Feeding stimulatory effects of Cyperus rotundus tuber on Cirrhinus mrigala

Traditionally tubers of cyperus (Cyperus rotundus) and its extracts have been used for alluring fish during harvesting in India. An experiment was conducted to evaluate its feeding stimulatory activity and effect on the growth of a commercially important freshwater fish, Cirrhinus mrigala. Three isonitrogenous and isocaloric formulated diets viz. plant ingredient based control and control supplemented with cyperus tuber (CS) at 1% and 5% levels were fed to the fingerlings of mrigal, C. mrigala (2.68+0.20 g) for a period of 45 days. The growth performance and the activity of metabolic enzymes, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), in liver, gill and muscle tissues of mrigal were studied during every 15 days interval. Highest relative growth (72.28%) was obtained in the mrigal fed with the diet containing 5% cyperus (5% CS), while the relative growths were 66.18% and 43.40% for the fish fed with the 1% CS diet and control respectively. The activities of AST and ALT were significantly higher (p<0.01) in both 1% and 5% CS diets as compared to the control in all the tissues studied. Higher aminotransferase activities were observed in the tissues of 5% CS group than in those of 1% CS group throughout the experimental period. The observed higher enzymatic activity was concomitant with the higher growth rate in fish. The results suggested that cyperus tuber supplementation increased feed palatability and growth

Effect of Pulse Voltage Trimming on Different Characteristics of Polymer Thick Film Resistors

AbstractIn this work we study in more details the impact of pulse voltage trimming on different characteristics of thick film resistors based on (PVC-Graphite) resistor compositions. This study focuses on the change of resistivity, thermal coefficient of resistance and current noise. In order to realize a non cut trimming without damage to the resistor surface of thick film resistors for electronic devices, a pulse voltage trimming method (PVTM) has been developed. This trimming method having resistance adjustments are due to pulse peak voltage and the number of pulse group. TCR and current noise of trimmed resistors are considerably improved by this trimming technique in the case of higher resistivity materials and worsen in the case of lower resistivity materials and there is no loss in power handling capacity of trimmed resistors. We propose a description of pulse voltage trimming which can explain the observed changes in characteristics of the samples

Harmonized Medical Device Regulation: Need, Challenges, and Risks of not Harmonizing the Regulation in Asia

Medical device sector is one of the most complex and challenging business segments of the healthcare industry with close collaboration between science and engineering. Despite the fact that Asia has 60% of the world population providing large market potential, Asian healthcare expenditure constitutes only 15% of the global healthcare expenditure. The accelerated ageing population and increasing prevalence of chronic disease are the key drivers that contribute toward the increase in the total healthcare expenditure on medical devices in the region. Several policies clearly showed the eagerness of the government to provide better healthcare infrastructure with better medical devices and facilities. The fundamental objective of the regulatory harmonization is to improve the efficiency of national economies and their ability to adopt to change and remain competitive. After the era of liberalization and globalization, the desires of developing economies is to ensure safety and performance of the product brought to their markets and for this harmonized regulation is an important tool for strengthening the same. If we talk about the industry need, then this approach will eliminate redundant requirements that do not contribute to safety and effectiveness. In addition, Asia is diverse in many respects and with it come the various challenges to harmonizing the regulation which includes diversity in culture, politics, economy, historical issues, etc. If, by any reason, the regulation of medical devices is not harmonized and consequently, the harmonized regulation is not adopted, then it leads to serious concerns like delayed or absent access to innovative technology, continued rise in the cost of medical therapies, etc. So this issue is written to attract all stakeholders to move toward the concept of harmonization, keeping in mind their need, challenges, and risks of not harmonizing the regulation as well

Spread Spectrum based QoS aware Energy Efficient Clustering Algorithm for Wireless Sensor Networks

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are composed of small, resource-constrained sensor nodes that form self-organizing, infrastructure-less, and ad-hoc networks. Many energy-efficient protocols have been developed in the network layer to extend the lifetime and scalability of these networks, but they often do not consider the Quality of Service (QoS) requirements of the data flow, such as delay, data rate, reliability, and throughput. In clustering, the probabilistic and randomized approach for cluster head selection can lead to varying numbers of cluster heads in different rounds of data gathering. This paper presents a new algorithm called "Spread Spectrum based QoS aware Energy Efficient Clustering for Wireless sensor Networks" that uses spread spectrum to limit the formation of clusters and optimize the number of cluster heads in WSNs, improving energy efficiency and QoS for diverse data flows. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm outperforms classical algorithms in terms of energy efficiency and QoS

Study of Cypermethrin Cytogenesis effects on Human Lymphocytes Using In-Vitro Techniques

The Cytogenetic effects of Cypermethrin a synthetic pyrithroid insecticide was investigated on human lymphocytes cultured in-vitro. Utilizing the trypan blue dye exclusion technique assay the LC50 of cypermethrin was found to be 36 uM. Based on LC50 value, cypermethrin was found to be low toxic to lymphocyte culture. Cypermethrin showed an increase in the frequency of chromosomal aberrations and found to be significant. Karyotype analysis revealed more satellite associations and chromosomal breaks in cypermethrin treated samples. Low-doses of the pesticide also induced singlestrand breaks in the DNA as assessed by comet assay. The pesticide caused increase in the comet tail length with increase in pesticide concentration, implicating genotoxicity in somatic cells. It is concluded that In vitro assays could give important information of the mechanism of toxicity at low dosages and impact on genetic material of human origin

