Evaluation of the protective effect of Prunus amagdylus against aluminium chloride induced neurochemical alterations and spatial memory deficits in rats

Background: The present study was designed to evaluate the protective effect of Prunus amagdylus nut kernels against aluminium chloride induced spatial memory deficits in rats.Methods: Plant material was extracted, and extracts were evaluated for anti-oxidants by DPPH method. Animals were divided into four groups of five animals each. Group 1 was normal group and was kept undisturbed. Group 2 was administered with Aluminium Chloride (4.2mg/kg i.p) for 21 successive days. Group 3 and 4 were pre-administered with Prunus amygdalus methanolic extract at dose 0.5 and 1mg/kg/ p.o) one hour prior to aluminium chloride administration. The memory parameters (both acquisition and retrieval) were evaluated using Morris water maze. After behavioural studies, the animals were sacrificed by decapitation and braintissue thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), glutathione (GSH) and catalase activity were measured. Brain tissues from all the groups were histopathologically evaluated using Haematoxylin-eosin staining.Results: Administration of Aluminium chloride resulted in severe memory deficits and neurochemical alterations as was indicated by significant increase in Transfer Latency (TL) time on Morris water maze and increase in the brain tissue TBARS levels in the control group animals. There was significant reduction in the GSH and catalase levels indicating decreased anti-oxidant defence. Histopathologically, control group animal brain tissue showed signs of neuroinflammation. All behavioural and neurochemical and histopathological changes were prevented to a significant extent in the animal groups pre-treated with Prunus amygdalus extract.Conclusions: Methanolic extract of Prunus amaygdalus possesses protective activity against aluminium chloride induced neurotoxicity and associated memory deficits

PROSOPIS CINERARIA (L) DRUCE: A DESERT TREE TO BRACE LIVELIHOOD IN RAJASTHAN

The Prosopis cineraria (L) Druce is an important tree (Khejri- a local name in Rajasthan)for the Thar Desert withhard climatic adaptation and one of the lifeline in desert habitat as mentioned in ancient literature. This is a speciesrepresenting all five F viz., Forest, Fiber, Fuel, Fodder and Food. This tree is also mythological important in localcommunities. High value of this species recognized as a State symbol (state tree of Rajasthan). Prosopis cineraria(L.) Druce is a tree endemic to hot deserts of India, belonging to the family Leguminosae. Pods locally called“Sangri” are considered as dry fruit of desert and are one of the main ingredients of quintessential Rajasthani dish -The Panchkuta. In the present article, we have attempted to review different characteristics of the pods, tounderstand its health benefits. Various phytoconstituents like tannins (gallic acid), steroids (stigmasterol,campesterol, sitosterol, etc.), Flavone derivatives (prosogerin A, B, C, D, and E), alkaloids (spicigerine,prosophylline), etc. have been isolated from the sangri pods .As this plant is found in water stress (or deficient area)so antioxidant potential of pods has also been discussed. Prosopis cineraria (L) Druce is one of the highly valuedplant in the Indigenous System of Medicine. P. cineraria pods provide protein, iron, vitamins A and C and othermicro minerals Unripe pods are also nutritious and are used to prepare curries and pickles. Its bark is said to be apotent drug for several ailments such as leprosy, dysentery, bronchitis, asthma, leucoderma, piles, muscular tremors,asthma, rheumatism and inflammations. Pharmacological activities like analgesic, antipyretic, antihyperglycemic,antioxidant, antihypercholesterolemic, antitumor, nootropic anthelmintic, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral andanticancer activities have been reported from different plant extracts. In view of its medicinal importance, thepresent review is focused to delineate its chemical constitution and therapeutic potentiality, precisely

High yield synthesis of electrolyte heating assisted electrochemically exfoliated graphene for electromagnetic interference shielding applications

Herein, we demonstrate a facile one pot synthesis of graphene nanosheets by electrochemical exfoliation of graphite. In the present study, we report a significant increase in the yield of graphene by electrolyte heating assisted electrochemical exfoliation method. The obtained results of heating assisted electrochemically exfoliated graphene (utilizing H2SO4 + KOH + DW) synthesis clearly exhibit that the yield increases similar to 4.5 times i.e. from similar to 17% (room temperature) to similar to 77% (at 80 degrees C). A plausible mechanism for the enhanced yield based on lattice expansion and vibration of intercalated ions has been put forward and discussed in details. The quality of graphene was examined by Raman, XPS, FTIR, AFM, SEM, TEM/HRTEM and TGA techniques. The Raman as well as morphogenesis results confirm the quality of the graphene nanosheets. We have used this graphene as electromagnetic interference shielding material where a comparatively large quantity of graphene is required. This graphene exhibits enhanced shielding effectiveness (46 dB at 1 mm thickness of stacked graphene sheets in frequency region 12.4 to 18 GHz) as compared to conventional electromagnetic interference shielding materials, which is greater than the recommended limit (similar to 30 dB) for techno-commercial applications. Thus the present work is suggestive for future studies on enhancement of yield of high quality graphene by proposed method and the use of synthesized graphene in electromagnetic interference shielding and other possible applications

