Development of a fixative protocol using formaldehyde and gluteraldehyde for preservation of microbial art on agar plates.

Agar art bridges the gap between science and art, using microbes instead of paint. Afterwards, the art can change in response to microbial fluctuation, meaning preservation of the original art is essential. Here, formaldehyde and glutaraldehyde were investigated as preservatives, involving techniques used in healthcare settings to preserve samples. Formaldehyde was tested at 1.0%, 2.0% and 3.7%, w/v, whereas glutaraldehyde was tested at 1% and 2.5%, w/v. Both compounds and respective concentrations were tested for different time periods. Escherichia coli, Serratia marcescens, Staphlococcus aureus and Micrococcus luteus were used as bacteria for "drawing" the works of art. The effectiveness of fixation was determined using integrated densities and visual assessment. Initially, both compounds showed potential promise, albeit with a loss of bacteria. Ser. marcescens was prone to colour changes and glutaraldehyde caused discolouration of agar and bacteria. These could be caused by a pH decrease in the agar, due to residual free aldehyde groups. Reduction of this was tested using 300 mM sodium metabisulfite to neutralize excess aldehydes. This initially led to reduced bacterial loss and avoided colour changes, however measurements 24 h post-fixation showed colour loss to some bacterial clusters. This study found that, depending on the species, use of at least 2% formaldehyde for a short fixation period (typically 1 min) was the most promising approach for the preservation of art. Given the success of this with different bacteria, it would make a good starting combination for anyone trying to fix agar art; depending on the bacterial species used, methodology refinement may be needed for optimisation. This study shows successful fixation and preservation of different bacterial species on agar for the first time. The impact of this is to preserve agar art while making it safe and non-infective to those in contact with the microbial art

Networks of Opportunity: Public Engagement Survey Results

The Project for Public Spaces notes, “People who use a public space are the ones who know, from experience, which areas are dangerous and why, which spaces are comfortable, where traffic moves too quickly and how certain aspects of a space could be improved” (2011, p. 13). Therefore, public engagement was a core part of our project. As previously stated, one major objective of this project is to propose safer paths to school for students. This objective stems from the fact that no bus services are provided to children who live within 1 mile of an elementary school, 1.5 miles of a middle school, and 2 miles of a high school. Since Pacer Planning could not gain students’ input for ethical reasons, target stakeholders that can act as proxies for the student population are the City’s Parent Teacher Organizations (PTOs), public safety officials, and school administration officials. In a similar vein, the target population includes students’ parents. Gaining these individuals’ input on where problem areas exist would provide invaluable insight when formulating our recommendations

Role of lysophosphatidic acid receptor LPA2 in the development of allergic airway inflammation in a murine model of asthma

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) plays a critical role in airway inflammation through G protein-coupled LPA receptors (LPA_1-3). We have demonstrated that LPA induced cytokine and lipid mediator release in human bronchial epithelial cells. Here we provide evidence for the role of LPA and LPA receptors in Th2-dominant airway inflammation.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p/> <p>Wild type, LPA₁heterozygous knockout mice (LPA₁^+/-), and LPA₂heterozygous knockout mice (LPA₂^+/-) were sensitized with inactivated <it>Schistosoma mansoni </it>eggs and local antigenic challenge with <it>Schistosoma mansoni </it>soluble egg Ag (SEA) in the lungs. Bronchoalveolar larvage (BAL) fluids and lung tissues were collected for analysis of inflammatory responses. Further, tracheal epithelial cells were isolated and challenged with LPA.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>BAL fluids from <it>Schistosoma mansoni </it>egg-sensitized and challenged wild type mice (4 days of challenge) showed increase of LPA level (~2.8 fold), compared to control mice. LPA₂^+/-mice, but not LPA₁^+/-mice, exposed to <it>Schistosoma mansoni </it>egg revealed significantly reduced cell numbers and eosinophils in BAL fluids, compared to challenged wild type mice. Both LPA₂^+/-and LPA₁^+/-mice showed decreases in bronchial goblet cells. LPA₂^+/-mice, but not LPA₁^+/-mice showed the decreases in prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and LPA levels in BAL fluids after SEA challenge. The PGE2 production by LPA was reduced in isolated tracheal epithelial cells from LPA₂^+/-mice. These results suggest that LPA and LPA receptors are involved in <it>Schistosoma mansoni </it>egg-mediated inflammation and further studies are proposed to understand the role of LPA and LPA receptors in the inflammatory process.</p

In vitro pre-selection criteria for probiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus TS1 isolated from fermented milk product, Dahi

