New clerodane diterpenoids from Casearia sylvestris

Two new clerodane diterpenoids 2β-methoxy-cleroda-3,13-dien-18-carboxy-15,16-olide (1) and 15ξ-methoxy-cleroda-3,12-dien-18-carboxy-15,16-olide (2) and one new nitrogen-containing clerodane diterpenoid 15-oxo-echinophyllin A (3), along with six known compounds, namely, echinophyllin A, (−)-patagonic acid, tyrosol, oplopanone, 4-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-[(1R)-1-(1-methylethyl)-4-oxopentyl]-2-cyclohexen-1-one and 1β,6α-dihydroxy-eudesman-4(15)-ene were isolated from the leaves of Casearia sylvestris. Their structures were determined by extensive NMR techniques.     

Integrated management of Striga hermonthica, stemborers,and declining soil fertility in western Kenya

Striga hermonthica (Delile) Benth., stemborers, and declining soil fertility are serious threats to sustainable food production in the Lake Victoria zone of Kenya. To address these constraints, promising integrated crop management technologies were evaluated, using a multi-locational design in four sub-locations in Siaya and Vihiga district (western Kenya) for six cropping seasons. Technologies evaluated consisted of the traditional maize (Zea mays L.) – bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) intercrop, maize – Desmodium (Desmodium uncinatum (Jacq.) DC.) push–pull intercrop, Crotalaria (Crotalaria ochroleuca G. Don) – maize rotation, and soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr) – maize rotation. Within each of these systems, imazapyr-coated herbicide-resistant maize (IR-maize) and fertilizer were super-imposed as sub-plot factors. The push–pull system was observed to significantly reduce Striga emergence and stemborer damage from the second season onwards. IR-maize reduced and delayed Striga emergence from the first cropping season. Differences in Striga emergence and stemborer damage between the other systems were not significantly different. After five cropping seasons, the Striga seedbank was significantly higher in the maize-bean intercrop system than in the push–pull system under both maize varieties while the rotational systems had intermediate values not different from the day zero values. Under IR-maize, the Striga seedbank was significantly lower than under local maize for all cropping systems. Maize yields varied between seasons, districts, and cropping systems. Yields in the push–pull system were higher than in the maize-bean intercrop after two seasons and in the absence of mid-season drought stress. Both maize and soybean responded significantly to fertilizer application for both districts and for most seasons. The various interventions did not substantially affect various soil fertility-related parameters after five seasons. In the short term, IR-maize integrated in a push–pull system is the most promising option to reduce Striga while the rotational systems may need a longer timeframe to reduce the Striga seedbank. Finally, farmer-led evaluation of the various technologies will determine which of those is really most acceptable under the prevailing farming conditions.     

Effect of Hydrophilic Gums on the Quality of Frozen Dough: Electron Microscopy,Protein Solubility,and Electrophoresis Studies

Hydrophilic gums have been shown to improve the shelf‐life stability of frozen doughs during long periods of frozen storage. The objective of this research was to determine the effect of gums on starch and protein characteristics of frozen doughs using electron microscopy and electrophoresis studies. Frozen doughs, supplemented with three levels of gum arabic, carboxy methyl cellulose (CMC), kappa (κ) carrageenan, and locust bean gum, were studied after day 1 and after 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks of frozen storage. Changes in the ultra structure of the frozen doughs were investigated, as well as the solubilities and composition of dough proteins by SDS‐PAGE. Scanning electron micrographs of doughs evaluated on day 0 (unfrozen) showed starch granules securely embedded in the gluten matrix. However, after 8 and 16 weeks of frozen storage, the frozen control dough without the gum additives clearly showed damage to the gluten network, and the starch granules appeared to be separated from the gluten. Doughs with locust bean gum and gum arabic showed better retention of the gluten network compared with the frozen control evaluated after different periods of storage. The SDS‐soluble protein content increased while residue protein content decreased as the frozen storage time increased. After each frozen storage period, the control dough without the gum additive had the highest amount of SDS‐soluble proteins and the lowest amount of residue proteins when compared with the doughs treated with gums. κ‐Carrageenan and locust bean gum had the lowest amount of SDS‐soluble proteins compared with doughs with CMC and gum arabic. The frozen control had the lowest amount of residue proteins at any particular time of frozen storage. κ‐Carrageenan treated doughs had the highest amount of residue proteins, followed by doughs with locust bean gum. Doughs with gum arabic and CMC had the lowest amount of residue proteins but still higher than the control doughs.     

