Organic zinc and copper supplementation on antioxidant protective mechanism and their correlation with sperm functional characteristics in goats

Trace minerals feeding had significant effects on sperm production and fertility with better absorption and proper utilization within the body for optimum reproductive function. Several studies have shown that more influenced trace elements in the diets of animals are copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn). Bucks showing deficiency of this mineral might affect the quality of semen production which in turn would affect the fertility. This experiment was thus designed to test the effects of organic Cu and Zn supplementation on antioxidants enzyme activities and sperm functional attributes in fresh semen of bucks. Forty bucks (n = 40, Aged 5 months) were assigned to ten groups of four animals in each group, supplemented (for a period of 8 months) with different levels of organic Zn: 20 mg (T2), 40 mg (T3) and 60 mg (T4), organic Cu: 12.5 mg (T5), 25 mg (T6), 37.5 mg (T7) and combined organic Zn and Cu: 20 + 12.5 mg (T8), 40 + 25 mg (T9), 60 + 37.5 mg (T10), respectively, per kg dry matter and no additional mineral diet (control; T1). One hundred and sixty semen samples were collected through electro‐ejaculator and analysed for sperm quantity, quality, acrosome intactness and plasma membrane integrity and correlated with the catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase enzyme activities in seminal plasma. The results indicated organic Cu and zinc supplemented bucks produced more sperm cells, had higher sperm concentrations, maintained higher (p < .01) sperm livability, plasma membrane and acrosome integrities, more motility and velocity. The increased antioxidant enzyme activities, reduced oxidative stress and lowered lipid peroxidation were positively correlated (p < .05) with the sperm functional attributes. In conclusion, organic Cu and Zn supplement to male goats showed protective roles against oxidative damage and maintained better fresh semen characteristics.     

Effect of Growth Regulators on the Productivity of Some Major Oilseed Crops

A number of field experiments were conducted at the Viswavidyalaya Research Farm during 1984–85 to 1986–87 to study the effects of five growth regulators viz. Miraculan (a triacontanol based growth stimulant), Nutron (1-triacontanol growth stimulant), Planofix ( α -napthylacetic acid), Paras or Mixtalol (Higher alcoholic carbon compounds) and N-triacontanol on productivity of five different major oilseed crops viz. rapeseed ( Brassica campestris L. var. yellow sarson), mustard ( Brassica juncea L. Czern and Coss), sesame ( Sesamum indicum L.), linseed ( Linum usitatissimum L.) and safflower ( Carthemus tinctorius L.). Results showed the positive influence of growth regulators on the productivity of crops (10–40 % increase in yield); however the influence was not consistent over the years. N-triacontanol when tried on mustard only improved the grain yield significantly, more so when applied with paras or planofix, sesame was most influenced by spraying planofix and paras. Nutron favourably influenced safflower and linseed. The test weight of grains followed by the number of pods/plant were influenced most by the application of growth regulators. Inconsistency in results over the years, however, need further investigations on the timing of spraying.     

Cytokinins in developing fruits of Ziziphus mauritiana Lam.

Developing fruits of jujube, Ziziphus mauritiana Lam., contain 2 cytokinin-like compounds, the activities of which were tested by the soybean callus test. One of them appeared to be zeatin, and this was confirmed by its behaviour in paper and column chromatography, coupled with various physicochemical tests.     

Comparative efficacy of four vaccines against Salmonella virchow in chicks in India

The efficacy of four vaccines in preventing Salmonella virchow infection in poultry was assessed by determining survivors after challenge, bacteriological status of tissues and excretion through stool and eggs following artificial infection in vaccinated and control birds. The study indicated that formol killed oil-adjuvant vaccine conferred the highest degree of immunity followed by gel and Freund's complete adjuvant vaccines.     

Evaluation of the nutritive value of Leucaena leucocephala leaf meal, inoculated with fish intestinal bacteria Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus circulans in formulated diets for rohu, Labeo rohita (Hamilton) fingerlings

Nine isonitrogenous (35% crude protein approximately) and isocaloric (18.37 kJ g^?1) experimental diets (RLL20–BCFL40) were formulated with either raw or treated (inoculated with fish intestinal bacteria) Leucaena leucocephala leaf meal at 20%, 30% and 40% levels replacing other ingredients partially from a fish meal based reference diet (RD). Two specific strains of fish intestinal bacteria, Bacillus subtilis (isolated from Cyprinus carpio) and B. circulans (isolated from Oreochromis mossambicus) having extracellular cellulolytic and amylolytic activities, were used to inoculate Leucaena leaf meal for 15 days at 37°C. The crude fibre, cellulose and hemicellulose contents and the antinutritional factors, tannin, phytic acid and mimosine in the leaf meal decreased due to inoculation. However, free amino acids and fatty acids increased in the treated leaf meal. The response of rohu, Labeo rohita, fingerlings fed the experimental diets for 80 days was compared with fish fed a RD. Both the inclusion level and type of Leucaena leaf meal in diets significantly affected the growth performance of rohu. Fish fed diets containing inoculated Leucaena leaf meal performed better in comparison with those with the RD. On the basis of growth response, feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio and apparent net protein utilization, diet formulated with 30%Leucaena leaf meal inoculated with B. circulans resulted in the best performance of rohu fingerlings followed by diet with 40%B. subtilis inoculated Leucaena leaf meal. The apparent protein digestibility (APD) was better in fish fed diets containing B. circulans inoculated leaf meal. An increasing level of raw Leucaena leaf meal was associated with a decrease in the carcass protein content of rohu fingerlings. The activity of α‐amylase increased with the increasing level of treated leaf meal in diets. Cellulase activity increased with increasing level of inclusion of raw leaf meal, and was comparatively lower in fish fed diets with treated leaf meal. Activities of protease and lipase were higher in fish fed the RD. The results showed that it is possible to incorporate Leucaena leaf meal inoculated with enzyme‐producing fish intestinal bacteria in carp diets up to 40% level of inclusion.     

MAPP对麦秸纤维-聚丙烯复合材料热力学性能的影响

以麦秸纤维为增强材料、聚丙烯为基体物质、马来酸酐接枝聚丙烯（MAPP）为改性剂,制备麦秸纤维-聚丙烯复合材料。利用DMA、DSC、TG和SEM,探讨了MAPP的添加量（质量百分比1%、2%、5%、10%）和麦秸纤维形态（9、9～28、28～35、35目）对麦秸纤维 聚丙烯复合材料的热力学性能和结晶性能的影响。结果表明:①当MAPP的添加量为2%时,麦秸纤维-聚丙烯复合材料的储能弹性模量减小;当MAPP的添加量增加到5%、10%时,复合材料的储能弹性模量增加。②在麦秸纤维-聚丙烯体系内添加MAPP后,麦秸纤维 聚丙烯复合材料的结晶温度提高约1℃,结晶度增加了4%～8%;麦秸纤维以28～35目的形态作为聚丙烯基体的增强材料时,其复合材料的结晶温度为122.7℃,结晶率达到45.8%。③麦秸纤维-聚丙烯复合材料的热分解峰温分别为355和460℃。④麦秸纤维以纤维束的形态分布在基体聚丙烯中起增强作用,在整个体系内,麦秸纤维局部团聚且断裂明显。添加MAPP后,有利于基体物质在麦秸纤维表面的均匀覆盖。      

Development of transgenic fungi that kill human malaria parasites in mosquitoes

Metarhizium anisopliae infects mosquitoes through the cuticle and proliferates in the hemolymph. To allow M. anisopliae to combat malaria in mosquitoes with advanced malaria infections, we produced recombinant strains expressing molecules that target sporozoites as they travel through the hemolymph to the salivary glands. Eleven days after a Plasmodium-infected blood meal, mosquitoes were treated with M. anisopliae expressing salivary gland and midgut peptide 1 (SM1), which blocks attachment of sporozoites to salivary glands; a single-chain antibody that agglutinates sporozoites; or scorpine, which is an antimicrobial toxin. These reduced sporozoite counts by 71%, 85%, and 90%, respectively. M. anisopliae expressing scorpine and an [SM1](8):scorpine fusion protein reduced sporozoite counts by 98%, suggesting that Metarhizium-mediated inhibition of Plasmodium development could be a powerful weapon for combating malaria.     

Rise of the Andes

The surface uplift of mountain belts is generally assumed to reflect progressive shortening and crustal thickening, leading to their gradual rise. Recent studies of the Andes indicate that their elevation remained relatively stable for long periods (tens of millions of years), separated by rapid (1 to 4 million years) changes of 1.5 kilometers or more. Periodic punctuated surface uplift of mountain belts probably reflects the rapid removal of unstable, dense lower lithosphere after long-term thickening of the crust and lithospheric mantle.     

Engineering design of woven fabrics using non-traditional optimization methods: A comparative study

This work aims to design woven fabrics with desired quality at optimum manufacturing cost by choice of suitable weaving parameters such as count, crimp and thread spacing of warp and weft yarns. To fulfill this goal, we endeavor to devise search based non-traditional optimization methods such as genetic algorithm, particle swarm optimization and simulated annealing for efficiently finding the appropriate combination of weave parameters. The quick response capability of the non-traditional optimization methods would benefit the fabric manufacturers for efficient determination of the required weaving parameters to produce the engineered fabrics. The experimental validation confirms that the particle swarm optimization is most suitable technique for engineering design of woven fabrics.     

Effect of efficient pectinolytic bacterial isolates on retting and fibre quality of jute

Four bacterial strains with high balanced polygalacturonase (PG) and pectin lyase (PNL), and xylanase with minimal cellulase activity were used in jute retting. The 16S rDNA analysis revealed that the organisms were: Bacillus sp. L6 (GQ891097), Bacillus pumilus strain EK-17 (GQ891098), B. pumilus strain Geo-03-422 (GQ891103) and B. pumilus strain IK-MB12-518F (GQ891105). The microorganisms in different combinations of consortia showed synergistic effect resulting in increased PG (35.52-46.61 IU/g cell wet weight), PNL (39.79-72.12 U/ml), xylanase (0.705-0.840 μmol/ml/min) and little cellulase (0-0.153 μmol/ml/min) activities. The organisms in different combinations of consortia reduced the retting period from 11 to 13 days as compared to 19 days in the control. Microbial inoculation produced remarkable improvement in jute fibre strength (26.62-28.91 g/tex) and fineness (2.76-2.92 tex) over control. The pH of the post-retting water samples became acidic, and the electrical conductivity (Ec), chemical oxygen demand (COD) and hardness increased. The organisms could be adopted in industrial application for extraction of jute fibre.