A Remotely Operable Facility for Fabrication of Fuel Pins for test Irradiation

AbstractA laboratory scale facility has been set up for fabrication of test fuel pins through sol-gel route for irradiation in FBTR, Kalpakkam. The facility is a train of glove boxes fitted with master slave manipulators for carrying out various operations involved in the fuel fabricat ion process. The paper describes the design features of the equipment and mechanisms for automation, developed for microsphere production and other processes. The design features include control system and vision systems for man- machine interface

A PROCESS FOR EXTRACTION OF ESSENTIAL OIL FROM DRACOCEPHALUM HETEROPHYLLUM BENTH

Complete Specification The present invention relates to a process for the extraction of essential oil from Dracocephalum heterophyllum benth. The present invention relates to an essential oil with citronellol and rose oxides in high yield and other perfumery compounds obtained from a cold desert plant source Dracocephalum heterophyllum benth. The present invention also relates to a process for the extraction of essential oil from the plant source. BACKGROUND ART The generic name Dracocephalum Linn is derived from Greek words Drakon meaning dragon and Kephale meaning head referring to the appearance of the heads of the flowers. The genus Dracocephalum comprises about 50 species distributed in Northern Hemisphere i.e. Southern Europe, North America, North Africa and temperate Asia. Reference may be made to Hooker, J.D. Flora of British India, 1872-97 vol-4, 666, London. Another reference may be made to Bailey, L.H. 1976. Hortus Third (revised edition), MacMillan Co. NY. 398 D. heterophyllum is a native to western Himalaya and Tibet. Reference may be made to Hay, T. 1937. Gard. Chron. 101:203. It is one of the 8 species known so far from Indian subcontinent. D. heterophyllum has been reported from different parts of India including J & K, H.P., Uttaranchal and Sikkim Himalaya between the elevation of 3000-5200m. Reference may be made to Hooker, J.D. Flora of British India, 1872-97 vol-4, 666, London, another reference may be made to Anon., 1952, vol.-III, PID, New Delhi, yet another reference may be made to Hajra, P.K. and Balodi, Vipin 1995, Plant Wealth of Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve BSI, Dehra Dun. pp.. 277. This plant has not yet been explained for any commercial utility. But on the basis of recent field studies it has been revealed that the crude extract of the plant is used in treating eye ailments like redness of eye, irritation and conjunctivitis of the native people of Spiti valley, HP. The same use has been reported earlier from Ladakh region of J&K reference may be made to Srivastava, T.N. and Gupta, O.P. 1982 in C.K. Atal and B.N. Kapur (eds.): Cultivation and utilization of medicinal plants PP-519. RRL Jammu. A literature survey on Dracocephalum shows that the essential oil of many species have been reported. Reference may be made to Ahmedi, L., Mirza, M. (2001). Volatile constituents of Dracocephallum aucheri Boiss.J. Essent. Oil Res., 13, 202. The result shows that there are remarkable differences in the major constituents. On the basis of major chemical constituents of Dracocephalum species, it can be divided into 5 major chemotypes 1) citral, geraniol type 2) p-mentha-1,8-diene-1 -ol, limonene type 3) 1,8-cineole, limonene, p-cymene type 4) Sabinene, germacene type and 5) Pinocamphone, b-pinene type. Reference may be made to Misra, L.N., Shawl, A.S. Raina, and V.K. (1988) Volatile constituents of Dracocephalum nutans. Planta Med. 53, 165. Keeping in view the significant chemical diversities in essential oil this genus, a detail study of the essential oil of D.heterophyllum is undertaken. However, some of the chemical constituents of the essential oils of this plant have been reported recently. Reference may be made to Lu-Man, Tian-Xuan, Lu-M, Tian-X, (1999), Analysis of essential oil of D. heterophyllum 34, 925. Recently, the plant material (whole plant) of D. heterophyllum has been collected from nature i.e. Shagtal-Gete (4400-4500m) and Kibber (4100-4200m) of Lahul-Spiti region in Himachal Pradesh in the month of August 2001. The study has been carried out to analyze its essential oil constituents and it is revealed that D. heterophyllum has an interesting chemo-rype containing highest content of