Optical and electrochemical dual channel sensing of Cu2 + using functionalized furo[2,3-d]pyrimidines-2,4[1H,3H]-diones

Owing to their easy accessibility and high degree of structural and functional diversity, many multicomponent reactions (MCRs) have been a rich source of conjugate π-systems, functionalised chromophores (or fluorophore) and redox active molecules. Despite their high explorative potential and practical benefits, only a few MCR products have been so far investigated for their metal sensing abilities. In the present report, two furopyrimidinones (FPys) based molecular systems have been synthesized by [4 + 1] cycloaddition based MCR sequence. Designed chemosensors displayed optic (absorption spectra) as well as electroanalytical (ion selective electrode) response toward Cu2 + ion in solution and membrane phase respectively (dual channel sensing). Different aspects of both the sensing phenomena such as selectivity, association constants, detection limit, membrane composition etc. were studied in detail using UV–Vis spectroscopy, NMR titration and cell assembly. Both the compounds showed excellent performance characteristics such as high selectivity, acceptable affinity and low detection limits (10− 7 M) in both sensing assays with potential utility in the area of sample monitoring

Fenugreek derived diosgenin as an emerging source for diabetic therapy

Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease that endangers the entire body’s tissues and organs. Diabetes impairs glucose and insulin regulation in the human body by causing pancreatic cell damage. Diabetes modifies pathways such as serine/threonine protein kinase (Akt) and Protein kinase C (PKC)/- glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) glucose absorption, and inhibits α-amylase and α-glucosidase, Sodium/glucose cotransporter 1 (SGLT-1), and Na+-K+-ATPase activity. Diabetes may also be caused by a decrease in the expression of sterol regulatory element binding protein 1 (SREBP-1) and its target genes, fatty acid synthase (FAS), stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD-1), and acetyl-CoA carboxylase α (ACC), as well as a decrease in the levels of C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP), Caspase12, and Caspase3 proteins. Diabetes has long been linked to diseases of the cardiovascular, nervous, skeletal, reproductive, hepatic, ocular, and renal systems. Diosgenin, a steroidal compound derived from fenugreek, aids in the prevention of diabetes by altering cellular pathways in favor of healthy bodily functions. Diosgenin is a new nutraceutical on the market that claims to cure diabetes in particular. This article focuses on diosgenin extraction and purification, fenugreek bioactive compounds, pharmacological properties of diosgenin, mode of action of diosgenin to cure diabetes, and dosages

Molecular surveillance of dengue virus in field-collected Aedes mosquitoes from Bhopal, central India: evidence of circulation of a new lineage of serotype 2

IntroductionDengue fever is hyperendemic in several Southeast and South Asian countries, including India, with all four serotypes (DENV 1–4) circulating at different periods and in different locations. Sustainable and improved virological and entomological surveillance is the only tool to prevent dengue and other vector-borne diseases.ObjectivesThe present study has been carried out to detect and characterize the circulating dengue virus (DENV) in field-collected Aedes mosquitoes in Bhopal, Central India.MethodsAedes mosquitoes were collected from 29 localities within Bhopal city during October 2020 to September 2022. DENV infection was assessed in the individual head and thorax regions of Aedes mosquitoes using reverse transcriptase PCR. Positive samples were sequenced, and the circulating serotypes and genotypes were determined using phylogenetic analysis.ResultsDENV RNA was detected in 7 Aedes aegypti and 1 Aedes albopictus, with infection rates of 0.59 and 0.14%, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis revealed all the isolates belonged to DENV serotype 2 and distinctly clustered with the non-Indian lineage (cosmopolitan genotype 4a), which was not recorded from the study area earlier. The time to most common recent ancestor (TMRCA) of these sequences was 7.4 years old, with the highest posterior density (HPD) of 3.5–12.2 years, indicating that this new lineage emerged during the year 2014. This is the first report on the DENV incrimination in both Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus mosquitoes collected from Bhopal, Central India.ConclusionThe observed emergence of the non-Indian lineage of DENV-2 in Bhopal, which again is a first report from the area, coincides with the gradual increase in DENV cases in Bhopal since 2014. This study emphasizes the importance of DENV surveillance and risk assessment in this strategically important part of the country to decipher its outbreak and severe disease-causing potential

Phase Sensitive Diffraction Sensor for High Sensitivity Refractive Index Measurement

