Naturally Occurring Calanolides: Occurrence, Biosynthesis, and Pharmacological Properties Including Therapeutic Potential.

Calanolides are tetracyclic 4-substituted dipyranocoumarins. Calanolide A, isolated from the leaves and twigs of Calophyllum lanigerum var. austrocoriaceum (Whitmore) P. F. Stevens, is the first member of this group of compounds with anti-HIV-1 activity mediated by reverse transcriptase inhibition. Calanolides are classified pharmacologically as non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTI). There are at least 15 naturally occurring calanolides distributed mainly within the genus Calophyllum, but some of them are also present in the genus Clausena. Besides significant anti-HIV properties, which have been exploited towards potential development of new NNRTIs for anti-HIV therapy, calanolides have also been found to possess anticancer, antimicrobial and antiparasitic potential. This review article provides a comprehensive update on all aspects of naturally occurring calanolides, including their chemistry, natural occurrence, biosynthesis, pharmacological and toxicological aspects including mechanism of action and structure activity relationships, pharmacokinetics, therapeutic potentials and available patents

Effect of in situ Rainwater Harvesting and Mulching on Growth, Yield and Fruit Quality in Mango Var. Arka Neelachal Kesri in Eastern India

A field study was conducted at Central Horticultural Experiment Station (ICAR-IIHR), Bhubaneswar, India, during 2007-2013 in a new mango orchard of the variety 'Arka Neelachal Kesri' at 5m x 5m spacing, to conserve rain-water and to enhance soil moisture availability during dry periods for augmenting plant growth and fruit production. Among the four in situ rain-water harvesting techniques (cup-and-plate, half-moon, full-moon, and trench) evaluated in combination with three types of mulch (no mulch, inorganic mulch, and organic mulch), the cup-and-plate system resulted in maximum annual increment in vegetative growth and fruit yield (4.67kg/plant), while, organic (paddy straw) and inorganic (black polythene, 100μ thickness) mulches improved vegetative growth, fruit yield and TSS in fruit significantly over no mulch

Bridging frustrated-spin-chain and spin-ladder physics: quasi-one-dimensional magnetism of BiCu2PO6

We derive and investigate the microscopic model of the quantum magnet BiCu2PO6 using band structure calculations, magnetic susceptibility and high-field magnetization measurements, as well as ED and DMRG techniques. The resulting quasi-one-dimensional spin model is a two-leg AFM ladder with frustrating next-nearest-neighbor couplings along the legs. The individual couplings are estimated from band structure calculations and by fitting the magnetic susceptibility with theoretical predictions, obtained using ED. The nearest-neighbor leg coupling J1, the rung coupling J4, and one of the next-nearest-neighbor couplings J2 amount to 120-150 K, while the second next-nearest-neighbor coupling is J2'~J2/2. The spin ladders do not match the structural chains, and although the next-nearest-neighbor interactions J2 and J2' have very similar superexchange pathways, they differ substantially in magnitude due to a tiny difference in the O-O distances and in the arrangement of non-magnetic PO4 tetrahedra. An extensive ED study of the proposed model provides the low-energy excitation spectrum and shows that the system is in the strong rung coupling regime. The strong frustration by the next-nearest-neighbor couplings leads to a triplon branch with an incommensurate minimum. This is further corroborated by a strong-coupling expansion up to second order in the inter-rung coupling. Based on high-field magnetization measurements, we estimate the spin gap of 32 K and suggest the likely presence of antisymmetric DM anisotropy and inter-ladder coupling J3. We also provide a tentative description of the physics of BiCu2PO6 in magnetic field, in the light of the low-energy excitation spectra and numerical calculations based on ED and DMRG. In particular, we raise the possibility for a rich interplay between one- and two-component Luttinger liquid phases and a magnetization plateau at 1/2 of the saturation value

ANTIOXIDATIVE AND FREE RADICAL SCAVENGING POTENTIALS OF CYCLOSORUS INTERRUPTUS (WILLD.) H. ITÔ AND PRONEPHRIUM NUDATUM (ROXB. EX GRIFF.) HOLTTUM

