Radiative Peristaltic Flow of Jeffrey Nanofluid with Slip Conditions and Joule Heating

Mixed convection peristaltic flow of Jeffrey nanofluid in a channel with compliant walls is addressed here. The present investigation includes the viscous dissipation, thermal radiation and Joule heating. Whole analysis is performed for velocity, thermal and concentration slip conditions. Related problems through long wavelength and low Reynolds number are examined for stream function, temperature and concentration. Impacts of thermal radiation, Hartman number, Brownian motion parameter, thermophoresis, Joule heating and slip parameters are explored in detail. Clearly temperature is a decreasing function of Hartman number and radiation parameter.     

Socio-Economic Disparities in Use of Family Planning Methods among Pakistani Women: Findings from Pakistan Demographic and Health Surveys

BackgroundSeveral developing countries like Pakistan step into Sustainable Development Goals period with crucial maternal and child health needs that need to be addressed for improving health outcomes among people. We aim to explore existent socio-economic disparities in use of family planning methods (FPM) among Pakistani women, and compare any such inequalities between the years 2006 and 2013.SettingPakistan Demographic and Health Surveys (PDHS) 2006–7 (n = 9177) and the most recent 2012–13(n = 13558) data were used to conduct secondary analysis. Participants were ever married women aged between 15 and 49 years. Socio-economic status was assessed by the education level and wealth index. Inequalities were measured through Odds Ratio (OR), Relative Index of inequality (RII), and Slope index of inequality (SII) on non-use of FPM.ResultsAlthough the prevalence of FPM use has increased over time (28% in 2006 versus 54% in 2013), the socio-economic inequalities persistently exist. Comparing results of PDHS 2006 with PDHS 2013, education related absolute inequalities among urban dwellers increased from -0.41 (95% CI -0.67, -0.13, p-value < 0.01) to -0.83 (95% CI -1.02, -0.63, p-value < 0.01); and increased from -0.93 (95% CI -1.21, -0.64, p-value < 0.01) to -0.98 (95% CI -1.20, -0.76, p-value < 0.01) among rural dwellers. Similarly wealth related absolute inequalities are also existent.ConclusionsAlthough the FPM use has increased over time, but it is important to note that socio-economic gap in use of FPM persists. Such differences have disadvantaged the poor and the illiterate. Family planning programs may target the disadvantaged subgroups for ensuring well-being of women and children in Pakistan.     

Tellurium-induced dose-dependent impairment of antioxidant status: differential effects in cerebrum,cerebellum, and brainstem of mice

The effect of various doses of sodium tellurite (0.4, 0.8, and 2.0 mg/kg body weight, orally) on the activity of antioxidant enzymes (glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, glutathione-S-transferase, and catalase) and content of glutathione and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARSs) in the cerebrum, cerebellum, and brainstem of male albino mice was studied after 15 d of treatment. All of the doses of tellurium (0.4, 0.8, and 2.0 mg/kg body weight, orally) have depleted the activity of antioxidant enzymes and the content of glutathione dose dependently in the cerebrum, cerebellum, and brainstem and it was significant with the dose of 2.0 mg/kg. On the other hand, the 2.0-mg/kg dose of tellurium has significantly elevated the content of TBARSs in the cerebrum and cerebellum. The 0.8-mg/kg dose of tellurium has significantly depleted the activities of glutathione peroxidase in the cerebrum and brainstem, glutathione-S-transferase in the cerebrum and cerebellum, catalase in the brainstem, and the content of glutathione in the cerebrum and cerebellum. In contrast, this dose has significantly elevated the content of TBARSs in the cerebrum and cerebellum. However, the depletion in the activity of glutathione reductase with various doses of sodium tellurite was not significant in any brain part of mice. The result suggests that sodium tellurite differentially affects the antioxidant status within various parts of the mice brain.     

