Mustard seed-associated endophytes suppress Sclerotinia sclerotiorum causing Sclerotinia rot in mustard crop.

Mustard-rapeseed cultivation is affected by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum resulting in loss of oil yield and degradation of crop quality. This study adopted an environment friendly biocontrol approach of screening mustard endophytes against the pathogen. Two bacterial isolates, Bacillus safensis (TS46 bac4) and Bacillus australimaris (SM2) showed potential biocontrol activity under both in vitro and in vivo conditions.

Selective detection of fluoride via amplified donor-acceptor interaction of 6H-indolo[2,3-b]quinoline.

In this report, 6H-indolo[2,3-b]quinoline (hereafter 2a) was synthesized and employed as an optical chemosensor for fluoride. The sensitivity of 2a towards fluoride was established from the change in both the absorption and emission signals. The various in-situH NMR, UV-Vis, and density functional studies indicate that the 1:2 binding interaction between 2a and fluoride followed by deprotonation to its corresponding di-anion (2a), which in turn boosted the donor-acceptor interaction between indole and quinoline moiety in 2avia expansion of torsion angle by 10.

Multivariate analysis and health risk assessment of heavy metal contents in foodstuffs of Durban, South Africa.

This study presented a comprehensive analysis of heavy metal contents in foodstuffs and the associated health risk for the residential population in Durban, South Africa. The concentrations of elements in fruits and vegetables, respectively, were (in mg kg dry weight) Cu, 0.52-1.

Analysis of Elevated Levels of Nandrolone Decanoate Induced Cytochrome- P450 Alterations in Mice.

Background: Frequent recreational use of Anabolic Androgenic Steroids (AAS) is an instance of substance abuse which mimics the status of a natural hormone and upon prolonged exposure may lead to adverse drug reactions. These adverse drug reactions proceed in a manner so as to alter the normal metabolism of an enzyme mediated pathway such as the Cytochrome P450 (CYP) family of enzymes.

Objective: The present study was conducted to investigate the impact of overuse of Nandrolone Decanoate (ND), an AAS, upon CYP enzyme activity and a CYP gene, belonging to CYP1 family.

Groundwater quality in Ghaziabad district, Uttar Pradesh, India: Multivariate and health risk assessment.

This study aimed to assess the quality of groundwater and potential health risk due to ingestion of heavy metals in the peri-urban and urban-industrial clusters of Ghaziabad district, Uttar Pradesh, India. Furthermore, the study aimed to evaluate heavy metals sources and their pollution level using multivariate analysis and fuzzy comprehensive assessment (FCA), respectively. Multivariate analysis using principle component analysis (PCA) showed mixed origin for Pb, Cd, Zn, Fe, and Ni, natural source for Cu and Mn and anthropogenic source for Cr.

Temperature assisted radiative and non-radiative recombination mechanisms in sillimanite (AlSiO) mineral.

Temperature assisted luminescence in sillimanite (AlSiO) mineral was studied using thermoluminescence (TL). TL characteristics were studied in un-annealed and different annealed samples. Analysis showed that in the un-annealed sample, there was four electron trapping sites at depths ~0.

Effect of Administration of Nandrolone Decanoate upon Aldosterone Concentration and Serum Na+/K+ Levels in Albino Mice.

Background: This article is a study of adverse effects associated with the abuse of recreational drugs such as anabolic androgenic steroids. Nandrolone decanoate is one such drug often abused by athletes and bodybuilders seeking enhanced physical strength or appearance. The use of such steroids has increased dramatically over the years.

DFT and TDDFT study on cation-π complexes of diboryne (NHC → B ≡ B←NHC).

In this study, density functional theory calculation on mono-cationic cation-π complexes of diborynes has been made to understand the interaction in cation-π complexes of diboryne. Results suggest that apart from the smaller cations Li and Na, larger cation like K ion could also form complexes with diboryne compounds via cation-π interaction. From the calculated structural and spectroscopic analysis B, C NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance), FTIR (Fourier Transform Infra red) (force constant, value), and UV-vis spectra, it is found that the interaction between the cations and π-electron cloud of the diboryne is purely electrostatic.

Curcumin as potential therapeutic natural product: a nanobiotechnological perspective.

Objectives: Nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems can resolve the poor bioavailability issue allied with curcumin. The therapeutic potential of curcumin can be enhanced by making nanocomposite preparation of curcumin with metal oxide nanoparticles, poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) nanoparticles and solid lipid nanoparticles that increases its bioavailability in the tissue.

Key Findings: Curcumin has manifold therapeutic effects which include antidiabetic, antihypertensive, anticancer, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties.

Watering holes: The use of arboreal sources of drinking water by Old World monkeys and apes.

Water is one of the most important components of an animal's diet, as it is essential for life. Primates, as do most animals, procure water directly from standing or free-flowing sources such as pools, ponds and rivers, or indirectly by the ingestion of certain plant parts. The latter is frequently described as the main source of water for predominantly arboreal species.

A Solvent Switch for the Stabilization of Multiple Hemiacetals on an Inorganic Platform: Role of Supramolecular Interactions.

