Maximal Induction Research Articles

Effective Induction of Fertile Gametes in Oriental × Trumpet (OT) Lily by High Temperatures.

Lily is a very important bulb crop, and interspecific distant hybridization is a crucial method of lily breeding. However, F1 interspecific hybrids tend to be highly sterile due to low levels of genetic homozygosity. This can be addressed by meiotic polyploidization, which has the advantage of reducing breeding time and being able to promote genetic recombination resulting in many variant progenies. High temperatures have been proven to induce 2n gametes via hindering a spindle formation in several plants, but little has been reported in lilies. In the present study, after observing the correlation between the development of the pollen mother cells (PMCs) and the length of the buds, 28-31 mm long buds were selected as the experimental material, which were at the stage of prophase I-metaphase I. Individual buds were induced at different temperatures (40 °C, 42 °C, and 44 °C) and durations (4 h and 6 h) using self-made multiwire heating equipment, and successfully induced fertile male gametes.. The best results were achieved with treatment of 42 °C for 4 h, reaching a maximum fertile pollen induction rate of 36.64%, while bud mortality was 40%. Two chemicals, colchicine and oryzalin, were also used by injection, and only the treatment with oryzalin obtained fertile gametes, with the highest fertile gamete rate of 15.39% at a concentration of 0.005%, while the bud mortality was 36.67%. This suggests that high temperatures have a superior effect on lily 2n gamete induction. In addition, the pollen obtained from the 6 h induction of high temperature was significantly larger than that from the 4 h induction, with an average diameter of 138.64 μm and 107.88 μm, respectively, 2.35 and 1.84 times wider than haploid pollen. The fertile pollen was crossed with four cultivars and two species, and a total of 267 embryonic seeds were obtained, with the highest embryonic rate of 4.52% in OT lily 'Mister Cas' as the parent, which had a germination rate of 26.27%. This suggests that the method of high-temperature induction for fertile gametes probably has important significance for ploidy and distant hybrid breeding in lilies.

Abstract 3598: Cooperative NF-KappaB and Notch1 signaling promotes a macrophage-mediated metastatic phenotype in breast cancer

Abstract Metastasis is a multistep process that leads to the formation of clinically detectable tumor foci at distant organs and, frequently, to patient demise. Only a subpopulation of breast cancer cells within the primary tumor can disseminate systemically and cause metastasis. To disseminate, cancer cells must express MenaINV, an isoform of the actin-regulatory protein, Mena, encoded by the ENAH gene that endows tumor cells with transendothelial migration activity allowing them to enter and exit the blood circulation. We have previously demonstrated that MenaINV mRNA and protein expression is induced in cancer cells by macrophage contact. Here, we report on the discovery of the precise mechanism by which macrophages induce MenaINV expression in tumor cells. We examined the promoter of the human and mouse ENAH gene and discovered a conserved NF-κB transcription factor binding site. Using live imaging of an NF-κB activity reporter and staining of fixed tissues from mouse and human breast cancer we further determined that, for maximal induction of MenaINV in cancer cells, NF-κB needs to cooperate with the Notch1 signaling pathway. Mechanistically, Notch1 signaling does not directly increase MenaINV expression, but instead enhances and sustains NF-κB signaling through retention of p65, an NF-κB transcription factor, in the nucleus of tumor cells, leading to increased MenaINV expression. In mice, these signals are augmented following chemotherapy treatment and abrogated upon macrophage depletion. Targeting Notch1 signaling in vivo decreased NF-κB signaling and MenaINV expression in the primary tumor and decreased metastasis. Altogether, these data uncover mechanistic targets for blocking MenaINV induction that should be explored clinically to decrease cancer cell dissemination and improve survival of patients with metastatic disease. Citation Format: Camille L. Duran, George S. Karagiannis, Xiaoming Chen, Ved P. Sharma, David Entenberg, John S. Condeelis, Maja H. Oktay. Cooperative NF-KappaB and Notch1 signaling promotes a macrophage-mediated metastatic phenotype in breast cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 3598.

Potent IPTG-inducible integrative expression vectors for production of recombinant proteins in Bacillus subtilis.

