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Cocoa pod shells are the agro waste generated causing problem during the disposal. In the present study, possibility of utilizing the cocoa pod shells to release the reducing sugars has been explored. Hydrochloric acid hydrolysis assisted with autoclave was adopted to obtain reducing sugars. The one parameter at a time approach was implimented to screen the significant parameters influencing the hydrolysis among weight of cocoa pod shells, concentration of HCl and duration of autoclave. Parameters such as concentration of HCl and duration of autoclave were found to be significant. These parameters were chosen for the central composite design comprising of five levels using response surface methodology to optimize the hydrolysis process. At optimized condition of 54.15 minutes of autoclave treatment and 4.41% of HCl, 21.11 g/L of maximum reducing sugar was released. A second order polynomial equation was generated having a good fit with R2 of 0.84.

Cocoa pod shell (CPS) is an underutilized agricultural lignocellulosic biomass. Hydrochloric acid (HCl) hydrolysis was carried out to release the reducing sugars from CPS. The conditions (CPS weight, concentration of HCl, revolutions per minute, hydrolysis period) which affect HCl hydrolysis were screened using one factor at a time approach of which determined that CPS weight, HCl concentration and hydrolysis period had a significant effect on the acid hydrolysis process. The levels of these factors were further optimized using a central composite design using response surface methodology. The optimized conditions were 8.36% (weight per volume) of CPS, 3.6 N of HCl concentration with 7.36 h of acid hydrolysis which yielded 4.09 g/L reducing sugars. A second order model was generated and validated, which was found to be a good fit (coefficient of determination = 0.914). The released reducing sugars after the acid hydrolysis under optimized conditions were subjected to alcoholic fermentation by Pichia stipitis to produce bioethanol. The bioethanol concentration reached 2 g/L at 2% (volume per volume) inoculum concentration after 72 h of fermentation. Keywords: Bioethanol, Cocoa pod shell, Optimization, Reducing sugars

In this paper, we report the synthesis of gold nanoparticles (BPAuNPs) using banana pith extract. Biosynthesized BPAuNPs were screened for phytochemicals coated over them and further characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy, FTIR, XRD and particle size analyser. UV-Visible spectrscopic analysis confirmed the production of BPAuNPs at 530 to 560 nm, where the colour change in the solution from light yellow to deep purple indicated the formation of BPAuNPs. FT-IR analysis confirmed the capping of BPAuNPs with organic residues like, proteins, amino acids and polyphenols present in the extract, which led to stabilization of BPAuNPs. Negative zeta values indicated the stability of BPAuNPs. XRD results prooved the crystalline nature of BPAuNPs. The synthesized BPAuNPs were tested for their antibacterial activity against both Gram positive (Bacillus subtilis) and negative (E.coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) bacteria with known antibiotic as control. BPAuNPs showed significant bacteriostatic effect. The BPAuNPs were found to have a positive catalytic activity of reduction of malachite green dye, which was confirmed by the time dependent reduction in absorbance maxima, it can be ascribed to the electron relay response.

Highlights • Kleibsiella pneumoniae Kpn555 tolerates 900 mg/L lead. • SEM and TEM studies revealed surface deposition and bioaccumulation of lead. • Surface deposition mediated by EPS produced in response to lead stress, characterised as glycolipid with protein moieties. • Maximum biosorption ability of EPS – 475 mg/g. • Ability of lead bioaccumulation is plasmid mediated., Kleibsiella pneumoniae Kpn555, isolated from coffee waste pulp showed high level of tolerance to lead with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 900 mg/L. On its growth in nutrient broth supplemented with lead, brown clumps were visualised at the bottom of the flask. On scanning and transmission electron microscopic studies the brown clumps were corroborated to be bacterial cells with lead biosorbed on the cell surface and accumulated inside the cytoplasm. Biochemical and FT-IR analysis of the extracellular polymeric substance produced on exposure to lead revealed its chemical nature as glycolipid with protein moieties. Purified EPS (100 mg/L) could remove 50% of lead from aqueous solution (200 mg/L). Isolation of plasmid from Klebsiella pneumoniae Kpn555 revealed the presence of a plasmid of size 30–40 kb. This capability of the bacteria was proven to be plasmid mediated as the Escherichia coli DH5α cells transformed with the plasmid of Klebsiella pneumoniae Kpn555 also could tolerate 900 mg/L of lead and form brown clumps. This study shows that these bacteria, aided by EPS could serve as an effective agent for the removal of lead from contaminated water environmental samples., Graphical abstract Image, graphical abstract

A feasibility study on utilization of non edible oil of Scleropyrum pentandrum was carried out to see its potential as a new source for biodiesel production. Nonedible oil seeds of Scleropyrum pentandrum have oil content of 55–60%. Transesterification of freshly extracted oil in the presence of anhydrous sodium hydroxide at a concentration 1% (w/v oil) and methanol-oil ratio of 40% (v/v oil) yields 90.8% methyl esters under conventional heating. Month old oil requires sulfuric acid pretreatment (esterification) before transesterification. The transesterified oil has a density 889–893 kg/m3; kinematic viscosity of 4.21–5.7 mm2/s; cetane index 46.03; pour point of −15°C and gross calorific value of 40.135 MJ/kg and oxidative stability of 2.35 hours. The properties are well within the Indian, European and American standard limits recommended for biodiesel except the oxidation stability, which can be improved by adding antioxidant additives. The engine performance studies of B10 and B20 blends of Scle...

