Tubifex production using agro-industrial wastes and raw cattle dung

ABSTRACT

Tubifex (Tubifex tubifex) was cultured in captivity using three different wastes: rice mill sludge (RMS), dairy sludge (DS), and raw cattle dung (RCD). Three experiments were conducted: 10, 20, and 30 days. A total of 100 g of tubifex at 62.5 g m^?2 was inoculated in 1.6 m² fiberglass-reinforced plastic tanks. Comparing all production parameters, RMS > DS > RCD. Growth rate (g m^?2 d^?1) did not differ among durations. RMS- and DS-fed tubifex contained higher protein and fat than RCD-fed tubifex. Efficiency on production of g tubifex per kg of waste material was highest at 10 days, declining with time for all waste materials. This experiment suggests that RMS and DS are effective wastes for tubifex culture, with total production increasing with no reduction in growth rate through 30 days, but with efficiency declining after 10 days.     

Effects of thermal and moisture transport properties of T-shirts on wearer’s comfort sensations

Little work has been done in the past on how clothing thermal and moisture transport properties affect human comfort sensations during different periods of an exercise. In this work, by correlating the thermal and moisture transport properties of T-shirt fabrics and garments with the comfort sensations during different stages of exercises, we found that thickness, thermal insulation and warm/cool feeling of the T-shirt fabrics are important to warmth sensation, skin wetness sensation and overall comfort throughout the entire period of exercise and immediately after the exercise. Water vapor transmission properties of T-shirt fabrics or garments are not important to comfort sensations at the start of the exercise, but become an important factor to comfort sensations in the middle of the exercise up to the resting period after the running exercise, probably due to the fact that sweating occurs during these periods. Fabric water absorption and air permeability are not significant factors at the start and during the exercise, but are important after exercise, probably because these properties determine how quickly the skin can be dried after sweating.     

Molecular identification of blast resistance genes in rice landraces from northeastern India

Rice blast disease caused by the fungus Magnaporthe oryzae is one of the most devastating diseases causing huge losses worldwide. In the present study, major blast resistance genes were investigated in landraces originating from northeastern India. Based on phenotypic evaluation, 288 landraces were classified into three distinct groups: resistant (75), moderately resistant (127) and susceptible (86). The genetic frequencies of the 18 major blast resistance genes were between 6.2% and 27.4%, with only two genotypes possessing a maximum of nine blast resistance genes. The cluster and population structure analysis grouped the landraces into two groups. Through principal coordinate analysis, the scatter plots partitioned the resistant and moderately resistant landraces into different groups. Analysis of molecular variance showed maximum (96%) diversity within populations and least (4%) diversity between populations. Association analysis identified six markers, CRG4_2, RM72, tk59-2, pi21_79-3, RM1233 and RM6648, that are significantly associated with blast disease and explained a phenotypic variance of 1.1–6.5%. The associated genes could be used in marker-assisted rice breeding programmes for gene pyramiding to develop rice varietal resistance against blast disease. The present study represents a valuable blast resistance genetic resource that could be used for identification of new R genes, donors for blast resistance, and genomic studies.     

Influence of lipid extraction process on the rheological characteristics, swelling power, and granule size of rice starches in excess water

The influence of the lipid extraction process on both macroscopic and microscopic characteristics of nonwaxy rice starch gelatinization in excess water was examined. Surface lipids extraction did not change the thermodynamics of starch gelatinization but lead to a significant reduction (33%) in the enthalpy of starch-lipid complex melting at high temperature, resulting in less viscous dispersions. Internal lipid extraction using hot aqueous alcoholic solutions resulted in an irreversible increase in starch granule diameter (50% increase in D[4,3]) and a dramatic change in cooking characteristics of the starch. Instead of the bimodal swelling observed for native nonwaxy rice starch, only one broad transition in swelling, solubility, granule size, and viscosity was observed in the case of the totally defatted starch. While the total removal of lipids resulted in a slight increase in starch swelling at intermediate temperatures, the harshness of the process caused irreparable changes leading to notably lower swelling at high temperatures.     

Influence of silicon on growth,yield, and lodging resistance of MR219, a lowland rice of Malaysia

Lodging has limited yield and potential of increasing yield in rice. Lodging could be minimized by increasing the mechanical or physical strength of the rice culm. Silicon (Si) is associated with sturdiness and rigidity. Therefore, the objectives of this experiment were to evaluate the effects and optimum rate of Si application to improve yield, growth, and lodging resistance of MR219, a popular rice variety in Malaysia. Si, in the form of fertilizer, was applied at the onset of reproductive stage as topdressing. All Si-treated plants showed an increase in number of tillers, number of spikelets per panicle, number of effective tillers, percentage of filled spikelets, and weight per panicle in Si-treated plants as compared to control. Lodging resistance was higher in plants treated with Si as shown by bending parameters. Si-treated plants showed significant increase in flag leaf area, chlorophyll content, and Si content.     

