Search

Two dioxidomolybdenum(VI) complexes, [MoVIO2{H2dfba(bhz)2}(H2O)] (1) and [MoVIO2{H2dfba(fah)2}(H2O)] (2) of ligands H4dfba(bhz)2 (I) and H4dfba(fah)2 (II) (H2dfba = 3,5-diformyl-4-hydroxybenzoic acid, Hbhz = benzoylhydrazide and Hfah = 2–furanoylhydrazide), respectively and their corresponding heterogenized complexes [MoVIO2{Hdfba(bhz)2}(H2O)]@APTMS-TiO2 (3) and [MoVIO2{Hdfba(fah)2}(H2O)]@APTMS-TiO2 (4) supported on amine-functionalized titanium dioxide (APTMS-TiO2, III) have been isolated and characterized by various spectroscopic techniques (FT-IR, UV–vis, diffusion reflectance, 1H and 13C NMR), elemental analysis (C, H and N), thermal, TEM and powder-XRD studies. Single-crystal X-ray study of [MoVIO2{H2dfba(bhz)2}(EtOH)]·EtOH (1a·EtOH) confirms the octahedral structure. Both homogeneous and heterogeneous complexes have been explored as phenoxazinone synthase mimicking catalysts in the oxidation of 2-aminophenol to 2-aminophenoxazine-3-one in acetonitrile in the presence of aq. H2O2. The kcat value for the phenoxazinone synthase-like activity was found to be 1.46 × 10–3 and 3.26 × 1 0–3 min–1 for catalysts 1 and 2, respectively. Catalysts 1, 2, 3 and 4 also gave 91, 86, 94 and 88 % yield of 2–aminophenoxazine-3-one (APX), respectively, under the optimized reaction conditions.

This article focuses on the phycoremediation of pollutants from secondary treated coke-oven effluent through a green and economical route. A microalgal sample was collected and identified as a consortium of Chlorella sp. and Synechococcus sp. The culture cost was reduced by using poultry litter extract as supplementary material to BG-11 medium. Since the major pollutants present in real secondary treated coke-oven wastewater are phenol, ammoniacal-N (NH4+) and cyanide, several matrices were designed with these three major pollutants by varying their initial concentrations such as phenol (2–10 mg/L), cyanide (0.3–1 mg/L) and NH4+ (100–200 mg/L), termed as simulated secondary treated coke-oven wastewater. Maximum removal was observed with individual solutions of phenol (4 mg/L), cyanide (0.6 mg/L) and NH4+ (175 mg/L), while maximum removal in simulated secondary treated coke-oven wastewater was observed at higher concentrations of phenol (8 mg/L) and cyanide (0.8 mg/L) and the same concentration of NH4+ (175 mg/L). A consortium was found effective to meet statutory limits of pollutants. Kinetic model was developed for predicting growth of consortium and observed that the poultry litter extract-enriched BG-11 medium showed higher values of maximum specific growth rate (0.56 per day) and carrying capacity (1,330 mg/L) than that in BG-11 medium only. HIGHLIGHTS A consortium was identified for tertiary treatment of coke-oven wastewater.; Poultry litter extract was found effective as a growth medium for consortium.; Phycoremediation of NH4+, phenol and cyanide was examined with the present consortium.; Biomass and biomolecules were extracted and estimated.; A consortium was found effective for real wastewater treatment.

Background: Xylene is an aromatic hydrocarbon that's extensively used as a deparaffinizing agent, and it's far extraordinarily biohazardous. It is proven to be the best chemical to be used in histopathological laboratories in spite of its carcinogenic potential. Aim: The aim of this study is to do a systematic review on the efficacy of cedarwood oil as clearing agent and deparaffinizing agent alternative to xylene in histopathological laboratories. Materials and Methods: The articles for this review were searched from PubMed, Google Scholar, Google search and manual search using the keywords cedarwood oil, natural substitute, natural alternative and xylene. The final of 3 articles were included in the review which compared the efficacy of cedarwood oil as a natural alternative with the gold standard xylene. Once the articles to be reviewed were finalized, data was collected, tabulated and was verified and interpreted. Results: Three articles included in this review showed considerable and acceptable results with cedarwood oil as clearing and deparaffinizing agent. Conclusion: Merits and demerits are equally found in both the reagents but compromising the time and cost in terms of cedarwood oil for health benefits hold good for the pathologists but bad for the patients. In case of xylene, compromising the health benefits of workers which results in quicker diagnosis hold good for the patients but not for the pathologists. Finally storage and disposal of these two reagents still remains questionable.

BackgroundAntimicrobial therapy is essential for the treatment of enteric fever, the infection caused by Salmonella serovars Typhi and Paratyphi A. However, an increase in resistance to key antimicrobials and the emergence of MDR and XDR in Salmonella Typhi poses a major threat for efficacious outpatient treatments.ObjectivesWe recently identified tebipenem, an oral carbapenem licensed for use for respiratory tract infections in Japan, as a potential alternative treatment for MDR/XDR Shigella spp. Here, we aimed to test the in vitro antibacterial efficacy of this drug against MDR and XDR typhoidal Salmonella.MethodsWe determined the in vitro activity of tebipenem in time–kill assays against a collection of non-XDR and XDR Salmonella Typhi and Salmonella Paratyphi A (non-XDR) isolated in Nepal and Bangladesh. We also tested the efficacy of tebipenem in combination with other antimicrobials.ResultsWe found that both XDR and non-XDR Salmonella Typhi and Salmonella Paratyphi A are susceptible to tebipenem, exhibiting low MICs, and were killed within 8–24 h at 2–4×MIC. Additionally, tebipenem demonstrated synergy with two other antimicrobials and could efficiently induce bacterial killing.ConclusionsSalmonella Paratyphi A and XDR Salmonella Typhi display in vitro susceptibility to the oral carbapenem tebipenem, while synergistic activity with other antimicrobials may limit the emergence of resistance. The broad-spectrum activity of this drug against MDR/XDR organisms renders tebipenem a good candidate for clinical trials.

