Socio-ecological Challenges and Adaptation Strategies of Farmers Towards Changing Climate in Vindhyan highlands, India.

The Indian agriculture is highly vulnerable to climate change which adversely affects crop production and livelihood of farmers. The effect is more intensified in Vindhyan highlands, where prolong drought and high rate of poverty exist in depredation environment. In this context, present study conducted to explore farmers' perception, attitude about climate change and adaptive capabilities. We undertook an interview schedules survey through structured questionnaire in Duddhi block of Sonbhadra district. A total of 400 households were selected in which 347 (86.75%) male and 53 (13.25%) female respondents have participated. The perception of farmers on climate change is presented in SI (severity index) which varies from 36% to 68.63%. The statement 'rainy season decreases' ranked first with SI (68.63%) followed by 'temperature increases' SI (66.06%). This investigation identified 17 types of adaptive practices which are frequently performed in the Vindhyan highlands. Based on the WAI (Weighted Average Index) score, crop diversification (2.0), cultivation of drought-adapted crop varieties (1.99), changing plantation calendar (1.95) were the most adopted practices. Multiple regression analysis between the socio-economic status of farmers and the adaptation practices, recorded a significant positive relationship with age (P < 0.01), family size (P < 0.05), education (P < 0.01), caste categories (P < 0.05) and livestock ownership (P < 0.01) of farmer. This study will be helpful in developing drought resilience farming practices for sustaining the livelihood of farmers and inform policy making.

A Comparative Study of Dexamethasone Ointment along with Triamcinolone Acetonide in Treatment of Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis.

Aim: To assess and compare the efficacy of dexamethasone ointment with triamcinolone acetonide, the gel form, in the treatment of minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS). Materials and Methods: This was a randomized clinical trial of 60 patients of either sex with clinically diagnosed RAS who were randomly divided into two groups-the dexamethasone ointment group (Group I) and the triamcinolone acetonide gel group (Group II). Patients were asked to apply the gel three times a day on each ulcer. Estimation of the efficacy of gel was done based on the time required for regression in pain, size, and number of ulcers. Results: The results showed there was a significant difference in size, pain, number, and duration of ulcers in Group I and Group II within 7 days. However, in both groups, no significant difference was noted in the treatment of RAS. Conclusion: Dexamethasone ointment was found to be efficient in this treatment and was safe as evaluated using clinical assessments.

Analysis of marine heatwaves over the Bay of Bengal during 1982-2021.

Anomalous increase in sea surface temperature and its impact on natural ecosystems greatly interests the research community. Here we investigate the causes, impacts, and trends of marine heat wave (MHW) events in the Bay of Bengal (BoB) from 1982 to 2021. A total of 107 MHW events have been isolated (> 90th percentile threshold) in this Indian Ocean region, and their variation in intensity, duration, and frequency has been investigated. Our research unveils that an average of three MHW events/year accompanied by a linearly increasing trend of 1.11 MHW events/decade has been observed over the study region. It was also found that the most intense event was observed in 2016, which continued for 69 days, and had a maximum intensity of 5.29 °C and a mean intensity of 2.03 °C (above climatology mean). Moreover, it was observed that the net heat flux, along with anticyclonic eddies, was the primary cause of MHW events. Anticyclonic eddies associated with positive sea surface height anomaly were observed (> 0.20 m) in the vicinity of the most intense MHW event. Additionally, climate change and climate modes like El Niño and Indian Ocean Dipole show a high positive influence on the MHW events. Furthermore, we have examined the MHW event recurrence patterns in various regions of the BoB. From the monthly analysis, it was found that August and November had the most occurrences of MHWs, while April and May had the most extreme MHW events.

Mechanism of how carbamylation reduces albumin binding to FcRn contributing to increased vascular clearance.

Chronic kidney disease results in high serum urea concentrations leading to excessive protein carbamylation, primarily albumin. This is associated with increased cardiovascular disease and mortality. Multiple methods were used to address whether carbamylation alters albumin metabolism. Intravital two-photon imaging of the Munich Wistar Frömter (MWF) rat kidney and liver allowed us to characterize filtration and proximal tubule uptake and liver uptake. Microscale thermophoresis enabled quantification of cubilin (CUB7,8 domain) and FcRn binding. Finally, multiple biophysical methods including dynamic light scattering, small-angle X-ray scattering, LC-MS/MS and in silico analyses were used to identify the critical structural alterations and amino acid modifications of rat albumin. Carbamylation of albumin reduced binding to CUB7,8 and FcRn in a dose-dependent fashion. Carbamylation markedly increased vascular clearance of carbamylated rat serum albumin (cRSA) and altered distribution of cRSA in both the kidney and liver at 16 h post intravenous injection. By evaluating the time course of carbamylation and associated charge, size, shape, and binding parameters in combination with in silico analysis and mass spectrometry, the critical binding interaction impacting carbamylated albumin's reduced FcRn binding was identified as K524. Carbamylation of RSA had no effect on glomerular filtration or proximal tubule uptake. These data indicate urea-mediated time-dependent carbamylation of albumin lysine K524 resulted in reduced binding to CUB7,8 and FcRn that contribute to altered albumin transport, leading to increased vascular clearance and increased liver and endothelial tissue accumulation.

