Higher Fertilizer Inputs Increase Fitness Traits of Brown Planthopper in Rice.

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is the primary staple food source for more than half of the world's population. In many developing countries, increased use of fertilizers is a response to increase demand for rice. In this study, we investigated the effects of three principal fertilizer components (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) on the development of potted rice plants and their effects on fitness traits of the brown planthopper (BPH) [Nilaparvata lugens (Stål) (Homoptera: Delphacidae)], which is a major pest of rice in Bangladesh and elsewhere. Compared to low fertilizer inputs, high fertilizer treatments induced plant growth but also favored BPH development. The BPH had higher survival, developed faster, and the intrinsic rate of natural increase (r m ) was higher on well-fertilized than under-fertilized plants. Among the fertilizer inputs, nitrogen had the strongest effect on the fitness traits of BPH. Furthermore, both the "Plant vigor hypothesis" and the "Plant stress hypothesis" were supported by the results, the former hypothesis more so than the latter. These hypotheses suggest that the most suitable/attractive hosts for insect herbivores are the most vigorous plants. Our findings emphasized that an exclusive focus on yield increases through only enhanced crop fertilization may have unforeseen, indirect, effects on crop susceptibility to pests, such as BPH

Marker-assisted Backcrossing for Identification of Salt Tolerant Rice Lines

SSR or microsatellite markers are proved to be ideal for making genetic maps, assisting selection and studying genetic diversity in germplasm. SSR markers are playing important role to identify gene for salt tolerance that can be helpful for plant breeders to develop new cultivars. The experiment was conducted during the period from July 2009 to November 2010 in the experimental field and Biotechnology Laboratory of Plant Breeding Division, Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA), Mymensingh to identify salt tolerant rice line of BC1F1 progenies of Binadhan-5 x FL-478 using SSR markers. Salt tolerant genotype, FL-478 was crossed with high yielding variety, Binadhan-5. Randomly selected 40 BC1F1 progenies along with their two parents (Binadhan-5, FL-478 and F1) were genotyped with microsatellite or SSR markers for identification of salt tolerant rice lines. Parental polymorphism survey was assayed by 10 SSR markers and three polymorphic SSR markers viz., RM 336, RM 510, and RM 585 were selected to evaluate BC1F1 rice lines for salt tolerance. In respect of Primer RM 336, 11 lines were found as salt tolerant and 25 lines were heterozygous and 3 lines were susceptible. Primer RM 510 identified two tolerant, 14 heterozygous and 22 susceptible lines. And primer RM 585 identified 4 lines as tolerant and 35 lines as susceptible. Thus, these markers could be efficiently used in tagging salt tolerant genes, in marker-assisted selection and quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping. The selected BC1F1 could be used for developing BC2F1 and BC2F2 and mapping genes for salinity tolerance. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/ijarit.v2i2.14008 Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. & Tech. 2 (2): 1-8, December, 201

Supercritical carbondioxide extraction of cypermethrin in different fresh vegetables using anhydrous sodium sulfate for sample preparation and extraction

Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) is a promising method of extraction for pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables. A rapid and high percetage of recoveries extraction of cypermethrin insecticides from fresh yardlong bean, carrot and eggplant vegetables matrixs using drying agent and SC-CO2 was developed in this study. In vegetable samples, which typically contain 80 - 95% water, but samples dry with Na2SO4 showed 96 - 105% recoveries in SFE. Moreover, the performance of drying agents (Na2SO4)and their combination such as Na2SO4 –H2O (6.7 + 1), Na2SO4 – H2O (2 + 1) and Na2SO4 – H2O (1 + 1) were evaluated. Na2SO4-H2O (1 + 1) was shown moisture conveyanced by SFE/mg highest (93) performance. Cypermethrin recovered from yardlong bean and carrot with critical pressure, PC at 20 Ibs and critical temperature, TC 40°C. On the other hand, the recovery rate of similar insecticides from egg plant was 96% with PC at 31.5 Ibs and 45°C in TC. The recovery rate in yardlong bean matrices was 100%; 105% was in carrot matrix. The retention time (tR) was 49.6 min of cypermethrin standard and similar tR was found in formulated. The lowest detectable limit (LDL) of cypermethrin insecticides was 0.02 ìg/mL with gas chromatography-electron capture detection (GC-ECD). GC-ECD temperature was of injection port and detector 280 and 300°C, respectively, with split less. However, the method is useful torecover non-polar insecticides from the fresh vegetable; thus, further research could be continued with co-solvents and different drying agents to recover the polar residues from different types of fresh vegetables

