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Biodiversity has become the talk of topic for so many years of its rapid decrease worldwide. Due to the geographical position and soil fertility Bangladesh is exceptionally endowed with a huge variety of plant species. In Bangladesh, the destruction of plant species in the forests and protected areas is a continuous process due to increasing population pressure, rural poverty, joblessness, lack of knowledge, absence of public awareness and other natural calamities etc. which pose a serious threat to the plant biodiversity. The Government and researchers of Bangladesh have undertaken several surveys, scientific researches, and monitoring, which helps to document related databases, to protect and restore ecosystems and biodiversity. This paper is based on the literature survey of some renowned researchers’ studies and applications in biodiversity conservation in Bangladesh. Thus, this study attempts to review the present scenario of plant diversity, causes of loss or depletion of plant diversity, initiatives taken for the conservation by the government and last but not least the prospects of plant biodiversity in Bangladesh.

Capsicum belongs to the Solanaceae family. These are used as vegetables, spices, or drugs. Capsicum contains capsaicin, Vitamins A, C and phenolic compounds, which are essential antioxidant components that may reduce the risk of diseases. This study aimed to prepare candy using Capsicum powder and evaluate their moisture content, colour measurement, and antioxidant activity under various cooking times and temperatures using the microwave. Response Surface Methodology (RMS) was used for the optimization of cooking time and tempareture of this process. Here a small piece of healthy sweet candy made from sugar with Capsicum powder with other ingredients. This antioxidant-loaded candy's study showed that the varying microwave power and time combination during cooking leads to a significant change in Capsicum fortified candy's physicochemical properties. Increase the combination of time-microwave power burn the batter and due to liquid condition of solution is found a combination of low power and low time. 300 W - 10 min is a good combination for made candy. It gives the best colour (L* =13.1±0.019, a* =4.4±0.0128, b*=4.4±0.0312), antioxidant (2.4±0.012) mg/ml and texture (hardness 4±0.5) properties.

The ability to control stem cell function is the key to stem cell-based therapy and living tissue regeneration. In natural conditions, histone deacetylases (HDAC) are regarded as the important defining epigenetic reprogramming for stem cell differentiation. To date, human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSCs) have been widely utilised for bone tissue engineering applications. The present study aimed to examine the effect of a novel HDAC2&3-selective inhibitor, MI192, on hADSCs epigenetic reprogramming for regulating its osteogenic potential in vitro. The results confirmed that MI192 treatment reduced the hADSCs viability in a time and dose-dependent manner. The optimal concentration and pre-treatment time of MI192 for hADSCs osteogenic induction was 30 μM and 2 days representatively. A quantitative biochemical assay confirmed that the pre-treatment with MI192 (30 μM) for 2 days significantly enhanced hADSCs alkaline phosphatase (ALP) specific activity (P

The objective of this study was to analyze the effects of phytochemical parameter, physical parameter, color, and sensory analysis in green capsicum by different drying processes (microwave, freeze, and hot air drying). Results showed an increase in microwave output power (600W), decreased drying time, moisture content, Chroma, and bulk density values. The Freeze drying process significantly improved the lightness of dried capsicum. Due to take less time for the Microwave drying technique, phytochemical parameters are intact in capsicum; on the other side, color degradation has been occurred due to the Maillard reaction (L*=29.34±0.08, a*=6.98±0.09,b*=15.36±0.10). Bulk density (0.335±0.01) and dispersibility (40±2.00%) were highest in Microwave drying powder. The capsaicin content of dried capsicum was higher than the fresh capsicum sample, but compared to the different drying techniques, the Microwave drying sample has higher capsaicin content than the Hot air drying and Freeze-drying samples. The lower capsaicin content in fresh capsicum may occur due to the catalytic activity of the peroxidase enzyme. The capsaicin content of all dried capsicum varied between 1.91±0.05 and 3.31±0.16 mg/100 g. In this research, the Microwave drying powder of capsicum was the best product for its highest antioxidant content and other physical properties.

