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A new Asian species of Crepidotus (Basidiomycota, Agaricales), C. asiaticus, is presented based on morphological and nuc rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 = ITS) and large subunit (28S) sequence data. This new species, found in India and Thailand, is characterized by the centrally stipitate medium-sized basidiomata, orange to reddish brown pileus, white to brownish orange lamellae, and white stipe. Based on morphology, C. asiaticus is similar to the neotropical C. thermophilus. However, the microscopic characters, especially the size and shape of the basidiospores, can be used to distinguish these two taxa, as well as their geographic distributions. Further, the phylogenetic position of C. asiaticus is unique based on ITS and 28S nuc rDNA sequences. Melanomphalia argipoda, described by Singer from Ecuador, is also a stipitate Crepidotus based on an ITS sequence of the type specimen, so the new combination is proposed here. Phylogenetically, the three species form a monophyletic group with the Asiatic C. asiaticus forming the sister lineage to the neotropical C. argipodus and C. thermophilus.

Vascular angiogenesis is regulated by a number of cytokines of which vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A/and its receptor vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) play an indisputable role. Similarly lymphangiogenesis is regulated by VEGF-C and its receptor VEGFR3. Currently for treating vasculogenesis diseases such as proliferative retinopathies and cancer, a number of anti-VEGF-A therapies are approved for clinical use. Although clinical efficacies achieved are remarkable, they are found to be transitory in nature, followed by restoration of anti-VEGF therapy resistant angiogenesis. Recently the regulatory role of VEGF-C in initiating and potentiating neo-angiogenesis has been uncovered. Although the interactive nature of VEGF-A and C is known, the dynamics of their expression under knockdown conditions is yet to be established. Here in this study we have utilized siRNA to knockdown both VEGF-A and C either independently or in combination. Analysis of VEGF-A and C expression (only in cancer cell lines MCF7, A549 and H460 but not in the ocular cell line RPE19) has shown enhanced expression levels of VEGF-C with increase in knockdown of VEGF-A. However, VEGF-C knockdown has resulted in decreased expression levels of VEGF-A both in RPE19 and MCF7 cells in a dose dependent manner. In addition, VEGF-C knockdown also resulted in decreased expression of RhoA. Further, knockdown studies of RhoA even with supplementation of VEGF-C or A has resulted in decreased endothelial cell proliferation and stress fiber formation, indicating that VEGF-C does promote angiogenesis via RhoA mediated pathway.

Groundnut is an important oilseed crop of the Indian subcontinent. Yield losses due to fungal diseases are enormous in the cultivation of this crop. Over-expression of PR proteins leads to increased resistance to pathogenic fungi in several crops. The PR protein glucanase hydrolyses a major cell-wall component, glucan, of pathogenic fungi and acts as a plant defense barrier. We report in this paper, overexpression of a tobacco glucanase in transgenic groundnut and its resistance towards Cercospora arachidicola and Aspergillus flavus. PCR, Southern and Northern hybridization confirmed stable integration and expression of the glucanase gene in groundnut transgenics. When screened for resistance against Cercospora arachidicola the transgenics showed not only reduction in the number of spots but also delay in the onset of disease. Resistance was also demonstrated against one another important pathogen of groundnut, Aspergillus flavus. The transgenics not only resisted hyphal spread but also did not accumulate aflatoxin in the seeds. The results demonstrate the potential of a PR protein from a heterologous source in developing fungal disease resistant groundnut.

Peanut, a major edible oil seed crop globally is predominantly grown under rainfed conditions and suffers yield losses due to drought. Development of drought-tolerant varieties through transgenic technology is a valid approach. Besides superior water relation traits like water mining, intrinsic cellular level tolerance mechanisms are important to sustain the growth under stress. To achieve this objective, the focus of this study was to pyramid drought adaptive traits by overexpressing a stress responsive helicase, PDH45 in the background of a genotype with superior water relations. PCR, Southern, and RT-PCR analyses confirmed stable integration and expression of the PDH45 gene in peanut transgenics. At the end of T₃generation, eight transgenic events were identified as promising based on stress tolerance and improvement in productivity. Several transgenic lines showed stay-green phenotype and increased chlorophyll stability under stress and reduced chlorophyll retardation under etherel-induced simulated stress conditions. Stress-induced root growth was also substantially higher in the case of transformants. This was reflected in increased WUE (low Δ¹³C) and improved growth rates and productivity. The transgenics showed 17.2 and 26.75 % increase in yield under non-stress and stress conditions over wild type ascertaining the feasibility of trait pyramiding strategy for the development of drought-tolerant peanut.

Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis viruses (TMEV) are ubiquitous pathogens of mice, producing either rapidly fatal encephalitis (high-neurovirulence strains) or persistent central nervous system infection and inflammatory demyelination (low-neurovirulence strains). Although a protein entry receptor has not yet been identified, carbohydrate co-receptors that effect docking and concentration of the virus on the cell surface are known for both TMEV neurovirulence groups. Low-neurovirulence TMEV use alpha2,3-linked N-acetylneuramic acid (sialic acid) on an N-linked glycoprotein, whereas high-neurovirulence TMEV use the proteoglycan heparan sulfate (HS) as a co-receptor. While the binding of low-neurovirulence TMEV to sialic acid can be inhibited completely, only a third of the binding of high-neurovirulence TMEV to HS is inhibitable, suggesting that high-neurovirulence strains use another co-receptor or bind directly to the putative protein entry receptor. Four amino acids on the surface (VP2 puff B) of low-neurovirulence strains make contact with sialic acid through non-covalent hydrogen bonds. Since these virus residues are conserved in all TMEV strains, the capsid conformation of this region is probably responsible for sialic acid binding. A persistence determinant that maps within the virus coat using recombinant TMEV is also conformational in nature. Low-neurovirulence virus variants that do not bind to sialic acid fail to persist in the central nervous system of mice, indicating a role for sialic acid binding in TMEV persistence. Analysis of high-neurovirulence variants that do not bind HS demonstrates that HS co-receptor usage influences neuronal tropism in brain, whereas, the HS co-receptor use is not required for the infection of spinal cord anterior horn cells associated with poliomyelitis.

Background: Stress is a potential contributer to chronic hyperglycemia. Pitta Prakriti (body constitution) individuals are more prone to stress and the prevalence of type 2 diabetes in stressed out individuals is much more. Aim of study was to evaluate the role of stress in hyperglycemia in individuals of Pitta predominant constitution and to assess the effectiveness of Mahatiktaka Kashaya in stress-induced hyperglycemia. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was carried out in 100 Pitta predominant patients having fasting blood sugar level greater than 140 mg/dl, to find the association of stress and hyperglycemia, using International Stress Management Association questionnaire followed by open lebelled clinical trial with Mahatiktaka Kashaya (Decoction). Trial drug was administered at a dose of 15 ml twice daily for 14 days. Assessment was done before and after the treatment. Observation and Analysis: 80% of Pitta predominant individuals have reported stress-associated hyperglycemia. Overall effect of Mahatiktaka Kashaya in major domains of Stress Assessment Questionnaire, i.e., symptoms, stability and strategies was significant. Furthermore, the trial drug showed significant improvement in biochemical parameters of diabetes. Conclusion: The study concludes that there is significant association between stress and hyperglycemia in the individuals of Pitta constitution. Mahatiktaka Kashaya is found to be highly significant in stress-associated hyperglycemia in the above said group.

