Simultaneous spectrophotometric determination of chromium(VI) and iron (III) by H-point standard addition method

In this work the possibility of simultaneous spectrophotometric determination of chromium (VI) and iron (III) in alloys with help of the mixed organic reagent (diphenylcarbazide and 1,10-phenanthroline) is studied. We have applied Н-point standard addition method to determine concentrations of chromium (VI) and iron (III) from the mixture. The pure signals of complexes of chromium (VI) with diphenylcarbazide and iron (III) with the 1,10-phenanthroline and their calibration plots are previously carried out. We established the possibility of simultaneous determination of chromium (VI) and iron (III) in the different concentration ranges by Н-point standard addition method. Correctness of determination of concentration by means of the offered technique is proved by "added-found" method for a series of mixtures with different ratios of concentration of chromium (VI) and iron (III). It is founded that the error of determination of concentration doesn't exceed 33 %.

A framework for comparative institutional research on HRM

This article argues that awareness of institutional context has been singularly lacking in the most influential areas of HRM. This lack of attention to external context has resulted in findings that fail to reflect reality. We offer a layered contextual framework embedded in economic institutional theory. We propose that it forms the basis of a comparative research agenda for HRM. We validate the framework using extant publications on institutionally based comparative HRM, drawing on findings from the Cranet research network published in the decade 2007–2017

DNA methylation predicts age and provides insight into exceptional longevity of bats

Exceptionally long-lived species, including many bats, rarely show overt signs of aging, making it difficult to determine why species differ in lifespan. Here, we use DNA methylation (DNAm) profiles from 712 known-age bats, representing 26 species, to identify epigenetic changes associated with age and longevity. We demonstrate that DNAm accurately predicts chronological age. Across species, longevity is negatively associated with the rate of DNAm change at age-associated sites. Furthermore, analysis of several bat genomes reveals that hypermethylated age- and longevity-associated sites are disproportionately located in promoter regions of key transcription factors (TF) and enriched for histone and chromatin features associated with transcriptional regulation. Predicted TF binding site motifs and enrichment analyses indicate that age-related methylation change is influenced by developmental processes, while longevity-related DNAm change is associated with innate immunity or tumorigenesis genes, suggesting that bat longevity results from augmented immune response and cancer suppression

MIR137 is the key gene mediator of the syndromic obesity phenotype of patients with 1p21.3 microdeletions.

BACKGROUND: Deletions in the long arm of chromosome 1 have been described in patients with a phenotype consisting primarily of obesity, intellectual disability and autism-spectrum disorder. The minimal region of overlap comprises two genes: DPYD and MIR137. CASE PRESENTATION: We describe a 10-year-old boy with syndromic obesity who carries a novel 1p21.3 deletion overlapping the critical region with the MIR137 gene only. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that MIR137 is the mediator of the obesity phenotype of patients carrying 1p21.3 microdeletions

Histone Deacetylase Inhibition Enhances Self Renewal and Cardioprotection by Human Cord Blood-Derived CD34+ Cells

Abstract BACKGROUND: Use of peripheral blood- or bone marrow-derived progenitors for ischemic heart repair is a feasible option to induce neo-vascularization in ischemic tissues. These cells, named Endothelial Progenitors Cells (EPCs), have been extensively characterized phenotypically and functionally. The clinical efficacy of cardiac repair by EPCs cells remains, however, limited, due to cell autonomous defects as a consequence of risk factors. The devise of "enhancement" strategies has been therefore sought to improve repair ability of these cells and increase the clinical benefit. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Pharmacologic inhibition of histone deacetylases (HDACs) is known to enhance hematopoietic stem cells engraftment by improvement of self renewal and inhibition of differentiation in the presence of mitogenic stimuli in vitro. In the present study cord blood-derived CD34(+) were pre-conditioned with the HDAC inhibitor Valproic Acid. This treatment affected stem cell growth and gene expression, and improved ischemic myocardium protection in an immunodeficient mouse model of myocardial infarction. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that HDAC blockade leads to phenotype changes in CD34(+) cells with enhanced self renewal and cardioprotection

Tpc1 is an important Zn(II)(2)Cys(6) transcriptional regulator required for polarized growth and virulence in the rice blast fungus