The IPTG-inducible promoter family, Pgrac, allows high protein expression levels in an inducible manner. In this study, we constructed IPTG-inducible expression vectors containing strong Pgrac promoters that allow integration of the transgene at either the amyE or lacA locus or both loci in Bacillus subtilis. Our novel integrative expression vectors based on Pgrac promoters could control the repression of protein production in the absence and the induction in the presence of an inducer, IPTG. The β-galactosidase (BgaB) protein levels were 9.0%, 15% and 30% of the total cellular protein in the B. subtilis strains carrying single cassettes with the Pgrac01, Pgrac100 or Pgrac212 promoters, respectively. The maximal induction ratio of Pgrac01-bgaB was 35.5 while that of Pgrac100-bgaB was 7.5 and that of Pgrac212-bgaB was 9. The inducible expression of GFP and BgaB protein was stably maintained for 24h, with the highest yield of GFP being 24% of cell total protein while the maximum amount of BgaB was found to be 38%. A dual integration of two copies of the gfp+ gene into the B. subtilis genome at the lacA and amyE loci resulted in a yield of about 40% of total cellular protein and a 1.74-fold increase in GFP compared with single-integrated strains containing the same Pgrac212 promoter. The capability of protein production from low to high levels of these inducible integrative systems is useful for fundamental and applied research in B. subtilis.

3D Spheroid Primary Human Hepatocytes for Prediction of Cytochrome P450 and Drug Transporter Induction.

Primary human hepatocytes (PHHs) have been the gold standard in vitro model for the human liver and are crucial to predict hepatic drug-drug interactions. The aim of this work was to assess the utility of 3D spheroid PHHs to study induction of important cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes and drug transporters. 3D spheroid PHHs from three different donors were treated for four days with rifampicin, dicloxacillin, flucloxacillin, phenobarbital, carbamazepine, efavirenz, omeprazole or β-naphthoflavone. Induction of CYP1A1, CYP1A2, CYP2B6, CYP2C8, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, CYP3A4, and transporters P-glycoprotein (P-gp)/ABCB1, multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 (MRP2)/ABCC2, ABCG2, organic cation transporter 1 (OCT1)/SLC22A1, SLC22A7, SLCO1B1 and SLCO1B3 were evaluated at mRNA and protein levels. Enzyme activity of CYP3A4, CYP2B6, CYP2C19 and CYP2D6 were also assessed. Induction of CYP3A4 protein and mRNA correlated well for all donors and compounds and had a maximal induction of 5- to 6-fold for rifampicin, which closely correlates to induction observed in clinical studies. Rifampicin induced the mRNA of CYP2B6 and CYP2C8 by 9- and 12-fold, while the protein levels of these CYPs reached 2- and 3-fold induction, respectively. Rifampicin induced CYP2C9 protein by 1.4-fold, while the induction of CYP2C9 mRNA was over 2-fold in all donors. Rifampicin induced ABCB1, ABCC2 and ABCG2 by 2-fold. In conclusion, 3D spheroid PHHs is a valid model to investigate mRNA and protein induction of hepatic drug-metabolizing enzymes and transporters, and this model provides a solid basis to study induction of CYPs and transporters, which translates to clinical relevance.

Magnetostriction reduction and magnetic permeability enhancement of Ti added Fe0.7Co0.3 alloy

The current work presents the study of three alloys, (1) the binary Fe0.7Co0.3 alloy (atomic fraction), (2) the addition of 3 at. % of Ti, and (3) the addition of 3 at. % of Ti and 1% of Nb. The interest is to increase the permeability of this binary alloy due to the additions of Ti and Nb, since Fe–Co alloys with Co content in the range of 27–35 at. % have much lower permeability than the commercial equiatomic alloy. The advantage of low Co Fe–Co alloys is the lower price compared to the equiatomic one. The alloys were produced by arc melting and were subsequently hot rolled and annealed in the final thickness at 1200 °C over 24 h. Microstructure characterization revealed single α-phased alloys with body centered cubic structures. Positive results were observed in the magnetic and electric properties of the (Fe0.70Co0.30)97Ti3 alloy compared to Fe0.7Co0.3, meaning the decreasing saturation magnetostriction λs, and the growth of the maximum relative permeability by 24% and of the resistivity by 63%, occurred without a change in the coercive field and in the maximum magnetic induction. The (Fe0.7Co0.3)97Ti3 alloy's maximum magnetic relative permeability is μrmax = 855 and occurs at a field of only 160 A/m, this field being more than two times lower compared to the one of the binary alloy. On the other hand, the addition of Ti + Nb has improved the deformation performance of the (Fe0.7Co0.3)97Ti3 alloy at high temperatures and did not change the magnetostriction, nor the resistivity. The quaternary alloy presents a maximum magnetic relative permeability of μrmax = 270 at 1960 A/m and a maximum magnetic induction reduced by 14% compared to the other two alloys.

