Gender Based Mood Analysis on Purchase of Wrist Watches in Bangalore, Karnataka

Buying behavior and spending pattern are highly influenced by mood of the customer in general. Mood shapes person’s attention, choices of the product and purchasing decision though the life span of mood is short. Organizations must find out means and measures to trigger customers’ mood into positive that in turn will induce them to buy the product. This article focuses on gender-based mood analysis on purchase of wrist watches. The researcher has adopted structured questionnaire to get the primary responses from the respondent to study how far mood varies among the genders on purchase of wrist watches and researcher has made framework to highlight the order of the measures / attributes to be followed to trigger the customers’ mood. The researcher has applied descriptive statistics to present the key aspects of mood of the respondents and applied ranking method to identify the attribute that trigger the mood of the potential customers. It is concluded that the attribute of demonstration of wrist watches features in specific to men and women, building a community group and attribute of need, elite and self-esteem, sense of accomplishment, aspiration, and marketing communication tactics are some of the significant attributes that trigger the customers to buy wrist watches from highest order to lowest order

Determination and uncertainty analysis of inorganic arsenic in rice by UHPLC-ICPMS

The present study arose from the need of to determine inorganic arsenic (iAs) at low levels in rice. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (UHPLC-ICPMS) using Kinetic Energy Discrimination (KED) mode to eliminate spectral interferences was used for analysis of iAs. Sample preparation involves extraction of inorganic arsenic (sum of As3+ and As5+) with water by heating at 90 °C for 5 min in water bath. Separation is accomplished with a reversed-phase ion pack column using a gradient chromatographic method followed by ICPMS analysis within 5 min. The method was validated in accordance with Commission Regulation (EU) No 836/2011 and performance characteristics were verifi ed. Acceptable values were obtained for specifi city, repeatability (HorRatr < 0.6), within-lab reproducibility (HorRatR < 0.3) with recovery 80-90%, limit of quantifi cation (0.02 mg/ kg), fi tness-for-purpose and trueness (using CRM); thus, the method can be considered for offi cial control purposes

Nickel sulphide-carbon composite hole transporting material for (CH3NH3PbI3) planar heterojunction perovskite solar cell

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Elsevier via the DOI in this recordThe present work reports about the low-cost inorganic nickel sulphide-carbon composite synthesized using the simple chemical method and to be used as hybrid hole extraction and as a counter electrode material for perovskite (CH3NH3PbI3)-based solar cells (PSCs). The structural analysis confirms the existence of nickel sulphide (NiS) crystalline phase composed of small-sized crystallites. The optimal bandgap values of the prepared perovskite (1.51 eV) and NiS (3.71 eV) materials found to be favorable in achieving the active absorbing and hole extraction properties in PSCs. The surface morphology of the nickel sulphide materials is found to be highly dependent on the NiS-carbon composition. The current density-voltage (J-V) results of the fabricated perovskite solar cells with nickel sulphide-carbon composite hole transporting layer (HTL) suggests that incorporation of commercial carbon paste into the nickel sulphide nanoparticles tends to promote the charge carrier transporting ability and resulted in yielding high power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 5.20%, when compared to that of the bare NiS (1.87%). The results show that this nickel sulphide-carbon composite can serve as an efficient dual role as an HTL to transport holes and as a conductive counter electrode for the planar heterojunction PSCs with the structure FTO/compact-TiO2/porous-TiO2/perovskite/NiS-carbon. So, nickel sulphide-carbon composite can be considered as an efficient replacement for the other unstable HTMs and high-cost metal counter electrodes used in PSCs.TEQIP, IndiaUTFORSK program, NorwayWestern Norway University of Applied Sciences, Norwa

RNAi as a management tool for the western corn rootworm, \u3ci\u3eDiabrotica virgifera virgifera\u3c/i\u3e

The western corn rootworm (WCR), Diabrotica virgifera virgifera, is the most important pest of corn in the US Corn Belt. Economic estimates indicate that costs of control and yield loss associated with WCR damage exceed $US 1 billion annually. Historically, corn rootworm management has been extremely difficult because of its ability to evolve resistance to both chemical insecticides and cultural control practices. Since 2003, the only novel commercialized developments in rootworm management have been transgenic plants expressing Bt insecticidal proteins. Four transgenic insecticidal proteins are currently registered for rootworm management, and field resistance to proteins from the Cry3 family highlights the importance of developing traits with new modes of action. One of the newest approaches for controlling rootworm pests involves RNA interference (RNAi). This review describes the current understanding of the RNAi mechanisms in WCR and the use of this technology for WCR management. Further, the review addresses ecological risk assessment of RNAi and insect resistance management of RNAi for corn rootworm

