Antimicrobial activities of grape (Vitis vinifera L.) pomace polyphenols as a source of naturally occurring bioactive components

Grape pomace is a potential source of winery by-products having useful bioactive components. Antimicrobial activities of enzyme-assisted grape pomace polyphenols (GPP) were assessed against Escherichia coli IFO 3301 and Staphylococcus aureus IFO 12732 using plate count and spectrophotometry assays. GPP have shown credential growth inhibition against E. coli and S. aureus, respectively. The higher growth inhibition was mediated by the higher GPP concentrations against both E. coli and S. aureus, which implies dose dependency. GPP also exhibited bactericidal effects against both the Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, whereas, Gram-positive bacteria have shown more susceptibility than Gram-negative bacteria. It is revealed that GPP is a potential source of natural antimicrobial agents.Keywords: Grape pomace, polyphenols, antimicrobial activity

Effect of different amounts of feeds on growth and production of fishes in pond polyculture

An experiment was carried out to evaluate the effects of different amounts of supplementary feeds on growth and production of fishes in polyculture where four different species such as rui (Labeo rohita), mrigal (Cirrhinus mrigala), common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) were cultured in 6 ponds under three treatments, each with two replications. Eighty fish per decimal were stocked along with the stocking ratio of 1:1:1:1 in all the treatments. Supplementary feeds of rice bran and wheat bran (1:1), at the amount of 5% of body weight were applied in 2 ponds (treatment I) as well as at the amount of 3% of body weight were used in 2 ponds (treatment II) and 2 ponds (treatment III) were as control where no supplementary feed was used. Urea and T.S.P were applied fortnightly at the rate of 60 g decimal-1 and 90 g decimal-1, respectively under all treatments. Physico-chemical and biological factors such as air and water temperature, transparency, rainfall, pH, dissolved oxygen, free CO2, total alkalinity, PO4-P and NO3-N, phytoplankton and zooplankton were studied fortnightly and the limnological conditions were more or less similar in the experimental ponds under three treatments. The calculated gross and net fish productions of fishes under treatment I, treatment II and treatment III were 8.87 and 7.33 ton ha-1 yr-1, 7.12 and 5.58 ton ha-1 yr-1 and 4.69 and 3.16 ton ha-1 yr-1, respectively. Percent increased of net fish productions of treatment I and treatment II were 231.97% and 176.59% higher than that of treatment III (control). The present study reveals that supplementary feeding in fish culture should be done along with fertilization because supplementary feeds are very important to enhance growth of fishes significantly. Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. Tech. 10(2): 128-136, December 202

Effect of use of duckweed powder as a fish feed on monoculture of silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix)

An experiment on the use of duckweed powder as a fish feed on monoculture of silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) was conducted in 6 ponds for a period of 75 days. The area of the each pond was one decimal. The experiment was carried out under two treatments, each with 3 replications. A combination of duckweed powder and rice bran at the ratio of 3:1 was supplied at the rate of 4% of total body weight in the ponds under treatment-I. On the other hand, the ponds under treatment-II were without supplying of feed. Each of the ponds under both treatments were stocked with 45 fingerlings of silver carp (H. molitrix). The average initial length and weight of the fingerlings were 14.60 cm and 33.48 g, respectively. The ponds were fertilized fortnightly with poultry droppings at the rate of 2 kg, urea 60 g and TSP 90 g decimal-1. During the experimental period the ranges of physico-chemical parameters viz. water depth (0.82 to 0.90 m), water temperature (17.80 to 26.7 °C), air temperature (19.11 to 28.29 °C), transparency (28.00 to 34.00 cm), dissolved oxygen (6.70 to 8.20 mg L-1), pH (6.70 to 8.00), total alkalinity (170 to 210 mg L-1), free CO2 (0.0 to 3.50 mg L-1), phosphate-phosphorus (1.2 to 2.9 mg L-1), and nitrate-nitrogen (3.1 to 4.5 mg L-1) were within the productive limit and more or less similar in all the ponds under treatments I and II. There were 25 genera of phytoplankton under four major groups and 10 genera of zooplankton under three major groups in the experimental ponds. Mean survival rates under treatment-I and treatment-II were 97.78% and 95.56%, respectively. The specific growth rates (SGR % per day) of the fish found under treatment-I and treatment-II were 0.98% and 0.49%. The calculated net production of the ponds under treatment-I was 1.87 ton ha-1 yr-1 and that of the ponds under treatment-II, was 0.74 ton ha-1 yr-1. By 't' test, it was found that the net fish production of treatment-I was significantly (p<0.01) higher than that of treatment-II, and cost return relationship was found that the net profit of treatment-I and treatment-II were more or less similar. Finally, it can be concluded that duckweed powder as an ingredient of fish feed had significant impacts on production of silver carp, which do not consume duckweed as fresh and raw condition. Thus, duckweed powder can be used as feed for most fishes. Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. & Tech. 9 (1): 73-83, June, 201

