Rootstock affects stress relieving enzymatic activity during bud break in 'Red Globe' grapevine under semi-arid condition

       The role of stress relieving enzymes during bud sprouting in grapevines has already been established in different varieties. However, data on 'Red Globe' variety under tropical conditions are not reported. The present study was conducted to generate data on stress relieving enzymatic activities during bud sprout in 'Red Globe' on different rootstocks under arid conditions of India. Influence of different rootstocks on stress relieving enzymes (catalase, peroxidase, ascorbic acid oxidase and polyphenol oxidase) involved in bud sprouting under tropical conditions with double pruning and single cropping pattern was evidenced. Positive interactions were observed between enzymatic activities of stress relieving enzymes, increased bud break (64.25 %) and reduction in days taken to bud sprout (8.43 days). Among the rootstocks under study, vines on 110R and own rooted vines have strong impact on stress relieving enzymes that resulted into early and increased bud sprouting. Also, the dynamics of enzymatic activity can be used as biological indicators for forecasting the end of bud dormancy and recommencement of growth

Iron-catalysed, general and operationally simple formal hydrogenation using Fe(OTf)(3) and NaBH4

An operationally simple and environmentally benign formal hydrogenation protocol has been developed using highly abundant iron(iii) salts and an inexpensive, bench stable, stoichiometric reductant, NaBH(4), in ethanol, under ambient conditions. This reaction has been applied to the reduction of terminal alkenes (22 examples, up to 95% yield) and nitro-groups (26 examples, up to 95% yield). Deuterium labelling studies indicate that this reaction proceeds via an ionic rather than radical mechanism

Video surveillance using raspberry Pi with particle filtering

—One of the fundamental problem in vision is that of tracking objects through sequences of images. Within this report the design of Particle filter algorithm to track the target and show the resulting improvement in tracking. More specifically, this project described the technique of how to track Moving Object. The proposed architecture is suitable for indoors and outdoors scenes with static background and overcomes the problem of stationary targets fading into the background. Optimal estimation problems for nonlinear non-Gaussian state-space models do not typically admit analytic solutions. Since their introduction in 1993, particle filtering methods have become a very popular class of algorithms to solve these estimation problems numerically in an online manner, i.e. recursively as observations become available, and are now routinely used in fields as diverse as computer. The real time video surveillance using a system equipped for sensor support data is being developed to provide situational in the target of interest & also provide a safe means of video surveillance in the target place using raspberry pi

Cost-consequence model comparing eltrombopag versus romiplostim for adult patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenia

Gabriel Tremblay,1 Mike Dolph,1 Menaka Bhor,2 Qayyim Said,2 Brian Elliott,2 Andrew Briggs3 1Department of Health Economics, Purple Squirrel Economics, New York, NY, USA; 2Department of Health Economics and Outcomes Research, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, East Hanover, NJ, USA; 3William R. Lindsay Chair of Health Economics, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland, UK Background: Thrombopoietin-receptor agonists eltrombopag (EPAG) and romiplostim (ROMI) are treatment options for adults with chronic immune thrombocytopenia (cITP) who have had an insufficient response to corticosteroids or immunoglobulins. Methods: A cost-consequence model was developed to evaluate the costs relative to treatment success of EPAG, ROMI, and watch and rescue (W&R) in previously treated patients. The primary endpoint assessed was severe bleeding, derived from all identified phase III registered clinical trials. Health outcomes were compared via indirect treatment comparison. Costs incorporated in the model included drug and administration, routine care, rescue medications, bleeding-related adverse events, other adverse events, and mortality costs. A trial (26-week) time horizon was used, as certain endpoints used in the model were bound to within-trial results. Results: In the intent-to-treat (ITT) population, the overall estimated cost per patient for EPAG was US$66,560 compared to US$91,039 for ROMI and US30,099 for W&R. Compared to the ITT population, the difference in cost between EPAG and ROMI was slightly greater in splenectomized patients (US65,998 for EPAG compared to US$91,485 for ROMI) and slightly less in non-splenectomized patients (US$67,151 for EPAG compared to US$91,455 for ROMI), though the overall trend remained the same. When assessing cost per severe bleeding event avoided in the ITT population, EPAG dominated (less expensive, more effective) ROMI. Sensitivity analyses confirmed these results. Conclusion: EPAG was preferred over ROMI in the treatment of cITP, largely driven by the reduction in severe bleeding events associated with its use. Keywords: chronic immune thrombocytopenia, eltrombopag, romiplostim, cost consequence, cost analysis, US

