Combined Use of PGPRs and Reduced Rates of Azoxystrobin to Improve Management of Sheath Blight of Rice.

Farmers rely heavily on the use of strobilurin fungicides to manage sheath blight (ShB) caused by Rhizoctonia solani AG1-IA, the most important disease in rice in the southern United States. Greenhouse and field studies were conducted to evaluate the potential use of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs) in combination with a reduced rate of azoxystrobin application as a strategy to improve the current fungicide-reliant management. Of the nine antagonistic PGPR strains screened in the greenhouse, Bacillus subtilis strain MBI600 provided the most significant and consistent suppression of ShB. Efficacy of strain MBI600 was further evaluated at the concentrations of 0, 103, 106, 109, and 1011 CFU/ml alone or in combinations with 0, 17, 33, 50, 67, 83, and 100% of the recommended application rate (0.16 kg a.i./ha) of azoxystrobin. Strain MBI600 applied at 106,109, and 1011 CFU/ml alone was effective in reducing ShB severity. Combinations of this strain at these rates with ≥33% of the recommended application rate of azoxystrobin further reduced ShB severity. A dose-response model defining the relationships between strain MBI600, azoxystrobin, and ShB severity was established. Estimates of the effective concentrations (EC50 and EC90) of strain MBI600 when applied in combination with 50% of the recommended application rate of azoxystrobin were 104 and 109 CFU/ml, respectively. A field trial was conducted over 4 years to verify the efficacy of their combinations. Strain MBI600 alone, when applied at 109 CFU/ml at the boot stage, reduced ShB severity but did not significantly increase grain yields each year. Combination of strain MBI600 with azoxystrobin at half of the recommended application rate improved efficacy of strain MBI600, reducing ShB severity to a level comparable to that of azoxystrobin applied at the full rate in all 4 years. The combined treatment also increased grain yield by 14 to 19%, comparable to the fungicide applied at the full rate in 3 of 4 years. Combined use of PGPR strain MBI600 with a reduced rate of azoxystrobin application can be a viable management option for control of ShB while allowing producers to use less fungicide on rice.

Universal scaling in active single-file dynamics.

We study the single-file dynamics of three classes of active particles: run-and-tumble particles, active Brownian particles and active Ornstein-Uhlenbeck particles. At high activity values, the particles, interacting via purely repulsive and short-ranged forces, aggregate into several motile and dynamical clusters of comparable size, and do not display bulk phase-segregation. In this dynamical steady-state, we find that the cluster size distribution of these aggregates is a scaled function of the density and activity parameters across the three models of active particles with the same scaling function. The velocity distribution of these motile clusters is non-Gaussian. We show that the effective dynamics of these clusters can explain the observed emergent scaling of the mean-squared displacement of tagged particles for all the three models with identical scaling exponents and functions. Concomitant with the clustering seen at high activities, we observe that the static density correlation function displays rich structures, including multiple peaks that are reminiscent of particle clustering induced by effective attractive interactions, while the dynamical variant shows non-diffusive scaling. Our study reveals a universal scaling behavior in the single-file dynamics of interacting active particles.

Steady state of an active Brownian particle in a two-dimensional harmonic trap.

We find an exact series solution for the steady-state probability distribution of a harmonically trapped active Brownian particle in two dimensions in the presence of translational diffusion. This series solution allows us to efficiently explore the behavior of the system in different parameter regimes. Identifying "active" and "passive" regimes, we predict a surprising re-entrant active-to-passive transition with increasing trap stiffness. Our numerical simulations validate this finding. We discuss various interesting limiting cases wherein closed-form expressions for the distributions can be obtained.

Minimal Model of Cellular Symmetry Breaking.

The cell cortex, a thin film of active material assembled below the cell membrane, plays a key role in cellular symmetry-breaking processes such as cell polarity establishment and cell division. Here, we present a minimal model of the self-organization of the cell cortex that is based on a hydrodynamic theory of curved active surfaces. Active stresses on this surface are regulated by a diffusing molecular species. We show that coupling of the active surface to a passive bulk fluid enables spontaneous polarization and the formation of a contractile ring on the surface via mechanochemical instabilities. We discuss the role of external fields in guiding such pattern formation. Our work reveals that key features of cellular symmetry breaking and cell division can emerge in a minimal model via general dynamic instabilities.

Guiding self-organized pattern formation in cell polarity establishment.

Spontaneous pattern formation in Turing systems relies on feedback. Patterns in cells and tissues however often do not form spontaneously, but are under control of upstream pathways that provide molecular guiding cues. The relationship between guiding cues and feedback in controlled biological pattern formation remains unclear. We explored this relationship during cell polarity establishment in the one-cell-stage C. elegans embryo. We quantified the strength of two feedback systems that operate during polarity establishment, feedback between polarity proteins and the actomyosin cortex, and mutual antagonism amongst polarity proteins. We characterized how these feedback systems are modulated by guiding cues from the centrosome. By coupling a mass-conserved Turing-like reaction-diffusion system for polarity proteins to an active gel description of the actomyosin cortex, we reveal a transition point beyond which feedback ensures self-organized polarization even when cues are removed. Notably, the baton is passed from a guide-dominated to a feedback-dominated regime significantly beyond this transition point, which ensures robustness. Together, this reveals a general criterion for controlling biological pattern forming systems: feedback remains subcritical to avoid unstable behaviour, and molecular guiding cues drive the system beyond a transition point for pattern formation.

Association of Palatal Rugae Pattern in Gender Identification: An Exploratory Study.

AIM: The present study's aim was to assess the pattern of palatine ridges/rugae to identify gender. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study consists of a total of 50 participants (25 males and 25 females). Participants of the age range of 20 to 50 years were selected from the outpatient department. According to the shape and size of the patient's arches, maxillary impression trays were selected using alginate, and casts were poured subsequently. With the help of a sharp graphite pencil, the palatine ridges were delineated to make it prominent, and on either side of the midline, the number of rugae was counted and the length measured. Using these parameters, the pattern of rugae was determined. Data were analyzed using independent sample t-test. The level of significance was set at 5%. RESULTS: Males had more number of palatal rugae (mean 5.96 ± 0.88) compared with females (5.24 ± 0.77), and there was a statistically significant association between them. The mean length of palatal rugae was more in males (6.25 ± 1.15 mm) than females (5.16 ± 1.40 mm), and it was found to be a statistically significant association. The straight pattern was more common in both males and females (2.56 ± 1.08, 2.32 ± 0.85 respectively) than other patterns. CONCLUSION: This study concluded that straight rugae pattern has been found to be the most common pattern in both genders. However, the mean number of straight rugae pattern and length is slightly more in males than females. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The most challenging tasks in forensic medicine is human identification. Dental records, dactylogram, and comparing deoxyribonucleic acid are the widely used techniques in mass disasters, but these techniques have their own drawbacks and hence cannot be applied always. In such cases, less known techniques like rugoscopy will be helpful.

How Active Mechanics and Regulatory Biochemistry Combine to Form Patterns in Development.

The development of organisms starting from their zygotic state involves a tight integration of the myriad biochemical signaling interactions with the mechanical forces that eventually pattern and shape the resulting embryo. In the past decade, it has become increasingly evident that several important developmental processes involve mechanical forces in an essential manner. In this review, we highlight the multifaceted role of mechanics in pattern formation, from protein and cell sorting to the generation of tissue shape. We then review the ways in which the active cellular cytoskeleton self-organizes to form dynamic patterns. Finally, we focus on mechanochemical feedback, where signaling proteins can establish patterns via coupling to the activity of the cytoskeleton. Throughout the review, we focus on the generic physical principles of the establishment of active mechanochemical patterns and point toward future directions in studying how the principles of mechanics and chemistry combine to drive morphogenetic pattern formation.

Antilithiatic Activity of phlorotannin rich extract of Sarghassum Wightii on Calcium Oxalate Urolithiais - InVitro and In Vivo Evaluation.

PURPOSE: Urolithiasis is a common urological disorder responsible for serious human affliction and cost to the society with a high recurrence rate. The aim of the present study was to systematically evaluate the phlorotannin rich extract of Sargassum wightii using suitable in vitro and in vivo models to provide scientific evidence for its antilithiatic activity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To explore the effect of Sargassum wightii on calcium oxalate crystallization, in vitro assays like crystal nucleation, aggregation and crystal growth were performed. Calcium oxalate urolithiasis was induced in male Sprague dawley rats using a combination of gentamicin and calculi producing diet (5% ammonium oxalate and rat pellet feed). The biochemical parameters like calcium, oxalate, magnesium, phosphate, sodium and potassium were evaluated in urine, serum and kidney homogenates. Histopathological studies were also done to confirm the biochemical findings. RESULTS: The yield of Sargassum wightii extract was found to be 74.5 gm/kg and confirmed by quantitative analysis. In vitro experiments with Sargassum wightii showed concentration dependent inhibition of calcium oxalate nucleation, aggregation and growth supported by SEM analysis. In the in vivo model, Sargassum wightii reduced both calcium and oxalate supersaturation in urine, serum and deposition in the kidney. The biochemical results were supported by histopathological studies. CONCLUSION: The findings of the present study suggest that Sargassum wightii has the ability to prevent nucleation, aggregation and growth of calcium oxalate crystals. Sargassum wightii has better preventive effect on calcium oxalate stone formation indicating its strong potential to develop as a therapeutic option to prevent recurrence of urolithiasis.

