Docking Simulation and Anti-Inflammatory Profile of Some Synthesized Heterodimer of Pyrazole

Russian Journal of Bioorganic Chemistry - In the present studies, novel pyrazole derivatives have been synthesized linked through various linkers for the anti-inflammatory evaluation. The...     

Molecular Assortment of Lens Species with Different Adaptations to Drought Conditions Using SSR Markers

The success of drought tolerance breeding programs can be enhanced through molecular assortment of germplasm. This study was designed to characterize molecular diversity within and between Lens species with different adaptations to drought stress conditions using SSR markers. Drought stress was applied at seedling stage to study the effects on morpho-physiological traits under controlled condition, where tolerant cultivars and wilds showed 12.8–27.6% and 9.5–23.2% reduction in seed yield per plant respectively. When juxtaposed to field conditions, the tolerant cultivars (PDL-1 and PDL-2) and wild (ILWL-314 and ILWL-436) accessions showed 10.5–26.5% and 7.5%–15.6% reduction in seed yield per plant, respectively under rain-fed conditions. The reductions in seed yield in the two tolerant cultivars and wilds under severe drought condition were 48–49% and 30.5–45.3% respectively. A set of 258 alleles were identified among 278 genotypes using 35 SSR markers. Genetic diversity and polymorphism information contents varied between 0.321–0.854 and 0.299–0.836, with mean value of 0.682 and 0.643, respectively. All the genotypes were clustered into 11 groups based on SSR markers. Tolerant genotypes were grouped in cluster 6 while sensitive ones were mainly grouped into cluster 7. Wild accessions were separated from cultivars on the basis of both population structure and cluster analysis. Cluster analysis has further grouped the wild accessions on the basis of species and sub-species into 5 clusters. Physiological and morphological characters under drought stress were significantly (P = 0.05) different among microsatellite clusters. These findings suggest that drought adaptation is variable among wild and cultivated genotypes. Also, genotypes from contrasting clusters can be selected for hybridization which could help in evolution of better segregants for improving drought tolerance in lentil.     

Photoinhibition, bleaching susceptibility and mortality in two scleractinian corals, Platygyra ryukyuensis and Stylophora pistillata, in response to thermal and light stresses

In the present study, we examined the effect of thermal stress on the photoinhibitory light threshold in a bleaching susceptible (Stylophora pistillata) and a bleaching resistant (Platygyra ryukyuensis) coral. Four light (0, 110, 520, 1015 micromol quantam(-2)s(-1)) and three temperature (26, 32 and 34 degrees C) conditions were used over a 3-h period, followed by 24- and 48-h recovery periods at approximately 21 degrees C under dim light. Dynamic photoinhibition could be detected in both P. ryukyuensis and S. pistillata under 520 and 1015 micromol quantam(-2)s(-1) at 26 degrees C and under 110 micromol quantam(-2)s(-1) at 32 degrees C only in S. pistillata. Chronic photoinhibition was recorded under 520 and 1015 micromol quantam(-2)s(-1) at 34 degrees C in P. ryukyuensis, and under 1015 micromol quantam(-2)s(-1) at 32 degrees C and under all light levels at 34 degrees C in S. pistillata. These results show that high temperature reduced the threshold light intensity for photoinhibition differently in two corals with different bleaching susceptibilities under thermal stress. No visual paling and mortality in P. ryukyuensis was observed at any treatment, even in chronically photoinhibited specimens, while paling and high mortality of S. pistillata was noted in all treatments, apart from samples at 26 degrees C. These observations suggest a potential role of the host in differential bleaching and mortality determination.     

