Magmatic origin and petrogenesis characterization of syenite rock from Pakkanadu alkaline complex, Southern Granulite Terrain, India: Implication on emplacement and petrogenetic history

The present study mainly focused on understanding the magmatic origin and petrogenesis characterization based on the Petrography, major, trace and Rare Earth Element (REE) signatures in the alkaline syenite from Pakkanadu alkaline carbonatite complex. The alkaline plutons from South Indian granulite terrain are intruded along with Archaean epidote-hornblende gneisses. The study area was carbonatite complexes of Tamil Nadu and is characterized by a group of rock associations Carbonatite-Syenite-Pyroxenite - Dunite. From Harker various patterns Pakkanadu alkaline complex syenite showed increasing trends of SiO2, Al2O3, Na2O + K2O opposite to decreasing order of CaO, Fe2O3, MgO, TiO2, P2O5 and MnO trend, suggest fractionation of clinopyroxene, hornblende, sphene, apatite and oxide minerals and feldspar that ruled the fractionation. The concentration of trace elements enriched in Large Ion lithophile elements  (LILE) (Ba, Sr, and Rb) elements and High Field Strength Elements (HFSEs) indicated that the dyke intrusion by differentiation of magma from a mantle source. Rare earth element (REE) distribution of Light rare earth element (LREE) enriched and High rare earth element (HREE) depleted pattern show strongly fractionated pattern with moderate Eu anomalies. Plots of tectonic discrimination diagrams of Pakkanadu samples fall in the field of syn-COLG field to the VAG syn- COLG field.     For the first time, this type of study was carried out in the study region in a detailed manner. The present study significantly exposed the petrography, petrogenesis and magmatic origin process in the Pakkanadu alkaline carbonatite complex.

Molecular Docking study of Catechins compounds from Camellia sinensis against UPPS in Staphylococcus aureus

Antibiotics resistant Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is an emerging concern in the medical field. Due to their increasing resistance to numerous antibiotics, there is indeed essential to explore both potential targets and effective antibiotics. Therefore, we considered undecaprenyl diphosphate synthase (UPPS) as a potential target as it is an essential enzyme in cell wall biosynthesis of S. aureus. Earlier reports on these four major compounds from Camellia sinensis plant extract such as catechins (C), epicatechin (EC), epicatechin gallate (ECg) and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg) suggested that it could be an effective antibacterial agent. Thus, we attempt to validate the antibacterial activity of these compounds against UPPS via molecular docking analysis. Interestingly, we found that epicatechin gallate (ECg) has the highest binding energy with UPPS protein by forming nine hydrogen bonds with the amino acid residues at the binding site of the receptor. Hence, our results infer that ECg from Camellia sinensis poses significant anti-bacterial activities. Thus, the aim of this study was to provide an effective antibacterial molecule and potent target which might be helpful in further modification to increase their sensitivity

GREEN BIOSYNTHESIS OF MAGNETIC IRON OXIDE NANOPARTICLES OF VITEX NEGUNDO AQUEOUS EXTRACT

Objective: The green synthesis of magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles is a convenient, economical, rapid and eco-friendly method compared to physical and chemical synthesis methods.Methods: In the present study iron oxide nanoparticles synthesized by Vitex negundo leaves extract.Results: The formation of iron oxide nanoparticles was confirmed by the colour change and further characterized by UV-Visible Spectroscopy and XRD. The morphology and the size of nanoparticles were analyzed by SEM and HR-TEM analysis.Conclusion: On the basis of this research work, green synthesized iron oxide nanoparticles can be a good source for alternative therapy for human diseases

