Do boating and basking mix? The effect of basking disturbances by motorboats on the body temperature and energy budget of the northern map turtle

1. Basking is the primary mechanism used by many freshwater turtles to maintain their body temperature (T_b) in a range that maximizes physiological performance. Basking turtles are easily disturbed by motorboats, but the consequences of the increasingly popular use of motorboats on turtles is largely unknown.
2. In this work, predictive models built from field and laboratory data were used to assess the effects of the frequency of basking disturbance by motorboats on T_b and metabolic rate (MR) of female northern map turtles (Graptemys geographica), a species of conservation concern.
3. Simulations revealed that the effects of boat disturbance vary seasonally. In early May, a conservative estimate of the disturbance rate (0.15 per hour) resulted in a 0.34°C decrease in mean daily T_b, which translated to a 7.8% reduction in mean MR. In June, July and August, owing to warmer lake temperatures, the effect of disturbance was less marked and the observed disturbance rates (0.32, 0.96 and 1.23 per hour, respectively) reduced the mean MR of an adult female by 2.1%, 0.5%, and 0.4 %, respectively.
4. Reduction in MR decreases the rate of energy assimilation, which could translate into sublethal effects on turtles, such as reduced growth and reproductive output.
5. Motorboat usage is increasing in many areas and is probably affecting other species of freshwater turtles that use aerial basking. This study offers important insights on the implications of disturbances for species that bask.

Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Comparative Expression Analysis of Gametogenesis‐Associated Genes in Foetal and Adult Bubaline (Bubalus bubalis) Ovaries and Testes

This study was conducted to identify and analyse the expression of gametogenesis‐associated genes and proteins in foetal and adult buffalo gonads of both the sexes. Relative quantification of the genes was determined by qPCR and Western blotting. Immunohistochemistry was also performed for various gametogenesis‐associated proteins in foetal and adult gonads of both the sexes. We observed significantly (p < 0.05) increased expression of primordial germ cell‐specific, meiotic as well as genes associated with oocyte maturation and development in foetal ovaries as compared to the adult ones. However, significantly (p < 0.05) increased expression of proteins associated with oocyte maturation like GDF9 and ZP4 was found in adult ovaries, indicating temporal regulation of mRNA translation during oogenesis. Meiotic genes showed significantly (p < 0.05) increased expression in adult testes as compared to foetal testes and ovaries, indicating onset of meiosis at a later stage in spermatogenesis. In general, the expression of primordial germ cell‐associated as well as meiotic genes was higher in adult testes, indicating the increased biological activity in the organ. Immunohistochemistry revealed localized expression of gametogenesis‐associated proteins in ovarian follicles and seminiferous tubules of testes, while the surrounding somatic tissues were devoid of these proteins. The study gives an understanding of the sequential and temporal events of gene expression as well as mRNA translation during male and female gametogenesis. It could also be concluded that follicles and seminiferous tubules are the functional units of the female and male gonads, respectively, and their function could be enhanced by appropriate chemical and genetic intervention of the somatic tissue immediately surrounding them. This assumes importance in the context that buffalo attains sexual maturity at an older age of 2–3 years and have smaller ovaries with lesser number of primordial follicles in comparison with cattle, which is suggested to be the main reason of their poor breeding performance.     

Genetic analysis of a CSR10 (indica) × Taraori Basmati F3 population segregating for salt tolerance using ISSR markers

