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Taxonomy, species diversity, and geographical distribution of the marine brown algal genus Padina (Dictyotales, Phaeophyceae) from tropical South-East Asian waters were investigated through a combi...

Bilin pigments play important roles for both light perception and harvesting in cyanobacteria by binding to cyanobacteriochromes (CBCRs) and phycobilisomes (PBS), respectively. Among various cyanobacteria, Acaryochloris marina MBIC 11017 (A. marina 11017) exceptionally uses chlorophyll d as the main photosynthetic pigment absorbing longer wavelength light than the canonical pigment, chlorophyll a, indicating existence of a system to sense longer wavelength light than others. On the other hand, A. marina 11017 has the PBS apparatus to harvest short-wavelength orange light, similar to most cyanobacteria. Thus, A. marina 11017 might sense longer wavelength light and harvest shorter wavelength light by using bilin pigments. Phycocyanobilin (PCB) is the main bilin pigment of both systems. Phycocyanobilin:ferredoxin oxidoreductase (PcyA) catalyzes PCB synthesis from biliverdin via the intermediate 181 ,182 -dihydrobiliverdin (181 ,182 -DHBV), resulting in the stepwise shortening of the absorbing wavelengths. In this study, we found that A. marina 11017 exceptionally encodes two PcyA homologs, AmPcyAc and AmPcyAp. AmPcyAc is encoded on the main chromosome with most photoreceptor genes, whereas AmPcyAp is encoded on a plasmid with PBS-related genes. High accumulation of 181 ,182 -DHBV for extended periods was observed during the reaction catalyzed by AmPcyAc, whereas 181 ,182 -DHBV was transiently accumulated for a short period during the reaction catalyzed by AmPcyAp. CBCRs could sense longer wavelength far-red light through 181 ,182 -DHBV incorporation, whereas PBS could only harvest orange light through PCB incorporation, suggesting functional diversification of PcyA as AmPcyAc and AmPcyAp to provide 181 ,182 -DHBV and PCB to the light perception and harvesting systems, respectively.

The infrared (IR) remote control devices are used to operate in the most of modern household applications, such as television, DVDs, Set top box, Home theatre and air conditioner etc. With the development of the society and smart home, there are more and more home appliances and more infrared remote control devices used to operate them. A single IR remote controller can’t be used to manipulate the different kinds of home appliances; as they are not compatible which leads to the wastage of resources. This paper propose an applications and design of Arduino based IR remote control system, which can control multiple devices, code and decode all of the infrared remote control protocol. In this system, we are using IR based wireless communications for controlling home appliances. Arduino is used for controlling whole the process. The remote control transmits a beam of light using an infrared light emitting diode; this light is picked by the IR sensor. After receiving signal from IR remote, Arduino sends related signal to relays which are responsible for switching ON or OFF of the home appliances through a relay driver. The circuit present in this work is designed to control the six electrical devices such as TV, fan, motor, electric bulb, light tube, and CFL to turn on or turn off from a distance using remote control. The program for this project is written in C language and uploaded into the memory of the microcontroller on Arduino board by Arduino IDE window software.

Avian malaria and related haemosporidians (genera Haemoproteus, Plasmodium and Leucocytozoon) infect most clades of bird. Although these parasites are present in almost all continents, they have been irregularly studied across different geographical regions. Despite the high bird diversity in Asia, the diversity of avian haemosporidians in this region is largely unknown. Moreover, anthropogenic changes to habitats in tropical regions may have a profound impact on the overall composition of haemosporidian communities. Here we analyzed the diversity and host association of bird haemosporidians from areas with different degrees of anthropogenic disturbance in Myanmar, revealing an unexplored diversity of these parasites (27% of newly-discovered haemosporidian lineages, and 64% of new records of host–parasite assemblages) in these tropical environments. This newly discovered diversity will be valuable for detecting host range and transmission areas of haemosporidian parasites. We also found slightly higher haemosporidian prevalence and diversity in birds from paddy fields than in individuals from urban areas and hills, thus implying that human alteration of natural environments may affect the dynamics of vector-borne diseases. These outcomes provide valuable insights for biodiversity conservation management in threatened tropical ecosystems.

Two new bistratose species of the brown algal genus Padina, P. ogasawaraensis sp. nov. and P. reniformis, sp. nov., were discovered from Ogasawara and Okinawa Islands, and Kagoshima, Japan...

