Whole-body amino acid pattern of juvenile,preadult, and adult pacu,Piaractus mesopotamicus,with an estimation of its dietary essential amino acid requirements

In the present study, juvenile (live body weight, 54.3 ± 8.2 g), preadult (live body weight, 822.5 ± 33.9 g), and adult (live body weight, 1,562.8 ± 41.8 g) pacu, Piaractus mesopotamicus, were used to estimate their dietary essential amino acid (EAA) requirements using the whole-body amino acid (AA) pattern. The results showed that whole-body moisture, crude protein, total lipid, and ash contents expressed on a wet weight basis (%) were significantly different among the studied growth phases. No significant differences were observed in the dietary EAA requirements estimated for the three growth phases of pacu. These dietary EAA requirements were found to be different than those previously estimated for the same fish through its muscle AA pattern. Based on whole-body EAA to total EAA ratios {A/E ratios; [(each EAA/total EAA) × 1,000]}, EAA requirements were estimated to be histidine (0.42%), arginine (1.36%), threonine (0.82%), valine (0.90%), methionine (0.45%), isoleucine (0.83%), leucine (1.29%), phenylalanine (0.74%), lysine (1.64%), and tryptophan (0.14%) for pacu. These estimated requirements may serve as a reference line in the formulation of practical and experimental diets until dose–response-based optimum EAA requirements are available for pacu.     

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.     

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.     

Productivity and resource use of direct-(drum)-seeded and transplanted rice in puddled soils in rice–rice and rice–wheat ecosystems

Conventional tilled transplanting, a widely practiced method of rice (Oryza sativa L.) establishment in puddled soils in rice–rice and rice–wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) systems in Asia, requires a large amount of labor and water, which are becoming scarce and expensive. Growing more food with the same production costs or even reduced costs and sustaining the quality of the natural resource base are a major concern. On-farm trials were conducted in Chuadanga District of Bangladesh during the wet season as monsoon rice (aman) and during the dry season as winter rice (boro) in 2006–07 to evaluate the effects of establishment methods with improved crop management on productivity, resource (land, water, and labor) use, and economic return. Rice was established by sowing in line with a drum seeder on conventional tilled puddled soils (CT-DrumR) and by transplanting in line on the day of CT-DrumR (CT-TPR1) and 30 and 35 days after CT-DrumR (CT-TPR2) in aman and boro seasons, respectively. Farmers’ usual transplanting time corresponds to the day of CT-TPR2. Grain yields in CT-DrumR and CT-TPR2 were similar but the crop occupied the main field 22–24 days longer in CT-DrumR than in CT-TPR2, resulting in lower productivity (45 kg grain ha⁻¹ day⁻¹ vs. 55 kg grain ha⁻¹ day⁻¹) in both seasons. Drum-seeded rice matured earlier by 8 and 11 days, received 12% and 6% less irrigation water, saved 19 and 24 person-days ha⁻¹, and gave higher gross margins of 6% and 4% but input costs increased by 20% and 12% than CT-TPR2 in aman and boro seasons, respectively. There is a need to examine these benefits of drum-seeded rice in relation to the feasibility of adoption by farmers.     

Yarn setting and hairiness reduction with a steam jet during winding

This paper examines the use of pressurized steam for wrapping and setting the yarn hairs concurrently via a new steam-jet process during winding. Yarn torque can also be stabilized as an added advantage. The results obtained with two batches of pure wool yarns suggest that there is potential to achieve yarn hairiness reduction of up to 60 % with minimum deterioration in hairiness even after subsequent rewinding.     

Synthesis and properties of symmetrically substituted 4,4′-bis(1,3,5-triazinyl)-diamino stilbene-2,2′-disulfonic acid derivatives as UV absorbing and fluorescent whitening agents

The fluorescence properties of textiles dyed with optical brighteners have been widely reported in literature. However, little sufficient study has investigated the UV protection properties of textiles dyed with fluorescent whitening agents (FWAs). This study reports the synthesis of a series of stilbene-triazine compounds and their performance on cotton fiber as UV absorbing and FWAs. Triazinyldiaminostilbene compounds were synthesized by reacting 4,4′-diaminostilbene-2,2′-disulfonic acid with 2,4,6-trichloro-1,3,5-triazine to give 4,4′-bis(4,6-dichloro-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)aminostilbene-2,2′-disulphonic acid. This intermediate was further condensed in two steps with amines by nucleophilic substituents on their triazine moiety. The structure of synthesized compounds were characterized by spectroscopic techniques i.e. IR, UV, elemental analysis and conformed by proton NMR Spectroscopy. These compounds were applied to cotton fiber as fluorescent whitening and UV absorbing agents. Their performances were evaluated with regards to whitening effects, ultraviolet protection factor (UPF), degree of exhaustion and fastness test.     

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.     

Quantitative assessment of metals in local brands of tea in Pakistan

In present study, Mn, Fe, Zn, Cu, Co, Pb, Cr, Ni and Cd were analyzed by FAAS in green and black tea samples of locally available in the Pakistani market. Na and K were also determined by Flame Photometer. Tea leaves can be the source of mineral components and trace elements, as well as some undesirable substances due to exposure to the environment. Among the metals tested, K was the most abundant one followed by Na, Mn and Fe. Fortunately, toxic heavy metals, Pb and Cd, had the lowest contents in tea samples and also in tea aqueous extracts. Concentration of heavy metals in tea aqueous extract was markedly lower than their total contents except that of K. The solubility of studied metals in tea aqueous extract varied widely and ranged from 0.0-95%. The lowest ranges of solubility were listed for toxic heavy metals Pb and Cd. The possible uptake of metals by the human body from tea aqueous extract has also been determined. The amounts of metals that one may take up through consumption of tea aqueous extract were found to match the acceptable daily intake even taking into account exposure from air, food and drinking water.     

Incidence of human malaria infection in northern hilly region of Balochistan, adjoining with NWFP, Pakistan: district Zhob

This study was conducted to investigate the incidence of malarial infections in human population in 37 localities of district Zhob, Balochistan, Pakistan. Malarial parasites were identified in the blood slides of suspected patients of the disease from July, 2004 to June, 2006 and encompassed 7748 subjects. Out of 7748 suspected cases of malaria, 3240 (41.8%) were found to be positive for malarial parasite in blood smear slides. Out of positive cases, 1681 (51.8%) were identified as Plasmodium vivax infection and 1559 (48.1%) cases with P. falciparum. However, seasonal variation was also noted with the highest (85.4%: 141/165) infection of P. vivax in March and lowest (18.6%: 59/316) in October while infection of P. falciparum was highest (81.3%: 257/316) in October and lowest (14.5%: 24/165) in March. Infection with P. vivax in male was 75.7% (125/165) in March and in female 26.3% (58/220) in May whereas infection of P. falciparum in male was 61.5% (245/398) in July and in female was 20.5% (65/316) in October. These results are compared with those of other studies done in Pakistan. Cases of P. malariae and P. ovale were not found in the present study. In conclusion it can be pointed out that the high incidence rate of P. vivax (51.8%:1681/3240) in Zhob district poses a significant health hazard because it may also lead to cerebral malaria as it was suggested by previous workers.