ENZYME PRODUCTION ABILITY BY BACILLUS SUBTILIS AND BACILLUS LICHENIFORMIS - A COMPARATIVE STUDY

Objective: B.subtilis and B.licheniformis have been reported as one of the potential protease producer. Hence, an attempt has been made to optimize and compare the enzyme production by entrapment and fermentor conditions. Methods: Growth profile of both the strains has been studied. Optimization of culture conditions with respect to pH, temperature, agitation, carbon, nitrogen sources and metals has also been analyzed. Immobilization studies have been conducted for the strains. Enzyme production ability in fermentor has been premeditated. Results: Growth profile for both the strains was found to be similar. Strains were optimized for maximal enzyme production. Fermentation has yielded higher production of enzyme (8080 U/ml) compared to immobilization (850 U/ml). Conclusion: B.subtilis was more stable in enzyme production with immobilization and fermentation when compared to B.licheniformis.Keywords: B.subtilis, B.licheniformis, Immobilization, Fermentatio

GREEN PHYTO-SYNTHESIS OF GOLD NANOPARTICLES USING ACHYRANTHES ASPERA LINN SEED-EPICOTYLS LAYER EXTRACTS AND ITS ANTICANCER ACTIVITY

In the recent past decades, green phyto-process for the synthesis of metal incorporated nanoparticles has been evolving into an imperative branch of nanotechnology. We have reported a rapid, expedient and extracellular method for the synthesis of gold nanoparticles by reducing gold chloride with the help of aqueous seed-epicotyls layer extracts of Achyranthes aspera Linn (Amarantheceae).  This approach is simple, economic, stable for a long time, reproducible at room temperature and is synthesized in an eco-friendly mode to obtain a self-assembly of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs).  The resulting gold nanoparticles were characterized using UV-Visible absorption spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and FT-IR spectroscopic techniques. The anticancer activity of the gold nanoparticles was studied against HeLa (Cervical) cancer cell lines. We herein report for the first time, Achyranthes aspera Seed-Epicotyls assisted synthesis of biogenic gold nanoparticles; the nanoparticles are conspicuously smaller and better faceted compared with those synthesized by A. aspera leaf extracts previously reported. Synthesized gold nanoparticles showed potent anticancer activity at 50μg/ml concentration against cervical cancer cell lines.Keywords: Gold nanoparticles, anticancer activity, Achyranthes Aspera Linn.  Aqueous leaves Extract, SEM, XRD, HeLa cancer cell line

Evaluation of the Salivary Flow Rate and Salivary pH among Chronic Smokers: A Cross Sectional Study

AIM OF THE STUDY: To evaluate the salivary flow rate (SFR) and salivary pH among smokers and non-smokers. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the study is to compare the difference in Salivary flow rate by using salivary flow rate method and pH meter, to evaluate the effect of long-term use of smoking significance between chronic smokers and non-smokers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study consist of 120 male adults in which 60 are smokers and 60 are non-smokers. Among the study group both stimulated and unstimulated saliva will be collected. The subjects were selected based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Both stimulated and Unstimulated saliva were collected by asking the patients to spit in a cup. SFR was measured. Then Salivary pH was measured by using the pH meter. RESULTS: The data was analysed by using ‘t’ test, ANOVA and it was found that the mean value of SFR and salivary pH in smoker group has lower value than that of non-smoker group in both stimulated and unstimulated saliva and the results were statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Based on the results of this study we concluded that the long term smoking significantly reduces the SFR and salivary pH. These alterations in long term smokers can render oral mucosa vulnerable to various oral and dental diseases such as dry mouth, cervical caries, gingivitis, tooth mobility, calculus and halitosis. Due to low pH, there is risk for demineralization and cavities in teeth. Salivary parameters as an alternative to blood is cost effective and a non-invasive method for screening and monitoring

