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Solar dryer technology is simple and can be implemented by households and small communities due to its simplicity. The suitable design of the absorber/collector is very vital for any solar drying system as the collector efficiency plays a key role in determining the overall system drying efficiency. To study the practical applicability of a developed solar dryer, grapes were dried in the drying chamber of a designed and developed solar dryer and for comparison, in open sunlight. Faster drying was noted for the grapes dried in the unit. The study on nutritional aspects indicated that solar drying process retained the major nutritional components like total sugars, total proteins and total lipids in raisins. The comparison between the solar dried raisins and open sun dried ones showed a higher ash content of 2.71% with solar dried ones and 1.95% in case of open sun dried raisins. The quantity of MUFA content was also affected by the varying drying practices implemented with 10.95% and 7.12% MUFA in solar dried and open sun dried raisins respectively. The drying technique also affects the bacterial load on raisins as observed in our current study with negligible bacterial growth on on solar dried raisins compared to open dried ones.

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) have a wide range of applicability due to their biodegradable and biocompatible characteristics. This makes them suitable for their commercialization as an alternative ...

Background Earlier it was thought that osteoarthritis and osteoporosis were mutually exclusive but many studies now prove that these diseases coexist. This study was undertaken to assess the bone health in terms of mineral density and other markers among patients undergoing total knee replacement due to osteoarthritis. Methods A total of 100 patients with advanced osteoarthritis undergoing total knee replacement and satisfying inclusion and exclusion criteria were selected. Detailed social, medical, personal, and family history was recorded. All participants underwent for dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan (spine and both hips), X-rays (both knees and pelvis), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index (WOMAC) scoring, and serum levels of vitamin D, calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, and Parathyroid hormone (PTH). Data collected and analyzed. Results In total, 87% of total participants were females. Mean values for age, height, weight, serum vitamin D3, serum PTH, serum calcium, serum phosphorus, serum alkaline phosphatase, WOMAC score, and bone mineral density (BMD) score (T-score) were 65.35 years, 160.15 cm, 69.37 kg, 26.91 ng/mL, 48.02 pg/mL, 9.01 mg/mL, 3.40 ng/mL, 57.91 IU/L, 56.32, and −1.16, respectively. Conclusion Osteopenia and osteoporosis seem prevalent in the Indian population with advanced knee osteoarthritis. Our findings do not support the hypothesis of inverse relation between osteoarthritis and lower BMD. The study reflected poorer bone health and lesser average age for Indian patients undergoing total knee replacement.

The objective of the current work was to investigate the potential of halophilic bacterial isolates for efficient utilization of crude glycerol from algal biodiesel waste into polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) a green plastic. Screening of the isolates was directly done in algal biodiesel waste residue containing solid agar plates supplemented with Nile red. Crude glycerol is a biodiesel waste whose bioconversion into value-added products provides an alternative for efficient management with dual benefit. For the scale-up studies of PHAs, Halomonas spp. especially H. daqingensis was observed as a potential candidate growing well in 3% Algal biodiesel waste residue (ABWR), 5% NaCl supplementation at 35°C within 48 h of incubation. Maximum Cell dry weight (CDW) of 0.362 ± 0.001 g and 0.236 ± 0.003 g PHA was obtained with H. daqingensis when grown in the fermentor with 0.5 vvm air flow rate and 200 rpm containing 3% ABWR supplemented with 5% NaCl at 35°C incubation temperature for 48 h. ABWR can serve as a sole substrate for PHA production at an industrial scale serving two approaches: getting rid of the biodiesel industrial waste containing high amount of glycerol besides using waste replacing commercial substrate thereby reducing the cost of the product.

