H2A.Z at the Core of Transcriptional Regulation in Plants

This is the final version. Available from Elsevier via the DOI in this record.No abstract

Hot n' cold: Molecular signatures of domestication bring fresh insights into environmental adaptation

This is the final version. Available from Elsevier via the DOI in this record.No abstract

DET1 and HY5 Control PIF4-Mediated Thermosensory Elongation Growth through Distinct Mechanisms

This is the final version. Available from Elsevier via the DOI in this record.Plant growth and development are defined by environmental cues. The transcription factor PHYTOCHROME INTERACTING FACTOR 4 (PIF4) is the central signaling hub that integrates environmental cues, including light and temperature, to regulate growth and development. The thermosensory mechanisms controlling the PIF4-mediated temperature response, and its integration with other environmental responses, remain poorly understood. DE-ETIOLATED 1 (DET1) and CONSTITUTIVE PHOTOMORPHOGENESIS 1 (COP1), key regulators of light signaling, have been proposed to control thermosensory growth by transcriptional regulation of PIF4, through ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL 5 (HY5). Here, we show that DET1/COP1 and HY5 regulate thermosensory elongation through distinct mechanisms. DET1 and COP1 are essential for promoting PIF4 expression and stabilizing PIF4 protein. Furthermore, HY5 inhibits elongation growth through competitive chromatin binding to PIF4 targets, not through transcriptional regulation of PIF4. Our findings reveal a mechanistic framework in which DET1/COP1 and HY5 regulatory modules act independently to regulate growth through the environmental signal integrator PIF4.Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Counci

Mutagenic effectiveness and efficiency in varieties of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) by separate and combined treatment with gamma-rays and sodium azide

The effect of single treatment with gamma-rays, sodium azide and combination treatments of gammarays and sodium azide on seed germination, seedling survival, pollen fertility and seed set in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) M2 generation was studied in the varieties of USH-430 and SHSF-333. There was gradual decrease of seedling survival and pollen fertility with an increase in the dose of mutagen in both varieties. The percentage of lethality and achene sterility gradually increased with an increased dose. In USH-430 variety, the seed set percentage was significantly increased at 6kR, 4 mM and 6 kR + 6 mM, respectively. Mutagenic effectiveness decreased with an increased dose or concentration of gamma-rays and sodium azide in both varieties. In combined treatments, mutagenic effectiveness gradually increased with an increased dose. Mutagenic efficiency increased with an increased dose in case of gamma-irradiated seeds in both varieties. Mutagenic efficiency decreased gradually with an increased dose in both varieties. The linear correlation co-efficient was positive in case of gamma-rays and sodium azide separated, whereas in combined treatment, negative correlation was observed.Key words: Sodium azide, gamma-rays, seed set, pollen sterility, mutation frequency, mutagenic effectiveness, mutagenic efficiency

DET1 and COP1 Modulate the Coordination of Growth and Immunity in Response to Key Seasonal Signals in Arabidopsis

This is the final version. Available from Elsevier via the DOI in this record.Plant growth and development and outcomes of plant-microbe interactions are defined by coordinated responses to seasonal signals. The mechanisms that control the coordinated regulation of growth and immunity are not well understood. Here, we show that a common signaling module integrates environmental signals, such as photoperiod and temperature, to regulate the growth-defense balance. Key light-signaling components De-Etiolated 1 (DET1) and Constitutive Photomorphogenic 1 (COP1) negatively regulate immunity and are essential for immune modulation by photoperiod and temperature. Our results show that this is regulated by the transcription factor Phytochrome Interacting Factor 4 (PIF4), suggesting that the DET1/COP1-PIF4 module acts as a central hub for the control of growth and immunity in response to seasonal signals. These findings provide a regulatory framework for environmental signal integration. In plants, adaptive traits such as growth and immunity are strongly influenced by the environment. How multiple seasonal signals are integrated is not well understood. Gangappa and Kumar show that a common signaling module comprising DET1, COP1, and PIF4 coordinates growth and immunity in response to key seasonal signals

SWR1 Chromatin-Remodeling Complex Subunits and H2A.Z Have Non-overlapping Functions in Immunity and Gene Regulation in Arabidopsis

This is the final version. Available from Elsevier via the DOI in this record.Incorporation of the histone variant H2A.Z into nucleosomes by the SWR1 chromatin remodeling complex is a critical step in eukaryotic gene regulation. In Arabidopsis, SWR1c and H2A.Z have been shown to control gene expression underlying development and environmental responses. Although they have been implicated in defense, the specific roles of the complex subunits and H2A.Z in immunity are not well understood. In this study, we analyzed the roles of the SWR1c subunits, PHOTOPERIOD-INDEPENDENT EARLY FLOWERING1 (PIE1), ACTIN-RELATED PROTEIN6 (ARP6), and SWR1 COMPLEX 6 (SWC6), as well as H2A.Z, in defense and gene regulation. We found that SWR1c components play different roles in resistance to different pathogens. Loss of PIE1 and SWC6 function as well as depletion of H2A.Z led to reduced basal resistance, while loss of ARP6 fucntion resulted in enhanced resistance. We found that mutations in PIE1 and SWC6 resulted in impaired effector-triggered immunity. Mutation in SWR1c components and H2A.Z also resulted in compromised jasmonic acid/ethylene-mediated immunity. Genome-wide expression analyses similarly reveal distinct roles for H2A.Z and SWR1c components in gene regulation, and suggest a potential role for PIE1 in the regulation of the cross talk between defense signaling pathways. Our data show that although they are part of the same complex, Arabidopsis SWR1c components could have non-redundant functions in plant immunity and gene regulation

