Comparison of the Effects of Coconut Oil and Soyabean Oil on TSH Level and Weight Gain in Rabbits

The present study was conducted on 12 albino rabbits of either sex and weighing between 1-1.5kg to see the influence of coconut oil and soyabean oil on serum TSH levels and weight gain for a period of 12 weeks.  The rabbits were divided into 2 groups of six each.  Rabbits in group 1 were fed on coconut oil and in group 2 were fed on soyabean oil in addition to their standard diet.  At the end of 12 weeks we found that rabbits fed on soyabean oil had significant increase in TSH levels (p= 0.003) and gained more weight (p=0.000) when compared to rabbits fed on coconut oil

Role of Transition Metals in Nitrite Decomposition in Soil

Iron and copper increased the decomposition of nitrite significantly during the first two hours of reaction when 150 parts per million (ppm) of nitrite and nitrogen was added to an acidic soil. Manganese was found to have a slight effect. There was no additional effect of the added metals after two hours reaction time. The higher concentration of metals was not effective in catalyzing the decomposition of the added nitrite in nitrogen. All the added nitrite nitrogen was not recovered and the deficit could be due to the formation of nitrogen gas

Optimization of the level of ingredients for functional dairy beverage using response surface methodology (RSM)

The present investigation was undertaken to optimize the level of ingredients (milk fat, sugar, and mango pulp) for functional dairy beverage using Response Surface Methodology. Central Composite Rotatable Design with milk fat (%), sugar (%), and mango pulp (var. Chaunsa, %) as independent variables produced 20 different combinations that were used to investigate the effect on viscosity (cP), antioxidant activity, and overall acceptability. The response surface three dimensional graphs were plotted as a function of two variables to show the effect of level of ingredients on physico-chemical and sensory properties of the beverage. Significant correlation models were established with the coefficient of correlation (R2) greater than 0.8. An optimization of process variables was attempted for maximum antioxidant activity and overall acceptability. ANOVA tables revealed that increase in fat and sugar levels lowered the antioxidant activity, while enhancement of mango pulp significantly increased both antioxidant activity and overall acceptability of the beverage. The optimized levels of ingredients were 0.5% milk fat, 6.0% sugar and 30% mango pulp

Herbicidal effects of aqueous extracts of three Chenopodium species on Avena fatua

Herbicidal effects of aqueous leaf extracts of three Chenopodium species; Chenopodium album L., Chenopodium murale L. and Chenopodium ambrosioides were evaluated on wild oat (Avena fatua L.), one of the problematic weeds of wheat. Among the aqueous extracts of 0, 2, 4 and 6% (w/v) employed in bioassays, 6% of C. album and 2% of C. murale caused significant inhibition in germination of A. fatua resulting in 66 and 34% decline in germination, respectively. Lower concentration of 2% of all the three Chenopodium species enhanced seedling growth of A. fatua. The highest extract concentration of C. album (6%) markedly suppressed both length and biomass of shoot of test weed species. The highest herbicidal effect was exhibited by 6% C. album leaf extract, resulting in 88, 89, 70 and 92% reduction in maximum and total root length, number of roots and root biomass, respectively. This study concludes that the aqueous leaf extracts of C. album contain herbicidal constituents for the management of A. fatua.Key words: Aqueous extracts, Avena fatua, Chenopodium, natural herbicides

Potential antimicrobial, anti-glycation and antioxidant properties of bioactive compounds of Indian spices and herbs extracted using ultrasound-assisted extraction process

Food safety is a fundamental health concern for consumers and an ongoing challenge for food producers particularly in light of recent trends towards ‘clean label’ and minimally processed foods. Natural antimicrobial such as spice and herbs contain a variety of secondary metabolites such as phenolic acid, flavonoids, and terpenes compounds, which may be present in various parts of the plants possessing antimicrobial properties. These compounds have application in the preservation of foodstuffs, through inhibition of lipid oxidation, and inhibition of foodborne pathogens. The aim of the study was to investigate potential antimicrobial, anti-glycation and antioxidant properties of selected spices and herbs extracts obtained using ultrasound-assisted extraction in relation to their bioactive phenolic component. Thirty-five India herbs and spice extracts prepared using ultrasound-assisted extraction process were screened for their antimicrobial properties against Bacillus cereus, Listeria monocytogenes, Kocuria rhizohilia, E.coli, Salmonella typhi, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Out of the 35 spices and herbs extracts, six spices that showed strong antimicrobial effectiveness, including ajwain, bay leaves, nutmeg, cumin, clove and Indian gooseberry were selected for further study. Antimicrobial properties were evaluated using Zone of Inhibition (ZoI), Minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) and Minimum bacterial concentration (MBC). Scanned electron microscopy (SEM) was used to evaluate the effect of spice extracts on the morphology and changes in cellular structure of the selected microorganisms. GasChromatography Mass-Spectrometry (GCMS) and High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to establish the bioactive phytochemical components responsible for antimicrobial properties of different ajwain varieties (which showed the highest antimicrobial effectiveness). The spice and herbs ethanolic extracts were also evaluated for their antiglycation and antioxidant properties in vitro. The results highlight strong antimicrobial, anti-glycation and antioxidant properties of ajwain due to good source of phenolic compounds. The quantification of bioactive phytochemical component in spice (ajwain) extract showed potential could be relevant to quality maker for producers wishing to use natural plant-based extracts as alternative to synthetic chemical preservatives in food safety and preservation

