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Frequent itemset mining has received a lot of attention in the field of data mining. Its main objective is to find groups of items that consistently appear together in datasets. Even while frequent itemset mining is useful, the algorithms for mining frequent itemsets have quite high resource requirements. In order to optimise the time and memory needs, a few improvements have been made in recent years. This study proposes CellFPM, a straightforward yet effective cellular learning automata-based method for finding frequent itemset occurrences. It works efficiently with large datasets. The efficiency of the proposed approach in time and memory requirements has been evaluated using benchmark datasets explicitly designed for performance measure. The varying size and density of the test datasets have confirmed the scalability of the suggested method. The findings show that CellFPM consistently surpasses the leading algorithms in terms of runtime and memory usage, particularly memory usage mostly.

A complete understanding of how exposure to environmental substances promotes cancer formation is lacking. More than 70 years ago, tumorigenesis was proposed to occur in a two-step process: an initiating step that induces mutations in healthy cells, followed by a promoter step that triggers cancer development1. Here we propose that environmental particulate matter measuring ≤2.5 μm (PM2.5), known to be associated with lung cancer risk, promotes lung cancer by acting on cells that harbour pre-existing oncogenic mutations in healthy lung tissue. Focusing on EGFR-driven lung cancer, which is more common in never-smokers or light smokers, we found a significant association between PM2.5levels and the incidence of lung cancer for 32,957 EGFR-driven lung cancer cases in four within-country cohorts. Functional mouse models revealed that air pollutants cause an influx of macrophages into the lung and release of interleukin-1β. This process results in a progenitor-like cell state within EGFR mutant lung alveolar type II epithelial cells that fuels tumorigenesis. Ultradeep mutational profiling of histologically normal lung tissue from 295 individuals across 3 clinical cohorts revealed oncogenic EGFRand KRASdriver mutations in 18% and 53% of healthy tissue samples, respectively. These findings collectively support a tumour-promoting role for  PM2.5air pollutants  and provide impetus for public health policy initiatives to address air pollution to reduce disease burden.

Millions of people worldwide have been impacted by biofilm-associated disorders, which are impregnable owing to frequent changes in surface antigens and gene expression. Globally, about 11% of nosocomial infections, including cystic fibrosis, chronic wound infections, and post-surgical infections, are caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the most prevalent Gram-negative bacterial species. Moreover, biofilms are highly resistant to the host's immune system, and exhibit increased tolerance to stress factors such as starvation, dehydration, and antimicrobials. Here, we have isolated a rare halophilic actinobacteria, Nocardiopsis lucentensisEMB25, and utilized the secondary metabolites for inhibition and eradication of P. aeruginosabiofilm. For the first time, N. lucentensisEMB25 bacteria was explored to study the anti-effect of secondary metabolites on pre-established biofilm. The secondary metabolites targeted the quorum sensing pathway and were found to bind to LasR and RhlR, as confirmed viamolecular docking. Also, the reduction in virulence factors, rhamnolipids and pyocyanin further supported the study as these two are regulated by LasR and RhlR. In addition, the downregulation of various QS system genes lasA, lasB, rhlA, rhlB, and pqsAconfirmed that the secondary metabolites act on two main regulators of the quorum sensing pathway, LasR, and RhlR. The findings of this study support the bioprospecting of previously unknown and extreme-condition actinobacteria as a rich source of novel bioactives against infections caused by bacterial biofilms.

