The members of the actinomycete genus Frankia are nitrogen-fixing symbionts of many species of woody dicotyledonous plants belonging to eight families. Several strains isolated from diverse actinorhizal plants growing in different geographical areas were used in this study. The phylogenetic relationships of these organisms and uncharacterized microsymbionts that are recalcitrant to isolation in pure culture were determined by comparing complete 16s ribosomal DNA sequences. The resulting phylogenetic tree revealed that there was greater diversity among the Alnus-infective strains than among the strains that infect other host plants. The four main subdivisions of the genus Frankia revealed by this phylogenetic analysis are (i) a very large group comprising Frankia alni and related organisms (including Alnus rugosa Sp+ microsymbionts that are seldom isolated in pure culture), to which Casuarina-infective strains, a Myrica nagi microsymbiont, and other effective Alnus-infective strains are related; (ii) unisolated microsymbionts of Dryas, Coriaria, and Dutisca species; (iii) Elaeagnus-infective strains; and (iv) "atypical" strains (a group which includes an Anus-infective, non-nitrogen-fixing strain). Taxa that are related to this well-defined, coherent Frankia cluster are the genera Geodermatophilus, "Blastococcus," Sporichthya, Acidothermus, and Actinoplanes. However, the two genera whose members have multilocular sporangia (the genera Frankia and Geodermatophilus) did not form a coherent group. For this reason, we propose that the family Frankiaceae should be emended so that the genera Geodermatophilus and "Blastococcus" are excluded and only the genus Frankia is retained.The slowly growing members of the actinomycete genus Frankia are root symbionts that nodulate a wide range of perennial woody dicotyledonous plants. This nitrogen-fixing symbiosis is known to occur in more than 200 species of plants belonging to 24 genera and eight families that are called actinorhizal (6). The first Frankia strain was isolated in 1956 by Pommer (43), but this strain was subsequently lost. In 1978, Callaham et al. (8) isolated an infective Frankia strain from Comptonia peregrirza, and since then hundreds of isolates have been obtained from a number of plant species growing in many geographical areas.Becking (5) was unsuccessful in isolating the causative agent of actinorhizal nodules despite numerous attempts. He suggested that this organism was an "obligate symbiont" and devised a classification scheme based on cross-inoculation groups and on the morphology of the endosymbiont. This scheme was subsequently found to be erroneous when pure cultures became available (8). Nonetheless, Becking ( 5 ) correctly perceived the bacterial nature of the microsymbiont, named it Frankia sp., and classified it as the only member of the family Frankiaceae in the order Actinomycetales.The members of the genus Frankia can now be clearly distinguished from other bacterial genera on the basis of their host specificity, their morphology (hyphae, ...

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Well-defined amphiphilic poly(ε-caprolactone)-b-poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) (PCL-b-PNVP) block copolymers were successfully prepared via the combination of ring-opening polymerization (ROP) and xanthate-mediated reversible additionÀfragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. Well-defined poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCLÀOH) was synthesized by ROP in bulk at 110 °C using benzyl alcohol as initiator and stannous octate [Sn(Oct) 2 ] as catalyst . The ÀOH end group was then converted into its corresponding xanthate (PCLÀX) via the conversion to its corresponding bromide (PCLÀBr). These are verified by 1 H NMR spectroscopy. PCL-b-PNVP block copolymers were synthesized via RAFT polymerization in tetrahydrofuran (THF) at 80 °C using PCLÀX as macro-chain transfer agent and characterized by 1 H NMR spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The amphiphilic diblock copolymer PCL 63 -b-PNVP 90 forms spherical micelles of ∼34 nm diameter in water as shown by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), supported by 1 H NMR spectroscopy, and light scattering. The critical micellar concentrations were determined by fluorescence spectroscopy using pyrene as probe. The critical micelle concentration (cmc) value of the block copolymers increases with the increase in the chain length of PNVP block. The overall hydrodynamic radius (R h ) of the micelles remains almost constant over the concentration range above the cmc value and over the angles of scattering measurement.

