Molecular and morphological diversity in locally grown non-commercial (heirloom) mango varieties of North India

Mango (Mangifera indica L.) has been cultivated and conserved in different agro-ecologies including Malihabad region in northern part of India, that is well known for housing diverse types (heirloom and commercial varieties). In the present study, 37 mango types comprising of 27 heirloom varieties from Malihabad region and 10 commercial varieties grown in North and Eastern India were assessed for morphological attributes and molecular diversity. The employed SSR markers amplified 2-13 alleles individually, cumulatively amplifying 124 alleles. These were studied for allelic diversity and genetic dissimilarity ranged from 0.035 to 0.892 arranging the varieties in three major clusters. The results revealed that majority of unique heirloom mangoes from Malihabad were different from the eastern part of the country. It is interesting to note Dashehari, a commercial variety from Malihabad was not aligned with heirloom varieties. Commercial varieties like Gulabkhas and Langra were placed in a separate group including Bombay Green, Himsagar, Dashehari, etc., indicating their dissimilarity with heirloom varieties at molecular level and thus, indicating importance for later from conservation point of view. Furthermore, the hierarchical clustering of varieties based on fruit morphology, assembled these into four groups largely influenced by fruit size. The maximum agreement subtree indicated seemingly good fit as thirteen varieties were arrayed in common grouping pattern. Appreciable dissimilarity among the heirloom varieties demonstrated by molecular analysis, underlines the importance for their on-farm conservation

DRIVER BEHAVIOUR AND PERFORMANCES ON IN-VEHICLE DISPLAY BASED SPEED COMPLIANCE

Traffic Control Devices (TCDs) are integral to driver-to-infrastructure (D2I) and vehicleto- infrastructure (V2I) interactions. The non-conformation (or non-perception) with signage on the part of the driver leads to several compounded safety problems. The need exists for a more robust, low-cost, and user-centric mechanism of delivering information to the driver that can directly bear on the safety of the driver. Technology has now advanced to the point where we can deliver information from a real-world physical environment to the driver in a non-invasive manner using holographic display [1]. With this rapid advancement in-vehicle display (IVD) technology, the transportation industry must undergo a transition period before entering the world of connected and autonomous vehicles. Here, the integration of IVD in vehicles will play major role. The advantage here is the level of flexibility and control offered by dynamic IVD which allows us to provide very specific traffic control information to the driver at situations and epochs deemed appropriate. The research questions will be focused on how such safety-critical traffic control information (and what specific information) can be delivered effectively to the driver using dynamic IVD without causing any form of distraction or engagement related problems. Vehicles exceeding the posted speed limit present an optimal application. In regards to the hierarchy of TCDs, there is an urgent need for drivers to comply to speed limits. According to NHTSA, 26% of traffic fatalities in 2017 resulted from crashes where at least one of drivers’ was speeding [2]. In addition to this, the act of unintentional speeding has been identified in research as the most frequent driving violation [3]. This forms the primary objective, which is to investigate the driver behavior and compliance to IVD speed alerts. This research investigates the characteristics of visual cues that minimize the drivers’ perception time without adding to the redundant visual clutter at the same time accounting the safety aspects required in a driving environment. This research endeavor evaluated drivers in a controlled environment using a full-scale driving simulator with active in-vehicle displays and eye-tracking equipment. The experiment investigated driving parameters such as head/eye movements, vehicle handling measures, task-engagement behaviors, and physiological parameters. Ultimately, the goal of this study was to understand driver sign compliance with the implementation of IVD in the driving simulator environment. The results were helpful to gain a better understanding of drivers’ responsiveness depending on the nature of the cue

Anatomical variant origin of suprarenal arteries from coeliac trunk development, and its clinical significance

Background: One of the most vascular organ in the body Adrenal gland being highly variant in vasculature and tough to approach, its knowledge needs to be updated regularly. Anatomists, Surgeons and Radiologists will be benefitted with this study and improves the quality of care provided to patients by reducing morbidity and mortality.Methods: This study was done on 48 formalin fixed cadavers (33 males, 15 females) in the department of anatomy, between 2014-2019. Coeliac trunk was skeletonized, and branches traced looking for suprarenal arterial branches.Results: Superior Suprarenal Artery originated from Inferior phrenic artery in 13(27%) cases, and these Inferior phrenic arteries were arising from the Coeliac trunk, and in one (2.03%) case Superior suprarenal artery was arising directly from Coeliac trunk and which had even replaced the Middle Suprarenal Artery. None of the Middle and Inferior Suprarenal Artery came from coeliac trunk.Conclusions: Knowledge of Superior Suprarenal Arterial variations while doing surgeries, and during radiological interventions in and around the lesser sac, and involving the Coeliac trunk helps the clinicians in reducing the morbidity and mortality

