Effect of fertigation on the productivity of coconut

An experiment to study the effect of fertigation on the productivity of coconut was laid out at Horticulture Research Station, Arsikere, Karnataka during 2007-08 to 2011-12. Application of 25, 50, 75 and 100 per cent of recommended NPK through drip irrigation system was compared with the soil application of recommended NPK as well as control with no fertilizer application. Fertilizers were given through drip irrigation system throughout the year in ten equal splits at monthly interval excluding peak rainfall months of May and October. Application of 100 per cent NPK through drip irrigation recorded significantly higher number of female flowers and nut setting percentage compared to control and application of 25 per cent NPK through drip irrigation. The mean nut and copra yield per palm over five years was significantly higher with the application of 100 per cent NPK through drip irrigation compared to control and application of 25 and 50 per cent NPK through drip irrigation. However, the copra content was not significantly influenced by the fertigation treatments. Application of 75 per cent NPK through drip irrigation recorded nut and copra yield per palm on par with the application of 100 per cent NPK through drip irrigation and 100 per cent NPK through soil. The net returns and benefit-cost ratio in 75 per cent NPK through drip irrigation were also on par with the application of 100 per cent NPK through drip irrigation, but significantly higher than 100 per cent NPK through soil application. The study indicated the possibility of saving 25 per cent of the recommended fertilizers by adopting fertigation which ensures higher productivity in coconut

Lack of association between the rs2294008 polymorphism in the prostate stem cell antigen gene and colorectal neoplasia : a case-control and immunohistochemical study

PMID: 22824379 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] PMCID: PMC3500224 Free PMC ArticlePeer reviewedPublisher PD

Co(III) and Ni(II) Complexes Containing Bioactive Ligands: Synthesis, DNA Binding, and Photocleavage Studies

DNA binding and photocleavage characteristics of a series of mixed ligand complexes of the type [M(bpy)2qbdp](PF6)n·xH2O (where M = Co(III) or Ni(II), bpy = 2.2′-bipryidine, qbdp = Quinolino[3,2-b]benzodiazepine, n = 3 or 2 and x = 5 or 2) have been investigated. The DNA binding property of the complexes with calf thymus DNA has been investigated by using absorption spectra, viscosity measurements, as well as thermal denaturation studies. Intrinsic binding constant (Kb) has been estimated under similar set of experimental conditions. Absorption spectral studies indicate that the Co(III) and Ni(II) complexes intercalate between the base pairs of the CT-DNA tightly with intrinsic DNA binding constant of 1.3 × 106 and 3.1 × 105 M−1 in Tris-HCl buffer containing 50 mM NaCl, respectively. The proposed DNA binding mode supports the large enhancement in the relative viscosity of DNA on binding to quinolo[3,2-b]benzodiazepine. The oxidative as well as photo-induced cleavage reactions were monitered by gel electrophoresis for both complexes. The photocleavage experiments showed that the cobalt(III) complex can cleave pUC19 DNA effectively in the absence of external additives as an effective inorganic nuclease

