Antibacterial and antibiofilm efficacy of green synthesized ZnO nanoparticles using Saraca asoca leaves

Biofilms are made up of bacterial colonies and their extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) matrix, which protects the bacteria from adverse environmental conditions. The increasing drug resistivity of pathogenic bacteria is becoming an emergency for developing new antibacterial agents. In this study, we have synthesized the zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) using the leaf extract of Saraca asoca plant, and the antibacterial and antibiofilm activity of green synthesized ZnO NPs was measured against the biofilm-producing bacteria Bacillus subtilis. The disk diffusion data reveals that the zone of inhibition (ZOI) starts at a concentration of 0.5 mg/mL and minimum inhibition concentration (100 µg/mL) and minimum bactericidal concentration (150 µg/mL) values were also evaluated for green synthesized ZnO nanomaterials. Crystal violet test and microscopic examination were used to assess the impact of produced nanoparticles on biofilm development. The findings indicated a nearly 45%, 64%, and 83% suppression of biofilm development at 0.5 × MIC, 0.75 × MIC, and 1 × MIC value, respectively. The biofilm biomass of the preformed or matured biofilms by the ZnO NPs was evaluated to be 68%, 50%, and 33% at concentrations of 0.5 × MIC, 0.75 × MIC, and 1 × MIC which was concentration-dependent. Moreover, flow cytometry results suggest damage to the bacterial cell membrane. The data indicated that the proportion of dead cells increased with NP concentration in comparison to the control. Therefore, it can be concluded that the green synthetic ZnO nanoparticles showed excellent antibacterial and antibiofilm activity against the Bacillus subtilis bacteria that produce biofilms and that they could be a promising substitute agent for the treatment of biofilms and drug-resistant bacteria.

Assessment of coal supply chain under carbon trade policy by extended exergy accounting method

Within an uncertain environment and following carbon trade policies, this study uses the Extended Exergy Accounting (EEA) method for coal supply chains (SCs) in eight of the world's most significant coal consuming countries. The purpose is to improve the sustainability of coal SCs in terms of Joules rather than money while considering economic, environmental, and social aspects. This model is a multi-product economic production quantity (EPQ) with a single-vendor multi-buyer with shortage as a backorder. Within the SC, there are some real constraints, such as inventory turnover ratio, waste disposal to the environment, carbon dioxide emissions, and available budgets for customers. For optimization purposes, three recent metaheuristic algorithms, including Ant Lion Optimizer, Lion Optimization Algorithm, and Whale Optimization Algorithm, are suggested to determine a near-optimum solution to an "exergy fuzzy nonlinear integer-programming (EFNIP)." Moreover, an exact method (GAMS) is employed to validate the results of the suggested algorithms. Additionally, sensitivity analyses with different percentages of exergy parameters, such as capital, labor, and environmental remediation, are done to gain a deeper understanding of sustainability improvement in coal SCs. The results showed that sustainable coal SC in the USA has the lowest fuzzy total exergy, while Poland and China have the highest.

Assessment of airline industry using a new double-frontier cross-efficiency method based on prospect theory

Cross-efficiency method (CEM) is a well-known technique based on data envelopment analysis that provides policymakers with a powerful tool to measure the efficiency of decision-making units. However, there are two main gaps in the traditional CEM. First, it neglects the subjective preferences of decision-makers (DMs), and therefore, cannot reflect the importance of self-evaluation compared to peer-evaluations. Second, it ignores the importance of anti-efficient frontier in the overall evaluation. The present study aims to incorporate the prospect theory into the double-frontier CEM to deal with these drawbacks while considering the preferences of DMs towards gains and losses. To address these drawbacks, this paper utilizes an aggregation method based on the prospect theory and consensus degree (APC) to reflect the subjective preferences of DMs. The second issue is also addressed by incorporating APC into the optimistic and pessimistic CEMs. Finally, the double-frontier CEM aggregated using APC (DAPC) is obtained by aggregating two viewpoints. As a real case study, DAPC is applied to evaluate the performance of 17 Iranian airlines based on three inputs and four outputs. The findings demonstrate that both viewpoints are influenced by DMs' preferences. The ranking results achieved for more than half of the airlines based on the two viewpoints are significantly different. The findings confirm that DAPC deals with these differences and leads to more comprehensive ranking results by considering both subjective viewpoints simultaneously. The results also show that to what extent DAPC efficiency for each airline is influenced by each viewpoint. In this regard, the efficiency of IRA is most influenced by the optimistic point of view (80.92%), and on the other hand, the efficiency of IRZ is most influenced by the pessimistic viewpoint (73.45%). KIS is the most efficient airline, followed by PYA. On the other hand, IRA is the least efficient airline, followed by IRC.

