Combining ability, heterosis and performance of grain yield and content of Fe, Zn and protein in bread wheat under normal and late sowing conditions.

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is inherently low in protein content, Zn and Fe. Boost yield gains have unwittingly reduced grain Zn and Fe, which has had negative impacts on human health. The aim of this study was to understand the inheritance of grain yield per plant and grain Fe, Zn, and protein concentrations in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under normal and late sown conditions. Half diallel crosses were performed using 10 parents. The crosses and parents were evaluated in replicated trials for the two conditions, to assess the possibility of exploiting heterosis to improve micronutrient contents. The per se performance, heterosis, combining ability, and genetic components were estimated for different characters in both environments. The results revealed that hybrid GW 451 × GW 173 exhibited better parent heterosis (BPH) and standard heterotic effects (SH) in all environments. In both sowing conditions, the general combining ability (GCA) effects of poor × poor parents also showed high specific combining ability (SCA) effects of hybrids for both the micronutrients and protein contents. However, σ2A/σ2D greater than unity confirmed the preponderance of additive gene action for protein content, and GW 173 was identified as a good general combiner for these characteristics under both environments. SCA had positive significant (P < 0.001) correlations with BPH, SH1, SH2, and the phenotype for yield component traits and grain protein, Fe, and Zn concentrations in both conditions. A supplementary approach for biofortifying wheat grainis required to prevent malnutrition.

Transfer of self-aligned spacer patterns for single-digit nanofabrication.

We report the transfer of sub-10 nm half-pitch grating patterns created through a combination of block copolymer directed self-assembly and sidewall spacer-based self-aligned double patterning into Si substrates. Low substrate bias reactive ion etching of TiOx conformally deposited onto carbon mandrels using atomic layer deposition renders distinct, pitch-halved spacers with minimal etch byproduct redeposition. Independent spacer and mandrel width control and the use of an underlying CrNx hard mask deposited by reactive sputtering facilitates etching of Si lines with low roughness and fine placement control. The insights into pattern transfer presented here are directly applicable to the fabrication of rectangular bit pattern nanoimprint templates at densities above 1.5 Td in(-2).

Curdlan-like exopolysaccharide production by Cellulomonas flavigena UNP3 during growth on hydrocarbon substrates.

Cellulomonas flavigena UNP3, a natural isolate from vegetable oil contaminated soil sample has been studied for growth associated exopolysaccharide (EPS) production during growth on glucose, groundnut oil and naphthalene. The EPS showed matrix formation surrounding the cells during scanning electron microscopy. Cell surface hydrophobicity and emulsifying activity studies confirmed the role of EPS as bioemulsifier. Emulsifying activity was found to increase with time (0.2 U/mg for 10 min to 0.27 U/mg for 30 min). Emulsification index, E24 value increased with the increase in EPS concentration. Degradation of polyaromatic hydrocarbons was confirmed using gas chromatography analysis. FTIR analysis showed presence of characteristic absorbance at 895.10 cm(-1) for ß-configuration of glucan. NMR studies also revealed EPS produced by C. flavigena UNP3 as a linear ß-1, 3-D-glucan, and a curdlan like polysaccharide.

Heart failure is not a diagnosis.

Heart failure (HF) is a syndrome and not a diagnosis. Aetiology and precipitants for decompensation are often not sought. Care is also often based upon protocols, with widespread prescription of drugs validated in systolic HF, for patients with other forms of HF for example HF with preserved ejection fraction which can account for almost half of patients with HF in the UK. Therefore, service design and configuration by healthcare providers should based upon quality and not only feasibility, as protocol-based treatment will inevitably diminish the quality of care for patients with HF and result in both inappropriate care in many cases as well as reduced access to advanced evidence based and NICE approved therapies. Expertise is therefore of paramount importance in managing patients with HF.

PHA-rubber blends: synthesis, characterization and biodegradation.

