Effects of deltamethrin exposure on the cytochrome P450 monooxygenases of Aedes albopictus (Skuse) larvae from a dengue-endemic region of northern part of West Bengal, India.

Aedes albopictus is highly prevalent in the northern part of West Bengal and is considered to be responsible for the recent dengue outbreaks in this region. Control of this vector is largely relied on the use of synthetic pyrethroids, which can lead to the development of resistance. In the present study, larvae of three wild Ae. albopictus populations from the dengue-endemic regions were screened for deltamethrin resistance, and the role of cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (CYPs) was investigated in deltamethrin exposed and unexposed larvae. Two populations were incipient resistant, and one population was completely resistant against deltamethrin. Monooxygenase titration assay revealed the involvement of CYPs in deltamethrin resistance along with an induction effect of deltamethrin exposure. Gene expression studies revealed differential expression of five CYP6 family genes, CYP6A8, CYP6P12, CYP6A14, CYP6N3 and CYP6N6, with high constitutive expression of CYP6A8 and CYP6P12 in all the populations before and after deltamethrin exposure. From these findings, it was evident that CYPs play an important role in the development of deltamethrin resistance in the Ae. albopictus populations in this region.

NOX4 alleviates breast cancer cell aggressiveness by co-ordinating mitochondrial turnover through PGC1α/Drp1 axis.

Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) is a highly aggressive form of breast cancer, with few treatment options. This study investigates the complex molecular mechanism by which NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4), a major ROS producer in mitochondria, affects the aggressiveness of luminal and triple-negative breast cancer cells (TNBCs). We found that NOX4 expression was differentially regulated in luminal and TNBC cells, with a positive correlation to their epithelial characteristics. Time dependent analysis revealed that TNBCs exhibits higher steady-state ROS levels than luminal cells, but NOX4 silencing increased ROS levels in luminal breast cancer cells and enhanced their ability to migrate and invade. In contrast, NOX4 over expression in TNBCs had the opposite effect. The mouse tail-vein experiment showed that the group injected with NOX4 silenced luminal cells had a higher number of lung metastases compared to the control group. Mechanistically, NOX4 enhanced PGC1α dependent mitochondrial biogenesis and attenuated Drp1-mediated mitochondrial fission in luminal breast cancer cells, leading to an increased mitochondrial mass and elongated mitochondrial morphology. Interestingly, NOX4 silencing increased mitochondrial ROS (mtROS) levels without affecting mitochondrial (Δψm) and cellular integrity. Inhibition of Drp1-dependent fission with Mdivi1 reversed the effect of NOX4-dependent mitochondrial biogenesis, dynamics, and migration of breast cancer cells. Our findings suggest that NOX4 expression diminishes from luminal to a triple negative state, accompanied by elevated ROS levels, which may modulate mitochondrial turnover to attain an aggressive phenotype. The study provides potential insights for targeted therapies for TNBCs.

Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging for myocardial viability assessment: Optimizing surgical revascularization in ischemic heart disease.

BACKGROUND: Patients with poor ejection fraction undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting carry higher operative risk and have poor long-term survival. Cardiac magnetic resonance is a useful modality to assess viability which can identify patients likely to benefit most from revascularization. In this study, we aimed to assess the outcome in patients selected for surgical revascularization by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and identify predictors associated with poor outcomes. METHODS: The study included patients with severely impaired left ventricular function but with at least six viable segments. Patients requiring emergency surgery, undergoing combined procedures, or where cardiopulmonary bypass was required were excluded. Cardiac magnetic resonance was carried out both preoperatively and at six months postoperatively by the same radiologist in all cases. Late gadolinium enhancement was used for the evaluation of myocardial viability. RESULTS: Amongst a total of 493 segments studied, there were 89 (18.1%) non-viable, 117 (23.7%) hibernating and 287 (58.2%) viable segments. At six months, the number of non-viable segments changed from 89 (18.1%) to 97 (19.7%), with an increase in viable segments from 287 (58.2%) to 374 (75.8%) and a corresponding reduction of hibernating segments from 117 (23.7%) to 22 (4.5%). There was improvement in ejection fraction from 28 ± 5.54 to 37 ± 5.86 (p < 0.0001) in the entire cohort at six months. Overall mortality was 1 (3.2%). Preoperative left ventricular end-systolic volume had the strongest negative correlation with post-operative ejection fraction. CONCLUSION: Cardiac magnetic resonance aided revascularization is associated with low mortality. Preoperative left ventricular end-systolic volume is an important determinant of postoperative ejection fraction.