The establishment of polarity is a critical process in pathogenic fungi, mediating infection-related morphogenesis and host tissue invasion. Here, we report the identification of TPC1 (Transcription factor for Polarity Control 1), which regulates invasive polarized growth in the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae. TPC1 encodes a putative transcription factor of the fungal Zn(II)(2)Cys(6) family, exclusive to filamentous fungi. Tpc1-deficient mutants show severe defects in conidiogenesis, infection-associated autophagy, glycogen and lipid metabolism, and plant tissue colonisation. By tracking actin-binding proteins, septin-5 and autophagosome components, we show that Tpc1 regulates cytoskeletal dynamics and infection-associated autophagy during appressorium-mediated plant penetration. We found that Tpc1 interacts with Mst12 and modulates its DNA-binding activity, while Tpc1 nuclear localisation also depends on the MAP kinase Pmk1, consistent with the involvement of Tpc1 in this signalling pathway, which is critical for appressorium development. Importantly, Tpc1 directly regulates NOXD expression, the p22(phox) subunit of the fungal NADPH oxidase complex via an interaction with Mst12. Tpc1 therefore controls spatial and temporal regulation of cortical F-actin through regulation of the NADPH oxidase complex during appressorium re-polarisation. Consequently, Tpc1 is a core developmental regulator in filamentous fungi, linking the regulated synthesis of reactive oxygen species and the Pmk1 pathway, with polarity control during host invasion

Determination of Combination Factor as an Aid in Orthodontic Treatment Planning in Western Region of Saudi Arabian Young Male PopulationA Retrospective Cephalometric Study

Introduction: Diagnosis and treatment planning in orthodontics determines the treatment outcome and long term stability. Cephalometric radiography is an essential diagnostic aid in orthodontics and hence numerous studies have been carried out in the past. Aim: To determine the Combination Factor (CF) through evaluation of the mean Overbite Depth Indicator (ODI) and Anteroposterior Dysplasia Indicator (APDI) values in western region of Saudi Arabian young male patients which would act as an aid in orthodontic treatment planning. Materials and Methods: A retrospective cephalometric study was conducted on 80 Saudi Arabian young male patients ranging in age from 7 to 14 years. Data was collected from records derived from the University Dental Hospital. Patients (n=80) were divided into four age groups: ages 7 (n=20), 8-9 (n=20), 10-11 (n=20), and 12-14 (n=20) years. Lateral cephalometric images were hand-traced and measured by one standardised and calibrated investigator. Statistical analysis was done with significance level set at 0.05, assuming that the length of the 95% confidence interval was two. One-way analysis of variance, followed by the Tukey test used to compare the mean ODI and APDI values of different groups. The statistical data were analysed through SPSS version 24 for Windows (IBM SPSS, Chicago, IL, USA). Results: The mean ODI value was 69.2688° and standard deviation 4.66670°, respectively. The overall APDI mean value was 81.7063° and standard deviation 4.18987°, respectively. There were no significant differences in the mean ODI and APDI values among different age groups (p>0.05). Conclusion: This retrospective cephalometric study determined the CF for western region of Saudi Arabian young male population to be 150.96°. This factor can be used as a diagnostic aid for planning orthodontic treatment. When the CF, is under the norm (150.96°), the skeletal pattern tends to improve with dental extractions. A CF higher than the norm (150.96°) will maintain a better relation with a non-extraction treatment

LAMP-based foldable microdevice platform for the rapid detection of Magnaporthe oryzae and Sarocladium oryzae in rice seed

Abstract Rice blast (caused by Magnaporthe oryzae) and sheath rot diseases (caused by Sarocladium oryzae) are the most predominant seed-borne pathogens of rice. The detection of both pathogens in rice seed is essential to avoid production losses. In the present study, a microdevice platform was designed, which works on the principles of loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) to detect M. oryzae and S. oryzae in rice seeds. Initially, a LAMP, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), quantitative PCR (qPCR), and helicase dependent amplification (HDA) assays were developed with primers, specifically targeting M. oryzae and S. oryzae genome. The LAMP assay was highly efficient and could detect the presence of M. oryzae and S. oryzae genome at a concentration down to 100 fg within 20 min at 60 °C. Further, the sensitivity of the LAMP, HDA, PCR, and qPCR assays were compared wherein; the LAMP assay was highly sensitive up to 100 fg of template DNA. Using the optimized LAMP assay conditions, a portable foldable microdevice platform was developed to detect M. oryzae and S. oryzae in rice seeds. The foldable microdevice assay was similar to that of conventional LAMP assay with respect to its sensitivity (up to 100 fg), rapidity (30 min), and specificity. This platform could serve as a prototype for developing on-field diagnostic kits to be used at the point of care centers for the rapid diagnosis of M. oryzae and S. oryzae in rice seeds. This is the first study to report a LAMP-based foldable microdevice platform to detect any plant pathogens