Evaluation of Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) Varieties for Rainfed Cultivation

Field experiments were carried out for two years at Agricultural Research Station, Seethampeta, Srikakulam Dist., Andhra Pradesh, to identify suitable turmeric cultivars for tribal areas of North Coastal Andhra Pradesh for rainfed cultivation. Ten cultivars were screened for their performance for comparison with the most popular local cultivar, 'Seethampeta local'. All the cultivars tested outperformed the local cultivar. Cultivars PTS-24 and CLL-326 were better in terms of plant height (93.43cm and 92.70cm, respectively) and mean number of tillers / plant (2.16 and 2.21 respectively). Per cent curing was highest in PTS-38 (28.5), followed by PTS-24 (25.7) and CLL-326 (25.2). Cultivars PTS-24 and CLL-326 recorded highest mean yield of both fresh and cured rhizomes. Yield of fresh rhizomes was positively correlated to number of tillers and number of leaves, while, yield of cured rhizomes was significantly influenced by per cent curing and number of leaves. Cultivars PTS-24 and CLL-326 recorded highest mean yield (23.08 t ha-1 and 22.93 t ha-1, respectively) and were identified as suitable varieties for rainfed cultivation in tribal areas of North Coastal Andhra Pradesh

Laryngeal nerve “anastomoses”

Laryngeal nerves have been observed to communicate with each other and forma variety of patterns. These communications have been studied extensively and have been of particular interest as it may provide an additional form of innervation to the intrinsic laryngeal muscles. Variations noted in incidence may help explain the variable position of the vocal folds after vocal fold paralysis. This study aimed to examine the incidence of various neural communications and to determine their contribution to the innervation of the larynx. Fifty adult cadaveric en-bloc laryngeal specimens were studied. Three different types of communications were observed between internal and recurrent laryngeal nerves viz. (1) Galen’s anastomosis (81%): in 13%, it was observed to supply the posterior cricoarytenoid muscle; (2) thyroarytenoid communication (9%): this was observed to supply the thyroarytenoid musclein 2% of specimens and (3) arytenoid plexus (28%): in 6%, it supplied a branch tothe transverse arytenoid muscle. The only communication between the externaland recurrent laryngeal nerves was the communicating nerve (25%). In one lefthemi-larynx, the internal laryngeal nerve formed a communication with the externall aryngeal nerve, via a thyroid foramen. The neural communications that exist in the larynx have been thought to play a role in laryngeal innervation. The results of this study have shown varying incidences in neural communications. Contributions fromthese communications have also been noted to various in trinsic laryngeal muscles which may be a possible factor responsible for the variable position of the vocalfolds in certain cases of vocal fold paralysis

Ethnomedicine used for Asthma by tribes of Papikondalu forest, Andhra Pradesh, India

The present study represents the information about the treatment of asthma disease by the tribes of Papikondalu forest, Andhra Pradesh, India. A total of 17 medicinal plant species belonging to 17 genera and 14 families were recorded. The documented medicinal plants were labeled alphabetically with their voucher specimen number, family name, vernacular names, parts used and mode of administration. The documented of these medicinal plants against asthma reveals that these ethnic people are still dependent on local vegetation for their life care. Thus, this type of ethnomedicinal study appears to be useful for the research on medicinal plants for the betterment of mankind

Effect of Milk on Fibronectin and Collagen Type I Binding to \u3ci\u3eStaphylococcus aureus\u3c/i\u3e and Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci Isolated from Bovine Mastitis

