Best Results In Respect Research Articles

Evaluation of different field treatments on seed and seedling quality of onion against purple blotch disease

An investigation was carried out at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, Bangladesh to evaluate the effect of some field treatments' on seed and seedling quality of onion. From the 16 treatment integrations, the harvested seeds were significantly varied in terms of seed germination, seedling vigor, Zinc & Boron content, and the presence of pathogenic microorganism in onion seed. Treatment T11 (Score 250 EC+Poultry waste) and T8 (Rovral+Poultry waste) showed significantly the highest seed germination of 99.50%, 99% and vigor index of 1592 & 1438; respectively. The Zn and B contents in seed were found to be increased in the seed produced from the integrated treatment where micronutrient was applied. The T9 treatment (Rovral + Zn+B) and T12 (Score 250 EC + Zn+B) showed the best result in respect of Zn and B contents. No pathogenic microorganisms were found in treatment T11 (Score 250 EC+Poultry waste) and T8 (Rovral+Poultry waste) which was statistically significant over T1 (Rovral 50 WP), T2 (Score 250 EC), T3 (Alamanda), T7 (Rovral + Bioagent) and T9 (Rovral + Zn+B). Bangladesh J. Agri. 2023, 48(1): 40-50

An Integrated Approach to Manage The Rhizome Rot Disease of Ginger

An experiment was conducted at Gazipur, Bogura and Ramgarh to observe the effect of eight different treatments packages on rhizome rot of ginger. The package comprising of seed treated with Chlorox (10%) + Soil treatment with Stable Bleaching Powder (20 kg/ha) + Soil drenching with Chlorox (10%) and Ridomil (0.2%) alternately for 5 times each gave superior or better results in respect of germination(80-97%), disease reduction(50-62%) and crop yield (24 t/ha) of ginger in all locations. The same package showed disease reduction ranging from 53 to 57.33% at Nilphamari, Rangpur, Bogura, Madhupur and Ramgarh in the validation trials and thereby produced higher yield of ginger 24.8 t/ha at Bogura, 23.6 t/ha at Rangpur, 23.2 t/ha at Nilphamari and 22.6 t/ha at Ramgarh. The same package also gave higher benefit cost ratio (BCR) of 4.85 in case of experiment and 4.58 in case of validation trials. This package was therefore seemed to be cost effective in reducing rhizome rot disease of ginger and accelerate the yield if applied properly.
 Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 45(1): 1-9, March 2020

Effects of organic mulches on growth and yield of winter onion (Allium cepa L.) cultivars

An experiment was conducted to study the effects of cultivars and household organic mulches on growth and yield of onion at the Horticulture Farm of the Department of Horticulture, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh during the period from October 2020 to March 2021. The experiment consisted of three winter onion cultivars of Bangladesh viz. Taherpuri, BARI Piaz-1 and BARI Piaz-4, and five organic mulches, viz. Control (no mulching), vegetables wastes, rice straw, banana leaf and water hyacinth. The two-factor experiment was carried out in Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. Results revealed that the parameters under study showed significant variation among onion varieties and mulching. BARI Piaz-4 gave the highest plant height, number of leaves, fresh weight and gross yield of bulb compared to BARI Piaz-1 and Taherpuri. The application of water hyacinth increased plant height, number of leaves, fresh weight of bulb, bulb length and diameter, and bulb yield compared to other treatments. Mulching with water hyacinth showed the best results in respect of on all the parameters under study. The highest bulb yield (12.72 t/ha) was recorded in T4 and the lowest bulb yield (8.97 t/ha) was found in T0. The effect of household organic mulches on yield were in order of water hyacinth> vegetables wastes> rice straw> banana leaf> control (no mulching). Among the treatment combinations water hyacinth mulch in combination with BARI Piaz-4 gave the highest plant height (47.85 cm), number of leaves (14.01), fresh weight of bulb (52.87 g) and gross yield of onion (18.24 t/ha), whereas, the lowest plant height (36.13 cm), number of leaves (6.53), fresh weight of bulb (17.08 g) and gross yield of onion (5.74 t/ha) were was obtained from Tahepuri caultivar having no mulch. Therefore, the combined application of water hyacinth along with BARI Piaz-4 was found to be the best in respect of growth and yield of onion.

