ECOLOGICAL FEATURES AND CONSERVATION OF ARNEBIA EUCHROMA. A CRITICALLY ENDANGERED MEDICINAL PLANT IN WESTERN HIMALAYA

Arnebia euchroma (Royle ex Benth.) Johnston, commonly known as ‘Ratanjot’ is an important medicinal plant species and is found distributed in the western Himalaya at elevations ranging between 3200 - 4500 m above sea level. Considering its potent medicinal properties, cultural significance, declining population density and critically endangered status of this taxon, the present investigation was carried out for the assessment of its availability in the natural alpine landscapes of the Spiti cold desert of western Himalaya in Himachal Pradesh (India). We focused our study on its ecological features, population dynamics and performance in natural habitats, so as to formulate conservation plans. In order to achieve the objectives of the present study, a total of 620 areas were set by using a random sampling technique at six different locations where A. euchroma was found distributed naturally. The highest population density was recorded in undulating meadows (5.30 individuals/m2) with a maximum circumference (4.18±1.80cm) at an elevation of 4240 m above sea level, with maximum frequency of occurrence (100%). Ecological surveys revealed that distribution was restricted in specific habitats rich in soil nutrients with high pH (8.025 - 8.37). The significance of the role of various ecological variables is explained in detail in the present paper. Habitat specificity, low population, and anthropogenic pressure justify the rarity status of this taxon in the Spiti valley. The authors discussed different implications to develop appropriate strategies for a long-term monitoring and sustainability of A. euchroma in the Spiti cold desert of western Himalaya

Molecular Detection of Carbapenem Resistance in Clinical Isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae in Tertiary Care Hospital

Antibiotic resistance has become a serious global threat, mainly due to misuse, overuse of antibiotics and non-compliance with infection control protocol. Superbugs are multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extended drug-resistant (XDR) bacteria, mainly Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli from the Enterobacteriaceae family, which cause opportunistic infections and raise death rates and hospital expenditures. The present study was conducted at a tertiary care teaching hospital to study the epidemiology and molecular detection of carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae isolated from various clinical specimens. 240 K. pneumoniae isolates were collected from January 2020 to December 2021 at the Bacteriology laboratory, Index Medical College and Hospital, Indore. All isolates were analyzed for carbapenem resistance by the conventional disc diffusion method. All carbapenem-resistant isolates were tested for carbapenemase production using the phenotypic double-disk synergy test (DDST) and modified Hodge test (MHT) as per 2020 CLSI guidelines. All isolates were negative by phenotypic methods, further confirmed by conventional PCR to detect the gene responsible for carbapenemase production. 240 isolates of K. pneumoniae were included during the study periods. Out of 240 isolates, 102 isolates were found resistant to carbapenem drugs. All 102 isolates were confirmed carbapenemase and MBL producers by MHT and DDST tests. Among 102, 60 isolates were found to be MBL producers negative by MHT and DDST tests. Sixty phenotypic negative carbapenem-resistant isolates were tested by conventional PCR. One or more carbapenemase genes were detected in 61.0% of isolates. The blaKPC was detected in 13/60 (21%) isolates, followed by blaNDM 10/60 (16%) isolates, followed by blaVIM in 6/60(10%), blaOXA-48 in 5/60 (8%) and blaIMP in 3/60(5%) isolates. K. pneumoniae produces carbapenemase, which enhances resistance to the carbapenem class of antibiotics. The simultaneous detection of these resistance genes expressed by Klebsiella pneumoniae might be managed by early detection and adhering to antibiotic policies that limit the use of antibiotics

Experience in the design optimization of a voltage source inverter fed squirrel cage induction motor

The paper deals with the design optimization of a voltage source inverter (VSI) fed squirrel cage induction motor. A set of nine independent variables is selected and to make the machine feasible and practically acceptable certain constraints are imposed on the design. Different objective functions are considered, namely, the active material cost, operating cost, a mixed objective function of the active material cost and operating cost, and the torque pulsation, to facilitate a suitable design for a given application. In this investigation the sequential unconstrained minimization technique (SUMT) with interior penalty function approach in conjunction with Rosenbrock's method of rotating coordinates is used to optimize the design. The optimized design results of a 7.5 kW, delta-connected, voltage source inverter fed cage motor are given and discussed in detail

