ANTIBACTERIAL AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITIES OF STEM BARK ESSENTIAL OIL CONSTITUENTS OF LITSEA GLUTINOSA C. B. ROB.

Objective: To evaluate the chemical composition, antibacterial and antioxidant properties of stem bark essential oil of Litsea glutinosa C. B. Rob.Methods: The essential oil isolated from stem bark of L. glutinosa and their chemical composition was analyzed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry detector. The in vitro antibacterial activity of the stem bark essential oil was investigated against eight human pathogenic bacterial clinical isolates using agar disc diffusion method and MIC value was determined by modified resazurin microtitre-plate assay. The antioxidant activity of essential oil was measured by 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH), 2, 2-azinobis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonate radical cation (ABTS) and β-carotene bleaching assay.Results: GC-MS analysis of stem bark essential oil resulted in the identification of 37 compounds, off which 9,12-octadecadienoic acid (62.57%), hexadecanoic acid (12.68%), stigmast-5-en-3-ol (6.87%) and vitamin E (2.51%) were the main constituents representing 84.63% of the oil. The determination of in vitro antibacterial activity of stem bark essential oil resulted in significant inhibition zone (15.00±0.57 mm) and MIC value (0.15±0.15×10-2 mg/ml) against the pathogenic bacteria Vibrio cholera followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella typhi. The results of DPPH radical scavenging (IC50:4.540±0.06 µg/ml), ABTS (IC50:256.02±0.06 µg/ml) and β-carotene bleaching assay (%I: 78.51±0.42 %) showed significant in vitro antioxidant property.Conclusion: L. glutinosa stem bark essential oil showed potential antibacterial activity against the Vibrio cholera. The results of this investigation supported the ethnomedical claim of essential oil as a demulcent, antidiarrheal and antioxidant drug

CLOT PROMOTING AND DISSOLVING PROPERTIES OF CUCUMBER (CUCUMIS SATIVUS) SAP, VALIDATING ITS USE IN TRADITIONAL MEDICINE

Objective: To investigate the biochemical events that are associated with the skin softening, cleansing and wound healing properties of the cucumber (Cucumis sativus L) sap extract.Methods: Preparation of cucumber sap extract (CSE). Assay of CSE for proteolytic activity, plasma re-calcification time, APTT, PT, thrombin-like activity, plasmin-like activity, and effect on platelet aggregation and wound healing property by physical, biochemical and histological examinations. Appropriate positive and negative controls were maintained wherever necessary.Results: CSE decreased the plasma re-calcification time and prothrombin time (PT) and showed factor VII (pro-convertin) like activity. EGTA or EDTA pre-treated CSE did not alter the plasma recalcification time and PT. CSE readily hydrolyzed the plasma clot and azocasein; while, IAA pre-treated CSE did not hydrolyze the plasma clot and azocasein. CSE inhibited the agonists collagen, ADP and epinephrine induced platelet aggregation in PRP in the order epinephrine>collagen>ADP with the respective IC50 of 22 ± 2.5, 20 ± 3 and 11 ± 2 µg/ml. PMSF pre-treated but not IAA and EDTA pre-treated CSE lost the platelet aggregation inhibition property. Further, CSE augmented wound healing process including the scar removal in a mouse model. The SOD, CAT, GSH activities and hydroxyproline, hexosamine and hexuronic acid contents were increased while, NO, LPO and MPO activities were decreased compared to control values. Histological study revealed accelerated wound healing involving epithelialisation and re-formation of skin following CSE treatment compared to Neosporin.Conclusion: CSE contain metallo-, serine and cysteine proteases, and interfere in clot formation, dissolution and wound healing process, which validates the use of cucumber as cosmetics and to treat wounds by traditional healers.Â

INTERNET OF THINGS BASED SMART HELMET FOR ALERTING ACCIDENT

Abstract This article is about a smart helmet, a novel idea that increases the safety of motorcycle riding. In order to stop vehicles from starting while the driver is not wearing a helmet, this technique was developed. or is inebriated. Furthermore, with the help of a GPS GSM-based tracking system, it detects accidents and sends SMS notifications to particular persons showing the bike's location and speed just before the collision, assisting ambulances in arriving at the precise spot. We want to integrate all of the sensors into the helmet, which will wirelessly transmit data to the module attached to the bike engine. There will be two modules in this smart motorcycle helmet system with one helmet and one motorcycle. The bike module has a vibration sensor, GPS, and GSM, whilst the helmet module has an alcohol sensor, a helmet sensor, and a switch. Both of these modules connect wirelessly using an Arduino as a microcontroller and an RF transmitter and receiver with encoder and decoder

Chandra High Resolution X-ray Spectroscopy of AM Her

We present the results of high resolution spectroscopy of the prototype polar AM Herculis observed with Chandra High Energy Transmission Grating. The X-ray spectrum contains hydrogen-like and helium-like lines of Fe, S, Si, Mg, Ne and O with several Fe L-shell emission lines. The forbidden lines in the spectrum are generally weak whereas the hydrogen-like lines are stronger suggesting that emission from a multi-temperature, collisionally ionized plasma dominates. The helium-like line flux ratios yield a plasma temperature of 2 MK and a plasma density 1 - 9 x10^12 cm^-3, whereas the line flux ratio of Fe XXVI to Fe XXV gives an ionization temperature of 12.4 +1.1 -1.4 keV. We present the differential emission measure distribution of AM Her whose shape is consistent with the volume emission measure obtained by multi-temperature APEC model. The multi-temperature plasma model fit to the average X-ray spectrum indicates the mass of the white dwarf to be ~1.15 M_sun. From phase resolved spectroscopy, we find the line centers of Mg XII, S XVI, resonance line of Fe XXV, and Fe XXVI emission modulated by a few hundred to 1000 km/s from the theoretically expected values indicating bulk motion of ionized matter in the accretion column of AM Her. The observed velocities of Fe XXVI ions are close to the expected shock velocity for a 0.6 M_sun white dwarf. The observed velocity modulation is consistent with that expected from a single pole accreting binary system.Comment: 6 figures, AASTEX style, accepted for publication in Ap

