Participatory rural appraisal to identify needs and prospects of market-oriented dairy industries in Bangladesh

We assessed resources, challenges and prospects of the dairy industries in four districts of Bangladesh (Mymensingh, Satkhira, Chittagong and Sirajganj) with the participation of 8 to 12 dairy farm families in each district. We used ten participatory rural appraisal (PRA) tools, namely social mapping, semi-structured interview, activity profiles, seasonal calendar, pie charts, mobility diagram, matrix ranking, preference ranking and scoring, system analysis diagram and focus group discussion in 57 PRA sessions from September through October 2002. Dairying contributed more to family income (63 to 74%) and utilized a smaller portion of land than did crops. Twenty seven to 49% of cattle feed is rice straw. Only Sirajganj and Chittagong had limited, periodic grazing facilities. Fodder (Napier; Pennisetum purpureum) cultivation was practiced in Sirajganj and Satkhira. Fodder availability increased milk production and decreased disease occurrence. Friesian crossbred cows were ranked best as dairy cattle. The present utilization of veterinary and AI services was ranked highly. Farmers outside the milk union desired milk purchasing centres as the most required service in the future. They identified veterinary and AI services as inadequate and desired significant improvements. The PRA tools effectively identified resources, constraints, opportunities and farmers’ perspectives related to the dairy industries in Bangladesh.     

New terpolymers from n-butyl acrylate,glycidyl methacrylate and tetrahydrofurfuryl acrylate: Synthesis,characterisation and estimation of reactivity ratios

Development and practical application of multicomponent copolymerisation systems, such as terpolymerisation, is an on-going process because even a small addition of a particular comonomer may have a significant impact on the desired property. Commonly, three separate pairs of binary polymerisation experiments are carried out to obtain monomer reactivity ratios (MRR) values that relates to the ternary polymerisation reactions. However, the reaction conditions in each binary system may not be representative of the whole ternary system. The error-in-variables model (EVM) method is a relatively recent statistical approach to solving multi-response parameter estimation problems, with the advantage that all MRR parameters can be directly estimated from terpolymerisation data. New ternary copolymers derived from n-butyl acrylate (nBA), glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) and tetrahydrofurfuryl acrylate (THFA) were synthesised in solution at 70±1 °C in the presence of benzoyl peroxide (BPO) as a free radical initiator. The terpolymers were characterised by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and FTIR spectroscopic techniques. The terpolymer compositions were determined using ¹H NMR analysis. The polydispersities of the terpolymers with values between 1.66 and 1.85 suggest a strong tendency for chain termination by disproportionation. The glass transition temperatures of the terpolymers are found to be between those of the corresponding homopolymers and relative to their content. Increase in the nBA or THFA contents and decrease in the GMA content in terpolymers results in a decrease in the glass transition temperatures. The determination of MRR for the ternary system was obtained by employing the EVM model. Experimental terpolymerisation data agree well with calculations based on the Alfrey-Goldfinger equation and the unitary and binary azeotropes were calculated.     

Impact of succinic anhydride on the properties of jute fiber/polypropylene biocomposites

Chemical treatment is an often-followed route to improve the physical and mechanical properties of natural fiber reinforced polymer matrix composites. In this study, the effect of chemical treatment on physical and mechanical properties of jute fiber reinforced polypropylene (PP) biocomposites with different fiber loading (5, 10, 15, and 20 wt%) were investigated. Before being manufactured jute fiber/PP composite, raw jute fiber was chemically treated with succinic anhydride for the chemical reaction with cellulose hydroxyl group of fiber and to increase adhesion and compatibility to the polymer matrix. Jute fiber/PP composites were fabricated using high voltage hot compression technique. Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) tests were employed to evaluate the morphological properties of composite. Succinic anhydride underwent a chemical reaction with raw jute fiber which was confirmed through FTIR results. SEM micrographs of the fractured surface area were taken to study the fiber/matrix interface adhesion and compatibility. Reduced fiber agglomeration and improved interfacial bonding was observed under SEM in the case of treated jute fiber/PP composites. The mechanical properties of jute/PP composite in terms of Tensile strength and Young’s modulus was found to be increased with fiber loading up to 15 wt% and decreased at 20 wt%. Conversely, flexural strength and flexural modulus increased with fiber loading up to 10 wt% and start decreasing at 15 wt%. The treated jute/PP composite samples had higher hardness (Rockwell) and lower water absorption value compared to that of the untreated ones.     

Impact of calcium chloride concentrations and storage duration on quality attributes of peach (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Prunus persica</Emphasis>)

