Star-anise (Illicium verum) and black caraway (Carum nigrum) as natural antioxidants

The various solvent fractions of star-anise (Illicium verum) and black caraway (Carum nigrum), along with their spice powders and volatile oils, were prepared and evaluated for antioxygenic activity, using different methods. Star-anise powder and its ethanol/water (80:20)-soluble fraction showed strong antioxygenic activity in refined sunflower oil while the petroleum ether fraction exhibited marginal antioxygenic activity and the water-soluble fraction was practically devoid of any activity in sunflower oil. The black caraway powder showed marginal antioxygenic activity while its ethanol/water fraction (80:20) showed strong antioxygenic activity and all other fractions showed slight pro-oxygenic activity in refined sunflower oil. Both the spice powders and their extracts were also evaluated for antioxidant activity by linoleic acid peroxidaton, β-carotene-linoleate and 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) methods. Both the star-anise and black caraway powders, as well as their ethanol/water extracts, exhibited strong antioxygenic activity. Volatile oils from both the spices exhibited antioxygenic activity and the activity did not seem to be concentration-dependent. Volatile oils from star-anise showed relatively higher antioxygenic activity than did those from black caraway. Gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy (GC–MS) studies on star-anise and black caraway volatile oils resulted in the identification of 25 and 22 compounds, respectively, representing 94–97% of the total content.     

The potential of electricity imports to meet future electricity requirements in India

As resources of electricity generation in India are not sufficient, this paper analyses the potential of electricity import from neighboring countries to meet the future electricity requirements of India. Based on the data of electricity generation, consumption, and future generation potential, we work out projected electricity generation/ demand of India and its neighboring countries by 2050 to identify the possibility of India’s cross-border electricity trading with its neighboring countries, more particularly the electricity import potential.     

Morphological changes in vero cells postinfection with dengue virus type‐2

Although no specific antiviral tablets or injections that can kill the dengue virus are currently available, adequate care and treatment could control its morbidity. Interaction of dengue virus to target cells could be an important feature for virus propagation. Ultrastructural analysis of this interaction was studied with vero cells. Vero cells were treated with Dengue virus type‐2 at different time intervals at multiplicity of infection (m.o.i) < 10, m.o.i > 10, and m.o.i = 100. It was found that m.o.i < 10 is best to study morphological changes. At an m.o.i > 10 apoptosis occurs and at m.o.i. = 100, cell necrosis occurs. While studying morphological changes, it was found that at 30 min postinfection cells have morphology very similar to that of the control cells although some have irregular outline and show cytoplasmic projections and intense cytoplasmic vacuolization. After 1–12 hours postinfection (h.p.i), the nuclei ran from normal looking to diffuse. Nuclear membrane begins to disintegrate. Some nucleoli are difficult to be seen. The cytoplasm appears as a mottled, lumps diffuse mass distributed throughout the cytosol, with dense lysosomes and myelin figures, also in the mitochondria. In later hours (24 h.p.i), the intranuclear euchromatin is dispersed and heterochromatin forms peripheral clumps. The cytoplasmic processes are short and few in numbers. A proportion of damaged mitochondria with disrupted cristae appear, suggesting that dengue virus may induce mitochondrial dysfunction and nucleus and mitochondria may be the primary organelles helping in dissemination of virus. Microsc. Res. Tech. 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Using patents and publications to assess R&D efficiency in the states of the USA

Even with the USA spending the largest amounts in R&D, its share in total patent grants worldwide has been declining. This decline is also evident in its share of world scientific publications. These developments have been termed by some as the “American Paradox”. Extant research on R&D efficiency and technological innovation capability has considered the USA as a homogeneous entity and has not focused at the sub-national level. This paper analyses the R&D efficiency of 50 US states and the District of Columbia. R&D efficiency is calculated as the ratio of patents granted and scientific publications to R&D expenditures. Only 14 states out of the 51 regions are found to exhibit positive changes in R&D efficiency between 2004 and 2008. Comparing this performance with that of the BRICS nations over the same period we find that Brazil, India, China and South Korea show significant improvements in R&D efficiency with India taking the lead. This research identifies the states in the US with the highest R&D efficiency and presents benchmarks which can be followed by policy interventions. The paper highlights the importance of conducting analyses of R&D efficiency using patents and publications at the sub-national level for informed policy making.     

Functionalisation of PLLA nanofiber scaffolds using a possible cooperative effect between collagen type I and BMP-2: impact on growth and osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells

Mesenchymal stem cell differentiation of osteoblasts is triggered by a series of signaling processes including integrin and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP), which therefore act in a cooperative manner. The aim of this study was to analyze whether these processes can be remodeled in an artificial poly-(l)-lactide acid (PLLA) based nanofiber scaffold. Matrices composed of PLLA-collagen type I or BMP-2 incorporated PLLA-collagen type I were seeded with human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC) and cultivated over a period of 22 days, either under growth or osteoinductive conditions. During the course of culture, gene expression of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), osteocalcin (OC) and collagen I (COL-I) as well as Smad5 and focal adhesion kinase (FAK), two signal transduction molecules involved in BMP-2 or integrin signaling were analyzed. Furthermore, calcium and collagen I deposition, as well as cell densities and proliferation, were determined using fluorescence microscopy. The incorporation of BMP-2 into PLLA-collagen type I nanofibers resulted in a decrease in diameter as well as pore sizes of the scaffold. Mesenchymal stem cells showed better adherence and a reduced proliferation on BMP-containing scaffolds. This was accompanied by an increase in gene expression of ALP, OC and COL-I. Furthermore the presence of BMP-2 resulted in an upregulation of FAK, while collagen had an impact on the gene expression of Smad5. Therefore these different strategies can be combined in order to enhance the osteoblast differentiation of hMSC on PLLA based nanofiber scaffold. By doing this, different signal transduction pathways seem to be up regulated.     

