Identification and Validation of a New Male Sex-Specific ISSR Marker in Pointed Gourd ( Trichosanthes dioica

The aim of the present study was to develop a genetic sex marker for the pointed gourd (Trichosanthes dioica Roxb.) to allow gender determination at any stage in the life cycle. Screening of genomic DNA with intersimple sequence repeat (ISSR) primers was used to discover sex-specific touch-down polymerase chain reaction (Td-PCR) amplification products. Using pooled DNA from male and female genotypes and 42 ISSR primers, a putative male specific marker (~550 bp) was identified. DNA marker specific to male is an indication of existence of nonepigenetic factors involved in gender development in pointed gourd. The ISSR technique has proved to be a reliable technique in gender determination of pointed gourd genotypes at the seedling phenophase. The sex marker developed here could also be used as a starting material towards sequence characterization of sex linked genes for better understanding the developmental as well as evolutionary pathways in sexual dimorphism

Efficient organogenesis from the induced meristemoid of Anthurium andraeanum Linden cv. Tinora

We present here an efficient micropropagation protocol through direct regeneration of plants from meristemoids in Anthurium andraeanum Linden cv. Tinora. About 96.6±0.33 of in vitro grown nodal segments having axillary buds were induced to form meristemoids on modified MS basal medium supplemented with 0.92 µM Thidiazuron (TDZ). The significantly highest numbers of shoots (25.6±0.23) were regenerated from 93.3±0.33% of meristemoids in the same culture medium. The histological and scanning electron microscopic (SEM) study confirmed direct organogenesis from the meristemoid

対流圏に見られる鉛直微細構造

We report the design, synthesis, detailed characterization, and analysis of a new multifunctional pi-conjugated bola-amphiphilic chromophore: oligo-(p-phenyleneethynylene)-dicarboxylic acid with dialkoxyoctadecyl side chains (OPE-C-18-1). OPE-C-18-1 shows two polymorphs at 123 K (OPE-C-18-1') and 373 K (OPE-C-18-1 `'), whose crystal structures were characterized via single crystal X-ray diffraction. OPE-C-18-1 also exhibits thermotropic liquid crystalline property revealing a columnar phase. The inherent pi-conjugation of OPE-C-18-1 imparts luminescence to the system. Photoluminescence measurements on the mesophase also reveal similar luminescence as in the crystalline state. Additionally, OPE-C-18-1 shows mechano-hypsochromic luminescence behavior. Density functional theory (DFT)-based calculations unravel the origins behind the simultaneous existence of all these properties. Nanoindentation experiments on the single crystal reveal its mechanical strength and accurately correlate the molecular arrangement with the liquid crystalline and mechanochromic luminescence behavior

Experimental assessment of arsenic toxicity in garole sheep in India

Arsenic, a dangerous bio-accumulative poison, is a grave threat affecting a large number of people as well as animals throughout the World, particularly in Bangladesh and West Bengal, India. It is also a matter of concern as continuously entering into food chain through biotic and abiotic products. The present study was conducted to evaluate the experimental effect of arsenic toxicosis on Garole sheep of West Bengal. One group was subjected to oral arsenic exposure @ 6.6 mg Kg−1 over 133 days when rests considered as negative control. Periodical arsenic estimation in wool, urine and feces along with hemato-biochemical alteration were checked thoroughly. It was evident from the study that long term arsenic exposure exerted a significant (p < 0.01) alteration compared to normal animal which were further supported by clinical abnormalities. Exposed animals showed histological changes throughout major internal organs like coagulative necrosis of liver, tubular nephritis of kidney and acanthosis of skin etc. The bio-accumulative and excretion pattern of arsenic inside body were also well understood by the arsenic estimation study of wool, urine and feces which may be helpful for discussion regarding arsenic entry into food chain via animals

Global, regional, and national burden of disorders affecting the nervous system, 1990–2021: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

BackgroundDisorders affecting the nervous system are diverse and include neurodevelopmental disorders, late-life neurodegeneration, and newly emergent conditions, such as cognitive impairment following COVID-19. Previous publications from the Global Burden of Disease, Injuries, and Risk Factor Study estimated the burden of 15 neurological conditions in 2015 and 2016, but these analyses did not include neurodevelopmental disorders, as defined by the International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-11, or a subset of cases of congenital, neonatal, and infectious conditions that cause neurological damage. Here, we estimate nervous system health loss caused by 37 unique conditions and their associated risk factors globally, regionally, and nationally from 1990 to 2021.MethodsWe estimated mortality, prevalence, years lived with disability (YLDs), years of life lost (YLLs), and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), with corresponding 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs), by age and sex in 204 countries and territories, from 1990 to 2021. We included morbidity and deaths due to neurological conditions, for which health loss is directly due to damage to the CNS or peripheral nervous system. We also isolated neurological health loss from conditions for which nervous system morbidity is a consequence, but not the primary feature, including a subset of congenital conditions (ie, chromosomal anomalies and congenital birth defects), neonatal conditions (ie, jaundice, preterm birth, and sepsis), infectious diseases (ie, COVID-19, cystic echinococcosis, malaria, syphilis, and Zika virus disease), and diabetic neuropathy. By conducting a sequela-level analysis of the health outcomes for these conditions, only cases where nervous system damage occurred were included, and YLDs were recalculated to isolate the non-fatal burden directly attributable to nervous system health loss. A comorbidity correction was used to calculate total prevalence of all conditions that affect the nervous system combined.FindingsGlobally, the 37 conditions affecting the nervous system were collectively ranked as the leading group cause of DALYs in 2021 (443 million, 95% UI 378–521), affecting 3·40 billion (3·20–3·62) individuals (43·1%, 40·5–45·9 of the global population); global DALY counts attributed to these conditions increased by 18·2% (8·7–26·7) between 1990 and 2021. Age-standardised rates of deaths per 100 000 people attributed to these conditions decreased from 1990 to 2021 by 33·6% (27·6–38·8), and age-standardised rates of DALYs attributed to these conditions decreased by 27·0% (21·5–32·4). Age-standardised prevalence was almost stable, with a change of 1·5% (0·7–2·4). The ten conditions with the highest age-standardised DALYs in 2021 were stroke, neonatal encephalopathy, migraine, Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, diabetic neuropathy, meningitis, epilepsy, neurological complications due to preterm birth, autism spectrum disorder, and nervous system cancer.InterpretationAs the leading cause of overall disease burden in the world, with increasing global DALY counts, effective prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation strategies for disorders affecting the nervous system are needed

