UPPER CRUSTAL STRUCTURE ACROSS THE EASTERN LAU SPREADING CENTER USING P-TO-S CONVERTED SEISMIC WAVES

M.S

Role of thyroid dysfunction and thyroid autoimmunity in infertile women: study done in 450 bedded maternity hospital of Delhi, India

Background: the aim was to study the prevalence of abnormal thyroid function and thyroid autoimmunity in infertile women and in general population (control group) and to correlate the thyroid dysfunction with presence of anti-thyroid antibodies. It was a case control study. The study was carried out at Department of obstetrics and gynaecology, Kasturba Hospital, Delhi. Population of the study was fifty infertile women in whom other causes of infertility are excluded and fifty fertile women attending out- patient department with other complaints.Methods: All the women enrolled in the study were non pregnant, clinically euthyroid (with no signs and symptoms of thyroid disorders and no documented abnormal thyroid function test) and no known autoimmune disorder. Detailed history and a thorough general physical examination, including thyroid examination was done. Haemogram, blood group, fasting and post prandial blood sugar, VDRL, transabdominal ultrasound, TSH, free T3, free T4, and antithyroid per-oxidase antibody assay was done using the ELISA technique.Results: The mean age of the study group was found 28.38±2.45 years, 22% had abnormal thyroid function, 20% had antithyroid antibodies positive and the mean TSH of the study group was 4.61±1.72µIU/ml. The mean age of the control group was found to be 29.10±2.01 years, 12% had abnormal thyroid function, 10% had antithyroid antibodies positive and the mean TSH of the control group was 3.89±1.56µIU/ml.Conclusions: Thyroid dysfunction and anti-thyroid antibodies were more prevalent in patients with infertility. A statistically significant correlation was established between thyroid autoimmunity and thyroid dysfunction in infertile women in the study

Kelp-associated microbes facilitate spatial subsidy in a detrital-based food web in a shoreline ecosystem

Microbes are ubiquitous but our knowledge of their effects on consumers is limited in benthic marine systems. Shorelines often form hotspots of microbial and detritivore activity due to the large amounts of detrital macrophytes that are exported from other coastal ecosystems, such as kelp forests, and accumulate in these systems. Shoreline ecosystems therefore provide a useful model system to examine microbial-detritivore interactions. We experimentally test whether bacteria in the biofilm of kelp provide a bottom-up influence on growth and reproductive output of detritivores in shorelines where detrital kelp accumulates, by manipulating the bacterial abundances on kelp (Ecklonia radiata). The growth rates for both male and female amphipods (Allorchestes compressa) were greater in treatments containing bacteria than those in which bacteria were reduced through antibiotic treatment, and this effect was greater for males offered aged kelp. The proportions of ovigerous females were greater when reared on kelp with intact bacteria, indicating a more rapid reproductive development in the presence of more bacteria. Bacterial abundance had little to no influence on nutrient content and palatability of kelp, based on tissue toughness, nitrogen and carbon content and C:N ratio. Thus, the most likely pathway for a microbial effect on detritivores was through feeding on kelp-associated bacteria. Regardless of the pathway, kelp-associated microbes have a strong influence on the fitness of a highly abundant detritivore that feeds preferentially on E. radiata in shoreline systems, and therefore form a hidden trophic step in this “brown” food web and a hotspot of secondary production

Finger Millet:A "Certain" Crop for an "Uncertain" Future and a Solution to Food Insecurity and Hidden Hunger under Stressful Environments

Crop growth and productivity has largely been vulnerable to various abiotic and biotic stresses that are only set to be compounded due to global climate change. Therefore developing improved varieties and designing newer approaches for crop improvement against stress tolerance have become a priority now-a-days. However, most of the crop improvement strategies are directed toward staple cereals such as rice, wheat, maize etc., whereas attention on minor cereals such as finger millet [Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn.] lags far behind. It is an important staple in several semi-arid and tropical regions of the world with excellent nutraceutical properties as well as ensuring food security in these areas even during harsh environment. This review highlights the importance of finger millet as a model nutraceutical crop. Progress and prospects in genetic manipulation for the development of abiotic and biotic stress tolerant varieties is also discussed. Although limited studies have been conducted for genetic improvement of finger millets, its nutritional significance in providing minerals, calories and protein makes it an ideal model for nutrition-agriculture research. Therefore, improved genetic manipulation of finger millets for resistance to both abiotic and biotic stresses, as well as for enhancing nutrient content will be very effective in millet improvementpublishersversionPeer reviewe