Boron Induced Oxidative Stress,Antioxidant Defence Response and Changes in Artemisinin Content in Artemisia annua L.

Boron is an essential plant micronutrient and the range between deficient and toxic levels of boron is narrow for most of the plants. Like other elements, boron becomes toxic to growth at high concentrations. High boron concentrations in soil reduce crop productivity in many areas of the world. The effect of increasing levels of boron (0, 0.50, 1.00, 1.50, 2.00 mm ) on oxidative stress, antioxidant defence response and changes in artemisinin content in Artemisia annua were investigated in the present study. Boron toxicity reduced the growth parameters viz. stem height, fresh weight and dry weight. Treatments induced oxidative stress resulting in lower net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, internal CO₂ and total chlorophyll content. The increased activities of antioxidant enzymes like CAT, POX and SOD were also noted in response to increasing levels of boron stress. However, H₂O₂ and artemisinin content were found to be high up to 1.00 mm concentration of boron compared to control, and on applying higher doses, further reduced contents were obtained. Thus, the results suggest that a mild stress of boron can be utilized for enhanced artemisinin production.     

Hypernatremia secondary to homemade play dough ingestion in dogs: a review of 14 cases from 1998 to 2001

Objective: To correlate the sodium chloride dosage and the serum sodium concentration to clinical signs, to determine if the dosage of homemade play dough (and, therefore, sodium chloride) is the most reliable way to predict clinical signs and prognosis, and to review previously reported treatment options. Design: Retrospective case series. Animals: Fourteen dogs with a history of homemade play dough ingestion. Procedure: Cases were examined for each animal's signalment including body weight, age, approximate amount of play dough ingested, the estimated sodium chloride dosage, clinical signs, serum sodium concentration, and outcome when available. The literature was reviewed to determine pathophysiology and treatment regimens. Results: Twelve of 14 dogs (86%) that ingested homemade play dough showed clinical signs. Vomiting (9 of 14, 64%), polydipsia, and seizures (4 of 14 each, 29%) were the most common signs followed by polyuria, tremors (3 of 14 each, 21%), and hyperthermia (2 of 14, 14%). The lowest calculated dosage associated with objective clinical signs was 1.9 g/kg. Seizures were reported in all animals with serum sodium levels greater than 180 mEq/L. Conclusions and clinical relevance: Homemade play dough ingestion can be a serious and life‐threatening problem. Many factors can contribute to the toxicity of homemade play dough. This study indicates that the serum sodium concentration is a more reliable indicator of the clinical course of the toxicity rather than the amount of play dough and, therefore, the dosage of sodium chloride ingested. Treatment should be based on a clinical evaluation of the patient and laboratory results, and consists of controlling seizures, reducing serum sodium concentrations slowly, and supportive care.     

COMPARISON OF AQUACULTURE EXTENSION IMPACTS IN BANGLADESH

ABSTRACT

Production from small scale pond aquaculture in Bangladesh trebled in the decade to 1999 under the influence of extension projects of the Department of Fisheries. The impacts of completed aquaculture extension projects and practices of former participants have rarely been investigated so this was done for four past projects. The different extension approaches were: extension with credit and intensive or little supervision; demonstrations; group extension and informal extension by fry traders; and adaptive research-development. Generally extension recipients and non-participants had similar sized landholdings, but demonstration farmers had larger farms and ponds. Extension recipients mainly received information from project-related sources and rated its utility highly. Neighbours and control farmers mainly obtained information from mass media and other farmers, over 90% of these households also cultivated fish. Extension recipients generally followed better practices: for example stocking fewer fingerlings and achieving higher production than non-participants, but with wide variations. Training of fry traders appeared to reduce overstocking in general probably due to the advice of fry traders. Overall, 2–6 years after extension the recipients have continued to farm fish, have a fair understanding of good practice and achieve reasonable yields. Limited demonstration effects occurred. Extension through group approaches and informal agents seem to be cost effective for the many pond owners in Bangladesh.     

