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Sugar-rich foods are the complex mixtures of different carbohydrates in amorphous and crystalline forms. They are mostly not in equilibrium, and transition from amorphous form to crystalline form is very likely during their storage. It is essential to know the crystalline/amorphous fraction of sugars to study these undesirable changes. The existing techniques are not adequate owing to the nonideal interactions among these sugars. In this work, we propose a novel technique, which first segregates crystals from the amorphous matter by dispersing the food material in an appropriate solvent. This is followed by separation of crystals by filtration, and further quantification and characterization by high-performance liquid chromatography, X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimeter and microscopy. Non-centrifugal sugar and fondant, which are mixtures of sucrose, glucose and fructose, are chosen as representative examples to demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed method. On an average, 70–90% of the sucrose in NCS samples was found to be in crystalline state.

Two three-dimensional metal organic frameworks (MOFs) with a 5,5′,5′′-(2,4,6-trimethyl-1,3,5-phenylene)tris(methylene)tris(azanediyl)triisophthalic acid (H6L) ligand, viz., {[Zn4(L)1/3(H2O)4]6+[S]}n (LZn) and {[NaCd2(L)(DMF)3]−·(Me2NH2+)(3DMF)}n (LCd), where the S in LZn denotes a squeezed anion and solvent molecules and DMF denotes dimethylformamide, were synthesized under solvothermal conditions. LZn is a porous compound that contains paddle wheel binuclear [Zn2(COO)4 and Zn2(COO)3] secondary building units (SBUs), while LCd is an intrapenetrating MOF with Cd2Na trinuclear SBUs. The sensing results showed that both MOFs act as selective sensors towards nitrophenolic explosives, i.e., nitrophenol (NP), dinitrophenol (DNP), and trinitrophenol (TNP). Furthermore, LCd exhibited behavior that is typical of an ultramicroporous material and selectively adsorbed CO2, while N2 molecules were adsorbed only on its surface. By contrast, LZn showed selectivity towards N2 molecules at 77 K.

Inorganic phosphate (Pi) is shown to be involved in excretion of methylglyoxal (MG) in the promastigote form ofLeishmania donovaniparasite. Absence of Pi leads to its accumulation inside the parasite. Accumulation of MG is toxic to the parasite and utilizes glyoxylase as well as excretory pathways for its detoxification. In addition, Pi is also reported to regulate activities of ectoenzymes and energy metabolism (glucose to pyruvate) etc. Thus, it is known to cumulatively affect the growth ofLeishmaniaparasite. Hence the transporters, which allow the movement of Pi across the membrane, can prove to be a crucial drug target. Therefore, we characterized two phosphate transporters inLeishmania(i) H+dependent myo-inositol transporter (LdPHO84), and (ii) Na+dependent transporter (LdPHO89), based on similar studies done previously on other lower organisms and trypanosomatids. We tried to understand the secondary structure of these two proteins and confirm modulation in their expression with the change in Pi concentration outside. Moreover, their modes of action were also measured in the presence of specific inhibitors (LiF, CCCP). Further analysis on the physiological role of these transporters in various stages of the parasite life cycle needs to be entrenched.

This article reports the elastic collision cross section for the tetrahedral compounds of silicon, germanium and tin by intermediate to high energy (20–5000 eV) electrons. The calculations were carried out using a quantum mechanical approach called spherical complex optical potential (SCOP) formalism. Under the same frame work the total scattering cross section has been also studied. Among the studied molecules, the total scattering cross sections for SiCl 4 and GeCl 4 by electrons has been compared with available experimental values. For all other molecules the elastic and total cross sections are reported for the first time. We have also investigated the halogenation effect by comparing the ratio of cross sections for different halides.

This article is focused on the calculation of electron-induced ionisation and total scattering cross sections by Boron, Aluminium and Gallium trihalide molecules in the intermediate energy domain. ...

Seven supramolecular assemblies of benzene-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylic acid (pyromellitic acid, H4BTtC) and various pyrazoles viz., pyrazole (PzH), 3,5-dimethylpyrazole (PzMe2H), 3,5-diisopropylpyrazole (PziPr2H), 3-tert-butyl-5-isopropylpyrazole (PztBu,iPrH), 3-phenyl-5-methylpyrazole (PzPh,MeH), 3-cumyl-5-methylpyrazole (PzCum,MeH), 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethyl-4,4′-bipyrazole (BPzH2) have been synthesized. Proton transfer was observed in all the cases except with 3-phenyl-5-methylpyrazole (PzPh,MeH). Theoretical studies were also performed to analyze the effect of various substituted pyrazoles on hydrogen-bond interaction energy of adducts. Energies of the resulted SOFs were also calculated to correlate their stability and occurrence with the different substituent present on the pyrazoles. Supramolecular assemblies of pyromellitic acid with pyrazoles have been synthesized.

