കണ്ടൽക്കാടുകളിലെ ജന്തുജാല വൈവിധ്യം

കണ്ടൽക്കാടുകളിലെ ജന്തുജാല വൈവിധ്യ

Myc-binding Protein Orthologue Interacts with AKAP240 In the Central Pair Apparatus of the \u3cem\u3eChlamydomonas\u3c/em\u3e Flagella

Background Flagella and cilia are fine thread-like organelles protruding from cells that harbour them. The typical ‘9 + 2’ cilia confer motility on these cells. Although the mechanistic details of motility remain elusive, the dynein-driven motility is regulated by various kinases and phosphatases. A-kinase anchoring proteins (AKAPs) are scaffolds that bind to a variety of such proteins. Usually, they are known to possess a dedicated domain that in vitro interacts with the regulatory subunits (RI and RII) present in the cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) holoenzyme. These subunits conventionally harbour contiguous stretches of a.a. residues that reveal the presence of the Dimerization Docking (D/D) domain, Catalytic interface domain and cAMP-Binding domain. The Chlamydomonas reinhardtii flagella harbour two AKAPs; viz., the radial spoke AKAP97 or RSP3 and the central pair AKAP240. Both these were identified on the basis of their RII-binding property. Interestingly, AKAP97 binds in vivo to two RII-like proteins (RSP7 and RSP11) that contain only the D/D domain. Results We found a Chlamydomonas Flagellar Associated Protein (FAP174) orthologous to MYCBP-1, a protein that binds to organellar AKAPs and Myc onco-protein. An in silico analysis shows that the N-terminus of FAP174 is similar to those RII domain-containing proteins that have binding affinities to AKAPs. Binding of FAP174 was tested with the AKAP97/RSP3 using in vitro pull down assays; however, this binding was rather poor with AKAP97/RSP3. Antibodies were generated against FAP174 and the cellular localization was studied using Western blotting and immunoflourescence in wild type and various flagella mutants. We show that FAP174 localises to the central pair of the axoneme. Using overlay assays we show that FAP174 binds AKAP240 previously identified in the C2 portion of the central pair apparatus. Conclusion It appears that the flagella of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii contain proteins that bind to AKAPs and except for the D/D domain, lack the conventional a.a. stretches of PKA regulatory subunits (RSP7 and RSP11). We add FAP174 to this growing list

A comparative study between manual vacuum aspiration and electronic suction for surgical treatment of abortion

Background: Present study is done to study the safety, efficacy and complications of using manual vacuum aspiration (MVA) for surgical management of first trimester abortion in comparison to electronic suction.Methods: It is a retrospective observational study conducted in department of obstetrics and gynecology at tertiary care hospital. Out of 100 cases taken, 50 abortions were terminated by MVA and 50 were terminated by electric suction/vacuum aspiration (EVA).Results: In this study, majority of the patients were primigravida (60%). Most of the patients had period of gestation between 7 to 9 weeks (40%) followed by up to 6 weeks (33%) in both groups. Time taken for the procedure was less in MVA (5-9 min.) than electronic suction (7-11 min.). In terms of complications, blood loss ≥100 ml was more with EVA (18%) compared to MVA (6%). Uterine perforation was seen with EVA (4%) and none with MVA. As far as success rate is concerned, EVA got 98% while MVA got 90%. Post-operative hospital stay was less with MVA (≤12 hours) than EVA (up to 24 hours). Post-operative pain perception was less with MVA (18% severe pain) while with EVA, 36% with severe pain.Conclusions: Both the evacuation techniques are almost equally effective and safe, still duration; post-operative pain and hospital stay are less with MVA. Success rate is better with EVA

To Bin or Not to Bin? A Comparison of Symptom Frequency Response Formats in The Assessment of Health-Related Quality of Life

