Genotypic Variability in Biomass Protein and Nucleic Acids in Four Linum Species to Sodicity Stress

Differences in gas exchange parameters i.e. carbon exchange rate (CER), transpiration (Tr), water vapor conductance (g) were investigated, under a controlled environment, in a semi-dwarf (SD) Triticum aestivum line, its tall (TL) near isoline and the Payne (PA) variety characterized by small leaves. The plants were maintained in: (a) optimal substrate moisture condition (CTR); (b) salinized by watering with a 0.12 m NaCl solution (SLT); (c) water stressed by withholding waterings during a period of six days (STR); (d) stressed and salinized during the same period and with the same saline solution (S + S). CER and Tr were negatively affected by the stresses; SLT and S + S treatments had a higher WUE compared to their respective controls CTR and STR.
SD line had a better performance in terms of CER and WUE, particularly when water and salt stresses interacted. Leaf anatomy and assimilation/internal CO₂ concentration curves contributed to explaining the SD performance.     

Physiological Basis of Irrigation Scheduling for Seed Production in Egyptian Clover Syn. Berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum L.) Crop

A field experiment was conducted to find out the critical physiological stages of irrigation schedules inducing better growth, physiological efficiency and seed yield potential of berseem ( Trifolium alexandrinum L., Var. S-99-1). For this purpose eight irrigation treatments were made comprised of four treatments of three irrigation (W₁, W₂, W₃ and W₄), three treatments of four irrigation (W₅, W₇ and W₈) and one treatment of five irrigation (W₆) at various physiological stages i. e. regeneration, flower initiation, full bloom, seed initiation and advance seed development stage.
Thus based on the experimental results the physiological role of watering in berseem seed production could be discussed as:
With-holding of irrigation either at regeneration or at full bloom stage developed potential water stress in plants as indicated by high proline content of irrigation treatments — W₄, W₁ and W₇; and further brought out disturbance on the formation of carotene, synthesis of water soluble sugar and translocation of sugar towards reproductive organs during grain development stage. These stresses adversely affected the plant growth and flowering behaviour. The irrigation at seed initiation stage increased the seed yield. Continuous irrigation did not appear to be useful. Thus it can be concluded that irrigation at three critical physiological stages i. e. regeneration, full bloom and seed initiation was found to be essential for obtaining potential seed yield of berseem.     

Bioactive Peptides from Algae: Traditional and Novel Generation Strategies,Structure-Function Relationships,and Bioinformatics as Predictive Tools for Bioactivity

Over the last decade, algae have been explored as alternative and sustainable protein sources for a balanced diet and more recently, as a potential source of algal-derived bioactive peptides with potential health benefits. This review will focus on the emerging processes for the generation and isolation of bioactive peptides or cryptides from algae, including: (1) pre-treatments of algae for the extraction of protein by physical and biochemical methods; and (2) methods for the generation of bioactive including enzymatic hydrolysis and other emerging methods. To date, the main biological properties of the peptides identified from algae, including anti-hypertensive, antioxidant and anti-proliferative/cytotoxic effects (for this review, anti-proliferative/cytotoxic will be referred to by the term anti-cancer), assayed in vitro and/or in vivo, will also be summarized emphasizing the structure–function relationship and mechanism of action of these peptides. Moreover, the use of in silico methods, such as quantitative structural activity relationships (QSAR) and molecular docking for the identification of specific peptides of bioactive interest from hydrolysates will be described in detail together with the main challenges and opportunities to exploit algae as a source of bioactive peptides.     

