Direct, residual and direct + residual effects of sulphur in garlic (Allium sativum)-maize (Zea mays) cropping sequence.

Significant positive effects of 30 kg/ha of sulphur as manifested on yield and yield parameters of garlic were further carried over to following maize crop. Garlic bulb and foliage yield (6.3 and 0.8 t/ha respectively) obtained at 30 kg/ha of sulphur dose was significantly higher over without sulphur (3.7 and 0.5 t/ha respectively) as revealed from two years' pooled data. Similarly number of leaves/plant, weight of cloves/5bulbs and weight/100 cloves at the said sulphur dose significantly increased over without sulphur from 10.5 to 11.9, 98.3 to 141.2 g and from 159 to 217 g in respective manner Increase in grain yield of maize (residual effect) and in the economic yield of the whole cropping sequence (Bulb yield of garlic and grain yield of maize) i.e. direct plus residual effect at 30 kg/ha of sulphur dose over without sulphur was from 28.3 to 47.2 and from 71 to 116 q/ha in respective manner i.e. with significant differences. Sulphur use efficiencies (kg yield/kg sulphur) of these crops at 15, 30 and 45 kg/ha over no sulphur were 57, 43 and 32; 53, 63 and 6 and 160, 150 and 67, all in respective order An optimum sulphur dose of 44.3 kg/ha produced increased bulb yield (over no S) worth Rs 34892 over fertilizer cost giving B:C ratio of 31.5:1. Utilization of sulphur added at 15, 30 and 45 kg/ha rates was 24.1, 19.3 and 15.7% by the garlic crop; and 29.6. 24.5 and 9.02% by the following maize crop, thus, adding up to 54.1, 43.8 and 24.9% by the cropping sequence, all in respective order.

Suscetibilidade de Acarophenax lacunatus (Cross & Krantz) (Prostigmata: Acarophenacidae) ao enxofre / Susceptibility of Acarophenax lacunatus (Cross & Krantz) (Prostigmata: Acarophenacidae) to Sulfur

O ácaro parasita Acarophenax lacunatus (Cross & Krantz) pode ser um importante agente de controle biológico de insetos-praga de grãos armazenados, mas sua presença em criações massais desses organismos é prejudicial. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a susceptibilidade desse parasita ao enxofre. As unidades experimentais consistiram de placas de Petri, contendo 30 g de grãos de trigo infestados com 30 adultos de Rhyzopertha dominica (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae). Os tratamentos consistiram no polvilhamento dos grãos de trigo com enxofre, nas doses correspondentes a 0; 0,15; 0,30; 0,60; 0,90 e 1,20 mg i.a./g, em cinco repetições. Foram realizadas três inoculações de A. lacunatus por placa de Petri, cinco, dez e quinze dias depois da infestação de R. dominica. Em seguida, as placas foram armazenadas por 60 dias a 30 ± 1°C, 60 ± 5 por cento UR e escotofase de 24h. O ácaro parasita mostrou-se susceptível a todas doses de enxofre avaliadas. O número de ovos de R. dominica parasitados por A. lacunatus apresentou uma tendência decrescentecom o aumento das doses do acaricida, assim como o número de fêmeas fisogástricas do ácaro. A taxa instantânea de crescimento de A. lacunatus se reduziu com o aumento das doses de enxofre, não ocorrendo o desenvolvimento do parasita nas doses superiores a 0,30 mg i.a./g. A suscetibilidade de A. lacunatus ao enxofre é importante, uma vez que não existe na literatura uma alternativa de controle desse parasita sobre criações de insetos. Além disso, esse método de controle apresenta baixo custo e é de fácil utilização.

The parasitic mite Acarophenax lacunatus (Cross & Krantz) is a potentially important biocontrol agent of stored grain insect pests, but its presence in insect mass rearing is undesirable. This study was carried out to evaluate the susceptibility of A. lacunatus to sulfur. The experimental units were petri dishes containing 30 g of whole wheat grains infested with 30 adults of Rhyzopertha dominica (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae). The treatments consisted of pulverizing the wheat grains with sulfur, at 0, 0.15, 0.3, 0.6, 0.9 and 1.2 mg a.i./g, in five replicates. Three inoculations of A. lacunatus were carried out in each petri dish at five, ten and fifteen days after infestation with R. dominica. The petri dishes were stored for 60 days at 30 ± 1°C, 60 ± 5 percent R.H. and 24h scotophase. The parasitic mite was susceptible to all sulfur doses used in the test. The number of eggs of R. dominica parasitized by A. lacunatus showed a decreasing trend with the increase in doses of sulfur, as did the number of physogastric females of the mite. The mite showed a negative correlation of their instantaneous rate of increase with sulfur dose. No mites developed at sulfur doses higher than 0.3 mg a.i./g. The susceptibility of A. lacunatus to sulfur is an important aspect to consider in the control of this parasitic mite in colonies of R. dominica. In addition, this control method has low cost and is easy to use.