An inventory of salt-affected soils and waterlogged areas in the Nagarjunsagar Canal Command Area of southern India,using space-borne multispectral data

Information is presented on the nature, extent and spatial distribution of waterlogged areas and salt-affected soils, derived through systematic visual interpretation of standard false colour composite (FCC) prints on a 1:100 000 scale generated from the Indian Remote Sensing Satellite (IRS-1B) Linear Imaging Self-scanning Sensor (LISS-I) and Landsat–Thematic Mapper (TM) data for the Nagarjunsagar Right Bank Canal Command Area, Andhra Pradesh. A total of 1710 ha of land in the coastal region has been found to be waterlogged. Salt-affected soils cover an area of 42 800 ha, with saline–sodic soils covering 28 480 ha emerging as the dominant category. To make optimal use of these lands and to prevent further degradation both preventive and ameliorative measures have been advocated. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Plant Therapy: a Nonpharmacological and Noninvasive Treatment Approach Medically Beneficial to the Wellbeing of Hospital Patients

A green atmosphere and interaction with nature (plants and flowers) can considerably improve the human senses and sanity by decreasing the stress associated with anxiety, depression, neurotic impairment, and other psychologic symptoms. The current paper reports a therapeutic horticultural study’s findings regarding the effect of indoor foliage plants and flower arrangements on health prospects of surgical patients. Two surgical wards, ward A (with foliage plants and arranged flowers) and ward B (without foliage plants and flowers), were selected for the study. A total of 270 patients were randomly assigned to either ward to give 135 patients in each. Patients admitted to ward A had significantly more optimistic and promising health improvements than those in ward B. Provision of foliage plants and flower arrangements to the patients in ward A resulted in shorter postoperative stays, lower intake of analgesics, lower pain intensity, less stress fatigue, and improved vital signs (blood pressure, heart rate, respiration rate, body temperature) as compared to patients in ward B. Moreover, analyses showed that patients in ward A had a stronger psychologic frame of mind regarding their recovery from surgery and had more positive emotions and feelings regarding their stay in the hospital. They also felt that the ward atmosphere was more calming, pleasant, and satisfactory. Additionally, small group discussions and focal interviews with ward doctors and nurses confirmed the findings of the questionnaire that foliage plants & flower arrangements create a cherished environment in the ward, reduce patients’ stress, improve medical and psychologic status of patients, and also conveye positive messages of the hospital. These findings confirm the therapeutic value of horticultural activities, particularly in surgical patients in a stressed hospital setting.     

Dietary folic acid requirement of fingerling Catla,Catla catla (Hamilton)

The dietary folic acid requirement of fingerling Catla catla (3.4 ± 0.17 g; 7.6 ± 0.41 cm) was evaluated by feeding casein–gelatin‐based isonitrogenous (350 g/kg crude protein) and isocaloric (16.72 kJ/g GE) diets containing different concentrations of folic acid (0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0, 2.0 mg/kg) to triplicate groups to apparent satiation at 08:00, 12:30 and 17:30 hr for 16 weeks. Absolute weight gain (AWG; 40.07 g/fish), specific growth rate (SGR; 2.25%), feed conversion ratio (FCR; 1.53), protein retention efficiency (PRE; 31.42%) and protein gain (PG; 6.74) improved significantly (p < .05) with increasing folic acid levels up to 0.4 mg/kg diet and then reached a plateau. However, maximum liver folic acid concentration increased up to 0.6 mg/kg diet. Dietary folic acid levels also significantly affected (p < .05) body composition of fish. No significant change (p > .05) in haematological parameters except in fish fed folic acid‐free diet was noted. Antioxidant and immune parameters increased with increasing concentration of dietary folic acid up to 0.4 mg/kg diet. Broken‐line regression analysis of AWG, FCR, PRE, PG, HCT and liver folic acid concentrations of fingerling C. catla against dietary folic acid levels indicated optimum growth, FCR, PRE, PG, HCT and liver folic acid saturation ranging between 0.22 and 0.56 mg/kg diet, respectively.     

Effects of dietary protein levels on growth,feed utilization,protein retention efficiency and body composition of young <Emphasis Type="Italic">Heteropneustes fossilis</Emphasis> (Bloch)

An 8-week growth trial was conducted to assess the effect of dietary protein on growth, feed utilization, protein retention efficiency, and body composition of young Heteropneustes fossilis (10.02 ± 0.09 g; 9.93 ± 0.07 cm). Isocaloric (4.15 kcal g⁻¹, GE) diets with varying levels of protein (25, 30, 35, 40, 45, and 50% of the diet) were fed near to satiation to triplicate groups of fish. Optimum dietary protein was determined by analyzing live weight gain (LWG%), feed conversion ratio (FCR), protein efficiency ratio (PER), specific growth rate (SGR%), and protein retention efficiency (PRE%) data. Maximum LWG% (167), best FCR (1.42), PER (1.75), SGR (1.76), and PRE (31.7%) were evident in fish fed 40% protein diet (Diet 4). Body protein data also supported the above level. However, second-degree polynomial regression analysis of the above data indicated that inclusion of dietary protein in the range of 40–43% is optimum for the growth of young H. fossilis.     

