Chemical synthesis of d(GC)<SUB>4</SUB>,d(GC)<SUB>5</SUB> and d(GGTGGACCTC) by continuous flow solid phase phosphotriester method

A simplified protocol for the synthesis of oligodeoxyribonucleotides by phosphotriester approach on controlled pore glass resins using a manualdna synthesiser is presented. The main features of this method are: (i) a single system of solvents (acetonitrile:dichloromethane, 8 : 2) is used in the assembly procedure reducing the number of mechanical manipulations, (ii) dichloroacetic acid is used as a good compromise between the efficiency of deprotection and minimal depurination and (iii) it competes effectively with the phosphite method in terms of speed, efficiency and ease. All the required protected mononucleotides and functionalised resins were home-made and detailed procedures are reported. The utility of the procedure is demonstrated by the actual synthesis of sequences d(G-C)4, d(G-C)5 and d(GGTGGACCTC) required for biophysical studies in our laboratory. The oligonucleotides were purified by the recently introduced method of fast protein liquid chromatography which gives good resolutions in shorter time periods as compared to the high performance liquid chromatography technique

Stacked Cu1.8S nanoplatelets as counter electrode for quantum dot-sensitized solar cell

It is found that the electrocatalytic activity of Cu2-xS thin films used in quantum dot-sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs) as counter electrode (CE) for the reduction of polysulfide electrolyte depends on the surface active sulfide and disulfide species and the deficiency of Cu. The preferential bonding between Cu2+ and S2-, leading to the selective formation of a Cu1.8S stacked platelet-like morphology, is determined by the cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide surfactant and deposition temperature; the crab-like Cu-S coordination bond formed dictates the surface area to volume ratio of the Cu1.8S thin films and their electrocatalytic activity. The Cu deficiency enhances the conductivity of the Cu1.8S thin films, which exhibit near-infrared localized surface plasmon resonance due to free carriers, and UV-vis absorption spectra show an excitonic effect due to the quantum size effect. When these Cu1.8S thin films were employed as CEs in QDSSCs, a robust photoconversion efficiency of 5.2% was obtained for the film deposited at 60 °C by a single-step chemical bath deposition method

Fabric Properties and Their Characteristics

This book describes the differences between woven and knitted structures, provides an understanding of fabric behavior and the characteristics of a functional garment, and outlines the importance of garment fit and consumer perception of ..

ChloroMitoSSRDB: open source repository of perfect and imperfect repeats in organelle genomes for evolutionary genomics

This article has been accepted for publication in DNA Research Published by Oxford University Press.[EN] Microsatellites or simple sequence repeats (SSRs) are repetitive stretches of nucleotides (A, T, G, C) that are distributed either as single base pair stretches or as a combination of two- to six-nucleotides units that are non-randomly distributed within coding and in non-coding regions of the genome. ChloroMitoSSRDB is a complete curated web-oriented relational database of perfect and imperfect repeats in organelle genomes. The present version of the database contains perfect and imperfect SSRs of 2161 organelle genomes (1982 mitochondrial and 179 chloroplast genomes). We detected a total of 5838 chloroplast perfect SSRs, 37 297 chloroplast imperfect SSRs, 5898 mitochondrial perfect SSRs and 50 355 mitochondria! imperfect SSRs across these genomes. The repeats have been further hyperlinked to the annotated gene regions (coding or non-coding) and a link to the corresponding gene record in National Center for Biotechnology Information(vvww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/) to identify and understand the positional relationship of the repetitive tracts. ChloroMitoSSRDB is connected to a user-friendly web interface that provides useful information associated with the location of the repeats (coding and non-coding), size of repeat, motif and length polymorphism, etc. ChloroMitoSSRDB will serve as a repository for developing functional markers for molecular phylogenetics, estimating molecular variation across speciesThis work was supported by BIOMASFOR (Z0912003I, Italy) and EC FP7 (BIOSUPPORT, Bulgaria). M.A.F. was supported by a grant from the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Inovacio´n (BFU2009- 12022).Sablok, G.; Mudunuri, SB.; Patnana, S.; Popova, M.; Fares Riaño, MA.; La Porta, N. (2013). ChloroMitoSSRDB: open source repository of perfect and imperfect repeats in organelle genomes for evolutionary genomics. DNA Research. 20(2):127-133. https://doi.org/10.1093/dnares/dss038S12713320

