Study on comparative efficacy of bio-organic nutrients on plant growth, leaf nutrient contents and fruit quality attributes of kiwi fruit

The comparative efficacy of bio-organic nutrients on cropping behavior and fruit quality of kiwifruit was analyzed using farm yard manure (FYM), vermicompost (VC), biofertilizers (BF), green manure (GM), and vermiwash (VW). Among various treatments the combination of FYM at 15 kg/vine, GM, VC at 15kg/vine, BFat50-g/ vine and VW at 2kg/vine significantly improved cropping behavior. This superior combination also resulted in considerably greater amounts of leaf macro-and micronutrients: N (2.49%), P (0.26%), K (1.48%), iron (Fe: 208.0 mg/kg), copper (Cu: 17.8 mg/kg), zinc (Zn: 36.2 mg/kg), and manganese (Mn: 88.3 mg/kg),which might be responsible for better cropping behavior, productivity and nutrient profile for sustainable kiwi fruit production. It can be concluded that with use of various sources of bio-organic materials under organic farming regime, there will be sufficient improvement in fruit quality and plant nutrient contents

Nitrogen fertigation for nectarines (Prunus persica var nucipersica): Lateral and vertical nutrient acquisition and cropping behavior in rainfed agroecosystem

The present investigation was planned and focused with the objective to compare the effect of nitrogen (N) fertigation and conventional soil fertilization on growth and nutrient dynamics for the establishment of Snow Queen nectarines (Prunus persica var. nucipersica). We determined if the frequency of application of fertigation that could modify cropping behavior of the plantations in integrated horticultural based cropping system under rainfed ecosystem. In the experiment, all plants received the same amount of water with sufficient fertilizer N but the treatment included four fertigation frequencies applied weekly intervals of the recommended dose (RD) of N fertilizers over conventional soil fertilization scheduled at 25% (25% RD-N fertigation), 50% (50% RD-N fertigation), 75% (75% RD-N fertigation) and 100% (100% RD-N fertigation) in the Randomized Block Design replicated thrice. The availability of nutrients at root zone of the trees significantly influenced vegetative growth attributes, the uptake of macro- and micronutrient cations and fruit quality characteristics. Given the fact that all treatments applied with adequate and equal amount of fertilizer and water, however, 75% RD-N fertigation frequency had significantly affected cropping behavior and uptake efficiency both vertically as well as horizontally. The N availability steadily increased with increased depth up to 30 cm after that declined in all the distances at fertigation with 75% RD-N. Highest available P and K in soil was confined to 0-15 cm of soil layer under all fertigation levels and decreased with increase in distance from the emitters and soil depth. With regards to exchangeable Ca and Mg, the contents were decreased in the surface soil than in the subsoil. This superior application also recorded improved vertical and horizontal distribution of available macro- and micronutrient cations in soil, leaf nutrient concentration and fruit quality attributes for growth parameters and fruit quality characteristics which in turn saved 25% of the inorganic fertilizers application

INFLUENCE OF FORMULATION PARAMETERS ON DISSOLUTION RATE ENHANCEMENT OF ACYCLOVIR USING LIQUISOLID FORMULATION

Objective: The objective of this research work is to explore the use of liquisolid technique in enhancement of acyclovir dissolution rate. This current study was planned to assess the impact of different formulation variables, such as non-volatile liquid type and concentrations of acyclovir on its dissolution rates profile. Method: Acyclovir liquisolid tablets were prepared with Tween 60 (liquid vehicle), Microcrystalline cellulose PH 102 (acted as a carrier to turn liquid medication into free-flowing powder) and Syloid XDP (coating material). In vitro, drug dissolution rate of liquisolid formulations of acyclovir was performed and compared with pure acyclovir drug using USP dissolution apparatus (Type II) for 60 min at a paddle speed of 50 rpm and filled with 900 mL of distilled water. Results: The dissolution study showed that 94.1% of the drug was released in 60 min of ratio 10 while only 66% of the pure drug acyclovir was released in 60 min. Hence, present work concluded that the acyclovir dissolution rate profile has been improved with the formation of liquisolid formulations. Conclusion: From the present study, it may be ratified that the drug dissolution rate of acyclovir has been improved with the utilization of liquisolid formulations approach.Â

