Estimation of Genetic Variability and Correlation Analysis for Quantitative Traits in Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

The present investigation were to assess the Genetic variability, heritability, genetic advance, correlation coefficient analysis and path coefficient analysis for  chickpea(Cicer arietinum.L) genotypes for 13 quantitative traits during Rabi 2021-2022 at field experiment center, Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Naini Agriculture Institute, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture Technology and Sciences, Uttar Pradesh . To perform the study, 13 quantitative traits of 31 chickpea genotypes were measured using Randomized Block Design replicated thrice. The mean sum of Squares due to genotypes showed significant differences for all the characters under study at 1% level of significance. The estimates of the phenotypic coefficient of variation found higher than their corresponding genotypic coefficient of variation which indicates the presence of environment effect on expression on characters studied. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as percent of mean was observed for the traits like Number of pods per plant, Seed yield per plant, Harvest index and Biological yield per plant Indicates that most likely the heritability might be due to additive gene effect and selection may be effective segregating generations for improvement of traits. Seed yield per plant exhibited significant and positive correlation with Plant height, Seed index, Biological yield per plant , Number of secondary branches and Number of pods per plant was found to possess positive significant association with grain yield per plant both genotypic and phenotypic level. Further, correlation and path analysis also proved the importance of Plant height, Seed index and Harvest index. Hence, they could be used as selection indices for further improvement in Chickpea varieties

Impact of Plant on Insect Behavior and Sex Pheromone Emission

Insects intricately interact with host plants, significantly impacting their behavior and chemical communication, especially in phytophagous species. Insect physiology and behavior, particularly sex pheromone communication, are influenced by host plants, which improves mating and reproduction. While some insects release sex pheromones in response to cues from plants, others use the molecules of their host plants to synthesize sex pheromone precursors. Host plants chemicals synergize with sex pheromones, aiding in insect communication and reproductive success. These interactions shape various aspects of insect behavior, from aggregation formation to mate and host finding strategies, and even reproductive isolation among related species. Understanding these relationships is essential for comprehending ecological dynamics and devising sustainable pest management strategies

Plasmablastic myeloma presenting as rapidly progressive renal failure in a young adult

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a condition where there is malignant proliferation of plasma cells. There is a strong correlation with age, peaking at 60-70 years. The clinical course in adolescents and young individuals is generally indolent and the survival is longer. We report a case of a 28-year-old male, who was diagnosed to have plasmablastic myeloma, an atypical variant of MM with a poor prognosis, presenting as rapidly progressive renal failure. He was given induction chemotherapy and then underwent autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation

Tomatidine targets ATF4-dependent signaling and induces ferroptosis to limit pancreatic cancer progression

Summary: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive cancer with high metastasis and therapeutic resistance. Activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4), a master regulator of cellular stress, is exploited by cancer cells to survive. Prior research and data reported provide evidence that high ATF4 expression correlates with worse overall survival in PDAC. Tomatidine, a natural steroidal alkaloid, is associated with inhibition of ATF4 signaling in multiple diseases. Here, we discovered that in vitro and in vivo tomatidine treatment of PDAC cells inhibits tumor growth. Tomatidine inhibited nuclear translocation of ATF4 and reduced the transcriptional binding of ATF4 with downstream promoters. Tomatidine enhanced gemcitabine chemosensitivity in 3D ECM-hydrogels and in vivo. Tomatidine treatment was associated with induction of ferroptosis signaling validated by increased lipid peroxidation, mitochondrial biogenesis, and decreased GPX4 expression in PDAC cells. This study highlights a possible therapeutic approach utilizing a plant-derived metabolite, tomatidine, to target ATF4 activity in PDAC

Health- and Vision-Related Quality of Life in a Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Methotrexate and Mycophenolate Mofetil for Uveitis

