Fine Tuning Mesenchymal Stromal Cells - Code For Mitigating Kidney Diseases.

Kidney Disease (KD), has a high global prevalence and accounts for one of the most prominent causes of morbidity and mortality in the twenty-first century. Despite the advances in our understanding of its pathophysiology, the only available therapy options are dialysis and kidney transplantation. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have proven to be a viable choice for KD therapy due to their antiapoptotic, immunomodulatory, antioxidative, and pro-angiogenic activities.

Heterologous expression and characterization of ToxA1 haplotype from India and its interaction with Tsn1 for spot blotch susceptibility in spring wheat.

Background: ToxA, a necrotrophic effector protein, is present in the genome of fungal species like Parastagnospora nodorum, Pyrenophora tritici-repentis and Bipolaris sorokiniana. Tsn1 is the sensitivity gene in the host whose presence indicates more susceptibility to ToxA carrying pathogen, and ToxA-Tsn1 interaction follows an inverse gene-for-gene relationship.

Methods And Results: The present study involved cloning and expressing the ToxA1 haplotype from B.

Genome-wide association mapping of genomic regions associated with drought stress tolerance at seedling and reproductive stages in bread wheat.

Understanding the genetic architecture of drought stress tolerance in bread wheat at seedling and reproductive stages is crucial for developing drought-tolerant varieties. In the present study, 192 diverse wheat genotypes, a subset from the Wheat Associated Mapping Initiative (WAMI) panel, were evaluated at the seedling stage in a hydroponics system for chlorophyll content (CL), shoot length (SLT), shoot weight (SWT), root length (RLT), and root weight (RWT) under both drought and optimum conditions. Following that, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) was carried out using the phenotypic data recorded during the hydroponics experiment as well as data available from previously conducted multi-location field trials under optimal and drought stress conditions.

Computational-sampling-moiré-based on-machine alignment for freeform optics.

The manufacturing and characterization of freeform optical surfaces are influenced by their high sensitivity to misalignments. In this work, the computational sampling moiré technique combined with phase extraction is developed for the precise alignment of freeform optics during fabrication and in metrology applications. This novel, to the best of our knowledge, technique achieves near-interferometry-level precision in a simple and compact configuration.

Genetics of spot blotch resistance in bread wheat ( L.) using five models for GWAS.

Genetic architecture of resistance to spot blotch in wheat was examined using a Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) involving an association panel comprising 303 diverse genotypes. The association panel was evaluated at two different locations in India including Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh), and Borlaug Institute for South Asia (BISA), Pusa, Samastipur (Bihar) for two consecutive years (2017-2018 and 2018-2019), thus making four environments (E1, BHU 2017-18; E2, BHU 2018-19; E3, PUSA, 2017-18; E4, PUSA, 2018-19). The panel was genotyped for 12,196 SNPs based on DArT-seq (outsourced to DArT Ltd by CIMMYT); these SNPs included 5,400 SNPs, which could not be assigned to individual chromosomes and were therefore, described as unassigned by the vendor.

Validation of Novel spot blotch disease resistance alleles identified in unexplored wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) germplasm lines through KASP markers.

Background: During the last few decades, the diverse sources of resistance, several genes and QTLs for spot blotch resistance have been identified. However, a large set of germplasm lines are still unexplored that have the potential to develop highly resistant wheat cultivars for the target environments. Therefore, the identification of new sources of resistance to spot blotch is essential for breeding programmes to develop spot blotch resistant cultivars and sustain wheat production.

New Genomic Regions Identified for Resistance to Spot Blotch and Terminal Heat Stress in an Interspecific Population of and .

Wheat is one of the most widely grown and consumed food crops in the world. Spot blotch and terminal heat stress are the two significant constraints mainly in the Indo-Gangetic plains of South Asia. The study was undertaken using 185 recombinant lines (RILs) derived from the interspecific hybridization of ' (HUW234) × (H26)' to reveal genomic regions associated with tolerance to combined stress to spot blotch and terminal heat.

Polishing performance of a magnetic nanoparticle-based nanoabrasive for superfinish optical surfaces.

Superfine optical components are necessary for advanced engineering applications such as x-ray optics, high-power lasers, lithography, synchrotron optics, laser-based sensors, etc. Fabrication of such superfine surfaces is one of the major challenges for optical and semiconductor industries. This research focuses on the development of a magnetic nanoparticle-based nanoabrasive for superfine optical polishing.