STAT1 Controls the Functionality of Influenza-Primed CD4 T Cells but Therapeutic STAT4 Engagement Maximizes Their Antiviral Impact.

It is generally accepted that influenza A virus (IAV) infection promotes a Th1-like CD4 T cell response and that this effector program underlies its protective impact. Canonical Th1 polarization requires cytokine-mediated activation of the transcription factors STAT1 and STAT4 that synergize to maximize the induction of the "master regulator" Th1 transcription factor, T-bet. Here, we determine the individual requirements for these transcription factors in directing the Th1 imprint primed by influenza infection in mice by tracking virus-specific wild-type or T-bet-deficient CD4 T cells in which STAT1 or STAT4 is knocked out. We find that STAT1 is required to protect influenza-primed CD4 T cells from NK cell-mediated deletion and for their expression of hallmark Th1 attributes. STAT1 is also required to prevent type I IFN signals from inhibiting the induction of the Th17 master regulator, Rorγt, in Th17-prone T-bet-/- cells responding to IAV. In contrast, STAT4 expression does not appreciably impact the phenotypic or functional attributes of wild-type or T-bet-/- CD4 T cell responses. However, cytokine-mediated STAT4 activation in virus-specific CD4 T cells enhances their Th1 identity in a T-bet-dependent manner, indicating that influenza infection does not promote maximal Th1 induction. Finally, we show that the T-bet-dependent protective capacity of CD4 T cell effectors against IAV is optimized by engaging both STAT1 and STAT4 during Th1 priming, with important implications for vaccine strategies aiming to generate T cell immunity.

Investigating Endocrine Disrupting Impacts of Nine Disinfection Byproducts on Human and Zebrafish Estrogen Receptor Alpha.

Disinfection byproducts (DBPs) cause endocrine disruption via estrogenic or anti-estrogenic effects on estrogen receptors. However, most studies have focused on human systems, with little experimental data being presented on aquatic biota. This study aimed to compare the effects of nine DBPs on zebrafish and human estrogen receptor alpha (zERα and hERα). In vitro enzyme response-based tests, including cytotoxicity and reporter gene assays, were performed. Additionally, statistical analysis and molecular docking studies were employed to compare ERα responses. Iodoacetic acid (IAA), chloroacetonitrile (CAN), and bromoacetonitrile (BAN) showed robust estrogenic activity on hERα(maximal induction ratios of 108.7%, 50.3%, and 54.7%, respectively), while IAA strongly inhibited the estrogenic activity induced by 17β-estradiol (E2) in zERα (59.8% induction at the maximum concentration). Chloroacetamide (CAM) and bromoacetamide (BAM) also showed robust anti-estrogen effects in zERα (48.1% and 50.8% induction at the maximum concentration, respectively). These dissimilar endocrine disruption patterns were thoroughly assessed using Pearson correlation and distance-based analyses. Clear differences between the estrogenic responses of the two ERαs were observed, whereas no pattern of anti-estrogenic activities could be established. Some DBPs strongly induced estrogenic endocrine disruption as agonists of hERα, while others inhibited estrogenic activity as antagonists of zERα. Principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) showed similar correlation coefficients for estrogenic and anti-estrogenic responses. Reproducible results were obtained from computational analysis and the reporter gene assay. Overall, the effects of DBPs on both human and zebrafish highlight the importance of controlling their differences in responsiveness for estrogenic activities including the water quality monitoring and endocrine disruption, as DBPs have species-specific ligand-receptor interactions.

Phytochemical Composition and Biological Activities of Extracts from Early, Mature, and Germinated Somatic Embryos of Cotyledon orbiculata L.