Deep-sea bacteria when grown in normal environmental conditions get morphologically and genetically adapted to resist the provided culture conditions for their survival, making them a possible aspirant in mercury bioremediation. In this study, seawater samples were collected from different depths of the Central Indian Ocean and seven mercury resistant bacteria (resistant to 100 mg L-1 concentration of inorganic Hg as HgCl2) were isolated. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing, the identified isolates belong to the genera Pseudomonas, Bacillus and Pseudoalteromonas. The presence of the merA gene in the isolates contributes to the effective volatilization of mercury. The Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass-Spectroscopy analysis revealed that the isolates can reduce up to >80% of inorganic mercury. Moreover, Fourier Transform Infrared spectrum analysis indicates that functional groups play a key role in the mechanism of adaptation towards Hg2+ reduction. Thus, the deep-sea bacteria expressed significant tolerance and reduction potential towards ionic mercury.

Th e main objective of this study wa s to investigate hypoglycemic effects of Bougainvillea g labra Leaves extract in Streptozotocin ( S TZ ) induced hyperglycemic rats . The se condary objective of the study wa s to study effect of extract on b iochemical parameters . Extract wa s prepared from leaves of Bougainvillea g labra by Soxhlet extraction method . Diabetes was induced in rats by using Streptozotocin and rats were divided into 6 groups namely control, Diabetic, treated groups at doses of 250 mg / kg, 500 mg / kg, 1000 mg / kg and Lisinopri l treated group . Blood and Urine samples we re collected for the estimation of Total Glycerides ( TG ) , Serum Cholesterol, Total protein, Blood Urea Nitrogen ( BUN ) , Serum Creatinine, Thiobarbituric acid reactive substance ( TBARS ) and Glutathione levels ( GSH ). The result showed positive effect of leaves extract to reduce hyperglycemia in treated group as compared to control group . Bougainvil le a g labra extract at 1000 mg / kg dose showed efficient results .

The electron scattering elastic and total scattering cross section for CF 3 X and CF 2 X 2 (where X = H, Cl, Br, and I) molecules are reported in this article for incident energies from 30 to 5000 eV. These cross sections are relevant to various fields of applied interest, especially to plasma modelling. The calculations are performed using the quantum mechanical approach, where the potential representing the interaction dynamics between the incoming electron and the scattering centre of the molecule is formulated using spherical complex optical potential. This potential is then incorporated to Schrodinger equation, which is solved through partial wave analysis. The results obtained in the present calculation are compared with previously available experimental and theoretical data.

Similar to their mammalian counterpart, protozoan parasites including Leishmania donovani detoxify methylglyoxal (MG),(1) a toxic ubiquitous product generated in glycolysis pathway. However, it differs in one or more way(s) from the humans. It is known that MG is eliminated either through glyoxalase (GLO)(2) pathway and/or excreted across the cell membrane. This toxic metabolic by-product is known to be detoxified predominantly by the GLO pathway and excretion across the cell membrane is never considered to be a significant pathway for its detoxification. We have tried to modulate these pathways under various physiological conditions to find ways that may lead to accumulation of MG in L. donovani. Besides targeting the GLO pathway, we intend to understand the mechanism of MG release across the cell membrane and possible ways to inhibit its exclusion from parasites. In our study, it was found that inorganic phosphate (Pi)(3) in the presence of glucose inhibits the production of MG as well as promotes the expulsion of MG from the cell. Moreover, the trivalent form of antimony (Sb(III)) inhibits GLO pathway and thus detoxification of MG. Inhibition of Pi transport, which is a Na(+)/H(+) dependent process, restores the Pi mediated abrogation of MG production. Thus, Sb(III) along with inhibitors of Pi transporter may be a therapeutic advancement for treatment of antimony resistant cases of human visceral leishmaniasis. However, it requires further validation using specific inhibitor(s) of Pi transporter.

Crystallization of sucrose in sugar confectioneries is either restricted or proliferated, to achieve desired texture and mouthfeel. Non-centrifugal sugars (NCS) is one such similar confectionery, processed from sugarcane juice and is available in a partially crystalline form. We have found that conditions adopted for crystallization in its production process largely influence its quality and shelf-life. In this work, we study crystallization of sucrose in this mixture through microscopic analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and moisture sorption isotherm. The influence of stirring time, cooling policy and content of reducing sugars (RS) on crystallization and crystal size distribution of NCS is elucidated. The analysis depicted favourable crystal growth during slow cooling policy which allows longer stirring time and higher moisture removal before solidification. The RS content has a major influence on crystallization, and that the yield was found to be 82.15% and 69.26% for RS 5.9% and 11.6%, respectively, under otherwise similar conditions. It was observed that the rapid cooling policy results in relatively smaller crystals for both the RS values.