Design optimization of current source inverter fed squirrel cage induction motor

This paper deals with the design optimization of current source inverter (CSI) fed squirrel cage induction motor. For this a set of ten independent variables is selected and seven objective functions are considered namely, the active material cost, operating cost, a mixed objective function of the active material cost and operating cost, torque pulsations, voltage across commutating capacitor, maximum commutation time of CSI and an integrated objective function. To visualize extreme performance for a particular objective function, the design is optimized considering only one objective function at a time. Finally an integrated objective function is proposed which is formed as a combination of all other objective functions with suitable weighting factors to suit optimum design for a particular application. In the task of design optimization the desired thermal, starting and normal operating performance are optimally met by imposing twelve suitable constraints. In this investigation the Sequential Unconstrained Minimization Technique (SUMT) with interior penalty function approach is used to optimize the design. In this method, Rosenbrock's method is used to achieve unconstrained minimization. The optimized design results of a 7.5 kW, delta connected CSI fed cage motor are given and discussed in detail

Meropenem Incorporated ZnO Nanoflakes as Nano Antibiotics: Efficient Antimicrobial Activity against Metallo β-lactamase Producing Clinical Isolates

The number of fatalities caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria is over 700,000 annually due to widespread antibiotic usage. So, there is a need of new antibiotics, materials that work like antibiotics, or combinations of antibiotics with nanomaterials that could help in treating the infections which is caused by MDR bacteria. The present study describes the synthesis of ZnO nanoflakes using a co-precipitation method. The ZnO nanoflakes and ZnO nanoflakes combinations with carbapenem antibiotics were tested against carbapenem-resistant (CR) clinical isolates. The SEM analysis showed surface morphology of the synthesized nanoflakes-like structure of ZnO. All 67 CR isolates were tested and showed inhibitory action at varying concentrations of ZnO nanoflakes. ZnO nanoflakes were found to have an inhibitory effect against Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae at lowest concentration of 1.25 mg.ml-1 of ZnO NPs with average zone size (mean ±SD) 1.91±2.94 mm and 2.00±4.14 mm and the average zone size of ZnO nanoflakes against Acinetobacter baumanni and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was 9.89±0.76 mm and 10.17±0.39 mm at 2.5 mg.ml-1 concentration. The combined action of ZnO nanoflakes with Meropenem 10 mcg demonstrated synergetic activity against CR pathogens, with an average zone of inhibition measuring 15.2 mm in diameter. ZnO nanoflakes illustrated considerable antibacterial activity against MBL-producing gram-negative clinical isolates at the lowest concentration. Chemically synthesized ZnO nanoflakes may offer a superior future expectation as a nano-antibiotic to treat the infection caused by CRE bacteria.The number of fatalities caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria is over 700,000 annually due to widespread antibiotic usage. So, there is a need of new antibiotics, materials that work like antibiotics, or combinations of antibiotics with nanomaterials that could help in treating the infections which is caused by MDR bacteria. The present study describes the synthesis of ZnO nanoflakes using a co-precipitation method. The ZnO nanoflakes and ZnO nanoflakes combinations with carbapenem antibiotics were tested against carbapenem-resistant (CR) clinical isolates. The SEM analysis showed surface morphology of the synthesized nanoflakes-like structure of ZnO. All 67 CR isolates were tested and showed inhibitory action at varying concentrations of ZnO nanoflakes. ZnO nanoflakes were found to have an inhibitory effect against Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae at lowest concentration of 1.25 mg.ml-1 of ZnO NPs with average zone size (mean ±SD) 1.91±2.94 mm and 2.00±4.14 mm and the average zone size of ZnO nanoflakes against Acinetobacter baumanni and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was 9.89±0.76 mm and 10.17±0.39 mm at 2.5 mg.ml-1 concentration. The combined action of ZnO nanoflakes with Meropenem 10 mcg demonstrated synergetic activity against CR pathogens, with an average zone of inhibition measuring 15.2 mm in diameter. ZnO nanoflakes illustrated considerable antibacterial activity against MBL-producing gram-negative clinical isolates at the lowest concentration. Chemically synthesized ZnO nanoflakes may offer a superior future expectation as a nano-antibiotic to treat the infection caused by CRE bacteria