Phylomineralogy of the Coralline red algae: Correlation of skeletal mineralogy with molecular phylogeny

The coralline algae in the orders Corallinales and Sporolithales (subclass Corallinophycidae), with their high degree of mineralogical variability, pose a challenge to projections regarding mineralogy and response to ocean acidification. Here we relate skeletal carbonate mineralogy to a well-established phylogenetic framework and draw inferences about the effects of future changes in sea-water chemistry on these calcified red algae. A collection of 191 coralline algal specimens from New Zealand, representing 13 genera and 28 species, included members of three families: Corallinaceae, Hapalidiaceae, and Sporolithaceae. While most skeletal specimens were entirely calcitic (range: 73–100 wt.% calcite, mean 97 wt.% calcite, std dev = 5, n = 172), a considerable number contained at least some aragonite. Mg in calcite ranged from 10.5 to 16.4 wt.% MgCO₃, with a mean of 13.1 wt.% MgCO₃ (std dev = 1.1, n = 172). The genera Mesophyllum and Lithophyllum were especially variable. Growth habit, too, was related to mineralogy: geniculate coralline algae do not generally contain any aragonite. Mg content varied among coralline families: the Corallinaceae had the highest Mg content, followed by the Sporolithaceae and the Hapalidiaceae. Despite the significant differences among families, variation and overlap prevent the use of carbonate mineralogy as a taxonomic character in the coralline algae. Latitude (as a proxy for water temperature) had only a slight relationship to Mg content in coralline algae, contrary to trends observed in other biomineralising taxa. Temperate magnesium calcites, like those produced by coralline algae, are particularly vulnerable to ocean acidification. Changes in biomineralisation or species distribution may occur over the next few decades, particularly to species producing high-Mg calcite, as pH and CO₂ dynamics change in coastal temperate oceans.     

Chemical bioimaging for the subcellular localization of trace elements by high contrast TEM,TEM/X-EDS,and NanoSIMS

Chemical bioimaging offers an important contribution to the investigation of biochemical functions, biosorption and bioaccumulation processes of trace elements via their localization at the cellular and even at the subcellular level. This paper describes the combined use of high contrast transmission electron microscopy (HC-TEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (X-EDS), and nano secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS) applied to a model organism, the unicellular green algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. HC-TEM providing a lateral resolution of 1 nm was used for imaging the ultrastructure of algae cells which have diameters of 5–10 μm. TEM coupled to X-EDS (TEM/X-EDS) combined textural (morphology and size) analysis with detection of Ca, P, K, Mg, Fe, and Zn in selected subcellular granules using an X-EDS probe size of approx. 1 μm. However, instrumental sensitivity was at the limit for trace element detection. NanoSIMS allowed chemical imaging of macro and trace elements with subcellular resolution (element mapping). Ca, Mg, and P as well as the trace elements Fe, Cu, and Zn present at basal levels were detected in pyrenoids, contractile vacuoles, and granules. Some metals were even localized in small vesicles of about 200 nm size. Sensitive subcellular localization of trace metals was possible by the application of a recently developed RF plasma oxygen primary ion source on NanoSIMS which has shown good improvements in terms of lateral resolution (below 50 nm), sensitivity, and stability. Furthermore correlative single cell imaging was developed combining the advantages of TEM and NanoSIMS. An advanced sample preparation protocol provided adjacent ultramicrotome sections for parallel TEM and NanoSIMS analyses of the same cell. Thus, the C. reinhardtii cellular ultrastructure could be directly related to the spatial distribution of metals in different cell organelles such as vacuoles and chloroplast.     

Silica deposition in Demosponges: spiculogenesis in Crambe crambe

Transmission electron-microscopy images coupled with dispersive X-ray analysis of the species Crambe crambe have provided information on the process of silica deposition in Demosponges. Sclerocytes (megasclerocytes) lie close to spicules or surround them at different stages of growth by means of long thin enveloping pseudopodia. Axial filaments occur free in the mesohyl, in close contact with sclerocytes, and are triangular in cross section, with an internal silicified core. The unit-type membrane surrounding the growing spicule coalesces with the plasmalemma. The axial filament of a growing spicule and that of a mature spicule contain 50%-70% Si and 30%-40% Si relative to that contained in the spicule wall, respectively. The extracellular space between the sclerocyte and the growing spicule contains 50%-65%. Mitochondria, vesicles and dense inclusions of sclerocytes exhibit less than 10%. The cytoplasm close to the growing spicule and that far from the growing spicule contain up to 50% and less than 10%, respectively. No Si has been detected in other parts of the sponge. The megascleres are formed extracellularly. Once the axial filament is extruded to the mesohyl, silicification is accomplished in an extracellular space formed by the enveloping pseudopodia of the sclerocyte. Si deposition starts at regularly distributed sites along the axial filament; this may be related to the highly hydroxylated zones of the silicatein-alpha protein. Si is concentrated in the cytoplasm of the sclerocyte close to the plasmalemma that surrounds the growing spicules. Orthosilicic acid seems to be pumped, both from the mesohyl to the sclerocyte and from the sclerocyte to the extracellular pocket containing the growing spicule, via the plasmalemma.     

Bio-reduction of hexachloroplatinic acid to platinum nanoparticles employing Acinetobacter calcoaceticus

Acinetobacter calcoaceticus PUCM 1011 efficiently synthesized platinum nanoparticles (PtNP) of size 2–3 nm intracellularly when challenged with hexachloroplatinic acid. Salt concentration (1 mM), temperature (30 °C), pH (7) and incubation period (72 h) influenced the efficiency of monodisperse cuboidal PtNP synthesis. Resolution of ordered lattice fringes with “d” value of 0.23 nm corresponding to (1 1 1) plane and EDAX confirmed presence of metallic platinum. AFM, TEM and HR-TEM confirmed synthesis of PtNP and its effect on cell viability. Total cell protein profile for 120 h with an interval of 24 h after PtNP synthesis revealed prominent four protein bands (97, 66, 43 and 29 kDa) when compared to control. Combinations of three proteins initiated PtNP synthesis within 4 h in range of 1–4 nm and few in picometers under HR-TEM. This is the first report of PtNP synthesis employing whole cell and total cell protein of A. calcoaceticus.     

Solution conditions define morphological homogeneity of α-synuclein fibrils

The intrinsically disordered human α-synuclein (αSyn) protein exhibits considerable heterogeneity in in vitro fibrillization reactions. Using atomic force microscopy (AFM) we show that depending on the solvent conditions, A140C mutant and wild-type αSyn can be directed to reproducibly form homogeneous populations of fibrils exhibiting regular periodicity. Results from Thioflavin-T fluorescence assays, determination of residual monomer concentrations and native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis reveal that solvent conditions including EDTA facilitate incorporation of a larger fraction of monomers into fibrils. The fibrils formed in 10 mM Tris–HCl, 10 mM NaCl and 0.1 mM EDTA at pH 7.4 display a narrow distribution of periodicities with an average value of 102 ± 6 nm for the A140C mutant and 107 ± 9 nm for wt αSyn. The ability to produce a homogeneous fibril population can be instrumental in understanding the detailed structural features of fibrils and the fibril assembly process. Moreover, the availability of morphologically well-defined fibrils will enhance the potential for use of amyloids as biological nanomaterials.     

