Quantum decoherence in Microtubules

Not all activities in living creatures can be explained by classical dynamics. Application of quantum physics in biology helps to study the unexplained phenomena in cells. More detailed research work is needed rather than rejecting the concept of intervention of quantum physics in biology. Here we have used some concepts introduced by Hameroff, Penrose \cite{hamer} and some quantum models to show the quantum decoherence in neurons. Assuming a quantum superposition of dimers in microtubules we have separately presented two types of interaction with its environment. For interaction with bosonic environment we have shown that the decoherence time scale depends on a constant factor which depends on the interaction coefficients and amplitude of spectral density. For interaction with spin environment we have pointed out one case where the coherent superposition state of dimer is strong enough to survive against the environmental induced decoherence.Comment: 10 pages, 13 figure

Pros and Cons of Curcumin as Bioactive Phyto-Compound for Effective Management of Insect Pests

Phyto-compounds as insecticides have expanded impetus in recent insect pest management programme owing to health hazards and perpetual toxicity of conservatively applied deleterious insecticides of diverse commercial brands. Turmeric plant produces fleshy rhizomes of bright yellow to orange color in its root system, which are the source of commercially available spice turmeric. Curcumin, a Phytochemical gives yellow colour to turmeric and is used for time immemorial for most of the remedial practices. Curcumin is also used as a spice in foods, as a dye for fleeces and as an ingredient in dietetic supplements.  As root powder, turmeric is used for its flavoring properties as a spice, food preservative and food-coloring agent. Turmeric has a long history of soothing uses as it is accredited with a diversity of imperative valuable properties such as its antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, analgesic and digestive properties respectively. The fresh juice, the aqueous extracts and the essential oil of the plant are endorsed with fascinating pesticidal properties against certain pests of agricultural importance as well as a perceptible repugnant activity against noxious mosquito species.  Results have exposed a pleasurable impending potentiality of turmeric as a natural pesticide for achievable use in current crop protection and thus an exceedingly promising future towards this route, that is, the possibility of effective control of certain pests of agricultural importance with the use of turmeric products as an economical and more effective eco-friendly alternative to chemical pesticides which is by now put into practice

Sequence of Endothelial Signaling during Lung Expansion

Although high tidal volume ventilation exacerbates lung injury, the mechanisms underlying the inflammatory response are not clear. Here, we exposed isolated lungs to high or low tidal volume ventilation, while perfusing lungs with whole blood, or blood depleted of leukocytes and platelets. Then, we determined signaling responses in freshly isolated lung endothelial cells by means of immunoblotting and immunofluorescence approaches. In depleted blood perfusion, high tidal volume induced modest increases in both P-selectin expression on the endothelial surface, and in endothelial protein tyrosine phosphorylation. Both high tidal volume–induced responses were markedly enhanced in the presence of whole blood perfusion. However, a P-selectin–blocking antibody given together with whole blood perfusion inhibited the responses down to levels corresponding to those for depleted blood perfusion. These findings indicate that the full proinflammatory response occurs in two stages. First, lung distension causes modest endothelial activation. Second, subsequent endothelial–inflammatory cell interactions augment P-selectin expression and tyrosine phosphorylation. We conclude that interactions of circulating inflammatory cells with P-selectin critically determine proinflammatory endothelial activation during high tidal volume ventilation

Paracrine purinergic signaling determines lung endothelial nitric oxide production

Although the vascular bed is a major source of nitric oxide (NO) production, factors regulating the production remain unclear. We considered the role played by paracrine signaling. Determinations by fluorescence microscopy in isolated, blood-perfused rat and mouse lungs revealed that a brief lung expansion enhanced cytosolic Ca2+ (Ca2+cyt) oscillations in alveolar epithelial (AEC) and endothelial (EC) cells, and NO production in EC. Furthermore, as assessed by a novel microlavage assay, alveolar ATP production increased. Intra-alveolar microinfusion of the purinergic receptor antagonist, PPADS, and the nucleotide hydrolyzing enzyme, apyrase, each completely blocked the Ca2+cyt and NO responses in EC. Lung expansion induced Ca2+cyt oscillations in mice lacking the P2Y1, but not the P2Y2, purinergic receptors, which were located in the perivascular interstitium basolateral to AEC. Prolonged lung expansion instituted by mechanical ventilation at high tidal volume increased EC expression of nitrotyrosine, indicating development of nitrosative stress in lung microvessels. These findings reveal a novel mechanism in which mechanically induced purinergic signaling couples cross-compartmental Ca2+cyt oscillations to microvascular NO production