Harnessing Wisdom for Managing Watersheds: Honey Bee Perspective on Innovations, Institutions and Policies for Marginal Environments

Participatory approaches for watershed management are now considered essential for sustainable natural resources management and yet there is very little opportunity for intellectual participation by the people. This requires understanding of the local knowledge systems and their institutional context. In this paper, we provide an overview of the conceptual framework which can facilitate such participation. The full report being published separately includes case studies of farmers’ innovations in natural resources management.

Natural Frequency of Vibrating Foundations on Layered Soil System-An Experimental Investigation

This paper presents model block vibration tests results on two and three layered soil system underlain by rigid layer. Using sand and sawdust in different positions (either at top or at middle or at bottom) and thickness (es) inside a tank, different layered soil bed are prepared and vibration tests are conducted on each prepared bed using Lazan Type oscillator. A large number of response curves (frequency vs. amplitude) are obtained on different layered system. Maximum amplitudes (resonant amplitude) and corresponding frequencies (resonant frequency) are tabulated to study the effect of layering on resonant frequencies. Effects of position and thickness (es) of the layer/layers on natural frequencies are found to be significant, Natural frequency increases significantly due to presence of thin stiff layer at top compared to natural frequency of bottom layer treating it to be half space whereas it decreases significantly due presence of thin soft layer at top. Several other significant observations are made and presented in the paper. Natural frequencies of the soil foundation on different layered soil systems used for the experimental investigations are predicted using static equivalent stiffness of the system and compared with experimental results. Predicted results are found to be in good agreement with the experimental results

Lamins, laminopathies and disease mechanisms: possible role for proteasomal degradation of key regulatory proteins

Lamins are major structural proteins of the nucleus and are essential for nuclear integrity and organization of nuclear functions. Mutations in the human lamin genes lead to highly degenerative genetic diseases that affect a number of different tissues such as muscle, adipose or neuronal tissues, or cause premature ageing syndromes. New findings on the role of lamins in cellular signalling pathways, as well as in ubiquitin-mediated proteasomal degradation, have given important insights into possible mechanisms of pathogenesis

Expression of disease-causing lamin A mutants impairs the formation of DNA repair foci

A-type lamins are components of the nuclear lamina. Mutations in the gene encoding lamin A are associated with a range of highly degenerative diseases termed laminopathies. To evaluate sensitivity to DNA damage, GFP-tagged lamin A cDNAs with disease-causing mutations were expressed in HeLa cells. The inner nuclear membrane protein emerin was mislocalised upon expression of the muscular dystrophy mutants G232E, Q294P or R386K, which aberrantly assembled into nuclear aggregates, or upon expression of mutants causing progeria syndromes in vivo (lamin A del50, R471C, R527C and L530P). The ability of cells expressing these mutants to form DNA repair foci comprising phosphorylated H2AX in response to mild doses of cisplatin or UV irradiation was markedly diminished, unlike the nearly normal response of cells expressing wild-type GFP-lamin A or disease-causing H222P and R482L mutants. Interestingly, mutants that impaired the formation of DNA repair foci mislocalised ATR (for 'ataxia telangiectasia-mutated and Rad3-related') kinase, which is a key sensor in the response to DNA damage. Our results suggest that a subset of lamin A mutants might hinder the response of components of the DNA repair machinery to DNA damage by altering interactions with chromatin

Variation of hydrochemical parameters with reference to geomorphological features in Godavari estuary, India

24-33In this study, seasonal observations of hydrochemical parameters were measured in the estuarine regions of  Gautami Godavari (GGE) and Vasishta Godavari (VGE), which are surrounded by extensive mangrove swamps and closely spaced beach ridge-swale complex, respectively. A significant vertical stratification in the water column showed in the VGE region due to the strong influence of saline water intrusion. NO2- -N was higher and NO3- -N was lower in VGE during the end of the post monsoon season with reference to excretion by phytoplankton and uptake during the process of primary production respectively, which is also supported by higher concentrations of Chlorophyll a. Nutrients (NO3- -N, PO43—P and SiO42--Si) showed conservative behaviour with salinity in GGE, whereas, in the case of VGE absence of this is due to intrusion of saline water was significantly higher

Lamin A/C speckles mediate spatial organization of splicing factor compartments and RNA polymerase II transcription

The A-type lamins have been observed to colocalize with RNA splicing factors in speckles within the nucleus, in addition to their typical distribution at the nuclear periphery. To understand the functions of lamin speckles, the effects of transcriptional inhibitors known to modify RNA splicing factor compartments (SFCs) were examined. Treatment of HeLa cells with α-amanitin or 5,6-dichlorobenzimidazole riboside (DRB) inhibited RNA polymerase II (pol II) transcription and led to the enlargement of lamin speckles as well as SFCs. Removal of the reversible inhibitor DRB resulted in the reactivation of transcription and a rapid, synchronous redistribution of lamins and splicing factors to normal-sized speckles, indicating a close association between lamin speckles and SFCs. Conversely, the expression of NH2-terminally modified lamin A or C in HeLa cells brought about a loss of lamin speckles, depletion of SFCs, and down-regulation of pol II transcription without affecting the peripheral lamina. Our results suggest a unique role for lamin speckles in the spatial organization of RNA splicing factors and pol II transcription in the nucleus

Spectrophotometric Determination of Os(VIII) with Thioglycollic Acid

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Spectrophotometric Investigation of Os(VI)- Thiocyanate Complex

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Initiation of coconut cell suspension culture from shoot meristem derived embryogenic calli: A preliminary study

An attempt was made to establish highly competent embryogenic cell suspension culture in coconut, a species recalcitrant to in vitro culture. Embryogenic calli were initiated from shoot meristem explants of coconut. Y3 medium supplemented with 2.4-D (4.5 μM) and glutamine (34.2 μM) was found to be the best medium to initiate cell suspension. Growth evaluation was done by packed cell volume (PCV) and it was found that maximum growth volume of 9.9% was reached at 200 days of culture initiation. About 52% of viable cells were detected through fluorescent microscopy. Cell aggregation was noticed in Y3 medium supplemented with glutamine (34.2 μM), malt extract (100mg/l), biotin (40.9 μM) and kinetin (9.3 μM), but further progress could not be achieved. It was also observed that embryogenic calli were not of a friable type, but were associated with densely aggregated cells. Because of its hard nature, we were unsuccessful to obtain high quality cell suspension

Pathogenicity of Nomuraea rileyi (Farlow) Samson against castor semilooper, Paralellia algira Linnaeus

ABSTRACT The larvae of Paralellia algira L. (II, III and IV instars) were treated with subculture I, II and insect cultures of Nomuraea rileyi to evaluate the pathogenicity. Results showed larval mortalities at all the concentrations of the three cultures. First subculture and insect culture were almost equally efficacious in causing the disease. Slightly lowered mortalities were recorded with subculture II. Reduction in larval mortalities was noticed with advancement of the age in P. algira larvae. Almost 100 per cent mortality of II instar larvae was observed with 1x10 8 spores ml -1 concentration whereas it was reduced by 5 -10 per cent against III and IV instars