Two folded interpenetrating metal organic frameworks (MOFs) viz. {[Zn4(L)2(NO3)(H2O)3]+ [S1]}n(LZn) and {[Cd4(L)2(NO3)(DMF)8(H2O)](NO3)(DMF)2(S2)}n (LCd) where S1 denotes squeezed nitrate anions and solvent molecules and S2 denotes the squeezed solvent molecule, have been synthesized from (4,4′,4′'-(((2,4,6-trimethylbenzene-1,3,5-triyl)tris(methylene))tris(azanediyl))tribenzoic acid) (H3L) ligand and Zn(NO3)2•6H2O/Cd(NO3)2•4H2O metal salts by solvothermal process. The structural analysis showed that both LZn and LCd are two dimensional (2D) interpenetrating metal organic frameworkscontaining binuclear paddle wheel secondary building units (SBUs), Zn2(COO)3 and Cd2(COO)3, with hexagonal (hcb) net topology having 3-connected uninodal net. In LZn, both interpenetrating frameworks are vertical while in LCd, these are parallel to each other. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that both MOFs are stable up to 350 °C. Gas adsorption study demonstrated that these MOFs are selective towards CO2 over N2 gas due to sieving effect as well as Lewis acid-Lewis base interaction.

The jaggery-making process involves various thermo-chemical treatments of sugarcane juice. As jaggery making is a traditional practice, knowledge about the use of different chemicals in the process is transferred from generation to generation without much scientific understanding. Phosphoric acid is one of the chemicals commonly used in this process. We have investigated its effect through systematic experiments. The addition of acid causes inversion of sucrose, which beyond a certain point is not desirable for good quality jaggery. In the correct proportions, however, phosphoric acid improves the colour and texture of jaggery and helps in the formation of smaller sized crystals. Reducing sugars formed due to inversion hinder crystal growth, resulting in relatively small crystals. In our experiments, the average crystal size reduced from 22.22 µm to 14.34 µm. Acid-treated jaggery was found to equilibrate at higher moisture. A comparison with normal jaggery is thus provided for its keeping quality.

This article presents positron scattering cross sections for simple hydrocarbons, viz., ethane, ethene, ethyne, propane, and propyne. The present work focuses on the calculation of different elastic and inelastic interactions due to positron impact with simple hydrocarbons in terms of inelastic cross sections (both with and without positronium formation channel), electronic excitation cross section (Qexc) and momentum transfer cross section (Qmtcs). Knowing that positron-plasma study is one of the trending fields, the calculated data have diverse plasma and astrophysical modeling applications. Due to the lack of previous studies, all the cross sections presented have been reported for the first time.

This article accounts for an extensive investigation of electron scattering with germane molecule over a wide energy range pertinent to various plasma processes. Efforts have been made to present a complete dataset of cross sections for various electron scattering processes. Such datasets are required for the plasma modeling community. Moreover, literature survey indicates that the cross-section database for electron-germane collision is fragmentary. To overcome this, we have calculated the differential elastic, total, electronic excitation, differential rotation excitation, and momentum transfer cross sections. The rate coefficients in the temperature range of 100–10,000 K are also reported for this molecule. Two quantum mechanical approaches are implemented to accomplish this task over an energy range from 0.5 to 5000 eV. They are ab initio R-matrix method at low-incident energies and the spherical complex optical potential formalism from intermediate to high energies. The present cross- section exhibits reasonable agreement with the previously available data found in the literature.

People suffering from malnutrition become susceptible to the infection like Leishmania sp., as it results in a compromised immune response. Retinoic acid (RA), an important constituent of nutrition, shows an immune-modulatory activity. However, its role in the containment of infection is not yet ascertained, particularly in case of visceral leishmaniasis (VL). VL patients (n = 10) and healthy endemic controls (n = 9) were recruited to measure the serum levels of RA. An in vitro model of Leishmania infection using the murine mφ cell line J774.1 was used to investigate the RA-synthesizing enzymes (RALDH-1 and RALDH-2). Parasite loads among infected mφ were measured by quantitative expression of kDNA in the presence of an inhibitor of the RALDH-2 enzyme. We found a significant decrease in the serum levels of RA in VL cases. Importantly, we observed decreased levels of RALDH-1 and RALDH-2 among L. donovani-infected mφ along with simultaneous decrease as well as increase in the Th-1 and Th-2-associated factors, respectively. Furthermore, the pretreatment of mφ with an RALDH-2 inhibitor improved parasite in vitro infection. Our findings show impaired RA pathway among infected mφ and indicate that an intact RA pathway is critical for anti-Leishmania immune response. Graphical abstract ᅟ.

We report here the total ionisation cross sections for CF3X and CF2X2 (X = H, Cl, Br and I) molecules by electron impact from ionisation threshold to 5 keV. The total inelastic cross section is obtained employing a quantum mechanical approach called spherical complex optical potential formalism. Then, using a semi-empirical complex scattering potential-ionisation contribution method, the ionisation cross section is derived from the inelastic cross section. The results obtained are compared with previous measurements and theoretical values, wherever available and a satisfactorily agreement is observed. The ionisation cross section values for CF2I2 molecule are reported for the first time.

Maleic acid, present in the effluent from organic intermediate producing industries, is an industrially important raw material. Its use in manufacture of alkyd and polyester resins, surface coatings, lubricant additives, plasticizers, co-polymers and agricultural chemicals, makes it necessary to explore for best possible techniques to recover it from aqueous solutions. The present work investigates the recovery of maleic acid from aqueous solution at ambient temperature. N–Methyl–n, n–dioctyloctan–1–ammonium chloride, (commercially known as Aliquat 336) is used as an extractant with three different diluents, belonging to different chemical classes: an aromatic hydrocarbon, a ketone, and an acetate. The chemical extraction results are reported in the terms of distribution coefficient, degree of extraction, and loading ratios. The results were modeled by mass action equilibria model as well as differential evolution technique. Differential evolution algorithm has been prepared. The model and experimental observations were compared and fairly good agreement was observed.

