Look-Alike Drugs-‘AWonder or a Blunder’?

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Peer-to-Peer Networks and Computation: Current Trends and Future Perspectives

This research papers examines the state-of-the-art in the area of P2P networks/computation. It attempts to identify the challenges that confront the community of P2P researchers and developers, which need to be addressed before the potential of P2P-based systems, can be effectively realized beyond content distribution and file-sharing applications to build real-world, intelligent and commercial software systems. Future perspectives and some thoughts on the evolution of P2P-based systems are also provided

STANDARDIZATION OF A POLYHERBAL PREPARATION (POL–6) FOR TREATMENT OF OXIDATIVE, INFLAMMATORY AND IMMUNE DISORDERS

Objective: The objective of this study was to develop and standardize a polyherbal preparation (POL–6) and evaluate its use in treating oxidative, inflammatory and immune disorders.Methods: The individual hydroalcoholic extractions of Hypericum perforatum, Bacopa monnieri, Centella asiatica, Withania somnifera, Ocimum sanctum and Camellia sinesis dried plant materials were done, and POL–6 was prepared by mixing them in (1:2:2:2:2:1) proportions. POL–6 has been standardized on the basis of organoleptic properties, physical characteristics, and physicochemical properties. The antioxidant activities were evaluated using free radical scavenging methods for 1,1–diphenyl–2–picrylhydrazyl, (DPPH) and nitric oxide assays. Anti–inflammatory activity was done by albumin denaturation and HRBC membrane stabilization assays. Cell viability assay was used for immunomodulatory activity measurement by cultivating peripheral blood mononuclear cells.Results: The results obtained from physical and chemical parameters evaluation shows that the contents of preparation present are within permissible limits. In in–vitro antioxidant studies POL–6 showed significant antioxidant activity when tested in 1–1 Diphenyl–2–picrylhydrazyl and nitric oxide assays. In in–vitro antiâ€inflammatory investigation, POL–6 exhibited significant inhibition against albumin denaturation and significant protection against membrane stabilization assay. POL–6 also exhibit significant immunomodulatory activity at low doses, when tested in cell viability assay.Conclusion: The results from this study rationalize the medicinal use of POL–6 in oxidative, inflammatory and immune disorders.Keywords: Polyherbal preparation, Antioxidant, Antiâ€inflammatory, Immunomodulator

The sedges and grasses of Gautambudhnagar (Noida) U.P. India

The present study is the result of two years (April 2005-April 2007) of extensive survey and exploration of sedges and grasses of Gautambudh Nagar. A total number of 95 species of Cyperaceae and Gramineae (Poaceae) have been collected from this area. Out of 95 species of these two families belonging to 68 genera, 65 species belong to Gramineae (Poaceae) and 30 species belong to Cyperaceae. There are two plants of Cyperaceae and Gramineae (Poaceae) respectively: Eleocharis capitata R. Br. and Isachne albens Trin., which have been reported for the first time from this area

The changing epidemiology of dengue in Delhi, India

BACKGROUND: A major DHF outbreak occurred in Delhi in 1996. Following this another outbreak was reported in the year 2003. In the years 2004 and 2005, though no outbreak was reported, a definitely higher number of samples were received in the virology laboratory of A.I.I.M.S. from suspected cases of dengue infection. This study was designed to compare the serological and virological profiles of confirmed dengue cases in the years 2003, 2004 and 2005. RESULTS: Out of 1820 serum samples received from suspected cases in all three years, 811 (44.56%) were confirmed as dengue infection serologically. Out of these confirmed dengue cases maximum cases, in all three years, were seen in the age group 21–30 years. There was an increase in the number of samples received in the post monsoon period (September to November) with a peak in the second and third week of October. More samples were received from DHF cases in the year 2005 than 2004 and 2003. All four dengue serotypes were seen co-circulating in the year 2003, followed by complete predominance of dengue serotype 3 in 2005. CONCLUSION: Epidemiology of dengue is changing rapidly in Delhi. Dengue infections are seen every year thus making it an endemic disease. After co-circulation of all serotypes in 2003, now dengue serotype 3 is emerging as the predominant serotype

Tailoring of the electronic property of Zn-BTC metal–organic framework via ligand functionalization: an ab initio investigation

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are porous materials of recent interest due to their promising properties for technological applications. In this paper, the structure–property relationships of pristine and functionalized Zn-BTC (Zn3(BTC)2) MOFs are investigated. The results based on density functional theory (DFT) find that MOFs with coordinatively saturated secondary building units (SBU) are metallic, and MOFs with coordinatively unsaturated SBU are semi-conducting. The ligand functionalization with electron acceptor (cyano-) and electron donor (amino-) groups appears to tailor the electronic properties of Zn-BTC MOFs; amino-functionalization led to a significant upward shift of the band-edges whereas cyano-functionalization yields shifting of band-edges in the opposite direction, which led to a narrowing of the band gap. Modifying the electronic properties through such ligand functionalization design principles can be useful in engineering MOFs for gas sensing and device applications

Lyra's cosmology of homogeneous and isotropic universe in Brans-Dicke theory

In this paper, we investigate a scalar field Brans-Dicke cosmological model in Lyra's geometry which is based on the modifications in geometrical term as well as energy term of Einstein's field equations. We have examined the validity of proposed cosmological model on observational scale by performing statistical analysis from latest $H(z)$ and SN Ia observational data. We find that the estimated values of Hubble's constant and matter energy density parameter are in agreement with their corresponding values, obtained from recent observations of WMAP and Plank collaboration. We also derived deceleration parameter, age of the universe and jerk parameter in terms of red-shift and computed its present values. The dynamics of deceleration parameter in derived model of the universe shows a signature flipping from positive to negative value and also indicates that the present universe is in accelerating phase.Comment: 9 pages, 6 Figures, Accepted for Publication in Int. J. Geom. Meth. Mod. Phy