Rich genetic polymorphism is important for plants to adapt to changes because it enables the plant to make anatomical,physiological and biochemical changes in response to abiotic stress.Geomorphologic characteristics,...Rich genetic polymorphism is important for plants to adapt to changes because it enables the plant to make anatomical,physiological and biochemical changes in response to abiotic stress.Geomorphologic characteristics,demographic interference and a cumulative decrease in freshwater influx in the Indian Sundarbans region have proved detrimental to some economically important plants.In this study,genetic polymorphism of three mangrove species,Xylocarpus granatum,Excoecaria agallocha,and Phoenix paludosa,was assessed using RAPD and ISSR molecular markers.X.granatum,already in distress in the Sundarbans,had the least genetic polymorphism,14.56%in the RAPD analysis and 12.92% in the ISSR.Relatively higher genetic polymorphism was recorded for the profusely growing E.agallocha and P.paludosa: 24.66 and26.4% in RAPD; 24.87 and 20.32% in ISSR analysis respectively.A UPGMA dendrogram constructed using the similarity matrix from RAPD,ISSR and combined datashowed that for X.granatum,the least and highest salinity zones clustered together,whereas for E.agallocha and P.paludosa,higher and lower salinity areas clustered in different clades.Nei’s genetic diversity,calculated from RAPD and ISSR data,was also in accordance with 0.0637 and 0.0583 for X.granatum,respectively,much lower than0.0794 and 0.0818 for E.agallocha and 0.0799 and 0.0688 for P.paludosa.This opposing degree of polymorphism might be attributed to the profusely growing E.agallocha and P.paludosa and precarious status of X.granatum throughout the Indian Sundarbans.展开更多
Equisetum(Equisetaceae)has long been a focus of attention for botanists and palaeontologists because,given its extensive and well-documented fossil record,it is considered the oldest extant vascular plant and a key el...Equisetum(Equisetaceae)has long been a focus of attention for botanists and palaeontologists because,given its extensive and well-documented fossil record,it is considered the oldest extant vascular plant and a key element in understanding vascular plant evolution.However,to date,no authentic fossil evidence of Equisetum has been found from the Indian Cenozoic.Here,we describe a new fossil species,namely,E.siwalikum sp.nov.,recovered from the middle Siwalik(Late Miocene)sediments of Himachal Pradesh,western Himalaya.We identified fossil specimens based on morphological and epidermal characters.In addition,X-Ray diffraction(XRD)analysis was used to determine the mineral composition of compressed stems of Equisetum.The close affinity of our recovered Siwalik fossils to Equisetum is supported by the presence of both macromorphological and epidermal characters.Because Equisetum generally grows in wet conditions around water reservoirs,our findings indicate that the fossil locality was humid and surrounded by swamp and lowland regions during deposition.Ample fossil evidence indicates that this sphenopsid once existed in the western Himalaya during the Siwalik period.However,at present Equisetum is confined to a particular area of our fossil locality,probably a consequence of severe environmental changes coupled with competition from opportunistic angiosperms.Our discovery of Equisetum fossils in appreciable numbers from the Siwalik sediments of the Himachal Himalayas is unique and constitutes the first reliable recognition of Equisetum from the Indian Cenozoic.展开更多
A comparative deliberation has been considered among three Indian processed teas (black, green and white) in respect to their prevalence of some secondary metabolites, antioxidant ability (ABTS and DPPH assay), nutrit...A comparative deliberation has been considered among three Indian processed teas (black, green and white) in respect to their prevalence of some secondary metabolites, antioxidant ability (ABTS and DPPH assay), nutritional properties, inorganic elemental profile and bactericidal efficiency. Green and white tea, incidence of total phenol, total flavonoids, proanthocyanidins and tannin are higher than the black. ABTS and DPPH study reveals lower IC50 occurred in Green tea. Green tea is enriched in Na, Fe, Mg, and Mn content;black is rich in K, Ca and white has highest Zn. Total sugar and free amino acid are highest in white tea;total protein content is almost same in all three types. Green tea is enriched with vitamin C. Antimicrobial asset is experienced against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus (gram + ve) and Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (gram?-?ve) bacteria. Study revealed that green tea has higher antimicrobial activity than the other two, though higher inhibitory effect of black tea might be attributed to the presence of substantial amount of tannin. Statistical evaluation reflects that in all organic and aqueous extracts, secondary metabolites correlate linearly with DPPH and ABTS assays but are not consistent with bactericidal efficiency in all cases.展开更多
The author proposes here for utilizing ELC （English Language Corpora） as a secondary resource for developing ELT （English Language Teaching） materials for teaching English to Indian learners. We argue for using EL...The author proposes here for utilizing ELC （English Language Corpora） as a secondary resource for developing ELT （English Language Teaching） materials for teaching English to Indian learners. We argue for using ELC as one of the most authentic representative collections of modem English language from where we extract necessary linguistic data, information, and examples to develop basic as well as additional resources of ELT, such as, text books, reference materials, syllabuses, grammar books, dictionaries, and terminology databases, etc., for Indian learners. Keeping the requirements of individual learners in mind we propose to customize materials to make these maximally useful within the broader scheme of CALT （Computer Assisted Language Teaching）. In our view, ELT resources developed from ELC are more useful for Indian learners, because ELC represents diversified varieties of usage of modem English in real situations, which Indian learners need to assimilate to be at par with others across the globe. Also ELC-based ELT resources are more interesting and beneficial to Indian learners, if instructors carefully utilize these resources keeping in mind the requirements of learners. If Indian ELT learners want to compete in global frame, then utilization of ELC-based ELT resources is the most useful solution, which we can ignore at the cost of our own peril.展开更多
