Genome-wide analysis and characterization of heat shock transcription factors (Hsfs) in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.).

Heat shock transcription factors (Hsfs) play an essential role as transcriptional regulatory proteins against heat stress by controlling the expression of heat-responsive genes. Common bean is a highly thermosensitive crop, and, therefore, its genome sequence information is segregated, characterized here in terms of heat shock transcription factors and its evolutionary significance. In this study, a complete comprehensive set of 29 non-redundant full-length Hsf genes were identified and characterized from Phaseolus vulgaris L. (PvHsf) genome sequence. Detailed gene information such as chromosomal localization, domain position, motif organization, and exon-intron identification were analyzed. All the 29 PvHsf genes were mapped on 8 out of 11 chromosomes, indicating the gene duplication occurred in the common bean genome. Motif analysis and exon-intron structure were conserved in each group, which showed that the cytoplasmic proteins highly influence the conserved structure of PvHsfs and heat-induced response. The HSF genes were grouped into three classes, i.e., A to C and 14 groups, based on structural features and phylogenetic relationships. Only one pair of paralog sequences suggests that it may be derived from the duplication event during evolution. A comparative genomics study indicated the influence of whole-genome duplication and purifying selection on the common bean genome during development. In silico expression analysis showed the active role of class A and B family during abiotic stress conditions and higher expression in floral organs. The qRT-PCR analysis revealed PvHSFA8 as the master regulator and PvHSFB1A and PvHSFB2A induction during heat exposure in French beans.

Consensus & Evidence-based INOSA Guidelines 2014 (First edition).

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) are subsets of sleep-disordered breathing. Awareness about OSA and its consequences amongst the general public as well as the majority of primary care physcians across India is poor. This necessiated the development of the INdian initiative on Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (INOSA) guidelines under the auspices of Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India. OSA is the occurrence of an average five or more episodes of obstructive respiratory events per hour of sleep with either sleep related symptoms or comorbidities or ≥ 15 such episodes without any sleep related symptoms or comorbidities. OSAS is defined as OSA associated with daytime symptoms, most often excessive sleepiness. Patients undergoing routine health check-up with snoring, daytime sleepiness, obesity, hypertension, motor vehicular accidents and high risk cases should undergo a comprehensive sleep evaluation. Medical examiners evaluating drivers, air pilots, railway drivers and heavy machinery workers should be educated about OSA and should comprehensively evaluate applicants for OSA. Those suspected to have OSA on comprehensive sleep evaluation should be referred for a sleep study. Supervised overnight polysomnography (PSG) is the "gold standard" for evaluation of OSA. Positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy is the mainstay of treatment of OSA. Oral appliances are indicated for use in patients with mild to moderate OSA who prefer oral appliances to PAP, or who do not respond to PAP or who fail treatment attempts with PAP or behavioural measures. Surgical treatment is recommended in patients who have failed or are intolerant to PAP therapy.

Consensus & evidence-based INOSA Guidelines 2014 (first edition).

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) are subsets of sleep-disordered breathing. Awareness about OSA and its consequences amongst the general public as well as the majority of primary care physcians across India is poor. This necessiated the development of the INdian initiative on Obstructive sleep apnoea (INOSA) guidelines under the auspices of Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India. OSA is the occurrence of an average five or more episodes of obstructive respiratory events per hour of sleep with either sleep related symptoms or co-morbidities or ≥ 15 such episodes without any sleep related symptoms or co-morbidities. OSAS is defined as OSA associated with daytime symptoms, most often excessive sleepiness. Patients undergoing routine health check-up with snoring, daytime sleepiness, obesity, hypertension, motor vehicular accidents and high risk cases should undergo a comprehensive sleep evaluation. Medical examiners evaluating drivers, air pilots, railway drivers and heavy machinery workers should be educated about OSA and should comprehensively evaluate applicants for OSA. Those suspected to have OSA on comprehensive sleep evaluation should be referred for a sleep study. Supervised overnight polysomnography (PSG) is the "gold standard" for evaluation of OSA. Positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy is the mainstay of treatment of OSA. Oral appliances are indicated for use in patients with mild to moderate OSA who prefer oral appliances to PAP, or who do not respond to PAP or who fail treatment attempts with PAP or behavioural measures. Surgical treatment is recommended in patients who have failed or are intolerant to PAP therapy.

CO2-helium and CO2-neon mixtures at high pressures.

