Uncovering the role of DICER and pericentric heterochromatin expression during spermatogenesis

Male germ cell differentiation is a complex process that includes mitotic proliferation, meiosis and haploid differentiation phase, during which the cell undergoes dramatic morphological changes to produce mature spermatozoa. Male germ cells have unusually diverse transcriptomes that include a broad variety of protein-coding mRNAs and their isoforms, but also a considerable number of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs). This research focuses on a specific type of ncRNAs, major satellite repeat (MSR) transcripts that originate from the pericentric heterochromatin regions of the chromosomes and their interplay with the endonuclease DICER during mouse spermatogenesis. Using a germ cell-specific Dicer1 knockout mouse model, I showed that DICER is essential for spermatogenesis and male fertility. The deletion of Dicer1 mainly affected haploid male germ cell differentiation and resulted in defective chromatin condensation and nuclear shaping of spermatids, leading to severe oligoasthenoteratozoospermia and infertility. I revealed that MSRs are transcribed during normal spermatogenesis, particularly in meiotic spermatocytes. Interestingly, MSR transcripts were shown to be aberrantly induced in DICER-null spermatocytes. Only those transcripts that originate from the forward strand of MSR DNA were misregulated in the absence of DICER, suggesting a strand-specific function for DICER in vivo. The forward MSR transcripts and DICER were localized to both the cytoplasm and the nucleus, where nuclear DICER was specifically associated with pericentric heterochromatin regions of chromosomes. Moreover, I showed that MSR transcripts are found in complexes with DICER in the testis, and their processing into small RNAs is compromised in Dicer1 knockout mice leading to an elevated level of forward MSR transcripts in meiotic cells. I also provided evidence of epigenetic imbalance of the pericentric heterochromatin and meiotic chromosome missegregation in Dicer1 knockout testes. These results clearly illustrate that DICER is essential for male fertility, and it contributes to the regulation of pericentric heterochromatin during spermatogenesis by direct targeting MSR transcripts. Furthermore, these studies strongly suggest that the expression of pericentric heterochromatin may have a functional role in the regulation of male germ cell differentiation and fertility.DICER ja perisentromeerisen heterokromatiinin ilmentyminen spermatogeneesin aikana Spermatogeneesissä sukusolut jakautuvat meioottisesti ja erilaistuvat haploideiksi hedelmöityskykyisiksi siittiöiksi. Tämän prosessin aikana ne ilmentävät genomiaan laajasti, ja proteiineja koodaavien RNA:iden lisäksi niiden transkriptomi koostuu myös huomattavasta määrästä ei-koodaavia RNA:ita. Tässä tutkimuksessa keskityttiin tiettyihin ei-koodaaviin RNA-molekyyleihin, jotka ovat peräisin kromosomien perisentromeerisella heterokromatiinialueella sijaitsevista satelliittitoistojaksoista (major satellite repeats, MSR). Erityisesti tutkimuksessa selvitettiin DICERendonukleaasin toimintaa MSR-RNA:iden säätelyssä hiiren spermatogeneesin aikana. Käyttämällä poistogeenistä Dicer1-hiirimallia osoitin, että sukusolujen DICER-proteiinilla on keskeinen merkitys hedelmällisyyden ylläpidossa, sillä Dicer1-geenin poistaminen esti normaalin siittiötuotannon. Varsinkin haploidi erilaistumisvaihe häiriintyi, mikä johti rakenteeltaan epänormaalien siittiöiden muodostukseen. Tutkimukseni paljasti, että MSR-RNA:ita tuotetaan spermatogeneesin aikana etenkin meioottisissa sukusoluissa, ja että Dicer1-poistogeenisen hiiren sukusoluissa MSR-RNA:iden määrä oli huomattavasti kohonnut. Tulosteni mukaan MSR-RNA:t ja DICER sijaitsivat sekä solulimassa että tumassa, ja näytin DICER-proteiinin sitoutuvan perisentromeerisille heterokromatiinialueelle. Lisäksi osoitin, että kiveksessä DICER ja MSR-RNA-molekyylit löytyvät samoista komplekseista, ja että Dicer1-poistogeenisessä hiiressä MSR-RNA:iden prosessointi oli häiriintynyt. Tämä viittaa siihen, että DICER säätelee MSR-RNA-molekyylejä osallistumalla niiden prosessointiin. Lopuksi osoitin, että Dicer1-geenin poistaminen sai aikaan muutoksia sukusolujen heterokromatiinin epigeneettisessä tilassa. Lisäksi Dicer1-geenin poistaminen oli yhteydessä meioottisten jakautumisten häiriöihin ja aneuploidiaan, mikä mahdollisesti johtuu häiriöistä perisentromeerisen heterokromatiinin toiminnassa. Kaiken kaikkiaan tutkimukseni tulokset osoittavat, että DICER-proteiinilla on keskeinen rooli miesten sukusolujen erilaistumisessa ja MSR-RNA:iden säätelyssä. Tulokset myös viittaavat siihen, että perisentromeerinen heterokromatiini on toiminnallisesti tärkeää normaalin siittiötuotannon ja hedelmällisyyden kannalt

