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This paper aims at theoretical evaluation of enhanced self-Kerr nonlinear coefficient in multilevel X-conformation of 87Rb atom. The coupled density matrix equations are numerically solved by iterative perturbation method to obtain first- and third-order probe response spectra. It is found that large self Kerr nonlinearity with reduced absorption is obtained at the positions of Electromagnetically induced transparency regions. The maximum value, sign as well as slope of self-Kerr nonlinearity can be manipulated via adjusting detuning parameter corresponding to the strong electromagnetic (e.m.) fields. The controllability of Kerr nonlinear index finds usage in numerous applications like optoelectronic devices, quantum computing and so on. It is also elucidated that Kerr nonlinearity can be escalated by inculcation of Doppler effect.

Forty three oat genotypes including six cultivars and thirty seven advance breeding lines were evaluated for composition of carbohydrates, total soluble proteins, minerals, antinutritional factors such as phytic acid, saponin and tannin and fiber (β-glucan, cellulose and lignin) content. The average contents of total soluble sugars, starch and total protein were 5.3, 494.3 and 182.9 mg/g respectively. The average content of zinc (8.3 mg/100 g) was higher than iron (3.5 mg/100 g) in oats. The oat genotypes were then sorted out into high, medium and low categories following the equal distribution method. Ten genotypes (OL-10, OL-125, OL-1769, OL-1835, OL-1841, OL-1843, OL-1847, OL-1865, OL-1873, OL-1876) possessed low antinutritional factors in terms of phytic acid, saponin and tannin contents. Among them, OL-1843 and OL-1865 were considered nutritionally best as they lied in higher/medium range of starch, zinc, total soluble protein, β-glucan and iron. They were followed by OL-1873, which possessed high contents of total soluble sugars, starch and zinc together with the medium amounts of total fructose and iron. Therefore, all these genotypes may be considered good for human consumption and for use in breeding programs.

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is one of the major vegetable plant and a model system for fruit development. Its global importance is due to its lycopene pigment which has anti-oxidative and anti-cancerous properties. Though > 1.5 M biotic stress associated ESTs of tomato are available but cumulative analysis to predict genes is warranted. Availability of whole genome de novo assembly can advantageously be used to map them over different chromosome. Further, available 0.14 M catalogued markers can be used to introgress specific desirable genes in varietal improvement program. We report here 57 novel genes associated with biotic stress of tomato along with 50 genes having physical location over different chromosomes. We also report 52 cis-regulating elements and 69 putative miRNAs which are involved in regulation of these biotic stresses associated genes. These putative candidate genes associated with biotic stress can be used in molecular breeding in the endeavor of tomato productivity along with its sustainable germplasm management.

Objective To determine the prevalence of osteophyte induced lung fibrosis (OIF) and its relationship to osteophyte size, location, and surrounding fat. Methods 94 CT scans of the chest were reviewed, size of the largest osteophyte and the presence of fibrosis were recorded. Results Presence of fibrosis was higher among patient with large (> 10 mm) osteophytes compared to those with small (1–10 mm) osteophytes. Age and presence of periosteophyte fat were significantly associated with presence of fibrosis. Conclusions As the size of an osteophyte increases, there is a greater likelihood of lung fibrosis. Subpleural fat protects the lung from OIF.

Snow density information is essentially required in snowpack research. We estimated snow density from penetration resistance measured with the SnowMicroPen (SMP). A 100 cm3 density cutter was used for manual measurements of snow density. The measurements were taken at Patsio (3800 m) station of SASE located in the Greater Himalayan range. The maximum penetration resistance values obtained for 1 mm depth windows of SMP profiles were used for snow density modelling. A statistical density model is then proposed from these data which correlated well with the manual measurements (rp: 0.83). The model was tested for two other stations (Dhundi and Gulmarg) located in different climatic zones. A correlation of 82% for Dhundi and 83% for Gulmarg was found. The model was then compared with existing SMP based density models. The present model estimated densities fairly well for various snow types as compared to other SMP based models except for fresh snow. A new parameter, the number of peaks of maximum penetration resistance for 1 mm depth (Np) has been introduced. The parameter is found to be uncorrelated with other statistical parameters presented so far in snow characterization.

