Phase Transformations in Heterogeneous Steels

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Mini-stop bands in single heterojunction photonic crystal waveguides

Spectral characteristics of mini-stop bands (MSB) in line-defect photonic crystal (PhC) waveguides and in heterostructure PhC waveguides having one abrupt interface are investigated. Tunability of the MSB position by air-fill factor heterostructure PhC waveguides is utilized to demonstrate different filter functions, at optical communication wavelengths, ranging from resonance-like to wide band pass filters with high transmission. The narrowest filter realized has a resonance-like transmission peak with a full width at half maximum of 3.4 nm. These devices could be attractive for coarse wavelength selection (pass and drop) and for sensing applications.Support from the Swedish Research Council (VR) is gratefully acknowledged

RNA interference-based resistance against a legume mastrevirus

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>RNA interference (RNAi) is a homology-dependant gene silencing mechanism and has been widely used to engineer resistance in plants against RNA viruses. However, its usefulness in delivering resistance against plant DNA viruses belonging to family <it>Geminiviridae </it>is still being debated. Although the RNAi approach has been shown, using a transient assay, to be useful in countering monocotyledonous plant-infecting geminiviruses of the genus <it>Mastrevirus</it>, it has yet to be investigated as a means of delivering resistance to dicot-infecting mastreviruses. <it>Chickpea chlorotic dwarf Pakistan virus </it>(CpCDPKV) is a legume-infecting mastrevirus that affects chickpea and other leguminous crops in Pakistan.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Here a hairpin (hp)RNAi construct containing sequences encompassing part of replication-associated protein gene, intergenic region and part of the movement protein gene of CpCDPKV under the control of the <it>Cauliflower mosaic virus </it>35S promoter has been produced and stably transformed into <it>Nicotiana benthamiana</it>. Plants harboring the hairpin construct were challenged with CpCDPKV. All non-transgenic <it>N. benthamiana </it>plants developed symptoms of CpCDPKV infection within two weeks post-inoculation. In contrast, none of the inoculated transgenic plants showed symptoms of infection and no viral DNA could be detected by Southern hybridization. A real-time quantitative PCR analysis identified very low-level accumulation of viral DNA in the inoculated transgenic plants.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The results presented show that the RNAi-based resistance strategy is useful in protecting plants from a dicot-infecting mastrevirus. The very low levels of virus detected in plant tissue of transgenic plants distal to the inoculation site suggest that virus movement and/or viral replication was impaired leading to plants that showed no discernible signs of virus infection.</p

Management and pattern of pellet gun injuries in war conflicted Kashmir Valley, India

AbstractBackground: The pellet gun is a shot gun weapon which is used by law enforcement agencies to maintain law and order in conflict zones whenever need arises. Sometimes these minute sized pellets may lead to grave injuries to vital structures of the body which may sometimes led to permanent disability. The objective of this study was to investigations and manages these fatal injuries in war conflicted valley. Methods: The prospective study conducted in a tertiary care hospital of Government Medical College Srinagar at the time of civilian unrest in 2016 and onwards when thousands of people were injured with pellets by security agencies. Results: Maximum number (67.1%) of patients had injuries to eyes and face, among the total number of patients 69 (17.2%) of patients had abdominal injuries. CECT abdomen showed pellets in all 69 (100%) of patients, pellets in gut lumen in 48 (69.5%) of patients. In the abdominal group 40 patients underwent laparotomy which showed hemoperitoneum in 49 (71.01%), pneumoperitoneum in 6 (8.69%) of patients. Conclusion: Pellet gun weapon has become a common arsenal to suppress the unarmed civilian agitation which may lead to fatal injuries to vital structures of body, where prognosis remained poor despite of best available treatment

Transient expression of βC1 protein differentially regulates host genes related to stress response, chloroplast and mitochondrial functions

