Fertility enhancement using P-24 and fixed time artificial insemination (FTAI) protocol in repeat breeder buffaloes

Pluriparous repeat breeding Murrah buffaloes (20) were randomly divided into 2 groups, viz. control and treatment group. Control group buffaloes were inseminated on day 0 and 1 of oestrus cycle whereas treatment group buffaloes were treated with P- 24 and FTAI protocol. A significantly higher conception rate was obtained in treatment group when compared to the control group. P-24 and FTAI protocol increased the conception rate in repeat breeding buffaloes

Staphylococcus aureus Quorum Regulator SarA Targeted Compound, 2-[(Methylamino)methyl]phenol Inhibits Biofilm and Down-Regulates Virulence Genes

Staphylococcus aureus is a widely acknowledged Gram-positive pathogen for forming biofilm and virulence gene expressions by quorum sensing (QS), a cell to cell communication process. The quorum regulator SarA of S. aureus up-regulates the expression of many virulence factors including biofilm formation to mediate pathogenesis and evasion of the host immune system in the late phases of growth. Thus, inhibiting the production or blocking SarA protein might influence the down-regulation of biofilm and virulence factors. In this context, here we have synthesized 2-[(Methylamino)methyl]phenol, which was specifically targeted toward the quorum regulator SarA through in silico approach in our previous study. The molecule has been evaluated in vitro to validate its antibiofilm activity against clinical S. aureus strains. In addition, antivirulence properties of the inhibitor were confirmed with the observation of a significant reduction in the expression of representative virulence genes like fnbA, hla and hld that are governed under S. aureus QS. Interestingly, the SarA targeted inhibitor showed negligible antimicrobial activity and markedly reduced the minimum inhibitory concentration of conventional antibiotics when used in combination making it a more attractive lead for further clinical tests

INDUCTION OF ESTRUS IN ANESTRUS MURRAH BUFFALOES AND PROGRAMMED BREEDING

ABSTARC

Influence of dietary supplementation of chromium on the carcass traits of crossbred pigs

This study was conducted to assess the influence of chromium on the carcass traits in crossbred (Large White Yorkshire X Landrace) pigs fed with swill feeding for a period of 5 months. Early-weaned crossbred piglets (n=24) were selected for this study, and the piglets were randomly divided into three equal groups; Group I, II, and III. The piglets were reared by following standard health coverage protocols. The feeds of Group I and II were supplemented with chromium in the form of chromium tripicolinate at 0.1 and 0.2 mg/kg of swill feed respectively, and Group III was kept as control. Carcass weight, carcass length, and bone percentage showed no significant difference among the three groups. However, better dressing percentage was observed in Group I (p<0.05). Liver and kidney weights were reduced in chromium supplemented groups (p<0.05). Chromium supplemented groups showed lower backfat thickness and fat percentage (p<0.01); whereas, loin eye areas and muscle percentage were increased as compared to the control group. Thus, it was concluded that chromium supplementation in feed of crossbred piglets influenced positively in their carcass traits

Convenient Methods for the Synthesis of Chiral Amino Alcohols and Amines

Simple, convenient methods have been developed using readily available, easy-to-handle reagents to access a variety of chiral amino alcohols and amines, which have considerable potential for applications in asymmetric organic transformations. Scholars from this laboratory in India have made significant contributions to this field, which is the subject of the current review

Self-Assembled Light-Harvesting System from Chromophores in Lipid Vesicles

Lipid vesicles are used as the organizational structure of self-assembled light-harvesting systems. Following analysis of 17 chromophores, six were selected for inclusion in vesicle-based antennas. The complementary absorption features of the chromophores span the near-ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared region. Although the overall concentration of the pigments is low (∼1 μM for quantitative spectroscopic studies) in a cuvette, the lipid-vesicle system affords high concentration (≥10 mM) in the bilayer for efficient energy flow from donor to acceptor. Energy transfer was characterized in 13 representative binary mixtures using static techniques (fluorescence–excitation versus absorptance spectra, quenching of donor fluorescence, modeling emission spectra of a mixture versus components) and time-resolved spectroscopy (fluorescence, ultrafast absorption). Binary donor–acceptor systems that employ a boron-dipyrrin donor (S₀ ↔ S₁ absorption/emission in the blue-green) and a chlorin or bacteriochlorin acceptor (S₀ ↔ S₁ absorption/emission in the red or near-infrared) have an average excitation-energy-transfer efficiency (Φ_EET) of ∼50%. Binary systems with a chlorin donor and a chlorin or bacteriochlorin acceptor have Φ_EET ∼ 85%. The differences in Φ_EET generally track the donor-fluorescence/acceptor-absorption spectral overlap within a dipole–dipole coupling (Förster) mechanism. Substantial deviation from single-exponential decay of the excited donor (due to the dispersion of donor–acceptor distances) is expected and observed. The time profiles and resulting Φ_EET are modeled on the basis of (Förster) energy transfer between chromophores relatively densely packed in a two-dimensional compartment. Initial studies of two ternary and one quaternary combination of chromophores show the enhanced spectral coverage and energy-transfer efficacy expected on the basis of the binary systems. Collectively, this approach may provide one of the simplest designs for self-assembled light-harvesting systems that afford broad solar collection and efficient energy transfer

Antifouling effect of bioactive compounds from marine sponge Acanthella elongata and different species of bacterial film on larval attachment of Balanus amphitrite (cirripedia, crustacea)

The antifouling activity of bioactive compounds from marine sponge Acanthella elongata (Dendy) and five species of bacterial biofilm were studied. Larvae of Balanus amphitrite (Cyprids and nauplii) were used to monitor the settlement inhibition and the extent to which inhibition was due to toxicity. The crude extract and partially purified fractions of A.elongata showed significant inhibition over the settlement individually, and with the interaction of bacterial species. No bacterial film stimulated the barnacle settlement. The high but variable levels of antifouling activity in combination with less amount of toxicity showed the potential of these metabolites in environmentally-friendly antifouling preparations

Diblock Copolymer Micelles and Supported Films with Noncovalently Incorporated Chromophores: A Modular Platform for Efficient Energy Transfer

We report generation of modular, artificial light-harvesting assemblies where an amphiphilic diblock copolymer, poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(butadiene), serves as the framework for noncovalent organization of BODIPY-based energy donor and bacteriochlorin-based energy acceptor chromophores. The assemblies are adaptive and form well-defined micelles in aqueous solution and high-quality monolayer and bilayer films on solid supports, with the latter showing greater than 90% energy transfer efficiency. This study lays the groundwork for further development of modular, polymer-based materials for light harvesting and other photonic applications