Effect of vehicular pollution on Duranta repens L. in Jammu City

Experimental potted plants of Duranta repens has been exposed to air pollution at major traffic crossings-Amphalla chowk, Dogra chowk, Bikram chowk, Satwari chowk of Jammu city and also inside University Campus in the department which has been taken as a reference site. Sets of 10 plants were kept at each site and analyzed for various micro morphological, anatomical and biochemical parameters to assess the changes due to air pollution. Analysis of data revealed that micro-morphological parameters viz. stomatal frequency, epidermal cell frequency increased significantly while others like size of the stomata, epidermal cells and length, breadth ratio of the epidermal cells decreased significantly in plants kept at polluted location. All the anatomical parameters such as thickness of midrib region, midrib adjoining region, spongy tissue, upper epidermis and vascular bundles decreased significantly in exposed plants. Among biochemical parameters chlorophyll b decreases significantly while ascorbic acid increases significantly. Air Pollution Tolerance Index (APTI) has also been calculated and found to increase significantly in plants kept at polluted location which indicate that the Duranta repens serve as sink to air pollutants and can be effectively employed for phyto-monitoring auto exhaust pollution along the road side of the busy traffic ways

Personal Assistant Robot

Since the boom in science and technology, humans have been trying to invent machines that could reduce their efforts in day to day activities. In this paper, we develop a personal assistant robot that could pick up objects and return it to the user. The robot is controlled using an android application in mobile phones. The robot can listen to user’s command and then respond in the best way possible. The user can command the robot to move to given location, capture images and pick objects. The robot is equipped with ultrasonic sensor and web camera that helps it to move to different location effectively. It is also equipped with sleds that play important role in object picking process. The robot uses a tiny YOLOv3 model which is rigorously trained on several images of the object. There are some possible improvements that can be achieved which could help this robot to be used in several other fields as well

Student's perception: A core indicator in building academia in today's world

Introduction: The perception of students considering their educational environment is a useful source to modify or to improve the quality of education. Whereas the education is a dynamic process, researches about this topic are important to improve education methods and strategies. Equally essential is to know opinion of the students about teachers and educational environment. Aim: The aim of this study is to assess students' perceptions of educational environment using Dundee ready education environment measure (DREEM) among four different health science courses. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey design was conducted on 398 students enrolled in undergraduate health science programs offered at a multispecialty university in Haryana, whose courses consisted of traditional classes and clinical fieldwork. This comprised of students from bachelor degrees in Dental Sciences, Physiotherapy, Nursing, and Allied health sciences. The survey was conducted using a standardized self-report questionnaire DREEM, which is 50-item, close-ended, and scored on 5-point Likert scale. Results: The mean total DREEM score was 77.2 ± 13.07, which according to the interpretation guide was seen to be more positive than negative. More positive results were seen among students of dental sciences (76.7 ± 12.8) and physiotheray (78.06 ± 13.1). Statistical significant difference (P ≤ 0.05) was seen among all the courses in each subscale. Students' perception of teachers and students' self-perception showed statistically nonsignificant results when compared between gender. Conclusion: Students rated their learning environment as positive. This suggests a student-centered approach from the university and may lead to positive outcomes for the students

Occurrence of plant sensitivity among patients of photodermatoses: A control-matched study of 156 cases from New Delhi

Background: Photodermatitis is an abnormal response to ultraviolet radiation (UVR). The photoallergic contact dermatitis caused by plant allergens is a serious cause of morbidity in India. Airborne contact dermatitis is the classical presentation of plant-induced dermatosis, which may become difficult to differentiate from chronic actinic dermatitis in chronic cases. The rapid growth of parthenium weed in India and its ill effects on the population make it important to detect all cases of parthenium sensitivity, which in some cases might simulate photodermatitis. Aims: This study aims to detect the occurrence of plant sensitivity and photosensitivity in idiopathic-acquired photodermatoses, airborne contact dermatitis and general population taken as controls. Methods: One hundred and fifty six consecutive patients suffering from polymorphic light eruption (PMLE), chronic actinic dermatitis (CAD) and airborne contact dermatitis (ABCD) were enrolled in the study over a period of three years (June 2004 to May 2007). An equal number of age and sex matched healthy subjects were enrolled in the study as controls. All the patients were subjected to detailed history taking, clinical examination and histopathological examination for diagnosis. Patch and photopatch testing were perfomed in all the patients and healthy controls for detection of allergic and photoallergic reactions to parthenium, xanthium and chrysanthemum plant antigens and control antigens. Results: Out of 156 patients enrolled in the study, 78 (50%) had CAD, 67 (42.9%) had PMLE and 11 (7.05%) had ABCD. The occurrence of parthenium/xanthium allergy and photoallergy, either to parthenium or both was most commonly found in ABCD (72.7%), followed by CAD (32%). In PMLE 4.5% cases showed photoallergy. Only 1.9% in the control group showed sensitivity to parthenium and xanthium. Conclusion: This study indicates that parthenium (and possibly xanthium) may act as important environmental factors in the initiation and perpetuation of not only ABCD but of CAD as well. Photoexacerbation to UVA at positive parthenium/xanthium sensitivity sites in ABCD and CAD indicates that ABCD with photosensitivity to compositae can lead to CAD

