Complete Sequences of Organelle Genomes from the Medicinal Plant Rhazya Stricta (Apocynaceae) and Contrasting Patterns of Mitochondrial Genome Evolution Across Asterids

Rhazya stricta is native to arid regions in South Asia and the Middle East and is used extensively in folk medicine to treat a wide range of diseases. In addition to generating genomic resources for this medicinally important plant, analyses of the complete plastid and mitochondrial genomes and a nuclear transcriptome from Rhazya provide insights into inter-compartmental transfers between genomes and the patterns of evolution among eight asterid mitochondrial genomes. Results: The 154,841 bp plastid genome is highly conserved with gene content and order identical to the ancestral organization of angiosperms. The 548,608 bp mitochondrial genome exhibits a number of phenomena including the presence of recombinogenic repeats that generate a multipartite organization, transferred DNA from the plastid and nuclear genomes, and bidirectional DNA transfers between the mitochondrion and the nucleus. The mitochondrial genes sdh3 and rps14 have been transferred to the nucleus and have acquired targeting presequences. In the case of rps14, two copies are present in the nucleus; only one has a mitochondrial targeting presequence and may be functional. Phylogenetic analyses of both nuclear and mitochondrial copies of rps14 across angiosperms suggests Rhazya has experienced a single transfer of this gene to the nucleus, followed by a duplication event. Furthermore, the phylogenetic distribution of gene losses and the high level of sequence divergence in targeting presequences suggest multiple, independent transfers of both sdh3 and rps14 across asterids. Comparative analyses of mitochondrial genomes of eight sequenced asterids indicates a complicated evolutionary history in this large angiosperm clade with considerable diversity in genome organization and size, repeat, gene and intron content, and amount of foreign DNA from the plastid and nuclear genomes. Conclusions: Organelle genomes of Rhazya stricta provide valuable information for improving the understanding of mitochondrial genome evolution among angiosperms. The genomic data have enabled a rigorous examination of the gene transfer events. Rhazya is unique among the eight sequenced asterids in the types of events that have shaped the evolution of its mitochondrial genome. Furthermore, the organelle genomes of R. stricta provide valuable genomic resources for utilizing this important medicinal plant in biotechnology applications.King Abdulaziz UniversityIntegrative Biolog

Reduction in jejunal fluid absorption in vivo through distension and cholinergic stimulation not attributable to enterocyte secretion

Jejunal fluid absorption in vivo was reduced by distension and by hydrostatic pressure and further declined on adding E. coli STa enterotoxin but no net fluid secretion was detected. Luminal atropine reduced pressure mediated reductions in fluid absorption to normal values but intravenous hexamethonium was without effect. A neural component to inhibition of absorption by pressure (though not stretch) may be mediated by axon reflexes within cholinergic neurons.Perfusion of cholinergic compounds also reduced net fluid absorption but did not cause secretion. In order to show that these actions were not secretory processes stimulated by cholinergic compounds that offset normal rates of absorption, these compounds were tested for their ability to cause net secretion in loops that were perfused with solutions in which choline substituted for sodium ion. In addition, these perfusates additionally contained E. coli STa enterotoxin or EIPA (ethyl-isopropyl-amiloride) to minimize absorption.In these circumstances, where it might be expected to do so if it were acting through a secretory rather than an absorptive mechanism, carbachol did not cause net fluid secretion. Cholinergic stimulation and pressure induced distension are thought to reduce net fluid absorption through inducing secretion but are found only to reduce fluid absorption.In conclusion, distension and cholinergic stimulation of the small intestine are two further circumstances in which fluid secretion is assumed to explain their action on fluid movement, as required by the enterocyte secretion model of secretion but, which like STa enterotoxin, instead are only able to reduce fluid absorption. This casts further doubt on the widespread validity of the enterocyte secretion model for fluid appearance in the lumen in diarrhoeal diseases

Morphological and biochemical variations in Elaeagnus umbellata Thunb. from mountains of Pakistan

Elaeagnus umbellata Thunb. (Elaeagnacea) is a native multipurpose plant from Himalayan regions of Pakistan. Its flowers and fruit are rich in vitamins, flavonoides, essential oil, lycopene and other bioactive compounds. Five populations of Elaeagnus umbellata from variable microenvironments of District Poonch were compared in terms of morphology and biochemistry using conventional and biochemical techniques. In spite of significant variability in morphological characteristics and vitamin C, seed oil and leaf chlorophyll content, Elaeagnus umbellata has great potential as a raw material for pharmaceutical industries, soil stabilization, reclamation, and for economic activities to the disadvantageous communities of the mountainous regions of Pakistan

Analysis of chaotic motion and its shape dependence in a generalized piecewise linear map

