Equivalent circuit parameters of the film-covered magnesium/electrolyte interface in Mg/MnO2 dry cells from transient and ac impedance measurements

The electrochemical properties of the film-covered anode/solution interface in the magnesium/ manganese dioxide dry cell have been evaluated. The most plausible electrical equivalent circuit description of the Mg/solution interface with the passive film intact, has been identified. These results are based on the analysis of ac impedance and voltage transient measurements made on the dry cell under conditions which cause no damage to the protective passive film on the anode. The study demonstrates the complementary character of impedance and transient measurements when widely different frequency ranges are sampled in each type of investigation. The values and temperature dependence of the anode-film resistance, film capacitance, double-layer capacitance and charge-transfer resistance of the film-covered magnesium/solution interface have been determined. The magnitude of these values and its implications in understanding the important performance aspects of the magnesium/manganese dioxide dry cell are discussed. The study may be extended, in principle, to Li, Al and Ca batteries.

Anti-apoptotic Protein BCL2 Down-regulates DNA End Joining in Cancer Cells

Cancer cells are often associated with secondary chromosomal rearrangements, such as deletions, inversions, and translocations, which could be the consequence of unrepaired/misrepaired DNA double strand breaks (DSBs). Nonhomologous DNA end joining is one of the most common pathways to repair DSBs in higher eukaryotes. By using oligomeric DNA substrates mimicking various endogenous DSBs in a cell-free system, we studied end joining (EJ) in different cancer cell lines. We found that the efficiency of EJ varies among cancer cells; however, there was no remarkable difference in the mechanism and expression of EJ proteins. Interestingly, cancer cells with lower levels of EJ possessed elevated expression of BCL2 and vice versa. Removal of BCL2 by immunoprecipitation or protein fractionation led to elevated EJ. More importantly, we show that overexpression of BCL2 or the addition of purified BCL2 led to the down-regulation of EJ. Further, we found that BCL2 interacts with KU proteins both in vitro and in vivo. Hence, our results suggest that EJ in cancer cells could be negatively regulated by the anti-apoptotic protein, BCL2, and this may contribute toward increased chromosomal abnormalities in cancer.

A possible role for a low molecular weight peptide in regulation of testosterone production by rat Leydig cells

Sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of Percoll purified Leydig cell proteins from 20- and 120-day-old rats revealed a significant decrease in a low molecular weight peptide in the adult rats. Administration of human chorionic gonadotropin to immature rats resulted in a decrease in the low molecular weight peptide along with increase in testosterone production. Modulation of the peptide by human chorionic gonadotropin could be confirmed by Western blotting. The presence of a similar peptide could be detected by Western blotting in testes of immature mouse, hamster, guinea pig but not in adrenal, placenta and corpus luteum. Administration of testosterone propionate which is known to inhibit the pituitary luteinizing hormone levels in adult rats resulted in an increase in the low molecular weight peptide, as checked by Western blotting. It is suggested that this peptide may have a role in regulation of acquisition of responsiveness to luteinizing hormone by immature rat Leydig cells.

Enhanced photodynamic effect of cobalt(III) dipyridophenazine complex on thyrotropin receptor expressing HEK293 cells

