Potential of Multi constellation Global Navigation Satellite System in Indian Missile Test Range Applications

In this paper, the potentials of using Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) techniques in the complex calibration procedure of the tracking sensors for missile test range applications have been presented. The frequently used tracking sensors in test range applications are- electro-optical tracking stations (EOTS) and tracking radars. Over the years, the EOTS are used as the reference for bias estimation of the radars. With the introduction of GPS in test range applications, especially the DGPS, the reference for bias estimation got shifted to DGPS from the EOTS. However, the achievable position solution accuracy is limited to the order of a few meters for DGPS, EOTS, and Radars. With the evolution of Multi-constellation GNSS and carrier-phase based measurement techniques in satellite navigation, achievable position solution accuracies may be improved to sub-meter level. New navigation techniques like real time kinematic (RTK) and precise point positioning have the potentials for use in the calibration procedures of the missile test ranges to the accuracies of centimeter-level. Moreover, because of the availability of a large number of navigation signals over the Indian region, multi-constellation GNSS receivers can enhance signal availability, reliability, and accuracies during the calibration of missile test ranges. Currently available compact, low-cost GNSS modules also offer the possibilities of using these for cost-effective, networked RTK for dynamic calibration of test ranges reducing cost and resource requirements

Studies on variation of GNSS signal strengths from India

64-71Commercial Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers provide the measure of received satellite signal strength in terms of Signal to Noise ratio (SNR) or Carrier to Noise ratio (C/N0), through in many cases the terms are used interchangeably. The received signal strength affects the receiver performance, as this is one of the measures of usability of satellites for position solution purpose. GNSS signals pass through and are affected by atmosphere, therefore the signal strength values were also used for atmospheric research purposes. This paper presents the results of long-term studies on GPS, GLONASS and Galileo signal strengths and their variation patterns using data from a commercial multi-GNSS receiver operating from Burdwan situated in eastern India. It may be observed that generally signal strength values increase with increasing elevation angle of satellites with decreasing fluctuations and the values saturate above certain elevation angle. The three constellations offer slightly different signal strengths and new generation Galileo and GLONASS satellites provide higher satellite signal strengths. The results would be useful in understanding the usability of GNSS signals for various purposes

STUDIES ON VARIATION OF GNSS SIGNAL STRENGTHS FROM INDIA

Commercial GNSS receivers provide the measure of received satellite signal strength in terms of Signal to Noise ratio (SNR) or Carrier to Noise Ratio (C/N0), through in many cases the terms are used interchangeably. The received signal strength affects the receiver performance is one of the measure of usability of satellites for position solution purpose. GNSS signals passes through the atmosphere and are affected by atmosphere, therefore the values are also used for atmospheric research purposes. This papers presents the results of long-term studies on GPS, GLONASS and GALILEO signal strengths and their variation patterns using data from a commercial multi-GNSS receiver operating from Burdwan in eastern India. It may be observed that generally signal strength values increases with decreasing fluctuations for increasing elevation angle of satellites and saturates above certain elevation angle. The three constellations offer slightly different signal strengths and new generation Galileo and GLONASS satellites provides higher satellite signal strengths. The results would be useful in understanding the GNSS signal strength for various purposes

EVALUATION OF HEPATOPROTECTIVE ACTIVITY OF THE AERIAL PARTS OF PHYLLANTHUS RETICULATES AGAINST PARACETAMOL INDUCED HEPATIC DAMAGE IN RATS

ABSTRACTObjective: The present study deals with evaluation of hepatoprotective effect against paracetamol induced hepatitis in rats and in-vitro antioxidantactivity of aerial parts of ethanolic extract (70%) of Phyllanthus reticulates.Methods: Alteration in the levels of biochemical markers of hepatic damage like AST, ALT, ALP and total Bilirubin were tested in both treated anduntreated groups.Results: Treatment with ethanolic extract of Phyllanthus reticulates (400 mg/kg) has brought back the altered levels of biochemical markers to thenear normal level which is comparable with the standard drug Silymarin.Conclusion: Further the in-vitro antioxidant activity and total phenolic content showed significant result which in turn encourages further evaluationof this plant in future.Keywords: Phyllanthus, Hepatitis, Biochemical markers, Antioxidant activity, Total phenolic content

Studies on in vitro antiplasmodial activity of cleome rutidosperma

Malaria is a protozoal disease transmitted by the Anopheles mosquito, caused by minute parasitic protozoa of the genus Plasmodium, which infect human and insect hosts alternatively. It affects over 40% of the worldís population, with 120 million cases reported, and about 2 million deaths annually (1). The P. falciparum variety of the parasite accounts for 80% of cases and 90% of deaths caused by malaria. The declining efficacy of classical medication in relation to the rapid increase of parasite resistant strains, mainly of Plasmodium falciparum, as well as the greater resistance of vectors to insecticides, and the difficulty of creating efficient vaccines have led to an urgent need for new efficient antimalarial drugs (2, 3). Natural molecules may provide innovative strategies towards malarial control, hence active research groups are now working to develop new active compounds as an alternative to chloroquine, especially from artemisinin (4, 5), a plant-based antimalaria drug isolated from the Chinese plant Artemisia annua (6). Plants may well, therefore, prove to be the sources of new antimalarial in view of the success with the two important chemotherapeutic agents, quinine and artemisinin, both of which are derived from plants. Cleome rutidosperma (Capparidaceae) is a low-growing herb, up to 70 cm tall, found in waste grounds and grassy places with trifoliate leaves and small, violet-blue flowers, which turn pink as they age. The elongated capsules display the asymmetrical, dull black seeds. The plant is native to West Africa, although it has become naturalized in various parts of tropical America as well as Southeast Asia (7, 8). The diuretic, laxative, anthelmintic, antimicrobial, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities of Cleome rutidosperma were reported earlier by the authors (9-13). The plant is used as antimalarial by the traditional healers in Cameroon and mild antiplasmodial activity of chloroform/methanol (1:1) extract of leaves of Cleome rutidosperma against chloroquine-sensitive (F32) laboratory strain of P. falciparum was reported earlier in Cameroon (14). The present study investigates the in vitro antiplasmodial activity of ethanolic extract and its fractions of aerial parts of Cleome rutidosperma against the chloroquine sensitive (CQS) D10 strain of the parasite, as well as their toxicity against a mammalian cell lines

