Resumo Plantas ornamentais, como gladíolos, são uma boa opção para produtores com área limitada, pois são altamente rentáveis e possuem menor custo de produção. O experimento foi conduzido com o objetivo de estudar a influência da aplicação exógena do ácido giberélico nas características vegetativas e reprodutivas de gladíolos, em condições subtropicais. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualizados com dois fatores: cultivares (White Prosperity e Red Advance) e ácido giberélico (GA3) (0, 50, 100, 150, 200 mg L-1), com três repetições. Os resultados mostram que a maioria dos parâmetros foi significativamente influenciada pelo ácido giberélico. Maior porcentagem de brotação, número de folhas e cormos planta-1, bem como menor número de dias para brotação, surgimento da espiga e abertura floral foram registrados nas plantas tratadas com 200 mg L-1 de ácido giberélico (GA3). A cultivar Red Advance, além de menor número de dias para surgimento da espiga e a abertura da flor, apresentou maior número de folhas por planta e maior diâmetro e peso dos cormos. Conclui-se, com base nos resultados, que o tratamento de cormos com 200 mg L-1 de ácido giberélico pode incrementar mais o crescimento e o rendimento da cultivar de gladíolo Red Advance do que da White Prosperity nas condições de região subtropical.

Abstract Ornamental plants like gladiolus are suitable option for growers with lower amount of land, as they are highly economic and have lower cost of production. An experiment was conducted with aim to study the exogenous application influence of gibberellic acid on vegetative and reproductive characteristics of gladiolus was conducted under the subtropical conditions. The experiment was laid out in two factors randomized complete block design and replicated three times. Gibberellic acid (GA3) was used in different concentrations (0, 50, 100, 150, 200 mg L-1) to corms of two cultivars of gladiolus (‘White Prosperity’ and ‘Red Advance’). Results showed that most of the parameters were significantly influenced by gibberellic acid at 200 mg L-1. The maximum sprouting, number of leaves plant-1, daughter corms per plant, less number of days to corm sprouting, days to spike emergence and flower opening were recorded in plants treated with 200 mg L-1 gibberellic acid (GA3). ‘Red Advance’ produced more number of leaves plant-1, corm diameter, corm weight, and less number of days to spike emergence and flower opening. It can be concluded from the present findings that the treatment of corms with 200 mg L-1 gibberellic acid can improve the growth and yield of cultivar Red Advance than White prosperity under the subtropical conditions.

Abstract: The present investigation is concerned with the synthesis of acid azo dye based on 1-Amino-2-naphthol-6-nitronaphthalene-4-sulphonic acid and its chromium, iron, cobalt, nickel and copper complexces. The structure of these complexes were analyzed by UV-Visible, FTIR, NMR and elemental analysis. The synthesized dyes were applied on leather to assess its fastness properties. The thermal stability have been analyzed by thermal gravimetric analysis where the dyes were stable up to 250 ̊C. The antifungal activities of the azo ligands and its metal chelates were studied against Candida albicans.

The sequencing batch reactor (SBR) is a wastewater treatment option feasible for low flows. The objective of this research was to optimize SBR by varying its operational parameters, viz. (i) settling time and (ii) reaction time. The study was conducted in two phases. In Phase 1, raw wastewater was fed into the SBR after conventional settling, while in Phase 2 raw wastewater was fed into the SBR after coagulation-flocculation-sedimentation. A bench-scale model was set up and domestic wastewater was used for this study. Performance of the treatment system was evaluated through 5-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total suspended solids (TSS). The results demonstrated that reaction time was reduced to 4 h in Phase 2 compared to 10 h in Phase 1. The BOD, COD and TSS removal efficiencies observed in Phase 1 were 80%, 80% and 73%, respectively, and for Phase 2 the removal efficiencies were 74%, 75% and 80% respectively. National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS) were met in both cases and the treatment cost per cubic metre of wastewater for Phase 2 was 2.5 times lower compared to Phase 1.

Abstract In the study presented here, a new series of 2-furyl(4-{4-[(substituted)sulfonyl]benzyl}-1-piperazinyl)methanone derivatives was targeted. The synthesis was initiated by the treatment of different secondary amines (1a-h) with 4-bromomethylbenzenesulfonyl chloride (2) to obtain various 1-{[4-(bromomethyl)phenyl]sulfonyl}amines (3a-h). 2-Furyl(1-piperazinyl)methanone (2-furoyl-1-piperazine; 4) was then dissolved in acetonitrile, with the addition of K2CO3, and the mixture was refluxed for activation. This activated molecule was further treated with equi-molar amounts of 3a-h to form targeted 2-furyl(4-{4-[(substituted)sulfonyl]benzyl}-1-piperazinyl)methanone derivatives (5a-h) in the same reaction set up. The structure confirmation of all the synthesized compounds was carried out by EI-MS, IR and 1H-NMR spectral analysis. The compounds showed good enzyme inhibitory activity. Compound 5h showed excellent inhibitory effect against acetyl- and butyrylcholinesterase with respective IC50 values of 2.91±0.001 and 4.35±0.004 μM, compared to eserine, a reference standard with IC50 values of 0.04±0.0001 and 0.85±0.001 μM, respectively, against these enzymes. All synthesized molecules were active against almost all Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains tested. The cytotoxicity of the molecules was also checked to determine their utility as possible therapeutic agents.

