Water bears can survive in space

Swedish scientists say water bears - tardigrades - have become the first animals to have survived exposure to the vacuum and radiation of space.

Water bears multi-cellular, invertebrate animals about 1 millimeter in size - are unique in that they can survive repeated dehydration and can lose nearly all the water they have in their bodies.

It's been nearly a year since Kristianstad University researcher Ingemar Jonsson sent some 3,000 microscopic water bears on a 12-day space trip. The aim of the project, supported by the European Space Agency, was to determine whether they could survive in space. They could. Their finding is that the space vacuum, which entails extreme dehydration, and cosmic radiation, (was not) a problem for water bears. On the other hand, the ultraviolet radiation in space is harmful to water bears, although a few individuals can even survive that, The next challenge is to determine the mechanisms behind water bears' exceptional tolerance.

Less than 300 microns long, water bears have four pairs of stumpy legs with tiny claws and a slow lumbering gait that makes them look like a microscopic bear (see video below). They can survive such extremes as hot springs, mountain peaks, being buried under 5 meters of solid ice, and even frozen in liquid nitrogen. But their most typical homes are moss cushions. If dehydrated, they have devised an interesting "antibiotic state" to survive. The water bear becomes inactive, almost like hibernation. Then, with a tiny droplet of water, it comes back to life. Sometimes, water bears can be in an antiobiotic state for several years.

KINGDOM Animal
PHYLUM Tardigrada
CLASS Heterotardigrada
ORDER Echiniscoidea
FAMILY Echiniscidae
GENUS Echiniscis
SPECIES Echiniscis (over 100 species)

COURTESY-http://www.solutionassoc.com/Fun/Fun.html

Cardiac Hormones, atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP)

Cardiac Hormone are Natriuretic peptides because they are hormones secreted by the heart that increase the excretion of Sodium (Na) by the kidneys (uretic).

Increasing a person's salt Intake causes blood volume expansion and stretch of the atria which leads to atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) secretion. ANP increases salt and water excretion to reduce blood volume and blood pressure. ANP also directly dilates blood vessels, which helps to lower blood pressure.

Work in this area over the past 20 years has already resulted in new drugs to treat hypertension and heart failure. ANP is normally degraded in the kidneys by an enzyme (NEP) which breaks its peptide ring structure, making it inactive. Drugs that inhibit NEP cause ANP in the plasma to increase, thus augmenting ANP's blood pressure lowering capacity. Heart attacks cause a massive release of cardiac hormones.

उपनाम और आनुवांशिक समानताएँ

अमेरिका और पश्चिमी यूरोप में गोद लिए गए पुरुष डीएनए जाँच से अपने वंशजों का पता लगाने की कोशिश कर रहे हैं और वाई क्रोमोसोम की मदद से इसमें सफलता भी पा रहे हैं। ये लोग इस तथ्य का सहारा ले रहे हैं कि एक जैसे उपनाम रखने वाले लोगों के बीच कभी-कभी आनुवांशिक समानताएँ मिल जाती हैं। डीएनए के 'डाटाबेस' से ये उन पुरुषों की पहचान करते हैं, जिनकी आनुवांशिक पहचान उनसे भी मेल खाती हों और तब वे यह देखते हैं कि क्या उनके अंतिम नाम भी एक हैं। इससे उन्हें यह पता चल सकता है कि उनके वंशजों ने किस तरह के उपनाम रखे होंगे। एक जैसे उपनाम वाले लोगों में जो आनुवांशिक समानताएँ मिलती हैं, वह वाई क्रोमोसोम पर पाया जाता है।

वाई क्रोमोसोम पर मिलने वाला यह गुण एक उपनाम की तरह थोड़े-बहुत बदलाव के साथ बाप से बेटे को मिलता जाता है। इस तरह के वंशानुक्रम के कारण एक जैसे उपनाम वाले लोगों के वाई क्रोमोसोम पर मौजूद उनके आनुवांशिक पहचान के निशान भी आपस में मेल खा सकते हैं।

'ट्री डीएनए' का 'वाईसर्च' : आनुवांशिक जाँच करने वाली अमेरिकी कंपनी 'ट्री डीएनए' के पास सवा लाख लोगों के उपनाम और उनके आनुवांशिक गुणों का रिकॉर्ड है। इस आँकड़े को कंपनी ने 'वाईसर्च' नाम से इंटरनेट पर डाल रखा है। इससे उन्हें इसका अंदाजा हो सकता है कि उन्हें अपनी जन्मभूमि की तलाश किस शहर से शुरू करना चाहिए। डीएनए की जाँच से किसी के भी वाई क्रोमोसोम पर मौजूद 67 आनुवांशिक गुणों का पता चलता है।