Comparative adaptability against salinity was assessed between the two wellknown mangroves (Avicennia marina and Heritiera fomes) from Indian Sundarbans in vitro. Occurrence of H. fomes is intermittent in and around o...Comparative adaptability against salinity was assessed between the two wellknown mangroves (Avicennia marina and Heritiera fomes) from Indian Sundarbans in vitro. Occurrence of H. fomes is intermittent in and around of this mangrove swamp. A harmony has to maintain between ROS production and efficient scavenging of ROS by the plant itself for sustainability. In the present work, extent of salt tolerance was evaluated by mainly two ways: i) accumulation of free amino acids in the cytoplasm for proficient osmotic adjustment and ii) promoting elevated amount of antioxidants (both enzymes and secondary metabolites) with respect to substrate salinity. Occurrence of free amino acids (Alanine, Leucine and Proline) in A. marinaare well correlated (p ≤ 0.01) with the increasing salinity and H. fomes (Alanine and Phenyl Alanine) correlation value showed p ≤ 0.05. ROS scavenging reflected through ABTS, DPPH and Fe2+ chelating activity and results indicating that A. marina have some advantage over the other investigated taxa. Amount of phenols and flavonoids also designated the same. Additional number of isoforms of two antioxidant enzymes (peroxidase and super oxide dismutase) occurred in A. marina as the salinity enhanced, but in case of H. fomes, which was lacking. The experimental results might be designated towards the comfortable adaptability to A. marina, rather to H. fomes.展开更多
Irreversible electroporation is a promising non-thermal ablation method that has been shown to increase overall survival in locally advanced pancreatic cancer in some studies.However,higher quality studies with proper...Irreversible electroporation is a promising non-thermal ablation method that has been shown to increase overall survival in locally advanced pancreatic cancer in some studies.However,higher quality studies with proper controls and randomization are required to establish its superiority when added with neoadjuvant chemotherapy over the current management of choice,which is chemotherapy alone.Further studies are required before establishment of any survival benefit in metastatic pancreatic carcinoma,and such evidence is lacking at present.展开更多
Gallbladder cancer(GBC)is a lethal biliary tract malignancy,which is infrequent in most developed countries,but common in many developing countries in specific geographical regions of the world.Non-specific symptoms l...Gallbladder cancer(GBC)is a lethal biliary tract malignancy,which is infrequent in most developed countries,but common in many developing countries in specific geographical regions of the world.Non-specific symptoms leading to late diagnosis is one of the primary factors contributing to poor prognosis in GBC.An understanding of the complex relationship between molecular genetics and epidemiological variances in the incidence rates of GBC is thus of utmost importance.Present review summarizes recent updates on population-specific dysregulated genetic expressions in the genesis of GBC,highlighting the pattern of ethno-geographic variations and on advances in targeted therapies conducted till date;points out the lacunae that deserve further attention and suggest possible new directions for future clinical trials in GBC.The review calls for the need of genetic screening of each GBC patients and for more extensive clinical trials on targeted therapies to move towards the goal of personalized medicine,bringing about more favourable survival outcomes.展开更多
Medicinal plants are part and parcel of human society to combat diseases from the dawn of civilization.Terminalia chebula Retz.(Fam.Combretaceae),is called the‘King of Medicine??in Tibet and is always listed at the l...Medicinal plants are part and parcel of human society to combat diseases from the dawn of civilization.Terminalia chebula Retz.(Fam.Combretaceae),is called the‘King of Medicine??in Tibet and is always listed at the lop of the list of‘Ayurvedic Materia Medica??because of its extraordinary power of healing.The whole plant possesses high medicinal value and traditionally used for the treatment of various ailments for human beings.Some of the folklore people used this plant in the treatment of asthma,sore throat,vomiting,hiccough,diarrhea,dysentery,bleeding piles,ulcers,gout,heart and bladder diseases.The plant has been demonstrated to possess multiple pharmacological and medicinal activities,such as antioxidant,antimicrobial,antidiabetic,hepatoprotective,anti-inflammatory,antimutagenic,antiproliferative,radioprotective,cardioprotective,antiarthritic,anticaries,gastrointestinal motility and wound healing activity.But no systematic updated information on the therapeutic effectiveness of Terminalia chebula,a popular herbal remedy in India and South-East Asia has so far been reported.This review highlights an updated information particularly on the phytochemistry and various pharmacological and medicinal properties of Terminalia chebula Retz.and some of its isolated compounds,along with their safety evaluation.This may provide incentive for proper evaluation of the plant as medicinal agent against the human diseases and also to bridge the lacunae in the existing literature and future scope which may offer immense opportunity for researchers engaged in validation of the traditional claims and development of safe and effective botanical medicine.展开更多
AIM： To identify the variants in U rase 1 （UGT1A1） gene in Gilbert＇s syndrome （GS） and to estimate the association between homozygosity for TA insertion and GS in India, as well as the frequency of TA insertion ...AIM： To identify the variants in U rase 1 （UGT1A1） gene in Gilbert＇s syndrome （GS） and to estimate the association between homozygosity for TA insertion and GS in India, as well as the frequency of TA insertion and its impact among normal controls in India. METHODS： Ninety-five GS cases and 95 normal controls were selected. Liver function and other tests were done. The promoter and all 5 exons of UGT1A1 gene were resequenced. Functional assessment of a novel trinucleotide insertion was done by in silico analysis and by estimating UGT1A1 promoter activity carried out by ludferase reporter assay of appropriate constructs in Hep G2 cell line. RESULTS： Among the GS patients, 80% were homozygous for the TA insertion, which was several-fold higher than reports from other ethnic groups. The mean UCB level was elevated among individuals with only one copy of this insertion, which was not significantly different from those with two copies. Many new DNA variants in UGT1A1 gene were discovered, including a trinucleotide （CAT） insertion in the promoter found in a subset （10%） of GS patients, but not among normal controls. In-silico analysis showed marked changes in the DNA-folding of the promoter and functional analysis showed a 20-fold reduction in transcription efficiency of UGT1A1 gene resulting from this insertion, thereby significantly elevating the UCB level. CONCLUSION： The genetic epidemiology of GS is variable across ethnic interactions among UGT1A1 groups and the epistatic promoter variants modulate bilirubin glucuronidation.展开更多