citronellol and rose oxides. These yields are substantially higher than any other reported species of Dracocephalum and is designated 6th type of chemo-type and named it as citronellol, rose oxide type. Acclimatization process of this plant in ex-situ conditions i.e. in the experimental farm (under controlled condition) of the Institute at Palampur (1300m) has also been carried out to perform comparative studies of the essential oil this plant. In order to collect ethnobotanical, ecological and floristic field data from higher altitudes of western Himalaya, a field survey was conducted in Spiti valley of Lahul- Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh, India in the month of August 2001. While conducting field surveys in the said area, some patches of D. heterophyllum Benth. were located near by Gete (4400-4500m) and Kibber (4100-4200m) Villages in Spiti valley. Population sampling of the same was carried out and simultaneously plant material (whole plant) was collected for chemical examination. The voucher The authenticity of the species was confirmed by way of matching with the specimens documented in the herbarium of Northern Circle, Botanical Survey of India (BSD) Dehra Dun. OBJECTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION The main object of present invention is to discover a cold desert plant as a new source of essential oil. Another object of present invention is to identify/select D. heterophyllum as a new source of perfumery compounds of commercial significance. Still another object of present invention is the domestication and cultivation of this plant for essential oil production. Further object of present invention is to conduct the comparative studies of the essential oils of both wild and cultivated populations of D. heterophyllum so as to select the elite clones. Still another object of present invention is to discover a high yielding natural source of citronellol and rose oxides. Yet another object of present invention is to harness the potential of this natural plant resource for the economic benefits of the native people living in high mountains. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an essential oil with citronellol and rose oxides in high yield and other perfumery compounds obtained from a cold desert plant source Dracocephalum heterophyllum benth. The present invention also relates to a process for the extraction of essential oil from the plant source. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention provides process for the extraction of essential oil from Dracocephalum heterophyllum benth, wherein the said process comprising the steps of: [a] charging the said plant material with water in a preferable ratio of 1:2 in a round bottom flask attached to Clevenger type apparatus; [b] heating the plant material as obtained from step (a) to boiling temperature; [c] condensing the vapor to separate out the volatile oil from the upper layer of distillate to obtain the desired essential oil composition followed by measuring the quantity of the constituents thereof. An embodiment of the present invention, wherein the constituents of said essential oil are identified by Gas Chromatography (GC) and Gas Chromatography Mass Spectra (GCMS). Another embodiment of the present invention, wherein said oil content is a new commercial source for citronellol. Yet another embodiment of the present invention, wherein said oil content is a new commercial source for cis and trans rose oxides. Still another embodiment of the present invention, wherein said oil content is a new commercial source for citronellyl acetate, geranyl acetate and citronellyl iso-butyrate. Yet another embodiment of the present invention, wherein the yields of citronellol and rose oxide thus obtained are substantially higher than from any other Dracocephalum species. Still another embodiment of the present invention, wherein the chemo-type containing highest content of citronellol and rose oxides is designated as 6th type of chemo-type and named as citronellol, rose oxide type. Further embodiment of the present invention, wherein the essential oil yield from D. heterophyllum is about 0.45% on fresh wt. basis. The present invention also provides a process for the extraction of essential from a new plant source, Dracocephalum heterophyllum Benth, said process comprising the steps of: (a) charging plant material with