Problems and Prospects of Fiscal Balance in Gujarat

Not availabl

Prevention of acute ammonia toxicity in beluga, Huso huso, using natural zeolite

This study was accomplished to examine the efficiency of natural zeolite in preventing acute toxicity of total ammonia to Huso huso. The study was performed using Water Static Method in 96 hours. Fish averaged 46 ± 5 g in weight and 22 ± 4 cm in total length were exposed to four different concentrations (15, 30, 50, 75 mgL-1) of ammonia and a group was considered as control. Under stable condition, the lethal concentration of ionized ammonia was 75 mgL-1 in 96 hours. In the lethal concentration of total ammonia, different amounts of 5, 10, 15 g.L-1 granulated clinoptilolite zeolite were used. Results indicated significant differences between treatments and control (p<0.05). By increasing Clinoptilolite zeolite in each treatment, the survival rate of fish also increased significantly (p<0.05). In lethal concentration of ammonia, the use of 15 g.L-1 zeolite could prevent the mortality rate. Histopathological findings showed that major lesions in gill filaments included hemorrhage, hyperemia, hyperplasia, epithelial cells necrosis. There were hemorrhage, hyperemia, degenerated tubules of kidney, expansion of Bowman's capsule in kidney and hepatocytes necrosis in liver

Effect of copper sulphate on behavioral and histopathological changes in roach, Rutilus rutilus caspicus

The research was accomplished in order to study behavioral and histopathological effects of Copper on Rutilus rutilus caspicus under experimental condition. The study was performed using Water Static Method during 96 hours. 15 fish with averaged weight 2±0.5 g in weight were encountered to different concentrations (0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 mg/l) of Copper. A group of fish was considered as control. Under stable condition and aeration, the lethal concentration was 0.4 mg/l. Results indicated that there was significant differences between treatments when copper concentration increased (p<0.05). It was found that in the high concentration of Copper nominal signs of toxicity such as convulsion, air gulping and flared operculum were observed. Histopathological sings were hyperplasia, edema, hyperemia, hemorrhage, expansion of Bowman’s capsule and hepatocytes necrosis. In control group no lesion was observed

Use of Bacillus probiotics for immune responses and intestinal microflora of white leg shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone, 1931) post larvae

The effect of dietary containing of Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis in three groups including commercial, commercial-indigenous and indigenous was investigated on the immune parameters (glucose, albumin, total protein, lysozyme, cortisol, immunoglobulin M (IgM)) and the intestinal flora of white leg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) post larvae. The shrimp were fed for 60 days with four different diets: control (without probiotics), diet T1 supplemented with 1.5×106 CFU g-1 commercial probiotic, diet T2 with 1.5×106 CFU g-1 commercial-indigenous probiotic, diet T3 with 1.5×106 CFU g-1 indigenous probiotic. At the end of experimental period, the levels of biochemical parameters (glucose, total protein, lysozyme, cortisol, IgM) of shrimp fed probiotic diets were significantly higher than in those shrimps fed the control diet for 60 days. However, albumin concentrations showed no significant difference between the experimental treatments and the control, but increased by 1.19, 1.15 and 1.14 after 60 days of feeding with diets T1, T2 and T3, respectively. Likewise, population density of Bacillus bacteria counted in digestive tract of shrimps treated with probiotic were significantly higher than the control group. Results of this study indicated that the addition of probiotic bacilli can improve immune parameters and modulates intestinal microbiota of shrimp (L. vannamei) post larvae

Studies on the low temperature infrared heat processing of soybeans and maize

A modified process for the infrared heat processing of oilseeds and cereal grains at relatively low temperatures is put forward. The process which involves an additional holding step and potentials for saving energy was investigated on a pilot plant on the basis of which a design is proposed for industrial applications. The process was used in order to produce full-fat soy flour and maize germ with long shelf life and improved nutritive and organoleptic qualities. Antitrypsin factors, lipoxygenase and lipase could be inactivated with no damage to available lysine. Overheating not only caused damage to available lysine but also made the products more prone to rancidity possibly by causing destruction of natural antioxidants. The process caused protein solubility and dispersibility to fall and starch (in maize germ) to gelatinize. Water absorption of maize germ also increased. In soybeans, urease was found to be a good indicator of the extent of inactivation of antitrypsin factors, while lipoxygenase was found more heat sensitive than urease and antitrypsin factors. For evaluating storage stability, in addition to measuring peroxide value and % free fatty acids, sensory analysis was also carried out.The process was further applied for treating soybeans prior to oil extraction. It was concluded that the quality of the crude oil obtained from the pretreated beans in terms of oxidation products, free fatty acids and nonhydratable phospholipids was such that the alkali treatment step in the refining process could be circumvented. The improved quality of the crude oil was attributed to the inactivation of phospholipase D, lipoxygenase and lipase. The residual defatted flakes showed low levels of trypsin inhibitor activity and could be used directly as food or feed.Finally, the involvement of phospholipase D in the hydrolysis of phospholipids and formation of nonhydratable phospholipids in soybeans was elucidated by radio(chemical) methods, as well as thin layer chromatography and densitometry. The presence of an active, soluble form of the enzyme with isoelectric point 4.8 was shown by isoelectric focusing.</p

