Epitaxial cuprate superconductor/ferroelectric heterostructures

Thin-film heterostructures of Bi(4)Ti(3)O(12)Bi(2)Sr(2)CuO(6+x), have been grown on single crystals of SrTiO(3), LaAlO(3), and MgAl(2)O(4) by pulsed laser deposition. X-ray diffraction studies show the presence of c-axis orientation only; Rutherford backscattering experiments show the composition to be close to the nominal stoichiometry. The films are ferroelectric and exhibit a symmetric hysteresis loop. The remanent polarization was 1.0 microcoulomb per square centimeter, and the coercive field was 2.0 x 10(5) volts per centimeter. Similar results were obtained with YBa(2)Cu(3)O(7-x) and Bi(2)Sr(2)CaCu(2)O(8+x), and single-crystal Bi(2)Sr(2)CuO(6+x)as the bottom electrodes. These films look promising for use as novel, lattice-matched, epitaxial ferroelectric film/electrode heterostructures in nonvolatile memory applications.     

Reversible immunocontraception in male monkeys immunized with eppin

Various forms of birth control have been developed for women; however, there are currently few options for men. The development of male contraceptives that are effective, safe, and reversible is desired for family planning throughout the world. We now report contraception of male nonhuman primates (Macaca radiata) immunized with Eppin, a testis/epididymis-specific protein. Seven out of nine males (78%) developed high titers to Eppin, and all of these high-titer monkeys were infertile. Five out of seven (71%) high-anti-Eppin titer males recovered fertility when immunization was stopped. This study demonstrates that effective and reversible male immunocontraception is an attainable goal. This method of immunocontraception may be extended to humans.     

Insulin Secretagogue,Alpha-glucosidase and Antioxidant Activity of Some Selected Spices in Streptozotocin-induced Diabetic Rats

Spices are extensively used to enhance the taste and flavor of foods and are known to possess several medicinal properties. Myristica fragrans, Parmelia perlata, Illicium verum, Trachyspermum copticum and Myristica malabarica, the commonly used spices in India were assessed for antidiabetic activity in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. In the in vitro insulin secretion studies on isolated islets of Langerhans, M. fragrans, T. copticum and M. malabarica showed dose dependent insulin secretion. At 1 mg/ml, P. perlata showed significant in vitro alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activity with IC₅₀ value of 0.14 mg/ml followed by M. malabarica (0.64 mg/ml), I. verum (0.67 mg/ml), M. fragrans (0.85 mg/ml) and T. copticum (0.92 mg/ml). The DPPH free radical scavenging activity of the extracts at a concentration of 1 mg/ml was as M. malabarica (90.45%), M. fragrans (89.89%), I. verum (87.22%), P. perlata (76.70%) and T. copticum (38.14%). P. perlata showed the highest phenolic content (i.e., 118.5 mg gallic acid equivalents/g) followed by M. malabarica (84.13 mg gallic acid equivalents/g). M. malabarica showed the highest flavonoid content (i.e., 38.35 mg quercetin equivalents/g). Regular use of these spices may prevent postprandial rise in glucose levels through inhibition of intestinal alpha-glucosidase and may maintain blood glucose level through insulin secretagogue action.     

Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) for rapid soil testing and soil quality assessment in smallholder farms

Rapid soil testing and soil quality assessment are essential to address soil degradation and low farm incomes in smallholder farms. With the objective of testing diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) to rapidly assess soil chemical properties, nutrient content and a soil quality index (SQI), samples of surface soil were collected from 1113 smallholder farms in seven districts in Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh, India. A minimum dataset (MDS) approach was followed to estimate SQI using the three chemical parameters of soil pH, electrical conductivity (EC) and soil organic carbon (SOC), and 11 different soil nutrients. Principal component and correlation analyses showed that soil pH, SOC content and three available nutrients − copper (Cu), iron (Fe) and sulphur (S) − may constitute the MDS. Estimated SQI values showed strong positive correlation with crop yields. Results of chemometric modelling showed that the DRS approach could yield the coefficient of determination (R²) values in the validation datasets ranging from 0.79 to 0.94 for exchangeable calcium (Ca) followed by 0.67–0.88 for exchangeable potassium (K), 0.52–0.86 for SOC and 0.53–0.81 for available boron (B) content. Except in one district, the DRS approach could be used to estimate SQI values with R² values in the range of 0.63–0.81; an R² value of 0.71 was obtained in the pooled dataset. We also estimated the three-tier soil test crop response (STCR) ratings to compare DRS and wet chemistry soil testing approaches. Similar STCR ratings were obtained for both these approaches in more than 86% of the samples. Parameters for which both the methods yielded similar ratings in more than 80% of the samples were EC (>98%), pH and exchangeable Ca (>81%) and available B (>89%). With similar ratings, these results suggest that the DRS approach may safely be used for farmers' fields, replacing the traditional wet analysis approach of soil testing.     

