PRELIMINARY SCREENING OF PHYTOCHEMICALS AND ANTIPROLIFERATIVE AND ANTI-INFLAMMATORY PROPERTIES OF THESPESIA POPULNEA (L.) SOLAND LEAF EXTRACTS

Objective: Plant-derived bioactive molecules are providing infinite opportunities for new drug development as they possess a wide range of actions against diseases with lesser side effects. The present study is made to analyze the qualitative phytochemicals and to evaluate in vitro antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory potentials of leaf extracts of Thespesia populnea. Methods: T. populnea leaf extracts were prepared sequentially according to the increasing polarity of the solvents, i.e., petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and methanol. Qualitative phytochemical analysis was performed to identify the chemical constituents of the extracts, and antiproliferative properties were evaluated against different cell lines using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. Bovine serum albumin anti-denaturation assay was done to identify the anti-inflammatory activity.Results: Phytochemical analysis of the extracts revealed the presence of alkaloids, terpenoids, glycosides, tannins, flavonoids, and phenolics. The chloroform extract (CHFE) of T. populnea has a dose-dependent antiproliferative effect against acute T-cell leukemia (Jurkat E6-1), prostate Grade IV adenocarcinoma (PC-3), mouse fibroblast (L-929), and monkey kidney normal (Vero) cells. Their inhibitory concentration 50% (IC50) values were found to be 35.73±0.94 μg/ml for Jurkat E6-1, 60.79±1.84 μg/ml for PC-3, 60.88±1.45 μg/ml for L-929, and 83.482±2.05 μg/ml for Vero, respectively. CHFE also displayed the anti-inflammatory potential.Conclusion: The chloroform leaf extract of T. populnea possesses potent antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory activity. These properties present in leaf extract may be explained by the presence of biologically active constituents

Genetic Diversity Assessment of Rarely Cultivated Traditional Indica Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Varieties

Random amplified polymorphic DNA fingerprinting was performed to assess the genetic diversity among rarely cultivated traditional indica rice (Oryza sativa L.) varieties collected from a tribal hamlet of Kerala State, India. A total of 664 DNA bands amplified by 15 primers exhibited 72.9% polymorphism (an average of 32.3 polymorphic bands per primer). The varieties Jeerakasala and Kalladiyaran exhibited the highest percent (50.19%) polymorphism, while Thondi and Adukkan showed the lowest (9.85%). Adukkan (78 bands) and Jeerakasala (56 bands) yielded the highest and the lowest number of amplicons, respectively. Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic mean analysis using the Dice similarity coefficient showed the highest value of similarity coefficient between the varieties Adukkan and Thondi, both shared higher level of similarity (0.81), followed by Kanali and Thondi (0.88). Of the three subclusters, the varieties of Adukkan, Thondi, Kanali, Mannuveliyan, Thonnuranthondi, and Chennellu grouped together with a similarity of 0.77. The second group represented by Navara, Gandhakasala, and Jeerakasala with a similarity coefficient of 0.76 formed a cohesive group. The variety Kalladiyaran formed an isolated position that joined the second cluster. The Principal Coordinate Analysis also showed separation of Kalladiyaran from the other varieties

Induction of TLR-2 and TLR-5 Expression by Helicobacter pylori Switches cagPAI-Dependent Signalling Leading to the Secretion of IL-8 and TNF-α