RNAi as a management tool for the western corn rootworm, \u3ci\u3eDiabrotica virgifera virgifera\u3c/i\u3e

The western corn rootworm (WCR), Diabrotica virgifera virgifera, is the most important pest of corn in the US Corn Belt. Economic estimates indicate that costs of control and yield loss associated with WCR damage exceed $US 1 billion annually. Historically, corn rootworm management has been extremely difficult because of its ability to evolve resistance to both chemical insecticides and cultural control practices. Since 2003, the only novel commercialized developments in rootworm management have been transgenic plants expressing Bt insecticidal proteins. Four transgenic insecticidal proteins are currently registered for rootworm management, and field resistance to proteins from the Cry3 family highlights the importance of developing traits with new modes of action. One of the newest approaches for controlling rootworm pests involves RNA interference (RNAi). This review describes the current understanding of the RNAi mechanisms in WCR and the use of this technology for WCR management. Further, the review addresses ecological risk assessment of RNAi and insect resistance management of RNAi for corn rootworm

RNAi induced knockdown of a cadherin-like protein (EF531715) does not affect toxicity of Cry34/35Ab1 or Cry3Aa to \u3ci\u3eDiabrotica virgifera virgifera\u3c/i\u3e larvae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

The western corn rootworm (WCR), Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte, is an important maize pest throughout most of the U.S. Corn Belt. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) insecticidal proteins including modified Cry3Aa and Cry34/35Ab1 have been expressed in transgenic maize to protect against WCR feeding damage. To date, there is limited information regarding the WCR midgut target sites for these proteins. In this study, we examined whether a cadherin-like gene from Diabrotica virgifera virgifera (DvvCad; Gen-Bank accession # EF531715) associated with WCR larval midgut tissue is necessary for Cry3Aa or Cry34/ 35Ab1 toxicity. Experiments were designed to examine the sensitivity of WCR to trypsin activated Cry3Aa and Cry34/35Ab1 after oral feeding of the DvvCad dsRNA to knockdown gene expression. Quantitative real-time PCR confirmed that DvvCad mRNA transcript levels were reduced in larvae treated with cadherin dsRNA. Relative cadherin expression by immunoblot analysis and nano-liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (nanoLC-MS) of WCR neonate brush border membrane vesicle (BBMV) preparations exposed to DvvCad dsRNA confirmed reduced cadherin expression when compared to BBMV from untreated larvae. However, the larval mortality and growth inhibition of WCR neonates exposed to cadherin dsRNA for two days followed by feeding exposure to either Cry3Aa or Cry34/35Ab1 for four days was not significantly different to that observed in insects exposed to either Cry3Aa or Cry34/35Ab1 alone. In combination, these results suggest that cadherin is unlikely to be involved in the toxicity of Cry3Aa or Cry34/35Ab1 to WCR

Disruption of Nrf2 enhances susceptibility to severe airway inflammation and asthma in mice

Oxidative stress has been postulated to play an important role in the pathogenesis of asthma; although a defect in antioxidant responses has been speculated to exacerbate asthma severity, this has been difficult to demonstrate with certainty. Nuclear erythroid 2 p45-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a redox-sensitive basic leucine zipper transcription factor that is involved in the transcriptional regulation of many antioxidant genes. We show that disruption of the Nrf2 gene leads to severe allergen-driven airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness in mice. Enhanced asthmatic response as a result of ovalbumin sensitization and challenge in Nrf2-disrupted mice was associated with more pronounced mucus cell hyperplasia and infiltration of eosinophils into the lungs than seen in wild-type littermates. Nrf2 disruption resulted in an increased expression of the T helper type 2 cytokines interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and in splenocytes after allergen challenge. The enhanced severity of the asthmatic response from disruption of the Nrf2 pathway was a result of a lowered antioxidant status of the lungs caused by lower basal expression, as well as marked attenuation, of the transcriptional induction of multiple antioxidant genes. Our studies suggest that the responsiveness of Nrf2-directed antioxidant pathways may act as a major determinant of susceptibility to allergen-mediated asthma

Control of western corn rootworm via RNAi traits in maize: Lethal and sublethal effects of Sec23 dsRNA

