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

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

Regenerative Callus Induction and Biochemical Analysis of Stevia Rebaudiana Bertoni

Stevia Leaves are the principal source of stevioside, which is estimated to be 100-300 times sweeter than table sugar. Stevioside has clinical significance as they are reported to maintain glucose levels in human blood. Owing to the difficulties in propagation of stevia through seeds and vegetative methods, callus culture has been an efficient alternative for generation of stevioside. The aim of this study is to develop an efficient and standardized protocol for maximum induction and multiplication of callus from a leaf. Callus culture was established from leaves in MS basal media fortified with various combinations (BAP, NAA, 2,4-D, KN, IBA) and concentrations of phytohormones. The best callusing (100%) was recorded in MS media supplemented with (2,4-D 1.0mg/l + NAA 1.0mg/l). The callus was harvested after 4 weeks and screened for the presence of various bioactive compounds. The qualitative results showed that the extracts of callus contained bioactive compounds like flavonoids, glycosides, phenol, tannins, sterols and saponins thereby making callus one of the sources for extraction of various secondary metabolites

Effect of Audio and Audiovisual Distraction Technique on Anxiety of Pediatric Patients During Pit and Fissure Sealant Application: A Clinical Trial

&nbsp; This clinical trial evaluates the impact of audio and &nbsp;audiovisual distraction techniques on reducing anxiety in &nbsp;pediatric patients undergoing pit and fissure sealant &nbsp;application. A total of 60 children aged 6-12 requiring&nbsp; sealant application were randomly assigned into three&nbsp; groups: Control (no distraction), Audio distraction &nbsp;(listening to music), and Audiovisual distraction (watching &nbsp;cartoons). Anxiety levels were measured using the Venhem &nbsp;Anxiety Rating Scale (VARS) before and after the &nbsp;procedure. The study found a significant reduction in&nbsp;&nbsp;anxiety levels in the audio and audiovisual distraction &nbsp;groups compared to the control group. Specifically, the &nbsp;audiovisual group showed the greatest reduction in VARS &nbsp;scores, followed by the audio group.&nbsp

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.

Road Pavement Stiffness Determination using SASW Method

 The Spectral Analysis of Surface Waves (SASW) method is an in-situ seismic technique for the evaluation and assessment of road pavement. The method is based on the theory of stress waves propagating in elastic media with the key elements being the generation and detection of Rayleigh wave motion. A set of transient impact source with a range of frequencies is used to generate the Rayleigh wave energy that is able to propagate along the surface layer of the pavement. Through two vertical accelerometers, the motion of the wave for each range of frequency is recorded and calculated using a dynamic signal analyzer. A dispersion curve is then constructed from the cross-power spectrum of the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) that results in the phase velocity versus wavelength plot. An iterative inversion is then carried out to obtain the shear wave velocity profile with depth and the corresponding dynamic modulus of each pavement units. This paper presents a case study carried out on a new road pavement construction site. It was found that the profile of the dynamic shear and Young’s modulus versus depth obtained from SASW metho

A systematic review of dietary, nutritional, and physical activity interventions for the prevention of prostate cancer progression and mortality

PURPOSE: Given the long-term, although potentially fatal, nature of prostate cancer, there is increasing observational evidence for the reduction in disease progression and mortality through changes in lifestyle factors. METHODS: We systematically reviewed dietary, nutritional, and physical activity randomized interventions aimed at modifying prostate cancer progression and disease-specific mortality, including a detailed assessment of risk of bias and methodological quality. RESULTS: Forty-four randomized controlled trials of lifestyle interventions, with prostate cancer progression or mortality outcomes, were identified. Substantial heterogeneity of the data prevented a meta-analysis. The included trials involved 3,418 prostate cancer patients, median 64 men per trial, from 13 countries. A trial of a nutritional supplement of pomegranate seed, green tea, broccoli, and turmeric; a trial comparing flaxseed, low-fat diet, flaxseed, and low-fat diet versus usual diet; and a trial supplementing soy, lycopene, selenium, and coenzyme Q10, all demonstrated beneficial effects. These trials were also assessed as having low risk of bias and high methodological quality (as were seven other trials with no evidence of benefit). The remaining trials were either underpowered, at high or unclear risk of bias, inadequately reported, of short duration or measured surrogate outcomes of unproven relationship to mortality or disease progression, which precluded any benefits reported being reliable. CONCLUSION: Large, well-designed randomized trials with clinical endpoints are recommended for lifestyle modification interventions. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s10552-015-0659-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

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