Seed Maturation Indicators in Pyracantha crenulata Roxb. in Kumaun Central Himalaya

Fruits of Pyracantha crenulata were collected from two locations varying by approximately 550 m in elevation from south aspect for assessing seed maturation indicators. The mean seed size (length×diameter) across the collection dates varied between 1.61 ± 0.7 and 4.93 ± 0.06 mm² across both the locations. The seed moisture content negatively correlated with germination. The change in fruit colour from dark green to light orange, the range of fruit moisture content (30.43% ± 0.06 to 36.10% ± 0.25) and the seed moisture content between 68.8% ± 0.68 and 71.6 ± 0.62 coincided with maximum germination and appear to be major indicators of seed maturation in Pyracantha crenulata.     

Plant-derived ribosome-inactivating proteins involved in defense against plant viruses

European Journal of Plant Pathology - Plant viruses are the most serious pathogens causing severe damage to crops worldwide. A variety of conventional strategies are currently being employed to...     

Recombinase Polymerase Amplification assay for rapid detection of a geminivirus associated with potato apical leaf curl disease

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - Recombinase Polymerase Amplification (RPA) assay was developed for specific detection of Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus-potato (ToLCNDV [potato]),...     

Compartmentalized control of skin immunity by resident commensals

Intestinal commensal bacteria induce protective and regulatory responses that maintain host-microbial mutualism. However, the contribution of tissue-resident commensals to immunity and inflammation at other barrier sites has not been addressed. We found that in mice, the skin microbiota have an autonomous role in controlling the local inflammatory milieu and tuning resident T lymphocyte function. Protective immunity to a cutaneous pathogen was found to be critically dependent on the skin microbiota but not the gut microbiota. Furthermore, skin commensals tuned the function of local T cells in a manner dependent on signaling downstream of the interleukin-1 receptor. These findings underscore the importance of the microbiota as a distinctive feature of tissue compartmentalization, and provide insight into mechanisms of immune system regulation by resident commensal niches in health and disease.     

Seed maturity indicators in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Myrica esculenta</Emphasis>, Buch-Ham. Ex. D.Don.: a multipurpose tree species of subtropical-temperate Himalayan region

Myrica esculenta, Buch-Ham. Ex. D.Don is a common under-canopy associate of chir pine and banj oak forests in the Kumaun and Garhwal Himalayas. The species commonly known as Kaiphal is a small moderate sized evergreen dioecious tree. The species is well known for its edible fruit and other by products and has emerged as a potential income generating species in the Kumaun and Garhwal region. The regeneration of Myrica esculenta is poor in natural habitats mainly due to intense anthropogenic pressure on it. To synchronize artificial regeneration of such species exact knowledge of maturity time is essential to avoid the collection of immature and non-viable seeds. Fruits of Myrica esculenta were collected from nine sites varying from lower, mid and high range of species distribution (900–2,100 masl) for assessing seed maturation indicators. Across all the sites the colour change from green to dark red/blackish red appears as one of the indicator of maturity. In addition to the colour change seed maturity and maximum germination was found in seeds when the weight of 100 fruits was between 41 and 60 g, fruit moisture content between 62 and 69% and seed moisture content between 30 and 32%.     

Modeling Variability of Alfisols Fertility Parameters in Micro-Watersheds of Harve,Chamarajanagara District in Semi-Arid,India

Assessment of soil-fertility of a sub-watershed is pre-requisite for efficient rainfed agriculture. Soil survey was conducted in Harve sub-watershed (Kumachahalli-1,Kumachahalli-2,KG Hundi,Kengaki,Bettadapura,Sagade micro-watersheds) to assess soil homogeneity. Based on analysis of soil-fertility data, pH had lowest, while manganese (Kumachahalli-1), magnesium (Kumachahalli-2,KG Hundi,Sagade), zinc (Kengaki), copper (Bettadapura) had highest variation. Principal component (PC) analysis indicated that 5 PCs explained 66.96% (Sagade)–74.08% (Kumachahalli-2) variance. Comparison of P₁ and P₂ indicated zinc (Kengaki), copper (Bettadapura), nitrogen, carbon (Kumachahalli-1); while P₁ and P₃ indicated carbon (Sagade), magnesium, calcium (Kumachahalli-2); P₂ and P₃ indicated carbon (Kengaki) as important with loading >0.70. Comparison of variation with P₁ indicated pH (all locations), potassium (KG Hundi,Kengaki,Kumachahalli-2), electrical conductivity (Kumachahalli-2), carbon (Sagade); P₂ indicated carbon, nitrogen (Kumachahalli-1); P₃ indicated carbon (Kengaki), zinc (Sagade), calcium (Kumachahalli-2) as important. Kumachahalli-2 was superior with maximum soil homogeneity. The findings are useful for developing soil test-based fertilizer doses for crops under Alfisols.     

