33 research outputs found
Programmed exosome fusion for energy generation in living cells
No full text© 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.Biological membrane-enclosed organelles are fascinating examples of spatially confined nanoreactors for biocatalytic transformations such as cascade reactions involving multiple enzymes; however, the fabrication of their synthetic mimics remains a considerable challenge. Here we demonstrate supramolecular chemistry-based bridging of two membranes leading to controlled fusion of exosomes that act as nanoreactors for effective biocatalytic cascades, with prolonged functionality inside of living cells. Exosome membrane proteins were chemically engineered with a catechol moiety to drive fusion by supramolecular complexation to bridge the membranes. This strategy successfully encapsulated multiple enzymes and assembled the minimal electron transport chain in the plasma membrane, leading to tuneable, enhanced catalytic cascade activity capable of ATP synthesis inside of tissue spheroids. This nanoreactor was functional for many hours after uptake into living cells, showed successful penetration into tissue spheroids and repaired the damaged region by supplying ATP, all of which represent an advance in the mimicking of nature’s own organelles. [Figure not available: see fulltext.].11Nsciescopu
A fidget spinner for the point-of-care diagnosis of urinary tract infection
No full text© 2020, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.The point-of-care detection of pathogens in biological samples in resource-limited settings should be inexpensive, rapid, portable, simple and accurate. Here, we describe a custom-made fidget spinner that rapidly concentrates pathogens in 1-ml samples of undiluted urine by more than 100-fold for the on-device colorimetric detection of bacterial load and pathogen identification. In Tiruchirappalli, India, the device enabled the on-site detection of infection with the naked eye within 50 min in urine samples from 39 patients suspected of having a urinary tract infection. We also show that, in 30 clinical samples of urinary tract infection, the device can be used to perform an antimicrobial susceptibility test for the antimicrobial drugs ciprofloxacin and cefazolin within 120 min. The fidget spinner could be used in low-resource settings as an inexpensive handheld point-of-care device for the rapid concentration and detection of pathogens in urine sample
Expanding Dimensions Of Test Management For Object Oriented Software Author – Sumit Kumar
No full textThe role of Test Management in the software industry has not remained the same. Few years back, testing was rarely present in the checklist of Project Manager. The strategic elements of business have guided software industry towards the realization of impact of quality in this industry. The growing complexity of today’s application, combined with increased pressure and skyrocketing costs of application failure and downtime have catapulted the need for a process, which can be effectively used for achieving desired quality level. Evolution of Test Management as a process has provided the solution to the industry. Ground rules have been laid down under Test Management process and organizations are trying to synchronize this process with their business goals by selecting the most suitable Test Model. But, in this race for Quality, an important aspect of testing has been ignored. Present Test Management process has been identified and established at syntactic level where emphasis is on testing the code. The growing need of Quality in busines
Redox-Responsive Nanocapsules for the Spatiotemporal Release of Miltefosine in Lysosome: Protection against Leishmania
No full textLeishmaniasis, a vector-borne disease, is caused by intracellular parasite Leishmania donovani. Unlike most intracellular pathogens, Leishmania donovani are lodged in parasitophorous vacuoles and replicate within the phagolysosomes in macrophages. Effective vaccines against this disease are still under development, while the efficacy of the available drugs is being questioned owing to the toxicity for nonspecific distribution in human physiology and the reported drug-resistance developed by Leishmania donovani. Thus, a stimuli-responsive nanocarrier that allows specific localization and release of the drug in the lysosome has been highly sought after for addressing two crucial issues, lower drug toxicity and a higher drug efficacy. We report here a unique lysosome targeting polymeric nanocapsules, formed via inverse mini-emulsion technique, for stimuli-responsive release of the drug miltefosine in the lysosome of macrophage RAW 264.7 cell line. A benign polymeric backbone, with a disulfide bonding susceptible to an oxidative cleavage, is utilized for the organelle-specific release of miltefosine. Oxidative rupture of the disulfide bond is induced by intracellular glutathione (GSH) as an endogenous stimulus. Such a stimuli-responsive release of the drug miltefosine in the lysosome of macrophage RAW 264.7 cell line over a few hours helped in achieving an improved drug efficacy by 200 times as compared to pure miltefosine. Such a drug formulation could contribute to a new line of treatment for leishmaniasis.A. Das acknowledges SERB (India) Grants (CRG/2020/000492 and JCB/2017/000004) and DBT Grant (BT/PR22251/NNT/28/1274/2017) for supporting this research. N. Mukherjee acknowledges SERB (India) Grant PDF/2016/001437 and K. Das acknowledges the grant EMR/2015/001674 for supporting this research. Financial support from DST (DST/INSPIRE/03/2017/002477) is acknowledged by R.T. This manuscript bears CSMCRI registration no 7/2021.Pramanik, SK (corresponding author), CSIR Cent Salt & Marine Chem Res Inst, Bhavnagar 364002, Gujarat, India.
