Using Crosslinked Hyaluronic Acid (HA) and Collagen Scaffolds with Sustained Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) Release for Post-SCI Nerve Regeneration

Traumatic events resulting in spinal cord injuries (SCIs) often leave people paralyzed or with partial loss of motor function. The physical disabilities arising from traumatic events prevent people from functioning at the same level as pre-injury. My work aims to identify a plausible method to overcome the inhibitory post-SCI environment and to regenerate nervous tissue in order to restore neural function and, subsequently, motor function. I identified components of a new, hypothetical nerve scaffold based on the immune response after SCIs and the efficacy of currently used scaffolds for nerve regeneration. Hyaluronic acid (HA) polymer scaffolds and collagen-based scaffolds are individually effective in counteracting the post-SCI inhibitory environment and inducing neurofilament growth. In addition, sustained release of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) into the lesion site has shown to supplement, and even augment, the physical and functional recovery achieved through the HA and collagen-based scaffolds. Thus, I propose the testing of a crosslinked HA and collagen scaffold with sustained BDNF release through BDNF-bound collagen binding domain and BDNF embedded PLGA microspheres as a more viable and effective method for spinal nerve regeneration in order to restore neural and motor function.https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/uresposters/1286/thumbnail.jp

DEVELOPMENT AND CHARACTERIZATION OF GERMANIUM DETECTORS FOR SEARCHING RARE-EVENT PHYSICS

High-purity germanium (HPGe) detector has an excellent energy resolution and low-energy detection threshold ideal for searching rare-event physics such as dark matter and neutrinoless double beta decay searches. Understanding the electrical contact properties and the Ge detector properties is key to enhancing the use of Ge detectors for a wide range of applications. Amorphous Ge (a-Ge) is one of the passivation materials used to passivate Ge detectors, which also provides the barrier height to the charge injection. Several a-Ge contact Ge detectors were fabricated and tested at the University of South Dakota (USD) and Max-Planck-Institut (MPI) für Physik in Munich in a different setup. It was also found that a-Ge contacts can survive multiple thermal cycling without any sign of deterioration in the detector performance when directly immersed in cryogenic liquids. The Gaussian distribution model developed by Werner and Guttler is used to characterize the inhomogeneity of the interface made by a-Ge and crystalline Ge. The inhomogeneity leads to the fluctuation in the barrier height with respect to the temperature. Further work is done on characterizing the Ge detector at the temperature range ~ 5 - 80 K. It was found that the free charge carriers in a Ge detector remain constant on average for the temperature range 11 - 80 K, further lowering the temperature below 11 K, impurities in the Ge start to freeze-out and the detector behaves like an ideal capacitor at less than ~ 6.4 K. It was also found that the holes (electrons) in p-type (n-type) Ge are more severely trapped than the electrons (holes) in p-type (n-type) Ge detector at around liquid helium temperature

Knowledge Migration Strategies for Optimization of Multi-Population Cultural Algorithm

Evolutionary Algorithms (EAs) are meta-heuristic algorithms used for optimization of complex problems. Cultural Algorithm (CA) is one of the EA which incorporates knowledge for optimization. CA with multiple population spaces each incorporating culture and genetic evolution to obtain better solutions are known as Multi-Population Cultural Algorithm (MPCA). MPCA allows to introduce a diversity of knowledge in a dynamic and heterogeneous environment. In an MPCA each population represents a solution space. An individual belonging to a given population could migrate from one population to another for the purpose of introducing new knowledge that influences other individuals in the population. In this thesis, we provide different migration strategies which are inspired from game theory model to improve the quality of solutions. Migration among the different population in MPCA can address the problem of knowledge sharing among population spaces. We have introduced five different migration strategies which are related to the field of economics. The principal idea behind incorporating these strategies is to improve the rate of convergence, increase diversity, better exploration of the search space, to avoid premature convergence and to escape from local optima. Strategies are particularly taken from the economics background as it allows the individual and the population to use their knowledge and make a decision whether to cooperate or to defect with other individuals and populations. We have tested the proposed algorithms against CEC 2015 expensive benchmark problems. These problems are a set of 15 functions which includes varied function categories. Results depict that it leads a to better solution when proposed algorithms used for problems with complex nature and higher dimensions. For 10 dimensional problems the proposed strategies have 7 out 15 better results and for 30 dimensional problems we have 12 out of 15 better results when compared to the existing algorithms

