Production of Virus-free Carnation Plants through Heat Therapy

The effect of exposure of carnation plants infected with carnation, latent virus (CLV) to two temperature regimes (35 + 2 "C and 40 +2 "C) for different periods (1 to 4 weeks) revealed thatthe exposure to different temperatures for different periods has a negative correlation with the survival of plants. Whereas only 33.33 per cent plants survived after 4 weeks at 35 + 2 "C, the plants when exposed to 40+ 2 "C for the same period could not tolerate the heat shock. However, only those plants which were exposed to 35 + 2 "C for 4 weeks and those exposed to 40 + 2 "C for 3 weeks were free from CLV. However, because of better survival rate, the higher temperature regime of 40 + 2 "C is recommended for production of virus-tested carnation plants

Influence of Growth Hormone and Additives on In vitro Shoot Initiation from Apical and Axillary Meristems of Commiphora wightii

Commiphora wightii is an important plant species of immense medicinal value and pharmaceutically used for the treatment of various diseases. The present study was designed to develop an efficient protocol for micropropagation of Commiphora wightii from apical and nodal meristems and to study the influence of additives on the enhancement of bud breaking, number of shoot per explant and shoot length. MS (Murashige and Skoog, 1962) basal media supplemented with various concentrations of 6- Benzyl amino purine (BAP: 0.5-5.0 mg/l) alone or in combinations with kinetin (KN: 0.5-1.0 mg/l) and naphthalene acetic acid (NAA: 0.5-1.0 mg/l) and additives like ascorbic acid (AA), citric acid (CA), adenine sulphate (AS) and activated charcoal (AC). The highest shoot initiation was reported in T13 (MS + 4.0BAP + 1.0 NAA mg/l + Additives) i.e. 0.80 ± 0.07 with highest number (1.57 ± 0.15) of shoots per explants. Treatment T12 (MS + 3.0BAP + 1.0 NAA+1.0 KN mg/l + Additives) highest shoot length (1.13) was recorded followed by T13 (MS + 4.0BAP + 1.0 NAA mg/l Additives) and T14 (MS + 5.0BAP + 1.0 KN) having mean value 1.07 and 0.90 respectively. MS basal medium (control) devoid of growth regulators did not support the shoot induction. The shoot induction protocol developed in current study provides a basis for germplasm conservation and for further investigation of medicinally active constituents of the elite medicinal plant Keywords:  Commiphora wightii, 6- Benzyl amino purine, kinetin, naphthalene acetic acid, additives

Commiphora wightii (Arn.) Bhandari. Review of Its Botany, Medicinal Uses, Pharmacological Activities and Phytochemistry

The oldest remedies identified to mankind are herbal medicines. India is recognized worldwide for its Ayurvedic treatment. As only little studies are done on this plant, the purpose of current review is to make accessible up-to-date information on, botany, morphology, ecological biodiversity, medicinal uses, phytochemistry and pharmacological activities on diverse parts of Commiphora wightii (Arn.) Bhandari (C. wightii). This review was assembled using scientific literature from electronic search engine such as Springerlink, BioMed Central, PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Scielo, Medline and Science domain. Supplementary literatures were obtained from books, book chapters, dissertations, websites and other scientific publications. C. wightii  (Syn. Commiphora mukul Hook. ex. Stocks) or Guggulu tree. C. wightii is a shrub or small tree belonging to Burseraceae family. C. wightii contains volatile oil, gum resin, gugulipids, guggulsterones, guggulsterols, mukolol and other steroids. Guggulu is very much used in Ayuvedic system of medicine as astringent, anti-septic, expectorant, aphrodisiac, carminative, anti-spasmodic, emmenagogue. In Ayurveda, it is the best among herbs that are used for Medoroga and Vata disorders. It is widely used for obesity and it is also known as fat burning agent all over the world. It helps to lower cholesterol and triglycerides level. It is very effective in rheumatoid arthritis, gout and sciatica. It is also one of the most important Rasayana of Ayurveda. In addition it treats sluggish liver, stimulates libido, nervous diseases, bronchial congestion, cardiac and circulatory problems, weak digestion, wounds, abscess, foetid ear, fractures, gynaecological problems and various skin diseases. C. wightii is a very important and trustworthy herb in Ayurvedic medicine. This alternative system of medicine is gaining increasing fame universal. There is a required to isolate active constituents, their biological test, molecular mechanisms, experimental defense and legalization of therapeutic uses of C. wightii. The collected information will be obliging to locate up study protocol for current drugs and Ayurvedic formulation extension in remedial and luxury a variety of ailments.  &nbsp

Risk of premature luteinization in IVF cycles and its impact on clinical pregnancy rate

