Ontogeny of the digestive tract in stinging catfish, Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch) larvae

Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch) is an important candidate species for diversification of freshwater aquaculture in India. However, high mortality rate during larval rearing is the most serious bottleneck in commercial production of this species. A proper understanding of the ontogenic development of digestive system provides the basis to understand the nutritional physiology of larvae and develop appropriate feeding strategies. In the present study, the ontogenical development of the digestive tract in H. fossilis larvae was studied from hatching until 30 day post-hatching (dph) at 29 °C. At hatching (2.8 ± 0.2 mm standard length, SL), the digestive tract was undifferentiated and attached dorsally to the yolk sac. At 1 dph (2.9 ± 0.2 mm SL), the mouth opened and oral valves were visible. At 2 dph (3.0 ± 0.3 mm SL), goblet cells were observed in the buccoparyngaeal cavity. At this age, exogenous feeding started and the intestine was differentiated into the anterior and posterior regions, and the rudimentary liver and pancreas were also seen. Small supranuclear vacuoles were observed in the enterocytes of the posterior intestine at 2 dph. Zymogen granules were observed in acinar cells of pancreas by 3 dph, and islets of Langerhans were visible at 4 dph (3.5 ± 0.1 mm SL). At the same age, most of the yolk sac reserves were consumed, whereas they were completely exhausted by 5 dph (3.9 ± 0.5 mm SL). Between 4 and 6 dph, the liver elongated in size and started to accumulate lipids in the hepatocytes. Gastric glands were detected at 4 dph, and the pyloric sphincter was completely differentiated at 9 dph (6.1 ± 0.4 mm SL) as an epithelial fold that separated stomach from the anterior intestine. By 13 dph (8.6 ± 0.2 mm SL), profuse gastric glands were visible inside longitudinal mucosal folds of the stomach. The formation of gastric glands and their development were noticed as the last events in the development of the digestive tract in H. fossilis. This indicated the end of the larval period and the commencement of the juvenile stage. Considering these observations, it is suggested that H. fossilis larvae have a morphologically complete digestive tract by 13 dph. The findings of the study on the development of the digestive system in H. fossilis may help in synchronising the larval stage of development and feeding strategies and would be helpful in improving larval rearing techniques for catfish species.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Haploid Induction in Triticale × Wheat and Wheat × Rye Derivatives Following Imperata cylindrica-Mediated Chromosome Elimination Approach

The present research endeavor was undertaken to depict the response of different generations viz., F1, F2, BC1F1, BC1F2, BC1F3, BC1F4 and BC1F5 of triticale × wheat and wheat × rye hybrids towards the different parameters of haploid induction. The experimental material included the different generations obtained utilizing five genotypes of triticale (DT-123, DT-126, TL-2900, TL-2908 and TL-9335), four genotypes of Himalayan rye (Karoki rye, shanoor rye, tino rye and triloki rye) with various elite bread wheat genotypes as parents in wide hybridization programme. The triticale × wheat and wheat × rye recombinants were further subjected to Imperata cylindrica-mediated chromosome elimination approach of doubled haploidy breeding. The variability in the haploid induction parameters was observed to be under genetic control for embryo formation and regeneration, while pseudoseed formation was only affected by auxin treatment. Among the different generations, the backcross generations viz., BC1F1 and BC1F2 were found to exhibit significant positive response towards haploid induction parameters in both triticale × wheat and wheat × rye hybridization. Knowledge of effective generation for haploid induction in triticale × wheat and wheat × rye hybridization not only saved the time and energy but also enhanced the efficiency of haploid induction

HVDC links between North Africa and Europe: Impacts and benefits on the dynamic performance of the European system

This document is the Accepted Manuscript version of the following article: Mokhtar Benasla, Tayeb Allaoui, Mostefa Brahami, Mouloud Denai, and Vijay K. Sood, ‘HVDC links between North Africa and Europe: Impacts and benefits on the dynamic performance of the European system’, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, November 2017. Under embargo. Embargo end date: 20 November 2018. The published version is available online at doi: DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2017.10.075. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This manuscript version is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ ), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, and is not altered, transformed, or built upon in any way.In the last decade, there have been several initiatives for the deployment of cross-Mediterranean HVDC (High Voltage Direct Current) links to enable the transmission of electrical power from renewable energy sources between North Africa and Europe. These initiatives were mainly driven by the potential economic, environmental and technical benefits of these HVDC interconnections. In previous studies on these projects, some technical aspects of critical importance have not been addressed or studied in sufficient detail. One of these key aspects relates to the impact and possible benefit of these HVDC links on the dynamic performance of the European system which is the major focus of this paper. Several issues relating to the dynamic performance of the system are addressed here. Based on the experience gained from existing AC/DC projects around the world, this paper shows that the HVDC links between North Africa and Europe can greatly improve the dynamic performance of the European system especially in the southern regions. In addition, some challenges on the operation and control of these HVDC links are highlighted and solutions to overcome these challenges are proposed. This review paper, therefore, serves as a preliminary study for further detailed investigation of specific impacts or benefits of these interconnections on the overall performance of the European system.Peer reviewe

