Global expression analysis of the yeast Lachancea (saccharomyces) kluyveri reveals new URC genes involved in pyrimidine catabolism

Pyrimidines are important nucleic acid precursors which are constantly synthesized, degraded, and rebuilt in the cell. Four degradation pathways, two of which are found in eukaryotes, have been described. One of them, the URC pathway, has been initially discovered in our laboratory in the yeast Lachancea kluyveri. Here, we present the global changes in gene expression in L. kluyveri in response to different nitrogen sources, including uracil, uridine, dihydrouracil, and ammonia. The expression pattern of the known URC genes, URC1-6, helped to identify nine putative novel URC genes with a similar expression pattern. The microarray analysis provided evidence that both the URC and PYD genes are under nitrogen catabolite repression in L. kluyveri and are induced by uracil or dihydrouracil, respectively. We determined the function of URC8, which was found to catalyze the reduction of malonate semialdehyde to 3-hydroxypropionate, the final degradation product of the pathway. The other eight genes studied were all putative permeases. Our analysis of double deletion strains showed that the L. kluyveri Fui1p protein transported uridine, just like its homolog in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, but we demonstrated that is was not the only uridine transporter in L. kluyveri. We also showed that the L. kluyveri homologs of DUR3 and FUR4 do not have the same function that they have in S. cerevisiae, where they transport urea and uracil, respectively. In L. kluyveri, both of these deletion strains grew normally on uracil and urea

Tree defence and bark beetles in a drying world: carbon partitioning, functioning and modelling.

Drought has promoted large-scale, insect-induced tree mortality in recent years, with severe consequences for ecosystem function, atmospheric processes, sustainable resources and global biogeochemical cycles. However, the physiological linkages among drought, tree defences, and insect outbreaks are still uncertain, hindering our ability to accurately predict tree mortality under on-going climate change. Here we propose an interdisciplinary research agenda for addressing these crucial knowledge gaps. Our framework includes field manipulations, laboratory experiments, and modelling of insect and vegetation dynamics, and focuses on how drought affects interactions between conifer trees and bark beetles. We build upon existing theory and examine several key assumptions: (1) there is a trade-off in tree carbon investment between primary and secondary metabolites (e.g. growth vs defence); (2) secondary metabolites are one of the main component of tree defence against bark beetles and associated microbes; and (3) implementing conifer-bark beetle interactions in current models improves predictions of forest disturbance in a changing climate. Our framework provides guidance for addressing a major shortcoming in current implementations of large-scale vegetation models, the under-representation of insect-induced tree mortality

Performance tests on Screw Feeder Conveyor for Nodule Transfer Deep Sea Applications

A screw conveyor is a versatile conveyor used in many process plants for the transfer of bulk solids and powders. The following article has written to understand screw conveyor design and selection of the right screw conveyor for underwater applications to convey crushed manganese nodules to the pump system for nodule transfer. The nodules from the sea bed will be collected by a pickup device and crushed into less than 30mm pieces by using a crusher and pumped by a positive displacement pump to the mother vessel. Screw feeder is used to transfer curshed Polymetallic Nodules from hopper to pump system with controlled feed rate. A land based screw feeder is modified to suit the under water applications. Studies on screw conveyors were conducted to examine performance in land as well as underwater. Most of these studies were experimental in nature. This paper presents a critical review on the design and validation of a screw conveyor

HYBRID TECHNIQUE FOR ENHANCING THE ACCURACY OF EARLY PREDICTION OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE

Most people actually have heart disease because of work and self depression. Consequently, every year deaths from heart disease are steadily increasing. While new technologies have been developed worldwide, not all of them are successful in diagnosing heart disease well in advance. This paper looked at the early-stage decision-making strategy for heart disease using Decision Tree, k-means, SVM and neural network. This analysis aims primarily to improve the accuracy with hybrid machine learning using the UCI online data repository. Through the results obtained through this research study it is identified that the hybrid machine learning technique DTSVM is provides more accurate result when compared to all other methods. The 88.3 % accuracy is achieved through this hybrid technique and error rate 11.1%

A rare case study: pre-excited atrial fibrillation in Wolff-Parkinson white syndrome associated with partial ventricular septal defect

