Nutritional effect of zinc and boron on growth, yield and oil content of hybrid sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

The experiment was conducted to assess the impactofZn and B application on sunflower growth, yield and oil content in sub-tropical condition. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with twelve treatmentsand replicated thrice. The treatments comprised viz; T1: Without fertilizers (absolute control), T2: RDF (N80P40K40), T3: N80P40K40Zn0.5%, T4: N80P40K40Zn4, T5: N80P40K40B0.2%, T6: N80P40K40B2, T7:N80P40K40Zn0.5%B0.2%,T8: N80P40K40Zn4B2, T9:N80P40K40Zn4Zn0.5%, T10: N80P40K40Zn4B0.2%, T11: N80P40K40B2B0.2%, T12: N80P40K40B2Zn0.5%.From the experimental results recorded it can be concluded that the growth and yield components of the tested crop were significantly influenced by the application of micronutrients as compared to the control (without fertilizer) and recommended dose of fertilizer alone. Among the treatmentsapplication of N80P40K40Zn4B2foundhigher diameter of capitulum (17.72 cm), number of seeds per capitulum (763), seed weight per capitulum(48.98 g), seed yield (2563 kg/ha) and oil yield (1097 kg/ha) of hybrid sunflower (variety KBSH 78) accounting 35.49%,43.25%, 26.66%, 46.50% and 51.32% more than control

Promoter-proximal transcription factor binding is transcriptionally active when coupled with nucleosome repositioning in immediate vicinity

Previous studies have analyzed patterns of transcription, Transcription Factor (TF) binding or mapped nucleosome occupancy across the genome. These suggest that the three aspects are genetically connected but the cause and effect relationships are still unknown. For example, physiologic TF binding studies involve many TFs, consequently, it is difficult to assign nucleosome reorganization to the binding site occupancy of any particular TF. Therefore, several aspects remain unclear: does TF binding influence nucleosome (re)organizations locally or impact the chromatin landscape at a more global level; are all or only a fraction of TF binding a result of reorganization in nucleosome occupancy and do all TF binding and associated changes in nucleosome occupancy result in altered gene expression? With these in mind, following characterization of two states (before and after induction of a single TF of choice) we determined: (i) genomic binding sites of the TF, (ii) promoter nucleosome occupancy and (iii) transcriptome profiles. Results demonstrated that promoter-proximal TF binding influenced expression of the target gene when it was coupled to nucleosome repositioning at or close to its binding site in most cases. In contrast, only in few cases change in target gene expression was found when TF binding occurred without local nucleosome reorganization

CPAP delivered outside critical care during the second wave of COVID-19: outcomes from a UK respiratory surge unit

Background NHS England recommends non-invasive continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) as a possible treatment for type 1 respiratory failure associated with COVID-19 pneumonitis, either to avoid intubation or as a ceiling of care. However, data assessing this strategy are sparse, especially for the use of CPAP as a ceiling of care, and particularly when delivered outside of a traditional critical care environment. We describe a cohort of patients from Liverpool, UK, who received CPAP on a dedicated respiratory surge unit at the start of the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in UK

Social and psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on UK medical and nursing students: protocol for a national medical and nursing student survey

INTRODUCTION: Healthcare students have played a significant role in the National Health Service during the COVID-19 pandemic. We captured data on the well-being of medical students during the acute phase of the pandemic with the Social and Psychological Impact of COVID-19 on medical students: a national survey Evaluation (SPICE-19) study. We will evaluate changes in mental health and well-being of medical and nursing students 1 year after SPICE-19, in a cross-sectional study, to understand the impact of the pandemic, and inform well-being policies. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This study will be a national, multi-institution, cross-discipline study. An online 53-item survey of demographics, mental health and well-being will be used to record responses. Students studying for a medical or nursing degree at any UK universities will be eligible to participate. The survey will be advertised through the Neurology and Neurosurgery Interest Group national network. Participation is anonymous and voluntary, with relevant mental health resources made available to participants. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval was granted by the University of Oxford Central University Research Ethics Committee (R75719/RE001) on 21 May 2021. Study findings will be presented at national and international meetings, and submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal

The complete mitochondrial genome of the endangered Assam Roofed Turtle, Pangshura sylhetensis (Testudines: Geoemydidae): Genomic features and phylogeny.

