Production of ethanol from guava pulp by yeast strains

Guava pulp used for ethanol production by three yeast strains contained 10% (w/v) total sugars and was pH 4.1. Ethanol production at the optimum sugar concentration of 10%, at pH 4.1 and 30°C was 1.5%, 3.6% and 3.9% (w/v) by Saccharomyces cerevisiae MTCC 1972, Isolate-1 and Isolate-2, respectively, at 60 h fermentation. Higher sugar concentrations at 15 and 20% were inhibitory for ethanol production by all test cultures. The maximum production of ethanol at optimum natural sugar concentration (10%) of guava pulp, was 5.8% (w/v) at pH 5.0 by Isolate-2 over 36 h fermentation, which was only slightly more than the quantity of ethanol produced by Saccharomyces cerevisiae (5.0%) and Isolate-1 (5.3%) over 36 and 60h fermentation, respectively.     

Baclofen is cytoprotective to cerebral ischemia in gerbils

The release of the neurotransmitter, glutamate, and the activation of receptor operated calcium channels, may increase the degree of damage in ischemic brain tissue. Inhibition of excitatory neurotransmitters should therefore result in cytoprotection of ischemic brain tissue. In this study we evaluated the effect of baclofen, an inhibitor of presynaptic glutamate release, on ischemic gerbil cortex, hippocampus (CA 1 and CA4), striatum and thalamus. Histological evaluation was done in a blind manner in 4 groups (total 36 animals): a control group (9 animals) and three groups (27 animals) with varying doses of baclofen. For cerebral ischemia, we used single episode of five minutes of arterial occlusion of the carotid arteries. Baclofen in doses of 0, 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg were given to different groups five minutes prior to ischemic insult. This was followed by intraperitoneal injections given 24 and 48 hours after the initial insult. Statistically significant histological cytoprotection was demonstrated. Doses of 25 mg/kg appeared to demonstrate significant protection of the cortex (p=0.0002), the CA1 and CA4 regions of the hippocampus (p=0.0004 and 0.0001) respectively. At a dose of 50 mg/kg, significant cytoprotection was demonstrated at the hippocampus (CA1 and CA4 regions), in particular at the CA4 region (p=0.0029). The 100 mg/kg dose appeared to have most significant protection at the CA1 and CA4 regions of the hippocampus (both p=0.0001), striatum (p=0.0011), and the thalamus (p=0.0008). All statistical comparisons were done using non-parametric tests (Mann-Whitney U test). Our study demonstrates that baclofen is cytoprotective to ischemic neuronal cells, especially in the hippocampus. Clinically this may be beneficial to those patients with strokes or head injuries.     

A conceptual model for the assessment of depressional wetlands in the prairie pothole region

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's), Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP) is developing a landscape-level conceptual model to evaluate the condition of depressional (basin-type) wetlands in the prairie pothole region (PPR) of the United States. This effort is underway to determine the current condition of the Nation's wetlands and to track how it is improving or degrading over time, as well as to identify management priorities over major geographic areas. The depressional wetlands in the PPR were selected by EMAP both because of the importance of this region for waterfowl and because of the efforts currently being conducted by federal agencies and academic institutions in this region. The PPR provides nesting habitat for more than 15 species of ducks, and supports as much as half of the total production of dabbling and diving ducks in North America. Wetlands in this area became a vulnerable resource after extensive draineage in the 1800s. We propose a conceptual model that represents a framework for guiding the development of ecological indicators, research activities, and data collection for the evaluation of wetland conditions. In princple, this conceptual model is applicable to wetlands in any part of the world.     

Kinetic mechanism of the interaction of D-cycloserine with serine hydroxymethyltransferase