Carbon Nano-Onion-Decorated ZnO Composite-Based Enzyme-Less Electrochemical Biosensing Approach for Glucose

This study investigates the enzyme-less biosensing property of the zinc oxide/carbon nano-onion (ZnO/CNO) nanocomposite coated on a glassy carbon electrode. The ZnO/CNO nanocomposite was synthesized using the ex situ mixing method, and the structural characterization was done using XRD, SEM, and TEM, whereas functional groups and optical characterization were done through FTIR and UV-visible spectroscopy. The electrochemical sensing response of the ZnO/CNO nanocomposite for the linear range of glucose concentration (0.1-15 mM) was examined using cyclic voltammetry (CV) with a potential window of -1.6 to +1.6 V using 0.1 M NaOH as an electrolyte. The ZnO/CNO nanocomposites showed enhanced sensing ability toward glucose with a sensitive value of 606.64 μA/mM cm². Amperometric i-t measurement supports the finding of CV measurement and showed good sensing ability of the electrode ZnO/CNO nanocomposite material for up to 40 days. The enhanced electrocatalytic activity of the ZnO/CNO nanocomposite is explained due to the synergetic effect of both ZnO and CNO. Our findings suggest a high potential for ZnO/CNO nanocomposite-based glucose biosensors, which could be further utilized to develop noninvasive skin-attached sensors for biomedical applications.

Tracking Mitochondrial Density and Positioning along a Growing Neuronal Process in Individual C. elegans Neuron Using a Long-Term Growth and Imaging Microfluidic Device

The long cellular architecture of neurons requires regulation in part through transport and anchoring events to distribute intracellular organelles. During development, cellular and subcellular events such as organelle additions and their recruitment at specific sites on the growing axons occur over different time scales and often show interanimal variability thus making it difficult to identify specific phenomena in population averages. To measure the variability in subcellular events such as organelle positions, we developed a microfluidic device to feed and immobilize Caenorhabditis elegans for high-resolution imaging over several days. The microfluidic device enabled long-term imaging of individual animals and allowed us to investigate organelle density using mitochondria as a testbed in a growing neuronal process in vivo Subcellular imaging of an individual neuron in multiple animals, over 36 h in our microfluidic device, shows the addition of new mitochondria along the neuronal process and an increase in the accumulation of synaptic vesicles (SVs) at synapses. Long-term imaging of individual C. elegans touch receptor neurons (TRNs) shows that the addition of new mitochondria takes place along the entire neuronal process length at a rate of ∼0.6 mitochondria/h. The threshold for the addition of a new mitochondrion occurs when the average separation between the two preexisting mitochondria exceeds 24 μm. Our assay provides a new opportunity to move beyond simple observations obtained from in vitro assays to allow the discovery of genes that regulate positioning of mitochondria in neurons.

Removal of reactive orange 16 and reactive green 19 using Cyphos IL101-impregnated Amberlite XAD7HP resin in batch and recirculating stirrer vessel

Reactive dyes are highly soluble in water, and carcinogenic. Therefore, it is essential to remove these dyes from their aqueous solutions. This study focused on the simultaneous removal of reactive orange 16 (RO) and reactive green 19 (RG) dyes from their binary dye solution using Cyphos IL101-impregnated Amberlite XAD7HP resin (ILX7) in batch and recirculating stirrer vessel (RSV). In the batch study, the experimental operating conditions were designed by using central composite design of response surface methodology. Influence of important input variables (RO dye concentration, RG dye concentration, pH, and resin dosage) on the dye adsorption was studied and their values were optimized. At the optimum values of input variables, equilibrium, kinetic, and thermodynamic studies were performed for the binary dye mixture. The equilibrium and kinetic adsorption data were best fitted with extended-Freundlich and pseudo-second-order models, respectively. Now to intensify the process, continuous studies were performed in a RSV at optimum conditions and at different flow rates and stirring speeds. The impregnated resin was regenerated by using 80% v/v ethanol and successfully reused up to 3 cycles with slight decrease in the adsorption capacity.