Squeeze Film Effect in Surface Micromachined Nano Ultrasonic Sensor for Different Diaphragm Displacement Profiles.

In the present paper, we have analytically explored the small variations of the local pressure in the trapped air film of both sides of the clamped circular capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer (CMUT), which consists of a thin movable membrane of silicon nitride (Si3N4). This time-independent pressure profile has been investigated thoroughly by solving the associated linear Reynold's equation in the framework of three analytical models, viz. membrane model, plate model, and non-local plate model. The solution involves Bessel functions of the first kind. The Landau-Lifschitz fringing technique has been assimilated to engrave the edge effects in estimation of the capacitance of CMUT, which should be considered in the micrometer or lesser dimension. To divulge the dimension-based efficacy of the considered analytical models, various statistical methods have been employed. Our use of contour plots of absolute quadratic deviation revealed a very satisfactory solution in this direction. Though the analytical expression of the pressure profile is very cumbersome in various models, the analysis of these outputs exhibits that the pressure profile follows the displacement profile in all the cases indicating no viscous damping. A finite element model (FEM) has been used to validate the systematic analyses of displacement profiles for several radii and thicknesses of the CMUT's diaphragm. The FEM result is further corroborated by published experimental results bearing excellent outcome.

Network pharmacology and bioinformatics approach reveals the therapeutic mechanism of action of curcumin in Alzheimer disease.

Curcumin is a natural anti-inflammatory and antioxidant substance which plays a major role in reducing the amyloid plaques formation, which is the major cause of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Consequently, a methodical approach was used to select the potential protein targets of curcumin in AD through network pharmacology. In this study, through integrative methods, AD targets of curcumin through SwissTargetPrediction database, STITCH database, BindingDB, PharmMapper, Therapeutic Target Database (TTD), Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) database were predicted followed by gene enrichment analysis, network construction, network topology, and docking studies. Gene ontology analysis facilitated identification of a list of possible AD targets of curcumin (74 targets genes). The correlation of the obtained targets with AD was analysed by using gene ontology (GO) pathway enrichment analyses and Kyoto Encyclopaedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). We have incorporated the applied network pharmacological approach to identify key genes. Furthermore, we have performed molecular docking for analysing the mechanism of curcumin. In order to validate the temporospatial expression of key genes in human central nervous system (CNS), we searched the Human Brain Transcriptome (HBT) dataset. We identified top five key genes namely, PPARγ, MAPK1, STAT3, KDR and APP. Further validated the expression profiling of these key genes in publicly available brain data expression profile databases. In context to a valuable addition in the treatment of AD, this study is concluded with novel insights into the therapeutic mechanisms of curcumin, will ease the treatment of AD with the clinical application of curcumin.

Interspecific variations in leaf litter decomposition and nutrient release from tropical mangroves.

