Pterobryopsis kegeliana (Müll. Hal.) M. Fleisch. and P. scabriuscula (Mitt.) M. Fleisch. - new to the moss flora of the Eastern Ghats

Pterobryopsis kegeliana (Müll. Hal.) M. Fleisch., so far known from Pachmarhi and the Western Ghats in India, and P. scabriuscula (Mitt.) M. Fleisch., known from the Western Ghats, Sri Lanka and Thailand (?), are recorded for the first time in the Eastern Ghats. A perusal of literature revealed that Meteorium scabriusculum Mitt., the holotype of P. scabriuscula, collected by Law from Concan, presumed to be a place in Thailand by Noguchi refers to only the present-day Konkan region in Peninsular India. Hence, the distribution of P. scabriuscula is amended here. Detailed descriptions with figures and photographic plates are provided

The moss genus Aulacopilum (Erpodiaceae, Bryophyta) new to the Eastern Ghats in Peninsular India

Aulacopilum beccarii, earlier known from the Western Ghats for India is added here to the moss flora of the Eastern Ghats. This record is just the second for Asia and India as well, and on the other hand, the genus is new to the Eastern Ghats. A brief description with figures and a photographic plate are provided

The moss genus Regmatodon Brid. (Regmatodontaceae) - new to the Eastern Ghats

Regmatodon orthostegius Mont. was earlier reported from Central India, the Himalaya, Northeast India and the Western Ghats in India. However, while collecting bryophytes from the Eastern Ghats, the authors came across a moss which was later identified as Regmatodon orthostegius which is a new distributional record for this genus as well. A detailed description with figure and photographic plates is provided

Proteinuria in early detection of human leptospirosis

Background: Leptospirosis is an infectious disease caused by spirochetes bacteria Leptospira spp. and is reported from all over the world. As the clinical signs and symptoms of Leptospirosis often are nonspecific and the disease is early mistaken for other major infectious febrile illness, laboratory test to confirm the clinical diagnosis thus is essential for optimal treatment and patient management.Methods: Serum and urine samples were collected from patients clinically suspected cases of Leptospirosis. Preparations of urine concentrate by precipitation and centrifugation.Results: It was interesting to note that immunoglobulins are present in the urine protein concentrate of patients with Leptospirosis on the day of admission in the hospital, with urine albumin reports either positive or negative. By ELISA test it was noted that antibodies present in urine and serum were of both IgM and IgG class against the Leptospiral antigens from three pathogenic serovars and one non-pathogenicserovars. In the immunospot test which was done and compared with standard ELISA test for serum antibodies using same antigen showed that antibodies present in urine protein concentrate, which was collected on the day of admission when patients come with suspecting symptoms of Leptospirosis.Conclusions: Proteinuria is the most frequent abnormality noted in all patients at some stage of illness. This is the first report on the presence of immunoglobulins in urine samples, which were found to be of IgM and IgG classes. These findings are of significant diagnostic potential as a simple immune-spot test can be done for detecting anti-leptospiral antibodies in urine samples of suspected cases. The present attempt was aimed at developing an immunospot test, a simple and rapid diagnostic test to detect Leptospirosis using urine samples of clinically suspected patients of the infection at the earliest. It was found to be in good correlation with standard ELISA method which is being used to detect serum antibodies in Leptospira infected patients using the same antigen

Genus Symphysodontella M. Fleisch. (Pterobryaceae: Bryophyta) - new to the moss flora of the Eastern Ghats

Surveys carried out in the Kolli Hills of Eastern Ghats resulted in the discovery of 2 species of Symphysodontella M. Fleisch. namely S. cylindracea (Mont.) M. Fleisch. and S. involuta (Thwaites & Mitt.) M. Fleisch. of which the former is new to the moss flora of India whereas the latter is new to the moss flora of Eastern Ghats. Detailed descriptions with figures substantiated by photo plates and a key to distinguish the two species are provided. Incidentally, genus Symphysodontella is new to the moss flora of Eastern Ghats

Genus Notoscyphus Mitt. - New to the liverwort flora of the Eastern Ghats

Notoscyphus paroicus Schiffn. has been discovered in the Kolli Hills of Eastern Ghats. The genus is new to the liverwort flora of this region. A brief description with figures and photo plate is provided

The moss Cyathophorum hookerianum (Griff.) Mitt. - new to Peninsular India from the Eastern Ghats

Surveys carried out in the Kolli Hills of Eastern Ghats led to the discovery of Cyathophorum hookerianum (Griff.) Mitt. which is new to Peninsular India. On the other hand, the genus Cyathophorum P. Beauv. is new to the moss flora of the Eastern Ghats. A detailed description with illustrations and microphotographs are provided

Deciphering von Hippel-Lindau (VHL/Vhl)-Associated Pancreatic Manifestations by Inactivating Vhl in Specific Pancreatic Cell Populations

