Changes in Mannitol and Alginic Acid Contents of Turbinaria ornata (TURNER) J. AGARDH in Relation to Growth and Fruiting

Biological and chemical studies have been conducted on some important species of Sargassum and Turbinaria to determine the optirnum periods for harvesting the algin-yielding seaweeds o£ the Mandapam area (UMAMAHESWARA RAO, 1969). The present paper reports the results obtained on growth, fruiting in relation to quantitative changes in mannitol and alginic acid contents of Turbinaria ornata (TÜRNER) J. AGARDH for a period of four years, from January 1967 to December 1970. Materials and Method Turbinaria ornata in the Palk Bay, near Mandapam, commonly grows on coral debris and coral stones at l -- 2 m depth. About 50--100 plants were collected from this area at monthly intervals. Total length of all the plants was measured in the laboratory and mean heights of the plants together with their Standard deviations were calculated. Chemical analysis of the dried plants was carried out äs reported earlier (UMAMAHESWARA RAO, 1969

Synthesis and Structural Studies of Nanocrystalline Cd0.3Zn0.7Fe2O4

The synthesis of Cd0.3Zn0.7Fe2O4 nanoparticles has been achieved by a simple thermal decomposition method from the inorganic precursor, Cdd0.3Zn0.7Fe2(cin)3(N2H4)2, which was obtained by a novel precipitation method from the corresponding metal salts, cinnamic acid and hydrazine hydrate. The precursor was characterized by hydrazine and metal analyses, infrared spectral analysis and thermogravimetric analysis. Under appropriate annealing conditions, Cd0.3Zn0.7Fe2(cin)3(N2H4)2 yielded Cd0.3Zn0.7Fe2O4 nanoparticles, which were characterized for their size and structure using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), High  Resolution Transmission ElectronMicroscopic(HRTEM),SelectedArea ElectronDiffraction(SAED)andScanning ElectronMicroscopic(SEM)techniques.KEYWORDS: Cd0.3Zn0.7Fe2O4 nanoparticles, XRD, HRTEM, SAED, SEM

In vitro micropropagation of Musa sapientum L. (Cavendish Dwarf)

A complete protocol for micropropagation of Musa sapientum using shoot meristems was developed. Multiple shoots were induced in vitro from shoot meristems. Murashige and Skoog’s medium supplemented with BAP and NAA (3.0 + 0.2 mg/l, respectively) was found to be most suitablecombination. Further multiplication of shoots required habituation of cultures up to 3 passages of 21 days each on the same medium after establishment of culture and initiation of shoot buds. Thereafter 3-fold multiplication rate was achieved during every subculture. For rooting the shoots were excised and transferred to same medium. Rooted plantlets were then transferred to primary and secondary hardening and grown in the green house. These hardened plants have been successfully established insoil

Studies on species of Halimeda from Lakshadweep

Four Species of Halimeda viz. H. incrassata, H. opuntia. H simulans and H taenicola collected from Lakshadweep islands are described in detail

Changes in growth and phycocolloid content of Gelidiella acerosa and Gracilaria edulis

Results obtained on seasonal growth, yield and physical properties of agar in Gelidiella acerosa and Gracilaria edulis for a period of one year are presented. Vegetation of these two species occurred throughout the year with two peak growth periods

