Community based SWM project preparation

Most Indian municipalities, despite spending 30 to 50 percent of their total municipal services budget on Solid Waste Management (SWM), are unable to provide satisfactory SWM services. Recognizing the need to develop a sustainable SWM model, particularly for small towns of India, and at the request of the Government of India (GOI), the Regional Water and Sanitation Group - South Asia (RWSG-SA) is assisting the Government of Goa (GOG) in project preparation, planning and implementation of a community based solid waste management system for Panaji, the capital of Goa. This paper discusses the project preparation process followed by the RWSGSA and salient features of the proposed SWM system

NOVEL IN SILICO APPROACH OF ANTICANCER ACTIVITY BY INHIBITING HEMOPEXIN PROTEINS WITH INDIGOFERA ASPALATHOIDESPLANT CONSTITUENTS AT ACTIVE SITE

Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the anti-cancer activity using the phytoconstituents of Indigofera aspalathoides.Methods: The plant extract has been largely used as cell proliferation inhibitors. In this study, specific phytoconstituent has been targeted towardsmatrix metalloproteinases (MMPs).Results: MMPs are group of proteinases that are associated with cell invasion inhibition and also inhibit proliferation. The C-terminal domain ofMMPs mimics the serum protein hemopexin (HPX). According to various literatures, a reason for the failure of MMP as anti-cancer agent is thepresence of this HPX binding at the active site.Conclusion: A novel approach was carried to inhibit this binding by Carotal, (-)-Spathulenol, Tau.-Cadinol proteins from the plant I. aspalathoides. Keywords: Hemopexin, Matrix metalloproteinase, Indigofera aspalathoides, Molecular docking, Carotal, (-)-Spathulenol, Tau.-Cadinol

Bioreduction of silver nanoparticles from aerial parts of Euphorbia hirta L. (EH-ET) and its potent anticancer activities against neuroblastoma cell lines

Euphorbia hirta L. (Family: Euphorbiaceae) is a versatile medicinal plant and enriched with novel bioactive molecules and possess broad-spectrum pharmacological actions. Present work is aiming to synthesis and characterize of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) by bioreduction method an using ethanolic extract of aerial parts of Euphorbia hirta L. (EH-ET). The synthesized AgNPs observed by a color change of source solution (as AgNPs) and further confirmed by the UV-Visible spectroscopic technique. The AgNPs synthesized were characterized by Scanning Electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Zeta potential analysis. The synthesized AgNPs are polydispersed and some places it’s agglomerated. The particle size EH-ET silver nanoparticles were analyzed using Beckman coulter particle size analyzer (DelsaTM Nano common). The average size of the particles size noted in 2.9-206.3 nm. Anticancer activity of EH-ET Silver nanoparticles was tested against neuroblastoma cells (SH-SY5Y) and breast cancer cells (SH-SY5Y) and cytotoxicity were tested in vero cells by MTT assay. The preliminary confirmation of the synthesized AgNPs by the present method was made by the appearance of reddish brown color and the visible absorption peak at 429.5 nm. SEM image revealed that AgNPs synthesized were spherical in shape and silver nanoparticles were in the size range of 2.9 to 206.3 nm. FT-IR spectra showed the peaks corresponding to functional groups C=O, -C=C and -OH, which actively participated in bio-reduction and subsequent stabilization reactions in the synthesis of AgNPs. The obtained nanoparticles showed promising anticancer activity against neuroblastoma cells (SH-SY5Yc) and breast cancer cells (MCF-7) with IC50 values of 29.85 and 335 µg/mL, respectively. Whereas, the nanoparticles did not show any activity against vero cell lines. The synthesized silver nanoparticles using an ethanolic extract of Euphorbia hirta L. would be helpful for the preparation of potent cytotoxicity agents to destroy cancer cells

Investigation of passive flow control techniques to enhance the stall characteristics of a microlight aircraft

This report investigates the enhancement of aerodynamic stall characteristics of a Skyranger microlight aircraft by the use of passive flow control techniques, namely vortex generators and turbulators. Each flow control device is designed and scaled to application conditions. Force balance measurements and surface oil flow visualisation are carried out on a half-model of the microlight to further investigate the nature of the flow on the aircraft with and without the flow control devices. The results indicate a clear advantage to the use of turbulators compared with vortex generators. Turbulators increased the maximum lift coefficient by 2.8%, delayed the onset of stall by increasing the critical angle by 17.6% and reduced the drag penalty at both lower (pre-stall) and higher angles of attack by 8% compared to vortex generators. With vortex generators applied, the results indicated a delayed stall with an increase in the critical angle by 2% and a reduced drag penalty at higher angles of attack