Synthesis of macromolecular systems via lipase catalyzed biocatalytic reactions: applications and future perspectives

Enzymes, being remarkable catalysts, are capable of accepting a wide range of complex molecules as substrates and catalyze a variety of reactions with a high degree of chemo-, stereo- and regioselectivity in most of the reactions. Biocatalysis can be used in both simple and complex chemical transformations without the need for tedious protection and deprotection chemistry that is very common in traditional organic synthesis. This current review highlights the applicability of one class of biocatalysts viz. ‘‘lipases’’ in synthetic transformations, the resolution of pharmaceutically important small molecules including polyphenols, amides, nucleosides and their precursors, the development of macromolecular systems (and their applications as drug/gene carriers), flame retardants, polymeric antioxidants and nanocrystalline solar cells, etc

Chromatin dynamics during interphase and cell division:similarities and differences between model and crop plants

Genetic information in the cell nucleus controls organismal development, responses to the environment and finally ensures own transmission to the next generations. To achieve so many different tasks, the genetic information is associated with structural and regulatory proteins, which orchestrate nuclear functions in time and space. Furthermore, plant life strategies require chromatin plasticity to allow a rapid adaptation to abiotic and biotic stresses. Here, we summarize current knowledge on the organisation of plant chromatin and dynamics of chromosomes during interphase and mitotic and meiotic cell divisions for model and crop plants differing as to the genome size, ploidy and amount of genomic resources available. The existing data indicate that chromatin changes accompany most (if not all) cellular processes and that there are both shared and unique themes in the chromatin structure and global chromosome dynamics among species. Ongoing efforts to understand the molecular mechanisms involved in chromatin organisation and remodeling have, together with the latest genome editing tools, potential to unlock crop genomes for innovative breeding strategies and improvements of various traits

Argon Beam Coagulation as an Adjuvant for Extended Curettage for Giant Cell Tumors of the Bone: A Study of 50 Cases

Abstract Objective Extended curettage with adjuvants of giant cell tumors of bone is associated with a lower rate of recurrence of the tumor while preserving the adjacent joint. The present study was conducted to estimate the recurrence rate and functional outcome after using argon beam as an adjuvant for extended curettage. Methods We selected 50 patients with giant cell tumors, meeting all the inclusion criteria, who underwent extended curettage using high speed burr and argon beam photocoagulation between July 2016 to January 2019. On their follow-up visit, they were assessed for any complaints of pain and signs like tenderness, locally raised temperature, and decreased range of motion of the adjacent joint. Radiologically, the patients were assessed for any increased lucency around the cement mantle and uptake of the subarticular graft. Musculoskeletal Tumor Society Score (MSTS) was administered to the patients, and range of motion of the adjacent joint was compared with the contralateral joint. Results Recurrence was found in 4 patients, that is, an 8% recurrence rate. Twenty-six out of 28 patients with a tumor in the lower limb had a grade-5 weight bearing status 6 months from the surgery, and their range of motion was comparable to contralateral healthy joint with an average MSTS score of 27 (18–30). Conclusion Extended curettage of giant cell tumors using argon beam coagulation is associated with low recurrence rates of the tumor and is an effective modality in the treatment of these tumors besides having a functional outcome comparable to the healthy limb

Secure and resilient improved image steganography using hybrid fuzzy neural network with fuzzy logic

The exponential growth in communication networks, data technology, advanced libraries, and mainly World Wide Web services has played a pivotal role in facilitating the retrieval of various types of information as needed. However, this progress has also led to security concerns related to the transmission of confidential data. Nevertheless, safeguarding these data during communication through insecure channels is crucial for obvious reasons. The emergence of steganography offers a robust approach to concealing confidential information, such as images, audio tracks, text files, and video files, in suitable media carriers. A novel technique is envisioned based on back-propagation learning. According to the proposed method, a hybrid fuzzy neural network (HFNN) is applied to the output obtained from the least significant bit substitution of secret data using pixel value differences and exploiting the modification direction. Through simulation and test results, it has been observed that the proposed methodology achieves secure steganography and superior visual quality. During the experiments, we observed that for the secret image of the cameraman, the PSNR & MSE values of the proposed technique are 61.963895 and 0.041361, respectively

