Search

Removal of Cu2+, Ni2+, Cd2+ and Zn2+ ions from single- and multi-component aqueous solution using porous activated carbon (PAC) has been studied. The PAC was prepared by controlling the carbonation temperature of agricultural waste at 500°C and followed by the acid treatment (10 N H2SO4). The structural morphology and elemental composition of PAC have been determined by SEM and EDX, respectively. Batch adsorption studies have been carried out to optimize the adsorption parameters such as solution pH, adsorption dosage, initial metal ion concentration and contact time. Metal ions concentrations have been determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Adsorption kinetic equations (pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order, Elovich and intraparticle kinetic models) have been examined to identify the adsorption process and mechanism using adsorption data of contact time. The adsorption kinetic studies show that the adsorption of metal ions onto the PAC follows the second-order kinetic model, and the maximum adsorption capacities of the Cu2+, Ni2+, Cd2+ and Zn2+ ions were calculated as 57.2, 68.1, 44.2 and 49.3 mg/g, respectively. The adsorption isotherm results suggest that the Freundlich isotherm has been fitted well with experimental data of monoand multi-layer adsorption. The effect of temperature on the adsorption of (Cu2+, Ni2+, Cd2+ and Zn2+) on PAC has been studied at 298, 303, 308, 313 and 318 K, and thermodynamic parameters such as Gibbs free energy change (ΔG°), enthalpy change (ΔH°) and entropy change (ΔS°) have been evaluated. This study shows that the adsorption process of metal ions onto PACs is endothermic, feasible and spontaneous in nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human mtDNA contains three promoters, suggesting a need for differential expression of the mitochondrial genome. Studies of mitochondrial transcription have used a reductionist approach, perhaps masking differential regulation. Here we evaluate transcription from light-strand (LSP) and heavy-strand (HSP1) promoters using templates that mimic their natural context. These studies reveal sequences upstream, hypervariable in the human population (HVR3), and downstream of the HSP1 transcription start site required for maximal yield. The carboxy-terminal tail of TFAM is essential for activation of HSP1 but not LSP. Images of the template obtained by atomic force microscopy show that TFAM creates loops in a discrete region, the formation of which correlates with activation of HSP1; looping is lost in tail-deleted TFAM. Identification of HVR3 as a transcriptional regulatory element may contribute to between-individual variability in mitochondrial gene expression. The unique requirement of HSP1 for the TFAM tail may enable its regulation by post-translational modifications.

Objectives: The primary objective of this prospective cohort study was to assess the usefulness of a predefined multidisciplinary care pathway-based management on pregnancy outcome(s) in women with SLE who already had at least one adverse obstetric outcome(s)., Methods: Between March 2010 and March 2023, all consecutive, consenting women with SLE who already had at least one previous adverse obstetric outcome (preterm labour, pre-eclampsia, termination of pregnancy, miscarriage, intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), preterm birth, low birth weight (LBW), intrauterine death (IUD) or stillbirth] were prospectively screened and counselled. The protocol comprised preconception and post-natal drug and disease status review, periodic ante-natal visits for the monitoring of pregnancy and drug and disease status review and post-natal drug and disease status review and contraception advice. Therapeutic changes were made as necessary at each visit., Results: A total of 213 women were screened and 197 women (age, 28 ± 6.34 years) were enrolled who had 226 pregnancies. Previous poor obstetric outcomes were miscarriage(s), 186; termination of pregnancy, 4; preterm labour, 51; IUGR, 36; IUD or stillbirth, 16; low birth weight (LBW), 44 and pre-eclampsia, 4. Seventy-seven (39%) women had secondary APS and 37 (19%) had a history of lupus nephritis. There were 194/226 (86%) live births [40 LBW (18%); caesarean section in 101 (45%)]. Thirty pregnancies culminated in miscarriages and 2 in IUDs (14%). Sixty-eight patients (30%) experienced lupus flare during pregnancy (36 mild, 20 moderate and 8 severe)., Conclusion: Our experience underscores the usefulness of a predefined multidisciplinary care pathway-based management for improving pregnancy outcomes in women with SLE who had previous adverse outcomes. Key Points • In women with SLE who had previous adverse obstetric outcome(s) a risk of poor outcome in subsequent pregnancy remains. • Good pregnancy outcomes in these women could be achieved by predefined  multidisciplinary care pathways focussed on addressing all relevant issues. • Improved access to rheumatology services and collaboration between rheumatologists and obstetricians is key to improving outcomes in SLE pregnancies., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to International League of Associations for Rheumatology (ILAR).)