Heterogeneity in the local employment multipliers in the United States

Recent studies have found evidence of a local employment multiplier’s effect. For the most part, these studies provide an average estimate for all labor markets. In this paper, we examine how the average local employment multiplier, the effect of an exogenous increase in employment in the tradable sector on total employment, depends on the characteristics of the local labor market. Specifically, we estimate the average multipliers for coastal, noncoastal, large, and small metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) across different time periods using the data of 333 US MSAs. Overall, we find a reduced form of local employment multiplier ranging from 1.38 to 2.24, which is within the range of typically estimated local employment multipliers. In addition, the characteristics of the local labor market matter. The local multipliers appear larger in noncoastal and large MSAs. For small and coastal metros, the multiplier is closer to 1.5 than to 2.0 while in the case of large and noncoastal metros, it is closer to 2.0 than to 1.5. The local multipliers are also sensitive to the time period considered.     

Mechanical and Dynamic Mechanical Studies on Epoxy-Cobaltous Sulfate Polymer Hybrids

Cobaltous sulfate heptahydrate (CoSO₄·7H₂O) was incorporated as filler into diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) based epoxy resin system, to prepare organic-inorganic polymer hybrid materials. Mechanical tensile studies and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) were carried out in order to study the static and dynamic mechanical properties of the prepared hybrid films. Mechanical tensile studies were carried out at room temperature, at a test speed of 30 mm/min. Highest tensile strength of 24.74±2.42 MPa was achieved for 4.44 wt% filler level (FL), along with an increase in the value of Young’s modulus. Storage modulus (E′), loss modulus (E″), damping factor (tan δ) were obtained by DMA studies. Glass transition temperature (T_g) was obtained for pure epoxy and filled epoxy, for various FLs varying from 0.28 wt% to 5.00 wt%. Pure epoxy showed highest T_g value compared to filled epoxy hybrids. Highest storage modulus of 9.5 GPa was obtained for 2.22 wt% FL, which also showed highest loss modulus peak. Parameters like effectiveness coefficient (C) and crosslink density were calculated from the storage modulus data. Loss modulus and tan δ curves were analyzed to study the energy dissipation properties of prepared hybrid films. Activation energy (E_a) value for glass transition was obtained from damping factor (tan δ), which showed highest E_a value of 630.5 kJmol^-1, for 4.44 wt% FL. DMA studies for various FLs were carried out at different test frequencies in order to study the changes in dynamic mechanical properties of the prepared hybrid materials with respect to frequency     

Standardisation and comparison of serial dilution and single dilution enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using different antigenic preparations of the Babesia (Theileria) equi parasite

Serial dilution and single dilution enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) were standardised and their sensitivity and specificity were compared for serodiagnosis of Babesia equi infection. The antibody titres of 24 donkey sera of known identity were determined separately by serial dilution ELISA using three different B. equi antigens namely whole merozoite (WM), cell membrane (CM) and high speed supernatant (HSS). The ratios of the optical density (OD) of known positive and known negative sera at different serum dilutions were calculated and termed as the positive/negative (P/N) ratio. The coefficients of correlation (r) were calculated between the P/N ratios at different dilutions of sera and the log10 antibody titres of the same sera were ascertained by serial dilution ELISA. The highest value of 'r' was obtained at a serum dilution of 1:200. From log10 antibody titre of sera (y) and their P/N ratio at a dilution of 1:200 (x), regression equations (y = a + bx) were calculated separately for the three antigens. Test sera were diluted to 1:200, their OD were read in duplicate wells and were converted to the P/N ratio. Antibody titres were predicted from the P/N ratio using a regression equation separately for the three antigens. Titres obtained by both ELISAs were not significantly different from each other, thus confirming that single dilution ELISA could be successfully used to replace conventional serial dilution ELISA. The sensitivity, specificity and predictive value of single dilution ELISA was validated statistically using 42 B. equi disease-positive sera and 106 B. equi disease-negative sera. The WM antigen was found to be the most sensitive with a higher predictive value for negative test sera as compared to the CM or HSS antigens. Sera positive for other equine infections including Babesia caballi showed no cross-reaction with the three B. equi antigens in ELISA, thus the test was immunologically specific. Antibody titres of 109 unknown field donkey/horse sera obtained by serial and single dilution ELISA using the WM antigen did not show any significant difference. Since the single dilution ELISA was found to be more economical, convenient, sensitive, specific than the serial dilution ELISA and has a high predictive value, it is suitable for use in sero-epidemiological studies on B. equi infections in the field.