Electrochemical principles for active control of liquids on submillimeter scales

Electrochemical methods were combined with redox-active surfactants to actively control the motions and positions of aqueous and organic liquids on millimeter and smaller scales. Surfactant species generated at one electrode and consumed at another were used to manipulate the magnitude and direction of spatial gradients in surface tension and guide droplets of organic liquids through simple fluidic networks. Solid microparticles could be transported across unconfined surfaces. Electrochemical control of the position of surface-active species within aqueous films of liquid supported on homogeneous surfaces was used to direct these films into periodic arrays of droplets with deterministic shapes and sizes.     

Persistence and leaching of beta-cyfluthrin in alluvial soil of India

Persistence as affected by rate of application and moisture regimes and leaching of beta-cyfluthrin was studied in alluvial soil under laboratory conditions. The effects of rate of application and moisture regimes on persistence were studied by incubating fortified soil at 0.1, 1.0 and 10.0 mg kg(-1) under air-dry, field capacity and submerged moisture regimes. The initial deposits of 0.09, 1.11 and 10.1 mg kg(-1) dissipated with time and 78.4-100% loss was recorded at 90 days. The half-life values varied from 7.8 to 41.8 days. The rate of dissipation decreased as the rate of application increased under field capacity and submerged conditions. However, under air-dry conditions, the effect was less pronounced, and half-life values showed a reverse trend. Persistence of beta-cyfluthrin under different moisture regimes followed the trend: air-dry > field capacity > submerged. The trend could be attributed to the effect of moisture on number and type of microbes. Leaching was studied in a packed soil column under saturated flow conditions. beta-Cyfluthrin was found to be highly immobile in alluvial soil. No residues were detected in any leachate fraction under the experimental conditions. In column soil, residues were detected at 0-10 cm depth and the major amount (>99%) was recovered from 0-5 cm depth. Although beta-cyfluthrin showed moderate persistence in alluvial soil, the possibility of its leaching to ground water is negligible as a result of its immobility.     

Prevalence of the plasma bovine leukaemia virus blocking factor in cattle from a commercial dairy herd

The prevalence of the plasma bovine leukaemia virus blocking factor was examined in a commercial herd. The detection of the blocking factor activity depended on the nature of the infected target cells used in the assay. Using the sensitive bovine leukaemia virus-infected target lymphocytes, the factor was found to be significantly more prevalent in infected cattle than in virus-free cattle. Furthermore, in infected cattle, no correlation was observed between the level of bovine leukaemia virus antibody and the presence of the blocking factor.     

Influence of Sowing Dates on Yield and Oil Quality in Sunflower

Effect of sowing dates (temperature regimes) on growth, yield oil content and quality in sunflower ( Helianthus annuus L. ) was studied. Plants of early sowings which had received low temperature during 0–45 days of growth grew very poorly in height. Plant height significantly correlated with temperature at all the three growth stages. Plants sown in March produced highest yield and January sown plants recorded lowest yield. Protein content of seeds decreased where as the oil content increased with delay in sowing dates. Oil content in the seeds collected from different sowing dates showed significant differences. However, oil content was not significantly correlated with temperatures at any growth stages. Incorporation of ¹⁴C-acetate into lipids of developing seeds was increased as the sowing was delayed. Early sown plants had higher percentage of oleic acid and late sown plants had higher percentage of linoleic acid. Effect sowing dates on oil content and oil quality were discussed on the basis of temperature variation during different growth stages.     

27 kDa Fasciola gigantica Glycoprotein for the Diagnosis of Prepatent Fasciolosis in Cattle

An indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using 27 kDa glycoprotein of Fasciola gigantica has been evaluated for its potential use in the diagnosis of bovine fasciolosis. Following experimental infection of rabbits, F. gigantica infection-induced antibodies were isolated and later used as ligands in affinity chromatography for isolation of infection-induced antibody-specific proteins. Among the five infection-specific proteins isolated, a glycoprotein of 27 kDa was later isolated by second-step purification using concanavalin A matrix. In crossbred cattle receiving different doses of infection (100, 200 and 400 metacercariae), the anti-27 kDa antibodies were detected as early as the 2nd week post infection. No direct correlation between initial dose, antibody response and fluke establishment was recorded. No cross-reaction was noted with the sera of goats experimentally infected with Paramphistomum epiclitum. ELISA with the 27 kDa glycoprotein could be a feasible diagnostic tool for the early detection of bovine fasciolosis.     

Prevention of tissue injury in an ascending mouse model of chronic pyelonephritis--role of free radical scavengers

The role of free radical scavengers in preventing the tissue injury using a non obstructive, ascending mouse model for chronic pyelonephritis was assessed. The parameters taken into consideration are Luminol Dependent Chemiluminescence (LDCL), histopathology and some biochemical investigations. We have observed that both catalase and Dimethyl-Sulfoxide (DMSO, free radical scavengers) were able to prevent the free radical mediated tissue injury and ultimate renal scarring, irrespective of the bacterial strain studied.     

Clinico-haematological and mineral studies on experimental maduramicin toxicity in chickens

Clinico-haematological and mineral studies were carried out in experimental chickens given maduramicin medicated feed at 5 and 10 ppm for 21 days. Maduramicin medication in both medicated groups caused growth retardation. Clinical signs namely watery diarrhoea, depression, dullness and ruffled feathers were noticed in chickens from second week of the medication at 10 ppm but this effect was seen from third week in the birds given maduramicin at 5 ppm. Maduramicin medication caused significant reduction in haemoglobin in both the medicated group from day 14 and total erythrocyte count and packed cell volume in 10 ppm group on day 21. There was an increase in MCV in 10 ppm group on day 21 indicating macrocytic anaemia and decrease in mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) in both the medicated groups indicating hypochromic anaemia. The leucopenia due to lymphopenia was observed in 10 ppm group on day 21. Maduramicin medication caused significant increase in serum Zn in 10 ppm group and decrease in Cu concentration in both the medicated groups from day 14. It is concluded that maduramicin caused toxic effects from day 14 in both the medicated groups.     

Antibacterial activity of Vernonia cinerea

The benzene extract of Vernonia cinerea showed a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity.