Application of jamun (Syzygium cumini Linn) seed extract on cotton fabric for antibacterial activity

Attempts have been made to use jamun (Syzygium cumini Linn)seed extract on cotton fabric to evaluate its antibacterial activityagainst some Gram positive and Gram negative bacterial strains.Different concentrations of jamun extract (125, 250, 500 and 1000 mg/ mL) have been used and zone of inhibition (ZOI) is measured. Thefindings indicate that jamun seed has an antibacterial effect onbleached cotton fabric at different bacterial strain of Staphylococcusaureus (NCIM 2079) and Streptococcus agalactiae (NCIM 2401).The antibacterial potential of jamun seed powder is due to the richbioactive compounds. High inhibition percentage is obtained for 1000mg/mL seed extract and minimum for 125 mg/mL. Streptococcusagalactiae (77% strain) shows the maximum 24 mm ZOI andStaphylococcus aureus (55% strain) shows 18 mm ZOI

Development of a Unique Protocol for The Production of Doubled Haploids in Hot Pepper

Hot pepper ranks seventh among the most produced vegetables in the world. This crop is famous for its color and pungency. Hot pepper contains many important phytonutrients that enable it to fight against cancer. Conventional breeding in Hot Pepper is labor-consuming and a long-term process. This can be overcome by using novel approaches, such as, in vitro doubled haploid plant production. This method not only accelerate breeding programs but also facilitates recovery of recessive mutations.  There are many articles published on doubled haploid development in Capsicum annuum; it reports both anther culture and shed-microspore culture methods, but both these methods require either subculture of anthers or the addition of new media, which makes both protocols laborious. The present study aims to develop a single-step direct embryogenesis protocol to produce doubled haploids in Capsicum annuum. We analyzed effectiveness of microspore embryogenesis on ten Hot pepper genotypes with six media combinations including shed-microspore culture protocol (Supena et.al 2006) and two-step anther culture protocol (Dumas de vaulx et.al 1981 and Para-Vega et.al 2016). Among six, one media combination responded very well to single-step direct embryogenesis compared to other protocols with more than 20 % plant regeneration frequency. We observed an average embryogenesis of 7.53% and plant regeneration frequency of 3.81%. We achieved a survival index of 97.61% after acclimatization of plants in the polyhouse.  The results of these experiments show that, one-step direct embryogenesis can be achieved with unique combination of plant growth regulators

Chemoprotective Effect of Edible Gastropod, <em>Xancus pyrum</em> and Its Usefulness in the Amelioration of Cisplatin Induced Toxicity

The main purpose of this study was to evaluate chemoprotective activities of methanolic extracts of an edible gastropod (Xancus pyrum) in cisplatin-induced immunosuppressed mice. Cisplatin (100 mg/kg, intraperitoneally [IP]) induced immunosuppressed mice were treated with a methanolic extract of X. pyrum (0.5 mg/dose/animal/IP) for a period of 10 days. The effect of the extract on lymphoid organ weight, bone marrow cellularity (BMC), alpha esterase activity, and on enzyme levels such as serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase, urea, and creatinine was estimated to identify the chemoprotective activity of X. pyrum. The administration of X. pyrum extract in cisplatin-treated mice, found to enhance the BMC and alpha-esterase positive cells, which were drastically reduced in cisplatin alone treated control animals suggests that cisplatin-induced myelosuppression was reversed or inhibited by X. pyrum extract administration possibly through its chemoprotective activity. In conclusion, cisplatin and its metabolites can bind to DNA, causing damage that may result in chromosome breaks, micronucleus formation and cell death. Administration of X. pyrum extract in cisplatin-treated mice, found to enhance the BMC and alpha-esterase positive cells, which were drastically reduced in cisplatin alone treated control animals suggests that cisplatin-induced myelosuppression was reversed or inhibited by X. pyrum extract administration possibly through its chemoprotective activity

Development of A Unique Protocol for the Production of Doubled Haploids in Hot Pepper

Hot pepper ranks seventh among the most produced vegetables in the world. This crop is famous for its color and pungency. Hot pepper contains many important phytonutrients that enable it to fight against cancer. Conventional breeding in Hot Pepper is labor-consuming and a long-term process. This can be overcome by using novel approaches, such as, in vitro doubled haploid plant production. This method not only accelerate breeding programs but also facilitates recovery of recessive mutations.&nbsp; There are many articles published on doubled haploid development in Capsicum annuum; it reports both anther culture and shed-microspore culture methods, but both these methods require either subculture of anthers or the addition of new media, which makes both protocols laborious. The present study aims to develop a single-step direct embryogenesis protocol to produce doubled haploids in Capsicum annuum. We analyzed effectiveness of microspore embryogenesis on ten Hot pepper genotypes with six media combinations including shed-microspore culture protocol (Supena et.al 2006) and two-step anther culture protocol (Dumas de vaulx et.al 1981 and Para-Vega et.al 2016). Among six, one media combination responded very well to single-step direct embryogenesis compared to other protocols with more than 20 % plant regeneration frequency. We observed an average embryogenesis of 7.53% and plant regeneration frequency of 3.81%. We achieved a survival index of 97.61% after acclimatization of plants in the polyhouse.&nbsp; The results of these experiments show that, one-step direct embryogenesis can be achieved with unique combination of plant growth regulators