Variation in Grain Zinc and Iron Concentrations, Grain Yield and Associated Traits of Biofortified Bread Wheat Genotypes in Nepal.

Wheat ( L.) is one of the major staples in Nepal providing the bulk of food calories and at least 30% of Fe and Zn intake and 20% of dietary energy and protein consumption; thus, it is essential to improve its nutritional quality. To select high-yielding genotypes with elevated grain zinc and iron concentration, the sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth HarvestPlus Yield Trials (HPYTs) were conducted across diverse locations in Nepal for four consecutive years: 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18, and 2018-19, using 47 biofortified and 3 non-biofortified CIMMYT-bred, bread wheat genotypes: Baj#1, Kachu#1, and WK1204 (local check).

SNP Discovery Using BSR-Seq Approach for Spot Blotch Resistance in Wheat ( L.), an Essential Crop for Food Security.

The pathogenic fungus, , that causes spot blotch (SB) disease of wheat, is a major production constraint in the Eastern Gangetic Plains of South Asia and other warm, humid regions of the world. A recombinant inbred line population was developed and phenotyped at three SB-prone locations in India. The single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) for SB resistance was identified using a bulked segregant RNA-Seq-based approach, referred to as "BSR-Seq.

Genomic selection for spot blotch in bread wheat breeding panels, full-sibs and half-sibs and index-based selection for spot blotch, heading and plant height.

Genomic selection is a promising tool to select for spot blotch resistance and index-based selection can simultaneously select for spot blotch resistance, heading and plant height. A major biotic stress challenging bread wheat production in regions characterized by humid and warm weather is spot blotch caused by the fungus Bipolaris sorokiniana. Since genomic selection (GS) is a promising selection tool, we evaluated its potential for spot blotch in seven breeding panels comprising 6736 advanced lines from the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center.

Pyramiding of genes for grain protein content, grain quality, and rust resistance in eleven Indian bread wheat cultivars: a multi-institutional effort.

Unlabelled: Improvement of grain protein content (GPC), loaf volume, and resistance to rusts was achieved in 11 Indian wheat cultivars that are widely grown in four different agro-climatic zones of India. This involved use of marker-assisted backcross breeding (MABB) for introgression and pyramiding of the following genes: (i) the high GPC gene ; (ii) HMW glutenin subunits 5 + 10 at loci, and (iii) rust resistance genes, , , , and . GPC increased by 0.

A multilevel analysis of the social determinants associated with symptoms of acute respiratory infection among preschool age children in Pakistan: A population-based survey.

Background: As advocated by WHO in "Closing the Health Gap in a Generation", dramatic differences in child health are closely linked to degrees of social disadvantage, both within and between communities. Nevertheless, research has not examined whether child health inequalities include, but are not confined to, worse acute respiratory infection (ARI) symptoms among the socioeconomic disadvantaged in Pakistan. In addition to such disadvantages as the child's gender, maternal education, and household poverty, the present study also examined the linkages between the community environment and ARI symptoms among Pakistan children under five.

Dissecting Quantitative Trait Loci for Spot Blotch Resistance in South Asia Using Two Wheat Recombinant Inbred Line Populations.

Spot blotch (SB) disease causes significant yield loss in wheat production in the warm and humid regions of the eastern Gangetic plains (EGP) of South Asia (SA). Most of the cultivated varieties in the eastern part of SA are affected by SB under favorable climatic conditions. To understand the nature of SB resistance and map the underlying resistant loci effective in SA, two bi-parental mapping populations were evaluated for 3 years, i.

Crosses with spelt improve tolerance of South Asian spring wheat to spot blotch, terminal heat stress, and their combination.

Spot blotch and terminal heat are two of the most important stresses for wheat in South Asia. A study was initiated to explore the use of spelt (Triticum spelta) to improve tolerance to these stresses in spring wheat (T. aestivum).

Metabolite profiling identified pipecolic acid as an important component of peanut seed resistance against Aspergillus flavus infection.

In a previous study, we identified a halotolerant rhizobacterium belonging to the genus Klebsiella (MBE02) that protected peanut seeds from Aspergillus flavus infection. Here, we investigated the mechanisms underlying the effect of MBE02 against A. flavus via untargeted metabolite profiling of peanut seeds treated with MBE02, A.

Genetic characterization for lesion mimic and other traits in relation to spot blotch resistance in spring wheat.

