Demographic Insights Into College-Going Students in India: A Morphological Analysis

Introduction: In the context of India's diverse culture and changing education system, it is crucial to understand the morphological characteristics of college students, especially with the government actively supporting sports through initiatives like the "Khelo India" program to aid young athletes.  The purpose of the study was to investigate the morphological characteristics of college-level athletes and non-athletes in India. Methods: 287 college students have been randomly selected to acquire a comprehensive set of demographic and anthropometric data. Results: The study revealed significant differences in body mass index (p=0.004), endomorphy (p=0.001), ectomorphy (p=0.02), and body fat percentage (p=0.001). However, no significant difference in mesomorphy (p=0.09) was identified, and only minimal differences in fat-free mass (p=0.57) were observed. College-level athletes exhibit an ectomorphic-mesomorphic physique (2.9-3.9-3.0), characterized by a distinct blend of muscularity and leanness. Non-athletes are mesomorphic-endomorphs (5.0-4.3-2.4), exhibiting higher body fat content and muscularity. Athletes had a significantly lower body fat percentage, highlighting the positive influence of sports training and regular physical exercise on reducing adiposity. The analysis of percentile rankings provides comprehensive insights into the distribution of anthropometric metrics among athletes and non-athletes, assisting in customizing training regimens, identifying areas for potential improvement, and enhancing a comprehensive assessment of individuals' physical characteristics. Conclusion: The study sheds light on the crucial role of morphological traits in discerning differences between college-level athletes and non-athletes within the broader context of the "Fit India Movement." The study will help design an effective training module to improve the overall health of college students.Introducción: En el contexto de la cultura diversa de la India y el cambiante sistema educativo, es crucial comprender las características morfológicas de los estudiantes universitarios, especialmente ahora que el gobierno apoya activamente los deportes a través de iniciativas como el programa "Khelo India" para ayudar a los atletas jóvenes. El propósito del estudio fue investigar las características morfológicas de los atletas y no atletas de nivel universitario en la India. Métodos: Se seleccionaron aleatoriamente 287 estudiantes universitarios para adquirir un conjunto completo de datos demográficos y antropométricos. Resultados: El estudio reveló diferencias significativas en el índice de masa corporal (p=0,004), endomorfia (p=0,001), ectomorfia (p=0,02) y porcentaje de grasa corporal (p=0,001). Sin embargo, no se identificaron diferencias significativas en la mesomorfia (p=0,09) y sólo se observaron diferencias mínimas en la masa magra (p=0,57). Los atletas de nivel universitario exhiben un físico ectomórfico-mesomórfico (2,9-3,9-3,0), caracterizado por una combinación distintiva de musculatura y delgadez. Los no deportistas son endomorfos mesomórficos (5,0-4,3-2,4) y exhiben mayor contenido de grasa corporal y musculatura. Los deportistas presentaban un porcentaje de grasa corporal significativamente menor, destacando la influencia positiva del entrenamiento deportivo y el ejercicio físico regular en la reducción de la adiposidad. El análisis de las clasificaciones percentiles proporciona información integral sobre la distribución de métricas antropométricas entre atletas y no atletas, lo que ayuda a personalizar los regímenes de entrenamiento, identificar áreas de posible mejora y mejorar una evaluación integral de las características físicas de los individuos. Conclusión: El estudio arroja luz sobre el papel crucial de los rasgos morfológicos a la hora de discernir las diferencias entre los atletas de nivel universitario y los no atletas dentro del contexto más amplio del "Movimiento Fit India". El estudio ayudará a diseñar un módulo de formación eficaz para mejorar la salud general de los estudiantes universitarios

