Examples of dynamic chirality in nuclei

In many cases the chirality was almost observed but the transition probabilities are different. This fact is clearly seen in the cases of 134Pr and 102Rh. In the case of chirality, the yrast and the side bands should be nearly degenerate. In the angular momentum region where chirality sets, the B(E2) values of the electromagnetic transitions deexciting analog states of the chiral twin bands should be almost equal. Correspondingly the B(M1) values should exhibit staggering. Our lifetime measurements in the cases of 134Pr and 102Rh and the theoretical analysis do not support static chirality. Chirality has mainly a dynamical character in both nuclei. In the present paper, we compare our results with the results for other chiral candidate nuclei, which fulfill static chirality conditions.

Vaccination with a human parainfluenza virus type 3 chimeric FHN glycoprotein formulated with a combination adjuvant induces protective immunity

Human parainfluenza virus type 3 (PIV3) is a major cause of lower respiratory disease i.e. bronchitis, bronchiolitis or pneumonia, in infants and young children. Presently there is no licensed vaccine against PIV3. To produce an effective subunit vaccine, a chimeric FHN glycoprotein consisting of the N-terminal ectodomain of the fusion (F) protein linked to the haemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) protein without transmembrane domain, and secreted forms of the individual F and HN glycoproteins, were expressed in mammalian cells and purified. Mice and cotton rats were immunized intramuscularly (IM) with FHN or both F and HN proteins (F + HN), formulated with poly(I:C) and an innate defense regulator peptide in polyphosphazene (TriAdj). Significantly higher levels of systemic virus-neutralizing antibodies were observed in mice and cotton rats immunized with FHN/TriAdj when compared to animals immunized with the combination of F and HN proteins (F + HN/TriAdj). As PIV3 is a pneumotropic virus, another goal is to produce an effective mucosal subunit vaccine. Intranasal (IN) administration with FHN/TriAdj resulted in mucosal IgA production in the lung and virus neutralizing antibodies in the sera. After PIV3 challenge no virus was detected in cotton rats immunized with FHN/TriAdj regardless of the route of delivery. Protective immunity against PIV3 was also induced by FHN/TriAdj in hamsters. In conclusion, the FHN protein formulated with TriAdj has potential for development of a safe and effective vaccine against PIV3.

Expression of the SIN3 homologue from banana, MaSIN3, suppresses ABA responses globally during plant growth in Arabidopsis

The SIN3 family of co-repressors is a family of highly conserved eukaryotic repressor proteins that regulates diverse functions in yeasts and animals but remains largely uncharacterized functionally even in plants like Arabidopsis. The sole SIN3 homologue in banana, MaSIN3, was identified as a 1408 amino acids, nuclear localized protein conserved to other SIN3s in the PAH, HID and HCR domains. Interestingly, MaSIN3 over-expression in Arabidopsis mimics a state of reduced ABA responses throughout plant development affecting growth processes such as germination, root growth, stomatal closure and water loss, flowering and senescence. The reduction in ABA responses is not due to reduced ABA levels but due to suppression of expression of several transcription factors mediating ABA responses. Transcript levels of negative regulators of germination (ABI3, ABI5, PIL5, RGL2 and RGL3) are reduced post-imbibition while those responsible for GA biosynthesis are up-regulated in transgenic MaSIN3 over-expressers. ABA-associated transcription factors are also down-regulated in response to ABA treatment. The HDAC inhibitors, SAHA and sodium butyrate, in combination with ABA differentially suppress germination in control and transgenic lines suggesting the recruitment by MaSIN3 of HDACs involved in suppression of ABA responses in different processes. The studies provide an insight into the ability of MaSIN3 to specifically affect a subset of developmental processes governed largely by ABA.

Effect of magnesium supplementation on type 2 diabetes associated cardiovascular risk factors: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Cardiovascular disorders remain the leading cause of death in type 2 diabetic patients. In the present study, a systematic review and a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) were conducted aiming to evaluate the effect of magnesium supplementation on type 2 diabetes (T2D) associated cardiovascular risk factors in both diabetic and nondiabetic individuals.

