Osmo-air drying of aloe vera gel cubes

Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis Miller) cubes of 12.5 × 12.5 × 12.5 mm thick were osmosed for 4 h in sugar syrup of 30, 40 and 50°Brix concentration and temperatures of 30 and 50°C at constant syrup to fruit ratio of 5:1. Osmosed and unosmosed aloe vera samples were hot air dried at 50, 60, 70 and 80°C with constant air velocity of 1.5 m/s. The water loss, solid gain and convective drying behaviour were recorded during experiments. It was observed that water loss and solid gain ranged from 39.2 to 71.3 and 2.7 to 6.3%, respectively during osmo-drying. The moisture diffusivity varied from 2.9 to 8.0 × 10−9 m²/s and 2.7 to 4.6 × 10−9 m²/s during air drying of osmosed and unosmosed aloe vera samples, respectively. Drying air temperature and osmosis as pre-treatment affected the water loss, solid gain, diffusivity at −p ≤ 0.0

Behavioral genetics and taste

This review focuses on behavioral genetic studies of sweet, umami, bitter and salt taste responses in mammals. Studies involving mouse inbred strain comparisons and genetic analyses, and their impact on elucidation of taste receptors and transduction mechanisms are discussed. Finally, the effect of genetic variation in taste responsiveness on complex traits such as drug intake is considered. Recent advances in development of genomic resources make behavioral genetics a powerful approach for understanding mechanisms of taste

A922 Sequential measurement of 1 hour creatinine clearance (1-CRCL) in critically ill patients at risk of acute kidney injury (AKI)

Meeting abstrac

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Not AvailableImpact of different quality irrigation water viz., normal tap water (NTW, EC 0.7 dS m-1), dilute saline water (DSW, EC 5.0 dS m-1; SAR 5.0 mmol½ L-½), concentrated saline water (CSW, EC 10.0 dS m-1; SAR 5.0 mmol½ L-½), dilute alkali water (DAW, RSC 2.5 me L-1) and concentrated alkali water (CAW, RSC 10.0 me L-1) was evaluated on the physical properties of normal (pHs 7.5, ECe 1.0 dS m-1), saline (pHs 7.7, ECe 10.6 dS m-1) and alkali (pHs 9.15, ECe 2.9 dS m-1) sandy loam soils in the micro-lysimeters during growth of wheat (cv. KRL 213) and rice (cv. CSR 36). Initial saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks) for normal, saline and alkali soil was 0.16, 0.23 and 0.005 cm h-1, respectively. Ks was reduced significantly to one fifth of initial value under CAW while DSW and CSW caused 20 and 50% increase, respectively as compared to normal soil. In alkali soil, Ks decreased significantly i.e. > 50% under DAW from its initial value of 0.005 cm h-1 and reduced to about onefifth (0.001), under CAW. While Ks increased significantly to 0.07 and 0.21 cm h-1 on the application of DSW and CSW, respectively. In post wheat samples, Ks increased by 10 to 15-times in normal soil while, 5 to 9-times in saline soil and 15 to 30-times in alkali soil under both DSW and CSW. But in comparison to post-rice soil, no effect was observed in alkali soil in post-wheat soil on alkali water application but Ks increased 5 to 10-times in normal and saline soil under saline water irrigations. Dispersion index (DI) and Ks found inversely proportional to each other in all water treatments in all three soils. Under DAW (31.3) and CAW (39.9), DI was increased significantly by 5 and 33%, respectively as compared to the initial soil. DI increased by 12 and 30% under dilute and concentrated alkali water application, respectively in saline soil. DI increased significantly with application of CAW (65.3) and decreased when irrigation was applied with DSW (37.0) and CSW (34.2), respectively. Under different quality water irrigation, soil water retention was the highest in alkali soil followed by normal and saline soils at all matric suctions. Under the application of saline water in all three soils, water retention either decreased or remains unchanged with increase in TEC of irrigation water as compared to normal tap water. Whereas under the application of alkali water, it increased in all the three soils with increase in TEC of irrigation water as compared to normal tap water application,.Not Availabl

