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Thermochromic materials are of great interest because of their color transition characteristic as a function of temperature, and this property may find potential applications as a temperature indicator. Irreversible thermochromic materials that display color change at low temperatures can be utilized as a temperature indicator to ensure the safety and quality of deep-frozen products during storage and transportation. In this work, we have successfully prepared a novel colorimetric sensor based on a functionalized polydiacetylene dye. In order to achieve thermochromic transition in different temperature ranges, pentacosadiynoic acid (PC) was functionalized with ethylene glycol monomethylether (EGME), diethylene glycol monomethyl ether (DGME) and triethylene glycol monomethyl ether (TGME), resulting the formation of ester head groups. Photopolymerization of the synthesized diacetylene dyes was carried out to convert the monomers of the dyes into polymers. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and Raman spectroscopy were used to characterize the synthesized product. The absorption spectroscopy and optical images study revealed that the functionalized dyes underwent irreversible thermochromic transition when exposed to freezing temperatures. This property of irreversible color transition can make them a reliable indicator of temperature change. The functional dye was incorporated into a polymer film to apply directly on deep freeze products as a polymer strip and when the temperature increases upon freezing level, the color of the thermochromic strip changes which can provide a visual warning to the consumers and manufacturers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The utilization of drones with their specific features, such as energy efficiency, dynamic structure, and mobility in Flying Ad-hoc Networks (FANET), has found extensive applications in various fields like disaster management, rescue operations, medical services, and military operations. However, the efficiency and effectiveness of FANET communication can be hindered by challenges related to complex and dynamic environments. The need for optimal path selection among drones is crucial to ensure proficient message transmission, energy efficiency, and secure communication. To address these challenges, an Improved Honey-Badger Optimization-Based Communication Approach (IHBO_CA) is proposed and implemented for optimal path selection among drones in FANET. IHBO_CA leverages a combination of a sinusoidal chaotic map and the honey-badger optimization algorithm to enhance the performance of communication within FANETs. The research findings indicate that IHBO_CA offers significant improvements in the efficiency and effectiveness of communication among drones in FANETs. This improvement is crucial in applications where reliable and energy-efficient communication is essential. The implementation of IHBO_CA using MATLAB 2021 showed promising results, highlighting its superiority over other communication protocols, such as OLSR, MP-OLSR, ACO, PSO, and HBA in terms of energy expenditure, overhead, time complexity, packet delivery ratio, and delay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The active use of the Internet and multimedia content has recently escalated copyright violations. Digital content, especially images and videos are subject to vulnerable attacks. It is also possible that an attacker might remove the watermark from the original image. Therefore, the copyright of digital images must be secured to prevent them from being inappropriately misused. This paper proposes an Enhanced Chimp Optimization algorithm based on Deep Fusion Convolutional Neural Network (ECO-DFCNN) for robust watermarking. The proposed framework consists of an embedding and extraction network to embed and extract the watermark. The octave convolutional model introduced in the embedding network captures various features and decreases spatial redundancy. In addition, the ECO algorithm is introduced to overcome the trade-off between robustness and imperceptibility by determining the optimal strength factor. The pyramid feature extraction module in the extraction network extracts the local features and the dilated convolutions minimize the model parameters. The proposed ECO-DFCNN method is tested against various attacks such as histogram equalization, compression, cropping, scaling, blurring, and median filtering. The proposed ECO-DFCNN method is evaluated and the performance is determined by comparing the obtained results with the existing watermarking techniques. The results show that the proposed ECO-DFCNN watermarking method is robust against various attacks while maintaining excellent imperceptibility with a high Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio of 54.64 dB, Normalized Correlation of 0.98 and Structural Similarity Index Measure of 0.97, and low Bit Error Rate of 0.038. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The study was aimed at encapsulating the evidence of in vitro and in vivo antiviral activities of molnupiravir and its active form against highly pathogenic SARS-CoV-2, the pathogen responsible for COVID-19, and finding out the efficacy and safety of molnupiravir in clinical trials. Main body: Information on publications was explored on several databases, gray literature was reviewed, and the outcomes were discussed narratively. Molnupiravir's antiviral efficacy and associated mechanism of action have been verified in vitro against both non-COVID and multiple coronaviruses. Molnupiravir has been tried in preclinical investigations in numerous animal models against non-coronaviruses. Clinical studies in several countries are now being conducted to evaluate its antiviral efficacy in persons infected with COVID-19. The medication displays antiviral effect via generation of copying mistakes during viral RNA replication. Conclusions: Molnupiravir is the first oral antiviral medicine to show considerable and convincing antiviral activity in vitro and in animal models. Molnupiravir stops the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in animals that have been infected and in cells grown in a lab. In a clinical research, early molnupiravir treatment reduced hospitalization and death risk in unvaccinated individuals with COVID-19. In the battle against SARS-CoV-2, it could be a potent weapon. However, its role in COVID-19 in moderate to severe cases is still up in the air, and more research is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rest tremor is one of the most common and disabling symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD). The exact neural origin of rest tremor is still not clearly understood. Understanding the origin of rest tremor is important as it may aid in optimizing existing treatment strategies such as Deep Brain Stimulation or in developing new treatment strategies for rest tremor reduction. There are broadly two theories that are gaining prominence for rest tremor generation in PD. The first theory is the central oscillator theory that states that the rest tremor is triggered by an oscillatory source in the brain. The second theory is the feedback-induced instability theory that states that the rest tremor arises out of a feedback-induced instability in the sensorimotor loop. This paper analyzes validity of the two theories based on established clinical observations of Parkinsonian rest tremor by using representative simulation examples. Finally, based on our analysis, we propose two test-worthy experiments for further validation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic switches frequently include DNA loops secured by proteins. Recent studies of the lambda bacteriophage repressor (CI), showed that this arrangement in which the protein links two sets of three operators separated by approximately 2.3 kbp, optimizes both the stability and dynamics of DNA loops, compared to an arrangement with just two sets of two operators. Because adjacent dimers interact pairwise, we hypothesized that the odd number of operators in each set of the lambda regulatory system might have evolved to allow for semi-specific, pair-wise interactions that add stability to the loop while maintaining it dynamic. More generally, additional CI dimers may bind non-specifically to flanking DNA sequences making the genetic switch more sensitive to CI concentration. Here, we tested this hypothesis using spectroscopic and imaging approaches to study the binding of the lambda repressor (CI) dimer protein to DNA fragments. For fragments with only one operator and a short flanking sequence, fluorescence correlation spectroscopy measurements clearly indicated the presence of two distinct DNA-CI complexes; one is thought to have a non-specifically bound CI dimer on the flanking sequence. Scanning force micrographs of CI bound to DNA with all six operators revealed wild-type or mutant proteins bound at operator positions. The number of bound, wild-type proteins increased with CI concentration and was larger than expected for strictly specific binding to operators. In contrast, a mutant that fails to oligomerize beyond a dimer, D197G, only bound to operators. These data are evidence that CI cooperativity promotes oligomerization that extends from operator sites to influence the thermodynamics and kinetics of CI-mediated looping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Guggulipid is a neutral fraction of ethyl acetate extract of gum resin of the tree Commiphora mukul Engl. (Burseraceae) and used in Ayurvedic medicine for treatment of neurological disorders. Objectives: The present study was undertaken to assess the antiallodynic and antihyperalgesic activities of guggulipid in rats. Materials and methods: The screening study included the CCI and L5-L6 SNL models of neuropathic pain. Guggulipid (100 and 50 mg/kg) or saline was administered intraperitoneally in a blinded, randomized manner from postoperative day (POD) 7 to 13. Paw withdrawal duration (PWD) to spontaneous pain, chemical allodynia and mechanical hyperalgesia and paw withdrawal latency (PWL) to mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia were tested before surgery, before and after guggulipid or saline administration (from POD7 to 13) and after the withdrawal of treatment (from POD14 to 20). Results: The activity profiles of the different doses of guggulipid were found to vary with time. In CCI rats, guggulipid (100 and 50 mg/kg) significantly ( p < 0.05) reduced the spontaneous pain, mechanical allodynia and mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia responses and the LD50 of guggulipid was 1600 mg/kg. In SNL rats, both doses of guggulipid were found to be ineffective in reversing the spontaneous pain but showing antiallodynic and antihyperalgesic activity. Discussion and conclusion: The results demonstrated that guggulipid produce antinociception in the peripheral nerve injury (CCI and SNL) models of neuropathic pain. The