Background Chronic kidney disease is increasing in prevalence. The association between low baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and future myocardial infarction has not been comprehensively assessed. Methods A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies evaluating the risk for future myocardial infarction associated with eGFR 2 was completed. Data sources included PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library. Included studies were required to have prospectively collected data, followed subjects for at least 6months, and reported baseline eGFR levels and the multivariable-adjusted relative risk for future myocardial infarction. A random effects model was used and subgroup analyses were conducted. Results 26 publications representing 41 observational cohorts were selected. In total, 1,986,850 participants with more than 35,752 documented myocardial infarctions (follow-up range: 9months to ~20years) were evaluated. eGFR 2 was associated with a relative risk of 1.52 (95% confidence interval 1.39–1.67; p 2 was associated with a relative risk of 1.21 (1.09–1.34; p =0.0002) for myocardial infarction. Significant heterogeneity existed among both eGFR groups. Subgroup analysis found a further increase in risk for myocardial infarction as eGFR declined from 30 to 60 to 2 (1.40, 95% confidence interval, 1.21–1.61 vs.1.94, 95% confidence interval, 1.51–2.50; p =0.03). Conclusions Decreased baseline eGFR is independently associated with increased future myocardial infarction, and the risk increases with advanced renal insufficiency. Clinicians should be wary of acute coronary syndromes in patients with CKD.

Even though cultivated rice is highly sensitive to salinity, significant variability exists in the primary and secondary gene-pool of rice with respect to traits of salinity tolerance. Breeding salinity tolerance rice varieties is imperative due to climate change and increasing rice demand for global population. A meta-analysis of plethora of genomic data and published literature available on various genes/factors associated with response to rice salinity and tolerance can be used to enlist selected candidates genes affecting salinity. Such genes can be utilized to identify potential candidate salinity resistance genes from donor rice genotypes and facilitate their transfer to high yielding varieties of rice through marker-assisted breeding. This approach has tremendous advantage over transgenic approach as no bio-safety or regulatory issues are involved in exploiting the variability. Meta-analyses were performed on three datasets viz., rice microarray data of 166 series comprising of 2586 samples, 1228 published research literature in the last one and half decades and RNA-Seq data of 454 and Illumina from Sequence Retrieval Archive (SRA) at NCBI. Among microarray dataset, six salinity related series were finally selected and multi experiment analysis revealed 2289 differentially expressed genes belonging to 44 gene families. Out of these, 13 families viz., AP2-EREBP, AUX/IAA, bZIP, C2H2, bHLH, C3H, HB, HSF, MYB, MYB-related, NAC, Tify and WRKY were selected. Applying various parameters on the published literature data, 13 genes were selected, of which five were common to the different microarray datasets. From RNA-Seq data, total of 751 differentially expressed genes were obtained from 21 gene families, out of which 11 genes were common with those obtained from microarray data and five genes, viz., AP2-EREBP/DREB, MYB, HSF, bZIP and NAC were common to all the three data sets. Based on the results obtained, a total of 31 meta-analyzed genes have been selected and recommended for use in genetic improvement programs aimed at salinity resistance in rice. The meta-analysis of microarray, RNA-Seq and published literature has been successfully used to select 31 best salinity tolerance associated genes which can be exploited by candidate gene approach for targeted introgression through marker assisted breeding. This approach has multi-fold advantages, as it obviates statutory and ecological issues. Such endeavors are more warranted for combating the key abiotic stresses like salinity, whose effects are increasing due to a changing climate.

Aim The present study aimed to explore the ameliorative role of alpha7 (α7) neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) modulation in epilepsy and associated comorbidities in postpentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-kindled mice. Material and methods The subconvulsive dose of PTZ (35 mg/kg, i.p.) was used to induce kindling-associated epileptogenesis in mice. After successful kindling, animals were treated intraperitoneally with saline, phenytoin (35 mg/kg), valproate (300 mg/kg), choline chloride (α7 agonist; 400 mg/kg and 800 mg/kg), and methyllycaconitine citrate (α7 antagonist; 3.5 mg/kg and 7.0 mg/kg) for 10 days. All the groups except naive were exposed to PTZ injections on day 3, 6, and 9 of treatment to assess seizure severity score. Epilepsy-associated comorbid depression was evaluated by tail suspension test, sucrose preference test, and plasma corticosterone levels, whereas epilepsy-associated memory deficit condition was assessed by step-through paradigm, Morris water maze, and nitrite levels. Neurochemical perturbations related to epilepsy and associated depression and memory deficit were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results Post-PTZ-kindled mice displayed significant depressive behavior and memory impairment as compared with naive mice as evidenced by corresponding behavioral and biochemical observations. Methyllycaconitine citrate treatment was unable to produce any ameliorative effect in diseased condition. Choline administration dose dependently ameliorated depression, memory impairment, and seizure severity in post-PTZ-kindled mice. The behavioral findings of the study were concurred with neurochemical and biochemical findings. Conclusion In conclusion, the present study demonstrated the amelioration of epilepsy, comorbid depression, and memory deficit by α7 nAChR agonist choline chloride in PTZ-kindled mice model.