Ternary cobalt(III) complexes CoL(B)] (1-3) of a trianionic tetradentate phenolate-based ligand (L) and phenanthroline bases (B), viz. 1,10-phenanthroline (phen in 1), dipyridoquinoxaline (dpq in 2) and dipyridophenazine (dppz in 3) are synthesized, characterized from X-ray crystallographic, analytical and spectral techniques, and their utility in photodynamic therapy (PDT) of thyroid diseases caused by TSH receptor dysfunction is probed. The complexes display a visible spectral band within the PDT spectral window at similar to 690 nm. Photodynamic potential was estimated through DNA cleavage activity of the dpq and dppz complexes in UV-A light of 365 nm and red light of 676 nm. The reactions proceed via the hydroxyl radical pathway. The complexes retain their DNA photocleavage activity in red light under anaerobic conditions, a situation normally prevails in hypoxic tumor core. Investigation into the photocytotoxic potential of these complexes showed that the dppz complex 3 is approximately 4-fold more active in the HEK293 cells expressing human thyrotropin receptor (HEK293-hTSHR) than in the parental cell line and has an insignificant effect on an unrelated human cervical carcinoma cell line (HeLa). Photoexcitation of complex 3 in HEK293-hTSHR cells leads to damage hTSHR as evidenced from the decrease in cAMP formation both in absence and presence of hTSH and decrease in the TSHR immunofluorescence with a concomitant cytoplasmic translocation of the membrane protein, cadherin. The involvement of hTSHR is evidenced from the ability of complex 3 to bind to the extracellular domain of hTSHR (hTSHR-ECD) with a K-d value of 81 nM and from the photocleavage of hTSHR-ECD.

TLR 9 Activation in Dendritic Cells Enhances Salmonella Killing and Antigen Presentation via Involvement of the Reactive Oxygen Species

Synthetic CpG containing oligodeoxynucleotide Toll like receptor-9 agonist (CpG DNA) activates innate immunity and can stimulate antigen presentation against numerous intracellular pathogens. It was observed that Salmonella Typhimurium growth can be inhibited by the CpG DNA treatment in the murine dendritic cells. This inhibitory effect was mediated by an increased reactive oxygen species production. In addition, it was noted that CpG DNA treatment of dendritic cells during Salmonella infection leads to an increased antigen presentation. Further this increased antigen presentation was dependent on the enhanced reactive oxygen species production elicited by Toll like receptor-9 activation. With the help of an exogenous antigen it was shown that Salmonella antigen could also be cross-presented in a better way by CpG induction. These data collectively indicate that CpG DNA enhance the ability of murine dendritic cells to contain the growth of virulent Salmonella through reactive oxygen species dependent killing.

Src Homology 3-interacting Domain of Rv1917c of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Induces Selective Maturation of Human Dendritic Cells by Regulating PI3K-MAPK-NF-kappa B Signaling and Drives Th2 Immune Responses

Mycobacterium tuberculosis, an etiological agent of pulmonary tuberculosis, causes significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Pathogenic mycobacteria survive in the host by subverting host innate immunity. Dendritic cells (DCs) are professional antigen-presenting cells that are vital for eliciting immune responses to infectious agents, including pathogenic mycobacteria. DCs orchestrate distinct Th responses based on the signals they receive. In this perspective, deciphering the interactions of the proline-glutamic acid/proline-proline-glutamic acid (PE/PPE) family of proteins of M. tuberculosis with DCs assumes significant pathophysiological attributes. In this study, we demonstrate that Rv1917c (PPE34), a representative member of the proline-proline-glutamic-major polymorphic tandem repeat family, interacts with TLR2 and triggers functional maturation of human DCs. Signaling perturbations implicated a critical role for integrated cross-talk among PI3K-MAPK and NF-kappa B signaling cascades in Rv1917c-induced maturation of DCs. However, this maturation of DCs was associated with a secretion of high amounts of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, whereas Th1-polarizing cytokine IL-12 was not induced. Consistent with these results, Rv1917c-matured DCs favored secretion of IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10 from CD4(+) T cells and contributed to Th2-skewed cytokine balance ex vivo in healthy individuals and in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. Interestingly, the Rv1917c-skewed Th2 immune response involved induced expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in DCs. Taken together, these results indicate that Rv1917c facilitates a shift in the ensuing immunity toward the Th2 phenotype and could aid in immune evasion by mycobacteria.

