Molecular analysis reveals that lack of chasmothecia formation in Erysiphe necator in Maharashtra, India is due to presence of only MAT1-2 mating type idiomorph

The heterothallic, ubiquitous fungus Erysiphe necator causes powdery mildew disease of grapevines and in many countries it is reported to reproduce both asexually and sexually. Sexual reproduction results in the formation of chasmothecia (cleistothecia) on infected surfaces when the colonies of two opposite mating types meet on the infected plant parts and the temperatures are favorable for their development. Chasmothecia are reported from north India, but not from peninsular India, even though powdery mildew is reportedly present in these regions at least since the beginning of the last century. Through systematic survey of ten vineyards in Maharashtra and adjoining Karnataka in peninsular India, we confirmed the absence of chasmothecia under natural conditions. Analysis of temperature data from two locations in Maharashtra showed that the Tmax and Tmin were favourable for chasmothecia initiation (10 °C to 30 °C) and maturation (15 °C to 30 °C) for a sufficient period of time.Multiplex PCR of 120 E. necator field isolates collected from peninsular India showed presence of a single band of 232 bp corresponding to MAT1-2 mating type idiomorph or MAT- phenotype. None of the samples gave band of 408 bp corresponding to MAT1-1 mating type idiomorph. Further, two bands of 408 bp and 232 bp were detected in only one powdery mildew sample collected from Kashmir, in north India while the other nineteen samples gave a single band of 232 bp.  Thus, molecular analysis established that E. necator is not sexually reproducing in Maharashtra due to presence of only one mating type idiomorph. The study also brings out that MAT1-1 mating type idiomorph is not as common in nature as MAT1-2 and explains why in many other countries, too, chasmothecia were first observed as late as half to one century after start of grape cultivation.  &nbsp

Dimensionality of Carbon Nanomaterials Determines the Binding and Dynamics of Amyloidogenic Peptides: Multiscale Theoretical Simulations

Experimental studies have demonstrated that nanoparticles can affect the rate of protein self-assembly, possibly interfering with the development of protein misfolding diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and prion disease caused by aggregation and fibril formation of amyloid-prone proteins. We employ classical molecular dynamics simulations and large-scale density functional theory calculations to investigate the effects of nanomaterials on the structure, dynamics and binding of an amyloidogenic peptide apoC-II(60-70). We show that the binding affinity of this peptide to carbonaceous nanomaterials such as C60, nanotubes and graphene decreases with increasing nanoparticle curvature. Strong binding is facilitated by the large contact area available for π-stacking between the aromatic residues of the peptide and the extended surfaces of graphene and the nanotube. The highly curved fullerene surface exhibits reduced efficiency for π-stacking but promotes increased peptide dynamics. We postulate that the increase in conformational dynamics of the amyloid peptide can be unfavorable for the formation of fibril competent structures. In contrast, extended fibril forming peptide conformations are promoted by the nanotube and graphene surfaces which can provide a template for fibril-growth

Online) An Open Access

ABSTRACT Present investigation was carried out to assess the chemical composition, sensory evaluation, shelf life and microbial quality of ginger peda. Peda was prepared from buffalo milk with constant level of sugar (30 per cent by weight by Khoa) and different levels i.e. 0% (T 0 ), (T 1 ) 2%, (T 2 ) 4% and (T 3 ) 6% of ginger powder by weight of Khoa. The product prepared using 2% ginger powder was found most acceptable on the basis of overall acceptability. The average standard plate count of fresh sample was found to be 8, 6, 5 and 3 x 103 cfu per gm for treatments T0, T1, T2 and T3 respectively. Yeast and mould and coliform count were not observed in fresh peda samples. It was observed that the overall acceptability score of treatment T0, T1, T2 and T3 was 8.49, 8.01, 7.52 and 6.89 respectively. The cost for preparation of bottle gourd Peda for treatment T0, T1, T2 and T3 was Rs. 153.53, Rs.152.42, Rs. 151.34 and Rs. 150.29 per kg, respectively. It can be concluded that the peda with ginger powder can be very well utilized for preparation of nutritious, palatable and low cost Peda by blending 2 percent ginger powder with 95 per cent buffalo milk Khoa on weight basis

Spousal discordance on reports of contraceptive communication, contraceptive use, and ideal family size in rural India: a cross-sectional study

