The effect of over exposure of Ultraviolet-B radiation on the physiological characteristics of Aeschynomene aspera L.

The impacts of UV-B radiation (280-/320 nm) increasing in recent decades due todepletion of the ozone layer in the stratosphere. UV-B radiation intensity alters plant ecosystems by reducing their productivity. Penetration of ultraviolet radiation variesamong the different plant species and reflect their sensitivity. The effects of UV- Bradiation was studied in Aeschynomene aspera L. belongs to the family Fabaceae. UV-Bsignificantly decreased the photosynthetic pigments as well as growth characteristics ofthe plant. Phenolic compound was increased but total sugars content were reduced inexposed leaf tissue. Protein content was initially decreased but increased on the 9th day ofUV-B treatment

Impacts of ultraviolet-B radiation on Antioxidant defense system in Aeschynomene aspera L.

Sunlight contains a small amount of short wavelength ultraviolet (UV) lightir radiation, which is harmful to life on planet earth. Penetration of ultraviolet radiationvaries among different plant species and may reflect their sensitivity. The selected plant was exposed to UVBradiation for 9 days and determined the changes

Robust local and non-local transport in the Topological Kondo Insulator SmB6_{6} in the presence of high magnetic field

SmB$_6$ has been predicted to be a Kondo Topological Insulator with topologically protected conducting surface states. We have studied quantitatively the electrical transport through surface states in high quality single crystals of SmB$_6$. We observe a large non-local surface signal at temperatures lower than the bulk Kondo gap scale. Measurements and finite element simulations allow us to distinguish unambiguously between the contributions from different transport channels. In contrast to general expectations, the electrical transport properties of the surface channels was found to be insensitive to high magnetic fields. Local and non-local magnetoresistance measurements allowed us to identify definite signatures of helical spin states and strong inter-band scattering at the surface.Comment: 7 pages, 8 figures, 1 tabl

Radiographic and clinical evaluation of implant prosthetic treatment with one piece versus two piece dental implants: A comparative prospective study

Dental implants are designed to ensure natural tooth replacement based on improved design, simplified placement, and long-term survival. This study aimed to compare one-piece implant (OPI) and two-piece implant (TPI) to determine the success rate over the TPI. This study conducted on 15 patients selected with the age range of 20–60 years to place OPI and TPI. The surgical consent form duly signed by the patients was procured. The implants used were of Adin Implant System, and a follow-up examination was done at 3, 6, and 9 months after implant loading and various clinical and radiographic parameters were noted for both OPI and TPI. The clinical parameters measured were Silness, and Loe gingival index and probing depth and the radiographic parameters included crestal marginal bone loss. Independent Sample t-test and ANOVA were used for statistical analysis. The statistical analysis showed no significant difference between the OPI and TPI based on the gingival index, probing depth, and crestal bone loss. On the contrary, there was a statistical significance in comparing the same parameters during the follow-up period of 3, 6, and 9 months. Over a protracted period, OPIs are better than TPIs by the design and placement procedure. Further research with a higher sample size shall possibly establish esoteric results on a large scale

Predictable repeatability issues with GeneXpert-Xpert MTB/RIF (version 4) derived rifampicin resistant tuberculosis results from South India: Appreciating the limits of a technological marvel!

Background: GeneXpert MTB/RIF (Xpert), the fully automated cartridge-based nucleic acid amplification test for simultaneous identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex and rifampicin resistance (RR), directly from samples is considered as a game changer for tuberculosis (TB) control programs worldwide. Methods: We are reporting serious issues with repeatability among a subgroup of Xpert (Version 4) identified RR results from South Indian state recently switched to Xpert by the National TB control program. Results: We have demonstrated that poor repeatability is frequently associated with those Xpert derived RR results, identified by detection of delayed amplification of any probe in the presence of positive analyte results for all probes. Another significant contributing factor was found to be lower bacterial loads in samples. The repeat tests were done by Xpert and/or by line probe assay depending on smear positivity. The finding is worrying as Xpert is recommended over other tests due to its reportedly better performance among low bacterial load samples such as pediatric, extra-pulmonary, HIV-TB co-infected, and smear negative pulmonary TB and the same samples, it seems are more likely to cause error prone RR results. Conclusions: We recommend for additional genotypic tests with specific mutant probes for detecting mutations at rpoB hot sites and growth based tests for all Xpert derived RR-TB cases identified by the above algorithm for confirmation of the presence of mutation, based on our available data

Mycobacterial and HIV Infections Up-Regulated Human Zinc Finger Protein 134, a Novel Positive Regulator of HIV-1 LTR Activity and Viral Propagation