The effect of covid 19 on human health was devastating and the fatality rate was high around the world. World Health Organization declared the outburst of this infectious disease a pandemic situation. To check the rapid dispersal of the COVID-19 virus, most countries of the world enforced quarantine and strict lockdown. The effects of COVID-19 lockdown on environmental health draw the attention of the scientific communities. Therefore, this research paper inspected and narratively reviewed the observed effects of COVID-19 lockdown on the changes in the environmental quality based on secondary research data. The work provides a distinct indication considering the impacts executed by COVID-19 lockdown on the air, water, soil, and noise as typical environment elements. It has been widely reported that the amount of pollution in the air, water, soil, and noise exhibited a significant decline during lockdown period. It has been noticed in different literature that global air quality improved because of less anthropogenic emissions of air contaminants and atmospheric particles. For instance, releases of carbon, nitrogen, sulfur and particulate matter are reduced and ozone layers were reported to being increased. Aquatic life and water ecosystem have also been restored in many countries due to less commercial fishing. Moreover, soil pollution was less due to a significant decrease in solid and water waste dumping. Because of less transportation of vehicles, industrial and other urban activities, sound pollution dropped to a significant level. Clean beaches, transparent seawater, wildlife sightings and free movement of animals and birds were also found in some counties during lockdown. However, these effects of lockdown were temporary, as the world again enters the pre-lockdown situation. Human attitudes must be changed to continue the positive impact on the environment. World policymakers should take the necessary steps to guarantee the steadiness of the positive environmental effects derived from the COVID-19 lockdown.

The effects of vacuum (VP) and 100% N2 modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) on the qualityand shelf-life of sliced pangasius catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) during refrigerated storage (4°C)were investigated up to 12 days. The values of pH, total volatile base nitrogen (TVB-N) and thiobarbituricacid reactive substance (TBARS) of sliced fish samples during storage under VP and MAP packaging werewithin the limit acceptable for chilled fish. Total viable count (TVC) of pangasius fish, on the other hand,gradually increased from the initial value of 4.32±0.04 to 8.30±0.13 log CFU/g on day 9 for non-sealedpack (control) and 7.64±0.12 and 8.34±0.07 log CFU/g for VP and MAP on day 12. There were nosignificant (p

The in vitro antioxidant properties, brine shrimp lethality bioassay, in vivo analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-diarrheal potentiality of methanolic and ethyl acetate extracts of leaf of Marsd...

Nerol, a monoterpene is evident to possess diverse biological activities, including antioxidant, anti-microbial, anti-spasmodic, anthelmintic, and anti-arrhythmias. This study aims to evaluate its hepatoprotective effect against paracetamol-induced liver toxicity in a rat model. Five groups of rats (n = 7) were orally treated (once daily) with 0.05% tween 80 dissolved in 0.9% NaCl solution (vehicle), paracetamol 640 mg/kg (negative control), 50 mg/kg silymarin (positive control), or nerol (50 and 100 mg/kg) for 14 days, followed by the hepatotoxicity induction using paracetamol (PCM). The blood samples and livers of the animals were collected and subjected to biochemical and microscopical analysis. The histological findings suggest that paracetamol caused lymphocyte infiltration and marked necrosis, whereas maintenance of the normal hepatic structural was observed in group pre-treated with silymarin and nerol. The rats pre-treated with nerol significantly and dose-dependently reduced the hepatotoxic markers in animals. Nerol at 100 mg/kg significantly reversed the paracetamol-induced altered situations, including the liver enzymes, plasma proteins, antioxidant enzymes and serum bilirubin, lipid peroxidation (LPO) and cholesterol [e.g., total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c)] levels in animals. Taken together, nerol exerted significant hepatoprotective activity in rats in a dose-dependent manner. PCM-induced toxicity and nerol induced hepatoprotective effects based on expression of inflammatory and apoptosis factors will be future line of work for establishing the precise mechanism of action of nerol in Wistar albino rats.