Cotyledon orbiculata L. (Crassulaceae)-round-leafed navelwort-is used worldwide as a potted ornamental plant, and it is also used in South African traditional medicine. The current work aims to assess the influence of plant growth regulators (PGR) on somatic embryogenesis (SE) in C. orbiculata; compare the metabolite profile in early, mature, and germinated somatic embryos (SoEs) by utilizing ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS); and determine the antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory potentials of SoEs. A maximum SoE induction rate of 97.2% and a mean number of SoEs per C. orbiculata leaf explant of 35.8 were achieved on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with 25 µM 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and 2.2 µM 1-phenyl-3-(1,2,3,-thiadiazol-5-yl)urea. The globular SoEs were found to mature and germinate best on MS medium with gibberellic acid (4 µM). The germinated SoE extract had the highest amounts of both total phenolics (32.90 mg gallic acid equivalent/g extract) and flavonoids (1.45 mg rutin equivalent/g extract). Phytochemical evaluation of SoE extracts by UHPLC-MS/MS reveals the presence of three new compounds in mature and germinated SoEs. Among the SoE extracts tested, germinated SoE extract exhibited the most potent antioxidant activity, followed by early and mature somatic embryos. The mature SoE extract showed the best acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity. The SE protocol established for C. orbiculata can be used for the production of biologically active compounds, mass multiplication, and conservation of this important species.

Copper and iron metal resistant rhizospheric bacteria boost the plant growth and bacoside A content in Bacopa monnieri under stress conditions.

Bacteria that enhance plant growth and development and are found in the vicinity of roots are referred to as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria. Some beneficial bacteria help plant tolerance to many hazardous chemical elements. In this context, Cupriavidus basilensis, Novosphingobium humi, Bacillus zanthoxyli, Bacillus sp., Paenibacillus alvei, Ancylobacter aquaticus and Ralstonia syzygii metal-tolerant rhizospheric bacteria were isolated from rhizospheric soil associated with Bacopa monnieri. The beneficial effects of rhizospheric bacteria on B. monnieri plant physiology and biochemical responses were investigated under pot conditions at two levels (100μM and 500μM) of CuSO4 or FeCl3. N. humi, A. aquaticus and R. syzygii bacterial strains were associated with significantly increased height and biomass under normal and stress conditions. An assay for indole acetic acid in isolated rhizospheric bacteria found differential secretion except Bacillus zanthoxyli. Bacoside A is a major phytocompound in B. monnieri with medicinal value; maximum induction was observed in the R. syzygii treatment. High concentration of copper and iron salts negatively influenced height, biomass and photosynthetic pigments; however N. humi, A. aquaticus, Bacilllus sp. and R. syzygii beneficial bacterial helped plants under stress conditions. Moreover, a significant enhancement in chlorophyll a and b was noticed in C. basilensis, B. zanthoxyli, Bacilllus sp., P. alvei and R. syzygii treatments, without much influence on carotenoid levels. Therefore, the present study emphasises the importance of isolating plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria for use in bacopa plants exposed to metals such as copper and iron in soil.

Effect of injection pressure on exhaust emissions of diesel engine fuelled with LPG

In the context of exhaustion of fossil fuels day by day due to heavy demand with the use of agriculture sector and transport sector, escalation of fuel prices in International Oil Market causing huge economic burden on developing countries like India and rise of pollution levels with fossil fuel, the conservation of fossil fuels has become pertinent. Gaseous fuels have many merits over liquid fuels, as the pollutants emitted by gaseous fuels are low due to clean combustion, high calorific value in comparison with liquid fuels. Vegetable oils are good substitutes for diesel, as they are renewable, comparable calorific value and cetane (meausre of combustion quality) number when compared with neat diesel operation. However, the disadvantages associated with vegetable oils such as high viscosity and low volatility cause combustion problems in diesel engines. They can be rectified to some extent by converting them into biodiesel. They are many methods to induct gaseous fuels such as port injection, carburetion technique, injection of gaseous fuel at the near end of compression stroke etc,. Investigations were carried out with LPG as primary fuel inducted by port injection and diesel was injected into the engine in conventional manner. Particulate matter (PM), oxides of nitrogen (NOx ), carbon mono oxide (CO) levels and un-burnt hydro carbons (UBHC) are the exhaust emissions from a diesel engine. They cause health hazards, once they are inhaled in. They also cause environmental effects like Green-house effect and Global Warming. Hence control of these emissions is an immediate effect and an urgent step. The pollutants of PM, NOx ,CO and UBHC were determined at full load operation of the engine with varied injection pressure and compared with diesel operation on conventional engine. The maximum induction of LPG was 35% of total mass of diesel as full load operation. Particulate emissions were determined by AVL Smoke meter, while other emissions were measured by Netel Chromatograph multi-gas analyzer at full load operation. These pollutants were drastically reduced with induction of LPG and further reduced with an increase of injection pressure.

