Climbing perch, A. testudineus (Bloch, 1792), is a widely consumed fish in Asian nations due to its high nutritional value and delicate meat. The main obstacles to the spread of its cultural practises are a scarcity of high-quality seed and larval rearing due to the low survival rates in the initial stages of larval development. The key to improving the seed production of this species may lie in strategies to improve larval survival in the early stages. As a result, the goal of current study was to evaluate the impact of vitamin C, selenium, and highly unsaturated fatty acid (HUFA) enriched Brachionus calyciflorus on the development, nutrient availability, and fatty acid profile of climbing perch larvae. A total of 180 numbers of 3 days post-hatch (dph) larvae (0.021 +/- 0.001 mg) were uniformly distributed among five treatments in triplicates. The larvae were fed thrice a day for 15 days with selenium (D-1), vitamin-C (D-2), HUFA (D-3) and combination of selenium-vitamin C- HUFA enriched (D-4) and non-enriched rotifer (C). The proximate analysis of various enriched and unenriched B. calyciflorus groups revealed that the vitamin C and HUFA-enriched treatment groups, respectively, had the highest percentages of crude protein (7.50%) and crude lipid (2.51%). Whereas, larvae fed a combination of selenium-vitamin C- HUFA enriched (D-4) rotifer showed the highest percentages of crude protein (12.40%) and crude lipid (1.81%). The findings of the fatty acid analysis demonstrate that feeding Se-VC-HUFA enriched B. calyciflorus to larvae resulted in significantly greater concentrations of Eicosapentaenoic acid (9.38%) and Docosahexaenoic acid (11.05%) that are 3.07 and 7.67 times higher, respectively, than feeding unenriched B. calyciflorus to larvae. The highest DHA/EPA ratio (1.18) was also observed with larvae fed Se-VC-HUFA enriched B. calyciflorus. The survivorship analysis revealed that the D-4 treatment group fed a combination of Se-VC-HUFA-enriched B. calyciflorus had the highest survival (37.41%) and the lowest (18.70%) observed in the control group. The highest average body weight gain and increased growth (30.79 +/- 1.11 mg) were seen in the fishes given the rotifer supplemented with D-4 group, which performed substantially better than the other treatment groups (P < 0.05). Weight-specific growth rate (W-SGR) and Length-specific growth rate (L-SGR) of the fish exhibited similar trends across all treatment groups, whereas significantly (P < 0.05) lowest condition factor was observed in D-4 (2.63 +/- 0.01) and highest in control group (3.21 +/- 0.01). The results showed that larvae fed with enriched rotifer had significantly higher (P < 0.05) growth, nutrient availability, and fatty acid profile compared to un-enriched rotifer. The ideal first food for A. testudineus larval growth and survival must be a combination of Se-VC-HUFA enriched B. calyciflorus.

Effects of feeding selenium, vitamin C and HUFA-enriched rotifer on growth, survival, physio-metabolic changes and digestive enzyme activity were investigated. A 15-days experimental trial was conducted to examine the effects of different diets on the growth and survival of Anabas testudineus larvae. A total of 180 numbers of 3 days post hatch (dph) larvae (0.021 +/- 0.001 mg) were stocked randomly in five treatments in triplicates. Fish used in the experiment were fed rotifer enriched with selenium (D1), vitamin-C (D2), HUFA (D3) and combination of selenium-vitamin C-HUFA (D4) and un-enriched rotifer (C). The growth rate, survival and digestive enzymes activity of A. testudineus fed enriched rotifer were significantly higher than those fed un-enriched rotifer. The highest average body weight, better growth performance (30.81 +/- 1.11 mg), and higher survival (37.41 +/- 1.12%) were observed in the rotifer enriched with D4 group fed fishes among the treated groups. Larvae experience less stress when fed with vitamin C enriched diet, as evidenced by the decreased level of SOD and catalase activity found in the tissue of the D2 fed group. The GPx levels was highest in D1 group and there is no significant difference (P < 0.05) between D1 and D4 treatment groups. Digestive enzyme analysis revealed no significant difference in intestinal amylase activity across treatment groups, however the D4 fed group displayed the greatest levels of lipase (0.72 +/- 0.01 U mg protein-1 min-1) and protease (1.74 +/- 0.02 U mg protein- 1 min-1) activity. The reduced level of AST, ALT, MDH and LDH activity was seen in the tissue of the D4 fed group, indicating that experimental fishes had lower levels of metabolic enzyme activity. The findings revealed that A. testudineus larvae fed with enriched rotifer were significantly different (P < 0.05) from those fed with un-enriched rotifer in terms of growth performance and survival. The combination of selenium-vitamin C-HUFA enriched rotifer is the most favourable for A. testudineus larvae.

