Tests and predictions of the cosmic microwave background

The highly successful Hot Big Bang model, first hypothesised by Gamow in the 1940s, and supported by observations of an expanding Universe and by Big Bang nucleosynthesis, has been the standard cosmological model since the discovery of the cosmic microwave background radiation by Penzias and Wilson in 1964. There are, however, some crucial gaps in our understanding of the nature of the Universe. The Hot Big Bang model does not predict perturbations in the matter distribution of our Universe. The origin of the large scale structure, such as planets, stars and galaxies is not known. Further, we do not know how big the Universe is, how old, or what its main constituents are. There are a group of early Universe models which predict primordial fluctuations in the Universe, and using the most popular of these, ‘inflation’, the preliminary results of precision cosmology are giving the first glimpses of values for these mysterious quantities.The cosmic microwave background radiation gives us a ‘snapshot’ of the very early Universe, an invaluable source of cosmological information. The Microwave Anisotropy probe (M A P) and the Planck Surveyor satellite will provide a map of the distribution of the cosmic microwave background over the sky, with a resolution approximately two orders of magnitude better than the previous satellite with a similar goal, which was the Cosmic Background Explorer satellite (CO BE), launched in the late 1980s.The aim of this thesis is to compare and contrast the predictions of early Universe models with respect to their predictions of the distribution of the cosmic microwave background radiation, as well as to garner information about cosmological parameters from the upcoming data. I approach this in three ways. The first goal is to develop statistical tools to detect non-Gaussianity in the cosmic microwave background, which would change the interpretation of the early Universe model. A significant detection of non-Gaussianity would conflict with the predictions of the simplest inflation model. The second aim is to develop very rapid cosmological parameter estimation methods, should inflation be supported by the tests of Gaussianity, and the third to develop predictions for the cosmic microwave background for the warm inflation model

Review on Super Capacitor-Battery based Hybrid Energy Storage System for PV Application

Hybrid energy storage systems are becoming an option for energy management in better performance of automotive, hybrid electrical vehicle and avionics systems. The main objective of this paper is to review and study of Hybrid Energy Storage System for PV application and to increase energy efficiency, behavior of super capacitor and utility scale storage facilities using renewable and non-renewable energy sources. Literature survey clear problem has been observed from single energy storage system (ESS) aspects and solution of hybrid energy storage system. Therefore review about Battery-super capacitor Hybrid Energy Storage System to high energy density, high power density as well as to improve battery lifetime extension and power enhancement. This paper is based on study and review of Hybrid Energy Storage System using Super capacitor, Battery and PV Module for any Load

Mesenchymal Stem Cells Modulate the Immune System in Developing Therapeutic Interventions

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are emerging as key players in regenerative medicine for the treatment of various diseases associated with the inflammation and degeneration, thereby aiding in therapeutic advancements. Several tissues have been identified as potential sources of MSCs including the bone marrow, cord blood, dental pulp, umbilical cord, adipose tissue, peripheral blood, and fetal liver, of which some are clinically recognized. MSCs are capable of differentiating into cells of multiple lineages and therefore established as suitable candidates for transplantation in damaged organs. They have added advantage of higher proliferation, easy expansion, and, more importantly, the absence of HLA class II receptors, with potential applications extending toward allogenic settings. MSCs are actively involved in different mechanisms related to repair and regeneration of tissues via immunomodulation, transdifferentiation, paracrine factors, etc. They are known to exhibit profound immunomodulatory effect on T and B cells and natural killer (NK) cells mediated via soluble factors and direct cell-cell contact. The MSCs activate the immune responses and inhibit proliferation, maturation, and differentiation of T and B cells. The MSC-activated immune responses induce the expression of regulatory T cells (Tregs). A plethora of studies have established that MSCs suppress immune responses via immunomodulation that makes them a preferred cell source for the use in clinical trials

Sustainable value creation from leather solid wastes: Preparation of shoe soling material using nano fillers

