Toxic affects of chromium on some quality parameters of Sorghum bicolor (L.)

A pot experiment was conducted to determine the effects of varying Cr (VI) levels [0.0–4.0 mg Cr (VI) kg-1 soil in the form of potassium dichromate] on the some quality parameters of sorghum Sorghum bicolor (L.). Quality parameters was measured in terms of protein content, chlorophyll content, and IVDMD ( In vitro dry matter digestibility) content at different growth stages, i.e. 35 DAS, 70 DAS and 90 DAS (Days after sowing) that were adversely affected with an increase in Cr (VI) levels from 0.0 to 4.0 mg Cr (VI) kg-1 soil. The decline in protein content 4.67 g/ kg dry weight at T4 was observed as compared to control (T1) ( 8.96 g/kg dry weight basis) at 35 DAS in leaves , Total chlorophyll content declined from 3.25 mg g-1 fresh weight (T1) to 2.40 mg g-1 fresh weight (T4) at 35 DAS and IVDMD content declined from 43.60 to 33.60 per cent dry weight basis with increment in chromium concentration. It is concluded that Cr (VI) at higher doses (4.0 mg Cr (VI) kg-1 soil) adversly affects the quality parameters of Forage sorghum Sorghum bicolor (L.) however, quality parameters are responsible for nutritive value of sorghum Sorghum bicolor (L.)

Role of diffusion weighted MR imaging in differentiating benign from malignant prostate lesions

Background: The purpose of the study was to determine the diagnostic accuracy of diffusion weighted MR imaging and to propose a cut off ADC value in differentiating benign from malignant prostatic lesions considering histopathology as gold standard.Methods: It is a descriptive type of observational study done on 40 patients with clinical suspicion of prostate carcinoma and elevated PSA level more than 4ng/ml. The patients underwent Multiparametric prostate MRI and ADC values were calculated using ADC maps.Results: Of the 40 cases included in the study histopathology revealed a diagnosis of abscess (1), chronic prostatitis (2), BPH with chronic prostatitis (4), BPH (12), and malignancy (21). The mean and standard deviation (SD) of ADC values for the abscess (0.59), CP (0.83+0.16), BPH with CP (0.94+0.22), BPH (1.14+0.14) and malignancy (0.72+0.15) (x10-3mm2/s) were found in our study. The mean ADC value of malignant lesion was lower (0.727+0.149) as compare to benign lesion (1.034+0.216) and this difference was found to be statistically significant with p<0.001. By using ROC curve, ADC cut off value was calculated as 0.92 x 10-3mm2/s and sensitivity, specificity at this cut off value of ADC were 95.24% and 73.68% respectively. The PPV, NPV, diagnostic accuracy of at this cut off value of ADC were 80%, 93.33%, 85% respectively.Conclusions: Our study shows that DWI with ADC calculation helps in differentiation of Benign from Malignant prostatic lesions with high accuracy and this quantitative analysis should be incorporated in routine MRI evaluation of prostatic lesion

Glucose-induced down regulation of thiamine transporters in the kidney proximal tubular epithelium produces thiamine insufficiency in diabetes

Increased renal clearance of thiamine (vitamin B1) occurs in experimental and clinical diabetes producing thiamine insufficiency mediated by impaired tubular re-uptake and linked to the development of diabetic nephropathy. We studied the mechanism of impaired renal re-uptake of thiamine in diabetes. Expression of thiamine transporter proteins THTR-1 and THTR-2 in normal human kidney sections examined by immunohistochemistry showed intense polarised staining of the apical, luminal membranes in proximal tubules for THTR-1 and THTR-2 of the cortex and uniform, diffuse staining throughout cells of the collecting duct for THTR-1 and THTR-2 of the medulla. Human primary proximal tubule epithelial cells were incubated with low and high glucose concentration, 5 and 26 mmol/l, respectively. In high glucose concentration there was decreased expression of THTR-1 and THTR-2 (transporter mRNA: −76% and −53% respectively, p<0.001; transporter protein −77% and −83% respectively, p<0.05), concomitant with decreased expression of transcription factor specificity protein-1. High glucose concentration also produced a 37% decrease in apical to basolateral transport of thiamine transport across cell monolayers. Intensification of glycemic control corrected increased fractional excretion of thiamine in experimental diabetes. We conclude that glucose-induced decreased expression of thiamine transporters in the tubular epithelium may mediate renal mishandling of thiamine in diabetes. This is a novel mechanism of thiamine insufficiency linked to diabetic nephropathy

Integrating Association Mapping, Linkage Mapping, Fine Mapping with RNA Seq Conferring Seedling Vigor Improvement for Successful Crop Establishment in Deep Sown Direct-Seeded Rice

Background: Ongoing large-scale shift towards direct seeded rice (DSR) necessitates a convergence of breeding and genetic approaches for its sustenance and harnessing natural resources and environmental benefits. Improving seedling vigour remains key objective for breeders working with DSR. The present study aims to understand the genetic control of seedling vigour in deep sown DSR. Combined genome-wide association mapping, linkage mapping, fine mapping, RNA-sequencing to identify candidate genes and validation of putative candidate genes were performed in the present study. Results: Significant phenotypic variations were observed among genotypes in both F3:4:5 and BC2F2:3 populations. The mesocotyl length showed significant positive correlation with %germination, root and shoot length. The 881 kb region on chromosome 7 reported to be associated with mesocotyl elongation. RNA-seq data and RT-PCR results identified and validated seven potential candidate genes. The four promising introgression lines free from linkage drag and with longer mesocotyl length, longer root length, semi-dwarf plant height have been identified. Conclusion: The study will provide rice breeders (1) the pre breeding material in the form of anticipated DSR adapted introgression lines possessing useful traits and alleles improving germination under deep sown DSR field conditions (2) the base for the studies involving functional characterization of candidate genes. The development and utilization of improved introgression lines and molecular markers may play an important role in genomics-assisted breeding (GAB) during the pyramiding of valuable genes providing adaptation to rice under DSR. Our results offer a robust and reliable package that can contribute towards enhancing genetic gains in direct seeded rice breeding programs

