Notes: A new cytoplasmic male-sterility system was developed in an oilseed Brassica, viz. B. juncea var. ‘Pusa Bold’ with the cytoplasmic background of a wild species, Diplotaxis siifolia, obtained through wide hybridization. The synthetic alloploid (D. siifolia×B. juncea: 2n = 56, D3D3AABB) was repeatedly backcrossed to B. juncea to achieve cytoplasmic substitution. The CMS plants resembled the cultivar in growth and morphology. The flowers had narrow sepals and petals and short, shrivelled anthers which failed to dehisce. The meiotic process appeared to be normal. The microspores degenerated at an early stage after tetrad formation. Female fertility in the CMS plants was as good as in the cultivar. Female transmission of sterility confirmed it to be cytoplasmically encoded.

Notes: The origin, length, cross-sectional area, the fascicular number, their area and arrangement, total myelinated fibre count, and diameter-spectra of the optic nerve were investigated in the Indian buffalo. The majority of the optic nerve fibres are myelinated fibres arranged in fascicles. The peripheral portion of the nerve has a significantly greater number of myelinated nerve fibres. The right and left optic nerves do not differ significantly in their length, cross-sectional area and the number of myelinated fibres. The number, area and arrangement of the nerve fascicles varies (the peripheral portion contains a greater percentage of small-sized ones). The total interfascicular area is significantly greater than the fascicular area. The external diameter of the myelinated fibres ranges from 1 to 12 microns. Histograms reveal an unimodal distribution of these fibres with a peak at 2 microns. Thinner fibres predominate in the peripheral portion.〈section xml:id="abs1-2"〉〈title type="main"〉Zusammenfassung Anatomische Untersuchung des N. opticus des indischen Biiffels (Bubalis bubalis)Ursprung, Länge, Querschnittszone, Bündelanzahl nach Lage und Anordnung, Gesamtzahl der myelinhaltigen Fasern und Durchmesserspektrum des N. opticus wurden beim indischen Büffel untersucht. Die Mehrzahl der Nervenfasern sind myelinhaltige, faczikulär angeordnete Fasern. Der periphere Abschnitt des Nerven besitzt eine bedeutend grofiere Anzahl myelinhaltiger Nervenfasern. Rechter und linker Nerv unterscheiden sich in ihrer Länge, Querschnittszone und Anzahl der myelinhaltigen Fasern nicht bemerkenswert. Zahl, Lage und Anordnung der Nervenbündel variieren (der periphere Abschnitt enthält einen größeren Prozentsatz dünner Bündel). Das gesamte interfaszikuläre Gebiet ist bedeutend größer als das faszikulare. Der außendurch-messer der myelinhaltigen Fasern reicht von 1 bis 12 Mikra. Histogramme enthüllen eine gleichmäßige Verteilung dieser Fasern mit einem Gipfel bei 2 Mikra. Im peripheren Abschnitt herrschen dünnere Fasern vor.〈section xml:id="abs1-3"〉〈title type="main"〉RésuméRecherches anatomiques sur le nerf optique (N. opticus) chez le Buffle indien (Bubalis bubalis)Les recherches ont porté sur ľ origine, la longueur, la surface de section, le nombre de fascicules, leur étendue et leur disposition, la numération totale des fibres myélinisées et leur spectre de diamètres dans le nerf optique de Buffle indien. La majorite des fibres de ce nerf sont myélinisées et groupees en faisceaux. La partie peripherique du nerf possede de façon significative un nombre plus élevé de fibres myélinisées. Le nerf droit et le nerf gauche ne different pas de façon significative en ce qui concerne leur longueur, leur surface de section et le nombre de fibres myélinisées. Le nombre, le calibre et la disposition des faisceaux nerveux sont variables (la partie peripherique contient un pourcentage plus élevé de fibres minces). La surface totale des parties interfasciculaires est de façon significative plus grande que la surface fasciculaire. Le diametre exterieur de fibres myélinisées s étend de 1 à 12 microns. Les histogrammes révèlent une disposition unimodale de ces fibres avec un pic a 2 microns. Les fibres les plus minces predominent a la partie périphérique.〈section xml:id="abs1-4"〉〈title type="main"〉ResumenInvestigaciones anatomicas en el nervio optico del búfalo índico (Bubalis bubalis)Se investigaron en el nervio óptico del bufalo indico el origen, la longitud, las zonas de cortes transversales, el número de fasciculos segun su situación y distribución, el número y los diferentes diametros de las fibras mielinicas. La mayoria de las fibras nerviosas son mileínicas, distribuidas en fasciculos, que se encuentran especialmente en la regién periférica del nervio. No hay diferencias notables entre el lado derecho e izquierdo con respecto a su longitud, las zonas de cortes transversales y el número de fibras mileínicas. Número, situación y distribución de los fasciculos nerviosos son variables (conteniendo la porción periférica un porcentaje mayor de fasciculos delga-dos). El territorio interfascicular en su totalidad es mucho mas grande que el fascicular. El diametre externo de las fibras mielinicas varia entre 1 y 12 micra. Histogramas revelan una distribucion equitativa de estas fibras con prevalencia de las de 2 micra. En la periferia predominan fibras mas delgadas.

