Efficient utilization of xylanase and lipase producing thermophilic marine actinomycetes (Streptomyces albus and Streptomyces hygroscopicus) in the production of ecofriendly alternative energy from waste

The marine actinomycetes strain MAC 6 and MAC 14 were used in the production of xylanase and lipase enzyme using wheat bran as an inducer with oats, soy meal and ground nut oil cake. Two strains showed higher xylanase and lipase activity at pH 10.0 and 50°C among 30 actinomycetes screened from sediments of Tiruchendhur coastal areas of Tamil Nadu. The enzymes were produced by solid state fermentation by using 70% of moisture content. More biogas production was observed in oil cake and straw waste with the pretreatment of xylanase and lipase producing strains within short hydraulic retention time.Key words: Biogas, groundnut oilcake, lipase, marine actinomycete, rice straw, solid state fermentation, thermophilic, wheat bran, xylanase

Ecofriendly application of cellulase and xylanase producing marine Streptomyces clavuligerus as enhancer in biogas production from waste

The marine actinomycete strain MAC 9 was used for the production of cellulase and xylanase from wheat bran with inducers oats and soy meal as substrate. Out of 30 actinomycetes screened from sediments of Tiruchendhur coastal areas of Tamil Nadu, India only 8 strains showed both cellulase and xylanase activity. The marine actinomycete exhibited highest enzyme activity at alkaline pH 8-9 with temperature ranging from 40-55°C. The enzymes were used in pretreatment of rice and wheat straw waste for biogas  production. More biogas production was observed in the agricultural waste with the pretreatment of  cellulase, xylanase and the combination of enzymes.Key words: Biogas, cellulase, energy, marine actinomycete, solid state fermentation, thermophilic, wheat bran, xylanase

Formulation and Evaluation of Metoprolol Succinate Extended Release Tablets

AIM:The aim of the work is to design and develop extended release tablets comprising of Metoprolol succinate equivalent to Metoprolol tartrate by wet granulation method using swellable polymers such as HPMC K100M, HPMC K4M and to carry out the In vitro release study of the drug. OBJECTIVES: The Pharmaceutical Formulation objectives which were destined to achieve during the work are: Extended release tablets with good physical strength. Tablets with optimum content of active pharmaceutical ingredients without variation in the content unit/tablet. The Pharmacological objectives which were destined to achieve during the work are: To maintain the drug concentration within the therapeutic range, there would be a need of administration of drug for more than once a day. To improve the patient compliance and avoid frequency of dosing intervals. To provide effective, Safe and stable pharmaceutical oral formulation containing Prolonged release of Antihypertension drugs with mechanism of action to improve Blood Pressure control. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION: The Present research endeavour is directed towards the development of once daily extended release matrix Tablet of Metoprolol succinate equivalent to Metoprolol Tartrate 100mg. The different concentration of polymer was used to control the drug release from the dosage form (USP Monograph limits). This extended release tablet is effective in improving the hypertension control by blocking the beta2 adrenergic receptors. Matrix System was based on swellable polymer were selected for sustaining the drug release. Different polymers to get the desired release profile over a period for 20 hours. Different batches of extended release was prepared by Wet granulation Method respectively. All the formulations were evaluated for physical characteristics, disintegration, in vitro dissolution study and stability. Following conclusions have been made from the present study. The physical characteristics of all the blended formulations were satisfactory. The prepared tablets evaluated for Assay, weight variation, hardness, thickness and friability and Disintegration time were found to be within the official limits. The in vitro dissolution studies were performed for all the ER formulations. In Vitro Dissolution study of ER formulations F7 showed release profile were complies with USP at 40% concentration of HPMCK100M with respect to drug compared with another 6 formulation. In-vitro Dissolution study of ER Tablets was compared to the API

