Public-private partnerships in aquaculture: a case study on tilapia research and development

In Philippines, Nile tilapia is the second most important food fish for domestic consumption, next to milkfish. Genetic improvement research for this species has progressed significantly. Public sector institutions that have played a primary role in development of improved strains of the species have also worked on sustaining the genetic quality of stocks. They have ensured that the improved stocks are disseminated commercially for the benefit of more fishfarmers. However, in view of the enormous and complex resource requirements, there is tremendous challenge for the public sector institutions to sustain the cost of long-term genetic improvement and commercialization of the improved seed from the national breeding programs. In the crop sector, such a situation has encouraged the public sector institutions to involve the private sector as a partner in breeding programs and commercialization of the products. In the case of fish, a similar trend is now emerging. In Philippines, there is an increasing private sector participation in the production and dissemination of improved tilapias.Genetics, Research, Philippines, Oreochromis niloticus

Chronological Inversion Method for the Dirac Matrix in Hybrid Monte Carlo

In Hybrid Monte Carlo simulations for full QCD, the gauge fields evolve smoothly as a function of Molecular Dynamics time. Here we investigate improved methods of estimating the trial or starting solutions for the Dirac matrix inversion as superpositions of a chronological sequence of solutions in the recent past. By taking as the trial solution the vector which minimizes the residual in the linear space spanned by the past solutions, the number of conjugate gradient iterations per unit MD time is decreased by at least a factor of 2. Extensions of this basic approach to precondition the conjugate gradient iterations are also discussed.Comment: 35 pages, 18 EPS figures A new "preconditioning" method, derived from the Chronological Inversion, is described. Some new figures are appended. Some reorganization of the material has taken plac

Cytomorphological studies in some members of tribe Paniceae (Poaceae) from district Kangra of Himachal Pradesh (Western Himalayas)

The present paper deals with cytological studies on the population basis of 21 species belonging to 9 genera of tribe Paniceae of family Poaceae from cytologically unexplored area of Western Himalayas i.e. district Kangra of Himachal Pradesh for the assessment of genetic diversity of grass flora. On world­wide basis, the chromosome counts have been made for the first time for three species such as Brachiaria remota (n = 16), Digitaria granularis (n = 36) and Isachne albens (n = = 5). Similarly, on India basis, altogether new records are made for two species such as Echinochloa crus­pavonis (n = 27) and Paspalum distichum (2n = 50). A comparison of the different euploid cytotypes studied at present for Digitaria adscendens, D. setigera and Oplismenus compositus revealed significant variations in their morphology, depicting increase in some of the characters of polyploid cytotypes. The course of meiosis has been observed to be normal in all the studied populations with high pollen fertility except for two species such as Paspalum dilatatum and P. distichum marked with abnormal meiosis and reduced pollen fertility.Проведено цитологическое исследование популяции из 21 вида, принадлежащих к 9 родам трибы Paniceae семейства Poaceae из цитологически не изученных областей Западных Гималаев (район Kangra штата Himachal Pradesh) для определения генетического разнообразия злаков. В мировом масштабе впервые осуществлены подсчеты хромосом для трех видов – Brachiaria remota (n = 16), Digitaria granularis (n = 36) и Isachne albens (n = 5). Аналогично, в масштабе Индии новые данные получены для двух видов – Echinochloa crus-pavonis (n = 27) и Paspalum distichum (2n = 50). Сравнение различных эуплоидных цитотипов Digitaria adscendens, D. setigera и Oplismenus compositus показало значительную изменчивость их морфологии, отражающую увеличение некоторых признаков полиплоидных цитотипов. Изучение хода мейоза позволило установить, что он происходил нормально во всех популяциях с высокой фертильностью пыльцы, кроме Paspalum dilatatum и P. distichum, которые отличались аномальными мейозами и сниженной фертильностью пыльцы.Проведено цитологічне дослідження популяції з 21 виду, що належать до 9 родів триби Paniceae сімейства Poaceae з цитологічно не вивчених областей Західних Гімалаїв (район Kangra штату Himachal Pradesh) для визначення генетичної різноманітності злаків. У світовому масштабі вперше здійснено підрахунки хромосом для видів – Brachiaria remota (n = 16), Digitaria granularis (n = 36) і Isachne albens (n = 5). Аналогічно, в масштабі Індії нові дані отримані для двох видів – Echinochloa crus-pavonis (n = 27) і Paspalum distichum (2n = 50). Порівняння різних еуплоїдних цитотипів Digitaria adscendens, D. setigera і Oplismenus compositus показало значну мінливість їхньої морфології, що відображає збільшення деяких ознак поліплоїдних цитотипів. Вивчення ходу мейозу дозволило встановити, що він відбувався нормально в усіх популяціях з високою фертильністю пилку , крім Paspalum dilatatum і P. distichum, які відзначались аномальними мейозами та зниженою фертильністю пилку