Purpose The goal of this study is to compare three different types of retrospective frequency response formats on the Healthy Days Symptoms Module (HDSM). Responses are compared in terms of intra-individual consistency, psychometric value, and participant feedback about each type of response format. Methods Respondents each completed three versions of the HDSM, where items were framed to elicit an open-ended frequency, a fixed choice frequency, or a vague quantifier response. Traditional reliability statistics were used to evaluate intra-individual consistency. Differential item functioning (DIF) was used to test for response format effects, and item response theory (IRT) scale scores and standard errors were computed across the three forms to compare psychometric value. Linear mixed modeling was used to examine the associations of IRT scale scores across response formats with respondent characteristics. Results People are largely consistent in how they respond to items about their health, regardless of the response format, and no DIF was detected between response formats. The IRT scores computed from the “# of days” frequency response formats tend to have better measurement precision than those from vague quantifiers. Open-ended frequencies capture a greater span of individual differences for people reporting fewer symptoms; however, little measurement precision is lost in collapsing the frequencies into categories. Conclusions Both the open-ended and fixed choice frequency response formats offer more measurement precision than vague quantifiers. While the open-ended frequency response format may capture more individual differences, respondents tend to report more difficulty with exact frequency recall, and thus, prefer the fixed choice frequency format

Unusual mass shoreward movement of bivalve (Mollusca) Donax scortum Linnaeus along the coastal waters off Calicut - South Eastern Arabian Sea

67-72Eutrophication and oxygen depletion are the major factors influencing the responses of benthic organisms in coastal ecosystems. Along the coastal waters of South Eastern Arabian Sea a mass shoreward movement of bivalve Donax scortum (locally referred as “eranthu”) occurred during end phase of summer monsoon upwelling. Possible reasons for this shoreward movement points to the low dissolved oxygen (0.25 ml L-1) in the bottom waters. Intense blooms of large dinoflagellate species, Noctiluca scintillans were observed a week prior to this event along these coastal waters and the crashing related decaying might have resulted in lower DO values in the region. The study discuss on the deleterious effects of hypoxic conditions caused by summer monsoon algal blooms on benthic fauna of South Eastern Arabian Sea

Variabilities in the community structure of phytoplankton in the upwelled and non-upwelled waters of southeastern Arabian Sea during the early summer monsoon

542-549The community structure of microphytoplankton was assessed along the southeastern Arabian Sea during the early phase of the summer monsoon. The study records an intense coastal upwelling along the southernmost region (off Thiruvananthapuram), which decreased further north. High chlorophyll-a (10.8 mg m-3) and nutrient concentration was recorded in the coastal waters of Thiruvananthapuram. Even though off Mangalore (12° N) and off Goa (15° N) where upwelling was confined to narrow coastal zone, also showed high chlorophyll-a concentration, 3.98 mg m-3 and 6.31 mg m-3, respectively. The upwelled waters were dominated by centric diatoms (Thalassiosira sp.) and the non-upwelled waters (12° N and 15° N) were dominated by dinoflagellates. Microphytoplankton cell density was the highest along off Thiruvananthapuram (4.8×104 cells L-1), with maximum cell density along the coastal waters (1.4×104 cells L-1). Phytoplankton community of upwelled and non-upwelled waters showed significant variations with 60 % similarity between phytoplankton communities of upwelled waters

Unusual mass shoreward movement of bivalve (Mollusca) Donax scortum Linnaeus along the coastal waters off Calicut - South Eastern Arabian Sea

Eutrophication and oxygen depletion are the major factors influencing the responses of benthic organisms in coastal ecosystems. Along the coastal waters of South Eastern Arabian Sea a mass shoreward movement of bivalve Donax scortum (locally referred as “eranthu”) occurred during end phase of summer monsoon upwelling. Possible reasons for this shoreward movement points to the low dissolved oxygen (0.25 ml L-1) in the bottom waters. Intense blooms of large dinoflagellate species, Noctiluca scintillans were observed a week prior to this event along these coastal waters and the crashing related decaying might have resulted in lower DO values in the region. The study discuss on the deleterious effects of hypoxic conditions caused by summer monsoon algal blooms on benthic fauna of South Eastern Arabian Sea