Antimicrobial effects of Alum and Sulpher on bacteria isolated from mineral and hospital water

To determine the purity of different mineral and hospital waters and to evaluate the antimicrobial effects of Alum and Sulphur. 50 samples of mineral water of different brands and 50 water samples from different hospitals were analyzed. Detection of parasites was done by Zinc Sulphate Flotation Technique. Bacteriological analysis was done by Membrane Filter Technique and inoculation of selective media by spread plate method. Isolates were identified by standard methods and Quick Test Strip [QTS]. Antibiotic sensitivity pattern of isolates was determined by Disc Diffusion Method. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration [MIC] of Alum and Sulphur was determined by Agar Well Diffusion method. Out of 50 mineral water samples, 42 [84%] and from 50 hospitals water samples, 49 [98%] were contaminated. Parasites were not detected in mineral and hospital water samples. Bacterial isolates from bottled water were Pseudomonas spp. [50%], E.coli [25%], Enterobactor spp [10%], Salmonella typhi [5%], Shigella. dysenteriae [5%] and Aeromonas hydrophilla [5%]. In hospital water bacteria isolated were Pseudomonas spp. [47%], Escherichia coli [35%], Enterobactor spp [6%] and S. dysenteriae [10%]. Antibiotic sensitivity pattern indicated Cefazidime, Chloramphenicol and Gentamycin was found to be effective against bacteria isolated from mineral and hospital water. MIC of Alum against different bacterial isolates indicated no effect whereas MIC of sulphur was effective against all bacteria except Pseudomonas spp. This study highlights the problems that can arise in general population after consuming contaminated mineral water and in hospitalized patients drinking contaminated hospital water. It is safer to boil the water because boiling effectively killed all the bacteria

Aspergillus niger as a new allergic agent associated with bindis and its efficacy against homeopathic drugs.

Aspergillus was found as a dominant fungi to associate with brands of bindis. Among three potencies of four homeopathic drugs, Lycopodium 1M, Sulphur 1M, and Sepia 30 showed maximum inhibition zone of Aspergillus niger in inhibition zone technique. In poison food technique, Sepia 30M, Tellurium 30M, Sulphur 1M and Lycopodium 200 showed maximum percentage inhibition against A. niger

Efeitos de níveis crescentes de enxofre na dieta de cordeiros submetidos a nível tóxico de selênio / Effects of sulphur crescent levels in diet of lambs submitted to selenium toxic levels

Vinte e cinco cordeiros não castrados, de 4 meses de idade e peso vivo médio de 30,2 kg, foram colocados em gaiolas metabólicas individuais de plástico e, após 14 dias de adaptação, receberam um dos seguintes tratamentos, por 90 dias: um controle (C) com 0,1 mg/kg Se na dieta `maisï pré-mistura mineral com 1 por cento de S, mais quatro tratamentos contendo o mesmo nível potencialmente tóxico de Se na dieta (5 mg/kg) e níveis crescentes de S na pré-mistura mineral, 1 por cento, 6 por cento, 11 por cento ou 26 por cento de S (respectivamente tratamentos I, II, III e IV). Num delineamento inteiramente casualizado, estudou-se o efeito antagônico do S na forma de flor de enxofre sobre o Se como selenito de sódio em nível potencialmente tóxico, através da análise dos teores de Se no soro, na lã, nas fezes, na urina e nos tecidos (fígado, rim, coração e músculo), hematócrito total e ganho de peso...

Phagocyte inhibition in the rat liver, spleen and lung / Inibiçäo fagocitária em fígado, baço e pulmäo de ratos

The extent and duration of macrophage impairment was studied in the liver, spleen and lung of rats. This effect was obtained by intraveous infusion of sulfur colloid. The extent and duration of this impairment was evaluated by macrophage phagocytosis of carbon colloid pigments after intravenous injection of China ink. The results showed hepatic phagocytic inhibition lasting for 24 to 72 hours. In the spleen, phagocytic depression lasted seven days. In the lungs, depression of phagocytosis occurred only when the two types of particles were infused concomitantly. In conclusion, colloidal particles inhibited the phagocytic function of macrophages, and the end of this effect occurred earlier in the lung and later in the spleen. These data may be considered in studies related to depression of the mononuclear phagocytic system

Terapéutica no convencional de la psoriasis en las Termas de Copahue (Neuquen-Argentina) Experiencia preliminar de dos temporadas / Non conventional therapy for psoriasis in the Copahue Termal complex

Se presenta una experiencia realizada en las Termas de Copahue (Neuquén, Argentina) con 23 pacientes psoriáticos tratados en el complejo por un promedio de 10 días. A todos los pacientes se les realizó un seguimiento clínico, fotográfico e histológico, antes y después del tratamiento. Creemos que la terapeutica termal dermatológica es una alternativa válida: a) como un complemento del tratamiento farmacológico, b) como una opción frente a reiterados fracasos terapéuticos, c) ante pacientes con contraindicaciones diversas