CARICA PAPAYA MEDIATED GREEN SYNTHESIZED SILVER NANOPARTICLES

Objective: The present study was designed to biosynthesize NPs from leaves to study the reducing Ag+ions and stabilizing the particles and confirm AgNP synthesis by using various spectroscopy and microscopic methods.Methods: Bio-inspired AgNPs were rapidly synthesized at room temperature using fresh aqueous leaf extract of Carica papaya. A green and low-cost synthesis was effective in the formation of stable crystalline NPs in the solution. Amine, alkene and alkyl halides groups present in the Carica papaya leaf extract functioned as reducing as well as a stabilizing agent to produce shape controlled AgNPs.Results: SPR confirmed the formation of AgNPs in UV-Visible spectra at 445.7 nm. The XRD result also showed the presence of elemental Ag+as a crystalline nature. Study the functional groups responsible for the bio reduction of Ag+. HE-TEM and FE-SEM with EDX image showed spherical crystalline AgNPs.Conclusion: Hence, the plant-based bio AgNPs could be used in biomedical applications

Unusual landings of deepwater bandfish along Chennai coast

Large volumes of Acanthocepola Bleeker, 1874 landing by mechanized single day trawlers and motorized fibre glass boats were observed at Chennai Fisheries Harbour and Kovalam Landing Centre in Chennai respectively during the month of August and September, 2019. In single day mechanised trawlers operated in 12km north off Chennai at a depth of 18m total landings between 6th and 13th August,2019 were an estimated 1200 kg. The size range was 270-470mm with dominant mode at 340-360mm. The individual fish weight ranged between 57-112g with a mean weight of 78g

Kinetics and mechanism of the oxidation of some cis-Alpha- Phenylcinnamic acids by Pyridinium Chlorochromate

Oxidation of cis α-phenyl cinnamic acids by pyridinium chlorochromate (PCC) was studied in acetic acid–water mixturecontaining perchloric acid. The reaction rate is first order in [PCC] and fractional order in [H+] and has aldehyde as aproduct. The rate of reaction increases with increase in the percentage of acetic acid medium. The reactions exhibit kineticisotope effect. The activation parameters have been evaluated. The added Mn (II) decreases the rate of reaction. Theadded sodium chlorate has no effect on the reaction rate and indicates the absence of ion-ion (or) ion- dipole interaction inthe slow step. The deviation of Hammett plot is noted and a “V†shaped curve is obtained

Author Correction: Cancer Testis Antigen Promotes Triple Negative Breast Cancer Metastasis and is Traceable in the Circulating Extracellular Vesicles (Scientific Reports, (2019), 9, 1, (11632), 10.1038/s41598-019-48064-w)

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) has poor survival, exhibits rapid metastases, lacks targeted therapies and reliable prognostic markers. Here, we examined metastasis promoting role of cancer testis antigen SPANXB1 in TNBC and its utility as a therapeutic target and prognostic biomarker. Expression pattern of SPANXB1 was determined using matched primary cancer, lymph node metastatic tissues and circulating small extracellular vesicles (sEVs). cDNA microarray analysis of TNBC cells stably integrated with a metastasis suppressor SH3GL2 identified SPANXB1 as a potential target gene. TNBC cells overexpressing SH3GL2 exhibited decreased levels of both SPANXB1 mRNA and protein. Silencing of SPANXB1 reduced migration, invasion and reactive oxygen species production of TNBC cells. SPANXB1 depletion augmented SH3GL2 expression and decreased RAC-1, FAK, A-Actinin and Vinculin expression. Phenotypic and molecular changes were reversed upon SPANXB1 re-expression. SPANXB1 overexpressing breast cancer cells with an enhanced SPANXB1:SH3GL2 ratio achieved pulmonary metastasis within 5 weeks, whereas controls cells failed to do so. Altered expression of SPANXB1 was detected in the sEVs of SPANXB1 transduced cells. Exclusive expression of SPANXB1 was traceable in circulating sEVs, which was associated with TNBC progression. SPANXB1 represents a novel and ideal therapeutic target for blocking TNBC metastases due to its unique expression pattern and may function as an EV based prognostic marker to improve TNBC survival. Uniquely restricted expression of SPANXB1 in TNBCs, makes it an ideal candidate for targeted therapeutics and prognostication

Larviculture and seed production of the silver pompano, Trachinotus blochii (Lacepede, 1801) for the first time in India