GRB000301C with peculiar afterglow emission

The CCD magnitudes in Johnson V and Cousins R and I photometric passbands are determined for GRB 000301C afterglow starting ~ 1.5 day after the gamma-ray burst. In fact we provide the earliest optical observations for this burst. Light curves of the afterglow emissions in U, B, V, R, I, J and K' passbands are obtained by combining the present measurements with the published data. Flux decay shows a very uncommon variation relative to other well observed GRBs. Overall, there is a steepening of the optical and near-infrared flux decay caused by a geometric and sideways expanding jet. This is superimposed by a short term variability especially during early time (Delta t < 8 days). The cause of variability is not well understood, though it has occurred simultaneously with similar amplitude in all the filters. We derive the early and late time flux decay constants using jet model. The late time flux decay is the steepest amongst the GRB OTs observed so far with alpha ~ 3. Steepening in the flux decay seems to have started simultaneously around Delta t ~ 7.6 day in all passbands. The value of spectral index in the optical-near IR region is ~ -1.0. Redshift determination with z=2.0335 indicates cosmological origin of the GRB having a luminosity distance of 16.6 Gpc. Thus it becomes the second farthest amongst the GRBs with known distances. An indirect estimate of the fluence > 20 keV indicates, if isotropic,> =10^53 ergs of release of energy. The enormous amount of released energy will be reduced, if the radiation is beamed which is the case for this event. Using a jet break time of 7.6 days, we infer a jet opening angle of ~ 0.15 radian. This means the energy released is reduced by a factor of ~ 90 relative to the isotropic value.Comment: LaTeX file, 11 pages including 4 figures, uses psfig.sty, Bull. Astron. Society of India(accepted, Sept, 2000 issue

Night sky at the Indian Astronomical Observatory during 2000-2008

We present an analysis of the optical night sky brightness and extinction coefficient measurements in UBVRI at the Indian Astronomical Observatory (IAO), Hanle, during the period 2003-2008. They are obtained from an analysis of CCD images acquired at the 2 m Himalayan Chandra Telescope at IAO. Night sky brightness was estimated using 210 HFOSC images obtained on 47 nights and covering the declining phase of solar activity cycle-23. The zenith corrected values of the moonless night sky brightness in mag/square arcsecs are 22.14(U), 22.42(B), 21.28(V), 20.54(R) and 18.86(I) band. This shows that IAO is a dark site for optical observations. No clear dependency of sky brightness with solar activity is found. Extinction values at IAO are derived from an analysis of 1325 images over 58 nights. They are found to be 0.36 in U-band, 0.21 in B-band, 0.12 in V-band, 0.09 in R-band and 0.05 in I-band. On average, extinction during the summer months is slightly larger than that during the winter months. No clear evidence for a correlation between extinction in all bands and the average night time wind speed is found. Also presented here is the low resolution moonless optical night sky spectrum for IAO covering the wavelength range 3000-9300 \AA. Hanle region thus has the required characteristics of a good astronomical site in terms of night sky brightness and extinction, and could be a natural candidate site for any future large aperture Indian optical-infrared telescope(s).Comment: 18 pages, 7 figures, uses basi.cls, accepted for publication in Bulletin of the Astronomical Society of Indi

GASP XVIII: Star formation quenching due to AGN feedback in the central region of a jellyfish galaxy

We report evidence for star formation quenching in the central 8.6 kpc region of the jellyfish galaxy JO201 which hosts an active galactic nucleus, while undergoing strong ram pressure stripping. The ultraviolet imaging data of the galaxy disk reveal a region with reduced flux around the center of the galaxy and a horse shoe shaped region with enhanced flux in the outer disk. The characterization of the ionization regions based on emission line diagnostic diagrams shows that the region of reduced flux seen in the ultraviolet is within the AGN-dominated area. The CO J$_{2-1}$ map of the galaxy disk reveals a cavity in the central region. The image of the galaxy disk at redder wavelengths (9050-9250 \overset{\lower.5em\circ}{\mathrm{A}}) reveals the presence of a stellar bar. The star formation rate map of the galaxy disk shows that the star formation suppression in the cavity occurred in the last few 10$^8$ yr. We present several lines of evidence supporting the scenario that suppression of star formation in the central region of the disk is most likely due to the feedback from the AGN. The observations reported here make JO201 a unique case of AGN feedback and environmental effects suppressing star formation in a spiral galaxy.Comment: Author's accepted manuscrip