Comparative pharmacokinetics of paracetamol (acetaminophen) and its sulphate and glucuronide metabolites in desert camels and goats

Paracetamol was administered at dosages of 5 mg/kg to camels and 10 mg/kg to goats by the intravenous and intramuscular routes. Parent paracetamol had a significantly slower clearance (21.9 ± 1.4 mL/min.kg vs. 52.8 ± 7.3 mL/min.kg) (P < 0.01) in camels than in goats. In camels the predominant metabolite in plasma was the sulphate, although the ratios of glucuronide:paracetamol and sulphate:paracetamol were similar (5.20 ± 0.50 vs. 6.59 ± 0.51) following intravenous administration. In goats the glucuronide metabolite was the predominant moiety in plasma, and the area under the curve (AUC) of the sulphate was only 3.89% of that of the glucuronide conjugate. The apparent AUC for paracetamol in the camel following intramuscular administration was larger than that following intravenous administration, however, when the bioavailability (F) was determined, with correction for altered half-life, within the animal and between study phases it was 71 ± 17% in goats and 105 ± 26% in camels.     

Benefit-cost analysis of raising Pinus wallichiana seedlings in different capacities/sizes of root trainers in the nursery

Modern nursery methods of seedling production in different sized root trainers,were compared by raising seedlings of Pinus wallichiana involving costs incurred and benefits received. In order to provide a common basis for the comparisons,the study involved the raising of 1000 seedlings annually on a continuous basis for seven years. A relative economic analysis of raising P. wallichiana seedlings in 300,150 and 100 cm3 root trainers was carried out and we estimated that the root trainers of 300 cm3 capacity...     

Identification and Cloning of Resistance Gene Analogues (RGAs) Encoding NBS-LRR Proteins from Gossypium arboreum L.

Plants have developed a complicated defense mechanism during evolution to resist the harmful pathogens they encountered.The mechanism involves the interaction of the plant resistance (R) gene product with the component from the pathogen.This interaction further activates the signal transdue tion pathway,thus leading to defense responses.These defense responses include a hypersensitive response that results in localized cell death,and other general responses such as strengthening of the cell wall,formation of phytoalexins,etc.     

Maturity indices of Indian horse-chestnut (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Aesculus indica</Emphasis> Colebr.) seeds under temperate Kashmir conditions

Our study on maturity indices of Aesculus indica Colebr.seeds was conducted under temperate Kashmir conditions in 2006.Seed collection was started from 15 July and continued until the maturation of seeds in December.The seeds were harvested fortnightly from identified trees and on each collection date maturity indices,viz.seed color,seed weight,moisture content,seed dimension,specific gravity and germination percentage were recorded.The study revealed that at the time of maturity (Nov.–Dec.) the seed color ...     

Dormancy studies on Indian horse-chestnut (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Aesculus indica</Emphasis> Colebr.) under Kashmir conditions

Studies were carried out in the Faculty of Forestry, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar of India during 2006 and 2007. The Indian horse-chestnut (Aesculus indica Colebr.), locally known as “Hanudun”, is one of the more important broad-leaved tree species of the Kashmir valley. No deep dormancy was observed in mature seeds. However, the seeds remained dormant due to unfavorable environmental conditions prevailing after seed dispersal. Both treatments of cold stratification were significantly superior to the control conditions, i.e., no stratification which showed no germination during the test period of 30 d. The effects of the two treatments (cold stratification for 15 or 30 d) also differed significantly. Germination was found to increase with an increase in the time of cold stratification. Chilling treatments of seeds for 30 d showed maximum germination of 80%, requiring the shortest time for germination, i.e., 20.51 d with a maximum evaluated germination value of 14.88. The other treatment with 15 d chilling showed lower germination of 60%, requiring a maximum number of germination days (27.31 d) with lower germination value of 3.26.     

Furosemide-induced changes in plasma and blood volume of camels (Camelus dromedarius)

This work examines the effect of treatment of camels with furosemide (1 or 2 mg/kg, intravenously) on blood volume (BV), plasma volume (PV) and the plasma concentrations of total solids (PTS), plasma total protein (PTP) haemaglobin (Hb) and haematocrit (PCV). The cumulative urine produced during the 4 h following furosemide administration (2 mg/kg) averaged 22.2 mL/kg, compared to 2.3 mL/kg in controls. None of the above parameters were significantly changed by furosemide treatment at either dose.
In another experiment, the effect of the two doses of furosemide on the sequential changes on some of the above parameters was investigated at 5, 10, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 105, 120 and 240 min after the drug administration.
On the whole, there were no significant changes in any of the measured parameters, except for small but statistically significant increases in the PCV and Hb at 30 and 45 min post treatment.
It is concluded that, despite the marked diuresis following furosemide administration, the camel appears to be able to maintain its bodily fluid haemostasis.     

