First record of patchy coral reef off Terekhol, North Goa, India

This study reports the first time record of the patchy coral reef (~ 2 km2) of Terekhol in North Goa, the western coast of India during January – February 2020. There were more than 07 genera/species of hard corals in the reef and is dominated by a reef building Turbinaria mesenterina (Dendrophylliidae), which is considered as a sediment tolerant coral species. A total of 25 fish species were counted and the major species recorded were Chromis viridis, Chromis sp., Dascyllus sp., Abudefduf saxatilis, Abudefduf bengalensis, Acanthurus blochii, Acanthurus nigroris, Acanthurus sp., and Odonus niger that contributed 80 % of the total fish community. The documentation and record of the reef area could give identity to the ecosystem in the spatial platform and the conservation efforts can be planned for the reef by limiting the anthropogenic activities in and around the ecosystem

Respiratory functional characteristics of human leptospirosis

Introdução: O comprometimento respiratório da leptospirose humana pode ser sua principal manifestação clínica e comumente está associado a maior morbimortalidade. Métodos: Objetivando descrever aspectos funcionais respiratórios nessa doença, foram analisados 21 pacientes com oximetrias de pulso e espirometrias em dois momentos: em avaliação inicial e após cerca de 28 dias. Resultados: Dois (9,5%) doentes tinham saturação periférica de oxigênio menor que 95%. Padrões espirométricos normais foram observados em 8 (38,1%) casos; distúrbios ventilatórios restritivos foram inferidos em 7 (33,3%), obstrutivos com capacidade vital forçada reduzida em 4 (19%), e inespecíficos em 2 (9,5%). Espirometrias anormais se associaram a pior escore APACHE II (p=0,02) e anormalidades na radiografia de tórax (p=0,05). Após resolução clínica, verificou-se ganho funcional significativo (p<0,05) no grupo de pacientes com espirometria alterada. Conclusões: Alterações espirométricas foram detectadas no curso da enfermidade e estiveram associadas a pior gravidade clínica e maior freqüência de anormalidades radiológicas torácicas. _________________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACT: Introduction: Respiratory impairment may be the main clinical manifestation of human leptospirosis. Methods: With the aim of describing the respiratory functional characteristics of this disease, 21 patients were evaluated using pulse oximetry and spirometry at two times: an initial evaluation and after around 28 days. Results: Two (9.5%) patients presented peripheral oxygen saturation of less than 95%. Normal spirometric patterns were observed in eight (38.1%); cases restrictive ventilatory disorders were inferred in seven (33.3%), obstructive disorders with reduced forced vital capacity in four (19%), and nonspecific disorders in two (9.5%). Abnormal spirometry findings were associated with worse APACHE II scores (p = 0.02) and abnormalities on chest x-ray (p = 0.05). After clinical resolution, significant functional gain was observed (p < 0.05) in the group of patients with abnormal spirometry findings. Conclusions: It was concluded that respiratory functional abnormalities were detected during the course of the disease and were associated with greater clinical severity and higher frequency of chest radiographic abnormalities

First record of patchy coral reef off Terekhol, North Goa, India

270-274This study reports the first time record of the patchy coral reef (~ 2 km2) of Terekhol in North Goa, the western coast of India during January – February 2020. There were more than 07 genera/species of hard corals in the reef and is dominated by a reef building Turbinaria mesenterina (Dendrophylliidae), which is considered as a sediment tolerant coral species. A total of 25 fish species were counted and the major species recorded were Chromis viridis, Chromis sp., Dascyllus sp., Abudefduf saxatilis, Abudefduf bengalensis, Acanthurus blochii, Acanthurus nigroris, Acanthurus sp., and Odonus niger that contributed 80 % of the total fish community. The documentation and record of the reef area could give identity to the ecosystem in the spatial platform and the conservation efforts can be planned for the reef by limiting the anthropogenic activities in and around the ecosystem