We analyse the chaotic motion and its shape dependence in a piecewise linear map using Fujisaka's characteristic function method. The map is a generalization of the one introduced by R. Artuso. Exact expressions for diffusion coefficient are obtained giving previously obtained results as special cases. Fluctuation spectrum relating to probability density function is obtained in a parametric form. We also give limiting forms of the above quantities. Dependence of diffusion coefficient and probability density function on the shape of the map is examined.Comment: 4 pages,4 figure

Molecular generation and characterization of an efficient recombinant vaccine for avian influenza A/H5N8 in Saudi Arabia

Purpose: To characterize a highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N8 for engineering recombinant 6-+ 2 vaccine strain based on reverse genetic technology. Methods: A total of 135 swab samples from various birds were collected from different parts of Saudi Arabia as part of an influenza surveillance activity. The samples were checked for influenza virus infection using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Furthermore, Avian influenza H5N8 (A/chicken/KSA/1-NRC/2018), was used for the generation of H5N8 vaccine strain. The vaccine was tested on specific pathogen-free (SPF) chicken purchased from a local market. Results: The results indicate that the candidate vaccine (rgH5N8/KSA) induced specific neutralizing antibodies in chicken, and thereby protected the chickens from subsequent infections of H5N8. Conclusion: The study reinforces the development of a vaccine against avian influenza H5N8 virus isolated in Saudi Arabia, suggesting its possible application against the influenza virus associated with bird fl

On q-Gaussians and Exchangeability

The q-Gaussians are discussed from the point of view of variance mixtures of normals and exchangeability. For each q< 3, there is a q-Gaussian distribution that maximizes the Tsallis entropy under suitable constraints. This paper shows that q-Gaussian random variables can be represented as variance mixtures of normals. These variance mixtures of normals are the attractors in central limit theorems for sequences of exchangeable random variables; thereby, providing a possible model that has been extensively studied in probability theory. The formulation provided has the additional advantage of yielding process versions which are naturally q-Brownian motions. Explicit mixing distributions for q-Gaussians should facilitate applications to areas such as option pricing. The model might provide insight into the study of superstatistics.Comment: 14 page

Impact du changement de l’occupation des sols sur l’érosion hydrique et le comportement hydrologique des sols: Cas du bassin Tleta au nord-ouest du Maroc

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of land use on runoff and soil loss in relation with soil properties. Three types of land use were studied under simulated rainfall: matorral, fallow protected by the setting in defense and cereal farming. The results showed that fallow soils are the wettest, richest in organic matter (OM) and the most stable, followed by soils under crops and then matorrals. The analysis of the hydrological properties clearly puts the negative influence of the matorrals and the cultivation on the hydrological behavior of the soils. Matorral soils have the lowest water absorption capacity (infiltrability=&nbsp;29.48&nbsp;mm h-1), the highest runoff coefficient (kr = 53.12%) and the highest loss of its particles by detachability (153.45&nbsp;g /m² /h). This loss of soil by detachability is equivalent on average to almost 10 times the amount recorded under fallow (14.36 g/m² /h) and 3.5 times that obtained on agricultural land (42.86 g/m² /h). It is noted that the rainfall imbibition is higher under fallow (36.61 mm) than under agricultural soils (11.97 mm) and matorrals (1.08 mm). Correlation analysis shows that the hydrologic behavior of soil in the Tleta watershed is governed by its surface condition and richness in OM. Soil infiltrability and rainfall imbibition were highly positively correlated with soil cover (r =0.93, r =0.75), soil OM (r =0.90, r =0.99) and soil aggregate stability (r&nbsp;=0.82, r =0.99) respectively. On the other hand, runoff generated and soil detachability due to precipitation are negatively related to the vegetation cover area (r = -0.92; r=-0.88) and the soil OM (r =-0.83; r=-0.87). Keywords: land use, erosion, rainfall simulation, organic matter, surface conditionCette étude traite de l’effet de l’occupation des sols sur le ruissellement et les pertes en sols en relation avec les propriétés du sol. Trois types d’utilisation des sols ont été étudiés sous simulation de pluie: matorral, jachère protégée par la mise en défens et céréaliculture. Les résultats ont montré que les sols sous jachère sont les plus humides, les plus riches en matière organique (MO) et les plus stables, suivis des sols sous cultures et puis les matorrals. L?analyse des propriétés hydrologiques met clairement l?influence négative des matorrals et la mise en culture sur le comportement hydrologique des sols. Les sols des matorrals présentent la plus faible capacité d’absorption d’eau (infiltrabilité= 29.48 mm h-1), le coefficient de ruissellement kr le plus élevé (kr = 53.12 %) et la plus forte perte de ses particules par détachabilité (153.45 g/m²/h). Cette perte du sol par détachabilité est équivalente en moyenne à presque 10 fois la quantité enregistrée sous jachère (14.36 g/m²/h) et 3.5 fois celle obtenue en sol agricole (42.86 g/m²/h). On note que les pluies d?imbibition sont plus élevées sous jachères (36.61 mm) que sous les sols agricoles (11.97 mm) et les matorrals (1.08 mm). L’analyse des corrélations montre que le comportement hydrologique du sol brunifié dans le bassin Tleta est régi par son état de surface et sa richesse en MO. L’infiltrabilité du sol et la pluie d’imbibition sont très corrélées positivement à la surface couverte du sol (r=0.93&nbsp;; r=0.75), à la teneur du sol en MO (r=0.90&nbsp;; r=0.99) et à la stabilité structurale du sol (r=0.82&nbsp;; r=0.99) respectivement. Par ailleurs, le ruissellement généré et la détachabilité du sol suite aux précipitations sont liés négativement au taux de surface du sol couverte par la végétation (r =-0.92, r=-0.88) et à la teneur de la MO du sol (r =-0.83&nbsp;; r= -0.87). Mots-clés: occupation du sol, érosion, simulation, matière organique, état de surfac

