334 research outputs found
Multitrait Pseudomonas sp. isolated from the rhizosphere of Bergenia ciliata acts as a growth-promoting bioinoculant for plants
Multifunctional plant growth-promoting bioinoculants are used to enhance growth, harvest yields, and add economic value to agricultural crops. In this study, such bioinoculant, BC-II-20 (Pseudomonas sp.), was isolated from the rhizospheric soil of a medicinal plant Bergenia ciliata from the Garhwal Himalayas, Uttarakhand, India. After characterization, supplementation with Pseudomonas sp. was used to study growth stimulation in a commercially important medicinal plant, Andrographis paniculata (Kalmegh), and it depicted enhanced physiological growth parameters under controlled conditions. Bacterial seed priming and also supplementation led to early and increased germination and plants displayed better vegetative growth during the entire growth stages. Early initiation of flowers and the appearance of pods occurred in inoculated plants, ultimately leading to the reduction in the life cycle of the plant. At the time of harvesting, there was an increase in the physiological parameters such as shoot length (38%), root length (14%), fresh weight (57%), dry weight (60%), number of panicles, and root branching. Photosynthetic efficiency was also higher, and ultimately, overall plant growth was improved by bacterial inoculation. The eco-friendly and sustainable use of this bioinoculant will provide an alternative to harmful chemical fertilizers and has become increasingly important. In conclusion, we reported a promising bioinoculant having plant growth-promoting traits, which promotes growth and development in A. paniculata and may be applied to other plants also
Isolation, Culture and Functional Characterization of Glia and Endothelial Cells From Adult Pig Brain
Primary cultures of glial and endothelial cells are important tools for basic and translational neuroscience research. Primary cell cultures are usually generated from rodent brain although considerable differences exist between human and rodent glia and endothelial cells. Because many translational research projects aim to identify mechanisms that eventually lead to diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to target human diseases, glia, and endothelial cultures are needed that better reflect the human central nervous system (CNS). Pig brain is easily accessible and, in many aspects, close to the human brain. We established an easy and cost-effective method to isolate and culture different primary glial and endothelial cells from adult pig brain. Oligodendrocyte, microglia, astrocyte, and endothelial primary cell cultures were generated from the same brain tissue and grown for up to 8 weeks. Primary cells showed lineage-specific morphology and expressed specific markers with a purity ranging from 60 to 95%. Cultured oligodendrocytes myelinated neurons and microglia secreted tumor necrosis factor alpha when induced with lipopolysaccharide. Endothelial cells showed typical tube formation when grown on Matrigel. Astrocytes enhanced survival of co-cultured neurons and were killed by Aquaporin-4 antibody positive sera from patients with Neuromyelitis optica. In summary, we established a new method for primary oligodendrocyte, microglia, endothelial and astrocyte cell cultures from pig brain that provide a tool for translational research on human CNS diseases
Molecular Diversity Assessment in Selected Accessions of White Seeded Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) using SSR Markers
315-321Fifty sesame accessions with 10 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were used for their molecular characterization and assessment of genetic diversity. It was observed through this study that the accessions have enough genetic variability at molecular levels. Thirty five alleles with mean polymorphism information content of 0.42 resulted from the molecular studies very explicitly indicate the superiority of SSR primers in assessment of genetic diversity. These primer bands size varied from 200 to 400 bp. The number of alleles per locus in selected accessions varied from 3 to 6 and heterozygosity per primer ranged from 0.00 to 0.40. The pair wise genetic similarity varied from 0.44 to 0.86. A closure view of dendrogram identified two major clusters, indicating high genetic resemblance among sesame accessions. Hence, under the study here, diversity assessment through SSR markers was proved to be stronger tools for discriminating Sesamum indicum accessions
Molecular Diversity Assessment in Selected Accessions of White Seeded Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) Using SSR Markers