The kinetic mechanism for the interaction of D-cycloserine with serine hydroxymethyltransferase (EC 2.1.2.1) from sheep liver was established by measuring changes in the activity, absorbance, and circular dichoism (CD) of the enzyme. The irreversible inhibition of the enzyme was characterized by three detectable steps: an initial rapid step followed by two successive steps with rate constants of 5.4 X 10(-3) s-1 and 1.4 X 10(-4) s-1. The first step was distinguished by a rapid disappearance of the enzyme absorbance peak at 425 nm, a decrease in the enzyme activity to 25% of the uninhibited velocity, and a lowering of the CD intensity at 432 nm to about 65% of the original value. The second step of the interaction was accompanied by a complete loss of enzyme activity and a marginal increase in the CD intensity at 432 nm. The final step resulted in the complete loss of the enzyme absorbance at 425 nm and of the CD band at 432 nm. The products of the reaction were identified as (a) apoenzyme by absorbance measurements, CD spectra, and reconstitution with pyridoxal 5'-phosphate and (b) a pyridoxal 5'-phosphate-D-cycloserine Schiff's base complex identified by its fluorescence and absorbance spectra. The Schiff base complex was expelled from the enzyme active site in the final step of the reaction. The proposed mechanism, which is different from those operative in other pyridoxal phosphate dependent enzymes, probably accounts for the selective inhibition of serine hydroxymethyltransferase by the drug in vivo.     

Identification of active-site residues of sheep liver serine hydroxymethyltransferase.

Chemical modification of amino acid residues with phenylglyoxal, N-ethylmaleimide and diethyl pyrocarbonate indicated that at least one residue each of arginine, cysteine and histidine were essential for the activity of sheep liver serine hydroxymethyltransferase. The second-order rate constants for inactivation were calculated to be 0.016 mM-1 X min-1 for phenylglyoxal, 0.52 mM-1 X min-1 for N-ethylmaleimide and 0.06 mM-1 X min-1 for diethyl pyrocarbonate. Different rates of modification of these residues in the presence and in the absence of substrates and the cofactor pyridoxal 5'-phosphate as well as the spectra of the modified protein suggested that these residues might occur at the active site of the enzyme.     

Breeding for resistance to downy mildews and stalk rots in maize

Summary The present review includes information on distribution, symptoms, inoculation techniques, disease rating, sources of resistance, genetics of resistance, breeding approaches for resistance, and the present status of resistance breeding with respect to Sclerophthora and Peronosclerospora downy mildews and Erwinia, Cephalosporium and Fusarium stalk rots. Some suggestions highlighting research gaps pertinent to future breeding strategies are mentioned.Publication No. 2993, Experiment Station, GB Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, India     

Temporal changes in the physical properties of healing fractures in rabbits

Temporal changes in the physical properties of healing fractures in rabbits were studied. The mechanical environment at the fracture site was measured and monitored during healing. Animals were sacrificed after 3 to 8 weeks. The results of healing were quantified by whole bone dynamic torsional strength tests. Torque-angle curves were recorded by computer. At maximum torque four parameters were calculated: torque, angle, energy absorbed and stiffness. Torque and stiffness increased while energy remained constant and angle decreased with time. However, values calculated by a constant deformation criteria showed the three strength parameters to increase with time. The rate of increase was highest for stiffness followed by torque and energy.     

Aliphatic compounds from Costus speciosus roots

Two new compounds G and H isolated from the roots of Costus speciosus have been characterized as 8-hydroxytriacontan-25-one and Me tritriacontanoat     

Effect of boron on the pollen vitality and yield of rice plants (Oryza sativa L. var. Jaya)

Summary Rice plants were grown in sand cultures with nutrient solution including boron at 0, 1, 2.5 and 5 ppm concentrations.In general, supply of boron improved the pollen vitality of rice flowers. It was stimulating up to 2.5 ppm concentration in the nutrient solution, beyond which (i.e., at 5 ppm) inhibitory effects appeared. The availability of boron also increased the yield of rice grains in the same order.Stimulating effects of boron may be linked with greater availability of sugars, increased enzymatic activity and respiration which favoured better growth of pollen. Inhibitory effects of stronger concentration of boron (5 ppm) may be related with physiological depression and injury to protoplasm itself.     

Subsoil gravel horizon and maize root growth

Summary A series of factoral experiments involving the effects of gravel concentration in the subsoil horizon, the effect of inter-gravel bulk density, the depth of the surface soil above the gravel horizon and the interaction between soil moisture regime and gravel concentration, on growth and development of maize roots were conducted in the greenhouse. Increasing sub soil gravel concentration decreased the total porosity and the available waterholding capacity. Though the root growth of maize seedlings was adversely affected by gravel concentration above 20 per cent, lower concentration of gravels had a beneficial effect on roots. The root development and the leaf concentration of N, P and K improved with increasing depth of surface soil above the gravel horizon. The symptoms of mechanical impedance, such as thickening of root tips and profuse branching behind the tip were commonly observed on the root axis penetrating the gravelly horizon. re]19750916