The Egyptian Sorcerer\u27s Drop of Ink in Adam Bede

With a single drop of ink for a mirror, the Egyptian sorcerer undertakes to reveal to any chance corner far-reaching visions of the past. This is what I undertake to do for you, reader. With this drop of ink at the end of my pen, I will show you the roomy workshop of Mr Jonathan Burge, carpenter and builder, in the village of Hayslope, as it appeared on the eighteenth of June, in the year of our Lord 1799. Many scholars and critics have discussed the symbolic significance of the famous opening sentence of Adam Bede and related it to George Eliot\u27s own narrative method, but the precise workings of the Egyptian sorcerer\u27s magical exercise in divination have received little attention

Review of Oscar Browing\u27s Life of George Eliot

I would like to draw the attention of interested readers and George Eliot scholars to one of the earliest biographies of George Eliot, that written by Oscar Browning. It is a book which, apart from many interesting anecdotes of her life, might still be valuable to them for the exhaustive annotated bibliography, compiled by John Parker Anderson of the British Museum, appended to the end of the volume. The extent and range of the bibliographical details collected there are the result of very thorough, painstaking research which may provide further new insights and give clues to unexplored areas in the life and works of the novelist. I also think the book still repays critical rereading. As is well known, George Eliot\u27s personal life was complex - she was an independent woman who challenged social conventions. Her friend, Eton master and historian Oscar Browning (1837-1923), although junior to her by several years, was moved to write this affectionate biography of her life, and it was published in 1890, offering \u27no claims to originality or acute scholarship ... but written out of a friendship of fifteen years, and a deep and unswerving devotion to her mind and character\u27. Browning takes a chronological approach, focusing mainly on the beginnings of Eliot\u27s writing career and critical analysis of her novels, while these are interspersed with intimate personal recollections of their encounters. He also writes with candour about Eliot\u27s relationship and cohabitation with the married writer G. H. Lewes (1817-78). It is interesting to note some distinctive features of Oscar Browning\u27s Life of George Eliot. Published by Walter Scott, London, in 1890 in the Great Writers critical biographies series, the book consists of five chapters, a chronological list of her complete literary works and an index appended at the end. The book describes in detail the progressive developments of both her personal life and her intellectual life under the guidance and influence of her friend, philosopher and mentor George Henry Lewes, arranged in sequential order. As I have already indicated, apart from the wealth of biographical details, its most valuable asset is an exhaustive annotated bibliography compiled by Anderson, which may still provide invaluable source materials for further new research. The bibliography consists of nearly 15 pages, printed in double columns, and is divided into five broad sections: (1) Works: containing a list of the collected editions of the novels, poems and other nonfictions writings, as well as individual critical editions of novels, essays and other writings published by British and American publishers. (2) Miscellaneous: containing a list of her writings, essays and reviews, arranged in chronological order, published in contemporary magazines and journals such as the Westminster Review, Edinburgh Review, Fortnightly Review, Fraser\u27s Magazine, Blackwood\u27s Magazine etc. (3) Selections from her writings such as \u27wise, witty and tender sayings\u27 from her verse and prose works. (4) Appendix: containing, under Biography and Criticism, biographical and critical works, or chapters in books, published in Britain and the United States, and also studies in French and German: and, under Magazine Articles, a list of articles and reviews of her work in British, American, French and German periodicals, arranged by subject. (5) Chronological list of the complete works of George Eliot

\u27Pier glass imagery\u27 in George Eliot\u27s Middlemarch and its fictional treatment of Spinoza\u27s Ethics

In \u27George Eliot\u27s Middlemarch as a translation of Spinoza\u27s Ethics\u27 (GER 40), Miriam Henson refers to the author\u27s use of \u27pier glass\u27 imagery to illustrate her theory of morality and to show how an individual looks at the world from his self as the centre of moral vision and limitation. It is well known that Spinoza expounds his ethical theory in terms of geometrical concepts and physical theories of concentric and eccentric circles and lines etc. He was a lens grinder by profession and it is natural that he used to explore the mechanism of his trade in terms of binocular vision, reflection and refraction and other phenomena of optics and light. In the pier glass when a viewer looks at his own image as reflected in the mirror he is completely absorbed in the reflection of his own image, oblivious of the outside world at large. His vision is limited by the constraints of his exclusive concentration on his own self, cut off from the outside world. As Miriam Henson observes in her article, the failings of all the characters of the novel stem from their inability to see beyond the narrow horizon of the self, and their failure to transcend the barrier of the self and interact with the world beyond the self. But I think there is another angle and dimension to the use of pier glass imagery. A pier glass is usually placed in the wall between two large windows. It is used as a camouflage device and a decorative piece to cover the mass of masonry constituting the piers in the wall between two large windows. It would thus be possible by the simultaneous operation of concentric and eccentric vision to make contact with the outside world through the windows on either side of the pier glass, even when one is looking at one\u27s own image in the mirror. In Spinoza\u27s pantheistic philosophy Nature and God are of the same substance and co extensive with each other. Man is endowed by nature to play the dual role of physical extension and mental thought at the same time. In the same manner he is capable of concentrating on himself and interacting with others in the outside world simultaneously, if he is willing to do so. The pier glass image has a special symbolic significance for the novelist who uses it suitably to convey her moral vision imbibed through the study of Spinoza\u27s ethical theory