Application of system dynamics approach for time varying water balance in aerobic paddy fields

Increasing water scarcity has necessitated the development of irrigated rice systems that require less water than the traditional flooded rice. The cultivation of aerobic rice is an effort to save water in response to growing worldwide water scarcity with the pressure to reduce water use and increase water productivity. An accurate estimation of different water balance components at the aerobic rice fields is essential to achieve effective use of limited water supplies. Some field water balance components, such as percolation, capillary rise and evapotranspiration, can not be easily measured; therefore a soil water balance model is required to develop and to test water management strategies. This paper presents results of a study to quantify time varying water balance under a critical soil water tension based irrigation criteria for the cultivation of non-ponded “aerobic rice” fields along the lower parts of the Yellow River. Based on the analysis and integration of existing field information on the hydrologic processes in an aerobic rice field, this paper outlines the general components of the water balance using a conceptual model approach. The time varying water balance is then analyzed using the feedback relations among the hydrologic processes in a commercial dynamic modeling environment, Vensim. The model simulates various water balance components such as actual evapotranspiration, deep percolation, surface runoff, and capillary rise in the aerobic rice field on a daily basis. The model parameters are validated with the observed experimental field data from the Huibei Irrigation Experiment Station, Kaifeng, China. The validated model is used to analyze irrigation application soil water tension trigger under wet, dry and average climate conditions using daily time steps. The scenario analysis show that to conserve scarce water resources during the average climate years the irrigation scheduling criteria can be set as −30 kPa average root zone soil water tension; whereas it can be set at −70 kPa during the dry years, however, the associated yields may reduce. Compared with the flooded lowland rice and other upland crops, with these two alternatives irrigation event triggers, aerobic rice cultivation can lead to significant water savings.     

Microbial use of organic amendments in saline soils monitored by changes in the C/C ratio

An incubation experiment was carried out to investigate whether salinity at high pH has negative effects on microbial substrate use, i.e. the mineralization of the amendment to CO₂ and inorganic N and the incorporation of amendment C into microbial biomass C. In order to exploit natural differences in the ¹³C/¹²C ratio, substrate from two C₄ plants, i.e. highly decomposed and N-rich sugarcane filter cake and less decomposed N-poor maize leaf straw, were added to two alkaline Pakistani soils differing in salinity, which had previously been cultivated with C₃ plants. In soil 1, the additional CO₂ evolution was equivalent to 65% of the added amount in the maize straw treatment and to 35% in the filter cake treatment. In the more saline soil 2, the respective figures were 56% and 32%. The maize straw amendment led to an identical immobilization of approximately 48 μg N g⁻¹ soil over the 56-day incubation in both soils compared with the control soils. In the filter cake treatment, the amount of inorganic N immobilized was 8.5 μg N g⁻¹ higher in soil 1 than in soil 2 compared with the control soils. In the control treatment, the content of microbial biomass C₃-C in soil 1 was twice that in soil 2 throughout the incubation. This fraction declined by about 30% during the incubation in both soils. The two amendments replaced initially similar absolute amounts of the autochthonous microbial biomass C, i.e. 50% of the original microbial biomass C in soil 1 and almost 90% in soil 2. The highest contents of microbial biomass C₄-C were equivalent to 7% (filter cake) and 11% (maize straw) of the added C. In soil 2, the corresponding values were 14% lower. Increasing salinity had no direct negative effects on microbial substrate use in the present two soils. Consequently, the differences in soil microbial biomass contents are most likely caused indirectly by salinity-induced reduction in plant growth rather than directly by negative effects of salinity on soil microorganisms.     

Thermal,swelling and stability kinetics of chitosan based semi-interpenetrating network hydrogels

The present study is focused on studying the swelling kinetics, thermal and aqueous stabilities, and determination of various forms of water in the chitosan (CS) and polyacrylonitrile (PAN) blend and semi-interpenetrating polymer network (sIPN). CS/PAN blend hydrogel films were prepared by solution casting technique. The blend film with optimum swelling properties was selected for the synthesis of sIPN. CS in the blend was crosslinked with the vapors of Glutaraldehyde (GTA) to prepare sIPN. The fabricated CS/PAN blend and sIPN hydrogels films were characterized with Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM). The kinetics of swelling, bound and unbound waters and aqueous stability were determined experimentally. FESEM showed good miscibility between CS and PAN, FTIR showed no chemical interaction between CS and PAN; however, it did show a doublet for the sIPN, TGA showed improved thermal stability and swelling kinetic followed second order kinetics. The degree of swelling of the sIPN hydrogels samples at room temperature varied from ~2200 % (with a fair degree of stability (~30 %)) to ~1000 % (with high degree of aqueous stability (43 %)) with increase in the crosslinking time. The calculated unbound water (W_UB) max., for the blend was 52.3 % whereas for the bound (W_B) the max., was 41.9 %. However, for sIPN hydrogel films, the W_UB water decreased (max. 21.0 %) where as the W_B increased (max. 52.0 %). The decrease in W_UB and increase in the W_B is attributed to the formation of a compact structure and increase in the contact area between the water and polymers in sIPN hydrogels due to the induction of new water contacting point in these hydrogel films, respectively.     

