EFFICACY OF ANTIOXIDATION AND ANTI- INFLAMMATION OF THE LEAF EXTRACTS OF BORRERIA HISPIDA

Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the total content of phenol, terpenoid and flavonoids from leaf extract of Borreria hispida which was collected from Tamilnadu regions. The leaf extract was also evaluated for antioxidant activity and in vitro anti-inflammatory activity.Methods: In the present investigation, the best accession was screened out through antioxidant activity by qualitative and quantitative methods. The leaf extract was evaluated for antioxidant activity by 1,1–diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay. The in vitro anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated using albumin denaturation assay.Results: Among the five solvents, maximum antioxidant activity was found in the ethanolic extract of Thanjavur accession (81.3±0.1 %). Total content of phenol, terpenoid and flavonoids were quantified as 33.21±0.06 mg Gallic Acid Equivalents, 76.4±0.02 and 18.27±0.08 mg QE/g respectively. The maximum inhibition rate of albumin denaturation of Borreria hispida was found to be 89.3±0.5% at a dose of 10 mg/ml.Conclusion: It was concluded that the maximum percentage of antioxidant activity was found in Thanjavur accession which attributes the highest radical scavenging activity and the ethanolic leaf extract of Borreria hispida was exhibited a superior level of anti-inflammatory activity

Isolation and properties of a lectin from the seeds of Mimosa invisa L.

A lectin has been purified from the seeds ofMimosa invisa L. by gel filtration and preparative Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The purified lectin was homogeneous as judged by analytical Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, immunodiffusion and Immunoelectrophoresis. The apparent molecular weight is 100,000; the protein is a tetramer with two types of subunits (molecular weight 35,000 and 15,000). The lectin is a glycoprotein with approximately 21% carbohydrate and interacts with Sephadex and concanavalin A-Sepharose. It agglutinates erthrocytes non-specifically, does not agglutinate leucocytes and is not mitogenic, agglutinates Mimosa-nodulatingRhizobium and is a panagglutinin; the agglutination is not inhibited by several simple sugars. It is thermo-stable and has no metal ions

Factors That Affect Motivation Among Adult Learners

Motivation is an internal force that energizes the individual for action and determines the direction of that action.  Antecedent conditions (e.g. attitudes toward the subject, concern for academic excellence), and methodological or course design conditions (classroom variety, instructional activities, direct feedback) are variables that influence student motivation.  This research presents the results of a survey (N=563) that examined the influence of personal, teacher behavior, and institutional-structural factors on adult students at the second largest private university in California.  The results indicate that teacher behaviors are among those rated by students as having the most influence on their motivation to succeed

Direct and indirect influences of intercrops on the coconut defoliator Opisina arenosella

Coconut palm (Cocos nucifera) infestation by Opisina arenosella (Lepidoptera: Oecophoridae) in the Indian sub-continent may occur in November to May each year in the same or adjoining areas of plantations. Parasitoids of O. arenosella may also be consistently present at these times. During other periods, pests and/or parasitoids could be maintained on intercrops that are commonly grown throughout the year. Field surveys of 54 intercrop species in Kerala, India, found that O. arenosella attacks banana, but not others, while laboratory screening showed that O. arenosella can mature on jack fruit, cashew and oil palm. Larvae of 20 lepidopteran species found on intercrops were screened for use by Goniozus nephantidis (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae), a larval parasitoid of O. arenosella, which oviposited on two species but its offspring failed to mature. Thirteen intercrop herbivore species were screened for use by Brachymeria nosatoi (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae), a pupal parasitoid of O. arenosella, which completed development on the pyralids Herculia nigrivita, Syllepte derogata and Psara basalis. Further, connectance trophic webs were compiled using prior field records of coconut, 33 species of intercrops, 58 species of lepidopteran herbivores and 29 species of primary parasitoids. Both laboratory and literature evidence suggests that populations of O. arenosella are unlikely to be maintained by feeding on intercrops or strongly influenced by direct competition with other lepidopterans but are likely to be affected by sharing parasitoids. Intercrop herbivores have clear potential for maintaining parasitoids of O. arenosella and we recommend thirteen plant species as intercrops that should aid in conservation biocontrol

