Group analysis of a class of nonlinear Kolmogorov equations

A class of (1+2)-dimensional diffusion-convection equations (nonlinear Kolmogorov equations) with time-dependent coefficients is studied with Lie symmetry point of view. The complete group classification is achieved using a gauging of arbitrary elements (i.e. via reducing the number of variable coefficients) with the application of equivalence transformations. Two possible gaugings are discussed in detail in order to show how equivalence groups serve in making the optimal choice.Comment: 12 pages, 4 table

Tannin Acyl Hydrolase Production by Citrobacter sp. isolated from Tannin rich Environment, using Tamarindus indica seed powder

Bacterial isolate, Citrobacter sp., from tannery effluent loaded sites has proved as a potent producer of tannase. Production of tannase was compared in solid-state and submerged fermentation using tamarindseed as sole carbon source. Two times increase in tannase activity was seen in solid-state fermentation (90 U) than submerged fermentation (50 U) at 48 h from 5 g substrate

SODIUM FLUORIDE-INDUCED OXIDATIVE STRESS AND HISTOLOGICAL CHANGES IN LIVER OF SWISS ALBINO MICE AND AMELIORATION BY OCIMUM SANCTUM LINN.

Objective: The present study was designed to evaluate hepatotoxicity induced by sodium fluoride (NaF) in Swiss albino mice and amelioration by Ocimum sanctum Linn.Methods: Mice were divided into six groups, Group I received tap water, Group II received low dose of NaF (8 mg/L), Group III high dose of NaF (80 mg/L) in drinking water, Group IV tap water along with 250 mg/kg body weight/day leaf extract of O. sanctum Linn., Group V 8 mg/L NaF in drinking water and 250 mg/kg body weight leaf extract of O. sanctum Linn., and Group VI 80 mg/L NaF in drinking water along with leaf extract of O. sanctum Linn. 250 mg/kg body weight/day for 90 days. On the 91st day, the animals were autopsied and liver tissue samples were taken to assess histopathological changes and oxidative stress by estimating glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase.Results: A highly significant decrease in the activity of antioxidant enzymes occurred with the high dose (Group III). Hepatic histopathological architecture exhibited deformities, namely, ballooning, hypertrophy, hepatocellular necrosis, infiltration of mononuclear cells, deformed central vein, sinusoidal dilation, and binucleated cells. Low-dose group (Group II) showed a significant decrease in antioxidant enzyme levels as compared to control group, and histological sections of liver showed dilated sinusoids, infiltration of mononuclear cells, ballooning, and hypertrophy of hepatocytes. Groups IV and V showed no pathological features. Group VI showed less damage to the liver as compared to Group III.Conclusion: The results revealed that the administration of leaf extract of O. sanctum Linn. elicited protection against NaF-induced hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress. It may, therefore, be inferred that fluoride caused hepatotoxicity in Swiss albino mice at the tested dose levels can be ameliorated by O. sanctum Linn

DeepEthnic: Multi-Label Ethnic Classification from Face Images

Ethnic group classification is a well-researched problem, which has been pursued mainly during the past two decades via traditional approaches of image processing and machine learning. In this paper, we propose a method of classifying an image face into an ethnic group by applying transfer learning from a previously trained classification network for large-scale data recognition. Our proposed method yields state-of-the-art success rates of 99.02%, 99.76%, 99.2%, and 96.7%, respectively, for the four ethnic groups: African, Asian, Caucasian, and Indian

Proteome analysis reveals extensive light stress-response reprogramming in the seagrass Zostera muelleri (alismatales, zosteraceae) metabolism

