Simulating soil carbon sequestration from long term fertilizer and manure additions under continuous wheat using the DailyDayCent model

Bangabandhu Fellowship on Science and ICT project, Ministry of Science and Technology, People’s Republic of Bangladesh. Open Access via Springer Compact AgreementPeer reviewedPublisher PD

Interplanetary Consequences of a Large CME

We analyze a coronal mass ejection (CME) which resulted from an intense flare in active region AR486 on November 4, 2003. The CME propagation and speed are studied with interplanetary scintillation images, near-Earth space mission data, and Ulysses measurements. Together, these diverse diagnostics suggest that the internal magnetic energy of the CME determines its interplanetary consequences.Comment: 5 pages, 9 figures, To appear in "Magnetic Coupling between the Interior and the Atmosphere of the Sun", eds. S.S. Hasan and R.J. Rutten, Astrophysics and Space Science Proceedings, Springer-Verlag, Heidelberg, Berlin, 200

Eco-friendly management of anthracnose of chilli caused by Colletotrichum capsici

The anthracnose of chilli caused by Colletotrichum capsici is a widespread problem limiting the profitable cultivation and seed production of chilli throughout the major chilli growing regions of India. Four isolates (SCC1, SCC2, SCC3 and SCC4) of C. capsici were collected from different chilli growing areas of West Bengal. An experiment on efficacy of four botanical oils viz., Garlic (Allium sativum), Neem (Azadirachta indica), Polyalthia (Polyalthia longifolia) and Citronella(Cymbopogon nardus) at concentrations of 0.05%, 0.1% and 0.2% and two isolates each of three biocontrol agents (Trichoderma harzianum, T. viride and Pseudomonas flourescens) were carried out against these isolates of C. capsici in vitro. The result revealed significant (5% level of significance) antifungal activities of these botanicals and biocontrol agents. Garlic gave cent per cent inhibition of mycelial growth of all the four isolates of C. capsici at all the concentrations tested. However, neem showed cent percent inhibition of mycelial growth of C. capsici at 0.1%. Citronella was least effective among the botanical oils. Among the biocontrol agents tested T. harzianum isolate Th-2 was found most effective giving 77.78%, 100%, 83.33 % and 88.89% inhibition on the mycelial growth of SCC1, SCC2, SCC3 and SCC4 respectively followed by T. harzianum isolate Th-1 inhibiting 74.00%, 78.9% 81.7% and 80.90% of the mycelial growth of SCC1, SCC2, SCC3 and SCC4 respectively. P. fluorescens was least effective. Thus, garlic, neem, polyalthia, T. harzianumand T. viride can be utilized for management of anthracnose of chilli

Permethrin induced neuronal inefficiency in the supraoesophageal ganglion of mulberry silkworm, Bombyx mori. L

The primary target for pyrethroid insecticides is the nervous system. Available literature on the toxicity of pyrethroids to mulberry silkworm, are confined to specific tissues like haemolymph, fat body, eggs of silk moth and no study is indicated on supraoesophageal ganglion tissue, hence this study was conducted. In this study the changes occurring in the level of cholinergic and GABAergic transmitters (ACh and GABA)​; their connected enzymes viz., ChAT, AChE, GAD were studied in the supraoesophageal ganglionic tissue of silkworm Bombyx mori upon permithrin intoxication. Findings indicate that suppression of acetyl cholinesterase has led to the accumulation of ACh in greater quantities. Contrary to the cholinesterase suppression, a profound increase in GABAergic system was evident in the nervous tissue suggesting existence of an imbalance of excitatory-​inhibitory interplay in the supraoesophageal ganglia due to the toxic insult caused by permethrin; this substantially affects the growth, development, fecundity and silk prodn. In conclusion, the permethrin induced neurotoxicity resulted a series of perturbations in silkworm neurotransmitter metab

Evaluation of Fluoride-​Induced Oxidative Stress in Rat Brain: A Multigeneration Study

