STUDIES ON NANOPARTICLE INDUCED NUTRIENT USE EFICIENCY OF FERTILIZER AND CROP PRODUCTIVITY

A field experiment was conducted at M/s.Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers, Ltd., Mumbai, India, (RCF) experimental farm to evaluate the effect of ZnO Nanoparticles (ZnO NP) in combination with N: P: K (15: 15:15) complex fertilizer “Suphala” of RCF Ltd. on growth attributes of brinjal (Solanum melongena L) as well as nutrient use efficiency. The experiment was carried out in randomised block design with three replications. The first treatment (T-1), comprised of recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF), N: P: K (50:50:50), applied at the time of transplantation. The second treatment (T-2) was conducted with RDF in combination @ 2kg ZnSO4 (bulk)/ha. The third treatment (T-3) was added, N: P: K (12.5; 12.5; 12.5) in combination to ZnO NP @ 4500mg/ha. The forth treatment (T-C) was without any fertilizer. All treatments were given appropriate quantity of nitrogen per hectare as urea at the 30th day of transplantation. The combination N: P: K (12.5; 12.5; 12.5) and ZnO NP @ 4500mg/ha yielded 91% and 45.3% higher brinjal yield and biomass respectively than the treatment with only RDF. It was also observed that 38% and 21% higher yield and biomass respectively were recorded in the treatment where combination of RDF with ZnSO4 (bulk) over RDF was used alone. The results of field trials reveal that, there was synergistic effect of ZnO NP @ 4500mg per hectare with N: P: K complex fertilizer on growth attributes of brinjal as well as nutrient use efficiency

Evaluation of the effects of photooxidized Echis carinatus venom on learning, memory and stress

Snake venoms are a mixture of complex proteins, which have many physical and pharmacological properties. Photochemical detoxification has been suggested to generate photooxidized Echis carinatus venom product (POECVP). Antigenically-active photooxidized species of Echis carinatus venom could be obtained by exposing the venom to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) in the presence of methylene blue. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of POECVP on learning, memory and stress in rats. Detoxification of the photooxidized venom was evident since the POECVP-treated group had longer survival time than the group of mice treated with Echis carinatus venom product (ECVP) following intraperitoneal and intracerebral injections. Photooxidized Echis carinatus venom product showed antidepressant activity by prolonging sleep onset and shortening the duration of pentobarbitone-induced hypnosis in mice. In single and chronic dose studies with rats, we observed that POECVP significantly decreased the time needed to reach food in T-maze, shortened transfer latency in elevated plus-maze, and decreased immobility time in forced swim test. We concluded that although there is a possibility of employing POECVP in the treatment of depressive and chronic degenerative illnesses as a nonherbal and nonsynthetic alternative for patients not responding to the available therapy, further investigation is still needed

Flexible and transparent circularly polarized patch antenna for reliable unobtrusive wearable wireless communications

This paper presents a circularly polarized flexible and transparent circular patch antenna suitable for body-worn wireless-communications. Circular polarization is highly beneficial in wearable wireless communications, where antennas, as a key component of the RF front-end, operate in dynamic environments, such as the human body. The demonstrated antenna is realized with highly flexible, robust and transparent conductive-fabric-polymer composite. The performance of the explored flexible-transparent antenna is also compared with its non-transparent counterpart manufactured with non-transparent conductive fabric. This comparison further demonstrates the suitability of the proposed materials for the target unobtrusive wearable applications. Detailed numerical and experimental investigations are explored in this paper to verify the proposed design. Moreover, the compatibility of the antenna in wearable applications is evaluated by testing the performance on a forearm phantom and calculating the specific absorption rate (SAR)