Electromagnetic shielding effectiveness of copper/PET composite yarn fabrics

133-137Woven fabric samples have been developed using composite yarn consisting of copper mono filament and PET filaments for evaluating electromagnetic shielding effectiveness (EMSE) against radiating electromagnetic wave spectrum over a frequency range 2.25 - 2.65 GHz. Coaxial transverse electromagnetic wave mode transmission method equipment has been used for testing in far field condition. It is observed that the weave and thread spacing of fabric samples significantly influence the shielding effectiveness as interpreted from the two way between subject ANOVA design. It is justified that aperture size and contact resistance of composite yarns in fabrics are the critical parameters in determining the shielding effectiveness of textile fabrics. The mechanism of fabric shielding is also discussed in detail using already established shielding theories which would help design fabrics for electromagnetic shielding

Development of Textile Laminates for Improved Cut Resistance

Mechanical properties of fibres viz. tensile modulus, tenacity, elongation are the key performance indicators of cut resistance besides yarn and fabric structure. p-aramid and UHDPE (Ultra High Density Polyethylene) based high performance fibres are most commonly used for protection against mechanical risks. Specially engineered composite yarns and fabrics would help enhance cut resistance. This paper discusses on the influence textile structure configuration on the performance of cut resistant textiles. A three tier laminate composite was made using knitted Kevlar fabric (p-aramid) as outer surface, Polyurethane foam in the middle and a knitted nylon fabric as skin contact layer. This specially engineered laminate showed a 20% increase in cut resistance force when compared with the Kevlar fabric used for lamination. The combination of breathable PU foam and knitted structure of fabric yielded high stretch with improved breathability and dexterity

Development of ecofriendly antimicrobial textile finishes using herbs

431-436<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;font-family:Fd609099-Identity-H;mso-bidi-font-family:Fd609099-Identity-H">Various herbal species were screened for their antimicrobial activities by employing preliminary (qualitative) antimicrobial tests. Methanolic extraction procedure was followed for extracting the active substances from herbs. Antimicrobial efficacy was assayed by AATCC (agar diffusion and parallel streak) method and Hohenstein modified challenge test. The neem leaves <span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Fd656258-Identity-H;mso-bidi-font-family: Fd656258-Identity-H">(Azadirachta indica), <span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Fd609099-Identity-H; mso-bidi-font-family:Fd609099-Identity-H">prickly chaff flower <span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Fd656258-Identity-H;mso-bidi-font-family: Fd656258-Identity-H">(Achyranthus aspera), <span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Fd609099-Identity-H; mso-bidi-font-family:Fd609099-Identity-H">tulsi leaves <span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Fd656258-Identity-H;mso-bidi-font-family: Fd656258-Identity-H">(Ocimum basilicum) <span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Fd609099-Identity-H; mso-bidi-font-family:Fd609099-Identity-H">and pomegranate rind <span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Fd656258-Identity-H;mso-bidi-font-family: Fd656258-Identity-H">(Punica granatum) <span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Fd609099-Identity-H; mso-bidi-font-family:Fd609099-Identity-H">were found to exhibit antimicrobial activity against the strains of <span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Fd656258-Identity-H;mso-bidi-font-family: Fd656258-Identity-H">Staphylococcus aureus<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;font-family:Fd656258-Identity-H;mso-bidi-font-family:Fd656258-Identity-H"> <span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Fd609099-Identity-H; mso-bidi-font-family:Fd609099-Identity-H">and <span style="font-size: 16.0pt;font-family:Fd1765337-Identity-H;mso-hansi-font-family:Fd1490491-Identity-H; mso-bidi-font-family:Fd1765337-Identity-H">E.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Fd656258-Identity-H; mso-bidi-font-family:Fd656258-Identity-H">coli<span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Fd656258-Identity-H;mso-bidi-font-family: Fd656258-Identity-H">. <span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Fd609099-Identity-H; mso-bidi-font-family:Fd609099-Identity-H">Neem ranked first followed by pomegranate and prickly chaff flower. Despite the negative results of tulsi in the qualitative tests, it showed <span style="font-size:16.0pt; font-family:Fd1490491-Identity-H;mso-bidi-font-family:Fd1490491-Identity-H">73% <span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Fd609099-Identity-H; mso-bidi-font-family:Fd609099-Identity-H">bacterial reduction in the quantitative challenge test. The treated fabric samples exhibited resistance to degradability as tested by digging soil test. </span

