Nutritional status and age at secondary sterility in rural Bangladesh

In a prospective study of 2324 women in Matlab, Bangladesh, the occurrence of primary and 2ndary sterility by age groups was examined. The results were related to the nutritional status of the women, as assessed by measurements of height, weight, arm circumference and ponderal index. Approximately 98% of the women who were in the age group 15-19 were found to be fertile. This proportion decreases gradually up to the age group 30-34 years and thereafter declines sharply, reaching only 31% in the age group 45-49. The height data suggest no significant difference in the age pattern of sterility among the 3 groups of women, although there is a slight tendency that women who were less tall reached menopause earlier than the other 2 groups. Variations in weight are more conspicuous than in height. There is the suggestion that thinner women may experience an earlier menopause. Women having an arm circumference less than 21 cm, between 21-22 cm, and 23 cm and above, and currently aged 17 years, have an expected fertile life estimated at 25.0, 25.8, and 26.6 years respectively. The median ages at sterility were 42.8, 44.0, and 44.3 years respectively with a difference of about 1 year between the 1st 2 groups. This suggests that sterility occurs earlier among the thinner women. Since detailed investigation of nutritional status was not possible, it was assessed by anthropometry. There was strong evidence that nutritional status is an important factor in the estimated age at sterility, with thinner women experiencing an earlier menopause. Although it is impossible to measure the onset of sterility, one can obtain a minimum estimate of it from the age-specific distribution of the proportion of women who have not produced a child for 5 years of being at risk.     

The synthesis of some fluoro derivatives of sucrose

2,3,1',3'4',6'-Hexa-O-benzylsucrose was obtained by mild acid-catalysed hydrolysis of the 4,6-O-isopropylidene derivative and then converted into its 4,6-di-O-mesyl derivative. Selective displacement of this disulphonate with fluoride anion (from tetrabutylammonium fluoride) then afforded the 6-fluoro-4-mesylate. Removal of the protecting groups yielded 6-deoxy-6-fluorosucrose, which was characterised as its crystalline hepta-acetate. A derivative of 6-deoxy-6-fluoro-galacto-sucrose was formed when the above 6-fluoro-4-mesylate was subjected to nucleophilic displacement with benzoate anion.     

Phytoplankton primary production in a mesotrophic pond in sub-tropical Bangladesh

Annual gross primary productivity in mesotrophic Shahidullah Hall pond (Dhaka, Bangladesh) was 1383.35 g C m⁻² y⁻¹ (arithmetic mean). Daily primary productivity (between 1.6 and 6.8 g C m⁻² d⁻¹ was correlated with chlorophylla, day length and dissolved silica. Chlorophylla related significantly withk, incident light, SRP, alkalinity and conductivity. A negative correlation existed between biomass and rainfall. Productivity, biomass, conductivity, alkalinity, and SRP increased after mid-winter.k, I _k andZ _eu varied according seasonally.P _max related directly with temperature. Seasonal variation of ∝ ^B was 0.0049–0.0258 mg C (mg chla mmol PAR)⁻¹ m⁻². Q₁₀ was 2.12, community respiration 1334.99 g C m⁻² y⁻¹, and the underwater light climate 186.43μE m⁻² s⁻¹.     

Immunochemical analysis of the membrane proteins of rat liver and Zajdela hepatoma mitochondria

The contents of mitochondrial inner membrane protein complexes were compared in normal liver and in Zajdela hepatoma mitochondria by the immunotransfer technique. Antibodies against core proteins 1 and 2, cytochrome c1, the iron-sulfur protein of Complex III, subunits I and II of cytochrome oxidase, and the alpha and beta subunits of the F1-ATPase were used. In addition, antibodies against a primary dehydrogenase, beta-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase, as well as the outer membrane pore protein were used. The results indicate that the components of the cytochrome chain and porin are greatly enriched in hepatoma mitochondria compared to normal rat liver mitochondria. This enrichment was also reflected in the rates of respiration in tumor mitochondria using a variety of substrates. Enrichment of porin may partially account for increased hexokinase binding to tumor mitochondria. In contrast to the respiratory chain components, the F1-ATPase and F0 (measured by DCCD binding) were not increased in tumor mitochondria. Thus, Zajdela hepatoma mitochondria components are nonstoichiometric, being enriched in oxidative capacity but relatively deficient in ATP synthesizing capacity. Finally, beta-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase, which is often decreased in hepatoma mitochondria, was shown here by immunological methods to be decreased by only 40%, whereas enzyme activity was less than 5% of that in normal rat liver.     

Altered metabolic states do not change the intracellular distribution of hexokinase in Zajdela hepatoma ascites cells.