Science with the Daksha High Energy Transients Mission

We present the science case for the proposed Daksha high energy transients mission. Daksha will comprise of two satellites covering the entire sky from 1~keV to $>1$~MeV. The primary objectives of the mission are to discover and characterize electromagnetic counterparts to gravitational wave source; and to study Gamma Ray Bursts (GRBs). Daksha is a versatile all-sky monitor that can address a wide variety of science cases. With its broadband spectral response, high sensitivity, and continuous all-sky coverage, it will discover fainter and rarer sources than any other existing or proposed mission. Daksha can make key strides in GRB research with polarization studies, prompt soft spectroscopy, and fine time-resolved spectral studies. Daksha will provide continuous monitoring of X-ray pulsars. It will detect magnetar outbursts and high energy counterparts to Fast Radio Bursts. Using Earth occultation to measure source fluxes, the two satellites together will obtain daily flux measurements of bright hard X-ray sources including active galactic nuclei, X-ray binaries, and slow transients like Novae. Correlation studies between the two satellites can be used to probe primordial black holes through lensing. Daksha will have a set of detectors continuously pointing towards the Sun, providing excellent hard X-ray monitoring data. Closer to home, the high sensitivity and time resolution of Daksha can be leveraged for the characterization of Terrestrial Gamma-ray Flashes.Comment: 19 pages, 7 figures. Submitted to ApJ. More details about the mission at https://www.dakshasat.in

Therapeutic alternatives from venoms and toxins

The medicinal value   of venoms has been known from ancient times. The active principles in venoms have been extensively investigated for their target specificity. Affinity for the primary sites responsible for lethality and efficacy at extremely low concentrations made these agents valuable tools or surrogates for basic biomedical research. The therapeutic effects of these agents are usually achieved by mechanisms that are different from that of conventional therapeutic agents. In the present paper, nonherbal natural therapeutic alternatives approved by the FDA, those that have undergone extensive clinical evaluation and shown promise in preclinical evaluation, or those that are isolated in pure form or subjected for the treatment to venoms are reviewed. These agents are suggested for the treatment of various diseases, including inflammatory, hematological, autoimmune, infectious, cardiovascular, malignant, neuromuscular, and psychotic diseases

Excitatory effects of Buthus C56 toxin on Drosophila larval neuromuscular junction

Buthus C56 toxin from venom of the Indian red scorpion Mesobuthus tamulus was studied for its effects on spontaneous miniature excitatory junctional potentials (MEJP) on Drosophila larval neuromuscular junctions. C56 toxin was isolated on CM-Cellulose with linear gradient of ammonium acetate buffer, pH 6.0. Toxin purity was determined on SDS slab gel electrophoresis. Effective concentration of C56 toxin was based on contraction paralysis units (CPU) in Drosophila 3rd instar larvae by microinjection (0.1 CPU/ml = 2 x 10-6 g/ml). The toxin-induced excitatory junctional potentials were studied for calcium dependency (0.2 mM to 1.2 mM Ca2+) in Drosophila Ringer. Excitatory junctional potential amplitude was increased with increasing calcium concentration; maximum increase in the frequency at 0.4 mM Ca2+/4 mM Mg2+ Drosophila Ringer. It was suggested that while amplitude of excitatory junctional potentials was increased with concentration, maximum frequency increase at 0.4 mMCa2+/4 mM Mg2+ Drosophila Ringer may be due to augmented Ca2+ influx in 0.4 mM Ca2+, when NMDA receptors were maximally activated in C56 toxin-treated Drosophila larval neuromuscular junction

Physical Activity Before and During Pregnancy and Duration of Second Stage of Labor among Hispanic Women

OBJECTIVE: To study a possible association between physical activity and the duration of second stage of labor among Hispanic women. STUDY DESIGN: We evaluated this relationship in the Latina Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Study, a prospective cohort of Hispanic obstetric patients. The Kaiser Physical Activity Survey was used to collect information on physical activity in prepregnancy, early pregnancy and mid-pregnancy. Duration of labor was abstracted from medical records. A total of 725 women with a singleton pregnancy and a spontaneous vaginal delivery were included, which yielded \u3e80% power to detect a clinically meaningful mean difference of 30 minutes. RESULTS: The mean duration of second-stage of labor was 34.3 min (SD 42.02). After adjusting for established risk factors, no significant differences in duration of labor were observed among women according to physical activity level in prepregnancy, early pregnancy, or mid-pregnancy. CONCLUSION: Findings confirm prior literature demonstrating the absence of an association between physical activity and duration of labor