On the highly reddened members in 6 young galactic star clusters - a multiwavelength study

The spectral and reddening properties of 211 highly reddened proper motion members with $V < 15$ mag in 6 young galactic star clusters are investigated using low resolution spectroscopic, broad-band $UBVRIJHK$ and mid-IR data. We report emission features in CaII HK and HI lines for a sample of 29 stars including 11 stars reported for the first time and also provide either a new or more reliable spectral class for a sample of 24 stars. CaII triplet width measurements are used to indicate the presence of an accretion disk for a dozen stars and to hint luminosity for a couple of stars. On the basis of spectral features, near-IR excesses, dereddened color-color diagrams and mid-IR spectral indices we identify a group of 28 pre-main sequence cluster members including 5 highly probable Herbig Ae/Be and 6 classical T Tauri star. A total of 25 non-emission MS stars, amounting to $\sim$ 10 % early type MS members, appears to show Vega-like characteristics or are precursors to such a phenomenon. The various membership indicators suggest that $\sim$ 16% of the PM members are non-members. A significant fraction ($>$70%) of program stars in NGC 1976, NGC 2244, NGC 6530 and NGC 6611 show anomalous reddening with $R_{V}$ = $5.11\pm0.11$, $3.60\pm0.05$, $3.87\pm0.05$ and $3.56\pm 0.02$, respectively, indicating the presence of grain size dust larger than that typical to the diffuse medium. A small number of stars in NGC 1976, NGC 2244 and NGC 6611 also show normal behavior while the cluster NGC 6823 appears to have a normal reddening. Three highly luminous late type giants, one in NGC 2244 and two in NGC 6530, appears to be member and are in post-hydrogen-core-burning stages suggesting a prolonged duration ($\sim$ 25 Myrs) of star formation.Comment: 12 pages, 13 figures, submitted to MNRA

A Comparative Study of the Mechanical Properties of Single and Double Sided Friction Stir Welded Aluminium Joints

AbstractAluminium alloys have a wide range of application in many key industries like aerospace and defence. It is necessary to have a high strength joint without much distortion in the above applications. In the present investigation, Al 1100 H14 aluminum alloy strips were joined by friction stir welding (FSW) process by single and double sided welding. Also the effect of direction of welding on tensile properties of the joints was investigated. Standard thickness (4mm) aluminium pieces were joined by FSW under various traversing speeds and rotational speeds. The effects on mechanical properties like surface hardness and tensile strength of the welded region were studied. It has been concluded that double sided welds are better in strength compared to single sided ones and same direction welds have substantial improvement in mechanical properties when compared to opposite direction ones

Formulation and Charecterization of Flurbiprofen Liposomes

The active pharmaceutical ingredient Flurbiprofen was evaluated for its Organoleptic properties and solubility. The results obtained were satisfactory. Flurbiprofen liposomes were prepared by thin film hydration technique and the phospolipid concentrations were optimized by various trials In the present study liposomes containing Flurbiprofen was prepared. The effect of increase in phospolipid concentration in various parameters like particle size and invitro release profile were studied. The Flurbiprofen liposomes were formulated and evaluated for its drug content,entrapment efficiency, particle size analysis,zeta potential and invitro drug release profile. Based on the results of Flurbiprofen liposomes formulations (FLF 1- FLF 5) formulation FLF4 was selected as the best formulation in which the particle size was 271.1nm and the entrapment was 85.72%. The in vitro % drug release of FLF4 formulation was 99.47± 0.72% at 24 hrs and it was found to be suitable formulation to manage the condition of rheumatoid arthritis. Hence it can be concluded that the newly formulated controlled release liposomal drug delivery systems of Flurbiprofen may be ideal and effective in the management of pain due to arthritis by allowing the drug to release continuously for 24 hr

Polygalacturonase production by Aspergillus nomius MR103 in solid state fermentation using Agro-industrial wastes

The present study was aimed at polygalacturonase production from Aspergillus nomius MR103 under solid state fermentation. A total of 57 fungal strains were obtained from mangrove soils collected from Gilakaladindi and Malakayalanka of Krishna District Andhra Pradesh. For the isolation of fungi these Soil samples were serially diluted and plated on pectin agar media plates.&nbsp; Among them, the isolate which showed maximum polygalacturonase activity was selected for this study. This strain was identified as A. nomius MR 103 by 18S rRNA sequences analysis. Pectin rich agro-industrial wastes like apple peel, citrus peel, orange peel, wheat bran, rice bran and sugarcane bagasse were used as substrates for polygalacturonase production by A. nomius MR 103. This strain was inoculated into the nutrient broth containing agro industrial wastes under solid state fermentation and amount of Polygalacturonase production was estimated. Maximum enzyme production of 4.83 IU/mg was recorded at pH 7.0 and temperature 35?C after 7 days of incubation, when orange peels were used as substrate.&nbsp; Addition of carbon and nitrogen sources to orange peel media improved the Polygalcturonase production. Sucrose as carbon and peptone as nitrogen sources were proved&nbsp; to be the best for&nbsp; maximum production of Polygalcturonase by A. nomius MR 103 on orange peel substrate. Utilization of agro-industrial by-products provided the establishment of a cost-efficient and sustainable process for enzyme production.&nbsp

A study on clinico etiological spectrum of intestinal obstruction in paediatric age group

