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Plant genetic resource collection expedition across various parts of India and herbarium study of Amaranthus and Luffa genera at Botanical Survey of India (BSI), Kolkata and Coimbatore revealed the distribution of 18 plant taxa new to various Indian states/union territory, viz., Arunachal Pradesh (7), Andaman & Nicobar Islands (5), Jammu & Kashmir (3), Andhra Pradesh (2), Manipur (1), and Tamil Nadu (1). Out of these, 14 taxa have importance as wild relatives of 12 crop species. In addition, herbarium studies at the BSI, Kolkata revealed the natural distribution of a cucurbitaceous species – Siraitia siamensis in Myanmar, which remained unnoticed and unreported so far. Locality of herbarium/ germplasm collection, habitat and other field observations have been highlighted here.

Background and objective Hypoglycemia is a major hindrance for optimal glycemic control in women with gestational diabetes mellitus[GDM] on insulin. We objectively estimated masked hypoglycemia [glucose

During survey and exploration undertaken for collection of germplasm of crop wild relatives from terai region (foothills) of Uttarakhand and parts of Uttar Pradesh, a wild species of okra [Abelmoschus manihot (L.) Medik. subsp. tetraphyllus (Roxb. ex Hornem.) Borss. Waalk.] locally called “Sukhlai” being used as organic clearant in small scale jaggery industry was reported for the first time under cultivation in farmers’ field. There is no specific documentation on its commercial cultivation for the above use. Variability study was undertaken for cultivated and wild types in areas of exploration to work out trends of domestication. Brief information on botany, distribution, genetic resource value and methodology of use of the species in jaggery industry has been discussed.

A pulsatile pattern of secretion is a characteristic of many hormonal systems, including the glucocorticoid-producing hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis. Despite recent evidence supporting its importance for behavioral, neuroendocrine and transcriptional effects of glucocorticoids, there has been a paucity of information regarding the origin of glucocorticoid pulsatility. In this review we discuss the mechanisms regulating pulsatile dynamics of the HPA axis, and how these dynamics become disrupted in disease. Our recent mathematical, experimental and clinical studies show that glucocorticoid pulsatility can be generated and maintained by dynamic processes at the level of the pituitary–adrenal axis, and that an intra-adrenal negative feedback may contribute to these dynamics.

Chinese chives (Allium tuberosum Rottler ex Sprengel) is a less known cultivated vegetable in western and eastern Himalayan regions of India. This species is reported here for its potential for commercialization to supplement the onion and garlic production in different parts of India especially under the present unpredictable climatic conditions. Due to multipurpose use and wider adaptability of the species future thrust is laid on collection and conservation programmes in India.

Hypoglycemia is a major hindrance for optimal glycemic control in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) on insulin. In the present study, masked hypoglycemia (glucose2.77mmol/L for ≥30 min) was estimated in pregnant women using a continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) system.Twenty pregnant women with GDM on insulin (cases) and 10 age-matched euglycemic pregnant women (controls) between 24 and 36 weeks gestation were recruited. Both groups performed self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) and underwent CGM for 72 h to assess masked hypoglycemia. Masked hypoglycemic episodes were further stratified into two groups based on interstitial glucose (2.28-2.77 and ≤2.22 mmol/L).Masked hypoglycemia was recorded in 35% (7/20) of cases and 40% (4/10) of controls using CGM, with an average of 1.28 and 1.25 episodes per subject, respectively. Time spent at glucose levels between 2.28 and 2.77 mmol/L did not differ between the two groups (mean 114 vs 90 min; P = 0.617), but cases spent a longer time with glucose ≤2.2 mmol/L. Babies born to women with GDM were significantly lighter than those born to controls (2860 vs 3290 g; P = 0.012). There was no significant difference in birth weight within the groups among babies born to women with or without hypoglycemia.Euglycemic pregnant women and those with GDM on insulin had masked hypoglycemia. Masked hypoglycemia was not associated with adverse maternal or fetal outcomes. Therefore, low glucose levels in the hypoglycemic range may represent a physiologic adaptation in pregnancy. This response is exaggerated in women with GDM on insulin.

