eChapters

Key Points

• The most commonly cystitis and pyelonephritis occurs in farm and companion animals after parturition.

• Hematuria, pyuria, and stranguria are common presenting clinical symptoms;

• In acute situations, a prolonged course of treatment (two to four weeks) with the administration of the proper antimicrobials is usually successful.

Introduction

Both farm animals and companion animals frequently suffer from urinary infections, which are difficult to diagnose. In cows, urine testing is more helpful in excluding the illness if it shows any pus or germs (in females), and f inding the urethral calculus that is causing the urinary obstruction can be done by palpating the bladder using a rectum examination and palpating the urethral tube (in males). Because of the shorter urethra in females and the associated uterine infection that occurs during or after parturition, females are more likely to get urinary tract infections.

The urinary organs include the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra (Fig. 4-5 A).

Kidneys

The kidneys are two compound tubular glands situated retroperitoneally in the sublumbar region. They are elongated, the right kidney being elliptical in outline and the left one slightly oval. They are red brown in colour. The weight of each kidney varies from 500 to 700 gm, the left kidney being about 25 gm heavier than the right kidney. The outer surface of the bovine kidneys is marked by polygonal lobes which are about twenty in number and are separated from each other by deep grooves (fissures). The grooves are filled in by fat. Both the kidneys are embedded in a large amount of perirenal fat termed as adipose capsule.

The kidneys develop from the nephrotome (intermediate mesoderm). The series of nephrotomes forms urino-genital ridge which splits up into an lateral nephric and a medial genital ridge, which project into the coelom from the dorsal wall. This is the short segment of mesoderm that connects somite with lateral mesoderm. Three sets of kidneys are formed during embryologic development in vertebrates viz., pronephros, mesonephros, and metanephros. First two sets are temporary structures and third set becomes the kidneys found in the adult.

Urinary system is relatively simple and consists of a pair of kidneys, a pair of ureters, the bladder and the urethra. The kidneys are the main organs that filter the blood and produce the urine while the rests of the organs of this system are simply accessory structures that are used for transport and storage of urine. For proper functioning of the metabolic processes of the body, it is essential to constantly maintain the chemical composition and volume of the tissue fluid. This is called the homeostasis. This particular task is performed by the urinary system and in particular by the kidneys.

Kidneys

The kidneys right and left, are bean shaped red brown relatively large glands situated in the abdominal cavity. These are placed retroperitoneal against the dorsal wall of the abdomen on either side of the spine. The right kidney is about half of its length ahead of the left kidney and it fits into the renal impression on the caudate lobe of the liver. An indentation at about the middle of the medial border is the hilus of the kidney through which pass the renal vessels, nerves and ureters. Both the kidneys are covered by a thin capsule formed of fibrous tissue which surrounds the parenchyma of the kidneys. The capsule can be easily striped away from the kidney. The function of the kidneys is to maintain the volume and composition of the plasma,regulate water, ion, and pH levels, retain nutrients and excrete fluid wastes, toxins and excess electrolytes. The kidneys achieve these functions through glomerular filtration, solute reabsorption, tubular secretion, water balance and acid-base regulation.

The renal capsule provides a stiff outer shell to maintain the shape and protect the inner soft parenchyma. Deep to the capsule is the soft, dense vascular cortex. Several cone shaped pyramids form the medulla deep to the cortex. The pyramids are aligned with their bases facing outward towards the cortex and their apices point inward towards the centre of the kidney. Each apex connects to a minor calyx, a small hollow tube that collects urine. The minor calyces merge to form three major calyces, which further merge to form the hollow renal pelvis at the centre of the kidney. The urine collected into the pelvis drains into the ureter that exits through the hilus of the kidney.

