Evaluation of Anti-Nociceptive and Analgesic Activities of Nizatidine in Mice

Previous research reports revealed that histamine H2 receptor blockers such as ranitidine and famotidine showed analgesic activity in rodent models. However, the analgesic or anti-nociceptive activity of nizatidine, a most widely used H2 receptor blocker, has not yet been reported. Hence, the present study was aimed to evaluate the probable anti-nociceptive and analgesic activities of nizatidine in valid animal models. The results obtained in this study revealed the anti-nociceptive and analgesic activities of nizatidine. However, further chronic studies are required to validate the analgesic and anti-nociceptive activities of nizatidine. In conclusion, nizatiine produces the anti-nociceptive and analgesic activities in valid animal models similar to that of other H2 receptor blockers

Hydrostatic pressure effect on Tc of new BiS2 based Bi4O4S3 and NdO0.5F0.5BiS2 layered superconductors

We investigate the external hydrostatic pressure effect on the superconducting transition temperature (Tc) of new layered superconductors Bi4O4S3 and NdO0.5F0.5BiS2. Though the Tc is found to have moderate decrease from 4.8 K to 4.3 K (dTconset/dP = -0.28 K/GPa) for Bi4O4S3 superconductor, the same increases from 4.6 K to 5 K (dTconset/dP = 0.44 K/GPa) upto 1.31 GPa followed by a sudden decrease from 5 K to 4.7 K upto 1.75 GPa for NdO0.5F0.5BiS2 superconductor. The variation of Tc in these systems may be correlated to increase or decrease of the charge carriers in the density of states under externally applied pressure.Comment: 3 pages text +Fig

Quantitating the epigenetic transformation contributing to cholesterol homeostasis using Gaussian process.

To understand the impact of epigenetics on human misfolding disease, we apply Gaussian-process regression (GPR) based machine learning (ML) (GPR-ML) through variation spatial profiling (VSP). VSP generates population-based matrices describing the spatial covariance (SCV) relationships that link genetic diversity to fitness of the individual in response to histone deacetylases inhibitors (HDACi). Niemann-Pick C1 (NPC1) is a Mendelian disorder caused by >300 variants in the NPC1 gene that disrupt cholesterol homeostasis leading to the rapid onset and progression of neurodegenerative disease. We determine the sequence-to-function-to-structure relationships of the NPC1 polypeptide fold required for membrane trafficking and generation of a tunnel that mediates cholesterol flux in late endosomal/lysosomal (LE/Ly) compartments. HDACi treatment reveals unanticipated epigenomic plasticity in SCV relationships that restore NPC1 functionality. GPR-ML based matrices capture the epigenetic processes impacting information flow through central dogma, providing a framework for quantifying the effect of the environment on the healthspan of the individual

A Protein based Polymeric Syntan from Leather Waste: Retanning agent for Sustainable Leather Processing

Content: A copolymer has been synthesized from leather waste and monomer and its application has been studied for improved exhaustion in tanning and post-tanning processes. After synthesizing, the product has been analyzed and found to have particle size of 810 nm, pH of 4.0, relative viscosity of 0.8872 cp, polydispersity index (Mw/Mn) of 0.555 and percent solid as 23%. The weakly anionic character of the copolymer is supported by zeta potential of –0.0403 mV. The stability of the particle was also studied using TGA, DSC. Functional groups of the polymer was analyzed by FT-IR which revealed the presence of carboxylic acid, amide I & II, hydroxyl groups and ester groups in the product. The product can be used for increasing exhaustion and leather-properties in chrome tanning and post-tanning processes. It improves belly filling, provides fullness, softness and dye exhaustion in post-tanning process. It also shows better fullness and body in chrome tanning processes. The color properties found to be better and strength properties were comparable in experimental leather as compared to conventionally produced leather. This product can be applicable for manufacturing different types of leather where fullness and tightness are necessary. The present process helps in mitigating pollution problem of liquid and solid wastes of leather industry. A cost benefit analysis shows that the process is feasible for up-scaling. Take-Away: Synthesis of Co-Polymer from Leather Waste Application of Co-polymer as retanning agent Improved Exhaustion & Organoleptic Properties of leathe

