Prototype of running clinical trials in an untrustworthy environment using blockchain.

Monitoring and ensuring the integrity of data within the clinical trial process is currently not always feasible with the current research system. We propose a blockchain-based system to make data collected in the clinical trial process immutable, traceable, and potentially more trustworthy. We use raw data from a real completed clinical trial, simulate the trial onto a proof of concept web portal service, and test its resilience to data tampering. We also assess its prospects to provide a traceable and useful audit trail of trial data for regulators, and a flexible service for all members within the clinical trials network. We also improve the way adverse events are currently reported. In conclusion, we advocate that this service could offer an improvement in clinical trial data management, and could bolster trust in the clinical research process and the ease at which regulators can oversee trials

Effects of vermicompost and urea on the seed germination and growth parameters of Vigna mungo L. and Vigna radiata L. Wilzek

Growth attributes of Vigna mungo and Vigna radiata crop influenced by level and type of fertilizers. The present study was carried out to evaluate and compare the effects of organic (vermicompost) and inorganic (urea) fertilizers on the germination percentage and seedling growth of V. radiata (Green gram) and V. mungo (Black gram). Fresh weight and dry weight of tested plant samples at 10th days of growth stage were also determined. Vermicompost was used as organic fertilizer and urea as inorganic fertilizer. Experimental results showed that vermicompost and urea both has positive effect on seedling growth parameters of V. mungo and V. radiata [average root length (6.1cm and 6.7cm)] , shoot length (6.5cm and 8.3cm), leaf area (312.2 sq.cm and 334.1 sq.cm] as compared to control set [average root length (4.4cm and 4.3cm)] , shoot length (6cm and 5.9cm), leaf area (282.7 sq.cm and 305.5 sq.cm). But urea exerts negative effect on seed germination percentage in V. mungo and V. radiata (58% and 50%) as compared to control (77%). Vermicompost exhibited better result in above parameters in comparison to urea. V. mungo showed increased value in comparison considering V. radiata in case of organic, inorganic fertilizer treated as well as control sets. As composition of locally available fertilizers is unknown, the application of these fertilizers for improving germination percentage and growth parameters of tested crop need to be evaluated. Present work may provide the suggestive approach for usage of these tested fertilizers in field level trial

Comparative Allelopathic Effects of Two Weed Extracts on Seed Germination and Seedling Growth of Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. and Abelmoschus esculentus L.

Pot culture experiment and Petri dish bioassay were conducted to assess the allelopathic potential of Cyanthillium cinereum and Lantana camara on seed germination and seedling growth of Vigna unguiculata and Abelmoschus esculentus. Aqueous leaf and stem extracts of weed were used for treatment. The differential inhibitory effect was observed for two weed plants on two tested crops. The experimental results revealed that in case of pot culture experiment, lowest germination percentages (40.8±0.49%, 63.6±0.60% and 83±0.78%) were recorded in L. camara leaf extract treated set of A. esculentus and maximum decrease in seedling length (0.31±0.05 cm, 4.18±0.07 cm, 6.42±0.08 cm and 13.51±0.07 cm) was observed in stem extract treated a set of A. esculentus. L. camara stem and leaf extract induced a more negative effect on seedling length in both A. esculentus and V. unguiculata. For petridish bioassay experiment, lowest germination percentages (54.60±0.40%, 59.20±0.49%, 66.20±0.74% and 69.80±0.38%) were observed in L. camara leaf extract treated a set of A. esculentus. In V. unguiculata, lowest germination percentage (45.8±0.49%, 75.4±0. 40%, 84.4±0.25% and 89±0.32%) was observed in stem extract treated set. Maximum suppressive effect on seedling length was recorded for stem and leaf extract of C. cinereum of A. esculentus and leaf extract of L. camara and stem extract of C. cinereum of V. unguiculata

Diversity of Foliar Endophytic Fungi in Artocarpus heterophyllusLam. and Citrus reticulata Blanco of Tripura

