Development and optimization of erythromycin-loaded lipid-based gel by Taguchi design: In vitro characterization and antimicrobial evaluation

The foremost aim of the current research was to prolong and sustain the release of erythromycin (ERY) by preparing a solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs)-based gel formulation for the safe and effective treatment of acne. ERY-loaded SLNs were developed, and various process variables were optimized with respect to particle size, zeta potential, and entrapment efficiency using the Taguchi model. The average particle size, PDI, zeta potential, drug entrapment efficiency, and drug loading of optimized SLN (F4) were found to be 176.2±1.82 nm, 0.275±0.011, -34.0±0.84, 73.56%, and 69.74% respectively. The optimized SLN (F4) was successfully incorporated into the carbopol-based hydrogel. The in vitro release of ERY from the SLN gel and plain gel were compared and found to be 90.94% and 87.94% respectively. In vitro study of ERY-loaded SLN gel showed sustained delivery of drug from formulation thus enhancing the antimicrobial activity after 30 hours when compared to ERY plain gel

A multi-disciplinary perspective on emergent and future innovations in peer review [version 2; referees: 2 approved]

Peer review of research articles is a core part of our scholarly communication system. In spite of its importance, the status and purpose of peer review is often contested. What is its role in our modern digital research and communications infrastructure? Does it perform to the high standards with which it is generally regarded? Studies of peer review have shown that it is prone to bias and abuse in numerous dimensions, frequently unreliable, and can fail to detect even fraudulent research. With the advent of web technologies, we are now witnessing a phase of innovation and experimentation in our approaches to peer review. These developments prompted us to examine emerging models of peer review from a range of disciplines and venues, and to ask how they might address some of the issues with our current systems of peer review. We examine the functionality of a range of social Web platforms, and compare these with the traits underlying a viable peer review system: quality control, quantified performance metrics as engagement incentives, and certification and reputation. Ideally, any new systems will demonstrate that they out-perform and reduce the biases of existing models as much as possible. We conclude that there is considerable scope for new peer review initiatives to be developed, each with their own potential issues and advantages. We also propose a novel hybrid platform model that could, at least partially, resolve many of the socio-technical issues associated with peer review, and potentially disrupt the entire scholarly communication system. Success for any such development relies on reaching a critical threshold of research community engagement with both the process and the platform, and therefore cannot be achieved without a significant change of incentives in research environments

Nations within a nation: variations in epidemiological transition across the states of India, 1990–2016 in the Global Burden of Disease Study

18% of the world's population lives in India, and many states of India have populations similar to those of large countries. Action to effectively improve population health in India requires availability of reliable and comprehensive state-level estimates of disease burden and risk factors over time. Such comprehensive estimates have not been available so far for all major diseases and risk factors. Thus, we aimed to estimate the disease burden and risk factors in every state of India as part of the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2016

A multi-disciplinary perspective on emergent and future innovations in peer review

Peer review of research articles is a core part of our scholarly communication system. In spite of its importance, the status and purpose of peer review is often contested. What is its role in our modern digital research and communications infrastructure? Does it perform to the high standards with which it is generally regarded? Studies of peer review have shown that it is prone to bias and abuse in numerous dimensions, frequently unreliable, and can fail to detect even fraudulent research. With the advent of web technologies, we are now witnessing a phase of innovation and experimentation in our approaches to peer review. These developments prompted us to examine emerging models of peer review from a range of disciplines and venues, and to ask how they might address some of the issues with our current systems of peer review. We examine the functionality of a range of social Web platforms, and compare these with the traits underlying a viable peer review system: quality control, quantified performance metrics as engagement incentives, and certification and reputation. Ideally, any new systems will demonstrate that they out-perform and reduce the biases of existing models as much as possible. We conclude that there is considerable scope for new peer review initiatives to be developed, each with their own potential issues and advantages. We also propose a novel hybrid platform model that could, at least partially, resolve many of the socio-technical issues associated with peer review, and potentially disrupt the entire scholarly communication system. Success for any such development relies on reaching a critical threshold of research community engagement with both the process and the platform, and therefore cannot be achieved without a significant change of incentives in research environments

Not Available

Not AvailableSpotted stem borer, Chilo partellus, is the most important constraint for increasing the production and productivity of maize and sorghum, the two major coarse cereals in Asia and Africa. The levels of resistance to this pest in the cultivated germplasm are low to moderate, and hence, farmers have to use insecticides for effective control of this pest. However, there is no information on the detoxification mechanisms in C. partellus, which is one of the constraints for deployment of appropriate insecticides to control this pest. The ability to detoxify insecticides varies across insect populations, and hence, we sequenced different populations of C. partellus to identify and understand detoxification mechanisms to devise appropriate strategies for deployment of different insecticides for controlling this pest. Larval samples were sequenced from three different cohorts of C. partellus using the Illumina HiSeq 2500 platform. The data were subjected to identify putative genes that are involved in detoxification on insecticides in our cohort insect species. These studies resulted in identification of 64 cytochrome P450 genes (CYP450s), and 36 glutathione S-transferases genes (GSTs) encoding metabolic detoxification enzymes, primarily responsible for xenobiotic metabolism in insects. A total of 183 circadian genes with > 80% homolog and 11 olfactory receptor genes that mediate chemical cues were found in the C. partellus genome. Also, target receptors related to insecticide action, 4 acetylcholinesterase (AChE), 14 γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and 15 nicotinic acetylcholine (nAChR) receptors were detected. This is the first report of whole genome sequencing of C. partellus useful for understanding mode of action of different insecticides, and mechanisms of detoxification and designing target-specific insecticides to develop appropriate strategies to control C. partellus for sustainable crop production.Not Availabl

Not Available

Not AvailableSpotted stem borer, Chilo partellus, is the most important constraint for increasing the production and productivity of maize and sorghum, the two major coarse cereals in Asia and Africa. The levels of resistance to this pest in the cultivated germplasm are low to moderate, and hence, farmers have to use insecticides for effective control of this pest. However, there is no information on the detoxification mechanisms in C. partellus, which is one of the constraints for deployment of appropriate insecticides to control this pest. The ability to detoxify insecticides varies across insect populations, and hence, we sequenced different populations of C. partellus to identify and understand detoxification mechanisms to devise appropriate strategies for deployment of different insecticides for controlling this pest. Larval samples were sequenced from three different cohorts of C. partellus using the Illumina HiSeq 2500 platform. The data were subjected to identify putative genes that are involved in detoxification on insecticides in our cohort insect species. These studies resulted in identification of 64 cytochrome P450 genes (CYP450s), and 36 glutathione S-transferases genes (GSTs) encoding metabolic detoxification enzymes, primarily responsible for xenobiotic metabolism in insects. A total of 183 circadian genes with > 80% homolog and 11 olfactory receptor genes that mediate chemical cues were found in the C. partellus genome. Also, target receptors related to insecticide action, 4 acetylcholinesterase (AChE), 14 γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and 15 nicotinic acetylcholine (nAChR) receptors were detected. This is the first report of whole genome sequencing of C. partellus useful for understanding mode of action of different insecticides, and mechanisms of detoxification and designing target-specific insecticides to develop appropriate strategies to control C. partellus for sustainable crop production.Not Availabl