Minimal dissection technique vs Jaboulay’s procedure for small to moderate size hydrocele – A retrospective study

Abstract: Hydrocele is one of the most common disease of the male, with incidence of 1 in 1000 cases. Primary hydrocele is of idiopathic origin and secondary hydrocele are caused by infection or tumours. Surgery is the gold standard treatment. This retrospective study was conducted to determine the advantages of minimal dissection technique vs. Jaboulay’s procedure in small and moderate size hydrocele. Methods and Materials: In this study 86 cases of hydrocele were included and divided in two groups. In group I, minimal dissection technique was done and in group II, conventional Jaboulay’s procedure was done. The two groups were compared with regard to operation time, hospital stay, return to work, recurrence and other results. Post-operative complications noted. Categorical data were statistically analyzed. Results: The study showed better results in respect of operative time, hospital stay, return to work, patient satisfaction in patients in minimal dissection group when compared with patients in the conventional Jaboulay’s procedure. Conclusion: Hydrocelectomy is considered the gold standard technique for the treatment of hydrocele and the minimally dissection technique provide the best operative outcomes regarding scrotal edema and hardening and patient’s satisfaction when compared to conventional eversion-excision hydrocelectomy.

CFRP drilling under throttle and evaporative cryogenic cooling and micro-lubrication

Hole-making in CFRP plates has been unsustainable due to poor hole quality, high specific energy consumption, a trade-off between shortened drill life and low productivity, and high processing cost. This experimental study investigates the effects of using throttle and evaporative cryogenic fluids, actualized by applying compressed carbon dioxide and liquid nitrogen, respectively, and micro-lubrication on hole quality (roughness, coaxiality, and circularity), production economy (tool damage and process cost), structural intactness (delamination and uncut fibers), energy consumption, and machining forces. Additionally, the effects of applying drill pecking and cutting speed are also quantified. Based on the experimental results, micro-lubrication is found to have outperformed dry drilling and the two cryogenic coolants regarding the measures associated with process viability, such as tool wear, process cost, energy consumption, and machining forces. Throttle cryogenic cooling, on the other hand, yielded the best results in respect of the work quality measures, which includes hole quality and structural intactness. Pecking yielded disappointing results regarding most of the measures, whereas the high level of cutting speed yielded favorable results in respect of specific cutting energy and process cost.

Effect of Sowing Times on Yield Attributes of an Exotic (China) Hybrid Rice Variety in Bangladesh

This experiment was conducted at the Agricultural Botany experimental field of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University (SAU), Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka during the period from January to April 2014 to study the effect of sowing times on the yield attributes of an exotic (China) hybrid rice variety in Bangladesh. Five treatments were considered regarding 5 sowing dates or transplanting dates viz. (i) S1 = 1st sowing at 1st January 2014; transplanted at 21st January, (ii) S2 = 2nd sowing at 21st January; transplanted at 11th February, (iii) S3 =3rd sowing at 11th February; transplanted at 3rd March, (iv) S4 = 4th sowing at 3rd March; transplanted at 23rd March and (v) S5 = 5th sowing at 23rd March; transplanted at 13th April. Data were recorded on different growth parameters to examine the effect of sowing times on the yield attributes of the tested variety. The studied parameters were significantly affected by different sowing times or transplanting times. Results revealed that different parameters regarding yield attributes, the seeds of the test variety sown at 1st January 2014 and transplanted at 21st January (S1) furnished the best results in respect of the weight of filled grain hill-1 (38.87 g), weight of filled grain plot-1 (2.18 kg), 1000 seed weight (36.00 g), grain yield ha-1 (3.64 ton) and the highest harvest index (43.46%) compared to the seedling transplanted on other dates or times. These findings can be used in further breeding program.

Effect of post-harvest treatments on physico-chemical changes during ripening of papaya cv. red lady

Papaya fruits Cv. Red Lady treated with ethylene of different concentrations i.e. 60, 80, 100 and 120 ppm for five minutes at different temperature conditions viz., 16, 20, 24 and 28 ºC and 95% RH ripened in ripening chamber and untreated fruits kept at ambient temperature (30-35 ºC). Then the papaya fruits were analyzed for physico-chemical changes and sensory qualities. It was found that papaya fruits exposed to ethylene gas in the ripening chamber triggered the ripening process and showed that the increasing trends in L*, a*, b* values of colour, TSS (°Brix), Weight loss (%), reducing sugars (%) and decreasing trends in firmness (N), Titratable acidity (TA) during ripening in all the treatment combinations during advancement of ripening period from second day to eighth day. It was observed that papaya fruits Cv. Red Lady ripened by ethylene of 100 ppm for 5 minutes at 24 ºC, 95% RH showed better results in respect of a high overall acceptability score of 8.63.