A Preliminary Comparison of Plasma Fibrinogen Concentrations,Leukocyte Numbers and Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate as Non-Specific Indicators of Inflammatory Conditions in Buffalo (Bubalis Bubalis)

Zargham Khan, M., Muhammad, G., Umar, A. and Ali Khan, S., 1997. A preliminary comparison of plasma fibrinogen concentrations, leukocyte numbers and erythrocyte sedimentation rate as non-specific indicators of inflammatory conditions in buffalo (Bubalis bubalis). Veterinary Research Communications, 21 (4), 265-271The plasma fibrinogen concentration (Fib), total leukocyte count (TLC), neutrophil, lymphocyte and monocyte numbers, and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were determined in 153 buffaloes suffering from different clinical conditions. Fib increased significantly (p < 0.05) in chronic mastitis, pyrexia, pyometra, cutaneous abscesses, tail gangrene and acute indigestion, whereas in most of the other conditions studied it varied non-significantly. TLC increased significantly in chronic mastitis, pyrexia, endometritis, cutaneous abscesses and infected skin wounds. An increase in neutrophils was associated with an increased TLC. Numbers of lymphocytes varied non-significantly in most of the conditions. Monocytes decreased significantly in most of the acute conditions. ESR was significantly elevated in all clinical conditions. Significantly increased mean Fib values in the different conditions varied from 703 ± 119 to 725 ± 140 mg/dl, while the maximum individual value was 1510 mg/dl in a case of cutaneous myiasis. The significantly increased mean TLC ranged from 9.48 ± 2.91 to 11.1 ± 3.5 × 103/µl, while it was 21.7 × 103/µl in a case of meningitis. ESR values in sick buffaloes varied from 57 to 111 mm in the first hour.     

Post mortem studies on infertile buffalo bulls: anatomical and microbiological findings

Twenty-two buffalo bulls suffering from three different types of infertility were slaughtered and used for this study. Except for the reproductive system, no signs of localised or generalised disease were observed. Microbiological investigations were negative for brucellosis, vibriosis, mycoplasma and other non-specific microorganisms. Nine bulls with type 1 infertility had low bodyweights and underdevelopment of testes, accessory sex glands and endocrine glands. This picture suggests a total dysfunction of the pituitary-growth-gonadal axis. One bull of this type also showed bilateral epididymitis. Four out of 11 bulls with type 2 infertility had low bodyweights and most suffered from underdevelopment of testes, accessory sex glands and endocrine glands. Six bulls of this type had lesions of either epididymitis or orchitis or both. Two of these animals showed adhesions of periorchitis. One also showed seminal vesiculitis. In two bulls with type 3 infertility, bodyweights, reproductive organs and endocrine glands were normal. In later life, they yielded poor quality semen. Semen samples collected a few months before slaughter from nine bulls with type 2 and type 3 infertility were of poor quality and had higher percentages of abnormal spermatozoa in most cases.     

Selection of diverse parents of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) by multivariate analysis and the degree of heterosis of their F1 hybrids

Summary Studies on genetic diversity in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) indicated the existence of considerable amount of variation for grain yield and its components in the material. One hundred and thirty two genotypes fell into eight clusters. The covariation structure studied by means of factor analysis indicated the possibility of obtaining, through hybridization, genotypes physiologically and morphologically more efficient. Multivariate analysis of data from 7 parents and 21 F1 hybrids indicated weak correspondence between D²-analysis and canonical variate analysis. As there was no relationship between heterosis over midparent and genetic distance between the parents, so the traditional approach of making a large number of crosses is being suggested.