Revolutionizing Agriculture With Nanotechnology: Rice-Based Silica Nanoparticles For The Remediation And Quantification Of Toxic Heavy Metals In Potatoes

Today, metal pollution in agricultural soils poses a growing concern due to its potential health risks through the consumption of contaminated plants like potatoes. Heavy metal concentrations in the environment can exceed safe levels due to various human activities, including industrialization, mining, and agricultural practices. Consequently, potatoes and other vegetables may contain toxic heavy metals like Co, Ni, Pb, Cd, and Cr. Effective removal techniques are needed to mitigate these risks to food safety and human health. In this study, a simple and inexpensive green synthesis method is described to extract mesoporous silica nanoparticles taken from Navsari region “GNR-3 (Gujarat Navsari Rice – 3)” rice using the bottom-up approach for removal of toxic heavy metals contamination present in North Gujarat region Banaskantha district’s special variety potatoes named “KUFRI BADASHAH”. Rice husk (RH) calcinated to obtain rice husk ash (RHA) with high silica purity (>98% wt), as determined by the EDX analysis. Calcination at 650°C for four hours in a box furnace yielded RHA that was devoid of metal impurities and organic matter. The present study defines successfully minimization of toxic heavy metal contamination present in potatoes by employing silica nanoparticles (SNPs) as a biomass adsorbent and also includes all basic characterization of SNPs. The X-ray diffraction pattern showed a broad peak at 2θ≈22.1°C and was free from any other sharp peaks, indicating the amorphous property of the GNR-3 variety rice SNPs. Scanning electron micrographs (SEM) showed clusters of spherically shaped uniform aggregates of SNPs while transmission electron microscopy analysis indicated an average particle size of < 50 nm. Peaks in the Fourier transform infrared spectra were found at 1083.29 cm⁻1 and 795.48 cm⁻1, corresponding to O-Si-O symmetric stretching vibration and O-Si-O asymmetric stretching, respectively. The Brunauer-Emmet-Teller, obtained value of 11.1984 m²/g reflects the extent of surface available for adsorption. Concurrently, the pore size, a crucial factor influencing the accessibility of adsorption sites, was measured at 196.202 Å. The specific surface area of 11.1984 m²/g suggests a considerable active surface for potential interactions, respectively. In conclusion, Agriculture waste-derived SNPs (Silver Nanoparticles) offer a compelling solution for the removal of toxic heavy metals from potatoes. This technique is characterized by its simplicity, as it leverages readily available agricultural waste materials, requiring minimal processing

Differential structural remodelling of heparan sulfate by chemokines: the role of chemokine oligomerization

Chemokines control the migration of cells in normal physiological processes and in the context of disease such as inflammation, autoimmunity and cancer. Two major interactions are involved: (i) binding of chemokines to chemokine receptors, which activates the cellular machinery required for movement; and (ii) binding of chemokines to glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), which facilitates the organization of chemokines into haptotactic gradients that direct cell movement. Chemokines can bind and activate their receptors as monomers; however, the ability to oligomerize is critical for the function of many chemokines in vivo. Chemokine oligomerization is thought to enhance their affinity for GAGs, and here we show that it significantly affects the ability of chemokines to accumulate on and be retained by heparan sulfate (HS). We also demonstrate that several chemokines differentially rigidify and cross-link HS, thereby affecting HS rigidity and mobility, and that HS cross-linking is significantly enhanced by chemokine oligomerization. These findings suggest that chemokine–GAG interactions may play more diverse biological roles than the traditional paradigms of physical immobilization and establishment of chemokine gradients; we hypothesize that they may promote receptor-independent events such as physical re-organization of the endothelial glycocalyx and extracellular matrix, as well as signalling through proteoglycans to facilitate leukocyte adhesion and transmigration

GSU Event Portal

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NASYA-MOST VITAL THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTION OF PANCHAKARMA-A REVIEW

Ayurveda is a Science and art of appropriate living which helps to achieve longevity. Panchakarma present a unique approach of Ayurveda to therapy with specially designed five procedures of internal purification of the body. One of the Panchakarma, the Nasyakarma is considered the best and the most specific procedure for disease of Urdhvajatrugatarogas like Pratishyay, Shirahshoola etc. It is also useful in other systemic diseases like Ardita, Kampavata. According to Ayurveda, the nose is the gate way to Shirah. So, systemically performed Nasyakarma cures almost all the diseases of Urdhvajatrugata rogas. Other procedures of Panchakarma are also very effective in numerous diseases according to condition but Nasya Karma is very easy to perform and there are no many strict regimens to follow during Nasya Karma but it will give effectual results in loads of diseases due to direct contact with nerve terminals by the nasal mucosa. So, it is demand of time to know about Nasyakarma and its importance. In this direction, to evaluate the actual efficacy of different Ayurveda treatment modalities; few works on Nasya Karma are compiled here. In current attempt, it has been planned to review as such works done on Nasyakarma. By this Present study it can be stated that in various diseases Nasya Karma is found to be significantly effective. It proved to be a better therapy as compared to only oral drug because it provides affect for longer duration than oral drug

