Emotional Intelligence and Its Impact Upon Learning and Teaching- A Case Study of a Teacher in Higher Education

Human beings are endowed with qualities and capabilities that make them unique in this world. Their intellectual capabilities help in solving problems, decision-making and creativity. Human beings also possess emotions that influence their well-being. According to Mayer and Salovey, Emotional Intelligence is the ability of individuals to perceive, use, understand and manage emotions. The researcher conducted a case study on a teacher of Higher Education in Lucknow, India to understand the impact of Emotional Intelligence on teaching and learning. Her Emotional Intelligence was assessed through Emotional Intelligence Scale of Hyde et al. Interaction was also done with the teacher, her students, colleagues and family. The result showed that she has high Emotional Intelligence. This is reflected in her interaction with students and colleagues. She efficiently manages intrapersonal emotions and interpersonal relationships. She ignites the desire for learning in the students; and also nurtures their Emotional Intelligence so that they are able to identify and manage their own emotions; and consequently, become prepared to face the challenges of the global world

Standardized method to extract phenolic compounds from Lagerstroemia speciosa L. (Jarul) for enhanced antioxidant activity

Phenolic compounds contribute to the antioxidant property of plants and the efficient extraction of plant phenolics could enhance its antioxidant potential. Lagerstroemia speciosa (L.) Pers. has been investigated for its pharmacological activities, but comparing its antioxidant activities of phenolics derived from its various parts has a key role in developing natural antioxidants. This study was conducted to standardize the extraction of phenolics from leaves, pods and branches of L. speciosa plant, followed by determination of antioxidant activities of their solvent fractions. Phenolic compounds were extracted from the leaves, pods and branches under different parameters such as temperature, pH, type of solvent and volume of the solvent. The extracted phenolic compounds were subjected to solvent fractions and antioxidant assays were performed. Among the various extraction methods tested, the best method was 50% ethanol +1% HCl, refluxing temperature, 100 ml of solvent and 1 hour extraction time. The best solvent fractions were determined as NaHCO3 + ethyl acetate for pods and ethyl acetate alone for leaves and branches with extracted phenolics content of 150.2 mg/g, 136.2 mg/g and 82.9 mg/g, respectively. The chloroform fraction was best among the fractions with maximum ascorbic acid equivalent (ASE) in all the parts of L. speciosa tested. Ferrous ion chelating capacity indicated that butanol fraction had the highest chelation and the same was recorded in ferric ion chelating assay with an EC50 value of 28.2. Hydroxyl radical scavenging activity of the fractions indicated that NaHCO3 + EtOAc fraction of pods had potential activity. Thus, the phenolic compounds from L. speciosa are excellent sources for future investigation on potent natural antioxidant compounds

Physicochemical and antibacterial activities of Apis honey types derived from Coorg, Karnataka, India

Natural honey has various ingredients in it that contribute to its incredible properties. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the physicochemical and antibacterial activity of various Apis honey from Coorg, Karnataka. Four samples of Apis honey viz., A. florea, A.  mellifera, A. cerana and A.  dorsata were collected from various regions of Coorg, Karnataka. The honey samples' physicochemical properties and antibacterial activities against Streptococcus sp., Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis and Enterococcus sp were determined in vitro. The moisture and ash content varied from 13.6 - 17.2% and 0.32 – 0.49%, respectively. Hydroxy methyl furfurals) content of A. dorsata honey samples was highest with 9.2±0.5 mg/Kg and least was recorded with 6.8±0.4 mg/Kg for A. florae honey. The reducing sugar content of A. florea honey sample was highest with 87.5±3.2 (%) and the peroxide levels were in the range of 10.2 – 14.9 µg/g/h at 20°C. The antibacterial assay revealed that S. aureus, Enterococcus sp and Streptococcus sp were most susceptible against the honey varieties tested and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values between 25-6.5 (%v/v) were determined. In conclusion, honey varieties from Coorg could be used in specific antibacterial prophylaxis as the activity depends on the honey bee species, their metabolism and floral sources in specific geographical regions

In vitro anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic and antioxidant potential of Cissus quadrangularis along with its orexigenic activity in Drosophila melanogaster

Plants with diverse pharmacological activities are actively being explored for human health. Cissus quadrangularis (L) has been reported to possess numerous phytochemicals and is used to relieve various disorders. This article aims at providing evidence of the diverse pharmacological activities in terms of orexigenic, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic and antioxidant activities of C. quadrangularis for further application in clinical development. The results revealed that inhibition of hemolysis was within the range of 8-9-25.6% at concentrations of 12.5-200 µg/ml. Methanol extract of C. quadrangularis stems exhibited porcine pancreatic ?-amylase (PPA) inhibition (p?0.05) at concentrations of 0.25 and 0.30 mg/ml. The glucose adsorption capacity of the C. quadrangularis was observed to be inversely proportional to the molar concentration of glucose. The higher food intake by Drosophila in food medium with plant extract is presumably related to orexigenic property of C. quadrangularis. Protease activity of C. quadrangularis stem extract revealed total activity 975 U/ml and specific activity as 3768 U/mg. The absorbance of C. quadrangularis in reducing power assay were between 0.91and 1.85. Highest total antioxidant activity of 67.2 µg TE/g was observed and the hydroxyl radicals scavenging activity was observed in a dose dependent manner. The results provide supporting data that C. quadrangularis may contain active compounds useful in treating anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic disorders

Digital Education for Health Professions on Smoking Cessation Management:Systematic Review by the Digital Health Education Collaboration