Present investigationdealt with the isolation and diversity of foliar fungal endophytes from two fruityielding plants of Tripura state. In addition, seasonal distributions of endophytes regardingfruiting and non-fruiting seasonsin two host plants were also studied. Twenty one fungal strains along with one nonsporulating hyaline form were isolated as foliar endophytes from the two host plants. In both fruiting and non-fruiting seasons from Citrus reticulata,seven foliar endophytic fungi were isolated. Mean-while, from Artocarpus heterophyllus in both the seasons,eleven fungal endophytes with one nonsporulating hyaline form were also isolated. The relative frequencies of the isolated fungi from both A.heterophyllusand C.reticulata in fruiting and non-fruiting season significantly differed among the sampling sites, whereas relative frequenciesindividual endophytic fungus showed no significant differences among various sampling sites

ImmPort, toward repurposing of open access immunological assay data for translational and clinical research

Immunology researchers are beginning to explore the possibilities of reproducibility, reuse and secondary analyses of immunology data. Open-access datasets are being applied in the validation of the methods used in the original studies, leveraging studies for meta-analysis, or generating new hypotheses. To promote these goals, the ImmPort data repository was created for the broader research community to explore the wide spectrum of clinical and basic research data and associated findings. The ImmPort ecosystem consists of four components–Private Data, Shared Data, Data Analysis, and Resources—for data archiving, dissemination, analyses, and reuse. To date, more than 300 studies have been made freely available through the ImmPort Shared Data portal , which allows research data to be repurposed to accelerate the translation of new insights into discoveries

Early Brain Response to Low-Dose Radiation Exposure Involves Molecular Networks and Pathways Associated with Cognitive Functions, Advanced Aging and Alzheimer's Disease

Understanding the cognitive and behavioral consequences of brain exposures to low-dose ionizing radiation has broad relevance for health risks from medical radiation diagnostic procedures, radiotherapy, environmental nuclear contamination, as well as earth orbit and space missions. Analyses of transcriptome profiles of murine brain tissue after whole-body radiation showed that low-dose exposures (10 cGy) induced genes not affected by high dose (2 Gy), and low-dose genes were associated with unique pathways and functions. The low-dose response had two major components: pathways that are consistently seen across tissues, and pathways that were brain tissue specific. Low-dose genes clustered into a saturated network (p < 10{sup -53}) containing mostly down-regulated genes involving ion channels, long-term potentiation and depression, vascular damage, etc. We identified 9 neural signaling pathways that showed a high degree of concordance in their transcriptional response in mouse brain tissue after low-dose radiation, in the aging human brain (unirradiated), and in brain tissue from patients with Alzheimer's disease. Mice exposed to high-dose radiation did not show these effects and associations. Our findings indicate that the molecular response of the mouse brain within a few hours after low-dose irradiation involves the down-regulation of neural pathways associated with cognitive dysfunctions that are also down regulated in normal human aging and Alzheimer's disease

Change in Migration and Pasture Utilization by Brokpa Pastoral Nomads: A Sustainable Adaptation Strategy for Climate Sensitive Arunachal Pradesh!?

The north-eastern states of India specially Arunachal Pradesh, one of the bio-diversity hotspot, is expected to be greatly affected by climate change. Climate change will not only adversely impact the biodiversity of Arunachal Pradesh, but also affect the livelihood of local communities as they fully dependent on the natural resources. The Monpa is a primitive tribe inhabiting parts of West Kameng and Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh. The pastoral nomad of the Monpa tribe is popularly known as Brokpa. Transhumance system of livestock mainly yak (Poephagus grunniens L.) rearing is their main source of livelihood. In recent past, challenges of the Brokpa pastoral community transform into threat due to synergistic effect of impending climate change. But, this nomad has their own mechanism to cope up with adverse impact of climate change. Therefore, a systematic study was carried out to document and analyze these coping mechanisms