Therapeutic options in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia

Current theraputic options for the treatment of symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) are reviewed. Therapeutic options for mild lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), as defined by the American Urological Association, are generally treated medically. Moderate to severe LUTS can be treated medically or with surgical therapy. Current medical and surgical treatments for LUTS secondary to BPH are reviewed and evolving treatments are explored

Cosmic Topology

This thesis aims to cover the central aspects of the current research and advancements in cosmic topology from a topological and observational perspective. Beginning with an overview of the basic concepts of cosmology, it is observed that though a determinant of local curvature, Einstein's equations of relativity do not constrain the global properties of space-time. The topological requirements of a universal space time manifold are discussed, including requirements of space-time orientability and causality. The basic topological concepts used in classification of spaces, i.e. the concept of the Fundamental Domain and Universal covering spaces are discussed briefly. The manifold properties and symmetry groups for three dimensional manifolds of constant curvature for negative, positive and zero curvature manifolds are laid out. Multi-connectedness is explored as a possible explanation for the detected anomalies in the quadrupole and octopole regions of the power spectrum, pointing at a possible compactness along one or more directions in space. The statistical significance of the evidence, however, is also scrutinized and I discuss briefly the bayesian and frequentist interpretation of the posterior probabilities of observing the anomalies in a ΛCDM universe. Some of the major topologies that have been proposed and investigated as possible candidates of a universal manifold are the Poincare Dodecahedron and Bianchi Universes, which are studied in detail. Lastly, the methods that have been proposed for detecting a multi-connected signature are discussed. These include ingenious observational methods like the circles in the sky method, cosmic crystallography and theoretical methods which have the additional advantage of being free from measurement errors and use the posterior likelihoods of models. As of the recent Planck mission, no pressing evidence of a multi connected topology has been detected

China’s Rapid Strides in Aviation Industry: Implications for Indian Air Force

Until the 1990s, it was no secret that China possessed one of the most laggard and technologically backward defense industries in the world. But Deng Xiaoping’s orchestrated plans of channeling private funds into defense R&D provided the required impetus for the growth of the aviation industry in China. After nearly three decades of investment, reorganization, and acquisition of broad foreign technology, China’s aviation sector is now well on its way to making China one of the top two or three global air and space powers by the 2020s. In view of the changing geostrategic scenario, increased asymmetry in terms of air power of China vis-à-vis India, it is imperative to examine the implications of the burgeoning Chinese airpower capability for the Indian Air Force in the medium- as well as the long-term. This examination delves into a reality check on the Chinese aviation industry through an Indian prism and the likely airpower capabilities which China likely to acquire through its proactive aviation industries. The Indian government is aware of this fact and new incentives have already been introduced to rejuvenate the Indian aviation industry; however, the present incentives of ‘Make in India’ and strategic partnership need to be recapitulated further. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.358412

