Development and Evaluation of an Eco-Friendly Hand Sanitizer Formulation Valorized from Fruit Peels.

Hand sanitizer usage has proven to be a common and practical method for reducing the spread of infectious diseases which can be caused by many harmful pathogens. There is a need for alcohol-free hand sanitizers because most hand sanitizers on the market are alcohol-based, and regular use of them can damage the skin and can be hazardous. India is the world's largest producer of fruits and one of the major problems after fruit consumption is their peels, causing waste management problems and contributing to the formation of greenhouse gases leading to air pollution and adding to the problem of climate change. Valorization of such wastes into other value-added products and their incorporation into formulations of eco-friendly alcohol-free hand sanitizers would solve these issues, save the environment, benefit the society, and help in achieving the sustainable development goals. Thus, this research focuses on formulating an effective natural alcohol-free hand sanitizer that harnesses the antimicrobial properties of the various types of bioactive components found in fruit peels of pomegranate, sweet lime, and lemon. The peel extracts and the formulated sanitizer proved considerable antimicrobial activity against the pathogenic Escherichia coli and hand microflora. Molecular docking was also applied to examine ligand-protein interaction patterns and predict binding conformers and affinity of the sanitizer phytocompounds towards target proteins in COVID-19, influenza, and pneumonia viruses. The binding affinities and the protein-ligand interactions virtual studies revealed that the sanitizer phytocompounds bind with the amino acids in the target proteins' active sites via hydrogen bonding interactions. As a result, it is possible to formulate a natural, alcohol-free hand sanitizer from fruit peels that is effective against pathogenic germs and viruses using the basic structure of these potential findings.

Abundance, diversity and temporal activity of adult Culicoides spp. associated with cattle in West Bengal, India.

Relative abundance, species composition and temporal activity of Culicoides midges were studied for a period of 2 years (2012-2014) using suction ultra violet light traps at two sites located in the agriculture heartland of West Bengal, India. Surveillance in close proximity to cattle recorded predominance of five species with C oxystoma and C. peregrinus as the most dominant species followed by C. fulvus, C. innoxius and C. anophelis. The temporal activity of midges was investigated for seven consecutive nights at one site in August-September, 2012 and the predominant species was Culicoides oxystoma followed by Culicoides peregrinus. All of the species exhibited crepuscular activity with their flight activity increasing from dusk to dawn. Engorged adults constituted dominant age group in collections. Studies on population ecology of the adults midges are of considerable importance predicting for the epidemicity of midge-borne diseases in cattle.

Preferential attraction of different colours of light emitting diodes for Culicoides species in West Bengal, India.

The preferential attraction of adult Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) to specific wavelengths was studied in West Bengal, India. A total of 280 collections were made with suction light traps fitted with various colours of light emitting diodes (LEDs) placed at cattle sheds during June, August and November in 2017. In addition, the numbers that have been collected in the evening and morning were compared. Locally manufactured suction light traps fitted with ultra violet (UV), blue, green, yellow, pink, red and white LEDs were compared. UV light attracted the highest number of midges followed by blue and then green LED. Culicoides peregrinus Kieffer and Culicoides oxystoma Kieffer were the most abundant followed by Culicoides fulvus Sen and Das Gupta, Culicoides innoxius Sen and Das Gupta, Culicoides anophelis Edwards and Culicoides huffi Causey. The species composition remained similar across the wavelengths. Although significant variations in midge population have been observed across the months, no significant difference in dusk and dawn abundance was noticed. The females showed a mixed population with less parous individuals.

Thermal neutron-induced γ-ray background in 124Sn.

The thermal neutron-induced gamma-ray background in 124Sn is investigated in connection with neutrinoless double beta decay (0νßß) studies in 124Sn. For this purpose, a 99.26% enriched 124Sn sample was irradiated with a thermal neutron fluence of 3×1015/cm2 in the Dhruva reactor at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai. The gamma ray spectra of the irradiated sample were measured in a low background counting setup to study both long-lived and short-lived activities. The present data give an independent measurement of the half-life of 125Sn*(32+) and 125Sn(112-) as 10.01(8) min and 9.63(2) d, respectively. The impact of the observed high-energy gamma rays and the residual activity due to 125Sb, on the background in the region of interest around the Qßß value of 124Sn (~2.291 MeV) is discussed.

