INTERCOMPARISON OF DIFFERENT RAINFALL PRODUCTS AND VALIDATION OF WRF MODELLED RAINFALL ESTIMATION IN N-W HIMALAYA DURING MONSOON PERIOD

Extreme precipitation events are responsible for major floods in any part of the world. In recent years, simulations and projection of weather conditions to future, with Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) models like Weather Research and Forecast (WRF), has become an imperative component of research in the field of atmospheric science and hydrology. The validation of modelled forecast is thus have become matter of paramount importance in case of forecasting. This study delivers an all-inclusive assessment of 5 high spatial resolution gridded precipitation products including satellite data products and also climate reanalysis product as compared to WRF precipitation product. The study was performed in river basins of North Western Himalaya (NWH) in India. Performance of WRF model is evaluated by comparing with observational gridded (0.25° × 0.25°) precipitation data from Indian Meteorological Department (IMD). Other products include TRMM Multi Satellite Precipitation Analysis (TMPA) 3B42-v7 product (0.25° × 0.25°) and Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) product (0.1° × 0.1°). Moreover, climate reanalysis rainfall product from ERA Interim is also used. Bias, Mean Absolute Error, Root Mean Square Error, False Alarm Ratio (FAR), Probability of False Detection (POFD), and Probability of Detection (POD) were calculated with particular rainfall thresholds. TRMM and GPM products were found to be sufficiently close to the observations. All products showed better performance in the low altitude areas i.e. in planes of Upper Ganga and Yamuna basin and Indus basin, and increase in error as topographical variation increases. This study can be used for identifying suitability of WRF forecast data and assessing performance of other rainfall datasets as well

Level of agreement between objectively determined body composition and perceived body image in 6- To 8-year-old South African children- To Body Composition-Isotope Technique study

To assess the level of agreement between body size self-perception and actual body size determined by body mass index (BMI) z-score and body fatness measured by the deuterium dilution method (DDM) in South African children aged 6-8 years. A cross-sectional sample of 202 children (83 boys and 119 girls) aged 6-8 years from the Body Composition-Isotope Technique study (BC-IT) was taken. Subjective measures of body image (silhouettes) were compared with the objective measures of BMI z-score and body fatness measured by the DDM. The World Health Organization BMI z-scores were used to classify the children as underweight, normal, overweight, or obese. DDM-measured fatness was classified based on the McCarthy centile curves set at 2nd, 85th and 95th in conjunction with fatness cut-off points of 25% in boys and 30% in girls. Data were analyzed using SPSS v26. Of 202 children, 32.2%, 55.1%, 8.8%, and 2.4% perceived their body size as underweight, normal, overweight, and obese, respectively. Based on BMI z-score, 18.8%, 72.8%, 6.9%, and 1.5% were classified as underweight, normal, overweight, and obese, respectively. Body fatness measurement showed that 2.5%, 48.0%, 21.8%, and 29.7% were underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obese, respectively

Homology modeling and docking studies between HIV-1 protease and carbamic acid

96-100HIV-I protease (HIV-I PR) is aspartic protease enzyme which is essential for the life-cycle of HIV retrovirus. Homology structural model and function relation of HIV-I PR have solved the structure of HIV-I proteases. We created a homology model of HIV-I PR and the 3-D structure as template using with ICMPro software. The ICMPro homology modeling algorithm has demonstrated excellent accuracy in blind predictions. Moreover, recent results show that ICMPro models built with as little as 35% identity can be accurate enough to be successfully used in receptor based rational drug design. The closest homologue with the highest sequence identity of 38.395% was selected as representative model using YASARA tools. The model was validated using protein structure checking tools such as PROCHEK for reliability. A total of two pockets were predicted by the software. Once the pockets were predicted, the ligand was subjected to docking reaction using the docking module of ICMPro software. Based on the RMSD and energy values, the best docking orientation was selected. The better RMSD value of docking is 0.0066288. This study will be used in broad screening of inhibitors of the protein and can be further implemented in future drug designing