Helicobacter pylori is the causative agent for developing gastritis, gastric ulcer, and even gastric cancer. Virulent strains carry the cag pathogenicity island (cagPAI) encoding a type-IV secretion system (T4SS) for injecting the CagA protein. However, mechanisms of sensing this pathogen through Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and downstream signalling pathways in the development of different pathologies are widely unclear. Here, we explored the involvement of TLR-2 and TLR-5 in THP-1 cells and HEK293 cell lines (stably transfected with TLR-2 or TLR-5) during infection with wild-type H. pylori and isogenic cagPAI mutants. H. pylori triggered enhanced TLR-2 and TLR-5 expression in THP-1, HEK293-TLR2 and HEK293-TLR5 cells, but not in the HEK293 control. In addition, IL-8 and TNF-α cytokine secretion in THP-1 cells was induced in a cagPAI-dependent manner. Furthermore, we show that HEK293 cells are not competent for the uptake of T4SS-delivered CagA, and are therefore ideally suited for studying TLR signalling in the absence of T4SS functions. HEK293 control cells, which do not induce TLR-2 and TLR-5 expression during infection, only secreted cytokines in small amounts, in agreement with T4SS functions being absent. In contrast, HEK293-TLR2 and HEK293-TLR5 cells were highly competent for inducing the secretion of IL-8 and TNF-α cytokines in a cagPAI-independent manner, suggesting that the expression of TLR-2 or TLR-5 has profoundly changed the capability to trigger pro-inflammatory signalling upon infection. Using phospho-specific antibodies and luciferase reporter assays, we further demonstrate that H. pylori induces IRAK-1 and IκB phosphorylation in a TLR-dependent manner, and this was required for activation of transcription factor NF-κB. Finally, NF-κB activation in HEK293-TLR2 and HEK293-TLR5 cells was confirmed by expressing p65-GFP which was translocated from the cytoplasm into the nucleus. These data indicate that H. pylori-induced expression of TLR-2 and TLR-5 can qualitatively shift cagPAI-dependent to cagPAI-independent pro-inflammatory signalling pathways with possible impact on the outcome of H. pylori-associated diseases

Design and layout of power conversion chain for a wave energy converter

Wave energy has the potential to provide an energy resource in this challenging energyenvironment. Wave energy converters are devices used to extract this energy and convertit into electricity. Wave Carpet is an example of such a novel wave energy converters andin its final form, it consists of a submerged membrane which covers an arbitrarily largearea above the sea floor. Incident waves create a pressure difference between the upper andlower surfaces, which triggers an up-and-down movement. The power take-off attached tothe surfaces serve to restrict this movement and thereby extract hydraulic power which isconverted to electricity.The Wave Carpet, is a type of wave energy converter that is beingdeveloped at University of California Berkeley′s Theoretical and Applied Fluid DynamicsLaboratory (TAFLab).The thesis aims at modeling and designing the different power conversion chainof the entire wave energy converter device. The process of energy conversion that yieldsthe required electrical energy for connecting a wave energy converter to an electricalnetwork is termed as the power conversion chain. A detailed electro-mechanical modelof the wave energy converter system connected to power grid is developed in theMatlab/SIMULINK environment and its corresponding generator and hydraulic controlstructure is implemented. The simulation response of the wave energy converter alongwith the power conversion chain is investigated.Vågenergi har potential att bli en energiresurs i en utmanande energimiljö. Vågkraftverkär maskiner som används till att utvinna denna energi och omvandla den till elektricitet.Wave Carpet är ett exempel på ett vågkraftverk som i sitt slutglitiga stadie bestårav ett nedsänkt membran som täcker ett godtyckligt stort område ovanför sjöbotten.Inkommande vågor skapar en tryckskillnad mellan den övre och nedre ytan som gerupphov till en lodrätt rörelse. De mekaniska armarna kopplade till membranet bromsardenna rörelse och kan genom hydraulik omvandla bromsenergin till elektricitet. The WaveCarpet är en typ av vågkraftverk som utvecklas vid University of California Berkeley′sTheoretical and Applied Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (TAFLab).Uppsatsen syftar till att modellera och designa effektomvandlingskedjan i ett sådantvågkraftverk. Energiomvandlings processen som ger upphov till elektriciteten via ettvågkraftverk är benämnt som effektomvandlingskedjan. En detaljerad elektro-mekaniskmodell över ett vågkraftverksystem kopplat till ett elnät med motsvarande generator ochhydraliska regulatorer är utvecklad i Matlab/Simulink miljön. Simuleringsresultaten fråndet modellerade vågkraftverket undersöks tillsammans med effektomvandlingskedjan

Rapid <i>in vitro </i>propagation of the threatened endemic orchid, <i>Ipsea malabarica </i>(Reichb.f.) J D Hook through protocorm-like bodies

