Identification of six potato virus Y isolates from Saudi Arabia

Six potato virus Y (PVY) were isolated from 20 potato plants (Solanum tuberosum sp. tuberosum L.) from the Riyadh region of Saudi Arabia showing leaf systemic symptoms (necrotic spots and mild mosaicism). 16 virus-infected plants gave positive indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) results with PVY commercial antiserum. Electron microscopy revealed the presence of rod-shaped particles (300 × 17 nm). Sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) indicated the 34 kDa viral coat protein and agarose gel of the immunocapture reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (IC-RT-PCR) products indicated the 800 bp cp gene. The sequences were aligned together, narrowed to six (one PVY-N and five PVY-O isolates) and then aligned with all published worldwide PVY cp sequences. The highest similarity index among the six isolates was shown between PVY-saudi-O1 and PVY-saudi-O4 (99.9%), while the least involved PVY-saudi-N and PVY-saudi-O3 (99.1%). The phylogenetic analysis of the cp gene nucleotide sequence revealed a cluster of PVY-saudi-N and the Egyptian strain GU980964. The results indicate the need for more sensitive detection of the virus in the imported seeds or tubers from countries, especially in the Middle East like Egypt, to avoid high threat to the Saudi potato trade.Key words: Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), coat protein (CP), sequence alignment, similarity index

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

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

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

Remote Sensing and GIS based approach in Morphometric analysis of Birma River Basin (Central India)

Birma river basin lies between two states of India (Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh). The parameters of Morphometric analysis were measured as Stream Order, Drainage Density, Stream Frequency, Bifurcation Ratio, Elongation Ratio, etc. Digital Elevation Model is downloaded from the USGS website. The results show that the Basin ranges from dendritic to sub-dendritic and is heterogeneous in texture and structurally controlled. The stream order ranges from first order to sixth order and the drainage density and elongation ratio is 1.23 and 0.59 respectively which specified that the basin is elongated in shape. The bifurcation ratio varies from 2.67 to 9.0 indicating that the basin has undulating topography. The analysis is contributed to understand watershed management sites for the conservation of soil and water. Assessment of these parameters ultimately gives information for the arrangement of sustainable water resource development and its management for the local people residing nearby the river.   Keywords: Birma River Basin, Digital Elevation Model (DEM), Geographical Information System (GIS), Morphometric analysis, Remote Sensin

Les aménagements agricoles de l’Anti-Atlas: De l’abandon aux risques de dégradation des sols et du patrimoine paysager

