Characterization of New Bacterial Leaf Blight of Rice Caused by Pantoea stewartii subsp. indologenes in Southern Districts of Tamil Nadu

A survey was conducted in the rice fields of Tirunelveli, Tuticorin, Kanyakumari and Madurai districts of Tamil Nadu during 2016to assess the importance of bacterial leaf blight (BLB) of rice caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae. Bacterial Leaf Blight affected leaf samples showing yellowing symptoms or orange to brown stripes on one or both halves of the leaf blade were collected from seventeen places and maintained as isolates. Upon isolation, symptomatic leaf pieces were surface sterilized and placed in wakimoto semi-synthetic medium. The yellow pigmented, raised and translucent colonies with smooth margin were obtained after incubation at 28°C for 2 days. The biochemical characterization revealed that the bacteria belong to gramnegativefacultative anaerobes with small rods either arranged singly or in chains. Thirteen isolates show positive results in biochemical tests viz.,Gram staining, KOH test, starch hydrolysis, anaerobic growth test, tween 80 hydrolysis test, catalase test, citrate utilizationtest and production of yellow pigment on Yeast Dextrose Chalk agar medium. In virulence test, Isolate 1, Isolate 3 and Isolate 4 were considered virulent as they have caused severe blight symptoms both in TN1 and ADT 43, the susceptible check varieties. Based on 16S rRNA sequence analysis, the causal agent was identified as Pantoea stewartii subsp. indolegenes (Accession No. SUB2733370: MF163273; MF163274; MF16327). The biochemical and molecular analysis revealed that the causal agent was not Xanthomonas oryzae pv oryzae, but a new species of bacteriumnamely Pantoea stewartii subsp. indolegenes. This is the first report of new bacterial leaf blight disease of rice caused by Pantoea stewartii subsp.indologenesin southern districts of Tamil Nadu

Evolution of Surface Density Function in an Open Turbulent Jet Spray Flame

A three-dimensional Direct Numerical Simulation of an open turbulent jet spray flame representing a laboratory-scale burner configuration has been used to analyse the statistical behaviours of the magnitude of reaction progress variable gradient |∇c| [alternatively known as the Surface Density Function (SDF)] and the strain rates, which affect its evolution. The flame has been found to exhibit fuel-lean combustion close to the jet exit, but fuel-rich conditions have been obtained further downstream due to the evaporation of fuel droplets, which leads to the reduction in the mean value of the SDF in the downstream direction. This change in mixture composition in the axial direction has implications on the statistical behaviours of the SDF and the strain rates affecting its evolution. The mean value of dilatation rate remains positive, whereas the mean normal strain rate assumes positive values where the effects of heat release are strong but becomes negative towards both unburned and burned gas sides. The mean values of dilatation rate, normal strain rate and tangential strain rate decrease downstream of the jet exit. However, the mean behaviours of displacement speed and its components do not change significantly away from the jet exit. The mean values of normal strain rate arising from flame propagation remain positive and thus act to thicken the flame. The mean tangential strain rate due to flame propagation (alternatively the curvature stretch rate) remains negative throughout the flame at all axial locations investigated. The mean effective normal strain rate assumes positive values throughout the flame and it increases in the downstream direction for the present case, which is consistent with the reduction in the peak mean value of the SDF in the axial direction. The mean effective tangential strain rate (alternatively stretch rate) assumes negative values throughout the flame at all axial locations

Flame self-interaction during turbulent boundary layer flashback of hydrogen-rich premixed combustion

A three-dimensional direct numerical simulation database of turbulent boundary layer flashback of a hydrogen-rich premixed flame with an equivalence ratio of 1.5 has been analyzed to investigate flame self-interaction (FSI) events. The nonreacting turbulence characteristics of the channel flow are representative of the friction-velocity-based Reynolds number, Reτ=120. A skeletal chemical mechanism with nine species and twenty reactions is employed for the representation of hydrogen-air combustion. Three definitions of the reaction progress variable, c, based on the mass fractions of H2, O2, and H2O, have been considered to define the progress variable. It is found that the FSI events predominantly occur close to the burned gas side for all definitions of c at all the wall normal distances. No FSI events adjacent to the wall have been identified for the c definition based on O2 and H2O mass fractions, whereas FSI events occur for c based on H2 in the near-wall region. In the regions further away from the wall, all c definitions show that tunnel formation and tunnel closure type FSI events remain predominant, which is consistent with the earlier findings by Griffiths et al. [Proc. Combust. Inst. 35, 1341 (2015)1540-748910.1016/j.proci.2014.08.003] involving hydrogen-air premixed flame under shear flow conditions. In this work for c based on H2 mass fraction, unburned gas pockets have also been identified at all wall normal distances and are a consequence of the hydrogen-rich nature of the flame. The reason for the variations in topologies with the change in the definition of c based on different species and wall normal distance is a consequence of several factors, including the changes in the level of turbulence within the turbulent boundary layer, heat loss to the isothermal wall in the near-wall region, and the differential diffusion induced by the nonunity Lewis number. The results from the current analysis show that the turbulent boundary layer and heat loss at the wall play important roles in determining the FSI topologies. The differences in the qualitative nature and distributions of the FSI events between different definitions of c have important implications on the possible extension of flame-surface-based modeling methodology for hydrogen-rich flames within turbulent boundary layers

Can the evolution of music be analyzed in a quantitative manner?

