Effect of Chronotherapy of Antihypertensives in Chronic Kidney Disease: A Randomized Control Trial.

INTRODUCTION: There is a higher prevalence of non-dipping pattern in hypertensive chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. Nocturnal hypertension has been shown to predict cardiovascular mortality and morbidity and is often superior to daytime blood pressure. We studied the effect of shifting or adding antihypertensive to night time on blood pressure profile of CKD III-IV patients. METHODS: In this single-center, prospective, randomized controlled trial, eligible participants were adults from eastern India aged 18-65 years with CKD stages 3 and 4, with a non-dipping pattern on ambulatory blood pressure monitor (ABPM). The intervention group received all the antihypertensives in the night time whereas the standard care group continued to take the medication in the morning. Both groups were followed up for 1 year. The primary outcome was the number of patients changed from non-dippers to dippers in the standard care group and intervention group. Secondary outcomes included a change in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and change in the cardiac structure. RESULTS: 39 patients in the intervention group and 36 patients in the standard care group were analyzed. 10 patients (26%) reverted to dipping pattern in the intervention group as compared to none in the standard care group. Mean changes in eGFR were -2.55 and -0.18 mL/min/1.73 m2 in the standard care and intervention group at the end of the study, respectively. Between-group difference in eGFR was significant at 1 year (5.22 [95% CI, 4.3-6.1] ml/min/1.73 m2); (P = 0.03). The cardiac structure showed no significant changes in either group. CONCLUSIONS: Bedtime administration of antihypertensives reverted non-dippers to dippers and slowed the decline in eGFR in CKD stages 3 and 4 compared to morning administration of antihypertensives.

A comparative study on the antioxidant status, meat quality, and mineral deposition in broiler chicken fed dietary nano zinc viz-a-viz inorganic zinc.

Use of nano minerals in farm animal nutrition offers considerable advantages over inorganic or organic mineral sources. But, the conventional chemical synthesis of nano minerals suffers from disadvantage of possible environmental accumulation and pollution due to the non-biodegradable materials and chemicals. This study investigated the effects of green nano-zinc (GNZ) and market nano-zinc (MNZ) with respect to the inorganic zinc (IZ) on meat quality, antioxidant status, mineral deposition, and bone development in broiler chicken. Following a 3 × 3 factorial design, nine dietary treatments were formulated by employing three levels (40, 60, and 80 ppm) and three sources (inorganic, green nano, and market nano) of zinc viz. IZ-40, GNZ-40, MNZ-40, IZ-60, GNZ-60, MNZ-60, IZ-80, GNZ-80, MNZ-80. Six replicates of broiler chicken were assigned to each treatment with eight birds in each. The birds fed 80 ppm Zinc of either GNZ or MNZ source resulted in significantly higher serum SOD, glutathione peroxidase, catalase, zinc, calcium, and phosphorus levels; increased bone dimensions, weight, total ash, phosphorus, and zinc content along with higher liver and muscle zinc concentration. The meat of chicken fed 80 ppm zinc of MNZ source followed by GNZ source has shown significantly better antioxidant (DPPH and ABTS values) status and lower lipid peroxidation (free fatty acid and TBARS values). The 80 ppm zinc of either MNZ or GNZ source resulted in significantly lower fat and cholesterol content of chicken meat compared to lower Zn levels and IZ source. This study indicated that 80 ppm dietary zinc of either MNZ or GNZ source improved the antioxidant status, and reduced the meat cholesterol, fat content, and lipid peroxidation of chicken meat along with increased bone dimensions and mineralization.

In situ decomposition of crop residues using lignocellulolytic microbial consortia: a viable alternative to residue burning.