Audit of public sector primary diabetes care in Cape Town, South Africa: high prevalence of complications, uncontrolled hyperglycaemia, and hypertension

This study was undertaken to investigate the prevalence of diabetes complications and level of glycaemic and blood pressure control in Black African patients at the primary care level in the public sector Cape Town, South Africa. A stratified random sample of 300 patients attending the three largest ambulatory diabetes clinics in community health centres in Black African residential areas of Cape Town (100 patients from each) during the last 6 months of 1992 was selected. Each patient had a clinical examination, interview, and 1 year retrospective record review. Eighty-one per cent of the sampled patients were reviewed, 90% were non-insulin-dependent (NIDDM) and 10% were treated with insulin. The mean duration of diabetes was 8 (range 0-28) years. Acceptable glycaemic control was present in 49.4% (95% Confidence Intervals 45.6-53.5) of patients while 38.5% (CI 24.8-52.2) of hypertensive patients had acceptable blood pressure control. The prevalence of any grade of retinopathy was 55.4% (CI 48.90-62.9), proliferative and preproliferative retinopathy 15.6% (CI 8.5-22.8), cataracts 7.9% (CI 4.4-11.4), peripheral neuropathy 27.6% (CI 15.2-39.4), absent foot pulses 8.2% (CI 5.2-12.6), amputations 1.4% (CI 0.4-2.4), persistent proteinuria 5.3% (CI 2.5-8.1) and an elevated albumin-creatinine ratio 36.7% (CI 29.0-44.4). The complications were not documented in the clinic records of the preceding year with the exception of 1 patient with absent foot pulses and the 12 patients with proteinuria. The high prevalence of suboptimal glycaemic and blood pressure control as well as complications of diabetes, largely unrecorded in the preceding years' clinic notes, demonstrates the deficiency of and need for preventative diabetes care at the primary care level. The design, institution, and evaluation of effective intervention programmes are a priority to improve the quality of care provided and the health of diabetic patients.     

Thermal reliability of n-GaAs/Ti/Pt/Au Schottky contacts with thin Ti films for reduced gate resistance

The thermal stability of Ti/Pt/Au Schottky contacts on n-GaAs with Ti films 0–60 nm is investigated. The contacts with Ti films as small as 10 nm remain thermally stable with annealing up to 400°C. The changes induced by thermal treatment in the electrical characteristics of the contacts are correlated with the Rutherford backscattering and microscopic analysis of the annealed samples. It shows profuse interdiffusion and interfacial reaction with 300°C anneal for the GaAs/Pt/Au system. It has been found that introducing the Ti film between GaAs and Pt/Au, the interdiffusion of Pt and Au is also prevented. These results are useful for reducing the gate metallisation resistance of metal semiconductor field effect transistors.     

Studies on the stability of an edible film and its use for the preservation of carrot (Daucus carota)

An edible coating was formed by blending turmeric (Curcuma longa) and casein in equal proportions at 95 °C for 12 h. Small quantities of polyvinyl alcohol and propylene glycol were added to encourage film formation and plasticizing respectively. The blend was removed from the reaction vessel and homogenized using Tween‐80 as emulsifier. The homogenized blend was sampled at 2‐h intervals for stability by means of the ‘keeping property’ and ‘accelerated stability’ tests. Stability was also determined by differential scanning calorimetry in which a singlet endotherm indicated molecular mixing (miscibility window) of the components. All three tests indicated that the emulsion was stable after 12 h of blending. Colour, carotenoid content, texture retention and antimicrobial properties remained satisfactory for 10 days in the stable emulsion‐coated carrot whereas the control spoiled after 3 days. Thus turmeric and casein based‐emulsion coating could extend the shelf‐life of carrots by 7 days.     

Biodeterioration of sandstone under the influence of different humidity levels in laboratory conditions

Excessive moisture in building materials supports microbial growth. It has been referred that relative humidity more than 55% promotes the microbial growth. To test the effect of different relative humidity tropical chamber test was set up at 52%, 76%, 85% and 96% RH and maximum diversity of fungi was found at 85% and 96% RH. Two fungi Aspergillus sydowi and Aspergillus flavipes were present throughout the course of study from moderate to highly abundant form. It was observed that Fusarium moniliforme, Cephalosporium acremonium, Papulospora sp. proliferated at higher relative humidity (i.e. at 85% and 96.6% RH) and Fusarium roseum, Fusarium oxysporum only at 96% RH level. The relative humidity level lower than 62%, i.e. at 52% level exhibited no fungal growth on sandstone surface during two-year observations. During the study pattern it was noticed that diversity decreased gradually and dominance of particular species increased with the time factor. Analysis of sandstone after fungal colonization by X-ray diffraction and SEM showed the formation of newly formed biomineral.