Nitrogen economy of the main shoot of field-grown barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) I. Dry weight, duration, and nitrate content in different organs

The main shoot of field-grown Jyoti barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) grown at 40 kg ha-1 was separated into different organs at various stages of growth and development. Changes in fresh and dry weights and duration for which the parts remained metabolically active (green) were recorded. Weight duration (gram × day), a factor contributing to total NO-3 reduction of each organ, was calculated. The dry matter percentage increased in the successively formed laminae and sheaths. The weight duration of the different components viz. internodes, spike (excluding the grains), laminae, and sheaths, respectively were 40.2, 10.5, 21.8, and 17.8. Nitrate content (µmol g-1 dry wt.) was high in the initially formed organs and declined in the successively formed ones. In the laminae, there was a sharp fall after achieving maximal values except for the flag lamina where the changes in NO-3 content were marginal over a fairly long period. The ear components had low NO3- concentration. Total NO-3 content (µmol) in the main shoot showed peaks at 49, 84, and 118 d after sowing

ASSESSMENT OF ADAPTATION OF LIVER FLUKE CERCARIAE IN THE IMMATURE STAGES OF ANOPHELES FLUVIATILIS UNDER DIFFERENT ECOLOGICAL CONDITIONS

The results of the present investigation are based on the adaptation of liverfluke cercariae in immature stages of Anopheles fluviatilis at altering temperature, light conditions and pH of the water. The prevalence of cercariae was maximum in IV instar larval stage at 24°C and 40°C whereas in III instar larvae it was 32°C. The pupae also exhibited antagonism efficiency but to a less extent in comparison to II, III and IV instar larvae. There was no response to I instar larvae towards the cercariae at all the selected ecological parameters. The adaptation efficiency of cercariae was maximum in III instar larvae and that too in sharp light conditions whereas in dim light and darkness it was observed in IV instar larvae. At both the levels of pH i.e. 6.5 and 7.5 the maximum prevalence of adaptation was seen in IV instar stages followed by III instar larvae

Full-sib and reciprocal recurrent selection in relation to pearl millet improvement

During the years 1973 to 1976 two populations of Pearl millet with wide genetic base, namely, Delhi composite (DC) and Vijay composite (VC) were used to compare the response to selection by the full-sib family method from biparental material and reciprocal recurrent selection (RRS). The results indicated that it was possible to advance grain yield with one cycle of RRS by about 23 percent in the case of population DC and 21 percent in population VC, while for the full-sib selection method, the improvement in grain yield was not so rapid. The studies on the nature of gene action indicated that both additive and dominance gene actions were important for grain yield, ear length and ear girth. The coefficient of variation as a result of RRS was reduced in population DC, while it was comparable to base population in the other population. The correlation studies indicated that the magnitude of favourable correlation of different characters with grain yield were higher in case of RRS compared to the full-sib system. The presence of negative correlation of plant height with grain yield in both the improved populations indicated the possibility of breakage of unfavourable gene combinations through RRS and full-sibs developed from biparental mating

Nitrogen economy of the main shoot of field grown barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) III. Content of reduced nitrogen in different organs

Nitrogen concentration pattern and total nitrogen content in the various organs of the main shoot of field grown Jyoti barley at 40 kg N ha-1 were determined. The laminae had a much higher N concentration (µmol g-1 dry wt.) than the other organs at a corresponding stage. The major amount of N accumulates in the main shoot by ear emergence. An observation of interest is the decline in the total N content of the laminae before anthesis. The results are discussed in relation to mobilization of N within the shoot and the contribution of the vegetative parts to the N in developing grains

Nitrogen economy of the main shoot of field-grown barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) II. In vivo nitrate reductase activity during growth