Phenolic and polyphenolic compounds of wheat (Triticum spp.): extraction and antioxidative properties

Phenolic and polyphenolic compounds were extracted from wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in order to assess their biological activity under different in vitro conditions. The effects of primary processing such as milling and pearling were also examined. The antioxidant capacity of wheat was evaluated using a number of in vitro assays based on scavenging of several free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) and control of lipid and DNA oxidation. -- The optimum conditions for the extraction of crude phenolics from whole grain and bran of soft and hard wheats were determined using response surface methodology (RSM). A face-centred cubic design (FCD) was used to investigate the effects of three independent variables, namely solvent composition (%), extraction temperature (°C) and time (min) on the response, that is the total antioxidant capacity (TAC). Although the optimum extraction conditions were established, in the interest of operational costs related to energy consumption, phenolics were generally extracted using 80% aqueous ethanol for prolonged periods at low temperatures. Crude phenolics extracted with 80% aqueous ethanol yielded 75-80% antioxidant activity as compared to that under optimum conditions. The extractability of phenolics from wheat under simulated gastric pH conditions revealed that pH treatment facilitated the extraction of phenolics. In the latter study wheat phenolics of non-treated and treated samples were extracted into water. The antioxidant activity of treated samples was much higher than that of non-treated samples. Phenolics extracted belonged to the free, soluble esters and insoluble-bound fractions. Soluble esters of phenolics and insoluble-bound phenolics were extracted after alkaline hydrolysis of samples. The contribution of bound phenolics to the total phenolic content was significantly higher than that of free and esterified fractions. In the in vitro antioxidant assays, the bound phenolic fraction demonstrated a significantly higher antioxidant capacity than free and esterified phenolics. In all experiments detailed above, two commercial samples of soft (70% Canadian Eastern soft red spring and 30% Canadian Eastern soft white winter) and hard (90% Canadian Western hard red spring and 10% Canadian Eastern hard red winter) wheat mixtures were used. The antioxidant potential of the milling fractions examined decreased in the order of bran > whole grain > flour. Most of the phenolics were concentrated in the bran and these were not available for analysis under normal extraction conditions. -- The effects of primary processing, namely pearling and milling, on the phenolic content and antioxidant capacity were determined using two wheat cultivars, namely CWAD (Canadian Western Amber Durum; Triticum turgidum L. var. durum) and CWHRS (Canadian Western hard red spring; Triticum aestivum L.). After pearling the phenolic content and antioxidant capacity in the grains were significantly decreased. As the degree of pearling was increased there was a gradual decrease in the phenolic content and hence the corresponding antioxidant capacity in the resultant pearled product. The by-products resulting from 10-20% pearling possessed the greatest antioxidant capacity. Among different milling fractions the bran had the highest phenolic contents while the endosperm possessed the lowest and this was also reflected in antioxidant capacity of different milling fractions in the two cultivars. -- The HPLC analysis of commercial wheat mixtures revealed that ferulic acid was the predominant phenolic acid while in the pure cultivars examined sinapic acid was the major phenolic acid. This study demonstrated the importance of bran in the antioxidant activity of wheat, hence consumption of wheat as whole grains may render beneficial health effects

Dilated cardiomyopathy in a child with abdominal neuroblastoma and normal serum catecholamine levels: anaesthetic management and review of literature

Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial solid tumour of childhood. Dilated cardiomyopathy as an initial presentation of neuroblastoma is rare. We report the case of a three-year-old child with giant abdominal neuroblastoma encasing the abdominal aorta who presented with dilated cardiomyopathy in heart failure without hypertension or elevated serum catecholamine levels. The probable pathophysiological mechanism for such an occurrence and review of similar cases along with perioperative management is presented.Keywords: anaesthesia, catecholamines, child, dilated cardiomyopathy, neuroblastom

Analisis Karakteristik Gelombang Dan Pasang Surut Pada Daerah Pantai Paal Kecamatan Likupang Timur Kabupaten Minahasa Utara