Starch is the main component of cereals like rice. It is mainly composed of amylose and amylopectin. Apparent amylose content (AAC) in rice grain controlled by granule bound starch synthase enzyme (GBSS) is the key factor determining cooking and processing quality. The present study has been attempted to decipher the genetic variability among 36 cultivars of rice for agro-morphological parameters along with AAC and amylopectin content, to determine the extent of association among yield and its contributing characters and to detect the sequence variations among the cultivars having differential AAC. Results revealed the presence of adequate genetic variability among the tested rice cultivars for yield attributing traits, as well as their AAC and amylopectin content. Most of the yield attributing traits was under control of additive genes. Genetic diversity study of the tested rice cultivars grouped them into four clusters. The nucleotide sequence and derived amino acid sequence variations among the region spanning between the intron 7 and exon 10 of GBSSIallele from the rice cultivars differing in AAC detected the presence of several SNPs, deletions and insertions within the tested exon and intron regions. Presence of methionine (M) or isoleucine (I) at 308 aa position and presence of phenylalanine (F) at 425 or 434 aa position of GBSSI protein across the tested rice cultivars can be exploited in marker-assisted breeding programme for developing high yielding rice cultivars with proper grain quality as per consumer’s preference.

The potential of ultra-short peptides to self-assemble into well-ordered functional nanostructures makes them promising minimal components for mimicking the basic ingredient of nature and diverse biomaterials. However, selection and modular design of perfect de novosequences are extremely tricky due to their vast possible combinatorial space. Moreover, a single amino acid substitution can drastically alter the supramolecular packing structure of short peptide assemblies. Here, we report the design of rigid hybrid hydrogels produced by sequence engineering of a new series of ultra-short collagen-mimicking tripeptides. Connecting glycine with different combinations of proline and its post-translational product 4-hydroxyproline, the single triplet motif, displays the natural collagen-helix-like structure. Improved mechanical rigidity is obtained viaco-assembly with the non-collagenous hydrogelator, fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc) diphenylalanine. Characterizations of the supramolecular interactions that promote the self-supporting and self-healing properties of the co-assemblies are performed by physicochemical experiments and atomistic models. Our results clearly demonstrate the significance of sequence engineering to design functional peptide motifs with desired physicochemical and electromechanical properties and reveal co-assembly as a promising strategy for the utilization of small, readily accessible biomimetic building blocks to generate hybrid biomolecular assemblies with structural heterogeneity and functionality of natural materials.

We report an iron-based graphite-conjugated electrocatalyst (GCC-FeDIM) that combines the well-defined nature of homogeneous molecular electrocatalysts with the robustness of a heterogeneous electrode. A suite of spectroscopic methods, supported by the results of DFT calculations, reveals that the electrode surface is functionalized by high spin (S= 5/2) Fe(III) ions in an FeN4Cl2coordination environment. The chloride ions are hydrolyzed in aqueous solution, with the resulting cyclic voltammogram revealing a Gaussian-shaped wave assigned to 1H+/1e-reduction of surface Fe(III)–OH surface. A catalytic wave is observed in the presence of NO3–, with an onset potential of −1.1 V vs SCE. At pH 6.0, GCC-FeDIM rapidly reduces NO3–to ammonium and nitrite with 88 and 6% Faradaic efficiency, respectively. Mechanistic studies, including in situX-ray absorption spectroscopy, suggest that electrocatalytic NO3–reduction involves an iron nitrosyl intermediate. The Fe–N bond length (1.65 Å) is similar to that observed in {Fe(NO)}6complexes, which is supported by the results of DFT calculations.

In this paper, a wireless sensor network based energy efficient scheme has been proposed, for transmitting assorted monthly billing data in a smart city environment. For the purpose, sensor nodes are visualized to be deployed in a three-dimensional plane for recording readings of three different utility services. It has been shown here that for the deployment scenario, the network parameter neighbor density (ND) can regulate network lifetime. It has been proved here both experimentally and analytically that if ND could be kept at an optimum value, the lifetime of the deployed network can be maximized. Moreover, it has also been shown here that for a fixed value of ND, network lifetime will remain constant despite in an increase in the number of nodes, for a grid deployment scenario.