Open field burning of crop residue causes severe air pollution and greenhouse gas emission contributing to global warming. In order to seek an alternative, the current study was initiated to explore the prospective of lignocellulolytic microbes to expedite in situ decomposition of crop residues. Field trials on farmers' field were conducted in the state of Haryana and Maharashtra, to target the burning of rice and wheat residue and sugarcane trash, respectively. A comparative study among crop residue removal (CRR), crop residue burning (CRB) and in situ decomposition of crop residues (IND) revealed that IND of rice and wheat residues took 30 days whereas IND of sugarcane trash took 45 days. The decomposition status was assessed by determining the initial and final lignin to cellulose ratio which increased significantly from 0.23 to 0.25, 0.21 to 0.23 and 0.24 to 0.27 for rice, wheat residues and sugarcane trash, respectively. No yield loss was noticed in IND for both rice-wheat system and sugarcane-based system; rather IND showed relatively better crop yield as well as soil health parameters than CRB and CRR. Furthermore, the environmental impact assessment of residue burning indicated a substantial loss of nutrients (28-31, 23-25 and 51-77 kg ha-1 of N+P2O5+K2O for rice, wheat and sugarcane residue) as well as the emission of pollutants to the atmosphere. However, more field trials, as well as refinement of the technology, are warranted to validate and establish the positive potential of in situ decomposition of crop residue to make it a successful solution against the crop residue burning.

Deciphering Cadmium (Cd) Tolerance in Newly Isolated Bacterial Strain, Ochrobactrum intermedium BB12, and Its Role in Alleviation of Cd Stress in Spinach Plant (Spinacia oleracea L.).

A cadmium (Cd)-tolerant bacterium Ochrobactrum intermedium BB12 was isolated from sewage waste collected from the municipal sewage dumping site of Bhopal, India. The bacterium showed multiple heavy metal tolerance ability and had the highest minimum inhibitory concentration of 150 mg L-1 of Cd. Growth kinetics, biosorption, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy studies on BB12 in the presence of Cd suggested biosorption as primary mode of interaction. SEM and TEM studies revealed surface deposition of Cd. FTIR spectra indicated nitrogen atom in exopolysaccharides secreted by BB12 to be the main site for Cd attachment. The potential of BB12 to alleviate the impact of Cd toxicity in spinach plants (Spinacia oleracea L.) var. F1-MULAYAM grown in the soil containing Cd at 25, 50, and 75 mg kg-1 was evaluated. Without bacterial inoculation, plants showed delayed germination, decrease in the chlorophyll content, and stunted growth at 50 and 75 mg kg-1 Cd content. Bacterial inoculation, however, resulted in the early germination, increased chlorophyll, and increase in shoot (28.33%) and root fresh weight (72.60%) at 50 mg kg-1 of Cd concentration after 75 days of sowing. Due to bacterial inoculation, elevated proline accumulation and lowered down superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme activity was observed in the Cd-stressed plants. The isolate BB12 was capable of alleviating Cd from the soil by biosorption as evident from significant reduction in the uptake/translocation and bioaccumulation of Cd in bacteria itself and in the plant parts of treated spinach. Potential PGP prospects and heavy metal bioremediation capability of BB12 can make the environmental application of the organism a promising approach to reduce Cd toxicity in the crops grown in metal-contaminated soils.

Inheritance pattern of okra enation leaf curl disease among cultivated species and its relationship with biochemical parameters.

Okra production in eastern India at present is severely threatened by whitefly-mediated okra enation leaf curl disease (OELCuD). Identification of resistant genotype and understanding the genetic control and biochemical relationship of OELCuD resistance are prerequisite for developing an effective breeding strategy. This study was conducted employing six populations (P1, P2, F1, F2, BC1 and BC2) of two selected (resistant x susceptible (RxS)) crosses. Associationship between severity of OELCuD and biochemical parameters of parents and hybrids at preflowering and flowering stages was studied. Segregation pattern of the genotypes in F2 generation showing OELCuD reaction of two crosses suggested that two duplicate recessive genes was operative for resistance to OELCuD. Generation mean analysis revealed involvement of both additive and nonadditive effects in the inheritance of disease resistance. Hence, postponement of selection in later generations or intermating among the selected segregates followed by one or two generations of selfing to break the undesirable linkage and allow the accumulation of favourable alleles could be suggested for the development of stable resistant genotype against this disease. Higher peroxidase activity and total phenol content in leaf emerged as reliable biochemical markers for early selection of genotype resistant to OELCuD.

