J.K.PRASAD

Not AvailableThe present study was conducted on isolation and purification of heparin binding proteins (HBPs) in buffalo bull semen and to establish relationship between level of these proteins and freezability of buffalo semen. Total 40 semen ejaculates were selected from 4 bulls on the basis of mass activity and individual progressive motility. First part of semen ejaculates was used for seminal plasma separation, second part for estimation of cholesterol content in spermatozoa and third part was processed for cryopreservation. Based upon post-thaw motility semen samples were classified into freezable (having individual progressive motility > 40%) and non-freezable (having individual progressive motility < 40%). Seminal plasma of freezable and non-freezable semen samples were pooled separately to isolate HBPs. HBPs were isolated by affinity chromatography. Electrophoretic profile of TSPPs, HBPs was assessed by SDS-PAGE. Out of 40 semen ejaculates, 27 were found freezable and 13 as non- freezable. Seminal parameters like individual progressive motility, per cent live spermatozoa, per cent acrosome intact spermatozoa and cholesterol content of spermatozoa did not differ significantly at fresh stage between freezable and non-freezable semen, however, at post-thaw stage these parameters were significantly higher in freezable as compared to non-freezable semen samples. The level of HBPs (mg/ ml) were significantly higher in non-freezable (2.18±0.06) compared to freezable (1.15±0.04) semen. A total of 9 HBPs bands in range of 10 to 170 kDa were recorded on SDS-PAGE. The results showed that higher level of HBPs in nonfreezable semen might be responsible for more cryodamage by causing more cholesterol efflux resulting in poor freezability of semen.Not Availabl

Nanotechnology intervention of the microbiome for cancer therapy

The microbiome is emerging as a key player and driver of cancer. Traditional modalities to manipulate the microbiome (for example, antibiotics, probiotics and microbiota transplants) have been shown to improve efficacy of cancer therapies in some cases, but issues such as collateral damage to the commensal microbiota and consistency of these approaches motivates efforts towards developing new technologies specifically designed for the microbiome–cancer interface. Considering the success of nanotechnology in transforming cancer diagnostics and treatment, nanotechnologies capable of manipulating interactions that occur across microscopic and molecular length scales in the microbiome and the tumour microenvironment have the potential to provide innovative strategies for cancer treatment. As such, opportunities at the intersection of nanotechnology, the microbiome and cancer are massive. In this Review, we highlight key opportunistic areas for applying nanotechnologies towards manipulating the microbiome for the treatment of cancer, give an overview of seminal work and discuss future challenges and our perspective on this emerging area

Biomimetic Adaptation of the Evolutionary Algorithm, NSGA-II-aJG, Using the Biogenetic Law of Embryology for Intelligent Optimization

Several of the recent optimization techniques have been adapted from nature. The elitist nondominated sorting genetic algorithm with the adapted jumping gene operator (NSGA-II-aJG) is one such evolutionary technique inspired by genetics. This algorithm is quite useful for solving multiobjective optimization problems. The drawback of these techniques is the inordinately large amount of computational effort required for solving real-life problems, even though these techniques are quite robust as compared to conventional techniques. Their use for online optimization is particularly limited. Many industrial optimization problems require frequent changes in the objective functions as well as the decision variables, even though the system itself remains the same. Surprisingly, no algorithm has been developed which makes use of previous information for solving a different problem for the same system in a comparatively short (computational) time. The algorithm developed in this study, namely, B-NSGA-II-aJG, carries this Out more intelligently using the biogenetic law of embryology. This algorithm increases the speed of convergence significantly