Anger;it's impact on human body

Anger is one of our most powerful and vital emotions with behavioural manifestation. It is described as an intense feeling in response to frustration , hurt, disappointment, or threatening.The benefits of anger include overcoming fears and building confidence to counter dangerous phenomenon  or threats which leads to the fight or flight response while the disadvantages of anger consist of excess anger serving as a numbing agent emotionally, physically and cognitively.Physiologically, emotions is considered to commence  from  brain nucleus named as  amygdale , part of brain   responsible for identifying threats to our well-being, and  relaying out an alarm when threats are identified that result in taking steps to protect ourselves. It is important to recognize the physiological effects of anger especially with all the damage this emotion might produce to our body system.This review article examines the physiology, causes of anger and impact of anger on the body

Constacyclic and Linear Complementary Dual Codes Over Fq + uFq

This article discusses linear complementary dual (LCD) codes over ℜ = Fq+uFq(u2=1) where q is a power of an odd prime p. Authors come up with a new Gray map from ℜn to F2nq and define a new class of codes obtained as the gray image of constacyclic codes over .ℜ Further, we extend the study over Euclidean and Hermitian LCD codes and establish a relation between reversible cyclic codes and Euclidean LCD cyclic codes over ℜ. Finally, an application of LCD codes in multisecret sharing scheme is given

