Genetic diversity in green gram [Vigna radiata (L.)] landraces analyzed by using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD)

Green gram [Vigna radiata (L.)] landraces were collected from various localities of Southern Tamil Nadu, India, to determine the extent of genetic diversity at DNA level by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis using 20 decamer primers. All the primers produced polymorphic amplificationproducts with some extent of variation. A total of 200 bands were generated with an average of 10 per primer and exhibited 83.0% polymorphism. Jaccard’s similarity coefficient ranged from 0.64 to 0.93 and concentrated mostly between 0.76 to 0.93. This indicated a rather narrow genetic base of tested green gram landraces. Clustering of green gram landraces into two groups showed reasonable variability that may be exploited for selecting parents for breeding purposes. Generally distinct phenotypes identifiedusing RAPD markers could be potential sources of germplasm for green gram improvemen

Chromium-induced accumulation of peroxide content, stimulation of antioxidative enzymes and lipid peroxidation in green gram (Vigna radiata L. cv. Wilczek) leaves

Chromium (Cr)-induced oxidative damage and changes in contents of chlorophyll, protein, peroxide and malondialdehyde (MDA) and activities of enzymatic antioxidants were investigated in 4-day-old green gram (Vigna radiata L. cv. Wilczek) seedlings. Cr increased the contents of peroxide and MDA but decreased the contents of chlorophyll and proteins. Cr reduced the activities of catalase (CAT) and glutathione reductase (GR), but increased the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in green gramleaves. Lipid peroxidation is considered to be an important mechanism of Cr-induced oxidative damage in green gram leaves. The peroxidation of lipids can be initiated by free radicals. The effects of Crinducedoxidative damage and increase in the contents of peroxide and MDA in green gram leaves can be minimized by pretreatment with ascorbic acid (AA) and reduced glutathione (GSH) or both

Laminated Jute and Glass Fibre Reinforced Composite for Repairing Concrete Through Wrapping Technique

In the recent decades, the research of natural fibre in concrete structure materials had attracted many researchers and engineers due to its good agreement in mechanical properties, economically and sustainability. In this study, the jute and glass fibre laminated composite for repairing concrete through the wrapping technique was analysed. A total of 66 concrete specimens, 150 x 50 mm each, were tested. Six concrete specimens were kept as control specimen, 30 specimens were laminated with glass fibre-reinforced thermoset (GFRT) and 30 specimens were laminated with jute fibre-reinforced thermoset (JFRT). The vinyl ester (VE) was used as a matrix. Eventually, all specimen was tested using compression and Brazilian testing. It was found that both GFRT and JFRT had the potential to improve the mechanical performance of concrete specimens with the increment of a maximum number of five (5) layers of woven fibre. It was also found that the four (4) layers of JFRT had the highest mechanical properties with improvement of 72.62% compare to GFRT (4 layers). The results presented here may facilitate improvements in the concrete specimen by using JFRT where it had been suggested to have a higher improvement for the concrete specimen with the optimum layers applied. Hence, jute fibre had been proven to have better performance and can replace the use of glass fibre

Laminated Jute and Glass Fibre Reinforced Composite for Repairing Concrete Through Wrapping Technique

In the recent decades, the research of natural fibre in concrete structure materials had attracted many researchers and engineers due to its good agreement in mechanical properties, economically and sustainability. In this study, the jute and glass fibre laminated composite for repairing concrete through the wrapping technique was analysed. A total of 66 concrete specimens, 150 x 50 mm each, were tested. Six concrete specimens were kept as control specimen, 30 specimens were laminated with glass fibre-reinforced thermoset (GFRT) and 30 specimens were laminated with jute fibre-reinforced thermoset (JFRT). The vinyl ester (VE) was used as a matrix. Eventually, all specimen was tested using compression and Brazilian testing. It was found that both GFRT and JFRT had the potential to improve the mechanical performance of concrete specimens with the increment of a maximum number of five (5) layers of woven fibre. It was also found that the four (4) layers of JFRT had the highest mechanical properties with improvement of 72.62% compare to GFRT (4 layers). The results presented here may facilitate improvements in the concrete specimen by using JFRT where it had been suggested to have a higher improvement for the concrete specimen with the optimum layers applied. Hence, jute fibre had been proven to have better performance and can replace the use of glass fibre

The effects of physiological biomechanical loading on intradiscal pressure and annulus Stress in lumbar spine: a finite element analysis

The present study was conducted to examine the effects of body weight on intradiscal pressure (IDP) and annulus stress of intervertebral discs at lumbar spine. Three-dimensional finite element model of osseoligamentous lumbar spine was developed subjected to follower load of 500 N, 800 N, and 1200 N which represent the loads for individuals who are normal and overweight with the pure moments at 7.5 Nm in flexion and extension motions. It was observed that the maximum IDP was 1.26 MPa at L1-L2 vertebral segment. However, the highest increment of IDP was found at L4-L5 segment where the IDP was increased to 30% in flexion and it was more severe at extension motion reaching to 80%. Furthermore, the maximum annulus stress also occurred at the L1-L2 segment with 3.9 MPa in extension motion. However, the highest increment was also found at L4-L5 where the annulus stress increased to 17% in extension motion. Based on these results, the increase of physiological loading could be an important factor to the increment of intradiscal pressure and annulus fibrosis stress at all intervertebral discs at the lumbar spine which may lead to early intervertebral disc damage

