Transhumanism in India: Past, Present and the Future

The Indian subcontinent has a particularly rich cultural heritage, which has a certain level of natural compatibility with the transhumanist ... Chapter 56: Transhumanism in India: Past, Present and the Future 56.1 Transhumanism in Ancient India

The effect of seating preferences of the medical students on educational achievement

Background: The seat selection and classroom dynamics may have mutual influence on the student performance and participation in both assigned and random seating arrangement. Purpose: The aim of the study was to understand the influence of seat selection on educational achievement. Methods: The seating positions of the medical students were recorded on an architectural plan during each class session and the means and standard deviations of the students’ locations were calculated in X and Y orientations. The locations of the students in the class were analyzed based on three architectural classifications: interactional zone, distance from the board, and access to the aisles. Final exam scores were used to measure the students’ educational achievement. Results: Our results demonstrate that there is a statistically significant relationship between the student's locations in the class and their attendance and educational achievements. Conclusion: Two factors may effect on educational achievement: student seating in the high interactional zone and minimal changes in seating location. Seating in the high interaction zone was directly associated with higher performance and inversely correlated with the percentage of absences. This observation is consistent with the view that students in the front of the classroom are likely more motivated and interact with the lecturer more than their classmates

Correlation between maternal and neonatal blood Vitamin D level; A cross sectional study of 416 participants visiting a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan

In Pakistan there is limited evidence for the levels and relationship of 25 (OH) Vitamin D [25(OH)D] status in pregnant women and their newborns while the association between maternal 25(OH)D and newborn anthropometric measurements remains unexplored. Sociodemographic data was collected from 213 pregnant mothers during their visit to a tertiary care hospital at the time of childbirth. Anthropometric measurements were performed on all mothers and their newborns and blood samples collected from both for 25(OH)D levels. Participants were classified into two groups according to their 25(OH)D status: Sufficient (25(OH)D ≥50nmol/l) and Deficient (25(OH)D 0.05). Our study shows a high prevalence of 25(OH)D deficiency in pregnant women and their newborns and a strong positive association between maternal and newborn 25(OH)D levels. Findings of this study indicate the importance of maintaining sufficient 25(OH)D levels during pregnancy

Identification of a major QTL, Parth6.1 associated with parthenocarpic fruit development in slicing cucumber genotype, Pusa Parthenocarpic Cucumber-6

Parthenocarpy is an extremely important trait that revolutionized the worldwide cultivation of cucumber under protected conditions. Pusa Parthenocarpic Cucumber-6 (PPC-6) is one of the important commercially cultivated varieties under protected conditions in India. Understanding the genetics of parthenocarpy, molecular mapping and the development of molecular markers closely associated with the trait will facilitate the introgression of parthenocarpic traits into non-conventional germplasm and elite varieties. The F1, F2 and back-crosses progenies with a non-parthenocarpic genotype, Pusa Uday indicated a single incomplete dominant gene controlling parthenocarpy in PPC-6. QTL-seq comprising of the early parthenocarpy and non-parthenocarpic bulks along with the parental lines identified two major genomic regions, one each in chromosome 3 and chromosome 6 spanning over a region of 2.7 Mb and 7.8 Mb, respectively. Conventional mapping using F2:3 population also identified two QTLs, Parth6.1 and Parth6.2 in chromosome 6 which indicated the presence of a major effect QTL in chromosome 6 determining parthenocarpy in PPC-6. The flanking markers, SSR01148 and SSR 01012 for Parth6.1 locus and SSR10476 and SSR 19174 for Parth6.2 locus were identified and can be used for introgression of parthenocarpy through the marker-assisted back-crossing programme. Functional annotation of the QTL-region identified two major genes, Csa_6G396640 and Csa_6G405890 designated as probable indole-3-pyruvate monooxygenase YUCCA11 and Auxin response factor 16, respectively associated with auxin biosynthesis as potential candidate genes. Csa_6G396640 showed only one insertion at position 2179 in the non-parthenocarpic parent. In the case of Csa_6G405890, more variations were observed between the two parents in the form of SNPs and InDels. The study provides insight about genomic regions, closely associated markers and possible candidate genes associated with parthenocarpy in PPC-6 which will be instrumental for functional genomics study and better understanding of parthenocarpy in cucumber