In folk medicines, Justicia gendarussa (J. gendarussa) is used as a depurative herb for treating fever, pain, and cancer and as laxative for constipation. The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of the leaf methanol extract of J. gendarussa leaf (J gMe) against carbofuran (CF)-intoxicated liver injuries in Sprague-Dawley rats, along with the antioxidant activity of this extract. For this purpose, levels of serum diagnostic markers, hepatic antioxidant enzymes, and liver histo-architecture were employed to justify the protective efficacy of J gMe. In addition, the phenolic and flavonoid contents of the extract were quantified, and antioxidant activity was investigated using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), nitric oxide, hydrogen peroxide, and hydroxyl free radical scavenging assays. Results revealed that the leaf extract caused a significant (

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the protective effect of Syzygium cymosum leaf methanol extract (SCL) against carbofuran (CF)-induced hepatotoxicity in Sprague-Dawley rats, along with the identification and quantification of polyphenolic composition by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, and flavonoids in SCL. Similarly, HPLC analysis suggests that SCL contains some known important antioxidants, such as rutin, benzoic acid, and salicylic acid that could be responsible for the hepatoprotective activity of the extract. In CF-exposed rats, significant hematological alterations along with histological changes were marked by the presence of necrosis, congestion, and inflammation. CF-intoxication also showed an increase in lipid peroxidation and decrease in cellular antioxidant enzymes (e.g., superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase) levels in rats compared with the control group. Furthermore, coadministration of SCL significantly ameliorated the abnormalities and improved the cellular arrangement in experimental animals. SCL also reversed the alteration of hematological and biochemical parameters and brought them back to normal levels as compared to the control group. In conclusion, S. cymosum may be one of the best sources of natural antioxidant compounds that can be used in the treatment of oxidative stress and stress-related diseases and disorders.

Objective The novel coronavirus pandemic led to the suspension of elective surgeries and the diversion of resources and manpower towards pandemic control. However, gynecological emergencies and malignancies must be addressed despite the restricted resources and the need for protective measures against COVID-19. This study aimed to determine the types of gynecological surgeries performed, difficulties encountered, and their outcomes in the setting of the pandemic.Methods We performed a prospective cohort study over 6 months at a single tertiary center, including 60 women with gynecological complaints, categorized as emergencies and semi-emergencies, who underwent further surgery. Their surgical outcomes were measured through various parameters.Results We found that 68.3% were emergency cases, while the rest were classified as semi-emergencies. Fibroid and adenomyosis with failed medical management (48.3%), followed by cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (10%), and malignancies (10%) accounted for the semi-emergency cases, while ruptured ectopic pregnancies (13.3%) and torsion and ovarian cysts (18.4%) comprised the emergency cases. The decision to incision time between emergency and semi-emergency cases varied widely due to the safety prerequisites during the pandemic, ranging from 1 hour in emergency cases to 48 hours in semi-emergency cases. In addition, we studied the ease of preoperative preparation, patient satisfaction, and the average number of personnel available to run the operation theaters at these times. No serious perioperative adverse events were observed in the present study.Conclusion In conclusion, gynecological surgeries could continue to be safely performed with all precautions in place against COVID-19 infection and related morbidities.

Objective To study the efficacy and safety of 0.5% bupivacaine in paracervical block to reduce immediate postoperative pain after total laparoscopic hysterectomy. Methods A prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted at a tertiary referral center involving thirty women each in the treatment and placebo groups. Paracervical block with 10 mL of 0.5% bupivacaine (treatment group) or 0.9% saline (placebo group) was administered following general anesthesia and prior to proceeding with total laparoscopic hysterectomy. Visual analogue scale (VAS) scores at 30 and 60 minutes post extubation and mean VAS score (average VAS score at 30 and 60 minutes) were compared. Adequate pain control was defined as mean VAS score ≤5. Additional postoperative opioid requirement, hospital stay, and readmissions were also compared. Results Baseline variables such as age, previous history of cesarean section, operating time, and weight of the specimen were comparable in both groups. VAS scores at 30 (5.0±2.8 vs. 7.0±1.4) and 60 minutes (5.2±2.8 vs. 7.0±0.8) and the mean VAS score (5.1±2.7 vs. 6.8±0.9) were significantly lower in the treatment group. Adequate pain control (mean VAS score ≤5) was 57% higher and additional opioid consumption was 47% lower in the treatment group. No significant difference was found in the duration of hospital stay and readmission rate. Conclusion Paracervical block with bupivacaine was useful in reducing immediate postoperative pain with a 25% reduction in mean VAS score and a 47% reduction in opioid consumption in the first hour after total laparoscopic hysterectomy.