In this paper, we propose a mathematical model to assess the impact of social media advertisements in combating the coronavirus pandemic in India. We assume that dissemination of awareness among susceptible individuals modifies public attitudes and behaviours towards this contagious disease which results in reducing the chance of contact with the coronavirus and hence decreasing the disease transmission. Moreover, the individual’s behavioral response in the presence of global information campaigns accelerate the rate of hospitalization of symptomatic individuals and also encourage the asymptomatic individuals for conducting health protocols, such as self-isolation, social distancing, etc. We calibrate the proposed model with the cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases for the Republic of India. We estimate eight epidemiologically important parameters, and also the size of basic reproduction number for India. We find that the basic reproduction number for India is greater than unity, which represents the substantial outbreak of COVID-19 in the country. Sophisticated techniques of sensitivity analysis are employed to determine the impacts of model parameters on basic reproduction number and symptomatic infected population. Our results reveal that to reduce disease burden in India, non-pharmaceutical interventions strategies should be implemented effectively to decrease basic reproduction number below unity. Continuous propagation of awareness through the internet and social media platforms should be regularly circulated by the health authorities/government officials for hospitalization of symptomatic individuals and quarantine of asymptomatic individuals to control the prevalence of disease in India.

Binuclear zinc(II) and copper(II) complexes based on a new Schiff base ligand N,N'-bis(2-hydroxybenzilidene)-2,4,6-trimethylbenzene-1,3-diamine (H(2)L) have been synthesized. The ligand H(2)L and complexes under investigation have been characterized by elemental analyses, spectral (FT-IR, (1)H, (13)C NMR, ESI-MS, electronic absorption, emission), and electrochemical studies. The structures of H(2)L and complexes [{Zn(C(23)H(18)N(2)O(2))}(2)] (1) and [{Cu(C(23)H(18)N(2)O(2))}(2)]·H(2)O (2) have been determined crystallographically. Selective "On-Off-On" switching behavior of the fluorescent complex 1 has been studied. The fluorescence intensity of 1 quenches (turns-off) upon addition of Cu(2+), while enhances (turns-on) in the presence of Ag(+) ions. The mechanisms of "On-Off-On" signaling have been supported by (1)H NMR, ESI-MS, electronic absorption, and emission spectral studies. Job's plot analysis supported 1:1 and 1:2 stoichiometries for Cu(2+) and Ag(+) ions, respectively. Association and quenching constants have been estimated by the Benesi-Hildebrand method and Stern-Volmer plot. Moreover, 1 mimics a molecular keypad lock that follows correct chemical input order to give maximum output signal.

A nonlinear mathematical model with delay to capture the dynamics of effect of awareness programs on the prevalence of any epidemic is proposed and analyzed. It is assumed that pathogens are transmitted via direct contact between susceptibles and infectives. It is assumed further that cumulative density of awareness programs increases at a rate proportional to the number of infectives. It is considered that awareness programs are capable of inducing behavioral changes in susceptibles, which result in the isolation of aware population. The model is analyzed using stability theory of differential equations and numerical simulations. The model analysis shows that, though awareness programs cannot eradicate infection, they help in controlling the prevalence of disease. It is also found that time delay in execution of awareness programs destabilizes the system and periodic solutions may arise through Hopf-bifurcation.

A simple molecular fluorescent probe 5 has been designed and synthesized by appending anthracene and benzhydryl moieties through a piperazine bridge. The probe upon interaction with different metal ions showed high selectivity and sensitivity (2 ppb) for Hg(2+) through fluorescence "turn-on" response in HEPES buffer. The significant fluorescence enhancement (~10-fold) is attributable to PET arrest due to complexation with nitrogen atoms of the piperazine unit and Hg(2+) in 1:2 stoichiometry, in which a naked-eye sensitive fluorescent blue color of solution changed to a blue-green (switched-on). As a proof of concept, promising prospects for application in environmental and biological sciences 5 have been utilized to detect Hg(2+) sensitively in real samples, on cellulose paper strips, in protein medium (like BSA), and intracellularly in HeLa cells. Moreover, the optical behavior of 5 upon providing different chemical inputs has been utilized to construct individual logic gates and a reusable combinational logic circuit. The combinational circuit (switch ON mode; OR logic gate) is easily resettable to the original position (switch OFF mode; INHIBIT logic gate) by applying reset chemical inputs (OH(-) and PO4(3-)) with great reproducibility.