Data on optimization of microprojectile bombardment parameters in development of salinity tolerant transgenic lines.

This data deals with the optimization of microprojectile bombardment particles for efficient genetic transformation in an indica rice involving AmSOD gene for development of salinity tolerant transgenic lines [1]. In this study, various parameters such as effect of genotypes, helium pressure, osmoticum, explants, flight distance, particle size, particle volume, vacuum, carrier DNA and stopping screen properties have been evaluated to determine their role in transformation of indica rice involving AmSOD gene for development of salinity tolerant Pusa Basmati 1 rice variety. To perform the transformation process, plasmid vector pCAMBIA 1305.2 was used, which harbours GUS Plus™ gene, intron from the castor bean catalase gene, pBR322 ori, kanamycin resistant gene and Xho I site. The transformants have been confirmed using slot blot, polymerase chain reaction and Southern hybridization techniques.

Effect of dietary saponin rich soapnut (Sapindus mukorossi) shell powder on growth performance, immunity, serum biochemistry and gut health of broiler chickens.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary soapnut (Sapindus mukorossi) shell powder (SSP), a cheap source of saponins, on growth performance, immunity, serum biochemistry and gut health of broiler chickens. The experimental design was 4×2, employing four saponin levels (0, 100, 150 and 200 mg/kg diet), each provided for two time durations (0-42 day and 21-42 day) resulting into eight dietary treatments. Results revealed no significant effect of dietary saponins on body weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio of birds. The abdominal fat percentage, heterophil to lymphocyte ratio, serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels, faecal total plate count, coliform count and E. coli count decreased (p < .05) progressively with increasing saponin levels and lower values were observed at 150 mg and 200 mg saponin levels. Significant improvement of cell-mediated and humoral immune response was observed in birds fed 150 mg and 200 mg saponin compared to control. The serum glucose concentration was significantly (p < .05) higher in control group compared to other groups. No significant effects of dietary saponin were observed on carcass characteristics, faecal Lactobacillus count, intestinal histomorphometry and cost economics of broiler chicken production. Thus, dietary saponins at 150 mg/kg diet as SSP for three weeks (21-42 days) was optimum for better immunity and welfare of birds without adverse effects on the growth performance.

Polyethylene Glycol-Modified Layered Double Hydroxides: Synthesis, Characterization, and Study on Adsorption Characteristics for Removal of Acid Orange II from Aqueous Solution.

The present study aimed to improve the adsorption characteristics of the pristine layered double hydroxide (LDH) by physicochemical modification using polyethylene glycol (PEG400), a nontoxic hydrophilic polymer. With this objective, LDH was synthesized and modified with different concentrations of PEG400. The PEG-modified LDHs (LDH/PEGs) were characterized using X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area and porosity measurement, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and zeta potential measurements. The adsorption properties of the pristine LDH (PLDH) and the LDH/PEGs were studied for the removal of Acid Orange II from water, and the results were compared. The PLDH treated with 15% PEG solution showed ∼30% increase in adsorption capacity as compared to the PLDH. The adsorption isotherm data were analyzed using Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin isotherm models. The values of thermodynamic parameters such as ΔS and ΔH showed the spontaneous and endothermic nature of the adsorption process. The adsorption kinetics data for both PLDH and the LDH/PEG adsorbents presented a good fit to the pseudo-second-order kinetic model.

Genomic insights into HSFs as candidate genes for high-temperature stress adaptation and gene editing with minimal off-target effects in flax.

