Nitrogen Contribution of Paraserianthes Falcataria Tree Biomass to Corn (Zea Mays. L) Production

Tree legumes can be an important nitrogen (N) source for cereals in developing countries where little or no fertilizer is used due to prohibitive costs. P. falcataria biomass as a source of nitrogen for com, was studied in a series of field and controlled experiments using 15N labeling techniques. The aim of the study was to characterize the effect of biomass quality on nitrogen mineralization, and on N recovery from P. falcataria residues by com. It was hypothesized that mixing of residues of varying quality would alter residue (litter) quality and nitrogen mineralization. P. falcataria leaves were mixed with P. falcataria roots (P. falcataria mixture). Residue quality assessment was based on the index; (Polyphenol + Lignin)-to-N content. Litter quality was in the order of; P. falcataria leaves > P. falcataria mixture> P. falcataria roots, nitrogen and carbon (C) mineralization also followed the same sequence (P <0.05), indicating that the potential of residues to increase soil inorganic N depends on their quality. P. falcataria leaves including mixture treatments significantly (P<0.05) mitigated soil acidity while P. falcataria roots alone did not. Thus, there is a potential benefit of residues as 'lime' in cropping systems. Leaves under humid tropical conditions decomposed rapidly causmg an initial transitory increase in soil inorganic N, then substantial N03-N leaching from 30 to 60 days after application. Significant amounts of Ca++, Mg++, and K+ were leached beyond the top 20 e m soil profile only after 60 days. There is need to strategically mix residues of contrasting quality, to regulate N release and reduce leaching while increasing soil inorganic N under field conditions. The potential of the 15N indirect and direct labeling methods to estimate N- cycling from tree residues was similar (P<0.05). Com recovered more N from P. falcataria roots than from P. falcataria leaves. Data on com produced under field conditions indicated that, the use of residues in combination with an inorganic N source, as opposed to the sole use of either of them, seems a more effective management strategy for improving N use efficiency, including mitigating soil acidity

Experimental and Theoretical Study on a Transient, Turbulent Free Hydrogen Gas Jet Issuing into Still Air

Distributions of hydrogen gas concentration in a suddenly started, single shot hydrogen gas jet issuing from a 1 mm diameter injector into still air were measured using laser interferometry method. This unsteady, turbulent free jet flow has also been calculated using the two-equation, high Reynolds number version of k-ε turbulence model and hybrid scheme for treating combined diffusion and convection in the SIMPLE algorithm. The injection pressure was 0.5 MPa for which predicted and measured temporal jet tip penetration distributions indicate that the jet discharged into still air at Mach 0.25. The level of agreement between present prediction and measurement is good in some regions and poor in others

Numerical Calculation of a Transient Methane Gas Jet Discharging into Quiescent Atmosphere at Mach One

A suddenly started cold methane gas jet issuing from a 1 mm diameter orifice into still air at Mach one has been predicted using the two-equation, high Reynolds number version of k-ε turbulence model and SIMPLE algorithm which employs so called primitive variables and a hybrid scheme for treating combined diffusion and convection. Global trends of predicted radial distributions of velocity, temperature, methane concentration in the steady rear part of the transient jet and axial jet tip penetration compare reasonably well with universal profiles representing measurement for the steady jet particularly in the fully developed turbulent core and semi-empirical relation for the transient jet respectively. The prediction scheme has shown reasonably good accuracy especially in prediction of main flow parameters of a transient, high speed compressible gas jet issuing into a dissimilar surrounding gas(binary gas mixture jet)

Prediction of Transient and Steady Turbulent Free Subsonic Air Jets

Velocity distributions and related parameters of　transient and steady, turbulent air jets issuing under atmospheric conditions at Mach 0.14, 0.33 and 0.5 have been predicted using Navier-Stokes(N-S) equations for compressible flow and incompressible flow independently with the k-ε model. The closeness and consistence of the results predicted by the N-S equations for compressible and incompressible flows as well as with relevant measurement or similar prediction show that the incompressible flow assumption for at least some subsonic gas jets issuing at velocities higher than Mach 0.3, the general limit for incompressible fluid flow, can be reasonably accurate particularly in the main fully developed flow region. This suggests that the divergence term in source terms of the momentum, turbulence energy and its dissipation rate equations have negligible effects for some seemingly compressible high speed, subsonic free gas jets. The computation time is reduced by at least 18 % when incompressible flow assumption is used

Aberrant positioning of a central venous dialysis catheter to reveal a left-sided partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection

We describe the identification of a rare, left-sided, partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection during routine central venous catheterization. To our knowledge, this is the first report in the literature to describe this anomaly in a hemodialysis patient. A young man had anomalous connection of the veins draining the upper lobe of the left lung and left innominate vein. Our case demonstrates the importance of routine fluoroscopy during insertion of central venous catheters to detect these anomalies and minimize complications

Impact of educational intervention regarding oral rehydration solution and zinc for management of diarrhoea among mothers of urban slums of Ahmedabad city, Gujarat, India: an interventional study