Investigations on exhaust emissions of aninsulated diesel engine with alternative fuels

In the context of depletion of fossil fuels, ever increase of pollution levels with fossil fuels and escalating prices of crude petroleum in International market, the search for alternative fuels has become pertinent. Alcohols (ethanol, methanol and butanol) and vegetable oils are important substitutes for diesel fuel. Alcohols renewable in nature, have low C/H (C=Number of carbon atoms and H=Number of hydrogen atoms in fuel composition and highly volatile. Butanol has higher calorific value than ethanol and methanol. Vegetable oils comparable cetane number and energy content when compared to diesel fuel. However, the drawbacks of vegetable oils (high viscosity and low volatility) and alcohols (low cetane number and low energy content) to be used as fuels in diesel engine call for semi adiabatic diesel engine (SADE) with its significance characteristics of higher operating temperature, maximum heat release, high brake thermal efficiency and ability to handle the low calorific value fuel.Exhaust emissions from diesel engine cause severe health hazards once they are inhaled in. They also cause environmental disorders. Hence control of these emissions is immediate step and urgent. In order to take advantages from both vegetable oils and alcohols, it is proposed to use the vegetable oil along with carbureted butanol in semi adiabatic diesel engine. Butanol was inducted into the engine through a variable jet carburetor, installed at the inlet manifold of the engine at different percentages of crude vegetable oil at full load operation on mass basis. Crude vegetable oil was injected at near end of compression stroke in conventional manner. Exhaust emissions were determined with semi adiabatic engine consisting of air gap (3 mm) insulated piston with superni (an alloy of nickel) crown, air gap (3 mm) insulated liner with superni insert and ceramic coated cylinder head with mixture of carbureted butanol and crude vegetable oil with varied injector opening pressure and injection timing. Comparative studies were made with data of conventional engine (CE) with maximum induction of Butanol at similar operating conditions. Aldehydes were measured by wet method. The maximum induction of butanol was 60% at recommended injection timing of 27obTDC (before top dead center), while it was 55% at optimum injection timing of 29obTDC.

Experimental Investigations on Exhaust Emissions of Insulated Engine Fuelled with Acetylene, Cottonseed biodiesel Mixtures

In the context of exhaustion of fossil fuels day by day due to heavy demand with the use of agriculture sector and transport sector, escalation of fuel prices in International Oil Market causing huge economic burden on developing countries like India and rise of pollution levels with fossil fuel, the conservation of fossil fuels has become pertinent. Gaseous fuels have many merits over liquid fuels, as the pollutants emitted by gaseous fuels are low due to clean combustion, high calorific value in comparison with liquid fuels. Vegetable oils are good substitutes for diesel, as they are renewable, comparable calorific value and cetane (meausre of combustion quality) number when compared with neat diesel operation. However, the disadvantages associated with vegetable oils such as high viscosity and low volatility cause combustion problems in diesel engines. They can be rectified to some extent by converting them into biodiesel. In this experiment, cottonseed oil was used as alternative fuel for diesel fuel, as India is second producer of Cottonseed oil in the world. The drawbacks associated with vegetable oil were overcome, by adopting the principle of low heat rejection (LHR) consisted of air gap insulated piston engine. Investigations were carried out with Acetylene gas as primary fuel inducted by port injection and cottonseed oil blended with optimum quantity (20%) diethyl ether (DEE) was injected into the engine in conventional manner. Particulate matter (PM), oxides of nitrogen (NOx), carbon mono oxide (CO) levels and un-burnt hydro carbons (UBHC) are the exhaust emissions from a diesel engine. They cause health hazards, once they are inhaled in. They also cause environmental effects like Green-house effect and Global Warming. Hence control of these emissions is an immediate effect and an urgent step. The pollutants of PM, NOx , CO and UBHC were determined at full load operation of the engine with varied injection pressure and compared with test fuel on conventional engine. The maximum induction of Acetylene gas was 35%, with CE, while it was 45% with LHR engine of total mass of diesel as full load operation. Particulate emissions were determined by AVL Smoke meter, while other emissions were measured by Netel Chromatograph multi-gas analyzer at full load operation. These pollutants were drastically reduced with induction of Acetylene gasand further reduced with an increase of injection pressure.