Molecular self-assembly is a spontaneous natural process resulting in highly ordered nano to microarchitectures. We report temperature-independent formation of robust stable membranes obtained by the spontaneous interaction of intrinsically disordered elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs) with short aromatic peptides at temperatures both below and above the conformational transition temperature of the ELPs. The membranes are stable over time and display durability over a wide range of parameters including temperature, pH, and ultrasound energy. The morphology and composition of the membranes were analyzed using microscopy. These robust structures support preosteoblast cell adhesion and proliferation as well as pH-dependent cargo release. Simple noncovalent interactions with short aromatic peptides can overcome conformational restrictions due to the phase transition to facilitate the formation of complex bioactive scaffolds that are stable over a wide range of environmental parameters. This approach offers novel possibilities for controlling the conformational restriction of intrinsically disordered proteins and using them in the design of new materials.

Potable water quality monitoring technique has been a prominent research area for quite some time. Water borne diseases take away many lives every year throughout the world, particularly in developing and underdeveloped nations. In this work, we have therefore proposed a WSN-based energy efficient lifetime maximisation (EnLiMax) framework, for potable water quality monitoring (WQM) in metropolitan cities. The proposed framework will monitor different parameters for potable water in the main supply reservoir by deploying sensor nodes. Any aberration from the predefined thresholds for the said parameters will be reported to multiple sinks, for necessary follow ups. In this paper we have also proposed a novel network parameter for node placement, called degree of proximity (DoP). It was found that at an optimum DoP value of 3, a network will record maximum lifetime when all other network parameters are unchanged. Here through the proposed framework, we have presented methods for monitoring both surface water and underwater. The lifetime of the proposed framework is compared with some other well-known protocols in WSN. The results have shown that the proposed method and framework recorded more lifetime as compared to some very well-known protocols like LEACH, TEEN, SEP and MoDLEACH.

Chronic lung disease has been attributed to stem cell aging and/or exhaustion. We investigated these mechanisms using mouse and human tracheobronchial tissue‐specific stem cells (TSC). In mouse, chromatin labeling and flow cytometry demonstrated that naphthalene (NA) injury activated a subset of TSC. These activated TSC continued to proliferate after the epithelium was repaired and a clone study demonstrated that ~96% of activated TSC underwent terminal differentiation. Despite TSC attrition, epithelial repair after a second NA injury was normal. The second injury accelerated proliferation of previously activated TSC and a nucleotide‐label retention study indicated that the second injury recruited TSC that were quiescent during the first injury. These mouse studies indicate that (a) injury causes selective activation of the TSC pool; (b) activated TSC are predisposed to further proliferation; and (c) the activated state leads to terminal differentiation. In human TSC, repeated proliferation also led to terminal differentiation and depleted the TSC pool. A clone study identified long‐ and short‐lived TSC and showed that short‐lived TSC clones had significantly shorter telomeres than their long‐lived counterparts. The TSC pool was significantly depleted in dyskeratosis congenita donors, who harbor mutations in telomere biology genes. The remaining TSC had short telomeres and short lifespans. Collectively, the mouse and human studies support a model in which epithelial injury increases the biological age of the responding TSC. When applied to chronic lung disease, this model suggests that repeated injury accelerates the biological aging process resulting in abnormal repair and disease initiation. Biological aging of tracheobronchial tissue specific stem cells (TSC) and their trophic unit, the pseudostratified conducting airway epithelium. Each injury activates a subset of TSC which proliferate and undergo terminal differentiation. Thus, each injury cycle depletes the TSC pool and many injuries compromise epithelial regeneration. Over time, biological age exceeds chronological age and increases the risk of chronic lung disease.

COVID-19 pandemic defined a worldwide health crisis into a humanitarian crisis. Amid this global emergency, human civilization is under enormous strain since no proper therapeutic method is discovered yet. A wave of research effort has been put toward the invention of therapeutics and vaccines against COVID-19. Contrarily, the spread of this fatal virus has already infected millions of people and claimed many lives all over the world. Computational biology can attempt to understand the protein–protein interactions between the viral protein and host protein. Therefore, potential viral–host protein interactions can be identified which is known as crucial information toward the discovery of drugs. In this study, an approach was presented for predicting novel interactions from maximal biclusters. Additionally, the predicted interactions are verified from biological perspectives. For this, a study was conducted on the gene ontology and KEGG-pathway in relation to the newly predicted interactions.