Transcription of individual tRNA<SUP>Gly</SUP><SUB>1</SUB> genes from within a multigene family is regulated by transcription factor TFIIIB

Members of a tRNA1Gly multigene family from the silkworm Bombyx mori have been classified based on their transcriptions in homologous nuclear extracts, into three groups of highly, moderately and poorly transcribed genes. Because all these gene copies have identical coding sequences and consequently identical promoter elements (the A and B boxes), the flanking sequences modulate their expression levels. Here we demonstrate the interaction of transcription factor TFIIIB with these genes and its role in regulating differential transcriptions. The binding of TFIIIB to the poorly transcribed gene tRNA1Gly-6,7 was less stable compared with binding of TFIIIB to the highly expressed copy, tRNA1Gly-1. The presence of a 5' upstream TATA sequence closer to the coding region in tRNA1Gly-6,7 suggested that the initial binding of TFIIIC to the A and B boxes sterically hindered anchoring of TFIIIB via direct interactions, leading to lower stability of TFIIIC-B-DNA complexes. Also, the multiple TATATAA sequences present in the flanking regions of this poorly transcribed gene successfully competed for TFIIIB reducing transcription. The transcription level could be enhanced to some extent by supplementation of TFIIIB but not by TATA box binding protein. The poor transcription of tRNA1Gly-6,7 was thus attributed both to the formation of a less stable transcription complex and the sequestration of TFIIIB. Availability of the transcription factor TFIIIB in excess could serve as a general mechanism to initiate transcription from all the individual members of the gene family as per the developmental needs within the tissue

Optimizing epilepsy treatment in children, adults and elderly: clinical perspectives

Epilepsy is a common neurological condition among all age groups. Its diagnosis depends on clinical history and is supported by investigations like electroencephalograph and magnetic resonance imaging. In children, febrile seizures and juvenile myoclonic seizures are common. In adults and elderly, epilepsy could be new onset or present since childhood. Several antiseizure medications (ASMs) are available for treatment of epilepsy. Each of these drugs has different advantages as well as limitations. Several factors including patient related factors (e. g. age, comorbidities, and gender), seizure characteristics and epilepsy type, and drug related factors (namely, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, efficacy, side effects, and risk of drug-drug interactions) are considered while selecting drug therapy. There are concerns related to teratogenicity due to pharmacotherapy in females of child-bearing potential. Elderly patients also need special considerations while selecting an appropriate treatment option for epilepsy. Advisory board meetings with a group of expert neurologists were conducted at eight cities across India to gain clinical insights on management of epilepsy in different age groups. Consensus was supported by relevant literature obtained from PubMed and Google scholar using the keywords ‘epilepsy’, ‘diagnosis’, ‘children’, ‘adults’, ‘elderly’, and ‘management’. According to the experts, choice of appropriate ASM is driven by patient- and drug-related factors and seizure characteristics. In India, valproate remains a commonly prescribed agent except in females of childbearing age. Levetiracetam is preferred because of its safety profile whereas clobazam is an effective initial add-on therapy. Newer drugs are largely useful as adjuvants

COVID-19 progression, frailty, and use of prolonged continuous positive airway pressure as a ward-based treatment: Lessons to be learnt from a case

© 2021 Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications. All rights reserved. Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) poses the greatest public health threat in 100 years, with cases rising rapidly in many countries around the world. We report a case of a 78-year-old female who exhibited a biphasic course of COVID-19; showing initial clinical improvement followed by deterioration before making a full recovery. The patient was managed with prolonged continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and supportive care. In total, 24 days of treatment with CPAP was administered. We emphasize the role of CPAP in the management of severely hypoxemic patients who are inappropriate for mechanical ventilation and describe the role of adequate nutrition and hydration for such patients

Thermal expansion study of a uvarovite rich garnet

Thermal expansion measurements have been performed on a uvarovite rich garnet sample for the first time and compared with the expansion data on grossular and pyrope-rich garnets reported in the literature. A semiclassical model has been used to analyze the data and to obtain various thermodynamic parameters. Using these parameters, the lattice specific heat and the corresponding entropy have also been calculated. © World Scientific Publishing Company