Energy efficient choice of brick façade in Kolkata, India

Abstract The standard practice for facade in Kolkata, India is with 250 mm thick traditional burnt clay brick wall and 6 mm glazing fitted to aluminium window shutters. In the present study, the embodied energy of traditional brickwork and cumulative cost throughout its lifecycle in a conditioned space has been estimated. The impact on operational energy of such brickwork is also estimated through energy simulation. Variations of the present specifications using varying thickness of fly ash bricks and window glazing have been considered and the cost impacts are estimated. Fly ash brickwork of 300 mm thickness and single layer 6 mm glazing for window glass is proposed as the optimum facade specification

<span style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA">Effect of ethanol extract of <i>Piper betle </i>Linn leaf on healing of NSAID – induced experimental ulcer - A novel role of free radical scavenging action</span>

311-315Treatment with ethanol extract of leaf of P. betle at a dose of 150 mg/kg body weight daily for 10 days, after induction of peptic ulcer by NSAID in albino rats, produced significant healing effect. During healing process, on treatment with the extractive,  antioxidative factor, e.g. superoxide dismutase and catalase activity, mucus and total gastric tissue sulfhydryl group were increased. In contrast, oxidised lipid and oxidatively modified proteins were reduced to near normalcy, within 7 to 10 days, however, change in the untreated group was not significant. The extract also showed significant in vitro free radical scavenging action. The results suggest that the antioxidant or free radical scavenging activity of the plant extract, may be responsible for its healing action

Quantitative Genetic Analysis for Yield and Yield Components in Boro Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Twenty-nine genotypes of boro rice (Oryza sativa L.) were grown in a randomized block design with three replications in plots of 4m x 1m with a crop geometry of 20 cm x 20 cm between November-April, in Regional Agricultural Research Station, Nagaon, India. Quantitative data were collected on five randomly selected plants of each genotype per replication for yield/plant, and six other yield components, namely plant height, panicles/plant, panicle length, effective grains/panicle, 100 grain weight and harvest index. Mean values of the characters for each genotype were used for analysis of variance and covariance to obtain information on genotypic and phenotypic correlation along with coheritability between two characters. Path analyses were carried out to estimate the direct and indirect effects of boro rice�s yield components. The objective of the study was to identify the characters that mostly influence the yield for increasing boro rice productivity through breeding program. Correlation analysis revealed significant positive genotypic correlation of yield/plant with plant height (0.21), panicles/plant (0.53), panicle length (0.53), effective grains/panicle (0.57) and harvest index (0.86). Path analysis based on genotypic correlation coefficients elucidated high positive direct effect of harvest index (0.8631), panicle length (0.2560) and 100 grain weight (0.1632) on yield/plant with a residual effect of 0.33. Plant height and panicles/plant recorded high positive indirect effect on yield/plant via harvest index whereas effective grains/panicle on yield/plant via harvest index and panicle length. Results of the present study suggested that five component characters, namely harvest index, effective grains/plant, panicle length, panicles/plant and plant height influenced the yield of boro rice. A genotype with higher magnitude of these component characters could be either selected from the existing genotypes or evolved by breeding program for genetic improvement of yield in boro rice

Highly Selective Sub-ppm Naked-Eye Detection of Hydrazine with Conjugated-1,3-Diketo Probes: Imaging Hydrazine in Drosophila Larvae

A pair of pyrene- and anthracene-based turn-on fluorescent probes (<b>1</b> and <b>2</b>, respectively) reported here can be easily synthesized in a single-step process and also exhibit outstanding sensing behavior toward hydrazine over various competing nucleophilic species and environmentally relevant ions. The probes display dramatic enhancements in the emission intensity with as high as 83- and 173-fold increases in the presence of hydrazine. Nitrogenous bases, thiols, and lanthanides do not interfere in the fluorometric detection. These probes enable the detection of hydrazine with the naked eye well below sub-ppm concentrations (ca. 30 ppb) with analytical detection limits of 5.4 ppb for <b>1</b> and 7.7 ppb for <b>2</b>, which are far exceeded by the accepted lower limit for hydrazine (10 ppb) set by the US EPA. Simple paper strips based on these probes could be used for the detection of hydrazine even in the gas phase. Both of the probes could selectively detect hydrazine even in pond water samples efficiently. The probes were successfully applied to visualize, for the first time, accumulation of hydrazine in live fruit-fly larvae using epifluorescence microscopy. The novel and interesting detection mechanism, proposed on the basis of spectroscopic evidence and single crystal XRD results, indicates that the detection pathway proceeds via the initial step of a five-membered ring formation upon attack of the hydrazine, followed by a dehydration step for gaining aromaticity

Pattern of prophylactic antibiotics usage in caesarean section: An observational study

Background: Caesarean section is the most important factor associated with postpartum bacterial infections, with a infection rate reported to be 1-25%, which is 5-20 times higher than that of vaginal delivery. Materials &amp; Methods: It was a prospective observational single centre study. The data was collected from the patient’s file in the nursing station within the hospital premises. The hospital was a tertiary care hospital, West Bengal. The prospective study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital with all pregnant women undergoing elective and emergency caesarean section. The study was designed to assess the type of antibiotics was used prophylactically before undergoing a caesarean section. Interval between the time of administration of antibiotic &amp; time of delivery was assessed. Data on the use of antibiotic prophylaxis in caesarean sections was collected using a customized proforma. Other data included were indication for caesarean section, route of administration of antibiotics, type of antibiotics, dosage of antibiotics, time of incision, and duration of operation. All the methods were compared to Hospital protocol and NICE protocol. Results: The maximum no.of patients were administered the combination of inj. cefotaxime &amp; inj. metronidazole that is 49.8%. The mean time interval between administration of antibiotic and delivery (mean± s.d.) of the patients was 44.99±16.83 minutes with range 5-90 minutes and the median was 45 minutes. Most of the time interval 209 (68.5%) were as per hospital protocol which was statistically significant (Z=5.79; p=0.0001). Conclusion: Antibiotic prophylaxis significantly reduces the postpartum infection rate &amp; thus reduces maternal morbidity &amp; mortality in caesarean section. In this study conducted at a tertiary care hospital, the prophylactic antibiotic usage data showed that combination of cefotaxime &amp; metronidazole is most frequently used. The study describes that the usage of prophylactic antibiotic combination cefotaxime &amp; metronidazole are most appropriate &amp; have compliance with hospital protocol &amp; NICE protocol. Keywords: Antibiotic prophylaxis, postoperative infection, caesarean section, surgical site infection (SSI

A Study of the indications of caesarean section in a tertiary care hospital at West Bengal: An observational study

Background: In recent decades, we have observed a remarkable increase in the rate of caesarean section (CS) in both developed and developing countries, especially in India.&nbsp; Its prevalence has increased alarmingly in the last few years, which has motivated this research to identify the indications and determinants, influencing cesarean section delivery in the study area and determine the associated correlates for emergency and elective cesarean sections. Materials &amp; Methods: The prospective study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital with all pregnant women undergoing elective and emergency caesarean section. Interval between the time of administration of antibiotic &amp; time of delivery was assessed. Data on the use of antibiotic prophylaxis in caesarean sections was collected using a customized proforma. Other data included were indication for caesarean section, route of administration of antibiotics, type of antibiotics, dosage of antibiotics, time of incision, and duration of operation. All the methods were compared to Hospital protocol and NICE protocol.&nbsp; Its prevalence has increased alarmingly in the last few years, which has motivated this research to identify the indications and determinants, influencing cesarean section delivery in the study area and determine the associated correlates for emergency and elective cesarean sections. Results were expressed as proportions, percentages &amp; as averages +/- standard deviation (SD) with corresponding ranges. Results: The mean age (mean ± s.d.) of the patients was 28.94±3.88 years with range 19 - 42 years and the median age was 29 years. Test of proportion showed that proportion of single gravidity 216(70.8%) was significantly higher than that of multi-gravidity 89(29.2%) (Z=8.74;p=0.000001).&nbsp; Most of the caesarean section 26(8.5%) were underwent as per maternal wish (Z=1.21;p=0.47). Most of the patients 280(91.8%) had intact membrane as compared to ruptured membrane 25(8.2%) (Z=10.19;p=0.000001). The mean duration of surgery (mean± s.d.) of the patients was 75.13±16.96 minutes with range 35-148 minutes and the median was 75 minutes. Most of the surgeries 250 (82%) were performed between 60-89 minutes which was significantly higher (Z=8.04;p=0.00001). Conclusion: Caesarean sections are effective in saving maternal and infant lives, but only when they are required for medically indicated reasons. Unnecessary cesarean section may have an adverse impact upon maternal, neonatal, and infant morbidity and mortality. The high cost of cesarean section may result in catastrophic health expenditure for families and additional pressure upon health systems, especially in low- and middle-income countries