Impact of Rhetoric on the Scientific Concepts in the Tamil Epic Manimegalai

‘Rhetoric’ is the common word given for both theoretical studies and literary criticism. Since the ancient period itself rhetoric is used in literature, but it entwined with literary theory and literary criticism only in 20th century. The controversy between the rhetoric and science dates back to thousand years. Rhetoric should be based on science was the main idea of Aristotle and Cicero who formally defined rhetoric their works. This article shows the relationship between rhetoric and science and how both these are linked in the Tamil literature. It also brings out the impact of rhetoric in science through the Tamil text ‘Manimegalai’

Comparative CBCT evaluation of dentinal crack formation, canal centering ability and apical transportation of hyflex-edm, oneshape, wave-one gold and reciproc files: An In Vitro study

AIM OF THE STUDY: Recently single file systems have come to replace conventional rotary instruments. In this in vitro study four single file systems- two rotary and two reciprocating instruments were selected to evaluate and compare the Canal centering ability, Apical transportation, Dentinal crack formation in the mesio-buccal root of maxillary first molar at coronal, middle and apical third using CBCT and SEM. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and twenty freshly extracted human maxillary first molars with curvature 10-20 degrees were analyzed by Schneider’s method as per inclusion criteria. Mesio buccal roots of 120 teeth were sectioned and root samples were divided into four experimental groups containing thirty teeth each, Group I – Hyflex EDM, Group II - OneShape, Group III- WaveOne Gold, Group IVReciproc. After cleaning and shaping as per standard irrigation protocol, the teeth were sectioned and scanned at coronal 1/3rd(4mm), middle 1/3rd(8mm), apical 1/3rd(12mm) of the canal in an axial slice thickness of 1mm. The images were recorded in the computer. The values were tabulated by pre and post instrumentation CBCT images. Canal centering ability and apical transportation were calculated using these CBCT values. Five mesio buccal root specimens from each group were taken for dentinal crack analysis; (5×3=15 samples for each group) 2mm from each section of the coronal middle apical 3rd of the samples were observed under SEM for dentinal crack formation. RESULTS: The canal centering ability was found to be better for One Shape at coronal 1/3rd whereas WaveOne Gold was found to be superior to other three groups at the middle & apical 1/3rd. The canal transportation was found to be least for WaveOne Gold followed by Reciproc, whereas the two rotary files Hyflex-EDM and One Shape showed higher value for transportation towards the lateral wall. Using SEM analysis it was observed that OneShape causes more dentinal cracks than other files systems in coronal and middle thirds with cracks evident in all samples at the apical third. Hyflex-EDM and WaveOne Gold showed similar results in the coronal and middle third. But Hyflex-EDM was found to be better in the apical third. CONCLUSION: Canal Centering Ability was not statistically significant for all four experimental groups. Least values for canal transportation was obtained for WaveOne Gold almost equivalent to Reciproc whereas both rotary files showed higher values for canal transportation. OneShape showed most dentinal crack in the coronal, middle and apical third. Hyflex-EDM and WaveOne Gold produced least dentinal cracks at all levels

A Study on the Empowerment of Women Construction Workers as Masons in Tamil Nadu, India

The construction sector has the largest number of unorganised labourers in India next only to agricultural sector. Women form half the workforce and by choice or by design they are not allowed to acquire specific skills that may enable them to become masons. Women join as unskilled workers and remain unskilled till the end of their working life span. However, men get training and systematically upgrade their construction skills to graduate as masons, supervisors and contractors. A study was conducted on the career progress of 440 men construction workers and 440 women construction workers and 51 building contractors to find out the reasons why women in the construction sector were not able to acquire skills for masonry work and how they could be trained to become masons. The findings of the study show that there is an inherent gender bias against women and also the shared general belief that women construction workers are unfit to be trained informally like men in the construction sector even though they have the necessary skills, capability and desire to become masons. Though the contractors are willing to accept women as masons by giving them training and placement in the construction sector, it has been found, the social forces that have perpetuated the concept of women as inferior workers are inimical to any such move. This study also analyses the methodology of training offered to men in the construction sector in India and proposes a new methodology of training that would qualify women construction workers to become masons and empower them economically

