Of these, Napier grass, Pennisetum purpureum (Schumach), despite its attractiveness, supported minimal survival of the pests’ immature stages. Plants that repelled stemborer pests, notably molasses grass, Melinis minutiflora P. Beauv., and forage legumes in the genus Desmodium, selleckchem were selected as intercrops (push). Desmodium intercrops suppress Striga hermonthica

(Del.) Benth. through an allelopathic mechanism. Their root exudates contain novel flavonoid compounds, which stimulate suicidal germination of S. hermonthica seeds and dramatically inhibit its attachment to host roots. The companion crops provide valuable forage for farm animals while the leguminous intercrops also improve soil fertility and moisture retention.

The system is appropriate as it is based on locally available plants, not expensive external inputs, and fits well with traditional mixed cropping systems in Africa. To date it has been adopted by more than 30 000 smallholder farmers in East Africa where maize yields have increased from similar to 1 t ha(-1) to 3.5 t ha(-1). Y-27632 datasheet Future directions for semiochemical delivery by plants including biotechnological opportunities are discussed.”
“A novel biodegradable aliphatic polycarbonate, poly(propylene carbonate maleate) (PPCMA) was synthesized by terpolymerization of carbon dioxide, propylene oxide, and maleic anhydride (MA), using a polymer supported bimetallic complex as catalyst. The utility of PPCMA to encapsulate and Bafilomycin A1 control the release of drug pazufloxacin mesilate (PZFX), via microcapsules, was investigated. PPCMA microcapsules containing PZFX were elaborated by solvent evaporation

method based on the formation of double W/O/W emulsion. The manufacturing parameters such as the volume ratio of V(PPCMA) : V(PZFX), the concentration of stabilizer gelatin in outer aqueous phase played major roles on microcapsule characters, and were altered to optimize the process parameters. The PPCMA-PZFX microcapsules were obtained with smooth and spherical surface under optimum condition, the mean diameter of microcapsules was similar to 2 mu m, and the drug loading and drug encapsulation efficiency of the microcapsules were 22.9 +/- 1.05% and 82.1 +/- 2.03%, respectively. PZFX released from PPCMA microcapsules was found to reach 89.8 +/- 2.89% after 36d in a pH 7.4 phosphate-buffered solution, and the release profile obeyed the Higuchi equation. The results suggest that the new polymer PPCMA provides an alternative to degradable matrix polymers for long-term sustained releasing drug delivery systems. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 122: 3248-3254, 2011″
“Diastolic heart failure (DHF) is an important entity, the significance of which is increasingly recognized. This report examines the available evidence regarding the role, significance, and mechanisms of DHF.