Comparison of characteristics and function of translation termination signals between and within prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms

Six diverse prokaryotic and five eukaryotic genomes were compared to deduce whether the protein synthesis termination signal has common determinants within and across both kingdoms. Four of the six prokaryotic and all of the eukaryotic genomes investigated demonstrated a similar pattern of nucleotide bias both 5′ and 3′ of the stop codon. A preferred core signal of 4 nt was evident, encompassing the stop codon and the following nucleotide. Codons decoded by hyper-modified tRNAs were over-represented in the region 5′ to the stop codon in genes from both kingdoms. The origin of the 3′ bias was more variable particularly among the prokaryotic organisms. In both kingdoms, genes with the highest expression index exhibited a strong bias but genes with the lowest expression showed none. Absence of bias in parasitic prokaryotes may reflect an absence of pressure to evolve more efficient translation. Experiments were undertaken to determine if a correlation existed between bias in signal abundance and termination efficiency. In Escherichia coli signal abundance correlated with termination efficiency for UAA and UGA stop codons, but not in mammalian cells. Termination signals that were highly inefficient could be made more efficient by increasing the concentration of the cognate decoding release factor

Gangotri glacier dynamics from multi-sensor SAR and optical data

The present study has analyzed dynamics of Gangotri glacier using multiple remote sensing (RS) datasets and ground based observations. Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) data pairs from European Remote Sensing satellite (ERS 1/2) tandem pair for spring of 1996, Sentinel-1 SAR pairs and Japanese's Advance Land Observation System (ALOS) PALSAR-2 SAR data for Spring of 2015 were used to derive glacier-surface velocity at seasonal time scale using Differential InSAR (DInSAR) techniques. Bi-static TanDEM-X (Experimental) data was used for the 1st time to estimate glacier surface elevation changes for a period of 22, 44, 88 days during summer of 2012 using InSAR techniques in this study. Annual glacier velocity was also estimated using temporal panchromatic data of LANDSAT-5 (30 m), LANDSAT-7/8 (15 m), Sentinel-2 (10 m) and Indian Remote Sensing Satellite IRS-1C/1D panchromatic (5 m) data during 1998–2019 with feature tracking approach. This study has estimated glacier surface velocity and surface elevation changes for the major parts of Gangotri glacier and its tributary glaciers using medium to high resolution optical and SAR datasets, at annual and seasonal time scale, which is an improvement over earlier studies, wherein snout based glacier recession or only main glacier velocities were reported. The velocity and slope were used to assess glacier-ice thickness distribution using Glabtop-2, slope dependent and laminar flow based methods over the Gangotri group of glaciers. The estimated ice thickness was estimated in the range of 58–550 m for the complete glacier while few small areas in middle &amp; upper regions carry higher thickness of about 607 m. The estimated glacier-ice thickness was found in the range of 58–67 m at the snout region. The estimation was validated using 2014 field measurements from Terrestrial Laser Scanner (TLS) for the first time and correlation was found to be 0.799 at snout of the glacier.</p

Declines in risk behaviour and sexually transmitted infection prevalence following a community-led HIV preventive intervention among female sex workers in Mysore, India.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact on sexual behaviour and sexually transmitted infections (STI) of a comprehensive community-led intervention programme for reducing sexual risk among female sex workers (FSW) in Mysore, India. The key programme components were: community mobilization and peer-mediated outreach; increasing access to and utilization of sexual health services; and enhancing the enabling environment to support programme activities. METHODS: Two cross-sectional surveys among random samples of FSW were conducted 30 months apart, in 2004 and 2006. RESULTS: Of over 1000 women who sell sex in Mysore city, 429 participated in the survey at baseline and 425 at follow-up. The median age was 30 years, median duration in sex work 4 years, and the majority were street based (88%). Striking increases in condom use were seen between baseline and follow-up surveys: condom use at last sex with occasional clients was 65% versus 90%, P < 0001; with repeat clients 53% versus 66%, P < 0.001; and with regular partners 7% versus 30%, P < 0.001. STI prevalence declined from baseline to follow-up: syphilis 25% versus 12%, P < 0.001; trichomonas infection 33% versus 14%, P < 0.001; chlamydial infection 11% versus 5%, P = 0.001; gonorrhoea 5% versus 2%, P = 0.03. HIV prevalence remained stable (26% versus 24%), and detuned assay testing suggested a decline in recent HIV infections. CONCLUSION: This comprehensive HIV preventive intervention empowering FSW has resulted in striking increases in reported condom use and a concomitant reduction in the prevalence of curable STI. This model should be replicated in similar urban settings across India

Zero Voltage Switching Converters

In this paper zero voltage switching converters are investigated. The investigation starts by discussing the RCD charge-discharge snubber. The concept of resonant and qua si-resonant DC link converters is discussed. One of the most promising quasi-res onant DC links reported in the literature is implemented and tested in a battery charge r application. Simulated resonant link voltage and current waveforms are analyzed. IGBT swi tching waveforms under zero voltage conditions are investigated. Measured waveforms are s hown and the converter and the overall battery charger efficiency are measured

An Overview of Wind Power Generation and Design Asp Ects in India

There is huge activity in wind power, pan-India with the instal led capacity increasing to 10,000MW. India today has the fifth largest installed capacity of wind power in the world w ith 11087MW installed capacity and potential for on-shore capabilities of 65000MW. However the plant load factor (PLF) in wi nd power generation is very low, often in the single digits. The increase in interest in wind energy is due to inves tment subsidies, tax holidays, and government action towards renewable energy playing a big part in nation's energy system. T here is a need to generate environment friendly power that not only raises energy efficiency and is sustainable too. The time has come for moving to generation based subsidies and understanding the drawbacks associated with wind power in India. The capital cost of wind power is third higher than Conventional thermal power; further electrical problems like v oltage flicker and variable frequency affect the implementation of wind farm. However advances in technologies such as offshore construction of wind turbines, advanced control methodologies, and simulation of wind energy affecting over all grid performance are making a case for wind energy

Termination efficiency of the eukaryotic UAA, UGA and UAG ‘abundant’ and ‘rare’ termination signals and

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Comparison of characteristics and function of translation termination signals between and within prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms"</p><p>Nucleic Acids Research 2006;34(7):1959-1973.</p><p>Published online 13 Apr 2006</p><p>PMCID:PMC1435984.</p><p>© The Author 2006. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved</p> Termination efficiency was derived from a dual luciferase protein synthesis termination assay (–) and using COS-7 cells (–). Readthrough (%) was calculated by comparison to a control construct (UGG). The mean values from three experiments are presented. Error bars are ±SEM

Termination efficiency of the UAA, UGA and UAG ‘abundant’ and ‘rare’ termination signals in

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Comparison of characteristics and function of translation termination signals between and within prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms"</p><p>Nucleic Acids Research 2006;34(7):1959-1973.</p><p>Published online 13 Apr 2006</p><p>PMCID:PMC1435984.</p><p>© The Author 2006. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved</p> Termination efficiency was derived from the 3A′ protein synthesis termination assay (). Readthrough (%) was calculated by comparison of readthrough protein (3A′) to total protein (3A′ + 2A′). Constructs were assayed in specific strains of XAc wild-type strain (dark grey), XA105 UAA suppressor strain (light grey), CDJ64 UGA suppressor strain (light grey) and XA101 UAG suppressor strain (light grey). The mean values from six experiments are presented. Error bars are ±SEM