A heuristic clustering algorithm using union of overlapping pattern-cells

Relative geometric arrangements of the sample points, with reference to the structure of the imbedding space, produce clusters. Hence, if each sample point is imagined to acquire a volume of a small M-cube (called pattern-cell), depending on the ranges of its (M) features and number (N) of samples; then overlapping pattern-cells would indicate naturally closer sample-points. A chain or blob of such overlapping cells would mean a cluster and separate clusters would not share a common pattern-cell between them. The conditions and an analytic method to find such an overlap are developed. A simple, intuitive, nonparametric clustering procedure, based on such overlapping pattern-cells is presented. It may be classified as an agglomerative, hierarchical, linkage-type clustering procedure. The algorithm is fast, requires low storage and can identify irregular clusters. Two extensions of the algorithm, to separate overlapping clusters and to estimate the nature of pattern distributions in the sample space, are also indicated.

A Comparative Study of the Effect of Metallic Au and ReO3 Nanoparticles on the Performance of Silicon Solar Cells

The influence of gold (similar to 35 nm diameter) as well as ReO3 (similar to 17 nm diameter) nanoparticles placed atop silicon photovoltaic devices on absorption and photocurrent generation has been investigated. The nanoparticles improve the power transmission into the semiconductor and consequently, the photocurrent response at wavelengths corresponding to plasmon absorption. An increase in short circuit current up to 4.5% under simulated solar irradiation was observed with the ReO3 nanoparticles, while the gold nanoparticles showed enhancements up to 6.5%. The increase in photocurrent is observed at wavelengths corresponding to the maxima in the surface plasmon resonance absorption spectra. (C) 2010 The Japan Society of Applied Physics

Photo-activated cytotoxicity of a pyrenyl-terpyridine copper(II) complex in HeLa cells

Terpyridine copper(II) complexes Cu(L)(2)](NO3)(2) where L is (4'-phenyl)-2 2' 6' 2 `'-terpyridine (ph-tpy in 1) and 4-(1 pyrenyl)]-2 2' 6' 2'-terpyridine (py-tpy in 2) are prepared characterized and their photocytotoxic activity studied The crystal structure of complex 1 shows distorted octahedral CuN6 coordination geometry The 1 2 electrolytic and one-electron paramagnetic complexes show a visible band near 650 nm in DMF-H2O The complexes show emission band at 352 nm for 1 and 425 nm for 2 when excited at 283 and 346 nm respectively The Cu(II)-Cu(I) redox couple is observed near -0 2 V versus SCE in DMF-0 1 m TBAP The complexes are avid partial-intercalative binders to calf thymus DNA giving binding constant (K-b) values of similar to 10(6) M-1 Complex 2 with its photoactive pyrenyl moiety exhibits significant photocleavage of pUC19 DNA in red light via singlet oxygen pathway Complex 2 also exhibits significant photo-activated cytotoxicity in HeLa cancer cells in visible light giving IC50 value of 11 9 mu M while being non-toxic in dark with an IC50 value of 130 5 mu M (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved

Mesoporous Carbon and Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) Composite as Catalyst Support for Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells

In situ polymerization of 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene with sol-gel-derived mesoporous carbon (MC) leading to a new composite and its subsequent impregnation with Pt nanoparticles for application in polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) is reported. The composite exhibits good dispersion and utilization of platinum nanoparticles akin to other commonly used microporous carbon materials, such as carbon black. Pt-supported MC-poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) composite also exhibits promising electrocatalytic activity toward oxygen reduction reaction, which is central to PEFCs. The PEFC with Pt-loaded MC-PEDOT support exhibits 75% of enhancement in its power density in relation to the PEFC with Pt-loaded pristine MC support while operating under identical conditions. It is conjectured that Pt-supported MC-PEDOT composite ameliorates PEFC performance/durability on repetitive potential cycling. (C) 2010 The Electrochemical Society. DOI: 10.1149/1.3486172] All rights reserved.

