Pharmacokinetics of Enrofloxacin and Its Metabolite Ciprofloxacin after Intramuscular Administration of Enrofloxacin in Goats

The pharmacokinetics of enrofloxacin and its active metabolite ciprofloxacin were investigated in goats after a single intramuscular administration of enrofloxacin at 2.5 mg/kg body weight. The plasma concentrations of enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin were determined simultaneously by a HPLC method. The peak concentrations (C _max) of enrofloxacin (1.13 g/ml) and ciprofloxacin (0.24 g/ml) were observed at 0.8 and 1.2 h, respectively. The elimination half-life (t _1/2), volume of distribution (V _d(area)), total body clearance (Cl_B) and mean residence time (MRT) of enrofloxacin were 0.74 h, 1.42 L/kg, 1329 ml/h per kg and 1.54 h, respectively. The t _1/2, area under the plasma concentration–time curve (AUC) and the MRT of ciprofloxacin were 1.38 h, 0.74 g h/ml and 2.73 h, respectively. The metabolic conversion of enrofloxacin to ciprofloxacin was appreciable (36%) and the sum of the plasma concentrations of enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin was maintained at or above 0.1 g/ml for up to 4 h. Enrofloxacin appears to be useful for the treatment of goat diseases associated with pathogens sensitive to this drug.     

Molecular genetic mapping of quantitative trait loci associated with loaf volume in hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum)

Major efforts in wheat research are being made to improve the yield and quality of wheat. Loaf volume (Lv) is the main quality parameter deciding the bread making potential of wheat. To genetically dissect quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for Lv, a Recombinant Inbred Line (RIL) population (F₈) was developed from a cross between two Indian wheat varieties “HI 977” and “HD 2329”. A total of 914 SSR and 100 ISSR primers were used for molecular analysis and the genetic map comprising 19 chromosomes was constructed with 202 SSR markers and 2 HMW glutenin subunit loci: Glu-B1 and Glu-D1. The phenotypic data were collected from six environments including three different agro-climatic zones for 2 consecutive years. Dissection of Lv through AMMI model revealed significant G×E variance for the trait. QTL analysis was performed using composite interval mapping. A total of 30 QTLs for Lv were detected and significant QTLs were identified on 6B and 6D chromosomes; 1B, 1D, 2A, 3A, 5B and 5D also contributed genetically to Lv. Association between 6B and 6D QTLs and variable expression of gliadins on group 6 chromosomes were discussed. QTLs detected in this study were compared with other QTL analysis in wheat.     

Campylobacter

Species within the genus, Campylobacter, have emerged over the last three decades as significant clinical pathogens, particularly of human public health concern, where the majority of acute bacterial enteritis in the Western world is due to these organisms. Of particular concern are the species, C. jejuni and C. coli, which are responsible for most of these gastrointestinal-related infections. Although these organisms have already emerged as causative agents of zoonoses, several aspects of their epidemiology and pathophysiology are only beginning to emerge. Trends in increasing antibiotic resistance are beginning to emerge with oral antibiotics, which may be the drug of choice for when it is necessary to intervene chemotherapeutically. This review wishes to examine (i) emerging clinical aspects of the disease, such as Guillain Barre syndrome (GBS), (ii) the association between these organisms and poultry as a natural host, (iii) environmental aspects of Campylobacter epidemiology, (iv) the emergence of atypical campylobacters (v) emerging trends in antibiotic resistance, (vi) adoption of modern methods for the detection of campylobacters.     

Effect of carbon sources on asymbiotic nitrogen fixation in a paddy soil

The effect of various carbon sources on asymbiotic N₂ fixation in a paddy soil was studied by C₂H₂ reduction and ¹⁵N tracer techniques. N₂ fixation increased with increasing concentrations of cellulose and rice straw, but the former was more effective. N₂ fixation was considerably enhanced in soils amended with glucose, sucrose, succinate, acetate, butyrate, pyruvate or n-propanol, while n-butanol, ethanol, lignin or paraffin were ineffective. Succinate at low moisture content and butyrate under flooded conditions stimulated N₂ fixation during a 15-day incubation.     

10-Undecenoic acid-based polyol esters as potential lubricant base stocks

A new class of polyol esters were prepared by esterification of 10-undecenoic acid (UDA) with three polyols namely trimethylolpropane (TMP), neopentyl glycol (NPG) and pentaerythritol (PE) in 92-96% yields. The esters were characterized by IR, ¹H NMR, HPLC and mass spectral studies. Polyol esters were evaluated for basic lubrication properties and found to be: viscosity at 40 °C, 11.2-36.1 cSt; at 100 °C, 3.2-7.3 cSt; viscosity index (VI), 162-172; pour point +3 to −36 °C; flash point, 254-296 °C. All the three polyol esters synthesized exhibited good thermal stability with TGA onset temperatures above 260 °C. The lubricating properties of the products compared well with polyol esters based on oleic acid.     