829-834Rapid propagation of I. malabarica (Reichb. f.) J D Hook, an endemic and endangered orchid of the Western Ghats of Kerala. India through conversion of axillary buds to protocorm-like bodies (PLBs), and subsequent plant regeneration was achieved. Growth regulators and sugar displayed significant influence in the induction of PLBs. In vitro derived shoots from field grown rhizomes of Ipsea cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with 13.3μM N6-benzyladenine (BA) containing 2% commercial grade sugar turned the axillary buds to PLBs within 25 days, and developed a mean of 33.1 PLBs within 50 days. Kinetin (KIN) did not induce PLBs, but facilitated axillary bud proliferation. Transfer of PLBs on medium having same concentration of BA and sugar facilitated rapid multiplication, and developed a mean of 47.5 PLBs. No decline of PLB proliferation was observed up to 10th subculture. Half strength MS medium with 6.97μM KIN facilitated conversion of 98% PLBs to plantlets. On this media, a mean of 5.8 roots were also developed per shoot. Shoots developed bulbs during culture were grown to rhizomes. Increase of sugar to 6 or 8% hastened the development of bulbs/rhizomes. Reintroduction of PLB-derived plantlets in the natural habitat i.e. at Vellarimala (at 1300 m height) of the Western Ghats of Kerala was attempted as a means to assist in situ conservation. This is the first report of conversion of axillary buds to PLBs. The protocol enables to surmount the threat of extinction of this endemic and endangered orchid

Adaptive Decentralized Payback Normalization for Socio-Economic Rebalancing of RE subsidies - A Case Study

Clean energy subsidies are designed to stimulate consumer participation and deliver greater benefits to society. India has a fixed centralised federal subsidy model for residential rooftop solar (RTS). Different states have different tariff schemes for electricity consumption and RTS feed-in. Thus, grid parity, payback period (PBP), and willingness to pay (WTP) differ for consumers of different states and income classes, resulting in social and geographical disparity in RTS implementation. A Socio-Economic Rebalancing of RE subsidies thus becomes necessary. This paper proposes a novel adaptive decentralised heterogeneous PBP equalisation-based subsidy policy to enhance the WTP for all prosumers and ensure uniformity of RTS implementation. A two-stage subsidy optimisation is conducted using a case study in diverse states to achieve Grid Parity initially and subsequently desired PBP for all states and income classes. The proposed subsidy ensures grid parity for all, sufficient to transit all the prosumers to 100% net electricity from RTS. The subsidy is further normalised by equalising the PBP to a target PBP thereby ensuring uniformity of RTS implementation in the country bridging the rural-urban WTP disparity, leading to a better social scenario. The strategy is adaptive to the future, as the subsidy can be revised with changes in techno-economic parameters

Tetracycline and Glutathione Inhibit Matrix Metalloproteinase Activity: An In Vitro Study Using Culture Supernatants of L929 and Dalton Lymphoma Cell Lines

Tetracycline and glutathione inhibited the protease activities of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 expressed by mouse fibrosarcoma cells (L929) and Dalton lymphoma cells, respectively. The inhibitory activity of the tetracycline may be due to its ability to chelate metal ions such as calcium and zinc. Gelatin-zymography technique was used to demonstrate the inhibitory activity of both tetracycline and glutathione. The intensity of the bands corresponding to metalloproteinase activity in zymography gel was reduced in the presence of 50–100 μg/mL of tetracycline. The presence of 10–100 μg/mL of tetracycline in the medium increased the adherence of L929 cancer cells. These results clearly indicate the antimetastatic property of tetracycline. Reduced glutathione, a compound which is produced endogenously by the cells to maintain the redox status, was shown to inhibit the matrix metalloproteinase activity (in vitro). Therefore, it is assumed that decreased glutathione levels in synovial fluids or plasma might increase the activity of MMP. Reduced glutathione at 100 μg/mL inhibited the metalloproteinase activity in gelatin-zymographic gel. As both tetracycline and glutathione exhibited an inhibitory effect on matrix metalloproteinase activity, it was of great interest to check their clinical effects on various MMP associated pathological conditions such as cancer metastasis and arthritis. Here we report that tetracycline and reduced glutathione inhibited the activity of MMP2 completely and activity of MMP9 partly

Investigating the possibility of a solar PV and battery storage based DC power system at a Brisbane airport corporation Pty Ltd facility

To avoid conversion loss and exploit DC producing renewable resources, interest to develop DC power supply network for DC end-use applications is increasing. This is particularly applicable for data centres and computing/ networking systems. Motivated from DC system success stories at different places around the globe, Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC) intends to investigate the possibility of a PV and battery powered DC power system for one of its maintenance buildings. Understanding load and solar PV generation pattern, availability of excess PV energy, required battery size and cost are among the preliminary steps before moving forward. This paper analyses solar production and building demand to determine battery size at current and prospective PV generation scenarios at the BAC facility. Based on the present market, two popular battery technologies (Li-Ion and VRLA) are considered. A simplistic financial analysis is also performed to compare investment with potential savings