Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Fagopyrum esculentum starch: antifungal, antibacterial activity and its cytotoxicity

52-63Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been synthesized using Fagopyrum esculentum starch as a stabilizing and reducing agent. This reaction was carried out in an autoclave at 15 psi, 121°C for 20 min. UV-visible spectrum of the colloidal nanoparticles showed the surface plasmon absorption band with maximum absorbance at 418 nm. Interaction between functional groups present in the starch and nanoparticles were analyzed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Size of the synthesized nanoparticles was found to be in the range of 20-30 nm, as revealed from transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The X-ray diffraction analysis revealed the face-centred cubic (fcc) geometry of silver nanoparticles. The nanoparticles were found to be good antifungal agents against Aspergillus niger. The antibacterial activity of the nanoparticles was also studied. The nanoparticles showed higher inhibitory activity against Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli) than the Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus). These results thus show that F. esculentum starch stabilized AgNPs could be used as a promising antimicrobial agent against bacteria the fungi In vitro cytotoxicity assessment of starch stabilized AgNPs has shown no significant cytotoxic effect on human cervical carcinoma cells lines (HeLa) by MTT assay and AgNPs concentration at 200 ug/ml of showed 86% cell viability

Isolation, Screening and Production of Biosurfactant by Bacillus clausii 5B

Primary somatic embryos induced from the callus tissues revealed the presence of CSSV between 12-24 wks by PCR/capillary electrophoresis while PCR/agarose electrophoresis failed to detect the virus. Different carbon and nitrogen sources were evaluated for their effect on biosurfactant production. Maximum biosurfactant synthesis (2.11 g/L) was observed at 96 hours when the cells were grown on minimal medium containing 1 % (w/v) glucose as carbon source. Among nitrogen sources tested, ammonium chloride showed maximum biosurfactant production of 2.41 g/L. The biosurfactant produced by the bacterial isolate reduced the surface tension of the cell free broth from 53.56 mN/m to 29.48 mN/m. Compositional analysis of the biosurfactant revealed that it was of lipopetide type, composed of high percentage of lipid (~56 %, w/w) and protein (~39 %, w/w) content

Newspaper – an ICT Instrument to Facilitate Teaching-Learning Process

Proficiency in English language can be a driving force for a person to excel in his/her careers, either at national or international level. Recent statistics indicate that the readership of newspapers, more particularly, that of English newspapers has increased to an appreciable level, and it is this strand which needs to be exploited. In spite of the digital revolution, the sheen of print media has not faded. Edgar Dale’s ‘Cone of Experience’ explicitly states that decoding the textual symbols is at the top of the cone, and thus by reading newspapers, one not only strengthens LSRW skills but also enhances higher order skills – problem solving, research, editorial, autonomous learning competence, and critical analysis. In the teaching- learning process, blended learning and flipped classroom are some methods which can be employed in the process of using newspaper as a learning device. Through activities like description, analysis, and synthesis; comparison and contrast; process description - learners will be able to upgrade their cognitive skills

Prevalence of abnormal glucose tolerance in Indian women with polycystic ovarian syndrome

Background: Polycystic ovarian syndrome is a common endocrine condition affecting reproductive age women, associated with impaired glucose intolerance (IGT) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). The aim of this study was to analyze the prevalence of IGT and type 2 DM in Indian polycystic ovarian syndrome patients as compared to control population.Methods: This prospective cross sectional study included 130 PCOS women and 76 control women attending OBG department Vydehi medical college and research centre. From all included subject’s clinical history, family history and anthropometric measurements were obtained. All women had a standard oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) with measurement of fasting glucose and 2-hour glucose levels. Normal glucose tolerance (NGT), IGT, and type 2 diabetes were defined using glucose levels during the OGTT, according to the criteria proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO).Results: Among 130 PCOS women, glucose tolerance was normal in 101 (77.69%) women, 25 (19.2%) had IGT and 4 (3.07%) had type 2 DM; compared to 76 healthy controls, 70 (92.1%) had normal glucose tolerance and 6 (7.9%) had IGT. None of the controls had type 2 DM. This finding was statistically significant with P value 0.02.Conclusions: The prevalence of IGT and type 2 DM in women with PCOS is significantly more in comparison with healthy controls. Therefore, women with PCOS should periodically have an OGTT for diabetes screening

Evidence for Three Subpopulations of Globular Clusters in the Early-Type Post-Starburst Shell Galaxy AM 0139-655

We present deep HST ACS images of the post-starburt shell galaxy AM 0139-655. We find evidence for the presence of three distinct globular cluster subpopulations associated with this galaxy: a centrally concentrated young population (~ 0.4 Gyr), an intermediate age population (~ 1 Gyr) and an old, metal-poor population similar to that seen around normal galaxies. The g-I color distribution of the clusters is bimodal with peaks at 0.85 and 1.35. The redder peak at g-I=1.35 is consistent with the predicted color for an old metal-poor population. The clusters associated with the peak at g-I=0.85 are centrally concentrated and interpreted as a younger and more metal-rich population. We suggest that these clusters have an age of ~ 0.4 Gyr and solar metallicity based on a comparison with population synthesis models. The luminosity function of these "blue" clusters is well represented by a power law. Interestingly, the brightest shell associated with the galaxy harbors some of the youngest clusters observed. This seems to indicate that the same merger event was responsible for the formation of both the shells and the young clusters. The red part of the color distribution contains several very bright clusters, which are not expected for an old, metal-poor population. Furthermore, the luminosity function of the "red" GCs cannot be fit well by either a single gaussian or a single power law. A composite (gaussian + power law) fit to the LF of the red clusters yields both a low rms and very plausible properties for an old population plus an intermediate-age population of GCs. Hence, we suggest that the red clusters in AM 0139-655 consist of two distinct GC subpopulations, one being an old, metal-poor population as seen in normal galaxies and one having formed during a recent dissipative galaxy merger.Comment: 35 pages, 12 figures, accepted for publication in A