Volume 6, Issue 1 (2019)
Research Article
Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Phylloplane Mycoflora of Stevia Rebaudiana Bertoni
Reshu Chauhan and Navneet
Abstract: The aim of the present investigation is to study the fungal flora of young and mature leaves of S. rebaudiana. Young and mature leaves of S. rebaudiana were used for isolation of fungi. Phylloplane mycoflora were isolated from leaves of S. rebaudiana by using three methods i.e. dilution plate method, leaf impression method and leaf washing method. Dilution plate method and leaf washing method were applied for quantitative analysis and leaf impression method for qualitative analysis. A total of 35 fungal species comprising Zygomycetes, Ascomycetes and Deuteromycetes including sterile forms were isolated during the course of investigation. A total of thirteen fungal species viz. Aspergillus niger, A. flavus, A. fumigatus, Penicillium cyclopium, P. chrysogenum, Cladosporium elatum, C. cladosporioides, Mucor etc. were isolated from mature leaves. Eleven fungal species were found by leaf impression method, eight by leaf washing method and six by dilution plate method. Aspergillus, Penicillium and Cladosporium species were found to be dominant among all the species. Phylloplane fungal population on mature leaves of S. rebaudiana was 1.68×102 /cm2 leaf area. Thus, the outcome of study presents a clear picture about fungal population and diversity in phylloplane of S. rebaudiana mature leaves.
Research Article
Somatic Mutations in Circulating Cell-Free D-Loop Region of Mitochondrial DNA: A Study from North-East India
Manish Kumar, Mridul Kumar Sarma, Yashmin Choudhury, Sankar Kumar Ghosh, Rosy Mondal
Abstract: Head and neck Squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is highly prevalent in North east India. The widespread use of tobacco exposure is a known risk factor, making mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) more susceptible to damage by oxidative stress in comparison to nuclear DNA. Mitochondrial dysfunction being a hallmark of cancer, the study aims to evaluate liquid biopsy involving circulating cell-free mitochondrial DNA (cfmtDNA) as an early diagnostic marker by reducing the dependability over tumor tissue biopsy specimen. A total of 50 HNSCC cases reported at Cancer Hospital, Guwahati Medical College from January 2018 to August 2018 were included in this study. Cell-free DNA was isolated using QIAamp Circulating Nucleic Acid Kit. PCR based amplification of mitochondrial D-loop, followed by direct sequencing. Our result indicated the presence of somatic mutations (73(A/G), 93(G/A), 146(T/C) and 207 (G/A)). Polymorphism was also observed in the sequences (263A>G, 275G>A, 318T>C, 16034T>C, 16257C>A and 16519T>C) upon comparison with reference sequence. Analysis of c-tract region showed the presence of an additional cytosine nucleotide at position 309.Identifying somatic mutations in cfmtDNA using liquid biopsy approach will certainly minimize the dependency of clinicians and molecular biologist over the availability of tumor tissue specimens. The identified somatic variations from our study will help in the implementation of preventive measure. Therefore, our study provides an early mtDNA diagnostic marker using liquid biopsy approach.
Research Article
Use of Glycerol as Substrate for Electricity Generation Using Citrobacter sp. in a Double Chambered Microbial Fuel Cell
Rabiya Sultana, Nirab. C. Adhikary, Mohan. C. Kalita, Narayan. C. Talukdar, Mojibur. R. Khan
Abstract: Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) have the potential to convert organic substrates into electricity thus facilitating the strategies of renewable energy production. In recent years the exploration for newer energy resources for MFC has widened and in this context, the use of glycerol in bioenergy production was investigated to check its efficacy in electricity generation. Thus, the power generation of a double-chambered MFC was observed with glycerol as the substrate and Citrobacter sp. as the bacterium of interest. Here, the MFC system yielded a power density of 79.42 mW/m² with carbon cloth as the electrodes and Nafion as the proton exchange membrane. Further, the MFC system was optimized for the ambient temperature, in which the maximum voltage and current were obtained at 35⁰C. In the study, the Citrobacter sp. showed its best performance at the optimum temperature of 35 0C. Likewise, the optimal pH for the MFC system in which the electrical output was high was observed in the pH value of 7.4. Moreover, the anodic bacterial biofilm analysis under confocal microscope provided evidence of the presence of live bacteria which were responsible for the efficient current generation of the MFC system.
