RELEASE OF MINERALISED NITROGEN FROM SOILS AFTER INCORPORATION OF DIFFERENT ORGANIC MANURES

Use of organic manures as a nutrient source for crops is common practice inagriculture. Added advantages of using organic manures against syntheticfertilisers are the positive inf1uence on physico-chemical and biologicalcharacteristics of soils. Release of mineral nitrogen from organic manures couldbe used as an index to check the quality of organic manures in relation to nutrientsupply to the crops. Therefore, the objective of the present laboratory leachingstudy was to monitor the nitrogen release from soils after addition of selectedorganic manures.Two surface soils, Reddish Brown Earths and Non Calcic Brown (0-30cm)collected from Mahallluppallarna and Aralaganwila areas respectively, were usedin this study. Soils were mixed with three organic manures; Poultry manure(PM), Glyricidia leaves (GM) and Rice straw (RS) at the rate of 20 and 40tons/ha. There were four treatments; 1). Soil only - control, 2). Soil--Plvl. 3). Soil+GM and 4). Soil + RS. Each soil-organic manure mixture was placed inleaching columns and incubated in dark at room temperature. Mineralisednitrogen (NH+4 - N and NO) -N) was extracted with O.OIM CaCI2 solution at 7,14, 21, 35 and 49 days after incubation using the method described by Stanfordand Smith (1972). The NH\ -N and N03 - N contents were determined by usingstandard Kjeldhal method. The physico-chemical and nutritive characteristics ofsoils and organic manures were determined bv using standard laboratory methods.Results of the study revealed that the application of organic manures haspronounced effect on the release of nitrogen. In both soils, 40 tons/ha levelshowed higher release of nitrogen compared to 20 tons/ha level. Out of threeorganic manures, PM treated soils showed a higher release of nitrogen followedby GM treated soils. The RS treatment showed a very low release of nitrogenwhich is caused by the immobiolisation in two soils during the incubation. It wasvery clear that the release and immobilisation of nitrogen are controlled by theCIN ratios of organic manure. Up to 7th day the nitrogen release from PM andGM treated soils was high against the control as well as RS treated soils. After 7thto 2 Ith day, the mineralisation and release of nitrogen was ..decreased andsubsequently it was increased up to 35th day and then again decreased at the endof incubation with few exceptions. In general, the proportion of NH\ -N to NO) -N was high at the early stage of the incubation compared to the latter stage ofincubation. This may be attributed to the transformation of more NH+4 - N to N03-N by the nitrification process operating at the higher rate at the latter stage ofincubation. The release of NH -N and NO -N from organic manures wassignificantly higher than the control at certain sampling times. However,according to this study, the use of organic manures such as PM and GM with CINratios will enhance the mineral nitrogen content in soils during the first week ofincorporation.

n-Fold m-Valued Logic

In this paper, the basic concepts of two valued logic, many valued logic and catuskoti logic are discussed. We comprehensively analyzed the statement in different branches of logic. We define a ‘fold’ and a ‘statement’ in catuskoti. We further defined a ‘fold’ in general, a ‘multi valued statement’ and ‘ fold   valued logic’ (where  are integers greater than or equal to two). We identify that every branch of logic could be expressed in the form of fold  valued logic. We explain the problem of drawing a tangent to a curve and Zeon's arrow paradox by using the fold  valued logic. Truth tables for negation, conjunction, disjunction and implication in the fold  valued logic are discussed in this paper

Aquaporin water channels in the nervous system.

The aquaporins (AQPs) are plasma membrane water-transporting proteins. AQP4 is the principal member of this protein family in the CNS, where it is expressed in astrocytes and is involved in water movement, cell migration and neuroexcitation. AQP1 is expressed in the choroid plexus, where it facilitates cerebrospinal fluid secretion, and in dorsal root ganglion neurons, where it tunes pain perception. The AQPs are potential drug targets for several neurological conditions. Astrocytoma cells strongly express AQP4, which may facilitate their infiltration into the brain, and the neuroinflammatory disease neuromyelitis optica is caused by AQP4-specific autoantibodies that produce complement-mediated astrocytic damage

Methods of Reasoning in Scientific Discovery

In this paper, we briefly discuss the forms of arguments and the methods of reasoning in scientific experiments, namely, inductive reasoning, abductive reasoning and deductive reasoning. We find that generalization is in human nature, and it is only a conception without any perception. The short comings of the applications of deductive reasoning and inductive reasoning are analyzed using examples. It is observed that deductive reasoning and inductive reasoning methods are invalid in scientific reasoning. We discuss the vulnerability of the foundation of science that is based on the methods of inductive reasoning and deductive reasoning. We find that it is by abductive reasoning that theories are constructed to explain empirical observations. Abductive reasoning is only the reasoning method that can be applied for the observations in the empirical world. Finally, we conclude that the best and the most effective method of reasoning is the abductive reasoning for scientific experiments

