Impact of Seed-born Colletotrichum lindemuthianum on French Bean Seed Quality

French bean seed samples were collected from different parts of Tamil Nadu including both tropical and temperate region including four cultivars viz.,Arkakomal,Premier,Rajmash DPU 88-4 and Watex.The variety Watex was found to maximum per cent seed infection of C.lindemuthianum with more discolorations.Among the various techniques adopted for detection,agar plate method was found to be best and yielded maximum per cent seed infection.Direct correlation was obtained between seed discoloration and per cent seed infection.The pathogen was found to be present mostly in seed coat and cotyledon and rarely in embryonic axis.The artificial inoculation of 45-day-old plants resulted in maximum disease incidence,resultant seed infection and minimum seed yield /plant and 100 grain weight

Single switch Z-source/quasi Z-source DC-DC converters

This paper analyzes a family of high step up single switch switched capacitor boost converters and Z-source/quasi Z-source dc-dc converters to provide high output dc voltage gain with single stage conversion having low voltage stress on active switches, capacitors, and diodes. The operating principles, parameters design guideline of these converters are presented along with simulation results. The discussed topologies in this paper are aimed to increase the conversion system reliability and efficiency with decreased cost, volume, and weight. These power converter topologies are used for various applications such as photovoltaic (PV) systems, wind energy conversion, fuel cells, uninterruptible power systems, motor drives, energy storage systems, electric vehicle and power factor correction. Simulations are carried out in MATLAB/Simulink environment

Effect of curcumin on the contraction of isolated goat uterus

Background: The aim of the study was to investigate the effect and mechanism of action of curcumin on potassium chloride (KCl) induced contraction of isolated goat uterine tissue.Methods: KCl induced contraction in the presence and absence of log doses of curcumin were obtained with the help of force transducer and student physiograph. Also, the effect of glibenclamide (K+ATP channel blocker) and methylene blue v (nitric oxide blocker) on the contractility of uterus tissue in presence of curcumin was recorded. Wilcoxon Signed Rank test was used for statistical analysis. The percentage inhibition of height and area under curve were calculated.Results: There was decrease in the height of KCl induced contraction in the presence of curcumin 4 µM (p value 0.046) 40 µM (p value=0.028) and 400 µM (p value=0.028). There was reduction in area under curve of KCl induced contraction in presence of curcumin 4 µM (p value=0.463) 40µM (p value=0.027) and 400 µM (p value=0.028). There was decrease in the height (p value=0.046) and significant decrease in area (p value=0.046) of KCl induced contraction in the presence of curcumin 100 µM and glibenclamide. There was decrease in height (p value=0.027) and area (p value=0.028) of KCl induced contraction in the presence of curcumin 100 µM and methylene blue.Conclusions: Curcumin causes relaxation of goat uterus. Since methylene blue and glibenclamide were not able to reverse the inhibition produced by curcumin it implies curcumin may not act via the nitric oxide pathway nor does it interact with K+ATP channels to relax the uterus

Synthesis of substituted isoxazoles and 1,3,4-oxadiazoles

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Allosteric Regulation of Fibronectin/α5β1 Interaction by Fibronectin-Binding MSCRAMMs

Citation: Liang, X. W., Garcia, B. L., Visai, L., Prabhakaran, S., Meenan, N. A. G., Potts, J. R., . . . Hook, M. (2016). Allosteric Regulation of Fibronectin/alpha(5)beta(1) Interaction by Fibronectin-Binding MSCRAMMs. Plos One, 11(7), 17. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0159118Adherence ofmicrobes to host tissues is a hallmark of infectious disease and is often mediated by a class of adhesins termed MSCRAMMs (Microbial Surface Components Recognizing Adhesive Matrix Molecules). Numerous pathogens express MSCRAMMs that specifically bind the heterodimeric human glycoprotein fibronectin (Fn). In addition to roles in adhesion, Fn-binding MSCRAMMs exploit physiological Fn functions. For example, several pathogens can invade host cells by a mechanism whereby MSCRAMM-bound Fn bridges interaction with alpha(5)beta(1) integrin. Here, we investigate two Fn-binding MSCRAMMs, FnBPA (Staphylococcus aureus) and BBK32 (Borrelia burgdorferi) to probe structure-activity relationships of MSCRAMM-induced Fn/alpha(5)beta(1) integrin activation. Circular dichroism, fluorescence resonance energy transfer, and dynamic light scattering techniques uncover a conformational rearrangement of Fn involving domains distant from the MSCRAMM binding site. Surface plasmon resonance experiments demonstrate a significant enhancement of Fn/alpha(5)beta(1) integrin affinity in the presence of FnBPA or BBK32. Detailed kinetic analysis of these interactions reveal that this change in affinity can be attributed solely to an increase in the initial Fn/alpha(5)beta(1) on-rate and that this rate-enhancement is dependent on high-affinity Fn-binding by MSCRAMMs. These data implicate MSCRAMM-induced perturbation of specific intramolecular contacts within the Fn heterodimer resulting in activation by exposing previously cryptic alpha(5)beta(1) interaction motifs. By correlating structural changes in Fn to a direct measurement of increased Fn/alpha(5)beta(1) affinity, this work significantly advances our understanding of the structural basis for the modulation of integrin function by Fn-binding MSCRAMMs

