Pharmacokinetics of streptomycin with particular reference to its distribution in plasma,milk and uterine fluid of shebuffaloes

The study elucidated the pharmacokinetics of streptomycin in healthy lactating she-buffaloes after a single intramuscular (IM) injection (10 mg/kg). The drug attained its peak concentrations of 24.39±2.67, 0.45±0.05 and 5.06±0.18 g/ml at 1, 4 and 1 hour in plasma, milk and uterine fluid respectively. Calculations based on the assumption of a 2-compartment model gave a plasma t1/2 () of 4.01±0.44 h and an apparent volume of distribution [Vd(area)] of 0.47±0.06 l/kg. The drug was detectable in the plasma, milk and uterine fluid for 30, 8 and 12 hours, respectively. A therapeutic concentration of the drug was maintained for 6 to 7 hours in the plasma and for around 1 hour only in the uterine fluid. However, a therapeutic level could not be achieved in milk at any time. The results suggest that the drug can be used clinically by the IM route against streptomycin susceptible systemic infections but not those in the uterus and mammary gland.     

The large‐scale capture of eastern grey kangaroos (Macropus giganteus) and red kangaroos (Osphranter rufus) and its application to a population management project

Objective: A large‐scale capture method was developed to enable sterilisation of a macropod population in western Sydney from 2005 to 2018. Methods: Until March 2007, free ranging eastern grey kangaroos and red kangaroos were herded into purpose‐built 15 m diameter capture yards (CYs) for darting with a projectile syringe. From March 2007 onwards, animals were free‐range darted in large areas without herding. Kangaroos were darted with 1.33–5.10 mg/kg tiletamine/zolazepam and 0.01–0.02 mg/kg medetomidine, ± 0.03 mg/kg acepromazine. Deaths were monitored. Population counts were performed annually. Results: There were 5825 capture events involving 3963 kangaroos. Over 85% of all captures occurred from 2005 to 2008. Of all reported deaths (n = 523), 135 were attributed to ill health. Musculoskeletal injuries incurred during capture were the main project‐related cause of death (n = 116). Post capture myopathy was uncommonly diagnosed following capture (n = 19). Conclusion: The herding and capture method enabled a large number of kangaroos to be mobilised and captured with low mortality rates, and the use of CYs resulted in fewer capture‐related injuries and deaths than free‐range capture. The drug doses and combinations used for darting were safe and effective, and the capture technique was successfully applied to a population management project.     

Field performance of somaclones of rose scented geranium (Pelargonium graveolens L’Her Ex Ait.) for evaluation of their essential oil yield and composition

Several randomly selected glasshouse grown somaclones of rose scented geranium, Pelargonium graveolens L’Her Ex Ait. cv. Hemanti were successfully transferred to the field in Northern India for evaluation. Two distinct morphotypes were described on the basis of leaf dentation-one resembling the parental cultivar in having highly dentated leaves (HDL) and the other with less dentated leaves (LDL). After repeated field-testing for 3 consecutive years, the HDL clones closely resembled the parental cultivar with respect to the different quantity and quality determining traits, while the LDL group was clearly different. The field established LDL somaclones possessed higher herb yield, number of branches and other oil yield attributing traits as compared to the HDL clones and the parent cultivar. The chemical investigations of the essential oil revealed significant differences between the LDL clones, the HDL clones and the control. Selection of such somaclones, which are superior to the parental in most of the quantitative and qualitative traits and show better adaptability to different areas of cultivation, will help towards commercialization of geranium in India.     

Sedimentary records and luminescence chronology of Late Holocene palaeofloods in the Luni River, Thar Desert, northwest India

River Luni is the only well-integrated river system in the Thar Desert of India. This river catastrophically flooded due to unusually heavy rainfall in the catchment area during July 1979. In order to establish whether floods of this magnitude have occurred in the recent geological past, sedimentary records of palaeofloods occurring in the Sindari Gorge, in the lower Luni Basin were investigated. The principal slackwater flood deposits were observed in a back-flooded tributary near Bhuka. Analysis of the slackwater flood deposits preserved in the back-flooded tributary and their luminescence dating suggests that the Luni River has experienced at least 17 extreme floods during the past millennium. Evidence from the Bhuka site also suggests that no floods comparable in magnitude to the July 1979 megaflood have occurred during this period. This observation is in conformity with the palaeoflood record of central India. Comparison of the long-term monsoon rainfall series for the Luni Basin and the Indian region reveals a clear link between the two, and indicates that the clustering of large floods in the last few decades and during the Medieval warming period is a regional phenomenon associated with wetter conditions. This correlates with a regionally extended episode of landscape stability denoted by stabilization of dunes in this region.     