Theories of Ultrasonic Velocities and their Application in Binary Liquid Mixtures of N-Ethylaniline with Some Toluenes (Toluene, o-Nitrotoluene and m-Nitrotoluene)

Abstract: Ultrasonic velocities and densities of the binary liquid mixtures of N-ethyl aniline with different toluenes like toluene, o-nitrotoluene and m-nitrotoluene have been measured at temperatures 303.15 and 308.15 K over the entire composition range. Various theories of ultrasonic velocity were applied to experimental values in evaluating the velocities using Nomoto&apos;s relation (U NR ), Impedence relation (U IR ), Ideal mixing relation (U IMR ), Jungie&apos;s relation (U JR )and Rao&apos;s specific velocity relation (U R ). The molecular interaction parameter (χ) has been evaluated from the values of experimental and theoretical velocities. The variation of this interaction parameter with the composition mixture has been discussed in terms of molecular interactions

Multi-walled carbon nanotube physicochemical properties predict pulmonary inflammation and genotoxicity

<p>Lung deposition of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) induces pulmonary toxicity. Commercial MWCNT vary greatly in physicochemical properties and consequently in biological effects. To identify determinants of MWCNT-induced toxicity, we analyzed the effects of pulmonary exposure to 10 commercial MWCNT (supplied in three groups of different dimensions, with one pristine and two/three surface modified in each group). We characterized morphology, chemical composition, surface area and functionalization levels. MWCNT were deposited in lungs of female C57BL/6J mice by intratracheal instillation of 0, 6, 18 or 54 μg/mouse. Pulmonary inflammation (neutrophil influx in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL)) and genotoxicity were determined on day 1, 28 or 92. Histopathology of the lungs was performed on day 28 and 92. All MWCNT induced similar histological changes. Lymphocytic aggregates were detected for all MWCNT on day 28 and 92. Using adjusted, multiple regression analyses, inflammation and genotoxicity were related to dose, time and physicochemical properties. The specific surface area (BET) was identified as a positive predictor of pulmonary inflammation on all post-exposure days. In addition, length significantly predicted pulmonary inflammation, whereas surface oxidation (–OH and –COOH) was predictor of lowered inflammation on day 28. BET surface area, and therefore diameter, significantly predicted genotoxicity in BAL fluid cells and lung tissue such that lower BET surface area or correspondingly larger diameter was associated with increased genotoxicity. This study provides information on possible toxicity-driving physicochemical properties of MWCNT. The results may contribute to safe-by-design manufacturing of MWCNT, thereby minimizing adverse effects.</p

Possible mechanisms of hypotension produced 70% alcoholic extract of Terminalia arjuna (L.) in anaesthetized dogs

BACKGROUND: The bark of Terminalia arjuna L. (Combretaceae) is used in Ayurveda since ancient times for the treatment of cardiac disorders. Previous laboratory investigations have demonstrated the use of the bark in cardiovascular complications. The present study was aimed to find the effect of 70% alcoholic extract of Terminalia arjuna on anaesthetized dog blood pressure and probable site of action. METHODS: Six dogs were anaesthetized with intraperitoneal injection of thiopental sodium and the blood pressure of each dog (n = 6) was measured from the left common carotid artery connected to a mercury manometer on kymograph. The femoral vein was cannulated for administration of drug solutions. The extract of T. arjuna (dissolved in propylene glycol) in the dose range of 5 to 15 mg/kg were administered intravenously in a pilot study and the dose (6 mg/kg) which produced appreciable hypotension was selected for further studies. RESULTS: Intravenous administration of T. arjuna produced dose-dependent hypotension in anaesthetized dogs. The hypotension produced by 6 mg/kg dose of the extract was blocked by propranolol but not by atropine or mepyramine maleate. This indicates that muscarinic or histaminergic mechanisms are not likely to be involved in the hypotension produced by the extract. The blockade by propranolol of the hypotension produced by T. arjuna indicates that the extract might contain active compound(s) possessing adrenergic ß(2)-receptor agonist action and/or that act directly on the heart muscle. CONCLUSION: The results indicated the likely involvement of peripheral mechanism for hypotension produced by the 70% alcoholic extract of Terminalia arjuna and lends support for the claims of its traditional usage in cardiovascular disorders

An overview of recent developments in the analytical detection of new psychoactive substances (NPSs)

New psychoactive substances (NPSs), sometimes referred to as “legal highs” in more colloquial environments/ the media, are a class of compounds that have been recently made available for abuse (not necessarily recently discovered) which provide similar effects to the traditional well studied illegal drugs but are not always controlled under existing local, regional or international drug legislation. Following an unprecedented increase in the number of NPSs in the last 5 years (with 101 substances discovered for the first time in 2014 alone) its, occasionally fatal, consequences have been extensively reported in the media. Such NPSs are typically marketed as ‘not for human consumption’ and are instead labelled and sold as plant food, bath salts as well as a whole host of other equally nondescript aliases in order to bypass legislative controls. NPSs are a new multi-disciplinary research field with the main emphasis in terms of forensic identification due to their adverse health effects, which can range from minimal to life threatening and even fatalities. In this mini-review we overview this recent emerging research area of NPSs and the analytical approaches reported to provide detection strategies as well as detailing recent reports towards providing point-of-care/in-the-field NPS (“legal high”) sensors

Preparation and characterization of solid electrolytes for solid oxide fuel cells. Quarterly report, January 1, 1997--June 30, 1997

During this period, attempts were made to measure the surface and electrochemical properties of rare-earth dopants in ceria for solid oxide fuel cells and cathodic electrodes