Culture of Chlorella ellipsoidea in different culture media

An experiment of algal culture was conducted in natural light and temperature conditions at a balcony of a room at the 2nd floor of Fisheries Faculty Building facing the north. The experiment was done to evaluate the growth of Chlorella ellipsoidea in four different media, viz, medium I (inorganic), medium II (organic, whole pulse powder extract), medium III (organic, whole lentil powder extract) and medium IV (organic, whole gram powder extract) under natural environment conditions during January-June, 2015. Growth rates of the algal species in four different media were found not significantly different. The alga, C. ellipsoidea attained maximum cell density of 28.89×106 cell ml-1 in the 15th day in medium I, of 30.69×106 cell ml-1 in the 13th day in medium II, of 26.18×106 cell ml-1 in the 15th day in medium III and of 21.12×106 cell ml-1 in the 13th day in medium IV. The ranges of air temperature, water temperature and light intensity were 21°C to 38°C, 23°C to 36°C and 2.28×103to 9.60×103 Lux respectively during the culture period. The average sunshine period was 5.87±2.82 hrs. Total alkalinity, free CO2, pH , NO3-N and PO4-P of algal culture media I, II, III and IV were 128, 540, 554 and 322 mgL-1; 32, 162, 102, 70 mgL-1; 7.4, 8, 7.9 and 7.9; 180, 36.6, 62.4 and 150 mgL-1, and 25.2, 48.2, 42.4 and 45.6 mgL-1, respectively. According to ANOVA of cell densities of cultures of C. ellipsoidea under treatments are not significantly different (F=1.441077). It is clear that differences between them are not significant i.e. mean algal cell densities are more or less same as differences between treatments are less than 20%.Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. & Tech. 7 (1): 51-57, June, 201

Effect of cow dung as organic manure on the growth, leaf biomass yield of Stevia rebaudiana and post harvest soil fertility

Organic manures as a source of plant nutrients for the cultivation of field crops has received worldwide attention due to rising costs, rapid nutrient loss and adverse environmental impacts from inorganic fertilizers. A pot experiment was conducted in the net house of the Department of Agricultural Chemistry, BangladeshAgriculturalUniversity, Mymensingh to observe the effects of cow dung on growth, yield of stevia along with post-harvest fertility status of soil. Four treatments of CD viz. 0, 5, 7.5 and 10 t ha–1 in two contrasting soils (acid and non-calcareous) were examined following Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with three replications. Growth and yield attributes increased significantly with the advancement of growth period (60 DAP) and increased rate of CD up to 10 t ha–1. An overall performance of non-calcareous soil was better than acid soil. In non-calcareous soil, the leaf biomass yield was increased by 275% whereas in acid soil it was 268% over control. The acidity of both soils significantly decreased with the increased rate of CD. All essential plant nutrients viz. total N, available P exchangeable K, Ca, Mg, available S, Zn, B and organic matter content of soil were significantly increased with the increased levels of CD up to its highest dose (CD @ 10 t ha–1) in both soils. Thus from the findings of the present research work it can be concluded that for getting optimum leaf biomass yield of stevia along with fertility of both soils CD should be applied @ 10 t ha–

Growth, leaf biomass yield of stevia and post-harvest soil fertility as influenced by different levels of poultry manure

