Thermal and morphological studies of chitosan and agar-agar blends

Many researchers are attracted to Chitosan based blends due to its properties and potential applications in various fields. The advanced development of Chitosan blends integrates the science and technology of blended materials. The present experimentation is reporting the preparation of Chitosan and Agar-Agar blends (CCA) by chemical mixing of these materials at different compositions. The thermal studies of the prepared blends were studied by differential scanning colorimeter (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) tools. Thermal studies reveal that the lowest degradation temperatures of blends might be attributed to the partial miscibility of CAA blends at particular composition and miscibility due to single glass transition temperature (Tg) between Chitosan and Agar-agar. Bonding nature of sample blends were carried out by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) instrumentation. This study reveals the interaction between Chitosan and Agar-agar is partial miscibility. Morphological study reveals that a few aggregated particles, which suggest the partial miscibility of CAA blends. Homogeneity of blend compositions and specific intermolecular interactions of hydrogen bonding type is also observed

Genomic regions associated with resistance to peanut bud necrosis disease (PBND) in a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population

Parents and 318 F8 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from the cross, TAG 24 × ICGV 86031 were evaluated for peanut bud necrosis disease (PBND) resistance and agronomic traits under natural infestation of thrips at a disease hotspot location for 2 years. Significant genotype, environment and genotype × environment interaction effects suggested role of environment in development and spread of the disease. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis using QTL Cartographer identified a total of 14 QTL for six traits of which five QTL were for disease incidence. One quantitative trait locus q60DI located on LG_AhII was identified using both QTL Cartographer and QTL Network. Another QTL q90DI was detected with a high PVE of 12.57 using QTL Cartographer. A total of nine significant additive × additive (AA) interactions were detected for PBND disease incidence and yield traits with two and seven interactions displaying effects in favour of the parental and recombinant genotype combinations, respectively. This is the first attempt on QTL discovery associated with PBND resistance in peanut. Superior RILs identified in the study can be recycled or released as variety following further evaluations

A Study on Phototherapy Induced Electrolyte Imbalance in Hyperbilirubinemia of New Borns Admitted in NICU Of Tertiary Care Centre

Introduction: Nearly all newborns acquire abnormally high levels of bilirubin (i.e., total serum bilirubin (TSB) greater than 1 mg/dL [17 micro mol/L], which is the maximum limit of what is considered normal for adults). If TSB levels continue to rise, the newborn may show obvious signs of jaundice.Phototherapy is the first line of treatment for unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia in newborn infants who have been born full term or who were born late preterm.Phototherapy should be recommended only when threshold or near-threshold TSB levels are reached, and only with acceptable light sources that have been appropriately recognized. This study was conducted to estimate the serum electrolytes in term neonates before and after phototherapy. Methodology: 50 neonates who were either delivered intramurally or extramurally and who were referred to this location with hyperbilirubinemia that was not associated with any comorbidities and who underwent phototherapy for at least 24 hours were included in the study. Conclusion: The findings of this study revealed a decline in the levels of serum sodium, potassium and calcium levels in infants exposed to PT. Even though the exact mechanism for this decline could not be understood clearly, further large sample studies are needed to elucidate the same. We must not forget that these imbalances might have an adverse effect on the neonates and must remain keen eyed.Hence we strongly suggest assessment of serum calcium, sodium, potassium, chloride, bicarbonate along with routine measurement of serum bilirubin in neonates before and after phototherapy. Thus by regular monitoring and maintaining normal serum electrolyte levels we can avoid the development of complications in icteric neonates receiving phototherapy

Effect of Mulching and Tillage Practices on Yield & Yield Attributs of Sorghum

A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of mulching and tillage practices on  yield & yield attributs of sorghum at Regional Agricultural Research Station, Andhra Pradesh during 2020-21 & 2021-22 Kharif seasons. Mulching, Tillage practices and their interaction showed no significant influence on growth parameters viz., plant height and dry matter production at harvest, days to 50 % population. Whereas, panicle weight, panicle length, grain yield, straw yield and harvest index were significantly higher with zero tillage and with residue mulch. The interaction between tillage and mulch practices was non significant. Maximum gross and net returns were observed with zero tillage with residue mulch practice in grain sorghum. The economic evaluation of mulching and tillage practices in sorghum crop revealed that maximum gross returns (Rs 1,18,659), net returns (Rs 78,579) and B:C ratio (2.96) were obtained with zero tillage practice with mulching practice.  The study indicated that tillage and mulching had significant effect on soil fertility and grain yield of sorghum crop

Interaction of Co, Mn, Mg and Al with d(GCGTACGC): a spectroscopic study

Spectroscopic study on the interactions of trace elements Co, Mn, Mg and Al with d(GCGTACGC) indicated the following: Al and Mg did not alter Tm values. Mn enhanced Tm at lower concentration and decreased it at higher concentrations. Interestingly Co at higher concentration elevated the Tm. These studies also showed lower concentrations of Mn displaced EtBr, whereas Al could displace it at higher ionic strength. Mg and Co displaced EtBr fluorescence at moderate concentrations. The binding constant values and CD spectra clearly indicated strong binding of these elements to DNA

Synthesis of 2-anilinopyridyl-triazole conjugates as antimitotic agents

A series of 2-anilinopyridyl-triazole conjugates (6a-t) were prepared and evaluated for their cytotoxic activity against a panel of three human cancer cell lines. Among them compounds 6q, 6r and 6s showed significant cytotoxic activity with IC50 values ranging from 0.1 to 4.1 mu M. Structure-activity relationships were elucidated with various substitutions on these conjugates. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that these compounds arrest the cell cycle at the G2/M phase and induce cell death by apoptosis. The tubulin polymerization assay and immunofluorescence analysis showed that these compounds (6q, 6r and 6s) effectively inhibited the microtubule assembly in human prostate cancer cells (DU-145). The docking studies showed that 6s interacts and binds efficiently with the tubulin protein at the colchicine binding site. This was further confirmed by the colchicine competitive binding assay. Moreover, compounds 6q, 6r and 6s possess anti-tubulin activity both in vitro and within cells as demonstrated by the ratio of soluble versus polymerized tubulin. Further the apoptotic effects of compounds were confirmed by Hoechst staining, caspase 3 activation, annexin-V FITC, mitochondrial membrane potential and DNA fragmentation analysis. Interestingly, these compounds did not affect the normal human embryonic kidney cells, HEK-293

Prospects of fortification of salt with iron and iodine

Fortification of salt with iron has been developed by the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) as a strategy for the control of iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) in India, similar to iodization of salt for control of iodine deficiency disorders (IDD). Stability of the iron fortified salt (IFS), its bioavailability and organoleptic evaluation of food items containing the IFS have been demonstrated. Acceptability and effectiveness of the IFS in school children and in multicentric community trials have been demonstrated. With the introduction of universal iodization of salt as a national policy in 1988, NIN has developed a formulation for double fortification (DFS) of salt with iodine and iron. The stability of the nutrients under laboratory conditions along with their bioavailability were found to be good but varying with the quality of salt used. The DFS has been evaluated in controlled trials in tribal communities and in residential school children. The findings of these studies are discussed. Overall, in these trials, DFS effectively controlled iodine deficiency but a clear impact on reducing anaemia was not demonstrated. In residential schoolchildren, increased urinary excretion of iodine as well as reduced anaemia were observed. The quality of salt has been found to be an important determinant of the stability of iodine in DFS. Further evaluation of this potentially important intervention is in progress