Urinnalysis An essential laboratory test that is easily conducted in veterinary settings and is included in a basic database is urinalysis. Documenting diverse urogenital tract conditions is helpful, because it could reveal details about other systemic conditions including hemolysis and liver failure. Cystocentesis, urethral catheterization, or simply voiding can all be used to collect urine. Urine should be examined within 30 minutes, but if this is not possible, it can be refrigerated for up to 24 hours or sent to a outside diagnostic lab; this, however, may cause crystal precipitation. The pH or specific gravity of urine are unaffected by refrigeration. Preservative should be added if cytologic analysis is necessary and a delay in slide preparation is anticipated. A few drops of 10% formalin (exact concentration not necessary) are better than boric acid

The uronic acid pathway is a minor and alternative pathway for glucose oxidation and for the production of uronic acid sugar. Uronic acids of sugars are formed when the terminal carbon’s (C6) hydroxyl group (CH2OH) of sugar gets oxidized to a carboxylic acid. Uronic acid names depend on the name of the parent sugars. Uronic acid of glucose is glucuronic acid, hexose uronic acids are hexuronic acids, and pentose uronic acids are named penturonic acids. The uronic acid pathway is located in the cytosol of the liver and adipose tissue.
The glucuronic acid should not be confused with gluconic acid (aldonic acid) and glucaric acid (aldaric acid or dicarboxylic acid). Gluconic acid (aldonic acid or “onic” acid) is obtained from D-glucose by oxidizing its aldehyde group at C1 to a carboxyl group. Glucaric acid (aldaric or dicarboxylic acid) is formed upon oxidation of both the terminal hydroxyl groups (C1 and C6) and the aldehyde. They have two carboxylic acid groups. This pathway yields pentoses & ascorbic acid or vitamin C (not in primates & guinea pigs) from glucose.

Bougainvilleas is a multipurpose plant due to the variation in habit, growth and colour pattern of different cultivars and are grown as pot plants, standard, hedges, bush, climber, bonsai, landscape, as an espalier, factory gardens, institutional gardens, municipal gardens, terrace garden, wind curtain, topiary, pergola and various other multipurpose. Bougainvillea in an urban landscape trained as a “standard”. It is used as an accent plant, a specimen plant, in hanging baskets, in containers, and for bonsai. Bougainvillea is used to decorate all public, home gardens, play ground and office corridor. About 300 cultivars (150 of which were bred in India) have been derived from 4 species, viz. Bougainvillea peruviana, B. glabra, B. X buttiana and B. spectabilis,through hybridization and natural or induced mutation. Indian-raised cultivars are listed in categories for growing as climbers, bushes, hedges, standards and pot plants and are also grouped under bract colour  (Nagpal 1990, Singh 1990, Singh et al. 2015, Sharma et al. 2015, Kumar et al. 2007, Mathur 2000, 2001, 2007, 2015, Richard and Erin 2002, Simon 2005). It is tolerant to a number of adverse conditions like dry soil, saline soil, pollution etc. Bougainvilleas are sprawling climbers and shrubs. They naturally bloom in the spring and seem to bloom harder in drier years. It is very good plant for desert gardens. It can be used as vines, shaped into bushes, into ground cover. Most suitable for landscaping.  Bougainvillea plants can grow easily on walls. Internode length has a strong influence on bougainvillea growth habit and characteristics in the landscape. They are pollution and drought tolerant and very ideal for landscaping of industrial region as well as for road dividers. They are very hardy plants and specially suitable for growing in rocky and arid areas where other ornamental floweing plants do not  easily thrive well (Fig. 10).

INTRODUCTION

Information has now become one of the basic needs of human being in addition to air, water, food and shelter. There is no human activity in the world without information. It is a basic raw material for right decision making from the governmental level to the personal level. It is an indispensable tool for teachers and research scholars.

Now-a-days, ICT advancements and developments have changed the libraries from mere store house of printed materials into gateways to knowledge of the world of information. The collection of modern library is not restricted to print media only but libraries are adding e-resources to their existing collections. Users need not come to library to meet their information needs. They may use online catalogue, web based database, online e-journals etc remote from library. In view of the above, information need and seeking pattern of users particularly research scholars are likely to change. Based on this, an attempt has been made to study on use pattern of electronic resources by Physics and Chemistry research scholars.