Abstract The present investigation deals with synthesis of new acid dyes from 4-amino-1-(4-sulfophenyl)-3-methyl-5-pyrazolone and phenol derivatives and their metal complexes (Cu (II) and Fe (II)). The phenol derivatives include 4-chlorophenol, 4-nitrophenol, 4-hydroxybenzene sulfonic acid, 2-nitrophenol-4-sulfonic acid, resorcinol and bisphenol A and bisphenol S. The newly synthesized dyes were applied to crust leather to assess their dyeing properties. The fastness properties of unmetallized dyes were less as compared to metal complexes due to the strong interaction of metals with leather protein. The structures of these dyes were also confirmed by UV, FTIR and NMR studies.

Abstract Peanut (Arachis hypogaea) is an important legume and oilseed crop, native to South America and grown in all tropical and temperate regions of the world. A simplified and rapid direct gene delivery system in peanut was developed by vortexing silicon carbide whiskers with callus and with plasmid harboring chitinase and hygromcin genes. The effects of callus age and whisker quantity on transformation efficiency were evaluated. Transformation efficiency (6.88%) was highest when 200 mg of whiskers were used with 5 µg plasmid for 2 g of 20-day-old callus. Hygromcin-resistant calli were regenerated to complete plants which produced seeds normally. Transgene insertion and number of transgene copieswere confirmed by PCR and southern blot analyses, respectively. Transgene expression was evaluated by a pathogenecity test and RT-PCR analysis. In transgenic events, the resistance level to leaf spot disease was far higher than in control plants.

A simple, specific and accurate stability indicating RP-HPLC method was developed for the determination of acetaminophen, pamabrom and pyrilamine maleate simultaneously in pharmaceutical dosage forms. Successful separation of all the components was enacted within 10 min using C18 column with mobile phase of methanol and acidified water (pH 1.8) in the ratio of (27: 73 v/v respectively). Flow rate of the mobile phase was 1.5 mL/min with detection at 300 nm. The method was validated in accordance with ICH guidelines. Response was a linear function of concentration over the range of 50- 150 μg/mL for acetaminophen, 2.5-7.5 μg/mL for pamabrom and 1.5-4.5 μg/mL for pyrilamine maleate. The method resulted in excellent separation of all the analytes along with their stress induced degradation products with acceptable peak tailing and good resolution. It is therefore can be applied successfully for simultaneous determination of acetaminophen, pamabrom and pyrilamine maleate in pharmaceutical formulations and their stability studies.

Se ha desarrollado un procedimiento simple y específico procedimiento para la determinación de acetaminofeno, pamabrom y maleato de pirilamina en formulaciones farmacéuticas por HPLC en fase inversa. La separación de todos los componentes se obtuvo en 10 min utilizando una columna C18 y la fase móvil compuesta por metanol y solución acuosa a pH 1.8 (con ácido sulfúrico) en relación 27: 73 v/v. La velocidad del flujo en la columna fue de 1.5 mL/min y la detección espectrofotométrica en 300 nm. El método fue validado siguiendo los criterios ICH. La respuesta fue lineal en el intervalo de concentraciones 50- 150 μg/mL para acetaminofeno, 2.5-7.5 μg/mL para pamabrom y 1.5-4.5 μg/mL para maleato de pirilamina. El procedimiento permitió la separación de los tres analitos y de sus productos de degradación inducidos en condiciones de estrés con aceptable simetría de picos y resolución cromatográfica. Es por ello que este procedimiento puede ser empleado para la determinación de acetaminofeno, pamabrom y maleato de pirilamina en formulaciones farmacéuticas y en estudios de su estabilidad.