In this study a diffraction based sensor has been developed for bio molecular sensing applications and performing assays in real time. A diffraction grating fabricated on a glass substrate produced diffraction patterns both in transmission and reflection when illuminated by a laser diode. We used zeroth order I-(0,I-0) as reference and first order I-(0,I-1) as signal channel and conducted ratiometric measurements that reduced noise by more than 50 times. The ratiometric approach resulted in a very simple instrumentation with very high sensitivity. In the past, we have shown refractive index measurements both for bulk and surface adsorption using the diffractive self-referencing approach In the current work we extend the same concept to higher diffraction orders. We have considered order I-(0,I-1) and I-(1,I-1) and performed ratiometric measurements I-(0,I-1)/I-(1,I-1) to eliminate the common mode fluctuations. Since orders I((0,1) )and I-(1,I-1) behaved opposite to each other, the resulting ratio signal amplitude increased more than twice compared to our previous results. As a proof of concept we used different salt concentrations in DI water. Increased signal amplitude and improved fluid injection system resulted in more than 4 times improvement in detection limit, giving limit of detection 1.3x10(-7) refractive index unit (RIU) compared to our previous results. The improved refractive index sensitivity will help significantly for high sensitivity label free bio sensing application in a very cost-effective and simple experimental set-up

Diffractive Optical Analysis for Refractive Index Sensing using Transparent Phase Gratings

We report the implementation of a micro-patterned, glass-based photonic sensing element that is capable of label-free biosensing. The diffractive optical analyzer is based on the differential response of diffracted orders to bulk as well as surface refractive index changes. The differential read-out suppresses signal drifts and enables time-resolved determination of refractive index changes in the sample cell. A remarkable feature of this device is that under appropriate conditions, the measurement sensitivity of the sensor can be enhanced by more than two orders of magnitude due to interference between multiply reflected diffracted orders. A noise-equivalent limit of detection (LoD) of 6 x 10(-7) was achieved with this technique with scope for further improvement

Differential Diffractive Reflectance Modulation Sensing

We fabricated a reflectance based sensor which relies on the diffraction pattern generated from a bio-microarray where an underlying thin film structure enhances the diffracted intensity from molecular layers. The zero order diffraction represents the background signal and the higher orders represent the phase difference between the array elements and the background. By taking the differential ratio of the first and zero order diffraction signals we get a quantitative measure of molecular binding while simultaneously rejecting common mode fluctuations. We improved the signal-to-noise ratio by an order of magnitude with this ratiometric approach compared to conventional single channel detection. In addition, we use a lithography based approach for fabricating microarrays which results in spot sizes as small as 5 micron diameter unlike the 100 micron spots from inkjet printing and is therefore capable of a high degree of multiplexing. We will describe the real-time measurement of adsorption of charged polymers and bulk refractometry using this technique. The lack of moving parts for point scanning of the microarray and the differential ratiometric measurements using diffracted orders from the same probe beam allows us to make real-time measurements in spite of noise arising from thermal or mechanical fluctuations in the fluid sample above the sensor surface. Further, the lack of moving parts leads to considerable simplification in the readout hardware permitting the use of this technique in compact point of care sensors

Optimally allocation of distributed generators in three-phase unbalanced distribution network

Increasing energy demand can be compensated with integration of distributed energy resources in the three-phase distribution system. Load flow analysis of the unbalanced three-phase distribution system requires a tool and algorithm to manage the multiple sources. In this study, Jaya algorithm is applied and interfaced with open source software openDSS to solve the unbalanced three-phase optimal power flow. Further, co-simulation framework is used to obtain the optimal allocation of two types of multiple distributed generators in unbalanced radial distribution system. The effectiveness of the approach is validated on IEEE 123 node distribution system. For a realistic study, mixes of all type of loads and configuration of the actual distribution system are considered. The results are compared with already published results obtained from established particle swarm optimization.http://www.elsevier.com/locate/procediaam2018Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineerin

Productivity, quality and soil health as influenced by lime in ricebean cultivars in foothills of northeastern India

To evaluate the response to lime on cultivars of ricebean (Vigna umbellata), a field experiment was conducted during the two consecutive rabi seasons of 2010–2011 and 2011–2012 in the Nagaland foothills, India. The experiment used a split-plot design with four levels of lime (control, 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 t ha− 1) in main plots and four ricebean cultivars (RBS-16, RBS-53, PRR-2, and RCRB-4) in sub-plots with three replicates. The results revealed that increasing levels of lime (in the furrow) from 0 to 0.6 t ha− 1 significantly increased growth, yield attributes and yield. The quality parameters of ricebean were also influenced significantly by the application of lime. Maximum gross return (INR 39,098 ha− 1), net return (INR 27,281 ha− 1), benefit:cost (B:C) ratio (2.29), production efficiency, and economic efficiency were also realized with the application of lime at 0.6 t ha− 1. Among the ricebean cultivars, RBS-53 produced significantly higher growth, yield attributes, grain yield, straw yield, biological yield, and harvest index. Similarly, yield and protein content were higher in RBS-53. Maximum gross return, net return, B:C ratio, production efficiency, and economic efficiency were observed for RBS-53