Investigations on the redox behaviour of manganese in manganese(II)–saccharin and manganese(II)–saccharin–1,10-phenanthroline complexes

AbstractThe redox behaviour of manganese system in Mn–Sac and Mn–Sac–Phen complexes were studied using cyclic voltammetry technique at glassy carbon electrode (GCE) in 0.1M KCl electrolyte. The CV of Mn–Sac solution is more or less similar to that of uncoordinated Mn (in MnCl2) accept slight difference in peak position and peak current. The presence of secondary ligand phenanthroline (in Mn–Sac–Phen complex) changes the CV of Mn system largely compared to those of uncoordinated Mn and Mn–Sac. The redox system is irreversible in Mn–Sac and quasi-reversible in Mn–Sac–Phen complex. The effect of concentration and pH on the redox behaviour of Mn system have been studied for both the complexes

Economics of fertilizer use in the Maize-Mungbean/Dhaincha-T.aman rice cropping pattern

Field experiments were conducted over three years during 2001-2004 and 2002-2005 at BAU farm, Mymensingh and OFRD farm, Rangpur, respectively, using farm yard manure (FYM), dhaincha (Sesbania) and mungbean residue along with inorganic fertilizers. For the first crop (maize), there were five treatments i.e. T1: Control, T2: Moderate Yield Goal (MYG), T3: High Yield Goal (HYG), T4: FYM 5t/ha + Inorganic fertilizer for MYG as IPNS basis, T5: FYM 5t/ha + Inorganic fertilizer for HYG as IPNS basis. Each year, FYM was applied to maize crop and GM/MBR was applied before transplanting of aman rice. Integrated use of manure and inorganic fertilizers (IPNS basis) produced comparable seed yield of maize with the chemical fertilizers alone irrespective of moderate or high, yield goal basis (MYG or HYG) in both locations. After harvest of maize, mungbean and dhaincha (Sesbania) seeds were sown as per treatments. For T. aman rice (third crop), each of the plots of T2 and T3 treatments were subdivided into six, so there were altogether 15 treatments. At both locations, the incorporation of Sesbania biomass and mungbean residue along with inorganic fertilizers for MYG gave identical grain yields of T. aman rice with the fertilizers alone applied for HYG. There was an inverse relationship between the higher dose of fertilizer application and marginal benefit cost ratio (MBCR) at both the locations. Considering gross margin and marginal benefit-cost ratio (MBCR), legume residue incorporation along with inorganic fertilizers (IPNS basis) was found to be the best treatment (T3.3.3)

Six-Minute Walk Test Performance in Persons With Multiple Sclerosis While Using Passive or Powered Ankle-Foot Orthoses

Objective: To determine whether a powered ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) that provides dorsiflexor and plantar flexor assistance at the ankle can improve walking endurance of persons with multiple sclerosis (MS). Design: Short-term intervention. Setting: University research laboratory. Participants: Participants (N=16) with a neurologist-confirmed diagnosis of MS and daily use of a prescribed custom unilateral passive AFO. Interventions: Three 6-minute walk tests (6MWTs), 1 per footwear condition: shoes (no AFO), prescribed passive AFO, and portable powered AFO (PPAFO). Assistive devices were worn on the impaired limb. Main Outcome Measures: Distance walked and metabolic cost of transport were recorded during each 6MWT and compared between footwear conditions. Results: Each participant completed all three 6MWTs within the experimental design. PPAFO use resulted in a shorter 6MWT distance than did a passive AFO or shoe use. No differences were observed in metabolic cost of transport between footwear conditions. Conclusions: The current embodiment of this PPAFO did not improve endurance walking performance during the 6MWT in a sample of participants with gait impairment due to MS. Further research is required to determine whether expanded training or modified design of this powered orthosis can be effective in improving endurance walking performance in persons with gait impairment due to MS