Collagen Content in Skin and Internal Organs of the Tight Skin Mouse: An Animal Model of Scleroderma.

The Tight Skin mouse is a genetically induced animal model of tissue fibrosis caused by a large in-frame mutation in the gene encoding fibrillin-1 (Fbn-1). We examined the influence of gender on the collagen content of tissues in C57BL/6J wild type (+/+) and mutant Tight Skin (Tsk/+) mice employing hydroxyproline assays. Tissue sections were stained with Masson\u27s trichrome to identify collagen in situ. Adult Tsk/+ mice skin contains ~15% more collagen, on average, than skin from +/+ mice of the same gender. The heart of Tsk/+ males had significantly more collagen than that of +/+ males. No significant gender differences were found in lungs and kidney collagen content. Overall, the collagen content of Tsk/+ males and +/+ males was higher than that of their Tsk/+ and +/+ female counterparts, respectively. Our data confirm increased deposition of collagen in skin and hearts of Tsk/+ mice; however, the effects of the Tsk mutation on collagen content are both tissue specific and gender specific. These results indicate that comparative studies of collagen content between normal and Tsk/+ mice skin and internal organs must take into account gender differences caused by expression of the androgen receptor

A tandem duplication within the fibrillin 1 gene is associated with the mouse tight skin mutation.

Mice carrying the Tight skin (Tsk) mutation have thickened skin and visceral fibrosis resulting from an accumulation of extracellular matrix molecules. These and other connective tissue abnormalities have made Tskl + mice models for scleroderma, hereditary emphysema, and myocardial hypertrophy. Previously we localized Tsk to mouse chromosome 2 in a region syntenic with human chromosome 15. The microfibrillar glycoprotein gene, fibrillin 1 (FBN1), on human chromosome 15q, provided a candidate for the Tsk mutation. We now demonstrate that the Tsk chromosome harbors a 30- to 40-kb genomic duplication within the Fbn1 gene that results in a larger than normal in-frame Fbn1 transcript. These findings provide hypotheses to explain some of the phenotypic characteristics of Tskl + mice and the lethality of Tsk/Tsk embryos

Criblage au champ de l'arachide pour la résistance à l'infestation des graines par A. flavus

1107 génotypes d'arachide, au total, ont été criblés pour l'infestation naturelle des graines par Aspergillus flavus dans des essais avec répétitions au champ au centre ICRISAT, à Patancheru, Inde, de 1984 à 1989. Par la suite, les plus intéressants ont été évalués pour leur résistance à l'infestation des graines au champ par A. flavus dans des essais de criblage plus poussés au centre ICRISAT et au Sénégal pendant la saison des pluies et la saison sèche de 1985 à 1990. Vingt-cinq génotypes se sont avérés résistants à l'infestation des graines par A. flavus, dont 9 testés au Sénégal ont également montré leur résistance dans des situations différentes. La résistance à l'infestation des graines au champ par A. flavus est restée stable dans toutes les situations. Une sécheresse sévère en fin de culture, surtout pendant la maturation des gousses, a joué un rôle important pour un bon criblage de la résistance. Certains génotypes sensibles à la colonisation in vitro des graines par A. flavus (Exotie 6, U4-7-5 et VRR 245) ont présenté une résistance à l'infestation des graines au champ. Le rendement en gousse et la qualité commerciale de certains génotypes résistants au champ (55-437, J11, U4-7-5 et VRR 245) sont satisfaisants. L'intérêt d'une telle résistance est considér

Strain Relaxation Mechanisms and Local Structural Changes in Si_{1-x}$Ge_{x} Alloys

In this work, we address issues pertinent to the understanding of the structural and electronic properties of Si_{1-x} Ge_{x}alloys, namely, (i) how does the lattice constant mismatch between bulk Si and bulk Ge manifests itself in the alloy system? and (ii) what are the relevant strain release mechanisms? To provide answers to these questions, we have carried out an in-depth study of the changes in the local geometric and electronic structures arising from the strain relaxation in Si_{1-x} Ge_{x} alloys using an ab initio molecular dynamics scheme. The optimized lattice constant, while exhibiting a general trend of linear dependence on the composition (Vegard's law), shows a negative deviation from Vegard's law in the vicinity of x=0.5. We delineate the mechanisms responsible for each one of the above features. We show that the radial-strain relaxation through bond stretching is responsible for the overall trend of linear dependence of the lattice constant on the composition. On the other hand, the negative deviation from Vegard's law is shown to arise from the angular-strain relaxation.Comment: 21 pages, 7 figure

