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The Tropical Cyclone (TC) track prediction using different NWP models and its verification is the critical task to provide prior knowledge about the model errors, which is beneficial for giving the model guidance-based real-time cyclone warning advisories. This study has attempted to verify the Global Forecast System (GFS) model forecasted tropical cyclone track and intensity over the North Indian Ocean (NIO) for the years 2019 and 2020. GFS is one of the operational models in the India Meteorological Department (IMD), which provides the medium-range weather forecast up to 10 days. The forecasted tracks from the GFS forecast are obtained using a vortex tracker developed by Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL). A total of 13 tropical cyclones formed over the North Indian Ocean, eight during 2019 and five in 2020 have been considered in this study. The accuracy of the model predicted tracks and intensity is verified for five days forecasts (120 h) at 6-h intervals; the track errors are verified in terms of Direct Position Error (DPE), Along Track Error (ATE) and Cross-Track Error (CTE). The annual mean DPE over NIO during 2019 (51–331 km) is lower than 2020 (82–359 km), and the DPE is less than 150 km up to 66 h during 2019 and 48 h during 2020. The positive ATE (76–332 km) indicates the predicted track movement is faster than the observed track during both years. The positive CTE values for most forecast lead times suggest that the predicted track is towards the right side of the observed track during both years. The cyclone Intensity forecast for the maximum sustained wind speed (MaxWS) and central mean sea level pressure (MSLP) are verified in terms of mean error (ME) and root mean square error (RMSE). The errors are lead time independent. However, most of the time model under-predicted the cyclone intensity during both years. Finally, there is a significant variance in track and intensity errors from the cyclone to cyclone and Bay of Bengal basin to the Arabian Sea basin.

Abstract Pheromone-binding proteins (PBPs) play a significant role in olfaction and mating. The present work was designed to isolate, extract, and purify the pheromone-binding proteins from the antennae of male Chilo partellus (Swinhoe, 1885) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae). The pheromone-binding proteins extracted from the male antennae were found to be 770 μg in 100 mg of sample. Pheromone-binding protein molecular weight was determined as 17 kDa by SDS-PAGE analysis. Identified proteins were purified through gel extraction with a recovery percentage of proteins up to 95%. Purified protein samples are analyzed on native PAGE gels. Relative mobility of proteins was determined as 0.574 nm in the densitometry analysis. These identified pheromone-binding proteins can be used for identification of novel pheromone compounds in in vitro studies. This study can be helpful in designing integrated pest management programs to control the maize stem borer by mass trapping of male moths.

Drought is one of the major environmental constrains that limit plant performance worldwide. Plant apoplast which acts as connecting link between environment and plant protoplast carries multiple functions in plant metabolism and signalling. To investigate the drought induced changes in apoplast, proteome analysis in conjunction with antioxidant enzyme activity changes were studied in chilli (Capsicum annuum L). Drought induced apoplast proteome revealed augmented phenyl alanine ammonia lyase, peroxidase activities and reduced catalase activity. LC-MS analysis of apoplast proteome revealed differential expression of proteins under water stress conditions. Up-regulation of 43 protein species which encompass stress related proteins such as defensins, peroxidises, polygalaturonase inhibitor proteins, superoxide dismutase proteins were observed. Unlike control, twenty unique protein species were identified to be present in proteome of drought treated plants. Qualitative and quantitative changes in apoplast proteome emphasize the dynamics of plant apoplast and its role in drought stress. This work would provide insights into drought induced proteomic changes in apoplast and also would prove to be useful for protein phenotyping. Keywords: Antioxidant, Apoplast proteome, Capsicum annuum, Drought, LC-MS

Women's nutritional status remains poor in South Asia, impacting maternal and infant health outcomes. Women's household status is also low, as evidenced by eating behaviours. We started with triadic qualitative interviews with newly married women, husbands and mothers-in-law to explore the link between women's status and eating patterns, followed by longitudinal data from a cohort of 200 newly married women in rural Nepal to measure associations over time. Quantitative data were collected every 6 months for 18 months (four rounds of data) between 2018 and 2020. Interviews suggested that household relationships, women's status, and how much and what types of food she was given were intricately linked. Using mixed effects logistic regression models, we explore the association between markers of changing women's status (becoming pregnant, giving birth and working outside the home) on two outcomes (eating last always/usually and achieving minimum dietary diversity). We also explore for interaction between women's status and household food insecurity. Pregnancy increases women's dietary diversity, but this is not sustained post-partum. Women who work outside the home are less likely to eat last in the household. Food insecurity is associated with both the order of household eating and dietary diversity. Interactions between food insecurity and giving birth suggested that women who give birth in food insecure households are more likely to eat last in the household. Changes in women's household status are associated with some improvements in dietary diversity and order of household eating, but the associations are not long-lasting and depend on food security status.

Late-stage colorectal cancer (CRC) is still a clinically challenging problem. The activity of the tumor suppressor p53 is regulated via post-translational modifications (PTMs). While the relevance of p53 C-terminal acetylation for transcriptional regulation is well defined, it is unknown whether this PTM controls mitochondrially mediated apoptosis directly. We used wild-type p53 or p53-negative human CRC cells, cells with acetylation-defective p53, transformation assays, CRC organoids, and xenograft mouse models to assess how p53 acetylation determines cellular stress responses. The topoisomerase-1 inhibitor irinotecan induces acetylation of several lysine residues within p53. Inhibition of histone deacetylases (HDACs) with the class I HDAC inhibitor entinostat synergistically triggers mitochondrial damage and apoptosis in irinotecan-treated p53-positive CRC cells. This specifically relies on the C-terminal acetylation of p53 by CREB-binding protein/p300 and the presence of C-terminally acetylated p53 in complex with the proapoptotic BCL2 antagonist/killer protein. This control of C-terminal acetylation by HDACs can mechanistically explain why combinations of irinotecan and entinostat represent clinically tractable agents for the therapy of p53-proficient CRC.