481 research outputs found
I1SR Prabha and IISR Prathibha - two new high yielding and high quality turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) varieties
Get PDFIISR Prabha (Acc. 360) and IISR Prathibha (Acc. 361), developed at the Indian Institute of Spices Research, Calicut and recommended for release by the All India Coordinated Research Project on Spices are two valued added turmeric (Curcuma Zanga) varieties, developed for the first time through open pollinated progeny selection. These varieties surpassed most of the existing varieties including Alleppey in terms of curcumin content and oleoresin percentage. Maturing in 205 days under rainfed conditions, IISR Prabha has an average yield of 37.47 t/ha (fresh) with a dry recovery of 19.5 per cent, curcumin 6.52 per cent, oleoresin 15.0 per cent and essential oil 6.5 per cent. IISR Prathibha matures in about 225 days under rainfed conditions and has an average yield of 39.12 tlha (fresh) with a dry recovery of 18.9 per cent, curcumin 6.2 per cent, oleoresin 16.2 per cent and essential oil 6.2 per cent.
 
I1SR Prabha and IISR Prathibha - two new high yielding and high quality turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) varieties
Get PDFIISR Prabha (Acc. 360) and IISR Prathibha (Acc. 361), developed at the Indian Institute of Spices Research, Calicut and recommended for release by the All India Coordinated Research Project on Spices are two valued added turmeric (Curcuma Zanga) varieties, developed for the first time through open pollinated progeny selection. These varieties surpassed most of the existing varieties including Alleppey in terms of curcumin content and oleoresin percentage. Maturing in 205 days under rainfed conditions, IISR Prabha has an average yield of 37.47 t/ha (fresh) with a dry recovery of 19.5 per cent, curcumin 6.52 per cent, oleoresin 15.0 per cent and essential oil 6.5 per cent. IISR Prathibha matures in about 225 days under rainfed conditions and has an average yield of 39.12 tlha (fresh) with a dry recovery of 18.9 per cent, curcumin 6.2 per cent, oleoresin 16.2 per cent and essential oil 6.2 per cent.
 
Sealants revisited: An efficacy battle between the two major types of sealants – A randomized controlled clinical trial
No full textBackground: The aim of this study is comparing the retention and caries preventive effect of the glass-ionomer fissure sealant and resin-based fissure sealant.
Materials and Methods: A randomized-controlled split-mouth study was conducted to compare the retention and the caries preventive effect of light-cured resin-based sealant (3M ESPE) and glass ionomer sealant (Fuji VII). The sealants were applied to either the right or the left lower mandibular molars (7-9 yrs of age) in 120 school children, based on the randomization process. They were recalled for assessment of clinical retention at intervals of 3, 6, and 12 months. The caries-preventive effect between the two materials was tested statistically by the McNemar's test for matched pairs, and the differences observed with regard to the retention of the materials was tested by Chi-square tests. The level of significance was set to be at P < 0.05.
Results: At the end of 12th month, sealant retention is found to be higher in the resin-based sealant group compared to the glass ionomer group. In the glass ionomer sealants placed, 101 (91%) were caries-free and 10 (9%) had caries. In the resin-based sealant, 105 (94.60%) had sound teeth and 6 (5.4%) had dental caries (P = 0.34).