Condition stabilization for <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aspergillus niger</Emphasis> FCBP-198 and its hyperactive mutants to yield high titres of α-amylase

A number of substrates were tested for the cultivation of microorganisms to produce a host of enzymes. The effect of different substrates (wheat and rice straw, sugar cane waste, wood waste), incubation temperatures (20–40°C), initial pH levels (3.5–9.0), incubation periods (0–72 hours) and nitrogen sources (ammonium sulfate, urea, peptone, yeast extract, sodium nitrate) on growth and α-amylase activity was studied for the native and mutant strains. Maximum enzyme activity was observed at 1.5% wheat straw for Aspergillus niger FCBP-198 and An-Ch-4.7 and at 2% wheat straw for An-UV-5.6, with sodium nitrate as a principle nitrogen source. The optimum temperature for maximum enzyme activity was 30°C for the parental strain, while An-UV-5.6 and An-Ch-4.7 thrived well at 32.5°C. The best conditions of pH and incubation duration were 4.5 and 48 hours, respectively, for all the strains. Mass production under preoptimized growth conditions demonstrated the suitability of wheat straw for swift mycelial colonization and viability.     

Identification of QTLs for Yield and Associated Traits in F₂ Population of Rice

Identification of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) controlling yield and yield-related traits in rice was performed in the F₂ mapping population derived from parental rice genotypes DHMAS and K343. A total of 30 QTLs governing nine different traits were identified using the composite interval mapping (CIM) method. Four QTLs were mapped for number of tillers per plant on chromosomes 1 (2 QTLs), 2 and 3; three QTLs for panicle number per plant on chromosomes 1 (2 QTLs) and 3; four QTLs for plant height on chromosomes 2, 4, 5 and 6; one QTL for spikelet density on chromosome 5; four QTLs for spikelet fertility percentage (SFP) on chromosomes 2, 3 and 5 (2 QTLs); two QTLs for grain length on chromosomes 1 and 8; three QTLs for grain width on chromosomes1, 3 and 8; three QTLs for 1000-grain weight (TGW) on chromosomes 1, 4 and 8 and six QTLs for yield per plant (YPP) on chromosomes 2 (3 QTLs), 4, 6 and 8. Most of the QTLs were detected on chromosome 2, so further studies on chromosome 2 could help unlock some new chapters of QTL for this cross of rice variety. Identified QTLs elucidating high phenotypic variance can be used for marker-assisted selection (MAS) breeding. Further, the exploitation of information regarding molecular markers tightly linked to QTLs governing these traits will facilitate future crop improvement strategies in rice.     

Intron-containing hairpin RNA interference vector for OBP8 show promising mortality in peach potato aphid

Myzus persicae is a devastating pest affecting potato production. Intron-containing hairpin RNA (ihpRNA) silenced the odorant-binding protein 8 (OBP8) for enhanced protection against Myzus persicae in potatoes. OBP8 was isolated from M. persicae, sequenced, with the allotment of GenBank ID. ERNAi was used to design siRNA targets from OBP8 with no off-targets. Multiple Sequence Alignment show M. persicae OBP8 resemblance with Acyrthosiphon pisum, Rhopalosiphum maidis, Aphis fabae, and Sitobion avenae. dsRNA-OBP8 (7 µg/µL) oral feeding resulted in a 69% mortality, and 58% OBP8 reduced expression 8D post-feeding compared to control. Golden Gate cloning is used for RNA interference taking advantage of type IIs restriction enzyme Eco31I. ihpRNA-OBP8 introduced by agroinfiltration in Solanum tuberosum. Transgenic S. tuberosum fed Myzus show 57.6% mortality and 49% reduction in OBP8 expression 8D post-feeding, compared to control. This work proves OBP8 as promising ihpRNA targets in potato and related crops for whom Myzus is a destructive pest.

     

Removal of chromium on Polyalthia longifolia leaves biomass

Adsorption is an environmental friendly process for removal and/or recovery of heavy metals from wastewater. In recent years, it has been substantiated as a popular technique to treat industrial waste effluents, with significant advantages. In this work, batchwise removal of chromium (III) ions from water by Polyalthia longifolia leaves was studied as a function of adsorbent dose, pH, contact time, and agitation speed. Surface characteristics of the leaves were evaluated by recording IR spectra. The Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin adsorption isotherms were employed to explain the sorption process. It was found that one gram of leaves can remove 1.87 mg of trivalent chromium when working at pH 3.0. It has been concluded that Polyalthia longifolia leaves can be used as cost-effective and benign adsorbents for removal of Cr(III) ions from wastewater.     

