The mechanism of nestmate discrimination in the tropical social wasp Ropalidia marginata and its implications for the evolution of sociality

We have demonstrated that females of the primitively eusocial tropical wasp Ropalidia marginata can discriminate nestmates from nonnestmates outside the context of their nests. This was accomplished by recroding all behavioural interactions in a neutral arena and comparing tolerance levels. In order for these wasps to make such a discrimination, however, it was essential that after eclosion both the discriminated and the discriminating animals were exposed to their respective natal nests and nestmates. The results suggest that both recognition labels and templates are acquired by the animals from sources outside their body, perhaps from their nest or nestmates. It is thus unlikely that different genetic lines within a colony can be distinguished. We conclude, therefore, that genetic asymmetries created by haplodiploidy, but often broken down by multiple mating and polygyny, are not restored by preferential altruism towards full rather than half sisters by means of kin recognition. Hence we recommend caution in ascribing the multiple origins of eusociality in the Hymenoptera to haplodiploidy

A study of serum psedocholinesterase levels following diazinon poisoning in relation to liver function-prognostic and therapeutic value

Background: To study serum pseudo-cholinesterase (PChE) levels as an index of liver injury in individuals with diazinon poisoning with or without alcoholism. It gives the knowledge of the therapeutic efficacy and severity of liver dysfunction.Methods: Blood samples were taken from normal male adults as control and PChE is estimated. Blood samples were taken from diazinon poisoning patients from local hospitals on the 1st day and on 5th day for pseudocholinesterase estimation. Another group of blood samples were taken on the 1st day and on the 5th day from diazinon poisoning patients with history of alcoholism serum PChE is estimated.Results: Serum PChE was estimated among the normal healthy male adults as the normal value of enzyme for the various levels for comparison. Among 30 normal adults, the control value of PChE ranged between 125 and 321 µmol/ml with 212 as the mean. Following the treatment with atropine, PAM and blood transfusion, blood samples were estimated by 5th day among patients with diazinon. Their mean value was found to be 200 µmol/ml. Among individuals with alcohol and diazinon poisoning, following the treatment, the serum PChE levels were raised comparatively on 1st day. The value is 100 µmol/ml.Conclusions: In diazinon poisoning without alcoholism, the prognostic and therapeutic efficacy of the drugs is better unlike in alcoholics. Hence a scope of necessitating the hepatoprotective measures is of consideration in the organophosphorous poisoning cases

Genetics of Starch Content and its Correlations with Agro-morphological Traits in Sorghum

Sorghum can be an alternative to corn for industrial uses, especially in drought prone areas of the world. Sorghum cultivars with high potential of grain and starch yields are needed to continuously meet the industrial demands. We have studied the genetics of grain yield and starch content of sorghum to decide the breeding procedure to develop suitable cultivars for starch industry. The genetic material from 8 × 8 diallel (28 F1 and 8 parents) was grown in a randomized complete block design, with three replications at Directorate of Sorghum Research, Hyderabad, India. Observations were recorded on seven agro-morphological and two grain quality traits including grain yield and starch content. Correlation studies revealed that the grain hardness was negatively correlated to starch and positively correlated to grain yield, panicle weight and days to flowering. Variance due to specific combining ability effects was greater in magnitude for both starch content and grain yield. Bi-parental crossing in F2 will help in getting pure lines with high starch content and high grain yield. The parents chosen for breeding program need to be good combiners for starch and grain yields to obtain superior hybrid. One MS line, 422B was a good combiner for grain yield, high starch content and 100 grain weight, and had good per se performance

Effect of Amomum subulatum seeds against cypermethrin induced haematological changes in wistar albino rats

Background: Cypermethrin is a well know agricultural pesticide used in the developing countries. It is associated with significant toxic potential on human health. Hence the present study was aimed to evaluate the protective role of Amomum subulatum against cypermethrin induced haematalogical changes in Wistar albino rats.Methods: The albino rats were divided into five different groups of six rats each. Group I considered as normal control, group II cypermethrin control (25mg/kg body weight p.o.), group III only test drug and group IV and V administered with cypermethrin 25mg/kg body weight along test drug 1.08 and 2.16mg/kg body weight for 28 consecutive days. At the end of 28th day blood was withdrawn and total haematalogical parameters were estimated.Results: In the cypermethrin control there was significant reduction in the WBC, Platelet, MCHC and considerable reduction in the haemoglobulin concentration in comparison to normal control. The test drug administered at both dose levels was significantly reversed the cypermethrin induced changes in haematalogical parameters.Conclusions: Authors can conclude that the Amomum subulatum has potency to reverse the cypermethrin induced haematalogical changes

