A cellulose-based bioassay for the colorimetric detection of pathogen DNA

Cellulose-paper-based colorimetric bioassays may be used at the point of sampling without sophisticated equipment. This study reports the development of a colorimetric bioassay based on cellulose that can detect pathogen DNA. The detection was based on covalently attached single-stranded DNA probes and visual analysis. A cellulose surface functionalized with tosyl groups was prepared by the N,N-dimethylacetamide-lithium chloride method. Tosylation of cellulose was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and elemental analysis. Sulfhydryl-modified oligonucleotide probes complementary to a segment of the DNA sequence IS6110 of Mycobacterium tuberculosis were covalently immobilized on the tosylated cellulose. On hybridization of biotin-labelled DNA oligonucleotides with these probes, a colorimetric signal was obtained with streptavidin-conjugated horseradish peroxidase catalysing the oxidation of tetramethylbenzamidine by H2O2. The colour intensity was significantly reduced when the bioassay was subjected to DNA oligonucleotide of randomized base composition. Initial experiments have shown a sensitivity of 0.1 μM. A high probe immobilization efficiency (more than 90 %) was observed with a detection limit of 0.1 μM, corresponding to an absolute amount of 10 pmol. The detection of M. tuberculosis DNA was demonstrated using this technique coupled with PCR for biotinylation of the DNA. This work shows the potential use of tosylated cellulose as the basis for point-of-sampling bioassays.Peer reviewedFinal Accepted Versio

AN ATTITUDE BASED MODELING OF AGENTS IN COALITION

Abstract: One of the main un~erpinning of the multi-agent systems community is how and why autonomous agents should cooperate w1th one another. Several formal and computational models of cooperative work or coalition are currently developed and used within multi-agent systems research. The coalition facilitates the achievement of cooperation among different agents. In this paper, a mental construct called attitude is proposed and its significance in coalition formation in a dynamic fire world is discussed. This paper presents ABCAS (Attitude Based Coalition Agent System) that shows coalitions in multi-agent systems are an effective way of dealing with the complexity of fire world. It shows that coalitions explore the attitudes an_d_ behaviors that help agents to achieve goals that cannot be achieved alone or to maximize net group Utility

Phototherapy induced hypocalcemia in neonates: A case

Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate the adverse effects of phototherapy both total and ionic calcium levels in neonates. Methods: A case–control prospective study was conducted in the Department of Pediatrics, over a period of 15 months. All neonates preterm or term with icterus in phototherapy range formed the study group(s). Serum calcium total and ionized were measured on a serial basis. Results: Neonates in the study group had significant fall in total serum calcium after phototherapy (0.94±0.49 mg/dl). Similarly, ionized serum calcium also decreased after phototherapy in study group (0.56±0.36 mg/dl), p<0.001 statistically significant. The overall incidence of hypocalcemia was 9.6%, higher in preterm (11.7%) than term (8.5%) neonates. Jitteriness and irritability both were seen in 25% of the neonates. None of the neonate had convulsion, but it may occur if the level falls further. Conclusions: While giving phototherapy to a premature baby or a sick baby we should monitor serum calcium levels. Prophylactically oral supplementation of calcium may be considered in newborns receiving phototherapy as it induces hypocalcemia

Terrorist attacks, investor sentiment, and the pricing of initial public offerings

Using terrorist attacks as exogenous shocks to investor sentiment, we study the impact of investor sentiment on initial public offering (IPO) pricing. IPOs listed within the 30-day period following terrorist attacks, on average, experience lower first-day returns. The documented impact of terrorist attacks is magnified when there is greater IPO valuation uncertainty and when the terrorist attacks are more salient to investors, while mitigated for IPOs “certified” by reputable intermediaries. We also show that the affected IPOs, on average, have more pessimistic media tone in the post-attack/pre-listing day period. The affected IPOs also tend to have lower levels of price revisions, subscriptions, primary share revisions, and total proceeds. Collectively, our findings underscore the salience of investor sentiment in shaping IPO outcomes

Media coverage and IPO pricing around the world

We study how media coverage impacts pricing of initial public offerings (IPOs) around the world. Higher media coverage in the pre-IPO period leads to lower IPO initial returns. The effect is mitigated in countries with better financial reporting quality, greater shareholder rights protection, and more stringent media censorship, and for IPOs “certified” by reputable intermediaries, while it is amplified in countries with higher levels of media penetration and media trust. Further, IPOs with higher pre-IPO media coverage have lower ex post price revision volatility. Our findings suggest that higher pre-IPO media coverage reduces information asymmetry among investors, leading to less underpriced IPOs

Synthesis and Spectral Characterization of Benzo[6,7] [1,5]diazocino[2,1-a]isoindol-12-(14H)-one Derivatives

© 2016 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).A simple synthetic route to benzo[6,7][1,5]diazocino[2,1-a]isoindol-12(14H)-one ring system is developed from readily available starting materials 3-(2-oxo-2-phenylethyl) isobenzofuran-1(3H)-ones and 2-(aminomethyl)aniline catalysed by para-toluenesulfonic acid in toluene in 27-85% yields. The 1H- and 13C-NMR spectra of the final products were assigned using a variety of one and two-dimensional NMR experiments. The distinction between the two potential isomers of the final products was made on the basis of heteronuclear multiple bond connectivity NMR spectra (HMBC).Peer reviewe