Molecular docking investigation of the amantadine binding to the enzymes upregulated or downregulated in Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease. Levodopa in combination with amantadine has a demonstrated efficacy in motility impairment. An extensive investigation of some enzymes described to be upregulated or downregulated in PD was made – adenylate kinase (AK), adenine phosphoribosyltransferase (APRT), ectonucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase 1 (ENTPD1), nucleoside-diphosphate kinase 3 (NDK3), purine nucleoside phosphorylase 1 (PNP1), and ecto-5’-nucleotidase (NT5E). Also, creatine kinase (CK) was included in the study because it is one of the main enzymes involved in the regulation of the nucleotide ratio in energy metabolism. To date, there is no proven link between amantadine treatment of PD and these enzymes. Because there are many AKs isoforms modified in PD, the AK was the first investigated. The molecular docking experiments allow the analysis of the selective binding of amantadine – unionized (with –NH2 group) and ionized form (with –NH3+ group) – to the AKs’ isoforms implicated in PD. Using available X-ray 3D structures of human AKs in closed-conformation, it was demonstrated that there are notable differences between the interactions of the two forms of amantadine for the zebrafish AK1 (5XZ2), human AK2 (2C9Y), human AK5 (2BWJ), and AK from B.stearothermophilus. The cytosolic human AK1 and human AK2 mostly interact with ionized amantadine by AMP binding residues. The human AK5 interaction with ionized amantadine does not involve the residues from the catalytic site. Among other enzymes tested in the present study, APRT revealed the best results in respect of binding amantadine ionized form. The results offer a new perspective for further investigation of the connections between amantadine treatment of PD and some enzymes involved in purine metabolism.

Outcomes of combined radiotherapy in high-risk prostate cancer

Radiotherapy is one of the radical treatment options used in patients with prostate cancer (PC). Many studies of combined radiotherapy (CRT) for PC have demonstrated good results in respect of response to treatment; however, the sequence of CRT steps and optimal interval between them have not been determined so far. Few randomized studies have been conducted in order to confirm the advantages of brachytherapy at the first or second step or determine the most effective interval between the contact and external beam RT. Therefore, it appears reasonable to evaluate different CRT techniques.Purpose. The goal of the study was to evaluate the outcomes of PC treatment depending on the sequence of CRT steps and the interval between them.Materials and methods. 53 patients with PC received 125I radiation therapy in combination with long-term hormone therapy (HT). Median follow-up was 38 months. Patients’ age varied from 54 to 81 years. All patients were in a high-risk group according to the D’Amico Risk Classification System. The patients were allocated to two groups: in Group 1, brachytherapy was used as the first step (n=31); in Group 2, it was applied after external beam therapy (EBT). The interval between the CRT steps could be less than 4 weeks (n=6), 4 – 7 weeks (n=17) and more than 8 weeks (n=30). Standard fractionation EBT with a total dose of 46 Gy using the VMAT technique was conducted. 125I prostate implants were inserted to reach a total dose of 110 Gy. Neoadjuvant (2 – 4 months) and adjuvant (not less than 24 months) regimens of HT were applied.Results. Five (9.4 %) patients had disease progression; two of them experienced only biochemical recurrence; distant metastases were diagnosed in three patients. Median time to disease progression was 29.9 months. One patient with a biochemical relapse died of acute myocardial infarction (1.9 %). Median five-year disease-free survival was 84.5±11.7 % in Group 1 and 83.5±9.1 (p=0.73) in Group 2. There were no significant differences in the incidence of toxicity depending on the sequence of CRT steps.Conclusion. EBT using 125I radiation sources in combination with long-term hormone therapy is an effective and safe treatment option for high-risk PC patients. No significant increase in the incidence of disease progression was observed when the interval between the CRT steps was increased to more than 8 weeks. Changes in the sequence of CRT steps do not affect response to treatment or incidence of radiation-related complications.