Early divergence dates of demosponges based on mitogenomics and evaluated fossil calibrations

Demosponges are among the most primitive biomineralized metazoans to appear first in the fossil record with hard skeletons; their confirmed earliest fossils are from the lower Cambrian rocks about 520 Ma, with putative demosponge biomarkers reported from 713 to 635 Ma sediments. In this study, we use mitogenomic data to approach the early divergence timescale of demosponges using relaxed molecular clock techniques and likelihood-evaluated fossil calibration strategies. We found that among various molecular dating models, the correlated rate model yielded time estimates of demosponges in this analysis which is most congruent with the fossil appearance dates of demosponges. Our dating analyses show that crown groups of Demospongiae appeared at about 704 (674–741) Ma, and the silicification in demosponges (divergence of spicular sponges) began about 633 (616–648) Ma indicating a gap of over 100 million years between the origin of silicification and their first unequivocal appearance of siliceous spicules in the fossil record (520–525 Ma); demosponges with tetraxon-type spicules (Tetractinellida) are dated here at about 514 (498–530) Ma, an estimate comparable with the earliest tetraxial megasclere fossil records (510–520 Ma, Ordian Age, middle Cambrian).     

Comparison of the physical characteristics of chlorosomes from three different phyla of green phototrophic bacteria

Chlorosomes, the major antenna complexes in green sulphur bacteria, filamentous anoxygenic phototrophs, and phototrophic acidobacteria, are attached to the cytoplasmic side of the inner cell membrane and contain thousands of bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) molecules that harvest light and channel the energy to membrane-bound reaction centres. Chlorosomes from phototrophs representing three different phyla, Chloroflexus (Cfx.) aurantiacus, Chlorobaculum (Cba.) tepidum and the newly discovered “Candidatus (Ca.) Chloracidobacterium (Cab.) thermophilum” were analysed using PeakForce Tapping atomic force microscopy (PFT-AFM). Gentle PFT-AFM imaging in buffered solutions that maintained the chlorosomes in a near-native state revealed ellipsoids of variable size, with surface bumps and undulations that differ between individual chlorosomes. Cba. tepidum chlorosomes were the largest (133 × 57 × 36 nm; 141,000 nm³ volume), compared with chlorosomes from Cfx. aurantiacus (120 × 44 × 30 nm; 84,000 nm³) and Ca. Cab. thermophilum (99 × 40 × 31 nm; 65,000 nm³). Reflecting the contributions of thousands of pigment–pigment stacking interactions to the stability of these supramolecular assemblies, analysis by nanomechanical mapping shows that chlorosomes are highly stable and that their integrity is disrupted only by very strong forces of 1000–2000 pN. AFM topographs of Ca. Cab. thermophilum chlorosomes that had retained their attachment to the cytoplasmic membrane showed that this membrane dynamically changes shape and is composed of protrusions of up to 30 nm wide and 6 nm above the mica support, possibly representing different protein domains. Spectral imaging revealed significant heterogeneity in the fluorescence emission of individual chlorosomes, likely reflecting the variations in BChl c homolog composition and internal arrangements of the stacked BChls within each chlorosome.     

Photobiomodulation of human adipose-derived stem cells using 810 nm and 980 nm lasers operates via different mechanisms of action

Photobiomodulation (PBM) using red or near-infrared (NIR) light has been used to stimulate the proliferation and differentiation of adipose-derived stem cells. The use of NIR wavelengths such as 810 nm is reasonably well accepted to stimulate mitochondrial activity and ATP production via absorption of photons by cytochrome c oxidase. However, the mechanism of action of 980 nm is less well understood. Here we study the effects of both wavelengths (810 nm and 980 nm) on adipose-derived stem cells in vitro. Both wavelengths showed a biphasic dose response, but 810 nm had a peak dose response at 3 J/cm² for stimulation of proliferation at 24 h, while the peak dose for 980 nm was 10–100 times lower at 0.03 or 0.3 J/cm². Moreover, 980 nm (but not 810 nm) increased cytosolic calcium while decreasing mitochondrial calcium. The effects of 980 nm could be blocked by calcium channel blockers (capsazepine for TRPV1 and SKF96365 for TRPC channels), which had no effect on 810 nm. To test the hypothesis that the chromophore for 980 nm was intracellular water, which could possibly form a microscopic temperature gradient upon laser irradiation, we added cold medium (4 °C) during the light exposure, or pre-incubated the cells at 42 °C, both of which abrogated the effect of 980 nm but not 810 nm. We conclude that 980 nm affects temperature-gated calcium ion channels, while 810 nm largely affects mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase.     

