Photodegradation of fenarimol

The photodegradation of aqueous alcoholic solutions of fenarimol at λ ≥ 250 nm has been examined. UV irradiation of an aqueous methanolic solution for 24 h yielded two photoproducts, identified as 2,4′‐dichlorobenzil and p‐chlorobenzoic acid, while irradiation of a solution in aqueous isopropanol yielded p‐chlorobenzoic acid and two additional products identified as 2,4′‐dichlorobenzophenone and o‐chlorobenzoic acid. A mechanism for the formation of the photoproducts is suggested. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

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.     

Formation of periphyton biofilm and subsequent biofouling on different substrates in nutrient enriched brackishwater shrimp ponds

Periphyton grown on substrates is known to improve water quality in aquaculture ponds. Five different substrates, (i) bamboo pipe (ii) plastic sheet (iii) polyvinylchloride (PVC) pipe (iv) fibrous scrubber, and, (v) ceramic tile were evaluated for the formation of biofilm in this experiment. The substrates were suspended 25 cm below the water surface. Each type of substrate was collected fortnightly to analyze the abundance and biomass of different periphytic algae and of the biofouling organism. The study was terminated after 60 days due to severe fouling by polychaete. Results showed that pond water nutrients were high on day 60 with mean total ammonia-N, nitrite-N and soluble reactive phosphorus concentrations of 309.6 ± 8.6 μg L^− 1, 26.0 ± 2.7 μg L^− 1 and 87.2 ± 7.1 μg L^− 1 respectively. During the first two weeks the substrates were colonized by 19 periphytic algae. The most abundant family was Bacillariophyta (8 genera) followed by Chlorophyta (7 genera) and Cyanophyta (4 genera). Periphyton colonization on bamboo pipe showed the highest (p < 0.05) biomass in terms of chlorophyll a amongst all the substrates used. The biomass varied from 179 to 1137 μg m^− 2 with mean values of 1137.2 ± 0.6, 929.6 ± 0.6, 684.2 ± 1.2, 179.1 ± 0.6 and 657.0 ± 0.6 μg m^− 2 on bamboo pipe, PVC pipe, plastic sheet, fibrous scrubber and ceramic tile respectively for the first 15 days. From 3rd week, polychaetes began to form tubes on the substrate. By day 60, the whole surface of all substrates was covered with tightly packed polychaete tubes with mean densities of 168.0 ± 15.4, 121.0 ± 13.5, 72.8 ± 9.8, 72.4 ± 7.4 and 56.0 ± 6.8 polychaete tubes cm^− 2 for bamboo, PVC, plastic, fibrous scrubber and ceramic tile respectively. This study illustrated the invasive nature of attached polychaete thus hampering the formation of periphyton biofilm on substrates which could have been used for improving water quality in enriched brackishwater shrimp ponds.     

Diel cyclic hypoxia alters plasma lipid dynamics and impairs reproduction in goldfish (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Carassius auratus</Emphasis>)

Diel cyclic hypoxia occurs with varying frequency and duration in freshwater habitats, yet little is known about its effects on reproduction of freshwater fishes. The present study shows that long-term exposure of goldfish (Carassius auratus) to cyclic hypoxia (0.8 ± 0.2 mg/l dissolved oxygen) for 9 h or more, per day, altered plasma lipid and sex steroid profiles, which in turn directly or indirectly suppressed ovarian growth and viable spermatozoa production. Hypoxia decreased total cholesterol and high density lipoprotein (HDL p < 0.05) and elevated triglycerides (TG; p < 0.05) in both sexes. Plasma steroid concentrations particularly of 17α-hydroxyprogesterone (17-HP), estradiol (E2), testosterone (T) in females, and T and 11-ketotestosterone (11-KT) in males were attenuated under diel hypoxic conditions. Intriguingly, both diel and continuous hypoxia elevated plasma E2 and vitellogenin levels in males. However, neither lipid nor steroid profiles recorded any variation in a dose-dependent manner in response to diel hypoxia. The reduced GSI, decreased number of tertiary oocytes, and motile spermatozoa in hypoxic fish clearly indicate suppression of gametogenesis. Thereby, prolonged diel cyclic hypoxia may affect valuable fishery resources and fish population structure by impairing reproductive performances and inducing estrogenic effects in males.     