किसी और तरीके से गोद लिए कुछ पुरुषों के लिए उन्हें पैदा करने वाले का उपनाम पता कर पाना बहुत मुश्किल या असंभव है। डीएनए जाँच का यह असली चमत्कार है। वाई क्रोमोसोम एक रामबाण की तरह काम कर सकते हैं।

Flora and Fauna of Rajasthan

While one part of Rajasthan is dominated by the Thar Desert the other part flaunts the lofty peaks of the Aravallis and Vindhya ranges. The forests in Rajasthan mostly lie to the east of the Aravalli range. They comprise of about 9% of the total area. The vegetation in the desert region marjorly comprises of stunted trees, thorny shrubs and some grasses. The rest of the vegetation grows only during monsoon.

Khejri or Prosopis cineraria is the most widely found tree in the Rajasthan. It serves the purpose of both food and fodder. Its bean shaped fruit, sangri, is used for both this purpose. Another fruit, Ker, is also eaten as a vegetable. Its tree is used as wood as well. The other prominent trees that grow on sandy soil are akaro and shrubs, the thor, botdi babul, anwal, sewan, dhaman, boor and bhatut.

Some of these grasses help in soil conservation as they bind the soil and can also be utilized as fodder for the cattle. Other plants that are part of the flora of Rajasthan are bamboo, khejri, peepal, jamun, salar, ber and khajur or dates. The shrubs are more attention grabbing. They comprise of wild roses, ferns and orchids. Plants with medicinal values grow in the state of Rajasthan. shatawari, guggal, thor, BRAHMI etc.

The fauna of Rajasthan is blessed with various species. They range from mammals and reptiles to colorful birds. The common animals here are antelopes and gazelles that include Blackbuck and Chinkara. Nilgai is commonly found in open plains and in the foothills of the Aravallis. Chau Singha, another local, lives in the hilly regions. Besides these one may also come across sambar, chital, rhesus macauqe, langur, jackal, wolf, Indian porcupine, desert fox, Indian gerbil, five-striped palm squirrel, desert gerbil, wild boar and a host of other wild

While the tiger rules the land the crocodiles and ghariyals are the monarchs of the aquatic life. Other REPTILES include Indian python or ajgar, Indian chameleon and the garden lizard. Common mongoose and Indian mongoose are mostly found in dry arid zone.

From the world`s tallest black-necked stork to cranes, Indian bustard and grey partridge-Rajasthani bird sanctuaries are a treat to visit. Thus the flora and fauna of Rajasthan supports all kinds of animal species.

But the most important species adds a special dimension to the flora and fauns of Rajasthan is the cat family. The Indian tigers, leopards, panthers, jungle cat and caracal are found here. Amongst these some are endangered species and are kept in protection in National Park.


Rajasthan has four famous National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries namely, the Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary, Ranthambore National Park, Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary and Desert National Park. Ranthambore National Park and Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary are known worldwide for their tiger population and considered by both wild lovers and photographers as the best places in India to spot tigers. Besides, it houses several small wildlife sanctuaries and eco-tourism parks (special area marked as wildlife reserves). Prominent among them are Mount Abu Sanctuary, Bhensrod Garh Sanctuary, Darrah Sanctuary, Jaisamand Sanctuary, Kumbhalgarh Sanctuary, and Jawahar Sagar sanctuary to name a few with.

These national parks and sanctuaries are home to a variety of wildlife including some of the rare and endangered species. The wildlife here include Tigers, panthers, sambar, bison, Black bucks, Chinkara, the rare desert fox, antelopes, deer, wild boars, monitor lizards, the endangered caracal and the list goes on. Besides, they shelter a variety of exotic and colorful birds including migratory birds including rare Siberian cranes who flock to this region during winters. The Great Indian Bustard, a rare and nearly extinct bird, can be spotted in the rolling sand dunes and scrub and thorny vegetations around the highlands of the Desert National Park near Jaisalmer.