Efficient nutrient cycling through decomposition of leaf litter often regulates the high productivity and subsequent carbon sequestration of mangrove ecosystems along the land-ocean boundary. To understand the characteristics and the potentials of mangrove leaf litter in supplying organic carbon and nutrients to the coastal waters, four major mangrove species (A. officinalis, R. mucronata, H. littoralis and S. apetala) of Bhitarkanika mangrove forest, Odisha, India, were examined in controlled environmental conditions. Half-life time (t0.5), estimated for decomposition of those mangrove leaf litter materials ranged from 18 to 52 days. During the incubation experiment, organic carbon from mangrove leaf litter was released primarily through physical processes and was available for heterotrophic respiration. Among the four species, leaf litter of S. apetala with the lowest initial C/N ratios, released organic carbon with low molecular weight (labile substances) that has a relatively higher potential to support the aquatic food web. On the contrary, leaf litter of R. mucronata released organic material with relatively higher molecular weight (humic substances, higher aromaticity), which revealed its superior non-labile characteristics in this unique environment. The mean total heterotrophic bacterial (THB) population in the incubation was around nine-fold higher than the control. THB population growth and Chromophoric Dissolved Organic Matter (CDOM) spectral data further suggested the rapid release of highly labile and recalcitrant carbon from S. apetala and R. mucronata (between 7th and 21st day of incubation), respectively. The mean litter fall from the Bhitarkanika mangrove forest was estimated to be 11.32 ± 1.57 Mg ha-1 y-1 and its corresponding carbon content was 5.43 ± 0.75 Mg C ha-1. The study revealed the role of leaf litter leachates as an important food source to microbial communities in the adjacent coastal waters, in addition to a potential carbon sequesterer through long-term burial in mangrove soil and export to the deep sea.

Spectrum of Inherited Bleeding Disorder with Special Reference to von Willebrand Disease in Eastern India.

Background The objective of this study is to study the prevalence, clinical spectrum, and hematological profile of inherited bleeding disorder with special reference to von Willebrand disease in eastern India. Materials and Methods This prospective study was done in a tertiary care center in the eastern part of India over 2 years. Detailed history and clinical findings were noted in a proforma. Laboratory analysis included prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, bleeding time, and fibrinogen assay along with tests related to specific factor assay. Results One hundred and five patients were diagnosed as suffering with the inherited bleeding disorder out of a total of 1,204 patients. The age of patients ranged from 13 days to 35 years. The most common presenting clinical feature was prolonged bleeding after cut (76.19%). Out of 105 patients, 97 patients (92.38%) had coagulation defect, 5 patients (4.76%) had von Willebrand disease (vWD), and 3 patients (2.85%) had platelet defect. Most common coagulation defect was hemophilia A (84 cases), followed by hemophilia B (8 cases). Other rare congenital factor deficiencies were seen in five cases (5.15%). Only platelet defect was Glanzmann's thrombasthenia (GT). The age of vWD patients ranged from 4.5 years to 24 years. Forty percent patients with vWD disease were type 1 followed by 40% of type 2N and 20% of type 3 vWD. Conclusion vWD was not so common in eastern India. vWD was present only in 4.76% cases in this study. The most common coagulation defect was hemophilia A (86.59%) in our study. GT was present in only 2.85% cases.

Photoperiodically driven transcriptome-wide changes in the hypothalamus reveal transcriptional differences between physiologically contrasting seasonal life-history states in migratory songbirds.

We investigated time course of photoperiodically driven transcriptional responses in physiologically contrasting seasonal life-history states in migratory blackheaded buntings. Birds exhibiting unstimulated winter phenotype (photosensitive state; responsive to photostimulation) under 6-h short days, and regressed summer phenotype (photorefractory state; unresponsiveness to photostimulation) under 16-h long days, were released into an extended light period up to 22 h of the day. Increased tshß and dio2, and decreased dio3 mRNA levels in hypothalamus, and low prdx4 and high il1ß mRNA levels in blood confirmed photoperiodic induction by hour 18 in photosensitive birds. Further, at hours 10, 14, 18 and 22 of light exposure, the comparison of hypothalamus RNA-Seq results revealed transcriptional differences within and between states. Particularly, we found reduced expression at hour 14 of transthyretin and proopiomelanocortin receptor, and increased expression at hour 18 of apolipoprotein A1 and carbon metabolism related genes in the photosensitive state. Similarly, valine, leucine and isoleucine degradation pathway genes and superoxide dismutase 1 were upregulated, and cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript and gastrin-releasing peptide were downregulated in the photosensitive state. These results show life-history-dependent activation of hypothalamic molecular pathways involved in initiation and maintenance of key biological processes as early as on the first long day.

CAVA: A Visual Analytics System for Exploratory Columnar Data Augmentation Using Knowledge Graphs.

