Co adaptation of LiCl tolerant Solanum tuberosum L. callus cultures to NaCl stress

In this research, co-adaptation of the Calli of Solanum tuberosum, raised from petioles, to the presence of lithium (LiCl) and sodium chloride (NaCl) was studied. The cultures were adapted with LiCl in the absence of an osmotic stress and the response of adapted and unadapted calli to salinity was investigated. Undifferentiated callus growth was induced in S. tuberosum by the addition of 2 mg/l 2,4 dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D), 0.25 mg/l kinetin to Murashige and Skoog medium. Subcultures were subjected to an incremental increase in LiCl to obtain adapted lines. Adapted and undapted calli were grown with LiCl and NaCl and the tissue content of Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+ and proline levels were determined. Either 40 mM LiCl or 100 mM NaCl inhibited unadapted calli by more than 50%, while adapted calli grew normally under these conditions. The adapted calli exhibited a lower K+ content with or without salt and showed a lower accumulation of Na+ at 100 mM NaCl. The tissue K+ and Mg2+ contents decreased and their proline levels increased with salinity. A co-adaptation phenomenon is induced by LiCl that involves a regulation of K+ and Na+ contents and an accumulation of proline, which also brings about tolerance to osmotic effects of salt. This data is highly useful for devising breeding and molecular modification strategies for stress tolerance.Key words: Cations, proline, osmotic adjustment, salt tolerance, Solanum tuberosum

Mapping human serum induced gene networks as a basis for the creation of biomimetic periosteum for bone repair

The periosteum is a highly vascularised, collagen-rich tissue that plays a crucial role in directing bone repair. This is orchestrated primarily by its resident progenitor cell population. Indeed, preservation of periosteum integrity is critical for bone healing. Cells extracted from the periosteum retain their osteochondrogenic properties and as such are a promising basis for tissue engineering strategies for the repair of bone defects. However, the culture expansion conditions, and the way in which the cells are reintroduced to the defect site are critical aspects of successful translation. Indeed, expansion in human serum and implantation on biomimetic materials has previously been shown to improve in vivo bone formation. As such, this study aimed to develop a protocol to allow for the expansion of human periosteum derived cells (hPDCs) in a biomimetic periosteal-like environment. The expansion conditions were defined through the investigation of the bioactive cues involved in augmenting hPDC proliferative and multipotency characteristics, based on transcriptomic analysis of cells cultured in human serum. Master regulators of transcriptional networks were identified and an optimised periosteal derived-growth factor cocktail (PD-GFC; containing β-Estradiol, FGF2, TNFα, TGFβ, IGF-1 and PDGF-BB) was generated. Expansion of hPDCs in PD-GFC resulted in serum mimicry with regards to the cell morphology, proliferative capacity and chondrogenic differentiation. When incorporated into a 3D collagen-type-1 matrix and cultured in PD-GFC, the hPDCs migrated to the surface that represented the matrix topography of the periosteum cambium layer. Furthermore, gene expression analysis revealed a downregulated Wnt and TGFβ signature and an upregulation of CREB, which may indicate the hPDCs are recreating their progenitor cell signature. This study highlights the first stage in the development of a biomimetic periosteum which may have applications in bone repair

FORMULATION AND EVALUATAION OF COLON TARGETED MATRIX TABLET OF NAPROXEN

Objectives: The objective of the present study is to formulate the Colon targeted delivery containing Naproxen for chronopharmaceutical drug delivery system (ChrDDS) for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, which are influenced by circadian rhythm. Chronopharmaceutical drug delivery system is capable of delivering drug when and where drug required most. Naproxen would remain in the GIT Fluid, intestinal fluid and it will liberate only in colonic fluid and gives better absorption. Methods: The matrix core tablets of Naproxen were prepared by direct compression method by using Crosspovidone as superdisintegrant. From those optimesd batch core tablet is further going for coating. Coating was carried out by using natural gums like Xanthan gum, Guar gum, Chitosan and Pectin alone and in combination. Results: From the experimental work Crosspovidone shows good drug release. Coating done by combination of Xanthan Gum and Chitosan shows better drug release (98.24%) in sustained release manner than other natural gums like Guar gum and pectin. Conclusion: From the results obtained, it was concluded that the programmable Chronopharmaceutical drug release has been achieved from Crosspovidone containing core tablet compressed coated by combination of Xanthan gum and Chitosan over a 10 hrs period, consistent with the demands of chronotherapeutic drug delivery for rheumatoid arthritis

