DIFFERENTIAL EXPRESSION OF CHICKEN BRAIN PROTEINS DURING DEVELOPMENT

Understanding the proteins role and their spatiotemporal relationships in the development of brain will enrich the knowledge about structure – function relationships, control of productive traits, and neurological diseases. This study explores the different proteins involved in the development of the brain. Brains from Vanaraja breed embryos were collected from days 2 to 13continuously; from days 15,17,19,21 and from 6weeks birds and analyzed by SDS PAGE (5 % stacking gel and 12 % resolving gel). 27 proteins were differentially expressed in different developmental stages. Some of these proteins ar

The Fourth Element: Characteristics, Modelling, and Electromagnetic Theory of the Memristor

In 2008, researchers at HP Labs published a paper in {\it Nature} reporting the realisation of a new basic circuit element that completes the missing link between charge and flux-linkage, which was postulated by Leon Chua in 1971. The HP memristor is based on a nanometer scale TiO$_2$ thin-film, containing a doped region and an undoped region. Further to proposed applications of memristors in artificial biological systems and nonvolatile RAM (NVRAM), they also enable reconfigurable nanoelectronics. Moreover, memristors provide new paradigms in application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) and field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). A significant reduction in area with an unprecedented memory capacity and device density are the potential advantages of memristors for Integrated Circuits (ICs). This work reviews the memristor and provides mathematical and SPICE models for memristors. Insight into the memristor device is given via recalling the quasi-static expansion of Maxwell's equations. We also review Chua's arguments based on electromagnetic theory.Comment: 28 pages, 14 figures, Accepted as a regular paper - the Proceedings of Royal Society

MFGE8 does not influence chorio-retinal homeostasis or choroidal neovascularization in vivo

Purpose: Milk fat globule-epidermal growth factor-factor VIII (MFGE8) is necessary for diurnal outer segment phagocytosis and promotes VEGF-dependent neovascularization. The prevalence of two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in MFGE8 was studied in two exsudative or “wet” Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) groups and two corresponding control groups. We studied the effect of MFGE8 deficiency on retinal homeostasis with age and on choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in mice. Methods: The distribution of the SNP (rs4945 and rs1878326) of MFGE8 was analyzed in two groups of patients with “wet” AMD and their age-matched controls from Germany and France. MFGE8-expressing cells were identified in Mfge8+/− mice expressing ß-galactosidase. Aged Mfge8+/− and Mfge8−/− mice were studied by funduscopy, histology, electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy of vascular corrosion casts of the choroid, and after laser-induced CNV. Results: rs1878326 was associated with AMD in the French and German group. The Mfge8 promoter is highly active in photoreceptors but not in retinal pigment epithelium cells. Mfge8−/− mice did not differ from controls in terms of fundus appearance, photoreceptor cell layers, choroidal architecture or laser-induced CNV. In contrast, the Bruch's membrane (BM) was slightly but significantly thicker in Mfge8−/− mice as compared to controls. Conclusions: Despite a reproducible minor increase of rs1878326 in AMD patients and a very modest increase in BM in Mfge8−/− mice, our data suggests that MFGE8 dysfunction does not play a critical role in the pathogenesis of AMD

RPGR-associated retinal degeneration in human X-linked RP and a murine model

PURPOSE. We investigated the retinal disease due to mutations in the retinitis pigmentosa GTPase regulator (RPGR) gene in human patients and in an Rpgr conditional knockout (cko) mouse model. METHODS. XLRP patients with RPGR-ORF15 mutations (n = 35, ages at first visit 5–72 years) had clinical examinations, and rod and cone perimetry. Rpgr-cko mice, in which the proximal promoter and first exon were deleted ubiquitously, were back-crossed onto a BALB/c background, and studied with optical coherence tomography and electroretinography (ERG). Retinal histopathology was performed on a subset. RESULTS. Different patterns of rod and cone dysfunction were present in patients. Frequently, there were midperipheral losses with residual rod and cone function in central and peripheral retina. Longitudinal data indicated that central rod loss preceded peripheral rod losses. Central cone-only vision with no peripheral function was a late stage. Less commonly, patients had central rod and cone dysfunction, but preserved, albeit abnormal, midperipheral rod and cone vision. Rpgr-cko mice had progressive retinal degeneration detectable in the first months of life. ERGs indicated relatively equal rod and cone disease. At late stages, there was greater inferior versus superior retinal degeneration. CONCLUSIONS. RPGR mutations lead to progressive loss of rod and cone vision, but show different patterns of residual photoreceptor disease expression. Knowledge of the patterns should guide treatment strategies. Rpgr-cko mice had onset of degeneration at relatively young ages and progressive photoreceptor disease. The natural history in this model will permit preclinical proof-of-concept studies to be designed and such studies should advance progress toward human therapy

