\u3cem\u3e Albizia procera\u3c/em\u3e Based Silvipastoral System: An Ideal Alternate Land Use System for Sustainable Forage Production in Semi-Arid Region

India’s economy is agro-based and about 69% of the total population depends on it for their livelihood (GoI, 2013). Livestock is the integral component of Indian agriculture since time immemorial. Its contribution to national economy through milk, meat, wool as well as farmyard manure is enormous. India has the largest number of livestock, representing over 17% of the world. Among four important species of livestock, cattle represent over 43% of the population followed by buffaloes (19%), goats (26%) and sheep (10%). The share of livestock reared is highest in marginal followed by small and semi-medium land holders implying that marginal holders and small land holders are playing seminal role in development of livestock sector in country. The productivity of livestock and growth of animal husbandry are closely linked with the biomass and quality of forages. Currently there has been radical change in realising the importance of forages in integrated farming system, crop diversification, watershed management, restoration of degraded lands and climate resilient agriculture. Grasslands represent some 70% of global agricultural land area; unfortunately as much as 35% of the grasslands are degraded. The insufficient fodder availability has adversely affected all the three systems of livestock production. Silvipasture systems is an integrated approach of growing ideal combinations of grasses, legumes and trees for higher land productivity, conserving biodiversity and nutrients and producing forage, timber and firewood from a single unit area on a sustainable basis. The trees and shrubs used in silvipasture are used primarily to produce fodder for livestock. Looking at the enormous production potential of the slivipastoral systems, it is pertinent to introduce these in the arid and semi-arid regions so that large area of wasteland which is not suitable for crop production can be used for of fodder and biomass production. Dev et al. (2014) observed significant impact of participatory silvipastoral intervention and soil conservation measures for forage resource enhancement in western Himalaya. The study aims to present the suitability of silvipastoral systems in detail and advocate the extensive use of silvipasture in semi-arid regions for higher production

Investigating the molecular basis of Drosophila L(3)mbt and pins malignant tumors

Genetically tractable model organisms may help to identify new approaches to stop malignant growth. During the first part of my doctoral thesis, I have participated in a high content screen carried out to this end taking advantage of several types of experimental malignant neoplasms that can be induced in Drosophila melanogaster (Rossi et al., 2017). In addition, I have identified Chitinases, cht9 and cht2, and nesthocker (nst), an enzyme involved in the hexosamine biosynthesis pathway, as targets that can be depleted to levels that arrests tumors caused by the loss of function of lethal(3)malignant brain tumor (l(3)mbt) while having effect neither on healthy tissues nor on tumors caused by the loss of brain tumor (brat). In the second part, I describe my contribution to a collaboration that resulted in the finding that partner of inscuteable (pins) mutant neural stem cells over-proliferate upon loss of Prefoldin (Zhang et al., 2016). This result, together with previous results from our laboratory, strongly suggest that pins mutant neural stems cells, although fewer and smaller than those of wild type larvae are sensitized for hyperplasia. In the last part of this thesis, I present unpublished results discarding the loss of the interphase aster that characterizes pins mutant neural stem cells as the cause for such a sensitivity. I also show evidence demonstrating that neither cytokinesis failure nor abnormal centrosome number can mimic the effect of the loss of Prefoldin on pins mutant neural stem cells.El uso de organismos modelo de experimentación animal puede facilitar la identificación de nuevos abordajes para combatir el crecimiento maligno. Con tal fin, en la primera parte de mi tesis doctoral participé en un cribado de 4.000 genes llevado a cabo con varios tipos de neoplasms malignos inducidos experimentalmente en Drosophila melanogaster (Rossi et al., 2017). En ese periodo identifiqué las quitinasas cht9 y cht2, y la enzyma del la ruta de biosíntesis de hexosamine nesthocker (nst) como dianas cuya función puede ser parcialmente reducida a niveles que impiden el crecimiento de tumores causados por la falta de función del gen lethal(3)malignant brain tumor (mbt) pero no afectan el crecimiento de tejidos normales, ni de tumores resultantes de mutaciones en el gen brain tumor (brat). En la segunda parte de esta tesis describo mi contribución a una colaboración que dió lugar al descubrimiento de que las células madre neuronales que son mutantes para el gen partner of inscuteable (pins) proliferan descontroladamente si se inactiva en ellas el gen Prefoldin (Zhang et al., 2016). Este y otros resultados obtenidos anteriormente en nuestro laboratorio sugieren que las céllulas madre neuronales de larvas mutantes para en gen pins, que son mas pequeñas y menos abundantes que las de larvas salvajes, están sin embargo sensibilizadas para producir hyperplasia. En la última parte de la tesis presento resultados no publicados que descartan que tal sensibilidad sea debida a la ausencia del aster durante la interfase, que es caraterística del fenotipo mutante de pins, junto con evidencia experimental que demuestra que ni la ausencia de citoquinesis ni el número anormal de centrosomas fenocopian el efecto de la falta de función de Prefoldin en las células madre neuronales mutantes para pins