Experimental verification of transport phenomena during frying of foods

Experiments were performed to measure moisture loss, fat uptake, heat transfer coefficient and mechanical properties of fried foods. The measured properties and variables were used in a Hybrid Mixture Theory based model solved using the finite element method to elucidate the phenomena affecting fat uptake. This provided further clarity on mechanisms involving fat uptake and helped develop avenues to reduce fat content of fried foods. Frying experiments were performed at two temperatures of 175°C and 190°C for 200 s and 240 s for potato discs and chicken nuggets, respectively. The gage pressure increased rapidly above the atmospheric pressure immediately after the samples were introduced into the hot oil. The rise in pressure was greater in potato discs with greater initial moisture content. This was expected due to rapid moisture flash-off. As frying progressed, the temperature inside the samples increased whereas the gage pressure started decreasing and became negative. The onset of suction or negative pressure was observed during initial stages of frying for chicken nuggets, but in the middle of frying for potato discs. The negative pressure values before the product was taken outside the fryer may cause increased oil uptake during frying itself. During the post frying cooling, the pressure further decreased and reached negative values. The negative pressure was expected to have caused rapid absorption of surface oil during both frying and cooling stages. The effect of frying parameters (temperature and time) on the properties of potato slices (surface pore characteristics, oil content, moisture loss and mechanical properties) was investigated. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed to develop surface topographic images and image pro plus software was used to determine the pore area of potato slices. The rheological behavior of potato slices was investigated using dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA). Both frying temperature and frying time had a significant impact on the pore area, creep behavior, moisture loss and fat uptake of potato slices. The changes in surface porous structure (pore area) and creep compliance were dynamic and in turn affected the oil uptake and moisture loss rates. Average open pore area and percent open pore area increased to 1.15 μm2 and 14.04%, respectively, during middle frying stages. Higher frying temperature resulted in faster structural degradation, moisture loss and oil uptake during initial frying stages. Higher frying times tended to increase the percentage open pore area. The convective heat transfer coefficient was also measured experimentally using a controlled one-dimensional frying methodology. Hollow Teflon disc was used as a sample holder. Thermostable silicon glue was used to seal the sample in the Teflon disc. This insulated the edges of the potato disc from the frying oil thus restricting oil penetration from only the exposed top and bottom surfaces. This also rendered this set of frying experiments a one-dimensional frying process. The peak heat transfer coefficient values were determined to be 3617, 4517 and 7307 W/m2°C at frying temperatures of 150, 170 and 190 °C, respectively. The heat transfer coefficient reached its peak value towards the end of frying at all temperatures. Involvement of unsaturated transport and high temperatures during frying of foods makes it a challenging process to study via experiments and computer simulations. The hybrid mixture based unsaturated transport theory of Takhar (2014) was validated via controlled frying experiments. A hollow Teflon disc was used to insulate the edges of potato disc to ensure that frying was controlled, one-dimensional, and oil uptake and moisture loss happened only through top and bottom surfaces. The model was used to predict moisture and oil content, evaporation rates, temperature distribution, and pore and gas pressure profiles as a function of frying time and temperature. Percentage average absolute difference (AAD) between predicted and experimental values for moisture content was 3.89%, 5.7% and 5.5% and oil content was 14%, 31% and 20% at 150, 170 and 190 °C respectively. Simulations showed that oil penetrated to only 0.25mm into the potato disc. Removal of surface oil improved the prediction of experimental oil content. Maximum evaporation rate of 0.32 kg/m3s was observed near the surface of potato slice at 60 s frying time resulting in rapid moisture loss. Pore pressure remained negative beyond 60s frying time, which may act as a driving force for oil uptake

Transient Heat Stress During Early Seed Development Primes Germination and Seedling Establishment in Rice

Rice yield is highly sensitive to increased temperature. Given the trend of increasing global temperatures, this sensitivity to higher temperatures poses a challenge for achieving global food security. Early seed development in rice is highly sensitive to unfavorable environmental conditions. Heat stress (HS) during this stage decreases seed size and fertility, thus reducing yield. Here, we explore the transgenerational phenotypic consequences of HS during early seed development on seed viability, germination, and establishment. To elucidate the impact of HS on the developmental events in post-zygotic rice seeds, we imposed moderate (35°C) and severe (39°C) HS treatments initiated 1 day after fertilization and maintained for 24, 48, or 72 h. The transient HS treatments altered the initiation of endosperm (ED) cellularization, seed size and/or the duration of spikelet ripening. Notably, seeds exposed to 24 and 48 h moderate HS exhibited higher germination rate compared to seeds derived from plants grown under control or severe HS. A short-term HS resulted in altered expression of Gibberellin (GA) and ABA biosynthesis genes during early seed development, and GA and ABA levels and starch content at maturity. The increased germination rate after 24 of moderate HS could be due to altered ABA sensitivity and/or increased starch level. Our findings on the impact of transient HS on hormone homeostasis provide an experimental framework to elucidate the underlying molecular and metabolic pathways

Divergent phenotypic response of rice accessions to transient heat stress during early seed development