The properties of mixtures of carbon dioxide with helium or neon have been investigated as a function of CO(2) concentration and pressure up to 30 GPa at room temperature. The binary phase diagrams of these mixtures are determined over the full range of CO(2) concentrations using visual observations and Raman scattering measurements. Both diagrams are of eutectic type, with a fluid-fluid miscibility gap for CO(2) concentrations in the range [5, 75] mol. % for He and [8, 55] mol. % for Ne, and a complete separation between the two components in the solid phase. The absence of alloys or stoichiometric compounds for these two binary systems is consistent with the Hume-Rothery rules of hard sphere mixtures. The Raman spectra and x-ray diffraction patterns of solid CO(2) embedded in He or Ne for various initial concentrations have been measured up to 30 GPa and 12 GPa, respectively. The frequencies of the Raman modes and the volume of solid phase I are identical, within error bars, to those reported for 100% CO(2) samples, thus confirming the total immiscibility of CO(2) with He and Ne in the solid phase. These results demonstrate the possibility to perform high-pressure experiments on solid CO(2) under (quasi-)hydrostatic conditions using He or Ne as pressure transmitting medium.

Evaluation of molecular interaction, physicochemical parameters and conserved pattern of SARS-CoV-2 Spike RBD and hACE2: in silico and molecular dynamics approach.

OBJECTIVE: Recent pandemic virus SARS-CoV-2 is a global warning for the healthcare system. The spike protein of virus SARS-CoV-2 is significant because of two reasons. Firstly, the spike protein of this virus binds with the human ACE2 (hACE2) receptor. Secondly, it has several antigenic regions that might be targeted for vaccine development. However, the structural analytical data for the spike protein of this virus is not available. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Here, we performed an analysis to understand the structural two subunits of S glycoprotein (S gp) of SARS-CoV-2. Further, an analysis of secondary structure components and the tertiary structure analysis of RBD was carried out. We also performed molecular interaction analysis between S gp of this virus and hACE2 as well as between SARS-CoV S gp and hACE2 to compare the binding properties of these two viruses. RESULTS: We noted that the molecular interaction of SARS-CoV-2 S gp and hACE2 form eleven hydrogen bonds, while the molecular interaction of SARS-CoV S gp and hACE2 receptor form seven hydrogen bonds, indicating that the molecular interaction of SARS-CoV-2 S gp and hACE2 receptor is more stable than SARS-CoV S gp and hACE2 receptor. The pairwise sequence alignment of S gp SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 shows several conserved residues of these two proteins. Besides, conserved pattern analysis of SARS-CoV-2 S gp and hACE2 revealed the presence of several highly conserved regions for these two proteins. The molecular dynamics simulation shows a stable interplay between SARS-CoV-2 S gp with the hACE2 receptor. CONCLUSIONS: The present study might help determine the SARS-CoV-2 virus entrance mechanism into the human cell. Moreover, the understanding of the conserved regions may help in the process of therapeutic development from the infection of the deadly virus.

Mode-dependent dispersion in Raman line shapes: observation and implications from ultrafast Raman loss spectroscopy.

Ultrafast Raman loss spectroscopy (URLS) enables one to obtain the vibrational structural information of molecular systems including fluorescent materials. URLS, a nonlinear process analog to stimulated Raman gain, involves a narrow bandwidth picosecond Raman pump pulse and a femtosecond broadband white light continuum. Under nonresonant condition, the Raman response appears as a negative (loss) signal, whereas, on resonance with the electronic transition the line shape changes from a negative to a positive through a dispersive form. The intensities observed and thus, the Franck-Condon activity (coordinate dependent), are sensitive to the wavelength of the white light corresponding to a particular Raman frequency with respect to the Raman pump pulse wavelength, i.e., there is a mode-dependent response in URLS.

A Conditional Density Estimation Partition Model Using Logistic Gaussian Processes.

Conditional density estimation (density regression) estimates the distribution of a response variable y conditional on covariates x. Utilizing a partition model framework, a conditional density estimation method is proposed using logistic Gaussian processes. The partition is created using a Voronoi tessellation and is learned from the data using a reversible jump Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm. The Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm is made possible through a Laplace approximation on the latent variables of the logistic Gaussian process model. This approximation marginalizes the parameters in each partition element, allowing an efficient search of the posterior distribution of the tessellation. The method has desirable consistency properties. In simulation and applications, the model successfully estimates the partition structure and conditional distribution of y.

Systemic anti-inflammatory therapy aided by double-headed nanoparticles in a canine model of acute intraocular inflammation.

