High-pressure x-ray diffraction study of bulk and nanocrystalline PbMoO4

We studied the effects of high-pressure on the crystalline structure of bulk and nanocrystalline scheelite-type PbMoO4. We found that in both cases the compressibility of the materials is highly non-isotropic, being the c-axis the most compressible one. We also observed that the volume compressibility of nanocrystals becomes higher that the bulk one at 5 GPa. In addition, at 10.7(8) GPa we observed the onset of an structural phase transition in bulk PbMoO4. The high-pressure phase has a monoclinic structure similar to M-fergusonite. The transition is reversible and not volume change is detected between the low- and high-pressure phases. No additional structural changes or evidence of decomposition are found up to 21.1 GPa. In contrast nanocrystalline PbMoO4 remains in the scheelite structure at least up to 16.1 GPa. Finally, the equation of state for bulk and nanocrystalline PbMoO4 are also determined.Comment: 18 pages, 4 figure

A tale of three kingdoms: Members of the Phylum Nematoda independently acquired the detoxifying enzyme cyanase through horizontal gene transfer from plants and bacteria

Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) has played an important role in the evolution of nematodes. Among candidate genes, cyanase, which is typically found only in plants, bacteria and fungi, is present in more than 35 members of the Phylum Nematoda, but absent from free-living and clade V organisms. Phylogenetic analyses showed that the cyanases of clade I organisms Trichinella spp., Trichuris spp. and Soboliphyme baturini (Subclass: Dorylaimia) represent a well-supported monophyletic clade with plant cyanases. In contrast, all cyanases found within the Subclass Chromadoria which encompasses filarioids, ascaridoids and strongyloids are homologous to those of bacteria. Western blots exhibited typical multimeric forms of the native molecule in protein extracts of Trichinella spiralis muscle larvae, where immunohisto- chemical staining localized the protein to the worm hypodermis and underlying muscle. Recombinant Trichinella cyanase was bioactive where gene transcription profiles support functional activity in vivo. Results suggest that: (1) independent HGT in parasitic nematodes originated from different Kingdoms; (2) cyanase acquired an active role in the biology of extant Trichinella; (3) acquisition occurred more than 400 million years ago (MYA), prior to the divergence of the Trichinellida and Dioctophymatida, and (4) early, free-living ances- tors of the genus Trichinella had an association with terrestrial plants

Beneficial effects of spices in food preservation and safety

Spices have been used since ancient times. Although they have been employed mainly as flavoring and coloring agents, their role in food safety and preservation have also been studied in vitro and in vivo. Spices have exhibited numerous health benefits in preventing and treating a wide variety of diseases such as cancer, aging, metabolic, neurological, cardiovascular, and inflammatory diseases. The present review aims to provide a comprehensive summary of the most relevant and recent findings on spices and their active compounds in terms of targets and mode of action; in particular, their potential use in food preservation and enhancement of shelf life as a natural bioingredient

Triplication of Deciduous Teeth: A Rare Dental Anomaly

Fusion of teeth is the union of two or more tooth germs, which are usually separated. Depending upon the stage of odontogenesis, it can be complete or incomplete. The present case describes fusion between the maxillary  primary right central and lateral incisor with a supernumerary tooth. Clinical and radiographic examination revealed the presence of fused triple teeth. The fused teeth were extracted, sectioned and were visualized under  stereomicroscope at three levels and the diagnosis of fusion of three teeth was confirmed histologically.Keywords: Fusion, primary teeth, supernumerary tooth, triple teet

Reliability Analysis of a Series and Parallel Network using Triangular Intuitionistic Fuzzy Sets

This paper describes a novel approach, based on intuitionistic fuzzy set theory for reliability analysis of series and parallel network. The triangular intuitionistic fuzzy sets are used to represent the failure possibility of each basic (terminal) event to get more comprehensive results for the failure possibility of the top event. The proposed technique is demonstrated on a web server LOG data used to illustrate HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) failur

Maternal Neonatal Outcome in Relation to Placental Location, Dimensions in Early Pregnancy

Background: Placenta, which is the vital link between mother and fetus, is critical for maternal neonatal well-being. Its study in early pregnancy may provide information about maternal neonatal disorders.Aim: The study aimed to evaluate the relationship of placental location and dimensions in early pregnancy with maternal neonatal outcomes.Subjects and Methods: Primigravida (801) with singleton pregnancy at 10-weeks gestation and no past/present medical and obstetric disorder had ultrasonography for placental location and dimensions and were followed by ultrasonographic (USG) examination (at 20th week and 30th week), clinically for maternal-neonatal outcome. Statistical analysis was done by Epi 6 software (version 6.0, developed by Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA) using Chi-square test and Fischer exact test for determining the statistical significance of the observations. P values of < 0.05 were considered as significant.Results: The number of primigravida with hypertensive disorders were 2.5% (5/200) with anterior, 20.5% (66/322) with fundal, and with posterior placenta 9.8% (12/123); Placental abruption 2.5% (5/200) with anterior, 6.8% (22/322) with fundal, and 3.3% (4/123) with posterior. With placental surface area <41 cm2 19.0% (37/195), with area 41-55 cm2 7.2% (30/416), and with area >55 cm2 6.8% (13/190), had hypertensive disorders. area < 41 cm2 11.3% (22/195), area 41-55 cm2 5.0% (21/416), and area >55 cm2 3.7% (7/190) had placental abruption. With thick placenta, 39.2% (58/148), thin, 9.4% (9/96), and normal placenta, 5.2% (29/562) had hypertensive disorders. With thick, 11.5% (17/148), thin 16.7% (16/96), and normal placenta 2.7% (15/562) had placental abruption. With anterior 0.5% (1/200), posterior 14.6% (18/123), fundal placenta 10.55% had preterm births. With anterior 7.5% (15/200), posterior 23.6% (29/123), fundal placenta 18% (58/322) had CS.With placental surface area <41 cm2 28.7% (56/195), area 41-55 cm2 14.2% (58/406), with > 55 cm2 14% (28/200) had CS. With thin 27% (25/91), with thick 36.1% (53/148), with normal placenta none had CS for fetal distress.Conclusions: Study of placental location and dimensions in early pregnancy is useful in identifying risks.  Keywords: Dimensions, early pregnancy, location, maternal-neonatal outcome, placent

Screening of Soybean (Glycine Max (L.) Merrill) Genotypes for Resistance to Rust, Yellow Mosaic and Pod Shattering

Applied optic

High-pressure structural investigation of several zircon-type orthovanadates

Room temperature angle-dispersive x-ray diffraction measurements on zircon-type EuVO4, LuVO4, and ScVO4 were performed up to 27 GPa. In the three compounds we found evidence of a pressure-induced structural phase transformation from zircon to a scheelite-type structure. The onset of the transition is near 8 GPa, but the transition is sluggish and the low- and high-pressure phases coexist in a pressure range of about 10 GPa. In EuVO4 and LuVO4 a second transition to a M-fergusonite-type phase was found near 21 GPa. The equations of state for the zircon and scheelite phases are also determined. Among the three studied compounds, we found that ScVO4 is less compressible than EuVO4 and LuVO4, being the most incompressible orthovanadate studied to date. The sequence of structural transitions and compressibilities are discussed in comparison with other zircon-type oxides.Comment: 34 pages, 2 Tables, 11 Figure