[en] There is a large number of elements in nature out of which sixteen are important for the proper growth and development of crop plants. Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potash, Calcium, Magnesium and Sulfur are called macro or major nutrients and required in comparatively large amounts. Iron, Copper, Zinc, Boron, Molybdenum, Manganese and Chloride are the micro or minor nutrients which required in smaller quantities for vegetative and reproductive growth of crop plants. C, H and O contribute the 85-9 % of the total plant content. N gives dark-green colour to crop plants and it increases the vegetative growth of crop plants. It is most important for preparation of starch in leaves and production of amino acids. P is the constituent of certain nucleic acids, phosphatides, chromosomes and coenzymes. P works as a catalyst in about 60 enzymatic systems of the plants and regulates the water in plants and reduces the negative effects of salts in the plants. Ca is the important constituent of plant cell wall and it promotes early root growth and development. Micro nutrients are always required in very little amounts but play a very important role in the physiological processes of the crop-plants. (author)

[en] flaxseed (linum usitatissimum l.) provides multiple nutritional benefits including high quality protein, dietary fiber and is the most abundant source of alpha-linolenic acid (c18:3). This study focuses on the effect of twin-screw hot extrusion on alpha-linolenic acid retention in full-fat flaxseed meal. the ranges of processing variables selected using box-behnken design were barrel exit temperature (bet) of 120-140 degree c; screw speed (ss) of 200-400 rpm; feed rate (fr) of 1-2 kg/h and feed moisture (fm) of 20-30%. The amount of alpha-linolenic acid retention in extruded samples ranged from 89.2% to 99.3%. Optimal operating conditions were stablished; bet (121degree c), ss (388 rpm), fr (1 kg/h) and fm (22.2%) for maximum (99.9%) retention of degree-linolenic acid. This effect was mainly dependent on bet and fm (p degree 0.01), whereas ss and fr imparted a lesser effect (p=0.05). The results of this study demonstrated that the twin-screw hot extrusion can be successfully explored to produce fatty meals with significant fatty acids retention for commercially food or feed purposes. (author)

[en] One thousand eighty five (1085) water samples from same point of Chashma Jhelum Link Canal flow conditions during January 1997 to November 2001 were collected. These samples were analyzed for physico-chemical constituents i.e. pH, conductivity (EC) micro S/cm, TDS, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, chloride, and bicarbonates. Corrosion and scaling behavior studies were also carried out of some corrosion indices. Langelier Saturation Index has been found to be useful qualitative relative corrosiveness of water samples. The free energy change, which is the quantitative measure of the energy available to derive the precipitating reaction of calcium carbonate on metal surface, has also been calculated from Langelier Saturation Index (L.S.I.). The values of delta G of these water samples range from-0.03 to -0.44 Kcal/mol. during canal flow 0 to 4000 cusecs, while above this flow it ranges from 0.01 to 0.05 kcal./mol. Water samples having positive delta G values shows that corrosion is expected. Larson Ratio (L.R.) relative behavior of chloride (corrosive ion) and bicarbonate (protective ion). Aggressive action of water samples of C. J. Canal during January 97 to November 2001 has also been evaluated with the help of .L.R. of these water samples have values, between 0.17 to 0.89. The lower values of L.R. have been observed during high flow conditions. Langelier Saturation index (L.S.I.) of water samples of this canal 4000 cusecs have values between 0.325 to 0.020. It means that water samples in low flow condition were moderate scale forming in nature, while in high flow condition were moderate corrosive in nature having negative values. Different compositional groups of water have also been identified. The data shows that under maximum flow condition water is of calcium bicarbonate type, while in minimum flow condition it is of sodium type. It is evident that soil composition of C. J. Canal is of Ca-Na-HCO/sub 3/-CI type, so in high flow condition compositional group of water of this canal is Ca-Na-HCO/sub 3/-Cl type due to soil erosion, but under minimum flow condition water is of Na-Cl-HCO/sub 3/ type. The main reason of this type is seepage flow of salt range. (author)

[en] Pearl millet, like sorghum or sudan grass, is an annual, semi-arid tropical grass-plant grown For forage and grain under the environmental conditions that are too harsh to grow other Cereals to maturity. These regions are characterized by erratic distribution of annual rainfall, high mean temperature and depleted soil-fertility. Limited use of improved cultivers, inadequate plant-population, low level of fertilizer-application, weed-control measures and water-conservation practices. mainly contribute to reduced yield levels. Millet grain is chiefly Consumed as food, but it has high value as feed for poultry and in ruminant's diet. This is also an indispensable source of fodder. Experimental evidence and demonstrations on cultivated field. have revealed that, through adoption of improved production-technology developed in recent years, the forage and grain-yield can be enhanced substantially much beyond subsistence-level in all pearl-millet regions. Efforts on varietal improvement and there by increased area under high-yielding varieties has played a major role in doubling the Productivity. However, in order to realize the yield-potential of unproved varieties, it is essential that other components, like improved agronomic practices and plant-protection measures be integrated effectively in the production-technology. (author)