Supramolecular self-assembly is a key process in natural systems, allowing for the formation of structures across all length scales with a wide range of functionalities. Notable progress has been made in the bottom-up design and generation of natural and artificial peptides, which through self-assembly provide diverse nano- and microscale architectures for a variety of applications. These systems possess advantageous properties including facile synthesis and biocompatibility. However, their self-assembly into distinct structural species, particularly in relation to the underlying kinetic and dynamic mechanisms involved, remain challenging to determine. Here, we study the self-assembly of Fmoc-pentafluoro-phenylalanine (Fmoc-F5-Phe), a modified amino acid, shedding light on those key processes. We show that Fmoc-F5-Phe forms diverse architectures, including fibrils, ribbons, and crystals, modulated by the solution conditions in which self-assembly takes place. We further elucidate the specific molecular interactions, which play a role in crystal structure formation using powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD). Finally, by probing the self-assembly of Fmoc-F5-Phe using a microfluidic platform, we reveal the formation of transient spherical assemblies, followed by a gel composed of fibrils and finally crystals and monitor these structural transitions in real time. Furthermore, we show that the kinetic behavior of the crystallization process adheres to the Johnson–Mehl–Avrami–Kolmogorov (JMAK) model of phase transformation rate. This work provides an experimental and theoretical framework into the kinetics and dynamics of the supramolecular self-assembly processes of amino-acid-based building blocks, leading to the design of tailor-made materials for biomedical and material science applications.

Collagen, the most abundant protein in mammals, possesses notable cohesion and elasticity properties and efficiently induces tissue regeneration. The Gly-Pro-Hyp canonical tripeptide repeating unit of the collagen superhelix has been well-characterized. However, to date, the shortest tripeptide repeat demonstrated to attain a helical conformation contained 3–10 peptide repeats. Here, taking a minimalistic approach, we studied a single repeating unit of collagen in its protected form, Fmoc-Gly-Pro-Hyp. The peptide formed single crystals displaying left-handed polyproline II superhelical packing, as in the native collagen single strand. The crystalline assemblies also display head-to-tail H-bond interactions and an “aromatic zipper” arrangement at the molecular interface. The coassembly of this tripeptide, with Fmoc-Phe-Phe, a well-studied dipeptide hydrogelator, produced twisted helical fibrils with a polyproline II conformation and improved hydrogel mechanical rigidity. The design of these peptides illustrates the possibility to assemble superhelical nanostructures from minimal collagen-inspired peptides with their potential use as functional motifs to introduce a polyproline II conformation into hybrid hydrogel assemblies.

Aims: The article focusses on the working principle of devising a display board and introduction to a working model of a single unit of a novel prototype of a computer display board for blind people. Objectives: The developed prototype is aimed at converting a conventional computer screen to a braille screen based tactile display board. The arrangement will enable the blind people to accesses soft data as a converted braille language text. In addition, the position of the write-up will also be recognizable by the blind. Methods: The system employs six number of micro linear actuators providing haptics feedback. Results: The ABCD display unit was tested with the blind and was found to be received well by the community. According to the survey, this raised dot mechanism is very effective for blind communication.

Hydrogels are promising candidates for biomimetic scaffolds of the extracellular matrix in tissue engineering applications. However, their use in bone tissue engineering is limited due to their low mechanical properties. In this study, we designed and synthesized multicomponent peptide-based hydrogels composed of fluorenyl-9-methoxycarbonyl diphenylalanine (FmocFF), which contributed to the rigidity and stability of the hydrogel, and Fmoc-arginine (FmocR), which mediated high affinity to hydroxyapatite (HAP) due to the arginine moiety. The new hydrogels composed of nanometric fibril networks were decorated with HAP and demonstrated high mechanical strength with a storage modulus of up to 29 kPa. In addition, the hydrogels supported cell adhesion and in vitro cell viability. These properties suggest using these multicomponent organic–inorganic hydrogels as functional biomaterials for improved bone regeneration.