The von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) syndrome is a pleomorphic familial disease characterized by the development of highly vascularized tumors, such as hemangioblastomas of the central nervous system, pheochromocytomas, renal cell carcinomas, cysts and neuroendocrine tumors of the pancreas. Up to 75% of VHL patients are affected by VHL-associated pancreatic lesions; however, very few reports in the published literature have described the cellular origins and biological roles of VHL in the pancreas. Since homozygous loss of Vhl in mice resulted in embryonic lethality, this study aimed to characterize the functional significance of VHL in the pancreas by conditionally inactivating Vhl utilizing the Cre/LoxP system. Specifically, Vhl was inactivated in different pancreatic cell populations distinguished by their roles during embryonic organ development and their endocrine lineage commitment. With Cre recombinase expression directed by a glucagon promoter in α-cells or an insulin promoter in β-cells, we showed that deletion of Vhl is dispensable for normal functions of the endocrine pancreas. In addition, deficiency of VHL protein (pVHL) in terminally differentiated α-cells or β-cells is insufficient to induce pancreatic neuroendocrine tumorigenesis. Most significantly, we presented the first mouse model of VHL-associated pancreatic disease in mice lacking pVHL utilizing Pdx1-Cre transgenic mice to inactivate Vhl in pancreatic progenitor cells. The highly vascularized microcystic adenomas and hyperplastic islets that developed in Pdx1-Cre;Vhl f/f homozygous mice exhibited clinical features similar to VHL patients. Establishment of three different, cell-specific Vhl knockouts in the pancreas have allowed us to provide evidence suggesting that VHL is functionally important for postnatal ductal and exocrine pancreas, and that VHL-associated pancreatic lesions are likely to originate from progenitor cells, not mature endocrine cells. The novel model systems reported here will provide the basis for further functional and genetic studies to define molecular mechanisms involved in VHL-associated pancreatic diseases

Notes for genera: basal clades of Fungi (including Aphelidiomycota, Basidiobolomycota, Blastocladiomycota, Calcarisporiellomycota, Caulochytriomycota, Chytridiomycota, Entomophthoromycota, Glomeromycota, Kickxellomycota, Monoblepharomycota, Mortierellomycota, Mucoromycota, Neocallimastigomycota, Olpidiomycota, Rozellomycota and Zoopagomycota)

Compared to the higher fungi (Dikarya), taxonomic and evolutionary studies on the basal clades of fungi are fewer in number. Thus, the generic boundaries and higher ranks in the basal clades of fungi are poorly known. Recent DNA based taxonomic studies have provided reliable and accurate information. It is therefore necessary to compile all available information since basal clades genera lack updated checklists or outlines. Recently, Tedersoo et al. (MycoKeys 13:1--20, 2016) accepted Aphelidiomycota and Rozellomycota in Fungal clade. Thus, we regard both these phyla as members in Kingdom Fungi. We accept 16 phyla in basal clades viz. Aphelidiomycota, Basidiobolomycota, Blastocladiomycota, Calcarisporiellomycota, Caulochytriomycota, Chytridiomycota, Entomophthoromycota, Glomeromycota, Kickxellomycota, Monoblepharomycota, Mortierellomycota, Mucoromycota, Neocallimastigomycota, Olpidiomycota, Rozellomycota and Zoopagomycota. Thus, 611 genera in 153 families, 43 orders and 18 classes are provided with details of classification, synonyms, life modes, distribution, recent literature and genomic data. Moreover, Catenariaceae Couch is proposed to be conserved, Cladochytriales Mozl.-Standr. is emended and the family Nephridiophagaceae is introduced

Hybridization of Co₃S₄ and Graphitic Carbon Nitride Nanosheets for High-performance Nonenzymatic Sensing of H₂O₂

The development of efficient H2O2 sensors is crucial because of their multiple functions inside and outside the biological system and the adverse effects that a higher concentration can cause. This work reports a highly sensitive and selective non-enzymatic electrochemical H2O2 sensor achieved through the hybridization of Co3S4 and graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets (GCNNS). The Co3S4 is synthesized via a hydrothermal method, and the bulk g-C3N4 (b-GCN) is prepared by the thermal polycondensation of melamine. The as-prepared b-GCN is exfoliated into nanosheets using solvent exfoliation, and the composite with Co3S4 is formed during nanosheet formation. Compared to the performances of pure components, the hybrid structure demonstrates excellent electroreduction towards H2O2. We investigate the H2O2-sensing performance of the composite by cyclic voltammetry, differential pulse voltammetry, and amperometry. As an amperometric sensor, the Co3S4/GCNNS exhibits high sensitivity over a broad linear range from 10 nM to 1.5 mM H2O2 with a high detection limit of 70 nM and fast response of 3 s. The excellent electrocatalytic properties of the composite strengthen its potential application as a sensor to monitor H2O2 in real samples. The remarkable enhancement of the electrocatalytic activity of the composite for H2O2 reduction is attributed to the synergistic effect between Co3S4 and GCNNS