Most visual analytics systems assume that all foraging for data happens before the analytics process; once analysis begins, the set of data attributes considered is fixed. Such separation of data construction from analysis precludes iteration that can enable foraging informed by the needs that arise in-situ during the analysis. The separation of the foraging loop from the data analysis tasks can limit the pace and scope of analysis. In this paper, we present CAVA, a system that integrates data curation and data augmentation with the traditional data exploration and analysis tasks, enabling information foraging in-situ during analysis. Identifying attributes to add to the dataset is difficult because it requires human knowledge to determine which available attributes will be helpful for the ensuing analytical tasks. CAVA crawls knowledge graphs to provide users with a a broad set of attributes drawn from external data to choose from. Users can then specify complex operations on knowledge graphs to construct additional attributes. CAVA shows how visual analytics can help users forage for attributes by letting users visually explore the set of available data, and by serving as an interface for query construction. It also provides visualizations of the knowledge graph itself to help users understand complex joins such as multi-hop aggregations. We assess the ability of our system to enable users to perform complex data combinations without programming in a user study over two datasets. We then demonstrate the generalizability of CAVA through two additional usage scenarios. The results of the evaluation confirm that CAVA is effective in helping the user perform data foraging that leads to improved analysis outcomes, and offer evidence in support of integrating data augmentation as a part of the visual analytics pipeline.

Geono-Cluster: Interactive Visual Cluster Analysis for Biologists.

Biologists often perform clustering analysis to derive meaningful patterns, relationships, and structures from data instances and attributes. Though clustering plays a pivotal role in biologists' data exploration, it takes non-trivial efforts for biologists to find the best grouping in their data using existing tools. Visual cluster analysis is currently performed either programmatically or through menus and dialogues in many tools, which require parameter adjustments over several steps of trial-and-error. In this article, we introduce Geono-Cluster, a novel visual analysis tool designed to support cluster analysis for biologists who do not have formal data science training. Geono-Cluster enables biologists to apply their domain expertise into clustering results by visually demonstrating how their expected clustering outputs should look like with a small sample of data instances. The system then predicts users' intentions and generates potential clustering results. Our study follows the design study protocol to derive biologists' tasks and requirements, design the system, and evaluate the system with experts on their own dataset. Results of our study with six biologists provide initial evidence that Geono-Cluster enables biologists to create, refine, and evaluate clustering results to effectively analyze their data and gain data-driven insights. At the end, we discuss lessons learned and implications of our study.

Light at night affects gut microbial community and negatively impacts host physiology in diurnal animals: Evidence from captive zebra finches.

The gastrointestinal tract (GIT) hosts a large number of diverse microorganisms, with mutualistic interactions with the host. Here, in two separate experiments, we investigated whether light at night (LAN) would affect GIT microbiota and, in turn, the host physiology in diurnal zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata). Experiment I assessed the effects of no-night (LL) and dimly illuminated night (dim light at night, dLAN) on fecal microbiota diversity and host physiology of birds born and raised under 12 h photoperiod (LD; 12 h light: 12 h darkness). Under LL and dLAN, compared to LD, we found a significant increase in the body mass, subcutaneous fat deposition and hepatic accumulation of lipids. Although we found no difference in total 24 h food consumption, LL/ dLAN birds ate also at night, suggesting LAN-induced alteration in daily feeding times. Concurrently, there were marked differences in amplicon sequence and bacterial species richness between LD and LAN, with notable decline in Lactobacillus richness in birds under LL and dLAN. We attributed declined Lactobacillus population as causal (at least partially) to negative effects on the host metabolism. Therefore, in experiment II with similar protocol, birds under LL and dLAN were fed on diet with or without Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) supplement. Clearly, LGG supplement ameliorated LL- and dLAN-induced negative effects in zebra finches. These results demonstrate adverse effects of unnatural lighting on GIT bacterial diversity and host physiology, and suggest the role of GIT microbiota in the maintenance of metabolic homeostasis in response to LAN environment in diurnal animals.