Conclusion: The glass ionomer sealant was less retentive when compared to resin sealants. The caries incidence between the glass ionomer and resin-based sealants was not statistically significant
Expression Profiling Of Genes Regulated By TGF-β : Role Of Multiple Signaling Pathways
No full textTransforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) is the proto-type member of a super family of secreted proteins comprised of several structurally related, but functionally divergent proteins like the BMP, activin, inhibin, mullerian inhibitory substance etc. TGF-β was originally identified as a secreted factor, which in the presence of EGF was capable of transforming normal rat kidney fibroblasts. Studies over the years have shown that this protein is multifunctional that influences several processes including development, immune function, epithelial cell growth and motility, wound healing etc. TGF-β plays important role in the normal physiology as well as in pathological conditions in mammals. There are three mammalian isoforms that are involved in several developmental processes as has been shown by the knockout mice models. An important role for TGF-β has been implicated in several disease processes like fibrotic disorders (of liver, lung, kidney), inflammatory disorders (rheumatoid arthritis), autoimmune disorders (systemic lupus erythematosus) and cancer. TGF-β has a dual role in carcinogenesis. Initially it acts as a tumor suppressor and causes growth arrest of epithelial cells and cells in the early stages of cancer. But in an established tumor, TGF-β exerts an effect which is favorable for the survival, progression and metastasis of the tumor by promoting epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), angiogenesis and escape from immune surveillance. Studies using mouse models have shown that an intact TGF-β signaling is essential for the metastasis of breast cancer. These observations indicate that the normal epithelial cells show differential response to TGF-β as compared to the tumor they give rise to. Supporting this, it has been shown that prostate tumor cells show invasive behavior in response to TGF-β and not non-tumorigenic cells. Most actions of TGF-β are brought about by regulation of gene expression and differential gene expression mediated by TGF-β has been reported in tumor cells and normal cells. For example, in response to TGF-β, tumorcells show increase in the production of proteases like uPA, MMPs etc and down regulation of the inhibitors of proteases TIMP isoforms, whereas this is not observed in the normal cells. However, there is no clear understanding of the mechanism (s) responsible for differential responses of various cell types to TGF-β. Since a role for TGF-β has been established in several pathological conditions particularly cancer and fibortic disorders, this pathway are a very attractive target for therapeutic intervention. Hence, if the TGF-β pathway has to be targeted for therapy of any disease, it becomes essential to identify the targets of TGF-β in different cell-types and their mechanism of regulation, particularly in un-transformed and transformed cells. Over the past few years, there have been several independent transcriptome analyses of cells in response to TGF-β treatment in various cell types such as HaCaT, fibroblasts, corneal epithelial cells etc. From a comparison of these studies, it is noted that TGF-β regulates genes in a cell type specific manner. Considering the dual role of TGF-β on normal and transformed cells, identification of genes and/or biochemical pathways regulated by TGF-β in these cells may allow identification of therapeutic targets for diseases involving TGF-β signaling pathway. With this background, the following objectives were set for the current investigation:
1. Identification of targets of TGF-β in normal and tumor cells and also the genes differentially regulated by TGF-β
2. Understand the mechanism of regulation of a few selected genes
3. Characterize novel targets of TGF-β with respect to their regulation by TGF-β and also their function
Towards the aim of identification of targets of TGF-β in different cell-lines, expression profiling of genes in response to TGF-β was performed in a lung adenocarcinoma cell line (A549) and a matched immortalized lung epithelial cell line (HPL1D). Our data showed similar regulation of 267 genes in HPL1D and A549 cells by TGF-β. This suggests that the genes commonly regulated in both HPL1D and A549 are not tumor specific. Some of these genes were also reported to be regulated by TGF-β in other studies using micro array in various cell types. While 1757 genes are exclusively regulated by TGF-β in A549, only 733 genes are exclusively regulated in HPL1D cells. The reasons for this differential response are not known. However, some of the genes exclusively regulated in A549 such as Integrin αV, thrombospondin 1 have been shown to aid tumor survival, maintenance and metastasis. In contrast, in HPL1D, TGF-β regulates tumor suppressor genes like WT1, ECM proteins like collagen which are responsible for arrest of cell growth and apoptosis. This differential gene regulation in normal and tumor cells may explain the dual role of TGF-β in carcinogenesis.
The differences in the effects of TGF-β on these two cell-lines could be due to the phenotypic properties of these cells, HPL1D being a non-transformed cell-line and A549 being a transformed cell-line. It is also possible that the differences are due to cell-type specific effects. In order to address this question, expression profiling in response to TGF-β was carried out using another cell-line namely HaCaT, which is an immortalized skin keratinocyte cell-line. When the expression profiles of the three celllines namely HPL1D, HaCaT and A549 in response to TGF-β treatment were compared, it was found that the genes regulated by TGF-β can be divided into seven categories based on the cell-line in which they are regulated. In this comparison, it was seen that there were several genes which were regulated by TGF-β in A549 and HaCaT despite the fact that these two cell-lines have little in common. The reason for these two celllines to show similarities in their gene expression profile in response to TGF-β is unclear.
When the genes regulated by TGF-β in the three cell-lines were categorized based on their annotated functions using the DAVID tool, it was found that signaling pathways like MAP kinas, focal adhesion, Wnt signaling are regulated by TGF-β in all the celllines. On the other hand, Integrin αV was found to be regulated in A549 and HaCaT cells and very marginal regulation was seen in HPL1D cells. This could be one of the reasons for the similarities between A549 and HaCaT. There are studies which show the role of Integrin αV in some of the TGF-β mediated actions although the mechanism by which Integrin signaling modulates gene expression is not well understood. Our data shows that indeed thrombospondin 1 which is regulated by TGF-β in A549 and HaCaT is regulated through the integrin signaling pathways as blocking this pathway partially blocks the induction of this gene by TGF-β.