Stevia represents an interesting species for the development of new ingredients characterized by a low caloric contribution having high antioxidant and phytochemical properties. As a valuable organic fertilizer, poultry manure (PM) serves as a suitable alternate to chemical fertilizer due to having higher total solid content than most other manures. The present study was conducted in the net house of the Department of Agricultural Chemistry, BangladeshAgriculturalUniversity, Mymensingh to evaluate the effects of poultry manure on growth and leaf yield of stevia and post-harvest soil fertility. The experiment was laid out in a Complete Randomized Design (CRD) with three replications. PM was applied at rates of 0, 5, 7.5 and 10 t ha−1. Data of the plant height, number of branches and number of leaves per plant were collected at 0, 15, 30, 45 and 60 days after planting (DAP). At harvest, leaf area, fresh weight, dry weight of leaves of stevia and post-harvest soil were evaluated. Plant that received 5 t ha−1 of PM was the best with respect to all the parameters assessed except post-harvest soil fertility. The contents of total N, available P, exchangeable K, Ca, Mg, available S, Zn and B were significantly increased with the increased levels of PM up to 10 t ha−1 in both soils. pH and soil organic matter content were also increased several folds and favored higher growth and yield of stevia. It can be recommended from the findings of the study that farmers should apply PM @ 5 t ha−1 to obtain maximum growth and leaf yield of stevia where as PM @ 10 t ha−1 can be applied for maintaining soil fertility in the agro-climatic condition of Bangladesh

The risk of harm whilst waiting for varicose veins procedure.

INTRODUCTION: Varicose veins (VV) negatively impact quality of life (QoL) and have risks of major complications including bleeding, ulceration and phlebitis. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the VSGBI (Vascular Society of Great Britain and Ireland) and GIRFT (Get It Right First Time) classified VVs as lowest priority for intervention. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to determine harm caused and the impact on the QoL on patients waiting for their VVs procedures for more than 1 year. METHODS: This was a prospective study conducted at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH). Patients with VVs awaiting intervention for >1 year were included in the study. Patients with CEAP C6 disease were considered to be too high risk to be invited for treatment during the Covid-19 pandemic. Patients were sent QoL questionnaires and underwent a telephone consultation to assess harm. Both generic (EQ-VAS and EQ-5D) and disease-specific (AVVQ and CIVIQ-14) instruments were utilised. There were no control groups available for comparison. RESULTS: 275 patients were identified (37.1% male) with median time on waiting list of 60 weeks (IQR 56-65). 19 patients (6.9%) came to major harm, including phlebitis (3.6%), bleeding (1.8%) and ulceration (1.8%). Fifty-two patients (18.9%) had minor harm, including worsening pain (12.7%) and swelling (6.2%). 6.9% reported psychological harm. Rising CEAP stage was also associated with worsening level of harm in patients with C5-6 disease (p < 0.0001). Only 8.7% stated they would decline surgery during the pandemic. 104 QoL questionnaires were returned. Median EQ-VAS and EQ-5D was 75 (IQR: 60-85) and 0.685 (0.566-0.761), respectively. Median AVVQ score was 23.2 (14.9-31.0) and CIVIQ-14 score was 33 (21-44).ConclusionsThis study highlights the impact of delaying VVs surgery during a pandemic. A significant rate of both major and minor as well as psychological harm was reported. In addition, VVs had a significant detriment to quality of life

Effects of combined application of chemical fertilizer and vermicompost on soil fertility, leaf yield and stevioside content of stevia

Sustainable nutrient management with the combination of organic and chemical fertilizer amendment expects a key part in upgrading stevia yield without harming the environment and to build up the nutrient balance with increasing soil fertility. A pot experiment was conducted in the net house of the Department of Agricultural Chemistry, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh to study the combined effect of vermicompost (VC) and chemical fertilizer (CF) on the growth, leaf biomass yield and stevioside content of stevia in acid soil. Six combinations of VC and CF were applied following completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications. Results showed that VC along with different rates of CF exerted significant influence on the growth, leaf biomass yield and stevioside content of stevia and postharvest soil fertility. The highest values for most of the parameters were found from the plant receiving VC @ 7.5 t ha­−1 along with 50% CF. About 578% higher leaf biomass yield was obtained from the treatment VC7.5+CF50 over control. Stevioside content was increased with the increasing levels of VC up to 7.5 t ha−1 along with 75% of CF and also with the advancement of growth period from 30 to 60 days after planting. The highest amount of stevioside (11.05%) was detected in the leaves of plant of the same treatment at harvest. Soil acidity was significantly decreased with the increased levels of VC and CF where as soil fertility in terms of organic matter and nutrient content was increased. Considering the overall performance, farmers may be advised to cultivate stevia in acid soil applying VC @ 7.5 t ha−1 along with 50% chemical fertilizer to boost up stevia production under the agroclimatic condition of the study area in the context of Banglades

