A detailed overview of the patent system

The roots of today’s solid patent system are from the ancient trade system, the introduction, and the evolvement of different intellectual properties. Various international legislations, collaborations, and treaties, as well as the introduction of various acts, rules, and amendments, are responsible for the management and growth of the recent patent system. Novelty, utility, and non-obviousness are the basic patentability criteria. The Indian patent act also defines things that are not inventions under section 3 of the Indian patent act as “statutory subject matter”. The patent system working is described under patent prosecution (filing, publication, examination, opposition) sequentially. “Patent co-operation treaty” (PCT) introduced by the “World intellectual property organization” provides a most effective and economical way of patent application in multiple countries through a single filed application. A general overview of a patent application, drafting of claims, patent analysis, invalidation of patents, Infringement of patents, non-infringing activities, prosecution history estoppel, and remedies under the jurisdiction, are also described hereunder. At present, the number of patent applications filed in India is continuously increasing. Indian patent office is becoming one of the designated search authorities under the PCT. General awareness about patents and intellectual property in all sectors can be improved further.

Evaluation of Microparticulate Ovarian Cancer Vaccine via Transdermal Route of Delivery

Ovarian cancer is the fifth most commonly occurring malignancy in women, with the highest mortality rate among all the gynecological tumors. Microparticulate vaccine can serve as an immunotherapeutic approach with a promising antigenic delivery system without a need for conventional adjuvants. In this study, a microparticulate vaccine using whole cell lysate of a murine ovarian cancer cell line, ID8 was prepared by spray drying. Further, the effect of interleukins (ILs) such as IL-2 and IL-12 was evaluated in a separate study group by administering them with vaccine particles to enhance the immune response. The vaccine microparticles were administered to C57BL/6 female mice via transdermal alone and in combination with the oral route. The transdermal vaccine was delivered using a metallic microneedle device, AdminPen™. Orally administered microparticles also included an M-cell targeting ligand, Aleuria aurantia lectin, to enhance the targeted uptake from microfold cells (M-cells) in Peyer\u27s patches of small intestine. In case of combination of routes, mice were given 5 transdermal doses and 5 oral doses administered alternatively, beginning with transdermal dose. At the end of vaccination, mice were challenged with live tumor cells. Vaccine alone resulted in around 1.5 times tumor suppression in case of transdermal and combination of routes at the end of 15th week when compared to controls. Inclusion of interleukins resulted in 3 times tumor suppression when administered with transdermal vaccine and around 9 times tumor suppression for the combination route of delivery in comparison to controls. These results were further potentiated by serum IgG, IgG1 and IgG2a titers. Moreover, CD8+ T-cell, CD4+ T-cell and NK (natural killer) cell populations in splenocytes were elevated in case of vaccinated mice. Thus, vaccine microparticles could trigger humoral as well as cellular immune response when administered transdermally and via combination of route of delivery. However overall, vaccine administered with interleukins, via combination of route, was found to be the most efficacious to suppress the tumor growth and lead to a protective immune response

Heisenberg-limited qubit readout with two-mode squeezed light

We show how to use two-mode squeezed light to exponentially enhance cavity-based dispersive qubit measurement. Our scheme enables true Heisenberg-limited scaling of the measurement, and crucially, is not restricted to small dispersive couplings or unrealistically long measurement times. It involves coupling a qubit dispersively to two cavities, and making use of a symmetry in the dynamics of joint cavity quadratures (a so-called quantum-mechanics-free subsystem). We discuss the basic scaling of the scheme and its robustness against imperfections, as well as a realistic implementation in circuit quantum electrodynamics.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, Supplemental Materia

Chatushka Methodology in Sutrasthana w.s.r. to Charaka Samhita

Ayurveda is the science of Life. It is oldest medical and Health science. It is not only preventive but also curative science. Charaka Samhita is one of the Classical text of Ayurvada. 120 Chapters of Charak Samhita are divided into 8 Sthanas. Sutrastana is one among them, which is placed first in Charaka Samhita. The methodology of Ayurveda living & the basic doctrine of Ayurveda which is its foundations are widely explained in Sutrastana. Sutrastana known as the Shira of Charaka Samhita. The essence of knowledge of the whole text is extracted in Sutrastana. Sutrastana is nectar of knowledge and is the collection of all basic subjects of Ayurveda. Chatushka methodology is adopted in Sutrastana. 30 chapters of Sutrastana are categorized under seven groups of four chapters known as Sapta Chatushka. Viz; Aushadha, Swastha, Nirdesh, Kalpana, Roga, Yojana & Annapana Chatushka. Here an attempt made the Chatushka methodology in Sutrasthana explained systematically and elaborately which gives fundamental knowledge for treatment

