In Vitro Studies on Ameliorative Effects of Limonene on Cadmium-Induced Genotoxicity in Cultured Human Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes

Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology - Cadmium (Cd) is a non-redox metal that can indirectly cause oxidative stress by depleting cellular levels of glutathione. It is well-known for the...     

Enhancing photocatalytic activity of zinc oxide by coating with some natural pigments

An attempt has been made to enhance the photocatalytic activity of zinc oxide semiconductor by coating it with extracts of natural pigments, chlorophyll and anthocyanin. Coated photocatalyst has been used for the photobleaching of rose bengal dye. Progress of the reaction has been monitored spectrophotometrically by measuring absorbance of the reaction mixture at definite time intervals. The effect of variation of different parameters such as pH, concentration of dye, amount of semiconductor and light intensity on the rate of photobleaching was also observed. A tentative mechanism for the reaction has been proposed.     

Quality profile of litchi (Litchi chinensis) cultivars from India and effect of radiation processing

Litchi (Litchi chinensis) is a non-climacteric tropical fruit. The fruit has a short shelf-life making its marketing difficult. Physical, biochemical, microbiological, and organoleptic properties of two major commercially grown Indian cultivars of litchi, ‘Shahi’ and ‘China’ were studied. The effect of gamma radiation processing and low temperature storage on the above parameters was evaluated to standardize the optimal process parameters for shelf-life extension of litchi. Physical and biochemical parameters analyzed included weight, moisture, pH, titratable acidity, texture, color, total and reducing sugar, total soluble solids, vitamin C, and flavonoid content. Weight, moisture content, and pH in the fresh fruit ranged between 21–26 g, 74–77%, and 3.7–4.4, respectively, whereas, total and reducing sugar ranged 10–15, and 10–13 g%, respectively. In ‘Shahi’ vitamin C content was found to be around 17–19 mg%, whereas, in ‘China’ it was 22–28 mg%. Flavonoid content was in the range of 26–34 μg catechin equivalents/g of fresh fruit. Total surface and internal bacterial load was around 4 and 3 log cfu/g, respectively. Surface yeast-mold count (YMC) was ～3 log cfu/g whereas internal YMC was ～2 log cfu/g. Radiation treatment reduced microbial load in a dose dependent manner. Treatment at 0.5 kGy did not significantly affect the quality parameters of the fruit. Treated fruits retained the “good” organoleptic rating during storage. Thus, radiation treatment (0.5 kGy) in combination with low temperature (4 °C) storage achieved a shelf-life of 28 days for litchi fruit.     

Streptavidin Modified Carbon Nanotube Based Graphite Electrode for Label‐Free Sequence Specific DNA Detection

Disposable graphite pencil electrodes (PGE) modified with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)‐streptavidin (STR) conjugates were used for electrochemical monitoring of label‐free DNA hybridization. The surface morphology of PGE electrode before and after hybridization was characterized by scanning electron microscopy. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was used to monitor each step of the construction of the DNA biosensor. The biosensor was demonstrated to have excellent selectivity, being able to differentiate complementary sequences from a noncomplementary ones and in addition select the target sequence of DNA from a mixture of other DNA without loss in current sensitivity.     

Excitation of 31,3 P and 31,3 D states of helium from the ground 11 S state by electrons and positrons

A systematic theoretical study is carried out for the electron and positron impact excitation of the 3^1,3 P and 3^1,3 D states of helium from the ground 1¹ S state. The results are reported for the differential cross sections, Stokes parameters and alignment and orientation parameters. To calculate the scattering amplitude which relate these parameters, a distorted wave approximation theory with different choices of distortion potential has been used. The results are compared with available theoretical and experimental data in the energy range of 40–100eV.     

Nuclear effects in 800 GeV proton interactions

We discuss here the nuclear effects in multiparticle production processes in 800 GeV proton-emulsion nuclei interactions. The multiplicity of medium energy particles (N _g ) was used as a measure of the average number of projectile collisions (<v(N _g )>). To study nuclear effects, we determined <v(N _g )> and ratio of normalized rapidity density of all produced charged particles in hadron-nucleus to hadron-hadron interaction,R(N _η ). It was found that the average multiplicity of shower particles increases with <v(N _g )>. From theR(N _η ) distribution, we find; a strong maxima in the target fragmentation region, a plateau in the central region and depletion of particle density in the projectile fragmentation region.