METHODS

PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, Web of Science and Google Scholar databases were searched from inception to 30 June 2016 aiming to identify RCTs evaluating the effect of magnesium supplementation on T2D associated cardiovascular risk factors. The data were analysed using a random effect model with inverse variance methodology. Sensitivity analysis, risk of bias analysis, subgroup analysis, meta-regression and publication bias analysis were also conducted for the included studies using standard methods.

RESULTS

Following magnesium supplementation, a significant improvement was observed in fasting plasma glucose (FPG) [weighted mean difference (WMD) = -4.641 mg dL-1 , 95% confidence interval (CI) = -7.602, -1.680, P = 0.002], high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (WMD = 3.197 mg dL-1 , 95% CI = 1.455, 4.938, P < 0.001), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) (WMD = -10.668 mg dL-1 , 95% CI = -19.108, -2.228, P = 0.013), plasma triglycerides (TG) (WMD = -15.323 mg dL-1 , 95% CI = -28.821, -1.826, P = 0.026) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) (WMD = -3.056 mmHg, 95% CI = -5.509, -0.603, P = 0.015). During subgroup analysis, a more beneficial effect of magnesium supplementation was observed in diabetic subjects with hypomagnesaemia.

CONCLUSIONS

Magnesium supplementation can produce a favourable effect on FPG, HDL, LDL, TG and SBP. Therefore, magnesium supplementation may decrease the risk T2D associated cardiovascular diseases, although future large RCTs are needed for making robust guidelines for clinical practice.

Intranasal immunization with a single dose of the fusion protein formulated with a combination adjuvant induces long-term protective immunity against respiratory syncytial virus

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common cause of respiratory tract infections in both children and elderly people. In this study we evaluated the short- and long-term protective efficacy of a single intranasal (IN) immunization with a RSV vaccine formulation consisting of a codon-optimized fusion (F) protein formulated with poly(I:C), an innate defense regulator peptide and a polyphosphazene (ΔF/TriAdj). This vaccine induced strong systemic and local immune responses, including RSV F-specific IgG1 and IgG2a, SIgA and virus neutralizing antibodies in mice. Furthermore, ΔF/TriAdj promoted production of IFN-γ-secreting T cells and RSV F_85–93-specific CD8⁺ effector T cells. After RSV challenge, no virus was recovered from the lungs of the vaccinated mice. To evaluate the duration of immunity induced by a single IN vaccination, mice were again immunized once with ΔF/TriAdj and challenged with RSV five months later. High levels of IgG1, IgG2a and virus neutralizing antibodies were detected in the ΔF/TriAdj-vaccinated animals. Moreover, this vaccine formulation induced robust local SIgA production and IgA-secreting memory B cell development, and conferred complete protection against subsequent RSV challenge. In conclusion, a single IN vaccination with RSV ΔF protein formulated with TriAdj induced robust, long-term protective immune responses against RSV infection.

Ectopic expression of a tomato DREB gene affects several ABA processes and influences plant growth and root architecture in an age-dependent manner

Regulation of whole plant growth and adaptive responses by abscisic acid is complex, requires multiple regulators and largely unknown in plants other than Arabidopsis. We show that over-expression of the tomato SlDREB3/SlERF.H12 (DEHYDRATION RESPONSE ELEMENT BINDING PROTEIN3/ETHYLENE RESPONSE FACTOR. H12) gene can negatively affect many ABA-governed processes across tissues. Its expression leads to early germination in presence of ABA and in response to mannitol, NaCl and glucose. Its expression delays ABA-mediated leaf senescence and natural senescence leading to an increase in plant life by about 20days. Transgenic SlDREB3 lines show reduced ABA-mediated inhibition of conductance and transpiration and a greater sensitivity to water stress. Reduction in sensitivity to ABA-mediated stomatal closure leads to higher photosynthetic rates in transgenic plants than controls. Consequently, transgenic SlDREB3 plants produce a larger number of capsules and greater number of seeds with the increase in yield ranging from 18 to 35% in different seasons under well-watered conditions. Root growth, but not shoot growth, also undergoes a profound increase of about 50% in transgenic SlDREB3 lines. The increase occurs in an age-dependent manner with the most prominent changes being observed between 1.5 and 2.5 months in several independent experiments in different years. SlDREB3 thus seems to govern several ABA-regulated processes across tissues, partly through control over ABA levels. It may encode a factor that is most likely a component of the central ABA response machinery.

