<div>Background: Reba carp is one of the promising candidates for species diversification in fresh-water aquaculture. It is available in all the major rivers of India. Cryopreserved milt will be useful in genetic exchange between remotely located farms. For using cryomilt as a tool for genetic exchange, species specific milt cryopreservation protocol is required.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: Milt was cryopreserved using three extenders (7,7B and 9C) and two cryoprotectants (DMSO and methanol) and evaluated with fresh milt as control. Milt was cryopreserved in 1:6 dilution in French medium straws of 0.5 ml. The feasibility of selected extender and cryoprotectant combinations was assessed by the ability of cryopreserved sperm to fertilize the C. reba eggs and hatching percentage. Fertilized eggs were incubated in 0.5 L bowl and a flow-through incubation system. Analysis was done for both bowl and flow-through incubation separately and combinedly as well. 
 
Result: Better hatching percentage was obtained in flow-through incubation system for all the treatments. In combined analysis extender 7 with 10% DMSO as cryoprotectant gave significantly higher hatching rate (44.5%) and (75%) in comparison to control. Better performance was noticed in flow-through incubation system (50.09%) as compared to bowl (39.1%) in the same treatment. Thus, it can be concluded that extender 7 with 10% DMSO (V/V) is suitable to retain sperm quality in reba carp having optimal sperm motility, high fertility and hatching close to the values obtained with fresh sperm in flow-through incubation system.</div>

Development of Milt Cryopreservation Protocol for Economically Important Minor Carp Cirrhinus reba (Hamilton, 1822)

Background: The work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) associated with agricultural workers had detrimental effects on productivity. Consequently, researchers have led to the development of various ergonomic evaluation and risk assessment tools. The present study aimed to ergonomically assess the nutmeg picking operation with the developed tool and compare with the conventional methods. 
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Methods: The physiological parameters and postural discomfort encountered by the subjects were determined for three operations: hand picking by bending posture (stooping), hand picking by sitting posture (crouching) and picking by a developed tool in standing posture. The postural analysis tool, Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA), was used for ergonomic risk assessment in the work. 
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Result: The average &Auml;HR values for manual methods in stooping and crouching were found to be 38.4 beats.min-1&nbsp;and 49.2 beats.min-1&nbsp;respectively and 27.6 beats.min-1&nbsp;using the tool. Similarly, the oxygen consumption rate values were obtained as 0.82, 0.98 and 0.69 l.min-1&nbsp;for all operations respectively. Furthermore, the average overall discomfort rate (ODR) value for all subjects was 4.7, 5.9 and 1.4 for stooping, crouching and using the developed tool respectively. The average REBA score of 2 was obtained for the developed tool, which was lesser than that of conventional picking methods. The developed tool results in less fatigue than the conventional methods, which confirms that the developed tool is best, suited for nutmeg collection. Thus, new ergonomic interventions are vital in the field of agriculture to safeguard farmer&rsquo;s health and increase productivity.

Comparative Evaluation of a Nutmeg Picking Tool with Conventional Methods using REBA and Physiological Metrics

<div>Background: Ergonomics is a science that focuses its study on improved design as a remedial measure to fatigue and discomfort in humans. Its objective is to optimize health, safety and productivity. 
 
Methods: In the current study, an ergonomic evaluation of walking type power operated maize stalk harvester was done with traditional system. 
 
Result: It was observed that the average working heart rate, working oxygen consumption rate, ODR, BPDS and, REBA score was 93.3 beats/min, 0.582 litre/min, 1.1 (uncomfortable), 23.5, 5.3 (medium risk) respectively. The working angles of different body parts like trunk, neck, leg, upper arm, lower arm and wrist were studied and are 9.1o, 7.3o, 41.8o, 23.6o, 48.2o and 7.9o for developed prototype respectively.</div>

Development of Milt Cryopreservation Protocol for Economically Important Minor Carp Cirrhinus reba (Hamilton, 1822)

Comparative Evaluation of a Nutmeg Picking Tool with Conventional Methods using REBA and Physiological Metrics

Ergonomic Evaluation of a Walking Type Power Operated Maize Stalk Harvester