Abstract

The constant improvement in automation of bakery industry has placed higher demands on wheat. As a consequence bakery industry requires wheat possessing specific quality attributes. In view of this, there is need to produce good quality wheat not only for good chapattis but also for better bakery products viz., bread, biscuit, noodles, pasta products. New technologies are emerging which could be exploited for determining the Indian wheats for their suitability for various value added products. In the current investigation, 50 genotypes possessing low protein content (<10.5%) selected from a vast amount of breeding material were analysed for their biscuit making attributes. These lines were screened by actual baking test and alkaline water retention capacity (AWRC) test keeping the standard prescribed for biscuit making qualities viz., low protein content, low sedimentation value, low AWRC and larger diameter with larger spread factor of biscuit. Further with the help of Stable Micro Systems TA.HDi Texture Analyser the biscuits were analysed for hardness and crispness. Correlation coefficient among 8 quality traits suggested highly significant and positive correlation between sedimentation value and AWRC, biscuit diameter and spread factor, and biscuit hardness and fracturability, and significant negative correlation between biscuit diameter and its thickness. On the basis of findings, genotypes identified for biscuit making qualities may be used as donor for developing varieties suitable for biscuit making.

Different basic as well as advanced laboratory equipment need to be used in a laboratory while conducting experiments. Many of them like pH meter, laminar air-flow hood, viscometer, thermometer, magnetic stirrer, microwave ovens, incubators, sand-bath, water-bath, oil-bath, etc. are the basic and simple equipment which require to be used routinely while conducting experiments in a laboratory. However, basic knowledge of their operation, handling procedure, when to be used, how to be used, and more importantly what not to be done with it, etc. are essential for keeping them in serviceable condition as well as for the accuracy/precision in their operation. In this chapter, we will discuss about some of the routinely used laboratory equipment along, while some other sophisticated equipment will be discussed in other chapters.

pH Meter

A pH meter measures exactly the H+ concentration of a solution; thus indicates acidity or alkalinity of a solution with greater precision. Actually, it measures the difference in electrical potential between a pH electrode and a reference electrode, and display the results converted into the corresponding pH value. Electrode is the key part (rod-like structure, usually made of glass) of a pH meter, having a bulb at the bottom containing a sensor. The pH meters range from simple and inexpensive pen-like devices (portable/pocket pH meter) to complex and expensive laboratory instruments with computer interface (Figure 5.1).

Frequent calibration of a pH meter using the solutions of known pH (standard solution of pH 4.01, 7.00, 10.01, Figure 5.2), generally before each use, ensures the accuracy of the instrument. For very precise work the pH meter should be calibrated before each measurement. For normal use calibration should be performed at the beginning of each day. This is necessary because the glass electrode does not give a reproducible measurement over a longer period of time.

Introduction

To accomplish experimentations in laboratories, sometimes we need microscope to test/validate our ideas/findings. A microscope is needed to examine objects which are very small which cannot be visualised by naked eyes. However, microscopic study requires some expertise in operating the microscope, particularly the sophisticated microscopes, as well as to prepare (peeling, sections, cutting, fixation, staining, dehydration, mounting, etc.) the sample, so that it can be appropriately examined for the anticipated details.

According to the scientific requirements different types of microscopes are used in the laboratories for research purpose. In this chapter, our aim is to acquaint you with the basics of using and handling of microscopes, particularly a compound microscope that is commonly used by the graduate and post graduate students for basic research.

Microscopy is often designated as the scientific investigation that is employed to review and analyse minute structures and objects using a microscope. The term “microscope” has been derived from ancient Greek words “micros” meaning “small” and “skopeîn” meaning “to look at or see,”.

Microscope

A microscope is a laboratory instrument used to examine objects (biological specimens) which are too small to be seen by the naked eye. The microscope must accomplish three tasks:

• Magnification- to provide a magnified image of the specimen.

• Resolution- to separate the details in the image.

• Contrast- to render the details clearly visible to the eyes.

Although we will tnroduce to you the different types of microscopes used for different speciments, our main focus is to discuss about compound microscope, which is commonly used in the laboratories. Compound microscope was developed around the beginning of 17th century.