Rapid depletion of petroleum fuels with high fluctuating market prices have enforced mankind to switch for an alternate fuel. The present investigation reports a comparison on the effect of Induction heating and LPG heating for acid hydrolysis of cocoa pod biomass (CPB) to carryout ABE fermentation for the production of biobutanol. The effect of Sulphuric acid (H2SO4), CPB load and residence time on release of total sugar was studied and optimized using Central Composite Design (CCD). The optimum condition for the pretreatment by induction heating was found to be 3.05 (%v/v) of H2SO4, 11.51 (%w/v) of CPB and 41.43 min of residence time with 36.26 g/L of total sugar. Similarly for LPG heating an optimum of 25.66 g/L of total sugar released with pretreatment condition 4.03 (%v/v) of H2SO4, 6.53 (%w/v) of CPB and 64 min of residence time was observed. The treatment of high biomass load with low concentration of acid in lesser time makes induction heating energy efficient and cost effective. The CPB hydrolysate produced through Induction and LPG heating was allowed to undergo anaerobic fermentation, using Clostridium acetobutilicum MTCC11274. The ABE yield produced using induction assisted CPB hydrolysate was 5.04 ± 0.32 g/L of acetone, 11.73 ± 0.84 g/L butanol and 1.43 ± 0.04 ethanol in 312 h with total ABE of 18.25 ± 1.17 g/L. The resulted ABE fermentation yield was higher than the LPG assisted CPB hydrolysate with 1.69 ± 0.17 g/L acetone, 3.36 ± 0.27 g/L butanol and 0.22 ± 0.08 g/L ethanol with total ABE of 5.27 ± 0.51 g/L. The less energy consumption, higher conversion of carbohydrate and great fermentability of hydrolysate makes induction assisted acid pretreatment method significant in biofuel industry.

The objective of the present study is to investigate the caffeine-degrading abilities of different fungi and to apply this knowledge to environmental remediation and industrial decaffeination process. Chrysosporium keratinophilum, Gliocladium roseum, Fusarium solani, and Aspergillus restrictus were isolated from the coffee pulp obtained from a coffee estate. Pure cultures of fungi were isolated on standard conventional potato dextrose broth (PDB) medium and authenticated. Pure cultures were subjected to a caffeine tolerance study at different concentrations of caffeine (1–8 g/L) in potato dextrose agar (PDA) and minimal media. On PDA, Fusarium solani could tolerate caffeine concentration up to 8 g/L, whereas Chrysosporium keratinophilum, Gliocladium roseum, and Aspergillus restrictus could tolerate up to 6 g/L. On minimal agar medium containing different concentrations of caffeine (1–8 g/L), Fusarium solani tolerated up to 8 g/L and the other fungi up to 2 g/L. A time-bound caffeine degradation s...

Although nanoparticles can be produced using various physicochemical methods, their synthesis using nontoxic environmental friendly biological method is gaining more attention especially from the point of view of in situ application in medicine. Biological synthesis of nanoparticles is not only useful because of its very low environmental burden compared with some of the physicochemical methods, but also it can be easily scaled up without much complication. Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticle under ambient condition using turmeric extract is reported here. The formation of turmeric nanoparticles (TUAgnps) were analyzed visually and spectrophotometrically. Appearance of brownish yellow colour indicated the formation of TUAgnps which was confirmed by the appearance of surface plasmon band at 435 nm by UV-Vis spectrophotometry. The synthesized TUAgnps were characterized by FT-IR, particle size analyzer, SEM and EDAX. FT-IR studies revealed the capping of nanoparticles by phytoconstituents present in the turmeric extract, and negative zeta potential indicated the stability of TUAgnps. The synthesized nanoparticles were used for methylene blue dye reduction and as a bactericidal agent. The TUAgnps impregnated cotton bandage gauze exhibited strong antimicrobial activity against Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa which was confirmed by anticontact study. SEM image of the nanoparticle impregnated cotton bandage gauze showed TUAgnps ranged from 120 to 160 nm hence TUAgnps could be effectively used in antimicrobial wound dressing. The biosynthesized TUAgnps were observed to have a positive catalytic activity of reduction of methylene blue dye, which can be confirmed by time dependent reduction in absorbance maxima which can be ascribed to the electron relay response.