Cyanobacteriochromes (CBCRs) are small, bistable linear tetrapyrrole (bilin)-binding light sensors which are typically found as modular components in multidomain cyanobacterial signaling proteins. The CBCR family has been categorized into many lineages that roughly correlate with their spectral diversity, but CBCRs possessing a conserved DXCF motif are found in multiple lineages. DXCF CBCRs typically possess two conserved Cys residues: a first Cys that remains ligated to the bilin chromophore and a second Cys found in the DXCF motif. The second Cys often forms a second thioether linkage, providing a mechanism to sense blue and violet light. DXCF CBCRs have been described with blue/green, blue/orange, blue/teal, and green/teal photocycles, and the molecular basis for some of this spectral diversity has been well established. We here characterize AM1_1499g1, an atypical DXCF CBCR that lacks the second cysteine residue and exhibits an orange/green photocycle. Based on prior studies of CBCR spectral tuning, we have successfully engineered seven AM1_1499g1 variants that exhibit robust yellow/teal, green/teal, blue/teal, orange/yellow, yellow/green, green/green, and blue/green photocycles. The remarkable spectral diversity generated by modification of a single CBCR provides a good template for multiplexing synthetic photobiology systems within the same cellular context, thereby bypassing the time-consuming empirical optimization process needed for multiple probes with different protein scaffolds.

Cyanobacteriochromes (CBCRs) are small, bistable linear tetrapyrrole (bilin)-binding light sensors which are typically found as modular components in multidomain cyanobacterial signaling proteins. The CBCR family has been categorized into many lineages that roughly correlate with their spectral diversity, but CBCRs possessing a conserved DXCF motif are found in multiple lineages. DXCF CBCRs typically possess two conserved Cys residues: a first Cys that remains ligated to the bilin chromophore and a second Cys found in the DXCF motif. The second Cys often forms a second thioether linkage, providing a mechanism to sense blue and violet light. DXCF CBCRs have been described with blue/green, blue/orange, blue/teal, and green/teal photocycles, and the molecular basis for some of this spectral diversity has been well established. We here characterize AM1_1499g1, an atypical DXCF CBCR that lacks the second cysteine residue and exhibits an orange/green photocycle. Based on prior studies of CBCR spectral tuning, we have successfully engineered seven AM1_1499g1 variants that exhibit robust yellow/teal, green/teal, blue/teal, orange/yellow, yellow/green, green/green, and blue/green photocycles. The remarkable spectral diversity generated by modification of a single CBCR provides a good template for multiplexing synthetic photobiology systems within the same cellular context, thereby bypassing the time-consuming empirical optimization process needed for multiple probes with different protein scaffolds.

The focus of this study is to assess the contribution of waste dumping in water pollution. Water samples were collected from the nearby Htein Pin open dumping site in Yangon, lake, tube wells, river and leachate were analyzed and observed contamination. It has been found that most of the parameters of water are not in the acceptable limit in accordance with the WHO drinking guide lines. It is concluded that the contamination is due to the solid waste that are dumped in the area. Khin Win | Ni Ni Win "Quality Assessment of Water in Municipal Solid Waste Dumpsite Area" Published in International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (ijtsrd), ISSN: 2456-6470, Volume-2 | Issue-5 , August 2018, URL: https://www.ijtsrd.com/papers/ijtsrd15843.pdf

Cyanobacteriochromes (CBCRs) are cyanobacterial photoreceptors that have diverse spectral properties and domain compositions. Although large numbers of CBCR genes exist in cyanobacterial genomes, no studies have assessed whether multiple CBCRs work together. We recently showed that the diguanylate cyclase (DGC) activity of the CBCR SesA from Thermosynechococcus elongatus is activated by blue-light irradiation and that, when irradiated, SesA, via its product cyclic dimeric GMP (c-di-GMP), induces aggregation of Thermosynechococcus vulcanus cells at a temperature that is suboptimum for single-cell viability. For this report, we first characterize the photobiochemical properties of two additional CBCRs, SesB and SesC. Blue/teal light-responsive SesB has only c-di-GMP phosphodiesterase (PDE) activity, which is up-regulated by teal light and GTP. Blue/green light-responsive SesC has DGC and PDE activities. Its DGC activity is enhanced by blue light, whereas its PDE activity is enhanced by green light. A ΔsesB mutant cannot suppress cell aggregation under teal-green light. A ΔsesC mutant shows a less sensitive cell-aggregation response to ambient light. ΔsesA/ΔsesB/ΔsesC shows partial cell aggregation, which is accompanied by the loss of color dependency, implying that a nonphotoresponsive DGC(s) producing c-di-GMP can also induce the aggregation. The results suggest that SesB enhances the light color dependency of cell aggregation by degrading c-di-GMP, is particularly effective under teal light, and, therefore, seems to counteract the induction of cell aggregation by SesA. In addition, SesC seems to improve signaling specificity as an auxiliary backup to SesA/SesB activities. The coordinated action of these three CBCRs highlights why so many different CBCRs exist.

