Water deficit stress mitigation by calcium chloride in Catharanthus roseus: effects on oxidative stress, proline metabolism and indole alkaloid accumulation

The present investigation was conducted to determine whether CaCl(2) increases Catharanthus roseus drought tolerance and if such tolerance is correlated with changes in oxidative stress, osmoregulation and indole alkaloid accumulation. C. roseus plants were grown under water deficit environments with or without CaCl(2). Drought induced oxidative stress was measured in terms of lipid peroxidation (LPO) and H(2)O(2) contents, osmolyte concentration, proline (PRO) metabolizing enzymes and indole alkaloid accumulation. The plants under pot culture were subjected to 10, 15 and 20 days interval drought (DID) stress and drought stress with 5mM CaCl(2) and 5mM CaCl(2) alone from 30 days after planting (DAP) and regular irrigation was kept as control. The plants were uprooted on 41 DAS (10 DID), 46 DAS (15 DID) and 51 DAS (20 DID). Drought stressed plants showed increased LPO, H(2)O(2), glycine betaine (GB) and PRO contents and decreased proline oxidase (PROX) activity and increased gamma-glutamyl kinase (gamma-GK) activity when compared to control. Addition of CaCl(2) to drought stressed plants lowered the PRO concentration by increasing the level of PROX and decreasing the gamma-GK activities. Calcium ions increased the GB contents. CaCl(2) appears to confer greater osmoprotection by the additive role with drought in GB accumulation. The drought with CaCl(2)-treated C. roseus plants showed an increase in total indole alkaloid content in shoots and roots when compared to drought stressed and well-watered plants.     

Enthalpy increment measurements on europium titanate

Europium titanate is a potential control rod material. Enthalpy increments of europium titanate (Eu₂TiO₅) were measured in the temperature range 770–1,747 K by employing the method of inverse drop calorimetry using a high-temperature differential calorimeter. Thermodynamic functions such as heat capacity, entropy and Gibbs energy function have been computed in the temperature range 298–1,800 K.     

Crystal structure analysis,Hirshfeld surface analysis,spectral investigations (FT-IR,FT-R), DFT calculations,ADMET studies and molecular docking of 3H-Methyl-1H-pyrazole-1-carboxamide (3MPC)

On 3H-Methyl-1H-pyrazole-1-carboxamide (3MPC), Single crystal XRD, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Raman Spectroscopy, Molecular Electrostatic Potential, Density function theoretical analysis and Molecular docking analysis are conducted. The target protein docking experiments revealed that the small molecule (MET) is a good molecule that docks well with several Nav channel 1 targets. Molecular Electrostatic Potential (MEP) aids in the optimization of protein-ligand electrostatic interactions. The molecular surface and hydrogen bonding interactions in the 3MPC crystal structure were located and analyzed using a fingerprint plot and Hirshfeld Surfaces. DFT–B3LYP calculations with the 6-31G (d,p) basis set are used to establish the optimised structure of the MET molecule, and the measured vibrational frequencies are compared to experimental values. The parameters of absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion (ADME) and toxic (Tox) were assessed using the online server preADMET.     

Numerical flow visualization of a Single Expansion Ramp Nozzle with hypersonic external flow

Numerical simulation of scramjet asymmetric nozzle flow is carried out to visualize and investigate the effects of interaction between engine exhaust and hypersonic external flow. The Single Expansion Ramp Nozzle (SERN) configuration studied here consists of flat ramp and a cowl with different combinations of ramp angle and cowl geometry. UsingPARAS 3D, simulations are performed for a free stream Mach number of 6.5 that constitutes the external flow around the vehicle. Appropriate specific heats ratio has been simulated for the jet and free stream flow. External shock wave due to jet plume interaction with free stream flow, the internal barrel shock wave and the shear layer emanating from the cowl trailing edge and sidewalls are well captured. Wall static pressure distribution on the nozzle ramp for different nozzle expansion angles has been computed for both with and without side fence. Axial thrust and normal force have been evaluated by integrating the wall static pressure. Effect of cowl length variation and side fence on the SERN performance has also been studied and found to be quite significant. Based on this study, an optimum ramp angle at which the SERN generates maximum axial thrust is obtained. SERN angle of 20° was found to be optimum when the flight axis coincides with nozzle axis.     

Antioxidant potential and indole alkaloid profile variations with water deficits along different parts of two varieties of Catharanthus roseus

The variations in antioxidant potentials and indole alkaloid content were studied in the present investigation, in two varieties (rosea and alba) of Catharanthus roseus, an important herb used in traditional as well as modern medicine, exposed to water deficit stress. The antioxidant and alkaloid profiles were estimated from root, stem, leaf, flowers and pods. The antioxidant potentials were examined in terms of non-enzymatic antioxidant molecules and activities of antioxidant enzymes. The non-enzymatic antioxidant molecules studied were ascorbic acid (AA), -tocopherol (-toc) and reduced glutathione (GSH). The estimated antioxidant enzymes were superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POX) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO). The antioxidant concentrations and activities of antioxidant enzymes were high under water deficit stress in all parts of the plants. Indole alkaloid content was high in the roots of rosea variety in response to stress when compared to alba variety.