Goat weed ( L.): A biological threat to plant diversity in Eastern Ghats of India.

The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) is a recently signed protocol by the conference of the parties (COP 15) with an aim to protect biodiversity from risks imposed by biological threats such as invasive alien species (IAS). The present work is an effort to meet target 6 of GBF which directly deals with IAS by assessing the current and future distribution of species in regions of the Eastern Ghats of India. Prediction of distribution was done based on greenhouse gas emission levels, namely RCP 4.

Fe(III) cross-linked cellulose-agar hydrogel beads for efficient phosphate removal from aqueous solutions.

Fe(III) cross-linked cellulose agar beads (Fe-CLCAB) were synthesized by sol-gel method and employed as adsorbents for the removal of phosphate ions from aqueous medium. The synthesized Fe-CLCAB was characterized by its swelling property, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and UV-Vis absorption spectroscopic analysis. Batch adsorption studies were carried out to find out the optimum conditions of phosphate uptake.

Practical Guide to Measuring Wetland Carbon Pools and Fluxes.

Unlabelled: Wetlands cover a small portion of the world, but have disproportionate influence on global carbon (C) sequestration, carbon dioxide and methane emissions, and aquatic C fluxes. However, the underlying biogeochemical processes that affect wetland C pools and fluxes are complex and dynamic, making measurements of wetland C challenging. Over decades of research, many observational, experimental, and analytical approaches have been developed to understand and quantify pools and fluxes of wetland C.

Verifiable, Secure Mobile Agent Migration in Healthcare Systems Using a Polynomial-Based Threshold Secret Sharing Scheme with a Blowfish Algorithm.

A mobile agent is a software application that moves naturally among hosts in a uniform and non-uniform environment; it starts with one host and then moves onto the next in order to divide data between clients. The mobile paradigm is utilized in a wide assortment of medical care applications such as the medical information of a patient, the recovery of clinical information, the incorporation of information pertaining to their wellbeing, dynamic help, telemedicine, obtaining clinical data, patient administration, and so on. The accompanying security issues have grown in tandem with the complexity and improvements in mobile agent technologies.

Genetic Algorithm-Based Human Mental Stress Detection and Alerting in Internet of Things.

Healthcare is one of the emerging application fields in the Internet of Things (IoT). Stress is a heightened psycho-physiological condition of the human that occurs in response to major objects or events. Stress factors are environmental elements that lead to stress.

Role of abiotic factors in enhancing the capacity of mangroves in reducing ocean acidification.

The present study investigated the effects of rising carbon dioxide levels in nature and the carbon sequestration potential of dominant mangrove species for reducing the toxic effects of ocean acidification. The study was conducted on the east coast of Odisha, in the western Bay of Bengal. To determine the effect of these ambient parameters on the absorption of carbon dioxide by the mangroves, water temperature, salinity, pH levels of seawater along with soil texture and pH, salinity expressed in electrical conductivity, compactness expressed in bulk density, and soil organic carbon were simultaneously monitored.

Carbon storage potential of tropical wetland forests of South Asia: a case study from Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary, India.

Mangroves are halophytic vegetation comprising the tropics. Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary, being a local hotspot of mangrove, acts as carbon sink for mitigating increased CO level in the atmosphere. The study estimated total biomass and total carbon in five selected stations of this Wildlife Sanctuary in reference to relevant ambient parameters of water (temperature, pH, and salinity) and soil (temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, bulk density, organic carbon, organic matter, and texture) seasonally.

Culture of using indigenous floral extract in the hilly terrains of Koraput district of Odisha, India.

An experimental design for culturing in four experimental ponds of size 25 m was taken up in Koraput district of Odisha, India. The ponds were filled with water and PL were released in the ponds with stocking density @ 4 m. Ponds 1 and 2 were fed with Conventional Feed (fish meal) and ponds 3 and 4 were fed with Formulated Feed (Soybean + + ).

Climate change-induced salinity variation impacts on a stenoecious mangrove species in the Indian Sundarbans.

The alterations in the salinity profile are an indirect, but potentially sensitive, indicator for detecting changes in precipitation, evaporation, river run-off, glacier retreat, and ice melt. These changes have a high impact on the growth of coastal plant species, such as mangroves. Here, we present estimates of the variability of salinity and the biomass of a stenoecious mangrove species (Heritiera fomes, commonly referred to as Sundari) in the aquatic subsystem of the lower Gangetic delta based on a dataset from 2004 to 2015.