An efficient in vitro propagation and in vitro flowering protocols were developed for the medicinal plant Cichorium intybus (Asteraceae) using leaf disc explants. Media supplemented with the growth regulator naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) (1.5 mg/l) + 6-benzyle adenine (0.25 mg/l) was used for the initial induction of the callus and further subcultured to the same media for the proliferation of the callus. Pale yellow and green calli were noticed, which depends on incorporation of the growth hormones and their varying concentrations. Murashige and Skoog medium in addition with 2 mg/l kinetin+ 0.5 mg/l indole-3-acetic acid (IBA) + 500 mg/l casein hydrolysate resulted in maximum regeneration. Media supplemented via IBA (0.5 mg/l) and NAA (0.5 mg/l) (98%) was found to beoptimum for rhizogenesis for in vitro regenerated plants. For acclimatization 5-6 weeks mature in vitro regenerated plants were transferred into the greenhouse for acclimatization. The histological study revealed the presence actively dividing meristematic cells in callus. The occurrence of the peripheral meristematic zone associated with callus was noticed in after 20 days, which formed the shoot meristems after 45 days of incubation. To our knowledge, this is the first report on high-frequency plant regeneration which was carried out indirectly from theleaf explants which was grown in controlled environment with varying concentration of the growth regulators and histology of callus of different stages from leaf explants of C. intybus.

Bioethanol production from dry cashew apple pulp and coffee pulp was investigated. The pulp was digested with 2% sulfuric acid and subjected to high pressure (15 psi) cooking at 120 °C for 10 min followed by further 1 and a half hour pressure cooking at 90 °C to solubilize the pulp. Solubilized pulp was filtered and the debris on the filter paper was washed with minimum quantity of distilled water and then oven dried to find the weight of the insoluble lignin mass. Total sugar content in squeezed and dried cashew apple pulp (CAP), dry coffee pulp (DCP) and wet coffee pulp (WCP) was found to be 2.12, 1.62 and 0.62 g/100 ml of hydrolyzate. Reducing sugar content in squeezed CAP, DCP and WCP was found to be 0.14, 0.71and 0.23g/100 ml of hydrolyzate. Filtrate was neutralized with thick suspension of calcium hydroxide slurry until the pH reaches to 6.0. Neutralized slurry was kept at lab temperature overnight and the supernatant was decanted through filter paper. To 150 ml of filtrate yeast ( Saccharomyces creviciae ) was added at a concentration of 5.0 g/l concentration and subjected to fermentation for 48 h at 30 °C in a shaker incubator at 120 rpm. Ethanol content in the fermented broth was estimated by titrimetric and gas chromatographic method. Ethanol yield in the fermented broth was found to be 0.5, 0.46 and 0.46 g/g of sugar in squeezed CAP, DCP and WCP. Theoretical ethanol yield ( Y max %) of squeezed CAP, DCP and WCP was found to be 46, 9.35 and 40% respectively.

A 624-channel Digital Data Acquisition System capable of instrumenting the Segmented Germanium Array at National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory has been implemented using Pixie-16 Digital Gamma Finder modules by XIA LLC. The system opens an opportunity for determination of the first interaction position of a γ ray in a SeGA detector from implementation of γ ‐ ray tracking. This will translate into a significantly improved determination of angle of emission, and in consequence much better Doppler corrections for experiments with fast beams. For stopped-beam experiments the system provides means for zero dead time measurements of rare decays, which occur on time scales of microseconds.

Chemical mixtures are an important area of research as individuals are exposed to low doses of persistent chemical agents known as environmental pollutants throughout their life time. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and diethyl phthalate (DEP) are ubiquitous environmental pollutants that could be present in the same environmental compartment; hence organisms may get simultaneously exposed to both. Therefore, a study was undertaken to see whether PCB and DEP together show interactive chronic mixture toxicity in male Wistar rats. Healthy male Wistar rats weighing 70–100 g were randomly assigned to four groups of six each. Control rats were fed on normal diet and water ad libitum. Oil control rats were maintained on a normal diet mixed with corn oil. Rats were given Clophen A60 (PCB) and DEP dissolved individually in corn oil mixed with the diet at 50 mg kg−1 of the diet/day, as well as a mixture in corn oil mixed with the diet both at 50 mg kg−1 of the diet/day. After 150 days of treatment animals were sac...

The experiment was designed to study toxic effects of diethyl phthalate (DEP) on testicular lipid peroxidation and testicular antioxidants in male Wistar rats for long-term exposure periods at varying concentrations. Healthy male rats were randomly assigned to five groups of six each. Group I male rats were fed on normal diet and water. Group II male rats were maintained on normal diet mixed with corn oil as oil control. Group III, IV and V rats were given diethyl phthalate (DEP) dissolved in minimal quantity of corn oil mixed with the diet at 10, 25 and 50 mg/kg of the diet/day, respectively, for 150 days. Body weight, testis weights, epididymis weight and the serum testosterone and androstenedione levels showed a significant decrease in the three treated groups. Testicular lipid peroxidation showed a significant dose-dependent increase, while testicular antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione reductase (GR) were significantly decreased. These results confirm that, continuous administration of DEP at various concentrations on a long-term basis induces increased levels of lipid peroxidation leading to dose-dependent reduction in the testicular antioxidant defense system. Increased free radical production at various doses of DEP would result in impairment of the defense system leading to an enhanced dose-dependent reproductive toxic effect.

