Dynein Light Chain 1 (DYNLT1) interacts with normal and oncogenic nucleoporins

<div><p>The chimeric oncoprotein NUP98-HOXA9 results from the t(7;11)(p15;p15) chromosomal translocation and is associated with acute myeloid leukemia. It causes aberrant gene regulation and leukemic transformation through mechanisms that are not fully understood. NUP98-HOXA9 consists of an N-terminal portion of the nucleoporin NUP98 that contains many FG repeats fused to the DNA-binding homeodomain of HOXA9. We used a Cytotrap yeast two-hybrid assay to identify proteins that interact with NUP98-HOXA9. We identified Dynein Light Chain 1 (DYNLT1), an integral 14 KDa protein subunit of the large microtubule-based cytoplasmic dynein complex, as an interaction partner of NUP98-HOXA9. Binding was confirmed by <i>in vitro</i> pull down and co-immunoprecipitation assays and the FG repeat region of NUP98-HOXA9 was shown to be essential for the interaction. RNAi-mediated knockdown of DYNLT1 resulted in reduction of the ability of NUP98-HOXA9 to activate transcription and also inhibited the ability of NUP98-HOXA9 to induce proliferation of primary human hematopoietic CD34+ cells. DYNLT1 also showed a strong interaction with wild-type NUP98 and other nucleoporins containing FG repeats. Immunofluorescence analysis showed that DYNLT1 localizes primarily to the nuclear periphery, where it co-localizes with the nuclear pore complex, and to the cytoplasm. Deletion studies showed that the interactions of the nucleoporins with DYNLT1 are dependent predominantly on the C-terminal half of the DYNLT1. These data show for the first time that DYNLT1 interacts with nucleoporins and plays a role in the dysregulation of gene expression and induction of hematopoietic cell proliferation by the leukemogenic nucleoporin fusion, NUP98-HOXA9.</p></div

Modeling, simulation and implementation of low power photovoltaic energy conversion system

Remote areas in India are still not connected to the power grid. But they have mobile network connectivity. The people face problems in charging their cell phones. They are forced to travel a long distances to get access to electrical outlets. This project focuses on providing a Photovoltaic System which could charge a cell phone battery. The developed system provides a solution to this problem. The system comprises of PV array, Maximum Power Point Tracker, Buck Converter and Charging Circuit. The system is modeled and simulated in Matlab-Simulink Environment. Hardware for the system is also implemented. We find proper synchronism between the results

Evaluation of the Liquisolid Compacts Using Response Surface Methodology

Liquisolid Compacts technique has potential to develop sustained release formulations. It involves conversion of liquid drug (either solution or suspension) in non-volatile solvent into free-flowing, non adherent, dry looking and readily compressible powder. In the present work, an attempt was made to develop such formulation of Diltiazem HCl and evaluation using Response surface methodology. Liquisolid compacts were prepared by dissolving Diltiazem HCl in Polyethylene Glycol 400. Then a binary mixture of carrier-coating material, Avicel and Aerosil, was added to liquid medication under continuous mixing in mortar. The HPMC K4M was used as adjuvant for sustaining the drug release.  The pre-compression studies for all the formulations were also carried out. The Liquisolid compacts were evaluated in-vitro dissolution studies. The experimental data was evaluated using Design Expert Software. The % Drug Concentration, ratio of Carrier to Coating material and amount of HPMC K4M are taken as three factors. Response Surface methodology was used to study the influence of the each factor on the response. The present investigation showed that Polyethylene Glycol 400 has important role in release retardation of drug in Liquisolid compacts. The reduction in Tg can be reason for same. The Response surface methodology showed that all the factors were significantly affect the release at 16 hrs.

Rough triggerfish, Canthidermis maculata from Gujarat coast

A specimen of the Rough triggerfish, Canthidermis maculata (Bloch, 1786) was landed by a multiday trawler on 25th November 2015 at Mangrol Fisheries Harbour, Gujarat. The specimen was brownish grey in colour with characteristic white spots all over the body including the head. It measured 309 mm and 256 mm in Total length and Standard length respectively with a weight of 580 g (Fig. 1). The fish is usually found in areas having sandy, muddy or rocky bottoms at a depth range of 50-100 m and is reported from the Western Indian Ocean

Assessing Cross anisotropy of Small-Strain Stiffness Using the Resonant Column apparatus

Almost all soils exhibit cross-anisotropic stiffness to some extent. However, measuring the cross anisotropic properties of soils is difficult because of the need to determine the 3 independent stiffness parameters Eν, Eh, Gνh, and the associated Poisson’s ratios, nνh and nhh. Current techniques that are employed, for example using bender elements or field geophysics, are not always reliable, whilst preparing specimens in different orientations and subsequent testing using standard laboratory techniques has practical constraints. The resonant column is a laboratory apparatus that has been extensively used to measure the torsional stiffness (Gνh). Relatively recent development has also allowed the Stokoe resonant column to measure Young’s modulus from flexural excitation of the specimen. The apparatus has also been used to determine Eν through axial oscillation. Thus a modified resonant column apparatus can apply four different excitations (flexure in two directions, torsion and longitudinal excitation) to a soil. This paper reports a series of dynamic finite element numerical simulations of physical tests in the resonant column apparatus, carried out to model both the apparatus and a cross-anisotropic soil specimen. Forward modelling has been carried out to determine the impact of different degrees of anisotropy on the resonant frequencies of ‘specimens’ with their axes of anisotropy aligned in different directions relative to the vertical axis of the apparatus. Methods of determining the elastic parameters from these data are assessed