Investigating the molecular basis of Drosophila L(3)mbt and pins malignant tumors

Genetically tractable model organisms may help to identify new approaches to stop malignant growth. During the first part of my doctoral thesis, I have participated in a high content screen carried out to this end taking advantage of several types of experimental malignant neoplasms that can be induced in Drosophila melanogaster (Rossi et al., 2017). In addition, I have identified Chitinases, cht9 and cht2, and nesthocker (nst), an enzyme involved in the hexosamine biosynthesis pathway, as targets that can be depleted to levels that arrests tumors caused by the loss of function of lethal(3)malignant brain tumor (l(3)mbt) while having effect neither on healthy tissues nor on tumors caused by the loss of brain tumor (brat). In the second part, I describe my contribution to a collaboration that resulted in the finding that partner of inscuteable (pins) mutant neural stem cells over-proliferate upon loss of Prefoldin (Zhang et al., 2016). This result, together with previous results from our laboratory, strongly suggest that pins mutant neural stems cells, although fewer and smaller than those of wild type larvae are sensitized for hyperplasia. In the last part of this thesis, I present unpublished results discarding the loss of the interphase aster that characterizes pins mutant neural stem cells as the cause for such a sensitivity. I also show evidence demonstrating that neither cytokinesis failure nor abnormal centrosome number can mimic the effect of the loss of Prefoldin on pins mutant neural stem cells.El uso de organismos modelo de experimentación animal puede facilitar la identificación de nuevos abordajes para combatir el crecimiento maligno. Con tal fin, en la primera parte de mi tesis doctoral participé en un cribado de 4.000 genes llevado a cabo con varios tipos de neoplasms malignos inducidos experimentalmente en Drosophila melanogaster (Rossi et al., 2017). En ese periodo identifiqué las quitinasas cht9 y cht2, y la enzyma del la ruta de biosíntesis de hexosamine nesthocker (nst) como dianas cuya función puede ser parcialmente reducida a niveles que impiden el crecimiento de tumores causados por la falta de función del gen lethal(3)malignant brain tumor (mbt) pero no afectan el crecimiento de tejidos normales, ni de tumores resultantes de mutaciones en el gen brain tumor (brat). En la segunda parte de esta tesis describo mi contribución a una colaboración que dió lugar al descubrimiento de que las células madre neuronales que son mutantes para el gen partner of inscuteable (pins) proliferan descontroladamente si se inactiva en ellas el gen Prefoldin (Zhang et al., 2016). Este y otros resultados obtenidos anteriormente en nuestro laboratorio sugieren que las céllulas madre neuronales de larvas mutantes para en gen pins, que son mas pequeñas y menos abundantes que las de larvas salvajes, están sin embargo sensibilizadas para producir hyperplasia. En la última parte de la tesis presento resultados no publicados que descartan que tal sensibilidad sea debida a la ausencia del aster durante la interfase, que es caraterística del fenotipo mutante de pins, junto con evidencia experimental que demuestra que ni la ausencia de citoquinesis ni el número anormal de centrosomas fenocopian el efecto de la falta de función de Prefoldin en las células madre neuronales mutantes para pins

HYPOGLYCEMIC ACTION OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF LEAVES OF OXALIS CORNICULATA LINN. ON NORMAL AND ALLOXAN-INDUCED DIABETIC ALBINO RATS

Objective: The aim of the study is to evaluate hypoglycemic action of Ethanolic extract of leaves of Oxalis corniculata linn. on normal and Alloxan-induced diabetic albino rats.   Methods: Hyperglycemia is induced by use of intraperitoneal injection of Alloxan and Adrenaline. After that test drug Ethanolic extract of leaves of Oxalis corniculata (ELOC) and standard drug Glibenclamide in administered. The hypoglycemic effect of ELOC is compared with the standard drug and control.   Results: Significant hypoglycemic activity of ELOC was seen in Alloxan induced hyperglycemia when blood glucose levels were estimated from different tissues. Also, significant hypoglycemic activity of ELOC was seen in Adrenaline induced hyperglycemia.   Conclusion: Ethanolic extract of leaves of Oxalis corniculata (ELOC) possess hypoglycemic activity. Key words: hypoglycemic activity, Alloxan, Oxalis corniculat

