Preparation and Characterization of CuO Nanoparticles by Novel Sol-Gel Technique

Recent developments of nanosize materials of metal and metal oxide particles are intensively pursued because of their prominence in different fields of applications. Among all the transition metal oxides, CuO is a potential candidate for the application of magnetic storage devices, solar energy transfer, sensors, and super capacitors etc. Moreover CuO nanoparticles act as a good catalyst in some of the chemical reactions. CuO nanoparticles were prepared by novel sol-gel method. In this technique CuCl2.6H2O is added with acetic acid and heated to 100 °C with continuous stirring. To control the ph of the above solution, NaOH is added to the solution till ph reached desired value. The color of the solution changed from blue to black with precipitation. The black precipitation was washed 3 – 4 times with distilled water. Finally the solution was centrifuged and dried in air for one day. The CuO nanoparticles were characterized by studying their structure with X-ray diffraction and composition by energy dispersive X-ray analysis. The size of the nanoparticles is estimated by particle size analyzer and transmission electron microscopy. The optical studies were carried out with Uv-Vis spectrophotometer. When you are citing the document, use the following link http://essuir.sumdu.edu.ua/handle/123456789/2960

Towards greater transparency in neurodevelopmental disorders research: use of a proposed workflow and propensity scores to facilitate selection of matched groups

Background Matching is one commonly utilized method in quasi-experimental designs involving individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD). This method ensures two or more groups (e.g., individuals with an NDD versus neurotypical individuals) are balanced on pre-existing covariates (e.g., IQ), enabling researchers to interpret performance on outcome measures as being attributed to group membership. While much attention has been paid to the statistical criteria of how to assess whether groups are well-matched, relatively little attention has been given to a crucial prior step: the selection of the individuals that are included in matched groups. The selection of individuals is often an undocumented process, which can invite unintentional, arbitrary, and biased decision-making. Limited documentation can result in findings that have limited reproducibility and replicability and thereby have poor potential for generalization to the broader population. Especially given the heterogeneity of individuals with NDDs, interpretation of research findings depends on minimizing bias at all stages of data collection and analysis. Results In the spirit of open science, this tutorial demonstrates how a workflow can be used to provide a transparent, reproducible, and replicable process to select individuals for matched groups. Our workflow includes the following key steps: Assess data, Select covariates, Conduct matching, and Diagnose matching. Our sample dataset is from children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD; n = 25) and typically developing children (n = 43) but can be adapted to comparisons of any two groups in quasi-experimental designs. We work through this method to conduct and document matching using propensity scores implemented with the R package MatchIt. Data and code are publicly available, and a template for this workflow is provided in the Additional file 1 as well as on a public repository. Conclusions It is important to provide clear documentation regarding the selection process to establish matched groups. This documentation ensures better transparency in participant selection and data analysis in NDD research. We hope the adoption of such a workflow will ultimately advance our ability to replicate findings and help improve the lives of individuals with NDDs

Assessment of visual problems in elderly in an urban slum community of Mumbai

Background: Visual problems in the elderly share a major portion of the disability in the elderly. Visual impairment in the elderly can interfere with daily activities tremendously leading to dependence in many things. It can also lead to accidents and falls. Hence a study was carried out in an urban slum community at Mumbai to assess the various visual problems in the elderly, its causes and the prevalence. Methodology: Community based cross-sectional study of the elderly persons residing in an urban slum of Mumbai. Results: 65.54% (426) people had visual disability. Of 426 people with visual impairment 405(95.07%) people had low vision and 21 (4.93%) were blind. It was observed that errors of refraction (63.85%) and cataract (18.31%) were the most common cause of visual impairment. Conclusion: Visual impairment and disability is a major problem of the elderly. Errors of refraction and Cataract are the major causes for this disability which can be treated, thus preventing visual handicap and dependency

Mutual Constraints Between Reionization Models and Parameter Extraction From Cosmic Microwave Background Data

