Tillage and nutrient management influence net global warming potential and greenhouse gas intensity in soybean-wheat cropping system

Conservation tillage has proven advantageous in improving soil health and productivity. However, the greenhouse gases (GHGs) emission and intensity from different conservation tillage and nutrient management systems under Indian conditions are less understood. Therefore, here, we compared the effect of tillage and nutrient management on GHGs emissions, net global warming potential (NGWP), and greenhouse gas intensity (GHGI) from a field experiment under five years in a soybean-wheat cropping system in the Vertisols. The tillage treatments comprised of reduced tillage (RT) and no tillage (NT). The three nutrient management treatments included application of 100% NPK (T1), 100% NPK + 1.0 Mg FYM-C ha-1 (T2), 100% NPK +2.0 Mg FYM-C ha-1 (T3). The results showed significantly higher SOC sequestration under NT (1388 kg ha-1 yr-1) followed byRT (1134 kg ha-1 yr-1) with application of FYM (2.0 Mg C ha-1) (T3) every year. Across tillage, integrated nutrient management(T2 and T3) lowered NGWP and GHGI compared to NPK (T1). The GHGI of NT system was less by 33% compared to RT. The results suggest that GHGs mitigation and sustained food production in the soybean-wheat system can be achieved in NT and RT with integrated use of organic and inorganic fertilizer as the major component of nutrient management.

Food and feeding behaviour of Asiatic elephant (Elephas maximus Linn.) in Kuldiha Wild Life Sanctuary, Odisha, India.

The feeding behaviour of Asiatic elephant (Elephas maximus) with food reference was studied in Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary in Odisha during 2007 to 2009. Though the study area houses a good number of plant species only 71 species were identified as elephant fodder plants. The food trail of elephant was observed as twig breaking, bark peeling, branch breaking, stem twisting uprooting and flower plucking in different regions of study area during different seasons. Alteration of predominantly browsing strategy with that of grazing around the year was related to seasonal variation of food plants. Consumption of tree species (56%) was highest as compared to shrubs (20%), herbs (14%) and climbers (10%). A high degree of variation in dicot- monocot ratio (61:10)) was marked during identification of elephant fodder plant by direct observation. Microscopic analysis of dung showing a high degree of variation in average dicot- monocot ratio suggested that the food plant selection of elephant was highly opportunistic and seasonal. The elephants extensively fed on the plant species like Careya arborea, Kydia calycina, Helicteres isora, Mallotus philippinensis, Aegle marmelos, Zizyphus mauritiana, Bauhinia racemosa, Bauhinia vahlii, Mimosa pudica, Asparagus racemosus, Smilax zeylanica and Diosporea species. They were fond of Madhuca indica (Mahula) flowers in winter and fruits of Mangifera indica (Mango) in summer. They were never found feeding on Tectona grandis and Eucalyptus maculate inside the study area.

Lunar rhythm in the planktonic biomass of the Nicco Park lake, Bhubaneswar.

The lunar cycle imparts certain stimulatory effects on the rhythmic behaviour of plankton and their life processes by which they actively migrate to the surface and gradually sink as the moon fades. This may also result in morphological changes in organisms, such as Lorica which becomes smaller towards the full moon night by changing the size of postero-lateral spines and surface area. In addition, cyclomorphic forms have been observed in zooplankton, which appears to be a suitable achivement for swarming and for the differentiation of sex by secondary sexual characteristics. Lunar rhythm in plankton appears to be governed by an internal clock, that is the "Biological clock".

Purification and partial characterization of PfHRP-II protein of Plasmodium falciparum.

The human malarial parasite Plasmodium falciparum secretes various intra-and extra-cellular proteins during its asexual life cycle in human RBC. Histidine rich protein-II (HRP-II) is one of the most prominent proteins, found to be secreted by P. falciparum throughout the asexual cycle with the peak during mature schizont stage of the parasite development in human IRBC. The high histidine content (35% of the total amino acids in protein) of this protein suggested the potential to bind divalent metal ions. We have demonstrated by metal chelate chromatography, an extraordinary capacity of HRP-II to bind nickel ions (Ni++) and employed this characteristic to purify the extra-cellular HRP-II protein secreted by P. falciparum from culture supernatant. The identity of the purified protein was verified by the relative molecular weight on SDS-PAGE, by reacting with polyclonal antibodies directed against it using Western blot technique.

Diltiazem vs. nifedipine in chilblains: a clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: The treatment of chilblains remains unsatisfactory. Nifedipine in higher doses remains the mainstay of treatment. AIMS: To compare the efficacy of diltiazem with that of nifedipine, and to determine the efficacy of nifedipine in lower doses, 36 chilblains cases were studied. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Group A (12 patients) was treated with diltiazem 60 mg thrice daily, and Group B (24 patients) with 10 mg nifedipine thrice daily till complete relief and then maintained on a sustained release preparation of nifedipine 20 mg twice daily. RESULTS: Two patients in Group A showed complete relief in 7 days, and 3 patients in about 21 days, but in 7 cases there was little or no response. In group B, 21 cases showed 80-90% relief by the fourteenth day. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that nifedipine remains the drug of choice in chilblains but can be used in a smaller dosage in the Indian population. Diltiazem is less effective in the conventional dose, which may be optimized.

Epidermolysis bullosa.

A case of recurrent vesiculobullous eruptions over shins, clinically diagnosed as epidermolysis bullosa of pretibial variety confirmed by electron microscope is reported here as a rare variety of localised epidermolysis bullosa (EB).

Fine needle aspiration as a primary diagnostic procedure of breast lumps.

Two hundred and sixty-seven patients from the ages between 17 to 70 years with breast lumps attending the Cytology Clinic of the Out-patients Department and Cytology Section of the Department of Pathology, M.K.C.G. Medical College, Berhampur (Orissa), were subjected to Fine-Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC). Sixty-four patients were discarded from study because of non-availability of biopsy specimens and unsuitable smears. When cytological results were compared with those of histological sections, 100 per cent correct diagnosis was made in chronic mastitis and lobular carcinoma, 94.24 per cent in infiltrating duct carcinoma and 84.60 percent in duct papilloma and with the maximum over diagnosis to the tune of 14.75 per cent was found in fibro-adenoma. An overall correct diagnosis was made in 88.67 percent of cases by FNAC.

Bilateral involvement of sole and palm in leprosy. A case report.

A case of BT leprosy in reaction with lesions over uncommon (immune) sites like palm and sole has been reported.

Multiple synovial swellings in BT leprosy. A case report.

A case of Leprosy with multiple synovial swellings has been reported. Rarely these swellings may be an initial presentation and at sites other than dorsum of hand or ankle as was in this case. The literature on the subject is briefly reviewed.