Nanofiber fabrication in a temperature and humidity controlled environment for improved fibre consistency

To fabricate nanofibers with reproducible characteristics, an important demand for many applications, the effect of controlled atmospheric conditions on resulting electrospun cellulose acetate (CA) nanofibers was evaluated for temperature ranging 17.5 - 35°C and relative humidity ranging 20% - 70%. With the potential application of nanofibers in many industries, especially membrane and filter fabrication, their reproducible production must be established to ensure commercially viability.
Cellulose acetate (CA) solution (0.2 g/ml) in a solvent mixture of acetone/DMF/ethanol (2:2:1) was electrospun into nonwoven fibre mesh with the fibre diameter ranging from 150nm to 1µm.
The resulting nanofibers were observed and analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), showing a correlation of reducing average fibre diameter with increasing atmospheric temperature. A less pronounced correlation was seen with changes in relative humidity regarding fibre diameter, though it was shown that increased humidity reduced the effect of fibre beading yielding a more consistent, and therefore better quality of fibre fabrication.
Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) studies observed lower melt enthalpies for finer CA nanofibers in the first heating cycle confirming the results gained from SEM analysis. From the conditions that were explored in this study the temperature and humidity that gave the most suitable fibre mats for a membrane purpose were 25.0°C and 50%RH due to the highest level of fibre diameter uniformity, the lowest level of beading while maintaining a low fibre diameter for increased surface area and increased pore size homogeneity. This study has highlighted the requirement to control the atmospheric conditions during the electrospinning process in order to fabricate reproducible fibre mats

Studies of Physicochemical and Some Heavy Metals in Soil and Lake Sediments

The present work attempts to establish the distribution of Iron, Manganese, Zinc, Copper, Boron and molybdenum and physic-chemical properties of the soil and lake sediments in Bijapur district. The area under study receives domestic raw sewage from surrounding populated neighborhoods through rain water, main tributary of the lake. Concentrations of heavy metals in soil are compared with many guidelines to predict status of pollution. KEYWORDS: Heavy Metals, Lake sediments, Pollution, Soil Samples, etc INTRODUCTION In many developing countries, the expansion of urban centers is of considerable importance for socio-economic growth and this continuously modifies the physical, chemical and biological composition of our living environment MATERIAL AND METHODS Data collection and analysis-10 soil samples (three replicates) were collected at surface level (0-10 cm in depth) were collected from various locations. The collected samples were air dried and sieved into course and fine fractions. Well mixed samples of 2 g each were taken in 250 mL glass beakers and digested with 8 mL of aqua regia on a sand bath for 2 hour

Frequency of feeding and formation of bone growth marks in<b> </b>frog, <i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-IN; mso-fareast-language:EN-IN;mso-bidi-language:HI" lang="EN-IN">Rana cyanophlyctis </span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-IN; mso-fareast-language:EN-IN;mso-bidi-language:HI" lang="EN-IN">(Schn.)</span>

1074-1076<span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:" times="" new="" roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"times="" roman";="" color:black;mso-ansi-language:en-in;mso-fareast-language:en-in;mso-bidi-language:="" hi"="" lang="EN-IN">Frogs, R. cyanophlyctis(n = 45) divided into four groups, were exposed to different feeding regimens ( live guppies were used as food ) such as, daily,  alternate day, every fourth day and weekly feeding for 5 months, during wet months of the year (April -September). Two toe clippings were made, one at the beginning and the other at the termination of the experiment. Clipped toes were demineralized, and processed for histology. In 6 out of 45 frogs one line of arrested growth (LAG) was present in the phalangeal histology at the beginning of the experiment while, at the termination of experiment 34 out of 43 frogs exhibited one LAG each indicating that in 26 frogs LAG <span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:" times="" new="" roman";mso-fareast-font-family:hiddenhorzocr;="" color:black;mso-ansi-language:en-in;mso-fareast-language:en-in;mso-bidi-language:="" hi"="" lang="EN-IN">appeared f<span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:" times="" new="" roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"times="" roman";="" color:black;mso-ansi-language:en-in;mso-fareast-language:en-in;mso-bidi-language:="" hi"="" lang="EN-IN">reshly during the experimental period. The fact that LAGs are formed in regularly fed frogs suggests the humid weather /seasonal rain fall may play relatively important role than the feeding in cyclic bone growth and formation of growth marks in this frog.</span

Physicochemical properties, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of coumarin-carbonodithioate hybrids