A Study on Lapsation of Insurance Polices of Select Insurance Companies

Purpose: Lapsation is the discontinuation of payment of premia for reasons other than the death of a policy holder.  A majority of insurance companies notice that half of their policyholders do not pay their insurance premia regularly leading to an increase in lapsation of policies. Increase in lapsation not only affects the policyholders’ welfare but also insurance companies’ business growth. So, the present study was carried out to determine where lapsation rate is high and to offer solutions to reduce the rate of lapsation.   Design/Methodology/Approach: The present study is descriptive in nature. A carefully constructed questionnaire was used to gather the study's pertinent data. Data were collected from life insurance company employees in Tamilnadu using the convenience sampling method. The questionnaire includes inquiries about different policy kinds, distribution methods, agent information, and different commission structures.   Findings: Result of cross tabulation discloses that high rate of lapsation rate is noticed with term and endowment insurance policies both at LIC and private insurance companies.  High rate of lapsation is noticed under insurance policies distributed by direct sale teams of insurance companies. Further, it is noticed that lapsation rate is high in Private insurance companies, where insurance agents receive low commission. Lapsation rate is low at Public and Private Insurance companies, where insurance agents receive high and moderate level of commission.    Practical Implications: The result of the study will be immensely useful to policyholders in particular and insurance companies in general. Reduction in policy lapsation rate will assist policyholder to reap the benefit of availing insurance policies and aids life insurance companies to expand their business volume to a greater extent.   Social Implications: Life insurance companies not only safeguard interest of policyholders but also invests their excess amount of premium in corporate securities, thereby assists not only growth of industries but also Indian economy as well.  Lapsation of insurance policies may affect transfer of excess premium towards industry investment.  Thus, the present study assist to understand the reason for lapsation of policies and to offer suitable suggestions to reduce rate of lapsation and assist not only growth of insurance companies but also economy too.   Originality/Value: Questionnaire is employed for collecting first hand data. By contacting the life insurance company employees in person data required for the study has been gathered

Seasonal changes in growth & alginic acid & mannitol contents in Sargassum ilicifolium (Turner) J. agardh & S. myriocystum J. agardh

Young plants of S. ilicifolium and S. myricosystum appear in April and May and reach the maximum size in September or October. Alginic acid yield varies with the seasonal growth behaviour of these alginophytes. with maximum yield in July or August. Alginic acid content varies from 22.3 to 30.8% in S. ilieifolium and from 15.9 to 34.5% in S. myriocyslum. Mannitol content ranges from 2 to 5 and 1.3 to 5% in S. jlicifolium and S. myriocysmm respectively. The suitable harv.esting period for getting the maximum yidd of algin ic acid appears to be between July and September

Expression, Purification, and Biophysical Characterization of a Secreted Anthrax Decoy Fusion Protein in Nicotiana benthamiana.

Anthrax toxin receptor-mediated drug development for blocking anthrax toxin action has received much attention in recent decades. In this study, we produced a secreted anthrax decoy fusion protein comprised of a portion of the human capillary morphogenesis gene-2 (CMG2) protein fused via a linker to the fragment crystallizable (Fc) domain of human immunoglobulin G1 in Nicotiana benthamiana plants using a transient expression system. Using the Cauliflower Mosaic Virus (CaMV) 35S promoter and co-expression with the p19 gene silencing suppressor, we were able to achieve a high level of recombinant CMG2-Fc-Apo (rCMG2-Fc-Apo) protein accumulation. Production kinetics were observed up to eight days post-infiltration, and maximum production of 826 mg/kg fresh leaf weight was observed on day six. Protein A affinity chromatography purification of the rCMG2-Fc-Apo protein from whole leaf extract and apoplast wash fluid showed the homodimeric form under non-reducing gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry analysis confirmed the molecular integrity of the secreted protein. The N-glycosylation pattern of purified rCMG2-Fc-Apo protein was analysed; the major portion of N-glycans consists of complex type structures in both protein samples. The most abundant (>50%) N-glycan structure was GlcNAc₂(Xyl)Man₃(Fuc)GlcNAc₂ in rCMG2-Fc-Apo recovered from whole leaf extract and apoplast wash fluid. High mannose N-glycan structures were not detected in the apoplast wash fluid preparation, which confirmed the protein secretion. Altogether, these findings demonstrate that high-level production of rCMG2-Fc-Apo can be achieved by transient production in Nicotiana benthamiana plants with apoplast targeting

Semicontinuous Bioreactor Production of Recombinant Butyrylcholinesterase in Transgenic Rice Cell Suspension Cultures.

An active and tetrameric form of recombinant butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), a large and complex human enzyme, was produced via semicontinuous operation in a transgenic rice cell suspension culture. After transformation of rice callus and screening of transformants, the cultures were scaled up from culture flask to a lab scale bioreactor. The bioreactor was operated through two phases each of growth and expression. The cells were able to produce BChE during both expression phases, with a maximum yield of 1.6 mg BChE/L of culture during the second expression phase. Cells successfully regrew during a 5-day growth phase. A combination of activity assays and Western blot analysis indicated production of an active and fully assembled tetramer of BChE