FORMULATION, SYSTEMATIC OPTIMIZATION, IN VITRO, EX VIVO, AND STABILITY ASSESSMENT OF TRANSETHOSOME BASED GEL OF CURCUMIN

Objectives: The current work presents a formulation of curcumin-loaded transethosome (CRM-TE) in the form of a gel and its characterization.Methods: Thirteen formulations were prepared by varying the concentration of Phospholipon 90G as lipid, ethanol, and ratio of lipid: Span using Box- Behnken Design. The optimized formulation was characterized by vesicle size, entrapment efficiency, drug retention, drug permeation through skin, and morphology. Parameters of CRM-TE were compared to other vesicular systems that include liposomes, ethosomes, and transfersomes. Optimized CRM-TE was incorporated into gels, and comparative evaluation was performed. CRM-TE gel was kept at 5±3°C, 25±3°C, and 40±3°C for 180 days, further evaluated for entrapment efficacy and vesicle size.Results: CRM-TE showed 286.4 nm vesicle size, 61.2% entrapment efficiency, 19.8% drug retention, and 71.3% drug permeation at 24 h in the skin. It was found superior in terms of all the parameters as compared to other vesicular formulations. CRM-TE gel also exhibited best characteristics in terms of entrapment efficiency, drug retention, and drug permeation. CRM-TE gel exhibited better stability at 5±3°C in terms of vesicle size and entrapment efficiency as compared to other storage conditions.Conclusion: CRM-TE gel could offer efficient delivery of curcumin through topical route

Scaling of heavy rainy days with upper air profiles over Chennai during Northeast monsoon

153-161This study aims to scale the heavy rainy days (rainfall > 64 mm per day) with the surface and upper-air parameters over Chennai (12.80° N and 80.03° E), located on the east coast of India, during the Northeast (NE) monsoon (October to December) from 2001 to 2015. The daily rainfall and radiosonde observations that are available from India Meteorological Department (IMD), Outgoing Long-wave Radiation (OLR) from Very High Resolution Radiometer (VHRR) Kalpana-1 Indian satellite, and Total Column Liquid Water (TCLW) and vertical velocity from ERA-Interimre analysis are used. The study commences with the comparison of mean daily Integrated Water Vapor (IWV) and rainfall over Chennai. Further, the study proceeds ahead by analyzing the IWV, TCLW, Instantaneous Condensation Rate (ICR) and precipitation extreme efficiency during the heavy rainy days. The results are such as (i) the heavy rainy days are better scaled using IWV and TCLW than with surface air temperature and OLR (ii) ICR during the all heavy rainfall days found high at 700 mb level, and (iii) the precipitation extreme efficiency which is estimated using the ratio of precipitation extreme (obtained from vertical velocity, specific humidity gradient) and the ICR has shown a linear relationship with the surface reaching rainfall through the temporal and spatial smearing of raindrops expected

Scaling of heavy rainy days with upper air profiles over Chennai during Northeast monsoon

This study aims to scale the heavy rainy days (rainfall > 64 mm per day) with the surface and upper-air parameters overChennai (12.80° N and 80.03° E), located on the east coast of India, during the Northeast (NE) monsoon (October toDecember) from 2001 to 2015. The daily rainfall and radiosonde observations that are available from India MeteorologicalDepartment (IMD), Outgoing Long-wave Radiation (OLR) from Very High Resolution Radiometer (VHRR) Kalpana-1Indian satellite, and Total Column Liquid Water (TCLW) and vertical velocity from ERA-Interimre analysis are used. Thestudy commences with the comparison of mean daily Integrated Water Vapor (IWV) and rainfall over Chennai. Further, thestudy proceeds ahead by analyzing the IWV, TCLW, Instantaneous Condensation Rate (ICR) and precipitation extremeefficiency during the heavy rainy days. The results are such as (i) the heavy rainy days are better scaled using IWV andTCLW than with surface air temperature and OLR (ii) ICR during the all heavy rainfall days found high at 700 mb level,and (iii) the precipitation extreme efficiency which is estimated using the ratio of precipitation extreme (obtained fromvertical velocity, specific humidity gradient) and the ICR has shown a linear relationship with the surface reaching rainfallthrough the temporal and spatial smearing of raindrops expected

The CMS Outer Hadron Calorimeter

The CMS hadron calorimeter is a sampling calorimeter with brass absorber and plastic scintillator tiles with wavelength shifting fibres for carrying the light to the readout device. The barrel hadron calorimeter is complemented with a outer calorimeter to ensure high energy shower containment in CMS and thus working as a tail catcher. Fabrication, testing and calibrations of the outer hadron calorimeter are carried out keeping in mind its importance in the energy measurement of jets in view of linearity and resolution. It will provide a net improvement in missing \et measurements at LHC energies. The outer hadron calorimeter has a very good signal to background ratio even for a minimum ionising particle and can hence be used in coincidence with the Resistive Plate Chambers of the CMS detector for the muon trigger