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This study addresses the critical issue of removing copper(II) ions from water using an eco-friendly approach with natural biomaterials. Alginate, a natural polysaccharide, is employed as the primary adsorption material. The study involves the conversion of alginate into nanoparticles, and a ternary blend is prepared by mixing alginate nanoparticles with carboxymethyl cellulose and polyethylene glycol (AL-NPs/CMC/PEG). The blend's morphological and structural transformations have been comprehensively investigated using techniques such as DLS, FT-IR, XRD, TGA, and SEM. Batch experiments were conducted systematically to investigate crucial parameters, such as contact time (60–300 min), initial copper concentration (62.5 ppm–1000 ppm), solution pH (2–8), and adsorbent dosage (1–5 g). The results obtained are highly encouraging, revealing an impressive 80.9 % efficiency in the removal of copper ions. The acquired experimental data were then subjected to analysis with Langmuir and Freundlich, isotherm, as well as pseudo-first and pseudo-second-order kinetics studies. The outcomes from these isotherm and kinetics models indicated a favorable fit with the Freundlich isotherm, suggesting a strong affinity between the adsorbent and the metal ions. Furthermore, the kinetic studies revealed that the adsorption process closely adheres to pseudo-second-order kinetics, underlining the efficiency and reliability of the adsorption process. From desorption studies, 0.1 M HCl was an extremely effective eluant when compared to HNO3 and EDTA. It could be reused three time with appreciate efficiency. The research underscores the potential for an environmentally sustainable solution to address the persistent environmental challenge posed by copper ion contamination.

Regeneration of complete plantlets via organogenesis and somatic embryogenesis was achieved from plumular tissues of two dwarf cultivars of coconut, viz. Chowghat Green Dwarf (CGD) and Malayan Yellow Dwarf (MYD). Significant differences were noticed between varieties for the formation of embryogenic calli. There were also significant differences for interaction between variety and regeneration medium with respect to formation of somatic embryos. Well developed plantlets were acclimatized under green house conditions and then successfully established in the field. The development of an efficient method of cloning coconut using plumular explants (with more rapid development of calli and somatic embryos and greater frequencies of plant regeneration compared with calli from inflorescence or leaf tissues) offers a potential for the development of a long-term in vitro means of conserving significant coconut germplasm by cryopreservation of plumular explants. Mass multiplication of elite palms selected on the basis of resistance to root (wilt) diseases of coconut is possible using plumular explants. Plumule cultures can be used for rapid multiplication of proven coconut hybrids. This study can also form a model for future regeneration studies from adult tissues of coconut.

The 58Ni(n,p)58Co and 58Ni(n,2n)57Ni reactions cross sections have been estimated relative to 197Au(n,2n)196Au monitor reaction at the incident neutron energy of 14.54±0.0024 MeV from the D-T fusion nuclear reaction using Purnima neutron generator carried through methods of activation and off-line γ-ray spectrometry. The uncertainty propagation and correlation for measured cross sections have been estimated using covariance analysis through considering the partial uncertainties in different attributes. The present measured reaction cross sections data have been analyzed by comparing with the literature data, with various libraries of evaluated data, like ENDF/B-VIII.0, JEFF-3.3, JENDL/AD-2017, ROSFOND-2010 and TALYS-1.9 theoretical calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Naturally occurring 197Au and 58Ni foils were subjected to the neutron irradiation by placing them in a dry tube-I of Kalpakkam Mini reactor to produce gamma emitting 198Au and 58Co nuclear reaction products. The efficiency study of high-purity germanium detector corresponding to characteristic gamma energies 0.4118 and 0.8107 MeV of 198Au and 58Co was carried out by the methods of calibration of 152Eu and covariance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diagnosis of an eating disorder (ED) has been associated with differences in social cognition. To date research investigating social cognition and ED has mainly employed patient and recovered samples. It is therefore unclear whether differences in social cognition are present prior to onset of ED, potentially contributing to development, or whether differences observed are a consequence of the disorder. We aimed to further explore whether individuals at high-risk for ED present social cognition characteristics previously found in ED groups. MethodsOur sample was drawn from a population-based cohort, the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). Data on maternal ED behaviors over the lifetime were collected through in-depth clinical interviews (n = 1,128) conducted using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM disorders (SCID), and were used to categorize mothers according to ED behaviors over the lifetime: Restricting & Excessive Exercising (n = 58), Purging (n = 70), Binge-eating (n = 72), Bingeing and Purging (n = 66), no ED (n = 862). High-risk status of children was determined using these maternal lifetime behavioral phenotypes. Children at high-risk (maternal ED exposure) were compared to children at low-risk (born to mothers with no ED) on three measures of social cognition: the Social Communication Disorders Checklist (n = 922), the faces subtest of the Diagnostic Analysis of Non-Verbal Accuracy (n = 722), and the Emotional Triangles Task (n = 750).ResultsChildren at high-risk for ED showed poorer performance on measures of social cognition compared to children at low-risk. Maternal lifetime binge-eating, and maternal lifetime bingeing and purging were associated with poorer social communication in children (OR: 2.4, 95% CI: 1.0, 5.7, p = 0.05; and OR: 2.7, 95% CI: 1.1, 6.5, p = 0.03 respectively). Maternal bingeing and purging was also found to be associated with differential facial emotion processing and poorer recognition of fear fr

Basic and neutral neurohypophyseal (NH) nonapeptides have evolved from vasotocin (VT) by a gene duplication at the base of the gnathostome lineage. In teleosts, VT and IT are the basic and neutral peptides, respectively. In the present study, VT and IT precursor genes of Heteropneustes fossilis and Clarias batrachus (Siluriformes, Ostariophysi) were cloned and sequenced. The channel catfish Icatalurus punctatus NH precursor sequences were obtained from EST database. The catfish NH sequences were used along with the available Acanthopterygii and other vertebrate NH precursor sequences to draw phylogenetic inference on the evolutionary history of the teleost NH peptides. Synteny analysis of the NH gene loci in various teleost species was done to complement the phylogenetic analysis. In H. fossilis, the NH transcripts were also sequenced from the ovary. The cloned genes and the deduced precursor proteins showed conserved characteristics of the NH nonapeptide precursors. The genes are expressed in brain and ovary (follicular envelope) of H. fossilis with higher transcript abundance in the brain. The addition of the catfish sequences in the phylogenetic analysis revealed that the VT and IT precursors of the species-rich superorders of teleosts have a distinct phylogenetic history with the Acanthopterygii VT and IT precursors sharing a less evolutionary distance and the Ostariophysi VT and IT having a greater evolutionary distance. The genomic location of VT and IT precursors, and synteny analysis of the NH loci lend support to the phylogenetic inference and suggest a footprint of fish- specific whole genome duplication (3R) and subsequent diploidization in the NH loci. The VT and IT precursor genes are most likely lineage-specific paralogs resulting from differential losses of the 3R NH paralogs in the two superorders. The independent yet consistent retention of VT and IT in the two superorders might be directed by a stringent ligand-receptor selectivity.