Cyanobacteriochromes (CBCRs) are diverse photoreceptors that are found only from cyanobacteria and cover wide range of light qualities. CBCRs are divided into two types regarding the chromophore species they contain: phycocyanobilin (PCB) and phycoviolobilin. Red/green-type CBCRs are widely distributed subfamily among the PCB-binding CBCRs and photoconvert between a red-absorbing thermostable form and a green-absorbing metastable form. Our recent study discovered that a red/green-type CBCR, AM1_1557g2, from a cyanobacterium Acaryochloris marina covalently binds not only PCB but also biliverdin (BV). BV-binding AM1_1557g2 photoconverts between a far-red absorbing form and an orange-absorbing form. We report, herein, that another red/green-type CBCR, AM1_1870g3, from the cyanobacterium A. marina also bound both PCB and BV. PCB- and BV-binding ones showed red/green and far-red/orange reversible photoconversions, respectively. Unexpectedly, absorbing wavelengths are 10–20 nm red-shifted compared with those of AM1_1557g2. These red-shifted characteristics may be useful for optogenetic light switches that work in various organisms.

The northern Andaman Sea including the Myanmar waters is one of the least studied regions of the northern Indian Ocean. The freshwater and suspended sediments carried by Ayeyawady/ Irrawaddy, the peculiar surface circulation, coastline morphology and shallow bathymetry in the Gulf of Mottama facilitate several diverse environmental settings in the study region. In order to understand the environmental settings and their linkages to the plankton community in the study region, this paper combined in - situ data of ‘First India - Myanmar Joint Oceanographic Expedition’ with satellite oceanography observations. The study period was the Spring Inter-monsoon (March - May), which was characterized by high tidal activity in the Gulf of Mottama region (tidal height 6 - 8m) causing strong tidal currents and re-suspension of sediments. The tidal currents and eastward advection of Ayeyawady influx caused the lowest salinity, highest concentration of nutrients, suspended sediments and chlorophyll a in the Gulf of Mottama region. Conversely, high salinity, highest temperature, lowest nutrients and suspended sediments prevalent in the offshore waters of the northern Andaman Sea induced a massive bloom of Trichodesmium erythreum, which was mostly in the declining phase during the observation. The in-situ and satellite remote sensing data clearly showed that the Trichodesmium erythreum bloom observed in the offshore waters was closely linked to a warm core eddy. The decomposition of the bloom favored swarms of siphonophores and hydromedusae through a trophic link involving copepods and appendicularians. Aided by satellite remote sensing data and multivariate statistical tools, five diverse environmental settings have been identified in the study domain. The analysis showed a close coupling between phytoplankton biomass and nutrients with their higher values in the Gulf of Mottama, off Rakhine, Ayeyawady and Tanintharyi region as compared to the offshore waters in the northern Andaman Sea. The zooplankton community dominated by copepods and chaetognaths preferred regions with high salinity, chlorophyll, deep mixed layer and low suspended sediments as existed off Rakhine, Ayeyawady and Thanintharyi regions. The study evidences, for the first time, the spatial segregation of environmental settings and its linkages to the plankton community off Myanmar during the Spring Intermonsoon.

This chapter explores the various challenges of refugee and IDP reintegration in Myanmar, with a focus on security from armed conflict and land mines, access to livelihood opportunities, rights to citizenship, social welfare, and resource and land allocation. It discusses existing efforts by both government and non-state actors, and identifies gaps in policy and implementation. The authors argue that without a specific reintegration strategy backed by an adequate budget, displacement will continue to be a non-reality for Myanmar refugees and IDPs.

Cyanobacteriochromes (CBCRs) are cyanobacterial photoreceptors that sense near-ultraviolet to far-red light. Like the distantly related phytochromes, all CBCRs reported to date have a conserved Cys residue (the “canonical Cys” or “first Cys”) that forms a thioether linkage to C31 of the linear tetrapyrrole (bilin) chromophore. Detection of ultraviolet, violet, and blue light is performed by at least three subfamilies of two-Cys CBCRs that require both the first Cys and a second Cys that forms a second covalent linkage to C10 of the bilin. In the well-characterized DXCF subfamily, the second Cys is part of a conserved Asp-Xaa-Cys-Phe motif. We here report novel CBCRs lacking the first Cys but retaining the DXCF Cys as part of a conserved Asp-Xaa-Cys-Ile-Pro (DXCIP) motif. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrates that DXCIP CBCRs are a sister to a lineage of DXCF CBCR domains from phototaxis sensors. Three such DXCIP CBCR domains (cce_4193g1, Cyan8802_2776g1, and JSC1_24240) were characterized after recombinant e...