Squash is a common cucurbitaceous vegetable in tropical and sub-tropical regions that is infested by a wide variety of insect pests. Therefore, the experiment was conducted to assess the status of insect pests in three different squash varieties viz., Pahu, Ahung, and SQ10 during the reproductive stage. It was observed that the total number of insect pests in the Pahu variety was significantly higher than Ahung, and SQ10. During the fruiting stage, 10 insects have been identified as harmful, while 6 were recorded as beneficial. The harmful insects were the blue pumpkin beetle, red pumpkin beetle, green long-legged fly, fruit flies, ants, blowfly, butterfly, grasshopper, house fly, and mosquito. The blue pumpkin beetle was significantly higher than all other insect species in all the varieties followed by the green long-lagged fly, the red pumpkin beetle, and fruit flies. Meanwhile, the number of butterflies and blowflies were the lowest of all the varieties. The ladybird beetle, hoverfly, tachinid fly, bumble bee, and honeybee were the most common beneficial insects found in squash fruits. However, a significant difference was observed among the beneficial insects, and the number of ladybird beetles was significantly higher than that of other insects, regardless of the variety. Therefore, the variety Pahu is considered the most susceptible to insect pests compared to Ahung and SQ10.

In folk medicines

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the protective effect of

In the present proposal, we numerically design and empirically verify a compact printed antenna for 5G, IoT, USB Dongle, and UWB application. The antenna covers an expanded spectrum ranging from 3.1 GHz to 10.72 GHz. The dimension of the proposed antenna is 16mm×21.75mm = 348mm2. The realized gain & average efficiency of the antenna are equal to 1.47 dB and 62.86% respectively. The suggested antenna with compact dimensions, simple planar architecture, and low manufacturing cost can be effectively employed in 5G, IoT, USB-Dongle as well as UWB wireless applications.

Rhabdomyosarcoma is very rare in adults accounting for less than 5% of all soft tissue tumours and less than 1% of all malignancies. Vagina is one of the least common sites for occurrence of Rhabdomyosarcoma in the genital tract. We present a case of a 53-year-old woman who is a follow up case of cervical cancer stage IIIB, managed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy. She was doing well till 5 years of her treatment for cervical cancer when she presented with complaints of pain lower abdomen and discharge per vaginum for 10 days. On examination she was found to have an abdominal mass of 18 weeks size and on local examination there was 4X4 cm fixed mass on lower third of vagina arising from left side. MRI abdomen and pelvis was done. Biopsy from the vaginal mass showed features of Rhabdomyosarcoma. Further follow up of the patient was not possible due to lockdown in view of the pandemic. She was last contacted telephonically on 25th March 2020; she said she was waiting for the lockdown to be lifted so that her further management can take place. This is just one patient; there are many more with other medical conditions all over the world who are losing their lives because of not being able to access medical care due to the present pandemic. New growth in the region of local recurrence in a known malignancy cannot necessarily be the recurrence of the primary tumour. It is important to keep our mind open to other differentials apart from the recurrence of primary malignancy, sometimes it can turn out to be a very rare tumour as we encountered in our case.

The objective of our present study is to scrutinize the analgesic and anti-inflammatory potentials of essential oil of Eucalyptus camaldulensis leaf using different in vivo assay models at doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg body weight. Twenty chemical compounds, which were isolated from the leaves essential oil of E. camaldulensis, were docked using AutodockVina against cyclooxygenase 2, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-1β convertase to elucidate the analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity. The essential oil of E. camaldulensis exhibited noteworthy analgesic activities in the writhing test. In the tail immersion and hot-plate test, the essential oil significantly extended the latency period. The number of licks in the formalin-induced paw licking test was markedly reduced following essential oil administration. In addition, E. camaldulensis essential oil revealed notable anti-inflammatory responses in carrageenan-induced paw edema, xylene induced ear edema and cotton pellet induced granuloma methods. Among 20 compounds, 5 ( cis-sabinol, globulol, α-eudesmol, β-eudesmol, and γ-eudesmol) showed better binding for cyclooxygenase-2 while β-eudesmol exhibited higher affinity for TNFα than that of TNF-alpha-IN-1 and standard drug. In the case of interleukin 1β convertase, maximum affinity was shown by α-eudesmol than the synthetic drug belnacasan. Chemical components of the essential oil interacted with diverse amino acid residues which were similar to the natural substrate and standard drugs. In conclusion, E. camaldulensis essential oil can be an effective source of analgesic and anti-inflammatory treatment and additional modification and docking studies will be required to justify the efficiency of globulol, α-eudesmol, β-eudesmol, and γ-eudesmol.

