Parental line selection for yield contributing character of rice (Oryza sativa)

The prime objective of any hybrid program is to bring the desirable genes present in the parent into a single genetic background. Therefore, an experiment was conducted to evaluate the parental performance at the experimental farm of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University. Nine A (male sterile) lines and Four R (restoral) lines were used here. To consider their performance various agronomic trait was selected and most emphasis was provide for plant height, days to maturity and other yield contributing character. The characters studied in this investigation exhibited low to moderate range of variability and heritability. Out of all RGBU0014A perform the height days to maturity then others. Although yield is more or less similar for the restorer parent, but considering other agronomic yield contributing trait RGBU003A, RGBU002A, RGBU009A can be selected to cross with superior restoral SL8 R and Mitali R to obtain ideal plant type.Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. & Tech. 7 (1): 46-50, June, 201

Tetanus toxin Hc fragment induces the formation of ceramide platforms and protects neuronal cells against oxidative stress

Tetanus toxin (TeTx) is the protein, synthesized by the anaerobic bacteria Clostridium tetani, which causes tetanus disease. TeTx gains entry into target cells by means of its interaction with lipid rafts, which are membrane domains enriched in sphingomyelin and cholesterol. However, the exact mechanism of host membrane binding remains to be fully established. In the present study we used the recombinant carboxyl terminal fragment from TeTx (Hc-TeTx), the domain responsible for target neuron binding, showing that Hc-TeTx induces a moderate but rapid and sustained increase in the ceramide/sphingomyelin ratio in primary cultures of cerebellar granule neurons and in NGF-differentiated PC12 cells, as well as induces the formation of ceramide platforms in the plasma membrane. The mentioned increase is due to the promotion of neutral sphingomyelinase activity and not to the de novo synthesis, since GW4869, a specific neutral sphingomyelinase inhibitor, prevents neutral sphingomyelinase activity increase and formation of ceramide platforms. Moreover, neutral sphingomyelinase inhibition with GW4869 prevents Hc-TeTx-triggered signaling (Akt phosphorylation), as well as the protective effect of Hc-TeTx on PC12 cells subjected to oxidative stress, while siRNA directed against nSM2 prevents protection by Hc-TeTx of NSC-34 cells against oxidative insult. Finally, neutral sphingomyelinase activity seems not to be related with the internalization of Hc-TeTx into PC12 cells. Thus, the presented data shed light on the mechanisms triggered by TeTx after membrane binding, which could be related with the events leading to the neuroprotective action exerted by the Hc-TeTx fragment

Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (4th edition)1.

In 2008, we published the first set of guidelines for standardizing research in autophagy. Since then, this topic has received increasing attention, and many scientists have entered the field. Our knowledge base and relevant new technologies have also been expanding. Thus, it is important to formulate on a regular basis updated guidelines for monitoring autophagy in different organisms. Despite numerous reviews, there continues to be confusion regarding acceptable methods to evaluate autophagy, especially in multicellular eukaryotes. Here, we present a set of guidelines for investigators to select and interpret methods to examine autophagy and related processes, and for reviewers to provide realistic and reasonable critiques of reports that are focused on these processes. These guidelines are not meant to be a dogmatic set of rules, because the appropriateness of any assay largely depends on the question being asked and the system being used. Moreover, no individual assay is perfect for every situation, calling for the use of multiple techniques to properly monitor autophagy in each experimental setting. Finally, several core components of the autophagy machinery have been implicated in distinct autophagic processes (canonical and noncanonical autophagy), implying that genetic approaches to block autophagy should rely on targeting two or more autophagy-related genes that ideally participate in distinct steps of the pathway. Along similar lines, because multiple proteins involved in autophagy also regulate other cellular pathways including apoptosis, not all of them can be used as a specific marker for bona fide autophagic responses. Here, we critically discuss current methods of assessing autophagy and the information they can, or cannot, provide. Our ultimate goal is to encourage intellectual and technical innovation in the field

Salmonella Typhi-specific multifunctional CD8+ T cells play a dominant role in protection from typhoid fever in humans.

