Production of Quality Compost from Pennywort Plant Wastes

Composting is an environment friendly phenomenon which recycles the organic materials such as plants converting them to beneficial fertilizers. Hence composting limits the use of toxic chemical fertilizers. The aim of the study was to prepare compost/bio-fertilizer from nutrient rich plant, the pennywort, for organic crop production and to reduce the plant wastes by reusing them for environmental benefits. For this purpose, the plants were mixed with different other additives like rock phosphate, urea, cow dung and sludge to boost up the quality of compost. Pennywort plant compost alone (without any additive) was considered as a control and aerobic conditions were maintained. Physico-chemical parameters like organic matter, ash content, total nitrogen, pH, electrical conductivity (EC) and level of heavy metals and micronutrients were taken into account. All tested parameters showed a beneficial level in the amended plant composts compared to plant alone. Therefore, the prepared compost could be very promising for crops improvement. Hence, the present study would prove a significant advancement in the pool of efforts to enhance the agricultural welfares. Moreover, the current study provides useful knowledge about enhancing the properties and profile of natural composted products because it can provide an alternate source to increase the fertility of the soil and also a good approach to reduce the pressure of solid waste on environment.

Multi-DMEs for alternative position, navigation and timing (A-PNT)

Distance measuring equipment (DME/DME) as the main reversionary method provides alternative positioning, navigation and timing (A-PNT) services for use during a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) outage. Considering the geometry limitation of DME/DME, multi-DMEs with better geometry can be used to increase the accuracy and integrity performance of positioning. This paper discusses the opportunities and challenges related to use of multi-DMEs as an alternate source of positioning, navigation and timing. To support the performance for A-PNT, the basic idea is considering the existing installed equipment. In this paper, barometer altimeter and TACAN are used to help improve the performance of A-PNT provided by multi-DMEs both in accuracy and integrity. Based on the database of EUROCONTROL, the test results demonstrate that 79⋅7% of a reference area roughly matching with the continental European locations achieve RNP 1 using multi-DMEs when the DME measurement accuracy is 0⋅2 NM (95%). When the DME measurement accuracy is 0⋅1 NM (95%), 87⋅9% of the reference area can achieve RNP 1 using multi-DMEs. The usage of barometer/TACAN measurements aided multi-DMEs improves the performance of the accuracy and integrity monitoring.

Conversion of Cellulose into Value-Added Products

Rapid industrialization has led to development of various platform chemicals and fossil fuel refinery is one of the mainstreams for their production. However continuous depletion of fossil fuels reserves has led an urge to look for alternate source of feedstocks. Among various renewable sources, biomass is found to be most sustainable as it is replaced naturally. Biomass by virtue of its nature is comprised of various recalcitrant polymers and cellulose is one of them, which can be used for the generation of various platform chemicals. This chapter gives a background of cellulose and illustrate platform chemicals that can be produced from cellulose.

A Review on the Antidiabetic Potential of Medicinal Plants

Diabetes mellitus has long been seen as a substantial economic burden on patients, their families, and society. Impairment in blood sugar regulation has major health repercussions. Furthermore, untreated diabetes causes major chronic complications like blindness, renal failure, and heart failure, as well as an increase in associated mortality. New anti-diabetic medicines are being researched to help alleviate this issue. Conventional Anti-diabetic medications are beneficial, several synthetic drugs are available in the market to treat diabetes, but they are costly and come with inevitable adverse effects. Medicinal plants, on the other hand, may serve as an alternate source of anti-diabetic agents. According to the World Health Organization, 80 % of the population in underdeveloped nations still relies on traditional medicines or folk medicines, which are largely made from plants, for disease prevention or treatment. For instance, anti- proliferative, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory and anti-hyperglycemic effects. In order to find a natural anti-diabetic source that comes with less side effects, several studies have been conducted. The aim of this work is to review these studies and highlight the potential of plants when it comes to their anti-diabetic effect.

An Alternate Cost-effective Medium for In Vitro Regeneration of Therapeutically Important Ocimum citriodorum Vis

ABSTRACT: A novel cost-effective in vitro regeneration protocol has been evolved for the therapeutically important Ocimum citriodorum Vis. In the present study, table sugar (3%) and isabgol (Psyllium husk) (3.5%) were used as an alternate source of carbon and gelling agent respectively in Murashige and Skoog’s (MS) medium. The explant used in the current study was nodal segment. A significant observation revealed that all the cultures resulted in shoot induction and maximum number of shoots/ culture (6.04) and their average length (2.15 cm) was obtained on modified MS-medium supplemented with table sugar, isabgol and BAP. However, best root induction (95.83%) was obtained on ½ MS-medium augmented with table sugar (3%) , isabgol (3.5%) and NAA. An increase in average number of roots per shoot (6.91%) as well as average root length (2.73 cm) was also observed in the same modified medium. The in vitro regenerated plantlets were successfully transferred to the field and no notable variation was observed in their morphology. The overall cost of culture medium for in vitro propagation of O. citriodorum Vis. was reduced significantly by 92.69% when agar and sucrose were replaced by isabgol and table sugar, respectively.

