A temporal hidden Markov regression model for the analysis of gene regulatory networks

We propose a novel hierarchical hidden Markov regression model for determining gene regulatory networks from genomic sequence and temporally collected gene expression microarray data. The statistical challenge is to simultaneously determine the groupings of genes and subsets of motifs involved in their regulation, when the groupings may vary over time, and a large number of potential regulators are available. We devise a hybrid Monte Carlo methodology to estimate parameters under 2 classes of latent structure, one arising due to the unobservable state identity of genes and the other due to the unknown set of covariates influencing the response within a state. The effectiveness of this method is demonstrated through a simulation study and an application on an yeast cell-cycle data set.     

New AZT analogues having 5'-alkylsulfonyl groups: synthesis and anti-HIV activity

New derivatives of azidothymidine (AZT) substituted by alkyl and alkylsulphonyl groups at N-3 and C-5', respectively, have been synthesized. The new synthesized derivatives showed remarkable anti-HIV-1 and HIV-2 activity in MT-4 cells. Compounds 8 and 10 have IC(50) values of 0.83 and 0.31 microg/mL against HIV-1 with therapeutic index of 83 and 403, respectively, and IC(50) values of 0.93 and 0.29 microg/mL against HIV-2 with therapeutic index of 74 and 431, respectively. This means that compounds 8 and 10 were cytotoxic to MT-4 cells at CC(50) of 69.2 microg/mL and 125 microg/mL, respectively.     

Synthesis of 1,2,4-triazole C-nucleosides from hydrazonyl chlorides and nitriles

A series of 1,3-diaryl-5-(2,3,5-tri-O-benzoyl-beta-D-ribofuranosyl)-1H-1,2,4-triazole nucleosides (3a-f) were synthesized via the intermolecular cyclization of hydrazonyl chlorides with peracylated ribofuranosyl cyanide catalyzed by Yb(OTf)3 or AgNO3, respectively. Similarly, the 1,2,4-triazole of glucopyranosyl C-nucleosides 5a,b were prepared from the hydrazonyl chlorides and the nitrile 4. Alternatively, the 1,2,4-triazole N-nucleoside 8 was obtained from cyclization of the unsymmetrical bis[alpha-(4-methoxyphenyl)aminobenzylidene]-hydrazine with peracylated 1-amino-D-manno-pentitol.     

Identification of QTLs for Yield and Associated Traits in F₂ Population of Rice

Identification of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) controlling yield and yield-related traits in rice was performed in the F₂ mapping population derived from parental rice genotypes DHMAS and K343. A total of 30 QTLs governing nine different traits were identified using the composite interval mapping (CIM) method. Four QTLs were mapped for number of tillers per plant on chromosomes 1 (2 QTLs), 2 and 3; three QTLs for panicle number per plant on chromosomes 1 (2 QTLs) and 3; four QTLs for plant height on chromosomes 2, 4, 5 and 6; one QTL for spikelet density on chromosome 5; four QTLs for spikelet fertility percentage (SFP) on chromosomes 2, 3 and 5 (2 QTLs); two QTLs for grain length on chromosomes 1 and 8; three QTLs for grain width on chromosomes1, 3 and 8; three QTLs for 1000-grain weight (TGW) on chromosomes 1, 4 and 8 and six QTLs for yield per plant (YPP) on chromosomes 2 (3 QTLs), 4, 6 and 8. Most of the QTLs were detected on chromosome 2, so further studies on chromosome 2 could help unlock some new chapters of QTL for this cross of rice variety. Identified QTLs elucidating high phenotypic variance can be used for marker-assisted selection (MAS) breeding. Further, the exploitation of information regarding molecular markers tightly linked to QTLs governing these traits will facilitate future crop improvement strategies in rice.     

Impact of nano-zinc-oxide as an alternative source of zinc in date palm culture media

Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture (PCTOC) - Leaf chlorosis is often a problem in micropropagated Rubus idaeus, which makes successful acclimatization difficult. We found that...     

Retraction Note: Acaricidal and pathogenic effects of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana on engorged females of the fowl tick,Argas persicus (Argasidae)

Experimental and Applied Acarology -     

Transcriptome Profile of a Long-Juvenile Soybean Genotype Huaxia-3 Under Short and Long Photoperiod

Plant Molecular Biology Reporter - The j allele delays flowering and enhances yield of long juvenile (LJ) soybean under short day (SD) condition. However, the underlying mechanism of j in flowering...     

First volumetric records of airborne Cladosporium and Alternaria spores in the atmosphere of Al Khor (northern Qatar): a preliminary survey

Aerobiologia - Daily monitoring of airborne fungal spores was carried out for the first time in Al Khor city, Qatar, using a Hirst type 7-day recording volumetric spore trap, from May 2017 to May...     

Influence of force fields on the selective diffusion of para-xylene over ortho-xylene in 10-ring zeolites

A molecular dynamics study of diffusion of p-xylene and o-xylene has been performed over three different pure silica 10-ring zeolites, MFI, SFG and TUN. The shape selective properties of the frameworks of these three materials have been tested using four different types of force fields commonly used based on united atom, rigid-ion and core-shell approximations. The performance of each force field is analysed in order to find which force fields can give sufficiently accurate estimations that allow to select appropriate zeolites for selective separation of para/ortho xylene. This performance was found to depend on the quality of the structural properties of the zeolite, in particular the size and shape of the 10 rings which act as bottlenecks for the diffusion. The computational results allow us to define some optimum characteristics for the selective diffusion of p-xylene.