Genomics of perivascular space burden unravels early mechanisms of cerebral small vessel disease

Perivascular space (PVS) burden is an emerging, poorly understood, magnetic resonance imaging marker of cerebral small vessel disease, a leading cause of stroke and dementia. Genome-wide association studies in up to 40,095 participants (18 population-based cohorts, 66.3 ± 8.6 yr, 96.9% European ancestry) revealed 24 genome-wide significant PVS risk loci, mainly in the white matter. These were associated with white matter PVS already in young adults (N = 1,748; 22.1 ± 2.3 yr) and were enriched in early-onset leukodystrophy genes and genes expressed in fetal brain endothelial cells, suggesting early-life mechanisms. In total, 53% of white matter PVS risk loci showed nominally significant associations (27% after multiple-testing correction) in a Japanese population-based cohort (N = 2,862; 68.3 ± 5.3 yr). Mendelian randomization supported causal associations of high blood pressure with basal ganglia and hippocampal PVS, and of basal ganglia PVS and hippocampal PVS with stroke, accounting for blood pressure. Our findings provide insight into the biology of PVS and cerebral small vessel disease, pointing to pathways involving extracellular matrix, membrane transport and developmental processes, and the potential for genetically informed prioritization of drug targets.Etude de cohorte sur la santé des étudiantsStopping cognitive decline and dementia by fighting covert cerebral small vessel diseaseStudy on Environmental and GenomeWide predictors of early structural brain Alterations in Young student

Origin and evolution of the bread wheat D genome

Bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) is a globally dominant crop and major source of calories and proteins for the human diet. Compared with its wild ancestors, modern bread wheat shows lower genetic diversity, caused by polyploidisation, domestication and breeding bottlenecks. Wild wheat relatives represent genetic reservoirs, and harbour diversity and beneficial alleles that have not been incorporated into bread wheat. Here we establish and analyse extensive genome resources for Tausch’s goatgrass (Aegilops tauschii), the donor of the bread wheat D genome. Our analysis of 46 Ae. tauschii genomes enabled us to clone a disease resistance gene and perform haplotype analysis across a complex disease resistance locus, allowing us to discern alleles from paralogous gene copies. We also reveal the complex genetic composition and history of the bread wheat D genome, which involves contributions from genetically and geographically discrete Ae. tauschii subpopulations. Together, our results reveal the complex history of the bread wheat D genome and demonstrate the potential of wild relatives in crop improvement

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Not AvailableCucumber is an extremely perishable vegetable; however, under room conditions, the fruits become unfit for consumption 2–3 days after harvesting. One natural variant, DC-48 with an extended shelf-life was identified, fruits of which can be stored up to 10–15 days under room temperature. The genes involved in this economically important trait are regulated by non-coding RNAs. The study aims to identify the long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs) by taking two contrasting genotypes, DC-48 and DC-83, at two different fruit developmental stages. The upper epidermis of the fruits was collected at 5 days and 10 days after pollination (DAP) for high throughput RNA sequencing. The differential expression analysis was performed to identify differentially expressed (DE) lncRNAs and circRNAs along with the network analysis of lncRNA, miRNA, circRNA, and mRNA interactions. A total of 97 DElncRNAs were identified where 18 were common under both the developmental stages (8 down regulated and 10 upregulated). Based on the back-spliced reads, 238 circRNAs were found to be distributed uniformly throughout the cucumber genomes with the highest numbers (71) in chromosome 4. The majority of the circRNAs (49%) were exonic in origin followed by inter-genic (47%) and intronic (4%) origin. The genes related to fruit firmness, namely, polygalacturonase, expansin, pectate lyase, and xyloglucan glycosyltransferase were present in the target sites and co-localized networks indicating the role of the lncRNA and circRNAs in their regulation. Genes related to fruit ripening, namely, trehalose-6-phosphate synthase, squamosa promoter binding protein, WRKY domain transcription factors, MADS box proteins, abscisic stress ripening inhibitors, and different classes of heat shock proteins (HSPs) were also found to be regulated by the identified lncRNA and circRNAs. Besides, ethylene biosynthesis and chlorophyll metabolisms were also found to be regulated by DElncRNAs and circRNAs. A total of 17 transcripts were also successfully validated through RT PCR data. These results would help the breeders to identify the complex molecular network and regulatory role of the lncRNAs and circRNAs in determining the shelf-life of cucumbers.Not Availabl