CHANGING TRENDS IN MICROBIAL FLORA AND THEIR ANTIBIOTIC SENSITIVITY

Microbial resistance is a burning issue in the medical world from last few decades. Irrationale use of antibiotics in the treatment of infectious diseases has led to emergence of resistant strains of microorganisms; incapacitating the most potent weapon against infections. Thus, the present study was conducted to evaluate the trends in microbial flora and their antibiotic sensitivity. A retrospective study of five hundred twelve patients admitted in various hospitals attached to Dr. S. N Medical College, Jodhpur with various infections was conducted. The blood culture reports were screened to study microbial organisms and their antibiotic sensitivity pattern. The most common organisms isolated were staph aureus accounting for 29.5% of the isolates and followed by Klebsiella (13.87%), Enterococci (7.81%) and Citrobacter (7.42%). At the end of the study, it was observed that there were constant changes in the pattern of organisms and antibiotics in patients. Based on this study, it is suggested that before prescribing antibiotics, clinicians should be aware of recent trends of prevalent organisms and their sensitivity patterns. This would reduce emergence of resistant organisms and favour patient’s wellbeing

Characterization of olfactory sensory neurons in the striped ambrosia beetle Trypodendron lineatum

Introduction: The striped ambrosia beetle Trypodendron lineatum (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Scolytinae) is a major forest pest in the Holarctic region. It uses an aggregation pheromone and host and non-host volatiles to locate suitable host trees, primarily stressed or dying conifer trees. The beetles bore into the xylem and inoculate spores of their obligate fungal mutualist Phialophoropsis ferruginea inside their excavated egg galleries, with the fungus serving as the main food source for the developing larvae. Olfactory sensory neuron (OSN) responses to pheromones and host volatiles are poorly understood in T. lineatum and other ambrosia beetles, and nothing is known about potential responses to fungal volatiles.Methods: We screened responses of OSNs present in 170 antennal olfactory sensilla using single sensillum recordings (SSR) and 57 odor stimuli, including pheromones, host and non-host compounds, as well as volatiles produced by P. ferruginea and fungal symbionts of other scolytine beetles.Results and Discussion: Thirteen OSN classes were characterized based on their characteristic response profiles. An OSN class responding to the aggregation pheromone lineatin was clearly the most abundant on the antennae. In addition, four OSN classes responded specifically to volatile compounds originating from the obligate fungal mutualist and three responded to non-host plant volatiles. Our data also show that T. lineatum has OSN classes tuned to pheromones of other bark beetles. Several OSN classes showed similar response profiles to those previously described in the sympatric bark beetle Ips typographus, which may reflect their shared ancestry

Predatory association of Aeolidiopsis sp. on Palythoa mutuki (Haddon and Shackleton, 1891) along Gujarat coast, India

Fishery, population characteristics and stock estimates of grouper with special reference to Epinephelus malabaricus from Tuticorin were carried out during 2015-2017. Among the groupers, E. malabaricus was the dominant resource contributing 42.2%, with an annual average production of 420t along this region. The asymptotic length (L∞), growth coefficient (K) and arbitrary origin of growth (t0) were estimated at 99.75 cm, 0.53 y-1 and 0.18 respectively. The mortality parameters, the instantaneous total mortality rate (Z), fishing mortality (F) and natural mortality rates (M) were estimated at 1.14 y-1, 0.62 y-1 and 0.52 y-1 respectively. The recruitment season was during April to August. The length structured virtual population (VPA) analysis revealed a heavy fishing pressure on length group between 40 and 55cm and there is no sign of recruitment over-fishing in this region. The estimated maximum sustainable yield (MSY) and annual catch were 384 t and 420 t respectively. E. malabaricus was optimally exploited as the exploitation ratio (E) was 0.54 but the study infers that further increase in effort may have a detrimental effect on the stock of this species. The results of this study will serve as baseline information for formulating future management measures for the resource along the coast