Microscopic study of ion transport in porous electrode of desalination battery based on Lattice Boltzmann method

The desalting process of desalting battery includes ion transport in pores, diffusion in active particles and electrochemical reaction at the interface between solution and active particles. In this paper, quartet...

Cyanophycean (Cyanobacterial) diversity from the Lakhimpur-Khiri District of Northern Uttar Pradesh, India

In the present study, the cyanophycean diversity of the Lakhimpur-Khiri district, northern Uttar Pradesh, India, has been investigated for the first time. Algae samples were collected in plastic bottles and preserved in 3-4% formalin from Lakhimpur-Khiri district of northern Uttar Pradesh in different seasons from 2015 to 2016. The field photographs of the selected localities were also taken and the location of each site noted down. For the Microscopic study of Cyanophycean algae, the samples were stained with 1 % aqueous methylene blue solution according to the standard method. The observations and photomicrography were done with help of Nikon Labophot-11 microscope. A total of 31 cyanophycean algal taxa have been recorded from different water bodies of Lakhimpur-Khiri. These algal taxa belong to 14 genera and 9 families of the division Cyanophyata. Of these, Oscillatoria (7), Phormidium (4) and Lyngbya (3) are abundant.

Ultrastructural changes of the placenta in cases of preeclampsia

The placenta plays vital roles during fetal development and growth. The ultrastructure of the placenta together with remodeling of the uterine spiral arteries are very important to maintain the utero-placental blood flow. Preeclampsia (PE) is a multifactorial disorder with abnormal placentation affecting the mother and fetus. The aim of this study was to study the ultrastructural abnormalities of the placenta in cases of PE. The placentas of 10 PE women and 10 controls were studied. Women of PE group were delivered by caesarian section while seven control women were delivered vaginally, and three by caesarian section. Placental samples were studied both morphologically and histologically by light and transmission electron microscopy. Light microscopic study of control placentas showed numerous microvilli, few syncytial knots, thin-walled blood vessels. PE placentas showed reduced number of microvilli with numerous syncytial knots, thick-walled vessels, edematous spaces, fibrotic areas and fibrinoid degeneration. Electron microscopic study of the control placentas showed a thick layer of syncytiotrophoblast (Sy), numerous microvilli and a thin layer of cytotrophoblast (Cy). PE placenta showed hypertrophy of Cy with atrophy of Sy and scarce microvilli. The trophoblast showed edematous vacuoles and glycogen storage areas. The villous core had congested capillaries, edematous spaces, glycogen storage areas and widespread areas of fibrosis. All the changes in PE placentas were attributed to hypoxia and oxidative stress and reduced utero-placental flow due to abnormal remodeling of the uterine spiral arteries that was aggravated by the thick placental barrier and the presence of edema, fibrosis and glycogen storage areas.