Background: Premature luteinization (PL) refers to a rise in serum progesterone (P4) levels on the day of HCG administration (1-4). Most  studies use an absolute P4 level on the day of HCG administration as an indicator of PL. This study is carried out with the aim to evaluate the incidence of premature luteinizaition (P4 >1.5ng/ml on the day of HCG) and factors influencing it in both agonist and antagonist cycles & its effect on clinical outcome.Methods: 400 Patients treated by IVF/ICSI at Jaipur fertility centre (ART Unit of Mahatma Gandhi University of Medical Sciences and Technology) from January 2014 to June 2015 were included in this retrospective clinical study. 200 patients were taken in agonist group and 200 in antagonist group. Ovulation induction was given with r-FSH/HMG in both protocols. P4 along with E2, LH and number of oocytes on the day of HCG were taken for study.Results: Premature luteinization or PL (P4 > 1.5 ng/ml) was noticed in 16% cases in the agonist group and 6% in the antagonist group (p-0.002). In our study the factors predisposing to PL were agonist protocol (16%  Vs. 6%, p-0.002), total dose of gonadotrophins > 2000 IU ( 17.69 % Vs. 2.29, p-0.000), >10 follicles of > 14mm on the day of HCG with E2 Levels > 2500 pg/ml (33.33 % Vs. 0%, p-0.000) in agonist protocol and (17.39% Vs. 2.59%, p-0.000) in antagonist protocol.The clinical pregnancy rate was significantly reduced in cases with PL (32.73% Vs 12.5%, p-0.037) in agonist group. Though the difference was not statistically significant in antagonist group (32.97% Vs 8.33 %, P-0.144),this could be due to large difference in the proportion of sample size.Conclusions: Despite the use of GnRH analogues, risk of premature rise of progesterone is still there. The risk mainly depends on ovarian response. The high responders with high no of > 14mm follicles, high E2 Levels > 2500 pg/ml and high doses of gonadotrophins used are associated with high risk of PL. As premature rise in P4 level has significant Impact on clinical pregnancy rate (CPR), identification of high risk factors & their proper management can reduce the incidence of PL & cycle cancellation rate as well as can improve the clinical outcome

Ecological Solutions for Linear Infrastructure Networks: The key to green infrastructure development

The rapid expansion of linear infrastructure networks poses a global threat to biodiversity and ecosystem services (Laurance and Balmford 2013, van der Ree et al. 2015). Over the last few decades, research and careful planning have led to solutions which begin mitigating the negative effects of these infrastructures (Lesbarrères and Fahrig 2012, van der Grift et al. 2013, Rytwinski et al. 2016). Transport monitoring protocols and data are becoming more widely available, and novel actions are being tested and promoted (Vercayie and Herremans 2015, Schwartz et al. 2020). Robust protocols, landscape genetics, ecological connectivity modeling, remote sensing including GPS animal tracking, among other tools, are being frequently used in infrastructure planning and management (Balkenhol and Waits 2009, Carvalho et al. 2018, Valerio et al. 2020, Zeller et al. 2020, Shilling et al., 2020). The approach towards linear infrastructure planning is also transforming. Linear Infrastructure-related habitats are increasingly valued for the biodiversity conservation opportunity they provide and have become a key contributor to Green Infrastructure development (Dániel-Ferreira et al. 2020, Ouédraogo et al. 2020). There is also a growing awareness about the need for coexistence between infrastructure and biodiversity, and citizens participate in this process (Périquet et al. 2018, Waetjen and Shilling 2018). IENE (Infrastructure & Ecology Network Europe) is a network of experts on linear infrastructures (LI) and biodiversity from Europe and across the world. The main aim of IENE is to provide a platform to promote cross-boundary cooperation in research, mitigation and planning of LI (Seiler and Helldin 2015), facilitated by frequent national and international meetings. IENE organizes an international conference every two years, focusing on biodiversity and transportation (IENE 2021). These conferences provide a way to present innovative research, identity critical questions and problems, discuss ways to increase the efficiency of solutions, and improve the communication among decision makers, planners, and researchers. IENE is also a founding member of the Global Congress on Linear Infrastructure and Environment, which brings together experts from every continent to discuss globally important issues of the interaction between linear infrastructure and the environment. Furthermore, IENE, together with other international transport and ecology conference organizations, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), has helped to develop The Global Strategy for Ecologically Sustainable Transport and other Linear Infrastructure, a strategy to support biodiversity conservation and enhance ecological connectivity at the governance, policies, planning and implementation stages of transport projects around the world (Georgiadis et al., 2020). The IENE2020 International Conference “LIFE LINES – Linear Infrastructure Networks with Ecological Solutions” aimed to improve environmental sustainability of infrastructure by bringing together and sharing the experiences of experts involved in the planning, research and administration of linear infrastructures around the world. The Conference focused on transportation infrastructures, but it also included other linear infrastructures such as electric power lines. The Conference was held online from 12 to 14 January 2021, and was organized by the University of Évora, LIFE LINES project (LIFE14 NAT/PT/001081 https://lifelines.uevora.pt/), and IENE. The Conference was attended by over 300 participants from 31 countries, representing different stakeholders including ecologists, road and linear infrastructure technicians, NGOs, and policymakers. Participations were highly diverse, with 197 presentations, 13 workshops and two side events (LIFE SAFE CROSSING workshop and LIFE LINES Final Seminar), covering several important topics such as: (1) Innovative Solutions for Linear Infrastructure Impact assessment, Mitigation and Monitoring; (2) Challenges and Opportunities for Infrastructure-Related Habitats; (3) Linear Infrastructure Ecology; (4) Citizen Science and the Involvement of Civil Society; and (5) Legislation and Policy (IENE 2020 Organising and Programme committees, 2021)

