Development and Characterization of Microsatellite Markers (SSR) in Sesamum (Sesamum indicum L.) Species

Microsatellites, also known as simple sequence repeats (SSRs), are the class of repetitive DNA sequences present throughout the genome of many plant and animal species. Recent advances in molecular genetics had been the introduction of microsatellite markers to investigate the genetic structuring of natural plant populations. We have employed an enrichment strategy for microsatellite isolation by using multi-enzymes digestion, microsatellite oligoprobes, and streptavidin magnetic beads in Sesamum (Sesamum indicum L.). More than 200 SSR motifs were detected (SSR motifs ??2 repeat units or 6?bp); 80?% of the clones contained SSR motifs. When regarding SSRs with four or more repeat units and a minimum length of 10?bp, 132 of them showed repeats. Eighteen SSR markers were initially characterized for optimum annealing temperature using a gradient PCR technique. Among the 18 SSR markers characterized, five were found to be polymorphic and used to analyze 60 Sesamum germplasm accessions. The maximum number of alleles detected was four with a single primer and the least number of two alleles with three primers with an average PIC value of 0.77. SSRs are a valuable tool for estimating genetic diversity and analyzing the evolutionary and historical development of cultivars at the genomic level in sesame breeding programs.     

A novel electrochemical <Superscript>99</Superscript>Mo/<Superscript>99m</Superscript>Tc generator

A novel electrochemical process to avail clinical grade ^99mTc from (n,γ)⁹⁹Mo has been demonstrated. The electrochemical parameters were optimized to maximize the ^99mTc yield with minimal ⁹⁹Mo contamination. ⁹⁹Mo/^99mTc generators containing up to 29.6 GBq (800 mCi) ⁹⁹Mo were developed and their performance were extensively evaluated for 10 days without changing the operating conditions. Very high radioactive concentration of ^99mTcO₄ ⁻ of acceptable quality, commensurate with hospital radiopharmacy requirements could be availed from the system with >90% yield. The compatibility of the product for the formulation of ^99mTc labeled radiopharmaceuticals such as ^99mTc-DMSA and ^99mTc-EC was found to be satisfactory in terms of high labeling yields. The proposed route represents an important step for enhancing the scope of accessing clinical grade ^99mTc from low specific activity (n, γ)⁹⁹Mo.     

On quadratic differences that depend on the product of arguments - revisited

Summary. Let be a field of real or complex numbers and denote the set of nonzero elements of . Let be an abelian group. In this paper, we solve the functional equation f ₁ (x + y) + f ₂ (x - y) = f ₃ (x) + f ₄ (y) + g(xy) by modifying the domain of the unknown functions f ₃, f ₄, and g from to and using a method different from [3]. Using this result, we determine all functions f defined on and taking values on such that the difference f(x + y) + f (x - y) - 2 f(x) - 2 f(y) depends only on the product xy for all x and y in      

Evaluation of Anthocyanin Content,Antioxidant Potential and Antimicrobial Activity of Black,Purple and Blue Colored Wheat Flour and Wheat-Grass Juice against Common Human Pathogens

The present study aimed to analyze the antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of anthocyanins extracted from colored wheat flour and wheat-grass juice against human pathogens. The total anthocyanin content and antioxidant potential in colored wheat flour and wheat-grass juice extracts were significantly higher than white flour and wheat-grass juice extracts. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography showed the maximum number of anthocyanin peaks in black wheat, with delphinidin-3-o-galactoside chloride, delphinidin-3-o-glucoside chloride, and cyanindin-3-o-glucoside chloride as the major contributors. Among flour extracts, maximum zones of inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus (MTCC 1934), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MTCC 1434), Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans (MTCC 227) were produced by black flour extract, having the highest anthocyanin content. It exhibited a minimum microbicidal concentration (MMC) of 200 mg/mL against E. coli and C. albicans; and 100 and 150 mg/mL against S. aureus and P. aeruginosa, respectively. Black and purple flour extracts exhibited a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 50 mg/mL against S. aureus and P. aeruginosa. White flour extracts did not show MMC against E. coli and C. albicans. Among wheat-grass juice extracts, black wheat-grass was most effective and showed an MIC of 100–150 mg/mL against all pathogens. It exhibited an MMC of 200 mg/mL against S. aureus and P. aeruginosa. Hence, anthocyanin-rich colored wheat could be of nutraceutical importance.     