Cyanobacteriochromes (CBCRs) are distantly related to the red/far-red responsive phytochromes. Red/green-type CBCRs are widely distributed among various cyanobacteria. The red/green-type CBCRs covalently bind phycocyanobilin (PCB) and show red/green reversible photoconversion. Recent studies revealed that some red/green-type CBCRs from chlorophyll d-bearing cyanobacterium Acaryochloris marina covalently bind not only PCB but also biliverdin (BV). The BV-binding CBCRs show far-red/orange reversible photoconversion. Here, we identified another CBCR (AM1_C0023g2) from A. marina that also covalently binds not only PCB but also BV with high binding efficiencies, although BV chromophore is unstable in the presence of urea. Replacement of Ser334 with Gly resulted in significant improvement in the yield of the BV-binding holoprotein, thereby ensuring that the mutant protein is a fine platform for future development of optogenetic switches. We also succeeded in detecting near-infrared fluorescence from mammalian cells harboring PCB-binding AM1_C0023g2 whose fluorescence quantum yield is 3.0%. Here the PCB-binding holoprotein is shown as a platform for future development of fluorescent probes.

A taxonomic study of the genus Padina from Japan, Southeast Asia, and Hawaii based on morphology and gene sequence data (rbcL and cox3) resulted in the recognition of four new species, that is, Padina macrophylla and Padina ishigakiensis from Ryukyu Islands, Japan; Padina maroensis from Hawaii; and Padina usoehtunii from Myanmar and Thailand. All species are bistratose and morphologically different from one another as well as from any known taxa by a combination of characters relating to degree of calcification; the structure, position, and arrangement of hairlines (HLs) and reproductive sori; and the presence or absence of rhizoid-like groups of hairs and an indusium. Molecular phylogenetic analyses demonstrated a close relationship between P. ishigakiensis, P. macrophylla, P. maroensis, and Padina australis Hauck. The position of P. usoehtunii, however, was not fully resolved, being either sister to a clade comprising the other three new species and P. australis in the rbcL tree or more closely related to a clade comprising several other recently described species in the cox3 tree. The finding of the four new species demonstrates high species diversity particularly in southern Japan. The following characters were first recognized here to be useful for species delimitation: the presence or absence of small rhizoid-like groups of hairs on the thallus surface, structure and arrangement of HLs on both surfaces either alternate or irregular, and arrangement of the alternating HLs between both surfaces in equal or unequal distance. The evolutionary trajectory of these and six other morphological characters used in species delineation was traced on the phylogenetic tree.

This study aimed to determine trends in prevalence, awareness, and control of hypertension in Malaysia and to assess the relationship between socioeconomic determinants and prevalence of hypertension in Malaysia. The distribution of hypertension in Malaysia was assessed based on available data in 3 National Health and Morbidity Surveys (NHMSs) and 1 large scale non-NHMS during the period of 1996 to 2011. Summary statistics was used to characterize the included surveys. Differences in prevalence, awareness, and control of hypertension between any 2 surveys were expressed as ratios. To assess the independent associations between the predictors and the outcome variables, regression analyses were employed with prevalence of hypertension as an outcome variable. Overall, there was a rising trend in the prevalence of hypertension in adults ≥30 years: 32.9% (30%–35.8%) in 1996, 42.6% (37.5%–43.5%) in 2006, and 43.5% (40.4%–46.6%) in 2011. There were significant increase of 32% from 1996 to 2011 (P

NI-NI-WIN, Hanyuda T., Draisma S.G.A., Verheij E., Prud'homme van Reine W.F., Lim P.-E., Phang S.-M., and Kawai H. 2012. Morphological and molecular evidence for two new species of Padina (Dictyotales, Phaeophyceae), P. sulcata and P. calcarea, from the central Indo-Pacific. Phycologia 51: 576–585. DOI: 10.2216/11-94.1 Two new species of Padina – 1. Padina sulcata sp. nov. and 2. P. calcarea sp. nov. – from Malaysia, Indonesia and Palau were described based on morphological and molecular phylogenetic observations. Padina sulcata was a three-layered species characterised by a covering of thick fibrous hairs from the base to the middle of the inferior surface (away from the in-rolled margin) of the thallus; conspicuous equally spaced hairlines that alternated between both frond surfaces; and broad, indusiate oogonial and tetrasporangial sori that occupied nearly the entire fertile zones, and the fertile zones were separated by sterile zones of equal width. Padina calcarea was a two-layered species character...

Zingiber officinale(ZO), commonly known as ginger, has been traditionally used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Several studies have reported the hypoglycaemic properties of ginger in animal models. The present study evaluated the antihyperglycaemic effect of its aqueous extract administered orally (daily) in three different doses (100, 300, 500 mg/kg body weight) for a period of 30 d to streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. A dose-dependent antihyperglycaemic effect revealed a decrease of plasma glucose levels by 38 and 68 % on the 15th and 30th day, respectively, after the rats were given 500 mg/kg. The 500 mg/kg ZO significantly (P v.control rats, although the decrease in liver weight (% body weight) was not statistically significant. Kidney glycogen content increased significantly (P P v.normal controls. ZO (500 mg/kg) also significantly decreased kidney glycogen (P P

