Characterization of molecular functions of polyamines in fruit development and ripening in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum)

Putrescine (PUT), spermidine (SPD) and spermine (SPM) are three major polyamines (PAs) present in all living organisms. These biogenic amines have been implicated in diverse plant growth and development processes, including seed germination, tissue lignification, organogenesis, flowering, pollination, embryogenesis, fruit development, ripening, abscission, senescence, and stress responses. To elucidate molecular roles of PAs in fruit development and ripening, I characterized transgenic tomato plants ectopically expressing yeast spermidine synthase (ySpdSyn) or S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (ySAMdc) under constitutive CaMV 35S and/or fruit-specific SlE8 promoters. The ySpdSyn-expression enhanced PUT, SPD and SPM level in floral buds and fertilized developing ovaries by 2- to 3-fold compared to WT tissues with majority being sequestered as bound forms. Higher PA levels altered fruit shape of transgenic tomatoes to more obovoid than WT by regulating expression of fruit shape genes (SUN1 and OVATE), and cell division and expansion genes (CDKB2, CYCB2, KRP1 and CCS52B). Characterization of PA homeostasis during fruit growth and ripening revealed a strong correlation of conjugated PAs with transcripts abundance of PA biosynthesis (ODC, ADC, SAMdc3) and catabolizing genes (CuAO-like, PAO4-like) and the bound PAs to transcript levels of ySpdSyn and SAMdc2 suggesting a significant metabolic inter-conversion among the various forms of PAs. Co-expression of ySpdSyn and ySAMdc transgenes showed that SAMdc is the rate limiting step in biosynthesis of higher PAs with potential to alter PA homeostasis in fruit tissues. Characterization of ySpdSyn and ySAMdc transgenic and WT fruits showed that expression of transgenes was associated with higher firmness of ripened fruits both on-planta and after harvest up to 17 days after ripe stage. Free SPD/SPM levels were positively correlated with fruit firmness, accumulation of total solids and delay in fruit shriveling and inversely correlated with fresh fruit weight, juice pH and seed number in tomato fruits. Free PUT levels exhibited trends opposite to that seen with SPD/SPM confirming hypothesis that PUT and SPD/SPM ratios play significant roles in the outcome of biological functions of PAs. Evaluation of ySpdSyn lines under field conditions showed 50% increase in fruit yield per plant due to continued fruit set until late in the season and up to 60% increase in fruit fresh and dry weight much beyond the fruit breaker stage. The metabolomic changes in transgenic fruits were determined using the nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H NMR) and compared to WT fruit metabolic profile during on-planta fruit ripening and post-ripening stages. Free SPD levels were positively correlated with Ile, Val, Glu, Gln, Trp, malate, citrate and trigonelline. The levels of Ala, Glu, Asp and UDP-NAcGLU were negatively correlated with free SPD levels but positively correlated with free PUT indicating differential function of these two PAs. Levels of fructose and AMP were also negatively correlated with free SPD. Conjugated and bound PAs exhibited a limited correlation with metabolome profiles. The node-edge network analyses among PAs, metabolites and their associated pathways showed that PAs upregulate many anabolic pathways, but negatively affect glycolysis, starch and sugar metabolism, and zeatin biosynthesis. Taken together these results indicate that SPD is associated with enhancing many metabolic pathways and delaying senescence-related processes leading to improved postharvest fruit quality. I have collated transcriptome of transgenic plants and mutants with altered PA levels. Its analyses revealed complex and differential relationships among PUT, SPD and SPM in regard to regulation of plant hormone biosynthesis and signaling. In summary, the use of transgenic plants with modified PA levels provide an insight into molecular functions of PAs in altering fruit architecture, improving fruit quality attributes, increasing fruit production and delaying ripening-related changes in tomatoes. Limited transcriptome profile suggest a complex crosstalk between PAs and plant growth hormones during fruit ripening. Metabolome profiles of transgenic fruits showed a significant impact of PAs on fruit quality improvement by restoring metabolic pathways during fruit ripening

