Protein hydrolysates prepared by Alcalase using ultrasound and microwave pretreated almond meal and their characterization

The study aimed to optimize ultrasonic (US: 40 kHz/200 W for 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 min), and microwave (MW: 160 W for 45, 90, 125, 180, and 225 s) pretreatment conditions on protein extraction yield and degree of protein hydrolysis (DH) from almond de-oiled meal, an industrial by-product. First order model was used to describe the kinetics of almond protein hydrolysates obtained with Alcalase. The highest DH, 10.95% was recorded for the US-50 min and 8.87% for MW-45 s; while it was 5.76% for the untreated/control sample. At these optimized pretreatment conditions, a 1.16- and 1.18-fold increment in protein recovery was observed for the US and MW pretreatments, respectively in comparison to the conventional alkaline extraction. The molecular weight distribution recorded for pretreated samples disclosed a significant reduction in the band thickness in comparison with control. Both the pretreatments resulted in a significant increase (P < 0.05) in the antioxidant activity, and TCA solubility index when compared with the control. Results evinced that US and/or MW pretreatments before enzymatic hydrolysis can be a promising approach for the valorization of almond meal for its subsequent use as an ingredient for functional foods/nutraceuticals which otherwise fetches low value as an animal feed.

Laser-driven x-ray and proton micro-source and application to simultaneous single-shot bi-modal radiographic imaging

Radiographic imaging with x-rays and protons is an omnipresent tool in basic research and applications in industry, material science and medical diagnostics. The information contained in both modalities can often be valuable in principle, but difficult to access simultaneously. Laser-driven solid-density plasma-sources deliver both kinds of radiation, but mostly single modalities have been explored for applications. Their potential for bi-modal radiographic imaging has never been fully realized, due to problems in generating appropriate sources and separating image modalities. Here, we report on the generation of proton and x-ray micro-sources in laser-plasma interactions of the focused Texas Petawatt laser with solid-density, micrometer-sized tungsten needles. We apply them for bi-modal radiographic imaging of biological and technological objects in a single laser shot. Thereby, advantages of laser-driven sources could be enriched beyond their small footprint by embracing their additional unique properties, including the spectral bandwidth, small source size and multi-mode emission.

Here the authors show a synchronized single-shot bi-modal x-ray and proton source based on laser-generated plasma. This source can be useful for radiographic and tomographic imaging.

Gradient magnet design for simultaneous detection of electrons and positrons in the intermediate MeV range

We report the design and development of a compact electron and positron spectrometer based on tapered neodymium iron boron magnets to characterize the pairs generated in laser-matter experiments. The tapered design forms a gradient magnetic field component allowing energy dependent focusing of the dispersed charged particles along a chosen detector plane. The mirror symmetric design allows for simultaneous detection of pairs with energies from 2 MeV to 500 MeV with an accuracy of ≤10% in the wide energy range from 5 to 110 MeV for a parallel beam incident on a circular aperture of 20 mm. The energy resolution drops to ≤20% for 4-90 MeV range for a divergent beam originating from a point source at 20 cm away (i.e., a solid angle of ∼8 milli steradians), with ≤10% accuracy still maintained in the narrower energy range from 10 to 55 MeV. It offers higher solid angle acceptance, even for the divergent beam, compared to the conventional pinhole aperture-based spectrometers. The proposed gradient magnet is suitable for the detection of low flux and/or monoenergetic type electron/positron beams with finite transverse sizes and offers unparalleled advantages for gamma-ray spectroscopy in the intermediate MeV range.