Transcriptomic and metabolic responses of Calotropis procera to salt and drought stress

Background: Calotropis procera is a wild plant species in the family Apocynaceae that is able to grow in harsh, arid and heat stressed conditions. Understanding how this highly adapted plant persists in harsh environments should inform future efforts to improve the hardiness of crop and forage plant species. To study the plant response to droμght and osmotic stress, we treated plants with polyethylene glycol and NaCl and carried out transcriptomic and metabolomics measurements across a time-course of five days. Results: We identified a highly dynamic transcriptional response across the time-course including dramatic changes in inositol signaling, stress response genes and cytokinins. The resulting metabolome changes also involved sharp increases of myo-inositol, a key signaling molecule and elevated amino acid metabolites at later times. Conclusions: The data generated here provide a first glimpse at the expressed genome of C. procera, a plant that is exceptionally well adapted to arid environments. We demonstrate, through transcriptome and metabolome analysis that myo-inositol signaling is strongly induced in response to drought and salt stress and that there is elevation of amino acid concentrations after prolonged osmotic stress. This work should lay the foundations of future studies in adaptation to arid environments

Criteria for arrhythmogenicity in genetically-modified Langendorff-perfused murine hearts modelling the congenital long QT syndrome type 3 and the Brugada syndrome

The experiments investigated the applicability of two established criteria for arrhythmogenicity in Scn5a+/Δ and Scn5a+/− murine hearts modelling the congenital long QT syndrome type 3 (LQT3) and the Brugada syndrome (BrS). Monophasic action potentials (APs) recorded during extrasystolic stimulation procedures from Langendorff-perfused control hearts and hearts treated with flecainide (1 μM) or quinidine (1 or 10 μM) demonstrated that both agents were pro-arrhythmic in wild-type (WT) hearts, quinidine was pro-arrhythmic in Scn5a+/Δ hearts, and that flecainide was pro-arrhythmic whereas quinidine was anti-arrhythmic in Scn5a+/− hearts, confirming clinical findings. Statistical analysis confirmed a quadratic relationship between epicardial and endocardial AP durations (APDs) in WT control hearts. However, comparisons between plots of epicardial against endocardial APDs and this reference curve failed to correlate with arrhythmogenicity. Restitution curves, relating APD to diastolic interval (DI), were then constructed for the first time in a murine system and mono-exponential growth functions fitted to these curves. Significant (P < 0.05) alterations in the DI at which slopes equalled unity, an established indicator of arrhythmogenicity, now successfully predicted the presence or absence of arrhythmogenicity in all cases. We thus associate changes in the slopes of restitution curves with arrhythmogenicity in models of LQT3 and BrS

Therapies for neonatal encephalopathy: Targeting the latent, secondary and tertiary phases of evolving brain injury

In term and near-term neonates with neonatal encephalopathy, therapeutic hypothermia protocols are well established. The current focus is on how to improve outcomes further and the challenge is to find safe and complementary therapies that confer additional protection, regeneration or repair in addition to cooling. Following hypoxia-ischemia, brain injury evolves over three main phases (latent, secondary and tertiary), each with a different brain energy, perfusion, neurochemical and inflammatory milieu. While therapeutic hypothermia has targeted the latent and secondary phase, we now need therapies that cover the continuum of brain injury that spans hours, days, weeks and months after the initial event. Most agents have several therapeutic actions but can be broadly classified under a predominant action (e.g., free radical scavenging, anti-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory, neuroregeneration, and vascular effects). Promising early/secondary phase therapies include Allopurinol, Azithromycin, Exendin-4, Magnesium, Melatonin, Noble gases and Sildenafil. Tertiary phase agents include Erythropoietin, Stem cells and others. We review a selection of promising therapeutic agents on the translational pipeline and suggest a framework for neuroprotection and neurorestoration that targets the evolving injury