Descriptive statistics and comparative differences in body composition and physiological variables between the Monpa males and females.

Descriptive statistics and comparative differences in body composition and physiological variables between the Monpa males and females.</p

Estimated marginal means (Mean±SE) of physiological characteristics of adult Monpa by their ACE Gene Polymorphisms, while controlling for age and sex.

Estimated marginal means (Mean±SE) of physiological characteristics of adult Monpa by their ACE Gene Polymorphisms, while controlling for age and sex.</p

Genotype and allele frequencies of ACE I/D gene polymorphism among Monpa, by sex.

Genotype and allele frequencies of ACE I/D gene polymorphism among Monpa, by sex.</p

ACE gene polymorphism and its association with physiological attributes in human.

ACE gene polymorphism and its association with physiological attributes in human.</p

ACE I/D genotypes distribution according to the blood pressure categories among the Tawang Monpa.

ACE I/D genotypes distribution according to the blood pressure categories among the Tawang Monpa.</p

S1 Data -

ObjectivesThe present paper aims to characterize the Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) genotype, with particular emphasis on its association with arterial oxygen saturation, arterial blood pressure, hemoglobin [Hb] concentration, and ventilatory measures among the Tawang Monpa, a high-altitude native population of the Eastern Himalaya, India.MethodsA cross-sectional sample of 168Monpa participants from Tawang town, Arunachal Pradesh, India, was selected who live at an altitude of ∼3,200 meters (m) above sea level. For each participant, height, weight, and skinfold thickness were measured, based on which body mass index (BMI, kg/m2) and percentage of body fat (�) were calculated. Physiological measures, such as the transcutaneous arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2), hemoglobin [Hb] concentration, forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1-second (FEV1), and systemic arterial blood pressure were measured. First, the peripheral venous blood samples (four ml) were drawn, and then white blood cells were separated for the ACE genotyping of each participant.ResultsUnlike high-altitude natives from Peru and Ladakh, who exhibit high frequencies of II homozygotes, the Tawang Monpa shows a significantly high frequency of ID heterozygotes (pDiscussionThe results suggest that the association of the ACE gene with resting SaO2 is inconsistent across native populations living under hypobaric hypoxia. Further, ACE I/D gene polymorphism may not be under natural selection in specific native populations, including Tawang Monpa, for their adaptation to high-altitude hypoxia.</div

Distribution of blood pressure levels in adult Monpa, by ACE genotypes and alleles.

Distribution of blood pressure levels in adult Monpa, by ACE genotypes and alleles.</p

Experimental Study on Chromium Containment by Admixed Soil Liner

Chrome tanneries generate large quantities of chromium-laden sludge that require proper disposal in engineered landfills to prevent contamination of subsurface soils and groundwater and reduce the risk to public health and the environment. This study investigates the feasibility of using a fine-grained soil as a suitable landfill liner material for the effective containment of chromium in the sludge leachate. Several series of laboratory permeability, adsorption, and column tests were conducted using soil without and with selected additives (rice husk, bentonite, and fly ash) to determine permeability and adsorption and transport of chromium in the soil. Permeability tests showed that the field soil amended with 17% rice husk and 2% bentonite provides the desired hydraulic conductivity of 10(-7) cm/s (or less) to minimize the leachate migration into the surrounding subsurface environment. The rice husk and bentonite admixtures significantly reduced the hydraulic conductivity of the soil from 3 x 10(-7) to 2.8 x 10(-9) cm/s, and this admixture was further tested for its effect on the adsorption and transport of chromium in the soil. The batch kinetics and column tests results showed that the soil possesses relatively high chromium adsorption capacity under natural or slightly alkaline condition. The batch tests showed that the amendment marginally improved the chromium adsorptive capacity of the soil. The column tests showed a slight increase in breakthrough time due to the presence of the amendment. The inclined base column tests showed that a mildly inclined liner configuration has a marginal effect on the chromium attenuation in the soil. Overall, this study showed that soil amended with 17% rice husk and 2% bentonite significantly decreased the hydraulic conductivity of the soil and slightly increased the adsorption of chromium, and therefore, has the potential for usage as a landfill liner in a landfill system to contain chromium contaminatio

Seasonal Transition in PM₁₀ Exposure and Associated All-Cause Mortality Risks in India

Lack of a consistent PM₁₀ (particulate matter smaller than 10 μm) database at high spatial resolution hinders in assessing the environmental impact of PM₁₀ in India. Here we propose an alternate approach to estimate the PM₁₀ database. Aerosol extinction coefficients at the surface are calculated from midvisible aerosol optical depth from MERRA-2 reanalysis data using characteristics vertical profiles from CALIOP and then are converted to PM₁₀ mass using aerosol property information and microphysical data. The retrieved PM₁₀ are bias-corrected and evaluated (<i>R</i>² = 0.85) against coincident ground-based data maintained under the Central Pollution Control Board network. PM₁₀ exposure exceeds Indian annual air quality standard in 72.3% districts. Transition in PM₁₀ exposure from the monsoon (Jun–Sep) to postmonsoon season (Oct–Nov) translates to 1–2% higher all-cause mortality risk over the polluted Indo-Gangetic Basin (IGB). Mortality risk increases in the central to eastern IGB and central India and reduces in Delhi national capital region in the winter (Dec–Feb) relative to the postmonsoon season. Mortality risk decreases by 0.5–1.8% in most parts of India in the premonsoon season (Mar–May). Our results quantify the vulnerability in terms of seasonal transition in all-cause mortality risks due to PM₁₀ exposure at district level for the first time in India

Biophysical characterisation of the Bcl-x pre-mRNA and binding specificity of the ellipticine derivative GQC-05: Implication for alternative splicing regulation.

The BCL2L1 gene expresses two isoforms of Bcl-x protein via the use of either of two alternative 5' splice sites (5'ss) in exon 2. These proteins have antagonistic actions, Bcl-XL being anti-apoptotic and Bcl-XS pro-apoptotic. In a number of cancers the Bcl-XL isoform is over-expressed, resulting in cancer cell survival and growth, so switching splicing to the Xs isoform could have therapeutic benefits. We have previously proposed that a putative G-quadruplex (G4) exists downstream of the XS 5'ss and shown that the ellipticine derivative GQC-05, a previously identified DNA G4-specific ligand, induces an increase in the XS/XL ratio both in vitro and in cells. Here, we demonstrate that this G4 forms in vitro and that the structure is stabilised in the presence of GQC-05. We also show that GQC-05 binds RNA non-specifically in buffer conditions, but selectively to the Bcl-x G4 in the presence of nuclear extract, highlighting the limitations of biophysical measurements taken outside of a functional environment. We also demonstrate that GQC-05 is able to shift the equilibrium between competing G4 and duplex structures towards the G4 conformation, leading to an increase in accessibility of the XS 5'ss, supporting our previous model on the mechanism of action of GQC-05