检测南方水稻黑条矮缩病毒胶体金免疫试纸条的建立

由白背飞虱Sogatella furcifera(Horváth)传播的南方水稻黑条矮缩病毒(Southern rice blackstreaked dwarf virus,SRBSDV)是目前我国南方水稻上危害最严重的病毒,为开发简便、快速、准确的SRBSDV病毒检测技术和检测试剂,以感染SRBSDV的植物粗提液为免疫原,利用杂交瘤技术制备了2株抗SRBSDV的单抗(14A8和15G6),并利用制备的单抗建立了可快速、特异、灵敏地检测SRBSDV的胶体金免疫试纸条。结果表明,2株制备单抗的抗体类型及亚类均为Ig G1、kappa链,单抗腹水的间接ELISA效价均达到10~(-7);Western blot分析表明,2株单抗均与SRBSDV的外壳蛋白亚基有特异反应,而不与水稻黑条矮缩病毒(Rice black-streaked dwarf virus,RBSDV)反应。以制备14A8和15G6单抗分别为捕获抗体和胶体金标记抗体,开发成能在5 min内准确、特异地检测水稻植物和白背飞虱传毒介体体内SRBSDV的胶体金免疫试纸条;灵敏度分析表明,该检测试纸条的检测水稻病叶的灵敏度达到1∶6 400倍(g/m L),检测单头携毒白背飞虱的灵敏度达到1∶51 200倍(单头/μL)。田间样品检测结果表明,该试纸条的检测结果与RT-PCR的符合率达到100%。建立的SRBSDV胶体金免疫试纸条可对南方水稻黑条矮缩病毒进行快速、特异、灵敏的诊断和检测。     

Mapping agricultural responses to water supply shocks in large irrigation systems, southern India

Irrigated agriculture experienced a water supply shock during a drought in southern India in 2002-2003. In this paper, hotspots of agricultural change were mapped and put in the context of hydrology and water management. Time series of MODIS imagery taken every eight days before (2001-2002) and during (2002-2003) the supply shock were combined with agricultural census data to document changes in cropping patterns in four large irrigation projects in the downstream sections of the Krishna and Godavari River basins (total command area 18,287 km²). The area cropped in rice in the four irrigated command areas decreased by 32% during the drought year, and rice production in the two districts that experienced the largest flow reductions fell below production levels of 1980. The irrigation project that showed the largest change in double cropped area (−90%) was upstream of the Krishna Delta. In the Krishna Delta, large areas changed from rice-rice to rice-gram double cropping. Historical water management contributed to the vulnerability of rice production to drought: the main reservoir in the system was drained to dead storage levels by the end of each growing season over 1968-2000, with little carryover storage. The land cover change maps suggested that the lower Krishna Basin has experienced a “hard landing” during basin closure, and revised management strategies that account for the new flow regime will be required to maintain agricultural production during droughts.     

Measurement of within and between population genetic variability in quails

1. To detect polymorphism in various quail lines, Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were tested and were found to be effective. 2. Twenty decamer primers were selected at random and tested, and 6 of these generated distinct polymorphic patterns between the quail lines. 3. Out of a total of 60 bands amplified using 6 selected primers, 19 (31.7%) were found to be polymorphic. 4. Genetic similarity within the lines ranged from 0.726 in HBW to 0.836 in KLQ. 5. Genetic similarity estimates between the populations ranged from 0.709 to 0.808.     

Evaluation of performance of sorghum varieties grown in Tokyo for sugar accumulation and its correlation with vacuolar invertase genes SbInv1 and SbInv2

ABSTRACT

The sugar-accumulating potential of global and local sweet and grain sorghum varieties were tested under the local conditions. The basis for this study was the dependency of sugar accumulation on temperature and photoperiod. Thus, the efficacy of cultivars as a bioenergy source would need to be determined based on their performance under the local environmental conditions. A strong correlation of sucrose content with brix was observed, enabling large-scale screening of varieties for high sucrose content. The morphological characteristics inherent in sweet sorghum, such as tall stems, greater number of leaves and a longer vegetative period, were found to correlate with the total stem sugar content. Assessment of sugars along the stem revealed maximum sugar accumulation in the upper intermediate to upper internodes in most of the varieties tested. The maximum theoretical ethanol yield (MTEY), a function of brix and juice yield, was determined as a better indicator of testing the performance of a variety as a potential source of bioethanol, mainly due to a negative correlation of stem juiciness and sucrose content in the varieties tested. Further, the relative expression of vacuolar invertase genes, SbINV1 and SbINV2, was studied, and a strong negative correlation of SbINV2 to stem sucrose content was observed. This reveals a possibility of involvement of vacuolar invertase gene, SbINV2, in sugar accumulation in sweet sorghum stems, and as a key candidate for molecular breeding studies for higher stem sugar content.