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Field experiment to assess the impact of radiation, temperature and foliar N application on rice was conducted. The treatments comprised of four sunlight levels, [control, 50% intensity during start to maximum tillering (R15–45), maximum tillering to booting (R46–75) and panicle emergence to maturity (R76–105) corresponding to 15–45, 46–75 and 76–105 days after transplanting] and 5 levels of foliar nitrogen [control, spray of 3% urea solution in water before (NB), midway (NM), afterwards (NA) and midway + afterwards (NMA) reduction in sunlight]. Results showed that leaf chlorophyll had an inverse relationship with radiation intensity. The R46–75 significantly reduced effective tillers (13.1–16.4%), R46–75 and R76–105 reduced grains/panicle (7.15–12.5%) as compared to control. NB produced significantly higher effective tillers (21.9–24.7%) and grains/panicle (12.2–12.9%) as compared to control. The reduction in sunlight and application of foliar nitrogen increased the minimum cooking time and decreased elongation ratio. Averaged over locations, R15–45, R46–75 and R76–105 decreased the yield significantly as compared to control by 9.29–11.3, 14.4–16.3 and 8.17–10.6%, respectively. The NB significantly increased grain yield as compared to control by 10.3% (Ludhiana) and 9.45% (Hoshiarpur). A decrease in maximum temperature (T max) by 2.85–5.70% (1–2°C) of 35.1°C, at 1416 μmol/m2/s of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) increased rice productivity by 10.6–21.0%, while a similar decrease in PAR by 2.85–5.70% at a T max of 35.1°C, decreased the productivity by 2.05–4.10%. So, decrease in T max due to cloudy weather might have a positive influence while negative impact of deficit radiation may be mitigated by foliar application of 3% urea prior to/during the cloudy weather. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, utilization of Sal (Shorea robusta) deoiled seed cake (DOC), a forest industrial biomass residue as substrate for solid-state fermentation (SSF) was attempted for the microbial growth and production of industrially useful enzyme: tannase. Work was carried out to find the optimal conditions of SSF using Sal DOC as substrate for tannase production by exploiting the laboratory isolated Aspergillus flavus. Following optimization, further studies were undertaken to (a) scale up the SSF process for tannase production, (b) enzyme characterization, and (c) partial purification of tannase. Salt solution of pH 5.0 as moistening agent; substrate to moistening agent ratio of 1:1 (w/v); inoculums size, 107 spores/ml; inoculum age, 72 h; incubation temperature, 28 °C; and incubation time, 72 h, were found to be the best fermentation conditions. The supplementation of additional carbon and nitrogen sources did not stimulate the tannase production, indicating the presence of sufficient nutrients in Sal DOC. A maximum of 599 U/gds of enzyme production was reached under optimized conditions which could further be enhanced to 661U/gds (1.10-folds) under upscale SSF. The enzymatic properties of tannase revealed pH and temperature optima to be 5.5 and 60 °C, respectively. Partially purified tannase could successfully be applied for the enzymatic hydrolysis of Terminalia chebula (myrobalan) tannins for gallic acid production. These results show a sustainable approach for the utilization of this abundantly available Sal DOC biomass through solid-state fermentation for the production of an industrial and costly enzyme, tannase. The produced tannase has potential in the synthesis of gallic acid and may find suitable application in food and pharmaceutical industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malaria is one of the most important parasitic diseases in humans affecting 103 countries worldwide. Aims: The present study aims to determine the diagnostic utility of cell counter data - hemoglobin, total leukocyte count, platelet count and depolarized laser light (DLL)-based purple-coded events (PCEs) in detection of acute malaria. This is a retrospective study of 523 patient data that came for complete blood count for the first time. Results : One hundred thirty-five of the 523 patients showed microscopic evidence of malaria. Platelet count showed the highest sensitivity of 77.77% (105/135). PCEs (≥1) showed 43.7% (59/135) sensitivity. Conclusions : It is concluded that a low platelet count (< 150 x 109/L) is a good hematological parameter for presumptive diagnosis of malaria. If we change the cut-off for PCEs from ≥1 to ≥2, the sensitivity would be 56.29% (76/135) and the specificity would be 94.58% (367/388), respectively. The sensitivity of DLL was low, particularly with a low parasitic index (PI). The number of PCEs does not correlate with the PI. The cut-off number of PCEs in DLL-based malaria detection should be modified in highly endemic areas.