A variety of glassware like burettes, pipettes, measuring cylinders, flasks, separating funnel etc. are used for experimental purposes in a laboratory. All of these need to be used and handled correctly, otherwise the chances of experimental error and damage to the glassware increase significantly. Being made of glass, they need special care while washing and using in experiments because even a minor mistake in handling of glassware may result in breakage of the apparatus. With this precautionary note, let us discuss about some of the specific glassware used in the laboratories.

Burette

Burette is a long graduated glass tube with a stopcock at one end for delivering a known/desired volume of a liquid, especially in titration experiments. It contains a stopcock at the lower end and a tapered capillary tube as the stopcock’s outlet. The flow rate of liquid from the tub stopcock’s outlet can be controlled with the help of stopcock valve. Burette is used for measuring the volume of a solution/chemical added in a quantitative (titrimetric) estimation experiment.

Procedure of using a Burette

The burette reading must be noted before and after delivering the chemical/ solution from the burette. The difference in these two readings is the volume of the chemical/solution released out of the burette. The solution should be released slowly/drop-by-drop to avoid any experimental error/mistake. If the solution/chemical is allowed to pour out too fast, the wall of the burette will not drain properly and some liquid may remain sticking to the surface of the walls. Moreover, excessive amount of chemical may be released/dropped during the experiment, particularly during the titration experiment wherein we need to know the exact amount of acid/base needed to get neutralization point. Thus, any minor mistake may lead to get a faulty reading. The measuring capacity of a burette usually used in a laboratory is 50 mL.

Since mouth pipetting of liquid reagents in a laboratory is not advisable, different tools are needed for safe, easier, and precise dispensing of liquid reagents. This chapter is devoted to make you aware of the tools like vacupette and micropipette which can be used for the handling of liquid reagents in a safe and precise way.

Vacupette

Glass pipettes have been traditionally used by sucking liquid solvent/solution directly using mouth. For safety reasons, mouth pipetting is no longer permitted in a laboratory. Hence, to fill a pipette vacupette is used by placing it on the top of glass or plastic pipette. It acts as a device to create vacuum for filling reagent in the pipette as well as for releasing the reagent with mechanical regulation on the flow out of the liquid. Vacupette can be of different types.

1. Rubber Bulb Vacupette

Rubber bulb vacupette is often used to transfer (pump up and discharge) liquid using a pipette when a larger quantity of chemicals is to be transferred. Small/tiny rubber bulb is attached to glass/plastic pipette for drawing little amount of reagents. Small vacupette is used to precisely discharge smaller volume/ drops.

Handling of Vacupette

• Insert the top of a pipette in the bottom of the rubber bulb vacupette (Figure 6.1).

• Remove air from the pipette by squeezing valve “A” at the top of the vacupette while simultaneously squeezing the rubber bulb. The amount of air released depends on the size of the rubber bulb.

Introduction

In addition to role of iron oxidation in commercial point of view there are certain implication of iron oxidation on environment. Acid Rock Drainage (ARD) is one of the example of environmental pollution. Coal and various metal ores are enclosed in geological formation of reduced nature. Coal, is often associated with pyrite (FeS₂).When mining activities expose this material to atmospheric oxygen, a combination of auto oxidation and microbial iron and sulfur oxidation produces large amounts of acids. The iron-rich acidic mine drainage kills aquatic life and renders the contaminated stream unsuitable as a water supply or for recreational use.

Introduction

Revolutionary makeovers have happened in the fisheries, from traditional f ishing practices to the FAD and so on. However the introduction of trawlers had made a huge impact on the marine ecosystem. As trawling is made for catching the bottom dwelling shrimps, but one of the untargeted catch in trawling is Squid. As the squids gained an important role in the export market, the demand for the squids is being increasing inevitably. In response specialised fishing practices called Squid Jigging directly targeting squid resource in parallel minimised the harm on other Marine resources. The frozen and dried squids are extensively exported from the India since 1973and now it ranked fourth in terms of quantity and economic value (CMFRI). In the year 2020-22 The total f ish production of India was about 162.48 lakh tonnes in which the marine and inland sectors contributed about 41.27 and 121.21 lakh tonnes respectively (Handbook of fisheries statistics, 2022), In That the bulk of the squid landing comes from the west coast (0.28 lakh tonnes) from landed, which mostly dominated by Karnataka and from the east coast (0.12 lakh tonnes) the catch is dominated by Tamilnadu followed by Odisha. Even though a considerable amount of squid catch is obtained as the by-catch from the trawl nets, but the primary catch comes from squid jigging.

