‘Katarni Rice’ is a fine quality scented rice landrace of Bihar, India and has tremendous export potential and commercial value. This is a preferred rice in the state due to its flavour, palatability and popcorn like essence before and after cooking. But its area has been shrunken drastically in recent years due to its low yielding (25–30 Q/ha) ability caused due tall and week stature and lodging tendency at maturity. To overcome this problem, marker assisted introgression of semi-dwarfing (sd1) gene from semi-dwarf and high yielding rice varieties Rajendra Sweta and BPT5204 was attempted. Parental polymorphism was obtained through 109 SSR markers. The gene specific markers for fragrance and semi-dwarfing genes were used in the segregants to track their transfer. Recombinant selection was done for the donor genome segments flanking to the target gene i.e., sd1 followed by background selection through genome wide polymorphic SSR markers. More than 90% recurrent parent genome recovery was observed and the selected plants showed a reduction of plant height and flowering time in comparison to Katarni in the successive backcross generation along with the retention of aroma. The identified lines can be evaluated further in multilocation trials to release it as a sustainable high yielding aromatic genotype.

No abstract

Background: The health-workers working in emergency area need better training to handle emergency patients with sincerity and accurate clinical skills. So, it is imperative to train them on simulation models and prepare them to perform their duties with better skills and higher confidence.Methods: A structured course named as Dr. RMLIMS Emergency and Trauma-Basic Course (DrRMLIMS ET-BC), was designed to effectively train the resident doctors from different departments, nursing staff (pool A) and other health-workers, ancillary staff and security persons (pool B) posted in the casualty and emergency wards. Pool A underwent pretest to ascertain basic knowledge. Post-test questionnaire was taken after training. Predesigned google forms were used for feedback. Pool B underwent counselling and motivating sessions about the sense of team, role of leader and effective communication. Direct observation, officer in-charge’s feedback, buddy feedbacks, patient’s attendants’ feedbacks and self-appraisal were done for evaluation. Paired t test was applied on pool A pretest and post-test scores to evaluate the change in the knowledge.Results: Pool A shows a pre-test mean of 37.83±0.92 (approximately 39%) which improved significantly to 72.16±0.90 post training (p value=0.0000). Pool B revealed significant positive change in the attitude, behavior and sense of team and responsibility.Conclusions: This study shows that this training is an adequate training programme to teach the basics emergency and trauma skills and been successful in increasing knowledge, despite the variations in the vision of different subject specialities.

Background: On January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak a global health emergency. With nearly 25000 fresh cases registered daily, the COVID-19 tally in India rose to 13 lakh till mid of July 2020, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Understanding the inclination of doctors to work in COVID-19 outbreak is essential for betterment of health care services. Objective were to assess the willingness of Doctors to work in COVID-19 outbreak and to determine the factors affecting willingness to work in COVID-19 outbreak.Methods: The study was conducted among doctors working in various medical colleges, specialist hospitals and research centers across various states of India. A predesigned self-administered questionnaire in Google form was emailed to the participants. Data was collected and analysed using SPSS version 13.Results: Out of 342 participants, 61% were willing to work in the COVID-19 pandemic. Female participants and those staying with their family were found to be significantly more afraid of COVID-19 pandemic and also willingness to work was significantly lower among them than their male counterparts living away from family.Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic caused emotional distress among the doctors. However our results suggest that during an outbreak majority of doctors are willing to work and will be available in the future. Staying with family drives them away from work more due to fear of infection or death of their family members.