Pengelolaan wilayah pantai sangatlah penting dalam mempertahankan bentuknya dimana wilayah pantai berperan khusus dalam bidang rekreasi, pelabuhan, navigasi, dan lain sebagainya. Pantai Paal yang merupakan salah satu wilayah pantai yang berpotensi sebagai daerah wisata. Oleh sebab itu dalam pengembangan dan pengamanan daerah pesisir serta perlindungan penduduk maka perlu mengetahui karakteristik gelombang dan pasang surut yang terjadi di pantai tersebut. Dalam penelitian ini perlu dilakukan pendekatan teori dan analisis transformasi gelombang yang terjadi di kawasan pantai Paal. Peramalan gelombang dihitung dengan metode hindcasting gelombang berdasarkan data angin selama 10 tahun dari stasiun BMG Bitung untuk mendapatkan tinggi dan periode gelombang signifikan. Serta menentukan komponnen, tipe pasang surut, elevasi muka air laut yang terjadi Pantai Paal dengan Metode Admiralty dimana data pasang surut yang digunakan ialah data pengukuran yang dilakukakan selama 15 hari. Dari hasil perhitungan gelombang di perairan Bulo Rerer didominasi oleh gelombang arah Tenggara dengan gelombang maksimum terjadi pada bulan Juli 2006 dengan H = 1.230 m dan T = 4.698 det. Koefisien refraksi yang terjadi berkisar antara 0.997 sampai 1.446 dan koefisien shoaling yang terjadi berkisar pada 0.857 sampai 1.148. Tinggi gelombang yang didapat dari hasil perhitungan berkisar pada 1.051 sampai 1.220 m pada kedalaman 1 m sampai 25 m. memiliki pasang surut tipe Harian Ganda (semidiurnal) dengan elevasi muka air laut tinggi tertinggi (HHWL) terjadi sebesar 360 cm dan elevasi muka air laut rendah terendah (LLWL) terjadi sebesar 20 cm

Sample preparation methods for isolation of Mycobacterium spp. from cultured fish and environmental samples

Fish mycobacteriosis' is a problem to which more than 150 species offish are susceptible. In order to isolate non-pathogenic and fish pathogenic m.ycobacterial species from environm.ental samples, three different methods were evaluated. Shaking and membrane filtration methods were adopted to retrieve maxim.um acidfast strains from fish and environmental samples. Decontamination with 4% sodium hydroxide facilitated the isolation of acid-fast bacteria in the selective media, killing all the contam.inants like heterotrophs and saprophytes. Centrifugation procedure at 4000 r.p. mfor 20 minutes eliminated the contaminants from the sample and allowed only acid-fast bacilli to grow in the selective media. Centrifugation was carried out twice with distilled water. Peizer TB and LJ slopes worked well for selective isolation of fish pathogenic Mycobacteria/rom the centrifugated samples. It is believed that all the three sample preparation methods will be useful tool to study the fastidious fish pathogenic Mycobacteria from environmental samples

Impact of age on the prevalence of poor-quality dietary variety, associated lifestyle factors, and body composition profile (low body muscle mass and high body fat mass) in older people residing in Colombo district, Sri Lanka

Acknowledgements We gratefully acknowledge S. T. Ambepitiya for their help in data collection and the participants of the study.Peer reviewe

Aplikasi System Management Task dan Penilaian Kerja (Kpi) pada PT Intisoft Mitra Sejahtera

The purpose of this study is to create an application that can provide benefits to PT Intisoft Mitra Sejahtera in managing the tickets delivered by the client, arrange program modification policies, and can see the assessment of the performance of employees who work on the ticket and facilitate the client in obtaining quick information about obstacles which they experience by turning it into a ticket on the application. The research method used is by conducting an analysis (walking system survey, interview, and observation) and design method (UML), testing method (Black box testing). The analysis is carried out by conducting field studies and conducting interviews with the Director of PT Intisoft Mitra Sejahtera along with related divisions in the plan for making this application. The results achieved are web and android applications that function to manage work assignments and assessments that can help oversee, and document problems that exist in the company and also assess employee performance in handling reports of problems reported by the client