Development of functional fermented whey-oat-based product using probiotic bacteria.

The aim of the present study was to formulate a fermented whey product using probiotic bacteria and whey protein concentrate (WPC containing 70% of proteins) to obtain a fermented product with low lactose and β-lactoglobulin (BLG) content. Several factors such as starter culture concentration (1, 5, and 10%) and fermentation time (2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 h) were optimized on the basis of growth activity in terms of viable count, pH, and acidity. Starter culture concentration and fermentation time of 5% and 10 h, respectively, show the optimal viable count (9.

Virtual Screening, pharmacophore development and structure based similarity search to identify inhibitors against IdeR, a transcription factor of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

ideR, an essential gene of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is an attractive drug target as its conditional knockout displayed attenuated growth phenotype in vitro and in vivo. To the best of our knowledge, no inhibitors of IdeR are identified. We carried out virtual screening of NCI database against the IdeR DNA binding domain followed by inhibition studies using EMSA.

An improved method suitable for isolation of high-quality metagenomic DNA from diverse soils.

Standardization of metagenomic DNA extraction protocol is a pre-requisite for a successful metagenomic study aiming to screen and exploit the variety of microorganisms inhabiting a particular soil environment. Six methods reported earlier were used for isolation of metagenomic DNA in the present study. These methods suffered with regard to either poor yield or quality of DNA.

bioA mutant of Mycobacterium tuberculosis shows severe growth defect and imparts protection against tuberculosis in guinea pigs.

Owing to the devastation caused by tuberculosis along with the unsatisfactory performance of the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine, a more efficient vaccine than BCG is required for the global control of tuberculosis. A number of studies have demonstrated an essential role of biotin biosynthesis in the growth and survival of several microorganisms, including mycobacteria, through deletion of the genes involved in de novo biotin biosynthesis. In this study, we demonstrate that a bioA mutant of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MtbΔbioA) is highly attenuated in the guinea pig model of tuberculosis when administered aerogenically as well as intradermally.

Chemical characteristics and source apportionment of PM using PCA/APCS, UNMIX, and PMF at an urban site of Delhi, India.

The present study investigated the comprehensive chemical composition [organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), water-soluble inorganic ionic components (WSICs), and major & trace elements] of particulate matter (PM) and scrutinized their emission sources for urban region of Delhi. The 135 PM samples were collected from January 2013 to December 2014 and analyzed for chemical constituents for source apportionment study. The average concentration of PM was recorded as 121.

Natural gums of plant origin as edible coatings for food industry applications.

Natural plant-based gums and their derivatives are widely utilized in food industries, however, their applications as edible coatings to extend fresh fruits and vegetable shelf-life has been explored recently. These natural polymeric polysaccharides have many advantages as compared to synthetic polymers, because they are biodegradable, nontoxic, economical and easily available in the environment. Natural gums can also be semi synthetically modified to produce derivatives, which can easily compete with the synthetic preservatives available on the food market.

miR-107 functions as a tumor suppressor in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and targets Cdc42.

Previously, we reported significantly decreased expression of tissue and circulating miR-107 in esophageal cancer (EC). However, its role in esophageal tumorigenesis still remains elusive. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to analyze the role of miR-107 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

Bioassays for toxicological risk assessment of landfill leachate: A review.

Landfilling is the most common solid waste management practice. However, there exist a potential environmental risk to the surface and ground waters due to the possible leaching of contaminants from the landfill leachates. Current municipal solid waste landfill regulatory approaches consider physicochemical characterization of the leachate and do not assess their potential toxicity.

DNA methylation profiling reveals the presence of population-specific signatures correlating with phenotypic characteristics.

Phenotypic characteristics are known to vary substantially among different ethnicities around the globe. These variations are mediated by number of stochastic events and cannot be attributed to genetic architecture alone. DNA methylation is a well-established mechanism that sculpts our epigenome influencing phenotypic variation including disease manifestation.

Degradation of azo dye methyl red by alkaliphilic, halotolerant Nesterenkonia lacusekhoensis EMLA3: application in alkaline and salt-rich dyeing effluent treatment.

Effluents from textile industries are highly colored due to vast use of various azo dyes and color is the first visual indicator of pollution. Biological treatment of textile effluent is often hampered due to the alkaline pH and high salinity; a common characteristic of many textile industrial wastewaters. Considering this, the present study explores the potential of a newly isolated halotolerant and alkaliphilic bacterium Nesterenkonia lacusekhoensis EMLA3 for degradation of methyl red (MR) dye under alkaline condition.

Nanocrystalline ZrO and Pt-doped ZrO catalysts for low-temperature CO oxidation.

Zirconia (ZrO) nanoparticles were synthesized by solution combustion using urea as an organic fuel. Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV-vis and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) measurements were performed in order to characterize the catalyst. The calculated crystallite size of ZrO calculated with the help of the Scherrer equation, was around 30.

Potassium Iodide-Functionalized Polyaniline Nanothin Film Chemiresistor for Ultrasensitive Ozone Gas Sensing.

Polyaniline (PANI) nanostructures have been widely studied for their sensitivity to atmospheric pollutants at ambient conditions. We recently showed an effective way to electropolymerize a PANI nanothin film on prefabricated microelectrodes, and demonstrated its remarkable sensing performance to be comparable to that of a one-dimensional nanostructure, such as PANI nanowires. In this work, we report further progress in the application of the PANI nanothin film chemiresistive sensor for the detection of ozone (O₃) by modifying the film with potassium iodide (KI).