PurposeTo evaluate changes in health-related and vision-related quality of life (VRQoL) among patients with noninfectious uveitis who were treated with antimetabolites.DesignSecondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial.ParticipantsPatients with noninfectious uveitis from India, the United States, Australia, Saudi Arabia, and Mexico.MethodsFrom 2013 through 2017, 216 participants were randomized to receive 25 mg weekly oral methotrexate or 1.5 g twice daily oral mycophenolate mofetil. Median changes in quality of life (QoL) were measured using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests, and differences between treatment groups were measured using linear mixed models, adjusting for baseline QoL score, age, gender, and site. Among Indian patients, VRQoL scores from a general scale (the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire [NEI-VFQ]) and a culturally specific scale (the Indian Visual Function Questionnaire [IND-VFQ]) were compared using Pearson correlation tests.Main outcome measuresVision-related QoL (NEI-VFQ and IND-VFQ) and health-related QoL (HRQoL; physical component score [PCS] and mental component score [MCS] of the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Survey [SF-36v2]) were measured at baseline, the primary end point (6 months or treatment failure before 6 months), and the secondary end point (12 months or treatment failure between 6 and 12 months).ResultsAmong 193 participants who reached the primary end point, VRQoL increased from baseline by a median of 12.0 points (interquartile range [IQR], 1.0-26.1, NEI-VFQ scale), physical HRQoL increased by a median of 3.6 points (IQR, -1.4 to 14.9, PCS SF-36v2), and mental HRQoL increased by a median of 3.0 points (IQR, -3.7 to 11.9, MCS SF-36v2). These improvements in NEI-VFQ, SF-36v2 PCS, and SF-36v2 MCS scores all were significant (P < 0.01). The linear mixed models showed that QoL did not differ between treatment groups for each QoL assessment (NEI-VFQ, IND-VFQ, PCS SF-36v2, and MCS SF-36v2; P > 0.05 for all). The NEI-VFQ and IND-VFQ scores for Indian participants were correlated highly at baseline and the primary and secondary end points (correlation coefficients, 0.87, 0.80, and 0.90, respectively).ConclusionsAmong patients treated with methotrexate or mycophenolate mofetil for uveitis, VRQoL and HRQoL improved significantly over the course of 1 year and did not differ by treatment allocation. These findings suggest that antimetabolites could improve overall patient well-being and daily functioning

Astrophysics with the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna

submitted to Living Reviews In RelativityLaser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) will be a transformative experiment for gravitational wave astronomy as it will offer unique opportunities to address many key astrophysical questions in a completely novel way. The synergy with ground-based and other space-based instruments in the electromagnetic domain, by enabling multi-messenger observations, will add further to the discovery potential of LISA. The next decade is crucial to prepare the astrophysical community for LISA's first observations. This review outlines the extensive landscape of astrophysical theory, numerical simulations, and astronomical observations that are instrumental for modeling and interpreting the upcoming LISA datastream. To this aim, the current knowledge in three main source classes for LISA is reviewed: ultra-compact stellar-mass binaries, massive black hole binaries, and extreme or intermediate mass ratio inspirals. The relevant astrophysical processes and the established modeling techniques are summarized. Likewise, open issues and gaps in our understanding of these sources are highlighted, along with an indication of how LISA could help make progress in the different areas. New research avenues that LISA itself, or its joint exploitation with studies in the electromagnetic domain, will enable, are also illustrated. Improvements in modeling and analysis approaches, such as the combination of numerical simulations and modern data science techniques, are discussed. This review is intended to be a starting point for using LISA as a new discovery tool for understanding our Universe

Astrophysics with the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna

submitted to Living Reviews In RelativityLaser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) will be a transformative experiment for gravitational wave astronomy as it will offer unique opportunities to address many key astrophysical questions in a completely novel way. The synergy with ground-based and other space-based instruments in the electromagnetic domain, by enabling multi-messenger observations, will add further to the discovery potential of LISA. The next decade is crucial to prepare the astrophysical community for LISA's first observations. This review outlines the extensive landscape of astrophysical theory, numerical simulations, and astronomical observations that are instrumental for modeling and interpreting the upcoming LISA datastream. To this aim, the current knowledge in three main source classes for LISA is reviewed: ultra-compact stellar-mass binaries, massive black hole binaries, and extreme or intermediate mass ratio inspirals. The relevant astrophysical processes and the established modeling techniques are summarized. Likewise, open issues and gaps in our understanding of these sources are highlighted, along with an indication of how LISA could help make progress in the different areas. New research avenues that LISA itself, or its joint exploitation with studies in the electromagnetic domain, will enable, are also illustrated. Improvements in modeling and analysis approaches, such as the combination of numerical simulations and modern data science techniques, are discussed. This review is intended to be a starting point for using LISA as a new discovery tool for understanding our Universe