Genetic effects on heavy ions in drosophila

Drosophila sex-linked recessive lethal mutation test was used to study the dose response relation and relative biological effectiveness of heavy ions. The experiments were performed using the heavy ion beams at BEVALAC of Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory. These experiments were undertaken according to the proposed milestones and included Ne-20, A-40 and Fe-65 ions with respective energies of 600 MeV, 840 MeV and 850 MeV. At these energies several doses of these radiations ranging from 20 to 1280 R were used. Space radiation exposure to astronauts is supposed to be quite low and therefore very low dose experiments i.e., 20 R, were also performed for the three ions. The mutation response was measured in all germ cell types i.e., spermatozoa, spermatids, spermatocytes and spermatogonia of treated Drosophila males. A linear dose frequency relation was observed for most of the range except at high doses where the saturation effect was observed. Also, a very significant difference was observed among the sensitivity of the four germ cell stages where spermatozoa and spermatids were more sensitive. At the higher doses of this range, most of the spermatogonia and spermatocytes were killed. Although comparative and identical experiments with X-rays or neutrons have not been performed, the compassion of our data with the ones available in literature suggest that the heavy ions have a high rbe and that they are several times more effective than low LET X-rays. The rbe compared to neutrons however appears to be only slightly higher

EFFECT OF FORCED EXERCISE (TAP STRESS) ON DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER AND EFFICACY OF ABHRAK BHASMA AS DIETARY SUPPLEMENT.

 Objective: Generation of reactive oxygen species and other oxidants as an outcome of aerobic respiration has been well documented. During boosted muscular activities/exercise, there is an increase in the rate of respiration and subsequent generation of oxidants; for which, organisms possess various defense systems. There is, however, paucity of reports on the effect of forced exercise in Drosophila melanogaster.Methods: The present investigation reports a method for inducing forced exercise, the tap stress,†in D. melanogaster. This method takes advantage of the natural tendency of Drosophila flies to climb/fly upward in a cylindrical tube. Simplicity of assembly, ease of experimentation and cost effectiveness are some of the key advantages of this method. Tap stress has been assumed to manifest through the generation of oxidative stress, thus, parameters indicative of oxidative stress have been evaluated.Results: The results indicate that tap stress induces oxidative stress mainly by influencing the non-catalytic components; total reduced glutathione (GSH), GSH: oxidized glutathione ratio, and free radical scavenging capacity. The catalytic components (superoxide dismutase, and catalase), on the contrary, remain largely unaffected. Abhrak bhasma (AB) influences total GSH content with an increase by about 38±21%, while flies on control diet register a decrease in total GSH content by 34±7% during tap stress. Feeding flies on AB, specifically, show a prominent increase in the transcription levels of cap n†collar C, heat shock protein 70 and catalase genes (>1.5 fold).Conclusion: Overall, dietary supplement of AB and ascorbic acid benefits Drosophila flies in the management of oxidative stress induced through tap stress.Â

STUDY OF IMMOBILIZATION OF UREASE ON PVA-NANO NiFe2O4 NANOCOMPOSITE FOR BIOSENSOR APPLICATIONS

Objective: The main objective of this study to prepare the highly sensitive and high-performance biosensor using Nickel ferrite (NiFe2O4) nanoparticles and biological agent (enzyme) for the respective biosensor.Methods: Nickel ferrite (NiFe2O4) nanoparticles were prepared by using the sol-gel method. Prepared nanoparticles were dispersed in polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) solution in order to fabricate nanocomposite film on gold (Au) plate. Urease (Ur) has been immobilized onto this (PVA/NanoNiFe2O4/Au) nanocomposite film via physical adsorption method. The PVA/NanoNiFe2O4/Au electrode and Ur/PVA-nanoNiFe2O4/Au bio-electrode have been characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and cyclic voltammetry (CV). Synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy.Results: The XRD of nanocrystalline NiFe2O4 showsspinel ferrites crystal structure and the average particle size of NiFe2O4 nanoparticles was found to be ~ 40 nm. The formation of NiFe2O4 was confirmed by FT-IR. The detecting performance of Nanocrystalline NiFe2O4 results in increased active surface area of PVA-nanoNiFe2O4/Au bioelectrode for immobilization of enzyme (Ur), enhanced electron transfer and increased shelf-life of bioelectrode. The Ur/PVA-nanoNiFe2O4/Au bioelectrode exhibits interesting characteristics such as detection range 5-50 mg/dl, response time as 2s with regression coefficient as 0.951. A Michalis-Menten constant (Km) as 2 mg/dl indicate high affinity of the enzyme (Ur) for urea detection.Conclusion: The results obtained from this study indicated that the Ur/PVA-nanoNiFe2O4/Au bioelectrode reveals increased enzyme (urease)-substrate (urea) interactions indicating the distinct advantage of this matrix over other matrices used for urea biosensor fabrication. Efforts should be made to use this electrode for the detection of urea in blood serum.Keywords: Biosensor, NiFe2O4nanoparticles, Urease (Ur), Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), Nanobiocomposite, Sol-gel metho

