In vitro cytotoxicity and induction of apoptosis by multiwalled carbon nanotubes in human peripheral lymphocytes: Correlation with physicochemical properties

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) consist of more than 80% of the current nanomaterials’ applications worldwide. Despite their wide application, little information is known concerning their impact on human health. The current study aims to identify the in vitro effects of exposure of the human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) to MWCNTs and the possible associations with their physiochemical properties. Two doses (50 and 500 µg/ml) of four different commercially available MWCNTs (obtained from Frascati Laboratory, Sigma Co., Sun Nanotech Co. and Shenzhen Co.) were used in this study. Cell viability and apoptotic activity were evaluated by trypan blue exclusion test and Annexin-V/PI staining in peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL). Physicochemical properties of the different MWCNTs were determined and correlated with the cytotoxicity results after exposure for 12 and 48 h. Results indicate that PBL exposed to MWCNTs showed decreased cell viability and increased apoptosis in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The Pearson’s correlation test showed a lack of relationship between diameter of nanoparticles and their pro-apoptotic activity (r2= 0.282), whereas significant correlations were found between pro-apoptotic activity and the presence of some metal contaminants such as nickel, cobalt and gold (r2= 0.919, 0.698 and 0.520, respectively). Our results therefore suggest that carbon nanotubes at high concentrations lowered cell viability in vitro and induced apoptosis in human cells in vitro. In addition, the results indicate that metal contaminants in carbon nanotubes may be causative of some of the adverse outcomes observed. Finally, our finding provides important information on the biohazard potential of some carbon nanotubes in humans.Key words: Multiwalled, carbon, nanotubes, cytotoxicity, apoptosis, flow cytometry, viability,  lymphocytes

A Comparative study of Entonox Versus Epidural (0.125 % Bupivacaine with 2 µgm/ml fentanyl) for Labour Analgesia

INTRODUCTION: “May no living being suffer from pain” -Lord Buddha. I start my study with homage to this noble sentiment. The severity of labor pain was recognized by the Romans, who termed delivery the poena Magna -the “great pain” or “great punishment.” Pregnancy, though is one of the most pleasant part of a woman’s life is marred by the anxious awaiting of a painful labour. Although labor is painless in a few women, the vast majority considers it painful, and a clear majority rates it as severe pain. Melzack, one of the authors of the gate control theory of pain, developed a questionnaire to assess the intensity and emotional impact of pain. Using this tool, he observed that labor pain was rated as more painful than cancer pain and that, among nulliparous women with no prepared childbirth training, it was nearly as painful as amputation of a digit without anesthesia. IASP defines pain as “an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage or described in terms of the actual damage.” This definition embraces various concepts especially the subjectivity of the symptoms which is the basis of the non-pharmacological options in the treatment of labor pain. AIM: 1. To compare Entonox with Epidural Technique ( 0.125 % Bupivacaine with 2 μgm/ml Fentanyl) for labour analgesia in, Effectiveness of pain relief, Duration of Labour, Foetal outcome. 2. To study the influence on maternal and foetal parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Current study was conducted in the Govt. RSRM lying in hospital. Chennai. Forty healthy primi parturients aged between 19-25 years were selected for study. The selection was purposive and patients with ASA class 1 physical status were taken up. Institutional approval was obtained. A prospective randomized trial was conducted. Randomization was done by Third party selection marked slips for each patient. Inclusion criterion: Primipara, Age 18 to 28 years, Weight 45 to 60 kgs, Height 145 to 165 cms, ASA class I, Cervical dilation 3 - 5 cms, Effacement > 50 percent, Willingness for Epidural, Willingness for Entonox, Able to understand usage of Entonox. Exclusion Criterion: Patient refusal, Multipara, Age, Weight, height parameters outside the range in the inclusion criterion. Any co- morbid condition (Diabetes, PIH, Cardiac disease, etc.). Any obstetric complications. Any of the exclusion criterion for Entonox. METHODOLOGY: The patients were counseled at the beginning of the procedure about the Technique for which they were randomized. This was to gain the trust of the patients and as for Entonox the correct technique for using it was taught to the patient. Here some patients who could not understand the correct usage either due to language problem were excluded from the study. Consent was obtained, complications explained and a brief physical status examination was done. All baseline parameters like Heart rate, respiratory rate, Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure, FHR, SPO2, Baseline VAS, were evaluated and recorded. The patients were explained in detail about the visual analogue score and its usage. All doubts were cleared and a baseline VAS was recorded. SUMMARY: In this study the Epidural group offered better pain relief than the Entonox group. The Entonox group offered reasonable relief of pain in the first stage though its effectiveness was not good in the second stage. Duration of labour, both the First stage and the Second stage were prolonged in the Epidural group than in the Entonox group. The total duration of labour was hence prolonged in the Epidural group. Fetal outcome as assessed by the Apgar score at 1 minute and 5 minutes were comparable and all the babies were healthy in this study. There was no appreciable fall in oxygen saturation in both groups, The incidence of side effects like urinary retention was more in the Epidural group and there were more incidence of nausea and Dryness of mouth in the Entonox group. Hemodynamics and respiratory rates were relatively higher in the Entonox group. CONCLUSION: In our study we conclude that the Epidural technique offers better pain relief than Entonox gas. But it must be remembered that Entonox requires no special skill , easy to use, and safe. In many countries it is used by the midwives with one Doctor supervising. We conclude that Entonox is a good, easy to use alternative to the Epidural technique. It can be used in conditions were skilled help is unavailable and where there may be contraindications to the Epidural Technique