Recycling of organic waste is not only vital to emerging countries but developed countries too. Presently, a worldwide energy catastrophe is being noticed because of colossal energy requests and constrained capital. Non-sustainable energy sources are draining, and sustainable energy sources are not appropriately being used. There is a prompt backup course of action quest for energy generation. Microbial fuel cells (MFC) innovation, which utilizes micro-organisms to convert the synthetic energy of organic compounds into power, is viewed as a potential alternative option. A promising adaptation of MFC is a plant microbial fuel cell (P-MFC) that implements adistinctive plant-microorganism rhizospheric relationship to transform solar energy into bioelectricity. P-MFC technology is a holistic approach involving various interrelated fields. The system comprises of two structure types; biocontrol and bioprocess structures. Up to 70% of organic matter produced by plants during photosynthesis winds up in the soil as dead root material. The micro-organisms on and around the surface of the roots oxidize these carbon-based exudates, discharge CO2, protons, and electrons. The rhizodeposition at the soil alliance combined with productive designing drives this rhizospheric relationship and eventually contributes towards genuine applications. Thus, this review emphasizes majorly on three criteria; Components and building viewpoints engaged with structuring an effective setup, the efficiency of P-MFC in power generation, and lastly the sustainability of P-MFC.

Biofuel cells (BFCs) are the devices made to transform the chemical energy of organic matter to electrical energy utilizing metabolic reactions occurring in microorganisms during degradation of organic contaminants. In spite of having many applications such as waste water treatment, biosensors and portable uses of BFCs, promoting the uses of BFCs is very challenging because of short life-time and low-power density. Most of the BFC developed till date is only capable to fulfill energy needs of biomedical short-term implanted devices. Use of materials with nano dimensions in the construction of BFCs has been studied extensively and reported as a worthwhile strategy to increase its efficiency. Usually, it is difficult to achieve efficient electron transfer on planar electrode from biocatalyst due to its non-specific orientational the interface. Nonmaterials provide close wiring for the electron transfer between biocatalyst and electrode. Use of various nanomaterials is the most effective way to decrease the gap between active sites (electron producing area)deep inside the enzyme or proteins and the electrodes to achieve better electron transfer. Also, various nanomaterials are utilized to improve the membrane materials for better electron barrier. Many carbon nanostructures, conducting polymers, metal and metal oxides are promising nonmaterials to enhance the current output from BFC. This review highlights recent progress registered in the development of various nanomaterials for construction of electrode and membranes of biofuel cells for better efficiency. It also emphasized the utilization of different metallic nanomaterials, inorganic nanomaterials, conducting polymer-based nanomaterials and carbon-based nanomaterials such as graphene, fullerenes, and carbon nanotubes.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) manifests aggressive tumor growth and early metastasis. Crucial steps in tumor growth and metastasis are survival, angiogenesis, invasion, and immunosuppression. Our prior research showed that chemokine CXC- receptor-2 (CXCR2) is expressed on endothelial cells, innate immune cells, and fibroblasts, and regulates angiogenesis and immune responses. Here, we examined whether tumor angiogenesis, growth, and metastasis of CXCR2 ligands expressing PDAC cells are regulated in vivo by a host CXCR2-dependent mechanism. C57BL6 Cxcr2(−/−) mice were generated following crosses between Cxcr2(−/+) female and Cxcr2(−/−) male. Cxcr2 ligands expressing Kirsten rat sarcoma (KRAS-PDAC) cells were orthotopically implanted in the pancreas of wild-type or Cxcr2(−/−) C57BL6 mice. No significant difference in PDAC tumor growth was observed. Host Cxcr2 loss led to an inhibition in microvessel density in PDAC tumors. Interestingly, an enhanced spontaneous and experimental liver metastasis was observed in Cxcr2(−/−) mice compared with wild-type mice. Increased metastasis in Cxcr2(−/−) mice was associated with an increase in extramedullary hematopoiesis and expansion of neutrophils and immature myeloid precursor cells in the spleen of tumor-bearing mice. These data suggest a dynamic role of host CXCR2 axis in regulating tumor immune suppression, tumor growth, and metastasis.

Near-UV (NUV)-excitable blue-light-emitting Eu2+ ions-doped Ca-chabazite Ca1.9Al3.8Si8.2O24 phosphor was synthesized by facile urea-assisted combustion synthesis method. Prepared materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) study, scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The Eu2+-doped Ca1.9Al3.8Si8.2O24 calcium aluminosilicate phosphor exhibited intense and broad emission in the blue region. CIE chromaticity coordinates were plotted and obtained values were compared with standard NTSC coordinates. Electron vibration interaction (EVI) parameters such as Huang Rhy’s factor (S) and effective phonon energy (ħω) were calculated to determine the strength of electron–phonon coupling. The prepared mineral-based blue-emitting Near-UV-excitable phosphor may prove to be a potential candidate as a blue component for the white light emitting diode (wLED).