Basic Rules of Aristotelian logic and Induction

We study comprehensive analysis of the inductive arguments done by various researchers. These researchers have surveyed the basic concepts in logic such as statement, argument, premise, conclusion, deductive argument, inductive argument, primitive terms and axioms. The fundamental laws of Aristotelian logic and Hume's critique of induction are briefly discussed. We argue that all the basic rules of Aristotelian logic are inductively obtained generalized abstract statements. Existence of undefined terms is also analyzed. We conclude that every argument based on Aristotelian logic is a result of induction

Paleo extreme storm waves in the North Atlantic: geological evidence from Sal Island, Cape Verde Archipelago

The northwestern coast of Sal Island (Cape Verde Archipelago) is characterized by a rocky shoreline that is regularly impacted by Atlantic swells exceeding 4 m in height and 20 s in period. Yet, the only significant geomorphic expression of wave action is an extensive boulder ridge situated atop a rocky cliff, up to 80–100 m inland and between 10 and 15 m above present sea level. The presence of meter-scale boulders within this ridge raises a key question: is it actively shaped by modern storm waves, or is it a relic of paleo storms, impacting the shoreline during an interglacial period when sea level was significantly higher than today? To test this hypothesis, we apply a multidisciplinary approach combining satellite and drone imagery, topographic analysis, hydrodynamic modelling, and empirical boulder transport thresholds. Our results show that under current conditions, storm waves do not reach the ridge and cannot generate sufficient flow to mobilize its largest boulders. However, under modeled higher sea-level scenarios exceeding +5 m, wave runup reaches the ridge, and flow velocities are sufficient to initiate boulder transport by sliding and overturning. We therefore conclude that the ridge is a relict feature, most likely emplaced during Marine Isotope Stage 5e, when relative sea level in Sal Island was 5–7 m higher than today

Maternal and perinatal outcomes in twin pregnancies following assisted reproduction: a systematic review and meta-analysis involving 802 462 pregnancies.

BACKGROUND: ART is associated with higher rates of twin pregnancies than singleton pregnancies. Whether twin pregnancies conceived following ART have additional maternal and neonatal complications compared with non-ART twin pregnancies is not known. OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE: The objective was to quantify the risk of adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes among twin pregnancies conceived following ART compared with non-ART and natural conception. Existing reviews vary in the reported outcomes, with many studies including triplet pregnancies in the study population. Therefore, we aimed to perform an up-to-date review with an in-depth analysis of maternal and perinatal outcomes limited to twin pregnancies. SEARCH METHODS: We searched electronic databases MEDLINE and EMBASE from January 1990 to May 2023 without language restrictions. All cohort studies reporting maternal and perinatal outcomes following ART compared with non-ART twin pregnancies and natural conception were included. Case-control studies, case reports, case series, animal studies, and in vitro studies were excluded. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to assess the methodological quality of the studies. Using random-effects meta-analysis, the estimates were pooled and the findings were reported as odds ratios (OR) with 95% CI. OUTCOMES: We included 111 studies (802 462 pregnancies). Twin pregnancies conceived following ART were at higher risk of preterm birth at 25% (OR 1.31, 95% CI 1.05-1.63, 7 studies, I2 = 0%)), respiratory distress syndrome (OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.09-1.60, 16 studies, I2 = 61%), and neonatal intensive care unit admission (OR 1.24, 95% CI 1.14-1.35, 32 studies, I2 = 87%) compared with non-ART twins. When comparing ART with natural conception, the risk of respiratory distress syndrome, intensive care admissions, and birthweight discordance >25% was higher among the ART group. Perinatal complications, such as stillbirth (OR 0.83, 95% CI 0.70-0.99, 33 studies, I2 = 49%), small for gestational age <10th centile (OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.85-0.95, 26 studies, I2 = 36%), and twin-twin transfusion syndrome (OR 0.45, 95% CI 0.25-0.82, 9 studies, I2 = 25%), were reduced in twin pregnancies conceived with ART versus those without ART. The above perinatal complications were also fewer amongst the ART group than natural conception. WIDER IMPLICATIONS: ART twin pregnancies are associated with higher maternal complications than non-ART pregnancies and natural conception, with varied perinatal outcomes. Women seeking ART should be counselled about the increased risks of ART twin pregnancies and should be closely monitored in pregnancy for complications. We recommend exercising caution when interpreting the study findings owing to the study's limitations