TGF-β actions on cells are to a large extent are carried out by the phosphorylation of SMAD 2/3 by activated TGF-β type I receptor upon TGF-β signaling. Several genes that are transcriptionally regulated by TGF-β contain a SMAD complex binding element (SBE). However, over the last few years, evidences have accumulated which suggest that some actions of TGF-β could be independent of SMADs, mediated by the other signaling pathways like the MAP kinas, PKC and others. In order to understand the mechanism of regulation of a few selected genes by TGF−β, inhibitors for the three MAP kinas pathways (p38, ERK and JNK) were used prior to treatment with TGF-β. The expression of these genes was assessed by qRT-PCR analyses. These studies showed that most of the genes regulated by TGF-β require one or more of the MAP kinas pathways. In HaCaT and A549, the number of genes dependent on the MAP kinas pathways is more compared to HPL1D. Based on our data, we propose that activated MAP kinas pathway could be one of the essential determining factors for the various differential actions of TGF-β in tumor cells. However, the reason for the behaviour of HaCaT cells, which are untransformed cells in a manner similar to the A549 cells, is still unclear. One of the reasons for the similarity could be the activation of the integrin signaling pathway as described before.
The expression profiling data identified several novel targets of TGF-β. One such target is S100A2, a calcium binding protein containing an EF hand motif that has been implicated in cancer. A progressive reduction in the expression of this gene has been reported with increasing grade of the tumor. Our studies show that this gene is regulated by TGF-β in HaCaT and HPl1D, but not in A549 cells. The induction of S100A2 by TGF-β in HaCaT cells is likely to be transcriptional as it is sensitive to actinomycin treatment. We further investigated role of other signaling pathways in the regulation of S100A2 by TGF-β and found that the regulation of this gene by TGF-β depends on the ERK and also the integrin signaling pathways. In order to characterize this gene with respect to its functions, A549 cells were chosen as they have very low endogenous expression of S100A2. Hence, in order to explore if there is any role for the loss of S100A2 expression in the progression of A549 cells, we cloned the DNA of S100A2 in a mammalian expression vector, transected A549 cells with this and isolated clones stably expressing this gene. We performed assays to assess cell proliferation, cell migration and potential to form colonies in soft agar. The data suggests phenotypic differences in the colonies that formed in soft agar and no major differences in other assays.
Overall, our data has identified several novel targets regulated by TGF-β other than S100A2 like IGFBP7, FGFR1, and SPUVE etc. Further, regulation of several genes was found to be in a cell type specific manner involving MAP kinase and integrin signaling pathways. This study also identified major differences in the genes regulated by TGF-β in transformed and non-transformed lung epithelial cells
Antifungal Activities of Ketoazomethines of Phenyl Glyoxal and p-Substituted Anilines
No full textA new series of ketoazomethines were synthesized by condensation of phenyl glyoxal (prepared by partial oxidation of acetophenone) with various p-substituted anilines viz. p-Cl, p-Br, p-NO2, p-(C2H5)2N and p-CH3. These compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, IR and H1 NMR. The synthesized ketoazomethines were screened for their antifungal acsutivity against hazardous fungi namely Fusarium oxysporum, Alternaria brassicola, Sclerotium and Pythium
Acute work related exposure of eyes of health care workers to hazards in a tertiary care hospital in South India: An observational study
Get PDFINTRODUCTION:
Healthcare workers are exposed to both infectious and non infectious work related hazards to the eye. Though these are common, only recently have they been an area of interest for research.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES:
To describe the epidemiological distribution, risk factors and severity of acute hazardous work related exposure of eyes of health care workers in a tertiary healthcare institution and to develop an augmented system for reporting occupational eye injuries.
METHODS:
An observational prospective study was done among a total 11,420 staff and students of a tertiary care academic health institution in South India from February15th 2017 to August 14th 2017. Using posters in strategic areas, emails and intranet display, awareness regarding reporting these incidents through the dedicated staff and students reporting system was encouraged. All participants fulfilling inclusion criteria were included and, data including demographic details and clinical findings were collected, using a structured questionnaire, entered in Epidata and analysed using SPSS software.
