Synthesis of poly(hydroxamic acid) ligand from polymer grafted khaya cellulose for transition metals extraction

A cellulose-graft-poly(methyl acrylate) was synthesized by free radical initiating process and the ester functional groups were converted into the hydroxamic acid ligand. The intermediate and final products are characterized by FT-IR, FE-SEM, HR-TEM and XPS technique. The pH of the solution acts as a key factor in achieving optical color signals of metalcomplexation. The reflectance spectra of the [Cu-ligand]n+ complex was found to be a highest absorbance at 99.8 % at pH 6 and it was increased upon increasing of Cu²⁺ ion concentrations and a broad peak at 700 nm was observed which indicated the charge transfer (π-π transition) metals-Cu complex. The adsorption capacity of copper was found to be superior (336 mg g^?1) rather than other transition metals such as Fe³⁺, Co³⁺, Cr³⁺, Ni²⁺, Mn²⁺ and Zn²⁺ were 310, 295, 288, 250, 248 and 225 mg g^-1, respectively at pH 6. The experimental data of all metal ions fitted significantly with the pseudo-second-order rate equation. The transition metal ions sorption onto ligand were well fitted with the Langmuir isotherm model (R²>0.99), which suggested that the cellulose-based adsorbent known as poly(hydroxamic acid) ligand surface is homogenous and monolayer. The reusability of the poly(hydroxamic acid) ligand was checked by the sorption/desorption process up to ten cycles without any significant loss in its original sensing and removal performances.     

Inheritance pattern of mungbean yellow mosaic disease resistance and gene action for different traits in mungbean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek) under protected and unprotected field conditions

Understanding of mungbean yellow mosaic disease resistance is crucial to develop resistant varieties to combat worldwide threat of the disease epidemics. This study was aimed to determine nature of disease resistance in terms of number of genes governing it and genetics of related traits. Experimental site was located on 31.43°N and 73.06°E with an elevation of 186 m, and evaluation trials were conducted during spring season due to high disease epidemics in this season. Two contrasting genotypes, that is, NM 6‐68‐2 (resistant) and NM 1‐32‐1 (highly susceptible), were crossed to raise six populations, that is, P₁, P₂, F₁, F₂, BC₁ and BC₂ for evaluation under protected and unprotected field conditions using chi‐square test and generation mean and variance analysis. It was discovered that disease resistance was governed by two major genes with additive effects. Disease resistance can easily be incorporated through backcrossing and direct selection following hybridization. Direct selection should be practised at earlier generation for plant height, chlorophyll contents and number of seeds per pod due to preponderance of additive effects whereas at later generations for seed yield per plant, 100 seed weight, harvest index, number of pods per plant and pod length due to involvement of duplicate epistasis.     

Preliminary study of the performance of crude illipe oil (Shorea macrophylla) as a dietary lipid source for riverine cyprinid Tor tambroides

Fisheries Science - Illipe Shorea macrophylla is a riverine fruit naturally eaten by Malaysian mahseer Tor tambroides and other riverine cyprinids. The effects of crude illipe oil on the growth...     

Synthesis and characterization of zinc-coated urea fertilizer

The research was focused on the synthesis and characterization of zinc (Zn)-coated urea fertilizer. Zinc oxide (ZnO) particles were coated on urea granules through two different coating techniques, i.e., slurry coating and wet coating, and the release rate of the coated Zn was measured up to 24 hours. Slurry coating technique showed better Zn release rate and morphology of coated urea granules as compared with wet coating technique using different binders, i.e., water, molasses, paraffin oil, and the combined mixture of honey bee wax and gum arabica. Urea granules synthesized through wet coating technique have a low amount of Zn as compared with slurry-coated urea granules. Urea granules coated through slurry coating technique and molasses, paraffin oil, and water (MPW) as a binder were the best in term of coating efficiency, uniform size distribution of ZnO-coated particles, granule's morphology, and release rate of Zn from coated formulations.     

Citrus leafminer Phyllocnistis citrella and its parasitoids in Sargodha region of Pakistan

In order to identify the parasitoids of Phyllocnistis citrella, an important pest of Citrus, the larvae and pupae of this pest were collected from Citrus reticulata Blanco orchards in the Sargodha region of Pakistan. The parasitoid species were identified, and their abundance was recorded. A total of two species were identified: Citrostichus phyllocnistoides (Narayan) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) and Cirrospilus ingenuus Gahan (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae). Out of a total of 409 P. citrella larvae and pupae collected, 73 C. phyllocnistoides and 39 C. ingenuus adults emerged. This paper documents the species and the abundance of the parasitoids associated with P. citrella in the Sargodha region of Pakistan.     