MULTI-ELEMENTAL ANALYSIS OF EXTRACT FROM PONGAMIAPINNATA

Heavy metals are found to be an important micronutrient for plants, humans, and animals provided the level is within the limit hence it is necessaryto determine its concentration. The extract from the seeds of Pongamia pinnata was derived by acid digestion using H2SO4. The extract was furtherclarified and filtered using standard filter papers. The clarified extract was diluted and the diluted extract was analyzed for the presence of heavymetals such as Zn, Mn, Mg, Fe, and K using atomic absorption spectrometry. The analysis revealed that the concentrations of certain metals were inacceptable levels and concentrations of certain other metals were in unacceptable levels which will have considerable impact on the engine's life andthe environment when the extract from it is used for biodiesel production.Keywords: Pongamia pinnata, Heavy metals, Atomic absorption spectrometry, Impacts, Engine, Environment

Seeing is Believing: A Federated Learning Based Prototype to Detect Wireless Injection Attacks

Reactive injection attacks are a class of security threats in wireless networks wherein adversaries opportunistically inject spoofing packets in the frequency band of a client thereby forcing the base-station to deploy impersonation-detection methods. Towards circumventing such threats, we implement secret-key based physical-layer signalling methods at the clients which allow the base-stations to deploy machine learning (ML) models on their in-phase and quadrature samples at the baseband for attack detection. Using Adalm Pluto based software defined radios to implement the secret-key based signalling methods, we show that robust ML models can be designed at the base-stations. However, we also point out that, in practice, insufficient availability of training datasets at the base-stations can make these methods ineffective. Thus, we use a federated learning framework in the backhaul network, wherein a group of base-stations that need to protect their clients against reactive injection threats collaborate to refine their ML models by ensuring privacy on their datasets. Using a network of XBee devices to implement the backhaul network, experimental results on our federated learning setup shows significant enhancements in the detection accuracy, thus presenting wireless security as an excellent use-case for federated learning in 6G networks and beyond.Comment: 6 pages with 8 figure

Thidiazuron-induced shoot organogenesis of Cleome viscosa (L) through cotyledonary explants culture

A reproducible protocol for direct shoot organogenesis of Cleome viscosa, an important medicinal weed herb was developed. The seed explants were collected primarily from field grown mature plants for in vitro germination on different strength of MS basal medium with or without selection of GA3 at various concentration (0.1 to 1.0 mg/L). The highest rate of seed germination (55.3%) was noticed on full strength MS basal medium fortified with 0.5 mg/L GA3 after 30 days of culture. The excised 7 to 10 days old cotyledonary leaf, cotyledonary node and hypocotyls explants cultured on MS medium fortified with different concentration of individual cytokinin (BA/KIN/TDZ) alone or BA+KIN or TDZ+KIN or TDZ in  combinations with different auxins (IBA/NAA/IAA) influenced the frequency of adventitious microshoot formation. The rate of shoot multiplication was greatest (100%) in cotyledonary leaf explants cultured on 3.0 mg/L TDZ and 0.3 mg/L IBA tested medium after 45 days of culture. The individual microshoots were elongated well in 0.3 mg/L TDZ and 0.1 mg/L GA3 treated medium, but more number of adventitious micro roots were developed on half strength MS medium fortified with 0.1 mg/L NAA. The regenerated healthy plants were hardened in pots containing soil mix and well established into complete state similar to that of field grown plants under greenhouse condition.Keywords: Cleome viscosa L, medicinal weed plant, shoot multiplication, direct organogenesisAfrican Journal of Biotechnology, Vol. 13(9), pp. 1027-1036, 26 February, 201

Synthesis, structure, thermal, magnetic, dielectric properties of Ce3+doped M-type SrFe12O19 and electrochemical determination of L-cysteine

