The Biological Function of Interacting Partners of ZXD Family Proteins

We have identified several protein-protein interactions amongst the members of the zinc finger, X-linked (ZXD) family of proteins (ZXDA, ZXDB, ZXDC and ZXDC2) that have important roles in the regulation of major histocompatibility complex class II and several myeloid-specific genes. The ZXDC and ZXDA proteins share significant nucleotide sequence homology and each contain ten C2H2 zinc fingers and a transcription activation domain. In addition, ZXDC has a C-terminal region that is necessary to interact with a key cofactor, CIITA (Class II transactivator) and activate Major histocompatibility complex class II and class I (MHC II and MHC I respectively) genes. In chapter II we demonstrate that the ZXDC and ZXDA proteins can self-associate, as well as, hetero-associate. Moreover, in vitro studies in our lab revealed that the association of ZXDC with ZXDA is necessary and self-association of neither protein was sufficient to interact with CIITA and thereby activate MHC II gene transcription. In addition to CIITA, we found that ZXDC interacted with two other components of the regulatory factor X complex, namely, RFX5 and RFX-ANK (RFX having ankyrin repeats) which are components of the MHC II enhanceosome. The RFX heterotrimeric complex consisting of RFX5, RFX-AP (RFX-associated protein), RFX-ANK binds to the conserved X1 box of MHC II promoter. The necessity for RFX complex in MHC II gene regulation is underscored by bare lymphocyte syndrome, a genetic disorder which results from mutation in one of the RFX proteins. Our results support for a role of ZXDC-ZXDA heterocomplex to mediate interactions with components of the MHC II enhanceosome thereby enhancing the stability of the complex as a mechanism of activating MHC II gene transcription. Interestingly, the ZXD family of proteins seems to have a broader role in gene regulation. In chapter III we demonstrate that the ZXDC protein interacts and represses the transcriptional activities of two myeloid transcription factors, namely, purine box binding protein PU.1 and G

The Biological Function of Interacting Partners of ZXD Family Proteins

We have identified several protein-protein interactions amongst the members of the zinc finger, X-linked (ZXD) family of proteins (ZXDA, ZXDB, ZXDC and ZXDC2) that have important roles in the regulation of major histocompatibility complex class II and several myeloid-specific genes. The ZXDC and ZXDA proteins share significant nucleotide sequence homology and each contain ten C2H2 zinc fingers and a transcription activation domain. In addition, ZXDC has a C-terminal region that is necessary to interact with a key cofactor, CIITA (Class II transactivator) and activate Major histocompatibility complex class II and class I (MHC II and MHC I respectively) genes. In chapter II we demonstrate that the ZXDC and ZXDA proteins can self-associate, as well as, hetero-associate. Moreover, in vitro studies in our lab revealed that the association of ZXDC with ZXDA is necessary and self-association of neither protein was sufficient to interact with CIITA and thereby activate MHC II gene transcription. In addition to CIITA, we found that ZXDC interacted with two other components of the regulatory factor X complex, namely, RFX5 and RFX-ANK (RFX having ankyrin repeats) which are components of the MHC II enhanceosome. The RFX heterotrimeric complex consisting of RFX5, RFX-AP (RFX-associated protein), RFX-ANK binds to the conserved X1 box of MHC II promoter. The necessity for RFX complex in MHC II gene regulation is underscored by bare lymphocyte syndrome, a genetic disorder which results from mutation in one of the RFX proteins. Our results support for a role of ZXDC-ZXDA heterocomplex to mediate interactions with components of the MHC II enhanceosome thereby enhancing the stability of the complex as a mechanism of activating MHC II gene transcription. Interestingly, the ZXD family of proteins seems to have a broader role in gene regulation. In chapter III we demonstrate that the ZXDC protein interacts and represses the transcriptional activities of two myeloid transcription factors, namely, purine box binding protein PU.1 and G

Cashew research in India

Cashew, after its introduction from Brazil during the 16th Century, has established very well in India. A total of 40 high-yielding varieties have been released so far by the Directorate of Cashew Research, Puttur, and various Agricultural Universities, for cultivation. Of these, 13 are hybrids and 27 are selections. Research achievements in the area of crop improvement, management, protection and post-harvest technology over the last six decades are reviewed and documented here. As India has been importing raw nuts to the tune of 6.5 lakh tons annually to cater the demand of established processing factories, research priorities have been identified to meet the challenges of enhancing production and productivity of cashew in the country

Characteristic Features of Precipitation Extremes over India in the Warming Scenarios

