Quantitative infrared thermography resolved leakage current problem in cathodic protection system

Leakage current problem can happen in Cathodic Protection (CP) system installation. It could affect the performance of underground facilities such as piping, building structure, and earthing system. Worse can happen is rapid corrosion where disturbance to plant operation plus expensive maintenance cost. Occasionally, if it seems, tracing its root cause could be tedious. The traditional method called line current measurement is still valid effective. It involves isolating one by one of the affected underground structures. The recent methods are Close Interval Potential Survey and Pipeline Current Mapper were better and faster. On top of the mentioned method, there is a need to enhance further by synthesizing with the latest visual methods. Therefore, this paper describes research works on Infrared Thermography Quantitative (IRTQ) method as resolution of leakage current problem in CP system. The scope of study merely focuses on tracing the root cause of leakage current occurring at the CP system lube base oil plant. The results of experiment adherence to the hypothesis drawn. Consequently, res

Does Inhalation of Virgin Coconut Oil Accelerate Reversal of Airway Remodelling in an Allergic Model of Asthma?

Many studies have been done to evaluate the effect of various natural products in controlling asthma symptoms. Virgin coconut oil (VCO) is known to contain active compounds that have beneficial effects on human health and diseases.The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of VCO inhalation on airway remodelling in a rabbit model of allergic asthma.The effects of VCO inhalation on infiltration of airway inflammatory cells, airway structures, goblet cell hyperplasia, and cell proliferation following ovalbumin induction were evaluated. Allergic asthma was induced by a combination of ovalbumin and alum injection and/or followed by ovalbumin inhalation.The effect ofVCOinhalationwas then evaluated via the rescue or the preventive route. Percentage of inflammatory cells infiltration, thickness of epithelium and mucosa regions, and the numbers of goblet and proliferative cells were reduced in the rescue group but not in preventive group. Analysis using a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry found that lauric acid and capric acid were among themost abundant fatty acids present in the sample. Significant improvement was observed in rescue route in alleviating the asthma symptoms, which indicates the VCO was able to relieve asthma-related symptoms more than preventing the onset of asthma

A Comparative Study of Enhanced Nonlinear PI to Multivariable Nonlinear Plant

The static gains of PI controller have limitation to handle the process nonlinearities of the system. This suggests the development of enhanced nonlinear PI controller where a nonlinear gain function is cascaded to PI parameters. Two nonlinear gain functions are developed and the effectiveness of the control performance is investigated for two different control structures for a multivariable nonlinear wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). It was proved that superior output with the lower mean error was obtained by developed nonlinear PI specifically in the multivariable control structure. The developed nonlinear PI offers simpler control structure and easy implementation hence offering alternative control strategy for the multivariable system

Influence of biofertilizer on growth improvement of aerobic rice genotypes

Biofertilizers have emerged as a potential environment friendly inputs that are supplemented for proper plant growth.Two field experiments were conductedat University Putra Malaysia (UPM), Selangor, Malaysia during 1st season (Mayto September 2015) and 2nd season (September to December 2015)to evaluate the performance of aerobic rice genotypes under different combinations of bioandchemical fertilizer. The experiment consisted of five (5)biofertilizer combinations (chemical fertilizer recommended rate (CFRR) (150 N; 60 P2O5;60 K2O kg ha-1) 100%,biofertilizer 1 ton+ 75%CFRR,biofertilizer 2 tons + 50%CFRR,biofertilizer 3tons+ 25%CFRR,and biofertilizer 4 tons)and three aerobic rice genotypes (MRIA1, MR219-4 and MR219-9)laid out in a split-plot in randomized complete block design(RCBD) with 3 replicates.Results revealed that application of biofertilizer 1 ton + 75%CFRR produced the highest plant height (102.65 cm) and an umberof tillers (20.38) in the 2nd season, the highest grain yield (4.30 t ha-1) than theother biofertilizer treatments in the 1st season. MR219-4 produced the highest number of tillers, leaf area and leaf photosynthesis rate in both seasons,grain yield (5.02 t ha-1) in 1st season while MR219-9 produced the highestcropbiomass (52.76 g hill-1) and crop growth rate (8.00 g hill-1week-1) at 12 WAS,grain yield (3.86 tha-1) than the other genotypes in the 2nd season.The trend in these results indicated that biofertilizer tend to be more effective with limited chemical fertilizer in the 1st season of low rainfall.These results concluded that 1 ton biofertilizer + 75% CFRR andMR219-4enhancesrice growth and grain yield in aerobic condition