Solvent impregnated resins for the treatment of aqueous solutions containing different compounds: a review

In this review paper, a complete study and analysis of the research articles dealing with the removal of various organic and inorganic pollutants using solvent impregnated resins (SIR) is carried out. The method of impregnation, characterizations of prepared resin, and regeneration techniques of different SIRs for batch and continuous fixed bed columns are presented. The effects of different operating parameters (e.g., loading of solvent on the resin, dosage of adsorbent, initial solute concentration, pH, temperature, time, ionic strength) on the separation efficiency of SIR in the batch mode are discussed. Thermodynamic parameters (change in Gibbs free energy, enthalpy, and entropy) are tabulated from the data available in the literature, and if not given, then their values are calculated and presented. The influence of parameters (flow rate, bed height, pH, concentration of the solution, etc.) on the fixed bed column performance is analyzed. Design aspects of the column are also discussed, and the dimensions of fixed bed columns for industrial applications are proposed.

A Decision Support System for On-Demand Goods Delivery Using Shared Autonomous Electric Vehicles

This article presents a strategic decision support system (DSS) for on-demand delivery companies in urban areas. This DSS is designed and developed for the promising new concept of goods delivery based on a fleet of Shared Autonomous Electric Vehicles (SAEVs). A simulation-based optimization model is proposed to solve the fleet sizing and composition problems. The efficiency of the developed strategic DSS in determining best fleet size and composition under different scenarios is demonstrated. This article provides managerial insights to help goods delivery companies, who intend to use SAEVs, in determining the type and number of vehicles to acquire.

Disparity Between Metro-Centric Cancer Care and Rural Outreach in India: Situational Analysis and Future Trends in Context of Developing Countries

Background: Radiation therapy is used in two-third of all patients diagnosed with cancer in any form and it has become an integral part of modern treatment strategies for many types of cancers in recent decade. Semi-urban and rural places in India lack healthcare facilities and so as the cancer care facilities. Aim: To identify the propensity of a metro-centric oncologic care in developing countries undermining the need of availability of facilities in smaller towns and cities. Methods: Data for state-wise population for 2016 and 2026 was projected using cohort component method. For the projection of cancer incidence and prevalence in 2016 and 2026, we assumed that the state-level prevalence and incidence of cancer in the year 2015 will not change over time in 2016. Data collected through telephonic interviews from the radiotherapy centers listed by Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), India. Further, we assumed few scenarios of cancer incidence and prevalence increase and projected state wise cancer burden in 2026. Results: With almost 70% population of India residing in districts and cities lacking quality health care, the situation of cancer care is much grave. India is currently equipped with only 394 RTU (Radiation Therapy Unit) against requirement of almost 1300 RTU, amounting to 0.38 RTU per million populations as per World Health Organization. The public sponsored healthcare infrastructure for cancer treatment, and research is centralized with all the resources centered in metro/major cities. Eight metro cities of India with a combined population of 140.6 million hold control of 188 RTU under their boundaries. Thus, while habitants of these eight metro cities, constituting only 10.9% of the national population, avail treatment benefit from 38% of total RTU capacity of India, rest of Indian population at 1143.8 million strengths is left prey to the wrath of cancer with just 306 machines at disposal. In comparison, the developed nations as the United States of America, Australia, and the United Kingdom fare far better in RTU availability for treatment of diagnosed cancer patients, with RTU per million population density of 12.45, 10.12 and 5.04 respectively. Similar scenario has been seen in other LMICs in world like Congo, Mongolia, Sudan, Nigeria, Nepal etc. Conclusion: We observed that wide disparity exists in India concerning RTU and cancer facility availability and density per million populations in between metro cities and rest of India and a dire need of improvement to fight against cancer which is very similar to the situation in developing countries.

