Breeding Quality Protein Maize (QPM): Protocols for Developing QPM Cultivars

This manual is intended for maize breeders who would like to start developing quality protein maize (QPM) cultivars. It is a compilation and consolidation of several breeding protocols successfully used at CIMMYT over two decades of QPM development and breeding. A brief background and the basic theory of QPM genetics are explained, leading up to detailed methods and procedures of QPM development.Zea mays, Plant breeding, Breeding methods, Genetic resources, Protein quality, Protein content, Application methods, Lysine, Tryptophan, Food composition, Crop Production/Industries, F30, Q04,

Mejoramiento de ma�z con calidad de prote�na (QPM): Protocolos para generar variedades QPM

Zea mays, fitomejoramiento, m�todos fitot�cnicos, recursos gen�ticos, calidad de prote�na, contenido de prote�na, m�todos de aplicaci�n, lisina, tript�fano, componentes de los alimentos, Crop Production/Industries, F30, Q04,

Some Properties of Noether Charge and a Proposal for Dynamical Black Hole Entropy

We consider a general, classical theory of gravity with arbitrary matter fields in $n$ dimensions, arising from a diffeomorphism invariant Lagrangian, \bL. We first show that \bL always can be written in a ``manifestly covariant" form. We then show that the symplectic potential current $(n-1)$-form, $\th$, and the symplectic current $(n-1)$-form, \om, for the theory always can be globally defined in a covariant manner. Associated with any infinitesimal diffeomorphism is a Noether current $(n-1)$-form, \bJ, and corresponding Noether charge $(n-2)$-form, \bQ. We derive a general ``decomposition formula" for \bQ. Using this formula for the Noether charge, we prove that the first law of black hole mechanics holds for arbitrary perturbations of a stationary black hole. (For higher derivative theories, previous arguments had established this law only for stationary perturbations.) Finally, we propose a local, geometrical prescription for the entropy, $S_{dyn}$, of a dynamical black hole. This prescription agrees with the Noether charge formula for stationary black holes and their perturbations, and is independent of all ambiguities associated with the choices of \bL, $\th$, and \bQ. However, the issue of whether this dynamical entropy in general obeys a ``second law" of black hole mechanics remains open. In an appendix, we apply some of our results to theories with a nondynamical metric and also briefly develop the theory of stress-energy pseudotensors.Comment: 30 pages, LaTe

Molprint 2D-Based Identification and Synthesis of Novel Chromene Based Small Molecules that Target Pla2: Validation through Chemo-And Bioinformatics Approaches

Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) is known to regulate inflammation and hence it is considered as a validated drug-target by medicinal chemists. In this report, we have identified and considered a highly ranked ligand from the ZINC-drug-like compounds database that targets PLA2 via the MOLPRINT-2D based chemoinformatics drug-design approach. The computationally predicted lead molecule was found to contain a core moiety of a chromene ring, which is well known for its varied biological properties. Here, a novel and efficient retro-synthetic protocol for the synthesis of highly substituted chromene libraries was made. A one-pot synthesis of chromene was carried out using different aromatic primary alcohols, malononitrile and 4-hydroxy coumarin in the presence of a mild oxidant mixture called T3P®–DMSO, followed by a Suzuki coupling reaction to obtain the lead molecules. All of the tested compounds of the chromene series displayed inhibition of the venom PLA2 in the range of 12 to 68 μM. Among the tested compounds, 2-amino-4-(2′-methyl-[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)-5-oxo-4,5-dihydropyrano[3,2-c]chromene-3-carbonitrile (7b) showed maximum inhibitory efficacy against venom PLA2 with an IC50 value of 12.5 μM. Furthermore, the designed PLA2 ligands bound to the active site of venom PLA2, whose binding affinity was comparable to nimesulide, indicating that the chromene moiety containing ligands could be novel lead-structures that serve as anti-inflammatory agents

Molecular breeding for nutritionally enriched maize: status and prospects

Open Access Journal; Published online: 21 Feb 2020Maize is a major source of food security and economic development in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), Latin America, and the Caribbean, and is among the top three cereal crops in Asia. Yet, maize is deficient in certain essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. Biofortified maize cultivars enriched with essential minerals and vitamins could be particularly impactful in rural areas with limited access to diversified diet, dietary supplements, and fortified foods. Significant progress has been made in developing, testing, and deploying maize cultivars biofortified with quality protein maize (QPM), provitamin A, and kernel zinc. In this review, we outline the status and prospects of developing nutritionally enriched maize by successfully harnessing conventional and molecular marker-assisted breeding, highlighting the need for intensification of efforts to create greater impacts on malnutrition in maize-consuming populations, especially in the low- and middle-income countries. Molecular marker-assisted selection methods are particularly useful for improving nutritional traits since conventional breeding methods are relatively constrained by the cost and throughput of nutritional trait phenotyping

Factors Associated with Revision Surgery after Internal Fixation of Hip Fractures

Background: Femoral neck fractures are associated with high rates of revision surgery after management with internal fixation. Using data from the Fixation using Alternative Implants for the Treatment of Hip fractures (FAITH) trial evaluating methods of internal fixation in patients with femoral neck fractures, we investigated associations between baseline and surgical factors and the need for revision surgery to promote healing, relieve pain, treat infection or improve function over 24 months postsurgery. Additionally, we investigated factors associated with (1) hardware removal and (2) implant exchange from cancellous screws (CS) or sliding hip screw (SHS) to total hip arthroplasty, hemiarthroplasty, or another internal fixation device. Methods: We identified 15 potential factors a priori that may be associated with revision surgery, 7 with hardware removal, and 14 with implant exchange. We used multivariable Cox proportional hazards analyses in our investigation. Results: Factors associated with increased risk of revision surgery included: female sex, [hazard ratio (HR) 1.79, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.25-2.50; P = 0.001], higher body mass index (fo

Vehicle routing for a mid-day meal delivery distribution system

This paper considers the distribution system of a school feeding program (mid-day meals), wherein a set of delivery vehicles transfer cooked food from a kitchen facility to various schools within a specified delivery deadline. The food is required to be delivered before the lunch period, which is consistent across all the schools. A delay in food delivery can deprive students of their lunch, and, therefore, designing the vehicle routes for such distribution systems and maintaining a strict delivery deadline becomes critical. The resultant problem is identified as a vehicle routing problem with a common due date (VRPCDD). We provide a formulation for the VRPCDD and thereby focus on suggesting solution methods. In addition, we also demonstrate the practical application of VRPCDD by focusing on a real-life problem of a mid-day meal provider operating in the Chhattisgarh province of India

Antinociceptive and antipyretic activities of Amaranthus viridis Linn. in different experimental models

The methanolic extract of the whole plant extract of Amaranthus viridis L (MEAV) was screened for antinociceptive activity using the acetic acid writhing test, hot plate test and tail immersion test in mice and for antipyretic activity using the yeast-induced pyrexia method in rats, at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight. Significant (p<0.01) dose-dependent antinociceptive and antipyretic properties were observed with 200 and 400 mg/kg