Antilithiatic Activity of phlorotannin rich extract of Sarghassum Wightii on Calcium Oxalate Urolithiais ­ In Vitro and In VivoEvaluation

Urolithiasis is a common urological disorder responsible for serious human affliction and cost to the society with a high recurrence rate. The aim of the present study was to systematically evaluate the phlorotannin rich extract of Sargassum wightii using suitable in vitro and in vivo models to provide scientific evidence for its antilithiatic activity.

Forces generated by cell intercalation tow epidermal sheets in mammalian tissue morphogenesis.

While gastrulation movements offer mechanistic paradigms for how collective cellular movements shape developing embryos, far less is known about coordinated cellular movements that occur later in development. Studying eyelid closure, we explore a case where an epithelium locally reshapes, expands, and moves over another epithelium. Live imaging, gene targeting, and cell-cycle inhibitors reveal that closure does not require overlying periderm, proliferation, or supracellular actin cable assembly. Laser ablation and quantitative analyses of tissue deformations further distinguish the mechanism from wound repair and dorsal closure. Rather, cell intercalations parallel to the tissue front locally compress it perpendicularly, pulling the surrounding epidermis along the closure axis. Functional analyses in vivo show that the mechanism requires localized myosin-IIA- and α5ß1 integrin/fibronectin-mediated migration and E-cadherin downregulation likely stimulated by Wnt signaling. These studies uncover a mode of epithelial closure in which forces generated by cell intercalation are leveraged to tow the surrounding tissue.

Effectiveness of mirror therapy on lower extremity motor recovery, balance and mobility in patients with acute stroke: A randomized sham-controlled pilot trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of mirror therapy on lower extremity motor recovery, balance and mobility in patients with acute stroke. DESIGN: A randomized, sham-controlled, assessor blinded, pilot trial. SETTING: Inpatient stroke rehabilitation unit. SUBJECTS: First time onset of stroke with mean post-stroke duration of 6.41 days, able to respond to verbal instructions, and Brunnstrom recovery stage 2 and above were enrolled. INTERVENTION: Mirror therapy group performed 30 minutes of functional synergy movements of non-paretic lower extremity, whereas control group underwent sham therapy with similar duration. In addition, both groups were administered with conventional stroke rehabilitation regime. Altogether 90 minutes therapy session per day, six days a week, for two weeks duration was administered to both groups. OUTCOME MEASURES: Lower extremity motor subscale of Fugl Meyer Assessment (FMA), Brunnel Balance Assessment (BBA) and Functional Ambulation Categories (FAC). RESULTS: Amongst the 22 patients included, equal number of patients participated in mirror group (N = 11) and control group (N = 11). Baseline variables were similar in both groups, except for Brunnstrom recovery stage. There was no statistical difference between groups, except for FAC. (FMA: P = 0.894; BBA: P = 0.358; FAC: P = 0.02). Significance was set at P < 0.05. CONCLUSION: Administration of mirror therapy early after stroke is not superior to conventional treatment in improving lower limb motor recovery and balance, except for improvement in mobility.

Synthesis and study the antimicrobial activity of novel 2-(1H-indol-3-yl)- N-(3, 4-diphenylthiazol-2(3H)-ylidene) ethanamine derivatives.

A series of novel 2-(1H-indol-3-yl)-N-(3, 4-diphenylthiazol-2(3H)-ylidene) ethanamine derivatives (5a-o) were synthesized by cyclization of corresponding 1-(2-(1H-indol-3-yl) ethyl)-3-phenylthiourea 3 with 2-bromoacetophenone. All synthesized compounds were evaluated for in vitro antibacterial activity using Gram-positive bacteria and Gram-negative bacteria. In vitro antifungal activity also determined against the five fungal species. Structures of the synthesized compounds were established by elemental analysis and spectral data.

Effect of dialkyl- [2-(1-oxa-3,4,9-triaza-fluoren-2-yl-methoxy)ethyl] amines on biogenic amines: new potential antidepressants.

A thorough survey of the literature has revealed that indole derivatives have shown various central nervous system activities. This study aims to evaluate the antidepressant activity of the newly synthesized dialkyl- [2-(1-oxa-3,4,9-triaza-fluoren-2-yl-methoxy)ethyl] amines and their effect on biogenic amines. In this study, the synthesized compounds were assessed by in-vivo antidepressant models, by forced swim test and tail suspension test in mice and effect of synthesized compounds on biogenic amines in brain in a chronic unpredictable stress model. The test compounds have demonstrated significant (P < 0.05) reduced immobility duration in mice when compared with the control group animals. The reduced immobility displayed by mice indicates potential antidepressant activity. In this study, chronic unpredictable stress led to decreased monoamine levels in the cortex and hippocampus regions of the brain. With chronic administration of the investigated compounds there is an increased in monoamines in the brain, in the chronic unpredictable stress model. Decreased levels of monoamines induced by the chronic unpredictable stress induced model of depression, were normalized by treatment with the test compounds, which indicates potential antidepressant activity.