Synthesis and characterization of pHLIP® coated gold nanoparticles

Novel approaches in synthesis of spherical and multispiked gold nanoparticles coated with polyethylene glycol (PEG) and pH Low Insertion Peptide (pHLIP^®) were introduced. The presence of a tumor-targeting pHLIP^® peptide in the nanoparticle coating enhances the stability of particles in solution and promotes a pH-dependent cellular uptake. The spherical particles were prepared with sodium citrate as a gold reducing agent to form particles of 7.0±2.5 nm in mean metallic core diameter and ～43 nm in mean hydrodynamic diameter. The particles that were injected into tumors in mice (21 µg of gold) were homogeneously distributed within a tumor mass with no staining of the muscle tissue adjacent to the tumor. Up to 30% of the injected gold dose remained within the tumor one hour post-injection. The multispiked gold nanoparticles with a mean metallic core diameter of 146.0±50.4 nm and a mean hydrodynamic size of ~161 nm were prepared using ascorbic acid as a reducing agent and disk-like bicelles as a template. Only the presence of a soft template, like bicelles, ensured the appearance of spiked nanoparticles with resonance in the near infrared region. The irradiation of spiked gold nanoparticles by an 805 nm laser led to the time- and concentration-dependent increase of temperature. Both pHLIP^® and PEG coated gold spherical and multispiked nanoparticles might find application in radiation and thermal therapies of tumors.     

Correlation between serum trace elements and risk of preeclampsia: A case controlled study in Riyadh,Saudi Arabia

Preeclampsia is a serious medical complication during pregnancy. In response to an increasing number of preeclamptic cases and scarcity of data concerning the interrelation between trace element levels and preeclampsia, we carried out a hospital based case–control study in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to study the correlation between levels of serum trace elements and risk of preeclampsia. One hundred and twenty pregnant women were enrolled in this study and divided into three groups of 40 each—Control group, HR group (women at high risk of preeclampsia) and PET group (Preeclampsia group). Serum trace element levels were estimated by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrophotometer. The analysis found that mean values of Ca, Mg and Zn were 90.08 ± 6.38, 19.33 ± 3.32 and 1.30 ± 0.83 mg/L respectively in normotensive control and 77.85 ± 4.47, 15.44 ± 1.43 and 0.98 ± 0.63 mg/L respectively in the HR group. The mean values of Ca, Mg and Zn in the preeclamptic group were 70.37 ± 4.66, 13.58 ± 1.98 and 0.67 ± 0.59 mg/L, respectively. Interelement analysis reflected a negative correlation between Ca and Mg and between Mg and Zn whereas positive correlation between Ca and Zn in preeclamptic women. However the correlation was not statistically significant. In conclusion, our study suggests that decreased levels of these trace elements in serum may act as predisposing factors in pathogenesis of Preeclampsia.     

Sono-chemical preparation of cellulose nanocrystals from lignocellulose derived materials

This study examined the production of cellulose nanocrystals from microcrystalline wood cellulose, Avicel and recycled pulp of wood pulp using sono-chemical-assisted hydrolysis. Two hydrolysis systems: deionized water and maleic acid were evaluated. In deionized water, Avicel produced cellulose nanocrystals with average diameter of 21 ± 5 nm (minimum 15 nm and maximum 32 nm). Cellulose nanocrystals from recycled pulp were not distinctively spherical and had an average diameter of 23 ± 4 nm (minimum 14 nm and maximum 32 nm). Maleic acid (50 mM) sono-chemical assisted hydrolysis of Avicel at 15 °C and 90% power output for 9 min produced cellulose nanocrystals which were cylindrical in shape and were of dimensions, length 65 ± 19 nm and width 15 nm.     