Morphological studies and development of Ex-situ protocol for rehabilitation of threatened Rheum species under nursery conditions

Rheum is a strong vigorous plant and can live long even in tough conditions. The Rheum species have been domesticated as medicinal plants for human consumption. Rheum species are perennial stout herbs. Rhubarb is a common English name of the genus Rheum. Rhubarb is a plant name for the many different species of Rheum, distributed in the temperate and sub tropical regions of Himalaya from Kashmir to Sikkim and growing wild in the mountains of the Western and North-western provinces of China and adjoining Tibetan territory. It is cultivated much in Europe and the United States. In Kashmir Himalaya, it ranges from an altitude of 1700 - 5500m. It is famous for its medicinal uses. Roots are long and stout. Stem is erect, hollow, sulcate, glabrous or strigose. It is native to Asia-Temperate to Asia – Tropical, from China to India, Nepal and Pakistan. In India, its found in Himachal Pradesh Jammu & Kashmir and Uttar Pradesh. In Jammu and Kashmir, it grows on open slopes and shrubberies in Kashmir, Leh and Zanaskar valley between 3000-5000 m, where R.webbianum is found. The Rheum spiciforme is also one of most known medicinal plant and is  found on high altitudes of Gurez valley(3000m 5000m). Rheum also prefers a full sunny location and thrives in a moist, fertile soil. Most Rheum species can handle heavier clay soils better than many other herbs and makes a striking addition to the spring landscape. Rhubarb is propagated from seeds, seedlings, or pieces of rhizome.Â

Modifications in the AUTOMESH and other POISSON Group Codes

Improvements in the POISSON Group Codes are discussed. These improvements allow one to compute magnetic field to an accuracy of a few parts in 100,000 in quite complicated geometries with a reduced requirement on computational time and computer memory. This can be accomplished mainly by making the mesh dense at some places and sparse at other places. AUTOMESH has been modified so that one can use variable mesh size conveniently and efficiently at a number of places. We will present an example to illustrate these techniques. Several other improvements in the codes AUTOMESH, LATTICE and POISSON will also be discussed

Instanton Distribution in Quenched and Full QCD

In order to optimize cooling as a technique to study the instanton content of the QCD vacuum, we have studied the effects of alternative algorithms, improved actions and boundary conditions on the evolution of single instantons and instanton anti-instanton pairs. Using these results, we have extracted and compared the instanton content of quenched and full QCD.Comment: 3 pages, LaTeX file + 3 figures included, uses epsfig.sty and espcrc2.sty. Talk presented at LATTICE96(topology

Cytological studies of Brassicaceae Burn. (Cruciferae Juss.) from western Himalayas