Segregation for salinity tolerance and ISSR markers based molecular polymorphism were investigated in a F₃ plant population raised via single-seed descent method from a cross between salt-tolerant indica rice variety CSR10 and salt-susceptible premium traditional Basmati rice variety Taraori Basmati HBC19. A total of 130 F₃plants were evaluated individually for salinity tolerance on 1–9 scale on the basis of seedling growth parameters; the average score ranged between 1.7 to 8.3. Frequency distribution curve obtained using the salinity tolerance data of F₃ population and a chi-square analysis, showed a good fit to a normal distribution. Eleven plants each in the category of salt-tolerant and salt-susceptible were selected from the segregating F₃ population for ISSR marker analysis. A total of 149 bands (4–11 bands per primer) ranging from 200 to 3530 bp were scored for the two rice varieties and the selected CSR10 × HBC19 segregating F₃ plants using 26 ISSR primers. Of these, 89 were monomorphic and 60 were polymorphic. Of the 60 polymorphic bands,36 and 20 bands were specific to CSR10 andHBC19 respectively. The remaining four bands were amplified using UBC primers 810,848, 853 and 886 and present in only some of the CSR10 × HBC19 F₃ plants. Notably, ISSR primers with dinucleotide repeat motif and 5'-anchored end amplified more number of bands (7.0 bands/primer) compared to3'-anchored dinucleotide primers (5.4bands/primer), but 3'-anchored dinucleotide primers revealed higher level of polymorphism (2.6 polymorphic bands/primer) compared to 5'-anchoreddinucleotide primers (1.43 polymorphic bands/ primer). While distribution of majority of the polymorphic bands were more or less in the expected ratios in salt-tolerant and/or salt-sensitive F₃segregating plants, but some of the bands amplified using UBC ISSR primers 823, 825,826, 849, 853, 864, 866 and 884 showed highly skewed distribution. Such polymorphic bands stand greater chances of having a linkage with the genes/ QTLs for salinity tolerance and shall be the target for further studies. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Permeability determination and pharmacokinetic study of nobiletin in rat plasma and brain by validated high-performance liquid chromatography method

In the present study, we are reporting permeability and pharmacokinetics of nobiletin in rat plasma and brain, using a validated reverse phase high performance liquid chromatographic method. Protein precipitation method was used for the extraction of nobiletin and coumarin (IS) from rat plasma and brain tissue. The system was run in isocratic mode with mobile phase consisting of potassium dihydrogen ortho-phosphate (pH 4.5; 0.04 mM) and acetonitrile in ratio of 50:50, v/v. The total chromatographic run time was 9.0 min. The method was proved to be accurate and precise at linearity range of 0.05–10 μg/mL with a correlation coefficient (r) of ≥ 0.994 in rat plasma and ≥ 0.995 in rat brain. The intra- and inter-day precision and accuracy values are found to be within the assay variability limits as per the FDA guidelines. Nobiletin was found stable in the battery of stability studies viz., bench-top, auto-sampler, freeze/thaw cycles and long term storage in a freezer at − 70 ± 10 °C. Maximum concentrations of nobiletin in both plasma and brain were observed at 1 h after single oral dosing (50 mg/kg). The maximum concentration in plasma and brain were 1.78 and 4.20 μg/mL, respectively. The AUC_0–t in plasma and brain were 7.49 and 20.66 μg·h/mL, respectively. The mean elimination half life (t_1/2) in plasma and brain were 1.80 and 11.42 h, respectively. The Parallel Artificial Membrane Permeability Assay (PAMPA) permeability of nobiletin was found to be high at both pH 4.0 and 7.0.     

Antimicrobial activity of triterpenoids from Heliotropium ellipticum.

Seven sterols and triterpenoids have been isolated from H. ellipticum and tested for their antimicrobial activity.     

Kinetics of photoirradiation-induced synthesis of soy oil-conjugated linoleic acid isomers

Photoirradiation of soy oil with UV/visible light has been shown to produce significant amounts of trans,trans conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) isomers through conversion of various synthesized intermediate cis,trans isomers. The objective of this study was to determine the kinetics of CLA isomers synthesis to better understand the production of various isomers. Soy oil was irradiated with UV/visible light for 144 h in the presence of an iodine catalyst and CLA isomers analyzed by gas chromatography (GC). Arrhenius plots were developed for the conversion of soy oil linoleic acid (A) to form cis-, trans/trans-, cis-CLA (B), conversion of cis-, trans/trans-, cis-CLA to form trans,trans-CLA (C) with respect to B, and formation of trans,trans-CLA isomers with respect to C. The kinetics of consumption of linoleic acid (LA) to form cis-, trans/trans-, cis-CLA was found to be of second-order with a rate constant of 9.01 x 10-7 L/mol s. The rate of formation of cis-, trans/trans-, cis-CLA isomers depends on the rate of formation from LA and its rate of consumption to form trans,trans-CLA isomers. The conversion of cis-, trans/trans-, cis-CLA isomers to trans,trans-CLA isomers was found to be of first-order with a rate constant of 2.75 x 10-6 s-1. However, the formation of thermodynamically stable trans,trans-CLA isomers (C) with respect to C was found to be a zero-order reaction with a rate constant of 10.66 x 10-7 mol/L s. The consumption of LA was found to be the rate-determining step in the CLA isomers formation reaction mechanism. The findings provide a better understanding of the mechanism of CLA isomers synthesis by photoirradiation and the factors controlling the ratio of various isomers.     