Deviation of habitat salinity during seasonal gonad recrudescence affects plasma sex steroid levels and suppresses gonadal maturation in an euryhaline fish Etroplus suratensis

Impact of osmoregulation on plasma sex steroid levels and gonadal histo‐architecture was monitored to elucidate the effects of deviation from habitat salinity on gonadal recrudescence in an active reproductive season of an euryhaline fish Etroplus suratensis (pearlspot). Fish were maintained in three different salinities of 0 ppt Fresh Water (FW), 15 ppt Brackish Water (BW) and 30 ppt Sea Water (SW) for a period of 60 days. Plasma osmolality values were found to be significantly highest in SW‐acclimated fish accompanied by highest levels of plasma K? and Cl¯ ions. The progress of gonadal recrudescence was higher in BW followed by FW and SW as evident from the cellular features of gonads and increased level of plasma sex steroids, such as, in case of female and 11‐keto Testosterone and Testosterone in case of males. Plasma cortisol levels were comparatively higher in fish of both sexes in SW group. Significantly high levels of cortisol in SW suggest its role in hypo‐osmoregulation and associated stress. This study clearly reveals that salinity changes during the active reproductive phase can suppress the steroid‐mediated gonad recrudescence maximally under hypo‐osmoregulation in an euryhaline fish.     

Enhancement of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Penaeus monodon</Emphasis> shrimp postlarvae growth and survival without water exchange using marine <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus pumilus</Emphasis> and periphytic microalgae

We have investigated the possibility of using a consortium of marine bacterium and periphytic microalgae to improve the water quality and increase the growth and survival of the shrimp Penaeus monodon in a hatchery system. Three treatments were evaluated for their effect on P. monodon postlarvae (PL) when the culture water was not changed: Bacillus pumilus alone (B); periphytic microalgae alone (M); B. pumilus + periphytic microalgae (BM). P. monodon PL raised in a tank of unchanged water without bacterium and periphytic microalgae served as the control. The water in tanks of the M and BM treatments had significantly low levels of total ammonia-nitrogen (TAN) (0.03 and 0.01 mg l⁻¹, respectively) and nitrite-nitrogen (NO₂-N) (0.03, 0.01 mg l⁻¹, respectively) than that in the B (TAN 0.80, NO₂-N 0.68 mg l⁻¹) and control (TAN 1.11, NO₂-N 1.12 mg l⁻¹) tanks. Moreover, PL cultured in tanks M and BM had significantly higher survival and specific growth rates and a significantly higher resistance to the reverse salinity stress test than those in the B and control tanks. Compared to the control PL, the PL cultured in the BM tanks had significantly higher levels of protein, lipid, polyunsaturated fatty acids, ecosapentaenoic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid. The culture water in tanks BM also contained significantly less Vibrio than the control water. Our results illustrate the beneficial effects of a B. pumilus and periphytic microalgae consortium on improving the water quality and the growth and survival of shrimp PL grown in a hatchery system.     

Yarn engineering using hybrid artificial neural network-genetic algorithm model

This work aims to manufacture cotton yarns with requisite quality by choice of suitable raw materials for a given spinning system. To fulfill this aim, a hybrid model based on Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and Genetic Algorithm (GA) has been developed which captures both the high prediction power of ANN and global solution searching ability of GA. In an attempt to achieve a yarn having predefined tenacity and evenness, a constrained optimization problem is formulated with the ANN input-output relation between fibre and yarn properties. GA has been used to solve the optimization problem by searching the best combination of fibre properties that can translate into reality a yarn with the desired quality. The model is capable in identifying the set of fibre properties that gives requisite yarn quality with reasonable degree of accuracy.     

Prevalence and molecular characterization of bovine Cryptosporidium isolates in India

A survey based on PCR assay of 18S SSU rRNA gene revealed a 30.2% infection with Cryptosporidium spp., out of 457 faecal samples collected from neonatal bovine calves across three different regions of India. The PCR-RFLP pattern of the gene in all the positive cases established the species as Cryptosporidium parvum. Highest prevalence was recorded in the monsoon months (37.3%) and in the calves showing acute diarrhoea (32.3%). The calves below 15 days of age were mostly affected (45.1%). The infection was more prevalent in the northern parts (35.4%) of the country than in the eastern or southern parts. Results indicated that C. parvum was the only species of Cryptosporidium prevalent in bovine calves in three different geographical regions of India.