The Resilience of the British and European Goods Industry: Challenge of Brexit

This is a study of the volume flexibility of the British and European goods industry, and its relative ability to cope with exogenous shocks, using the case of the Brexit process in a comparative context. It is located within the literature on comparative capitalism, and what it tells us in terms of how different institutional orders may be equipped to deal with such events. Using data for goods firms across 27 EU countries and the UK, we find that the UK goods industry has coped poorly with the shocks related to the Brexit process: its volume flexibility has declined. Brexit also has had an, albeit lesser, impact on the volume flexibility of their European firms counterparts. In particular, smaller firms in the EU coped better, a possible reflection of stronger institutional supports. However, firms that investing more in R&D, provide training to improve management efficiency, and apply innovation to improve asset efficiency, seem to be coping better. This study illustrates how the withdrawal of Britain from supra-national European institutions seems to have accentuated any negative effects of domestic institutions on firms, and, indeed, has had even worse consequences than the 2008 economic crisis for the British goods industry. The latter would suggest it is ill equipped to cope with further shocks, such as the 2020 pandemic. We draw out the implications for theorizing, policy and future research

Lower limb arterial calcification (LLAC) scores in patients with symptomatic peripheral arterial disease are associated with increased cardiac mortality and morbidity

Aims The association of coronary arterial calcification with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality is well-recognized. Lower limb arterial calcification (LLAC) is common in PAD but its impact on subsequent health is poorly described. We aimed to determine the association between a LLAC score and subsequent cardiovascular events in patients with symptomatic peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Methods LLAC scoring, and the established Bollinger score, were derived from a database of unenhanced CT scans, from patients presenting with symptomatic PAD. We determined the association between these scores outcomes. The primary outcome was combined cardiac mortality and morbidity (CM/M) with a secondary outcome of all-cause mortality. Results 220 patients (66% male; median age 69 years) were included with follow-up for a median 46 [IQR 31–64] months. Median total LLAC scores were higher in those patients suffering a primary outcome (6831 vs. 1652; p = 0.012). Diabetes mellitus (p = 0.039), ischaemic heart disease (p = 0.028), chronic kidney disease (p = 0.026) and all-cause mortality (p = 0.012) were more common in patients in the highest quartile of LLAC scores. The area under the curve of the receiver operator curve for the LLAC score was greater (0.929: 95% CI [0.884–0.974]) than for the Bollinger score (0.824: 95% CI [0.758–0.890]) for the primary outcome. A LLAC score ≥ 4400 had the best diagnostic accuracy to determine the outcome measure. Conclusion This is the largest study to investigate links between lower limb arterial calcification and cardiovascular events in symptomatic PAD. We describe a straightforward, reproducible, CT-derived measure of calcification—the LLAC score.M.M.C. is supported by the Royal College of Surgeons of England Fellowship Programme and a British Heart Foundation Research Fellowship award FS/16/29/31957. J.M.T. is supported by a Wellcome Trust Research Training Fellowship (104492/Z/14/Z). J.H.F.R. is part-supported by the NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, the British Heart Foundation, HEFCE and the Wellcome Trust

Reduction of seafood processing wastewater using technologies enhanced by swim–bed technology

The increasing growth of the seafood processing industries considerably requires more industrial process activities and water consumption. It is estimated that approximately 10–40 m3 of wastewater is generated from those industries for processing one-tonne of raw materials. Due to limitations and regulations in natural resources utilization, a suitable and systematic wastewater treatment plant is very important to meet rigorous discharge standards. As a result of food waste biodegradability, the biological treatment and some extent of swim-bed technology, including a novel acryl-fibre (biofilm) material might be used effectively to meet the effluent discharge criteria. This chapter aims to develop understanding on current problems and production of the seafood wastewater regarding treatment efficiency and methods of treatment