Androgen-induced rhox homeobox genes modulate the expression of AR-regulated genes

Rhox5, the founding member of the reproductive homeobox on the X chromosome (Rhox) gene cluster, encodes a homeodomain-containing transcription factor that is selectively expressed in Sertoli cells, where it promotes the survival of male germ cells. To identify Rhox5-regulated genes, we generated 15P-1 Sertoli cell clones expressing physiological levels of Rhox5 from a stably transfected expression vector. Microarray analysis identified many genes altered in expression in response to Rhox5, including those encoding proteins controlling cell cycle regulation, apoptosis, metabolism, and cell-cell interactions. Fifteen of these Rhox5-regulated genes were chosen for further analysis. Analysis of Rhox5-null male mice indicated that at least 9 of these are Rhox5-regulated in the testes in vivo. Many of them have distinct postnatal expression patterns and are regulated by Rhox5 at different postnatal time points. Most of them are expressed in Sertoli cells, indicating that they are candidates to be directly regulated by Rhox5. Transfection analysis with expression vectors encoding different mouse and human Rhox family members revealed that the regulatory response of a subset of these Rhox5-regulated genes is both conserved and redundant. Given that Rhox5 depends on AR for expression in Sertoli cells, we examined whether some Rhox5-regulated genes are also regulated by androgen receptor (AR). We provide several lines of evidence that this is the case, leading us to propose that RHOX5 serves as a key intermediate transcription factor that directs some of the actions of AR in the testes

Evaluation of erythrocyte membrane lipids and proteins in renal disorders

Background: Membrane lipids and proteins play a significant part in imparting membrane its rheological properties. These parameters are altered in diseased states. Exploring the conformational changes in renal disorders can widen our understanding of its impact on the circulatory system. This could lead to a new diagnostic parameter to study the progress of a disease.Methods: 120 blood samples collected from 30 kidney donors, 30 stage 3-4 Chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients (group 1) and 30 stage 5 CKD patients on dialysis (pre and post dialysis) (group 2) were lysed and washed to obtain erythrocyte ghost membranes. The proteins extracted from these membranes were estimated colorimetrically using Micro BCA kit. Phospholipids were separated and quantified using HPTLC. Fatty acids and cholesterol were analysed using GCMS.Results: The erythrocyte membrane protein profile showed lower values in group 2 participants than group 1 participants, but this difference was not significant. Distinct decreases in percentages of palmitic acid, myristic acid, stearic acid, dodecanoic acid, cholesterol, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine were observed in both groups, with the lowest values in patients undergoing dialysis. Sphingomyelin and linoleic acid did not show any such trend across groups.Conclusions: The data is suggestive of an altered membrane structure in participants undergoing dialysis patients than the control group. This could be because of uremic toxins in the circulatory system affecting the membrane lipids. Decreased levels of essential phospholipids can impact the functions and lifespan of the erythrocytes. This could be a reason behind anaemia seen in most patients with CKD

Review of MAC Unit for Complex Numbers

In Digital Communication, Digital Signal Processor (DSP) is an important block which performs several digital signal processing applications such as Convolution, Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT), Fourier Transform, and so on. Every digital signal processor contains MAC unit. The MAC unit performs multiplication and accumulation processes repeatedly in order to perform continuous and complex operations in digital signal processing. MAC unit also contains clock and reset in order to control its operation. Many researchers have been focusing on the design of advance MAC unit architectures for complex numbers so as to achieve minimum resource utilization and delay

Integration of Various Infocommunication Technologies for Agricultural and Rural Development

No Abstrac

Molecular markers for grape characterization

Research NoteFive cultivars and 9 Pinot noir clones were used to test the usefulness of RFLP and RAPD markers and determine whether clonal selections could be differentiated

Gene regulatory networks elucidating huanglongbing disease mechanisms.

