Alkaline hydrolysis of spent aromatic biomass for production of phenolic aldehydes, lignin, and cellulose.

In order to combat the environmental issues associated with the burning of spent aromatic biomass (SAB), a method for alkaline hydrolysis of SAB has been developed to afford phenolic acids, predominantly the p-coumaric acid, lignin, and cellulose. Lignin (∼15 wt%) from alkaline hydrolysate was separated by precipitation while a mixture of phenolic acids obtained was directly reacted with a green reagent, PhI(OAc)2, under one-pot condition to afford a mixture of p-hydroxybenzaldehyde (>90 wt%) and vanillin (<10 wt%). Unreacted biomass obtained in the process was successfully used as a substrate for the production of cellulose (∼40 wt%). The developed method exhibits potential for application on an industrial scale.

Isolation of Food Grade Dye from Flower Petals of Butea monosperma and Determination of Marker Compounds for Its Quantitative Analysis.

Health concerns associated with synthetic dyes/colorants have fostered the use of natural coloring materials for food applications. This study has been carried out to extract a natural dye from the flower petals of Butea monosperma (family Fabaceae) under an eco-friendly and organic solvent-free approach. Hot aqueous extraction of dry B. monosperma flowers followed by lyophilization of the resulting extract furnished an orange-colored dye in ∼35% yield. Silica gel column chromatography of dye powder resulted in the isolation of three marker compounds, viz. iso-coreopsin (1), butrin (2), iso-butrin (3) which were characterized by spectral methods, e.g., ultra violet, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, and high-resolution mass spectrometry. The XRD analysis of isolated compounds established an amorphous nature for compounds 1 and 2 while compound 3 showed good crystallinity. The stability of dye powder and the isolated compounds 1-3 was determined by thermogravimetric analysis which showed excellent stability up to 200 °C. In trace metal analysis, the product B. monosperma dye powder exhibited low relative abundance <4% for Hg along with negligible concentrations of Pb, As, Cd, and Na. The detection and quantification of marker compounds 1-3 in the B. monosperma flower extracted dye powder were carried out by a highly selective UPLC/PDA method of analysis.

Nocardiopsis lucentensis and thiourea co-application mitigates arsenic stress through enhanced antioxidant metabolism and lignin accumulation in rice.

Arsenic (As) is a group-1 carcinogenic metalloid that threatens global food safety and security, primarily via its phytotoxicity in the staple crop rice. In the present study, ThioAC, the co-application of thiourea (TU, a non-physiological redox regulator) and N. lucentensis (Act, an As-detoxifying actinobacteria), was evaluated as a low-cost approach for alleviating As(III) toxicity in rice. To this end, we phenotyped rice seedlings subjected to 400 mg kg-1 As(III) with/without TU, Act or ThioAC and analyzed their redox status. Under As-stress conditions, ThioAC treatment stabilized photosynthetic performance, as indicated by 78 % higher total chlorophyll accumulation and 81 % higher leaf biomass, compared with those of As-stressed plants. Further, ThioAC improved root lignin levels (2.08-fold) by activating the key enzymes of lignin biosynthesis under As-stress. The extent of reduction in total As under ThioAC (36 %) was significantly higher than TU (26 %) and Act (12 %), compared to those of As-alone treatment, indicating their synergistic interaction. The supplementation of TU and Act activated enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant systems, respectively, with a preference for young (TU) and old (Act) leaves. Additionally, ThioAC activated enzymatic antioxidants, specifically GR (∼3-fold), in a leaf-age specific manner and suppressed ROS-producing enzymes to near-control levels. This coincided with 2-fold higher induction of polyphenols and metallothionins in ThioAC-supplemented plants, resulting in improved antioxidant defence against As-stress. Thus, our findings highlighted ThioAC application as a robust, cost-effective ameliorative strategy, for achieving As-stress mitigation in a sustainable manner.

Solvothermal conversion of spent aromatic waste to ethyl glucosides.