Anesthetic effect of tricaine methanesulfonate, clove oil and electroanesthesia on lysozyme activity of Oncorhynchus mykiss

There is a few available information about the effect of anesthetics, specially electroanesthesia on immune parameters in fish. In the present work, two anesthetics, MS222 (50 ppm), clove oil (25 ppm), and electroanesthesia were tested in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in narcosis stage. The results showed, clove oil and electroanesthesia increase the lysozyme activity 24 h after anesthesia(p0.05). It seems use of MS222 during aquacultural practices may induce lesser effect in rainbow trout

The size-dependent electromechanical instability of double-sided and paddle-type actuators in centrifugal and Casimir force fields

The present research is devoted to theoretical study of the pull-in performance of double-sided and paddle-type NEMS actuators fabricated from cylindrical nanowire operating in the Casimir regime and in the presence of the centrifugal force. D'Alembert's principle was used to transform the angular velocity into an equivalent static, centrifugal force. Using the couple stress theory, the constitutive equations of the actuators were derived. The equivalent boundary condition technique was applied to obtain the governing equation of the paddle-type actuator. Three distinct approaches, the Duan-Adomian Method (DAM), Finite Difference Method (FDM), and Lumped Parameter Model (LPM), were applied to solve the equation of motion of these two actuators. This study demonstrates the influence of various parameters, i.e., the Casimir force, geometric characteristics, and the angular speed, on the pull-in performance. (C) 2017 Sharif University of Technology. All rights reserved

SHANK3 variant as a cause of nonsyndromal autism in an 11-year-old boy and a review of published literature

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) encompasses a spectrum of pervasive neuropsychiatric disorders characterized by deficits in social interaction, communication, unusual and repetitive behaviours. The aetiology of ASD is believed to involve complex interactions between genetic and environmental factors; it can be further classified as syndromic or nonsyndromic, according to whether it is the primary diagnosis or secondary to an existing condition where both common and rare genetic variants contribute to the development of ASD or are clearly causal. The prevalence of ASD in children is increasing with higher rates of diagnosis and an estimated one in 100 affected in the UK. Given that heritability is a major contributing factor, we aim to discuss research findings to-date in the context of a high-risk autism candidate gene, SHANK3 (SH3 and multiple ankyrin repeat domain 3), with its loss resulting in synaptic function disruption. We present a 10-year-old patient with a pathogenic de novo heterozygous c.1231delC, p.Arg411Val frameshift variant in SHANK3. He presented with severe autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and pathological demand avoidance, on a background of developmental impairment and language regression. The number of genes associated with autism is ever increasing. It is a heterogeneous group of disorders with no single gene conferring pathogenesis in the majority of cases. Genetic abnormalities can be detected in ~15% of ASD and these range from copy number variants in 16p11.2 and 15q13.2q13.3 to several well-known genetic disorders including tuberous sclerosis and fragile X syndrome. Further, high confidence autism genes include but are not limited to NRXN, NLGN3, NLGN4, SHANK2 and SHANK3

Evaluation of mRNA expression levels of cyp51a and mdr1, candidate genes for voriconazole resistance in Aspergillus flavus

Background: Voriconazole Resistance (VRC-R) in Aspergillus flavus isolates impacts the management of aspergillosis, since azoles are the first choice for prophylaxis and therapy. However, to the best of our knowledge, the mechanisms underlying voriconazole resistance are poorly understood. Objectives: The present study was designed to evaluate mRNA expression levels of cyp51A and mdr1 genes in voriconazole resistant A. flavus by a Real-Time Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) technique. Materials and Methods: Five A. flavus isolates with resistance to VRC were examined by a RT-PCR approach. Results: Four out of five isolates revealed cyp51A and mdr1 mRNA overexpression. Interestingly, the isolate, which was negative for cyp51A and mdr1 mRNA expression showed a high voriconazole Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC). Furthermore, a computational-based analysis predicted that voriconazole resistance could be mediated through cooperation with a network protein interaction. Conclusions: Our experimental and in silico findings may provide new insight in the complex molecular pathways of drug resistance and also could assist design an efficient therapeutic strategy for aspergillosis treatment. © 2015 Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences