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In order to avoid the food vs. fuel debate, other than food-based products, agricultural products are effective sources for fuel development. Various parts of plants and trees are used to produce sustainable, low-viscous biofuels, which are gaining much attraction due to their superior burning abilities. The turpentine biofuel produced from pine tree oil has been used for gasoline engines because of its better calorific value and other notable benefits. An attempt has been made to investigate the suitability of turpentine biofuel as a 50% replacement for gasoline in automotive applications to identify the optimum blend ratio. In this study, the experiments are conducted in the port-fuel-injected gasoline engine at different loading conditions of 0 kg to 15 kg at 1800 rpm. Using turpentine blends in a port-fuel-injected SI engine, performance characteristics have been observed with up to a 3–5% improvement in brake thermal efficiency and fuel economy for all concentrations of turpentine biofuel due to their higher calorific value. However, the implementation of turpentine biofuel has shown remarkable reductions in unburnt hydrocarbons by 50% and carbon monoxide emissions by 90% due to its superior burning ability. However, this reduction is not witnessed in oxides of nitrogen and carbon dioxide emissions due to the lower octane number and higher viscosity, which result in a 30% and 5% increase, respectively. Interestingly, the combustion characteristics are observed to be better at part load operations for lower concentrations (30%) of turpentine biofuel in the blends, and this trend has not been noticed at higher concentrations of turpentine biofuel. Finally, it has been concluded that turpentine biofuel would be a better option for the partial replacement of gasoline by up to 30%. However, for further investigation, the anti-knocking characteristics of the turpentine biofuel need to be improved, especially in 40% and 50% turpentine biofuel blends using suitable anti-knocking agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Composite materials offer huge upgrades over current accessible materials for various primary applications because of their fantastic mechanical qualities and moderately low thickness. Carbon filaments are most broadly utilized in vehicle, aviation, military and transportation of oil, gas and water applications. The specimen is prepared with varying stacking sequences (i.e., Carbon-Sisal-Carbon-Sisal [CSCS], Carbon-Sisal-Sisal-Carbon [CSSC] and Sisal-Carbon-Carbon-Sisal [SCCS]) and Carbon, Carbon, Carbon, Carbon (CCCC) and four carbon weight fraction (i.e., 2%, 4%, 6% and 8 %) with 2% of SiC. At the point when composites are used in water, oil and gas transportation, the lines are encountering high disintegration and burden. To learn about the impact of disintegration and burden, the malleable, flexural, influence, twofold shear and wear test are completed to comprehend the disintegration and conveying attributes of industrial applications. In this undertaking, the mechanical properties of composites on epoxy resin with sisal and carbon fiber have been considered. The result shows that the mechanical properties of carbon based samples shows that the better result as compared with other samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Naphthalene moth ball poisoning in children can present with diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. A 2 year old boy who had accidentally consumed unknown number of moth balls presented 3 d later with vomiting, seizures, methemoglobinemia, hemolytic anemia and altered sensorium. He was managed with red blood cell transfusion, IV Methylene blue and Sodium bicarbonate. Clinical and laboratory parameters normalized. We describe this case as ingestional naphthalene poisoning with rare manifestation of metabolic acidosis, with a good outcome after treatment.

A series of new macrocyclic binuclear copper(II) complexes of the type [Cu2L1-5(ClO4)](ClO4) ( 1- 5) were synthesized by template condensation between precursor compounds 2,6-bis(4-aminoethylpiperazin-1-ylmethyl)-4-substituted phenols and 2,6-diformyl-4-substituted phenols. The synthesized precursors and complexes were characterized using regular physicochemical techniques. The rate constant values obtained for the hydrolysis of 4-nitrophenylphosphate were in the range 1.83 × 10−2-4.19 × 10−2 min−1. Antioxidant studies against 2,2′-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl revealed the antioxidant potency of the synthesized complexes. Binding studies of the complexes with calf thymus DNA were conducted using electronic, viscometric and voltammetric techniques, and the obtained results suggested a non-covalent groove mode of binding. The oxidative cleavage of pBR322 DNA in the presence of co-reactant H2O2 and radical scavengers showed single strand scission and involvement of H2O2 radical in the cleavage process. Molecular docking studies were performed to insert complexes into the crystal structures of 1BNA and VEGFR kinase at active sites to determine the possible binding mode and predominant binding interactions. In vitro cytotoxicity of the complexes was tested against human epidermoid carcinoma cells (A431) by MTT assay, which revealed the effective anticancer activity of the complexes. Live cell and fluorescent imaging of A431 cells showed that the complexes induce cell death through apoptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Twenty four full term pregnant buffaloes affected with uterine torsion were treated by modified Schaffer’s method. Blood samples were collected at (i) before detorsion (ii) 24 hours after detorsion and (iii) 30 days after fetal delivery in experimental groups. In control buffaloes, the blood was collected at 24 hours before and after calving and 30 days after postpartum.Haematology indicated the normocytic normochromic anaemia with leucocytosis in uterine torsion affected buffaloes. Leukogram revealed neutrophilia, eosinophilia and lymphocytopenia and concluded that these parameters might be the indicators of prognosis of uterine torsion in buffaloes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized with an abnormal deposition of insoluble amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptide plaques, tangles formation and synaptic dysfunction. These result in impaired functioning of neuronal circuits and alter the behavioral response owing to activation of neurotransmitter receptors. Recently, it has been implicated that Aβ influences N-methyl d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor activation in AD; however, the molecular mechanism underlying remains unclear. Thus, emerged specific aim to study the time-course effect of oligomeric Aβ (1-42)  (oAβ 1-42 ) on the mRNA expression of genes encoding NMDA and acetylcholine receptors in the rat model of AD., Methods:  Aggregated forms of synthetic Aβ peptides were injected bilaterally into the intrahippocampal region of rat brain using stereotaxic surgery. Behavioral analysis was performed using eight-arm Radial Arm Maze task at the end of experimental period. Euthanized rat brain hippocampal tissue was used to study the mRNA expression of glutamatergic and cholinergic receptor using semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction., Results: oAβ 1-42 decreased the gene expression level of α7-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor and increased the mRNA expression of NMDA receptor 2A, and -2B subunits. In particular, oAβ 1-42 aggregates increased the retention time and altered the behavioral response in rats after 15 days of injection. Further, amyloid-β 1-42 are highly expressed in 15 days after postinjection in hippocampus of adult rats., Conclusion: Acute exposure of oAβ 1-42  modulated differential gene expression of glutamatergic and cholinergic receptors in hippocampus of adult rats and is duration dependent reflecting changes in hippocampal circuitry system underlying learning and memory impairments., Abbreviations: AD: Alzheimer's disease, Aβ: amyloid-β; oAβ 1-42 : oligomeric amyloid-β 1-42 full length peptide; CAM: calmodulin; CNS: central nervous system; CR: Congo red; DG: dentate gyrus; EC: entorhinal cortex; HFIP: 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol; IBO: ibotenic acid; NMDA: N-methyl d-aspartate; NMDAR: N-methyl d-aspartate receptor; NR2A: N-methyl d-aspartate receptor 2A; NR2B: N-methyl d-aspartate receptor 2B; ACh: acetylcholine; α7-nAChR: α7-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor; PBS: phosphate buffered saline; RAM: Radial Arm Maze; ThT: thioflavin T.