© 2017, Kumar, Padula, Davey, Pernice, Jiang, Sablok, Contreras-Porcia and Ralph. Seagrasses are marine ecosystem engineers that are currently declining in abundance at an alarming rate due to both natural and anthropogenic disturbances in ecological niches. Despite reports on the morphological and physiological adaptations of seagrasses to extreme environments, little is known of the molecular mechanisms underlying photo-acclimation, and/or tolerance in these marine plants. This study applies the two-dimensional isoelectric focusing (2D-IEF) proteomics approach to identify photo-acclimation/tolerance proteins in the marine seagrass Zostera muelleri. For this, Z. muelleri was exposed for 10 days in laboratory mesocosms to saturating (control, 200 µmol photons m−2 s−1), super-saturating (SSL, 600 µmol photons m−2 s−1), and limited light (LL, 20 µmol photons m−2 s−1) irradiance conditions. Using LC-MS/MS analysis, 93 and 40 protein spots were differentially regulated under SSL and LL conditions, respectively, when compared to the control. In contrast to the LL condition, Z. muelleri robustly tolerated super-saturation light than control conditions, evidenced by their higher relative maximum electron transport rate and minimum saturating irradiance values. Proteomic analyses revealed up-regulation and/or appearances of proteins belonging to the Calvin-Benson and Krebs cycle, glycolysis, the glycine cleavage system of photorespiration, and the antioxidant system. These proteins, together with those from the inter-connected glutamate-proline-GABA pathway, shaped Z. muelleri photosynthesis andgrowth under SSL conditions. In contrast, the LL condition negatively impacted the metabolic activities of Z. muelleri by down-regulating key metabolic enzymes for photosynthesis and the metabolism of carbohydrates and amino acids, which is consistent with the observation with lower photosynthetic performance under LL condition. This study provides novel insights into the underlying molecular photo-acclimation mechanisms in Z. muelleri, in addition to identifying protein-based biomarkers that could be used as early indicators to detect acute/chronic light stress in seagrasses to monitor seagrass health

In situ kinetic measurements of α-synuclein aggregation reveal large population of short-lived oligomers.

Knowledge of the mechanisms of assembly of amyloid proteins into aggregates is of central importance in building an understanding of neurodegenerative disease. Given that oligomeric intermediates formed during the aggregation reaction are believed to be the major toxic species, methods to track such intermediates are clearly needed. Here we present a method, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), by which the amount of intermediates can be measured over the course of the aggregation, directly in the reacting solution, without the need for separation. We use this approach to investigate the aggregation of α-synuclein (αS), a synaptic protein implicated in Parkinson's disease and find a large population of oligomeric species. Our results show that these are primary oligomers, formed directly from monomeric species, rather than oligomers formed by secondary nucleation processes, and that they are short-lived, the majority of them dissociates rather than converts to fibrils. As demonstrated here, EPR offers the means to detect such short-lived intermediate species directly in situ. As it relies only on the change in size of the detected species, it will be applicable to a wide range of self-assembling systems, making accessible the kinetics of intermediates and thus allowing the determination of their rates of formation and conversion, key processes in the self-assembly reaction

Urinary antibiotic activity in paediatric patients attending an outpatient department in north-western Cambodia.

OBJECTIVE: Antibiotic resistance is a prominent public and global health concern. We investigated antibiotic use in children by determining the proportion of unselected children with antibacterial activity in their urine attending a paediatric outpatient department in Siem Reap, Cambodia. METHODS: Caregiver reports of medication history and presence of possible infection symptoms were collected in addition to urine samples. Urine antibiotic activity was estimated by exposing bacteria to urine specimens, including assessment against multiresistant bacteria previously isolated from patients in the hospital (a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a multiresistant Salmonella typhi and an extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli isolate). RESULTS: Medication information and urine were collected from 775 children. Caregivers reported medication use in 69.0% of children in the preceding 48 h. 31.7% samples showed antibacterial activity; 16.3% showed activity against a local multiresistant organism. No specimens demonstrated activity against an ESBL-producing E. coli. CONCLUSIONS: Antibiotics are widely used in the community setting in Cambodia. Parents are often ill-informed about drugs given to treat their children. Increasing the regulation and training of private pharmacies in Cambodia may be necessary. Regional surveillance of antibiotic use and resistance is also essential in devising preventive strategies against further development of antibiotic resistance, which would have both local and global consequences