Effect of Nano Nitrogen and Nano Zinc on Growth and Yield of Paddy in Paddy-Paddy Cropping System

An investigation on nano nitrogen and nano zinc with different levels of nitrogen approaches on growth and yield of paddy was conducted during rabi and kharif seasons of 2020-21 and 2021-22 at Krishi Vigyana Kendra, Gangavathi, Koppal, Karnataka, India. The experiment was laid out in split-split plot design with three replications, which consisted of four levels of nitrogen in main plots, three levels of nano nitrogen in sub plots and two levels of nano zinc in sub-sub plots. The treatment with application of 125 per cent Recommended Dose of Nitrogen (RDN) has recorded significantly taller plants (97.11 and 96.54 cm), higher number of tillers hill-1 (19.65 and18.14) and total dry matter (70.06 and 64.54 g hill-1) at harvest stage of crop and the Soil Plant Analysis Development (SPAD) values (46.69 and 42.60) and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) values (0.85 and 0.82) at flowering stage of crop, Similarly, foliar spray of nitrogen @ 4000 ppm has recorded significantly higher plant height (95.44 and 91.33 cm), higher number of tillers hill-1 (17.75 and 16.01), total dry matter (66.84 and 62.31 g hill-1) SPAD values at flowering stage (44.89 and 41.29), NDVI values at flowering stage (0.81 and 0.74), grain yield (5623 & and 6840 kg ha-1) and straw yield (5352 and 6581 kg ha-1). Interaction effect showed non-significant effect with different combination treatments.

Caffeic acid and protocatechuic acid modulate Nrf2 and inhibit Ehrlich ascites carcinomas in mice

Objective: To assess the nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor-2 (Nrf2) modulatory effect of caffeic acid and protocatechuic acid and determine the anti-tumor activity of these phenolic compounds against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma growth in mice. Methods: Antioxidant activity of protocatechuic acid and caffeic acid was assessed using ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). Nrf2 activation potential of phenolic compounds was tested by quantitative realtime polymerase chain reaction, and luciferase complementation reporter assays. In vivo efficacy was tested using the Ehrlich ascites carcinoma model. Results: FRAP and DPPH radical scavenging assays showed that caffeic acid and protocatechuic acid were more potent compared with cinnamic acid and benzoic acid. Luciferase complementation reporter assays identified caffeic acid and protocatechuic acid as the activators of Nrf2. Both caffeic acid and protocatechuic acid upregulated the expression of Nrf2 target genes heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCLC), and glutamate-cysteine ligase modifier subunit (GCLM) and the activity of NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) when tested on HCT-116 cells using a cell-based assay system at 9 h. In addition, intraperitoneal administration of caffeic acid and protocatechuic acid to Ehrlich ascites carcinoma bearing mice suppressed tumor growth and angiogenesis. Conclusions: Caffeic acid and protocatechuic acid can modulate Nrf2 and inhibit Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells.

Caffeic acid and protocatechuic acid modulate Nrf2 and inhibit Ehrlich ascites carcinomas in mice

Objective: To assess the nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor-2 (Nrf2) modulatory effect of caffeic acid and protocatechuic acid and determine the anti-tumor activity of these phenolic compounds against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma growth in mice. Methods: Antioxidant activity of protocatechuic acid and caffeic acid was assessed using ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). Nrf2 activation potential of phenolic compounds was tested by quantitative realtime polymerase chain reaction, and luciferase complementation reporter assays. In vivo efficacy was tested using the Ehrlich ascites carcinoma model. Results: FRAP and DPPH radical scavenging assays showed that caffeic acid and protocatechuic acid were more potent compared with cinnamic acid and benzoic acid. Luciferase complementation reporter assays identified caffeic acid and protocatechuic acid as the activators of Nrf2. Both caffeic acid and protocatechuic acid upregulated the expression of Nrf2 target genes heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCLC), and glutamate-cysteine ligase modifier subunit (GCLM) and the activity of NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) when tested on HCT-116 cells using a cell-based assay system at 9 h. In addition, intraperitoneal administration of caffeic acid and protocatechuic acid to Ehrlich ascites carcinoma bearing mice suppressed tumor growth and angiogenesis. Conclusions: Caffeic acid and protocatechuic acid can modulate Nrf2 and inhibit Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells.

