Robust Uptake of Magnetic Nanoparticles (MNPs) by Central Nervous System (CNS) Microglia: Implications for Particle Uptake in Mixed Neural Cell Populations

Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) are important contrast agents used to monitor a range of neuropathological processes; microglial cells significantly contribute to MNP uptake in sites of pathology. Microglial activation occurs following most CNS pathologies but it is not known if such activation alters MNP uptake, intracellular processing and toxicity. We assessed these parameters in microglial cultures with and without experimental ‘activation’. Microglia showed rapid and extensive MNP uptake under basal conditions with no changes found following activation; significant microglial toxicity was observed at higher particle concentrations. Based on our findings, we suggest that avid MNP uptake by endogenous CNS microglia could significantly limit uptake by other cellular subtypes in mixed neural cell populations

Aerometric monitoring system for pollution control

Air quality monitoring and analysis is needed in order to provide decision makers with reliable information about the pollution situation so that they can take appropriate measures to mitigate or prevent negative impacts whenever there is need. World Health Organization (WHO) has recently announced that air pollution is carcinogenic to humans. The results from the reviewed studies point in the same direction: the risk of developing lung cancer hss significantly increased in people exposed to air pollution. This finding elevates the urgency to create awareness among common people about the air, both outdoors and indoors. In our project "Aerometric Monitoring System for Pollution Control”, we use a device that consists of a cluster of sensors that are used to sense atmospheric characteristics continuously. Atmospheric characteristics include Temperature, Humidity, Gas index indicating presence of poisonous gases etc. Several such devices can be deployed in places where we need to estimate air pollution. This covers public domains like bus stands, railway stations, junctions etc. and private domains like households, small scale industries and so on. The aggregated data collected by these devices are uploaded to the Internet using IoT platform by establishing a connection. The data is then displayed on the IoT platform along with various graphical representations. This enables the public to access the data anywhere, any time

Study on Concrete with Replacement of Fine Aggregates by Vermiculite

Concrete is the single most widely used construction material in the world. Concrete is used in such large amounts because it is simply, a remarkably good building material. Aggregates generally occupy 60 to 80 percent of the volume of concrete and greatly influence its properties, mix proportions and economy. Use of vermiculite in concrete, enhances the shrinkage and crack resistance, fire resistance and reduces environmental impact and also reduces the cost. Important characteristics of a good quality aggregate include resistance to abrasion, resistance to freeze/thaw action, resistance to sulfates, correct shape and surface texture, proper gradation, density, and compressive and flexural strength. The main purpose of the research is to study the strength parameters such as compressive strength, split tensile amp flexural strength of concrete using vermiculite as partial replacement with 40%, 50% and 60% by weight. The main aim of this study is to make economical and eco-friendly concrete. nbs

Toward understanding the S2-S3 transition in the Kok cycle of Photosystem II:Lessons from Sr-substituted structure

Understanding the water oxidation mechanism in Photosystem II (PSII) stimulates the design of biomimetic artificial systems that can convert solar energy into hydrogen fuel efficiently. The Sr2+-substituted PSII is active but slower than with the native Ca2+ containing PSII as an oxygen evolving catalyst. Here, we use Density Functional Theory (DFT) to compare the energetics of the S2 to S3 transition in the Mn4O5Ca2+ and Mn4O5Sr2+ clusters. The calculations show that deprotonation of the water bound to Ca2+ (W3), required for the S2 to S3 transition, is energetically more favorable in Mn4O5Ca2+ than Mn4O5Sr2+. In addition, we have calculated the pKa of the water that bridges Mn4 and the Ca2+/Sr2+ in the S2 state using continuum electrostatics. The calculations show that the pKa is higher by 4 pH units in the Mn4O5Sr2+cluster

Orientational distribution function in nematic liquid crystals by x-rays: Fourier method

The existing methods for the determination of the orientational distribution function f(beta) in the nematic liquid crystals using X-rays have been reviewed. A simple Fourier method which gives f(beta) in terms of the measured intensity is analysed. Using this distribution function, the accuracy with which the order parameters could be evaluated is discussed and the results show the elegance of the Fourier method used here

Photosystem II oxygen-evolving complex photoassembly displays an inverse H/D solvent isotope effect under chloride-limiting conditions