Novel approaches circumventing blood-ocular barriers in systemic drug delivery are lacking. We hypothesize receptor-mediated delivery of curcumin (CUR) across intestinal and ocular barriers leads to decreased inflammation in a model of lens-induced uveitis. CUR was encapsulated in double-headed polyester nanoparticles using gambogic acid (GA)-coupled polylactide-co-glycolide (PLGA). Orally administered PLGA-GA2-CUR led to notable aqueous humor CUR levels and was dosed (10 mg/kg twice daily) to adult male beagles (n = 8 eyes) with induced ocular inflammation. Eyes were evaluated using a semiquantitative preclinical ocular toxicology scoring (SPOTS) and compared to commercial anti-inflammatory treatment (oral carprofen 2.2 mg/kg twice daily) (n = 8) and untreated controls (n = 8). PLGA-GA2-CUR offered improved protection compared with untreated controls and similar protection compared with carprofen, with reduced aqueous flare, miosis, and chemosis in the acute phase (<4 hours). This study highlights the potential of PLGA-GA2 nanoparticles for systemic drug delivery across ocular barriers.

Presence of alpha-1 norepinephrinergic and GABA-A receptors on medial preoptic hypothalamus thermosensitive neurons and their role in integrating brainstem ascending reticular activating system inputs in thermoregulation in rats.

Thermal messages are relayed to the medial preoptic O-anterior hypothalamus (mPOAH) via the ascending reticular activating system (ARAS). According to previous findings that norepinephrine (NE)-ergic and GABA (gamma-amino butyric acid)-ergic inputs convey thermal information to the CNS, those neurotransmitters may be responsible for reciprocal correlation between body temperature and mPOAH warm-(WSNs) and cold-(CSNs) sensitive neuronal firing rates for thermoregulation. In this study on Wistar rats, we have characterized in vivo the role of alpha-1 NE-ergic and GABA-A receptors in the possible modulation of ARAS inputs to the thermosensitive neurons in the mPOAH. Nine WSNs, 7 CSNs and 19 thermo-insensitive neurons were recorded from mPOAH and effects of ARAS stimulation and iontophoretic application of prazosin as well as picrotoxin on those neurons were evaluated. The WSNs were excited by ARAS stimulation but inhibited by both prazosin and picrotoxin; whereas the CSNs were inhibited by ARAS stimulation and prazosin, but excited by picrotoxin. The NE excited the WSNs as well as the CSNs, while GABA had opposite effects on them, suggesting that NE and GABA interact in the mPOAH for thermoregulation. The findings unravel an intriguing possibility that in the mPOAH, GABA simultaneously acts on hetero-receptors located at pre-and post-synaptic sites, modulating the release of NE on the WSNs and CSNs for thermoregulation. Further, ARAS stimulation-induced similar excitatory and inhibitory responses of the WSNs and the CSNs support such converging inputs on these neurons for thermoregulation.

Stimulatory role of calcium in rapid eye movement sleep deprivation-induced noradrenaline-mediated increase in Na-K-ATPase activity in rat brain.

Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep deprivation elevates noradrenaline level, which upon acting on alpha1-adrenoceptors increases Na-K-ATPase activity; however, the detailed intracellular mechanism of action was unknown. Since membrane integrity is crucial for maintaining Na-K-ATPase activity as well as ionic exchange and noradrenaline affects membrane lipid-peroxidation, we proposed that the deprivation might modulate membrane lipid-peroxidation, which would modulate intracellular ionic concentration and thereby increase Na-K-ATPase activity. Hence, in this in vivo and in vitro study, rats were deprived of REM sleep for 4 days by the flowerpot method and suitable control experiments were conducted. The deprivation simultaneously decreased membrane lipid-peroxidation as well as increased Na-K-ATPase activity by its dephosphorylation and all the effects were induced by noradrenaline. Further, in vitro experiments showed that hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2))-induced enhanced lipid-peroxidation increased synaptosomal calcium (Ca(2+))-influx, which was also prevented by noradrenaline and nifidipine, an L-type Ca(2+)-channel blocker. Additionally, both nifidipine and cyclopiazonic acid, which have opposite effects on intracellular Ca(2+)-concentration, prevented deprivation induced increased Na-K-ATPase activity. We propose that REM sleep deprivation elevates noradrenaline level in the brain that acting on alpha1-adrenoceptor simultaneously reduces membrane lipid-peroxidation but activates phospholipase-C, resulting in closure of L-type Ca(2+)-channel and releasing membrane bound Ca(2+); the latter then dephosphorylates Na-K-ATPase, the active form, causing its increased activity.

Modulation of the CO2 fixation in dinickel azacryptands.

While bimetallic azacryptands are known to selectively coordinate CO2, there is little knowledge on how different substitution patterns of the azacryptand cage structure influence CO2 coordination. Stopped-flow UV-vis spectroscopy, electrochemical analysis and DFT calculations were performed on a series of dinickel azacryptands and showed different rates of CO2 coordination to the complexes. We herein present data showing that the different flexibility of the azacryptands is directly responsible for the difference in the CO2 uptake capability of dinickel azacryptand complexes.

New amidinate complexes of indium(iii): promising CVD precursors for transparent and conductive In2O3 thin films.

For the first time, synthesis of two new amidinate-ligand comprising heteroleptic indium complexes, namely [InCl(amd)2] (1) and [InMe(amd)2] (2), via salt-metathesis and their detailed characterization is reported. For comparison, the earlier reported homoleptic tris-amidinate [In(amd)3] (3) was also synthesized and analyzed in detail especially with respect to the thermal properties and molecular crystal structure analysis which are reported here for the first time. From nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) and single-crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD), all three compounds were found to be monomeric with C2 (compound 1 and 2) and C3 symmetry (compound 3). Both halide-free compounds 2 and 3 were evaluated regarding their thermal properties using temperature-dependent 1H-NMR, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and iso-TGA, revealing suitable volatility and thermal stability for their application as potential precursors for chemical vapor phase thin film deposition methods. Indeed, metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) experiments over a broad temperature range (400 °C-700 °C) revealed the suitability of these two compounds to fabricate In2O3 thin films in the presence of oxygen on Si, thermally grown SiO2 and fused silica substrates. The as-deposited thin films were characterized in terms of their crystallinity via X-ray diffraction (XRD), morphology by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and composition through complementary techniques such as Rutherford-backscattering spectrometry (RBS) in combination with nuclear reaction analysis (NRA) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). From UV/Vis spectroscopy, the deposited In2O3 thin films on fused silica substrates were found to be highly transparent (T > 95% at 560 nm, compound 3). In addition, Hall measurements revealed high charge carrier densities of 1.8 × 1020 cm-3 (2) and 6.5 × 1019 cm-3 (3) with a Hall-mobility of 48 cm2 V-1 s-1 (2) and 74 cm2 V-1 s-1 (3) for the respective thin films, rendering the obtained thin films applicable as a transparent conducting oxide that could be suitable for optoelectronic applications.

Increased apoptosis in rat brain after rapid eye movement sleep loss.

Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep loss impairs several physiological, behavioral and cellular processes; however, the mechanism of action was unknown. To understand the effects of REM sleep deprivation on neuronal damage and apoptosis, studies were conducted using multiple apoptosis markers in control and experimental rat brain neurons located in areas either related to or unrelated to REM sleep regulation. Furthermore, the effects of REM sleep deprivation were also studied on neuronal cytoskeletal proteins, actin and tubulin. It was observed that after REM sleep deprivation a significantly increased number of neurons in the rat brain were positive to apoptotic markers, which however, tended to recover after the rats were allowed to undergo REM sleep; the control rats were not affected. Further, it was also observed that REM sleep deprivation decreased amounts of actin and tubulin in neurons confirming our previous reports of changes in neuronal size and shape after such deprivation. These findings suggest that one of the possible functions of REM sleep is to protect neurons from damage and apoptosis.

Phosphine-ligated dinitrosyl iron complexes for redox-controlled NO release.

Here we present the syntheses and structural, spectroscopic, as well as electrochemical properties of four dinitrosyl iron complexes (DNICs) based on silicon- and carbon-derived di- and tripodal phosphines. Whereas CH3C(CH2PPh2)3 and Ph2Si(CH2PPh2)2 coordinate iron in a η(2) - binding mode, CH3Si(CH2PPh2)3 undergoes cleavage of one Si-C bond to afford [Fe(NO)2(P(CH3)Ph2)2] at elevated temperatures. The complexes were characterized by IR spectroelectrochemistry as well as UV-vis measurements. The oxidized {Fe(NO)2}(9) compounds were obtained by oxidation with (NH4)2[Ce(NO3)6] and their properties evaluated with Mössbauer and IR spectroscopy. Stability experiments on the complexes suggest that they are capable of releasing their NO-ligands in the oxidized {Fe(NO)2}(9) but not in the reduced {Fe(NO)2}(10) form. A detailed DFT analysis is provided in order to understand the electronic configurations and the complexes' ability to release NO.