A study of the genus Padina in the Mediterranean Sea, based on detailed morphological and molecular analyses using chloroplast rbcL and mitochondrial cox3 gene sequences, as well as RuBisCO spacer and partial rbcS sequences, revealed the presence of two new species, P. ditristromatica Ni-Ni-Win & H. Kawai and P. pavonicoides Ni-Ni-Win & H. Kawai. They are two to three-layered and three-layered species, respectively. Padina ditristromatica is characterized by a thallus composed of two cell layers from the marginal portion to the inrolled margin and a mixture of two and three layers in the other portions; heavy calcification on both surfaces of the thallus except for the hair lines; alternating hair lines that are spaced at unequal distances between the upper and lower surfaces; and broad indusiate oogonial and tetrasporangial sori forming broken lines or patches arranged in a concentric row, which are distally close to the hair lines and half immersed in the epidermis layer only on the lower surface. Padin...

A taxonomic study of the genus Padina from Japan, Southeast Asia, and Hawaii based on morphology and gene sequence data (rbcL and cox3) resulted in the recognition of four new species, that is, Padina macrophylla and Padina ishigakiensis from Ryukyu Islands, Japan; Padina maroensis from Hawaii; and Padina usoehtunii from Myanmar and Thailand. All species are bistratose and morphologically different from one another as well as from any known taxa by a combination of characters relating to degree of calcification; the structure, position, and arrangement of hairlines (HLs) and reproductive sori; and the presence or absence of rhizoid-like groups of hairs and an indusium. Molecular phylogenetic analyses demonstrated a close relationship between P. ishigakiensis, P. macrophylla, P. maroensis, and Padina australis Hauck. The position of P. usoehtunii, however, was not fully resolved, being either sister to a clade comprising the other three new species and P. australis in the rbcL tree or more closely related to a clade comprising several other recently described species in the cox3 tree. The finding of the four new species demonstrates high species diversity particularly in southern Japan. The following characters were first recognized here to be useful for species delimitation: the presence or absence of small rhizoid-like groups of hairs on the thallus surface, structure and arrangement of HLs on both surfaces either alternate or irregular, and arrangement of the alternating HLs between both surfaces in equal or unequal distance. The evolutionary trajectory of these and six other morphological characters used in species delineation was traced on the phylogenetic tree.

Ni-Ni-Win, Hanyuda T., Arai S., Uchimura M., Prathep A., Draisma S.G.A., Soe-Htun and Kawai H. 2010. Four new species of Padina (Dictyotales, Phaeophyceae) from the western Pacific Ocean, and reinstatement of Padina japonica. Phycologia 49: 136–153. DOI: 10.2216/09-54.1 Molecular phylogenetic analyses of Padina species collected from the western Pacific Ocean using rbcL and mitochondrial cox3 genes revealed the occurrence of four genetically distinctive clades of unknown Padina species: clade A ( = Padina okinawaensis sp. nov.) from Ryukyu Islands (Japan), Hawaii, Indonesia and Thailand, clade B ( = Padina undulata sp. nov.), clade C ( = Padina terricolor sp. nov.) and clade D ( = Padina fasciata sp. nov.) from Ryukyu Islands (Japan). Morphologically, these new taxa are all bistratose species, and different from any known species in the following morphological features: P. okinawaensis sp. nov., reniform or circular thallus of entire margin with inconspicuous hair lines on the superior surface of...

SUMMARY Three species of the brown algal genus Padina (Dictyotales), Padina melemele I.A. Abbott et Magruder, Padina moffittiana I.A. Abbott et Huisman, and Padina thivyae Doty et Newhouse, which were originally described from Hawaii, are newly reported from some of the offshore islands of Southern Japan: P. melemele collected from Okinawa (Ryukyu Islands) and Chichi-jima (Ogasawara Islands), P. moffittiana from Okinawa I. and P. thivyae from Tanega-shima. Identifications are based on morphological comparisons with the original descriptions and herbarium specimens of these species identified by I. A. Abbott. Some minor differences included tetrasporangial sori that were formed only on one surface of the thallus in Japanese P. melemele and P. thivyae, whereas in the Hawaiian specimens they were sometimes formed on both surfaces. Japanese P. moffittiana had entire margins, whereas the Hawaiian specimens generally had fimbriate margins. Molecular analyses using rbcL and mitochondrial cox3 genes as molecular markers confirmed the identification of P. melemele and P. moffittiana. Unfortunately the record of P. thivyae could not be confirmed because we were unable to extract DNA from this species.