Bridging the synaptic gap: neuroligins and neurexin I in Apis mellifera

Vertebrate studies show neuroligins and neurexins are binding partners in a trans-synaptic cell adhesion complex, implicated in human autism and mental retardation disorders. Here we report a genetic analysis of homologous proteins in the honey bee. As in humans, the honeybee has five large (31-246 kb, up to 12 exons each) neuroligin genes, three of which are tightly clustered. RNA analysis of the neuroligin-3 gene reveals five alternatively spliced transcripts, generated through alternative use of exons encoding the cholinesterase-like domain. Whereas vertebrates have three neurexins the bee has just one gene named neurexin I (400 kb, 28 exons). However alternative isoforms of bee neurexin I are generated by differential use of 12 splice sites, mostly located in regions encoding LNS subdomains. Some of the splice variants of bee neurexin I resemble the vertebrate alpha- and beta-neurexins, albeit in vertebrates these forms are generated by alternative promoters. Novel splicing variations in the 3' region generate transcripts encoding alternative trans-membrane and PDZ domains. Another 3' splicing variation predicts soluble neurexin I isoforms. Neurexin I and neuroligin expression was found in brain tissue, with expression present throughout development, and in most cases significantly up-regulated in adults. Transcripts of neurexin I and one neuroligin tested were abundant in mushroom bodies, a higher order processing centre in the bee brain. We show neuroligins and neurexins comprise a highly conserved molecular system with likely similar functional roles in insects as vertebrates, and with scope in the honeybee to generate substantial functional diversity through alternative splicing. Our study provides important prerequisite data for using the bee as a model for vertebrate synaptic development.Australian National University PhD Scholarship Award to Sunita Biswas

Sensory Regulation of Neuroligins and Neurexin I in the Honeybee Brain

Background: Neurexins and neuroligins, which have recently been associated with neurological disorders such as autism in humans, are highly conserved adhesive proteins found on synaptic membranes of neurons. These binding partners produce a trans-synaptic bridge that facilitates maturation and specification of synapses. It is believed that there exists an optimal spatio-temporal code of neurexin and neuroligin interactions that guide synapse formation in the postnatal developing brain. Therefore, we investigated whether neuroligins and neurexin are differentially regulated by sensory input using a behavioural model system with an advanced capacity for sensory processing, learning and memory, the honeybee

Bridging the Synaptic Gap: Neuroligins and Neurexin I in Apis mellifera

Vertebrate studies show neuroligins and neurexins are binding partners in a trans-synaptic cell adhesion complex, implicated in human autism and mental retardation disorders. Here we report a genetic analysis of homologous proteins in the honey bee. As in humans, the honeybee has five large (31–246 kb, up to 12 exons each) neuroligin genes, three of which are tightly clustered. RNA analysis of the neuroligin-3 gene reveals five alternatively spliced transcripts, generated through alternative use of exons encoding the cholinesterase-like domain. Whereas vertebrates have three neurexins the bee has just one gene named neurexin I (400 kb, 28 exons). However alternative isoforms of bee neurexin I are generated by differential use of 12 splice sites, mostly located in regions encoding LNS subdomains. Some of the splice variants of bee neurexin I resemble the vertebrate α- and β-neurexins, albeit in vertebrates these forms are generated by alternative promoters. Novel splicing variations in the 3′ region generate transcripts encoding alternative trans-membrane and PDZ domains. Another 3′ splicing variation predicts soluble neurexin I isoforms. Neurexin I and neuroligin expression was found in brain tissue, with expression present throughout development, and in most cases significantly up-regulated in adults. Transcripts of neurexin I and one neuroligin tested were abundant in mushroom bodies, a higher order processing centre in the bee brain. We show neuroligins and neurexins comprise a highly conserved molecular system with likely similar functional roles in insects as vertebrates, and with scope in the honeybee to generate substantial functional diversity through alternative splicing. Our study provides important prerequisite data for using the bee as a model for vertebrate synaptic development

Congenital malaria with atypical presentation: A case report from low transmission area in India

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Licens

Distinct Early Molecular Responses to Mutations Causing vLINCL and JNCL Presage ATP Synthase Subunit C Accumulation in Cerebellar Cells

Variant late-infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (vLINCL), caused by CLN6 mutation, and juvenile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (JNCL), caused by CLN3 mutation, share clinical and pathological features, including lysosomal accumulation of mitochondrial ATP synthase subunit c, but the unrelated CLN6 and CLN3 genes may initiate disease via similar or distinct cellular processes. To gain insight into the NCL pathways, we established murine wild-type and CbCln6nclf/nclf cerebellar cells and compared them to wild-type and CbCln3Δex7/8/Δex7/8 cerebellar cells. CbCln6nclf/nclf cells and CbCln3Δex7/8/Δex7/8 cells both displayed abnormally elongated mitochondria and reduced cellular ATP levels and, as cells aged to confluence, exhibited accumulation of subunit c protein in Lamp 1-positive organelles. However, at sub-confluence, endoplasmic reticulum PDI immunostain was decreased only in CbCln6nclf/nclf cells, while fluid-phase endocytosis and LysoTracker® labeled vesicles were decreased in both CbCln6nclf/nclf and CbCln3Δex7/8/Δex7/8 cells, though only the latter cells exhibited abnormal vesicle subcellular distribution. Furthermore, unbiased gene expression analyses revealed only partial overlap in the cerebellar cell genes and pathways that were altered by the Cln3Δex7/8 and Cln6nclf mutations. Thus, these data support the hypothesis that CLN6 and CLN3 mutations trigger distinct processes that converge on a shared pathway, which is responsible for proper subunit c protein turnover and neuronal cell survival