Soil and nutrients losses under different crop covers in vertisols of Central India

Not AvailableAccelerated erosion removes fertile top soil along with nutrients through runoff and sediments, eventually affecting crop productivity and land degradation. However, scanty information is available on soil and nutrient losses under different crop covers in a vertisol of Central India. Thus, a field experiment was conducted for 4 years (2010–2013) to study the effect of different crop cover combinations on soil and nutrient losses through runoff in a vertisol. Materials and methods Very limited information is available on runoff, soil, and nutrient losses under different vegetative covers in a rainfed vertisol. Thus, the hypothesis of the study was to evaluate if different crop cover combinations would have greater impact on reducing soil and nutrient losses compared to control plots in a vertisol. This experiment consisted of seven treatment combinations of crop covers namely soybean (Glycine max) (CC1), maize (Zea mays) (CC2), pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) (CC3), soybean (Glycine max) + maize (Zea mays) − 1:1 (CC4), soybean (Glycine ma x) + pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) −2:1 (CC5), maize (Zea mays) + pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) − 1:1 (CC6), and cultivated fallow (CC7). The plot size was 10 × 5 m with 1% slope, and runoff and soil loss were measured using multi-slot devisor. All treatments were arranged in a randomized block design with three replications. Results and discussion Results demonstrated that the runoff and soil loss were significantly (p < 0.05) higher (289 mm and 3.92 Mg ha−1) under cultivated fallow than those in cropped plots. Among various crop covers, sole pigeon pea (CC3) recorded significantly higher runoff and soil loss (257 mm and 3.16 Mg ha−1) followed by that under sole maize (CC2) (235 mm and 2.85 Mg ha−1) and the intercrops were in the order of maize + pigeon pea (211 mm and 2.47 Mg ha−1) followed by soybean + maize (202 mm and 2.38 Mg ha−1), and soybean + pigeon pea (195 mm and 2.15 Mg ha−1). The lowest runoff and soil loss were recorded under soybean sole crop (194 mm and 2.27 Mg ha−1). The data on nutrient losses indicated that the highest losses of soil organic carbon (SOC) (25.83 kg ha−1), total nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) (7.76, 0.96, 32.5 kg ha−1) were recorded in cultivated fallow (CC7) as compared to those from sole and intercrop treatments. However, sole soybean and its intercrops recorded the minimum losses of SOC and total N, P, and K, whereas the maximum losses of nutrients were recorded under pigeon pea (CC3). The system productivity in terms of soybean grain equivalent yield (SGEY) was higher (p < 0.05) from maize + pigeon pea (3358 kg ha−1) followed by that for soybean + pigeon pea (2191 kg ha−1) as compared to sole soybean. Therefore, maize + pigeon pea (1:1) intercropping is the promising option in reducing runoff, soil-nutrient losses, and enhancing crop productivity in the hot sub-humid eco-region. Conclusions Study results highlight the need for maintenance of suitable vegetative cover as of great significance to diffusing the erosive energy of heavy rains and also safe guarding the soil resource from degradation by water erosion in vertisols.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableAccelerated erosion removes fertile top soil along with nutrients through runoff and sediments, eventually affecting crop productivity and land degradation. However, scanty information is available on soil and nutrient losses under different crop covers in a vertisol of Central India. Thus, a field experiment was conducted for 4 years (2010–2013) to study the effect of different crop cover combinations on soil and nutrient losses through runoff in a vertisol. Materials and methods Very limited information is available on runoff, soil, and nutrient losses under different vegetative covers in a rainfed vertisol. Thus, the hypothesis of the study was to evaluate if different crop cover combinations would have greater impact on reducing soil and nutrient losses compared to control plots in a vertisol.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableWorldwide, conservation agriculture practices involving minimal soil disturbances and retention of crop residue (>30%) have been practised increasingly and recognized to enhance soil health by optimizing key soil attributes. However, little information is available on the short‐term effects of conservation agriculture practices on soil properties under rainfed Vertisols of Central India. Thus, our aim was to study the short‐term effects of contrasting tillage treatments and cropping systems on soil aggregation, aggregate‐associated carbon (C), carbon pools and crop productivity. This study comprised three tillage systems (TS), reduced tillage (RT), no tillage (NT) with retention of crop residue and conventional tillage (CT), together with four cropping systems (CS), namely soya bean (Glycine max L.) + pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan L.) (2:1), soya bean–wheat (Titricum durum L.), maize (Zea mays L.) + pigeon pea (1:1), and maize–chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). The experiment was laid out in a split‐plot design with three replicates. Soil samples were collected at four depths: 0–5, 5–15, 15–30 and 30–45 cm from the experimental field after completion of four crop cycles. Results indicated that at depths 0–5 and 5–15 cm, tillage and cropping system had a significant effect on aggregate mean weight diameter (MWD). The MWDs of 0.97 and 0.94 mm were larger for NT than CT (0.77 and 0.83 mm) at 0–5‐ and 5–15‐cm depths, respectively. Water‐stable aggregates (WSAs) were also larger for NT (70.74%) and RT (70.09%) than CT (59.50%) at 0–5 cm. Tillage practice, cropping system and their interaction had a greater effect (P very labile >less labile >labile for 0–5‐ and 5–15‐cm depths after four crop cycles. Less labile and non‐labile C fractions contributed >50% of TOC, indicating a more recalcitrant form of carbon present in the soil. Tillage had no significant effect (P > 0.05) on crop yields after four crop cycles. Conservation agriculture can have a positive effect on aggregate stability, aggregate‐associated C and different carbon pools in a Vertisol.Not Availabl

