Characterization of endoreplicated nuclei in Arabidopsis thaliana

A model plant, Arabidopsis thaliana, duplicates its chromosomes without cell division, in a process known as endoreplication. The primary objective of this study was to identify genes and proteins that specifically accumulate in endoreplicated nuclei in Arabidopsis thaliana. Analysis of nuclei sorted by fluorescent activated cell sorter (FACS) revealed that ploidy levels and nuclear volume were positively correlated. However, the protein amounts among 2C, 4C, and 8C nuclei had no significant differences. This indicated a decrease of the protein concentration in endoreplicated nuclei. In contrast, the RNA amount in the 8C nuclei was 1.3- and 1.4-fold higher than that in the 4C and 2C nuclei, respectively. This suggested an increase of RNA after the second round of endoreplication. The secondary objective was to identify the biological function of unique domains found in Arabidopsis topoisomerase VI subunit B (AtTopVIB) that contributes to endoreplication. Using the AtTopVIB amino acid sequence and protein database search engine, I identified two unique domains to which I designated the insertion of the N-terminal domain (IND) and the extension in the C-terminal domain (ECD). These domains are well conserved between Arabidopsis and Oryza sativa (rice) but very unique in the entire family. Towards understanding the biological function of these domains, I analyzed the localization of AtTopVIB in Arabidopsis protoplasts with yellow-fluorescent protein (YFP). The results indicated that AtTopVIB was localized in the nucleus. Also, I analyzed AtTopVIB self interaction in Arabidopsis protoplasts using split-luciferase. The results indicated a weak self interaction of AtTopVIB. These results suggested that the IND and ECD may be involved in the localization or self-interaction of AtTopVIB in Arabidopsis cells

An Evaluation of the Performance of Government of Pakistan

The use of social and economic indicators to evaluate and rank governments’ performance is often found in literature. The Anglo-Commonwealth and Scandinavian countries rest on the surveillance of work in the various ministries. This performance accounting approach thus becomes crucial for any regime to perform superlatively to their predecessors and thus it provides the basis to suggest why it is important to inspect governance of a government. Government’s efficacy also depends on the magnitude of the welfare that it is able to achieve. Debate on welfare is dated back to Adam Smith at-least. Now the question is what should be the welfare gauging indicators. We understand that, issues related to poverty, land utilisation, agriculture and industrial sectors, health services, education, growth rate of national income, per capita income, employment, etc. are important factors that can explain welfare status of a nation. Thus by developing an index based on performance in these areas, various political regimes can be evaluated and ranked. These evaluations and rankings set standards for future governments to improve. Thus these studies can be useful for developing and improving social welfare standards

MARINE: Man-in-the-middle attack resistant trust model IN connEcted vehicles

Vehicular Ad-hoc NETwork (VANET), a novel technology holds a paramount importance within the transportation domain due to its abilities to increase traffic efficiency and safety. Connected vehicles propagate sensitive information which must be shared with the neighbors in a secure environment. However, VANET may also include dishonest nodes such as Man-in-the-Middle (MiTM) attackers aiming to distribute and share malicious content with the vehicles, thus polluting the network with compromised information. In this regard, establishing trust among connected vehicles can increase security as every participating vehicle will generate and propagate authentic, accurate and trusted content within the network. In this paper, we propose a novel trust model, namely, Man-in-the-middle Attack Resistance trust model IN connEcted vehicles (MARINE), which identifies dishonest nodes performing MiTM attacks in an efficient way as well as revokes their credentials. Every node running MARINE system first establishes trust for the sender by performing multi-dimensional plausibility checks. Once the receiver verifies the trustworthiness of the sender, the received data is then evaluated both directly and indirectly. Extensive simulations are carried out to evaluate the performance and accuracy of MARINE rigorously across three MiTM attacker models and the bench-marked trust model. Simulation results show that for a network containing 35% MiTM attackers, MARINE outperforms the state of the art trust model by 15%, 18%, and 17% improvements in precision, recall and F-score, respectively.N/A