Fungal surface remodelling visualized by atomic force microscopy

Most fungal growth is localized to the tips of hyphae, however, early stages of spore germination and the growth of certain morphological mutant strains exhibit non-polarized expansion. We used atomic force microscopy (AFM) to document changes in Aspergillus nidulans wall surfaces during non-polarized growth: spore germination, and growth in a strain containing the hypA1 temperature sensitive morphogenesis defect. We compared wall surface structures of both wild-type and mutant A. nidulans following growth at 28 ° and 42 °C, the latter being the restrictive temperature for hypA1. There was no appreciable difference in surface ultrastructure between wild-type and hypA1 spores, or hyphal walls grown at 28 °C. When dry mature A. nidulans conidia were wetted they lost their hydrophobin coat, indicating an intermediate stage between dormancy and swelling. The surface structure of hypA1 germlings grown at 42 °C was less organized than wild-type hyphae grown under the same conditions, and had a larger range of subunit sizes. AFM images of hyphal wall surface changes following a shift in growth temperature from restrictive (42 °C) to permissive (28 °C), showed a gradient of sizes for wall surface features similar to the trend observed for wild-type cells at branch points. Changes associated with the hyphal wall structure for A. nidulans hypA1 offer insight into the events associated with fungal germination, and wall remodelling.     

Loss of aboveground forest biomass and landscape biomass variability in Missouri,US

Disturbance regimes and forests have changed over time in the eastern United States. We examined effects of historical disturbance (circa 1813 to 1850) compared to current disturbance (circa 2004 to 2008) on aboveground, live tree biomass (for trees with diameters ≥13 cm) and landscape variation of biomass in forests of the Ozarks and Plains landscapes in Missouri, USA. We simulated 10,000 one-hectare plots using random diameters generated from parameters of diameter distributions limited to diameters ≥13 cm and random densities generated from density estimates. Area-weighted mean biomass density (Mg/ha) for historical forests averaged 116 Mg/ha, ranging from 54 Mg/ha to 357 Mg/ha by small scale ecological subsections within Missouri landscapes. Area-weighted mean biomass density for current forests averaged 82 Mg/ha, ranging from 66 Mg/ha to 144 Mg/ha by ecological subsection for currently forested land. Biomass density of current forest was greater than historical biomass density for only 2 of 23 ecological subsections. Current carbon sequestration of 292 TgC on 7 million ha of forested land is less than half of the estimated historical total carbon sequestration of 693 TgC on 12 million ha. Cumulative tree cutting disturbances over time have produced forests that have less aboveground tree biomass and are uniform in biomass compared to estimates of historical biomass, which varied across Missouri landscapes. With continued relatively low rates of forest disturbance, current biomass per ha will likely increase to historical levels as the most competitive trees become larger in size and mean number of trees per ha decreases due to competition and self-thinning. Restoration of large diameter structure and forested extent of upland woodlands and floodplain forests could fulfill multiple conservation objectives, including carbon sequestration.     

Towards calcareous wetland creation in flooded abandoned aggregate quarries: A 3-year field mesocosm study

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the feasibility of the rehabilitation of abandoned aggregate quarries to calcareous wetlands through a growth experiment at the quarry floor. We tested the effects of planting substrate (fine screenings, coarse rock, transplanted peatball, and topsoil addition to screenings) and springtime water depth (+15, 0, and ?15 cm relative to ground surface) on the growth of Carex aquatilis over 3 years. Survival rate of the transplanted material was 100%. Minimal growth was observed after the first growing season, but by the end of the third growing season the transplanted material had added on average 80, 4, and 3 shoots in the topsoil-amended, intact peatball, and coarse rock treatments, respectively, but lost on average 4 shoots in the fine screenings treatment. The addition of topsoil significantly increased final aboveground biomass (285 ± 49 g per plot) compared to the peatball (40 ± 16 g), rock (36 ± 11 g) and screenings (35 ± 21 g) treatments, which were not significantly different. The effect of water depth did not lead to overall significant differences, as Carex aquatilis ramets were capable of growing in springtime water levels from 15 cm above to 15 cm below ground surface. Our data demonstrate that some flooded abandoned aggregate quarry floors represent suitable sites for conversion to calcareous wetlands, even with a strategy of minimum maintenance, and that wetland species are capable of growth in these largely inorganic settings.     