The landfill leachate contains high level of heavy metals which ultimately contaminate either groundwater, surface water or both owing to infiltration and surface runoff. These heavy metals have no useful role in human life and may be toxic even at trace concentration and ultimately causes serious health concern. Thus the removal of heavy metals from landfill leachate is necessary and one of the effective ways to minimize the further contamination. In this article Kaolinite is used as an adsorbent to remove lead and copper ions through the batch adsorption process. The maximum removal efficiency of 81.96% was observed for lead and 57.58% for copper with 20 g/l of kaolinite. Thus, it can be observed that kaolinite has a good potential to be used for the removal of heavy metal ions from landfill leachate as it is cost effective, abundant and easily available adsorbent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sol-gel methodology was exploited for the production of Mn0.3Co0.2Zn0.5Fe2O4 ferrite nanoparticles, at different sintering temperatures (750, 950, and 1150 °C). The nanometer size crystallites were evaluated utilizing the Debye Scherrer formulae in the X-ray diffraction (XRD) study. The two bands manifested in Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra near 600 cm−1 (tetrahedral site) and 400 cm−1 (octahedral site) ratify the formation of spinel structure for all sintering temperatures. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) micrographs estimate the average size of the particle by using ImageJ software and reveal the agglomerated grains, which are inhomogeneous in shape and size. Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) study confirms the stoichiometry and composition of the synthesized specimens. For an enhancement in the sintering temperature, the enhancement in the saturation magnetization was perceived in the magnetic studies by using a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). With regard to all incorporated samples, the squareness ratio was assessed to be under 0.5 which assimilates to a multi-domain structure. For all scan rates and current densities, the prepared Mn0.3Co0.2Zn0.5Fe2O4 (1150 °C) had the higher value of the specific capacitance as portrayed through the electrochemical study. Highlights: Sol-gel technique was adopted to prepare Mn0.3Co0.2Zn0.5Fe2O4 nanoparticles. Pure spinel phase structure with cubic symmetry was observed at 1150 °C. With the sintering temperature agglomeration of the gains was observed. The magnetic properties can be tuned with the sintering temperature. At 10 mV s−1, the maximal specific capacitance of 281.04 F g−1 was attained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present research deals in preparing Mn0.3Co0.2Zn0.5Fe2O4 (spinel ferrite) by sol–gel procedure, polyaniline (PANI) by chemical oxidative method, and Mn0.3Co0.2Zn0.5Fe2O4-PANI nanocomposite by physical blending method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) study affirms the formation of Mn0.3Co0.2Zn0.5Fe2O4-PANI nanocomposite owing to the appearance of two different types of peaks: sharp Mn0.3Co0.2Zn0.5Fe2O4 peaks, and broader PANI peaks. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) of Mn0.3Co0.2Zn0.5Fe2O4-PANI nanocomposite shows all characteristic vibrational bands, which are observed in the Mn0.3Co0.2Zn0.5Fe2O4 and PANI spectra. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) micrographs have been employed for measuring the average particle size by using ImageJ software. The encapsulation of the synthesized ferrite nanoparticle with the PANI matrix is exhibited by the FESEM micrograph of Mn0.3Co0.2Zn0.5Fe2O4-PANI nanocomposite. The electrochemical activity of the novel Mn0.3Co0.2Zn0.5Fe2O4-PANI nanocomposite is manifested to be higher as compared to their counterparts on account of synergistic impact, continual movement of electrons toward the electrode, and multiple redox reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]