Possible impact of rising sea levels on vector-borne infectious diseases

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Vector-borne infectious diseases are a significant cause of human and animal mortality and morbidity. Modeling studies predict that changes in climate that accompany global warming will alter the transmission risk of many vector-borne infectious diseases in different parts of the world. Global warming will also raise sea levels, which will lead to an increase in saline and brackish water bodies in coastal areas. The potential impact of rising sea levels, as opposed to climate change, on the prevalence of vector-borne infectious diseases has hitherto been unrecognised.</p> <p>Presentation of the hypothesis</p> <p>Mosquito species possessing salinity-tolerant larvae and pupae, and capable of transmitting arboviruses and parasites are found in many parts of the world. An expansion of brackish and saline water bodies in coastal areas, associated with rising sea levels, can increase densities of salinity-tolerant vector mosquitoes and lead to the adaptation of freshwater vectors to breed in brackish and saline waters. The breeding of non-mosquito vectors may also be influenced by salinity changes in coastal habitats. Higher vector densities can increase transmission of vector-borne infectious diseases in coastal localities, which can then spread to other areas.</p> <p>Testing the hypothesis</p> <p>The demonstration of increases in vector populations and disease prevalence that is related to an expansion of brackish/saline water bodies in coastal areas will provide the necessary supportive evidence. However the implementation of specific vector and disease control measures to counter the threat will confound the expected findings.</p> <p>Implications of the hypothesis</p> <p>Rising sea levels can act synergistically with climate change and then interact in a complex manner with other environmental and socio-economic factors to generate a greater potential for the transmission of vector-borne infectious diseases. The resulting health impacts are likely to be particularly significant in resource-poor countries in the tropics and semi-tropics. Some measures to meet this threat are outlined.</p

Pomegranate (Punicagranatum. Linn. var. Ganesh) Leaf Extracts Ameliorates Neurotoxicity In Transgenic Drosophila Expressing Human Amyloid Pathology

To prescreen the in vivo neuroprotective activity of the chloroform, ethanol extracts of the leaves of Punicagranatum L.var. Ganesh family Punicaceae, commonly called pomegranate, using the model organism Aβ42 -amyloid neurotoxicity included Drosophila melanogaster. Chloroform(CEPGL), ethanol, (EEPGL) extracts were prepared, and its analysis by HPLC were carried out. Acute toxicity assessments were also performed. The neuroprotective effect of CEPGL, EEPGL in vivo was evaluated on the transgenic Aβ42 model of Drosophila melanogaster, a novel model system for screening drugs for Alzheimer’s disease by longevity assay, Climbing assay, Pseudopupil assay and nail polish imprint technique, and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). HPLC profile of the CEPGL, EEPGL showed the presence of Ursolic acid. Toxicity assessment using brine shrimp lethality bioassay (BSLA) of the CEPGL, EEPGL showed nontoxic up to 2500, 2000 ppm, respectively. The extracts possess potential in vivo neuroprotective activity on Drosophila melanogaster against beta-amyloid included neuronal toxicity. Conclusion: In the present study, we have presented the first evidence of the extracts of the leaves could significantly ameliorate the adverse morphological changes from Aβ42 protein in Drosophila, as indicated by prolonging the lifespan, by improving locomotor abilities and rescuing neuro-degeneration in ommatidia of Aβ42 expressing Drosophila which is comparable with donepezil. So it demonstrated the novel use of Ursolic acid of the extracts CEPGL, EEPGL effectively protect, rescue and most importantly, restore the impaired movement activity (i.e., climbing capability) in Drosophila melanogaster

Challenges of developing decision-support LCA tools in the biopharmaceutical industry

The biopharmaceutical industry has been slow in carrying out LCA analyses. However, as the industry matures, the level of scrutiny placed on this industry by international governments will increase and hence, there is an urgent need for the industry to implement decision-support tools for the decision-making processes. Decision-support tools based on life cycle assessment (LCA) can be potentially used for application in the biopharmaceutical industry as an aid to decision making. This paper sets out the challenges associated with developing such decision-support LCA tools. This paper highlights that in order for the industry to overcome these challenges and successfully develop decision-support LCA tools, they require a broader understanding of the biopharmaceutical manufacturing processes and LCA methodology

Studies on the Leaves of Punica Granatum Linn. and its Invitro Inhibition of Ache for Potential Use in Alzheimer’s Treatment

