Improvement of Grazing Lands for Better Livestock Production--A Case Study from Chitradurga District in India

Chitradurga is a highly drought prone district in the central dry zone of Karnataka, India, with a normal rainfall of 530 mm per annum. Over 85 per cent of cultivable area is rainfed and the livestock plays a vital role in rural income generation in this district. Improper management and overgrazing have resulted in most of the grazing resources declining to a poor, degraded condition. Regeneration of pasture land was vital in the villages due to three reasons - a) people\u27s livelihood dependency on livestock was considerable b) small ruminants played a vital role for landless farmers and c) lack of adequate fodder was a prime factor for low livestock productivity. To improve the livelihood of livestock farmers, a few interventions were made under World Bank funded National Agricultural Innovation Project through consortium approach in 10 project villages. Frequent interactions were held with the local livestock farmers to discuss about the importance of increasing the fodder resources in the villages to improve the income and to sustain their livelihood. They realized the importance of fodder and came forward to take up cultivation of perennial fodders and also, for the revitalization of grazing lands, locally known as kavals. The primary survey in the villages indicated that about 90 to 96 per cent of the small ruminant holders are dependent on these common property grazing resources for the fodder needs. The High Level Panel of Experts on food security and nutrition, constituted by FAO, has emphasized the importance of extending appropriate technologies and inputs, providing the needed credit and ensuring assured and remunerative marketing opportunities to the smallholders (HLPE, 2013). Such measures are also essential for revitalizing the degraded grasslands in this region

Gastric dilatation and volvulus (bloat) - A case report and mini review of literature

Gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV) is a progressing bloat condition in dogs characterized as dilatation followed by rotation of stomach. A sevenyear old 18 kg black colour female non-descriptive dog presented, with history of difficulty in respiration within half an hour after feeding of curd meals. With the history and general clinical examination the case tentatively diagnosed as gastric dilatation. After unsuccessful advancement of oro-gastric tube, needle gastric paracentesis was performed on left side of the abdomen caudal to the last rib for decompression. Mid-ventral celiotomy and gastrotomy were performed after stabilization of heart rate and respiratory rate. After evacuating the whitish frothy content from the stomach, derotation and incisional gastropexy was performed. On 14thpostoperative day telecommunication confirmed the milk based meal induced GDV canine patient recovered uneventfully. Electrocardiogram monitoring done for first 24 hours period and ventricular arrhythmia was managed by using lidocaine (loading@2mg/ kg bw followed by 25mcg/kg/min for 30 min). It is concluded that on 14th postoperative day telecommunication confirmed the milk based meal induced GDV canine patient recovered uneventfully

Clinical application of acellular matrix derived from the bubaline diaphragm and caprine rumen for the repair of abdominal wall defects in animals

The abdominal wall hernias resulting due to trauma or other clinical conditions are common in animals. Large hernias required the use of synthetic mesh, which is costly and may result in infection, fistula formation, and pain. Application of biomaterials in hernia repair causes a reduction in pain, reduced recovery time, and rate of recurrence. The study was undertaken to test the acellular bubaline diaphragm matrix (BDiaM) and acellular caprine rumen matrix (CRuM) for the repaired hernia in clinical cases. Fresh bubaline diaphragm and caprine rumen were decellularized using sodium deoxycholate (1% for CRuM and 2% for BDiaM) for 48h. Acellularity was ascertained histologically and by DNA quantification. Histologically, both the matrices showed complete acellularity and orderly arranged collagen fibers after 48 h. The DNA contents were significantly (P0.05) reduced in both the matrices in comparison to the native matrices. The BDiaM and CRuM matrices were applied in eight and nine clinical cases of abdominal wall defects, respectively. Animals with BDiaM and CRuM matrices recovered uneventfully and remained sound at least up to 3 months. Hematological and immunological findings were unremarkable. BDiaM and CRuM matrices showed good results without complications. Keywords:Biocompatibility, Bubaline diaphragm matrix, Caprine rumen matrix, DNA quantification, ELISA, SDS-PAG

One pot synthesis of 3,5-diaryl substituted-1,2,4-oxadiazoles using gem-dibromomethylarenes

