Culture-dependent detection of gastroenteric bacteria is labour-intensive and does not provide results in a clinically relevant time frame. Several commercially available multiplex molecular panels are now available which may be more sensitive and could potentially provide rapid results. We compared the diagnostic accuracy, turnaround time and ease of use of three such molecular panels: the RIDA®GENE Bacterial Stool and EHEC/EPEC Panels (R-Biopharm AG, Darmstadt, Germany), the FTD® Bacterial Gastroenteritis Panel (Fast Track Diagnostics, Junglinster, Luxembourg) and the BD MAX™ Enteric Bacterial Panel (Becton Dickinson GmbH, Heidelberg, Germany). The results from 116 retrospective selected and 318 prospective unselected stool samples were compared with conventional culture-based techniques using a gold standard for a positive test of either culture or agreement in two of the three molecular panels. For most targets, the molecular panels were more sensitive than culture, detecting an additional 13 cases that culture missed. The laboratory turnaround time was under 3 h for all molecular panels, compared with 66.5 h for culture. The BD MAX™ panel was the fastest, easiest to use and most flexible.

The GMM sheep is a carrier of Booroola fecundity (FecB) gene, which produces the twins and triplets in one lambing. The homozygous carrier GMM (FecBBB), non‐carrier GMM and Malpura (FecB++) ewes were synchronized by progesterone sponges, and the plasma progesterone concentration was measured by RIA. The results showed that the progesterone concentration did not differ significantly (p > .05) in homozygous carrier GMM (5.74 ± 1.2 ng/ml), non‐carrier GMM (5.42 ± 1.4 ng/ml) and non‐carrier Malpura ewes (5.67 ± 1.5 ng/ml). Further, quantitative expression of BMP factors/receptors and SMAD signalling genes were analysed in the ovaries of sheep by qRT‐PCR. The study showed that the expression of BMP2 was slightly higher (p > .05) in carrier GMM than that of non‐carrier GMM, but it was almost similar to Malpura ewes. Expression of BMP4 and BMP7 was significantly higher (p < .001; p < .05) in carrier GMM than that of non‐carrier GMM and Malpura ewes. Although BMP6 expression was higher (p > .05) in carrier GMM than that of non‐carrier GMM, but lower (p > .05) than the Malpura ewes. Expression of BMP15 (p < .05), GDF5 (p < .01) and GDF9 (p < .05) was significantly higher in carrier GMM than non‐carrier GMM ewes. Surprisingly, BMPR1B expression was significantly higher (p < .001) in non‐carrier GMM and Malpura than the carrier GMM ewes, while TGFβRI did not differ significantly (p > .05) among both GMM genotypes. On the other hand, expression of BMPR1A (p > .05) and BMPRII (p < .05) was higher in carrier GMM than the non‐carrier GMM, but significantly lower (p < .001) than the Malpura ewes. It was interesting to note that the expression of SMAD1 (p > .05), SMAD2 (p < .001), SMAD3 (p < .05), SMAD4 (p < .001), SMAD5 (p < .001) and SMAD8 (p < .001) was lower in the carrier GMM than that of non‐carrier GMM ewes. It is concluded that the FecB mutation alters the expression of BMPR1B and SMAD signalling genes in the ovaries of homozygous carrier GMM ewes.

The present study was conducted to analyze the mRNA expression of the BMP/SMAD signaling and steroidogenesis associated genes in the granulosa cells (GCs) of newly developed Booroola homozygous carrier GMM (FecB BB ) and non-carrier GMM (FecB ++ ) ewes through qRT-PCR. Results showed that the expression of BMP2 (P < 0.05) and BMP6 (P < 0.01) was significantly higher in the GCs of the homozygous carrier GMM (FecB BB ) than the non-carrier GMM (FecB ++ ) ewes, while the expression of BMP4 was significantly higher (P < 0.001) in the GCs of non-carrier GMM (FecB ++ ) than the homozygous carrier GMM (FecB BB ). In comparison, the expression of TGFβR1, BMPR1A, BMPR1B, and BMPRII was not significantly different between GCs of the homozygous carrier GMM (FecB BB ) and non-carrier GMM (FecB ++ ) ewes. Similarly, the expression of SMAD1, SMAD2, SMAD3, SMAD4, and SMAD5 was not significantly different between GCs of homozygous carrier GMM (FecB BB ) and non-carrier GMM (FecB ++ ). Further, expression of the INHIBIN, P4R, CYP11A1, and 3βHSD1 genes were not significantly different among the GCs of homozygous carrier GMM (FecB BB ) and non-carrier GMM (FecB ++ ), while the expression of StAR was significantly higher (P < 0.01) in the GCs of homozygous carrier GMM (FecB BB ) than that of GCs of non-carrier GMM (FecB ++ ) ewes. It is concluded that the FecB mutation significantly up-regulates the expression of BMP2, BMP6, and StAR genes and down-regulate the expression of BMP2 in granulosa cells of newly developed GMM ewes.

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Cordycepin gets rapidly metabolized in the body into inactive form due to its structural similarity to adenosine, thus inhibiting its development as a medicinal agent. This study was aimed to improve the solubility and stability of cordycepin, a potential drug with known antiproliferative activity, by encapsulating it in bovine serum albumin: β-cyclodextrin nanoparticles. Cordycepin-loaded nanoparticles (CLNPs) were synthesized using the antisolvent method and characterized thoroughly using various techniques. Our dynamic light scattering measurement showed a particle size and zeta potential of 160 ± 2.75 nm and −20.21 ± 2.1 mV, respectively, for CLNPs. Transmission electron microscopy studies revealed that particles were spherical in morphology. These CLNPs showed sustained release of cordycepin with encapsulation and loading efficiency of 81.62 ± 1.5 and 27.02 ± 2.0%, respectively, based on high-performance liquid chromatography and UV−vis studies. Based on differential scanning calorimetry and zeta potential studies, CLNPs improve cordycepin stability and solubility. Our molecular simulations and binding energy calculation also showed favorable protein interaction between cordycepin, bovine serum albumin, and β-cyclodextrin, further supporting the notion of improved stability. In vitro cytotoxicity, apoptosis, and cellular uptake studies on breast cancer cells showed that the synthesized nanoparticles had greater cytotoxicity as compared to free cordycepin.

The global climate change indicates increasing geophysical incidences, earthquakes, cyclones, melting of glaciers, floods, and drought etc. These incidences are the impacts of global climate change indicating to serious inter-related problems in spatial dimensions-four dimensional space length, width, height and time. The vertical geophysical analysis is made by selecting the locations on the basis of sensivity of geophysical conditions indicated by temperature, humidity, precipitation and the physical, chemical processes of five elements of environment-air, physical materials, water, energy (temperature) and space. The energy or material fields have been explained by Eienstein in theory of relativity and unified field theory, indicating to a process of impact of changes on the other spatial dimensions.The system theory explains that any physical change affects the biological and human systems. The analysis of the processes is made in dynamic system theory of input-output changes between the systems and sub-systems by scoping of the dimensions and resolution levels.Due to increased human activities and large scale material use in industrialization and globalization processes, the geophysical structure and attributes have undergone serious changes as an induced effect of the natural geophysical processes. The monitoring of geophysical conditions in spatial dimensions indicates to the threat of life because of intermittent and cumulative induction process following the law of thermodynamics, fluvial processes and structural changes. This paper examines the geophysical conditions and changes in time and space to indicate to the human activities in industrial civilization and threat to life on earth. It also provides regulatory mechanisms of sub-systems in geophysical space which regulates life cycle and human activities.