Background: RNA interference (RNAi) triggered by maize plants expressing RNA hairpins against specific western corn rootworm ( WCR) transcripts have proven to be effective at controlling this pest. To provide robust crop protection, mRNA transcripts targeted by double-stranded RNA must be sensitive to knockdown and encode essential proteins. Results: Using WCR adult feeding assays, we identified Sec23 as a highly lethal RNAi target. Sec23 encodes a coatomer protein, a component of the coat protein (COPII) complex that mediates ER-Golgi transport. The lethality detected in WCR adults was also observed in early instar larvae, the life stage causing most of the crop damage, suggesting that WCR adults can serve as an alternative to larvae for dsRNA screening. Surprisingly, over 85% transcript inhibition resulted in less than 40% protein knockdown, suggesting that complete protein knockdown is not necessary for Sec23 RNAi-mediated mortality. The efficacy of Sec23 dsRNA for rootworm control was confirmed in planta; T0maize events carrying rootwormSec23 hairpin transgenes showed high levels of root protection in greenhouse assays. A reduction in larval survival and weight were observed in the offspring of WCR females exposed to Sec23 dsRNA LC25in diet bioassays. Conclusion: We describe Sec23 as RNAi target for in planta rootworm control. High mortality in exposed adult and larvae and moderate sublethal effects in the offspring of females exposed to Sec23 dsRNA LC25, suggest the potential for field application of this RNAi trait and the need to factor in responses to sublethal exposure into insect resistance management programs. Includes supplemental materials

Disruption of Nrf2, a Key Inducer of Antioxidant Defenses, Attenuates ApoE-Mediated Atherosclerosis in Mice

Background: Oxidative stress and inflammation are two critical factors that drive the formation of plaques in atherosclerosis. Nrf2 is a redox-sensitive transcription factor that upregulates a battery of antioxidative genes and cytoprotective enzymes that constitute the cellular response to oxidative stress. Our previous studies have shown that disruption of Nrf2 in mice (Nrf2-/-) causes increased susceptibility to pulmonary emphysema, asthma and sepsis due to increased oxidative stress and inflammation. Here we have tested the hypothesis that disruption of Nrf2 in mice causes increased atherosclerosis. Principal Findings: To investigate the role of Nrf2 in the development of atherosclerosis, we crossed Nrf2-/- mice with apoliporotein E-deficient (ApoE-/- mice. ApoE-/- and ApoE-/- Nrf2-/- mice were fed an atherogenic diet for 20 weeks, and plaque area was assessed in the aortas. Surprisingly, ApoE-/- Nrf2-/- mice exhibited significantly smaller plaque area than ApoE-/- controls (11.5% vs 29.5%). This decrease in plaque area observed in ApoE-/- Nrf2-/- mice was associated with a significant decrease in uptake of modified low density lipoproteins (AcLDL) by isolated macrophages from ApoE-/- Nrf2-/- mice. Furthermore, atherosclerotic plaques and isolated macrophages from ApoE-/- Nrf2-/- mice exhibited decreased expression of the scavenger receptor CD36. Conclusions: Nrf2 is pro-atherogenic in mice, despite its antioxidative function. The net pro-atherogenic effect of Nrf2 may be mediated via positive regulation of CD36. Our data demonstrates that the potential effects of Nrf2-targeted therapies on cardiovascular disease need to be investigated.9 page(s

RNAi targeting of rootworm \u3ci\u3eTroponin I\u3c/i\u3e transcripts confers root protection in maize

Western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera, is the major agronomically important pest of maize in the US Corn Belt. To augment the repertoire of the available dsRNA-based traits that control rootworm, we explored a potentially haplolethal gene target, wings up A (wupA), which encodes Troponin I. Troponin I, a component of the Troponin-Tropomyosin complex, is an inhibitory protein involved in muscle contraction. In situ hybridization showed that feeding on wupA-targeted dsRNAs caused systemic transcript knockdown in D. v. virgifera larvae. The knockdown of wupA transcript, and by extension Troponin I protein, led to deterioration of the striated banding pattern in larval body muscle and decreased muscle integrity. Additionally, the loss of function of the circular muscles surrounding the alimentary system led to significant accumulation of food material in the hind gut, which is consistent with a loss of peristaltic motion of the alimentary canal. In this study, we demonstrate that wupA dsRNA is lethal in D. v. virgifera larvae when fed via artificial diet, with growth inhibition of up to 50% within two days of application. Further, wupA hairpins can be stably expressed and detected in maize. Maize expressing wupA hairpins exhibit robust root protection in greenhouse bioassays, with several maize transgene integration events showing root protection equivalent to commercial insecticidal protein-expressing maize