On-farm extraction of commercially important essential oil from aromatic crops generates huge spent aromatic waste. This massive waste is often disposed in the unregulated landfills or burned in the open air to vacate the fields. Hence, a new method for processing of aromatic spent waste has been developed to obtain platform chemicals, such as, xylose and ethyl glucosides. The thermochemical liquefaction of acid pre-treated palmarosa (cymbopogon martini) biomass furnished a mixture of ethyl glucopyranosides in good yield (∼17 wt% relative to biomass) and selectivity (∼77%) by heating with p-cymen-2-sulphonic acid (p-CSA) in the presence of ethanol as a solvent. The detection, quantification and isolation of ethyl glucosides may provide a new application of spent aromatic biomass for use as a feed stock in the production of value added chemicals.

Treatment of partial ankyloglossia using Hazelbaker Assessment Tool for Lingual Frenulum Function (HATLFF): A case report with 6-month follow-up.

Ankyloglossia or "tongue-tie," observed in neonates, children, or adults, is characterized by an abnormally short, thick, fibrosed lingual frenulum which may cause restriction in function of tongue including limitation in tongue movement. The use of Hazelbaker Assessment Tool for Lingual Frenulum Function allows elaborate and extensive scoring of the anomaly. This article reports the surgical management of an 11-year-old patient having ankyloglossia associated with restricted movement of tongue and difficulty in speech. Six months postoperatively, the patient showed uneventful healing and was satisfied with the procedure.

In vivo Comparison of Crestal Bone Heights Following Implant Placement with "Flapless" and "Flap" Techniques in the Sites of Early Loaded Implants.

PURPOSE: The purpose was to evaluate the difference in crestal bone loss (CBL) around implants with flap and flapless methods followed by early loading. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty implants were placed in twenty patients - ten using flap and ten using flapless techniques. The difference in CBL was measured on standardized digital periapical radiograph taken at 0 week, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, and 6 months. RESULTS: The present study showed the mean CBL on proximal surfaces when evaluated at intervals of 0 week, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, and 6 months for flapless method was significantly lower than with flap method the values of which were +0.07 mm against +0.26 mm on mesial side and +0.15 mm against +0.33 mm on distal side at 6 months. CONCLUSION: The flapless approach is a predictable procedure when patient selection and surgical technique are appropriate, and results in lesser CBL.

Regulatory short RNAs: A decade's tale for manipulating salt tolerance in plants.

Salt stress is a globally increasing environmental detriment to crop growth and productivity. Exposure to salt stress evokes a complex medley of cellular signals, which rapidly reprogram transcriptional and metabolic networks to shape plant phenotype. To date, genetic engineering approaches were used with success to enhance salt tolerance; however, their performance is yet to be evaluated under realistic field conditions. Regulatory short non-coding RNAs (rsRNAs) are emerging as next-generation candidates for engineering salt tolerance in crops. In view of this, the present review provides a comprehensive analysis of a decade's worth of functional studies on non-coding RNAs involved in salt tolerance. Further, we have integrated this knowledge of rsRNA-mediated regulation with the current paradigm of salt tolerance to highlight two regulatory complexes (RCs) for regulating salt tolerance in plants. Finally, a knowledge-driven roadmap is proposed to judiciously utilize RC component(s) for enhancing salt tolerance in crops.

Association between reproductive health and nonionizing radiation exposure.

Recently, a decreasing rate of fertility has to be credited to an array of factors such as environmental, health and lifestyle. Male infertility is likely to be affected by the strong exposure to heat and radiations. The most common sources of nonionizing radiations are cell phones, laptops, Wi-Fi and microwave ovens, which may participate to the cause of male infertility. One of the major sources of daily exposure to non-ionizing radiation is mobile phones. A mobile phone is now basically dominating our daily life through better services such as connectivity, smartphone devices. However, the health consequences are linked with their usage are frequently ignored. Constant exposure to non-ionizing radiations produced from a cell phone is one of the possible reasons for growing male infertility. Recently, several studies have shown that cell phone users have altered sperm parameters causing declining reproductive health. Cell phone radiation harms male fertility by affecting the different parameters like sperm motility, sperm count, sperm morphology, semen concentration, morphometric abnormalities, increased oxidative stress along with some hormonal changes. This review is focusing on the prevailing literature from in vitro and in vivo studies suggesting that non-ionizing exposure negatively affects human male infertility.