The Western Anti Atlas Mountains, located at the South-west of Morocco, have been prone to intense rural migration for several decades. As a consequence, the agricultural terraces built for several centuries on valley walls have been abandoned and degraded. The risks of runoff and erosion are becoming significant both at the upstream and the downstream (flash floods, dam silting). The objective of this work is to introduce this issue. The state of the art was described in the terroirs of Tizerkine and Timzemzit, commune of M’Zal, province of Chtouka-Ait Baha.Following the characterization of soil surface conditions of the terraces, the status of erosion and the risk of runoff were appraised according to the age of terrace abandonment. Erosion was appreciated by estimating the "soil surface factor, SSF” of PAP/CAR method and the infiltration rate was measured using double rings method. The results showed that the abandonment of terraces has led to the reduction of surface vegetation cover, the decrease of surface openings (soil sealing) and to soil compaction. The differences are significant as of the first year and the risk of runoff was high. A year of abandonment caused the soil surface to lose 40% of its infiltration capacity. At the end of 5 years abandonment, the infiltration rate has been reduced to 1/3. The retaining walls of terraces deteriorated gradually with the age of abandonment. More than half (57 %) of the surface of valley walls terraces experienced moderate to high water erosion, and severe forms of erosion have already been present. More than 11% of the surface has been strongly degraded after 20 years of abandonment. Therefore watershed upstream risks to lose its soils and its scenery, and the downstream are likely to suffer devastating floods. Landscape inheritance made up of these arranged valley walls are being lost. Thus a meticulous attention must be given to these landscapes to better understand their socio-economic and agro-ecological functioning and to better rehabilitate and preserve them. For instance, the introduction of payment for environmental services (PES) could help to rehabilitate the agricultural terraces of the Anti-Atlas. Key words: Terraces, Abandonment, Degradation, Infiltration capacity, Water erosion, Anti-Atlas, MoroccoL’Anti Atlas occidental, montagne du Sud-Ouest marocain, est sujet à un exode rural intense depuis plusieurs décennies. Ainsi les terrasses agricoles aménagées depuis plusieurs siècles sur les versants des vallées sont abandonnées et dégradées. Les risques de ruissellement et d’érosion deviennent importants aussi bien à l’amont qu’à l’aval (crues éclaires, inondations, envasement des barrages). L’objectif de ce travail est d’introduire cette problématique. Les états des lieux ont été décrits dans les terroirs de Tizerkine et Timzemzit, commune M’Zal, province Chtouka-Ait Baha. Après caractérisation des états de surface des sols des terrasses, l’importance de l’érosion et le risque de ruissellement ont été évalués en fonction de l’âge d’abandon. L’érosion a été appréciée par l’estimation du « facteur de surface du sol, FSS » de la méthode PAP/CAR et le taux d’infiltration a été mesuré par la méthode des doubles anneaux. Les résultats ont montré que l’abandon des terrasses a conduit à la réduction de la couverture végétale à la surface du sol, à la diminution de son ouverture (croûte de battance) et à la compaction du sol. Les différences sont significatives dès la première année et le risque de ruissellement a été élevé. Une année d’abandon fait perdre à la surface du sol 40% de sa capacité d’infiltration. Au bout de 5 ans, l’infiltration a été réduite au 1/3. Les murs de soutènement des terrasses se sont détériorés progressivement avec l’âge de l’abandon. Plus de la moitié (57 %) de la surface des versants aménagés en terrasses a subi une érosion hydrique modérée à élevée, et des formes d’érosion sévères ont déjà été présentes. Plus de 11% des surfaces ont été fortement dégradées après 20 ans d’abandon. Par conséquent l’amont des bassins versants risque de perde ses terres et ses paysages et l’aval risque de connaître des crues et des inondations dévastatrices. Le patrimoine paysager constitué par ces versants aménagés est en train de se perdre. Donc une attention particulière doit être accordée à ces paysages pour mieux comprendre leurs fonctionnements socio-économique et agro-écologique et pour mieux les réhabiliter et les conserver. L’introduction par exemple, du payement pour services environnementaux (PSE) pourrait aider à réhabiliter les terrasses agricoles de l’Anti Atlas. Mots clés: Terrasses, Abandon, Dégradation, Capacité d’infiltration, Erosion, Anti Atlas, Maro

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

TO STUDY EFFICACY OF COMPREHENSIVE DIABETES CARE (CDC) MANAGEMENT PROGRAM IN TYPE II DIABETIC OBESE PATIENTS: AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

Context: Diabetes mellitus (DM) contributes to a major chunk of morbidity, mortality, and healthcare cost on a global level. The prevalence of DM is rising alarmingly, worldwide and India. Comprehensive Diabetes Care (CDC) is a combination of Panchakarma and diet management.Aims: This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of CDC on Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), body mass index (BMI), body weight, abdominal girth and dependency on conventional therapy in DM Patients.Setting and Design: This observational study was conducted in July 2017, wherein the data of obese Type II DM patients (HbA1c &gt;6.5%) who attended out-patient departments (OPDs) at Madhavbaug clinics in Maharashtra, India were identified.Materials and Methods: Data of patients who were administered CDC (60-75 minutes) with minimum 6 sittings over 90 days (± 15 days) were considered. Variables were compared between day 1 and day 90 of CDC.Results: Out of 27 patients, 22 were included for analysis, out of which 10 were males while 12 females. CDC showed significant improvement in HbA1c 1.1% (from 8.80 ± 0.93 to 6.98 ± 1.73; p&lt;0.001), BMI by 2.66 (from 33.79 ± 3.80 to 31.13 ± 3.91, p&lt; 0.001), weight by 6.56 kg (from 83.67 ± 11.28 to 77.11 ± 12.27, p&lt;0.001). Abdominal girth (from 104.34 ± 9.74 to 96.97 ± 11.93; p&lt;0.001), also showed significant reduction. Dependency on concomitant medicines was reduced, with the number of patients on no concomitant medicines increasing from 27% to 41%.Conclusion: Comprehensive Diabetes Care Management Program found to be efficacious; by reducing HbA1c, as well as reducing dependency on allopathic medications

Equivariant Poincar\'e series of filtrations and topology

Earlier, for an action of a finite group $G$ on a germ of an analytic variety, an equivariant $G$-Poincar\'e series of a multi-index filtration in the ring of germs of functions on the variety was defined as an element of the Grothendieck ring of $G$-sets with an additional structure. We discuss to which extend the $G$-Poincar\'e series of a filtration defined by a set of curve or divisorial valuations on the ring of germs of analytic functions in two variables determines the (equivariant) topology of the curve or of the set of divisors