In the present study, we reported the symbiotic associations of suctorian epibionts Trematosoma rotunda(Allgén 1952) with marine nematode Desmodora scaldensisde Man 1889. The attachment of the epibionts on the cuticle of marine free-living nematodes was reported for the first time from subtidal zone of Matla estuary, Sundarbans, India. We compared the biometrics of epibiont T. rotundawith published literatures, discussed host-epibiont interactions and suggested future research opportunities.

The rapid advancement of peptide- and amino-acid-based nanotechnology offers new approaches for the development of biomedical materials. The utilization of fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl (Fmoc)-decorated self-assembling building blocks for antibacterial and anti-inflammatory purposes represents promising advancements in this field. Here, we present the antibacterial capabilities of the nanoassemblies formed by Fmoc-pentafluoro-l-phenylalanine-OH, their substantial effect on bacterial morphology, as well as new methods developed for the functional incorporation of these nanoassemblies within resin-based composites. These amalgamated materials inhibit and hinder bacterial growth and viability and are not cytotoxic toward mammalian cell lines. Importantly, due to the low dosage required to confer antibacterial activity, the integration of the nanoassemblies does not affect their mechanical and optical properties. This approach expands on the growing number of accounts on the intrinsic antibacterial capabilities of self-assembling building blocks and serves as a basis for further design and development of enhanced composite materials for biomedical applications.

High resolution measurements were carried out to understand the short-term (<1 h) variability of surface water quality parameters in mangrove-dominated Sundarban Estuarine System of West Bengal, India during flood phases of spring-neap tidal cycle in a peak monsoon season August 2014. We observed that tidal propagation of both phases strongly influenced the water quality properties. During spring tide salinity, DO, pH, nitrate, phosphate, silicate, chlorophyll aand phaeopigments concentration exhibited increasing trends; whereas at neap tide nitrate, ammonia and chlorophyll ashowed decreasing trends. Average nutrient concentrations were much higher during neap tide than spring tide. All the measured water quality parameters varied in every 15-min interval influenced by the tidal current, mangrove litter fall, re-suspension of bottom sediment and river runoff. The effect of tidal amplitude was observed to be the important factor in determining the variability in most of the water quality parameters.

This paper represents the chronological developmental processes of prototype creation for computer interactional ergonomic arrangement for cerebral palsy (CP) patients. Starting from the first stage to future scope of study with the aim of better product generation on this topic is carried out. Wheelchair with cyber interaction by a different part of the body (lower limb, upper limb, and tongue) are focused with a complete schematic approach. Cost effective design mechanism is presented for CP office employees with the aspects of socio-economics prospective. Comparative table contributes significant preview of this development. Research implies a comprehensive knowledge on practical prototype generation on computer interaction device for CP persons. Training, evaluation processes with short data-oriented specification details of the present system enhance its originality. Testing phase representation for a different angle is clarified with this paper on the view of future enhancement of this work.

Nitric oxide is a major air pollutant associated with environmental problems, including acid rain, smog, and depletion of the ozone layer. In this issue of Chem Catalysis, Zhang, Li, and co-workers develop mono-dispersed single-atom transition-metal (Fe, Co, and Ni) electrocatalysts, where the metal ion dictates product selectivity, to reduce NO.

Remote activity monitoring of an old person, residing independently in a house, is a major concern in the field of geriatric care. An activity chart could be a useful tool to identify the mild cognitive impairments of the resident. Activity detection, the key thing for monitoring, is done through the analysis of sensory data, whereas sensors are placed in strategic locations within the residence. Training data set preparation is the mandatory prerequisite for activity recognition approaches. The data preparation requires repetitive execution of a specific activity that may not be feasible for an old inhabitant. Thus, a semi-supervised learning technique is used to identify daily activities with a satisfactory detection ratio. One of the novelties of the proposed solution is to discover the activities through ambient sensors as the old persons dislike to use the wearable sensors in general. Another contribution of this work is to offer an online solution that is to identify the activities based on the recent data streams. A rigorous experiment has been done to measure the performance of the said discovery technique. The algorithm is executed on benchmark data set ARUBA, TULUM, and KYOTO and it shows better results compared to the notable existing techniques in this domain.