Cuff pressure of endotracheal tube (ETT) must be high enough to seal the trachea, and must be low enough to allow adequate perfusion of tracheal mucosa. Compared with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) cuffed tubes, polyurethane cuffed tubes protect more efficiently. Different methods of ETT cuff pressure maintenance in practice have been reported. We planned to compare ETT cuff pressure using different techniques in PVC and polyurethane microcuff tubes in a prospective randomized study. Eighty surgical patients between 16-65 years belonging to American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I-III, scheduled for orotracheal intubation under general anaesthesia, were included. All enrolled patients were randomized into four groups (n = 20 per group), followed by corresponding treatments, including intubation by PVC ETT or polyurethane microcuff ETT and cuff inflation by auscultation of audible leak or pressure volume loop. Amount of air required to inflate cuff was more in polyurethrane tube as compared to polyvinyl tube. While comparing the two methods of cuff inflation, less volume of air was required in pressure volume loop method. We concluded that PVC cuff tube and polyurethane microcuff tube both are safe tubes used in adult patients. However, when inflated using same technique polyurethane microcuff tubes required larger volume to inflate cuff. Further, pressure generated in polyurethane microcuff tubes in much lower than PVC tubes. The study was approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee of Pt B D Sharma, PGIMS, Rohtak (No. IEC/Th/18/Anst15) on January 20, 2018 and registered with Clinical Trials Registry-India (registration No. CTRI/2019/01/017170) on January 18, 2019.

Graphical abstract, Highlights • BLL had a significant direct correlation with abnormal neurobehavior. • Serum serotonin levels were significantly lower in children with high blood lead levels (BLL). • Serum serotonin and dopamine receptor expression were upregulated in children with high BLL. • Serum serotonin levels had significant negative association with adverse neurobehavior. • Dopamine receptor expression had significant positive association with adverse neurobehavior., Present study aimed to assess the alterations in neurotransmitter expression and its association with Blood Lead Level (BLL) and neurobehavioral pattern in children. 72 school going children were recruited. Blood lead levels were determined by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. Neurobehavioral state was assessed by means of population specific scale i.e. CPMS (Childhood Psychopathological measurement Schedule). Serum serotonin and dopamine were estimated by ELISA, receptor and transporter gene expressions were assessed by quantitative real time PCR. Significant positive correlation was observed between Total CPMS score (i.e. adverse neurobehaviour) and BLL. Further, serum serotonin levels and dopamine receptor expression showed a negative and positive association with BLL, respectively. In similarity, serum serotonin levels showed a negative correlation and dopamine receptor expression had a significant positive correlation with total CPMS score. Environmental exposure to Lead (Pb) may result in significant alterations in the neurotransmitter levels which may be associated with neurobehavioral changes in the children exposed to Pb.

Nepeta cataria L., commonly known as catmint or catnip, belongs to the family “Lamiaceae” and is indigenous to Europe and Asia. The essential oil of this species is known for the richness and diversity of nepetalactones (NPL) which are used as mosquito/insect repellents in perfumery and cosmetic industries. Reports on Indian catmint germplasm are very meager and warrants exploration of its commercial potential as a natural, non-toxic source of insect repellents. With this objective, commercial open-pollinated seeds of catmint collected from its native, temperate habitat in Himalayas were introduced in the tropical plains. Subsequent to adaptation to a new zone we were able to isolate nineteen individual plants based on plant growth. Hydrodistillation of the fresh herb yielded essential oil in the range of 0.01% to 0.2%. Gas Chromatography (GC) and GC-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analyses of the oil revealed the dominance of monoterpene hydrocarbon, namely, 4aα,7α,7aα NPL (1) isomer (84%). The other two isomers of nepetalactone, 4aα,7α,7aβ NPL (2) and 4aα,7β,7aα NPL (3) were also present, although in very less amounts (1.0% and 1.6%, respectively). Sesquiterpenes identified were α-humulene (traces), (E)-caryophyllene (0.6%) and caryophyllene oxide (1.7%). We compared the identified Indian catmint chemotype with the other oils from temperate, sub-tropical and tropical locations based on literature search. The Indian chemotype was found to be similar to the oils from Burundi, France, Turkey, UK and USA, mainly due to more accumulation of 4aα,7α,7aα NPL (1) isomer. These oils grouped together in Principal Component Analysis. Breeding lines are presently being developed to improve yield related traits in this plant. Multidisciplinary R&D efforts along with setting up industry related guidelines are required to successfully commercialize catmint cultivation. Several species of Nepeta genus have high nepetalactone content too and their potential as a commercial source of these isomers still needs to be explored.