Shift work--problems and its impact on female nurses in Udaipur, Rajasthan India

Abstract : There is good evidence that shift work has negative effects on workers health, safety and performance. It is quite appropriate that attention is paid to this very important feature of socio-technical systems, which may adversely affect mental and physical health, social life and safety of shift workers. Research into the impact of shift work on professionals has consistently identified a range of negative outcomes in physical, psychological, and social domains (Akerstedt, 1988; Costa, Lievore, Casaletti, Gaffuri, & Folkard, 1989; Kogi, 2005; Paley & Tepas, 1994). Hospitals, the biggest employer in the health care field, employ more night shift workers than any other industry. It can therefore be inferred that in medical domain high percentage of workforce may be affected by problems related to shift work. Thus the present study will provide knowledge base for the problems faced by the female nurses. The present study was undertaken with an objective of getting an insight into the problems faced by female nurses in shift work. . It was found that the female nurses in India worked on roaster pattern of change in shift every seven days. They did not have a say in the change of duties, it could only be done on mutual grounds. Partners of younger group did not much adjust to their shift pattern this created stress among the nurses.The results showed that the female nurses in both the age groups i.e. 30-45 years and 45-60 years faced many problems related to health and well being, fatigue, social and domestic situations. They could not give much time to their children in particular. Travelling in nights was risky for them. Common problem was the insufficient sleep during night shifts. The nurses had to cater to the needs of the family, children in particular along with the adjustments to be made due to shift work. They had to sometimes do the night duties and attend social functions as a part of their duty. Children and husband in some cases did not cooperate this lead to frustration. When asked as to whether they would could shift job if they get regular one more than 50 % said yes this means that there need to be come training and intervention for the shift workers and their family so that the problems faced and their impact on personal health of the female nurses could be reduced.

Neutraceutical approaches to control diabetes: A natural requisite approach

Objective:

The aim of this study is to screen the polyherbal preparation for antidiabetic activity in rats.

Materials and Methods:

The blood glucose lowering activity of the polyherbal preparation-I (1:1:1 of wheat germ oil, Coraidrum sativum, and Aloe vera) was studied in normal rats after oral administration at doses of 1.0 ml/kg and 2.0 ml/kg and polyherbal preparation-I, II (wheat germ oil, fresh juice of C. sativum, and A. vera in the ratio of 2:2:1), and III (wheat germ oil, fresh juice of C. sativum and A. vera in the ratio of 1:2:2) on alloxan-induced diabetic rats, after oral administration at doses of 1.0 ml/kg and 2.0 ml/kg. Blood samples were collected from the tail vein method at 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, and 24 h in normal rats and in diabetic rats at 0, 1, 3, 7, 15, and 30 days. Blood plasma glucose was estimated by the GOD/POD (glucose oxidase and peroxidase) method. The data were compared statistically by using the one-way ANOVA method followed by the Dunnett multiple component test. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05.

Results:

The polyherbal preparation-I produced significant (P < 0.05) reduction in the blood glucose level of normal rats and polyherbal preparation-I, II, and III produced significant (P < 0.01) reduction in the blood glucose level of diabetic rats during 30-day study and compared with that of control and glibenclamide.

Conclusion:

The polyherbal preparation-I showed a significant glucose lowering effect in normal rats and polyherbal preparation-I, II, and III in diabetic rats. This preparation is going to be promising antidiabetic preparation for masses; however, it requires further extensive studies in human beings.

FTIR Spectroscopy: A Tool for Quantitative Analysis of Ciprofloxacin in Tablets

A simple, accurate and sensitive spectroscopic method has been proposed for the assay of ciprofloxacin in tablet by least square treatment of fourier transform infrared spectrometric data obtained at the wavenumber corresponding to the carbonyl group centered at 1707 cm^-1. The method involves the extraction of the active ingredient with methanol followed by phosphate buffer pH 6.0. The excipients in the commercial tablet preparation did not interfere with the assay. The specifity, linearity, detection limits, precision and accuracy of the calibration curve, drug extraction, infrared analysis and data manipulation were determined in order to validate the method. Moreover, the statistical results were compared with other methods for quantification of ciprofloxacin.

Management of intellectual property rights in India: An updated review

The World Trade Organization's agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights set global minimum standards for the protection of intellectual property, substantially increasing and expanding intellectual property rights, and generated clear gains for the pharmaceutical industry and the developed world. The present review elaborates all aspects of Intellectual Property Rights in detail, along with their protection criteria.

