Response of wheat varieties to salinity: growth, yield and ion analysis

In plants, development, growth and yield most severely affected through saline soil/water in growth medium, ultimately cause severe threat to global food production for human being. Wheat (Triticum aestivum) is the most edible crop in Pakistan. Production of this crop can be improved through using marginal areas with the help of growing salt-tolerant varieties. The present investigation is carried out to screen out six local wheat varieties (F.Sarhad, Insaf, Lalma, Tatora, Bathoor and Barsat) with reference to their vegetative and reproductive growth, different physiological parameters [relative water content (RWC), electrolyte-leakage (EL) and leaf water loss (LWL)] and ionic status of plants. Present experiment designed in completely randomized manner (CRD) and 54 pots were arranged in the Botanical Garden, Department of Botany. These pots arranged in 6 lines with 9 pots/line and each line was irrigated with non-saline (control), 50 mM and 150 mM NaCl solution. The data from present research revealed that application of salt cause significant reduction in plant-height, root-length, fresh-biomass, dry-biomass, seed number/plant, seed weight/plant, spike-weight, relative water content, leaf water loss, and different ions of plants. Similarly at same applied doses of salt weight of 100 seeds, spike-length, electrolyte-leakage, Na+ and Cl- ions become increased. It has been concluded from the results of present study that varieties F. Sarhad, Insaf and Lalma exhibited more salt tolerance as compare to other varieties. So, these recommended for growing on moderately salt affected soil/water to achieve more yield of wheat from such affected lands of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Congenital malignant melanoma of the scalp in a 25-day-old neonate

We present a case of congenital malignant melanoma of the scalp in a neonate. The child was born through caesarean section with a swelling, the size of a tennis ball, on the posterior scalp. At presentation to the clinic at 25 days after birth, the swelling had significantly increased in size and ulcerated. An excision was carried out but, because of extensive haemorrhage and haemodynamic instability, the procedure was limited to subtotal resection. Later on, completion of the excision and flap coverage of the wound were performed. After an initial stable course of a few months, the child came back with local recurrence. A re-excision was planned but the child developed pneumonia resulting in sepsis leading to the demise of the child. The report adds to the literature by describing a rare entity and challenges of managing large vascular scalp lesions with complete excision and defect coverage

Pituicytoma: A rare tumor of the sella. A case report and review of literature for diagnosis and management

Background: Pituicytomas are rare tumors of the pituitary gland derived from the ependymal cells and line the pituitary stalk and posterior lobe. These tumors are located in the vulnerable regions of the brain: Either in the sellar or suprasellar area. The location marks the difference in the clinical features of the tumor. Here, we report a case of histopathologically diagnosed pituicytoma of the sellar region. Literature is also reviewed and discussed to gain a better understanding of this rare disease. Case description: A 24-year-old female presented to the outpatient department with complaints of headache, diplopia, dizziness, and decreased vision in the right eye for 6 months. Computed tomography scan brain without contrast showed a well-defined hyperdense lesion in the sella without associated bony erosion. Her magnetic resonance imaging showed well defined rounded lesion in the pituitary fossa which was isointense on T1-weighted image and hyperintense on T2-weighted images. A presumptive diagnosis of pituitary adenoma was made. She underwent endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal resection of pituitary mass. Intraoperatively, normal pituitary gland was visualized and there was a grayish-green-colored, jelly like tumor which was pulled gently. On 9th postoperative day, she presented with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea. She underwent endoscopic CSF leak repair. Her histopathology was concluded to be Pituicytoma. Conclusion: Pituicytoma is an uncommon diagnosis. The surgical aim is to completely excise the tumor which results in complete cure, but incomplete resection may be performed due to high vascularity of this tumor. In case of incomplete excision, recurrence is common and adjuvant radiotherapy may be administere

Novel MoP/HY catalyst for the selective conversion of naphthalene to tetralin

MoP catalyst supported on HZSM-5, HBeta and HY were prepared by wet impregnation and temperature programmed reduction (H-2-TPR), applied for the conversion of naphthalene to tetralin, and characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, BET, H-2-TPR, and NH3-TPD. Catalytic tests revealed the highest selectivity to tetralin was observed over MoP/HY with a naphthalene conversion of 85% and a tetralin selectivity of 99%. The effect of temperature and liquid hourly space velocity (LHSV) was also studied. Well dispersed and small particles of MoP, reduced pore size and weak acidity of HY contribute to enhanced catalytic activity and selectivity in conversion of naphthalene to tetralin. (C) 2014 The Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.</p

Simultaneous operation of dibenzothiophene hydrodesulfurization and methanol reforming reactions over Pd promoted alumina based catalysts

