Molecular detection of Mycoplasma gallisepticum in different poultry breeds of Abbottabad and Rawalpindi, Pakistan

The poultry sector in Pakistan is contributing mainly in bridging gap between demand and supply for protein. Mycoplasma gallisepticum is an emerging bacterium causing serious problems in poultry industry of Pakistan. A cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the M. gallisepticum load in poultry populated regions of Pakistan. Total 600 serum and 600 swab samples were collected, 200 from each broiler, layers and breeders poultry in Rawalpindi and Abbottabad districts. Serum samples were analyzed through ELISA for seroprevalence. Swabs were cultured on Frey’s medium followed by PCR and partial mgc2 gene sequencing. Results of seroprevalence of M. gallisepticum showed that layers (75%, n=150) are more positive as compared to breeders (70%, n=140) and broilers (50%, n=100). Typical colonies of the M. gallisepticum were observed in breeder (26.5%), followed by layer (21%) and broilers (9%). A total of 37.1% (n=42) samples were identified positive through PCR out of total 113 cultured based positive samples. A total of six M. gallisepticum isolates of current study showed 98-99 percent similarity with previously reported isolates on the basis of mgc2 gene partial sequencing. The M. gallisepticum was found highly prevalent in different poultry breads. Results of this study would add into basic data and provide a direction for livestock sector to strengthen a control strategy for mycoplasmosis in poultry farms.

Quantifying relations and similarities of the meteorological parameters among the weather stations in the Alberta Oil Sands region

Our objective was to quantify the similarity in the meteorological measurements of 17 stations under three weather networks in the Alberta oil sands region. The networks were for climate monitoring under the water quantity program (WQP) and air program, including Meteorological Towers (MT) and Edge Sites (ES). The meteorological parameters were air temperature (AT), relative humidity (RH), solar radiation (SR), barometric pressure (BP), precipitation (PR), and snow depth (SD). Among the various measures implemented for finding correlations in this study, we found that the use of Pearson’s coefficient (r) and absolute average error (AAE) would be sufficient. Also, we applied the percent similarity method upon considering at least 75% of the value in finding the similarity between station pairs. Our results showed that we could optimize the networks by selecting the least number of stations (for each network) to describe the measure-variability in meteorological parameters. We identified that five stations are sufficient for the measurement of AT, one for RH, five for SR, three for BP, seven for PR, and two for SD in the WQP network. For the MT network, six for AT, two for RH, six for SR, and four for PR, and the ES network requires six for AT, three for RH, six for SR, and two for BP. This study could potentially be critical to rationalize/optimize weather networks in the study area.

Molecular markers based genetic relatedness studies in tissue culture propagated Japanese plum cultivars Santa Rosa and Frontier

Santa Rosa and Frontier are the major Japanese plum cultivars grown throughout the world. The present investigation was performed to understand the genetic relatedness among in vitro propagated plum cultivars Santa Rosa and Frontier using PCR based molecular markers. For the study, three arbitrary markers viz. RAPD (Random amplified Polymorphic DNA), ISSR (Inter-Simple Sequence Repeats) and SCoT (Start Codon Targeted) were used. In RAPD analysis, 18 primers out of 28 amplified and generated 33 scorable bands. The allelic variations when analysed, revealed 84 percent similarity between these two cultivars with highest polymorphic information content of 0.78. Similarly, 15 ISSR primers produced 73 amplicons with an average of 4.86 amplicon per primer and similarity coefficient ranging from 62 to 67 percent. Seven SCoT primers out of 26 resulted in a total of twenty- six scorable bands with 24 polymorphic bands. Cluster analysis from all the three markers used broadly divided plum cultivars santa rosa and frontier into two major clusters containing in vitro shoots, their progenies and mother trees of respective genotypes. The study concluded that these three marker systems were found to be effective in revealing genetic relationship of these two commercially important plum cultivars.

Coronavirus ORF1ab Polyprotein Associated Nsp16 Protein is a RlmE Methyltransferase and May Methylate 21S Mitochondrial rRNA of Most Mells Inhibiting Protein Synthesis

Covid-19 infections are rapidly spreading worldwide with more than 100000 death and thus understanding the molecular mechanism of tropism of human cells is an urgent need for drug design. We have described here a bioinformatics approach to predict the functional aspects of non-structural nsp16 protein of Corona virus. The covid-19 7098 AA large polyprotein was degraded into sixteen proteins and last nsp16 protein was found an RlmE type rRNA methyltransferase. Nsp16 has no similarity to bacterial RlmABCD but has 25 percent similarity to the bacterial RlmE protein which methylates the U2551 2-hydroxy group of Ribose. The nsp16 proteins of different corona viruses like covid-19, bat-coronavirus, SARS and MERS have strong homology. Mrm2 and Dim1 like yeast and mammalian rRNA methyltransferases have 26-33 percent homologies but not with 2-O-capping MTase as reported previously. Rrp8 MTases also has no similarity to nsp16. We postulated that mitochondrial rRNA methylation of bronchial cells were mediated by the nsp16 protein causing inhibition of protein synthesis due to poor assembly of aminoacyl-tRNA or mRNA and peptidyl transferase at the PTC. This is one of the new molecular mechanism of corona virus cellular tropism and different than ACE-2 mediated blockage of cellular signalling to inhibit aldesterone biosynthesis with abnormal Na+ ions in cells. We also designed primers based on nsp16 cDNA sequence (nt 20659-21552, accession no MT121215) specific for Covid-19 diagnosis by RT-PCR.