Cytokines and growth factors cross-link heparan sulfate

The glycosaminoglycan heparan sulfate (HS), present at the surface of most cells and ubiquitous in extracellular matrix, binds many soluble extracellular signalling molecules such as chemokines and growth factors, and regulates their transport and effector functions. It is, however, unknown whether upon binding HS these proteins can affect the long-range structure of HS. To test this idea, we interrogated a supramolecular model system, in which HS chains grafted to streptavidin-functionalized oligoethylene glycol monolayers or supported lipid bilayers mimic the HS-rich pericellular or extracellular matrix, with the biophysical techniques quartz crystal microbalance (QCM-D) and fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP). We were able to control and characterize the supramolecular presentation of HS chains—their local density, orientation, conformation and lateral mobility—and their interaction with proteins. The chemokine CXCL12α (or SDF-1α) rigidified the HS film, and this effect was due to protein-mediated cross-linking of HS chains. Complementary measurements with CXCL12α mutants and the CXCL12γ isoform provided insight into the molecular mechanism underlying cross-linking. Fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2), which has three HS binding sites, was also found to cross-link HS, but FGF-9, which has just one binding site, did not. Based on these data, we propose that the ability to cross-link HS is a generic feature of many cytokines and growth factors, which depends on the architecture of their HS binding sites. The ability to change matrix organization and physico-chemical properties (e.g. permeability and rigidification) implies that the functions of cytokines and growth factors may not simply be confined to the activation of cognate cellular receptors

A Contraction Stress Model of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy due to Sarcomere Mutations.

Thick-filament sarcomere mutations are a common cause of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a disorder of heart muscle thickening associated with sudden cardiac death and heart failure, with unclear mechanisms. We engineered four isogenic induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) models of β-myosin heavy chain and myosin-binding protein C3 mutations, and studied iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes in cardiac microtissue assays that resemble cardiac architecture and biomechanics. All HCM mutations resulted in hypercontractility with prolonged relaxation kinetics in proportion to mutation pathogenicity, but not changes in calcium handling. RNA sequencing and expression studies of HCM models identified p53 activation, oxidative stress, and cytotoxicity induced by metabolic stress that can be reversed by p53 genetic ablation. Our findings implicate hypercontractility as a direct consequence of thick-filament mutations, irrespective of mutation localization, and the p53 pathway as a molecular marker of contraction stress and candidate therapeutic target for HCM patients

Comparison of Asymmetric Reaming versus a Posteriorly Augmented Component for Posterior Glenoid Wear and Retroversion: A Radiographic Study.

Background: Managing posterior glenoid wear and retroversion remains a challenge in shoulder arthroplasty. Correcting glenoid version through asymmetric reaming (AR) with placement of a standard glenoid component and the use of posteriorly augmented glenoid (PAG) components are two methods used to address this problem. Our objective is to report the radiographic outcomes of patients with posterior glenoid wear and/or retroversion treated with either approach. Methods: Patients with posterior glenoid wear and a minimum of 15 degrees of retroversion, treated with AR and standard glenoid component or with a PAG component (3 mm, 5 mm, or 7 mm posterior augmentation), were consecutively identified through retrospective chart review. Pre-operative axillary views were evaluated for version, humeral head subluxation in relation to scapular axis and to mid-glenoid face. Post-operative axillary views were reviewed to measure corrected inversion and humeral head subluxation. Results: There were 48 patients in the AR group and 49 patients in the PAG group. Version improved 6.8 degrees in the AR group. In the PAG group, version improved 8.8 degrees with 3 mm augment, 13.4 degrees with 5 mm augment, and 12.8 with 7 mm augments. There were significantly more central peg perforations in the 5 mm PAG group compared to other groups. The humeral head was re-centered within 6.1% of normal in all groups except 7 mm augments. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that AR and PAGs have the ability to re-center the humeral head when utilized in patients with retroversion and posterior wear. Use of a PAG component may allow for greater correction of glenoid retroversion, however, there is an increased risk for central peg perforation with the specific implant utilized in this study. Long-term follow-up is ongoing and needed to understand the clinical implications of these findings

The Discovery of a Second Field Methane Brown Dwarf from Sloan Digital Sky Survey Commissioning Data

We report the discovery of a second field methane brown dwarf from the commissioning data of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). The object, SDSS J134646.45-003150.4 (SDSS 1346-00), was selected because of its very red color and stellar appearance. Its spectrum between 0.8-2.5 mic is dominated by strong absorption bands of H_2O and CH_4 and closely mimics those of Gliese 229B and SDSS 162414.37+002915.6 (SDSS 1624+00), two other known methane brown dwarfs. SDSS 1346-00 is approximately 1.5 mag fainter than Gliese 229B, suggesting that it lies about 11 pc from the sun. The ratio of flux at 2.1 mic to that at 1.27 mic is larger for SDSS 1346-00 than for Gliese 229B and SDSS 1624+00, which suggests that SDSS 1346-00 has a slightly higher effective temperature than the others. Based on a search area of 130 sq. deg. and a detection limit of z* = 19.8, we estimate a space density of 0.05 pc^-3 for methane brown dwarfs with T_eff ~ 1000 K in the 40 pc^3 volume of our search. This estimate is based on small-sample statistics and should be treated with appropriate caution.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figures, AASTeX, to appear in ApJ Letters, authors list update