Thermodynamics of Cadmium Sorption on Different Soils of West Bengal, India

A sorption study was conducted on different soils collected from five agroecological zones of West Bengal, India, to understand the soil environmental behavior and fate of cadmium. For this purpose batch adsorption experiments were carried out at the native soil pH and at three different temperatures (25 ∘ C, 35 ∘ C, and 45 ∘ C). The adsorption data fitted by a linear least squares technique to the different sorption isotherms. Most data obtained give the good fit to both Freundlich and modified Langmuir isotherms, but they are not consistent with the linear Langmuir adsorption model. Thermodynamic parameters, namely, thermodynamics equilibrium constant at a particular temperature ( 0 ), Gibbs free energy at a particular temperature (Δ 0 ), and change of enthalpy (Δ 0 ) and change of entropy at temperature (Δ 0 ), were also determined by applying sorption value and concentrations of Cd in equilibrium solution within the temperature range. The thermodynamic parameters revealed that Cd sorption increases as the values of 0 , Δ 0 , Δ 0 , and Δ 0 were increased on reaction temperatures. The spontaneous sorption reaction can be concluded due to high values of Δ 0 . The positive values of Δ 0 indicated that the Cd sorption is an endothermic one. Under these present conditions, the soil and its components possibly supply a number of sites having different adsorption energies for cadmium sorption

How are Aging and Osteoarthritis Related?

Osteoarthritis is the most prevalent degenerative joint disease and one of the leading causes of physical impairment in the world's aging population. The human lifespan has significantly increased as a result of scientific and technological advancements. According to estimates, the world's elderly population will increase by 20% by 2050. Aging and age-related changes are discussed in this review in relation to the development of OA. We specifically discussed the cellular and molecular changes that occur in the chondrocytes during aging and how these changes may make synovial joints more susceptible to OA development. These changes include chondrocyte senescence, mitochondrial dysfunction, epigenetic modifications, and decreased growth factor response. The age-associated changes occur not only in the chondrocytes but also in the matrix, subchondral bone, and synovium. This review aims to provide an overview of the interplay between chondrocytes and matrix and how age-related changes affect the normal function of cartilage and contribute to OA development. Understanding the alterations that affect the function of chondrocytes will emerge new possibilities for prospective therapeutic options for the treatment of OA.</p

Pharmacological and therapeutic potential of honey bee antimicrobial peptides

365-384Honey bees (Apidae: Apini) and stingless bees (Apidae: Meliponini) act as the main pollinators for many wild and cultivated tropical plants, playing a vital role in the ecology, economy, and culture. Honey bees and stingless bees are one of the major sources of antimicrobial peptides/proteins (AMPs) synthesized in fat bodies and blood cells of bees. Bee AMPs are a class of small peptides having amino acid residues between 9 and 340, classified based on source, activity, structural characteristics, and amino acid-rich species. AMP's have a wide range of inhibitory effects against bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses. Four antimicrobial peptide families, i.e., apidaecins (proline-rich), abaecin (proline-rich), hymenoptaecin (glycine-rich), and defensin (cystine-rich) are synthesized in the haemolymph, signifying a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity. Jelleines (I-IV), royalisin, apisimin (serine-valine-rich peptide), 10 HDA, apalbumin, and apisin, which are present in royal jelly, have antimicrobial, mast cell degranulating, and hemolysis activity. Bee venom also contains several bioactive peptides, such as apamin (leucine-cystine-rich), melittin (leucine-alanine-rich), melectin (lysine-rich), adolapin, secapin (proline-rich), and tertiapin (cystine-lysine-rich). Currently, AMPs databases are displaying an essential role in exploration, identification, characterization, and annotation. Several AMPs databases (CAMP, DRAMP, APD, InverPep, LAMP, ADAPTABLE, ADAM, AntiBP, AMPer, AVPpred, EFC-FCBF, and class AMP) are open-access resources that have been developed to enhance research on antimicrobial peptides. Bee immune responses are composed of a multifaceted group of individual immune mechanisms and special types of behavioral adaptations. Given the importance of drug discovery from honey bee AMPs, this review is aimed at providing an exhaustive screening of the AMPs detected in honey and honeybee products and their classification, databases, computational tools, physicochemical properties, signaling pathways, pharmaceutical and clinical uses, application status, prospects, and problems to be solve