Seasonal reproductive state determines gene expression in the hypothalamus of a latitudinal migratory songbird during the spring and autumn migration.

We investigated gonadal effects on hypothalamic transcription of genes in sham-operated and castrated redheaded buntings photostimulated into spring and autumn migratory states. RNA-Seq results showed testes-dependent differences between spring and autumn migratory states. In particular, differentially expressed genes enriched G-protein-coupled receptor and calcium-ion signaling pathways during spring and autumn states, respectively. qPCR assay showed attenuated gabra5, ttr, thra and thrb expressions, suggesting reduced GABA and thyroid hormone effects on photo-sexual response in spring. In spring castrates, reduced npy, tac1 and nrcam and increased ank3 expression suggested testicular effects on the appetite, prolactin release and neuronal functions, whereas in autumn castrates, reduced rasgrp1, grm5 and grin1, and increased mras expression suggested testicular effects on the ras, G-protein and glutamate signaling pathways. Castration-induced reciprocal switching of pomc and pdyn expressions suggested effects on the overall homeostasis in both seasons. These results demonstrate transcriptome-wide changes, with season-dependent roles of testes in songbird migration.

Grisel Syndrome in Otolaryngology: A Case Series with Literature Review.

Grisel's syndrome is non traumatic atlanto axial subluxation usually associated with inflammatory conditions of head and neck region. Non traumatic atlanto axial joint subluxation is a rare entity for an unsuspecting otolaryngologist. The condition if missed and not treated properly can have serious implications with possible neurological deficit. We attempt to review the existing literature on the disease condition and also to highlight the proper management of the condition. Retrospective analysis of hospital record of last five years and an internet based literature survey on the current concepts and management of the condition. We have come across five cases of Grisel's syndrome over the last five years. The clinicopathological and radiological features are described. Grisel syndrome may remain undiagnosed at initial presentation if not suspected. Delayed diagnosis may result in life long morbidity for the patient and the need for surgical intervention. Many of the early cases can be treated successfully by conservative approach.

BEAMES: Interactive Multimodel Steering, Selection, and Inspection for Regression Tasks.

Interactive model steering helps people incrementally build machine learning models that are tailored to their domain and task. Existing visual analytic tools allow people to steer a single model (e.g., assignment attribute weights used by a dimension reduction model). However, the choice of model is critical in such situations. What if the model chosen is suboptimal for the task, dataset, or question being asked? What if instead of parameterizing and steering this model, a different model provides a better fit? This paper presents a technique to allow users to inspect and steer multiple machine learning models. The technique steers and samples models from a broader set of learning algorithms and model types. We incorporate this technique into a visual analytic prototype, BEAMES, that allows users to perform regression tasks via multimodel steering. This paper demonstrates the effectiveness of BEAMES via a use case, and discusses broader implications for multimodel steering.

Transcriptome-wide changes in testes reveal molecular differences in photoperiod-induced seasonal reproductive life-history states in migratory songbirds.

We investigated the molecular basis of seasonal testicular states in black-headed buntings (Emberiza melanocephala), in which seasonal migrations limit reproduction to a narrow time-window during the year. We examined testicular gene expressions in buntings during short day-induced photosensitive nonreproductive state (SDSE), and during long day-induced early (LDES) and late (LDLS) gonadal maturation and regressed photorefractory (LDRF) seasonal states. Using Kallisto, we pseudoaligned the RNA-Seq transcripts and calculated the transcript abundance. We found 1,799 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the four photoperiod-induced seasonal states. Further pairwise comparison with SDSE revealed 1,187, 1,224, and 1,238 DEGs in LDES, LDLS, and LDRF, respectively; 852 genes were common to three comparisons. We then identified genetic pathways putatively involved in seasonal testicular cycle. DEGs that enriched calcium ion binding were highly expressed in testicular maturation states. Similarly, DEGs that enriched glycolytic pathway were highly expressed in LDES and LDRF states. More specifically, quantitative polymerase chain reaction showed significant differences between the photoperiod-induced states in testicular expression of genes (HOOK1, RGS2, PRDX4, BCL6, CYFIP2, PDCD4, P2RX4, and GABRA1) involved in gametogenesis and associated pathways. Overall, these results show significant transcriptional differences, and provide insights into the molecular basis of seasonal changes in the reproductive life-history states in a photoperiodic species.