Kualitas Daging Se’i Sapi yang Diproses Menggunakan Buah Belimbing Wuluh (Averrhoa bilimbi Linn) Kering Matahari

Penelitian ini telah dilakukan untuk mengkaji penggunaan buah belimbing wuluh (Averrhoa bilimbi Linn) kering matahari terhadap kualitas daging se’i sapi. Metode yang digunakan adalah metode eksperimen dengan desain menggunakan Rancangan Acak Lengkap (RAL) faktorial yang terdiri dari 2 faktor pola 4x4 yang terdiri dari 4 faktor level pemberian buah belimbing wuluh kering matahari 0% (kontrol), 1,5%, 3%, 4,5% (w/w) dan 4 faktor lama penyimpanan 7 hari, 14 hari, 21 hari dan 28 hari. Kombinasi Kedua faktor ini menghasilkan 16 kombinasi setiap perlakuan terdiri atas 3 ulangan, dengan demikian akan diperoleh 48 unit. Parameter yang diukur dalam penelitian adalah pH, oksidasi lemak (TBA), aktivitas antioksidan, total plate count (TPC). Data analisis menggunakan Anova, apabila berpangaruh sangat nyata (P<0,01) dilakukan uji lanjut Duncan untuk mengetahui perbedaan diantara perlakuan dengan software SPSS 23. Hasil dari penelitian ini menunjukan bahwa interaksi antara faktor level buah belimbing wuluh kering matahari dan faktor lama penyimpanan berpengaruh nyata (P<0,05) terhadap pH, oksidasi lemak (TBA), aktivitas antioksidan, total plate count (TPC). Level pemberian buah belimbing wuluh kering matahari 4,5% memberikan hasil tertinggi pada aktivitas antioksidan, dan nilai terendah pada pH, oksidasi lemak (TBA) dan total plate count (TPC). Pada level 1,5% sampai 4,5% menekan laju oksidasi lemak (TBA) dan total plate count (TPC) pada setiap lama penyimpanan hari ke 7, 14, 21 dan 28, sebaliknya pada nilai aktivitas antioksidan cenderung meningkat seiring penambahan level buah belimbing kering matahari pada lama penyimpanan yang berbeda

The Effect of Giving Dragon Fruit Skin Extract (Hylocereus costarisensis) on the Quality of Se'i Beef Meat

This research has been conducted to determine the quality of processed meat mixed with dragon fruit skin extract (Hylocereus costarisensis) and determine the length of time of different watering. The method used was an experimental method with a design using a complete randomized design (CRD) consisting of 2 4x3 pattern factors consisting of 4 factors of dragon skin extract level of 0% (control), 40%, 60%, 80%, and 3 factors of duration time of watering 6 hours, 12 hours, 18 hours. Combining these two factors produces 12 combinations in each treatment and were repeated 3 times, thus there will be 36 experimental units. The parameters measured in the study were TBA, water activity, pH, total bacteria (TPC). Data analysis used Anova, if the impact is very significant (P<0.01) Duncan further test was conducted to determine the difference between treatment with SPSS 23 software. This study showed that the interaction between dragon fruit skin extract and the duration factor of watering had a very significant effect (P<0.01) on TBA, pH, TPC, antioxidant activity. The best combination for TBA, pH, TPC, antioxidant activity of meat se'i at 80% for 18 hours. While the activity of se'i water caused the Aw value to increase from 0.84 to 0.96, the best combination for the value of water activity meat se'i at the level of 60% with a length of 12 hours.

The Sensory Properties, Color, Microbial, Lipid Oxidation, and Residual Nitrite of Se’i Marinated with Lime and Roselle Calyces Extracts

Meat deterioration can occur because of lipid oxidation and bacteria that could affect meat quality. It has been recognized that fruits of lime (Citrus aurantifolia) and roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) calyces contain bioactive compounds that have a capability to prevent oxidation and bacterial growth. The objective of this research was to  investigate the effect of lime and roselle calyces extracts on se’i (Rotenese smoked beef) quality. Completely randomized design (CRD) with 2x4 factorial pattern was used in this study. The first factor (E) was source of extracts i.e., lime extract (E1) and roselle extract (E2). The second factor (L) was level of the extract consisted of 4 levels i.e., control (without extract/ L0); L1= 1%; L2= 2%; and L3= 3% (v/v). Each treatment consisted of 3 replications. Sensory properties measured were aroma, taste, and tenderness. Other variables measured were color, total plate count (TPC), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and residual nitrite.  The taste and tenderness of se’i were affected (P&lt;0.05) by combination of the extract and the level of the extract.  Results showed that there were significant interactions (P&lt;0.05) between the kind of extracts and the level of extract on L (lightness), a (redness), and b (yellowness) values, TPC, TBARS, and residual nitrite values. The level of 3% of  lime extract as well as 3% of roselle calyces extract improved score of taste and tenderness, reduced a values, decreased TPC, TBARS, and residual nitrite values. Marinating in 3% of roselle calyces extract decreased the b value but marinating in 3% of lime increased the b value of se’i. It is concluded that marinating 3% of roselle or 3% of lime gives the best effect on taste, tenderness, TPC, and TBARS values of se’i

