Abstract Background Appropriate agronomic practices are required to ensure high and sustainable crop yields. Timely sowing of wheat at an optimum seeding rate plays an important role in weed management and obtaining higher crop yields. Objective This study assessed the impact of agronomic practices, i.e., herbicide application, sowing dates and seeding rates on weed management and productivity of wheat. Methods Experimental treatments comprised of three sowing dates (20 November, 5 December, and 30 December), three seeding rates (120, 160, and 200 kg ha -1 ) and application of herbicides (tribenuron methyl + clodinafop-propargyl). Results Sowing dates, seeding rates and herbicide application significantly affected dry weight of weeds, yield, and yield components of wheat. High seed rate and herbicide application in late-planted wheat (30 December) reduced the weed dry weight. Early-planted wheat (20 November) with 120 kg ha -1 seed rate resulted in a higher number of seeds/spike and 1,000-grain weight. Early-planted wheat (20 th November) with high seed rate resulted in a higher tiller population and total biomass, which ultimately increased the final grain yield and net profit. Conclusions Grass + broad leaf herbicide application on early-planted wheat with higher seed rates (160 and 200 kg ha -1 ) suppressed weed growth and helped to improve yield and yield-related attributes, and net returns of wheat in Iraqi Kurdistan region. yields ie i e i.e. 20 (2 November December 3 , 120, (120 160 1 - tribenuron clodinafoppropargyl. clodinafoppropargyl clodinafop propargyl . clodinafop-propargyl) weeds lateplanted late planted (3 Earlyplanted Early 12 seedsspike seeds spike 1,000grain 1000grain 1,000 000 biomass profit earlyplanted early (16 yieldrelated related attributes region i.e 2 ( (12 16 clodinafop-propargyl 000grain 1000 1,00 00 (1 100 1,0 0 10 1,

ABSTRACT Background: Latent HIV-1 is a major hurdle in obtaining HIV-1 sustained virological remission (SVR). Here we explored histone deacetylation inhibition property of nicotinamide (NAM; n = 17) for the first time in comparison to a combination of methyltransferase inhibitors (MTIs; Chaetocin and BIX01294; n = 25) to reactivate latent HIV ex vivo in CD8-depleted PBMCs from antiretroviral treated aviremic individuals. Results: NAM reactivated HIV-1 from 13/17 (76.4%) samples compared to 20/25 (80.0%) using MTIs with mean viral load (VLs) of 4.32 and 3.22 log10 RNA copies/mL, respectively (p = 0.004). Mean purging time after NAM and MTIs stimulation was 5.1 and 6.75 days, respectively (p = 0.73). Viral purging in autologous cultures exhibited blunted HIV recovery with fluctuating VLs followed by a complete viral extinction when expanded in allogenic system. Electron microscopy from five supernatants revealed anomalous viral particles, with lack of complete viral genomes when characterized by ultradeep sequencing through metagenomics approach (n = 4). Conclusion: NAM alone was more potent HIV-1 activator than combination of MTIs, with potential of clinical use.

Abstract The present study was planned to test the hypothesis that feeding lactating dairy cattle with varying levels of rumen-undegradable protein (RUP) can enhance protein utilization, milk production, milk protein, and nitrogen (N) excretion. Forty mid-lactating crossbred (Jersey × Friesian) cattle were randomly divided into four groups. Four treatment diets were formulated to contain 30%, 40%, 50%, and 60% RUP of crude protein. Dry matter (DM) and crude protein intakes were significantly reduced with increasing dietary RUP levels. Crude protein digestibility increased linearly with incremental increases in dietary RUP levels. Cattle fed 60% RUP showed a linear decrease in N intake compared to that in the other groups. A linear decrease in urinary N and linear increases in net N, milk N, and N-use efficiency were observed with increasing dietary RUP levels. Actual milk, energy-corrected milk, and 4% fat-corrected milk yields (kg/day) increased linearly with an increasing degradability of protein. However, milk protein, solids not fat and total solids, as well as the yields of protein, fat, and lactose, showed significant increases with increased RUP supplementation. Collectively, the results indicate that formulating dairy cow diets to contain 60% RUP results in better lactating performance and N-use efficiency and lower N excretion.

Abstract The present study aimed to investigate the consequences of dietary levels of crude protein (CP) and total sulfur amino acids (TSAA, Met+Cys) on productive performance, egg quality and egg components for Lohmann Brown laying hens through 18-34 weeks of age. A 2×3 factorial design experiment was conducted using two levels of CP (16 and 18 %) and three levels of Met+ Cys (0.67, 0.72 and 0.77 %). A total of 144 Lohmann Brown laying hens at 18 weeks of age were randomly divided into 6 treatment groups. The best values of final body weight and body weight change were recorded by the hens fed 18 % CP diet. Increasing dietary CP up to 18 % accompanied with the best (P> 0.01) feed conversion, egg weight and egg mass. The combination between low-CP diet (16 %) and 0.72 % Met+ Cys gave the best percentage of egg production. The majority of egg quality traits were not significantly altered by dietary treatments. The interaction between CP and Met+Cys levels had a statistical (P>0.01) impact on egg content of moisture and total solids only. It could be concluded that the best production criteria could be obtained by using 0.72% Met+Cys. Moreover, dietary level of 16 or 18 % CP with 0.72% Met+Cys is recommended for feeding Lohmann hens.