Increasing global surface temperatures is posing a major food security challenge. Part of the solution to address this problem is to improve crop heat resilience, especially during grain development, along with agronomic decisions such as shift in planting time and increasing crop diversification. Rice is a major food crop consumed by more than 3 billion people. For rice, thermal sensitivity of reproductive development and grain filling is well-documented, while knowledge concerning the impact of heat stress (HS) on early seed development is limited. Here, we aim to study the phenotypic variation in a set of diverse rice accessions for elucidating the HS response during early seed development. To explore the variation in HS sensitivity, we investigated aus (1), indica (2), temperate japonica (2), and tropical japonica (4) accessions for their HS (39/35°C) response during early seed development that accounts for transition of endosperm from syncytial to cellularization, which broadly corresponds to 24 and 96 hr after fertilization (HAF), respectively, in rice. The two indica and one of the tropical japonica accessions exhibited severe heat sensitivity with increased seed abortion; three tropical japonicas and an aus accession showed moderate heat tolerance, while temperate japonicas exhibited strong heat tolerance. The accessions exhibiting extreme heat sensitivity maintain seed size at the expense of number of fully developed mature seeds, while the accessions showing relative resilience to the transient HS maintained number of fully developed seeds but compromised on seed size, especially seed length. Further, histochemical analysis revealed that all the tested accessions have delayed endosperm cellularization upon exposure to the transient HS by 96 HAF; however, the rate of cellularization was different among the accessions. These findings were further corroborated by upregulation of cellularization associated marker genes in the developing seeds from the heat-stressed samples

The measurement of membranous urethral length using transperineal ultrasound prior to radical prostatectomy

Objective: To compare preoperative membranous urethral length (MUL) measurements using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with two-dimensional transperineal ultrasound imaging (TPUS) in two supine positions on two separate days in men prior to radical prostatectomy. Materials and methods: MUL was prospectively measured in 18 male volunteers using MRI and on two separate occasions in two different patient positions using TPUS; the patient supine with the knees extended (Supine) and supine with the knees flexed to 70 degrees (Supine KF). Agreement between TPUS and MRI measurements of MUL was assessed using Bland-Altman method comparison techniques and a two-way mixed-effects single measures intraclass correlation (ICC). Test-retest reliability was assessed using a two-way random effects single measures ICC. Results: The mean difference in MUL measurements between MRI and i) TPUS Supine was -0.8 mm (95% limits of agreement (LOA): -3.2, 1.7) and ii) TPUS Supine KF was -0.8mm (95% LOA: -3.5, 1.9). ICC indicated a point estimate of excellent agreement between MRI and TPUS Supine ICC 0.93 (95% CI: 0.76, 0.98) and TPUS Supine KF ICC 0.91 (95 0 /0CI 0.79, 0.97). There was excellent agreement between TPUS Supine and TPUS Supine KF (ICC 0.98, 95% CI: 0.96, 0.99) with a mean difference of 0.3mm (95% LOA: -1.2 to 1.3mm). Conclusions: Preoperative MUL can be reliably measured using TPUS and demonstrates excellent agreement with MRI measurements of MUL. TPUS provides clinicians with an accessible non-invasive alternative to MRI for the measurement of MUL that can be used in outpatient urological settings and for patients where MRI is contraindicated

The \u3ci\u3eLATERAL ROOT DENSITY\u3c/i\u3e gene regulates root growth during water stress in wheat

Drought stress is the major limiting factor in agriculture. Wheat, which is the most widely grown crop in the world, is predominantly cultivated in drought-prone rainfed environments. Since roots play a critical role in water uptake, root response to water limitations is an important component for enhancing wheat adaptation. In an effort to discover novel genetic sources for improving wheat adaptation, we characterized a wheat translocation line with a chromosomal segment from Agropyron elongatum, a wild relative of wheat, which unlike common wheat maintains root growth under limited-water conditions. By exploring the root transcriptome data, we found that reduced transcript level of LATERAL ROOT DENSITY (LRD) gene under limited water in the Agropyron translocation line confers it the ability to maintain root growth. The Agropyron allele of LRD is down-regulated in response to water limitation in contrast with the wheat LRD allele, which is up-regulated by water deficit stress. Suppression of LRD expression in wheat RNAi plants confers the ability to maintain root growth under water limitation. We show that exogenous gibberellic acid (GA) promotes lateral root growth and present evidence for the role of GA in mediating the differential regulation of LRD between the common wheat and the Agropyron alleles under water stress. Suppression of LRD also had a positive pleiotropic effect on grain size and number under optimal growth conditions. Collectively, our findings suggest that LRD can be potentially useful for improving wheat response to water stress and altering yield components

