Emerging issues of environmental management in India

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Paraneoplastic Fever, Leukemoid Reaction and Thrombocytosis in Transitional Cell Carcinoma of Kidney: A Rare Presentation

We report a rare presentation of transitional cell carcinoma of kidney with paraneoplastic fever, leukemoid reaction and thrombocytosis. Description of the case highlights an unusual clinical scenario where fever, leucocytosis, pyuria and raised procalcitonin levels at presentation in a patient with transitional cell carcinoma of kidney may mislead diagnostic work up toward an infective cause (i.e. pyelonephritis). This case will guide clinician to keep a high index of suspicion, in case they encounter such a situation

Copper thiocyanate (CuSCN): an efficient solution-processable hole transporting layer in organic solar cells

Here, we report copper(I) thiocyanate (CuSCN) as an efficient and solution-processable hole transport layer (HTL) in bulk heterojunction solar cells. Three different combinations of the most studied active layers of P3HT:PC61BM, PCDTBT:PC71BM and PTB7:PC71BM were used for photovoltaic device fabrication with the simplest device structure of ITO/CuSCN/active layer/Al. The use of CuSCN as an HTL has improved light absorption within the active layer and thereby leads to up to 5.94% and 4.60% power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) for the active layers of PCDTBT:PC71BM and PTB7:PC71BM, respectively. These results are slightly better when compared to the devices fabricated using thermal deposition of MoO3 and solution processed deposition of PEDOT: PSS as an HTL under similar conditions. We have observed that the annealing temperature for HTLs in organic solar cells has a significant effect on the PCE, specifically the fill factor (FF) and short-circuit current (J(sc)). In the present work, the resulting HTLs were characterized using UV-vis-NIR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) for better understanding. Finally, we have provided a further example of solution-processable CuSCN as an efficient HTL in organic solar cells, in general

SARS-CoV-2, influenza virus and nanoscale particles trapping, tracking and tackling using nanoaperture optical tweezers: A recent advances review

This is the published version of an article published by iScienceIn Publishing in Journal of Materials NanoScience on 02/12/2020, available online: http://pubs.iscience.in/journal/index.php/jmns/article/view/1174Recent advances in nanoscale technologies have provided advanced tools that can be easily used to trap, track, and manipulate individual nanoscale particles and viruses such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and influenza viruses accurately. Among the promising strategies that exist to date, optical forces based techniques are the leading tools in this task. Perfectly, focused lasers act as “optical tweezers,” and can trap individual particles and viruses. These forces can be applied to study nanomaterials, viruses, the building blocks of a quantum computer, and collision processes occurring between molecules in a better way than ever before. These cutting-edge tools are capable of trapping, tracking, and manipulating at the nanoscale in three dimensions. The optical tweezers have been used within biological and nanotechnological fields for trapping, tracking, and manipulating nanoparticles, and viruses with high flexibility, precision, and integration. The outcomes are important breakthroughs in the field of molecular mechanics. Here, we review the state-of-the-art optical tools employed in optical trapping, tracking, and manipulation of different particles at the nanoscale. The trapping of nanoparticles down to single-digit nanometer range and individual SARS-CoV-2 are the main features discussed here. Optical tweezers are also capable of sizing and probing acoustic modes of a small virus such as SARS-CoV-2 and influenza. The optical tweezers can perform tracking of nanoparticles in three-dimensional with high-resolution by forwarding scattered light. Optical tweezers are used to grab single molecules and measure events that are occurring and employed for measuring forces and measuring distance. A miniature and modular system creates a reliable and mobile optical trap that has more potential to be applied in optical trapping technologies

Frequency of peripheral neuropathy in pre diabetics in sub Himalayan region: a cross sectional observational study

Background: Peripheral neuropathy in pre diabetics has been studied in various studies till now. Many are in support and many against. No data was available in any study using all three criteria i.e. impaired fasting glucose, impaired glucose tolerance and HbA1C. Aim was to study the frequency of peripheral neuropathy in pre diabetics in a tertiary health care centre in sub Himalayan region.Methods: A 50 patients of prediabetes were enrolled for this study; preformed proforma was used to collect the information, data on examination and investigations. Then these patients were subjected to nerve conduction studies.Results: Out of total 50 pre diabetic patients 9(18%) were diagnosed having peripheral neuropathy. Maximum number of pre diabetic patients were (26) in the age group 46-55 years with mean age of 44.49 years ±7.01 (S.D.). 28 (56%) were males with a female to male ratio of 1:1.27. 20% patients had complaint of polyuria, 12% presented with polydipsia, 14% of total pre diabetic patients had paresthesia on history. 6% patients had impaired vibration and position sense on clinical examination. Out of total 9 patients having evidence of Peripheral Neuropathy 6 (66.66%) were meeting all three criteria for Prediabetes while 8 (88.88%) had IFG, 7 patients had IGT. 42% of the patients were fulfilling the criteria of metabolic syndrome. 28 had raised TGs and out of them 5 (17.8%) had peripheral neuropathy. Out of 24 obese patients, 4 (16.6%) had peripheral neuropathy. Out of 9 patients with peripheral neuropathy 66.66% patients were considered to be suffering with peripheral neuropathy on the basis of sensory symptoms and 33.33% were considered on the basis of impaired vibration and position sense on examination, one patient diagnosed on the basis of nerve conduction studies. 38% were in high risk group of developing T2DM in future as per Indian diabetes risk score. Mean compound motor action potential (CMAP) and nerve conduction velocity (NCV) were less in patients with peripheral neuropathy in comparison to patients without peripheral neuropathy.Conclusions: Peripheral neuropathy can occur in prediabetes though it is difficult to confirm it. Most common is small fiber neuropathy which can be diagnosed on the basis of history and examination. But by diagnosing it early in the course of prediabetes, morbidity and mortality secondary to neuropathy can be prevented