Climate change and its impact on major crops in Gujarat

The projected climatic data (2071 to 2100) as downscaled by PRECIS model for different stations (Anand, Vadodara, Junagadh, Bhavanagar, Bhuj, Rajkot and Kesod) of Gujarat were analysed for climate change impact study on different crops. Results indicated that the annual rainfall during projected period would be 15 to 101 per cent higher than the base line rainfall (1961-90). Maximum temperature would increase by 2.8 to 7.7 0C, while minimum temperature would increase by 3.8 to 5.2 0C in different parts of Gujarat. The impact of climate change on different crops (wheat, maize, pearl millet, paddy and groundnut) of Gujarat was studied using InfoCrop and DSSAT models. The results indicated that climate change will adversely affect the yields of different crops. The maximum yield reduction (-61 %) is projected in wheat and lowest in pearl millet (-<8%). Maize during kharif season would be more affected (-47 %) than the rabi season (-10 %). Similarly pearl millet in summer season will be least affected (-8%) than kharif season (-14 %)

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Not AvailableThe recurrent circulation of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in Indian poultry since 2006 resulted in emergence of the viruses of distinct antigenic clades of haemagglutinin (HA) with the majority of the H5N1 outbreaks since 2011 belonging to clade 2.3.2.1. The present study was aimed to characterize the antigenic profile of a collection of H5N1 HPAI viruses of clade 2.3.2.1 isolated in India by applying antigenic cartography, serological data and phylogenetic analysis. Eleven H5N1 viruses (2 of clade 2.2 and 9 of clade 2.3.2.1) were selected based on genetic analysis and were further characterized by antigenic cartography analysis based on cross HI (hemagglutination inhibition) data. This study highlights the intercladal antigenic differences between clades 2.3.2.1 and 2.2 and the intracladal antigenic divergence among the clade 2.3.2.1 viruses. Five viruses of clade 2.3.2.1 were also studied for analysis of glycosylation pattern of Hemagglutinin (HA) gene and the growth kinetics analysis in MDCK cells in which the viruses CL03485/H5N1 and 03CL488/H5N1 showed better replication kinetics than other viruses. The study presents a baseline data of antigenicity and other factors that can be used in the selection of suitable H5 vaccine strains or HA donor viruses to develop H5 vaccine strains by reverse genetics or other methods for control of currently circulating H5N1 viruses in Indian region.Not Availabl

Community awareness, perceptions, acceptability and preferences for using LLIN against malaria in villages of Uttar Pradesh, Indiaax

Background & Objectives: Long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) have been introduced in Indiarecently into the vector control programme. A study was undertaken to assess the communityperception regarding use of LLIN, their acceptability, collateral benefits, etc. in certain villages ofDistrict Gautam Budh Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, India where LLINs are in use by the community.Method: A randomized community-based survey was undertaken during April–May 2009 covering596 respondents in LLIN villages where LLINs have been distributed along with 307 respondentsin untreated net villages where untreated nets were distributed using structured questionnaire.Qualitative data were collected and the difference in proportion was calculated by z-test.Results: A substantial number of respondents had good knowledge of the symptoms of malaria.According to respondents, LLINs were very much effective in bringing down the malaria incidencein their families. About 98.3% of the respondents asserted the use of LLINs as their use not onlyreduced the number of mosquitoes as well as other non-target insects, but also reduced the malariaincidence. About 93.2% of the respondents were ready to purchase LLINs if available at nominalprices. All the respondents were satisfied about the performance of the LLINs in reducing themosquito nuisance, safety of use and collateral benefits in LLIN villages.Conclusion: LLINs are safe, socially acceptable and should be promoted for vector control toreduce the disease burden in the communities

Steady-state and dynamic performance of front-end diode rectifier loads as predicted by dynamic average-value models

The detailed switch-level models of front-end diode recti fi er loads can be readily implemented using a number of transient simulation programs, such as PSCAD/EMTDC, and the toolboxes in Matlab/Simulink. To improve the simulation ef fi ciency for the system-level studies, the so-called dynamic ave rage models have been widely used by researchers and en- gineers. Recently, several aver age-value modeling methodologies for the conventional three-phase (six-pulse) front-end recti fi er loads have been discussed, and the dynamic performance of sev- eral developed models has been demonstrated in discontinuous and continuous modes. In this paper, the effects of topological variations of the ac-side fi lters on the system performance are investigated. Also, the steady-st ate and dynamic impedances pre- dicted by the average models under balanced and unbalanced operation are compared. The studies and analyses presented here extend and complement those set forth in the preceding companion publication.Postprint (published version