Development of two high yielding mutant varieties of mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czern.] through gamma rays irradiation

Seeds of the well-adapted and popular mustard variety BARIsarisha-11 were irradiated with gamma ray using 60Co gamma cells. Irradiated seeds were grown as M1 during 2004-05. Selection was made from M2 generation during 2005-06. Desirable mutants were confirmed in M4 generation during 2007-08 and ten true breeding mutants having higher seed yield per plant with desirable morphological characters and yield attributes were selected. Selected mutants were evaluated along with the mother variety BARIsarisha-11 to select the most desirable ones considering higher seed yield and improved yield attributes under different replicated yield trials during 2008-09 to 2010-11. Results showed that two mutants, MM-10-04 and MM-08-04 selected from 700 Gy produced higher seed yield than BARIsarisha-11 in most of the trials conducted in 13 locations of Bangladesh. Mean of three years trial showed that seed yield of MM-10-04 and MM-08-04 was 2043 and 1893 kg ha-1, respectively, which was 23% and 14% higher than BARIsarisha-11 (parental plant). Mutants MM-10-04 and MM-08-04 also had the higher number of siliquae plant-1, 1000-seed weight and oil content than BARIsarisha-11. These two mutants also showed tolerance against Alternaria blight disease and lower aphid infestation. Results of the yield trials as well as screening against Alternaria blight disease and aphid carried out across the country indicated that MM-10-04 and MM-08-04 were suitable for widespread cultivation. Consequently, the National Seed Board of Bangladesh registered MM-10-04 and MM-08-04 in 2011 as two high yielding mustard varieties, Binasarisha-7 and Binasarisha-8, respectively for commercial cultivation

Effect of fertilizer management on growth and yield of fragrant fine rice varieties in rainfed condition

A field experiment was carried out at the Banglasesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA) farm, Mymensingh during July to December 2010, to find out optimum variety and optimum fertility management of aromatic fine rice grown in transplant rainfed condition. The experiment was laid out in split-plot design with three replications assigning the variety in the main plot and different fertilizer management in the sub-plot. Results indicated that the effect of aromatic fine rice varieties and fertilizer management showed significant variation in respect of yield contributing characters and yield. At harvest, maximum number of effective tillers/hill (12.7 and 12.5), number of grains/panicle (105.6 and 115.2), 1000 grain weight (13.25 and 19.97 g), grain yield (3.29 and 3.30 t/ha) and straw yield (5.0 and 5.7 t/ha) were obtained from the application of T6 (NPKSZn; RD BARC, 2005) @ 126.9, 19.81, 65, 43.3 and 1.8 kg/ha+Cow dung at 5.0 t/ha) and T9 (Urea super granules (USG) @ 1 (1.8 g) granules/spot) + PKSZn; (RD BARC, 2005 @19.81, 65, 43.3 and 1.8 kg/ha). The fertilizer management T6 (NPKSZn; RD BARC, 2005) @ 126.9, 19.81, 65, 43.3 and 1.8 kg/ha+Cow dung at 5.0 t/ha) and T9 (Urea super granules (USG) @ 1 (1.8 g) granules/spot)+PKSZn; (RD BARC,2005 @ 19.81, 65, 43.3 and 1.8 kg/ha) produced the highest grain yield of Ukunimadhu (2.95 t/ha) and Kataribhog (3.96 t/ha)

Selection of a high yielding soybean variety, Binasoybean-2 from collected germplasm

More than two hundred soybean germplasm collected from local and exotic sources were put into evaluation to select desirable ones for directly use as varieties or for future usage as breeding materials. Through observation trials thirteen germplasm were selected considering their better agronomic performance. Selected germplasm were evaluated through different trials at soybean growing areas of Bangladesh during 2007 to 2010. The germplasm, BAU-S/109 produced significantly higher seed yield than control varieties Sohag and BARIsoybean-5 in most of the trials. Over three years trial, BAU-S/109 produced mean seed yield of 2711 kg ha-1 while Sohag and BARIsoybean-5 produced 2224 and 2227 kg ha-1 seed yield, respectively. BAU-S/109 also produced the higher number of branches and pods plant-1 along with higher 100-seed weight. Results of yield trials indicated that BAU-S/109 was suitable for cultivation in Bangladesh. BAU-S/80 was found to be moderately tolerant to soybean yellow mosaic virus and also showed lower insect infestation than control varieties. On the basis of better performance, Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA) applied for registration of BAU-S/109 to the National Seed Board (NSB) of Bangladesh. Consequently, the NSB of Bangladesh registered BAU-S/109 as an improved soybean variety in 2011 as Binasoybean-2 for commercial cultivation