The detection of possible changes in extreme climate events, in terms of the frequency, intensity as well as duration assumes profound importance on the local, regional, and national scales, due to the associated critical socioeconomic consequences. Therefore, an attempt is made in this paper to evaluate various aspects of future projections of precipitation extremes over India, as projected by a state-of-art regional climate modeling system, known as PRECIS (Providing REgional Climates for Impacts Studies) towards the end of the 21st century (that is, 2071–2100) using standardized indices. Study reveals that PRECIS simulations under scenarios of increasing greenhouse gas concentration and sulphate aerosols indicate marked increase in precipitation towards the end of the 21st century and is expected to increase throughout the year. However the changes in daily precipitation and the precipitation extremes during summer monsoon (June through September) season are prominent than during the rest of year. PRECIS simulations under both A2 and B2 scenarios indicate increase in frequency of heavy precipitation events and also enhancement in their intensity towards the end of the 21st century. Both A2 and B2 scenarios show similar patterns of projected changes in the precipitation extremes towards the end of the 21st century. However, the magnitudes of changes in B2 scenario are on the lower side

Explication Search Results From Huge Amount Of Published Data

The Internet presents a huge amount of useful information which is usually formatted for its users, which makes it difficult to extract relevant data from various sources. Therefore, the availability of robust, flexible Information Extraction (IE) systems that transform the Web pages into program-friendly structures such as a relational database will become a great necessity. Search result record (SRR) is the result page obtained from web database (WDB) and these records are used to display the result for each query. Each SRR contain multiple data units which need to be label semantically for machine process able. In this paper we present the automatic annotation approach which involve three phases to annotate and display the result. In first phase the data units in result record are identified and aligned to different groups such that the data in same group have the same semantics. . This approach is highly effective. From the annotated search result, frequently used websites are identified by using apriority Algorithm which involve pattern mining.  In this paper, we present an automatic annotation approach that first aligns the data units on a result page into different groups such that the data in the same group have the same semantic. And then we assign labels to each of this group

Comparison of neonatal outcome parameters between thick and thin meconium stained liquor: a prospective study

Background: Meconium stained liquor is a commonly observed phenomenon in the day-to-day obstetric practice, the incidence being 12-22%. Meconium stained liquor can be considered as a normal physiological event in a term fetus in the absence of fetal heart rate abnormalities. It has greater significance as one of the parameters of fetal distress, when associated with abnormal fetal heart rate pattern. The aim of the present study was to study the association of, fetal heart rate abnormalities, mode of delivery and neonatal outcome with different grades of meconium stained liquor.Methods: A prospective study was conducted in one hundred and fifty cases of meconium stained liquor beyond 37 weeks gestation admitted to the labor room in a tertiary care Centre. Depending on the consistency of meconium, the patients were divided into two groups namely, Thick meconium stained liquor (group K) and Thin meconium stained liquor (group N). Maternal conditions, Intrapartum fetal heart rate pattern, Apgar scores and neonatal morbidities were studied in relation to the grade of meconium. The proportions between the two groups were compared using chi-square test and Fisher’s exact t-test.Results: The incidence of post term pregnancy (p=0.004), unbooked (p=0.007) status and oligohydramnios (p=0.01) were significantly higher among group K when compared to group N. Non-reassuring fetal heart rate pattern (p=0.002) and Apgar score ≤7 (p=0.02) were significantly higher in group K. In group K, non-reassuring fetal heart rate pattern and reduced beat to beat variability were significantly associated with low Apgar score (p=0.01).Conclusions: Neonatal outcomes like low Apgar score, meconium aspiration syndrome are strongly associated with thick meconium stained liquor. Visual grading of liquor into thick and thin meconium stained may help in timely obstetric intervention leading to a better neonatal outcome

Impact of CAMEX-4 Data Sets for Hurricane Forecasts using a Global Model

This study explores the impact on hurricane data assimilation and forecasts from the use of dropsondes and remote-sensed moisture profiles from the airborne Lidar Atmospheric Sensing Experiment (LASE) system. We show that the use of these additional data sets, above those from the conventional world weather watch, has a positive impact on hurricane predictions. The forecast tracks and intensity from the experiments show a marked improvement compared to the control experiment where such data sets were excluded. A study of the moisture budget in these hurricanes showed enhanced evaporation and precipitation over the storm area. This resulted in these data sets making a large impact on the estimate of mass convergence and moisture fluxes, which were much smaller in the control runs. Overall this study points to the importance of high vertical resolution humidity data sets for improved model results. We note that the forecast impact from the moisture profiling data sets for some of the storms is even larger than the impact from the use of dropwindsonde based winds