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Not AvailableFacial sexual dimorphism of Terapon theraps Cuvier, 1829 was studied through geometric morphometric method. Twenty-four landmark based morphometric distances, acquired from lateral side of head, were subjected to canonical discriminant analysis (CDA) to understand facial sexual dimorphism in the species. Scatter plot of canonical factors differentiated male and female based on measurements associated with jaws, opercle and pectoral fin. Discriminant function analysis (DFA) described sexes with 28.76% error. The study showed that geometric morphometry based sexual differentiation in fishes with no external characters is a promising tool.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableA comparative evaluation of morphometric characters of goatfishes collected from different parts of India was conducted in order to discriminate them. Among the body ratios the proportion of body depth to standard length was found to be important that varied in the range of 11-39%, with maximum (34-39%) in Upeneus guttatus and minimum (11-26%) in U. moluccensis. Among meristic characters number of dorsal fin spine differed, it was 8 in all the species except in U guttatus where it was 7. Gill rakers present on lower limb of first arch were highest in U sulphureus, U moluccensis, Parupeneus indicus (18-22); lowest number was in U sundaicus (13-15) followed by U. tragula (14-16). Highest numbers of lateral line scales were recorded in U. taeniopterus (36-38) and lowest in U. guttatus. (28-30). Discriminant function analysis for ten morphometric characters gave misclassification of 0% for P. indicus. U. guttatus. U. sulphereus, U. sundaicus, U. tragula, U. vittatus and 3% for U moluccensis, 6% for U. taeniopterus. Wedge shaped otolith (sagitta) was found in U. guttatus and P. indicus, oval in U. sulphureus, elliptic to truncate anteriorly in U. vittatus, fusiform and serrated margins in U. moluccensis, elliptic to truncate anteriorly for U. sundaicus and U. taeniopterus. Rostrum shor, slightly flattened, antirostrum poorly defined in U. tragula. In U, moluccensis parietal crest was poorly developed. In U. tragula and U. moluccensis, pterosphenoid was not in direct contract with lateral ethmoid, and pterosphenoid joined to basisspenoid in U. vittatus and U. guttatus.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableLength‐weight relationships (LWRs) for five indigenous fish species under five genera and two families, namely Cyprinion semiplotum (McClelland, 1839), Barilius barna (Hamilton, 1822), Barilius barila (Hamilton, 1822), Gagata sexualis Tilak, 1970 and Pseudolaguvia shawi (Hora, 1921) were studied from Torsa River in West Bengal, India. Sampling was done at quarterly intervals from November, 2015 to December, 2016 and a total of 701 fish specimens were collected using cast nets (mesh size of 15–20 mm), gill nets (mesh size 20–35 mm) and bamboo traps. In the present study, b value ranges from 2.686 to 3.268. LWRs for these fish species (except P. shawi) have not been reported in FishBase. A new maximum length has been recorded for P. Shawi and G. sexualis. The relative condition factor (Kn) values was found to range from 1.004 to 1.028.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableTen indigenous freshwater fish species belonging to nine genera and seven families were collected from Gandak River, Bihar, India during December, 2014 to September, 2016. Fishes were caught using Cast nets, Gill nets, Drag nets with mesh size of 15–20 mm, 25–30 mm and 5–10 mm respectively along with Traps. Sampling was done during dry and wet seasons and a total of 682 fish were collected for analysis of their Length–Weight Relationships (LWRs). Analyses included seven species for which no previous LWRs information were available in FishBase, and new maximum lengths were recorded for three species.Not Availabl

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Not AvailablePresent study provides length–weight relationships (LWRs) and length–length relationships (LLRs) of eight fish species from river Ganga, India. Specimens were sampled from gill nets (mesh, 22–120 mm), cast nets (mesh, 12–14 mm), and seine nets (mesh, 12 mm) on quarterly basis from September 2016 to September 2017 within the river stretch from Buxar (25°33′43.90″N and 83°56′3.10″E) to Freserganj (21°35′40.58″N and 88°15′28.92″E). The b value ranged from 2.86 (Otolithoides pama) to 3.08 (Polynemus paradiseus), whereas a value ranged from 0.004 (P. paradiseus) to 0.016 (Rita rita). Both relationships (LWRs and LLRs) were found to be highly correlated (p < .001). This study provides first report on LWR for Amblyceps mangois and Osteobrama cotio, whereas new maximum length recorded for Macrognathus pancalus. Furthermore, the estimate of R. rita should be considered as tentative because of the limited size range in the studyNot Availabl

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Not AvailableBackground: The present study assessed the growth and mortality parameters of the white sardine, Escualosa thoracata which is having high local demand. The white sardine gained importance due to its taste, and high demand in domestic markets as compared to the oil sardine necessitated a study on this resource to know the present status of exploitation level along the central west coast of India. Results: A total of 3026 individuals of different size groups of E. thoracata were randomly collected from the Burondi fish landing center of the Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra. The asymptotic length (L∞) and growth coefficient (K) were estimated to be 115 mm and 1.9 year−1, respectively, by ELEFAN-I and 135 mm and 1.2 year−1 by the scattergram. The value of t0 by von Bertalanffy plot was estimated to be −0.000012 year. The fish attained a length of 65 mm, 94 mm, and 114 mm at the end of 0.5, 1, and 1.5 years of its life, respectively. The instantaneous rate of total mortality (Z), natural mortality (M), and fishing mortality (F) were estimated to be 8.07 year−1, 2.55 year−1, and 5.52 year−1, respectively. The exploitation rate (U) was calculated as 0.65, and the exploitation ratio (E) was 0.68. Conclusion: The growth, mortality, and other population parameters observed in the present study will help to understand the current stock status, which is pointing toward the over-fishing condition (E ˃ 0.50) of the white sardine in the study area. Therefore, the present investigation suggests reducing the fishing pressure on E. thoracata along the central west coast of India for the sustainability of the resource.Not Availabl