Coronary Artery Chronic Total Occlusion

Coronary artery chronic total occlusion (CTO) is defined as an occluded coronary artery segment without anterograde flow for at least three months. It can be classified as a “true” or “functional” CTO based on flow characteristics. In “true” CTO, there is no anterograde flow. In “functional” CTO, there is minimal anterograde flow through the occluded segment of the coronary artery. CTO is a common finding during coronary angiography and its prevalence may vary depending on the reported literature. Among patients without previous coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), CTO is found in about 20–30% of the patients. CTO may develop insidiously over a period of time and involve a complex interplay between intracellular and extracellular factors, smooth muscle and foam cells, calcification, and neovascularization. There is a growing body of evidence to support that CTO revascularization may improve clinical outcome when compared to medical management. Both the European and American cardiovascular societies support CTO revascularization with a class 2a recommendation (level of evidence B). Historically, due to low procedural success rate, apparent inefficient resource utilization, potential increase in complication rates and uncertain clinical benefits, only about 10–20% of patients with CTO are treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Recent advances using novel and innovative techniques with dedicated equipment have significantly improved the procedural success rate for CTO PCI to about 90% in the hands of experienced operators. With increasing interest in CTO PCI coupled with increased educational effort, CTO PCI likely will become more accessible to patients in need of CTO revascularization. Ongoing advancement in innovative techniques and equipment will continue to improve procedural success rates and reduce procedural complication rate for CTO PCI. Furthermore, there are a number of prospective clinical trials on the horizon which should help define the clinical benefits and limitations of CTO PCI in the near future

Design of alumina monoliths by emulsion-gel casting: understanding the monolith structure from a rheological approach

Multimodal porous cellular alumina structures (monoliths) were prepared by an emulsion-gel casting technique using eco-friendly and inexpensive lipids such as corn oil, castor oil, margarine and their mixtures as the dispersed phase. The monoliths obtained showed good mechanical stability, exhibiting compressive strengths in the range of 8–50 N·mm−2. Mercury intrusion porosimetry analysis showed that the monoliths produced presented porosities ranging from 28% to 60% and average pore sizes within 0.2–3.2 μm. The formation of the porous networks was interpreted based on combined droplet coalescence, flocculation and Ostwald ripening effects. The presence of such effects along the emulsion storage time led to changes in their viscoelastic and morphological properties, which were found to correlate with structural descriptors of monoliths after sintering (e.g. average pore sizes and porosity). These correlations open up the possibility to anticipate the final structure of the monoliths and adjust emulsion-gel conditions to produce customized cellular structures with fine-tuned porosities and pore sizes, envisaging their application in membrane processes or chromatography.publishe

Annealing temperature induced improved crystallinity of ysz thin film

Six YSZ thin films (YSZTFs) were prepared at varied annealing temperature (380 °C to 600 °C) by radio frequency magnetron sputtering method. Glancing angle x-ray diffraction (GAXRD) pattern revealed the polycrystalline nature of all films with crystallite size in the range of 9 to 15 nm. Sample annealed at 400 °C displayed the lowest microstrain (0.262) and crystallinity (60%). FESEM images disclosed dense, homogeneous and crack free growth of annealed samples compared to as-deposited one. EDX spectra detected the right elemental compositions of films. AFM images showed growth evolution of YSZ grains with size range between 0.2 to 5 nm and improved films' surface roughness. HRTEM measurement of the studied YSZTFs exhibited lattice orientation and atomic structure of nucleated YSZ nanocrystallites. Furthermore, film annealed at 500 °C divulged less oriented structure because of dislocation

Evaluation of the Liquisolid Compacts Using Response Surface Methodology

Liquisolid Compacts technique has potential to develop sustained release formulations. It involves conversion of liquid drug (either solution or suspension) in non-volatile solvent into free-flowing, non adherent, dry looking and readily compressible powder. In the present work, an attempt was made to develop such formulation of Diltiazem HCl and evaluation using Response surface methodology. Liquisolid compacts were prepared by dissolving Diltiazem HCl in Polyethylene Glycol 400. Then a binary mixture of carrier-coating material, Avicel and Aerosil, was added to liquid medication under continuous mixing in mortar. The HPMC K4M was used as adjuvant for sustaining the drug release.  The pre-compression studies for all the formulations were also carried out. The Liquisolid compacts were evaluated in-vitro dissolution studies. The experimental data was evaluated using Design Expert Software. The % Drug Concentration, ratio of Carrier to Coating material and amount of HPMC K4M are taken as three factors. Response Surface methodology was used to study the influence of the each factor on the response. The present investigation showed that Polyethylene Glycol 400 has important role in release retardation of drug in Liquisolid compacts. The reduction in Tg can be reason for same. The Response surface methodology showed that all the factors were significantly affect the release at 16 hrs.