A Review of Permeability and Flow Simulation for Liquid Composite Moulding of Plant Fibre Composites

Liquid composite moulding (LCM) of plant fibre composites has gained much attention for the development of structural biobased composites. To produce quality composites, better understanding of the resin impregnation process and flow behaviour in plant fibre reinforcements is vital. By reviewing the literature, we aim to identify key plant fibre reinforcement-specific factors that influence, if not govern, the mould filling stage during LCM of plant fibre composites. In particular, the differences in structure (physical and biochemical) for plant and synthetic fibres, their semi-products (i.e., yarns and rovings), and their mats and textiles are shown to have a perceptible effect on their compaction, in-plane permeability, and processing via LCM. In addition to examining the effects of dual-scale flow, resin absorption, (subsequent) fibre swelling, capillarity, and time-dependent saturated and unsaturated permeability that are specific to plant fibre reinforcements, we also review the various models utilised to predict and simulate resin impregnation during LCM of plant fibre composites

The Chemtrak Hp Chek Fingerstick Whole Blood Serology Test for the Detection of Helicobacter pylori Infection

To evaluate a new whole blood serology test (Hp Chek; ChemTrak) that detects IgG antibodies to Helicobacter pylori . Methods : The study was conducted at 10 sites within the United States. Patients undergoing upper endoscopy for dyspepsia were recruited for enrollment. Those treated for H. pylori infection within a year of endoscopy and those who had regularly used proton pump inhibitors, bismuth compounds, or antibiotics within a month of endoscopy were not eligible. During endoscopy, specimens were obtained from the corpus and antrum for histological examination, which was performed by a single experienced pathologist. The Hp Chek was tested using whole blood and serum. Serum was also tested with a reference enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) at a centralized location. Test characteristics for the Hp Chek and ELISA were calculated using histology as the “gold standard.”. Results : Two hundred eighty-seven patients (140 women and 147 men; mean age 53 ± 6 yr ) were enrolled. The Hp Chek was easy to perform and yielded results 9 min after inoculation of the test cassette with whole blood or serum. When the Hp Chek used with whole blood was compared with histology as the gold standard, the sensitivity was 88%, specificity 85%, positive predictive value 83%, negative predictive value 90%, and percent agreement 86%. There were no statistically significant differences among the results obtained with the Hp Chek using whole blood, the Hp Chek using serum, or reference ELISA. Conclusions : The Hp Chek whole blood serology test was easy to perform and rapid and yielded performance characteristics comparable to those of a reference ELISA or the Hp Chek used with serum.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/75251/1/j.1572-0241.1998.016_c.x.pd

People-centric Emission Reduction in Buildings: A Data-driven and Network Topology-based Investigation

There is a growing consensus among policymakers that we need a human-centric low-carbon transition. There are few studies on how to do it effectively, especially in the context of emissions reduction in the building sector. It is critical to investigate public sentiment and attitudes towards this aspect of climate action, as the building and construction sector accounts for 40% of global carbon emissions. Our methodology involves a multi-method approach, using a data-driven exploration of public sentiment using 256,717 tweets containing #emission and #building between 2009 - 2021. Using graph theory-led metrics, a network topology-based investigation of hashtag co-occurrences was used to extract highly influential hashtags. Our results show that public sentiment is reactive to global climate policy events. Between 2009-2012, #greenbuilding, #emissions were highly influential, shaping the public discourse towards climate action. In 2013-2016, #lowcarbon, #construction and #energyefficiency had high centrality scores, which were replaced by hashtags like #climatetec, #netzero, #climateaction, #circulareconomy, and #masstimber, #climatejustice in 2017-2021. Results suggest that the current building emission reduction context emphasises the social and environmental justice dimensions, which is pivotal to an effective people-centric policymaking