Transcriptional reprogramming and enhanced photosynthesis drive inducible salt tolerance in sugarcane mutant line M4209.

Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) is a globally cultivated cash crop whose yield is negatively affected by soil salinity. In this study, we investigated the molecular basis of inducible salt tolerance in M4209, a sugarcane mutant line generated through radiation-induced mutagenesis. Under salt-contaminated field conditions, M4209 exhibited 32% higher cane yield as compared with its salt-sensitive parent, Co86032. In pot experiments, post-sprouting phenotyping indicated that M4209 had significantly greater leaf biomass compared with Co86032 under treatment with 50 mM and 200 mM NaCl. This was concomitant with M4209 having 1.9-fold and 1.6-fold higher K+/Na+ ratios, and 4-fold and 40-fold higher glutathione reductase activities in 50 mM and 200 mM NaCl, respectively, which suggested that it had better ionic and redox homeostasis than Co86032. Transcriptome profiling using RNA-seq indicated an extensive reprograming of stress-responsive modules associated with photosynthesis, transmembrane transport, and metabolic processes in M4209 under 50 mM NaCl stress. Using ranking analysis, we identified Phenylalanine Ammonia Lyase (PAL), Acyl-Transferase Like (ATL), and Salt-Activated Transcriptional Activator (SATA) as the genes most associated with salt tolerance in M4209. M4209 also exhibited photosynthetic rates that were 3-4-fold higher than those of Co86032 under NaCl stress conditions. Our results highlight the significance of transcriptional reprogramming coupled with improved photosynthetic efficiency in determining salt tolerance in sugarcane.

Potential of agro-waste sugarcane bagasse ash for the removal of ammoniacal nitrogen from landfill leachate.

Ammoniacal nitrogen is considered as one of the major pollutants of the leachate generated from the landfill site and has the potential to deteriorate the environment as well as health. Considering this, locally available agricultural waste, i.e., sugarcane bagasse ash, was employed as an adsorbent for the removal of ammoniacal nitrogen from landfill leachate. Batch-mode experiments were conducted to see the effect of dose (2-60 g L-1), pH (2-12), and temperature (20-60 °C) on ammoniacal nitrogen adsorption. Application of sugarcane bagasse ash showed 60% removal of ammoniacal nitrogen (50 mg L-1 strength) at an optimum dose of 20 g L-1 and 180 min of contact time with an adsorption capacity of 0.31 mg g-1. The Langmuir adsorption model was found to be best fit at 40 °C with R2 = 0.944, depicting a monolayer coverage of ammoniacal nitrogen onto sugarcane bagasse ash. According to the result, solute uptake rate could be well described by the pseudo-second-order model (R2 = 0.928), whereas the intraparticle diffusion model and Boyd plot indicated that the overall adsorption rate is governed by the external mass transfer. Thermodynamic studies revealed that adsorption is feasible, spontaneous, and endothermic in nature. Hence, the study shows that sugarcane bagasse ash could turn out to be a cost-effective adsorbent for the removal of ammoniacal nitrogen from leachate.

Maternal Immunity Influences Vertical Transmission of Hepatitis B to Newborns.

Vertical transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV) from the mother to the newborn often results in viral persistence. To understand mechanisms of maternofetal HBV transmission, we studied maternal immunity and peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) transcriptome in mothers and newborns. We included 50 mothers and babies who were hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positive: 22 HBV transmitting mothers (group [Gr.] I) and 28 HBV nontransmitting mothers (Gr. II) to newborns and 10 healthy mother-baby pairs (Gr. III). PBMCs were analyzed for HBV-specific dendritic cells (DCs), T cells, T follicular helper (TFh) cells, B cells, functional immune responses, and cytokine levels as well as transcriptome signatures to identify immune gene expression correlates for protective immunity. Group II mothers had lower HBsAg levels (3.82 × 103 versus 1.493 × 104; P < 0.0001) with greater HBV-specific responses of DCs, T cells, TFh cells, and B cells than Gr. I mothers. Frequencies of TFh cells were lower in Gr. I mothers, with reduced interleukin-21 (IL-21) levels, and these inversely correlated with HBV DNA levels. Cut-off levels of 9.5% and 8.93% from the receiver operating curve predicted the involvement of TFh cells and B cells in HBV transmission. Transcriptome signatures revealed that maternal gene imprints were reflected in the newborns. Genes related to DCs, TFh cells, and B cells were increased in Gr. II, and Gr. II newborns showed a boost in cellular and humoral responses after vaccination. Conclusion: In mothers infected with HBV, low serum IL-21 levels and decreased TFh-cell and plasma B-cell frequencies are associated with vertical transmission of HBV to newborns. These features are indicative of low protective maternal immunity.