Review of Microfinance Schemes in Haryana with focus on Mewat

Inspite of the fact that Haryana is a fast developing state of India, yet it is grappling with the problem of development of a backward district like Mewat (newly carved out district from Gurgaon and Faridabad). Since Microfinance is considered as one of the major tools of poverty alleviation, this paper describes the various microfinance schemes in Haryana with focus on Mewat. The Mewat Development Agency has been set up at the district level to overview and to monitor the progress of various schemes being implemented under the Mewat Development Board, set up by the Government of Haryana in 1980, as an extra effort of development apart from the normal plan schemes. The Mewat Development Agency is actively promoting Self-Help Groups (SHGs) through its Federation. Mewat has been severely lagging behind in terms of socio-economic parameters of development and the problem is further aggravated due to the rigid socio-cultural mindset of the area. Besides examining the various microfinance schemes in operation in Haryana, an attempt has also been made to highlight the shortcomings of the schemes

Non-degenerate, three-wave mixing with the Josephson ring modulator

The Josephson ring modulator (JRM) is a device, based on Josephson tunnel junctions, capable of performing non-degenerate mixing in the microwave regime without losses. The generic scattering matrix of the device is calculated by solving coupled quantum Langevin equations. Its form shows that the device can achieve quantum-limited noise performance both as an amplifier and a mixer. Fundamental limitations on simultaneous optimization of performance metrics like gain, bandwidth and dynamic range (including the effect of pump depletion) are discussed. We also present three possible integrations of the JRM as the active medium in a different electromagnetic environment. The resulting circuits, named Josephson parametric converters (JPC), are discussed in detail, and experimental data on their dynamic range are found to be in good agreement with theoretical predictions. We also discuss future prospects and requisite optimization of JPC as a preamplifier for qubit readout applications.Comment: 21 pages, 16 figures, 4 table

Investigation of drug use at primary health centres in Nashik, Maharashtra, India

Background: By recognizing the need to promote rational utilization of medicines, the World Health Organization (WHO) in collaboration with the International Network for Rational Use of Drugs (INRUD) developed a set of core indicators. This study aimed to investigate drug use based on it.Methods: The study was performed in Primary Health Centers (PHC) in Nashik District, Maharashtra, India. Prescriptions data for the last one year from PHCs were sampled out retrospectively. Outpatients from PHCs were selected, observed and interviewed for the patient-care indicators, prospectively. Pharmacy personnel was interviewed for the facility-specific indicators. The data were analyzed; results and conclusions were drawn.Results: The average number of drugs per prescription was 3.48 (SD=0.36). The percentages of drugs prescribed by generic name and from Essential Drug List or formulary were 83.98% and 68.97% respectively. The percentages of encounters with antibiotics and injections were 60.33% and 50.83% respectively. The average consultation and dispensing times were 3.89 minutes and 58.28 seconds respectively. 98.19% of the prescribed drugs were actually dispensed. 67.27% of the dispensed drugs were labelled. The percentage of patients’ knowledge of the correct dosage was 87.78%. The percentage availability of the EDL or formulary was 100% and of the key drugs in the stock was 85.71%.Conclusions: The need for improvement in prescribing practices can be encouraged by devising strategies such as training to physicians, rewards systems, etc. There should be plans to increase staff members for a particular working period and to educate patients with healthcare, hygiene, medicines’ compliance and common diseases.

