Nagpur mandarin orchards are concentrated mostly in the five districts of the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra. The present study was carried out during 2014-15 in the Nagpur district of Maharashtra state with the objective of ascertaining the grower&rsquo;s operational feasibility perception towards contract farming and find out the issues governing profitability. The total sample of 120 was derived from four talukas of Nagpur district using simple random sampling. The data collected through a structured interview schedule were analyzed using the t-test of significance of difference between sample and population means. The study revealed that education (t=3.406) showed significant relationship regarding the perceived feasibility of contract farming and the total annual income from citrus (t=2.007) at 5 per cent level of significance. The guaranteed and fixed pricing structures in contract farming system was perceived as the main reason which appealed to the maximum respondents (RBQ=340).The shield against market fluctuations ranked second (RBQ=328) in terms of relative advantages. The mandarin growers like any other farmers expected assured price to their farm produce and contract farming was perceived as a boon if it really commits as promised.

Operational feasibility perception of contract farming in Nagpur mandarin 
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Background: The study is on determinants of income of cocoa (Theobroma cacao) production contract systems in Cross River State, Nigeria. Cocoa is a food and industrial crop of significant importance that has a role to play in terms of poverty reduction. Contracts are an integral part of the production of cocoa taking the form of leases, contracts for deed and contract for sharing of production. 
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Methods: Purposive and multi-stage random sampling techniques were employed in the selection of respondents for the study. Primary data were used and collected through field survey using structured questionnaire/interview responses from cocoa producers. Data were analyzed with the use of multinomial logit regression analysis. The income of the cocoa producers was set as the dependent variable and the rest of the variables were defined as the explanatory variable. 
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Result: Result of analyses indicated that six of the nine parameters included in the model affected the amount of income realized by owner managed producers significantly. These parameters included; age, educational level, household size, farm asset, credit, experience, membership of group, farm size and distance. The fixed rent contracts producer has the lead equation as the exponential; the significant variables were age, household size, farm asset, credit, experience and membership of group. The results for the Sharecropping contracts showed that the lead equation was also exponential, the significant variables were experience, membership, farm size and distance. Based on the result of findings, the following recommendations were made:&nbsp; the link between the various contract arrangements should be strengthened to improve the performance of cocoa production, young school leavers, should be encouraged to take advantage of these types of management systems to boost production.

Determinants of Income of Cocoa Production Contract Systems in Cross River State, Nigeria

Background: This study investigates the factors influencing the choice of institutional models in sheep farming, specifically focusing on contract and non-contract models in East Java, Indonesia. The primary objective of this research is to identify the factors that influence farmers&rsquo; decisions when selecting between these two institutional models and to evaluate the differences in characteristics between farmers engaged in contract and non-contract farming. 
 
Methods: In this study, a quantitative approach employing a survey design was utilized for data collection. The survey encompassed 90 sheep farmers across three principal sheep-producing districts in East Java Province, namely Lumajang, Jember and Bondowoso. Data processing was conducted at the University of Jember over the period of November 2023 to April 2024. To examine the dataset, a binary logit model was employed to analyze and identify the determinants influencing farmers&rsquo; decision-making processes. The variables considered included farming experience, educational attainment, age, Cage Capacity, baseline market prices and access to financial resources. 
 
Result: The study&rsquo;s findings reveal that farmers&rsquo; decisions to adopt the contract model are significantly influenced by base price and farming experience. Specifically, farmers with greater experience are more likely to avoid the contract model, whereas those with higher base prices are more inclined to opt for the contract model. Additionally, farmers with higher base prices are more inclined to opt for it. Formal education did not show a significant effect on the choice between contract and non-contract models. This study concludes that ensuring price stability through the contract model can provide risk management benefits for farmers, particularly for those with larger herds or limited market access. The research contributes to the existing literature by offering valuable insights into the factors that influence the selection of institutional models in sheep farming and provides recommendations for policymakers to promote the adoption of advantageous institutional models within the livestock sector.

