Electrofocusing of methanolic extracts for identification of individual flavonol biomolecules in Camellia species

An effort has been made to isolate individual catechin compounds from green tea leaves in their pure form by electrophoresis. In the present study total polyphenol extraction was carried out initially and estimated through spectrophotometric and HPLC methods. Extracted polyphenol was separated on 0.7% agarose gel and visualized at 360 nm. Fragmented individual compounds were gel eluted with methanol and confirmed as (-)-epigallocatechin (EGC), (-)-epicatechin (EC), (-)-epicatechin gallate (ECG), and (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) by HPLC. The method developed describes a suitable method for the isolation of valuable molecules in tea.     

Assessing soil spatial variability and delineating site-specific management zones for a coastal saline land in eastern India

ABSTRACT

The present study was to delineate management zones (MZs) in salt affected Mahakalpada block in eastern India by capturing both spatial variability of soil parameters along with satellite derived Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI). Grid wise 237 soil samples collected from the study area were analyzed and spatial maps were generated for physicochemical properties, DTPA extractable micronutrients, i.e. iron, zinc, copper, and manganese and major nutrients, i.e. available nitrogen (AN), phosphorous (AP), and potassium (AK). Soil electrical conductivity and AK showed a high CV of 100% and 56.7%, respectively. Principal component analysis was performed using the soil spatial maps, NDVI and EVI maps and only four principal components which produced eigenvalues > 1 and accounting for 75.4% of the total variability were retained for further analysis. Further, fuzzy c-mean clustering was used to delineate the MZs based on fuzzy performance index (FPI) and normalized classification entropy (NCE) was used for identifying the three MZs. There was a significant difference between MZ1 and MZ2 for all the variables except AN and EVI whereas all the variables were significantly different between MZ1 and MZ3 highlighting the usefulness of MZs delineation technique for site-specific nutrient management.     

Phenol antioxidant quantity and quality in foods: beers and the effect of two types of beer on an animal model of atherosclerosis

The free phenols have been measured in 15 lagers, 6 porters and ales, and 11 light and nonalcoholic beers. Phenols were measured colorimetrically using an oxidation-reduction reaction with Folin-Ciocalteu reagent and catechin as the standard. The order of phenol concentration was ales > lagers > low calorie > nonalcoholic. The quality of antioxidants of the major phenols in beers and the quality of beer antioxidants were measured by (1) dose-response inhibition of lower density lipoprotein oxidation and (2) concentration of phenols in the beers at which 50% of the peroxide was destroyed in a luminescent assay for antioxidant activity. The beers' lipoprotein antioxidant quality was clearly superior to that of vitamin antioxidants and to that of the phenol ingredients, suggesting synergism among the antioxidants in the mixture. The average per capita consumption of beer in the United States in 2000 was 225 mL/day, equivalent to 42 mg/day of catechin equivalents. Beer provides more antioxidants per day than wine in the U.S. diet. A dark beer and a lager beer were given at two concentrations to cholesterol-fed hamsters, an animal model of atherosclerosis. At the high dose ((1)/(2)-diluted beer) both lager and dark beer significantly inhibited atherosclerosis compared to a control of 2% alcohol. At the high dose, lager significantly decreased cholesterol and triglycerides, and both beers acted as in vivo antioxidants by decreasing the oxidizability of lower density lipoproteins. At the low dose ((1)/(10)-diluted beer) only the lager beer significantly decreased atherosclerosis compared to the 0.4% alcohol control. The polyphenols in the beers appear to be responsible for the benefits of beer in this model. Lager beer inhibited atherosclerosis at a human equivalent dose in this hamster model of atherosclerosis.     

Azoospermia associated with bilateral segmental aplasia of the ductus deferens in a stallion

A 3-year-old Quarter Horse halter stallion was referred for routine semen evaluation. Physically, the stallion's reproductive organs appeared normal. Repeated semen evaluations did not reveal any spermatozoa. Because high activities of alkaline phosphatase are detected in the epididymal fluid and indicative of complete ejaculation, alkaline phosphatase activities were analyzed in several samples, which yielded activities far less than reference values and suggested a blockage of the reproductive tract. Endoscopic evaluation of the urethra and the bulbourethral, prostate, and urethral gland ducts did not reveal abnormalities. The left ductus deferens was exposed surgically, and attempts to pass a catheter through it in a normograde direction met resistance after 20 cm. Laparoscopic abdominal surgery revealed the ductus deferens tapered to a thin structure just cranial to the entrance in the urogenital fold, cranial and lateral to the bladder. Both ductus deferentia were similarly affected. The symmetry and bilateral nature of the abnormalities were strong indications of a possible congenital defect.     