Effects of anisotropic interactions on the structure of animal groups

This paper proposes an agent-based model which reproduces different structures of animal groups. The shape and structure of the group is the effect of simple interaction rules among individuals: each animal deploys itself depending on the position of a limited number of close group mates. The proposed model is shown to produce clustered formations, as well as lines and V-like formations. The key factors which trigger the onset of different patterns are argued to be the relative strength of attraction and repulsion forces and, most important, the anisotropy in their application.Comment: 22 pages, 9 figures. Submitted. v1-v4: revised presentation; extended simulations; included technical results. v5: added a few clarification

Clinico-epidemiological study of pityriasis versicolor in a rural tertiary care hospital

Background:The study was conducted to know the incidence of pityriasis versicolor in relation to age, sex, seasons and occupation in a rural set up.  Methods:A total of 105 patients of pityriasis versicolor were clinically evaluated and confirmed mycologically at central lab in a tertiary care hospital in South India. The obtained data was recorded and analysed accordingly.  Results:Male preponderance was observed in the study. Disease was most pronounced in younger age group (21-30 years) especially students. 61.9% of patients sought medical advice on cosmetic grounds while 38% had pruritis. Chest was the commonest site of affection followed by neck and back.Conclusion:Early identification of the yeast by simple laboratory techniques would help prevent recurrences, systemic complications and cosmetological problems which are high especially among the students and younger age groups

Hydatid disease of proximal femur: a case report

Hydatid disease is the most common infection in Central Asia, Middle East, East Africa caused by Echinococcus which is a cestode. However infection to bone alone is very rare. We report a case of Hydatid cyst in bone parse. A 55 years old lady came with a complaint of pain over right hip since 1 year.  Radiologically found to be having osteolytic lesion over proximal femur for which surgery was done and biopsy report showed hydatid cyst. The case is reported for its rarity

Factors affecting treatment outcome among Pulmonary Tuberculosis patients under RNTCP in urban Pondicherry, India

Background: Many factors associated with unsuccessful TB treatment outcome. Objective: To find out the factors affecting treatment outcome among Pulmonary Tuberculosis patients under RNTCP in urban Pondicherry, Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 265 PTB patients from 6 randomly selected urban PHCs of Pondicherry from Jan 2013 to March 2014. A Pre-tested questionnaire was used. Data were entered in Epi-data v3.1 and was analysed by SPSS v20. Chi-square test and multiple logistic regressions were used. Results: Out of 265 patients registered 235 (88.7%) patients were included. The Majority were males (79.6%), and Mean (SD) age was 44±14 years. The Majority (83.4%) were formally educated, 74% were employed, and 77% received Cat I treatment. Prevalence of alcohol drinkers, current smokers and smokeless users was 31.5%, 23.5%, 9.4% respectively. A total of 14.5% had bad treatment Outcome Univariate analysis showed that Current smoker and Category II PTB treatment had significantly associated with bad outcome (p value-<0.05). In Multivariate analysis, Category II PTB treatment [AOR = 3.5 (1.6-7.8)] had significantly associated with bad outcome (p value-<0.05) after adjusted with age group, gender, Smoking and alcohol status Conclusion: Current Smoking and Category II PTB Treatment were the major factors affecting the TB treatment outcom

Quantum direct communication protocol using recurrence in k-cycle quantum walk

The ability of quantum walks to evolve in a superposition of distinct quantum states has been used as a resource in quantum communication protocols. Under certain settings, the $k$-cycle discrete-time quantum walks\,(DTQW) are known to recur to its initial state after every $t_r$ steps. We first present a scheme to optically realize any $k$-cycle DTQW using $J$-plate, orbital angular momentum\,(OAM) sorters, optical switch, and optical delay line. This entangles the polarization and OAM degrees of freedom\,(DoF) of a single photon. Making use of this recurrence phenomena of $k$-cycle DTQW and the entanglement generated during the evolution, we present a new quantum direct communication protocol. The recurrence and entanglement in $k$-cycle walk are effectively used to retrieve and secure the information, respectively, in the proposed protocol. We investigate the security of the protocol against intercept and resend attack. We also quantify the effect of amplitude damping and depolarizing noises on recurrence and mutual information between polarization and OAM DoF of a single photon.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figure