Synthesis of Functionalized Triarylmethanes based on Cyclocondensations of 1,3-Bis(silyloxy)-1,3-butadienes, One-Pot Synthesis of Functionalized Pyranones and Synthesis of Functionalized Indoles and Pyrroles based on Pd(0)-Catalyzed Reactions

Dianions and masked dianions represent important building blocks for the regioselective formation of carbon-carbon bonds. Cyclocondensation reactions of 1,3-bis(silyl enol ethers) with different mono(silyl enol ethers) provide an elegant approach for the synthesis of various complex carba-cycles from simple starting materials. A variety of functionalized and sterically encumbered triarylmethanes are prepared by combination of FeCl3-catalyzed benzylations of 1,3-diketones and formal [3+3] cyclocondensation reactions of mashed dianions. In this context, 4-methoxy-, 4-chloro and 4-fluoro-substituted triarylmethanes are prepared. Furthermore, dianions were converted to pyranones by reaction with functionalized benzaldehydes. Various pyranones were synthesized containing 3-bromo-, 4-methyl-, 4-phenyl-, 4-methoxy- and 4-hydoxy-substituted phenyl groups.Dianionen und maskierte Dianionen sind wichtige Bausteine für die regioselektive Bildung von Kohlenstoff-Kohlenstoff-Bindungen. Cyclocondensationsreaktionen der 1,3-Bis(silylenolether) mit verschiedenen Mono(silylenolethern) stellen ein elegantes Konzept für die Synthese von komplexen CarbaCyclen aus einfachen Ausgangsmaterialien dar. Eine Vielzahl von funktionalisierten und sterisch gehinderten Triarylmethanen wurde durch die Kombination von FeCl3-katalysierten Benzylierungen von 1,3-Diketonen mit formalen [3+3] Cyclocondensationsreaktionen von maskierten Dianionen mit 3-Benzyl-1-silyloxy-1-en-3-onen dargestellt. In diesem Zusammenhang wurden 4-methoxy-, 4-chlor- und 4-fluor-substituierte Triarylmethane synthetisiert. Weiterhin wurden die Dianionen durch einen neuen Syntheseansatz mit funktionalisierten Benzaldehyden in wertvolle cyclische Pyranon-Strukturen überführt. Es wurden verschiedene Pyranone mit 3-Brom-, 4-Methyl-, 4-Phenyl-, 4-Methoxy und 4-Hydroxyphenyl-Gruppen synthetisiert

PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING OF DIFFERENT ROOT EXTRACTS OF Ageratum conyzoides AND THEIR POTENTIAL BIOACTIVE PROPERTIES

The present study was conducted to determine different classes of secondary metabolites of Ageratum conyzoides root extracts and to evaluate their antioxidant, antibacterial, and antifungal potentialities using various pathogenic fungal and different gram-positive/gram-negative bacterial strains. The roots powder was subjected to ultrasonic-assisted extraction with n-hexane, acetone, ethanol, and EtOH:H2O(1:1). The screening of phytochemicals indicated the existence of terpenoids, alkaloids, coumarins, sterols, flavonoids, and glycosides in the root extract of A. conyzoides. However, the absence of saponins, tannins, anthocyanidins, anthraquinones, and phlobatannins was observed. The results indicated a reasonable antibacterial (against gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria), and antifungal potential. The antibacterial activity of the ethanolic extract was highest against all four strains of bacteria and was also comparable to the standard medicines used. However, antifungal activity was highest in EtOH:H2O (1:1) extract. Moderate antioxidant properties were also demonstrated, favoring the importance of the roots of this plant from a medicinal point of view

Synthesis of Functionalized Triarylmethanes and Pyranones Based on Cyclization Reactions of Free and Masked Dianions and Regioselective Palladium(0)-Catalyzed Reactions of Functionalized Sulfones, Benzophenones, Pyrazoles, Indenones, and Furans