Assessing relationship between quality management systems and business performance and its mediators

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between implementation of quality management systems (QMS) and business performance, through mediating factors (operating performance, information quality, product quality, design performance, environmental performance and competitive priorities). Most of the published literature examines the direct impact of implementation of QMS on business performance, and on some of the above stated factors. However, the impact of implementation of QMS on business performance, through these mediating factors has not received much attention. Accordingly, the authors develop a theoretical framework depicting impact of implementation of QMS on business performance through the above stated factors.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper proposes several hypotheses linking implementation of QMS, mediating factors and business performance. The hypothesized model is empirically tested using data collected from 120 professionals working in quality engineering/management in India and North America. The collected data are analyzed with the aid of structural equation modeling (SEM) technique.

Findings

Information quality and design performance have emerged as the important factors in the research. Information quality directly effects design performance, operating performance and environmental performance. The model indicates that besides a well-designed product, managers need to focus on the operating performance to improve overall product quality. Empirical evidence is found regarding direct and indirect effect of implementation of QMS on above stated mediating factors and on business performance.

Originality/value

The research fills a gap in the literature by considering several mediating factors that aid in improving business performance with implementation of QMS.

UNC-16/JIP3 regulates early events in synaptic vesicle protein trafficking via LRK-1/LRRK2 and AP complexes

JIP3/UNC-16/dSYD is a MAPK-scaffolding protein with roles in protein trafficking. We show that it is present on the Golgi and is necessary for the polarized distribution of synaptic vesicle proteins (SVPs) and dendritic proteins in neurons. UNC-16 excludes Golgi enzymes from SVP transport carriers and facilitates inclusion of specific SVPs into the same transport carrier. The SVP trafficking roles of UNC-16 are mediated through LRK-1, whose localization to the Golgi is reduced in unc-16 animals. UNC-16, through LRK-1, also enables Golgi-localization of the μ-subunit of the AP-1 complex. AP1 regulates the size but not the composition of SVP transport carriers. Additionally, UNC-16 and LRK-1 through the AP-3 complex regulates the composition but not the size of the SVP transport carrier. These early biogenesis steps are essential for dependence on the synaptic vesicle motor, UNC-104 for axonal transport. Our results show that UNC-16 and its downstream effectors, LRK-1 and the AP complexes function at the Golgi and/or post-Golgi compartments to control early steps of SV biogenesis. The UNC-16 dependent steps of exclusion, inclusion and motor recruitment are critical for polarized distribution of neuronal cargo.

Synaptic vesicles (SVs) have a defined composition and size at the synapse. The multiple synaptic vesicle proteins (SVPs) found on these vesicle membranes are synthesized at and trafficked out of the cell body in distinct transport carriers. However, we do not yet understand how different SVPs are sorted and trafficked to the synapse. We show that UNC-16/JIP3 plays a critical role, in a series of essential steps, to ensure proper membrane composition and size of the ensuing SVP carrier exiting the cell body. These processes are “exclusion” of resident Golgi enzymes followed by the “inclusion” of synaptic vesicle proteins in the same transport carrier. Regulation of composition and size seems to occur independently of each other and depends on two distinct AP complexes acting downstream to LRK-1. Our study further indicates that the composition of the transport carrier formed is important for the recruitment of motors and consequently for the polarized localization of SVPs.

Association between type 2 diabetes mellitus and anthropometric measurements - a case control study in South India

INTRODUCTION

Obesity is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Clinical evidence indicates a stronger association of diabetes with central obesity than general obesity. The present study aimed to compare the association between type 2 diabetes mellitus and different anthropometric measurements and evaluate the usefulness of these measurements in clinical practice.

METHODS

A case-control study was done among 102 individuals; of whom 51 cases included diagnosed T2DM (≥ 20 years age) patients attending the Medicine out-patient consultation of a tertiary care hospital and 51 controls who were screen negative for T2DM and recruited from the local community. Various anthropometric measurements were used according to standard World Health Organization (WHO) protocols. Data was entered and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 15.

RESULTS

The proportion of cases with Body Mass Index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/m² was 55% as compared to 22% of controls and this association was statistically significant (p < 0.05). The proportion of cases with high waist circumference cut-offs (WC) was 74.5% as compared to 45.1% healthy individuals and this association was also statistically significant (p < 0.05, OR = 3.56). A Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve for both gender revealed highest area under the curve for body mass index (area = 0.787). Body mass index had the best discriminatory power. Waist to hip ratio was not a sensitive marker especially for females.