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Geminiviruses are emerging plant pathogens that infect a wide variety of crops including cotton, cassava, vegetables, ornamental plants and cereals. The geminivirus disease complex consists of monopartite begomoviruses that require betasatellites for the expression of disease symptoms. These complexes are widespread throughout the Old World and cause economically important diseases on several crops. A single protein encoded by betasatellites, termed βC1, is a suppressor of gene silencing, inducer of disease symptoms and is possibly involved in virus movement. Studies of the interaction of βC1 with hosts can provide useful insight into virus-host interactions and aid in the development of novel control strategies. We have used the differential display technique to isolate host genes which are differentially regulated upon transient expression of the βC1 protein of chili leaf curl betasatellite (ChLCB) in <it>Nicotiana tabacum</it>.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Through differential display analysis, eight genes were isolated from <it>Nicotiana tabacum</it>, at two and four days after infitration with βC1 of ChLCB, expressed under the control of the <it>Cauliflower mosaic virus </it>35S promoter. Cloning and sequence analysis of differentially amplified products suggested that these genes were involved in ATP synthesis, and acted as electron carriers for respiration and photosynthesis processes. These differentially expressed genes (DEGs) play an important role in plant growth and development, cell protection, defence processes, replication mechanisms and detoxification responses. Kegg orthology based annotation system analysis of these DEGs demonstrated that one of the genes, coding for polynucleotide nucleotidyl transferase, is involved in purine and pyrimidine metabolic pathways and is an RNA binding protein which is involved in RNA degradation.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>βC1 differentially regulated genes are mostly involved in chloroplast and mitochondrial functions. βC1 also increases the expression of those genes which are involved in purine and pyrimidine metabolism. This information gives a new insight into the interaction of βC1 with the host and can be used to understand host-virus interactions in follow-up studies.</p

Subsurface methane leakage in unconventional shale gas reservoirs : A review of leakage pathways and current sealing techniques

The authors would like to thank the School of Engineering at the University of Aberdeen for providing the required facilities to complete this study.Peer reviewedPostprin

Comparison of phenotypes produced in response to transient expression of genes encoded by four distinct begomoviruses in Nicotiana benthamiana and their correlation with the levels of developmental miRNAs

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Whitefly-transmitted geminiviruses (begomoviruses) are a major limiting factor for the production of numerous dicotyledonous crops throughout the world. Begomoviruses differ in the number of components that make up their genomes and association with satellites, and yet they cause strikingly similar phenotypes, such as leaf curling, chlorosis and stunted plant growth. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small endogenous RNAs that regulate plant growth and development. The study described here was aimed at investigating the effects of each virus encoded gene on the levels of developmental miRNAs to identify common trends between distinct begomoviruses.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>All genes encoded by four distinct begomoviruses (<it>African cassava mosaic virus </it>[ACMV], <it>Cabbage leaf curl virus </it>[CbLCuV], <it>Tomato yellow leaf curl virus </it>[TYLCV] and <it>Cotton leaf curl virus</it>/Cotton leaf curl betasatellite [CLCuV/CLCuMB]) were expressed from a <it>Potato virus X </it>(PVX) vector in <it>Nicotiana benthamiana</it>. Changes in the levels of ten miRNAs in response to the virus genes were determined by northern blotting using specific miRNA probes. For the monopartite begomoviruses (TYLCV and CLCuMV) the V2 gene product was identified as the major symptom determinant while for bipartite begomoviruses (ACMV and CbLCuV) more than one gene appears to contribute to symptoms and this is reflected in changes in miRNA levels. The phenotype induced by expression of the βC1 gene of the betasatellite CLCuMB was the most distinct and consisted of leaf curling, vein swelling, thick green veins and enations and the pattern of changes in miRNA levels was the most distinct.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our results have identified symptom determinants encoded by begomoviruses and show that developmental abnormalities caused by transient expression of begomovirus genes correlates with altered levels of developmental miRNAs. Additionally, all begomovirus genes were shown to modulate miRNA levels, the first time this has been shown to be the case.</p

Comparative study of harmonic scalpel haemorrhoidectomy versus conventional (milligan and morgan) haemorrhoidectomy

Background: Haemorrhoids are dilated veins occurring in relation to the anus. There are various treatment modalities for haemorrhoids and among them surgical treatment is considered to be most effective one. Harmonic scalpel hemorrhoidectomy was compared with conventional in terms of symptomatic relief and complications.Methods: The aim of our study was to compare harmonic scalpel haemorrhoidectomy with conventional in terms of various intraoperative and postoperative factors for the treatment of grade III and IV haemorrhoids.Results: In our case study of 25 patients average time taken was 17.68 ± 2.84 minutes, while it was 28.44 ±3.69 minutes in control group. The mean blood loss was 8.96 ± 2.15 ml, 31.72 ± 3.28 ml in the case and control group respectively. Postoperative pain with VAS in case group on the first postoperative day was 5.92 ± 0.72, while it was 8.52 ± 0 in the control group. The dose of analgesia was less in case group. The postoperative wound site soakage was less in case study, early ambulation and return to normal work was faster in case study group.Conclusions: Harmonic scalpel haemorrhoidectomy is a simple, bloodless, safe and effective procedure in terms of blood loss, postoperative pain early return to routine work because of less lateral thermal injury