The present report aim to sensitise the obstetrician regarding risk of uterine inversion in a scarred uterus and the importance of immediate manual replacement. Represented case is of 40 years gravida five with previous one spontaneous abortion and previous history of three ectopic pregnancies with history of open left salpingectomy for ruptured left tubal ectopic pregnancy and history of laparoscopic right tubal clipping and uterine rupture repair for cornual pregnancy underwent an emergency caesarean section at 34 weeks. Since there were no signs of placental separation, controlled cord traction of placenta was attempted and uterine inversion was noticed. Manual replacement of uterus was done followed by manual removal of the adherent placenta. There was no postpartum haemorrhage. Inversion of uterus during caesarean section is a rare obstetric complication. If unrecognized it could lead to serious morbidity due to haemorrhage and shock. Prompt diagnosis and repositioning of the uterus are important measures in management.

Rationally designed, pH sensitive self-assembling β-peptides (SAPs) which are capable of reversibly switching between fluid and gel phases in response to environmental triggers are potentially useful injectable scaffolds for skeletal tissue engineering applications. SAP P11-4 (CH3COQQRFEWEFEQQNH2) has been shown to nucleate hydroxyapatite mineral de novo and has been used in dental enamel regeneration. We hypothesised that addition of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) would enhance the in vivo effects of P11-4 in promoting skeletal tissue repair. Cranial defects were created in athymic rats and filled with either Bio-Oss® (anorganic bone chips) or P11-4 ± human dental pulp stromal cells (HDPSCs). Unfilled defects served as controls. After 4 weeks, only those defects filled with P11-4 alone showed significantly increased bone regeneration (almost complete healing), compared to unfilled control defects, as judged using quantitative micro-CT, histology and immunohistochemistry. In silico modelling indicated that fibril formation may be essential for any mineral nucleation activity. Taken together, these data suggest that self-assembling peptides are a suitable scaffold for regeneration of bone tissue in a one step, cell-free therapeutic approach.

An ab-initio study of the stability, structural and electronic properties has been made for 84 germanium carbide nanoclusters, Ge x C y ( x + y =2–5). The configuration possessing the maximum value of final binding energy (FBE), among the various configurations corresponding to a fixed x + y = n value, is named as the most stable structure. The vibrational and optical properties have been investigated only for the most stable structures. A B3LYP-DFT/6-311G(3df) method has been employed to optimize fully the geometries of the nanoclusters. The binding energies (BE), highest-occupied and lowest-unoccupied molecular orbital (HOMO–LUMO) gaps have been obtained for all the clusters and the bond lengths have been reported for the most stable clusters. We have considered the zero point energy (ZPE) corrections. The adiabatic and vertical ionization potentials (IPs) and electron affinities (EAs), charge on atoms, dipole moments, vibrational frequencies, infrared intensities (IR Int.), relative infrared intensities (Rel. IR Int.) and Raman scattering activities have also been investigated for the most stable structures. The configurations containing the carbon atoms in majority are seen to be the most stable structures. The strong C–C bond has important role in stabilizing the clusters. For the clusters containing one germanium atom and all the other as carbon atoms, the BE increases monotonically with the number of the carbon atoms. The HOMO–LUMO gap, IPs and EAs fluctuates with increase in the number of atoms. The nanoclusters containing even number of carbon atoms have large HOMO–LUMO gaps and IPs, whereas the nanoclusters containing even number of carbon atoms have small EAs. In general, the adiabatic IP (EA) is smaller (greater) than the vertical IP (EA). The optical absorption spectrum or electron energy loss spectrum (EELS) is unique for every cluster, and may be used to characterize a specific cluster. All the predicted physical quantities are in good agreement with the experimental data wherever available. The growth of these most stable structures should be possible in the experiments.