The distribution of hexokinase between bound and soluble forms was studied by digitonin fractionation of Zajdela hepatoma ascites cells maintained under various metabolic conditions. Addition of glucose to Zajdela cells respiring on endogenous substrates induces an immediate inhibition of respiration by 50-60% ( Crabtree effect), and a production of acid due to glycolysis. Acid production decreases abruptly after 60s to 50% of the initial rate. The ATP/ADP ratio is not altered by the addition of glucose or by different rates of glycolysis. The uncoupling agent carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone decreases the ATP/ADP ratio by 10-fold in cells respiring on endogenous substrate, but has little effect on cells oxidizing glucose. Rapid fractionation of the cells under these various metabolic conditions revealed no change in the distribution of hexokinase. Approx. 75% of hexokinase is bound in all cases, in contrast with lactate dehydrogenase, 95% of which was in the soluble form. Longer-term incubations (to 20 min) revealed only slight (10-15%) increases in soluble hexokinase in cells incubated with glucose. Various metabolic inhibitors had little additional affect on the subcellular distribution of hexokinase. Thus a rapid release of hexokinase from mitochondrial membrane is not a mechanism by which glycolysis is regulated in rapidly growing Zajdela hepatoma.     

Plant growth regulators improve growth,photosynthesis, mineral nutrient and antioxidant system under cadmium stress in menthol mint ( Mentha arvensis L.)

Menthol mint (Mentha arvensis L.) cultivation is significantly affected by the heavy metals like cadmium (Cd) which also imposes severe health hazards. Two menthol mint cultivars namely Kosi and Kushal were evaluated under Cd stress conditions. Impact of plant growth regulators (PGRs) like salicylic acid (SA), gibberellic acid (GA3) and triacontanol (Tria) on Cd stress tolerance was assessed. Reduced growth, photosynthetic parameters, mineral nutrient concentration, and increased oxidative stress biomarkers like electrolyte leakage, malondialdehyde, and hydrogen peroxide contents were observed under Cd stress. Differential upregulation of proline content and antioxidant activities under Cd stress was observed in both the cultivars. Interestingly, low electrolyte leakage, lipid peroxidation, hydrogen peroxide and Cd concentration in leaves were observed in Kushal compared to Kosi. Among all the PGRs tested, SA proved to be the best in improving Cd-stress tolerance in both the cultivars but Kushal responded better than Kosi.     

Phenotypic and Molecular Assessment of Wheat Genotypes Tolerant to Leaf Blight,Rust and Blast Diseases

Globally among biotic stresses, diseases like blight, rust and blast constitute prime constraints for reducing wheat productivity especially in Bangladesh. For sustainable productivity, the development of disease-resistant lines and high yielding varieties is vital and necessary. This study was conducted using 122 advanced breeding lines of wheat including 21 varieties developed by Bangladesh Wheat and Maize Research Institute (BAMRI) with aims to identify genotypes having high yield potential and resistance to leaf blight, leaf rust and blast diseases. These genotypes were evaluated for resistance against leaf blight and leaf rust at Dinajpur and wheat blast at Jashore under field condition. Out of 122 genotypes tested, 20 lines were selected as resistant to leaf blight based on the area under the diseases progress curve (AUDPC) under both irrigated timely sown (ITS) and irrigated late sown (ILS) conditions. Forty-two genotypes were found completely free from leaf rust infection, 59 genotypes were identified as resistant, and 13 genotypes were identified as moderately resistant to leaf rust. Eighteen genotypes were immune against wheat blast, 42 genotypes were categorized as resistant, and 26 genotypes were identified as moderately resistant to wheat blast. Molecular data revealed that the 16 genotypes showed a positive 2NS segment among the 18 immune genotypes selected against wheat blast under field conditions. The genotypes BAW 1322, BAW 1295, and BAW 1203 can be used as earlier maturing genotypes and the genotypes BAW 1372, BAW 1373, BAW 1297 and BAW 1364 can be used for lodging tolerant due to short plant height. The genotypes WMRI Gom 1, BAW 1349 and BAW 1350 can be selected for bold grain and the genotypes WMRI Gom 1, BAW 1297, BAW 1377 can be used as high yielder for optimum seeding condition but genotypes BAW 1377 and BAW 1366 can be used for late sown condition. The selected resistant genotypes against specific diseases can be used in the further breeding program to develop wheat varieties having higher disease resistance and yield potential.     

Development and validation of multiplex-PCR assay to simultaneously detect favourable alleles of shrunken2, opaque2, crtRB1 and lcyE genes in marker-assisted selection for maize biofortification

Journal of Plant Biochemistry and Biotechnology - Sweet corn has emerged as a popular vegetable worldwide. Commercial shrunken2 (sh2)-based sweet corn lacks lysine, tryptophan and provitamin-A,...     

The technique of detecting systolic and diastolic pressure from the transducer output of a PC-based blood pressure monitoring system

A pressure to voltage transducer is used along with a cuff, in a PC-based blood pressure and pulse rate monitoring system for human body. During the blood pressure measurement cycle, the output voltage of the pressure to voltage transducer is recorded digitally using a data acquisition system. The recorded data are then analyzed using software routines to determine the blood pressure and pulse rate of the person under test. However, it is difficult to identify the points of systole and diastole correctly from the recorded data. This paper presents the technique that may be used to determine the systolic and diastolic pressure from the collected data.