Medium chain length polyhydroxyalkanoates (mcl-PHA) and different rubbers; namely natural rubber, nitrile rubber and butadiene rubber were blended at room temperature using solution blending technique. Blends constituted 5%, 10% and 15% of mcl-PHA in different rubbers. Thermogravimetric analysis of mcl-PHA showed the melting temperature of the polymer around 50 degrees C. Thermal properties of the synthesized blend were studied by Differential Scanning Calorimetry which confirmed effective blending between the polymers. Blending of mcl-PHA with natural rubber led to the synthesis of a different polymer having the melting point of 90 degrees C. Degradation studies of the blends were carried out using a soil isolate, Pseudomonas sp. 202 for 30 days. Extracellular protein concentration as well as OD660 due to the growth of Pseudomonas sp. 202 was studied. The degradation of blended plastic material, as evidenced by % weight loss after degradation and increase in the growth of organism correlated with the amount of mcl-PHA present in the sample. Growth of Pseudomonas sp. 202 resulted in 14.63%, 16.12% and 3.84% weight loss of PHA:rubber blends (natural, nitrile and butadiene rubber). Scanning electron microscopic studies after 30 days of incubation further confirmed biodegradation of the films.

Molecular alterations in oral carcinogenesis: significant risk predictors in malignant transformation and tumor progression.

In this study an attempt was made to establish the significance of a battery of molecular alterations and thereby identify risk predictors in oral carcinogenesis. For this purpose, EGFR, Stat3, H-ras, c-myc, p53, cyclin D1, p16, Rb, Ki-67 and Bcl-2 were localized immunohistochemically in normal mucosa (n=12), hyperplasia (n=35), dysplasia (n=25), early stage carcinoma (n=65) and advanced stage carcinoma (n=70). Deregulation occurred at an early stage and the number of alterations increased with disease progression. Using multivariate logistic regression analysis, the significant risk predictor for hyperplasia from normal mucosa was Ki-67 (OR=5.75, p=0.021); the significant risk predictors for dysplasia from hyperplasia were EGFR (OR=12.96, p=0.002), Stat3 (OR=17.16, p=0.0001), p16 (OR=5.50, p=0.039) and c-myc (OR=5.99, p=0.052); the significant risk predictors for early stage carcinoma from dysplasia were p53 (OR=6.63, p=0.0001) and Rb (OR=3.81, p=0.056); and the significant risk predictors for further progression were EGFR (OR=5.50, p=0.0001), Stat3 (OR=4.49, p=0.0001), H-ras (OR=4.05, p=0.001) and c-myc (OR=2.99, p=0.015). Cyclin D1 holds a key position linking upstream signaling pathways to cell cycle regulation. Gene products of the mitogenic signaling pathway play an equally significant role as cell cycle regulatory proteins in the hyperplasia-dysplasia-early-advanced-carcinoma sequence and together may provide a reference panel of markers for use in defining premalignant lesions and predicting the risk of malignant transformation and tumor progression.

Glucoamylase production by solid-state fermentation using rice flake manufacturing waste products as substrate.

Glucoamylase production has been investigated by solid-state fermentation of agro-industrial wastes generated during the processing of paddy to rice flakes (categorized as coarse, medium and fine waste), along with wheat bran and rice powder by a local soil isolate Aspergillus sp. HA-2. Highest enzyme production was obtained with wheat bran (264 +/- 0.64 U/gds) followed by coarse waste (211.5 +/- 1.44 U/gds) and medium waste (192.1 +/- 1.15 U/gds) using 10(6) spores/ml as inoculum at 28 +/- 2 degrees C, pH 5. A combination of wheat bran and coarse waste (1:1) gave enzyme yield as compared to wheat bran alone. Media supplementation with carbon source (0.04 g/gds) as sucrose in wheat bran and glucose in coarse and medium waste increased enzyme production to 271.2 +/- 0.92, 220.2 +/- 0.75 and 208.2 +/- 1.99 U/gds respectively. Organic nitrogen supplementation (yeast extract and peptone, 0.02 g/gds) showed a higher enzyme production compared to inorganic source. Optimum enzyme activity was observed at 55 degrees C, pH 5. Enzyme activity was enhanced in the presence of calcium whereas presence of EDTA gave reverse effect.