In this study naturally occurring biodegradable polysaccharides i.e., chitosan and cellulose are used to formulate the composite membrane. Sugarcane bagasse was used as raw material for the extraction of nanocellulose by adopting acid hydrolysis method followed by delignification process. The composite membrane was evaluated to eliminate chromium ion from the aqueous solution (100 ppm) by using vaccum filtration unit. During study total ten cycle was run to analyze the potential of the chitosan/nanocellulose composite membrane against removal of chromium ions. Observed data showed that first four cycles significantly remove the chromium ions concentration ranging from 87 to 29 PPM. The prepared composite membrane was structurally characterized by FTIR and XRD analysis. Results showed the characteristics peaks of cellulose structure and XRD confirms crystalline order respectively. The contact angle of 60.70 observed showing the hydrophilic behavior of the nano composite membrane. The swelling study (5 min) and the chemical stability (24 hrs) were also assessed; observed results showed that maximum swelling ratio of 1.8 was attained within 5 mins whereas the membrane is totally dissolved in acidic medium and swells in basic medium respectively.

Super-hydrophobic nanocoatings are having enormous applications in various fields. In this paper, an attempt was made to prepare the adhesive transparent superhydrophobic coating for optical applications. Nano-silica based coatings were prepared by using tetraethoxyorthosilicate (TEOS) as a silica precursor. Hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) and Polystyrene were used to make coatings superhydrophobic, transparent, and durable. To evaluate the coating properties, contact angle, and transparency were observed. A tape test was performed to determine coating stability. It was found that the HMDS is responsible for hydrophobicity and Poly-styrene is for adhesion. Poly-Styrene based coatings were more stable compared to only HMDS based coatings.

In present work, we have synthesized bulk lead iodide (PbI2) through chemical route method. The structural, optical, morphological, electronic and vibrational properties of bulk PbI2 were investigated by using SEM, XRD, EDXA, Uv–Vis absorption and Raman spectroscopy. We have also performed the electronic, phonon and Raman spectrum calculations using first principles calculation based on density functional theory (DFT), which supports our experimental outcomes. We found that the present PbI2 sample shows a direct optical band gap nature with band gap of 2.25 eV. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the PbI2 is polycrystalline in nature with hexagonal phase and are in the form of big size clusters. Our adopted method for the synthesis of PbI2 an important raw material for the highly stable hybrid inorganic–organic Perovskite methyl ammonium lead iodide (MAPI) solar cell showed that the high purity samples of PbI2 can be obtained as compared to the conventional methods adopted till now.

Major objective of root canal treatment is disinfection of the root canal system and elimination of microbiota. Various intracanal medicaments as an adjunct to mechanical disinection and irrigation have been used but due to the harmful effects of the commercially available agents, a need for natural alternatives is felt over the time. This in-vitro study aims to evaluate the antibacterial effectiveness of natural agents Septillin and Aloe vera with Calcium hydroxide and without Calcium hydroxide on the Streptococcus mitis, E. Faecalis and Candida albicans using agar well diffusion method. The antibacterial activity was assessed by the diameter of zone of inhibition seen as clear zone around the wells. The study showed that Septillin in combination with Calcium hydroxide and alone showed considerable antimicrobial activity against Streptococcus mitis, Enterococcus faecalis and Candida albicans where as Aloe vera with Calcium hydroxide showed to be mildly effective against all three but not as effective as Septillin and Calcium hydroxide when tested alone.

On August 16, 2018, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved lenvatinib (Lenvima, Eisai Inc.) for first-line treatment of patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Approval was based on an international, multicenter, randomized, open-label, noninferiority trial (REFLECT; NCT01761266) conducted in 954 patients with previously untreated metastatic or unresectable HCC. Patients were randomized (1:1) to receive lenvatinib (12 mg orally once daily for patients with a baseline body weight ≥60 kg and 8 mg orally once daily for patients with a baseline body weight Implications for Practice This article describes the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's review of data from a single trial, REFLECT, that supported the approval of lenvatinib, as a single agent, for the first-line treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). REFLECT was an open-label, noninferiority trial that randomized 954 patients with HCC who were ineligible for liver-directed therapy with no prior systemic therapy for HCC to lenvatinib or sorafenib. REFLECT demonstrated that lenvatinib-treated patients had similar survival, more responses, and longer time to progression than those receiving sorafenib. Serious side effects were more common among lenvatinib-treated patients. Lenvatinib is an effective treatment for patients with previously untreated HCC.

Cardiac hypertrophy is the underlying cause of heart failure and is characterized by excessive oxidative stress leading to collagen deposition. Therefore, understanding the signalling mechanisms involved in excessive extracellular matrix deposition is necessary to prevent cardiac remodelling and heart failure. In this study, we hypothesized that hesperetin, a flavanone that elicits the activation of Nrf2 signalling and thereby suppresses oxidative stress, mediated pathological cardiac hypertrophy progression. A cardiac hypertrophy model was established with subcutaneous injection of isoproterenol in male Wistar rats. Oxidative stress markers, antioxidant defense status, and its upstream signalling molecules were evaluated to discover the impacts of hesperetin in ameliorating cardiac hypertrophy. Our results implicate that hesperetin pretreatment resulted in the mitigation of oxidative stress by upregulating antioxidant capacity of the heart. This curative effect might be owing to the activation of the master regulator of antioxidant defense system, known as Nrf2. Further, analysis of Nrf2 revealed that hesperetin enhances its nuclear translocation as well as the expression of its downstream targets (GCLC, NQO1, and HO-1) to boost the antioxidative status of the cells. To support this notion, in vitro studies were carried out in isoproterenol-treated H9c2 cells. Immunocytochemical analysis showed augmented nuclear localization of Nrf2 implicating the action of hesperetin at the molecular level to maintain the cellular redox homeostasis. Thus, it is conceivable that hesperetin could be a potential therapeutic candidate that enhances Nrf2 signalling and thereby ameliorates pathological cardiac remodelling.