SOCS3 induces neurite differentiation and promotes neuronal cell survival.

Cytokines and growth factors play an important role in neuronal survival as well as cell death. The family of suppressors of cytokine signalling (SOCS) proteins, which includes SOCS1-7 and cytokine-induced suppressor (CIS), has been shown to act as negative regulators of cytokine-induced signalling. In this report, we highlight the role of SOCS3 in regulating neuronal differentiation and survival.

Expression of the murine transcription factor SOX3 during embryonic and adult neurogenesis.

Previous studies have shown that Sox3 is expressed in nascent neuroprogenitor cells and is functionally required in mammals for development of the dorsal telencephalon and hypothalamus. However, Sox3 expression during embryonic and adult neurogenesis has not been examined in detail. Using a SOX3-specific antibody, we show that murine SOX3 expression is maintained throughout telencephalic neurogenesis and is restricted to progenitor cells with neuroepithelial and radial glial morphologies.

IGF-1 stimulated upregulation of cyclin D1 is mediated via STAT5 signaling pathway in neuronal cells.

Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription (STATs) regulate various target genes such as cyclin D1, MYC, and BCL2 in nonneuronal cells which contribute towards progression as well as prevention of apoptosis and are involved in differentiation and cell survival. However, in neuronal cells, the role of STATs in the activation and regulation of these target genes and their signaling pathways are still not well established. In this study, a robust cyclin D1 expression was observed following IGF-1 stimulation in SY5Y cells as well as neurospheres.

Design, synthesis, characterization and DNA-binding studies of a triphenyltin(IV) complex of N-glycoside (GATPT), a sugar based apoptosis inducer: in vitro and in vivo assessment of induction of apoptosis by GATPT.

The novel organotin complex 1-{(2-hydroxyethyl)amino}-2-amino-1,2-dideoxy-D-glucose triphenyltin(iv) (GATPT) was synthesized by the reaction of N-glycoside ligand and triphenyltin(iv) chloride. GATPT was characterized by elemental analyses, polarimetry, IR, CD, UV and multinuclear ((1)H, (13)C, (119)Sn) 1D and 2D NMR. The interaction of GATPT with calf thymus DNA was studied by using viscometry, absorption, emission and circular dichoric spectral methods.

Suppressor of cytokine signalling-6 promotes neurite outgrowth via JAK2/STAT5-mediated signalling pathway, involving negative feedback inhibition.

Background: Suppressors of cytokine signalling (SOCS) protein family are key regulators of cellular responses to cytokines and play an important role in the nervous system. The SOCS6 protein, a less extensively studied SOCS family member, has been shown to induce insulin resistance in the retina and promote survival of the retinal neurons. But no reports are available about the role of SOCS6 in neuritogenesis.

Concentrations of some heavy metals in commercially important finfish and shellfish of the River Ganga.

Heavy metals are dangerous to aquatic organisms and it can be bioaccumulated in the food chain leading to diseases in human. Cumulative effects of metals or chronic poisoning may occur as a result of long-term exposure even to low concentrations. The accumulation of heavy metals varies depending upon the species, environmental conditions, and inhibitory processes.

Trace elements in edible shellfish species from the lower Gangetic delta.

The accumulation of trace elements in edible shellfish species may lead to serious health problems through the food chain. In this study we measured the concentrations of Zn, Cu, Pb and Cd in the shellfish species like Penaeus monodon, Penaeus indicus, Scylla serrata, Saccostrea cucullata and Crassostrea madrasensis using a ICP mass spectrometer. Samples were collected from the lower stretch of the River Ganga which receives wastes of complex character from industries and various anthropogenic activities.

Chronic care and addictions treatment: a feasibility study on the implementation of posttreatment continuing recovery monitoring.

In the treatment of drug addiction, as with other chronic conditions, the effects of treatment are significant but not long lasting after discharge unless continuing monitoring is provided. Efforts to help patients sustain positive treatment outcomes are generally directed to community support. Postdischarge checkups can help patients evaluate their behavior and recovery-related issues--similar to a person with diabetes reporting on blood sugar levels and diet and exercise patterns.

Molecular networks involved in mouse cerebral corticogenesis and spatio-temporal regulation of Sox4 and Sox11 novel antisense transcripts revealed by transcriptome profiling.

Background: Development of the cerebral cortex requires highly specific spatio-temporal regulation of gene expression. It is proposed that transcriptome profiling of the cerebral cortex at various developmental time points or regions will reveal candidate genes and associated molecular pathways involved in cerebral corticogenesis.