water in a round bottom flask attached to Clevenger type apparatus; (b) heating the plant material to a boiling temperature; (c) condensing the vapor to separate the volatile oil from the upper layer of distillate to obtain the essential oil; An embodiment of the present invention, a process wherein the essential oil yield from D. heterophyllum is about 0.45% on fresh wt. basis. Yet another embodiment of the present invention, a process wherein the plant material is selected from the whole plant. material is selected from the whole plant. Still another embodiment of the present invention, a process wherein the plant material is used obtained both from high altitude natural plants and from low altitude cultivated plants. Further embodiment of the present invention, wherein D. heterophyllum is cultivated in the experimental farm (under controlled condition) of the Institute at Palampur (13300m) and essential oil is distilled on Clevenger apparatus by hydrodistillation yield 0.4% on fresh wt. basis. Yet another embodiment of present invention, wherein the GCMS of the essential oils was carried out on Shimadzu instrument using CP Sil 8CB, non-polar column (5% phenyl polysiloxane), column length 30 mts (i.d. 0.25 mm) carrier gas helium, temperature programmed from 100°C-250°at the rate of 6°C/min. EXAMPLE Method of extraction of essential oil 1kg of fresh plant material was charged along with water in 1:2 ratio in a 5 litre round bottom flash. This flash is attached to a Clevenger type apparatus and the whole system is put on heating mental and heated. After few minutes the material inside start boiling. The vapour so formed is condensed through condenser in Clevenger type apparatus. The condensed distillate get collected in a measuring tube, this process is continued for 3h and the volatile oil is separated from upper layer from the distillate because of its density difference, as oil is lighter than water and the quantity of oil is measured. ADVANTAGES The present invention will open new vistas in R&D leading to harness the potential of D. heterophyllum at commercial level by identifying an alternate promising source of two isomers cis and trans- rose oxides, the highly significant perfumery compounds in addition to rose and geranium oils. This plant contains highest percentage of citronellol among the known sources of Dracocephalum species and can be utilized as an alternate source of this compound. We claim; 1. A process for the extraction of essential oil from Dracocephalum heterophyllum benth, wherein the said process comprising the steps of: [a] charging the said plant material with water in a preferable ratio of 1:2 in a round bottom flask attached to Clevenger type apparatus; [b] heating the plant material as obtained from step (a) to boiling temperature; [c] condensing the vapor to separate out the volatile oil from the upper layer of distillate to obtain the desired essential oil composition followed by measuring the quantity of the constituents thereof. 2. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the constituents of the essential oil are identified by Gas Chromatography and Gas Chromatography Mass Spectra. 3. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the yield of the essential oil obtained is at least up to 0.45% on fresh weight basis. 4. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plant material used is whole plant and obtained from both high altitude natural plant and low altitude new chemotype named as 6th type of citronellol-rose oxide type chemotype. 5. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mixture of the isolated essential oil comprises in wt%: [a] cis-rose oxide (0.6-1.6 %), [b] trans-rose oxide (0.3-0.5%), [c] citronellal (2.5-6.7%), [d] citronellol (54.3-74.9%), [e] geranial (1.5-2.4%), [fj citronellyl acetate (6.7-21.6%), [g] neryl acetate (0.4-0.7%), [h] geranyl acetate (1.3-11.7%), [i] spathulenol (0.2-1.5%), [j] citronellyl-isobutyrate (0.3-0.8%), [k] citronellol formate (0-0.2%), [1] alpha-bourbonene (0-0.4%), [m] benzaldehyde (0-0.2%), [n] 6-methylheptanone (0-0.2%), [o] neral (0-1.2%), [p] alpha-pinene (0-0.5%), [q] beta-pinene (0-0.2%), [r] linalool (0-0.8%), [s] beta-farnesene (0-0.1%) and [t] delta-elemene (0-0.5%). 6. A process for the extraction of essential oil from Dracocephalum heterophyllum benth substantially as herein described in the specification

