Comparison of Composition and Degradation Characteristics of Early Bloom Alfalfa with Fenugreek (Trigonella Foenum-Graecum) Forages Harvested at Different Stages of Maturity

The objective of this study was to compare the composition and degradation characteristics of early bloom alfalfa and fenugreek harvested after 9, 15 and 17 wk of growth. Crude protein (CP) content of fenugreek cut at 9, 15 and 17 wk was lower (P\u3c0.05) than that of alfalfa. Neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and lignin content of fenugreek harvested after 15 and 17 wk were higher (P\u3c0.05) than that of alfalfa. Ash content was lower (P\u3c0.05) in fenugreek than for alfalfa. In vitro dry matter disappearance (IVDMD) of fenugreek cut at 15 and 17 wk was similar to that of alfalfa. Total in vitro gas production of fenugreek cut at the three stages of growth was not significantly different from those observed for alfalfa. Results indicate that chemical composition and IVDMD of fenugreek at all stages of maturity were comparable to that of early bloom alfalfa

Sectoral assessment of greenhouse gas emissions in Pakistan

In this study, an attempt has been made to develop inventory of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for Pakistan at the national and sectoral level. The emission profile includes carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O). In 2012, GHG emissions from different sectors of economy are estimated at 367 Tg CO2eq. Out of this, CO2 emissions were 179 Tg; CH4 emissions were 107 Tg CO2eq; and N2O emissions were 81 Tg CO2eq. Energy and agriculture sectors contribute approximately 89% of national GHG emissions. Industrial processes, waste, and land use change and forestry (LUCF) sectors contribute the remaining 11% GHG emissions. A comparison with the 1994 GHG emission inventory of Pakistan shows that GHG emissions in Pakistan from 1994 to 2012 have increased at an annual growth rate of 4.1% and yet anticipated to increase further for meeting the national developmental goals; however, the per capita emissions in Pakistan will remain low when compared with the global average

Comparative analysis of greenhouse gas emission inventory for Pakistan: Part I energy and industrial processes and product use

In order to further improve the accuracy and reliability and reduce uncertainties in the national GHG inventories for Pakistan, this study call for using 2006 IPCC Guidelines, to help to identify the national targets for GHG mitigation with respect to the nationally determined contributions (NDCs). GHG (CO2, CH4, and N2O) inventories for Pakistan have been developed by conducting a detailed sectoral assessment of IPCC source sectors, energy, industrial processes and product use (IPPU), agriculture, forestry and other land use (AFOLU), and the waste sector. Further, sector wise comparative analysis of GHG inventories (1994–2017) based on the 2006 and 1996 IPCC Guidelines have also been presented. Results indicated an average relative difference of 4% in total GHG emissions (CO2 equivalent) from energy sector between 2006 and 1996 IPCC Guidelines. With 3.6% average annual growth rate based on 2006 IPCC Guidelines, CO2 from energy sector remained the most abundant GHG emitted, followed by CH4 and N2O. While the average absolute difference in emissions of CH4 and N2O from the energy sector is notable, the total estimated GHG emissions by 2006 IPCC Guidelines duplicate those by 1996 IPCC Guidelines. In the mineral industry with 2006 IPCC Guidelines, an average annual growth rate of 6.7% is observed, contributing 64% of total IPPU sector CO2 emissions. Nevertheless, the relative difference between the two Guidelines in overall IPPU sector emissions remained negligible. There might be a need for switching to 2006 IPCC Guidelines to consider more parameters such as additional source sectors and new default emission factors that fit into national circumstances

