Antimicrobial and cytotoxic constituents from the seeds of Annona squamosa

Annotemoyin-1, Annotemoyin-2, squamocin and cholesteryl glucopyranoside were isolated from the seeds of Annona squamosa. These compounds and plant extracts showed remarkable antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities.     

Evolution of human influenza A viruses over 50 years: rapid, uniform rate of change in NS gene

Variation in influenza A viruses was examined by comparison of nucleotide sequences of the NS gene (890 bases) of 15 human viruses isolated over 53 years (1933 to 1985). Changes in the genes accumulate with time, and an evolutionary tree based on the maximum parsimony method can be constructed. The evolutionary rate is approximately 2 X 10(-3) substitution per site per year in the NS genes, which is about 10(6) times the evolutionary rate of germline genes in mammals. This uniform and rapid rate of evolution in the NS gene is a good molecular clock and is compatible with the hypothesis that positive selection is operating on the hemagglutinin (or perhaps some other viral genes) to preserve random mutations in the NS gene.     

COMPARISON OF AQUACULTURE EXTENSION IMPACTS IN BANGLADESH

ABSTRACT

Production from small scale pond aquaculture in Bangladesh trebled in the decade to 1999 under the influence of extension projects of the Department of Fisheries. The impacts of completed aquaculture extension projects and practices of former participants have rarely been investigated so this was done for four past projects. The different extension approaches were: extension with credit and intensive or little supervision; demonstrations; group extension and informal extension by fry traders; and adaptive research-development. Generally extension recipients and non-participants had similar sized landholdings, but demonstration farmers had larger farms and ponds. Extension recipients mainly received information from project-related sources and rated its utility highly. Neighbours and control farmers mainly obtained information from mass media and other farmers, over 90% of these households also cultivated fish. Extension recipients generally followed better practices: for example stocking fewer fingerlings and achieving higher production than non-participants, but with wide variations. Training of fry traders appeared to reduce overstocking in general probably due to the advice of fry traders. Overall, 2–6 years after extension the recipients have continued to farm fish, have a fair understanding of good practice and achieve reasonable yields. Limited demonstration effects occurred. Extension through group approaches and informal agents seem to be cost effective for the many pond owners in Bangladesh.     

Community water management to intensify agricultural productivity in the polders of the coastal zone of Bangladesh

Paddy and Water Environment - Most of the lands of the southern coastal zone of Bangladesh are protected from tidal flooding and storm surges by embankments constructed during the 1960s and 1970s,...     

Growth Performance,Carcass Yield and Meat Quality of Korean Native Duck

This study was carried out to investigate the growth performance, carcass yield and meat quality of large-type Korean native ducks （KND）. A total of 420 day-old ducklings were divided into four treatments （seven replicates/treatment, 15 birds/replicate） by strains （A and B） and gender （male and female） in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement under complete randomized design. The body weight （BW） of female KND was higher at week 2 and for male it was higher in week 8 （P 〈 0.05）. BW gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio of male KND were higher than those of female KND （P 〈 0.05） during week 0 to week 8. The carcass yield of both strains increased from 6 weeks to 8 weeks （P 〈 0.05）. The breast meat ratio was the highest at week 8 whereas the leg meat ratio was the highest at 6 weeks of age in both strains （P 〈 0.01）. Lightness （L＊）, yellowness （b＊） and juiciness of meat were the highest at 6 weeks （P 〈 0.05）. Moisture, ash and fat contents of meat were the highest at 7 weeks （P 〈 0.05） and protein content was the highest at 8 weeks （P 〈 0.01）. These results may provide the basic data on growth performance and meat quality of large-type KND, which can be used for genetic improvements and rearing at commercial scale.     

Shift work as an oxidative stressor

Background  

Some medical disorders have higher prevalence in shift workers than others. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of night-shift-working on total plasma antioxidant capacity, with respect to the causative role of oxidative stress in induction of some of these disorders.     

Dynorphin-Kappa Opioid Receptor Signaling Partly Mediates Estrogen Negative Feedback Effect on LH Pulses in Female Rats

Accumulating evidence suggests that the arcuate nucleus (ARC) kisspeptin/neurokinin B (NKB)/dynorphin (KNDy) neurons play a role in estrogen negative feedback action on pulsatile gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)/luteinizing hormone (LH) release. The present study aimed to determine if dynorphin (Dyn) is involved in estrogen negative feedback on pulsatile GnRH/LH release. The effect of the injection of nor-binaltorphimine (nor-BNI), a kappa-opioid receptor (KOR) antagonist, into the third cerebroventricle (3V) on LH pulses was determined in ovariectomized (OVX) adult female rats with/without replacement of negative feedback levels of estradiol (low E₂). The mean LH concentrations and baseline levels of LH secretion in nor-BNI-injected, low E₂-treated rats were significantly higher compared with vehicle-treated controls. On the other hand, the nor-BNI treatment failed to affect any LH pulse parameters in OVX rats without low E₂ treatment. These results suggest that Dyn is involved in the estrogen negative feedback regulation of pulsatile GnRH/LH release. The low E₂ treatment had no significant effect on the numbers of ARC Pdyn (Dyn gene)-,Kiss1- and Tac2 (NKB gene)-expressing cells. The treatment also did not affect mRNA levels of Pdyn and Oprk1 (KOR gene) in the ARC-median eminence region, but significantly increased the ARC kisspeptin immunoreactivity. These findings suggest that the negative feedback level of estrogen suppresses kisspeptin release from the ARC KNDy neurons through an unknown mechanism without affecting the Dyn and KOR expressions in the ARC. Taken together, the present result suggests that Dyn-KOR signaling is a part of estrogen negative feedback action on GnRH/LH pulses by reducing the kisspeptin release in female rats.     

Prevalence and risk factors of subclinical mastitis in lactating dairy cows in north and south regions of Bangladesh

The purpose of the study was to identify the potential risk factors for subclinical mastitis (SCM) in lactating dairy cows in Bangladesh. A cross-sectional study was carried out on randomly selected 212 smallholder dairy farms of Sadar upazilas of Rangpur, Mymensingh, and Satkhira districts of Bangladesh during January to October 2011. The direct interview using a structured questionnaire and physical examination of the cows were done to collect data on 15 variables. Milk samples collected from study cows were subjected to California Mastitis Test (CMT). The diagnosis of SCM was based on the results of CMT and physical examination of udder and milk. The bivariable followed by multivariable analysis was done using SPSS 17.0. Of the total cows examined, 20.2 % had subclinical mastitis. In bivariable analysis, eight risk factors were identified. However, in the final model of multivariable analysis, four potential risk factors were identified. These were history of previous clinical mastitis (odds ratio (OR) 10.51, p?<?0.001), pendulous type of udder (OR 2.26, p?=?0.008), no grass feeding (OR 1.84, p?=?0.039), and body condition score (BCS) 2.5 or less (OR 7.25, p?=?0.054). Four different factors were significantly associated with the occurrence of subclinical mastitis, which need to be considered in the control of the disease. However, particular emphasis should be given on grass feeding and BCS because these traits can be modified or improved to allow prevention of SCM.