Enhanced production of Bacopa saponins by repeated batch strategy in bioreactor.

Cultivation of cell suspension culture of Bacopa monnieri targeting the production of bacosides was explored in a 5-l stirred tank reactor using statistically optimized conditions. The bioreactor cultivation conditions were modified and this led to profuse biomass growth (2.81 ± 0.20 g/l) and total bacosides (1.26 ± 0.23 mg/g in cells and 0.60 ± 0.11 mg/l in fermenter broth) production in 9 days. The values of static volumetric mass transfer coefficient (kLa), dimensionless mixing time (Nm) were measured in the bioreactor. The culture grew efficiently and produced enhanced amount of bacoside A (5.59 ± 0.41 mg/g total bacosides in cells and 3.12 ± 0.13 mg/l in the fermenter broth) using one cycle of repeated batch strategy adopted in the bioreactor for 15 days. The intracellular concentration of bacoside A3 (1.18 ± 0.11 mg/g), bacopaside II (2.09 ± 0.35 mg/g), bacopaside X (0.79 ± 0.17 mg/g) and bacopasaponin C (2.24 ± 0.23 mg/g) were significantly higher in repeated batch as compared to batch bioreactor cultivation. The yield of total bacosides in the fermenter broth was 5-times higher in repeated batch as compared to batch cultivation. This strategy can be helpful for the enhanced production of other valuable triterpenoid saponins.

Giant Enhancement of Magnetic Anisotropy in Ultrathin Manganite Films via Nanoscale 1D Periodic Depth Modulation.

The relatively low magnetocrystalline anisotropy (MCA) in strongly correlated manganites (La,Sr)MnO_{3} has been a major hurdle for implementing them in spintronic applications. Here we report an unusual, giant enhancement of in-plane MCA in 6 nm La_{0.67}Sr_{0.33}MnO_{3} (LSMO) films grown on (001) SrTiO_{3} substrates when the top 2 nm is patterned into periodic stripes of 100 or 200 nm width. Planar Hall effect measurements reveal an emergent uniaxial anisotropy superimposed on one of the original biaxial easy axes for unpatterned LSMO along ⟨110⟩ directions, with a 50-fold enhanced anisotropy energy density of 5.6×10^{6} erg/cm^{3} within the nanostripes, comparable to the value for cobalt. The magnitude and direction of the uniaxial anisotropy exclude shape anisotropy and the step edge effect as its origin. High resolution transmission electron microscopy studies reveal a nonequilibrium strain distribution and drastic suppression in the c-axis lattice constant within the nanostructures, which is the driving mechanism for the enhanced uniaxial MCA, as suggested by first-principles density functional calculations.

Shoulder Injuries in English Community Rugby Union.

The aim of this study was to describe the incidence, severity and type of shoulder injuries resulting from match play in adult community rugby union between 2009-2013. A total of 254 time-loss shoulder injuries were reported, an overall incidence of 2.2 per 1 000 h (95% CI: 1.9 to 2.4), and a mean injury severity of 9.5 weeks missed (95% CI: 8.2 to 10.8). The semi-professional group had an incidence of 2.8 injuries per 1 000 h (95% CI: 2.2 to 3.5), which was higher than the recreational group at 1.8 injuries per 1 000 h (95% CI: 1.4 to 2.2, p=0.004). The incidence of acromioclavicular joint injury for semi-professional players was 1.2 per 1 000 h (95% CI: 0.8 to 1.6); which was significantly higher than the incidence of this injury type in recreational players (0.5 per 1 000 h 95% CI: 0.3 to 0.7, p=0.002). Overall, back row players sustained the highest incidence of all shoulder injuries for a given playing position, 2.9 injuries per 1 000 h (95% CI: 2.2 to 3.6). The tackle was the main event associated with injury. Injury prevention programs and coaching strategies that consider tackle technique and physical conditioning of the shoulder region are therefore considered important.

Statistical optimization of bacoside A biosynthesis in plant cell suspension cultures using response surface methodology.

The in vitro cultures of Bacopa monnieri show poor production of the anti-Alzheimer's drug, bacoside A. Therefore, suitable bioprocess optimization strategy was developed for callus induction from leaf explants (30 days), followed by callus proliferation (15 days). Central Composite Design was implemented to analyze the effect of pH, photoperiod, naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), and benzylaminopurine (BAP) concentration for maximum biosynthesis of bacoside A using leaf explants as well as callus explants as the inoculum. Using the CCD responses, it was predicted that the best biomass concentration of 4.56 ± 0.53 g/l DW and bacoside A production of 14.04 ± 1.31 mg/g DW can be obtained using 5.4 pH, 18 h/6 h L/D photoperiod regime, and 1.2 mg/l BAP in combination with 0.2 mg/l NAA. The kinetic parameter values for maximum specific growth rate (0.16/day), saturation constant (7.35 g/l), inhibition constant (120 g/l), biomass yield (0.011 g/g), maintenance coefficient (0.02 g/g/day), and growth-associated (0.627 mg/g) and non-growth-associated (1.096 mg/g/day) bacoside A formation constants were determined experimentally in batch cultures using optimized conditions.