Array-based high-throughput DNA markers for crop improvement

The last two decades have witnessed a remarkable activity in the development and use of molecular markers both in animal and plant systems. This activity started with low-throughput restriction fragment length polymorphisms and culminated in recent years with single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), which are abundant and uniformly distributed. Although the latter became the markers of choice for many, their discovery needed previous sequence information. However, with the availability of microarrays, SNP platforms have been developed, which allow genotyping of thousands of markers in parallel. Besides SNPs, some other novel marker systems, including single feature polymorphisms, diversity array technology and restriction site-associated DNA markers, have also been developed, where array-based assays have been utilized to provide for the desired ultra-high throughput and low cost. These microarray-based markers are the markers of choice for the future and are already being used for construction of high-density maps, quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping (including expression QTLs) and genetic diversity analysis with a limited expense in terms of time and money. In this study, we briefly describe the characteristics of these array-based marker systems and review the work that has already been done involving development and use of these markers, not only in simple eukaryotes like yeast, but also in a variety of seed plants with simple or complex genomes

Unstable Disk Galaxies. I. Modal Properties

I utilize the Petrov-Galerkin formulation and develop a new method for solving the unsteady collisionless Boltzmann equation in both the linear and nonlinear regimes. In the first order approximation, the method reduces to a linear eigenvalue problem which is solved using standard numerical methods. I apply the method to the dynamics of a model stellar disk which is embedded in the field of a soft-centered logarithmic potential. The outcome is the full spectrum of eigenfrequencies and their conjugate normal modes for prescribed azimuthal wavenumbers. The results show that the fundamental bar mode is isolated in the frequency space while spiral modes belong to discrete families that bifurcate from the continuous family of van Kampen modes. The population of spiral modes in the bifurcating family increases by cooling the disk and declines by increasing the fraction of dark to luminous matter. It is shown that the variety of unstable modes is controlled by the shape of the dark matter density profile.Comment: Accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journa

Competence of Biopesticide and Neem in Agriculture

Neem plant is considered as the most useful traditional plant in India. The various properties of different parts of neem tree are used as insecticide, antifeedant, hormonal, antifungal, antiallergic, antidermatic, anti-inflammatory, antiscabic larvicidal and spermaticidal activity etc. In recent era the major challenge is to increase the food production without harming the environment and can control the pest. Since, last decades pesticides have become an integral component in sustainable agriculture and the modern day cultivation practices uses of chemical pesticides and fertilizers are in eliminable. Enormous use of different chemical pesticides in agricultural fields is resistant to most of the pests. So that the natural pesticides from A. indica are considered to be less harmful, biodegradability, least persistence, lest toxic to non-target organism, economic and used to combat insects, pests are not ruled out. Neem derived products play an essential role in the pest management, in agricultural fields such as crop and stored grains. Fruitful results of application of formulated neem based products in agriculture field will provide a cost effective technology to the farmers

A Novel Medical Treatment of Cushing's Due to Ectopic ACTH in a Patient With Neurofibromatosis Type 1

A 64-year-old male presented with neurofibromatosis 1 and Cushing's syndrome. Clinically he was over weight, depressed with extensive skin bruising and hypertension. His 24 hours urinary metanephrines, urinary 5HIAA, gut peptides and chromgranin levels were normal. His renal function and renal MRI scan was also normal. His cortisol failed to suppress on overnight dexamethsone suppression test. His low dose dexamethasone suppression with CRH stimulation showed failure of suppression of cortisol to < 50 nmol/L and ACTH was measurable at 10 ng/L on day 3. There was no response of ACTH or cortisol to CRH stimulation. His ACTH precursors were high at 126 pmol/L consistent with defective pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) processing suggesting an ectopic source of ACTH production. The MRI scan of his pituitary and CT scan of the adrenal glands was normal. His octreotide scan was negative. The source of his ectopic ACTH was most likely a large retroperitoneal plexiform neurofibroma seen on CT abdomen that had undergone malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour transformation on histology. He was a poor surgical risk for tumour debulking procedure. In view of the available literature and role of c-kit signalling in neurofibromatosis, he was treated with Imitinib. Four months after the treatment his Cushings had resolved on biochemical testing. After a year his plexiform neurofibroma has not increased in size. To our knowledge, this is the first case of NF1 associated with clinical and biochemical features of Cushing's secondary to ectopic ACTH due to MPNST in a plexiform neurofibroma and its resolution on treatment with imatinib