Not Available

Not AvailableWorldwide, conservation agriculture practices involving minimal soil disturbances and retention of crop residue (>30%) have been practised increasingly and recognized to enhance soil health by optimizing key soil attributes. However, little information is available on the short‐term effects of conservation agriculture practices on soil properties under rainfed Vertisols of Central India. Thus, our aim was to study the short‐term effects of contrasting tillage treatments and cropping systems on soil aggregation, aggregate‐associated carbon (C), carbon pools and crop productivity. This study comprised three tillage systems (TS), reduced tillage (RT), no tillage (NT) with retention of crop residue and conventional tillage (CT), together with four cropping systems (CS), namely soya bean (Glycine max L.) + pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan L.) (2:1), soya bean–wheat (Titricum durum L.), maize (Zea mays L.) + pigeon pea (1:1), and maize–chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). The experiment was laid out in a split‐plot design with three replicates. Soil samples were collected at four depths: 0–5, 5–15, 15–30 and 30–45 cm from the experimental field after completion of four crop cycles. Results indicated that at depths 0–5 and 5–15 cm, tillage and cropping system had a significant effect on aggregate mean weight diameter (MWD). The MWDs of 0.97 and 0.94 mm were larger for NT than CT (0.77 and 0.83 mm) at 0–5‐ and 5–15‐cm depths, respectively. Water‐stable aggregates (WSAs) were also larger for NT (70.74%) and RT (70.09%) than CT (59.50%) at 0–5 cm. Tillage practice, cropping system and their interaction had a greater effect (P very labile >less labile >labile for 0–5‐ and 5–15‐cm depths after four crop cycles. Less labile and non‐labile C fractions contributed >50% of TOC, indicating a more recalcitrant form of carbon present in the soil. Tillage had no significant effect (P > 0.05) on crop yields after four crop cycles. Conservation agriculture can have a positive effect on aggregate stability, aggregate‐associated C and different carbon pools in a Vertisol.Not Availabl