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Not AvailableUrban farming refers to cultivation of plants and rearing of animals and fishes within and around intra-urban and peri-urban/sub-urban areas. According to UN DESA (2018), 55 % of 7.7 billion world population lives in the urban region and it will reach 68% by 2050.Urbanites completely depend on markets for food and their fast food habits and cozy life style affect their health and nutrition. Several urban kids suffer malnutrition though the purchasing power of their parents is high. Lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, obesity, depression, anxiety and stress are common in urban dwellers. Fresh fruits, vegetables, meat, milk and fish purchased from market contain varying amount of pesticides, weedicides, preservatives and adulterants. Urbanites are aware of the harmful effects of these chemicals and prefer safe organic agricultural produces. Market available organic produces often contain heavy metals and micro organisms. Growing our own food with the local resources in our surroundings is the best method to fight this issue.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableA lowland integrated farming system model was studied for the productivity, profitability, inter-dependency and sustainability in West coast of India for four years. The model included rice based cropping systems (0.4 ha) viz., rice-cowpea, rice-groundnut, rice-brinjal and rice-sweet corn integrated with dairy and forage crops grown on the bunds of the field. The results indicated that rice-sweet corn + dairy was productive (32.6 t ha-1) and profitable system while rice-brinjal + dairy generated higher employment (256 man-days year-1) throughout the year. Dairy was found economical due to on-farm generated green fodder (6.7 tonne) throughout the year and efficient use of crop by-products, about 30-35% of the gross return contributed from the dairy except during 2014-15. The lowland farming system facilitated maximum recycling of nutrients through composting, on an average 101.2 kg of N, 18.2 kg of P and 61.9 kg of K were recycled every year. Significantly higher carbon sequestration was noticed in rice-groundnut system (28.6 Mg C ha-1). The study concluded that integrated farming system including cereals, pulses, oilseeds and vegetables integration with dairy were productive, sustainable, climate resilient and economically viable for west coast region of India.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableA lowland integrated farming system model was studied for the productivity, profitability, inter-dependency and sustainability in West coast of India for four years. The model included rice based cropping systems (0.4 ha) viz., rice-cowpea, rice-groundnut, rice-brinjal and rice-sweet corn integrated with dairy and forage crops grown on the bunds of the field. The results indicated that rice-sweet corn + dairy was productive (32.6 t ha-1) and profitable system while rice-brinjal + dairy generated higher employment (256 man-days year-1) throughout the year. Dairy was found economical due to on-farm generated green fodder (6.7 tonne) throughout the year and efficient use of crop by-products, about 30-35% of the gross return contributed from the dairy except during 2014-15. The lowland farming system facilitated maximum recycling of nutrients through composting, on an average 101.2 kg of N integrated, 18.2 kg of P and 61.9 kg of K were recycled every year. Significantly higher carbon sequestration was noticed in rice-groundnut system (28.6 Mg C ha-1). The study concluded that integrated farming system including cereals, pulses, oilseeds and vegetables integration with dairy were productive, sustainable and economically viable for west coast region of India.Not Availabl

Impact of integrated farming system on residue recycling, nutrient budgeting and soil health

Not AvailableIn this study, the effects of integrated farming system on residue recycling and soil quality in rice-based integrated farming systems have been examined. The effective nutrient budget for nitrogen was found higher with rice-fsh-poultry-cowpea and the negative values were obtained for rice-chili and rice-baby corn systems. However, the effective budgets for phosphorus and potassium were negative in all these cropping systems. The results indicated that, about ten tonnes of organic matter was recycled, and the major share was from the dairy unit (~52%) in the form of dung and cow urine. Total internal nutrient supply due to recycling was estimated at 55 kg of nitrogen, 17 kg phosphorus and 76 kg of potassium, which is equivalent to 118 kg urea, 106 kg single super phosphate and 126 kg muriate of potash, thus reduction in cost of inputs. In the rice+fsh+poultry-cowpea system, the indices of soil quality showed higher values, which indicated the improvement in soil fertility due to availability of poultry manure, plankton production, and the continuous fsh activity. The current study confrmed that available N, DHA, Zn, B and Fe as the key indicators of soil quality under humid tropics of west coast India, which greatly influence the soil functions and soil productivity. The study conclusively reveals that integration of dairy, fshery, poultry components with diversifed cropping systems in coastal lowland ecosystem is essential to improve the nutrient use effciency and for enrichment of soil fertility.Not Availabl

Proteomic Analysis of Urine Exosomes Reveals Renal Tubule Response to Leptospiral Colonization in Experimentally Infected Rats

<div><p>Background</p><p>Infectious <i>Leptospira</i> colonize the kidneys of reservoir (e.g. rats) and accidental hosts such as humans. The renal response to persistent leptospiral colonization, as measured by urinary protein biosignatures, has not been systematically studied. Urinary exosomes--bioactive membrane-bound nanovesicles--contain cell-state specific cargo that additively reflect formation all along the nephron. We hypothesized that <i>Leptospira</i>-infection will alter the content of urine exosomes, and further, that these <i>Leptospira</i>-induced alterations will hold clues to unravel novel pathways related to bacterial-host interactions.</p><p>Methodology/Principal findings</p><p>Exosome protein content from 24 hour urine samples of <i>Leptospira</i>-infected rats was compared with that of uninfected rats using SDS-PAGE and liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Statistical models were used to identify significantly dysregulated proteins in <i>Leptospira</i>-infected and uninfected rat urine exosomes. In all, 842 proteins were identified by LC-MS/MS proteomics of total rat urine and 204 proteins associated specifically with exosomes. Multivariate analysis showed that 25 proteins significantly discriminated between uninfected control and infected rats. Alanyl (membrane) aminopeptidase, also known as CD13 topped this list with the highest score, a finding we validated by Western immunoblotting. Whole urine analysis showed Tamm-Horsfall protein level reduction in the infected rat urine. Total urine and exosome proteins were significantly different in male vs. female infected rats.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>We identified exosome-associated renal tubule-specific responses to <i>Leptospira</i> infection in a rat chronic colonization model. Quantitative differences in infected male and female rat urine exosome proteins vs. uninfected controls suggest that urine exosome analysis identifies important differences in kidney function that may be of clinical and pathological significance.</p></div