Nitrate leaching,nitrous oxide emission and N use efficiency of aerobic rice under different N application strategy

A field study was conducted in the sub-humid tropical region of India to examine the effect of different nitrogen (N) management strategies on nitrate leaching, nitrous oxide (N₂O) emission and N use efficiency in aerobic rice. Treatments were: control (no N), 120 kg N ha^?1 applied as prilled urea (PU) in conventional method, 120 kg N ha^?1 applied as neem coated urea (NCU) in conventional method, N applied as PU on the basis of leaf colour chart (LCC) reading, N applied as NCU on the basis of LCC reading, and 120 kg N ha^?1 applied as PU and farm yard manure (FYM) in 1:1 ratio. Results showed that 3.4–16.1 kg NO₃-N ha^?1 was leached below 45 cm depth and 0.61–1.12 kg N₂O-N ha^?1 was emitted from aerobic rice during the growing season. NCU when applied conventionally reduced nitrate-nitrogen (NO₃-N) leaching and N₂O emission by 18.6% and 21.4%, respectively However when applied on the basis of LCC reading NCU reduced NO₃-N leaching by 39.8% as compared to PU applied in conventional method. NCU when applied on the basis of LCC reading synchronized N supply with demand and reduced N loss, which resulted in higher yield and N use efficiency.     

Community-based forest management and its role in improving forest conditions in Nepal

The status of forest conditions before and after intervention of the forestry projects in community forest in three districts of Nepal is examined. Benefits are observed from the adoption of adaptive collaborative management and collective learning and action research in three sampled districts. The adoption of regular silvicultural treatments has increased the availability of forest products to local users. Moreover, improved forest condition and smallholder livelihoods have improved, as has environmental sustainability. However, the community forestry program has several limitations and shortcomings. Elite capture, social disparity, inequitable benefit-sharing and exclusion of poor and marginalized groups from the community forestry program are notable challenges to be solved in coming years. Special attention is needed to make community forestry inclusive with equitable benefit-sharing and a pro-poor focus.     

Notes on Grewia tenax (Forssk.) Fiori: an underutilized multipurpose shrub of hot arid region of western Rajasthan

Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution - Grewia tenax (Forssk.) Fiori commonly known as ‘Gangani’, was studied to provide scientific information pertaining to taxonomy, distribution...     

Enzymological,histological, and serum biomarker responses of snubnose pompano on complete replacement of fishmeal using cottonseed meal supplemented with lysine and methionine in the diet

Fish Physiology and Biochemistry - In a feeding experiment, cottonseed meal (CSM) was used to replace fishmeal (FM) in the diet of snubnose pompano, Trachinotus blochii, supplemented with lysine...     

Patterns in abundance and diversity of faecally dispersed parasites of tiger in Tadoba National Park,central India

Background

Importance of parasites in ecological and evolutionary interactions is being increasingly recognized. However, ecological data on parasites of important host species is still scanty. We analyze the patterns seen in the faecal parasites of tigers in the Tadoba National Park, India, and speculate on the factors and processes shaping the parasite community and the possible implications for tiger ecology.

Results

The prevalence and intensities were high and the parasite community was dominated by indirect life cycle parasites. Across all genera of parasites variance scaled with the square of the mean and there was a significant positive correlation between prevalence and abundance. There was no significant association between different types of parasites.

Conclusions

The 70 samples analyzed formed 14 distinct clusters. If we assume each of the clusters to represent individual tigers that were sampled repeatedly and that resident tigers are more likely to be sampled repeatedly, the presumed transient tigers had significantly greater parasite loads than the presumed resident ones.

     

Studies on life cycle of mealybug, Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), on different hosts at different constant temperatures

The life cycle of a laboratory reared parthenogenic line of mealybug, Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) was investigated on six host plants (Lagenaria siceraria var.clavata, Solanum tuberosum L. var. Kufri Chandramukhi, Praecitrullus fistulosus (Stocks) Pangalo var. MTNH1, Cucurbita pepo var. Styriaca, Triticum aestivum L. var. Lokvan, H. rosa sinensis L.) at five constant temperatures (25, 29, 35, 38, 42 °C). The number of emerging crawlers and adults as well as weight of adults varied with host and temperature. P. fistulosus and H. rosa sinensis were suitable hosts for laboratory rearing of M. hirsutus. However, ease of maintenance of P. fistulosus to produce M. hirsutus under laboratory conditions is an additional advantage compared to using green plants such as H. rosa sinensis. Among the range of constant temperatures, 38 °C was found to be the most favourable for the development and survival of M. hirsutus. These results suggest that P. fistulosus fruits are suitable hosts for laboratory rearing and life cycle studies of M. hirsutus.