Morphological, Pathogenic and Molecular Characterization of Fusarium Oxysporum F.sp. Ciceri Isolates From Maharashtra, India

Vascular wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. ciceri (FOC) is considered as one of the major factors of low productivity in chickpea. The present study was conducted to determine the morphological, pathogenic and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) variability of twenty isolates of FOC collected from the Maharashtra State of India, along with four reference isolates corresponding to four known FOC races. Pathogenicity of each isolate was confirmed using the wilt susceptible chick-pea genotype JG-62. The mycelia of all the isolates were septate, hyaline and profusely branched. All the FOC isolates produced micro- and macro-conidia in pure culture within seven days after inoculation. Based on the abilities of the isolates to cause dis-ease on an International set of chickpea differentials and genetic variability estimated by the RAPD technique, these 24 isolates were grouped into two pathotypes, i.e. pathotype I and pathotype II

Gait dynamics in mouse models of Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease

BACKGROUND: Gait is impaired in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and Huntington's disease (HD), but gait dynamics in mouse models of PD and HD have not been described. Here we quantified temporal and spatial indices of gait dynamics in a mouse model of PD and a mouse model of HD. METHODS: Gait indices were obtained in C57BL/6J mice treated with the dopaminergic neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP, 30 mg/kg/day for 3 days) for PD, the mitochondrial toxin 3-nitropropionic acid (3NP, 75 mg/kg cumulative dose) for HD, or saline. We applied ventral plane videography to generate digital paw prints from which indices of gait and gait variability were determined. Mice walked on a transparent treadmill belt at a speed of 34 cm/s after treatments. RESULTS: Stride length was significantly shorter in MPTP-treated mice (6.6 ± 0.1 cm vs. 7.1 ± 0.1 cm, P < 0.05) and stride frequency was significantly increased (5.4 ± 0.1 Hz vs. 5.0 ± 0.1 Hz, P < 0.05) after 3 administrations of MPTP, compared to saline-treated mice. The inability of some mice treated with 3NP to exhibit coordinated gait was due to hind limb failure while forelimb gait dynamics remained intact. Stride-to-stride variability was significantly increased in MPTP-treated and 3NP-treated mice compared to saline-treated mice. To determine if gait disturbances due to MPTP and 3NP, drugs affecting the basal ganglia, were comparable to gait disturbances associated with motor neuron diseases, we also studied gait dynamics in a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Gait variability was not increased in the SOD1 G93A transgenic model of ALS compared to wild-type control mice. CONCLUSION: The distinct characteristics of gait and gait variability in the MPTP model of Parkinson's disease and the 3NP model of Huntington's disease may reflect impairment of specific neural pathways involved

Criteria for the experimental observation of multi-dimensional optical solitons in saturable media

Criteria for experimental observation of multi-dimensional optical solitons in media with saturable refractive nonlinearities are developed. The criteria are applied to actual material parameters (characterizing the cubic self-focusing and quintic self-defocusing nonlinearities, two-photon loss, and optical-damage threshold) for various glasses. This way, we identify operation windows for soliton formation in these glasses. It is found that two-photon absorption sets stringent limits on the windows. We conclude that, while a well-defined window of parameters exists for two-dimensional solitons (spatial or spatiotemporal), for their three-dimensional spatiotemporal counterparts such a window \emph{does not} exist, due to the nonlinear loss in glasses.Comment: 8 pages, to appear in Phys. Rev.

How and When Socially Entrepreneurial Nonprofit Organizations Benefit From Adopting Social Alliance Management Routines to Manage Social Alliances?

Social alliance is defined as the collaboration between for-profit and nonprofit organizations. Building on the insights derived from the resource-based theory, we develop a conceptual framework to explain how socially entrepreneurial nonprofit organizations (SENPOs) can improve their social alliance performance by adopting strategic alliance management routines. We test our framework using the data collected from 203 UK-based SENPOs in the context of cause-related marketing campaign-derived social alliances. Our results confirm a positive relationship between social alliance management routines and social alliance performance. We also find that relational mechanisms, such as mutual trust, relational embeddedness, and relational commitment, mediate the relationship between social alliance management routines and social alliance performance. Moreover, our findings suggest that different types of social alliance motivation can influence the impact of social alliance management routines on different types of the relational mechanisms. In general, we demonstrate that SENPOs can benefit from adopting social alliance management routines and, in addition, highlight how and when the social alliance management routines–social alliance performance relationship might be shaped. Our study offers important academic and managerial implications, and points out future research directions