Background: Diarrhoea is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among under-five children. Timely management of the children with oral rehydration solution (ORS) has substantially declined the mortality and morbidity from acute infectious diarrhea. The use of ORS largely depends on the level of knowledge and attitude of mothers. Mothers’ knowledge about diarrhoea can be improved through educational interventions. The objective of the study was to assess knowledge of mothers of urban slums of Ahmedabad city of Gujarat regarding ORS and Zinc for management of diarrhoea before and after training.Methods: This Interventional study was conducted among purposively selected 100 mothers of under five children of urban slums of Ahmedabad city of Gujarat, India during June to August 2011. After taking verbal consent, baseline knowledge of mothers regarding ORS and Zinc for management of diarrhoea was assessed by pre-designed, pre-tested and semi structured questionnaire. Single educational interventional training for 45 minutes was given to selected mothers Pre and post training assessment was done by scoring method and also mean, standard deviation, Wilcoxon sign rank test were applied.Results: Almost 83% of the mothers could define diarrhoea as the passage of watery stools three or more times a day, this knowledge was significantly increased to 100% after the training. Baseline knowledge of the mothers regarding causes of diarrhoea in children, signs and symptoms of dehydration in children, Correct method of preparation of ORS and importance of zinc therapy along with ORS was 4%, 22%, 39% and 26% respectively which was significantly increased to 73%, 90%, 89% and 76% respectively after the intervention.Conclusions: Knowledge of the mothers of under-five children regarding causes of diarrhoea, signs and symptoms of diarrhoea, correct method of preparation of ORS and importance of zinc therapy along with ORS has been significantly increased after intervention

Maternal micronutrient status and decreased growth of Zambian infants born during and after the maize price increases resulting from the southern African drought of 2001-2002.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects on maternal micronutrient status and infant growth of the increased maize prices that resulted from the southern African drought of 2001-2002. DESIGN: Longitudinal cohort study. SETTING: A maternal and child health clinic in Lusaka, Zambia. SUBJECTS: Maternal and infant health and nutrition data and maternal plasma were being collected for a study of breast-feeding and postpartum health. Samples and data were analysed according to whether they were collected before (June to December 2001), during (January 2002 to April 2003) or after (May 2003 to January 2004) the period of increased maize price. Season and maternal HIV status were controlled for in analyses. RESULTS: Maize price increases were associated with decreased maternal plasma vitamin A during pregnancy (P = 0.028) and vitamin E postpartum (P = 0.042), with the lowest values among samples collected after May 2003 (vitamin A: 0.96 micromol l(-1), 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.84-1.09, n = 38; vitamin E: 30.8 micromol mmol(-1) triglycerides, 95% CI 27.2-34.8, n = 64) compared with before January 2002 (vitamin A: 1.03 micromol l(-1), 95% CI 0.93-1.12, n = 104; vitamin E: 38.9 micromol mmol(-1) triglycerides, 95% CI 34.5-43.8, n = 47). There were no significant effects of sampling date on maternal weight, haemoglobin or acute-phase proteins and only marginal effects on infant weight. Infant length at 6 and 16 weeks of age decreased progressively throughout the study (P-values for time of data collection were 0.51 at birth, 0.051 at 6 weeks and 0.026 at 16 weeks). CONCLUSIONS: The results show modest effects of the maize price increases on maternal micronutrient status. The most serious consequence of the price increases is likely to be the increased stunting among infants whose mothers experienced high maize prices while pregnant. During periods of food shortages it might be advisable to provide micronutrient supplements even to those who are less food-insecure

Scaling-up co-trimoxazole prophylaxis in HIV-exposed and HIV-infected children in high HIV-prevalence countries.

Co-trimoxazole (trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole) is a widely available antibiotic that substantially reduces HIV-related morbidity and mortality in both adults and children. Prophylaxis with co-trimoxazole is a recommended intervention of proven benefit that could serve not only as an initial step towards improving paediatric care in young children with limited access to antiretroviral treatment, but also as an important complement to antiretroviral therapy in resource-limited settings. Despite co-trimoxazole's known clinical benefits, the potential operational benefits, and favourable recommendations by WHO, UNAIDS, and UNICEF, its routine use in developing countries--particularly sub-Saharan Africa--has remained limited. Out of an estimated 4 million children in need of co-trimoxazole prophylaxis (HIV-exposed and HIV-infected), only 4% are currently receiving this intervention. We discuss some of the major barriers preventing the scale-up of co-trimoxazole prophylaxis for children in countries with a high prevalence of HIV and propose specific actions required to tackle these challenges

Serological and molecular evidence of bluetongue in sheep and goats in Uttar Pradesh, India

Cross-sectional experimental study was conducted with the objective to estimate the seroprevalence on the basis of antibodies to VP7 protein of bluetongue virus by competitive enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (c-ELISA), to test the neutralizing ability of the antibody to reference strains of 4 BTV serotypes (BTV-1, 2, 10 and 23) by micro serum neutralization assay (m-SNT), to check the presence of BTV dsRNA and to isolate and characterize bluetongue virus (BTV). A total of 91 serum and 26 whole blood samples were obtained from sheep and goat. The study was conducted between September and November, 2012 when the culicoides midges’ activity is maximal. The animals were observed for clinical signs of BTV infection and serum samples were obtained from all animals for c-ELISA and m-SNT. Further, blood samples were collected from the c-ELISA positive animals and subjected to virus isolation and nested RT-PCR. Out of 91 animals tested, 26 (28.6%) were found to be seropositive by c-ELISA and one sheep showed neutralizing antibody against BTV-1 serotype at a titer of 1.2 log10. Multivalent logistic regression analysis of risk factors like age, sex, body condition and species of animals were considered during the serological study and found that species of animal had significant influence (χ2 = 17.111, P&lt;0.05) in seropositivity of BTV. Goats showed more seropositivity to bluetongue as compared to sheep (OR = 0.233). Other risk factors had no significant influence (P&gt;0.05) on seropositivity. It was worth enough to conclude that higher seroprevalence among goats indicated that goats would be the most important animals in the epidemiology of BTV with less clinical manifestation due to development of acquired immunity as the result of continuous exposure.Keywords: Bluetongue virus (BTV), competitive enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (c-ELISA), goat, seroprevalence, sheep, micro serum neutralization assay (m-SNT), nested reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(19), pp. 2699-270