Cerium substituted SrFe12O19 with the nano composition of Sr(1-x)CexFe12O19 (x = 0.00, 0.01, 0.05 and 0.09) have been prepared using auto-combustion technique with dual fuel. The PXRD images confirmed a single-phase hexagonal crystalline structure similar to a magnetoplumbhite for all samples. Fourier transform infra-red spec-troscopy (FT-IR), field emission-scanning electron spectroscopy (FE-SEM), elemental mapping (EDS) were used to examine for the structure and morphology of the samples. The temperature dependent hexagonal phase formation and percentage weight loss was studied by thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA). Vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) analysis confirmed that M-SrHF's are hard magnetic in nature and super paramagnetic, these are measured at room temperature. It was found that, with the increase of the dopant Ce3+ in strontium ferrites, the values of saturation magnetization (MS), remanence magnetization (Mr), coer-civity (HC) and magnetic parameters of strontium ferrites decrease. The electrochemical behavior of the SrHF's electrode and the electro-oxidation of L-cysteine was investigated using of cyclic voltammetry (CV). The best voltammetric response has been observed for a SrHF's electrode in buffer solution at pH of 7.0 with -an acquisition and scan rate of 50 mV s-1. The dielectric properties are measured in LCR meter and described based on the Maxwell-Wagner's two layer model. The electron hopping between Sr2+ and Sr3+, as well as Fe3+ and Fe2+ ions on B-sites, drives the conduction mechanism in these ferrites, these nano hexaferrites which shows its suitability in various technological applications

Effect of integrated nutrient management and spacing on seed quality parameters of black gram cv. Lbg-625 (rashmi)

A field experiment was conducted to assess the response of nutrient levels and spacing on seed quality attributes of black gram cv. LBG-625 (Rashmi). Experimental results revealed that fertilizer application of 50:100:100 + Black gram rhizobia (250 g ha-1) + PSB- Bacillus megaterium (250 g ha-1) recorded highest test weight (39.27 g), germination (90.60%), root length (15.77 cm), shoot length (13.43 cm), mean seedling length (29.20 cm), mean seedling dry weight (57.99 mg), seedling vigour index-I (2656), seedling vigour index-II (525), total dehydrogenase activity (0.998), protein content (23.16%), field emergence (86.56 %) lowest electrical conductivity (0.813 dSm-1) were superior over other fertilizer treatments. Among the planting geometry 60 x 10 cm recorded more germination per cent (90.48 %) compared to 45 x 10 cm (87.64 %) and 30 x 10 cm (86.91 %). Interaction of nutrient levels and spacing through the application of 50:100:100 + black gram rhizobia (250 g ha-1) + PSB- B. megaterium (250 g ha-1) with planting geometry 60 x 10 cm recorded more mean seedling length (34.40 cm), mean seedling dry weight (58.30 mg),and field emergence (90.24 %) lowest electrical conductivity (0.776 dSm-1) compared to control. The application of 50:100:100 + Black gram rhizobia (250 g ha-1) + PSB- B. megaterium (250 g ha-1) with planting geometry 60 x 10 cm were considered as seed quality improvement approach in blackgram, therefore conjunctive use of inorganic fertilizers and biofertilizer may be suggested for higher seed quality parameters along with overall betterment of crop

Increasing Engagement for Breast Cancer Screening and Treatment : The "ICANTREAT" Community of Expertise Initiative

Funding The workshop and the travel for four researchers – AP, SN, RS and SJM was enabled through the Scottish Funding Council (grant number SF10192) grant.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Comparative effect of different sugars instigating non-enzymatic browning and Maillard reaction products in guava fruit leather

Browning is a major quality deterioration process affecting both visual colour and nutritional value of guava leather. The aim of the study was to determine the role of different sugars viz., sucrose, fructose, glucose and sorbitol in non-enzymatic browning and antioxidant activity of guava fruit leather. The total free amino acids, ascorbic acid and antioxidant activities were at significantly lower levels in glucose and fructose treated guava leather, while the sorbitol added samples had all of above parameters at the highest level; while a reverse trend was observed in browning index and non-enzymatic browning. Among the browning intermediate products, Hydroxymethylfurfural was present at higher concentration (12.80-32.32 ng/g) than furfural (0.29-0.95 ng/g) in guava leather samples. Among the treatments, hydroxymethylfurfural was found lowest in sorbitol (12.8 ng/g) and highest in fructose (32.3 ng/g). In brief, this paper describes a novel effort in bringing the in-vitro studies related to sugars and total free amino acids, influencing the biochemical and nutritional attributes which are responsible for browning in guava fruit leather