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Exposure to chronic stress is an important factor of neurodegeneration. Forced swimming test is a common model for chronic stress which needs validation in terms of duration of exposure and correlation of behavioural, histological and anti-oxidant status. Adult wistar albino rats (150-200 g) of both sexes were divided into two groups. Group I treated as control and Group II animals were subjected to forced swimming test for 30 minutes daily. On different days (0, 3,7,15 and 30) effect on behavioural, histological and anti-oxidant status was evaluated. Swimming stress of 30 minutes daily for 15 days significantly (p<0.05) decreased the time of fall in rotarod, locomotor activity in actophotometer, number of correct entries in radial maze, superoxide dismutase (SOD) level and significantly (p<0.05) increased the malondialdehyde (MDA) content along with prominent tissue degeneration in brain, heart, liver and kidney. The present study reveals that 30 minutes exposure to forced swimming for 15 days can be a novel model of chronic stress as it results in significant alterations in behavioural, histological and antioxidant status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The incidence of severe malaria and malaria-specific mortality were investigated in a hospital, for miners and their families, at Tensa in the Sundergarh district of Orissa state in India. Tensa lies in area where malaria (predominantly caused by Plasmodium falciparum) is hyper-endemic. The hospital records for 1995-1999 showed that, although annual admissions for malaria increased over the study period, there were very few admissions for severe, complicated malaria and no reports of malaria-specific deaths. Most of the patients who had been admitted with cerebral malaria either came from areas around but not within the town of Tensa or were recent arrivals in the town. It appears that the outcome of malaria is influenced not only by the intensity of local transmission (which affects the immunological status of the human hosts) but also by social factors such as the education and health-seeking behaviour of the local population and the health-care facilities available. The low incidence of severe malaria observed in Tensa was probably the result of patients presenting early in the course of their illness and taking antimalarial treatment, iron supplementation and supportive therapy at the appropriate times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive and irreversible neurodegenerative disease. Neuropathological hallmarks of AD are amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. The biomarkers used in the diagnosis of AD are mostly invasive. Established methods are available to identify biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma. β-amyloid (1-42) [Aβ (1-42)], total tau (T-tau) and phosphorylated tau (Ptau) are the three biomarkers present in CSF as well as plasma. Increased level of these three biomarkers is associated with AD. These biomarkers in CSF can be measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), but measuring these biomarkers in blood need more sensitive and specific assays. Dendritic proteins like neurogranin, synaptosomal associated protein 25 (SNAP-25) and synaptotagmin-1 (SYT1) in CSF can also be used as biomarkers as their level is decreased in AD. Neurofilament light (NFL) level (increased) in both CSF and plasma can serve as a biomarker for AD. Collection of CSF by lumbar puncture is a measure drawback which limits its use as a diagnostic tool. Biomarkers in non-invasive samples such as urine, saliva, hair and nail are under development and can be used in near future. Level of 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and isoprostane in urine, cortisol level in saliva, concentration of trace elements in hair and nail can be used as biomarkers in AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores high efficiency of semiconductor grating structure at wavelength, 1550 nm for silicon on insulator (SOI) optical circuits. Here semiconductor grating structure is realized by the combination of silicon and compound semiconductor materials, where compound semiconductor gratings are envisaged by indium phosphide, Al 80 Ga 20 As and Al 42 Ga 58 As. Different types of losses in terms of absorption, reflection and diffraction including polarization are cogitated to investigate the efficiency of grating SOI structure at wavelength, 1550 nm. Interestingly, the absorption loss of above semiconductor grating is found to be zero at the above wavelength. Also the simulation was accomplished using plane wave expansion method, which leads to zero reflectance for the aforementioned structures at same wavelength. Simulation is also made for diffraction and polarization losses of above three semiconductor