Cell‐death assessment by fluorescent and nonfluorescent cytosolic and nuclear staining techniques

Apoptosis, a genetically programmed cellular event leads to biochemical and morphological changes in cells. Alterations in DNA caused by several factors affect nucleus and ultimately the entire cell leading to compromised function of the organ and organism. DNA, a master regulator of the cellular events, is an important biomolecule with regards to cell growth, cell death, cell migration and cell differentiation. It is therefore imperative to develop the staining techniques that may lead to visualize the changes in nucleus where DNA is housed, to comprehend the cellular pathophysiology. Over the years a number of nuclear staining techniques such as propidium iodide, Hoechst‐33342, 4’, 6‐diamidino‐2‐phenylindole (DAPI), Acridine orange–Ethidium bromide staining, among others have been developed to assess the changes in DNA. Some nonnuclear staining techniques such as Annexin‐V staining, which although does not stain DNA, but helps to identify the events that result from DNA alteration and leads to initiation of apoptotic cell death. In this review, we have briefly discussed some of the most commonly used fluorescent and nonfluorescent staining techniques that identify apoptotic changes in cell, DNA and the nucleus. These techniques help in differentiating several cellular and nuclear phenotypes that result from DNA damage and have been identified as specific to necrosis or early and late apoptosis as well as scores of other nuclear deformities occurring inside the cells.     

Studies on Processing of Nickeliferrous Sources in India

Nickel requirement in India is met through imports although there are known deposits of nickel laterites. In addition, there are secondary sources such as nickel sulphide in multimetal sulphides associated with uranium ore, low grade nickel bearing lateritic overburden of chromite mining and industrial wastes, such as spent catalyst and grinding waste of alnico. The primary deposits are extensive but the grade is low. All the other sources are small and some of them are quite complex. Recovery of metal values from such sources is important on account of resource conservation. The paper reviews the studies carried out in different laboratories in India.     

Reactive power deployment and cost benefit analysis in DNO operated distribution electricity markets with D-STATCOM

The aim of this paper is to analyze unbalanced radial distribution systems (UBRDS) with the distribution static compensator (D-STATCOM). The main objectives of this paper are D-STATCOM allocation in UBRDS with an objective of providing reactive power support to enhance voltage profile and reduce line losses of the distribution network, determination of optimal D-STATCOM rating subjected to minimization of total cost, and impact of D-STATCOM placement on improving power factor and savings in cost of energy loss. The analysis is conducted on a large industrial load model with light, medium and high loading scenarios. Further, the impact of load growth is also considered for better planning of the power distribution system. The results are obtained on standard 25-bus UBRDS to check the feasibility of the proposed methodology.     

Efficiency of a gyrotron operating in modes with axial index equal to two

The efficiency of a gyrotron operating in circular TE modes with axial index equal to two is presented as a function of the generalized parameters µ, F, and ?. The numerical results are valid for a wide range of operating conditions, including voltage, current, beam radius, cavity geometry and operating mode.     

Surfactant-induced fluorescence changes in fluorescein dye

Addition of non-ionic surfactants revealed changes in the visible absorbance and fluorescence characteristics of fluorescein dyes. Non-ionic surfactants induced a shift in Δ_max, towards shorter wavelengths along with a decrease in absorbance of the dye. On the other hand, addition of anionic surfactants induced a shift of Δ_max, towards longer wavelengths along with enhancement in absorbance and fluorescence. The absorbance value decreased initially, but increased on further addition of cationic surfactant, whereas fluorescence increased initially but decreased on further addition of cationic surfactant. These changes are attributed to the interaction of surfactant micelle with dye molecules, resulting in change of the coloured quinoid form to the colourless lactone form and vice versa.     

Diffusion-Controlled Redox Kinetics in a Glassmelt

A diffusion model was developed to analyze the rate at which Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺ equilibration occurs in a Ca-Al-borosilicate melt in an air atmosphere at 1260°C. The resulting diffusion coefficient of oxygen determined from the model of 3.7 × 10⁻⁷ cm²/s is in agreement with the range of values reported for other glass-melts at this temperature and with the value determined from the viscosity of the melt using the Eyring model. The results support the general interpretation of the multivalent ion oxidation equilibrium as a diffusion-controlled process. The model thus provides a means to determine the diffusivity of oxygen in glassmelts from the kinetics of the oxidation reaction for a variety of redox ions.     

Effect of rabadi fermentation of barley on HCl-extractability of minerals

Rabadi fermentation of raw (freshly ground) as well as autoclaved barley flour at 30, 35, and 40°C for 6, 12, 18, 24, and 48 h brought about a significant increase in HCl-extractability of iron, copper, zinc, manganese, calcium, and phosphorus; longer periods and higher fermentation temperatures increased HCl-extractability. Increased non-phytate phosphorus and inorganic phosphorus in the fermented product, with a corresponding decrease in phytate phosphorus, was maximum at 40°C for 48 h and minimum at 30°C for 6 h. The level of phytic acid was significantly negatively correlated with HCl-extractability of minerals in the fermented products.     

On shift register realization of sequential machines

This paper deals with the modular realization of sequential machines using shift registers as the modules. For a given minimal machine, the minimum number of modules required for its realization has been determined. It is well known that the number of modules required to realize a given machine can sometimes be reduced by realizing a non-minimal machine equivalent to the given minimal one, i.e. by assigning multiple codes to the states of the given minimal machine. This case is dealt with in the second part of the paper.