017633   Patel M (Criminology and Foreign Science Dep, Dr. H.S. Gour Univ, Sagar, M.P.) : The elderly victim. Indian J Gerontol 2005, 19(1), 71-6.

Neglecting the elders is one of the maladies, which appeals to be recurrent in almost every society. However, as with other family problems, abuse of elders is difficult to study because of it being sensitive. In the random sample survey of elder abuse and neglect, interviews were conducted with 317 community-dwelling elderly persons in Sagar district of the Madhya Pradesh, regarding their experience of physical-abuse, material-abuse, psychological-abuse and neglect. The existence of this practice is reflected in the response pattern of 39.4 per cent of the elders. Further, elderly from rural areas tend to suffers more severe physical abuse than their counterparts in urban areas. Helpless as tey are, dependency is observed to be the prime cause of abuse. Of course, the data suggest that greater the disability suffered by the elderly, greater would be the perception of abuse. Hence there are implications for preventive programs.

3 tables, 21 ref

017632   Mewa Singh;Kaumanns W (Biopsychology Lab Psychology Dep, Univ of Mysore, Mysore-570 006, Email: mewasingh@sancharnet.com) : Behavioural studies: a necessity for wildlife management. Curr Sci 2005, 89(7), 1230-6.

Major concern of behavioural biology has been the study of evolutionary causative processes in animal behaviour, typically focusing on individuals or social groups. Conservation biology, on the other hand, deals with devising tools for the management of wildlife habitats and populations, and typically focuses on ecosystems. It has been argued that behavioural studies of individual animals in the appropriate social contexts are necdessary for, and integral to, the development of effective management plans for any species. The results have been used from the studies on lion-tailed macaques from wild habitats in the Western Ghats, and from captive populations in Europe, to demonstrate how information on behaviour and life-history can be incorporated into improved strategies for wildlife management. It has been explicitly concluded that one of the major goals of wildlife management should be to create conditions that facilitate the expression of the full range of behavioural patterns in the species being managed, so as to increase the likelihood of population stabilization through the optimization of life-history parameters.

36 ref

017631   Martin L D;Lim J D (Mus of Nat Hist and Dep of Ecology and Evolutionary Biol, Univ of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA, Email: jongdeock@yahoo.com) : Soft body impression of the hand in Archaeopteryx. Curr Sci 2005, 89(7), 1089-90.

2 illus, 7 ref

017630   Mallya I;Dave P;Sharma D; (Hum Dev and Family Stud Dep Fac of Sci, M.S. Univ, Baroda, Gujarat) : Journey through life: reminiscences of older people from rural Gujarat, India. Indian J Gerontol 2005, 19(1), 61-8.

The paper is a part of a major case study of five villages in Kheda- Anand district of Gujarat, India. It presents a review of life experiences by older persons aged between 55 to 80 years. Their reminiscing includes amor events during their life course, depicting births, marriages, deaths, major trauma, life satisfactions and concept of old age. Feelings about life events and the future are also expressed. Oral histories were used to collect data wherein women foun it quite difficult to recall past experiences as compared to men who were very eloquent. Analysis showed that the elders elders had achieved a sense of tranquility and ego integrity. They had come to terms with their lives and , did not face any despair, despite their earlier struggles in life. Thus, the last stage of Erikson's psychosocial theory namely, Ego Integrity versus Despair received affirmation. However, an underlying pathos of widowhood may be linked to pessimism and `helpless' resignation to worries and concerns as compared to married elderss. A surprising discovery was the shifting roles of elders.

^iia1 table, 7 ref

017629   Mallapur A (Congnition and Consciousness Unit, Natn Inst of Advd Stud, Indian Institute of Science Campus, Bangalore-560 012, Email: avantim@yahoo.com) : Managing primates in zoos: lessons from animal behaviour. Curr Sci 2005, 89(7), 1214-19.

Use of animal behaviour in primate husbandry and management is discussed through two studies conducted on non-human primates in Indian zoos. Abnormal behaviours such as begging from humans, floating limb, self-biting and stereotypic pacing were observed only in omnivorous primates in these two studies. The factors influencing the exhibition of abnormal behaviours were identified to be group composition and size, enclosure design and rearing history. Methods to reduce and increase proportions of behaviour pathologies and natural behaviours, respectively, have been suggested, The behaviour of captive non-human primates differs vastly from their free-ranging counter-parts. This difference is primarily because captive environments lack appropriate environmental and social stimuli, which often leads to the development of bizarre behavioural patterns unique to captive animals, technically referred to as `abnormal behaviours'. In this paper, presence of abnormal behaviours in the behavioural repertoire of a captive primate is used to demonstrate the need for animal behaviour studies to be included in the management strategies towards improved primate husbandry in Inidian zoos.

2 illus, 2 tables, 29 ref

017628   Malhotra N;Pushpa Devi (Bio-Sciences Dep, Himachal Pradesh Univ, Shimla-171 005) : Radioprotective influence of vitamin E on energy generating enzymes in prepubertal and mature rat testis. Indian J Gerontol 2005, 19(1), 1-10.

Radioprotective influence of vitamin E has been assessed in testis of 35 day old and 120 day old albino rats exsposed to 3.0 Gy and 5.0 Gy whole-body gamma radiation. The investigation was made for a maximum period of 8 days postirradiation with or without vitaminn E (1 mg/g body weight) pretreatment. The alterations in the activities of the adenosine triphosphatase, succinate dehydrogenase and lactate dehydrogenase enzymes were studied and was found to be less pronounced in the testis of vitamin treated irradiated rats. Vitamin E pretreatment helps maintain the enzyme systems in the irradiated testis to a certain extent and helps reduce the radiation damage.