International audience; Preclinical and clinical data support the use of focused ultrasound (FUS), in the presence of intravenously injected microbubbles, to safely and transiently increase the permeability of the blood–brain barrier (BBB). FUS-induced BBB permeability has been shown to enhance the bioavailability of administered intravenous therapeutics to the brain. Ideal therapeutics candidates for this mode of delivery are those capable of inducing benefits peripherally following intravenous injection and in the brain at FUS-targeted areas. In Alzheimer’s disease, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg), a fractionated human blood product containing polyclonal antibodies, act as immunomodulator peripherally and centrally, and it can reduce amyloid pathology in the brain. Using the TgCRND8 mouse model of amyloidosis, we tested whether FUS can improve the delivery of IVIg, administered intravenously (0.4 g/kg), to the hippocampus and reach an effective dose to reduce amyloid plaque pathology and promote neurogenesis. Our results show that FUS-induced BBB permeability is required to deliver a significant amount of IVIg (489 ng/mg) to the targeted hippocampus of TgCRN8 mice. Two IVIg-FUS treatments, administered at days 1 and 8, significantly increased hippocampal neurogenesis by 4-, 3-, and 1.5-fold in comparison to saline, IVIg alone, and FUS alone, respectively. Amyloid plaque pathology was significantly reduced in all treatment groups: IVIg alone, FUS alone, and IVIg-FUS. Putative factors promoting neurogenesis in response to IVIg-FUS include the down-regulation of the proinflammatory cytokine TNF-α in the hippocampus. In summary, FUS was required to deliver an effective dose of IVIg to promote hippocampal neurogenesis and modulate the inflammatory milieu.

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are emerging potential biopolymers replacing the hazardous petroleum based plastics with several applications and biodegradability. The major threat towards its commercialization is the substrate cost which could be replaced with crude byproducts or natural substrates for its sustainability at industrial scale. A wild marine bacterial strain Halomonas hydrothermalis (MTCC 5445) was used as a source for PHA accumulation. An effort has been made to use a sea salt formulation which is a natural substrate used both as growth and production media in our current study. To check the feasibility of this sea salt formulation, it was used in combination with glycerol and peptone as carbon and nitrogen source respectively in production media. A shake flask experiment with 20 run was set up with maximum PHA productivity of 2.61 g/L in 3% Glycerol, 3% DSM and 0.55% peptone set. The extracted PHA properties were checked through various analytical tools and compared with standard PHB indicating similarity in both structural and mechanical properties.

An eco-friendly approach toward downstream processing of bacterial biomass for extraction of an intracellular potential bioplastic material polyhydroxyalkanoates replacing chlorinated organic solvents is reported using ionic liquid (IL) 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium diethylphosphate ([C2mim][(C2)2OPO3]) as an extractant. [C2mim][(C2)2OPO3] dissolved wet bacterial biomass of Halomonas hydrothermalis (MTCC accession no. 5445; NCBI Genbank accession no. GU938192), with ease on account of its high hydrogen bond basicity (β = 1.07). The recovered polymer with a yield of 60% ± 2% was characterized using 1H NMR, FT-IR, and TGA techniques and confirmed to be polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB). The properties of PHB were found to be in close proximity to the standard PHB. The [C2mim][(C2)2OPO3] was recovered with 60% yield and retention of chemical structure after two consecutive dissolution cycles, which minimized the cost of developed process. The recovered PHB was used to prepare a bioplastic film, which showed good therm...

In recent years, the application of agricultural waste materials as an inexpensive source of substrate for the production of a high-value product is catching the eye of researchers. It is a fact that commercial cellulase is a high-cost product and also it is one of the significant industrial catalysts which in this study was produced from different agricultural wastes under solid-state fermentation. Bacillus licheniformis KY962963 an epiphytic bacterial strain of marine algae Chlorococcum sp. was used for cellulase production. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of nutritious and ecological factors on the cellulase production from marine Bacillus licheniformis KY962963 . The efficacious parameters were primarily screened using the “Plackett- Burman” design. Subsequently, the key parameters such as P source, moisture content, time of incubation and incubation temperature were optimized by the “one factor at a time” approach. Lastly, the consequential parameters such as moisture content 75%, K2HPO4 2 g/L, incubation temperature 35 °C, and an incubation time of 3 days were found as the final optimum condition for higher production of cellulase.

Synchronous tumors occur rarely in female genital tract, though it is one among potential sites for synchronous malignancies. In our case report a 36 year old female is diagnosed with two primary malignancies simultaneously; squamous cell carcinoma cervix and bilateral papillary cystadenocarcinoma ovary. Their distinct histological features and sparing of uterine corpus and fallopian tube helped in establishing the diagnosis as two separate primaries rather as metastatic spread of one primary malignancy. The objective is to strengthen the suggestion of thorough evaluation of whole female genital tract in case of suspected tumor, as secondary Mullerian system theory explains the possibility of synchronous cancer in female genital tract.