Marker-Trait Associations for Tolerance to Ash Dieback in Common Ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.)

Common ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.) is a tree species of significant ecological and economic importance that has suffered a devastating decline since the 1990s in Europe. Native ash species are being threatened by the alien invasive fungus Hymenoscyphus fraxineus, which causes ash dieback. The main goal of the study was to develop markers for traits related to tolerance to ash dieback and to investigate whether genotypes selected for tolerance were genetically different from susceptible wild populations. We phenotyped 326 ash trees from Sweden for disease severity and genotyped them using 63 amplicon-derived single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers derived from genes in 40 scaffolds spanning 8 MB in total, which represents approximately 1% of the ash genome. We used a mixed linear model to test for an association between genotypic variation at these loci and disease severity of ash. In total, two SNPs were found to have significant associations. One non-synonymous SNP associated with the disease severity of ash was found in a gene predicted to encode a subtilisin-related peptidase S8/S53 domain. A second marginally significant marker was associated with an LRR gene. Our results demonstrate an inexpensive time-effective method for generating genomic data that could have potential for use in future tree breeding programs and provide information for marker-assisted selection. Our study also showed a low differentiation between genotypes selected for disease tolerance and the wild population of ash representing a range of susceptibilities to ash dieback, indicating opportunities for further selection without significantly losing genetic diversity in the ash population

Association genetics identifies a specifically regulated Norway spruce laccase gene, PaLAC5, linked to Heterobasidion parviporum resistance

It is important to improve the understanding of the interactions between the trees and pathogens and integrate this knowledge about disease resistance into tree breeding programs. The conifer Norway spruce (Picea abies) is an important species for the forest industry in Europe. Its major pathogen is Heterobasidion parviporum, causing stem and root rot.In this study, we identified 11 Norway spruce QTLs (Quantitative trait loci) that correlate with variation in resistance to H. parviporum in a population of 466 trees by association genetics. Individual QTLs explained between 2.1 and 5.2% of the phenotypic variance. The expression of candidate genes associated with the QTLs was analysed in silico and in response to H. parviporum hypothesizing that (a) candidate genes linked to control of fungal sapwood growth are more commonly expressed in sapwood, and; (b) candidate genes associated with induced defences are respond to H. parviporum inoculation. The Norway spruce laccase PaLAC5 associated with control of lesion length development is likely to be involved in the induced defences. Expression analyses showed that PaLAC5 responds specifically and strongly in close proximity to the H. parviporum inoculation. Thus, PaLAC5 may be associated with the lignosuberized boundary zone formation in bark adjacent to the inoculation site

Combining transcriptomics and genetic linkage based information to identify candidate genes associated with Heterobasidion-resistance in Norway spruce

peer-reviewedThe Heterobasidion annosum s.l species complex comprises the most damaging forest pathogens to Norway spruce. We revisited previously identified Quantitative Trait Loci (QTLs) related to Heterobasidion-resistance in Norway spruce to identify candidate genes associated with these QTLs. We identified 329 candidate genes associated with the resistance QTLs using a gene-based composite map for Pinaceae. To evaluate the transcriptional responses of these candidate genes to H. parviporum, we inoculated Norway spruce plants and sequenced the transcriptome of the interaction at 3 and 7 days post inoculation. Out of 298 expressed candidate genes 124 were differentially expressed between inoculation and wounding control treatment. Interestingly, PaNAC04 and two of its paralogs in the subgroup III-3 of the NAC family transcription factors were found to be associated with one of the QTLs and was also highly induced in response to H. parviporum. These genes are possibly involved in the regulation of biosynthesis of flavonoid compounds. Furthermore, several of the differentially expressed candidate genes were associated with the phenylpropanoid pathway including a phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, a cinnamoyl-CoA reductase, a caffeoyl-CoA O-methyltransferase and a PgMYB11-like transcription factor gene. Combining transcriptome and genetic linkage analyses can help identifying candidate genes for functional studies and molecular breeding in non-model species