No abstract

Recently a renaissance of interest is happened in the usage of natural dyes in textile coloration. This is in the result of the strict ecological standards forced by many countries as a consequence of poisonous and allergic reactions related to the use of synthetic dyes. A prevalent attention has emerged in the dyeing of fabric fibers by the means of natural colorants, on description of their high compatibility with surroundings. They have softer colour shades, unaffectedness qualities and lesser toxicity. These dyes are also uncontaminated, antiallergic and deodorizing that are sufficient for balancing natural shades or just the originality 1-3 .Natural dyes are obtained from flowers, berries, leaves, trees, shrubs, minerals and insects. These dyes have been used for centuries to develop colours for yarns, fabrics, leather and foods, etc. Natural dyes can provide delicate and soft colours through to the brightest colour to the yarns and fabrics. Ancient dyeing methods integrated sticking plants to fabric or rubbing crushed pigments into cloth. The methods became more stylish with time and techniques using natural dyes from crushed fruits, berries and other plants, which were boiled into the fabric, were developed. The natural dye extraction methods and dyeing methods described by traditional dyers The present work involves the optimization of extraction and dyeing recipes to standardize the procedure for natural dye obtained from the petals of marigold (Tagetes erecta). The resultant dye obtained at optimized extraction conditions was applied on cotton fabric to study the effect of temperature, time, material to liquid ratio (M:L), salt concentration and mordanting. Colorimetric data and colour fastnesses were studied for evaluation of optimum extraction and dyeing conditions. It was observed that extraction and dyeing parameters have significant effect on colour characteristics of dyed cotton fabric. The optimized extraction conditions were; M:L ratio 1:20, extraction time 90 min and temperature 100 ºC while optimized dyeing parameters were; M:L ratio 1:30, dyeing time 1 h and temperature 90 ºC and salt concentration 60 g/L of sodium sulphate. Better light and washing fastness were obtained in case of post mordanting with ferrous sulphate.

Osteoporosis is increasingly being recognized by the medical fraternity as a significant health problem. This research was designed to study the incidence of osteoporosis in post-menopausal women and its relation to body mass index, body muscles, body fat and mineral status (calcium and phosphorus). Thirty samples of post-menopausal women aging between 45-60 years were divided into 3 groups. Body weight and height seemed to be tested through the use of electronic weighing balance and Stadiometer. Body muscles and fat percentage were determined through Beurer GmBH BLACK Blr.64. Bone mineral density was calculated by bone densitometry. Serum concentration of calcium and phosphorus was determined by spectrophotometer. The data obtained was subjected to Analysis of Variance. Results showed the significant decrease in body muscle, bone mineral density and serum calcium with increasing age. It was concluded that body weight, body muscles, body fat, bone mineral density, serum calcium and phosphorus had significant association with age and osteoporosis. Body fat and serum phosphorus increases with age in post-menopausal women. Body mass index and height had non-significant association with age and osteoporosis.

-Tank mixed application of herbicides with adjuvant is required for effective weed management and to reduce herbicide load on agricultural crops. Field studies were conducted to investigate the effect of herbicides at reduced rates with adjuvant on common goosefoot (Chenopodium album) and field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis) and grain yield of wheat for two consecutive winter seasons. Treatments included post-emergence foliar application of four herbicides viz., fluroxypyr + tribenuron-methyl + clopyralid, mesosulfuron-methyl + iodosulfuron-methyl sodium, bromoxynil + MCPA, iodosulfuron-methyl sodium (pre mixed formulations) at their recommended rates 244.5, 14.2, 444.6, 10 g a.i. ha -1 , respectively and 25% reduced rates with alkyl ether sulfate Na salt at 400 mL ha -1 as adjuvant. A weedy check was kept as control. All the herbicide treatments caused a significant reduction in densities (up to 85% and 89.2%) of C. arvensis and C. album, respectively and total dry weight (12.4-56%), N (3.7-50%), P (25-63.6%) and K (1.4-56.6%) uptakes from weedy check. Better weed control was achieved with 25% lower dose of all herbicides along with adjuvant in comparison with that recorded with their full doses without adjuvant. All herbicide treatments increased the grain yield of wheat ranging from 10.4 6-56.1% over control during both years. Herbicides with adjuvant produced significantly the higher grain yield of wheat than those observed with herbicides alone. Among all herbicide treatments, 75% doses of bromoxynil + MCPA and iodosulfuron-methyl sodium along with alkyl ether sulfate adjuvant were proved to be the best as they gave significantly the higher (4902.3 and 5159.0 kg ha -1 and 4566.5 and 4891.0 kgha -1 ) grain yields of wheat during years 2013-14 and 2014-15, respectively. (244,5; 14,2; 444,6; e 10 g i.a. ha -1 , respectivamente) (até 85% e 89,2%) de C. arvensis e C. album, respectivamente, bem como no peso seco total (12.4-56%), N (3,7-50%), P (25-63,6%) e K (1,4-56,6%) Keywords: adjuvant, grain yield, herbicides, wheat RESUMO -A aplicação de herbicidas em tanque com adjuvante é necessária para o manejo eficaz de plantas daninhas e para a redução da carga de herbicidas em culturas agrícolas. Estudos de campo foram conduzidos para investigar o efeito de herbicidas em doses reduzidas com adjuvante em ansarinha-branca (Chenopodium album) e corriola (Convolvulus arvensis) e no rendimento de grãos de trigo durante duas estações de inverno consecutivas. Os tratamentos incluíram a aplicação foliar em pós-emergência de quatro herbicidas, a saber: fluroxypyr + tribenuronmethyl + clopyralid, mesosulfuron-methyl + iodosulfuron-methyl sodium, bromoxynil + MCPA e iodosulfuron-methyl sodium, com as doses recomendadasTANVEER, A. et al. Alkyl ether sulfate improves efficacy of herbicides against common goosefoot and field bindweed in wheat 2

Herbicide resistance development among weeds, environmental contamination and health concerns due to the overuse of herbicides have led researchers to focus on ways to reduce herbicides to be sprayed for weed management. Adjuvants are best suited for that purpose, as they accomplish a crucial role in achieving satisfactory control of weeds by maximizing herbicidal activity. A two-year field investigation was carried out at the Agronomic Research Area, in the University of Agriculture, in Faisalabad, Pakistan during the winter of 2014 and 2015, with the objective to optimize the activity of two broad-spectrum herbicides at reduced dose (75% of the label mentioned rate) for weed control in wheat. Minimum weed density, weed dry weight and NPK uptake were recorded with reduced dosed mesosulfuron methyl + iodosulfuron methyl sodium at 10.60 g a.i. ha-1 combined with fatty alcohol ethoxylate at 200 mL ha-1. This was followed by reduced dosed sulfosulfuron at 18.75 g a.i. ha-1 combined with the same adjuvant. Among various herbicidal treatments, application of reduced dosed mesosulfuron methyl + iodosulfuron methyl sodium at 10.60 g a.i. ha-1 combined with fatty alcohol ethoxylate at 200 mL ha-1 was proved to be most cost effective and resulted in maximum wheat yield during both years of study.