Tryptic soy broth (TSB)-grown cells of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from acute and chronic bovine mastitis bound mainly 125I-fibronectin (125I-Fn), whereas strains of nine species of coagulase-negative staphylococci showed a predominant interaction with 125I-collagen (125I-Cn) type I. A particle agglutination assay (PAA) was used to examine the interaction of coagulase-negative staphylococci with 1251-Fn and 125I-Cn immobilized on latex. All 368 coagulase-negative staphylococci demonstrated high 125I-Cn and moderate to low 125I-Fn interactions in the PAA. Cn-PAA reactivity was high among strains of Staphylococcus xylosus (84.2%), Staphylococcus simulans (77.8%), Staphylococcus epidermidis (76.7%), and Staphylococcus hyicus (74.3%), whereas all six Staphylococcus capitis strains clumped Cn-PAA reagent. Incubating TSB-grown cells in 10% skim milk for 1 h decreased the 125I-Fn- and 125I-Cn-binding affinity in most of the S. aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci, while growth in 10% skim milk for 18 h resulted in more than 90% decrease or complete loss of interaction with these proteins. Decreased 1251-Fn binding in the presence of milk was correlated with protease production but not with 125I-Cn binding

Effect of Milk on Fibronectin and Collagen Type I Binding to \u3ci\u3eStaphylococcus aureus\u3c/i\u3e and Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci Isolated from Bovine Mastitis

Tryptic soy broth (TSB)-grown cells of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from acute and chronic bovine mastitis bound mainly 125I-fibronectin (125I-Fn), whereas strains of nine species of coagulase-negative staphylococci showed a predominant interaction with 125I-collagen (125I-Cn) type I. A particle agglutination assay (PAA) was used to examine the interaction of coagulase-negative staphylococci with 1251-Fn and 125I-Cn immobilized on latex. All 368 coagulase-negative staphylococci demonstrated high 125I-Cn and moderate to low 125I-Fn interactions in the PAA. Cn-PAA reactivity was high among strains of Staphylococcus xylosus (84.2%), Staphylococcus simulans (77.8%), Staphylococcus epidermidis (76.7%), and Staphylococcus hyicus (74.3%), whereas all six Staphylococcus capitis strains clumped Cn-PAA reagent. Incubating TSB-grown cells in 10% skim milk for 1 h decreased the 125I-Fn- and 125I-Cn-binding affinity in most of the S. aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci, while growth in 10% skim milk for 18 h resulted in more than 90% decrease or complete loss of interaction with these proteins. Decreased 1251-Fn binding in the presence of milk was correlated with protease production but not with 125I-Cn binding

Reconnection in the ISM

We discuss the role of ambipolar diffusion for simple reconnection in a partially ionized gas, following the reconnection geometry of Parker and Sweet. When the recombination time is short the mobility and reconnection of the magnetic field is substantially enhanced as matter escapes from the reconnection region via ambipolar diffusion. Our analysis shows that in the interstellar medium it is the recombination rate that usually limits the rate of reconnection. We show that heating effects can reduce this rate by increasing the recombination time and raising the local ion pressure. In the colder parts of the ISM, when temperatures are or the order of 100K or less, we obtain a significant enhancement over the usual Sweet-Parker rate, but only in dense molecular clouds will the reconnection velocity exceed 0.001 times the Alfv\'en speed. The ratio of the ion orbital radius to the reconnection layer thickness is typically a few percent, except in dense molecular clouds where it can approach unity. We briefly discuss prospects for obtaining much faster reconnection speeds in astrophysical plasmas.Comment: 25 pages, 1 figure, submitted to Ap

Crop improvement of coriander (Coriandrum sativum L. subsp. indicum var. indicum.) through crossing

Coriander is the most important seed spice crop in India. Selection is the most common breeding procedure used in coriander and crossing is non-existent. The present study was conducted to promote crossing as a breeding technique in coriander. It was found that coriander was protandrous and the sex ratio was 1.75 to 2.07. The stigma was receptive from the 3rd day to 6th day of anthesis indicating that artificial pollination on emasculated florets must be done repeatedly on 3rd and 4th day of anthesis. Pollen was viable for two days in the field. Fresh pollen can be stored in incubator at 25oC for three weeks with 88% retention of viability. Emasculation of florets was carried out with the help of binocular loupe. Emasculation either in the morning before anthesis or previous day evening was found to be suitable. For demonstrating the technique, four parents were reciprocally crossed. Only three crosses were successful indicating the differences in combining ability of the parents. Mean success among the crosses was 23%, fruit set among the florets varied from 9.52-83.3% depending on the cross combination. &nbsp