Pharmacologically increased estrogen levels have been shown to lower hepatic and plasma proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) levels in animals and humans. We hypothesized that physiological changes in estrogen levels influence circulating PCSK9, thereby contributing to the known wide inter-individual variation in its plasma levels, as well as to the established increase in LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) with normal aging. Circulating PCSK9, estradiol, and other metabolic factors were determined in fasting samples from 206 female and 189 male healthy volunteers (age 20–85 years), The mean levels of PCSK9 were 10% higher in females than in males (P< 0.05). PCSK9 levels were 22% higher in postmenopausal than in premenopausal (P< 0.001) females. Within the group of premenopausal females, circulating PCSK9 correlated inversely to estrogen levels, and PCSK9 was higher (305 ng/ml) in the follicular phase than in the ovulatory (234 ng/ml) or the luteal (252 ng/ml) phases (P< 0.05). Changes in endogenous estrogen levels during the menstrual cycle likely contribute to the broad inter-individual variation in PCSK9 and LDL-C in normal females. PCSK9 levels increase in females after menopause but not in men during this phase in life. This likely contributes to why LDL-C in women increases in this period.

Tissue‐specific stem cell (TSC) number is tightly regulated in normal individuals but can change following severe injury. We previously showed that tracheobronchial epithelial TSC number increased after severe naphthalene (NA) injury and then returned to normal. This study focused on the fate of the supernumerary TSC and the signals that regulate TSC pool size. We used the Keratin 5‐rTA/Histone 2B:green fluorescent protein (GFP) model to purify basal cells that proliferated infrequently (GFPbright) or frequently (GFPdim) after NA injury. Both populations contained TSC but TSCs were 8.5‐fold more abundant in the GFPbrightpopulation. Interestingly, both populations also contained a unipotential basal progenitor (UPB), a mitotic basal cell subtype whose daughters were terminally differentiated basal cells. The ratio of TSC to UPB was 5:1 in the GFPbrightpopulation and 1:5 in the GFPdimpopulation. These data suggested that TSC proliferation in vivo promoted TSC‐to‐UPB differentiation. To evaluate this question, we cloned TSC from the GFPbrightand GFPdimpopulations and passaged the clones seven times. We found that TSC number decreased and UPB number increased at each passage. Reciprocal changes in TSC and UPB frequency were more dramatic in the GFPdimlineage. Gene expression analysis showed that β‐catenin and Notch pathway genes were differentially expressed in freshly isolated TSC derived from GFPbrightand GFPdimpopulations. We conclude that (a) TSC and UPB are members of a single lineage; (b) TSC proliferation in vivo or in vitro promotes TSC‐to‐UPB differentiation; and (c) an interaction between the β‐catenin and Notch pathways regulates the TSC‐to‐UPB differentiation process. StemCells2013;31:2767–2778