Evaluation of Boerhavia diffusa and Eichhornia crassipes plant extracts in vitro as potential antifungal agents against human pathogenic fungi Candida albician and Candida tropicalis : A comparative study

Plant extracts are used to make herbal remedies with no side effects and little expense. During the COVID-19 pandemic, fungal species responsible for mucormycosis were found resistant to a variety of antifungals, including flucytosine, ketoconazole, fluconazole, voriconazole, itraconazole and echinocandins, due to their variable susceptibility. Amphotericin B is widely used as an antifungal agent due to its high inhibition capacity against various fungi. The present study aimed to compare the antifungal potential of Amphotericin B and herbal extract in vitro. The experiment was designed to measure zones of inhibition with the help of well-diffusion method. Four solvents, viz. methanol, chloroform, hexane and distilled water, were used to extract plant extract. The efficiency of plant extracts was found to be low compared to Amphotericin B (1.4mm). Chloroform extract of Boerhavia diffusa was found antifungal against Candida albician and C. tropicalis (0.45mm). Methanol and hexane extract of Eichhornia crassipes showed higher antifungal activity (1.35mm) and (1.75mm), respectively. The plant extracts also showed significant antifungal activity against C. tropicalis, revealing its potential to be used as a natural antifungal agent (1.1mm). Additionally, the findings showed that the chloroform and methanol extracts of B. diffusa and E. crassipes were also efficient against C. albician and C. tropicalis. The findings provide important insights about using plant extracts as a potential alternative to conventional antifungal agents.

Synthesis, spectra and redox properties of mononuclear five-co-ordinate copper(II) complexes with non-communicable pyrazole/pyridyl containing ligands: X-ray structure of [2,6-bis(3,5-dimethyl-pyrazol-1-ylmethyl)pyridine][2-(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-ylmethyl)pyridine]copper(II) diperchlorate

Synthesis and characterization of a series of five-co-ordinate mononuclear copper(II) compounds (1-8) have been achieved using 1 tridentate / bidentate heterocyclic nitrogen donor ligands with mixed hard-soft donor sets [L1 = 2,6-bis(pyrazol-1-ylmethyl)pyridine; L2 = 2,6-bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-ylmethyl)pyridine; L3 = 2-(pyrazol-1-ylmethyl)pyridine; L4 = 2-(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-ylmethyl)- pyridine]. Two types of complexes have been synthesized: (i) the anion bound complexes [Cu(L1/L2 )X2] (X=Cl- 1and 2; N-3 3 and 4; SCN- 5 and 6) and (ii) mixed-ligand complexes [Cu(L1/L2)(L3/L4)](ClO4)2 7 and 8. Complexes 1-8 belong to only a handful of copper(II) complexes with this class of non-planar ligands where pyrazole and pyridine rings are separated by methylene spacer(s). A representative complex [Cu(L2)(L4)](ClO4)2 8, having CuN5 co-ordination sphere, has been structurally characterized, to reveal square pyramidal stereochemistry at the copper(II) centre. Conductivity measurements revealed that one of the co-ordinated anions in 3, 5 and 6 is dissociated in solution, with the vacant site occupied by solvent molecule. Absorption and EPR spectral features of 1-8 represent that these copper(II) complexes adopt essentially a square pyramidal geometry. However, for 1 both in the solid state as well as in solution and for 2 in solution we propose that the copper(II) centre could be six-co-ordinate. Cyclic voltammetric measurements reveal the following trends in their E½ values (CuII -CuI redox process): (i) relative stabilization of CuII state by anionic ligands (N-3, Cl- or NCS- ) and a strongly co-ordinating solvent like DMF and (ii) predominance of steric over electronic effect (L1 vs. L2)