Multigenerational evaluation was made in rats on exposure to high fluoride (100 and 200 ppm) to assess neurotoxic potential of fluoride in discrete areas of the brain in terms of lipid peroxidn. and the activity of antioxidant enzyme system. The rats were given fluoride through drinking water (100 and 200 ppm) and maintained subsequently for three generations. Fluoride treatment significantly increased the lipid peroxidn. and decreased the activity of antioxidant enzymes viz, catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione S-​transferase, and glutathione level in first-​generation rats and these alterations were more pronounced in the subsequent second and third-​generation rats in both the doses tested. Decreased feed and water consumption, litter size and organ (brain) somatic index, marginal drop in body growth rate and mortality were obsd. in all three generations. Decreased antioxidant enzyme activity and increased malondialdehyde levels found in the present study might be related to oxidative damage that occurs variably in discrete regions of the brain. Results of this study can be taken as an index of neurotoxicity in rats exposed to water fluoridation over several generations

Evaluation of antifungal activity of seaweed extract (Turbinaria conoides) against Fusarium oxysporum

The purpose of the study was to determine the anti fungal activity of seaweed (Turbinaria conoides) extract against root rot pathogen Fusarium oxysporum. Seaweed extract was prepared from the species T. conoides collected from Rameswaram coastal area of Tamil Nadu during December was used for this study. Different concentrations of the extract viz., 5 %, 10 %, 15 % and 20 % was evaluated for their antifungal activity against F. oxysporum using poisoned food technique along with control and carbendazim (0.2 %) as check. No mycelial growth (0 cm) was observed in 15 % and 20 % sea weed extract weed extract treated plates even after 6 days ofincubation. Though the visible inhibition of mycelial growth was noticed in all the concentrations, the increased concentration of 15 and 20 % had shown 100 % inhibition. So, the lower concentration of 15 % can be best in controlling the F. oxysporum fungi. GC-MS analysis of seaweed extract showing the presence of several antimicrobial compounds in seaweeds may be the reason for such inhibition

Neural Network System Identification and Controlling of Multivariable System

Most of the industrial processes are multivariable in nature. Here Greenhouse system is considered which is the important application in agricultural process. Greenhouse is to improve the environmental conditions in which plants are grown .In this paper we have proposed identification of greenhouse system using input and output data sets to estimate the best model and validate the model. For MIMO systems, Neural Network System identification provides a better alternative to find their system transfer function. The results were analyzed and the model is obtained. From this obtained model ,the system is controlled by conventional method. By these method we can identify the model and control the complicated systems like Greenhouse

Controversies in the management of early endometrial carcinoma: an update

Endometrial carcinoma (EC) is the commonest genital tract malignancy in developing countries and is usually confined to the uterus at the time of diagnosis with excellent prognosis and high cure rates. But the management is associated with lot of controversies like in staging, best surgical approach, extent of lymphadenectomy, adjuvant therapy, fertility sparing surgery in young women etc. A thorough surgical staging is important to determine uterine and extrauterine spread and also understanding of the pathophysiology and management strategies to identify women who are at high risk and tailoring the adjuvant treatment if necessary without increasing the morbidity. This evidence based narrative review conducted by searching Medline (1994- 2015) and other online articles from Pubmed, Google scholar. Articles were selected based on their currency and relevance to the discussion they summarize the current literature to provide an approach to best practice management of early endometrial carcinoma

Prevalence of unmet need for contraception in urban slum communities, Mumbai

Background: Unmet need for family planning is a tool to monitor the family planning program. Hence, the objective of study is to examine the prevalence of unmet need for family planning among women living in urban slum communities, Mumbai.Methods: The cross-sectional survey was conducted among currently married women aged 18-39 years and having at least one child. A total of 2797 women were selected using systematic random sampling. Information on demographic characteristics, their contraceptive behaviour and fertility intention were collected by face to face interview using structured questionnaire. Chi square test was applied and p <0.05 was considered as significant.  Results: About 59.4% were currently using family planning methods and 40.6% have reported unmet need for family planning. Awareness of contraceptive methods among women with unmet need for family planning was universal. The prevalence of unmet need for family planning significantly decreased as the age and number of children increased. The prevalence of unmet need was significantly higher than met need for family planning among women having one child as compared to women having 2 or more children.Conclusions: A significant gap was observed between met and unmet need for family planning among younger women and having one child. The study emphasises the need for family planning programs to focus on younger couples having one child.