Effect of Nitrogen and Boron on Growth and Yield of Foxtail Millet (Setaria italica L.)

The field experiment titled “Effect of Nitrogen and Boron on Growth and Yield of Foxtail Millet” was conducted during Zaid 2023 at Crop Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, Naini Agricultural Institute, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj. The soil of experimental plot was sandy loam in texture, nearly neutral in soil reaction (pH 7.8), low in organic carbon (0.62%), available nitrogen (225 kg/ha), available phosphorus (38.2 kg/ha) and available potassium (240.7 kg/ha). The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design with ten treatments which are replicated thrice. Results obtained that significantly higher plant height (83.52 cm), plant dry weight (14.06 g), length of ear head (15.70 cm), number of grains/ear head (1,413.09), test weight (3.64 g), grain yield (1.68 t/ha), stover yield (3.88 t/ha), harvest index (33.79%) higher gross return (69,291.48 INR/ha), net return (48,099.98 INR/ha) and B:C ratio (2.27) were recorded in treatment 9 with the application of (Nitrogen 60 kg/ha + Boron 0.03%).

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.

Is cerebrospinal fluid C-reactive protein a better tool than blood C-reactive protein in laboratory diagnosis of meningitis in children?

This study aimed to test whether C-reactive protein [CRP] measurement could differentiate between different types of meningitis and become a routine test. A prospective study included 140 children admitted to Manipal Teaching Hospital, Pokhara, Nepal, between July 2009 and June 2011. The subjects had a blood test and detailed cerebrospinal fluid [CSF] analysis, including blood and CSF CRP levels. Of those admitted, 31.1% had pyogenic meningitis [PM], 26.2% partially treated meningitis [PPM], 33% viral meningitis [VM], and 9.7% tubercular meningitis [TBM], with 26.4% controls. Organisms were isolated in 12.5% of the cases by blood culture and 25% of cases through CSF culture. Blood CRP was positive in all groups, with the highest values in PM [53.12 +/- 28.88 mg/dl] and PPM [47.55 +/- 34.34 mg/dl]; this was not statistically significant [P = 0.08]. The CSF CRP levels were significantly higher [P <0.001] in PM [45.75 +/- 28.50 mg/dl] and PPM [23.11 +/- 23.98 mg/dl]. The sensitivity and specificity of blood CRP was 90.62%, 88.88%, 64.7%, 70% and 32.4%, 30.97%, 24.52%, 26.12% and that of CSF CRP was 96.87%, 66.66%, 20.58%, 10% and 74.73%, 63.71%, 50.94%, 55.35% for PM, PPM, VM and TBM, respectively. Because of its high sensitivity, both CSF CRP and blood CRP can be used to screen for bacterial meningitis [both PM and PPM]. CSF CRP screening yielded results with a higher specificity than blood CRP; hence, it can be a supportive test along with CSF cytology, biochemistry, and microbiology for diagnosing meningitis

Ranula In The Floor Of The Mouth - A Case Report.

Ranulas occur due to extravasation of saliva from one of the 20 ducts that arise from the sublingual gland and empty in to the floor of the mouth or into the anterior portion of wharton’s duct. They form a characteristically blue tense vesicle in the floor of the mouth. This paper highlights a case report of ranula in the posterior floor of the mouth that has been successfully treated by marsupialization technique.

An approach to improve methanogenesis through the use of mixed cultures isolated from biogas digester.

Biogas production has been shown to be inhibited by branched chain fatty acids (isobutyric, isovaleric) produced in the digester by cellulolytic organisms. Performance of these mixed cellulolytic cultures isolated at 25°C (C25) and at 35° (C35) in a batch digester using cattle manure confirmed that C35, which forms mainly straight chain fatty acids from cellulose was more suitable for use as an inoculum than C 25 which formed predominantly branched chain fatty acids. Reconstitution of cellulolytic culture C35 and mixed methanogens M35 almost doubled both the amount and rate of methane production. Cellulolytic culture was useful in pretreatment of water hyacinth prior to its use as a substrate for methane generation. A method for preservation and transportation of mixed cellulolytic culture for use as an bineodc. ulum in the digester is described.