Effects of sulfur and nitrogen on nutrients uptake of corn using acidified water

A greenhouse experiment was carried out with elemental sulfur (S) and nitrogen (N) fertilizer using acidified water (pH 6.5) to determine nutrients uptake and growth of maize plants grown in calcareous sandy soil. Four levels of elemental sulfur (0, 1, 5 and 10 t ha-1), two levels of N (0 and 0.34 t N ha-1) were tested at Al Foah Agricultural Experiment Farm, United Arab Emirates (UAE) University. In Al Semaih soil, the pH (1.21-1.33) and electrical conductivity (EC) (7.61 dSm-1) decreased by application of elemental S plus N, while EC rose (3.84 dSm-1) and pH reduced (1.20 to 1.11) in Al Zaid soil. Acidity improved by decreasing soil pH, Na and Cl concentration in both soils. A significant change was observed by application of acidified water at Al Semaih soil causing high levels in the initial status of EC, Na and Cl concentrations in the soil. A negative relationship was observed with soil pH among N, P, S, Fe, Zn and Mn, while uptake availability of sulfur and nitrogen had positive relationship with all nutrients. Elemental sulfur at the rate of 5 t ha-1 and nitrogen had a significant contribution towards uptake availability of N, P, S, Fe, Zn and Mn in both Al Zaid and Al Semaih soils. Based on experimental findings, elemental S at the rate of 5 tha-1 and N fertilizer (0.34 t ha-1) is suitable for the growth of maize at both soils. Al Zaid soil possesses advantages over Al Semaih soil due to its high nutrient uptake ability.Key words: Calcareous soil, corn, elemental sulfur, nitrogen, nutrients uptake

First record of a non-pollinating fig wasp (Hymenoptera: Sycophaginae) from Dominican amber, with estimation of the size of its host figs

Fig trees and their pollinating fig wasps arose about 75 million years ago in the Cretaceous period. Several other groups of chalcid wasps also utilize figs for larval development, including sycophagines, the putative sister group to pollinating fig wasps. Whereas stone and amber fossil pollinators are known, no fossils representing non-pollinating fig wasp groups have been confirmed previously. Here, we describe the first Sycophaginae from the c.15–20 Ma Dominican amber, Idarnes thanatos sp. nov. Farache, Rasplus, Pereira and Compton, and discuss its relationships within the Idarnes carme species group. Additionally, we use linear regression to compare body size, ovipositor sheaths length, and host fig size data from extant Idarnes species to estimate the size of its host figs. Idarnes thanatos was most likely associated with small to medium sized figs (diameter ≤1.0 cm), that were likely to have been dispersed by birds and primates. The discovery of this close relative of extant non-pollinating fig wasps suggests that early Miocene and modern fig wasp communities may share similar ecological and functional features

Development, implementation, and validation of a generic nutrient recovery model (NRM) library

The reported research developed a generic nutrient recovery model (NRM) library based on detailed chemical solution speciation and reaction kinetics, with focus on fertilizer quality and quantity as model outputs. Dynamic physicochemical three-phase process models for precipitation/crystallization, stripping and acidic air scrubbing as key unit processes were developed. In addition, a compatible biological-physicochemical anaerobic digester model was built. The latter includes sulfurgenesis, biological N/P/K/S release/uptake, interactions with organics, among other relevant processes, such as precipitation, ion pairing and liquid-gas transfer. Using a systematic database reduction procedure, a 3- to 5-fold improvement of model simulation speeds was obtained as compared to using full standard thermodynamic databases. Missing components and reactions in existing standard databases were discovered. Hence, a generic nutrient recovery database was created for future applications. The models were verified and validated against a range of experimental results. Their functionality in terms of increased process understanding and optimization was demonstrated

Role of intestinal microflora (Lactobacillus Acidophilus) in phagocytic function of leukocytes in type 2 diabetic patients

