The lack of a reliable scoring system that predicts the development of septic shock and death precludes comparison of disease and/or treatment outcomes in animal models of sepsis. We developed a ...murine sepsis score (MSS) that evaluates seven clinical variables, and sought to assess its validity and reliability in an experimental mouse model of polymicrobial sepsis.
Stool collected from the cecum of C57BL/6 (B6) mice was dissolved in 0.9% normal saline (NS) and filtered, resulting in a fecal solution (FS) which was injected intraperitoneally into B6 mice. Disease severity was monitored by MSS during the experimental timeline. Blood and tissue samples were harvested for the evaluation of inflammatory changes after sepsis induction. The correlation between pro-inflammatory markers and MSS was assessed by the Spearman rank correlation coefficient.
Mice injected with FS at a concentration of 90 mg/mL developed polymicrobial sepsis with a 75% mortality rate at 24 hours. The MSS was highly predictive of sepsis progression and mortality, with excellent discriminatory power, high internal consistency (Cronbach alpha coefficient = 0.92), and excellent inter-rater reliability (intra-class coefficient = 0.96). An MSS of 3 had a specificity of 100% for predicting onset of septic shock and death within 24 hours. Hepatic dysfunction and systemic pro-inflammatory responses were confirmed by biochemical and cytokine analyses where the latter correlated well with the MSS. Significant bacterial dissemination was noted in multiple organs. Furthermore, the liver, spleen, and intestine demonstrated histopathological evidence of injury.
The MSS reliably predicts disease progression and mortality in an animal model of polymicrobial sepsis. More importantly, it may be used to assess and compare outcomes among various experimental models of sepsis, and serve as an ethically acceptable alternative to death as an endpoint.
With an objective of mapping novel low soil P (Phosphorus) tolerance loci in the non-Pup1 type donor rice line, Wazuhophek, we screened a recombinant inbred line (RIL) mapping population consisting ...of 330 lines derived from the cross Wazuhophek x Improved Samba Mahsuri (which is highly sensitive to low soil P) in a plot with low soil P for tolerance associated traits. Molecular mapping with SSR markers revealed a total of 16 QTLs (seven major and nine minor QTLs), which are associated with low soil P tolerance related traits. Interestingly, a QTL hotspot, harbouring 10 out of 16 QTLs were identified on the short arm of chromosome 8 (flanked by the makers RM22554 and RM80005). Five major QTLs explaining phenotypic variance to an extent of 15.28%, 17.25%, 21.84%, 20.23%, and 18.50%, associated with the traits, plant height, shoot length, the number of productive tillers, panicle length and yield, respectively, were located in the hotspot. Two major QTLs located on chromosome 1, associated with the traits, total biomass and root to shoot ratio, explaining 15.44% and 15.44% phenotypic variance, respectively were also identified. Complex epistatic interactions were observed among the traits, grain yield per plant, days to 50% flowering, dry shoot weight, and P content of the seed. In-silico analysis of genomic regions flanking the major QTLs revealed the presence of key putative candidate genes, possibly associated with tolerance.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Phosphorus (P) is an essential macro-nutrient required for growth and development of all crop plants including rice. Low availability of P in the soils manifests in terms of impeding crop growth ...leading to yield losses in rice. Adequate genetic variability for low soil P tolerance and also P use efficiency has been documented in rice and a major QTL called
Pup1
, conferring tolerance to low soil P has been identified, characterized and cloned from an Indian landrace, Kasalath. In the present study, a set of 98 germplasm lines collected from North-Eastern part of India were characterized for low soil P tolerance by screening them in a plot with low soil P (with available P < 2.0 kg ha
−1
) and also a plot with normal soil P (available P > 20 kg ha
−1
). The rice lines showed significantly high genetic variability for low soil P tolerance associated traits. Stress indices were estimated based on yield under normal and low soil P conditions and cluster analysis based on the stress indices; yield under normal and low soil P condition grouped the genotypes into highly tolerant, tolerant and sensitive to low soil P. Among the rice lines, 18 showed tolerance to low soil P (i.e. yield reduction < 70% in low soil P condition). The genotypic analysis based on
Pup1
associated molecular markers revealed the presence of complete or partial
Pup1
genomic region in most of the germplasm lines. Interestingly, a landrace called Wazuhophek was observed to be completely devoid of
Pup1
and hence it can serve as novel source for low P tolerance.