Does Drug Holiday Affect Jaw Trabeculation in Medication Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw? - A Pilot Study

The role of drug holiday in long term antiresorptive drug users to prevent MRONJ is debated for quite some time. We aimed to compare jawbone trabeculation between patients on drug holiday with those not on drug holiday among Medication Related Osteonecro

Candida albicans Yeast and Hyphae are Discriminated by MAPK Signaling in Vaginal Epithelial Cells

We previously reported that a bi-phasic innate immune MAPK response, constituting activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphatase MKP1 and c-Fos transcription factor, discriminates between the yeast and hyphal forms of Candida albicans in oral epithelial cells (ECs). Since the vast majority of mucosal Candida infections are vaginal, we sought to determine whether a similar bi-phasic MAPK-based immune response was activated by C. albicans in vaginal ECs. Here, we demonstrate that vaginal ECs orchestrate an innate response to C. albicans via NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways. However, unlike in oral ECs, the first MAPK response, defined by c-Jun transcription factor activation, is delayed until 2 h in vaginal ECs but is still independent of hypha formation. The ‘second’ or ‘late’ MAPK response, constituting MKP1 and c-Fos transcription factor activation, is identical to oral ECs and is dependent upon both hypha formation and fungal burdens. NF-κB activation is immediate but independent of morphology. Furthermore, the proinflammatory response in vaginal ECs is different to oral ECs, with an absence of G-CSF and CCL20 and low level IL-6 production. Therefore, differences exist in how C. albicans activates signaling mechanisms in oral and vaginal ECs; however, the activation of MAPK-based pathways that discriminate between yeast and hyphal forms is retained between these mucosal sites. We conclude that this MAPK-based signaling pathway is a common mechanism enabling different human epithelial tissues to orchestrate innate immune responses specifically against C. albicans hyphae

Tracking research trends and hotspots in sperm DNA fragmentation testing for the evaluation of male infertility: a scientometric analysis.

BACKGROUND: This article describes the research trends in sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) over the past 20 years (1999-2018) using a scientometric approach. METHODS: A stepwise approach was adopted to retrieve scientometric data (articles per year, authors, affiliations, journals, countries) from Scopus and analyze the publication pattern of SDF with reference to key areas of research in the field of Andrology. RESULTS: A total of 2121 articles were retrieved related to SDF. Our data revealed an increasing research trend in SDF (n = 33 to n = 173) over the past 20 years (R2 = 0.894). Most productive country in publications was the USA (n = 450), while Agarwal A. (n = 129) being the most productive author. Most of the articles in SDF were primarily focused on lifestyle (n = 157), asthenozoospermia (n = 135) and varicocele (130). Mechanistic studies on SDF were published twice as much as prognostic/diagnostic studies, with significant emphasis on oxidative stress. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) was the most widely used technique to evaluate SDF. Publications on SDF related to assisted reproductive techniques also showed a linear increasing trend (R2 = 0.933). CONCLUSIONS: Our analysis revealed an increasing trend in SDF publications predominantly investigating lifestyle, asthenozoospermia and varicocele conditions with TUNEL being the most widely used technique. A substantial increase in research is warranted to establish SDF as prognostic/diagnostic parameter to evaluate clinical scenarios and ART outcomes

Chaotic ionization of a stationary electron state via a phase space turnstile

The ionization of a highly excited Rydberg atom subjected to a periodic sequence of electric field impulses, or “kicks,” is chaotic. We focus on the dynamics of a single kicking period in order to isolate the ionization mechanism. Potassium Rydberg atoms, prepared in a quasi-one-dimensional state, are exposed to a sequence of ionization kicks, and the total fraction of ionized atoms is then measured. These experimental data are compared to a one-dimensional classical model. The classical analysis reveals that the ionization process is governed by a phase space turnstile—a geometric structure associated with chaotic transport in diverse systems. The turnstile geometry is reflected in the experimental data. Previous work explored the dependence of the turnstile geometry on the kicking period. The present work explores the dependence on the kicking strength. In particular, increasing the kicking strength allows us to observe the stretching of the turnstile lobe as it penetrates the region of phase space occupied by the electronic state, leading to a sharp rise in the total ionization fraction. This work thus highlights the importance of phase space geometry in organizing chaotic transport in atomic Systems