RAGE-DEPENDENT SENSITIZATION OF THORACIC SENSORY NEURONS DURING INFLAMMATORY CONDITIONS

Various airway inflammatory diseases progress as a result of chronic inflammation, specifically neurogenic inflammation. One factor known to be involved in this is RAGE. This work has established RAGE as a key mediator in LPS-induced sensitization of afferent thoracic dorsal root ganglia neurons of the upper airway in mice. This was demonstrated from electrophysiological data showing the failure of LPS to potentiate capsaicin-evoked TRPV1 currents and increase action potential generation in RAGE KO relative to wild-type thoracic neurons. Mass spectrometry analysis for protein identification represents a step forward in biochemistry, allowing to obtain a global picture of the proteins expressed in a cell, including isoforms, post-translational modifications and downstream signalling pathways

Tailoring of Energy Band Gap inGraphene-like System by Fluorination

Fluorinated grapheme has a two-dimensional layer structure with a wide band gap. In the present study, Fluoro Graphene (FG) is obtained from Graphene Oxide (GO) through a deoxyfluorination reaction with the aid of Diethylaminosulphurtrifluoride (DAST). The FT-IR exhibited a peak at 1216 cm-1 and the shoulder at 1312 cm-1 were ascribed to the stretching vibration of covalent C–F bonds and C–F2 bonds, respectively. Surface morphology revealed a leafy structure in GO and a rocky structure in FG. The EDS analysis confirmed the fluorination of the graphitic structure. The TEM analysis confirmed the formation of a mixed structure of graphene and carbon dots. The results of structural, morphological and electrical properties of both graphene oxide and fluorographene show the possibility of using these samples as electronic/electrochemical devices in future

Effect of temperature on the development, growth, survival and settlement of green mussel Perna viridis (Linnaeus, 1758)

The e¡ect of temperature on the development, growth, survival and settlement of Perna viridis was studied under controlled conditions to provide information needed for the development of commercial hatchery technology for green mussel P. viridis. Total mortality of the larvae occurred after 24 h at temperatures of 33 1C and 35 1C. At 24 1C, larvae took longer to settle than at temperatures of 27 1C, 29 1C and 31 1C. For optimum larval development (8^13 h), growth (17.270.84 mmday^1) and survival (55.27 0.84%), a hatchery rearing temperature of 31 1C is required. For settlement no signi¢cant di¡erence was seen between the percentage settlement at 29 1C (49.373.34%) and 31 1C (45.871.76%). However, the process of settlement began and ended earlier at 29 1C (from15 to18 days) thanat 31 1C (from18 to 20 days). Thus for larval settlement a temperature of 29 1C is recommended

Obstetric outcome in sonologically short cervix: a prospective observational study

Background: Preterm delivery is associated with significant perinatal morbidity and mortality. The prediction or early detection of preterm labour is often difficult because signs and symptoms often vary only a little from the normal physiological symptoms and signs of pregnancy. Prediction of preterm birth should ideally be by a screening test with high sensitivity and high negative predictive value. The screening tools available today have not enabled obstetricians to decrease the incidence of preterm birth. However, they may allow time for in-utero transfer to a tertiary care centre as well as administration of glucocorticoids to enhance fetal lung maturity. Till 24 weeks period of gestation, a cervical length measurement of <25 mm increases the risk of preterm labour by 4.5 times. Only limited data are available about the significance of cervical length measurement beyond 24 weeks period of gestation.Methods: Antenatal patients were screened with trans-vaginal sonography (TVS) between 24 and 28 weeks period of gestation and cervical length recorded. Those who had undergone cervical encirclage prior to 24 weeks, those who were having vaginal bleeding or leaking of amniotic fluid, multifetal gestation and those who were unwilling for trans-vaginal sonography were excluded. A total of 611 antenatal patients were enrolled in the study, out of which 86 were lost to follow up. Relationship of cervical length with spontaneous preterm delivery at <34 weeks (primary outcome) and <37 weeks (secondary outcome) was statistically analyzed.Results: There was a significant association between cervical length <26 mm and risk of preterm delivery at <34 weeks. However, no such association could be found for PTD <37 weeks.Conclusions: The study confirmed that there is an increased risk of preterm delivery in women with sonologically short cervix. The study has brought out the significance of cervical length measurement after 24 weeks and its association with preterm labour at <34 weeks. Cervical length measurement by trans-vaginal sonography is a cost effective and simple method for prediction of preterm delivery at <34 weeks period of gestation

Effect of Stocking Density on the Growth, Survival, and Settlement of Sandfish Sea Cucumber (Holothuria scabra)

The US Affiliated Pacific Islands of Micronesia have several commercially important species of sea cucumbers in their water including the sandfish sea cucumbers, Holothuria scabra. Due to their commercial importance, they have been widely exploited and are in the danger of being extinct. The College of Micronesia Land Grant Program has undertaken the development of hatchery-based sandfish sea cucumber farming technology for local community based economic development, future commercialization, and restocking the depleted stocks in the wild. In this regard, an experiment was conducted to find out the effect of different stocking densities on the growth, survival, and settlement of sandfish sea cucumber larvae. Larvae were stocked at 1000, 500, 250, and 125 larvae in triplicates in 15 liter buckets. The experiment was run for 20 days at the end of which growth, survival, and settlement were tabulated for each treatment. After spawning, the larvae were obtained from the spawning of 45 broodstocks which were retrieved from the wild. The larval rearing was maintained in 15 liter buckets with four replication (15,000, 7,500, 3,750 and 1,875) larvae in three buckets for each treatment. The buckets subsequently changed water after two days and were fed with proportion of algae based on the stocking density. The settlement rate was counted after 5 days when introduced algamag plates. The results significantly show that the main factor affecting survival and growth is the stocking density and water environment. Therefore, the experiment should be continued to give evident results for which stocking density is more appropriate