Background: The prevalence of academic delinquency in universities, predominantly in the form of plagiarism and cheating, is extensively conceded. Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate student’s perception and behavior towards plagiarism in Pakistani universities. Methods: This cross-sectional survey was conducted in 6 academic disciplines in 35 universities in Pakistan during 21.02.2011-21.04.2011. Expert interviewers and learned educationists carried out the interviews with the help of a structured questionnaire to evaluate student’s knowledge about plagiarism such as (i) student’s knowledge about HEC policy, (ii) student’s attitude towards plagiarism, (iii) student’s satisfaction towards plagiarism and cheating, and (iv) their views for penalties (What should be the penalties for 1st and 2nd occurrence of plagiarism?) and recorded the responses. Results: This survey was accomplished by 25742 students. The response rate for awareness about HEC policy about plagiarism showed that significantly (p<0.05) low percentage (94%) of students was unaware of this policy. The attitudes of significantly (p<0.05) high percentage of students towards plagiarism behavior were unacceptable. Significantly (p<0.05) high response rate towards attitudes regarding punishment for plagiarism was warning and report to HOD for first and second occurrence of this cheating, respectively. Conclusions: An extensive lack was found in the understanding of students towards plagiarism across all the universities. It is necessary to achieve balance between factors affecting plagiarism such avoidance, finding and sentence in case of detection.

Antecedentes: La prevalencia de conductas éticas reprobables en las universidades, principalmente en la forma de plagio y engaño, es extensamente reconocida. Objetivos: El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la percepción y el comportamiento de los estudiantes hacia el plagio en las universidades paquistaníes. Métodos: Este estudio transversal se llevó a cabo en seis disciplinas académicas en 35 universidades en Pakistán durante 21.02.2011-21.04.2011. Entrevistadores expertos y educadores eruditos llevaron a cabo las entrevistas con la ayuda de un cuestionario estructurado, para evaluar los conocimientos de los estudiantes sobre el plagio: en aspectos como (i) el conocimiento de los estudiantes acerca de la política HEC, (ii) la actitud del estudiante: hacia el plagio, (iii) la satisfacción del estudiante: hacia el plagio y el engaño , y (iv) Sus puntos de vista en materia de sanciones (Qué sanciones debería otorgarse para la primera y segunda ocurrencia de plagio?) se grabaron las respuestas. Resultados: Esta encuesta fue realizado por 25.742 estudiantes. La tasa de respuesta para la conciencia acerca de las políticas HEC sobre el plagio mostraron significativamente (p <0,05) bajo porcentaje (94%). Los estudiantes no estaban al tanto de esta política. La actitud de rechazo al comportamiento de plagio muestra significativamente (p <0,05) un alto porcentaje. Los estudiantes consideraron que el plagio eran una conducta inaceptable. Significativamente (p <0,05) de alto índice fue la respuesta respecto a qué castigo se debería otorgar por plagio, la respuesta fue: advertencia e informar a HOD para la primera y segunda aparición de este engaño, respectivamente. Conclusiones: Se encontró una extensa falta de comprensión de los estudiantes hacia el plagio en todas las universidades. Es necesario para alcanzar el equilibrio entre los factores que influencian el plagio, lograr detectar la evasión, buscando y sentenciando los casos encontrados.

Antecedentes: A prevalência de condutas éticas reprováveis nas universidades, principalmente sob a forma de plágio e mentira, é extensamente reconhecida. Objetivos: Avaliar a percepção e o comportamento dos estudantes para o plágio nas universidades paquistanesas. Métodos: Este estudo transversal foi levado a cabo em seis disciplinas acadêmicas em 35 universidades no Paquistão de 21-02-2011 até 21-04-2011. Entrevistadores especialistas e educadores eruditos realizaram as entrevistas com a ajuda de um questionário estruturado, para avaliar os conhecimentos dos estudantes sobre o plágio: em aspectos como (i) o conhecimento dos estudantes acerca da política HEC, (ii) a atitude do estudante com relação ao plágio, (iii) a satisfação do estudante para com o plágio e a mentira, e (iv) seus pontos de vista em matéria de sanções (que sanções deveriam ser aplicadas para a primeira e segunda ocorrência de plágio?). Foram gravadas as respostas. Resultados: Esta enquete foi respondida por 25.742 estudantes. A taxa de resposta para a consciência acerca das políticas HEC sobre o plágio mostraram significativa (p<0,05) baixa porcentagem (94%). Os estudantes não estavam a par desta política. A atitude de recusa ao comportamento do plágio mostra significativamente (p<0,05) uma alta porcentagem. Os estudantes consideraram que o plágio era uma conduta inaceitável. Significativamente (p<0,05) de alto índice foi a resposta a respeito do castigo que deveria ser dado ao plágio; a resposta foi: advertência e informar a HOD para o primeiro e segundo aparecimento deste engano, respectivamente. Conclusões: Foi encontrada uma extensa falta de compreensão dos estudantes em relação ao plágio em todas as universidades. É necessário, para alcançar o equilibrio entre os fatores que influenciam o plágio lograr detectar a evasão, buscando e sentenciando os casos encontrados.