The method for assay of in vivo nitrate reductase (NR) activity was standardized for barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). NR activity was determined in the various organs of the main shoot of field-grown Jyoti barley at 40 kg N ha-1. Total nitrate reductase activity (TNRA) of each organ for the period it was metabolically active was calculated. The NR activity was highest in the laminae, followed by the sheaths, reproductive organs; and internodes. The NR activity was high in the first-formed laminae and it showed a decline in the ones formed subsequently. The values varied from 43.2 ± 4.33 to 7.2 ± 1.49 µmol NO-3 reduced g-1 dry wt. h-1. Maximum TNRA in the laminae, sheath, and internodes was at 49, 84, and 84-93 d after sowing, respectively. The TNRA of the main shoot as a whole showed three peaks, one around 49 d, a second around 63 d, and a third around 84 d after sowing. Correlation coefficient (r) between NR and NO3 concentration was highly significant in the laminae and sheath viz. 0.76 and 0.62, respectively. The results are discussed in relation to alteration in management practices to maximize nitrate assimilatory activity and the amount of reduced N harvested

UV-B IRRADIANCE INDUCED DELETERIOUS EFFECTS ON THE NET PRIMARY PRODUCTIVITY AND COUNTERACTED BY SOME PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS (PGRs), IN BRASSICA COMPESTRIS PT-303 (BROWN SARSON)

ABSTRACT: The aim of present study to be evaluated the appropriate concentrations of plant growth regulators i.e. M) in crop of Brassica compestris PT-303 respectively. Therefore, for the field studies, only these concentrations were taken to assess for the studies of net primary productivity of Brassica compestris PT-303 (Brown sarson)

2D-DIGE as a strategy to identify serum protein biomarkers to monitor pharmacological efficacy in dopamine-dictated states of Parkinson’s disease and schizophrenia

Ashish Kumar Gupta,1 Gaurav Khunger Kumar,1 Komal Rani,1 Ruchika Pokhriyal,1 Mohd Imran Khan,1 Domada Ratna Kumar,1 Vinay Goyal,2 Manjari Tripathi,2 Rishab Gupta,3 Rakesh Kumar Chadda,3 Perumal Vanamail,4 Ashok Kumar Mohanty,5 Gururao Hariprasad1 1Department of Biophysics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India; 2Department of Neurology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India; 3Department of Psychiatry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India; 4Department of Biostatistics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India; 5Proteomics Facility, National Diary Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana 132001, India Objectives: Parkinson’s disease and schizophrenia are clinical scenarios that occur due to dopaminergic deficit and hyperactivity in the midbrain, respectively. Current pharmacological interventions for these two diseases therefore aim to restore normal dopamine levels in the midbrain. But during therapy, there is a overshooting of dopamine concentrations that result in hallucinations in Parkinson’s disease patients and extra-pyramidal symptoms in schizophrenic patients. This causes a lot of inconvenience to the patents and the clinicians. There are no tests currently available to monitor drug efficacy in these two neuropsychiatric diseases. Materials and methods: Parkinson’s disease and schizophrenic naïve patients were recruited. Serum proteins isolated from these two clinical phenotypes were labeled with fluorescent cyanine dyes and analyzed by two-dimensional difference in gel electrophoresis proteomic experiment. Differentially expressed spots that had consistent expression pattern across five sets of biological replicate gels were trypsin digested and subjected to mass spectrometric analysis for protein identification. Validation experiments were done for the identified proteins using antibody-based assay on a patient cohort that included naïve, treated, and those who had side effects. Results: Serum α- and β-globin chains were identified as differentially expressed proteins having threefold higher expressions in Parkinson’s patients as compared to schizophrenia. Interestingly, concentrations of these two proteins had an inverse correlation across clinical phenotypes in the dopaminergic spectrum. RBC contamination as a source for these proteins was ruled out. Conclusion: There is a clear association of free serum globin with dopaminergic clinical states. This lays a platform for protein biomarker–based monitoring of pharmacological efficacy in Parkinson’s disease and schizophrenia. Keywords: Parkinson’s disease, schizophrenia, gel-based proteomics, biomarkers, dopamine, pharmacological efficacy, difference gel electrophoresi