1,2,4-oxadiazole is one of the most promising heterocyclic ring systems in medicinal chemistry. In the present paper, we are reporting the method for efficient one-pot synthesis of of 3,5-diaryl substituted 1,2,4-oxadiazoles using two-component reaction of gem-dibromomethylarenes with amidoximes in good yields. In this method, gem-dibromomethylarenes are used as benzoic acid equivalent for the efficient synthesis of aryl substituted 1,2,4-oxadiazoles. It is anticipated that this methodology will have versatile applications in the practical syntheses of various molecules of both medicinal and material chemistry importance.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author

Spatiotemporal variation of alkaline phosphatase activity in coastal waters off Trivandrum

Summary: Phosphatase is an extracellular enzyme which releases inorganic phosphate (Pi) from dissolved organic phosphate and indirectly organic carbon as nutrients for aquatic communities. Here, we have examined spatiotemporal variation in total alkaline phosphatase activity (APA) over a short period off Trivandrum, SW India. Sampling was at 50 m water depth at 5, 15, 25 and 45 m for 5 consecutive days at 6 h intervals during post-monsoon season. Total APA and phosphatase producing bacteria (PPB) were estimated along with pertinent environmental parameters. APA increased with depth up to 3.98 µM P h−1 at 45 m. Increase in pigment concentration with depth is responsible for an increase in APA and Pi uptake. There is a marginal increase in APA towards 18–24 h suggesting feeding activities of secondary producers. On the whole, chlorophyll and phaeophytin were responsible for nearly 45 and 55% variation in APA (p < 0.01, p < 0.001, n = 16), respectively. Total bacterial count (TBC) was responsible for 32% (p < 0.05, n = 16) and total viable direct counts-aerobic (TVCa) for 24% (p < 0.05, n = 16) APA variation. About 38% (p < 0.01, n = 20) variation of APA was linked to chlorophyll at noon and 22% (p < 0.001, n = 20) to PPB at dawn. Thus, it is possible that bacteria and chlorophyll/phytoplankton could be responsible for variation in APA, with the latter contribution greater than the former at noon. Such studies would help to profile the fertility of coastal waters in terms of bioavailable Pi. Laboratory experiments are underway to help us discern the extent of light-dependent contribution of chlorophyll/phytoplankton to APA and light independent participation of bacteria to the process. Keywords: Phosphorus, Alkaline phosphatase activity, Chlorophyll, Phytoplankton, Bacteri

Synthesis, anti-angiogenic and DNA cleavage studies of novel N-(4-methyl-3-((4-(pyridin-3-yl)pyrimidin-2-yl)amino)phenyl)piperidine-4-carboxamide derivatives

Abstract A series of novel N-(4-methyl-3-((4-(pyridin-3-yl)pyrimidin-2-yl)amino)phenyl)piperidine-4-carboxamide derivatives 10(a–f), 12(a–c) and 14(a–c) were synthesized and characterized by FTIR, 1H-NMR, mass spectral and elemental analysis. The efficacy of these derivatives to inhibit in vivo angiogenesis was evaluated using chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model and their DNA cleavage abilities were evaluated after incubating with calf thymus DNA followed by gel electrophoresis. These novel piperidine analogues efficiently blocked the formation of blood vessels in vivo in CAM model and exhibited differential migration and band intensities in DNA binding/cleavage assays. Among the tested compounds 10a, 10b, 10c, 12b, 14b and 14c showed significant anti-angiogenic and DNA cleavage activities compared to their respective controls and the other derivatives used in this study. These observations suggest that the presence of electron donating and withdrawing groups at positions 2, 3 and 4 of the phenyl ring of the side chain may determine their potency and as anticancer agents by exerting both anti-angiogenic and cytotoxic effects

Comparison of Combustion Characteristics of CI Engine-Fueled with Simarouba and Pongamia Biodiesels

The present work is carried out on Simarouba and Pongamia biodiesels for the best performance as an alternative fuels used in Internal Combustion (IC) engine. The biodiesels were prepared by transesterification route as per standard. The combustion characteristics evaluated by considering the parameters like ignition delay, peak pressure development, heat generation rate for biodiesel 20% blend with commercial diesel on single cylinder water cooled diesel engine with constant speed of 1500 rpm. The analysis of P-θ diagrams gave the combustion delay, magnitude of premixed, mixed controlled and late combustion phases. The investigation of combustion of biodiesels revealed that ignition delay is almost same to the pure diesel and the peak pressureattains after TDC are also comparably same as diesel. The B20 of Simarouba and Pongamia biodiesels are emerged as better alternative fuel for an existing CI engine in comparison with other blends