The sun and nearby stars: microwave observations at high resolution

High-resolution microwave observations are providing new insights into the nature of active regions and eruptions on the sun and nearby stars. The strength, evolution, and structure of magnetic fields in coronal loops can be determined by multiple-wavelength observations with the Very Large Array. Flare models can be tested with Very Large Array snapshot maps, which have angular resolutions of better than 1 second of arc in time periods as short as 10 seconds. Magnetic changes that precede solar eruptions on time scales of tens of minutes involve primarily emerging coronal loops and the interactions of two or more loops. Magnetic reconnection at the interface of two closed loops may accelerate electrons and trigger the release of microwave energy in the coronal parts of the magnetic loops. Nearby main-sequence stars of late spectral type emit slowly varying microwave radiation and stellar microwave bursts that show striking similarities to those of the sun.     

Soil Carbon Sequestration in Long-Term Fertilization Under Jute-Rice-Wheat Agro-Ecosystem

Soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration in response to long-term fertilizer management practices under jute-rice-wheat agro-ecosystem in alluvial soils was studied using a modeling approach. Fertilizer management practices included nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) fertilization, manure application, and root-stubble retention of all three crops. Soil carbon (C) model RothC was used to simulate the critical C input rates needed to maintain initial soil C level in long timescale (44 years). SOC change was significantly influenced by the long-term fertilizer management practices and the edaphic variable of initial SOC content. The effects of fertilizer combination “100%NPK+FYM” on SOC changes were most significant over “100%NPK” fertilization. If the 100% NPK fertilizer along with manure applied with stubble and roots retention of all crops, alluvial soils of such agro-ecosystem would act as a net C sink, and the average SOC density kept increasing from 18.18 Mg ha^?1 during 1972 to the current average of ～22 Mg ha^?1 during 2065 s. On an average, the critical C input was estimated to be 5.30 Mg C ha^?1 yr^?1, depending on local soil and climatic conditions. The critical C input could be effectively estimated using a summary model driven by current SOC level, mean annual temperature, precipitation, and soil clay content. Such information will provide a baseline for assessing soil C dynamics under potential changes in fertilizer and crop residues management practices, and thus enable development of management strategies for effectively mitigating climate change through soil C sequestration.     

Comparative analysis of seed morphometric and allozyme data among four populations of neem (Azadirachta indica)

The objectives of this study were to determine the patterns of variability and to compare genetic distance between seed morphometric and allozyme data of neem (Azadirachta indica). Phenotypic variation from open pollinated seed materials at 12 isozyme loci was examined using starch gel electrophoresis for four populations from Thailand, Bangladesh and Kenya. All four populations exhibited high levels of variation for seed parameters and isozymes. UPGMA cluster analysis of Nei's genetic distance when based on isozymes revealed two genetic groups. The population from Kenya showed a close genetic relationship with the Bangladeshi populations. The population from Thailand exhibited a distant relationship with the other three populations. This result suggests that the Kenyan population was introduced from the Indian subcontinent. In contrast, cluster analysis of seed morphometric data indicated three different groups of populations. The population from Kenya showed a distant relationship with all other populations. The study demonstrates that allozyme data may not correspond with morphometric traits when measuring genetic distance. It is suggested that this controversy may depend on environmental influence on morphometric traits, possibly also on the enzyme patterns.     

Soil Quality Changes Resulting from Long-Term Fertilizer Application Under Intensive Cropping System in Alluvial Soils

Soil quality is one of the most important factors which reveal the soil–environment functionality for identifying whether soil quality is improving, remain constant, or declining. This paper evaluated change in soil quality after 40 years of chemical fertilizer use and continuous cultivation of multiple crops (jute–rice–wheat) on alluvial soils. The concepts of relative soil quality index (RSQI) and Cumulative Rating Index (CRI) were used in the evaluation. It was observed that soil of class III reduced to class II after 20 years and to class I after 40 years of fertilizer application with manure, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK_100+FYM). There was a strong correlation between SQI and CRI (r = 0.82**) which showed more promising effects on soil sustainability. Significant positive relationship between ?RSQI and crop yield of jute (r = 0.89**) and wheat (r = 0.90**) was found. However, rice yield declined up to 44% of its initial yield (r = 0.20).     

