DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF A NOVEL CATHODE RAY TUBE (CRT) CRUSHER

The present methods of disposing the damaged and/or redundant cathode ray tubes (CRTs) are resulting in major environmental, health and safety issues. CRTs contain toxins, such as lead and barium which can leak into the soil, contaminate groundwater and result in a host of ailments, poisoning and death in humans. This paper presents a safe, low cost, locally engineered novel approach to crush CRTs, and to collect the components in granular form for further processing. An engine driven, hydraulic CRT crusher has been designed, developed and tested as a part of this wor

Bacillus-based nano-bioformulations for phytopathogens and insect–pest management

Abstract Background Recent concerns linked with the application of chemical pesticides and the increasing necessity of low inputs sustainable agriculture have put the use of microbial biocontrol agents and bio-pesticides to the forefront for their application against plant pathogens and insect–pest management. Results This review tended to scrutinize the prospects of microbial biocontrol agents and microbes-based nano-formulations against plant diseases and for pest management with emphasis on bacteria-based nanoparticles, especially derived from Bacillus species. It also tended to discuss the probable mechanism of action and effect on plant growth along with its prospects in a brief manner. Conclusion The use of microbial biocontrol agents offers effective, eco-friendly, and long-lasting management of plant diseases. The employment of nanotechnology in the field of biopesticides has emerged as a promising solution. Nano-biopesticides in the form of biologically derived active pesticides or compounds integrated as nanoparticles and integrated into a suitable polymer have application in insect–pest management. </jats:sec

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Not AvailableAn efficient somatic embryogenesis protocol for plantlet regeneration of the commercially valuable, and nutritionally important, crop guava (Psidium guajava L.) has been established. The immature zygotic embryos were targeted as an explant source for inducing somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration, using four commercial cultivars (Allahabad Safeda, Lalit, Sardar and Shweta). The plantlets regenerated were assessed for genetic fidelity using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), inter simple sequence repeats (ISSR) and simple sequence repeat (SSR) molecular markers. A total of 2171 scorable bands were obtained using RAPD, ISSR or SSR, ranging from 300–3500, 250–3000 and 150–280 bp, respectively. No polymorphism was observed among the somatic embryogenesis regenerated plants, compared with respective donor mother plants. The profiles generated based on the three marker systems were found to be highly uniform and approximately 99% bands were monomorphic. This high degree of genetic uniformity (as assessed using the markers) in the somatic embryogenesis regenerated plants indicates genomic stability was maintained through the regeneration protocol. The somatic embryogenesis regenerated plants were hardened and transferred to the field for acclimatization, of which 80% plantlets survived, with all being phenotypically similar to the donor mother plants. We conclude that the RAPD, ISSR and SSR markers were informative and potentially useful in confirming the uniformity assessment of somatic embryogenesis regenerated plants.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableNucellar embryogenesis was induced in Mangifera indica L. cv. Kurakkan, a polyembryonic salt tolerant, dwarfing rootstock. Nucellus tissue excised from 3.5 cm long fruits developed pro-embryonic callus in 19 days of inoculation on modified MS medium supplemented with 4.52µM 2,4- D, 0.05% malt extract and 13.78µM spermidine. Somatic embryogenesis exhibited high frequency (158.33 embryos). However, all the differentiated embryos proliferated on medium having low level of sucrose (4% w/v) and auxin (2.26µM 2,4-D). Most of the proembryonic calli converted into heart shaped and cotyledonary embryos by reducing temperature to 15 o C. Somatic embryos were matured on modified MS medium fortified with 0.38µM ABA, 0.57µM IAA and 30.30µM PEG. Matured somatic embryos germinated (around 30%) on MS medium supplemented with 2.68µM NAA, 11.60µM kinetin and 2736.9µM glutamine.Not Availabl

Mice With Partial Deletion of Y-Heterochromatin Exhibits Stress Vulnerability

The role of Y chromosome in sex determination and male fertility is well established. It is also known that infertile men are prone to psychological disturbances. Earlier studies in the laboratory identified genes expressed in testes that are putatively regulated by Y chromosome in man and mouse. With the availability of a Y-deleted mouse model, that is subfertile, we studied the effect of a partial deletion of Y-chromosomal heterochromatin on mouse behavior when compared to its wild type. The partial Y-deleted mice exhibited anxiety like phenotype under stress when different anxiety (open field test and elevated plus maze, EPM test) and depression related tests (tail suspension and force swim) were performed. The mutant mice also showed reduction in hippocampal neurogenesis and altered expression of neurogenesis markers such as Nestin, Sox2, Gfap, NeuroD1 and Dcx using quantitative real time PCR (qPCR) analysis. The genes with altered expression contained short stretches of homology to Y-derived transcripts only in their Untranslated Regions (UTRs). Our study suggests putative regulation of these genes by the Y chromosome in mouse brain altering stress related behavior