Residual stress and surface properties of stainless steel welded joints induced by ultrasonic pulsed water jet peening

The residual stress and subsurface hardness of welded joints treated by peening using an ultrasonic pulsed water jet at pressures of 20-60 MPa with various traverse speeds and standoff distances were measured. The effect of the treatment was quantified by measuring the residual stress using X-ray diffraction in three regions (the welded zone, heat-affected zone, and base metal). To analyse the depth of the plastic deformation induced by the pulsating water jet, microstructural analyses and micro-hardness measurements were conducted. The surface topography of the treated samples was examined by measuring the surface roughness using a contact surface roughness profilometer. After pulsating water jet treatment, the samples showed both increased residual stress and surface roughness at pressures of 20-60 MPa. Increased subsurface hardness of the treated region was observed up to a depth of 200-250 mu m at pressures of 40 and 60 MPa, deeper than that of the sample prepared at 20 MPa. The microstructural analysis identified the involved plastic deformation phenomenon occurred during the treatment process. This method of surface treatment, where the efficiency of the jet is enhanced by the generation of pulses using an acoustic generator, showed promising results for its practical application as a post-weld treatment method.Web of Science12746245

Characterization of genetic and molecular tools for studying the endogenous expression of Lactate dehydrogenase in Drosophila melanogaster.

Drosophila melanogaster larval development relies on a specialized metabolic state that utilizes carbohydrates and other dietary nutrients to promote rapid growth. One unique feature of the larval metabolic program is that Lactate Dehydrogenase (Ldh) activity is highly elevated during this growth phase when compared to other stages of the fly life cycle, indicating that Ldh serves a key role in promoting juvenile development. Previous studies of larval Ldh activity have largely focused on the function of this enzyme at the whole animal level, however, Ldh expression varies significantly among larval tissues, raising the question of how this enzyme promotes tissue-specific growth programs. Here we characterize two transgene reporters and an antibody that can be used to study Ldh expression in vivo. We find that all three tools produce similar Ldh expression patterns. Moreover, these reagents demonstrate that the larval Ldh expression pattern is complex, suggesting the purpose of this enzyme varies across cell types. Overall, our studies validate a series of genetic and molecular reagents that can be used to study glycolytic metabolism in the fly

Change in bone mineral density in premenopausal women with rheumatoid arthritis managed with or without prednisolone

Background:Osteoporosis (OP) is being increasingly recognized in inflammatory rheumatic diseases like rheumatoid arthritis (RA), characterized mainly by low bone mass, reduced bone strength, and an increased risk of fractures affecting bone metabolism influencing bone mineral density (BMD) and fracture risk.Results :Women in the RA with PRED group did not show lower BMD values than those in the RA without PRED group at baseline, in both lumbar spine L1-L4 (P=0.691), in femoral neck (P=0.332), in radius total (P=0.564) and radius UD (P=0.941). Women in the RA without PRED group had lower T score (Radius UD) (P=0.015) value than those in the RA with PRED group. However, during 12 months follow ups there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in the change in BMD or projection area in the lumbar spine, femoral neck and radius UD.Conclusion: Premenopausal RA women with or without prednisolone treatment lost their bone mass statistically similar. Study assumes role of RA on axial bone mass development will be less important with better treatment of RA than our patients received

Lactate dehydrogenase and glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase cooperatively regulate growth and carbohydrate metabolism during Drosophila melanogaster larval development

The dramatic growth that occurs during Drosophila larval development requires rapid conversion of nutrients into biomass. Many larval tissues respond to these biosynthetic demands by increasing carbohydrate metabolism and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity. The resulting metabolic program is ideally suited for synthesis of macromolecules and mimics the manner by which cancer cells rely on aerobic glycolysis. To explore the potential role of Drosophila LDH in promoting biosynthesis, we examined how Ldh mutations influence larval development. Our studies unexpectedly found that Ldh mutants grow at a normal rate, indicating that LDH is dispensable for larval biomass production. However, subsequent metabolomic analyses suggested that Ldh mutants compensate for the inability to produce lactate by generating excess glycerol-3-phosphate (G3P), the production of which also influences larval redox balance. Consistent with this possibility, larvae lacking both LDH and G3P dehydrogenase (GPDH1) exhibit growth defects, synthetic lethality and decreased glycolytic flux. Considering that human cells also generate G3P upon inhibition of lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA), our findings hint at a conserved mechanism in which the coordinate regulation of lactate and G3P synthesis imparts metabolic robustness to growing animal tissues