Development of Protocol for Lyophilization of Goat Rumen Fluid

Background: Rumen fluid has been used as microbial inoculum to treat indigestion in ruminant animals and to conduct in vitro rumen fermentation experiments. Lyophilization of the goat rumen fluid will provide continuous supply of rumen inoculums either for laboratory studies or for transfaunation in treating digestive disorders sequelae to high grain rations. However, no standard protocol is available for lyophilizing goat rumen fluid. Hence, this study was designed to develop a protocol to lyophilize goat rumen fluid as an alternate source for fresh goat rumen fluid. Methods: The study was conducted using 5 × 3 × 3 factorial design with four different cryoprotectants viz., 10% skim milk powder, 10% skim milk powder + 5% sodium glutamate, 5% glycerol, 5% DMSO and no cryoprotectant, at three pre freezing (2, 24 and 48 hours) and three freeze drying (8, 24 and 32 hours) time intervals to standardize protocol for lyophilizing goat rumen fluid. The viability of rumen microbes in the “lyophilized goat ruminal inoculum”, was determined via in vitro gas production study. Result: Pre freezing (-80°C deep freezer) duration of 48 hours with 32 hours of time duration in lyophilizer (-45°C) was ideal for lyophilizing goat rumen fluid with or without the addition of various cryoprotectants. Glycerol used at 5% as cryoprotectant resulted in significantly (P less than 0.05) highest gas production at all (12, 24 and 48) incubation hours studied indicating better viability of rumen microbes.

Analysis of Profits and Break Even Point of Jamnapari Goat Farming

This study discusses profits and break even point of jamnapari goat farming. Goat and sheep husbandry offers an excellent image that may demonstrate how it might promote a wide range of economic activity. Goats are simple to breed, need little initial capital, require little animal feed, and are easily adapted to their surroundings. The goat is a kind of animal that provides many advantages to the society. Goats are an alternate source of revenue for goat farming businesses looking to expand their operations. The Jamnapari Crossbred goat is a kind of indigenous goat that has strong development potential and may help to boost the income of the surrounding area's farmers. Diversification (multi-commodity farming) is an alternative to carrying out business efficiency on relatively fixed land areas while increasing productivity.

Docosahexaenoic Acid Is Naturally Concentrated at the sn-2 Position in Triacylglycerols of the Australian Thraustochytrid Aurantiochytrium sp. Strain TC 20

The Labyrinthulomycetes or Labyrinthulea are a class of protists that produce a network of filaments that enable the cells to glide along and absorb nutrients. One of the main two Labyrinthulea groups is the thraustochytrids, which are becoming an increasingly recognised and commercially used alternate source of long-chain (LC, ≥C20) omega-3 containing oils. This study demonstrates, to our knowledge for the first time, the regiospecificity of the triacylglycerol (TAG) fraction derived from Australian thraustochytrid Aurantiochytrium sp. strain TC 20 obtained using 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (13C NMR) analysis. The DHA present in the TC 20 TAG fraction was determined to be concentrated in the sn-2 position, with TAG (16:0/22:6/16:0) identified as the main species present. The sn-2 preference is similar to that found in salmon and tuna oil, and differs to seal oil containing largely sn-1,3 LC-PUFA. A higher concentration of sn-2 DHA occurred in the thraustochytrid TC 20 oil compared to that of tuna oil.

Linseed and Its Basic Composition

The archaeological evidence of flax cultivation dates back to >6000 BC and it is considered as one of the oldest and most useful crops. Components of flax have diverse uses. Cultivar development of flax is currently focused on enhancing the oil content and nutritional value to meet the demand of nutraceutical market supply, as an alternate source of fish oil, a rich source of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, C20:5) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6). Growing awareness about the role of diet and quest for human wellness has fuelled interest in ‗Functional foods‘ and functional attributes of many traditional foods are being reinvented. Flaxseed is cultivated in many parts of world for fiber, oil as well as for medicinal purposes and also as nutritional product. Flax continues to surge forward in its recognition as a functional food. It is the richest known source of alpha-linolenic acid, the phytoestrogen, lignans, as well as being a good source of soluble fiber. Flax is also very important fibrous bast plant, both for valuable textile fibres and composites applications and for bioactive compounds used in folk medicine, nutraceuticals and functional food. Flax seeds are rich in valuable fatty acids, amino-acids, phytoestrogens, cyclolinopeptides, lecithin, waxes, lignin, pectin, mucilage, etc. ω-3 and ω-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are effective preventing cardiovascular and heart diseases. The flax seed has been shown to possess significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory functions. In this review, composition, essential fatty acids,omega-3 fatty acid, alpha linolienic acid, proteins, vitamins and minerals, lignans, dietary fiber and uses of flaxseed are discussed.

An Overview of Performance Evaluation of Sewage Treatment Plant

Sewage whether treated or untreated, ultimately discharge in lakes, rivers, streams, and oceans. We consider groundwater as pure, but unfortunately, sewage is one of the major reasons behind wastewater-associated diseases. Nearly 78% of the water flows back to the environment without any treatment. This can lead to numerous health and environmental problems so it is better to treat wastewater before disposal and further proper management can help in meeting the public’s water demand. As per today’s scenario, a number of innovations are required to operate treatment plants at high efficiency because of increasing domestic, commercial, and industrial waste. And this rise is taking place due to several reasons – urbanization, increasing population, economic development, and improved living conditions, etc. Nowadays people of both urban and peri-urban areas are using wastewater to irrigate their crops, often because they do not have any alternate source of irrigation water. New technologies are continuously being introduced in the sewage treatment plants to exhibit good performance. The paper focuses on reviewing the various sewage treatment methods and their results.