BACKGROUND: Tobacco smoking, one of the leading causes of preventable death and disease, is associated with 7 million deaths every year. This is estimated to rise to more than 8 million deaths per year by 2030, with 80% occurring in low- and middle-income countries. Digital education, teaching, and learning using digital technologies have the potential to increase educational opportunities, supplement teaching activities, and decrease distance barriers in health professions education. OBJECTIVE: The primary objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the effectiveness of digital education compared with various controls in improving learners' knowledge, skills, attitudes, and satisfaction to deliver smoking cessation therapy. The secondary objectives were to assess patient-related outcomes, change in health professionals' practice or behavior, self-efficacy or self-rated competence of health professionals in delivering smoking cessation therapy, and cost-effectiveness of the interventions. METHODS: We searched 7 electronic databases and 2 trial registers for randomized controlled trials published between January 1990 and August 2017. We used gold standard Cochrane methods to select and extract data and appraise eligible studies. RESULTS: A total of 11 studies (number of participants, n=2684) were included in the review. All studies found that digital education was at least as effective as traditional or usual learning. There was some suggestion that blended education results in similar or greater improvements in knowledge (standardized mean difference, SMD=0.19, 95% CI -0.35 to 0.72), skill (SMD=0.58, 95% CI 0.08-1.08), and satisfaction (SMD=0.62, 95% CI 0.12-1.12) compared with digital education or usual learning alone. There was also some evidence for improved attitude (SMD=0.45, 95% CI 0.18-0.72) following digital education compared with usual learning. Only 1 study reported patient outcomes and the setup cost of blended education but did not compare outcomes among groups. There were insufficient data to investigate what components of the digital education interventions were associated with the greatest improvements in learning outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: The evidence suggests that digital education is at least as effective as usual learning in improving health professionals' knowledge and skill for delivering smoking cessation therapy. However, limitations in the evidence base mean that these conclusions should be interpreted with some caution. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42016046815; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=46815

NON-ENZYMATIC BIOCHEMICAL RESPONSE OF OCIMUM SANCTUM TO NACL STRESS

AbstractOcimum sanctum is a pharmaceutically important medicinal plant. In the present study the experimental plant was subjected to different concentrations (0, 20,40,60,80 μM) of sodium chloride, a popular pollutant of saline stressed soils and non enzymatic antioxidant defense generated was studied in the leaves of Ocimum sanctum L. The non enzymatic parameters investigated include ascorbic acid, proline, glutathione and non protein thiol. As the concentration of NaCl was increased, except non protein thiol, all other three parameters displayed a decreasing trend as compared with control. Our results clearly indicate that non protein thiol is the key player among the non enzymatic parameters which protects the Ocimum sanctum against the deleterious effect of reactive oxygen species. Keywords: Ocimum sanctum, Salt Stress, Ascorbic acid, Glutathione, Proline, Non protein thiol

Production and Characterization of α-Amylase from an Extremely Halophilic Archaeon, Haloferax sp. HA10

Haloarchaea are found at very high concentrations in salt-conditioned environments, hence produce enzymes which are able to catalyze reactions under harsh conditions, typical of many industrial processes. In the present study, culture conditions for extracellular amylase production from Haloarchaea isolated from a solar saltern were optimized and the purified enzyme was characterized. Haloferax sp. HA10 showed maximum amylase production at 3 M NaCl, 37 °C, pH=7 and 1 % starch content. Purified α-amylase was a calcium-dependent enzyme with an estimated molecular mass of about 66 kDa and many industrially useful properties. It was found to be stable in a broad range of pH (from 5 to 9) and NaCl concentrations (from 0.5 to 3.0 M), retaining 48 % activity even at 4 M. The optimal temperature for Haloferax sp. HA10 amylase activity was 55 °C (99 % activity), and 57 % activity was retained at 80 °C, which dropped to 44 % with the increase of temperature to 90 or 100 °C. It was able to sustain various surfactants and detergents. To the best of our knowledge the detergent-stable α-amylases from halophilic archaeon have not been reported yet

TOXICITY STUDIES OF A DEVELOPED HEPATOPROTECTIVE POLYHERBAL FORMULATION IN EXPERIMENTAL RATS

Objective: In the present study acute, sub acute and sub chronic toxicity studies were performed on scientifically developed hepatoprotective polyherbal formulation (PF). PF consists of dried methanolic extracts of dried rhizome of Curcuma longa, dried leaves of Murraya koenigii, Nyctanthes arbortristis, and Occimum sanctum. Methods: In acute toxicity study, PF was administered once orally at doses ranging from 250mg/kg -5000 mg/kg. Body weight and food consumption was noted for a period of 14 days. Animals were also observed daily for any behavioral or other toxic changes. In sub acute toxicity study animals were administered drugs in dose range of 500-2000 mg/kg p.o. for 28 days. Sub chronic toxicity study was also performed. Drug in dose range of 250-1000 mg/kg was administered once daily for 90 days. At the end of the study blood was withdrawn for hematology and biochemical estimations. Animals were then sacrificed and liver, kidney, heart and brain were dissected out which were observed for any gross morphological changes. Weight of organs was also noted. Results: The results showed no evidence of any changes in body weight and food intake, hematological parameters, liver and kidney function test when compared with control. The organs did not show any evidence of gross morphological changes. Conclusion: It is concluded that PF, at a dose of 1000 mg/kg, is safe for long term treatment of hepatic disorders.Key Words: polyherbal formulation, hepatoprotective, acute, sub acute, sub chronic toxicit