Outcrossing and isolation requirement in kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.)

Summary To find the isolation distance in Hibiscus cannabinus L. (kenaf), experiments were conducted for three years with two planting designs. The extent of cross pollination irrespective of the planting designs was inversely related with the distance. At a distance beyond 10.0 m, the contamination was found to be absent. Directions had no influence on the contamination. The amount of contamination varied considerably between the years.     

Outcrossing and isolation requirement in jute (Corchorus olitorius L.)

Summary To find out an effective isolation distance in olitorius jute experiments were conducted for three years in two planting designs; in one the cultivar with the dominant marker allele was planted at the centre and the cultivarcarrying the recessive marker allele was planted around and in the other the planting arrangement was just the reverse of the former. A total of nearly 20 lac seedlings were counted. Irrespective of the planting designs, at the minimum distance from the pollen source outcrossing was found to be at its maximum which, however, decreased with the distance. Directions had no influence on cross pollination in this species. At a distance beyond 9.0 metres outcrossing was found to be absent.     

Rice-based crop rotation for enhancing native arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) activity to improve phosphorus nutrition of upland rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Two-year rice (Oryza sativa L.)-based crop rotation of “maize (Zea mays L.) relay cropped by horse gram (Dolichos biflorus L.) in the first year followed by upland rice in the second year”, was reported earlier to increase phosphorus (P) uptake by rice through enhancing native arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) activities. This crop rotation was compared with three other rice-based crop rotations practiced by the upland rice farmers of eastern India for AM-mediated P acquisition of upland rice through on-farm experiment in farmers' participatory mode during wet seasons of 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 in fixed plots. The farmers' rotations included (1) green gram (Phaseolus aureus) in first year followed by upland rice in second year; (2) black gram (Phaseolus mungo) in first year followed by upland rice in second year; and (3) radish (Raphanus sativus) in first year followed by upland rice in second year. “Maize–horse gram/rice” rotation encouraged maximum native AM fungal colonization (10.4–38.8%) and P uptake (2.2–2.6 mg P/g plant) by rice over other three farmers' rotations tested. Rice grain yield was also highest (2.25–2.35 t/ha) in the maize–horse gram/rice rotation.     

Acellular dermal graft for repair of abdominal wall defects in rabbits

Sixteen clinically healthy New Zealand white rabbits of either sex were divided into 2 equal groups (I and II) of 8 animals each. Under thiopental sodium (2.5%) anaesthesia a 2 x 3 cm full-thickness abdominal wall defect in the mid-ventral abdominal wall was created and repaired with an acellular dermal graft (ADG) in all the animals of group I (test group). In animals of group II (control group) a full-thickness linear midline abdominal muscular wall incision was made and repaired with a continuous suture pattern using 2-0 nylon.     

Isolation of infectious bronchitis virus from intestine and reproductive organs of laying hens with dropped egg production

A total of 52 samples (22 cloacal swabs and 30 pooled ovaries and oviducts) from hens with a history of a 25 to 40% drop in egg production from 30 flocks were examined for the isolation of infectious bronchitis virus in embryonated chicken eggs. Five isolates were obtained: three from cloacal swabs and two from reproductive organs. These isolates were identified and characterized on the basis of agar-gel-precipitation, hemagglutination, and neutralization tests and other physicochemical characteristics.     

Cell mediated immune response of chicks following fowl adenovirus type-1 infection.

Cellular immune response of 6-week-old chickens infected with fowl adenovirus type-1 was evaluated by both in vivo and in vitro assay. In vitro assay, enumerating peripheral T lymphocyte by alphanaphthyl acetate esterase staining, revealed that cellular immunity appeared as early as 1 week post-infection and was maintained up to 5 weeks post-infection. In vivo assay by phytohaemagglutin skin test showed cellular immunity until 2 weeks post-infection. Thereafter no immunity was observed by this assay.     

Effect of surface treatment of jute fibers on the interfacial adhesion in poly(lactic acid)/jute fiber biocomposites

Jute fibers have immense potential to be used as natural fillers in polymeric matrices to prepare biocomposites. In the present study jute fibers were surface treated using two methods: i) alkali (NaOH) and ii) alkali followed by silane (NaOH+Silane) separately. Effects of surface treatments on jute fibers surface were characterized using fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses. Further, the effects of surface treatments on jute fibers properties such as crystallinity index, thermal stability, and tensile properties were analyzed by X-ray diffraction method (XRD), thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA), and single fiber tensile test respectively. The effects of surface treatment of jute fibers on interphase adhesion between of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and jute fibers were analyzed by performing single fiber pull-out test and was examined in terms of interfacial shear strength (IFSS) and critical fiber length.     

Acellular and glutaraldehyde-preserved tendon allografts for reconstruction of superficial digital flexor tendon in bovines: Part II--Gross, microscopic and scanning electron microscopic observations

Sixteen tenorrhaphies were performed at mid-metatarsal region in eight buffalo calves. A 2-cm long gap was created in the superficial digital flexor (SDF) tendon in all animals. The gap was immediately repaired with acellular grafts in animals of group I, 1% glutaraldehyde-preserved tendon allografts in group II, and in group III the defect was repaired with autografts (control group). The contralateral limb in each animal was operated after an interval of 60 days and the animals underwent the same procedure according to the designed groups. Gross observation revealed filling of host tendon-graft junction with fibrous connective tissue. Increased vascularity was seen in group I when compared with group II and III. Graft was resorbed in animals of group I and III, whereas partial absorption of graft was seen in group II. Histological observations on day 30 revealed restoration of cellularity in acellular graft and fragmentation and resorption of glutaraldehyde-preserved graft. Graft was replaced by newly formed fibrous connective tissue. Tissue reaction around polygalactin suture consisted of plasma cells, lymphocytes and macrophages. On day 90, most of the acellular graft was replaced by newly formed fibrous connective tissue. In group II the majority of graft portion remained at the site and was in a state of resorption. In the control group it was difficult to distinguish between the host tendon and the graft. Scanning electron microscopical observation showed densely packed neoformed tissue at host tendon-graft junction. Hydrolysis and invasion of connective tissue between polygalactin suture filaments, resorption of graft with cavity formation and dissolution of ground substance were observed.     

Mesoscale eddies drive increased silica export in the subtropical Pacific Ocean

Mesoscale eddies may play a critical role in ocean biogeochemistry by increasing nutrient supply, primary production, and efficiency of the biological pump, that is, the ratio of carbon export to primary production in otherwise nutrient-deficient waters. We examined a diatom bloom within a cold-core cyclonic eddy off Hawaii. Eddy primary production, community biomass, and size composition were markedly enhanced but had little effect on the carbon export ratio. Instead, the system functioned as a selective silica pump. Strong trophic coupling and inefficient organic export may be general characteristics of community perturbation responses in the warm waters of the Pacific Ocean.     

Psidium guajava (L.)—a Bioeconomic Plant for Restoration of Industrial Solid Waste Dump: a Green and Sustainable Approach

Water, Air, & Soil Pollution - Air pollution, especially heavy metals in PM2.5, has gradually become one of the most serious environmental problems in cities, which might cause various...