Gap analysis business process model by using structural similarity

<span>Gap analysis process model is a study that can help an institution to determine differences between business process models, such as a model of Standard Operating Procedure and a model of activities in an event log. Gap analysis is used for finding incomplete processes and can be obtained by using structural similarity. Structural similarity measures the similarity of activities and relationships depicting in the models. This research introduces a graph-matching algorithm as the structural similarity algorithm and compares it with dice coefficient algorithms. Graph-matching algorithm notices parallel relationships and invisible tasks, on the contrary dice coefficient algorithms only measure closeness between activities and relationships. The evaluation shows that the graph-matching algorithm produces 76.76 percent similarity between an SOP model and a process model generating from an event log; while, dice coefficient algorithms produces 70 percent similarity. The ability in detecting parallel relationships and invisible tasks causes the graph-matching algorithm produces a higher similarity value than dice coefficient algorithms.</span>

SYNTHESIS OF SCHIFF BASE VERDANTIOL BY SIMPLE CONDENSATION

Schiff base is a chemical compound that is formed from the reaction between aldehydes and primary amines by condensation and produces by-products in the form of water. Schiff base is the raw material that is added in making Fragrance. The purpose of this study was to determine the method of synthesis of Schiff base verdantiol with simple condensation. The research method was carried out with four stages: preparation, synthesis, testing and measurement of parameters, and calculations. Preparation includes weighing the raw material Schiff base verdantiol. Schiff base synthesis is carried out by stirring at a temperature of about 90°C ± 5° C (Arctender, 1969) with a modification time of 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours and 3 hours. Testing and measurement parameters include organoleptic, density and specific gravity tests in pycnometer and compound confirmation using Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry. The results showed that the optimum synthesis of Schiff base verdantiol compounds was carried out at a heating time of 2 hours. The results of odor, color, density and gravity specifications heating time 2 hours according to specifications with the standard. GCMS confirmation results at 2 hours percent similarity are above 94%.

Tree Strata Structure in an Ecotone among the Amazon Forest Types: A Comparative Study

This work aimed to describe the structural dynamics of the Transitional Amazonian Forest and to evaluate whether the most abundant tree species present a structural pattern. As it is an ecotone composed of two forest types, a high composition complexity is expected. Forest analysis occurred with six 100 percent inventories data considering all trees with diameter at breast height ≥15.7 in., totalizing over 13 000 ac. The study areas were compared in terms of tree density, number of species, and importance value of the most abundant species. The Morisita index and the cluster analysis tested the forests similarity. We also evaluated the importance value of species in the upper and middle strata. Differences between study areas were detected regarding tree density and number of species. However, the forests presented more than 75 percent similarity and were grouped in three structural clusters. Some species showed alternations of dominance in the middle and upper strata. Although the forest is an ecotone, the trees had a structural pattern, where the same species dominate large areas, allowing us to apply the results on a huge scale.

Seed Shape Quantification in the Malvaceae Reveals Cardioid-Shaped Seeds Predominantly in Herbs

Seed shape in the Malvaceae and other families of the order Malvales was investigated. Seed shape was quantified by comparison with the cardioid. The J index is the percent similarity between both images, the seed and the cardioid, and similarity is considered in cases where the J index is over 90. Seed shape was analysed in 73 genera, and seeds resembling the cardioid were found in 10 genera, eight in the Malvaceae and two in the Bixaceae and Cistaceae. Seed shape was quantified by comparison with the cardioid in 105 species. A correlation was found between the values of the J index and plant form, with higher values of the J index in the seeds of herbs, intermediate – in bushes, and lower values in trees. The results suggest a relationship between seed shape and plant form, where seeds resembling the cardioid are associated with plants having small size.

Spongiosarcinopsis terrestris gen. et sp. nov. (Chlorophyta, Chlorophyceae): a new genus of green algae from gray forest soil, Russia

The diversity of soil green microalgae (Chlorophyta) is generally poorly known and likely underestimated because of their morphological poverty and crypticity. The use of molecular tools has revolutionized algal diversity research, including the discovery of numerous new taxa. On the basis of light microscopy, we isolated Chlorochytrium-like strain ACSSI 023 from gray forest soil (Moscow region, Russia), but with spongy rather than network chloroplast. This strain was evaluated by means of 18S rRNA gene and ITS2 sequences analyses and ultrastructural observations. Morphology, comparing the ITS2 secondary structure, compensatory base changes, intron lacking and percent similarity of the 18S rRNA gene of the isolated strain allowed us to propose a new genus and species for it, Spongiosarcinopsis terrestris gen. et sp. nov. The genus forms a separate independent branch within the Stephanosphaerinia clade (Chlorophyta, Chlorophyceae) with type species—Spongiosarcinopsis terrestris ACSSI 023.

ISOLATION AND MOLECULAR IDENTIFICATION OF FRESHWATER MICROALGAE IN MANINJAU LAKE WEST SUMATERA

Microalgae are photosynthetic prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms. In this research, isolation of microalgae from Maninjau lake West Sumatra was identified by morphological and molecular identification by PCR using primers for 16S rDNA and 18S rDNA prokaryotic and eukaryotic microalgae. The results of this study were obtained 3 isolates of microalgae that can be isolated from Maninjau lake West Sumatra are Scenedesmus (code isolate AUMA-020) with a percent similarity of 95%, Uncultured cyanobacterium (code isolates AUMA-023) with a percent similarity of 80% and Limnothrix (code isolates AUMA-019) has a percent similarity of 98% based on data gene Bank blast results.