Comparative genetic diversity analysis of oat (Avena sativa L.) by microsatellite markers and morphological rainfed expressions

Equivalence was appraised between phenotypic and molecular markers (ISSR) to analyze the genetic diversity of 20 high yielding genotypes representing different geographical zones of the world. A moderate range of genetic similarity (0.84 to 0.20) was observed on the basis of 20 inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSR) markers, where it was found high (0.995 – 0.204) on the basis of 7 primary morphological rainfed expression. Genotypes in morphological character based dendogram were clustered into their respective geographic groups, while a random grouping was observed in dendogram based on the ISSR markers. A negative correlation (r = -0.186) was found among morphological and molecular marker systems, but the latter was found effective in distinguishing the genotypes using specific band positions for them. The genotypic classification agreed closely with the grouping observed in ISSR based 3D analysis.Keywords: Avena sativa, diversity, inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSR), morphology, oat, relationshipAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(22), pp. 3414-342

Presbyopic LASIK using hybrid bi-aspheric micro-monovision ablation profile for presbyopic corneal treatments.

PURPOSE: To evaluate distance and near image quality after hybrid bi-aspheric multifocal central presbyLASIK treatments. DESIGN: Consecutive case series. METHODS: Sixty-four eyes of 32 patients consecutively treated with central presbyLASIK were assessed. The mean age of the patients was 51 ± 3 years with a mean spherical equivalent refraction of -1.08 ± 2.62 diopters (D) and mean astigmatism of 0.52 ± 0.42 D. Monocular corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), corrected near visual acuity (CNVA), and distance corrected near visual acuity (DCNVA) of nondominant eyes; binocular uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA); uncorrected intermediate visual acuity (UIVA); distance corrected intermediate visual acuity (DCIVA); and uncorrected near visual acuity (UNVA) were assessed pre- and postoperatively. Subjective quality of vision and near vision was assessed using the 10-item Rasch-scaled Quality of Vision and Near Activity Visual Questionnaire, respectively. RESULTS: At 1 year postoperatively, 93% of patients achieved 20/20 or better binocular UDVA; 90% and 97% of patients had J2 or better UNVA and UIVA, respectively; 7% lost 2 Snellen lines of CDVA; Strehl ratio reduced by ∼-4% ± 14%. Defocus curves revealed a loss of half a Snellen line at best focus, with no change for intermediate vergence (-1.25 D) and a mean gain of 2 lines for near vergence (-3 D). CONCLUSIONS: Presbyopic treatment using a hybrid bi-aspheric micro-monovision ablation profile is safe and efficacious. The postoperative outcomes indicate improvements in binocular vision at far, intermediate, and near distances with improved contrast sensitivity. A 19% retreatment rate should be considered to increase satisfaction levels, besides a 3% reversal rate

Formulation and evaluation of poly (L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) loaded gliclazide biodegradable nanoparticles as a control release carrier

A biodegradable nanoparticle has been used frequently as drug delivery carrier due to its better encapsulation capacity, sustained/ control release property and less toxicity. Gliclazide (GLZ) is a second generation of hypoglycemic sulfonylurea and acts selectively on pancreatic ß cell to control diabetes mellitus. The objective of this study was to produce controlled release nanoparticles of Gliclazide using poly (L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) (PLCL). The method was optimized using design of experiments by employing a 3-factor, 3-level Design Expert (version 8.0.7.1) Statistical Design Software and was subjected to various characterization studies including Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Encapsulation efficiency (%EE), Particle Size Distribution (PSD), etc. Formulated nanoparticles were also subjected to Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) for studying interaction between drug and polymer and the effect of lyophilization (Freeze Drying) on developed nanoparticles.  The release profiles and encapsulation efficiencies are depended on the concentration of PLCL. These data demonstrated the efficacy of the biodegradable polymeric nanoparticles in controlling the gliclazide drug release profile as novel drug delivery system

Morphology and phylogenetics of benthic prorocentrum species (Dinophyceae) from tropical Northwestern Australia

© 2019 by the authors. Approximately 70 species of Prorocentrum are known, of which around 30 species are associated with benthic habitats. Some produce okadaic acid (OA), dinophysistoxin (DTX) and their derivatives, which are involved in diarrhetic shellfish poisoning. In this study, we isolated and characterized Prorocentrum concavum and P. malayense from Broome in north Western Australia using light and scanning electron microscopy as well as molecular sequences of large subunit regions of ribosomal DNA, marking the first record of these species from Australian waters. The morphology of the motile cells of P. malayense was similar to P. concavum in the light microscopy, but differed by the smooth thecal surface, the pore pattern and the production of mucous stalk-like structures and a hyaline sheath around the non-motile cells. P. malayense could also be differentiated from other closely related species, P. leve and P. foraminosum, despite the similarity in thecal surface and pore pattern, by its platelet formula and morphologies. We tested the production of OA and DTXs from both species, but found that they did not produce detectable levels of these toxins in the given culturing conditions. This study aids in establishing more effective monitoring of potential harmful algal taxa in Australian waters for aquaculture and recreational purposes

The hazardous 2017–2019 surge and river damming by Shispare Glacier, Karakoram

In 2017–2019 a surge of Shispare Glacier, a former tributary of the once larger Hasanabad Glacier (Hunza region), dammed the proglacial river of Muchuhar Glacier, which formed an ice-dammed lake and generated a small Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF). Surge movement produced the highest recorded Karakoram glacier surface flow rate using feature tracking (~18 ± 0.5 m d−1) and resulted in a glacier frontal advance of 1495 ± 47 m. The surge speed was less than reports of earlier Hasanabad advances during 1892/93 (9.3 km) and 1903 (9.7 km). Surges also occurred in 1973 and 2000–2001. Recent surges and lake evolution are examined using feature tracking in satellite images (1990–2019), DEM differencing (1973–2019), and thermal satellite data (2000–2019). The recent active phase of Shispare surge began in April 2018, showed two surface flow maxima in June 2018 and May 2019, and terminated following a GLOF on 22–23 June 2019. The surge likely had hydrological controls influenced in winter by compromised subglacial flow and low meltwater production. It terminated during summer probably because increased meltwater restored efficient channelized flow. We also identify considerable heterogeneity of movement, including spring/summer accelerations

Chandrasekhar-Kendall functions in astrophysical dynamos

Some of the contributions of Chandrasekhar to the field of magnetohydrodynamics are highlighted. Particular emphasis is placed on the Chandrasekhar-Kendall functions that allow a decomposition of a vector field into right- and left-handed contributions. Magnetic energy spectra of both contributions are shown for a new set of helically forced simulations at resolutions higher than what has been available so far. For a forcing function with positive helicity, these simulations show a forward cascade of the right-handed contributions to the magnetic field and nonlocal inverse transfer for the left-handed contributions. The speed of inverse transfer is shown to decrease with increasing value of the magnetic Reynolds number.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figures, proceedings of the Chandrasekhar Centenary Conference, to be published in PRAMANA - Journal of Physic