Adjuvant and immunostimulatory effects of beta-glucan administration in combination with lipopolysaccharide enhances survival and some immune parameters in carp challenged with Aeromonas hydrophila

Combined effects of beta-glucan and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on survival and immune response were studied in Cyprinus carpio that were challenged with the pathogen Aeromonas hydrophila. beta-Glucan from Saccharomyces cervisiae and LPS from a virulent strain of A. hydrophila were used in this study. Different concentrations of beta-glucan+LPS mixture were administered on days 1, 7, and 14 through different routes (intraperitoneal injection, bathing, and oral administration). Control and test fish were challenged by intraperitoneal injection of LD50 concentration of A. hydrophila on day 16 and subsequently, mortality and relative percent survival (RPS) were recorded. Intraperitoneal injection elicited 100% RPS even at the lowest concentration (100 microg beta-glucan+10 microg LPS); whereas, oral administration improved RPS rate of carps at higher concentration (1% beta-glucan+0.25% LPS). Bathing did not improve the RPS. Test animals injected with even the minimum dose of the immunomodulators (100 microg beta-glucan+10 microg LPS/fish) had a significant increase in total blood leukocyte counts and an increase in the proportion of neutrophils and monocytes. Superoxide anion production by macrophages was also elevated, which presumably aided the efficient killing of bacterial pathogen. Lower concentration of beta-glucan+LPS had an adjuvant effect on antibody production as pretreatment by injection of 100 microg beta-glucan+10 microg LPS/fish resulted in higher antibody titer against A. hydrophila following vaccination. RT-PCR analyses showed that the expression of interleukin-1beta mRNA did not increase in test fish when compared with the control. Classical and alternative complement pathways were not affected by either the dose or the route of administration of the compounds. It may be concluded that intraperitoneal injection and oral administration, and not the bathing, of beta-glucan+LPS mixture in carp could enhance resistance to challenge by A. hydrophila through changes in several non-specific and specific immune responses.     

Shrimp lectin–conjugated copper sulfide nanoparticles enhance immune response and gene expression in Etroplus suratensis infected with Aeromonas hydrophila

Aquaculture International - Lectins are hemagglutinating glycoproteins which act as pathogen recognition receptors that can bind to the pathogen-associated molecular patterns. Shrimp lectin...     

Light fast monoazo dyes with an inbuilt photostabilizing unit: Synthesis and computational studies

A series of monoazo disperse dyes with a photostablilizing o-hydroxycarbonyl moiety was incorporated resulted in the enhancement of the light fastness properties on polyester and nylon substrates as compared to the dyes that do not possess the photostablilizing moiety. The geometries of the azo and the hydrazone tautomeric forms of all dyes were optimized at B3LYP/6-311+G(d) and electrophilicity index was calculated for propensity of the moiety to absorb electrons. The values of absorption and stability trend of the dyes were in good agreement with the trend of experimental light fastness values. These disperse dyes possess excellent wash fastness and moderate to good sublimation fastness on hydrophobic substrates.     

The change in biotic and abiotic soil components influenced by paddy soil microbial fuel cells loaded with various resistances

Journal of Soils and Sediments - Soil microbial fuel cells (sMFC) are novel technique that uses organic matters in soils as an alternative energy source. External resistance (ER) is a key factor...     

Preparation of color filters using azo and nitroso colorants

Color filters were prepared by using azo colorants and nitroso metal complex colorants. Initially, crushed glass particles were colored by using the azo and nitroso-iron complex colorants. These colored glass particles were used to obtain a colored composite with unsaturated polyester resin to give colored glass filters. Glass filters obtained were used for study to evaluate fading rate with respect to UV radiation, heat and moisture. Thermo gravimetric analyses of synthesized colorants were also carried out to determine their thermal stability.     

Influence of the antibacterial herbs, Solanum trilobatum, Andrographis paniculata and Psoralea corylifolia on the survival, growth and bacterial load of Penaeus monodon post larvae

The indiscriminate use of antibiotics and chemicals in shrimp hatcheries has led to biomagnification and that in turn could lead to rejection of a whole consignment. The application of the bioencapsulation technique as a tool for curative treatment in shrimp larvae was investigated. Herbs having antibacterial properties such as Solanum trilobatum, Andrographis paniculata and Psoralea corylifolia (methanolic extracts) were bioencapsulated in Artemia and fed to Penaeus monodon post larvae PL 1–25. The post larvae were reared in a medium inoculated with pathogenic bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi and Vibrio sp. Post larvae reared in the non-inoculated water and fed with non-enriched Artemia exhibited 90% survival, highest specific growth rate (12.43%) and reduced bacterial load. P. monodon reared in the bacterial inoculated water and fed with the non-enriched Artemia exhibited the lowest survival (10–30%), specific growth rate (8.42–9.1%) and increased bacterial load (2.86 × 10³ to 3.76 × 10⁵ cfu/g). The methanolic extracts of the herbs helped to increase survival and specific growth rate and reduced bacterial load in the P. monodon culture system. Among the three herbal extracts, P. corylifolia enriched Artemia fed post larvae showed the tendency to higher survival (>50%), growth rate (11.5 averaged) and low bacterial load (1.12 × 10⁵ cfu/g). This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Azo Acid Dyes Based on 2H-Pyrido[1,2-a]Pyrimidine-2,4(3H)-Dione with Good Tinctorial Power and Wetfastness - Synthesis,Photophysical Properties,and Dyeing Studies

