Biochemical characterization of thermostable cellulase enzyme from mesophilic strains of actinomycete

A few mesophilic strains of actinomycete were used for detection, extraction and characterization of cellulase enzymes. These strains responded to produce all the three components of cellulase complex (endoglucanase, exoglucanase and â-glucosidase) in balanced quantities. Cellulase activity was determined on solid medium supplemented with 1% carboxy methyl cellulose (CMC). Production of cellulase was detected by the formation of clear or transparent zone around colonies. The greater size of transparent zone has been found proportional to the higher capabilities of the strains for enzymes. The extraction of cellulase enzyme was done in liquid basal medium. The assay of cellulase was observed by measuring the release of reducing sugar (RS) by DNS method. All the three components of cellulase viz. endoglucanase, exoglucanase and â -glucosidase were assayed in terms of CMCase, FPase and cellobiase, respectively and expressed in International units (IU). These strains were further tested for their ability to produce cellulase complex enzyme by growing on a defined substrates as well as on delignified cellulosics. The optimization for â-glucosidase enzyme was carried out by studying the various parameters viz. effect of pH, incubation period and nitrogen sources.Key words: Cellulase, actinomycete, optimization, reducing sugar, carboxy methyl cellulose

Spontaneous K-Complex Density in Slow-Wave Sleep.

To study spontaneous K-complex (KC) densities during slow-wave sleep. The secondary objective was to estimate intra-non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep differences in KC density.It is a retrospective study using EEG data included in polysomnographic records from the archive at the sleep research laboratory of the Centre for Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, India. The EEG records of 4459 minutes were used. The study presents a manual identification investigation of KCs in 17 healthy young adult male volunteers (age = 23.82±3.40 years and BMI = 23.42±4.18 kg/m2).N3 had a higher KC density than N2 (Z = -2.485, p = 0.013) for all of the probes taken together. Four EEG probes had a higher probe-specific KC density during N3. The inter-probe KC density differed significantly during N2 (χ2 = 67.91, p < .001), N3 (χ2 = 70.62, p < .001) and NREM (χ2 = 68.50, p < .001). The percent distribution of KC decreased uniformly with sleep cycles.The inter-probe differences during N3 establish the fronto-central dominance of the KC density regardless of sleep stage. This finding supports one local theory of KC generation. The significantly higher KC density during N3 may imply that the neuro-anatomical origin of slow-wave activity and KC is the same. This temporal alignment with slow-wave activity supports the sleep-promoting function of the KC

Peri-parturient rise in faecal nematode egg counts with reference to Haemonchus contortus in Bulkhi ewes in Northern Punjab, Pakistan

The occurrence of the peri-parturient rise (PPR) in fecal egg count (FEC) phenomena in Bulkhi ewes and its subsequent impact on naive lambs reared in a traditional semi-intensive husbandry system were monitored at the Small Ruminants Research Station, National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad, Pakistan. In this study, two ewe groups, pregnant/lactating (n=37) and open/non-prcgnant (n=37), were observed for the PPR phenomena in the sub-tropical area of Pakistan. A significant difference (P\u3c 0.01) was noted for FEC, individual larval culture, packed cell volume (PCV) and haemoglobin (Hb) level in the pregnant/lactating ewes as compared to the open ewes throughout the study. Faecal examination showed consistently higher, predominantly Haemonchus contortus, FEC with lower PCV and Hb level in the pregnant/lactating ewes. The sharp increase in FEC occurred two weeks before lambing and persisted for 12 weeks after lambing. The results showed that the PPR in FEC was associated with both gestation and lactation which provided a large number of third-stage infective larvae (L3) on pasture. These larvae were considered the primary source of infection for the lambs. Thus, infection in lambs showed an initial rise in FEC after four weeks when highly susceptible lambs were allowed to graze along with their dams on the same naturally contaminated pastures. A control measure to consider would be to deworm ewes before lambing or in early lactation to reduce pasture contamination and infection of lambs. Copyright 2009 Zoological Society of Pakistan

Synergistic effect of reduced graphene oxide layers wrapped in polyaniline sheets to porous blades for boosted oxygen evolution reaction

Electrochemical water splitting is a unique approach for producing renewable energy in hydrogen fuel, though it is limited due to the sluggish kinetics of oxygen evolution reaction (OER). To enhance the efficacy of hydrogen production, it is a need to regulate oxygen evolution reaction. An efficient strategy is to construct a competent electrocatalyst with an immense open, active site, highly stable, porous structure, and large surface area. This study employs an inexpensive, facile, and eco-friendly single-step route to fabricate reduced graphene oxide (rGO) layers wrapped in polyaniline (PANI) sheets to achieve the controlled blades morphology. All the synthesized materials are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), BET to examine their structural, morphological, and textural properties. Interestingly, when all the synthesized materials are employed for electrochemical measurements, rGO/PANI nanocomposite exhibits exceptional performance with a low overpotential of 221 mV to achieve a current density of 10 mA/cm2, lower Tafel slope of 37 mV/dec, and also high stability of 20 h. Overall, this work could lead up to the fabrication of innovative blade structured nanocomposite as an efficient electrocatalyst and make it applicable for multiple applications.- Deanship of Scientific Research at King Khalid University, Saudi Arabia - Research Groups Program [grant number R.G.P. 1/41/42.]. - Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan

Probe-specific K-complex densities.

<p>Probe-specific K-complex densities.</p

Inter-probe differences in K-complex densities during each sleep stage(s).

<p>Inter-probe differences in K-complex densities during each sleep stage(s).</p

Inter-sleep stage differences in K-complex density at each EEG probe.

<p>Inter-sleep stage differences in K-complex density at each EEG probe.</p