Genetic variation and heritability estimation in Jatropha curcas L. population for seed yield and vegetative traits

An evaluation of six Jatropha curcas L. accessions was carried out at the Field 10, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor. The aim of this study was to determine the seed yield and vegetative traits of the accessions, to estimate the genetic variability and heritability of the population and to study the relationships that exist among these traits. The experiment was conducted using Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three blocks, six accessions per block and 16 plants per plot. Most of the vegetative and yield traits showed no significant variation among the accessions except in plant height, seed thickness, seed breadth, and total seed per accession. The heritability study showed that the broad sense heritability values ranged from 0 to 23.04%, the highest value was at plant height. This study indicated that environmental factors played an important role than the genetic factor. The correlation study showed that seed length had positive correlation with seed thickness, seed breadth and seed weight. From this study, Accession V5 and V2 showed high potential for future breeding program

Identification of genotypes resistant to blast, bacterial leaf blight, sheath blight and tungro and efficacy of seed treating fungicides against blast disease of rice

A total of 35 inbred and 13 hybrid varieties including susceptible checks were screened against the 4 major diseases of rice (blast, bacterial leaf blight, sheath blight and tungro) as well as experiments on management of blast were conducted in the rain-fed and irrigated rice ecosystems during 1999 to 2003. Results showed that none of the tested high yielding varieties (HYV) were resistant to blast, while the hybrids, sonarbangla1, aalock6201, KRH2, IR71101H, IR68877H and IR76901H, and inbreds BR12, BR15 and IR72 were moderately resistant in the irrigated rice ecosystem. On the other hand, all the varieties tested against bacterial leaf blight (BLB) and sheath blight (ShB) were moderately susceptible in the same ecosystem. The inbred varieties BR22, BR25, BRRI dhan31, BRRI dhan32, BRRI dhan33, BRRI dhan34, BRRI dhan38 and BRRI dhan39 demonstrated moderately resistant reactions but all the hybrids were moderately susceptible to BLB in the rain-fed ecosystem. Eight inbreds, predominantly, BR22, BR23, BRRI dhan27, BRRI dhan31, BRRI dhan32, BRRI dhan37, BRRI dhan38 and BRRI dhan40 were moderately resistant to tungro disease. Among the 3 fungicides tested in 2 different trials, adivistin and haydazim 50 WP (carbendazim) at the rate of 0.4% were more effective as seed-treating fungicides for the control of rice blast disease

Study of genetic variation of some eggplant cultivars through RAPD-PCR molecular markers and its relatedness to phomopsis blight disease reaction

Disease susceptibility and genetic variability in 10 eggplant genotypes were studied after inoculating Phomopsis vexans under confined field conditions. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were used to assess genetic variation and relationships among eggplant genotypes. The disease index of leaves ranged 0.208-13.79%, while fruit infection ranged 2.15-42.76%. Two varieties, Dohazari G and Laffa S, were found to be susceptible, 6 were moderately resistant, 1 was moderately susceptible, and BAU Begun-1 was resistant to P. vexans. Amplification of genomic DNA by using 3 RAPD primers produced 20 bands: 14 (70%) were polymorphic and 6 (30%) were monomorphic. The highest intra-variety similarity indices values were found in ISD 006, Ishurdi L, Jessore L, and BAU Begun-1 (100%), while the lowest was in Dohazari G (90%). The lowest genetic distance (0.0513) and the highest genetic identity (0.9500) were observed between the ISD 006 and Ishurdi L combinations. A comparatively higher genetic distance (0.3724) and the lowest genetic identity (0.6891) were observed between the ISD 006 and Dohazari G combinations. A dendogram was constructed based on Nei’s genetic distance, which produced 2 main clusters of the genotypes - Cluster I: ISD 006, Ishurdi L, Marich begun L, BAU Begun-1, Marich begun S, and Chega and Cluster 2: Laffa S, Dohazari G, Jessore L, and Singhnath. Genetic variation and its relationship with disease susceptibility were assessed using RAPD markers, to develop disease-resistant varieties and improve eggplant crops