Boosting wheat yield, profitability and NUE with prilled and nano urea in conservation tillage.

Rice-wheat production in the Indo-gangetic plains (IGPs) of India faces major concerns such as depleting resources, rice residue burning, excessive fertilizer use, and decreasing nitrogen use efficiency. These issues threaten sustainable crop production in the future. Therefore, a field study was conducted during the winter seasons of 2020-21 and 2021-22 to evaluate the effect of combined conventional and nano fertilizers on nitrogen application just before or after irrigation to improve wheat productivity, profitability and NUE under conservation tillage. The study evaluated eight treatment combinations of nitrogen application through conventionally applied urea (46% N) and foliar applied nano urea (4% N) under zero tillage with rice residue retention. Results revealed that growth, physiological indices, yield, and quality parameters were enhanced with the application of 150 kg N/ha in three equal splits as basal and just before 1st and 2nd irrigation alone (T2) or along with a spray of nano urea (T5) compared to other treatments. T5 recorded 7.2%, 8.5%, and 7.8% more plant dry matter, number of tillers, and grain yield, respectively, over the conventional practice of applying 150 kg N/ha in three equal splits as basal and 7-10 days after 1st and 2nd irrigation (T3, farmers practice). Although, T2 showed similar results to T5, T5 recorded significantly higher gross ($2542/ha) and net returns ($1279/ha) than the other treatments. However, the benefit-cost ratio of T2 and T5 was same (2.01). A significant and positive correlation coefficient between grain yield and physiological parameters such as CCI and NDVI confirmed that increasing the nitrogen dose enhanced the chlorophyll content, greenness, and plant vigor. Based on the results, it can be concluded that applying 150 kg N/ha in three equal splits as basal and just before 1st and 2nd irrigation under conservation agriculture, along with a single spray of nano urea (4% N) at 60-65 days after sowing, can improve growth, yield attributes, wheat yield, and NUE compared to farmers practice (T3) in India.

Challenges and opportunities in productivity and sustainability of rice cultivation system: a critical review in Indian perspective.

Abstract: Rice-wheat cropping system, intensively followed in Indo-Gangetic plains (IGP), played a prominent role in fulfilling the food grains demand of the increasing population of South Asia. In northern Indian plains, some practices such as intensive rice cultivation with traditional method for long-term have been associated with severe deterioration of natural resources, declining factor productivity, multiple nutrients deficiencies, depleting groundwater, labour scarcity and higher cost of cultivation, putting the agricultural sustainability in question. Varietal development, soil and water management, and adoption of resource conservation technologies in rice cultivation are the key interventions areas to address these challenges. The cultivation of lesser water requiring crops, replacing rice in light-textured soil and rainfed condition, should be encouraged through policy interventions. Direct seeding of short duration, high-yielding and stress tolerant rice varieties with water conservation technologies can be a successful approach to improve the input use efficiency in rice cultivation under medium-heavy-textured soils. Moreover, integrated approach of suitable cultivars for conservation agriculture, mechanized transplanting on zero-tilled/unpuddled field and need-based application of water, fertilizer and chemicals might be a successful approach for sustainable rice production system in the current scenario. In this review study, various challenges in productivity and sustainability of rice cultivation system and possible alternatives and solutions to overcome such challenges are discussed in details.

Sustainable intensification of maize and wheat cropping system through pulse intercropping.

The intercropping of legumes with cereals help to achieve sustainable intensification by their mutual complementarity at efficiently using radiation, nutrients, etc. Several studies indicated such beneficial effects on the other component crop however, little research has been conducted to quantify their effects on the subsequent crop in a cropping system. In this study, the effect of the legume intercropping on the entire cropping system, particularly the maize + legume-wheat system was studied. Four legumes intercropped to maize followed by wheat crop were studied for intensification measures such as wheat equivalent yield (WEY), land equivalent ratio (LER), sustainable value index (SVI), and economic returns. N saving effect of legumes on the subsequent wheat crop was quantified with two N levels. Maize + cowpea-wheat combination was the most productive and economic intercrop combination (LER = 1.71, SVI = 0.96) with an increase in net economic return (43.63%) with a B:C ratio of 1.94. An additional 25% N (37.5 kg ha-1) was saved in the wheat crop when the legume intercropping was undertaken with maize. The results suggest that intercropping is the key to diversification and reduces the risk of crop failures by enhancing land-use efficiency, soil fertility, and economic returns under weather vagaries. This will be beneficial to small and marginal farmers of many countries.

