Pod set and Pollen Viability Studies in Yard Long Bean (Vigna unguiculata sub sp. sesquipedalis)

A study was conducted in a yard long bean (Vigna unguiculata sup/ssp. sesquipedalis) hybrid VS 50 (Kakkamoola Local) x VS 26 (Vellayani Jyothika) to assess the percentage fruit set at two time intervals and to identify the best time interval for pollination in yard long bean hybrids. Hand pollination was done using VS 50 as female parent and VS 26 as male parent for seven consecutive days at two time intervals, 6.30 – 7.30 am and 7.30 – 8.30 am. Higher percentage of fruit set (36.8 %) was observed between 6:30 – 7:30 a.m. as compared to the time interval 7:30 – 8:30 am. (23.8%). Pollen viability was determined for the parents VS 50 (Kakkamoola Local) and VS 26 (Vellayani Jyothika) at 6.30, 7.30 and 8.30 am. Highest pollen viability for both the parents VS 50 and VS 26 was observed during 7.30 am. The present study shows that the best time interval for crossing in yard long bean is 6.30- 7.30 a.m

Magellan LDSS3 emission confirmation of galaxies hosting metal-rich Lyman-alpha absorption systems

Using the Low Dispersion Survey Spectrograph 3 at the Magellan II Clay Telescope, we target {candidate absorption host galaxies} detected in deep optical imaging {(reaching limiting apparent magnitudes of 23.0-26.5 in $g, r, i,$ and $z$ filters) in the fields of three QSOs, each of which shows the presence of high metallicity, high $N_{\rm HI}$ absorption systems in their spectra (Q0826-2230: $z_{abs}$=0.9110, Q1323-0021: $z_{abs}=0.7160$, Q1436-0051: $z_{abs}=0.7377, 0.9281$). We confirm three host galaxies {at redshifts 0.7387, 0.7401, and 0.9286} for two of the Lyman-$\alpha$ absorption systems (one with two galaxies interacting). For these systems, we are able to determine the star formation rates (SFRs); impact parameters (from previous imaging detections); the velocity shift between the absorption and emission redshifts; and, for one system, also the emission metallicity.} Based on previous photometry, we find these galaxies have L$>$L$^{\ast}$. The [O II] SFRs for these galaxies are in the range $11-25$ M$_{\odot}$ yr$^{-1}$ {(uncorrected for dust)}, while the impact parameters lie in the range $35-54$ kpc. {Despite the fact that we have confirmed galaxies at 50 kpc from the QSO, no gradient in metallicity is indicated between the absorption metallicity along the QSO line of sight and the emission line metallicity in the galaxies.} We confirm the anti-correlation between impact parameter and $N_{\rm HI}$ from the literature. We also report the emission redshift of five other galaxies: three at $z_{em}>z_{QSO}$, and two (L$<$L$^{\ast}$) at $z_{em}<z_{QSO}$ not corresponding to any known absorption systems.Comment: 14 pages, 7 figures, 4 tables, accepted to MNRA

The Baryonic Content of Galaxies Mapped by MaNGA and the Gas Around Them

We analyze the cool gas in and around 14 nearby galaxies (at $z$$<$0.1) mapped with the SDSS-IV MaNGA survey by measuring absorption lines produced by gas in spectra of background quasars/AGN at impact parameters of 0-25 effective radii from the galaxy center. Using HST/COS, we detect absorption at the galaxy redshift and measure or constrain column densities of neutral (H I, N I, O I, Ar I), low-ionization (Si II, S II, C II, N II Fe II), and high-ionization (Si III, Fe III, N V, O VI) species for 11 galaxies. We derive the ionization parameter and ionization-corrected metallicity using CLOUDY photo-ionization models. The H I column density ranges from $\sim$$10^{13}$ to $\sim$$10^{20}\,{\rm cm^{-2}}$ and decreases with impact parameter for $r \ge R_{e}$. Galaxies with higher stellar mass have weaker H I absorption. Comparing absorption velocities with MaNGA radial velocity maps of ionized gas line emissions in galactic disks, we find that the neutral gas seen in absorption co-rotates with the disk out to $\sim$10 $R_{e}$. Sight lines with lower elevation angles show lower metallicities, consistent with the metallicity gradient in the disk derived from MaNGA maps. Higher elevation angle sight lines show higher ionization, lower H I-column density, super-solar metallicity, and velocities consistent with the direction of galactic outflow. Our data offer the first detailed comparisons of CGM properties (kinematics and metallicity) with extrapolations of detailed galaxy maps from integral field spectroscopy; similar studies for larger samples are needed to more fully understand how galaxies interact with their CGM.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ, 49 pages, 36 figure

The new vertebrate CYP1C family : cloning of new subfamily members and phylogenetic analysis