DRDE-07, a newly synthesized amifostine analog currently under clinical investigation in a phase I trial, is a potent antidote against sulfur mustard toxicity. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the pharmacokinetic profile of DRDE-07 in female Swiss Albino mice after a single oral dose of 400 or 600 mg/kg. The physicochemical properties of DRDE-07, including solubility, pKa, Log P, plasma protein binding and plasma/blood partitioning, were determined to support the pharmacokinetic characterization. DRDE-07 concentration was determined by an HPLC-UV method. The profile of plasma concentration versus time was analyzed using a non-compartmental model. Plasma protein binding was assessed using ultrafiltration. DRDE-07 appeared rapidly in plasma after oral administration with peak plasma levels (Cmax) observed in less than 15 min. There was a rapid decline in the plasma levels followed by a smaller second peak about 90 min after dosing. The plasma protein binding of DRDE-07 was found to be less than 25% at all concentrations studied. Plasma clearance of DRDE-07 is expected to be ~1.5 fold higher than the blood clearance of DRDE-07. The probable metabolite of DRDE-07 was identified as phenyl-S-ethyl amine., Graphical abstract

Jaggery is a non-centrifugal sweetener produced by thermo-chemical treatments of sugarcane juice. The traditional practices involved in making jaggery are usually tailored using chemicals to meet consumer requirements. Sodium hydrosulphite (hydros) is a commonly employed chemical in the jaggery industry to improve its colour. This article presents a comparative study of jaggery made with and without hydros treatments. The differences in properties, such as sorption behaviour, colour, polyphenols, flavonoids, minerals, and sulphur dioxide content, were measured. Hydros-treated jaggery was found to be brighter in colour with a lower browning index by 5–10. SO2 content of hydros-treated jaggery was >70 ppm, while minerals, polyphenols, and flavonoids were less abundant compared to control jaggery, thereby compromising overall quality. Based on the experiments carried out, the optimum treatment of hydros can be employed to satisfy consumer demand while producing an acceptable quality of jaggery that conforms to norms.

Dinuclear phenoxo-bridged nickel complexes [Ni2(L1)H2O(CH3COO)](1) and [Ni2(L2)H2O(CH3COO)](2) (where L1H3° = 2-(2′-hydroxyphenyl)-1,3-bis[4-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-3-azabutenyl]-3-enyl]-1,3-imidazolidine and L2H3° = 2-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-2-hydroxyphenyl)-1,3-bis[4-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-2-hydroxyphenyl)-3-azabutenyl]-1,3-idazolidine, and H stands for dissociable protons) have been synthesized and characterized by different spectroscopic methods. Molecular structure of 2 was determined by X-ray crystallography. Redox properties of complexes 1 and 2 were investigated by cyclic voltammetric studies. As functional mimic of active site of galactose oxidase enzyme, complexes 1 and 2 were utilized for the oxidation of primary alcohol. Both the complexes exhibited catecholase activity. DNA interaction studies on complexes 1 and 2 were also investigated. Self-activated DNA cleavage activity of complex 2 was observed. The cytotoxicity of the complexes 1 and 2 was measured using a standard MTT assay and IC50 values for of 1 and 2 were found to be 21.92 µM and 20.69 µM on MCF-7 breast cancer cell line respectively.

DRDE-07 is a new synthetic compound found to be the most prophylactic agent against sulfur mustard toxicity. In this study, the development and validation of a high-performance liquid chromatograph...

A rod-shaped, Gram-negative, non-motile, aerobic and non-endospore forming bacterium, designated strain DD-13T, was isolated from the mangrove ecosystem of Goa, India. Strain DD-13T degraded polysaccharides such as agar, alginate, chitin, cellulose, laminarin, pectin, pullulan, starch, carrageenan, xylan and β-glucan. The optimum pH and temperature for growth was 7 and 36 °C, respectively. The strain grew optimally in the presence of 3 % NaCl (w/v). The DNA G+C content was 61.4 mol%. The predominant fatty acid of strain DD-13T was iso-C15 : 0. Ubiquinone-8 was detected as the major respiratory lipoquinone. Phylogenetic studies based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis demonstrated that strain DD-13T formed a coherent cluster with species of the genus Microbulbifer . Strain DD-13T exhibited 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity levels of 98.9–97.1 % with Microbulbifer hydrolyticus IRE-31T, Microbulbifer salipaludis JCM 11542T, Microbulbifer agarilyticus JAMB A3T, Microbulbifer celer KCTC 12973T and Microbulbifer elongatus DSM 6810T. However, the level of DNA–DNA relatedness between strain DD-13T and the five type strains of these species of the genus Microbulbifer were in the range of 26–33 %. Additionally, strain DD-13T demonstrates several phenotypic differences from these type strains of species of the genus Microbulbifer . Thus strain DD-13T represents a novel species of the genus Microbulbifer , for which the name Microbulbifer mangrovi sp. nov. is proposed with the type strain DD-13T ( = KCTC 23483T = JCM 17729T).