Determination of the solution structures of melamine-based bis- and tris-macrocyclic ligand copper(II) complexes

A combination of molecular mechanics (MM), electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (EPR), and spectra simulation (MM-EPR) has been used to determine the solution structures of di- and trinuclear copper(II) complexes of melamine-based oligomacrocyclic ligands. The spin Hamiltonian parameters of the mononuclear, melamine-appended macrocyclic ligand copper(II) complex have been determined by EPR spectroscopy and were also studied with DFT methods. These spin Hamiltonian parameters, together with the structural parameters obtained from models optimized with MM, have been used for the simulation of the EPR spectra of the di- and trinuclear complexes. For the dinuclear complex, the syn isomer is preferred over the anti, for which an X-ray structure exists; for the trinuclear complex, the syn,syn isomer is preferred over the syn,anti form. Additional support for these assignments comes from DFT calculations, and this demonstrates that the MM-DFT-EPR method is a reliable approach for the determination of solution structures and for the analysis of spin Hamiltonian parameters of dipolar, coupled transition metal complexes (g and A tensors and J values).     

In‐situ X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy of trimethyl aluminum and water half‐cycle treatments on HF‐treated and O3‐oxidized GaN substrates

We have investigated the effect of trimethyl aluminum (TMA) and water (H₂O) half‐cycle treatments on HF‐treated, and O₃‐oxidized GaN surfaces at 300 °C. The in‐situ X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy results indicate no significant re‐growth of Ga–O–N or self‐cleaning on HF‐treated and O₃‐oxidized GaN substrates with exposure to water and TMA. This result is different from the self‐cleaning effect of Ga₂O₃ seen on sulfur‐treated GaAs or InGaAs substrates. O₃ causes aggressive oxidation of GaN substrate and direct O–N bonding compared to H₂O. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Photon propagation in torsion background

The existence of a torsion background in spacetime at cosmological scales can be tested from the timing of high-energy photons from AGN. The observations of anomalous photon dispersion from Markarian 501 by Magic gamma ray telescope can be explained by the presence of torsion background and it puts limits on the torsion background at κ S ₀ < 10⁻¹⁸ GeV⁻¹.     

Free radical accelerated cationic polymerizations

The simultaneous photoinitiated cationic polymerizations of epoxides and vinyl ethers in the presence of diaryliodonium salt photoinitiators results in an acceleration of the ring‐opening epoxide polymerization and a deceleration of the vinyl ether polymerization. These effects are seen both in mixtures of the two monofunctional monomers as well as in hybrid monomers which bear vinyl ether and epoxide groups in the same molecule. A combination of two mechanisms have been proposed to account for these effects. The reversible conversion of alkoxycarbenium to oxiranium ions results in a two‐stage reaction in which first, the epoxide, then the vinyl ether polymerization takes place. Free radical chain induced decomposition of the diaryliodonium salt produces a large incremental number of carbenium ion species which results in the acceleration effect.     

Decoupling Redox Hopping and Catalysis in Metal-Organic Frameworks -based Electrocatalytic CO2 Reduction

Traditional MOF e-CRR, constructed from catalytic linkers, manifest a kinetic bottleneck during their multi-electron activation. Decoupling catalysis and charge transport can address such issues. Here, we build two MOF/e-CRR systems, CoPc@NU-1000 and TPP(Co)@NU-1000, by installing cobalt metalated phthalocyanine and tetraphenylporphyrin electrocatalysts within the redox active NU-1000 MOF. For CoPc@NU-1000, the e-CRR responsive Co^I/0 potential is close to that of NU-1000 reduction compared to the TPP(Co)@NU-1000. Efficient charge delivery, defined by a higher diffusion (D_hop=4.1×10⁻¹² cm² s⁻¹) and low charge-transport resistance ( =59.5 Ω) in CoPC@NU-1000 led FE_CO=80 %. In contrast, TPP(Co)@NU-1000 fared a poor FE_CO=24 % (D_hop=1.4×10⁻¹² cm² s⁻¹ and =91.4 Ω). For such a decoupling strategy, careful choice of the host framework is critical in pairing up with the underlying electrochemical properties of the catalysts to facilitate the charge delivery for its activation.