Colibacillosis in poultry: A review

Avian colibacillosis is caused by a group of pathogens designated avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC). Despite being known for over a century, avian colibacillosis remains one of the major endemic diseases afflicting the poultry industry worldwide. Autologous bacterins provide limited serotype-specific protection, yet multiple serogroups are associated with disease, especially O1, O2 and O78 among many others. This article provides the vital information on the epidemiology, diagnosis, control and treatment strategy for avian colibacillosis. A better understanding of the information addressed in this review article will assist the poultry researchers and the poultry industry in continuing to make progress in reducing and eliminating avian colibacillosis from the poultry flocks

CONSERVATION OF NON-RENEWABLE RESOURCES IN INDIA

This study finds that the consumption of minerals and oil reserves of India has grown several times faster than the GNP. This has reduced the estimated reserves of several Non-renewable Resources (NRRs), whose estimated life spans in India vary from 9 to 47 years. It uses the Liontief Input Output tables to decompose the gross demand for NRRs, and finds that private consumption expenditure is responsible for nearly half of their demand, followed by investment (28%), and exports (12%). However, the NRR intensity per rupee of expenditure is twice as high in investments and exports when compared to private consumption. Imports meet about half of the demand for NRRs in the Indian Economy. Direct imports of NRRs which were about 28% of total imports in 1989-90, satisfied about 35% of the total demand for NRRs in the Indian Economy. Other imports had an NRR content which met about 11% of the total NRR demand. In general, the NRR intensity of non-NRR imports is much higher than the NRR intensity of exports, indicating that India's foreign trade conserves Non-renewable resources on the whole. Looking at the different industrial sectors, it is found that the demand for NRRs is highly skewed, with about half of the total demand for NRRs being accounted for by three sectors, and 86% of the NRR demand being due to only nine sectors. Any strategy aiming to conserve non-renewable resources should concentrate on these sectors. Consumption expenditure in about 20 sectors of consumption was more NRR intensive (per rupee spent at 1989- 90 prices) than others. Likewise, exports in about 11 sectors were more NRR intensive than the average. An economic strategy to conserve non- renewable resources would do well to attempt to reallocate expenditures and exports away from these sectors to other sectors that are less NRR intensive.non-renewable resources, conservation, Liontief Input Output Tables, exponential reserve index, Indian economic growth, life span, Liontief Inverse, limits to growth

Phytochemical profile and biological activity of Nelumbo nucifera

© 2015 Keshav Raj Paudel and Nisha Panth. Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. (Nymphaeaceae) is a potential aquatic crop grown and consumed throughout Asia. All parts of N. nucifera have been used for various medicinal purposes in various systems of medicine including folk medicines, Ayurveda, Chinese traditional medicine, and oriental medicine. Many chemical constituents have been isolated till the date. However, the bioactive constituents of lotus are mainly alkaloids and flavonoids. Traditionally, the whole plant of lotus was used as astringent, emollient, and diuretic. It was used in the treatment of diarrhea, tissue inflammation, and homeostasis. The rhizome extract was used as antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory properties due to the presence of asteroidal triterpenoid. Leaves were used as an effective drug for hematemesis, epistaxis, hemoptysis, hematuria, and metrorrhagia. Flowers were used to treat diarrhea, cholera, fever, and hyperdipsia. In traditional medicine practice, seeds are used in the treatment of tissue inflammation, cancer and skin diseases, leprosy, and poison antidote. Embryo of lotus seeds is used in traditional Chinese medicine as Lian Zi Xin, which primarily helps to overcome nervous disorders, insomnia, and cardiovascular diseases (hypertension and arrhythmia). Nutritional value of lotus is as important as pharmaceutical value. These days' different parts of lotus have been consumed as functional foods. Thus, lotus can be regarded as a potential nutraceutical source

Effect of Solitary and Combined Use of Cover Crops on Soilborne Disease Suppressiveness in Woody Ornamental Nursery Production Systems

