Specie's differences in glutathione-dependent enzymes in the liver and kidney of two fresh water fishes and their implications for cadmium toxicity

The protective effects of glutathione-dependent enzymes have been studied against cadmium toxicity in the liver and kidney of two fresh water fishesChanna punctatus andClarias batrachus. Specie's differences in the activity of tissue enzymes have also been studied. Cadmium treatment induced lipid peroxidation in the liver and kidney of both species, the kidney being the more susceptible. Enzymological observations revealed thatChanna punctatus is better equipped with conjugating enzymes thanClarias batrachus. Fish having higher activities of these enzymes are thus expected to withstand oxidative stress more effectively.     

Phylogenetic Analysis of a Retroposon Family in African Great Apes

The SINE-R retroposon family has been identified by its relationship with the long terminal repeats (LTRs) of human endogenous retrovirus class K (HERV-K) as a mobile element that has evolved recently in the human genome. Here we examined the recent evolutionary history of this class of elements by a PCR approach to genomic DNA from the African great apes and by phylogenetic analysis including comparison with the HERV K10 parent sequence. With primers derived from a cDNA sequence from human brain, we identified 27 sequences from the chimpanzee and 16 from the gorilla. Phylogenetic comparisons with previously recognized sequences from the human and from the orangutan and gibbon revealed wide overlap of elements across species, suggesting multiple origins in the course of hominoid evolution. Two human elements SINE-R.C2 and HS307 were the furthest removed from the HERV-K10 sequence but these two elements were closely related to three elements from the chimpanzee and four elements from the gorilla. This group of elements (our clusters 14 and 15) appears to have transposed late in hominoid evolution. One element (Ch-M16) showed 99.1% sequence identity with the SINE-R.C2 element, which is human-specific. Thus the SINE-R family appears to have continued to be active in transposition throughout the course of primate evolution. Received: 12 March 1999 / Accepted: 25 May 1999     

Application of germinated maize starch in textile printing

Germinated maize is generally discarded as a waste material. In the present investigation starch obtained from germinated maize has been compared with the starch from non-germinated maize, as a thickener in textile printing. Extraction of starch was done by alkali steeping method. Analysis of both the starches was done by measuring swelling power, paste clarity, particle size, crystallinity and iodine binding. Printing of vat dyes on 100% cotton fabric was carried out using both the starches. The prints were analysed by measuring colour value (K/S and L^*, a^*, b^* value), bending length and fastness to washing and crocking. Results suggest that germinated maize starch can substitute the non-germinated maize starch partially if not fully, as a thickener in printing.     

Statistical optimization of medium components and growth conditions by response surface methodology to enhance lipase production by Aspergillus carneus

A response surface approach has been used to study the production of an extracellular lipase from Aspergillus carneus, which has the property of immense industrial importance. Interactions were studied for five different variables (sunflower oil, glucose, peptone, agitation rate and incubation period), which were found influential for lipase production by one-at a time method. We report a 1.8-fold increase in production, with the final yield of 12.7 IU/ml in comparison to 7.2 U/ml obtained by one-at-a-time method. Using the statistical approach (response surface methodology (RSM)) the optimum values of these most influential parameters were as follows: sunflower oil (1%), glucose (0.8%), peptone (0.8%), agitation rate (200 rpm) and incubation period (96 h) at 37 °C. The subsequent verification experiment confirmed the validity of the model.     

Identification and management of adults with asthma prone to exacerbations: can we do better?

Exacerbations are a major cause of morbidity in asthma and generate high health costs. Identification and management of adults with asthma who are prone to exacerbations is of considerable importance as by this means it should be possible to reduce the number of patients who currently experience inadequately controlled disease. Exacerbations occur most frequently in individuals with severe disease. Other risk factors include a history of a recent exacerbation, co-morbidities such as a raised body mass index and psychological problems as well as current smoking and lower socio-economic status. A low FEV₁, particularly if combined with the additional information from questionnaires helps predict exacerbations. Despite the association between these risk factors and exacerbations it remains difficult to accurately predict in an individual patient with asthma whether they will go on to develop an exacerbation in the future. A major aim of international guidelines on the management of asthma is to prevent future risks of exacerbations, but some patients, particularly those with severe disease, respond poorly to current therapies and continue to experience recurrent exacerbations. There is an unmet need for improved management strategies and drugs targeted at preventing asthma exacerbations. Monitoring induced sputum eosinophil cell counts is helpful in preventing exacerbations in some patient with severe asthma. Future developments are likely to include the identification of better biomarkers to predict exacerbations or the cause of exacerbations, augmentation of the immunological response to viruses at the time of the exacerbation, the use of telemonitoring in patients with severe asthma and the development of improved therapies targeted at reducing exacerbations.     

Germination and Growth of Potamogeton pectinatus (L.) at Different Water Depths in Lake Nainital,Uttar Pradesh,India

Data on germination of tubers and subsequent growth of young plants of Potamogeton pectinatus were recorded at different depths of the water column in Lake Nainital. The depth of euphotic zone is about 5 m. Tubers were placed at 1, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10 m water depth in brass net bags. A highly significant negative correlation was found between depth on one hand and germination percentage of tubers, length of shoots and number of leaves on the other hand. Germination of tubers was positively related to pH, dissolved oxygen and temperature of water.     

Effect of Non-removal of the Macrophytic Biomass on the Characteristics of Water and Plant Community in Lake Naini Tal,U.P., India

In the most productive macrophytes stand lying within the littoral zone of Lake Naini Tal (a Kumaun Himalayan Lake, located 1937 m above sea level) the macrophytic biomass was removed at the time of peak biomass one year, but not during the next. The effect of non-removal of the macrophytes was apparent in the physical and chemical parameters of the water, viz: thermal stratification, pH, dissolved oxygen, calcium and nitrogen content. The removal of macrophytes increased the plant diversity. Seasonal patterns of ash, calcium and nitrogen content in plant tissues were different for the two years of study.