DETERMINATION OF ANTIBACTERIAL, ANTIFUNGAL, BIOACTIVE CONSTITUENTS OF TRIPHALA BY FT-IR AND GC-MS ANALYSIS

Objectives: To characterize the number of phytoconstituents present in triphala using FT-IR and GC-MS. Methods: Antibacterial activity was measured by disc diffusion method, antifungal activity were analyzed by poisoned food technique, organic analysis was done by FT-IR, phytocomponents were identified by GC-MS analysis. Results: The major bioactive components were present in methanolic extracts, further screened by GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of 10 bioactive compounds. The results were presented that triphala contains richly 1,2,3-Benzenetriol, 2-Furancarboxaldehyde, 5-(hydroxymethyl)-, 4H-Pyran-4-one, 2,3-dihydro-3,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl-, Furfural, 2H-Pyran-2,6(3H)-dione, D-Allose, n-Hexadecanoic acid, DL-Proline, 5-oxo-, methyl ester, Undecanol-5, 9-Phenanthrenol Conclusion: Present findings indicated promising antimicrobial and phytocomponents are present and having remarkable number of qualities

Importance of Ayer Hitam Forest Reserve in the Klang Valley and the Multimedia Super Corridor

The location of the Air Hitam Forest Reserve within the Klang Valley and the Multimedia Super Corridor is highlighted and compared to the state and extent of other forested areas in the Klang Valley and the Multimedia Super Corridor. As insufficient detailed information was available the estimates for the all forested area were based on the forest resources map (FS6 from 1991). Population of the areas were also estimated from the 1990 census. Some projections to the respective conditions in 2000 was also made and discussed

Evaluation of Hepatoprotective Activity of Ethanolic Extract of Bauhinia Tomentosa Linn. In Paracetamol & Thioacetamide-Induced Toxicity