Author Posting. © The Authors, 2005. This is the author's version of the work. It is posted here by permission of Elsevier B. V. for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 331 (2005): 1016-1024, doi:10.1016/j.bbrc.2005.03.231.Two novel CYP1 genes from teleost fish constituting a new subfamily have been cloned. These paralogous sequences are designated CYP1C1 and CYP1C2. Both genes were initially obtained from untreated scup Stenotomus chrysops tissues by RT-PCR and RACE. Scup CYP1C1 and CYP1C2 code for 524 and 525 amino acids, respectively, and share 80-81% identity at the nucleotide and amino acid levels. Orthologues of CYP1C1 and CYP1C2 were identified in genome databases for other fish species, and both CYP1B1 and CYP1C1 were cloned from zebrafish (Danio rerio). Phylogenetic analysis shows that CYP1Cs and CYP1Bs constitute a sister clade to the CYP1As. Analysis of sequence domains likely to have functional significance suggests the two CYP1Cs in scup may have catalytic functions and/or substrate specificity that differ from each other and from those of mammalian CYP1Bs or CYP1As. RT-PCR results indicate that CYP1C1 and CYP1C2 are variously expressed in several scup organs.This work was supported by EPA grant R 827102-01-0 and NIH grants 5 P42-ES07381 and ES04696. JVG is supported by a Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA Fellowship (F32 ES012794)

Presence of susceptible wild strains of Anopheles gambiae in a large industrial palm farm located in Aboisso, South-Eastern of Côte d'Ivoire.

The effectiveness of malaria control programmes through implementation of vector control activities is challenged by the emergence of insecticide resistance. In the South-Eastern region of Côte d'Ivoire, where palm oil plantations remain the predominant agricultural crop, the susceptibility of wild Anopheles gambiae sensu lato species is still unknown and thus requires a particular attention. The current study was carried out to address the gap by in-depth characterization of susceptibility level of An. gambiae mosquitoes from Ehania-V1 to WHO-recommended doses of six insecticides belonging to available classes and also to screen a subset for target site mutations and possible inhibition of P450 enzymes. Overall results showed variable resistance profile across WHO-recommended insecticides tested. Mortalities ranged from 8.3% (the lowest mortality was recorded with DDT) to 98% (the highest mortality was recorded with fenitrothion). Importantly, mortality to deltamethrin, an important pyrethroid used in public health for impregnation of mosquito nets was close to 98%, precluding a possible susceptibility to this insecticide, albeit further investigations are required. Pre-exposure of An. gambiae s.l. to PBO did not show any significant variation across insecticides (p = 0.002), although a partial increase was detected for alphacypermethrin and bendiocarb, suggesting a low of activity of cytochrome P450 enzymes (p = 0.277). High frequency of kdr L1014F was recorded in both Anopheles coluzzii (91%) and in An. gambiae (96%), associated with ace-1 (R) G119S mutation at low frequency (<20%). The high mortality rate to deltamethrin, organophosphate and the non-detection of P450 activity in resistance observed in Ehania-V1 appears as a positive outcome for further control strategies as metabolic-based P450 resistance remains major challenge to manage. These results should help the National Malaria Control Programme when designing strategies for vector control in palm oil areas of Côte d'Ivoire

The Safety and Immunogenicity of GTU®MultiHIV DNA Vaccine Delivered by Transcutaneous and Intramuscular Injection With or Without Electroporation in HIV-1 Positive Subjects on Suppressive ART

International audiencePrevious studies have shown targeting different tissues via the transcutaneous (TC) and intramuscular injection (IM) with or without electroporation (EP) has the potential to trigger immune responses to DNA vaccination. The CUTHIVTHER 001 Phase I/II randomized controlled clinical trial was designed to determine whether the mode of DNA vaccination delivery (TC+IM or EP+IM) could influence the quality and function of induced cellular immune responses compared to placebo, in an HIV positive clade B cohort on antiretroviral therapy (ART). The GTU®MultiHIV B DNA vaccine DNA vaccine encoded a MultiHIV B clade fusion protein to target the cellular response. Overall the vaccine and regimens were safe and well-tolerated. There were robust pre-vaccination IFN-γ responses with no measurable change following vaccination compared to placebo. However, modest intracellular cytokine staining (ICS) responses were seen in the TC+IM group. A high proportion of individuals demonstrated potent viral inhibition at baseline that was not improved by vaccination. These results show that HIV positive subjects with nadir CD4+ counts ≥250 on suppressive ART display potent levels of cellular immunity and viral inhibition, and that DNA vaccination alone is insufficient to improve such responses. These data suggest that more potent prime-boost vaccination strategies are likely needed to improve pre-existing responses in similar HIV-1 cohorts (This study has been registered at http://ClinicalTrials.gov under registration no. NCT02457689)

Statistical distribution of quantum entanglement for a random bipartite state

We compute analytically the statistics of the Renyi and von Neumann entropies (standard measures of entanglement), for a random pure state in a large bipartite quantum system. The full probability distribution is computed by first mapping the problem to a random matrix model and then using a Coulomb gas method. We identify three different regimes in the entropy distribution, which correspond to two phase transitions in the associated Coulomb gas. The two critical points correspond to sudden changes in the shape of the Coulomb charge density: the appearance of an integrable singularity at the origin for the first critical point, and the detachement of the rightmost charge (largest eigenvalue) from the sea of the other charges at the second critical point. Analytical results are verified by Monte Carlo numerical simulations. A short account of some of these results appeared recently in Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 104}, 110501 (2010).Comment: 7 figure