Cytomorphometric changes in rat brain neurons after rapid eye movement sleep deprivation.

Rapid eye movement sleep plays a vital role in the survival of animals. Its deprivation causes alterations in brain functions and behaviors including activities of important enzymes, neurotransmitter levels, impairment of neural excitability and memory consolidation. However, there was a lack of knowledge regarding the effects of rapid eye movement sleep deprivation on neuronal morphology that may get affected much earlier than any permanent damage to the neurons. In the present study, some of these issues have been addressed by studying the effects of rapid eye movement sleep deprivation on various morphological parameters viz. neuronal perimeter, area and shape of neurons located in brain areas known to regulate rapid eye movement sleep and as a control in other brain areas which do not regulate rapid eye movement sleep. The results showed that rapid eye movement sleep deprivation differentially affected neurons depending on their physiological correlates of rapid eye movement sleep and neurotransmitter content. The effects could be reversed if the animals were allowed to recover from rapid eye movement sleep loss or by applying alpha1-adrenergic antagonist, prazosin. The findings in rats support reported data and help explaining previous observations.

REM sleep modulation by perifornical orexinergic inputs to the pedunculo-pontine tegmental neurons in rats.

Rapid eye movement sleep (REMS) is regulated by the interaction of the REM-ON and REM-OFF neurons located in the pedunculo-pontine-tegmentum (PPT) and the locus coeruleus (LC), respectively. Many other brain areas, particularly those controlling non-REMS (NREMS) and waking, modulate REMS by modulating these REMS-related neurons. Perifornical (PeF) orexin (Ox)-ergic neurons are reported to increase waking and reduce NREMS as well as REMS; dysfunction of the PeF neurons are related to REMS loss-associated disorders. Hence, we were interested in understanding the neural mechanism of PeF-induced REMS modulation. As a first step we have recently reported that PeF Ox-ergic neurons modulate REMS by influencing the LC neurons (site for REM-OFF neurons). Thereafter, in this in vivo study we have explored the role of PeF inputs on the PPT neurons (site for REM-ON neurons) for the regulation of REMS. Chronic male rats were surgically prepared with implanted bilateral cannulae in PeF and PPT and electrodes for recording sleep-waking patterns. After post-surgical recovery sleep-waking-REMS were recorded when bilateral PeF neurons were stimulated by glutamate and simultaneously bilateral PPT neurons were infused with either saline or orexin receptor1 (OX1R) antagonist. It was observed that PeF stimulation increased waking and decreased NREMS as well as REMS, which were prevented by OX1R antagonist into the PPT. We conclude that the PeF stimulation-induced reduction in REMS was likely to be due to inhibition of REM-ON neurons in the PPT. As waking and NREMS are inversely related, subject to confirmation, the reduction in NREMS could be due to increased waking or vice versa. Based on our findings from this and earlier studies we have proposed a model showing connections between PeF- and PPT-neurons for REMS regulation.

Consensus and evidence-based Indian initiative on obstructive sleep apnea guidelines 2014 (first edition).

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) are subsets of sleep-disordered breathing. Awareness about OSA and its consequences among the general public as well as the majority of primary care physicians across India is poor. This necessitated the development of the Indian initiative on obstructive sleep apnea (INOSA) guidelines under the auspices of Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. OSA is the occurrence of an average five or more episodes of obstructive respiratory events per hour of sleep with either sleep-related symptoms or co-morbidities or ≥15 such episodes without any sleep-related symptoms or co-morbidities. OSAS is defined as OSA associated with daytime symptoms, most often excessive sleepiness. Patients undergoing routine health check-up with snoring, daytime sleepiness, obesity, hypertension, motor vehicular accidents, and high-risk cases should undergo a comprehensive sleep evaluation. Medical examiners evaluating drivers, air pilots, railway drivers, and heavy machinery workers should be educated about OSA and should comprehensively evaluate applicants for OSA. Those suspected to have OSA on comprehensive sleep evaluation should be referred for a sleep study. Supervised overnight polysomnography is the "gold standard" for evaluation of OSA. Positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy is the mainstay of treatment of OSA. Oral appliances (OA) are indicated for use in patients with mild to moderate OSA who prefer OA to PAP, or who do not respond to PAP or who fail treatment attempts with PAP or behavioral measures. Surgical treatment is recommended in patients who have failed or are intolerant to PAP therapy.