High-throughput screening to evaluate optimum coagulation conditions via colloidal stability analysis.

Current methods of optimizing the coagulant dosage in wastewater treatment processes typically rely on the use of labor- and material-intensive jar testers, which are inadequate when coagulation processes require frequent adjustments due to variations in properties of the incoming feed. Analytical centrifuges (ACs) employ an integrated optics system that simultaneously monitors the position of the boundary between two separating phases in multiple samples of fairly low volumes (∼2 mL) - thus it was expected that ACs would be ideally suited to study the stability and settling kinetics of coagulation treatment processes. In this study, wastewater samples from a biogas generation facility (known as centrate) were collected in February 2022 (Batch A) and July 2022 (Batch B).

Strain and crystallite size controlled ordering of Heusler nanoparticles having high heating rate for magneto-thermal application.

Heusler compound nanoparticles with good structural ordering need to be investigated as a potential material class for magneto-thermal applications requiring heat generation in presence of an oscillating magnetic field. Here, we report an important finding of a structural parameter related to the product of the strain and the coherent crystallite size, that can be used to efficiently control the structural ordering and the magnetic property of the Heulser compound nanoparticles. The optimization of this product parameter is found to enhance both the structural ordering and magnetic transition temperature in CoFeSn Heusler nanoparticles.

Comprehensive Lipidomic and Metabolomic Analysis for Studying Metabolic Changes in Lung Tissue Induced by a Vaccine against Respiratory Syncytial Virus.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading cause of acute lower respiratory infections in young children. Although the disease may be severe in immunocompromised, young, and elderly people, there is currently no approved vaccine. We previously reported the development and immunological assessment of a novel intranasal vaccine formulation consisting of a truncated version of the RSV fusion protein (ΔF) combined with a three-component adjuvant (TriAdj).

Selection of adjuvants for vaccines targeting specific pathogens.

Adjuvants form an integral component in most of the inactivated and subunit vaccine formulations. Careful and proper selection of adjuvants helps in promoting appropriate immune responses against target pathogens at both innate and adaptive levels such that protective immunity can be elicited. Areas covered: Herein, we describe the recent progress in our understanding of the mode of action of adjuvants that are licensed for use in human vaccines or in clinical or pre-clinical stages at both innate and adaptive levels.

Metabolomic and Immunological Profiling of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection after Intranasal Immunization with a Subunit Vaccine Candidate.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a significant cause of mortality and morbidity in infants, the elderly, immunocompromised individuals, and patients with congenital heart diseases. Despite extensive efforts, a vaccine against RSV is still not available. We have previously reported the development of a subunit vaccine (ΔF/TriAdj) composed of a truncated version of the fusion protein (ΔF) and a polymer-based combination adjuvant (TriAdj).

The respiratory syncytial virus fusion protein formulated with a polymer-based adjuvant induces multiple signaling pathways in macrophages.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes acute respiratory tract infections in infants, the elderly and immunocompromised individuals. No licensed vaccine is available against RSV. We previously reported that intranasal immunization of rodents and lambs with a RSV vaccine candidate (ΔF/TriAdj) induces protective immunity with a good safety profile.

Formulation of the respiratory syncytial virus fusion protein with a polymer-based combination adjuvant promotes transient and local innate immune responses and leads to improved adaptive immunity.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes serious upper and lower respiratory tract infections in newborns and infants. Presently, there is no licensed vaccine against RSV. We previously reported the safety and efficacy of a novel vaccine candidate (ΔF/TriAdj) in rodent and lamb models following intranasal immunization.

IL-12p40 gene-deficient BALB/c mice exhibit lower weight loss, reduced lung pathology and decreased sensitization to allergen in response to infection with pneumonia virus of mice.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in infants and pneumonia virus of mice (PVM) causes similar disease. BALB/c mice are highly susceptible, while C57BL/6 mice are more resistant to PVM. IL-12 was significantly more up-regulated in response to PVM infection in BALB/c than in C57BL/6 mice.

Efficacy of Photodynamic Therapy and Lasers as an Adjunct to Scaling and Root Planing in the Treatment of Aggressive Periodontitis - A Clinical and Microbiologic Short Term Study.

Introduction: Aggressive periodontitis comprises a group of rare, severe, rapidly progressive form of periodontitis. Conventional treatment includes mechanical debridement augmented with adjunctive antimicrobial therapy. Development of antibiotic resistance has led to use of lasers.

Successful Therapy of Murine Visceral Leishmaniasis with Astrakurkurone, a Triterpene Isolated from the Mushroom Astraeus hygrometricus, Involves the Induction of Protective Cell-Mediated Immunity and TLR9.

In our previous report, we showed that astrakurkurone, a triterpene isolated from the Indian mushroom Astraeus hygrometricus (Pers.) Morgan, induced reactive oxygen species, leading to apoptosis in Leishmania donovani promastigotes, and also was effective in inhibiting intracellular amastigotes at the 50% inhibitory concentration of 2.5 μg/ml.

Comparative evaluation of the efficacy of curcumin gel with and without photo activation as an adjunct to scaling and root planing in the treatment of chronic periodontitis: A split mouth clinical and microbiological study.

Aims And Objectives: Harnessing Mother Nature's bountiful remedies for rejuvenation has been in vogue since time immemorial. Turmeric contains the polyphenol Curcumin in its rhizome. It produces reactive oxygen species (ROS) with visible light irradiation as photodynamic therapy (PDT) - which validates its use in the treatment of periodontitis.

Blunted inflammatory and mucosal IgA responses to pneumonia virus of mice in C57BL/6 neonates are correlated to reduced protective immunity upon re-infection as elderly mice.

Respiratory syncytial virus is a major cause of bronchiolitis in infants and pneumonia virus of mice (PVM) causes similar disease in mice. The impact of PVM infection in BALB/c and C57BL/6 neonates, and upon re-infection as elderly mice, was compared. As previously shown for adult mice, PVM caused more disease in BALB/c than in C57BL/6 neonates.

Vascular endothelial growth factor levels in gingival crevicular fluid before and after periodontal therapy.

Introduction: Of the various cytokines and growth factors regulating angiogenesis, the most potent agent acting on vascular endothelium is vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF). The present study aims to access VEGF concentration in periodontal diseases and the effect of periodontal therapy on its concentration in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF).

Materials And Methods: Ninety five subjects (47 females and 48 males) 25- 47 y of age were divided into healthy (group-1), gingivitis (group-2), and periodontitis (group-3).

A wavelet-based multiresolution approach to solve the stereo correspondence problem using mutual information.

In this correspondence, we propose a wavelet-based hierarchical approach using mutual information (MI) to solve the correspondence problem in stereo vision. The correspondence problem involves identifying corresponding pixels between images of a given stereo pair. This results in a disparity map, which is required to extract depth information of the relevant scene.

Extracellular biosynthesis of magnetite using fungi.

The development of synthetic processes for oxide nanomaterials is an issue of considerable topical interest. While a number of chemical methods are available and are extensively used, the collaborations are often energy intensive and employ toxic chemicals. On the other hand, the synthesis of inorganic materials by biological systems is characterized by processes that occur at close to ambient temperatures and pressures, and at neutral pH (examples include magnetotactic bacteria, diatoms, and S-layer bacteria).