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Ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) are toxic N-glycosidases that depurinate eukaryotic and prokaryotic rRNAs and thus interrupt protein synthesis during translation. In the present study, a protein of around 32 kDa, supposedly a RIP isolated from Trichosanthes dioica, was assessed for its potential to induce apoptosis in HeLa cells. Cell viability assay was done to measure cell proliferation and survivability. It was observed that cells viability decreased with the increase of decrease in dilution, i.e. when the sample was an undiluted one, the viability decreased drastically and almost came to less than 10%. To further check whether the isolated RIP could induce apoptosis, HeLa cells were treated with the test RIP. Immunoblotting was carried out using PARP poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP-1), a 113 kDa nuclear enzyme, which is considered a hallmark of cells undergoing apoptosis. HeLa cells were further analyzed for loss of mitochondrial membrane potential with JC-1 dye, which is an early event during apoptosis. Increased PARP breakdown in the RIP treated cells indicates that cells undergoing apoptosis and progressive loss of red J-aggregate fluorescence indicate that the isolated RIP from Trichosanthes dioica induces apoptosis in HeLa cells. The ability of apoptosis induction is comparable to another known RIP from Momordica charantia, which was used as a positive control. Promising results from the present study warrants the isolated RIP to be further explored for anticancer activities.

Worldwide and in India, malaria elimination efforts are being ramped up to eradicate the disease by 2030. Malaria elimination efforts in North-East (NE) India will have a great bearing on the overall efforts to eradicate malaria in the rest of India. The first cases of chloroquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine resistance were reported in NE India, and the source of these drug resistant parasites are most likely from South East Asia (SEA). NE India is the only land route through which the parasites from SEA can enter the Indian mainland. India’s malaria drug policy had to be constantly updated due to the emergence of drug resistant parasites in NE India. Malaria is highly endemic in many parts of NE India, and Plasmodium falciparum is responsible for the majority of the cases. Highly efficient primary vectors and emerging secondary vectors complicate malaria elimination efforts in NE India. Many of the high transmission zones in NE India are tribal belts, and are difficult to access. The review details the malaria epidemiology in seven NE Indian states from 2008 to 2018. In addition, the origin and evolution of resistance to major anti-malarials are discussed. Furthermore, the bionomics of primary vectors and emergence of secondary malaria vectors, and possible strategies to prevent and control malaria in NE are outlined.

Globally, various estimates are available on the above-ground (plant parts) carbon (C) sequestering potential of agroforestry systems (AFSs). However, information on soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration potential is limited for AFSs. Furthermore, the impacts of AFSs established for the restoration of C in degraded soils (prone to soil erosion, C and nutrients loss, etc.) of Himalayas are rarely investigated. Thus, a study was conducted on an agroforestry block established in 1989 at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Research Complex for North Eastern Hill (NEH) Region, Lembucherra, Tripura, India. The AFSs comprised of four multipurpose tree species viz., teak (Tectona grandis Linn), sissoo (Dalbergia sissoo Roxb. Ex DC.), eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus L.), and neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) in combination with pineapple (Ananas comosus L. merr.). Planted in three times replicated randomized block design. After 28 years of establishment, the impacts of these AFSs were assessed on SOC stocks and its fraction pools. Results revealed that sissoo + pineapple system stored the highest SOC stocks in 0–15 cm (22.1 ± 1.4 Mg/ha) and 30–60 cm (18.0 ± 4.3 Mg/ha) depths, whereas the SOC stocks in 15–30 cm (12.2 ± 1.2 Mg/ha) and 0–30 cm (34.0 ± 1.6 Mg/ha) were the highest under teak + pineapple. When considering the entire 0–100 cm soil profile, the SOC stocks ranged between 65.3 and 71.6 Mg/ha across the diverse AFSs which was significantly higher than that under cultivated land (52.8 ± 2.6 Mg/ha). The sissoo + pineapple system had the highest SOC stock in 0–100 cm (71.6 ± 5.8 Mg/ha). The share of passive carbon (PC, less labile + non-labile) pools to SOC stocks under AFSs followed the order of sissoo + pineapple > teak + pineapple > neem + pineapple > eucalyptus + pineapple. The PC or recalcitrant pools of SOC stocks at 0–100 cm were 54.2–60.6% under various AFSs. Results revealed that the establishment of AFSs with pineapple on degraded lands increased a significant amount of C and had a considerable effect on soil quality in comparison to C present in soils under cropland. Thus, a large scale adoption of AFSs may restore C lost through the cultivation of the crop in degraded lands and provide a feasible option for livelihood through concurrent cultivation of multipurpose tree species and agri-horticulture crops.