Plant Species Diversity along an Altitudinal Gradient of Bhabha Valley in Western Himalaya

The present study highlights the rich species diversity of higher plants in the Bhabha Valley of western Himalaya in India. The analysis of species diversity revealed that a total of 313 species of higher plants inhabit the valley with a characteristic of moist alpine shrub vegetation. The herbaceous life forms dominate and increase with increasing altitude. The major representations are from the families Asteraceae, Rosaceae, Lamiaceae and Poaceae, suggesting thereby the alpine meadow nature of the study area. The effect of altitude on species diversity displays a hump-shaped curve which may be attributed to increase in habitat diversity at the median ranges and relatively less habitat diversity at higher altitudes. The anthropogenic pressure at lower altitudes results in low plant diversity towards the bottom of the valley with most of the species being exotic in nature. Though the plant diversity is less at higher altitudinal ranges, the uniqueness is relatively high with high species replacement rates. More than 90 % of variability in the species diversity could be explained using appropriate quantitative and statistical analysis along the altitudinal gradient. The valley harbours 18 threatened and 41 endemic species, most of which occur at higher altitudinal gradients due to habitat specificit

Multi-dye theranostic nanoparticle platform for bioimaging and cancer therapy

Amit K Singh,1,2 Megan A Hahn,2 Luke G Gutwein,3 Michael C Rule,4 Jacquelyn A Knapik,5 Brij M Moudgil,1,2 Stephen R Grobmyer,3 Scott C Brown,2,61Department of Materials Science and Engineering, College of Engineering, 2Particle Engineering Research Center, College of Engineering, 3Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, 4Cell and Tissue Analysis Core, McKnight Brain Institute, 5Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; 6DuPont Central Research and Development, Corporate Center for Analytical Science, Wilmington, DE, USABackground: Theranostic nanomaterials composed of fluorescent and photothermal agents can both image and provide a method of disease treatment in clinical oncology. For in vivo use, the near-infrared (NIR) window has been the focus of the majority of studies, because of greater light penetration due to lower absorption and scatter of biological components. Therefore, having both fluorescent and photothermal agents with optical properties in the NIR provides the best chance of improved theranostic capabilities utilizing nanotechnology.Methods: We developed nonplasmonic multi-dye theranostic silica nanoparticles (MDT-NPs), combining NIR fluorescence visualization and photothermal therapy within a single nanoconstruct comprised of molecular components. A modified NIR fluorescent heptamethine cyanine dye was covalently incorporated into a mesoporous silica matrix and a hydrophobic metallo-naphthalocyanine dye with large molar absorptivity was loaded into the pores of these fluorescent particles. The imaging and therapeutic capabilities of these nanoparticles were demonstrated in vivo using a direct tumor injection model.Results: The fluorescent nanoparticles are bright probes (300-fold enhancement in quantum yield versus free dye) that have a large Stokes shift (>110 nm). Incorporation of the naphthalocyanine dye and exposure to NIR laser excitation results in a temperature increase of the surrounding environment of the MDT-NPs. Tumors injected with these NPs are easily visible with NIR imaging and produce significantly elevated levels of tumor necrosis (95%) upon photothermal ablation compared with controls, as evaluated by bioluminescence and histological analysis.Conclusion: MDT-NPs are novel, multifunctional nanomaterials that have optical properties dependent upon the unique incorporation of NIR fluorescent and NIR photothermal dyes within a mesoporous silica platform.Keywords: bioluminescence, in vivo imaging, mesoporous silica nanoparticles, NIR fluorescence, photothermal ablation, theranosti

Traditional use of medicinal plants among the tribal communities of Chhota Bhangal, Western Himalaya

The importance of medicinal plants in traditional healthcare practices, providing clues to new areas of research and in biodiversity conservation is now well recognized. However, information on the uses for plants for medicine is lacking from many interior areas of Himalaya. Keeping this in view the present study was initiated in a tribal dominated hinterland of western Himalaya. The study aimed to look into the diversity of plant resources that are used by local people for curing various ailments. Questionnaire surveys, participatory observations and field visits were planned to illicit information on the uses of various plants. It was found that 35 plant species are commonly used by local people for curing various diseases. In most of the cases (45%) under ground part of the plant was used. New medicinal uses of Ranunculus hirtellus and Anemone rupicola are reported from this area. Similarly, preparation of "sik" a traditional recipe served as a nutritious diet to pregnant women is also not documented elsewhere. Implication of developmental activities and changing socio-economic conditions on the traditional knowledge are also discussed

The oxysterol 27-hydroxycholesterol increases β-amyloid and oxidative stress in retinal pigment epithelial cells

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Alzheimer's disease (AD) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) share several pathological features including β-amyloid (Aβ) peptide accumulation, oxidative damage, and cell death. The causes of AD and AMD are not known but several studies suggest disturbances in cholesterol metabolism as a culprit of these diseases. We have recently shown that the cholesterol oxidation metabolite 27-hydroxycholesterol (27-OHC) causes AD-like pathology in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells and in organotypic hippocampal slices. However, the extent to which and the mechanisms by which 27-OHC may also cause pathological hallmarks related to AMD are ill-defined. In this study, the effects of 27-OHC on AMD-related pathology were determined in ARPE-19 cells. These cells have structural and functional properties relevant to retinal pigmented epithelial cells, a target in the course of AMD.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>ARPE-19 cells were treated with 0, 10 or 25 μM 27-OHC for 24 hours. Levels of Aβ peptide, mitochondrial and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress markers, Ca²⁺homeostasis, glutathione depletion, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, inflammation and cell death were assessed using ELISA, Western blot, immunocytochemistry, and specific assays.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>27-OHC dose-dependently increased Aβ peptide production, increased levels of ER stress specific markers caspase 12 and gadd153 (also called CHOP), reduced mitochondrial membrane potential, triggered Ca²⁺dyshomeostasis, increased levels of the nuclear factor κB (NFκB) and heme-oxygenase 1 (HO-1), two proteins activated by oxidative stress. Additionally, 27-OHC caused glutathione depletion, ROS generation, inflammation and apoptotic-mediated cell death.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The cholesterol metabolite 27-OHC is toxic to RPE cells. The deleterious effects of this oxysterol ranged from Aβ accumulation to oxidative cell damage. Our results suggest that high levels of 27-OHC may represent a common pathogenic factor for both AMD and AD.</p