DataSheet_2_Identification of a major QTL, Parth6.1 associated with parthenocarpic fruit development in slicing cucumber genotype, Pusa Parthenocarpic Cucumber-6.zip

Parthenocarpy is an extremely important trait that revolutionized the worldwide cultivation of cucumber under protected conditions. Pusa Parthenocarpic Cucumber-6 (PPC-6) is one of the important commercially cultivated varieties under protected conditions in India. Understanding the genetics of parthenocarpy, molecular mapping and the development of molecular markers closely associated with the trait will facilitate the introgression of parthenocarpic traits into non-conventional germplasm and elite varieties. The F1, F2 and back-crosses progenies with a non-parthenocarpic genotype, Pusa Uday indicated a single incomplete dominant gene controlling parthenocarpy in PPC-6. QTL-seq comprising of the early parthenocarpy and non-parthenocarpic bulks along with the parental lines identified two major genomic regions, one each in chromosome 3 and chromosome 6 spanning over a region of 2.7 Mb and 7.8 Mb, respectively. Conventional mapping using F2:3 population also identified two QTLs, Parth6.1 and Parth6.2 in chromosome 6 which indicated the presence of a major effect QTL in chromosome 6 determining parthenocarpy in PPC-6. The flanking markers, SSR01148 and SSR 01012 for Parth6.1 locus and SSR10476 and SSR 19174 for Parth6.2 locus were identified and can be used for introgression of parthenocarpy through the marker-assisted back-crossing programme. Functional annotation of the QTL-region identified two major genes, Csa_6G396640 and Csa_6G405890 designated as probable indole-3-pyruvate monooxygenase YUCCA11 and Auxin response factor 16, respectively associated with auxin biosynthesis as potential candidate genes. Csa_6G396640 showed only one insertion at position 2179 in the non-parthenocarpic parent. In the case of Csa_6G405890, more variations were observed between the two parents in the form of SNPs and InDels. The study provides insight about genomic regions, closely associated markers and possible candidate genes associated with parthenocarpy in PPC-6 which will be instrumental for functional genomics study and better understanding of parthenocarpy in cucumber.</p

DataSheet_1_Identification of a major QTL, Parth6.1 associated with parthenocarpic fruit development in slicing cucumber genotype, Pusa Parthenocarpic Cucumber-6.zip

Parthenocarpy is an extremely important trait that revolutionized the worldwide cultivation of cucumber under protected conditions. Pusa Parthenocarpic Cucumber-6 (PPC-6) is one of the important commercially cultivated varieties under protected conditions in India. Understanding the genetics of parthenocarpy, molecular mapping and the development of molecular markers closely associated with the trait will facilitate the introgression of parthenocarpic traits into non-conventional germplasm and elite varieties. The F1, F2 and back-crosses progenies with a non-parthenocarpic genotype, Pusa Uday indicated a single incomplete dominant gene controlling parthenocarpy in PPC-6. QTL-seq comprising of the early parthenocarpy and non-parthenocarpic bulks along with the parental lines identified two major genomic regions, one each in chromosome 3 and chromosome 6 spanning over a region of 2.7 Mb and 7.8 Mb, respectively. Conventional mapping using F2:3 population also identified two QTLs, Parth6.1 and Parth6.2 in chromosome 6 which indicated the presence of a major effect QTL in chromosome 6 determining parthenocarpy in PPC-6. The flanking markers, SSR01148 and SSR 01012 for Parth6.1 locus and SSR10476 and SSR 19174 for Parth6.2 locus were identified and can be used for introgression of parthenocarpy through the marker-assisted back-crossing programme. Functional annotation of the QTL-region identified two major genes, Csa_6G396640 and Csa_6G405890 designated as probable indole-3-pyruvate monooxygenase YUCCA11 and Auxin response factor 16, respectively associated with auxin biosynthesis as potential candidate genes. Csa_6G396640 showed only one insertion at position 2179 in the non-parthenocarpic parent. In the case of Csa_6G405890, more variations were observed between the two parents in the form of SNPs and InDels. The study provides insight about genomic regions, closely associated markers and possible candidate genes associated with parthenocarpy in PPC-6 which will be instrumental for functional genomics study and better understanding of parthenocarpy in cucumber.</p