Conformational studies of d(CACGTG)<SUB>2</SUB> and d(CACCGTG).d(CACGGTG) by two-dimensional 1h, 31p NMR and circular dichroism spectra

The conformational studies of synthetic oligonucleotides d(CACGTG)<SUB>2</SUB> and d(CACCGTG).d(CACGGTG) by two-dimensional <SUB>1</SUB>H NMR (COSY and NOESY), <SUB>31</SUB>P NMR and CD spectroscopic methods are reported. The results suggest that these DMA duplexes adopt B-form globally and significant microheterogeneity persists in local conformation. In particular, the sugars of nucleotides C3 of the hexamer and C3, C10 of the heptamer exhibit 3'-endo conformations. These sequences fail to undergo B-Z transition in solution though, d(CACGTG)<SUB>2</SUB> is reported to crystallise in a left handed form. The conformational studies of titled DNA sequences by 2D <SUP>p1</SUP>H NMR (COSY and NOESY), <SUP>p31</SUP>p NMR and CD methods are reported. These duplexes adopt B-form with significant conformational heterogeneity at C3 of hexamer and C3, C10 of heptamer. They fail to exhibit B to Z transition in solution, though d(CACGTG)<SUB>f2</SUB> is reported to crystallise in a left hand form

Analysis of the spacer DNA between the cyclic AMP receptor protein binding site and the lac promoter.

The role of the spacer region DNA between the cyclic AMP receptor protein (CRP) site and the RNA polymerase in the lac promoter was examined. We wanted to determine whether the wild-type DNA sequence of this region was an absolute requirement for CRP activation of lac transcription. The sequence of a 9-bp stretch of the spacer, from -41 to -49 relative to the start of transcription, was randomized, and the effect of randomization on lac expression was investigated in vitro and in vivo. We found that the spacer contains no specific sequence determinants for CRP activation of lac transcription; fewer than 1% of the mutants displayed greater than a 50% decrease in CRP activation of lac transcription

Stabilization of a protein-tyrosine phosphatase mRNA upon mitogenic stimulation of T-lymphocytes

The expression of a non-receptor type protein-tyrosine phosphatase (the T-cell phosphatase or PTP-S) which shows homology with basic domains of Fos and Jun, was investigated upon mitogenic stimulation of rat splenic T lymphocytes. As studied by Northern blot analysis of total cellular RNA, mitogenic stimulation of T lymphocytes by concanavalin A resulted in an increase in the level of PTP-S mRNA; there was little or no change in the level of mRNA coding for PTP-1 (which is also a non-receptor type tyrosine phosphatase). Maximum increase of about 3-fold in the level of PTP-S mRNA occurred after 72 h of mitogenic stimulation. Mitogenic stimulation did not increase the level of PTP-S transcripts in the nucleus. The half-life of PTP-S mRNA in unstimulated lymphocytes was about 25 min which increased to 5 h after mitogenic stimulation. An inhibitor of protein synthesis, cycloheximide, increased the level of PTP-S transcripts by 6-fold in control lymphocytes but did not increase the level of PTP-1 transcripts. Treatment with cycloheximide increased the half-life of PTP-S transcripts in resting lymphocytes. The PTP-S gene product was identified as a 42 kDa polypeptide by immunoblotting. The level of PTP-S gene product increased upon mitogenic stimulation of lymphocytes by Con A and reached a maximum after 72 h, as determined by immunoblotting. These results suggest that post-transcriptional regulation of mRNA stability is an important factor in controlling the level of this phosphatase mRNA during mitogenic stimulation of T-lymphocytes