Class Differentiation and Crisis of Agrarian Petty Producers in India

Capitalist development in the last three decades in India has sharpened the class differentiation in agriculture. Increasingly, there is a sharp class division that is taking place between petty commodity producers and the capitalist farmers. The presence of a large number of petty commodity producers and informal nature of agricultural enterprise in India constantly reduces profitability, brunt of the crisis caused by this tendency is being borne by petty commodity producers. Forced by the pauperization, petty commodity producers are forced to diversify their incomes into wage activities in farm as well as non-farm activities. Indeed, all classes of farmers diversified their incomes away from agriculture, marking a structural transformation towards petty bourgeois capital on one hand and wage labour on the other. Pauperization of petty producers is also manifesting in a large number of suicides in the Indian countryside. The article provides empirical evidence for these processes at work in the Indian countryside

Determination of heat (mass) transfer from blockages with round and elongated holes in a wide rectangular channel

Mass transfer experiments were conducted to study the thermal performance characteristics of blockages with round and elongated holes, positioned in a 12:1 rectangular channel. Naphthalene sublimation technique was adopted to conduct experiments with four different blockage configurations, flow rates corresponding to Reynolds numbers (based on channel hydraulic diameter) of 7,000 and 17,000, and at three blockage locations. The hole area to channel area ratio for all four blockage configurations was the same at 0.196. The hole width was half the channel height, and the distance between consecutive blockages was twice the channel height. Average heat transfer, local heat (mass) transfer and overall pressure drop results were obtained. The thermal performance for a particular blockage configuration was measured in terms of the heat transfer enhancement and the friction factor ratio. Heat transfer enhancement was measured as a ratio of average Nusselt number on the blockage surface to the Nusselt number for a thermally fully developed turbulent flow in a smooth channel. Results indicate that this ratio ranged between 3.6 and 12.4, while the friction factor ratio varied between 500-1700. The blockage configuration with round holes was found to yield best thermal performance, while the configuration with largest hole elongation was nearly equal in thermal performance. In order to compare different blockage configurations, an average value of upstream and downstream side thermal performances was used. A general downward trend in Nusselt number ratio with elongation of holes was observed on the upstream side and a reverse trend was observed on the downstream side. An upward trend in the Nusselt number ratio with blockage hole elongation on the downstream side of a blockage was primarily due to jet reversal from the downstream blockage and its impingement on the downstream surface of the upstream blockage. Local experiments were performed to compare against the results from average experiments and also to gain insights into the flow behaviour. There was good agreement between the results from local and average mass transfer experiments. The average variation in Nusselt number ratio between local and average mass transfer experiments was about 5.06%

Understanding the metabolism of tetrachloroethene-respiring Dehalobacter restrictus:from genome analysis, corrinoid cofactor biosynthesis to regulation of reductive dehalogenases

Tetra- and trichloroethene (PCE, TCE) are organohalides polluting the environment as a result of inappropriate use, storage, and disposal by various industries. Anthropogenic pollution by organohalides is a major source of concern because of their undesirable effects on human health. Remediation of contaminated sites by the use of microorganisms is a promising approach, especially under anaerobic conditions. Dehalobacter restrictus represents the paradigmatic member of the genus Dehalobacter, which in recent years has proven to be a major player in the biodegradation of a growing number of organohalides, both in situ and in the laboratory. D. restrictus grows only through anaerobic respiration of PCE and TCE with hydrogen as electron donor by a process known as organohalide respiration (OHR). To this day, only a single reductive dehalogenase (PceA/RdhA), the key enzyme in the OHR process, has been characterized on genetic and biochemical levels. However, recent genome analysis of D. restrictus has revealed the presence of 25 rdhA genes. Chapter 2 of this thesis describes a functional genomics and proteomics approach on D. restrictus with a focus on the diversity, composition and expression of rdh gene clusters. Genome analysis also revealed a complete corrinoid biosynthetic pathway, WL pathway for CO2 fixation and hydrogenases. Some of these were identified in proteomic analysis along with main PceABCT, RdhA14 and a few RdhK. OHR bacteria (OHRB) have developed different strategies to satisfy their need of corrinoid (Cobalamin/Vitamin B12 derivatives), as it is an essential cofactor of RdhAs forming the basis for Chapter 3. Obligate OHRB such as Dehalococcoides spp. and D. restrictus cannot de novo synthesize corrinoid. However. genome analysis revealed that in contrast to Dehalococcoides mccartyi, the genome of D. restrictus surprisingly has the complete series of genes for biosynthesis of corrinoid, however a single non-functional gene could account for the corrinoid auxotrophy. Comparative genomics within Dehalobacter spp. revealed that one of the five operons associated with the biosynthesis of corrinoid is unique to D. restrictus, which encoded enzymes corrinoid- salvaging and transport proteins. Omics during corrinoid starvation highlighted the importance of operon-2 in corrinoid homeostasis in D. restrictus along with indicating its augmented corrinoid salvaging strategy. Chapter 4 finally analyses the diversity of RdhK proteins in D. restrictus belonging to the CRP-FNR family of transcriptional regulators. Earlier studies in Desulfitobacterium spp. have allowed the identification and characterization of a transcriptional regulator, CprK known to be involved in the regulation of cpr gene cluster involved in OHR. Moreover recent genome analysis in D. restrictus, revealed the presence of 25 cprK-like rdhK genes found to be located in the direct neighbourhood of the rdh gene clusters strongly suggesting they could be implicated in regulating OHR in D. restrictus. A combination of in silico, in vivo and in vitro analyses have been attempted to characterize the role of a few RdhK proteins and understand the tri-partite interaction of the RdhK with the putative organohalide along with the putative-DNA binding regions (dehaloboxes). However, further efforts are still needed to elucidate the network regulating the OHR metabolism in D. restrictus

DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF RP-CHIRAL HPLC METHOD FOR QUANTIFICATION OF (S)-ISOMER IN TENOFOVIR DISOPROXIL FUMARATE

Objective: The main objective of present study was to develop and validate a reverse phase enantioselective chiral high performance liquid chromatographic method was developed for enantiomeric resolution of Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate; it decreases the HIV infection in human body. The method is specific, rapid, precise and accurate for the separation and determination of (S)-isomer in tenofovir disoproxil fumarate drug substance form.Methods: The S-Isomer of Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate was resolved on a Chiral AGP (150 × 4.0 mm, 5 µm) column (L-41) using a mobile phase system containing 0.1 M ammonium acetate in water pH 6.8 with ammonia solution and methanol in the ratio of (85:15 v/v). The mobile phase was set at a flow rate of 0.8 ml/min and the volume injected was 10μl for every injection. The detection wavelength was set at 260 nm and the column temperature was set at 15 °C.Results: The proposed method was productively applied for the quantitative determination of (S)-isomer in Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate drug substance form. The linear regression analysis data for calibration plots showed a good linear relationship over a concentration range of 0.125 to 3.75 µg/ml for (S)-isomer, 0.125-3.75 µg/ml for Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate. The mean values of the correlation coefficient were 0.999 and 0.999 for (S)-isomer and Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate. The method was validated as per the ICH guidelines. The detection limit (LOD) was about 0.05 µg/ml and quantitation limit (LOQ) was about 0.125 µg/ml for (S)-isomer and Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate. The relative standard deviation was found to be 0.78 % for (S)-isomer in Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate.Conclusion: The developed and validated HPLC method and the statistical analysis showed that the method is repeatable and selective for the estimation of the (S)-isomer of the Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate drug substance

ISOLATION, CHARACTERIZATION AND VALIDATION OF HPLC METHOD FOR QUANTIFICATION OF BIS-[10-(2-METHYL-4H-3-THIA-4,9-DIAZABENZO[F]AZULENE)]-1,4-PIPERAZINE IN AN ANTI-PSYCHOTIC DRUG SUBSTANCE, OLANZAPINE