Background: Fishermen have a high burden of alcohol-related morbidity. The Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) is used to classify individual to have harmful use of alcohol and probable alcohol dependence. Hence, this study was conducted among fishermen in a selected fishermen community in Puducherry, South India, to (a) assess the proportion of harmful alcohol use and probable dependence to alcohol among alcohol users using AUDIT tool and (b) find the sociodemographic factors associated with harmful alcohol use and probable dependence among alcohol users. Materials and Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out among the fishermen above 18 years of age in a selected \"fishing hamlet.\" A house-to-house survey was conducted to identify the fishermen. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to obtain sociodemographic details. AUDIT tool was administered by interviewer to those fishermen who used alcohol in the past 1 year. Data were entered and analyzed using EpiData software. The proportion of harmful use of alcohol and probable dependence among alcohol users was expressed as percentage. Chi-square test was used to find association between sociodemographic factors with harmful use of alcohol and probable dependence. Results: Of 304 fishermen included in the study, 241 (79%) reported alcohol use in the past 1 year. Of 241 alcohol users, four-fifths (82%) had some formal education and two-thirds (67%) had monthly income <3000 INR. \"Harmful use\" of alcohol was noted in 76.8% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 71.1%-81.7%) and probable alcohol dependence in 12.4% (95% CI: 8.9%-17.2%). None of the individual characteristics of alcohol users were associated with either harmful use of alcohol or probable dependence. Conclusion: Among fishermen who use alcohol, eight out of ten have harmful use of alcohol. There is a need to screen for alcohol-related disorders among fisherman and adopt brief intervention strategies to counter problems of harmful use of alcohol.

The aim of the paper is to reduce the Scrap in Transfer Pump Tightening Assembly in Common rail Pump. Low Torque rejection phenomenon was considered as it was of more rejection in past 6 months and it was having average per month scrap cost to be excessive. The objective of the work was to reduce the scrap quantity of TPC Tightening Assembly phenomenon from 3% of total scrap quantity of CR – Pump assembly to an accepted level. Due to this more rejection quantity, Loss of production and quality, High scrap cost and utilization of more man power were noticed in CR-Pump Assembly. To solve these problems seven problem Solving tools were attempted. To reduce the scrap cost and increase productivity and quality were targets with good usage of man power.

The amenability and reproducibility of a tissue culture-independent Agrobacterium tumefaciens- mediated transformation strategy was analyzed in field bean and the stability of the transgenes was examined. The protocol involves in planta inoculation of embryo axes of germinating seeds and allowing them to grow into seedlings ex vitro . Transformants were raised using a chimeric Bt gene, cry 1AcF, and putative transformants were analyzed by PCR for both cry 1AcF as well as the npt II genes. Bioassays against Helicoverpa armigera , the major pod borer, showed that several T 1 plants performed well with 17% of T 1 plants harboring the transgene. Further, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and quick dip strip test confirmed the expression of the chimeric Bt toxin. The stability of the transgenes was checked in three generations for integration, expression, and efficacy against the two insects, H. armigera and Spodoptera litura . Southern blot analysis of 10 high expressing plants confirmed the integration of the transgene, whereas single copy integration of the T-DNA in 5 events was also evident. Transcript accumulation of the cry 1AcF gene by Northern analysis supported the expression analysis by ELISA. Likewise, Western blot analysis for the NPTII protein further confirmed the transgenic nature of the plants. At the end of the analysis in the T 3 generation, five plants from five T 1 events were selected as promising. Therefore, the study proved not only the amenability of the field bean to the transformation protocol but also the stability of the introduced genes through three generations.

The Urea SCR system is a promising approach to reduce NOx in order to meet stringent limits on Euro 1V and Euro V standards. Apart from thermodynamic properties (temperature, pressure,heat and mass transfer), the cell geometry of SCR also got significant role in reduction of NOx. The current study focuses on the calculation of NOx conversion by varying the Open Frontal area of monolith, volume of monolith, cell density thereby to choose best cell geometry which will result in maximum DeNOx efficiency. It has been found that as the cell density increases the NOx conversion efficiency also increases. In the current analysis, a cell density varying from 200 CPSI to 400 CPSI is considered. One dimensional steady state and transient kinetic analysis are carried out using AVL BOOST software. The monolith volume is varied from 0.002m 3 to 0.008m 3 and the effects on DeNOx efficiency are discussed. The Open frontal area of SCR catalyst also been varied, and the effects on NOx conversion is studied. It has been found that as the cell density, monolith volume increases, the NOx conversion efficiency also increases, where as it decreases with increase in Open frontal area. The results are validated through experimental results obtained from the literature.