Electronic structure of Na(2)CuP(2)O(7): a nearly 2D Heisenberg antiferromagnetic system.

We have employed first principles calculations to study the electronic structure and the implications for the magnetic properties of Na(2)CuP(2)O(7). Using the self-consistent tight-binding linearized muffin-tin orbital method and the Nth-order muffin-tin orbital downfolding method, we have calculated the various intrachain and interchain hopping parameters between the magnetic Cu(2+) ions. Our calculations for Na(2)CuP(2)O(7) reveal dominant intrachain hopping, but in contrast to the typical quantum spin chains the interchain hoppings are not negligible. The Wannier function plot of the Cu d(x(2)-y(2)) orbitals shows that the exchange interactions are primarily mediated by the oxygens and the distance between the oxygens in Na(2)CuP(2)O(7) is favorable for both intrachain and interchain interactions, suggesting the inapplicability of the one-dimensional Heisenberg model for this system, in agreement with recent experimental results.

Advantage technology, equitable usage of available resources and infrastructure and effective practice management--key to quality healthcare delivery in India.

The impact of technological advancement and the widespread availability of resources and their utilization, to meet the health care requirements of the community, an important fundamental need of the human being. After food and shelter is discussed. Some of the most sought criteria relating to the technology selection and the practice management are devised and proposed for their implementation to achieve quality health, particularly in the rural areas. An insight into the government policies, programs and as a result, the impact on the ultimate goal of achieving the desired health care, mainly during the last two decades is covered here. A model of health care for remote areas is proposed here to assist in the improvement of the conditions of better health care and better quality of life of the human being.

Strain induced modulation of the correlated transport in epitaxial Sm0.5Nd0.5NiO3 thin films.

We report a study of the effect of epitaxial strain on the correlated transport properties of 2-40 nm Sm0.5Nd0.5NiO3 (SNNO) films grown on different substrates. The metal-insulator transition (MIT) temperature T(MI) of the SNNO films increases with increasing tensile strain. While films on (0 0 1) LaAlO3 and (1 1 0) NdGaO3 substrates exhibit a sharp MIT and thermal hysteresis in the cooling-heating cycle, signaling a first-order transition, films on (0 0 1) SrTiO3 show a broad, second-order MIT. Hall effect measurements reveal hole-type charge carriers and thermally activated temperature dependence of the carrier density below T(MI). The corresponding activation energy is ∼80 meV for films on LaAlO3 and NdGaO3, and is suppressed to 25 meV for films on SrTiO3. The carrier mobility in the metallic state and variable range hopping (VRH) transport at a low temperature point significantly enhanced electron localization in SNNO on STO, which we believe is not simply driven by extrinsic effects such as oxygen vacancies, but rather is an intrinsic characteristic for films subject to tensile strain due to the elongated Ni-O bond and hence enhanced dynamic Jahn-Teller distortion. In ultrathin films above the electrical dead layer thickness (2-3 nm), we observe a more than 100 K increase of T(MI) for films on LaAlO3, which has been correlated with a crossover from 3D to 2D transport as revealed from VRH. We attribute the distinct transport characteristics to strain induced modulation of various energy scales associated with the Ni-O-Ni bond angle and Ni-O bond length, which collectively determine the delocalization bandwidth of the system.

Low-dose liposomal amphotericin B in refractory Indian visceral leishmaniasis: a multicenter study.

In this randomized, double-blind, dose-ranging, multicenter trial, 84 patients with visceral leishmaniasis refractory to antimony therapy were administered liposomal amphotericin B (AmBisome) at cumulative doses of 3.75, 7.5, and 15.0 mg/kg for 5 consecutive days. Posttreatment apparent cure and definite cure were assessed at 2 weeks and 6 months after the end of therapy, respectively. Mild to moderate infusion-related fever and rigors were seen in 29 and 44% of patients, respectively. One patient each in the 3.75- and 7.5-mg groups had detectable parasites on splenic smear at posttreatment evaluation. At 6 months' follow-up, however, 2, 1, and 1 patients relapsed in the 3.75-, 7.5-, and 15.0-mg groups, resulting in definite cure rates of 89, 93, and 97%, respectively. There was no significant difference in the cure rates of the 3 groups. Low-dose liposomal amphotericin B given for 5 days can cure most patients with Indian kala-azar.

Ultrasonic characteristics of leiomyoma uteri in vitro.

