The positive aspects of stress: strain initiates domain decondensation (SIDD).

The conventional string-based bioinformatic methods of genomic sequence analysis are often insufficient to identify DNA regulatory elements, since many of these do not have a recognizable motif. Even in case a sequence pattern is known to be associated with an element it may only partially mediate its function. This suggests that properties not correlated with the details of base sequence contribute to regulation. One of these attributes is the DNA strand-separation potential, known as SIDD (stress-induced duplex destabilization) which facilitates the access of tracking proteins and the formation of local secondary structures. Using the type 1 interferon gene cluster as a paradigm, we demonstrate that the imprints in a SIDD profile coincide with chromatin domain borders and with DNAse I hypersensitive sites to which regulatory potential could be assigned. The approach permits the computer-guided identification of yet unknown, mostly remote sites and the design of artificial elements with predictable properties for multiple applications.     

HSPB5 (αB-crystallin) confers protection against paraquat-induced oxidative stress at the organismal level in a tissue-dependent manner

Oxidative stress is one of the major and continuous stresses, an organism encounters during its lifetime. Tissues such as the brain, liver and muscles are more prone to damage by oxidative stress due to their metabolic activity, differences in physiological and adaptive processes. One of the defence mechanisms against continuous oxidative stress is a set of small heat shock proteins. αB-Crystallin/HSPB5, a small heat shock protein, gets upregulated under stress and acts as a molecular chaperone. In addition to acting as a molecular chaperone, HSPB5 is shown to have a role in other cytoprotective functions such as inhibition of apoptosis, prevention of oxidative stress and stabilisation of cytoskeletal system. Such protection in vivo, at the organism level, particularly in a tissue-dependent manner, has not been investigated. We have expressed HSPB5 in fat body (liver), neurons and specifically in dopaminergic and motor neurons in Drosophila and investigated its protective effect against paraquat-induced oxidative stress. We observed that expression of HSPB5 in neurons and fat body confers protection against paraquat-induced oxidative stress. Expression in dopaminergic neurons showed a higher protective effect. Our results clearly establish the protective ability of HSPB5 in vivo; the extent of protection, however, varies depending on the tissue in which it is expressed. Interestingly, neuronal expression of HSPB5 resulted in an improvement in negative geotropic behaviour, whereas specific expression in muscle tissue did not show such a beneficial effect.     

Host plant utilization by butterfly larvae in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Indian Ocean)

The larval food plants of the butterflies of the Andaman and Nicobar islands have not been studied, although the butterfly fauna per se is fairly well known. For the first time we report the food plants of the larvae of 120 species of butterflies from these islands on the basis of laboratory rearing and field studies. This information is essential for the formulation of management programmes for butterfly conservation on these islands which are known to harbour critical swallowtail and (possibly) danaine faunas.     

Time Dependent Strength and Stiffness of PCC Bottom Ash-Bentonite Mixtures

Utilization of bottom ash from burning of pulverized coal in construction-related applications has received some attention within the last decade. Its use in geotechnical engineering applications is still very limited, however. Within the last few years several studies have been completed to evaluate strength, stiffness, and durability properties of pulverized coal combustion (PCC) bottom ash mixed with various admixtures. Studies have shown that the physical properties of bottom ash obtained from burning of pulverized coal are similar to that of natural sand with particle sizes ranging from fine gravel to fine sand and low percentages of silt and clay sized particles. However, unlike sand, chemical composition of bottom ash results in change of strength and stiffness characteristics of the bottom ash-admixture mixtures with time. In this study, change in strength and stiffness characteristics of Illinois PCC bottom ash and bentonite mixtures with time are evaluated. A series of unconfined compression tests on bottom ash-bentonite mixtures at various curing ages was performed in the laboratory. Results presented show that strength and stiffness of bottom ash-bentonite mixtures changed significantly with time.