Silk Production-Economics

Silk - the queen of all fabrics is historically one of India's most important industries. India produces a variety of silks called Mulberry, Tasar, Muga and Eri, based on the feeding habit of the cocoons. Over 30 countries produce silk, and the major ones are China (54%), India (18%) and Japan (9%).

The sericulture industry today employs over 700,000 farm families and is mostly concentrated in Karnataka, Tamilnadu and Andhra Pradesh and to some extent Assam and West Bengal. Karnataka accounts for more than 70 percent of the country's total silk production.

Sericulture is one industry which is beneficial to the agriculturists. As in today 56 lakhs people are dependent on the sericulture industry, 5.6 million people out of which 4.7 million are agriculturists. The rest are reelers, weavers etc.

India is the second largest producer of silk, contributing to about 18 per cent to the world production. What is however, more noteworthy is the fact that India's requirement of raw silk is much higher than its current production at present. Thus, there is considerable scope for stepping up production of raw silk in the country, overcome the persistent conflict of interest between exporters of silk products and producers of raw silk.

Karnataka produced 8,240 metric tonnes of silk for the year 2007-08, a growth of 4.5 per cent compared to the previous year. Currently, the state accounts for 50 per cent of the country's total output, which is around 16,525 metric tonnes. A decade ago Karnataka accounted for 60 per cent of the country's total silk production.

Area under silk cultivation has witnessed a decline during the last financial year. It has gone down by about 6.3 per cent to 91,431 hectares in 2007-08 compared to the previous year.

However, per hectare silk production, which was 81 kg in 2006-07, went up to 90 kg in 2007-08. Productivity in Karnataka is 25 per cent more as compared to states like Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Per hectare silk production in China is about 100 kg. We will soon reach that mark.

Kazi said the main reason for the gradual reduction in the area under mulberry cultivation is growing urbanisation around major silk producing areas including Bangalore Rural, Kolar, Ramnagar, Mandya and Mysore. He admitted that shortage of labour and water has also affected the industry, besides the cheap and better quality silk from China flooding the market.

Of the proposed measures to boost silk output in the state, the most significant one is the move to import three automatic reeling machines from China. Each of the imported reeling machine would cost Rs 1 crore. While the Central Silk Board would bear 50 per cent of the cost, the state government would bear 25 per cent. The remaining Rs 25 lakh will have to be paid by the private silk reelers interested in setting up such units.

Each of the automatic reeling machine is capable of processing 700 kg of cocoons per day and producing 34 metric tons of bivoltine silk per year.

The cultivation of silk is called sericulture.

Sericulture

Sericulture is the process of raising silk moths and then harvesting their cocoons in order to obtain silk fiber. Many species of moth spin cocoons that can be used for silk, but the two most common are Bombyx mori, whose cocoons make bombyx silk, and the tussah moth, which produces tussah silk. Bombyx eggs need to hibernate, so the bombyx moth normally produces only one crop of eggs a year (although there is now a chemical process to induce a second hatching). The tussah moth, on the other hand, can produce up to seven "crops" of eggs a year.

Each silk-producing moth eats a different kind of leaf, which explains why silk can have different characteristics. For example, bombyx moths eat leaves from the white mulberry tree, so their cocoons, and therefore their silk, tend to be very light colored-almost white. Tussah moths eat oak leaves, which contain tannin, so their cocoons have more color.

Most tussah silk is gold, although it can also be green or tan. But tussah silk for handspinning is also available bleached, which can make look very much like the more expensive bombyx. Tussah, however, does not feel quite the same as bombyx, because it's slightly coarser.

1. The eggs are kept in hibernation until the mulberry leaves sprout.
2. Then they Are allowed to hatch, and the larvae immediately begin feeding voraciously on the leaves.
3. They shed their SKIN four times during this stage, eating increasing amounts of leaves as they grow. It has been estimated that the total weight of leaves needed for just 1/10 of an ounce of eggs is about 45 pounds.
4. After the last shedding the larvae will increase their feeding almost exponentially. It may take up to 180 pounds of leaves for this same amount of eggs-and larvae-to make cocoons which will eventually produce about a pound of usable silk fiber.
5. After four to five weeks of doing nothing but eating, the larvae spin their cocoons from fiber (made from all the leaves they have been ingesting) mixed with a kind of sticky saliva that holds the fibers together and also attaches the cocoons to a leaf or some other part of their housing. It takes about three days for the cocoons to be spun.
6. The cocoon stage lasts about 10 days, at the end of which the adult moths normally hatch, mate, and lay their eggs.
   
