Volume 15, Issue 3
Editorial
Worldwide scientists
Prof. Stoyan Kolev Stoyanov, D.Sc.
New books
Bioprocess systems
Optimization of Process Parameters for Conversion of 3-cyanpyridine to Nicotinamide Using Resting Cells of Mutant 4D Strain of Rhodococcus rhodochrous PA-34151-158
Amit Pratush, Amit Seth, Tek Chand Bhalla
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Mutant of Rhodococcus rhodochrous PA-34, named as 'mutant 4D' has been reported for the hyperconversion of 3-cyanopyridine to nicotinamide. This mutant 4D generated through chemical mutagenesis has much more hydration potential than its wild strain. The reaction conditions for prolonged reaction and process parameters for the conversion of 3-cyanopyridine to nicotinamide were optimized. Under the optimized reaction conditions the mutant 4D is stable at higher temperature (55°C), high ionic strength (0.3 M) and at acidic pH conditions (5.5) and exhibited 8.0, 7.9 and 7.0 U/mg dcw NHase activity, respectively. In a batch reaction of (One litre), 7M 3-cyanopyridine was completely converted to nicotinamide in 3h at 55°C using 7g resting cells (dry cell mass) of mutant 4D of R. rhodochrous PA-34.
Culture Media Optimization through Response Surface Methodology for in vitro Shoot Bud Development of Solanum melongena L. for Micropropagation159-172
Padma Mallaya Naveenchandra, Sila Bhattacharya, Gokare Aswathanarayana Ravishankar
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Response surface methodology was used for the optimization of shoot bud response and shoot bud induction in leaf explants of Solanum melongena cultivar Arka Shirish. Three independent variables were evaluated for shoot bud response and shoot bud induction. The variables include the concentrations of nitrogen (N2), sucrose and growth regulator thidiazuron (TDZ). The shoot bud response for cultured explant was optimized at 4.34 g/l of total nitrogen, 2.65% of sucrose and 0.67 mg/l of TDZ with 95% response. The optimum medium conditions for shoot bud induction was found to be Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium supplemented with 4.02 g/l of total nitrogen, 2.36% of sucrose and 1.0 mg/l of TDZ with 10 number of bud per explant. The shoot buds so formed were elongated in 0.5 mg/l 2,3,5-Triiodobenzoic acid (TIBA) and 0.1 mg/l Gibberellic acid (GA3). The elongated shoots were rooted in MS with 1 mg/l Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). The rooted plants were transferred to pots with farmyard manure upon hardening. This study has validation value for optimization of micropropagation protocol and is further useful in genetic transformation studies for Solanum melongena variety Arka Shirish to maximize regenerative response for automation.
The Enzymatic Approach to Making of Alcoholic Beverages173-178
Dilbar Mirzarakhmetova
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Immobilized yeast invertase was applied for treatment of alcoholic beverages with the aim of transformation of higher alcohols into alkylfructosides. Gas-liquid chromatography of treated water-alcoholic medium containing 3.0 mg/l isoamyl alcohol and 4% saccharose by immobilized invertase had shown the convertion of 40% isoamyl alcohol, which amounts to 1.8 mg/l absolute alcohol. Other parameters remained at the previous level. The high level of enzyme activity was observed when the initial concentration of sucrose in the reaction mixture attained 4.0-12.5%. Tasting of treated samples indicated the improvement of quality and degustational properties of beverages, they had softer and more harmonious taste and aroma in comparison with control sample and finished Vodka, which completed the cycle of technological processing.
Bioinformatics
CAGE: A Database of Cancer Genes of Human, Mouse and Rat179-183
Hassan Tariq, Sana Khalid
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CAGE is the database of cancer genes of human, mouse and rat. We have designed PCR oligonucleotide primer sequences for each gene, with their features and conditions given. This feature alone greatly facilitates researchers in PCR amplification of genes sequences, especially in cloning experiments. Currently it encompasses more than 1000 nucleotide entries. Flexible database design, easy expandability, and easy retrieval of information are the main features of this database. The Database is publicly available at cgdb.pakbiz.org.
Biomedical systems
Reflections on Some Mathematical Modeling in Endocrinology183-200
Anthony Shannon
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This is an expository paper which explores a variety of epidemiological and other quantitative approaches to research in endocrinology. It is a sample of some of the projects in which the author and his colleagues, including doctoral students, have been involved over a number of years. The medical and mathematical theories have been tested on consenting patients in clinical environments.

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