Introduction Enterococci are part of the normal intestinal flora and have been recognized as important human pathogens. Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) are global threat as this resistance is transmissible and also poses a challenge for infection control. Aim This study was undertaken to study phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of VRE from clinically significant infections among hospitalized patients and their association with gut colonization. Materials and methods Clinically significant isolates of enterococci (n=250) were studied. Species confirmation was done by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) for vancomycin was determined by E-test. PCR for VanA, VanB and VanC1 gene was done for genotypic characterization. MIC for teicoplanin, linezolid, tigecycline, daptomycin and quinupristin-dalfopristin was determined by E test. Patients with VRE infection were screened for gut colonization using vancomycin screen agar (6 μg/mL). Continuous data was analysed using the Student's t-test. Categorical data was assessed using Pearson's Chi-square test. A value of p ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results There was good correlation between the phenotypic and genotypic methods used for species identification and detection of vancomycin resistance. E. faecium (162, 64.8%) was most common followed by E. faecalis (82, 32.84%) and E. gallinarum (6, 2.4%). Overall higher resistance was observed among E. faecium. Vancomycin MIC ≥ 2 μg/mL was noted in 63 (25.2%) isolates. Fifty seven isolates showed presence of vanA and vanC1 was detected in six isolates of E. gallinarum. Isolates with VanB genotype was not detected in the present study. MIC50 (μg/mL) for teicoplanin, linezolid, tigecycline, daptomycin and quinupristin-dalfopristrin was 24, 0.75, 0.064, 2 and 0.064 respectively. Resistance to linezolid (1, 1.6%) and tigecycline (2, 3.2%) was rare. Majority (33/47, 70.2%) patients with clinically significant VRE infection showed gut colonization. Conclusion Vancomycin resistance among enterococci is emerging. Emergence of tigecycline and linezolid resistance is also posing a challenge for clinicians. Thus, further investigations are warranted to control vancomycin resistance among pathogens.

The litchi is one of the chief fruits of the Asian continent. It is grown almost half of the year and is enjoyed by people for its sweet juice as well as its soft pulp. Also, it is very rich in vitamin C and important minerals and antioxidants. Modern farming does not use chemical fertilizers; thus, bio-fertilizers are used, exploiting the relationship of microbial interactions to plant growth. Mycorrhizal fungi associations are found in the litchi rhizosphere, and these fungi acquire their nutrition from the associated host plants and consequently enhance access to phosphorus and nitrogen. The association between fungi and trees such as the litchi is recognized as vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizae (VAM). In soil habitat, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are present in symbiosis with litchi roots and cause increase in root length by secreting plant hormones. Availability of appropriate temperature and nutrients will strongly influence the association of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi with plant growth. Thus, the present chapter focuses on understanding how microbial flora interaction with the litchi rhizosphere helps to enhance the potential productivity of the litchi.

Laser ablative shock waves from compacted nano-sized powders was studied using time resolved shadowgraphy technique. Shock wave properties such as propagation of shock front, contact front, velocity and pressure behind the shock front were studied from nano-sized powders of Amorphous Boron (B) and Lithium Fluoride coated Boron (LiF-B) with the material density of 2.34 g/cc. The experiments were performed to understand the challenging aspects of laser-powder interactions to explore their application potential for laser ablation Propulsion (LAP).

Alcohol dependence is a progressive chronic disorder characterized by narrowing of the drinking repertoire, salience of drinking, tolerance and withdrawal phenomenon, compulsion to drink, and frequent relapses. Baclofen has been shown to promote abstinence, to reduce craving, and to reduce anxiety in alcohol-dependent individuals, and it promises to be a useful agent, although clinical data are limited at present.The current study aimed to test the utility of baclofen, a GABA agonist, in improving the relapse rates in alcohol-dependent subjects.A total of 122 alcohol-dependent subjects were randomized into two groups. Groups were administered baclofen (30 mg/day) or benfothiamine (a nutritional supplement) using an open label design. Both groups received brief motivational intervention. Subjects were assessed at 0, 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks for the primary outcome measures: time to first relapse, heavy drinking days, cumulative abstinence duration, and craving (measured by the Obsessive Compulsive Drinking Scale (OCDS)).Seventy-two participants received baclofen, and 50 received benfothiamine. Participants receiving baclofen remained abstinent for significantly more days than the benfothiamine group (p0.05). The percentage of heavy drinking days was significantly lower in the baclofen group (p = 0.001). Craving and anxiety scores (Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale) were also significantly decreased in the baclofen group relative to the control group (p = 0.001). Time to first relapse was similar in both groups.In this open-label trial, alcohol-dependent participants receiving baclofen showed significant improvements in drinking outcomes compared with participants receiving benfothiamine. This study provides further evidence that baclofen is useful for the treatment of alcohol dependence.