Molecular characterization and genetic diversity among 50 sesame accessions was carried out by using 10 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. The study revealed enough genetic variability among the accessions at molecular levels. A total of 35 alleles with mean PIC of 0.42 obtained from the molecular analysis show the informative nature of SSR primers and their superiority in genetic diversity assessment. The bands produced by these primers considerably varied in size from 200 to 400 bp. The observed number of alleles per locus in all sesame accessions ranged from 3 to 6. The observed heterozygosity per primer ranged from 0.00 to 0.40 indicating a high degree of variation. The pair wise genetic similarity among 50 sesame accessions varied from 0.44 to 0.86. The dendrogram constructed based on genetic similarities among the accessions identified two major clusters, indicating high genetic resemblance among sesame accessions
Rainfall and Elevation Influence the Local-Scale Distribution of Tree Community in the Southern Region of Western Ghats Biodiversity Hotspot (India)
The present study characterises the tree communities with respect to topographic and climatic variables and identifies the most important environmental correlate of species richness in the southern region of Western Ghats Biodiversity Hotspot, India. Digitally derived environmental variables in combination with tree species richness information were analysed using Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) to characterise the communities. Multiple regression technique based on stepwise backward elimination was used to identify the most important environment correlate of species richness. Canonical correspondence analysis results in six major tree communities along the first and second axes. Rainfall is the dominant environmental gradient influencing vegetation patterns on the first CCA axis while elevation showed the highest correlation with the second CCA axis. Backward elimination regression technique yielded rainfall as the most important environmental correlate of species richness. Results were in agreement with the observations in the Neotropics that rainier areas maintain high species diversity
The Role of Toll-Like Receptor 2 and 4 Innate Immunity Pathways in Intracortical Microelectrode-Induced Neuroinflammation
We have recently demonstrated that partial inhibition of the cluster of differentiation 14 (CD14) innate immunity co-receptor pathway improves the long-term performance of intracortical microelectrodes better than complete inhibition. We hypothesized that partial activation of the CD14 pathway was critical to a neuroprotective response to the injury associated with initial and sustained device implantation. Therefore, here we investigated the role of two innate immunity receptors that closely interact with CD14 in inflammatory activation. We implanted silicon planar non-recording neural probes into knockout mice lacking Toll-like receptor 2 (Tlr2−/−), knockout mice lacking Toll-like receptor 4 (Tlr4−/−), and wildtype (WT) control mice, and evaluated endpoint histology at 2 and 16 weeks after implantation. Tlr4−/− mice exhibited significantly lower BBB permeability at acute and chronic time points, but also demonstrated significantly lower neuronal survival at the chronic time point. Inhibition of the Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) pathway had no significant effect compared to control animals. Additionally, when investigating the maturation of the neuroinflammatory response from 2 to 16 weeks, transgenic knockout mice exhibited similar histological trends to WT controls, except that knockout mice did not exhibit changes in microglia and macrophage activation over time. Together, our results indicate that complete genetic removal of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) was detrimental to the integration of intracortical neural probes, while inhibition of TLR2 had no impact within the tests performed in this study. Therefore, approaches focusing on incomplete or acute inhibition of TLR4 may still improve intracortical microelectrode integration and long term recording performance
Functional Characterization of Aquaporin-4 Specific T Cells: Towards a Model for Neuromyelitis Optica
Antibodies to the water channel protein aquaporin-4 (AQP4), which is expressed in astrocytic endfeet at the blood brain barrier, have been identified in the serum of Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) patients and are believed to induce damage to astrocytes. However, AQP4 specific T helper cell responses that are required for the generation of anti-AQP4 antibodies and most likely also for the formation of intraparenchymal CNS lesions have not been characterized. specific T cells were present in the natural T cell repertoire of wild type C57BL/6 mice and T cell lines were raised. However, active immunization with these AQP4 peptides did not induce signs of spinal cord disease. Rather, sensitization with AQP4 peptides resulted in production of IFN-γ, but also IL-5 and IL-10 by antigen-specific T cells. Consistent with this cytokine profile, the AQP4 specific antibody response upon immunization with full length AQP4 included IgG1 and IgG2, which are associated with a mixed Th2/Th1 T cell response. restricted AQP4 specific T cell epitopes will allow us to investigate how AQP4 specific autoimmune reactions are regulated and to establish faithful mouse models of NMO that include both cellular and humoral responses against AQP4
X-ray emission from the Sombrero galaxy: discrete sources