Background: Acute intestinal obstruction is very common surgical emergencies in paediatric age. There are many surgical causes for morbidity and mortality in paediatric age group of which intestinal obstruction giving large contribution. In most of studies child survival after surgical procedures for intestinal obstruction was good while the death rates were more when there was delay in presentation, and management. Morbidity, complications and mortalities are more severe when presented late. There is a delay in the initial presentation of intestinal obstruction cases due to various reasons.Methods: Present study enrolled all the patients presenting with signs and symptoms of intestinal obstruction in Paediatric surgery unit of Dept. of surgery of Dr. BRAM Hospital, Raipur (C.G.), India during January 2014 to August 2015. Patients with intestinal obstruction were admitted in paediatric surgery ward with provisional diagnosis of acute intestinal obstruction. Immediately after admission, conservative management started till the hydration and urine output becomes normal. Routine and specific investigations were done.  As the study includes most of cases of acute dynamic intestinal obstruction most of cases after initial resuscitation were managed by appropriate procedures.   Postoperative care was done and outcome of the study was noted.Results: Maximum cases of intestinal obstruction were in neonatal period and least in 5-14 years. Sex ratio is 2.5:1 (male to female). ARM was the major cause of obstruction in neonatal (<1 month) age group. IHPS and Hirschsprung’s disease were most common cause of GI obstruction in 1 month to 1 year age group in our study. 4 of our cases did not have accurate diagnosis and were responded well to conservative management. Most of the patients presented with complain of not passing stool followed by distension of abdomen. 85.94% of cases are congenital in our study. Large gut portion was involved in majority of cases. Overall survival rate was 91.40%.Conclusions: Present study concludes that congenital causes are more common in paediatric intestinal obstruction cases. Early diagnosis and intervention are crucial factors to improve the outcome.

Modelling and Simulation of Current Source Converter based Dynamic Voltage Restorer for Voltage Regulation cum Harmonics Mitigation

The modern electric power distribution system faces lots of power quality (PQ) problems such as short and long duration voltage variations, voltage imbalance, waveform distortions, impulsive and oscillatory transients and voltage flicker etc. The custom power devices (CPD) have been designed and developed with the aim of mitigating these problems. The major CPDs introduced so far include distribution-static synchronous compensator (D-STATCOM), dynamic voltage restorer (DVR), unified power quality conditioners (UPQC), active power filters (APF) etc.  However, most of these CPDs are designed and implemented using voltage source converter (VSC) topology. Although lots of research works have been carried out for realizing DVR system based on VSC topology, not much research work has been reported on the application of CSC topology in DVR system over the last one decade. Through this paper, it has been attempted to develop a model of DVR system based on CSC topology capable of performing dual power quality enhancement tasks viz. voltage regulation and harmonics mitigation at a power distribution system catering power to a variety of loads. The DVR system has been modeled and simulated in the MATLAB / Simulink platform and the simulation results reveal the effectiveness and validity of the proposed model for use in power distribution system

Antioxidant activity and production of secondary metabolites of adult plant and in vitro calli of Anodendron paniculatum

The members of the family Apocynaceae are the rich in alkaloids, terpinoids, flavonoids, phenolic compounds and hydrocarbons. Anodendron paniculatum Roxb. is an woody climber, the roots of which have been used to control vomiting and cough. In the present study, adult plant and tissue culture plant extracts of A. paniculatum collected from Eastern Ghats, Araku, Andhra Pradesh were used for the production of their secondary metabolites and antioxidant activity. Methanol extracts of calli showed high contents of total phenol and alkaloid with 25.53 and 25.98 mg/g respectively. Methanol extract of tissue culture plant at higher concentrations showed better antioxidant activity with reference to standard ascorbic acid.&nbsp; For this study different concentrations (12.5, 25, 50, 100 and 200 µg/ml) of extracts were prepared by using four different solvents. Tissue culture extracts from methanol showed maximum scavenging activity with 231.9±1.39 % at 200 µg/ml of concentration, while that of adult plant extracts showed the scavenging activity of 189.1±0.74% only. These results on high antioxidant activity of the methanol extract of A. paniculatum calli can be attributed to the presence of high phenolic and alkaloid contents in calli when compared to that of adult plant extract

ISOLATION, SCREENING AND CHARACTERIZATION OF L-ASPARAGINASE PRODUCING FUNGI FROM MEDICINAL PLANTS

Objective: To isolate and characterize of L-asparaginase producing fungi from medicinal plants.Methods: Fungal strains were isolated on standard media, characterized and were screened for their ability to produce L-asparginase, used in the treatment of certain types of cancers, using modified Czapek-Dox medium supplemented with L-asparagine.Results: A total of 10 fungal isolates were obtained from 3 plant leaf samples and two isolates exhibited significant L-aspargniase production. Fusarium sp. (SMGR-F1) isolated from the papaya leaves showed the maximum activity. The organism was grown under submerged fermentation conditions at 30 °C produced 111.07±1.53 IU/ml of L-asparaginase at 120 h.Conclusion: L-asparaginase is being effectively used for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia and tumor cells. Fusarium sp. was isolated from the papaya plant leaves showing significant L-asparaginase activity and thus can be further exploited for the commercial production of L-asparaginase.Â

ANTIOXIDANT STUDIES OF ONE AYURVEDIC MEDICINE ASWAGANDHARISHTAM

Objective: The present study deals with the antioxidant study of one Ayurvedic medicine Aswagandhrishtam by three different methods, namely reducing power, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) assays.Methods: Aswagandharishtam, which is a liquid medicine, was taken as such at various concentrations for all the three assays.Results: The results show that Aswagandharistam has good antioxidant potential when compared with ascorbic acid as standard. The IC50 values of reducing power assay were 250.142, that of DPPH were 103.607, and of ABTS assay were 197.79 as compared with that of ascorbic acid being 19.59.Conclusion: All the three assays indicated that Aswagandharishtam showed very good antioxidant results