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The effect of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum PGB02 isolated from buttermilk on serum cholesterol profile of normal and hypercholesterolemic mice was evaluated. Further changes in the expression of mice genes were determined. The hypercholesterolemia was induced in experimental mice by feeding high cholesterol and fat diet. Serum cholesterol parameters, physical parameters, cholic acid excretion, and cholesterol metabolism related gene expression analysis was carried out. L. plantarum PGB02 efficiently reduced total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL-cholesterol and improved HDL-cholesterol in hypercholesterolaemic mice. Body weight was reduced and fecal cholic acid increased in probiotic treatment groups. Gene expression analysis revealed that L. plantarum PGB02 up-regulated the expression of LDL receptors, CYP7A1, ABCA1, ABCG5, ABCG8, and down-regulated the expression of FXR and NPC1L1 genes. Summarizing the mechanism, L. plantarum PGB02 improved hypercholesterolemia by increasing bile acid synthesis and excretion, reducing exogeneous cholesterol absorption from the intestine, and increased LDL clearance through upregulation of LDL-receptors. The present study has given insight into the mechanism of serum cholesterol reduction by bile salt hydrolase positive L. plantarum PGB02 in mice. L. plantarum PGB02 reduced the serum cholesterol level through increased bile acid synthesis and deconjugation and reduced absorption of cholesterol in the intestine. Isolate PGB02 shown cholesterol removal potential as good as statin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Six bipyrazole based Au(III) complexes were synthesized and characterized by 1H-NMR, 13C (APT) NMR, FT-IR, Mass spectrometry, elemental analysis and conductance measurement. The analysis show that complexes are ionic in nature and bimetallic with oxygen atom as bridging ligand. The DNA binding ability of compounds were checked as change in absorption band in UV-Vis spectra of HS-DNA and change in relative viscosity of DNA in presence of compounds. The results support intercalation mode of binding with good affinity of compounds toward DNA as evaluated by estimation of binding constant values. The molecular docking study also supports the experimental data. The anticancer activity of complexes were evaluated against A549 (Lung adenocarcinoma) cell line by MTT assay in terms of IC50 value. The cell viability assay showed significant potency of complexes as staining of death cells with trypan blue dye. The genotoxicity of compounds were checked by smearing observed in DNA of S. pombe cell under the influence of complexes. The compounds showed significant cytotoxicity against brine shrimp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reproduction can be costly and is predicted to trade-off against other characters. However, while these trade-offs are well documented for females, there has been less focus on aspects of male reproduction. Furthermore, those studies that have looked at males typically only investigate phenotypic associations, with the underlying genetics often ignored. Here, we report on phenotypic and genetic trade-offs in male reproductive effort in the seed beetle, Callosobruchus maculatus. We find that the duration of a male's first copulation is negatively associated with subsequent male survival, phenotypically and genetically. Our results are consistent with life-history theory and suggest that like females, males trade-off reproductive effort against longevity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe the sensitive detection of ammonia by wavelength modulated cavity enhanced infrared tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy at 1994 nm. The spectrometer can measure a fractional absorption of ∼10-5 for an absorption pathlength of a few kilometers. The spectral resolution and sensitivity are sufficient to measure ammonia isotopomers (14NH3, 15NH3) in planetary atmospheres. The spectrometer is miniaturisable, so a future multiple-species version will be highly suitable for in situ planetary exploration and life-detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ratio of male to female flowers per inflorescence in Acalypha fruiticosa increases from bottom to top inflorescence of the plant and also along the altitudinal gradient. The increase is due to increase in male flower number per inflorescence. We explain these facultative changes in sex-ratio as fitness optimising strategies of the plant in response to altered success of males from the bottom to the top of the plant and along altitude which is primarily due to changes in pollen donation pattern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A correction to the article "Negative phenotypic and genetic associations between copulation duration and longevity in male seed beetles," in the previous issue of "Heredity" is presented.