Results: Serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) libraries were constructed from C57BL/6 mouse cerebral cortices of age embryonic day (E) 15.

Transgenic overexpression of insulin receptor substrate 1 in hepatocytes enhances hepatocellular proliferation in young mice only.

Aim: The insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) is a multisite docking protein which plays a central role in the signal transduction of growth factors such as insulin and insulin-like growth factors (IGF-1 and IGF-2). It is found to be frequently overexpressed in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: To study IRS-1 overexpression in hepatocytes in vivo, transgenic mice overexpressing IRS-1 exclusively in hepatocytes were created, showing enhanced hepatocyte proliferation in young animals.

Comparison of Health Realization and 12-Step treatment in women's residential substance abuse treatment programs.

The purpose of this study was to compare a relatively new therapeutic option for substance abuse treatment, Health Realization, and 12-Step approaches offered in women's residential programs. The study was sponsored by a large California county's Department of Alcohol and Drug Services, which had offered Health Realization treatment for a number of years. This study constitutes the first systematic evaluation of Health Realization as a substance abuse treatment program for adult women in a residential treatment setting.

DNA binding studies of novel Copper(II) complexes containing L-tryptophan as chiral auxiliary: in vitro antitumor activity of Cu-Sn2 complex in human neuroblastoma cells.

Novel trinuclear complexes C23H31N6O6CuSn2Cl5 [1], C23H31N6O6CuZr2Cl5 [2], C23H31N6O6ZnSn2Cl5 [3], and C23H31N6O6ZnZr2Cl5 [4] were synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic (IR, 1H, 13C, 2D COSY, and 119Sn NMR, EPR, UV-vis, ESI-MS) and analytical methods. In complexes 1-4, the geometry of copper and zinc metal ions were described as square-based pyramidal with l-tryptophan coordinated to copper/zinc via carboxylate group while Sn/Zr was present in the hexacoordinate environment. The interaction of 1 and 2 with calf thymus DNA in Tris buffer was studied by electronic absorption titration, luminescence titration, cyclic voltammetry, circular dichroism, and viscometric measurements.

JAK/STAT3 pathway is involved in survival of neurons in response to insulin-like growth factor and negatively regulated by suppressor of cytokine signaling-3.

Janus kinases (JAK) and signal transducers and activator of transcription (STAT) proteins are activated in response to many cytokines and growth factors and are well studied in the immune system. This study was conducted to examine the role of the JAK/STAT pathway in neurons in response to tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), which play a major role during neurodegeneration, and to study their effect on expression of suppressors of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS-3), belonging to the novel family of feedback regulators of cytokine and growth factor activities. In this report, we showed that TNFalpha is inhibitory to the survival of primary cortical neurons at higher doses and that IGF-1 can rescue TNFalpha-stimulated cell death.

When you assume...the reality of implementing a legally mandated substance abuse treatment program.

In 2000, the voters of California approved the Substance Abuse and Crime Prevention Act (SACPA), mandating that substance-abusing offenders who met the eligibility criteria receive treatment and not jail time. In preparation for implementation, the Santa Clara County Department of Alcohol and Drug Services Research Institute worked to identify the number and type of clients who would be eligible to receive treatment. The purpose of this article is to analyze the differences between a profile of SACPA-eligible clients that was based on pre-SACPA implementation clients and assumptions that were made concerning eligibility for the program and the reality of post-SACPA implementation clients.

Rescue of TNFalpha-inhibited neuronal cells by IGF-1 involves Akt and c-Jun N-terminal kinases.

Proinflammatory cytokines, especially tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha), is a pleiotropic mediator of a diverse array of physiologic and neurologic functions and is upregulated during various inflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases. A common survival response during such situations is the increased expression of the hormone insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). Although it was thought previously that the mechanisms of TNFalpha and IGF-1 action were unrelated, it has been shown that low doses of TNFalpha can inhibit the survival effects of IGF-1 in mouse cerebellar granule neurons.

Comparative analysis of naturally occurring L-amino acid osmolytes and their D-isomers on protection of Escherichia coli against environmental stresses.

Adaptation to high salinity and low or high temperature is essential for bacteria to survive. Accumulation of exogenous osmolytes is one of the ways that helps bacteria to survive under such extracellular stress. We have analysed the capability of various L-amino acids and their D-isomers to act as osmolytes and thus enable Escherichia coli cells to survive under various stress conditions.