We propose a methodology to study music development by applying multivariate statistics on composers characteristics. Seven representative composers were considered in terms of eight main musical features. Grades were assigned to each characteristic and their correlations were analyzed. A bootstrap method was applied to simulate hundreds of artificial composers influenced by the seven representatives chosen. Afterwards we quantify non-numeric relations like dialectics, opposition and innovation. Composers differences on style and technique were represented as geometrical distances in the feature space, making it possible to quantify, for example, how much Bach and Stockhausen differ from other composers or how much Beethoven influenced Brahms. In addition, we compared the results with a prior investigation on philosophy. Opposition, strong on philosophy, was not remarkable on music. Supporting an observation already considered by music theorists, strong influences were identified between composers by the quantification of dialectics, implying inheritance and suggesting a stronger master-disciple evolution when compared to the philosophy analysis.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures, added references for sections 1 and 4.C, better mathematical description on section 2. New values and interpretation, now considering a bootstrap metho

1825P Prevalence of cancer among e-cigarette smokers compared to non-smokers: A retrospective cross-sectional survey study of NHANES-CDC

Background: Current e-cigarette use has been rising, assuming as a safe alternative to traditional smoking. Therefore, we aim to evaluate the prevalence of cancer and types of cancers amongst e-cigarette and traditional smokers. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional survey study was performed using NHANES (National Health And Nutrition Examination Survey) database from 2015 to 2018. History of cancer (MCQ220), type of cancers (MCQ230a), and smoking status (E-cigarette: SMQ900 or SMQ905 and Traditional smoking: SMQ020) were identified. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to find out prevalence and association between e-cigarette smoking and cancer. We have excluded respondents with dual smoking. Results: Out of 154,856 participants, 7756 (5.01%) were e-cigarette users, 48625 (31.4%) were traditional smokers, 98475 (63.59%) were non-smokers. Females (49 vs 38%), Mexican Americans (20 vs 13%), high annual household income (\u3e$100,000: 23 vs 15%) were having a higher prevalence of e-cigarette smoking in comparison with traditional smoking. (p\u3c0.0001) Prevalence of cancer (any type) was 11.61%. Cancer prevalence was higher amongst traditional smokers in comparison with e-cigarette smokers. (16.77 vs 2.32%; p\u3c0.0001) E-cigarette smokers were younger at the diagnosis of 1st cancer in comparison with traditional smokers. (median: 45 vs 63-years; p\u3c0.0001) Cervical (21.99 vs 2.01%), thyroid (10.64 vs 2.45%), leukemias (8.51 vs 1.08%), and breast (12.06 vs 12.01%) cancers were more prevalent amongst e-cigarette smokers in comparison to traditional smokers. (p\u3c0.0001) In adjusted multivariable regression analysis, e-cigarette smokers [aOR: 1.3 (95%CI: 1.32-1.33); p\u3c0.0001] and traditional smokers [1.6 (1.64-1.65); p\u3c0.0001] were having higher odds of prevalence of cancer in comparison with non-smoker. Conclusions: E-cigarette smokers had an early age of cancer onset and higher odds of cancer prevalence. Females had higher use of e-cigarette and cervical, thyroid, and breast cancers were prevalent amongst e-cigarette users. More prospective studies should be planned to mitigate the risk and before considering e-cigarette as a safe alternative to traditional smoking

Co-Creation of Breast Cancer Risk Communication Tools and an Assessment of Risk Factor Awareness: A Qualitative Study of Patients and the Public in India.

BACKGROUND: Low awareness of BC and its associated risk factors causes delays in diagnosis and impacts survival. It is critical to communicate BC risk to patients in a format that they are easily able to understand. Our study aim was to develop easy-to-follow transmedia prototypes to communicate BC risk and evaluate user preferences, alongside exploring awareness of BC and its risk factors. METHODS: Prototypes of transmedia tools for risk communication were developed with multidisciplinary input. A qualitative in-depth online interview study was undertaken using a pre-defined topic guide of BC patients (7), their relatives (6), the general public (6), and health professionals (6). Interviews were analyzed using a thematic approach. FINDINGS: Most participants preferred pictographic representations (frequency format) of lifetime risk and risk factors and storytelling using short animations and comic strips (infographics) for communicating genetic risk and testing: "In a short time, they explained it very well, and I liked it". Suggestions included minimizing technical terminology, decreasing the delivery speed, "two-way dialogue", and using local "language for different locations". There was low awareness of BC, with some understanding of age and hereditary risk factors but limited knowledge of reproductive factors. INTERPRETATION: Our findings support use of multiple context-specific multimedia tools in communicating cancer risk in an easy-to-understand way. The preference for storytelling using animations and infographics is a novel finding and should be more widely explored

