Inhibition of salvinia (Salvinia molesta Mitchell) by parthenium (Parthenium hysterophorus L.). I. Effect of leaf residue and allelochemicals

Parthenium (Parthenium hysterophorus L.) leaf residue (LP, leaf powder) inhibited salvinia (Salvinia molesta Mitchell) biomass and the number of healthy fronds at 0.25% (w/v) and killed the treated plants at and above 0.75% (w/v) in about 5–15 days, depending on the quantity of the residue. At the lethal dose, the LP caused an abrupt desiccation of above-water plant parts, probably due mainly to root dysfunction. This was concurrent with the loss of dehydrogenase activity in, and an increase in solute leakage from, the roots and loss of chlorophylla, b, and total chlorophyll contents in the fronds, resulting in death of the treated plants. The LP appears inhibitory to salvinia through affecting macromolecules—proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. The inhibitory activity of LP at the lethal dose suspended in water was completely lost when allowed to stand for 30 days under outdoor conditions and promoted growth of the salvinia plants placed in it. The standard allelochemicals, including those present in parthenium LP, except parthenin andp-hydroxybenzoic acid, did not inhibit growth up to 100 ppm. However, parthenin andp-hydroxybenzoic acid killed salvinia plants at 100 and 50 ppm, respectively. Sincep-hydroxybenzoic acid is unlikely to be present at such a high concentration, parthenin appears to be one of the main allelochemicals responsible for the inhibitory effect of parthenium leaf residue on salvinia.A portion of this work was presented at the International Symposium on Weed Management for Sustainable Agriculture held at C.C.S. Haryana Agricultural University, Hissar, India, November 18–20, 1993.     

Reply to Comments on ‘Chitosan functionalized with 2[-bis-(pyridylmethyl) aminomethyl]4-methyl-6-formyl-phenol: Equilibrium and kinetics of copper(II) adsorption’ by Yuh-Shan Ho: Discussion on pseudo second order kinetic expression

The present communication reports a short history on the pseudo second order kinetic models previously reported for sorption systems. This present paper presents the information citing the original presentation of pseudo second order kinetic expression.     

Relative merits of ultrasonography, computed tomography and cholangiography in patients of surgical obstructive jaundice

Fifty consecutive patients with surgical obstructive jaundice were evaluated prospectively with ultrasonography (US), computed tomographic scans (CT scan) and cholangiography-percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC) or endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreaticography (ERCP). The diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound in defining the level of obstruction was 86% as compared to 86% and 94.8% for CT scan and cholangiography, respectively. To measure the etiology of the obstruction, the accuracy of ultrasound, CT scan and cholangiography were 84%, 86% and 75%, respectively. The sensitivity of CT scans and cholangiography in the diagnosis of choledocholithiasis was 100%, 81.8% and 90%, respectively, whereas specificity was 97%, 100% and 100%, respectively. Sensitivity for a diagnosis of malignant disease was 100% for both US and CT scans whereas specificity was 90% and 81%, respectively. Ultrasonography as a single radiological investigation is sufficient in the evaluation of the majority of patients with surgical obstructive jaundice. CT scan and cholangiography should be done only when US gives equivocal findings or if concomitant therapeutic procedures like basketing and stenting are also planned.     

Image interpretation using Bayesian networks

The problem of image interpretation is one of inference with the help of domain knowledge. In this paper, we formulate the problem as the maximum a posteriori (MAP) estimate of a properly defined probability distribution function (PDF). We show that a Bayesian network can be used to represent this PDF as well as the domain knowledge needed for interpretation. The Bayesian network may be relaxed to obtain the set of optimum interpretations     

Diffusion of Impurity Excitations in Superfluid and Solid 3He–4He Mixtures

Starting from the system of linearized kinetic equations, the exact expressions for the spin and mass diffusion coefficients and thermal diffusion ratio in quantum mixtures of helium isotopes with any degree of degeneration is obtained. From the general expression the various limiting expressions have been obtained, which are determined by various relations between collision rates of quasiparticles. The results of the calculations are compared with available experimental data. It is shown that in the low-temperature region, where an impuriton gas is one-component, the relaxation of concentration of ³ He in superfluid ³ He– ⁴ He mixtures is determined by the acoustic and dissipative collective modes with an effective diffusion coefficient. From the general relation, the expression for a spin diffusion coefficient in solid ³ He– ⁴ He quantum mixtures is derived. The comparison of the results obtained with the experimental data makes it possible to find a numerical value for the width of the impuriton energy zone.     

Water flow through helical coils in turbulent condition

Experimental data on pressure drop across six helical coils made of rough transparent PVC pipes for flow of water in turbulent condition are presented. A correlation for predicting the friction factor has been developed.     

Uphill permeation model of gold(III) and its separation from base metals using thiourea derivatives as ionophores across a liquid membrane

This work deals with carrier-facilitated membrane transport of Au(III) from chloride media across a polymer-immobilised liquid membrane (PILM) using as organic reagents N-(thiocarbamoyl)benzamide derivatives and N-benzoylthiourea derivatives, denoted as 2a–c and 3a–f, respectively. Both the composition of the organic membrane solvent and the type of carrier have a marked effect on gold permeation. Recovery and permeability of gold using 2a–c and 3a–f across a PILM proceed in the following order: 3e≈3d≈3c?3f>3b≈3a≈2a≈2b≈2c. In view of the performance of these carriers, 3c was selected as a metal receptor for detailed studies of Au(III) in permeation. A model is presented for the permeation of Au(III) (61 μM) in 0.5 M Cl⁻ at pH 2.5 using 3c as a membrane carrier. The mathematical equations describing the rate of permeation are derived to correlate the membrane permeability coefficient with diffusional and equilibrium parameters. The mass transfer coefficient was calculated from the described model as 1.1×10⁻⁵ m s⁻¹, and the thickness of the aqueous boundary was later calculated to be 65 μm. Several polymeric supports were tested for impregnation of the organic extractant, and Durapore (Millipore) afforded the maximum flux for Au(III), yielding a value of 1.1×10⁻¹⁴ mol m⁻² s. The relationship between flux and support characteristics is derived and a mathematical equation is presented. Of the several diluents used, cumene had the most satisfactory performance in terms of PILM stability and metal transport. Of the different reagents used, 0.5 M sodium thiocyanate in 0.5 M NaCl at pH 2.5 served most efficiently as the stripping agent. More than 80% of the Au(III) could be readily separated using 3c in the presence of various metals such as Cu(II), Fe(III) and Zn(II).