Analysis of a Model for Generating Weakly Scale-free Networks

It is commonly believed that real networks are scale-free and fraction of nodes $P(k)$ with degree $k$ satisfies the power law $P(k) \propto k^{-\gamma} \text{ for } k > k_{min} > 0$. Preferential attachment is the mechanism that has been considered responsible for such organization of these networks. In many real networks, degree distribution before the $k_{min}$ varies very slowly to the extent of being uniform as compared with the degree distribution for $k > k_{min}$ . In this paper, we proposed a model that describe this particular degree distribution for the whole range of $k>0$. We adopt a two step approach. In the first step, at every time stamp we add a new node to the network and attach it with an existing node using preferential attachment method. In the second step, we add edges between existing pairs of nodes with the node selection based on the uniform probability distribution. Our approach generates weakly scale-free networks that closely follow the degree distribution of real-world networks. We perform comprehensive mathematical analysis of the model in the discrete domain and compare the degree distribution generated by these models with that of real-world networks.Comment: 16 Pages, 4 Figures, Pre-prin

Performance of Mucuna prurience under Chirpine (Pinus roxburghii) Plantation of Mid Hills of Western Himalayas

Not AvailableThe performance of Mucuna pruriens under Pinus roxburghii (Chir pine) plantation has been studied for consecutive two years to assess the growth and yield for its commercial exploitation and conservation. It was grown on three topographical aspects viz Northern, North western and Western at a spacing of 30 cm x 30 cm, followed by three tillage depths viz minimum (0 cm), Medium (up to 10 cm) and deep tillage (up to 15 cm). The growth parameters viz. vine length, leaf area and leaf area index were statistically not affected by topographical aspects and tillage practices during harvesting stage in both understorey and open conditions. Higher yield was observed in crop growing in open conditions than understorey of Chir pine. However on the basis of positive Net returns Mucuna pruriens, under agroforestry system, seems to prove its economic viability as the gross returns was higher than the cost of cultivation. Hence Mucuna pruriens can be suggested as potential intercropping for developing Pinus roxburghii based silvi- medicinal system which will help utilizing an unutilized part of land and increase total productivity from such lands besides conservation of the species.Not Availabl

Structural Performance of GFRP Bars based High-Strength RC Columns: An Application of Advanced Decision-Making Mechanism for Experimental Profile Data

Several past studies have shown the use of glass fibre-reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars to alleviate the reinforced steel rusting issue in different concrete structures. However, the practise of GFRP bars in concrete columns has not yet achieved a sufficient confidence level due to the lack of a theoretical model found in the literature. The objective of the current study is to introduce a novel prediction model for the axial capability of concrete columns made with bars of GFRP. For this purpose, two different approaches, such as data envelopment analysis (DEA) and artificial neural networks (ANNs) modelling, are used on a collected dataset of 266 concrete column specimens made with GFRP bars from previous literature works. Eight parameters were used to predict the axial performance of GFRP-based RC columns. The proposed DEA and ANNs predictions demonstrated a good correlation with the testing dataset, having R2 values of 0.811 and 0.836, respectively. A comparative analysis of the DEA and ANNs models is undertaken, and it was found that the suggested models are capable of accurately forecasting the structural response of GFRP-made RC column structures. Then, a comprehensive parametric analysis of 266 GFRP-based columns was performed to study the effect of different materials and their geometrical shape.publishedVersio

Predictors of morbidity and in‐hospital mortality following procedure‐related cardiac tamponade

BACKGROUND: Cardiac tamponade (CT) can be a complication following invasive cardiac procedures. We assessed CT following common cardiac electrophysiology (EP) procedures to facilitate risk prediction of associated morbidity and in-hospital mortality. METHODS: Patients who underwent various EP procedures in the cardiac catheterization lab (ablations and device implantations) were identified using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth and Tenth Edition, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM and ICD-10-CM, respectively) from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database. Patient demographics, presence of comorbidities, CT-related events, and in-hospital death were also abstracted from the NIS database. RESULTS: The frequency of CT-related events in patients with EP intervention from 2010 to 2017 ranged from 3.4% to 7.0%. In-hospital mortality related to CT-related events was found to be 2.2%. Increasing age was the only predictor of higher mortality in atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation and cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) groups (OR [95% CI]: AF ablation = 11.15 [1.70–73.34], p = .01; CRT = 1.41 [1.05–1.90], p = .02). CONCLUSIONS: In the real-world setting, CT-related events in EP procedures were found to be 3.4%–7.0% with in-hospital mortality of 2.2%. Older patients undergoing AF ablation were found to have higher mortality