Study of the effect of external noise pickups on the performance of a cryogenic bolometer.

This paper reports the detailed noise characterization, investigation of various noise sources, and its mitigation to improve the performance of a cryogenic bolometer detector for the TIN.TIN experiment. The noise spectrum has been measured for a sapphire bolometer test setup with an indigenously developed neutron transmutation doped Ge sensor in the cryogen free dilution refrigerator system at Mumbai. The effect of external noise, arising either from ground loops in the system or from the diagnostic and control electronics of the cryostat, on the performance of the bolometer is assessed. A systematic comparison of the influence of different noise pickups on the bolometer resolution is also presented. The best-achieved resolution (σE) at 15 mK is ∼15 keV for heater pulses and appears to be mainly limited by the noise due to the pulse tube cryocooler.

Long-Term Consequences of Complex Living Renal Donation: Is It Safe?

INTRODUCTION: As there is a paucity of literature regarding the long-term outcomes of complex living donors, we conducted this study to assess the effect of kidney donation on the complex living kidney donor. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted in Narayan Health Hospital, Kolkata, Eastern India. The cohort consisted of complex living kidney donors who donated kidneys between the years 2007 and 2012. All donors were 60 years old or older, or were younger than 60 years and had comorbidities like hypertension and obesity. After a minimum follow-up of 5 years, all donors underwent evaluation. Data pertaining to hypertension, new-onset diabetes, body mass index (BMI), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and albuminuria, and cardiac events were compared from the time of donation till 5 years post-transplant. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: We found a statistically significant increase in blood pressure, number of antihypertensives used, and mean BMI at follow-up. Diabetes mellitus was developed in 22.3% of donors. The mean GFR also decreased significantly at follow-up. There were 42 elderly donors (≥60 years) and 23 ≤ 59 years of age. There was a significant fall of eGFR in both groups, but the percentage fall was similar in both groups. A significant percentage of donors developed proteinuria, the majority being hypertensives. CONCLUSION: Procurement of kidneys from marginal donors should be done cautiously, and donors should be assessed for morbidity and mortality in the future, as we found a statistically significant deterioration in renal function, blood pressure, and BMI over long-term follow-up.

Author Correction: Salinity stratification controlled productivity variation over 300 ky in the Bay of Bengal.

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Salinity stratification controlled productivity variation over 300 ky in the Bay of Bengal.

The unique hydrographic setting of the Bay of Bengal (BoB) makes it an ideal tropical marine system to study the influence of regional and global forcings on productivity and [CO2aq] through the late quaternary. Enormous fresh water flux into the BoB and consequent salinity stratification significantly weaken the convective mixing and wind driven processes which are commonly responsible for transport of nutrients to the euphotic zone driving primary productivity. Here we present a high resolution organic carbon-CaCO3 MAR and δ13CTOC records for the last 300 ky from the BoB. The results show significant productivity variation at marine isotope sub-stages and millennial timescales. Colder sub-stages and stadials (Dansgard-Oeschger cycle) show a boost in productivity which may be attributed to thinning of low salinity cap, thereby facilitating efficient nutrient transport across the euphotic zone by the combination of wind driven processes (entrainment and upwelling), convective mixing and cold core eddies. The [CO2aq] was a net result of global pCO2 variation and regional processes. Our long term high-resolution data indicates a possibility of marked change in productivity/biogeochemistry of BOB in the future due to global warming, thus affecting the coastal economy.

Harlequin Ichthyosis - A Case Report.

Harlequin Ichthyosis is a very rare genetic disorder affecting mainly the skin with severe morbidity and mortality. It affects both sexes with incidence of about 1 in 300,000 live births. Autosomal recessive inheritance has been inferred with mutation in ABCA 12 gene identified. Hence, genetic counseling and mutation screening of this gene should be considered in at-risk patients. Death usually occurred in the first 3 months of life due to sepsis, feeding problems and respiratory distress. With improved neonatal care and early introduction of retinoids, its survival rate has increased.

Laboratory rearing of immature Culicoides peregrinus Kieffer, a potential vector of bluetongue virus.