QUALITY CHARACTERIZATION OF MADHUYASHTI GHRITA

Madhuyashti Ghrita, is an Ayurvedic medicated ghee preparation containing Yashtimadhu. It is used for treating external ulcers and wounds in vital points of the body. However, there is no quality monograph available for Madhuyashti Ghrita. Hence, the present work was carried out to characterize this Ghrita to confirm its identity, quality and purity. This work reported various pharmacognostic and physicochemical parameters of Madhuyashti Ghrita along with its TLC based rapid fingerprinting as per the present standards of Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. Moreover, the presence of toxic contaminants like heavy metals, and microbial load were also evaluated. In organoleptic evaluation, the Ghrita was found to be semi–solid and dark yellow in colour, sweet and bitter in taste with a characteristic and pleasant odour. The values of the physicochemical parameters such as acid value, saponification value, peroxide value, refractive index, rancidity and pH value of the Ghrita were also assed. In the microscopical analysis of the rhizomes of Yashtimadhu, the presence of pitted vessels, fibres, prismatic crystals and starch grains were noted as a confirmation characteristic for the genuinely of this raw material in Madhuyashti Ghrita. The amount of heavy metals such arsenic, lead, mercury, cadmium, nickel, zinc, copper and chromium as well as total bacterial count and total fungal count were found to be much below their API limits. The TLC showed different characteristic spots indicating the presence of Yashtimadhu in this product. The parameters of Madhuyashti Ghrita presented in this paper may be utilized for preparing a quality monograph for this product

ESTABLISHMENT OF QUALITY CONTROL PARAMETERS OF PANCHASAKARA CHURNA - A CLASSICAL AYURVEDIC FORMULATION

Objective: Standardization of any herbal formulation is essential in order to assess the quality, purity, safety, and efficacy of drugs based on the analysis of their active properties. Testing of Ayurvedic preparations using scientific methodologies adds to quality and authenticity of the product.Methods: This article reports standardization parameters for a classical Ayurvedic formulation Panchasakara Churna. In this paper, the formulation was prepared as per Ayurvedic Formulary of India and was characterized by pharmacognostic, physical, physicochemical, phytochemical, toxicological parameters as well as thin layer chromatography (TLC) profiling using standard methodologies.Results: This experimental work provided diagnostic characteristics to identify and standardize the formulation Panchasakara Churna prepared using its official ingredients.Conclusion: Based on the present investigation results, a monograph on quality standards for Panchasakara Churna can be proposed for its batch-to-batch consistency. This document can also be utilised for rapid authentication fingerprints of this formulation using its TLC profiling.Keywords: Panchasakara Churna, Toxicological, Chromatography, Microscopi

PHYTOCHEMICALS IN THE TREATMENT OF ARTHRITIS: CURRENT KNOWLEDGE

The objective of the present review is to evaluate the therapeutic potential of phytochemicals against arthritis, which is asymptomatic disorder of chronic joint inflammation followed by swelling and pain. Here, we discussed about the anti-arthritic activity of many phytomolecules such as Norisoboldine, Berberine, Triptolide, Hesperidin Hesperidin, Madecassocide, Hydroxy napthoquinone, Ginsenoside, Cryptotanshinone, Kirenol, Thymoquinone, Chlorogenic acid, Curcumin, Bromelain, Andrographolide and Allicin. These compounds are able to control inflammatory responses, proinflammatory cytokines, osteoclast differentiation and to prevent bone erosion in the joints. In this article, we reviewed anti-arthritic activities of phytichemicals from 2011-2019, using various scientific websites like PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct etc. Till date clinical trials conducted with anti-arthritic phytomolecules are very less. Hence, more clinical trials are needed to bring plant molecules as safe and effective anti-arthritic drugs in the market, either alone or in combination with other anti-arthritic agents

Development and Characterization of Natural Product Derived Macromolecules Based Interpenetrating Polymer Network for Therapeutic Drug Targeting

Interpenetrating polymer network (IPN)-based bead formulations were exploited by cross-linking different hydrophilic polymers in different combinations and at different ratios. Polyvinyl alcohol, xanthan gum, guar gum, gellan gum, and sodium alginate (Na-alginate) were used in this work as hydrophilic polymers to enhance the solubility of diclofenac sodium and also to target the delivery at preferred locations. IPN beads based on polysaccharides were prepared by the ionic gelation method. Differential scanning calorimetry, powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy data showed that the IPN microbeads solubilized and encapsulated the drug within the network. We found over 83% encapsulation efficiency of the drug delivery system for the drug, and this efficiency increased with the concentration of the polymer. Ex vivo experiments using the goat intestine revealed that the IPN microbeads were able to adhere to the intestinal epithelium, a mucoadhesive behavior that could be beneficial to the drug pharmacokinetics, while in vitro experiments in phosphate buffer showed that the IPN enabled significant drug release. We believe that these IPN microbeads are an excellent drug delivery system to solubilize drug molecules and ensure adhesion to the intestinal wall, thereby localizing the drug release to enhance bioavailability of poorly soluble drugs