Factors Influencing Sheep Farmers&rsquo; Decisions to Contract Farming in East Java Province, Indonesia

<div>Background: Smooth muscle contraction and enlargement of the prostate are important targets for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia. The effect of Ferula elaeochytris (FE) root extract on tissues that play a role on fertility such as the prostate has not been demonstrated yet. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of FE extract on isolated rat prostate tissue induced by electrical field stimulation (EFS) in vitro. 
 
Methods: In this experimental study, 48 male rats were randomly divided into 6 groups (n = 8). Groups were consisting FE (20 &micro;l), FE + Adenosine triphosphate (ATP; 50 &mu;M), FE + prazosin (0.3 &mu;M), FE + Calcium (Ca2+; 3 mM and 6 mM), FE + suramin (100 &mu;M), FE + phenylephrine and FE + carbachol. 
 
Result: In our study, FE extract inhibited the neurogenic contractions induced by EFS on isolated rat anterior prostate tissue. The presence of suramin and prazosin were not significantly increase the inhibition caused by the FE extract, while Ca2+ and ATP significantly increased the inhibition by the FE extract. (p&lt;0.05). In addition, FE extract significantly inhibited phenylephrine and carbachol contractions (p&lt;0.05).</div>

​Effect of Ferula Elaeochytris Root Extract on Smooth Muscle Contraction of Prostate Gland in Rat

<div>Background: Nitric oxide (NO) physiology is very complex in detrusor smooth muscle (DSM). While NO relaxes detrusor in some species, in contrary, it produces contraction in other. NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) was found to inhibit CCh-induced contraction in goat DSM in earlier studies, but it is not known how SNP produces inhibitory action on goat DSM. Therefore, the aim of this in vitro study was to investigate the mechanism of inhibitory action of SNP pertaining to involvement of G- protein and other second messenger on goat DSM.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: Goat detrusor muscle strips collected from local abattoir were mounted in a thermostatically controlled (37o&plusmn;0.5oC) organ bath (20 ml capacity) containing physiological solution. Following 1 hr of equilibration, carbachol (CCh) (10-5 M) induced sub-maximal contraction was elicited both in the absence and presence of SNP (10-5 M). Involvement of NO and guanylyl cyclase was assessed using nitric oxide synthase inhibitor L-NAME (10-5 M) and guanylyl cyclase inhibitor ODQ (10-5 M). Experiments were also carried out in the presence of G-protein activator aluminium fluoride (AlF) (10-5 M), protein kinase C (PKC) activator phorbol-12-myristate (PMA) (10-5 M), nifedipine, low Ca2+ PSS, theophylline and Zero Ca2+ PSS.&nbsp; 
 
Result: Inhibitory effect of SNP (10-5 M) on CCh-induced contraction on goat DSM was reversed by nitric oxide synthase inhibitor L-name (10-5 M) and guanylyl cyclase inhibitor ODQ (10-5 M). Prior incubation of the tissues with AlF and PMA also reversed the SNP mediated inhibition. On the other hand, nifedipine and low Ca2+ PSS; and theophylline and zero Ca2+ PSS potentiated the SNP-mediated inhibition. Thus, the present study shows that SNP elicited inhibitory effect on goat DSM is both NO-dependent and cGMP-dependent. In addition, the result shows that SNP inhibits G-protein coupled PKC leading to inhibition of both Ca2+ entry and intracellular Ca2+ release with a resultant decrease in intracellular Ca2+.</div>

Sodium Nitroprusside Inhibits Detrusor Muscle Contraction through G-protein Mediated Inhibition of Intracellular Ca2+ Release

<div style="text-align:justify">Background: Chinese pond turtle (CPT, Mauremys reevesii) is a typical species with temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD). Pond slider turtle (PST, Trachemys scripta) is considered one of the worst invasive species in the world. In order to analyze the adaptive evolution of fecundity traits in CPT and TSD, the rapidly evolving gene families were obtained and functional enrichment analysis was performed. At the same time, CPT and PST species-specific genes were also enriched for their fecundity traits. 
 
