Search

Summary: Radio frequency identification device (RFID) has emerged as one of the most potential building blocks for future IoT‐enabled technologies. Various applications like logistic monitoring use the RFID system to deal with the tagged objects. RFID‐based tracking approach is extremely solicited for appropriate logistic distribution because of the frequent tagged‐objects rearrangements. Nevertheless, with an RFID system, one of the most significant issues is resolving collisions between tags as they transfer data to the reader at the same time. This work investigates the core issue of locating all lost tags in RFID systems. The most significant factor in missing tag recognition is to reduce the time required for execution. A problem needs to be formulated to differentiate the tagged objects' motion state, that is, static or dynamic, to handle this issue. It tracks the moving objects with various existing localization approaches. Finally, a tag detection known as constructive Steiner graph matching (CSGM) detection is proposed to achieve time efficiency by utilizing RFID collision signals. Specifically, the physical‐layer features are considered for differentiating the positions. Experimental outcomes demonstrate that the anticipated model can attain better prediction accuracy by reducing inventory time compared to other approaches. Simulation findings show that the suggested approach performs exceptionally well in giving a significant performance boost in an RFID system. It minimizes the complexity of tracking the objects. The simulation outcomes illustrate that the algorithm's identification speed is substantially enhanced and ensuring high system efficiency. The simulation results of the proposed algorithm have been improved in terms of system efficiency (9.5%), success rate (6.3%), and identification speed (4%) compared to the conventional algorithm. The suggested CSGM technique's average waiting time is decreased by more than 45.372%, and its detection speed is increased by at least 38.219% compared to other existing algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study reports the preparation and evaluation of a water soluble octenyl succinylated cassava starch‐curcumin nanoformulation with enhanced bioavailability and anticancer potential. The major drawback of curcumin as a bioactive compound is its poor aqueous solubility and the resultant low bioavailability. In this study, curcumin has been incorporated in octenyl succinate cassava starch by a wet grinding method and the product is characterized by Fourier transform infra red spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) analyses. The OSA starch loaded nanocurcumin is found to be non‐toxic to L929 cells, but shows anti‐cancer potential to HeLa cells. A significant enhancement in cellular uptake also can be achieved for the OSA starch loaded nanocurcumin as revealed by fluorescence microscopy. The in vitro release of curcumin from the nanostarch matrix is more controlled at simulated intestinal pH than that at gastric pH. Pharmacokinetic study shows that bioavailability of nanocurcumin is increased by about 71.27%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diterpenoid lactones and flavonoids are major bio‐active compounds of therapeutically important medicinal herb Andrographis paniculata (Burm.F.) Nees. The lack of a validated protocol for quality assurance of raw herbs is a significant issue for its wider use. A validated LC‐ESI‐MS/MS method developed using MRM mode for simultaneous determination of five diterpenoid lactones (andrographolide, neoandrographolide, andrograpanin, 14‐deoxy‐11,12‐didehydroandrographolide and andrographiside) along with two flavonoids (7‐O‐methylwogonin and apigenin). Chromatographic separation of seven analytes was achieved within 14 minutes in Alltima column (100×4.6 mm, 3 μm) using gradient elution. The developed method was accurate (97.77 to 101.17 %; recovery), precise (intra‐day and inter‐day %RSD of 0.22–2.19 and 1.01–3.68, respectively) and linear (R2 >0.99). To meet the regulatory obligation, uncertainty associated with the measurement was also evaluated by using different validation parameters. Developed method was successfully employed in analysing the analytes quality in different solvent extracts. Total diterpenoid lactones and flavonoids (DTLF) content was recorded highest in methanol extract (45.47 μg g−1) followed by ethanol (39.23 μg g−1) and lowermost content found in petroleum ether extract (0.38 μg g−1) in triplicate samples. Since the method is simple, rapid, sensitive, and accurate, it has potential role for quality evaluation of A. paniculata and its derived formulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Curcumin, a natural yellow pigment with a wide spectrum of bioactivities, was incorporated in nanocomposite films of cassava starch with poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) for achieving sustained release properties which improves its potential for use in cancer treatment. The ultra structure of the films was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the