Pharmacological study of bovine airways. Evidence for excitatory and inhibitory effects of histamine.

Bovine airway muscle contracts to carbachol greater than histamine greater than 2-methylhistamine greater than prostaglandin F2 alpha. Trachea of neonatal calves are more sensitive to histamine than those of older cattle. Partially contracted bovine airways relax to prostaglandins E1 and E2 greater than dopamine greater than phenylephrine greater than 4-methylhistamine greater than dimaprit. Histamine-induced airway constriction was incompletely blocked by mepyramine and the mepyramine-resistant component was blocked by atropine. After H1-receptor blockade, histamine-induced tracheobronchial relaxation was incompletely antagonized by metiamide and not blocked by propranolol or indomethacine, suggesting an atypical histamine receptor not associated with catecholamine or prostaglandin production.     

Effects of histamine on chicken airways

This study showed that chicken bronchus is relatively insensitive to histamine. H₁ histamine receptors appear to mediate bronchoconstriction to histamine. In the presence of mepyramine, high doses of histamine (10^–3 to 5×10^–3M) produce weak bronchorelaxation which is susceptible to cimetidine.Cimetidine alone potentiated the bronchoconstriction to histamine. This shows the presence of a small population of histamine H₂-receptors in chicken bronchus, which may modulate bronchospasm during pulmonary allergic reactions.     

Overview of the Third International Workshop on Swine Leukocyte Differentiation Antigens.

The aim of the Third International Workshop on Swine Leukocyte Differentiation Antigens (CD workshop), supported by the Veterinary Immunology Committee (VIC) of the International Union of Immunological Societies (IUIS), was to standardize the assignment of monoclonal antibodies (mAb) reactive with porcine leukocyte differentiation antigens and to define new antibody clusters, using nomenclature in accordance with human and ruminant CD nomenclature, as agreed at the summary meeting of the Second International Swine CD Workshop in Davis, 1995: only mAb with proven reactivity for the orthologous porcine gene product or cross-reactivity for the human gene products, were given the full CD nomenclature, all other allocations were prefixed with "w". As in previous workshops, the overall organization was entrusted to the chair and first author, with support by the chair of the previous workshop and second author. In addition to the existing 26 pig leukocyte CD/SWC determinants established in previous workshops, this workshop established/confirmed another 11 CDs for pig leukocytes, identified by a total of 21 mAb: CD11R1 (2 mAb), CD11R2 (1 mAb), CD11R3 (4 mAb), wCD40 (1 mAb), wCD46 (4 mAb), wCD47 (3 mAb), wCD49d (1 mAb), CD61 (1 mAb), wCD92 (1 mAb), wCD93 (1 mAb) and CD163 (2 mAb).     

Al cluster superatoms as halogens in polyhalides and as alkaline earths in iodide salts

Two classes of gas-phase aluminum-iodine clusters have been identified whose stability and reactivity can be understood in terms of the spherical shell jellium model. Experimental reactivity studies show that the Al13I-x clusters exhibit pronounced stability for even numbers of I atoms. Theoretical investigations reveal that the enhanced stability is associated with complementary pairs of I atoms occupying the on-top sites on the opposing Al atoms of the Al13- core. We also report the existence of another series, Al14I-x, that exhibits stability for odd numbers of I atoms. This series can be described as consisting of an Al14I-3 core upon which the I atoms occupy on-top locations around the Al atoms. The potential synthetic utility of superatom chemistry built upon these motifs is addressed.     

Hydrous Ferric Oxide (HFO)—a Scavenger for Fluoride from Contaminated Water

Groundwaters contaminated with excess fluoride (above 1.5 mg/L) posed some risks to the public health in India. Methods available for fluoride contaminated water treatment are cogaulation–filtration using alum + lime + bleaching powder (Nalgonda technique) and adsorption using activated alumina. Use of aluminium compounds for water treatment purpose needs replacement on neurological health problem. Objective to this, the synthesis and fluoride adsorption behavior of hydrous ferric oxide (HFO) are reported here. It is seen that fluoride adsorption density varies as a function of pH, contact time, aging time, drying temperature and particle size of HFO. Highest adsorption density for fluoride is found to be at pH 4.0. Effects of competing anions in removing fluoride from solution were tested. Arsenite, arsenate, phosphate and sulfate show strong interfering effect at high anions to fluoride molar ratio in solution. Adsorption of fluoride on HFO follows the Freundlich isotherm and the Lagergren first-order kinetic model. It was also determined that HFO is a better adsorbent in removing fluoride from high fluoride groundwater than some other adsorbents. Regeneration of fluoride-rich HFO results showed that 1.0 M NaOH solution could be used up to a maximum of 75% regeneration.     