Major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC II) expressed on the surface of antigen-presenting cells (APCs) displays peptides to CD4+T cells. Depletion of membrane cholesterol from APCs by methyl β-cyclodextrin treatment compromises peptide-MHC II complex formation coupled with impaired binding of conformational antibody, which binds close to the peptide binding groove of MHC II. Interestingly, the total cell surface of MHC II remains unaltered. These defects can be corrected by restoring membrane cholesterol. In silico docking studies with a three-dimensional model showed the presence of a cholesterol binding site in the transmembrane domain of MHC II (TM-MHC-II). From the binding studies it was clear that cholesterol, indeed, interacts with the TM-MHC-II and alters its conformation. Mutation of cholesterol binding residues (F240, L243, and F246) in the TM-MHC-II decreased the affinity for cholesterol. Furthermore, transfection of CHO cells with full-length mutant MHC II, but not wild-type MHC II, failed to activate antigen-specific T cells coupled with decreased binding of conformation-specific antibodies. Thus, cholesterol-induced conformational change of TM-MHC-II may allosterically modulate the peptide binding groove of MHC II leading to T cell activation.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether β-catenin regulates basal cell fate determination in the mouse trachea. Analysis of TOPGaltransgene reporter activity and Wnt/β-catenin pathway gene expression suggested a role for β-catenin in basal cell proliferation and differentiation after naphthalene-mediated Clara-like and ciliated cell depletion. However, these basal cell activities occurred simultaneously, limiting precise determination of the role(s) played by β-catenin. This issue was overcome by analysis of β-catenin signaling in tracheal air-liquid interface cultures. The cultures could be divided into two phases: basal cell proliferation and basal cell differentiation. A role for β-catenin in basal cell proliferation was indicated by activation of the TOPGaltransgene on proliferation days 3 to 5 and by transient expression of Myc (alias c-myc). Another peak of TOPGaltransgene activity was detected on differentiation days 2 to 10 and was associated with the expression of Axin 2. These results suggest a role for β-catenin in basal to ciliated and basal to Clara-like cell differentiation. Genetic stabilization of β-catenin in basal cells shortened the period of basal cell proliferation but had a minor effect on this process. Persistent β-catenin signaling regulated basal cell fate by driving the generation of ciliated cells and preventing the production of Clara-like cells.

The membrane fluidity of antigen-presenting cells (APCs) has a significant bearing on T-cell-stimulating ability and is dependent on the cholesterol content of the membrane. The relationship, if any, between membrane fluidity and defective cell-mediated immunity in visceral leishmaniasis has been investigated. Systemic administration of cholesterol by liposome delivery (cholesterol liposomes) in Leishmania donovani-infected hamsters was found to cure the infection. Splenic macrophages as a prototype of APCs in infected hamsters had decreased membrane cholesterol and an inability to drive T cells, which was corrected by cholesterol liposome treatment. The effect was cholesterol specific because liposomes made up of the analogue 4-cholesten-3-one provided almost no protection. Infection led to increases in interleukin-10 (IL-10), transforming growth factor beta, and IL-4 signals and concomitant decreases in gamma interferon (IFN-), tumor necrosis factor alpha, and inducible NO synthase signals, which reverted upon cholesterol liposome treatment. The antileishmanial T-cell repertoire, whose expansion appeared to be associated with protection, was presumably type Th1, as shown by enhanced IFN- signals and the predominance of the immunoglobulin G2 isotype. The protected group produced significantly more reactive oxygen species and NO than the infected groups, which culminated in killing of L. donovani parasites. Therefore, cholesterol liposome treatment may be yet another simple strategy to enhance the cell-mediated immune response to L. donovani infection. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the therapeutic effect of cholesterol liposomes in any form of the disease.

ABSTRACTThe membrane fluidity of antigen-presenting cells (APCs) has a significant bearing on T-cell-stimulating ability and is dependent on the cholesterol content of the membrane. The relationship, if any, between membrane fluidity and defective cell-mediated immunity in visceral leishmaniasis has been investigated. Systemic administration of cholesterol by liposome delivery (cholesterol liposomes) in Leishmania donovani-infected hamsters was found to cure the infection. Splenic macrophages as a prototype of APCs in infected hamsters had decreased membrane cholesterol and an inability to drive T cells, which was corrected by cholesterol liposome treatment. The effect was cholesterol specific because liposomes made up of the analogue 4-cholesten-3-one provided almost no protection. Infection led to increases in interleukin-10 (IL-10), transforming growth factor beta, and IL-4 signals and concomitant decreases in gamma interferon (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor alpha, and inducible NO synthase signals, which reverted upon cholesterol liposome treatment. The antileishmanial T-cell repertoire, whose expansion appeared to be associated with protection, was presumably type Th1, as shown by enhanced IFN-γ signals and the predominance of the immunoglobulin G2 isotype. The protected group produced significantly more reactive oxygen species and NO than the infected groups, which culminated in killing of L. donovaniparasites. Therefore, cholesterol liposome treatment may be yet another simple strategy to enhance the cell-mediated immune response to L. donovaniinfection. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the therapeutic effect of cholesterol liposomes in any form of the disease.