Classification of soils supporting mangrove plantation in Kuwait

The State of Kuwait has initiated an ambitious national program to establish greenery in 20000 ha of open spaces in inland and coastal areas. Afforestation of intertidal zones with mangrove plants is being considered as a viable option for greening coastal areas. In view of this fact, experimental plantations were established using two ecotypes of Avicennia marina (Bahrain and UAE) and one ecotype of Avicennia germinans (Florida). The study consisted of two 10-year old plantations and two 2-year old plantations. Seedlings established successfully and grew vigorously on some of the locations within the site. Therefore, studies were conducted during 2002-2003 to describe and classify soils that supported maximum mangrove establishment and growth under the harsh arid coastal conditions of Kuwait. For this purpose, eight soil profiles (four each representing areas where seedlings established successfully and grew vigorously and where all seedlings died in the initial stages of establishment) were investigated and classified according to the soil taxonomy. The main soil types observed in the study site were: Typic Aquisalids, Typic/sodic Aquicambids and Calcic Aquisalids. Mangrove growth performance in relation to the landform, soil type and properties of the soil at various depths is discussed in the paper. The plant growth appeared to be the better on the typic Aquisalid soil than that on the Typic/sodic Aquicambid soils. The relative proportions of the coarse sand fraction, occurrence of the anaerobic layer in the profile and the surface layer salinity influenced both the establishment and growth of mangrove plants.     

Altered Expression of Transforming Growth Factor‐Beta Isoforms in Bovine Cystic Ovarian Disease

Cystic ovarian disease (COD) is one of the main causes of infertility in dairy cattle. It has been shown that intra‐ovarian factors may contribute to follicular persistence. Transforming growth factor‐beta (TGFB) isoforms are important paracrine and autocrine signalling molecules that regulate ovarian follicle growth and physiology. Considering the importance of these factors in the ovarian physiology, in this study, we examined the expression of TGFB isoforms (TGFB1, TGFB2 and TGFB3) in the ovary of healthy cows and animals with spontaneous and adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH)‐induced COD. In the oestrous‐synchronized control group, the expression of TGFB1 in granulosa and theca cells was higher in spontaneous cysts than in atretic or tertiary follicles. When we compared TGFB2 expression in granulosa cells from atretic or tertiary follicles from the oestrous‐synchronized control group with that in ACTH‐induced or spontaneous follicular cysts, we found a higher expression in the latter. The expression of the TGFB isoforms studied was also altered during folliculogenesis in both the spontaneous and ACTH‐induced COD groups. As it has been previously shown that TGFB influences steroidogenesis, ovarian follicular proliferation and apoptosis, an alteration in its expression may contribute to the pathogenesis of this disease.     

Structure of a DNA glycosylase searching for lesions

DNA glycosylases must interrogate millions of base pairs of undamaged DNA in order to locate and then excise one damaged nucleobase. The nature of this search process remains poorly understood. Here we report the use of disulfide cross-linking (DXL) technology to obtain structures of a bacterial DNA glycosylase, MutM, interrogating undamaged DNA. These structures, solved to 2.0 angstrom resolution, reveal the nature of the search process: The protein inserts a probe residue into the helical stack and severely buckles the target base pair, which remains intrahelical. MutM therefore actively interrogates the intact DNA helix while searching for damage.     

Assessment of conditions affecting Agrobacterium-mediated soybean transformation using the cotyledonary node explant

Conditions affecting Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.], including seed vigor of explant source, selection system, and cocultivation conditions, were investigated. A negative correlation between seed sterilization duration and seed vigor, and a positive correlation between seed vigor and regenerability of explants were observed in the study, suggesting that use of high vigor seed and minimum seed sterilization duration can further improve transformation efficiency. Selection schemes using glufosinate or bialaphos as selective agents in vitro were assessed. Glufosinate selection enhanced soybean transformation as compared to bialaphos. The use of 6 mg L^-1 glufosinate during shoot induction and shoot elongation stages yielded higher final transformation efficiency ranging from 2.0% to 6.3% while bialaphos at 4 to 6 mg L^-1 gave 0% to 2.1% efficiency. Including cysteine and DTT during cocultivation increased the transformation efficiency from 0.2–0.9% to 0.6–2.9%. This treatment also improved T-DNA transfer as indicated by enhanced transient GUS expression. Shoot regeneration and Agrobacterium infection were attained in twelve soybean cultivars belonging to maturity groups I-VI. These cultivars maybe amenable to genetic transformation and may provide a valuable tool in soybean improvement programs. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Speciation of Metals in Sewage Sludge and Sludge-amended Soils

This study is aimed at ascertaining the chemical partitioning ofCu, Zn, Pb, Ni, Cr and Cd in sewage sludge and agricultural soils repeatedly amended with sludge. The operationally determined speciation was investigated by using selective five steps sequential extraction method for partitioning these metals into different chemicalforms, likely to be released in solution under various environmental conditions. It provides qualitative evidence regarding the form of the association of metals and indirectly of their bioavailability. It can help to explain the process by which metals are eliminated from sewagesludge and also indicate the impact of the use of sludge on agriculturalsoils, as amendments. Data obtained by extraction procedure showed different metal distribution trend among the fractions in sewage sludgeand sludge-amended soils. Comparison of distribution pattern of metals in sludge and sludge-applied soils shows that there is possible redistribution of metals among the different phases. The sum of the metal content in the fractions compared well with the total metal content in sewage sludge, the ratios averaging 1.02, 1.04, 1.07, 0.94, 1.06, and 1.12 for Cu, Zn, Pb, Ni, Cr, and Cd, respectively. The metal recovery efficiency in sludge-amended soils was found to be: 108±6%, 102±5%, 115±8%, 111±4%, 104±7%and 124±28% for Cu, Zn, Pb, Ni, Cr and Cd, respectively.