Reduction in post-prandial hyperglycemic excursion through alpha-glucosidase inhibition by beta-acetamido carbonyl compounds.

A series of beta-acetamido carbonyl compounds (S(1)-S(7)) were prepared using Dakin-West reaction from different substituted aldehyde and acetophenone in the presence of lanthanum triflate as a solid catalyst. All the compounds were tested for their alpha-glucosidase inhibitory potential against rat intestinal alpha-glucosidase. The most potent rat intestinal alpha-glucosidase inhibitors S(5) and S(7) were tested for their antihyperglycemic activity following carbohydrate tolerance test. Both the compounds displayed antihyperglycemic activity equivalent to the standard drug acarbose.

Active elastic dimers: self-propulsion and current reversal on a featureless track.

We present a Brownian inchworm model of a self-propelled elastic dimer in the absence of an external potential. Nonequilibrium noise together with a stretch-dependent damping form the propulsion mechanism. Our model connects three key nonequilibrium features -- position-velocity correlations, a nonzero mean internal force, and a drift velocity. Our analytical results, including striking current reversals, compare very well with numerical simulations. The model unifies the propulsion mechanisms of DNA helicases, polar rods on a vibrated surface, crawling keratocytes and Myosin VI. We suggest experimental realizations and tests of the model.

Antiulcerogenic effect of methanolic extract of Emblica officinalis: an experimental study.

The ulcer protective potential of methanolic extract of Emblica officinalis Gaertn. (EOE) was assessed in different acute gastric ulcer models in rats induced by aspirin, ethanol, cold restraint stress and pyloric ligation and healing effect in chronic gastric ulcers induced by acetic acid in rats. EOE, 10-50 mg/kg administered orally, twice daily for 5 days showed dose-dependent ulcer protective effects in all the above acute ulcer models (36.0-98.3% protection, P < 0.2 to P < 0.001) and significant ulcer healing effect in dose of 20 mg/kg after 5 (control ulcer index: 20.2+/-2.3 mm(2)/rat, % healing 59.6%, P < 0.001) and 10 (control UI: 11.0+/-1.7, % healing 65.5%, P < 0.01) days treatment. Further study on gastric mucosal factors showed that it significantly decreased the offensive factors like acid (acid output-control 118.7+/-12.1 microEq/4 h, EOE% decrease 65.9%, P < 0.01) and pepsin (peptic output-control 738.8 micromol/4 h, EOE% decrease 46.2%, P < 0.001) and increased the defensive factors like mucin secretion (TC:P ratio-control 1.21+/-0.15, EOE% increase 95.0%, P < 0.01), cellular mucus (TC:P ratio-control 1.16+/-0.13, EOE% increase 53.4%, P < 0.05) and life span of mucosal cells (DNA content of gastric juice-control 77.3+/-8.7 microg/m per 100 g body weight, EOE% decrease 42.1%, P < 0.05). EOE showed significant antioxidant effect in stressed animals (control UI 35.8+/-2.5, antioxidant status: LPO 0.58+/-0.03 nmol MDA/mg protein, SOD and CAT 227.8+/-6.3 and 18.4+/-1.2 U/mg protein respectively; EOE% decrease in UI 88.2%, mucosal LPO 69.0%, SOD 53.1% and increase in mucosal CAT 59.8%, P < 0.001 respectively) and did not have any effect on cell proliferation in terms of DNA microg/mg protein or glandular weight. The results showed that EOE had significant ulcer protective and healing effects and this might be due to its effects both on offensive and defensive mucosal factors.

Protective effect of Gingko biloba extract against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in mice.

Doxorubicin (DXR) causes dose dependent cardiotoxicity in experimental animals and in humans. In chronic doxorubicin cardiotoxicity model mice, the role of G. biloba extract (Gbe) which has an antioxidant property, was investigated. Doxorubicin treated animals showed higher mortality (68%), increased ascites, marked bradycardia, prolongation of ST and QT intervals and widening of QRS complex. Myocardial SOD and glutathione peroxidase activity were decreased and lipid peroxidation was increased. Ultrastructure of heart of DXR treated animals showed loss of myofibrils, swelling of mitochondria, vacuolization of mitochondria. G. biloba extract significantly protected the mice from cardiotoxic effects of doxorubicin as evidenced by lowered mortality, ascites, myocardial lipid peroxidation, normalization of antioxidant enzymes, reversal of ECG changes and minimal ultrastructural damage of the heart. The results indicate that administration of G. biloba extract protected mice from doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity.