Search

In the present study the average values of haemoglobin, packed cell volume and N: L ratio were 11.05±0.060, 11.10±0.054, 11.08±0.050 and 11. 06±0.064 gm/dl and 30.61±0.0149, 30.55±0.171, 30.82±0.151 and 30.35±0.085 and 0.900±0.001, 0.901±0.001, 0.902±0.001 and 0.900±0.001, in 100 per cent ICAR feeding, 120 per cent ICAR feeding, routine management and improved management systems, respectively. The packed cell volumes was significantly (P<0.05) influenced by management systems. The average values of serum glucose and total serum protein were 41.64±1.45, 42.21±1.30, 41.54±1.40 and 42.30±1.36 mg/dl and 6.78±0.039, 6.83±0.048, 6.72±0.026 and 6.89±0.028 gm/dl in 100 per cent ICAR feeding, 120 per cent ICAR feeding, routine management and improved management systems, respectively. Total serum protein was highly significant influenced (P<0.01 ) by management systems. The average values of serum albumin and serum cholesterol were 2.84±0.015, 2.86±0.017, 2.82±0.011 and 2.88±0.012 mg/dl and 133.59±1.819, 138.23±1.505, 134.85±1.987 and 136.97±1.826 mg/dl in 100 per cent ICAR feeding, 120 per cent ICAR feeding, routine management and improved management systems, respectively. The serum Albumin was highly significant influenced (P<0.01) by management systems. The average values of serum creatinine and serum triglycerides were 1.01±0.010, 1.04±0.011, 1.02±0.009 and 1.03±0.014 mg/dl and 5.28±0.328, 5.33±0.295, 5.28±0.303 and 5.33±0.321 gm/dl in 100 per cent ICAR feeding, 120 per cent ICAR feeding, routine management and improved management systems, respectively. Total serum protein was highly significant influenced (P<0.01) by management systems. The average values of SGPT and SGOT were 29.69±0.149, 29.85±0.160, 30.00±0.063 and 29.54±0.162 IU/L and 83.59±0.847, 83.66±0.805, 84.64±0.641 and 82.61±0.738 in 100 per cent ICAR feeding, 120 per cent ICAR feeding, routine management and improved management systems, respectively. The SGPT was significantly influenced (P<0.05) by management systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A recent Viewpoint article by Brundrett & Tedersoo ([4]) highlights several challenges connected with assigning mycorrhizal traits to plant species and criticizes the use of mycorrhizal trait databases. Therefore, the distinction between AM plants (with arbuscules) and NM plants with "glomeromycotan fungal colonization" (with no arbuscules or non-functional ones) based on potential nutritional function or lack thereof (Brundrett & Tedersoo), is inconsistent with published observations. A recent comparison of the Brundrett & Tedersoo's "standard reference" and literature-derived databases of European plant species indicated frequently diverging mycorrhizal trait assignment. [Extracted from the article]

Abstract Thermal management technology based on the magnetocaloric effect offers several advantages over conventional gas compression cooling. The efficiency of magnetic cooling systems can be much higher than conventional gas based cooling technologies. Additionally, ozone layer depleting chemicals are not used and there is reduced noise and vibrations. Iron and manganese based magnetocaloric materials (MCM) are promising due to the challenges surrounding the use of conventional rare earth based MCM. We review the recent progress in the development of iron and manganese based MCM. The magnetic phase transitions, processing techniques, performance, as well as applications of these materials are discussed. Critical analysis to determine the critical exponents and phase transition behavior of these MCM, using modified Arrot plot, critical isotherm plots, the Kouvel-Fisher method, Landau theory and the Bean-Rodbell model, is also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Communities of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi assemble passively over time via biotic and abiotic mechanisms. In degraded soils, AM fungal communities can assemble actively when humans manage mycorrhizas for ecosystem restoration.We investigated mechanisms of urban AM fungal community assembly in a 2‐yr green roof experiment. We compared AM fungal communities in inoculated and uninoculated trays to samples from two potential sources: the inoculum and air.Active inoculation stimulated more distinct and diverse AM fungal communities, an effect that intensified over time. In the treatment trays, 45% of AM fungal taxa were detected in the inoculum, 2% were detected in aerial samples, 23% were detected in both inoculum and air, and 30% were not detected in either source.Passive dispersal of AM fungi likely resulted in the successful establishment of a small number of species, but active inoculation with native AM fungal species resulted in an immediate shift to a diverse and unique fungal community. When urban soils are constructed or modified by human activity, this is an opportunity for intervention with AM fungi that will persist and add diversity to that system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanochemical processing is an environmentally friendly, low temperature and low cost technique to synthesize hard magnetic nanoparticles. However, it is challenging to control, monitor and optimize this process. Hence, a kinetic study of mechanochemically processed Nd 2 (Fe,Co) 14 B hard magnetic nanoparticles was carried out. Nd 2 (Fe,Co) 14 B hard magnetic nanoparticles were synthesized through mechanochemical milling of Nd 2 O 3 , Fe 2 O 3 , CoO and B 2 O 3 in the presence of Ca. This process was monitored by measuring CaO