Large electrorheological phenomena in graphene nano-gels.

Large-scale electrorheology (ER) response has been reported for dilute graphene nanoflake-based ER fluids that have been engineered as novel, readily synthesizable polymeric gels. Polyethylene glycol (PEG 400) based graphene gels have been synthesized and a very high ER response (∼125 000% enhancement in viscosity under influence of an electric field) has been observed for low concentration systems (∼2 wt.%).

Analytical prediction of sub-surface thermal history in translucent tissue phantoms during plasmonic photo-thermotherapy (PPTT).

Knowledge of thermal history and/or distribution in biological tissues during laser based hyperthermia is essential to achieve necrosis of tumour/carcinoma cells. A semi-analytical model to predict sub-surface thermal distribution in translucent, soft, tissue mimics has been proposed. The model can accurately predict the spatio-temporal temperature variations along depth and the anomalous thermal behaviour in such media, viz.

Patho-physiological observations in natural concurrent infections of helminth parasites of zoonotic importance in the wild rodents, .

Screening of 83 mature wild rodents of (52 male and 31 females), live trapped from premises near railway station, fish market and agricultural fields in Ludhiana district of Punjab province, India was carried out to assess the natural occurrence of helminth parasites and their potential as reservoirs of zoonoses. On necropsy, intestine of rats was found infected with adult cestode parasites of and Liver was found infected with and These parasites were present either alone or as concurrent infection. In overall, 68.

The relationship between capsular type and OmpA of Pasteurella multocida is associated with the outcome of disease.

The genes encoding OmpA of Pasteurella multocida recovered from diseased and apparently healthy animals have been characterized. The nucleotide sequence revealed ORFs of 1047-1077 bp encoding proteins of 349-360 amino acids. Domain analysis of OmpA showed signal peptide, N-terminal ompA domain and C-terminal ligand binding domain.

Exploring the potential of genome editing CRISPR-Cas9 technology.

CRISPR-Cas9 is an RNA-mediated adaptive immune system that protects bacteria and archaea from viruses or plasmids. Herein we discuss the recent development of CRISPR-Cas9 into a key technology for genome editing, targeting, and regulation in a wide range of organisms and cell types. It requires a custom designed single guide-RNA (sgRNA), a Cas9 endonuclease, and PAM sequences in the target region.

Schistosomal appendicitis in Kuwait A5-year study.

Background: Appendicular schistosomiasis is an unusual etiology of acute appendicitis, which has been reported in countries endemic in schistosomiasis, such as sub-saharan Africa and South America. Nowadays, due to globalization, this disease has been diagnosed in non-endemic countries. Kuwait is a country possessing a larger percentage of foreigners than national citizens.

First detection of canine parvovirus type 2b from diarrheic dogs in Himachal Pradesh.

Aim: The present study was conducted to detect the presence of canine parvovirus (CPV) among diarrheic dogs in Himachal Pradesh and to identify the most prevalent antigenic variant of CPV based on molecular typing and sequence analysis of VP2 gene.

Materials And Methods: A total of 102 fecal samples were collected from clinical cases of diarrhea or hemorrhagic gastroenteritis from CPV vaccinated or non-vaccinated dogs. Samples were tested using CPV-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting VP2 gene, multiplex PCR for detection of CPV-2a and CPV-2b antigenic variants, and a PCR for the detection of CPV-2c.

Magnetic Cellulose Nanocrystal Based Anisotropic Polylactic Acid Nanocomposite Films: Influence on Electrical, Magnetic, Thermal, and Mechanical Properties.

This paper reports a single-step co-precipitation method for the fabrication of magnetic cellulose nanocrystals (MGCNCs) with high iron oxide nanoparticle content (∼51 wt % loading) adsorbed onto cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs). X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and Raman spectroscopic studies confirmed that the hydroxyl groups on the surface of CNCs (derived from the bamboo pulp) acted as anchor points for the adsorption of Fe3O4 nanoparticles. The fabricated MGCNCs have a high magnetic moment, which is utilized to orient the magnetoresponsive nanofillers in parallel or perpendicular orientations inside the polylactic acid (PLA) matrix.

Dihydrochelerythrine and its derivatives: Synthesis and their application as potential G-quadruplex DNA stabilizing agents.

A convenient route was envisaged toward the synthesis of dihydrochelerythrine (DHCHL), 4 by intramolecular Suzuki coupling of 2-bromo-N-(2-bromobenzyl)-naphthalen-1-amine derivative 5 via in situ generated arylborane. This compound was converted to (±)-6-acetonyldihydrochelerythrine (ADC), 3 which was then resolved by chiral prep-HPLC. Efficiency of DHCHL for the stabilization of promoter quadruplex DNA structures and a comparison study with the parent natural alkaloid chelerythrine (CHL), 1 was performed.

Coalescence Dynamics of PEDOT:PSS Droplets Impacting at Offset on Substrates for Inkjet Printing.

Unlabelled: The dynamics of coalescence and consequent spreading of conducting polymer droplets on a solid substrate impacting at an offset are crucial in understanding the stability of inkjet printed patterns, which find application in organic flexible electronic devices. Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (

Pedot: PSS) dispersion in water is a widely used commercial conducting polymer for the fabrication of electron devices. The effects of droplet spacing, impact velocity, substrate hydrophilicity, polymer concentration, and charges on the coalescence of two sessile droplets have been experimentally investigated, and the characteristics of dynamic spreading during the coalescence process are determined through image processing.

Development of OMP based indirect ELISA to gauge the antibody titers in bovines against Pasteurella multocida.

Pasteurella multocida (P. multocida) is an important pathogen of various domestic animals. The outer membrane proteins (OMPs) play a major role in pathogenesis and immunogenicity of P.