Microbial assay of N2 fixation rate, a simple alternate for acetylene reduction assay.

Nitrogen is an essential element for living creatures in every ecosystem but nitrogen cannot be absorbed by the plant itself directly from the atmosphere, so for nitrogen, plant depends on both free living and symbiotic microbes present in the soil. Nitrogen fixation potentiality of the soil thus reveals its fertility with respect to nitrogen. Researchers developed and modified techniques for measuring nitrogen fixation rate of the soil and acetylene reduction assay (ARA) technique became the most popular till now. At the same time this technique has few limitations especially for the researchers from third world country due to lack of special infrastructure in the laboratory and the most required instrument for this technique, gas chromatograph machine, is very expensive. Any alternation of this technique is deserved highly for the researchers from the developing countries. The present work/method explained a new approach for determination of nitrogen fixation rate and this new method was named as "Microbial bio-assay". In this technique nitrogen fixers were cultured in specific medium and condition and after required time of interval the amount of nitrogen fixed by them were calculated. Exploration of soil of the Sundarban mangrove ecosystem was performed regarding the microbial N2 fixing capacity of that particular ecosystem. •The nitrogen fixation rate measured by acetylene reduction assay (ARA) was 1.13 times lower than the N2 fixation rate measured by microbial bio-assay.•Microbial bio-assay can be used as an alternate of ARA method to measure N2 fixation rate. The rates of N2 fixation measured by both two methods were positively correlated with the population of N2 fixing bacteria present in the soil of that particular ecosystem (R2 = 0.85, p < 0.005, n = 85 for microbial bio-assay and R2 = 0.78, p < 0.005, n = 85 for ARA).

Hypothalamic and liver transcriptome from two crucial life-history stages in a migratory songbird.

NEW FINDINGS: What is the central question of this study? What are the molecular underpinnings of the seasonal adaptation in a latitudinal migratory songbird? What is the main finding and its importance? We found changes in mRNA levels after a photoperiod-induced alteration of seasonal state in a captive long-distance latitudinal avian migrant. The hypothalamus and liver transcriptomes revealed genes involved in the regulatory and functional pathways between non-migratory and migratory states. Our results provide insights into mechanisms underlying homeostasis during seasonal changes that are conserved across most species, including humans. ABSTRACT: Very little is understood about genetic mechanisms underlying the onset of spring migration in latitudinal avian migrants. To gain insight into the genetic architecture of the hypothalamus and liver tissues of a long-distance migrant, we examined and compared the transcriptome profile of captive night-migratory black-headed buntings (Emberiza melanocephala) between photoperiod-induced winter non-migratory (WnM) and spring migratory (SM) life-history states under short and long days, respectively. High-throughput 454 pyrosequenced transcripts were mapped initially with reference to the genome of two phylogenetically close species, Taeniopygia guttata and Ficedula albicollis. The F. albicollis genome gave higher annotation results and was used for further analysis. A total of 216 (78 in hypothalamus; 138 in liver) genes were found to be expressed differentially between the WnM and SM life-history states. These genes were enriched for physiological pathways that might be involved in the regulation of seasonal migrations in birds. For example, genes for the ATP binding pathway in the hypothalamus were expressed at a significantly higher level in SM than in the WnM life-history state. Likewise, upregulated genes associated with the myelin sheath and focal adhesion were enriched in the hypothalamus, and those with cell-to-cell junction, intracellular protein transport, calcium ion transport and small GTPase-mediated signal transduction were enriched in the liver. Many of these genes are a part of physiological pathways potentially involved in the regulation of seasonal migration in birds. These results show molecular changes at the regulatory and metabolic levels associated with seasonal transitions in a long-distance migrant and provide the basis for future studies aimed at unravelling the genetic control of migration in birds.