Review: Factors affecting composite laminates against lightning strikes

Lightning strike protection (LSP) have recently been a newly developing field particularly with the emergence of graphene thin film integration into carbon fiber composite structures. This technology has a widespread application in airplanes, wind turbines, and other instruments which are susceptible to frequent lightning strikes. Electrical discharge of the instrument in a safe manner is vital for the safety of the passengers (in the case of flights) as well as the integrity of the aircraft structures because of their specific mechanical and structural properties, which are essential for their functioning. The purpose of the study is to fabricate graphene thin film coated carbon fiber composite structures for assessment with simulated lightning strikes. This study will look at different methods for incorporating GTF (graphene thin film) into Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic and assess the electrical conductivity through methods such as compressive molding, Resin Transfer molding fabrication to achieve highly conductive functionalized nanosized GTFs, integrated with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs). The method developed must reduce the resistivity of the CFRP and provide a safe discharge outlet for the lightning strikes. In the current study we will develop GTF using GNP impregnated polymers. Electrospinning process will be one of the processes implemented to develop the GTF. The purpose would be develop viable methods for the fabrication of graphene thin film material, and simulated testing of lightning strikes

Studies on induced maturation, spawning and larval settlement in green mussel Perna viridis (Linnaeus, 1758)

In the green mussel Perna viridis (Linnaeus, 1758), studies were undertaken on the induced maturation, spawning, larval rearing and settlement. Perna viridis broodstock could be conditioned or induced to mature out of the spawning season by maintaining them at 23 ± 1 • C, at > 30 ppt salinity, pH 7.5 - 8.2 and fed with Chaetoceros calcitrans at a cell concentration of lx 10 5 ml-1 fortified with 700 I.U. cod liver oil @ 1 I animal-1day-1 in two installments for 15 and 32 days respectively. All increase of 5 • C form the ambient water temperature at a salinity> 25 ppt and pH 7 - 8.2 with an addition of male or female gametes was able to induce 100 % spawning in 1 -2 hours in P. viridis. No sex wise pattem was observed. None of the commonly used chemicals like Hydrogen peroxide or Serotonin was able to elicit a full spawning response. Studies on the effect of Physico - chemical parameters for larval rearing of P. viridis showed that a temperature of 29 • C - 31 • C at high salinity > 30 ppt with 50 ppm Chloramphenicol antibiotic at pH 8.2, with moderate aeration and fed with lsochrysis galbana, as the best for optimum growth, percentage survival and settlement of spat. Settlement preference indicated clearly that primary settling larvae required filamentous substrates and among these byssus threads was the best substrate even though presence of adult mussels significantly attracted more mussels.than byssal threads. High temperature 31• C, moderate aeration, salinity of 25 - 38 ppt, pH 7 - 8 was optimum for larval settlement. Among the various chemicals tried L-DOPA gave the best results with 100 % settlement observed in 5 hours at 2.5 x 10 -7 M. Remote setting was also successfully done with larvae transported in ambient moist condition. A 24 hour transportation period did not significantly affect the percentage of P. viridis larval survival or settlemen

How has post colonialism affected our perception in the novels “No Longer at Ease” by Chinua Achebe and “Samskara” by U.R Ananthamurthy?

A study in post-colonialism is a highly enticing endeavor. In the modern society, postcolonial literature is largely underappreciated in contrast to the more opulent reception of the Victorian or Elizabethan era of literature. The truth is, even today, modern perceptions of many colonial nations are largely constructed by their colonial masters. There is certainly a bias due to the influence of Western Hegemony and its monopoly on global media. The Western world still possesses a tendency to discredit anything which does not conform to its democratic liberalist ideals without glancing at other local factors. In the modern world, while the last remnants of these wild stereotypes still exist, there have been successive waves of postcolonial writers who seek to rectify the stereotypes created by the Western World through its media. In the world of post-colonialism, African, Indian, and Caribbean authors have been the frontrunners in showcasing the adverse effects of the colonization with several threads running similar in authors such as Chinua Achebe, Raja Rao, and V. S Naipaul. Alongside these came a series of literary essays which critiques the colonial era books for its one sided Eurocentric bias. These essays have contested colonial themes like institutionalization, valorization of the English literary study and marginality. Particular secondary source authors I have referred to understand the gravity of post colonialism include Homi K Bhabha, V. S Naipaul, Edward Said, and Bill Ashcroft. For my preliminary research, I’ve chosen two divergent novels. The first novel “No Longer at Ease is an emphatic widely appreciated work of Chinua Achebe in the field of post-colonial study. The second novel “Samskara: A Rite for a Dead Man” is a translated work of a cerebrated author- U. R Ananthamurthy. The portrayal of social degeneracy is thoroughly expounded upon in this translated Kannada novel. Its intents its ire at Brahmins- “the bourgeoisie of colonial India”, a supposedly elite aristocratic austere community, exercising its hypocrisy by being extremely indulgent towards materialistic objects at a particularly inopportune time- the death of a man, and his final rites

Allocative Efficiency of Grid Farming in Urban Green Built Environments

As of a 2019 study conducted by the National Urban Gardening Program (National Urban Gardening Program), urban farming accounts for approximately 19% of the total national farming output and is expected to triple to almost 45% by 2025. There is intensive research being conducted on aspects of reduced recidivism, communal health benefits, natural carbon capture systems, improved urban ecology and the necessity for reducing the carbon footprint of food, (informally dubbed “food miles”) there is little substantive research on optimization, and maximation of crop productivity in hyper-urban areas. The article attempts to study allocative efficiency in hyper urban built environments