In a prospective, blind, randomised study, we examined the effects of midazolam-propofol co-induction on haemodynamic (blood pressure, heart rate and stroke volume) and heart rate variability. The latter was measured by spectral analysis using the maximum-entropy method to calculate the following: the low frequency component (LF), which reflects both the cardiac sympathetic and parasympathetic activity, the high frequency component (HF) and entropy, which reflects the cardiac parasympathetic activity, the total power (TP), calculated by the addition of LF and HF, and the LF/HF ratio, which reflects the balance between the cardiac sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous activity. Forty patients were randomly allocated to the propofol group and the midazolam-propofol group, and the parameters described above were calculated at baseline (T1), post induction (T2), after tracheal intubation (T3), and 3 min (T4) and 5 min after intubation (T5). Propofol was administered at 2.5 mg.kg(-1) in the propofol group and midazolam at 0.1 mg.kg(-1) followed by propofol at 1.5 mg.kg(-1) in the midazolam-propofol group for anaesthesia induction. Then, propofol was administered at 4-6 mg.kg(-1)propofol for maintenance in both groups. The midazolam-propofol group showed compensated haemodynamic changes, which were related to significant increases in the LF/HF ratio at T2, T4 and T5 (p = 0.011, 0.038 and 0.034). These results suggest that the midazolam-propofol combination yielded compensated modulatory effects on the cardiovascular system, including preserved baroreflex activity.

Cyanobacteriochromes (CBCRs) are linear tetrapyrrole-binding photoreceptors in cyanobacteria that absorb visible and near-ultraviolet light. CBCRs are divided into two types based on the type of chromophore they contain: phycocyanobilin (PCB) or phycoviolobilin (PVB). PCB-binding CBCRs reversibly photoconvert at relatively long wavelengths, i.e., the blue-to-red region, whereas PVB-binding CBCRs reversibly photoconvert at shorter wavelengths, i.e., the near-ultraviolet to green region. Notably, prior to this report, CBCRs containing biliverdin (BV), which absorbs at longer wavelengths than do PCB and PVB, have not been found. Herein, we report that the typical red/green CBCR AM1_1557 from the chlorophyll d–bearing cyanobacterium Acaryochloris marina can bind BV almost comparable to PCB. This BV-bound holoprotein reversibly photoconverts between a far red light–absorbing form (Pfr, λmax = 697 nm) and an orange light–absorbing form (Po, λmax = 622 nm). At room temperature, Pfr fluoresces with a maximum at 730 nm. These spectral features are red-shifted by 48~77 nm compared with those of the PCB-bound domain. Because the absorbance of chlorophyll d is red-shifted compared with that of chlorophyll a, the BV-bound AM1_1557 may be a physiologically relevant feature of A. marina and is potentially useful as an optogenetic switch and/or fluorescence imager.

The endemic roofed turtle Kachuga trivittata has been extirpated over most of its former range in the Ayeyarwady River system of Myanmar. Only two small remnant populations are known to survive. In a small stretch of the upper Chindwin River K. trivittata persists because local Shan villages traditionally ban the killing of large adult K. trivittata. The population has nevertheless declined dramatically during the last few years because of the erosion of the ban by migrant fishermen from central Myanmar who do not observe the local regulation, and because of the overexploitation of eggs. The traditional regulation of the Shan villages offers a basis, through its reinforcement and education of migrants, for a species recovery programme. Further actions will include the protection of nests and eggs, and eventually the banning of camps and seasonal settlements on sandbanks used by K. trivittata for nesting. K. trivittata also still persists in the Dokhtawady River in a small area subjected to low exploitation pressure in the recent past because of the dangers of a frontline between the government army and an army of insurgents. The opening of this area following a truce brought this population close to extinction and a hydroelectric dam under construction will alter the ecology of this stretch of river. We propose to assess the potential use of the future impoundment lake for the recovery of this K. trivittata population.

Porphyra suborbiculata Kjellman (Bangiales, Rhodophyta) collected from Mazin, Hlyaw-Gaung-Taung (Satt-Thwa) and Mwe-Taung, Zee Gyaing Village, the Mawtin Point, the Rakhine Coastal Region and Maungmagan, the Tanintharyi Coastal Region, Myanmar, is described, based on both the morphology and life history found in laboratory cultures and field. The materials used in this study show Porphyra lacerata type of life history: heteromorphic alternation of generations-conchocelis phase and monoecious leafy thalli phase. In addition, the developmental sequence of formation and germination of archeospores (bispores) in P. suborbiculata was acknowledged as asexual mode of reproduction usually occurred prior to the development of sexual structures. The taxonomy ofPorphyra suborbiculata Kjellman from Myanmar and other related plants such as P. crispata Kjellman and P. vietnamensis Tanaka et Pham-Hoang Ho found in Asiatic waters is briefly discussed.

We report two cases who exhibited a decrease in their bispectral index (BIS) score, associated with syncope during venipuncture in patients with suspected needle phobia. In case 1, the reduction in BIS score occurred during the development of hypotension and bradycardia and may well have been caused by cerebral hypoperfusion. In case 2, the patient lost consciousness with decreasing BIS score before hypotension and bradycardia; this patient's condition could not be completely explained by cerebral hypoperfusion as a result of a vasovagal reflex because the patient's blood pressure and heart rate remained normal during the syncopal episode.

