Brownian dynamics simulations of planar mixed flows of polymer solutions at finite concentrations

Periodic boundary conditions for planar mixed flows are implemented in the context of a multi-chain Brownian dynamics simulation algorithm. The effect of shear rate $\dot{\gamma}$, and extension rate $\dot{\epsilon}$, on the size of polymer chains, \left, and on the polymer contribution to viscosity, $\eta$, is examined for solutions of FENE dumbbells at finite concentrations, with excluded volume interactions between the beads taken into account. The influence of the mixedness parameter, $\chi$, and flow strength, $\dot{\Gamma}$, on \left and $\eta$, is also examined, where $\chi \rightarrow 0$ corresponds to pure shear flow, and $\chi \rightarrow 1$ corresponds to pure extensional flow. It is shown that there exists a critical value, $\chi_\text{c}$, such that the flow is shear dominated for $\chi < \chi_\text{c}$, and extension dominated for $\chi > \chi_\text{c}$.Comment: 18 pages, 12 figures, to appear in Chemical Engineering Scienc

Bacterial flora associated with diseased fish and their antibiogram

Bacterial flora associated with tail rot/fin rot of Carassius auratus, Xiphophorus helleri and hemorrhagic ulcers of Clarias spp were studied. Sensitivity pattern of 33 isolates comprising Aeromonas spp, Pseudomonas spp and Gram-positive rods from diseased C. auratus, X. helleri and Clarias spp were screened against six broad-spectrum antibiotics viz. ciprofloxacin, chloramphenicol, co-trimoxazole, gentamycin, nitro-furantoin and oxytetracycline. Ciprofloxacin was the most effective in inhibiting bacteria at 0.05-0.10 µg/ml level. About 44% of Pseudomonas spp. was resistant to nitrofurantoin. Resistance to oxytetracycline was seen in 27% of Aeromonas spp Gram-positive rods were comparatively more resistant to antibiotics. The multiple antibiotic resistances were seen in 21% of the bacterial isolates of diseased fish

Performance Evaluation of \u3cem\u3eKharif\u3c/em\u3e and \u3cem\u3eRabi\u3c/em\u3e Fodder Sorghum in Namsai District of Arunachal Pradesh

Deficiency of feed and fodder accounts for half of the total loss in dairy farming therefore, forages are called as backbone of livestock industry. The scarcity of green forages and grazing resources in the country has made the livestock to suffer continuously with malnutrition resulting in their production potentiality at sub-optimum level as compared to many developed nations (Anonymous, 2012). Arunachal Pradesh is well known for its ever green vegetation and biodiversity under hilly ecosystem. Though, it is situated at remotest part of country but possess huge scope of livestock farming. Namsai district of Arunachal Pradesh is a bordering district of Assam and having huge potential of milk production and its marketing which may help to improve the economic condition and poverty eradication of rural people. Cow is a major dairy animal here, however, the milk production capacity is very low as compared to other parts of the country. Dairy cow are reared in century old traditional way therefore, there are several areas of dairy management which needs improvement. Scarcity of feed and fodder is one of the major bottleneck which needs to be addressed urgently. Namsai district has very limited number of fodder crop and farmers mainly depend on non-conventional, public grazing land and forest vegetation. KVK Lohit (Namsai district) has introduced fodder sorghum in rainy and winter season for the first time in the district purposefully to improve the fodder availability under organized dairy farming in Namsai district

Prophylactic Role of Boerhaavia diffusa in Ethylene Glycol Induced Calcium Oxalate Urolithiasis

Introduction: Boerhaavia diffusa Linn. (Family: Nyctaginaceae) is a widely used plant in India and Brazil as a traditional medicine for treatment of urolithiasis and other urinary disorders.Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the antiurolithic activity of Boerhaavia diffusa root aqueous extract (BDE) as prophylaxis for renal stones.Methods: In vitro calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystallization inhibitory effect of BDE was determined by measuring change in turbidity at 620nm on addition of sodium oxalate in the synthetic urine. In a rat model of urolithiasis, induced by adding 0.75% ethylene glycol (EG) in drinking water and effect of simultaneous treatment of BDE (100-200 mg/kg) was observed for 28 days.Results: BDE inhibited CaOx nucleation, aggregation and crystal formation in the synthetic urine in vitro on addition of NaOx. The lithogenic treatment caused polyuria, weight loss, hyperoxaluria and impairment of renal function which was prevented by BDE. Hyperoxaluria and CaOx crystaldeposition in the renal tubules caused by EG intake was prevented by BDE treatment.Conclusion: This study indicates that the antiurolithic activity of Boerhaavia diffusa extract possibly mediated through inhibition of CaOx crystallization, diuresis and hypo-oxaluria may justify its prophylactic use in urolithiasis

T cell costimulatory receptor CD28 is a primary target for PD-1–mediated inhibition

Programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) is a coinhibitory receptor that suppresses T cell activation and is an important cancer immunotherapy target. Upon activation by its ligand PD-L1, PD-1 is thought to suppress signaling through the T cell receptor (TCR). By titrating PD-1 signaling in a biochemical reconstitution system, we demonstrate that the co-receptor CD28 is strongly preferred over the TCR as a target for dephosphorylation by PD-1-recruited Shp2 phosphatase. We also show that CD28, but not the TCR, is preferentially dephosphorylated in response to PD-1 activation by PD-L1 in an intact cell system. These results reveal that PD-1 suppresses T cell function primarily by inactivating CD28 signaling, suggesting that costimulatory pathways play key roles in regulating effector T cell function and responses to anti-PD-L1/PD-1 therapy