Different neoteric solvents (both ionic liquids and deep eutectic solvents) were used for the dispersion and preparation of bionanocomposite of spider silk fibers (Crossopriza lyoni). Among these solvents, hydrated tetrabutylammonium hydroxide was found to disperse 7.5 mg mL–1 of spider silk with nanoscale structural distribution at room temperature. Analyses of the regenerated spider silk from the solution indicated preservation of the chemical structures of the protein blocks in the fibers during the dispersion process. The quaternary ammonium based IL was further used as dispersion media for the fabrication of Fe3O4 functionalized bionanocomposite. Attachment of Fe3O4 nanoparticles on the spider silk surfaces and preservation of the chemical structures of the protein blocks of the spider silk in the composite was also established. The materials generated do not appear to inhibit the growth of mammalian cells in vitro and showed antibacterial properties and thus demonstrate their potential for therapeut...

Microalgae, due to various environmental stresses, constantly tune their cellular mechanisms to cope with them. The accumulation of the stress metabolites is closely related to the changes occurring in their metabolic pathways. The biosynthesis of metabolites can be triggered by a number of abiotic stresses like temperature, salinity, UV- radiation and nutrient deprivation. Although, microalgae have been considered as an alternative sustainable source for nutraceutical products like pigments and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) to cater the requirement of emerging human population but inadequate biomass generation makes the process economically impractical. The stress metabolism for carotenoid regulation in green algae is a 2-step metabolism. There are a few major stresses which can influence the formation of phycobiliprotein in cyanobacteria. This review would primarily focus on the cellular level changes under stress conditions and their corresponding effects on lipids (including omega-3 PUFAs), pigments and polymers.

Epigenetic modifications are involved in the initiation and progression of cancer. Expression patterns and activity of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) are strictly controlled in normal cells, however, regulation of these enzymes is lost in cancer cells due to unknown reasons. Cancer therapies which target DNMTs are promising treatments of hematologic cancers, but they lack effectiveness in solid tumors. Solid tumors exhibit areas of hypoxia and hypoglycaemia due to their irregular and dysfunctional vasculature, and we previously showed that hypoxia reduces global DNA methylation. Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) cells (HCT116 and 379.2; p53(+/+) and p53(-/-), respectively) were subjected to ischemia (hypoxia and hypoglycaemia) in vitro, and levels of DNMTs were assessed. We found a significant decrease in mRNA for DNMT1, DNMT3a and DNMT3b, and similar reductions in DNMT1 and DNMT3a protein levels were detected by western blotting. In addition, total activity levels of DNMTs (as measured by an ELISA-based DNMT activity assay) were reduced in cells exposed to hypoxic and hypoglycaemic conditions. Immunofluorescence of HCT116 tumor xenografts demonstrated an inverse relationship between ischemia (as revealed by carbonic anhydrase IX staining) and DNMT1 protein. Bisulfite sequencing of the proximal promoter region of p16(INK4a) showed a decrease in 5-methylcytosine following in vitro exposure to ischemia. These studies provide evidence for the downregulation of DNMTs and modulation of methylation patterns by hypoxia and hypoglycaemia in human CRC cells, both in vitro and in vivo. Our findings suggest that ischemia, either intrinsic or induced through the use of anti-angiogenic drugs, may influence epigenetic patterning and hence tumor progression.

We announce here the draft genome sequence of Halomonas hydrothermalis MTCC 5445, a halophilic bacterium of the class Gammaproteobacteria. It was isolated from the sea coast of Aadri, Veraval, Gujarat, India. Its genome contains genes for polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), a biodegradable polymer that can be used as a substitute for petroleum plastics.

Ischemia is known to increase the deleterious effect of β-amyloid (Aβ), contributing to early cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease. Here, we investigated whether transient ischemia may function as a trigger for Aβ-dependent synaptic impairment in the entorhinal cortex (EC), acting through specific cellular signaling. We found that synaptic depression induced by oxygen glucose deprivation (OGD) was enhanced in EC slices either in presence of synthetic oligomeric Aβ or in slices from mutant human amyloid precursor protein transgenic mice (mhAPP J20). OGD-induced synaptic depression was ameliorated by functional suppression of RAGE. In particular, overexpression of the dominant-negative form of RAGE targeted to microglia (DNMSR) protects against OGD-induced synaptic impairment in an amyloid-enriched environment, reducing the activation of stress-related kinases (p38MAPK and JNK) and the release of IL-1β. Our results demonstrate a prominent role for the RAGE-dependent neuroinflammatory pathway in the synaptic failure induced by Aβ and triggered by transient ischemia.

