Fluorescent turn-on probes for wash-free mRNA imaging via covalent site-specific enzymatic labeling.

Investigating the many roles RNA plays in cellular regulation and function has increased demand for tools to explore RNA tracking and localization within cells. Our recently reported RNA-TAG (transglycosylation at guanine) approach uses an RNA-modifying enzyme, tRNA-guanine transglycosylase (TGT), to accomplish covalent labeling of an RNA of interest with fluorescent tracking agents in a highly selective and efficient manner. Unfortunately, labeling by this method currently suffers from a high nonspecific fluorescent background and is currently unsuitable for imaging RNA within complex cellular environments. Herein we report the design and synthesis of novel fluorogenic thiazole orange probes that significantly lower nonspecific binding and background fluorescence and, as a result, provide up to a 100-fold fluorescence intensity increase after labeling. Using these fluorogenic labeling agents, we were able to image mRNA expressed in Chinese Hamster Ovary cells in a wash-free manner

A Rapid Micropropagation of nodal explants of Eclipta alba (L.); A Multipurpose Medicinal Herb

An efficient in vitro regeneration protocol was developed for medicinally important plant Eclipta alba. Successful regeneration and multiplication of nodal explants of E. alba were obtained in cytokinin enriched B5 medium. Several cytokinins [6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), kinetin (KIN), thidiazuron (TDZ), gibberellic acid (GA3) and spermidine] were supplemented alone and its combinations for obtaining better results. The best growth frequency response was achieved in the combinations of 1.0 BAP + 0.3 KIN + 1.5 GA3 (mg/L) concentration (7.4 ± 0.9 cm shoot length & 100 % regeneration). Better roots were developed in half-strength B5 medium along with IBA (1.0 mg/L) hormone and exhibits maximum root length (7.0 ± 0.8cm) along with multiple roots (8.8 ± 0.8) at 92 %. The well-developed Plantlets were successfully acclimatized to plastic-cups containing autoclaved sand and garden soil (1:1) and kept undisturbed with plastic cover for maintaining the humidity. The plantlets were watered regularly and maintained at green house

Spontaneous Ratchet Effect in a Granular Gas

The spontaneous clustering of a vibrofluidized granular gas is employed to generate directed transport in two different compartmentalized systems: a "granular fountain" in which the transport takes the form of convection rolls, and a "granular ratchet" with a spontaneous particle current perpendicular to the direction of energy input. In both instances, transport is not due to any system-intrinsic anisotropy, but arises as a spontaneous collective symmetry breaking effect of many interacting granular particles. The experimental and numerical results are quantitatively accounted for within a flux model.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures; Fig. 4 has been reduced in size and qualit

Evaluating disease severity in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Accurate assessment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) disease severity is integral to the care provided to patients with IPF. However, to date, there are no generally accepted or validated staging systems. There is an abundance of data on using information acquired from physiological, radiological and pathological parameters, in isolation or in combination, to assess disease severity in IPF. Recently, there has been interest in using serum biomarkers and computed tomography-derived quantitative lung fibrosis measures to stage disease severity in IPF. This review will focus on the suggested methods for staging IPF, at baseline and on serial assessment, their strengths and limitations, as well as future developments

Drug utilization study in ophthalmology out patients in a tertiary care teaching hospital

Background: The objective of the study was to evaluate the utilization of the drugs in the ophthalmology outpatient department.Methods: Present study was conducted at ESIC medical college & PGIMSR Ophthalmology Department. Total 700 prescriptions were collected from 700 patients and prescriptions were analysed for total and average number drugs per prescription, duration of treatment, dosage form, drug encounter with antibiotics and other group of drugs also percentage of drugs prescribed by generic names.Results: After analysing the prescriptions, average number of drugs per prescription was 2.14 and the range of drugs prescribed were varied from 1-5. Total drugs prescribed were 1502 with 7 different dosage forms. Most commonly prescribed were antibiotics (28.14%) followed by antihistamines (14.28%) and vitamins and minerals (14.28%). Thirdly ocular lubricants were frequently prescribed (12.12%). Fluroquinolones (moxifloxacin) were very commonly prescribed in antibiotics. The common prescription writing errors were very minimal.Conclusions: The present study revealed trend of prescribing practices of the Opthalmologists of the Institute. This study shows less polypharmacy, use of injection was limited and majority of the drugs prescribed in generic and hospital formulary drug list. Antibiotics were prescribed most frequently

Poincar\'{e} cycle of a multibox Ehrenfest urn model with directed transport

We propose a generalized Ehrenfest urn model of many urns arranged periodically along a circle. The evolution of the urn model system is governed by a directed stochastic operation. Method for solving an $N$-ball, $M$-urn problem of this model is presented. The evolution of the system is studied in detail. We find that the average number of balls in a certain urn oscillates several times before it reaches a stationary value. This behavior seems to be a peculiar feature of this directed urn model. We also calculate the Poincar\'{e} cycle, i.e., the average time interval required for the system to return to its initial configuration. The result can be easily understood by counting the total number of all possible microstates of the system.Comment: 10 pages revtex file with 7 eps figure

Challenges in the registration of serial CT images from lung radiotherapy patients

Radiation induced lung damage is an unwanted side effect of curative radiotherapy. Radiological findings are often used as indicators of lung damage, which is identifiable as changes in the baseline imaging features (e.g., anatomy shape, intensity and texture). In this work we qualitatively investigate the challenges in registering baseline and followup CT images acquired 12 months after radiotherapy

The biology and population dynamics of the spadenose shark Scoliodon laticaudus in the coastal waters of Maharashtra State, India

The study of the biology and dynamics of Scoliodon laticaudus indicates a fast growth of 21.8 cm, 54.5 cm and 65.5 cm, in the first, second, and third year respectively. The von Bertalanffy growth equation was fitted to the above values for which the parameters calculated (on an annual basis) were : K = 0.6812, L^ = 74.023 cm, T_ = 12 years and t„= -0.01 year. The maximum length of this shark in the Mumbai waters is about 66 cm (3.1 years). The weight growth parameters (on an annual basis) for sexes combined by the VBGF are K = 0.5823, W_ = 1756.93 g, t^ = 0.0032 year. The length at birth is 14 cm with a gestation period of 4 months. The ovarian and uterine cycles operate concurrently with broods being released once a month. The average fecundity was 11 embryos per female. The LJL^ was estimated to be 0.47 - 0.54. Scoliodon laticaudus is an active carnivore with a mixed diet composing of small sized teleosts, prawns, squilla and molluscs. There is no evidence of cannibalism. The study of the dynamics of Scoliodon laticaudus indicates that the stock is exploited at its optimum level. Therefore any increase in effort from the present level may not increase the yield and it is advisable to sustain the effort at the present level. For the sharks (all species combined) and the elasmobranchs there is still some scope for increasing the effort in order to reach the MSY level

A successful obstetric outcome in pregnancy complicated with cor pulmonale, pulmonary hypertension secondary to pulmonary tuberculosis: a case report

Pregnancy in patients with pulmonary hypertension and cor pulmonale is associated with high morbidity and mortality. The timing of termination of pregnancy, mode of delivery, labour analgesia and anaesthesia and management during puerperium are challenging issues which need to be resolved. Authors report a case of a 30-year-old primigravida with cor pulmonale and severe pulmonary artery hypertension secondary to past pulmonary tuberculosis, who delivered a healthy baby vaginally, due to its rarity and good outcome. Early diagnosis, effective management of aggravating factors like anaemia and hypertension, informed choice by the couple regarding route of delivery and multidisciplinary approach are the keys to successful outcomes in patients with cor pulmonale