Methods: Orthofinder software was employed to search homologous genes based on protein sequence. CAF&Eacute; software was used to obtain the expansion and contraction gene families of CPT and PST. Then, GO terms and pathway enrichment analyses were performed using TBtools software and Swissprot database.&nbsp; 
 
Result: In CPT, 159 rapid expansion gene families GO enrichment results showed that the reproductive activities related pathways were mainly three significant enrichment process, spermatogenesis, steroid hormone mediated signaling pathway and male gamete generation. 2 rapidly contraction gene families showed that there was no significant enrichment pathway related to reproduction. The pathway of significant enrichment were RNA biosynthetic process, regulation of RNA metabolic process and regulation of cellular metabolic process. The gene families unique to the species were significantly enriched in pathways DNA replication-dependent nucleosome organization, DNA replication-dependent nucleosome assembly and negative regulation of megakaryocyte differentiation. In PST, 15 rapid expansion gene families GO enrichment results showed that the most significant GO terms mainly consisted of biological processes which were involved in endocrine process, regulation of endocrine process and cellular response to steroid hormone stimulus, but spermatogenesis and male gamete generation gene families also expanded. 58 rapidly contraction gene families showed that the pathways of significant enrichment were endocrine process, cellular response to steroid hormone stimulus and regulation of endocrine process. At the same time, estrogen secretion, binding of sperm to zona pellucida and sperm-egg recognition gene family also rapidly contraction. The gene families unique to the species were significantly enriched in pathways adenylate cyclase-activating G protein-coupled receptor signaling pathway, double-strand break repair and regulation of potassium ion transport.</div>

Comparison of Fecundity Traits between Mauremys reevesii and Trachemys scripta based on Gene Family Analysis

<div style="text-align:justify">Background: The recently passed and repealed farming agreement legislation in India was designed to empower the farmers to enter into contracts with the agri-business firms, exporters, wholesalers, retailers to directly trade their farm produce outside the designated APMC market. An exploration of the studies relevant to farming agreements/contract farming indicates that it has promising benefits in terms of security, increased income and quality production only if the parties engage in fair contractual practices. 
Methods: In this context the present paper critically examines the text of the repealed farming agreement legislation in India by largely focussing upon the provisions that are connected with the enforceability of farming contracts.&nbsp; 
Result: As the contractual relationship between the parties is the vital element in the successful implementation of the farming agreements, this paper has spelt out the statutory provisions that safeguard the interest of both the parties and also those ambiguous provisions that were likely to give scope for exploitation of small farmers. In conclusion, the responsibility of the government and other stakeholders is discussed to boost the enforceability of farming agreements in India and concrete suggestions are given to secure and protect the rights of both the parties involved in it.&nbsp;</div>

​The Enforceability of Farming Agreements in India-Insights from a Legal Perspective

<div style="text-align: justify;">This study examined the changes in skeletal muscle contraction parameters after the injection of bupivacaine into the gastrocnemius muscle in diabetic rats. Forty male Wistar albino rats (230&ndash;270 g) were divided into four groups: Group I: Untreated healthy control; Group II: Healthy injected with Bupivacaine; Group III: Diabetic control; Group IV: Diabetic injected with bupivacaine. The diabetes was induced with streptozotocin in 0.1 M citrate buffer (pH 4.5) injection at 45 mg/kg in tail vein. On 7th day of streptozotocin injection, the rats in groups II and IV were injected with 0.25% bupivacaine at 8 mg/kg body weight into the gastrocnemius muscle. &nbsp;Three weeks post bupivacaine application, the animals were sacrificed and right leg gastrocnemius muscle was isolated for studying various parameters such as muscle twitch, tetanic force, contraction and relaxation time, and maximum contraction and relaxation rates. The blood glucose estimation showed that the rats in group III and IV developed diabetes at two days after administration of streptozotocin. The administration of bupivacaine resulted in a significant (p&lt;0.05) increase in the muscle twitch parameters both in Group II and Group IV. Thus, bupivacaine can increase muscle contractility in diabetic muscles also.</div>

The effect of bupivacaine on gastrocnemius muscle contractility in rats with diabetes