6 tables, 14 ref

017627   Kunnil J;Sarasanandarajah S;Chacko E;Swartz B;Reinisch L (Phys and Astr Dep, Univ of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand) : Clustering of biological pathogens using principal components analysis (PCA) of fluorescence data. Sci Soc 2005, 3(1), 53-68.

Fluorescence is a valuable tool in probing different materials. Many techniques have already been suggested for analysing the high-dimensional fluorescence data sets of microorganisms. Reports some works on the high art of data analysis such as principal components analysis (PCA) and cluster analaysis and its graphical representation and validation/description. The steady state fluorescence spectra of large number of biological pathogens were measured using spectrofluorometer. The 2D fingerprint offers some preliminary information for identification of species. The principal components analysis and cluster classification were carried out using the R System. The reason for PAM partitions is to simplify interpretation of results of clustering.

6 illus, 5 tables, 28 ref

017626   Joshi A (Evolutionary Biol Lab Evolutionary and Organismal Biol Unit Jawaharlal, , Jakur, P.O. Bangalore-560 064, Email: ajoshi@jncasr.ac.in) : Behaviour genetics in the post-genomics era: from genes to behaviour and vice versa. Curr Sci 2005, 89(7), 1128-35.

Approaches to understanding behaviour in an evolutionary context can be grouped into two broad categories: behaviour genetics and behavioural ecology. The development of these two fields to highlight some serious shortcomings in their focus and/or approach to understanding behaviour has been discussed. These shortcomings have been pointed out by numerous researchers before, but it seems to be an opportune time to revisit this issue because present day methods are making it increasingly likely that some of these gaps in the understanding of behaviour can now be addressed experimentally. Early behaviour genetics essentially led to neurogenetics due to its focus on single-gene mutations affecting behaviour, which were often mutations affecting the nervous system. This line of work, consequently, diverged considerably from the study of behaviour per se and, although it contributed a great deal to the understanding of how the components of the nervous system work, it did not really shed much light on behaviour at the organismal level. More recent approaches in behaviour genetics include quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping, which is an attempt to go beyond the black box approach of classical quantitative genetics and to track down loci mediating behavioural difference among individuals. Behavioural ecology provided a counter point to traditional behaviour genetics by explicitly focusing on ultimate causes, and trying to understand behaviour in terms of its adaptive (fitness) value.

2 illus, 62 ref

017625   Jog M;Watve M (Microbiol Dep, Abasaheb Garware Coll, Karve Road, Pune-411 004, Email: watve@vsnl.com) : Role of parasites and commensals in shaping host behaviour. Curr Sci 2005, 89(7), 1184-91.

Role of parasites in shaping host ecology and behavior is increasingly being recognized over the past three decades. However, one is yet far from understanding all possible consequences of parasite-induced and parasite-selected host behaviour. An attempt has been made to classify parasite-selected and parasite induced behaviours into eco-epidemiological and evolutionary adaptations. Speculation has been made on many as yet unexplored possibilities of parasite selected behaviour.

65 ref

017624   Isvaran K (Large Anim Res Grp Zool Dep, Univ of Camb, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UK) : Variation in male mating behaviour within ungulate populations: patterns and processes. Curr Sci 2005, 89(7), 1192-9.

Intraspecific variation in male mating behaviour is wide spread in ungulates. Such variation is particularly dramatic when it takes distinct forms, and these discrete behavioural patterns are called alternative tactics. Alternative male mating tactics in ungulates include female-defence, resource-defence, and lekking. Patterns and processes in variation in male mating tactics within (as separate from between) ungulate populations have been reviewed. Across ungulates, the greatest diversity of mating tactics typically shown by lekking populations. Males rarely show irreversible patterns, but often switch between two or more mating tactics, Overall, variation in mating tactics is most likely maintained as a conditional strategy influenced by multiple internal factors (especially age, health, body size) and external factors (particularly density at small, local scales). Much work remains to be done on the costs and benefits associated with different tactics, proximate mechanisms, the role of frequency-dependent selction, and the evolution of female mating behaviour.

2 illus, 2 tables, 59 ref

017623   Indrayan A K;Sharma S;Durgapal D;Neeraj Kumar;Manoj Kumar (Nat Products Lab Chem Dep, Kurukula Kangri Univ, Hardwar-249 404, Email: akindray@sancharnet.in) : Determination of nutritive value and analysis of mineral elements for some medicinally valued plants from Uttaranchal. Curr Sci 2005, 89(7), 1252-5.

Study of different medicinally valued seeds of Nelumbo nucifera, Embelia ribes, Eugenia jambolana and leaves of Artocarpus heterophyllus showed Cr, K, Ca, Cu, Zn and Mn to be sufficient in seeds of N. nucifera which also have good nutritive value and are quite rich in carbohydrates accompanied by enough protein, but are low in fat. E. ribes seeds have even a higher nutritive value with high carbohydrate, enough mineral elements but low protein. Rich in Mg and moderate in protein, the E. jambolana seeds have a moderate nutritive value. A. heterophyllus leaves are not rich in desired mineral elements except Na, and have a low nutrition value. However, on a dry matter basis they too have a high nutritive value and are used as fodder for livestock.

1 illus, 2 tables, 42 ref

017622   Indira Devi K (Microbiol Med Coll Dep, , Kozhikode, Kerala) : Dengue. J Acad clin Microbiol 2005, 7(2), 73-81.

The disease is caused by four antigenically related viruses (DEN serotypes 1-4) which belong to the flaviviridae family.