Improper land use results in land degradation as well as decline in agricultural productivity.To obtain optimum benefit from the land,proper utilization of its resources is necessary.Land suitability analysis is the e...Improper land use results in land degradation as well as decline in agricultural productivity.To obtain optimum benefit from the land,proper utilization of its resources is necessary.Land suitability analysis is the evaluation and grouping of specific areas of land in terms of their suitability for a defined use,which is a precondition for sustainable land use planning.This study investigated the applicability of Geographical Information System(GIS)techniques in combination with multi-criteria land evaluation for analysing land suitability.The study used the weighted overlay technique for multi-criteria evaluation with GIS for the assessment of suitability of wheat cultivation in Beko watershed(Purulia,India).The watershed area is moderately suitable for wheat crop production,with constraints like imperfect drainage and poor soil depth.展开更多
Dissolution of fluorite(CaF2)and/or fluorapatite(FAP)[Cas(PO4)3F],pulled by calcite precipitation,is thought to be the dominant mechanism responsible for groundwater fluoride(F)contamination.Here,one dimensional react...Dissolution of fluorite(CaF2)and/or fluorapatite(FAP)[Cas(PO4)3F],pulled by calcite precipitation,is thought to be the dominant mechanism responsible for groundwater fluoride(F)contamination.Here,one dimensional reactive-transport models are developed to test this mechanism using the published dissolution and precipitation rate kinetics for the mineral pair FAP and calcite.Simulation results correctly show positive correlation between the aqueous concentrations of F and CO_(2)and negative correlation between F-and Ca^2+.Results also show that precipitation of calcite,contrary to the present understanding,slows down the FAP dissolution by 10G orders of magnitude compared to the FAP dissolution by hydrolysis.For appreciable amount of fluoride contamination rock-water interaction time must be long and of order 106 years.展开更多
Earthworm has caught imagination of philosophers like Pascal and Thoreau. Yet its role in the nutrition of agricultural fields has attracted attention of researchers worldwide only in recent decades. Waste management ...Earthworm has caught imagination of philosophers like Pascal and Thoreau. Yet its role in the nutrition of agricultural fields has attracted attention of researchers worldwide only in recent decades. Waste management is considered as an integral part of a sustainable society, thereby necessitating diversion of biodegradable fractions of the societal waste from landfill into alternative management processes such as vermicomposting. Earthworms excreta (vermicast) is a nutritive organic fertilizer rich in humus, NPK, micronutrients, beneficial soil microbes;nitrogen-fixing, phosphate solubilizing bacteria, actinomycets and growth hormones auxins, gibberlins & cytokinins. Both vermicompost & its body liquid (vermiwash) are proven as both growth promoters & protectors for crop plants. We discuss about the worms composting technology, its importance, use and some salient results obtained in the globe so far in this review update of vermicompost research.展开更多
Substantial part of the northern margin of Indian plate is subducted beneath the Eurasian plate during the Caenozoic Himalayan orogeny, obscuring older tectonic events in the Lesser Himalaya known to host Proterozoic ...Substantial part of the northern margin of Indian plate is subducted beneath the Eurasian plate during the Caenozoic Himalayan orogeny, obscuring older tectonic events in the Lesser Himalaya known to host Proterozoic sedimentary successions and granitic bodies. Tectonostratigraphic units of the Proterozoic Lesser Himalayan sequence （LHS） of Eastern Himalaya, namely the Daling Group in Sikkim and the Bomdila Group in Arunachal Pradesh, provide clues to the nature and extent of Proterozoic passive margin sedimentation, their involvement in pre-Himalayan orogeny and implications for supercontinent reconstruction. The Daling Group, consisting of flaggy quartzite, meta-greywacke and metapelite with minor mafic dyke and sill, and the overlying Buxa Formation with stromatolitic carbonate-quartzite- slate, represent shallow marine, passive margin platformal association. Similar lithostratigraphy and broad depositional framework, and available geochronological data from intrusive granites in Eastern Himalaya indicate strikewise continuity of a shallow marine Paleoproterozoic platformal sequence up to Arunachal Pradesh through Bhutan. Multiple fold sets and tectonic foliations in LHS formed during partial or complete closure of the sea/ocean along the northern margin of Paleoproterozoic India. Such deformation fabrics are absent in the upper Palaeozoic-Mesozoic Gondwana formations in the Lesser Himalaya of Darjeeling-Sikkim indicating influence of older orogeny. Kinematic analysis based on microstructure, and garnet composition suggest Paleoproterozoic deformation and metamorphism of LHS to be distinct from those associated with the foreland propagating thrust systems of the Caenozoic Himalayan collisional belt. Two possibilities are argued here： （1） the low greenschist facies domain in the LHS enveloped the amphibolite to granulite facies domains, which were later tectonically severed; （2） the older deformation and metamorphism relate to a Pacific type accretionary orogen which affected the northern margin of greater India. Better understanding of geodynamic evolution of the northern margin of India in the Paleoproterozoic has additional bearing on more refined model of reconstruction of Colllrnhia.展开更多