Background: In animals due to multiple factors sometime wound management with topical anti-septic dressing along with routine medication does not give any satisfactory outcome and becomes a challenge for the veterinarians. Due to antibacterial and wound healing enhancement properties of silver nano-particles in different forms, it is widely used topically in human wound therapy. The application of silver nano-particles in wound healing in chronic complicated wounds in animals especially in clinical cases is very less documented.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: Total twenty seven animals of various species, viz., dogs (n=20), goats (n=6), cat (n=1) and buffalo (n=1) presented with different types of chronic complicated wounds on different body parts were included in this study. The wounds after evaluation were treated according to conditions with routine antiseptic dressing with other required parenteral medications for initial 3 days. All the wounds were also subjected for topical application of silver nano-particles (100 ppm AgNOs spay) twice a day. The day of presentation was considered as a day &lsquo;0&rsquo; and subsequent days for granulation, wound contraction and complete healing were recorded.&nbsp; 
 
Result:&nbsp;Amongst 20 canine wound cases, granulation of tissues with wound contraction was noted in around 5-12 days and complete healing of wound with or without scar formation was observed in 15-32 days. Among the six female goat patients, complete wound healing was observed on day 16 to day 19 according to the site and depth of wounds. In the wounds located on head, perivulvar, perineal, abdominal regions showed the marked granulation from day 3 to day 5 along with remarkable wound contraction. The wounds presented on limbs exhibited less granulation compared to wounds presented on other parts. The granulation was observed from day 5th on limb region. In all the cases healing period was found variable from day 10 to day 32.

Topical Applications of Silver Nanoparticles for Wound Healing Enhancement in Various Animals

<div style="text-align:justify">Background: Urinary incontinence is a major problem both in man and animals particularly dogs. L-arginine, the precursor of NO, relaxes coronary artery smooth muscle by opening of KATP channels. L-arginine has beneficial circulatory effects in patients with essential and secondary hypertension. However, not much is known about the role of L-arginine on bladder physiology. In view of this, the present work investigated the functional role of L- arginine on detrusor smooth muscle of goat.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: Detrusor strips of goat, collected from local abattoir were mounted in a thermostatically controlled (37&deg; &plusmn; 0.5&deg;C) organ bath (20 ml capacity) containing physiological solution. After 1 hr of equilibrium, carbachol (CCh) (10-5 M) was used to induce sub-maximal contraction. L-arginine (10-3 M) was added at the plateau of contraction to see any observable effect in absence and presence of modulators of NO and ion channels.&nbsp; 
 
Result: L- arginine (10-3&nbsp;M) reversed the contractions induced by CCh (10-5 M) on detrusor tissues. Methylene blue (MB) (10-5 M), the non-specific guanylyl cyclase inhibitor, failed to attenuate the relaxant response of L-arginine but, the NO synthase inhibitor L-NAME (3 x 10-6 M) inhibited the relaxant response of L-arginine. The KATP channel blocker glibenclamide (10-6 M) failed to inhibit the relaxation induced by L-arginine while KCa channel blocker tetraethylammonium (TEA) (10-3 M) inhibited the relaxant response of L-arginine. The results of the present study suggest that L-arginine produces relaxation of goat detrusor muscle and the L-arginine-elicited relaxation is &nbsp;NO-dependent but guanylyl cyclase independent which activates KCa channels.</div>

<div style="text-align:justify">Relaxation of Goat Detrusor Muscle by L-arginine Involves NO-dependent but Guanylyl Cyclase Independent Activation of KCa Channels</div>

Operational feasibility perception of contract farming in Nagpur mandarin

Determinants of Income of Cocoa Production Contract Systems in Cross River State, Nigeria

Factors Influencing Sheep Farmers’ Decisions to Contract Farming in East Java Province, Indonesia

Effect of Ferula Elaeochytris Root Extract on Smooth Muscle Contraction of Prostate Gland in Rat

Sodium Nitroprusside Inhibits Detrusor Muscle Contraction through G-protein Mediated Inhibition of Intracellular Ca²⁺Release

Comparison of Fecundity Traits between Mauremys reevesii and Trachemys scripta based on Gene Family Analysis

The Enforceability of Farming Agreements in India-Insights from a Legal Perspective

The effect of bupivacaine on gastrocnemius muscle contractility in rats with diabetes

Topical Applications of Silver Nanoparticles for Wound Healing Enhancement in Various Animals

Relaxation of Goat Detrusor Muscle by L-arginine Involves NO-dependent but Guanylyl Cyclase Independent Activation of K_Ca Channels