AIM AND OBJECTIVE: Hepatotoxicity is a major pharmacological effect of drugs and has been an important reason for the withdrawal and banning of many drugs in the market. It is also a significant contributor of drug interactions on account of its playing a major role in the metabolism and biotransformation of drugs and other substances that enter the body. A significant amount of deaths occur due to diseases aggravated by the toxic action of therapeutic substances on the liver. There are not many measures to combat the hepatotoxicity of drugs except for reducing the dose, stopping the drug suspected to be responsible and changing the drugs substituting it with another drug of the same pharmacological action. The damage is either permanent or temporary depending on various factors like age, race, sex, underlying medical illnesses, drug interactions etc. In this study, we are looking into herbal compounds that may help offer protection from the toxic effects of paracetamol and thioacetamide on the liver of animals. Paracetamol is a commonly used NSAID. It is safe in prescribed doses but toxic in higher dosages. Paracetamol poisoning is treated currently with N-Acetyl cysteine but the treatment profile is largely unclear as we have seen in literature. In cases of poor prognosis, liver transplant could be the only option. It is expensive and the outcome may or may not be favorable. Thioacetamide is a known hepatocarcinogen. Its toxicity in animal studies is well documented. This situation warrants us to explore other remedies for treating hepatotoxicity. The plant kingdom has lots of known and unknown plants with hepatoprotective properties. Plant extracts have a wide range of medicinal actions, and throughout history, they have been used to treat many different types of diseases. In the treatment of many diseases, antioxidant therapy plays a key role, so current research is now directed towards finding naturally occurring hepatoprotectiveof plant origin. In Indian system of medicine, the plant BauhiniatomentosaLinnis being used to treat many illnesses, successfully. The medicinal properties of this plant may be due to the presence of phytochemicals like tannins, flavonoids, terpenoids and steroids. Presently it has become a source of medicine for healing human and animal diseases. Hence, in order to contribute further to the knowledge of Indian traditional medicine, and its rich history, the objective of the present study is to subject the traditionally well-known plant Bauhinia tomentosa Linn. It was decided to extract the whole plant using suitable solvents and the dried extract will be used to evaluate the possible hepatoprotective effect of Bauhinia tomentosaLinn.in albino mice. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the possible liver protective mechanism of action of Bauhinia tomentosa L. extract. To screen preliminary phytochemicals of ethanol extract of BauniniatomentosaL. � To study the effect of the extract of Bauhinia tomentosa Linn on paracetamol and thioacetamide induced hepatotoxicity in albino mice using liver enzymes as biomarkers. To study the effect of the ethanolic extract of Bauhinia tomentosa Linn. on serum bilirubin, in paracetamol and thioacetamide induced hepatotoxicity To observe suppression of inflammation and cell recovery after administration of various concentrations of the extract. To screen for anti- oxidant potential of the Bauhinia tomentosa Linn. using enzymatic (SOD, CAT, GPx) and non- enzymatic methods (GSH). To assess the free radical scavenging potential of Bauhinia tomentosa Linn. using Lipid peroxidase test (LPO) SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION: The present study was designed to evaluate the possible protective effect of ethanolic extract of Bauhinia tomentosa Linn (EEBT) against paracetamol and thioacetamide induced hepatoxicity in animals. A literature survey revealed that more studies were needed for this plant to ascertain the hepatoprotective potential. The detailed preliminary phytochemical investigations rationalized its use as a drug of therapeutic importance. Theethanolic extract of the planthas phytoconstituents like flavonoids, terpenoids, sterods, alkaloids, saponins and tannins. The hepatoprotective effect was assessed using a battery of biochemical and histopathological tests. SGOT, SGPT, ALP, LDH, ACP were some of the biochemical tests done. In vivo tests for antioxidants (SOD, CAT, GSH, LPO) were conducted on albino mice and wistar rats. In both paracetamol and thioacetamide induced hepatotoxicity, a lower dose and a high dose of extract were used and compared with the hepatoprotective activity of standard drug silymarin. Control group and an only drug group were also used. The EEBT showed marked hepatoprotective activity in lowered levels of body weight, positive effect on total bilirubin, total protein and on liver enzymes. Histological sections of liver showed that centrilobular necrosis, the pathognomonic feature of hepatotoxicity, which appeared in paracetamol-intoxicated mice, was strikingly reduced in EEBT treated mice. Furthermore, the congestion and inflammatory cell infiltration evoked by paracetamol was considerably decreased by EEBT indicating its possible antihepatotoxic action. EEBTethanolic extract has hepatoprotectiveeffects against liver toxicity induced by TAA as proven bymacroscopical, microscopical, and biochemical analyses. The effects of EEBT are comparable to that of Silymarin, the standardhepatoprotective drug. Accordingly, EEBT could beused as an effective herbal product for the prevention ofchemical-induced hepatic damage. Our results demonstrated that the progression of TAA-induced liver cirrhosis could be prevented or reduced using the ethanol extract of Bauhinia tomentosa Linn. The plant extract exerted its hepatoprotective effect by preventing the harmful cascade of events induced by TAA toxicity. In conclusion, we can say that Bauhinia tometosa Linn. has the ability to protect the liver from the damaging effects of paracetamol and thioacetamidein toxic doses and stimulation of endogenous anti-oxidant defense system. In the near future, a further study is warranted to isolate, characterize and screen the active components of Bauhinia tomentosa Linn. that have the hepatoprotective activity

Organizational Engagement with Supply Chain Integration: Achieving a Tangible Strategy

Although supply chain management and supply chain integration have become topics found within today’s organization as well as topics for researchers from various disciplines, little research has been completed concerning the linkage between business strategy, supply chain strategy, and the resulting decision which an organization makes to enter into an integration initiative. This paper discusses the experience of one organization in formulating a supply chain strategy consistent with its business strategy. The paper concludes with key elements driving the supply chain which emerge from this linkage, a framework for determining the importance of the supply chain to the organization, and a discussion of the benefits gained from creating a tangible incarnation, an enactment, of the firm’s strategy