A global increase in the incidence of pancreatic cancer(PanCa)presents a major concern and health burden.The traditional tissue-based diagnostic techniques provided a major way forward for molecular diagnostics;howeve...A global increase in the incidence of pancreatic cancer(PanCa)presents a major concern and health burden.The traditional tissue-based diagnostic techniques provided a major way forward for molecular diagnostics;however,they face limitations based on diagnosis-associated difficulties and concerns surrounding tissue availability in the clinical setting.Late disease development with asymptomatic behavior is a drawback in the case of existing diagnostic procedures.The capability of cell free markers in discriminating PanCa from autoimmune pancreatitis and chronic pancreatitis along with other precancerous lesions can be a boon to clinicians.Early-stage diagnosis of PanCa can be achieved only if these biomarkers specifically discriminate the non-carcinogenic disease stage from malignancy with respect to tumor stages.In this review,we comprehensively described the non-invasive disease detection approaches and why these approaches are gaining popularity for their early-stage diagnostic capability and associated clinical feasibility.展开更多
We identified 67 and 21 NTFP-yielding plant and animal species, respectively, in a reserve forest in Cachar district of Assam. We recorded globally threatened species listed by IUCN as Critically Endangered （plant sp...We identified 67 and 21 NTFP-yielding plant and animal species, respectively, in a reserve forest in Cachar district of Assam. We recorded globally threatened species listed by IUCN as Critically Endangered （plant species Dipterocarpus turbinatus）, Vulnerable （plant species Aquillaria malaccensis）, Endangered （animal species Hoolock hoolock, Indotestudo elongata and Manis pentadactyla）, and Vulnerable （animal species Nilssonia hurum and Rusa unicolor）. The whole plant or animal and/or their various parts were used as food or medicine, in house construction, magico-religious activities and others. While some NTFPs were harvested throughout the year, others were harvested seasonally. A comprehensive NTFP policy, along with scientific measures for regen- eration, restoration and augmentation of NTFP-yielding plants and animals, would help in addressing the conflicting demands of conservation and livelihood in the forests of this area.展开更多
This paper presents a state of the art machine learning-based approach for automation of a varied class of Internet of things(Io T) analytics problems targeted on 1-dimensional(1-D) sensor data. As feature recommendat...This paper presents a state of the art machine learning-based approach for automation of a varied class of Internet of things(Io T) analytics problems targeted on 1-dimensional(1-D) sensor data. As feature recommendation is a major bottleneck for general Io Tbased applications, this paper shows how this step can be successfully automated based on a Wide Learning architecture without sacrificing the decision-making accuracy, and thereby reducing the development time and the cost of hiring expensive resources for specific problems. Interpretation of meaningful features is another contribution of this research. Several data sets from different real-world applications are considered to realize the proof-of-concept. Results show that the interpretable feature recommendation techniques are quite effective for the problems at hand in terms of performance and drastic reduction in development time.展开更多
Objective:To determine the relationship of the capacity to produce interferon gamma(IFN-γ) in whole blood,bacteriological,hematological,radiographic and clinical presentations in new,HIV seronegative cases of pulmona...Objective:To determine the relationship of the capacity to produce interferon gamma(IFN-γ) in whole blood,bacteriological,hematological,radiographic and clinical presentations in new,HIV seronegative cases of pulmonary tuberculosis(TB).Methods:80 cases and 50 control subjects aged 15 years onwards,representative of Kasturba Hospital and Nursing schools of Wardha district of Maharashtra state in India were examined for their health condition with standard methodology.Results:Among these TB patients,73.8%were Quantiferon-TB gold (QFT) positive with IFN-γconcentration as 0.35 IU or more and there was none in healthy controls.The mean IFN-γconcentrations varied between 9.58 IU(50-59 yrs) and 2.58 IU(≥60 yrs),showing no trend.The differences in positivity and mean IFN-γconcentrations were statistically insignificant.Both the QFT positivity and IFN-γconcentrations were higher in normal lymphocyte percent as compared to below and above normal,but differences were not statistically significant.Conclusions:The IFN-γconcentrations are not correlated with any of the predictors of disease severity studied,the levels are significantly higher in observation group as compared to healthy group.展开更多
Various water wave problems involving an infinitely long horizontal cylinder floating on the surface water were investigated in the literature of linearized theory of water waves employing a general multipole expansio...Various water wave problems involving an infinitely long horizontal cylinder floating on the surface water were investigated in the literature of linearized theory of water waves employing a general multipole expansion for the wave potential. This expansion involves a general combination of a regular wave, a wave source, a wave dipole and a regular wave-free part. The wave-free part can be further expanded in terms of wave-free multipoles which are termed as wave-free potentials. These are singular solutions of Laplace's equation (for non-oblique waves in two dimensions) or two-dimensional Helmholz equation (for oblique waves) satisfying the free surface condition and decaying rapidly away from the point of singularity. The method of constructing these wave-free potentials is presented here in a systematic manner for a number of situations such as deep water with a free surface, neglecting or taking into account the effect of surface tension, or with an ice-cover modelled as a thin elastic plate floating on water.展开更多