A series of five azo acid dyes were synthesized using different diazotized aromatic amine sulfonic and carboxylic acids followed by coupling with 2H-pyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidine-2,4(3H)-dione. The dyes were characterized by ¹H-NMR, ¹³CNMR, FTIR, and elemental analysis. They were applied on nylon, silk, and wool. Their fastness properties were evaluated and color on the fabric was assessed. Yellow, brown, and crimson dyeings with good fastness properties were obtained. The dyes are water soluble and showed absorption from 380 nm to 550 nm. Acid dyes from diazo component 4- aminonaphthalene-1-sulfonic acid (naphthionic acid) and 4-amino-5-hydroxynaphthalene-2,7-disulfonic acid (H-Acid) were found to be more red shifted as compared to the other dyes. More red shifted absorption maximum was observed in acidic pH than in alkaline pH. The trends in vertical excitations obtained from Time Dependent Density Functional Theory calculations are in good agreement with the experimental absorptions.     

Investigation of Alkaline Nature of Rain Water in India

Increased industrialization and urbanization lead to the atmospheric acidity which causes acid rain. However, in India, the nature of rain water has been observed to be alkaline. The reason for alkaline nature of rain water is found to be the buffering of acidity by soil-derived aerosols which are rich in Ca. Over the Indian Ocean where concentrations of soil dust are negligible, the acid rain has been observed to be a common phenomenon during INDOEX campaigns. In the Indian subcontinent, observations have indicated that rain becomes acidic when the buffering potential of rain water is weak. The weak buffering potential may be due to less interference of soil dust, acidic nature of soil or very high influence of industrial source.     

Conditioning,maturation and year‐round natural spawning of orange‐spotted grouper,Epinephelus coioides (Hamilton, 1822), in recirculating aquaculture system

The present experiment was aimed at studying the conditioning, maturation and natural spawning of orange‐spotted grouper, Epinephelus coioides, in a recirculatory aquaculture system (RAS). Thirty fish (n = 30; 3.35 ± 0.05 kg) were stocked in a circular tank of 125 m³ capacity fitted with an RAS for conditioning and broodstock development. After 15 days, 15 fish were implanted with 17 α methyl testosterone and letrozole at the rate of 5 mg and 0.2 mg/kg body weight, respectively, for conversion from female to male. The gonadal development started after 1 month, and by 90th day, 63.53 ± 3.78% and 2.07 ± 0.84% of the oocytes attained a size of 400–500 μm and 500–600 μm respectively. Natural spawning commenced in the RAS from 4th month onward after stocking and spawning continued round the year. The spawning pair showed courtship behaviour with a typical vertical burst of swimming just before release of gametes. The total number of eggs spawned during 1 year was 47.23 million with spawning frequency varying form 5 to 13 times per month. The association of spawning events with new moon day (lunar cycle) weakened as time progressed. The mean monthly fertilization and hatching rates varied from 77.80 ± 3.34% to 83.70 ± 1.76% and 82.80 ± 4.21% to 88.33 ± 1.39% respectively. The study proved that RAS is an efficient system that provides a stable, controllable and conducive environment for year‐round natural breeding of orange‐spotted grouper.     

Density,diversity and richness of woody plants in urban green spaces: A case study in Chennai metropolitan city

A tree diversity inventory was carried out in urban green spaces (UGSs) of Chennai metropolitan city, India. This inventory aims to study the diversity, density and richness of trees in UGSs of Chennai. A total of one hundred 10 m × 10 m (total 1 ha) plots were laid to reveal tree diversity and richness of UGSs. Trees with ≥10 cm girths at breast height (gbh) were inventoried. We recorded 45 species in 42 genera and 21 families. Caesalpiniaceae and Fabaceae each with 6 species dominated the study area followed by Arecaceae (3). Density and stand basal area of the present study were 500 stems ha^?1 and 64.16 m², respectively. Most of the inventoried trees were native (31 species) and deciduous (28 species). Fabaceae and Caesalpiniaceae dominated the present study area in terms of stand basal area and density. The Shannon diversity index and evenness of study area were 2.79 and 0.73, respectively. The most important species and families based on species important value index (IVI) and family important value index were Albizia saman, Polyalthia longifolia and Azadirachta indica; Fabaceae, Caesalpiniaceae and Annonaceae respectively. We find Chennai's urban forest is relatively superior to many urban forests of the world in terms of stand basal area and species richness. Results emphasize the importance of enhancement of urban green spaces in Chennai metropolitan city.