Objective: To study physicochemical properties, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of coumarin-carbonodithioate hybrids. Methods: The substituted 4-bromomethyl coumarins were synthesized in first step by the cyclization. Then the reaction of substituted coumarins (a-e) with potassium O-ethyl/methyl carbonodithioate (1) by using absolute ethanol as solvent, afforded coumarin-carbonodithioate (1a-1j) derivatives under microwave irradiation and the conventional method. The spectroscopic analysis was used for the characterization of coumarin derivatives. The title (1a-1j) compounds were confirmed by spectroscopic methods. Antioxidant property was evaluated by using DPPH free radical-scavenging ability assay method and anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated by protein denaturation procedure using diclofenac sodium as a standard. Drug-likeness. In-silico toxicity was predicted with LD50 value and bioactivity score was also calculated for all the compounds. Results: All coumarin (1a-1j) compounds exhibited promising in-vitro antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in comparison to standard drugs. All tested compounds were used for evaluating their physicochemical properties as set by Lipinski rule. It was observed that the synthesized compounds followed rule of five, indicating more ‘drug-like’ nature. Conclusions: All the screened coumarin-carbonodithioates display promising in vitro antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. From the physicochemical properties of coumarin derivatives, it is found that none of the compounds violate the Lipinski rule and they fall well in the range of rule of five. It is concluded that the coumarin-carbonodithioate hybrids act with more ‘drug-like’ nature

Study of examination-related anxiety levels and coping strategies adopted by undergraduate students at a medical college in central Karnataka

Background: Worldwide, test anxiety is a common health problem among medical students. The magnitude of problematic test anxiety ranges from 0% to 52% in undergraduate medical students and has a detrimental effect on the academic achievement and success of students. Data on the prevalence of test anxiety among medical students are limited in this geographic area. Thus, the study aimed to assess the prevalence of test anxiety among medical students and the coping methods for the same. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 172 medical undergraduate students using Google Forms. Test anxiety was measured using Westside Test Anxiety Inventory and Beck's Anxiety Inventory (BAI). Results: 15.7% of students had potentially concerning levels of anxiety. Examination stress was significantly less among those who practiced yoga/meditation/breathing exercises/physical exercises, did not use tobacco/alcohol, and did not do net browsing for stress relief. A negative correlation was seen between preuniversity course marks and Westside test anxiety scores (Spearman's rho = −0.230, P 0.05). Conclusion: A significant number of medical students had higher anxiety levels before exams

<span style="font-size: 21.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; color:black">Effect of androgens on oviductal growth in skipper frog <i>Rana cyanophlyctis</i> </span>

933-935<span style="font-size: 15.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.0pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif";="" color:black"="">Effects of exogenous androgens (testosterone, testosterone propionate and dihydrotestosterone) and <span style="font-size:13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size:6.5pt;font-family:HiddenHorzOCR;mso-hansi-font-family:" times="" new="" roman";="" mso-bidi-font-family:hiddenhorzocr;color:black"="">estradiol-17β<span style="font-size:13.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:6.5pt;font-family:HiddenHorzOCR; mso-hansi-font-family:" times="" new="" roman";mso-bidi-font-family:hiddenhorzocr;="" color:black"=""> <span style="font-size:15.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.0pt; font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif";color:black"="">on the oviductal growth/hypertrophy were studied in young and bilaterally ovariectomized (BLO) adult frogs <span style="font-size:15.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt; font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif";color:black"="">(Rana cyanophlyctis) during postbreeding phase of the reproductive cycle. <span style="font-size:13.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:6.5pt;font-family:HiddenHorzOCR; mso-hansi-font-family:" times="" new="" roman";mso-bidi-font-family:hiddenhorzocr;="" color:black"="">Estradiol-17<span style="font-size:13.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 6.5pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:hiddenhorzocr;="" color:black"="">β<span style="font-size:13.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:6.5pt; font-family:HiddenHorzOCR;mso-hansi-font-family:" times="" new="" roman";mso-bidi-font-family:="" hiddenhorzocr;color:black"=""> <span style="font-size:15.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif";color:black"="">injections induced oviductal hypertrophy to the maximal extent among hormone treated groups. In androgen treated frogs also there was an increase in the oviductal dry weight and protein content both in young and BLO adult frogs, suggesting the role of endogenous androgens in <span style="font-size:15.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif";color:black"="">controlling the growth of oviduct in <span style="font-size:15.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 8.5pt;line-height:115%;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif";color:black"="">R. cyanophlyctis. </span