Forest situation analysis and future forecasting of famous Upper Tanawal forests ecosystems on western banks of lesser Himalaya

The current work was carried out in Upper Tanawal which lies in the mid of Western part of lesser Himalaya. The area lies between 34°0.34.40′ N to 34°0.48.88′ N latitude and 72°0.84.27′ E to 73°0.10.50′ E longitude. Upper Tanawal is rich in biodiversity. No work regarding forest and forest situation is done previously in this area. (Farooq, et al., 2017). The area was once housing notable and thick forest strands famous for their habitat uniqueness to harbor number of pheasant and other wildlife species. Due to security reasons and worse situation of law and order compromising government writ the area remained scientifically as well departmentally neglected resulting rapid and vigorous ruthless deforestation. The area was extensively visited and sampled using Quadrate method for phytosociological data collection. Phytosociological attributes like density, cover, and frequency were also Calculated and recorded for all tree species of the area in each quadrat. Altitude, slope angle, atmospheric humidity and temperature were also considered as environmental variables for each sampling site. Results reflect that Upper Tanawal hosts 52 different tree species of 39 genera belonging to 25 tree families.The important forests of Upper Tanawal are under high anthropogenic and environmental disturbances. Some of them may easily be managed because of the presence of large number of seedling; however, some areas need serious attention. It was observed that Pinus roxburghii and Pinus wallichiana are the potential tree species for reforestation and afforestation in the area. This study will be the baseline for new researchers in the study area.     

Effect of diallyldisulphide on an antioxidant enzyme system in Candida species

This study was carried out to show the effect of diallyldisulphide (DADS), an important organosulphur compound found in garlic (Allium sativum), on antioxidant systems in Candida species. Changes in antioxidant metabolites and antioxidant activity in the presence of DADS were found in Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis. Candida cells were treated with sublethal concentrations of DADS. DADS caused a decrease in the activity of all antioxidant enzymes except catalase, resulting in oxidative stress and damaged cells. The amount of oxidative stress generated by DADS was found to be a function of its concentration. A significant decrease in superoxide dismutase, glutathione-S-transferase, and glutathione peroxidase activities but an increase in catalase activity were observed. Increased levels of lipid peroxidation and decreased levels of glutathione were observed in treated cells. Activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase decreased significantly following DADS treatment and could be correlated with a decrease in glutathione concentration in both Candida species. These results indicate that diallyl disulphide acts as a pro-oxidant to Candida species and hence may act as a potent antifungal in the management of candidiasis.     

Inhibition of H+ Extrusion by Phosphocreatine in Candida albicans

Vanadate, a potent inhibitor of P-type ATPases, reduces the electrochemical gradient considerably. H⁺-extrusion in cells of Candida albicans, a pathogenic yeast, was strongly inhibited in the presence of 25mM phosphocreatine (PCr) by about 83%. H⁺-extrusion was further inhibited by 25 mM PCr in the presence of vanadate; 89% with 1 mM, 92% with 2 mM and 99% with 5 mM vanadate. 2 mM vanadate caused 90%, 92% and 96% inhibition in the presence of 20 mM, 30 mM and 40 mM PCr, respectively. Creatine (Cr) had a negligible effect on H⁺ - extrusion. The inhibition caused by 1 mM, 2 mM and 5 mM vanadate alone was 66%, 77% and 88%, respectively. PCr and vanadate inhibit proton extrusion with almost equal magnitude. It can be concluded that phosphate moiety of PCr interacts with the ATPase and is similar to vanadate interaction. Since PCr is having such a drastic inhibitory effect on ATPase activity we can say that it is playing a significant role in holding a check on this pathogenic fungus in healthy human hosts.     

The molecular and metabolic program by which white adipocytes adapt to cool physiologic temperatures

Although visceral adipocytes located within the body’s central core are maintained at approximately 37°C, adipocytes within bone marrow, subcutaneous, and dermal depots are found primarily within the peripheral shell and generally exist at cooler temperatures. Responses of brown and beige/brite adipocytes to cold stress are well studied; however, comparatively little is known about mechanisms by which white adipocytes adapt to temperatures below 37°C. Here, we report that adaptation of cultured adipocytes to 31°C, the temperature at which distal marrow adipose tissues and subcutaneous adipose tissues often reside, increases anabolic and catabolic lipid metabolism, and elevates oxygen consumption. Cool adipocytes rely less on glucose and more on pyruvate, glutamine, and, especially, fatty acids as energy sources. Exposure of cultured adipocytes and gluteal white adipose tissue (WAT) to cool temperatures activates a shared program of gene expression. Cool temperatures induce stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD1) expression and monounsaturated lipid levels in cultured adipocytes and distal bone marrow adipose tissues (BMATs), and SCD1 activity is required for acquisition of maximal oxygen consumption at 31°C.

Adipocytes in bone marrow, subcutaneous and dermal sites generally exist at temperatures below 37°C. This study identifies the molecular and metabolic program that adapts white adipocytes to these cooler environments.