Serum biochemical profile of two broiler strains supplemented with vitamin E, raw ginger (Zingiber officinale) and L-carnitine under high ambient temperatures

In this study, the authors evaluated the comparative effects of dietary supplementation of ginger (Zingiber officinale), vitamin E and L-carnitine on certain blood parameters of two strains of broilers in summer. A total of 320 broiler chicks (Hubbard and Cobb) were divided into two groups. The two groups were subdivided into four subgroups with four replicates with 10 chicks per replicate. In each strain subgroup was kept as control while other subgroups were provided with ginger (2%), L-carnitine (500 mg/kg) or vitamin E (250 mg/kg) in the basal diet up to 42 days old. Supplementation of the diet with vitamin E, ginger and L-carnitine significantly decreased mean cholesterol, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), glucose, triglyceride, low density lipoprotein (LDL), and increased high density lipoprotein (HDL) and serum protein concentrations. The results of vitamin E were comparatively better than those of the other two feed additives. The blood biochemical parameters did not vary between the broiler strains. From the findings of the current study, it was concluded that high ambient temperature had a negative effect on broiler hepatic and lipid profiles, and the supplementation of diets with vitamin E, ginger and L-carnitine improved broiler blood biochemical parameters.Keywords: Cholesterol, glucose, liver health, antioxidants, heat stres

Isolation and Characterization of Fusarium moniliforme var. subglutinans from Malformed Mango

Mango malformation occurs in most mango growing regions of the world. Floral and vegetative malformation have been reported. There is general agreement that the fungal pathogen Fusarium moniliforme var. subglutinans or Fusarium subglutinans is the causal agent. Healthy and malformed samples of both floral and vegetative tissues were collected from different varieties of mango grown in several locations to verify the association of F.moniliforme with mango malformation disease in Pakistan. The fungus was isolated and cultured. Frequency of fungal association with the disease ranged between 90- 94%, There was less recovery of fungus from asymptomatic tissue (12- 15%). There was no difference among the commercial mango varieties in the level of susceptibility to this disease. However, seedling germplasm and land races showing resistance to mango malformation were identified. The in vitro growth characters of the fungus were determined on different culture media, at varying temperatures, light and pH conditions. Mycelial growth on potato dextrose agar was better than nine other media tested. At pH 7.00, the ideal temperature for growth was between 25-30° C. Normally, the malformation is not controlled by fungicide application. The in vitro sensitivity of fungus to six fungicides at three concentrations was determined to seek potential means of chemical control

A Superspace Formulation of The BV Action for Higher Derivative Theories

We first analyze the anti-BRST and double BRST structures of a certain higher derivative theory that has been known to possess BRST symmetry associated with its higher derivative structure. We discuss the invariance of this theory under shift symmetry in the Batalin Vilkovisky (BV) formalism. We show that the action for this theory can be written in a manifestly extended BRST invariant manner in superspace formalism using one Grassmann coordinate. It can also be written in a manifestly extended BRST invariant manner and on-shell manifestly extended anti-BRST invariant manner in superspace formalism using two Grassmann coordinates.Comment: accepted for publication in EPJ

Preventive Control of Powdery Mildew Disease of Mango

Oidium mangiferae Berthet was found to be associated With the powdery mildew disease of mango. The air- borne conidia are released from the old tissue harboring the dormant fungal hyphae under favorable weather conditions, which produce the disease. Proper forecasting of release of airborne innoculum significantly reduced the required number of sprays needed for chemical control. Spore traps were used to monitor the concentration of airborne conidia during the months of February, March and April 1996 and l997. Daily temperature and relative humidity were noted and the spore counts from the spore traps were correlated to the meteorological data. There was a positive trend between rising temperature, lowering relative humidity and number of spores in the air alter a low temperature, high humidity and cloudy spell of weather. The maximum spore occurrences were noted around 25°C and relative humidity of 40-60%. It took 5-8 days for the emergence of disease symptoms after the first detection of airborne conidia. Ten fungicides were tested on three mango varieties (Langra, Dashehari, and Anwar Retol). The preventive sprays at the stage of first detection of air born conidia were effective in controlling the disease. Optimal timing of two sprays of fungicide were sufficient to provide preventive control (>90%). The susceptibility of inflorescence varied with its developmental stage. Proper forecasting reduced the number of sprays from 7 to 2 or 3. There was no varietal difference in incidence of the disease or response to fungicide applications. During the course of this study, we identified seedling plants which consistently showed resistance to powdery mildew