Acid Rain and Seed Germination: A Predictive Model Using ML-based CART Algorithm

The impact of acid rain on the germination of seeds is a significant concern in agricultural and environmental studies. Acid rain, characterized by elevated acidity levels due to pollutants like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, can adversely affect the germination process of various plant species. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of simulated acid rain (SAR) on the germination of Brinjal (Solanum melongena Linn.) and Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata ssp. cylindrica L. Walpers) crops. The experiments were conducted using eight plastic trays of approximately 25 cm. x 30 cm dimensions. Four trays were used for experiments with brinjal seeds (Set I), while the other four were used for cowpea seeds (Set II). One tray from each set was used as positive control and treated with normal pH 5.6, while the other three trays from each batch were treated with SAR solutions of pH 4.5, 3.5, and 2.5. Brinjal seed germination percentage and seed vigor were inferior to Cowpea seeds. The seeds treated with SAR (pH 4.5, 3.5, and 2.5) showed hindered seed germination. Furthermore, a more significant inhibitory effect was observed at lower pH values. The mean germination percentage of seeds was highest for standard SAR (pH 5.6) in the case of Brinjal seeds, while it was recorded lowest for Cowpea seeds. The results indicate that plants do not respond uniformly to SAR. To investigate the behavior of the simulated acid rain data, a Machine Learning-based Decision Tree Algorithm was employed to identify and optimize conditions. Cowpea was predicted to get 95% seed germination, whereas brinjal would only be 64% in acid rain of pH value 5.05 for 36 hours. In conclusion, utilizing a Machine Learning-based CART algorithm has provided valuable insights into predicting the germination behavior of seeds under the influence of acid rain

Inhibition of NO2, PGE2, TNF-α, and iNOS EXpression by Shorea robusta L.: An Ethnomedicine Used for Anti-Inflammatory and Analgesic Activity

This paper is an attempt to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities and the possible mechanism of action of tender leaf extracts of Shorea robusta, traditionally used in ailments related to inflammation. The acetic-acid-induced writhing and tail flick tests were carried out for analgesic activity, while the anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated in carrageenan-and dextran- induced paw edema and cotton-pellet-induced granuloma model. The acetic-acid-induced vascular permeability, erythrocyte membrane stabilization, release of proinflammatory mediators (nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2), and cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukins-1β and -6) from lipopolysaccharide-stimulated human monocytic cell lines were assessed to understand the mechanism of action. The results revealed that both aqueous and methanol extract (400 mg/kg) caused significant reduction of writhing and tail flick, paw edema, granuloma tissue formation (P < 0.01), vascular permeability, and membrane stabilization. Interestingly, the aqueous extract at 40 μg/mL significantly inhibited the production of NO and release of PGE2, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6. Chemically the extract contains flavonoids and triterpenes and toxicity study showed that the extract is safe. Thus, our study validated the scientific rationale of ethnomedicinal use of S. robusta and unveils its mechanism of action. However, chronic toxicological studies with active constituents are needed before its use

Understanding the feasibility of chemotherapeutic and immunotherapeutic targets against non-small cell lung cancers: an update of resistant responses and recent combinatorial therapies

Despite consistent progress in prompt diagnosis and curative therapies in the last decade, lung cancer (LC) continues to threaten mankind, accounting for nearly twice the casualties compared to prostate, breast, and other cancers. Statistics associate ~25% of 2021 cancer-related deaths with LC, more than 80% of which are explicitly caused by tobacco smoking. Prevailing as small and non-small cell pathologies, with respective occurring frequency of nearly 15% and 80–85%, non-small cell LCs (NSCLCs) are prominently distinguished into lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC), subtypes. Since the first use of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor gefitinib for NSCLC treatment in 2002, immense progress has been made for targeted therapies with the next generation of drugs spanning across the chronological generations of small molecule inhibitors. The last two years have overseen the clinical approval of more than 10 therapeutic agents as first-line NSCLC medications. However, uncertain mutational aberrations as well as systemic resistant responses, and abysmal overall survival curtail the combating efficacies. Of late, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) against various molecules including programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) and its ligand (PD-L1) have been demonstrated as reliable LC treatment targets. Keeping these aspects in mind, this review article discusses the success of NSCLC chemo and immunotherapies with their characteristic effectiveness and future perspectives

Genetic variation within and relationships among populations of Asian goats (Capra hircus)

Genetic variation at 59 protein coding loci (16 polymorphic) and 25 microsatellite loci was analysed for 11 indigenous south-east Asian goat populations, and the Australian feral population, to determine the magnitude of genetic differentiation and the genetic relationships among the populations. Significant deviations from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium were detected in one or more populations for eight of the nine protein loci with codominant alleles, and for microsatellites for all except the two Sri Lankan populations and for all but four loci. For both marker types, average inbreeding coefficients (FIS) were exceptionally high. Heterogeneity of deviations from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium for the microsatellites showed no differences for among loci within populations as compared with among populations within loci. For protein loci, however, the former was higher, indicating selection affecting allele frequencies at some loci. The variance among protein loci was significantly higher than among microsatellite loci, further indicating selection at some protein loci. There was significant differentiation among populations for both protein and microsatellite loci, most likely reflecting the geography of south-east Asia, and the presumed spread of goats throughout the region. Phylogenies derived from pair-wise genetic distance estimates show some similar clustering for the microsatellite and protein based trees, but bootstrap support was generally low for both. A phylogeny based on the combined set of 38 protein and microsatellite loci showed better consistency with geography and higher bootstrap values. The genetic distance phylogeny and the Weitzman diversity tree derived from microsatellite data showed some identical clusters, and both identified the Ujung Pandang and Australia populations as contributing most to overall genetic diversity