Content: Leather manufacturing involves discharge of large quantities of solid and liquid wastes. While efficient recycling methods and in-plant controls have considerably reduced the discharge of obnoxious liquid streams, satisfactory methods to the solid waste management still elude the leather manufacturers. Landfilling is an easy option for the disposal of solid wastes like chrome shavings and trimmings, but is subjected to stringent environmental regulations because of the presence of chromium in these materials. Considerable efforts have been made to recycle the chrome containing wastes by methods such as incineration, pyrolysis and alkaline or enzyme hydrolysis. These recycling processes, however, are seldom complete without further environmental problems. Unfortunately, in such recycling processes the inherent fibrous structure of these materials gets completely destroyed. Applications based on the fibrous nature of the shavings and trimmings are presently limited but various possibilities are being explored continuously. An efficient way of utilization of these fibrous waste materials may be to combine them in a suitable form with synthetic polymers to give composite materials. Short fiber reinforcement of polymers is an important area in polymer composites where both synthetic and natural fibers are effectively used. Footwear has become a basic necessity like food, shelter and clothes. Soles are bottom components of footwear and some important polymeric materials used in footwear fabrication are last, soles and Insoles. This research aims at reducing the solid waste (Chrome shavings) generated by leather industry and reusing them as low cost shoe components such as soles and insole material. In this research, the footwear components were prepared using chrome shaving (tannery solid waste), EPDM (ethylene propylene monomer rubber) and isoprene rubber with different inorganic oxide/hydroxide nano particle based fillers. In this study, soles are prepared by using strap cutting machine, two roll mill and compression moulding machine. The soling materials made characterised using FT-IR and SEM and tested for mechanical properties. Due to good mutual compatibility between Isoprene, EPDM and leather fibre with inorganic nano clay based fillers, the composites are well in terms of all the physic-mechanical behaviours like hardness, density, abrasion resistance and grain crack suitable for shoe sole application. Take-Away: 1. Ethylene propylene monomer rubber and leather fibre with inorganic nano clay based fillers, the composites are well in terms of all the physic-mechanical behaviours like hardness, density, abrasion resistance and grain crack suitable for shoe sole application. 2. An efficient way of utilization of these fibrous waste materials may be to combine them in a suitable form with synthetic polymers to give composite materials. Short fiber reinforcement of polymers is an important area in polymer composites where both synthetic and natural fibers are effectively used

Reciprocal amplification of caspase-3 activity by nuclear export of a putative human RNA-modifying protein, PUS10 during TRAIL-induced apoptosis.

Pus10 is a pseudouridine synthase present in Archaea and Eukarya, but not in Bacteria and yeast. It has been suggested that the human PUS10 (DOBI) gene is needed during TRAIL-induced apoptosis. We analyzed the role of PUS10 in TRAIL-induced apoptosis by immunofluorescence, immunoblotting and several indicators of apoptosis. We examined several TRAIL-sensitive cell lines and we also examined some resistant cell lines after treatment with cycloheximide. PUS10 is mainly present in the nucleus. Early during apoptosis, PUS10 translocates to mitochondria via CRM1-mediated export with the concurrent release of cytochrome c and SMAC. Caspase-3 is required for PUS10 translocation, which reciprocally amplifies the activity of caspase-3 through the intrinsic/mitochondrial pathway. This suggests that in addition to cytoplasmic factors, nuclear factors also have a direct role in the major apoptosis pathways. However, p53 is not involved in TRAIL-induced PUS10 movement. The caspase-3-mediated movement of PUS10 and the release of mitochondrial contents enhancing caspase-3 activity creates a feedback amplification loop for caspase-3 action. Therefore, any defect in the movement or interactions of PUS10 would reduce the TRAIL sensitivity of tumor cells

A retrospective study of post-partum intrauterine contraceptive devices in a government maternity home of Delhi

Background: Post-partum period is defined to be an ideal time for family planning counselling. Being a second largest populated country, India has a high rate of unintended pregnancy especially in post- partum women. There is a need for accessible, reliable contraception like post-partum intra uterine contraceptive device (PPIUCD) in our country. The present study is an attempt to evaluate the safety and efficacy of intra- uterine devices in post-partum women.Methods: The study population included all the women who delivered vaginally who were counselled for PPIUCD insertion in prenatal period, early labour and within 48 hours of delivery and were willing to participate in the study. Participants were interviewed prior to discharge after receiving a PPIUCD and then six, ten, fourteen weeks and 6 months or earlier when necessary. Institutional ethical approval and informed consent were taken.Results: A total of 1625 deliveries took place out of which only 888 were inserted PPIUCD. So, the total acceptance rate was 54.6%. Majority of cases were between the age group of 21-25 (46.4%) and most of them were primipara (39.8%). 34.8% came for routine follow up in OPD at 6 weeks, 14% at 6 months and 6.1% at 1 year.Conclusions: The IUCD insertion has been proved to be a safe and effective method of contraceptive with very few side effects and no major complications. To increase the knowledge and skills among health care providers, it is necessary to arrange training on PPIUCD

PRELIMINARY PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND IN VITRO ANTI-MICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF DELONIX REGIA (HOOK) RAF. BARK (FAMILY-LEGUMINOSAE)

