Predator Harvesting in Systems with One Predator and Two Prey Habitats

Harvesting of the predator in systems consisting of one predator and two preys where the preys live in two different habitats is considered. It is assumed that the prey species have resources in abundance and the predator specie is able to switch to the most abundant prey specie. We consider two types of predator harvesting. One is when we harvest a fixed amount of predators (constant harvest quota) and the other is when we harvest a fixed percentage of the predators (constant harvest effort). Stability analysis is carried out and hypothetical cases are used to support our analysis

Practice patterns in the management of preterm labor in India: a multi-centric, retrospective study

Background: Preterm labor (PTL) is considered as one of the leading cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality. Preterm labor refers to the onset of uterine contractions of sufficient strength and frequency to effect progressive dilatation and effacement of cervix between 22 and 37 weeks of gestation.Methods: In this study, 285 patients of PTL admitted/treated (during the period of 1st January 2014 to 31st December 2016) across 5 centres in India were enrolled. Adult women with PTL, receiving oral or intravenous regime of tocolytic drugs were screened based on eligibility criteria.Results: We evaluated the practice patterns in the management of PTL in India. The pharmacological management (n=193) was preferred over nonpharmacological management (n=92) in the present study. Amongst the pharmacological agents, isoxsuprine (60.10%) was more frequently used followed by nifedipine (23.83%). Prolongation of delivery for at least 48 hours was observed in 57.76% patients receiving isoxsuprine compared to 34.78% patients receiving nifedipine. The mean latency period (36.77±28.09 vs. 1.44±1.33 days), birthweight (2.25±1.34 vs. 1.07±0.34 kg) and Apgar score at 5 mins (7.56±2.36 vs. 4.87±2.10) was higher for isoxsuprine compared to nifedipine group patients, with mean gestational age of 32 weeks).Conclusions: Pharmacological treatment was preferred for the management of PTL in India. Among pharmacological agents, isoxsuprine was preferred over other tocolytics. Significant improvement in mean latency period, prolongation of delivery beyond 48 hours and perinatal outcomes were noted amongst patients on isoxsuprine versus other pharmacological agents

Dynamic protein methylation in chromatin biology

Post-translational modification of chromatin is emerging as an increasingly important regulator of chromosomal processes. In particular, histone lysine and arginine methylation play important roles in regulating transcription, maintaining genomic integrity, and contributing to epigenetic memory. Recently, the use of new approaches to analyse histone methylation, the generation of genetic model systems, and the ability to interrogate genome wide histone modification profiles has aided in defining how histone methylation contributes to these processes. Here we focus on the recent advances in our understanding of the histone methylation system and examine how dynamic histone methylation contributes to normal cellular function in mammals

Оценка качества образования на основе компетентностного подхода

В работе представлен практический опыт оценки качества образования в новом формате компетентностного подход

Does corporate reputation matter? Role of social media in consumer intention to purchase innovative food product

The exponential growth of the corporate reputation in food industry has resulted in innovations in every link of its supply chain. There have been studies that have characterized innovation in various industries from the perspective of technology, but far fewer in the area of corporate reputation, consumer perception, and intention towards innovations in food products. This research analyses the innovations in the food industry from the perspective of the consumer and provides a conceptual framework of food innovation stages. The study also investigates the relationship between corporate reputation and intention towards food innovation along with the other components of TPB model with an extension of social media engagement. The results from India and US samples confirm that social media engagement have a significant role to play in creating intention to purchase innovative food products. The study compares the US and Indian samples and identifies differences in subjective norms and perceived behavioural control

Genetic loci associated with heart rate variability and their effects on cardiac disease risk

Reduced cardiac vagal control reflected in low heart rate variability (HRV) is associated with greater risks for cardiac morbidity and mortality. In two-stage meta-analyses of genome-wide association studies for three HRV traits in up to 53,174 individuals of European ancestry, we detect 17 genome-wide significant SNPs in eight loci. HRV SNPs tag non-synonymous SNPs (in NDUFA11 and KIAA1755), expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) (influencing GNG11, RGS6 and NEO1), or are located in genes preferentially expressed in the sinoatrial node (GNG11, RGS6 and HCN4). Genetic risk scores account for 0.9 to 2.6% of the HRV variance. Significant genetic correlation is found for HRV with heart rate (-0.74 < r(g) < -0.55) and blood pressure (-0.35 < r(g) < -0.20). These findings provide clinically relevant biological insight into heritable variation in vagal heart rhythm regulation, with a key role for genetic variants (GNG11, RGS6) that influence G-protein heterotrimer action in GIRK-channel induced pacemaker membrane hyperpolarization

Erratum: Genetic loci associated with heart rate variability and their effects on cardiac disease risk

Correction to article number 15805 published in June 2017 in Nature Communications, vol 8

Erratum: Genetic loci associated with heart rate variability and their effects on cardiac disease risk

Correction to article number 15805 published in June 2017 in Nature Communications, vol 8