Prevalence of and barriers to exclusive breast feeding among mothers of infants in selected hospitals in Mangalore. India

Introduction. UNICEF and WHO recommend exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) as crucial for achieving sustainable development goals.Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among mothers of infants aged 6 to 12 months to estimate the prevalence of and barriers to exclusive breastfeeding. Data were collected from 440 mothers using structured, validated tools from May 2022 to January 2023.Results. Analysis revealed that the prevalence of EBF among mothers in a selected hospital in Mangalore is 58.9%. The identified barriers included inadequate breast milk (42.5%), excessive concern about the baby’s weight gain (41.4%), difficulties with proper latching (26.5%), maternal medications (28.2%), infant illness (22.7%), lack of awareness regarding EBF (12.2%), the need to resume work (12.2%), time constraints (12.2%), family pressure to introduce formula due to perceived poor weight gain (12.2%), breast complications (9.9%), subsequent pregnancies (7.7%), lack of family support (5.5%), lack of partner support (5%), and misinformation (1.7%). Significant associations were found between EBF and factors such as exposure to pre-pregnancy breastfeeding education, place of residence, sources of breastfeeding information, number of antenatal visits, type of delivery, and the immediate initiation of breastfeeding, all at a significance level of 0.001.Conclusion. Pre-pregnancy education on breastfeeding enhances the immediate initiation of breastfeeding, reduces barriers to EBF, and promotes adherence to EBF

Approaches in biotechnological applications of natural polymers

Natural polymers, such as gums and mucilage, are biocompatible, cheap, easily available and non-toxic materials of native origin. These polymers are increasingly preferred over synthetic materials for industrial applications due to their intrinsic properties, as well as they are considered alternative sources of raw materials since they present characteristics of sustainability, biodegradability and biosafety. As definition, gums and mucilages are polysaccharides or complex carbohydrates consisting of one or more monosaccharides or their derivatives linked in bewildering variety of linkages and structures. Natural gums are considered polysaccharides naturally occurring in varieties of plant seeds and exudates, tree or shrub exudates, seaweed extracts, fungi, bacteria, and animal sources. Water-soluble gums, also known as hydrocolloids, are considered exudates and are pathological products; therefore, they do not form a part of cell wall. On the other hand, mucilages are part of cell and physiological products. It is important to highlight that gums represent the largest amounts of polymer materials derived from plants. Gums have enormously large and broad applications in both food and non-food industries, being commonly used as thickening, binding, emulsifying, suspending, stabilizing agents and matrices for drug release in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. In the food industry, their gelling properties and the ability to mold edible films and coatings are extensively studied. The use of gums depends on the intrinsic properties that they provide, often at costs below those of synthetic polymers. For upgrading the value of gums, they are being processed into various forms, including the most recent nanomaterials, for various biotechnological applications. Thus, the main natural polymers including galactomannans, cellulose, chitin, agar, carrageenan, alginate, cashew gum, pectin and starch, in addition to the current researches about them are reviewed in this article.. }To the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientfíico e Tecnológico (CNPq) for fellowships (LCBBC and MGCC) and the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nvíel Superior (CAPES) (PBSA). This study was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the scope of the strategic funding of UID/BIO/04469/2013 unit, the Project RECI/BBB-EBI/0179/2012 (FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-027462) and COMPETE 2020 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006684) (JAT)

Fertilizer best management practices by SSNM and customized fertilizers for elephant foot yam (Amorphophallus paeoniifolius) cultivation in India

Elephant foot yam [Amorphophallus paeoniifolius (Dennst.) Nicolson] is an important tuber crop grown in many parts of India for its starchy corm and the average yield of this crop is far below the potential productivity of 100 tonnes/ha. One of the reasons attributed to the lower yield is the imbalanced application of essential plant nutrients. Site specific nutrient management (SSNM) is the application of plant nutrients based on the soil and crop need, yield target and developed with the aid of models such as QUEFTS. This paper gives the result of four year study conducted to calibrate and validate the QUEFTS model for elephant foot yam cultivation and the development of SSNM zonation maps and secondary and micronutrient fortified customised fertilizers for the crop in major growing environments of India. Data collected from different field experiments conducted in major elephant foot yam-production regions of India during 1968 to 2011 were used to calibrate the model. The derived parameters of minimum and maximum accumulation of N (130 and 460), P (900 and 2100) and K (100 and 170) are proposed as standard borderline values in the QUEFTS model for elephant foot yam. A linear increase in corm yield was suggested by the model with N, P and K uptakes of 3.97, 0.71, and 7.05 kg N, P and K/1 000 kg corm. The average NPK ratio in total plant dry matter was 5.56:1:9.88. Based on these results, the model was calibrated using historical data as well as by conducting field experiments. It can be observed that fertilizer best management practices by SSNM resulted in an average actual corm yield of 33.45 tonnes/ha, whereas, the model predicted a yield of 35 tonnes/ha. The results of the study showed good agreement between predicted and measured corm yields during the four years, which indicated that the calibrated model can be used to improve NPK fertilizer recommendations for elephant foot yam in India. Based on the results and using soil fertility maps and agro ecological unit maps, SSNM zonation maps and secondary and micronutrient fortified customised fertilizers were developed for major elephant foot yam growing environments of India