Apparent variations in nitrogen runoff and its uptake in paddy rice under straw incorporation

Straw incorporation is a widespread practice to promote agricultural sustainability. However, the potential effects of straw incorporation with the prolonged time on nitrogen (N) runoff loss from paddy fields are not well studied. The current study addresses the knowledge gap by assessing the effects of straw incorporation on the processes influencing N runoff patterns and its impacts on crop yield, N uptake, total N (TN), and soil organic matter (SOM). We conducted field experiments with rice (Oryzasativa L.)–wheat (Triticumaestivum L.) rotation, rice–tobacco (Nicotianatabacum L.) rotation, and double-rice cropping in subtropical China from 2008 to 2012. Each rotation had three N treatments: zero N fertilization (CK), chemical N fertilization (CF), and chemical N fertilization combined with straw incorporation (CFS). The treatment effects were assessed on TN runoff loss, crop yield, N uptake, soil TN stock, and SOM. Results showed that TN runoff was reduced by substituting part of the chemical N fertilizer with straw N in the double rice rotation, while crop N uptake was significantly (P<0.05) decreased due to the lower bioavailability of straw N. In contrast, in both rice–wheat and rice–tobacco rotations, TN runoff in CFS was increased by 0.9–20.2% in the short term when straw N was applied in addition to chemical N, compared to CF. However, TN runoff was reduced by 2.3–19.3% after three years of straw incorporation, suggesting the long-term benefits of straw incorporation on TN loss reduction. Meanwhile, crop N uptake was increased by 0.8–37.3% in the CFS of both rotations. This study demonstrates the challenges in reducing N runoff loss while improving soil fertility by straw incorporation over the short term but highlights the potential of long-term straw incorporation to reduce N loss and improve soil productivity.     

Characterization and identification of leaf morphology of Populus deltoides Bartr.clones

Leaves are of fundamental importance to plants,representing their facility to generate power and are the sensing units of plants towards the environment.An attempt was made to characterize and compare the variations of leaf morphology of various Populus deltoides Bartr.clones by studying the winter buds and other leaf parameters of fully developed leaves.To achieve these objectives,forty-three exotic and indigenous clones of P.deltoides Bartr.were evaluated for different parameters.On the basis of various morphological characteristics the results reveal that each clone has a distinct color pattern of leaves.Different colors observed in these clones varied from light green through green to dark green.Two distinct lengths of the leaf apex were found,i.e.,short and long; as well both acuminate and acute apex types were found.Erratic distribution of serration of leaves was also found.In this study,the morphological traits of leaves provided discriminatory grounds for separating various populations of P.deltoides Bartr.clones.Winter bud studies indicate that different clones vary considerably with regard to shape,color,shape of leaf scars and exudation.     

Detection and identification of seed-borne viruses from cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) germplasm

Seedlings from 182 cowpea ( Vigna unguiculata ) pre-introductions/germplasm accessions from 12 countries were tested under greenhouse conditions for six seed-borne viruses. Twenty-one (13.3%) accessions from eight countries were found to be seed-infected with one of the three following viruses: blackeye cowpea mosaic (BlCMV) and cowpea aphid-borne mosaic (CABMV) potyviruses, and cucumber mosaic cucumovirus (CMV). Natural seed transmission incidence of 0–6.9%, 0–13.3%, and 0–2.0% were determined for BlCMV, CABMV and CMV respectively.   Another set of 2930 cowpea germplasm accessions, mostly from Botswana and Senegal (Africa), were examined under field conditions for detection and identification of seed-borne viruses. Only CABMV was detected in this material. Most of the lines were free from other viruses reported in cowpea seed. Eight isolates of BlCMV and 28 isolates of CABMV were derived from cowpea pre-introductions/germplasm accessions evaluated under greenhouse and field conditions.     

Efficiency of KOH-modified rice straw-derived biochar for reducing cadmium mobility, bioaccessibility and bioavailability risk index in red soil

Cadmium (Cd) pollution in agricultural soils has exerted a serious threat due to continuous application of pesticides, fertilizers, and wastewater irrigation. The present study aimed to test the efficiency of KOH-modified and non-modified rice straw-derived biochar (KBC and BC, respectively) for reducing Cd solubility and bioavailability in Cd-contaminated soil. Cadmium-contaminated soil was incubated for 60 d with 15 and 30 g kg^-1 BC and KBC. At the end of incubation, Cd mobility was estimated by the European Community Bureau of Reference sequential extraction and toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP), while bioavailability was determined using 1 mol L^-1 NH₄NO₃ extraction. The bioavailability risk index and bioaccessibility, assessed by a simple bioaccessibility extraction test, of Cd were used to examine the potential effects of Cd on living organisms. The results indicated that application of both KBC and BC significantly increased soil pH, cation exchange capacity, nutrients, and organic carbon. The soluble fraction of Cd was significantly decreased by 30.3% and 27.4%, respectively, with the addition of KBC and BC at 30 g kg^-1 compared to the control (without biochar addition). Similarly, the bioaccessible Cd was significantly decreased by 32.4% and 25.2%, respectively, with the addition of KBC and BC at 30 g kg^-1 compared to the control. In addition, both KBC and BC significantly reduced Cd leaching in the TCLP and NH₄NO₃-extractable Cd in the amended soil compared to the control. The reduction in Cd solubility and bioaccessibility by KBC and BC may be due to significant increases in soil pH and surface complexation. Overall, KBC at an application rate of 30 g kg^-1 demonstrated positive results as soil amendment for Cd immobilization, and reduced bioaccessible Cd in contaminated soil.