Wolff–Parkinson–white (WPW) syndrome is a congenital disorder affecting the hearts’ conduction system, which is recognized by the existence of an accessory pathway (AP) that can lead to pre-excitation of ventricles, paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardias and in severe cases to sudden cardiac death. Thus, AP usually has non-decremental conduction allowing immediate ventricular activation which in case of AF leads to rapid ventricular response with high risk of transformation into ventricular fibrillation and cardiac arrest. Physical examination of this patient revealed the following clinical manifestations of WPW syndrome like severe tachycardia, dizziness and presyncope. The lab findings revealed an increase in the high-sensitive troponin I suggesting the underlying result from atrial fibrillation. And hyperbilirubinemia was shown in the biochemical analysis confirming the concomitant disease of this patient which is Gilbert’s Syndrome. The ECGs depicted the presence of a type A WPW pattern and paroxysmal form of atrial fibrillation (AF). The echocardiograms disclosed the presence of ventricular septal defect (VSD) in the membranous part of the interventricular septum. Both the ECGs and Echocardiograms revealed type A WPW pattern and paroxysmal form of atrial fibrillation respectively. The patient’s heart rate was monitored routinely in the intensive care unit with the help of 24-hour Holter monitoring device, breathing rate and blood pressure to detect the evaluation the patient’s prognosis. This article enhances the difficulties in differential diagnosis, experience of amiodarone uses in acute management, interventional treatment of pre-excited AF and VSD, because this can be a primary manifestation in young patients

Efficacy of the anterograde calcaneo-stop method in the management of flexible flatfoot in children

Background: Flexible flatfoot is one of frequent foot deformity among pediatric population. The calcaneo-stop procedure has been reported to be effective in short-term studies when conservative treatment is not successful. The aim of this study to evaluate the efficacy after removal of screws following the anterograde calcaneo-stop procedure in the treatment of flexible flatfoot in children. Methods: This retrospective study consists of 260 calcaneo-stop procedures performed from the period of January 2016 to December 2024 in 65 patients (130 anterograde calcaneo-stop surgeries and 130 removals of calcaneo-stop implant surgeries), which were evaluated clinically, and instrumental diagnostic techniques such as radiography, photoplantography and pedobarography were implemented. The inclusion criteria of this study consist of patients with symptomatic flexible flatfoot, patients with ages from 6 to 14 years, patients with informed consent, patients with negative Wynne-Davies joint hypermobility test and the exclusion criteria of this study includes the following; patients with ages below 6 years and above 14 years, the time elapsed of 3 years after screw implantation, patients with other skeletal deformities, patients without informed consent. Results: Out of the 130 surgical interventions performed on bilateral flexible flatfoot, which were evaluated in 65 patients after removal the screws following the anterograde calcaneo-stop procedure, revealed no signs of loss correction; which were further evaluated by radiography, photoplantography and pedobarography. Conclusions: The calcaneo-stop procedure is the least invasive and simplest surgical treatment for symptomatic flexible flatfoot in children. The collected data indicated a sufficiently high efficiency of anterograde calcaneo-stop method in the treatment of flexible flatfoot in children

The bark-beetle-associated fungus, endoconidiophora polonica, utilizes the phenolic defense compounds of its host as a carbon source

Norway spruce (Picea abies) is periodically attacked by the bark beetle Ips typographus and its fungal associate, Endoconidiophora polonica, whose infection is thought to be required for successful beetle attack. Norway spruce produces terpenoid resins and phenolics in response to fungal and bark beetle invasion. However, how the fungal associate copes with these chemical defenses is still unclear. In this study, we investigated changes in the phenolic content of Norway spruce bark upon E. polonica infection and the biochemical factors mediating these changes. Although genes encoding the rate-limiting enzymes in Norway spruce stilbene and flavonoid biosynthesis were actively transcribed during fungal infection, there was a significant time-dependent decline of the corresponding metabolites in fungal lesions. In vitro feeding experiments with pure phenolics revealed that E. polonica transforms both stilbenes and flavonoids to muconoid-type ring-cleavage products, which are likely the first steps in the degradation of spruce defenses to substrates that can enter the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Four genes were identified in E. polonica that encode catechol dioxygenases carrying out these reactions. These enzymes catalyze the cleavage of phenolic rings with a vicinal dihydroxyl group to muconoid products accepting a wide range of Norway spruce-produced phenolics as substrates. The expression of these genes and E. polonica utilization of the most abundant spruce phenolics as carbon sources both correlated positively with fungal virulence in several strains. Thus, the pathways for the degradation of phenolic compounds in E. polonica, initiated by catechol dioxygenase action, are important to the infection, growth, and survival of this bark beetle-vectored fungus and may play a major role in the ability of I. typographus to colonize spruce trees.http://www.aspbjournals.orghb2016Genetic