grating SOI structures. Simulation results reveal that diffraction efficiency is 1, (diffraction loss is zero) with respect to detune from Bragg’s angle which ranges from −12° to +12°. Additionally, the proposed structures encountered polarization losses. Present simulation results showed that polarization efficiency is more than 90% (polarization loss is less than 10%)in silicon −indium phosphide (Si-InP),silicon-Al 80 Ga 20 As (Si-Al 80 Ga 20 As) and silicon – Al 42 Ga 58 As (Si-Al 42 Ga 58 As) grating SOI structures with respect to same deviation. Since absorption, reflection and diffraction losses are zero, the overall transmitted efficiency depends on polarization efficiency and finally, with the combination of both absorption, reflection,diffraction and polarization loss,it is inferred that overall transmitted efficiency of semiconductor grating SOI structure is more than 90% with respect to same angle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Udumbara Ghanasatwa is a classical Ayurvedic formulation prescribed for the treatment of gastritis, indigestion and diarrhoea without any scientific validation of its pharmacological action. The present study investigated the antiulcer activity of Udumbara Ghanasatwa at two graded doses by pylorus ligation model in rats. The anti-diarrhoeal activity was also evaluated in terms of the defecation amount/frequency as well as intestinal fluid enteropooling in castor oil induced diarrhoea. The Ghanasatwa exerted significant protective effects in both pylorus ligation-induced gastric ulcer and castor oil induced diarrhoeal models in a dose-dependent manner. Findings obtained in the study justified the clinical applications of Udumbara Ghanasatwa in the treatment of gastric ulcers and diarrhoea. These pharmacological effects exerted by Ghanasatwa may be attributed to the antioxidant phytoconstituents like flavonoids and tannins present in it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This study was conducted to evaluate the utilisation of the residual feed intake (RFI) as a feed efficiency selection tool and its relationship with methane emissions. Eighteen Murrah buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) heifers were fed ad libitum with total mixed ration (TMR) for 120 days. Based on linear regression models involving dry matter intake (DMI), average daily gain (ADG) and mid‐test metabolic body size (MBW0.75), heifers were assigned into low and high RFI groups. The RFI varied from −0.09 to +0.12 kg DM/day with average RFI of −0.05 and 0.05 kg DM/day in low and high RFI heifers respectively. Low RFI heifers ate 11.6% less DM each day, yet average daily gain (ADG) and feed utilisation were comparable among low and high RFI groups. Low RFI heifers required significantly (p < .05) less metabolizable energy for maintenance (MEm) compared to high RFI heifers. Apparent nutrient digestibility showed non‐significant difference (p > .05) among low and high RFI groups. Although the nitrogen balance was similar among heifers of low and high RFI groups, nitrogen metabolism was significantly higher (p > .05) in high RFI heifers. Comparison of data from heifers exhibiting the low (n = 9) and high (n = 9) RFI showed that the low RFI heifers have lower enteric methane production and methane losses than high RFI heifers. In conclusion, results of this study revealed that selection of more efficient buffalo heifers has multiple benefits, such as decreased feed intake and less emission of methane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An attempt was made to evaluate the energy supplements for horses by gas production technique by taking 6 commonly available feeds. In the study NDF% was highest in pearl millet (32.24) and oats (32.07), followed by barley (17.93). ADF ranged from 3.42 (maize grain) to 16.45% (pearl millet); similarly maximum amount of cellulose was in pearl millet (13.90) and minimum in maize (2.88%). ADL content ranged from 0.24 (maize) to 2.98% (oats); and hemicellulos e content was highest in oats (18.27) and pearl millet (15.79). AIA content was lowest in sweet potato tuber, oats, maize, wheat and pearl millet. EE% of DM ranged from 1.73% in pearl millet to 4.03% in maize. Total ash (TA) content was highest in oats (2.83) and lowest in pearl millet (1.97). Starch% of NSC, ranged from 89.80% (wheat) to 99.43% (pearl millet). DE (Mcal/kg) varied from 3.17 (pearl millet) to 3.88 (maize). H owever, the NSC (%DM) was highest in wheat (70.17%) and l owest oats (52.78%). CP% DM varied from 24.36% (sweet potato) to 9.46% (barley). NDICP% of CP ranged from 4.16% (wheat) to 15.72% (maize). ADICP% of CP ranged from 2.05% (wheat) to 6.88% (pearl millet). SOLP % of CP was hig hest in oats (53.03), whereas lowest was in maize (13.88%). However, NPN% of SOLP was maximum in pearl millet grain (98.39%) and minimum in oats grain (20.94). In vitro true dry matter digestibility (%) was highest in sweet potato (83.94%) followed by pearl millet (83.23%), wheat grain (82.04%) and lowest in oats grain (70.44%). IVOMD followed the similar pattern as in IVDMD (%). CH4 production (g/ kg DM incubated) ranged from 6.30 (oats grain) to 12.6 (wheat). Highest methane production (g/kg TDMD and g/kg TOMD) was observed in wheat grain (14.54 and 15.30) and lowest in oats grain (10.10 and 10.62). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypertension affects approximately 60 million people in the United States. Recent studies have demonstrated that hypertension may produce progressive changes in the CNS. The present study is focused on reports in the literature that hypertension may significantly alter neurotransmitter systems, particularly dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE). To address this, DA and norepinephrine (NE) receptor binding was assessed in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of 15 male rhesus monkeys using on-the-slide in vitro assays for the DA1, NE α1 and NE α2 receptors as well as for the DA and NE uptake transporters. Eight monkeys underwent surgical coarctation of the mid-thoracic aorta which produced sustained, untreated hypertension as defined by a systolic pressure above 150 mm Hg. Compared with normotensive controls, chronic, untreated hypertension produced a significant decrease in DA1 and NE α1 receptor binding and an increase in DA uptake (DAU) receptor binding in the prefrontal cortex. While the mechanisms by which untreated hypertension alters DA and NE receptors is not known, the use of this non-human primate model should provide the means to uncover neurobiological changes that occur with untreated hypertension. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Keeping horses in mind, six legume and two non legume fodders were evaluated on the basis of CNCPS. The total CHO (%DM) was highest in berseem, moth and groundnut haulm (64.09, 69.1 and 66.81, respectively). CA fraction was highest in mustard (37.42%) and lowest fractions of CB1 and CB2 were found in cowpea straw (6.18%) and mustard (10.59%), whereas, highest fractions of both were found in lucerne (20.96% and 33.29%). The CHO (%DM) of non-legumes ranged from 73.44% (oats) to 70.58% (maize). CB1 fractions (%CHO) ranged from 17.30% (oats) to 22.73% (maize). CB2 fraction (%CHO) ranged from 53.60% in maize to 60.07% (oats). Fraction PA (%CP) was highest in lucerne, groundnut and mustard (17.75, 15.11 and 16.98, respectively) and lowest factions PB2 was found in moth bean straw and groundnut, respectively. PB3 fractions (%CP) were maximum in groundnut haulm (31.80%) and minimum in mustard fodder and lucerne. The PC fraction (%CP) ranged from 8.73% in berseem to 15.21% in groundnut haulm. The PA fraction (%CP) was maximum in maize (25.32%) and minimum in oats (14.19%). The fraction PB1 (%CP) ranged from 7.30% in maize to 25.92% in oats. The PB3 fraction (%CP) was highest in maize (13.09%) and lowest in oats (10.39) and lucerne (15.05 %). The PC fraction (%CP) ranged from 11.12 in oats to 15.47% in maize. In the present study, lucerne can be regarded as superior, as it has higher CP and bypass protein content and lower unavailable protein fraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was compare the gas production and digestibility of ten forages, using rumen liquor and equine faecal liquor as the inoculum sources. The forages were lucerne, sewan hay, hedge lucerne, para grass, moth bean fodder, heteropogon, setaria grass, sugarcane tops, groundnut haulm and paddy straw. The forages were first pretreated with pepsin and amylase for 2 hr and 4 hr, respectively before incubating with equine faecal liquor for 48 hr, while the rumen liquor was directly inoculated with forages for 48 hr. The lowest IVDMD% and IVOMD% for both the species were found in case of paddy straw. The highest amount of net gas production (mM/0.2gDM) was observed in groundnut haulm by the rumen liquor, whereas lucerne produced highest net gas by equine faecal liquor and lowest net gas was recorded in hedge lucerne for both the species. Methane produced as percentage of total gas was highest in hedge lucerne in cattle, whereas lucerne produced highest methane in horses. Methane produced (g/kg DM digested) by the rumen liquor inoculation was found to be highest in lucerne and lowest was observed in moth bean straw, whereas, sugarcane tops produced the highest methane and lowest in hedge lucerne by the equine faecal liquor inoculation. The trial revealed that equines can digest low fibrous forages at par with cattle, while high fibrous forages with 90% efficiency of cattle. Moreover, the methane productions by the horses are about 1/ 3rd of that of cattle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]