A highly porous, light weight 3D sponge like graphene aerogel for electromagnetic interference shielding applications

Here we report the microwave shielding properties of a light weight three dimensional (3D) sponge like graphene aerogel (GA) derived from graphene oxide (GO). GA is a new exotic form of graphene nanosheet, which shows improved shielding features as compared to its pristine counterpart. The structural and microstructural characteristics of this new indigenous 3D sponge like graphene aerogel architecture have been probed by XRD, Raman, SEMand TEM/HRTEM. Furthermore, the porosity of this newly synthesized structure has been investigated by the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) method, which confirms the high surface area of similar to 516 m(2) g(-1) with an average pore diameter of similar to 2.5 nm. The high surface area and better porosity improve the EMI shielding effectiveness of GA. Simultaneously, the GA nanostructure also enhances the dielectric properties which provide a better alternative for EMI shielding materials as compared to GO. This engineered GA exhibits enhanced shielding effectiveness (similar to 20.0 dB at 0.20 g in a frequency region of 12.4 to 18.0 GHz) as compared to the conventional GO. Thus, the result of the EMI shielding of GA offers a new ingenious nanostructure which can be used as an EMI pollutant quencher for next-generation EMI shielding devices

New emerging radially aligned carbon nano tubes comprised carbon hollow cylinder as an excellent absorber for electromagnetic environmental pollution

Herein, we demonstrated the synthesis of a hollow cylinder with a new architecture of up to several centimeters in diameter and several centimeters long and having similar to 100 mm wall thickness. The hollow carbon cylinder was formed by radially aligned CNTs. These CNTs were grown on ferrocene derived Fe nanoparticles deposited throughout the inner wall of the quartz growth tube. This new ingenious carbon architecture was grown by a customized spray pyrolysis method. Furthermore, we also synthesized such carbon hollow cylinders using different precursor concentrations (ferrocene: benzene), different phases and microstructures to evaluate their EMI shielding effectiveness. The structural and microstructural characterizations of these hollow carbon cylinders comprising radially aligned CNTs were examined through various techniques, including XRD, Raman, FTIR, XPS, SEM, TEM, and HRTEM spectroscopy. Furthermore, the magnetic measurements (M-H) were performed for such structures to probe the magnetic properties of these carbon hollow cylinders for different concentrations. Furthermore, the EMI shielding through different concentrations of Fe bearing CNTs were explored in detail for tailoring the desired shielding effectiveness value for possible potential applications. Hence, our synthesis method provides a unique architecture for promising next generation building blocks in the form of carbon hollow cylinders made up of radially aligned CNTs over the conventional randomly oriented CNTs. This could be directly used to make it as a co-axial cover for electrical cables to protect them from EMI pollutants

Distinct Transcriptional Networks in Quiescent Myoblasts: A Role for Wnt Signaling in Reversible vs. Irreversible Arrest

<div><p>Most cells in adult mammals are non-dividing: differentiated cells exit the cell cycle permanently, but stem cells exist in a state of reversible arrest called quiescence. In damaged skeletal muscle, quiescent satellite stem cells re-enter the cell cycle, proliferate and subsequently execute divergent programs to regenerate both post-mitotic myofibers and quiescent stem cells. The molecular basis for these alternative programs of arrest is poorly understood. In this study, we used an established myogenic culture model (C2C12 myoblasts) to generate cells in alternative states of arrest and investigate their global transcriptional profiles. Using cDNA microarrays, we compared G₀ myoblasts with post-mitotic myotubes. Our findings define the transcriptional program of quiescent myoblasts in culture and establish that distinct gene expression profiles, especially of tumour suppressor genes and inhibitors of differentiation characterize reversible arrest, distinguishing this state from irreversibly arrested myotubes. We also reveal the existence of a tissue-specific quiescence program by comparing G₀ C2C12 myoblasts to isogenic G₀ fibroblasts (10T1/2). Intriguingly, in myoblasts but not fibroblasts, quiescence is associated with a signature of Wnt pathway genes. We provide evidence that different levels of signaling via the canonical Wnt pathway characterize distinct cellular states (proliferation vs. quiescence vs. differentiation). Moderate induction of Wnt signaling in quiescence is associated with critical properties such as clonogenic self-renewal. Exogenous Wnt treatment subverts the quiescence program and negatively affects clonogenicity. Finally, we identify two new quiescence-induced regulators of canonical Wnt signaling, Rgs2 and Dkk3, whose induction in G₀ is required for clonogenic self-renewal. These results support the concept that active signal-mediated regulation of quiescence contributes to stem cell properties, and have implications for pathological states such as cancer and degenerative disease.</p></div