Nickel (II) Removal from Aqueous Solutions by Adsorption on Fly-ash.

The feasibility of Ni(II) removal from water was investigated by adsorption on fly-ash. The equilibrium data of Ni(II) removal thus obtained is well fitted to Langmuir equation. The mono layer adsorption capacity was calculated and found to be 0.293 mg-1 at 30C. The batch adsorption kinetics follows first order reaction and appears to be diffusion controlled. The values of mass transfer and pore diffusion coefficients were 1.14 X 10-5 cm S-I and 6.2 xlO -1l cm2 s-J respectively at 30C. The influence of initial nickel concentration, residence time, temperature and pH on metal adsorption process was studied, An increase in the solution temperature, pH and decrease in concentration favour the removal of nickel by fly-ash. The maximum adsorption of Ni(II) ions was noted at pH 7.0. The various thermodynamic parameters were calculated for the present system. The empirical model has been tested for the kinetics join(II) removal by adsorption on fly ash and the parameters for the continuous operation of the removal process were determined

Dietary Incorporation of Ractopamine Hydrochloride Improves Body Composition and Metabolic Enzyme Activity in Calbasu, Labeo calbasu Fingerlings, despite High- and Low-Protein-Supplemented Diet

A 60-day feeding trial was conducted to examine the effect and interaction of dietary ractopamine hydrochloride (Rac) supplementation in diets with varied levels of protein and lipid for L. calbasu fingerlings. To attain this, the fish body compositions, digestive and metabolic enzyme activity were assessed. In total, nine diets were fed in triplicates to four hundred and five healthy Calbasu, Labeo calbasu fingerlings, based on ractopamine supplementation, viz., control (0 mg/kg), T1 (10 mg/kg), and T2 (20 mg/kg). The diets were further assigned in different levels of protein and lipid, viz., 35% protein and 6% lipid, 30% protein and 9% lipid, and 25% protein and 12% lipid. At the end of the trial, it has been observed that the inclusion of ractopamine hydrochloride at 20 mg/kg(-1) of basal diet significantly (p 0.05) digestive enzyme activity, viz., amylase, lipase, and protease activity in the fed fish. Conclusively, it implies that adding ractopamine hydrochloride at 20 mg/kg of basal diet (high and low protein content) enhances the whole-body protein content and improves the metabolic enzyme activity in L. calbasu fingerlings. Hence, ractopamine hydrochloride has a beneficial effect in L. calbasu fingerlings and would be a desirable feed supplement for this new species culture system

Assessment of the antibacterial activity of lemongrass-extracted essential oil

Lemongrass is one of the medicinal plants having significant applications to cure various diseases. This study aims at extracting essential oils from lemongrass plants and examining their antibacterial activity. The sample of lemongrass for this study was collected from Kailali District, Nepal. The leaves of lemongrass were collected, washed, cut into small pieces, and dried in the sun. Then pieces of lemongrass were steam distilled for about 4 hours using the Clevenger apparatus, and oil was extracted. The extracted essential oil was further utilized to study its antibacterial activity in human pathogens, namely Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus: gram-positive bacteria), by Agar diffusion and broth dilution methods. It was found that the zone of inhibition for S. aureus in concentrations of 100%, 75%, 50%, and 25% was about 25 mm, 11 mm, 9 mm, and 0 mm, respectively. In addition, it is clear from this study that the gram-positive bacteria were sensitive to essential oils. The lowest and highest zones of inhibition were shown against S. aureus at 25% and 100% concentrations, respectively. The zone of inhibition at 100% concentration is 25 mm and at 25% concentration is 0 mm, so lemongrass oil is effective against drug-resistant organisms only at high concentrations

Prevalence of needle stick injuries, its associated factors and awareness among nursing staff at tertiary care hospital of North India

Background: Needle Stick Injuries (NSIs) are defined as accidental skin penetrating injuries caused by needles. It is the single greatest occupational hazard to a medical personnel. In developing countries, needle stick injury is associated with the highest global prevalence of HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C. Aim & Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of needle stick injuries, its associated risk factors and assess the awareness regarding needle stick injuries among nursing staff. Material & Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among nursing staff who were working at a tertiary care hospital in Northern India during June 2019 to November 2019. The study commenced after taking prior approval from institutional ethics committee. A census method was used to include the participants. Results: Around 66.7% of the nursing staff was exposed to NSIs during their working hours at the hospital. There was significant association of needle stick injuries with place of working and education of nursing staff in multivariate binary logistic regression. About 26% of the nurses were unaware that recapping should be done or not for used needle, and 35% of staff nurses recapped the needle after the use. Conclusion: Needle stick injuries can be prevented by continued education, effective training, providing better safety devices, a positive work environment