Anti pathogenic studies of new mixed ligand metal chelates

189-196Drug discovery aimed at the methodical extermination of life-threatening bacterial infection, especially considering the emergence of multi-drug resistance of pathogenic bacteria has remained a challenge for medicinal inorganic chemistry. In this article, the mixed ligand complexes of Cu (II), Co (II), and Ni (II) containing heterocyclic ligands were synthesized and characterized by IR, LC-MS, UV, and TG-DTA. Complexes are screened for Anti-microbial activity against human pathogenic bacteria

Photocatalytic Oxidation of 2,4-Dinitrophenol in Aqueous Titanium Dioxide Slurries

909-915The heterogeneous photocatalytic oxidation of 2,4-dinitrophenol (2,4-DNP) was investigated in aqueous suspensions of TiO2 at the wavelength of 254nm by using an annular flow type photo-reactor with an 8W low-pressure mercury lamp as a UV -light source. For achieving higher photo-degradation efficiencies of 2,4-DNP, optimized conditions like, irradiation time, initial concentration of 2,4-dinitrophenol and catalyst load were established. The effect of oxygen supply and the optimum pH for achieving maximum degradation were also investigated. All the experiments were carried oul ill a batch recirculation mode. Experiments conducted at oxygenated and deoxygenated conditions indicate that the photo-degradation can be carried out through two different mechanisms. Optical density measurement (spectroscopy) was used to study the degradation. At a pH value of 3.5 and 10.5, maximum removal of 99 and 97 per cent was achieved within 3 h of irradiation time with an initial concentration of 4 x 10-4M. </span

Anti pathogenic studies of new mixed ligand metal chelates

Drug discovery aimed at the methodical extermination of life-threatening bacterial infection, especially considering the emergence of multi-drug resistance of pathogenic bacteria has remained a challenge for medicinal inorganic chemistry. In this article, the mixed ligand complexes of Cu (II), Co (II), and Ni (II) containing heterocyclic ligands were synthesized and characterized by IR, LC-MS, UV, and TG-DTA. Complexes are screened for Anti-microbial activity against human pathogenic bacteria

DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT AND CHARACTERIZATION OF CLOPIDOGREL BISULFATE TRANSDERMAL DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM

 Transdermal drug delivery is an alternative route for systemic drug delivery, which minimizes the absorption and increase the bioavailability. Orallyclopidogrel bisulfate has a short elimination half-life (7-8 hrs), low oral bioavailability (50%) undergoes extensive first pass metabolism (85%) andfrequent high doses (75 mg) are required to maintain the therapeutic level as a result, dose development toxic effect. The purpose of this researchwork was to formulation and evaluation of transdermal drug delivery system of clopidogrel bisulfate using various polymers such as sodiumcarboxymethylcellulose (SCMC), guar gum and tragacanth with different proportions by solvent evaporation technique. The Fourier transform infraredstudy revealed no physical or chemical interactions between clopidogrel bisulfate and excipients. Partition co-efficient present in between 2 and 6 forthis drug so it is suitable for the transdermal patches. The prepared formulations were evaluated for different physicochemical characteristics such asthickness, folding endurance, drug content, percentage moisture absorption, percentage moisture loss, percentage elongation break test and weightuniformity. The diffusion studies were performed by using modified Franz diffusion cells. The result of dissolution studies shows that formulation,F6 (SCMC and tragacanth) showed maximum release of 98.6% in 24 hrs, whereas F1 (SCMC and guar gum) showed minimum release of 42.9%in 24 hrs. Based on the drug release and physicochemical values obtained the formulation F6 is considered as an optimized formulation, which showshigher percentage of drug release of 98.6% in 24 hrs. The developed transdermal patches increase the therapeutic efficacy and reduced toxic effectof clopidogrel bisulfate.Keywords: Clopidogrel bisulfate, Transdermal patch, Solvent casting techniques