Determination of Immediate-loaded Single Implants' Stability with Periotest.

AIM AND OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the stability of immediate-loaded single implants with periotest. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this in vivo study, dental implants with a length ranging from 10 to 13 mm and diameter of 3.0-4.2 mm were utilized. Stability of dental implant was evaluated using the Periotest® M handheld device before loading, at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year. RESULTS: Implants 11.5 mm in length had the highest mean periotest value (0) after placement, whereas 10 mm-long implant had a value of -0.31 and 13 mm had a value of -0.48. After 1 month, 10 mm had a value of 1.23, 11.5 mm had a value of -0.32, and 13.0 mm had a value of -0.24. After 6 months, 10 mm had a value of 1.78, 11.5 mm had a value of -0.4, and 13.0 mm had a value of -0.41. After 1 year, 10 mm had a value of -0.54, 11.5 mm had a value of -0.51, and 13.0 mm had a value of -0.48. There was an unconstructive relationship between implant length and the average periotest score. There was also an unconstructive association between the implant diameter and the mean periotest value. CONCLUSION: The implant with long and greatest diameter had higher stability. Periotest can be used to determine dental implant stability. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Periotest is useful in determining dental implant stability. Large-scale studies may be helpful in obtaining useful results.

Efficacy of 2% Lignocaine and 4% Articaine in Oral Surgical Procedure: A Comparative Study.

AIM AND OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of 2% lignocaine and 4% articaine in the extraction of mandibular molars. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted on 120 patients requiring surgical removal of tooth. Patients were categorized into 2 groups with 60 samples each. Group I patients were administered 2% lignocaine with 1:50,000 epinephrine and group II patients were administered 4% articaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine for the extraction of mandibular molar. Inferior alveolar nerve, lingual, and buccal nerve block used in both groups to anesthetize the area. RESULTS: The mean onset of action in group I was 85.2 seconds and in group II was 52.6 seconds, duration of anesthesia in group I was 170.2 minutes and in group II was 226.8 minutes, duration of procedure was 30.4 minutes in group I and 32.6 minutes in group II, pain during procedure in group I was 2.75 and in group II was 1.42, pain after procedure was 1.41 in group I and 0.82 in group II, pain during anesthesia insertion was 1.52 in group I and 1.04 in group II. Forty-six (76.7%) patients in group I and 52 (86.7%) patients in group II did not require re-anesthesia, while 12 (20%) in group I and 8 (13.3%) in group II required 1 time re-anesthesia and 2 (3.3%) patients required 2 times re-anesthesia in group I. CONCLUSION: Articaine can be effectively used in oral surgical procedures as there is early onset of action, longer duration of anesthesia, and less need of re-anesthesia. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Articaine is more effective compared to lignocaine, hence it can be recommended alternatively for tooth extraction and other oral surgical procedures.

Size distributions of n-alkanes, fatty acids and fatty alcohols in springtime aerosols from New Delhi, India.

Size-segregated aerosol samples were collected in New Delhi, India from March 6 to April 6, 2012. Homologous series of n-alkanes (C19C33), n-fatty acids (C12C30) and n-alcohols (C16C32) were measured using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Results showed a high-variation in the concentrations and size distributions of these chemicals during non-haze, haze, and dust storm days. In general, n-alkanes, n-fatty acids and n-alcohols presented a bimodal distribution, peaking at 0.7-1.1 µm and 4.7-5.8 µm for fine modes and coarse modes, respectively. Overall, the particulate matter mainly existed in the coarse mode (≥2.1 µm), accounting for 64.8-68.5% of total aerosol mass. During the haze period, large-scale biomass burning emitted substantial fine hydrophilic smoke particles into the atmosphere, which leads to relatively larger GMDs (geometric mean diameter) of n-alkanes in the fine mode than those during the dust storms and non-haze periods. Additionally, the springtime dust storms transported a large quantity of coarse particles from surrounding or local areas into the atmosphere, enhancing organic aerosol concentration and inducing a remarkable size shift towards the coarse mode, which are consistent with the larger GMDs of most organic compounds especially in total and coarse modes. Our results suggest that fossil fuel combustion (e.g., vehicular and industrial exhaust), biomass burning, residential cooking, and microbial activities could be the major sources of lipid compounds in the urban atmosphere in New Delhi.