The Appraisement of Antioxidant and Oxidant Status in Women Undergoing Surgical Menopause.

The present study was undertaken to study the impact of surgical menopause on oxidant and antioxidant status in relation to estrogen levels after 3 months of surgery. Total 130 women who had undergone total hysterectomy (TH) with or without bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO) were included in this study. The oxidant status was assessed by measuring plasma levels of malondialdehyde and antioxidant status was assessed by measuring superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, estrogen, and Vitamin A, E and C levels. The malondialdehyde level was significantly increased (p < 0.05) in all women who underwent TH with or without BSO. Significant increased levels of superoxide dismutase were observed in women who underwent TH with BSO. The blood glutathione levels were significantly decreased in women after TH only but significantly increased in women who had undergone TH with BSO. The levels of estrogen, vitamin E and vitamin C were significantly decreased in women who underwent TH with BSO. The catalase, GPx and vitamin A did not differ significantly in all groups. The result suggests that surgical menopause is associated with oxidative stress which reiterates the fact that ovaries retain some function even after menopause.

Crystal structure of (E)-4-hy-droxy-6-methyl-3-{1-[2-(4-nitro-phen-yl)hydrazinyl-idene]eth-yl}-2H-pyran-2-one.

The title compound, C14H13N3O5 (HMNP), was synthesized by the simple condensation of p-nitro-phenyl-hydrazine with de-hydro-acetic acid (DHA) in a 1:1 molar ratio in ethanol. HMNP has been characterized by using FT-IR, 1H and 13C NMR and UV-Vis spectroscopic and single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques. The crystal packing reveals strong hydrogen bonds between the NH group and the carbonyl O atom of di-hydro-pyran-one moiety, forming chains along [101]. The thermal stability of the synthesized compound was confirmed by thermogravimetric analysis and it was found to be stable up to 513 K. The UV-Vis spectrum shows the presence of a strong band at λmax 394 nm. 1H NMR and single-crystal X-ray analyses confirmed the presence of the enol form of the ligand and dominance over the keto form. The crystal studied was a non-merohedral twin with the refined ratio of the twin components being 0.3720 (19):0.6280 (19).

Moving through the Stressed Genome: Emerging Regulatory Roles for Transposons in Plant Stress Response.

The recognition of a positive correlation between organism genome size with its transposable element (TE) content, represents a key discovery of the field of genome biology. Considerable evidence accumulated since then suggests the involvement of TEs in genome structure, evolution and function. The global genome reorganization brought about by transposon activity might play an adaptive/regulatory role in the host response to environmental challenges, reminiscent of McClintock's original 'Controlling Element' hypothesis. This regulatory aspect of TEs is also garnering support in light of the recent evidences, which project TEs as "distributed genomic control modules." According to this view, TEs are capable of actively reprogramming host genes circuits and ultimately fine-tuning the host response to specific environmental stimuli. Moreover, the stress-induced changes in epigenetic status of TE activity may allow TEs to propagate their stress responsive elements to host genes; the resulting genome fluidity can permit phenotypic plasticity and adaptation to stress. Given their predominating presence in the plant genomes, nested organization in the genic regions and potential regulatory role in stress response, TEs hold unexplored potential for crop improvement programs. This review intends to present the current information about the roles played by TEs in plant genome organization, evolution, and function and highlight the regulatory mechanisms in plant stress responses. We will also briefly discuss the connection between TE activity, host epigenetic response and phenotypic plasticity as a critical link for traversing the translational bridge from a purely basic study of TEs, to the applied field of stress adaptation and crop improvement.