COVID-19: a conundrum to decipher.

OBJECTIVE: Recent worldwide outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of respiratory coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is a current, ongoing life-threatening crisis, and international public health emergency. The early diagnosis and management of the disease remains a major challenge. In this review, we aim to summarize the updated epidemiology, causes, clinical manifestation and diagnosis, as well as prevention and control of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A broad search of the literature was performed in "PubMed" "Medline" "Web of Science", "Google Scholar" and "World Health Organization-WHO" using the keywords "severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus", "2019-nCoV", "COVID-19, "SARS", "SARS-CoV-2" "Epidemiology" "Transmission" "Pathogenesis" "Clinical Characteristics". We reviewed and documented the information obtained from literature on epidemiology, pathogenesis and clinical appearances of SARS-CoV-2 infection. RESULTS: The global cases of COVID-19 as of April 2, 2020, have risen to more than 900,000 and morbidity has reached more than 47,000. The incidence rate for COVID-19 has been predicted to be higher than the previous outbreaks of other coronavirus family members, including those of SARS-CoV and the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV). The main clinical presentation of SARS-CoV-2 infection ranges from asymptomatic stages to severe lower respiratory infection in the form of pneumonia. Most of the patients also presented with fever, cough, sore throat, headache, fatigue, myalgia and breathlessness. Individuals at higher risk for severe illness include elderly people and patients with a weakened immune system or that are suffering from an underlying chronic medical condition like hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cancer, respiratory illness or cardiovascular diseases. CONCLUSIONS: SARS-Cov-2 has emerged as a worldwide threat, currently affecting 170 countries and territories across the globe. There is still much to be understood regarding SARS-CoV-2 about its virology, epidemiology and clinical management strategies; this knowledge will be essential to both manage the current pandemic and to conceive comprehensive measures to prevent such outbreaks in the future.

Involvement of phosphoesterases in tributyl phosphate degradation in Sphingobium sp. strain RSMS.

A tri- and dibutyl phosphate (TBP/DBP) non-degrading spontaneous mutant, Sphingobium SS22, was derived from the Sphingobium sp. strain RSMS (wild type). Unlike the wild type strain, Sphingobium SS22 could not grow in a minimal medium supplemented with TBP or DBP as the sole source of carbon or phosphorous. Sphingobium SS22 also did not form any of the intermediates or end products of TBP or DBP degradation, namely DBP, butanol or inorganic phosphate. Proteomic analysis revealed the absence of three prominent proteins in Sphingobium SS22 as compared to wild type. These proteins were identified by MALDI mass spectrometry, and they showed similarities to phosphohydrolase- and exopolyphosphatase-like proteins from other bacteria, which belong to the class of phosphoesterases. Cellular proteins of Sphingobium SS22 showed none or negligible phosphodiesterase (PDE) and phosphomonoesterase (PME) activities at pH 7 and displayed approximately five- and approximately twofold less DBP and monobutyl phosphate (MBP) degradation activity, respectively, in comparison to the wild type strain. In-gel zymographic analysis revealed two PDE and PME activity bands in the wild type strain, one of which was absent in the Sphingobium SS22 mutant. The corresponding proteins from the wild type strain could degrade DBP and MBP. The results demonstrate the involvement of phosphoesterase enzymes in the TBP degradation pathway elucidated earlier.

Removal of americium from aqueous nitrate solutions by sorption onto PC88A-impregnated macroporous polymeric beads.

