Cloning and characterization of cDNA encoding xyloglucan endotransglucosylase in Pennisetum glaucum L.

Biomass production in plant is directly related to the amount of intercepted solar radiation by the canopy and available water to the plant. Growth and development of leaves, especially under drought condition, is therefore major determinant of crop productivity. Xyloglucan endotransglucosylase (XET) plays important role in growth and development of plants. XETs are a family of enzymes that mediate construction and restructuring of xyloglucan cross-links, thereby controlling the mechanical properties of cell wall. We cloned complete cDNA of an XET from pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) and characterized it using in silico comparative genomics and activity assays. The cloned cDNA was 1266 bp in length, encoding a protein with 291 amino acids having signal peptide targeting it to the cell wall. The protein showed xyloglucan endotransglucosylase activity but no hydrolytic activity, therefore, named as PgXET1 as per the convention. The comparative genomics revealed that the functional sites of the enzyme (XET) were highly conserved. Evolutionary studies using phylogenetic tree indicated its grouping with XETs from maize (with >95% bootstrap support), barley, rice, etc. This is the first report on cloning and characterization of an XET (PgXET1) from pearl millet, an important dual-purpose crop.Key words: Xyloglucan endotransglucosylase, Pennisetum glaucum, pearl millet, primary cell wall, cell expansion, drought tolerance

Maternal Neonatal Outcome in Relation to Placental Location, Dimensions in Early Pregnancy

Background: Placenta, which is the vital link between mother and fetus, is critical for maternal neonatal well-being. Its study in early pregnancy may provide information about maternal neonatal disorders.Aim: The study aimed to evaluate the relationship of placental location and dimensions in early pregnancy with maternal neonatal outcomes.Subjects and Methods: Primigravida (801) with singleton pregnancy at 10-weeks gestation and no past/present medical and obstetric disorder had ultrasonography for placental location and dimensions and were followed by ultrasonographic (USG) examination (at 20th week and 30th week), clinically for maternal-neonatal outcome. Statistical analysis was done by Epi 6 software (version 6.0, developed by Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA) using Chi-square test and Fischer exact test for determining the statistical significance of the observations. P values of < 0.05 were considered as significant.Results: The number of primigravida with hypertensive disorders were 2.5% (5/200) with anterior, 20.5% (66/322) with fundal, and with posterior placenta 9.8% (12/123); Placental abruption 2.5% (5/200) with anterior, 6.8% (22/322) with fundal, and 3.3% (4/123) with posterior. With placental surface area <41 cm2 19.0% (37/195), with area 41-55 cm2 7.2% (30/416), and with area >55 cm2 6.8% (13/190), had hypertensive disorders. area < 41 cm2 11.3% (22/195), area 41-55 cm2 5.0% (21/416), and area >55 cm2 3.7% (7/190) had placental abruption. With thick placenta, 39.2% (58/148), thin, 9.4% (9/96), and normal placenta, 5.2% (29/562) had hypertensive disorders. With thick, 11.5% (17/148), thin 16.7% (16/96), and normal placenta 2.7% (15/562) had placental abruption. With anterior 0.5% (1/200), posterior 14.6% (18/123), fundal placenta 10.55% had preterm births. With anterior 7.5% (15/200), posterior 23.6% (29/123), fundal placenta 18% (58/322) had CS.With placental surface area <41 cm2 28.7% (56/195), area 41-55 cm2 14.2% (58/406), with > 55 cm2 14% (28/200) had CS. With thin 27% (25/91), with thick 36.1% (53/148), with normal placenta none had CS for fetal distress.Conclusions: Study of placental location and dimensions in early pregnancy is useful in identifying risks.  Keywords: Dimensions, early pregnancy, location, maternal-neonatal outcome, placent

Isolation, identification, synthesis, and bioefficacy of female Diacrisia obliqua (Arctiidae) sex pheromone blend. An Indian agricultural pest

Diacrisia obliqua is a polyphagous pest especially on oil seed crops. Adult female sex pheromone blend consists of five pheromone components, which include (3Z,6Z)-cis-9,10-epoxyl,3,6-henicosatriene and (3Z,6Z)-cis-9,10-epoxy3,6-henicosadiene. Synthesis of these enantiomers was achieved through alkylative epoxide rearrangement and stereoselective Wittig olefination reactions as key steps. Bioefficacy experiments both at laboratory and minifield were very positive

An improved magnetic field simulator - MAGFLD.

