ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITES AND PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF METHANOL EXTRACT OF LEAVES OF ARTOCARPUS HETEROPHYLLUS LAM

Objective: The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the phytochemical constituents, free radical scavenging activities and antioxidant properties of the methanol extract of leaves of Artocarpus heterophyllus. Methods: The phytochemicals in the methanol extract of leaves of A. heterophyllus were determined qualitatively and quantitatively using standard methods. The antioxidant activities were carried out by DPPH free radical scavenging assay, OH• radical scavenging assay, NO• radical scavenging assay, Fe3+reducing power assay and phosphomolybdenum reduction assay methods. Results: The methanol extract of leaves of A. heterophyllus showed good radical scavenging activities and reducing power activities which were found to increase with the increasing concentration of the extract. The study indicated that the presence of the major phytochemicals viz. flavonoids and phenols in the methanol extract of leaves of A. heterophyllus were 86.75 mg/g and 524.86 mg/g, respectively. Conclusion: The present study revealed that the methanol extract of leaves of A. heterophyllus showed significant antioxidant activities as well as phenolic content

Microscopic visualization of regeneration in scale worm Paralepidonotus sp. (Grube, 1878)

360-364Regeneration of damaged or lost body parts is an ecologically important process in the animal realm. Like many other annelids, segmented worms and bearded scale worm, Paralepidonotus sp. is capable of regenerating its anterior elytra and posterior body segments and terminal structures that are lost due to amputation. In aquaculture industry, scale worms have importance as common live feed. In this context, we studied the morphology and organization of tissues in Paralepidonotus sp. populations which have ability to regenerate the anterior elytra and posterior region. The study revealed that the process of blastema formation in the anterior (Elytra) and posterior segments of Paralepidonotus sp. was normal and got regenerated to its original state during 9th to 12th day of experiment, and thus this species can be used for mass scale production to cater to the demand of aquaculture as suitable live feed for feeding the brooders both in shrimp and ornamental Aquaculture

Análisis de la diversidad morfológica y contenido de aceite del germoplasma de linaza india

One hundred and eleven accessions of linseed germplasm belonging to 32 districts of six states (Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra) in India were characterized for five qualitative and six quantitative traits. Significant variability was observed in the agro- morphological and qualitative traits. The Shannon diversity index varied from 0.23–0.70 and the phenotypic coefficient of variation ranged from 6.0% to 37.1%. IC 345425, an accession from Surgaon, Chandrapur, Maharashtra, was identified as promising for its high oil content (41.5%). The Pearson correlation matrix generated for the quantitative traits indicated that positive and high correlation was observed among days to 50% flowering and days to 80% maturity (0.9; P value < 0.0001), plant height and seed weight (0.7; P value < 0.0001), seed weight and oil% (0.6; P value < 0.0001), seed weight and number of capsules per plant (0.5; P value < 0.0001). Two major clusters were formed when the characterization data was subjected to Ward’s minimum variance method. DIVA-GIS approaches for the analysis of the diversity in linseed germplasm were mapped for quantitative traits such as plant height, number of capsules per plant and seed oil content.Ciento once accesiones de germoplasma de semillas de lino pertenecientes a 32 distritos de seis estados de la India (Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh y Maharashtra) se caracterizaron mediante cinco determinaciones cualitativas y seis cuantitativas. Se observó una variabilidad significativa tanto en los rasgos cualitativos como cuantitativos. El índice de diversidad de Shannon varió entre 0,23–0,70 y el coeficiente de variación fenotípica varió entre 6,0 y 37,1 %. IC-345425, una accesión a partir Surgaon, Chandrapur, Maharashtra fue identificado como prometedora, por su alto contenido de aceite (41,5 %). La matriz de correlación de Pearson generado para los rasgos cuantitativos indicaron una correlación alta y positiva entre días a 50 % de floración y días a 80 % de maduración (0,9; valor

Diversity analysis of maize inbred lines using DIVA-GIS under temperate ecologies

The vagaries of Climate Change variability need to be addressed and as climatic conditions change at particular experimental sites and maize producing regions, mega-environment assignments will need to be reassessed to guide breeders to appropriate new germplasm and target environments . The development of improved germplasm to meet the needs of future generations in light of climate change and population growth is of the upmost importance . Evaluation of the inbred lines from diverse ecosystems would be effective for production of lines with resilience towards climate variability. Hence, with this objective diverse set of inbred lines sourced from all over India were characterized and were evaluated with DIVA-GIS for diversity analysis of maize inbred lines. Grid maps generated for these maize inbred lines for eleven quantitative traits indicated that these lines can be sourced from North and South India. High Shannon diversity index with maximum range of 2.17-3.0, 2.25-3.0, 2.36-3.0, 2.4-4.0, 2.0-3.0, and 2.2-3.0 were recorded for the traits viz; plant height, ear height, grain weight, grain yield, kernel row and protein content respectively indicating the high response of these traits to ecosystem. However, inbred lines were found to be diverse for all the traits except for ears plant-1 (EPP) and they have been sourced from Northern and Southern parts of India while for EPP recorded less diversity index range of 0.4-1.0 indicating source from South India. Interestingly, less diverse inbred lines for all the eleven quantitative traits have been sourced from Indogangetic plains as indicated in diversity grid maps. Maximum diversity indices were recorded for anthesis silking interval (ASI), days to silking, days to tasseling, which are in the range of 0.97-2.0, 1.528-2.0, 1.516-2.0 and 1.528-2.0 respectively. Hence, DIVA-GIS enabled identification of diverse sources from varied ecosystems which can be used for developing improved lines/ cultivars with greater resilience towards climate change