The removal of Am (III) ions from aqueous solutions was studied by solid-liquid extraction using indigenously synthesized Extractant Impregnated Macroporous Polymeric Beads (EIMPBs). These beads were prepared by an in situ phase inversion method using polyethersulfone (PES) as base polymer and 2-ethylhexyl phosphonic acid mono-2-ethylhexyl ester (PC88A) as an extractant. The synthesized EIMPBs were characterized by FTIR, TGA and SEM techniques. The batch equilibration study using these beads for the uptake of Am (III) was carried out as a function of parameters, like pH, equilibration time, Am (III) concentration, etc. The blank polymeric beads, without PC88A, have shown negligible sorption of Am (III) under the experimental conditions. The experimental data on the sorption behavior of Am (III) on the polymeric beads fitted well in the pseudo-second-order kinetics model. The synthesized polymeric beads exhibited very good sorption capacity for Am (III) at pH 3. The reusability of the beads was also ascertained by repetitive sorption/desorption of Am (III) up to 10 cycles of operation, without any significant change in their sorption characteristics.

Uptake of hazardous radionuclides within layered chalcogenide for environmental protection.

Ensuring environmental protection in and around nuclear facilities is a matter of deep concern. Toward this, layered chalcogenide with CdI2 crystal structure has been prepared. Structural characterizations of layered chalcogenide suggest 'topotactic ionic substitution' as the dominant mechanism behind uptake of different cations within its lattice structure. An equilibration time of 45 min and volume to mass ratio of 30:1 are found to absorb (233)U, (239)Pu, (106)Ru, (85+89)Sr, (137)Cs and (241)Am radionuclides to the maximum extents.

Tributyl phosphate biodegradation to butanol and phosphate and utilization by a novel bacterial isolate, Sphingobium sp. strain RSMS.

A Sphingobium sp. strain isolated from radioactive solid waste management site (RSMS) completely degraded 7.98 g/L of tributyl phosphate (TBP) from TBP containing suspensions in 3 days. It also completely degraded 20 mM dibutyl phosphate (DBP) within 2 days. The strain tolerated high levels of TBP and showed excellent stability with respect to TBP degradation over several repeated subcultures. On solid minimal media or Luria Bertani media supplemented with TBP, the RSMS strain showed a clear zone of TBP degradation around the colony. Gas chromatography and spectrophotometry analyses identified DBP as the intermediate and butanol and phosphate as the products of TBP biodegradation. The RSMS strain utilized both TBP and DBP as the sole source of carbon and phosphorous for its growth. The butanol released was completely utilized by the strain as a carbon source thereby leaving no toxic residue in the medium. Degradation of TBP or DBP was found to be suppressed by high concentration of glucose which also inhibited TBP or DBP dependent growth. The results highlight the potential of Sphingobium sp. strain RSMS for bioremediation of TBP and for further molecular investigation.

Supported liquid membrane transport studies on Am(III), Pu(IV), U(VI) and Sr(II) using irradiated TODGA.

Transport behaviour of actinides viz. Am(3+), Pu(4+) and UO(2)(2+) was investigated from nitric acid feed conditions using PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) flat sheet supported liquid membranes (SLM) containing an irradiated solvent system comprising of N,N,N',N'-tetra-n-octyldiglycolamide (TODGA) as the carrier extractant and N,N-di-n-hexyloctanamide (DHOA) as the phase modifier. The present studies were carried out in order to understand the effect of irradiation on the long term reusability of the SLM and the decontamination behaviour in the absorbed dose range of 0-100 MRad. The studies using irradiated carrier included those with irradiated TODGA without any phase modifier and with 0.1M as well as 0.5M DHOA as the phase modifier. Transport behaviour of all the metal ions were found to be seriously affected with increasing radiation dose which was reflected in the decreasing percentage transport (%T) as well as permeability co-efficient (P) values. Though Sr(II) transport was quite significant with all the three unirradiated solvent systems, it was surprisingly low (<5%) when solvents exposed to 100 MRad dose were used in the SLM. Separation factors (S.F.) of the actinides over Sr(II) were calculated and were found to increase at higher radiation doses suggesting possibility of getting better decontamination on prolonged use of the supported liquid membrane system.

Facilitated transport of Pd(II) through a supported liquid membrane (SLM) containing N,N,N',N'-tetra-(2-ethylhexyl) thiodiglycolamide T(2EH)TDGA: a novel carrier.

