Understanding Pre-mRNA Dynamics in Single Spliceosome Complexes.

The spliceosome is a large RNA-protein complex that catalyzes pre-mRNA splicing by removing sequences called introns and joining of the remaining sequences, called exons, to produce a mature mRNA. Despite over a quarter century of research on splicing, little is known about the compositional and conformational rearrangements, timing, and coordination of this process. Particularly, the pre-mRNA, which provides the template for spliceosome assembly and the reactive sites for splicing chemistry, has been largely ignored. This thesis utilizes single molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer (smFRET) approaches on a short budding yeast pre-mRNA to address this challenge. Specifically, we have placed fluorescent dyes near the conserved splice sites that are recognized by the spliceosome and have monitored dynamic changes in the distance between these sites, in real-time throughout the splicing cycle. We find that, contrary to conventional depictions, the splice sites are highly dynamic and explore reversible transitions. By stalling the progress of splicing at various steps, we have been able to associate unique dynamic information of the splice sites with specific steps of splicing using novel analysis methods that have broad applicability. We find that the splice sites explore reversible splice site proximity in a non-monotonic fashion throughout the process. Our results show that even at very early steps of splicing assembly, the splice sites are brought close together via a novel ATP-independent role of a helicase. Furthermore, employing a combination of smFRET and affinity purification (termed SiMPull-FRET), we have been able to describe the conformational dynamics of single isolated spliceosomes and find them to follow a biased Brownian ratcheting mechanism leading up to the first chemical step of splicing. Our results hint at the possibility that, much like the ribosome, the spliceosome and its substrates often toggle between active and inactive conformations that are subsequently locked into the preferred state by a specific cofactor. The work presented in this thesis provides a structural and dynamic view of the pre-mRNA in the spliceosome, finds associated roles for protein factors, and pioneers single molecule techniques to answer focused questions about the mechanisms of RNA:protein complex assembly and catalysis in general.PHDChemistryUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/102364/1/ramyak_1.pd

Consumer Behavior in Selection of Buying Source of Siddha Medicine in Tamilnadu, India from the Perspective of Age

With the increasing usage of traditional medicines as complementary alternative therapy, possibilities that would ensure its successful integration into the public domain of health care services needs to be evaluated. India is one of the countries with rich traditional knowledge base. Its ethnic ethno-medical practices had paved way for the evolution of several indigenous systems of medicine. Siddha is one of the oldest systems of medicine in India. Siddha holds close association with nature and has been validated in the laboratory of life, even before the advent of formal modern western system of medicine. This paper discusses the interrelations between usage of Sidhha as complementary alternative medicine and its implications on public health care related issues. We explore the impact of age of respondents in the public domain as a criterion in relation to selection of buying source of Siddha medicine in Tamilnadu, India

Current Trends in Usage of Traditional System of Medicine in Tamilnadu, India - From the Perspective of Occupation

Socio-economic parameters have significant impact on consumer’s attitude towards the usage of traditional system of medicine in Tamilnadu, India. Though traditional systems of medicine have made significant contributions towards fulfilling healthcare needs of the people in the past, impacts of modern medicine have been so large that traditional medicine witnessed a dark period in India. While such practices are common in the rural/ remote areas, off late, change in the trend with respect to the usage of Siddha medicine as complementary alternative therapy among urban population has been observed. Present study aims to evaluate the resurgence of interest in Siddha medicine among the people working in different sectors (occupation) in Tamilnadu, India

An improved method of water electrolysis – effect of complexing agent

The present work investigates the efficiency of an alkaline water electrolysis process in the presence of a complexing agent like citric acid (CA) when added directly into the electrolyte during the electrolytic process. High surface area nickel electrodes prepared by electrodeposition technique were used as the electrode to evaluate the efficiency of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) by the polarization measurements and cyclic voltammetry. The quantity of the complexing agent CA in the electrolyte was varied from 0-1 wt. %. An increase in the current density of about 25 % resulted at a temperature of 30 °C in the presence of 0.2 wt. % of CA at 1.0 V vs. Hg/HgO. CA was found to improve performance by forming a complex with the alloy electrode and by formation of the high surface area catalyst for efficient OER

RNA Sequencing in Potentially Malignant Disorders

RNA sequencing is a molecular technique which utilizes next generation sequencing to identify and quantify ribonucleic acid (RNA) in a given sample. This technique is utilized in the detection of changes in gene expression. Potentially malignant oral disorders are one of the most troublesome lesions seen in the oral cavity which predisposes to the development of oral cancer. Though there are many methods employed in the diagnosis of these disorders, biopsy followed by histological examination is the gold standard procedure followed in the diagnosis. RNA sequencing has been receiving attention among researchers. Many studies have been conducted to analyze the application of RNA sequencing in the diagnosis of PMODs as well as in the malignant transformation to oral squamous cell carcinoma. The article attempts to summarize the progress in RNA sequencing pertaining to Potentially malignant disorders

Livelihood gains and ecological costs of NTFP dependence: assessing the roles of dependence, ecological knowledge and market structure in three contrasting human and ecological settings in south India