Sophorolipids (SLs) are naturally produced glycolipids that acts as drug delivery for a spectrum of biomedical applications, including as an antibacterial antifungal and anticancer agent, where they induce apoptosis selectively in cancerous cells. Despite their utility, the mechanisms underlying their membrane interactions, and consequently cell entry, remains unknown. Here, we combined a single liposome assay to observe directly and quantify the kinetics of interaction of SL micelles with model membrane systems, and single particle studies on live cells to record their interaction with cell membranes and their cytotoxicity. Our single particle readouts revealed several repetitive docking events on individual liposomes and quantified how pH and membrane charges, which are known to vary in cancer cells, affect the docking of SL micelles on model membranes. Docking of sophorolipids micelles was found to be optimal at pH 6.5 and for membranes with -5% negatively charge lipids. Single particle studies on mammalian cells reveled a two-fold increased interaction on Hela cells as compared to HEK-293 cells. This is in line with our cell viability readouts recording an approximate two-fold increased cytotoxicity by SLs interactions for Hela cells as compared to HEK-293 cells. The combined in vitro and cell assays thus support the increased cytotoxicity of SLs on cancer cells to originate from optimal charge and pH interactions between membranes and SL assemblies. We anticipate studies combining quantitative single particle studies on model membranes and live cell may reveal hitherto unknown molecular insights on the interactions of sophorolipid and additional nanocarriers mechanism.

Ag0 nanoparticles were synthesized by Lantana camara plant (weed) leave extract. Antibacterial activity of the as synthesized Ag0 nanoparticles was excellent against both Gram −ve and Gram +ve bacterial culture.

A fluorescent self‐assembly of cephalexin is obtained by pulsed laser irradiation process. An intense fluorescence emission is found in the self‐assembled form due to occurrence of a typical aggregation‐induced emission in cephalexin molecules. It is observed that fluorescence quenching of the self‐assembled fluorescent nanostructures occurs in the presence of extremely low Hg++ ions concentrations (10−7 m) as compared to other heavy metal ions e.g. Ferrous (Fe++), Manganese (Mn++), Magnesium (Mg++), Cobalt (Co++), Nickel (Ni++) and Zinc (Zn++) at the same concentrations.

Correction for ‘From micron to nano-curcumin by sophorolipid co-processing: highly enhanced bioavailability, fluorescence, and anti-cancer efficacy’ by Pradeep Kumar Singh et al., RSC Adv., 2014, 4, 60334–60341.

A Printed piezoelectric energy harvesting device is prepared using a flexographic printing process. The device includes two parts: a lead zirconate titanate based kinetic-to-electrical energy converter and a printed bridge rectifier based on four ZnO/poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT) diodes.

Co-sonication of curcumin and acidic sophorolipid in aqueous solution is shown to lead to a dramatic enhancement of curcumin bioavailability through size reduction and encapsulation.