Variability and traits association in maize (Zea mays L.) for yield and yield associated characters

Maize (Zea mays L.) is world’s third most important cereal crop that has a remarkable productive potential in Bangladesh. In Bangladesh, maize is the second most important cereal crop in terms of production. The selection for high yield with desirable traits depends on the genetic variability in the existing germplasm. Successful breeding programs need adequate genetic variation for selection and improvement based on necessity. The research was conducted in the experimental farm of the Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh during November 2015 to April 2016. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of 20 maize genotypes based on their yield and yield contributing characters to determine existing genetic variability. The extrapolated ANOVA for different yield contributing parameters showed a high degree of variation among the genotypes used. Correlation co-efficient analysis revealed that yield plant−1 (g) had positive and significant association with ear girth (cm), 1000-kernel weight (g), yield plot−1 (g), grain yield (tha−1) with dry weight. The genotypes differed significantly for most of the phenotypic traits. The phenotypic co-efficient of variation (PCV) was higher than genotypic co-efficient of variation (GCV) in all traits studied indicating that those traits were interacted with the environment. The traits under study expressed wide heritability estimates (26.81% to 99.95%). Among the characters, highest heritability was recorded for 1000-kernel weight (g). High heritability along with high genetic advance was noticed for 1000-kernel weight (g), yield plot−1 (g)and grain yield (tha−1). Considering different desirable traits P-12, Popcorn, V90-1, 988 were observed as superior genotypes. The data would be useful for proper identification and selection of appropriate parents in breeding programs to develop new maize varieties

Design of Lipid-Based Nanocarriers via Cation Modulation of Ethanol-Interdigitated Lipid Membranes

Short-chain alcohols (i.e., ethanol) can induce membrane interdigitation in saturated-chain phosphatidylcholines (PCs). In this process, alcohol molecules intercalate between phosphate heads, increasing lateral separation and favoring hydrophobic interactions between opposing acyl chains, which interpenetrate forming an interdigitated phase. Unraveling mechanisms underlying the interactions between ethanol and model lipid membranes has implications for cell biology, biochemistry, and for the formulation of lipid-based nanocarriers. However, investigations of ethanol–lipid membrane systems have been carried out in deionized water, which limits their applicability. Here, using a combination of small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering, small-angle neutron scattering, and all-atom molecular dynamics simulations, we analyzed the effect of varying CaCl2 and NaCl concentrations on ethanol-induced interdigitation. We observed that while ethanol addition leads to the interdigitation of bulk phase 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) bilayers in the presence of CaCl2 and NaCl regardless of the salt concentration, the ethanol-induced interdigitation of vesicular DPPC depends on the choice of cation and its concentration. These findings unravel a key role for cations in the ethanol-induced interdigitation of lipid membranes in either bulk phase or vesicular form

Fate of liposomes in presence of phospholipase C and D: from atomic to supramolecular lipid arrangement

Understanding the origins of lipid membrane bilayer rearrangement in response to external stimuli is an essential component of cell biology and the bottom-up design of liposomes for biomedical applications. The enzymes phospholipase C and D (PLC and PLD) both cleave the phosphorus–oxygen bonds of phosphate esters in phosphatidylcholine (PC) lipids. The atomic position of this hydrolysis reaction has huge implications for the stability of PC-containing self-assembled structures, such as the cell wall and lipid-based vesicle drug delivery vectors. While PLC converts PC to diacylglycerol (DAG), the interaction of PC with PLD produces phosphatidic acid (PA). Here we present a combination of small-angle scattering data and all-atom molecular dynamics simulations, providing insights into the effects of atomic-scale reorganization on the supramolecular assembly of PC membrane bilayers upon enzyme-mediated incorporation of DAG or PA. We observed that PC liposomes completely disintegrate in the presence of PLC, as conversion of PC to DAG progresses. At lower concentrations, DAG molecules within fluid PC bilayers form hydrogen bonds with backbone carbonyl oxygens in neighboring PC molecules and burrow into the hydrophobic region. This leads initially to membrane thinning followed by a swelling of the lamellar phase with increased DAG. At higher DAG concentrations, localized membrane tension causes a change in lipid phase from lamellar to the hexagonal and micellar cubic phases. Molecular dynamics simulations show that this destabilization is also caused in part by the decreased ability of DAG-containing PC membranes to coordinate sodium ions. Conversely, PLD-treated PC liposomes remain stable up to extremely high conversions to PA. Here, the negatively charged PA headgroup attracts significant amounts of sodium ions from the bulk solution to the membrane surface, leading to a swelling of the coordinated water layer. These findings are a vital step toward a fundamental understanding of the degradation behavior of PC lipid membranes in the presence of these clinically relevant enzymes, and toward the rational design of diagnostic and drug delivery technologies for phospholipase-dysregulation-based diseases