In vitro anti-acetylcholinesterase activity of an aqueous extract of Unicaria tomentosa and in silico study of its active constituents.

Depletion of acetylcholine in the central nervous system (CNS) is responsible for memory loss and cognition deficit. Enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is responsible for destruction of acetylcholine (Ach) in the brain. Many herbal plant extracts have been investigated for their potential use in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) by inhibiting AChE and upregulating the levels of Ach.

Molecular and Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry-Based Characterization of Clinically Significant Melanized Fungi in India.

Melanized or black fungi are a heterogeneous group of fungi causing cutaneous to systemic diseases with high mortality. These fungi are rarely reported as agents of human infections, primarily due to difficulties in their classical identification. In this study, we examined, using molecular methods and matrix-assisted laser desorption ioniazation-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), the diversity of melanized fungi (MF) isolated from patients in 19 medical centers in India.

Statistical assessment of dumpsite soil suitability to enhance methane bio-oxidation under interactive influence of substrates and temperature.

Biocovers are considered as the most effective and efficient way to treat methane (CH) emission from dumpsites and landfills. Active methanotrophs in the biocovers play a crucial role in reduction of emissions through microbiological methane oxidation. Several factors affecting methane bio-oxidation (MOX) have been well documented, however, their interactive effect on the oxidation process needs to be explored.

Differential Roles of Iron Storage Proteins in Maintaining the Iron Homeostasis in Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Ferritins and bacterioferritins are iron storage proteins that represent key players in iron homeostasis. Several organisms possess both forms of ferritins, however, their relative physiological roles are less understood. Mycobacterium tuberculosis possesses both ferritin (BfrB) and bacterioferritin (BfrA), playing an essential role in its pathogenesis as reported by us earlier.

Seasonal variations and source profile of n-alkanes in particulate matter (PM) at a heavy traffic site, Delhi.

Delhi is one of the most polluted cities in the world. The generation of aerosols in the lower atmosphere of the city is mainly due to a large amount of natural dust advection and sizable anthropogenic activities. The compositions of organic compounds in aerosols are highly variable in this region and need to be investigated thoroughly.

Intergenerational Change in Anthropometric Indices and Their Predictors Among Children in New Delhi Birth Cohort.

Objective: To evaluate intergenerational change in anthropometric indices of children and their predictors.

Design: Prospective cohort.

Participants: New Delhi Birth Cohort participants (F1), born between 1969 and 1972, were followed-up for anthropometry at birth and 6-monthly intervals until 21 years.

Spectrum of Childhood and Adolescent Ovarian Tumors in India: 25 Years Experience at a Single Institution.

Background: Ovarian tumour in children and adolescent girls form an uncommon but important part of gynaecological malignancies. They account for 1% of all the childhood malignancies and 8% of all abdominal tumours in children. Since the ovarian cysts are thought to arise from mature follicles, these tumours were considered to be infrequent in the paediatric population.

Trophic state assessment of Bhindawas Lake, Haryana, India.

Trophic state allows for identification of problems and pressures that an ecosystem faces as well as demarcation of remedial measures. This study focuses on spatial and temporal variations in the trophic state and detection of possible causes of its divergence in Bhindawas Lake, India. The trophic state of the lake undulated between eutrophic and hyper-eutrophic state throughout the study period.

Evaluation of fetal hypermethylated RASSF1A in pre-eclampsia and its relationship with placental protein-13, pregnancy associated plasma protein-A and urine protein.

Objectives: Cell free fetal DNA (cffDNA) and its hypermethylated RASSF1A gene signify a recent advancement in non-invasive prenatal diagnosis of feto-placental anomalies like pre-eclampsia. The study uses hypermethylated RASSF1A gene to quantify cffDNA and to assess its relationship with placental and urine proteins in pre-eclampsia cases.

Design And Methods: DNA was isolated from plasma samples of clinically diagnosed cases of pre-eclampsia (n=103) and normal pregnancy (n=616) from 21weeks of gestation.

Organocatalyzed asymmetric Michael addition by an efficient bifunctional carbohydrate-thiourea hybrid with mechanistic DFT analysis.

A series of thiourea based bifunctional organocatalysts having d-glucose as a core scaffold were synthesized and examined as catalysts for the asymmetric Michael addition reaction of aryl/alkyl trans-β-nitrostyrenes over cyclohexanone and other Michael donors having active methylene. Excellent enantioselectivities (<95%), diastereoselectivities (<99%), and yields (<99%) were attained under solvent free conditions using 10 mol% of 1d. The obtained results were explained through DFT calculations using the B3LYP/6-311G(d,p)//B3LYP/6-31G(d) basic set.

TiD: Standalone software for mining putative drug targets from bacterial proteome.

TiD is a standalone application, which relies on basic assumption that a protein must be essential for pathogens survival and non-homologous with host to qualify as putative target. With an input bacterial proteome, TiD removes paralogous proteins, picks essential ones, and excludes proteins homologous with host organisms. The targets illustrate non-homology with at least 40 out of 84 gut microbes, considered safe for human.

Alcohol-Related Dementia and Neurocognitive Impairment: A Review Study.

Context: Alcohol consumption has escalated rapidly in many countries over the past decade. Evidence suggests a correlation between alcohol use and cognitive decline. We have systematically reviewed the concept and controversies, epidemiology, nosology, neuropathology and neurobiology, neuropsychology and management updates of alcohol-related dementia (ARD) in this paper.