CONCLUSIONS

A strong association between obesity indices and diabetes was identified. BMI and WC could be used in clinical practice for suggesting life style modifications.

Zinc Levels Modulate Lifespan through Multiple Longevity Pathways in Caenorhabditis elegans

Zinc is an essential trace metal that has integral roles in numerous biological processes, including enzymatic function, protein structure, and cell signaling pathways. Both excess and deficiency of zinc can lead to detrimental effects on development and metabolism, resulting in abnormalities and disease. We altered the zinc balance within Caenorhabditis elegans to examine how changes in zinc burden affect longevity and healthspan in an invertebrate animal model. We found that increasing zinc levels in vivo with excess dietary zinc supplementation decreased the mean and maximum lifespan, whereas reducing zinc levels in vivo with a zinc-selective chelator increased the mean and maximum lifespan in C. elegans. We determined that the lifespan shortening effects of excess zinc required expression of DAF-16, HSF-1 and SKN-1 proteins, whereas the lifespan lengthening effects of the reduced zinc may be partially dependent upon this set of proteins. Furthermore, reducing zinc levels led to greater nuclear localization of DAF-16 and enhanced dauer formation compared to controls, suggesting that the lifespan effects of zinc are mediated in part by the insulin/IGF-1 pathway. Additionally, zinc status correlated with several markers of healthspan in worms, including proteostasis, locomotion and thermotolerance, with reduced zinc levels always associated with improvements in function. Taken together, these data support a role for zinc in regulating both development and lifespan in C. elegans, and that suggest that regulation of zinc homeostasis in the worm may be an example of antagonistic pleiotropy.

Cytotoxicity, genotoxicity and alteration of cellular antioxidant enzymes in silver nanoparticles exposed CHO cells

The broad applications of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) increase human exposure, thus potential risk associated with their toxicity; therefore, the toxicity of Ag NPs, synthesized by chemical route was studied using Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells.

Colored polydimethylsiloxane micropillar arrays for high throughput measurements of forces applied by genetic model organisms

Measuring forces applied by multi-cellular organisms is valuable in investigating biomechanics of their locomotion. Several technologies have been developed to measure such forces, for example, strain gauges, micro-machined sensors, and calibrated cantilevers. We introduce an innovative combination of techniques as a high throughput screening tool to assess forces applied by multiple genetic model organisms. First, we fabricated colored Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) micropillars where the color enhances contrast making it easier to detect and track pillar displacement driven by the organism. Second, we developed a semi-automated graphical user interface to analyze the images for pillar displacement, thus reducing the analysis time for each animal to minutes. The addition of color reduced the Young's modulus of PDMS. Therefore, the dye-PDMS composite was characterized using Yeoh's hyperelastic model and the pillars were calibrated using a silicon based force sensor. We used our device to measure forces exerted by wild type and mutant Caenorhabditis elegans moving on an agarose surface. Wild type C. elegans exert an average force of ∼1 μN on an individual pillar and a total average force of ∼7.68 μN. We show that the middle of C. elegans exerts more force than its extremities. We find that C. elegans mutants with defective body wall muscles apply significantly lower force on individual pillars, while mutants defective in sensing externally applied mechanical forces still apply the same average force per pillar compared to wild type animals. Average forces applied per pillar are independent of the length, diameter, or cuticle stiffness of the animal. We also used the device to measure, for the first time, forces applied by Drosophila melanogaster larvae. Peristaltic waves occurred at 0.4 Hz applying an average force of ∼1.58 μN on a single pillar. Our colored microfluidic device along with its displacement tracking software allows us to measure forces applied by multiple model organisms that crawl or slither to travel through their environment.