Research Article
Bio-efficacy of Long Lasting Insecticidal Mosquito Nets (LLINs) on Malaria Vector Anopheles Mosquitoes in Malaria-Endemic Areas of Myanmar
Maung Maung Mya, Sein Thaung, Yee Yee Myint, Thu Zar Nyein Mu, Yan Naung Maung, Moh Moh Tun, Khin Saw Aye, Kyaw Zin Thant
Abstract: Sixty used Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs) from six malaria endemic areas of States and Regions of Myanmar were assessed for their bio-efficacy against Anopheles mosquitoes. Total ten nets were collected from the randomly selected household of each area. Insecticide susceptibility and bio-efficacy test were done according to WHO testing method. Results revealed that a total of 4470 mosquitoes of 12 Anopheles species including main vector and secondary vectors were collected in high density in Beelin, Taungoo, Pyin Oo Lwin, Kamamaung and Hpa-an. All collected mosquitoes were found susceptible to insecticides as recommended by the WHO. Bioefficacy of PermaNet 2.0, DAWA TANA, Yorkool, BASF, Net protect and Yahe LLINs nets were 12(100%), 11/12(91.67%), 4(100%), 8(100%), 5(100%) and 19(100%) respectively. The DAWA TANA net had 20% sensitivity after repetitive washing. The sensitivity of LLINs nets was higher for all selected areas of States and Regions in Myanmar. The study suggested that there is need to distribute a large number of effective LLINs nets in malaria endemic areas as well as the replacement of expired, less effective and very old LLINs nets with a new one is also necessary. LLINs nets are very effective Anopheles mosquitoes control tools and it can reduce the human-vector contact effectively. Moreover, research on bio-efficacy evaluations of the LLINs nets is required regularly to maintain and control the transmission of malaria through Anopheles mosquitoes.
Review Article
Neuronal Remodeling and Dendritic Spines: A Review
Adarsh Kumar, Mamta Tamta, Hemlata, Ram C. Maurya
Abstract: The neurons show remodeling in their dendritic arbor and spine/synapse number in many brain regions including the hippocampus, amygdala and the prefrontal cortex. The dendritic spine density is reported to be changed due to experiences and stressful conditions. The dendritic spines are the small protrusions arising from the dendritic shaft of the neurons. They have basic shapes as large mushroom spines, short stubby spines and thin spines. The morphology of spines changes rapidly in response to various stimuli that may be internal such as hormones and external such as environmental changes. Dendritic spine density plays a major role in classification of principal neurons i.e. multipolar and pyramidal neurons. The principal neurons may be classified as sparsely spinous, moderately spinous and heavily spinous on the basis of density of spine over the dendritic branches. In response to environment dendritic remodeling takes place in the form of spine shapes, spine turnover and spine density etc. Synaptic plasticity primarily takes place in dendritic spines and enriched environment have positive effect while social isolation have negative effect on synapse formation. Exposure of animals to environmental complexity may improve the learning and memory by providing adaptive changes in the dendritic spine density.
Review Article
Soul and Mind as Functional Control in the Management of Human Body: A Scientific Approach
D.V. Rai, S. Dubey, Gaurav Kumar
Abstract: Soul is an eternal, noble and everlasting presence of energy in human body, represents best creation of nature. The combination of five dhatus (Air, Water, Earth, Agni, Akasha) with Soul is called ‘Shad Dhatu’ purusha. When the Soul leaves the body, all biological and physiological activities are not functional and body declared as dead body. The sharira (body), indriya (sense organs), Mann (mind), and Soul (atma) are connected together in the living human body, this is called as Ayu (life). Mann, Soul, and Sharira are just like the tri-unity. The world is self-sustained by their combination and they constitute the sol stratum for physical, mental, psychological activities along with spiritual knowledge growth in human life. The soul is non-physical and non-materials. Science does all experiments for confirming and understanding the events and action. This initiate an effort to provide and develop a concept to hypothesize this relationship among Soul, Mann and body. They all are connected together and cannot be separated till death. The separation mechanism is not clearly understood for their internal survival in the human body and even after death also. We never find any kind of method, techniques and technology to identify soul and mann individually in the living body even after death. The whole body functions and their operational mechanism have been witnessed by the soul. It is a kind of a divine battery that never exhausts its power or capacity during individual life and re-birth as compared to manmade battery which loses its strength with time in working of instruments/devices. The battery has to be replaced in order to make the device in working condition. We hope that present study will provide the scientific basis in understanding the embedded relationship of soul, mann in the functioning of human and body.
Research Article
Effect of acute hypobaric hypoxia on blood pressure and heart rate and its restoration by chlorogenic acid
Alok Ranjan, Alok Prakash, Ranjana Patnaik
Abstract: Increase in altitude is always accompanied with low pressure and lack of oxygen. In order to replicate high altitude conditions in normal altitudes, hypobaric hypoxia model is often studied. Chlorogenic acid is known to have a variety of effects on health and is most notably used to reduce blood pressure and weight loss. In the present study, a simple hypobaric condition has been created using a hypobaric chamber in which various pressure points (0.06, 0.05 and 0.04 MPa) has maintained for different time periods (1h, 2h and 4h). The study has been simulated in rat model and their physiological conditions including systolic blood pressure and heart rate was monitored after exposure of hypobaric pressure at different time periods with or without administration of chlorogenic acid. Data reveals that a brief exposure to low pressure do not affect the physiological conditions to a great extent but longer exposures lead to increased blood pressure and heart rate. However, it was observed that pre-treatment with chlorogenic acid enabled the rats to combat the stress and the physiological parameters were reverted near to the normal conditions. It can be concluded from this study that, chlorogenic acid being an antioxidant can help to recover the altered physiological condition induced by hypobaric hypoxia. Further, biochemical studies are required to explore the ameliorating mechanism. The study also provides an idea regarding the physiological changes taking place in rats due to low pressure.