Spectroscopic studies of high-redshift objects and increasingly precise data on the cosmic microwave background (CMB) are beginning to independently place strong complementary bounds on the epoch of hydrogen reionization. Parameter estimation from current CMB data continues, however, to be subject to several degeneracies. Here, we focus on those degeneracies in CMB parameter forecasts related to the optical depth to reionization. We extend earlier work on the mutual constraints that such analyses of CMB data and a reionization model may place on each other to a more general parameter set, and to the case of data anticipated from the $MAP$ satellite. We focus in particular on a semi-analytic model of reionization by the first stars, although the methods here are easily extended to other reionization scenarios. A reionization model can provide useful complementary information for cosmological parameter (CP) extraction from the CMB, particularly for the degeneracies between the optical depth and either of the amplitude and index of the primordial scalar power spectrum, which are still present in the most recent data. Alternatively, by using a reionization model, known limits on astrophysical quantities can reduce the forecasted errors on CPs. Forthcoming CMB data also have the potential to constrain the sites of early star formation, as well as the fraction of baryons that participate in it. Finally, we examine the implications of an independent, e.g., spectroscopic, determination of the epoch of reionization for the determination of CPs from the CMB. This has the potential to significantly strengthen limits from the CMB on parameters such as the index of the power spectrum, while having the considerable advantage of being free of the choice of the reionization model (abridged).Comment: Accepted on 15 Feb. 2002 for publication in ApJ, 22 pages with 4 figures; paper's text expanded significantly, new Discussion section, results (table and figures) unchanged from version

TO IMPROVE ROAD EFFICIENCY BY USING THE PLASTIC IN ROAD CONSTRUCTION

In this report the scrutinize of some of ersatz deplete texts and that we can rework by absolute processing and use swamp construction...the texts appropriately we are furnished with favourable and scarce instruction through the particular components. The discussed seriously have many advantages over conventional/conventional data and methods. This proposes will manage a read on recycling synthetic debris and blending it with blacktop to lay roads in India and resemble the real and budgetary surroundings Some of the particular objects are comparably cheaper and produce more vigour as to historic road texts. This proposes will arise with favourable science and create recognition between the disciple in the energy with reference to deplete component. So which can have a step about hasten intricate instruction through the above-mentioned texts and thus incur enforce on competition and that will undeniably better the matched of construction

Renal markers in normal and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in Indian women:a pilot study

Background:Altered renal function is an essential component of the pathophysiological process in pre-eclampsia. Kidneys play an important role in the turnover of low molecular weight substances such as creatinine, uric acid and cystatin C. The present study was undertaken if these serum markers were characteristically altered in Indian pregnant women.Methods: Serum levels were therefore determined in samples from 69 healthy women at term as well as in 27 samples of patients with Pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) and in 20 patients with pre-eclampsia (PE).Results: The levels of all three components were significantly higher in pre-eclamptic patients when compared to healthy controls with the mean ± SD being 1.47 ± 0.9 vs. 1.06± 0.2 for cystatin C, 0.95 ±0.2 vs. 0.67 ±0.1 for creatinine and 6.13± 1.8 vs. 4.28 ±1.1 for uric acid respectively. In PIH cystatin C was significantly higher, 1.25 ± 0.9 unlike creatinine, 0.67 ±0.14 and uric acid, 4.30 ±1.0. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) plots demonstrated that the diagnostic accuracy of serum creatinine was superior to serum uric acid and serum cystatin C and serum uric acid was better than serum cystatin C.Conclusion:The maternal serum cystatin C, creatinine and uric acid were all significantly elevated at the end of pregnancy in pre-eclampsia compared to those of healthy pregnant women. If this rise in the above markers during early pregnancy could predict the onset of PIH/PE, needs to be investigated.

EVALUATION OF PHYTOCHEMICALS IN CERTAIN INDIAN SPICES FOR QUORUM SENSING INACTIVATION IN A PLANT PATHOGENIC BACTERIA

INTRODUCTION Quorum sensing is a mechanism where bacteria produce and release chemical signals. As environmental conditions often change rapidly, bacteria need to respond quickly in order to survive. These responses include adaptation to availability of nutrients, defense against other microorganisms, which may compete for the same nutrients and the avoidance of toxic compounds potentially dangerous for the bacteria. It is very important for pathogenic bacteria during infection of a host to co-ordinate their virulence in order to be able to establish successful infection. Recently Quorum-quenching substances were found in terrestrial plants Pisum sativum (pea) and coronilla varia(crown vetch) MATERIALS AND METHODS Pseudomonas sp. isolated from infected tomato leaf was cultured and maintained in nutrient broth and nutrient agar media. Preparation of crude extract of spices: Aqueous extracts of the Indian spices Garlic (Allium sativum), Fenu greek (Trigonella foenum-graecum), Bayleaf (Trachyspermum amoni), Mustard (Brassica junceae), Cloves (Syzygium aromaticum) and Pepper (Piper nigrum )were prepared (1-2 g in 5-10 mL). Serial dilutions were made and used to check for quorum quenching activity. Quorum quenching activity of crude extracts against Pseudomonas sp.: Serial dilutions of the crude extract were made in nutrient broth and 0.1 mL of overnight grown culture of Pseudomonas sp. was added and incubated over night at 37ºC. After incubation, the growth was monitored by recording OD at 600nm. Since the production of protease, pyocyanin were quorum sensing dependent these parameters were monitored in the treated samples for all dilutions. Pyocyanin assay was done as described by RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Quorum sensing inhibitors (QSI) were isolated from natural sources such as plants and fungi. Plants have coexisted with QS bacteria for millions of years. It is expected that atleast some of them produce QSI compounds inorder to reduce the ABSTRACT Quorum sensing is a mechanism where bacteria produce and release chemical signals in search of similar cells in their close surroundings. Quorum sensing (QS) is a key regulator of virulence factor expression which includes protease, pyoverdin pyocyanin etc in Pseudomonas sps. Present study was made to evaluate effect of aqueous extracts of six Indian spices Allium sativum, Trigonella foenum, Trachyspermum amoni, Brassica junceae, Syzygium aromaticum and Piper nigrum for their antiquorum sensing activity against Pseudomonas sps. a lab isolate. Of all the six spices tested Allium sativum, Piper nigrum and Syzygium aromaticum showed significant inhibition in quorum sensing activity with less effect on bacterial growth. Our findings suggest that the quorum quenching mechanisms are not related to bacteriostatic or cidal effects