<div><p>Background</p><p>Concurrent occurrence of HIV and Tuberculosis (TB) infections influence the cellular environment of the host for synergistic existence. An elementary approach to understand such coalition at the molecular level is to understand the interactions of the host and the viral factors that subsequently effect viral replication. Long terminal repeats (LTR) of HIV genome serve as a template for binding trans-acting viral and cellular factors that regulate its transcriptional activity, thereby, deciding the fate of HIV pathogenesis, making it an ideal system to explore the interplay between HIV and the host.</p><p>Methodology/Principal Findings</p><p>In this study, using biotinylated full length HIV-1 LTR sequence as bait followed by MALDI analyses, we identified and further characterized human-Zinc-finger-protein-134 (hZNF-134) as a novel positive regulator of HIV-1 that promoted LTR-driven transcription and viral production. Over-expression of hZNF-134 promoted LTR driven luciferase activity and viral transcripts, resulting in increased virus production while siRNA mediated knockdown reduced both the viral transcripts and the viral titers, establishing hZNF-134 as a positive effector of HIV-1. HIV, <i>Mycobacteria</i> and HIV-TB co-infections increased hZNF-134 expressions in PBMCs, the impact being highest by mycobacteria. Corroborating these observations, primary TB patients (n = 22) recorded extraordinarily high transcript levels of hZNF-134 as compared to healthy controls (n = 16).</p><p>Conclusions/Significance</p><p>With these observations, it was concluded that hZNF-134, which promoted HIV-1 LTR activity acted as a positive regulator of HIV propagation in human host. High titers of hZNF-134 transcripts in TB patients suggest that up-regulation of such positive effectors of HIV-1 upon mycobacterial infection can be yet another mechanism by which mycobacteria assists HIV-1 propagation during HIV-TB co-infections. hZNF-134, an uncharacterized host protein, thus assumes a novel regulatory role during HIV-host interactions. Our study provides new insights into the emerging role of zinc finger proteins in HIV-1 pathogenesis.</p></div

Are WHO approved nucleic acid amplification tests causing large-scale “false identification” of rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis?: Programmatic experience from south india

Introduction: The nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs): Line probe assay and GeneXpert (Xpert) have evolved as the primary tool for identification of rifampicin (RIF)-resistant (RR) tuberculosis (TB) worldwide, primarily because of the ease and speed. We rechecked RR isolates identified by NAATs from presumptive RR TB cases belonging to South India by the Revised National TB Control Program, India using multiple RIF concentrations on Bactec MGIT system and compared the mutation patterns with the resistance levels. Methodology: Standard protocol for Bactec MGIT system as given by the manufacturer modified for the multiple RIF concentrations was used. All the retests were done in a certified BSL3 laboratory. Results: We found that there is a mismatch of up to 20% (RIF breakpoint 0.5 mg/L); the NAATs probably overidentifying RR TB. Half of the cases with mismatch showed a sub-breakpoint rise in resistance level (0.125 mg/L to 0.5 mg/L RIF). Discussion and Conclusion: The probable reasons for the mismatch are “sub-breakpoint low-level resistance mutants,” hetero-resistant bacterial populations, and other inherent test limitations along with the low RR TB prevalence in South India (<5%) among “presumptive multidrug-resistants.” This could be due to the incomplete selection pressure by an inadequate RIF exposure caused by various factors including a low-RIF dosage being used widely and poor Directly observed treatment. To prevent the false diagnosis of RR TB in a massive scale when using NAATs, we may need to enforce a carefully targeted testing approach and a phenotypic susceptibility testing with multiple RIF concentrations for confirmatory purposes

HIV-1 and <i>Mycobacterium bovis</i>BCG infections increased the transcript levels of hZNF-134.

<p>PBMCs were isolated from three healthy donors and infected either with HIV, <i>Mycobacterium bovis</i>BCG or both. The levels of hZNF-134 was measured by qRT-PCR and compared to uninfected controls. (A) hZNF-134 transcript levels upon HIV infection. (B) hZNF-134 transcript levels upon <i>Mycobacterium bovis</i>BCG infection. (C) Comparison of hZNF-134 transcript levels upon HIV and HIV-<i>Mycobacterium bovis</i>BCG co-infections. Uninfected cells were used as controls. The transcript levels were normalized to transcript levels of β-Actin. (D) The relative expression of 9 kb viral transcript was measured in HIV and HIV-<i>Mycobacterium bovis</i>BCG co-infections. The transcript levels were normalized to transcript levels of β-Actin. All experiments were done in triplicate and error bars represent mean ± SD.</p