Arsenate Resistant Penicillium Coffeae: A Potential Fungus for Soil Bioremediation

Bioremediation is an effective method for the treatment of major metal contaminated sites. Fungi were isolated from soil samples collected from different arsenate contaminated areas across India. An isolate, Penicillium coffeae, exhibited resistance to arsenate up to 500 mM. Results indicated that pretreatment of biomass with alkali (NaOH) enhanced the percentage of adsorption to 66.8 % as compared to that of live and untreated dead biomass whose adsorption was 22.9 % and 60.2 % respectively. The physiological parameters evaluated in this study may help pilot studies aimed at bioremediation of arsenate contaminated effluents using arsenate resistant fungus P. coffeae

Endophytic Fungi: A Poor Candidate for the Production of Lovastatin

Aim: The aim of the present study was to screen soil and endophytic fungi for production oflovastatin.Methodology: Soil fungi were isolated by dilution plating technique and endophytic fungi from selected medicinal plants by using standard procedures. All isolates were tested for lovastatin production by Solid State Fermentation (SSF) using wheat bran as substrate.Results: The soil isolate, Aspergillus terreus NCBI (KM017963) showed positive for lovastatin (1.0 mg/G DWS) whereas none of the endophytic fungi tested showedpositivefor lovastatin production

Estimation of properties of low-lying excited states of Hubbard models : a multi-configurational symmetrized projector quantum Monte Carlo approach

We present in detail the recently developed multi-configurational symmetrized projector quantum Monte Carlo (MSPQMC) method for excited states of the Hubbard model. We describe the implementation of the Monte Carlo method for a multi-configurational trial wavefunction. We give a detailed discussion of issues related to the symmetry of the projection procedure which validates our Monte Carlo procedure for excited states and leads naturally to the idea of symmetrized sampling for correlation functions, developed earlier in the context of ground state simulations. It also leads to three possible averaging schemes. We have analyzed the errors incurred in these various averaging procedures and discuss and detail the preferred averaging procedure for correlations that do not have the full symmetry of the Hamiltonian. We study the energies and correlation functions of the low-lying excited states of the half-filled Hubbard model in 1-D. We have used this technique to study the pair-binding energies of two holes in $4n$ and $4n+2$ systems, which compare well the Bethe ansatz data of Fye, Martins and Scalettar. We have also studied small clusters amenable to exact diagonalization studies in 2-D and have reproduced their energies and correlation functions by the MSPQMC method. We identify two ways in which a multiconfigurational trial wavefunction can lead to a negative sign problem. We observe that this effect is not severe in 1-D and tends to vanish with increasing system size. We also note that this does not enhance the severity of the sign problem in two dimensions.Comment: 29 pages, 2 figures available on request, submitted to Phys. Rev.

Lovastatin Production by Aspergillus terreus (KM017963) in Submerged and Solid State Fermentation: A Comparative Study

Lovastatin (C24H36O5) is a fungal secondary metabolite that inhibits conversion of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG CoA) to mevalonate in cholesterol biosynthesis. Lovastatin producing fungus Aspergillus terreus was grown in Solid State Fermentation (SSF) with various agro based wastes and in Submerged Fermentation (SmF) to evaluate the suitable growth medium for maximum production of lovastatin. Eighty three agro based substrates and six different types of SmF media were used for the production. Wheat bran and sprouted wheat were suitable substrates for lovastatin production yielding1.00 mg/G DWS and 1.311 mg/DWS of lovastatin, respectively. None of the SmF medium was found to be suitable for lovastatin production, although all media supported growth of the fungus

Searching for GRB remnants in nearby galaxies

Gamma Ray Bursts (GRBs) are expected to leave behind GRB remnants, similar to how ``standard'' supernovae (SN) leave behind SN remnants. The identification of these remnants in our own and in nearby galaxies would allow a much closer look at GRB birth sites, and possibly lead to the discovery of the compact object left behind. It would also provide independent constraints on GRB rates and energetics. We have initiated an observational program to search for GRB remnants in nearby galaxies. The identification is based on specific line ratios, such as OIII/$H_{\beta}$ and HeII/$H_{\beta}$, which are expected to be unusually high in case of GRB remnants according to the theoretical predictions of Perna et al. (2000). The observing strategies and preliminary studies from a test run at 2.34 m VBT as well as archival data from planetary nebulae surveys of spiral galaxies are discussed.Comment: 4 pages, uses aipproc.cls To appear in AIP, proceeding of GRB conference '30 years after the discovery' held at Santa Fe, NM from 8-12 Sept, 200

Purification of Lovastatin from Aspergillus terreus (KM017963) and evaluation of its anticancer and antioxidant properties