First report on black spot disease of Phyllanthus emblica L. fruits caused by Thielaviopsis paradoxa in Bangladesh

Fruit spot disease of Phyllanthus emblica L. is one of theproblems, which reduce the quality of the fruits at pre-harvest period. Fungal pathogen was isolated using tissue planting methods during November 2016 to December 2017. The fungus, Thielaviopsis paradoxa was identified using both morphological and molecular characterization based on internal transcribe spacer (ITS) region of ribosomal DNA (rDNA). Mycelial growth of the isolated fungus was evaluated on six different fungal culture media viz, potato sucrose agar (PSA), Richard agar (RA), carrot agar (CA), potato dextrose agar (PDA), honey peptone agar (HPA) and Hansen’s agar (HA) in which RA and HPA media provided the utmost growth. The optimum temperature of the fungus was recorded at 25 to 35ºC. Alternate cycle of 12h/12h light dark and neutral to basic pH was preferred by the studied fungus. Aqueous crude extracts of three plants (garlic, black cumin, and turmeric) were evaluated against the isolated fungus in which the highest inhibition was recorded due to garlic extract. Two food preservatives (sodium benzoate and vinegar) were also tested in which sodium benzoate (100 mM) was most efficient for the inhibition of T. paradoxa. Therefore, garlic and food preservative-sodium benzoate could be used to control this fungal growth associated with amla fruits. To the best of our knowledge, occurrence of T. paradoxa on amla fruits is a new record in Bangladesh. Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. Tech. 10(2): 38-46, December 202

Studies on genetic variability and interrelationship in bottle gourd [Lagenaria siceraria (Mol.) Standl]

The genetic parameters were studied to elucidate the genetic variability, correlation and path co-efficient analysis in thirty-nine genotypes of bottle gourd [Lagenaria siceraria (Mol.) Standl] in randomized complete block design with three replications. Observations were recorded for eleven quantitative characters viz., days to first male flower open, days to first female flower open, node number of first female flower, braches plant-1, days to harvest, number of fruits plant-1, fruit weight, fruit length, fruit girth, 100 seed weight and yield ton ha-1. The analysis of variance showed highly significant differences for all the characters studied indicating considerable variability among the genotypes. The highest GCV (35.57%) and PCV (35.62%) were observed for fruit length. The differences between GCV and PCV were high for fruit number plant-1 and days to first male flower open indicating environmental influences. High heritability associates with high estimates of genetic advance in percent of mean were noted for length of fruit, yield, girth of fruit and number of fruits plant-1. It indicated presence of additive gene effect and selection for these traits would be effective. Yield were positively and significantly correlated with fruit weight, 100 seed weight, branch plant-1 and number of fruits plant-1 .Negative associations of yield were noted with days to first male and female flower open, days to harvest and length of fruit. Path analysis revealed that fruits plant-1 (0.93) and weight of fruit (0.467) had very high positive effect on fruit yield ton ha-1 .Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. & Tech. 8 (1): 14-17, June, 201

Implementation of Databox

Databox is a file hosting service[1]. It’s one of its typical usage is being implemented here as an example. This project implements databox as an online learning portal. This finds the usage across domains. The admin of the website uploads the files in the form of images, videos and PDFs. Only the registered users are allowed to access the material stored in the website. The registered student will have a private key to see the document after decrypting it. The private key will be made available to the registered student after registering into the website. DOI: 10.17762/ijritcc2321-8169.150510

Antihyperglycemic and antinociceptive activity evaluation of ‘Khoyer’ prepared from boiling the wood of Acacia catechu in water

