Attribution of Transitivity Roles and Characterization in Heart of Darkness

The objective of this paper is to study the characters of Marlow and Kurtz from Joseph Conrad’s novel ‘Heart of Darkness’ and their roles in the action and why they are called counterfoil to each other. Therefore, the focus is not on what is done (action) but who is doing what (character). I propose to use systemic functional grammar to explore these characters and their roles in the novel. Especially, I will make use of character’s transitivity profile following Simpson’s (2004, p.119) statement that, ‘the transitivity profile embodied by a text is generally a useful indicator of character in prose fiction’. This paper also aims to show how an investigation of process types can function as a rewarding analytical tool for character analysis. Following this, it has been observed that Marlow is a sensor while Kurtz turns out to be in an actor’s role which means that Marlow reflects while Kurtz acts. Marlow observes everything but does not participate in action while Kurtz’s role is in clear contrast to him as he is more of an action guy and his dominant process types are material processe

On twisted group ring isomorphism problem for p-groups

In this article, we explore the problem of determining isomorphisms between the twisted complex group algebras of finite $p$-groups. This problem bears similarity to the classical group algebra isomorphism problem and has been recently examined by Margolis-Schnabel. Our focus lies on a specific invariant, referred to as the generalized corank, which relates to the twisted complex group algebra isomorphism problem. We provide a solution for non-abelian $p$-groups with generalized corank at most three

PREVALENCE OF REFRACTIVE ERRORS AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL CHILDREN IN AN URBAN SETUP: A PROSPECTIVE AND OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of refractive errors and their types by their age, sex, and class among the students of secondary school in an urban area of state of Punjab, North India. Methods: A cross-sectional study was done on a total of 1545 school children, aged between 10 and 16 years studying in 6th–10th class. Sample size included 822 males and 723 females. Snellen’s distant test types and self-illuminated streak retinoscope were used for this study. Results: Cumulative prevalence of refractive errors was found to be 35.21% among the students. The distribution among the type of refractive errors was: Myopia – 65.07%, Hypermetropia – 14.89%, and Astigmatism – 20.04%. The prevalence among the male and female students was 34.91% and 35.55%, respectively. Conclusion: This study supports the screening of school children for visual acuity and their refractive errors so that they can be identified to improve their quality of life at present and also to prevent any long-term visual disability

Non-haemorrhagic causes of obstetrical intensive care unit admissions in tertiary care setting

Background: Management of critically ill obstetric patients involve intensive monitoring in intensive care unit. In present scenario there are significant number of obstetric patients with sepsis, tropical diseases and medical illness that require ICU care. The aim of this study was to evaluate in more detail the non-haemorrhagic causes of obstetric ICU admissions and to identify and adopt high risk strategies as prime learning objective.Methods: It is a prospective ongoing study conducted in 50 patients in SGRDUHS, Amritsar from December 2016 to October 2019, who were admitted in obstetric ICU, out of them 30 cases were attributed to non-haemorrhagic obstetric causes. All demographic parameters along with gestational age, diagnosis on admission, intervention done prior to shift to ICU and details of treatment given in ICU were evaluated. Patient outcome, review of mortality and area of improvement were also noted.Results: Majority of the patient (70.1%) were admitted in 3rd trimester. Obstetric sepsis (13.33%), infective diseases (16.66%), tropical conditions (16.66%), medical disorders (26.66%) and hypertensive disorders (26.66%) were the major causes of admission to obstetric ICU. There were 33.3% mortalities observed in present study and 40% were due to respiratory failure. In ICU mechanical ventilation was done in 63.3% cases and blood products were given in 33.3% of patients.Conclusions: A multidisciplinary approach is ideal to handle non-haemorrhagic situations especially related to medical disorders and tropical diseases. Review of the ICU admissions and periodic audit can improve management of morbidities as well as reduce maternal mortalities

FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF ANTIFUNGAL CREAM OF CHLORPHENESIN

Objective: The main aim of our research was to develop an Antifungal cream formulation consisting of Chlorphenesin for the treatment of Fungal infections. Topical route is the most suitable route for skin infections. Methods: The development of topical drug delivery systems designed to have systemic effects appears to be beneficial for a number of drugs on account of several advantages over conventional dosage forms(or) routes of drug administration. An Antifungal cream formulation consisting of Chlorphenesin was prepared. Results: The formulation was subjected to in vitro diffusion studies. Microbiological studies were performed to find out the safety of materials used in the formulation. Conclusion: The developed cream consisting of Cholrphnesin was found to be safe and effective for the treatment of fungal infection

Seasonal variation in contamination and browning of Acacia nilotica nodal explants in vitro