BACKGROUND: Typhoid fever, caused by the human-restricted organism Salmonella Typhi (S. Typhi), is a major public health problem worldwide. Development of novel vaccines remains imperative, but is hampered by an incomplete understanding of the immune responses that correlate with protection. METHODS: Recently, a controlled human infection model was re-established in which volunteers received ~10(3) cfu wild-type S. Typhi (Quailes strain) orally. Twenty-one volunteers were evaluated for their cell-mediated immune (CMI) responses. Ex vivo PBMC isolated before and up to 1 year after challenge were exposed to three S. Typhi-infected targets, i.e., autologous B lymphoblastoid cell-lines (B-LCL), autologous blasts and HLA-E restricted AEH B-LCL cells. CMI responses were evaluated using 14-color multiparametric flow cytometry to detect simultaneously five intracellular cytokines/chemokines (i.e., IL-17A, IL-2, IFN-g, TNF-a and MIP-1b) and a marker of degranulation/cytotoxic activity (CD107a). RESULTS: Herein we provide the first evidence that S. Typhi-specific CD8+ responses correlate with clinical outcome in humans challenged with wild-type S. Typhi. Higher multifunctional S. Typhi-specific CD8+ baseline responses were associated with protection against typhoid and delayed disease onset. Moreover, following challenge, development of typhoid fever was accompanied by decreases in circulating S. Typhi-specific CD8+ T effector/memory (TEM) with gut homing potential, suggesting migration to the site(s) of infection. In contrast, protection against disease was associated with low or no changes in circulating S. Typhi-specific TEM. CONCLUSIONS: These studies provide novel insights into the protective immune responses against typhoid disease that will aid in selection and development of new vaccine candidates

Parental line selection for yield contributing character of rice (Oryza sativa)

The prime objective of any hybrid program is to bring the desirable genes present in the parent into a single genetic background. Therefore, an experiment was conducted to evaluate the parental performance at the experimental farm of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University. Nine A (male sterile) lines and Four R (restoral) lines were used here. To consider their performance various agronomic trait was selected and most emphasis was provide for plant height, days to maturity and other yield contributing character. The characters studied in this investigation exhibited low to moderate range of variability and heritability. Out of all RGBU0014A perform the height days to maturity then others. Although yield is more or less similar for the restorer parent, but considering other agronomic yield contributing trait RGBU003A, RGBU002A, RGBU009A can be selected to cross with superior restoral SL8 R and Mitali R to obtain ideal plant type.Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. & Tech. 7 (1): 46-50, June, 201

Strategic Planning for Lean Production, Comparing Hoshin Kanri with Balanced Scorecard

Some authors believed that Lean has to be strategically implemented just in a bottom-up way, involving production processes and trying to reduce waste in the so-called Gemba or shop-floor. However, since the 1990s many companies have implemented the Balanced Scorecard, integrating economic and financial strategies with strategies linked to operations management in general, to widen the satisfaction of their different stakeholders. In this way it can be affirmed that BSC is a well-consolidated system for deploying Lean strategies. However, BSC is not the only system that can be related to Lean deployment. Since the 1960s, a similar system has been put forward in Japan. The system is named Hoshin Kanri and it has been implemented by companies all around the world. This research wants to contribute to the debate concerning how to implement Lean Production from a strategic point of view. In this sense two different systems, Hoshin Kanri and Balanced Scorecard will be compared. The research is based on three manufacturing case studies investigating in particular how to combine the top-down and bottom-up approaches and the techniques used for the deployment and implementation. Interesting findings show a difference in terms of workers involvement and day-by-day performance measurement

Assessment of Sulphate and Iron Contamination and Seasonal Variations in the Water Resources of a Damodar Valley Coalfield, India: A Case Study

The aim of the present study was to assess the sulphate (SO2−4 ) and iron (Fe) contamination and seasonal variations in the water resources (groundwater, surface water, and mine water) of the West Bokaro coalfield region, India. One hundred and twenty-four water resources samples were collected from the coalfield during the post- and pre-monsoon seasons. The concentrations of SO2−4 were determined using ion chromatography and Fe concentrations were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. A statistical analysis was used to easily understand the seasonal variations of the elements in the water resources of the area. The concentrations of SO2−4 and Fe in the water resources were higher in the pre-monsoon season than in the post-monsoon season, irrespective of location. The water resources of the coalfield were contaminated with high concentrations of SO2−4 and Fe, and would require suitable treatment before drinking, domestic and industrial uses