Comparative analysis of antioxidant activities of Vitex negundo and Ficus carica leaf extracts

Humans have been dependent on nature for various vital supplies and resources for a long time. Most biotechnological and pharmacological industries use chemicals and active compounds to treat diseases or make medications isolated from natural resources. A variety of plants have been explored for research of which Vitex negundo and Ficus carica are also examples as they are strong candidates for their potential antioxidant properties. In the current research, the anti-oxidant activities of V. negundo and F. carica leaf extracts were evaluated. The antioxidant activities of selected plants were analyzed using DPPH and FRAP assay. The results obtained from the DPPH assay indicated that methanolic extracts of V. negundo showed the highest inhibition of 90.07±1.17 percent at 1000 µl with IC50 value of 415.98 µg/ml followed by ethyl acetate and chloroform extracts (64.05±0.89 and 54.39±0.99 percent, respectively) with IC50 value of 751.96 µg/ml and 896.55 µg/ml when compared to F. carica extracts which showed highest inhibition of 75.75±1.08 percent at 1000 µl with IC50 value of 475 µg/ml followed by ethyl acetate and chloroform extracts (51.94±0.79 and 44.21±0.60 percent respectively) with IC50 value of  967.51 µg/ml and 1092.48 µg/ml. On comparing both plants, FRAP results indicated that methanol extracts of V. negundo showed the highest FRAP value (1042.1±0.98 µM) followed by ethyl acetate and chloroform extracts, which shows 996.6±1.25 µM and 949.6±1.63 µM at 1000 µl whereas F. carica showed highest FRAP value (995.6±1.35µM) followed by ethyl acetate and chloroform extracts, which shows 987.6±1.05µM and 447.6±1.01µM at 1000 µl. The results of the study can be concluded that among the tested extracts, the best antioxidant potential was exhibited with V. negundo leaf extracts, especially in methanol extracts

Ethnobotanical Studies of the Tarai Region of Kumaun, Uttarakhand, India

An ethnobotanical study was conducted during 2008–2010 in the central tarai region of Kumaun (also known as Kumaon) Himalaya in Northern India to highlight the uses of the diverse flora. The study sites included Lalkuan in Nainital district and Kichha Tehsil (covering Pantnagar) of district Udham Singh Nagar, as these occupy the major part of central tarai and have undergone massive development and settlement of people of diverse culture. The entire study area consisted of three sites and eight communities. Interviews were conducted with knowledgeable persons in the study area. A total of 206 angiosperm species recorded in this study were found to be used for medicinal, economic (aromatic, timber, spices, fuel, condiments, cosmetics, etc.), fodder, firewood, timber, food, spiritual, or some other purpose. The information was collected both from migrant and local people

Value Added Global Databases Search Through Wide Area Network .

Online database searches have become common and a number of American and European databases have become very popular due to their specification in specialization in specific fields, notably those related to science and engineering. Although the telecommunication charges are relatively low, the specific databases charges are substantial, depending upon the specific area of specification. This paper discusses the access and search of global databases, value-addition through organisation of the received data and sharing of the organised data with local area network. The original organised database when accessed and downloaded becomes an ASCII file. If the selected database is to be reconstructed at the receiving end, it is a laborious task of manual data entry which could be very slow and error-prone. A program developed for automated conversion of the ASCII file into a standard database format is described. A cost-effective system for sharing the above organised data within the city and across the country using the existing and coming networks is proposed

AEROGEL – A Promising Building Material for Sustainable Buildings

The sustainable buildings can be defined as efficient buildings from the point of view of maintenance and operation costs, and of which value increases in time, through positive impact on the natural and social environment. The aim of rendering buildings sustainable can be achieved only by the production of new advanced materials, and by using them, especially at the glass surfaces, for more resistant envelopes at different external actions which may increase considerably the durability period of a building and may increase the energy efficiency through a high level thermal insulation. This paper, aims to explore the possibility of the use of Aerogels as a building material with reference to its chemical, physical characteristics and performance. The paper presents also an analytical application demonstrates that it is supposed to be an expensive method initially but is more advantageous, considering the low costs afterwards, mainly, because of reduced energy consumption. It talks about chemical adaptation of Aerogels for optical applications, chemical adaptation of Aerogels to thermal insulation and its various applications in Building Industry. Keywords: aerogel, sustainable building,, thermal insulation, life cycle cost

Defects in cellular sorting and retroviral assembly induced by GGA overexpression

