium rate required to control 50% of the plants in most of the BR biotypes (ED50) ranged from 19 to 96 g ha−1, whereas it was 10 g ha−1 in a susceptible biotype. In two highly resistant biotypes, the ED50 was beyond the maximum tested rate, 200 g ha−1. This suggests 2- to >20-fold resistance in BR biotypes. An ALS enzyme activity assay suggests an altered target site as mechanism of resistance to bispyribac-sodium. This study confirms the first case of evolved resistance to bispyribac-sodium in smallflower umbrella sedge in India. However, the newly developed synthetic auxin florpyrauxifen-benzyl effectively controlled all BR biotypes at the field use rate of 31.25 g ai ha−1.

Giant cell tumor (GCT) of bone is a common benign lesion that causes significant morbidity due to the failure of modern medical and surgical treatment. Surface ultra-structures of giant cells (GCs) may help in distinguishing aggressive tumors from indolent GC lesions. This study aimed to standardize scanning electron microscopic (SEM) imaging of GC from GCT of bone. Fresh GCT collected in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium was washed to remove blood, homogenized, or treated with collagenase to isolate the GCs. Mechanically homogenized and collagenase-digested GCs were imaged on SEM after commonly used drying methodologies such as air-drying, tetramethylsilane (TMS)-drying, freeze-drying, and critical point-drying (CPD) for the optimization of sample processing. The collagenase-treated samples yielded a greater number of isolated GC and showed better surface morphology in comparison to mechanical homogenization. Air-drying was associated with marked cell shrinkage, and freeze-dried samples showed severe cell damage. TMS methodology partially preserved the cell contour and surface structures, although the cell shape was distorted. GC images with optimum surface morphology including membrane folding and microvesicular structures on the surface were observed only in collagenase-treated and critical point-dried samples. Collagenase digestion and critical point/TMS-drying should be performed for optimal SEM imaging of individual GCs.

Brimonidine, an anti-glaucoma medicine, acts as an adrenergic agonist which decreases the synthesis of aqueous humour and increases the amount of drainage through Schlemm's canal and trabecular meshwork, but shows dose-dependent (0.2% solution thrice daily) toxicity. To reduce the side effects and improve the efficacy, brimonidine was nanoencapsulated on ultra-small-sized chitosan nanoparticles (nanobrimonidine) (28 ± 4 nm) with 39% encapsulation efficiency, monodispersity, freeze–thawing capability, storage stability, and 2% drug loading capacity. This nanocomplex showed burst, half, and complete release at 0.5, 45, and 100 h, respectively. Nanobrimonidine did not show any in vitro toxicity and was taken up by caveolae-mediated endocytosis. The nanobrimonidine-treated trabeculectomy tissue of glaucoma patients showed better dilation of the trabecular meshwork under the electron microscope. This is direct evidence for better bioavailability of nanobrimonidine after topical administration. Thus, the developed nanobrimonidine has the potential to improve the efficacy, reduce dosage and frequency, and improve delivery to the anterior chamber of the eye.

SN 2012AW is a type-IIP supernova which exploded in M95. In this paper we discuss the radio observations of this supernova and model them to determine the important parameters relevant to the explosion and the evolution of blast wave. We also determine the dominant cooling process important to this source.