Comparison of JSS Formula with Modified Shukla’s Formula for Insertion of Umbilical Venous Catheter: A Randomized Controlled Study

Objective: To compare the rate of optimal position of UVC between modified Shukla’sformula and JSS formula. Methods: Babies requiring umbilical vein catheterization wererandomized to either Shukla or JSS formula group. Post-procedure X-ray was taken tocheck the tip position. Tip of the UVC just above the diaphragm (T9 - T10) was consideredoptimal. Success rate in achieving optimal position between the two groups werecompared. Results: Out of 104 babies recruited, 50 were randomized for Shukla’s formulaand 54 for JSS formula. Catheter tips were in acceptable positions in 39.6% of Shukla groupas compared to 56% in JSS group (P=0.02). Conclusion: The JSS Formula resulted in moreoptimal placement of UVC than the modified Shukla formula.

Pollution migration study in subsurface environment

The sources of groundwater pollution such as, industrial effluents, sewage and extensive farming have lead to agrochemical pollution. Mathematical modeling helps to analyze the existing situation, allows forecasting, and to evaluate the effects of changes in the surrounding water quality. The present research has been focused mainly towards understanding the various processes affecting the transport of chemicals in soils. Dispersion coefficient for the sandy loam soil was found to be 0.247 m[2]/d, 0.150 m[2]/d and 0.01 m[2]/d for nitrates, phosphates and chlorpyriphos through column, and 0.337 m[2]/d, 0.217 m[2]/d and 0.077 m[2]/d for nitrates, phosphates and Chlorpyriphos through channel studies, respectively. For similar analysis of the breakthrough curves, dispersion coefficient for the clay soil was found to be 0.0835 m[2]/d, 0.0632 m[2]/d and 0.008 m[2]/d for nitrates, phosphates and Chlorpyriphos through column and 0.147 m[2]/d, 0.0848 m[2]/d and 0.022 m[2]/d for nitrates, phosphates and Chlorpyriphos through channel studies, respectively. The one-dimensional analytical model has been used and validated with the experimental data obtained from column and channel studies in sandy loam and clay soils and compared with model output [in which total elimination rate "K" is considered as zero. From this a variation of about 40-60 percent in the leaching characteristics of pollutants was being observed [nitrates, phosphates and chlorpyriphos]

Heterotrophic free-living and particle-bound bacterial cell size in the river Cauvery and its downstream tributaries.

This is the first comprehensive study on planktonic heterotrophic bacterial cell size in the river Cauvery and its important tributaries in Karnataka State, India. The initial hypothesis that the mean cell size of planktonic heterotrophic bacteria in the four tributaries are markedly different from each other and also from that in the main river Cauvery was rejected, because all five watercourses showed similar planktonic heterotrophic bacterial cell size. Examination of the correlation between mean heterotrophic bacterial cell size and environmental variables showed four correlations in the river Arkavathy and two in the river Shimsha. Regression analysis revealed that 18%of the variation in mean heterotrophic free-living bacterial cell size was due to biological oxygen demand (BOD)in the river Arkavathy, 11% due to surface water velocity (SWV)in the river Cauvery and 11% due to temperature in the river Kapila. Heterotrophic particle-bound bacterial cell size variation was 28% due to chloride and BOD in the river Arkavathy, 11% due to conductivity in the river Kapila and 8% due to calcium in the river Cauvery. This type of relationship between heterotrophic bacterial cell size and environmental variables suggests that,though the mean heterotrophic bacterial cell size was similar in all the five water courses, different sets of environmental variables apparently control the heterotrophic bacterial cell size in the various water bodies studied in this investigation. The possible cause for this environmental (bottom -up) control is discussed.

Microbial load in mass cultures of green algae Scenedesmus acutus and its processed powder.

Microbial contamination in cultures of the alga, Scenedesmus acutus raised in outdoor open tanks and also in the processed powder of the alga was monitored; The total bacterial population increased with time during the growth period of six days. When a combination of molasses and carbondioxide was employed as carbon source for this alga, the bacterial load increased to 10 colony forming units/ml. Yeast, molds and also coliforms were quantitated. Drum-drying the algae drastically reduced the bacterial load and storing the algal powder for a period of over 3 months did not increase the bacterial load. Pathogens like Salmonella and Staphylococcus were not detectable either in the open cultures or in the drumdried algal powder. Although there are not set standards available in literature on the permissible level of the microbial contamination in algal biomass for use in foods, the microbial load appears to be within the limits of permissible levels stipulated by Indian Standard Institution standards for baby foods.