Management of Eulophid Seed Borer, Anselmella kerrichi (Narayanan et al.) (Hymenoptera : Chalcidoidea : Eulophidae) on Jamun

A field experiment was conducted at ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru during 2019 to evaluate certain insecticides and botanicals against jamun seed borer, Anselmella keriichi (Naryananet al.). The results revealed that the seed borer infestation was significantly low in –λ cyhalothrin (4.20%) and cypermethrin (5.77%) treatments followed by spinosad (6.36%), deltamethrin (6.40%) and imidacloprid (6.71%) (F=7.9; df=11; P<0.0001). Among the organic insecticides viz., spinosad @ 0.2 mL/L showed significant reduction in jamun seed borer infestation

Tetraspanin (TSP-17) Protects Dopaminergic Neurons against 6-OHDA-Induced Neurodegeneration in <i>C. elegans</i>

Parkinson's disease (PD), the second most prevalent neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer's disease, is linked to the gradual loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. Disease loci causing hereditary forms of PD are known, but most cases are attributable to a combination of genetic and environmental risk factors. Increased incidence of PD is associated with rural living and pesticide exposure, and dopaminergic neurodegeneration can be triggered by neurotoxins such as 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA). In C. elegans, this drug is taken up by the presynaptic dopamine reuptake transporter (DAT-1) and causes selective death of the eight dopaminergic neurons of the adult hermaphrodite. Using a forward genetic approach to find genes that protect against 6-OHDA-mediated neurodegeneration, we identified tsp-17, which encodes a member of the tetraspanin family of membrane proteins. We show that TSP-17 is expressed in dopaminergic neurons and provide genetic, pharmacological and biochemical evidence that it inhibits DAT-1, thus leading to increased 6-OHDA uptake in tsp-17 loss-of-function mutants. TSP-17 also protects against toxicity conferred by excessive intracellular dopamine. We provide genetic and biochemical evidence that TSP-17 acts partly via the DOP-2 dopamine receptor to negatively regulate DAT-1. tsp-17 mutants also have subtle behavioral phenotypes, some of which are conferred by aberrant dopamine signaling. Incubating mutant worms in liquid medium leads to swimming-induced paralysis. In the L1 larval stage, this phenotype is linked to lethality and cannot be rescued by a dop-3 null mutant. In contrast, mild paralysis occurring in the L4 larval stage is suppressed by dop-3, suggesting defects in dopaminergic signaling. In summary, we show that TSP-17 protects against neurodegeneration and has a role in modulating behaviors linked to dopamine signaling

An impact of age, birth order and qualification on women in sports participation levels in Tamilnadu and Pondicherry

The position, a child had by the order of birth significantly affected the child’s growth and personality.  Research in the late twentieth century and early twenty-first century shows even greater influence, contributing to intelligence, career choice, and to a certain degree, success in adulthood. Until the independence of India, The present research is to examine whether the age, order of birth and qualification of women have any impact on women's participation in sports among Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry at different levels. Sixty women players were randomly selected from 4 Colleges of two different states. First half from Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu state and second half from Karaikal, Pondicherry state. The selected subjects were with a brief questionnaire, to find out their level of sports participation, age, order of birth and qualification. Data obtained were subjected to find out statistical significance among the means using 3 (levels - district, state and national participations) x 2 (states -Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry) Factorial analysis. The results proved that there were significant differences in age and qualifications of the different level of women players. There was no significant difference among the states, Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry in age, order of birth and qualifications of the women players. It was concluded that age and qualification play vital role in the participation level of women players

An evaluvation of the self-esteem of women sports participant in various games

The present study was conducted in Tamil Nadu state, India with the objective of studying self-esteem of women sports participant in different games.  Exploratory research design was adopted for the study.  The total sample comprised of 90 playing women in which 30 were Kho - Kho / Kabaddi players, 30 were Badminton / Ball Badminton / Volley Ball players and 30 were Squash Rackets / Table Tennis / Fencing / Tennis players.  Self esteem scale developed by Verma and Kapadia was used to collect the data.  The investigators personally met the respondents by going to their place and administered the tests and collected the data.  Among all the three categories of women sports participants, the Squash Rackets / Table Tennis / Fencing / Tennis were having high level of self esteem followed by Badminton / Ball Badminton and Kho - Kho / Kabaddi players.  Collectively as one group, most of them were having high and medium level of self esteem reflecting that sports performance of women promotes esteem of women.  Through correlation it was found that education and playing experience were significantly and positively related to self esteem of women sports participants.  Hence women with higher education and higher playing experience had higher self esteem