Medicinal plants are facing threats due to loss of habitat and overexploitation of knows species. Therefore the present work shows utilization of essential oil from discarded leaves of Psidium guajava Linn. against human dermatophytic fungi Trichophyton rubrum, T. mentagrophytes, Trichophyton violaceum, Trichophyton tonsurans, Epidermophyton floccosum, Microsporum gypseum and Microsporum canis. The oil was found to be fungicidal at 3.0 μl/ml and it tolerated heavy inoculum of pathogens at fungicidal concentrations. The fungicidal activity of the oil was thermostable, up to 70°C and shelf life was found to be six months, which was maximum the time taken into consideration. The oil having cineole, caryophyllane, copaene, azulene and eucalyptol as main constituents, exhibited broad fungicidal activity. The oil did not show any adverse effect on mammalian skin upto 5% concentration. Phylogeny of the dermatophytes with respect to toxicity of the oil has also been discussed using molecular data. The cost effective formulation from waste leaves can be exploited after undergoing double blind successful multicentral topical testing.

Objectives: We determined the frequencies of (1) female patients aged 65 years and older having bone density measurement performed and (2) prescription therapy use among osteoporotic women. Methods: We completed a retrospective chart audit to assess our adherence to Physician Quality Reporting Initiative guidelines. Women aged 65 to 75 with an office visit between June 1 to November 30, 2007, were divided into 3 subgroups: those who had a recent preventive general medical examination (GME), those who received one in the last 10 years, and those who had not. We determined osteoporosis screening rates for all 3 groups. The first group then underwent electronic medical record review to obtain patient demographics, determine bone mineral density results, and review if those with osteoporosis were receiving prescription treatment. Results: Ninety-six percent of 305 female patients seen for a GME during the study period had completed bone mineral density testing. This was a screening rate significantly greater than that for patients with an earlier GME and those who never had one in our offices (70% and 50%, respectively). Seventy-seven percent of recent GME patients had abnormal T scores. Low weight and body mass index were significantly associated with osteoporotic T scores. Seventy-four percent of patients whose latest T scores were less than −2.5 were receiving prescription therapy. Conclusions: Female patients who completed a recent GME had extraordinarily high rates of screening for osteoporosis. We believe this demonstrates the importance of a dedicated preventive health examination as well as the increased significance that physicians and patients currently place on this behavior.

Field surveys across various parts of the country coupled with an analysis of literature and examination of herbarium specimens revealed the natural distribution of six wild relatives of crop species in various states/union territories of India, viz., Cajanus scarabaeoides (from Lakshadweep), Cucumis javanicus (from Meghalaya), Hystrix duthiei (from Jammu & Kashmir), Luffa echinata (from Haryana) and Trichosanthes pilosa (from Andhra Pradesh), which have not been reported earlier from these states. Their descriptions, phenology, habitat and other field notes have been presented here.

Teke, Ali (Balikesir Author), We report on the operation and non-linear dynamics of a hot electron device that emits light with wavelength tunability, The device consists of p-GaAs/n-Ga-1 -xAlxAs heterojunction containing an inversion layer on the p-side, and GaAs quantum wells on the n-side. It is referred to as HELLISH-2 (Hot Electron Light Emitting and Lasing in Semiconductor Heterostructure Type 2). The device utilises hot electron longitudinal transport and the light emission is independent of the polarity of applied voltage. The wavelength of the emitted light can be tuned with applied bias from 1.50 to 1.61 eV. The operation of the device requires only two diffused in point contacts. Theoretical modelling of the device operation has been carried out and compared with the experimental results.