Flax (Linum usitatissimum) is a cool season crop commercially cultivated for seed oil and stem fibre production. A comprehensive characterization of the heat shock factor (HSF) candidate genes in flax can accelerate genetic improvement and adaptive breeding for high temperature stress tolerance. We report the genome-wide identification of 34 putative HSF genes from the flax genome, which we mapped on 14 of the 15 chromosomes. Through comparative homology analysis, we classified these genes into three broad groups, and sub-groups. The arrangement of HSF-specific protein motifs, DNA-binding domain (DBD) and hydrophobic heptad repeat (HR-A/B), and exon-intron boundaries substantiated the phylogenetic separation of these genes. Orthologous relationships and evolutionary analysis revealed that the co-evolution of the LusHSF genes was due to recent genome duplication events. Digital and RT-qPCR analyses provided significant evidence of the differential expression of the LusHSF genes in various tissues, at various developmental stages, and in response to high-temperature stress. The co-localization of diverse cis-acting elements in the promoters of the LusHSF genes further emphasized their regulatory roles in the abiotic stress response. We further confirmed DNA-binding sites on the LusHSF proteins and designed guide RNA sequences for gene editing with minimal off-target effects. These results will hasten functional investigations of LusHSFs or assist in devising genome engineering strategies to develop high-temperature stress tolerant flax cultivars.

Effect of dietary supplementation of hemp (Cannabis sativa) and dill seed (Anethum graveolens) on performance, serum biochemicals and gut health of broiler chickens.

The present study was carried out to study the effect of different doses of hemp seed alone or in combination with dill seed against antibiotic growth promoter on performance, serum biochemicals and gut health of broiler chickens over a period of 42 days. Total 192 broiler chicks were grouped randomly into six treatments and fed with basal diet (BD) along with different levels of seeds, viz., T1 (BD), T2 (BD + 0.2% HS), T3 (BD + 0.2% HS + 0.3 DS), T4 (BD + 0.3% HS) and T5 (BD + 0.3% HS + 0.3 DS) and T6 (BD + 0.025% Bacitracin Methylene Disalicylate-BMD). The performance traits like feed intake, body weight gain and feed conversion ratio (FCR) and carcass traits like cut-up parts, giblet and abdominal fat yield remained unaffected due to dietary treatments for overall trial period; however, the average feed intake in early phase (0-3 weeks) reduced significantly (p < 0.05) in treatment birds than both controls (T1 & T6). Serum protein concentration remained unchanged, whereas significant (p < 0.05) reduction in serum lipids like triglyceride, LDL and total cholesterol concentration was noticed due to dietary inclusion of seeds. Serum enzymes like AST and ALT concentrations depleted significantly (p < 0.05) treated groups, except at higher seed doses (T5); however, alkaline phosphatase levels were unaffected. Coliform count in caecum and jejunum reduced linearly (p < 0.01) due to seed inclusion, whereas dose-dependent proliferation of lactobacilli was evident (p < 0.01) in caecum and jejunum of treated birds. No effect was observed on the villus height and crypt depth of the jejunal mucosa. To conclude, dietary supplementation of hemp and dill seed could not affect the growth performance and carcass traits; however, it positively altered the serum lipid profile of the birds and improved gut health as well, thereby enhanced overall performance of broiler chickens.

Effect of feeding rice based distillers dried grains with solubles and gluten meal on nutrient transporter genes and immunity in broiler chickens.

AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of feeding rice based distillers dried grains with solubles (rDDGS) and gluten meal on nutrient transporter genes and immunity in broiler chickens. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 2×3 factorial design resulted in six experimental diets, namely T1 (no rDDGS/rice gluten meal [RGM]/enzyme), T2 (no rDDGS/RGM, with multienzymes), T3 (12.5% rDDGS, 15% RGM, no enzyme), T4 (12.5% rDDGS, 15% RGM, with protease enzyme), T5 (10% rDDGS, 12.5% RGM, no enzyme), and T6 (10% rDDGS, 12.5% RGM, with protease enzyme). Each treatment was allocated five replicates of chicks, with eight birds in each. Nutrient transporter genes such as Mucin (MUC 2), excitatory amino acid transporter 3 (EAAT3), and peptide transporter (PepT1) and immunity were estimated using standard procedures. RESULTS: Feeding rDDGS and RGM combination improved humoral immunity, while cell-mediated immunity did not show any significant (p>0.05) effect on broiler chickens. MUC and PepT1 genes showed significantly (p<0.01) decreased relative fold expression in 12.5% rDDGS +15% RGM combination, while EAAT3 gene showed significantly (p<0.01) decreased relative fold expression in both rDDGS and RGM combination levels. CONCLUSION: Thus, it may be concluded that feeding rDDGS and RGM combination improved humoral immunity but had an adverse effect on nutrient transporter gene in broiler chickens.