Cervical cancer is the second most common malignancy in women worldwide and thus one of the leading causes of mortality in women. Lovastatin, a non polar, anticholesterol drug has previously been reported to exert antitumour activity in vitro. In the present study, lovastatin from Aspergillus terreus (KM017963) was purified by adsoprtion chromatography and evaluated for its anticancer and anti-oxidant properties with a human cervical cancer cell line (HeLa). Growth inhibitory and proapoptotic effects of purified lovastatin on HeLa cells were investigated by determining its influence on cell numbers, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), DNA fragmentation and antioxidant properties in terms of hydroxy radical scavenging effects as well as levels of total reduced glutathione. Cell cycle analysis by flow cytometry (propidium iodide staining) confirmed induction of apoptotic cell death and revealed cell cycle arrest in the G0/G1 phase. Results of the study give leads for the anticancer effects of lovastatin and its potential usefulness in the chemotherapy of cervical cance

AUTOMATIC HELMET WIPER

An improvised helmet design which is integrated with a circuitry for automatic rain sensing mini wiper located on the eye shield. The presence of a automatic helmet wiper will make two wheeler riding easier and safer in rainy season, since the driver won't be bothered by the continuous rain drops disturbing his/her vision. The wiper will automatically start as soon as it detects the presence of rain drops on the rain sensor mounted on the top of the helmet. This makes the rider to drive safety in the rain

RECENT PROGRESS OF DENDRIMERS IN DRUG DELIVERY FOR CANCER THERAPY

With the recent advances of nanotechnology, dendrimers are emerging as a highly attractive class of drug delivery vectors for cancer therapy. Dendrimers are multifunctional smart Nanocarriers to deliver one or more therapeutic agent safely and selectively to cancer cells. The high level of control over the synthesis of dendritic architecture makes dendrimers a nearly perfect (spherical) nanocarrier for site-specific drug delivery. The presence of functional groups in the dendrimers exterior also permits the addition of other moieties that can actively target certain diseases which are now widely used as tumor targeting strategies. Drug encapsulation, solubilization and passive targeting also equally contribute to the therapeutic use of dendrimers. Dendrimers are ideal carrier vehicles on cytotoxicity, blood plasma retention time, biodistribution and tumor uptake. In this review we highlight the advantages of dendrimers over conventional chemotherapy, toxicity and its management, following anti-cancer drugs delivered by using dendrimers and recent advances in drug delivery by various types of dendrimers as well as its diagnostic applications

NANOPARTICLE FORMULATION OF BIOFLAVONOIDS FOR ENHANCED ANTI-CANCER ACTIVITY

Among the natural sources, plant origin drugs constitute around 25% which includes various secondary metabolites such as bioflavonoids, alkaloids, terpenes, saponins, glucosides, and lignans. The bioflavonoids belonging to the polyphenol group shows many beneficial effects like hepatoprotective, antioxidant, antibacterial, anticancer, anti-inflammatory and antiviral. The main objective of this article is to collectively present the research data published worldwide about the anticancer activity of bioflavonoids by loading them in novel formulations. Thus, the present review explored the novel formulations of the bioflavonoids with improved pharmacokinetic properties along with the enhanced anticancer activity. The major drawback with bioflavonoids is its poor solubility and bioavailability, which restricts the usage of bioflavonoids in the treatment of cancer in the market worldwide. Novel drug delivery system seems to possess many benefits like site-specific drug delivery along with minimal side effects and improves pharmaceutical and therapeutic properties of drugs compared to a conventional dosage form of bioflavonoids. The scope for improvement of anticancer activity of bioflavonoids by incorporating in novel pharmaceutical formulations like nanoparticles is very high, and it has to be considered as a potential area of research

A cross sectional study of various types of acute poisoning; pharmacological management and their outcome in a tertiary care hospital

Background: Acute poisoning is a common and life-threatening crisis, leading to serious complications and death of patients. Poisoning may be due to self-consumption, accidental exposure of chemical compounds, medications and poisonous animal bites/stings. Aim of current study was to investigate the pattern of drug utilization, poisoning agents and outcome in patients with acute poisoning treated at a tertiary care teaching hospital, Vadodara, Gujarat. Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study was done on patients of acute poisoning admitted in emergency department, SSG Hospital during August 2021-March 2022. Results: 400 patients were enrolled during the study, from which 262 (65.50%) were male and 138 (34.50%) were female. Mean age of patients was 30.30 ± 13.79 years. The commonest mode of poisoning observed was Suicidal (66.25%). The most common cause of poisoning was due to Pesticides (33.25%), followed by venomous animal exposures (30.75%). Death was recorded in 53 (13.25%) patients with highest number seen in suicidal poisoning (14.34%) compared to accidental poisonings (11.19%). Mainly, multivitamins (19.03%), Antimicrobials (16.65%), Proton Pump Inhibitors (15.85%) and Antiemetics (11.10%) were prescribed. Antidotes used were Atropine (4.81%), Pralidoxime (4.46%) and Anti-snake venom (2.80%). Median number of drugs per patient was 8; range: 2-25. Conclusions: Pattern and magnitude of poisoning are multidimensional and demand multi-sectoral approach for facing this problem. Due to high incidence of snakebites, hospital stockpiles should be regularly checked for availability of antivenom. There is a need for stringent pesticide regulation laws, counselling and training programs to reduce incidence of poisonings and deaths due to it