‘Khoyer’ is prepared by boiling the wood of Acacia catechu in water and then evaporating the resultant brew. The resultant hard material is powdered and chewed with betel leaves and lime with or without tobacco by a large number of the people of Bangladesh as an addictive psycho-stimulating and euphoria-inducing formulation. There are folk medicinal claims that khoyer helps in the relief of pain and is also useful to diabetic patients to maintain normal sugar levels. Thus far no scientific studies have evaluated the antihyperglycemic and antinociceptive effects of khoyer. The present study was carried out to evaluate the possible glucose tolerance efficacy of methanolic extracts of khoyer using glucose-induced hyperglycemic mice, and antinociceptive effects with acetic acid-induced gastric pain models in mice. In antihyperglycemic activity tests, the extract at different doses was administered one hour prior to glucose  administration and blood glucose level was measured after two hoursof glucose administration (p.o.) using glucose oxidase method. The statistical data indicated the significant oral hypoglycemic activity on glucose-loaded mice at all doses of the extracts tested. Maximum anti-hyperglycemic activity was shown at 400 mg extract per kg body weight, which was less than that of a standard drug, glibenclamide (10 mg/kg body weight). In antinociceptive activity tests, the extract also demonstrated a dose-dependent significant reduction in the number of writhing induced in mice through intraperitoneal administration of acetic acid. Maximum antinociceptive activity was observed at a dose of 400 mg extract per kg body weight, which was greater than that of a standard antinociceptive drug, aspirin, when administered at a dose of 400 mg per kg body weight. The results validate the folk medicinal use of the plant for reduction of blood sugar in diabetic patients, as well as the folk medicinal use for alleviation of pain.Key words: Acacia catechu, antihyperglycemic, antinociceptive, khoye

The Saudi experiment with career guidance

Saudi Arabia has recently embarked on an ambitious experiment with career guidance. The country has identified that career guidance offers a range of potential cultural, educational and economic benefits. These include supporting the Saudisation of the workforce, the development of the vocational education system and the engagement of the Saudi ‘youth bulge’ in the labour market and wider society. However, the country has a weak tradition of career guidance and a need to develop new policies and systems rapidly. The Saudi Ministry of Labour has driven the development of the country’s new career guidance system and has sought to learn from global best practice. However, Saudi Arabia offers a very different context from those where career guidance has flourished. Particularly distinctive features of Saudi society include its limited civil society, the central role that religion plays, the place of women, the role of oil within the economy and the high level of migrant workers in the labour market. Taken together these issues offer challenges of culture, theory, policy and practice. Negotiating these challenges and building an organic body of theory and practice will be critical to the success or otherwise of the Saudi experiment with career guidance.N/

Trends Of Antibiotic Susceptibility Of Salmonella Enterica Serovar Typhi And Paratyphi In An Urban Hospital Of Dhaka City Over 6 Years Period

The antibiotic resistance pattern of salmonella is ever changing over time. The present study is a retrospective analysis of rate of isolation of Salmonella Typhi and Paratyphi and their antibiotic resistance pattern over 6 years period in an urban hospital of Dhaka city. Blood culture submitted in BIRDEM hospital from 2004-2009 were analyzed. Isolated Salmonella sp were identified and antimicrobial susceptibility testing was carried out by a standard disc diffusion method. Among 385 isolated Salmonella sp 304 (79%) were Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi and 81 (21%) were Salmonella enterica serover Paratyphi A. The rate of isolation of S. Paratyphi A has increased over 6 the year period from 14% to 24%. Resistance to individual first line anti-salmonella drugs has increased from 2004 to 2006 (42 to 63%) but has decreased thereafter. Similar pattern was found when simultaneous resistance to three first line antibiotics namely ampicillin, chloramphenicol and co-trimoxazole were considered. Out of total 304 S. Typhi, 117 (38%) were simultaneously resistant to all three first line drugs compared to only 1.8% S. Paratyphi A. Analysis showed that 80 to 90% of isolated S. Typhi was nalidixic acid resistant (NARST) with reduced susceptibility to ciprofloxacin while the rate for S. Paratyphi A was 71-94%. All S. Typhi and Paratyphi A were sensitive to ceftriaxone. The study showed that there was a gradual decline of resistance of S. Typhi to first line antibiotics but very high prevalence of nalidixic acid resistant S. Typhi and S. Paratyphi in Bangladesh. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/imcj.v5i2.10097 IMCJ 2011; 5(2): 42-45</jats:p

The use of medicinal plants in health care practices by Rohingya refugees in a degraded forest and conservation area of Bangladesh

People in developing countries traditionally rely on plants for their primary healthcare. This dependence is relatively higher in forests in remote areas due to the lack of access to modern health facilities and easy availability of the plant products.We carried out an ethno-medicinal survey in Teknaf Game Reserve (TGR), a heavily degraded forest and conservation area in southern Bangladesh, to explore the diversity of plants used by Rohingya refugees for treating various ailments. The study also documented the traditional utilization, collection and perceptions of medicinal plants by the Rohingyas residing on the edges of this conservation area. We collected primary information through direct observation and by interviewing older respondents using a semi-structured questionnaire. A total of 34 plant species in 28 families were frequently used by the Rohingyas to treat 45 ailments, ranging from simple headaches to highly complex eye and heart diseases. For medicinal preparations and treating various ailments, aboveground plant parts were used more than belowground parts. The collection of medicinal plants was mostly from the TGR. © 2009 Taylor & Francis