Decolorization of diazo-dye Reactive Blue 172 by Pseudomonas aeruginosa NBAR12.

A novel bacterial strain capable of decolorizing textile dyes was isolated from dye contaminated soil obtained from industrial estate of Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. The bacterial isolate Pseudomonas aeruginosa NBAR12 was capable of decolorizing 12 different dyes tested with decolorization efficiency varying in the range of 80 to 95%. Maximum extent as well as rate of Reactive Blue 172 (RB 172) decolorization was observed when glucose (2 g x l(-1)) and yeast extract (2.5 g x l(-1)) were supplemented in the medium. The optimum dye pH and temperature for dye decolorization was found to be 7 and 40 degrees C, respectively. The decolorizing activity was found to increase with increasing the dye concentration from 50 to 400 mg x l(-1). The dye decolorization was strongly inhibited at 500 mg dye l(-1) in the medium. High performance thin layer chromatography analysis indicated that dye decolorization occurred due to the breakdown of dye molecules into colorless end products.

Biosynthesis of medium chain length poly(3-hydroxyalkanoates) (mcl-PHAs) by Comamonas testosteroni during cultivation on vegetable oils.

Comamonas testosteroni has been studied for its ability to synthesize and accumulate medium chain length poly(3-hydroxyalkanoates) (mcl-PHAs) during cultivation on vegetable oils available in the local market. Castor seed oil, coconut oil, mustard oil, cotton seed oil, groundnut oil, olive oil and sesame oil were supplemented in the mineral medium as a sole source of carbon for growth and PHAs accumulation. The composition of PHAs was analysed by a coupled gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy (GC/MS). PHAs contained C6 to C14 3-hydroxy acids, with a strong presence of 3-hydroxyoctanoate when coconut oil, mustard oil, cotton seed oil and groundnut oil were supplied. 3-hydroxydecanoate was incorporated at higher concentrations when castor seed oil, olive oil and sesame oil were the substrates. Purified PHAs samples were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and 13C NMR analysis. During cultivation on various vegetable oils, C. testosteroni accumulated PHAs up to 78.5-87.5% of the cellular dry material (CDM). The efficiency of the culture to convert oil to PHAs ranged from 53.1% to 58.3% for different vegetable oils. Further more, the composition of the PHAs formed was not found to be substrate dependent as PHAs obtained from C. testosteroni during growth on variety of vegetable oils showed similar compositions; 3-hydroxyoctanoic acid and/or 3-hydroxydecanoic acid being always predominant. The polymerizing system of C. testosteroni showed higher preference for C8 and C10 monomers as longer and smaller monomers were incorporated less efficiently.

Growth and yield of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) as influenced by weed management practices and Rhizobium inoculation.

Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) productivity in India is low, because of many problems beset in its cultivation. One of the serious problems are weeds. Groundnut yield losses due to weeds have been estimated as high as 24 to 70 percent. This has created a scope for using herbicides in groundnut crop. A field investigation was carried out during kharif (rainy) season of 2001-2002 on a sandy loam soil at College Agronomy Farm, B.A. College of Agriculture, Gujarat Agricultural University, Anand, India to study the effect of weed management practices and Rhizobium inoculation on growth and yield of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.). Ten weed control treatments, comprising four treatments of sole application of fluchloralin, pendimethalin, butachlor and metolachlor, respectively each applied at 1.0 kg ha(-1); four treatments comprising of an application of the same herbicides at the same levels coupled with one hand weeding at 30 DAS; one weed-free treatment (hand weedings at 15, 30, 45 DAS); and one unweeded control. All 10 treatmets were combined with and without Rhizobium inoculation (i.e. a total of 20 treatment combinations) under a factorial randomized complete block design (FRBD) with four replications. Minimum weed dry matter accumulation (70 kg/ha) with higher weed control efficiency (90.70%) was recorded under an integrated method i.e. pendimethalin at 1.0 kg ha(-1) + hand weeding at 30 DAS, which also resulted in maximum pod yield (1773.50 kg ha(-1)). This treatment was comparable to fluchloralin applied at 1.0 kg ha(-1) combined with hand- weeding at 30 DAS. Weedy conditions in the unweeded control treatment reduced pod yield by 29.90-35.95% as compared to integrated method. Significantly higher pod yield was obtained with Rhizobium inoculation than the mean value of all treatments without inoculation. For most agronomical parameters examined, Rhizobium inoculation and weed control treatments were independent in their effect.