Functionalized triarylmethanes were prepared with [3+3] cyclization. 2,3-dihydro fluorinated and non fluorinated pyranones were prepared in one step strategy. The Regioselective Suzuki-Miyaura and Sonogashira reaction of the bis(triflates) of 2,4-dihydroxybenzophenone and ,2,4-dihydroxydiphenylsulfone and 2,3-Dibromoindenone with arylboronic acids gave 2,4-diarylbenzophenones and 2,3-dibromoindenone were also studied. Furthermore, The Suzuki-Miyaura reactions of N-protected 3,4,5-tribromopyrazole, 2,3,4,5-tetrabromofuran.Funktionalisierte Triarylmethane wurden durch [3+3]-Cyclisierungen dargestellt. Fluorierte 2,3-Dihydro- und nicht fluorierte pyranone wurden in einem Schritt. Regioselektive Suzuki-Miyaura- und Sonogashira-Reaktionen der Bistriflate des 2,4-Dihydroxybenzophenons und des 2,4′-Dihydroxydiphenylsulfones und 2,3-Dibromindenone. Die Suzuki-Miyaura-Reaktionen von N-geschützten 3,4,5-Tribrompyrazolen, 2,3,4,5-Tetrabromfuranen

THE VALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS BY UNANI PHYSICIANS IN QARABADIN (UNANI MATERIA MEDICA)

Qarabadin (Unani pharmacopoeias) have a rich armamentarium of natural drugs, consisting of mostly herbs but also materials of animal, mineral and marine origin. There are over 2,000 species of plants in the Unani Materia Medica of which many species of plants occurring in India found a place. In addition to treatises concerned just with medicinal substances, books were also composed listing recipes in which a number of medical substances would be compounded. Such medical formularies (Qarabadin) were usually arranged into Chapter concerned with a particular type of remedy, such as laxatives or salves or eye remedies, and some were prepared specifically for use in hospitals. There are many collections of different formularies in Qarabadins have been written by Unani physicians. The first true medical formulary ever created was al-Aqrabadhin written in Arabic by Sabur ibn Sahl (d. 869). The book included medical recipes stating the methods and techniques of compounding remedies, their pharmacological actions, the dosages, and the means of administration. The formulas are organized by the type of preparation to which they belong - i.e. tablets, powders, ointments, electuaries or syrups. Sabur's formulary-type compendium is unique in its organization and purposely written as a guidebook for pharmacists, whether for use in their own private drugstores or in hospital pharmacies. This article describes the contribution of eminent Unani Physicians, scholars, scientists and authors in development of Pharmacy

Cytotoxicity and antibacterial activity of fruits extracts of Xylopia aethiopica against some selected beta-lactamase producing bacteria

Xylopia aethiopica commonly known as the West African pepper tree is consumed as food condiment and also used traditionally in the treatment of cough, bronchitis, dysentery and female sterility. Air-dried and ground fruits of Xylopia aethiopica were extracted using ethanol and the recovered extract was partitioned to give chloroform, water, methanol and n-hexane fractions. The five extracts were screened for antibacterial activity against strains of β-lactamase producing bacteria: Escherichia coli, Proteus sp., and Klebsiella pneumonia as well as cytotoxicity against brine shrimp larvae. The result of the antibacterial screening showed that all the extracts exhibited selective activity against Proteus sp., the interface-2 demonstrated the highest activity with diameter of zone of inhibition of 14mm at 1000μg/disc. On the other hand, methanolic extract showed high cytotoxic activity in the brine shrimp lethality bioassay with LC50 value of 3.4μg/mland moderate antibacterial activity with diameter of zone of inhibition of 12mm at 1000μg/ml.Keywords: Xylopiaaethiopica; Extracts; antibacterial activity; β-lactamase producing bacteria; cytotoxicity; brine shrimp lethality bioassa