formation of nanoparticles was confirmed by transmission electron microscopic (TEM) analysis. The curcumin incorporation in the films was confirmed by Fourier transform infra red spectroscopy (FTIR). The swelling capacity and erosion of the films were also recorded. It was observed that pH of the medium and storage conditions greatly affected the release of curcumin from the polymer matrices. The release behaviour of curcumin from starch-PVA matrices was studied and the kinetics behind the curcumin release was fitted to Higuchi model. The mechanism obtained from Korsemeyer-Peppas equation was a combination of diffusion and erosion controlled. Cytotoxicity study of the incorporated curcumin was carried out with normal as well as cancer cells and the results showed that it was non-toxic to normal cells and it also showed anticancer potential. The cell viability (%) in the case of cancer cells was lower for nanocomposite incorporated curcumin than pure curcumin which indicates higher anti cancer potential of the former. The size of curcumin was reduced in the nanocomposites as evidenced from TEM and SEM analysis results, which might have resulted in its greater cell availability and resultant higher anticancer activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on the design and construction of a laser scanning photothermal microscope and present images of gold nanoparticles of size as small as 5 nm. Laser scanning method allows fast image acquisition at 80 μs pixel dwell time so that a 500 × 500 pixel image is acquired in 20 s. Photothermal imaging at fast time scales can have potential applications in variety of fields including tracking of biomolecular transport processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psyllium (Plantago ovata Forsk.) is an important medicinal species cultivated throughout the semi‐arid areas in India. The seed coat, commercially known as psyllium husk, is used as a laxative for treating irritation of gastro‐intestinal tract and relieving constipation. There is an urgent need to enhance its productivity to make the crop more profitable. Artificial crossing is difficult in the species because of its small‐sized sessile florets that are compactly arranged on a soft inflorescence axis. Male sterility has been reported in the species; however, no conclusive studies have been conducted to reveal the inheritance, mode of action, and cytogenetic basis of male sterility. Hence, the purpose of this study was to determine (a) the histological and cytogenetic bases of anther development and microsporogenesis in male‐sterile and fertile plant types and (b) the genetic basis of male sterility. The study revealed that male sterility in psyllium was not attributable to meiotic abnormality or to tetrad abnormalities, but it was attributable to premature degradation of the tapetum layer, which subsequently causes the microspore degeneration, resulting in nonproduction of pollen grains. Male sterility was controlled by a single recessive gene, which was found to be stable across years and hence can easily be bred into any psyllium genotypes of breeders' choice. Newly developed male‐sterility‐maintainer line can be used to generate new sets of male‐sterile lines for hybrid seed production or harnessing hybrid vigor in the field. Core Ideas: Male sterility mechanism and genetics has been revealed in psyllium.In psyllium, meiosis and tetrad formation are normal in both sterile and fertile lines.Male sterility is due to the premature degradation of tapetum layer in the anther sac.Male sterility is controlled by a single recessive gene and stable across years/generations.Newly developed male sterile maintainer line can be used in hybrid vigor/ molecular genetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nuclear pore complexes in the nuclear membrane act as the sole gateway of transport of molecules from the cytoplasm to the nucleus and vice versa. Studies on biomolecular transport through nuclear membranes provide vital data on the nuclear pore complexes. In this work, we use fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled dextran molecules as a model system and study the passive nuclear import of biomolecules through nuclear pore complexes in digitonin-permeabilized HeLa cells. Experiments are carried out under transient conditions in the time lapse imaging scheme using an in-house constructed confocal laser scanning microscope. Transport rates of dextran molecules having molecular weights of 4-70 kDa corresponding to Stokes radius of 1.4-6 nm are determined. Analyzing the permeability of the nuclear membrane for different sizes the effective pore radius of HeLa cell nuclear membrane is determined to be 5.3 nm, much larger than the value reported earlier using proteins as probe molecules. The range of values reported for the nuclear pore radius suggest that they may not be rigid structures and it is quite probable that the effective pore size of nuclear pore complexes is critically dependent on the probe molecules and on the environmental factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]