Curcumin nanoparticles: preparation, characterization, and antimicrobial study

Curcumin is a highly potent, nontoxic, bioactive agent found in turmeric and has been known for centuries as a household remedy to many ailments. The only disadvantage that it suffers is of low aqueous solubility and poor bioavailability. The aim of the present study was to develop a method for the preparation of nanoparticles of curcumin with a view to improve its aqueous-phase solubility and examine the effect on its antimicrobial properties. Nanoparticles of curcumin (nanocurcumin) were prepared by a process based on a wet-milling technique and were found to have a narrow particle size distribution in the range of 2-40 nm. Unlike curcumin, nanocurcumin was found to be freely dispersible in water in the absence of any surfactants. The chemical structure of nanocurcumin was the same as that of curcumin, and there was no modification during nanoparticle preparation. A minimum inhibitory concentration of nanocurcumin was determined for a variety of bacterial and fungal strains and was compared to that of curcumin. It was found that the aqueous dispersion of nanocurcumin was much more effective than curcumin against Staphylococcus aureus , Bacillus subtilis , Escherichia coli , Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Penicillium notatum , and Aspergillus niger . The results demonstrated that the water solubility and antimicrobial activity of curcumin markedly improved by particle size reduction up to the nano range. For the selected microorganisms, the activity of nanocurcumin was more pronounced against Gram-positive bacteria than Gram-negative bacteria. Furthermore, its antibacterial activity was much better than antifungal activity. The mechanism of antibacterial action of curcumin nanoparticles was investigated by transmission electron micrograph (TEM) analysis, which revealed that these particles entered inside the bacterial cell by completely breaking the cell wall, leading to cell death.     

The Prospects of Tissue Culture and Genetic Engineering for Strawberry Improvement

Abstract

Strawberry shoot meristem cultures have been used for producing virus-free strawberry plants. Plantlet regneration from leaf mesophyll protoplasts, and Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediated genetic transformation, mark the beginning of strawberry improvement with biotechnologies. The use of biotechnological tools has a greater potential in producing strawberry plants with traits such as early maturation, frost and disease resistance, mite and nematode resistance, high yield, better quality, suitability for mechanical harvesting, shipping ability, ellgaic acid content, aroma compounds and cost-effective micropropagation. Gene identification and mapping with RFLPs or RAPDs would be desirable. Transgenic strawberries should be tested for their quality before releasing to the consumers.     

Biochemical studies into variation and repeatability of glutathione concentrations in bovine and bubaline semens

Repeatability (r) value of glutathione (GSH) content was estimated in semen of Tharparkar, Red Dane, their crosses, and Murrah buffalo bulls. Mean GSH values were higher in bovine bull semen as compared to mean GSH values in bubaline bull semen. The r of GSH concentration for the pooled data was 0.1278. This trait is 12.78% repeatable. GSH value in semen of bovine and bubaline bull differed insignificantly. R estimates are expressed for selection of bulls of higher fertility and semen quality.     

Improved micropropagation protocol and enhancement in biomass and chlorophyll content in Stevia rebaudiana (Bert.) Bertoni by using high copper levels in the culture medium

Incorporation of a range of higher concentrations of CuSO₄·5H₂O in MS medium [Murashige, T., Skoog, F., 1962. A revised medium for rapid growth and bioassay with 240 tobacco tissue cultures. Physiol. Plant 15, 473–497] significantly enhanced direct shoot bud induction and proliferation from cultured leaf and nodal explants taken from mature plants of Stevia rebaudiana. Shoot bud induction medium was supplemented with BAP (2.2 μM) and IAA (2.8 μM). When the concentration of CuSO₄·5H₂O in the induction medium was raised to 0.5 μM (five times the MS level, i.e. 0.1 μM) there was significant increase in percentage response along with increase in shoot bud number per explant. The shoots were healthy, well developed with dark green broader leaves. There was remarkable increase in total biomass and chlorophyll content at increased (0.5 μM) copper level in the medium. During proliferation stage also presence of high copper levels in the medium favoured increase in shoot bud number per explant.