Signaling different pathways of cell death: Abrin induced programmed necrosis in U266B1 cells

Abrin is a type II ribosome-inactivating protein comprising of two subunits, A and B. Of the two, the A-subunit harbours the RNA-N-glycosidase activity and the B subunit is a galactose specific lectin that enables the entry of the protein inside the cell. Abrin inhibits protein synthesis and has been reported to induce apoptosis in several cell types. Based on these observations abrin is considered to have potential for the construction of immunotoxin in cell targeted therapy. Preliminary data from our laboratory however showed that although abrin inhibited the protein synthesis in all cell types, the mode of cell death varied. The aim of the present study was therefore to understand different death pathways induced by abrin in different cells. We used the human B cell line, U266B1 and compared it with the earlier studied T cell line Jurkat, for abrin-mediated inhibition of protein translation as well as cell death. While abrin triggered programmed apoptosis in Jurkat cells in a caspase-dependent manner, it induced programmed necrosis in U266B1 cells in a caspase-independent manner, even when there was reactive oxygen species production and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. The data revealed that abrin-mediated necrosis involves lysosomal membrane permeabilization and release of cathepsins from the lysosomes. Importantly, the choice of abrin-mediated death pathway in the cells appears to depend on which of the two events occurs first: lysosomal membrane permeabilization or loss of mitochondrial membrane potential that decides cell death by necrosis or apoptosis. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Atmospheric boundary-layer across Hadley and Ferrel cells over the Indian Ocean

A Southern Ocean Pilot cruise covering the latitudes from 10 degrees N to 56 degrees S in the open Indian Ocean was carried out during January February 2004. Surface and upper air data collected during this cruise are reported here. It is shown that the broad features of the atmosphere, in particular that of temperature, follow the tropical and mid-latitude weather expected during January February in this region. However, the atmospheric boundary-layer shows large variations, both in its height and structure between tropics and high latitudes. Strong influence of the surface heat flux on boundary layer structure is clearly seen. Humidity field reveals several local maxima and minima, suggesting a laminated atmosphere with air from different sources moving almost unmixed in adjacent layers.

Effect of 80 kDa protein of porcine follicular fluid on gonadotropin stimulated progesterone production in rat granulosa cells in vitro

We reported the presence of a 80 kDa polypeptide in porcine follicular fluid that inhibited the binding of 125I-radiolabelled hFSH as well as hCG to the rat ovarian gonadotropin receptors. In the present study, the biological activity of the receptor binding inhibitor is determined using an in vitro bioassay procedure. Granulosa cells isolated from PMSG primed immature rat ovaries respond to exogenously added gonadotropins in terms of progesterone production. Addition of fractions containing the gonadotropin receptor binding inhibitory activity inhibited progesterone production stimulated by the gonadotropins in a dose-dependent fashion. The receptor binding inhibitory activity was also capable of inhibiting progesterone production stimulated by PMSG, which has both FSH- and LH-like activities in rats. In contrast, progesterone production stimulated by dbcAMP was not inhibited by the receptor binding inhibitor. This result indicates that the site of action of the inhibitor is proximal to the formation of the cAMP. The above observations point out to a possible role for this factor in modulating gonadotropin activity at the ovarian level.

Drainage and separation factors for static foams containing agglomerates of microbial cells

The presence of cell agglomerates has been found to influence significantly the rates of liquid drainage from static foams. The process of drainage has been modelled by considering the foam to be made of pentagonal dodecahedral bubbles yielding films, nearly horizontal and nearly vertical Plateau borders. The films are assumed to drain into both kinds of Plateau borders equally. The horizontal Plateau borders are assumed to receive liquid from the films and drain into the vertical Plateau borders, which, in turn, form the main flow paths for gravity drainage. The drainage process is assumed to be similar to that for pure liquid until a stage is reached where the size of the cell agglomerates become equivalent to those of films and Plateau borders. Thereafter, a squeezing flow mechanism has been formulated where the aggromerates deform and flow. The model based on the above assumptions has been verified against experimental results and has been found to predict not only drainage data but also the separation of cell agglomerates from broths.