Antiobesity and lipid lowering effects of Murraya koenigii (L.) Spreng leaves extracts and mahanimbine on high fat diet induced obese rats

The dichloromethane (MKD) and ethyl acetate (MKE) extracts of Murraya koenigii leaves significantly reduced the body weight gain, plasma total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) levels significantly when given orally at a dose of 300 mg/kg/day to the high fat diet (HFD) induced obese rats for 2 weeks. The observed antiobesity and antihyperlipidemic activities of these extract are correlated with the carbazole alkaloids present in them. Mahanimbine (1) when given orally (30 mg/kg/day) also significantly lowered the body weight gain as well as plasma TC and TG levels. These findings demonstrate the excellent pharmacological potential of mahanimbine to prevent obesity.     

Characterization of a novel tomato mutant resistant to the weedy parasites <Emphasis Type="Italic">Orobanche</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phelipanche</Emphasis> spp.

Orobanche and Phelipanche, commonly known as broomrape, are dicotyledonous holoparasitic flowering plants that cause heavy economic losses in a wide variety of plant species. Breeding for Orobanche resistance is still one of the most effective management strategies for this weed. However, previous efforts to find broomrape-resistant tomato (Solanum lycopersicon) genotypes have been unsuccessful. Here, we report on the isolation and characterization of a fast-neutron-mutagenized M-82 tomato mutant, Sl-ORT1. The Sl-ORT1 mutant showed resistance to Phelipanche aegyptiaca as compared to cultivar M-82; segregation analysis suggested a single recessive ort1 allele. Sl-ORT1 broomrape resistance was reflected in a lower number of broomrapes per plant, reduced P. aegyptiaca fresh weight per plant, and the absence of broomrape’s negative effect on plant host growth and yield. Sl-ORT1 was shown to be resistant to high concentrations of P. aegyptiaca seeds, and to another three broomrape species: Phelipanche ramosa, Orobanche cernua, and Orobanche crenata. Grafting experiments demonstrated that roots, rather than shoots, are necessary for Sl-ORT1 broomrape resistance. In addition, Sl-ORT1 was shown to be resistant to broomrape under field conditions. Since yield parameters are slightly affected by the mutation, this resistance gene should be introduced into tomato varieties with different genetic backgrounds; this newly identified Orobanche-resistant mutant may be further utilized in breeding programs for Orobanche resistance.     

Biophysical quantification of biodiversity and ecosystems services of forest ecosystems in the Western Ghats: a case study of Uttara Kannada District,India

Biodiversity and ecosystem services play key roles in future economic strategies seeking to promote development and prosperity. This study assesses the status of biodiversity and flow of ecosystem services from selected forest types in the Western Ghats. At the sampling sites, the number of tree species ranged from 16 to 79 per hectare depending on the forest type. The estimates for Shannon–Wiener index for trees in the evergreen, moist deciduous and dry deciduous forest plots were 3.02, 2.9 and 1.54, respectively. The total biomass carbon stocks in evergreen, moist deciduous and dry deciduous forests in the study area was 229, 221 and 189 t C/ha, respectively.Analysis of dependency patterns of local communities on forest resources indicated a high dependency on provisional services such as fuelwood, manure and fodder. The study records the highest dependency rates for fuelwood,ranging between 72 and 100% for the three forest types and indicates that forest ecosystems underpin the well-being of the population dependent directly and indirectly on them.     

热烫温度和时间对魔芋片干燥动力学和品质的影响（摘选）

该文对热风干燥魔芋片的制备工艺条件进行了优化。研究了热烫时间（0、1、3和5 min）、热烫温度（80和90 ℃）和干燥温度（70、80和90 ℃）对魔芋片干燥动力学及品质特性（色泽、质地、褐变和感官品质）的影响。结果表明,完全干燥发生在降速期间。较长的热烫时间和较低的干燥温度能够起到较好的护色作用,降低魔芋片的褐变指数。热烫同时可以降低产品的硬度和破裂度。在90 ℃情况下热烫3 min,然后在80 ℃下干燥480 min可以使最终产品具有最佳品质。      

Isolation of Mare's Milk Oligosaccharide Fraction of Colostrum,Transitional, and Mature Phases Promotes In Vitro Oxidative Burst in Murine Macrophages

Present preliminary findings demonstrate in vitro stimulation of splenic lymphocytes of BALB/c mice after exposure to oligosaccharide fractions isolated from mare's milk during colostrum, transitional, and mature lactation periods, which shows immunostimulatory action of oligosaccharide content present in mares' milk. Oligosaccharide fractions caused more pronounced oxidative burst at a much lower concentration (0.1 μg/mL) compared with that shown by levamisole (standard immunostimulant) at a much higher concentration of 10 μg/mL. In this study, it was observed that oligosaccharides fraction of colostrum phase attaining high potency of immunostimulatory property.     

Surface sites for engineering allosteric control in proteins

Statistical analyses of protein families reveal networks of coevolving amino acids that functionally link distantly positioned functional surfaces. Such linkages suggest a concept for engineering allosteric control into proteins: The intramolecular networks of two proteins could be joined across their surface sites such that the activity of one protein might control the activity of the other. We tested this idea by creating PAS-DHFR, a designed chimeric protein that connects a light-sensing signaling domain from a plant member of the Per/Arnt/Sim (PAS) family of proteins with Escherichia coli dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR). With no optimization, PAS-DHFR exhibited light-dependent catalytic activity that depended on the site of connection and on known signaling mechanisms in both proteins. PAS-DHFR serves as a proof of concept for engineering regulatory activities into proteins through interface design at conserved allosteric sites.