Next-generation sequencing was exploited to gain deeper insight into the response to infection by Candidatus liberibacter asiaticus (CaLas), especially the immune disregulation and metabolic dysfunction caused by source-sink disruption. Previous fruit transcriptome data were compared with additional RNA-Seq data in three tissues: immature fruit, and young and mature leaves. Four categories of orchard trees were studied: symptomatic, asymptomatic, apparently healthy, and healthy. Principal component analysis found distinct expression patterns between immature and mature fruits and leaf samples for all four categories of trees. A predicted protein - protein interaction network identified HLB-regulated genes for sugar transporters playing key roles in the overall plant responses. Gene set and pathway enrichment analyses highlight the role of sucrose and starch metabolism in disease symptom development in all tissues. HLB-regulated genes (glucose-phosphate-transporter, invertase, starch-related genes) would likely determine the source-sink relationship disruption. In infected leaves, transcriptomic changes were observed for light reactions genes (downregulation), sucrose metabolism (upregulation), and starch biosynthesis (upregulation). In parallel, symptomatic fruits over-expressed genes involved in photosynthesis, sucrose and raffinose metabolism, and downregulated starch biosynthesis. We visualized gene networks between tissues inducing a source-sink shift. CaLas alters the hormone crosstalk, resulting in weak and ineffective tissue-specific plant immune responses necessary for bacterial clearance. Accordingly, expression of WRKYs (including WRKY70) was higher in fruits than in leaves. Systemic acquired responses were inadequately activated in young leaves, generally considered the sites where most new infections occur

Some Uses and Potentials of Qualitative Methods in Planning

Planners use methods borrowed from many disciplines. These are usually modified and adapted to meet planner's needs to acquire and sift through many diverse information sources helpful in dealing with complex problems. The quantitative methods which planners use are well known, well established in practice, and acknowledged by most as tools of the planners' trade. In contrast to this, most planners also use qualitative methods but these are rarely explicitly acknowledged.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/68912/2/10.1177_0739456X8600600110.pd

Effects of Game Pitch Count and Body Mass Index on Pitching Biomechanics in 9- to 10-Year-Old Baseball Athletes

Background: Pitching while fatigued and body composition may increase the injury risk in youth and adult pitchers. However, the relationships between game pitch count, biomechanics, and body composition have not been reported for a study group restricted to 9- to 10-year-old athletes. Hypothesis: During a simulated game with 9- to 10-year-old athletes, (1) participants will experience biomechanical signs of fatigue, and (2) shoulder and elbow kinetics will correlate with body mass index (BMI). Study Design: Descriptive laboratory study. Methods: Thirteen 9- to 10-year-old youth baseball players pitched a simulated game (75 pitches). Range of motion and muscular output tests were conducted before and after the simulated game to quantify fatigue. Kinematic parameters at foot contact, maximum external rotation, and maximum internal rotation velocity (MIRV), as well as maximum shoulder and elbow kinetics between foot contact and MIRV were compared at pitches 1-5, 34-38, and 71-75. Multivariate analyses of variance were used to test the first hypothesis, and linear regressions were used to test the second hypothesis. Results: MIRV increased from pitches 1-5 to 71-75 (P = .007), and head flexion at MIRV decreased from pitches 1-5 to 34-38 (P = .022). Maximum shoulder horizontal adduction, external rotation, and internal rotation torques increased from pitches 34-38 to 71-75 (P = .031, .023, and .021, respectively). Shoulder compression force increased from pitches 1-5 to 71-75 (P = .011). Correlations of joint torque/force with BMI were found at every pitch period: for example, shoulder internal rotation (R2 = 0.93, P \u3c .001) and elbow varus (R2 = 0.57, P = .003) torques at pitches 1-5. Conclusion: Several results differed from those of previous studies with adult pitchers: (1) pitch speed remained steady, (2) shoulder MIRV increased, and (3) shoulder kinetics increased during a simulated game. The strong correlations between joint kinetics and BMI reinforce previous findings that select body composition measures may be correlated with pitching arm joint kinetics for youth baseball pitchers. Clinical Relevance: The results improve our understanding of pitching biomechanics for 9- to 10-year-old baseball pitchers and may be used in future studies to improve evidence-based injury prevention guidelines