This dissertation covers the pharmacognostic parameters of the leaves of Punica granatum, Var. Ganesh belonging to the family: Punicaceae, such as macroscopical, microscopical including powder analysis and physical standards like ash values, extractive values, etc have been studied and presented. Microscopical studies reveals the presence of calcium oxalate prismatic crystals, druses in the mesophyll region and uniform parallel striations in the upper epidermis along with usual leaf tissues. The preliminary phytochemical studies reveals the presence of alkaloid, carbohydrate, glycoside, phytosterol, tannins, proteins, flavonoids, terpenoids in leaf powder. TLC of the chloroform, acetone and ethanol extracts of leaves of P.granatum shows the presence of ursolic acid. The percentage of ursolic acid in chloroform, acetone, ethanol extracts were determined by HPLC as 20.34, 0.32, 0.15 respectively. The commercial exploitation of ursolic acid is recommended. Acute toxicological study In the present study it was confirmed that the chloroform extract was nontoxic and the LC50 value was 2100 ppm and it need further evaluation in animal model by acute & chronic toxicological studies. Preliminary invitro AChE inhibitory activity The Ellman method for the Acetyl cholinesterase assay was standardized and validated. The preliminary observation of the various extracts of leaves of P.granatum by invitro study showed significant AChE inhibitory activity in the following order in a dose dependent manner . Chloroform extract > ethanol extract > acetone extract. The IC50 value for chloroform acetone, ethanol extracts were 1.8, 2.1, 1.8mM respectively. It is comparable with the standard drug tacrine. It is concluded that it can be optimistic that the present investigation present a herbal drug of a safe and potential chemotherapeutic target in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and commercial exploitation of ursolic acid extraction. AChE inhibitors, which enhance cholinergic transmission by reducing the enzymatic degradation of acetylcholine, are the only source of compound currently approved for the treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) by U.S. Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) and European medicines Agency (EMEA)

Confocal/two-photon microscopy in studying colonisation of cancer cells in bone using xenograft mouse models

Confocal and two-photon microscopy has been widely used in bone research to not only produce high quality, three-dimensional images but also to provide valuable structural and quantitative information. In this article, we describe step-by-step protocols for confocal and two-photon microscopy to investigate earlier cellular events during colonisation of cancer cells in bone using xenograft mouse models. This includes confocal/two-photon microscopy imaging of paraformaldehyde fixed thick bone sections and frozen bone samples

Variations in salinity tolerance of malaria vectors of the Anopheles subpictus complex in Sri Lanka and the implications for malaria transmission

Abstract Background Anopheles subpictus sensu lato, a widespread vector of malaria in Asia, is reportedly composed of four sibling species A-D based on distinct cytogenetic and morphological characteristics. However An. subpictus species B specimens in Sri Lanka are termed An. subpictus B/ An. sundaicus because of recent genetic data. Differences in salinity tolerance and coastal/inland prevalence of An. subpictus sibling species that were not previously established in Sri Lanka are presented here. Results Specimens with morphological characteristics of all four Indian An. subpictus sibling species were found in Sri Lanka. Sibling species A, C and D tended to be predominant in inland, and An. subpictus species B/An. sundaicus, in coastal localities. Sibling species C was predominant in both adult and larval inland collections. Larvae of An. subpictus B/An. sundaicus were found in inland and coastal sites, including a lagoon, with salinity varying from 0 to 30 ppt. An. subpictus sibling species A, C and D larvae were present in water of salinity between 0 to 4 ppt. An. subpictus C, D and An. subpictus B/An. sundaicus larvae showed compatible differential salinity tolerance in laboratory tests. The first instar larvae of An. subpictus B/An. sundaicus showed 100% survival up to 15 ppt in comparison to species C and D where the corresponding values were 3 ppt and 6 ppt respectively. However all third instar larvae of An. subpictus B/An. sundaicus survived up to 30 ppt salinity whereas An. subpictus C and D tolerated up to 4 ppt and 8 ppt salinity respectively. Conclusions The results suggest that An. subpictus species B/An. sundaicus breed in fresh, brackish and nearly saline water while An. subpictus species C and D do so in fresh and less brackish waters in Sri Lanka, as in India. Because of the established role of An. sundaicus s.l. and An. subpictus s.l. as malaria vectors, the findings indicate a need for greater monitoring of brackish water breeding habitats in Asia. Tolerance to 15 ppt salinity may also constitute a simple method for differentiating An. subpictus B/An. sundaicus larvae from those of An. subpictus species C and D in field studies.</p

Cable properties and propagation velocity in a long single chain of simulated myocardial cells