The Assam Roofed Turtle, Pangshura sylhetensis is an endangered and least studied species endemic to India and Bangladesh. The present study decodes the first complete mitochondrial genome of P. sylhetensis (16,568 bp) by using next-generation sequencing. The assembly encodes 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNAs (tRNAs), two ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs), and one control region (CR). Most of the genes were encoded on the majority strand, except NADH dehydrogenase subunit 6 (nad6) and eight tRNAs. All PCGs start with an ATG initiation codon, except for Cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 5 (nad5), which both start with GTG codon. The study also found the typical cloverleaf secondary structures in most of the predicted tRNA structures, except for serine (trnS1) which lacks of conventional DHU arm and loop. Both Bayesian and maximum-likelihood phylogenetic inference using 13 concatenated PCGs demonstrated strong support for the monophyly of all 52 Testudines species within their respective families and revealed Batagur trivittata as the nearest neighbor of P. sylhetensis. The mitogenomic phylogeny with other amniotes is congruent with previous research, supporting the sister relationship of Testudines and Archosaurians (birds and crocodilians). Additionally, the mitochondrial Gene Order (GO) analysis indicated plesiomorphy with the typical vertebrate GO in most of the Testudines species

Complete mitochondrial genome of critically endangered Crocidura nicobarica (Soricidae: Eulipotyphla) from the Great Nicobar Island, India

The mitogenome (17,388 bp) of the Nicobar shrew, Crocidura nicobarica was determined in the present study. The mitogenome comprises 13 PCGs (11,427 bp), 22 tRNAs (1507 bp), two rRNAs (2538 bp), and a major non-coding control region (1932 bp). The Maximum Likelihood phylogeny clearly discriminates all the studied Crocidura species with high bootstrap support by concatenated PCGs. The studied species, C. nicobarica shows a close relationship with Crocidura orientalis, distributed in Java, Indonesia. The lineage diversification and zoogeographic patterns are congruent in the present analyses and encouraged further sampling and more molecular data to elucidate their in-depth evolutionary relationship

DNA barcoding of selected short-horned grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Acrididae) from Indian Himalayan region

In the context of Indian zoogeography, the DNA barcode data of short-horned grasshoppers (family Acrididae) are limited in global databases. Hence, the present study was aimed to collect selected Acridid species from the Indian Himalayan regions and generate DNA barcode data to enrich the global database. The estimated K2P genetic distances, Bayesian analysis (BA) topology and multiple species delimitation methods (ABGD, bPTP, and GMYC) clearly discriminate all the studied species. Based on high genetic distance (7.5%), multiple clades, and more than one molecular operational taxonomic unit, the present study elucidates the allopatric speciation and presence of possible cryptic diversity of Oxya japonica within India, China, and Russia. The present study suggests the collection of multiple specimens from different geographical locations and the generation of more DNA barcode data would facilitate the actual diversity of this insect group

DNA barcoding reveals distinct population of Dopasia gracilis (Squamata: Anguidae) in Mizoram, Northeast India

The DNA barcode data of Asian Glass Lizard, Dopasia gracilis, is limited in the global database, especially from India. The present study aimed to generate a barcode sequence of morphologically identified D. gracilis from the Mizoram state in northeast India and compared with other Anguidae species. The studied species showed monophyletic clustering in the Bayesian analysis (BA) phylogeny with strong posterior probability support and also discriminated sufficient Kimura 2 parameter genetic distances. The barcode data of D. gracilis revealed high intra-species genetic variability and formed two clusters in BA phylogeny. The Templeton, Crandall, and Sing network also depicted four different haplotypes within the barcode sequences of D. gracilis. The DNA sequences generated from northeast India showed 6.5–6.6% and 7.3% genetic distances with the sequences generated from Yunnan Province and Tibetan Plateau, respectively. Considering the high genetic distances, multiple clustering, and distinct haplotypes, the present study assumed the presence of possible cryptic diversity of D. gracilis in the Indochina sub-region and a distinct population in northeast India. We recommended the generation of more DNA information from different localities to elucidate the actual diversity of D. gracilis within the known range distribution

Complete mitochondrial genome of Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus from India: phylogeny with other Larids

The complete mitogenome sequence of the brown-headed gull, Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus was determined in this study. The 16,771 bp genome consists of 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), two ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, and 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and a control region (CR). The decoded mitogenome was AT-rich (54.77%) with nine overlapping and 17 intergenic spacer regions. Most of the PCGs were started by a typical ATG initiation codon except for cox1 and nad3. Further, the usual termination codons (AGG, TAG, TAA, and AGA) were used by 11 PCGs except for cox3 and nad4. The concatenated PCGs based Bayesian phylogeny clearly discriminates all the Laridae species and reflects the sister relationship of C. brunnicephalus with C. ridibundus. The present mitogenome-based phylogeny was congruent with the earlier hypothesis and confirmed the evolutionary position of the brown-headed gull as masked species. The generated mitogenome of C. brunnicephalus is almost identical to the previously generated mitogenome from China except for two base pairs in CR. To visualize the population structure of this migratory species, we propose more sampling from different geographical locations and the generation of additional molecular data to clarify the reality