The prevalence of obesity, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes has steadily increased in the last decades. In addition to the genetic and environmental factors, gut microbiota may play an important role in the modulation of intermediary phenotypes leading to metabolic disease. Infection is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in diabetic patients. Chronic hyperglycemia impairs host defense mechanism such as cell mediated immunity, polymorphonuclear leukocyte function, and antibody formation. So we aimed to study the association between intestinal microflora (Lactobacillus acidophilus) count and phagocytic activity of polymorphonuclear leukocytes in humans with type 2 diabetes.The study included 20 type 2 diabetic patients with good glycemic control and 20 type 2 diabetic patients with poor glycemic control. In addition, 20 normal healthy subjects were included as normal controls. The fecal composition of L. acidophilus was detected using de Man Rogosa Sharpagar followed by further confirmation using the polymerase chain reaction technique. Phagocytic function of polymorphonuclear leukocytes was assessed using the phagocytosis index %. Fecal L. acidophilus count was significantly increased among uncontrolled diabetic patients, while thephagocytosis index%was significantly reduced among the same patients. In uncontrolled diabetics, a significant positive correlation was observed between fecal L. acidophilus count and HbA1c and a significant negative correlation between phagocytic activity and L. acidophilus count. In  conclusion, type 2 diabetes is associated with compositional changes in fecal L. acidophilus especially in the uncontrolled diabetes. The levels of glucose tolerance or severity of diabetes should be considered while linking the level of intestinal microbiota with a phagocytosis index of leukocyte

Growth and nutrient uptake of maize plants as affected by elemental sulfur and nitrogen fertilizer in sandy calcareous soil

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of elemental sulfur (S0) combined with or without N fertilizer on the growth and nutrient uptake such as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), sulfur (S), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn) and manganese (Mn) by maize plants grown in sandy calcareous soils. Elemental S at rates of 0, 1, 5 and 10 t ha-1 were tested combined with or without N fertilizer at rates of 0 and 0.34 t ha-1 in pots using normal irrigation water (pH >7.5) under Al Zaid and Al Semaih soils in evaporative cooled greenhouse conditions. Electrical conductivity (EC) increased (2.50 to 2.95 dSm-1) significantly and decreased (5.07 to 6.06 dSm-1) with application of S0 at rates of 5 and 10 t ha-1 combined with N fertilizer in both Al Zaid and Al Semaih soils, respectively. Soil acidity improved by decreasing soil pH (1.41 to1.52 unit) with application of S0 at the rate of 10 t ha-1 combined with N fertilizer. Addition of S0 at the rate of 5 t ha-1 combined with N fertilizer recorded superior total dry matter (TDM) and maximum uptake of all nutrients in both soils. Total dry matter accumulation and nutrient uptake had positive correlation, while soil pH showed negative correlation with TDM and uptake of all nutrients. Based on experimental findings, S0 at the rate of 5 t ha-1 combined with N fertilizer is suitable for growth of maize in both soils. Collectively, the results indicate that Al Zaid soil is more favorable due to higher nutrient uptake and growth of maize than Al Semaih soil.Key words: Elemental sulfur, nutrient uptake, maize, sandy calcareous soil

Development of a Web Based Electronic Waste Management System: A Study with Special Reference to Recycling Companies in Sri Lanka

Abstract: Information and Communication technology (ICT) and/or Information Technology (IT) are the effective tools that have been employed in the field of education, research, administration and other ways for the betterment of the human life that brings revolution in the modern era. There are number of advantages and disadvantages available in using ICT for our activities. One of the major disadvantages of ICT and its devices is harmful substances including carbon dioxide (CO2) to the environment that are not eco-friendly. Software and hardware part of IT has touched most of the parts of social, technical, economic and natural environment. Exponentially increasing production of computer hardware has posed major challenges of proper disposal of the electronic waste (e-waste) produced by this industry. Recycling companies are the key stakeholders in managing e-wastes in developing countries. But, they don't have any proper system to handle those wastes. Therefore the objective of this research is to explore and investigate the current condition of electronic waste's recycling system in Sri Lanka and to study the problems faced by recycling companies in handling e-wastes as well as to develop a use case diagram to build a computerized system to solve e-waste recycling problems. A web based system, based on the use case diagram will be developed as the recycling companies of Sri Lanka and can put into operation that may be adopted for sustainable management of e-waste. The research method is case study and it is comprised of two phases: analysis the problem definition and develop a system design as a use case diagram. A structured questionnaire and informal interview methods were used to collect data. Secondary data from sources such previous research article on published and unpublished journals, websites, company database information, annual reports, magazines, etc were used. The population of the research was recycling companies of Sri Lanka and the sample size was seven registered recycling companies. The final system will be helpful for e-waste recycling companies to manage e-wastes and it will be benefited to the community and the nation as well

Phagocytosis of Plasmodium falciparum ring-stage parasites predicts protection against malaria.