Systematic Review and Meta Analysis on Symptoms and Comorbidities Associated with COVID-19 Disease

Corona disease outbreak occurred in 2019 from Wuhan, China and the virus was identified to be a member of the Coronaviridae family. The disease was named as COVID-19 by WHO. It started as an epidemic and later turned into pandemic affecting world wide. The present study was aimed to conduct a systematic review on most prevalent symptoms associated with COVID-19 and to perform a Meta analysis on Comorbidities associated with COVID-19 and assess its severity in underlying conditions. A literature search was conducted using search engines like Pubmed, Web of Science, Elsevier COVID-19 and LitCovid databases between January 2020 and August 2020. Forest plot analysis was done using Random effects model to estimate odds ratio and 95% confidence interval estimate. 83 papers with a sample size of 19,454 were analysed statistically after adopting inclusion and exclusion criteria. Our results showed the most prevalent symptoms to be Cough, fever, dyspnoea and myalgia in interval plot analysis. When assessed for comorbidities, Hypertension (27.02%), Diabetes (16.61%), Cardiovascular disease (12.75%) and Chronic pulmonary obstructive diseases(19.9%) are found to be the most risk factors in comparison with others. However, a finer experimental research needs to be confirmed with the findings

Population-Level Coordination of Pigment Response in Individual Cyanobacterial Cells Under Altered Nitrogen Levels

Cyanobacterial phycobilisome (PBS) pigment-protein complexes harvest light and transfer the energy to reaction centers. Previous ensemble studies have shown that cyanobacteria respond to changes in nutrient availability by modifying the structure of PBS complexes, but this process has not been visualized for individual pigments at the single-cell level due to spectral overlap. We characterized the response of four key photosynthetic pigments to nitrogen depletion and repletion at the subcellular level in individual, live Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 cells using hyperspectral confocal fluorescence microscopy and multivariate image analysis. Our results revealed that PBS degradation and re-synthesis comprise a rapid response to nitrogen fluctuations, with coordinated populations of cells undergoing pigment modifications. Chlorophyll fluorescence originating from photosystem I and II decreased during nitrogen starvation, but no alteration in subcellular chlorophyll localization was found. We observed differential rod and core pigment responses to nitrogen deprivation, suggesting that PBS complexes undergo a stepwise degradation process

Role of carboxylate ion and metal oxidation state on the morphology and magnetic properties of nanostructured metal carboxylates and their decomposition products

Sub-micron rods and spheres of cobalt succinate sesquihydrate and iron succinate trihydrate/pentahydrate respectively have been synthesized by the reverse micellar route. These precursors are an excellent source for the synthesis of metal and metal oxide nanoparticles. Cubes of (edge length ~ 150 nm) Fe3O4 and elongated particles of Fe2O3 (~ diameter of 200 nm) were obtained. The role of oxidation state of the metal ion in controlling the morphology of the nanostructured dicarboxylates has been investigated. Rods with shorter length were obtained when longer chain dicarboxylate was used as ligand. Heating in nitrogen atmosphere also provided pure Co and α-Fe nanoparticles. The Fe nanoparticles show nearly 100% superparamagnetism. Temperature-dependent magnetic studies show a Morin-like transition for Fe2O3 nanoparticles at 223 K and the Verwey transition at 115 K for Fe3O4 nanoparticles. Co3O4 nanoparticles showed antiferromagnetic ordering at 20 K