Cost-consequence model comparing eltrombopag and romiplostim in pediatric patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenia

Gabriel Tremblay,1 Mike Dolph,1 Menaka Bhor,2 Qayyim Said,2 Anuja Roy,2 Brian Elliott,3 Andrew Briggs4 1Health Economics, Purple Squirrel Economics, New York, NY, USA; 2Health Economics and Outcomes Research, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, East Hanover, NJ, USA; 3Hematology, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, East Hanover, NJ, USA; 4Health Economics and Health Technology Assessment, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland, UK Background: Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an auto-immune disorder characterized by enhanced platelet destruction and, subsequently, the potential for increased bleeding. Thrombopoietin receptor (TPO-R) agonists have recently emerged as promising therapies for ITP patients who are refractory to other treatments. While eltrombopag (EPAG) is the only TPO-R agonist US Food and Drug Administration approved for use in pediatric patients, romiplostin (ROMI) has been used in Phase III clinical studies. Methods: A cost-consequence model (CCM) was developed to evaluate the costs of EPAG, ROMI, and watch-and-rescue (W&R) in relation to their respective treatment outcomes in previously-treated pediatric chronic ITP (cITP) over a 26-week time horizon. The costs of drugs, administration, routine care, rescue medications, adverse events, and mortality were included. Data on platelet count response rate, bleeding events, and adverse events were derived from all relevant identified Phase III-registered clinical trials, health outcomes were compared via indirect treatment comparison. Results: The overall estimated cost of EPAG per patient was US$66,550, compared to US$101,056 for ROMI and US32,720 for W&R. EPAG’s lower cost compared to ROMI was largely due to lower drug costs (US62,202 vs US$84,396), administration costs (US$0 vs US$1,955), and significantly lower costs due to severe bleeding (US$354 vs US$10,191). When assessing cost per severe bleeding event avoided, EPAG was dominant over ROMI (less expensive and more effective). EPAG was again dominant over ROMI when assessing the cost per responder and per bleeding event (any grade). Sensitivity analysis was consistent with the base case findings. Conclusion: EPAG was the preferred TPO-R agonist to treat cITP when indirectly compared to ROMI, largely driven by its favorable severe bleeding outcomes and lower drug and administration costs. Keywords: chronic immune thrombocytopenia, eltrombopag, romiplostim, cost-consequence, US

Crystal structure of soluble MD-1 and its interaction with lipid IVa

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Gram-negative bacteria is a common pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP) that induces potent innate immune responses. The host immune response against LPS is triggered by myeloid differentiation factor 2 (MD-2) in association with Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) on the cell surface. The MD-2/TLR4-mediated LPS response is regulated by the evolutionarily related complex of MD-1 and Toll-like receptor homolog RP105. Here, we report crystallographic and biophysical data that demonstrate a previously unidentified direct interaction of MD-1 with LPS. The crystal structure of chicken MD-1 (cMD-1) at 2.0 Å resolution exhibits a β-cup-like fold, similar to MD-2, that encloses a hydrophobic cavity between the two β-sheets. A lipid-like moiety was observed inside the cavity, suggesting the possibility of a direct MD-1/LPS interaction. LPS was subsequently identified as an MD-1 ligand by native gel electrophoresis and gel filtration analyses. The crystal structure of cMD-1 with lipid IVa, an LPS precursor, at 2.4 Å resolution revealed that the lipid inserts into the deep hydrophobic cavity of the β-cup-like structure, but with some important differences compared with MD-2. These findings suggest that soluble MD-1 alone, in addition to its complex with RP105, can regulate host LPS sensitivity