For large-scale energy storage, iron-based flow batteries (IRFBs) have been considered as a better choice because of their low-cost and use of environmentally friendly iron-based salts. The ...development of a IRFBs has been limited by the sluggish kinetics of the reaction, especially at the positive electrode during charging. Therefore, it is very important to look for stable electrolytes and superior electrode materials along with their modifications. Carbon-based electrodes are majorly used in IRFBs and these electrodes are feasible to modify using electrocatalysts. In the current study, nitrogen-doped carbon particles (NICaps) derived from Bermuda grass were used to modify graphite felt electrode. SEM, EDAX, Raman, and XPS analysis were used to characterize the modified graphite felt (MGF) electrode. It was observed that the NICaps MGF electrode had a significant improvement in electrochemical properties. The cathodic and anodic peak currents for the MGF electrode (1.55 and 1.63 mA/cm2 respectively) had a remarkable increase in comparison with the untreated graphite felt electrode (UGF) (0.48 and 0.88 mA/cm2 respectively). The Nyquist plot and the data derived from the equivalent circuit indicated lower charge transfer resistance for MGF. The charge-discharge studies carried out using 132 cm2 cell reveals that the modified electrodes result in higher current uptake of 50 mA/cm2 whereas the current uptake from the UGF electrode was limited to 20 mA/cm2. The battery resulted in an average coulombic efficiency of 95%, the peak power density of 60 mW/cm2, and better stability during multiple cycling.
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•NICaps modified graphite felts were used as electrodes for better performance of IRFBs.•CV, EIS and Tafel studies showed significant improvement in electrochemical performance.•Charge-discharge studies reveals the higher current density uptake of 50 mA/cm2.•MGF resulted in the average CE of 95% and the electrode was stable upto 50 charge-discharge cycles.
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•Nanostructured novel CeO2/GO were developed by single step method.•Nanocomposites produces the best electrochemical performances than individuals.•The composite materials works as ...novel electrocatalyst in both the Supercapacitor and OER applications.•Nanocomposites material fabricated symmetric device produces considerable specific capacitance (Cs), specific energy (SE), specific power (SP) values, along with acceptable cycle life.
Single step hydrothermally synthesized the stable cerium oxide (CeO2) nanorods decorated on layered surface of graphene oxide (GO) flakes. The crystal surface structure of novel CeO2/GO nanocomposites were analysed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET). Electrochemical behavior of the CeO2, GO and nanocomposites were explored from cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge/discharge (GCD), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements using as active materials of the electrode. CeO2/GO nanocomposites displays higher specific capacitance (Cs, 616 Fg−1) than those of individuals at low scan rate of 2 mVs−1 by CV studies. Nanocomposites has good stability by exhibiting 82 % of capacitive retention after 10 k cycles at 10 Ag−1. Symmetric device were fabricated using nanocomposite materials for both anode and cathode. The device produces a considerable Cs, specific energy (SE), specific power (SP) values such as 55.3 Fg-1, 23.1 Whkg−1 and 5088 Wkg−1 respectively. Using symmetric device, continued the cycle life studies at 10 Ag−1 for 5 k cycles, and exhibited a capacitance retention of 82 %. With a low overpotential of 112 mV, a small Tafel slope of 77.46 mV dec-1, and long-term stability, the composites showed better HER performance.
In this study, we demonstrate that coating a layer of graphene oxide (GO) onto graphite felts (GF) by electrostatic spraying can substantially increase the performance of all-iron redox flow ...batteries (IRFBs). Graphite felts are extensively used as electrodes but they do not have the desired electrochemical properties. GO has good electrochemical features. Hence, GO was synthesized from graphite powder and applied onto graphite felts. Chemical and structural features of the bare graphite felt electrode (BGF), thermally treated graphite felt electrode (TTGF), and graphene oxide modified graphite felt electrode (GOMGF) were characterized using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analysis (EDX), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Raman Spectroscopy (RS), X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area analysis. Similarly, the electrochemical performance was evaluated using Cyclic Voltammetry (CV), Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS), Tafel analysis and charge–discharge experiments. The Charge–discharge experiments were performed at 1 to 5 mgcm
−2
weight of GO on the modified graphite felt electrode and varying the current densities from 10 to 40 mAcm
−2
. The coulombic efficiency (η
C
) and energy efficiency (η
E
) of the cell determined at 20 mAcm
−2
for 4 mgcm
−2
-GOMGF electrodes were found to be 64.61% and 50.27%, respectively. Among the three different types of electrodes, the GOMGF electrode showed better electrocatalytic performance mainly due to the excellent conducting network of the defective edges of oxygen on the surface of layered flakes of the GO. After twenty cycles, the average η
C
and η
E
of the cell using a 4 mgcm
−2
-GOMGF electrode were found to be 62.06% and 42.02%, respectively.