^iia40 ref

017621   Gupta R C;Vaish S S;Singh R K;Singh N K;Singh K P (Dep of Mycol and Pl Path, Inst of Agric Sci Banaras Hindu Univ, Varanasi-221 005) : Effect of temperature, pH and sub-culturing on virulence of Catenaria anguillulae Sorokin. Curr Nematol 2004, 15(1-2), 101-8.

Effect of pH and temperature on growth and pathogenicity and that of subculturings on virulence of Catenaria anguillulae was studied. Observations clearly revealed that the isolates differed in their temperature requirements. Two isolates; VF and GA were found to grow best at 40°, while PA, KA, CHP, KO, MA and SWP grew best at 35°C. The other isolates (KP and MMT) showed their best growth at 30°. None of the isolates grew at 45±1°C and 10 ± 1°C. Studies on growth of all the isolates at different pH indicated that all the isolates of C. anguillulae grew at wide range of pH. Most of the isolates showed best growth at 7.0 pH, whereas some isolates showed similar growth at pH 6.0 or 8.0. Effect of different temperatures on pathogenicity was also made using only three isolates viz., VF, KP and MA against Xiphinema basiri. VF isolate caused maximum infection at 40°C, whereas KP and MA isolates caused maximum infection at 30°C. Observation on effect of different pH on pathogenicity of VF isolate against X. basiri recorded maximum infection at pH 7.0 followed by at pH 6.0 and 8.0, however, infection of nematodes occurred at pH ranging between 5-9. Virulence of all the isolates was tested against X. basiri after 1,15 and 60 subculturings. The virulence of the isolates decreased with increase in number of subculturings. Two isolates : VF and KP were found to be relatively more stable in virulence.

5 tables, 18 ref

017620   Gupta A;Narahari Sastry G (Molec Modeling Grp Organic Chem Sci, Indian Inst of Chem Technol, Hyderabad-500 007) : Bioinformatics<. Sci Soc 2005, 3(1), 29-36.

A brief historical background of given followed by an overview on how the field is emerging as one of the hottest topics in contemporary science. The various tools being employed, their potential applications to wide ranging problems and future perspectives are also discussed.

^iia1 illus, 4 ref

017619   Devi P;Chopra S;Arora U (Microbiol Govt Med Coll Dep, , Amritsar, Punjab) : Actinomycotic subphrenic abscess. J Acad clin Microbiol 2005, 7(2), 87-9.

A case of subphrenic abscess due to Actinomycess spp is reported. The organism was identified from the pus obtained from the draining sinus. The patient responded well to antibiotic therapy.

^ccr3 illus, 2 ref

017618   Cairns J (Biological Sciences Dep, Virginia Polytechinic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia-24061, U.S.A) : Transitions: speculative futures for homo sapiens. Sci Soc 2005, 3(2), 5-10.

11 ref

017617   Bhave N;Subhedar B J;Deshpande V R (NO, Narcaoad Physiotherapy Inst and Res Cent, Nagpur) : Assessing quality of lie in people over eighty years. Indian J Gerontol 2005, 19(1), 47-60.

Research was undertaken to study the qualaity of life (QOL) of oldest ole (above 80 yrs.). To avoid extraneous and diverse factors group of old selected had ethnically and anthropologically a common descent. Study was conducted in a planned phase. Number of parameters were looked in to, which suggested the QOL. In objective study demography, physical and mental well being, cultural impact, food and family interactions and fiscal standings were investigated. Subjective study was by was of interrogations. It was observed that in middle class families, QOL of elderly is satisfactory on an objective scale. However subjective study did not yield a satisfactory picture. In condlusion, authors found that objective and subjective study of QOL can be at variance. Moreover no firm definition of QOL can be outlined.

6 illus, 7 ref

017616   Balakrishnan R (Cent for Ecological Sci, Indian Inst of Sci, Bangalore-560 012, Email: rohini@ces.iisc.ernet.in) : Neurobiology and behaviour: a network of connections. Curr Sci 2005, 89(7), 1147-65.

Neurobiology is intimately related to animal behaviour at several levels. Mechanistically, the nervous system is the substrate that produces behaviour in response to external and internal stimuli. The structures and physiological properties of neurons and circuits not only determine immediate behavioural responses but also serve to both constrain and enable the evolution of different kinds of signals, behaviours and community structures. These issues have been explored in this article using acoustically communicating orthopteran insects as examples.

13 illus, 71 ref

016581   Tambekar D H;Hirulkar N B;Waghmare A S (Post Grad Dep of Microbiol, Amravati Univ, Amravati-444 602) : Multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) indexing to discriminate the source of faecal contamination in drinking water. Nat Envir Pollut Technol 2005, 4(4), 525-8.

In the study thirty strains of Escherichia coli were isolated from drinking water and multiple antibiotic resistant profiles determined with 13 antibiotic. Multiple antibiotic resistant profiles indicate that 97% isolates were resistant to penicillin and metronidazole, 90% to clindamycin, 87% to vancomycin, 80% to cephoxithin and 77% to cephalothin, and their MAR indices were high as 0.074, 0.074, 0.069, 0.0667, 0.061 and 0.059 respectively. The results were consistent with other reports that the MAR indices of faecal Escherichia coli from nonhuman source remain low, while from human sources high.