Studies on Management of Chromium(VI) – Contaminated Industrial Waste Effluent using Hydrous Titanium Oxide (HTO)

The anion exchange behaviour of hydrous titanium oxide(HTO) has been exploited for the management of industrialwaste effluents contaminated with chromium(VI). Theadsorption of chromium(VI) by HTO (74.0–140.0 micron) in thepH range 0.5–8.0 has been studied. It is found that theadsorption of chromium(VI) by HTO is at a maximum in the pHrange 1.5–2.0. The interference of diverse foreign ionssuch as nitrate, chloride, sulfate, phosphate, calcium,magnesium, nickel, iron(III), barium etc. on the adsorptionof chromium(VI) by HTO at optimum pH has been investigatedby a batch-operation technique. Break-through capacity,adsorption and elution of chromium(VI) using HTO have beenstudied. It is found that HTO could be reused as anadsorbent for chromium(VI). Finally, chromium(VI) wasrecovered as insoluble chromate compound from waste effluentof Hindustan Motor Limited (HML) of Hooghly, West Bengal, India.     

Identification and Characterization of Slow Rusting Components in Pea (Pisum sativum L.)

Three hundred and forty five accessions of pea of diverse origin, height, leaf types and disease reaction were screened for rust disease severity and area under disease progress curve (AUDPC). The frequency of slow rusting types in the tall, dwarf, early and late groups appeared comparable. Of the 345 accessions, forty-four genotypes were evaluated for disease intensity, which was converted into AUDPC, number of pustules/leaf and pustule size. Wide range of variation was found for these traits. The slow rusting attribute of 16 genotypes was further confirmed by testing these under unprotected (inoculated) and protected (fungicidal spray) conditions for two successive years for disease intensity by assessing the AUDPC, seed yield/plot, and 100-seed weight. The fast rusting genotypes exhibited lower AUDPC, accompanied with increased seed yield and seed weight when grown under the protected condition, as compared to those raised under the unprotected condition. The genotypes Pant P 11, FC 1, HUDP 16, JPBB 3 and HUP 14 appeared as slow rusting genotypes.     

Seasonal changes in microbial biomass in soils cropped with palmarosa (Cymbopogon martinii L.) and Japanese mint (Mentha arvensis L.) in subtropical India

Changes in microbial C, N, and P were investigated for 1 year in two soils with similar physicochemical properties but supporting different crops under subtropical conditions. One was cropped with palmarosa (Cymbopogon martinii L.) and the other with Japanese mint (Mentha arvensis L.). Both the season and the type of cropping had a significant influence on changes in the soil microbial biomass. In general, soil microbial biomass C, N, and P were highest in summer months and lowest in midwinter. Soil microbial biomass levels and microbial C:N and C:P ratios were higher and N:P ratios lower under palmarosa soil than under mint.     

Helminthosporium leaf blight resistance and agronomic performance of wheat genotypes across warm regions of South Asia

Helminthosporium leaf blight (HLB) is the most important disease constraint to wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivation in the eastern Gangetic Plains of South Asia. A Helminthosporium Monitoring Nursery (HMN) including potential adapted and exotic sources of HLB resistance was developed in Bangladesh, India and Nepal to assess the stability of genetic resistance across locations. The 8th, 9th and 10th HMN assessed the HLB resistance and agronomic traits of 17 wheat genotypes across 20 environments of Bangladesh, India and Nepal in the 1999‐2000, 2000‐2001 and 2001‐2002 cropping seasons, respectively. The area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) for HLB, grain yield, thousand‐kernel weight (TKW), days to heading, days to maturity, and plant height were examined. The 17 genotypes showed a range of variability for disease and agronomic characters. Disease severity (AUDPC) differed in the 3 years and showed the highest values in 2002. The increase in AUDPC in 2002 caused the lowest grain yield, with an average 18% reduction due to HLB. A few genotypes (SW 89‐5422, Yangmai‐6 and Ning 8201) appeared to have stable HLB resistance across environments. However, most of the higher‐yielding genotypes, except BL 1883, were unstable. The results suggest that careful selection of HLB resistance with acceptable grain yield, TKW and plant height may be possible using the wheat genotypes included in the HMN.     

Inheritance of resistance to spot blotch caused by Bipolaris sorokiniana in spring wheat

Three F₁ progenies and their families in the segregating generations (F₃, F₄, F₅ and F₆), obtained after crossing resistant × susceptible wheat genotypes were studied in the field to determine the genetics of resistance to spot blotch caused by Bipolaris sorokiniana. Spot blotch scores in the F₁ generation showed absence of dominance. Individually threshed F₂ plants were used to advance the generations. Progenies (200‐250) of resistant genotypes Acc. No. 8226, Mon/Ald, Suzhoe#8 crossed with susceptible ‘Sonalika’ were evaluated in the F₃, F₄, F₅ and F₆ generations under induced epiphytotic conditions. Based on disease score distribution in individual progeny rows, F₃ progenies were grouped into four classes: homozygous resistant, homozygous susceptible, segregating resistant and segregating susceptible. Resistance appeared to be under the control of three additive genes. The presence of three genes was also noted in the distribution of F₄ and F₅ lines. In the case of F₆ progeny rows, both quantitative and qualitative models were used to estimate the number of segregating genes based on a 2‐year trial. It appeared that resistance to spot blotch was controlled by the additive interaction of more than two genes, possibly only three.