Aims: The aim of this research was to evaluate some probiotic traits of Lactobacillus acidophilus TS1 strain previously isolated from dahi. Methodology and results: For this purpose, tested strain was evaluated for their resistance to low pH, tolerance to bile and in vitro antibiotics susceptibility. It was observed that the strain TS1 remained viable at pH 3.0 to 6 and bile concentration of 0.1 to 0.3%. Conclusion, significance and impact of study: L. acidophilus TS1 was found resistant to nalidixic acid, ciprofloxacine, gentamycin and vancomycin. The results highlighted the probiotic potential of L. acidophilus TS1 which deserves further investigation in vitro studies to elucidate its health benefits

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Not AvailableAn experiment was conducted to study the effect of nitrogen and farm yard manure (FYM) on some physiological, biochemical parameters and quality of root of medicinal plant ashwagandha at pre-flowering and post-flowering stages. Significant differences in pigment content (chlorophyll and carotenoids) were observed in both pre and post-flowering stages. The total phenol and ortho-dihydric phenol content decreased with the application of nitrogen in pre-flowering stage, but increased with the application of nitrogen at post-flowering stage. The activity of polyphenol oxidase(PPO) showed an increasing trend with the application of nitrogen in pre-flowering stage and mixed trend in post-flowering stage. The highest grade of roots B, C and D were formed at all applied nitrogen levels. The quality of root based on the alkaloid content was found to be better at low nitrogen level (No and N 20 ) and FYM. However, the root yield was maximum 20 kg N ha -1Not Availabl

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Not AvailableField experiments at Jabalpur and Bhopal on Vertisols were conducted to study the residual effects of P applied to either soybean or wheat in a soybean - wheat system in terms of the changes in soil test P values and benefit: cost rations. Phosphorus was applied at rates of 0,13,26.39 and 52 kg P/ ha to soybean 0,13,26 and 39 kg P/ ha to wheat during the first year and in the subsequent years the residual effects were compared with 39 kg P/ ha to each crop as recommended dose. Both soybean and wheat crops, during the three rotations, responded to residual and 39 kg P/ ha applied during 2nd and 3rd crop cycles at Bhopal due to low Olsen P status. But at Jabalpur, residual and freshly applied P had significant influence on soybean and wheat yields only after two annual rotations when Olsen P was below the critical limit. At both the sites, benefit: cost ratios of fertilizer P applied at rates of 13-39 kg P/ ha to first soybean or wheat were high and almost similar upto two cropsNot Availabl

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Not AvailableIn a 2-year field experiment (2001/02-2002/03) on deep Vertisols of Bhopal, India, the production potential, economic feasibility and nutrient balance of five cropping systems (soybean, sorghum and maize as sole crops, soybean + sorghum and soybean + maize as intercrops) each at 0%, 75% and 100% recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN) during rainy season were evaluated followed by growing wheat with RDN during post-rainy season. The results indicated that sole cropping of sorghum and maize recorded higher biomass yield than sole soybean and their intercrops. In contrast, the biomass yield of wheat during post rainy season was higher when the preceding crops were sole soybean or soybean + maize intercropping. At N0 level, intercropping of soybean + maize followed by wheat system was more productive and remunerative with a gain of 7.7 and 27.0 kg/ha of soil available P and K, respectively, but resulted in a net loss of 4.0 kg/ha of soil available N over a period of 2 years. This cropping system was less susceptible to runoff and soil erosion. At 75% and 100% recommended N levels, maize-wheat system was more productive and remunerative with a gain of 2.0 and 5.8 kg/ha of soil available N, 9.0 and 7.8 kg/ha of soil available P and 35.0 and 28.4 kg/ha of soil available K, respectively. However this cropping system resulted in higher runoff and soil loss. Adopting appropriate agronomic and soil conservation measures may correct the negative aspect of this system.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableThe Agricultural Production System Simulator (APSIM) Wheat model was used to test the sensitivity of wheat cropping system for the Bhopal region in Madhya Pradesh to changes in temperature (0 to 5°C from the base mean temperature) and atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration (0 to 550 ppm from the base of 350 ppm). The wheat cultivar Sujata was used for this simulation study. It was found that there was a negative relationship between grain yield and temperature while there were positive correlations of grain yield with atmospheric CO2 concentration for the region under study. However, the rate of decrease in grain yield was more for higher temperatures rise in contrast to lower temperatures, and the rate of increase in grain and biomass yield was more for higher CO2 concentration compared with the lower levels. On an average, there was 8% decrease in wheat grain and biomass yield per 1 °C increase in temperature. On the contrary, wheat grain yield increased by 33% and biomass yield by 35% with the elevation in CO2 concentration from 350 to 850 ppm. Increasing the temperature by1 oC and CO2 concentration to 500 ppm, the yield decline in wheat was lower than individual effect of increased temperature. This study showed that environmental factors have significant effects on wheat grain and biomass yield with changes in atmospheric CO2 and temperature. These findings provided a sound basis for preliminary coping and prioritizing adaptation options for the future climate change scenariosNot Availabl

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Not AvailableBenefits of sheep farming in drylandsNot Availabl