1 illus, 2 tables, 11 ref

016580   Srinivasulu M;Rangaswamy V (Dep of Microbiol, Sri Krishnadevaraya Univ, Anantapur-515 003) : Activities dehydrigenase and protease in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) soil as influenced by fungicides tridemorph and captan. Nat Envir Pollut Technol 2005, 4(4), 555-60.

Two fungicides, tridemorph (systemic) and captan (nonsystemic) were assessed for their effects on the activities of dehydrogenase (in terms of tryphenylformazen formed from tryphenyltetrazolium chloride) and protease (tyrosine formed from casein) in soil, collected from a fallow groundnut field. The influence of the selected fungicides on enzyme activities was dose-dependent; the activities increased with increasing concentrations of the fungicides up to 2.5 kg ha^-1 and 5.0 kg ha^-1. Higher rates (7.5-10.0 kg ha^-1) of the fungicides were either innocuous or toxic to the enzyme activities. The significant stimulation in the activity of dehydrogenase was more at 2.5 kg ha^-1, whereas the activity of protease was significantly increased at 5.0 kg ha^-1, lasted up to 14 days and 30 days respectively. The results of the study clearly indicate that the fungicides, widely used in cultivation of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) at field application rates enhance the activities of dehydrogenase and protease in soil.

2 illus, 6 tables, 19 ref

016579   Sreenivas V;Aravindhan A;Murthy P S (Dep of Zool, Bangalore Univ, Bangalore-560 056) : Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in cardiac and body muscle of Gossogobius giuris after exposure to malathion. Nat Envir Pollut Technol 2005, 4(4), 487-90.

The effect of sublethal concentrations of malathion on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzyme in cardiac, red and white muscle tissues of Glossogobius giuris was studied after 24 to 96 hrs of exposure. The enzyme activity showed depletion in the tissues exposed to malathion for 24 hrs, and the effect was more pronounced in the cardiac muscle. However, the recovery of AChE activity was recorded during 48 to 96 hours of exposure.

1 illus, 1 table, 31 ref

016578   Singh T;Ajai Kumar (Genet and Molec Lab Zool Dep, Feroze Gandhi Coll, Raebareli, Email: ajaikumar_rbl2002@yahoo.com) : Malathion induced chromosomal abrerrations in bone marrow cells of Rattus norvegicus. J appl Biosci 2005, 31(2), 122-7.

Investigation deals with the potential clastogenecity/genotoxicityof the agricultural insecticide, malathion in bone marrow cells of Rattus norvegicus (2n = 42). The chromosomal aberrations were induced at three concentrations of the insecticide (250, 500 and 750 mg/kg body weight) treated for different durations (3, 5 and 7 days). The results were compared with control experiments. The induced chromosomal aberrations include chromosomal fragmentation, chromosomal gap, terminal chromosome deletion, ring chromosome, dicentric chromosome and terminal chromatid deletion. The percent cells depicting chromosomal aberrations increase lineraly with higher doses. The 7 days treatment data exhibited negative correlations with MI and AM suggesting significant genotoxic effect of malathion. Present results suggest the potential genotoxic effects of a common insecticide on non-target species such as mice.

2 illus, 2 tables, 17 ref

016577   Singh R B (Zool Dep, Sch of Life Sci Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Univ, Khandari Campus, Agra-282 002) : Water soluble polysaccharide from Peltophorum ferrugineum Benth. seed. Flora Fauna 2005, 11(1), 34-6.

Polysaccharides were isolated from Peltophorum ferrugineum Benth. seeds as mucilage, which yielded D-galactose and D-mannose in the molar ratio of 2:5 were determined by alkaline hypoiodite method. The obtained monosaccharides were identified by paper chromatography. The linkages are of b-type in D-galactopyranose and D-mannopyranose and α-type in D-mannopyranose units were confirmed by IR-spectroscopy.

2 tables, 29 ref

016576   Rawat A K;Srivastava R (NO, Advance Computer System, 529K/211, Pant Nagar Colony, Khurram Nagar, Lucknow-226 020) : Databases of Eukaryotic promoters. Flora Fauna 2005, 11(1), 77-80.

Eukaryotic Promoter databases, the purpose of which is to keep track of the experimental data that define transcription initiation sites of Eukaryotic genes and for complete annotation programmes and software packages of promoter prediction in the Eukaryotes.

3 tables, 14 ref

016575   Rathore V;Surendra Singh (Zool Dep, Sch of Life Sci Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Univ, Khandri Campus, Agra-282 002) : Evaluation of tissue glycogen due to toxicity of kinadon in the fish, Channa punctatus (Bloch). Flora Fauna 2005, 11(1), 37-8.

Toxicity of kindon in the liver of Channa punchtatus (Bloch) was studied. This experimental was performed at various intervals.

1 table, 6 ref

016574   Manjula K;Krishna Murthy K V M (Ent Dep, Agric Coll, Bapatla-522 101) : Effect of nutrient agar media on growth and sporulation of Nomuraea rileyi. Ann Pl Prot Sci 2005, 13(2), 486-7.

^ssc1 table, 3 ref

016573   Mahawar M;Jain A K;Puneet Kumar;Rawat A (Dep of Biochem, Indian Vet Res Inst, Izatnagar-243 122) : Haematological profile in bucks of semi-arid sub-tropical zone of India. Indian vet med J 2005, 29(2), 213-14.

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016572   Latha B S;Abirami S;Manoharan T;Anandapandian K T K (P.G. Unit of Microbiol, Thiagarajar Coll, Madurai-625 009) : Characterization and symbiotic importance of extracellular polysaccharide of Rhizobium isolated From Sesbania grandiflora nodules from various fields. Nat Envir Pollut Technol 2005, 4(4), 579-84.

An extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) producing five different Rhizobium isolates were isolated from the root nodules of Sesbania grandiflora collected from five different fields around Theni district anu named as SI, SII, SIII, SIV and SV. EPS was characterized by ultraviolet visible and infrared spectroscopy. Total carbohydrate concentration of EPS was determined by anthrone reaction test. EPS producing five different Rhizobiwn isolates were used as bioinoculant in seed treatment on Sesbania grandiflora plant. The seedling quality index was calculated and compared with the EPS production of five different Rhizobium strains which indicates the role of EPS in symbiosis between Rhizobium and the leguminous plant Sesbania grandiflora.

2 illus, 4 tables, 12 ref

016571   Khanna P;Tripathi N K;Sharma O P (Zool Dep, Univ of Jammu, Jammu-180 006, Email: pragyajmu2002@yahoo.co.in) : Genotoxic effect of lead nitrate on polytene chromosomes of Chironomus plumosus form B (Chironomidae: Diptera). J appl Biosci 2005, 31(2), 137-44.

Genotoxic effect of lead nitrate on the structural and functional organization of the polytene chromosomes of Chironomus plumosus Form B larvae was examined. There was a significantly high frequency of chromosome aberrations in chromosome arms AB, CD, EF, and G in the larvae exposed to lead nitrate compared to absence of chromosomal polymorphism in control larvae. Deletions in chromosome arm G occurred in high frequency, while heterozygous inversions and instances of asynapsis were recorded in the other three chromosome arms. These structural alterations in the chromosomes are interpreted as a reaction of the genome to the stressful rearing conditions.

3 illus, 1 table, 17 ref, 2 g

016570   Gore S N;Patil M P (Post Grad Teaching Dep of Biochem, Nagpur Univ, Nagpur-440 033) : Effect of alcoholic extracts of barks of Zizyphus jujuba, Ficus bengalensis and Ficus religiosa on intra uterine luminal proteins of rats. Indian vet med J 2005, 29(2), 117-21.

Serum proteins and some of uterine specific proteins present in the intra uterine fluid participate in different stages of reproductive cycle. In the present investigation attempts have been made to analyze changes induced by air-dried powders of alcoholic extracts of bark of Zizyphus jujuba, Ficus bengalensis and Ficus religiosa on proteins and enzymes of uterine fluid of the rat. Intrauterine proteins are known to be required for implantation and maintenance of pregnancy. Zizyphus jujuba and Ficus bengalensis extract treated rats showed decrease in concentration of some enzymes and proteins resulting in preimplantationary loss and the abortions were dose dependant.

1 illus, 2 tables, 11 ref

016569   Ebenezer P;Murugan M;Muthumary J (NO, Cent for Advd Stud in Bot Univ of Madras, Guindy Campus, Chennai-600 025, Email: mm_j@rediffmail.com) : Characterization of Pestalotiopsis spp: Comparative analysis of fatty acids. J Mycol Pl Pathol 2005, 35(2), 364-6.

Analysis of 23 fatty acids from three species of Pestalotiopsis, viz., P. guepini, P. theae and P. neglecta by gas chromatography revealed more or less same major and minor fatty acid profiles. However, distinct differences in the relative quantities of fatty acids. Some fatty acids were totally absent in all the three species whether they were grown in darkness or light. The findings show that fatty acid profiles of fungi could serve as a valuable tool in understanding the affinities among fungi.

1 table, 14 ref

016568   Begum J;Ahmed K (Dep of Bot, Nabajyoti Coll, Kalgachia, Assam) : Pathogenicity of Escherichia coli isolated from drinking water sources for mice. Nat Envir Pollut Technol 2005, 4(4), 637-8.

The pathogenicity of Escherichia coli, isolated from drinking water sources, for mice were studied The strain of serogroup 08 killed 3(60%) mice while serogroup 0147 killed one (20%) mouse. No mortality was recorded in mice inoculated with serogroups 014, 025, 095 and 0133. Histopathologically, the changes were characterized by vascular congestion and mild haemorrhage in the intestinal mucosa.

1 table, 7 ref

016567   Anju Singh;Manoj Kumar;Srivastava S K (Div of Bact and Mycol, Indian Vet Res Inst, Izatnagar, Bareilly-243 122) : A report on seroprevalence of leptospirosis among equines. Indian vet med J 2005, 29(2), 197-8.

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015636   Yan X X;Xu Z R (Key Lab of Anim Molec Nutr Ministry of Educ, Feed Sci Inst Coll of Anim Sci Zhejiang Univ, Hangzhou, Zhejiang-310 029, Email: xhyan@zju.edu.cn) : Production of human single-chain variable fragment (scFv) antibody specific for digoxin by ribosome display. Indian J Biochem Biophys 2005, 42(6), 350-7.

Ribosome display was applied in vitro to select single-chain variable fragment (scFv) antibody specific for digoxin from a human non-immune naive scFv library. A cell-free system was used to produce stable antibody-ribosome-mRNA (ARM) complexes to provide the linkage of genotype and phenotype, allowing simultaneous selection of a desired antibody together with its encoding mRNA. The mRNA was then recovered and amplified as DNA by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Repeating the display cycle enriched the selected molecules, enabling rare species to be isolated. In the study, digoxin-binding segments were selected over four cycles of ARM display and the selected DNA was cloned and expressed as a single-chain variable fragment antibody (the best scFv, A3) in Escherichia coli. The affinity (equilibrium dissociation constant Kd) of digoxin was 8.3 x 10^-8 M for A3, which validated construction of the naive library and the power of ribosome display lending to the evolution of functional characteristics, such as potency of leading candidate antibodies to provide therapeutic antibodies. A3 was purified using affinity chromatography and determined by Western blot. The results indicate that ribosome display technnique can be efficiently used to isolate specific antibody fragments from a naive library.

