Comparative evaluation of Ising couplings, kinetic Ising couplings,and partial correlations in inferring structural connectivity

The problem of inferring the structural connections from the functional connections obtained from the activity of the neuronal networks is one of the major challenges in neuroscience. Studies suggest that maximum entropy based Ising models can discount the effect of indirect interactions and provide good results in inferring the underlying structural connections in neuronal networks. Parameters of the kinetic formulation of the Ising models, kinetic Ising models, have been found to agree well with anatomical connectivity in in silico models of neuronal networks. Following this, Ising and kinetic Ising models have attracted attention in the area of connectivity studies. However, the performance of the Ising couplings and kinetic Ising couplings have not been evaluated in comparison with other functional con- nectivity metrics in the microscopic scale of neuronal networks for a varied set of network conditions and network structures. This thesis sets out to resolve this through a comparative evaluation of the ability of Ising cou- plings and kinetic Ising couplings to unravel the structural connections when compared to the widely used functional connectivity metrics of partial and cross-correlations in in silico networks. The thesis presents the finding that the network correlation level deter- mines the relative performance of the functional connectivity metrics in de- tecting the synaptic connections. At weak levels of network correlation, Ising couplings and kinetic Ising couplings yielded better performance when com- pared to partial and cross-correlations. Whereas at strong levels of network correlation, partial correlations detected more structural links when com- pared to other functional connectivity metrics in this study. This result was consistent across varying firing rates, network sizes, densities and topologies. Along with being directional and applicable in nonstationary cases, kinetic Ising couplings also displayed better performance when compared to Ising couplings. The findings of this thesis serve as a guide in selecting the right functional connectivity tool to reconstruct the structural connectivity

Green synthesis of Iron oxide nanoparticles using Lagenaria siceraria and evaluation of its Antimicrobial activity

Magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (MNPs) with appropriate surface chemistry exhibit many interesting properties that can be exploited in a variety of biomedical applications such as magnetic resonance imaging contrast enhancement, tissue repair, hyperthermia, drug delivery and in cell separation. In this study unexplored Lagenaria siceraria leaves extract was found to be capable in green synthesis of Iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe3O4-NPs) and their characteristics were studied by using UV-visible spectrophotometer, SEM, EDX, XRD, Zeta sizer and FT-IR. Thus synthesized Fe3O4-NPs were naturally stabilized, cubic shaped and in the size range of 30-100 nm. The phytochemicals present in the leaf has a main role as reducing agent that assists to the eco friendly synthesis of Fe3O4-NPs with enhanced antioxidant property. Functional groups present on the NPs are mainly –OH and –COOH (FT-IR) makes it hydrophilic hence NPs does not need any further functional modification for applications. The antimicrobial property of synthesized Fe3O4-NPs was evaluated against Gram negative - Escherchia coli, Gram positive- Staphylococcus aureus, The Zone of inhibition was found to be 10 mm for Escherchia coli, and 8 mm for Staphylococcus aureus. Thus naturally stabilized Fe3O4-NPs with herbal property can be used in various biological applications

Biosorption of nickel using mixed cultures of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus subtilis

 Biosorption of Ni(II) was investigated in this study using dead biomass of gram positive (Bacillus subtilis) and gram negative (Pseudomonas aeruginosa).The effects of pH, initial adsorbent dosage, initial metal ion concentration, contact time and temperature were studied in batch experiment. A contact time of 40 min, pH 5.0 and temperature 30oC were found to be optimum. Nickel removal decreased from 77 to 45% as the concentration increased from 50 to 250 mg/L. The Ni(II) removal increased from 45 to 75% as adsorbent dose increased from 0.25 to 1.5 g/L. The Langmuir and freundlich models for dynamics of metal of metal ion uptake proposed in this work fit the experimental data reasonably well. The adsorption capacity (Qo) calculated from Langmuir isotherm was 89.08 mg for Ni (II).

Screening of Lactobacillus plantarum isolated from fermented idli batter for probiotic properties

Probiotics are defined as live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host. The objective of this study was to screen eight potential probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum strains from fermented idli batter using in vitro assays such as bile tolerance, acid tolerance, transit tolerance in the upper human gastrointestinal tract, auto-aggregation, co-aggregation, hydrophobicity, susceptibility to various antibiotics, bile salt hydrolase assay, cholesterol assimilation and hemolysis. The isolates were able to tolerate up to 0.3% of bile for 4 to 6 h and pH 2.5, 3.5, 4.5, 6.5, 7.5 and 8.5. The isolates were able to resist growth against gastric and intestinal fluid. The auto-aggregation of the different L. plantarum strains ranged from 65 to 80% in all the isolates. The co-aggregation with pathogens like Listeria monocytogenes (MTCC 657) and Escherichia coli (MTCC 728) ranged from 51 to 64%, however, low levels of co-aggregation were observed in L. plantarum (MTCC 6161) and L. rhamnosus (MTCC 1408) ranging from 32 to 46% and hydrophobicity from 49 to 77%. The isolates showed resistance towards antibiotics like gentamycin, ciprofloxacin, nalidixic acid and norfloxacin. All the isolates showed bile salt hydrolase activity with cholesterol lowering capacity, the highest being 73% by L. plantarum JJ 18. The isolates possessed â-galactosidase activity exhibiting 322 to 1000 MU of enzyme activity. No isolates showed hemolysis activity. Thus, the different L. plantarum isolates exhibited probiotic potential which would attribute beneficial effect to mankind.Key words: Lactobacillus plantarum, probiotics, cholesterol, β-galactosidase

