Enzyme activities of agarwood (Aquilaria malaccensis Lamk.) stem under pathogenesis

Cellulase, pectinase, peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase activities were determined in healthy,naturally infected and inoculated agarwood (Aquilaria malaccensis) plant parts at varioustime intervals to study the changes in activities of these enzymes during pathogenesis.  Samplesinfected naturally with Chaetomium globosum and  Fusarium oxysporum exhibited higheractivity of all the enzymes compared to healthy samples &nbsp

Using Markov Models of Fault Growth Physics and Environmental Stresses to Optimize Control Actions

A generalized Markov chain representation of fault dynamics is presented for the case that available modeling of fault growth physics and future environmental stresses can be represented by two independent stochastic process models. A contrived but representatively challenging example will be presented and analyzed, in which uncertainty in the modeling of fault growth physics is represented by a uniformly distributed dice throwing process, and a discrete random walk is used to represent uncertain modeling of future exogenous loading demands to be placed on the system. A finite horizon dynamic programming algorithm is used to solve for an optimal control policy over a finite time window for the case that stochastic models representing physics of failure and future environmental stresses are known, and the states of both stochastic processes are observable by implemented control routines. The fundamental limitations of optimization performed in the presence of uncertain modeling information are examined by comparing the outcomes obtained from simulations of an optimizing control policy with the outcomes that would be achievable if all modeling uncertainties were removed from the system

Proteasome-mediated reduction in proapoptotic molecule Bim renders CD4⁺CD28null T cells resistant to apoptosis in acute coronary syndrome.

BACKGROUND: The number of CD4(+)CD28(null) (CD28(null)) T cells, a unique subset of T lymphocytes with proinflammatory and cell-lytic phenotype, increases markedly in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). ACS patients harboring high numbers of CD28(null) T cells have increased risk of recurrent severe acute coronary events and unfavorable prognosis. The mechanisms that govern the increase in CD28(null) T cells in ACS remain elusive. We investigated whether apoptosis pathways regulating T-cell homeostasis are perturbed in CD28(null) T cells in ACS. METHODS AND RESULTS: We found that CD28(null) T cells in ACS were resistant to apoptosis induction via Fas-ligation or ceramide. This was attributable to a dramatic reduction in proapoptotic molecules Bim, Bax, and Fas in CD28(null) T cells, whereas antiapoptotic molecules Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL were similar in CD28(null) and CD28(+) T cells. We also show that Bim is phosphorylated in CD28(null) T cells and degraded by the proteasome. Moreover, we demonstrate for the first time that proteasomal inhibition restores the apoptosis sensitivity of CD28(null) T cells in ACS. CONCLUSIONS: We show that CD28(null) T cells in ACS harbor marked defects in molecules that regulate T-cell apoptosis, which tips the balance in favor of antiapoptotic signals and endows these cells with resistance to apoptosis. We demonstrate that the inhibition of proteasomal activity allows CD28(null) T cells to regain sensitivity to apoptosis. A better understanding of the molecular switches that control the apoptosis sensitivity of CD28(null) T cells may reveal novel strategies for targeted elimination of these T cells in ACS patients

Women empowerment through green mussel (Perna viridis) farming : Focus on Kerala

Mussel farming is one of the best ideas for the utilisation of natural resources as well as human resources in a sustainable manner. It is an activity with potential to empower women by giving them a chance to earn additional income for their family, thereby making them self-reliant. Thus, looking at the larger picture mussel farming could bring about an improvement in the socio-economic condition of families in the coastal States of India. Additionally, it also ensures production of healthy and protein rich food for the consumers

Mice lacking C1q or C3 show accelerated rejection of minor H disparate skin grafts and resistance to induction of tolerance

Complement activation is known to have deleterious effects on organ transplantation. On the other hand, the complement system is also known to have an important role in regulating immune responses. The balance between these two opposing effects is critical in the context of transplantation. Here, we report that female mice deficient in C1q (C1qa(−/−)) or C3 (C3(−/−)) reject male syngeneic grafts (HY incompatible) at an accelerated rate compared with WT mice. Intranasal HY peptide administration, which induces tolerance to syngeneic male grafts in WT mice, fails to induce tolerance in C1qa(−/−) or C3(−/−) mice. The rejection of the male grafts correlated with the presence of HY D(b)Uty-specific CD8(+) T cells. Consistent with this, peptide-treated C1qa(−/−) and C3(−/−) female mice rejecting male grafts exhibited more antigen-specific CD8(+)IFN-γ(+) and CD8(+)IL-10(+) cells compared with WT females. This suggests that accumulation of IFN-γ- and IL-10-producing T cells may play a key role in mediating the ongoing inflammatory process and graft rejection. Interestingly, within the tolerized male skin grafts of peptide-treated WT mice, IFN-γ, C1q and C3 mRNA levels were higher compared to control female grafts. These results suggest that C1q and C3 facilitate the induction of intranasal tolerance

Population dynamics of cyanobacteria in alluvial rice grown soils of lower Brahmaputra floodplain

Abstract The present investigation was carried out to study the cyanobacterial diversity and population dynamics during different months in relation to soil physico-chemical parameters in various rice fields in alluvial flood plain of the Brahmaputra River. Altogether 71 species of cyanobacteria under 20 genera and 9 families were recorded. Among the species heterocystous filamentous were dominant (80%) over the other forms and Nostocaceae (54%) was predominant in all the three sites followed by Chroococcaceae (14%) and Rivulariaceae (13%) respectively. In case of population number it ranged in between 0.14±x10 4 /g to 9.35±9.68x10 4 /g of soil. It was recorded highest during July-August (monsoon season) followed by September-October (post monsoon), March-June (pre monsoon) and November-February (winter season) respectively. Principle component analysis (PCA) justified the seasonal pattern and identified close relation to soil parameters like temperature, moisture, pH, phosphorus and sodium. Pearson's correlation analysis also revealed significant negative correlation of cyanobacterial number with soil nitrogen, organic carbon and conductivity in the floodplain soils

Evaluating growth and biochemistry of Westiellopsis prolifica in response to Malathion

The present endeavour was aimed to investigate the chronic response of Westiellopsis prolifica to an organophosphate insecticide malathion at different concentrations 30, 60 and 90ppm. The influence of malathion on growth (biomass), pigments (chlorophyll-a, carotenoid), release of metabolites such as protein and carbohydrate was analysed for a period of 16 days under aseptic laboratory conditions. Results revealed enhancement in chlorophyll-a production at 30ppm on 4th day (p?0.05) and 8th day (p?0.05), from the day of inoculation. On the other hand, there was a significant decrease in the carotenoid, protein and carbohydrate content with increase in malathion concentration in a time and dose dependent manner. However, a little but insignificant increase in biomass was recorded on the 4th day at 30ppm concentration over the control. The study revealed that the reduction in biomass, protein and carbohydrate content with the increase of malathion concentrations was an indication of its toxicity to the test cyanobacterium which is one of the natural biofertilizers in the rice field ecosystem