Kinetics of four-wave mixing for a 2D magneto-plasma in strong magnetic fields

We investigate the femtosecond kinetics of an optically excited 2D magneto-plasma at intermediate and high densities under a strong magnetic field perpendicular to the quantum well (QW). We assume an additional weak lateral confinement which lifts the degeneracy of the Landau levels partially. We calculate the femtosecond dephasing and relaxation kinetics of the laser pulse excited magneto-plasma due to bare Coulomb potential scattering, because screening is under these conditions of minor importance. In particular the time-resolved and time-integrated four-wave mixing (FWM) signals are calculated by taking into account three Landau subbands in both the valance and the conduction band assuming an electron-hole symmetry. The FWM signals exhibit quantum beats mainly with twice the cyclotron frequency. Contrary to general expectations, we find no pronounced slowing down of the dephasing with increasing magnetic field. On the contrary, one obtains a decreasing dephasing time because of the increase of the Coulomb matrix elements and the number of states in a given Landau subband. In the situation when the loss of scattering channels exceeds these increasing effects, one gets a slight increase at the dephasing time. However, details of the strongly modulated scattering kinetics depend sensitively on the detuning, the plasma density, and the spectral pulse width relative to the cyclotron frequency.Comment: 13 pages, in RevTex format, 10 figures, Phys. Rev B in pres

Infrared spectral studies of Zn-substituted CuFeCrO4 spinel ferrite system

The spinel solid solution series Znx Cu1–x FeCrO4 with x = 0.0,0.2,0.4 and 0.6 has been studied by infrared absorption spectroscopy. The IR-spectrum showed two main absorption bands ν1 and ν2 in the range 400-600 cm-1 arising from tetrahedral (A) and octahedral (B) interstitial sites in the spinel lattice. The absence of ν4 band suggests that lattice vibrations are insignificant. No shoulder or splitting is observed around ν1 and ν2 bands confirming absence of Fe+2 ions in the system. The sharpening of band with Zn- content (x) is due to the fact that the system changes from inverse to normal spinel structure. The structural and optical properties are correlated and the bulk modulus, compressional and shear velocity values determined through IR spectral analysis are in good agreement to those obtained through ultrasonic pulse transmission technique.Author Affiliation: M C Chhantbar, U N Trivedi, P V Tanna, H J Shah, R P Vara, H H Joshi and K B Modi Department of Physics, Saurashtra University, Rajkot-360 005, Gujarat, India E-mail : [email protected] of Physics, Saurashtra University, Rajkot-360 005, Gujarat, Indi

Characterizing cognitive deficits and dementia in an aging urban population in India.

Rapid rise in the population of older adults in India will lead to the need for increased health care services related to diagnosis, management, and long-term care for those with dementia and cognitive impairment. A direct approach for service provision through memory clinics can be an effective, successful, and sustaining means of delivering specialized health care services. We have established a memory clinic in Mumbai, India by employing the diverse clinical skills available in Indian academic institutions, diagnostic and research expertise of clinicians and psychologists, and the support of the U.S. National Institutes of Health. Our project involved recruitment of patients, clinical and neuropsychological assessment, and standardized diagnostic procedures, demonstrating the feasibility of using research methods to develop a memory clinic. In this paper, we describe the development of a community-based memory clinic in urban India, including linguistic and cultural factors and present detailed results, including diagnostic characterization, on 194 subjects with various stages of cognitive deficits. Our findings support the feasibility of developing a memory clinic in a public hospital and successful use of research diagnostic criteria to categorize cognitive deficits observed in this population, which may be used to inform the development of other such clinics