An improved two-dimensional simulator MAGFLD has been developed which is useful for the design and simulation of periodic permanent magnet (PPM) focusing system for linear beam tubes. At present, input is possible only through the input file, which is very simple and user friendly. A complete PPM circuit is generated using the coordinates of first pole piece, first magnet, gun adapter (if the structure is a-periodic) and the region of computation. Small mesh units of either square or rectangular shapes can be used with mesh refinement capability in one or more regions in any or both directions for better accuracy of the solution. Materials with different magnetic permeability can be modeled by defining a characteristic value for each mesh point of the geometry. The effective potential value at each point in the region of interest is calculated based on the vector potential model by using the 5-point finite difference method and the solution is achieved by over relaxation technique for faster convergence. This package has an interface with EGUN to model the electron gun and collector under the influence of magnetic field. Versatile color graphics are capable of plotting both axial magnetic field and flux lines along with the magnetic circuit. MAGFLD has been validated against some published data and experimental results

Variability studies in fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.)

Analysis of variability carried out for nine characters in 25 diverse genotypes of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) revealed high genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of variations for seed yield plant-1, weight of grains umbel-1, number of umbels plant-1, number of branches plant-1, number of umbellet umbel-1 and plant height. Heritability estimates were high for test weight, weight of grains umbel-1, seed yield plant-1, number of umbel plant-1, plant height and number of umbelletes umbel-1. Higher genetic advance as per percentage of mean was recorded for seed yield plant-1, weight of grains umbel-1, number of umbels plant-1, number of branches plant-1, number of umbelletes umbel-1, plant height and test weight. The plant height, days to 50% flowering, number of branches plant-1, number of umbels plant-1, number of umbellets umbel-1 and weight of grains umbel-1 exhibited positive and significant correlation with seed yield. Path coefficient analysis revealed that days to maturity had highest direct effect on seed yield followed by days to 50% flowering and number of umbels plant-1. Therefore, greater emphasis should be given on these characters while selecting for higher yield and related traits. &nbsp

5-Aminolevulinic Acid as a Novel Therapeutic for Inflammatory Bowel Disease

5-Aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) is a naturally occurring nonprotein amino acid licensed as an optical imaging agent for the treatment of gliomas. In recent years, 5-ALA has been shown to possess anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory properties through upregulation of heme oxygenase-1 via enhancement of porphyrin, indicating that it may be beneficial for the treatment of inflammatory conditions. This study systematically examines 5-ALA for use in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Firstly, the ex vivo colonic stability and permeability of 5-ALA was assessed using human and mouse fluid and tissue. Secondly, the in vivo efficacy of 5-ALA, in the presence of sodium ferrous citrate, was investigated via the oral and intracolonic route in an acute DSS colitis mouse model of IBD. Results showed that 5-ALA was stable in mouse and human colon fluid, as well as in colon tissue. 5-ALA showed more tissue restricted pharmacokinetics when exposed to human colonic tissue. In vivo dosing demonstrated significantly improved colonic inflammation, increased local heme oxygenase-1 levels, and decreased concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β in both plasma and colonic tissue. These effects were superior to that measured concurrently with established anti-inflammatory treatments, ciclosporin and 5-aminosalicylic acid (mesalazine). As such, 5-ALA represents a promising addition to the IBD armamentarium, with potential for targeted colonic delivery

A Brief Review of the Medicinally Important Indole Derivatives

Indole is an exceptional heterocyclic molecule with a broad spectrum of pharmacological activity owing to various modes of action. It is also a versatile pharmacophore and a favored scaffold. For drug development, it is an excellent moiety whose only characteristic is that it resembles many protein structures. Plenty of research has been taking place in recent years to synthesize and explore the various therapeutic prospective of this moiety. This review summarizes some of the recent effective chemical synthesis (2014-2018) for indole ring. Some of the most recent efficient chemical synthesis for the indole ring (from 2014 to 2018) is compiled in this review. The structure-activity relationship (SAR) was also given a lot of weight in this review in order to pinpoint the active pharmacophores of different indole analogues that have been the subject of studies for the past five years and are responsible for a variety of effects, including antiviral, antitubercular, anticancer, and anticonvulsant ones. The goals and framework of every research issue are explained in detail to help medicinal chemists have a deeper understanding of the circumstances contextually. Researchers will undoubtedly use this review as a platform to strategically design a variety of novel indole derivatives with lower toxicity and side effects and a range of intriguing pharmacological activit

Star-Cluster Astrometry with Ground-Based Wide Field Imagers

We show the astrometric potential of the Wide Field Imager at the focus of the MPI-ESO 2.2m Telescope. Currently, we are able to measure the position of a well-exposed star with a precision of $\sim$4 mas/frame in each coordinate (under 0.8 arcsec seeing conditions). We present some preliminary results here.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, from "Astrometry in the Age of the Next Generation of Large Telescopes", 18-20 October 2004, Flagstaff, ASP Conf. Ser. in pres