Resumo: Tanto a hidrólise de proteínas quanto de amido contribui para a mobilização eficaz das reservas para desencadear a germinação das sementes. Estudamos a atividade de enzimas hidrolíticas na germinação de sementes de feijão mungo (Vigna radiata) expostas ao estresse de cádmio a 0, 25, 50, 75, 100 mg.L-1. A exposição ao estresse por Cd diminuiu a taxa de germinação das sementes e as características de crescimento inicial das plântulas, incluindo comprimento de raiz e parte aérea e biomassa fresca e seca da planta em comparação com o controle. Os efeitos adversos do Cd foram mais evidentes no comprimento do caule do que no comprimento da raiz. As atividades de α-amilase e protease de plântulas exibiram reduções significativas com o aumento da dose de Cd. Também observamos redução induzida por Cd em proteínas solúveis totais e açúcares, enquanto a concentração de aminoácidos livres exibiu um aumento. Em síntese, uma diminuição no processo de hidrólise de carboidratos de reserva, proteínas e translocação de reserva prejudicada contribuiu para a inibição da germinação das mudas e características de crescimento inicial.

Abstract: Both protein and starch hydrolysis contribute to the effective mobilization of seed reserves to trigger seed germination. We studied the activities of hydrolytic enzymes in germinating seeds of mung bean (Vigna radiata) exposed to cadmium stress at 0, 25, 50, 75, 100 mg.L-1. Exposure to Cd stress decreased the seed germination rate and early seedling growth traits, including root and shoot length and plant fresh and dry biomass compared to control. The adverse effects of Cd were more prominent in terms of shoot length than root length. Seedling α-amylase and protease activities exhibited significant reductions with increasing Cd dose. We also recorded Cd-induced reduction in total soluble proteins and sugars while the concentration of free amino acids exhibited an increase. Above all, a decrease in the hydrolysis process of reserve carbohydrates, proteins and impaired reserve translocation contributed to the inhibition of seedlings’ germination and early growth traits.

Abstract: Researchers are making increasing use of the distinction between cultural logics emphasizing dignity, face, and honor. Students from eight nations including two from Latin America rated items tapping the extent to which they believed that most persons in their nation endorsed these types of mindset. Their ratings did not accord with prior beliefs as to which cultures exemplify dignity, face, and honor. However, the predictions that analytic cognition would be more prevalent in dignity cultures and contrasting types of holistic cognition would be more prevalent in face and honor cultures were supported. The belief that the logic of dignity was prevalent within one’s nation was significantly associated with higher life satisfaction.

Resumen: Las investigaciones se están centrando cada vez con mayor énfasis en el uso de la distinción entre lógicas culturales, haciendo más hincapié en la dignidad, el mantenimiento del status quo estructural de una sociedad (face) y el honor. Estudiantes de 8 países, incluyendo 2 de América Latina, clasificaron elementos sobre cuán importante para la aceptación social es la dignidad o el honor para la mayoría de las personas en su nación. Las calificaciones obtenidas no concuerdan con creencias previas en cuanto a cuáles culturas promueven más la dignidad y/o el honor como guías de su comportamiento. Sin embargo, las predicciones de que los patrones de cognición analítica serían más frecuentes en culturas que se centran en la dignidad, y que los patrones de cognición holística serían más frecuentes en culturas que se centran en la honra fueron apoyadas. Adicionalmente, la creencia de que la lógica de la dignidad era frecuente dentro de cada nación se asoció significativamente con una mayor satisfacción de vida.

The films of chitosan (CS)-silane crosslinked-poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) with different weight % were prepared. The effect on conductivity of CS/PVA blended films due to change in the concentration of PVA and temperature was investigated by impedance spectroscopy and showed good conductance properties. The complex impedance plots revealed single semicircular arcs indicating the bulk contribution to overall electrical behavior of all synthesized samples. The ac conductivity obeyed the Jonscher's power law for all samples in the frequency range of 2 kHz to 2 MHz. The ionic conductivity of the films was increased with the increase in temperature for all synthesized samples which showed an increase in the number of effective charge carriers while it was decreased at a specific higher temperature for each film. The observed activation energy for CP4, CP8 and CP10 were 0.431, 0.610 and 0.425 eV, respectively. These properties showed that the films were promising materials to be employed for conducting properties.

El objetivo de esta investigación fue evaluar la eficacia de un aislamiento nativo de Metarhizium anisopliae (Ascomycota: Hypocreales), sólo y en conjunto con tierra de diatomeas (TD) en contra de los adultos del gorgojo del arroz, Sitophilus oryzae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Los granos de arroz fueron tratados con tres dosis diferentes, i.e., 2,78 x 10(6), 10(7) y 2,78 x 2,78 x 10(8) conidias kg-1 por sí solos y en combinación con TD Protect-It® a 100 y 200 ppm, respectivamente. La mortalidad de los gorgojos adultos se determinó a los 7, 14 y 21 d después de exposición a 25 ± 2 °C y 55% H. R. Posterior a cada recuento de mortalidad, los cadáveres de adultos fueron retirados y se incubaron durante los 62d siguientes para estimar la producción de la progenie. Los resultados revelan que los granos de arroz tratados con la más alta dosis de M. anisopliae y en combinación con 200 ppm de Protect-It® producen la máxima mortalidad y reducen la progenie de S. oryzae. Estos resultados mostraron que los hongos entomopatógenos cuando se combinan con TD son más eficaces en comparación con las aplicaciones simples contra S. oryzae. Además, las dosis bajas deM. anisopliae desplegaron la máxima esporulación en cadáveres de S. oryzae.

