Effect of cream formulation of fenugreek seed extract on some mechanical parameters of human skin

Purpose: To determine the effect of an emulsion formulation of fenugreek (Trigonella Foneum-Graecum L) seed extract on some mechanical parameters of the skin of healthy human volunteersMethods: A water-in-oil emulsion cream base without fenugreek seed extract which served as control, and a similar formulation containing 4 %w/v of the extract in the internal (aqueous) phase were prepared. Each of the formulations was applied to the cheeks of 10 human volunteers for a period of 4 weeks and some mechanical parameters (R0, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8 and R9) of the skin were measured weekly using Cutometer MPA 580. Results: The results indicate that the effects of the creams on skin mechanical properties were significant (p < 0.05) with respect to time, except for R4 and R9. The extract-containing cream substantially increased skin elasticity, hydration and the ability of skin to resist photo-aging when compared to the base. Conclusion: Both the cream base and the cream containing fenugreek extract demonstrated significant (p < 0.05) improvement in all mechanical parameters related to skin elasticity, ageing, hydration and fatigue but the effect of the extract cream was more pronounced in some cases

Synthesis and characterizations of nickel doped Co-Zn-Y ferrites

The Nickel substituted Cu-Co-Zn-Ce nano ferrites, Zn0.15Co0.45Cu0.40-xNix Fe1.85Ce0.15O4 with x=0, 0.1, 0.20, 0.30, 0.40, were synthesized using the coprecipitation technique. The sample were sintered at 900 ℃ for 5h. The structural, electrical, dielectric and magnetic properties of all the prepared samples were characterized by XRD, SMU2401, UV-Vis and FTIR. The powder X-ray diffraction patterns of all the prepared samples confirmed the formation of single-phase cubic spinel structures. These samples further characterized for the electrical properties by using two-probe type method. The DC resistivity of all the ferrite composition decreased as the temperature increased, showing their semiconductor nature. UV-Vis and FTIR confirmed the substitution of nickel in Cu-Co-Zn-Ce ferrites. From UV-Vis it is observed that the optical band gap changes from 3.9 eV to 5.3 eV with addition of Ni. FTIR analysis revealed that a strong variation on tetrahedral absorption frequency band is present which is due to the replacement of Ni on Cu. All these results suggested that these materials can be used for wastewater treatment

Perceptions on the accessibility of Islamic banking in the UK—Challenges, opportunities and divergence in opinion

This study examines the views of UK-based Muslims, Islamic Scholars and Islamic banking employees on the current state of the latter industry, both in practical terms and as regards engagement with the nation’s large, but often marginalised Islamic community. The British Government has recently championed the Islamic banking sector and committed to supporting it as a means of addressing financial services needs and consolidating London’s position as the global centre for Islamic investment. The analysis adds to the substantive literature in two principal ways: (i) by contextualising the evidence via the notions of empowerment, engagement and social justice that underpin both the state’s attempts to foster growth and the central tenets of Islam; and (ii) by placing comparison of the opinions of key groups at the heart of the investigation. The findings reveal that while progress has been made, UK-based Muslims see several substantive impediments to access, including the complex terminology of Islamic banking products, the lack of internet banking facilities and branch networks as well as a generalised lack of interest in marketing on the part of the institutions. Whilst some coincidence of perception is evident, the views of bankers are shown to be out of line with those of the other parties in a number of key areas. For example, bankers appear to see less potential in the role of the internet as a medium for spreading awareness than do either potential customers or religious scholars. The paper therefore concludes with a call for multi-party Ijtihad and Qiyas (deductive analogy) that will encourage industrial outreach and, in so doing, support long-term growth

PERFORMANCE OF YIELD AND YIELD CONTRIBUTING CHARACTERISTICS OF BC2F3 POPULATION WITH ADDITION OF BLAST RESISTANT GENE

ABSTRACTThe study was carried out in the University Putra Malaysia (UPM) Rice Research Centre to evaluate the yield performance of newly developed selected blast resistant plants of BC2F3 generations derived from a cross between MR263, a high yielding rice variety but blast susceptible and Pongsu Seribu 1, donor with blast resistant (Pi-7(t)and Pi-d (t)1, Pir2-3(t)genes and qLN2 QTL), Malaysian local variety. On the basis of assessed traits, the plants 12, 6, 7, 5, 21, 22, 5, 26, 11, 8, 10, 13 and 15 had the higher yield, blast resistant and good morphological traits. More than 70% heritability was found in days to maturity, plant height, tiller numbers per hill, and panicle per hill, 80% heritability was found in filled grain and yield per hill and more than 90% heritability was found in grain length, grain width and seed weight. Cluster analysis based on the traits grouped 30 plants along with MR263 into seven clusters. According to PCA, the first four principal components account for about 69.3% total variation for all measured traits and exhibited high correlation among the characteristics analyzed