Mukherjee, N (corresponding author), CSIR Indian Inst Chem Biol, Canc Biol & Inflammatory Disorder Div, Kolkata 700032, India.
Chattopadhy, S (corresponding author), BITS Pilani, Pilani 403726, Goa, India.
Das, A (corresponding author), Indian Inst Sci Educ & Res Kolkata, Mohanpur 741246, W Bengal, India.
[email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]
Real-time sign language detection: Empowering the disabled community
No full textInteraction and communication for normal human beings are easier than for a person with disabilities like speaking and hearing who may face communication problems with other people. Sign Language helps reduce this communication gap between a normal and disabled person. The prior solutions proposed using several deep learning techniques, such as Convolutional Neural Networks, Support Vector Machines, and K-Nearest Neighbors, have either demonstrated low accuracy or have not been implemented as real-time working systems. This system addresses both issues effectively. This work extends the difficulties faced while classifying the characters in Indian Sign Language(ISL). It can identify a total of 23 hand poses of the ISL. The system uses a pre-trained VGG16 Convolution Neural Network(CNN) with an attention mechanism. The model's training uses the Adam optimizer and cross-entropy loss function. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of transfer learning for ISL classification, achieving an accuracy of 97.5 % with VGG16 and 99.8 % with VGG16 plus attention mechanism. • Enabling quick and accurate sign language recognition with the help of trained model VGG16 with an attention mechanism. • The system does not require any external gloves or sensors, which helps to eliminate the need for physical sensors while simplifying the process with reduced costs. • Real-time processing makes the system more helpful for people with speaking and hearing disabilities, making it easier for them to communicate with other humans
Chemical analysis of trace metal contamination in the air of industrial area of Gajraula (U.P), India
No full textIndustrial air pollution has emerged as a speeding problem in recent years because of its detrimental effects on human health. The present study was conducted in Gajraula industrial area of India, highly affected by ambient air pollution. Samples of PM10 were collected from three different sites (Raunaq Automotives, Indra Chowk and Town Basti) during 2017–2018. Maximum concentration of PM10 was observed during winter and the minimum during monsoon season. Heavy metals such as Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn, Cr, Fe, Al and Ni were analysed by ICP-MS. This study concluded that Indra Chowk is affected by high particulate pollution, while its level at Raunaq Automotives was moderate. Town Basti was being considered as less polluted area. Toxic metals are emitted into the atmosphere mainly due to industrial, commercial and agricultural activities. Most of the industrial emissions from Indra Chowk was because of lots of industries in the vicinity and it has been observed that public from this area is suffering from respiratory disorders and other health problems due to exposure of air pollution. © 2019 The Author(s)Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, MoEFCC King Khalid University, KKU: RCAMS/KKU/011/19The author’s gratefully acknowledge the financial help provided by UPPCB/CPCB, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change New Delhi . The authors would like to thank to UPPCB (Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board) and also acknowledge the support of the King Khalid University through a grant RCAMS/KKU/011/19 under Research Center for Advanced Materials Science (RCAMS) at King Khalid University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The authors also thankful to Dr. Shivlalsingh (AGSS Laboratory New Delhi), Dr. R.B. Singh (Cardiologist), Charu Gangwar (Project Assistant), Ajay Kumar (Project Assistant), Priyanka Singh (Project Assistant), Mahesh Kumar (Field Assistant), Digvijay Saxena and Sumit Verma (Computer Assistant) for their valuable support and providing sampling facilities at different locations
Axonchium saccatum Jairajpuri 1964
