A FAST IMPLEMENTATION FOR CORRECTING ERRORS IN HIGH THROUGHPUT SEQUENCING DATA

ABSTRACT The impact of the next generation DNA sequencing technologies (NGS) produced a revolu­tion in biological research. New computational tools are needed to deal with the huge amounts of data they output. Significantly shorter length of the reads and higher per-base error rate compared with Sanger technology make things more difficult and still critical problems, such as genome assembly, are not satisfactorily solved. Significant efforts have been spent recently on software programs aimed at increasing the quality of the NGS data by correcting errors. The most accurate program to date is HiTEC and our contribution is providing a completely new implementation, HiTEC2. The new program is many times faster and uses much less space, while correcting more errors in the same number of iterations. We have eliminated the need of the suffix array data structure and the need of installing complicating statistical libraries as well, thus making HiTEC2 not only more efficient but also friendlier

Structure and cytochemistry of the pistil in Arachis hypogaea

In Arachis hypogaea (Papilionoideae, Leguminosae), the stigma is of the dry papillate type. The papillae are multicellular and multiseriate. They are covered with a thin lining of pellicle which responds for proteins, non-specific esterases and acid phosphatases. The style is 3-6 cm long and hollow throughout its length. The stylar canal is bordered by a layer of canal cells. The canal cells in most of the stylar region are not glandular, they are vacuolate with scant cytoplasm. The canal cells at the base of the style, however, are glandular with dense cytoplasm and prominent nuclei. The structural features of the pistil of Arachis are discussed with those of other Papilionoideae

The ten group Robson classification: a retrospective study to identify strategies to optimise caesarean section rates

Background: Caesarean section rates have been increasing worldwide. For proper assessment, the ten group Robson classification is recommended by WHO for assessing CS rates. We are analyzing the caesarean section rates by classifying the caesarean sections using modified Robson’s ten group classification. Objective of the current study was to estimate caesarean section rates in our hospital and to classify caesarean section using modified Robson’s ten group classification system.Methods: Current retrospective study was conducted in the department of obstetrics and gynaecology in a tertiary care hospital. The medical records were reviewed for a period of 12 months.Results: Total number of deliveries during the study period was 315. The total numbers of caesarean section were 159 and total vaginal deliveries were 156. The caesarean section rate was 50.47%. The main contributors to overall caesarean section rate were group 5 (18.10%), group 2 (13.96%) and group 1 (5.71%). Women with one previous LSCS contributed majorly to the caesarean section rate. Higher CS rate was also seen in both group 2A (69.40%) and group 4A (47.30%) which had underwent induction of labour. More inclination towards trial of labour following CS for women with previous one LSCS can lower CS rates.Conclusions: Modified Robson’s classification is easily implementable and an effective tool for ongoing surveillance. The results can be compared between Institutions, states and countries. Having implemented the Robson classification and identified groups which contributed the most to the overall CS rate, interventions to reduce the same has to be our prime objective

Pollination biology of large cardamom (Amomum subulatum)

Amomum subulatum Roxb. (family Zingiberaceae) is the large cardamom of commerce cultivated in tropical wet evergreen forests of the Eastern Himalayas of India, Nepal and Bhutan. This study seeks to identify floral visitors and pollinators, examine floral adaptations for pollination and evaluate pollination efficiency. Studies were carried out in two flowering seasons (2005, 2006) in a 6-ha plantation located adjacent to a degraded reserve forest in the Sikkim part of the Himalayas. Only two flower visitor species, a bumble-bee (Bombus haemorrhoidalis Smith) and a honey bee species (Apis cerana F.) were recorded. The bumble-bee was the effective and only pollinator, but A. cerana was the pollen robber. Major flower adaptations for pollination by the bumble-bee are the length of the nectar tube, which is not accessible to short-tongued bees and a narrow passage in the fresh flower between the anther-stigma column and the labellum. The narrow passage forces the bumble-bee to push the anther-stigma column to enter the flower, which brings the body of the bumble-bee in contact with the anther and the stigma, and effects pollination. A. cerana does not come in contact with the stigma during pollen foraging and hence is unable to bring about pollination. Thus, structural features of the flower of A. subulatum differentiate the pollinator and the pollen robber. Pollination efficiency in the plantation was low due to the low population density of wild native pollinator, B. haemorrhoidalis

