alpha-helix E of Spo0A is required for sigma(A)- but not for sigma(H)-dependent promoter activation in Bacillus subtilis

At the onset of endospore formation in Bacillus subtilis, the DNA binding protein Spo0A activates transcription from two types of promoters. The first type includes the spoIIG and spoIIE promoters, which are used by sigma(A)-RNA polymerase, whereas the second type includes the spoIIA promoter, which is used by RNA polymerase containing the secondary sigma factor sigma(H). Previous genetic analyses have identified specific amino acids in alpha-helix E of Spo0A that are important for activation of Spo0A-dependent, sigma(A)-dependent promoters. However, these amino acids are not required for activation of the sigma(H)-dependent spoIIA promoter. We now report the effects of additional single-amino-acid substitutions and the effects of deletions in alpha-helix E. The effects of alanine substitutions revealed one new position (239) in Spo0A that appears to be specifically required for activation of the sigma(A)-dependent promoters. Based on the effects of a deletion mutation, we suggest that alpha-helix E in Spo0A is not directly involved in interaction with sigma(H)-RNA polymerase

A Study on Importance of Women Participants in Higher Education: A Case Study of Karnataka, India

Education is a fundamental human right and it is necessary, irrespective of gender, to achieve the goal of basic education for all. There is limited representation of women in many sectors of Indian society; however, women form a higher percentage of college professors in Karnataka. Women\u27s support of one another plays an important role in higher education and they can balance both professional and personal life. Women enter the teaching profession because of the flexibility in time, which helps them manage both professional and personal lives simultaneously. Women are working in all the sectors, i.e., education, medical, engineering, transportation, etc., but they continue to face gender discrimination as most professions are dominated by men. Women have proven themselves to be mentally strong as they work hard and successfully manage both family life and professional space together. The present study focuses on the important role that women play in higher education, constraints faced by them in the teaching profession as well as problems faced while balancing professional and personal lives. For the survey, open-ended research questionnaires were framed. The study concludes that participation of women in higher education plays a vital role. The study suggests remedial measures to overcome constraints faced by females in the profession of teaching. Hence, the present paper focuses on the importance of women in higher education and what problems they are facing in higher education. It also throws light on the balance between personal and professional lives of women

THE PREVALENCE OF HYPOCALCAEMIA AMONG PATIENTS UNDERGOING THYROIDECTOMY AT A SOUTH INDIAN TERTIARY HOSPITAL: A PROSPECTIVE STUDY.

Background After total thyroidectomy, calcium levels drop temporarily and permanently. Parathyroid glands adjacent to the thyroid glands are important for calcium metabolism. An accidental parathyroid gland injury damages calcium metabolism. Surgery-related hypocalcemia may be observed 24-48 hours later. This research also attempts to uncover the biochemical and clinical causes of hypocalcemia. This research evaluates neuromuscular stability using Chvostek and Trousseau signs.  Method An observational study was conducted prospectively at JSS Hospital from Mysuru, Department of General Surgery. The patients undergoing total thyroidectomy were included in the study. the patients were thoroughly examined for their calcium levels after the surgery. Follow up were taken for 6 months if the calcium levels were less than 8 mg then it was classified as permanent hypocalcemia. The data for 100 patients was collected and then statistically analyzed for the occurrence of hypocalcemia.  Results It was found that the operating time (p = 0.03), indication (p = 0.001), and level of thyroid hormone (p = 0.03) can be correlated with the occurrence of hypocalcemia. Other factors, such as gender and age of the patient, could not be correlated to the occurrence of hypocalcemia as the p-value was not statistically significant. Conclusion After total thyroidectomy, the operating time, indication, and level of thyroid hormone can be correlated with the occurrence of hypocalcemia. Checking the calcium levels after 6 hours and 24 hours of the surgery and regular follow-up can prevent the worsening of hypocalcemia.  Recommendations This research highlights the importance of monitoring calcium levels following total thyroidectomy and identifies key factors, including operating time, indication, and thyroid hormone levels, that can contribute to hypocalcemia. To mitigate the risk of hypocalcemia, it is recommended to check calcium levels at specific post-operative intervals and establish a regular follow-up protocol for patients undergoing total thyroidectomy

Trigger sequence can influence final morphology in the self-assembly of asymmetric telechelic polymers

We report on a numerical study of polymer network formation of asymmetric biomimetic telechelic polymers with two reactive ends based on a self-assembling collagen, elastin or silk-like polypeptide sequence. The two reactive ends of the polymer can be activated independently using physicochemical triggers such as temperature and pH. We show, using a simple coarse grained model that the order in which this triggering occurs influences the final morphology. For both of collagen-silk and elastin-silk topologies we find that for relatively short connector chains the morphology of the assembly is greatly influenced by the order of the trigger, whereas for longer chains the equilibrium situation is more easily achieved. Moreover, self-assembly is greatly enhanced at moderate collagen interaction strength, due to facilitated binding and unbinding of the peptides. This finding indicates that both the trigger sequence and strength can be used to steer self-assembly in these biomimetic polymer systems.</p

