40 research outputs found
Nuclear organization of mouse Hox cluster paralogs during mouse embryonic stem cell differentiation to neural stem cell:
No full textIn this project we use Hox genes as a genetic tool to understand how nuclear architecture regulates cell differentiation during embryonic development. Hox genes come under the category of homeobox genes, a highly evolutionarily conserved group of genes with an important role during embryogenesis. Hox genes are located on 4 distinct chromosomes, in cluster paralogs (HOX A, B, C, D). Each individual cluster contains up to 13 homologous genes and corresponding genes on different clusters (e.g., HoxA13, HoxD13) exhibit varying degrees of functional redundancy. The position of a gene in the cluster is related to its spatiotemporal pattern of expression along the anterior-posterior axis of the embryo. The coordination of the spatiotemporal expression of equivalent paralog group genes on different clusters/chromosomes is coordinated is still not known. Our primary hypothesis is that nuclear architecture defines a regulatory framework of Hox cluster loci in the nucleus when the Hox cluster transcription is activated and maintained. We did a comparative analysis on the Hox cluster nuclear architecture in mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and fibroblast growth factors (FGF) - induced differentiation to neural stem cells (NSC). We show for the first time that Hox gene expression is induced by FGF treatment in vitro simultaneously in the four Hox cluster. Using three-dimensional confocal fluorescence microscopy, FISH and computational techniques, we mapped the position of Hox gene cluster paralogs in individual nuclei of both cell types. We did not observe nuclear colocalization of Hox heterologous cluster in NSC. However, we observe that heterologous clusters tend to occupy similar nuclear domains in NSC, which may favor undetected long-range gene interactions. Nevertheless, our results indicate that Hox gene cluster nuclear three-dimensional organization is neither random nor correlated to the changes in nuclear volume and shape that parallel cell differentiation.M.S.Includes bibliographical references (p. 53-55)by Priya Panicke
Fine-scale spatial and temporal acoustic occurrence of island-associated odontocetes near a mid-oceanic atoll in the northern Indian Ocean
No full text© The Author(s), 2022. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. The definitive version was published in Panicker, D., Baumgartner, M. F., & Stafford, K. M. Fine-scale spatial and temporal acoustic occurrence of island-associated odontocetes near a mid-oceanic atoll in the northern Indian Ocean. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 683, (2022): 195–208, https://doi.org/10.3354/meps13947.Temporal patterns of oceanic predators can provide valuable information on both lunar and diel influences not just on the distributions of these predators, but also on prey patches that are often difficult to study. Mid-oceanic island chains in the northern Indian Ocean have high odontocete occurrence, but the ecology of these animals is not well characterized. We investigated fine-scale spatial and temporal patterns of island-associated odontocetes using passive acoustic monitoring from January 2019 to January 2020 around Kavaratti Island, Lakshadweep, India. Based on opportunistic recordings in the presence of odontocetes, the majority of the detected whistles were likely made by spinner dolphins Stenella longirostris. We identified a resident population whose whistle occurrence was significantly influenced by month, site, and diel and lunar cycles. More acoustic detections were made in the northeast monsoon month of November and fewer during pre-monsoon and southwest monsoon periods. Distinct day-night differences along with fine-scale temporal variability were also observed, suggesting that delphinids use nearshore waters as a daytime resting habitat. Odontocete detections were highest during the new moon period and lowest during the first quarter phase. Detection rates were higher on the south side of the island. Our study shows that solar and lunar cycles modulate odontocete vocal occurrence, presumably through influences on their prey. Similarities of odontocete occurrence around Lakshadweep to other mid-oceanic island chains suggests that an island-associated micronekton community may exist around Lakshadweep that may also be important to other pelagic species targeted by local fisheries.Funding was provided by the Office of Naval Research Marine Mammal Biology Program, USA, under grant N000141812795.