The clinical study of vaginal birth after caesarean section

Background: VBAC has reduced the rate of repeat caesarean section in modern medicine. VBAC-TOL is successful in 60-80% of acceptable candidates if applied to all patients presenting with prior caesarean procedure (8.2-8.5%), there is potential to increase the overall vaginal delivery rate by 5%. Though the safety of VBAC in carefully selected patients have been demonstrated in several studies, controversy continues over when to advise patients who had caesarean section to undergo TOL. The purpose of current study was to know the success of VBAC, to know the maternal morbidity and mortality and foetal outcome in VBAC group.Methods: It was a prospective study performed on women with one previous LSCS admitted to tertiary care hospital for a period of one year from August 2018 to August 2019 at DM Waynad institute of medical sciences, Waynad.Results: In the present study 292 women with one previous LSCS were selected, among them 32 women had elective LSCS for various indications, 260 women underwent TOL. Among 260 women, 152 women achieved VBAC (58.46%) and 108 women underwent LSCS following failed TOL. Maternal morbidity was 9.61%. The incidence of scar dehiscence was 2.69% and uterine rupture was 0.38%. There was no maternal and foetal mortality in this study. NICU admission was 4.6%.Conclusions: Trial of labour should be encouraged in women with one previous LSCS with no obstetric complications

Contributions of Panchanan Maheshwari's school to angiosperm embryology through an integrative approach

P. Maheshwari who served as Professor and Head of the Department of Botany, University of Delhi from 1950 to 1966 built a flourishing school of embryology which became internationally recognized. His colleagues and students have contributed significantly to all areas of embryology through integrative approaches. In memory of his birth centenary year, we have prepared this article that summarizes the work done by his students and traces the phenomenal advances made in some areas in the post-Maheshwari era

Nutritional requirement at high-altitude with special emphasises to behaviour of gastro-intestinal tract and hormonal changes

When people are exposed to the extreme environmental conditions, such as high altitude (HA) where there is decrease in temperature and partial pressure of oxygen induces fatigue, insomnia, loss of appetite and increased cardiac output. Hence there is need to improve the appetite through the diet and digestion clout of the individual. In the present review paper we have discussed the efficiency of digestion is compromised at HA. Also about, Hypoxia, resulting by decreased partial pressure of oxygen can be classified into acute hypoxia and chronic hypoxia based on the exposure time. There is increased formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) due to less oxygen available in the air at HA which leads to oxidative stress. Lipid peroxidation caused by oxidative stress. Hypoxia is mediated through hypoxia inducible factors which maintain oxygen haemostasis in the body. At HA diet rich in carbohydrates have been found to be beneficial as it increases glucose metabolism. Requirement of nutrients such as vitamin A, vitamin E and vitamin C as well as micronutrients such as zinc, iron, selenium, copper and manganese will be required at HA. Hypoxia effect on the intestine leads to malabsorption and the lipid storage is stimulated and lipid catabolism is inhibited through β-oxidation

Frugivorous bird diversity and their post-feeding behaviour in fruiting Syzygium cumini (Myrtaceae) in fragmented forests of central Western Ghats, India

This article does not have an abstract

Investigation of Heavy Metals in Crystalline Aquifer Groundwater from Different Valleys of Bangalore, Karnataka

Fifty-one groundwater samples were collected during South-west monsoon 2009 from Challaghatta, Vrishabhavathi, Kormangala and Hebbal valleys, Bangalore, which is an unconfined/crystalline aquifer to investigate Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, Cr, Ni concentrations and other parameters like temperature, pH, electric conductivity (EC) and total dissolved solid (TDS). The TDS and EC variation confirmed light- salty nature of groundwater found to be contaminated by Salty water intrusion, which is attributed to over-extraction. Comparison between presence, abundance and frequencies of trace elements in groundwater samples is in the order of Fe (84) > Zn (72) > Mn (68) >Pb (45) >Cu (41) >Cr (35) >Ni (33) >Cd (21), indicating that Fe in groundwater is in origin. The TDS, Pb, Fe, Mn and Cd concentrations in groundwater samples are beyond the permissible limit prescribed by World Health Organization (WHO)

Bacteriological assessment of groundwater in Arkavathi and Vrishabhavathi basins, Bangalore, Karnataka

In the newly developed and old parts of Bangalore city, municipal, domestic and industrial effluents are channelized into an open sewerage system. Most of the wells situated within 2 km radius of this open sewerage networks were found to be profoundly loaded with total and facal coliform. The average counts of total and facal coliform from the lake samples were 227 and 79 CFU/100 ml, 82 and 14 CFU/100 ml from the open wells and 63 and 34 CFU/100 ml from the bore wells respectively. The level of contamination is beyond the permissible limit for indicator organisms in groundwater during winter season, which can render the consumer more vulnerable to health risks