Age-dependent changes in the structure,composition and biophysical properties of a human basement membrane

Basement membranes (BMs) are considered to be uniform, approximately 100 nm-thin extracellular matrix sheets that serve as a substrate for epithelial cells, endothelial cells and myotubes. To find out whether BMs maintain their ultrastructure, protein composition and biophysical properties throughout life the natural aging history of the human inner limiting membranes (ILM) was investigated. The ILM is a BM at the vitreal surface of the retina that connects the retina with the vitreous. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed that the ILM steadily increases in thickness from 70 nm at fetal stages to several microns at age 90. By the age of 20, the ILM loses its laminated structure to become an amorphous and very irregular extracellular matrix layer. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) showed that the native, hydrated ILMs are on average 4-fold thicker than the dehydrated ILMs as seen by TEM and that their thickness is prominently determined by its water-binding proteoglycans. The morphological changes are accompanied by age-related changes in the biochemical composition, whereby the relative concentrations of collagen IV and agrin increase, and the concentration of laminin decreases with age. Force-indentation measurements by AFM also showed that ILMs become increasingly stiffer with advancing age. The data suggest that BMs from other human tissues may undergo similar age-related changes.     

Associations of soil iron with citrus tree decline and variability of sand,soil water,pH, magnesium and Diaprepes abbreviatus root weevil: Two-site study

The hypothesis of associations of environmental soil heterogeneity with citrus tree decline and Diaprepes abbreviatus (L.) root weevil variability was tested in two flatwoods fields of ‘Hamlin’ orange trees (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osb.). Studies were conducted on a loamy, poorly drained Mollisol in Osceola County, central Florida in 2002, and on a sandy, poorly drained Spodosol in DeSoto County, south-west Florida during 2001–2003. Adult weevils were monitored using 50 Tedders traps arranged in a 34 m × 25 m grid at the Osceola site, and using 100 identical traps in a 30 m × 15 m grid at the DeSoto site. Soil water content (SWC), texture, pH, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu and other nutrients were measured at each trap. Soil was strongly acidic (pH 4.9 ± 0.4) at the Osceola site but near neutral (pH 6.6 ± 0.4) at the DeSoto site. The Mehlich-I extractable soil Mg and Ca were correlated to soil pH and SWC in both soils, and extractable Fe was related to pH, SWC and Mg in the Spodosol (0.30 < R² < 0.65, P < 0.01). The weevil density was high in areas low in soil Mg and Ca in the acidic Mollisol, but high in areas with high soil pH, and Mg and low sand content in the near neutral Spodosol (P < 0.05). Tree decline was associated with soil Fe concentrations >40 mg kg⁻¹ in the Mollisol (P < 0.01). Weevil density was low at a soil pH between 5.7 and 6.2. The range of spatial dependence of weevil population, soil pH, SWC, Fe, Mg and sand varied between 60 and 100 m in the Mollisol and the Spodosol. Soil-weevil-tree simple and multivariate linear models were established to put into practices for predicting and controlling the weevil population and tree decline in the future. Differences in site characteristics suggested the need for site-specific weevil and citrus tree management.     

Topographic mapping and compression elasticity analysis of skinned cardiac muscle fibers in vitro with atomic force microscopy and nanoindentation

