Primary sulfates in atmospheric sulfates: estimation by oxygen isotope ratio measurements

The relative amounts of primary and secondary sulfates in atmospheric aerosols and precipitation can be estimated from measurements of the stable oxygen isotope ratios. The oxygen-18 content of sulfates formed in power plant stack gases before emission into the atmosphere is significantly higher than that of sulfates formed from sulfur dioxide after emission. Results show that 20 to 30 percent of the sulfates in rain and snow at Argonne, Illinois, are of primary origin.     

Bioactive Peptides from Algae: Traditional and Novel Generation Strategies,Structure-Function Relationships,and Bioinformatics as Predictive Tools for Bioactivity

Over the last decade, algae have been explored as alternative and sustainable protein sources for a balanced diet and more recently, as a potential source of algal-derived bioactive peptides with potential health benefits. This review will focus on the emerging processes for the generation and isolation of bioactive peptides or cryptides from algae, including: (1) pre-treatments of algae for the extraction of protein by physical and biochemical methods; and (2) methods for the generation of bioactive including enzymatic hydrolysis and other emerging methods. To date, the main biological properties of the peptides identified from algae, including anti-hypertensive, antioxidant and anti-proliferative/cytotoxic effects (for this review, anti-proliferative/cytotoxic will be referred to by the term anti-cancer), assayed in vitro and/or in vivo, will also be summarized emphasizing the structure–function relationship and mechanism of action of these peptides. Moreover, the use of in silico methods, such as quantitative structural activity relationships (QSAR) and molecular docking for the identification of specific peptides of bioactive interest from hydrolysates will be described in detail together with the main challenges and opportunities to exploit algae as a source of bioactive peptides.     

Chitosan nanoparticles enhance developmental competence of in vitro-matured porcine oocytes

Oxidative stress is inevitable as it is derived from the handling, culturing, inherent metabolic activities and medium supplementation of embryos. This study was performed to investigate the protective effect of chitosan nanoparticles (CNPs) on oxidative damage in porcine oocytes. For this purpose, cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs) derived from porcine slaughterhouse ovaries were exposed to different concentrations of CNPs (0, 10, 25 and 50 µg/ml) during in vitro maturation (IVM). Oocytes treated with 25 µg/ml CNPs showed significantly higher levels of GSH, along with a significant reduction in ROS levels compared to control, CNPs10 and CNPs50 groups. In parthenogenetic embryo production, the maturation rate was significantly higher in the CNPs25 group than that in the control and all other treated groups. In addition, when compared to the CNPs50 and control groups, CNPs25-treated oocytes showed significantly higher cleavage and blastocyst development rates. The highest concentration of CNPs reduced the total cell number and ratio of ICM: TE cells in parthenogenetic embryos, suggesting that there is a threshold where benefits are lost if exceeded. In cloned embryos, the CNPs25 group, as compared to all other treated groups, showed significantly higher maturation and cleavage rates. Furthermore, the blastocyst development rate in the CNPs25-treated group was significantly higher than that in the CNPs50-treated group, as was the total cell number. Moreover, we found that cloned embryos derived from the CNPs25-treated group showed significantly higher expression levels of Pou5f1, Dppa2, and Ndp52il genes, compared with those of the control and other treated groups. Our results demonstrated that 25 µg/ml CNPs treatment during IVM improves the developmental competence of porcine oocytes by reducing oxidative stress.     

Nitrous oxide emission measurement with acetylene inhibition method in paddy fields under flood conditions

Nitrous oxide (N₂O) emission from flooded rice paddy fields was continuously measured by the closed chamber method at an experimental plot in Thailand for a whole cultivation period. To characterize the N₂O emission with regard to the denitrification N loss, the C₂H₂ inhibition method was applied. Flood water on the soil greatly suppressed the N₂O emission. The N₂O emission was mitigated considerably by even a thin film of the flood water. The overall average N₂O emissions under flood conditions for one crop season (83 days) at the control site and the C₂H₂ treated site were 10.3 and 11.8 μg N m⁻² h⁻¹, respectively. The N₂O emission from the C₂H₂ treated site was consistently higher than that from the control site and the N₂O emission from both sites followed the same diurnal and seasonal variation pattern, indicating the effect of denitrification inhibition by the supplied C₂H₂. The N₂O emission enhanced along with temperature increase when NO₃–N concentration in the soil water was above 0.4 mg N l⁻¹ and soil temperature was above 24°C, suggesting specific temperature influence over the emission. The increase in NO₃–N concentration and temperature in the soil affected only the N₂O emission while the difference in the emission at the C₂H₂ treated site and the control site was not so much affected. It was suggested that most of the actively produced N₂O under higher NO₃–N concentration and temperature would likely to quickly emit to the atmosphere rather than to undergo further reduction to N₂.     

Efficiency and energy use in puddling of lowland rice grown on Vertisols in Central India

Transplanting of rice seedling in puddled soil is one of the most widely used cultivation practices. The present research is aimed at determining what specific implements are needed to obtain optimal puddle bed for transplantating. Puddling experiments were carried out by the use of pair of bullocks with traditional country plough (T₁), pair of bullocks with lug wheel puddler (T₂), power tiller with rotary puddler (T₃), tractor with cage wheel and 9-tine cultivator (T₄) and tractor with cage wheel and rotavator (T₅). One summer ploughing was done at friable moisture condition (18.6% db) and then tilled soil was flooded to saturation (24 h) for preparation of puddled bed. Weeding efficiency, puddling depth, percentage increase in bulk density, puddling index, percolation rate and grain yield of paddy were studied for the above treatments. Puddling performance by different implements in comparison to the traditional animal drawn country plough (T₁) shows that there is a definite reduction in time requirement for field preparation. Increase in weeding efficiency, bulk density, grain yield and puddling index were also observed. The highest values of weeding efficiency and puddling index were found 98.6% and 79.3, respectively, for rotavator (T₅). The total time requirement for preparation of puddle field for treatment T₄ (tractor with cultivator) was found to be the lowest (9.4 h ha⁻¹) with 67% weeding efficiency and 62.7 puddling index as compared to all other alternatives tested. Energy requirement for preparation of puddle field was found highest (2390 MJ ha⁻¹) for rotavator (T₅) followed by T₃, T₄, T₁, and T₂ treatments.     

Earthworm biomass response to soil management in semi-arid tropical Alfisol agroecosystems

Earthworms recorded during 1989–1993 across 15 soil management treatments, comprising three different tillagexthree organic amendments (bare, farmyard manure, and rice straw) and six perennial ley treatments, belonged to two endogeic species, Octochaetona phillotti (Michaelsen) and Lampito mauritii Kinberg, while in a nearby undisturbed natural revegetation area three species were found, including the above two and Octonochaeta rosea (Stephenson). The earthworm biomass showed significant temporal and spatial variations and was higher during the post monsoon period than in the early rainy season. No worm biomass was recorded during the dry season. In the tillage and organic amendment treatments, the biomass was drastically reduced from September 1989 to September 1991 after the application of carbofuran and some herbicides, and was significantly reduced during these two years compared to that of 1992. The maximum monthly earthworm biomass ranged between 2.5 and 17.9 g m^-2 across the treatments and increased several-fold in the nearby natural revegetation area (75.9 g m^-2). It significantly increased in perennial ley treatments compared to annual treatments with organic amendments. Thus the earthworm biomass varied significantly (P<0.01) across the 15 treatments, indicating discernible effects of soil management.Visiting Scientist (under the Rockefeller Foundation Environmental Research Fellowship in International Agriculture)     

Response of the pigeonpea-Rhizobium symbiosis to salinity stress: variation among Rhizobium strains in symbiotic ability

Summary There were significant differences among pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp] Rhizobium sp. strains (IC 3506, IC 3484, IC 3195, and IC 3087) in their ability to nodulate and fix N₂ under saline conditions. Pigeonpea plants inoculated with IC 3087 and IC 3506 were less affected in growth by salinity levels of 6 and 8 dS m^-1 than plants inoculated with the other strains. For IC 3506, IC 3484, and IC 3195, there was a decrease in the number of nodules with increasing salinity, while the average nodule dry weight and the specific nitrogenase activity remained unaffected. However, in IC 3087, the number of nodules increased slightly with increasing salinity. Leaf-P concentrations increased with salinity in the inoculated plants irrespective of the Rhizobium sp. strain, and leaf-N concentrations decreased with increasing salinity in IC 3484 and IC 3195 only. Shoot-Na and-Cl levels were further increased in these salt-sensitive strains only at 8 dS m^-1. Therefore there may be scope for selecting pigeonpea Rhizobium sp. symbioses better adapted to saline conditions. The Rhizobium sp. strains best able to form effective symbioses at high salinity levels are not necessarily derived from saline soils.Submitted as JA No. 919 by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)     

Studies on immunocompetence status in two turkey varieties in India

(1) Two hundred and twenty-seven adult turkeys of both sexes, of two varieties (104 Black and 123 White) were used to evaluate their immunocompetence status and body weights. (2) Response to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) (humoral immunity) was measured by Haemagglutination (HA) test 5 days post immunisation (dpi) and expressed as log2 values. Mercaptoethanol resistant (MER) antibodies representing IgG were determined by Mercaptoethanol HA test and Mercaptoethanol sensitive (MES) antibodies, representing IgM as the difference in total HA titre and IgG. Serum lysozyme concentrations were estimated by 'Lysoplate assay' and expressed in log2 values. (3) Least squares analysis of variance revealed that the White variety had higher adult body weight (4.788 +/- 0.040 kg) than the Black (3.774 +/- 0.044 kg). Sexual dimorphism was apparent and meals were heavier than females in both varieties. The interaction effect of variety and sex on body weight was also significant. (4) Least squares means for immunological traits, namely, total anti-SRBC antibodies, MER, MES titres and serum lysozyme were 7.161 +/- 0.189, 0.801 +/- 0.071, 6.362 +/- 0.160 and 1.766 +/- 0.043 microg/ml, respectively. The Black variety had a higher MES antibody titre than the White. (5) Sex had an effect on all the immunological traits except on MER titres. Females generally had higher anti-SRBC, MER and MES titres and serum lysozyme. The variety x sex interaction effect was significant for MES titres and serum lysozyme. White males had the lowest MES titres.     

Association of bovine KISS1 single nucleotide polymorphisms with reproductive traits in Indian Cattle

Kisspeptins, a family of neuropeptide encoded by the Kiss1 gene, have emerged as crucial regulator of fertility and reproduction by regulating the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis. The present study was aimed to identify and associate SNPs in the KISS1 gene with reproductive traits in cattle of Indian origin. DNA samples collected from 300 individual cows of three Indian dairy breeds (Gir, Kankrej and Frieswal) of cattle were used in the study. The SNPs of KISS1 gene were identified with PCR-RFLP and sequence analysis using two sets of primer pairs. A total of 5 SNPs were identified in the targeted region of which, two were selected for screening the population and association studies. The analysis revealed that genotypes of rs442633552G>A and rs42022871C>T had a significant association with dry period. The SNP rs42022871C>T also established significant role in milk production traits, and selection of TT-genotyped animals will improve the reproduction and production potential of the animals.