7. But if the cocoons are to be used for silk, the moths are killed before they emerge so that the integrity of the cocoon is not disturbed.
   
8. The cocoon was originally spun with one continuous length of filament, and if the moth breaks through the filament will be broken, which would make the next stage of the process more difficult and produce a lower grade of fiber.
9. The reeling of silk is actually not a complicated process-in theory. The cocoons are put into a container of hot water and allowed to float freely until the gum which holds the silk fibers together is softened.
   
10. Then the beginning of the filament is located and, held together with the filaments from many other cocoons, attached to a reel, which is turned slowly as the silk filament unwinds from the cocoons.
    
11. Once all the silk fiber has been reeled it is tied together and degummed, dyed, or otherwise processed into fiber for spinning, either by hand or machine, into thread.
12. It is also possible for the cocoons to be saved and processed differently at a later date. For example, handspinners can obtain silk cap, the fiber from several cocoons which have not been reeled but instead have been degummed and stretched.
    
    
    It takes about 1,400 cocoons to make just one pound of silk-which is probably one of the reasons why silk is so expensive. There are alternatives being developed, including fibers from soy and from corn which are also called "silk." These have the advantage of being cheaper to produce, and may be a good choice for people who are bothered by the destruction of the moths. How successful they will be in replacing the original remains to be seen. Silk was the first luxury fiber, and many people still prefer it for that reason.

Silk History

The history of silk production is long and legendary. In fact legend has it that a Chinese princess over 5,000 years ago discovered how to unravel silk when a cocoon dropped into her hot cup of tea. (Cocoons are immersed in hot water in order to remove the sort of glue produced by the insect that holds the cocoon together.)

Silk has been produced for over 5,000 years. It originated in China, and the Chinese successfully guarded the secret of producing silk for several thousand years. Eventually the knowledge spread, probably being passed along the silk road, a trade route ran from China to the Mediterranean and then beyond via ships.

People started following the silk road some 4,000 years ago. Very few people traversed its entire length, with the notable exception of Marco Polo (1256-1323), the famous explorer. Polo noticed silk in many of the fairs and bazaars he saw while traveling through what is today the Middle East, Iran, Uzbekistan, and elsewhere. Thus silk production was clearly widespread in the middle ages of our era.

The secret to silk production is to have both silkworms and mulberry trees, preferably the white mulberry, which is the only food the silkworms, or more accurately, caterpillars, will eat. When the caterpillars are fully grown they produce a cocoon by extruding silk from their bodies. The extrusion starts as a liquid and then solidifies after contacting air. The purpose of the cocoon is to protect the pupa, which will eventually turn into a moth, although only enough moths are allowed to develop to support the next generation of silk worms.

The cocoons are remarkable in that they are made from just one long, thin, strand of silk, and it takes know-how to unravel the single strand, which is normally about 400-500 meters in length. The strands, or threads, are eventually woven into cloth. Clothing is of course the main product made from silk, however other products have also been produced. These include ropes and such things as parachutes and maps in WWII.

In the 15th century silk production came to France, and eventually the city of Lyon (pronounced lee on), now the third largest city in France and a great place to visit, became the center of European silk production. Lyon still has an important silk museum. By 1544 about 12 thousand people were involved in silk production there, according to Dr. John Falkwell in his book “The Story of Silk”. The industry progressed steadily, and in the 1880’s there were 200,000 people employed in Lyon, a remarkable number.

With an eye on the success of the silk industry in France, King James I of England made a major effort in the 17th century to establish a silk industry both in England and in the colonies at the time (i.e., the U.S. today). These efforts never really took hold in the long term, and the silk industry in those places never came close to the level achieved in France.

Silk production is a very labor intensive effort, and in the early 20th century a combination of labor strife, and especially the invention of synthetic fabrics like rayon and nylon, largely led to the demise of the silk industry in Europe. What remains are little cottage industries here and there, as in several parts of England. The top producing country today is once again China. India also produces a lot of silk, and they are the leading producers of wild silks, that is, silk produced from wild caterpillars, in particular tussah silk, from the silk moth of the same name.

Two other developments also helped promote sericulture. The invention of the Jacquard loom in 1801 allowed much traditional handweaving to be mechanized, which increased the need for all fibers being used for thread, including silk. Also, Louis Pasteur's discovery in 1870 of a method to identify the presence of pebrine disease in silk moths helped put an end to that epidemic, which was seriously affecting the moth population.