content at different milling times. The process was found to consist of 3 stages: (i) fast amorphization of precursor oxides, (ii) reduction of precursor oxides, leading to the formation of the desired phase and (iii) steady-state. The kinetics of this process were modeled and compared to experiment. It was found that the maximum milling efficiency was achieved at a ball milling speed of 550 rpm. The synthesized Nd 2 (Fe,Co) 14 B particles exhibited coercivity values of up to 9.4 kOe; the coercivity increased with increasing crystallite size and lattice parameter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Mycorrhizas are among the most common symbioses on Earth, impacting plant community structure and ecosystem functioning, yet little landscape-scale data linking mycorrhizal fungal diversity to biotic and abiotic properties exist to inform conservation. We examined arbuscular mycorrhizal ( AM) fungal diversity in tropical and temperate locations and identified potential drivers of species distributions and diversity for use as proxy indicators in biodiversity conservation. Location AM fungal communities were documented at 60 sites in the Colorado Plateau in south-western United States and La Gran Sabana in south-eastern Venezuela. Methods Communities of plants and AM fungi and abiotic variables were measured along 50-m transects in three vegetation types (shrublands, forests, and traditional agricultural fields). Model selection and multivariate analyses were used to evaluate environmental predictors of AM fungal diversity and community structure. Results AM fungal species richness (α diversity) and community structure, but not among-site turnover (β diversity), differed between tropical and temperate locations; only 15% of taxa were present in both locations. In unmanaged sites, AM fungal richness was not correlated with plant richness, but instead predicted by soil pH and temperature (temperate) or precipitation and latitude (tropics). The structure of AM fungal communities was influenced by plant identity but not plant diversity in both locations. Traditional, sedentary Hopi agriculture influenced AM fungal communities on the Colorado Plateau, but Pemón shifting slash-and-burn agriculture did not alter AM fungal communities at La Gran Sabana. At both locations, AM fungal community structure was linked to soil texture and nitrogen. Main conclusions Our study demonstrates similarity between tropical and temperate regions in the biotic and abiotic drivers of landscape-scale AM fungal species distributions. Soil and climate as well as habitat heterogeneity may serve as proxy indicators of AM fungal communities for use in conservation planning to preserve the ecosystem functions and services of mycorrhizas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among the fungal diseases, sheath blight, caused by multinucleate Rhizoctoniasolani Kuhn (teleomorph: Thanatephorus cucumeris Donk), a ubiquitous pathogen, is an important fungal disease of rice ranking only after blast and often rivalling it. The potential losses due to sheath blight alone in India has been up to 51.3%. In this study an attempt was made to investigate the antifungal efficacy of botanicals viz., neem (Azadirachtaindica), tulsi (Ocimum sanctum), garlic (Allium sativum), onion (Allium cepa), ginger (Zingiberofficinale) and various fungicides namely mancozeb, propiconazole, hexaconazole, carbendazim, and copper oxychlorideagainst Rhizoctoniasolani in vitro by poison food technique. R. solaniwas allowed to grow at 5%,10% concentrations of botanicals and at 200, 500, 1000ppm of fungicides amended potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium. The effect of botanicals and fungicides on mycelial growth inhibition was recorded after 36, 48 and 72 post hrs inoculation (phi). It was observed that bulb extract of Allium sativumand rhizome extract of Zingiberofficinalesuppressed the mycelial growth (80.19 and 76.32, respectively) @ 10% followed by leaf extract of Azadirachtaindica(72.78 %) after 72 phi. Among the fungicides, the complete fungal growth inhibition was observed in propiconazole and carbendazim fungicides amended medium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The antibacterial activity of as-synthesised TiO2nanoparticles (NPs) is determined on biofilm formed byEnterobactersp. (1.25 μm, Gram-negative bacteria). Nano-sized particles were characterised and their biological interaction was studied by electron microscopy images that revealed the complete entrapment of NPs into the mucilaginous polysaccharide ofEnterobactersp. leading to membrane damage at even low concentration of NPs i.e. 700 μg mL−1under 72 h of incubation. At this condition, the antibacterial characteristic was observed to be the highest as confirmed by calculating the population of bacterial cell growth with respect to concentration of NPs. The mechanism of biological interaction is the formation of NPs agglomerates that are effective in ‘plugging’ the bacterial outermost layer and cause destruction. Our results confirm that nano-sized TiO2particles are potent inhibitors of bacterial biofilm and thus can be utilised to treat wound infection which is otherwise challenging and is not reported till date. Antibacterial characteristics by TiO2(anatase phase) nanoparticles of size between 40 and 100 nm were noted against the biofilm formed by Gram-negative bacteria when the concentration of nanoparticles was varied from 300 to 1300 μg mL−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]