PROBABILITY MODELS TO STUDY THE SPATIAL PATTERN, ABUNDANCE AND DIVERSITY OF TREE SPECIES

Ecological communities are composed of complex vegetation that differs from community to community and also within the community. The variability of tree species in the community in relation to their environments can be studied by using different statistical tools. The present study was conducted to describe and also to quantify the spatial pattern, abundance and diversity of tree species in the Western Ghats of Karnataka. The spatial pattern of tree species was studied by using Poisson and Negative binomial distributions. Results indicate that most of the selected tree species followed Negative binomial distribution having clumped pattern. The Species abundance distribution was studied by using log series and lognormal distributions in six different forest types (Evergreen, semievergreen, moist deciduous, dry deciduous, scrub and shola forest types). All six different forest types followed lognormal distribution where as evergreen and shola forest types followed log series distribution also. Diversity of the tree species in different forest types was quantified by different diversity indices; it was found that evergreen forest is most diverse

Rainfall Patterns for India’s Karnataka State Show Above-Normal Precipitation for 1994-98

The Karnataka state, confined roughly within 11.5° N and 18.5° N latitude and 74° E and 78.5° E longitude, is situated on a table land at the point where the western and eastern Ghat range enclose the Nilgiri hill complex. It is enclosed by chains of mountains to its west, east, and south. The state consists mainly of plateau, with a higher elevation of 600 to 900 m amsl in small portions of the extreme north and northwest Karnataka and the whole of the southern half, an elevation of 300 to 600 m amsl in the north, and an elevation of less than 300 m amsl in the narrow coastal belt of the state (see map above). Using Koppen’s climatic classification, the state is classified into three main parts, coastal Karnataka (CK), north interior Karnataka (NIK), and south interior Karnataka (SIK)

Rainfall Patterns for India’s Karnataka State Show Above-Normal Precipitation for 1994-98

The Karnataka state, confined roughly within 11.5° N and 18.5° N latitude and 74° E and 78.5° E longitude, is situated on a table land at the point where the western and eastern Ghat range enclose the Nilgiri hill complex. It is enclosed by chains of mountains to its west, east, and south. The state consists mainly of plateau, with a higher elevation of 600 to 900 m amsl in small portions of the extreme north and northwest Karnataka and the whole of the southern half, an elevation of 300 to 600 m amsl in the north, and an elevation of less than 300 m amsl in the narrow coastal belt of the state (see map above). Using Koppen’s climatic classification, the state is classified into three main parts, coastal Karnataka (CK), north interior Karnataka (NIK), and south interior Karnataka (SIK)

NANOTECHNOLOGY FOR OPHTHALMIC PREPARATIONS

Despite numerous efforts, ocular drug delivery still remains a challenge for pharmaceutical scientists. Most of the ocular diseases are treated by topical drug applications. But this suffers from poor bioavailability and other drawbacks. Budding interest in nanopharmaceuticals has generated a number of advancements throughout recent years with a focus on engineering novel applications. Nanotechnology also offers the ability to detect diseases at much earlier stages. Recent developments in ocular drug delivery system research have provided new insights into drug development. This review summarizes recent findings and applications of various nanoparticulate systems like nanospheres, nanosuspensions, microemulsions, liposome, etc in ocular drug delivery

Optimisation of Retrofit Wall Insulation: An Irish case study

Ireland has one of the highest rates of emissions per capita in the world and its residential sector is responsible for approximately 10% of total national CO2 emissions. Therefore, reducing the CO2 emissions in this sector will play a decisive role in achieving EU targets of reducing emissions by 40% by 2030. To better inform decisions regarding retrofit of the existing building stock, this study proposes Optimum Insulation Thicknesses (OIT) for typical walls in 25 regions in Ireland. The calculation of OIT includes annual heat energy expenditure, CO2 emissions, and material payback period. The approach taken is based on Heating Degree Day (HDD) and life cycle cost analysis methods for different combinations of insulation material, heat energy type, and Irish wall configuration. Results indicate that OIT increases with increased HDD and varies up to 30% from lower to higher HDD regions in Ireland. The type of wall materials, configuration, insulation type, and heat energy type all have a significant impact on annual cost saving potential (up to 170 €/m2) and carbon emission (up to 50 kg/m2). The Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) technique is used to compare the significant mean difference between combinations under OIT and cost savings

Kinetics and mechanism of oxidation of erythro-series pentoses and hexoses by N-chloro-p-toluenesulfonamide

The kinetics and mechanism of oxidation of D-glucose, D-mannose, D-fructose, D-arabinose, and D-ribose with chloramine-T in alkaline medium were studied. The rate law, rate = k Chloramine-T] Sugar] HO-](2), was observed. The rate of the reaction was influenced by a change in ionic strength of the medium, and the dielectric effect was found to be negative. The latter enabled the computation of d(AB), the size of the activated complex. The reaction rate was almost doubled in deuterium oxide. Activation energies were calculated from the Arrhenius plots. HPLC and GLC-MS analyses of the products indicated that the sugars were oxidized to a mixture of aldonic acids, consisting of arabinonic, ribonic, erythronic, and glyceric acids. Based on these data, a plausible mechanism involving the aldo-enolic anions of pentoses and keto-enolic anions of hexoses is suggested. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved

FORMULATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF TOPICAL ANTI ACNE FORMULATION OF SPIRULINA EXTRACT

Objective: The objective of this research was to formulate and evaluate anti-acne ointment of C-phycocyanin(C-PC) extracted from spirulina.Methods: C-PC was successfully extracted from spirulina by using sonication and cold-maceration process and further purified by dialysis method. By employing disc diffusion and agar dilution method, antimicrobial activity and minimum inhibitory concentration(MIC) of C-PC as determined against Propionibacterium acne (P. acne) and Staphylococcus epidermidis(S. epidermidis). Further, the two different formulations were prepared by using water soluble and oleaginous bases, and the formulations were characterized for particle size, viscosity, pH, consistency, drug diffusion, antimicrobial activity, and antioxidant effect and stability studies.Results: C-PC showed MIC value of 1.5±0.1 mg/ml and 1.8±0.2 mg/ml against P. acne and S. epidermidis respectively. The developed formulation had a globule diameter of 5.44 mm, pH of 6.8±0.09, the viscosity of 175±0.2cps, spreadability of an 8.6±0.12g. cm/sec and had good consistency. Both formulations were found stable among which, formulation B(FB) had maximum drug content of 95±0.6% and drug release was up to 92±0.8%.Conclusion: The prepared topical C-PC ointment can be successfully employed in the treatment of acneagainstP. acne and S. epidermidis

Multicenter Validation of the Vasoactive-Ventilation-Renal Score as a Predictor of Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation After Neonatal Cardiac Surgery

Objectives: We sought to validate the Vasoactive-Ventilation-Renal score, a novel disease severity index, as a predictor of outcome in a multicenter cohort of neonates who underwent cardiac surgery. Design: Retrospective chart review. Setting: Seven tertiary-care referral centers. Patients: Neonates defined as age less than or equal to 30 days at the time of cardiac surgery. Interventions: Ventilation index, Vasoactive-Inotrope Score, serum lactate, and Vasoactive-Ventilation-Renal score were recorded for three postoperative time points: ICU admission, 6 hours, and 12 hours. Peak values, defined as the highest of the three measurements, were also noted. Vasoactive-Ventilation-Renal was calculated as follows: ventilation index + Vasoactive-Inotrope Score + Δ creatinine (change in creatinine from baseline × 10). Primary outcome was prolonged duration of mechanical ventilation, defined as greater than 96 hours. Receiver operative characteristic curves were generated, and abilities of variables to correctly classify prolonged duration of mechanical ventilation were compared using area under the curve values. Multivariable logistic regression modeling was also performed. Measurements and Main Results: We reviewed 275 neonates. Median age at surgery was 7 days (25th–75th percentile, 5–12 d), 86 (31%) had single ventricle anatomy, and 183 (67%) were classified as Society of Thoracic Surgeons-European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery Congenital Heart Surgery Mortality Category 4 or 5. Prolonged duration of mechanical ventilation occurred in 89 patients (32%). At each postoperative time point, the area under the curve for prolonged duration of mechanical ventilation was significantly greater for the Vasoactive-Ventilation-Renal score as compared to the ventilation index, Vasoactive-Inotrope Score, and serum lactate, with an area under the curve for peak Vasoactive-Ventilation-Renal score of 0.82 (95% CI, 0.77–0.88). On multivariable analysis, peak Vasoactive-Ventilation-Renal score was independently associated with prolonged duration of mechanical ventilation, odds ratio (per 1 unit increase): 1.08 (95% CI, 1.04–1.12). Conclusions: In this multicenter cohort of neonates who underwent cardiac surgery, the Vasoactive-Ventilation-Renal score was a reliable predictor of postoperative outcome and outperformed more traditional measures of disease complexity and severity

Morphological characterization and genetic barcoding of kuttiatoor mango accessions

A survey conducted during 2013-14 to collect and characterize the Kuttiattoor mango accessions from Kerala, revealed large unique variability in morphological, biochemical and DNA barcode data. All the accessions were polyembryonic with fruit maturity during February-March. The mature fruit length (cm), width (cm) and leaf length (cm) ranged from 5.10 – 9.60 (cm), 4.60 – 8.40 (cm) and 12.47- 30.40 (cm) respectively

PREPARATION AND EVALUATION OF SIMVASTATIN TRANSDERMAL FILM

Objective: The objective of the study was to prepare simvastatin transdermal films for the treatment of atherosclerosis and to evaluate the effect of concentration of polymer on penetration enhancement. Methods: Solvent evaporation technique was employed for the preparation of films and the prepared films were evaluated for various physicochemical properties of films such as tensile strength, thickness, surface pH, swellability, drug content, moisture content and folding endurance. In vitro drug, release study and release kinetics were also studied. Results: Tensile strength ranged from 3.56±0.343 to 4.56±0.12 (N/mm²). The films were of uniform weight. Thickness varied from 0.2±0.3 mm to 0.2±0.8 mm. Surface pH ranged from 6.6±0.14 to 6.9±0.16. Percentage swellability ranged from12.1±0.36 to 16.3±0.22. Percentage drug content ranged from 88.4±0.7% to 90.5±0.6% in all the formulation. Percentage moisture content ranged from 0.864 to 1.03%. Moisture uptake was from 2.6±0.24 to 2.9±0.072. The folding endurance test gave satisfactory results and F3 formulation showed maximum drug release. Conclusion: From the study, it was concluded that out of various formulations, the F3 formulation was found to be the optimum formulation with 88% drug release at the fourteenth hour