Novel plant-microbe rhizosphere interaction involving Streptomyces lydicus WYEC108 and the pea plant (Pisum sativum)

A previously undescribed plant-microbe interaction between a root-colonizing Streptomyces species, S. lydicus WYEC108, and the legume Pisum sativum is described. The interaction is potentially of great importance to the health and growth in nature of this nodulating legume. The root-colonizing soil actinomycete S. lydicus WYEC108 influences pea root nodulation by increasing root nodulation frequency, possibly at the level of infection by Rhizobium spp. S. lydicus also colonizes and then sporulates within the surface cell layers of the nodules. Colonization leads to an increase in the average size of the nodules that form and improves the vigor of bacteroids within the nodules by enhancing nodular assimilation of iron and possibly other soil nutrients. Bacteroid accumulation of the carbon storage polymer, poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate, is reduced in colonized nodules. Root nodules of peas taken from agricultural fields in the Palouse hills of northern Idaho were also found to be colonized by actinomycete hyphae. We hypothesize that root and nodule colonization is one of several mechanisms by which Streptomyces acts as a naturally occurring plant growth-promoting bacterium in pea and possibly other leguminous plants.     

Food Choices and Consequences for the Nutritional Status: Insights into Nutrition Transition in an Hospital Community

Introduction

Although economic development is generally accompanied by improvements in the overall nutritional status of the country’s population the ‘nutritional transition’ often involves a shift to high energy diets and less exercise with negative consequences. This pilot study was done to examine if education of parents operates at the household level to influence dietary choices and the nutritional status of children in a small community of hospital workers.

Material and Methods

3 groups of persons with varying skill and education levels participated. Weighed food logs were used in all households to calculate ‘adult equivalent’ per-capita-consumption. Nutrients were calculated using nutrients calculator software. BMI was used to classify children as underweight, normal weight and overweight.

Results

128 individuals participated from 30 families included 47 children. 10 children (21%) were underweight, 29 (62%) were normal and 8 (17%) were overweight. Energy consumption was highest in families with overweight children 2692 +/-502 compared to 2259 +/-359 in families with normal weight and 2031+/-354 in the family of underweight children. These differences were statistically significant. 42% underweight children belonged to Class 1 at the lowest skill level and there were no overweight children in this group. Most of the overweight children belonged to Class 2. In Class 3 there were no underweight children and the majority was normal weight children.

Conclusion

Underweight children came from the poorer households. Per capita intake of the family as a whole correlated well with BMI in the children. There was increased obesity in middle income families belonging to Class 2—probably in families who move up the scale from deprivation. Nutritional status in children correlated mostly with maternal education status.     

Development of mixed inoculum for methane enriched biogas production

Inocula were collected from four different sources such as Jajmau tannery waste treatment plant (ITW), Jajmau municipal waste treatment (IMW), Unnao distillery (IDW) and a batch reactor, in which the sludge of a field scale biogas reactor was added to cow dung slurry to develop inoculum (IBS). A combination of these mixed inocula were used for biogas production at 35°C in laboratory scale reactor (10 L capacity) and the average yield of biogas (0.547 Lg^?1 volatile solid (VS)) and methane (0.323 Lg^?1VS) in 41 d was higher in case of mixed inoculum IMW ₁ (IMW+IBS), with maximum methane content in biogas (68% during 27–30 d), as compared to other mixed inocula as well as control i.e. ITW ₁ (ITW+IBS), IDW₁ (IDW+IBS) and IBS. The corresponding yields of gas were biogas (0.505, 0.536 and 0.456 Lg^?1VS), methane (0.288, 0.305, and 0.245 Lg^?1VS) where as, the corresponding maximum methane content in biogas was 62% during 29–33d, 64% during 29–33 d and 62% during 27–29 d in ITW₁, IDW₁ and IBS.     

Type II phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase(s) in cell signaling cascades

Phosphorylated derivatives of phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns) are key components of many signaling cascades. Many isoforms of PtdIns kinases, PtdIns phosphate kinases and phosphatases use these lipids in amazing networks of signaling cascades that are yet to be understood fully. PtdIns 4-kinase(s) phosphorylates PtdIns at the 4th -OH position of inositol head group and are classified in to type II and III PtdIns 4-kinases. While type III PtdIns 4-kinases are implicated in vesicular trafficking, type II PtdIns 4-kinases are suggested to play a role in cell signaling, cytoskeletal rearrangements, cell motility and in microbial pathogenicity. This paper reviews the role of type II PtdIns 4-kinases in cell signaling cascades in health and disease.