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Ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) are toxic N-glycosidases that depurinate eukaryotic and prokaryotic rRNAs and thus interrupt protein synthesis during translation. In the present study, a protein of around 32 kDa, supposedly a RIP isolated from Trichosanthes dioica, was assessed for its potential to induce apoptosis in HeLa cells. Cell viability assay was done to measure cell proliferation and survivability. It was observed that cells viability decreased with the increase of decrease in dilution, i.e. when the sample was an undiluted one, the viability decreased drastically and almost came to less than 10%. To further check whether the isolated RIP could induce apoptosis, HeLa cells were treated with the test RIP. Immunoblotting was carried out using PARP poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP-1), a 113 kDa nuclear enzyme, which is considered a hallmark of cells undergoing apoptosis. HeLa cells were further analyzed for loss of mitochondrial membrane potential with JC-1 dye, which is an early event during apoptosis. Increased PARP breakdown in the RIP treated cells indicates that cells undergoing apoptosis and progressive loss of red J-aggregate fluorescence indicate that the isolated RIP from Trichosanthes dioica induces apoptosis in HeLa cells. The ability of apoptosis induction is comparable to another known RIP from Momordica charantia, which was used as a positive control. Promising results from the present study warrants the isolated RIP to be further explored for anticancer activities.

The first discovery of commercial hydrocarbon in India was in 1889 in a structural trap at Digboi in Assam. Ever since the discovery, geologists have mapped and modeled the subsurface structure of this 50 km long anticlinal fold-thrust belt. However, never before, the existence of a hanging wall syncline north of Jaipur anticline, near the Kusijan oil and gas field, was considered. In this paper, we have proposed a structural model for the regional fold-thrust structures that successfully explains the existence of this syncline adjacent to the Naga thrust. Trishear Fault Propagation folding followed by a complex breakthrough pattern of the thrust at later stages is proposed as most suitable model to explain the outcrop pattern and sub-surface data. We have prepared two northwest-southeast trending balanced structural cross sections using this kinematic model. Total shortening percentages across the southern and northern cross sections are estimated to be 44 and 30 respectively. A complementary play with locations of prospective boreholes is suggested. Based on the dip data in the hanging wall structures of Naga thrust, we predict medium- to small-scale concealed imbricate structures in the sub-thrust. These zones of local thrust imbrications may prove to be prospective leads for concealed petroleum traps.

The discovery of new drug molecules, which belongs to BCS class II and class IV, are suffering from poor aqueous solubility related issues. Pharmaceutical scientists are seeking various approaches such as polymorphism, cocrystals, salt formation, etc. to overcome these issues. Among the various methods, modifications of drugs into pharmaceutically useful cocrystals using coformers have been emerged in recent years. This improves the physicochemical properties such as solubility, dissolution, stability, and bioavailability. In addition to this, precipitation inhibitor (PPI) such as hydroxy propyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) can provide a ‘parachute’ effect in biological medium, which further improves the bioavailability of the drug by preventing its precipitation upon the dissociation of cocrystals. Selection of coformers, from the Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) list by FDA, can be done by predicting the cocrystal formation using the Hansen solubility parameter (HSP).

The LArIAT liquid argon time projection chamber, placed in a tertiary beam of charged particles at the Fermilab Test Beam Facility, has collected large samples of pions, muons, electrons, protons, and kaons in the momentum range 0∼30-0140 MeV/c. This paper describes the main aspects of the detector and beamline, and also reports on calibrations performed for the detector and beamline components.

The safety and spermatogenic activity of processed Shilajit (PS) were evaluated in oligospermic patients. Initially, 60 infertile male patients were assessed and those having total sperm counts below 20 million ml(-1) semen were considered oligospermic and enrolled in the study (n = 35). PS capsule (100 mg) was administered twice daily after major meals for 90 days. Total semenogram and serum testosterone, luteinising hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone were estimated before and at the end of the treatment. Malondialdehyde (MDA), a marker for oxidative stress, content of semen and biochemical parameters for safety were also evaluated. Twenty-eight patients who completed the treatment showed significant (P < 0.001) improvement in spermia (+37.6%), total sperm count (+61.4%), motility (12.4-17.4% after different time intervals), normal sperm count (+18.9%) with concomitant decrease in pus and epithelial cell count compared with baseline value. Significant decrease of semen MDA content (-18.7%) was observed. Moreover, serum testosterone (+23.5%; P < 0.001) and FSH (+9.4%; P < 0.05) levels significantly increased. HPLC chromatogram revealed inclusion of PS constituents in semen. Unaltered hepatic and renal profiles of patients indicated that PS was safe at the given dose. The present findings provide further evidence of the spermatogenic nature of Shilajit, as attributed in Ayurvedic medicine, particularly when administered as PS.

