Gobioid fauna of Veller estuary,Portonovo, S. India

Summary The distribution and the habits of Gobioid fishes in the Vellar Estuary were described.     

Morphology of the pachytene chromosomes of the Indian diploidSolanum nigrum L.

The pachytene chromosome morphology of a locally occurring diploid form ofSolanum nigrum L. (n=12) was studied. The pachytene chromosomes are charaterised by the presence of (1) chromatic and achromatic segments, (2) distinct centromeres and (3) macrochromomeres (telomeres) terminating the chromosome arms. The twelve bivalents are identified individually and described.     

Canopy analysis on the relationships between leaf area index and productivity in lowland rice,Oryza sativa,L.

Summary Different densities of populations were created under field conditions at two levels of N and canopy analysis was made with variety Sona on different growth parameters governing productivity. The relationships between leaf area index (LAI) and dry matter, grain yield and grain number were quadratic. LAI vs panicle number and grain number vs grain yield relationships were linear. The panicle number and grains per panicle are found to be compensatory for one another. The intercepting points of the two appear to be around 400 panicles per square metre with a grain range of 90–100 per panicle. re]19750228     

Determination of ionic (plus ionizable) fluoride in biological fluids. Procedure based on adsorption of fluoride ion on calcium phosphate

A method is deseribed for the determination of ionic (plus ionizable) fluoride in biological fluids by a procedure not requiring ashing, diffusion, or distillation. The method is based on quantitative adsorption of ionic fluoride on calcium phosphate. The fluoride adsorbed on calcium phosphate is measured with the fluoride ion electrode. The concept of “ionic fluoride” which emerged from these studies demonstrates the need for reinvestigation of the subject of homeostasis of fluoride in the body.     

Production of bioactive metabolites by Nocardia levis MK-VL_113

Aims: To isolate and identify the bioactive compounds produced by Nocardia levis MK‐VL_113. Methods and Results: Cultural characteristics of Noc. levis isolated from laterite soils of Guntur region were recorded on International Streptomyces Project media. Morphological studies of the strain through scanning electron microscopy revealed the clear pattern of its hyphal fragmentation into rod‐shaped bacilli. Chemical examination of the secondary metabolites of the strain grown on sucrose–tryptone broth led to the isolation of three fractions active against Bacillus cereus. Further analysis of second fraction resulted in the isolation of two active subfractions. Two different phthalate esters, namely, bis‐(2‐ethylhexyl) phthalate and bis‐(5‐ethylheptyl) phthalate, were purified from the first active subfraction, and the structural elucidation of these compounds was confirmed on the basis of FT‐IR, mass and NMR spectroscopy. The partially purified second subfraction subjected to Gas Chromatography–Mass spectroscopy contained nine components: decanedioic acid; 2,6‐piperdione monooxime; 1‐eicosanol; beta‐1‐arabinopyranoside, methyl; cyclopentaneundecanoic acid; hexadecanoic acid; silane, trichloro eicosyl; 1‐hexacosanol; and 1,2‐dodecanediol. The antimicrobial activity of the bioactive compounds produced by Noc. levis was expressed in terms of minimum inhibitory concentration. Conclusions: The present study clearly revealed that the metabolites of Noc. levis act as bioactive compounds against Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria, yeast and filamentous fungi. It also supports the idea that there are a number of rare actinomycetes remained to be explored for new bioactive compounds. Significance and Impact of the Study: Metabolites of Noc. levis exhibited antibacterial and antifungal activities. This is the first report of bis‐(5‐ethylheptyl) phthalate as well as the nine partially purified compounds from actinomycetes. In addition, this is also the first report of bis‐(2‐ethylhexyl) phthalate from the genus Nocardia.     

Novel C-ring analogues of 20(S)-camptothecin-part-2: synthesis and in vitro cytotoxicity of 5-C-substituted 20(S)-camptothecin analogues.

A series of 5-C-substituted 20(S)-camptothecin analogues were synthesised and evaluated their in vitro anti-cancer activity. Several of these analogues have showed excellent activity against human tumor cell lines.