Sociodemographic profile of patients and prescribing trend of drugs in organophosphate poisoning at tertiary care teaching hospital in Central India: a descriptive study

Background: India is an agrarian country, where pesticides are most widely used in farming. Monsoon dependent agricultural practices are common in India. In present study socioeconomic class and prescribing pattern of commonly used drugs in organophosphate poisoning in indoor setting at tertiary care hospital is evaluated. The aim of the study was to evaluate prescribing trend of drugs and socioeconomic class of patients in organophosphate poisoning in monsoon season.Methods: Prospective observational study was conducted at Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) and Medicine Wards for 4 months at 540 bedded tertiary care teaching hospital.Results: Total 64 diagnosed cases were enrolled and analyzed in present study (n=64). Maximum number of cases (57.81%) were male followed by female (42.18%). Most of the cases (37.50%) were from the age group of 21-30 years. 49 (76.56%) patients were of primary intentional poisoning followed by 15 (23.43%) patients of accidental poisoning. Most common drugs prescribed were atropine, pralidoxime, cefotaxime and ranitidine. The average amount of atropine and pralidoxime used per patient/day were 37.89±63.63 mg and 10.07±26.87 gm respectively.Conclusions: Present study revealed that young male adults with low socioeconomic class from rural background were prone for intentional organophosphate poisoning in central India

FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF SOLID SELF MICRO EMULSIFYING DISPERSIBLE TABLET OF PIROXICAM

Objective: The aim of this study was to formulate the solid self-micro emulsifying dispersible tablets for promoting the dissolution of Piroxicam. Methods: Solubility study test was performed to know the solubility of various oil phase, surfactants, cosurfactants. Self-emulsifying grading test was done by visual grading system. Ternary phase diagrams and droplet size analysis test were performed to screen and optimize the Piroxicam-self microemulsifying drug delivery system (SMEDS). Then microcrystalline cellulose (KG802) was added as a suitable adsorbent and dispersible tablet were prepared by wet granulation compression method. Results: The final composition of Piroxicam-SMEDS was oil phase (oleic acid, 23%), surfactant (Cremophor R H-40,61%), co-surfactant (PEG-400,16%) based on the result of solubility test, self-emulsifying grading test, droplet size analysis and ternary phase diagrams. Microcrystalline cellulose (KG802) was selected based on dissolution study (98.35%) and added to liquid Piroxicam-Smeds formulation to form dispersible tablets. The in vitro dissolution study showed 98.02 % of drug release from Piroxicam-SMEDS tablets. Conclusion: Piroxicam–Self microemulsifying dispersible tablets have increased the solubility and bioavailability of the Piroxicam to a greater extent. SMEDS formulation can help the solubility of poorly water-soluble drugs

Transport properties of Layer-Antiferromagnet CuCrS2: A possible thermoelectric material

The electrical, thermal conductivity and Seebeck coefficient of the quenched, annealed and slowly cooled phases of the layer compound CuCrS2 have been reported between 15K to 300K. We also confirm the antiferromagnetic transition at 40K in them by our magnetic measurements between 2K and 300K. The crystal flakes show a minimum around 100K in their in-plane resistance behavior. For the polycrystalline pellets the resistivity depends on their flaky texture and it attains at most 10 to 20 times of the room temperature value at the lowest temperature of measurement. The temperature dependence is complex and no definite activation energy of electronic conduction can be discerned. We find that the Seebeck coefficient is between 200-450 microV/K and is unusually large for the observed resistivity values of between 5-100 mOhm-cm at room temperature. The figure of merit ZT for the thermoelectric application is 2.3 for our quenched phases, which is much larger than 1 for useful materials. The thermal conductivity K is mostly due to lattice conduction and is reduced by the disorder in Cu- occupancy in our quenched phase. A dramatic reduction of electrical and thermal conductivity is found as the antiferromagnetic transition is approached from the paramagnetic region, and K subsequently rises in the ordered phase. We discuss the transport properties as being similar to a doped Kondo-insulator

U(1) Gauge Theory as Quantum Hydrodynamics

It is shown that gauge theories are most naturally studied via a polar decomposition of the field variable. Gauge transformations may be viewed as those that leave the density invariant but change the phase variable by additive amounts. The path integral approach is used to compute the partition function. When gauge fields are included, the constraint brought about by gauge invariance simply means an appropriate linear combination of the gradients of the phase variable and the gauge field is invariant. No gauge fixing is needed in this approach that is closest to the spirit of the gauge principle. We derive an exact formula for the condensate fraction and in case it is zero, an exact formula for the anomalous exponent. We also derive a formula for the vortex strength which involves computing radiation corrections.Comment: 15 pages, Plain LaTeX, final published versio

Quantum correlations between a pair of Raman photons from a single atom under arbitrary excitation condition

The quantum correlation between a pair of Stokes and anti-Stokes photons, involving a Raman emission process is calculated. All realistic radiative and nonradiative decays are included in the calculation and the photon correlation between the pair for arbitrarily strong excitation fields and detunings are calculated. The correlation function shows photon antibunching, and a damped sinusoidal behavior with respect to the time delay between the measurement of the two photons. The current system can also produce four photon entanglement