Gaschromatography Mass Spectrometry GC MS Determination of Bioactive Components from Aervalanata. (L.) Whole Plant

Aervalanata L. belongs to the family of Amaranthaceae, found in the tropical regions. Traditionally, this plant is known for antimicrobial, anthelminthic, antiparasitic, antidiabetic, diuretic, nephroprotective, cytotoxic, and antihyperlipidemic activities. As yet no further characteristic study has been conducted from ethanolic extract of this species, therefore in this present study we seek to identify and evaluate the bioactive compounds from the ethanolic extracts of Aervalanata L whole plant by using the GCMS. Result of this research work reports twenty-eight compounds. The identified chemical compounds were correlated with the NIST Mass Spectrum Library.In conclusion, we seek to provide additional information on the clinical significance and pharmacological information associated with this plant

Idiopathic multilocular thymic cyst-an incidental anterior mediastinal mass

Acquired thymic cyst are multilocular and they occur de novo or in association with mediastinal neoplasm, systemic autoimmune diseases and trauma. Here, we report a case of acquired multilocular thymic cyst due to non-specific inflammatory etiology in a 42-year old gentleman and our approach to diagnosis and management of anterior mediastinal mass. With no specific clinical symptom, he was diagnosed with anterior mediastinal mass incidentally by imaging studies. Definitive diagnosis of multilocular thymic cyst was obtained by tissue diagnosis of the anterior mediastinal mass resected during the surgery

Kinetics and mechanism of the oxidation of some cis-Alpha- Phenylcinnamic acids by Pyridinium Chlorochromate

Oxidation of cis α-phenyl cinnamic acids by pyridinium chlorochromate (PCC) was studied in acetic acid–water mixturecontaining perchloric acid. The reaction rate is first order in [PCC] and fractional order in [H+] and has aldehyde as aproduct. The rate of reaction increases with increase in the percentage of acetic acid medium. The reactions exhibit kineticisotope effect. The activation parameters have been evaluated. The added Mn (II) decreases the rate of reaction. Theadded sodium chlorate has no effect on the reaction rate and indicates the absence of ion-ion (or) ion- dipole interaction inthe slow step. The deviation of Hammett plot is noted and a “V†shaped curve is obtained

Bioactive potential of selected actinobacterial strains against Mycobacterium tuberculosis and other clinical pathogens

1307-1311Marine actinobacteria produces diverse array of metabolites with novel chemical structures with potential bioactivities. Exploring the understudied ecosystems may increase the chance of getting novel actinobacteria and new metabolites.The present study explores the bioactive potential of actinobacteria isolated from the marine ecosystem of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Bay of Bengal, against Mycobacterium tuberculosis and other clinical pathogens. The crude extracts from 15 marine actinobacterial strains were produced through agar surface fermentation using YEME agar and extracted using ethyl acetate. The crude extracts were tested against the standard strain M. tuberculosis H37Rv, clinical drug sensitive M. tuberculosis, and MDR M. tuberculosis strains by luciferase reporter phage (LRP) assay at 500 µg/ml concentration. The anti-microbial activity against other clinical pathogens, namely, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella paratyphi, Klebsiellapneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, and Cryptococcusneoformans and non-tubercular mycobacteria, M. smegmatis was studied by agar plug method. Among the 15 extracts that were tested for anti-tubercular activity, the crude ethyl acetate extract of the 14 actinobacterial strains showed anti-tubercular activity against at least one of the three M. tuberculosis strains. Exceptionally, the ethyl acetate extract of strain SACC 168 inhibited all three M. tuberculosis strains tested. In anti-microbial screening, the crude extracts of eight strains showed anti-microbial activity including six strains, which were active against the non-tuberculous mycobacteria. Further purification and characterization of the active molecule from the potential extracts will pave way for the potential natural product candidate for tuberculosis and other microbial infections

Breeding season of green mussel, Perna viridis at Mocha,Veraval

Spat falling of Green Mussel, Perna viridis, was observed during the month of February. The size of mussel spats ranged from 1.1 to 2.0 cms. This shows a winter breeding season for the green mussels of Mocha. In southern India, monsoon and summer seasons were the reported seasons of mussel breeding in the wild. Spats were found attached to the rocks in the intertidal area of Mocha