Antioxidant rich flavonoids from Oreocnide integrifolia enhance glucose uptake and insulin secretion and protects pancreatic β-cells from streptozotocin insult

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Insulin deficiency is the prime basis of all diabetic manifestations and agents that can bring about insulin secretion would be of pivotal significance for cure of diabetes. To test this hypothesis, we carried out bioactivity guided fractionation of <it>Oreocnide integrifolia </it>(Urticaceae); a folklore plant consumed for ameliorating diabetic symptoms using experimental models.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We carried out bioassay guided fractionation using RINmF and C2C12 cell line for glucose stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) and glucose uptake potential of fractions. Further, the bioactive fraction was challenged for its GSIS in cultured mouse islets with basal (4.5 mM) and stimulated (16.7 mM) levels of glucose concentrations. The Flavonoid rich fraction (FRF) was exposed to 2 mM streptozotocin stress and the anti-ROS/RNS potential was evaluated. Additionally, the bioactive fraction was assessed for its antidiabetic and anti-apoptotic property <it>in-vivo </it>using multidose streptozotocin induced diabetes in BALB/c mice.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The results suggested FRF to be the most active fraction as assessed by GSIS in RINm5F cells and its ability for glucose uptake in C2C12 cells. FRF displayed significant potential in terms of increasing intracellular calcium and cAMP levels even in presence of a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, IBMX in cultured pancreatic islets. FRF depicted a dose-dependent reversal of all the cytotoxic manifestations except peroxynitrite and NO formation when subjected <it>in-vitro </it>along with STZ. Further scrutinization of FRF for its <it>in-vivo </it>antidiabetic property demonstrated improved glycemic indices and decreased pancreatic β-cell apoptosis.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Overall, the flavonoid mixture has shown to have significant insulin secretogogue, insulinomimetic and cytoprotective effects and can be evaluated for clinical trials as a therapeutant in the management of diabetic manifestations.</p

Volatile Organic Compounds Emitted by Fungal Associates of Conifer Bark Beetles and their Potential in Bark Beetle Control

Conifer bark beetles attack and kill mature spruce and pine trees, especially during hot and dry conditions. These beetles are closely associated with ophiostomatoid fungi of the Ascomycetes, including the genera Ophiostoma, Grosmannia, and Endoconidiophora, which enhance beetle success by improving nutrition and modifying their substrate, but also have negative impacts on beetles by attracting predators and parasites. A survey of the literature and our own data revealed that ophiostomatoid fungi emit a variety of volatile organic compounds under laboratory conditions including fusel alcohols, terpenoids, aromatic compounds, and aliphatic alcohols. Many of these compounds already have been shown to elicit behavioral responses from bark beetles, functioning as attractants or repellents, often as synergists to compounds currently used in bark beetle control. Thus, these compounds could serve as valuable new agents for bark beetle management. However, bark beetle associations with fungi are very complex. Beetle behavior varies with the species of fungus, the stage of the beetle life cycle, the host tree quality, and probably with changes in the emission rate of fungal volatiles. Additional research on bark beetles and their symbiotic associates is necessary before the basic significance of ophiostomatoid fungal volatiles can be understood and their applied potential realized

Effects of Therapeutic Weight Loss Exercises on Obese Individuals with Lumbar Hyperlordosis (LHL) and Excessive Anterior Pelvic Tilt (EAPT)

Obesity, especially with upper and lower limbs, is a key cause in increased sensitivity to musculoskeletal diseases (MDs). Pelvic tilt is the pelvic alignment with the femur and the rest of the body. The correct posture and alignment of the pelvis to the femur relies upon its orientation, and the natural curvature of the lumbar and cervical spine regions is Lordosis. Our study aimed to investigate impacts on obese persons with lumbar hyperlordosis and excess intertidal pelvic tilt in the weight reduction activities. In a fitness facility, 50 overweight and obese men suffering lumbar and excessive anterior pelvic tilt, between 25 and 40 years, underwent the intervention studies. The conducted exercises were carried out on the basis of the therapeutic weight reduction. The findings before and after intervention revealed the provided therapy was substantial (p&lt;0.005). The serious lumbar hyperlordosis and excessive anterior pelvic tilt are directly related to an increase in BMI, sedentary lifestyles and physical inactiveness play an important etiological part for obesity in lumbar hyperlordosis and excessive anterior pelvic tilt development and progression. Essentially, early diagnosis and physical therapist-led intervention can rectify the deformity with little operational morbidity.</jats:p