Effect of salinity on the survival and growth ofChanda (=Ambassis) gymnocephalus (Lac.) fry (Pisces; Centropomidae)

The survival and growth of Chanda (= Ambassis) gymnocephalus (Lac.) fry (8.8 ± 0.2mm) collected from Murukumpuzha Lake (9.34%) for a ninety day period in different salinity grades were studied. A faster rate of growth is exhibited by the fish in the highest salinity grades (22.41 and 28.51%), even though during the first month, growth and health was apparently better in the lower salinity grades (4.11, 10.21 and 16.31%). Assimilation efficiency also showed a similar gross picture. Thus inC. gymnocephalus, an euryhaline species, the fry show preferred salinity gradients for optimum growth within the fluctuating salinity regime at a stable temperature (26 ± 2°C) and hence may make salinity bound emigrations with growth

Condition and relative condition cycles in the tropical glassy perchlet Chanda (=Ambassis)commersonii(Cuv. and Val.) (Pisces: Centropomidae)

The seasonal condition (K) and relative condition (K n ) cycles and their changes with the growth of the fish Chanda commersonii (Cuv. and Val.) for 2 yrs are presented. Better K is shown by the smaller immature and first maturity stages and larger, almost senile groups but they show a K n factor below '1'. The actively breeding adults show a uniform fail inK but they give comparatively high K n values (above '1'). These changes in K and K n with the growth of the fish are clearly reflected in their seasonal cycles also.K cycle would thus appear to follow a pattern of build up and loss of body resources, indirectly following the breeding cycle while the K n cycle follow the breeding and feeding cycles directly, as shown by their seasonal changes and changes with growth of the fish for 2 yrs. Since only minor deviations from unity occur in K n factor it furnishes a more sensitive index of somatic difference between age groups, of breeding season and feeding cycle

Topographical nature of the polymer matrix and reactivity of attached functional groups: effect of crosslink density on the efficiency of solid-phase hypochlorite oxidations

A series of crosslinked polystyrene-supported hypohalite reagents with the reagent function in different microenvironments were prepared and their reactivities in oxidation and halogenation reactions on organic substrates were investigated. The reactivity of the hypohalite reagent function was observed to be dependent on the topographical nature of the polymer matrix. The reactivity in these cases depends on the degree of crosslinking which affects the extent of functionalisation and also the mechanical integrity and stability of the polymer support. Hypohalite reagents starting from 1%, 2%, 4% and 20% crosslinked polystyrenes were prepared and used for oxidation and halogenation reactions. The reactivity of the hypohalite function is reduced considerably when the degree of crosslinking is increased. A decrease in the degree of functionalisation is also observed with increase in the degree of crosslinking

Ecology of Indian estuaries-XI. A preliminary survey of the fishery resources of the Ashtamudi estuarine system

The fish fauna of the Ashtamudi, the second largest estuarine system in Kerala (8°53'-9°02' N Lat. and 76°31'-76°41' E Long.) is listed. 97 species belonging to 39 families have been recorded, ofwhich69 are commercially important contributing to the fisheries of the Ashtamudi Estuary. Mullets, cichlids and the glassy perchlets are the most abundant groups and contribute appreciably to the landings. Results revealed that the estuarine system supports a good capture fishery which is seasonal. Majority of the fish fauna in the estuary are marine elements recruited from the adjoining Arabian Sea. An inventory of the craft and gear employed is presented and the sources of pollution in the estuarine system are described, aquacultural prospects of this area are discussed

Best clinical practice guidance for treating deep carious lesions in primary teeth: an EAPD policy document.

PURPOSE The European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry (EAPD) has developed this best clinical practice guidance to help clinicians manage deep carious lesions in primary teeth. METHODS Three expert groups conducted systematic reviews of the relevant literature. The topics were: (1) conventional techniques (2) Minimal Intervention Dentistry (MID) and (3) materials. Workshops were held during the corresponding EAPD interim seminar in Oslo in April 2021. Several clinical based recommendations and statements were agreed upon, and gaps in our knowledge were identified. RESULTS There is strong evidence that indirect pulp capping and pulpotomy techniques, and 38% Silver Diamine Fluoride are shown to be effective for the management of caries in the primary dentition. Due to the strict criteria, it is not possible to give clear recommendations on which materials are most appropriate for restoring primary teeth with deep carious lesions. Atraumatic Restorative Technique (ART) is not suitable for multi-surface caries, and Pre-formed Metal Crowns (PMCs) using the Hall technique reduce patient discomfort. GIC and RMGIC seem to be more favourable given the lower annual failure rate compared to HVGIC and MRGIC. Glass carbomer cannot be recommended due to inferior marginal adaptation and fractures. Compomers, hybrid composite resins and bulk-fill composite resins demonstrated similar values for annual failure rates. CONCLUSION The management of deep carious lesions in primary teeth can be challenging and must consider the patient's compliance, operator skills, materials and costs. There is a clear need to increase the use of MID techniques in managing carious primary teeth as a mainstream rather than a compromise option