Eimeria species occurrence varies between geographic regions and poultry production systems and may influence parasite genetic diversity

•

Multivariate analysis revealed comparable poultry clusters in north and south India.

•

Eimeria species occurrence varied between system clusters.

•

E. tenella occurrence across systems may underpin region-specific genetic diversity.

•

E. necatrix was found to be more common in north than south India.

Coccidiosis is one of the biggest challenges faced by the global poultry industry. Recent studies have highlighted the ubiquitous distribution of all Eimeria species which can cause this disease in chickens, but intriguingly revealed a regional divide in genetic diversity and population structure for at least one species, Eimeria tenella. The drivers associated with such distinct geographic variation are unclear, but may impact on the occurrence and extent of resistance to anticoccidial drugs and future subunit vaccines. India is one of the largest poultry producers in the world and includes a transition between E. tenella populations defined by high and low genetic diversity. The aim of this study was to identify risk factors associated with the prevalence of Eimeria species defined by high and low pathogenicity in northern and southern states of India, and seek to understand factors which vary between the regions as possible drivers for differential genetic variation. Faecal samples and data relating to farm characteristics and management were collected from 107 farms from northern India and 133 farms from southern India. Faecal samples were analysed using microscopy and PCR to identify Eimeria occurrence. Multiple correspondence analysis was applied to transform correlated putative risk factors into a smaller number of synthetic uncorrelated factors. Hierarchical cluster analysis was used to identify poultry farm typologies, revealing three distinct clusters in the studied regions. The association between clusters and presence of Eimeria species was assessed by logistic regression. The study found that large-scale broiler farms in the north were at greatest risk of harbouring any Eimeria species and a larger proportion of such farms were positive for E. necatrix, the most pathogenic species. Comparison revealed a more even distribution for E. tenella across production systems in south India, but with a lower overall occurrence. Such a polarised region- and system-specific distribution may contribute to the different levels of genetic diversity observed previously in India and may influence parasite population structure across much of Asia and Africa. The findings of the study can be used to prioritise target farms to launch and optimise appropriate anticoccidial strategies for long-term control.

High correlation of clinical criteria in the diagnosis of drug-resistant TB and prevalence of ofloxacin resistance

OBJECTIVE

To study the drug resistance profile of patients with suspected multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This was a prospective study conducted among patients with suspected MDR-TB attending the Department of Respiratory Medicine, King George's Medical University, Lucknow, India, from August 2014 to April 2015. Sputum samples obtained from 50 such patients were subjected to drug susceptibility testing against first- and second-line drugs. Data on baseline characteristics were obtained from the patients and their previous medical records.

RESULTS

Mycobacterium tuberculosis was detected in 47/50 (94%) and non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) in 3/50 (6%). Of the 47 patients with M. tuberculosis, 36 (76.6%) had MDR-TB: 24 (66.7%) of these had pre-extensively drug-resistant TB (pre-XDR-TB) and 4 (11.1%) had XDR-TB.

CONCLUSIONS

Among proven MDR-TB cases, approximately two thirds were pre-XDR-TB cases and more than 10% were XDR-TB cases. These form a sizeable proportion and may result in the failure of second-line treatment.

Ridge Regression in the Presence of Multicollinearity

The ordinary least squares solution is generally applied to multiple regression problems in social sciences. When the intercorrelations among predictor variables are close to one, the estimates of regression coefficients obtained from ordinary least squares are very unstable. This situation is often referred to as near multicollinearity. When there is a problem of near mulricollinearity, the ridge regression provides an alternative to the ordinary least squares method. The ridge estimates are biased but more stable from sample to sample. The purpose of this article is to describe the method of ridge regression in a simple form and to provide examples of its application.

Psychometric Properties of Snyder's Self-Monitoring of Expressive Behavior Scale

Responses of 228 subjects were factor analyzed. The analyses identified three independent factors. Analyses of variance, Cronbach alpha coefficient, and K-R-20 formula for estimation of reliability show the scale to be reliable and homogeneous. Domain sampling method for the estimation of reliability is very low for the full scale and moderate for the three independent scales. Item analyses and criteria validity are also reported. Taking gain in income as a criterion of success, the criterion validity of the scale is zero.