Objective: To estimate the anti-microbial activity of ethanolic extract of Delonix regia (Hook.) Raf (family-Leguminosae) in association with phytochemical analysis.Methods: The ethanolic extract of the bark of Delonix regia (Hook.) Raf was prepared and investigate for phytochemical constituents using standard methods. Antimicrobial activity of ethanolic extract of were carried out against one Gram positive bacteria= Staphylococcus aureus and one Gram negative bacteria= Escherichia coli. The anti-fungal activity of the plant extract was evaluated on Candida albicans. The testing was done by the disc diffusion method. A zone of inhibition of ethanolic extract was compared with that of standard Amikacin for anti-bacterial activities and Fluconazole for anti-fungal activity.Results: The present investigation shows the phytochemical analysis, antimicrobial activity of the ethanolic extract of the bark of Delonix regia (Hook.) Raf. Various phytochemical analyses revealed the presence of alkaloids, anthraquinone, phenol, terpenes, cardenolides, phlobatannins, tannin, chalcones, steroids. The anti-microbial activity of the ethanolic extract of the plant showed significant results against all three of the test organisms.Conclusion: The present study concluded that ethanolic extract of the bark of Delonix regia (Hook.) Raf contains the high existence of phytochemicals. The ethanolic extract of the plant was found to possess promising antimicrobial activity when compared with the standards

Validation of the use of POSSUM score in enteric perforation peritonitis - results of a prospective study

Introduction: The objective of the study was to present our last 5-years experience of peritonitis and validate POSSUM score in predicting mortality and morbidity in patients of enteric perforation (EP) peritonitis. Methods: Data was collected prospectively for all peritonitis cases admitted in single surgical unit from January 2005 to December 2009. Parameters for calculating POSSUM were also retrieved; in these patients, O:E (Observed vs. Expected) ratio of mortality and morbidity were estimated after calculating predicted mortality and morbidity by exponential regression equations. Results: 887 patients with peritonitis were admitted and treated in this unit during the 5 years of study period. Duodenal (n=431; 48%) followed by ileal (n=380; 42.8%) perforations were the commonest. Mean age of the patients was 34 years and 86% were males. Mean delay in presentation was 78.5 hrs. Mean duration of hospital and ICU stay was 13 and 7.2 days. Postoperative complications were seen in 481 (54%) patients, and 90 (10%) patients died. POSSUM scores and predicted mortality/morbidity were calculated in 380 patients of ileal perforation peritonitis; O:E ratio of mortality and morbidity were 0.47 and 0.85 in these patients. Conclusion: POSSUM and P-POSSUM are accurate tools for predicting morbidity and mortality respectively in EP patients. Though they may sometime over or under predict morbidity as well as mortality.Key words: Enteric perforation, Peritonitis, POSSUM , P-POSSU

Antineoplastic activities of MT81 and its structural analogue in ehrlich ascites carcinoma-bearing swiss albino mice

Many fungal toxins exhibit in vitro and in vivo antineoplastic effects on various cancer cell types. Luteoskyrin, a hydroxyanthraquinone has been proved to be a potent inhibitor against Ehrlich ascites tumor cells. The comparative antitumor activity and antioxidant status of MT81 and its structural analogue [Acetic acid-MT81 (Aa-MT81)] having polyhydroxyanthraquinone structure were assessed against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC ) tumor in mice. The in vitro cytotoxicity was measured by the viability of EAC cells after direct treatment of the said compounds. In in vivo study, MT81 and its structural analogue were administered (i.p.) at the two different doses (5, 7 mg MT81; 8.93, 11.48 mg Aa-MT81/kg body weight) for 7 days after 24 hrs. of tumor inoculation. The activities were assessed using mean survival time (MST), increased life span (ILS), tumor volume, viable tumor cell count, peritoneal cell count, protein percentage and hematological parameters. Antioxidant status was determined by malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced glutathione (GSH ) content, and by the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CA T). MT81 and its structural analogues increased the mean survival time, normal peritoneal cell count. They decreased the tumor volume, viable tumor cell count, hemoglobin percentage and packed cell volume. Differential counts of WBC, total counts of RBC & WBC that altered by EAC inoculation, were restored in a dose-dependent manner. Increased MDA and decreased GSH content and reduced activity of SOD, and catalase in EAC bearing mice were returned towards normal after the treatment of MT81 and its structural analogue. Being less toxic than parent toxin MT81, the structural analogue showed more prominent antineoplastic activities against EAC cells compared to MT81. At the same time, both compounds exhibit to some extent antioxidant potential for the EAC-bearing mice