Effects of Game Pitch Count and Body Mass Index on Pitching Biomechanics in 9-to 10-Year-Old Baseball Athletes

Background: Pitching while fatigued and body composition may increase the injury risk in youth and adult pitchers. However, the relationships between game pitch count, biomechanics, and body composition have not been reported for a study group restricted to 9-to 10-year-old athletes. Hypothesis: During a simulated game with 9-to 10-year-old athletes, (1) participants will experience biomechanical signs of fatigue, and (2) shoulder and elbow kinetics will correlate with body mass index (BMI). Study Design: Descriptive laboratory study. Methods: Thirteen 9-to 10-year-old youth baseball players pitched a simulated game (75 pitches). Range of motion and muscular output tests were conducted before and after the simulated game to quantify fatigue. Kinematic parameters at foot contact, maximum external rotation, and maximum internal rotation velocity (MIRV), as well as maximum shoulder and elbow kinetics between foot contact and MIRV were compared at pitches 1-5, 34-38, and 71-75. Multivariate analyses of variance were used to test the first hypothesis, and linear regressions were used to test the second hypothesis. Results: MIRV increased from pitches 1-5 to 71-75 (P ¼.007), and head flexion at MIRV decreased from pitches 1-5 to 34-38 (P ¼ .022). Maximum shoulder horizontal adduction, external rotation, and internal rotation torques increased from pitches 34-38 to 7175 (P ¼.031, .023, and .021, respectively). Shoulder compression force increased from pitches 1-5 to 71-75 (P ¼.011). Correlations of joint torque/force with BMI were found at every pitch period: for example, shoulder internal rotation (R2 ¼0.93, P \u3c .001) and elbow varus (R2 ¼0.57, P ¼.003) torques at pitches 1-5. Conclusion: Several results differed from those of previous studies with adult pitchers: (1) pitch speed remained steady, (2) shoulder MIRV increased, and (3) shoulder kinetics increased during a simulated game. The strong correlations between joint kinetics and BMI reinforce previous findings that select body composition measures may be correlated with pitching arm joint kinetics for youth baseball pitchers. Clinical Relevance: The results improve our understanding of pitching biomechanics for 9-to 10-year-old baseball pitchers and may be used in future studies to improve evidence-based injury prevention guidelines

Phosphatidylinositol (4,5) Bisphosphate Controls T Cell Activation by Regulating T Cell Rigidity and Organization

Here we investigate the role of Phosphatidylinositol (4,5) bisphosphate (PIP2) in the physiological activation of primary murine T cells by antigen presenting cells (APC) by addressing two principal challenges in PIP2 biology. First, PIP2 is a regulator of cytoskeletal dynamics and a substrate for second messenger generation. The relative importance of these two processes needs to be determined. Second, PIP2 is turned over by multiple biosynthetic and metabolizing enzymes. The joint effect of these enzymes on PIP2 distributions needs to be determined with resolution in time and space. We found that T cells express four isoforms of the principal PIP2-generating enzyme phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase (PIP5K) with distinct spatial and temporal characteristics. In the context of a larger systems analysis of T cell signaling, these data identify the T cell/APC interface and the T cell distal pole as sites of differential PIP2 turnover. Overexpression of different PIP5K isoforms, as corroborated by knock down and PIP2 blockade, yielded an increase in PIP2 levels combined with isoform-specific changes in the spatiotemporal distributions of accessible PIP2. It rigidified the T cell, likely by impairing the inactivation of Ezrin Moesin Radixin, delayed and diminished the clustering of the T cell receptor at the cellular interface, reduced the efficiency of T cell proximal signaling and IL-2 secretion. These effects were consistently more severe for distal PIP5K isoforms. Thus spatially constrained cytoskeletal roles of PIP2 in the control of T cell rigidity and spatiotemporal organization dominate the effects of PIP2 on T cell activation