Reproductive Behaviour of Lemon (Citrus limon Burm.) Affected by Different Pruning Intensities and Integrated Nutrient Management Under Various Growing Seasons

The main objective of this study was to know the reproductive behaviour of lemon (Citrus limon Burm.) affected by different pruning intensities and integrated nutrient management under various growing season. The experiment was laid out in two factorial randomized block design with four levels of pruning, seven levels of nutrient, consisting recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) and different combinations of organic manure (Vermicompost), inorganic fertilizer, biofertilizer (Azotobacter), Mycorrhiza (VAM) and their interaction to study their effect on plant reproductive behaviour during 2013–2015 on 9-year-old lemon plants in three growing seasons. The investigation revealed that the reproductive parameters, viz. number of flowers per plant, fruit set percentage and fruit yield, were found highest in lightly pruned plants fed with 75% RDF + Vermicompost + Azotobacter + Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhiza at Ambe, Mrig and Hasth bahar, respectively. Among the three seasons of cropping, Ambe bahar recorded the best result in respect to yield followed by Mrig and Hasth bahar.

Anodic Degradation of Lignin at Active Transition Metal‐based Alloys and Performance‐enhanced Anodes

AbstractElectrochemical oxidative degradation is one of the most promising methods for generation of phenolic fine chemicals from the renewable feedstock lignin. High selectivity, no reagent waste, as well as cost efficiency are major advantages of this particular process. Application of Ni‐ and Co‐based anode materials led to the best results in respect to product yield and selectivity. Interestingly, repeated use of Ni foam electrodes for electrochemical oxidative degradation resulted in significantly increased yields of vanillin, indicating a modification of the electrode surface. In particular, activation of the electrodes by electrochemical treatment of black liquor enabled an activation which further increased the electrocatalytic activity as well as the yield of the aroma chemical vanillin up to more than 100 % compared to non‐activated Ni foam electrodes. Additionally, this activated electrode surface was analyzed via flowing atmospheric pressure afterglow surface desorption mass spectrometry (FAPA‐MS). The measurement revealed diaminotoluene as a major compound in this adsorption layer, which indicates that this compound is partly responsible for the activation process. Most likely, electrochemical induced deposition of such an organic surface layer enhances the lipophilicity of the electrode surface and increases the accessibility of relevant structural features of lignin particles to the anodic surface, resulting in a higher yield of the desired degradation product vanillin.

EFFECT OF FEEDING DIETS CONTAINING DRIED GREEN BEAN (PHASEOLUS VULGARIS L.) VINES ON PERFORMANCE OF GROWING APRI RABBITS

A total of seventy APRI rabbits were chosen after weaned at 5 weeks of age and randomly divided into 5 similar groups (14 rabbits/group) according to their initial live body weight (656.96±2.67g), to evaluate the utilization of dried green bean vines (GBV) in feeding growing rabbits and its effect on growth performance, nutrients digestibilities, carcass traits, some blood parameters, cecum activity as well as economic efficiency. Rabbits were fed ad-libitum on diets containing 0, 10, 20, 30 and 40% dried GBV for groups D1, D2, D3, D4 and D5, respectively. The five diets were formulated according to the Agriculture Ministry Decree Recommendation (1996). At the end of the experimental period (15 weeks of age), digestibility trials were carried out to determine the digestibility and the feeding values of the experimental diets. In addition, four rabbits were slaughtered from each group to test the carcass traits, some blood parameters and cecum activity. The experimental diets were fed to growing rabbits for 10 weeks post-weaning period. Results revealed that the dried GBV contained 2243 kcal digestible energy/kg, 12.70% crude protein, 21.59% crude fiber, 1.60% ether extract, 15.77% ash, 2.05% calcium 0.18% phosphorus and amino acids such as 1.02% aspartic acid, 0.90% glutamic acid, 0.12% methionine and 0.40% lysine (as fed). Final body weights (at 15 weeks of age) were insignificant higher with tested diets (D2, D3 and D4) and significant lower with tested diets (D5), compared with control one (D1). The same trend among the experimental diets was observed with the total weight gain over 5-15 weeks. Total feed intake during the whole experimental period was significant lower with D5, compared to that of D2, D3, D4 and control diet (D1). Feed conversion was insignificant better with diets contained 10 up to 30% dried GBV than that of control one, while the diet contained the highest level of dried GBV (D5) was achieved significantly the worst one in comparison of control diet, over the whole experimental period. In comparison with control diet, most nutrients digestibilities of most tested diets did not affected significantly. Diets involved up to 30% dried GBV had achieved the best results in respect of pre-slaughter weight and empty carcass weight as well as dressing percentage in comparison with control and the other tested diets (D4 and D5). Level of 10, 20 and 30% dried GBV recorded insignificantly higher values of CP and ash contents and the lowest content of EE of rabbit meat compared to the control and D5 groups. Dried GBV had slightly changes on blood constituents of experimental rabbits. Insignificantly higher concentrations of TVFA´s were observed in the cecum contents of rabbits fed on the different levels of dried GBV compared to the control group. Inversely pH of cecum content and ammonia-N concentrations were insignificantly decreased compared with control diet. While cecum weight had significantly the highest value in D5 diet. Profitability and economic efficiency were markedly improved with dried GBV up to 30% compared to control diet. In conclusion dried GBV could be used in feeding of growing rabbits up to 30% with no adverse effect on productive performance, carcass traits, physiological functions and economic efficiency.