6 illus, 1 table, 35 ref

015635   Verma B C;Chauhan C;Satish Kumar;Sharma D K (Dep of Chem, H.P. Univ, Summer Hill, Shimla-171 005) : Simple and rapid spectrophotometric method for the determination of isoproturon in its commercial formulations and residues. Pollut Res 2005, 24(3), 595-7.

Convenient and reliable spectrophotometic method has been developed for the determination of isoproturon (herbicide) in its commercial formulations and in residues on grains (wheat and rice) and soil samples. The method is based on the quantitative transformation of dimethylamine (a product of alkaline hydrolysis of the herbicide) into yellow bis dimethyldithiocarbomato copper (II) complex which is extracted into benzene and absorbance of the extract measured at 430 mm. The Beer's law is obeyed upto 17 μg ml^-1 of herbicide solution. Recoveries of the herbicide from its commercial formulation and fortified samples have been found to be in the ranges 98. 5-99. 2% and 92. 8-97. 0% with maximum relative standard deviation of ± 1.30.

3 tables, 5 ref

015634   Ullah M A;Sarkar M A M;Haque M J (Dep of Community Med, Rajshahi Med Coll, Rajshahi 6205, Bangladesh) : Exclusive breastfeeding: ignorance and beliefs in a rural community of Bangladesh. South Asian Anthrop 2005, 5(2), 187-91.

Nine hundred rural mothers of Rajhshai district of Bangladesh having infants aged 6-8 months were included as sample units by 2 stage cluster sampling with a view to estimate the proportion of mothers practicing exclusive breastfeeding (EFB) up to 5 months of their infant's age and to identify its barriers. Only 7.9% of the rural mothers exclusively breastfed their babies up to 5 months. In this rural community only 59.0 per cent used honey as prelacteal feed. Nonavailability of breast milk just after birth was the common reason (44.0 per cent) of the rural mothers for their introduction of prelacteal feeds. Majority (53.7%) of the rural mothers believed that water was essential for the survival of their children which led them to supplement water within 5 months of their infants' age. Social mobilization by motivating mothers is essentially needed to root out the misconceptions and misbelievies among the rural mothers in Bangladesh.

1 illus, 3 tables, 24 ref

015633   Tank N;Suman;Pundir C S (Biochem Res Lab Dep of Bio Sci, M D Univ, Rohtak-124 001, Email: pundircs@rediffmail.com) : Determination of serum glucose using co-immobilized glucose oxidase and peroxidase onto arylamine glass beads affixed on a plastic strip. Indian J Biochem Biophys 2005, 42(6), 391-4.

Glucose oxidase (GOD) from Aspergillus niger and horseradish peroxidase (POD) were co-immobilized onto arylamine glass beads affixed on a plastic strip with a conjugation yield of 28.2 mg/g and 43% retention of their initial specific activity. The co-immobilized enzymes showed maximum activity at pH 7.5 when incubated at 37°C for 15 min. A simple, specific and sensitive method for discrete analysis of the serum glucose was developed employing this strip. The minimum detection limit of the method was 5 mg/dl. Within and between assay coefficient of variations for the serum were <60>5.6% and <60>10.6% (n = 6) respondely. A good correlation (r = 0.943) was found between the glucose values obtained by the enzyme colorimetnc method employing free GOD and POD and the present method. The strip lost 50% of its initial activity after its 150 regular uses for a period of one month, when stored in reaction buffer at 4°C. The method is cost-effective than the enzymic colorimetric method, as the enzyme strip is reusable.

^ssc2 illus, 18 ref

015632   Surve P R;Ambore N E;Pulle J S (Dep of Zool, Indira Gandhi Sr. Coll, Cidco, Nanded) : Correlation co-efficients of some physico-chemical characteristics of Barul dam water, district Nanded [M.S.], India. Pollut Res 2005, 24(3), 653-6.

Deals with the study of physico-chemical characteristics of Barul dam water during the year 1999. The correlation co-efficient was also studied. The parameters such as air temperature, water temperature, pH, free carbon dioxide, carbonate alkalinity and dissolved oxygen were studied. The air temperature and water temperature show negative correlation with pH, carbon dioxide. Carbonate alkalinity shows positive correlation with dissolved oxygen.

6 illus, 2 tables, 13 ref

015631   Sonkakia A (NO, , Nagpur) : Narmada hominid, African pedigree or Asian kinship. Bionature 2005, 25(1-2), 139-41.

2 illus, 9 ref

015630   Soni D;Gupta P K;Yatindra Kumar; Chandrashekhar T G (Analyt Chem Sect, Natn Phys Lab, Dr. K.S. Krishnan Marg, New Delhi-110 012, Email: prabhat@mail.nplindia.ernet.in) : Antibacterial activity of some unsymmetrical diorganyltellurium(IV) dichlorides. Indian J Biochem Biophys 2005, 42(6), 398-400.

Six unsymmetncal diorganyltellurium(IV) dichlorides RR,T_eCl₂ (where R= phenacyl-, 1-naphthacyl-, and styrylacyl-and R' = p-methoxyphenyl, p-hydroxyphenyl-, and 3-methyl-4-hydoxyphenyl-) were tested for their antibacterial activity against gram-positive (Bacillus sublilis ATCC 6633 and Staphylococcus aureiis ATCC 25923) and gram-negative (Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853 and Salmonella sp. ) bacteria. Antibacterial activity was measured by disk diffusion method. Inhibition zones demonstrated that all the compounds showed good activity against gram-negative strains. Phenacyl (3-methyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) tellurium(IV) dichloride and naphthacyl (3-methyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) tellurium(IV) dichloride showed significant activity against both gram-positive and gram-negative strains. Among the tested compounds, the former exhibited maximum activity against gram-positive bacteria, while the latter against all the bacteria under study and styrylacyl (p-methoxyphenyl) tellurium(IV) dichloride against all the three gram-negative bacteria.

1 table, 21 ref

015629   Shivran H S;Kumar S;DINESH KUMAR;Singh R V (Dep of Chem, Univ of Raj, Jaipur-302 004, Email: kudiwal@datainfosys.net ) : Effect of carbon as an energy source for biological denitrification through Pseudomonas stutzeri. J envir Sci Engng 2005, 47(2), 115-18.

Biological denitrification processes possess many advantages in comparison to other denitrification processes. Study was undertaken to observe the effect of quantity of carbon on biological denitrification with Pseudomonas stutzeri at different C/N ratios. The results obtained in the investigations show that the pH and alkalinity of the effluent increased with increase in C/N ratio due to alkalinity generated during denitrification. The COD of the influent was increased with increase in C/N ratio. The effluent COD was nil under pseudo-steady state condition up to the C/N ratio of 2.5. Above this C/N ratio, the organics started entering in the treated water. The maximum feasible economic reduction of NO₃-N from 51.6 mg/l to 1.2 mg/l occurred at C/N ratio of 2.5 and the obtained concentration of NO₃-N was found to be lower than the tolerance limit (10 mg/l) prescribed by the WHO. The work provides a feasible approach for a more efficient NO₃-N removal process.

2 illus, 2 tables, 10 ref

015628   Sharma K;Sharma P (Dep of Anthrop, Punjab Univ, Chandigarh-160 014) : Adolescent growth trends in urban and rural punjabi girls from Gurdaspur. South Asian Anthrop 2005, 5(2), 209-16.

Urban-rural differences in adolescent growth trends were studied by taking thirteen anthropometric traits, four body indices and two physiological traits on the basis of a cross sectional sample of 410 girls (204 urban and 206 rural) ranging in age from 8 through 16 years from Gurdaspur, Punjab. The mean anthropometric dimensions were higher in rural girls through all age groups in 90 of 117 (76.9%) instances. But, the differences were significant in 33 of 90 (36.7%) comparisons. Hip and abdominal adiposity indices increase with increase in age in both urban and rural girls. Waist-Hip ratio (WHR) increases till 10 years of age and decreases thereafter. The median age at menarche is earlier in rural girls.

2 illus, 4 tables, 23 ref

015627   Sharma H N;Saxena P N (Toxicol Lab Dep of Zool, Sch of Life Sci Khandari Campus Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Univ, Agra-282 002) : Developmental response of Drosophila melanogaster to confidor, a nitromethylene compound. Proc Natn Acad Sci India-Sect B 2005, 75(3), 177-9.

Two mutants of Pomace fly (Drosophila melanogaster) have been used to assess the sub-lethal effects of Confidor insecticide. LC₅₀ of Confidor to white and brown mutant forms has been found to be 0.229 μl/100 ml of food and 0. 177 μl/100 ml of food respectively. Sub-lethal concentration of 0.01μl/100ml was given to adults of both the mutants separately for 2 days and were allowed to mate for five consecutive days in different sets. Larval and pupal durations have been found to be increased in all treated sets. Susceptibility of males has been observed more than the females.

2 tables, 12 ref

015626   Saxena K K;Gupta P (Pest and Parasite Res Lab Dep of Zool, Bareilly Coll, Bareilly-243 005) : Impact of carbamates on glycogen contents in the muscles of freshwater fish Channa punctatus. Pollut Res 2005, 24(3), 669-70.

Freshwater fish Channa punctatus were exposed to sublethal concentrations of carbofuran and carbaryl for a maximum period of 30 days. During the exposure period glycogen contents were measured at regular intervals of 5 days. A significant decline in glycogen contents was observed. These changes were found to be dependent on period of exposure and concentration of both carbofuran and carbaryl. The effect of carbofuran was found to be more pronounced than that of carbaryl.

2 tables, 11 ref

015625   Reddy K R N;Choudary D A;Anand C; Venkateswarlu P (Dep of Microbiol, Nagarjuna Agric Res and Dev Inst, Panjagutta, Hyderabad-500 082) : Isolation and identification of antifungal metabolites from actinomycetes. J Mycol Pl Pathol 2004, 34(3), 909-10.

3 tables, 8 ref

015624   Rajinder Kaur;Anu (Dep of Zool and Fish, Punjab Agric Univ, Ludhiana-141 004) : Laboratory evaluation of antifertility effects of epichlorohydrin for the control of bandicoot rat, Bandicota benealensis. Proc Natn Acad Sci India-Sect B 2005, 75(3), 169-75.