ABSTRACT American bollworm (ABW), Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner), is considered as a major pest of cotton, Gossypium hirsutum, all over the globe. Due to its destructive feeding nature and continuous consumption of the same chemicals, it devolved resistant against many insecticides. Therefore, a combined application of bio- and synthetic-pesticide need to evaluate against this pest. The entomopathogenic viruses like nuclear polyhedrosis virus (NPV), a member of baculoviruses, can be the potential candidates for better control against ABW. The present study was conducted to assess the comparative efficacy of NPV and Spinosad 240SC (with the concentration of 250 mL · ha-1) against ABW in the controlled environment. The ABW was treated with different concentrations of NPV and Spinosad separately and in a combination of NPV with 0.1% Spinosad. The results revealed that highest concentrations showed highest mortality (95%) followed by 95%, 92%, 84%, 82% and 78% mortality at 1 × 109, 1 × 108, 1 × 107, 1 × 106 and 1 × 105 POBs, respectively. Spinosad when mixed in diet give 100% mortality at 0.8% followed by 50.87%, 42.10%, 29.82%, 26.31% and 22.80% mortality at 0.4%, 0.2%, 0.1%, 0.5% and 0.025% respectively. The results of this study revealed that microbial control of ABW through NPV is an effective tool. The repeated use of synthetic pesticides caused the resurgence of many insect pests, and this study results would provide useful insight to build a framework for future investigations for the management of many major insect pests.

ABSTRACT Itajaí is a port city in southern Brazil with one of the highest incidence and mortality rates from AIDS in the country. The prevalence and incidence of HIV infection were investigated in 1085 of 3196 new HIV-1 infection cases evaluated in the counseling and testing center of Itajaí from January 2002 to August 2008. Recent infections were assessed using the BED(tm), and polregion sequencing was performed in 76 samples. The prevalence ranged from 3.08% to 6.17% among women and from 10.26% to 17.36% among men. A total of 17% of infections were classified as recent, with annual incidence varying from 1.6% to 4.8 per 100 patient/year among women and from 2.05% to 8.5 per 100 patient/year among men. Pol sequences were obtained from 38 randomly recent infections selected individuals: 71% were infected by subtype C, 24% B, 2% D, and 2% F1. Among 38 subjects with established infection, 76% were subtype C, and 24% B. Transmitted drug resistance was detected in 18.4% of recent infection subjects (7.8% to nucleoside analog reverse-transcriptase inhibitors, 5.2% to non-nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitors, and 5.2% protease inhibitors) and 5.2% of subjects with established infection had nucleoside analog reverse-transcriptase inhibitors resistance. The high prevalence and incidence of HIV infection in this region is unprecedented in studies involving cases evaluated in the counseling and testing centers in Brazil.

Weeds cause huge losses due to their competition with crops. Intercropping of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) with canola (Brassica napus L.) under different spatial arrangements was evaluated for their effects on weeds and interaction between the crops at the Agronomic Research Area, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan, during 2009-2010. The treatments included wheat (line sowing), canola (line sowing), wheat (broadcast method), one row of wheat + one row of canola (30 cm apart), two rows of wheat + two rows of canola (45 cm apart), four rows of wheat + four rows of canola (75 cm apart) and mixed cropping of wheat + canola (broadcast method). The results revealed that all intercropping treatments significantly affected weed density and dry weight over component sole crop of wheat. Mixed cropping of wheat + canola suppressed dry weight of Phalaris minor Retz., Chenopodium album L., Rumex dentatus L., and Coronopus didymus L. by 94, 77.2, 77.4, and 92%, respectively, over sole crop of wheat. The other intercropping treatments like one row of wheat + one row of canola, two rows of wheat + two rows of canola, and four rows of wheat + four rows of canola generally suppressed total dry weight of weeds by 81, 74, and 76%, respectively. Four rows of wheat + four rows of canola gave the highest land-equivalent ratios 1.37 and net benefit Rs 93 543 followed by two rows of wheat + two rows of canola. It is suggested that wheat-canola intercropping system in agro ecological conditions of Faisalabad could enhance land-equivalent ratio > 1 (over-yielding) by suppressing weeds.

Las malezas causan grandes pérdidas debidas a competencia con los cultivos. El intercultivo de trigo (Triticum aestivum L.) con canola (Brassica napus L.) bajo diferentes arreglos espaciales se evaluó por sus efectos en malezas e interacción entre los cultivos en el Area de Investigación Agronómica, Universidad de Agricultura, Faisalabad, Paquistán, durante 2009-2010. Los tratamientos incluyeron trigo (siembra lineal), canola (siembra lineal), trigo (siembra al voleo), una hilera de trigo + una hilera de canola (separadas 30 cm), dos hileras de trigo + dos hileras de canola (separadas 45 cm), cuatro hileras de trigo + cuatro hileras de canola (separadas 75 cm) y cultivo mixto de trigo + canola (siembra al voleo). Los resultados revelaron que todos los tratamientos de intercultivo afectaron significativamente densidad y peso seco de la maleza sobre el cultivo de trigo solo. El cultivo mixto de trigo + canola redujo el peso seco de Phalaris minor Retz., Chenopodium album L., Rumex dentatus L., y Coronopus didymus L. en 94; 77,2; 77,4; y 92%, respectivamente, sobre el cultivo de trigo solo. Los otros tratamientos de intercultivo como una hilera de trigo + una hilera de canola, dos hileras de trigo + dos hileras de canola, y cuatro hileras de trigo + cuatro hileras de canola generalmente redujeron peso seco total de las malezas en 81, 74, y 76%, respectivamente. Cuatro hileras de trigo + cuatro hileras de canola dieron las relaciones equivalente tierra más altas de 1,37 y beneficio neto de Rs 93 543 seguido por dos hileras de trigo + dos hileras de canola. Se sugirió que el sistema de intercultivo trigo-canola en condiciones agroecológicas de Faisalabad pudo aumentar la relación equivalente tierra > 1 (sobre-producción) al suprimir las malezas.