Slow-release urea fertilizer from sulfur,gypsum, and starch-coated formulations

To address nitrogen (N)-related environmental pollution, development of an economical, slow-release urea fertilizer is the need of the hour. A study was conducted on the reduction of nitrogen released from granular urea fertilizer by applying sulfur, gypsum, bentonite, and starch as coating material. Paraffin wax was used as a binder. The dissolution rates were studied by changing the composition of coating mixture using high-performance liquid chromatography. SEM was used to study the morphology of coated urea in terms of smoothness and uniformity. The ultraviolet spectroscopy analysis further authenticated the release behavior of coated urea in terms of nitrogen concentration. Coating material reduced the release rate of nitrogen from urea fertilizer, significantly. Mixture of sulfur and gypsum coating on urea gave slowest release rate of nitrogen from urea fertilizer, i.e., 37%, as compared to uncoated urea and thus seems to be the most promising binding material for product development.     

Prevalence and risk factors of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) in livestock and companion animal in high-risk areas in Malaysia

Japanese encephalitis (JE) is vector-borne zoonotic disease which causes encephalitis in humans and horses. Clinical signs for Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) infection are not clearly evident in the majority of affected animals. In Malaysia, information on the prevalence of JEV infection has not been established. Thus, a cross-sectional study was conducted during two periods, December 2015 to January 2016 and March to August in 2016, to determine the prevalence and risk factors in JEV infections among animals and birds in Peninsular Malaysia. Serum samples were harvested from the 416 samples which were collected from the dogs, cats, water birds, village chicken, jungle fowls, long-tailed macaques, domestic pigs, and cattle in the states of Selangor, Perak, Perlis, Kelantan, and Pahang. The serum samples were screened for JEV antibodies by commercial IgG ELISA kits. A questionnaire was also distributed to obtain information on the animals, birds, and the environmental factors of sampling areas. The results showed that dogs had the highest seropositive rate of 80% (95% CI: ±?11.69) followed by pigs at 44.4% (95% CI: ±?1.715), cattle at 32.2% (95% CI: ±?1.058), birds at 28.9% (95% CI: ±?5.757), cats at 15.6% (95% CI: ±?7.38), and monkeys at 14.3% (95% CI: ±?1.882). The study also showed that JEV seropositivity was high in young animals and in areas where mosquito vectors and migrating birds were prevalent.     

Effect of breeding method and season on pregnancy rate and embryonic and fetal losses in lactating Nili-Ravi buffaloes

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of breeding method and season on pregnancy rate and cumulative embryonic and fetal losses in Nili-Ravi buffalo. Estrus detection was performed twice a day by teaser buffalo bull for 1 hour each. A 2?×?2 factorial design was used to address the breeding method and season. Buffaloes (n?=?130) exhibiting estrus were randomly assigned to be bred either in peak breeding season (PBS; n?=?80) or low breeding season (LBS; n?=?50). Within each season, buffaloes were divided to receive either natural service (NS; n?=?65) or artificial insemination (AI; n?=?65). NS buffaloes, in estrus, were allowed to remain with the bull until mating. AI was achieved, using frozen thawed semen of bull of known fertility. PBS comprised of September to December and LBS were from May to July. Serial ultrasonography was performed on days 30, 45, 60, and 90 after breeding (day 0) to monitor pregnancy rate and embryonic and fetal losses. The pregnancy rate on day 30 after breeding was higher in NS as compared to AI group (63 vs. 43%; P?<?0.05) during PBS while it did not differ (48 vs. 32%; P?>?0.05) in LBS. The cumulative embryonic and fetal losses between days 31 and 90 were significantly lower in PBS than LBS (33 vs. 60%; P?<?0.05), ignoring breeding method. Pregnancy rates were better with NS in PBS, and cumulative embryonic fetal losses were higher in LBS in Nili-Ravi buffalo.     

A cross-sectional study of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus at the equine-human interface

Tropical Animal Health and Production - The present study aimed at investigating the percent prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in equines and associated personnel. A...