Pre-treatment is a process that releases simple sugars from complex lignocellulosic biomass by using chemicals like acid and alkali which are one of the simplest and cost effective techniques. In this study, the conditions for sulphuric acid and sodium hydroxide pretreatment of de-oiled oil seed cake (DOSC) were optimized by response surface methodology (RSM). The levels of factors (DOSC concentration, agitation speed, sulphuric acid (H2SO4), sodium hydroxide (NaOH) concentration and reaction time) that affect release of reducing sugars by pre-treatment were obtained by one factor at a time (OFAT) approach of which only H2SO4 concentration, NaOH concentration and reaction time showed significance. The levels of factors were optimized by central composite design. Optimized conditions were found to be 11.65% (v/v) of H2SO4 concentration at 1.28h and, 4 N of NaOH at 3.7 h for acid and alkali hydrolysis respectively. Under optimized conditions, the release of reducing sugars was found to be 0.69 g/L (41.36 mg RRS/ g cellulose) and 0.40 g/L (23.98 mg RRS/ g cellulose) for acid hydrolysis and alkali hydrolysis of DOSC, respectively. Hence, RSM was found to be an efficient technique to optimize the hydrolysis process and ensure maximum release of reducing sugars.

Cocoa pod shells (CPS) are underutilized agricultural lignocellulosic biomass. To release reducing sugars from cocoa pod shells, Na2CO3 pre-treatment was carried out. In the current study the conditions for sodium carbonate treatment were optimized by response surface methodology (RSM). The screening of (CPS weight, Na2CO3 concentration, time, rpm) affecting release of reducing sugars was carried out by one factor at a time (OFAT) approach. Among the four factors screened, CPS weight and Na2CO3 concentration showed significant effect on the pre-treatment process. These significant factors were opti mized by RSM using a central composite design (CCD). At the optimized conditions of 7.82 g of CPS and Na2CO3 concentration of 0.58 N, the yield of reducing sugar was found to be 0.94 g/L. A second order model was generated and validated, which was found to be of good fit with an R2 of 0.847. These results show that RSM is an efficient methodology for rapid optimization of influencing parameters and development of polynomial equation for modelling the pre-treatment process.

Polychlorinated biphenyls and diethyl phthalate are both lipophilic in nature and are likely to be present in the same environmental compartment or bioaccumalate over a period of time, thus a mixture toxicity study was undertaken to evaluate the type of interaction between polychlorinated biphenyls (Clophen A60) and diethyl phthalate over two generations in female Wistar rats. Healthy male and female albino rats of Wistar strain weighing 75–100 g (6–7 weeks old) were randomly assigned to four groups of six each. Group I male and female rats were fed on normal diet and water ad libitum . Group II male and female rats were maintained on normal diet mixed with corn oil as oil control. GroupS III and IV male and female rats were given Clophen A60 and diethyl phthalate dissolved in corn oil mixed with the diet at 50 mg/kg of the diet individually to each group. Group V male and female rats received a mixture of diethyl phthalate and Clophen A60, each dissolved in corn oil mixed with the diet at 50 mg/kg of the diet. Hundred days after the treatment, females were mated with the males in each group for 10 days. Exposure to diethyl phthalate and Clophen A60 was continued throughout mating, gestation until termination at weaning, which was 150 days of total treatment period of the parental generation female rats. Treatment for F1 generation male and female pups (6 males & 6 females) with Clophen A60 and diethyl phthalate individually and in mixture was continued at doses reduced to 25 mg/kg of the diet after they reached 75–100 g in weight. The treatment was carried out similar to the parental generation for a period of 150 days. Liver and serum aspartate aminotransferase, liver cholesterol and glycogen were significantly increased in the F1 generation Clophen A60 + diethyl phthalate treated group, whereas serum cholesterol, liver glutathione and glutathione reductase showed a significant decrease in the F1 generation Clophen A60 + diethyl phthalate treated group as compared to the parental generation mixture and individually treated groups as well as the individually treated F1 generation groups. A significant increase was observed in the liver and serum aspartate aminotransferase activity of Clophen A60 and serum aspartate aminotransferase levels of diethyl phthalate treated F1 generation rats as compared to the parental generation Clophen A60 and diethyl phthalate individually and mixture treated rats. Liver glutathione levels were significantly decreased in the F1 generation Clophen A60 and diethyl phthalate individually treated rats which was similar to the parental generation individually treated rats as compared to the controls. Liver glutathione reductase level was also significantly declined in the diethyl phthalate treated F1 individual group as compared to diethyl phthalate individually treated parental generation rats. Histology of the liver showed fatty degeneration in the mixture treated F1 generation rats as compared to Clophen A60 and diethyl phthalate individually treated F1 rats and parental generation Clophen A60 and diethyl phthalate individually and mixture treated rats. Thus, in spite of dose reduction and continuous exposure over two generation’s to a mixture of diethyl phthalate and Clophen A60 exposed through gestation, lactation and diet leads to a synergistic toxic effect in the F1 generation.