Follicular lymphoma: an institutional analysis

Background: Follicular lymphoma (FL) is second most common lymphoma in adult, constituted 20% of all lymphoma cases in the west. There is limited information is available on FL from India. Methods: The clinico-pathological profile, treatment outcome and prognostic factors for survival were assessed retrospectively in 181 patients of FL seen at our center over a period of 17 years ( 1996-2012). Results: There were 120 males and 61 females. The median age was 51 years (24-80 years). The common presenting features were lymphadenopathy 71%, fatigue 23% and fever 20%. Ann Arbor stage distribution was: stage I - 9%, stage II - 11%, stage III -22 % and stage IV - 58%. Extra nodal involvement and bulky disease were present in 22% and 19% patients respectively. Follicular Lymphoma International Prognostic Index (FLIPI) 1 score : Low -25%, Intermediate-45% and high risk in 30% of cases. One forty five patients (80%) received treatment at presentation or during follow-up. Chemotherapeutic regimen used were: CHOP-45, CVP-51, chlorambucil and prednisolone -7, BR (bendamustine and rituximab)-12, RCHOP- 14 RCVP – 7 and other regimen were used in 5 cases. The overall response (ORR) and complete remission (CR) rates were 70% and 35% respectively. Median overall survival (OS) and event free survival (EFS) was 5.5 years and 2.5 years respectively, with median follow up period of 3.0 years. Grade 3 histology, failure to attain CR, low serum albumin, and high risk FLIPI were significantly associated with lower event free survival. High risk FLIPI (HR 1.46, 95% CI 1.03-2.10, p=0.003) and failure to attain CR (HR 2.64, CI 1.10-4.30, p=0.001) were predictors of poor OS. Conclusions: FL represents 9 % of all lymphoma in adult. This is the largest data from single institute from India. Eighty percentage of patients presented in stage III/IV disease. High risk FLIPI and failure to attain CR were important prognostic variables for OS

A novel esterase from Bacillus subtilis (RRL 1789): Purification and characterization of the enzyme

An esterase (EC 3.1.1.1) produced by an isolated strain of Bacillus subtilis RRL 1789 exhibited moderate to high enantioselectivity in the kinetic resolution of several substrates like aryl carbinols, hydroxy esters, and halo esters. The enzyme named as B. subtilis esterase(BSE), was purified to >95% purity with a specific activity of 944 U/mg protein and 12% overall yield. The purified enzyme is �52 kDa monomer, maximally activity at 37 �C and pH 8.0 and fairly stable up to 55 �C. The enzyme does not exhibit the phenomenon of interfacial activation with tributyrin and p-nitrophenyl butyrate beyond the saturation concentration. The enzyme showed preference for triacyglycerols and esters of p-nitrophenol with short chain fatty acid. Presence of Ca2+ ions increases the activity of enzyme by �20% but its presence does not have any influence on the thermostability of the enzyme. The enzyme is not a metalloprotein and belongs to the family of serine proteases. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of BSE determined, as Met-Thr-Pro-Glu-Iso-Val-Thr-Thr-Glu-Tyr-Glyrevealed similarity with the N-terminal amino acid sequence of p-nitrobenzylesterase of B. subtilis

A clinicopathological study of primary central nervous system lymphomas & their association with Epstein-Barr virus

Background & objectives: Primary central nervous system lymphomas (PCNSLs) are relatively uncommon, accounting for 2-3 per cent of primary brain tumours. Majority of these are diffuse large B cell lymphomas (DLBCL) occurring both in immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients. We undertook this study to classify PCNSL into germinal centre (GC) and non-germinal centre (NGC) type based on Hans classification and to find the role of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in pathogenesis both by conventional immunohistochemistry (IHC) and chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH). Methods: The consecutive cases of PCNSL during a 10 years period were analysed by IHC for CD45, CD20, CD3, B-cell lymphoma 2 and 6 (Bcl-2 and Bcl-6), B-cell specific octamer binding protein-1 (BOB-1), multiple myeloma oncogene-1 (MUM-1), EBV latent-membrane protein 1 (LMP-1), cyclin-D1, CD10, CD5 and CD23, as well as by CISH for EBV. Results: During a period of 10 years, 65 PCNSL were diagnosed which comprised 0.69 per cent (65/9476) of all intracranial tumours. The mean age of presentation was 49 yr with sex ratio (M:F) of 1.4:1. Most common location was supratentorial region with predominant involvement of frontal lobe. Single lesions were seen in 38 (58.4%) and multifocal lesions in 27 (41.5%) patients. None of the patients were immunocompromised. All cases were B cell immunophenotype and were DLBCL except one case of follicular lymphoma. According to Hans classification, majority of them were NGC (n=51, 79.6%) and 13 (20.3%) were GC type. Bcl-2 expression was noted in 34 (52.3%) tumours. EBV was positive in three (4.6%) cases; two were detected both by IHC and CISH and one case by CISH only. Interpretation & conclusions: In Indian population, PCNSL occurs mainly in immunocompetent patients, and a decade earlier than in western population. Immunophenotyping revealed that all cases were DLBCL with predominance of NGC type. No prognostic difference was seen between GC and NGC DLBCL. Association of EBV was rare and this virus was possibly not involved in the pathogenesis of PCNSL in immunocompetent individuals. CISH was an easy, economical and less cumbersome method for detection of EBV in PCNSL