Culicoides peregrinus (Kieffer) (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) was reared from egg to adult using four different combinations of food and substrate (T1: absorbent cotton, mud broth with 2% yeast; T2: 1% agar, mud broth with 2% yeast; T3: absorbent cotton, nutrient broth; T4: absorbent cotton, 2% yeast). Field-collected engorged females exhibited mean fecundity of 82.45 ± 4.00. The highest rate of emergence and largest adults were obtained in T1, and the lowest rate of emergence was observed in T4. Two-way analyses of variance with post hoc Tukey tests showed significant differences in age at pupation, pupal weight and wing length among the various treatments, although the sex ratio was 1 : 1 in all food/substrate combinations. The successful rearing of immature C. peregrinus is an encouraging step towards the establishment of a laboratory colony of this prevalent species associated with livestock.

Isolation of haemolytic bacilli from field-collected Culicoides oxystoma and Culicoides peregrinus: potential vectors of bluetongue virus in West Bengal, India.

Two haemolytic bacterial strains of Bacillus pumilus (CU1A, CU1B) and one blood-utilizing strain of Bacillus licheniformis (CU2B) were isolated from relatively low numbers of field-collected females of Culicoides oxystoma and Culicoides peregrinus (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae). A total of 36 females, including 18 of each of C. oxystoma and C. peregrinus (consisting of one and a pool of eight blood-engorged specimens, and one and a pool of eight non-engorged specimens for each species), were tested. In C. oxystoma, all three strains of bacteria were isolated from the one non-engorged, the pool of non-engorged and the pool of blood-engorged females tested, but CU1A and CU2B were not found in the one blood-engorged female tested. In C. peregrinus, all three strains were present in the pool of blood-engorged females. However, the strain CU2B was not found in the pool of non-engorged females. In the one blood-engorged and one non-engorged female tested, CU1A and CU2B were detected. The bacterial strains were identified based on Gram staining, enzyme activity (amylase and protease) and alignment of the 16S rRNA partial gene sequence to that available in the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) database GenBank. The functional role and significance of these haemolytic and blood-digesting bacteria within the genus Culicoides remain to be determined.

Records of the Genus Paramerina (Diptera: Chironomidae: Tanypodinae) from Eastern Himalaya and Satpura Hill Regions of India.

The pupa and the male imago of Paramerina valida n. sp. and the larva of Paramerina inficia Chaudhuri & Debnath are described and illustrated along with a brief re-description of the adult of P. inficia from the Eastern Himalaya and Satpura hill regions of India. A key to the adult males of the Indian species of the genus Paramerina Fittkau is provided. The notes on ecology of the two species are also provided.

Ensemble asteroseismology of solar-type stars with the NASA Kepler mission.

In addition to its search for extrasolar planets, the NASA Kepler mission provides exquisite data on stellar oscillations. We report the detections of oscillations in 500 solar-type stars in the Kepler field of view, an ensemble that is large enough to allow statistical studies of intrinsic stellar properties (such as mass, radius, and age) and to test theories of stellar evolution. We find that the distribution of observed masses of these stars shows intriguing differences to predictions from models of synthetic stellar populations in the Galaxy.

Single-institution experience with matrix coils in the treatment of intracranial aneurysms: comparison with same-center outcomes with the use of platinum coils.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to analyze the outcomes and treatment-related complications of the polyglycolic/polylactic acid (PGLA)-coated Matrix platinum coils in the treatment of intracranial aneurysms and compare these results with those derived from the same single-institutional experience with use of uncoated, bare platinum coils. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, we compared 2 groups of patients in a retrospective fashion. The first group consisted of 70 consecutive patients who underwent 82 aneurysm treatments with Matrix coils during the 14-month period of study, from January 2003 to February 2004. We compared this cohort with 70 consecutive patients who underwent a total of 80 aneurysm treatments with bare platinum coils in the 12 months immediately preceding the use of PGLA-coated coils, from January through December 2002. We then recorded the treatment characteristics, angiographic outcomes, and any complications. RESULTS: There were similar baseline demographic characteristics between the 2 study groups except in age, anatomic location, and length of follow-up. The overall recurrence rate of aneurysms was 41% among the Matrix-treated group and 32% among the patients treated with bare platinum. Among the 42 patients treated with 100% Matrix, the rate of recurrence was 31%. Of the recurrences, 21% of the Matrix group, 19% of the 100% Matrix group, and 9% of the bare platinum group required retreatment. The overall rate of complications was 10% in the Matrix-treated group and 7% in the bare platinum group. There was not a statistically significant difference in the rate of recurrence of aneurysms or complications between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of our single-center experience, there is insufficient evidence to support the use of Matrix coils over bare platinum coils, given their disadvantages.

