Technical Advances in Chloroplast Biotechnology

Chloroplasts are highly organized cellular organelles after master organelle nucleus. They not only play a central role in photosynthesis but are also involved in several crucial cellular activities. Advancements in molecular biology and transgenic technology have further groomed importance of the organelle, and they are the most ideal ones for the expression of transgene. No doubt, limitations are there, but still research is advancing to resolve those. Certain valuable traits have been engineered for improved agronomic performance of crop plants. Industrial enzymes and therapeutic proteins have been expressed using plastid transformation system. Synthetic biology has been explored to play a key role in engineering metabolic pathways. Further, producing dsRNA in a plant’s chloroplast rather than in its cellular cytoplasm is more effective way to address desired traits. In this chapter, we highlight technological advancements in chloroplast biotechnology and its implication to develop biosafe engineered plants

A Benchmark Similarity Measures for Fermatean Fuzzy Sets

In this paper, we utilized triangular conorms (S-norm). The essence of using S-norm is that the similarity order does not change using different norms. In fact, we are investigating for a new conception for calculating the similarity of two Fermatean fuzzy sets. For this purpose, utilizing an S-norm, we first present a formula for calculating the similarity of two Fermatean fuzzy values, so that they are truthful in similarity properties. Following that, we generalize a formula for calculating the similarity of the two Fermatean fuzzy sets which prove truthful in similarity conditions. Finally, various numerical examples have been presented to elaborate this method

Comparative evaluation of doxofylline and theophylline in patients of mild bronchial asthma

Background: Asthma is common chronic disease worldwide. Methylxanthines has been used in the treatment of asthma. The study was undertaken to compare two Methylxanthines theophylline and doxofylline at doses recommended and commonly used in clinical practice in Mild Bronchial Asthma Patients.Methods: Study was conducted in patients of Mild Bronchial Asthma in TB and chest disease department of a medical college hospital. It was randomized, prospective and open label. A total of 107 patients were divided in two group .Group I was administered 400 mg theophylline SR once daily and group II was administered doxofylline 400 mg twice a day orally. Spirometric variables symptom score, and adverse effects were recorded on day 0, 7 and 21 of therapy. Data were compared and analysed using SPSS version 16.Results: Results of the study showed that there was significant improvement in spirometric variables and clinical symptom score compared to pretreatment values after medication in both groups on 7th and 21st days of treatment. But there was no statistically significant difference between improvement in theophylline and doxofylline groups with respect to spirometric variables and symptom score. There was no significant difference in two groups with respect to side effects (p>0.05).Conclusions: It is concluded in Patients of mild Bronchial Asthma Theophylline and doxofylline improve the spirometric and clinical symptoms and doxofylline has no advantage over theophylline in terms of either efficacy or safety on the doses commonly used in current clinical practice

Bipolar picture fuzzy sets and relations with applications

The notions of both the bipolar fuzzy sets and picture fuzzy sets have been studied by many authors, the bipolar picture fuzzy set is the nice combination of these two notions. Basically, the concepts we present in our study are the direct extensions of both the bipolar fuzzy sets and picture fuzzy sets. In this study, we add few more operations and results in the theory of the bipolar picture fuzzy sets. We also initiate the notion of bipolar picture fuzzy relations along with their applications. We present numerous basic operations along with the algebraic sums, bounded sums, algebraic product, bounded difference on bipolar picture fuzzy sets. Different types of distances between two bipolar picture fuzzy sets are also addressed. We provide the application of bipolar picture fuzzy sets towards decision making theory along with its algorithm. Afterward, we introduce different types of bipolar picture fuzzy relations like bipolar picture fuzzy reflexive, symmetric and transitive relations. Subsequently, we introduce the concepts of the bipolar picture fuzzy equivalence relation and partition. We also produce numerous interesting results based on these relations. Finally, we establish the criteria for the detection of covid-19 at the base of bipolar picture fuzzy relations

Biotechnological Interventions for the Improvement of Sugarcane Crop and Sugar Production

Sugarcane, not only fulfills 70% of world sugar needs but is also a prime potential source of bioethanol. It is majorly grown in tropical and subtropical regions. Researchers have improved this grass to great extent and have developed energy cane with ability to accumulate up to 18% sucrose in its Culm. Improvement of this crop is impeded by its complex genome, low fertility, long production cycle and susceptibility to various biotic and abiotic stresses. Biotechnological interventions hold great promise to address these impediments paving way to get improved sugarcane crop. Further, being vegetatively propagated in most of the agroecological regions, it has become more attractive plant to work with. This chapter highlights, how advanced knowledge of omics (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics) can be employed to improve sugarcane crop. In addition, potential role of in vitro techniques and transgenic technology has also been discussed for developing improved sugarcane clones with enhanced sugar recovery

Effect of bridgehead substitution in the Grob fragmentation of norbornyl ketones: a new route to substituted halophenols