Objective: The main objective of present study was to Isolate, characterize and validate a reverse phase high performance liquid chromatographic method was validated for quantification of bis-[10-(2-methyl-4H-3-thia-4,9-diazabenzo[f]azulene)]-1,4-piperazine in Olanzapine drug substance; it decreases the mental disorders in human body. The method is specific, rapid, precise and accurate for the separation and determination of bis-[10-(2-methyl-4H-3-thia-4,9-diazabenzo[f]azulene)]-1,4-piperazine in Olanzapine drug substance form.Methods: The bis-[10-(2-methyl-4H-3-thia-4,9-diazabenzo[f]azulene)]-1,4-piperazine of Olanzapine was resolved on a Zorbax RX-C 8, 250 mm X 4.6 mm, 5 micron column (L-1) using a mobile phase system containing 0.03 M sodium dodecyl sulphate in water pH 2.5 with 1 N sodium hydroxide solution and acetonitrile in the ratio of (Mobile phase A-52:48 v/v) and (Mobile phase B-buffer and Acetonitrile 30:70 v/v) by using the gradient program. The mobile phase was set at a flow rate of 1.5 ml/min and the volume injected was 20μl for every injection. The detection wavelength was set at 220 nm and the column temperature was set at 35 °C.Results: The proposed method was productively applied for the quantitative determination of bis-[10-(2-methyl-4H-3-thia-4,9-diazabenzo [f]azulene)]-1,4-piperazine in Olanzapine drug substance form. The linear regression analysis data for calibration plots showed a good linear relationship over a concentration range of 0.025to 0.903 µg/ml for bis-[10-(2-methyl-4H-3-thia-4,9-diazabenzo[f]azulene)]-1,4-piperazine, 0.081-0.608 µg/ml for Olanzapine. The mean values of the correlation coefficient were 0.999 and 0.999 for bis-[10-(2-methyl-4H-3-thia-4,9-diazabenzo[f]azulene)]-1,4-piperazine and Olanzapine. The method was validated as per the ICH guidelines. The detection limit (LOD) was about 0.007 µg/ml, 0.024 µg/ml and quantitation limit (LOQ) was about 0.024 µg/ml, 0.081 µg/ml for bis-[10-(2-methyl-4H-3-thia-4,9-diazabenzo[f]azulene)]-1,4-piperazine and Olanzapine. The relative standard deviation was found to be 1.64 % and 2.18 % for bis-[10-(2-methyl-4H-3-thia-4,9-diazabenzo[f]azulene)]-1,4-piperazine and Olanzapine.Conclusion: The validated HPLC method and the statistical analysis showed that the method is repeatable and selective for the estimation of the bis-[10-(2-methyl-4H-3-thia-4,9-diazabenzo[f]azulene)]-1,4-piperazine of the Olanzapine drug substance

Standardization of a screening technique for salinity tOlerance' in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) and pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L.)

Salinity affects plant growth, development and yield In approximately 100 M ha of arable land worldwide. Besides, various management options available the Introduction of salinity tolerant varieties In such areas could partly ease the Increasing global food demand. Here, six groundnut (ICG (FDRS) 10, ICGS 44, ICGS ICGV 86031, JL 24, and TAG 24) and pigeonpea (ICPL 88039, ICPL 88034, ICPL 87119, ICPL 96058,ICP 7035 and ICPL 366) genotypes were screened by conducting two experiments In soli treated with five different NaCI (mM) concentrations (0, 50, 100, 125, 150) and (0,50, 75, 100, 150) respectively for groundnut and Pigeonpea, under controlled conditions. Salt concentrations of 100-125 mM were found to be critical to screen groundnut genotypes whereas 75 mM NaCI appeared most suited treatmen

Functional genomics of corrinoid starvation in the organohalide-respiring bacterium Dehalobacter restrictus strain PER-K23

De novo corrinoid biosynthesis represents one of the most complicated metabolic pathways in nature. Organohalide-respiring bacteria (OHRB) have developed different strategies to deal with their need of corrinoid, as it is an essential cofactor of reductive dehalogenases, the key enzymes in OHR metabolism. In contrast to Dehalococcoides mccartyi, the genome of Dehalobacter restrictus strain PER-K23 contains a complete set of corrinoid biosynthetic genes, of which cbiH appears to be truncated and therefore non-functional, possibly explaining the corrinoid auxotrophy of this obligate OHRB. Comparative genomics within Dehalobacter spp. revealed that one (operon-2) of the five distinct corrinoid biosynthesis associated operons present in the genome of D. restrictus appeared to be present only in that particular strain, which encodes multiple members of corrinoid transporters and salvaging enzymes. Operon-2 was highly up-regulated upon corrinoid starvation both at the transcriptional (346-fold) and proteomic level (46-fold on average), in line with the presence of an upstream cobalamin riboswitch. Together, these data highlight the importance of this operon in corrinoid homeostasis in D. restrictus and the augmented salvaging strategy this bacterium adopted to cope with the need for this essential cofacto