Teke, Ahmet (Balikesir Author), We demonstrate the operation of a novel tunable wavelength surface emitting device. The device is based on a p-GaAs and n-Ga1-xAlxAs heterojunction containing an inversion layer on the p-side, and GaAs quantum wells on the n-side, and is referred to as HELLISH-II (hot-electron light emitting and lasing in semiconductor heterojunction). The device utilizes hot-electron longitudinal transport and, therefore, light emission is independent of the polarity of the applied voltage. Because of this symmetric property, the device can perform light logic functions. The wavelength of the emitted tight can be tuned with the applied bias from GaAs band-to-band transition in the inversion layer to e1-hh1 transition in the quantum wells. The operation of the device requires only two diffused in point contacts. Therefore, a two-dimensional array of surface emitters can be fabricated very cheaply and easily. Theoretical modelling of the device operation is carried out and compared with the experimental results. An optimized structure for high-efficiency device operation, as based on our model calculations, is also proposed.

Background Reverse engineering in systems biology entails inference of gene regulatory networks from observational data. This data typically include gene expression measurements of wild type and mutant cells in response to a given stimulus. It has been shown that when more than one type of experiment is used in the network inference process the accuracy is higher. Therefore the development of generally applicable and effective methodologies that embed multiple sources of information in a single computational framework is a worthwhile objective. Results This paper presents a new method for network inference, which uses multi-objective optimisation (MOO) to integrate multiple inference methods and experiments. We illustrate the potential of the methodology by combining ODE and correlation-based network inference procedures as well as time course and gene inactivation experiments. Here we show that our methodology is effective for a wide spectrum of data sets and method integration strategies. Conclusions The approach we present in this paper is flexible and can be used in any scenario that benefits from integration of multiple sources of information and modelling procedures in the inference process. Moreover, the application of this method to two case studies representative of bacteria and vertebrate systems has shown potential in identifying key regulators of important biological processes.

Hearing loss from noise exposure is a leading occupational disease, with up to 5% of the population at risk world-wide. Here, we present a novel purine-based pharmacological intervention that can ameliorate noise-induced cochlear injury. Wistar rats were exposed to narrow-band noise (8-12 kHz, 110 dB SPL, 2-24 h) to induce cochlear damage and permanent hearing loss. The selective adenosine A(1) receptor agonist, adenosine amine congener (ADAC), was administered intraperitoneally (100 microg/kg/day) at time intervals after noise exposure. Hearing thresholds were assessed using auditory brainstem responses and the hair cell loss was evaluated by quantitative histology. Free radical damage in the organ of Corti was assessed using nitrotyrosine immunohistochemistry. The treatment with ADAC after noise exposure led to a significantly greater recovery of hearing thresholds compared with controls. These results were upheld by increased survival of sensory hair cells and reduced nitrotyrosine immunoreactivity in ADAC-treated cochlea. We propose that ADAC could be a valuable treatment for noise-induced cochlear injury in instances of both acute and extended noise exposures.

The protein, polysaccharide and phospholipid constituents of Nocardia asteroides have been partially purified and their immunogenicity studied in mice. Humoral and cellular immune responses were demonstrated against a crude cytoplasmic protein fraction (CPF). Two fractions of CPF were prepared on a Sephadex G-200 column; a high mol. wt fraction, fraction-1(F1) was capable of eliciting both types of immune responses, whereas fraction-2(F2) behaved more like a hapten. Phosphatides elicited only humoral responses whereas polysaccharides were non-immunogenic.

The intravenous injection of Nocardia asteroides into mice produced systemic nocardiosis involving all the vital organs. Infection of the kidneys and adrenals was more persistent and progressive than in other organs as evidenced by increased bacterial counts and histopathological findings. During the course of the experimental infection, no humoral immune response was detected against various protein antigens up to 4 weeks after challenge, but significant cell-mediated immunity (CMI) was found. Phospholipid antigens elicited only a humoral immune response. The increased CMI responses with protein antigens correlated well with the decreasing bacterial load, which suggested that CMI against proteins was important in the pathogenesis of this disease.