Wounding rapidly alters transcription factor expression, hormonal signaling, and phenolic compound metabolism in harvested sugarbeet roots

Injuries sustained by sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris L.) roots during harvest and postharvest operations seriously reduce the yield of white sugar produced from stored roots. Although wound healing is critically important to reduce losses, knowledge of these processes is limited for this crop as well as for roots in other species. To better understand the metabolic signals and changes that occur in wounded roots, dynamic changes in gene expression were determined by RNA sequencing and the activity of products from key genes identified in this analysis were determined in the 0.25 to 24 h following injury. Nearly five thousand differentially expressed genes that contribute to a wide range of cellular and molecular functions were identified in wounded roots. Highly upregulated genes included transcription factor genes, as well as genes involved in ethylene and jasmonic acid (JA) biosynthesis and signaling and phenolic compound biosynthesis and polymerization. Enzyme activities for key genes in ethylene and phenolic compound biosynthesis and polymerization also increased due to wounding. Results indicate that wounding causes a major reallocation of metabolism in sugarbeet taproots. Although both ethylene and JA are likely involved in triggering wound responses, the greater and more sustained upregulation of ethylene biosynthesis and signaling genes relative to those of JA, suggest a preeminence of ethylene signaling in wounded sugarbeet roots. Changes in gene expression and enzymes involved in phenolic compound metabolism additionally indicate that barriers synthesized to seal off wounds, such as suberin or lignin, are initiated within the first 24 h after injury

The novel design of an energy efficient superconductor-based series reactor for installation at a grid connected research site

This paper proposes the development of a superconducting series reactor (SSR) as an alternative to traditionally employed technologies and superconducting fault current limiters when managing fault levels on the electrical power grid. By utilizing superconducting tape, which has negligible resistance, in the construction of a series reactor, it is proposed that fault level mitigation could be achieved in a more energy efficient manner. Once constructed the SSR will be installed and tested at a grid-connected power engineering research site, and the proposed impact of this installation is firstly simulated using Reticmaster® power system simulation software. Design parameters for the prototype SSR are then calculated enabling the total cost of the modifications and prototype SSR to be determined. A desktop SSR was also constructed and tested as a pre-cursor to the prototype construction to confirm functionality and design and was found to be up to four times more energy efficient as the equivalent copper reactor. Finally, the calorimetric method of power loss determination was investigated and experimentally shown to be a viable alternative to the traditional electrical method of power loss determination. In the past, the relatively cheap cost of electricity in South Africa had favoured the installation of poor power efficiency devices that required a lower initial capital investment. With increasing energy costs and a focus on carbon emission reductions, the development of the SSR augurs a new era in power system engineering in which designs are proposed considering both total lifecycle costs and energy efficiency. Design proposal for the first superconducting power device in Africa Alternative to less efficient fault current management technologies currently employed Construction and testing of a desktop superconducting series reactor Verification of the calorimetric method for power loss determination

An Efficient Algorithm for Partial Discharge Localization in High-Voltage Systems Using Received Signal Strength

The term partial discharge (PD) refers to a partial bridging of insulating material between electrodes that sustain an electric field in high-voltage (HV) systems. Long-term PD activity can lead to catastrophic failures of HV systems resulting in economic, energy and even human life losses. Such failures and losses can be avoided by continuously monitoring PD activity. Existing techniques used for PD localization including time of arrival (TOA) and time difference of arrival (TDOA), are complicated and expensive because they require time synchronization. In this paper, a novel received signal strength (RSS) based localization algorithm is proposed. The reason that RSS is favoured in this research is that it does not require clock synchronization and it only requires the energy of the received signal rather than the PD pulse itself. A comparison was made between RSS based algorithms including a proposed algorithm, the ratio and search and the least squares algorithm to locate a PD source for nine different positions. The performance of the algorithms was evaluated by using two field scenarios based on seven and eight receiving nodes, respectively. The mean localization error calculated for two-field-trial scenarios show, respectively, 1.80 m and 1.76 m for the proposed algorithm for all nine positions, which is the lowest of the three algorithms