Ungulate use of an at-grade fauna passage and roadside animal detection system: A pilot study from Southern Sweden

Wildlife-vehicle collisions (WVC) cost millions of euros each year in loss of life and damages. Wildlife crossing structures and fencing are commonly implemented mitigation strategies to reduce WVC and increase landscape connectivity for wildlife. Typically, crossing structures are over- or under-pass structures that allow animals to safely cross the road, while separating them from the road and traffic. An alternative strategy could be an at-grade fauna passage coupled with a Roadside Animal Detection System (RADS). At-grade fauna passages are designated locations where a gap in fencing allows animals to cross over the road, while RADS alert drivers of animals at the upcoming passage, so that they can adjust their driving behaviour accordingly and avoid collisions. In this pilot study, we investigated the use of one at-grade fauna passage by roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), red deer (Cervus elaphus) and wild boar (Sus scrofa) in southern Sweden, and compared changes in the number of WVCs before, during and after the construction of the passage. We collected a total of 326 wildlife crossings from 722 individuals over 1 year of monitoring (24 January 2020-24 January 2021). We found that crossing events tended to be dominated by the time animals spent in the roadside verge from which they approached the at-grade fauna passage, particularly for roe deer that spent a lot of time browsing in the roadside verge during dusk. We also found that animals spent longer in the passage if vehicles were present. In our 1 year of surveys, we only recorded three accidents, and when comparing the annual collision statistics before, during, and after construction of the at-grade fauna passage, we demonstrated an overall reduction in collisions by 66%. While our pilot only evaluates a single site, it does provide promising preliminary results that suggest that at-grade fauna passages can help in efforts to reduce collisions, while maintaining connectivity over medium-sized roads for large ungulates

Inducing fear using acoustic stimuli-A behavioral experiment on moose (Alces alces) in Sweden

Prey species may display anti-predatory behavior, i.e., flight, increased vigilance, and decreased feeding, in response to the true presence of a predator or to the implied presence of a predator through, e.g., acoustic cues. In this study, we investigated the anti-predatory reactions of moose (Alces alces) to acoustic stimuli related to hunting, at saltlick stones, a known attractant. In before-during-after-control-impact experiments, we compared the behavioral responses of individuals to: (i) two hunting-related acoustic stimuli-hunting dog barking and human speaking; (ii) nonpredatory acoustic stimuli-bird sounds and; and (iii) no acoustic stimulus (control). We asked: (1) How does the probability of moose leaving the site differ depending on the stimulus they are exposed to?; (2) What affect do the acoustic stimuli have on the amount of time moose spend vigilant, feeding, or away from the site?; and (3) What affect do the stimuli have on the time between events at a site? We found that when exposed to the human stimulus, moose left the sites in 75% of the events, which was significantly more often compared to the dog (39%), bird (24%), or silent (11%) events. If moose did not leave the site, they spent more time vigilant, and less time feeding, particularly when exposed to a dog or human stimulus. Furthermore, moose spent the most time away from the site and took the longest to visit the site again after a human stimulus. Moose were also more likely to leave the site when exposed to the bird stimulus than during silent controls. Those that remained spent more time vigilant, but their behaviors returned to baseline after the bird stimulus ended. These findings suggest that acoustic stimuli can be used to modify the behavior of moose; however, reactions towards presumably threatening and nonthreatening stimuli were not as distinct as we had expected

Measurement of the top quark forward-backward production asymmetry and the anomalous chromoelectric and chromomagnetic moments in pp collisions at √s = 13 TeV

Abstract The parton-level top quark (t) forward-backward asymmetry and the anomalous chromoelectric (d̂ t) and chromomagnetic (μ̂ t) moments have been measured using LHC pp collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, collected in the CMS detector in a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb−1. The linearized variable AFB(1) is used to approximate the asymmetry. Candidate t t ¯ events decaying to a muon or electron and jets in final states with low and high Lorentz boosts are selected and reconstructed using a fit of the kinematic distributions of the decay products to those expected for t t ¯ final states. The values found for the parameters are AFB(1)=0.048−0.087+0.095(stat)−0.029+0.020(syst),μ̂t=−0.024−0.009+0.013(stat)−0.011+0.016(syst), and a limit is placed on the magnitude of | d̂ t| < 0.03 at 95% confidence level. [Figure not available: see fulltext.

Measurement of t(t)over-bar normalised multi-differential cross sections in pp collisions at root s=13 TeV, and simultaneous determination of the strong coupling strength, top quark pole mass, and parton distribution functions

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