Larviculture and seed production protocols for the silver pompano Trachinotus blochii, which is one of the promising finfish species for brackishwater and marine aquaculture was developed based on six trials for the first time in India. The newly hatched larvae were stocked at a density of 20 larvae l-1 in 2 t FRP tanks with 1.5 t of seawater. Green water technique was employed during larviculture upto the weaning period. Enriched S-type rotifers were fed at a density of 10-12 nos. ml-1 until 3 day post hatch (dph) and the enriched L-type rotifers were given at a density of 6-8 nos. ml-1 from 7 dph and thereafter with enriched Artemia at a density of 3-5 nos. ml-1. Weaning started from 15 dph and by 20-25 dph metamorphosis was completed. The survival on completion of metamorphosis ranged from 10-15% and the specific growth rate in terms of length (mm) was 8% per day. The larval morphology and growth pattern are also described

Capture based aquaculture of mud spiny lobster, Panulirus polyphagus (Herbst, 1793) in open sea floating net cages off Veraval, north-west coast of India

Capture based aquaculture (CBA) of the mud spiny lobster, Panulirus polyphagus was conducted in two cylindrical floating net cages of 6 m diameter and 4.5 m depth, made of HDPE sapphire netting of 18 mm mesh size. The cages were installed at a depth of 8 m, about 900 m away from the shore off Prabhas Patan, Veraval, India. Live lobsters were collected from lobster fishing centres of Veraval and Mahua regions of Gujarat and segregated into two groups: animals weighing 80-120 g (Group-1) and animals weighing < 80 g (Group-2). One thousand numbers of sub-adults of Group-1 with initial body weight of 99.75 ± 8.4 g, were stocked in Cage-1 and 1500 juveniles of Group-2 with initial body weight of 46.44 ± 8.8 g were stocked in Cage-2. The lobsters were fed twice daily with trash fish @ 8 % of the body weight by tray feeding. After the culture period of 90 days, no significant difference (p > 0.05) was observed in the survival rate (overall survival = 93.7 %) whereas, juvenile lobsters in Cage-2 showed weight increase of 1.49 g d-1 and specific growth rates of 1.51 % d-1 which was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than the weight increase of 1.17 g d-1 and specific growth rates of 0.80 % d-1 recorded from Cage-1. Results suggest that P. polyphagus has potential for capture based aquaculture in sea cage culture systems along Gujarat coast

Impact of increase in temperature and light intensity on development and metamorphosis of hatchery reared silver pompano Trachinotus blochii (Lacepede, 1801) larvae

The largehead ribbonfish, Trichiurus lepturus Linnaeus, 1758 forms a major fishery along north-west coast of India comprising the two coastal states of Gujarat and Maharashtra. Diet composition was analysed for five years (2010-2014) to understand shifts if any in the prey items. Seasonal changes in the prey items were studied for three years (2012-2014) to explore the temporal dynamics of prey availability in the ecosystem and in largehead ribbonfish guts. Feeding indices viz., Stomach fullness index (SFI), empty stomach ratio (ESR), gastrosomatic index (GaSI) and relative gut length (RLG) explained the feeding behaviour, seasonal dynamics and ontogenetic shifts in prey items. The Vacuity Index (VI) was estimated as 37.56%, indicating that T. lepturus is a carnivore and relatively edacious. Diet of T. lepturus comprised of fishes (47.16%), crustaceans (45.22%), molluscs (4.33%) and miscellaneous items (3.28%). Acetes sp. was the most dominant prey item during the study period. Feeding intensity was found to be high during the post-monsoon months which coincided with the period of gonadal maturation of the fish. Significant variations (p<0.05) were seen in the feeding indices during different months, different sizes and between sexes due to the availability of prey items, physiological changes and ontogenetic shifts. A detailed knowledge on diet composition, temporal dynamics in diet patterns and feeding indices can reveal the trophic interaction of prey-predator, resource abundance and fluctuations which are important inputs in ecology-based fishery management models/tools