Structural Adaptation and Antioxidant Response of Guarianthe bowringiana (O’Brien) Dressler & W. E. Higgins (Orchidaceae Juss.) Seedlings During Ex Vitro Acclimatization

Guarianthe bowringiana is one of the oldest samples cultivated at NBG’s orchid unit glasshouses since 1970s. An efficient protocol for asymbiotic in vitro seed germination of G. bowringiana has previously been established. Given that acclimatization is a crucial step in micropropagation, this study assesses the structural adaptation and antioxidant response of G. bowringiana seedlings during ex vitro acclimatization to ex vitro conditions. The leaf surface micromorphology of the G. bowringiana juvenile plants propagated in vitro from seeds as well as the leaves of adult plants cultivated in glasshouse were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy. The levels of lipid peroxidation (TBARS level), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and the photosynthetic activity were monitored for seven days from the transfer of seedlings from the in vitro cultivation vessels as they are markers indicating the response of the leaves of in vitro propagated G. bowringiana plants to oxidative stress during the early stages of acclimatization to ex vitro conditions. During the initial 2 days of the monitored acclimatization period (0–7 days), the level of photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a , b , and carotenoid content) increased, followed by an insignificant increase during the successive period (by the seventh day) of acclimatization. At the same time, the level of the tested antioxidant enzyme (SOD) exhibited an increasing trend throughout the acclimatization period. The SOD activities in the leaves of G. bowringiana seedlings were significantly affected when they were transferred from in vitro to ex vitro conditions due to drought stress. Thus, it was revealed that in the early stages of acclimatizing to the altered environments, G. bowringiana seedlings exhibited a rapid increase in photosynthetic pigments, superoxide dismutase activity, and lipid peroxidation levels after being transferred to ex vitro conditions. Comparison of the leaf micromorphologies of G. bowringiana plants grown under in vitro and those grown under ex vitro conditions revealed that leaf development had undergone significant changes during acclimatization to the altered conditions. In vitro to ex vitro transfer leads to a transient decrease in photosynthetic parameters.

Performance Evaluation of Laboratory Scale Vegetated Vermifilter for Domestic Wastewater

Locally as well as globally, the Collection and treatment of wastewater are seen to have an impact on the environment and economy in one way or the other. Designing a system that minimizes this effect to the best possible scenario is of paramount importance, adding to greater sustainability in terms of economic, environmental, and social terms. The solutions such as on-site treatment of wastewater, local recycling, and reuse of resources contained in domestic wastewater (predominantly water itself) can be best summed up as Decentralized treatment of sewage which appears to be a coherent solution to address sustainability. Vermifiltration is a low-cost aerobic decentralized wastewater treatment option. Two lab-scale vertical flow filters are designed in this project, with both being assisted by Canna indica (MAVF), but only one introduced with Eisenia fetida. The experimental phase continued for 5 weeks with a hydraulic loading rate of 0.14 m3 m -2 day-1 with an acclimatization period of 15 days. The results depicted that MAVF has a better organic degradation capacity than the one without earthworms alone. The quality of wastewater is determined by Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) to a great extent. Removal efficiencies of COD were 67 % for MAVF and 55 % for MAF, while for BOD, it was 80 % for MAVF and 69 % for MAF, respectively. The BOD and COD tests were assisted by other parameters like pH, and turbidity. Keywords: Domestic wastewater, Decentralized treatment, Aerobic treatment, Macrophyte Assisted Vermifilter (MAVF), Macrophyte Assisted Filter (MAF), Sustainability, Low-Cost Treatment, Canna Indica, Eisenia Fetida

Effects of Pre-Anesthesia Anxiety on Propofol Induction Dose in Cats

In humans, peri-anesthesia anxiety reportedly increases the anesthetic requirements for anesthesia induction. However, no studies have been conducted on cats regarding the effects of anxiety on anesthesia induction or anesthetic-mediated physiological changes. Therefore, we intended to investigate the effect of pre-anesthesia anxiety in healthy cats on the propofol dose required for anesthesia induction, and its impact on behavioral and physiological evaluations. The cats were placed in either a calm (CAL) or tense (ANX) environment. We performed physiological and behavioral evaluations before and after each environmental acclimatization period. Anesthesia was induced using propofol. We recorded the total dose of propofol administered for each clinical sign observed during anesthesia induction. The post-acclimatization behavioral evaluation score was significantly higher in the ANX group than the pre-acclimatization score. However, there was no significant difference in the propofol dose required for each clinical sign in the ANX or CAL groups. There were also no significant differences in the physiological evaluations between the ANX and CAL groups. Therefore, pre-anesthesia anxiety felt by cats did not affect propofol-mediated anesthesia induction.