SYNERGISTIC ANTIOSTEOPOROTIC EFFECT OF LEPIDIUM SATIVUM AND ALENDRONATE IN GLUCOCORTICOID-INDUCED OSTEOPOROSIS IN WISTAR RATS

Bisphosphonates (BP) therapy is a vital option to reduce the risk of bone fracture in people who have osteoporosis. However, Bisphosphonate have displayed several side effects. Lepidium sativum (LS) plant and seeds has been used in traditional folk medicine as a mediator for bone fractures. Therefore, we aimed to compare the biochemical effects of LS alone (2% LS in diet, n=8), BP (Alendronate, 70 mg/kg s.c.; n=8) alone, or LS and BP combined in a rat model of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIO) by injecting methylprednisolone 3.5 mg/kg per day for 4 weeks. Serum calcium (Ca), albumin, phosphorus (PO4), bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (b-ALP), and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) were measured 4 weeks after induction of GIO. GIO-group showed significantly increased serum TRAP and decreased b-ALP. GIO-group also showed significantly decreased serum PO4 and unaltered Ca concentrations. Histological examination of GIO-group tibia bones indicates an osteoporotic changes and a concomitant decrease in percentage of trabecular area/bone marrow area (PTB) in the proximal femoral epiphysis. Treatment with either LS and/or BP ameliorated the above mentioned changes with variable degrees; with a net results of enhanced serum calcium, bone architecture, PTB, b-ALP and decreased TRAP in LS and LS+BP groups compared to that of animals treated with Alendronate alone. In conclusion, our findings present evidence supporting the potential benefits of LS in reducing the burden of GCs on bone health

A meshless method for numerical solutions of linear and nonlinear time-fractional Black-Scholes models

The numerical solution of the time-fractional Black-Scholes model for European and American options is presented using a local meshless collocation approach based on hybrid Gaussian-cubic radial basis functions with polynomials is presented. The approach is then expanded to a nonlinear time-fractional model for an option with transaction costs in a market with low liquidity. The spatial derivatives of the models are discretized using the proposed meshless technique. Numerical experiments are carried out for the American option, European option, and nonlinear transaction cost option models. In order to evaluate the effectiveness and precision of the suggested meshless approach, $L_{\infty}$ and $L_{rel}$ error norms are utilized. Both call and put option volatility is explored. A non-uniform grid customized around the strike price region is also used to determine the prices of European call and American put options. The methods described in literature are compared with the numerical results

Partial Discharge Localization Based on Received Signal Strength

Partial Discharge (PD) occurs when insulation containing defects or voids is subject to high voltages. If left untreated PD can degrade insulation until, eventually, catastrophic insulation failure occurs. The detection of PD current pulses, however, can allow incipient insulation faults to be identified, located and repaired prior to plant failure. Wireless technology has paved the path for PD detection and monitoring. Software Defined Radio (SDR) is a promising technology. Signals from two PD sources are received at six outdoors locations using an SDR USRP N200 which is connected to a laptop. PD sources, thereafter, are localized based on received signal strengths

Software-Defined Networks for Resource Allocation in Cloud Computing: A Survey

Cloud computing has a shared set of resources, including physical servers, networks, storage, and user applications. Resource allocation is a critical issue for cloud computing, especially in Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS). The decision-making process in the cloud computing network is non-trivial as it is handled by switches and routers. Moreover, the network concept drifts resulting from changing user demands are among the problems affecting cloud computing. The cloud data center needs agile and elastic network control functions with control of computing resources to ensure proper virtual machine (VM) operations, traffic performance, and energy conservation. Software-Defined Network (SDN) proffers new opportunities to blueprint resource management to handle cloud services allocation while dynamically updating traffic requirements of running VMs. The inclusion of an SDN for managing the infrastructure in a cloud data center better empowers cloud computing, making it easier to allocate resources. In this survey, we discuss and survey resource allocation in cloud computing based on SDN. It is noted that various related studies did not contain all the required requirements. This study is intended to enhance resource allocation mechanisms that involve both cloud computing and SDN domains. Consequently, we analyze resource allocation mechanisms utilized by various researchers; we categorize and evaluate them based on the measured parameters and the problems presented. This survey also contributes to a better understanding of the core of current research that will allow researchers to obtain further information about the possible cloud computing strategies relevant to IaaS resource allocation