A novel carrier, N,N,N',N'-tetra-(2-ethylhexyl) thiodiglycolamide, T(2EH)TDGA has been studied for transport of Pd(II) from nitric acid medium across a supported liquid membrane (SLM). Pd(II) was found to be almost quantitatively transported (≈ 99.9%) within 2h from 3.0M HNO(3) medium using 0.05 M T(2EH)TDGA in n-dodecane as carrier and 0.01 M thiourea in 0.2M HNO(3) as strippant. Pd(II) transport was also studied against various parameters like feed acidity, carrier concentration, membrane pore size, etc. Palladium transport was found to be diffusion controlled and the diffusion co-efficient value was found to be 3.56 × 10(-5)cm(2)/s. Selectivity of T(2EH)TDGA for palladium over other fission products was found to be quite high, with the separation factors for Pd, with respect to different fission products being >10(3). With respect to leaching out of carrier from the membrane support, the membrane was found to be stable for six consecutive cycles. Thus, T(2EH)TDGA can be used as an efficient carrier of Pd(II) from nitric acid medium.

Facilitated transport of uranium(VI) across supported liquid membranes containing T2EHDGA as the carrier extractant.

Facilitated transport of uranyl ion from nitric acid feed solutions was investigated across PTFE supported liquid membranes using N,N,N',N'-tetra-2-ethylhexyl-3-pentane-diamide (T2EHDGA) in n-dodecane as the carrier extractant containing 30% iso-decanol as the phase modifier. Solvent extraction studies indicated extraction of species of the type, UO(2)(NO(3))(2)·T2EHDGA. The distribution coefficients increased in the presence of NaNO(3) as compared to equivalent concentration of HNO(3) which was exactly the opposite of what was reported for Am(III)-TODGA extraction system. Supported liquid membrane studies indicated about 11h were required for quantitative transport of U(VI) from a feed of 3M HNO(3) using 0.2M T2EHDGA in n-dodecane containing 30% iso-decanol as the carrier extractant. Effect of various parameters such as feed acidity, T2EHDGA concentration, and nature of the strippant on the transport rate was investigated. The transport was found to be diffusion controlled in the membrane phase and the permeability coefficient was calculated to be (3.20 ± 0.13)× 10(-4)cm/s for the feed composition of 3M HNO(3), receiver phase composition of 0.01 M HNO(3) and membrane carrier phase of 0.2M T2EHDGA in n-dodecane containing 30% iso-decanol. The present results may be useful for the separation of U from lean solutions or radioactive wastes considered hazardous due to the presence of alpha-particle emitting radionuclides.

Removal of 241Am from aqueous nitrate solutions by liquid surfactant membrane containing 2-ethylhexyl phosphonic acid mono-2-ethylhexyl ester as ion carrier.

A liquid surfactant membrane (LSMs) containing 2-ethylhexyl phosphonic acid mono-2-ethylhexyl ester (H(2)A(2)) was tested for the extraction of americium(III) from aqueous nitrate solutions of different compositions. Span 80 a surface-active agent and 0.5M HNO(3) were used as emulsion stabilizer and internal phase respectively in the LSM system. Influence of some important experimental parameters such as pH of the exterior phase, ionic impurities in the exterior phase, concentration of H(2)A(2) and Span80 in liquid membrane phase on the LSM permeation process was systematically studied. The maximum efficiency of Am(III) extraction among group of experiments was 93+/-2% with modified permeability coefficient=1.21+/-0.02min(-1) and the corresponding concentration factor of Am(III) in the receiving phase was 10.5+/-0.2. Extraction of commonly associated fission product elements such as (137)Cs, (152,154)Eu, (90)Sr, (95)Zr, (144)Ce, (95)Nb and (103)Ru was also investigated from feed solution in the exterior phase adjusted at different pH. In a single batch of extraction, more than 90% removal and about 10 times concentration of Am(III) was obtained from uranium and plutonium depleted (process of Plutonium Uranium Recovery by Extraction) waste solution. A complete demulsification of metal loaded emulsion was obtained by chemical using 2-ethylhexanol and physical using freeze thaw method.

EPR investigations on radiation induced chemical transformations in Pd(ClO4)2/i-PrOH/HClO4 system from 77 to 300 K.

The EPR studies have been carried out on gamma irradiated samples of Pd(ClO4)2 in 9 M/4M HClO4 in the presence and absence of isopropanol [i-PrOH (5%, v/v)], in the temperature range of 77-300 K. The EPR studies revealed the formation of Pd+ complex, Pd3+ complex and several radicals such as H., OH., ClO3., ClO4. and O3- on radiolysis of these systems. Reduction of Pd2+ to Pd clusters could not be observed in the absence of i-PrOH and warming of the irradiated sample finally resulted in recovery of Pd2+ complex. However, in the presence of 5% i-PrOH, strongly oxidizing radicals like OH., ClO3. and ClO4. are suppressed and (CH3)2C.OH radical was produced along with reducing species like H.. EPR spectra in these strongly reducing conditions showed formation of Pd+ complex, which on heating above 230 K, disproportionated into Pd0 and Pd2+ complex and finally lead to formation of Pd metal aggregates. Simultaneously, pulse radiolysis technique has been employed as an alternative method to verify the EPR observations.

Regulatory considerations for preclinical development of anticancer drugs.

The entry of new anticancer treatments into phase I clinical trials is ordinarily based on relatively modest preclinical data. This report defines the battery of preclinical tests important for assessing safety under an Investigational New Drug application (IND) and outlines a basis for extrapolating starting doses of investigational anticancer drugs in phase I clinical trials from animal toxicity studies. Types of preclinical studies for the support of marketing of a new anticancer drug are also discussed. This report addresses differences and similarities in the preclinical development of cytotoxic drugs (including photosensitizers and targeted delivery products), drugs used chronically (chemopreventive drugs, hormonal drugs, immunomodulators), and drugs intended to enhance the efficacy (MDR-reversing agents and radiation/chemotherapy sensitizers) or diminish the toxicity of currently used anticancer therapies. Factors to consider in the design of preclinical studies of combination therapies, alternative therapies, and adjuvant therapies in the treatment of cancer, and to support changes in clinical formulations or route of administration, are also discussed.

Hepatoprotective activity of Boerhaavia diffusa L. roots--a popular Indian ethnomedicine.

The roots of Boerhaavia diffusa L., commonly known as 'Punarnava', are used by a large number of tribes in India for the treatment of various hepatic disorders. In the present study the effect of seasons, thickness of roots and form of dose (either aqueous or powder) were studied for their hepatoprotective action to prove the claims made by the different tribes of India. The hepatoprotective activity of roots of different diameters collected in three seasons, rainy, summer and winter, was examined in thioacetamide intoxicated rats. The results showed that an aqueous extract (2 ml/kg) of roots of diameter 1-3 cm, collected in the month of May (Summer), exhibited marked protection of a majority of serum parameters, i.e. GOT, GPT, ACP and ALP, but not GLDH and bilirubin, thereby suggesting the proper size and time of collection of B. diffusa L. roots for the most desirable results. Further, the studies also proved that the aqueous form of drug (2 ml/kg) administration has more hepatoprotective activity than the powder form; this is probably due to the better absorbtion of the liquid form through the intestinal tract.

Arachidonic acid metabolism and cell proliferation in rat mammary carcinoma cells treated with indomethacin.

To determine the specificity of action of indomethacin as an inhibitor of cyclooxygenase in the mammary epithelium, cell proliferation and levels of PGE2 and LTB4 were quantitated in 13762 MAT rat mammary carcinoma cells treated with 10(-4) to 10(-10) M concentrations of drug. Suppression of proliferation of 13762 MAT cells by indomethacin was associated with reduced levels of both PGE2 and LTB4. The antiproliferative activity of indomethacin in rat mammary carcinoma cells may be modulated through inhibition of both cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways of arachidonic acid metabolism.

Mechanical stress mechanisms and the cell. An endothelial paradigm.

There are important physiological and pathological cardiovascular consequences related to endothelial biomechanical properties. The endothelium, however, is not unique in responding to external forces; virtually all cells accommodate or respond to the mechanical environment.

Characterization of GP110, a neutrophil surface protein.

Localized juvenile periodontosis is associated with a defect of neutrophil chemotaxis that is characterized by selective depletion of a surface protein with a molecular mass of 110 kDa (GP110). Data on partial characterization of GP110 suggest that it is a glycoprotein which is enriched in Lys, Glu, His, Leu, and Ala residues.