Poles, Shocks and Tygers: The Time-reversible Burgers Equation

We construct a formally time-reversible, one-dimensional forced Burgers equation by imposing a global constraint of energy conservation, wherein the constant viscosity is modified to a fluctuating state-dependent dissipation coefficient. The new system exhibits dynamical properties which bear strong similarity with those observed for the Burgers equation and can be understood using the dynamics of the poles, shocks and truncation effects such as tygers. A complex interplay of these give rise to interesting statistical regimes ranging from hydrodynamic behaviour to a completely thermalized warm phase. The end of the hydrodynamic regime is associated with the appearance of a shock in the solution and a continuous transition leading to a truncation dependent state. Beyond this, the truncation effects such as tygers and appearance of secondary discontinuity at the resonance point in the solution strongly influence the statistical properties. These disappear at the second transition, at which the global quantities exhibit a jump and attain values that are consistent with the establishment of a 'quasi-equilibrium' state characterized by energy equipartition among the Fourier modes. Our comparative analysis shows that the macroscopic statistical properties of the formally time-reversible system and the Burgers equation are equivalent in all the regimes, irrespective of the truncation effects, and this equivalence is not just limited to the hydrodynamic regime, thereby further strengthening the Gallavotti's equivalence conjecture. The properties of the system are further examined by inspecting the complex space singularities in the velocity field of the Burgers equation. Furthermore, an effective theory is proposed to describe the discontinuous transition.Comment: 25 pages, 18 figure

NAD(P)H: Quinone Oxidoreductase 1 Deficiency Conjoint with Marginal Vitamin C Deficiency Causes Cigarette Smoke Induced Myelodysplastic Syndromes

BACKGROUND: The etiology of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) is largely unknown. Exposure to cigarette smoke (CS) is reported to be associated with MDS risk. There is inconsistent evidence that deficiency of NAD(P)H-quinone: oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) increases the risk of MDS. Earlier we had shown that CS induces toxicity only in marginal vitamin C-deficient guinea pigs but not in vitamin C-sufficient ones. We therefore considered that NQO1 deficiency along with marginal vitamin C deficiency might produce MDS in CS-exposed guinea pigs. METHODOLOGY AND PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Here we show that CS exposure for 21 days produces MDS in guinea pigs having deficiency of NQO1 (fed 3 mg dicoumarol/day) conjoint with marginal vitamin C deficiency (fed 0.5 mg vitamin C/day). As evidenced by morphology, histology and cytogenetics, MDS produced in the guinea pigs falls in the category of refractory cytopenia with unilineage dysplasia (RCUD): refractory anemia; refractory thrombocytopenia that is associated with ring sideroblasts, micromegakaryocytes, myeloid hyperplasia and aneuploidy. MDS is accompanied by increased CD34(+) cells and oxidative stress as shown by the formation of protein carbonyls and 8-oxodeoxyguanosine. Apoptosis precedes MDS but disappears later with marked decrease in the p53 protein. MDS produced in the guinea pigs are irreversible. MDS and all the aforesaid pathophysiological events do not occur in vitamin C-sufficient guinea pigs. However, after the onset of MDS vitamin C becomes ineffective. CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE: CS exposure causes MDS in guinea pigs having deficiency of NQO1 conjoint with marginal vitamin C deficiency. The syndromes are not produced in singular deficiency of NQO1 or marginal vitamin C deficiency. Our results suggest that human smokers having NQO1 deficiency combined with marginal vitamin C deficiency are likely to be at high risk for developing MDS and that intake of a moderately large dose of vitamin C would prevent MDS

Surveillance of Aeromonas sobria and Aeromonas hydrophila from commercial food stuffs and environmental sources

In tropical countries like India, commercial food items are often contaminated by various food-borne pathogens. Present research work reports the surveillance of A. sobria and A. hydrophila from commercial food stuffs and environmental sources across Tamil Nadu and Kerala, India. Samples were aseptically collected throughout the year and processed for isolation and identification of A. sobria and A. hydrophila. Isolates of Aeromonas were characterized for arrays of biochemical and phenotypic traits and finally assayed for antibiotic susceptibility test. A total of 71 suspected Aeromonas strains were isolated from 154 commercial food and environmental samples. Upon biochemical characterization of these isolates, 56(79%) were identified as A. sobria and remaining 15(21%) isolates were A. hydrophila. Upon detailed biochemical and phenotypical investigation, distinguishable results were obtained on esculin hydrolysis, acid production from L- arabinose, amylolytic, lipolytic and nuclease activities. All the isolates were 100% resistance to ampicillin, carbenicillin, cephalothin and clindamycin; 100% sensitive to colistin and moderate to cefuroxime, chloramphenicol, nalidixic acid, neomycin and nitrofurantoin. The present research suggested that colistin could be useful for motile Aeromonas infection but there has also been prevalence of multi drug resistant strains of Aeromonads in the Sothern states of India. The results aided our efforts to prove the strong occurrences of A. sobria and A. hydrophila as food borne pathogens in human consumable foods than in the environmental samples.&nbsp

Implementation of Energy Saver Circuit using 8051 Microcontroller

In this paper, we have proposed the development of a module based on 8051 microcontroller that allows us to operate a 220V AC lamp with a remote control and regulate the intensity of the lamp as per our needs. The ability to control the intensity of the lamp according to our requirement waives of unwanted wastage of energy thus providing an economic relief and reducing wastage of primary energy sources at this hour of shortage of non-renewable energy sources. Remote control provides an interface to the system that is simple to understand, operate, reliable and durable irrespective of usage and also economical. It adds comfort to our daily life by eliminating unwanted movement to operate the appliances. Remote control facilitates controlling various appliances from a convenient distance. The module is easy to install,convenient to use, energy saving and also cost effective without allowing compensation of efficiency