Graphic abstract
Genetic improvement of rice for grain micronutrients, viz., iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) content is one of the important breeding objectives, in addition to yield improvement under the irrigated and ...aerobic ecosystems. In view of developing genetic resources for aerobic conditions, line (L) × tester (T) analysis was conducted with four restorers, four CMS lines and 16 hybrids. Both hybrids and parental lines were evaluated in irrigated and aerobic field conditions for grain yield, grain Fe and Zn content. General Combining Ability (GCA) effects of parents and Specific Combining Ability (SCA) effects of hybrids were observed to be contrasting for the micronutrient content in both the growing environments. The grain Fe and Zn content for parental lines were negatively correlated with grain yield in both the contrasting growing conditions. However, hybrids exhibited positive correlation for grain Fe and Zn with grain yield under limited water conditions. The magnitude of SCA mean squares was much higher than GCA mean squares implying preponderance of dominance gene action and also role of complementary non-allelic gene(s) interaction of parents and suitability of hybrids to the aerobic system. The testers HHZ12-SAL8-Y1-SAL1 (T1) and HHZ17-Y16-Y3-Y2 (T2) were identified as good combiners for grain Zn content under irrigated and aerobic conditions respectively.
Improved-Samba-Mahsuri (ISM), a high-yielding, popular bacterial blight resistant (possessing Xa21, xa13, and xa5), fine-grain type, low glycemic index rice variety is highly sensitive to low soil ...phosphorus (P). We have deployed marker-assisted backcross breeding (MABB) approach for targeted transfer of Pup1, a major QTL associated with low soil P tolerance, using Swarna as a donor. A new co-dominant marker, K20-1-1, which is specific for Pup1 was designed and used for foreground selection along with functional markers specific for the bacterial blight resistance genes, Xa21, xa13, and xa5. A set of 66 polymorphic SSR marker were used for the background selection along with a pair of flanking markers for the recombination selection in backcross derived progenies and in BC
F
generation, 12 plants, which are homozygous for Pup1, all the three bacterial blight resistance genes and possessing agro-morphological traits equivalent to or better than ISM were selected and selfed to produce BC
F
s. They were evaluated in plots with low soil P and normal soil P at ICAR-IIRR, Hyderabad for their low soil P tolerance, and bacterial blight resistance and superior lines were advanced to BC
F
. One of the lines, when tested at multiple locations in India was found promising under both normal as well as low soil P conditions.
Abstract
Recent predictions on climate change indicate that high temperature episodes are expected to impact rice production and productivity worldwide. The present investigation was undertaken to ...assess the yield stability of 72 rice hybrids and their parental lines across three temperature regimes over two consecutive dry seasons using the additive main effect and multiplicative interaction (AMMI), genotype and genotype × environment interaction (GGE) stability model analysis. The combined ANOVA revealed that genotype × environment interaction (GEI) were significant due to the linear component for most of the traits studied. The AMMI and GGE biplot explained 57.2% and 69% of the observed genotypic variation for grain yield, respectively. Spikelet fertility was the most affected yield contributing trait and in contrast, plant height and tiller numbers were the least affected traits. In case of spikelet fertility, grain yield and other yield contributing traits, male parent contributed towards heat tolerance of the hybrids compared to the female parent. The parental lines G74 (IR58025B), G83 (IR40750R), G85 (C20R) and hybrids G21 (IR58025A × KMR3); G3 (APMS6A × KMR3); G57 (IR68897A × KMR3) and G41 (IR79156A × RPHR1005) were the most stable across the environments for grain yield. They can be considered as potential genotypes for cultivation under high temperature stress after evaluating under multi location trials.
Characterizing the physiological mechanisms behind major-effect drought-yield quantitative trait loci (QTLs) can provide an understanding of the function of the QTLs—as well as plant responses to ...drought in general. In this study, we characterized rice (Oryza sativa L.) genotypes with QTLs derived from drought-tolerant traditional variety AdaySel that were introgressed into drought-susceptible high-yielding variety IR64, one of the most popular megavarieties in South Asian rainfed lowland systems. Of the different combinations of the four QTLs evaluated, genotypes with two QTLs (qDTY2.2
+ qDTY4.1
) showed the greatest degree of improvement under drought compared with IR64 in terms of yield, canopy temperature, and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). Furthermore, qDTY2.2
and qDTY4.1
showed a potential for complementarity in that they were each most effective under different severities of drought stress. Multiple drought-response mechanisms were observed to be conferred in the genotypes with the two-QTL combination: higher root hydraulic conductivity and in some cases greater root growth at depth. As evidenced by multiple leaf water status and plant growth indicators, these traits affected transpiration but not transpiration efficiency or harvest index. The results from this study highlight the complex interactions among major-effect drought-yield QTLs and the drought-response traits they confer, and the need to evaluate the optimal combinations of QTLs that complement each other when present in a common genetic background.
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