SEM Image-based Porosity Analysis of Fire Damaged High Strength Concrete

The porosity of concrete affects the durability of reinforced concrete structures, wherein high levels of porosity are linked to a shorter service life. Recent works have noted that high porosity levels naturally exist in the aftermath of a fire exposure – especially when concrete is classified as high strength concrete (HSC). To shed more light into this phenomenon, this paper showcases a method for measuring the porosity of HSC under elevated temperatures through scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In this method, SEM-based images were examined to quantify the surface porosity of fire-affected HSC. Detailed image analysis was performed for HSC exposed to various heating durations. The study concludes that the surface porosity obtained via the SEM processing method is in good agreement with that from the SEM-based method (with a minor average difference of 3.8%). As such, the proposed method is expected to be reliable for the porosity analysis of fire-damaged concrete

In vitro study of UHMWPE/MWCNT – Preliminary results

In the present work, authors describe the response of osteoblast-like cells MG63 after 6 days of culture in contact with artificially generated particles from both ultra high molecular weight polyethylene polymer (UHMWPE) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes/ ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (MWCNT/UHMWPE) nanocomposites

Fuzzy Fractional-Order PID Controller for Fractional Model of Pneumatic Pressure System

This article presents a fuzzy fractional-order PID (FFOPID) controller scheme for a pneumatic pressure regulating system. The industrial pneumatic pressure systems are having strong dynamic and nonlinearity characteristics; further, these systems come across frequent load variations and external disturbances. Hence, for the smooth and trouble-free operation of the industrial pressure system, an effective control mechanism could be adopted. The objective of this work is to design an intelligent fuzzy-based fractional-order PID control scheme to ensure a robust performance with respect to load variation and external disturbances. A novel model of a pilot pressure regulating system is developed to validate the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme. Simulation studies are carried out in a delayed nonlinear pressure regulating system under different operating conditions using fractional-order PID (FOPID) controller with fuzzy online gain tuning mechanism. The results demonstrate the usefulness of the proposed strategy and confirm the performance improvement for the pneumatic pressure system. To highlight the advantages of the proposed scheme a comparative study with conventional PID and FOPID control schemes is made

Excessive reactive oxygen species induce transcription-dependent replication stress.

Elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) reduce replication fork velocity by causing dissociation of the TIMELESS-TIPIN complex from the replisome. Here, we show that ROS generated by exposure of human cells to the ribonucleotide reductase inhibitor hydroxyurea (HU) promote replication fork reversal in a manner dependent on active transcription and formation of co-transcriptional RNA:DNA hybrids (R-loops). The frequency of R-loop-dependent fork stalling events is also increased after TIMELESS depletion or a partial inhibition of replicative DNA polymerases by aphidicolin, suggesting that this phenomenon is due to a global replication slowdown. In contrast, replication arrest caused by HU-induced depletion of deoxynucleotides does not induce fork reversal but, if allowed to persist, leads to extensive R-loop-independent DNA breakage during S-phase. Our work reveals a link between oxidative stress and transcription-replication interference that causes genomic alterations recurrently found in human cancer. [Abstract copyright: © 2023. The Author(s).

Human Pif1 helicase unwinds synthetic DNA structures resembling stalled DNA replication forks

Pif-1 proteins are 5′→3′ superfamily 1 (SF1) helicases that in yeast have roles in the maintenance of mitochondrial and nuclear genome stability. The functions and activities of the human enzyme (hPif1) are unclear, but here we describe its DNA binding and DNA remodeling activities. We demonstrate that hPif1 specifically recognizes and unwinds DNA structures resembling putative stalled replication forks. Notably, the enzyme requires both arms of the replication fork-like structure to initiate efficient unwinding of the putative leading replication strand of such substrates. This DNA structure-specific mode of initiation of unwinding is intrinsic to the conserved core helicase domain (hPifHD) that also possesses a strand annealing activity as has been demonstrated for the RecQ family of helicases. The result of hPif1 helicase action at stalled DNA replication forks would generate free 3′ ends and ssDNA that could potentially be used to assist replication restart in conjunction with its strand annealing activity