A standard sol-gel method was used to deposit ZnO thin films of suitable thickness on glass substrate.The optical characteristics of the visible to infrared range on thermal stress were critically observed. Morphological signature of the films was detected by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and the crystallite size determined by Scherrer method from XRD data were consistent with grain size estimated from spectroscopic data through Meulenkamp equation. The optical band gap value from the transmission spectrum was found to corroborate with the existing works. (© 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

Thermally processed lead iodide (PbI2) thin films were prepared by the vacuum evaporation method in a constant ambient. Measured thickness of the film was verified analytically from the optical transmittance data in a wavelength range between 300 and 1600 nm. From the Tauc relation for the non-direct inter band transition, the optical band gap of the film was found to be 2.58 eV for film thickness 300 nm. X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed that PbI2 films are polycrystalline, having hexagonal structure. The low fluctuation in Urbach energy indicates that the grain size is quite small. The present findings are in agreement with the other results. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

Electrochemical planarization (ECP) of copper surfaces in a phosphoric acid-based electrolyte solution is discussed. A first-principles, quantum chemistry modeling work is presented that further validates the water-facilitated (and water rate limited) chemistry model for copper oxidation at the anode. This model has been previously deduced by other researchers [R. Vidal and A. West, J. Electrochem. Soc. 142, 2689 (1995); B. Du and I. I. Suni, J. Appl. Electrochem. 34, 1215 (2004); R. Vidal and A. West J. Electrochem. Soc. 142, 2682 (1995)] based on electrochemical experiments. Resulting water-limited model is validated against experimental data and applied to study the planarization behavior of a set of surface features. Aspect ratios and dimensions of these features were chosen to represent realistic (nonidealized, low aspect ratio structures) post-Damascene electroplate surface topography. Results are presented in a form of remaining feature amplitude versus mean copper thickness removed [A. C. West et ...

Background : Selective in‑vivo anti‑fungal action of potassium iodide (KI) is an enigma, but circumstantial evidences strongly indicate some immune mechanism. Aim: Study was to demonstrate in‑vitro immune‑modulating role of KI. Materials and Methods: In identical test conditions keeping appropriate control, different immunological tests were performed with and without 0.1% effective concentration of KI. i) Sera from Coombs positive mothers were treated with O, Rh‑positive erythrocyte suspensions along with Coombs’ sera (CS)/Bovine albumin (BA)/KI. ii) Amboceptor and complement (C) mixtures were titrated for hemolysis with or without KI. iii) Suspension of Salmonella Typhi with positive sera from enteric cases and C + KI was incubated at 37°C for 30 minutes, then sub‑cultured on MacConkey Agar. iv) Positive serum from chronic muco‑cutaneous candidiasis patient was treated with suspension of candida isolate and C + KI at 37°C for 30 minutes then sub‑cultured to note variations in colony counts. The data was analyzed by Fishers exact test using Graphpad Prism 5 version 5.00 (California USA) Results: i) KI like BA or CS showed hemagglutination. ii) C‑mediated hemolysis was inhibited in presence of KI. iii) C‑mediated lysis of S. typhi was partially enhanced by KI showing reduced number of colonies; iv) while lysis of candida was reduced. Conclusions: KI increases avidity of some immune reactions including C‑mediated cell lysis. An increase or decrease of cell‑lysis resulted by KI probably mediates by altered access of C‑binding receptors. Thus, hypothetically, a non‑protective Splendore Hoeppli‑like deposit around fungus may turn into protective immune mechanism by influence of KI. Keywords : Complement fixation, Immune reaction, Potassium iodide, Splendore Hoeppli

A novel dinuclear nickel(II) complex, [Ni2L(NO3)(H2O)3]NO3 (where L is a ‘side-off’ compartmental ligand obtained by [1 + 2] condensation of 1,3-diaminopropane and 2,6-diformyl-4-tert-butylphenol) has been synthesized and characterized by routine physicochemical techniques as well as by X-ray single crystal structure analysis. Structure determination reveals that the two nickel ions, separated by 3.0824(9) A, occupy the N2O2 and O4 compartments of the Schiff base ligand. The immediate coordination environment of each nickel ion is octahedral and the species adopts an umbrella bowed conformation. The catalytic activity of the complex for the oxidation of 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol to the corresponding o-quinone in methanol solvent has been studied by UV–vis spectroscopic technique.

Two pseudohalides thiocyanate and dicyanamide have been employed to synthesize complexes of MnII, CoII, NiII, CuII, and ZnII in the presence of a hemilabile ligand 2-benzoylpyridine (Phpyk). With thiocyanate all the aforesaid metal ions (except for CoII, of which suitable single crystals for X-ray analysis were not obtained) produce mononuclear complexes having general composition of [MII(NCS)2(Phpyk)2]. The structure determination reveals that Mn and Zn complexes (1, 4) are isomorphous and isostructural (crystallizing in space group C2/c), while Ni and Cu complexes (2, 3) crystallize in space groups P1 and P21/n, respectively. Interestingly, no complex has been obtained with a configuration having the N of one Phpyk trans to the O of the other chelating ligand and among the four complexes only in complex 3 the two thiocyanato ligands are in trans-configuration. On the other hand, complexes 5–8 are isomorphous and crystallize in orthorhombic chiral space group P212121. The bridging mode of dicyanamide an...