60 years of fertilization and liming impacts on soil organic carbon stabilization in a sub-tropical Alfisol.

Limited information is available on the C stabilization mechanism of tropical soils under different management practices including long-term organic manuring, mineral fertilization alone, or in combination with lime. Hence, to understand the effect of continuous application (for 60 years) of organic manure, fertilizer, and lime alone or in combination on an acidic Alfisol, stabilization of soil organic carbon (SOC) was evaluated under maize (Zea mays L.) wheat (Triticum aestivum L.

Production of cellulase from Aspergillus terreus MS105 on crude and commercially purified substrates.

Aspergillus terreus MS105 was originally isolated from soil and screened for cellulase production in the presence of various carbon sources including carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), avicel, sigmacell, filter-paper and salicin. CMC induced the production of endoglucanase (EG) and filter-paperase while the levels of β-glucosidase (BGL) were increased when salicin was present in the medium. Nature of production medium influenced the duration of lag- and log-phase of the growth, rate of fungal dry-mass and enzyme production.

Production of plant cell wall degrading enzymes by monoculture and co-culture of Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus terreus under SSF of banana peels.

Filamentous fungi are considered to be the most important group of microorganisms for the production of plant cell wall degrading enzymes (CWDE), in solid state fermentations. In this study, two fungal strains Aspergillus niger MS23 and Aspergillus terreus MS105 were screened for plant CWDE such as amylase, pectinase, xylanase and cellulases (β-glucosidase, endoglucanase and filterpaperase) using a novel substrate, Banana Peels (BP) for SSF process. This is the first study, to the best of our knowledge, to use BP as SSF substrate for plant CWDE production by co-culture of fungal strains.

Changes in metabolic syndrome parameters in patients with schizoaffective disorder who participated in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial of topiramate.

This study evaluated changes in the metabolic syndrome (MetS) parameters among patients with schizoaffective disorder-bipolar type who had previously participated in a randomized, placebo-controlled study of topiramate (Chengappa et al., 2007). Topiramate (or placebo) was added to pre-existing mood-stabilizer and/or antipsychotic treatment.

Molecular characterization of Pakistani field isolates of infectious bursal disease virus.

The reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RT-PCR/RFLP) technique was used to identify and characterize Pakistani field isolates of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV). These isolates have caused heavy losses to the poultry industry (mortality up to 60%) during the period between 1999 and 2005. Ten samples (five local isolates and five commercial vaccines) were examined for IBDV.

Cellulase production from Aspergillus niger MS82: effect of temperature and pH.

Fungal cellulases are well-studied enzymes and are used in various industrial processes. Much of the knowledge of enzymatic depolymerization of cellulosic material has come from Trichoderma cellulase system. Species of Trichoderma can produce substantial amounts of endoglucanase and exoglucanase but very low levels of b-glucosidase.

Effect of cream containing Melia azedarach flowers on skin diseases in children.

A herbal cream containing a methanolic HPLC-standardized extract of Melia azedarach flowers has been prepared and found potent against bacterial skin diseases like cellulitis, pustules, pyogenic infections, etc. in children. The results obtained are comparable to those with neomycin.

Evaluation of the antimicrobial property of Polyalthia longifolia var. pendula: isolation of a lactone as the active antibacterial agent from the ethanol extract of the stem.

Bioassay guided fractionation of the ethanolic extract of Polyalthia longifolia var. pendula stem, which showed promising antibacterial activity against thirteen Gram-positive and nine Gram-negative organisms, furnished (3S,4R)-3,4,5-trihydroxypentanoic acid-1,4-lactone (1) as the active principle. The structure of (1) was established by UV, IR, mass, 1H and 13C NMR as well as 2D NMR spectral studies and the formation of its acetate (1a).

New antimicrobial alkaloids from the roots of Polyalthia longifolia var. pendula.

Bioassay-guided isolation studies on the root extract of Polyalthia longifolia var. pendula possessing significant antibacterial activity led to the isolation of three new alkaloids pendulamine A (1), pendulamine B (2) and penduline (3) along with stigmasterol 3-O-beta-D-glucoside, allantoin, the known diterpenoid kolavenic acid, and the azafluorene alkaloid isoursuline. The structures of these compounds have been elucidated with the help of spectroscopic studies including 2D NMR experiments.