Deferoxamine preconditioning to restore impaired HIF-1α-mediated angiogenic mechanisms in adipose-derived stem cells from STZ-induced type 1 diabetic rats

Objectives: Both excessive and insufficient angiogenesis are associated with progression of diabetic complications, of which poor angiogenesis is an important feature. Currently, adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) are considered to be a promising source to aid therapeutic neovascularization. However, functionality of these cells is impaired by diabetes which can result from a defect in hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1), a key mediator involved in neovascularization. In the current study, we sought to explore effectiveness of pharmacological priming with deferoxamine (DFO) as a hypoxia mimetic agent, to restore the compromised angiogenic pathway, with the aid of ADSCs derived from streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type 1 diabetic rats ('diabetic ADSCs'). Materials and methods: Diabetic ADSCs were treated with DFO and compared to normal and non-treated diabetic ADSCs for expression of HIF-1α, VEGF, FGF-2 and SDF-1, at mRNA and protein levels, using qRT-PCR, western blotting and ELISA assay. Activity of matrix metalloproteinases -2 and -9 were measured using a gelatin zymography assay. Angiogenic potential of conditioned media derived from normal, DFO-treated and non-treated diabetic ADSCs were determined by in vitro (in HUVECs) and in vivo experiments including scratch assay, three-dimensional tube formation testing and surgical wound healing models. Results: DFO remarkably enhanced expression of noted genes by mRNA and protein levels and restored activity of matrix metalloproteinases -2 and -9. Compromised angiogenic potential of conditioned medium derived from diabetic ADSCs was restored by DFO both in vitro and in vivo experiments. Conclusion: DFO preconditioning restored neovascularization potential of ADSCs derived from diabetic rats by affecting the HIF-1α pathway. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons Ltd

Nutritional status and the use of protease inhibitors among HIV-infected children in Klang Valley, Malaysia

This study determined the association between nutritional status and the use of protease inhibitors (PI) containing regimen among HIV-infected children receiving treatment at the referral centres in Klang Valley. A total of 95 children currently on antiretroviral (ARV) therapy, aged one to eighteen years, were recruited using purposive sampling. Demographic data, anthropometric measurements, medical history, were collected using a structured questionnaire. Serum micronutrients levels and lipid profile were also examined using blood samples. Mean age was 8.8 3.9 years and 44.2% were on PI. Age (2=10.351, p = .006), weight-for-age ( 2 = 6.567, p = .010), serum selenium ( 2 = 4.225, p = .040) and HDL-C (2=7.539, p=.006) were significantly associated with the use of PI. Fewer children on PI were deficient in selenium as compared to those not on PI. On the contrary, more children on PI were underweight and had low HDL-C. The use of PI was found to have both positive and negative effects with better selenium level but poorer HDL-C level and weight status

Fiber density of collagen grafts impacts rabbit urethral regeneration.

There is a need for efficient and "off-the-shelf" grafts in urethral reconstructive surgery. Currently available surgical techniques require harvesting of grafts from autologous sites, with increased risk of surgical complications and added patient discomfort. Therefore, a cost-effective and cell-free graft with adequate regenerative potential has a great chance to be translated into clinical practice. Tubular cell-free collagen grafts were prepared by varying the collagen density and fiber distribution, thereby creating a polarized low fiber density collagen graft (LD-graft). A uniform, high fiber density collagen graft (HD-graft) was engineered as a control. These two grafts were implanted to bridge a 2 cm long iatrogenic urethral defect in a rabbit model. Histology revealed that rabbits implanted with the LD-graft had a better smooth muscle regeneration compared to the HD-graft. The overall functional outcome assessed by contrast voiding cystourethrography showed patency of the urethra in 90% for the LD-graft and in 66.6% for the HD-graft. Functional regeneration of the rabbit implanted with the LD-graft could further be demonstrated by successful mating, resulting in healthy offspring. In conclusion, cell-free low-density polarized collagen grafts show better urethral regeneration than high-density collagen grafts

Thermoluminescence studies of calcium metaborate (CaB2O4) nanocrystals synthesized by solution combustion method

This paper presents the thermoluminescence properties of calcium metaborate (CaB2O4) nanocrystals prepared by solution combustion method. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and thermoluminescence (TL) analysis respectively. The XRD patterns showed the orthorhombic structure with the crystallite size at around 27 nm and the FESEM micrograph revealed the formation of nanocrystals with irregular spherical shape. Weight fraction obtained from EDX analysis consequently led to determination of an effective atomic number. It was found that the effective atomic number of CaB2O4, Zeff = 14.1 was equivalent to the effective atomic number of the bone, Zeff = 13.2 with error of 6.8 %. The samples were annealed using the TLD oven and exposed to Cobalt-60 source. TL glow curves were recorded using a Harshaw model 3500 TLD reader. The TL glow curve of this material showed a simple, single, peak located at around 150 °C. The most striking dosimetric feature of these nanocrystals was the excellence of the linearity response of a dose range from 1 Gy up to 100 Gy with R2= 0.9827 compared to the TLD-100 powder with R2= 0.9276. The high linear correlation between dose and TL response to gamma radiation suggests that calcium metaborate nanocrystals can be considered as a promising material to be used in thermoluminescence dosimetry