Pilot project in rural western Madhya Pradesh, India, to assess the feasibility of using LED and solar-powered lanterns to remove kerosene lamps and related hazards from homes

BACKGROUND

Globally, 300,000 deaths are estimated to occur annually and the incidence is far greater as a large majority of burns are small and go unreported. Ninety-five percent of the global burden of burns is found in low- and middle-income countries; however, there is relatively little in the literature regarding effective primary prevention in these areas. Flame is the most common cause of burn in Madhya Pradesh, the central state of India. The most common demographic among the burn unit inpatient of Choithram hospital Indore, is young women from 21 to 40 years of age, whose burns are primarily caused by kerosene lamps. A non electrical source of illumination is essential for every household in rural areas due to the infrequent and poor power supply. At the baseline, 23 kerosene lamp burns were reported by villagers in the past 5 years among the study population of this pilot project.

METHOD

A pilot project to investigate the strategies for reducing the incidence of domestic burns in rural villages around the city of Indore was performed, by replacing kerosene lamps with safer and more sustainable alternatives, including solar-powered and light-emitting diode (LED) lamps. A total of 1042 households were randomly chosen from 18 villages within the Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh (population of 28,825) to receive the alternative light source (670 LED and 372 solar lamps). We investigated the efficacy of this strategy of reducing the incidence of burns, measured the social acceptance by villagers, and quantified the cost implications and availability of LED lamps in rural communities with a high incidence of burns.

RESULTS

Replacing kerosene lamps with LED and solar alternatives was deemed socially acceptable by 99.34% of the participants and reduced the cost of lighting for impoverished rural villagers by 85% over 1 year. We successfully demonstrated a significant decrease in the use of kerosene lamps (p<0.01). More evidence is required to investigate the efficacy of this strategy in reducing burns.

CONCLUSION

This pilot study highlights the viability of the approach of replacing kerosene lamps as an effective primary prevention strategy for reducing burns in rural areas. However, barriers remain to the wider adoption of these lamps, including accessibility and availability for the populations of rural India.

Using operations research to plan improvement of the transport of critically ill patients

OBJECTIVE

Operations research is the application of mathematical modeling, statistical analysis, and mathematical optimization to understand and improve processes in organizations. The objective of this study was to illustrate how the methods of operations research can be used to identify opportunities to reduce the absolute value and variability of interfacility transport intervals for critically ill patients.

METHODS

After linking data from two patient transport organizations in British Columbia, Canada, for all critical care transports during the calendar year 2006, the steps for transfer of critically ill patients were tabulated into a series of time intervals. Statistical modeling, root-cause analysis, Monte Carlo simulation, and sensitivity analysis were used to test the effect of changes in component intervals on overall duration and variation of transport times. Based on quality improvement principles, we focused on reducing the 75th percentile and standard deviation of these intervals.

RESULTS

We analyzed a total of 3808 ground and air transports. Constraining time spent by transport personnel at sending and receiving hospitals was projected to reduce the total time taken by 33 minutes with as much as a 20% reduction in standard deviation of these transport intervals in 75% of ground transfers. Enforcing a policy of requiring acceptance of patients who have life- or limb-threatening conditions or organ failure was projected to reduce the standard deviation of air transport time by 63 minutes and the standard deviation of ground transport time by 68 minutes.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on findings from our analyses, we developed recommendations for technology renovation, personnel training, system improvement, and policy enforcement. Use of the tools of operations research identifies opportunities for improvement in a complex system of critical care transport.

Phycoerythrin extends life span and health span of Caenorhabditis elegans

In the present study, we tested the antioxidant activity of phycoerythrin (PE, an oligomeric light harvesting protein isolated from Lyngbya sp. A09DM) to curtail aging effects in Caenorhabditis elegans. Purified PE (100 μg/ml) dietary supplement was given to C. elegans and investigated for its anti-aging potential. PE treatment improved the mean life span of wild type (N2)-animals from 15 ± 0.1 to 19.9 ± 0.3 days. PE treatment also moderated the decline in aging-associated physiological functions like pharyngeal pumping and locomotion with increasing age of N2 worms. Moreover, PE treatment also enhanced the stress tolerance in 5-day-aged adults with increase in mean survival rate from 22.2 ± 2.5 to 41.6 ± 2.5% under thermo stress and from 30.1 ± 3.2 to 63.1 ± 6.4% under oxidative (hydrogen peroxide)-stress. PE treatment was also noted to moderate the heat-induced expression of human amyloid-beta(Aβ1-42) peptide and associated paralysis in the muscle tissues of transgenic C. elegans CL4176 (Alzheimer's disease model). Effectiveness of PE in expanding the life span of mutant C. elegans, knockout for some up (daf-2 and age-1)- and down (daf-16)-stream regulators of insulin/IGF-1 signaling (IIS), shows the independency of PE effect from DAF-2-AGE-1-DAF-16 signaling pathway. Moreover, the inability of PE in expanding the life span of hsf-1 knockout C. elegans(sy441) suggests the dependency of PE effect on heat shock transcription factor (HSF-1) controlling stress-induced gene expression. In conclusion, our results demonstrated a novel anti-aging activity of PE which conferred increased resistance to cellular stress resulting in improved life span and health span of C. elegans.