Feedback modulation of cholesterol metabolism by the lipid-responsive non-coding RNA LeXis.

Liver X receptors (LXRs) are transcriptional regulators of cellular and systemic cholesterol homeostasis. Under conditions of excess cholesterol, LXR activation induces the expression of several genes involved in cholesterol efflux, facilitates cholesterol esterification by promoting fatty acid synthesis, and inhibits cholesterol uptake by the low-density lipoprotein receptor. The fact that sterol content is maintained in a narrow range in most cell types and in the organism as a whole suggests that extensive crosstalk between regulatory pathways must exist. However, the molecular mechanisms that integrate LXRs with other lipid metabolic pathways are incompletely understood. Here we show that ligand activation of LXRs in mouse liver not only promotes cholesterol efflux, but also simultaneously inhibits cholesterol biosynthesis. We further identify the long non-coding RNA LeXis as a mediator of this effect. Hepatic LeXis expression is robustly induced in response to a Western diet (high in fat and cholesterol) or to pharmacological LXR activation. Raising or lowering LeXis levels in the liver affects the expression of genes involved in cholesterol biosynthesis and alters the cholesterol levels in the liver and plasma. LeXis interacts with and affects the DNA interactions of RALY, a heterogeneous ribonucleoprotein that acts as a transcriptional cofactor for cholesterol biosynthetic genes in the mouse liver. These findings outline a regulatory role for a non-coding RNA in lipid metabolism and advance our understanding of the mechanisms that coordinate sterol homeostasis

PI‑Plat: a high‑resolution image‑based 3D reconstruction method to estimate growth dynamics of rice inflorescence traits

Background: Recent advances in image-based plant phenotyping have improved our capability to study vegetative stage growth dynamics. However, more complex agronomic traits such as inflorescence architecture (IA), which predominantly contributes to grain crop yield are more challenging to quantify and hence are relatively less explored. Previous efforts to estimate inflorescence-related traits using image-based phenotyping have been limited to destructive end-point measurements. Development of non-destructive inflorescence phenotyping platforms could accelerate the discovery of the phenotypic variation with respect to inflorescence dynamics and mapping of the underlying genes regulating critical yield components. Results: The major objective of this study is to evaluate post-fertilization development and growth dynamics of inflorescence at high spatial and temporal resolution in rice. For this, we developed the Panicle Imaging Platform (PI-Plat) to comprehend multi-dimensional features of IA in a non-destructive manner. We used 11 rice genotypes to capture multi-view images of primary panicle on weekly basis after the fertilization. These images were used to reconstruct a 3D point cloud of the panicle, which enabled us to extract digital traits such as voxel count and color intensity. We found that the voxel count of developing panicles is positively correlated with seed number and weight at maturity. The voxel count from developing panicles projected overall volumes that increased during the grain filling phase, wherein quantification of color intensity estimated the rate of panicle maturation. Our 3D based phenotyping solution showed superior performance compared to conventional 2D based approaches. Conclusions: For harnessing the potential of the existing genetic resources, we need a comprehensive understanding of the genotype-to-phenotype relationship. Relatively low-cost sequencing platforms have facilitated high-throughput genotyping, while phenotyping, especially for complex traits, has posed major challenges for crop improvement. PI-Plat offers a low cost and high-resolution platform to phenotype inflorescence-related traits using 3D reconstruction-based approach. Further, the non-destructive nature of the platform facilitates analyses of the same panicle at multiple developmental time points, which can be utilized to explore the genetic variation for dynamic inflorescence traits in cereals