Bacterial toxins signaling through Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are implicated in the pathogenesis of many inflammatory diseases. Among the toxins, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exerts its action via TLR-4 while lipoteichoic acid (LTA) and bacterial lipoproteins such as Braun lipoprotein (BLP) or its synthetic analogue Pam3CSK4 act through TLR-2. Part of the TLR mediated pathogenicity is believed to stem from endogenously biosynthesized platelet-activating factor (PAF)- a potent inflammatory phospholipid acting through PAF-receptor (PAF-R). However, the role of PAF in inflammatory diseases like endotoxemia is controversial. In order to test the direct contribution of PAF in TLR-mediated pathogenicity, we intraperitoneally injected PAF to Wistar albino mice in the presence or absence of bacterial toxins. Intraperitoneal injection of PAF (5 μg/mouse) causes sudden death of mice, that can be delayed by simultaneously or pre-treating the animals with high doses of bacterial toxins- a phenomenon known as endotoxin cross-tolerance. The bacterial toxins- induced tolerance to PAF can be reversed by increasing the concentration of PAF suggesting the reversibility of cross-tolerance. We did similar experiments using human platelets that express both canonical PAF-R and TLRs. Although bacterial toxins did not induce human platelet aggregation, they inhibited PAF-induced platelet aggregation in a reversible manner. Using rabbit platelets that are ultrasensitive to PAF, we found bacterial toxins (LPS and LTA) and Pam3CSK4 causing rabbit platelet aggregation via PAF-R dependent way. The physical interaction of PAF-R and bacterial toxins is also demonstrated in a human epidermal cell line having stable PAF-R expression. Thus, we suggest the possibility of direct physical interaction of bacterial toxins with PAF-R leading to cross-tolerance.

In this work bimetallic nanoparticles of iridium with low cost Sn, Cu, and Ni are synthesized. The nanoparticles have been synthesized by modified Polyol reduction method. The conversion of precurs...

Rivaroxaban is one of the most prescribed anticoagulants. The ingestion of the correct dosage is a key to the success of the therapy. A procedure to evaluate the content of active principle ingredient in rivaroxaban pharmaceutical formulations, based on micellar liquid chromatography, has been developed. Tablets were solved in the mobile phase and directly injected, thus avoiding the use of large volumes of organic solvents. Analysis was performed using a C18 column and a mobile phase containing 0.05 M sodium dodecyl sulfate—12.5% 1-propanol, buffered at pH 7 with phosphate salt, running under isocratic mode at 1 mL/min. The analyte was resolved in less than 6.0 min. Detection was by UV absorption at 250 nm. The method was successfully validated by the guidelines of the International Conference of Harmonization in terms of specificity, calibration range (0.01–1.00 mg/L), linearity, limit of detection (0.002 mg/L), limit of quantification (0.006 mg/L), trueness (99.6–99.7%), precision (

Lipase is one of the well-known industrially useful enzymes, as it can catalyze different reactions including hydrolysis of triglycerides. Lipases perform essential roles in digestion and process and transport of dietary lipids in most living organisms. So, to solve the issue of high fat in human body, we came up with a solution by studying the lipase activity of the most commonly available food to us, that is, nuts, to find which nut shows better lipase activity, for providing an easy and organic solution to obesity.In our current study, we have found the lipase activity at different temperatures in three of the most common and available nuts in the market to find their optimum temperature range for lipase activity. We have also conducted an overall study to find which of the sample nuts have better lipase activity overall in comparison to the other samples.

Minimum head smut incidence (0.7%) was recorded in seed treatment with carbendazim@ 2 g kg-1 seed (2010-11) whereas maximum grain yield was recorded 1750 kg/ha in seed treatment with carboxin@ 2 g kg-1 seed during 2010-11. During 2011-12, minimum head smut incidece 0.7% was recorded in seed treatment with carboxin@ 2 g kg-1 seed, where as maximum grain yield was 1710 kg/ha. recorded in seed treatment with carboxin. On the basis of two year pooled data, minimum head smut incidence was 1.0% in seed treatment with carboxin@ 2 g kg-1 seed and maximum grain yield 1730.0 kg/ha. was also recorded in seed treatment with carboxin@ 2 g kg-1 seed. In vitro, average teliospore germination 12.4%, 16.2% and 14.2% was recorded in carboxin, mencozeb and carbendazim, respectively at 100 ppm concentration. At 300 ppm fungicidal concentration, mean teliospore germination 10.1% in carboxin, 12.9% in mencozeb and 11.5% in carbendazim was recorded. Mean teliospore germination 2.8%, 8.3%, 3.1% was recorded in carboxin, mencozeb and carbendazim, respectively at 500 ppm, where as 20.5 to 46.5% teliospore germination was recorded in control. Carboxin was found most effective in reducing the teliospore germination followed by carbendazim and mencozeb.

This study investigates the optimization of free chlorine-based disinfectant dosage for controlling the dissolution of lead (Pb) while limiting disinfection by-products (DBPs) formation in water distribution networks. A dynamic optimization framework is developed in this study to account for the impact of spatial and temporal variations of network hydraulics and water chemistry on dissolved lead concentrations. Accordingly, a dynamic schedule of disinfectant dosage is proposed to minimize water lead levels and two-point chlorine residual violations in the network. The results suggest that optimization of water chemistry parameters such as pH and orthophosphate dosage provide an additional degree of freedom to be explored in the problem of optimizing disinfectant dosage for compliance with conflicting mandates regulating lead levels and DBPs concentration in drinking water.

Background: Surface detail reproduction (SDR) and dimensional stability of elastomeric impression material play a crucial role in fixed prosthodontics. Aim and Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the effect of chemical disinfection on SDR and dimensional stability of polyvinyl siloxane (PVS) and polyether (PE) with a new vinyl polyether silicone (VPES) elastomeric impression material. Materials and Methods: A stainless steel mold was made to fabricate the study specimens for nonaqueous PVS, PE, and VPES elastic dental impression materials. Single mix impression techniques with light- and heavy-body consistency of all three materials were used to prepare the test specimens. The specimens were immersed in glutaraldehyde (Cidex) 2.45% and sodium hypochlorite (Hypo) 3.0% disinfection for 15 min (T1) and 12 h (T2) immersion after which dimensional stability and SDR were recorded using stereomicroscope and digital Vernier caliper. Statistical Analysis: The data were analyzed using the one-way ANOVA, paired t-test, Kruskal–Wallis test, and Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results: Dimensional stability at the T2 time interval showed a highly significant difference for control and glutaraldehyde groups (P < 0.001), whereas a statistically significant difference for Hypo group (P < 0.05). SDR of the three materials when compared at T1 time interval showed a statistically significant difference (P = 0.015). A comparison between two disinfectants at T1 time interval revealed a highly significant difference (P < 0.001), while at T2 interval significant difference was obtained (P = 0.009). Conclusion: VPES impressions display acceptable dimensional stability and SDR for clinical use with immersion disinfection. Although some statistically significant differences in linear dimensional stability and semidefinite programming were observed among VPES, PE, and PVS, but the clinical impact of these differences is minor considering the overall accuracy of casts which was high.

Herein, we have reported the ultra-high sensitive and selective detection of dopamine (DA) at the pico-molar level using a low cost sensing platform based on graphene oxide (GO) sheets anchored with tungsten disulfide quantum dots (WS2 QDs). The liquid phase exfoliated WS2 QDs are mostly bilayered with an average particle size of ∼2.0 ± 0.3 nm, while the GO sheets are of few-layer thickness. The WS2 QDs are highly luminescent with a photoluminescence (PL) quantum yield of ∼15%, and they exhibit an excitation wavelength dependent spectral shift in PL due to the high degree of edge/defect states. In the presence of GO, the PL intensity of WS2 QDs is partially quenched due to van der Waals interaction and excited-state charge transfer from WS2 to GO. However, in the presence of DA, a drastic quenching of PL occurs for the WS2/GO hybrid and this enables the selective detection of DA as low as 10 pM, which is the lowest among the reported values. We have presented a new model to quantitatively explain the GO mediated efficient charge transfer and unusual quenching of PL as a function of the DA concentration. Finally, the WS2/GO based sensor is utilized for the detection of DA in river water and blood serum with a satisfactory recovery, which establishes its practical utility as an efficient environmental/biochemical sensor.

Microalgae compose a highly diverse group of unicellular microorganisms that includes both prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. They are aquatic and perform photosynthesis, contributing considerably to the total biomass on the earth. The major biochemical constituents of microalgae are lipids, proteins and carbohydrates whereas other constituents include chlorophylls, carotenoids, fatty acids, proteins, phenolics, alkaloids, terpenoids and many more. Microalgae have been extensively studied for a number of bioactive compounds which have pharmaceutical and industrial uses. They are not only utilized to obtain commercially valuable compounds, but also offer immense potential for waste water treatment. This chapter showcases a comprehensive account of exploration of the microalgal biomass for obtaining high value compounds. Various extraction processes that are in use for yielding the microalgal secondary compounds are discussed. The chapter also elaborates upon the screening assays of bioactive compounds for antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, immune-modulatory and some other activities. Further, the pharmaceutical and industrial uses of the bioactive compounds obtained from microalgae are discussed to uncover its potential for commercial applications.

Background We examined how often new serious safety signals were identified by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration within the first 2 years after approval for new molecular entities (NMEs) for treatment of cancer that required specific regulatory actions described here. Methods We identified, for all NMEs approved for treatment of cancer or malignant hematology indications between 2010 and 2016, substantial safety-related changes within the first 2 years after approval, which included a new Boxed Warning or Warning and Precaution; requirement for (or modification of existing) Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS); and withdrawal from the market because of safety concerns. Results Fifty-five NMEs were approved between 2010 and 2016: 32 (58%) under regular approval (RA) and 23 (42%) under accelerated approval (AA). Of these 55 NMEs, 9 (16%) had substantial safety-related changes after approval. Across all 55 NMEs, one was temporarily withdrawn from the market for safety reasons (1.8%); one (1.8%) required a new REMS; nine required labeling revisions—new Boxed Warnings were required for two NMEs (3.6%), and new Warnings and Precautions subsections were required for eight (14.6%). One drug (ponatinib) was responsible for several of the substantial safety-related changes (withdrawal, REMS, Boxed Warnings). One of 32 NMEs approved under RA required a new Warning and Precaution, whereas 7 of 23 NMEs approved under AA had substantial safety-related changes in the first 2 years after approval. Conclusion Based on our analysis we conclude that although there was a greater incidence of substantial safety-related changes to AA drugs versus RA drugs, the majority of these were changes to the Warnings and Precautions and did not substantially alter the benefit-risk profile of the drug.