Review of coal fired power plants in Bangladesh

This article is based on the current and future coal power plants of Bangladesh. Although, it is known to all that, coal fired power plants are the great sources of carbon and other pollutant ingredients. But it has several positive impacts for developing countries like Bangladesh, where there is a lack of natural resources, lands and unstable economy. Bangladesh government has a vision to supply the electricity all over the country of Bangladesh, from Teknaf to Tetulia, and also for the remote islands also. In this paper, energy demand and vision of Bangladesh government is discussed in section 1. Section 2, gives the answer, why coal fired power plant is necessary for Bangladesh. In section 3, impacts of coal fired power plant is discussed and showed all current power plants in a table. Section 4 comprises with the future of coal fired power plant in Bangladesh

Study on physicochemical status, bacterial analysis and its correlation

Swimming pool, as a recreational facility is now a part of current lifestyle that offers social and health benefits. More demand for hotels with swimming pool facility and are highly used during peak seasons. However swimming pool could become a pooling medium of various bacteria came from the bathers, air and soils thus risk of water-borne disease and impose hazard to human health. Therefore, a well disinfected swimming pool that meets the minimum standard requirement must be reached. This study aimed to assess the status of physicochemical parameters including free chlorine, pH, and temperature and to assess status of bacteria analysis of swimming pool water samples. 11 swimming pool water samples were taken from hotels in Klang valley, Malaysia. The physicochemical parameters were tested using colorimetric method using N,N-diethyl-1,4-phenylenediamine and bacteria analysis were obtained by standard plate count (SPC) method. Results are presented in mean and standard deviation. Correlation coefficient is obtained by Pearson’s correlation statistical test. Results showed mean of temperature 29.64±1.430C, pH 7.56±0.40, free chlorine 1.22±1.16 ppm and bacterial SPC 4,825.64±8,409.16cfu/ml. Correlation-coefficient between temperature and SPC r: 0.71. The findings showed current physicochemical status of hotel swimming pool water samples met the minimum standard requirement. However, the bacterial SPC is highly above acceptable range and positively correlated to temperature. This indicates bacterial count increase with temperature rise despite of acceptable chlorine level. The acceptable level of chlorine as disinfectant is insufficient to oxidize bacteria thus may put the swimming pool water at risk of spreading water borne diseases. This finding suggests increase dosage of chlorine is required to maintain swimming pool sanitation during hot season in order to provide a safe water recreational facility. However, larger sample size is required to confirm the findings website

Endoscopic Management of a Primary Duodenal Carcinoid Tumor

Carcinoids are rare, slow-growing tumors originating from a variety of different neuroendocrine cell types. They are identified histologically by their affinity for silver salts and by positive reactions to neuroendocrine markers such as neuron-specific enolase, synaptophysin and chromogranin. They can present with various clinical symptoms and are difficult to diagnose. We present the case of a 43-year-old woman who was referred for evaluation of anemia. Upper endoscopy showed a duodenal bulb mass around 1 cm in size. Histopathological and immunohistochemistry staining were consistent with the diagnosis of a carcinoid tumor. Further imaging and endoscopic studies showed no other synchronous carcinoid lesions. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) revealed a 1 cm lesion confined to the mucosa and no local lymphadenopathy. Successful endoscopic mucosal resection of the mass was performed. Follow-up surveillance 6 months later with EUS and Octreoscan revealed no new lesions suggestive of recurrence. No consensus guidelines exist for the endoscopic management of duodenal carcinoid tumors. However, endoscopic resection is safe and preferred for tumors measuring 1 cm or less with no evidence of invasion of the muscularis layer