Enhanced soybean (Glycine max L.) plant growth and nodulation by Bradyrhizobium japonicum-SB1 in presence of Bacillus thuringiensis-KR1

Abstract

Nodulation and subsequent nitrogen fixation are important factors that determine the productivity of soybean (Glycine max L.). The beneficial effects of nodulation can be enhanced when rhizobial inoculation is combined with plant-growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB). The PGPB strain Bacillus thuringiensis-KR1, originally isolated from the nodules of Kudzu vine (Pueraria thunbergiana), was found to promote growth of soybean plants (variety VL Soya 2) under Jensen's tube and growth pouch conditions, when co-inoculated with Bradyrhizobium japonicum-SB1. Co-inoculation with Bacillus thuringiensis-KR1 (at a cell density of 10 cfu) provided the highest and most consistent increase in nodule number, shoot weight, root weight, root volume, and total biomass, over rhizobial inoculation and control, under both conditions. The results demonstrate the potential benefits of using nonrhizobial nodule occupants of wild legumes for the co-inoculation of soybean, with Bradyrhizobium japonicum-SB1, in order to achieve plant-growth promotion and increased nodulation.     

A Glimpse at Siderophores Production by Anabaena flos-aquae UTEX 1444

In this study, a strain of Anabaena flos-aquae UTEX 1444 was cultivated in six different concentrations of iron (III). Cultures were extracted with organic solvents and analyzed using our dereplication strategy, based on the combined use of high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry and molecular networking. The analysis showed the presence of the siderophores’ family, named synechobactins, only in the zero iron (III) treatment culture. Seven unknown synechobactin variants were present in the extract, and their structures have been determined by a careful HRMS/MS analysis. This study unveils the capability of Anabaena flos-aquae UTEX 1444 to produce a large array of siderophores and may be a suitable model organism for a sustainable scale-up exploitation of such bioactive molecules, for the bioremediation of contaminated ecosystems, as well as in drug discovery.     

Different indices to characterize water use pattern of irrigated cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis) in a hot sub-humid climate of India

Frequency and depth of irrigation play crucial role in crop yield and use efficiency of water resource. To test this hypothesis a field study was carried out in November to January of 2001-2002 to 2003-2004 on a sandy loam (Aeric haplaquept) for quantifying the frequency and depth of irrigation on growth, curd yield (CY) and water use pattern of cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis). Four irrigation frequencies depending on the attainment of cumulative pan evaporation (CPE) values of: 25 (CPE₂₅), 31(CPE₃₁), 38 (CPE₃₈) and 45 (CPE₄₅) mm were placed in main-plots, with three depth of irrigation (IW) of 35 (IW₃₅), 30 (IW₃₀) and 25 (IW₂₅) mm in sub-plots. Water use efficiency (WUE), net evapotranspiration efficiency (WUE_ET) and irrigation water use efficiency (WUE_I) were computed. Marginal water use efficiency (MWUE) and elasticity of water productivity (EWP) were calculated using the relationship between CY and seasonal actual evapotranspiration (SET). A continuous increasing trend in growth parameters, yield and WUE_I was recorded with the increase in SET from CPE₄₅-IW₂₅ to CPE₃₁-IW₃₀. However with further increase in SET the same decreased up to CPE₂₅-IW₃₅ regime. Highest WUE and WUE_ET obtained under CPE₃₈-IW₃₅ regime where SET value was 5% lower than the status of SET under CPE₃₁-IW₃₀. This study confirmed that critical levels of SET needed to obtain maximum curd yield or WUE, could be obtained more precisely from the knowledge of MWUE and EWP.     

The repair of segmental bone defects with porous bioglass: an experimental study in goat

This study was exclusively conducted to evaluate healing of surgically created defects on the radius of adult Black Bengal goat after implantation of porous bioglass blocks and compare the process kinetics with normal healing. Twelve Black Bengal goats were divided randomly into two groups: control and experimental group implanted with bioglass blocks. Unicortical bone defects in radius were generated in all animals under aseptic condition. Local inflammatory reaction and healing of wound, radiological investigations, histological studies, oxytetracycline leveling and angiographic studies were performed up to 90th day post-operatively and compared with normal healing. It has been found that extensive new bone formation originating from host bone towards the implant whereas in control, the process was active from both the ends; the defect site appeared as homogenous nonfluorescent area. Thus, porous bioglass promoted bone formation over the entire extension of the defect independent of size of block in comparison to control group.     