Intercropping of medicinal and aromatic plants in coconut gardens

A field study was conducted at Horticulture Research Station, Arsikere, Karnataka during 2006-07 to 2008-09 to identify suitable medicinal and aromatic plants for intercropping in coconut gardens of maidan tract of Karnataka. The experiment consisted of 14 medicinal and aromatic crops viz., Kalmegh (Andrographis paniculata), Makoi (Solanum nigrum), Coleus (Coleus forskohlii), Garden rue (Ruta graveolens), Lepidium (Lepidium sativum), Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum), Arrow root (Maranta arundinaceae), Kacholam (Kaemferia galanga), Cowhage (Mucuna pruriens), Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa), Ambrette (Abelmoschus moschatus), Citronella (Cymbopogon winteranus), Lemon grass (Cymbopogon flexuosus) and Vetiver grass (Vetiveria zizanoides). The yield of all the medicinal and aromatic crops grown as intercrop in coconut garden were reduced compared to their sole crop yields. The reduction in yield was less in lemon grass (6.4 %), tulsi (23.5 %), arrow root (23.9 %), vetiver grass (25.1 %), kalmegh (25.7 %), makoi (29.1 %), citronella (30.2 %) and garden rue (30.5 %). The nut yield of coconut was improved with intercropping of medicinal and aromatic crops. The andrographolide content in kalmegh (4.40 to 3.20 %), rutin alkaloids in garden rue (1.68 to 1.40 %) and oil content in lepidium (19.60 to 17.23 %) were significantly reduced when grown as intercrops in coconut garden as compared to sole crop. However, the forskohlin content in coleus (0.43 to 0.61 %) and essential oil content in ambrette (0.24 to 0.29 %) were significantly increased by intercropping. In other medicinal and aromatic crops, the quality parameters were not significantly influenced by intercropping. The intercropping system of growing lemon grass under coconut recorded the highest net income (Rs. 91,561/ha) and B:C ratio (2.89) followed by garden rue (Rs. 81,865/ha and 2.79), tulsi (Rs. 77,472/ha and 2.71), kalmegh (Rs. 75,163/ha and 2.56), arrow root (Rs. 72,211/ha and 2.28) and makoi (Rs. 67,058/ha and 2.68). Hence, intercropping of lemon grass, garden rue, tulsi, kalmegh, arrow root and makoi with coconut can be recommended for maidan tract of Karnataka

Association of GSTP1 gene polymorphisms with performance traits in Deoni cattle

Heat stress directly and indirectly stimulate excessive intra/inter cellular toxicants such as malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Glutathione S-transferase Pi (GSTP1) plays the central role in the detoxification of ROS. In this investigation, we studied the genetic variation in GSTP1 gene using polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) technique in 70 Deoni breed cows. All the seven exons of GSTP1 gene were amplified by PCR using a total of six sets of primers. The genetic variants were determined by PCR-SSCP technique. Two unique SSCP patterns were observed in fragment 1, 3, 5 and 6 of GSTP1 gene. Sequence analysis with reference to GenBank Acc. no AC_000186.1 revealed polymorphisms at position 210, 746, 2438, 2439, 2443, 2507, 2695 and insertions between positions 707 and 708, 2700-2701 and 2775-2776. All the observed variations in coding regions were silent mutations. The cows with SSCP pattern B of fragment-5 had higher age at first calving while the cows with pattern A had higher lactation length and lactation yield as compared to pattern B (P≤0.05). The animals with pattern A of fragment 6 in GSTP1 gene had higher lactation length and lactation yield as compared to animals with pattern B. There was no significant difference in enzyme activity and calving interval in cows with different patterns in different SSCP fragments.Keywords: Deoni, GSTP1, polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP), single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), heat stressAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(24), pp. 3768-377

Centriole splitting caused by loss of the centrosomal linker protein C-NAP1 reduces centriolar satellite density and impedes centrosome amplification

Duplication of the centrosomes is a tightly regulated process. Abnormal centrosome numbers can impair cell division and cause changes in how cells migrate. Duplicated centrosomes are held together by a proteinaceous linker made up of rootletin filaments anchored to the centrioles by C-NAP1. This linker is removed in a NEK2A kinase-dependent manner as mitosis begins. To explore C-NAP1 activities in regulating centrosome activities, we used genome editing to ablate it. C-NAP1–null cells were viable and had an increased frequency of premature centriole separation, accompanied by reduced density of the centriolar satellites, with reexpression of C-NAP1 rescuing both phenotypes. We found that the primary cilium, a signaling structure that arises from the mother centriole docked to the cell membrane, was intact in the absence of C-NAP1, although components of the ciliary rootlet were aberrantly localized away from the base of the cilium. C-NAP1–deficient cells were capable of signaling through the cilium, as determined by gene expression analysis after fluid flow–induced shear stress and the relocalization of components of the Hedgehog pathway. Centrosome amplification induced by DNA damage or by PLK4 or CDK2 overexpression was markedly reduced in the absence of C-NAP1. We conclude that centriole splitting reduces the local density of key centriolar precursors to impede overduplication