Control exhaust emissions of insulated diesel engine fuelled with biogas and cottonseed biodiesel

Gaseous fuels have many advantages than liquid fuels, as their calorific values of fuels are high, pollutants emitted by gaseous fuels are low and less dangerous when compared with liquid fuels. The drawbacks associated with use of vegetable oils in diesel engines such as high viscosity and low volatility can be reduced to some extent by converting them into biodiesel. However, they (biodiesel) cause combustion problems in diesel engine, due to their moderate viscosity, and hence call for low heat rejection (LHR) engine, which can burn low calorific value fuel, give high heat release rate and faster rate of combustion. The concept of LHR engine is to minimize heat loss to the coolant, thereby increasing thermal efficiency. LHR engine in this investigation consisted of ceramic coated diesel engine. They are many methods toinduct gaseous fuels such as port injection, carburetion technique, injection of gaseous fuel at the near endof compression stroke etc,. Investigations were carried out with biogas gas as primary fuel inducted by port injection and cottonseed biodiesel was injected into the engine in conventional manner, as India is second large producer of cottonseed oil in the world. Particulate matter (PM), oxides of nitrogen (NOx), carbon mono oxide (CO) levels and un-burnt hydro carbons (UBHC) are the exhaust emissions from a diesel engine. They cause health hazards, once they are inhaled in. They also cause environmental effects like Green-house effect and Global Warming. Hence control of these emissions is an immediate effect and an urgent step. The pollutants of PM, NOx ,CO and UBHC were determined at full load operation of the engine with varied injection timing such as recommended injection timing and optimum injection timing. NOx levels were reduced with provision of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) at optimum flow rate of 10%. The maximum induction of biogas with conventional engine (CE) was 35% of total mass of biodiesel as full load operation, while it was 45% with LHR engine. Particulate emissions were determined by AVL Smoke meter, while other emissions were measured by Netel Chromatograph multi-gas analyzer at full load operation. These pollutants were drastically reduced with induction of biogas and further reduced with advanced injection timing. NOx levels drastically reduced with EGR.

Ex-Situ Conservation of An Endangered Medicinal Plant Andrographis Paniculata By Plant Tissue Culture

An effective and rapid in vitro regeneration protocol of Kalmegh (Andrographis paniculata) was established by investigating the factors like combinations of plant growth regulators and explant types (stem, leaf and midrib). To find out the effective medium for callus induction and shoot regeneration, different explants of A. paniculata were cultured on MS media enriched with several concentrations of 6-benzylaminopurine (BA), α-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and 2, 4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D). Stem explant was noticed more responsive than leaf and midrib explant both in callus initiation and shoot regeneration. The ranges of callus initiation from stem, leaf and midrib explants were 26.67 - 100%, 20 - 93.33% and 13.33 - 73.33%, respectively. The calli obtained from midrib explants were not used in shoot initiation because of its poor size. The stem explant exhibited the maximum 73.33% shoot regeneration frequency in a comparison with leaf explants (60%). The maximum callus induction (100%) and shoot regeneration (73.33%) from stem explants were noticed in MS medium strengthened with 0.5 mg/L NAA and 2.0 mg/L BA and half strength MS media complemented with 0.1 mg/L NAA and 3.0 mg/L BA respectively. The highest shoot regeneration from the stem explant may be due to presence of more active parenchymatous cells than that of leaf explant. Half MS medium fortified with 2.0 mg/L IBA considered as best root initiation medium as it resulted in maximum rooting (93.33%). After acclimatization, the plants were transferred to field and found identical to the mother plant.