Latent heat flux estimation in clear sky days over Indian agroecosystems using noontime satellite remote sensing data

A simplified evaporative fraction (Λ) based single-source energy balance scheme was tested with moderate resolution (1 km) noontime satellite observations to evaluate clear sky latent heat flux (λE) estimates over diverse agricultural landscapes. This approach uses two-dimensional (2D) scatter between land surface temperature (LST) and albedo to determine Λ. The operational utility of this scheme was demonstrated for estimating regional evapotranspiration and consumptive water use during rabi (November to April) crop growing season to predict pre-harvest wheat yield (error within 15.9% of reported mean) using time series data. The existence of triangular relations between Λ and LAI (leaf area index) or NDVI (normalized difference vegetation index) was found with basal line (hypotenuse) linearly coupled with LAI or NDVI at low level of surface soil wetness. The analysis of diurnal course of in situ Λ proved the validity of constant-Λ hypothesis over pure, uniform, homogeneous crop canopies but showed irregular and wave-like patterns over heterogeneous, mixed crop canopies. The root mean square error (RMSE) of noontime and daytime average λE estimates with respect to in situ λE measurements were also smaller over homogeneous agricultural canopies (41 and 23 W m⁻²) with correlation coefficients (r) 0.94 and 0.96, respectively, from 135 clear sky datasets as compared to RMSE over heterogeneous ones (59 and 28 W m⁻² with r = 0.66 and 0.82, respectively from 22 datasets). The intercomparison with another Λ based approach (LST–NDVI 2D scatter) showed the supremacy of Λ determined from LST–albedo 2D scatter. The efficiency of LST–NDVI scatter was better during the dry down or water limited phases of crop growth only. The uncertainties of λE estimates were attributed to errors in core radiation budget inputs, relative loss of conservativeness of Λ due to canopy heterogeneity, and the inherent limitations of the single-source approach. There is further scope to reduce present λE uncertainties by combining the new findings on Λ (LST–albedo scatter)–NDVI triangular relations, diurnal Λ and two-source radiation budget.     

An Oxidative Mechanism for the Inhibition of Iodothyronine 5′-Monodeiodinase Activity by Lead Nitrate in the Fish,Heteropneustes fossilis

An oxidative mechanism in the lead-induced inhibition of thyroid function with special reference to iodothyronine 5′- monodeiodinase (5′-ID) activity has been identified in the fish, Heteropneustes fossilis. Lead treatment (2.5, 5.0 and 10.0 ppm of lead nitrate/day for 30 days) enhanced tissue lipid peroxidation (LPO) and decreased the activity of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT). In addition, serum triiodothyronine (T3) concentration and hepatic 5'-ID activity were markedly decreased by 10 ppm of lead nitrate. These findings support the view that higher concentrations of lead nitrate inhibit the extrathyroidal conversion of thyroxine (T4) to T3. Moreover, oxidative stress from lead intoxication could be responsible for inhibiting 5′-ID activity.     

Inorganic pyrophosphatase activity in water stressed excised rice leaves

Summary Changes in the inorganic pyrophosphatase (EC 3.6.1.1) activity and the chlorophyll and -amino nitrogen levels were studied in excised leaves of rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. Ratna) subjected to various degrees of water stress. Chlorophyll level decreased and a-amino nitrogen level increased in the turgid leaves floating on water; these changes were accelerated when the leaves were subjected to water stress (Figs. 2, 3). The decrease with time in the activity of alkaline inorganic pyrophosphatase and the increase with time in the activity of acid inorganic pyrophosphatase in water-floated turgid leaves were accelerated following water stress (Figs. 4, 5). There was an accelerated decline in the ratios of alkaline to acid inorganic pyrophosphatase activity in stressed compared to turgid leaves (Fig. 6). It was concluded that water stress enhances the senescence of excised rice leaves and that the changes in the activities of alkaline and acid inorganic pyrophosphatases can be taken as indicators of water stress in rice leaves.Work supported by grant from the Extra Mural Research Unit, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi to Dr. D. Mishra. Mr. S. Dwivedi is a University Grants Commission Junior Research Fellow     

Chloroform Associated Health Risk Assessment Using Bootstrapping: A Case Study for Limited Drinking Water Samples

Chlorine is the most commonly used disinfectant for watertreatment but when in contact with organic precursors it producestoxic compounds known as trihalomethanes (THMs). Chloroform isthe most commonly occurring THM and constitutes approximately90% of the THM concentration. A study was conducted inNewfoundland for estimating the chloroform content in thedrinking water supplies in Clarenville and St. John's. Thesampling program was conducted in two stages, July and October-November. Higher concentrations of chloroform were observed in Clarenville but in St. John's the concentrations werewithin Health Canada guidelines. The chloroform is a probablehuman carcinogen and is categorised as `B2' by U.S. EnvironmentalProtection Agency (U.S. EPA). The human health risk associatedwith consumption of drinking water was estimated by performingprobabilistic analysis. In the first phase bootstrap simulations(B = 250) were performed to calculate the variability in thedata. The normal distribution was found the best-fitted distribution to chloroform concentration data. For eachbootstrapped run 1000 Monte Carlo Simulations (MCS) wereperformed in the second phase. The cancer risk was estimatedusing dose-response relationship of chloroform. Appropriateprobability density functions (PDFs) were defined subjectivelyfor intake rate, body weight, exposure duration, exposurefrequency and averaging time. The excess lifetime human cancerrisk varied from 0.5 × 10^-4 to 4.0 × 10^-4, and zero to 1.0 × 10^-4 for Clarenvilleand St. John's, respectively. The average cancer risks in Clarenville and St. John's communities were 1.2 × 10^-4 and 2.5 × 10^-5. The estimated probabilitiesof exceedences above 100 ppb (μg L^-1), were 100 and 2.5% for Clarenville and St. John's, respectively which emphasised the need for water treatment. Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) was proposed as one of the potential treatment technology for risk reduction in St. John's community. The treatment efficiency of a proposed technology was assumed uniformly distributed and revised risks were calculated. Theaverage risk in St. John's can be reduced to 8.0 ×10^-6 after treatment.