Impact of Cypermethrin on Fingerlings of Common Edible Carp (Labeo rohita)

Laboratory evaluations were made to assess the toxicological and biochemical effect of cypermethrin on fingerlings of common edible freshwater culture carp (Labeo rohita). There was a significant negative (P < 0.05) correlation observed between effective doses of cypermethrin and exposure periods; that is, LC50 values decreased from 0.323 μg/L (6 h) to  > 0.278 μg/L (12 h),  > 0.240 μg/L (18 h) and >0.205 μg/L (24 h). Exposure to sublethal doses of cypermethrin for 24 h and 96 h exposure period caused significant (P < 0.05) time- and dose-dependent alterations in total protein, total free amino acids, nucleic acids, glycogen, pyruvate, and lactate level and in the activity of enzyme protease, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, acid phosphatases, alkaline phosphatases, acetylcholinesterase, and cytochrome oxidase in liver and muscle tissues of fish. Thus, cypermethrin has potent piscicidal activity against fingerlings of fish Labeo rohita and adversely affects their behavioural patterns, shifting aerobic pathway of fish respiration towards anaerobic pathway and also inhibiting energy production by suppressing ATP synthesis

Biofuels for Defence Use: Past, Present And Future

Defence sector desires to attain energy self-sufficiency and security. In recent years, emergence of biofuel as an alternative source has raised the hopes of Defence. Ethanol and bio-diesel are currently being used as blends in different parts of the world. While, bio-diesel is mostly being blended in 2-20% in different parts of the world, ethanol blending has reached upto 85%. Owing to the sustainability reasons, the choice of feedstock for ethanol production is gradually changing from corn to lignocelluloses biomass. Jatropha curcas, is still the choice feedstockfor bio-diesel in most third world countries. This institute has put in rigrous efforts to identify high yielding varieties of Jatropha, improving its yield, standardizing trans-esterification to obtain high quality bio-diesel and its trials and testing in various vehicles and equipment. Second generation biofuels using biomass such as farm and forest wastes as feedstocks are promising in terms of their overall sustainability and volume produced. They can be used as drop in fuels. However, time is required to utilize their potential fully. Algae, the third generation biofuel feedstock still needs extensive R&amp;D to make it economically sustainable. Whatever, the technology used, defence forces will accept any biofuel, which should be available constantly and priced below the existing petroleum fuels. The scope of producing by-products and finding a lucarative market for these products can ensure that prices ofbiofuels remain lower than the petroleum fuel

Evidence-based focused approach for fulfillment of aims: Experiences of an asthma clinic

Background: A new health system for the 21st century should be based on the best scientific knowledge, according to the Institute&nbsp;of Medicine, US. Objective: We have evaluated the effectiveness of asthma clinic providing comprehensive care based on the best&nbsp;available scientific evidence. Materials and Methods: This intervention study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital having&nbsp;a devoted asthma clinic for the&nbsp; comprehensive management. All children diagnosed as having asthma were included, and data&nbsp;of cases managed from July 2014 to June 2016 were analyzed. Intervention - comprehensive management of asthma including&nbsp;assessment, monitoring, health education, avoidance of triggers, management of comorbid conditions, appropriate medications,&nbsp;written asthma action plan, and counseling for follow-up. Outcome measures were treatment direction, asthma control, emergency&nbsp;visits, and hospitalizations. Results: 260 children were treated over a 2-year period. The effects of focused approach with progressive&nbsp;expertise lead to statistically significant benefits over the two successive years from July 2014 to June 2015 and July 2015 to June2016. These were in: (i) Treatment direction: Cases requiring stepping up of treatment decreased from 36.49% to 17.24% (relative&nbsp;risk [RR]: 0.473 [95% confidence interval {CI}: 0.249-0.895]); p=0.01229, (ii) asthma control: Cases with not well-controlled&nbsp;asthma decreased from 16.44% to 7.02% (RR 0.427: [95% CI: 0.199-0.914]); p=0.045, (iii) emergency department visits decreased&nbsp;from 35.62% to 21.05% (RR 0.591: [95% CI: 0.39-0.897]), p=0.00766, (iv) hospitalizations decreased from 16.44% to 5.26% (RR&nbsp;0.32: [95% CI: 0.135-0.757]), p=0.00462. Conclusion: Establishing an asthma clinic and progressive expertise leads to significant&nbsp;beneficial results

Daksha: On Alert for High Energy Transients

We present Daksha, a proposed high energy transients mission for the study of electromagnetic counterparts of gravitational wave sources, and gamma ray bursts. Daksha will comprise of two satellites in low earth equatorial orbits, on opposite sides of earth. Each satellite will carry three types of detectors to cover the entire sky in an energy range from 1 keV to >1 MeV. Any transients detected on-board will be announced publicly within minutes of discovery. All photon data will be downloaded in ground station passes to obtain source positions, spectra, and light curves. In addition, Daksha will address a wide range of science cases including monitoring X-ray pulsars, studies of magnetars, solar flares, searches for fast radio burst counterparts, routine monitoring of bright persistent high energy sources, terrestrial gamma-ray flashes, and probing primordial black hole abundances through lensing. In this paper, we discuss the technical capabilities of Daksha, while the detailed science case is discussed in a separate paper.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figures, 1 table. Additional information about the mission is available at https://www.dakshasat.in

Age-associated impaired plasmacytoid dendritic cell functions lead to decreased CD4 and CD8 T cell immunity

Increased susceptibility to infections, particularly respiratory viral infections, is a hallmark of advancing age. The underlying mechanisms are not well understood, and there is a scarcity of information regarding the contribution of the innate immune system, which is the first line of defense against infections. In the present study, we have investigated the effect of advancing age on plasmacytoid dendritic cell (PDC) function because they are critical in generating a robust antiviral response via the secretion of interferons (IFN). Our results indicate that PDCs from the aged are impaired in their capacity to secrete IFN-I in response to influenza virus and CPG stimulation. Additionally, we observed a severe reduction in the production of IFN-III, which plays an important role in defense against viral infections at respiratory mucosal surfaces. This reduction in IFN-I and IFN-III were a result of age-associated impaired phosphorylation of transcription factor, IRF-7. Furthermore, aged PDCs were observed to be impaired in their capacity to induce perforin and granzyme in CD8 T cells. Comparison of the antigen-presenting capacity of aged PDC with young PDC revealed that PDCs from aged subjects display reduced capacity to induce proliferation and IFN-gamma secretion in CD4 and CD8 T cells as compared with PDCs from young subjects. In summary, our study demonstrates that advancing age has a profound effect on PDC function at multiple levels and may therefore, be responsible for the increased susceptibility to infections in the elderly

Science with the Daksha High Energy Transients Mission

We present the science case for the proposed Daksha high energy transients mission. Daksha will comprise of two satellites covering the entire sky from 1~keV to $>1$~MeV. The primary objectives of the mission are to discover and characterize electromagnetic counterparts to gravitational wave source; and to study Gamma Ray Bursts (GRBs). Daksha is a versatile all-sky monitor that can address a wide variety of science cases. With its broadband spectral response, high sensitivity, and continuous all-sky coverage, it will discover fainter and rarer sources than any other existing or proposed mission. Daksha can make key strides in GRB research with polarization studies, prompt soft spectroscopy, and fine time-resolved spectral studies. Daksha will provide continuous monitoring of X-ray pulsars. It will detect magnetar outbursts and high energy counterparts to Fast Radio Bursts. Using Earth occultation to measure source fluxes, the two satellites together will obtain daily flux measurements of bright hard X-ray sources including active galactic nuclei, X-ray binaries, and slow transients like Novae. Correlation studies between the two satellites can be used to probe primordial black holes through lensing. Daksha will have a set of detectors continuously pointing towards the Sun, providing excellent hard X-ray monitoring data. Closer to home, the high sensitivity and time resolution of Daksha can be leveraged for the characterization of Terrestrial Gamma-ray Flashes.Comment: 19 pages, 7 figures. Submitted to ApJ. More details about the mission at https://www.dakshasat.in

Piscicidal activity of alcoholic extract of neruium indicum leaf and their biochemical stress response on fish metabolism

Laboratory evaluations were made to asses the piscicidal activity of ethyl alcohol extract of Nerium indicum leaf against predatory fish Channa punctatus and their ultimate mode of action on fish metabolism. Toxicity experiments show there was significant negative correlation between LC values and exposure periods i.e. LC50 value decreased from 66.32 mg/L (24h) to 44.96 mg/L (96h). Biochemical studies show that after exposure to sub lethal doses of alcoholic extract, pyruvate level and activities of acetylcholinesterase and cytochrome oxidase significantly decreased while lactate level and activities of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate amino transferase were significantly enhanced in both liver and muscle tissues of Channa punctatus. The alterations in all the above biochemical parameters were significantly (P<0.05) time and dose dependent. There was a significant recovery observed in all the above biochemical parameters, in both liver and muscle tissues of fish after the seventh day of the withdrawal of treatment Thus it was believed that alcoholic extract of Nerium indicum leaf can be used in aquatic environment for controlling predatory fish Channa punctatus population. Their piscicidal activity may be due to their adverse effect on respiratory as well as energy production of fish. The reversible nature of the piscicidal action could be advantageous in aquatic environment

Changes in some biochemical parameters in the liver and muscle of Colisa fasciatus due to toxicity of ethanolic extract of Nerium indicum Mill. (Lal Kaner) latex

48-54Present study deals with piscicidal, toxicological and biochemical effects of ethanolic extract of Nerium indicum Mill. (Lal Kaner) latex against freshwater weed fish Colisa fasciatus. There was a significant (P<0.05) negative correlation between LC values and exposure periods i.e. LC50 values decreased from 14.05mg/l (24h) to 5.52mg/l (96h). Sub-lethal exposure of ethanolic latex extract for 24h and 96h caused significant (P<0.05) time and dose dependent alterations in the levels of total protein, total free amino acid, nucleic acid, glycogen, pyruvate, lactate and also in the activity of enzyme protease, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, acetylcholinesterase, lactic dehydrogenase, succinic dehydrogenase and cytochrome oxidase in liver and muscle tissues of fish. Withdrawal experiments shows, their biochemical effects are reversible in action. Thus, N. indicum latex extract mainly suppress energy production and shifts fish respiration towards the anaerobic segment

Toxic and sub-lethal effects of oleandrin on biochemical parameters of fresh water air breathing murrel, <i>Channa punctatus </i>(Bloch.)

413-418Active compound oleandrin extracted from Nerium indicum (Lal Kaner) leaf has potent piscicidal activity. The piscicidal activity of oleandrin on freshwater fish C. punctatus was both time and dose dependent. Exposure to sub-lethal doses of oleandrin for 24hr and 96hr to fish caused significant alteration in the level of total protein, total free amino acid, nucleic acid, glycogen, pyruvate, lactate and enzyme protease, phosphatases, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and acetylcholinesterase activity in liver and muscle tissues. The alterations in all the above biochemical parameters were also significantly time and dose dependent. The results show a significant recovery in all the above biochemical parameters, in both liver and muscle tissues of fish after the 7th day of the withdrawal of treatment. Toxicity persistence test of oleandrin on juvenile Labeo rohita shows that fish seed of common culturing carp can be released into rearing ponds after three days of oleandrin treatment. It supports the view that the oleandrin is safer and may be useful substitute of other piscicides for removing the unwanted freshwater fishes from aquaculture ponds

Knowledge of evidence-based dentistry among academic dental practitioners of Bhopal, India: a preliminary survey

This study aimed to characterize the knowledge of evidence-based dentistry (EBD) among dental faculty members in the city of Bhopal in central India. A cross-sectional questionnaire was administered at two dental colleges in Bhopal City. All dental faculty members who were present on the day of the study and who agreed to participate were included in the study. A total of 50 dental faculty members returned the questionnaire. Six Likert-type questions were asked, and the percentages of various responses were used for analysis. Sixteen faculty members (32.0%) strongly agreed that EBD is a process of making decisions based on scientifically proven evidence. Fifteen faculty members (30.0%) strongly disagreed or disagreed with the item stating that the best and quickest way to find evidence is by reading textbooks or asking experienced colleagues. Thirteen faculty members (26.0%) strongly agreed that EBD allows dentists to improve their scientific knowledge and clinical skills. It is recommended that EBD be included in undergraduate and postgraduate curricula and in intensive continuing dental education programs that are conducted for dental faculty members