Cover crops are known to be effective in reducing soilborne diseases in woody ornamentals. However, it remains unknown how solitary and combined uses of cover crops influence soilborne disease, and whether these effects differ with seed rate. The objective of this study was to explore the impacts of cover crops, in solitary and combined use, on soilborne disease suppressiveness in woody ornamental nursery production systems. Soils were sampled from the established red maple (Acer rubrum L.) plantation grown with and without cover crops [crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.)] or triticale (× Triticosecale W.) or (their mixture)] following the cover crop senescence. Greenhouse bioassays were carried out using red maple cuttings on inoculated (with Rhizoctonia solani, Phytopythium vexans, or Phytophthora nicotianae) and non-inoculated field soils. Plant height, total plant weight, and fresh root weight were measured, and plant roots were assessed for root rot disease severity using a scale of 0 to 100% roots affected. Population of beneficial Pseudomonas in soil was counted. Results showed that there were no significant differences in plant height among the treatments. Total plant and root fresh weights were significantly or numerically greater for red maple plants grown in soil collected from cover cropped than non-cover cropped field. Although all the cover crop treatments demonstrated effective control of root rot diseases, a high rate of crimson clover and a high rate of the mixture were the most effective. Cover crops also improved fluorescent Pseudomonas activities in the soil. These findings may be helpful to nursery growers in making soilborne disease management decisions

Education and Skills for Inclusive Growth, Green Jobs and the Greening of Economies in Asia: Case Study Summaries of India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Viet Nam

Education for Sustainable Development; Green Growth; Green Jobs; Inclusive Growth; Equity in the Promotion of Economic Growth; Environmental Education; Green Economie

Reactive Oxygen Species: A Key Hallmark of Cardiovascular Disease.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) have been the prime cause of mortality worldwide for decades. However, the underlying mechanism of their pathogenesis is not fully clear yet. It has been already established that reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a vital role in the progression of CVDs. ROS are chemically unstable reactive free radicals containing oxygen, normally produced by xanthine oxidase, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase, lipoxygenases, or mitochondria or due to the uncoupling of nitric oxide synthase in vascular cells. When the equilibrium between production of free radicals and antioxidant capacity of human physiology gets altered due to several pathophysiological conditions, oxidative stress is induced, which in turn leads to tissue injury. This review focuses on pathways behind the production of ROS, its involvement in various intracellular signaling cascades leading to several cardiovascular disorders (endothelial dysfunction, ischemia-reperfusion, and atherosclerosis), methods for its detection, and therapeutic strategies for treatment of CVDs targeting the sources of ROS. The information generated by this review aims to provide updated insights into the understanding of the mechanisms behind cardiovascular complications mediated by ROS

Vascular protection by ethanol extract of Morus alba root bark: Endothelium-dependent relaxation of rat aorta and decrease of smooth muscle cell migration and proliferation

Copyright © 2018 Nisha Panth et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License Morus alba (white mulberry) is native to the northern part of Korea and popularly used as a traditional medicine due to its numerous health benefits against human's disease. However, the possibility that M. alba may also affect the cardiovascular system remains unexplored. This study sought to investigate the vascular protective effects of the root bark extract of M. alba (MAE). Vascular reactivity was performed in organ baths using isolated rat thoracic aorta, while platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) induced proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) were studied by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium (MTS) and wound healing assay, respectively. MAE evoked a concentration dependent vasorelaxation following endothelium-dependent pathway. However, vessel relaxations in response to MAE were markedly reduced after endothelium removal; treatment of endothelial nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, guanylyl cyclase inhibitor, and nonspecific potassium channel inhibitor, however, was not altered by cyclooxygenase inhibitor. Furthermore, MAE also significantly blunted contractile response to vasoconstrictor agent, phenylephrine. Taken together, the current evidence revealed that MAE is a potent endothelium-dependent vasodilator and this effect was involved in, at least in part, nitric oxide cyclic-guanosine monophosphate (NO-cGMP) pathway in combination with potassium (K + ) channel activation. Moreover, MAE inhibited proliferation and migration of VSMCs induced by PDGF. Therefore, MAE could be a promising candidate of natural medicine for preventing and controlling cardiovascular diseases linked with endothelial dysfunction