RESULTS:
A total of 94 of the total 11,420 staff and students reported through one of the points of first contact, making the incidence 0.8 % with a 95% CI (0.64%- 0.96%). Of all respondents 82 were staff and 12 were students. Of all 49/94 (52.1%) were up to 30 years of age and 45/94 (47.9%) were above 30 years of age, overall mean age was 31.53 (SD= 8.39) years, 65 of them (69%) were females and 29 (31%) were males. Of all, 24 out of 94 (25%), of reported exposures were from the nurses (medical and surgical), followed by technicians who reported 17 out of 94 (18%) and housekeeping staff 15 out of 94 (15.9%).Of those who self reported an incident, 47 (50%) were infectious conjunctivitis and 47 (50%) non infectious hazards to the eye. Chemical exposures were majority among non infectious hazards, 26/47 (25.5%) of which Lysol and formalin were commonest, followed by BBF 7(9.6%), chemical with BBF 6 (6.4%), Allergic conjunctivitis 4 (4.3%), foreign body 3 (3.2%) and blunt trauma 1 (1.1%). Awareness regarding PPE usage was low. There was a significant association between area of work and occurrence of injury and infection (p =0.046) and among those wearing and not wearing glasses versus injury and infection
(p=0.01). The mean time to report was 3.79 (3.53).
CONCLUSIONS:
There is at least a burden of 8/1000 of acute work related infectious and non infectious hazards to the eye among healthcare workers in a tertiary health care setting. Chemical splashes make up nearly 25% of all reported work related hazards to the eye. Factors that may be associated with work related injuries to the eye are spectacles usage, working in clinical areas
The Politics of Guilt: A Feminist Psychoanalysis of Isabella in Aphra Behn’s ‘The History of the Nun or the Fair Vow-Breaker’
Get PDFThe paper attempts a feminist examination of the complicated psychology of Isabella in Aphra Behn’s novel The History of the Nun or The Fair Vow Breaker. Isabella leads her life according to her own will but is grief stricken and disillusioned towards the end of the work. She repents her sinful past and conquers everyone’s heart. Negative stereotypes are rewritten in this literary production. Redefining female villainy as a form of victimization, portraying how the actions of \u27wicked\u27 women are often the end result of their confinement and suffocation within male-dominated ideologies form the crux of this paper. 
Methodologies for studying finfish and shellfish biology
No full textGlobal warming and consequent increase in seawater
temperature are likely to play key roles in the distribution,
abundance, phenology and recruitment success of marine
will alter species composition; structure and function of
in India has shown steady increase over the years, it is now
facing several sustainability issues such as the production approaching potentia
Simultaneous delay optimization and depth reduction in logic trees with minimum resources
No full textAssessing status of pests and diseases with cluster approach - A case of coconut in Kasaragod district in Northern Kerala
Get PDF<p>The main objective of integrated pest and disease management is to intervene efficiently to reduce crop damage at minimum cost<br />and inflicting minimum damage to the environment. The basic requirement for such programmes is the availability of a costeffective<br />sampling method for assessing the status of incidence and intensity of the disease/pest attack wherein, accurate estimates<br />is achieved through minimum efforts. In the present study, a sampling strategy and measures of severity and crop loss for<br />simultaneous assessment of incidence of major pests and diseases of coconut were formulated and implemented in Kasaragod<br />district of Kerala. The sampling methodology involved a cluster approach in which four clusters of at least 500 bearing palms<br />from a minimum of ten coconut gardens, representing the geographical strata of the panchayath, were scored visually for the<br />incidence of major pests and diseases. District level estimates were derived incorporating area under coconut in each panchayath<br />as the weight. Information on geographic coordinates was recorded and utilized for preparation of thematic maps using Arc-GIS.<br />Further, crop loss due to the major pests and diseases were also estimated under certain scenarios. The study revealed that diseases<br />like stem bleeding and Thanjavur wilt were more prevalent in areas experiencing high temperature and low rainfall whereas,<br />incidence of bud rot disease was significantly higher in hilly regions where low temperature and high humidity prevailed. Incidence<br />of pests like eriophyid mite and coreid bug was higher in coastal areas of the district. The study could serve as a model for similar<br />studies in future and the information emerging out of this study would help in formulating integrated pest and disease management<br />programmes at grass root level.</p></jats:p
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