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Propagation of simulated action potentials (APs) was previously studied in short single chains and in two-dimensional sheets of myocardial cells <abbrgrp><abbr bid="B1">1</abbr><abbr bid="B2">2</abbr><abbr bid="B3">3</abbr></abbrgrp>. The present study was undertaken to examine propagation in a long single chain of cells of various lengths, and with varying numbers of gap-junction (g-j) channels, and to compare propagation velocity with the cable properties such as the length constant (<it>λ</it>).</p> <p>Methods and Results</p> <p>Simulations were carried out using the PSpice program as previously described. When the electric field (EF) mechanism was dominant (0, 1, and 10 gj-channels), the longer the chain length, the faster the overall velocity (<it>θ</it>_ov). There seems to be no simple explanation for this phenomenon. In contrast, when the local-circuit current mechanism was dominant (100 gj-channels or more), <it>θ</it>_ovwas slightly slowed with lengthening of the chain. Increasing the number of gj-channels produced an increase in <it>θ</it>_ovand caused the firing order to become more uniform. The end-effect was more pronounced at longer chain lengths and at greater number of gj-channels.</p> <p>When there were no or only few gj-channels (namely, 0, 10, or 30), the voltage change (ΔV_m) in the two contiguous cells (#50 & #52) to the cell injected with current (#51) was nearly zero, i.e., there was a sharp discontinuity in voltage between the adjacent cells. When there were many gj-channels (e.g., 300, 1000, 3000), there was an exponential decay of voltage on either side of the injected cell, with the length constant (<it>λ</it>) increasing at higher numbers of gj-channels. The effect of increasing the number of gj-channels on increasing <it>λ </it>was relatively small compared to the larger effect on <it>θ</it>_ov. <it>θ</it>_ovbecame very non-physiological at 300 gj-channels or higher.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Thus, when there were only 0, 1, or 10 gj-channels, <it>θ</it>_ovincreased with increase in chain length, whereas at 100 gj-channels or higher, <it>θ</it>_ovdid not increase with chain length. When there were only 0, 10, or 30 gj-channels, there was a very sharp decrease in ΔV_min the two contiguous cells on either side of the injected cell, whereas at 300, 1000, or 3000 gj-channels, the voltage decay was exponential along the length of the chain. The effect of increasing the number of gj-channels on spread of current was relatively small compared to the large effect on <it>θ</it>_ov.</p

Green house gas emissions from termite ecosystem

Methanogenic archaea (methanogens) that inhabit the gut of termites generate enormous amount of methane that adds to the global atmospheric methane (CH4). Methane is an important trace gas in the atmosphere, contributing significantly to long wave absorption and bringing in variations into the chemistries of both the troposphere and the stratosphere. In the troposphere, methane acts as a sink for hydroxide (OH) and as a source for carbon monoxide (CO). While in the stratosphere, methane is a sink for chlorine (Cl) molecules and a source of water vapor, which is a dominant greenhouse gas. Analysis has shown that atmospheric concentrations of methane have increased by about 30% over the last 40 years. Such an increase may greatly affect future levels of stratospheric ozone and hence, the climate of the earth. Recent estimates of the total annual source strength of CH4 vary from 400 to 1200 Tg. Activities such as rice cultivation, cattle production, mining, use of fossil fuels and biomass burning is believed to be the cause of increasing methane levels in the atmosphere. To add to this list is the source from termites, which contributes measurable quantities of CH4 ranging from 2 to 150 Tg per year. However, data indicate that while there are large variations in the amount of CH4 produced by different species, the total methane addition due to termites is probably less than 15 Tg per year, thus making a contribution of less than 5% to global CH4 emissions. Furthermore, the review addresses questions related to the biological aspects of termite harboring groups of bacteria that participate in methanogenesis and various other biotechnological potential of unique microbiota as well as possible strategies to mitigate methanogenesis by termite.Key words: Macrotermes, methane, carbondioxide, GHG, methanobacteria, methanosarcina

Performance analysis of sentiments in Twitter dataset using SVM models

Sentiment Analysis is a current research topic by many researches using supervised and machine learning algorithms. The analysis can be done on movie reviews, twitter reviews, online product reviews, blogs, discussion forums, Myspace comments and social networks. The Twitter data set is analyzed using support vector machines (SVM) classifier with various parameters. The content of tweet is classified to find whether it contains fact data or opinion data. The deep analysis is required to find the opinion of the tweets posted by the individual. The sentiment is classified in to positive, negative and neutral. From this classification and analysis, an important decision can be made to improve the productivity. The performance of SVM radial kernel, SVM linear grid and SVM radial grid was compared and found that SVM linear grid performs better than other SVM models

EBC Development for Hot-Pressed Y\u3csub\u3e2\u3c/sub\u3eO\u3csub\u3e3\u3c/sub\u3e/Al\u3csub\u3e2\u3c/sub\u3eO\u3csub\u3e3\u3c/sub\u3e Doped Silicon Nitride Ceramics

Multilayer EBCs of alcohol and sol-based slurries containing (a) 45% SiO2-34% Y2O3-%Al2O3, (b) mullite/Gd2SiO5 (88/12wt.%) with and without B2O3 addition, (c) mullite/rare-earth silicates (94/6wt.%, (Gd2SiO5, Lu2SiO5, Er2SiO5, and HfSiO4)), and (d) only mullite, were applied on hot pressed Y2O3/Al2O3 doped Si3N4 substrates. Of the four major EBC systems studied, only mullite/Gd2SiO5 (88/12wt.%) EBCs sintered in air at 1400^oC for 3h showed good bonding with the substrate. In all other EBC systems studied, the Y2O3/Al2O3 additives present in Si3N4 reacted with silica and rare-earth silicates to form low melting point constituents during sintering causing bubble formation and/or de-bonding at the substrate/coating interface. Thermal cyclic resistance of silicon nitride coupons coated with mullite/Gd2SiO5 (88/12wt.%) EBC was investigated in a moisture containing environment (90% H2O-10% O2) for 100 cycles from 1350^oC to room temperature (1h hot and 15min cold). Moisture exposure resulted in accumulation of large pores in the coating, mostly aligned along the substrate/coating interface