An operational medium range local weather forecasting system developed in India

A forecasting system for objective medium range location specific forecasts of surface weather elements was evolved at the National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF). The basic information used for this is the output from a general circulation model (GCM). The two essential components of the system are statistical interpretation (SI) forecast and direct model output (DMO) forecast. These are explained in brief. The SI forecast is obtained by using dynamical-statistical methods like model output statistics (MOS) and the perfect prog method (PPM) in which prediction of upper air circulation from a GCM around the location of interest is used. The DMO forecast is obtained from the prediction of surface weather elements from the GCM. The procedure for preparation of final forecast by using these two components and prevailing synoptic conditions is also explained. This is essentially a man-machine-mix approach. Finally, an evaluation of the forecast skill for the 1996 monsoon and some of the future plans are presented. Copyrigh

Design and Process control of Siemens polysilicon CVD reactor

The novelty in this paper is to develop a process control for the poly-silicon CVD reactor to achieve optimum productivity of Poly-silicon seed by controlling the process parameters. The production of ingot is done through Siemens process of decomposing Trichlorosilane by Chemical Vapor Deposition on slim tungsten rods. The hardware architecture proposed monitors and controls the systematic sequential stages furnishing dynamics of the plant at a high temperature around 1050°C-1100°C. The HMI communicates through NI's LabVIEW 8.6 package, alarming the user with Process mimic, Report generation, Data and Security management. The plant simulation is realized and verified with LabVIEW 8.6 Version and MATLab 7.5 software tools to obtain the effectiveness of proposed control technique. This GUI based SCADA handles likelihood of fault tolerance, ensuring risk controlled process with optimum productivity of poly-silicon by making system compliant to Industrial standards

Scientific aspect on Diet explained by Susrutha in Wound Healing

Wound healing has been the burning problem in a surgical practice because of a remarkable increase in the number of traumatic cases. A wound causes a number of changes in the body that can affect the healing process, including changes in energy, protein, carbohydrate, fat, vitamin and mineral metabolism. Various Ayurveda literatures, particularly, Sushruta Samhita, which is said to be an ancient textbook of surgery in Ayurveda, has mentioned about the diet for the person suffering from the wound, and the author said that diet plays a very important role in the wound healing process. Sushruta - The father of surgery has scientifically classified it in a systemic manner, whose wealth of clinical material and the principles of management are valid even today. Shalya Tantra (surgical branch in Ayurveda Science) is one of the important branch of Ayurveda, in which surgical and parasurgical techniques has described for management of various diseases. Vrana is the most important and widely described chapter of Shalya Tantra. Vrana (wound) is one of them, which have been managed by human being from starting of civilization. Under the circumstances, the first thing which the men came across was the injury from different sources which caused him the Vrana. Vrana is seen as debilitating and scaring disorder, usually seen affecting the human being at any age. Well balanced nutrition plays an essential role in the wound healing

Metronidazole removal in powder-activated carbon and concrete-containing graphene adsorption systems: Estimation of kinetic, equilibrium and thermodynamic parameters and optimization of adsorption by a central composite design

© 2017 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. Metronidazole (MNZ) removal by two adsorbents, i.e., concrete-containing graphene (CG) and powder-activated carbon (PAC), was investigated via batch-mode experiments and the outcomes were used to analyze the kinetics, equilibrium and thermodynamics of MNZ adsorption. MNZ sorption on CG and PAC has followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model, and the thermodynamic parameters revealed that MNZ adsorption was spontaneous on PAC and non-spontaneous on CG. Subsequently, two-parameter isotherm models, i.e., Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, Dubinin–Radushkevich and Elovich models, were applied to evaluate the MNZ adsorption capacity. The maximum MNZ adsorption capacities (qm) of PAC and CG were found to be between 25.5–32.8 mg/g and 0.41–0.002 mg/g, respectively. Subsequently, the effects of pH, temperature and adsorbent dosage on MNZ adsorption were evaluated by a central composite design (CCD) approach. The CCD experiments have pointed out the complete removal of MNZ at a much lower PAC dosage by increasing the system temperature (i.e., from 20°C to 40°C). On the other hand, a desorption experiment has shown 3.5% and 1.7% MNZ removal from the surface of PAC and CG, respectively, which was insignificant compared to the sorbed MNZ on the surface by adsorption. The overall findings indicate that PAC and CG with higher graphene content could be useful in MNZ removal from aqueous systems