Major problems encountered in establishing axenic cultures are contamination and browning of explants and media. Contamination is initiated in explants excised from soil-borne tissues or adult trees. Several sterilizing agents (Tween 20, chlorine water, silver nitrate, mercuric chloride, etc.) or a wash in antibiotic solution are recommended to reduce this. . Establishing in vitro cultures of Acacia nilotica old tree nodal explants was a serious problem. The present study was undertaken to create a suitable protocol for in vitro micropropagation of nodal explants of Acacia nilotica subsp. indica. Contamination was controlled by sterilizing the explants by washing in polysan (5%, v/v along with 500mg/l PVP), thorough washing under tap water, 70% alcohol treatment and 0.1% HgCl2 treatment. Plant tissues release phenolic substances through their cut ends, which turn the media dark brown and toxic. Addition of various antioxidants or/and transfer of explants to fresh medium twice or thrice, at a few days’ intervals may overcome the problem.  Collection of explants in antioxidant solution and a wash in antioxidant solution prior to inoculation was helpful in reducing the phenolic exudation in the present investigations.  The addition of antioxidant (citric acid) to the medium also checked browning to some extent. The rate of infection and browning of explants varied in different seasons, the maximum being during winters and the minimum during summers of 2019. This was inversely related to the morphogenic response of explants i.e. maximum caulogenesis occurred in vitro during July (6.3±1.4 shoots per explant). The in vitro raised shoots showed 100% rooting on 2mg/l IBA augmented Nitsch’s (N) medium.

SALUBRIOUS EFFECT OF ROTTLERIN ON HYPEROXALURIA INDUCED OXIDATIVE DAMAGE IN RATS

Objective: To investigate the in vitro oxidant scavenging properties of rottlerin and to study the potential role of rottlerin on ethylene glycol induced nephrocalcinosis in rats.Methods: In vitro oxidant scavenging properties of rottlerin were studied along with its effect on in vitro calcium phosphate mineralization. For the in vivo studies, hyperoxaluria was induced by administering 0.4 % ethylene glycol and 1 % ammonium chloride in drinking water to male wistar rats for 9 d. Rottlerin was administered intraperitoneally at 1mg/kg/d along with the hyperoxaluric agent. Total thiols content, activities of glutathione-S-transferase (GST), glutathione reductase (GR), Citrate synthase (CS), isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICDH), ATPase and urinary parameters were studied.Results: Rottlerin showed in vitro DPPH, superoxide, and ABTS radical scavenging activity along with inhibition of calcium phosphate mineralization in an in vitro homogeneous system. The diminished activities of GST, GR, ICDH, CS, ATPase and level of total thiols were considerably stabilized by rottlerin, suggesting that rottlerin provides protection against oxalate induced oxidative damage.Conclusion: We suggest that rottlerin protects the integrity of the renal cell by stabilizing the free-radical mediated damage. Thus, the present study reveals that the antioxidant nature of rottlerin protects the renal cells against oxalate-induced injury and thus, rottlerin may prevent against hyperoxaluria induced oxidative damage.Keywords: Rottlerin, Hyperoxaluria, Oxidative stress, Antioxidan

Hysteroscopic evaluation in infertility and abnormal uterine bleeding

Background: Hysteroscopy an endoscopic procedure for visualization of uterine cavity may be extensively used in both primary and secondary infertility and abnormal uterine bleeding for evaluating intrauterine pathology. The objectives of this study were to visualize and identity intrauterine pathology in both primary and secondary infertility and abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) by hysteroscopic evaluation and to perform hysteroscopic guided therapeutic procedures like endometrial currettage, polypectomy, adhesiolysis.Methods: Hysteroscopic evaluation of uterine cavity for any intrauterine pathology in AUB and Infertility. Adhesiolysis, polypectomy, endometrial biopsy misplaced copper T removal were carried out under hysteroscopic vision.Results: Intrauterine synechia in 20.51%, Submucous fibroid in 5.13%, bicornuate uterus, endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial polyp were seen in 2.56% patient each were detected in infertility group while 81.95% cases with AUB had abnormal intrauterine pathology commonest being endometrial hyperplasia in 33.33% followed by endometrial polyps in 23.81% cases, submucous fibroid and misplaced copper T in 9.52% each and intrauterine synechia in 4.76% patient. Endometrial biopsy and polypectomy was done in 23.80% each with AUB, misplaced copper T removal in 9.52% and adhesiolysis in 4.76% patient with AUB.Conclusions: Hysteroscopy remains gold standard for evaluating intrauterine lesions in abnormal uterine bleeding and infertility. A safe, simple minimally invasive procedure not only diagnostic but therapeutic modality for adhesiolysis, endometrial biopsy/curettage, polypectomy, misplaced copper T removal under direct vision with minimal complication within reach of every Gynaecologist thereby reducing burden of major surgical intervention

A novel molybdenum oxide-Starbon catalyst for wastewater remediation

The exploration of novel media for environmental remediation, in particular wastewater treatment, is a global imperative. Herein, the in situ green synthesis, characterisation and application of a novel Starbon™ composite comprising molybdenum oxide nanoparticles are reported. Starbons™ are carbonaceous mesoporous materials derived from starch with applications ranging from chromatography to gas capture. The molybdenum (Mo) loading, evidenced by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), was 179.337 mg g-1, and the molybdenum oxide nanoparticles were observed via transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The Mo-containing composite was an efficient catalyst for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) to 4-aminophenol (4-AP) in the presence of sodium borohydride, NaBH4 (k = 11.2 × 10-2 min-1). The Mo-composite showed superior 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical quenching activity with a low inhibitory concentration [IC50 = 1.006 mg ml-1] and ferric reducing power compared with other green synthesised composites and nanoparticles. The novel Mo-containing Starbon™ composite has real time applications in water treatment such as in catalysis, adsorption and filtration