In Vitro sterilization protocol for callus induction of Baccaurea courtallensis (Wight) Müll.Arg. - An endemic tree of Southern Western Ghats, India

Experiments were carried out to establish in vitro culture using terminal and lateral buds of the endemic tree Baccaurea courtallensis of Phyllanthaceae which presented formidable difficulties. Besides the profuse phenol exudation, cultures were infected with intense fungal contamination. Efforts directed to control the schedule by adjusting the concentration of disinfectants NaOCl and HgCl2 with additional rinsing of explants with 70% ethanol and pre-soaking of shoots in various concentrations of the fungicide Bavistin never fetched any success. The intricately connected fungus seems to have found a niche amidst the leaf primordia in shoot apices and the axillary crevices of the nodal regions completely establishing itself in cultures. Perplexed with no remedy in sight, an interesting attempt of quick surface washing with 70% acetone was introduced in the surface sterilization schedule. Fresh explants were quickly rinsed with 70% acetone, followed by 0.1% mercuric chloride, 1% bavistin along with 4% PVP in succession and later wash with sterile distilled water enabling effective establishment of culture. Callus formation was observed on MS and WPM supplemented with auxin and cytokinin. Callus induction from the nodal region was observed at all concentrations and combinations of PGRs supplemented. Maximum induction of callus was obtained from MS medium augmented with BAP 4μM alone and in combination with IBA 1 μM +TDZ 4 μM.

Effect of Ge doping on the magnetic properties of Fe-6.5Si soft magnetic composites

In this work, the effect of Ge content on the soft magnetic properties and microstructure of FeSiGe soft magnetic powder cores (SMPCs) was systematically investigated. The results show that the addition of Ge is beneficial to increase the electrical resistivity of Fe93.5-xSi6.5Gex SMPCs, and the coercivity (Hc) shows a trend of decreasing and then increasing with the increase of Ge content. When the content of Ge is 2 wt%, the SMPCs exhibit the best magnetic properties with stable effective permeability of 78.4 up to 1 MHz, low core loss of 589.5 mW/cm3 at a maximum magnetic induction of 0.1 T and frequency of 50 kHz. By doping with Ge, the micro-vortex dots in the magnetic domain structure are reduced and the domain walls move more easily with the applied field, and the magnetic properties are improved.

Refractory PR3-positive ANCA-associated vasculitis with eosinophilia requiring anti-IL-5 therapy: A case report.

This report describes a highly unusual and refractory case of proteinase-3-positive antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody-associated vasculitis, which was associated with marked eosinophilia and only achieved remission after interleukin-5 blockade was added to maximal induction therapy. The patient was a healthy 18-year-old woman who presented with scleritis, otitis, constitutional symptoms, skin and mucosal lesions, and diffuse alveolar haemorrhage and found to have refractory eosinophilia of unclear aetiology. The case did not meet classification criteria for a diagnosis of granulomatosis with polyangiitis or eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis. Despite induction therapy with glucocorticoids, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab, she did not achieve remission or normalisation of eosinophilia until the addition of mepolizumab, which corresponded to the suppression of peripheral blood eosinophils and clinical remission. This case highlights the limitations of classification criteria and success of interleukin-5 in a multimodal treatment of severe vasculitis with eosinophilia.

Renal function outcome after selective bladder-preserving tetramodality therapy consisting of maximal transurethral resection, induction chemoradiotherapy and consolidative partial cystectomy in comparison with radical cystectomy for patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer: a two-centre retrospective study.

To compare renal function (RF) outcomes after bladder-preserving tetramodal therapy against muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) to those after radical cystectomy (RC). This study included 95 patients treated with tetramodal therapy consisting of transurethral bladder tumour resection, chemoradiotherapy and partial cystectomy (PC) and 300 patients treated with RC. The annual change in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was compared using the linear mixed model. Renal impairment was defined as a >25% decrease from the pretreatment eGFR, and renal impairment-free survival (RIFS) was calculated. The association between treatment type and renal impairment was assessed. The number of patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy was 8 (8.4%) in the tetramodal therapy group and 75 (25.0%) in the RC group. After the inverse probability of treatment weighting adjustments, the baseline characteristics were balanced between the treatment groups. The mean eGFR before treatment in tetramodal therapy and RC groups was 69.4 and 69.6 mL/min/1.73 m2 and declined with a slope of -0.7 and -1.5 mL/min/1.73 m2/year, respectively. The annual deterioration rate of post-treatment eGFR in the tetramodal therapy group was milder than in the RC group. The 5-year RIFS rate in the tetramodal therapy and the RC groups was 91.2 and 85.2%, respectively. Tetramodal therapy was an independent factor of better RIFS compared with RC. RF was better preserved after tetramodal therapy than after radical therapy; however, even after tetramodal therapy, the eGFR decreased, and a non-negligible proportion of patients developed renal impairment.

