New clerodane diterpenoids from Casearia sylvestris

Two new clerodane diterpenoids 2β-methoxy-cleroda-3,13-dien-18-carboxy-15,16-olide (1) and 15ξ-methoxy-cleroda-3,12-dien-18-carboxy-15,16-olide (2) and one new nitrogen-containing clerodane diterpenoid 15-oxo-echinophyllin A (3), along with six known compounds, namely, echinophyllin A, (−)-patagonic acid, tyrosol, oplopanone, 4-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-[(1R)-1-(1-methylethyl)-4-oxopentyl]-2-cyclohexen-1-one and 1β,6α-dihydroxy-eudesman-4(15)-ene were isolated from the leaves of Casearia sylvestris. Their structures were determined by extensive NMR techniques.     

Integrated management of Striga hermonthica, stemborers,and declining soil fertility in western Kenya

Striga hermonthica (Delile) Benth., stemborers, and declining soil fertility are serious threats to sustainable food production in the Lake Victoria zone of Kenya. To address these constraints, promising integrated crop management technologies were evaluated, using a multi-locational design in four sub-locations in Siaya and Vihiga district (western Kenya) for six cropping seasons. Technologies evaluated consisted of the traditional maize (Zea mays L.) – bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) intercrop, maize – Desmodium (Desmodium uncinatum (Jacq.) DC.) push–pull intercrop, Crotalaria (Crotalaria ochroleuca G. Don) – maize rotation, and soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr) – maize rotation. Within each of these systems, imazapyr-coated herbicide-resistant maize (IR-maize) and fertilizer were super-imposed as sub-plot factors. The push–pull system was observed to significantly reduce Striga emergence and stemborer damage from the second season onwards. IR-maize reduced and delayed Striga emergence from the first cropping season. Differences in Striga emergence and stemborer damage between the other systems were not significantly different. After five cropping seasons, the Striga seedbank was significantly higher in the maize-bean intercrop system than in the push–pull system under both maize varieties while the rotational systems had intermediate values not different from the day zero values. Under IR-maize, the Striga seedbank was significantly lower than under local maize for all cropping systems. Maize yields varied between seasons, districts, and cropping systems. Yields in the push–pull system were higher than in the maize-bean intercrop after two seasons and in the absence of mid-season drought stress. Both maize and soybean responded significantly to fertilizer application for both districts and for most seasons. The various interventions did not substantially affect various soil fertility-related parameters after five seasons. In the short term, IR-maize integrated in a push–pull system is the most promising option to reduce Striga while the rotational systems may need a longer timeframe to reduce the Striga seedbank. Finally, farmer-led evaluation of the various technologies will determine which of those is really most acceptable under the prevailing farming conditions.     

Effect of Hydrophilic Gums on the Quality of Frozen Dough: Electron Microscopy,Protein Solubility,and Electrophoresis Studies

Hydrophilic gums have been shown to improve the shelf‐life stability of frozen doughs during long periods of frozen storage. The objective of this research was to determine the effect of gums on starch and protein characteristics of frozen doughs using electron microscopy and electrophoresis studies. Frozen doughs, supplemented with three levels of gum arabic, carboxy methyl cellulose (CMC), kappa (κ) carrageenan, and locust bean gum, were studied after day 1 and after 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks of frozen storage. Changes in the ultra structure of the frozen doughs were investigated, as well as the solubilities and composition of dough proteins by SDS‐PAGE. Scanning electron micrographs of doughs evaluated on day 0 (unfrozen) showed starch granules securely embedded in the gluten matrix. However, after 8 and 16 weeks of frozen storage, the frozen control dough without the gum additives clearly showed damage to the gluten network, and the starch granules appeared to be separated from the gluten. Doughs with locust bean gum and gum arabic showed better retention of the gluten network compared with the frozen control evaluated after different periods of storage. The SDS‐soluble protein content increased while residue protein content decreased as the frozen storage time increased. After each frozen storage period, the control dough without the gum additive had the highest amount of SDS‐soluble proteins and the lowest amount of residue proteins when compared with the doughs treated with gums. κ‐Carrageenan and locust bean gum had the lowest amount of SDS‐soluble proteins compared with doughs with CMC and gum arabic. The frozen control had the lowest amount of residue proteins at any particular time of frozen storage. κ‐Carrageenan treated doughs had the highest amount of residue proteins, followed by doughs with locust bean gum. Doughs with gum arabic and CMC had the lowest amount of residue proteins but still higher than the control doughs.     

An inventory of salt-affected soils and waterlogged areas in the Nagarjunsagar Canal Command Area of southern India,using space-borne multispectral data

Information is presented on the nature, extent and spatial distribution of waterlogged areas and salt-affected soils, derived through systematic visual interpretation of standard false colour composite (FCC) prints on a 1:100 000 scale generated from the Indian Remote Sensing Satellite (IRS-1B) Linear Imaging Self-scanning Sensor (LISS-I) and Landsat–Thematic Mapper (TM) data for the Nagarjunsagar Right Bank Canal Command Area, Andhra Pradesh. A total of 1710 ha of land in the coastal region has been found to be waterlogged. Salt-affected soils cover an area of 42 800 ha, with saline–sodic soils covering 28 480 ha emerging as the dominant category. To make optimal use of these lands and to prevent further degradation both preventive and ameliorative measures have been advocated. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Plant Therapy: a Nonpharmacological and Noninvasive Treatment Approach Medically Beneficial to the Wellbeing of Hospital Patients

A green atmosphere and interaction with nature (plants and flowers) can considerably improve the human senses and sanity by decreasing the stress associated with anxiety, depression, neurotic impairment, and other psychologic symptoms. The current paper reports a therapeutic horticultural study’s findings regarding the effect of indoor foliage plants and flower arrangements on health prospects of surgical patients. Two surgical wards, ward A (with foliage plants and arranged flowers) and ward B (without foliage plants and flowers), were selected for the study. A total of 270 patients were randomly assigned to either ward to give 135 patients in each. Patients admitted to ward A had significantly more optimistic and promising health improvements than those in ward B. Provision of foliage plants and flower arrangements to the patients in ward A resulted in shorter postoperative stays, lower intake of analgesics, lower pain intensity, less stress fatigue, and improved vital signs (blood pressure, heart rate, respiration rate, body temperature) as compared to patients in ward B. Moreover, analyses showed that patients in ward A had a stronger psychologic frame of mind regarding their recovery from surgery and had more positive emotions and feelings regarding their stay in the hospital. They also felt that the ward atmosphere was more calming, pleasant, and satisfactory. Additionally, small group discussions and focal interviews with ward doctors and nurses confirmed the findings of the questionnaire that foliage plants & flower arrangements create a cherished environment in the ward, reduce patients’ stress, improve medical and psychologic status of patients, and also conveye positive messages of the hospital. These findings confirm the therapeutic value of horticultural activities, particularly in surgical patients in a stressed hospital setting.     

Whole-body amino acid pattern of juvenile,preadult, and adult pacu,Piaractus mesopotamicus,with an estimation of its dietary essential amino acid requirements

In the present study, juvenile (live body weight, 54.3 ± 8.2 g), preadult (live body weight, 822.5 ± 33.9 g), and adult (live body weight, 1,562.8 ± 41.8 g) pacu, Piaractus mesopotamicus, were used to estimate their dietary essential amino acid (EAA) requirements using the whole-body amino acid (AA) pattern. The results showed that whole-body moisture, crude protein, total lipid, and ash contents expressed on a wet weight basis (%) were significantly different among the studied growth phases. No significant differences were observed in the dietary EAA requirements estimated for the three growth phases of pacu. These dietary EAA requirements were found to be different than those previously estimated for the same fish through its muscle AA pattern. Based on whole-body EAA to total EAA ratios {A/E ratios; [(each EAA/total EAA) × 1,000]}, EAA requirements were estimated to be histidine (0.42%), arginine (1.36%), threonine (0.82%), valine (0.90%), methionine (0.45%), isoleucine (0.83%), leucine (1.29%), phenylalanine (0.74%), lysine (1.64%), and tryptophan (0.14%) for pacu. These estimated requirements may serve as a reference line in the formulation of practical and experimental diets until dose–response-based optimum EAA requirements are available for pacu.     