Room temperature cyclotron and, Superconducting cyclotron of VEC Centre Kolkata are the experimental facilities being offered for the acceleration of multiply charged heavy positive ions as well as light ions at different energy levels. There exists high intensity of mixed radiation and neutron flux in the cyclotron vault, pit area during the operation of cyclotron. In order to acquire various field information including near real-time video from those inaccessible areas with fixed obstacles navigation of a mobile robot through several intermediate nodes following a fixed path can be a probable solution. In the path planning strategy of a mobile robot to reach the target location may or may not be an optimal one. This paper has concentrated on the development and verification of the source code written in C to find out the optimal path for a mobile robot traversing through several nodes using the concept of Travelling Salesman Problem applying Genetic Algorithm. Superconducting Cyclotron Vault with fixed obstacles has been considered as the target space for defining the optimal path of the mobile robot. The validation of the code has been done by changing the number of initial population and increasing the number of generations. The concept of elitism has been incorporated to find out the optimal path (the most probable solution) among all the generations.

The ability to control cell function is one of the challenges for cell-based therapy in regenerative medicine. In this study, we describe a novel method to fabricate cell–hydroxyapatite (HAp) nanocrystal composites to modulate cellular microenvironment. By preparation of layer-by-layer nanometer-sized extracellular matrix films onto cell surfaces, HAp nanocrystals were fabricated onto cell surfaces without cytotoxicity. This technology can modulate cellular functions such as adhesion, growth, and differentiation.

The main objective of the paper is to find the probable causes behind the shifting course of the Haora River, one of the major rivers of West Tripura and detachment of one of its major tributaries, the Katakhal River. From a recent satellite image, we observed that the River Haora has changed its course drastically near the confluence. Earlier, it used to take a sharp northward bend to meet with the River Titas immediately after crossing the Indo-Bangladesh border; but presently it is flowing westward to do so. Moreover, the Katakhal River, a right bank tributary of the River Haora, that used to flow through the northern side of the city of Agartala and meet with the River Haora at Bangladesh, is no longer a tributary of the Haora River. Now it is completely detached from the Haora River and meets with the River Titas separately. Spatiotemporal maps have been used to detect the changes. Field investigation, with the help of GPS, has been done in order to find the link between the Haora River and the Katakhal River within the Indian territory. Changing patterns of the Haora and Katakhal River confluences are also analysed, and earlier courses are identified. The shifting trends of both of these two rivers are found along the flanks of the interfluvial area because of microscale tectonic activity, i.e., upliftment of the interfluvial zone.

A major clinical need exists for cartilage repair and regeneration. Despite many different strategies having been pursued, the identification of an optimised cell type and of pre-treatment conditions remains a challenge. This study compares the cartilage-like tissue generated by human bone marrow stromal cells (HBMSCs) and human neonatal and adult chondrocytes cultured on three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds under various conditions in vitro and in vivo with the aim of informing future cartilage repair strategies based upon tissue-engineering approaches. After 3 weeks in vitro culture, all three cell types showed cartilage-like tissue formation on 3D poly (lactide-co-glycolide) acid scaffolds only when cultured in chondrogenic medium. After 6 weeks of chondro-induction, neonatal chondrocyte constructs revealed the most cartilage-like tissue formation with a prominent superficial zone-like layer, a middle zone-like structure and the thinnest fibrous capsule. HBMSC constructs had the thickest fibrous capsule formation. Under basal culture conditions, neonatal articular chondrocytes failed to form any tissue, whereas HBMSCs and adult chondrocytes showed thick fibrous capsule formation at 6 weeks. After in vivo implantation, all groups generated more compact tissues compared with in vitro constructs. Pre-culturing in chondrogenic media for 1 week before implantation reduced fibrous tissue formation in all cell constructs at week 3. After 6 weeks, only the adult chondrocyte group pre-cultured in chondrogenic media was able to maintain a more chondrogenic/less fibrocartilaginous phenotype. Thus, pre-culture under chondrogenic conditions is required to maintain a long-term chondrogenic phenotype, with adult chondrocytes being a more promising cell source than HBMSCs for articular cartilage tissue engineering.