Influence of Bagging on the Development and Quality of Fruits

none8siFruit quality is certainly influenced by biotic and abiotic factors, and a main quality attribute is the external appearance of the fruit. Various possible agronomical approaches are able to regulate the fruit microenvironment and, consequently, improve fruit quality and market value. Among these, fruit bagging has recently become an integral part of fruits’ domestic and export markets in countries such as Japan, China, Korea Australia and the USA because it is a safe and ecofriendly technique to protect fruits from multiple stresses, preserving or improving the overall quality. Despite increasing global importance, the development of suitable bagging materials and, above all, their use in the field is quite laborious, so that serious efforts are required to enhance and standardize bagging material according to the need of the crops/fruits. This review provides information about the effects of bagging technique on the fruit aspect and texture, which are the main determinants of consumer choiceopenMuhammad Moaaz Ali; Raheel Anwar; Ahmed F. Yousef; Binqi Li; Andrea Luvisi; Luigi DE BELLIS; Alessio Aprile; Faxing ChenMoaaz Ali, Muhammad; Anwar, Raheel; Yousef, Ahmed F.; Li, Binqi; Luvisi, Andrea; DE BELLIS, Luigi; Aprile, Alessio; Chen, Faxin

Frequency of Arrhythmias and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome in Patients With Marfan Syndrome: A Nationwide Inpatient Study.

Background Marfan syndrome (MFS) is an autosomal dominant connective tissue disorder affecting multiple systems, particularly the cardiovascular system. The leading causes of death in MFS are aortopathies and valvular disease. We wanted to identify the frequency of arrhythmia and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, length of hospital stay, health care-associated costs (HAC), and in-hospital mortality in patients with MFS. Methods and Results The National Inpatient Sample database from 2005 to 2014 was queried using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) codes for MFS and arrhythmias. Patients were classified into subgroups: supraventricular tachycardia, ventricular tachycardia (VT), atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, and without any type of arrhythmia. Data about length of stay, HAC, and in-hospital mortality were also abstracted from National Inpatient Sample database. Adjusted HAC was calculated as multiplying HAC and cost-to-charge ratio; 12 079 MFS hospitalizations were identified; 1893 patients (15.7%) had an arrhythmia; and 4.9% of the patients had postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome. Median values of length of stay and adjusted HAC in VT group were the highest among the groups (VT: 6 days, $18 975.8; supraventricular tachycardia: 4 days,$11 906.6; atrial flutter: 4 days, $11 274.5; atrial fibrillation: 5 days,$10431.4; without any type of arrhythmia: 4 days, $8336.6; both P=0.0001). VT group had highest in-patient mortality (VT: 5.3%, atrial fibrillation: 4.1%, without any type of arrhythmia: 2.1%, atrial flutter: 1.7%, supraventricular tachycardia: 0%; P<0.0001) even after adjustment for potential confounders (without any type of arrhythmia versus VT; odds ratio [95% CI]: 3.18 [1.62-6.24], P=0.001). Conclusions Arrhythmias and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome in MFS were high and associated with increased length of stay, HAC, and in-hospital mortality especially in patients with VT

PCR-Based Molecular Diagnosis of Hepatitis Virus (HBV and HDV) in HCV Infected Patients and Their Biochemical Study

Seroprevalence of HCV indicates that HCV is found in more than 10% of HBV-or HDV-infected patients worldwide leading to liver disease. Here we show HBV and HDV coinfection association with HCV infected Pakistani patients, study of disease severity, and possible interpretation of associated risk factors in coinfected patients. A total of 730 liver diseased patients were included, out of which 501 were found positive for HCV infection via PCR. 5.1% of patients were coinfected with HBV while 1% were coinfected with HBV and HDV both. LFTs were significantly altered in dually and triply infected patients as compared to single HCV infection. Mean bilirubin, AST, and ALT levels were highest (3.25 mg/dL, 174 IU/L, and 348 IU/L) in patients with triple infection while dual infection LFTs (1.6 mg/dL, 61 IU/L, and 74 IU/L) were not high as in single infection (1.9 mg/dL, 76 IU/L, and 91 IU/L). The most prominent risk factor in case of single (22%) and dual infection (27%) group was &quot;reuse of syringes&quot; while in triple infection it was &quot;intravenous drug users&quot; (60%). It is concluded that HBV and HDV coinfections are strongly associated with HCV infected Pakistani patients and in case of severe liver disease the possibility of double and triple coinfection should be kept in consideration