[en] To investigate the effect of Beri-honey-impregnated dressing on diabetic foot ulcer and compare it with normal saline dressing. Study Design: A randomized, controlled trial. Place and Duration of Study: Sughra Shafi Medical Complex, Narowal, Pakistan and Bhatti International Trust (BIT) Hospital, Affiliated with Central Park Medical College, Lahore, from February 2006 to February 2010. Methodology: Patients with Wagner's grade 1 and 2 ulcers were enrolled. Those patients were divided in two groups; group A (n=179) treated with honey dressing and group B (n=169) treated with normal saline dressing. Outcome measures were calculated in terms of proportion of wounds completely healed (primary outcome), wound healing time, and deterioration of wounds. Patients were followed-up for a maximum of 120 days. Results: One hundred and thirty six wounds (75.97%) out of 179 were completely healed with honey dressing and 97 (57.39%) out of 169 wtih saline dressing (p=0.001). The median wound healing time was 18.00 (6 - 120) days (Median with IQR) in group A and 29.00 (7 - 120) days (Median with IQR) in group B (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The present results showed that honey is an effective dressing agent instead of conventional dressings, in treating patients of diabetic foot ulcer. (author)

[en] The sunflower is valuable from economic, as well as ornamental point of view. Every part of the plant may be utilized for some economic purpose. The leaves form a cattle-food and the stems contain a fibre, which may be used successfully in making paper. (Khan and Rana, 1966). The leaves form a cattle-food and the stems contain a fibre, which may be used successfully in making paper. (Khan and Rana, 1966). The seed is rich in oil, which is said to be more near to olive oil, than any other vegetable oil known, and to be largely used as a substitute. In prewar days, sunflower seed was sometimes grown in this country, especially on sewage farms, as an economical crop for pheasants, as well as poultry. The flowers contain a yellow dye. The oil extracted from the seeds is of citron yellow colour and sweet in taste. Sunflower seeds have a high feedings value the analysis in round figures in 16 per cent albumen and 21 per cent fat. Being so rich in oil, they are too stimulating to use alone and should only be used in combination with other feeding stuffs. Mixed with oats in equal quantities, they make a perfectly balanced ration. (author)

[en] Full text: It is important for a developing country with expanding nuclear power programme to acquire the ability for the safe and efficient operation of nuclear facilities such as nuclear power plants. Nuclear knowledge and its effective management are key drivers of both performance and safe operations of NPPs and educational establishments. Nuclear facilities operate over very long timescales, during which operational conditions and technologies change. Appropriate knowledge for decision-making is vital especially for operators involved in decision making because their wrong actions may affect nuclear safety due to lack of knowledge. Effective knowledge management supports safe operation as well as decision making process for both operators and decision makers throughout their carrier to take right actions with right knowledge. This paper focuses on people, processes and technology to manage knowledge, skills and ability of NPP operators to use, critically review and discuss the MCR logbook, integrating related operating experience (OE) in lesson plans, acquiring tacit knowledge from subject matter experts (SMEs) and lessons learned from training activities and reports at the organization level. (author

[en] Edible oils are the main component of our daily diet. Although a large quantity of oil seed is grown in various areas of Pakistan, but the amount of oil extracted from these seeds is insufficient to meet the requirements of our country. Two hybrids (i.e. Soraj and Roshan) were sown at the National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad, in 2009, at different dates to check their performance. The soil is mostly clayey keeping organic material but showing low availability of phosphorus and micronutrients. Data on different parameters, i.e. number of seeds/head and weight of seed per head (g) were collected. The hybrids (Soraj and Roshan) sown early (mid July) showed outstanding performance by producing the seed weight per head 19.60 and 23.4 g as compared to the hybrids (Soraj and Roshan) sown late (end of August) having seed weight per head II and 12.1 g. (author)

[en] Carrot (Daucus carota) is an important winter crop and used as vegetable as well as fodder for livestock. It is cultivated in temperate and sub-tropical regions of the world. Carrot is cultivated in all provinces of Pakistan. It is a cool-climate crop and develops normally in a wide range of temperatures. Root-growth is fastest at temperatures between 15 degree C and 18 degree C; carrot plant is biennial and completes its life-cycle in two years. It needs light soil, which has well manured. It grows in two ways i.e on ridges and on flat beds. Seed is planted about 1.25 to 2 cm deep, keeping row-distance 30 to 60 cm. Carrot requires abundant and well- distributed supply of water.. The weed-control during the early stage of growing-season is essential. The yields are about 20,000 to 30,000 kg per hectare. Higher yields can be obtained by using advanced agronomic practices. (author)

[en] Malate dehydrogenase (MDH) is a key enzyme that catalyzes the reversible oxidation of malate to oxaloacetate and plays a crucial role in various cellular processes, such as cell expansion, wall thickening and cell elongation. Although individual genes belonging to MDH gene family have been partially identified in various plants, there have been no reports of a genome-wide characterization of the MDH gene family in cotton. Here, we identified a total of 13 MDH genes from the genome of a diploid cotton Gossypium arboreum and designated GaMDH1-13 based on their chromosomal locations. These MDH members were unevenly distributed on 8 of the 13 chromosomes. Segmental duplications that played a dominant role in the expansion of the MDH gene family were estimated to have occurred between 19.07 to 20.47 million years ago (MYA), when a recent large-scale genome duplication occurred in cotton. Phylogenetic analyses showed that the putative MDH proteins formed five groups (I to V) in plant species. GaMDH genes within the same group shared similar gene structures and domain constitutions. Furthermore, expression analysis showed that the GaMDH genes were differentially expressed in root, stem, leaf, hypocotyl, petal and anther, with higher expression levels detected during different fiber developmental stages. Notably, GaMDH13 had the highest expression level during the fast fiber elongation stage that ranged from 5 to 15 day post-anthesis (DPA), suggesting that the MDH gene plays a vital role in fiber development. The results of this study will aid functional analyses of the MDH genes in cotton fiber development. (author)