No full textAxonchium saccatum Jairajpuri, 1964 Fig. 2, Table 2 Axonchium saccatum Jairajpuri, 1964: 179. Axonchium saccatum – Hechler 1969: 346. — Nair 1973: 535–540. Material examined INDIA • 5 ♀♀, 2 ♂♂; Kerala State, Palakkad District, Mukkali; 11°3ʹ33ʺ N, 76°32ʹ25ʺ E; 10–15 cm depth; 25 Oct. 2017; soil samples collected around the roots of grasses (unidentified); slide reference number AMU/ZD/NC/ Axonchium saccatum /1–5. Description Female Body slightly curved ventrad upon fixation, 1.85–1.9 mm long. Cuticle with fine transverse striations, about 1–2 µm thick at anterior region, 2–3 µm at mid-body, 7–8 µm on tail tip in females and 6 µm in males. Lateral chords 5–10 µm wide, or about 1/ 10 to 1/ 5 (9–18%) of mid-body diameter with weakly developed glandular bodies, 36–44 in number: 10–16 in pharyngeal region, 5–12 from pharyngeal base to vulva, 15–21 from vulva to anal region and one in caudal region. Lateral, dorsal and ventral body pores indistinct. Lip region offset by deep constriction, 2.2–2.5 times as wide as high, or about 1/ 7 to 1/ 5 (14–19%) of body diameter at neck base. Lips rounded, separate, outer and inner portions demarcated by weak depression. Amphid fovea stirrup-shaped, their aperture occupying about 0.6– 0.7 times lip region diameter, fusus slightly anterior to or at level of odontophore base. Guiding ring single, at 0.8–1.0 times lip region diameter from anterior end. Odontostyle fusiform, 4–5 times as long as wide, or 0.9–1.0 times lip region diameter long, its aperture occupying about ⅓ of its length. Odontophore simple, rod-like, 1.3–1.5 times as long as odontostyle. Nerve ring encircling the anterior slender part of pharynx at 21–29% of neck length from anterior end. Anterior slender part of pharynx quite muscular, separated from posterior expanded part by a deep constriction. Expanded part of pharynx 7.2–12 times as long as wide, or 4.3–7.4 times longer than body diameter at neck base, occupying about ½ to two-thirds (50–63%) of total neck length, enclosed in a distinct muscular sheath with straight muscular bands. Only dorsal pharyngeal gland and its orifice visible: DO = 37–54; DN = 38–55; DO–DN = 0.3–0.7. Cardia tongue-like, 1.3–2.3 times as long as wide, occupying about 1/ 5 to ⅓ (20–35%) of corresponding body diameter. Genital system mono-opisthodelphic.Anterior genital branch represented by simple uterine sac,measuring 111–161 µm or 1.9–3.0 times mid-body diameter long, and occupying about 5.9–8.4% of total body length; mostly containing spindle-shaped sperms. Posterior branch well developed; ovary reflexed, not reaching oviduct-uterus junction, measuring 59–99 µm long with squamous-shaped oocytes arranged in a single row except near tip; oviduct joining ovary subterminally, 81–126 µm or 1.5–2.3 times mid-body diameter long, consisting of a long slender part with prismatic cells and a well-developed pars dilatata with distinct lumen, oviduct-uterus junction marked by sphincter; uterus 98–145 µm or 1.8–2.4 times the mid-body diameter long, differentiated into a relatively large proximal region with wide lumen, a narrow intermediate region, and a short spherical distal pars dilatata. Vulva transverse. Vagina almost straight, narrowing within sphincter, extending inwards about ½ (45–51%) of corresponding body diameter; vaginal wall thick, distinctly differentiated from body cuticle; pars proximalis vaginae longer than wide, 12–16 × 4–6 µm, somewhat sigmoid, surrounded by well-developed circular musculature; pars refringens vaginae absent; pars distalis vaginae 11–13 µm long. Prerectum 6–9 and rectum 0.9–1.3 times anal body diameter long. Tail short, hemispheroid. Caudal pores three on each side. Male Similar to female in general morphology, except for posterior region of the body being more curved ventrad. Genital system diorchic, with oppositely outstretched testes; sperms spindle-shaped, measuring 3–4 × 1–2 µm. In addition to adcloacal pair, located at 9 µm from cloacal aperture, 5–6 irregularly spaced ventromedian supplements, beginning at 13 µm from adcloacal pair, or slightly posterior to proximal end of spicules. Copulatory muscles conspicuous, beginning from level of middle of spicules and continuing until level of last supplement. Spicules well developed, arcuate, proximal region slender with curved ends and broad and truncate distal ends; total length along arc 1.3 times as long as chord, 5.0–5.4 times maximum width or 1.3–1.4 times body diameter at cloacal aperture. Curvature about 132˚–136˚. Dorsal contour regularly convex, comparatively thick at distal end; ventral contour concave without a distinct hump; head slender with curved ends, occupying about 37–38% of total spicules length; median piece simple, 8–9 times as long as wide, occupying about 37% of spicules maximum width; posterior ends 6–7 µm wide. Lateral guiding pieces sclerotized, slightly curved with bifid distal end, about 5.0–5.5 times as long as wide or about ¼ of total spicule length. Prerectum long, 9.1–9.3 and rectum 0.8–1.3 times cloacal body diameter long. Tail hemispheroid with bluntly truncated terminus. Caudal pores two on each side. Remarks Jairajpuri (1964) described A. saccatum from Trivandrum, Kerala, India, and differentiated it from A. gossypii De Coninck, 1962 by the presence of a longer body, longer pharynx and prerectum. Hechler (1969) synonymized A. saccatum with A. gossypii De Coninck, 1962. Nair & Coomans (1973) synonymized A. gossypii with A. metobtusicaudatum Schuurmans-Stekhoven & Teunissen, 1938. Nair (1973) redescribed this species based on two paratype females and two paratype males loaned from the original