Characterization of oil palm empty fruit bunch and glass fibre reinforced recycled polypropylene hybrid composites

The effects of hybridization of glass fibre on oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) and recycled polypropylene-based composites are described in this paper. The compounding process involved extrusion followed by injection moulding technique to prepare the samples for characterizations. Fibre loading were considered as 40 % of the total weight of the blends and EFB:glass fibre ratio was maintained as 30:70, 50:50, 70:30 and 90:10. Two types of coupling agents of maleic anhydride-grafted polypropylene such as polybond-3200 and fusabond P-613 of different molecular weight and maleic anhydride level were used to improve the interfacial adhesion between the fibres and the matrix. Composites were characterized by density, melt flow index, tensile, Izod impact and flexural testing. Morphological images of the fractured surfaces of the composites were examined by field-emission scanning electron microscopy. Samples were also characterized by thermal tests such as thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry to evaluate the thermal and crystalline properties, respectively. Optimization of hybridization of the fibres and effect of coupling agents were evaluated in terms of various properties of the samples. The composite prepared with EFB:glass fibre ratio of 70:30 showed better reinforcing properties than that of others.     

Phosphorus fractions and their availability in the sediments of eight tropical semiarid reservoirs

Journal of Soils and Sediments - We quantified the phosphorus (P) fractions and oxide content in the sediment of eight tropical semiarid reservoirs to assess how water-level decreases affect the...     

Comparative efficiency of phosphate-solubilizing bacteria under greenhouse conditions for promoting growth and aloin-A content of Aloe barbadensis

This study was conducted with Aloe barbadensis in order to investigate the efficacy of four phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB), Pseudomonas synxantha 10223, Burkholderia gladioli 10242, Enterobacter hormaechei 10240 and Serratia marcescens 10241 to solubilize Mussorie rock phosphate (MRP) and to evaluate its effects on growth, soluble P content and P uptake compared with control, i.e. uninoculated plants. Pot experiments were conducted in a greenhouse, in soil supplemented with MRP. Each PSB treatment showed different effects on different plant growth parameters. The maximum increase in leaf length (23.7%), total number of leaves (33.33%) and dry rind weight (69.10%) was observed in plants treated with P. synxantha 10223 compared with control. Whereas, maximum increase in root length (23.43%), fresh leaves weight (79.03%), dry gel weight (113.08%) and total gel volume (112.10%), was observed in plants treated with S. marcescens 10241 compared with uninoculated plants. Maximum increase in aloin-A content [114.92% (per g dry gel weight) and 322.32% (per plant dry gel weight)] was observed in plants treated with P. synxantha 10223 compared with control plants. Root colonization by inoculated PSB as estimated by RAPD technique showed that all PSB were able to survive in the rhizosphere of Aloe plants.     

Tuberculosis survey of free-ranging marsh deer (Blastocerus dichotomus) in Brazil.

Esophageal-pharyngeal fluids from 53 free-ranging marsh deer (Blastocerus dichotomus) captured for a research program in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, were assayed for tuberculosis. Total DNA was extracted. amplified by polymerase chain reaction using specific primers for Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (M. tuberculosis, M. bovis, M. microti, and M. africanum), and observed by agarose gel electrophoresis stained with ethidium bromide. All samples were negative. This, along with necropsy and histopathology data, suggests that these animals are not shedding and probably do not have active disease.     

Development of computational models for the purpose of conducting individual livestock and premises traceback investigations utilizing National Animal Identification System-compliant data

Many of the efforts surrounding the development of the National Animal Identification System have encompassed the identification of livestock production and handling premises as well as individuals or herds of animals, whereas little effort has been directed toward the ultimate goal of animal traceback within 48 h. A mock data set representative of the Colorado cattle population was created for modeling of cattle traceability. Using this data set, algorithms were developed to complete rapid and accurate traceback and traceforward of animals or premises or both. On July 19, 2005, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, in conjunction with the Colorado Department of Agriculture, conducted a test exercise pertaining to homeland security. The exercise team randomly identified animal number 926,583 (of the 2 million total animals) as a potentially infected animal of interest and requested a traceback of this animal. Traceback was accomplished in 215 s, and 540 primary coresident animals were identified. However, due to animal movements, the number of coresidents (animals exposed, directly or indirectly, to the animal of interest) expanded with coresidency level (level 1 = direct contact; level 2 = direct contact with an animal that had direct contact with the animal of interest; level 3 = direct contact with an animal that had contact with an animal that had direct contact with the animal of interest, etc.) to more than 1.2 million coresidents at level 4, and more than 90% of all animals identified as a coresident at some level. In addition to the coresidency results, the premises containing the coresidents were identified and sorted by the number of coresidents. Because of animal movement, all 19,391 premises included in the data set had coresidents at some level. This exercise demonstrated the capability of the developed algorithms to complete rapid traceback and the complexity of the resulting animal traceback output.     

Morphology, Cytology and Fertility of Avena sativa L. ×A. magna Murph. et Terrell Amphiploids

The genotypes of Avena sativa were crossed to A. magna Murph. et Terrell, from the sterile pentapliod F₁ amphiploids were successfully developed after colchicine treatment. The C₁ plants were observed for their morphology, cytology and fertility. These plants were characterized by longer and broader glumes, swollen pedicel attachment, pubescent lemmas, bold seeds and persistent spikelets. Other characters, viz., final plant height, rachis length, peduncle length and spikelets per panicle were intermediate. All plants hail the chromosome number 2n = 70 or close to. 7C. Due to stickiness of chromosomes, meiosis of only two decaploid plants could be studied in detail. The average chromosome Association was 1.3 I + 28.56 II + 1.4 III + 1.77 IV + 0.07 VI and 0.13 I + 28.7 II + 0.14 III + 2.09 IV + 0.59 VI; but in some cells up to 35 bivalents were observed. Seed set as well as pollen fertility and size exhibited great variation.     

Gene-for-gene relationship for resistance in wheat to isolates of Karnal bunt, Neovossia indica

Reactions to eight isolates of Karnal bunt, Neovossia indica, collected from seven different locations in northern India were studied on 13 host lines, including cultivars and breeding lines of Triticum aestivum, Triticum durum and Triticosecale in all possible combinations. The incidence of Karnal bunt varied from zero in PBW 34 and PBW 248 with isolates Ni8 and Ni2, respectively, to as high as 66.8% in a highly susceptible cultivar WL 711 with isolate Ni5. The differences in disease incidence among cultivars and isolates were highly significant. All the isolates could be distinguished on the basis of differential reactions on one or more of the host lines. Even the most resistant lines of durum (PDW 215), triticale (TL 1210) and wheat (HD 29) could be distinguished by the differential disease reaction with one or more of the eight isolates. The cultivar-isolate interaction for disease score was highly significant, indicating the probable existence of a gene-for-gene relationship in this host-pathogen system.     

Chromosomal Stability in the Backcross Progenies of Pentaploid Hybrids between Avena sativa L. and A. maroccana Gdgr.

In a backcrossing programme to transfer desirable characters from wild Avena maroccana Gdgr. to cultivated oats, A. sativa L., meiotically stable plants in BC₁F₃ and BC₂F₂ progenies were isolated. The recovery of stable genotypes with 2n = 6×= 42 chromosomes indicated that two backcrosses are enough for such a programme. The cytological observations in various backcross generations are presented and discussed.