We present a study of discrete X-ray sources in and around the
bulge-dominated, massive Sa galaxy, Sombrero (M104), based on new and archival
Chandra observations with a total exposure of ~200 ks. With a detection limit
of L_X = 1E37 erg/s and a field of view covering a galactocentric radius of ~30
kpc (11.5 arcminute), 383 sources are detected. Cross-correlation with Spitler
et al.'s catalogue of Sombrero globular clusters (GCs) identified from HST/ACS
observations reveals 41 X-rays sources in GCs, presumably low-mass X-ray
binaries (LMXBs). We quantify the differential luminosity functions (LFs) for
both the detected GC and field LMXBs, whose power-low indices (~1.1 for the
GC-LF and ~1.6 for field-LF) are consistent with previous studies for
elliptical galaxies. With precise sky positions of the GCs without a detected
X-ray source, we further quantify, through a fluctuation analysis, the GC LF at
fainter luminosities down to 1E35 erg/s. The derived index rules out a
faint-end slope flatter than 1.1 at a 2 sigma significance, contrary to recent
findings in several elliptical galaxies and the bulge of M31. On the other
hand, the 2-6 keV unresolved emission places a tight constraint on the field
LF, implying a flattened index of ~1.0 below 1E37 erg/s. We also detect 101
sources in the halo of Sombrero. The presence of these sources cannot be
interpreted as galactic LMXBs whose spatial distribution empirically follows
the starlight. Their number is also higher than the expected number of cosmic
AGNs (52+/-11 [1 sigma]) whose surface density is constrained by deep X-ray
surveys. We suggest that either the cosmic X-ray background is unusually high
in the direction of Sombrero, or a distinct population of X-ray sources is
present in the halo of Sombrero.Comment: 11 figures, 5 tables, ApJ in pres
Performance of the CMS Cathode Strip Chambers with Cosmic Rays
The Cathode Strip Chambers (CSCs) constitute the primary muon tracking device
in the CMS endcaps. Their performance has been evaluated using data taken
during a cosmic ray run in fall 2008. Measured noise levels are low, with the
number of noisy channels well below 1%. Coordinate resolution was measured for
all types of chambers, and fall in the range 47 microns to 243 microns. The
efficiencies for local charged track triggers, for hit and for segments
reconstruction were measured, and are above 99%. The timing resolution per
layer is approximately 5 ns
Report of the Task Force on Enhancing technology use in agriculture insurance
Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) is a flagship scheme of the Government of India to
provide insurance coverage and financial support to farmers in the event of failure of any of the
notified crops, unsown area and damage to harvest produce as a result of natural calamities, pests
and diseases to stabilise the income of farmers, and to encourage them to adopt modern agricultural
practices. The scheme is a considerable improvement over all previous insurance schemes in India
and is heavily subsidised by the state and central governments. The scheme aims to cover 50 percent
of the farming households within next 3 years.
During its implementation in the last one season, several challenges relating to enrolment, yield
estimation, loss assessment, and claim settlement were reported by farmers, insurance companies
as well as the state governments. It was also noted that several technological opportunities existed
for possibly leveraging support to the Indian crop insurance program for enhanced efficiency and
effectiveness. NITI Aayog of the Government of India, therefore, constituted a Task Force to deliberate
on this subject and identify such potential opportunities. This report summarises the recommendations
of the Task Force.
The Task Force constituted to address the issue of technology support to crop insurance comprised
the following 5 sub-groups: (1) Remote Sensing & Drones; (2) Decision Support Systems, Crop
Modelling & Integrated Approaches; (3) IT/ICT in Insurance; (4) Crop Cutting Experiments (CCEs); and
(5) Technologies for Livestock and Aquaculture Insurance. Each sub-group had several discussions
with experts in the respective areas, and submitted draft reports. More than 100 experts related to
professional research agencies, insurance industry, banks, and the government contributed to these
discussions. Technological options available in the country and abroad were considered by all groups.
The Task Force together with the sub-groups then deliberated on key issues and formulated its
recommendations as presented in this report. During the discussions it was realised that there were
many administrative and institutional issues that needed to be addressed in PMFBY. However, the
focus of the Task Force was on its main mandate, technology use in crop insurance. We hope these
recommendations would help the Indian crop insurance sector take full advantage of the technological
options suggested so as to increase its efficacy and effectiveness leading to reduced agrarian distress
in the country
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