Alternate Selection Indices for Leaf Photosynthetic Rate in Greengram (Vigna radiata [L.] Wilczek) Cultivars

Significant differences were observed for leaf net photosynthetic rate, chlorophyll content, soluble protein content, nitrate reductase activity, stomatal frequency and specific leaf mass among ten greengram cultivars. Leaf net photosynthetic rate had significant positive correlation with soluble protein, nitrate reductase activity, stomatal frequency and specific leaf mass. Leaf net photosynthetic rate had no relationship with leaf chlorophyll content in greengram.     

An Analysis of Grain Development in Oryza sativa L. Cultivars

A field study was conducted to determine if differences in grain filling rate and duration existed in two early cultivars of rice. There is no cultivar difference in duration of grain filling and grain matured in about 30 days from anthesis in both the cultivars. The effective grain filling period in rice is only 10 days between 3rd and 13th day from anthesis. There is significant difference in grain filling rate and is positively related to grain weight. Grain filling rate is more important than duration of filling for achieving higher grain size and thus yield in rice.     

Functional Growth Model for Pod Development in Greengram and Blackgram

Identification of readily measured traits that are associated with higher productivity of field crops is important to breeders. The objective of this study was to find out whether pod filling rate or duration of pod filling greatly decide final pod weight in greengram and blackgram. The effective pod filling duration is only 16 days in both the crops. Pod filling rate is more important than duration of pod development. Richards function is found to more closely fit the data on pod development from anthesis to maturity in both the species.     

Renal and biochemical changes produced in broilers by high-protein, high-calcium, urea-containing, and vitamin-A-deficient diets

Three hundred 18-day-old male chicks (Arbor Acre) were divided into five groups of 60 each and given high-protein (42.28%), high-calcium (3.37%), urea-containing (5%), vitamin-A-deficient, or control diets to study the effect of nutritional imbalances on the development of nephritis and related biochemical changes over 15 weeks. The first four diets increased the levels of glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, glutamate pyruvate transaminase, uric acid, and nonprotein nitrogen in serum. Blood urea was increased by only the urea diet. Hypoglycemia and a decrease in hepatic glucose-6-phosphatase were also observed in chicks fed the first four diets. The vitamin-A-deficient diet resulted in a depletion of vitamin A in the liver and kidneys. These changes were directly correlated with the prolonged feeding of experimental diets and also with the severity of nephritis and degenerative changes in various organs. It was concluded that increasing the intake of nitrogen or calcium in order to increase production may in fact have the opposite effect, leading to degenerative changes in various tissues and to nephritis.     

Fatal intraoperative pulmonary fat embolism during cemented total hip arthroplasty in a dog

A 3-year-old, German shepherd dog died suddenly during cemented total hip arthroplasty. Gross necropsy findings included severe pulmonary edema and congestion as well as congestion of the liver and kidneys. Acute pulmonary embolism was suspected as the cause of death. Microscopic examination of hematoxylin and eosin-stained, formalin-fixed, and oil red O-stained frozen tissue sections confirmed the presence of large numbers of fat globules in blood vessels in the lungs, liver, and kidneys. Fat embolism during total hip arthroplasty is a common surgical complication in humans, but it is uncommon in veterinary cases and is rarely a cause of death.     

Regulation of B cell tolerance by the lupus susceptibility gene Ly108

The susceptibility locus for the autoimmune disease lupus on murine chromosome 1, Sle1z/Sle1bz, and the orthologous human locus are associated with production of autoantibody to chromatin. We report that the presence of Sle1z/Sle1bz impairs B cell anergy, receptor revision, and deletion. Members of the SLAM costimulatory molecule family constitute prime candidates for Sle1bz, among which the Ly108.1 isoform of the Ly108 gene was most highly expressed in immature B cells from lupus-prone B6.Sle1z mice. The normal Ly108.2 allele, but not the lupus-associated Ly108.1 allele, was found to sensitize immature B cells to deletion and RAG reexpression. As a potential regulator of tolerance checkpoints, Ly108 may censor self-reactive B cells, hence safeguarding against autoimmunity.     

Identification and characterization of EST-SSRs in finger millet (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Eleusine coracana</Emphasis> (L.) Gaertn.)

In recent years, microsatellites have become the most used markers for studying population genetic diversity. The increased availability of the DNA sequences has given the possibility to develop EST-derived SSR markers. A total of 1,927 ESTs of Eleusine coracana available in the NCBI database were mined for SSRs. Di-nucleotides are the most occurring motifs accounting for more than 50% of the repeats, of which GA was the most abundant motif and tetra-nucleotides are the least occurring motifs. Of the 132 markers identified, 30 primer pairs based were synthesized. SSR markers were used for variety discrimination and genetic assessment in 15 finger millet accessions; 20 primers showed polymorphism and 13 primers were identified as having a PIC value above 0.5. On the basis of the distribution of these polymorphic alleles, the 15 accessions were classified into two groups. This study has demonstrated the potential of EST-derived SSR primer pairs in finger millet. These primers will serve as valuable source for further breeding programs.