Notes: The anatomy of the spinal cord segments was studied and recorded for the impala. The root attachment lengths were greatest at C3, T10 and L3 cord segment levels in the respective regions. As to the root emergence length the greatest lengths were observed at C7, T]0〉 L5 and S1 cord segment levels respectively. The interroot interval was longest at C2, T8 and L1 segments respectively. The longest cord segments were C2, T13, L2 and S2 segments. The widest cord segments of their respective regions were C7, T1, L5 and S1 cord segments. As to segment volume C3, T13, L2 and S1 were the most voluminous cord segments in the respective cord regions.Statistical analysis revealed a high correlation among all of the study parameters suggesting a high degree of multicolinearity.Gross anatomical relationships concerning the location of the spinal cord segments with respect to the vertebrae were studied. The cord segments C], Ts–T4 and Li–L3 were within their vertebral limits. In the impala the spinal cord terminated at the midlevel of S4 vertebra.

Notes: Voluminous geoscientific data related to various ground-water parameters provide enormous scope for using the Geographic Information System (GIS) to draw meaningful conclusions on the ground-water propsects of an area. To demonstrate the efficacy of the GIS for ground-water studies, information on the parameters controlling ground water such as lithology, geomorphology, structure, and recharge condition of West Godavari district were analyzed using ARC/INFO GIS. Existing maps and records were used as data. An evaluation of ground-water potential and generation of a map showing three major hydrogeological conditions with distinct ground-water prospects which would serve as a basic tool in the exploitation of ground-water resources of the district has resulted. The study has also revealed that the GIS techniques are time/cost-effective and can be employed successfully in the planning stages of a ground-water exploration programme. In addition, the GIS data generated for the study of ground-water prospects can be updated and used for the planning and management of ground-water resources of the district.

Notes: Rice is relatively sensitive to salinity and is classified as a silicon accumulator. There have been reports that silicon can reduce sodium uptake in crop grasses in saline conditions, but the mechanism by which silicon might alleviate salinity damage is unclear. We report on the effects of silicon on growth, gas exchange and sodium uptake in rice genotypes differing in salt tolerance. In non-saline media there were no effects of supplementary silicate upon shoot fresh or dry weight or upon root dry weight, indicating that the standard culture solution was not formally deficient with respect to silicon. Plants grown with supplementary silicate had slightly, but significantly, shorter leaves than plants grown in a standard culture solution. Salinity reduced growth and photosynthetic gas exchange. Silicate supplementation partly overcame the reduction in growth and net photosynthesis caused by salt. This amelioration was correlated with a reduction in sodium uptake. Silicate supplementation increased the stomatal conductance of salt-treated plants, showing that silicate was not acting to reduce sodium uptake via a reduction in the transpiration rate. Silicate reduced both sodium transport and the transport of the apoplastic tracer trisodium-8-hydroxy-1,3,6-pyrenetrisulphonic acid (PTS). This implies that the mode of action of silicate was by partial blockage of the transpirational bypass flow, the pathway by which a large proportion of the uptake of sodium in rice occurs. Mechanisms by which silicate might reduce the transpirational bypass flow directly are discussed.

Notes: The single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) assay, also known as the comet assay, is a cytogenetic technique for measuring and analyzing DNA single stranded breaks (SSB) and/or alkali labile sites within individual cells. Peripheral blood leukocytes of 22 oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients were subjected to SCGE and the DNA damage levels (SSB) were quantified with respect to clinical staging and histopathologic grading. Highly statistically significant differences in DNA damage levels were found between normal subjects and patients with OSCC of the same age group. DNA damage levels were altered in all clinical stages and histopathological grades of oral squamous cell carcinoma. The differences were generally significant between all the clinical stages of OSCC. while in histopathologic grading the results were significant only between grades 1 and 111. The results support the concept of a systemic host response in malignancy.