Genetic analysis of resistance to late leaf spot in interspecific groundnuts

Late leaf spot (LLS), caused by Phaeoisariopsis personata, is an important foliar fungal disease of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.), which causes significant economic losses globally to the crop. Inheritance of resistance to LLS disease was studied in three crosses and their reciprocals involving two resistant interspecific derivatives and a susceptible cultivar to refine strategy for LLS resistance breeding. The traits associated with LLS resistance, measured both in the field and under controlled conditions were studied following generation mean analysis. Results suggested that resistance to LLS is controlled by a combination of both, nuclear and maternal gene effects. Among nuclear gene effects, additive effect controlled majority of the variation. In JL 24 × ICG 11337 cross and its reciprocal only additive effects were important, while in JL 24 × ICG 13919 cross and its reciprocal, both additive and dominance effects contributed to the variation. Among digenic epistatic effects, additive × dominance interactions were significant. Additive–maternal effects were significant in both the crosses, while dominance–maternal effects also contributed to the variation in the crosses between the parents, JL 24 and ICG 13919. Due to significant contribution of additive effects of both nuclear and maternal inheritance to resistance to LLS, the parent, ICG 11337 would be a good donor in breeding programs. It would be worthwhile to use the resistance donor as female parent to tap maternal effects of resistance to LLS. Disease score is the best selection criterion in the field for use in breeding programs because of its high heritability and ease in measurement

Comparative proteome analysis of propionate degradation by Syntrophobacter fumaroxidans in pure culture and in coculture with methanogens

Syntrophobacter fumaroxidans is a sulfatereducing bacterium able to grow on propionate axenically or in syntrophic interaction with methanogens or other sulfatereducing bacteria. We performed a proteome analysis of S. fumaroxidans growing with propionate axenically with sulfate or fumarate, and in syntrophy with Methanospirillum hungatei, Methanobacterium formicicum or Desulfovibrio desulfuricans. Special attention was put on the role of hydrogen and formate in interspecies electron transfer (IET) and energy conservation. Formate dehydrogenase Fdh1 and hydrogenase Hox were the main confurcating enzymes used for energy conservation. In the periplasm, Fdh2 and hydrogenase Hyn play an important role in reverse electron transport associated with succinate oxidation. Periplasmic Fdh3 and Fdh5 were involved in IET. The sulfate reduction pathway was poorly regulated and many enzymes associated with sulfate reduction (Sat, HppA, AprAB, DsrAB and DsrC) were abundant even at conditions where sulfate was not present. Proteins similar to heterodisulfide reductases (Hdr) were abundant. Hdr/Flox was detected in all conditions while HdrABC/HdrL was exclusively detected when sulfate was available; these complexes most likely confurcate electrons. Our results suggest that S. fumaroxidans mainly used formate for electron release and that different confurcating mechanisms were used in its sulfidogenic metabolism. This article is protected by copyrightThis research was supported by the Dutch Technology Foundation (STW) (project 11603), which is part of the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO), and which is partly funded by the Ministry of Economic Affairs. Research of AJMS is supported by the European Research Council (ERC grant 323009) and the Gravitation grant (024.002.002) of the Netherlands Ministry of Education, Cultureand Science.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Proteomic analysis of nitrate-dependent acetone degradation by Alicycliphilus denitrificans strain BC

Alicycliphilus denitrificans strain BC grows anaerobically on acetone with nitrate as electron acceptor. Comparative proteomics of cultures of A. denitrificans strain BC grown on either acetone or acetate with nitrate was performed to study the enzymes involved in the acetone degradation pathway. In the proposed acetone degradation pathway, an acetone carboxylase converts acetone to acetoacetate, an AMP-dependent synthetase/ligase converts acetoacetate to acetoacetyl-CoA, and an acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase cleaves acetoacetyl-CoA to two acetyl-CoA. We also found a putative aldehyde dehydrogenase associated with acetone degradation. This enzyme functioned as a -hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase catalyzing the conversion of surplus acetoacetate to -hydroxybutyrate that may be converted to the energy and carbon storage compound, poly--hydroxybutyrate. Accordingly, we confirmed the formation of poly-?-hydroxybutyrate in acetone-grown cells of strain BC. Our findings provide insight in nitrate-dependent acetone degradation that is activated by carboxylation of acetone. This will aid studies of similar pathways found in other microorganisms degrading acetone with nitrate or sulfate as electron acceptor.This work was supported by the Technology Foundation, the Applied Science Division (STW) of the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) [project 08053]. Additional funding was provided by BE-BASIC [grant F08.004.01 to SA], an ERC grant [project 323009 to AJMS] and the Gravitation grant [project 024.002.002 to AJMS] of the Netherlands Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and NWO