Reaction of Zn(OAc)2 ⋅2 H2 O with 2,6-diisopropylphenyl phosphate (dippH2 ) in the presence of pyridine-4-carboxaldehyde (Py-4-CHO) in methanol resulted in the isolation of a tetrameric zinc phosphate cluster [Zn(dipp)(Py-4-CH(OH)(OMe))]4 ⋅4 MeOH (1) with four hemiacetal moieties stabilized on the double-4-ring inorganic cubane cluster. The change of solvent from methanol to acetonitrile leads to the formation of [Zn(dipp)(Py-4-CHO)]4 (2), in which the coordinated Py-4-CHO retains its aldehydic form. Dissolution of 1 in CD3 CN readily converts it to the aldehydic form and yields 2.

Seasonality in circadian locomotor activity and serum testosterone level in the subtropical tree sparrow (Passer montanus).

Seasonality in daily locomotor activity pattern was investigated in the subtropical tree sparrow by exposing a group of birds to natural day lengths (NDL) for 30days and another group to 12L/12D for 14days followed by transfer to constant dim light (LLdim) for another 15days in four different seasons of the year. Serum testosterone levels were also measured during different seasons. Sparrows, under NDL, exhibited distinct circadian rhythmicity in their locomotor activity with almost similar general pattern in different seasons that restricted mainly to the light hours.

Spectroscopic Distinction of Different Carbon Bases: An Insight from Theory.

Spectroscopic differentiation based on the (13)C NMR chemical shift of the parent and protonated derivatives of carbon(II) and carbon(0) bases has been proposed. The (13)C chemical shift of the central carbon atom of carbenes in their parent and protonated forms will experience more downfield shift, whereas the central carbon atom of carbones will experience a lesser downfield shift; such shifts for compounds that possess "hidden" carbon(0) characteristics will lie between these two extremes. The (13)C chemical shifts of the protonated derivatives are solely dependent on the out-of-plane pπ occupancies of the central carbon atom.

Bilinearization of the generalized coupled nonlinear Schrödinger equation with variable coefficients and gain and dark-bright pair soliton solutions.

We investigate coupled nonlinear Schrödinger equations (NLSEs) with variable coefficients and gain. The coupled NLSE is a model equation for optical soliton propagation and their interaction in a multimode fiber medium or in a fiber array. By using Hirota's bilinear method, we obtain the bright-bright, dark-bright combinations of a one-soliton solution (1SS) and two-soliton solutions (2SS) for an n-coupled NLSE with variable coefficients and gain.

Dosimetric feature of natural biotite mineral.

A thermoluminescence (TL) study relevant to radiation dosimetry has been carried out for X-ray irradiated biotite mineral under un-annealed and different annealed (473, 573, 673 and 773 K) conditions. Some significant variations in dosimetric characteristics have been observed with annealing treatment. Due to generation of an additional shallow trap level at depth 0.

Thermoluminescence study of X-ray and UV irradiated natural calcite and analysis of its trap and recombination level.

Thermoluminescence (TL) of natural light-orange color calcite (CaCO3) mineral in micro-grain powder form was studied at room temperature X-ray and UV irradiation under various irradiation times. TL was recorded in linear heating rate (2 K/s) from room temperature (300 K) to 523 K. Trapping parameters such as activation energy, order of kinetics, frequency factor have been evaluated by Computerized Glow Curve Deconvolution technique.

Simultaneous measurements of radon and thoron, and their progeny levels in dwellings on anticlinal structures of Assam, India.

Radon and thoron, and their progeny concentrations along with equilibrium factors for gas progeny and radiological risks to the residents have been measured in dwellings of Digboi and Mashimpur areas located on anticlines during the winter season. In this present investigation, twin-cup dosemeters fitted with LR-115 (II) nuclear detectors have been employed. The present work has shown that there exist considerable house-to-house variations in values with maximum values in mud houses and minimum values in assam type (AT) houses.

Association of oxidative stress biomarkers and antioxidant enzymatic activity in male infertility of north-East India.

Introduction: Oxidative stress is a common pathology seen in approximately half of all infertile men. In a normal situation, the seminal plasma contains antioxidant mechanisms which are likely to quench these reactive oxygen species. However, during infertility complications these antioxidant mechanisms may downplay and create a situation which is called oxidative stress.

Au-nanocluster emission based glucose sensing.

Fabrication of a glucose biosensor based on Au-cluster emission quenching in the UV region is reported. The glucose biosensor is highly sensitive to β-d-glucose in 2.5-25.

Effect of Mimosa pudica root extract on vaginal estrous and serum hormones for screening of antifertility activity in albino mice.

Background: Several plants are traditionally used as birth control agents by the rural people in India. Mimosa pudica is one of the folk medicinal plants commonly used as antifertility agent in some places in India. The present work was carried out to evaluate the claimed antifertility effect of the plant by carrying out pharmacological studies with the root extract of the plant.

Antifertility activity of the methanolic leaf extract of Cissampelos pareira in female albino mice.

meenakshi Cissampelos pareira Linn. is one of the folk medicinal plants commonly used as antifertility agent in some places of India. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the validity of the antifertility effect of the leaf extract.

The Tai-Phake of Assam, India--a morphometric study and population comparison with neighbouring groups.

Morphometric characters of the adult males of the Tai-Phake and the nature and extent of morphometric variation among five neighboring mongoloid groups of Assam have been examined in the present study. For the sake of investigation 12 anthropometric measurements have been taken and five indices have been calculated. In order to obtain the distance values size, shape and biological distance are calculated.