Nematicidal and allelopathic responses of Lantana camara root extract

The impact of root leachates of Lantana camara L., a tropical weed, against Meloidogyne javanica, the root-knot nematode, was tested under laboratory and pot conditions. Concentrated and diluted root leachate caused substantial mortality of M. javanica juveniles. Significant suppression of the nematode was achieved when soil was treated with a full-strength concentration of the leachate. Whilst this high concentration retarded plant height and shoot fresh weight, more diluted concentrations actually enhanced plant growth. To establish whether this inhibition of plant growth from the leachate was the result of depleted nitrogen levels in the soil due to the leachate, soil treated with such leachates was given urea as an additional nitrogen source. Urea not only enhanced nematode suppression activity of the root leachates but also increased seedling emergence and growth of mungbean. Application of the L. camara root leachates in combination with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium, significantly reduced nematode population densities in roots and subsequent root-knot infection, and enhanced plant growth. While a high concentration of root leachate slightly reduced P. aeruginosa colonization in the rhizosphere and inner root tissues, the nematicidal efficacy of the bacterium was unaffected. The root leachate of L. camara was found to contain phenolic compounds, including p-hydroxybenzoic acid, vanillic acid, caffeic acid, ferulic acid and a quercetin glycoside, 7-glucoside. It also contained weak enzymic hydrogen cyanide

Study of co-relation between Transaminitis and fall in platelet counts in patients with Dengue Fever and its association with severity of clinical presentation

Background: Dengue fever presents with varied presentations which include liver cell injury. This Liver injury manifests as Transaminitis which correlates with clinical severity. A severity of disease is associated with increased transaminases and sequential fall in platelet count which has been observed in this study. Objectives: To study the co relation between raised Liver enzymes and Thrombocytopenia in clinical spectrum of Dengue fever. Methods: In a tertiary referral hospital, 100 confirmed patients were enrolled and observational study was conducted over a period of 18 months. Detailed history, Physical examination done were recorded. Serial platelets counts and Aminotransferase levels were done. Patients were followed up till discharge. Data was analysed using approprate statistical tests. Results: SGOT was mildy increased in 28% of patients, moderately increased in 34% of patients, and severely increased in 38% of patients and SGPT was observed normal in 5%, mildly increased in 47% of patients, moderate increased 22% of patients, and severe increased in 27% of patients. Strong corelation was observed between severity of Transaminitis and Thrombocytopenia (p<0.001) Conclusion: Transaminitis is an important prognostic marker in Dengue fever and can be used early to distinguish between Dengue fever, Dengue hemorrhagic fever and Dengue shock syndrome at time of clinical presentation. The raise of SGOT and SGPT correlated proportionately with the Thrombocytopenia and the spectrum of disease severity

An ultrawideband patch antenna for UHF detection of partial discharge.

The location of partial discharge (PD) sources by free-space UHF detection is an attractive approach for condition monitoring of high voltage equipment in substations. A low-cost, radiometric, PD wireless sensor network (WSN) has been proposed to provide continuous real-time coverage for an entire substation. A suggested band for UHF PD detection is 0.3 – 1.5 GHz. A novel ultrawideband (UWB) printed monopole antenna is presented here for PD WSN applications

Pion emission in 2H, 12C, 27Al, gamma pi+ reactions at threshold

The first data from MAX-lab in Lund, Sweden on pion production in photonuclear reactions at threshold energies, is presented. The decrease of the total yield of pi+ in gamma + 12C, 27Al reactions below 200 MeV as well as differential, dsigma/dOmega, cross sections follow essentially predictions from an intranuclear cascade model with an attractive potential for pion-nucleus interaction in its simplest form. Double differential, d2sigma/dOmegadT, cross sections at 176 MeV show, however, deviations from the model, which call for refinements of nuclear and Coulomb potentials and possibly also for coherent pion production mechanisms.Comment: 19 pages, 7 figure