COLONIAL SCIENCE PRACTICES AND HISTORY OF COAL MINING IN INDIA

Society and science are intertwined. The purpose of science practice is to satisfy societal demands, and societal needs are met by societal support of science practice. With the help of colonial power, western science arrived in India. Colonial science is a practical aspect of modern western science. The main objective of colonial science practices is to make profit from the colony. In order to further own interests, the colonial power in India began coal mining operation. The practice of colonial science and coal mining in India go hand in hand

Characterization of domain-specific interaction of synthesized dye with serum proteins by spectroscopic and docking approaches along with determination of in vitro cytotoxicity and antiviral activity

<p>The interaction between a synthesized dye with proteins, bovine, and human serum albumin (BSA, HSA, respectively) under physiological conditions has been characterized in detail, by means of steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence, UV–vis absorption, and circular dichroism (CD) techniques. An extensive time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopic characterization of the quenching process has been undertaken in conjugation with temperature-dependent fluorescence quenching studies to divulge the actual quenching mechanism. From the thermodynamic observations, it is clear that the binding process is a spontaneous molecular interaction, in which van der Waals and hydrogen bonding interactions play the major roles. The UV–vis absorption and CD results confirm that the dye can induce conformational and micro-environmental changes of both the proteins. In addition, the dye binding provokes the functionality of the native proteins in terms of esterase-like activity. The average binding distance (<i>r</i>) between proteins and dye has been calculated using FRET. Cytotoxicity and antiviral effects of the dye have been found using Vero cell and <b>HSV-1F</b> virus by performing MTT assay. The AutoDock-based docking simulation reveals the probable binding location of dye within the sub-domain IIA of HSA and IB of BSA.</p

Characterization of domain-specific interaction of synthesized dye with serum proteins by spectroscopic and docking approaches along with determination of in vitro cytotoxicity and antiviral activity

<p>The interaction between a synthesized dye with proteins, bovine, and human serum albumin (BSA, HSA, respectively) under physiological conditions has been characterized in detail, by means of steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence, UV–vis absorption, and circular dichroism (CD) techniques. An extensive time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopic characterization of the quenching process has been undertaken in conjugation with temperature-dependent fluorescence quenching studies to divulge the actual quenching mechanism. From the thermodynamic observations, it is clear that the binding process is a spontaneous molecular interaction, in which van der Waals and hydrogen bonding interactions play the major roles. The UV–vis absorption and CD results confirm that the dye can induce conformational and micro-environmental changes of both the proteins. In addition, the dye binding provokes the functionality of the native proteins in terms of esterase-like activity. The average binding distance (<i>r</i>) between proteins and dye has been calculated using FRET. Cytotoxicity and antiviral effects of the dye have been found using Vero cell and <b>HSV-1F</b> virus by performing MTT assay. The AutoDock-based docking simulation reveals the probable binding location of dye within the sub-domain IIA of HSA and IB of BSA.</p

Exciton Dynamics and Formation Mechanism of MEH-PPV Polymer-Based Nanostructures

The recent emergence of conjugated polymer-based nanostructured materials has stimulated a lot of interest in developing light harvesting systems. Here, we describe the formation of nanoparticles from polymer molecules [poly­[2-methoxy-5-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene] (MEH-PPV) by adding a nonsolvent (water) and understand their collapsing mechanism from the extended form by using molecular dynamics simulations. Free energy calculations reveal that the thermodynamically stable state of the polymer in water and 75% (v/v) water/THF mixture is a collapsed state. The red shift of the absorption band of the collapsed state is found due to a change in polarity of the solvent. The change in intensity of the blue and red emission bands with a change in the solvent polarity is explained due to a change in conformation from the extended state to the collapsed state of the polymer. Ultrafast spectroscopic analysis reveals a systematic decrease of the faster component at 554 nm (33 to 2 ps), indicating the energy transfer process. The faster component (150 fs) of the time-resolved anisotropy decay due to the fast depolarization process confirms the interchain energy transfer in the collapsed state. The fundamental understanding of photophysics of conjugated polymer nanoparticles should pave the way for future development of light harvesting systems

Clinical, Immunological, and Molecular Profile of Chronic Granulomatous Disease: A Multi-Centric Study of 236 Patients From India

Background: Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is an inherited defect in phagocytic respiratory burst that results in severe and life-threatening infections in affected children. Single center studies from India have shown that proportion of autosomal recessive (AR) CGD is more than that reported from the West. Further, affected patients have high mortality rates due to late referrals and difficulties in accessing appropriate treatment. However, there is lack of multicentric collaborative data on CGD from India. Objective: To describe infection patterns, immunological, and molecular features of CGD from multiple centers in India. Methods: A detailed proforma that included clinical and laboratory details was prepared and sent to multiple centers in India that are involved in the care and management of patients with inborn errors of immunity. Twelve centers have provided data which were later pooled together and analyzed. Results: Of the 236 patients analyzed in our study, X-linked and AR-CGD was seen in 77 and 97, respectively. Male female ratio was 172:64. Median age at onset of symptoms and diagnosis was 8 and 24 months, respectively. Common infections documented include pneumonia (71.6%), lymphadenitis (31.6%), skin and subcutaneous abscess (23.7%), blood-stream infection (13.6%), osteomyelitis (8.6%), liver abscess (7.2%), lung abscess (2.9%), meningoencephalitis (2.5%), splenic abscess (1.7%), and brain abscess (0.9%). Forty-four patients (18.6%) had evidence of mycobacterial infection. Results of molecular assay were available for 141 patients (59.7%)—CYBB (44.7%) gene defect was most common, followed by NCF1 (31.9%), NCF2 (14.9%), and CYBA (8.5%). While CYBA variants were documented only in Southern and Western parts of India, a common dinucleotide deletion in NCF2 (c.835_836delAC) was noted only in North Indian population. Of the 174 patients with available outcome data, 67 (38.5%) had expired. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation was carried out in 23 patients, and 12 are doing well on follow-up. Conclusions: In India, proportion of patients with AR-CGD is higher as compared to Western cohorts, though regional differences in types of AR-CGD exist. Clinical profile and mortality rates are similar in both X-linked and AR-CGD. However, this may be a reflection of the fact that milder forms of AR-CGD are probably being missed