Structural analysis of the AICD central 12 residue peptide stretch and its interactions with metals and polyphenols, as a potential drug target for AD.

Structural analysis of the central 12 residue stretch of Amyloid precursor protein Intracellular Domain (AICD: T-S-I-H-H-G-V-V-E-V-D-A) was carried out by NMR and homology modeling. Further, metal and polyphenol interactions were also carried out for these 12 residues stretch, as it contains two critical Histidine residues, which were observed to be perturbed NMR. A full length 57 residues AICD model was generated computational methods, to ascertain its overall conformation, as the entire structure was unavailable.

Molecular characterization of carbendazim resistance of Fusarium species complex that causes sugarcane pokkah boeng disease.

Background: Pokkah boeng is one of the most serious and devastating diseases of sugarcane and causes significant loss in cane yield and sugar content. Although carbendazim is widely used to prevent fungal diseases, the molecular basis of Fusarium species complex (FSC) resistance to carbendazim remains unknown.

Results: The EC (fungicide concentration that inhibits 50% of mycelial growth) values of carbendazim for 35 FSC isolates collected in cane growing regions of China were ranged from 0.

Studies on Copper and Aβ-Induced Conformational Changes in CAG/CTG Trinucleotide Repeats Sequence.

DNA conformation and stability are critical for the normal cell functions, which control many cellular processes in life, such as replication, transcription, DNA repair, etc. The accumulation of amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) and Copper (Cu) are the etiological factors for neurodegenerative diseases and hypothesized that they can cause DNA instability. In the current investigation, we studied copper and Aβ induced conformation and stability changes in CAG/CTG sequences and found alterations from B-DNA to altered B-conformation.

Spatio-temporal analysis of floating islands and their behavioral changes in Loktak Lake with respect to biodiversity using remote sensing and GIS techniques.

The presence of floating islands is a unique characteristic of Loktak Lake. Floating islands play a significant role in ecosystem services and ecological processes and functioning. Rapid urbanization, industrialization, and a demand for more resources have led to changes in the landscape patterns at Loktak Lake in past three decades, thereby degrading and threatening the fragile ecosystem.

Anthropogenic activity-induced water quality degradation in the Loktak lake, a Ramsar site in the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot.

Wetland contributes to human well-being and poverty alleviation. The increase in human population leads to more demand for water and degradation of the water bodies around the globe, resulting in scarcity of water. The aim of the present study was to assess the impact of anthropogenic activity on the water quality of the Loktak lake.

Process optimization of biogas energy production from cow dung with alkali pre-treated coffee pulp.

Biogas production from cow dung with co-substrate agricultural waste is one of the most demanding technologies for generating energy in a sustainable approach considering eco-friendly. In the present study, coffee pulp (CP) was pre-treated with 1% NaOH and combined with various proportions of cow dung (CD) to explore its biogas producing potentiality. The optimization of the process was studied using Response surface methodology.

Copper interactions with DNA of chromatin and its role in neurodegenerative disorders.

In this study, we have demonstrated the conformational changes to DNA induced by abnormal interactions of copper using circular dichroism, in combination with UV-absorbance and fluorescence spectroscopy. Results confirm that binding of copper to bases of DNA in chromatin is concentration dependent. Binding efficiency of Cu ions to DNA is increased in proportion to the degree of unwinding of the double helix induced by denaturation.

Symptomatic west syndrome secondary to glucose transporter-1(GLUT1) deficiency with complete response to 4:1 ketogenic diet.

Glucose transporter type 1 (GLUT-1) deficiency is a rare cause of preventable intellectual disability. Intellectual disability is due to refractory seizures in infancy and reduced supply of glucose to the brain. The authors report a third born male child of consanguineous parentage who presented with infantile spasms.

In vitro anti-biofilm and anti-bacterial activity of Junceella juncea for its biomedical application.

Objective: To investigate the anti-biofilm and anti-bacterial activity of Junceella juncea (J. juncea) against biofilm forming pathogenic strains.

Methods: Gorgonians were extracted with methanol and analysed with fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.

Photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange dye using silver (Ag) nanoparticles synthesized from Ulva lactuca.

In this paper, we report on biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles using Ulva lactuca (seaweed) at room temperature along with photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange dye. UV spectral analysis showed peak at 430 nm with special reference to the excitation of surfaces plasmon vibration by silver nanoparticles. FT-IR studies reveal the presence of bioactive functional groups such as phenolic compounds, amines and aromatic ring are found to be the capping and stabilizing agents of nanoparticles.

Identification and evaluation of air-pollution-tolerant plants around lignite-based thermal power station for greenbelt development.

Introduction: Thermal power plants emit various gaseous and particulate pollutants into the atmosphere. It is well known that trees help to reduce air pollution. Development of a greenbelt with suitable plant species around the source of emission will mitigate the air pollution.

Molecular toxicity of aluminium in relation to neurodegeneration.

Exposure to high levels of aluminium (Al) leads to neurofibrillary degeneration and that Al concentration is increased in degenerating neurons in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Nevertheless, the role of Al in AD remains controversial and there is little proof directly interlinking Al to AD. The major problem in understanding Al toxicity is the complex Al speciation chemistry in biological systems.

Accelerating the return to work (RTW) chances of coronary heart disease (CHD) patients: part 1--development and validation of a training programme.

Purpose: Conventional phase II cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programmes have not resulted in an improvement in returning coronary heart disease (CHD) patients to work in over 35 years. This 4 year field-initiated research, sponsored by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, compares conventional CR programmes with a low-intensity CR programme that simulates elements of work (job-simulated CR programme) in terms of return to work (RTW) and physiological conditioning. The effect of training on physical capabilities of patients participating in the job-simulated CR programme was also of equal interest.

Reach profiles of men and women 65 to 89 years of age.

Reach and anthropometric data were collected on a heterogeneous group of subjects 65 to 89 years of age. The purpose of this pilot study was to determine whether the process of aging has an effect on the ability to reach. Analysis of the data collected showed that age-related changes had an effect on reaching in the vertical plane, especially for the male subjects.