Development of multiple embryos in polyembryonic insertional mutant OsPE of rice

A T-DNA insertional mutant OsPE of rice gives twin and triplet seedlings in up to 20 % of the seeds. Detailed cytological and histological analysis of OsPE indicated normal male and female gametogenesis in the OsPE mutant. Confocal laser scanning microscopic (CLSM) analysis of the developing seeds of OsPE showed multiple embryo development in up to 60 % of the ovules. The multiple embryos, mostly twins and triplets, and rarely quadruplets, developed through sequential cleavage from a single zygotic embryo in each ovule. The reduced number of multiple seedlings compared with multiple embryos observed in CLSM study may be attributed to their inability to develop further due to competition in a single embryo sac. Key message Multiple seedlings in the OsPE mutant are due to sequential proliferation and cleavage of the zygotic embryos. The nucellar tissue was not involved in multiple embryo development.

Multi walled carbon nano tubes induced hepatotoxicity in Swiss albino mice

In the present study, multi walled carbon nano tubes (MWCNTs) were synthesized using chemical vapour deposition (CVD) technique. Swiss albino mice were orally administered with single dose of 60 and 100 mg/kg body weight of purified and functionalized MWCNTs suspended in water. The mice were autopsied on 7, 14, 21 and 28 days post exposure. Liver was taken out and part of it fixed in Bouin's solution for histopathological examinations. The remaining part was immersed in cold saline, blotted dry, weighed quickly and homogenized in ice cold buffer. The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) was immediately measured in the supernatant. The MWCNTs in liver led to pathological changes, including injury to macrophages, cellular swelling, unspecific inflammation, spot necrosis and blood coagulation. Estimation of SOD and CAT showed altered levels in the experimental groups as compared to controls. Therefore, MWCNTs from manufactured and combustion sources in the environment can have adverse effects on human health.

Effects of weak disorder on stress-wave anisotropy in centered square nonlinear granular crystals

The present study describes wave propagation characteristics in a weakly disordered two-dimensional granular media composed of a square array of spheres accommodating interstitial cylindrical intruders. Previous investigations, performed experimentally as well as numerically, emphasized that wave-front shapes in similar systems are tunable via choice of material combinations. Here, we investigate the effects of statistical variation in the particle diameters and compare the effects of the resulting disorder in experiments and numerical simulations, finding good agreement.

Abnormal endosperm development causes female sterility in rice insertional mutant OsAPC6

A T-DNA insertional mutant OsAPC6 of rice, with gibberellic acid insensitivity and reduced height, had up to 45% reduced seed set. The insertion occurred on chromosome 3 of rice in the gene encoding one of the subunits of anaphase promoting complex/Cyclosome APC6. The primary mother cells of the mutant plants had normal meiosis, male gametophyte development and pollen viability. Confocal laser scanning microscopic (CLSM) studies of megagametophyte development showed abnormal mitotic divisions with reduced number or total absence of polar nuclei in about 30-35% megagametophytes of OsAPC6 mutant leading to failure of endosperm and hence embryo and seed development. Abnormal female gametophyte development, high sterility and segregation of tall and gibberellic acid sensitive plants without selectable marker Hpt in the selfed progeny of OsAPC6 mutant plants indicate that the mutant could be maintained in heterozygous condition. The abnormal mitotic divisions during megagametogenesis could be attributed to the inactivation of the APC6/CDC16 of anaphase promoting complex of rice responsible for cell cycle progression during megagametogenesis. Functional validation of the candidate gene through transcriptome profiling and RNAi is in progress.