Whole-genome sequencing reveals host factors underlying critical COVID-19

Critical COVID-19 is caused by immune-mediated inflammatory lung injury. Host genetic variation influences the development of illness requiring critical care1 or hospitalization2,3,4 after infection with SARS-CoV-2. The GenOMICC (Genetics of Mortality in Critical Care) study enables the comparison of genomes from individuals who are critically ill with those of population controls to find underlying disease mechanisms. Here we use whole-genome sequencing in 7,491 critically ill individuals compared with 48,400 controls to discover and replicate 23 independent variants that significantly predispose to critical COVID-19. We identify 16 new independent associations, including variants within genes that are involved in interferon signalling (IL10RB and PLSCR1), leucocyte differentiation (BCL11A) and blood-type antigen secretor status (FUT2). Using transcriptome-wide association and colocalization to infer the effect of gene expression on disease severity, we find evidence that implicates multiple genes—including reduced expression of a membrane flippase (ATP11A), and increased expression of a mucin (MUC1)—in critical disease. Mendelian randomization provides evidence in support of causal roles for myeloid cell adhesion molecules (SELE, ICAM5 and CD209) and the coagulation factor F8, all of which are potentially druggable targets. Our results are broadly consistent with a multi-component model of COVID-19 pathophysiology, in which at least two distinct mechanisms can predispose to life-threatening disease: failure to control viral replication; or an enhanced tendency towards pulmonary inflammation and intravascular coagulation. We show that comparison between cases of critical illness and population controls is highly efficient for the detection of therapeutically relevant mechanisms of disease

Flood forecasting for Bangladesh with satellite data

During recent years several large floods have caused disasters in SoutheastAsia. The inundation and flooding in Bangladesh is a serious problem.Bangladesh is a low-lying country in the Meghna delta located at theconfluence of three major rivers; the Ganges, the Brahmaputra and theMeghna. Monsoon river flooding is an annual event with river water levelsrising and falling slowly during the monsoon season, though with somepulsation. Floods in Bangladesh can be divided into four categories:monsoon river flood, flash flood, local rainwater flood and storm surgeflood. The monsoon river flood is an annual event, which is caused by overbank spills from major rivers and their tributaries and it causes the mostextensive damage in Bangladesh.Flood forecasting in a deltaic region like Bangladesh is a difficult problem.Moreover hydrological modelling itself requires significant computersupport and sophisticated models. On other hand, even if these factors are inplace, a large amount of data is required in order to initialise the models.For example, rainfall data over the entire catchment regions of the Ganges,Brahmaputra and Meghna are required in addition to the river flow data, soiland crop information and the amount of water that is retained within eachcatchment by agriculture and water resources use. The present floodforecasting system only provides the short term (depending on location itvaries from 1 to 3 day) forecasts of the monsoon river floods in Bangladesh.The main barrier to improve flood forecasting and lead time in Bangladeshis the absence or unavailability of hydrological information of the crossboundaryGanges-Brahmaputra basins which together are around 10 timeslarger than the Bangladesh portion. Several efforts were made so far to getreal time cross boundary information but achievement is insignificant.Considering the present situation, this study aims to develop a model whichcan forecast the discharge at the outlet of Ganges basin, with the help offreely available remotely sensed website data of NASA, USGS, FAO,USDA, ISRIC, etc. The ANN flood forecasting model that is developed forGanges basin using discharge data of Bangladesh and freely availableremotely sensed data, is capable of expanding the forecasting lead time ofBangladesh by extra 3 days

Aphids of ornamental plants and winter vegetables and their aphidiine parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) in Aligarh region, Uttar Pradesh

A survey was conducted in Aligarh District of Uttar Pradesh, India. A total of 14 pest aphid were found infesting 13 ornamental plants and 14 winter vegetables of the area. They were categorized based on injury status. Seven species of aphidiine parasitoids viz., Aphidius colemani Viereck, Aphidius smithi Subba Rao & Sharma, Binodoxys indicus (Subba Rao & Sharma), Diaeretiella rapae (M’Intosh), Lipolexis gracilis Foerster, Lipolexis oregmae (Gahan), Lysaphidus qadrii Shujauddin were found infesting different aphid species