Biodiversity Conservation of Western Himalayas: A Pluralistic Approach

The conservation of biodiversity has been a matter of serious concern all over the world. Regions of the world with rapidly changing land use and economies require transdisciplinary focus to adequately address today’s challenges for conservation, local livelihoods, and development. Himalayan ecosystem sustainability is vital for the employment of approximately 1.3 billion people in Asia. The Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) are special for their natural geological wealth, forest, flora, fauna and biodiversity, snow, ice and water bodies, traditional knowledge, and mountain agriculture. It is now widely accepted that the rich and diverse Himalayan ecosystem is fragile. The regions are predominantly populated by local societies. Live in biodiversity wealthy regions of the country, the neighboring mountainous communities are dependent upon biodiversity for meeting their livelihood security. Hence, sustaining biodiversity in the mountain region also means defending the benefit of the people. Recognition of the Himalayas as one of 34 global biodiversity hotspots aptly reflects its wide-ranging ecological significance. Societies across the world have had long-standing traditions of using and caring for nature, but the formal, mainstream, and largely western ‘conservation movement’ is only about 120 years old. Biocultural approaches to conservation represent a synthesis of theory across multiple fields linked to biodiversity conservation, including social-ecological systems thinking, commons theory, bio-cultural diversity and heritage, indigenous natural resource management and traditional ecological knowledge, and different models of participatory and people-centered conservation. This synthesis points to the potential for pluralistic, partnership-based, and dynamic approaches to guide conservation processes

Profile of down syndrome–associated malignancies: Epidemiology, clinical features and therapeutic aspects

Down syndrome (DS) is a congenital chromosomal abnormality caused by the presence of all or part of a third copy of chromosome 21 (+21). DS is frequently complicated by congenital heart or digestive tract diseases at birth. DS patients are prone to infections and have mental retardation, with dementia such as Alzheimer's disease showing in later life. Furthermore, malignancies with specific characteristics are also highly reported in DS patients compared with non-DS patients. Therefore, DS is believed to be a cancer predisposition syndrome due to the chromosomal instability. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and especially acute megakaryoblastic leukemia (AMKL) by French-American-British (FAB) classification are the most frequent hematological malignancies in DS patients, occurring at a rate that is 500 times higher than that in non-DS patients. Interestingly, transient abnormal myelopoiesis (TAM) is observed in approximately 10% of DS neonates with GATA1 mutations, and most TAM patients are asymptomatic and show spontaneous regression; however, about 10%–20% of TAM cases are fatal because of complications such as fetal effusion, liver fibrosis, and other complications.Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is also associated with DS, occurring at a rate that is 20 times higher than that in non-DS patients. Furthermore, the prognosis of DS-ALL patients is poorer than that of non-DS-ALL patients. A recent genetic analysis revealed that more than half of DS-ALL cases have a mutation in the CRLF2–JAK pathway, indicating that JAK inhibitors might have a limited effect for DS-ALL patients.Notably, solid tumors such as neuroblastoma, Wilms tumor, and brain tumor, which are frequently observed in non-DS children, are rarely reported in DS children. The reason remains unknown, but it may be because of the triplication of the Down syndrome critical region 1 (DSCR1) gene on chromosome 21. In adult patients with DS, the expected age-adjusted incidence rates of solid tumors are low compared with age-matched euploid cohorts for most cancers except for testicular cancer. Although the average life expectancy of patients with DS will increase with advances in healthcare, the detailed health problems including cancer rates in older DS patients remain unknown. Therefore, these issues will be needed to be addressed in future studies

Perioperative plasma melatonin concentration in postoperative critically ill patients: Its association with delirium

Purpose: Delirium is a common complication in postoperative critically ill patients. Although abnormal melatonin metabolism is thought to be one of the mechanisms of delirium, there have been few studies in which the association between alteration of perioperative plasma melatonin concentration and postoperative delirium was assessed. Materials: We conducted a prospective observational study to assess the association of perioperative alteration of plasma melatonin concentration with delirium in 40 postoperative patients who required intensive care for more than 48 hours. We diagnosed postoperative delirium using Confusion Assessment Method for the intensive care unit and measured melatonin concentration 4 times (before the operation as the preoperative value, 1 hour after the operation, postoperative day 1, and postoperative day 2). Results: Postoperative delirium occurred in 13 (33%) of the patients. Although there was no significant difference in preoperative melatonin concentration, Delta melatonin concentration at 1 hour after the operation was significantly lower in patients with delirium than in those without delirium (-1.1 vs 0 pg/mL, P = .036). After adjustment of relevant confounders, Delta melatonin concentration was independently associated with risk of delirium (odds ratio, 0.50; P = .047). Conclusions: Delta melatonin concentration at 1 hour after the operation has a significant independent association with risk of postoperative delirium. (c) 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Multiferroic Pb1-xSrx(Fe0.012Ti0.988)O3 nanoparticles: Room temperature dielectric relaxation, ferroelectricity and ferromagnetism