ANTIDIABETIC ACTIVITY OF BAUHINIA VARIEGATA EXTRACTS IN ALLOXAN-INDUCED DIABETIC RATS

Bauhinia variegata commonly known as kachnar tree and is cultivated throughout India. literature survey revealed that the leaf of Bauhinia variegata is traditionally used as an astringent in diabetes. flowers are laxative.the present study was undertaken to evaluate the antidiabetic activity of ethanol extract of leaf of  Bauhinia variegata extract was evaluated using albino wister rat i.e.alloxan induced diabetes in albino wister rat by glucometer method, with 50 mg/kg,100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg and higher doses showed significant value represent at table no and figure 1,2,3,4 respectively with different successive extract and show the significant p value. Keyword: Bauhinia Variegata, Ethanolic Extract, Antidiabetic, Alloxan, Albino Wister Ra

Structural and optical properties of ionic liquid based hybrid perovskitoid: a combined experimental and theoretical investigation

Herein, we report a novel layered lead bromide, (CH3CH2)3N+Br−(CH2)2NH+3)PbBr3, where bulky organic cations, (CH3CH2)3N+Br−(CH2)2NH+3), amino-ethyl triethyl ammonium [aetriea] were not only incorporated between the inorganic layers but also sandwiched within the inorganic [PbBr6]4− octahedral layered structure. The UV-Visible, photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and a field-emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) result show that the new perovskitoid has a microrod shape with an estimated bandgap of ∼3.05 eV. The structural and optoelectronic properties of the [aetriea]PbBr3perovskitoid were further corroborated by first-principles density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) data show good stability of the [aetriea]PbBr3perovskitoid. Time-resolved photoluminescence (TRPL) decays from new [aetriea]PbBr3perovskitoid showing 6 ns average lifetime. These results suggest that doubly charged cation hybrid perovskite materials are potential candidates for optoelectronic applications

Chemiluminescence based immunoassay for the detection of heroin and its metabolites

Introduction: Continuous use of opiates causes drug-related illnesses, which poses an alarming situation to develop sensitive detection platform. In this study, a highly sensitive and reliable chemiluminescence immunoassay (CI) has been developed for the detection of heroin and its major metabolites in spiked urine samples. Methods: To develop robust immunoassay, monoacetyl morphine-bovine serum albumin (MAM-BSA) conjugate was synthesized and characterized thoroughly by physicochemical techniques. The anti-MAM antibodies were developed, labeled with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and immunoassay was developed to detect the presence of target drug in spiked urine samples. Results: A competitive CI was developed, where heroin, MAM, morphine, and codeine concentration were ranged from 0-1000 ng/ mL in spiked urine samples and limit of detection were 80, 95, 90, 75 pg/ mL. Conclusion: The developed CI is highly sensitive, specific, point of care, cost-effective and can be used as a routine technique for quantitative analysis for screening of narcotic drugs

Exploring the plant–aphid–ant interaction

Different species interact with each other in complex and diverse ways. Why and how do we study these interspecies interactions? How do we introduce students to these interactions through real-world observations of plants, aphids, and ants from their own backyards

Association of polymorphisms of IGF1 promoter with growth and fertility performance in PB1 parent line of broiler chicken variety

Blood samples from 180 birds pertaining to a single generation of PB1 parent line were collected for present study. The birds were raised under standard management and different growth variables were recorded up to 20 weeks of age. Age at first egg and egg production till 40 weeks of age was recorded in females. PCR-RFLP analysis was used to screen individuals with polymorphisms in IGF1 promoter region and three genotypes AA, AC and CC were identified at frequencies of 0.79, 0.18 and 0.03, respectively. CC homozygotes were lower with respect to their performance in growth and fertility traits. Sequencing results of both alleles revealed T244G transversion mutation in the C allele. Gene regulation analysis confirmed that such transversion resulted in non-binding of Oct-1 transcription factor at 241 to 250 bp in C allele, causing down regulation of the gene. The mutations in the promoter sequence affected the transcriptional gene regulation affecting growth and fertility performance

A peptide fragment from the human COX3 protein disrupts association of Mycobacterium tuberculosisvirulence proteins ESAT-6 and CFP10, inhibits mycobacterial growth and mounts protective immune response

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the most prevalent infectious diseases affecting millions worldwide. The currently available anti-TB drugs and vaccines have proved insufficient to contain this scourge, necessitating an urgent need for identification of novel drug targets and therapeutic strategies. The disruption of crucial protein-protein interactions, especially those that are responsible for virulence in Mycobacterium tuberculosis – for example the ESAT-6:CFP10 complex – are a worthy pursuit in this direction. METHODS: We therefore sought to improvise a method to attenuate M. tuberculosis while retaining the latter’s antigenic properties. We screened peptide libraries for potent ESAT-6 binders capable of dissociating CFP10 from ESAT-6. We assessed the disruption by a peptide named HCL2, of the ESAT-6:CFP10 complex and studied its effects on mycobacterial survival and virulence. RESULTS: We found that HCL2, derived from the human cytochrome c oxidase subunit 3 (COX3) protein, disrupts ESAT-6:CFP10 complex, binds ESAT-6 potently, disintegrates bacterial cell wall and inhibits extracellular as well as intracellular mycobacterial growth. In addition, an HCL2 expressing M. tuberculosis strain induces both Th1 and Th17 host protective responses. CONCLUSIONS: Disruption of ESAT-6:CFP10 association could, therefore, be an alternate method for attenuating M. tuberculosis, and a possible route towards future vaccine generation