Physicochemical Understanding of Self-Aggregation and Microstructure of a Surface-Active Ionic Liquid [C4mim] [C8OSO3] Mixed with a Reverse Pluronic 10R5 (PO8EO22PO8).

Physicochemical studies on aqueous mixtures of ionic liquids (ILs) and reverse pluronics are limited. Self-aggregation dynamics and microstructure of a surface-active IL (SAIL), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium octylsulfate [C4mim] [C8OSO3], in the presence of a reverse pluronic, PO8EO22PO8 (known as 10R5), were studied using isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) methods. Also, cryo-/freeze-fracture transmission electron microscopy was employed to determine the microstructures of SAIL/10R5 mixtures. The ITC and NMR results revealed facilitation of SAIL aggregation in the presence of 10R5 forming mixed aggregates as well as free SAIL micelles. 2H spin relaxation rate data pointed out the onset of slow dynamics of the aqueous SAIL/10R5 mixture with an increase in either the former or the latter. Globular morphologies of the mixed species as well as their individual components were corroborated from the measurements. The preferential location of interaction of the SAIL with the 10R5 was identified from 13C NMR chemical shift findings to be in the interfacial region of the assembled SAIL. The formed species were mixed interacted aggregates but not mixed micelles that arise from mixed surfactants. The physicochemical information acquired herein would enrich the literature on the 10R5/SAIL mixed microheterogeneous systems having importance in the making of useful green drug carrier systems and templates for the synthesis of nanomaterials.

Scalable Synthesis of Hide Substance-Chitosan-Hydroxyapatite: Novel Biocomposite from Industrial Wastes and Its Efficiency in Dye Removal.

A novel porous polymer-inorganic hybrid biocomposite with various functional groups (hide substance/chitosan/hydroxyapatite) has been synthesized in simple, economic, and scalable process utilizing leather industry solid waste and seafood industry waste composed with hydroxyapatite. Physicochemical characterization of the material reveals formation of composites with homogenous distribution of the constituents in the material matrix. The composite is hard and porous (with 0.1632 cm3/g slit-shaped mesopores and micropores) having particle sizes 40-80 µm and a Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area of 55.54 m2/g. The material is polycrystalline in nature with a fair amount of amorphous substance and less hydrophilic in character than constituent polymers. The dye removal efficiency of the material has been tested with two model dyes, namely, methylene blue (MB) (cationic/basic dye) and sunset yellow (SY) (anionic/acid dye). Optimum adsorptions of 3.8 mg MB (pH 12, RT ≈ 27 °C) and 168 mg of SY (pH 3, RT ≈ 27 °C) have been found per gram of the composite material. Langmuir isotherm and pseudo second order rate models have been found to be the best-fit models to explain the equilibrium isotherm and kinetics of the adsorption process for both the dyes. However, higher and faster adsorption of SY in comparison with MB indicated higher binding efficiency of the material toward the acidic dye. Desorption of dyes from the dye-adsorbed material was studied using a suitable eluent of appropriate pH and recycling for five times showed without loss of efficiency. The prepared composite showed very high dye removal efficiency toward four different commercially used dyes (496 mg/g of Orange-NR, 477 mg/g of Red-VLN, 488 mg/g of Blue-113 dye, and 274 mg/g of Green-PbS dye) from their individual and cocktail solutions. It was also efficient to decolorize dye-bearing tannery exhaust bath. Hence, waste materials generated during industrial processes could be efficiently used for the decontamination of colored wastewater produced by various industries.