The effect of particles size and lattice parameters on dielectric constant, ferroelectricity, ferromagnetism and dc resistivity of Pb1-xSrx(Fe0.012Ti0.988)O3 (PSFT) nanoparticles has been studied at room temperature. The PSFT nanoparticles were prepared by a chemical synthesis route. The X-ray diffraction patterns confirm the phase structure of PSFT nanoparticles. The tetragonal distortion (c/a) and particles size have been reduced with increasing Sr2+ ion substitution. The microstructural behaviour shows the average particle’s size of PSFT specimens which lie in the range of 4-13 nm. The Sr-doped PSFT specimens show higher value of dielectric constant than undoped PFT. At 30 mol% of Sr concentration, the PSFT specimen shows dielectric relaxation up to 18 MHz with ε = 101 and tan '/image/spc_char/delta1.gif' border=0> = 0.075. Also, the maximum value of saturation magnetization, Ms = 64.4×10-3 emu/g with low magnetic coercive field, Hc = 35.9 Oe, and spontaneous polarization, Ps = 20.7 μC/cm2, remanent polarization, Pr = 13.3 μC/cm2 and electric coercive field, Ec = 5.7 kV/cm have been observed. Compositional plots between average particle’s size and dc resistivity, and dielectric constant and saturation magnetization have been given

Ethylene absorbents influence fruit firmness and activity of enzymes involved in fruit softening of Japanese plum (Prunus salicina Lindell) cv. Santa Rosa

Introduction. Plum cv. Santa Rosa shows climacteric behaviour and grows profitably under sub-temperate conditions in India. After ripening, it has a very limited shelf life (3–4 days) in ambient conditions [(38 ± 2) °C and at (68 ± 4)% RH]. Hence, there is an urgent need to extend its marketability using recent techniques. Materials and methods. Plums were harvested at the pre-climacteric and climacteric stages of maturity and packed with newspaper shreds (control), KMnO4-impregnated chalks, KMnO4-impregnated newspaper shreds or ethylene-absorbent sachets; then they were transported by road to New Delhi. The biochemical and physiological analyses were carried out at 3-day intervals on plums stored in supermarket conditions [(20 ± 1) °C and at (90 ± 2)% RH] for 15 days. Results and discussion. Untreated fruits had less firmness than those which were packed with ethylene absorbents. The activities of fruit-softening enzymes such as lipoxygenase (LOX), polygalacturonase (PG) and pectin methylesterase (PME) increased rapidly in the control treatment in comparison with plums packed with various ethylene absorbents, the least being either with ethylene-absorbent sachets or with KMnO4-impregnated newspaper shreds. Plums of pre-climacteric and climacteric maturity attained respiration and ethylene evolution peaks on the 9th day and 6th day, respectively. Conclusions. The plums of pre-climacteric and climacteric stages of maturity packed with ethylene-absorbent sachets showed the best results in supermarket conditions in maintaining the firmness, quality and shelf life of plum up to the 12th day and 9th day of storage, respectively

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Not AvailableLilium is very important bulbous flower, cosmopolitan and has high demand in International flower market. Asiatic hybrid lily cultivars often have dark red spots on the interior surface of their petals. Pigments accumulated in petal spots are anthocyanins. In Lilium, the genetic basis of flower colour and spot formation are little understood because of the heterozygous genome structure. In this study 10 intravarietal Lilium hybrids along with their parents were tested and evaluated. The aim of this study was to estimate and analyse the flower colour of Asiatic Lilium hybrids. Highest value of anthocyanin was recorded in the hybrid PKLH-12 (43.48 mg/100g) and lowest in hybrid PKLH-6 (3.670 mg/100g). Anthocyanin content in the basal part was slightly higher (12.02 mg/100g) than the upper part (12.00mg/100g). Lilium petal during day of anthesis exhibits the highest amount of anthocyanin (13.96 mg/100g) than the 2 days after anthesis(10.05 mg/100g). Based on the variation in anthocyanin content in the present genotypes it may be concluded that this variability can be used for further development of indigenous hybrids with altered colours, hues, and patterns with long post harvest life. This study is important to understand the genetic basis of the traits and to apply molecular markers linked to map loci for MAS.Not Availabl