Structural and functional insights into the candidate genes associated with different developmental stages of flag leaf in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Grain yield is one of the most important aims for combating the needs of the growing world population. The role of development and nutrient transfer in flag leaf for higher yields at the grain level is well known. It is a great challenge to properly exploit this knowledge because all the processes, starting from the emergence of the flag leaf to the grain filling stages of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), are very complex biochemical and physiological processes to address. This study was conducted with the primary goal of functionally and structurally annotating the candidate genes associated with different developmental stages of flag leaf in a comprehensive manner using a plethora of in silico tools. Flag leaf-associated genes were analyzed for their structural and functional impacts using a set of bioinformatics tools and algorithms. The results revealed the association of 17 candidate genes with different stages of flag leaf development in wheat crop. Of these 17 candidate genes, the expression analysis results revealed the upregulation of genes such as TaSRT1-5D, TaPNH1-7B, and TaNfl1-2B and the downregulation of genes such as TaNAP1-7B, TaNOL-4D, and TaOsl2-2B can be utilized for the generation of high-yielding wheat varieties. Through MD simulation and other in silico analyses, all these proteins were found to be stable. Based on the outcome of bioinformatics and molecular analysis, the identified candidate genes were found to play principal roles in the flag leaf development process and can be utilized for higher-yield wheat production. Copyright © 2022 Mehla, Kumar, Kapoor, Singh, Sihag, Sagwal, Balyan, Kumar, Ahalawat, Lakra, Singh, Pesic, Djalovic, Mir and Dhankher

Cells activated for wound repair have the potential to direct collective invasion of an epithelium.

Mechanisms regulating how groups of cells are signaled to move collectively from their original site and invade surrounding matrix are poorly understood. Here we develop a clinically relevant ex vivo injury invasion model to determine whether cells involved in directing wound healing have invasive function and whether they can act as leader cells to direct movement of a wounded epithelium through a three-dimensional (3D) extracellular matrix (ECM) environment. Similar to cancer invasion, we found that the injured cells invade into the ECM as cords, involving heterotypical cell-cell interactions. Mesenchymal cells with properties of activated repair cells that typically locate to a wound edge are present in leader positions at the front of ZO-1-rich invading cords of cells, where they extend vimentin intermediate filament-enriched protrusions into the 3D ECM. Injury-induced invasion depends on both vimentin cytoskeletal function and MMP-2/9 matrix remodeling, because inhibiting either of these suppressed invasion. Potential push and pull forces at the tips of the invading cords were revealed by time-lapse imaging, which showed cells actively extending and retracting protrusions into the ECM. This 3D injury invasion model can be used to investigate mechanisms of leader cell-directed invasion and understand how mechanisms of wound healing are hijacked to cause disease

Floral and reproductive biology of Sarpagandha <i>Rauvolfia serpentine</i> (Gentianales: Apocynaceae) in semi-arid environment of India

Sarpagandha plant Rauvolfia serpentina (Linn.) Benth., ex Kurz bears small, tubular white to pinkish flowers with gamopetalous corolla, containing nectar deep at the base of the corolla tube. Psychophilous mode of pollination appears to be prevalent. Flowering occurs during two summer months. Anthesis takes place in the morning when atmospheric temperature ranges from 25-29 0C, and anther dehiscence from 28-31 0C. Flower longevity is for a little more than two days. Nectar is produced on both the days of flower opening, and over a wide range of ambient temperature (29-44 0C). Flowers are protogynous preventing selfing. Pollen viability and stigmatic receptivity are for a short duration. When compared with the absolute reproductive potential, the realized reproductive potential is very low

A review: sustainable compressive strength properties of concrete mix with replacement by marble powder

Purpose: Over the years, various experiments have been performed to investigate the impact of marble powder within the concrete mixture. In the present study, a review has been done to check the persistence of marble dirt as the substitute for concrete constituents. Design/methodology/approach: Furthermore, the impact of marble powder as a replacement of cement and aggregates were reviewed. By reviewing previous studies, the result indicates that the use of waste marble powder in cement and aggregate was adequate to a certain range. Findings: By replacing cement with marble powder in a range between 5% to 10% by weight, it increases the compressive strength of concrete mix by 11.30% to 24.56%, compared to the nominal mix. According to the study, any further increase in the amount of marble powder in place of cement i.e, 12.5% to 20% replacement by weight, results in the reduction of compressive strength of concrete mix by 7.5% to 26.01%. Replacement of aggregates from 5% to 75% with marble powder increases the compressive strength of about 3.22% to 23.91% as compared to the nominal mix. Research limitations/implications: It was also concluded from the current study that, to obtain higher compressive strength, it is advantageous to replace fine aggregates with marble powder than the replacement of cement with the marble powder