Background: Vanilla siamensis is listed in Appendix-II of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) as an endangered species in Thailand., Objective: To develop an optimum cryopreservation protocol for V. siamensis., Materials and Methods: Protocorms were precultured on solid ½ MS medium with 0.5 M sucrose for 0-7 d. For encapsulation-dehydration, encapsulated protocorms (beads) were dehydrated for 0-6 h. In the case of encapsulation-vitrification, the beads were loaded with a plant vitrification solution 2 (PVS2) at 0 ˚C for 0-90 min., Results: Protocorms precultured for 3 d gave the highest post-cryopreservation survival of 17%. Dehydration of the encapsulated protocorm beads for 4 h gave the highest survival of 33% and a regrowth of 25%. Protocorms subjected to the encapsulation-vitrification method did not survive at all., Conclusion: Protocorms precultured with 0.5 M sucrose for 3 d, encapsulated with 3% sodium alginate and dehydrated to a moisture content c. 14% before plunging into LN was a suitable method for the successful cryopreservation of V. siamensis protocorms.

Ginger is a rhizomatous plant that belongs to the family Zingiberaceae. It is a herbaceous perennial but cultivated as annual, with crop duration of 7-10 months. Ginger is native to India and Tropical South Asia. The tuberous rhizomes or underground stems of ginger are used as condiment, an aromatic stimulant, and food preservative as well as in traditional medicine. Ginger is propagated vegetatively with rhizome bits as seed material. Cultivation of ginger is plagued by rhizome rot diseases, most of which are mainly spread through infected seed rhizomes. Micropropagation will help in production of disease-free planting material. Sexual reproduction is absent in ginger, making recombinant breeding very impossible. In vitro technology can thus become the preferred choice as it can be utilized for multiplication, conservation of genetic resources, generating variability, gene transfer, molecular tagging, and their utility in crop improvement of these crops.

Turmeric is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial but cultivated as annual, belonging to the family Zingiberaceae. It is a native of India and South East Asia. The tuberous rhizomes or underground stems of turmeric are used from antiquity as condiments, a dye and as an aromatic stimulant in several medicines. Turmeric is an important crop in India and it is used as a spice, food preservative, coloring agent, cosmetic as well as for its medicinal properties. Propagation is done vegetatively with rhizome bits as seed materials. It is plagued by rhizome rot diseases most of which are mainly spread through infected seed rhizomes. Micropropagation will help in production of disease-free seed. Sexual reproduction is rare in turmeric, making recombinant breeding very difficult. In vitro technology can thus become the preferred choice and it can be utilized for multiplication, conservation of genetic resources, generating variability, gene transfer, molecular tagging, and their utility in crop improvement.

Black pepper, Piper nigrum L., the "King of spices" is the most widely used spice growing in the South-Western region of India. The humid tropical evergreen forest bordering the Malabar Coast (Western Ghats is one of the hot spot areas of plant bio-diversity on earth) is its center of origin and diversity. However, the crop faces constraints like rampant fungal and viral diseases, lack of disease free planting material, hence biotechnological tools can be utilized to address these problems and strides have been made successfully. The standardization of micropropagation, somatic embryogenesis, in vitro conservation, protoplast isolation, and genetic transformation protocols are described here. The protocols could be utilized to achieve similar goals in the related species of Piper too.

Vanilla (Vanilla planifolia Andrews (syn. V. fragrans Salisb.), a native of Central America, is the primary source of natural vanillin and plays a major role in the global economy. The gene pool of vanilla is threatened by deforestation and overcollection that has resulted in disappearance of natural habitats and wild species. Continuous vegetative propagation and lack of natural seed set and sufficient variations in the gene pool hamper crop improvement programs. In vitro techniques, one of the key tools of plant biotechnology, can be employed for overcoming specific problems, viz. production of disease-free clones, inducing somaclonal variations, developing hybrids, gene pool conservation, incorporating desired traits by distant hybridization, genetic engineering, etc. However, realization of these objectives necessitates standardization of protocols. This chapter describes the various protocols optimized for crop improvement in Vanilla species.

Vanilla (Vanilla planifolia Andrews (syn. V. fragrans Salisb.), a source of natural vanillin, plays a major positive role in the economy of several countries. A native to the Central America, its primary gene pool is threatened by deforestation and over collection that has resulted in disappearance of natural habitats and wild species. Therefore, multiplication and conservation of vanilla diversity is of paramount importance because of its narrow genetic base. It plays an important role in the production of disease free planting material for commercial cultivation. Simple protocols for micropropagation, in vitro conservation and synthetic seed production are described in this chapter which could further be applied to other related vanilla species as well.

We studied a population of hemodialysis (HD) patients in the Najran region of Saudi Arabia to assess the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and to evaluate the possible risk factors associated with this infection. The records of 90 patients undergoing dialysis in two centers of this region were reviewed. Blood samples were screened for anti-HCV antibodies by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and positive samples were tested for confirmation by recombinant immunoblot assay. Liver transaminases were measured to assess the activity of the virus. In this study, an overall HCV prevalence of 46.7% was found among the HD patients. Statistical analysis showed that the number of previous blood transfusions, duration of dialytic age and dialysis treatment in multi-centers were associated significantly with HCV seropositivity. Although the mean levels of liver enzymes were significantly higher in HCV-positive than in HCV-negative patients, enzyme levels were raised above normal in only 29% of the patients.

Full text is available as a scanned copy of the original print version.