Effect of ethylene on physiological changes during ripening of mango (Mangifera indica L.) Cv. Kesar

The mango fruit Cv. Kesar were exposed to ethylene gas (100 ppm) for 12, 18 and 24h in fruit ripening chamber (29.4-31.9oC. with 65-84 % R.H.) and the untreated fruit was kept at ambient temperature (26-30oC with 54-62% R.H.). The fruits were then removed from the ripening chamber at the end of exposure period, packed in corrugated fibreboard boxes and then kept at ambient condition to study the ripening behaviour. In ethephon dip treatments, the mango fruits were treated with ethephon at the concentration of 500,750 and 1000 ppm for five minutes, drained, packed in corrugated fibreboard boxes and then kept at ambient condition. It was found that mango Cv. Kesar exposed to the ethylene gas in the ripening chamber and ethephon dip treatment triggered the ripening process. It was observed that mango fruits Cv. Kesar ripened by exposing them to 100 ppm ethylene gas in ripening chamber for 18 hrs and storage at ambient condition recorded the maximum shelf life of 6 days and showed better results in respect of high overall acceptability score of 8.77. Similarly, mango fruits Cv. Kesar ripened by ethephon dip treatment of 750 ppm for 5 minutes and storage at ambient condition recorded the maximum shelf life of 8 days and showed better results in respect of high overall acceptability score of 8.66, respectively. The cost of ripening chamber for 800 kg fruits on per day interest and ethylene gas was considered for calculating the cost of ripening. The cost was found to be Rs 0.69 per kg.

Analysis of Results of the Surgical Treatment of the Spinal Cord Injury (Step by Step)

Purpose. Substantiation of the reasonable period of the surgical intervention with due account for the analysis of the surgical treatment. Methods. The research is based on the follow-up of 200 patients with spinal cord injury. In accordance with the goal of this research, all patients with spinal cord injury were allocated to four clinical groups according to the period of surgical intervention: within the first 24 hours after the injury (Group 2а), during the first 2 – 3 days (Group 2b), after 4 – 6 days (Group 2c) and over 6 days (Group 1). Results. Temporal factor is substantiated by the morphological examinations, which revealed inconvertibility of the secondary injury of spinal cord in case of its long-term compression between 7 – 8 days. Group 2а demonstrated (surgical intervention was performed within the first 24 hours after the injury) the best results in respect of neurological recovery, namely 66,7%. In Group 2b the treatment efficiency was 58,4% and in group 2с – 51,4%. The control group demonstrated the lowest percent of neurological recovery, namely 11%. All patients had the spinal cord compression due to fractures and fractures - dislocations vertebrae. In the course of the treatment we used modern methods decompression and stabilization of spinal column, as well as pharmacological treatment. Conclusions. Spinal cord injury under the action of the long-term compression of vessels of spinal cord and matter of spinal cord is followed by the progressive secondary injuries and consequently by irreversible changes in the structure of the spinal cord, which can be revealed on the 7 – 8 day after the injury. The first six days is the most effective period for the performance of the decompression and stabilization operations in the presence of the spinal cord injury.