Background Persistent low rates of spacing contraceptive use among young wives in rural India have been implicated in ongoing negative maternal, infant and child health outcomes throughout the country. Gender inequity has been found to consistently predict low rates of contraception. An issue around contraceptive reporting however is that when reporting on contraceptive use, spouses in rural India often provide discordant reports. While discordant reports of contraceptive use potentially impede promotion of contraceptive use, little research has investigated the predictors of discordant reporting. Methods Using data we collected from 867 couples in rural Maharashtra India as part of a men-focused family planning randomized controlled trial. We categorized couples on discordance of men’s and women’s reports of current contraceptive use, communication with their spouse regarding contraception, and ideal family size, and assessed the levels of discordance for each category. We then ran multinomial regression analyses to determine predictors of discordance categories with a focus on women’s empowerment (household and fertility decision-making, women’s education, and women’s knowledge of contraception). Results When individuals reported communicating about contraception and their spouses did not, those individuals were also more likely to report using contraception when their spouses did not. Women’s empowerment was higher in couples in which both couples reported contraception communication or use or in couples in which only wives reported contraception communication or use. There were couple-level characteristics that predicted husbands reporting either contraception use or contraception communication when their wives did not: husband’s education, husband’s familiarity with contraception, and number of children. Conclusions Overall there were clear patterns to differential reporting. Associations with women’s empowerment and contraceptive communication and use suggest a strategy of women’s empowerment to improve reproductive health. Discordant women-only reports suggest that even when programs interact with empowered women, the inclusion of husbands is essential. Husband-only discordant reports highlight the characteristics of men who may be more receptive to family planning messages than are their wives. Family planning programs may be most effective when working with couples rather than just with women, and should focus on improving communication between couples, and supporting them in achieving concordance in their reproductive preferences. Trial registration Clinical Trials Number: NCT01593943, registered May 4, 2012 at clinicaltrials.gov

Intimate partner violence and condom versus other modern contraception use among married women in rural India

Background: Data from India document that spousal intimate partner violence (IPV) is associated with both unintended pregnancy and spacing contraceptive use. Analysis of IPV by type of contraception is lacking. Condom use may be less likely than other spacing contraception in the context of IPV, as it is under male control. This study aims to assess associations of physical and sexual IPV with condom and other contraception use among married women in rural India. We hypothesize that women reporting physical and sexual IPV victimization are significantly less likely to report condom use but not other contraception use, relative to women reporting no such victimization. Methods: Study participants were from the randomized control trial evaluation of CHARM, a male-centered family planning intervention for young married couples in rural Maharashtra, India. Baseline data from women (age 18-30, residing with husbands) were used for analyses; data were restricted to those who were not pregnant at interview (n¼867). Surveys assessed socio-demographics, husband’s physical and sexual IPV perpetration, and an item on primary form of contraception used by women in the past 3 months (subsequently categorized as none, condom, other modern spacing contraception). Multinomial logistic regression analyses assessed associations between past 6 month physical and sexual IPV and contraceptive use, adjusting for age, education, length of marriage, caste, parity, and husband’s alcohol use. All participants provided written informed consent; all study procedures were approved by Institutional Review Boards at UCSD, and ICMR. Findings: Participants were aged 18-30 (SD: 2.5), and 17% reported no formal education.12% and 4% of women reported past 6 month physical 218 Social and Environmental Determinants of Health and sexual IPV, respectively. The majority (72%) reported not using any modern spacing method of contraceptive in the past 3 months; 14% reported condom use and other modern spacing contraception, respectively. Physical IPV was significantly associated with condom use (AOR: 1.89, 95% CI: 1.04, 3.28) but not other contraception use. Sexual violence was associated with other modern contraceptive use (AOR: 2.78, 95% CI: 1.11, 7.00), but not condom use. Interpretation: Women contending with sexual violence were more likely to engage in other modern contraceptive use but not condom use. This finding may indicate that women contending with sexual violence may depend on forms of contraception more within their control. To our knowledge, this study is the first of its kind to examine such associations between IPV and contraception use by type of method. These findings are limited due to the cross-sectional nature of the data, and are not generalizable to the larger population of women in India. Further research is needed to explain the association between recent physical IPV and condom use, a finding inconsistent with prior research

Computational analysis of expression of human embryonic stem cell-associated signatures in tumors

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The cancer stem cell model has been proposed based on the linkage between human embryonic stem cells and human cancer cells. However, the evidences supporting the cancer stem cell model remain to be collected. In this study, we extensively examined the expression of human embryonic stem cell-associated signatures including core genes, transcription factors, pathways and microRNAs in various cancers using the computational biology approach.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We used the class comparison analysis and survival analysis algorithms to identify differentially expressed genes and their associated transcription factors, pathways and microRNAs among normal vs. tumor or good prognosis vs. poor prognosis phenotypes classes based on numerous human cancer gene expression data. We found that most of the human embryonic stem cell- associated signatures were frequently identified in the analysis, suggesting a strong linkage between human embryonic stem cells and cancer cells.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The present study revealed the close linkage between the human embryonic stem cell associated gene expression profiles and cancer-associated gene expression profiles, and therefore offered an indirect support for the cancer stem cell theory. However, many interest issues remain to be addressed further.</p