Removal of chromium (VI) as chromium diphenyl carbazide (CDC) complex from aqueous solution by activated carbon

Adsorption of Cr (VI) as CDC-complex from aqueous solution by activated C has been investigated. Factors like pH and presence of Cr (III) which affect the adsorption of CDC-complex were studied. The increase in particle size and surface area of activated C does not enhance the removal of CDC-complex. For different concentrations of Cr, the optimum quantity of Diphenyl Carbazide has been determined. The reduced Cr e.g. Cr (III) decreases the CDC-complex removal. The Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms constant as calculated are γm=1.8932 and b=0.2305 and n=0.036, log K=0.0266, respectively.     

Cajanus platycarpus (Benth.) Maesen as the donor of new pigeonpea cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) system

Cajanus platycarpus, a distantly related wild species, was successfully crossed with cultivated pigeonpea using embryo rescue and tissue culture techniques. Advance generation lines showed a range of desirable characters including cytoplasmic male sterility. A range of pigeonpea cultivars restored fertility and was maintained by a few lines including cultivar ICPL 85010. Clasmogamous flowers were observed in the male sterile lines. In such flowers anthers did not form di-adlephous bundle. Cytological analysis revealed that meiosis proceeded normally till the tetrad stage in those anthers with pollen grains. After which many of the pollen grains turned sterile. In the anthers with pollen grains, dehiscence was not observed, thus creating functional sterility. In many other anthers, pollen mother cells (PMCs) were not formed at all, giving rise to sepalous anthers. In conclusion two mechanisms of male sterility existed, one was premeiotic, where PMCs did not form and in the second, although PMCs gave rise to pollen grains, they were either partially or totally sterile accompanied by non-dehiscence of anther wall.     

A monoclinic post-stishovite polymorph of silica in the shergotty meteorite

A post-stishovite phase of silica was identified in the Shergotty meteorite by x-ray diffraction and field emission scanning electron microscopy. The diffraction pattern revealed a monoclinic lattice, similar to the baddeleyite-structured polymorph with the cell parameters a = 4.375(1) angstroms, b = 4.584(1) angstroms, c = 4. 708(1) angstroms, beta= 99.97(3), rho = 4.30(2) grams per cubic centimeter, where the numbers in parentheses are the maximum deviations. Transmission electron microscopy investigations indicate the presence of the alpha-lead dioxide-like polymorph, stishovite, and secondary cristobalite in the same silica grain. The mixture of high-density polymorphs suggests that several post-stishovite phases were formed during the shock event on the Shergotty parent body.     

Histamine is an intracellular messenger mediating platelet aggregation

Inhibition of human platelet aggregation by N,N-diethyl-2-[4-(phenylmethyl)phenoxy]ethanamine-HCl (DPPE), a novel antagonist of histamine binding, suggested that histamine might serve a critical role in cell function. Phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) or collagen was found to increase platelet histamine content in parallel with promotion of aggregation. Inhibitors of histidine decarboxylase (HDC) suppressed both aggregation and the elevation of histamine content, whereas DPPE inhibited aggregation only. In saponin-permeabilized platelets, added histamine reversed the inhibition by DPPE or HDC inhibitors on aggregation induced by PMA or collagen. The results indicate a role for histamine as an intracellular messenger, which in platelets promotes aggregation.     

Effect of nitrogen source and salinity level on salt accumulation of two chickpea genotypes

This study aimed at investigating mechanisms of salt tolerance and ionic relations of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) cultivars with different nitrogen (N) sources. Two resistant genotypes, ILC‐205 and ILC‐1919, were subjected to four levels of salinity (0.5, 3.0, 6.0, and 9.0 dS m^‐1). Nitrogen sources consisted of inoculation with two resistant Rhizobium strains, CP‐29 and CP‐32, mineral N additions, and no N application. Data was collected on root and shoot contents of sodium (Na⁺) chlorine, (Cl^‐,) and potassium (K⁺), and shoot to root Na⁺ratio, as well as shoot K⁺ to Na⁺ ratio. Salinity affected shoot Na⁺ and Cl^‐contents, but nodulating plants had higher shoot Na⁺ contents than plants supplied with mineral N. Shoot to root Na⁺ ratios were lower in the mineral N treatment than in nodulating treatments at 3.0 dS m^‐1, indicating that root compartmentalization and shoot exclusion were only possible at low salinities. Potassium levels of nodulating plant shoots were lower than those of non‐nodulating plants only at low salinities. N‐source significantly affected shoot K⁺/Na⁺ ratio, with nodulating plants having lower ratios than non‐nodulating plants, indicating that rhizobial infection or nodule formation may lead to salt entry curtailing the selective ability of chickpea roots.     

Improved thermal bonding behaviour of polypropylene non-wovens by blending different molecular weights of PP

Polypropylene filaments were spun from a mixture of PP chips of two different Melt Flow Index (MFI) (3 MFI and 35 MFI). A significant difference was observed in the melting characteristics of the resultant filaments from either of the individual components as observed from the DSC. The main difference being in the degree of melting achieved at any temperature in the initial stages of the melting range, which was found to be higher in case of the filaments spun from the blend. These filaments were then thermally bonded using silicon oil bath and heated roller method. Subsequently the bond strength of the filaments was measured on the Instron Tensile Tester using the loop technique. The values of the bond strengths obtained from the blend were compared with those made from the individual component. It was found that the bond strength of the bonds obtained from the blended filament at a given temperature was higher than that of the bonds made from the filaments of either of the individual components, which is also suggested by the DSC curves. The difference in the bond strength was found to be as high as 25% in case of the blend with 60:40 composition ratios of the 3 MFI and 35 MFI components respectively.     

Relationship between seed size and protein content in newly developed high protein lines of pigeonpea

To develop high protein lines, several crosses were made betweenCajanus as a source of acceptable seed size andAtylosia as a source of high protein. In the present study, 1974 single F7 plants from these intergeneric crosses were examined. Correlation coefficients among these crosses between seed size and seed protein content ranged from ?0.30, (P<0.01) to +0.28 (P<0.01). Two crosses had significant negative correlations and one showed a significant positive correlation while in the remaining two no significant association was detected. Based on all the selections there was a highly significant negative correlation (?0.13,P<0.01) between seed size and protein content. However, the extent of variation that could be attributed to this association was small. Observations indicated that in pigeonpea, unlike other legume and cereal crops, simultaneous improvement can be made for seed size and protein. Some high protein lines (HPL 2, HPL 7, HPL 40, and HPL 51) have been identified. Protein content of these lines ranged between 27.0 and 29.0% and 100-grain weight between 10.0 and 12.1 g.     

Insect-aided natural out-crossing in four wild relatives of pigeonpea

Insect-aided natural out-crossing in pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] is a common event. It is considered to be a prime constraint in maintaining genetic purity of cultivars and genetic stocks. On the contrary, the out-crossing has also been exploited to select high-yielding varieties from landraces. This paper, for the first time, reports natural out-crossing in four wild relatives of pigeonpea. The highest (17.1%) natural out-crossing was recorded in C. lineatus and it was comparable to the control cultivar Asha (22.2%). C. albicans and C. scarabaeoides exhibited 10.0 and 8.3% out-crossing, respectively. C. sericeus was found to have lowest (2.3%) natural out-crossing. A process of breeding a new cytoplasmic-nuclear male-sterility (CMS) system arising from a natural hybrid of C. lineatus has also been described. Once stabilized, this CMS will be used in breeding programs aimed to develop high-yielding pigeonpea hybrids.