Patients suffer with various abnormalities of body tissues. "Leiomyoma Uteri" is a solid tumor of uterus, one of such abnormalities. To treat such tumors, basic physical and biologic investigations are required to be carried out. In the present work, ultrasonic characterization of soft tissues, in this case, uterine tumor in vitro, are studied. A double probe through-transmission technique is used for the measurement of these propagation parameters, viz., velocity and attenuation. Other parameters like acoustic impedance, dynamic modulus of elasticity and compressibility are also determined. The average velocity and attenuation are found to be 1550 ms(-1) and 433 dBm(-1), respectively, at 3.5 MHz frequency and room temperature 28 degrees C. The present investigation is useful in tissue differentiation and tissue identification to enable the doctors to give proper treatment.

Piezoelectric effect in renal calculi.

The piezoelectric effect is investigated for the first time in renal calculi in vitro. The kidney stones are shaped from solid samples as well as from stones crushed into powder and pressed into tablets. Presence of alpha quartz in the renal calculi is investigated by an X-ray technique and the presence of this constituent also helps to explain the piezoelectric effect in the renal calculi. The dielectric and piezoelectric parameters are studied in detail.

A stress wave propagation technique for bone repair study.

The diagnosis of bone fracture and its rate of healing still remains a problem among orthopedic surgeons. An acoustic technique based on stress-wave propagation is developed. The technique is used on laboratory experimental in vitro bones, as well as on in vivo (human) bones, to diagnose a fracture. The rate of healing of the fracture is also studied. The technique developed is quick, economical, reliable, portable, and safe for both the patient and the operator.

A comparative study of fracture strength, ultrasonic properties and chemical constituents of kidney stones.

Ultrasonic properties of kidney stones were studied with a double-probe-through-transmission technique, the micro hardness was studied using the Viker indentation method and the chemical composition studied using an X-ray technique. The microhardness is found to vary with chemical composition as well as ultrasonic propagation velocity. The comparative results obtained are discussed in detail.

Ultrasonic studies of gall-bladder stones.

Measurements of ultrasonic speed, attenuation and other derived physical properties of gallstones, in vitro, have been evaluated and reported. A double-probe-contact through-transmission technique was used; the average values of ultrasonic speed and attenuation were found to be 1897 m s-1 and 10.2 dB cm-1, respectively, at 2.5 MHz (the value of speed thus being about 25% higher than that in water or soft biological tissues). The object of the present study was to determine the characteristics of stones to permit the optimization of a disintegrator design.

Acoustic power measurement of medical ultrasonic probes using a strain gauge technique.

A new method using a semiconductor strain guage is described for the measurement of the acoustic power output of ultrasonic medical therapy and other probe heads. The acoustic power output of the probe heads is found to be linearly related to the calibrated electrical output of the strain gauge transducer system, as expected theoretically. The instrument developed is inexpensive, portable and easy to operate for the routine measurement of ultrasonic output of the equipment in hospitals.

Ultrasonic velocity and attenuation measurement in kidney stones: correlation to constituents and hardness.

In this investigation, ultrasonic parameters of kidney stones are measured, in vitro, using a double probe ultrasonic-through-transmission technique. Due to the complex chemical structure of these stones, a large variation in the values of the ultrasonic parameters is found. A correlation between ultrasonic properties and variation in pathology of the renal calculi is also discussed.

Ultrasonic study of processed milk cream and vegetable oils.

Food systems are complex and inhomogeneous in nature. Ultrasonic propagation velocity in the food systems, in this case processed milk cream and vegetable oils, is studied. Ultrasonic properties of the food systems are similar to those of complex biological tissues. The presence of vegetable oil as an adulterant in the processed milk cream is detected with the help of a double-probe-through-transmission ultrasonic technique. The present study helps to maintain quality control of various food systems, particularly with regard to their adulteration, if any.

Loss of strength in drilled bone in orthopaedic surgery.

It is common practice in orthopaedic surgery to drill holes in bones for the placement of screws. Such holes make the bone weaker compared to an intact one. The loss of strength after drilling holes in the compact bone is studied here.

Dielectric properties of kidney stones as electro-ceramics.

Dielectric properties of kidney stones in processed form are studied in a frequency range of 1 kHz-10 MHz. The samples under test are in the form of discs of the stones. The dielectric properties are found to be highly dependent on the frequency, and as expected, similar to those of conventional electro-ceramics and other such bio-materials, due to presence of alpha-quartz in the calculi.

Investigation of renal calculi as piezoelectric materials by using X-ray diffraction technique.

The renal calculi are studied by using an X-ray diffractometer for different chemical composition of the stones. A new constituent, alpha-quartz, is confirmed to be present in the renal calculi which is responsible for piezoelectric property of such materials.

Hepatitis B-associated polyarteritis nodosa and hypertensive encephalopathy.

The case of a two-year-old boy with hypertensive encephalopathy secondary to Hepatitis B-associated polyarteritis nodosa is presented. Polyarteritis nodosa is a rare condition in children and its association with Hepatitis B viral infection is also rare.