underlying mechanisms are expected to be modulating microglial activation occurring due to peripheral nerve injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Twisting and bending deformations are crucial to the biological functions of several micro-filaments such as DNA molecules. Although continuum-rod models have emerged as efficient tools to describe the nonlinear dynamics of these deformations, a major roadblock in the continuum-mechanics-based description of microfilaments is the accurate modeling of the constitutive law, which follows from their atomistic-level structure and interactions. In this paper, we present a method for estimating the constitutive law using a static rod model and deformed configuration data generated from discrete-structure simulations. Furthermore, we illustrate the method on a filament with an artificial discrete-structure. We simulate its deformation in response to a prescribed loading using a multibody dynamics (MBD) solver. Using position data generated from the MBD solver, we first estimate the curvature of the filament, and subsequently use it to estimate the effective relationship between the restoring moment and curvature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nonspecific binding of regulatory proteins to DNA can be an important mechanism for target search and storage. This seems to be the case for the lambda repressor protein (CI), which maintains lysogeny after infection of E. coli. CI binds specifically at two distant regions along the viral genome and induces the formation of a repressive DNA loop. However, single-molecule imaging as well as thermodynamic and kinetic measurements of CI-mediated looping show that CI also binds to DNA nonspecifically and that this mode of binding may play an important role in maintaining lysogeny. This paper presents a robust phenomenological approach using a recently developed method based on the partition function, which allows calculation of the number of proteins bound nonspecific to DNA from measurements of the DNA extension as a function of applied force. This approach was used to analyze several cycles of extension and relaxation of λ DNAperformed at several CI concentrations to measure the dissociation constant for nonspecific binding of CI (∼100 nM), and to obtain a measurement of the induced DNA compaction (∼10%) by CI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantitative analysis of single molecule experimentsshow thatadding either of two natural polyamines, spermine or spermidine, producedmore compact plectonemes in DNA in physiological concentrations ofmonovalent salt. They also promoted plectoneme formation at lowervalues of torsion in measurements of extension versus twist. Quantifyingchanges in the plectonemic DNA using some results from simple rodmodels suggested that exposure to polyamines reduced the radii andincreased the densities of plectonemes. Thus, polyamines may limitthe twist density by favoring writhe which maintains the B-form. Althoughpolymerases may significantly stretch the double helix, denature DNA,and produce twist instead of writhe, natural polyamines stabilizebase-pairing, limit twist to maintain the B-form, and promote supercoiling,which is conducive to replication and transcription and essentialfor DNA packaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

No abstract received. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Long length-scale structural deformations of DNA play a central role in many biological processes including gene expression. The elastic rod model, which uses a continuum approximation, has emerged as a viable tool to model deformations of several biofilaments including DNA molecules. The elastic rod model predictions are however very sensitive to the model of constitutive law (material properties) of the molecule. Robust estimation of the constitutive law from experimental data and feasible molecular dynamics simulations remains a significant challenge. In this paper, we develop a two-step technique to use elastic rod model equations in combination with limited data to estimate the nonlinear constitutive law governing DNA molecules. We first cast the elastic rod model equations in state-space form and express the effect of the unknown constitutive law as an unknown input to the system. We then describe the two-step technique to estimate the unknown constitutive law. Finally, we investigate the robustness of this technique through simulations and discuss various generalizations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper discusses a new paradigm of real-time simulation of power systems in which equipment can be interfaced with a real-time digital simulator. In this scheme, one part of a power system can be simulated by using a real-time simulator, while the other part is implemented as a physical system. The only interface of the physical system with the computer-based simulator is through data-acquisition system. The physical system is driven by a voltage-source converter (VSC) that mimics the power system simulated in the real-time simulator. In this paper, the VSC operates in a voltage-control mode to track the point of common coupling voltage signal supplied by the digital simulator. This type of splitting a network in two parts and running a real-time simulation with a physical system in parallel is called a power network in loop here. This opens up the possibility of the study of interconnection of one or several distributed generators to a complex power