The IRE1α-XBP1 Signaling Axis Promotes Glycolytic Reprogramming in Response to Inflammatory Stimuli.

Immune cells must be able to adjust their metabolic programs to effectively carry out their effector functions. Here, we show that the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress sensor Inositol-requiring enzyme 1 alpha (IRE1α) and its downstream transcription factor X box binding protein 1 (XBP1) enhance the upregulation of glycolysis in classically activated macrophages (CAMs). The IRE1α-XBP1 signaling axis supports this glycolytic switch in macrophages when activated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation or infection with the intracellular bacterial pathogen Brucella abortus. Importantly, these different inflammatory stimuli have distinct mechanisms of IRE1α activation; while Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) supports glycolysis under both conditions, TLR4 is required for activation of IRE1α in response to LPS treatment but not B. abortus infection. Though IRE1α and XBP1 are necessary for maximal induction of glycolysis in CAMs, activation of this pathway is not sufficient to increase the glycolytic rate of macrophages, indicating that the cellular context in which this pathway is activated ultimately dictates the cell's metabolic response and that IRE1α activation may be a way to fine-tune metabolic reprogramming. IMPORTANCE The immune system must be able to tailor its response to different types of pathogens in order to eliminate them and protect the host. When confronted with bacterial pathogens, macrophages, frontline defenders in the immune system, switch to a glycolysis-driven metabolism to carry out their antibacterial functions. Here, we show that IRE1α, a sensor of ER stress, and its downstream transcription factor XBP1 support glycolysis in macrophages during infection with Brucella abortus or challenge with Salmonella LPS. Interestingly, these stimuli activate IRE1α by independent mechanisms. While the IRE1α-XBP1 signaling axis promotes the glycolytic switch, activation of this pathway is not sufficient to increase glycolysis in macrophages. This study furthers our understanding of the pathways that drive macrophage immunometabolism and highlights a new role for IRE1α and XBP1 in innate immunity.

The effect of stress-annealing on the mechanical and magnetic properties of several Fe-based metal-amorphous nano-composite soft magnetic alloys

Fe-based metal-amorphous nanocomposites (MANCs) are the subject of many contemporary studies for their unique tunable soft-magnetic properties. The alloys can exhibit some of the smallest losses and highest power storage capabilities of available materials used in electromagnetic inductors. Here, the magnetic and mechanical properties of Fe72.5Nb2Mo2Cu1Si15.5B7 at.%, Fe68.5Co5Ta3Cu1Si16.5B6 at.%, Fe68.5Co5Ta3Cu1Si16B6.5 at.%, and Fe73.5Ta3Cu1Si16B6.5 at.% melt-spun alloys were investigated in relation to their ability to be stress-annealed to tune permeability while simultaneously minimizing losses in tape-wound inductor cores. Mechanical and physical properties of the as-cast and processed ribbons including relaxation and crystallization temperatures and failure strains were measured using thermomechanical analysis (TMA), uniaxial tension, and bend tests to help inform the stress-annealing parameters. Magnetic properties were measured for the as-cast and stress-annealed materials in both wound-cores and flat ribbon strips. The alloys exhibited severe embrittlement during heating, thus creating significant challenges when tuning magnetic properties with an in-line stress-annealing (SA) process. However, when conditions were optimized, core losses as low as 1.14 W·kg−1 were obtained when cores were excited at 10 kHz to a maximum induction field of 0.1 T, which are among the lowest reported in the literature. Based on this preliminary effort, understanding of the stress state in amorphous precursor ribbons prior to SA could reveal the key to developing more robust in-line SA processes for brittle Fe-based MANCs.