Objectives: The work aims to screen the antioxidative potentials of different crude extracts of the fronds of two medicinally important pteridophytes of Southern Assam, India, namely, Cyclosorus interruptus (Willd.) H. Itô and Pronephrium nudatum (Roxb. ex Griff.) Holttum. Methods: Frond extracts of the pteridophytes were prepared by Soxhlet hot extraction method. Total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) of the hexane, ethyl acetate, acetone, and methanol extracts of the fronds of the plants were done by following standard protocol. In vitro assessment of the antioxidative behavior of the extracts was performed using standard 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl scavenging assay, reducing power assay, metal chelating assay, hydroxyl, superoxide, and 2,2’- azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline - 6 – sulfonic acid) radical scavenging methods in different in vitro systems. Results: Preliminary phytochemical analysis implicated the presence of phenolic and flavonoid compounds in all the frond extracts. The methanol extract of the fronds of both the plants showed maximum phenolic and flavonoid contents in comparison to the other extracts, however, that of C. interruptus was found to be higher than P. nudatum. Antioxidative potentials of the said extracts were also found to be impressive and noteworthy. The decreasing order of the antioxidative efficacies of the extracts was found to be same as that of TPC and TFC of the extracts. Conclusion: It is pertinent to comment that the methanol extract of the fronds of both the plants may be treated as a potential source of natural antioxidants

Advancements in Machine Learning for the Diagnosis of Chronic Kidney Disease

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) constitutes a significant global health issue, precipitating damage to the kidneys and stripping many individuals of their most productive years. Alarmingly, 40% of those affected by CKD remain oblivious to their condition, a stark contrast to many other diseases where early detection is more common. Unlike other conditions, CKD eludes cure unless identified promptly in its nascent stages. This research emphasizes the collection of critical indicators such as blood pressure and diabetes status to ascertain the presence of CKD in individuals. It proposes the employment of advanced machine learning techniques, including Random Forest, XGBoost, and Support Vector Machines, aiming to enhance early detection and thereby mitigate the disease's impact. Utilizing a CKD dataset, this study endeavors to predict the likelihood of CKD in individuals, offering a proactive approach to tackle this formidable health challenge

Electronic and magnetic properties of K2_{2}CuP2_{2}O7_{7} - a model S=1/2 Heisenberg chain system

The electronic and magnetic properties of K$_{2}$CuP$_{2}$O$_{7}$ were investigated by means of susceptibility, specific heat and $^{31}$P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements and by LDA band structure calculations. The temperature dependence of the NMR shift $K(T)$ is well described by the $S=1/2$ Heisenberg antiferromagnetic chain (HAF) model with nearest neighbor exchange $J_{1}$ $\simeq$ $(141\pm 5)$ K. The corresponding mapping of an LDA-derived tight-binding model leads to $J_{1}^{LDA}$ $\simeq$ 196 K. The spin lattice relaxation rate $1/T_{1}$ decreases with temperature below 300 K but becomes nearly temperature independent between 30 K and 2 K as theoretically expected for an $S = {1/2}$ HAF chain. None of the investigated properties give any evidence for long range magnetic order above 2K, in agreement with the results of the band structure calculation, which yield extremely weak exchange to the next nearest neighbor (NNN) and a very small and frustrated inter-chain exchange. Thus, K$_{2}$CuP$_{2}$O$_{7}$ seems to be a better realization of a nearest neighbor $S = {1/2}$ HAF chain than the compounds reported so far.Comment: 9 pages, 8 figures. Accepted in PRB 200

Adoption of certain improved varieties of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in seven different provinces of Nepal

This study used farm level data to analyze the adoption of improved wheat varieties in Nepal. The seven districts each having the highest wheat area coverage in their respective provinces was selected. Pre-tested interview schedule was used to collect the primary information. The relevant literatures were reviewed for secondary information. The simple random method of sampling was used and 651 samples were taken. Descriptive statistics, probit regression and indexing were applied. This study showed that 94.1% of the area was covered by the improved wheat varieties, while 3.3% by local and 2.6% by the Indian varieties. In addition, of the improved varieties, NL 297 had the highest area coverage (30.88 %) followed by Vijay (23.24%), Gautam (12.95%), NL 971 (8.94%) and Aditya (5.34%) respectively. Probit econometric model revealed that membership of organization (1% level of significance), subsidy by the government (1% level), gender of the household head (5% level) and family member in foreign employment (10%) significantly determined the adoption of improved wheat varieties developed after NARC establishment. The indexing identified and ranked- lack of availability of quality improved seeds (I= 0.75) as the first followed by poor availability of fertilizers (0.65), labour shortage (0.61), lack of proper irrigation (0.55) and lack of agricultural machines (0.45) that were associated wheat production in study site. The concerned government institutions should assure the availability of quality improved seeds and fertilizers to the farmers; the subsidy on irrigation and agricultural machines allied with financial grant could attract the farmers towards wheat cultivation which ultimately contributes to increase wheat productivity