Economic feasibility of growing capsicum crop under drip irrigation in West Bengal, India

Drip irrigation system has been one of the technical means to improve water use efficiency. In India, this system is gaining popularity among fruit growers and in water scarced area but a substantial area is being covered annually under vegetables crops. One of the major concerns raised by farmers about this system is its economic viability. In present study, the economic viability of drip irrigation system for growing capsicum crop based on discounted cash flow technique (Net present worth and Benefit cost ratio) was explored. Eight irrigation treatments were laid under drip with and without plastic mulch. The irrigation levels were taken as 1, 0.8 and 0.6 of the crop evapotranspiration. The pan evaporation method was used for estimation of reference evapotranspiration and Water Balance Approach was used for irrigation scheduling. The average amount of water supplied under treatment VD (100% irrigation requirement supplied with drip) was found to be 415 mm for whole growing season of the crop. Similarly the amount of water was found to be 332 mm and 249 mm for the treatment 0.8VD (80% irrigation requirement supplied with drip) and 0.6VD (60% irrigation requirement supplied with drip) respectively. Highest yield was recorded in case of treatment VD + PM (100% irrigation requirement supplied with drip plus plastic mulch) followed by VD. Yield under treatments 0.8VD, 0.6VD, 0.8VD + PM and 0.6VD + PM were significant while treatments VD, VF and VF + PM were at par with the treatment VD + PM. Net Present Worth (NPW) was found to be positive for all the treatments. The highest NPW was obtained under treatment VD as Rs. 309,734.90 and lowest was in case of 0.6VD + PM as Rs. 144,172.24. The yield per mm of water used was reported to be at higher side as 35 in both the treatments VD and VD + PM. But the yield per mm of water used was found to be lowest as 18.07 and 19 in case of VF and VF + PM respectively.     

A comparative study on certain enzymes of the granulocyte from different ruminant species

In the present study the level of enzyme hydrolases (alkaline phosphatase, myeloperoxidase, elastase, arginase, lysozyme and β-galactosidase) of polymorphonuclear cell (PMN) granules in different ruminant species and their release in response to activation was studied. Buffalo PMN alkaline phosphatase activity was higher (P < 0.01) than in PMNs of cattle and goats. Interestingly, myeloperoxidase was higher in cattle PMNs and least in goat PMNs (P < 0.01), a similar pattern was observed in the distribution of enzyme arginase. As far as lysozyme is concerned, its activity was significantly higher (P < 0.01) in PMNs of buffaloes than in the case of cattle and goat PMNs. On activation, these cells released MPO and elastase, in all the species studied, while lysozyme was secreted only in buffalo PMN cells. Activity of certain enzymes related to oxidant defence systems such as glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase were higher in cattle and goats compared to that in buffaloes. These observations are likely to have bearing on immunodefense roles played by PMNs and reflected differences among the ruminant species studied.     

Modulation of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase activity through sequential posttranslational modifications of p22 phagocytic oxidase during capacitation and acrosome reaction in goat spermatozoa

Superoxide anion radical, produced in low quantities, plays a positive role in sperm function. Spermatozoa produce superoxide anion radical during posttesticular development, which shows an abrupt increase during capacitation. The NAD phosphate oxidase (NOX) family members NOX2 and NOX5 are the 2 enzymes implicated in superoxide production in spermatozoa. We examined the organization of NOX2 in goat spermatozoa during epididymal maturation, capacitation, and acrosome reaction. Spermatozoa from testis, caput epididymidis, corpus epididymidis, and cauda epididymidis possessed components of the phagocytic oxidase (PHOX; i.e., gp91phox, p22phox, p67phox, p47phox, p40phox), and ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1/2 (Rac1/2) on spermatozoa, and their concentrations did not show significant alterations during epididymal maturation. During capacitation in vitro, p22phox underwent Thr-phosphorylation, which resulted in a mobility shift of the corresponding band toward greater molecular mass. The Rac1/2 also showed a mobility shift from 32 to 23 kDa during capacitation. During progesterone-induced acrosome reaction, the spermatozoa experienced a total loss of p22phox and p47phox. The p47phox, but not p22phox, was detected in the exocytic vesicles of the acrosome. The Thr-phosphorylated form of p22phox was ubiquitinated and degraded through proteasome-mediated pathways in goat sperm cell lysates. Thus, Thr phosphorylation of p22phox acts as a regulatory switch in goat spermatozoa that transiently activates the NOX2 system during capacitation and subsequently directs it for degradation through the ubiiquitin-proteasomal pathway during progesterone-induced acrosome reaction.     

