Prostanoid receptor 2 signaling protects T helper 2 cells from BALB/c mice against activation-induced cell death

T helper 2 (Th2) cells play a central role in the progression of many diseases such as allergic airway inflammation, autoimmune diseases, and infections caused by intracellular pathogens. Consequently, animals such as BALB/c mice, which exhibit a propensity for generating Th2 responses, are susceptible to allergic airway inflammation, type-II autoimmune diseases, and various infections induced by intracellular pathogens, namely, Leishmania. In contrast, C3H/OuJ mice have a tendency for generating T helper 1 (Th1) responses and show resistance to these diseases. Here, we show that prostaglandin endoperoxide E2 selectively inhibits activation-induced cell death of Th2 cells by signaling through its receptor E-prostanoid receptor 2 (EP2). Consequently, Th2 cells derived from BALB/c mice expressed very high levels of EP2. On the other hand, Th2 cells derived from C3H/OuJ mice expressed very low levels of EP2, which failed to support the survival of Th2 cells. Furthermore, we found that this effect of EP2 on Th2 cells from BALB/c mice was executed by a granzyme B-mediated mechanism. EP2 belongs to a group of G-protein-coupled receptors that are amenable to therapeutic targeting. Our findings therefore identify EP2 as a promising target for small molecule-directed immunomodulation

Global phase diagram of charge neutral graphene in the quantum Hall regime for generic interactions

Monolayer graphene at charge neutrality in a quantizing magnetic field is a quantum Hall ferromagnet. Due to the spin and valley (near) degeneracies, there is a plethora of possible ground states. Previous theoretical work, based on a stringent ultra short-range assumption on the symmetry-allowed interactions, predicts a phase diagram with distinct regions of spin-polarized, canted antiferromagnetic, inter-valley coherent, and charge density wave order. While early experiments suggested that the system was in the canted antiferromagnetic phase at a perpendicular field, recent scanning tunneling studies universally find Kekul\'e bond order, and sometimes also charge density wave order. Recently, it was found that if one relaxes the stringent assumption mentioned above, a phase with coexisting canted antiferromagnetic and Kekul\'e order exists in the region of the phase diagram believed to correspond to real samples. In this work, starting from the continuum limit appropriate for experiments, we present the complete phase diagram of $\nu=0$ graphene in the Hartree-Fock approximation, using generic symmetry-allowed interactions, assuming translation invariant ground states up to an intervalley coherence. Allowing for a sublattice potential (valley Zeeman coupling), we find numerous phases with different types of coexisting order. We conclude with a discussion of the physical signatures of the various states.Comment: 25 pages, 32 figure

Multi-environment field testing to identify stable sources of resistance to charcoal rot (Macrophomina phaseolina) disease in tropical maize germplasm

The charcoal rot caused by Macrophomina phaseolina is the devastating component of post flowering stalk rot (PFSR) complex which may cause 25 to 32 % yield loss in maize. Therefore for the first time, the study was carried out with multi-environments screening of 137 inbreds at three and 48 maize hybrids at six environments under artificially created epiphytotics at hot-spot locations to identify stable sources of charcoal rot resistance in Indian maize germplasm. Analysis of variance revealed strong effect of genotype by environment interaction on disease response and therefore indicated its complex nature. The mean disease score was ranging from 2.37 to 7.20 in inbreds, and 3.63 to 6.08 in hybrids. Additive main effects and multiplicative Interactions (AMMI) analysis could identifed, DQL1020, DML339, DML1, DQL1019, CM117-1-1 in inbreds and A-7501, CMH08-287, CMH08-292, BIO-562, and CMH08-350 in hybrids as stable sources of charcoal rot resistance. Each testing site viz., Ludhiana, Hyderabad and Delhi was identified as a separate test environment for screening against charcoal rot disease in India. In this study, AMMI model offers a good tool to assess the stability of genotypes and GGE biplot found an efficient tool to identify the mega environments in multi-environment testing. The identified sources of resistance in inbreds can be used in resistant breeding and hybrids can be recommended for cultivation in charcoal rot disease prone area

Grafting onto Natural Rubber: Part II-Benzoyl Peroxide Initiated Graft Copolymerization of Ethyl Acrylate & Butyl Acrylate & Comparison of Monomer Reactivities

601-60

Grafting onto Natural Rubber: Part I-Graft Copolymerization of Methyl Acrylate Using Radical Initiators