network. The proposed implementation is verified through simulation studies using PSCAD/EMTDC and through hardware implementation on a TMS320F2812 DSP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper proposes a hybrid discontinuous control methodology for a voltage source converter (VSC), which is used in an uninterrupted power supply (UPS) application. The UPS controls the voltage at the point of common coupling (PCC). An LC filter is connected at the output of the VSC to bypass switching harmonics. With the help of both filter inductor current and filter capacitor voltage control, the voltage across the filter capacitor is controlled. Based on the voltage error, the control is switched between current and voltage control modes. In this scheme, an extra diode state is used that makes the VSC output current discontinuous. This diode state reduces the switching losses. The UPS controls the active power it supplies to a three-phase, four-wire distribution system. This gives a full flexibility to the grid to buy power from the UPS system depending on its cost and load requirement at any given time. The scheme is validated through simulation using PSCAD. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: DNA molecules may form loops in response to binding with regulatory proteins that control the expression of genes. While DNA looping is a widely accepted gene regulatory mechanism, basic questions regarding the mechanics of the looping process remain open. The present paper contributes a computational rod model that accounts for non-homogeneous and discontinuous changes in stiffness to support the analysis of DNA looping. We pursue this objective in two steps. First, we illustrate the effects of non-homogeneous stiffness on the looping of generic rods under pure torsion. Results computed for this idealized case support our intuition that elastic deformation and strain energy localize in ‘soft’ regions and that equilibrium bifurcations are sensitive to non-homogenous stiffness. Next, we extend the formulation to describe the combined bending, torsion and compression induced on DNA by the LacR protein. We demonstrate that while moderate stiffness variations have only modest influence on LacR-mediated DNA looping, highly localized softening (e.g., ‘kinkable’ or ‘melted’ subdomains) may substantially reduce the energetic cost of looping and profoundly affect loop geometry. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Twisted marine cables on the sea floor can form highly contorted three-dimensional loops that resemble tangles. Such tangles or ‘hockles’ are topologically equivalent to the plectomenes that form in supercoiled DNA molecules. The dynamic evolution of these intertwined loops is studied herein using a computational rod model that explicitly accounts for dynamic self-contact. Numerical solutions are presented for an illustrative example of a long rod subjected to increasing twist at one end. The solutions reveal the dynamic evolution of the rod from an initially straight state, through a buckled state in the approximate form of a helix, through the dynamic collapse of this helix into a near-planar loop with one site of self-contact, and the subsequent intertwining of this loop with multiple sites of self-contact. This evolution is controlled by the dynamic conversion of torsional strain energy to bending strain energy or, alternatively, by the dynamic conversion of twist (Tw) to writhe (Wr). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective: Rare disease Background: Remitting seronegative symmetrical synovitis with pitting edema (RS3PE) is a rare condition with underlying polyarthritis, pitting edema, and negative rheumatoid factor. It can be associated with an underlying rheumatological condition or can present as a paraneoplastic syndrome with malignancy. We present a rare case of RS3PE associated with monoclonal gammopathy of undermined significance (MGUS). Case Report: A 62-year-old man presented in ambulatory medicine clinic with 3-month swelling of distal lower extremities that progressed to distal upper extremities. He had pain and morning stiffness in hands, left elbow, and left shoulder. Examination revealed 3+ pitting edema in bilateral hands, feet, legs, and thighs. Laboratory studies revealed normal blood counts and renal and liver functions. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate was normal; C-reactive protein was mildly elevated (0.7 mg/dL). Echocardiogram and computed tomography of chest, abdomen, and pelvis revealed mild splenomegaly (14.5 cm). Serum protein electrophoresis revealed IgG kappa monoclonal peak of 0.1 g/dL. Beta-2 microglobulin was elevated (7.4 mg/L); LDH was elevated (264 U/L). No lytic lesions were present in bones. RS3PE was diagnosed based on established diagnostic criteria. Prednisone produced significant improvement in swelling within 72 h of start; however, he required a longer duration of steroid treatment due to relapse and continued periodic MGUS surveillance. Conclusions: Our case highlights the importance of awareness of this condition in general practice to help with timely diagnosis and intervention, as this condition is steroid responsive. Also, it is important to screen for underlying autoimmune condition, hematological, and solid organ malignancies with appropriate workup. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces a novel computational framework for evaluating above‐knee prostheses, addressing a major challenge in gait deviation studies: distinguishing between prosthesis‐specific and patient‐specific contributions to gait deviations. This innovative approach utilizes three separate computational models to quantify the changes in gait dynamics necessary to achieve a set of ideal gait kinematics across different prosthesis designs. The pilot study presented here employs a simple two‐dimensional swing‐phase model to conceptually demonstrate how the outcomes of this three‐model framework can assess the extent to which prosthesis design impacts a user's ability to replicate the dynamics of able‐bodied gait. Furthermore, this framework offers potential for optimizing passive prosthetic devices for individual patients, thereby reducing the need for real‐life experiments, clinic visits, and overcoming rehabilitation challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: This study explores an optimization-based strategy for muscle force estimation by employing simplified cost functions integrated with physiologically relevant muscle models. Methods: Considering elbow flexion as a case study, we employ an inverse-dynamics approach to estimate muscle forces for the biceps brachii, brachialis, and brachioradialis, utilizing different combinations of cost functions and muscle constitutive models. Muscle force generation is modeled by accounting for active and passive contractile behavior to varying degrees using Hill-type models. In total, three separate cost functions (minimization of total muscle force, mechanical work, and muscle stress) are evaluated with each muscle force model to represent potential neuromuscular control strategies without relying on electromyography (EMG) data, thereby characterizing the interplay between muscle models and cost functions. Results: Among the evaluated models, the Hill-type muscle model that incorporates both active and passive properties, combined with the stress minimization cost function, provided the most accurate predictions of muscle activation and force production for all three arm flexor muscles. Our results, validated against existing biomechanical data, demonstrate that even simplified cost functions, when paired with detailed muscle models, can achieve high accuracy in predicting muscle forces. Conclusions: This approach offers a versatile, EMG-free alternative for estimating muscle recruitment and force production, providing a more accessible and adaptable tool for muscle force analysis. It has profound implications for enhancing rehabilitation protocols and athletic training, not only broadening the applicability of muscle force estimation in clinical and sports settings but also paving the way for future innovations in biomechanical research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The deformations of several slender structures at nano-scale are conceivably sensitive to their nonhomogenous elasticity. Owing to their small scale, it is not feasible to discern their elasticity parameter fields accurately using observations from physical experiments. Molecular dynamics simulations can provide an alternative or additional source of data. However, the challenges still lie in developing computationally efficient and robust methods to solve inverse problems to infer the elasticity parameter field from the deformations. In this paper, we formulate an inverse problem governed by a linear elastic model in a Bayesian inference framework. To make the problem tractable, we use a Gaussian approximation of the posterior probability distribution that results from the Bayesian solution of the inverse problem of inferring Young's modulus parameter fields from available data. The performance of the computational framework is demonstrated using two representative loading scenarios, one involving cantilever bending and the other involving stretching of a helical rod (an intrinsically curved structure). The results show that smoothly varying parameter fields can be reconstructed satisfactorily from noisy data. We also quantify the uncertainty in the inferred parameters and discuss the effect of the quality of the data on the reconstructions. 2020 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A robust cell-free platform technology, ribosome display in combination with cloning, expression, and purification was utilized to develop single chain Fragment variable (scFv) antibody variants as pain therapy directed at the mouse cholecystokinin B (CCK-B) receptor. Three effective CCK-B peptide-specific scFvs were generated through ribosomal display technology. Soluble expression and ELISA analysis showed that one antibody, scFv77-2 had the highest binding and could be purified from bacterial cells in large quantities. Octet measurements further revealed that the CCK-B scFv77-2 antibody had binding kinetics of KD = 1.794 × 10–8 M. Molecular modeling and docking analyses suggested that the scFv77-2 antibody shaped a proper cavity to embed the whole CCK-B peptide molecule and that a steady-state complex was formed relying on intermolecular forces, including hydrogen bonding, electrostatic force, and hydrophobic interactions. Thus, the scFv antibody can be applied for mechanistic intermolecular interactions and functional in vivo studies of CCK-BR. The high affinity scFv77-2 antibody showed good efficacy with binding to CCK-BR tested in a chronic pain model. In vivo studies validated the efficacy of the CCK-B receptor (CCK-BR) scFv77-2 antibody as a potential therapy for chronic trigeminal nerve injury-induced pain. Mice were given a single dose of the CCK-B receptor (CCK-BR) scFv antibody 3 weeks after induction of a chronic trigeminal neuropathic pain model, during the transition from acute to chronic pain. The long-term effectiveness for the reduction of mechanical hypersensitivity was evident, persisting for months. The anxiety- and depression-related behaviors typically accompanying persisting hypersensitivity subsequently never developed in the mice given CCK-BR scFv. The effectiveness of the antibody is the basis for further development of the lead CCK-BR scFv as a promising non-opioid therapeutic for chronic pain and the long-term reduction of chronic pain- and anxiety-related behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The connection of large inverter based resources (IBR) in transmission systems is often located geographically and electrically far away from load centers. This, coupled with the displacement of synchronous machine plants, results in a reduction of the network short circuit strength at the point of connection. Under these conditions, state-of-the-art positive sequence simulation platforms and models can have difficulties maintaining numerical stability and/or providing an accurate representation of IBR plant dynamic behavior. As a result, computationally heavy time domain electromagnetic transient (EMT) simulations may be required to evaluate these systems. In this paper, a recently developed improved generic positive sequence model is parameterized to provide a representation of IBR behavior in low short circuit networks. Comparisons against generic and detailed EMT models demonstrate the suitability of the improved positive sequence model to study practical stability issues experienced with presently in-service plants. Such a model can provide some of the accuracy of an EMT representation with a much lower computational burden. The performance of the positive sequence model is validated against the behavior shown by both open white box and closed black box EMT domain models from around the world. • Showcase the ability of improved positive sequence inverter resource models to represent oscillatory behavior observed in power systems. • Illustrate the importance of parameterization of the generic positive sequence models. • Illustrate the possibilities of extending the applicability of positive sequence simulation tools for stability studies of larger power systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasing penetration level of renewable generation, a shortage of system strength becomes a concern for the stable operation of the power system. Most commonly, Inverter Based Resources (IBR) plants are operated with grid following inverters (GFLI). However, a grid forming inverter (GFMI), which work as a voltage source and does not require direct reference and system strength from the grid, is now receiving increased attention. Here, Hardware‐in‐the‐loop (HIL) testing of a GFMI and its capability to actively damp sub‐synchronous oscillations and to provide synthetic inertia has been discussed. The improvement to system strength and transient stability have been presented using modelling of the transmission network in the Queensland (Australia). The study shows that with proper tuning and coordination with other generation in the area, the GFMI BESS will not only provide system strength to the grid, but also solve other stability issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Matteuccia struthiopteris (L.) Todaro is a popular edible wild fern found in the subtropical Himalayas. It is widely used in folk medicine to treat several ailments and known for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral and antidiabetic activities. Due to its multidimensional nutritional, pharmacological and therapeutic effects, it is well recognized in the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia. The present review aims to provide updated information on Matteuccia struthiopteris botany, phytochemistry, pharmacological effects and toxicity methods, in addition to highlight potential for future exploration. Particular emphasis is also given to its antioxidant potential in health promotion. In-depth literature was probed by examining numerous sources via online databases (research and reviews), texts, Web sites and thesis. Plant biotechnology approaches such as tissue culture and micropropagation are also discussed. Short conclusion: Matteuccia struthiopteris is found useful in the treatment of different diseases such as microbial infection, viral infection and diabetes and in weight reduction and also effective as antioxidant and free radical scavenger. Nevertheless, advance studies are required to offer the mechanistic role of crude extracts and its bio-actives and even to discover the structure–function relationship of active principles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Drug Induced Liver Injury Network reports dietary supplements as one of the most important causes of drug induced hepatotoxicity, yet millions of people use these supplements without being aware of their potential life-threatening side effects. Garcinia cambogia (GC) extract is an herbal weight loss supplement, reported to cause fulminant hepatic failure. We present a case of a 57-year-old female with no previous history of liver disease, who presented with acute hepatitis due to GC extract taken for weight loss, which resolved after stopping it and got reaggravated on retaking it. Obtaining a history of herbal supplement use is critical in the evaluation of acute hepatitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malaria is a major public health problem all over the world, particularly in tropical and subtropical countries due to the development of resistance and most deadly infection is caused byPlasmodium falciparum. There is a direct need for the discovery of new drugs with unique structures and mechanism of action to treat sensitive and drug-resistant strains of various plasmodia for radical cure of this disease. Traditional compounds such as quinine and related derivatives represent a major source for the development of new drugs. This review presents recent modifications of 4-aminoquinoline and 8-aminoquinolone rings as leads to novel active molecules which are under clinical trials. The review also encompasses the other heterocyclic compounds emerged as potential antimalarial agents with promising results such as acridinediones and acridinone analogues, pyridines and quinolones as antimalarials. Miscellaneous heterocyclics such as tetroxane derivatives, indole derivatives, imidazolopiperazine derivatives, biscationic choline-based compounds and polymer-linked combined antimalarial drugs are also discussed. At last brief introduction to heterocyclics in natural products is also reviewed. Most of them have been under clinical trials and found to be promising in the treatment of drug-resistant strains ofPlasmodiumand others can be explored for the same purpose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Serodiagnosis of surra, caused by Trypanosoma evansi , is still based on native antigens purified from bloodstream form of T. evansi grown in rodents. In order to investigate prospective diagnostic possibilities as an alternative for native antigens, we cloned, expressed 26 kDa calflagin protein containing 218 amino acids from T. evansi (Indian Strain) in Escherichia coli. The potential of recombinant calflagin (rCLF) protein as diagnostic antigen was evaluated in immunoblot and indirect ELISA using experimentally infected equine serum samples from 0 to 84 days post infection. The antibodies against T. evansi were detected with rCLF antigen in serum samples of experimentally infected equines as early as 10 days and 14 days post infection, using immunoblot and ELISA respectively. No cross-reactivity was observed with rCLF antigen in ELISA with different serum samples of equines positive for Equine herpesvirus 1, Burkholderia mallei , and Theileria equi infections. Several immunoreactive regions ranging from 10 to 28 kDa were detected using distinct T. evansi isolates (pony, cattle, donkey and camel origin) indicating presence of multiple calflagin family members in a single trypanosome. Indirect immunofluorescence antibody test with anti-CLF rabbit hyperimmune serum showed localisation of native immunogenic protein near attachment of flagellum. The rCLF protein was found to be a potential diagnostic candidate for distinguishing T. evansi positive and negative equine serum sample, suggesting that it could be used for serological surveys in animals for surra. In addition, it could be used with other potential diagnostic candidates to improve the diagnostic efficiency. [Display omitted] • Cloned, expressed 26 kDa calflagin protein from T. evansi in E. coli. • Detected antibodies 10 days post infection in ELISA using rec calflagin protein. • Detected antibodies 14 days post infection in immunoblot with rec calflagin protein. • Found multiple immunodominant regions using distinct T. evansi isolates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Equine piroplasmosis is a tick-transmitted protozoan disease caused by Theileria equi and/or Babesia caballi. In the present study, we expressed a 53kDa protein from the truncated EMA-2 gene of T. equi (Indian strain) and developed EMA-2ELISA using this expressed protein. This ELISA is able to detect T. equi-specific antibodies in experimentally infected animals as early as 9 days post-infection. The assay developed was validated with the OIE recommended competitive ELISA (cELISA) on 120 serum samples and significant agreement (kappa=0.93) was observed between results of both the ELISAs which indicates suitability of EMA-2ELISA for use in sero-diagnosis. Diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of EMA-2ELISA – as compared with cELISA – were 0.97 and 0.96, respectively. Analysis of 5651 equine serum samples – collected during 2007–2012 from 12 states of India representing eight agro-climatic zones – by EMA-2ELISA revealed 32.65% seroprevalence of T. equi in India. In conclusion, the EMA-2ELISA developed using the T. equi EMA-2 recombinant protein as antigen for detecting T. equi-specific antibodies has good diagnostic potential for sero-epidemiological surveys. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Oxidation rate of silicon was altered by implanting argon (40Ar+) and fluorine (19F+) ions at doses ranging from 5×1013 to 1×1016 ions/cm2 and energies ranging from 20 to 70keV. Silicon wafers were oxidized using a rapid thermal oxidation system to retain post-implant conditions of the wafers until onset of oxidation cycle. Dramatic change in the uniformity of grown oxide was observed as a function of implantation dose and energy. Uniformity was found improving with increased implantation dose, whereas, it deteriorated with increased implantation energy. Two phenomenological models are proposed to explain the improvement in uniformity of the grown oxide films. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]