Surface topography and compression elasticity of bovine cardiac muscle fibers in rigor and relaxing state have been studied with atomic force microscopy. Characteristic sarcomere patterns running along the longitudinal axis of the fibers were clearly observed, and Z-lines, M-lines, I-bands, and A-bands can be distinguished through comparing with TEM images and force curves. AFM height images of fibers had shown a sarcomere length of 1.22±0.02 μm (n=5) in rigor with a significant 9% increase in sarcomere length in relaxing state (1.33±0.03 μm, n=5), indicating that overlap moves with the changing physiological conditions. Compression elasticity curves along with sarcomere locations have been taken by AFM compression processing. Coefficient of Z-line, I-band, Overlap, and M-line are 25±2, 8±1, 10±1, and 17±1.5 pN/nm respectively in rigor state, and 18±2.5, 4±0.5, 6±1, and 11±0.5 pN/nm respectively in relaxing state. Young's Modulus in Z-line, I-band, Overlap, and M-line are 115±12, 48±9, 52±8, and 90±12 kPa respectively in rigor, and 98±10, 23±4, 42±4, and 65±7 kPa respectively in relaxing state. The elasticity curves have shown a similar appearance to the section analysis profile of AFM height images of sarcomere and the distance between adjacent largest coefficient and Young's Modulus is equal to the sarcomere length measured from the AFM height images using section analysis, indicating that mechanic properties of fibers have a similar periodicity to the topography of fibers.     

Metal–organic chemical vapor deposition of Bi2Mn4O10 films on SrTiO3 〈1 0 0〉

Bi₂Mn₄O₁₀ films were deposited on SrTiO₃ (1 0 0) substrates via metal–organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) from the Bi(phenyl)₃ and Mn(tmhd)₃ (Htmhd = 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptanedione) precursors. The films were deposited in the temperature range of 600–800 °C. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) characterization indicates that the Bi₂Mn₄O₁₀ phase is stable within the investigated range, but the temperature plays a crucial role in determining the out-of-plane orientation of the films. The SEM shows very homogeneous surfaces with a fiber texture morphology at the highest deposition temperature. The AFM data indicate a textured surface with a root mean square roughness of 77.67 nm for films deposited at 800 °C.     

Comparative analysis of serum zinc,copper, magnesium,calcium and iron level in acute and chronic patients of visceral leishmaniasis

ProjectChronic visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is an increasingly common problem in disease endemic states of India. Identification of prognosis risk factor in patients with VL may lead to preventive actions, toward decreasing its mortality in chronic individuals. Though serum Zinc levels are decreased in patients of VL, limited information is available regarding trace elements status in acute and chronic VL patients. The present study was undertaken to compare serum trace elements concentrations in acute and chronic VL patients.ProcedureAcute (mean age = 28.64 years), chronic (mean age = 23.68 years) VL patients and healthy controls (mean age = 23.05 years) who agreed to provide blood specimens for laboratory investigations participated in this study. Serum zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), magnesium (Mg) and calcium (Ca) were measured spectrophotometrically using chemistry analyzer.ResultsSerum Zn concentration was comparatively much decreased in chronic VL than to acute ones (p = 0.007) while serum Mg was higher in chronic VL than acute (p = 0.002) ones. There was no statistically significant difference between acute and chronic VL in serum concentrations of Cu, Fe and Ca.ConclusionsSerum Zn levels were much decreased and serum Mg were increased in chronic VL as compared to acute cases. The serum concentrations of Fe and Ca did not show any difference between two groups. The serum Cu was increased in both groups but more in chronic ones. Serum Zn and Mg could be a potential prognosis factor for chronic VL patients. We hypothesize zinc supplementation as a chemo preventive agent for chronic VL cases, particularly in endemic areas.     

1-Allyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride plasticized-corn starch as solid biopolymer electrolytes

Ionic liquids (ILs), 1-allyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([amim]Cl) is found to be a novel plasticizer for cornstarch. [Amim]Cl-plasticized starch film also has a potential application as solid biopolymer electrolytes. In this study, different proportional [amim]Cl/glycerol mixtures are used to plasticize starch by casting. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) finds the diameter of residual starch granules existed in [amim]Cl or glycerol-plasticized starch films is only about 10 nm. However, glycerol can form more intensive hydrogen bond with starch than [amim]Cl detected by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. So some novel ILs with high concentration and active hydrogen bond acceptors are necessary. Moreover, high [amim]Cl content can improve the water absorption and conductance of TPS film simultaneously. The conductance of TPS film with 30 wt% [amim]Cl content can achieve to 10^?1.6 S cm^?1 at 14.5 wt% water content.