Chebyshev model arithmetic for factorable functions

This article presents an arithmetic for the computation of Chebyshev models for factorable functions and an analysis of their convergence properties. Similar to Taylor models, Chebyshev models consist of a pair of a multivariate polynomial approximating the factorable function and an interval remainder term bounding the actual gap with this polynomial approximant. Propagation rules and local convergence bounds are established for the addition, multiplication and composition operations with Chebyshev models. The global convergence of this arithmetic as the polynomial expansion order increases is also discussed. A generic implementation of Chebyshev model arithmetic is available in the library MC++. It is shown through several numerical case studies that Chebyshev models provide tighter bounds than their Taylor model counterparts, but this comes at the price of extra computational burden

Enhancement of Xanthan Biosynthesis Using Medicinal Herbs - A Novel Approach

This study aimed to evaluate the potential of five medicinal herbs in the enhancement of xanthan gum production when used against indigenously isolated (from molasses, an agricultural waste) phytopathogen Xanthomonas campestris MW741556. Antibiotic susceptibility of five medicinal herbs (Moringa oleifera, Bacopa monnieri, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Withania somnifera, and Arthrospira platensis) against X. campestris culture was first checked. All five herbs exhibited a clear zone of inhibition against X. campestris during the investigation. Thereafter their effect on enhancing the xanthan gum production was studied using molasses enriched medium. The results of this experiment showed that all five herbs were capable of enhancing xanthan gum production significantly. Xanthan gum produced differed in viscosity and dried biomass. Among all, A. platensis and M. oleifera were found to be the most promising for xanthan gum production with higher viscosity. These results were further confirmed by the characterization of xanthan gum produced by five herbs using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. Further, a multivariate approach using principal component analysis confirmed the variability among the herbs used. This versatility of these medicinal herbs opens the possibility of their utilization and application in various fields

Multicentre retrospective study of intravascular large B‐cell lymphoma treated at academic institutions within the United States

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/149677/1/bjh15923.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/149677/2/bjh15923_am.pd

Multilayer regulatory mechanisms control cleavage factor I proteins in filamentous fungi

Cleavage factor I (CFI) proteins are core components of the polyadenylation machinery that can regulate several steps of mRNA life cycle, including alternative polyadenylation, splicing, export and decay. Here, we describe the regulatory mechanisms that control two fungal CFI protein classes in Magnaporthe oryzae: Rbp35/CfI25 complex and Hrp1. Using mutational, genetic and biochemical studies we demonstrate that cellular concentration of CFI mRNAs is a limited indicator of their protein abundance. Our results suggest that several post-transcriptional mechanisms regulate Rbp35/CfI25 complex and Hrp1 in the rice blast fungus, some of which are also conserved in other ascomycetes. With respect to Rbp35, these include C-terminal processing, RGG-dependent localization and cleavage, C-terminal autoregulatory domain and regulation by an upstream open reading frame of Rbp35-dependent TOR signalling pathway. Our proteomic analyses suggest that Rbp35 regulates the levels of proteins involved in melanin and phenylpropanoids synthesis, among others. The drastic reduction of fungal CFI proteins in carbon-starved cells suggests that the pre-mRNA processing pathway is altered. Our findings uncover broad and multilayer regulatory mechanisms controlling fungal polyadenylation factors, which have profound implications in pre-mRNA maturation. This area of research offers new avenues for fungicide design by targeting fungal-specific proteins that globally affect thousands of mRNAs

Vitamin D status: A case study of Surat city

Vitamin D3, also known as cholecalciferol, is very important for overall health. Our body produces vitamin D3 naturally, whenever we get exposure to the sun. Therefore, people who are not in the habit of going out in the sun may have a deficiency of vitamin D3. The climate of Surat city is moderate with average temperatures of 37 degrees, 32 degrees and 23 degrees Celsius in summer, monsoon and winter, respectively, yet deficiency of vitamin D3 prevails in the population of the city. Vitamin D3 is a fat-soluble vitamin which helps the body to absorb calcium and phosphorus and is essential for building robust bone health. The studies available in the present literature are longitudinal in nature and most have small sample sizes. Therefore, in this paper, an attempt was made to give an idea of a picture regarding the level of vitamin D3 in the population of Surat city. Some of the major findings are: D3 level is found statistically significantly different age-wise as well as gender-wise.&nbsp

X-ray micrography and imaging of live Neisseria gonorrhea using laser plasma pulsed X-ray sources

Rapid Identification of infectious agents in clinical specimens is important in determination of appropriate therapy. Current procedures for detection of microbial pathogens require fixation-staining for optical microscopy, incubation for growth on selective media, and complete cell lysis for PCR. High resolution X-ray microscopy of live biological specimen is relatively new and restricted to a few synchrotron X-ray sources. We utilized a bench-top source of single-shot laser (nsec) plasma to generate X-rays similar to synchrotron facilities to image live hydrated cells (in 0.9% phosphate buffered saline). 5 aliquot suspension was placed on a small photoresist and covered with a thin (100nm) SiN window. This sealed specimen was positioned in vacuum close to X-ray source, the emission spectrum tuned for optimal absorption by carbon-rich material to etch an image on the resist. The resist was then scanned by an atomic force microscope to give an image of differential X-ray absorption. By this technique we have captured X-ray images (in 10 nanoseconds) of N.gonorrhea cells in their natural state. N.gonorrhea appear round and distinctly oval shaped, diplococci with a distinct division septum were also observed. This data exhibits potential application of real time X-ray microscopy, with no specimen preparation, in instant identification and study of live pathogenic microbes which need not be present in large numbers in the specimen

X-ray microscopy and imaging of Escherichia coli, LPS and DNA

Ultrastructural examination by transmission and scanning electron microscopy involves a series of specialized preparation steps which may introduce artefacts in the micrographs. X-ray microscopy can take instant images of specimens but is mostly restricted to a few synchrotron X-ray sources. We have utilized a bench-top nanosecond laser-plasma to produce a single-shot source of nanosecond X-rays tuned for maximum contrast with carbon-rich material. To examine the ultrastructure by absorption profiles, we utilized a laser-produced plasma generated by a single-shot laser (1.06 μm wavelength, 5 x 1012 W cm-2 intensity) focused on to a silicon target as an X-ray source for high-resolution X-ray microscopy. This approach eliminates the specimen preparation steps. Whole hydrated cells of Escherichia coli and purified preparations of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and chromosomal DNA (cDNA) were streaked onto poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)- coated grids (resist). This resist was exposed to X-rays under vacuum at a distance of 2.5 cm from the target disc. The silicon plasma produced by a 10- ns burst of laser energy (at 20 J) radiates strong emission lines in the region of 300 eV. The X-rays penetrate the sample and their absorption profile is transferred on to the resist where PMMA acts as a negative to generate an image. By atomic force microscopy imaging of this photoresist we have visualized layers around cells of E. coli, darker areas inside the coli probably corresponding to cDNA, and preliminary images of LPS and DNA molecules. This technique has resolution at the 100 Å level, produces images similar to the space-filling models of macromolecules and may be of great value in the study of the ultrastructure of hydrated live biological specimens