A Gram-staining-positive, aerobic, motile, rod-shaped (0.4-0.5×2.0-4.0 µm), endospore-forming bacterium, designated strain NIOT.bflm.S4T, was isolated from biofilm formed on high-density polyethylene test coupons in coastal seawater. The strain required seawater for growth. It grew with 1.0-8.0 % (w/v) NaCl, at 4-45 °C and at pH 6.5-9.0, with optimum growth with 4.0-5.0 % (w/v) NaCl, at 30 °C and at pH 7.0-8.0. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA and partial dnaK gene sequences showed that strain NIOT.bflm.S4T formed a phylogenetic lineage with Pseudogracilibacillus auburnensis P-207T, the only known species of the genus Pseudogracilibacillusand shared sequence identities of 96.9 and 83 %, respectively, with this strain. The identities of 16S rRNA and partial dnaK gene sequences with members of other related genera such as Gracilibacillus, Paraliobacillus, Ornithinibacillus, Oceanobacillus, Virgibacillus and Lentibacillus were ≤95 and ≤78 %, respectively. The DNA G+C content of strain NIOT.bflm.S4T was 39.1 mol%. MK-7 was found as the sole isoprenoid quinone. The major polar lipids of strain NIOT.bflm.S4T were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and an unknown lipid. The diagnostic diamino acid of the cell-wall peptidoglycan was meso-diaminopimelic acid. Major cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0 (27.9 %), anteiso-C17 : 0 (18.6 %), C12 : 0 (8.7 %) and iso-C15 : 0 (6.6 %). On the basis of phenotypic, phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic results, we propose that the isolate represents a novel species of the genus Pseudogracilibacillus, for which the name Pseudogracilibacillus marinus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is NIOT.bflm.S4T (=KACC 18456T=MTCC 12376T=TBRC 5831T).

We have carried out a polyphasic taxonomic characterization of Bacillus beijingensis DSM 19037T and Bacillus ginsengi DSM 19038T, which are closely related phylogenetically to Bhargavaea cecembensis LMG 24411T. All three strains are Gram-stain-positive, non-motile, moderately halotolerant and non-spore-forming. 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses showed that the strains constituted a coherent cluster, with sequence similarities between 99.7 and 98.7 %. The percentage similarity on the basis of amino acid sequences deduced from partial gyrB gene nucleotide sequences of these three type strains was 96.1–92.7 %. Phylogenetic trees based on the 16S rRNA gene and GyrB amino acid sequences, obtained by using three different algorithms, were consistent and showed that these three species constituted a deeply rooted cluster separated from the clades represented by the genera Bacillus , Planococcus , Planomicrobium , Sporosarcina , Lysinibacillus , Viridibacillus , Kurthia and Geobacillus , supporting their placement in the genus Bhargavaea . All three type strains have menaquinone MK-8 as the major respiratory quinone and showed similar fatty acid profiles. The main polar lipids present in the three type strains were diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol, and the three strains showed peptidoglycan type A4α with l-lysine as the diagnostic diamino acid. The DNA G+C contents of Bacillus beijingensis DSM 19037T, Bacillus ginsengi DSM 19038T and Bhargavaea cecembensis LMG 24411T were 53.1, 50.2 and 53.7 mol%, respectively. The level of DNA–DNA hybridization among the three strains was 57–39 %, indicating that they are members of different species of the genus Bhargavaea . The phenotypic data are consistent with the placement of these three species in a single genus and support their differentiation at the species level. On the basis of these data, we have emended the description of the genus Bhargavaea and propose the reclassification of Bacillus beijingensis and Bacillus ginsengi to the genus Bhargavaea , as Bhargavaea beijingensis comb. nov. (type strain ge10T = DSM 19037T = CGMCC 1.6762T) and Bhargavaea ginsengi comb. nov. (type strain ge14T = DSM 19038T = CGMCC 1.6763T).

Two Gram-negative-staining, aerobic, non-motile, rod-shaped bacteria, designated strains FFA1T and FFA3T, and belonging to the class Gammaproteobacteria were isolated from the gastrointestinal tract of adult flesh flies (Diptera: Sarcophagidae). Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequence data placed these two strains within the genus Ignatzschineria with similarities of 98.6 % (FFA1T) and 99.35 % (FFA3T) to Ignatzschineria larvae L1/68T. The level of gene sequence similarity between strains FFA1T and FFA3T was 99 %, 97.15 % and 78.1 % based on the 16S rRNA, 23S rRNA and gyrB gene sequences, respectively. Strains FFA1T and FFA3T shared 24 % DNA–DNA relatedness. DNA–DNA hybridization revealed a very low level of relatedness between the novel strains (22 % for strain FFA1T and 44 % for strain FFA3T) and I. larvae L1/68T genomic DNA. The respiratory quinone was Q-8 in both novel strains. The DNA G+C contents were 41.1 mol% and 40.1 mol% for strains FFA1T and FFA3T, respectively. The cell membrane of both strains consisted of phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phospholipids and aminophospholipid. The major fatty acids for both strains were C16 : 0, summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c), CyC19 : 0ω8c and C14 : 0. The results of DNA–DNA hybridization between the two new strains and I. larvae L1/68T, in combination with phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic, biochemical and electron microscopic data, demonstrated that strains FFA1T and FFA3T represented two novel species of the genus Ignatzschineria for which the names Ignatzschineria indica sp. nov. (type strain FFA1T = DSM 22309T = KCTC 22643T = NCIM 5325T) and Ignatzschineria ureiclastica sp. nov. (type strain FFA3T = DSM 22310T = KCTC 22644T = NCIM 5326T) are proposed.