Groundwater levels are gradually declining in basins around the world due to anthropogenic and natural factors.Climate is not the only factor contributing to change in groundwater levels,population growth and economic...Groundwater levels are gradually declining in basins around the world due to anthropogenic and natural factors.Climate is not the only factor contributing to change in groundwater levels,population growth and economic progress are leading to increased water demand.Areas used for agricultural irrigation are expanding,necessitating the use of artificial groundwater recharge as a method to sustain pumping and enhance storage.The present study delineates potential locations of significant groundwater resources that already exist using a geostatistical approach as a method to identify potential groundwater recharge zones.The Multi-Influencing Factors(MIF)technique was applied to determine the relationship between different landscape and climatic factors that influence groundwater recharge.Factors include topography,climate,hydrogeology,population,economic change,and geology.Integration of these factors enabled the identification of potential locations of groundwater suitable for artificial recharge efforts based on weights derived through the MIF technique.We applied these weights to derive a groundwater recharge index(GRI)map.The map was delineated into three groundwater recharge zones classified by their potential areal coverage as a metric for recharge suitability,namely low,medium and high suitability,occupying areas of 8625 km2(30.06%),9082 km2(31.65%),and 10,989 km~2(38.29%),respectively.Our findings have important implications for designing sustainable groundwater development and land-use plans for the coming century.展开更多
The problem of wave scattering by undulating bed topography in a two-layer ocean is investigated on the basis of linear theory. In a two-layer fluid with the upper layer having a free surface, there exist two modes of...The problem of wave scattering by undulating bed topography in a two-layer ocean is investigated on the basis of linear theory. In a two-layer fluid with the upper layer having a free surface, there exist two modes of waves propagating at both the free surface of the upper layer and the interface between the two layers. Due to a wave train of a particular mode incident on an obstacle which is bottom-standing on the lower layer, reflected and transmitted waves of both modes are created by the obstacle. For small undulations on the bottom of the lower layer, a perturbation method is employed to obtain first-order reflection and transmission coefficients of both modes for incident wave trains of again both modes in terms of integrals involving the bed-shape fimction. For sinusoidal undulations, numerical results are presented graphically to illustrate the energy transfer between the waves of different modes by the undulating bed.展开更多
基金funded by the Indian Statistical Institute,Kolkata
文摘Rich genetic polymorphism is important for plants to adapt to changes because it enables the plant to make anatomical,physiological and biochemical changes in response to abiotic stress.Geomorphologic characteristics,demographic interference and a cumulative decrease in freshwater influx in the Indian Sundarbans region have proved detrimental to some economically important plants.In this study,genetic polymorphism of three mangrove species,Xylocarpus granatum,Excoecaria agallocha,and Phoenix paludosa,was assessed using RAPD and ISSR molecular markers.X.granatum,already in distress in the Sundarbans,had the least genetic polymorphism,14.56%in the RAPD analysis and 12.92% in the ISSR.Relatively higher genetic polymorphism was recorded for the profusely growing E.agallocha and P.paludosa: 24.66 and26.4% in RAPD; 24.87 and 20.32% in ISSR analysis respectively.A UPGMA dendrogram constructed using the similarity matrix from RAPD,ISSR and combined datashowed that for X.granatum,the least and highest salinity zones clustered together,whereas for E.agallocha and P.paludosa,higher and lower salinity areas clustered in different clades.Nei’s genetic diversity,calculated from RAPD and ISSR data,was also in accordance with 0.0637 and 0.0583 for X.granatum,respectively,much lower than0.0794 and 0.0818 for E.agallocha and 0.0799 and 0.0688 for P.paludosa.This opposing degree of polymorphism might be attributed to the profusely growing E.agallocha and P.paludosa and precarious status of X.granatum throughout the Indian Sundarbans.
基金DST-SERB,GOI,New Delhi,India(File no.CRG/2020/001303)for their financial assistance。
文摘Equisetum(Equisetaceae)has long been a focus of attention for botanists and palaeontologists because,given its extensive and well-documented fossil record,it is considered the oldest extant vascular plant and a key element in understanding vascular plant evolution.However,to date,no authentic fossil evidence of Equisetum has been found from the Indian Cenozoic.Here,we describe a new fossil species,namely,E.siwalikum sp.nov.,recovered from the middle Siwalik(Late Miocene)sediments of Himachal Pradesh,western Himalaya.We identified fossil specimens based on morphological and epidermal characters.In addition,X-Ray diffraction(XRD)analysis was used to determine the mineral composition of compressed stems of Equisetum.The close affinity of our recovered Siwalik fossils to Equisetum is supported by the presence of both macromorphological and epidermal characters.Because Equisetum generally grows in wet conditions around water reservoirs,our findings indicate that the fossil locality was humid and surrounded by swamp and lowland regions during deposition.Ample fossil evidence indicates that this sphenopsid once existed in the western Himalaya during the Siwalik period.However,at present Equisetum is confined to a particular area of our fossil locality,probably a consequence of severe environmental changes coupled with competition from opportunistic angiosperms.Our discovery of Equisetum fossils in appreciable numbers from the Siwalik sediments of the Himachal Himalayas is unique and constitutes the first reliable recognition of Equisetum from the Indian Cenozoic.
文摘A comparative deliberation has been considered among three Indian processed teas (black, green and white) in respect to their prevalence of some secondary metabolites, antioxidant ability (ABTS and DPPH assay), nutritional properties, inorganic elemental profile and bactericidal efficiency. Green and white tea, incidence of total phenol, total flavonoids, proanthocyanidins and tannin are higher than the black. ABTS and DPPH study reveals lower IC50 occurred in Green tea. Green tea is enriched in Na, Fe, Mg, and Mn content;black is rich in K, Ca and white has highest Zn. Total sugar and free amino acid are highest in white tea;total protein content is almost same in all three types. Green tea is enriched with vitamin C. Antimicrobial asset is experienced against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus (gram + ve) and Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (gram?-?ve) bacteria. Study revealed that green tea has higher antimicrobial activity than the other two, though higher inhibitory effect of black tea might be attributed to the presence of substantial amount of tannin. Statistical evaluation reflects that in all organic and aqueous extracts, secondary metabolites correlate linearly with DPPH and ABTS assays but are not consistent with bactericidal efficiency in all cases.