Цитологические исследования проведены на 12 видах семейства Brassicaceae Burn. из популяций различных географических зон Западных Гималаев. Определены хромосомные числа для Barbaraea intermedia (n = 16), Cardamine loxostemonoides (n = 8), Nasturtium officinale (n = 8), Sisymbrium orientale (n = 14) и добавлены к известным сведениям об этих видах. Хромосомные числа семи видов, Barbaraea intermedia (n = 8), B. vulgaris (n = 8), Capsella bursa-pastoris (n = 8), Descuriania sophia (n = 10), Rorippa islandica (n = 8), Sisymbrium strictum (n = 7) и Thlaspi alpestre (n = 7), были определены впервые в Индии. Течение мейоза в популяциях семи видов (Barbaraea intermedia, Capsella bursa-pastoris, Coronopus didymus, Descuriania sophia, Nasturtium officinale, Sisymbrium orientale и S. strictum) изменяется от нормального до аномального, в то время как в популяциях Barbaraea vulgaris и Sisymbrium irio наблюдается аномальный ход мейоза. Мейотические аномалии проявляются в виде цитомиксиса, слипшихся хромосом, дезориентированных бивалентов, межбивалентных соединений, формировании отставших хромосом и мостов, что в целом приводит к нарушениям микроспорогенеза. Гетерогенные по размеру фертильные пыльцевые зерна и сниженный репродукционный потенциал наблюдались во всех мейотически аномальных популяціях. В то же время ход мейоза во всех популяциях Cardamine loxostemonoides, Rorippa islandica и Thalspi alpestre был нормальным и сопровождался высокой фертильностью пыльцы.Цитологічні дослідження проведені на 12 видах родини Brassicaceae Burn. з популяцій різних географічних зон Західних Гімалаїв. Визначені хромосомні числа для Barbaraea intermedia (n = 16), Cardamine loxostemonoides (n = 8), Nasturtium officinale (n = 8), Sisymbrium orientale (n = 14) і додані до відомостей про ці види. Хромосомні числа семи видів, Barbaraea intermedia (n = 8), B. vulgaris (n = 8), Capsella bursa-pastoris (n = 8), Descuriania sophia (n = 10), Rorippa islandica (n = 8), Sisymbrium strictum (n= 7) та Thlaspi alpestre (n = 7), були визначені вперше в Індії. Проходження мейозу в популяціях семи видів (Barbaraea intermedia, Capsella bursa-pastoris, Coronopus didymus, Descuriania sophia, Nasturtium officinale, Sisymbrium orientale і S. strictum) змінюється від нормального до аномального, тоді як в популяціях Barbaraea vulgaris і Sisymbrium irio спостерігається аномальний хід мейозу. Мейотичні аномалії проявляються у вигляді цитоміксису, злиплих хромосом, дезорієнтованих бівалентів, міжбівалентних сполук, формуванні відсталих хромосом і мостів, що в цілому призводить до порушень мікроспорогенезу. Гетерогенні за розміром фертильні пилкові зерна та знижений репродукційний потенціал спостерігалися в усіх мейотично аномальних популяціях. В той же час хід мейозу в усіх популяціях Cardamine loxostemonoides, Rorippa islandica і Thalspi alpestre був нормальним і супроводжувався високою фертильністю пилку.Cytological studies have been carried out on 12 species of Brassicaceae Burn. on population basis from different geographical areas of Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh in the Western Himalayas. Variable chromosome reports for Barbaraea intermedia (n = 16), Cardamine loxostemonoides (n = 8), Nasturtium officinale (n = 8), Sisymbrium orientale (n = 14) on world-wide basis have been added to the previous reports of these species. The chromosome numbers in seven species as Barbaraea intermedia (n = 8), B. vulgaris (n = 8), Capsella bursa-pastoris (n = 8), Descuriania sophia (n = 10), Rorippa islandica (n = 8), Sisymbrium strictum (n = 7) and Thlaspi alpestre (n = 7) have been worked out for the first time from India. The meiotic course in the populations of seven species such as Barbaraea intermedia, Capsella bursa-pastoris, Coronopus didymus, Descuriania sophia, Nasturtium officinale, Sisymbrium orientale and S. strictum varies from normal to abnormal while all the populations of two species Barbaraea vulgaris and Sisymbrium irio show abnormal meiotic course. Meiotic abnormalities are in the form of cytomixis, chromosomal stickiness, unoriented bivalents, inter-bivalent connections, formation of laggards and bridges, all resulting into abnormal microsporogenesis. Heterogenous sized fertile pollen grains and reduced reproductive potentialities have invariably been observed in all the meiotically abnormal populations. However, the meiotic course in all the populations of Cardamine loxostemonoides, Rorippa islandica and Thalspi alpestre is found to be normal with high pollen fertility