In vitro propagation of Aristolochia bracteata Retz. - A medicinally important plant

A direct and indirect propagation system has been established for the medicinally important plant Aristolochia bracteata Retz. using inter-nodal segments as explants. The surface sterilization of A. bracteata inter-nodal segments was carried with different concentration of mercuric chloride such as 0.05%. 0.1% and 0.15% for different time duration. Among them, 0.1% mercuric chloride for 2 min showed low percentage contamination  and highest (96%) percentage of microbes free explants. The explants were cultured on Murashige and Skoog’s medium augmented with different concentrations and combinations of plant growth regulators for direct and indirect regeneration. Highest percentage of callus induction (82.3 ± 0.57) from inter-nodal segments was observed on Murashige and Skoog’s medium supplemented with 1.5 mg/L of 2,4-D. Three types of calli viz.,  friable, semi-friable and compact calli were observed from the inter-nodal segments. Highest frequency of shoot proliferation (61.5 ± 0.43) was observed in Murashige and Skoog’s medium augmented with 1.0 mg/L of 6 - Benzyl Amino Purine in combination with 1.0 mg/L α - Naphthalene  Acetic Acid. Maximum number of shootlets regeneration (2.6 ± 0.15) was also observed from the same medium. The in vitro derived calli were sub-cultured for shoot regeneration. The Murashige and Skoog’s medium fortified with 1.0 mg/L of 6 - Benzyl Amino Purine in combination with 0.5 mg/L of α - Naphthalene Acetic Acid showed the highest percentage (73.2 ± 0.43) shoot proliferation from the inter- nodal segments derived calli.  The in vitro raised shootlets were sub-cultured on ½ strength Murashige and Skoog’s medium augmented with various concentrations of IAA and IBA for root formation. Highest percentage, maximum number of rootlets/shootlet and mean length of rootlets were observed in ½ Murashige and Skoog’s medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/L of IBA. Sixty eight percentages of plantlets were established in the earthen pots.ÂÂ

USERS’ ENGAGEMENT IN BANKING ACTIVITIES ON SOCIAL MEDIA: A STUDY WITH REFERENCE TO FACEBOOK

This study was conducted to assess the users’ (customers’) engagement in Indian commercial banks on social media through customer reactions (likes, comments and shares) to the banking activities (banks’ Facebook page posts) on Facebook. The data was collected through Facebook for a period of five and half years (June 2016 to December 2021). This paper also found the presence of Indian commercial banks on various social media platforms. The results show that most of the commercial banks are present in popular social media platforms and all the banks are present on Facebook as well. With respect to users’ engagement in social media, private sector banks have more engaged users, especially in ICICI bank in comparison to public sector banks even though there are more public sector banks’ activities

Reference Distorted Prices

I show that when consumers (mis)perceive prices relative to reference prices, budgets turn out to be soft, prices tend to be lower and the average quality of goods sold decreases. These observations provide explanations for decentralized purchase decisions, for people being happy with a purchase even when they have paid their evaluation, and for why trade might affect high quality local firms 'unfairly'

Silver ferrite embellished graphene oxide heterogenous nanocomposite for efficient electrochemical detection of gallic acid

Ferrites have attracted the research community owing to their invincible properties corresponding to their magnetic recoverability, recycling efficacy, and environmentally friendly behaviour. They are gaining importance in catalysis, sensors, supercapacitors, batteries, magnetic tunnel ferrofluids, magnetic drug delivery, and information storage. By taking advantage of ferrites, in this study, we have developed a silver ferrite embellished graphene oxide (AgFe2O4/GO) nanocomposite by decorating AgFe2O4 on graphene oxide (GO) by a viable route. The crystal structure, size, morphology, and magnetic behaviour of the fabricated nanocomposites have been investigated with the assistance of fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, RAMAN spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopic (SEM) techniques. The composite has been examined for the electrocatalytic determination of gallic acid (GA) by cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry by its modification of glassy carbon electrode. This modified glassy carbon electrode has shown excellent electrocatalytic behaviour toward the detection of GA. These results can be used as an electrochemical standard in the estimation of total polyphenol content in the foodstuffs and extended to pharmaceutical and industrial applications

Enteral lactoferrin supplementation for very preterm infants: a randomised placebo-controlled trial