Dietary folic acid requirement of fingerling Catla,Catla catla (Hamilton)

The dietary folic acid requirement of fingerling Catla catla (3.4 ± 0.17 g; 7.6 ± 0.41 cm) was evaluated by feeding casein–gelatin‐based isonitrogenous (350 g/kg crude protein) and isocaloric (16.72 kJ/g GE) diets containing different concentrations of folic acid (0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0, 2.0 mg/kg) to triplicate groups to apparent satiation at 08:00, 12:30 and 17:30 hr for 16 weeks. Absolute weight gain (AWG; 40.07 g/fish), specific growth rate (SGR; 2.25%), feed conversion ratio (FCR; 1.53), protein retention efficiency (PRE; 31.42%) and protein gain (PG; 6.74) improved significantly (p < .05) with increasing folic acid levels up to 0.4 mg/kg diet and then reached a plateau. However, maximum liver folic acid concentration increased up to 0.6 mg/kg diet. Dietary folic acid levels also significantly affected (p < .05) body composition of fish. No significant change (p > .05) in haematological parameters except in fish fed folic acid‐free diet was noted. Antioxidant and immune parameters increased with increasing concentration of dietary folic acid up to 0.4 mg/kg diet. Broken‐line regression analysis of AWG, FCR, PRE, PG, HCT and liver folic acid concentrations of fingerling C. catla against dietary folic acid levels indicated optimum growth, FCR, PRE, PG, HCT and liver folic acid saturation ranging between 0.22 and 0.56 mg/kg diet, respectively.     

Effects of dietary protein levels on growth,feed utilization,protein retention efficiency and body composition of young <Emphasis Type="Italic">Heteropneustes fossilis</Emphasis> (Bloch)

An 8-week growth trial was conducted to assess the effect of dietary protein on growth, feed utilization, protein retention efficiency, and body composition of young Heteropneustes fossilis (10.02 ± 0.09 g; 9.93 ± 0.07 cm). Isocaloric (4.15 kcal g⁻¹, GE) diets with varying levels of protein (25, 30, 35, 40, 45, and 50% of the diet) were fed near to satiation to triplicate groups of fish. Optimum dietary protein was determined by analyzing live weight gain (LWG%), feed conversion ratio (FCR), protein efficiency ratio (PER), specific growth rate (SGR%), and protein retention efficiency (PRE%) data. Maximum LWG% (167), best FCR (1.42), PER (1.75), SGR (1.76), and PRE (31.7%) were evident in fish fed 40% protein diet (Diet 4). Body protein data also supported the above level. However, second-degree polynomial regression analysis of the above data indicated that inclusion of dietary protein in the range of 40–43% is optimum for the growth of young H. fossilis.     

Therapeutic Potential of Marine Bioactive Peptides against Human Immunodeficiency Virus: Recent Evidence,Challenges, and Future Trends

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a chronic and potentially fatal ailment caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and remains a major health problem worldwide. In recent years, the research focus has shifted to a greater emphasis on complementing treatment regimens involving conventional antiretroviral (ARV) drug therapies with novel lead structures isolated from various marine organisms that have the potential to be utilized as therapeutics for the management of HIV-AIDS. The present review summarizes the recent developments regarding bioactive peptides sourced from various marine organisms. This includes a discussion encompassing the potential of these novel marine bioactive peptides with regard to antiretroviral activities against HIV, preparation, purification, and processing techniques, in addition to insight into the future trends with an emphasis on the potential of exploration and evaluation of novel peptides to be developed into effective antiretroviral drugs.     

Enhancing phosphorus availability,soil organic carbon,maize productivity and farm profitability through biochar and organic–inorganic fertilizers in an irrigated maize agroecosystem under semi‐arid climate

Biochar amendments offer promising potential to improve soil fertility, soil organic carbon (SOC) and crop yields; however, a limited research has explored these benefits of biochar in the arid and semi‐arid regions. This two‐year field study investigated the effects of Acacia tree biomass‐derived biochar, applied at 0 and 10 t ha^?1 rates with farmyard manure (FYM) or poultry manure (PM) and mineral phosphorus (P) fertilizer combinations (100 kg P ha^‐1), on maize (Zea mays L.) productivity, P use efficiency (PUE) and farm profitability. The application of biochar with organic–inorganic P fertilizers significantly increased soil P and SOC contents than the sole organic or inorganic P fertilizers. Addition of biochar and PM as 100% P source resulted in the highest soil P (104% increase over control) and SOC contents (203% higher than control). However, maize productivity and PUE were significantly higher under balanced P fertilizer (50% organic + 50% mineral fertilizer) with biochar and the increase was 110%, 94% and 170% than 100%‐FYM, 100%‐PM and 100% mineral fertilizer, respectively. Maize productivity and yield correlated significantly positively with soil P and SOC contents These positive effects were possibly due to the ability of biochar to improve soil properties, P availability from organic–inorganic fertilizers and SOC which resulted in higher PUE and maize productivity. Despite the significant positive relationship of PUE with net economic returns, biochar incorporation with PM and mineral fertilizer combination was economically profitable, whereas FYM along biochar was not profitable due to short duration of the field experiments.