Diversity analysis of sesame germplasm using DIVA-GIS

Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) was studied for its distribution and diversity in India using DIVAGIS. Grid maps were generated for diversity analysis of the eight quantitative traits viz., plant height, inter-node length, leaves per plant, number of flowers per plant, number of capsules per plant, number of seeds per capsule, seed weight and seed yield. The results indicated that diverse accessions for all these traits can be sourced from Maharashtra, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh (partly covering Chattisgarh) states and these states are diversity rich pockets for sesame germplasm in India. &nbsp

Diversity analysis of sesame germplasm using DIVA-GIS

Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) was studied for its distribution and diversity in India using DIVAGIS. Grid maps were generated for diversity analysis of the eight quantitative traits viz., plant height, inter-node length, leaves per plant, number of flowers per plant, number of capsules per plant, number of seeds per capsule, seed weight and seed yield. The results indicated that diverse accessions for all these traits can be sourced from Maharashtra, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh (partly covering Chattisgarh) states and these states are diversity rich pockets for sesame germplasm in India. &nbsp

Potential of Wild relatives in Sorghum Improvement through Molecular Approaches

Wild relatives of crops play a key role in the development of high performing cultivars. Of the 22 species comprising the highly variable genus, Sorghum, only one, S. bicolor, is commercially cultivated for food, feed, and bioenergy production. Profitable utilization of wild species however, demands an interdisciplinary, multi-pronged approach to increase the probability of achieving the desired genetic improvement. In the past, plant breeders selected breeding material based on morphological characteristics that were readily observable and co-inherited with the desired traits. However, a combination of morphological and molecular analyses on large samples and smaller samples, respectively, would maximize both information and usefulness. Molecular diversity data can potentially bridge conservation and use when employed as a tool for mining germplasm collections for genomic regions associated with adaptive or agronomically-important traits (i.e., genes that have been important in adaptation to local environments or are associated with phenotypes selected by farmers or breeders. For sorghum, which is constrained by over 40 diseases and 150 insect pests, host plant resistance offers an effective, economical and environment friendly method of pest/pathogen control since it does not involve any additional investments by the resource poor farmers..

Impact of population aging on future temperature-related mortality at different global warming levels.

Older adults are generally amongst the most vulnerable to heat and cold. While temperature-related health impacts are projected to increase with global warming, the influence of population aging on these trends remains unclear. Here we show that at 1.5 °C, 2 °C, and 3 °C of global warming, heat-related mortality in 800 locations across 50 countries/areas will increase by 0.5%, 1.0%, and 2.5%, respectively; among which 1 in 5 to 1 in 4 heat-related deaths can be attributed to population aging. Despite a projected decrease in cold-related mortality due to progressive warming alone, population aging will mostly counteract this trend, leading to a net increase in cold-related mortality by 0.1%-0.4% at 1.5-3 °C global warming. Our findings indicate that population aging constitutes a crucial driver for future heat- and cold-related deaths, with increasing mortality burden for both heat and cold due to the aging population

Outcomes of obstructed abdominal wall hernia: results from the UK national small bowel obstruction audit

Background: Abdominal wall hernia is a common surgical condition. Patients may present in an emergency with bowel obstruction, incarceration or strangulation. Small bowel obstruction (SBO) is a serious surgical condition associated with significant morbidity. The aim of this study was to describe current management and outcomes of patients with obstructed hernia in the UK as identified in the National Audit of Small Bowel Obstruction (NASBO). Methods: NASBO collated data on adults treated for SBO at 131 UK hospitals between January and March 2017. Those with obstruction due to abdominal wall hernia were included in this study. Demographics, co-morbidity, imaging, operative treatment, and in-hospital outcomes were recorded. Modelling for factors associated with mortality and complications was undertaken using Cox proportional hazards and multivariable regression modelling. Results: NASBO included 2341 patients, of whom 415 (17·7 per cent) had SBO due to hernia. Surgery was performed in 312 (75·2 per cent) of the 415 patients; small bowel resection was required in 198 (63·5 per cent) of these operations. Non-operative management was reported in 35 (54 per cent) of 65 patients with a parastomal hernia and in 34 (32·1 per cent) of 106 patients with an incisional hernia. The in-hospital mortality rate was 9·4 per cent (39 of 415), and was highest in patients with a groin hernia (11·1 per cent, 17 of 153). Complications were common, including lower respiratory tract infection in 16·3 per cent of patients with a groin hernia. Increased age was associated with an increased risk of death (hazard ratio 1·05, 95 per cent c.i. 1·01 to 1·10; P = 0·009) and complications (odds ratio 1·05, 95 per cent c.i. 1·02 to 1·09; P = 0·001). Conclusion: NASBO has highlighted poor outcomes for patients with SBO due to hernia, highlighting the need for quality improvement initiatives in this group