In the current study simultaneous reactions of hydrodesulfurization （HDS） of dibenzothiophene （DBT） and reforming of methanol in a micro-autoclave reactor were studied over bi-metallic （ Co-Mo/Al2O3 and Ni-Mo/Al2O3 ） and tri-metallic （ Pd-Co- Mo/Al2O3 and Pd-Ni-Mo/Al2O3 ） catalyst systems which were prepared by incipient impregnation method. In situ hydrogen utilization and low Pd loadings were the major targets of this study. For comparison purpose, catalytic activity was separately determined for both the methanol reforming and HDS of DBT reactions as well. Ni based catalysts were confirmed with better activity than Co ones for both the reactions with Pd promoted ones ranking at the top i.e. Pd-Ni-Mo/Al2O3 〉 Ni-Mo/Al2O3 〉 Pd- Co-Mo/Al2O3 〉 Co-Mo/Al2O3 where Pd-Ni-Mo/A12 03 showed 91% DBT conversion at 380 ℃ and 12 h reaction time. Some of the selected organic additives on catalytic activity were tested for their effect toward HDS reaction which was unique with close relation to their chemical nature. Reaction products were quantitatively and qualitatively analyzed via HPLC and GC-MS techniques respectively which helped in elucidating reaction mechanism

Simultaneous operation of dibenzothiophene hydrodesulfurization and methanol reforming reactions over Pd promoted alumina based catalysts

In the current study simultaneous reactions of hydrodesulfurization （HDS） of dibenzothiophene （DBT） and reforming of methanol in a micro-autoclave reactor were studied over bi-metallic （ Co-Mo/Al2O3 and Ni-Mo/Al2O3 ） and tri-metallic （ Pd-Co- Mo/Al2O3 and Pd-Ni-Mo/Al2O3 ） catalyst systems which were prepared by incipient impregnation method. In situ hydrogen utilization and low Pd loadings were the major targets of this study. For comparison purpose, catalytic activity was separately determined for both the methanol reforming and HDS of DBT reactions as well. Ni based catalysts were confirmed with better activity than Co ones for both the reactions with Pd promoted ones ranking at the top i.e. Pd-Ni-Mo/Al2O3 〉 Ni-Mo/Al2O3 〉 Pd- Co-Mo/Al2O3 〉 Co-Mo/Al2O3 where Pd-Ni-Mo/A12 03 showed 91% DBT conversion at 380 ℃ and 12 h reaction time. Some of the selected organic additives on catalytic activity were tested for their effect toward HDS reaction which was unique with close relation to their chemical nature. Reaction products were quantitatively and qualitatively analyzed via HPLC and GC-MS techniques respectively which helped in elucidating reaction mechanism

Simultaneous operation of dibenzothiophene hydrodesulfurization and methanol reforming reactions over Pd promoted alumina based catalysts

In the current study simultaneous reactions of hydrodesulfurization(HDS) of dibenzothiophene(DBT) and reforming of methanol in a micro-autoclave reactor were studied over bi-metallic(Co-Mo/Al2O3 and Ni-Mo/Al2O3) and tri-metallic(Pd-Co-Mo/Al2O3 and Pd-Ni-Mo/Al2O3) catalyst systems which were prepared by incipient impregnation method.In situ hydrogen utilization and low Pd loadings were the major targets of this study.For comparison purpose,catalytic activity was separately determined for both the methanol reforming and HDS of DBT reactions as well.Ni based catalysts were confirmed with better activity than Co ones for both the reactions with Pd promoted ones ranking at the top i.e.Pd-Ni-Mo/Al2O3 &gt; Ni-Mo/Al2O3 &gt; Pd-Co-Mo/Al2O3 &gt; Co-Mo/Al2O3 where Pd-Ni-Mo/Al2O3 showed 91% DBT conversion at 380 ℃ and 12 h reaction time.Some of the selected organic additives on catalytic activity were tested for their effect toward HDS reaction which was unique with close relation to their chemical nature.Reaction products were quantitatively and qualitatively analyzed via HPLC and GC-MS techniques respectively which helped in elucidating reaction mechanism

Capacitive and Conductometric Type Dual-Mode Relative Humidity Sensor Based on 5,10,15,20-tetra Phenyl Porphyrinato Nickel (II) (TPPNi)

(1) Background: A quest for a highly sensitive and reliable humidity monitoring system for a diverse variety of applications is quite vital. Specifically, the ever-increasing demand of humidity sensors in applications ranging from agriculture to healthcare equipment (to cater the current demand of COVID-19 ventilation systems), calls for a selection of suitable humidity sensing material. (2) Methods: In the present study, the TPPNi macromolecule has been synthesized by using a microwave-assisted synthesis process. The layer structure of the fabricated humidity sensor (Al/TPPNi/Al) consists of pair of planar 120 nm thin aluminum (Al) electrodes (deposited by thermal evaporation) and ~160 nm facile spin-coated solution-processable organic TPPNi as an active layer between the ~40 µm electrode gap. (3) Results: Electrical properties (capacitance and impedance) of sensors were found to be substantially sensitive not only on relative humidity but also on the frequency of the input bias signal. The proposed sensor exhibits multimode (capacitive and conductometric) operation with significantly higher sensitivity ~146.17 pF/%RH at 500 Hz and 48.23 kΩ/%RH at 1 kHz. (4) Conclusions: The developed Al/TPPNi/Al surface type humidity sensor’s much-improved detecting properties along with reasonable dynamic range and response time suggest that it could be effective for continuous humidity monitoring in multi environmental applications