Endotypes of difficult-to-control asthma in inner-city African American children

African Americans have higher rates of asthma prevalence, morbidity, and mortality in comparison with other racial groups. We sought to characterize endotypes of childhood asthma severity in African American patients in an inner-city pediatric asthma population. Baseline blood neutrophils, blood eosinophils, and 38 serum cytokine levels were measured in a sample of 235 asthmatic children (6–17 years) enrolled in the NIAID (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)-sponsored Asthma Phenotypes in the Inner City (APIC) study (ICAC (Inner City Asthma Consortium)-19). Cytokines were quantified using a MILLIPLEX panel and analyzed on a Luminex analyzer. Patients were classified as Easy-to-Control or Difficult-to-Control based on the required dose of controller medications over one year of prospective management. A multivariate variable selection procedure was used to select cytokines associated with Difficult-to-Control versus Easy-to-Control asthma, adjusting for age, sex, blood eosinophils, and blood neutrophils. In inner-city African American children, 12 cytokines were significant predictors of Difficult-to-Control asthma (n = 235). CXCL-1, IL-5, IL-8, and IL-17A were positively associated with Difficult-to-Control asthma, while IL-4 and IL-13 were positively associated with Easy-to-Control asthma. Using likelihood ratio testing, it was observed that in addition to blood eosinophils and neutrophils, serum cytokines improved the fit of the model. In an inner-city pediatric population, serum cytokines significantly contributed to the definition of Difficult-to-Control asthma endotypes in African American children. Mixed responses characterized by TH2 (IL-5) and TH17-associated cytokines were associated with Difficult-to-Control asthma. Collectively, these data may contribute to risk stratification of Difficult-to-Control asthma in the African American population

Machine-Part cell formation through visual decipherable clustering of Self Organizing Map

Machine-part cell formation is used in cellular manufacturing in order to process a large variety, quality, lower work in process levels, reducing manufacturing lead-time and customer response time while retaining flexibility for new products. This paper presents a new and novel approach for obtaining machine cells and part families. In the cellular manufacturing the fundamental problem is the formation of part families and machine cells. The present paper deals with the Self Organising Map (SOM) method an unsupervised learning algorithm in Artificial Intelligence, and has been used as a visually decipherable clustering tool of machine-part cell formation. The objective of the paper is to cluster the binary machine-part matrix through visually decipherable cluster of SOM color-coding and labelling via the SOM map nodes in such a way that the part families are processed in that machine cells. The Umatrix, component plane, principal component projection, scatter plot and histogram of SOM have been reported in the present work for the successful visualization of the machine-part cell formation. Computational result with the proposed algorithm on a set of group technology problems available in the literature is also presented. The proposed SOM approach produced solutions with a grouping efficacy that is at least as good as any results earlier reported in the literature and improved the grouping efficacy for 70% of the problems and found immensely useful to both industry practitioners and researchers.Comment: 18 pages,3 table, 4 figure

A bibliography of parasites and diseases of marine and freshwater fishes of India

With the increasing demand for fish as human food, aquaculture both in freshwater and salt water is rapidly developing over the world. In the developing countries, fishes are being raised as food. In many countries fish farming is a very important economic activity. The most recent branch, mariculture, has shown advances in raising fishes in brackish, estuarine and bay waters, in which marine, anadromous and catadromous fishes have successfully been grown and maintained

The fission yeast Rpb4 subunit of RNA polymerase II plays a specialized role in cell separation

RNA polymerase II is a complex of 12 subunits, Rpb1 to Rpb12, whose specific roles are only partly understood. Rpb4 is essential in mammals and fission yeast, but not in budding yeast. To learn more about the roles of Rpb4, we expressed the rpb4 gene under the control of regulatable promoters of different strength in fission yeast. We demonstrate that below a critical level of transcription, Rpb4 affects cellular growth proportional to its expression levels: cells expressing lower levels of rpb4 grew slower compared to cells expressing higher levels. Lowered rpb4 expression did not affect cell survival under several stress conditions, but it caused specific defects in cell separation similar to sep mutants. Microarray analysis revealed that lowered rpb4 expression causes a global reduction in gene expression, but the transcript levels of a distinct subset of genes were particularly responsive to changes in rpb4 expression. These genes show some overlap with those regulated by the Sep1-Ace2 transcriptional cascade required for cell separation. Most notably, the gene expression signature of cells with lowered rpb4 expression was highly similar to those of mcs6, pmh1, sep10 and sep15 mutants. Mcs6 and Pmh1 encode orthologs of metazoan TFIIH-associated cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK)-activating kinase (Cdk7-cyclin H-Mat1), while Sep10 and Sep15 encode mediator components. Our results suggest that Rpb4, along with some other general transcription factors, plays a specialized role in a transcriptional pathway that controls the cell cycle-regulated transcription of a specific subset of genes involved in cell division. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00438-006-0161-5 and is accessible for authorized users