© 2019 National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. Photosystem II (PSII) performs the solar-driven oxidation of water used to fuel oxygenic photosynthesis. The active site of water oxidation is the oxygen-evolving complex (OEC), a Mn4CaO5 cluster. PSII requires degradation of key subunits and reassembly of the OEC as frequently as every 20 to 40 min. The metals for the OEC are assembled within the PSII protein environment via a series of binding events and photochemically induced oxidation events, but the full mechanism is unknown. A role of proton release in this mechanism is suggested here by the observation that the yield of in vitro OEC photoassembly is higher in deuterated water, D2O, compared with H2O when chloride is limiting. In kinetic studies, OEC photoassembly shows a significant lag phase in H2O at limiting chloride concentrations with an apparent H/D solvent isotope effect of 0.14 ± 0.05. The growth phase of OEC photoassembly shows an H/D solvent isotope effect of 1.5 ± 0.2. We analyzed the protonation states of the OEC protein environment using classical Multiconformer Continuum Electrostatics. Combining experiments and simulations leads to a model in which protons are lost from amino acid that will serve as OEC ligands as metals are bound. Chloride and D2O increase the proton affinities of key amino acid residues. These residues tune the binding affinity of Mn2+/3+ and facilitate the deprotonation of water to form a proposed μ-hydroxo bridged Mn2+Mn3+ intermediate

PREVALENCE AND ANTIBIOTIC SUSCEPTIBILITY PATTERN OF HIGH LEVEL AMINOGLYCOSIDE RESISTANCE AMONG GRAM POSITIVE ORGANISMS IN A TERTIARY CARE CENTRE

Objective: The study is done to determine the prevalence and the antimicrobial susceptibility against the gram positive organisms with high level amino glycosides resistance. Methods: This is a prospective study involving the analysis of clinical samples for gram positive organisms like Streptococcus species, Enterococcus species and Staphylococcus species and determining their antimicrobial susceptibility pattern. Results: From the collected clinical samples, all the gram positive organisms show resistance to gentamicin. Most of the Staphylococcus species showed a wide resistance to erythromycin followed by ceftrioxazone and many Enterococcus species shows resistance to penicillin, erythromycin, ciprofloxacin. Conclusion: The high level aminoglycoside resistant (HLAR) gram positive organisms showed susceptibility to few drugs that are prevalent in various clinical samples. Surveillance of antimicrobial resistance and sensitivity is essential in managing and control of infection

HEPATOPROTECTIVE ACTIVITY OF AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF CAESALPENIA BONDUC AGAINST CCL4 INDUCED CHRONIC HEPATOTOXICITY

Objective: The leaves of Caesalpinia bonduc (CB) have been used against various disorders in folk medicine including the liver disorders. Earlier, we have shown the hepatoprotective effect of CB in acute hepatotoxicity model. The present study was designed to evaluate the anti-hepatotoxic and anti-fibrotic effect of the aqueous leaf extract of CB on CCl4 (carbon tetrachloride) induced chronic hepatotoxicity/fibrosis in Wistar rats.Methods: Animals were divided into three groups namely; preventive, curative and prophylactic, which was further subdivided into four groups each: Group I–untreated control, group II-CCl4 control, group III-CB+CCl4 and group IV–silymarin+CCl4. The aqueous extract of CB/silymarin was administered orally once, daily for eight weeks in the curative group and for four weeks in preventive and prophylactic groups respectively. The chronic liver damage/fibrosis was induced by intraperitoneal injection of CCl4 twice a week, for four weeks in preventive and prophylactic groups and for eight weeks in the curative group. Blood samples were collected for assaying serum biochemical parameters, and the livers were excised and processed for histology.Results: The data showed that supplementation of aqueous leaf extract of CB along with CCl4 significantly reduced the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase(ALP), total bilirubin(TB) and prothrombin time(PT) thus further restoring the total protein(TP) and albumin(ALB) in preventive, curative and prophylactic groups when compared to CCl4 control. Significant improvement in the microscopic structure of the liver further confirmed the hepatoprotective effect of aqueous extract of CB over the liver injury and fibrosis induced by CCl4 in rats.Conclusion: The study, therefore, suggests that aqueous extract of CB might provide a novel and alternative approach for treating the chronic hepatotoxicity/liver fibrosis.Keywords: Caesalpenia bonduc, Liver, Chronic, CCl4, Fibrosis, Silymarin, Hepato-protectio

Alignment of multiple glial cell populations in 3D nanofiber scaffolds: toward the development of multicellular implantable scaffolds for repair of neural injury

Non-neuronal cells of the central nervous system (CNS), termed "neuroglia," play critical roles in neural regeneration; therefore, replacement of glial populations via implantable nanofabricated devices (providing a growth-permissive niche) is a promising strategy to enhance repair. Most constructs developed to date have lacked three-dimensionality, multiple glial populations and control over spatial orientations, limiting their ability to mimic in vivo neurocytoarchitecture. We describe a facile technique to incorporate multiple glial cell populations [astrocytes, oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) and oligodendrocytes] within a three-dimensional (3D) nanofabricated construct. Highly aligned nanofibers could induce elongation of astrocytes, while OPC survival, elongation and maturation required pre-aligned astrocytes. The potential to scale-up the numbers of constituent nanofiber layers is demonstrated with astrocytes. Such complex implantable constructs with multiple glial sub-populations in defined 3D orientations could represent an effective approach to reconstruct glial circuitry in neural injury sites