White Paper: Shifting the goal post - from high impact journals to high impact data

The purpose of this white paper is to provide an overview of the ongoing initiatives at center level to respond to changing public expectations and to the challenge of improving the conduct of science by making research data widely available. We also attempt to provide a framework for implementing open access for research data to maximize CGIAR’s impact on development. The remainder of this paper proceeds as follows; firstly a summary of the diversity of research data produced by the centers is given, followed by an overview of the existing infrastructure for data management for each Center. Secondly, some of the limitations and barriers faced by the centers in their process to mainstream research data publishing are addressed. The paper concludes with recommendations for how these limitations and barriers can be tackled

Flip-Flop of Phospholipids in Proteoliposomes Reconstituted from Detergent Extract of Chloroplast Membranes: Kinetics and Phospholipid Specificity

Eukaryotic cells are compartmentalized into distinct sub-cellular organelles by lipid bilayers, which are known to be involved in numerous cellular processes. The wide repertoire of lipids, synthesized in the biogenic membranes like the endoplasmic reticulum and bacterial cytoplasmic membranes are initially localized in the cytosolic leaflet and some of these lipids have to be translocated to the exoplasmic leaflet for membrane biogenesis and uniform growth. It is known that phospholipid (PL) translocation in biogenic membranes is mediated by specific membrane proteins which occur in a rapid, bi-directional fashion without metabolic energy requirement and with no specificity to PL head group. A recent study reported the existence of biogenic membrane flippases in plants and that the mechanism of plant membrane biogenesis was similar to that found in animals. In this study, we demonstrate for the first time ATP independent and ATP dependent flippase activity in chloroplast membranes of plants. For this, we generated proteoliposomes from Triton X-100 extract of intact chloroplast, envelope membrane and thylakoid isolated from spinach leaves and assayed for flippase activity using fluorescent labeled phospholipids. Half-life time of flipping was found to be 6±1 min. We also show that: (a) intact chloroplast and envelope membrane reconstituted proteoliposomes can flip fluorescent labeled analogs of phosphatidylcholine in ATP independent manner, (b) envelope membrane and thylakoid reconstituted proteoliposomes can flip phosphatidylglycerol in ATP dependent manner, (c) Biogenic membrane ATP independent PC flipping activity is protein mediated and (d) the kinetics of PC translocation gets affected differently upon treatment with protease and protein modifying reagents

Peri-Pubertal Emergence of UNC-5 Homologue Expression by Dopamine Neurons in Rodents

Puberty is a critical period in mesocorticolimbic dopamine (DA) system development, particularly for the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) projection which achieves maturity in early adulthood. The guidance cue netrin-1 organizes neuronal networks by attracting or repelling cellular processes through DCC (deleted in colorectal cancer) and UNC-5 homologue (UNC5H) receptors, respectively. We have shown that variations in netrin-1 receptor levels lead to selective reorganization of mPFC DA circuitry, and changes in DA-related behaviors, in transgenic mice and in rats. Significantly, these effects are only observed after puberty, suggesting that netrin-1 mediated effects on DA systems vary across development. Here we report on the normal expression of DCC and UNC5H in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) by DA neurons from embryonic life to adulthood, in both mice and rats. We show a dramatic and enduring pubertal change in the ratio of DCC:UNC5H receptors, reflecting a shift toward predominant UNC5H function. This shift in DCC:UNC5H ratio coincides with the pubertal emergence of UNC5H expression by VTA DA neurons. Although the distribution of DCC and UNC5H by VTA DA neurons changes during puberty, the pattern of netrin-1 immunoreactivity in these cells does not. Together, our findings suggest that DCC:UNC5H ratios in DA neurons at critical periods may have important consequences for the organization and function of mesocorticolimbic DA systems