Growth, yield and nitrogen uptake in rice crop grown under elevated carbon dioxide and different doses of nitrogen fertilizer

Climate change associated with rising atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration may have impact on crop production and soil health. Increase in atmospheric CO2 concentration may enhance crop growth with higher demand for nutrients by the crop. An experiment was conducted during July-October, 2013 using Free Air Carbon Dioxide Enrichment facility at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi to study the impact of elevated CO2 and nitrogen (N) dose on growth, yield and nitrogen uptake in rice crop. Four doses of N, i.e., control, 0.6 g N pot-1 (75% recommended dose of N), 0.8 g N pot-1 (100% recommended dose of N) and 1.0 g N pot-1 (125% recommended dose of N) were applied in both ambient (395 ppm) and elevated CO2 (550±20 ppm) conditions. Grain and biomass yield of rice was significantly higher under elevated CO2 condition. Plant growth and yield parameters also increased with increased N doses in both elevated and ambient CO2 conditions. Nitrogen concentration of grain and straw decreased under high CO2 level but N uptake increased under elevated CO2 condition. Agronomic efficiency of N was higher under elevated CO2 while recovery efficiency of N remained unaffected. The study showed that although yield of rice increases under elevated CO2 condition, to maintain plant nitrogen concentration, application of additional dose of N is required.

Radio-iodine (NaI131) therapy in hyperthyroidism.

Iodine131 is well recognised as an ideal isotope for treatment of hyperthyroidism. NaI131 therapy is considered as the simplest, safest, least expensive and most effective form of therapy for most patients. This form of therapy can be applied to all categories of patients except in pregnant and nursing mothers who are not willing to forgo breastfeeding. In contrary to the common belief, this form of therapy can also be used in children and adolescents. One common complication is hypothyroidism which can be easily treated but life long follow-up is essential which is, however, necessary in other modalities of treatment also. NaI131 therapy in hyperthyroidism can be instituted on outpatient basis. This form of therapy is available in several centres of Calcutta.

Ciprofloxacin in children: is arthropathy a limitation?

Two hundred and nineteen children treated with Ciprofloxacin were observed for drug related adverse reactions (ADR). ADR was observed in 35/219 (15.98%) children, arthropathy in 2/219 (0.9%) children only. All the ADR were reversible even on continuation of therapy except one child with arthropathy and no permanent sequele or death occurred as a drug related ADR.

Differential domain folding/unfolding of gamma-crystallins: existence of two distinct groups.

High resolution calorimetry and spectral measurements have been employed to examine folding/unfolding behaviour of gamma-crystallins which are known to contain two homologous domains. Results have been analyzed in terms of selective unfolding of domains, interdomain interactions, conformational stability and the existence of intermediates in the order-disorder transition equilibrium. Both spectral and thermotropic data indicate that, in terms of structural hierarchy, these proteins can be divided into two distinct groups, gamma II and gamma IIIB belonging to one and gamma IIIA and gamma IVA to the other. The unfolding/folding characteristics of these two groups are distinctly different. Equilibrium unfolding of gamma II and gamma IIIB is biphasic indicating the existence of an intermediate in which one domain unfolds and the other remains in the native form. The absence of a cooperative transition in gamma IIIA and gamma IVA in acidic urea has also been attributed to a structured intermediate, most likely a molten globule, which may not be thermodynamically as distinct as of the former group. The difference in the equilibrium folding/unfolding transition of these two groups has been explained by subtle differences in the packing arrangement of their two domains and interactions between them. Since the intermediates, under certain circumstances, are known to aggregate, they are likely to play a critical role in the etiology of human cataract formation.