Blood platelets are the innate immune elements that have not been investigated in human filarial infections. Platelet activation status in the endemic normals (EN), microfilaria positive individuals (MF) and patients with chronic pathology (CP) was evaluated in whole blood, under unstimulated as well as antigen exposed (BmA, E. coli) conditions for PAC-1 expression by Flow cytometry. A diminished PAC-1 expression was observed in MF compared to CP and EN spontaneously as well as upon antigen exposure. Besides this, PAC-1 expression within the groups did not exhibit any significant difference under all the experimental conditions. However in CP patients, E. coli antigen exposure resulted in a significantly reduced PAC-1 expression compared to the spontaneous expression levels. NO release in platelet culture supernatants from EN was inversely proportional to platelet aggregation. Collagen stimulated platelets from EN, exposed to sera and immune complexes from CP and MF patients resulted in elevated Nitric Oxide (NO) release, compared to those exposed to autologous sera and fetal calf serum. In addition, under similar conditions, collagen stimulated platelets from EN, exposed to filarial antigen (BmA) exhibited increased NO compared to the E. coli antigen exposed ones and light microscopic observations of cultured platelets supported the above findings. Thus it appears from the results of the present study that filarial antigen may play a role in the loss of platelet aggregation, leading to platelet inactivation.

A Gram-negative, rod-shaped, non-spore forming, non-motile and moderate halophilic bacteria designated as strain CMC-5 was isolated from decomposing seaweeds by enrichment culture. The growth of strain CMC-5 was assessed in synthetic seawater-based medium containing polysaccharide. The bacterium degraded and utilized agar, alginate, carrageenan, xylan, carboxymethyl cellulose and chitin. The strain was characterized using a polyphasic approach for taxonomic identification. Cellular fatty acid analysis showed the presence of iso-C(15:0) as major fatty acid and significant amounts of iso-C(17:1x9c) and C(18:1x7c). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rDNA sequence indicated that strain CMC-5 is phylogenetically related to Microbulbifer genus and 99% similar to type strain Microbulbifer elongatus DSM6810T. However in contrast to Microbulbifer elongatus DSM6810T, strain CMC-5 is non-motile, utilizes glucose, galactose, inositol and xylan, does not utilize fructose and succinate nor does it produce H2S. Further growth of bacterial strain CMC-5 was observed when inoculated in seawater-based medium containing sterile pieces of Gracilaria corticata thalli. The bacterial growth was associated with release of reducing sugar in the broth suggesting its role in carbon recycling of polysaccharides from seaweeds in marine ecosystem.

N-Acylhomoserine lactones (AHLs) are used by a wide variety of bacteria for cell-cell communication in "quorum-sensing". These compounds are derived from L-homoserine lactone and a fatty acid, which varies in chain-length, degree of saturation, and the presence or absence of an oxygen atom at C-3. In this study we describe for the first time the occurrence of acyl chains carrying a methyl branch, and present a GC-MS-based method that can be used to distinguish these compounds from unbranched isomers. The bacterium Aeromonas culicicola produces several methyl branched AHLs. In Jannaschia helgolandensis--a marine bacterium of the Roseobacter clade--a doubly unsaturated AHL, (2E,9Z)-N-(2,9-hexadecadienoyl)-L-homoserine lactone, occurs. The location and configuration of the double bonds was proven by spectrometric investigation and synthesis. Finally, a method was developed to establish the absolute configuration of 3-hydroxyalkanoyl-HSLs by mild cleavage and chiral gas chromatography. The AHLs synthesized during this study were tested in sensor systems specific for certain AHL types. The results show that these compounds display varying responses to the respective sensors; this underlines the importance of determining the whole bouquet of AHLs and its function to fully understand their importance for regulatory functions in bacteria.

Silane is an important molecule with numerous applications to natural and technological plasmas. In such environments, where plasma assisted processes are vital, electron induced reactions play a major role in its chemistry. In view of this, electron induced scattering of molecules such as silane finds significance. This article reports a comprehensive study of electron impact cross sections for silane over a wide energy range. In particular, the emphasis is given in providing a complete dataset for various electron scattering events possible with silane. Such dataset is the need for the plasma modeling community. Moreover, literature survey shows that the cross section database for silane is fragmentary. To fill this void, we have computed the differential elastic, total, rotational excitation, and momentum transfer cross sections. Two formalisms that are reliable in their energy domain are employed to accomplish the task: the R-matrix method through QUANTEMOL-N at low incident energies and the spherical...