Combined effect of nutrients, stickers and spreaders on biological parameters of Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill. and its efficacy against Cnaphalocrocis medinalis (Guenee)

The effect of nutrients (peptone, dextrose, maltose, NaCl), stickers (Tween-80 & TritonX-100) and spreaders such as oil (coconut oil, groundnut oil, mustard oil, sunflower oil), sunscreen lotion and detergents (soap, teepol) on biological parameters of Beauveria bassiana and its efficacy against larvae of Cnaphalocrocis medinalis. Three concentrations for each nutrients (0.75, 1.5% 3.0%), stickers (0.01, 0.023 & 0.03%), oil and lotion (0.025, 0.1 & 0.5%) and detergents (0.025, 0.05 & 0.1%) were tested. The combination of all the nutrients at 0.75% concentration, Tween 80 @ 0.1% and coconut oil @ 0.5% showed the best result in respect to conidial density (177.33x10⁷ conidia/ml), germination (94.9%) and mortality (90.4%) of C. medinalis.

The Effect of Wrinkle Recovery Finishes on Shrinkage of Cotton Fabric for Different Finish Applying Techniques

This research study was conducted to make wrinkle free fabric by applying formaldehyde free anti-wrinkle finishes like Texicil DC, Knittex RCT, Arkofix NEC, Arkofix ELF. In this effort, various concentrations of these finishes were used by adopting three different finish applying techniques (pad-dry technique, pad-dry-cure technique and pad-flash-cure technique) on pure cotton fabric in order to optimize their application for best manufacturing results in sense of the shrinkage ability of the fabric. After making quality test of the resulting fabric it was depicted that pad dry method of applying finish proved itself better as compared to other techniques adopted in this research, while the finish Arkofix ELF and Arkofix NECat concentration level of 120 g/L gave better results in respect of shrinkage of the fabric.

Attempts to further enhance ZT in skutterudites via nano-composites

Skutterudites are known as excellent thermoelectric p- and n-type materials and have already achieved good efficiencies for the conversion of heat to electricity, but nevertheless researchers try to further enhance the figure of merit, ZT. In the present work the aim was to mix p- and n-type skutterudite powders with additives in order to produce an evenly dispersed distribution of sub micron grains, preferable small nano-particles, which enhance the scattering of the heat carrying phonons of different wavelengths and reduce thermal conductivity without changing electrical resistivity and Seebeck coefficient. Various quantities of three groups of materials (a) nonmetallic oxides (Al2O3), (b) metallic oxides (Cu2O and La1.85Sr0.15CuO4) and (c) metallic borides (Fe2.25Co0.75B and Ta0.8Zr0.2B) were added to industrially produced p-type (DDyFe3CoSb12) and n-type ((Mm,Sm)yCo4Sb12) skutterudite powders. First the influence of pre-sieving and various ball milling conditions before hot pressing were studied, using Al2O3 as additive. As a consequence of these studies pre-sieved powders and high-energy ball milling were used for all following experiments. The goal, to enhance ZT was not reached with Al2O3 and Cu2O. La1.85Sr0.15CuO4 was successful for the n-type, Fe2.25Co0.75B for the p-type skutterudites, although ZT-enhancement was small, but with Fe2.25Co0.75B the maximum ZT could be shifted to lower temperatures, a valuable information for device production. Much better results in respect to ZT values were gained with adding 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 wt.% Ta0.8Zr0.2B to p-type DDyFe3CoSb12. In this series it was possible to enhance ZT (from ZT ∼ 1.2 to ZT ∼ 1.3) as well as to significantly increase the thermal-electrical conversion efficiency η. In addition, we found that all boride additives enhanced the hardness, elastic moduli and fracture resistance.

Impact of Different Pruning Severity and Nutrient Management on Growth and Yield of Lemon cv. Assam Lemon (Citrus limonBurm.)