Enabling Context-Based Learning with KPortal Webspace Technology

Recognizing the importance of context-based learning and the general lack of technology applications in the design and development of the ideal and formal curricula, this paper describes an experimental system at a large public university. The authors describe the creation of a contextual environment for introducing concepts related to information security to undergraduate business students using the KPortal (Knowledge Portals) webspace technology that supports dynamic content gathered from various sources automatically. The KPortal webspace rated highly on the various attributes of effective contexts and the characteristics of technologies that enable context-based learning. The flexibility provided by the webspace permitted the authors to develop adaptable environments in which the students could connect well with rather abstract concepts. The overall intervention was designed to examine if a limited portion of the course could be supported by technology and next phases of the research will broaden its use to semester-length curriculum

Multidisciplinary design of a more electric regional aircraft including certification constraints

The use of electrified on-board systems is increasingly more required to reduce aircraft complexity, polluting emissions, and its life cycle cost. However, the more and all-electric aircraft configurations are still uncommon in the civil aviation context and their certifiability has yet to be proven in some aircraft segments. The aim of the present paper is to define a multidisciplinary design problem which includes some disciplines pertaining to the certification domain. In particular, the study is focused on the preliminary design of a 19 passengers small regional turboprop aircraft. Different on-board systems architectures with increasing electrification levels are considered. These architectures imply the use of bleedless technologies including electrified ice protection and environmental control systems. The use of electric actuators for secondary surfaces and landing gear are also considered. The aircraft design, which includes aerodynamic, structural, systems and propulsion domains, is then assessed by some certification disciplines. In particular, minimum performance, external noise and safety assessments are included in the workflow giving some insights on the aircraft certifiability. The results show a reduction of 3% of MTOM and 3% of fuel mass depending on the systems architecture selected. From the certification side, the design has proven to be certifiable and the margins with the certification constraint can be controlled to improve the overall design

BRG1 and BRM function antagonistically with c-MYC in adult cardiomyocytes to regulate conduction and contractility

Rationale The contractile dysfunction that underlies heart failure involves perturbations in multiple biological processes ranging from metabolism to electrophysiology. Yet the epigenetic mechanisms that are altered in this disease state have not been elucidated. SWI/SNF chromatin-remodeling complexes are plausible candidates based on mouse knockout studies demonstrating a combined requirement for the BRG1 and BRM catalytic subunits in adult cardiomyocytes. Brg1/Brm double mutants exhibit metabolic and mitochondrial defects and are not viable although their cause of death has not been ascertained. Objective To determine the cause of death of Brg1/Brm double-mutant mice, to test the hypothesis that BRG1 and BRM are required for cardiac contractility, and to identify relevant downstream target genes. Methods and results A tamoxifen-inducible gene-targeting strategy utilizing αMHC-Cre-ERT was implemented to delete both SWI/SNF catalytic subunits in adult cardiomyocytes. Brg1/Brm double-mutant mice were monitored by echocardiography and electrocardiography, and they underwent rapidly progressive ventricular dysfunction including conduction defects and arrhythmias that culminated in heart failure and death within 3 weeks. Mechanistically, BRG1/BRM repressed c-Myc expression, and enforced expression of a DOX-inducible c-MYC trangene in mouse cardiomyocytes phenocopied the ventricular conduction defects observed in Brg1/Brm double mutants. BRG1/BRM and c-MYC had opposite effects on the expression of cardiac conduction genes, and the directionality was consistent with their respective loss- and gain-of-function phenotypes. To support the clinical relevance of this mechanism, BRG1/BRM occupancy was diminished at the same target genes in human heart failure cases compared to controls, and this correlated with increased c-MYC expression and decreased CX43 and SCN5A expression. Conclusion BRG1/BRM and c-MYC have an antagonistic relationship regulating the expression of cardiac conduction genes that maintain contractility, which is reminiscent of their antagonistic roles as a tumor suppressor and oncogene in cancer