Procalcitonin Is Not a Reliable Biomarker of Bacterial Coinfection in People With Coronavirus Disease 2019 Undergoing Microbiological Investigation at the Time of Hospital Admission

Abstract Admission procalcitonin measurements and microbiology results were available for 1040 hospitalized adults with coronavirus disease 2019 (from 48 902 included in the International Severe Acute Respiratory and Emerging Infections Consortium World Health Organization Clinical Characterisation Protocol UK study). Although procalcitonin was higher in bacterial coinfection, this was neither clinically significant (median [IQR], 0.33 [0.11–1.70] ng/mL vs 0.24 [0.10–0.90] ng/mL) nor diagnostically useful (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.56 [95% confidence interval, .51–.60]).</jats:p

Implementation of corticosteroids in treating COVID-19 in the ISARIC WHO Clinical Characterisation Protocol UK:prospective observational cohort study

BACKGROUND: Dexamethasone was the first intervention proven to reduce mortality in patients with COVID-19 being treated in hospital. We aimed to evaluate the adoption of corticosteroids in the treatment of COVID-19 in the UK after the RECOVERY trial publication on June 16, 2020, and to identify discrepancies in care. METHODS: We did an audit of clinical implementation of corticosteroids in a prospective, observational, cohort study in 237 UK acute care hospitals between March 16, 2020, and April 14, 2021, restricted to patients aged 18 years or older with proven or high likelihood of COVID-19, who received supplementary oxygen. The primary outcome was administration of dexamethasone, prednisolone, hydrocortisone, or methylprednisolone. This study is registered with ISRCTN, ISRCTN66726260. FINDINGS: Between June 17, 2020, and April 14, 2021, 47 795 (75·2%) of 63 525 of patients on supplementary oxygen received corticosteroids, higher among patients requiring critical care than in those who received ward care (11 185 [86·6%] of 12 909 vs 36 415 [72·4%] of 50 278). Patients 50 years or older were significantly less likely to receive corticosteroids than those younger than 50 years (adjusted odds ratio 0·79 [95% CI 0·70–0·89], p=0·0001, for 70–79 years; 0·52 [0·46–0·58], p80 years), independent of patient demographics and illness severity. 84 (54·2%) of 155 pregnant women received corticosteroids. Rates of corticosteroid administration increased from 27·5% in the week before June 16, 2020, to 75–80% in January, 2021. INTERPRETATION: Implementation of corticosteroids into clinical practice in the UK for patients with COVID-19 has been successful, but not universal. Patients older than 70 years, independent of illness severity, chronic neurological disease, and dementia, were less likely to receive corticosteroids than those who were younger, as were pregnant women. This could reflect appropriate clinical decision making, but the possibility of inequitable access to life-saving care should be considered. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research and UK Medical Research Council

Para-infectious brain injury in COVID-19 persists at follow-up despite attenuated cytokine and autoantibody responses

To understand neurological complications of COVID-19 better both acutely and for recovery, we measured markers of brain injury, inflammatory mediators, and autoantibodies in 203 hospitalised participants; 111 with acute sera (1–11 days post-admission) and 92 convalescent sera (56 with COVID-19-associated neurological diagnoses). Here we show that compared to 60 uninfected controls, tTau, GFAP, NfL, and UCH-L1 are increased with COVID-19 infection at acute timepoints and NfL and GFAP are significantly higher in participants with neurological complications. Inflammatory mediators (IL-6, IL-12p40, HGF, M-CSF, CCL2, and IL-1RA) are associated with both altered consciousness and markers of brain injury. Autoantibodies are more common in COVID-19 than controls and some (including against MYL7, UCH-L1, and GRIN3B) are more frequent with altered consciousness. Additionally, convalescent participants with neurological complications show elevated GFAP and NfL, unrelated to attenuated systemic inflammatory mediators and to autoantibody responses. Overall, neurological complications of COVID-19 are associated with evidence of neuroglial injury in both acute and late disease and these correlate with dysregulated innate and adaptive immune responses acutely