The repeated Mongol invasions certainly affected the fortunes of some northwestern cities, but on the whole the period was marked by a flourishing urban economy and corresponding expansion in craft production and commerce. Advancements in the textile industry included the introduction of the wooden cotton gin and the spinning wheel and, reportedly, of the treadle loom and sericulture (the raising of silkworms).

Today the leading position in the production of silk has reverted to its originator—China. And the second largest producer is Japan. India, leads the world in the production of tussah silk.

Sericulture is still mostly a cottage industry. It is hard to mechanize something that is actually a form of animal husbandry. So it is unlikely that silk will ever be as inexpensive as commonplace as fibers which can be grown and processed more cheaply—like wool or cotton. But this may only serve to increase the appreciation of this beautiful luxury fiber.

It is amazing that one of the world’s most desired fabrics comes from the secretions of a caterpillar. Even more remarkable is the significant role this fabric has played in the world’s economy for over 5,000 years.

Apiculture, the nurturing of bees for honey

• Apiculture, the nurturing of bees for honey, has grown to a profitable allied agricultural venture for the farmers all over Punjab.
• India's northern Punjab backed by expert knowledge and marketing expertise accounts for almost half of the India's total honey production in the organised sector.
• The widespread bee floral plants and crops act as catalysts for the Punjab farmers to `take a bow for the new revolution'.
• Having over 22,000 beekeepers, Punjab produces about 42,000 tones of honey.
• Punjab being sure having assured irrigation, good flora is available and because of availability of flora the Punjab has capacity to maintain ten lakh honeybee colonies. So, still there is very good scope to increase this profession. It is a jackpot, which Punjab has unearthed recently. On the outskirts of Ludhiana in Doraha is Kashmir Apiaries Exports.which accounts for 40 per cent of the total organized sector honey production in India, owns the largest number of bee hives and procures honey from all over the country. Products of Kashmir Apiaries are exported to 35 different nations and its honey is being used in Swiss chocolates, candies and even French cosmetics. The company’s latest target is the Middle-East nations, Algeria and Morocco.
  
• One of the scientists from New Zealand made a very appropriate study in Nepal in which he had shown that you keep one colony of Italian bees and there benefit to the farmer in terms of pollination service would be more than two lakhs. Just one colony per annum!
  
• Producing over 20 varieties, India exports 25,000 tones of honey worth 50 million US dollars. And, Punjab has a major share to make India proud.

Kutch & Mango Production

• Total production of honey in the border district of Kutch has decreased from 500 tonnes to just 50 tonnes per annum and it has adversely affected mango crop, said Batuksinhji Jadeja of Village Moti Mau of Mandvi taluka in Kutch. Mr Jadeja, mango orchard owner, is considered as a one of the pioneers in export of mangoes from the district. This year production of mango has decreased by over 40,000 tonnes comparison with last year, he added.

Herbal Honey

• In an effort to motivate beekeepers to produce sugar-free herbal honey, the government has introduced a new eco-friendly beekeeping system in Himachal Pradesh.
• The National Horticulture Board (NHB) has sent 5,000 beekeeping boxes along with the bees to the state, to be distributed in 10 of 12 districts in the next year.
• These bees will be fed on the stevia herbal plant leaves that are said to produce sugar free honey. The plant is also considered a natural sweetener and attracts bees.
• These leaves will come in handy both during the dry winter countryside and the rainy season when the bees are unable to fly out in search of food.
• In the lean season, the hungry bees are normally fed sugar by beekeepers, resulting in production of poor quality honey. Stevia will change this practice.
• Sugar free honey is much in demand by diabetics and those who do not wish to gain weight but at the same time want to enjoy the taste of honey.
• It is also said to reduce cravings for sugar and fat besides being helpful in controlling blood sugar and high blood pressure.
• Project was sent to NHB by the Himachal Organic Association (HOA) to popularise healthy sugar-free honey. Eventually the state government plans to procure some 100,000 beekeeping boxes to produce herbal honey.
• The HOA has signed a deal with a company that will manufacture these boxes.
• 'Farmers wishing to get into beekeeping can submit projects up to Rs.1 million. The NHB will bear a fifth of this sum. The rest will have to be paid by the beekeeper. A box of bees will be sold for Rs.3,000.