Microbiome - The Power House of Health and Disease

The field of microbiome is an exciting and rapidly expanding research over the past few decades that have become a topic of great scientific and public interest. Microbiome comprises a complex collection of microorganisms, with their genes and metabolites colonizing different body niches in a deep symbiotic relationship in the aspect of both health and diseases. Microbial populations vary across the body sites, driven by different environmental condition, immunological factors and interactions between microbial species. It is now well known that the microbiome interact with their host, assisting in the bioconversion of nutrients and detoxification, boosting immunity and protecting against pathogenic microbes, maintaining individuals’ health. A wide range of environmental factors can have an impact on gut microbiota imbalance, which has a strong link to health and disease. The microbial role in basic biological processes as well as the development and progression of major human diseases like infectious diseases, liver diseases, gastrointestinal cancers, metabolic diseases, respiratory diseases, mental or psychiatric diseases, and autoimmune diseases. Therefore, a perfect and sensitive balanced interaction of microbes with the host is required for a healthy body. With recent advances in genome sequencing and ‘meta-omics’ tools, culture-independent analyses of microbiomes have been made possible, thus accelerating the progress of microbiome research by leaps and bounds

Cell dynamics and natural frequencies: scaling and shape matters

Cell dynamics is one of the most investigated areas under the field of biomechanics. Scaling plays a crucial role in determining the dynamic characteristics of biological systems. In the present investigation, cuboidal and cylindrical models of different scales are analysed to depict the dependence of natural frequency on the scaling factors. Three approaches, namely lumped mass system, finite element model (FEM) and numerical approach using Ansys are used to determine the fundamental natural frequencies. Different scaling factors, namely nano, micro (original size), millimeter and meter are considered for the analysis. The results indicate that the natural frequency varies inversely with the size of the cell by the same factor. A simple mathematical relation is derived to support this claim. Results are illustrated with numerical examples and corresponding mode shapes are reported

Enhancement in production of recombinant two-chain Insulin Glargine by over-expression of Kex2 protease in Pichia pastoris

Glargine is an analog of Insulin currently being produced by recombinant DNA technology using two different hosts namely Escherichia coli and Pichia pastoris. Production from E. coli involves the steps of extraction of inclusion bodies by cell lysis, refolding, proteolytic cleavage and purification. In P. pastoris, a single-chain precursor with appropriate disulfide bonding is secreted to the medium. Downstream processing currently involves use of trypsin which converts the precursor into two-chain final product. The use of trypsin in the process generates additional impurities due to presence of Lys and Arg residues in the Glargine molecule. In this study, we describe an alternate approach involving overexpression of endogenous Kex2 proprotein convertase, taking advantage of dibasic amino acid sequence (ArgArg) at the end of B-chain of Glargine. KEX2 gene overexpression in Pichia was accomplished by using promoters of varying strengths to ensure production of greater levels of fully functional two-chain Glargine product, confirmed by HPLC and mass analysis. In conclusion, this new production process involving Kex2 protease over-expression improves the downstream process efficiency, reduces the levels of impurities generated and decreases the use of raw material

Parameterized Single-Exponential Time Polynomial Space Algorithm for Steiner Tree

"In the Steiner tree problem, we are given as input a connected n-vertex graph with edge weights in {1,2,...,W}, and a subset of k terminal vertices. Our task is to compute a minimum-weight tree that contains all the terminals. We give an algorithm for this problem with running time O(7.97^k n^4 log W) using O(n^3 log nW log k) space. This is the first single-exponential time, polynomial-space FPT algorithm for the weighted Steiner tree problem." PLEASE NOTE:This is an author-created version that the author has self-archived to the "Aaltodoc" (aaltodoc.aalto.fi) faculty-level repository at Aalto University. The final publication is available at link.springer.com via the link http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-47672-7_40Peer reviewe