The experiment was conducted to study the after effects of administering DEP at different doses to female Swiss mice for a period of 90 days. Group I mice were fed on normal diet and water ad libitum. Group II mice were maintained on normal diet mixed with corn oil at 8.25 mg/kg of the diet/day as oil control. Group III, IV and V mice were given diethyl phthalate dissolved in corn oil mixed with the diet at 10, 25 and 50 mg/kg of the diet/day, which is approximately equal to 1.25, 3.125 and 6.25 mg/kg body weight/day. A significant dose dependent increase was observed in serum acid phosphatase (ACP) whereas, serum and liver triglycerides levels showed a significant increase only in the high-dose treated group. Significant dose-dependent increase in serum aspartate and alanine aminotransferase (AST and ALT) and liver glycogen was observed. Serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was significantly increased only in 25 and 50 ppm DEP-treated mice. Liver cholesterol was significantly increased in all the treated groups. Liver histology by light microscopy showed intracellular vacuolations in all the treated groups which was much more evident in the 25 and 50 ppm DEP-treated mice while hepatocellular degeneration and hypertrophy of the hepatocytes was evident in 50 ppm DEP-treated mice. Proliferation of mitochondria and peroxisomes was evident in the electron micrographs of the 10 ppm DEP-treated mice while 25 and 50 ppm DEP-treated mice showed increase in lipid droplets and severe mitochondrial proliferation.

In recent years, the exposure of humans to phthalate esters through environmental contamination has increased. One among them is di-ethyl phthalate (DEP), which is used as a plastisizer for cellulose ester plastic films and sheets, solid rocket propellants, molded and extruded articles, as a component in insecticide sprays and various other substances, as well as in industrial applications. Release into the environment occurs primarily as a result of production and manufacturing of DEP and during the use and disposal of products containing DEP. Therefore, a study was undertaken to evaluate gender-specific toxicity of DEP in Wistar rats. Rats of both sexes, weighing 125–130 g, were administered 50 ppm (w/v) DEP in water ad libitum for a period of 180 days and were given normal diet. Control animals received normal diet and water ad libitum. During the treatment, rats were weighed every week and water consumption per day was measured. After the completion of treatment, liver weight : body weight−1 ratio, li...

Three strongly coupled sequences have been established in Te-110,Te-112 up to high spins. They are interpreted in terms of deformed structures built on proton 1-particle-1-hole excitations that reach termination at I similar to 40h. This is the first observation of smooth terminating dipole structures in this mass region. Lifetime measurements have allowed the extraction of experimental B(M 1; 1 -> I - 1) and B(E2; I -> I - 2) reduced transition rates for one of the dipole bands in Te-110. The results support the deformed interpretation. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are persistent environmental pollutants and known to act as xenoestrogens. PCBs and diethyl phthalate (DEP) are ubiquitous environmental pollutants because both are used as plasticizers and in various other industrial applications. Therefore, a study was undertaken to evaluate the interactive toxicity of DEP and PCBs in young female Wistar rats. Healthy young female albino rats of Wistar strain weighing 100 g (7–8 weeks old) were randomly assigned to five groups of six each. Group I female rats were fed on normal diet and water ad libitum. Group II female rats were maintained on normal diet mixed with corn oil at 16.5 mg/kg diet/day and 0.94 mg/kg body weight/day as oil control. Groups III and IV female rats were given Clophen A60 and DEP dissolved in corn oil mixed with the diet at 50 mg/(kg diet day), which is approximately equal to 2.85 mg/(kg body weight day), individually to each group. Group V female rats received a mixture of DEP and Clophen A60, each dissolved in corn oil mixed with the diet at 50 mg/(kg diet day), which is approximately equal to 2.85 mg/(kg body weight day). Treatment was carried out for 150 days and after the completion of treatment, serum and liver enzymes and other biochemical parameters in the serum and liver were assessed. Liver weight to body weight ratio showed significant increase in Clophen A60 and Clophen A60 + DEP treated rats. In the three treated groups, there was significant decrease in liver glutathione (GSH) and glutathione reductase (GR). Alanine amino transferase (ALT) was significantly increased in the liver of the three treated groups and in the serum of Clophen A60 and DEP alone treated groups and significant decrease only in the serum of Clophen A60 + DEP treated rats. Significant increase in liver and serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and acid phosphatase (ACP) activity was observed in the three treated groups. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was significantly increased only in the serum of the Clophen A60 and Clophen A60 + DEP treated rats, whereas significant decrease in the serum and liver of DEP alone treated rats was observed. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity and cholesterol levels were highly significant in the liver and serum of DEP treated rats. In addition, cholesterol level was significantly increased in the liver and serum of Clophen A60 treated rats and only in the liver of Clophen A60 + DEP treated rats. Succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activity was significantly increased in the liver of Clophen A60 and Clophen A60 + DEP treated rats and highly significant increase in the serum of Clophen A60 + DEP treated rats. There was significant increase in triglyceride levels in the liver and serum of Clophen A60 and Clophen A60 + DEP treated rats, whereas significant increase in triglyceride levels in the serum of DEP alone treated rats was observed. Glycogen levels were significantly increased in the liver of Clophen A60 + DEP treated rats, whereas serum glucose levels showed significant decrease, but in Clophen A60 alone treated rats showed significant increase in liver glycogen and serum glucose, whereas DEP alone treated rats showed significant increase in only serum glucose levels. Lipid peroxidation was increased in the liver of DEP treated rats, which was highly significant, compared to significant increase in Clophen A60 and Clophen A60 + DEP treated rats. Histology of liver showed severe vacuolation, loss of hepatic architecture and granular deposits in the hepatocytes of DEP and Clophen A60 + DEP treated rats, whereas in Clophen A60 alone treated rats, hepatocytes showed hyper pigmentation mild loss of hepatic architecture in centrilobular and periportal area.

Background: Candida Associated Denture Stomatitis is the prevalent fungal pathosis in denture wearers, especially in immunocompromized patients. Existing antifungal agents are ineffective since the Candida species become resistant and also, they become toxic. Origanum vulgare is a herbal plant with high anti-fungal activity against Candida of blood and urine origin. However, it has never been explored against Candida from oral cavity. Materials & Methodology: Dry leaves of the plant were purchased and authenticated. Oil extraction was done using Hydro-distillation method. Clinical isolates of Candida from denture wearers was speciated using CHROMagar. Well Diffusion test was used to confirm the antifungal activity. Hydro-distillation & Maceration methods of extraction were compared. MIC/MFC was determined using CSLI guidelines. Infra-Red Spectroscopy was used to identify the active functional group. Results: O.vulgare showed 30±3mm of zone of inhibition as against 19mm for fluconazole. The suitable extraction method was Hydro-distillation. MIC & MFC were found to be 0.024% and 0.097% respectively which was much lesser than for fluconazole (0.25%). The active functional group had chemically similar structure as Carvacrol, usually found in antifungal herbs. Conclusion: within the limitations of the study, it was concluded that (a)O.vulgare is anticandidal for clinical isolates of oral Candida, (b) Hydro-distillation is an effective method as compared to Maceration (c) MIC & MFC are much lower than that of fluconazole (d) the major functional group was structurally similar to Carvacrol.

Diethyl phthalate (DEP) is used as a plasticizer, a detergent base, in aerosol sprays, as a perfume binder in incense sticks and after-shave lotions. It is known to be a contaminant of freshwater and marine ecosystems. Therefore, a study was designed to determine the toxic effects of DEP on a freshwater fish, Cirrhina mrigala. The fish was treated with 25, 50, 75, and 100 ppm (w/v) DEP dissolved in acetone to determine the LC50. Positive controls were treated with acetone only. There was 100% mortality observed within 24 h in 75 and 100 ppm, and 50% mortality in 50 ppm treated fish in 72 h. Those treated at 25 ppm showed only 10% mortality within 72 h and remaining fish continued to survive. The surviving fish were treated with 25 ppm DEP once daily for 3 days with every change of water (Group III). One group was maintained as negative control in dechlorinated water (Group I) and the other group received acetone once daily for 3 days with every change of water and was used as positive control (Group II). Fish were killed by cold narcosis on an ice block and dissected to obtain liver, muscle, and brain samples; 10% homogenates in ice-cold saline were prepared. Brain and muscle acetylcholinesterase (AchE) activity was measured. Liver aspartate (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and liver and muscle succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) alkaline and acid phosphate (ALP and ACP) were measured. There was a significant increase in liver and muscle ACP and ALP in DEP-treated fish compared with positive and negative controls. There was a significant increase in muscle SDH and liver ALT (ALT) in DEP-treated fish compared with positive and negative controls. Brain AchE level was significantly decreased in DEP-treated fish compared to positive and negative controls. These results indicate that DEP brings about significant changes in the activity of certain liver and muscle enzymes. These alterations in enzyme activity may have long-term effects on that are continuously exposed to low doses of DEP in the aquatic environment.

Autoprotection is a phenomenon whereby prior exposure to a small dose of a chemical results in protection against a subsequently administered lethal dose of the same compound. While CCl4 autoprotection has been studied the most, it has also been demonstrated for other chemicals. Recent studies indicate that the prevailing concept of decreased bioactivation of the normally lethal dose of CCl4 owing to decreased hepatic microsomal cytochrome P-4501 content can not be supported by direct end points of liver injury such as necrosis. These findings suggest a pivotal role for hepatocellular division and tissue healing processes stimulated by the protective dose in the mechanism of autoprotection. Augmentation of hepatocellular regeneration and tissue repair, stimulated by the protective dose, appears to permit timely recovery and restoration of hepatic structure and function. In the absence of the protective dose, hepatocellular division is substantially deficient and it occurs too late to tip the delicate balance between recovery from injury and progression of massive injury in favor of recovery. Abolition of autoprotection by colchicine antimitosis, under conditions where metabolism and disposition of CCl4 are not altered, is supportive of this concept. Selective colchicine antimitotic suppression of the early phase of hepatocellular division and tissue repair induced by a low dose of CCl4 results in progression of toxic liver injury, leading to hepatic failure and mortality. Studies have shown that pretreatment with phenobarbital results in postponed low-dose CCl4-stimulated cell division by 24 hours, which accordingly postpones the optimal autoprotection. These findings provide discrete evidence to suggest that the protective dose-stimulated hepatocellular division and tissue repair underlies the mechanism of autoprotection. These new insights reveal that in contrast to the widely held concept, the ultimate outcome of toxic injury is determined by whether a prompt stimulation of sustainable tissue repair can occur rather than by the magnitude of the injury inflicted by a toxic chemical.

A number of toxic chemicals affect the biliary excretory function of liver. Organochlorines and halomethanes are known to enhance bile flow. Despite the demonstration that a diversity of agents modify biliary function, the mechanism by which these chemicals manifest this effect is not fully understood. This study was designed to assess the effect of colchicine (0.1, 1.0, or 2.5 mg/kg, i.p., in saline) administration on biliary excretory function 6 and 24 hr later. Additionally, the effect of colchicine (1 mg/kg, i.p. in saline) pretreatment in rats 2 hr prior to the administration of a single low dose of CCl 4 (100 μL/kg, i.p., in corn oil) or corn oil alone (1 mL/kg, i.p.) on hepatic biliary excretory function was also assessed at 6 and 24 hr after the last treatment. The hepatotoxicity was evaluated by serum enzymes, alanine and aspartate aminotransferases, and histopathological alterations of the liver. Biliary excretion of intravenously administered phenolphthalein glucuronide (PG) was assessed in bile duct cannulated anesthetized rats. Only the highest dose of colchicine (2.5 mg/kg) resulted in detectable liver injury as revealed by elevations of serum transaminases. While the lowest dose of colchicine (0.1 mg/kg) did not influence bile secretion, the two higher doses caused a slight choleretic effect at 24 hr. The highest dose caused a transient inhibition of bile flow, but this effect was no longer evident at 6hr. Biliary excretion of PG was inhibited significantly by colchicine within 6 hr after administration, an effect that was also persistent at 24 hr. Colchicine at a 1 mg/kg dose did not cause any adverse effect on hepatobiliary function. Therefore, for the interactive toxicity study with CCl 4 , 1 mg colchicine/kg was chosen as a moderate dose which did not cause any significant adverse effect on hepatobiliary function. Biliary excretion of PG was significantly lower in rats at 6 and 24 hr after the combination treatment with colchicine + CCl 4 than in rats receiving either CCl 4 or colchicine alone. In contrast, rats receiving CCl 4 alone or colchicine + CCl 4 showed a significant increase in cumulative bile flow at 6 hr, whereas, at 24 hr, the bile flow was increased significantly in rats receiving colchicine regardless of CCl 4 treatment. The data suggest that colchicine pretreatment leads to significant inhibition of hepatobiliary excretion in CCl 4 treated rats. Serum alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase levels were elevated significantly after the colchicine + CCl 4 combination, indicating hepatic injury. Histological examination of the liver revealed that although CCl 4 alone caused observable liver injury at 6 hr, these rats recovered from liver injury at 24 hr. In contrast, a marked increase was evident in the number of necrotic and swollen hepatocytes in colchicine + CCl 4 treated rats, which persisted even at 24 hr after CCl 4 treatment. In conclusion, a single administration of colchicine at 0.1 or 1 mg/kg did not cause any hepatic toxicity and did not affect hepatobiliary function significantly. At 2.5 mg/kg, colchicine caused detectable liver injury and adversely affected hepatobiliary function. The combination of colchicine (1 mg/kg) and CCl 4 (100 μL/kg) at individually nontoxic doses resulted in prolongation of CCl 4 toxicity.

Diethyl phthalate (DEP) is widely used in personal care products, plastics and medical devices at various concentrations, but its information is limited on its toxicity associated with exposure at high as well as low doses for a prolonged period. Therefore, a study was undertaken to understand the dose-response toxic effect of DEP in male Wistar rats. Control rats were fed on normal diet and water ad libitum. Rats were given DEP dissolved individually in corn oil mixed with the diet at 10, 25 and 50 mg/kg of the diet/day, which is equal to 0.57, 1.425 and 2.85 mg/kg body wt/day. After 5 months of treatment animals were sacrificed, enzymes and other biochemical parameters in the serum and liver were assessed. Liver weight to body weight ratio showed a significant increase only in 10 ppm DEP treated rats. A significant increase was observed in the serum ACP, LDH, ALT enzyme levels of 10 mg/kg treated rats as compared to control, 25 and 50 mg/kg treated rats. Other biochemical parameters like glycogen, total cholesterol, total triglycerides and lipid peroxidation were also increased in the liver of all the three treated groups. In the 10 and 50 mg/kg diet/day treated rats, there was a significant decrease in liver total GSH as compared to controls and 25 mg/kg treated rats. Histology of liver showed severe vacuolations, fatty degeneration and loss of hepatic architecture in the 10mg/kg treated rats, whereas in the 25 and 50 mg/kg treated rats only loss of hepatic architecture and granular deposits in the hepatocytes was predominant. Histology of liver by electron micrographs showed a significant dose-dependent proliferation of mitochondria in the hepatocytes, while the 10mg/kg treated rats showed increased number of peroxisomes in the hepatocytes. It is evident from this study that treatment with higher concentrations of DEP results in mitochondrial proliferation as well as accumulation of glycogen, cholesterol and triglycerides within the liver, but exposure to lower concentrations for longer periods results in increase in peroxisome numbers leading to severe hepatocellular changes which can be confirmed by significantly increased liver weights, elevated enzyme levels in the serum and liver and impaired metabolism of glycogen, cholesterol and triglyceride as well as altered liver histology.

Parity is a key observable in nuclear spectroscopy. Linear polarization measurements of $\gamma$-rays are a probe to access the parities of energy levels. Utilizing the segmentation of detectors in the Segmented Germanium Array (SeGA) at the NSCL and analyzing the positions of interaction therein allows the detectors to be used as Compton polarimeters. Unlike other segmented detectors, SeGA detectors are irradiated from the side to utilize the transversal segmentation for better Doppler corrections. Sensitivity in such an orientation has previously been untested. A linear polarization sensitivity $Q \approx 0.14$ has been measured in the 350-keV energy range for SeGA detectors using $\alpha$-$\gamma$ correlations from a \nuc{249}{Cf} source., Comment: 7 pages, 9 figures

International audience; Composite chiral bands, corresponding to the $\pi g_{9/2}\nu (h_{11/2})^2$ quasiparticle configuration, were observed in $^{103}Rh and $^{105}$Rh. The behaviour of these bands were compared with that of the chiral bands with $\pi g_{9/2}\nu h_{11/2}$ quasiparticle configuration observed in the odd-odd $^{102}Rh and $^{104}Rh nuclei. This comparison shows in a model independent way that the energy separation pattern of the chiral partner bands depends strongly on the properties of the triaxial core while the dependence on the valence quasiparticle coupling and on the Fermi level is weaker.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the interactive toxicity of ethanol with potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7-chromium). Young, male Wistar rats (100-120 g) were divided into four groups of five or six animals each and were dosed, through water, with 10% ethanol (vol./vol.) or 25 ppm chromium or were dosed with a combination of ethanol+chromium at the same concentrations for a period of 22 weeks ad libitum and were maintained on normal diet. Control animals were maintained on a normal diet and water for the same period. The serum succinate dehydrogenase and liver total triglyceride levels were significantly reduced in the three treated groups. The serum alkaline phosphatase levels were significantly reduced in ethanol-treated rats, and there was no significant change in the acid phosphatase activity. Serum aspartate and alanine aminotransferase levels in the three treated groups were significantly increased. The liver glycogen significantly decreased in both the ethanol-treated and the chromium-treated rats. There was a significant increase in liver total cholesterol levels in chromium-treated rats. Total glutathione levels were significantly decreased in the livers of ethanol-treated and ethanol+chromium-treated rats. To further substantiate these findings, a histological examination of the liver and kidneys was undertaken. The livers of alcohol-treated animals showed altered hepatic architecture in the centrilobular and periportal areas, with increased sinusoidal space (space of Disse), vacuolation, and necrosis of hepatocytes. Similar changes were observed in a histological examination of the livers of chromium-treated rats, except that the damage to the hepatocytes was more confined to the periportal area. Moreover, histological examination of the livers of ethanol+chromium-treated rats revealed uniform damage in the centrilobular and periportal areas, as was observed in the groups treated either with ethanol or chromium. The histological examination of the kidneys in the three treated groups revealed significant damage to the renal tubules and Bowman's capsule, which showed vacuolation and degeneration of the basement membrane. These findings correlate well with the serum enzyme levels found in the treated groups. It is evident from this study that chronic ethanol consumption sensitizes the liver to the toxic action of agents such as chromium. It leads to impairment of the biochemical functions in the liver, and it causes liver and kidney damage. Long-term simultaneous exposure to ethanol and chromium may cause severe health problems in people who are alcoholics and work in chrome-plating and leather-tanning industries.

Of the seventeen samples of human adipose tissue and seven samples of human liver analysed for PCB, all were found to contain PCB. The adipose tissue showed mean PCB concentration of 0.920 ppm and the PCB contamination ranged from 0.206–2.843 ppm. On the other hand, liver samples were found to contain mean PCB concentrations of 0.403 ppm and the contamination of PCB ranged from 0.111–0.747 ppm. The analysis of PCB was done on a gas Chromatograph equipped with electron capture detector. The extraction of samples was done with hexane followed by clean up on a silica gel column.

Twenty‐six human whole milk samples were analysed for the presence of PCBs. 96% of the samples were found to contain Aroclor 1260 type PCBs, whose concentration varied from 0.0–1.413 ppm and a mean concentration of 0.409 ppm. The maximum number of samples were found to contain PCB in the range of 0.1–0.5 ppm with 61 % incidence.

Two groups of 32 male Wistar rats, each 5 weeks of age, were fed on protein diet containing polychlorinated biphenyl (Aroclor 1260), at 50 ppm and 100 ppm levels, respectively, for 120 days. This not only brought about gross hepatic changes but induced neoplastic nodules with adenofibrosis in 75% and 50% of the rats of the respective groups. None of the control animals showed such changes. The study revealed that feeding of the PCBs can not only induce liver adenofibrosis in young male Wistar rats in a short duration of time, but also showed that the carcinogenic potentiality in male rats fed Aroclor 1260 is greater when fed at a lower dose.