Benign by design: Tin(II) doped anatase TiO2nanoparticles, a potential candidate as environmentally benign yellow pigments, have been synthesized. The presence of Sn2+in anatase structure has been confirmed by various analytical techniques including optical and 119Sn Mössbauer spectroscopy.

The Mangrove ecosystem is continuously losing its dignity. A few studies have focused on understanding the changing behavior of Sundarban Mangrove Forest. However, knowledge-based database interpretation and employable pattern extraction may be an efficient approach to stand against the degrading nature of the mangrove ecosystem. Comprehending the gravity of the present scenario, the main contribution of this paper lies in the task of information retrieval by assessing the natural growth of native mangrove species of Sundarban. We have followed a methodology that makes use of association rule mining and biclustering approaches in order to come up with an off-the-shelf mechanism to analyze the data. This explores rules showing the effect of soil pH, water salinity on mangrove community structure, and on individual mangrove species and finds relation to biodiversity indices. The rules can predict probable sites for mangrove species expansion by computing the probability of introducing a new species to a particular site. Our study also generates the frequently co-occurred species lists along with the supporting sites. It could help in mangrove ecosystem restoration by identifying the most probable species that is missing from a particular site, maybe due to the gradual historical disappearance. Hence, this analytical study would enhance the possibilities of restoration of the mangrove ecosystem under survey in a systematic and empirical way.

Twenty-five percent to 45% of COPD is caused by exposures other than active smoking. Secondhand tobacco smoke (SHS) has been suggested as an independent cause of COPD, based on its association with increased respiratory symptoms and a small decrease in lung function, but its impact on respiratory health and lung function after exposure cessation has not been explored.

Chemical approaches have emerged as the preferred means to synthesize nanostructures of various inorganic materials due to superior control over size, shape, and surface functionality. This article provides an overview of the contributions made in the authors' laboratory toward the synthesis of nanocrystals, nanowires, nanotubes, nanowalls, and other nanostructures of several inorganic materials. Thus, thiolized monodisperse metal nanocrystals have been obtained by a ligand exchange process and the stability of their 2D assemblies studied. Nanocrystals of pure CoO and ReO3have been synthesized, for the first time, employing a one-pot solvothermal technique. The solvothermal method has also been used to obtain organic soluble nanocrystals of semiconducting materials such as CdS, CdSe, and GaN. Inorganic nanowires and nanotubes have been prepared by several soft chemical routes, including surfactant-assisted synthesis and hydrogel templating. A simple reaction between elemental Se and Te with NaBH4in water has been utilized to obtain nanowires of Se and Te. We also describe the nebulized spray pyrolysis (NSP) technique to synthesize carbon nanotubes and nanowires of metals and III-V nitride semiconductors with improved yields. An important new technique for preparing nanocrystalline films of materials is by the reaction of the metal precursors in the organic layer at the interface of two immiscible liquids, with appropriate reagents. Nanocrystalline films of metals, alloys, and semiconductors and ultra-thin single-crystalline films of metal chalcogenides and oxides have been obtained by this technique. Apart from these, we discuss single precursor routes to iron sulfide, GeSe2, and III-V nitride nanostructures as well as the first synthesis of GaS and GaSe nanowalls and nanotubes obtained through exfoliation by laser irradiation and thermal treatment.

Nanoparticles of MnO with average diameters in the 6–14 nm range have been prepared by the decomposition of manganese cupferronate in the presence of TOPO, under solvothermal conditions. Nanoparticles of NiO with average diameters in the 3–24 nm range have been prepared by the decomposition of nickel cupferronate or acetate under solvothermal conditions. The nanoparticles have been characterized by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. Both MnO and NiO nanoparticles exhibit supermagnetism, accompanied by magnetic hysteresis below the blocking temperature TB. The TBincreases with the increase in particle size in the case of NiO, and exhibits the reverse trend in the case of MnO.