Complex expression dynamics and robustness in C. elegans insulin networks

Gene families expand by gene duplication and resulting paralogs diverge through mutation. Functional diversification can include neo-functionalization as well as sub-functionalization of ancestral functions. In addition, redundancy in which multiple genes fulfill overlapping functions is often maintained. Here, we use the family of 40 Caenorhabditis elegans insulins to gain insight into the balance between specificity and redundancy. The insulin/insulin-like growth factor (IIS) pathway comprises a single receptor, DAF-2. To date, no single insulin-like peptide recapitulates all DAF-2-associated phenotypes, likely due to redundancy between insulin-like genes. To provide a first-level annotation of potential patterns of redundancy, we comprehensively delineate the spatiotemporal and conditional expression of all 40 insulins in living animals. We observe extensive dynamics in expression that can explain the lack of simple patterns of pair-wise redundancy. We propose a model in which gene families evolve to attain differential alliances in different tissues and in response to a range of environmental stresses

Why is it difficult to implement e-health initiatives? A qualitative study

<b>Background</b> The use of information and communication technologies in healthcare is seen as essential for high quality and cost-effective healthcare. However, implementation of e-health initiatives has often been problematic, with many failing to demonstrate predicted benefits. This study aimed to explore and understand the experiences of implementers - the senior managers and other staff charged with implementing e-health initiatives and their assessment of factors which promote or inhibit the successful implementation, embedding, and integration of e-health initiatives.<p></p> <b>Methods</b> We used a case study methodology, using semi-structured interviews with implementers for data collection. Case studies were selected to provide a range of healthcare contexts (primary, secondary, community care), e-health initiatives, and degrees of normalization. The initiatives studied were Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) in secondary care, a Community Nurse Information System (CNIS) in community care, and Choose and Book (C&B) across the primary-secondary care interface. Implementers were selected to provide a range of seniority, including chief executive officers, middle managers, and staff with 'on the ground' experience. Interview data were analyzed using a framework derived from Normalization Process Theory (NPT).<p></p> <b>Results</b> Twenty-three interviews were completed across the three case studies. There were wide differences in experiences of implementation and embedding across these case studies; these differences were well explained by collective action components of NPT. New technology was most likely to 'normalize' where implementers perceived that it had a positive impact on interactions between professionals and patients and between different professional groups, and fit well with the organisational goals and skill sets of existing staff. However, where implementers perceived problems in one or more of these areas, they also perceived a lower level of normalization.<p></p> <b>Conclusions</b> Implementers had rich understandings of barriers and facilitators to successful implementation of e-health initiatives, and their views should continue to be sought in future research. NPT can be used to explain observed variations in implementation processes, and may be useful in drawing planners' attention to potential problems with a view to addressing them during implementation planning

Multi-level community interventions for primary stroke prevention: A conceptual approach by the World Stroke Organization

The increasing burden of stroke and dementia emphasizes the need for new, well-tolerated and cost-effective primary prevention strategies that can reduce the risks of stroke and dementia worldwide, and specifically in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This paper outlines conceptual frameworks of three primary stroke prevention strategies: (a) the “polypill” strategy; (b) a “population-wide” strategy; and (c) a “motivational population-wide” strategy. (a) A polypill containing generic low-dose ingredients of blood pressure and lipid-lowering medications (e.g. candesartan 16 mg, amlodipine 2.5 mg, and rosuvastatin 10 mg) seems a safe and cost-effective approach for primary prevention of stroke and dementia. (b) A population-wide strategy reducing cardiovascular risk factors in the whole population, regardless of the level of risk is the most effective primary prevention strategy. A motivational population-wide strategy for the modification of health behaviors (e.g. smoking, diet, physical activity) should be based on the principles of cognitive behavioral therapy. Mobile technologies, such as smartphones, offer an ideal interface for behavioral interventions (e.g. Stroke Riskometer app) even in LMICs. (c) Community health workers can improve the maintenance of lifestyle changes as well as the adherence to medication, especially in resource poor areas. An adequate training of community health workers is a key point