Sodium selenite stimulates neurobehavior and neurochemical activities in rats

The effect of 0.05, 0.1, and 0.2 mg sodium selenite/kg body weight ip on the activities of neurobehavioral, acetyl cholinesterase, monoamine oxidase, and the content of dopamine and its metabolites in circadian rhythm centers of male Wistar rats was studied after 7 d of treatment. The results show an appreciable increase in locomotion, stereo-events, distance traveled, and average speed at the dose of 0.1 and 0.2 mg sodium selenite/kg. The data have shown hyperactivity of animals with various doses of sodium selenite, and it was significant and dose-dependent after 3 d of treatment. The activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) was inhibited dose dependently, and it was significant in preoptic area with 0.1 or 0.2 mg sodium selenite/kg. Conversely, in the posterior hypothalamus its activity was significantly elevated with the dose of 0.2 mg sodium selenite/kg, but its alteration in brain stem was not significant. Monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity was increased in preoptic area with the dose of 0.1 mg sodium selenite/kg, but its alteration in posterior hypothalamus and brain stem was not significant. The content of dopamine (DA), 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl acetic acid (DOPAC), and homovanilic acid (HVA) was elevated dose dependently and it was significant with the doss of 0.1 and 0.2 mg sodium selenite/kg, but the content of DOPAC and HVA in posterior hypothalamus was not significant with the dose of 0.1 mg sodium selenite/kg.     

Cytomorphological investigations in Oxyria digyna Hill. from the Kashmir Himalaya,India

In the present paper, detailed cytomorphological investigations in Oxyria digyna Hill. from Kashmir Himalaya—India have been reported for the first time. All the 14 investigated populations of O. digyna are diploid based on x = 7. Out of these in two populations 0–2B chromosomes have been recorded for the first time while 6 populations differed significantly in their meiotic characteristics. Meiotic abnormalities during male meiosis observed include inter PMC chromatin transfer (cytomixis). Non-synchronous disjunction of some bivalents, laggards and bridges at anaphases and telophases. Consequent to these meiotic anomalies, microsporogenesis in meiocytes is abnormal resulting in to dyads, triads and polyads with or without micronuclei. The overall effect is seen in reduced pollen fertility. Unreduced pollen grains were observed in some populations, which differed significantly in their size compared to the normal (reduced) pollen grains. It is observed that a smaller frequency of pollen grains differed morphologically in Aharbal and Yosmarg populations. The remaining eight populations showed regular meiotic course, normal microsporogenesis and high percentage of pollen fertility (95.09–99.09 %).     

Enhanced resistance against bacterial wilt in transgenic tomato (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Lycopersicon esculentum</Emphasis>) lines expressing the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Xa21</Emphasis> gene

To enhance bacterial wilt resistance in tomato plants and simplify the protocol of Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediated gene transfer, parameters affecting transformation efficiency in tomato have been optimized. A. tumefaciens strain EHA101, harboring a recombinant binary expression vector pTCL5 containing the Xa21 gene under the control of the CaMV 35S promoter was used for transformation. Five cultivars of tomato (Rio Grande, Roma, Pusa Ruby Pant Bahr and Avinash) were tested for transformation. Transformation efficiency was highly dependent on preculture of the explants with acetosyringone, acetosyringone in co-cultivation media, shoot regeneration medium and pre-selection after co-cultivation without selective agent. One week of pre-selection following selection along with 400 μM acetosyringone resulted in 92.3% transient GUS expression efficiency in Rio Grande followed by 90.3% in Avinash. The presence and integration of the Xa21 gene in putative transgenic plants was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Southern blot analyses with 4.5–42.12% PCR-positive shoots were obtained for Xa21 and hygromycin genes, respectively. Transgenic plants of the all lines showed resistance to bacterial wilt. T₁ plants (resulting from self-pollination of transgenic plants) tested against Pseudomonas solanacearum inoculation in glasshouse, showed Mendelian segregation.