Issues in rice marketing system: a case of central terai

This study was conducted to understand the challenges and prospects of ricemarketing by taking case of central Nepal. Two focus group discussionsalong with eight key informants’ interviewswere conductedinBara and Parsa districts of Nepal.Also, secondary information was collected by reviewing the related literatures.The study revealed that the consumer price of rice is almost double than the farm gate price, possibly due to the presence of several intermediaries in different nodes of the supply chain.Key market actors like large collectors, millers and wholesalers have a dominating role in price negotiation and supply of rice in the market. The rice value chain is not strong enough, which might be due to poor vertical and horizontal as well as backward and forward linkages among the key players. The demand of fine and aromatic rice is gradually increasing due to changing food habits of the consumers and their access to purchasing capacity as well.The high yielding short duration varieties of fine and aromatic rice need to be identified and developed to meet the growing demand of consumers.In addition, to boost productivity and profitability of rice, a better investment climate, risk sharing mechanism and strengthened value chain with efficient research and extension services are required

Glutamate Receptor Dysregulation and Platelet Glutamate Dynamics in Alzheimer\u27s and Parkinson\u27s Diseases: Insights into Current Medications

Two of the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorders (NDDs), Alzheimer\u27s disease (AD) and Parkinson\u27s disease (PD), present significant challenges to healthcare systems worldwide. While the etiologies of AD and PD differ, both diseases share commonalities in synaptic dysfunction, thereby focusing attention on the role of neurotransmitters. The possible functions that platelets may play in neurodegenerative illnesses including PD and AD are becoming more acknowledged. In AD, platelets have been investigated for their ability to generate amyloid-ß (Aß) peptides, contributing to the formation of neurotoxic plaques. Moreover, platelets are considered biomarkers for early AD diagnosis. In PD, platelets have been studied for their involvement in oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction, which are key factors in the disease\u27s pathogenesis. Emerging research shows that platelets, which release glutamate upon activation, also play a role in these disorders. Decreased glutamate uptake in platelets has been observed in Alzheimer\u27s and Parkinson\u27s patients, pointing to a systemic dysfunction in glutamate handling. This paper aims to elucidate the critical role that glutamate receptors play in the pathophysiology of both AD and PD. Utilizing data from clinical trials, animal models, and cellular studies, we reviewed how glutamate receptors dysfunction contributes to neurodegenerative (ND) processes such as excitotoxicity, synaptic loss, and cognitive impairment. The paper also reviews all current medications including glutamate receptor antagonists for AD and PD, highlighting their mode of action and limitations. A deeper understanding of glutamate receptor involvement including its systemic regulation by platelets could open new avenues for more effective treatments, potentially slowing disease progression and improving patient outcomes

Collaborative Exploration of Capsicum and Cucurbitaceae Vegetable Genetic Resources in Eastern Nepal, February 2018

This report describes the third exploration for chili pepper and cucurbitaceous vegetable genetic resources in eastern Nepal, jointly conducted by the National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO) of Japan and the Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC). We conducted a field survey in eastern Nepal from the 14th to 24th of February 2018. We collected a total of 66 samples including; Cucumis sativus (27), Cucurbita maxima (3), C. moschata (5), C. ficifolia (1), Luffa acutangula (1), Capsicum annuum (13) C. frutescens (2) and Capsicum sp. (14). The collected seed samples were stored as seeds at the National Agriculture Genetic Resources Center, NARC and will be transferred to the Genetic Resources Center, NARO.本報告は農林水産省委託プロジェクト研究「海外植物遺伝資源の収集・提供強化」の予算により実施され，国立研究開発法人農業・食品産業技術総合研究機構 遺伝資源センターとネパール国立農業遺伝資源センターとの間で締結した共同研究協定に基づいて行われたネパール東部におけるトウガラシ属およびウリ科遺伝資源の探索・収集に関わる調査報告書である．調査は2018年2月15日～24日にかけて行った．ネパール東部のイラム県，パンチタール県，ダンクタ県において探索・調査を行った．その結果，キュウリ27点，セイヨウカボチャ3点，ニホンカボチャ5点，クロダネカボチャ1点，トカドヘチマ1点，トウガラシ属29点の合計66点の野菜遺伝資源を収集した．収集された遺伝資源は，ネパール国立農業遺伝資源センターで保存するとともに，我が国の遺伝資源センターに導入される予定である