Consequences of narrow crop row spacing and delayed Echinochloa colona and Trianthema portulacastrum emergence for weed growth and crop yield loss in maize

Echinochloa colona and Trianthema portulacastrum are weeds of maize that cause significant yield losses in the Indo‐Gangetic Plains. Field experiments were conducted in 2009 and 2010 to determine the influence of row spacing (15, 25 and 35 cm) and emergence time of E. colona and T. portulacastrum (0, 15, 25, 35, 45 and 55 days after maize emergence; DAME) on weed growth and productivity of maize. A season‐long weed‐free treatment and a weedy control were also used to estimate maize yield and weed seed production. Crop row spacing as well as weed emergence time had a significant influence on plant height, shoot biomass and seed production of both weed species and grain yield of maize in both years. Delay in emergence of weeds resulted in less plant height, shoot biomass and seed production. However, increase in productivity of maize was observed by delay in weed emergence. Likewise, growth of both weed species was less in narrow row spacing (15 cm) of maize, as compared with wider rows (25 and 35 cm). Maximum seed production of both weeds was observed in weedy control plots, where there was no competition with maize crop and weeds were in rows 35 cm apart. Nevertheless, maximum plant height, shoot biomass and seed production of both weed species were observed in 35 cm rows, when weeds emerged simultaneously with maize. Both weed species produced only 3–5 seeds per plant, when they were emerged at 55 DAME in crop rows spaced at 15 cm. Infestation of both weeds at every stage of crop led to significant crop yield loss in maize. Our results suggested that narrow row spacing and delay in weed emergence led to reduced weed growth and seed production and enhanced maize grain yield and therefore could be significant constituents of integrated weed management strategies in maize.     

Dietary tryptophan requirement of fingerling Indian major carp, Cirrhinus mrigala (Hamilton)

An 8‐week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary tryptophan concentration on weight gain and feed efficiencies of fingerling Indian major carp, Cirrhinus mrigala. Six isonitrogenous (40% crude protein) and isocaloric (17.90 kJ g^?1) amino acid test diets containing casein, gelatin and l ‐crystalline amino acids with graded levels of l ‐tryptophan (0.06, 0.16, 0.26, 0.36, 0.46 and 0.56 g 100 g^?1 dry diet) were formulated. Fish (4.25±0.30 cm, 0.62±0.02 g) were randomly stocked in triplicate groups in 70 L (water volume 55 L) flow‐through (1–1.5 L min^?1) indoor circular tanks and fed experimental diets at 5% of their body weight/day in two feedings at 08:00 and 16:00 hours. Maximum live weight gain (277%), lowest feed conversion ratio (FCR) (1.50) and highest protein efficiency ratio (PER) (1.66) were measured at 0.36% dietary tryptophan. The relationship between dietary tryptophan levels and weight gain, FCR and PER data were described using second‐degree polynomial regression analysis indicating the tryptophan requirement at 0.42, 0.39 and 0.38 g 100 g^?1 of dry diet respectively. Whole body moisture decreased with increasing tryptophan up to 0.36%. Significantly (P<0.05) higher protein content was evident in fish fed diet containing 0.36% tryptophan. Body fat increased significantly (P<0.05) in fish fed with different tryptophan concentrations except those fed 0.36% tryptophan where a significantly lower fat content was noted. Significantly (P<0.05) higher ash content was reported at 0.06% and 0.16% tryptophan levels. Survival was 100% in fish fed all the diets except those fed 0.06% tryptophan. Based on the results, diets for fingerling C. mrigala should contain tryptophan at 0.38 g 100 g^?1 dry diet, corresponding to 0.95 g 100 g^?1 dietary protein for optimum growth and efficient feed utilization.     

Biotransformations of photoheptachlor in the rat: II. Analysis and origin of major metabolites

The metabolites isolated and purified from the excreta of the rats treated with [¹⁴C]photoheptachlor were analyzed by gc-mass spectrometry. Molecular structure of two of the major metabolites indicated that they were produced by hydroxylations at two different CCl bonds of photoheptachlor. One of these metabolites was conjugated with glucuronic acid, the other with an unknown compound. Hepatic origin of the products was shown by concordance of the in vitro and in vivo study. Most of the radioactivity in fat, skin, liver, kidney, and muscle tissues of male and female rats was organosoluble containing photoheptachlor and its nonpolar metabolites.