author, and differentiated it from A. metobtusicaudatum, in having a relatively wider lip region with conoid lips, in the shape of the lateral guiding pieces and the presence of two caudal pores on each side, and concluded that both species are distinctly different. The two male specimens observed showed variation in the shape of spicules and arrangements of ventromedian supplements, i.e., a robust spicule in combination with ventromedian supplements beginning just opposite to the proximal end of the spicule (Nair 1973: 539, fig. 10c, h) vs a comparatively slender spicule with a strongly curved head region and ventromedian supplements beginning the spicule range (Nair 1973: 539, fig. 10c, h). Probably the males were from two different species; however, she (l.c.) left it for further observation on additional specimens. In the present population both the male specimens have slender spicules with a curved head region and ventromedian supplements beginning within the range of the spicules; however, the females conform well to the original and subsequent descriptions except in having a slightly shorter prerectum in females (6–9 vs 11 times anal body diameter).Published as part of Kumar, Sumit & Ahmad, Wasim, 2023, Six new and four known species of the genus Axonchium Cobb, 1920 (Nematoda: Dorylaimida: Belondiroidea) from the Western Ghats of India, pp. 1-56 in European Journal of Taxonomy 857 on pages 6-9, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2023.857.2039, http://zenodo.org/record/762926
TAILOR MADE SYNTHESIS OF T-SHAPED AND -STACKED DIMERS IN THE GAS PHASE: CONCEPT FOR EFFICIENT DRUG DESIGN AND MATERIAL SYNTHESIS
No full textAuthor Institution: Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER); 900 NCL Innovation Park, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune-411008, Maharashtra, India.Non-covalent interactions play a key role in governing the specific functional structures of biomolecules as well as materials. Thus molecular level understanding of these intermolecular interactions can help in efficient drug design and material synthesis. It has been found from X-ray crystallography that pure hydrocarbon solids (i.e. benzene, hexaflurobenzene) have mostly slanted T-shaped (herringbone) packing arrangement whereas mixed solid hydrocarbon crystals (i.e. solid formed from mixtures of benzene and hexafluorobenzene) exhibit preferentially parallel displaced (PD) -stacked arrangement. Gas phase spectroscopy of the dimeric complexes of the building blocks of solid pure benzene and mixed benzene-hexafluorobenzene adducts exhibit similar structural motifs observed in the corresponding crystal strcutures. In this talk, I will discuss about the jet-cooled dimeric complexes of indole with hexafluorobenzene and p-xylene in the gas phase using Resonant two photon ionzation and IR-UV double resonance spectroscopy combined with quantum chemistry calculations. In stead of studying benzene...p-xylene and benzene...hexafluorobenzene dimers, we have studied corresponding indole complexes because N-H group is much more sensitive IR probe compared to C-H group. We have observed that indole...hexafluorobenzene dimer has parallel displaced (PD) -stacked structure whereas indole...p-xylene has slanted T-shaped structure. We have shown here selective switching of dimeric structure from T-shaped to -stacked by changing the substituent from electron donating (-CH3) to electron withdrawing group (fluorine) in one of the complexing partners. Thus, our results demonstrate that efficient engineering of the non-covalent interactions can lead to efficient drug design and material synthesis
Remote Sensing Technique- A Modern tool for Monitoring of Fire Problem in Coal Mines
No full text53-61Coal, a valuable non-renewable gift from nature, is the most widely used fossil fuel in the world. Coal has been formed in the past due to
chemical and bacterial changes in various components of plants buried under the ground. Coal is rich in carbon, which we used as a pivotal
source of energy. At present, spontaneous combustion / fire in coal mines has become a global problem. India's coal mines also have a long
history of self-ignition/fire causing destruction of a valuable natural resource. It strongly and adversely affects the ecosystem as well as the
social life, health and safety of the coalfield's populace. Remote-sensing technology is a modern and effective technique used to detect coal fire affected areas. It is an excellent and relatively economical method for locating and monitoring of a large fire-prone area viz. Jharia and Raniganj,
coalfields of Jharkhand and West Bengal states respectively in a timely manner. It is the best technique to study periodical speed of fire
spread, stage, extent and nature of fire over specific time period gap. In this research paper, the method of remote sensing monitoring of coal
mine fires in Jharia coalfield has been discussed in detail