Soil erosion is one of the most important environmental problems, and it remains as a major threat to the land use of hilly regions of Tripura. The present study aims at estimating potential and actual soil loss (t·h-1·y-1) as well as to indentify the major erosion prone sub-watersheds in the study area. Average annual soil loss has been estimated by multiplying five parameters, i.e.: R (the rainfall erosivity factor), K (the soil erodibility factor), LS (the topographic factor), C (the crop management factor) and P (the conservation support practice). Such estimation is based on the principles de- fined in the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) with some modifications. This intensity of soil erosion has been divided into different priority classes. The whole study area has been subdivided into 23 sub watersheds in order to identify the priority areas in terms of the intensity of soil erosion. Each sub-watershed has further been studied intensively in terms of rainfall, soil type, slope, land use/land cover and soil erosion to determine the dominant factor leading to higher erosion. The average annual predicted soil loss ranges between 11 and 836 t·h-1·y-1. Low soil loss areas (·h-1·y-1) have mostly been recorded under densely forested areas.

Non-invasive monitoring of living cells in vivo provides an important tool in the development of cell-based therapies in cartilage tissue engineering. High-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been used to monitor target cell populations in vivo. However, the side-effects on cell function of the labelling reagents, such as superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO), are still unclear. This study investigated the effect of SPIO particles on the chondrogenic differentiation of human bone marrow stromal cells (HBMSCs), neonatal and adult chondrocytes in vitro. Cells were labelled with SPIO for 24 h and chondrogenesis induced in serum-free medium including TGFβ3. For labelled/unlabelled cells, viability, morphology and proliferation were determined using CellTracker™ Green and PicoGreen dsDNA assays. The expression of SOX9, COL2A1 and ACAN was investigated using qRT–PCR after 2, 7 and 14 days. The results showed that viability was unaffected in all of the cells but cell morphology changed towards a 'stretched' phenotype following SPIO uptake. Cell proliferation was reduced only for labelled neonatal chondrocytes. SOX9 and COL2A1 expression decreased at day 2 but not at days 7 and 14 for labelled HBMSCs and adult chondrocytes; ACAN expression was unaffected. In contrast, SOX9 and COL2A1 expression were unaffected in labelled neonatal chondrocytes but a decrease in ACAN expression was seen at day 14. The results suggest that downregulation of chondrogenic genes associated with SPIO labelling is temporary and target cell-dependent. Resovist® can be used to label HBMSCs or mature chondrocytes for MR imaging of cells for cartilage tissue engineering. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Cartilage tissue engineering is still a major clinical challenge with optimisation of a suitable source of cells for cartilage repair/regeneration not yet fully addressed. The aims of this study were to compare and contrast the differences in chondrogenic behaviour between human bone marrow stromal cells (HBMSCs), human neonatal and adult chondrocytes to further our understanding of chondroinduction relative to cell maturity and to identify factors that promote chondrogenesis and maintain functional homoeostasis. Cells were cultured in monolayer in either chondrogenic or basal medium, recapitulating procedures used in existing clinical procedures for cell-based therapies. Cell doubling time, morphology and alkaline phosphatase specific activity (ALPSA) were determined at different time points. Expression of chondrogenic markers (SOX9, ACAN and COL2A1) was compared via real time polymerase chain reaction. Amongst the three cell types studied, HBMSCs had the highest ALPSA in basal culture and lowest ALPSA in chondrogenic media. Neonatal chondrocytes were the most proliferative and adult chondrocytes had the lowest ALPSA in basal media. Gene expression analysis revealed a difference in the temporal expression of chondrogenic markers which were up regulated in chondrogenic medium compared to levels in basal medium. Of the three cell types studied, adult chondrocytes offer a more promising cell source for cartilage tissue engineering. This comparative study revealed differences between the microenvironment of all three cell types and provides useful information to inform cell-based therapies for cartilage regeneration.

Cell-based therapies and tissue engineering strategies offer new approaches for repair of degenerate/damaged articular cartilage. This chapter provides a brief overview of the clinical need for cartilage repair, the current clinical treatment options and their limitations, and then discusses the chondrogenic potential of different cell sources including embryonic stem cells, stem cells derived from prenatal tissues and adult mesenchymal stem cells. It also addresses the role of chondroprogenitor cells along with the advent of induced pluripotent stem cells in cartilage regeneration, and follows this with a brief review of the strategies, hurdles and future directions for cartilage repair and regeneration.