Effects of intraperitoneal administration of 50 and 100 trig/kg body weight dose of epichlorohydrin on general morphology, body weight, weights of reproductive organs and accessory sex glands, sperm structure and function, histology of testis and cauda epididymis were evaluated in laboratory against bandicoot rat, Bandicota bengalensis. Both the doses caused no effect on general morphology. However, weight gain/day in treated rats was less than control rats. 100 mg/kg body weight dose of epichlorohydrin caused significant reduction in weights of reproductive organs and accessory sex glands and reduction in sperm motility, vitality and concentration with a significant increase in percentage of abnormal spermatozoa. This increase was mainly due to production of broken tip and acrosomeless head of spermatozoa. Histological studies of the testis and cauda epididymis revealed dose-dependent decrease in tubular diameter and cellular disorganization as well as lesions in the seminiferous tubules, with severe effect on postmeiotic stages of spermatogenesis and increase in the thickness of epithelial wall of cauda cpididymal tubules. Antifertility potential of this chemical should be assessed in crop fields against B. bengalensis.

1 illus, 4 tables, 23 ref

015623   Paramasivam S;Kannan L (Cent for Advd Stud in Mar Biol, Annamalai Univ, Parangivettai-608 502, Email: kannanlk69@yahoo.com) : Physico-chemical characteristics of muthupettai mangrove environment, Southeast coast of India. Int J Ecol envir Sci 2005, 31(3), 273-8.

Physico-chemical characteristics of the water in Muthupettai mangrove ecosystem were analysed at monthly intervals during July 1997 to June 1999. Various parameters ranged as follows: air temperature (27-35°C), surface water temperature 26-33°C, salinity 20-38%, pH 7.1-8.7, dissolved oxygen 3.1-6.35 mg L^-1, nitrate-N 0.15-14.17 μM, nitrite-N 0.09-3.58 μM, silicate-Si 0.6-19.86 μM, phosphate-P 0.07-10.3 μM and particulate organic carbon 1.46-85.43 mg L^-1. These values are within the normal range for an unimpacted mangrove environment. However, the increasing demographic pressures may affect the water quality adversely.

11 illus, 7 ref

015622   Padmini E;Kavitha M (P.G. Dep of Biochem, Bharathi women's Coll (Autonomous), North Chennai-600 108) : Evaluation of genotoxic effects due to contaminant mediated oxidative damage in the brain of Mughil cephalus (linnaeus). Pollut Res 2005, 24(3), 505-8.

Genotoxicity study was performed to evaluate the molecular damage caused due to contaminants in the brain of Mughil cephalus (Linnaeus) inhabiting Ennore estuary in comparison with the one from Kovalam estuary. In both the groups of fishes, DNA and RNA levels were estimated, melting curve of DNA was determined and free radical mediated DNA damage was assayed. The levels of DNA and RNA was found to be decreased in the test group as compared to control group. The melting curve of DNA of test and control group showed only slight variation; a lower absorbance at higher temperature in test group than the control group. DNA damage was measured as formation of single strand break by adopting Halliwell and Gutteridge method (1981). Results indicated that the test group is more susceptible to DNA break than control suggesting oxidative damage of nuclear meterial be reactive oxygen species.

2 illus, 1 table, 26 ref

015621   Okamoto T;Kranz E (Biol Sci Dep, Tokyo Metropolitan Univ, Minami-Osawa 1-1, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0397, Japan) : In vitro fertilization-a tool to dissect cell specification from a higher plant zygote. Curr Sci 2005, 89(11), 1861-9.

Life of sexual organisms starts from a single cell, the fertilized egg cell or zygote. By cell division and growth this single cell finally gives rise to the mature organism, which contains different cell types, tissues and organs. The zygote, the progenitor cell is the origin for the formation of cells of different developmental fates and the main body axes. In flowering plants (angiosperms) little is known about the underlying mechanisms of these processes and, in spite of its fundamental importance, regulation of early embryonic development is only poorly understood. New data suggest that the asymmetric division of the zygote separates determinants of apical and basal cell fates and that programmes of transcription are initiated in the domains of single cells of the early embryo. In this context, authoer described results obtained by the use of powerful tools of in vitro fertilization and micromanipulation techniques for the elucidation of mechanisms of early embryonic patterning in higher plants.

5 illus, 1 table, 82 ref

015620   Mishra P K;Singh B N (Genetic Lab Zool Dep, Banaras Hindu Univ, Varanasi-221 005) : Why hybrid males are sterile in Drosophilia?. Curr Sci 2005, 89(11), 1813-19.

Hybrid male sterility is one of the most rapidly evolving postzygotic reproductive barriers, which has received special attention in the study of speciation. In Drosophila, in majority of interspecific crosses, hybrid males are sterile while females are fertile. Why hybrid males are sterile remains a fundamental question for evolutionary biologists. A number of investigations have been carried out to understand the causes of hybrid male sterility and the results suggest that it may involve either X-Y, X-autosomes, Y-autosomes, cytoplasmic incompatibilities or a number of genes. The genetic basis of hybrid sterility remains nebulous, but it seems that it involves a large number of genes and almost all chromo-somes. The only characterized speciation gene in Drosophila today is Odysseus, but no functional tests yet have been reported that support its role in hybrid sterility and its functional equivalence to the homeobox gene. To understand the mechanism of hybrid male sterility, several theories have been proposed. The three most important theories are dominance theory, faster-male theory and faster-X theory, among which the dominance theory is the most popular. Although studies on hybrid male sterility in Drosophila are well documented, no conclusive mechanism of sterility that is uniformly obeyed in all species is still known. During last two decades, the resurgence of interest in hybrid male sterility and the use of Drosophila as a model organism for such study warrant a comprehensive review on this topic to facilitate better understanding of this subject. In view of this, a brief history as well as the recent advances in the field of hybrid male sterility in Drosophila has been documented in the article.

92 ref