Empowering citizen-led adaptation to systemic climate change risks

The increasing impacts of climate change instigate the need for adaptation. However, most adaptation initiatives focus on actions by government or businesses, despite growing calls for communities on the frontline of climate risks to be involved in planning and selecting strategies. Here, we appraise a pilot process using participatory systems mapping with citizens to identify 1) diverse threat vectors for local climate impacts and 2) context-relevant interventions to protect households and communities while 3) considering synergies and tradeoffs with other socially desirable outcomes. We tested the pilot process in communities in the lower Volta Basin in Ghana, the Assam region in India, and Southern England. From participants' perspectives, the process increased awareness of- and preparedness for climate change impacts and raised essential learning points for upscaling citizen-led adaptation approaches. These include understanding multiple outcomes of interventions, barriers, and enablers to implementation, and sensitivity of co-design to regional geography and socio-cultural context

Are farmer producer companies ready to behave as business entities? Insights from the vegetable-based farmer companies in West Bengal, India

Farmer producer companies are seen as an institutional arrangement to provide market access and sustainable livelihood to small farmers. In India, more than 4,200 producer organizations were registered over the last 8–10 years to mobilize millions of farmers to enhance their income through collective action. However, most of these organizations are at an early stage of establishing themselves amidst several hurdles. This study attempted to understand the challenges faced by the farmer producer companies (a type of producer organization) with the help of primary data collected through interviews of the CEOs of 36 such companies in West Bengal, India. The study also analyzed the issues concerning developing a supply-chain by producer companies with institutional buyers based on a real-time experiment, which involved examining the process of supply of vegetables to a bulk purchaser. The study found a lack of trust and awareness among the farmers to be significant hurdles to form producer companies. Inadequate training, inept management, and poor organizational skills of the members challenge the functioning of such companies. Further, some of the inadequacies in the supply-chain of a producer company, as found in the experiment, can be improved by the coordinated use of technology, training, and planning

Variation of absorbed photosynthetically active radiation (APAR) and yield of different kharif rice cultivars influenced by date of transplanting

A field experiment was conducted at BCKV, Kalyani, West Bengal (Latitude 22°58’60 N, Longitude 88°28’60 E) to evaluate the performance of different rice cultivars grown during kharif season of 2010 and 2011. The experiment was laid down in a split-plot design where three dates of transplanting (D1: 15th June; D2: 29th June and D3: 13th July) for both the years were allotted as main plot treatment and three rice cultivars (V1: Satabdi ; V2: Baishmukhi ; V3: Pre-Release) was considered as sub-plot treatment. Date of transplanting significantly influenced the grain yield. It was at the highest under D1 which reduced gradually with delay in transplanting. Among different varieties, Satabdi produced the highest yield (4079 kg ha-1). Irrespective of variety, absorbed photosynthetically active radiation (APAR) value increased with the advancement of crop growing season and it was at the highest level during panicle initiation stage. In general, the highest APAR value (90.2 μMol m-2s-1) was recorded under pre-released variety during panicle initiation stage due to its leaf orientation which was declined by 14% and 19.5% respectively under Baishmukhi and Satabdi variety

Discovery of p1736, a novel antidiabetic compound that improves peripheral insulin sensitivity in mice models.

Insulin resistance is a characteristic feature of Type 2 diabetes. Insulin resistance has also been implicated in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease. Currently used thiazolidinedione (TZD) insulin sensitizers although effective, have adverse side effects of weight gain, fluid retention and heart failure. Using fat cell-based phenotypic drug discovery approach we identified P1736, a novel antidiabetic molecule that has completed Phase II clinical trials. The present study evaluated the in vitro and in vivo pharmacological properties of P1736. P1736 is a non-TZD and it did not activate human PPAR(Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptor Gamma )receptors. P1736 caused dose dependent increase in glucose uptake (EC50-400 nM) in the insulin resistant 3T3 adipocytes. The compound (10 µM) induced translocation of GLUT-4 (Glucose Transporter type 4) transporters in these adipocytes while metformin (1.0mM) was inactive. In diabetic db/db mice, P1736 (150 mg/kg) was more efficacious than metformin in lowering plasma glucose (35% vs 25%) and triglyceride levels (38% vs 31%). P1736 tested at 5mg/kg, twice daily doses, reduced glucose by 41% and triglycerides by 32%, in db/db mice. These effects were not associated with adverse effects on body weight or liver function. Rosiglitazone (5mg/kg, twice daily) caused 60% and 40 % decreases in glucose and triglyceride levels, respectively. However, rosiglitazone induced 13% weight gain (p<0.05) in db/db mice. P1736 was also efficacious in ob/ob mice wherein 30-35% decrease in glucose and significant improvement in hyperinsulinemia were observed. Administration of P1736 to ob/ob mice resulted in 70% increase in glucose uptake in soleus muscles while metformin caused 38% increase. P1736 exhibited excellent safety profile and was weight neutral in all preclinical models of diabetes. Thus, P1736 with its unique pharmacology coupled with PPAR- independent mode of action could represent an alternative option in the management of insulin resistant Type 2 diabetic patients

ChemInform Abstract: 4-Hydroxy-6-methoxyaurones with High-Affinity Binding to Cytosolic Domain of P-Glycoprotein.

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P1736 did not adversely affect body weight in preclinical diabetic models.

<p><b>a</b>, Body weights of male <i>db/db</i> mice treated with vehicle (empty diamonds) or P1736 (150mg/kg, solid square) or metformin (solid triangle) for 15 days. Body weight was measured daily and recorded. <b>b</b>, Change in the weights of <i>db/db</i> mice treated with vehicle(empty diamonds) or P1736 (5 mg/kg twice daily, solid squares) or rosiglitazone (5 mg/kg, solid triangles) for 15 days. Data are expressed as Mean ± SEM for 7 - 10 animals per treatment group. * p< 0.05 compared to vehicle.</p

P1736 promotes glucose uptake by modulating insulin signaling pathways.

<p><b>a</b>, Effect of P1736 on PI3 - Kinase mediated glucose uptake in insulin resistant 3T3 adipocytes. Insulin resistant adipocytes were treated with P1736 (10 μM) or rosiglitazone (0.1 μM) as mentioned in methods. At the end of 4 days, cells were treated with vehicle (empty bar) or 100 nM wortmannin (solid bar) for 30 minutes. Later 200nmol/l insulin stimulated 2-deoxyglucose uptake was determined. <b>b</b>, Effect of P1736 on GLUT-4 translocation in insulin resistant adipocytes. Insulin resistant 3T3 adipocytes were treated with vehicle or P1736 (10 μM) or Metformin (1 mM) or rosiglitazone (0.1 μM) for 4 days. Later the cells were stimulated with 200nmol/l insulin for 25 minutes. Whole cell immunofluorescence assay for GLUT-4 translocation was performed using rabbit antibody against GLUT - 4 followed by incubation with FITC labeled secondary antibody. Confocal images were obtained using Bio-Rad Laser Scanning Microscope. </p