In vitro Micropropagation of Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) Derived from Cotyledon

A high frequency in vitro plant regeneration of pomegranate was established on MS medium supplemented with different concentrations and combinations of plant growth regulators. As explant cotyledons were employed for this study. Ninety percent of the cultured explants responded to form shoots from 30 days old in vitro raised seedlings after 90 days of culture initiation in MS containing 1.0 mg/l IBA + 0.1 mg/l NAA. The average number of shoots per explant was 10.0 ± 2.20, shoot length of 12.0 ± 2.40 cm, node per regenerated shoot was 9.0 ± 1.60 and the leaf number was14.0 ± 1.40. Well developed shoots were cultured on half strength of MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/l IBA, in which 90% shoot induced roots implanted after one month. The average number of root per shoot was 8.0 ± 0.90 and the average root length of 6.5 ± 0.40 cm was observed in this medium. Eighty percent plantlets were survived in the outdoor condition during the acclimatization period of seven days. Plant Tissue Cult. & Biotech. 31(1): 61-69, 2021 (June)

Radiation Threats to Humans in Space and an alternative approach with Probiotics

ABSTRACTSpace type radiation is an important factor to consider for scientists on International Space Stations, especially high linear transfer energy (LET) since it has imminent effects on microorganisms. The abundances of bacteria are a good indicator of how radiation influences the gut microbiome. The current study is an attempt towards this; thus, we have employed a public dataset (Bioproject code PRJNA368790) of 80 mice samples treated with a range of doses from 0Gy to 1Gy and feces samples were collected at different time points of post radiation treatment. Metagenomic analysis was performed on this data to understand the effect of radiation doses on the abundance of microbial species or microbial diversity implementing the DADA2 and Phyloseq pipelines. Our analyses have shown that 0.1Gy high LET radiation had the significant effect on the species of bacteria. There is a significant decrease in four types of bacteria, i.e., Bifidobacterium longum, Bifidobacterium castoris, Lactobacillus gasseri and Lactobacillus johnsonii, with p-value of 7.05×10-5, 0.020, 0.057and 0.020, respectively. Additionally, pathway analysis indicates the protein coding products of these bacteria are involved in the GABAergic synaptic pathway. Further, our study has shown the significant difference between post radiation time points, i.e., 10 days vs.30 days and suggested the acclimatization period could be around 10 days for these bacteria.

Infrared Thermography in Swimming

In order to verify whether there is a considerable increase in body skin temperature during different swimming techniques (crawl and backstroke) and identifying the most affected regions. The athlete's thermal symmetry was also analyzed, as well as its modification after the swimming, according to the performed technique. The accuracy of thermography as a method to identify and distinguish these different styles was also evaluated. Ten male swimmers were recruited and two different swimming techniques were assessed, crawl and backstroke. After a 10 minute acclimatization period in the pool, the swimmers were quickly dried with microfiber towels. The thermograms were taken before and after the swimming task, which consisted in a 7x200m protocol in crawl or backstroke. Infrared thermography revealed an increase of temperature after exercise and no significant differences were found between both techniques. Thermal symmetry was not affected by exercise.

Could the Musk Compound Tonalide Affect Physiological Functions and Act as an Endocrine Disruptor in Rainbow Trout?

In the present study, the effect of polycyclic musk compound tonalide (AHTN) in two concentrations was studied in male rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss, Walbaum 1792). A feeding trial was conducted with AHTN incorporated into feed granules. One concentration was environmentally relevant (854 µg/kg); the second one was 10× higher (8699 µg/kg). The fish were fed twice a day with the amount of feed at 1 % of their body weight. After an acclimatization period, the experimental phase in duration of six weeks followed. At the end of the experiment, fish were sampled and the biometrical data were recorded. Subsequently, hematological and biochemical tests, histopathological examination, analysis of oxidative stress markers and evaluation of endocrine disruption using plasma vitellogenin were performed. In conclusion, an increase of hematocrit for both AHTN concentrations was found, but no significant changes were observed in biochemical profile. Moreover, AHTN caused lipid peroxidation in caudal kidney tissue, which was confirmed by histopathological images. The long-lasting AHTN exposure could thus be harmful for maintaining homeostasis in the rainbow trout organism. However, the vitellogenin concentration seemed not to be affected by AHTN.

Dynamics of Gastro-Intestinal Strongyle Parasites in a Group of Translocated, Wild-Captured Asiatic Wild Asses in Kazakhstan

Asiatic wild ass (Kulan, Equus hemionus) population range and numbers became severely reduced and a reintroduction project is currently aiming to re-establish a population in the Central Steppe of Kazakhstan. Pre-emptive deworming is often recommended for equid translocations but eliminating parasites prior to translocation could cause disruptions in a balanced host-parasite relationship, adding an additional stressor to an already stressful intervention involving capture, transport, and adaptation to a new environment. Following a disease risk assessment, we decided against pre-emptive deworming and focused on monitoring the first group of nine translocated kulan in a large acclimatization enclosure prior to release. Over the 5-month acclimatization period, we regularly collected fecal samples and analyzed the shedding intensity of gastro-intestinal parasite eggs, obtained time budgets through behavioral observations, and visually assessed body condition. We identified strongyles (Strongylinae and Cyathostominae) and pinworms (Oxyuris equi) in fecal samples. All individuals shed strongyle eggs and two of the nine individuals had higher shedding intensities, but rarely reached levels for which deworming is recommended. All kulan appeared healthy throughout the observation period, aggressive interactions were very rare, and time budgets were very similar and dominated by feeding. Our results suggest that in translocation projects where the risk of introducing new parasites is minimal, pre-emptive treatment in wild equids can be replaced with non-invasive monitoring during the acclimatization period. We acknowledge that the small number of kulan, the large size of the enclosure, and the low temperatures during the animals stay in the acclimatization enclosure may all have reduced infestation pressure.