An econometric analysis of the demand for selected agricultural inputs in Oregon

The objective of this study is to analyze empirically the demand structure for the following important farm production inputs in Oregon: hired labor, chemical fertilizer, farm machinery, repairs and operating costs of motor vehicles and other machinery designated as "machinery supplies," purchased feed and miscellaneous inputs. Twenty-year data (1950-69 except 1951-70 for hired labor) were analyzed with the aid of simple equation least-squares multiple regression techniques for all inputs. In addition, a simultaneous-equation model is applied to hired labor data. The demand for each input is predicted through 1975. This study indicates that hired farm labor employment depends heavily upon wage rates. Contrary to earlier national and regional studies, the short-run demand for hired farm labor in Oregon during 1951-70 was found to be elastic, -1.2 to -1.5 and -1.5 to -2.6 in the single-equation and the simultaneous-equation demand models respectively. This implies that if farm wage rates rise, the number of workers employed declines in greater proportion than the wage rate rise. Conversely, if wage rates fall the number of workers employed will increase disproportionately. The number of hired workers employed on Oregon farms declined by 40.6 percent (37 thousand to 22 thousand) between 1950 and 1970. A further 25 percent decline is projected by 1975. The demand for fertilizer and purchased feed are comparable in many ways. The demand for each is inelastic (-0.45 and -0.58) in the short-run, and moderately elastic (-1.05 to -1.35) in the long-run. The adjustment coefficient, which indicates the percent of the required adjustment that can be made in one year in feed or fertilizer purchases, in both cases are about the same--around 0.50. However, profitability of livestock enterprises as an independent variable (RL subscript [t]) is statistically significant in the demand equation for purchased feed, but profitability of farming as a variable (R subscript [t]) is not significant in the fertilizer models. Furthermore, fertilizer purchases continued to increase in spite of static or slightly decreasing crop prices. Although the input price variable is statistically significant in the demand models for both fertilizer and purchased feed, decreasing fertilizer prices have probably contributed heavily to the increase in the use of fertilizers in Oregon. If the past declining trend in the "real" price of fertilizer continues and other relationships do not change materially, there will be a 43 percent (381.8 thousand tons to 547.5 thousand tons) greater consumption of fertilizer in Oregon over the next six years. Based on past experience, such an increase is undoubtedly within the capability of the fertilizer industry to meet the requirement. The expenditure for purchased feed is projected to be 9 percent greater in 1975 than in 1969 in terms of constant 1957-59 dollars. The increase becomes 25 percent when expressed in terms of what feed prices are expected to be in 1975 dollars. Unavailability of data on annual capital outlay for the purchase of machinery and equipment by Oregon farmers is a serious problem in the estimation of the demand structure for farm machinery. However, annual inventories of machinery and equipment on Oregon farms is used as a substitute variable. The analysis indicates the demand for machinery and equipment inventories to be inelastic. The demand for "machinery supplies", a variable with considerable complementarity with machinery and equipment inventory, was also found to be inelastic. A 10 percent increase in the price of farm machinery or price of "machinery supplies" is associated with a 4.5 percent decrease in the total machinery and equipment inventory, and a 6.3 percent decrease in "machinery supplies" purchased. The estimated elasticities may be biased due to high multi-collinearity problems in their demand models. However, the prediction ability of these models is undoubtedly good. It is expected that there will be a $32 million increase (1957-59 dollars) in the value of machinery inventories on Oregon farms by 1975 over the 1969 level. The increase is$104 million in 1975 dollars. The expenditure for repairs and operating costs of motor vehicles and other machinery (machinery supplies) are expected to be fairly constant during this period in terms of 1957-59 dollars. This peculiarity of increasing inventory of machinery and equipment in 1957-59 dollars and a constant expenditure for "machinery supplies" is judged to be due to the fact that the machinery inventory effect and the price effect seem to cancel out and maintain the constant expenditure for "machinery supplies." Prices of "machinery supplies" have tended to decline over the period of the study. The projection of expenditure for "machinery supplies" in terms of current dollars indicates a 12 percent increase by 1975 which is wholly accounted for by expected inflationary tendencies in the economy. In contrast to chemical fertilizer, purchased feeds, machinery and equipment inventories and "machinery supplies," miscellaneous inputs (interest, electricity, veterinary supplies and services, etc.) has a very high elastic demand. Due to the evidence of there being two distinct trends in expenditures for miscellaneous inputs, the data were analyzed on the basis of the two periods. The dummy variable approach developed by Damodar Gujarati fails to reject the null hypothesis of the discontinuity in the demand curve for miscellaneous inputs during the 1950-69 period at the 5 percent test level. The mean price elasticity of demand was found to be -1.22 for the period 1950-57 and -4.28 for the period 1958-69. Such a high elasticity is probably due to a strong complementarity between miscellaneous inputs and the increasing total agricultural plant size, and the substitution effect due to gradually falling relative prices of miscellaneous inputs. A 23 percent increase (1957-59 dollars) in expenditure for miscellaneous inputs is projected by 1975 compared to 1969. The increase in terms of 1975 dollars amounts to 46 percent: from $72.8 million to$106.4 million. It is anticipated that the information regarding the demand structure for farm production input factors discussed in this study will be useful to people involved in farm labor policy-making, and decision making in farm supply business firms, credit agencies and farming businesses in planning for the extension of their volume of operations in the next few years. The future demand for these farm inputs, among other factors, will largely depend on the trend of their "real" or relative prices. The projected amount of expenditures for these inputs in current dollars will be modified by any changes in the extent of inflationary tendencies in the economy