Physiologic effects of dietary clay supplements Final report, 1 Dec. 1964 - 15 Jun. 1965

Clay supplementary diet effect on weight and growth of long animal bone

Uranium concentration in drinking water samples using the SSNTDs

Uranium concentrations in the drinking water samples collected mainly from hand pumps along the Amritsar to Bathinda track are presented. Uranium concentration values in these samples show a wide range of variation depending upon different factors like source, location, depth and local geology etc. The observed uranium content in water samples has been found to be varying from 0.9 ± 0.08 to 63 ± 0.21 ppb and even the radon activity in ground water observed in our earlier survey carried out in this area has been found to be increasing from Amritsar towards Bathinda. The higher values were observed from the ground water samples particularly of the areas falling in belt from Zira to Maur towards the Haryana border. The values observed at certain locations are found to be higher than the highest recommended value of 15 ppb [1]. The high uranium concentration observed particularly in certain areas along this track can be attributed due to interaction of ground water with the soil formation of this region and the local subsurface geology of the region.Harmanjit Singh*, Joga Singh, Surinder Singh and B S Bajwa Department of Physics, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar-143 005, Punjab, India E-mail : [email protected] of Physics, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar-143 005, Punjab, Indi

The Stress of COVID-19: Playing Havoc with the Hormones-A Review

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus- 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has affected millions of people across the world engendering an unprecedented pandemic. Coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 can present asymptomatic or in the form of the acute respiratory syndrome, viral pneumonia,or sepsis. Due to the novelty of the disease, the endocrine manifestations are not fully understood. It becomes indispensable to address the underlying endocrine disruptions contributing to the severe form of illness and thereby increasing the mortality.We discuss here the SARS-CoV-2 virus and endocrine reverberations based on the research with structurally similar SARS-COV-1. SARS-CoV-2 enters the body via its attachment to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors. Apart from lungs,ACE2 expression on various organs can lead to endocrine perturbations.In COVID-19 infection, pre-existing endocrine disorders warrant cautious management and may require replacement therapy. COVID-19 and its repercussions on hormones are discussed extensively in this review

ESTIMATION OF BREEDING VALUES OF SAHIWAL CATTLE USING TEST DAY MILK YIELDS

Estimated breeding values of test-day (TD) and 305-day milk yield were calculated to compare ranking of animals on the basis of two information sources under an animal model. Two statistical models were used to analyze 780 first lactation (305-day) and monthly milk yield records. The first model was an individual animal model to analyze lactation milk yield with period-season of calving as fixed effect, while the second model was a repeatability model where monthly milk yield records were analyzed using period-season of calving as fixed effect and animals’ additive genetic effect and permanent environmental effect as random factors. In this model, the age at calving, ratio of days in milk to 305-day (as linear and quadratic components) and their reciprocal logs were used as covariables. Ranking of animals for estimated breeding values from the two models was compared. The rank correlations were 0.927 and 0.923 for sires and cows, respectively. Largest rank shift measured in sires and cows showed that ranking of sire was affected less than that of cows. Phenotypic and genetic correlations did not show any clear pattern due to limited number of observations. Higher values of rank correlations suggested that TD milk yields could be used instead of 305-day lactation yields for genetic evaluation of sires and cows. Detailed studies involving larger data sets were however, suggested for validation of results

GENETIC CONTROL OF TEST-DAY MILK YIELD IN SAHIWAL CATTLE

Heritabilities of test-day (TD) and 305-day milk yield were estimated using performance records of 780 first lactation Sahiwal cows, following two models. In the first model, estimated 305-day lactation milk yields were analyzed through an individual animal model with period-season of calving as fixed effect and additive genetic effect as random factor. The second model was a repeatability model where monthly milk yield records were analyzed using period-season of calving as fixed effect and additive genetic effect and permanent environmental effect as random factors. The age at calving, ratio of days in milk to 305-day (as linear and quadratic components) and their reciprocal logs were used as covariables. The heritability estimates for 305-day and TD milk yields were 0.082 and 0.024, respectively. Heritability estimates of individual TDs ranged from 0 to 0.274. The relative proportion of permanent environment variance to total variance was 0.498. Heritability of individual test-day milk yield was highest in the mid-lactation (TD6-TD8). Lower genetic control of test day and lactation milk yield in the present study needs validation using larger data sets with accurate pedigree recording