文摘The author proposes here for utilizing ELC （English Language Corpora） as a secondary resource for developing ELT （English Language Teaching） materials for teaching English to Indian learners. We argue for using ELC as one of the most authentic representative collections of modem English language from where we extract necessary linguistic data, information, and examples to develop basic as well as additional resources of ELT, such as, text books, reference materials, syllabuses, grammar books, dictionaries, and terminology databases, etc., for Indian learners. Keeping the requirements of individual learners in mind we propose to customize materials to make these maximally useful within the broader scheme of CALT （Computer Assisted Language Teaching）. In our view, ELT resources developed from ELC are more useful for Indian learners, because ELC represents diversified varieties of usage of modem English in real situations, which Indian learners need to assimilate to be at par with others across the globe. Also ELC-based ELT resources are more interesting and beneficial to Indian learners, if instructors carefully utilize these resources keeping in mind the requirements of learners. If Indian ELT learners want to compete in global frame, then utilization of ELC-based ELT resources is the most useful solution, which we can ignore at the cost of our own peril.
文摘Comparative adaptability against salinity was assessed between the two wellknown mangroves (Avicennia marina and Heritiera fomes) from Indian Sundarbans in vitro. Occurrence of H. fomes is intermittent in and around of this mangrove swamp. A harmony has to maintain between ROS production and efficient scavenging of ROS by the plant itself for sustainability. In the present work, extent of salt tolerance was evaluated by mainly two ways: i) accumulation of free amino acids in the cytoplasm for proficient osmotic adjustment and ii) promoting elevated amount of antioxidants (both enzymes and secondary metabolites) with respect to substrate salinity. Occurrence of free amino acids (Alanine, Leucine and Proline) in A. marinaare well correlated (p ≤ 0.01) with the increasing salinity and H. fomes (Alanine and Phenyl Alanine) correlation value showed p ≤ 0.05. ROS scavenging reflected through ABTS, DPPH and Fe2+ chelating activity and results indicating that A. marina have some advantage over the other investigated taxa. Amount of phenols and flavonoids also designated the same. Additional number of isoforms of two antioxidant enzymes (peroxidase and super oxide dismutase) occurred in A. marina as the salinity enhanced, but in case of H. fomes, which was lacking. The experimental results might be designated towards the comfortable adaptability to A. marina, rather to H. fomes.
基金Supported by Department of Biotechnology,Government of India,No.RLS/BT/Re-entry/05/2012.
文摘Irreversible electroporation is a promising non-thermal ablation method that has been shown to increase overall survival in locally advanced pancreatic cancer in some studies.However,higher quality studies with proper controls and randomization are required to establish its superiority when added with neoadjuvant chemotherapy over the current management of choice,which is chemotherapy alone.Further studies are required before establishment of any survival benefit in metastatic pancreatic carcinoma,and such evidence is lacking at present.
文摘Gallbladder cancer(GBC)is a lethal biliary tract malignancy,which is infrequent in most developed countries,but common in many developing countries in specific geographical regions of the world.Non-specific symptoms leading to late diagnosis is one of the primary factors contributing to poor prognosis in GBC.An understanding of the complex relationship between molecular genetics and epidemiological variances in the incidence rates of GBC is thus of utmost importance.Present review summarizes recent updates on population-specific dysregulated genetic expressions in the genesis of GBC,highlighting the pattern of ethno-geographic variations and on advances in targeted therapies conducted till date;points out the lacunae that deserve further attention and suggest possible new directions for future clinical trials in GBC.The review calls for the need of genetic screening of each GBC patients and for more extensive clinical trials on targeted therapies to move towards the goal of personalized medicine,bringing about more favourable survival outcomes.
基金Supported by Indian Statistical Institute,Kolkata,India(GrantNo,Project A/C No.5613)
文摘Medicinal plants are part and parcel of human society to combat diseases from the dawn of civilization.Terminalia chebula Retz.(Fam.Combretaceae),is called the‘King of Medicine??in Tibet and is always listed at the lop of the list of‘Ayurvedic Materia Medica??because of its extraordinary power of healing.The whole plant possesses high medicinal value and traditionally used for the treatment of various ailments for human beings.Some of the folklore people used this plant in the treatment of asthma,sore throat,vomiting,hiccough,diarrhea,dysentery,bleeding piles,ulcers,gout,heart and bladder diseases.The plant has been demonstrated to possess multiple pharmacological and medicinal activities,such as antioxidant,antimicrobial,antidiabetic,hepatoprotective,anti-inflammatory,antimutagenic,antiproliferative,radioprotective,cardioprotective,antiarthritic,anticaries,gastrointestinal motility and wound healing activity.But no systematic updated information on the therapeutic effectiveness of Terminalia chebula,a popular herbal remedy in India and South-East Asia has so far been reported.This review highlights an updated information particularly on the phytochemistry and various pharmacological and medicinal properties of Terminalia chebula Retz.and some of its isolated compounds,along with their safety evaluation.This may provide incentive for proper evaluation of the plant as medicinal agent against the human diseases and also to bridge the lacunae in the existing literature and future scope which may offer immense opportunity for researchers engaged in validation of the traditional claims and development of safe and effective botanical medicine.