A sequential scanning of the immune efficiency in astrocytoma (Grade I to Grade Iii), meningioma and secondary glioma patients with and without therapeutic scheduling.

PURPOSE: Glioma induces immune suppression. However, data revealing the immune status in glioma patients with sequential therapeutic interventions is missing. Thus, the study aims at evaluating the sequential immune status of glioma bearing patients (Astrocytoma Grade I to Grade III) receiving conventional therapeutic measures. The results were compared with the immune status of metastatic secondary glioma and meningioma patients where there is minimal immune suppression and the effect of therapeutic intervention on the above score. METHODS: Functional immune parameters of peripheral blood lymphocytes were assayed by CD2 receptors enumeration through E-rosetting and lymphocyte cytotoxicity assay and assessing the generation of reactive oxygen species by NBT assay of peripheral blood macrophages in patient groups bearing Astrocytoma (Grade I to Grade III), meningioma and secondary glioma. RESULTS: Patients bearing Astrocytoma (all 3 grades) showed maximum immune suppression as compared to the normal subjects, diseased meningioma controls, and secondary glioma. Therapeutic interventions viz. radiotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy after surgery and chemotherapy could not recover the suppressed activity of the CD2 bearing lymphocytes and that of peripheral blood macrophages. However, therapeutic scheduling could recover the functional activity of the CD8 bearing lymphocytes and the CD56 NK cells from that of tumor bearing patients. CONCLUSION: Astrocytoma and not meningioma is capable of causing immunesuppression. As the tumor progresses from Grade I to Grade III, a linear reduction in the functional efficacy of immunocytes is seen to occur. Radiotherapy, surgery, and chemotherapy also induces an inhibitory effect towards the host immune system. The inhibitory effect of tumor as well as of therapy were mainly directed towards the CD2 bearing lymphocyte population and the peripheral blood macrophage population.

Frequency of spinal arteriovenous malformations in patients with unexplained myelopathy.

The authors reviewed charts of 78 myelopathy patients who underwent spinal angiography for possible arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). Twenty-two patients had an AVM. No neurologic complications from angiography were observed. MRI findings of increased T2 signal or flow voids were strongly associated with AVMs. Spinal angiography should be performed in all patients with unexplained myelopathy after neurologic evaluation and an MRI demonstrating increased T2 signal or flow voids.

Antennal deformities of chironomid larvae and their use in biomonitoring of heavy metal pollutants in the river Damodar of West Bengal, India.

Analyses of sediment and water indicate the presence of heavy metal pollutants like lead, zinc, copper, mercury and cadmium of the river Damodar of India. These metals are responsible for causing morphological deformities of antennae and other parts of chironomid larvae. Percentage of deformity correlated positively with the concentrations of Pb in water and sediment (r > 0.6) at the confluence point. A new severity index, SISS((antenna)) has been proposed here to assess deformity at the family or subfamily level.

Genome-wide survey of protein kinases required for cell cycle progression.

Cycles of protein phosphorylation are fundamental in regulating the progression of the eukaryotic cell through its division cycle. Here we test the complement of Drosophila protein kinases (kinome) for cell cycle functions after gene silencing by RNA-mediated interference. We observed cell cycle dysfunction upon downregulation of 80 out of 228 protein kinases, including most kinases that are known to regulate the division cycle. We find new enzymes with cell cycle functions; some of these have family members already known to phosphorylate microtubules, actin or their associated proteins. Additionally, depletion of several signalling kinases leads to specific mitotic aberrations, suggesting novel roles for familiar enzymes. The survey reveals the inter-digitation of systems that monitor cellular physiology, cell size, cellular stress and signalling processes with the basic cell cycle regulatory machinery.