Differences in smoking associated DNA methylation patterns in South Asians and Europeans

This is a freely-available open access publication. Please cite the published version which is available via the DOI link in this record.Background DNA methylation is strongly associated with smoking status at multiple sites across the genome. Studies have largely been restricted to European origin individuals yet the greatest increase in smoking is occurring in low income countries, such as the Indian subcontinent. We determined whether there are differences between South Asians and Europeans in smoking related loci, and if a smoking score, combining all smoking related DNA methylation scores, could differentiate smokers from non-smokers. Results Illumina HM450k BeadChip arrays were performed on 192 samples from the Southall And Brent REvisited (SABRE) cohort. Differential methylation in smokers was identified in 29 individual CpG sites at 18 unique loci. Interaction between smoking status and ethnic group was identified at the AHRR locus. Ethnic differences in DNA methylation were identified in non-smokers at two further loci, 6p21.33 and GNG12. With the exception of GFI1 and MYO1G these differences were largely unaffected by adjustment for cell composition. A smoking score based on methylation profile was constructed. Current smokers were identified with 100% sensitivity and 97% specificity in Europeans and with 80% sensitivity and 95% specificity in South Asians. Conclusions Differences in ethnic groups were identified in both single CpG sites and combined smoking score. The smoking score is a valuable tool for identification of true current smoking behaviour. Explanations for ethnic differences in DNA methylation in association with smoking may provide valuable clues to disease pathways.Wellcome Trust Enhancement grantMedical Research CouncilDiabetes UKthe British Heart Foundatio

Characteristics of Different Systems for the Solar Drying of Crops

Solar dryers are used to enable the preservation of agricultural crops, food processing industries for dehydration of fruits and vegetables, fish and meat drying, dairy industries for production of milk powder, seasoning of wood and timber, textile industries for drying of textile materials. The fundamental concepts and contexts of their use to dry crops is discussed in the chapter. It is shown that solar drying is the outcome of complex interactions particular between the intensity and duration of solar energy, the prevailing ambient relative humidity and temperature, the characteristics of the particular crop and its pre-preparation and the design and operation of the solar dryer

Genomic Approaches to Enhance Stress Tolerance for Productivity Improvements in Pearl Millet

Pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.], the sixth most important cereal crop (after rice, wheat, maize, barley, and sorghum), is grown as a grain and stover crop by the small holder farmers in the harshest cropping environments of the arid and semiarid tropical regions of sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Millet is grown on ~31 million hectares globally with India in South Asia; Nigeria, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali in western and central Africa; and Sudan, Uganda, and Tanzania in Eastern Africa as the major producers. Pearl millet provides food and nutritional security to more than 500 million of the world’s poorest and most nutritionally insecure people. Global pearl millet production has increased over the past 15 years, primarily due to availability of improved genetics and adoption of hybrids in India and expanding area under pearl millet production in West Africa. Pearl millet production is challenged by various biotic and abiotic stresses resulting in a significant reduction in yields. The genomics research in pearl millet lagged behind because of multiple reasons in the past. However, in the recent past, several efforts were initiated in genomic research resulting into a generation of large amounts of genomic resources and information including recently published sequence of the reference genome and re-sequencing of almost 1000 lines representing the global diversity. This chapter reviews the advances made in generating the genetic and genomics resources in pearl millet and their interventions in improving the stress tolerance to improve the productivity of this very important climate-smart nutri-cereal

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Not AvailableA nursery rearing experiment of fry to fingerlingwas conducted in cages in Dimbhe reservoir of Pune Dis-trict of western India, located at 19060N, 73440Etoevaluate optimum stocking density for better growth per-formance and production of Indian Major Carps, Catla(Catla catla) and Rohu (Labeo rohita) using formulatedfeed with 36% protein. The culture experiment was carriedout in triplicate for the period of 115 days. Catla and Rohufry of 36 ±1.75 mm were stocked in four differentstocking densities viz T1(900 no), T2(1800 no), T3(2700no) and T4(3600 no) in 18 m3water spread area of39393 m sized cages. The composition of catla androhu was 55 and 45%, 47 and 53%, 40 and 60% and 43 and57% in T1;T2;T3and T4respectively. Results of the studyfound significantly (p \ 0.05) highest mean length(145.65 ±2.70 mm), mean weight (57.33 ±3.31 g),specific growth rate (3.76 ±0.22%) and survival (65.5%)in T1as compared to other (T2;T3and T4) experimentaltrials. The highest production in terms of number (1239nos) and biomass (49.64 kg/cage) was significantly(p \ 0.05) higher in T4with its mean length and meanweight (115.23 ±3.73 mm and 37.34 ±1.45 g). Thestudy suggests that stocking density of 3600 nos of fry/27 m3produces maximum fingerling of [100 mm] size in115 days in cages. These findings aid in providing guide-line for stocking density of fry rearing in nursery cages toimprove sustainability of freshwater carp farming in cages.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableA seed rearing experiment was attempted to evaluate the effects of stocking densities in the biofilm-based system reared with pearlspot, Etroplus suratensis on different aquaculture parameters. Pearlspot advanced fry of size (4.67 ± 0.04 cm/1.71 ± 0.03 g) stocked at four different stocking densities viz 50 fish (T1); 100 fish (T2); 150 fish (T3) and 200 fish (T4) m−3 in the biofilm-based rearing system and at the rate of 150 fish m−3 in the clear water fed (CWF) system tanks. The total ammonia nitrogen and dissolved oxygen levels in biofilm tanks with different stocking density were significantly lower than CWF. Diatom was found as dominant plankton in all biofilm treatment tanks in water as well as on substrate. The growth parameters were found to significantly decrease with increasing stocking density in the biofilm-based rearing system. The significant highest individual growth parameters and significantly lowest fish biomass were found in T1. Final fish biomass was found to increase with increasing stocking density up to 150 advanced fry m−3 and then reduced due to decreased survival. Body composition analysis of E. suratensis showed increased protein and decreased lipid levels in all biofilm-based rearing system treatments at different stocking densities compared with clear water fed system. The present investigation findings on plankton abundance, growth, body composition and blood parameters at different stocking densities will provide guidelines for selecting appropriate stocking density for pearlspot advanced fry to fingerling rearing in a low saline biofilm-based system without providing a supplementary dietNot Availabl

Structure-guided identification of a new catalytic motif of oligosaccharyltransferase

Asn-glycosylation is widespread not only in eukaryotes but also in archaea and some eubacteria. Oligosaccharyltransferase (OST) catalyzes the co-translational transfer of an oligosaccharide from a lipid donor to an asparagine residue in nascent polypeptide chains. Here, we report that a thermophilic archaeon, Pyrococcus furiosus OST is composed of the STT3 protein alone, and catalyzes the transfer of a heptasaccharide, containing one hexouronate and two pentose residues, onto peptides in an Asn-X-Thr/Ser-motif-dependent manner. We also determined the 2.7-Å resolution crystal structure of the C-terminal soluble domain of Pyrococcus STT3. The structure-based multiple sequence alignment revealed a new motif, DxxK, which is adjacent to the well-conserved WWDYG motif in the tertiary structure. The mutagenesis of the DK motif residues in yeast STT3 revealed the essential role of the motif in the catalytic activity. The function of this motif may be related to the binding of the pyrophosphate group of lipid-linked oligosaccharide donors through a transiently bound cation. Our structure provides the first structural insights into the formation of the oligosaccharide–asparagine bond