Molecular cloning and sequence analysis of bubaline lactoferrin promoter

The proximal promoter for bubaline lactoferin-encoding gene has been isolated, cloned and sequenced. A 468 bp fragment of the 5' flanking region of the lactoferrin gene was PCR amplified and cloned into pUC18 vector. Sequence analysis of the amplified fragment revealed the presence of one TATA box, one TATA like element, two GC boxes and one motif resembling cAMP response element (CRE) in this region. Bubaline lactoferrin promoter shares 93%, 53%, 52% and 48% homology with cattle, pig, mouse and human lactoferrin 5' flanking region, respectively.

cDNA cloning and sequence analysis of bubaline growth hormone

The cDNA for Bubalus bubalis growth hormone (GH) has been cloned and sequence determined through RT-PCR approach. The nucleotide sequence of bubaline GH cDNA was in a single reading frame coding for a protein of 191 residues comprising a putative signal sequence of 27 amino acids. Homology comparison of the sequence with other mammalian GH cDNAs showed a very high degree of evolutionary conservation. Bubaline GH sequence shared a homology of 99.5%, 99.5%, 98.6%, 87.6% and 61.9% with that of ovine, caprine, bovine, porcine and human, respectively at amino acid level.

Effect of the codon following the ATG start site on the expression of ovine growth hormone in Escherichia coli

For expression of ovine growth hormone (OGH) in inclusion bodies without an affinity histidine tag at either end of the protein, three clones, differing only in the second codon following the ATG start site, were constructed. Their expression was studied by SDS-PAGE followed by immunoblotting. Clone Ala.OGH (clone 1), beginning with Met.Ala.Phe.Pro ellipsis, did not show any expression. Clone Phe.OGH (clone 3), beginning with Met.Phe.Pro ellipsis, gave very high levels of OGH expression following IPTG induction. However, in clone Gly.OGH (clone 2), in which the Ala codon was replaced with a Gly codon at the second position after the start site, a lower level of expression was obtained. Northern hybridization analysis showed that upon IPTG induction, OGH mRNA was transcribed from all three clones. These results therefore, imply that lack of expression in clone 1 and a lower level of expression in clone 2 are not due to a failure of transcription; however, they may be due to inefficient initiation of translation. The secondary structure analysis of mRNA predicts inaccessibility of different elements of the RBS in the case of Ala.OGH (clone 1). The present study highly underscores the importance of mRNA secondary structure at the start site in regulation of expression of a cloned gene in Escherichia coli, a prokaryotic expression system.

Conflict analysis for prediction of fatal crash locations in mixed traffic streams

This paper reports the results of a study that explored the relationship between fatal crashes and conflict rates at mid-block on 14 locations in Delhi, India. All locations had a mix of motorized and non-motorized traffic. The sites were selected to represent low, medium and high fatality rates. The analysis was done in two stages. The first stage used recent 3-year statistics along the entire street. The second stage focused on each fatal crash for mid-block segments on those streets. Peak-hour traffic at 14 selected locations was videotaped. Trained observers recorded traffic compositions at mid-block, average space mean speeds by mode and conflicts by type, reactor mode and cause mode. After converting raw conflict counts to rates, site ranking went from high to low conflict rate sites. The studies showed a weak crash-conflict association. Conflict data for various sites were compared for different combinations of conflicts. The comparison revealed that the presence of only a few non-motorized modes is enough to cause conflicts between motorized vehicles and on-road non-motorized vehicles. The study did not provide a conclusive relationship between mid-block conflicts and fatal crash sites. However, the conflict study provided useful insights into the interaction between different traffic entities in the traffic streams of 14 sites. An important conclusion of this study is that a traffic-planning emphasis on studying conflict rates may not result in reducing fatality rates on urban roads along mid-block segments.

Side bias in schizophrenia: hand, foot, eye, and ear

Schizophrenics and normal controls were examined for their side (lateral) bias in terms of hand, foot, eye, and ear. Preference and performance measures were taken. The findings indicated a rightward bias for both measures in controls and in participants with schizophrenia. Side pattern was congruent between those with and without schizophrenia, with limb lateralization (hand, foot) orthogonal to sense-organ lateralization (eye, ear). Analysis of right- and left-side responses indicated a significant group difference for eye bias and ear bias as a function of response measures, preference, and performance.