Ultrafast Removal of Thorium and Uranium from Radioactive Waste and Groundwater Using Highly Efficient and Radiation-Resistant Functionalized Triptycene-Based Porous Organic Polymers.

Thorium (Th) and uranium (U) are important strategic resources in nuclear energy-based heavy industries such as energy and defense sectors that also generate significant radioactive waste in the process. The management of nuclear waste is therefore of paramount importance. Contamination of groundwater/surface water by Th/U is increasing at an alarming rate in certain geographical locations.

Over-expression of 3-hydroxy-3- methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase 1 (hmgr1) gene under super-promoter for enhanced latex biosynthesis in rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis Muell. Arg.).

Natural rubber (cis-1, 4-polyisoprene) is being produced from bark laticifer cells of Hevea brasiliensis and the popular high latex yielding Indian rubber clones are easily prone to onset of tapping panel dryness syndrome (TPD) which is considered as a physiological syndrome affecting latex production either partially or completely. This report describes an efficient protocol for development of transgenic rubber plants by over-expression of 3-hydroxy 3-methylglutaryl Co-enzyme A reductase 1 (hmgr1) gene which is considered as rate limiting factor for latex biosynthesis via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. The pBIB plasmid vector containing hmgr1 gene cloned under the control of a super-promoter was used for genetic transformation using embryogenic callus.

Lipid metabolic perturbation is an early-onset phenotype in adult mutants: a model for lysosomal storage disorders.

Intracellular accumulation of lipids and swollen dysfunctional lysosomes are linked to several neurodegenerative diseases, including lysosomal storage disorders (LSD). Detailed characterization of lipid metabolic changes in relation to the onset and progression of neurodegeneration is currently missing. We systematically analyzed lipid perturbations in mutants, a model of LSD-like neurodegeneration.

Febrile Neutropenia in Hematological Malignancies: Clinical and Microbiological Profile and Outcome in High Risk Patients.

Background And Objectives: Febrile neutropenia (FN) is considered a medical emergency. Patients with hematological malignancies (HM) commonly experience FN. Broad spectrum antibiotics have to be started empirically to prevent complications.

Management of febrile neutropenia in solid organ malignancies following chemotherapy.

Background: Febrile neutropenia is a medical emergency and it requires immediate hospitalization for evaluation and administration of empiric broad-spectrum antibiotics. The present study was undertaken to analyze the infectious agents, choice of empiric antibiotics, and outcome in high-risk febrile neutropenia in the solid organ malignancies.

Materials And Methods: In this study, 92 high risk febrile neutropenic episodes were analyzed in 72 patients with solid organ malignancies.

Clinical and microbiological profile of febrile neutropenia in solid tumors and hematological malignancies at a tertiary cancer care center in South India.

Background: Febrile neutropenia (FN) is a common but serious complication of chemotherapy in patients with solid tumors (ST) and hematological malignancies (HM). The epidemiology of FN keeps changing.

Objective: The objective was to study the epidemiology of FN in adult patients with ST and HM at Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Bangalore - A tertiary cancer care center.

Effect of the integrated approach of yoga therapy on platelet count and uric acid in pregnancy: A multicenter stratified randomized single-blind study.

Background: Yoga improves maternal and fetal outcomes in pregnancy. Platelet Count and Uric acid (Ua) are valuable screening measures in high-risk pregnancy.

Aim: To examine the effect of yoga on platelet counts and serum Ua in high-risk pregnancy.

Photodermatoses in India.

Photodermatoses are a group of disorders resulting from abnormal cutaneous reactions to solar radiation. They include idiopathic photosensitive disorders, drug or chemical induced photosensitivity reactions, DNA repair-deficiency photodermatoses and photoaggravated dermatoses. The pathophysiology differs in these disorders but photoprotection is the most integral part of their management.

Molecular cloning and characterization of a 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase 1 (hmgr1) gene from rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis Muell. Arg.): A key gene involved in isoprenoid biosynthesis.

Natural rubber (cis-1,4-polyisoprene) is a secondary metabolite produced in the laticiferous tissue of Hevea tree. Mevalonate synthesis, which is the first step in isoprenoid biosynthesis, is catalyzed by the enzyme 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutarylcoenzyme A reductase 1 (hmgr1). We have cloned and characterized a full-length cDNA as well as genomic DNA for hmgr1 gene from an elite Indian rubber clone (RRII 105).

Microfluidic hydrogen fuel cell with a liquid electrolyte.

We report the design and characterization of a microfluidic hydrogen fuel cell with a flowing sulfuric acid solution instead of a Nafion membrane as the electrolyte. We studied the effect of cell resistance, hydrogen and oxygen flow rates, and electrolyte flow rate on fuel cell performance to obtain a maximum power density of 191 mW/cm2. This flowing electrolyte design avoids water management issues, including cathode flooding and anode dry out.

Persistence and distribution of endosulfan under field condition.

Rapid increase in industrialization and agricultural activities to meet the population need has led to environmental pollution. The major revolution in agricultural production is mainly due to increased use of pesticides and fertilizers. Soil act as a major sink for majority of pesticides applied on agricultural crops.