Synthesis and antimicrobial evaluation of 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles with aromatic ester functionality

AbstractA series of 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles having p-substituted aromatic ester functionality were synthesized via Cu(I) catalysed click reaction between p-substituted benzoic acid prop-2-ynyl esters and aralkyl azides. The synthesized triazoles were characterized by IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and mass spectral techniques. These compounds were evaluated for their antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus by two fold serial dilution method. Some of the synthesized 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles possess comparable or even better antibacterial, antitubercular and antifungal activities than reference drugs against tested bacterial, mycobacterial and fungal strains, respectively

Estimation of Compressional Wave Speed in Marine Sediments using Biot Stoll Model and Buckinghams Grain shearing Model

Acoustic properties of seafloor sediments can be estimated using theoretical models by giving geophysical properties of sediments as inputs to the respective models. Empirical relations connecting the geophysical and geoacoustic properties are available in literature. In this study an experimental assessment of two such theoretical models viz., Biot-Stoll model (BSM), a poro-elastic model and the Buckingham’s grain shearing (GS) model, a visco-elastic model is done by estimating the compressional wave speed. Compressional wave speed is measured using in-house developed sediment velocimeter and is compared with the speed estimated using both the models and a regression analysis was done. It was observed that the Coefficient of determination R2 for BSM and GS model are 0.769 and 0.729, respectively. It shows that once the constants used in GS model are evaluated for the Indian waters, then it can be used to estimate the acoustic properties of sediments

Non-Vacuum Bianchi Types I and V in f(R) Gravity

In a recent paper \cite{1}, we have studied the vacuum solutions of Bianchi types I and V spacetimes in the framework of metric f(R) gravity. Here we extend this work to perfect fluid solutions. For this purpose, we take stiff matter to find energy density and pressure of the universe. In particular, we find two exact solutions in each case which correspond to two models of the universe. The first solution gives a singular model while the second solution provides a non-singular model. The physical behavior of these models has been discussed using some physical quantities. Also, the function of the Ricci scalar is evaluated.Comment: 15 pages, accepted for publication in Gen. Realtiv. Gravi

Solar Fluctuations and the MSW Effect

This talk summarizes the results of recent calculations of how fluctuations within the solar medium can influence resonant neutrino oscillations within the sun. Although initial calculations pointed to helioseismic waves as possibly producing detectable effects, recent more careful calculations show this not to be true. Those features of fluctuations which maximize their influence on neutrino propagation are identified, and are likely to have implications for supernovae and the early universe.Comment: 10 pages, LaTeX, talk given at the Erice School on Neutrinos in Astro, Particle and Nuclear Physic

An Inflationary Scenario in Intersecting Brane Models

We propose a new scenario for D-term inflation which appears quite straightforwardly in the open string sector of intersecting brane models. We take the inflaton to be a chiral field in a bifundamental representation of the hidden sector and we argue that a sufficiently flat potential can be brane engineered. This type of model generically predicts a near gaussian red spectrum with negligible tensor modes. We note that this model can very naturally generate a baryon asymmetry at the end of inflation via the recently proposed hidden sector baryogenesis mechanism. We also discuss the possibility that Majorana masses for the neutrinos can be simultaneously generated by the tachyon condensation which ends inflation. Our proposed scenario is viable for both high and low scale supersymmetry breaking.Comment: 30 pages, 2 figures; v2 references and comments adde

Some anisotropic universes in the presence of imperfect fluid coupling with spatial curvature

We consider Bianchi VI spacetime, which also can be reduced to Bianchi types VI0-V-III-I. We initially consider the most general form of the energy-momentum tensor which yields anisotropic stress and heat flow. We then derive an energy-momentum tensor that couples with the spatial curvature in a way so as to cancel out the terms that arise due to the spatial curvature in the evolution equations of the Einstein field equations. We obtain exact solutions for the universes indefinetly expanding with constant mean deceleration parameter. The solutions are beriefly discussed for each Bianchi type. The dynamics of the models and fluid are examined briefly, and the models that can approach to isotropy are determined. We conclude that even if the observed universe is almost isotropic, this does not necessarily imply the isotropy of the fluid (e.g., dark energy) affecting the evolution of the universe within the context of general relativity.Comment: 17 pages, no figures; to appear in International Journal of Theoretical Physics; in this version (which is more concise) an equation added, some references updated and adde