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>We previously demonstrated that overexpression of Golgi-localized, γ-ear containing, Arf-binding (GGA) proteins inhibits retrovirus assembly and release by disrupting the function of endogenous ADP ribosylation factors (Arfs). GGA overexpression led to the formation of large, swollen vacuolar compartments, which in the case of GGA1 sequestered HIV-1 Gag.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In the current study, we extend our previous findings to characterize in depth the GGA-induced compartments and the determinants for retroviral Gag sequestration in these structures. We find that GGA-induced structures are derived from the Golgi and contain aggresome markers. GGA overexpression leads to defects in trafficking of transferrin receptor and recycling of cation-dependent mannose 6-phosphate receptor. Additionally, we find that compartments induced by GGA overexpression sequester Tsg101, poly-ubiquitin, and, in the case of GGA3, Hrs. Interestingly, brefeldin A treatment, which leads to the dissociation of endogenous GGAs from membranes, does not dissociate the GGA-induced compartments. GGA mutants that are defective in Arf binding and hence association with membranes also induce the formation of GGA-induced structures. Overexpression of ubiquitin reverses the formation of GGA-induced structures and partially rescues HIV-1 particle production. We found that in addition to HIV-1 Gag, equine infectious anemia virus Gag is also sequestered in GGA1-induced structures. The determinants in Gag responsible for sequestration map to the matrix domain, and recruitment to these structures is dependent on Gag membrane binding.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These data provide insights into the composition of structures induced by GGA overexpression and their ability to disrupt endosomal sorting and retroviral particle production.</p

Different thresholds of T cell activation regulate FIV infection of CD4+CD25+ and CD4+CD25− cells

AbstractCellular activation plays an important role in retroviral replication. Previously, we have shown that CD4+CD25+ T cells by the virtue of their partially activated phenotype represent ideal candidates for a productive feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) infection. In the present study, we extended our previous observations with regard to FIV replication in CD4+CD25+ and CD4+CD25− cells under different stimulation conditions. Both CD4+CD25+ and CD4+CD25− cells remain latently infected in the absence of IL-2 or concanvalinA (ConA), respectively; harboring a replication competent provirus capable of reactivation several days post-infection. While CD4+CD25+ cells require low levels of exogenous IL-2 and virus inputs for an efficient FIV replication, CD4+CD25− T cells can only be productively infected in the presence of either high concentrations of IL-2 or high virus titers, even in the absence of mitogenic stimulation. Interestingly, while high virus input activates CD4+CD25− cells to replicate FIV, it induces apoptosis in a high percentage of CD4+CD25+ T cells. High IL-2 concentrations but not high virus inputs lead to surface upregulation of CD25 and significant cellular proliferation in CD4+CD25− cells. These results suggest that CD4+CD25+ and CD4+CD25− T cells have different activation requirements which can be modulated by both viral and cytokine stimuli to reach threshold activation levels in order to harbor a productive FIV infection. This holds implications in vivo for CD4+CD25+ and CD4+CD25− cells to serve as potential reservoirs of a productive and latent FIV infection

Niemann-pick disease type A-a case report

Niemann-Pick Disease is an autosomal recessive disorder of infancy, characterized by failure to thrive, hepatosplenomegaly and neurodegenerative changes. It is caused by inherited deficiency of an enzyme, acid sphingomyelinase. It leads to deposition of sphingomyelin and cholesterol within the lysosome of reticuloendothelial cells of various organs. Niemann-Pick Disease is classified into four types such as A, B, C and D. We present a case of niemann-pick disease type A. This case report encompasses an 18-month-old male child brought with complaints of progressive abdominal distension, developmental delay, intermittent fever and excessive cry. On examination patient had developmental delay and significant abdominal distension with moderate hepatosplenomegaly. Bone marrow examination showed characteristic lipid laden foamy histiocytes termed as niemann pick cells and sea blue histiocytes. Later on, liver biopsy and splenic aspiration cytology was performed, which also showed same type of foamy cells. Type A is very rare and a severe infantile form with neurologic degeneration resulting in death usually by 3 years of age. No treatment available for type A so far. It’s a rare disease in India. Genetic counseling.

Reaction of ɑ-halosilanes with N-arylide-nearylsulfonamides-Attempted synthesis of N-arylsulfonylaziridines

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Nickel-substituted Lithium-Zinc-Manganese Ferritefor the Suppression of Radiated Emission Noise

Nickel-substituted lithium-zinc-manganese ferrite of the composition,  Li0.25-x/4 Zn0.5-x/2NixMn 0.1Fe2.15-x/4O4 where x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5 have been investigated for electromagnetic interference(EMI)  suppression to meet the EMI standards. Various compositions were prepared by theconventional ceramic technique using mixed oxides. The ferrites were characterised for theirstructural, electrical, and magnetic, properties. The ferrites were found to posses high saturationmagnetisation, permeability, Curie temperature and resistivity, which are the desirablecharacteristics for noise-suppression application. The operating frequency of the ferrite rangedfrom 1 MHz–700 MHz, which is high enough for absorbing the electrical fast transients andradiated emission noise suppression as shown for three devices–currency counting machine,energy meter and dc-dc converter where the radiated emission noise  is suppressed from 10 dBto 20 dB. In energy meter where the electrical fast transients (EFTs) are suppressed up to 5.5kV, 4.5 kV, 3.5 kV, 2.8 kV, 1.6 kV, and 1.2 kV with composition x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, respectively.This material has tremendous scope of application in military equipment  to comply the EMIrequirements of the military standards