Pharmacokinetics of cefpodoxime in plasma and subcutaneous fluid following oral administration of cefpodoxime proxetil in male beagle dogs

Kumar, V., Madabushi, R., Lucchesi, M. B. B., Derendorf, H. Pharmacokinetics of cefpodoxime in plasma and subcutaneous fluid following oral administration of cefpodoxime proxetil in male beagle dogs. J. vet. Pharmacol. Therap. 34 , 130–135. Pharmacokinetics of cefpodoxime in plasma (total concentration) and subcutaneous fluid (free concentration using microdialysis) was investigated in dogs following single oral administration of prodrug cefpodoxime proxetil (equivalent to 5 and 10 mg/kg of cefpodoxime). In a cross over study design, six dogs per dose were utilized after a 1 week washout period. Plasma, microdialysate, and urine samples were collected upto 24 h and analyzed using high performance liquid chromatography. The average maximum concentration (C_max) of cefpodoxime in plasma was 13.66 (±6.30) and 27.14 (±4.56) μg/mL with elimination half‐life (t_1/2) of 3.01 (±0.49) and 4.72 (±1.46) h following 5 and 10 mg/kg dose, respectively. The respective average area under the curve (AUC_0–∞) was 82.94 (±30.17) and 107.71 (±30.79) μg·h/mL. Cefpodoxime was readily distributed to skin and average free C_max in subcutaneous fluid was 1.70 (±0.55) and 3.06 (±0.93) μg/mL at the two doses. Urinary excretion (unchanged cefpodoxime) was the major elimination route. Comparison of subcutaneous fluid concentrations using pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic indices of fT_>MIC indicated that at 10 mg/kg dose; cefpodoxime would yield good therapeutic outcome in skin infections for bacteria with MIC₅₀ upto 0.5 μg/mL while higher doses (or more frequent dosing) may be needed for bacteria with higher MICs. High urine concentrations suggested cefpodoxime use for urinary infections in dogs.     

ANGIOGRAPHIC EVALUATION OF BOVINE FOOT ABNORMALITIES

Angiography of normal and diseased feet in cattle was carried out. In osteomyelitis of distal phalanx there was a narrowing of the digital artery with diminished vascular supply to the affected digit. An area of bone necrosis was found to be avascular. With overgrown hooves, narrowing of both the medial and lateral digital arteries with ill-defined laminar vessels was seen. The vascular pattern in cattle with cork screw claws was characterized by a dilated tortuous digital artery and a crowded arterial network resulting in increased vascular supply in the affected claw. Abrupt stricture of common digital artery, a crowded vascular network in the area of the middle phalanx and filling defects of terminal arches were demonstrated in animals with exostosis     

Cytokine profiles, apoptosis and pathology of experimental Pasteurella multocida serotype A1 infection in mice

Mice were experimentally infected with Pasteurella multocida serotype A1 to study the cytokine profiles, host cell apoptosis and sequential pathology at different hours of post-infection. Infected mice were dull, anorectic and depressed. A transient leukocytopenia followed by progressive leukocytosis was observed in the course of infection. Serum cytokine profiles showed significantly (P < 0.01) higher amount of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and mouse KC) in the infected mice when compared to control mice. The circulating lymphocytes were apoptotic on annexin V staining. Apoptotic nuclei were detected in splenocytes, hepatocytes and infiltrating leukocytes of the lungs on TUNEL staining. The lungs were grossly congested and hemorrhagic, and showed infiltration with polymorphonuclear cells at early and mononuclear cells in the late hours of infection. Alveolar epithelia, inter-alveolar septa and capillary endothelium of the lungs showed ultrastructural changes. Liver had degenerative changes in histological and ultrathin sections.