Experimental and Theoretical Investigations of Different Diketopyrrolopyrrole-Based Polymers.

Diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP)-based polymers are often considered as the most promising donor moiety in traditional bulk heterojunction solar cell devices. In this paper, we report the synthesis, characterization of various DPP-based copolymers with different molecular weights, and polydispersity where other aromatic repeating units (phenyl or thiophene based) are connected by alternate double bonds or triple bonds. Some of the copolymers were used for device fabrication and the crucial parameters such as fill factor (FF) and open circuit voltage (V oc) were calculated. The density functional theory was used to optimize the geometries and deduce highest occupied molecular orbital-lowest unoccupied molecular orbital gaps of all the polymers and theoretically predict their optical and electronic properties. Optical properties of all the polymers, electrochemical properties, and band gaps were also obtained experimentally and compared with the theoretically predicted values.

Phylloplane bacteria of Jatropha curcas: diversity, metabolic characteristics, and growth-promoting attributes towards vigor of maize seedling.

The complex role of phylloplane microorganisms is less understood than that of rhizospheric microorganisms in lieu of their pivotal role in plant's sustainability. This experiment aims to study the diversity of the culturable phylloplane bacteria of Jatropha curcas and evaluate their growth-promoting activities towards maize seedling vigor. Heterotrophic bacteria were isolated from the phylloplane of J. curcas and their 16S rRNA genes were sequenced. Sequences of the 16S rRNA gene were very similar to those of species belonging to the classes Bacillales (50%), Gammaproteobacteria (21.8%), Betaproteobacteria (15.6%), and Alphaproteobacteria (12.5%). The phylloplane bacteria preferred to utilize alcohol rather than monosaccharides and polysaccharides as a carbon source. Isolates exhibited ACC (1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid) deaminase, phosphatase, potassium solubilization, and indole acetic acid (IAA) production activities. The phosphate-solubilizing capacity (mg of PO4 solubilized by 108 cells) varied from 0.04 to 0.21. The IAA production potential (µg IAA produced by 108 cells in 48 h) of the isolates varied from 0.41 to 9.29. Inoculation of the isolates to maize seed significantly increased shoot and root lengths of maize seedlings. A linear regression model of the plant-growth-promoting activities significantly correlated (p < 0.01) with the growth parameters. Similarly, a correspondence analysis categorized ACC deaminase and IAA production as the major factors contributing 41% and 13.8% variation, respectively, to the growth of maize seedlings.

Specific adsorption of cadmium on surface-engineered biocompatible organoclay under metal-phenanthrene mixed-contamination.

Bioremediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is extremely challenging when they coexist with heavy metals. This constrain has led to adsorption-based techniques that help immobilize the metals and reduce toxicity. However, the adsorbents can also non-selectively bind the organic compounds, which reduces their bioavailability. In this study we developed a surface-engineered organoclay (Arquad® 2HT-75-bentonite-palmitic acid) which enhanced bacterial proliferation and adsorbed cadmium, but elevated phenanthrene bioavailability. Adsorption models of single and binary solutes revealed that the raw bentonite adsorbed cadmium and phenanthrene non-selectively at the same binding sites and sequestrated phenanthrene. In contrast, cadmium selectively bound to the deprotonated state of carboxyl groups in the organoclay and phenanthrene on the outer surface of the adsorbent led to a microbially congenial microenvironment with a higher phenanthrene bioavailability. This study provided valuable information which would be highly important for developing a novel clay-modulated bioremediation technology for cleaning up PAHs under mixed-contaminated situations.

Improved design and development of a functional moulded prosthetic foot.