Four new fluoroionophores possessing four ligating sites (2S+2N) and an essential hydrophobic environment, as prevailing in the plastocyanin and rusticyanin proteins, have been synthesized. In these PET fluoroionophores, the position of fluorophore anthracene moiety effectively modulates the Cu2+ induced emission properties (quenching vs enhancement) of the fluorophore. The addition of Cu2+ to solution of receptor with anthracene moiety in its center caused quenching in emission intensity through photoinduced fluorophore-to-metal electron transfer mechanism and in cases where anthracene is present at terminus nitrogen, the emission intensities increased by nearly 1000% due to inhibition of the photoinduced electron transfer from receptor-to-fluorophore in the presence of Cu2+ ions. The hydrophobic environment created by various aromatic rings clearly manifested the stability of fluorescence of these molecules above pH 2.0 and their Cu2+ complexes above pH 4. The application of such fluoroionophores has been elaborated for building OR and AND logic gates.

A new sensing material has been used for fabricating a liquid membrane electrode for silver determination. The electrode has been systematically characterized by the electrode response, measuring range (1 × 10 −4 to 1 × 10 −1 M), detection limit (6 × 10 −5 M), pH range (3.3–8.0) and selectivity coefficients for the closely related metal ions. The electrode shows a good response to silver ions in the presence of mercury ions. The electrode works well in mixed solvents media also. The electrode is used extensively as an indicator electrode for the determination of Ag + in various synthetic samples and also used for the determination of SCN − , CN − , S 2− and I − .

Fluorescent chemosensor 3 can sense Cu2+ ions (1–8 μM) even in the presence of elevated levels of Ni2+, Cd2+, Zn2+, Hg2+, Ag+ and Pb2+ (5000 μM). 3 can also analyze for Ag+ ions (50–500 μM) in the presence of Ni2+, Cd2+, Zn2+, Hg2+ and Pb2+ (5000 μM) but Cu2+ strongly interferes.

1 Professor (Departamento de Otorrinolaringologia, Pt. B.D Sharma University of Health Sciences Rohtak, Haryana, India). 2 Professor Senior (Departamento de Otorrinolaringologia, Pt. B.D Sharma University of Health Sciences Rohtak, Haryana, India). 3 Aluno de pos-graduacao (Departamento de Otorrinolaringologia, Pt. B.D Sharma University of Health Sciences Rohtak, Haryana, India). 4 Professor Associado (Departamento de Anatomia Oral, Pt B.D Sharma University of Health Sciences Rohtak, Haryana, India). Departamento de Otorrinolaringologia, Pt. B.D Sharma University of Health Sciences Rohtak, Haryana, India. Endereco para correspondencia: Joginder Singh Gulia House No 20/9-J, Medical Campus, PGIMS Pt. B.D. Sharma University of Health Sciences, Rohtak Haryana. Pin 124001 India. Este artigo foi submetido no SGP (Sistema de Gestao de Publicacoes) do BJORL em 17 de outubro de 2011. cod. 8844. Artigo aceito em 10 de julho de 2013. CASE REPORT Braz J Otorhinolaryngol. 2013;79(6):789.

The title chemosensor can estimate 20–300 μM Cu(II) ions spectrophotometrically even in the presence of 10 mM Ni(II), Cd(II), Zn(II), Ag(I) and Pb(II) and 1 mM Hg(II) ions.

Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) is an important factor in initiation and development of inflammation, and anti TNF therapy is well established for treatment of inflammatory diseases such as psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn’s disease.1 However, anti TNF drugs are not always efficient and developing new effective anti-inflammatory drugs is in the interest of many pharmaceutical companies.1 Therefore, We think that better understanding of TNF signalling pathway helps to discover new targets and design more effective drugs for inflammatory diseases. We have previously showed that Lymphotoxin? signals similar to TNF and suggested to be an alternative factor to induce inflammation in the absent of TNF 2 and both TNF and Lymphotoxin are not blockable by newly proposed inhibitor called Progranulin 3. These results encouraged us to investigate downstream regulator of TNF signalling pathway. Surprisingly, after 30 years of research on TNF, role of many components of TNF pathway are still unclear. TNF Receptor Associated Factor-2 (TRAF2) is one of those molecules which its role is controversial and not well defined yet 4. Since TRAF2 knock-out mice are lethal at birth, we have established various conditional and tissue specific TRAF2 knock-out to study the role of TRAF2 in different tissues. Interestingly, we found that loss of TRAF2 in keratinocytes disrupts TNF signalling and causes cell death, epidermal hyperplasia and skin inflammation. Surprisingly and contradictory to other models, additional loss of TNF did not completely rescue this phonotype. We have found that constitutive activation of non-canonical NF κ B and excessive production of TNF and other cytokines are responsible for this TNF independent inflammation. We propose that this novel model of skin inflammation could be a better model and targeting non-canonical NF κ B signalling might be a more effective target for treatment of inflammatory diseases.