Impact of Different Pruning Severity and Nutrient Management on Growth and Yield of Lemon cv. Assam Lemon (Citrus limon Burm.) Like many other citrus species, the lemon (Citrus limon Burm.) presents a number of diverse forms slightly varying from each other. Pruning is one of the important approaches for the canopy management of citrus. The result of pruning on growth parameters have been reported by various workers. It is also a highly nutrient responsive perennial fruit crop and requires adequate nutrition for proper growth and yield of the plants. A field experiment was laid out in two factorial Randomized Block Design with four levels of pruning, seven levels of nutrient, consisting .recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) and different combinations of organic manure (Vermicompost), inorganic fertilizer, bio-fertilizer (Azotobacter),mycorrhiza (VAM) and their interaction during 2013 to 2015.The investigation revealed that all the vegetative parameters viz. trunk girth (32.74cm, 33.26cm and 33.13cm) and its percentage increase (1.25%, 2.88% and 4.56%), canopy volume (85.22 m3 , 100.03 m3 and 125.84 m3 ) and its percentage increase (31.66%, 56.21% and 114.24%), number of laterals per primary shoot (9.53, 11.87 and 10.80) and its percentage increase (31.65%, 63.64% and 98.25%) and leaf chlorophyll content (1.45%, 1.94% and 2.56%) and its percentage increase (48.61%, 98.41% and 172.80%) was recorded best in highest level of pruning with 75% RDF + Vermicompost + Azotobacter + Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhiza at 6th, 12th and 18th month after pruning. Among the three season of cropping Ambebahar recorded the best result in respect to yield (total number of fruits/plant) followed by Mrig and Hasthbahar. .

Standardization of dehydration techniques of some ornamental foliages

The eco-friendly dehydrated foliages and plant parts secured much popularity among users and becoming key components in floriculture industry. Foliages with highly variable keeping quality are used as filler element in flower-vase. Dehydration of foliages has not been studied at large. This investigation was carried out with ornamental foliage's of three species viz. Araucaria cunninghamii, Thuja orientalis and Juniperus chinensis. White sand, silica gel and boric acid were used as embedding materials and two drying conditions of microwave oven and room drying were adopted for three durational treatments of viz. 10, 20 and 30 seconds and 4, 8 and 16 days respectively. In both Araucaria and Thuja orientalis, silica gel + microwave oven combination for 30 and 20 seconds respectively exhibited best results in respect of moisture loss (49.23 and 58.33 per cent) and quality concern. White sand + room condition also caused 61.41per cent moisture loss in Thuja orientalis while treated for 16 days. In Juniperus chinensis, white sand + microwave oven and silica gel+room condition for 20 seconds and 16 days respectively showed moisture loss of 44.26 and 50.16 per cent respectively. Boric acid as embedding materials also found effective in dehydration of these species. All the three species were treated with glycerin: water solution of 1: 1 and 1: 3 (vol/vol) for 24, 48 and 96 hours followed by drying with aid of hot air oven at 70–80° C for 5 hours and open air of room condition for 24 hours. Significant moisture loss of 60.56 to 62.56 per cent was recorded in Thuja orientalis while dehydrated in hot-air-oven for 96 hours.

Regeneration of recombinant antigen microarrays for the automated monitoring of antibodies against zoonotic pathogens in swine sera.

The ability to regenerate immobilized proteins like recombinant antigens (rAgs) on surfaces is an unsolved problem for flow-based immunoassays on microarray analysis systems. The regeneration on microarray chip surfaces is achieved by changing the protein structures and desorption of antibodies. Afterwards, reactivation of immobilized protein antigens is necessary for reconstitution processes. Any backfolding should be managed in a way that antibodies are able to detect the protein antigens in the next measurement cycle. The regeneration of rAg microarrays was examined for the first time on the MCR3 flow-based chemiluminescence (CL) microarray analysis platform. The aim was to reuse rAg microarray chips in order to reduce the screening effort and costs. An antibody capturing format was used to detect antibodies against zoonotic pathogens in sera of slaughtered pigs. Different denaturation and reactivation buffers were tested. Acidic glycine-SDS buffer (pH 2.5) and 8 M guanidinium hydrochloride showed the best results in respect of denaturation efficiencies. The highest CL signals after regeneration were achieved with a carbonate buffer containing 10 mM DTT and 0.1% BSA for reactivation. Antibodies against Yersinia spp. and hepatitis E virus (HEV) were detected in swine sera on one immunochip over 4 days and 25 measurement cycles. Each cycle took 10 min for detection and regeneration. By using the rAg microarray chip, a fast and automated screening of antibodies against pathogens in sera of slaughtered pigs would be possible for zoonosis monitoring.