Structural, microstructural and magnetic properties of NiFe2O4, CoFe2O4 and MnFe2O4 nanoferrite thin films

The structural, microstructural and magnetic properties of nanoferrite NiFe2O4 (NF), CoFe2O4 (CF) and MnFe2O4 (MF) thin films have been studied. The coating solution of these ferrite films was prepared by a chemical synthesis route called sol–gel combined metallo-organic decomposition method. The solution was coated on Si substrate by spin coating and annealed at 700 °C for 3 h. X-ray diffraction pattern has been used to analyze the phase structure and lattice parameters. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) have been used to show the nanostructural behavior of these ferrites. The values of average grain's size from SEM are 44, 60 and 74 nm, and from AFM are 46, 61 and 75 nm, respectively, measured for NF, CF and MF ferrites. At room temperature, the values of saturation magnetization, Ms∼50.60, 33.52 and 5.40 emu/cc, and remanent magnetization, Mr∼14.33, 15.50 and 1.10 emu/cc, respectively, are observed for NF, CF and MF. At low temperature measurements of 10 K, the anisotropy of ferromagnetism is observed in these ferrite films. The superparamagnetic/paramagnetic behavior is also confirmed by χ′(T) curves of AC susceptibility by applying DC magnetizing field of 3 Oe. The temperature dependent magnetization measurements show the magnetic phase transition temperature

Multiferroic and relaxor properties of Pb0.7Sr0.3[(Fe2/3Ce1/3)0.012Ti0.988]O3 and Pb0.7Sr0.3[(Fe2/3La1/3)0.012Ti0.988]O3 nanoparticles

The effect of Ce3+ and La3+ ions on ferromagnetism, ferroelectricity and dielectric coexistence of Pb0.7Sr0.3[(Fe2/3Ce1/3)0.012Ti0.988]O3 (PSFCT) and Pb0.7Sr0.3[(Fe2/3La1/3)0.012Ti0.988]O3 (PSFLT) nanoparticles has been studied. Rietveld analysis of X-ray diffraction has been used to find the structural parameters. The average particles size is measured by using transmission electron microscopy. Ce3+ and La3+ ions create one more lone pair of electrons with Pb2+ is responsible for large polarization, and the ferromagnetism is related with the number of free electrons in 4f and 3d orbitals. The temperature dependent relative permittivity shows diffuse phase transition (DPT) has been calculated from modified Curie–Weiss law and relaxor characteristics by Vogel–Fulcher relation. The temperature dependent dc resistivity shows that the PSFCT and PSFLT nanoparticles involve variable range hopping conduction mechanism. The Cole–Cole model has been used to find the effect of interfaces, grain and grain boundaries on the electrical properties

Multiferroic Pb₁_-xSr_x(Fe_0.012Ti_0.988)O₃ nanoparticles: Room temperature dielectric relaxation, ferroelectricity and ferromagnetism

593-599The effect of particles size and lattice parameters on dielectric constant, ferroelectricity, ferromagnetism and dc resistivity of Pb1-xSrx(Fe0.012Ti0.988)O3 (PSFT) nanoparticles has been studied at room temperature. The PSFT nanoparticles were prepared by a chemical synthesis route. The X-ray diffraction patterns confirm the phase structure of PSFT nanoparticles. The tetragonal distortion (c/a) and particles size have been reduced with increasing Sr2+ ion substitution. The microstructural behaviour shows the average particle’s size of PSFT specimens which lie in the range of 4-13 nm. The Sr-doped PSFT specimens show higher value of dielectric constant than undoped PFT. At 30 mol% of Sr concentration, the PSFT specimen shows dielectric relaxation up to 18 MHz with ε = 101 and tan '/image/spc_char/delta1.gif' border=0> = 0.075. Also, the maximum value of saturation magnetization, Ms = 64.4×10-3 emu/g with low magnetic coercive field, Hc = 35.9 Oe, and spontaneous polarization, Ps = 20.7 μC/cm2, remanent polarization, Pr = 13.3 μC/cm2 and electric coercive field, Ec = 5.7 kV/cm have been observed. Compositional plots between average particle’s size and dc resistivity, and dielectric constant and saturation magnetization have been given