FLASH: ultra-fast protocol to identify RNA-protein interactions in cells

Determination of the in vivo binding sites of RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) is paramount to understanding their function and how they affect different aspects of gene regulation. With hundreds of RNA-binding proteins identified in human cells, a flexible, high-resolution, high-throughput, highly multiplexible and radioactivity-free method to determine their binding sites has not been described to date. Here we report FLASH (Fast Ligation of RNA after some sort of Affinity Purification for High-throughput Sequencing), which uses a special adapter design and an optimized protocol to determine protein-RNA interactions in living cells. The entire FLASH protocol, starting from cells on plates to a sequencing library, takes 1.5 days. We demonstrate the flexibility, speed and versatility of FLASH by using it to determine RNA targets of both tagged and endogenously expressed proteins under diverse conditions in vivo

Mass transfer efficiency of a tall and low plate free area liquid pulsed sieve-plate extraction column

Acknowledgements The authors would like to acknowledge Chakwal group of industries for funding the project. Ms. Madiha, Ms. Zona, Mr. Sohaib, Mr. Abdullah, Mr. Mudassar, and Mr. Salahuddin also deserve our acknowledgements for their assistance in different ways.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

First-principles data for solid-solution strengthening of magnesium: From geometry and chemistry to properties

Solid-solution strengthening results from solutes impeding the glide of dislocations. Existing theories of strength rely on solute-dislocation interactions, but do not consider dislocation core structures, which need an accurate treatment of chemical bonding. Here, we focus on strengthening of Mg, the lightest of all structural metals and a promising replacement for heavier steel and aluminum alloys. Elasticity theory, which is commonly used to predict the requisite solute-dislocation interaction energetics, is replaced with quantum-mechanical first-principles calculations to construct a predictive mesoscale model for solute strengthening of Mg. Results for 29 different solutes are displayed in a "strengthening design map" as a function of solute misfits that quantify volumetric strain and slip effects. Our strengthening model is validated with available experimental data for several solutes, including Al and Zn, the two most common solutes in Mg. These new results highlight the ability of quantum-mechanical first-principles calculations to predict complex material properties such as strength.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figures, 2 table

Analyses of the Genetic Parameters (Variability, Heritability, Genetic Advance, Relationship of Yield and Yield Contributing Characters) for some Plant Traits among Brassica Cultivars under Phosphorus Starved Environmental Cues

The potential of a crop favorably respond to breeding/selection and bioengineering programs depends upon the nature and magnitude of genetic variability. For effective selection, information on nature and magnitude of variation in population, association of character with dry matter yield and among themselves and the extent of environmental influence on the expression of these characters are necessary. The estimates of genetic parameters help in understanding the role of various plant traits in establishing the growth behavior of cultivars under a given set of environmental conditions. Genetic analysis leads us to a clear understanding of different morphological, physiological and genetic characters and also the type and extent of their contribution to dry matter yield. Six Brassica cultivars were grown in a P-deficient sandy loam soil for 49 days after sowing. Significant variations were observed for all the characters in all the cultivars used in the experiment. All the characters showed high　heritability coupled with high genetic advance. Heritability (h(2)) is an approximate measure of the expression of a character. The highest estimates of broad sense heritability (h(2)= 0.90) and relative expected genetic advance (85.72%) were noted for root dry matter (RDM), while the estimate of expected genetic advance at 10% selection intensity was quite high (ΔG = 85.30c㎡) for leaf area per plant. The estimates of coheritability were positive and relatively higher for rootshoot ratio (RSR) in combination with shoot dry matter (SDM) (coh(2) = 2.002) and phosphorus use efficiency (PUE) (coh(2) = 1.875), whereas coheritability estimates were negative between leaf area per plant and RSR (coh(2) = -0.2010) indicating lack of association between these traits. High heritability with high genetic advance was exhibited by all the studied plant traits of cultivars evidencing that the traits could be further improved through individual plant selection. The innate variations within the Brassica gene-pool impel to drive a concentrated effort to understand the basis of adaptability. Access to the relevant genetic traits and information will provide necessary tools to select the optimal combinations of alleles adapted to local and changing growing environments especially nutrient stress conditions such as phosphorus (P) starvation

Development of an improved oxygen electrode for use in alkaline H2-O2 fuel cells Quarterly report, Apr. 1 - Jun. 30, 1967

Preparation of institial compounds of transition metals for hydrogen oxygen fuel cell cathode

DLTS and in situ C–V analysis of trap parameters in swift 50 MeV Li3+ ion-irradiated Ni/SiO2/Si MOS capacitors

Ni/SiO2/Si MOS structures were fabricated on n-type Si wafers and were irradiated with 50 MeV Li3+ ions with fluences ranging from 1×1010 to 1×1012 ions/cm2. High frequency C–V characteristics are studied in situ to estimate the build-up of fixed and oxide charges. The nature of the charge build-up with ion fluence is analyzed. Defect levels in bulk Si and its properties such as activation energy, capture cross-section, trap concentration and carrier lifetimes are studied using deep-level transient spectroscopy. Electron traps with energies ranging from 0.069 to 0.523 eV are observed in Li ion-irradiated devices. The dependence of series resistance, substrate doping and accumulation capacitance on Li ion fluence are clearly explained. The study of dielectric properties (tan δ and quality factor) confirms the degradation of the oxide layer to a greater extent due to ion irradiation

Cohort analysis of directly observed treatment outcomes for tuberculosis patients in urban Pakistan

Background: This quasi-experimental cohort study aimed to evaluate World Health Organization (WHO) defined tuberculosis (TB) treatment outcomes for Patients under directly observed treatment at a health facility (clinic DOT) or at home (family DOT) in urban Pakistan. Methods: We enrolled 582 sputum smear-positive TB Patients being treated by either clinic DOT (n = 295) or family DOT (n = 287) in 11 treatment centres. Patients and/or family members were interviewed for baseline measurements. WHO-defined treatment outcomes were evaluated at the end of treatment. Proportions of \u27cured\u27 Patients were computed. A log-binomial model was used to evaluate the associations of various factors with \u27cured\u27 status. Results: The proportion of \u27cured\u27 Patients was respectively 66% and 34% in the clinic DOT and family DOT groups (risk difference 0.32, 95%CI 0.24-0.39). Patients on clinic DOT were more likely to achieve cure (adjusted relative risk [RR(adj)] 1.85, 95%CI 1.43-2.39) than those on family DOT, as were Patients satisfied with their health care worker\u27s attitude (RR(adj) 5.73, 95%CI 2.54-12.96). Conclusion: Clinic DOT nearly doubled the proportion of cured Patients compared to family DOT. Efforts to improve care-provider attitudes to enhance Patient satisfaction, and effective implementation of the WHO\u27s public-private mix approach, may enhance TB control in this and similar settings