Mechanism of increased clearance of glycated albumin by proximal tubule cells.

Serum albumin is the most abundant plasma protein and has a long half-life due to neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn)-mediated transcytosis by many cell types, including proximal tubule cells of the kidney. Albumin also interacts with, and is modified by, many small and large molecules. Therefore, the focus of the present study was to address the impact of specific known biological albumin modifications on albumin-FcRn binding and cellular handling. Binding at pH 6.0 and 7.4 was performed since FcRn binds albumin strongly at acidic pH and releases it after transcytosis at physiological pH. Equilibrium dissociation constants were measured using microscale thermophoresis. Since studies have shown that glycated albumin is excreted in the urine at a higher rate than unmodified albumin, we studied glucose and methylgloxal modified albumins (21 days). All had reduced affinity to FcRn at pH 6.0, suggesting these albumins would not be returned to the circulation via the transcytotic pathway. To address why modified albumin has reduced affinity, we analyzed the structure of the modified albumins using small-angle X-ray scattering. This analysis showed significant structural changes occurring to albumin with glycation, particularly in the FcRn-binding region, which could explain the reduced affinity to FcRn. These results offer an explanation for enhanced proximal tubule-mediated sorting and clearance of abnormal albumins.

Characterization of a variant of ERGIC2 transcript.

ERGIC2 (formerly known as PTX1) is a gene identified by subtractive hybridization on the basis that it is expressed in normal human prostate, but not in prostate carcinoma. It is unrelated to the gene encoding pituitary homeobox protein (Ptx1 or Pitx1), which regulates pituitary hormone gene expression. Based on sequence homology with the yeast Erv41 protein, it is suggested that the ERGIC2 protein is an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) resident protein involved in protein trafficking between the ER and Golgi intermediate compartment (ERGIC) and cis-Golgi. However, studies from our laboratory and others have shown that it may have other functions. In this study, we have identified a variant ERGIC2 transcript with a four base deletion at the junction of exons 8-9, resulting in frame shift after codon #189. As a result, a truncated protein of 215 residues (24.5 kDa) is predicted as compared with the 377-residue (42.6 kDa) wild-type (WT) protein. The truncated variant ERGIC2 protein loses 45% of the luminal domain and the transmembrane domain near the C-terminus, and this effectively abrogates its function as the ERGIC-Golgi protein transport shuttle. The variant, like the WT protein, was found to upregulate the heme oxygenase 1 gene, suggesting that it may be involved in the oxidative stress pathway.

Proteomic analysis of immediate-early response plasma proteins after 70% and 90% partial hepatectomy.

AIM: Partial hepatectomy (PH) induces robust hepatic regenerative and metabolic responses that are considered to be triggered by humoral factors. The aim of the study was to identify plasma protein factors that potentially trigger or reflect the body's immediate-early responses to liver mass reduction. METHODS: Male C57BL/6 mice were subjected to sham operation, 70% PH or 90% PH. Blood was collected from the inferior vena cava at 20, 60 and 180 min after surgery. RESULTS: Using a label-free quantitative mass spectrometry-based proteomics approach, we identified 399 proteins exhibiting significant changes in plasma expression between any two groups. Of the 399 proteins, 167 proteins had multiple unique sequences and high peptide ID confidence (>90%) and were defined as priority 1 proteins. A group of plasma proteins largely associated with metabolism is enriched after 70% PH. Among the plasma proteins that respond to 90% PH are a dominant group of proteins that are also associated with metabolism and one known cytokine (platelet factor 4). Ninety percent PH and 70% PH induces similar changes in plasma protein profile. CONCLUSION: Our findings enable us to gain insight into the immediate-early response of plasma proteins to liver mass loss. Our data support the notion that increased metabolic demands of the body after massive liver mass loss may function as a sensor that calibrates hepatic regenerative response.

Four waves of hepatocyte proliferation linked with three waves of hepatic fat accumulation during partial hepatectomy-induced liver regeneration.

UNLABELLED: Partial hepatectomy (PH) triggers hepatocyte proliferation-mediated liver repair and is widely used to study the mechanisms governing liver regeneration in mice. However, the dynamics of the hepatocyte proliferative response to PH remain unclear. We found that PH-induced mouse liver regrowth was driven by four consecutive waves of hepatocyte replication. The first wave exhibited the highest magnitude followed by two moderate waves and one minor wave. Underlying this continuous hepatocyte replication was persistent activation of cell cycle components throughout the period of liver regeneration. Hepatocyte mitotic activity in the first three proliferative cycles showed a circadian rhythm manifested by three corresponding mitosis peaks, which were always observed at Zeitgeber time 0. The Bmal1-Clock/Wee1/Cdc2 pathway has been proposed by others to govern the circadian rhythm of hepatocyte mitosis during liver regeneration. However, we did not observe the correlations in the expression or phosphorylation of these proteins in regenerating livers. Notably, Bmal1 protein displayed frequent changes in hepatic distribution and cellular localization as the liver regrowth progressed. Further, three waves of hepatic fat accumulation occurred during hepatic regeneration. The first started before and lasted through the first round of hepatocyte proliferation, whereas the second and third occurred concomitantly with the second and third mitotic peaks, respectively. CONCLUSION: PH-induced liver regeneration consists of four continuous waves of hepatocyte proliferation coupled with three waves of hepatic fat accumulation. Bmal1, Wee1, and Cdc2 may not form a pathway regulating the circadian rhythm of hepatocyte mitosis during liver regeneration.

Interaction between the biotin carboxyl carrier domain and the biotin carboxylase domain in pyruvate carboxylase from Rhizobium etli.

Pyruvate carboxylase (PC) catalyzes the ATP-dependent carboxylation of pyruvate to oxaloacetate, an important anaplerotic reaction in mammalian tissues. To effect catalysis, the tethered biotin of PC must gain access to active sites in both the biotin carboxylase domain and the carboxyl transferase domain. Previous studies have demonstrated that a mutation of threonine 882 to alanine in PC from Rhizobium etli renders the carboxyl transferase domain inactive and favors the positioning of biotin in the biotin carboxylase domain. We report the 2.4 Å resolution X-ray crystal structure of the Rhizobium etli PC T882A mutant which reveals the first high-resolution description of the domain interaction between the biotin carboxyl carrier protein domain and the biotin carboxylase domain. The overall quaternary arrangement of Rhizobium etli PC remains highly asymmetrical and is independent of the presence of allosteric activator. While biotin is observed in the biotin carboxylase domain, its access to the active site is precluded by the interaction between Arg353 and Glu248, revealing a mechanism for regulating carboxybiotin access to the BC domain active site. The binding location for the biotin carboxyl carrier protein domain demonstrates that tethered biotin cannot bind in the biotin carboxylase domain active site in the same orientation as free biotin, helping to explain the difference in catalysis observed between tethered biotin and free biotin substrates in biotin carboxylase enzymes. Electron density located in the biotin carboxylase domain active site is assigned to phosphonoacetate, offering a probable location for the putative carboxyphosphate intermediate formed during biotin carboxylation. The insights gained from the T882A Rhizobium etli PC crystal structure provide a new series of catalytic snapshots in PC and offer a revised perspective on catalysis in the biotin-dependent enzyme family.

Maternal hepatic growth response to pregnancy in the mouse.

Pregnancy is characterized by physiological adjustments in the maternal compartment. In this investigation, the influence of pregnancy on maternal liver was examined in CD-1 mice. Dramatic changes were observed in the size of the maternal liver during pregnancy. Livers doubled in weight from the non-pregnant state to day 18 of pregnancy. The pregnancy-induced hepatomegaly was a physiological event of liver growth confirmed by DNA content increase and detection of hepatocyte hyperplasia and hypertrophy. Growth of the liver was initiated following implantation and peaked at parturition. The expression and/or activities of key genes known to regulate liver regeneration, a phenomenon of liver growth compensatory to liver mass loss, were investigated. The results showed that pregnancy-dependent liver growth was associated with interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor α, c-Jun and IL-1ß, but independent of hepatocyte growth factor, fibroblast growth factor 1, tumor necrosis factor receptor 1, constitutive androstane receptor and pregnane X receptor. Furthermore, maternal liver growth was associated with the activation of hepatic signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, ß-catenin and epidermal growth factor receptor, but pregnancy did not activate hepatic c-Met. The findings suggest that the molecular mechanisms regulating pregnancy-induced liver growth and injury-induced liver regeneration exhibit overlapping features but are not identical. In summary, the liver of the mouse adapts to the demands of pregnancy via a dramatic growth response driven by hepatocyte proliferation and size increase.