An Improved Non-destructive Method for Rapid Estimation of Leaf Area in Sunflower Genotypes

Measurement of total leaf area per plant in crop improvement programmes for a variety of purposes is often very tedious and time consuming. In this paper, we offer a rapid and non-destructive method of estimating the total leaf area in sunflower at the time of anthesis. We show that multiplying the leaf area of a specific leaf position from the apex by the total number of leaves per plant yields total leaf area with more than 95 % accuracy. The specific leaf position for any given genotype in sunflower can be arrived at by multiplying the total number of leaves per plant by the factor 0.355 and rounding off to the nearest highest integer. This technique can be used for the rapid estimation of leaf area per plant at anthesis for any given genotype of sunflower.     

Choosing optimal design depth for surface irrigation systems

The surface irrigation system design was formulated as a mathematical programming problem. The minimum cost of a furrow irrigation system for a hypothetical case was calculated for different design depths (25, 51, 76, 102 and 127 mm). The crop yields and net returns were simulated for the given design depths. A design (depletion) depth of 51 mm was found optimal under the given conditions.     

The oxidant defence system in water-buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) experimentally infected with Anaplasma marginale

The glutathione (GSH) -oxidant defence system protects the erythrocytes and leucocytes from oxidative damage. Leucocyte -superoxide dismutase (SOD), GSH-peroxidase (GSH-px), GSH-reductase (GR), GSH-S-transferase (GSH-S-t) and arginase were examined in samples from buffaloes infected with Anaplasma marginale. All the enzymes, except arginase, were also studied in the red cell haemolysates from these animals. GSH-S-t, GSH- and glutathione-reductase (GR) levels in leucocytes decreased in infected animals suggesting a decline in the efficiency of the GSH-oxidant defence system. SOD levels increased but there was no change in leucocyte-arginase activity due to infection. Infection caused no significant changes in red cell SOD, GSH-px, GR and GSH. However, GSH-S-t significantly decreased (P less than 0.05).     

Hydrodynamic stability without eigenvalues

Fluid flows that are smooth at low speeds become unstable and then turbulent at higher speeds. This phenomenon has traditionally been investigated by linearizing the equations of flow and testing for unstable eigenvalues of the linearized problem, but the results of such investigations agree poorly in many cases with experiments. Nevertheless, linear effects play a central role in hydrodynamic instability. A reconciliation of these findings with the traditional analysis is presented based on the "pseudospectra" of the linearized problem, which imply that small perturbations to the smooth flow may be amplified by factors on the order of 10(5) by a linear mechanism even though all the eigenmodes decay monotonically. The methods suggested here apply also to other problems in the mathematical sciences that involve nonorthogonal eigenfunctions.     

HTLV-III gag protein is processed in yeast cells by the virus pol-protease

The gag-pol gene of HTLV-III (human T-lymphotropic virus), the virus linked to AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome), was expressed in yeast, and processing of the gag precursor into proteins of the same size as those in the virion was observed. Processing of the gag gene in yeast cells mimics the process that naturally occurs in mammalian cells during maturation of virions. Therefore it was possible to perform mutational analysis of the virus genome to localize the gene that codes for the protease function to the amino terminal coding region of the pol gene. Since this region overlaps the gag gene, it is likely that ribosomal frameshifting occurs from gag to pol. Antibodies in all of the AIDS patients' sera tested recognized the yeast synthesized gag proteins, although the sera showed differences in relative reactivity to the individual gag proteins and the precursor. This yeast system should be valuable not only for production of viral proteins for diagnostic or vaccine purposes but also for analysis of the genetics and biochemistry of viral gene functions--parameters that are difficult to study otherwise with this virus.     

Assessment of the Nutritive,Biochemical, Antioxidant and Antibacterial Potential of Eight Tropical Macro algae Along Kachchh Coast,India as Human Food Supplements

Eight tropical marine macro algae were investigated for in-vitro antioxidant, antibacterial, and biochemical properties. The moisture content [% DW (dry weight)] ranged from 7.21 to 14.72%; ash, 24.92 to 47.04%; lipids, 0.73 to 2.67%; protein, 4.56 to 12.59%; and carbohydrate, 30.1 to 48.51%. The % sum of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) ranged from 21.71 to 78.22%, while omega-6/omega-3 (ω6/ω3) ratio was from 0 to 2.08, which remained within the prescribed World Health Organization (WHO) standards (<10). The % sum of essential amino acids (EAAs) ranged from 86.18 to 204.66, and Na/K ratio ranged from 0.37 to 2.85. The extracts exhibited significant (P < 0.05) values for total phenol (7.25–16.0 µg PGE mg^–1 DW) and total flavonoid (4.06–15.63 µg QE mg^–1 DW) at 200 µg/ml. Antibacterial activity was tested against the selected food spoilage and pathogenic bacteria. The principal component analysis (PCA) confirmed a positive correlation between total phenolic content, 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging activities, and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), which supports the integration of seaweeds as ingredients in functional foods.     

DNA rearrangement and altered RNA expression of the c-myb oncogene in mouse plasmacytoid lymphosarcomas

Three types of tumors termed plasmacytomas (ABPC's), lymphosarcomas (ABLS's), and plasmacytoid lymphosarcomas (ABPL's) arise in BALB/c mice treated with pristane and Abelson murine leukemia virus (A-MuLV). While most ABPC's and BLS's contain integrated A-MuLV proviral genome and synthesize the v-abl RNA, most ABPL's do not. The ABPL tumors were examined for the expression of other oncogenes that may be associated with their transformed state, in the absence of transforming virus. These tumors expressed abundant c-myb RNA of unusually large size and showed DNA rearrangements of the c-myb locus.     

Amplification and molecular cloning of HTLV-I sequences from DNA of multiple sclerosis patients

Techniques of gene amplification, molecular cloning, and sequence analysis were used to test for the presence of sequences related to human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of six patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and 20 normal individuals. HTLV-I sequences were detected in all six MS patients and in one individual from the control group by DNA blot analysis and molecular cloning of amplified DNAs. The viral sequence in MS patients were associated with adherent cell populations consisting predominantly of monocytes and macrophages. Molecular cloning and nucleotide sequence analysis indicated that these amplified viral sequences were related to the HTLV-I proviral genome.     

Nutrient composition of groundnut cultures (Arachis hypogaea L.) in relation to their kernel size

Seven varieties of groundnuts of varying kernel size were selected to study the relation between kernel size and nutritional quality. Results indicated that no significant (r=0.22) difference was found in oil contents among the various varieties which ranged from 46–52 percent. Protein contents ranged from 17–25.2 percent. Protein content of small seed varieties was high compared to bold seeded varieties, whereas sugar content of bold seeded varieties was higher. No significant differences in amino acid and fatty acid compositions were observed among the varieties tested. In vitro digestibility of protein tended to be slightly less but not significantly so in bold seeded varieties compared to small and medium size varieties. Niacin content of bold seeded varieties was slightly higher compared to other varieties.     

Immunomodulation of caprine lentiviral infection by interleukin-16

Interleukin-16 (IL-16) is a proinflammatory cytokine produced by a variety of cells including lymphocytes, macrophages, mast cells, and eosinophils. We have shown in our previous studies increased expression of IL-16 mRNA and protein in caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus (CAEV)-infected goats blood. In this study, we determined the immunomodulatory effects of IL-16 in vitro using cells derived from CAEV infected and uninfected goats. Human recombinant IL-16 (rhIL-16) significantly increased chemotaxis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of both control and CAEV-infected goats. Pretreatment of PBMC with anti-goat CD4 monoclonal antibody inhibited IL-16-induced chemotaxis of PBMC of control and infected goats suggesting that IL-16 exerts its action in goats primarily by binding to CD4. The CAEV proviral DNA was less in caprine monocytes treated with rhIL-16 infected in vitro with CAEV. These data suggest inhibitory effect of IL-16 on viral integration. Flow cytometric studies indicated a trend toward IL-16-induced increased expression of lymphocyte activation markers. Combined with our previously reported data, these experiments suggest that increased IL-16 expression during CAEV infection may inhibit viral integration.