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Pearl millet is an important staple food crop of poor people which is rich in micronutrients like iron and zinc and amenable for focused breeding for these micronutrients along with high yield. Transcriptome sequencing using ION S5 Next Generation Sequencer generated 43.5 million sequence reads resulting in 83,721 transcripts with N50 of 597 bp and 84.35% of transcripts matched with the pearl millet genome assembly. The genotypes having high Fe and Zn showed differential gene expression during different stages. Of which, 155 were up-regulated and 251were down-regulated while during flowering stage and milking stage 349 and 378 transcripts were differentially expressed, respectively. Gene annotation and GO term showed the presence of transcripts involved in metabolic activities associated with uptake and transport of iron and zinc. In the present study, the 83,721 transcripts were also examined for identification of SSRs. A total of 4,327 SSRs were identified with dominance of tri-nucleotide SSRs in comparison to di-nucleotide SSRs. These EST-SSRs can be used in molecular breeding, genetic diversity analysis and determination of heterozygosity of the allelic loci. Information generated will help in gaining insights into iron and zinc metabolism and develop genotypes with high yield, grain iron and zinc content.

A series of sulpha/substituted derivatives of phenyl azo-1,2-diazole have been synthesized and tested as an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial activity in mature albino rats hind paw by taking Diclofenac sodium as standard. N1-(4-hydroxy benzoyl)-3-methyl-5-phenyl-4(N-4-chlorophenylazo)-1,2-diazole is synthesized by a two-step process. In the first step, synthesis of N1-4-chlorophenyl hydrazono-1-methyl-3-phenyl propane-1,3-dione by the reciprocal action of 1-methyl-5-phenylpropane-1,3-dione and diazonium salt solution of phenyl-chloride interacts with 4-hydroxybenzoic acid hydrazide to form the final compound. These diazoles, the heterocyclic compounds which contained electron withdrawing groups, were screened for analgesic activity by acetic acid induced writing method, and for anti-inflammatory activity carried on carrageenan-induced paw edema. The synthesized substituted Chlorophenylazo-1,2-diazole nucleus exhibited significant anti-bacterial, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory activity, muscle relaxing and moderate activity in anti-proliferative studies.

The complex K[RuIII(HEDTA)Cl].H2O1 and [(HEDTA) Ruv = O]2 were prepared and characterised by elemental analysis, IR, UV-Vis spectroscopy, conductivity, magnetic susceptibility and electrochemical studies (HEDTA-hydroxyethyl-ethylenediaminetriacetate anion). The kinetics of oxygen atom transfer of [RuIII(HEDTA) (H2O)]1a to [(HEDTA) Ruv = O]2 with iodosoylbenzene was studied spectrophotometrically by using stopped-flow technique. The oxygen atom transfer from complex2 to cyclohexene, cyclooctene, styrene,cis andtrans-stilbene was studied by the disappearance of the characteristic oxo peak (λmax = 391 nm) at constant pH (3.0) and ionic strength (μ= 0.1 M NaClO4) and also product analysis by gas chromatography (GC). The activation parameters for both the oxygenation of complex1 to complex2, and oxygen atom transfer from complex2 to the organic substrates studied were evaluated and suitable mechanisms proposed.

Biodiesel, or alkyl ester, is an alternative renewable, biodegradable, and non-toxic diesel fuel produced by the catalytic transesterification of vegetable oil. Here we characterize a system for continuous transesterification of vegetable oil using five continuous stirring tank reactors (5CSTRs). We tested residence times of 16–43min, stirring speeds of 200–800rpm, a catalyst concentration (KOH) of 0.25–1 wt% of oil (in gram), different total flow rates of the oil and MeOH, and on the production performance of the 5 stage continuous reactor for transesterification of vegetable oil. Using a molar ratio of oil:methanol of 1:7 and a reaction temperature of 65 °C, we show that a high stirring speed increased the reaction rate, but an excessive stir speed decreased the reaction rate and conversion to biodiesel. Furthermore, a higher catalyst percentage significantly increased the reaction rate and production capacity. A catalyst percentage of 1 wt% of oil gave the best conversion; 99.04 ± 0.05%. The resulting biodiesel esters were characterized for their physical and fuel properties including density, viscosity, iodine volume, acid volume, cloud point, pure point, gross heat of combustion, and volatility. The purity and conversion of the biodiesel was analyzed by HPLC.