The objective of the present study was to assess the efficacy of an indigenous isolate of Metarhizium anisopliae alone and with diatomaceous earth (DE) formulation against the rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Rice grains were admixed with three doses of M. anisopliae, i.e., 2.78 x 10(6), 2.78 x 10(7) and 2.78 x 10(8) conidia kg-1 alone and in combination with DE Protect-It™ applied at the rate 100 and 200 ppm, respectively. The weevil's mortality was determined after 7, 14 and 21d of exposure intervals at 25 ± 2 °C and 55% R. H. After each mortality count, the dead adult insects were removed and after the last exposure interval, the treated material was kept for the following 62d to check the progeny production. Rice grains treated with the highest dose rate of M. anisopliae combined with 200 ppm of Protect-It™ provided the maximum mortality and reduced progeny production of S. oryzae. These findings suggest that the combined application of entomopathogenic fungi and DE is more effective than when applied singly against S. oryzae. Moreover, it was also observed that the low doses ofM. anisopliae showed the highest rate of mycosis and sporulation in the dead adults of S. oryzae.

Two thermophilic Bacillus cereus strains (B. cereus-TA2 and B. cereus-TA4) used in the present study were isolated from the geothermal spring of Hunza valley, Gilgit, Pakistan. They showed the ability to withstand and grow at high temperature (85°C). Both these strains could resist multiple metals (copper, cadmium, mercury, manganese, zinc, arsenic, chromium and selenium). Strain B. cereus-TA4 reduced Cr (VI) at pH 5.0 to 9.0 but maximum reduction (83%) was observed at pH 7.0 after 48 h when initially supplied with 200 µg mL-1of K2CrO4. Lower initial concentrations such as 100 µg mL-1 supported higher reduction (90 to 95%) than that of high concentration such as 500 µg mL-1 (20 to 30%). Both the strains reduced nearly 70% of Se (IV) after 48 h of growth at pH 7.0 when initially supplied with 200 µg mL-1 of Na2SeO3. The optimum temperature for maximum Se (IV) reduction was 45°C for both the strains.

Weed management programs should focus on environmental safety along with benefits to the farmer. We evaluated the effects of various weed control methods: ’daab’ practice (stale seed bed technique), manual hoeing, and the chemical method (mixture of Buctril Super 60EC [bromoxynil + MCPA]0.45 kg ai ha-1 and Puma Super 75EW [fenoxaprop-P-ethyl] 0.75 kg ai ha-1) in combination with different planting geometries: 22.5 cm apart single row, 22.5 cm apart crisscross double row, 30 cm apart single row and broadcast sowings on weed control and grain yield of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) var. Sehar 2006 at the University College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha, Pakistan, during the winters of 2009 and 2010. The chemical method, manual hoeing and ’daab’ practice gave 71.44%, 30.69% and 28.60% weed controls resulting in 11.79%, 11.09% and 4.95% increases in grain yield above that of the weedy control, respectively. The 22.5 cm apart single row sowing in combination with chemical weed control proved to be the best regarding weed control (87.23%), grain yield ( ha-1) and number of fertile tillers m-2 (509.5), whereas wheat plant height (108.2 cm), number of grains spike-1 (45.90) and 1000 grain weight (45.23 g) were higher in 30 cm apart single row sowing in interaction with manual hoeing. Grain yield showed a significant negative (b = -152.8) and positive (b = 3.21) correlation with weed biomass and fertile tillers m-2, respectively. Chemical weed control, ’daab’ practice and manual hoeing gave cost:benefit ratios of 2.50, 1.95 and 1.14, respectively. Although the chemical method seems the most profitable, the ’daab’ practice was found to be the most advantageous if environmental concerns were taken into consideration.

El programa de manejo de malezas también debe centrarse en la seguridad del medio ambiente junto con el beneficio de agricultores. Se evaluó el efecto de diferentes métodos de control de malezas, es decir, la práctica ’daab’ (técnica de la falsa cama de la semilla), azada manual, y el método químico (Buctril Super 60EC [bromoxinil + MCPA] 0,45 kg ia ha-1 y Super Puma 75EW [fenoxaprop-P-etil] 0,75 kg ia ha-1) en combinación con la plantación en diferentes geometrías: 22,5 cm de distancia en una hilera, 22,5 cm dos hileras entrecruzadas, 30 cm de separación en una hilera, y siembras al voleo sobre el control de malezas y el rendimiento de grano de trigo de primavera (Triticum aestivum L.) var. Sehar 2006 de la University College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha, Pakistán, durante los inviernos de 2009 y 2010. Método químico, azada manual y la práctica ’daab’ dieron 71,44%, 30,69% y 28,60% de control de malezas que resultaron en aumentos de 11,79%, 11,09% y 4,95% en rendimiento de grano sobre el control con maleza, respectivamente. La distancia de siembra de 22,5 cm en una hilera, en combinación con el control de malezas químico fue el mejor control de malezas (87,23%) en relación con el rendimiento de grano (4073 kg ha-1) y el número de macollos fértiles m-2 (509,5), mientras que la altura de planta de trigo (108,2 cm), número de granos por espiga (45,90) y peso de 1000 granos (45,23 g) se mantuvieron más altos en siembra a 30 cm de distancia en una fila en interacción con escarda manual. El rendimiento de grano mostró una correlación significativa negativa (b = -152,8) y positiva (b = 3,21) con la biomasa de las malezas y tallos fértiles de 2 m, respectivamente. El control químico de malezas, la práctica ’daab’ y escarda manual dieron relaciones costo:beneficio de 2,50; 1,95 y 1,14, respectivamente. Aunque el método químico parece más rentable, pero al mismo tiempo teniendo en cuenta las preocupaciones ambientales, la práctica ’daab’ fue más ventajosa.