基金Supported by grants from the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India (to PPM) and the Department of Science & Technology, Government of West Bengal (to AC)
文摘AIM： To identify the variants in U rase 1 （UGT1A1） gene in Gilbert＇s syndrome （GS） and to estimate the association between homozygosity for TA insertion and GS in India, as well as the frequency of TA insertion and its impact among normal controls in India. METHODS： Ninety-five GS cases and 95 normal controls were selected. Liver function and other tests were done. The promoter and all 5 exons of UGT1A1 gene were resequenced. Functional assessment of a novel trinucleotide insertion was done by in silico analysis and by estimating UGT1A1 promoter activity carried out by ludferase reporter assay of appropriate constructs in Hep G2 cell line. RESULTS： Among the GS patients, 80% were homozygous for the TA insertion, which was several-fold higher than reports from other ethnic groups. The mean UCB level was elevated among individuals with only one copy of this insertion, which was not significantly different from those with two copies. Many new DNA variants in UGT1A1 gene were discovered, including a trinucleotide （CAT） insertion in the promoter found in a subset （10%） of GS patients, but not among normal controls. In-silico analysis showed marked changes in the DNA-folding of the promoter and functional analysis showed a 20-fold reduction in transcription efficiency of UGT1A1 gene resulting from this insertion, thereby significantly elevating the UCB level. CONCLUSION： The genetic epidemiology of GS is variable across ethnic interactions among UGT1A1 groups and the epistatic promoter variants modulate bilirubin glucuronidation.
文摘Improper land use results in land degradation as well as decline in agricultural productivity.To obtain optimum benefit from the land,proper utilization of its resources is necessary.Land suitability analysis is the evaluation and grouping of specific areas of land in terms of their suitability for a defined use,which is a precondition for sustainable land use planning.This study investigated the applicability of Geographical Information System(GIS)techniques in combination with multi-criteria land evaluation for analysing land suitability.The study used the weighted overlay technique for multi-criteria evaluation with GIS for the assessment of suitability of wheat cultivation in Beko watershed(Purulia,India).The watershed area is moderately suitable for wheat crop production,with constraints like imperfect drainage and poor soil depth.
文摘Dissolution of fluorite(CaF2)and/or fluorapatite(FAP)[Cas(PO4)3F],pulled by calcite precipitation,is thought to be the dominant mechanism responsible for groundwater fluoride(F)contamination.Here,one dimensional reactive-transport models are developed to test this mechanism using the published dissolution and precipitation rate kinetics for the mineral pair FAP and calcite.Simulation results correctly show positive correlation between the aqueous concentrations of F and CO_(2)and negative correlation between F-and Ca^2+.Results also show that precipitation of calcite,contrary to the present understanding,slows down the FAP dissolution by 10G orders of magnitude compared to the FAP dissolution by hydrolysis.For appreciable amount of fluoride contamination rock-water interaction time must be long and of order 106 years.
文摘Earthworm has caught imagination of philosophers like Pascal and Thoreau. Yet its role in the nutrition of agricultural fields has attracted attention of researchers worldwide only in recent decades. Waste management is considered as an integral part of a sustainable society, thereby necessitating diversion of biodegradable fractions of the societal waste from landfill into alternative management processes such as vermicomposting. Earthworms excreta (vermicast) is a nutritive organic fertilizer rich in humus, NPK, micronutrients, beneficial soil microbes;nitrogen-fixing, phosphate solubilizing bacteria, actinomycets and growth hormones auxins, gibberlins & cytokinins. Both vermicompost & its body liquid (vermiwash) are proven as both growth promoters & protectors for crop plants. We discuss about the worms composting technology, its importance, use and some salient results obtained in the globe so far in this review update of vermicompost research.
文摘Substantial part of the northern margin of Indian plate is subducted beneath the Eurasian plate during the Caenozoic Himalayan orogeny, obscuring older tectonic events in the Lesser Himalaya known to host Proterozoic sedimentary successions and granitic bodies. Tectonostratigraphic units of the Proterozoic Lesser Himalayan sequence （LHS） of Eastern Himalaya, namely the Daling Group in Sikkim and the Bomdila Group in Arunachal Pradesh, provide clues to the nature and extent of Proterozoic passive margin sedimentation, their involvement in pre-Himalayan orogeny and implications for supercontinent reconstruction. The Daling Group, consisting of flaggy quartzite, meta-greywacke and metapelite with minor mafic dyke and sill, and the overlying Buxa Formation with stromatolitic carbonate-quartzite- slate, represent shallow marine, passive margin platformal association. Similar lithostratigraphy and broad depositional framework, and available geochronological data from intrusive granites in Eastern Himalaya indicate strikewise continuity of a shallow marine Paleoproterozoic platformal sequence up to Arunachal Pradesh through Bhutan. Multiple fold sets and tectonic foliations in LHS formed during partial or complete closure of the sea/ocean along the northern margin of Paleoproterozoic India. Such deformation fabrics are absent in the upper Palaeozoic-Mesozoic Gondwana formations in the Lesser Himalaya of Darjeeling-Sikkim indicating influence of older orogeny. Kinematic analysis based on microstructure, and garnet composition suggest Paleoproterozoic deformation and metamorphism of LHS to be distinct from those associated with the foreland propagating thrust systems of the Caenozoic Himalayan collisional belt. Two possibilities are argued here： （1） the low greenschist facies domain in the LHS enveloped the amphibolite to granulite facies domains, which were later tectonically severed; （2） the older deformation and metamorphism relate to a Pacific type accretionary orogen which affected the northern margin of greater India. Better understanding of geodynamic evolution of the northern margin of India in the Paleoproterozoic has additional bearing on more refined model of reconstruction of Colllrnhia.
基金Supported by the Department of Biotechnology,Government of India Grant Sanction,Ramalingaswami Re-entry Fellowship,No.RLS/BT/Re-entry/05/2012.
文摘A global increase in the incidence of pancreatic cancer(PanCa)presents a major concern and health burden.The traditional tissue-based diagnostic techniques provided a major way forward for molecular diagnostics;however,they face limitations based on diagnosis-associated difficulties and concerns surrounding tissue availability in the clinical setting.Late disease development with asymptomatic behavior is a drawback in the case of existing diagnostic procedures.The capability of cell free markers in discriminating PanCa from autoimmune pancreatitis and chronic pancreatitis along with other precancerous lesions can be a boon to clinicians.Early-stage diagnosis of PanCa can be achieved only if these biomarkers specifically discriminate the non-carcinogenic disease stage from malignancy with respect to tumor stages.In this review,we comprehensively described the non-invasive disease detection approaches and why these approaches are gaining popularity for their early-stage diagnostic capability and associated clinical feasibility.
文摘We identified 67 and 21 NTFP-yielding plant and animal species, respectively, in a reserve forest in Cachar district of Assam. We recorded globally threatened species listed by IUCN as Critically Endangered （plant species Dipterocarpus turbinatus）, Vulnerable （plant species Aquillaria malaccensis）, Endangered （animal species Hoolock hoolock, Indotestudo elongata and Manis pentadactyla）, and Vulnerable （animal species Nilssonia hurum and Rusa unicolor）. The whole plant or animal and/or their various parts were used as food or medicine, in house construction, magico-religious activities and others. While some NTFPs were harvested throughout the year, others were harvested seasonally. A comprehensive NTFP policy, along with scientific measures for regen- eration, restoration and augmentation of NTFP-yielding plants and animals, would help in addressing the conflicting demands of conservation and livelihood in the forests of this area.
文摘This paper presents a state of the art machine learning-based approach for automation of a varied class of Internet of things(Io T) analytics problems targeted on 1-dimensional(1-D) sensor data. As feature recommendation is a major bottleneck for general Io Tbased applications, this paper shows how this step can be successfully automated based on a Wide Learning architecture without sacrificing the decision-making accuracy, and thereby reducing the development time and the cost of hiring expensive resources for specific problems. Interpretation of meaningful features is another contribution of this research. Several data sets from different real-world applications are considered to realize the proof-of-concept. Results show that the interpretable feature recommendation techniques are quite effective for the problems at hand in terms of performance and drastic reduction in development time.
文摘Objective:To determine the relationship of the capacity to produce interferon gamma(IFN-γ) in whole blood,bacteriological,hematological,radiographic and clinical presentations in new,HIV seronegative cases of pulmonary tuberculosis(TB).Methods:80 cases and 50 control subjects aged 15 years onwards,representative of Kasturba Hospital and Nursing schools of Wardha district of Maharashtra state in India were examined for their health condition with standard methodology.Results:Among these TB patients,73.8%were Quantiferon-TB gold (QFT) positive with IFN-γconcentration as 0.35 IU or more and there was none in healthy controls.The mean IFN-γconcentrations varied between 9.58 IU(50-59 yrs) and 2.58 IU(≥60 yrs),showing no trend.The differences in positivity and mean IFN-γconcentrations were statistically insignificant.Both the QFT positivity and IFN-γconcentrations were higher in normal lymphocyte percent as compared to below and above normal,but differences were not statistically significant.Conclusions:The IFN-γconcentrations are not correlated with any of the predictors of disease severity studied,the levels are significantly higher in observation group as compared to healthy group.
基金a NASI Senior Scientist Fellowship to BNM and a DST Research Project no. SR/S4/MS:521/08
文摘Various water wave problems involving an infinitely long horizontal cylinder floating on the surface water were investigated in the literature of linearized theory of water waves employing a general multipole expansion for the wave potential. This expansion involves a general combination of a regular wave, a wave source, a wave dipole and a regular wave-free part. The wave-free part can be further expanded in terms of wave-free multipoles which are termed as wave-free potentials. These are singular solutions of Laplace's equation (for non-oblique waves in two dimensions) or two-dimensional Helmholz equation (for oblique waves) satisfying the free surface condition and decaying rapidly away from the point of singularity. The method of constructing these wave-free potentials is presented here in a systematic manner for a number of situations such as deep water with a free surface, neglecting or taking into account the effect of surface tension, or with an ice-cover modelled as a thin elastic plate floating on water.
文摘Groundwater levels are gradually declining in basins around the world due to anthropogenic and natural factors.Climate is not the only factor contributing to change in groundwater levels,population growth and economic progress are leading to increased water demand.Areas used for agricultural irrigation are expanding,necessitating the use of artificial groundwater recharge as a method to sustain pumping and enhance storage.The present study delineates potential locations of significant groundwater resources that already exist using a geostatistical approach as a method to identify potential groundwater recharge zones.The Multi-Influencing Factors(MIF)technique was applied to determine the relationship between different landscape and climatic factors that influence groundwater recharge.Factors include topography,climate,hydrogeology,population,economic change,and geology.Integration of these factors enabled the identification of potential locations of groundwater suitable for artificial recharge efforts based on weights derived through the MIF technique.We applied these weights to derive a groundwater recharge index(GRI)map.The map was delineated into three groundwater recharge zones classified by their potential areal coverage as a metric for recharge suitability,namely low,medium and high suitability,occupying areas of 8625 km2(30.06%),9082 km2(31.65%),and 10,989 km~2(38.29%),respectively.Our findings have important implications for designing sustainable groundwater development and land-use plans for the coming century.
文摘The problem of wave scattering by undulating bed topography in a two-layer ocean is investigated on the basis of linear theory. In a two-layer fluid with the upper layer having a free surface, there exist two modes of waves propagating at both the free surface of the upper layer and the interface between the two layers. Due to a wave train of a particular mode incident on an obstacle which is bottom-standing on the lower layer, reflected and transmitted waves of both modes are created by the obstacle. For small undulations on the bottom of the lower layer, a perturbation method is employed to obtain first-order reflection and transmission coefficients of both modes for incident wave trains of again both modes in terms of integrals involving the bed-shape fimction. For sinusoidal undulations, numerical results are presented graphically to illustrate the energy transfer between the waves of different modes by the undulating bed.