SCREENING OF CELLULOLYTIC BACTERIA FOR PRODUCING CELLULASE UNDER SOLID STATE FERMENTATION USING WATER HYACINTH AS A SUBSTRATE

Objective: The infestation of water hyacinth in the aquatic system produces serious environmental problems. In our study, we have used the water hyacinth as a substrate for the production of cellulase enzyme from bacteria isolated from decayed water hyacinth.Methods: The bacterial isolates were morphologically and biochemically characterized and the bacterial cultures were identified as Proteus vulgaris and Serratia ficaria respectively. The effect of various process parameters such as pH, temperature, substrate concentration and fermentation time on cellulase production by Proteus vulgaris were optimized.Results: Out of twenty five isolates, two bacteria viz. AK1 and AK2 grew well on CMC agar media. Cellulase enzyme activity was found to be higher (4.07 U/ml) in case of Proteus vulgaris compared to Serratia ficaria. Cellulase production by Proteus vulgaris was optimized as pH 7, 35 °C temperature, 30% of water hyacinth and 24 h of incubation time. Cellulase produced under optimum condition was purified using dialysis and ion exchange chromatography. The molecular weight and specific activity of completely purified cellulase was found to be 33 KDa and 361.25 U/mg respectively.Conclusion: It can be concluded that the water hyacinth can be used as a potential substrate for production of cellulase by Proteus vulgaris which is isolated from decayed water hyacinth

Klinefelter’s syndrome in azoospermic infertile males of Vidarbha region, Central India

Background: Infertility was defined as involuntary failure of conception in a married couple after 1 year of regular unprotected intercourse. Male factor infertility is a distressing condition that adds to the psychological trauma to majority of couples. The widely accepted methods of screening for infertility in males are semen analysis and cytogenetic studies. Klinefelter syndrome, with an incidence of 1:600 male newborns, is the most frequent form of male hypogonadism.Methods: 30 non-obstructive azoospermic infertile males were selected for present study. For each subject, chromosomal analysis was carried out by conventional as well as giemsa trypsin giemsa (GTG) technique in cytogenetic laboratory. Total 25 metaphases i. e. 15 conventional and 10 G-banded metaphases were analyzed, in each case. In cases with chromosomal abnormalities, total 45 metaphases i. e. 25 conventional and 20 G-banded metaphases were studied. Selected metaphases were photographed using CCD camera.Results: Three subjects had a chromosomal count of 47 in all the metaphase studied. The additional chromosome was closely matching with the X chromosome. Hence the karyotype showed numerical aberration with an extra ‘X’ chromosome i. e. 47, XXY suggestive of Klinefelter’s syndrome. This was confirmed by G-banding. All of the three subjects had bilateral testicular atrophy and one had typical features of Klinefelter’s syndrome except gynecomastia.Conclusions: On cytogenetic analysis of 30 azoospermic infertile subjects, chromosomal abnormality of 47, XXY (Klinefelter’s syndrome) was found in 3 subjects.  The total percentage of Klinefelter’s syndrome in present study comes to 10%.

Delays in reporting of cancer cervix in rural India: sociodemographic and reproductive correlation

Background: Cervical cancer, caused by sexually-acquired infection with human papillomavirus (HPV), continues to be a public health problem worldwide as it claims the lives of more than 270,000 women every year. The majority of cervical cancer deaths (85%) occur in women living in low- and middle-income countries. Assessment of socio-demographic profile and reproductive history gives a better picture of the determinants of cervical carcinoma in low-resource settings.Methods: This hospital-based cross-sectional study was undertaken at a Regional Cancer Institute at Aurangabad, India. Hundred newly diagnosed women with advanced cervical cancer (stage 2B-4B), who were undertaking radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy, were included to assess their socio-demographic, reproductive and clinical profile. The causes for late presentations were also noted.Results: The mean age of women at the time of detection of cervical cancer was 57.35 years (30-82 years). More than 81% of patients were illiterate and belonged to low socioeconomic status. 47% of the study subjects had their first sexual experience before 15 years of age. Nearly 78% women had 5 or more pregnancies, among them, unusual discharge from vagina (39%) followed by bleeding after menopause (28%) and pain in abdomen (13%) were the most common presenting complaints. The average duration of symptoms was (28 days), time interval between the symptoms and biopsy was (3.6 months). Combination of radiotherapy and chemotherapy was the most common modality of treatment. Most common cause of delay in diagnosis was lack of awareness about the symptom of cancer (11%), feeling ashamed (10%), no one paid attention (19%), not diagnosed and referred at periphery and financial causes (23%) were found.Conclusions: Prevention of cervical cancer include delaying the age at initiation of sexual activity to above 18 years, spreading cancer awareness in women and with well-equipped health workers with diagnosis and knowledge of cancer cervix. This can prevent the medical and patient delay in the diagnosis of cancer cervix