Background. Lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1) is the major receptor for oxidized low-density lipoprotein (Ox-LDL) in the aorta of aged rats. Ox-LDL initiates LOX-1 activation in the endothelium of lipid-accumulating sites of both animal and human subjects of hypercholesterolemia. Targeting LOX-1 may provide a novel diagnostic strategy towards hypercholesterolemia and vascular diseases.Hypothesis. This study was planned to address whether aegeline (AG) could bind to LOX-1 with a higher affinity and modulate the uptake of Ox-LDL in hypercholesterolemia.Study Design. Thirty-six Wistar rats were divided into six groups. The pathology group rats were fed with high-cholesterol diet (HCD) for 45 days, and the treatment group rats were fed with HCD and aegeline/atorvastatin (AV) for the last 30 days.In vivoandin vitroexperiments were carried out to assay the markers of atherosclerosis like Ox-LDL and LOX-1 levels. Histopathological examination was performed. Oil Red O staining was carried out in the IC-21 cell line. Docking studies were performed.Results. AG administration effectively brought down the lipid levels induced by HCD. The lowered levels of Ox-LDL and LOX-1 in AG-administered rats deem it to be a potent antihypercholesterolemic agent. Compared to AV, AG had a pronounced effect in downregulating the expression of lipids evidenced by Oil Red O staining. AG binds with LOX-1 at a higher affinity validated by docking.Conclusion. This study validates AG to be an effective stratagem in bringing down the lipid stress induced by HCD and can be deemed as an antihypercholesterolemic agent.

We aimed to estimate metabolic bone profile in a large cohort of healthy, adult Indian population to generate reference standards of serum calcium, phosphate and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), 25 (OH) Vitamin D and iPTH, and also to find out the prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency in healthy population. Apparently healthy people in the age group of 20–80 years, residing in the union territory of Chandigarh were chosen. Fasting samples for serum calcium, phosphate, albumin, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), 25 (OH) D and iPTH were collected and were processed on the same day. We recruited 930 healthy subjects from different subsectors of Chandigarh. Final analysis was done for 915 subjects. Out of this, 530 (58%) were women and 385 (42%) were men. The study participants were divided into two groups, less than and more than 50 years for the men and pre and post-menopausal for the women. The serum calcium, phosphate, ALP and iPTH were significantly higher in the post-menopausal women compared to the pre-menopausal women. The median plasma 25 (OH) D in men and women was 12.5 ng/mL and 14.3 ng/mL, respectively. 25 (OH) D deficiency was seen in 65.4% of individuals. 25 (OH) D levels co-related negatively with iPTH levels (r = − 0.4, p

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is a potent inflammatory agonist. In Swiss albino mice, intraperitoneal injection of PAF causes sudden death with oxidative stress and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), characterized by prolonged prothrombin time, thrombocytopenia, reduced fibrinogen content, and increased levels of fibrinogen degradation products. However, the underlying mechanism(s) is unknown. The PAF-R antagonist WEB-2086 protected mice against PAF-induced death by reducing DIC and oxidative stress. Accordingly, general antioxidants such as ascorbic acid, α-tocopherol, gallic acid, and N-acetylcysteine partially protected mice from PAF-induced death. N-acetylcysteine, a clinically used antioxidant, prevented death in 67% of mice, ameliorated DIC characteristics and histological alterations in the liver, and reduced oxidative stress. WEB-2086 suppressed H2O2-mediated oxidative stress in isolated mouse peritoneal macrophages, suggesting that PAF signaling may be a downstream effector of reactive oxygen species generation. PAF stimulated all three (ERK, JNK, and p38) of the MAP-kinases, which were also inhibited by N-acetylcysteine. Furthermore, a JNK inhibitor (SP600125) and ERK inhibitor (SCH772984) partially protected mice against PAF-induced death, whereas a p38 MAP-kinase inhibitor (SB203580) provided complete protection against DIC and death. In human platelets, which have the canonical PAF-R and functional MAP-kinases, JNK and p38 inhibitors abolished PAF-induced platelet aggregation, but the ERK inhibitor was ineffective. Our studies identify p38 MAP-kinase as a critical, but unrecognized component in PAF-induced mortality in mice. These findings suggest an alternative therapeutic strategy to address PAF-mediated pathogenicity, which plays a role in a broad range of inflammatory diseases.

The present article focuses on the bioremediation of diesel from simulated wastewater at different pollutant concentrations using a novel indigenous microalgal-bacterial consortium isolated...

The present work mainly highlights the simultaneous detection of four skin whitening agents i.e. hydroquinone (HQ), resorcinol (RS), catechol (CC) and 3,3′-dichlorobenzidine (DCB) in facial creams and body lotion. Among these, the first three are positional isomers of dihydroxybenzene so simultaneous separation is difficult with the conventional reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic technique (RP-HPLC). The selected skin whitening agents were detected in facial cream and body lotion using micellar liquid chromatography coupled to a photodiode array detector (MLC-PDA). In the present study, optimization of the method was accomplished using response surface methodology (RSM) with central composite design (CCD). The second-order polynomial model for predicting the optimal chromatographic run time was evaluated by the analysis of variance (ANOVA) and 3D response surface plots for the interactions between three variables were constructed. Three experimental parameters which were chosen as independent variables were; surfactant concentration (SDS), the volume percentage of organic modifier (OM) and pH of the mobile phase. The second-order polynomial model for predicting the optimal chromatographic run time was evaluated by the analysis of variance (ANOVA) and 3D response surface plots for the interactions between three variables were constructed. Three experimental parameters which were chosen as independent variables were; surfactant concentration (SDS), percentage of organic modifier (OM) and pH of the mobile phase. The second-order polynomial model for predicting the optimal chromatographic run time was evaluated by the analysis of variance (ANOVA) and 3D response surface plots for the interactions between three variables were constructed. Three experimental parameters which were chosen as independent variables were; surfactant concentration (SDS), percentage of organic modifier (OM) and pH of the mobile phase. The optimized mobile phase was 0.15 M SDS and 7% 1-butanol, buffered at pH 7 with 0.01 M NaH2PO4. The chromatographic run time for simultaneous determination of selected analytes was 7.5 min. The correlation coefficient (r2) values were satisfactory between 0.998–0.999 over the linear concentration range. Limits of detection (LODs) and the limits of quantification (LOQs) for the four skin whitening agents were in the range of 0.05–0.07 μg/mg and 0.11–0.14 μg/mg, respectively. Trueness (98.4–102.7%) and precision (< 4.3%) were acceptable. The developed method was fast, cost-effective, and green which could easily analyze complex matrices (facial creams, body lotion) without any pretreatment other than filtration. The results indicated that the MLC-PDA method proved to be more suitable for the simultaneous separation of selected positional isomers.

Microbes are the major source of lipids, which include fatty acids and glycerolipids. Lipids are used as bioplastic and biosurfactants in several industries. Value-added compounds like alpha-linolenic acid, 1,3-propanediol (1,3-PDO), fatty acid methyl esters (FAME), keto-carotenoids, lactic acid, 2,3-butanediol, citric acid, lutein, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), 1,3-dihydroxyacetone, oleic acid, propionic acid, and succinic acid have huge applications in textile, cosmetic, food, metallurgy, and pharmaceutical industries. These microbial-based lipids have various industrial and technology applications as printing inks, lubricants, coatings, polymers, solvents, leather processing, hydraulic fluids, surfactants, glycerin (glycerol), pesticide/herbicide adjuvants, and fuels. Biotechnological processes such as medium engineering and metabolic engineering can enhance lipid production in microbes to a certain limit. Integrated biorefinery concept was introduced for cost reduction, efficient utilisation of feedstocks, high yield, zero waste discharges, high productivity, and economically viable technology development. It integrates the conversion of biomass to energy and other high-value products. This review focuses on the bioreactor design; integrated biorefineries; genetic and metabolic engineering prospect of enhanced microbial lipid production; application of microbial lipids in various sectors such as pharmaceuticals, dietary supplement, cosmetics, and biodiesel production; costing; and life cycle assessment. Furthermore, value-added products such as carotenoids, organic acids, polyhydroxyalkanoates, and fatty acids were also discussed.

Typhoid Vi-conjugate vaccines (Vi-TCV) have been developed to control typhoid fever in children in endemic regions. Previously, in a human challenge model of typhoid, Vi-TCV was administered prior to deliberate ingestion of Salmonella Typhi by healthy adult volunteers in the UK. Vi-specific antibody-dependent neutrophil phagocytosis (ADNP) was associated with protection against enteric fever in this model, but it is not known if ADNP is induced by vaccination of children. We measured ADNP in a cohort of Nepalese children receiving a Vi-TCV in a field study to investigate whether functional antibody responses were also present in children in an endemic setting. Furthermore, we investigated relationships between the functional antibody measures and other properties of the antibody response, including Vi-IgG and IgA titres, and Fc region glycosylation. Antibody-dependent neutrophil phagocytosis significantly increased in children aged 9 months to 15 years between the day of vaccination and 28 days following administration of Vi-TCV (D28). The magnitude of ADNP was also comparable with the levels of ADNP induced by plasma from vaccinated UK adults. Neither IgG nor IgA antibody titres significantly correlated with ADNP scores at D28; however, increased vaccine-induced ADNP was associated with decreased levels of IgG1 sialylation. These data suggest that vaccination with Vi-TCV produces functional antibody responses in children, which associate with specific glycosylation patterns of the Fc region.

Fluorescence microscopy has revolutionized life science research. It is a powerful technique to visualize molecular structures, physiological functions, and dynamic processes in living cells, tissues, and organisms. Excitation-light and/or excited-fluorescent proteins-mediated dysregulation in cell physiology are widely known but poorly considered. Although there are vast applications of fluorescence microscopy in research, imaging results may suffer from the excitation-light-induced artefacts. Here, we highlight potential excitation light-induced alterations in cell functions thereby misinterpretation of imaging results and strategies to minimize common artefacts that can be produced during imaging experiments.