Large-Scale Phenotyping of an Accurate Genetic Mouse Model of JNCL Identifies Novel Early Pathology Outside the Central Nervous System

Cln3Δex7/8 mice harbor the most common genetic defect causing juvenile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (JNCL), an autosomal recessive disease involving seizures, visual, motor and cognitive decline, and premature death. Here, to more thoroughly investigate the manifestations of the common JNCL mutation, we performed a broad phenotyping study of Cln3Δex7/8 mice. Homozygous Cln3Δex7/8 mice, congenic on a C57BL/6N background, displayed subtle deficits in sensory and motor tasks at 10–14 weeks of age. Homozygous Cln3Δex7/8 mice also displayed electroretinographic changes reflecting cone function deficits past 5 months of age and a progressive decline of retinal post-receptoral function. Metabolic analysis revealed increases in rectal body temperature and minimum oxygen consumption in 12–13 week old homozygous Cln3Δex7/8mice, which were also seen to a lesser extent in heterozygous Cln3Δex7/8 mice. Heart weight was slightly increased at 20 weeks of age, but no significant differences were observed in cardiac function in young adults. In a comprehensive blood analysis at 15–16 weeks of age, serum ferritin concentrations, mean corpuscular volume of red blood cells (MCV), and reticulocyte counts were reproducibly increased in homozygous Cln3Δex7/8 mice, and male homozygotes had a relative T-cell deficiency, suggesting alterations in hematopoiesis. Finally, consistent with findings in JNCL patients, vacuolated peripheral blood lymphocytes were observed in homozygous Cln3Δex7/8 neonates, and to a greater extent in older animals. Early onset, severe vacuolation in clear cells of the epididymis of male homozygous Cln3Δex7/8 mice was also observed. These data highlight additional organ systems in which to study CLN3 function, and early phenotypes have been established in homozygous Cln3Δex7/8 mice that merit further study for JNCL biomarker development

A CASE STUDY ON CHARACTERISTICS OF SOLID WASTE & LEACHATE TREATMENT OF OKHLA LANDFILL-NEW DELHI

Delhi is the most densely populated and urbanized city of India. The annual growth rate in population during the last decade was almost double the national average. Delhi is also a commercial hub, providing employment opportunities and accelerating the pace of urbanization, resulting in a corresponding increase in municipal solid waste (MSW) generation. Presently Delhi generating about 6500 tonnes/day of MSW out of which only 70-75 % wastes are able to collect by the MSW management authority and rest amount of wastes are not possible to collect for the habit of people to thrown the wastes in empty places. At present three main landfill sites of Delhi are Bhalaswa at north Delhi, Ghazipur at east Delhi, and Okhla at south Delhi. But not a single landfill are sanitary landfill rather wastes are dumping crudely as a heap of wastes in open landfill. As a result the leachate generated due to percolation of rain water and squeezing of wastes itself posing a great threat in the surrounding soil structure of the landfill. Around the periphery of landfill, soils gets highly contaminated and toxic and degraded it’s essential nutrients [4,6]. In this paper a case study on characteristics of solid wastes of Okhla landfill and performance of it’s leachate treatment is carried out for future planning and proper management of soil structure around the periphery of landfill site

Genetic Algorithm Parameters Optimization for Bi-criteria Multiprocessor Task Scheduling using Design of Experiments

multiprocessor task scheduling is a NP-hard problem and Genetic algorithm (GA) has been revealed as an excellent technique for finding an optimal solution. In the past, several methods have been considered for the solution of this problem based on GAs. But, all these methods considers single criteria and in the present work, minimisation of the bi-criteria multiprocessor task scheduling problem has been considered which includes weighted sum of makespan & total completion time simultaneously. Efficiency and effectiveness of genetic algorithm can be achieved by optimization of its different parameters such as crossover, mutation, crossover probability, selection etc. The effects of GA parameters on minimization of bi-criteria fitness function and subsequent setting of parameters with the levels have been accomplished by central composite design (CCD) approach of response surface methodology (RSM) of Design of Experiments. The experiments have been performed with different levels of GA parameters and analysis of variance has been performed for significant parameters for minimisation of makepan and total completion time simultaneousl