A total of nine species belonging to five genera from two families of seagrasses was collected from the three coastal regions of Myanmar. These are Cymodocea rotundata, C. serrulata, Halodule pinifolia, H. uninervis, Syringodium isotoefolium, Enhalus acoroides, Halophila beccarii, H. decipiens and H. ovalis. Due to turbid water by enormous sediment discharge of two greatest rivers, the Ayeyarwady and the Thanlwin, the subtidal vegetation of seagrasses is totally absent in the Ayeyarwady Delta and the Gulf of Mottama (Martaban) Coastal Region. The family Hydrocharitaceae represents the most dominant genera of seagrasses in both the Rakhine and the Tanintharyi Coastal Regions. However, the family Cymodoceaceae occurs mainly in the Rakhine Coastal Region,except for Cymodocea rotundata, which is unique to the Tanintharyi Coastal Region. In addition, the phytogeographic distribution and conservation plans of seagrasses of Myanmar have been briefly described.

Cyanobacteria have unique photoreceptors, cyanobacteriochromes, that show diverse spectral properties to sense near-UV/visible lights. Certain cyanobacteriochromes have been shown to regulate cellular phototaxis or chromatic acclimation of photosynthetic pigments. Some cyanobacteriochromes have output domains involved in a bacterial signaling using a second messenger cyclic dimeric GMP (c-di-GMP), but its role in cyanobacteria remains elusive. Here, we characterize the recombinant Tlr0924 from a thermophilic cyanobacterium Thermosynechococcus elongatus, which was expressed in a cyanobacterial system. The protein reversibly photoconverts between blue- and green-absorbing forms, which is consistent with the protein prepared from Escherichia coli, and has diguanylate cyclase activity, which is enhanced 38-fold by blue-light compared with green-light. Therefore, Tlr0924 is a blue light-activated diguanylate cyclase. The protein's relatively low affinity (10.5 mM) for Mg2+, which is essential for diguanylate cyclase activity, suggests that Mg2+ might also regulate c-di-GMP signaling. Finally, we show that blue-light irradiation under low temperature is responsible for Thermosynechococcus vulcanus cell aggregation, which is abolished when tlr0924 is disrupted, suggesting that Tlr0924 mediates blue light-induced cell aggregation by producing c-di-GMP. Given our results, we propose the name sesA (sessility A) for tlr0924. This is the first report for cyanobacteriochrome-dependent regulation of a sessile/planktonic lifestyle in cyanobacteria via c-di-GMP.

Cyanobacteriochromes (CBCRs) form a large, spectrally diverse family of photoreceptors (linear tetrapyrrole covalently bound via a conserved cysteine) that perceive ultraviolet to red light. The underlying mechanisms are reasonably well understood with, in certain cases, reversible formation of an adduct between a second cysteine and the chromophore accounting, in part, for their spectral diversity. These CBCRs are denoted as dual-Cys CBCRs, and most such CBCRs had been shown to reversibly absorb blue and green light. Herein, we report the structural and mechanistic characterization of a new type of dual-Cys CBCR, AM1_1186, which exhibits reversible photoconversion between a red-absorbing dark state (λmax = 641 nm) and a blue-absorbing photoproduct (λmax = 416 nm). The wavelength separation of AM1_1186 photoconversion is the largest found to date for a CBCR. In addition to one well-conserved cysteine responsible for covalent incorporation of the chromophore into the apoprotein, AM1_1186 contains a second cysteine in a unique position of its photosensory domain, which would be more properly classified as a red/green CBCR according to its sequence. Carboxyamidomethylation and mutagenesis of the cysteines revealed that the second cysteine forms an adduct with the tetrapyrrole, the phycocyanobilin, that can be reversed under blue light. The proline immediately upstream of this cysteine appears to determine the rate at which the cysteinylation following photoexcitation of the dark state chromophore can occur. We propose a possible reaction scheme and color-tuning mechanism for AM1_1186 in terms of its structure and its place in a phylogenetic tree.

Single-phase induction motors are widely used in home appliances and industrial control. The multispeed operation and multipurpose operation are provided by controlling the speed of these motors.This research paper is variable speed drive of induction motor using frequency control method. It is to develop the solid state control system to be reliable and economically feasible to use with fractional horse power motors. The proposed variable speed drive includes power conversion section (AC to DC and DC to AC), used the switching element of IRF 840 N-channel MOSFET. The four IRF 840 MOSFETS are used as H-bridge inverter to provide the alternating current to the motor. In this drive, C124 transistors and MJE 13002 transistors are used as driver circuit to drive the H-bridge inverter. There are two power supplies in this drive. The 12 V power supply is used for frequency control circuit and driver circuit. The 300 V power supply is used for H-bridge inverter. In this drive, pulse width modulation SG3525A IC is used to control the frequency. The frequency range of the constructed variable drive circuit is 16 Hz to 56 Hz at constant voltage for changing the speed of induction motor.In this research paper, drive schemes of single-phase induction motor, principle operations of components used in constructed variable speed drive, and design calculation to construct this drive are included. Moreover, the experimental tests of this drive when driving a fractional horse power single-phase induction motor are described.

