Gamma Ray Induced Meiotic Abnormalities in S13 Mulberry

S13is a drought tolerant mulberry variety cultivated under rainfed condition. In order to increase the leaf yield and toimprove the quality the hard wood stem cuttings of this taxon were irradiated with Gamma-rays (4kR, 5kR, 6kR, 7kR,8kR, 9kR and 10kR). Comparable controls were also maintained. It is observed that the lower dosages of gamma-rays i.e.,4kR and 5kR were less effective in inducing variability. At higher dosages viz., 8kR, 9kR and 10kR deformity and inhibition of growth leading to semi lethality to complete lethality was observed. Like delayed sprouting, poor rooting,weathering of inflorescence, stunted growth, plants with weak and feeble branches, plants bearing small leaves withwrinkled and coriacious texture were observed. On the other hand, the moderate dosage like 6kR was found to be fruitful in the induction of beneficial variability in S13 mulberry variety. Some of these variants also displayed cytological abnormalities such as anaphase -I with laggard, precocious movement of chromosomes, univalents and bivalents atmetaphase-I, disturbed prophase-II and metaphase-II

Efficiency of nitrogen fertilizers for rice

The photosynthetic biomass that develops in the floodwater of wetland rice fields affects nitrogen dynamics in the ecosystem. This review summarizes available data on the nature, productivity, and composition of the photosynthetic aquatic biomass, and its major activities regarding the nitrogen cycle, i.e., nitrogen fixation by free living blue-green algae and #Azolla$, nitrogen trapping, nitrogen accumulation at the soil surface, its effect on nitrogen losses by ammonia volatilization, nitrogen recycling, and the supply of nitrogen to the rice crop. (Résumé d'auteur

Expression of the legume symbiotic lectin genes psl and gs52 promotes rhizobial colonization of roots in rice

Transgenic rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. Murasaki) carrying genes encoding pea (Pisum sativum) lectin (PSL) or wild-soybean (Glycine soja) lectin-nucleotide phosphohydrolase (GS52) were inoculated with Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae or Bradyrhizobium japonicum USDA110, respectively, as well as with Rhizobium sp. NGR234, and root colonization was assessed in comparison to comparably inoculated control plants. The data showed that expression of PSL and GS52 significantly promoted rhizobial colonization of root epidermal cells including root hairs in rice. In addition, in the case of R. leguminosarum bv. viciae and B. japonicum USDA110 colonization of the psl and gs52 transgenic rice plants, respectively, the bacterial cells were found to preferentially home towards and aggregate maximally at the root hair tip regions rather than on the root hair "stalks". The above data suggest that the lectins PSL and GS52, which participate in rhizobial recognition by root epidermal cells in pea and soybean, respectively, are also able to facilitate rhizobial attachment and colonization of the epidermal cells in rice roots. Moreover, aggregation of R. leguminosarum bv. viciae and B. japonicum USDA110 cells preferentially at root hair tip regions suggest that similar to legumes, the PSL and GS52 lectins are targeted to the root hair tips in transgenic rice, enabling higher bacterial attachment/colonization at the tip region. Rhizobial colonization at root hair tips in the psl and gs52 rice plants frequently led to the localized dissolution of the cell wall creating perforations at the tip region. It is likely that the presence of lectins, such as PSL and GS52 leads to structural modifications in cell wall organization of the root hair/epidermal cells, making them prone to localized dissolution by the hydrolytic activity of compatible rhizobia to permit invasion of the root cells. © 2005 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

Seasonal Variability of the Observed Barrier Layer in the Arabian Sea

The formation mechanisms of the barrier layer ( BL) and its seasonal variability in the Arabian Sea ( AS) are studied using a comprehensive dataset of temperature and salinity profiles from Argo and other archives for the AS. Relatively thick BL of 20-60 m with large spatial extent is found in the central-southwestern AS ( CSWAS), the convergence zone of the monsoon wind, during the peak summer monsoon ( July-August) and in the southeastern AS ( SEAS) and northeastern AS ( NEAS) during the winter ( January-February). Although the BL in the SEAS has been reported before, the observed thick BL in the central-southwestern AS during the peak summer monsoon and in the northeastern AS during late winter are the new findings of this study. The seasonal variability of BL thickness ( BLT) is closely related to the processes that occur during summer and winter monsoons. During both seasons, the Ekman processes and the distribution of low-salinity waters in the surface layer show a dominant influence on the observed BLT distributions. In addition, Kelvin and Rossby waves also modulate the observed BL thickness in the AS. The relatively low salinity surface water overlying the Arabian Sea high-salinity water ( ASHSW) provides an ideal ground for strong haline stratification in the CSWAS ( during summer monsoon) and in NEAS ( during winter monsoon). During summer, northward advection of equatorial low-salinity water by the Somali Current and the offshore advection of low-salinity water from the upwelling region facilitate the salinity stratification that is necessary to develop the observed BL in the CSWAS. In the SEAS, during winter, the winter monsoon current ( WMC) carries less saline water over relatively high salinity ambient water to form the observed BL there. The winter West India Coastal Current ( WICC) transports the low-salinity water from the SEAS to the NEAS, where it lies over the subducted ASHSW leading to strong haline stratification. Ekman pumping together with the downwelling Kelvin wave in the NEAS deepen the thermocline to cause the observed thick BL in the NEAS

Final analysis from RESONATE: Up to six years of follow‐up on ibrutinib in patients with previously treated chronic lymphocytic leukemia or small lymphocytic lymphoma

Ibrutinib, a once‐daily oral inhibitor of Bruton's tyrosine kinase, is approved in the United States and Europe for treatment of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL). The phase 3 RESONATE study showed improved efficacy of single‐agent ibrutinib over ofatumumab in patients with relapsed/refractory CLL/SLL, including those with high‐risk features. Here we report the final analysis from RESONATE with median follow‐up on study of 65.3 months (range, 0.3‐71.6) in the ibrutinib arm. Median progression‐free survival (PFS) remained significantly longer for patients randomized to ibrutinib vs ofatumumab (44.1 vs 8.1 months; hazard ratio [HR]: 0.148; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.113‐0.196; P˂.001). The PFS benefit with ibrutinib vs ofatumumab was preserved in the genomic high‐risk population with del(17p), TP53 mutation, del(11q), and/or unmutated IGHV status (median PFS 44.1 vs 8.0 months; HR: 0.110; 95% CI: 0.080‐0.152), which represented 82% of patients. Overall response rate with ibrutinib was 91% (complete response/complete response with incomplete bone marrow recovery, 11%). Overall survival, censored for crossover, was better with ibrutinib than ofatumumab (HR: 0.639; 95% CI: 0.418‐0.975). With up to 71 months (median 41 months) of ibrutinib therapy, the safety profile remained consistent with prior reports; cumulatively, all‐grade (grade ≥3) hypertension and atrial fibrillation occurred in 21% (9%) and 12% (6%) of patients, respectively. Only 16% discontinued ibrutinib because of adverse events (AEs). These long‐term results confirm the robust efficacy of ibrutinib in relapsed/refractory CLL/SLL irrespective of high‐risk clinical or genomic features, with no unexpected AEs. This trial is registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01578707)