To validate whether repeated magnetic resonance (MR) imaging-guided focused ultrasound treatments targeted to the hippocampus, a brain structure relevant for Alzheimer disease ( AD Alzheimer disease ), could modulate pathologic abnormalities, plasticity, and behavior in a mouse model.All animal procedures were approved by the Animal Care Committee and are in accordance with the Canadian Council on Animal Care. Seven-month-old transgenic (TgCRND8) (Tg) mice and their nontransgenic (non-Tg) littermates were entered in the study. Mice were treated weekly with MR imaging-guided focused ultrasound in the bilateral hippocampus (1.68 MHz, 10-msec bursts, 1-Hz burst repetition frequency, 120-second total duration). After 1 month, spatial memory was tested in the Y maze with the novel arm prior to sacrifice and immunohistochemical analysis. The data were compared by using unpaired t tests and analysis of variance with Tukey post hoc analysis.Untreated Tg mice spent 61% less time than untreated non-Tg mice exploring the novel arm of the Y maze because of spatial memory impairments (P.05). Following MR imaging-guided focused ultrasound, Tg mice spent 99% more time exploring the novel arm, performing as well as their non-Tg littermates. Changes in behavior were correlated with a reduction of the number and size of amyloid plaques in the MR imaging-guided focused ultrasound-treated animals (P.01). Further, after MR imaging-guided focused ultrasound treatment, there was a 250% increase in the number of newborn neurons in the hippocampus (P.01). The newborn neurons had longer dendrites and more arborization after MR imaging-guided focused ultrasound, as well (P.01).Repeated MR imaging-guided focused ultrasound treatments led to spatial memory improvement in a Tg mouse model of AD Alzheimer disease . The behavior changes may be mediated by decreased amyloid pathologic abnormalities and increased neuronal plasticity.

Production of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) from Jatropha biodiesel residues, namely crude glycerol and oil cake hydrolysate, has been reported previously. Halomonas hydrothermalis (MTCC accession no. 5445; NCBI Genbank accession no. GU938192 ), a wild marine strain, was used in the bio-synthesis. The present study was initiated to vary the properties of the polymer. Seaweed-derived crude levulinic acid (SDCLA), containing formic acid, residual sugars and dissolved minerals additionally, was proposed as co-feed along with the biodiesel residues. Experiments were conducted at 100 mL scale in batch process. Whereas the PHA yield was only 0.40 ± 0.01 g when only biodiesel residues were employed, it rose to 1.07 ± 0.02 g in presence of 0.35% (w/v) of SDCLA. The corresponding carbon utilisation efficiencies were 29.3% and 57.5%, respectively. 3-Hydroxy valerate incorporation in the PHA was pronounced in presence of SDCLA, with associated changes in polymer properties. The microbial synthesis fared poorly when SDCLA was substituted with pure levulinic acid. Thus, Halomonas hydrothermalis had a poor response to levulinic acid, as such, and other constituents present in SDCLA appear to have played a vital role in bacterial cell division and accumulation of PHA. Biodegradability tests in moist soil were also conducted as part of the study. Marine microalgal cultivation for biodiesel and seaweed cultivation for fuels may help generate biodiesel residues and crude levulinic acid in proximity, which would open up the possibility of large scale PHA manufacture in efficient and practical manner in the future through the methodology of the present study.

Lymphatic filariasis is endemic in 250 districts in 20 states and union territories of India. Microfilariae have been reported in body cavity fluids and cytological evaluation of various lesions including benign as well as malignant neoplasms. Here, we present a rare case of incidentally found microfilariae in a cytological smear from gallbladder adenocarcinoma. Along with supporting the cytology as an important tool in detection of asymptomatic filariasis, we wish to draw the attention toward a more dedicated approach to eliminate this disease entity and toward unnoticed comorbidities in carcinoma patients.

Focused ultrasound (FUS)-mediated opening of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) has been used to promote drug delivery to the brain. However, in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease, FUS has proven to be effective for reducing pathology and improving cognition, even in the absence of exogenous drug application. We have explored single and repeated FUS treatments in mice at both early and late stages of plaque pathology using a transgenic (Tg) mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease.