Time dependence of hydraulic parameters estimation from transient analysis of mini disc infiltrometer measurements

The transient analysis of mini disc infiltrometer (MDI) measurements is an established method for characterising near-surface hydraulic characteristics of soils. The reliability of hydraulic characteristics obtained from transient analysis depends on the (1) adequacy of model, (2) adequacy of data, (3) measurement time and (4) measurement footprint. The measurement time dependence recommendations are reported only for a few soil textures, initially wet samples and tension infiltrometer (TI) with a higher measurement footprint than the MDI. This study investigated the adequacy of infiltration data (using cumulative linearization [CL] and differentiated linearization [DL]) and measurement time influence on the hydraulic parameters determined from the transient analysis of MDI measurements for six soil textures. The objective of the study is to identify suitable MDI measurement durations for different soil textures for the initially dry state, considering both adequacy of data and time fractionation (measurement time influence). The data adequacy time obtained from the DL (T_DL) was found to be 0.8 times less than the value obtained from CL (T_CL). The marginal difference in T_DL and T_CL had a significant influence on the determination of infiltration equation coefficient C₁ and negligible influence on coefficient C₂. The time fractionation procedure adopted for identifying adequate MDI measurement time (T_m) was found to be comparable based on sorptivity (S₀) and hydraulic conductivity (K₀). The average T_m was also comparable with T_DL and T_CL with a strong positive correlation. The C₂ values obtained based on T_m, T_DL, and T_CL were in better agreement than the corresponding C₁ values. The adequate MDI measurement times identified by considering T_m, T_DL, and T_CL were texture dependent, ranging from 45 min for silt to 120 min for silt loam and silty clay loam. For loamy sand, it was 50 min; for sand, it was 70 min, followed by 60 min for loam.     

Shrimp lectin–conjugated copper sulfide nanoparticles enhance immune response and gene expression in Etroplus suratensis infected with Aeromonas hydrophila

Aquaculture International - Lectins are hemagglutinating glycoproteins which act as pathogen recognition receptors that can bind to the pathogen-associated molecular patterns. Shrimp lectin...     

Cassava diet – A cause for mucopolysaccharidosis?

Studies were carried out to determine the changes in glycosaminnoglycan (GAG)metabolism in rats fed cassava with varying cyanoglucoside levels and two levels of protein. Results indicated that there was an enhancement in the level of total and individual GAG with a corresponding reduction in the activity of enzymes involved in the degradation of glycosaminoglycan. These changes were significant for rats given a cassava diet (raw and boiled cassava) and low protein. The changes in total and individual GAG and the decrease in the activity of degrading enzymes was more for high cyanide (raw cassava) groups compared with other groups showing that consumption of untreated cassava is an additive factor for the promotion of mucopolysaccharidosis.