Grob fragmentation of suitably designed bicyclic species often generates novel organic skeletons in a facile manner. Herein, we report a comprehensive account of an effective acid-catalyzed Grob fragmentation of trihalonorbornyl ketones to dihalophenol derivatives in good yields. The transformation entails tri-n-butyltin hydride (TBTH) mediated regioselective reduction of one of the two bridgehead halogens of readily available Diels–Alder adducts resulting from 1,2,3,4-tetrahalo-5,5-dimethoxycyclopentadiene and vinyl acetate derivatives, followed by its conversion to substituted halophenol species via a three-step hydrolysis–oxidation–rearrangement/aromatization strategy. Both alkyl and aryl substituted norbornyl ketones were studied. A detailed mechanistic analysis employing an isotope labeling experiment revealed plausible mechanistic pathways. Among the two bridgehead substituents, when halogen (X = Cl, Br) stays at C-1 and hydrogen (H, or deuterium, D) at C-4, then product formation takes place via exclusive protonation (supplied by an external acid) at β carbon (i.e. C-1) of a dienol moiety formed in situ during the Grob-fragmentation, followed by the removal of acidic 4-H (or 4-D) and halide ion (X−) from the resulting cyclohexenone intermediate prior to nucleophilic attack on the oxocarbenium ion by X− and final enolisation of cyclohexadienone species. A sharp deviation was observed with the regioisomeric bicyclic ketone, wherein the 4-X triggers a facile removal of X− and forms the end products without necessitating the involvement of the C-1 substituent (i.e. 1-H/D), thereby retaining it in the final halophenols. It clearly demonstrates how the bridgehead substituents in the two regioisomeric trihalo-norbornyl ketones steer the bicyclic systems to follow entirely different reaction pathways thus suggesting their crucial yet distinct roles in the overall reaction. The present transformation thus manifests the relevance of bridgehead substituents in the Grob fragmentation of such norbornyl systems. Our current strategy also allows one to access ortho-deuterated halophenol compounds

Herbal drugs: knowledge, attitude and practice of its concurrent use with allopathic drugs, scientific testing and effectiveness in common diseases among educated class

Background: Craving for a holistic approach for healthcare and concern about side effect of the chemically produced drug is increasing interest in herbal medicine. There is a favourable perception about its effectiveness in complete cure of certain diseases. Its regulation, concurrent use with allopathic medicine and scientific testing has always been of concern.Methods: Cross sectional descriptive study was done using predesigned questionnaire among the educated class. Socio-demographic data, attitude and practice about simultaneous use, effectiveness in common disease, scientific testing and regulation of herbal medicine were asked. Also a rating of different system of medicine i.e allopathy, unani, ayurveda, homeopathy was asked.Results: Total completed participants were 120. Across level of education use of herbal medicine was 55% in the last 1 year, 56.7% have used or intend to use herbal along with allopathic and only 18.9 % tell it to treating physician. 50% consider concurrent use as safe, 43% believe it cures completely, 31.7% consider equally effective than allopathic and 95% have not encountered any side effect or allergic reaction with it. A majority did not know about any scientific testing and clinical study of herbal drugs.Conclusions: Herbal medicines have very positive perception. The regulatory authorities are also patronising it in many countries. They are also being used along with allopathic medicine and many times even without knowledge of treating doctor. The perception about herbal medicine is historical based on personal or clinical experiences, mostly lacking with good grade of strength of evidence. There is need to have Level Ia or Ib evidence for their effectiveness and safety

Antimicrobial, Antioxidant and Cytotoxic Potential of Aerial Parts of Monotheca buxifolia

In this study, different aerial parts of Monotheca Buxifolia were screened for their antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-oxidant activity. Extract of the fruit was most active against P. mirabilis, MSSA and M. morganii strains. Moreover, the methanolic fruit extract demonstrated good antibacterial properties against VRSA, S. aureus and Acinetobacter. Despite having good antibacterial properties, Monotheca buxifolia showed low antifungal activity. The cytotoxic activity was the highest in the pet-ether fruit extract, causing 60% of lethality against Artemia salina larvae with LD50 at 3.307. The highest scavenging activity was shown by the methanolic leaf extract in a concentration-dependent pattern. The findings of this study suggest that Monotheca Buxifolia has good antibacterial, antioxidant potential but low antifungal properties

Citrus Biotechnology: Current Innovations and Future Prospects

Citrus is a valuable fruit crop worldwide. It not only provides essential minerals and vitamins but is also of great commercial importance. Conventional research has contributed a lot to the improvement of this fruit plant. Numerous improved varieties have been developed through conventional breeding, mutational breeding, polyploidization and tissue culture yet pathogens continue to emerge at a consistent pace over a wide range of citrus species. Citriculture is vulnerable to various biotic and abiotic stresses which are quite difficult to be controlled through conventional research. Biotechnological intervention including transgenesis, genome editing, and OMICS offers several innovative options to resolve existing issues in this fruit crop. Genetic transformation has been established in many citrus species and transgenic plants have been developed having the ability to tolerate bacterial, viral, and fungal pathogens. Genome editing has also been worked out to develop disease-resistant plants. Likewise, advancement in OMICS has helped to improve citrus fruit through the knowledge of genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, interactomics, and phenomics. This chapter highlights not only the milestones achieved through conventional research but also briefs about the achievements attained through advanced molecular biology research

Phase analysis and microstructure study of sintered Ni-Cr composites containing MoS2, Ag and CaF2 additives as solid lubricants

Ni-Cr based composites with and without the addition of solid lubricants (MoS2, Ag and CaF2) were prepared by powder metallurgy method. The samples were sintered at different temperatures (1000oC, 1100oC and 1200oC) under controlled atmosphere and various holding times. The physical properties such as sintered density, relative density and porosity were studied. The microstructures and phase studies of the Ni-Cr based composites were conducted using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and X-Ray Diffraction Analysis (XRD) while the hardness of the composites was measured by the Vickers Micro Hardness Tester. The results revealed that as the sintering temperature was increased, the sintered density, relative density and hardness also increased while the porosity was reduced. At the sintering temperature of 1200oC, the relative density reached its maximum value. SEM and XRD analysis confirmed the existence of MoS2 and Ag in sintered samples. MoS2 and Ag were not mainly dissolved and/or decomposed even after sintering at 1200o