Stimulation of Na/Ca exchange by the beta-adrenergic/protein kinase A pathway in guinea-pig ventricular myocytes at 37 degrees C.

We investigated the effect of beta-adrenergic stimulation on Na/Ca exchange in whole-cell patch-clamped guinea-pig ventricular myocytes at 37 degrees C. With ion channel and Na/K pump currents blocked, the Na/Ca exchange current (I(Na-Ca) was measured selectively as membrane current inhibited by 10 mM nickel (Ni) during a voltage ramp applied between +80 and -120 mV. Isoprenaline (1 microM) caused an increase in both inward and outward current generated by the Na/Ca exchange, which was prevented by the beta-adrenoceptor blocker propranolol. These data suggest that isoprenaline caused a receptor-mediated up-regulation of Na/Ca exchange activity. Mimicking beta-adrenoceptor activation, either by stimulation of adenylate cyclase with forskolin or by internal dialysis of cells with cyclic AMP (3':5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate), also increased I(Na-Ca). Using fluorescence Ca measurement, an increase of internal cAMP was shown to increase the rate of transmembrane Ca transport via the Na/Ca exchange. A selective inhibitor of protein kinase A prevented stimulation of Na/Ca exchange by isoprenaline. These data suggest that the underlying mechanism of stimulation was phosphorylation of the Na/Ca exchange protein by protein kinase A. Isoprenaline did not stimulate I(Na-Ca) when experiments were carried out at 20 degrees C, in contrast to the findings at 37 degrees C. Modulation of Na/Ca exchange by the beta-adrenergic pathway may have important physiological consequences for intracellular Ca regulation and electrical activity during hormonal stimulation, or during sympathetic nerve stimulation.

Methods for providing probe position and temperature information on MR images during interventional procedures.

Interventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be defined as the use of MR images for guiding and monitoring interventional procedures (e.g., biopsy, drainage) or minimally invasive therapy (e.g., thermal ablation). This work describes the development of a prototype graphical user interface and the appropriate software methods to accurately overlay a representation of a rigid interventional device [e.g., biopsy needle, radio-frequency (RF) probe] onto an MR image given only the probe's spatial position and orientation as determined from a three-dimensional (3-D) localizer used for interactive scan plane definition. This permits 1) "virtual tip tracking," where the probe tip location is displayed on the image without the use of separate receiver coils or a "road map" image data set, and, 2) "extending" the probe to predict its path if it were directly moved forward toward the target tissue. Further, this paper describes the design and implementation of a method to facilitate the monitoring of thermal ablation procedures by displaying and overlaying temperature maps from temperature sensitive MR acquisitions. These methods provide rapid graphical updates of probe position and temperature changes to aid the physician during the actual interventional MRI procedures without altering the usual operation of the MR imager.

Ribavirin in acute viral hepatitis.

Sixty-four patients suffering from acute viral hepatitis (excluding those suffering from hepatitis B) were selected for the double blind clinical trial. They were randomly allocated to either ribavirin therapy (200 mg four times a day) or placebo. Four patients were lost to follow up and therefore final analysis was carried out on 60 patients (thirty had received ribavirin and the rest placebo). Patients receiving ribavirin showed significant rapid improvement, with the disappearance of annoying symptoms (e.g., nausea, vomiting, etc) and return of good appetite; moreover, the abnormal blood parameters showed significant rapid changes towards normal values in ribavirin treated patients as compared to those observed in placebo group. Ribavirin was well tolerated and there were no side effects. Since acute viral hepatitis is endemic with outbreaks of epidemics in many areas at various times and as yet there is no effective anti-viral drug available with the physicians in India, ribavirin is indeed a most welcome drug for its therapy.