Podium: Ranking Data Using Mixed-Initiative Visual Analytics.

People often rank and order data points as a vital part of making decisions. Multi-attribute ranking systems are a common tool used to make these data-driven decisions. Such systems often take the form of a table-based visualization in which users assign weights to the attributes representing the quantifiable importance of each attribute to a decision, which the system then uses to compute a ranking of the data. However, these systems assume that users are able to quantify their conceptual understanding of how important particular attributes are to a decision. This is not always easy or even possible for users to do. Rather, people often have a more holistic understanding of the data. They form opinions that data point A is better than data point B but do not necessarily know which attributes are important. To address these challenges, we present a visual analytic application to help people rank multi-variate data points. We developed a prototype system, Podium, that allows users to drag rows in the table to rank order data points based on their perception of the relative value of the data. Podium then infers a weighting model using Ranking SVM that satisfies the user's data preferences as closely as possible. Whereas past systems help users understand the relationships between data points based on changes to attribute weights, our approach helps users to understand the attributes that might inform their understanding of the data. We present two usage scenarios to describe some of the potential uses of our proposed technique: (1) understanding which attributes contribute to a user's subjective preferences for data, and (2) deconstructing attributes of importance for existing rankings. Our proposed approach makes powerful machine learning techniques more usable to those who may not have expertise in these areas.

Optimization of phytoplankton preservative concentrations to reduce damage during long-term storage.

A study was performed to establish the optimal concentration of traditional preservatives or fixatives such as formaldehyde and acidic Lugol's iodine, in order to preserve phytoplankton samples for long-term storage without the introduction of artifacts or other physical aberrations. The goal of the study was to avoid any visible morphological changes to the preserved cells, minimizing the errors induced by traditional preservative concentrations, and ensuring better accuracy of ecological analyses. We found that both formaldehyde and acidic Lugol's iodine have adverse effects on the preservation of samples. Trichodesmium erythraeum was found to be most susceptible to the effects of acidic Lugol's iodine, since it displayed the highest degree of chain fragmentation when this preservative was used. However, we found that 2.0% (v/v) formaldehyde, 2.5% (v/v) acidic Lugol's iodine, and 2.0% (v/v) formaldehyde+2.5%(v/v) acidic Lugol's iodine combined were most promising, with the latter the most effective even after 3 weeks of preservation. This study also revealed that, in general, the centric diatom species were more sensitive to long-term preservation than their pennate counterparts. The present study is significant as it sheds light on the damage endured by phytoplankton cells during long-term preservation, which can lead to erroneous and biased results upon analyses. The optimal concentration of preservative established experimentally from a wide variety of concentrations caused comparatively moderate changes to the cell dimensions as well as effectively prevented microbial contamination.

Value of bone marrow imprint smears in early diagnosis of bone marrow pathologies.

BACKGROUND: Examination of bone marrow plays a pivotal role in the practice of haematology. It can be evaluated by three ways-bone marrow aspiration (BMA), bone marrow touch imprints (BMI) and bone marrow biopsy (BMBx). AIM AND OBJECTIVE: To study the efficacy and reliability of BMI smears in comparison to BMA smears, in making a diagnosis of diseases involving bone marrow. Setting and Designs: This study was carried out in the Department of Pathology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Varanasi over a period of 26 months. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total number of 182 cases, with their BMA, BMI and BMBx samples (from each and every case), were evaluated and their findings even compared. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: All the observations were evaluated using simple and basic statistical tool, i.e. percentage. RESULTS: The cellularity or cell density on BMI correlated with the cellularity of BMBx in 78.6% cases, which was higher than the value observed with BMA smears (71.4%). The spreading quality was better and cytological details were better appreciated in BMI as compared to BMA. Also, the presence of lymphoglandular bodies and particles on BMI were additive diagnostic clues. All of those findings were reflected in the higher diagnostic accuracy of BMI than BMA. CONCLUSION: BMI should be a standard practice and be considered as an early and reliable diagnostic tool for evaluating bone marrow pathologies.