Non-timber forest products (NTFPs) constitute the single largest determinant of livelihoods for scores of forest fringe communities and poor people in the tropics. In India over 50 million people are believed to be directly dependent upon NTFPs for their subsistence. However, such human dependence on NTFPs for livelihood gains (win) has most frequently been at a certain ecological cost (lose). If livelihoods are to be maintained, the existing ‘win-lose’ settings have to be steered to a ‘win-win’ mode, otherwise, there could be severe erosion of the biological resources and loss of livelihoods (‘lose-lose’). Examining the dependence of forest fringe communities on NTFPs at three sites in south India with contrasting human and ecological settings, three key factors (extent of dependence on NTFPs, indigenous ecological knowledge and market organization) are likely to constrain reaching the win-win situation. How these factors shape the ecological cost of harvesting NTFPs at the three sites is examined. Within the parameter space of these factors, it is possible to predict outcomes and associations that will conform to win-win or win-lose situations. Empirical data derived from the three study sites demonstrate the causality of the observed associations. The key for long-term livelihood gains lies in reducing the ecological cost. Certain interventions and recommendations that could optimize the balance between livelihood gains and ecological cost are proposed

Wound Healing Ethnomedicinal Plants Popular among the Malayali Tribes in Vattal Hills, Dharmapuri, TN, India

Healing of chronic lower extremity wounds is a global problem, especially in developing countries where traditional medicine is often used by the people in remote places. India has a rich tradition of plant based knowledge pertinent to healthcare. A survey of ethnomedicinal plant species used by Malayali’s to heal cut/ wounds in Vattal Hills of Dharmapuri was made. A large number of plants/ extracts/ decoctions/ pastes are used by tribals to heal wounds, cuts and burns. In the present study, an attempt has been made to document ethnobotanical knowledge base and methods employed by Malayali’s for treatment of cut/ wounds. A large number of ethnomedicinal plants used by the Malayali’s have not been validated for wound healing potential. The present investigation resulted in the identification of 82 medicinal plant species distributed across 39 families that are used by Malayali’s to heal cut/ wounds. This study is an attempt to gather the information on the existing ethnobotanical knowledge base and document the traditional claims toward the development of safe of effective herbal drugs for cut/ wounds. Results of the study is organized in table form depicting the botanical name, family, vernacular name and habit with a brief note on plant parts used and method of administration

Towards Upcycling Biomass-Derived Crosslinked Polymers with Light

Photodegradable, recyclable, and renewable, crosslinked polymers from bioresources show promise towards developing a sustainable strategy to address the issue of plastics degradability and recyclability. Photo processes are not widely exploited for upcycling polymers in spite of the potential to have spatial and temporal control of the degradation in addition to being a green process. In this report we highlight a methodology in which biomass-derived crosslinked polymers can be programmed to degrade at ≈300 nm with ≈60 % recovery of the monomer. The recovered monomer was recycled back to the crosslinked polymer

An improved method of water electrolysis – effect of complexing agent

The present work investigates the efficiency of an alkaline water electrolysis process in the presence of a complexing agent like citric acid (CA) when added directly into the electrolyte during the electrolytic process. High surface area nickel electrodes prepared by electrodeposition technique were used as the electrode to evaluate the efficiency of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) by the polarization measurements and cyclic voltammetry. The quantity of the complexing agent CA in the electrolyte was varied from 0-1 wt. %. An increase in the current density of about 25 % resulted at a temperature of 30 °C in the presence of 0.2 wt. % of CA at 1.0 V vs. Hg/HgO. CA was found to improve performance by forming a complex with the alloy electrode and by formation of the high surface area catalyst for efficient OER

The profile and treatment outcomes of the older (aged 60 years and above) tuberculosis patients in Tamilnadu, South India

Background: With changing demographic patterns in the context of a high tuberculosis (TB) burden country, like India, there is very little information on the clinical and demographic factors associated with poor treatment outcome in the sub-group of older TB patients. The study aimed to assess the proportion of older TB patients (60 years of age and more), to compare the type of TB and treatment outcomes between older TB patients and other TB patients (less than 60 years of age) and to describe the demographic and clinical characteristics of older TB patients and assess any associations with TB treatment outcomes. Methods: A retrospective cohort study involving a review of records from April to June 2011 in the 12 selected districts of Tamilnadu, India. Demographic, clinical and WHO defined disease classifications and treatment outcomes of all TB patients aged 60 years and above were extracted from TB registers maintained routinely by Revised National TB Control Program (RNTCP). Results: Older TB patients accounted for 14% of all TB patients, of whom 47% were new sputum positive. They had 38% higher risk of unfavourable treatment outcomes as compared to all other TB patients (Relative risk (RR)-1.4, 95% CI 1.2–1.6). Among older TB patients, the risk for unfavourable treatment outcomes was higher for those aged 70 years and more (RR 1.5, 95% CI 1.2–1.9), males (RR 1.5, 95% CI 1.0–2.1), re-treatment patients (RR 2.5, 95% CI 1.9–3.2) and those who received community-based Direct Observed Treatment (RR 1.4, 95% CI 1.1–1.9). Conclusion: Treatment outcomes were poor in older TB patients warranting special attention to this group – including routine assessment and recording of co-morbidities, a dedicated recording, reporting and monitoring of outcomes for this age-group and collaboration with National programme of non-communicable diseases for comprehensive management of co-morbidities