Sustainable Agroecosystems for Livelihood Security in Indian Himalayas

Agroforestry systems are an age-old practice in the Indian Himalayan region. Agroforestry deals with the combination of tree species with crop plants, fisheries, animals, bee keeping, and so on, and it is based on the principle of optimum utilization of land. Agrihorticulture, silvihorticulture, hortipastoral, and silvipastoral systems are diversified land use options for agroforestry in the hill region. The study was conducted at experimental farm Hawalbagh (29o36′N and 79o 40′ E, 1250 m amsl) of Vivekananda Parvatiya Krishi Anusandhan Sansthan, Almora, India. Study in an agri-horti system revealed that ragi (Eluesine coracana) and soybean (Glysine max) during kharif (rainy season) and wheat (Triticum estivum) and lentil (Lens esculenta) during rabi (winter season) can be grown successfully with pecan nut (Carya illinoinensis) tree without significant reduction in the yield of the crop. However, grain yield of these crops was numerically higher in the field without pecan nut tree. In fruit-based agri-horti system four fruit crops, hill lemon (Citrus limon), pear (Pyrus communis), plum (Prunus domestica), and apricot (Prunus armeniaca) were planted with soybean in kharif and dual purpose wheat during rabi season. During initial years, no significant effect on grain yield was observed with the presence of different fruit trees. Green forage yield varied from 4600 to 5900 kg/ha in different treatments. In different treatments, ginger (Zingiber officinale) and turmeric (Curcuma longa), turmeric and taro (Colocasia esculenta), and two varieties of turmeric (Pant Pitabh and Swarna) were grown under Grewia optiva, Quercus leucotrichophora, Bauhinia variegata, and Celtis australis. Turmeric and ginger produced significantly higher yield (12.04 and 7.99 t/ha) under oak. The highest rhizome yield was obtained under Quercus leucotrichophora (11,738 kg/ha) followed by Bauhinia variegata. Pant Pitabh gave significantly higher yield (10,860 kg/ha) than swarna. Improved systems with five tree species, that is, Grewia optiva, Quercus leucotrichophora, Bauhinia retusa, Melia azedarach, and Morus alba and four grasses, that is, Setaria kazugulla, Setaria nandi, Congo signal, and Broad leaf paspalum (Paspalum spp.) were tested under the silvipastoral system. Quercus leucotrichophora yielded (10,675 kg/ha) significantly higher green biomass than others, and the lowest green biomass was harvested from Grewia optiva. Among grasses, Setaria nandi produced the highest green forage (6234 kg/ha). Thus, in hilly terrain, planting of interspatial woody perennials, with least negative influences on the agronomic crops, seems productive in agroforestry system for settled farming. Therefore, agroforestry is a set of land use alternative, which if developed for resource poor farmers, can provide increased values and reduced risks and it should be made more popular in the rural areas

Identifying Anti-Oxidant Biosynthesis Genes in Pearl Millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] Using Genome—Wide Association Analysis

Pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R Br.] is an important staple food crop in the semi-arid tropics of Asia and Africa. It is a cereal grain that has the prospect to be used as a substitute for wheat flour for celiac patients. It is an important antioxidant food resource present with a wide range of phenolic compounds that are good sources of natural antioxidants. The present study aimed to identify the total antioxidant content of pearl millet flour and apply it to evaluate the antioxidant activity of its 222 genotypes drawn randomly from the pearl millet inbred germplasm association panel (PMiGAP), a world diversity panel of this crop. The total phenolic content (TPC) significantly correlated with DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging activity (% inhibition), which ranged from 2.32 to 112.45% and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) activity ranging from 21.68 to 179.66 (mg ascorbic acid eq./100 g). Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) were conducted using 222 diverse accessions and 67 K SNPs distributed across all the seven pearl millet chromosomes. Approximately, 218 SNPs were found to be strongly associated with DPPH and FRAP activity at high confidence [–log (p) > 3.0–7.4]. Furthermore, flanking regions of significantly associated SNPs were explored for candidate gene harvesting. This identified 18 candidate genes related to antioxidant pathway genes (flavanone 7-O-beta-glycosyltransferase, GDSL esterase/lipase, glutathione S-transferase) residing within or near the association signal that can be selected for further functional characterization. Patterns of genetic variability and the associated genes reported in this study are useful findings, which would need further validation before their utilization in molecular breeding for high antioxidant-containing pearl millet cultivars

Domestic violence and women’s health in India: evidence from health survey

This paper examines the effect of domestic violence on the health of ever-married women of reproductive age group in India. Micro-level National Family Health Survey (NFHS-III) data for the year 2005-06 has been used in the study. We employ disease, body mass index, under nutrition level and anemia as the measures of health and physical, emotional and sexual forms of domestic violence are used as indicators of domestic violence at both national and state levels. We find that domestic violence has negative impact on the overall women’s health and nutritional status. However, national level results are not consistent with that of the states level. Based on the findings, we argue that the issue of domestic violence should be addressed in national and state level health policies and programmes

Characterization and Screening of Thermophilic Bacillus Strains for Developing Plant Growth Promoting Consortium From Hot Spring of Leh and Ladakh Region of India