Physico-chemical Characteristics of Fine Nano-scaled Carbon Fibers from Bacterial Cellulose

Recently, carbon nanofibers have gained immense attention in research due to its tremendous application. Here, this work highlights a simple, cost effective and reliable method to develop carbon nanofibers (CNF) from biomass. The biomass used is bacterial cellulose (BC) synthesized using Acetobacter xylinus. CNF was developed by freeze drying of BC followed by pyrolysis at different temperatures (300ºC - 900ºC). The conversions of BC to CNF were characterized using SEM, FTIR, TGA and XRD respectively. The results exhibit three dimensional, lightweight, fine nanoscale fibers with a diameter of 10nm which are tend to have hydrophobic and lipophilic characters, due to which it can be used in oil – water separation applications.

Gender Perspectives in Ear Care: A Cross-Sectional Survey in Delhi

Background: Ear disease in children is a major public health problem in developing countries. There has been scarcity of evidence of any gender differentials, if any exists, with ear care in the Indian context.Objective: To study the gender perspectives in ear care with regard to attitude and health-seeking behavior of caregivers of children 1–10 years of age in Delhi.Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in an urban health center situated in the north-east district of Delhi from January to March 2015. 160 caregivers of ill children aged 1–10 years who came to seek medical care in out-patient department (OPD) constituted the study population. Chi square test or Fisher’s Exact test (wherever required) was used to observe the differences between qualitative variables.Results: The study was conducted among 160 caregivers of 87 (54.4%) male children and 73 (45.6%) female children. Mean (±SD) monthly family income was INR 7637.5±1155.30. When inquired about the attitude of caregivers about playing of their child with another child who is suffering from hearing loss, 18 (20.7%) caregivers of male children perceived that their child will also suffer from hearing loss while 30 (41.1%) caregivers of female children, agreed for the same (χ2=7.87, df=1, p value=0.01).

Catalytic Reduction of Hazardous Compound (Triethylphosphate) Using Ni Doped CuO Nanoparticles

 Nickel doped Copper oxide nanoparticles were prepared by hydrothermal method for catalytic reduction of Triethylphosphate (TEP). It is a well known toxicant from organophosphorous compounds. The nanoparticles were characterized by DLS, UV, FTIR, XRD, SEM and EDAX. FTIR and UV results reveals that the functional properties and the absorbance of NPs. DLS and SEM results reveals that the size and surface morphology of NPs. XRD and EDAX results confirms the structural purity of Ni dopants were substituted into the cubic CuO NPs and the elemental composition. Ni doped CuO is an efficient catalyst for catalytic reduction of TEP using sunlight irradiation and it was monitored by UV VIS spectrophotometer

Parenting Styles and Self-Efficacy of Adolescents: Malaysian Scenario

Parenting styles and its impact on adolescents psychosocial development has been an area of interest in the field of psychology Previous studies have revealed that parenting styles are correlated with adolescents self-esteem drug and alcohol use delinquency and academic performance This study aimed to investigate the effect of parenting styles namely authoritative authoritarian and permissive on adolescents self-efficacy level A hundred and twenty students served as participants for this study The mean age for the entire sample was 18 441 and had an equal number of males and females A single survey was administered and data on perceived parenting styles and ratings on self-efficacy were collected Correlation was carried out and results indicated that authoritative parenting style is highly associated with self-efficacy Regression result showed that authoritative parenting style contributes 12 8 towards student s self-efficacy However authoritarian and permissive parenting styles do not produce any significant relationship when associated with self-efficacy T-test comparison revealed a significant difference of self-efficacy among the males and females The male students demonstrated higher level of self-efficacy as compared to the females This study is significant because it allows helping professionals to gain a better understanding on the relationship between parenting styles and self-efficac

Optimization of nutritional and non-nutritional factors involved for production of antimicrobial compounds from Lactobacillus pentosus SJ65 using response surface methodology

Bacteriocins from lactic acid bacteria are ribosomal synthesized antibacterial proteins/ peptides having wide range of applications. Lactobacillus pentosus SJ65, isolated from fermented Uttapam batter (used to prepare south Indian pan cake), produces bacteriocin having a broad spectrum of activity against pathogens. Optimization studies are of utmost important to understand the source of utilization and the conditions to enhance the production of metabolites. In the present study, an attempt was made to identify the parameters involved for maximal production of antimicrobial compounds especially bacteriocin from the isolate L. pentosus SJ65. Initially, optimal conditions, such as incubation period, pH, and temperature were evaluated. Initial screening was done using methodology onevariable-at-a-time (OVAT) for various carbon and nitrogen sources. Further evaluation was carried out statistically using Plackett-Burman design and the variables were analyzed using response surface methodology using central composite design. The optimum media using tryptone or soy peptone, yeast extract, glucose, triammonium citrate, MnSO4, dipotassium hydrogen phosphate and tween 80 produced maximum bacteriocin activity