Aim: This study was carried out to investigate the effect of incorporation of different level of walnut cake in concentrate mixture on in vitro dry matter degradation in order to determine its level of supplementation in ruminant ration. Materials and Methods: Walnut cake was used @ 0, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30% level to formulate an iso-nitrogenous concentrate mixtures and designated as T1, T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6 respectively. The different formulae of concentrate mixtures were used for in vitro gas production studies using goat rumen liquor with wheat straw in 40:60 ratio. Proximate composition, fiber fractionation and calcium and phosphrous content of walnut cake were estimated. Result: The per cent IVDMD value of T1 and T2 diets was 68.42 ± 1.20 and 67.25 ± 1.37 respectively which was found highest (P

This study was conducted to examine the effect of replacing concentrate mixture with leaf meal mixture of Leucaena leucocephala – Melia azedarach – Morus alba in equal proportion on growth, nutrient utilization, blood and rumen metabolites in growing goats using completely randomized design. Twelve male non-descript goats were divided into two groups, control and experimental, consisting of six animals in each group. The control group was fed concentrate mixture whereas in experimental group 50% of concentrate mixture was replaced with isonitrogenous leaf meal mixture. The duration of experimental feeding was 45 days. Weekly body weights were recorded to assess growth rate of goats. After 30 days of experimental feeding a metabolism trial of 6 days duration was conducted to determine digestibility of nutrients and nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus balance. Blood samples were collected at 0, 7, 14, 21, 30 and 45 days of experimental feeding to study blood metabolites. Rumen liquor was also collected at 0 and 30 days to study rumen metabolites. The average daily gain (g) of control group (51.56) and experimental group (62.22) was statistically ( P > 0.05) similar. The goat of control and experimental group had statistically ( P > 0.05) similar intake (g/kg W 0.75 /day) of dry matter (60.70 vs 64.64), concentrate mixture (40.16 vs 41.60) and wheat straw (20.53 vs 23.05), respectively. The digestibility (%) of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein and ether extract was significantly ( P P P > 0.05) effect of collection period and diet composition on the blood biochemical metabolites (hemoglobin, glucose, total protein, albumin, globulin and urea nitrogen) of goats. The pH of rumen fluid at 0 and 30 days of experimental feeding was 6.60, 6.60 for control group and 6.69, 6.33 for experimental group of goats. There was no significant difference ( P > 0.05) in nitrogenous fractions (mg/dl) (ammonia nitrogen (19.27 vs 19.30), total nitrogen (101.52 vs 100.14), TCA-ppt nitrogen (50.24 vs 48.84) and non-protein nitrogen (50.06 vs 51.12) of rumen fluid collected at 30 days of experimental feeding of control and treatment group of goats, respectively. From present study it can be concluded that Leucaena – Melia – Morus mixture can replace 50% of concentrate mixture in the ration of growing goats without any adverse effect on growth, nutrient utilization, blood metabolites and rumen fermentation parameters.

The long-lasting insecticidal nets are ready-to-use, pretreated nets, which do not require retreatment for 4-5 years. Olyset nets that are made of high-density polyethylene monofilament yarn with 2% w/w permethrin incorporated (corresponding to 1 g/m(2)) are type-2 in which insecticide is incorporated into the polymers and are wash resistant. In these, insecticide migrates to the surface of the netting fiber to be bioavailable against mosquitoes and other insect pests. STUDY SITE AND OBJECTIVES: The present study was a village scale, field-based trial that was conducted in Plasmodium falciparum predominant area of Assam to assess feasibility, acceptability, and sustainability of this intervention against vector populations and disease transmission. We here report the research findings of Olyset net as an intervention against Anopheles minimus-transmitted malaria in foothill area of Assam for the first year of observations beginning July 2005 till June 2006.An. minimus, the mosquito vector species, was observed to be fully susceptible to permethrin. Follow-up investigations revealed that An. minimus mosquitoes had virtually disappeared in Olyset net villages, which was corroborated by data on human bait mosquito-landing catches. There was a consistent decline in the malarial incidence in Olyset net intervention villages, and the overall impact on the malarial transmission was significant compared to untreated net and no-net control villages for the corresponding study period. The bioavailability of insecticide on Olyset netting fiber was consistent (100% kill effect) up to 10 months of monitoring, and was observed to be wash resistant even after the 20th wash at fortnightly intervals.The Olyset nets were safe to use, wash resistant, and assessed to be operationally feasible, community-based intervention for sustainable management of disease vectors against malaria. Community compliance and acceptance was high, and users reported decreased nuisance due to biting mosquitoes.

Six total mixed rations (TMR) containing 0, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12% tannin (TMR I-VI), using Accacia nilotica pods as a source of tannin, were used to study the effect of Acacia tannin on in vitro nutrient digestibility and gas production in goats. This study also investigated the degraded products of Acacia nilotica tannin in goat rumen liquor. Degraded products of tannins were identified using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) at different hours of incubation. In vitro digestibility of dry matter (IVDMD) and organic matter (IVOMD) were similar in TMR II, and I, but declined (p 0.05) during 24-48 h of incubation. Gallic acid, phloroglucinol, resorcinol and catechin were identified at different hours of incubation. Phloroglucinol and catechin were the major end products of tannin degradation while gallate and resorcinol were produced in traces. It is inferred that in vitro nutrient digestibility was reduced by metabolites of Acacia nilotica tannins and ruminal microbes of goat were capable of withstanding up to 4% tannin of Acacia nilotica pods in the TMR without affecting in vitro nutrient digestibility.

Curry products are ethnic spicy Indian food products prepared with meat, vegetables, spices, condiments etc. Different curry products prepared from pork, traditionally in Assam state of North Eastern India have been documented in this study. Formulation and procedure followed for preparation of five pork curry products viz., pork - thekera tenga curry, pork - fermented bamboo shoot curry, pork - elephant apple curry, pork - banana flower curry and pork - banana stem curry was gathered by undertaking survey and interacting with local processors of the region. These products were analyzed for standard quality parameters like physicochemical characteristics, microbiological quality and sensory acceptability. Storage stability of the products under aerobic refrigeration (4±1 oC) was also evaluated. Products were stable up to 20 days of storage under aerobic refrigeration condition. The study revealed that ingredients used in curry preparation like thekera tenga, fermented bamboo shoot and elephant apple contribute significantly to sensory attributes and also help in enhancing storage stability of the pork curry products.

Twelve crossbred (Hampshire × Ghungroo) grower pigs (about 3.5 months, 19.31±0.10 kg BW) of either sex were divided into 2 groups of six each in a randomized block design to study the effect of supplementation of Azolla (Azolla carolini) meal on production performance of crossbred pigs. The trial was conducted in two phases i.e. grower stage from 3–5 months of age and finisher stage from 5–8 months of age of the pigs. The treatment groups were T1G (control) and T2G (2% Azolla) in grower stage and T1F (control) and T2F (2% Azolla) in finisher stage. All the diets were iso-nitrogenous and iso caloric. The growth rate and feed conversion ratio, digestibility of nutrients and cost of production were similar in both the groups in two phases.

In the Indian state of Assam, the current therapeutic efficacies of the drugs commonly used in the area for the treatment of uncomplicated, Plasmodium falciparum malaria were investigated. As is routine in this area, subjects found positive for P. falciparum malaria were initially treated with chloroquine (CQ). They were given sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) if this treatment failed, and subsequently quinine if the SP failed. The protocol of the World Health Organization's extended in-vivo test was used to follow parasite clearance and clinical cure. Therapeutic response was assessed by comparing the baseline (day-0) level of parasitaemia with that observed on day 3. Many (75.7%) of the 144 evaluable subjects were treatment successes after CQ, but six early (4.2%) and 29 (20.1%) late CQ-treatment failures were observed. Of the 34 CQ-treatment failures followed, 31 (91.2%) responded adequately to SP but the other three were early (one) or late (two) SP-treatment failures. Two (66.7%) of the SP-treatment failures responded adequately to parenteral quinine but the other (a late quinine-treatment failure) had to be given an artemisinin derivative to achieve a clinical cure. The foci in which multidrug-resistant cases of malaria are developing in India need to be identified quickly, so that such cases can be cured before the mutant strains of P. falciparum that are resistant to several drugs have a chance to become more widespread.

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of replacement of wheat straw by different levels of maize cobs in composite ration on in vitro degradation of dry matter, truly digestible organic matter and production of microbial biomass in order to determine its level of supplementation in ruminant ration. Wheat straw was replaced by maize cobs @ 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 100% level to formulate composite rations. The different formulae of composite rations were used for in vitro gas production studies using goat rumen liquor with wheat straw. In physical treatment only soaking was done while under chemical treatment application of urea, molasses and combination of both urea and molasses were applied before conducting in vitro studies using goat rumen liquor. Proximate composition, fiber fractionation and calcium and phosphrous content of all the composite rations were estimated. The in vitro degradability of maize cobs based diets is better than wheat straw based composite ration. There was no significant (P>0.05) improvement in per cent IVDMD of maize cob based diet by water soaking irrespective of the soaking period, however, a significant (P