In the present investigation, the main aim is to identify and characterize the potential drought tolerant plant growth promoting consortium for agricultural productivity. Three bacterial isolates were isolated from hot spring of Chumathang area of Leh district. Bacillus species (BHUJP-H1, BHUJP-H2, and BHUJP-H3) were done some biochemical tests including catalase, cellulase, amylase, indole-3-acetic acid, phosphate solubilisation, production of ammonia, siderophore, and hydrogen cyanide. Molecular characterization of isolates was done by 16S rDNA sequencing, e.g., Bacillus subtilis BHUJP-H1 (KU312403), Bacillus sp. BHUJP-H2 (KU312404) and B. licheniformis BHUJP-H3 (KU312405). The genetic diversity of the isolates was assessed by seven inter simple sequence repeat, all primer shows high polymorphism. The highest polymorphism efficiency and polymorphism information content showed by UBC-809 and UBC-836 which were 100% and 0.44 respectively, the lowest is by UBC-807 75% and 0.28 respectively. On an average 90.69% polymorphism efficiency and 0.40 polymorphism information contents obtained by used markers. The highest, 11.08 and the lowest, 4.50 effective multiplex ratios obtained for primer UBC-823 and UBC-807, on an average 7.99 effective multiplex ratio obtained. The highest, 4.89 and the lowest, 1.25 marker indexes obtained by UBC-836 and UBC-807 respectively and on an average 3.24 obtained. The UPGMA cluster analysis divided a population into two clusters I and II, in which BHUJP-H1 and BHUJP-H2 grouped under same while BHUJP-H3 grouped under another cluster. The treatment combination of Bacillus subtilis BHUJP-H1, B. subtilis BHUJP-H1+ B. licheniformis BHUJP-H3 and B. subtilis BHUJP-H1+ Bacillus sp. BHUJP-H2+ B. licheniformis BHUJP-H3 were recorded better combination for enhancing plant growth attributes of Vigna radiata as compared to control and others. The plant growth promoting consortium, e.g., Bacillus subtilis BHUJP-H1, Bacillus subtilis BHUJP-H1+ B. licheniformis BHUJP-H3 and B. subtilis BHUJP-H1+ Bacillus sp. BHUJP-H2+ B. licheniformis BHUJP-H3 can be further used as effective microbial inoculant for enhancing the production of mungbean in field conditions. Bacillus sp. BHUJP-H1 and Bacillus sp. BHUJP-H2 may use as drought tolerant plant growth promoting consortium for enhancing the sustainable agricultural productivity

Analysis of cardiac autonomic modulation in normotensive obese and eutrophic adults of Nepal

Background: Obese people have a higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease, though unknown mechanism, supposed to be due to autonomic dysfunction which is still in controversy. This study aimed to assess and compare heart rate variability (HRV) between normotensive obese and adults.Methods: The study was conducted on 30 normotensive obese adults (mean age 32.07±7.25 years) with BMI>30 and 29 age- and sex-matched normal weight controls (mean age 30.48±8.01 years) with BMI: 18-24 Kg/m2. Short-term HRV variables were assessed using standard protocol. The data were compared between the groups using Mann Whitney ‘U’ test.Results: In obese group, there was significant increase in the mean heart rate [79.17±8.80 Vs 71.48±8.41 beats/min, p=0.001], systolic blood pressure [121.20±9.89 Vs 113.24±11.07, mmHg, p=0.004] and diastolic blood pressure [84.97±7.87 Vs 74.83±10.31 mmHg, p=0.000]. The HRV parasympathetic indicators were less [RMSSD {28.75(16.72-38.35) Vs 41.55(30.6-56.75) ms, p=0.018}, NN50 {15.5(2-39) Vs 83.5(32.75-116.25), p=0.010}], and sympathetic indicator LF/HF ratio [1.2(0.65-2.20) Vs 0.79(0.5-1.02), p=0.004] was more in obese group.Conclusions: Obese persons have increased sympathetic activity with a reduction in parasympathetic (vagal) tone indicating poor autonomic cardiac rhythm control. Moreover, the altered autonomic activity could be the reason for increased mean heart rate and blood pressures in normotensive obese persons

Biosynthesis of Silver nanoparticles Using Rosaceae Petal extract and analysing its antimicrobial assay

Recent developments in nanoscience and nanotechnology have brought about a fundamental shift in the way we identify, treat, and prevent numerous diseases in all aspects of human life. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are among the most significant and intriguing metallic nanoparticles employed in biomedical applications. AgNPs are very important for the domains of nanomedicine, nanoscience, and nanotechnology. Although numerous noble metals have been used for a wide range of applications, AgNPs have drawn special attention because of their potential for use in cancer treatment and diagnosis. The study showed an efficient method for the successful synthesis of AgNPs using petal extract from Rosaceae plants and characterizes them using a UV spectrometer and SEM. The produced AgNPs showed notable antibacterial activity against a variety of microbes, suggesting that they could find use as an antimicrobial agent in a number of different contexts. The work offers insightful information about how AgNPs might be used as a robust antibacterial agent against a variety of microbes