Prevalence and risk factors associated with Cryptosporidium spp. infection in young domestic livestock in India

A total of 938 faecal samples (461 cattle calves, 264 buffalo calves, 55 lambs, 116 kids and 42 piglets) from different livestock farms and individual small holdings in six targeted states of India were collected and screened by modified Ziehl–Neelsen staining technique to determine the prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. and its association with age, sex, season and faecal consistency in domesticated animals. Overall, 16.2 % of the animals were positive for Cryptosporidium infection with prevalence of 16.3, 24.2, 1.8, 3.5 and 19.1 % in cattle calves, buffalo calves, lambs, kids and piglets, respectively. The prevalence of infection was significantly higher (p?<?0.05) in bovines (19.3 % cattle and 33.7 % buffalo) below 1 month of age than in animals between 1 and 3 months of age. But in piglets, it was higher in the age group of 1 to 3 months (22.6 %) than in younger animals (9.1 %). Also, higher prevalence (p?>?0.05) was recorded in females than in males. Seasons had a significant effect (p?<?0.05) on the prevalence of infection in large ruminants, with the highest prevalence in monsoon (cattle 28.8 % and buffalo 36.6 %) followed by pre-monsoon and post-monsoon season. However, in case of sheep and goats, the prevalence was higher (p?>?0.05) in post-monsoon than in monsoon season. A high degree of association was noticed between Cryptosporidium infection and diarrhoea in ruminants screened during the present study. But, in case of pigs, the prevalence was higher in non-diarrhoeic than in diarrhoeic animals. Genotyping of Cryptosporidium spp. based on nested PCR amplification of partial 18S rRNA and its subsequent digestion with SspI, VspI and MboII restriction enzymes revealed prevalence of Cryptosporidium parvum in representative number of positive samples of cattle, buffalo and goats.     

Nutritional evaluation of wheat straw treated with Crinipellis sp. in Sahiwal calves

Wheat straw was subjected to solid-state fermentation (SSF) with lignolytic white-rot fungus (WRF) Crinipellis sp. for 5 days to improve the nutritive value and digestibility. The fungal treatment caused a significant (P?<?0.05) decrease in cell wall constituents viz., neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), hemicellulose, lignin, and cellulose to the extent of 10.4, 11.2, 8.7, 8.7, and 12.1 %, respectively, with increase (P?<?0.05) in crude protein (CP) (51.6%) and ash (25.8%) contents in fungal treated wheat straw (FT-WS) than untreated wheat straw (UT-WS). Further, in vitro gas production, in vitro true dry matter digestibility and in vitro true organic matter digestibility at 48 h, metabolizable energy (ME) content, microbial biomass production, and short-chain fatty acids synthesis were significantly (P?<?0.05) higher in FT-WS. In vivo feeding trial in 10 Sahiwal calves (8–12 months) comprised of (1) control group (T1) fed with ad libitum chopped UT-WS and (2) treatment group (T2) offered with ad libitum chopped FT-WS, in addition to supplementation of groundnut cake and green berseem (Trifolium alexandrium) forage to both groups. Digestibility of nutrients for dry matter (DM), organic matter, CP, NDF, ADF, hemicellulose, cellulose, and total carbohydrates were significantly (P?<?0.05) higher in T2 compared to T1. Moreover, daily DM (P?<?0.05), digestible crude protein (P?<?0.01), and ME intakes were also higher (P?<?0.05) in group T2 with higher (P?<?0.05) nitrogen (N) retention, which resulted in significantly (P?<?0.05) higher average daily gain in body weight (135 vs. 102 g/day). It was concluded that SSF with WRF Crinipellis sp. holds potential in upgrading the nutritional worth of wheat straw for feeding growing calves.