Moxifloxacin, ofloxacin, sparfloxacin, and ciprofloxacin against Mycobacterium tuberculosis: evaluation of in vitro and pharmacodynamic indices that best predict in vivo efficacy.

Members of the fluoroquinolone class are being actively evaluated for inclusion in tuberculosis chemotherapy regimens, and we sought to determine the best in vitro and pharmacodynamic predictors of in vivo efficacy in mice. MICs for Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv were 0.1 mg/liter (sparfloxacin [SPX]) and 0.

Rubber Tree (Hevea brasiliensis Muell. Arg).

Rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis Muell. Arg.) is an important industrial crop for natural rubber production.

Organochlorine pesticide residues in ground water of Thiruvallur district, India.

Modern agriculture practices reveal an increase in use of pesticides and fertilizers to meet the food demand of increasing population which results in contamination of the environment. In India crop production increased to 100% but the cropping area has increased marginally by 20%. Pesticides have played a major role in achieving the maximum crop production, but maximum usage and accumulation of pesticide residues was highly detrimental to aquatic and other ecosystem.

Air-breathing laminar flow-based microfluidic fuel cell.

This communication reports the design and characterization of an air-breathing laminar flow-based microfluidic fuel cell (LFFC). The performance of previous LFFC designs was cathode-limited due to the poor solubility and slow transport of oxygen in aqueous media. Introduction of an air-breathing gas diffusion electrode as the cathode addresses these mass transfer issues.

Isoniazid pharmacokinetics-pharmacodynamics in an aerosol infection model of tuberculosis.

Limited data exist on the pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK-PD) parameters of the bactericidal activities of the available antimycobacterial drugs. We report on the PK-PD relationships for isoniazid. Isoniazid exhibited concentration (C)-dependent killing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv in vitro, with a maximum reduction of 4 log10 CFU/ml.

Genetic transformation and regeneration of rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis Muell. Arg) transgenic plants with a constitutive version of an anti-oxidative stress superoxide dismutase gene.

Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated genetic transformation and the regeneration of transgenic plants was achieved in Hevea brasiliensis. Immature anther-derived calli were used to develop transgenic plants. These calli were co-cultured with A.

Prevalence of overweight and obesity in affluent adolescent girls in Chennai in 1981 and 1998.

This study was conducted to assess the prevalence of obesity and overweight in adolescent public school girls ( 10-15 years of age) of Chennai in 1981 and 1998. The first part of the study done in the year 1981 (Group I; n = 707) was compared with the second part in 1998 (Group II; I = 610). Overweight and obesity were denoted by body mass index (BMI) above 85th and 95th percentile respectively.

Pharmacokinetics-pharmacodynamics of rifampin in an aerosol infection model of tuberculosis.

Limited information exists on the pharmacokinetic (PK)-pharmacodynamic (PD) relationships of drugs against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Our aim was to identify the PK-PD parameter that best describes the efficacy of rifampin on the basis of in vitro and PK properties. Consistent with 83.

Prevalence of overweight and obesity in affluent adolescent girls in Chennai in 1981 and 1998.

To assess the prevalence of obesity and overweight in adolescent girls between 10-15 years of age, among the affluent families of Chennai--two studies are compared using body mass index (BMI) as a parameter. The first study done in the year 1981 (Group I) was compared with the second study in 1998 (Group II). Group I had 707 and group II had 610 girls.

C-Peptide responses to glucose load in maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY).

Pancreatic beta cell responses were measured in obese and nonobese maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) patients by estimating serum immunoreactive insulin (IRI) and C-peptide (CP) during oral glucose tolerance testing (OGTT). The serum CP responses were generally low in MODY patients and more pronounced in obese patients. The IRI responses were heterogenous; some patients had normal and others low responses.

Pancreatic beta cell function in offspring of conjugal diabetic parents. Assessment by IRI and C-peptide ratio.

Serum C-peptide and insulin responses to oral glucose load were measured in 69 offspring of conjugal diabetic parents (OCDP). The insulin responses were varied. The non obese OCDP showed higher mean insulin levels than non obese controls while the obese OCDP did not have significant differences in the mean insulin responses compared to obese controls.

Serum uric acid concentrations in offspring of conjugal diabetic parents.

Serum uric acid concentrations were measured in offspring of conjugal diabetic parents, in diabetic patients, and in matched nondiabetic controls. The mean uric acid level in offspring of conjugal diabetic parents was significantly higher than in the controls and diabetic patients (P less than 0.001 in the nonobese and P less than 0.

Hepatic extraction of insulin in non-insulin dependent diabetes. Comparative study of obese and non-obese patients.

Changes in the secretion and metabolism of insulin were measured by estimating serum C-peptide and insulin and their ratio during oral GTT in 30 non obese and 12 obese NIDDM patients. The mean IRI and CP responses were low in both groups of patients, compared to weight-matched controls. The reduction in CP was more marked than the reduction in IRI.