Ring-infected erythrocytes are the predominant asexual stage in the peripheral circulation but are rarely investigated in the context of acquired immunity against Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Here we compare antibody-dependent phagocytosis of ring-infected parasite cultures in samples from a controlled human malaria infection (CHMI) study (NCT02739763). Protected volunteers did not develop clinical symptoms, maintained parasitaemia below a predefined threshold of 500 parasites/μl and were not treated until the end of the study. Antibody-dependent phagocytosis of both ring-infected and uninfected erythrocytes from parasite cultures was strongly correlated with protection. A surface proteomic analysis revealed the presence of merozoite proteins including erythrocyte binding antigen-175 and -140 on ring-infected and uninfected erythrocytes, providing an additional antibody-mediated protective mechanism for their activity beyond invasion-inhibition. Competition phagocytosis assays support the hypothesis that merozoite antigens are the key mediators of this functional activity. Targeting ring-stage parasites may contribute to the control of parasitaemia and prevention of clinical malaria

Ferritins: furnishing proteins with iron

Ferritins are a superfamily of iron oxidation, storage and mineralization proteins found throughout the animal, plant, and microbial kingdoms. The majority of ferritins consist of 24 subunits that individually fold into 4-α-helix bundles and assemble in a highly symmetric manner to form an approximately spherical protein coat around a central cavity into which an iron-containing mineral can be formed. Channels through the coat at inter-subunit contact points facilitate passage of iron ions to and from the central cavity, and intrasubunit catalytic sites, called ferroxidase centers, drive Fe2+ oxidation and O2 reduction. Though the different members of the superfamily share a common structure, there is often little amino acid sequence identity between them. Even where there is a high degree of sequence identity between two ferritins there can be major differences in how the proteins handle iron. In this review we describe some of the important structural features of ferritins and their mineralized iron cores and examine in detail how three selected ferritins oxidise Fe2+ in order to explore the mechanistic variations that exist amongst ferritins. We suggest that the mechanistic differences reflect differing evolutionary pressures on amino acid sequences, and that these differing pressures are a consequence of different primary functions for different ferritins

Stable and Unstable Malaria Hotspots in Longitudinal Cohort Studies in Kenya

BACKGROUND: Infectious diseases often demonstrate heterogeneity of transmission among host populations. This heterogeneity reduces the efficacy of control strategies, but also implies that focusing control strategies on "hotspots" of transmission could be highly effective. METHODS AND FINDINGS: In order to identify hotspots of malaria transmission, we analysed longitudinal data on febrile malaria episodes, asymptomatic parasitaemia, and antibody titres over 12 y from 256 homesteads in three study areas in Kilifi District on the Kenyan coast. We examined heterogeneity by homestead, and identified groups of homesteads that formed hotspots using a spatial scan statistic. Two types of statistically significant hotspots were detected; stable hotspots of asymptomatic parasitaemia and unstable hotspots of febrile malaria. The stable hotspots were associated with higher average AMA-1 antibody titres than the unstable clusters (optical density [OD] = 1.24, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02-1.47 versus OD = 1.1, 95% CI 0.88-1.33) and lower mean ages of febrile malaria episodes (5.8 y, 95% CI 5.6-6.0 versus 5.91 y, 95% CI 5.7-6.1). A falling gradient of febrile malaria incidence was identified in the penumbrae of both hotspots. Hotspots were associated with AMA-1 titres, but not seroconversion rates. In order to target control measures, homesteads at risk of febrile malaria could be predicted by identifying the 20% of homesteads that experienced an episode of febrile malaria during one month in the dry season. That 20% subsequently experienced 65% of all febrile malaria episodes during the following year. A definition based on remote sensing data was 81% sensitive and 63% specific for the stable hotspots of asymptomatic malaria. CONCLUSIONS: Hotspots of asymptomatic parasitaemia are stable over time, but hotspots of febrile malaria are unstable. This finding may be because immunity offsets the high rate of febrile malaria that might otherwise result in stable hotspots, whereas unstable hotspots necessarily affect a population with less prior exposure to malaria