PURPOSE: In the Indian scenario, the Jaipur foot is a low-cost breakthrough that enabled the disabled person to adapt to the Indian environment. The aim of this study is to modify the present foot in terms of ankle support design and method of fabrication, foot moulds profile and the inner core material in order to improve the performance and durability. METHOD: The optimized design of ankle support and flat foot profile moulds suitable for both left and right foot were developed through CAD/CAM and prosthetic feet were fabricated using ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) foam as an appropriate alternative core material for microcellular rubber (MCR). The developed prosthetic feet were tested for rigidity by load-deflection analysis in universal testing machine. RESULT: EVA foot had shown better rigidity than conventional MCR foot, which will help in weight transfer during walking and increase the durability. The CAD modeled ankle support and single block EVA had made the manufacturing process easy and reduced the weight of foot and improved Gait to the person fitted with it due to improved flat foot profile. CONCLUSION: The new artificial foot had proven to be efficacious technically as well as functionally, which is clearly borne out from the extremely positive feedback given by the amputees. Implications of Rehabilitation Persons with below knee amputation are usually provided with transtibial prosthesis, which allows for easier ambulation and helps them to get back to their normal life. Transtibial prosthesis is an artificial limb that replaces a lower limb that is amputated below the knee. In our study, a new prosthetic foot with a modified ankle support and flat foot profile using better inner-core material than the conventional Jaipur foot was developed and the process was also optimized for mass production. The developed prosthetic foot can be fitted with both above and below knee exoskeleton type of prosthesis.

Surface tailored organobentonite enhances bacterial proliferation and phenanthrene biodegradation under cadmium co-contamination.

Co-contamination of soil and water with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) and heavy metals makes biodegradation of the former extremely challenging. Modified clay-modulated microbial degradation provides a novel insight in addressing this issue. This study was conducted to evaluate the growth and phenanthrene degradation performance of Mycobacterium gilvum VF1 in the presence of a palmitic acid (PA)-grafted Arquad® 2HT-75-based organobentonite in cadmium (Cd)-phenanthrene co-contaminated water. The PA-grafted organobentonite (ABP) adsorbed a slightly greater quantity of Cd than bentonite at up to 30mgL(-1) metal concentration, but its highly negative surface charge imparted by carboxylic groups indicated the potential of being a significantly superior adsorbent of Cd at higher metal concentrations. In systems co-contained with Cd (5 and 10mgL(-1)), the Arquad® 2HT-75-modified bentonite (AB) and PA-grafted organobentonite (ABP) resulted in a significantly higher (72-78%) degradation of phenanthrene than bentonite (62%) by the bacterium. The growth and proliferation of bacteria were supported by ABP which not only eliminated Cd toxicity through adsorption but also created a congenial microenvironment for bacterial survival. The macromolecules produced during ABP-bacteria interaction could form a stable clay-bacterial cluster by overcoming the electrostatic repulsion among individual components. Findings of this study provide new insights for designing clay modulated PAH bioremediation technologies in mixed-contaminated water and soil.

Assessment of genetic purity in rice (Oryza sativa L.) hybrids using microsatellite markers.

The objective of the present study is to detect genetic impurity in the seed lots of CMS lines, restorers and hybrids and to identify signature markers to differentiate parents and hybrids through DNA-based assays. Furthermore, attempts have been made to find out an alternative to Grow-Out-Test, which is very tedious, time consuming and used conventionally for seed genetic purity testing since beginning of quality seed multiplication chain. Fifty-one rice-specific sequence tagged microsatellite (STMS) primer pairs distributed throughout the rice genome were employed for fingerprinting of eight rice hybrids and their parental lines with a view to assess variation within parental lines and to test the genetic purity of the commercial seed lots. Among those, 51 markers, 28 microsatellite markers showed polymorphism (54.90 %). A total of 98 alleles were obtained with an average of 1.92 alleles per primer pair and number of alleles amplified for each primer pair ranged from 1 to 4. A set of markers were identified to differentiate parental lines of the hybrids and which emphasizes the immense scope of those molecular markers for their use in the unambiguous identification of hybrid, which would be of great benefit to farmers that depend on the hybrids.