Lesion mimic (Lm) mutants display hypersensitive responses (HR) without any pathogen attack; their symptoms are similar to those produced by a pathogen and result in cell death. In wheat, such mutants have been reported to be resistant against leaf rust due to their biotrophic nature. However, Lm mutants tend to encourage spot blotch (SB) disease caused by Bipolarissorokiniana since dead cells facilitate pathogen multiplication.

Does use of solid fuels for cooking contribute to childhood stunting? A longitudinal data analysis from low- and middle-income countries.

Using longitudinal data from the first and second waves of the Young Lives Study (YLS) in Ethiopia, India (Andhra Pradesh), Peru and Vietnam, conducted in 2002 and 2006-07, and a repeated measures mixed model, this study examined the effect of the use of solid fuels for cooking on childhood stunting among children aged 5-76 months. The analysis showed that in all four populations, the average height-for-age z-score (HAZ score) was much lower among children living in households using solid fuels than among children in households using cleaner fuels for cooking. The average HAZ score was lower among children living in households that used solid fuels in both waves of the YLS compared with those whose households used solid fuels in only one of the two waves.

- Interaction for Spot Blotch Susceptibility in Indian Wheat: An Example of Inverse Gene-for-Gene Relationship.

The - system is an example of an inverse gene-for-gene relationship. The gene encodes a host-selective toxin (HST) which functions as a necrotrophic effector and is often responsible for the virulence of the pathogen. The genomes of several fungal pathogens (e.

Hydrogen Peroxide Prompted Lignification Affects Pathogenicity of Hemi-biotrophic Pathogen to Wheat.

Spot blotch caused by has spread to more than 9 million ha of wheat in the warm, humid areas of the Eastern Gangetic Plains (EGP) of South Asia and is a disease of major concern in other similar wheat growing regions worldwide. Differential lignin content in resistant and susceptible genotypes and its association with free radicals such as hydrogen peroxide (HO), superoxide (O ) and hydroxyl radical (OH) were studied after inoculation under field conditions for two consecutive years. HO significantly influenced lignin content in flag leaves, whereas there was a negative correlation among lignin and HO to the Area Under Disease Progress Curve (AUDPC).

Genome-wide mining of respiratory burst homologs and its expression in response to biotic and abiotic stresses in Triticum aestivum.

Background: Membrane-bound NADPH oxidases (Nicotinamide adenine ainucleotide phosphate oxidase) also called respiratory burst oxidase homologs (Rboh) play an essential role in ROS production under normal as well as environmental stress conditions in plants.

Objective: To identify and study respiratory burst homologs (Rboh) from the wheat genome as well as characterize their role in various biological and molecular processes along with expression in response to biotic and abiotic stresses.

Methods: The Rboh homologs in the wheat genome were predicted based on data processing, alignment of sequences and phylogenetic analysis of sequences in numerous plant species and wheat.

High-Resolution Structural Studies Elucidate Antiatherogenic and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Peptides Designed to Mimic Amphipathic α-Helical Domains of Apolipoprotein A-I.

Peptides designed to mimic the antiatherogenic and anti-inflammatory properties of apolipoprotein A-I show that although lipid association is required, not all lipid-associating peptides exhibit these properties. Our studies of a series of peptides showed that peptides with aromatic residues at the center of the nonpolar face were able to interact with inflammatory lipids and inhibited inflammation, which resulted in the amelioration of several lipid-mediated disorders such as lesion development, tumor formation, and Alzheimer's plaque formation. The p values determined using C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy of K residues located at the polar-nonpolar interface provided the first clue to the relative orientations of the peptide helices with respect to each other and around the edge of the lipid discoidal complexes.

Surface Modification of Ti-6Al-4V Alloy by Electrical Discharge Coating Process Using Partially Sintered Ti-Nb Electrode.

In the present research, a composite layer of TiO₂-TiC-NbO-NbC was coated on the Ti-64 alloy using two different methods (i.e., the electric discharge coating (EDC) and electric discharge machining processes) while the Nb powder were mixed in dielectric fluid.

Genome-wide association mapping of spot blotch resistance in wheat association mapping initiative (WAMI) panel of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.).

Spot blotch (SB) caused by Bipolaris sorokiniana, is one of the most important diseases of wheat in the eastern part of south Asia causing considerable yield loss to the wheat crop. There is an urgent need to identify genetic loci closely associated with resistance to this pathogen for developing resistant cultivars. Hence, genomic regions responsible for SB resistance were searched using a wheat association mapping initiative (WAMI) panel involving 287 spring wheat genotypes of different origin.