Laser ablated shock waves from compacted metal nanoenergetic powders of Aluminum (Al), Nickel coated Aluminum (Ni-Al) was characterized using shadowgraphy technique and compared with that from Boron Potassium Nitrate (BKN), Ammonium Perchlorate (AP) and Potassium Bromide (KBr) powders. Ablation is created by focused second harmonic (532 nm, 7 ns) of Nd:YAG laser. Time resolved shadowgraphs of propagating shock front and contact front revealed dynamics and the precise time of energy release of materials under extreme ablative pressures. Among the different compacted materials studied, Al nanopowders have maximum shock velocity and pressure behind the shock front compared to others.

The present paper reports electron impact total inelastic and ionization cross section for silicon, germanium, and tin tetrahalides at energies varying from ionization threshold of the target to 5000 eV. These cross section data over a wide energy domain are very essential to understand the physico-chemical processes involved in various environments such as plasma modeling, semiconductor etching, atmospheric sciences, biological sciences, and radiation physics. However, the cross section data on the above mentioned molecules are scarce. In the present article, we report the computation of total inelastic cross section using spherical complex optical potential formalism and the estimation of ionization cross section through a semi-empirical method. The present ionization cross section result obtained for SiCl4 shows excellent agreement with previous measurements, while other molecules have not yet been investigated experimentally. Present results show more consistent behaviour than previous theoretical est...

Pila globosa , an edible variety of apple snail is a common inhabitant of lentic ecosystem and feeds on plant detritus. The tissue extract of gastrointestinal tract from Pila globosa demonstrated the presence of carboxymethyl cellulase, xylanase, alginate lyase and pectinase activity. Culture-dependent method was used to isolate carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) degrading bacteria from the gastrointestinal tract of apple snail. Morphologically identical colonies were obtained on M9 gelrite plates containing CMC as carbon source. One such bacterial isolate was purified by streaking and designated as strain PG-1. Bacterial strain PG-1 degraded CMC, pectin, starch and alginate. The 16S rDNA sequence of strain PG1 was 99% identical to Klebsiella oxytoca . Phylogenetic analysis using maximum likelihood revealed the clustering of strain PG1 with the clade belonging to Klebsiella oxytoca type strain.

A Gram-positive, aerobic, coccoid-rod shaped, non-motile, catalase- and oxidase-positive bacterium, designated strain KJW98(T), was isolated from the marine sediment of Karwar jetty, west coast of India. The strain was β-haemolytic, non-endospore-forming and grew with 0-8.5% (w/v) NaCl, at 15-48°C and at pH 6.5-9.0, with optimum growth with 0.5% (w/v) NaCl, at 42°C and at pH 7.0-8.0. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA and gyrB gene sequences showed that strain KJW98(T) forms a lineage within the genus Bhargavaea. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 55 mol%. The DNA-DNA relatedness values of strain KJW98(T) with B. beijingensis DSM 19037(T), B. cecembensis LMG 24411(T) and B. ginsengi DSM 19038(T) were 43.2, 39 and 26.5%, respectively. The major fatty acids were anteiso-C15:0 (37.7%), iso-C15:0 (19.7%), anteiso-C17:0 (17.0%) and iso-C16:0 (11.1%). The predominant menaquinone was MK-8 and the cell-wall peptidoglycan was of A4α type with L-lysine as the diagnostic diamino acid. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol. The phenotypic, genotypic and DNA-DNA relatedness data indicate that strain KJW98(T) should be distinguished from the members of the genus Bhargavaea, for which the name Bhargavaea indica sp. nov. is proposed with the type strain KJW98(T) (=KCTC 13583(T) =LMG 25219(T)).

Co immobilization by two manganese oxidizing isolates from Carlsberg Ridge waters (CR35 and CR48) was compared with that of Mn at same molar concentrations. At a lower concentration of 10 μM, CR35 and CR48 immobilized 22 and 23 fM Co cell(-1) respectively, which was 1.4 to 2 times higher than that of Mn oxidation, while at 10 mM the immobilization was 15-69 times lower than that of Mn. Scanning electron microscope and energy dispersive X-ray analyses of intact bacterial cells grown in 1 mM Co revealed Co peaks showing extracellular binding of the metal. However, it was evident from transmission electron microscope analyses that most of the sequestered Co was bound intracellularly along the cell membrane in both the isolates. Change in morphology was one of the strategies bacteria adopted to counter metal stress. The cells grew larger and thus maintained a lower than normal surface area-volume ratio on exposure to Co to reduce the number of binding sites. An unbalanced growth with increasing Co additions was observed in the isolates. Cells attained a length of 10-18 μm at 10 mM Co which was 11-15 times the original cell length. Extensive cell rupture indicated that Co was harmful at this concentration. It is apparent that biological and optimal requirement of Mn is more than Co. Thus, these differences in the immobilization of the two metals could be driven by the differences in the requirement, cell physiology and the affinities of the isolates for the concentrations of the metals tested.

Evolution of laser induced Shock Waves (SW’s) generated from compacted nanopowders such as Aluminum (Al), Nickel coated Aluminum (Ni-Al), Boron Potassium Nitrate (BKN), Ammonium perchlorate (AP) and potassium Bromide (KBr) using shadowgraphy technique are presented.