922-92

Giant tonsillolith – a case report

Tonsillolith or calculi of tonsil is unusual presentation of stone in tonsillar crypt. It commonly occurs between 20-77 years of age. Etiology of tonsillolith is multifactorial and not usually diagnosed. We describe a case of 32 years old male patient who presented with a 2 month history of mild odynophagia and was found to have a giant tonsillolith (2.9 x 2.6 x 2.3) cm in his right tonsil which was removed under local anaesthesia. We reviewed the literature on this rare clinical entity and found that this is amongst the largest ever reported cases of tonsillolith and first of its kind to be removed under local anaesthesia

Parametric Study of Jatropha Seeds for Biodiesel Production by Reactive Extraction

The purpose of the present study was to reduce the cost and increase the efficiency of biodiesel production by reactive extraction (in situ) of Jatropha seeds. Oil from the seeds was extracted and reacted in a single step. Experimental studies have been carried out to maximize the yield of biodiesel by varying the reaction parameters viz. seed size «0.85 rnrn to >2.46 mrn), seed/solvent ratio (w/w) (I :2.6·-1 :7.8) and catalyst concentration (0.05-0.1 M). Under the optimized conditions: seed size (>2.46 mrn), seed/solvent ratio (w/w) (I :7.8), catalyst concentration (0.1 M) and reaction time I h, approximately 98% conversion to biodiesel was achieved meeting International (ASTM) as well as National (ElS) specifications. The results were supported by HPLC analysis

Reactive-extraction of pongamia seeds for biodiesel production

822-828Biodiesel (FAME) was produced from Pongamia seeds (commonly known as Karanja) by reactive-extraction. Reactiveextraction involves contacting ground seeds directly with alcohol and catalyst i.e. without intervening extraction of the vegetable oil. This process has the potential to reduce cost by removing the need for capital and running cost-intensive steps such as oil extraction of seeds. Reaction parameters such as seed size (>2 mm to o<span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family: " times="" new="" roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"times="" roman";mso-ansi-language:="" en-in;mso-fareast-language:en-in;mso-bidi-language:ar-sa"="">C) and rate of mixing (250-550 rpm) were studied. The maximum 98.5% conversion to biodiesel was achieved at: seed size (<1 mm), seed/solvent ratio (wt/wt) (1:4), rate of mixing (550 rpm) at 60 <span style="font-size:5.5pt;font-family: " times="" new="" roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"times="" roman";mso-ansi-language:="" en-in;mso-fareast-language:en-in;mso-bidi-language:ar-sa"="">oC for 1 hr with 0.1 M catalyst (KOH) concentration, meeting International (ASTM) as well as National (BIS) specifications.</span

Genomics-Enabled Next-Generation Breeding Approaches for Developing System-Specific Drought Tolerant Hybrids in Maize

Breeding science has immensely contributed to the global food security. Several varieties and hybrids in different food crops including maize have been released through conventional breeding. The ever growing population, decreasing agricultural land, lowering water table, changing climate, and other variables pose tremendous challenge to the researchers to improve the production and productivity of food crops. Drought is one of the major problems to sustain and improve the productivity of food crops including maize in tropical and subtropical production systems. With advent of novel genomics and breeding tools, the way of doing breeding has been tremendously changed in the last two decades. Drought tolerance is a combination of several component traits with a quantitative mode of inheritance. Rapid DNA and RNA sequencing tools and high-throughput SNP genotyping techniques, trait mapping, functional characterization, genomic selection, rapid generation advancement, and other tools are now available to understand the genetics of drought tolerance and to accelerate the breeding cycle. Informatics play complementary role by managing the big-data generated from the large-scale genomics and breeding experiments. Genome editing is the latest technique to alter specific genes to improve the trait expression. Integration of novel genomics, next-generation breeding, and informatics tools will accelerate the stress breeding process and increase the genetic gain under different production systems

Comprehensive Study of Mukhapaka and its Modern Counterpart

Oral hygiene is very important for everybody’s health. Mukhapaka (stomatitis) is the disease that spreads throughout the mouth. It is the inflammation of mucous membrane of lips, tongue, and cheek. It is common problems faced by all persons. Though, it may seem like a minor problem but it inhibits the daily activities. Stomatitis occurs due to hot, spicy and greasy foods, smoking, tobacco chewing, several drugs, infections, Vitamin B12 deficiency etc. Ayurveda has described four types of Mukhapaka: Vataja, Pittaja, Kaphaja and Raktaja. Different types of Mukhapaka have different types of symptoms. Pain relievers, mouth washes, lotions, corticosteroids, Vit. B12 are used to treat stomatitis. In present era, world is looking at Ayurveda for its valuable contribution in the treatment of any ailment. Sarvasara Mukharogas are named as Mukhapaka, as they diffusely spread in the Mukha (oral cavity)