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text, Engaging students in active learning lies at the center of effective higher education. In medical schools, students’ engagement in learning and research has come under increasing attention. The objective of this study was to synthesize evidence on medical students’ perspectives on the engagement in research. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis. Relevant studies were searched in electronic databases. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed. Overall, 14 observational studies (with 17 data sets) were included. In general, many studies did not use the same questionnaires and the outcome measurements were not consistently reported; these presented some difficulties in pooling the results. Whenever data permitted, we performed pooled analysis for the 4 education outcomes. A Bayesian meta-analytical approach was supplemented as a measure of uncertainty. A pooled analysis showed that 74% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.57%–11.07%; I2: 95.2%) of those students who engaged in research (while at the medical school) had positive attitudes toward their research experiences, whereas 49.5% (95% CI: 36.4%–62.7%; I2: 93.4%) had positive attitudes toward the study of medical sciences, 62.3% (95% CI: 46.7%–77.9%; I2: 96.3%) had self-reported changes in their practices, and 64% (95% CI: 30.8%–96.6%; I2: 98.5%) could have published their work. There was substantial heterogeneity among studies. We acknowledged the caveats and the merit of the current review. Findings showed that engagement in research resulted in favorable reactions toward research and academic learning. Future well-designed studies using standardized research tools on how to engage students in research are recommended.

Heart rate (HR) and arterial blood pressure (BP) changes have been reported during conscious sedation with propofol and midazolam. One potential mechanism to explain these changes is that propofol and midazolam affect HR and BP via changes in the cardiac autonomic nervous system. Two specific hypotheses were tested by HR variability analysis: 1) propofol induces predominance of parasympathetic activity, leading to decreased HR and BP, and 2) midazolam induces predominance of sympathetic activity, leading to increased HR and decreased BP. Thirty dental patients were included in a prospective, randomized study. HR, BP, low frequency (LF), high frequency (HF), and entropy were monitored during the awake, sedation, and recovery periods and depth of sedation was assessed using the Observer's Assessment of Alertness/Sedation score. Propofol induced a significant decrease in total power (503 +/- 209 ms(2)/Hz versus 162 +/- 92 ms(2)/Hz) and LF/HF ratio (2.5 +/- 1.2 versus 1.0 +/- 0.4), despite the absence of any change in HR during the sedation period compared with baseline. Midazolam decreased normalized HF (34 +/- 10% versus 10 +/- 4%) but did not significantly change LF/HF ratio (2.3 +/- 1.1 versus 2.2 +/- 1.4) and increased HR in the sedation period. Compared with baseline, propofol was associated with a significant increase in normalized HF in the recovery period (34 +/- 11% versus 44 +/- 12%) and a significant decrease in HR, whereas midazolam was associated with an increase in LF/HF ratio (2.3 +/- 1.1 versus 3.7 +/- 1.8) with no change in HR. These results indicated a dominant parasympathetic effect of propofol and a dominant sympathetic effect of midazolam in both periods. These results should be considered during conscious sedation, especially in patients at risk of cardiovascular complications.

Molecular phylogenetic analyses based on plastid-encoded rbcL and mitochondrial cox3 gene sequences, in combination with morphological observations, revealed the existence of the following four bistratose Padina species previously unreported from Australian coasts: Padina calcarea Ni-Ni-Win, S.G.A.Draisma, W.F.Prud'homme van Reine & H.Kawai, characterised by its bright yellow–orange inferior thallus surface and chalky white, heavily calcified superior surface, and the presence of hairlines only on the inferior surface; P. macrophylla Ni-Ni-Win, M.Uchimura & H.Kawai, characterised by a moderately calcified thallus with broad, depressed hairlines on the inferior surface and narrow, not depressed hairlines on the superior surface, those hairlines that are largely spaced on each surface; P. moffittiana I.A.Abbott & Huisman, characterised by lightly calcified thalli with narrow, slightly depressed hairlines that are distributed in alternate sequence between the two surfaces at unequal distances, and broad reproductive sori in one or two rows in the fertile zone; and P. okinawaensis Ni-Ni-Win, S.Arai, M.Uchimura & H.Kawai, characterised by heavily calcified thalli, except at the hairlines, which form an alternation of uncalcified furrows and calcified glabrous zones on the inferior surface. With the addition of these four species, 13 Padina species are known from Australia.