Perioperative prostaglandin e1 infusion in living donor liver transplantation: A double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial.

The role of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) infusion in improving early graft function has not been well defined, especially in the scenario of living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). We designed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the role of perioperative PGE1 infusion in LDLT. Patients in the study arm received PGE1 (alprostadil) at the rate of 0.

Biological and molecular characterization of classical swine fever challenge virus from India.

Aim: The aim of this study was biological and molecular characterization of classical swine fever (CSF) challenge virus from India.

Materials And Methods: CSF challenge virus maintained at Division of Biological standardization was experimentally infected to two seronegative piglets. The biological characterization was done by clinical sign and symptoms along with postmortem findings.

A quality improvement project to reduce hypothermia in infants undergoing MRI scanning.

Background: Hypothermia prevention strategies during MRI scanning under general anesthesia in infants may pose a challenge due to the MRI scanner's technical constraints. Previous studies have demonstrated conflicting results related to increase or decrease in post-scan temperatures in children. We noted occurrences of post-scan hypothermia in anesthetized infants despite the use of routine passive warming techniques.

Evaluating the Role of the Air-Solution Interface on the Mechanism of Subvisible Particle Formation Caused by Mechanical Agitation for an IgG1 mAb.

Mechanical agitation of monoclonal antibody (mAb) solutions often leads to protein particle formation. In this study, various formulations of an immunoglobulin G (IgG) 1 mAb were subjected to different controlled interfacial stresses using a Langmuir trough, and protein particles formed at the interface and measured in bulk solution were characterized using atomic force microscopy and flow digital imaging. Results were compared to mAb solutions agitated in glass vials and unstressed controls.

Physiochemical Properties of Aluminum Adjuvants Elicit Differing Reorganization of Phospholipid Domains in Model Membranes.

Most vaccines contain aluminum adjuvants; however, their exact mechanism of action remains unclear. A novel mechanism by Shi and colleagues proposes aluminum adjuvants may enhance immune activation by binding and reorganizing lipids that are key components of lipid rafts. To better understand the specificity of interaction between aluminum adjuvants and the cell membrane lipids, we present a biophysical study of lipid domain clustering in simple model phospholipid monolayers containing dipalmitoyl-phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and dioleoyl-phosphatidylcholine (DOPC) exposed to two aluminum adjuvants, Alhydrogel and Adju-Phos.

Charge Type, Charge Spacing, and Hydrophobicity of Arginine-Rich Cell-Penetrating Peptides Dictate Gene Transfection.

Noncovalent complexation of plasmid DNA (pDNA) with cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) forms relatively large complexes with poor gene expression. Yet, condensing these CPP-pDNA complexes via addition of calcium chloride produces small and stable nanoparticles with high levels of gene expression. This simple formulation offered high transfection efficiency and negligible cytotoxicity in HEK-293 (a virus-immortalized kidney cell) and A549 (a human lung cancer cell line).

Combined effect of synthetic protein, Mini-B, and cholesterol on a model lung surfactant mixture at the air-water interface.

The overall goal of this work is to study the combined effects of Mini-B, a 34 residue synthetic analog of the lung surfactant protein SP-B, and cholesterol, a neutral lipid, on a model binary lipid mixture containing dipalmitolphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and palmitoyl-oleoyl-phosphatidylglycerol (POPG), that is often used to mimic the primary phospholipid composition of lung surfactants. Using surface pressure vs. mean molecular area isotherms, fluorescence imaging and analysis of lipid domain size distributions; we report on changes in the structure, function and stability of the model lipid-protein films in the presence and absence of varying composition of cholesterol.

Predicting stable functional peptides from the intergenic space of .

Expression of synthetic proteins from intergenic regions of and their functional association was recently demonstrated (Dhar et al. in J Biol Eng 3:2, 2009. doi:10.

Acute liver failure due to zinc phosphide containing rodenticide poisoning: Clinical features and prognostic indicators of need for liver transplantation.

Zinc phosphide (ZnP) containing rodenticide poisoning is a recognized cause of acute liver failure (ALF) in India. When standard conservative measures fail, the sole option is liver transplantation. Records of 41 patients admitted to a single centre with ZnP-induced ALF were reviewed to identify prognostic indicators for requirement of liver transplantation.

Anticancer activity of Ophiobolin A, isolated from the endophytic fungus Bipolaris setariae.

The present work describes the anticancer activity of Ophiobolin A isolated from the endophytic fungus Bipolaris setariae. Ophiobolin A was isolated using preparative HPLC and its structure was confirmed by HRMS, (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR, COSY, DEPT, HSQC and HMBC. It inhibited solid and haematological cancer cell proliferation with IC50 of 0.

Repellency of α-pinene against the house fly, Musca domestica.

Musca domestica L. is a non-biting nuisance fly that is capable of transmitting a large variety of pathogens to humans and non-human animals. Natural compounds and their derivatives, which are often less toxic than entirely synthetic compounds, may be used as repellents against M.

The MUC1 mucin protects against Helicobacter pylori pathogenesis in mice by regulation of the NLRP3 inflammasome.

Objectives: The mucin MUC1, best known for providing an epithelial barrier, is an important protective host factor in both humans and mice during Helicobacter pylori pathogenesis. This study aimed to identify the long-term consequences of MUC1 deficiency on H. pylori pathogenesis and the mechanism by which MUC1 protects against H.

In silico study of peptide inhibitors against BACE 1.

Peptides are increasingly used as inhibitors of various disease specific targets. Several naturally occurring and synthetically developed peptides are undergoing clinical trials. Our work explores the possibility of reusing the non-expressing DNA sequences to predict potential drug-target specific peptides.