Mineral profiling of local pig-feeds and pigs reared under resource driven production system to reduce porcine mineral deficiency in subtropical hill ecosystem of Northeastern India

The present study assessed the mineral status of pigs fed with local feed resources. The commonly used plants for feeding pigs and blood serum samples from Hampshire, Large White Yorkshire and indigenous pigs were analyzed for total protein, albumin and cholesterol levels. Processed plant and serum samples were also analyzed for calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium, copper, cobalt, manganese, iron and zinc. The incidence and extent of mineral deficiency in pigs was quantified. No significant difference was observed in total protein and albumin levels between any two breed/types of pigs, however the Indigenous pigs showed significantly (P < 0.05) higher cholesterol level compared to other two breeds. Among different plants, Spilanthus sp had majority of macro and micro nutrients in high levels. Regarding incidence of mineral deficiency in pigs, it was observed that 90, 67.1, 61.4, 48.6, 95.7% of the pigs were deficient in calcium, phosphorus, sodium, magnesium and potassium. An interesting finding was that all the pigs (100%) utilized in the study were deficient in zinc. From this study, it was inferred that there are good numbers of potential source of mineral that might be used more economically to improve the mineral availability to pigs.     

Use of artificial substrates to enhance production of freshwater herbivorous fish in pond culture

Two trials were conducted in mud‐bottomed concrete tanks to assess the potential of using artificial substrates to enhance fish production in ponds. Three substrate types were tested: bamboo poles, PVC pipes and sugarcane bagasse bundles. In one trial, periphyton was grown on the substrates in the absence of fish. In the second trial, masheer (Tor khudree Sykes) fingerlings were stocked at three densities. Results showed a significant effect of substrate type on fish growth (P≤ 0.001) and on net fish production (P≤ 0.05), with best growth in the tanks using the bamboo substrate. In the bagasse treatment, 100% fish mortality occurred. Highest extrapolated periphyton‐based gross fish yield (i.e. without feed inputs) was 450 kg ha^?1 90 d^?1 with PVC and 491 kg ha^?1 90 d^?1 with bamboo substrate. The best periphyton growth occurred on bamboo, followed by bagasse and PVC. Without fish, mean periphyton biomass during the culture period was 0.56–1.20 mg cm^?2 on bamboo [ash‐free dry matter (DM)], against 0.09–0.36 mg cm^?2 on PVC and 0.20–0.59 mg cm^–2 on bagasse. No clear effect of fish density or water depth on periphyton biomass could be seen. Only on bamboo, fish density seemed to have a negative effect on periphyton ash‐free dry matter and a positive effect on pigment content (chlorophyll‐a and phaeophytin). Periphyton from bamboo had a lower ash content (38–47% of DM) than from PVC (54–55% of DM) or bagasse (51–58% of DM). It is concluded that substrate type has a strong effect on periphyton productivity and composition, and on fish productivity. Good fish production was achieved without feed inputs. More research is needed to study the economic viability of periphyton‐based systems in the context of Indian aquaculture.     

Pharmacokinetic Disposition of Subcutaneously Administered Enrofloxacin in Goats

The pharmacokinetic disposition of enrofloxacin was studied in goats after subcutaneous (s.c.) administration at a single dose of 7.5 mg/kg body weight. Blood samples were drawn from a jugular vein into heparinized tubes at predetermined time intervals after administration of the drug and the plasma was separated by centrifugation. The concentrations of enrofloxacin in the plasma were determined by a microbiological assay using Escherichia coli as the test organism. The plasma concentration–time data were analysed by non-compartmental methods. Enrofloxacin was rapidly absorbed, an appreciable concentration of the drug (0.30±0.13 g/ml) being present in the plasma by 5 min after s.c. administration. The maximum plasma concentration of enrofloxacin and the time to reach that maximum were 2.91±0.39 g/ml and 2.9±0.51 h, respectively. A detectable concentration of enrofloxacin persisted in the plasma for 12 h. The elimination half-life and mean residence time of enrofloxacin were 2.84±0.57 and 5.74±0.28 h, respectively. It is suggested that enrofloxacin given subcutaneously may be useful in the treatment of susceptible bacterial infections in goats.     

Swine coronaviruses (SCoVs) and their emerging threats to swine population,inter-species transmission,exploring the susceptibility of pigs for SARS-CoV-2 and zoonotic concerns

Swine coronaviruses (SCoVs) are one of the most devastating pathogens affecting the livelihoods of farmers and swine industry across the world. These include transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV), porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), porcine respiratory coronavirus (PRCV), porcine hemagglutinating encephalomyelitis virus (PHEV), swine acute diarrhea syndrome coronavirus (SADS-CoV), and porcine delta coronavirus (PDCoV). Coronaviruses infect a wide variety of animal species and humans because these are having single stranded-RNA that accounts for high mutation rates and thus could break the species barrier. The gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and nervous systems are the primary organ systems affected by SCoVs. Infection is very common in piglets compared to adult swine causing high mortality in the former. Bat is implicated to be the origin of all CoVs affecting animals and humans. Since pig is the only domestic animal in which CoVs cause a wide range of diseases; new coronaviruses with high zoonotic potential could likely emerge in the future as observed in the past. The recently emerged severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus virus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), causing COVID-19 pandemic in humans, has been implicated to have animal origin, also reported from few animal species, though its zoonotic concerns are still under investigation. This review discusses SCoVs and their epidemiology, virology, evolution, pathology, wildlife reservoirs, interspecies transmission, spill-over events and highlighting their emerging threats to swine population. The role of pigs amid ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic will also be discussed. A thorough investigation should be conducted to rule out zoonotic potential of SCoVs and to design appropriate strategies for their prevention and control.