Bio-fertilizers, as the name indicates, are the fertilizers of biological origin (Gupta, 2012). In strict sense, real bio-fertilizers are green manures and organics - materials of biological origin which are added to supply plant nutrients present in them. However, in restricted scope, the term ìbio-fertilizersî or ìmicrobial inoculantsî are preparations of living organisms in alone or in combination, which may help in increasing crop productivity by way of fixing atmospheric Use of Bio-Fertilizers in Sustainable Agriculture 175 nitrogen in soils, solubilizing of insoluble plant nutrients, stimulating plant growth or decomposing of plant residues. 

What is biofertilizer?

Biofertilizers are ready to use live formulates of such beneficial microorganisms which on application to seed, root or soil mobilize the availability of nutrients by their biological activity in particular, and help build up the microflora and in turn the soil health in general.

Why should we use biofertilizers?

With the introduction of green revolution technologies the modern agriculture is getting more and more dependent upon the steady supply of synthetic inputs (mainly fertilizers), which are products of fossil fuel (coal+ petroleum). Adverse effects are being noticed due to the excessive and imbalanced use of these synthetic inputs. This situation has lead to identifying harmless inputs like biofertilizers. Use of such natural products like biofertilizers in crop cultivation will help in safeguarding the soil health and also the quality of crop products.

Abstract

Sustainable agriculture is vital in today’s world as it offers the potential to meet our agricultural needs, something that conventional agriculture fails to do. Current soil management strategies are mainly dependent on inorganic chemical fertilizers, which caused a serious threat to human health and environment. To overcome the ecological problems resulting from the loss of plant nutrients and to increase crop yields in the absence of resources for obtaining costly fertilizers, microscopic organisms that allow more efficient nutrient use or increase nutrient availability can provide sustainable solutions for the present and future agricultural practices. Microbial populations are instrumental to fundamental processes that drive stability and productivity of agro-ecosystems. Several investigations addressed at improving understanding of the diversity, dynamics and importance of soil microbial communities and their beneficial and cooperative roles in agricultural productivity. Thus the technique, which uses microscopic organism as biofertilizer, is environment friendly and ensures safe and healthy agricultural products. In this chapter we aim to provide a brief overview of potential use of biofertilizer for attaining sustainability of agro-ecosystem.

The term bio-fertilizer is related with such microorganisms that they add, conserve and mobilize the plant nutrients in the soil. Excessive use of nonrenewable exhaustive petroleum product based chemicals in horticultural production system has residual effect on soil, environment and human health. Use of biofertilizers is ecofriendly, cost effective and organic based inputs such as botanical pesticides, FYM, vermicompost, biogas slurry, disease and pest resistant varieties in cultivation of horticultural crops for safeguarding soil health and quality production.

Biofertilizers are microorganisms, which are capable of mobilizing nutrients from unavailable form to available form through biological process. They are not only cost effective but also inexpensive source of plant nutrients. They do not require non-renewable source of energy during their production. Besides, improving crop growth and quality of the product by producing plant hormones and help in sustainable crop production through maintenance of soil productivity. They are also useful as biocontrol agents, as they control many plant pathogens.

Introduction

North East India constitutes the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim which reflects ecological and cultural contrasts between the hills and the plains. It is one of the most biodiversity regions in the world, with more than a hundred and fifty tribes forming a melting pot of variegated cultural mosaic of people and races constitute a vital component in this region (Dutta and Dutta, 2005).
 
More than 70% people of the region are engaged in agriculture while rice is the staple food crop (Bhattacharjee and Ray, 2010). The farmers from different ethnic diversity of the region have developed their own systems of cultivation of various crops (Islam et al. 2004). These indigenous traditional knowledge systems are quite endemic to this region (Deka et al. 2006).