A Structural Model of Educational Aspirations

The purpose of this study was to develop and test a model to predict educational aspirations of Canadian adolescents. Participants were a national sample of 4,034 students from grades 8-13 (2,037 males, 1,973 females). Results of a modified structural model included three sets of influences: a) a background factor comprised of parental occupation and education; b) a family involvement factor consisting of parental personal and school-based involvement with adolescents; and c) a personal factor with school marks, school and course perceptions, extracurricular reading and parental educational expectations as indicator measures. Educational aspirations was the main outcome variable. Results indicated that the personal factor had a strong direct influence on educational aspirations (β = 1.17, p <.001, R2= .76). The effects of the background and family involvement factors on educational aspirations were mediated through the personal factor. Additional analyses performed in order to test the relationships obtained in the model, revealed several significant interactions amongst the three predictor factors and educational aspirations. The findings emphasize the importance of efforts to enhance the educational aspirations of adolescents through targeted change of modifiable environmental and personal factors.

Anticipated Choices Among Self-, Informal, and Formal Care by Older Canadians

The present research investigated factors related to the health care choices seniors anticipated making in response to hypothetical illness symptoms (e.g. rectal bleeding). After collecting demographic data, 80 seniors were presented various illness symptoms. Directly following each symptom they were asked whether they anticipated using self-, informal, or formal care to deal with the potential problem. In general, seniors with higher perceived health status anticipated using self-care. Being male and having a lower perceived health status was predictive of choosing informal care, whereas being female was predictive of anticipating using formal care. When individual symptoms were analyzed, additional predictors were identified. Judged seriousness of a symptom, experience with a symptom, and social network status were related to different anticipated health care choices for some, but not all, symptoms. Perhaps the most striking finding was the difference between males and females. Since health status between males and females was not significantly different, this difference in anticipated choice of care seemed to be linked to personal preference rather than health status per se.

Use of ADO II device in a large aorto-pulmonary collateral -an interesting case

A 11month old girl was diagnosed to have a large aorto pulmonary collateral during evaluation for respiratory distress and seizures. Echocardiographic evaluation showed a large collateral from the descending aorta to left lung with ventricular dysfunction (left ventricular ejection fraction of 40%). This was confirmed on computed tomography angiogram (CT) scan. The collateral was closed with Amplatzer Ductal Occluder II device under fluoroscopic guidance. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of large aorto-pulmonary collateral closed successfully with an Amplatzer Ductal Occluder II device.

Indolamine 2,3-dioxygenase expression by monocytes and dendritic cell populations in hepatitis C patients

Dendritic cells (DCs) play an important role in the induction of the primary immune response to infection. DCs may express the tryptophan-catabolizing enzyme indolamine2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), which is an inducer of immune tolerance. Because there is evidence that chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection leads to functional impairment of certain DC populations, we analysed IDO expression in DCs and monocytes from chronically infected and recovered HCV patients. The IDO1 and -2 expression was increased significantly in the monocytes of chronic HCV patients but, interestingly, not in those from recovered patients. The myeloid DCs from chronically infected HCV patients also showed enhanced IDO1 expression, while no change in either IDO1 or -2 was found for plasmacytoid DCs. Up-regulation of IDO1 gene expression was confirmed by the presence of enhanced kynurenine/tryptophan ratios in the plasma from chronic HCV patients. Increased IDO1 and -2 expression was also observed in monocytes from healthy donors infected with an adapted mutant of the HCV JFH-1 strain ex vivo, confirming a direct effect of HCV infection. These changes in IDO expression could be prevented by treatment with the IDO inhibitor 1-methyl tryptophan (1-mT). Furthermore, maturation of monocyte-derived DCs from chronically infected HCV patients, as well as well as monocyte-derived DCs infected ex vivo with HCV, was impaired, but this was reversed by 1-mT treatment. This suggests that IDO inhibitors may be used to treat chronic HCV patients in vivo, in conjunction with current therapies, or to activate DCs from patients ex vivo, such that they can be administered back as a DC-based therapeutic vaccine.