On the Use of Simultaneous Measurements of OH and O2 Emissions to Investigate Wave Growth and Dissipation

Simultaneous measurements of mesospheric OH (6–2) Meinel and O2 (0–1) Atmospheric band emissions from a low-latitude station, Maui, Hawaii (20.8 N, 156.2 W) are utilized to study the wave characteristics and associated processes. Deduced temperatures show large variability in both OH and O2 data. The seasonal variability in the temperature shows a well-defined, semiannual type of oscillation, which are comparable to the ground-based rocket sounding data. The “Wave Growth Factor”, a ratio of normalized perturbation amplitude in O2 to the OH temperature variability, is estimated for principal as well as residual smaller period components of the nocturnal variability. It is noticed that smaller period waves (less than 12 h) occasionally have large growth factors of about 3–4 during equinox transitions, an indication of wave amplitude amplification within the 87–94 km altitudes while a strong wavedissipation occurs throughout the year

Observation of semiannual and annual oscillation in equatorial middle atmospheric long term temperature pattern

Extensive measurement of middle atmospheric temperature with the help of lidar data of more than 10 years (1998–2008) and TIMED/SABER data of 7 years (2002–2008), has been carried out from a low latitude station, Gadanki, India (13.5° N, 79.2° E), which exhibits the presence of semiannual oscillation (SAO) and annual oscillation (AnO). The AnO component is stronger in the mesospheric region (80–90 km) and the SAO is dominant at stratospheric altitudes (30–50 km). Overall, the AnO possesses higher amplitude ~6–7 K, and the SAO shows less amplitude ~1–2 K. The AnO present at 90 km finds crest near summer solstice, and the same at 80 km shows peak near winter solstice with a downward progression speed ~1.7 km/month. The SAO propagates downward with an average phase speed ~9 km/month and phase maximizes around equinox and solstice at 50 and 30 km, respectively. The observed SAO has also shown seasonal asymmetry in peaks

From technology adoption to understanding innovation: lessons from plantain innovation systems in four countries

Plantain is an important staple food and cash crop in Latin America and West Africa with growing market demand. In recent decades, new production technologies and varieties have become available and are being tested in major producing countries. The purpose of the project ‘Intensification of plantain production in Latin America and West Africa” which results are presented on this poster was 1) to identify determinants for successful technological change for intensification in plantain production and bottlenecks in the socio-economic and market context, and innovation and seed systems in Latin America and 2) analyze how these elements are relevant under conditions in West Africa, so as to contribute to intensification and off-season plantain production for West African smallholders

Development of Derivatives of 3, 3′-Diindolylmethane as Potent Leishmania donovani Bi-Subunit Topoisomerase IB Poisons

Background: The development of 3, 39-diindolyl methane (DIM) resistant parasite Leishmania donovani (LdDR50) by adaptation with increasing concentrations of the drug generates random mutations in the large and small subunits of heterodimeric DNA topoisomerase I of Leishmania (LdTOP1LS). Mutation of large subunit of LdTOP1LS at F270L is responsible for resistance to DIM up to 50 mM concentration. Methodology/Principal Findings: In search of compounds that inhibit the growth of the DIM resistant parasite and inhibit the catalytic activity of mutated topoisomerase I (F270L), we have prepared three derivatives of DIM namely DPDIM (2,29diphenyl 3,39-diindolyl methane), DMDIM (2,29-dimethyl 3,39-diindolyl methane) and DMODIM (5,59-dimethoxy 3,39diindolyl methane) from parent compound DIM. All the compounds inhibit the growth of DIM resistant parasites, induce DNA fragmentation and stabilize topo1-DNA cleavable complex with the wild type and mutant enzyme. Conclusion: The results suggest that the three derivatives of DIM can act as promising lead molecules for the generation of new anti-leishmanial agents

Mechano-Electric Feedback in the Fish Heart

Mechanoelectric feedback (MEF) describes the modulation of electrical activity by mechanical activity. This may occur via the activation of mechanosensitive ion channels (MSCs). MEF has not previously been investigated in fish ventricular tissue even though fish can greatly increase ventricular end diastolic volume during exercise which should therefore provide a powerful mechanical stimulus for MEF.When the ventricles of extrinsically paced, isolated working trout hearts were dilated by increasing afterload, monophasic action potential (MAP) duration was significantly shortened at 25% repolarisation, unaltered at 50% repolarisation and significantly lengthened at 90% repolarisation. This observation is consistent with the activation of cationic non-selective MSCs (MSC(NS)s). We then cloned the trout ortholog of TRPC1, a candidate MSC(NS) and confirmed its presence in the trout heart.Our results have validated the use of MAP technology for the fish heart and suggest that, in common with amphibians and mammals, MEF operates in fish ventricular myocardium, possibly via the activation of mechanosensitive TRPC1 ion channels