To investigate the impact of CaCl₂ concentrations and storage duration on quality of peach (Prunus persica), a research was conducted at postharvest Laboratory, Department of Horticulture, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan during 2012–2013. The experiment was laid out in Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with factorial arrangement repeated three times. The peach fruits (cv. Texas A 69) were harvested at physiological maturity stage from peach orchard, Horticulture Farm. The fruits were dipped in 0, 2 and 4% CaCl₂ solution for 10 min and transferred to cold storage having ±8–10°C with relative humidity of 80–85%. The application of CaCl₂ solution and storage duration significantly influenced the fruit quality of peach fruit. However, the application of CaCl₂ solution significantly reduced weight loss (4.98%), disease incidence (2.08%), total sugars (5.31%), TSS-Acid ratio (16.27), TSS(7.38⁰Brix) and increased the fruit firmness (2.21 kg cm^–2) titratable acidity (0.47%) and Ascorbic acid (5.35 mg/100 g) of peach fruits. The storage duration of peach fruit also significantly affected the fruit quality attributes during storage. The peach fruit stored for 30 days showed less fruit firmness (0.74 kg cm^–2) and titratable acidity (0.31%), Ascorbic acid (4.45 mg/100 g) and increased weight loss (19.74%), disease incidence (16.11%), total sugars (6.07%), TSSAcid ratio (27.62) and TSS(8.54⁰Brix) of peach fruit. Based on the findings of this study, it is concluded that the peach fruit should be treated with 4% CaCl₂ solution to retain the quality attributes for 30 days storage.     

Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activity of the ethanolic extract of Cymbidium aloifolium (L.)

The ethanol leaf extract of Cymbidium aloifolium (L.) was evaluated for its analgesic and antiinflammatory activities. The extract, at the dose of 200 and 400 mg kg(-1) body weight, exerted the analgesic activity by observing the number of abdominal contractions and anti-inflammatory activity against Carrageenin induced paw edema in mice by measuring the paw volume. The ethanolic extract of Cymbidium aloifolium (L.) showed statistically significant (p < 0.05) reduction of percentage of writhing of 33.57 and 61.31% at 200 and 400 mg kg(-1) oral dose, respectively, when compared to negative control. The Ethanolic plant extract also showed significant (p < 0.05) dose dependent reduction of mean increase of formation of paw edema. The results of the experiment and its statistical analysis showed that the ethanolic plant extract had shown significant (p < 0.05) dose dependent analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities when compared to the control.     

Nutritional quality of germinated cowpea flour (Vigna unguiculata) and its application in home prepared powdered weaning foods

Amino acid profiles, protein digestibility corrected aminoacid scores (PDCAAS), chemical scores, essential amino acid indexes, andcalculated biological values of control-cowpea flour (CCF), germinated cowpeaflour (GCF) prepared from cowpeas germinated at 25 ^°C for either24 h or 48 h and weaning foods prepared from cowpea flours weredetermined. Locally available rice, cowpea flour, banana-pumpkin slurry,and skim milk powder and sucrose in the ratio 35:35:15:15:5 were used to formulateweaning food containing not less than 15% protein. The ingredients werecooked into a slurry and oven-dried to produce flakes. The nutritional andsensory qualities of the weaning products were evaluated. Germination hadlittle effect on the amino acid profile of cowpeas. In vitro proteinquality and starch digestibility were improved in germinated cowpea flour. The PDCAAS of 24 h germinated cowpea flour (GCF) weaning food washigher (55.49%) than CCF-weaning food (46.74%). Vitamin A activityin 24 h GCF weaning food was higher than in CCF-weaning food. Invitro starch digestibilities of 24 h GCF and 48 h GCF-weaning foods werehigher than that of CCF weaning food. The 24 h GCF-weaning food which hada higher overall acceptability score by sensory panelist than 48 h GCFand CCF-weaning food is recommended for household consumption.     

GROWTH,NUTRIENT ACQUISITION,AND PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES OF HYDROPONIC GROWN TOMATO TO SODIUM CHLORIDE SALT INDUCED STRESS

□ Growth and nutrient acquisition of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) cv ‘Amani’ were studied under induced salt stress in Hoagland's solution. The plants were treated for 37 days with salinity induced by incorporating different concentrations [0.0 (control), 50, 100, 150, or 200 mM] of sodium chloride (NaCl) to the nutrient solution. Slight reduction was obtained in growth represented by (shoot length and number, leaf number, and dry weight) when seedlings were directly exposed to NaCl stress from 0.0 to 100 mM. At higher concentrations (150 or 200 mM), growth parameters were adversely affected and seedlings died thereafter. Elevated salinity significantly reduced crude protein and fiber in shoots and roots. Tomato shoot and root contents of potassium (K), iron (Fe), and ash were reduced significantly in response to increased levels of salinity. Tissue contents of sodium (Na) and chloride (Cl) increased with elevated salinity treatments.     

Pregnancy in the Caspian Miniature Horse Using Frozen Semen Cryopreserved with the EquiPRO CryoGuard Freeze Medium and Customized Freezing Protocols

The primary goal of this project was to establish a protocol to freeze the sperm of the Caspian miniature horse in an attempt to start an intensive artificial insemination program to effectively increase the population of this breed, which has been listed as “Critical Rare Breed” by the American Livestock Breed Conservancy and is in danger of extinction. Commercially available equine freezing medium (EquiPRO CyoGuard Complete egg-yolk extender) was used for the initial setup of two different freeze protocols: slow and fast. The fast-freeze protocol had slightly better postthaw results and was used for a fertility demonstration. Five mares of proven fertility, aged 3 to 12 years, were used in the fertility trials, two of which resulted in pregnancy. This is the first report of pregnancy in the Caspian miniature horse using frozen semen, and the results seem to be a promising start to an extensive program to help this endangered breed, although further research on freezing protocols and conditions for this process are necessary to further improve the survival of semen and pregnancy rate.