We thank Ajith Kumar, the National Centre for Biological Sciences and Idrees Babu for in-country support
Data: Cetacean Distribution and Diversity in Lakshadweep Waters, India Using a Platform of Opportunity: Oct 2015 to Apr 2016
No full textUnderstanding cetacean community composition and distribution in Lakshadweep waters, Northern Indian Ocean
No full textThesis (Ph.D.)--University of Washington, 2022The Northern Indian Ocean (NIO) is a region of high environment variability driven by seasonally reversing winds. The southwest monsoons generate substantial plankton blooms in these tropical waters and shape biogeography of higher trophic levels. Cetaceans in oceanic waters are good indicators of epipelagic and mesopelagic prey bases. This dissertation examines species composition and distribution of cetaceans in a mid-oceanic island habitat in southeastern Arabian Sea. I use passive acoustic monitoring (PAM), which is particularly useful to collect data year-round including night periods and the rough-weather southwest monsoon season when visual surveys are challenging. In Chapter 2, I examine the occurrence and species composition of the cetacean community in the Lakshadweep archipelago via visual surveys using a platform of opportunity. The surveys documented 139 sightings, including eight odontocete species and one mysticete species. Occurrence of cetacean species differed across seafloor slope gradients and distances to nearest landmass. In Chapter 3, I investigate baleen whale occurrence in Lakshadweep waters using PAM. The study showed occurrence of Central Indian Ocean (CIO; formerly Northern Indian Ocean) acoustic population of blue whales in Indian waters. These results extend the known range of CIO pygmy blue whales about 1000 km north-westward from the waters surrounding Sri Lanka. In Chapter 4, I determined the occurrence and temporal patterns of island-associated odontocetes in Lakshadweep waters using PAM. A resident population, likely to be spinner dolphins, was identified. Whistle occurrence was significantly influenced by month, site, and diel and lunar cycles. Similarities of odontocete occurrence to other mid-oceanic island chains suggest that an island-associated micronekton community may exist around Lakshadweep. In Chapter 5, I characterize dominant sound sources to the shallow water reef soundscape in Lakshadweep and their correlation with local oceanographic parameters across monsoon and non-monsoon months. Four acoustic bands of interest, namely a geophonic band of wind-driven wave sounds and three biophonic bands containing animal choruses, are presented. Low frequency biophonic choruses peaked in inter-monsoon months, while low frequency geophonic sound levels peaked during monsoon months. Choruses showed site-wise variability and correlation with sea surface salinity, chlorophyll-a, and wind speed. Understanding cetaceans and the underwater soundscape through an oceanographic lens highlight the underlying biological resources and physical drivers in this poorly studied area. This dissertation demonstrates that employing appropriate technology and methodologies can shed light on even highly mobile species (such as blue whales) in challenging conditions. Within the context of a changing climate, the information presented here can provide a baseline to compare with future cetacean and soundscape studies in this region. Furthermore, the dissertation emphasizes that current plans for tourism development in these islands need to incorporate potential impacts on near-island cetacean communities and on underwater noise
Ethical task tracking of operators in agile manufacturing
No full textDiversey BV, a major player of professional hygiene product manufacturing, is facing challenges with agile manufacturing of hygienic products with changeover process consuming most of production time. They are collaborating with the EU-Horizon 2020 COALA project to develop a cognitive intelligent assistant for the production line. They expect to standardize activities in the production line to reduce the gap in activity performance between experienced and novice operators. In order to set up the cognitive assistant, an operator location tracking system was needed to identify issue hotspots and sequence of activities in the production line. In this project, a suitable motion capture system was explored and deployed at Diversey Enschede 5L/ 10L production line. A literature study was performed to compare the state of the art motion capture and motion analysis methods. From the literature study results, the project decided to deploy a markerless motion capture method using Zed 2 camera.The data collection method was tested at Enschede with Zed 2 camera which has in-built object tracking algorithms. The project applied an ethical approach to operator tracking, giving due respect to operators’ privacy concerns and anonymity. The Value Sensitive Design method was applied in this project to identify the stakeholders, their values, and the project’s future speculation. The data collection, storage and upload to cloud server was conducted using indefinitely running Python codes. The tracking was anonymized by allocating random identification numbers to denote objects and thereby, no personal data that can identify the operator were being stored. The data was captured and stored in spreadsheet format and processed using Python. The project concludes with the implementation of Z-Dash, an interactive tool that visualizes the data in various meaningful representations. Z-Dash offers graphs such as the Spaghetti chart for visualizing operator location and movements, Heat map of operator location concentration and Pareto chart that visualizes time and frequency of visited stations. The tool was evaluated with participants from Diversey to estimate the usability, interactivity and effectiveness for process improvement. The project proposes this tool for identifying the sequence of operator activities during events like changeover or stoppages, identifying issue hotspots and comparing best practices for similar events.Integrated Product Desig
Indian Ocean humpback dolphin (Sousa plumbea) estuary-use patterns in Kochi harbor, India
No full text[Extract] Coastal and estuarine ecosystems have high productivity, high variability in environmental conditions, and increased human activity, making them a vital but vulnerable habitat for many cetacean species (Ryther 1969, Ballance 1992, Costanza et al. 1997). Estuary‐associated dolphins have a range of responses that help them to adapt to changing environmental conditions such as spatial or temporal variations of use, often depending on the local conditions; hence it is critical to carry out site‐specific studies to understand the importance of estuaries for dolphins (Fury and Harrison 2011). The Indian Ocean humpback dolphin (Sousa plumbea) is a near‐shore species, highly associated with estuaries and this preferred habitat type overlaps with high human use areas (Karczmarski et al. 2000b, Hung and Jefferson 2004). Sousa plumbea ranges geographically from South Africa to Myanmar (Jefferson and Rosenbaum 2014). The main threats identified to this species (classified by IUCN under the umbrella of S. chinensis) are intensive gill‐net fishing and estuarine habitat degradation (Reeves et al. 2008)
Status of Fermented Dairy Products in India Safety and Spoilage Aspects
No full textThis Dissertation / Report is the outcome of investigation carried out by the creator(s) / author(s) at the department/division of Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), Mysore mentioned below in this page
Microbial quality of Dahi and Challenge Studies
No full textThis Dissertation / Report is the outcome of investigation carried out by the creator(s) / author(s) at the department/division of Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), Mysore mentioned below in this page