Background Infections acquired in hospital are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in very preterm infants. Several small trials have suggested that supplementing the enteral diet of very preterm infants with lactoferrin, an antimicrobial protein processed from cow's milk, prevents infections and associated complications. The aim of this large randomised controlled trial was to collect data to enhance the validity and applicability of the evidence from previous trials to inform practice. Methods In this randomised placebo-controlled trial, we recruited very preterm infants born before 32 weeks' gestation in 37 UK hospitals and younger than 72 h at randomisation. Exclusion criteria were presence of a severe congenital anomaly, anticipated enteral fasting for longer than 14 days, or no realistic prospect of survival. Eligible infants were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive either enteral bovine lactoferrin (150 mg/kg per day; maximum 300 mg/day; lactoferrin group) or sucrose (same dose; control group) once daily until 34 weeks' postmenstrual age. Web-based randomisation minimised for recruitment site, gestation (completed weeks), sex, and single versus multifetal pregnancy. Parents, caregivers, and outcome assessors were unaware of group assignment. The primary outcome was microbiologically confirmed or clinically suspected late-onset infection (occurring >72 h after birth), which was assessed in all participants for whom primary outcome data was available by calculating the relative risk ratio with 95% CI between the two groups. The trial is registered with the International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Number 88261002. Findings We recruited 2203 participants between May 7, 2014, and Sept 28, 2017, of whom 1099 were assigned to the lactoferrin group and 1104 to the control group. Four infants had consent withdrawn or unconfirmed, leaving 1098 infants in the lactoferrin group and 1101 in the sucrose group. Primary outcome data for 2182 infants (1093 [99·5%] of 1098 in the lactoferrin group and 1089 [99·0] of 1101 in the control group) were available for inclusion in the modified intention-to-treat analyses. 316 (29%) of 1093 infants in the intervention group acquired a late-onset infection versus 334 (31%) of 1089 in the control group. The risk ratio adjusted for minimisation factors was 0·95 (95% CI 0·86–1·04; p=0·233). During the trial there were 16 serious adverse events for infants in the lactoferrin group and 10 for infants in the control group. Two events in the lactoferrin group (one case of blood in stool and one death after intestinal perforation) were assessed as being possibly related to the trial intervention. Interpretation Enteral supplementation with bovine lactoferrin does not reduce the risk of late-onset infection in very preterm infants. These data do not support its routine use to prevent late-onset infection and associated morbidity or mortality in very preterm infants. Funding UK National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment programme (10/57/49)

Enteral lactoferrin supplementation for very preterm infants: a randomised placebo-controlled trial

Background Infections acquired in hospital are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in very preterm infants. Several small trials have suggested that supplementing the enteral diet of very preterm infants with lactoferrin, an antimicrobial protein processed from cow's milk, prevents infections and associated complications. The aim of this large randomised controlled trial was to collect data to enhance the validity and applicability of the evidence from previous trials to inform practice. Methods In this randomised placebo-controlled trial, we recruited very preterm infants born before 32 weeks' gestation in 37 UK hospitals and younger than 72 h at randomisation. Exclusion criteria were presence of a severe congenital anomaly, anticipated enteral fasting for longer than 14 days, or no realistic prospect of survival. Eligible infants were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive either enteral bovine lactoferrin (150 mg/kg per day; maximum 300 mg/day; lactoferrin group) or sucrose (same dose; control group) once daily until 34 weeks' postmenstrual age. Web-based randomisation minimised for recruitment site, gestation (completed weeks), sex, and single versus multifetal pregnancy. Parents, caregivers, and outcome assessors were unaware of group assignment. The primary outcome was microbiologically confirmed or clinically suspected late-onset infection (occurring >72 h after birth), which was assessed in all participants for whom primary outcome data was available by calculating the relative risk ratio with 95% CI between the two groups. The trial is registered with the International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Number 88261002. Findings We recruited 2203 participants between May 7, 2014, and Sept 28, 2017, of whom 1099 were assigned to the lactoferrin group and 1104 to the control group. Four infants had consent withdrawn or unconfirmed, leaving 1098 infants in the lactoferrin group and 1101 in the sucrose group. Primary outcome data for 2182 infants (1093 [99·5%] of 1098 in the lactoferrin group and 1089 [99·0] of 1101 in the control group) were available for inclusion in the modified intention-to-treat analyses. 316 (29%) of 1093 infants in the intervention group acquired a late-onset infection versus 334 (31%) of 1089 in the control group. The risk ratio adjusted for minimisation factors was 0·95 (95% CI 0·86–1·04; p=0·233). During the trial there were 16 serious adverse events for infants in the lactoferrin group and 10 for infants in the control group. Two events in the lactoferrin group (one case of blood in stool and one death after intestinal perforation) were assessed as being possibly related to the trial intervention. Interpretation Enteral supplementation with bovine lactoferrin does not reduce the risk of late-onset infection in very preterm infants. These data do not support its routine use to prevent late-onset infection and associated morbidity or mortality in very preterm infants. Funding UK National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment programme (10/57/49)

Toward the Discovery of Vaccine Adjuvants: Coupling In Silico Screening and In Vitro Analysis of Antagonist Binding to Human and Mouse CCR4 Receptors

BACKGROUND: Adjuvants enhance or modify an immune response that is made to an antigen. An antagonist of the chemokine CCR4 receptor can display adjuvant-like properties by diminishing the ability of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) to down-regulate immune responses. METHODOLOGY: Here, we have used protein modelling to create a plausible chemokine receptor model with the aim of using virtual screening to identify potential small molecule chemokine antagonists. A combination of homology modelling and molecular docking was used to create a model of the CCR4 receptor in order to investigate potential lead compounds that display antagonistic properties. Three-dimensional structure-based virtual screening of the CCR4 receptor identified 116 small molecules that were calculated to have a high affinity for the receptor; these were tested experimentally for CCR4 antagonism. Fifteen of these small molecules were shown to inhibit specifically CCR4-mediated cell migration, including that of CCR4(+) Tregs. SIGNIFICANCE: Our CCR4 antagonists act as adjuvants augmenting human T cell proliferation in an in vitro immune response model and compound SP50 increases T cell and antibody responses in vivo when combined with vaccine antigens of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Plasmodium yoelii in mice