Co-electrolysis of seawater and carbon dioxide inside a microfluidic reactor to synthesize speciality organics

We report co-electrolysis of seawater and carbon dioxide (CO2) gas in a solar cell-integrated membraneless microfluidic reactor for continuous synthesis of organic products. The microfluidic reactor was fabricated using polydimethylsiloxane substrate comprising of a central microchannel with a pair of inlets for injection of CO2 gas and seawater and an outlet for removal of organic products. A pair of copper electrodes were inserted into microchannel to ensure its direct interaction with incoming CO2 gas and seawater as they pass into the microchannel. The coupling of solar cell panels with electrodes generated a high-intensity electrical field across the electrodes at low voltage, which facilitated the co-electrolysis of CO2 and seawater. The paired electrolysis of CO2 gas and seawater produced a range of industrially important organics under influence of solar cell-mediated external electric field. The, as synthesized, organic compounds were collected downstream and identified using characterization techniques. Furthermore, the probable underlying electrochemical reaction mechanisms near the electrodes were proposed for synthesis of organic products. The inclusion of greenhouse CO2 gas as reactant, seawater as electrolyte, and solar energy as an inexpensive electric source for co-electrolysis initiation makes the microreactor a low-cost and sustainable alternative for CO2 sequestration and synthesis of organic compounds.Published versionWe thank MHRD-ICMR-IMPRINT Grant No. 8058 and MeitY grant no. 5(9)/2012-NANO, Government of India, for financial aids

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Not AvailableThe ever growing advancements in the protein analysis of any cell or tissue using different variants of polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and associated basic techniques offers its widespread application in almost all molecular biology laboratories. On the other hand, casting of several gels in parallel is a cumbersome task but is often an essential situation. A multi-gel casting apparatus for simultaneous casting of homogeneous concentration and gradient concentration sodium dodecyl sulphate- polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) gel was described here. The efficiency of this newly modified apparatus was significantly improved by the flexibility of using the top pouring and bottom pouring mechanism at the same time along with the siphoning of used solution from polymerizing bottom gel surface which makes it suitable for all types of vertical polyacrylamide gels. This apparatus reliably produces different kinds of slab gels in multiple numbers with each gel having similar physical characteristics in its type and provides desired results comparable to the gels made by commercial sources.ICA

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Not AvailableAgarose gel electrophoresis is routinely used for the separation of nucleic acids. Gels are developed, stained, and visualized using dedicated equipment and reagents. Manufacturers have developed instrumentation with advanced features that provide good safety and user-friendly operation. However, the process of size fractionation of nucleic acids by horizontal gel electrophoresis by dye staining may be cumbersome and unsafe due to many steps and harmful chemicals. Here is reported a safe, inexpensive, time-saving, and comprehensive apparatus for gel electrophoresis, staining, and imaging. This newly modified apparatus has simple operation and uses existing equipment and off-the-shelf components for easy construction in the laboratory. The apparatus has been shown to perform agarose horizontal gel electrophoresis and associated techniques with ease and simplicity.Not Availabl

Touchdown-PCR based RAPD assay for early diagnosis of gender in <em>Carica papaya</em> L.

136-140Papaya (Carica papaya L.) is a well-known medicinally important nutritive fruit tree cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Sex type determination in papaya (Carica papaya L.) is important for optimizing production and productivity. This species has three sex types (male, female and hermaphrodite) determined by a multiallelic locus. Morphological and cytological studies conducted so far have failed to differentiate between the sex forms of papaya. Its dioecious nature, occasional sex-reversal of male flowers and the absence of a heteromorphic pair of sex chromosomes make papaya an interesting system to study sex determination at the molecular level. Present investigation has been carried out to generate gender-specific random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers using touchdown-polymerase chain reaction (Td-PCR). Using pooled DNA from male, female and hermaphrodite plants and 35 RAPD primers, a putative male (~900bp) and hermaphrodite specific markers (~550bp) were identified. This gender diagnostic PCR assay offers a simple and reproducible way for gender determination in papaya genotypes at the seedling phenophase. The RAPD markers developed here could also be used as a starting material towards sequence characterization of sex linked genes for better understanding the developmental as well as evolutionary pathways in sexual dimorphism

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Not AvailableRecent advancements in biochemical sciences have facilitated researchers to explore the structure and function of macro molecules in a cell. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) is one of the most favored and adapted laboratory techniques. Due to its simple and economical procedures, several variants or new modifications are routinely observed in the basic electrophoresis technique that comprises gel casting, electrophoresis, staining, and imaging process which consequently necessitates additional apparatuses/components in the laboratory. Operation of these additional apparatuses/components lengthens the pre‐ and post‐electrophoresis procedures involving many intermittent tedious and time consuming steps. A universal apparatus that can facilitate all such associated techniques is lacking and is of utmost importance for fast and effective results. An apparatus that can perform synchronized action …ICA