Sophorolipids (SL) belong to a class of glycolipidic biosurfactants suitable for a wide range of applications. The structural diversity in SL gives rise to variation in physicochemical and biological properties. To achieve the less explored head group diversity in sophorolipid structure, a new xylose fermenting yeast Pichia caribbica has been employed for biosurfactant production. The media and fermentation parameters have been optimized to achieve maximum yield of 7.48 g/L. The physicochemical properties of the xylolipid biosurfactant have been assessed. It reduced the surface tension of distilled water from 70 to 35.9 mN/m with the low critical micellar concentration (CMC) 1.0 mg/L as compared to typical SL (reported CMC range 40–100 mg/L). Structural characterization was done using FTIR and HR‐MS to identify the structure. 17‐L‐[(β‐D‐xylopyranosyl)‐oxy]‐Δ9‐heptadecanoic acid correlated to m/z 415 majorly constituted the product. Control experiment was performed in which glucose was provided as the hydrophilic carbon. This product was also subjected to HR‐MS analysis to determine its chemical nature and found to be different from xylolipid. Presence of xylose as head group was anticipated to give altered physicochemical and biological activities and indeed a low CMC value and better inhibitory action was demonstrated against Staphylococcus aureus.Practical applications: Sophorolipids produced by microbial sources have several advantageous properties over commercial petroleum‐based surfactants including biodegradability, environmentally friendly nature, and low toxicity. Here, we have attempted to modify the hydrophilic head group by incorporating xylose in place of glucose. This molecule will also behave differently in response to different stimuli. Stimuli‐responsive surfactants are a class of compounds with applications in stabilization of emulsions, suspensions or foams, drug encapsulation and delivery, hard‐surface cleaning, personal care applications.New yeast isolate – Pichia caribbica was provided with xylose and oleic acid. This resulted in synthesis of glycolipidic molecule different from typical sophorolipid synthesized by Candida bombicola. Xylose was incorporated as head group, i.e., hydrophilic moiety in place of glucose. The variation in structure imparted better surface tension lowering activity thus showed low CMC value. Also antibacterial activity was enhanced.

The purpose of this study was to construct a skill test for kicks in taekwondo. For the purpose of the test construction sixty Taekwondo players age 12 to 19 years of Punjab district who participated in the 59 Punjab school Taekwondo championship 2013 held at Patiala from 18 Nov. to 22 Nov. 2013 were selected to serve as subject for the study. The test-retest reliability coefficient was assessed for each test item and with complete battery collectively. The significant reliability coefficient ensured the preliminary form of the test. It was concluded that the newly developed skill test for kicks in taekwondo will meet the criterion of scientific authenticity i.e. the test was reliable, objective and valid.

We report realization of strong green fluorescence in a fully biocompatible highly spherical mesoscale molecular assembly of sophorolipid created by pulsed UV laser processing of a water-based dispersion of sophorolipid. Remarkably, the said fluorescence is totally absent in the original molecule of sophorolipid and is thus the property of the pulsed laser induced modifications in the molecule and the assembly. We have separately examined the consequences of laser irradiation for glucose and oleic acid components which form the sophorolipid. This fluorescence character appears to be driven by the oleic acid component while the assembly process is assisted by the glucose component. Importantly the laser synthesized mesostructures can be easily redispersed in an aqueous medium after being dried and can also be loaded with magnetic nanoparticles (magnetite) for inducing the hyperthermia effect.

In this work we demonstrate the use of natural seed based hydrogel bits as robust, recoverable and recyclable support for nanoparticulate catalytic media for multipurpose water purification application. We show that the inexpensive and easily available natural seeds sabja (Ocimum basilicum), which can absorb water to about 30 times their weight can be easily loaded with nanoparticles of functional metal oxides such as visible light photo-catalyst N-doped TiO2 or magnetite (Fe3O4) for effective multiple water purification objectives such as efficient photocatalytic degradation of toxins or bacteria, heavy metal ion (As3+, Cr6+, Pb2+, Cd2+) removal or simple particulate filtering. Indeed, innovative nanoparticle loading strategy can be used to load organic and inorganic materials concurrently, sequentially or simultaneously on the gel-bits while they swell in the process of water absorption. Interestingly the gel-bits maintain their individual identity without agglomeration or fusing, and given their swollen size of about few millimetres they can be easily separated out by simple cloth or millimetre scale filtering. This alleviates the difficulties associated with separating nanoparticles dispersed in the media directly for photocatalytic or other purification purposes. With magnetic nanoparticle co-loading they can also be separated out by magnetic field, which can be beneficial in situations wherein filtering may not be an easy option. It is useful to mention that the same seed gel-bits can also serve as particle size filters for specific applications.