Epidemiological studies state that dementia has multiple etiologies including genetic mutation, genetic variation, and environmental factors. Accumulating evidence suggests that dysregulation of cholesterol homeostasis is the major etiological factor in initiating neurodegeneration. Apolipoprotein E (APOE) polymorphic alleles and associated polymorphism of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) that are important components in regulating cholesterol metabolism are implicated in neurodegenerative diseases. Therefore, the current study focused on identifying the association between several common polymorphism (viz., APOE, CETP, and LPL) to that of change in serum lipid levels and memory symptoms. Volunteer subjects aged 50 and above from rural and tribal areas of the Dharmapuri district, Tamilnadu, India were chosen for the current study and polymorphism was analyzed using PCR-RFLP. Fasting lipid profile and memory function using simplified version of Global Clinical Dementia rating were assessed. Significant difference in the major lipid profile parameters were observed (TC, TGL, LDL, VLDL) among rural and tribal populations that were associated with significant genotypic variation of APOE, CETP, and LPL. Regression analysis revealed significant risk for memory loss that are dependent on age and genetic variants like CETP. These data predict positive correlation between cholesterol-associated genes and their relationship to altered lipid profile and memory symptoms, which possibly link gene-polymorphism and susceptibility ratio for aging and dementia.

Although several drugs revealed moderate amelioration of symptoms, none of them have sufficient potency to prevent or reverse the progression toward Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology. Resveratrol (RSV), a polyphenolic compound has shown an outstanding therapeutic effect on a broad spectrum of diseases like age-associated neurodegeneration, inflammation etc. The present study was thus conducted to assess the therapeutic efficacy of RSV in ameliorating the deleterious effects of Ibotenic acid (IBO) in male Wistar rats. Stereotactic intrahippocampal administration of IBO (5 μg/μl) lesioned rats impairs cholinergic transmission, learning and memory performance that is rather related to AD and thus chosen as a suitable model to understand the drug efficacy in preventing AD pathophysiology. Since IBO is an agonist of glutamate, it is expected to exhibit an excitotoxic effect by altering glutamatergic receptors like NMDA receptor. The current study displayed significant alterations in the mRNA expression of NR2A and NR2B subunits of NMDA receptors, and further it is surprising to note that cholinergic receptors decreased in expression particularly α7-nAChR with increased m1AChR. RSV administration (20 mg/kg body weight, i.p.) significantly reduced these changes in IBO induced rats. Glutamatergic and cholinergic receptor alterations were associated with significant changes in the behavioral parameters of rats induced by IBO. While RSV improved spatial learning performance, attenuated immobility, and improvised open field activity in IBO induced rats. NR2B activation in the present study might mediate cell death through oxidative stress that form the basis of abnormal behavioral pattern in IBO induced rats. Interestingly, RSV that could efficiently encounter oxidative stress have significantly decreased stress markers viz., nitrite, PCO, and MDA levels by enhancing antioxidant status. Histopathological analysis displayed significant reduction in the hippocampal pyramidal layer thickness and live neurons in IBO induced rats, with slight pathological changes in the entorhinal cortex (EC) of rat brain, which was prevented on RSV administration. Our study thus concludes that RSV administration significantly ameliorated the deleterious effects in the IBO lesioned rat model for AD by alleviating cholinergic pathways, reducing oxidative stress and thereby improving spatial memory.